Opinions/Reflections January - June 2015
| There is much to learn from Simeon and how he lived a verse often recalled at the start of a new year |
| As the chimes of Big Ben fade away, Heather Skull reflects on the point of marking the New Year |
| Reflecting on the Charlie Hebdo massacre and the hijacking of faith |
| Many wrongs demand our attention, so where do we devote our time and energy? |
| It is not just that God’s justice is different from ours; our justice is different from ours, writes Stephen Holmes |
| What does it mean to place the needs and well-being of children at the very heart of our shared life? |
| The approach of Ecuadorian Baptists to church planting sets Michael Shaw thinking about how we go about it in the UK |
| How a battered and broken car is a reminder that love and grace can transform a sorry mess into something special |
| Could depression be a sign of a deeper connection to God? |
| Conversations in a pub, an arts cafe - Chris Duffett shares two examples of pioneering that are making a difference |
| Historic decision to allow women bishops a vital step in realigining church practices with scriptural teachings |
| In order to be an effective leader there is a vital lesson we must learn about where we build our leadership from |
| Whatever our anxieties, we are called to bring them before Jesus, writes Chris Willis |
| With Lent approaching John Rackley wonders about the significance of wild places for our spirituality and faith |
| Why do we allow ourselves to be dazzled and awestruck by numerical success - and discouraged by lack of it? |
| Paul Poulton explains how he couldn't get the first book of the Bible out of his head - and how it all ended up in print |
| Concluding his series on leadership, Darren Blaney looks at what a leader does
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| As someone who is easily distracted, Heather Skull looks at the positive side to going off the beaten track |
| We have become adept at holding people to account. But is there too much focus after the horse has bolted? |
| Shut-up evangelism: seeking out what God is already doing in someone’s life, rather than dispensing booklets and tracts |
| I think it boils down to three things, writes Colin Sedgwick |
| Politicians on all sides want to hear from us as the General Election approaches. What should we be saying? |
| Engagement in the political narratives of our day is not a distraction from our Gospel identity, but an expression of it |
| New series: John Rackley imagines a possible response of people intimately involved in the hours before Jesus' death |
| Continuing the series of reflections involving people intimately involved in the hours before Jesus' death |
| An unnecessary death - we would see it to its bitter end, and then wait to receive his body |
| A reflection on the political consequences of Jesus' life alongside our response to the current electioneering |
| How bizarre that I of all people should see a son of God on that cross – when no one else could.
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| Why could he go boldly to Pilate for the body of Jesus but not be equally courageous among his fellow believers? |
| The events of the last Israeli election are a wake-up call to the church, argues Azar Ajaj |
| Heather Skull looks at lies, spin and exaggeration. Where do we find truth? |
| He made it difficult for others; especially people like me. I tried to be a voice of calm in stormy times; but it was not easy. |
| Andrea Campanale reflects on a recent study of chaplaincy in the UK |
| Reflecting on when an area learns to live without a church. By Michael Shaw |
| Young people are not in church in the numbers they used to be, and atheism is growing. What can we do? |
| Black majority churches are growing significantly. Why? And how can other churches learn from them? By listening and reconnecting |
| Taking time out to reflect on why we do what we do as a church can be a challenging prospect. Three questions that might help us |
| Can Christian values help HR influence culture and make organisations good places to work in? By Dr Clive Morton OBE |
| European Baptist Federation General Secretary Tony Peck's thoughts on his visit to eastern Ukraine in April
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| Shaun Lambert offers a compelling explanation why mindfulness should matter to Christians |
| Fruitful involvement with your local school stems from understanding its ethos and how you can help |
| The election results are not the final word, they are only the beginning: we need to remain engaged in the political situation of our country |
| They are theologically just as important - so why don't we invest as much energy into days such as Pentecost as we do Christmas and Easter? |
| The wind was getting up. By John Rackley |
| When our prayer life is going well it’s amazing. But what about when God seems silent? |
| Have we lost the concept of sacrifice in the context of worship? |
| Life in all its fullness matters. Heather Skull reflects on why everything happens for a purpose... |
| Prayer spaces enable children to explore life questions - and have had a greater impact than I could ever have imagined |
| Where, in the tussle between faith and family, do our ultimate priorities lie? |
| The Baptist Collaboration Facebook Group is three years old. Founder Peter Dominey reflects on its impact, and future online collaboration |
| The Papal encyclical is a most welcome contribution to the climate debate, writes John Weaver |
| The Bible has quite a lot to say about food, who has it and who hasn't. Its prophets would have been brilliant in our House of Commons |