21st Century
Best Pods of 2021
Lockdown has caused the proliferation of podcasts, with every Tom, Dick and Harriet taking to the pod waves. And, slightly awkwardly, I’m no exception. But
30th December 2021
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future
My Ko-fi button
Will you support my work? You can simply BUY me a COFFEE!
21st Century
Q Marks the Spot 152 (June 2021 Treasure Map)
Sacred Treasure There’s just so much going on these days, so much that is discombobulating, disturbing, and downright dysfunctional. Trying to get one’s head around
1st June 2021
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20th Century
“O Tempora! O Mores Evangelici!” 10. A milestone and a decision
Something Hugh said at that meeting in Sheffield has been etched on my memory every since. I’d only been in ordained ministry perhaps 2 or 3 years and we were having our normal post-Summer catchup and planning session.
We would habitually begin with a short devotional, but that day, Hugh was in reflective mood. Only a few weeks before, he’d celebrated his 50th birthday, and now he openly described how affecting that milestone had been. If memory serves, it was on the lines of “I now realize that I have more years of formal ministry behind me than ahead of me.”
20th January 2021
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AMERICAS
Echoes from Eternity: 28. Jane Kenyon has it out with Melancholy
It feels relentless. We are in the 8th week of our family’s experience of Lockdown/Quarantine and while there are hints of change, there is nothing
15th May 2020
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abuse
Q Marks the Spot 131 (September 2019)
Sacred Treasure The Josh Harris ‘deconversion’ story (for those who are aware) is very sad and my heart goes out to him and his family.
1st September 2019
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art & painting
Q Combinations 21: The big IF of Easter (from AE Housman & Eugène Burnand)
There is an emotional complexity to this wonderful painting by Swiss artist Eugène Burnand. I know very little about him, apart from the usual resort of Wikipedia. But he manages to capture a moment of almost frantic inquisitiveness, as Peter and his young, fellow-disciple John rush in the golden sunrise light to the burial garden. Their faces seem filled with anxiety, confusion, hope, wonder, and longing all at once. Hoping against hope, but fearing a con, or something worse? Could Mary Magdalene, first to visit the tomb, possibly have been right…?
21st April 2019
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Q Marks The Spot – Treasure Map 126 (April 2019)
Sacred Treasure Forgiveness is quite mad says Derrida… what do you think? Pete Williams is Warden of Tyndale House in Cambridge and provides one of
1st April 2019
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beauty
A song of lament, a need for songs
Q regulars know that Turkey is a country close to my heart. I have just returned from my 15th (!) trip and so naturally it
2nd February 2019
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21st Century
Q Marks The Spot – Treasure Map 114 (February 2018)
Sacred Treasure David Robertson is often uncomfortably provocative – but he’s probably on the money here: 10 ‘prophecies’ for the church in 2018 An inspiring
1st February 2018
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Q Marks the Spot – Treasure Map 109 (September 2017)
Sacred Treasure Emma Scrivener does a beautiful job here on 10 reasons to have hope in the face of darkness Persecution of Christians around the world
1st September 2017
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20th Century
Q Combinations 5: Kamienska & Wyeth and a winter hope
If the last Q combo was a chronological mismatch of artist and poet, this one is seasonal. Today’s still been pretty warm for a British September
10th September 2015
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BIBLE
The Black Dog (10 years on) 6: SO YOU WANT TO HELP…
I’m glad. In fact, if you didn’t, I’d be quite concerned for you! But be warned. This isn’t for the faint-hearted. It will try your patience and
16th August 2015
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