Silent in the Background
Why a blog, and why the name? In November 2020 I was given an award for being ‘silent in the background’. Strictly speaking, my wife and I were given an…
Why a blog, and why the name? In November 2020 I was given an award for being ‘silent in the background’. Strictly speaking, my wife and I were given an…
An Easter journey in nine stories – Paula Gooder A thoughtful imaginative (re-)telling of the stories of nine women who encountered Jesus in the final week of his life (and…
Old Testament Violence and the Shalom of God – Matthew J. Lynch An easy to read and thought provoking exploration of some of the often-quoted ‘violent’ texts of the Old…
Re-reading Luke’s gospel, it’s interesting to see how Luke presents the sonship of Jesus. In my study of Joseph a couple of years ago I focussed on Matthew’s account of…
So far in 2024 I have deliberately tried to be conscious of what I am reading, the effect it is having on me, and what difference this might make to…
This was another eye-opening read for me, as the author, who is mixed race and grew up in Wimbledon, describes, from personal experience, interviews and research, ways in which life…
Jake’s story was the introduction to this talk at Forest Hill Community Church where I talked (for about 25 minutes) about the Bible’s attitude to vulnerable children and how seeing…
Jake had a big family; he was the second of five brothers, and he had three sisters too. They lived in a small village with mum and dad, until Jake…
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge As a white foster carer to mixed race children I am seeking to equip myself better for…
A festive tale of trauma & attachment, the reason for the season, future hope, and wilful ignorance. A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens My Goodreads rating:…
Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford My rating: 4 of 5 stars A book about lives and places that grew on me. Starting with a brilliantly slow opening chapter the novel…