The death of Charlie Kirk is both profoundly tragic and a sobering indictment of the polarised and angry world in which we now live. As Sting expressed in his song Fragile, reflecting on the fragility of humanity: “Perhaps this final act was meant to clinch a lifetime’s argument, that nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could.”

To me, Charlie was a man of deep conviction. I respected his passionate faith and his willingness to defend it, even when I found some of his views difficult to reconcile with the Christian faith I follow and the teachings of Jesus as I understand them. I did admire his openness to debate—his readiness to state his beliefs clearly, to hear challenges, and to listen to those who disagreed with him. There is something deeply valuable in such an approach. His death calls for a response: to uphold his wife and children in prayer during this heartbreaking time, and to reflect on the broader societal ramifications of this act of violence.

We live in a time when many people, both in the US and the UK, are unsettled and profoundly dissatisfied with aspects of our broken Western culture. There is much to celebrate in our shared heritage, but also, increasingly, many urgent problems that remain inadequately addressed. If there is any unity to be found at present, it may be in this shared sense of disillusionment, even though we often identify the problems—and their solutions—in very different polarised ways. Perhaps, then, we should seek a deeper appreciation of one another, recognising that we should face these challenges together. Let us look for the best in each other. It is usually easy to find the good. As my mother wisely taught me, shouting at one another will not bring resolution.

The Western consumerist promise of prosperity and happiness has too often proved to be a hollow illusion—a grand business enterprise from which many now suffer and from which we are all still reeling. And yet, even in the darkness, there is light. The message Charlie most passionately shared—that the truest way to live is found in the values of Christianity as embodied in the teachings of Jesus—remains, I believe, profoundly true. While I did not agree with him on every point of faith, far from it, here I stand alongside him. These Christian values—of love, hope, and peace—are the very things our world longs for as it struggles with hate, despair and anger. They offer a vision of healing for our polarised age.

Indeed, these values are foundational to the ethics, morality and justice upon which the US and UK were historically built, though they now often seem elusive. This Christian way, when lived fully, is not only good but transformative: it reveals truth, breathes life, and offers a path of renewal. In my conviction, it is The Way—the only true solution. Against the growing toxicity of our culture, where division and hostility deepen by the day, the Kingdom of God offers unity, peace and belonging. The privilege I experience as a Baptist Minister, leading and belonging to a living community of faith, truly feels like an oasis in a barren land.

If the world is moving toward greater brokenness, why not explore the wholeness that faith in Christ brings? You would be most welcome to join us at St Peter’s and experience this for yourself. I know you would receive a warm and genuine welcome, and I am confident you would find many of the answers to the deepest questions of our time.

Our next Alpha Course, which explores the main principles of the Christian faith, begins on 18th September. Click here for more information.

Have you ever taken a moment to truly reflect on how you perceive yourself? Do you see yourself as damaged, unloved, or perhaps even fragile? It’s so easy to fall into the trap of negative self-talk, to allow the troubles that life throws our way to cloud our vision. Yet, in these moments of introspection, we must remember that our worth is not defined by our imperfections or past experiences.

God is ever-present, holding onto these thoughts that weigh heavily on our hearts. In His infinite wisdom, He embraces every flaw and every scar, recognising that they are part of our unique journey. He sees us not as broken beings, but as beautiful works in progress, deserving of love and acceptance.

As we navigate the winding road of life, we often find ourselves in need of guidance. It is through faith that we can begin to see clearly; we can trust that every challenge we face serves a purpose. Each moment of struggle is an opportunity for healing, a chance to grow stronger and more resilient. We must allow ourselves the grace to acknowledge our troubles without being bound by them.

When we open our hearts to love, we also open the door to understanding. We can learn to love ourselves, imperfections and all. This journey of self-acceptance is not always an easy one, but with trust in God, we can find solace in knowing that we are never alone. He walks beside us, guiding us through the darkest valleys, illuminating the path toward self-discovery and inner peace.

Let us remember that being unloved or feeling fragile is not a reflection of our true worth. Rather, it is a reminder that we are human, capable of experiencing a spectrum of emotions and challenges. Embracing our vulnerabilities allows us to connect more deeply with others, fostering relationships built on authenticity and understanding.

