Life Issues

As men, what do we do with mood swings, despair, anger? Particularly when we feel guilt at apparently not being able to cope? On this week’s Life Issues Paul Hammond is joined by Mercy UK’s Bryn Abbott and Paul Marshall to discuss why men find it so hard to talk about the impact of poor mental health and what God has to say about it.

There’s an old hymn that says – “Tis mercy all, immense and free; For, O my God, it found out me.” But what is mercy? Is it just a case of letting someone off with it? Where’s the justice in that? These days we’re more likely to see argument, cancelling or even aggression than mercy. So, where does it fit?  Paul is joined by Natalie Williams, Author of Tis Mercy All in this week’s Life Issues:  “Blessed are the merciful, even these days” to find out.

Has atheism lost its popularity? Is belief in God gaining interest and respect once again? Helen’s guest for this week's life issues is Justin Brierly, host of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God podcast.

They discuss how the conversation around faith, reason and God has changed and why many sceptics are now pointing people back to Christianity.

We talk about comfort. We talk about being comfortable. We talk about giving comfort. We talk about our comfort zone.

We even refer to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter.

But given the Bible says we are to share in Christ’s sufferings,

should our lives be comfortable? Do we not need sometimes to step out of that comfort zone – or away from the security blanket that is distracting us or holding us back? What is comfort really about and how do we comfort those in need? It’s the LI podcast – “are you sitting comfortably?”

How often do you chat to your neighbour? On Life Issues this week we’re asking what was that ‘glue’ that seemed to stick people together bringing a sense of belonging and relationship to a community that doesn’t seem to exist anymore? Or does it? Joining Vicky Gibbens for the conversation is author Nigel Adams in our latest podcast episode, Communities of Hope.

Do you dream? Throughout the bible there are plenty of examples of dreams – Pharaoh’s cows, Jacob’s ladder, Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. They send the message that God speaks through dreams. So, could He be speaking through yours? Maybe not the ones about your teeth falling out or turning up at work with no trousers on! But could it be, that in a world where dream interpretation is big business, it might actually be God speaking to us? This week’s Life Issues, Paul is joined by Professor Mark Birch Machin.

[Originally broadcast the week of 20th May 2024]

There are 16 million disabled people in the UK, many of whom continue to be at risk of poverty and exclusion from education and employment. So how can a Paralympian, whose resilience and adaptability has been celebrated, use their status to bring change and inclusivity for all? Vicky Gibbens is joined by Stef Reid MBE.

[Originally broadcast the week of 18th December 2023]

Do you struggle to share your faith? Find it difficult to bring Jesus into every day conversations? Afraid you won't have the answer to a difficult question? Maybe you don't want to come across sounding preachy?

But if the gospel is good news for EVERYONE and faith comes by hearing… how do we talk about Jesus without looking like an idiot? This week’s Life Issues with Andy Bannister, Author of How to talk about Jesus without looking like an idiot

[Originally broadcast the week of 11th September 2023]

What is burnout? Where does it come from? How does it work? What contributes to it? And how can we be ‘reignited’ and maintain a healthy work life? Paul asks Consultant Neuropsychologist Jo Johnson in this week’s Life Issues.

[Originally broadcast the week of 2nd October 2023]

What's your worldview? We all have one - whether we are aware of it or not. A set of beliefs and ideas about the world and how it works. So how do we speak to someone who disagrees with our faith perspective? Helen explores the subject in this week's Life Issues with Peter Lynas, UK Director of the Evangelical Alliance.