We often see two extremes with regards to faith, that instead of being different to each other, are actually two sides of the same coin.

One collapses into tragedy, fear and loss. The confession of this kind of faith is loss with no hope. Then the other kind, often construed as faith, is all about sunshine and rose, and denial. The kind of faith that says if I don’t think about, or hear anything negative, bad things won’t happen to me. Kind of like putting on Christian la la ears. Both of these construals of faith are not the faith the Bible speaks of.

The faith of the bible is one that laments. A dual confession of loss and complaint whilst at the same time declaring that God is sovereign and our hope. The faith of the bible is doing the right thing, being ‘faithful’ no matter how we feel or what is happening to us. The faith of the bible is confidence in God to act, that is not obsessed about my own circumstances, but the welfare of others, where I am God’s agent of faith for others.

Not convinced, or want to know more? Listen to this short talk I made for my church on real faith. It draws on the story of the crossing of the Red Sea.

What is Christianity really about? What if it was as Jesus said, He was life itself? How might we understand what that means and looks like? How do we access this?

In this most personal and disclosing of interviews, I interview Andy Hickford, who introduced me to Jesus when I was 17. We look back and look forward to the invitation to a life lived with Jesus.

I feel the need to make a public apology to people who are not Christians about Christians…There is no apologetic for the behaviour of some Christians. It just requires an apology. We are sorry, and they should do better. Here are some reasons why.

At the time, I thought this was an amazing interview, and I was moved and inspired as I talked with Jill Weber. We focused on her new book, Even the Sparrow.

On playing an edited version of the interview to my church in our online Sunday service, my FB messenger, WhatsApp and YouTube comments started to fill up with messages. Messages from people being inspired, encouraged and excited about what God could do with them.

If you want something to give your faith a shot in the arm, remind you God is in control and can do wonders through you, no matter what you are facing - give this a try.

Jill Weber and her husband Kirk helped found the Greater Ontario House of Prayer in Canada, and she served as its Abbess for 17 years. Jill is now the Global Convener of the Order of the Mustard Seed, a lay ecumenical religious order, and currently serves on the international leadership team of 24-7 Prayer as their Director of Houses of Prayer, and as Director of Spiritual Formation at Emmaus Road Church in Guildford, UK.

Friends are wondering why despite their deep faith they are weary of online services. Watching them makes them more tired. Many who expected their faith to come alive at a time like this, who are being faithful, feel like they are undertaking a slow walk—a walk through dragging mud, that exhausts them more with every step…my diagnosis and suggestion are that there is a different reason they and you are tired, one not due to pressure of work, family or the economy under COVID.

Perhaps at this moment in history, we face our own Tower of Babel being revealed and responded to by God. COVID-19 is a virus that does not just cause respiratory symptoms but manifests and amplifies our other underlying health conditions. The conditions of our souls, minds and spirits, and way of life. Fever and delirium cause of to babel to each other and past each other in person and online.

The full interview I made with Peter Wyatt, who is a Christian and a trauma therapists specialist is now online in full. After serialising the interview for the past few weeks in video format, it has been insightful to see how his advice has correlated all that has been unfolding. We are a long from this being over and his advice still stands in good stead.

I got to interview Revd Dr Antipas Harris, who works with T D Jakes as the dean of the new Jake's Divinity School, and authored of the just-published "Is Christianity the White Man's Religion?" We discussed his book and the connections with anti-racism in response to the murder of George Floyd.

I also asked for his advice on how churches, Christians and leaders can better respond to this cultural moment and opportunity. He has some superb advice. I hope you will take a listen.

Are you reticent to share your thoughts online? Do you fear to say something that might then be used against you? If you do, you are not alone....For without speaking and thinking incompletely and at times badly out-loud, we cannot change our minds, see other points of view, and ultimately understand 'better'.

The church may have meant man things to you before COVID. What has it become more and less of for you at this time? I share this very personal reflection of what the Church has come to mean for me.