In my last post on this subject I suggested that there is a connection between history and the condition (spiritual and physical) of a geographic area. In his volume Sowing Seeds for Revival, Martin Scott develops a theology on this very topic and though the ideas are still only found on the margins of church life (even of charismatic church life) they certainly resonate with me and are well worth grappling with ...

Taking offence is big business in this country. It would seem that someone somewhere can’t live a full life without taking offence at something. This is why the Advertising Standards Authority was set up many years ago because some advertisements apparently cause offence and the ASA exists so that concerned citizens can complain. Its’ annual report has just been released and makes fascinating reading. (Ok, â€...

Jesus’ emphasis on the upside-down values of the Kingdom continues with his words about the ‘pure of heart’ and how they will be blessed by seeing God. In Old Testament Hebrew thought ‘seeing God’ had a cultic element to it since it was by going to the Temple, to be involved in its cultic practices, that one would see God. Closely attached to this act of Temple worship was being clear of sin – or havi...

I spent the weekend with some of the men from Pioneer People, Pensby, on their weekend away in the Conwy Valley. With the sun scorching hot and great landscape looking its best there was no doubt that we would have a very relaxing time together, and so it proved to be. What a great bunch of people they are and really going for something different as a church.

I was invited to join them in order to offer some teac...

One of the greatest privileges of being a church leader is to be invited to conduct a funeral service for those who have died and to give testimony to their life of faith and witness. Yesterday I conducted the funeral of a dear friend and a passionate Christian. Edith Walker had moved from Denton, north-west of England, to Anglesey some ten years ago with Martin, her husband. They joined Emmanuel, the church I he...

John ‘the rottweiler’ Humphreys showed how difficult it is to break out of the mould this morning as he interviewed the new Home Secretary, Theresa May, on the Today programme. He was pressing her about the Tories’ attitude towards the Human Rights Act and the very different approach they have to it compared to their partners in government, the Lib Dems. Apparently the Tories are very anti while the Lib Dem...

My first post on the apostolic (read it here) drew some good responses from Ben, Mark, and James – thanks, guys. In this topic I really am trying to grapple with a subject that I don’t have any answers to – and yet feel that the answers so often given in church life today do not quite reflect what the NT says about being an apostle. Ben makes a very valid point that the apostles were called to plant the gos...

Apologies for being such a lightweight on the blogging front recently. It’s been a busy period and this week is gearing up quite nicely too! Our trip to the US was cancelled due to the volcanic ash. (What is going on with this ash thing then?!) We did, however, manage some time away: a great week in a cottage in Dorset with the sun shining most days. Once we were back I was straight into the election campaign â...

When Matthew records Jesus calling on his followers to be merciful he could have used one of two different Greek words: one referring to a human feeling, the other meaning acting with mercy. Matthew chose the second.

Thus Jesus calls on us to act mercifully in our dealings with other people. Like all the other characteristics to be displayed in the Kingdom listed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, mercy is in ...

On Monday night I watched the start of a short new series on ITV 1 called 'Wormwood Scrubs'. The Scrubs is one of the UK’s most infamous prisons with room for some 1,300 men. It was first built in the Victorian era and still has many of the original buildings – making it a striking feature in the urban landscape of London.

To critique a series after only one programme is surely a mistake, but critiquing the ...

Yesterday we expected that a Conservative/Lib Dem government would have been formed, but when Gordon Brown resigned at tea time all bets were off and Labour back in the running. The interesting thing about a potential Lib/Lab pact, however, is that they would have to depend on other smaller parties for they would not command an overall majority in the House of Commons. Those parties would include both the SNP and...

It’s the Monday after the General Election and I had thought that today’s post could steer away from the political world. After all, we normally have a new government in place by now in the UK and the Monday papers would merely comment on who got what in the Cabinet.  Things are different this time, though – reflecting the confusion in the minds of the electorate. Of course, here in Wales, like Scotland, we...

Well we have our balanced parliament – but our guy won’t be there. We’re very disappointed, obviously. Dylan fought a long and hard campaign. But with the Labour vote holding up so well it was always going to be difficult to win here on Anglesey.

Having had little sleep overnight I’m not sure I can come up with any great insights about the election results in general, but I’ll try! Labour’s final wee...

Apologies that the blogging has been light during the past two weeks. We had expected to be in the US and the plan was to blog my experiences there, but as you know, we never made it. We did manage a relaxing holiday in Dorset, however, in a lovely cottage in a tiny village outside Bridport.

Being in Dorset allowed me to follow the UK general election. We spent most of our time in an area covered by two constitue...