Richardl

LATEST ARTICLES ( 623 )

• Day 52

  

  Deep breath requiredThose who have read this blog over the years will know that I have a particular fondness for the Old Testament character Nehemiah. Read more

  Posted on 26 May 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• From Eye to Eye

  

  No substituteLast weekend I spent a very pleasant Saturday morning with a group of people keen to be involved in different ways with leading worship and... Read more

  Posted on 25 May 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Selling Or Telling?

  

  Need preachers be persuasive?This morning I shall spend three hours with volunteers from my church delivering some training on ‘Sunday ministry’. Read more

  Posted on 21 May 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• A Funny Thing Happened…

  … on the way to the pulpitWhen I was first taught to preach, I was told that illustrations should be like ‘the windows’ on a sermon. Read more

  Posted on 10 May 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• A Crisis in Chiaroscuro

  

  A review of ‘The Lightless Sky’ by Gulwali Passarlay with Nadene GhouriTo describe an English book by an Afghan man about a journey across Asia and Europe by... Read more

  Posted on 08 May 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Stopping with the Blossom

  

  Some thoughts on transienceI started in local ministry in the Autumn of 1987.  Since them I have served in three churches, alongside some fabulous colleagues an... Read more

  Posted on 04 May 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• A Wakeful Post

  

  With thanks to Ethred and ShaunSeven centuries ago, a bishop of the Syrian church, known as Ephrem, urged Christian believers ‘put on the wakeful one’. Read more

  Posted on 02 May 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• An Antidote

  

  A review of ‘Summer’, edited by Melissa HarrisonDo you remember how in cartoons of old, a bottle of poison would always be helpfully labelled ‘poison’? Read more

  Posted on 01 May 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Infinity and Beyond

  

  Buzz Lightyear and RevelationRegular readers here will know that translation in all its form is something which matters a lot to me. Read more

  Posted on 29 April 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• The Weight of Words

  

  More than rocks and steelIn 2013, Florida-based artist Celeste Roberge created an artwork based on a steel mesh framework filled with 4000lb of locally-sourced... Read more

  Posted on 28 April 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• A Constellation to Launch a Star

  

  Thoughts on creative collageWhen I was at Primary School, my heart used to sink in an art lesson when the teacher would say that we were going to ‘make a... Read more

  Posted on 19 April 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• The Magic of Mystery

  

  On weaving wordsFor any preacher to write about mystery is a dangerous thing – since the real mystery with many sermons is why people bother listening to them a... Read more

  Posted on 12 April 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Spoken Word

  

  An Easter encounterUncertain, once again, about the possibility of the mortal speaking on the Immortal’s behalf, I kneel to pray. As I do so, I hear a nervous... Read more

  Posted on 27 March 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• A Few Words in the Silence

  

  Haiku on Easter SaturdayAbout a month ago, my friends at Things Unseen announced a competition. Participants were invited to submit a Haiku for Easter. Read more

  Posted on 25 March 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Linked by a Scarlet Thread

  

  A meditation for Maundy ThursdayEvery year at the Maundy Thursday service I try to take a slightly different approach. Last night I decided to use prayers from... Read more

  Posted on 25 March 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• A Tale Made of Quartz

  

  Review of In Her Wake by Amanda JenningsFor a tale featuring mermaids, babies and the Cornish coast, this is not a pretty book. Rather, it is hewn from the toug... Read more

  Posted on 24 March 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Notes on the Notes…

  

  A review of The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame Back in the days when an album was something in which you stuck your stamps, a track was the place for my... Read more

  Posted on 22 March 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Naked Truth

  

  Cognitive dissonance and Christian worshipYesterday I was listening to a psychologist on the radio talking about cognitive dissonance and body image. Read more

  Posted on 20 March 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Related Not Recruited

  

  Churches WLTM MinistersI have just been through the experience of discerning a call to a new church. Overall, it was one where hope, caution, love and grace wer... Read more

  Posted on 18 March 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• In Search of Wonder

  

  Feeding the creative mindTomorrow I shall travel to Birmingham to do something which I love – training those who have a story to tell it. Read more

  Posted on 17 March 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY