Living in a world that tells people to be their ‘best self’, to achieve greatness and do something special with their lives is tiring. The focus is on the extraordinary, rather than the day to day grind of normal life. Well, it’s just wrong and it’s wreaking havoc in so many people’s lives.
Author Archives: Alistair Chalmers
Saturday Snippets (August 7)
As well as reading a lot of books, I also read a ton of articles every week. Here are some of the articles that I’ve read recently and have found interesting, helpful, challenging and encouraging. I hope that they will be the same for you, my dear readers…
Vulnerability is good
The world speaks about being self-made. Kids are told that they can be whatever they want to be. We’re taught to ‘suck it up’. There is a bit of a culture that suggests that vulnerability is a bad thing. It’s in the church too. People can seem shocked if you answer anything other than ‘fine’Continue reading “Vulnerability is good”
Preaching; Experience and Emotions
I love receiving books to review about preaching, because 1) I preach regularly and 2) because I love preaching. Over the last few days I have read two very different books, one reflects on 50 years of Word ministry and the other focuses on the use of emotions in preaching (kind of). Let me sayContinue reading “Preaching; Experience and Emotions”
Saturday Snippets (July 31)
As well as reading a lot of books, I also read a ton of articles every week. Here are some of the articles that I’ve read recently and have found interesting, helpful, challenging and encouraging. I hope that they will be the same for you, my dear readers…
Do lay-elders have it worse than paid-elders?
Last week I posted a blog titled “Does the Pastor Have it Worse?” I was pondering this question after being asked about it in a conversation I was having with someone on the radio. In the interview Chloe asked if people generally think that the pastor has it worse than the assistant pastor. Generally speaking,Continue reading “Do lay-elders have it worse than paid-elders?”
Understanding Esther, 1 Corinthians and James
One of my great privileges as a pastor is to preach from God’s Word. I spend a lot of time in God’s Word as I prepare sermons, write Bible studies, disciple people and go on pastoral visits, etc. Spending time in the Bible is a precious gift that every Christian should enjoy. And as weContinue reading “Understanding Esther, 1 Corinthians and James”
Saturday Snippets (July 24)
As well as reading a lot of books, I also read a ton of articles every week. Here are some of the articles that I’ve read recently and have found interesting, helpful, challenging and encouraging. I hope that they will be the same for you, my dear readers…
Does the Pastor Have it Worse?
I was recently interviewed live on UCB2, a Christian radio station in the UK. I was interviewed about my ministry, my life, my blog, my history with depression and my contribution to a book called “The Pastor with a Thorn in his Side“. In the interview the presenter, Chloe Wilson asked a great question; doContinue reading “Does the Pastor Have it Worse?”
Kid’s Corner
Every once in a while I like to review books for little readers. These reviews are much shorter and basically act as a “Yes, I liked it” or “No, I didn’t like it”. I do this because there are so many books out there for kids and I don’t want to add to the confusion.Continue reading “Kid’s Corner”
Chalmers' Blog 