Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

1 & 2 Kings is a single literary work telling the history of Israel’s monarchy from the end of David’s reign until the Babylonian exile following the fall of Jerusalem (586 BC). After Solomon’s reign, Israel was divided into two kingdoms: Israel to the north and Judah in the south. In the north 20 rulers...

How will you become a better person than you are now?   Have you ever denied yourself in order to try and please God?  No matter what your dedication, it is unlikely that your efforts will ever have outshone those of Rose of Lima (1586 – 1617), who in 1671 became the first saint of America,...

It was: 300 years ago, on 25th August 1724 that George Stubbs was born. This British artist is best known for his paintings of horses. 250 years ago, on 1st August 1774 that oxygen was discovered by British chemist Joseph Priestley. He was the first scientist to publish his findings on the discovery. 125 years...

On consecutive days this month (27th and 28th) the Christian Church celebrates, a mother and her son. The mother is Monica, and her son is Augustine. The story of their relationship and how, after a long process, they both came to share the same Christian faith is a moving one, and perhaps has a message...

Sixty-five years ago, on 7th August 1959, the USA launched the Explorer 6 satellite, which sent back the first images of the Earth from space. The history-making achievement was not impressive at first sight. Described as “crude at best” and a “blocky, blurry mess”, the original picture was in black and white and unclear. But it...

Archbishop Justin Welby has urged an end to the ‘unconscionable’ suffering in Sudan, calling on the countries supporting the destruction to instead “channel their resources into peace negotiations.” It is estimated that between 8 and 11 million people have been displaced, and that famine and other forms of insecurity are now inevitable. The archbishop said:...

Elijah was a….? (Nishbite, Fishbite, Tishbite) Which king of Israel did Elijah warn about an imminent drought? (Ahab, Omri, Ahaziah) Which animals brought Elijah food during the drought he prophesied? (Wolves, ravens, bears) How many times did Elijah stretch himself over the widow’s dead son before he was revived? (Once, twice, three times) Where did...

This summer it is 35 years since China crushed the Tiananmen Square democracy protests (4th June). And since then, China has also progressively stepped up its persecution of Christians. The latest report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warns that China’s crackdown on Christians has extended to Hong Kong and beyond...

 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward… (Ezekiel 47) I do not know if you have come across this passage, which is a bit odd. It is about the Old Testament prophet who visits God’s Temple, and notices...

After St Paul, who was the most influential Christian writer ever?  St Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430), whose feast-day is on 28th August.  He lived and wrote in a time of social and spiritual chaos.  The Roman Empire was collapsing, the world was about to slide into the dark ages and the Church was...

Last month I wrote about the 612 newly built churches in towns around 1818 – 1830 that cost a total of one and a half million pounds, following the huge population move from the countryside to living in towns. This month I wanted to think about the highest part of the church building – the...

We like allotments. In fact, as a nation, more than 250,000 of us have one, and reckon that it enriches our lives. This year the theme of National Allotments Week (NAW) is biodiversity. The NAW will encourage allotment holders with tips of how to increase pollinators and wildlife, how to do ecofriendly pest control, companion...