In moments of doubt, take time for reflection. Ask yourself what you truly believe about who you are. Are you seeing clearly, or are your perceptions shrouded by negativity? With God’s light shining upon us, we can begin to unravel the layers of doubt and fear, revealing the radiant truth of our existence.

Each of us is a mosaic of experiences, and while we may have our share of troubles, we are also equipped with the strength to rise above them. Let us trust in the process of healing and commit to embracing our imperfections as part of our story. Remember, it is in the acknowledgement of our struggles that we uncover the beauty of our resilience.

So, how do you see yourself? Choose to see the person that God sees—a being of infinite value, filled with potential and deserving of all the love God has to offer. Let your journey be one of empowerment, where faith and love guide you towards a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow.

I’m currently reading ‘Faith, Hope and Carnage’, a transcription of interviews with Nick Cave undertaken by Seán O’Hagan, during the time Nick was working on the album ‘Carnage’.

Nick Cave has for many decades been exploring faith, mostly as a heroin-addicted apostate: much of his early work is influenced by the Old Testament, and many of the songs on his 1997 album, ‘The Boatman’s Call’, are informed by his reacquaintance with the Gospels. One commentator [J Arthur Bloom] has said that “The transition in tone between ‘Murder Ballads’ [his previous album] and ‘The Boatman’s Call’ is as stark as from Malachi to Matthew, and speaks to a personal epiphany”. In these interviews he declares that he is a believer, ‘especially today’. [p74]

In 2015 Cave’s son Arthur died aged 15 following a fall from a cliff near Brighton where they lived, this has had a profound impact on Cave and his family. Some of the interviews in ‘Faith, Hope and Carnage’ explore how Nick Cave processes his grief. “Since Arthur died, I have been able to step beyond the full force of the grief and experience a kind of joy that is entirely new to me. It was as if the experience of grief enlarged my heart in some way. I have experienced periods of happiness more than I have ever felt before, even though it is the most devastating thing to happen to me… I say all this with huge caution and a million caveats, but I also say it because there are those who say there is no way back from the catastrophic event. That they will never laugh again. But there is, and they will.” [p109-110]

Nick Cave also maintains a blog and correspondence page called ‘Red Hand Files’. One topic has been ‘Joy’; one contributor, empathising with Cave, has said that Psalms 126:5-6 describe him “to a T”. 

“Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
 Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.”

Nick Cave has found faith, hope and joy!

In a previous blog about my shift from believing in coincidences to starting to see God-incidences, I shared about coming to faith when God answered a question that I asked myself ‘What’s the best thing in the world I can possibly do for my newly born first child, Sion?’ The voice that spoke instantly into my head and my inner soul said ‘Follow Jesus!’. The irony was that as an atheist at the time I’d become interested in a Christian neighbour and her friends I had met who had undermined my negative perceptions about Christianity. To top it all I now had a voice answering a question I thought I had asked myself, telling me the answer was to follow Jesus! What was going on with those ‘coincidences’???
A few months later I’m now at our neighbour’s church and I remember distinctly praying to this God I’d just opened my eyes to, ‘Please let me see my children and their children and know they are safe and thriving?’
Roll forward 38 years, and now Sion and his wife have a most beautiful 14-month-old daughter, but neither of the proud parents are practising Christians yet. But, during a visit to their home in Bristol, my lovely daughter-in-law asked us whether we would be willing to take their smidge to church with us so she could see her uncle Rhys, our second child, playing drums. My heart skipped. What was going on?
So, Sunday 27th October 2024, we are filled with joy as our granddaughter and her doting parents accompany us to the morning service. The worship and message were powerful, and my granddaughter, who is just starting to toddle about, is standing there on the cover of the baptistry doing a jig! Her uncle Rhys is playing the drums, but I now realise that smidge is standing on the baptistry where I had had the absolute pleasure of helping baptise Rhys in January 2023.
During the service, Sion turned to me and said he had some questions he wanted to ask me about Christianity after the service. Unfortunately, I was held up from following him for coffee, but then I bumped into Andy, the pastor, who said he would go and introduce himself. By the time I get down, Andy is getting on like a house on fire with Sion and his wife, both of whom are standing next to Rhys. Sion had been quizzing Rhys about his deep faith when Andy arrived. God was pointing out to me He was arranging things in answer to my prayer 38 years earlier. He hadn’t forgotten and He had arranged everything.
Who knows what the future holds other than Christ, but I had a complete sense of joy as I realised God was underlining for me how He was keeping His promises to me down the past 38 years, standing faithfully beside me, my wonderful wife and children and their children.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations”
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

