Category Archives: my spiritual journey
Sectarianism and the Trail of Blood
There was a time in my life when I sought the continuity of truth in ‘the trail of blood,’ the communities who defined themselves against the established church. As I began to study the history of the church, I became … Continue reading
Filed under Anabaptism, church history, my spiritual journey, quotes
Listening to a military chaplain
Yesterday at church a military chaplain spoke about his work and I’m still feeling upset. The slideshow had photos of all the chaplains in army fatigues, and of soldiers they were ministering to posing with large guns. Then a photo … Continue reading
Filed under my spiritual journey, pacificism
Leaving Home
Last week we said goodbye to our church of three years, Network Vineyard. It was a sad thing; I believe in church loyalty, and yet here I am leaving a church which isn’t bad and at which there are a … Continue reading
Mixed feelings on Saint Mary MacKillop
I’m not sure what to think about the canonisation of Mary MacKillop. Despite the appropriation of various Catholic impulses by post-evangelicals – that herd of discontents which I might loosely be included among – I haven’t heard much taking up … Continue reading
Filed under Anabaptism, Baptists, my spiritual journey
Resurrection and Renewal: Bigger and Better Than Going to Heaven When You Die
Here’s the text of that sermon I gave at Network Vineyard Church on 12 July 2009. 1. Introduction I want to talk about an area of faith where my whole way of thinking was turned upside down. And that’s about … Continue reading
Filed under environment, eschatology, my spiritual journey, N.T. Wright, sermons
Writing novels for the kingdom
Last night I presented a paper to the Newbigin Group on “Writing novels for the kingdom.” Below is the introduction; if you like the sound of it, you can download the PDF file. It might be much more appropriate to … Continue reading
My big brown Strong’s Exhaustative Concordance, or how I think the Bible is being read badly
(I’m going to sound grumpy, but I’m not, I’ve just been thinking a lot about the use of the Bible.) It concerns me how badly the Bible is used by most evangelicals. Much of it stems from a failure to … Continue reading
The general blessedness of his life
I want to live with the grace and thankfulness of the Reverend Boughton in Marilynne Robinson’s novel Home: The house embodied for him the general blessedness of his life, which was manifest, really indisputable. And which he never failed to … Continue reading
Filed under my spiritual journey, quotes, theology and literature
‘We need more money’
A reluctant visitor to a megachurch last night, the ‘financial giving’ talk made me feel queasy and miserable. I wanted to run out of there. I believe they have that every week, a talk to encourage everyone to give more … Continue reading
Keeping the faith
Two of my friends have lost their faith in the last three years. ‘Lost’ is a curious word to use here. They didn’t misplace it. It didn’t fall behind the couch. They’re not offering any rewards for it to be … Continue reading
Filed under evangelicalism, my spiritual journey
