Redeeming Generation X
Cynical, nihilist, commitment-phobic, dispassionate. Perhaps no age-group in history has had more negative labels attached to it than Generation X: that often ignored 'middle child' generation between the Baby Boomers and Millennials. As a Gen-Xer myself, I want to shout "We're better than you think!" But as I share in this BBC Pause for Thought
056 Radical Islam is Filling a Spiritual Void, But There’s an Even More Radical Alternative
According to research, most French Islamists come from non-religious families. They are former secularists who are drawn into jihadist religion searching for meaning and purpose for their lives and a grand cause to live for. This is a desire every human being has - a desire secular society fails to fulfill - which leaves jihadists
What a Cold Pint of Beer Can Tell Us About God
I've never had much of a taste for beer. I know some see beer as such a societal menace, it's not worth talking about too. But keep this in mind: the first breweries were started by Christians to provide a healthy alternative to either drinking dirty water or getting drunk on gin, and the very
052 The Ancient Prayer That Can Change Your Life
It is prayed each Sunday in churches. Some of us grew up reciting it daily in school. It can suffer from both neglect and mindless repetition because of its familiarity. But when prayed slowly and with intent, it is possibly the most powerful prayer one can pray, touching every area of our lives. In this
051 Feeling Pulled in Too Many Directions? Here are 10 Ways to Simplify Your Life
We are the options generation. We can pursue almost any career and lifestyle, something previous generations only dreamed of. But our increasing affluence has brought problems. We can want too much, be pulled in too many directions, and lack clarity of mind and purpose. In this post and podcast we'll look at Jesus's remedy to
Four Ways to Turn Suffering into Service
Researchers into resilience say we bounce back from adversity better when we can turn our weakness into strength and our pain into power. It's a nice thought, but how can it happen? Here are four ways I've seen God do it by seeing pain as a challenge to be fulfilled, a gift to be embraced,
These 5 Practices Can Help You Build Resilience (FREE eBook)
Researchers into resilience are agreed: there are mental, emotional, social, and spiritual factors that help build inner strength in us. In my book 'Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life' I share how I discovered these factors in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. In this accompanying ebook, I invite you to explore five practices implicit
049 Life With God: The Richard Foster Interview
Richard Foster is one of the most significant spiritual writers of our day. The author of bestselling books like 'Celebration of Discipline' and 'Life with God', his life is dedicated to helping us live deeply in a superficial world. In this personal interview you'll hear Richard share his formative experiences, his spiritual highs and lows,
Introducing My New Book Project: Resilient!
I’m excited! Very excited in fact. Today dear friends I announce to you my next book project called 'Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life'. It’s all about developing inner strength to weather life’s storms and flourish. The book releases worldwide on Wednesday October 21. There’ll be a short film series too, plus some free
048 Finding God in Unexpected Places (5 Great Stories)
Elijah searched for God in a whirlwind but found him in a whisper. Jacob found him in his dreams, Moses in a burning bush, and Mary Magdalene looked for him in a tomb but found him standing behind her. God always seems to turn up in unexpected places. Here are five contemporary stories to show