His smiling profile picture was often at the top of my message list on WhatsApp, but this was my national news app, and next to his photo was a headline denouncing the circumstances of his death. I know that awful things happen to ordinary people all the time, but he was my friend.

We are always waiting for something these days. Something to be delivered, someone to arrive, or for a situation to improve. And yet our faith in our leaders’ capacity to know how to solve the problems of our nation and the globe seems to be at an all-time low… nevertheless hope is something we find it hard to live without…

If everyone who considers themselves a part of a Christian community, and I include myself in this, were to follow the example and teaching of Jesus, and live up to the expectations of the biblical authors then church would be a radically different place both to how it is now, and to the world around us.

Just imagine for a moment a ‘dream team’, and all that could be achieved if they were to pull together towards a common goal. Exciting, isn’t it? Each person bringing a different set of skills, qualities, and experiences. Each person offering all they have so that together they achieve far more than they could ever…

The headlines today are full again of people who have done ‘the wrong thing’. They have misled, abused, cheated, used power for selfish gain, and caused hurt, harm, and offence, and we know that this is not right. When watching news reports or reading people’s comments online it becomes clear, very quickly, that we have…

A hoard of 48 gold and silver items buried by a Viking Chieftain over a thousand years ago, was discovered in a field just outside the town where I live almost exactly 11 years ago today. The thought that there might be treasure to be found, just within our reach motivates us. The gospel writer Matthew recorded a saying of Jesus that has puzzled many people, when he described God’s kingdom as being like a treasure hidden in a field.

In a culture where to many, religion is thought to be something that is irrelevant at best, and dangerous and divisive at worst it may seem strange for me to ask such a question. Many of us just don’t worship anything…