https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2024/06/21/reflections-on-the-rule-of-saint-benedict/ Last year I enjoyed reading The Rule of Saint Benedict. A friend asked whether we could be shaped more by this ancient wisdom today. So here are some random reflections on that theme. Things we could learn One of the strengths of the Benedictine Rule is that life has set rhythms. This is a … Continue reading Benedict’s Rule and the modern Christian
Why it is a problem if you can’t distinguish between Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate
In the modern world, we will all be getting our own diet of news and articles served up the algorithms. Or if you mostly avoid online (and how have you read this blogpost if so) you'll get the news of your newspapers or TV shows. So I don't assume everyone will have heard of either … Continue reading Why it is a problem if you can’t distinguish between Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate
Some basic tips for parenting
With four children, I've had to think quite a lot about parenting. I've produced a parenting course for our church, and tried to apply Biblical principles to modern day parenting. But some of my views on parenting are not biblical but just based on lots of time with kids, and lots of time with families … Continue reading Some basic tips for parenting
Problems with leadership pathways
One of the themes in the Old Testament prophets is that the leaders of Israel (Prophets, priests and kings) have failed. I thought, ‘These are only the poor; they are foolish,for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.5 So I will go to the leaders and speak to them;surely they know the way … Continue reading Problems with leadership pathways
Why I focus on God and not social transformation
There are lots of things wrong with the world. That at least is something we can all agree on. Newspapers and social media sites are full of the things that are wrong with the world. And so there are voices calling for everyone to make it their highest priority to deal with problem x or … Continue reading Why I focus on God and not social transformation
Making the case for Christianity: simplest possible case or convergent net?
The story of one of Wikipedia's founders becoming a Christian (https://larrysanger.org/2025/02/how-a-skeptical-philosopher-becomes-a-christian/ ) is fascinating and encouraging because someone has worked through the philosophical evidence, read the Bible and trusted Jesus for eternal life. But he also highlights something interesting about arguments for God. In the stage before reading the Bible, he found the "proofs for … Continue reading Making the case for Christianity: simplest possible case or convergent net?
The Old makes the New Clear
There are many debates about the meaning of words and events in the New Testament. What does the cross of Christ achieve, and is substitutionary and penal? Is it helpful to speak of sin as rebellion against God? What exactly is grace? And many other debates. In 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', the … Continue reading The Old makes the New Clear
What matters in a marriage partner
Earlier this year, we ran some marriage seminars at church. The first session had the headline- marriage is about serving God. If you think that is odd, it may be worth remembering that singleness is also about serving God. In fact from a Christian perspective, any way of life that is not about serving God … Continue reading What matters in a marriage partner
Catholic vs Protestant, though the lens of Tolkien and Lewis
If you want to understand the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism, you could do worse than look at the creation myths of two Oxford friends, Tolkien and Lewis. Tolkien was a devout Catholic. And although his arguments were a key part of Lewis becoming a Christian, Lewis was a Protestant Anglican. Both Oxford academics, they … Continue reading Catholic vs Protestant, though the lens of Tolkien and Lewis
Systems thinking, and why it is sometimes right to be lopsided
Many years ago when I was studying science, I loved understanding how systems worked. I particularly enjoyed physiology, the study of how biological systems work in the body. In physiology, you can’t understand the parts without seeing how they work together. You look at the whole circulatory system, at the whole circuit of sensors, nerves … Continue reading Systems thinking, and why it is sometimes right to be lopsided
Jots and Scribbles 