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
I Want to Know You Better. Please Take My Short Survey
I want my blog and podcast to serve you well. To do that, I'd love to know a little more about you! Would you mind spending a few minutes filling out this reader survey? I value your time greatly and so have kept it short. Your answers are anonymous and I will read every one.
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
055 What ‘Turn the Other Cheek’ Means (and Doesn’t) in an Age of Terrorism
The stories come almost every day: terror groups like ISIS destroying lives and using every form of intimidation to get implement their radical vision for the world. How should we respond? I believe Jesus has something powerful to say to the problem, but his words need to be carefully understood before being applied.
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
054 Overcoming the 4 Forces That Destroy Relationships
When people ask me what personal discoveries I made reading the Sermon on the Mount every day for a month (then two months, then three), I mention the fact this famous speech is ultimately about resilience, that praying the Lord's Prayer can be a powerful daily exercise, and that I was surprised how practical his
If You Were to Write Your Life into a Short Story, What Would it Say? Here’s Mine
When you're an author doing media for your a book, it's an honour to have a journalist ask you questions that reach beyond the press release. That's what Amy Boucher-Pye did for me recently in preparation for a magazine article. 'If you were to write your life into a short story, what would it say?'
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
Read 8 Chapters of Resilient FREE
My new book Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life releases worldwide next Wednesday! To celebrate, each day between now and Monday 19th I will post free readings from the book. The first is ready for you: click through to read Resilient’s Introduction now. You'll also find out how to get the Resilient Study Guide
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