Blog
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Keep calm and keep reading
Experiencing a Book Utopia As I walked into the converted railway station, I caught my breath. Was this paradise? People nestled around a crackling fire, gathering their hot drinks and cookies to settle in with a good book. I looked at the shelves, hardly knowing where to stay my gaze, titles vying for my…
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Guest blog: PyelotBoy and CutiePyeGirl
PyelotBoy, CutiePyeGirl, and I have had fun reading through some of my blogs this week. They’ve been enraptured by my writing (ha!), listening intently as I recounted my embarrassing encounter at the tea room in Lindisfarne. So they wanted to introduce themselves. PyelotBoy typed his first draft without me (but as I harp on…
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A tale of gossip, shame, and forgiveness
I woke with a shame hangover. As thoughts of the previous day came rushing back to me, my face flushed with heat. We were traveling on a budget – not uncommon for clergy and those doing so-called Christian work.* We were sharing lunch in a small coffee shop on Holy Island (Lindisfarne), having purchased some hot…
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Devotional of the week: Philippians 2:3–4
Upside-down World “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3–4 To value humility today is to act counterculturally. We’re told by endless advertising campaigns that we’re worth…
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Lunch with their publisher, by Conrad Gempf
One of the joys of my portfolio lifestyle is the commissioning/acquisitions editorial work I get to do with Authentic Media. Like working with the amazing Conrad Gempf, whose book on the apostle Paul you really shouldn’t miss. Conrad has graciously agreed for me to post his amusing rendition of one of those publisher lunches… “Well,…
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Losing my cool – a study in imperfect parenting
The morning school run can be a most dreaded experience. It’s certainly not something I anticipated would be such a big part of my life. In America, people generally don’t walk to school, the ubiquitous yellow school bus doing away with parents needing to deposit their children at school each day. Not so in Britain,…
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Devotional of the week: Philippians 2:2
Like Minded “…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Philippians 2:2 “What do you have in mind?” one friend asks the others as they decide where to go out to eat. A trivial example, admittedly, but when friends reach a common…
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A writer’s psalm
The Lord is my publisher, I lack nothing. He makes me lie in cozy studies, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of rejection, I will fear no evil, for you are…
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Review of two unmissable novels by Lisa Samson
True confessions. I didn’t always like Christian fiction. But several years ago I agreed to write a feature article for the then UK-Christian-trade-publishing magazine, and found my prejudices were proven wrong. Mostly. When I wasn’t looking, Christian fiction grew up. Gone (again, mostly) were the formulaic last-minute conversions and marriages. Instead I found strong characters…
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Devotional of the week: Philippians 2:1
Clothed in Christ “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion…” Philippians 2:1 (NIV) Union with Christ – an unattainable mystery or a life-changing reality? The apostle Paul would argue for the latter;…
