Welcome to my website
Trying to see the world from a Christian perspective
This Blog
I only write occasionally here now, as you will see. However, there is an archive of over 2,000 posts which I’ve made over the last 20+ years, which are all still accessible.
Latest Posts
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Jesus – more divisive than Brexit or Trump
https://soundcloud.com/phillsacre/jesus-more-divisive-than-brexit-or-trump Every so often I record a short ‘thought’ for the Tendring Talking Times. My previous thought is available here. There is a huge amount of division in society at the moment. The biggest culprit is of course Brexit – friends have fallen out with each other over this one. I personally have lost friends…
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Ministry in an anti-authoritarian society
I had a little epiphany last night. I don’t usually have epiphanies – they’re pretty rare for me to be honest – but last night I genuinely saw something which I hadn’t before. It’s probably because I am slow and dense, but still – an epiphany is an epiphany. It happened in my home group.…
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Why we should be grateful for Vicky Beeching
I recently talked a little about Vicky Beeching’s book – Undivided – and why I think it is dangerous for the church. I stand by what I said there – but, at the same time, I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately and I think there are reasons to be grateful to Vicky Beeching.…
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Hymnology: O Jesus I Have Promised
I mentioned the other day that Prince Louis was going to be baptised on Monday. According to details released online, William and Catherine chose two hymns – O Jesus I have promised and Lord of all hopefulness. I was generally impressed with the selection of hymns and readings – they’re not the hymns and readings…
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Corporate Pride and Virtue Signalling
Bandwagon (n): jump on the bandwagon, climb on the bandwagon or get on the bandwagon to join or give support to a party or movement that seems to be assured of success Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in…
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What is 'Christening'? Five Facts!
On Monday, Prince Louis will be christened at the Chapel Royal in St James’ Palace (the picture above is from Charlotte’s christening in Sandringham a couple of years ago). It promises to be a lovely day and occasion – but do you know what christening actually means? 1. Christening = Baptism These days ‘Christening’ has…
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Vicky Beeching – Undivided: The power and danger of stories
I’ve mentioned Vicky Beeching a couple of times on this blog, most recently discussing whether it’s right to say ‘Change or Die’ about the church. Yesterday she released her new book, ‘Undivided’, which is her story of how she’s ‘come out’ as gay and Christian, and learned to embrace her sexuality. As I’ve started with…
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Preaching, Rhetoric and Michael Curry
OK, OK, I know everyone is bored of talking about Michael Curry now. But I wanted to pick up on one thing which few people have really talked about – the delivery and style of his sermon, rather than the content. In my previous post I said that it was powerful, and Ian Paul has…
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Royal Wedding Sermon: Michael Curry’s Bad News
A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross. – H. Richard Niebuhr One of the biggest talking points of the royal wedding yesterday between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is – unpredictably – the sermon. Even The Guardian have got in…
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The Emperor has no clothes
When I was a child I learned Hans Christian Andersen’s short story, The Emperor’s New Clothes. A couple of weeks ago I was at the library with Lydia and came across a children’s version of the story, and we read it together. Lydia really enjoyed it – and I did too. And it struck me…