I have always been in awe of supernatural transcendence in the Bible. This has happened in several ways on a number of occasions. An example that comes to mind for me is the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, which transcends languages. When I read things such as this, it is very difficult to see how they fit into the real world. However, in 2013, a mission trip to Moldova changed this for me forever. I was invited to Moldova for 17 days to preach the Gospel and teach English to a group of people who were mainly Russian Orthodox Christians in a summer camp. Looking back, I could see where God’s spiritual transcendence was.

I went with a group of people from the charity UCCF. It was my first time on a mission trip, and I didn’t really know what to expect. I am not going to say that there weren’t any challenges. There were differences in beliefs to start with, as some of the young people at the camp believed it was necessary to pay for prayer to be able to receive it correctly. There were differences in languages, as people in Moldova normally speak a combination of Romanian and Russian. I of course spoke English. There were differences in culture. Moldova was at the time, and still is one of the poorest countries in Europe and it was very difficult for us not to be treated as this “higher class of people.”

But God is always good, and if it is his plan, it will always prevail. This was where I saw transcendence in so many ways. I saw God transcending languages. It didn’t matter that they barely understood a word we said most of the time. As soon as the Bible came out, this changed things. I saw God transcend culture. Gradually over the time we were there, we were able to understand each other better and relate to one another more. 

The truth is, that God transcended the challenges in the mission trip because without him, we wouldn’t have stood a chance at succeeding. 

Has God ever transcended his power through your situation? Where have you seen the spirit work before to fulfil God’s purpose?

In Matthew 14:22-36, Jesus was seen walking on water, during a storm. Peter, boldly asked Jesus to command him to walk with Him on the water and Jesus did. Peter got out and walked until there was a stumble of faith and was almost drowning when Jesus caught him and they walked and got back on the boat together.

“What a sight! Jesus and Peter, hand in hand, walking on the sea,” said Charles Spurgeon.

I catch a glimpse of this on Thursday nights when l attend dance classes. During freestyle, a gentleman will walk toward me and ask me to dance, or l will ask if I am feeling brave. And there as we walk on the dance floor, l learn to follow, as the lead guides the dance, indicating the direction, timing, and movement patterns. Depending on my relationship with the lead l know his non-verbal cues and he knows mine. Our communication and connection are paramount to the success of our dance. In the 15 minutes, 3 to 4 songs will play, all with different tempos – different seasons in my life. My attentiveness and active listening help me to know the rhythm of our dance and keep the flow. In that moment l am at peace because l know even though the waves of life are raging, l can trust my dance partner has got me. With the occasional dips, that brings the possibility of falling, sometimes due to my own doing – lack of technique or posture. I am confident l will be caught.

Just like that gentleman who invites me to dance, God is inviting every single one of us to dance on the journey of life with Him. Please let me know what song you will dance to. Mine will be ‘Dancing on the Waves’ by We The Kingdom.

I like to spend my Saturdays walking. A few months ago, whilst walking by the river, I remember spotting a swan with her cygnets hiding under her wings. I reflected upon why the swan does this, how the swan protects her young from dangers like predators and harsh weather, carries them when they get too tired or cannot keep up and protects her young whilst still being able to feed (multi-tasking).

A few weeks ago, I was on another walk this time in the Wyre Forest. The weather was awful. It was pouring with rain, but as I walked through the trees, they provided a covering and reduced the harshness of the rain. Although I got a bit wet the impact of the heavy rain was greatly reduced, I wasn’t soaked through! In that moment I remembered the picture of the cygnets being protected by the swan’s wings.

These thoughts led me to Psalm 91. In verses 1 to 4 we read: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection.”

