February 8, 2025
How historians will view these last two weeks of chaos and turbulence following the inauguration of the new presidential regime in America is too early to say. What is already clear is that something unprecedented in US history is happening. What is not yet clear is if American institutions of democracy and law, and the […]
February 1, 2025
The list is long of prophets and spiritual leaders who dared to speak the truth to rulers who crossed God-ordained thresholds – often at great cost. Their examples should embolden us today to be ready to speak out, and not to bow to power like compliant chaplains, especially when those leaders claim to be defending […]
January 25, 2025
‘Catholic Austria’ was long considered to be the graveyard of missionaries by evangelicals attempting to woo ‘baptised pagans’ into the Protestant fold. Bruce Clewett, pioneer YWAM missionary in Austria, believed praying and working for spiritual renewal within Roman Catholic groups was a more fruitful approach. Last Sunday that fruit was overwhelmingly obvious to the thousands who thronged […]
January 18, 2025
News of a ceasefire breakthrough in Gaza was greeted with celebrations in the streets this week, yet tempered by awareness that lasting peace between Israel and Palestine was still far off. Also this week, the incoming administration in Washington had to admit that boasts of ending Russian aggression in Ukraine on the new president’s first […]
January 11, 2025
Let’s face it folks. We are in for a bumpy ride this year. But you already knew that. Pundits warn that we are heading back to the law of the jungle, a world where might is right and money manipulates. In the first week of this new year, the US president-elect, not yet even sworn […]
January 9, 2025
Tonight, Thursday January 9, at 6pm CET, I talk with Rev Dr Helen Paynter, co-editor of ‘The Church, the far-right and the claim to Christianity’, about the how the political far-right use Christian-sounding themes often disguising values contrary to Christianity. Helen’s focus is Britain, but there is an obvious parallel to Europe as a whole, and […]
January 4, 2025
Twenty-five years have already gone by in this century, with immense changes – for better or for worse. This is a good moment to reflect on our changing world. Jesus talked of wheat and tares growing up together. Here’s a random sample of both. Twenty-five years ago, the world was in the grip of Y2K […]
December 28, 2024
The familiar nativity story was especially topical this year, carrying associations with current headlines. Passages read or recited by children in Christmas plays; by narrators in special Christmas services; or by volunteers playing angels, kings, wise men and shepherds for groups of children and adults on nativity walks through city neighbourhoods, reminded us that the […]
December 21, 2024
During these long dark nights of winter (tonight is the longest) we find ourselves drawing hope, light and inspiration from the stars. When the cloudy night sky hides the stars from our sight, we make our own. They appear in street decorations, shop windows, as cookie shapes and atop our Christmas trees. Stars have always […]
December 14, 2024
Last Sunday at 4.30am, my deep slumber was rudely disturbed by honking car horns. Half-awake, I drew the curtains to glimpse a convoy of cars draped with Syrian flags driving through the centre of Amsterdam. Something dramatic obviously had happened in Damascus. A quick check of the headlines on my mobile confirmed that, while […]
December 7, 2024
Europeans suffer amnesia on at least two crucial developments in the story of Europe. Firstly, Europeans have forgotten the singular role of the story of Jesus in making Europe ‘Europe’, and in laying a common foundation of values and understandings of human dignity and sanctity, and meaning of life. Secondly, Europeans suffer memory loss concerning […]
November 30, 2024
A massive monument to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will open to the public this week in the heart of one of Europe’s great capitals. For Notre Dame Cathedral has itself been resurrected, five and a half years after being ravaged by fire to the horror of the French, believers and unbelievers alike. […]
