Advent Reflections: Love
I come from a very straight Anglican church background, we sang hymns and in the church choir we wore robes and cassocks. Though I love the style of worship we have at Church At Barking Riverside, I do sometimes miss the hymns and anthems I was so used to singing week in, week out. One of them being, God Is Love, His The Care. Again, not always upbeat and not really a Christmas hymn, but the lyrics stick with me and are very poignant to this week’s Advent Reflections on Love. 1… Read More
Advent Reflections: Joy
This week the video the Bible Project shared on their socials was about Love, but this week’s reflections are based on their video about Joy. You can watch the video on Joy here. This is one of my favourite Christmas hymns, it’s not the most upbeat but the lyrics get me every time! Most Christmas carols/hymns are about Jesus being born to Mary. But this hymn is about the joy that is to come. It is all about the fulfilment of what Christ came to do in the first place. Christmas is… Read More
Advent Reflections: Peace
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV Continuing on from last week’s Advent Reflection on Hope, this week we’ll be focusing on Peace – you can watch the video here. These days… Read More
Advent Reflections: Hope
Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:6-7 ESV From this week we will start our advent blog series following Bible Project’s daily reflections and videos on hope, peace, joy, and love. Every Monday, we will share the weekly video then on Wednesdays we will post our blog reflecting on the video and daily devotional/questions. This week we’ll be focusing on hope – you can watch… Read More
Christmas Is Coming!
Christmas is coming! And boy are we looking forward to it! With last year’s lockdowns and having all festivities basically cancelled last minute, this year lets go bigger and better right? Maybe not. As we have learnt through our blog series reflecting on John Mark Comer’s “The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry”, wanting more and focusing on more, doesn’t always help our soul or get us closer to God. In fact it does the total opposite and distracts us from, not only what we really want, but most importantly, what we really need…. Read More
Why Christians Should Worry About Climate Change
You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.” Numbers 35:33-34 The green issue is becoming more and more prevalent, especially with the Earthshot Price and COP 26 happening this month…. Read More
Slow & Steady Wins The Race
Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you. It is certainly a higher virtue of the soul, and a greater grace, to be able to enjoy the Lord in different times and different places than in only one. Saint Ignatius This week marks our last blog in the series following John Comer’s The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry. If you have missed any from the series, I highly recommend you catch up as the book is a great balance of… Read More
Does Less Truly Mean More?
“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. Psalm 39 Our current culture has us striving for more. As soon as we leave education (whether that be after GCSEs, A-Levels or higher education), the main goal is to get a job or career. More than that, it is to ensure we are paid well so that we can go for that flat or house, buy that car, afford those holidays, enjoy life and live comfortably. Once we reach our… Read More
Prominent Black British Figures
“If you know your history, then you would know where you coming from, then you wouldn’t have to ask me, who the heck do I think I am.” Bob Marley This week marks the end of Black History Month here in the UK. Initially I wasn’t too bothered about writing a blog to mark the occasion, not because I don’t like Black History Month but because: I didn’t want our audience to feel tired hearing about the Black experience as it has been a high profile topic of conversation in the last… Read More
To Sabbath, Or Not To Sabbath?
“Desire is infinite partly because we were made by God, made for God, made to need God, and made to run on God. We can be satisfied only by the one who is infinite, eternal, and able to supply all our needs; we are only at home in God. When we fall away from God, the desire for the infinite remains, but it is displaced upon things that will certainly lead to destruction.” Dallas Willard Last week we looked into one of the practices to help ‘unhurry’ your life as set out… Read More
