I wonder how you are feeling in anticipation of the Election this Thursday? Are you feeling like this is an opportunity for a better future or possibly you’ve lost all hope in the process all together? Are you excited by the manifestos of the leaders or do you...

I wonder how it felt for Mary and Joseph as they arrived into Bethlehem. Perhaps the streets were heaving with people. Dust flying everywhere as people hurried around. I wonder if Mary’s anxiety rose each time they approached somewhere they might stay. Knowing how...

As I write, it has just been remembrance Sunday and Remembrance Day (11 November) which means the sacrifice of so many has been remembered and appreciated in parades and services throughout the country. Believing that it was worth it to risk everything to protect our...

I have really enjoyed our teaching series on prayer, and it has been great to spend time focusing on fasting and praying this last week. I could not get to the early prayer meeting every morning but enjoyed it very much when I did. There is something powerful about...

Wrinkled with burdens? Come to Jesus for a faith lift...I’ve always been a fan of the 'cheesy' when it comes to Christian sayings! In 2004 when my daughter was six, we both became Christians. It was a wonderful time. That summer she bought, and proudly wore, a wrist...

We have been studying prayer as a church and the course we are doing together is based on what is commonly known as 'The Lord's Prayer'. Although this is the name we use for the prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, it is not a particularly accurate title...

The song ’Still’ by Amanda Cook was recently shared with me. As I listened to the lyrics whilst pushchair-pacing the streets of Romsey I couldn’t help but notice the irony. There I was unable to do anything but ‘be still’ in ongoing attempts to get my baby girl to ‘be...

About a month ago at church, I was trying to connect with God, while simultaneously making sure my boys didn’t push over one of the prayer banners – in this moment, God spoke to me. I had looked up and saw a member of our church family rubbing his shoulder. God said...

The concept of Speaking in Tongues seems to have been flying low under the Christian radar for a number of years. It was fifty years ago that the UK experienced a season of ‘charismatic renewal’. This saw the birth of many new churches who broke away from mainstream...

For many years, my wife Judith and I have been in the habit of praying together every morning. We pray for each other, for our children, for others that we know and sometimes also for wider issues. We don't spend long at it, maybe a few minutes or so but it is an...

One of my daughter’s favourite bible stories is the story of the Widow and the Oil, from 2 Kings 4. The story goes that there’s a woman, whose husband has died, she’s left with his debt and two sons to care for. She has no money, no food and no hope. The debt...

I was lucky enough to grow up in a church which was expanding and where there were many people investing in the young people. My relationship with God was very good. When I needed comfort, I prayed, and he was there for me. When I needed wisdom, I prayed, and he...

After what feels like the longest summer for some, and a mere couple of days for others, September is upon us…and the much awaited arrival of the autumn. In celebration of the darker evenings, the season brings the timely return of many television...

Kynance Cove is often tipped to be the most picturesque beach in the whole of Cornwall, famous for its white sand, turquoise sea and jagged rock stacks. And I was pumped about going there.  So we went down on the first day of our holiday last week, but a...

A while ago the Red Dwarf comedy series was a popular viewing in our house. The writers had some amazingly original ideas and one that lodged in my memory was the concept of the justice zone. In this room you could do whatever you wanted but every act had...

Rick Warren, the writer of Purpose Driven Life and the master of the well crafted sentence, famously says that “To avoid burnout you should Divert Daily, Withdraw Weekly and Abandon Annually” In a world that says you can always do more, this is refreshing....

I love this time of year because I can find Wimbledon being aired on BBC iPlayer for a solid two weeks…what a joy!I love to watch underdogs come back from 2 sets down to then winning the game. I love to see an exciting game being played by two incredibly...

Hyperbole (the use of exaggeration to make a point) was often used to great effect by Jesus.We can smile at the imagery but also get the message when he told people to remove logs from their own eyes before trying to remove specks from each other's...

I wonder if you’ve ever experienced the pain of doors slamming in your face? Of wounds inflicted by hands you know you should have been able to trust? I wonder if you have watched as the pathway you felt you were called to follow has been closed down...

Recently, I was in London to watch my son run the Marathon; not quite giving Mo Farah any competition but he did great and was faster than the average time. It was quite a challenge to keep up with him, rushing round from one street-side position to...

My background is working with those with Dementia, and for many years I worked for Alzheimer’s Society covering Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the Chanel Islands. I loved the Chanel Islands, particularly Guernsey. I spent a fair amount of time working...

Things my parents used to say were, “I’ll turn this car around MR!”“If you sit too close to the TV your eyes will go square”“Money doesn’t grow on trees.”Other than being stereotypical parents these are some of the things that have stuck with me. However,...

It seems the world is becoming more and more unhappy. Just consider the sheer amount of angry posts, hate-speech, aggression, tribalism and divisions in the world. Do you ever feel like you've been left behind? Are you sometimes a little bit happy but...

We have recently completed a teaching series at Freedom Church entitled “Blurred Lines - Godly Sexuality in a Confusing World” We looked at the importance of understanding our identity in Christ and that there is a better story. We challenged the way that...

(Taken from the teaching series ‘Blurred Lines’ looking at what is Godly sexuality in a Confusing World) The most searched for phrase on Google in 2014 was ‘What is Love?’ The world is looking for love and meaningful connection. Historically we would ‘court’ someone...