Ash Wednesday seems to have come around quickly this time! I toyed with the idea of giving up social media, but e-mail, Twitter and Facebook are the way I keep in touch with several of my friends, so it would be a bit like giving up on those relationships for 6 weeks. I’m aware this […]

One of the most inspiring books I’ve ever read is Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus with Young People (link is to Amazon). In fact, I think it should be compulsary reading for all Christians! While heavily focussed on Youth Ministry (dur!), it’s actually packed full of important principles to do with slowing […]

I’ve been thinking a bit about what I wrote last time, and how emotions can’t be trusted. The chief spark for that post was when someone in a film says I’ve never felt this way before, and how I might argue that this is not necessarily a good thing! However as I’ve reflected upon it, […]

Emotions are lent surprising weight, aren’t they? What we feel at any given point in time we perceive as reality. This is surprising because we know, intellectually, how quickly emotions change, and how we can rapidly switch to an ‘opposite’ emotion as events or facts come to light. I think this is part of the […]

I’ve been really struck by Playing for Change. Obviously I love the music, and the use of technology is extraordinary. As a complete distraction, it slightly reminds me of Dan Rider’s awesome Dr Who theme on YouTube. Anyway, back to the point – here’s a song that’s been recorded over 4 years (or something) and […]

House group this week was interesting. We’re doing a study called The Prayers of Jesus, which is a DVD/study book combo looking at, well, the prayers of Jesus. It’s a series, and we’ve previously done The Parables of Jesus and The Miracles of Jesus. Once you get past the slightly odd bollywood-esque music and Americanisms, […]

Forgive the pretentious title – it is intended to be ironic, but I’m not sure it comes across. This week saw my 37th birthday, and as I trotted out the old phrase one year older and wiser, I actually stopped and thought about it. Sure, I’m one year older, but am I any wiser? Wisdom […]

I’m very excited, because we just started running the “Growing Leaders” course at Church. We were going to start it at the end of last year, but the arrival of a baby in the Handley household rather put those plans on ice! As it is, I feel on the back foot a bit.. The first […]

One of the aspects of being a Christian that I find tricky is remembering it. I don’t mean in the big sense, but in the everyday hustle and bustle of working life. I sometimes find that I’ve gone the whole day without any particular reference to God. Other days I’m very “tuned in”, and keep […]

Oh dear. The Church does get itself in a stew, doesn’t it? I’ll be honest – I struggled with the ordination of women. My understanding of the Bible was that women should not be in a position of leadership over men. However having met women who seem genuinely called and gifted for the Ministry, and […]