Scars tell a story. Every scar, whether seen or unseen, tells a tail of the ups and downs of life. Some scars are visible whilst some are hidden. Some are self inflicted whilst some are forced upon us. So often we feel the need to hide our scars. We feel the need to hide ourContinue reading “Show Your Scars”
Category Archives: Blog
Why bother?
I’ve been blogging for about four years. During that time people have asked me for advice, recommendations, help and people have also criticised my blog. When you put something online you’re inevitably going to get kick back. I receive kick back, or a general dislike of my blog, for a variety of reasons both onlineContinue reading “Why bother?”
Prep, Preaching and Practice
I’ve the last few weeks, preaching has been on my mind a lot. Stephen Kneale posted an article about his own sermons prep. At the time, mid-August, Stephen was finishing off his sermons for November. The guy plans ahead. But also the other day I came across someone quoting John Stott. Apparently Stott said thatContinue reading “Prep, Preaching and Practice”
Why ‘deconstruction’ doesn’t work
Deconstruction, it’s a term that has been thrown around a lot in recent months. The pattern normally goes that people have been hurt by the church and they ‘deconstruct’. But I think that the whole process of wrong, and frankly a bit messed up, here’s why…
Speak, listen and learn
So many people have found this past while difficult. Lockdowns, social distancing, isolation, unable to see family and friends, etc. It hasn’t been an easy time for many people. The same is also true for pastors and their families.
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”
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?”
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?”
Holiness, Discipleship and IKEA
My wife and I recently moved house. We packed our lives into boxes to move them across the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. I’ll be honest, the same effort goes into moving country as it does moving house! But now we’re a the stage of buying furniture. I spent this evening with my wife and aContinue reading “Holiness, Discipleship and IKEA”
You’re So Vain, You Probably Think Ministry Is Only About You
“So when are you going to stop working for… [insert a ministry role that isn’t in a local church]… and go back into real ministry?” Have you ever heard that question before? Or how about the typical conversations where things other than the local church are seen as good and right things to do, butContinue reading “You’re So Vain, You Probably Think Ministry Is Only About You”
Chalmers' Blog 