For the glory of one

For the glory of one

I dislike being disliked. In past months, I found myself caught up in a difficult professional situation. In circumstances where I knew it was impossible to please all parties, I quickly came to realise how much value I placed on external validation. We live in a...
Praying beyond ourselves and our shores

Praying beyond ourselves and our shores

After retiring in 2017 from ministry in Presbyterian churches in the Republic, we moved north and engaged in a bit of “church tasting”.  Although there was a friendly welcome everywhere and faithful biblical preaching, I was dissatisfied with the prayers for others,...

How many too questions are too many questions?

Like a good evangelical Christian, every morning my day starts with quiet time. The Lord’s prayer, then other prayers, setting my day up, giving it over to God. And from prayer I go to Scripture, helped in that discipline by Bible Reading notes. A verse or a question...

PS Extra: Lord have mercy on us; Lord hear our prayers…

  On Sunday a couple of   hundred people walked the hill to Stormont and then spent a short time in prayer. Alain Emerson from 24/7 Prayer Ireland   and Peter Lynas from  Evangelical Alliance (NI) led the short act of worship with a reading of  PSALM 85  and then...

The Redundant Church?

The church’s services as chaplain to this democracy are no longer required. You’ve been given your P45; your severance pay is in the mail. This is roughly what Walter Brueggemann said to a Presbyterian audience in America.* It is perhaps how the church in...