This psalm reminds us of how God protects us when we are going through difficulty and that we can find refuge in Him. When we face turbulent times, when we are tired and need carrying, when we face things that feel so overwhelming that we cannot see a way forward or through, God, like the swan, will shelter us under His wings. He protects His children, and He can multi-task, just like the swan. Protecting whilst providing.

God is our refuge an ever-present help in times of trouble.

I’m sure many of you know what an oxymoron is. It’s two words that don’t go together, usually because one is the opposite of the other and so the meaning doesn’t make sense. It’s contradictory. Some have entered our language on a regular basis, such as ‘friendly fire’ or ‘deafening silence’. Sometimes they are designed to be clever. Sometimes they are incredibly insightful, such as the title of this blog: Servant King. Kings rule, they don’t serve, do they?

I’m stepping down as a church leader after three and a bit years. As I look back over this time, I believe it’s been fruitful for me, and hopefully for the Leadership Team and for the church. We’ve presented together, discussed and debated together and most importantly prayed together over a whole variety of issues. Although there are appointed roles within the team, some more ‘leadery’ than others, no-one has sought to dominate, each has ‘submitted to one another out of reverence for Christ’ (Ephesians 5:21). Why is this? The answer lies with Jesus, of course.

Mark’s gospel records Jesus as saying: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35). He demonstrated this at the Last Supper, by wrapping a towel around himself and washing the disciples’ dirty, road-weary feet, a task reserved for the humblest servant. He told his disciples: “I have set you an example, that you should do as I have done for you,” (John 13:15). This was despite knowing that he had come from God and was returning to God and that God the Father had put all things under his power.

This shows us just how topsy-turvy the Kingdom of God is. It doesn’t do what we may expect. ‘The first shall be last and the last shall be first,’ (Matt 19:30). Our late Queen Elizabeth understood this deeply. Jesus, the Servant King, is the ultimate oxymoron.

I really love listening to music, and singing along if I can – even if the song is in a foreign language, and I think I’m singing what sounds like the right words! This happens quite a lot at the Zumba classes I go to, when a lot of the tracks are sung in Spanish or Portuguese. I go home and look up the lyrics so that I can sing the right words the next time, and often try to translate the words so that I know what I’m saying – you can never be too careful, especially with some of the songs we dance to!

It’s so easy sometimes to just let the lyrics of songs wash over us, almost meaningless to us – we hear the words, and that’s all they are – words. But occasionally a word or a phrase pops out at me and I am compelled to investigate.

This happened recently at our staff retreat. We were singing the well-known Christian chorus “Holy Spirit (you are welcome here)”. We got to the bridge section where the words are “Let us experience the glory of your goodness” and I suddenly thought to myself ‘what is the glory of God’s goodness?’ and ‘what does God’s goodness look like for me?’ and ‘how can I sing this, and not know what it means?’ So, I took a closer look. Here’s what I found:-

The Bible tells us that the word ‘good’ actually means holy, pure and righteousness. Literally goodness is godliness. So, God’s goodness represents everything that God IS, everything that God HAS, and everything that God DESIRES for us to experience.

Goodness in Hebrew is ‘good in the widest sense’ – so that means God’s goodness is designed to absolutely overwhelm us. I find this really comforting and encouraging. He wants the absolute best for me, at all times.

Probably one of the most famous psalms is “The Lord is my shepherd”, Psalm 23. In verse 6 it says “Surely GOODNESS and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”. I hadn’t really understood this verse before, even though I must have read it and sung it many times. The word ‘follow’ here literally means to pursue. So the Goodness of God is constantly pursuing us [we sing another famous song about ‘Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me’]

Someone put it like this; “The goodness of God is the greatest good that we could ever think of, only greater!”

No matter how good we think God is, His goodness to us is greater still. The more we become aware of God’s goodness, the more it increases. Focusing on His goodness will amplify all He has done, all He is doing, and all He will do in our lives. How amazing is that realisation?

And not only that, but He wants to demonstrate His goodness through us, to everyone we meet.

1 Peter 2:9 says “You are a chosen people. You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the GOODNESS OF GOD, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.”

So, join me if you can, and learn to experience the glory of His goodness.

I can assure you, it’s so, so good