The God of Abraham, the God of Adventure and Jordan Peterson
Regardless of whether you are a Jordan Peterson fan or foe, you will surely agree that he is always interesting and gets you thinking. I am currently working my way through his latest tome, We who Wrestle with God, and will probably write more about it when I’m through. Having read several negative reviews of the book I had decided against purchasing it, but then heard Peterson talk about it in a fascinating two and a half hour podcast on the Diary of a CEO that touched on just about everything. God was woven lightly into the first half of the podcast, and then took up most of the...
Read MoreRefresh: On being still, not silent…
This weeks refresh post originally appeared on 14 August 2022. I keep coming back to its underlying ideas. There is such a big difference between stillness and silence. On being still, not silent I recently listened to a fascinating podcast where Alastair McIntosh reflects on Quakerism and unpacks some of its convictions. In a throw away comment he notes that it is often said that Quakers gather together in silence (no drums of smoke machines for them !) but that this is not entirely accurate – they gather together in stillness. He goes on to quote Ps 46:10 “Be still and know...
Read MoreOur Many Coloured Days: On the Brown, Grey and Purple Ones…
I imagine that many of my readers are Dr Seuss fans. What’s not to like about him, green eggs and ham, the Grinch, and all the rest we are introduced to in Theodor Geisel’s wonderful world? Among my favourites are My Many Coloured Days, which attaches a colour to the different moods we encounter in life, with the liberating conclusion that whatever the colour of a particular day, “it turns out all right you see… and I go back to being ME.” In Dr Seuss’s world, some days are red, “On bright red days how good it feels, To be a horse and kick my...
Read MoreRefresh: Where our best prayers take us…
Todays refresh post first appeared in Aug 2022. Frederick Buechner’s idea that some prayers are “best prayers” and that they should take us somewhere, resonates with me deeply. It’s worthy of a re-read… Incidentally, some of these ideas are also explored on the Stirrers and Saints Podcast on Scripture and Prayer. Well worth a listen… Where our best prayers take us A post in 2022 noted the passing of Frederick Buechner and tapped into some of his wisdom. In this one I’d like to explore a passing comment which appears in a series of rapid fire advice...
Read MoreFormed, forming, reforming and deforming…
One of the hats I wear is as “Pastor at Large” of the Carey Group. While the title sounds exotic, I’m not sure any of us really know what it means, but in practice I get to speak into and participate in the life of Carey at a meaningful level. It’s an enormous privilege. We usually choose a theme for each year – something that identifies where we will place special attention, and this year the focus is on formation. It’s a choice that delights me. Why? Well, it’s not claiming a static “formed” – as though we have arrived and now...
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