Life Issues

What does the imagery around Santa reveal about the attitudes and yearnings of our society?

And while we’re about it, what do we think about him, is he compatible with the reason for the season? What should Christians engage with and what should they reject? And…..what should we tell our children? The history, the culture and the confusion of “Santa” it’s the Life Issues podcast available now on UCB player.

What does it mean have hope? The Bible talks a lot about it. Jeremiah 29 – says God has plans to give us a hope and a future. So, in a world where often people feel hopeless- what can we do? Is there a way to hold on to hope, when the skies darken, the wind blows, and the storm roars? Howard Satterthwaite, Author of Hold on to Hope joins Paul for this week’s Life Issues A plan to give you a hope and a future.

What happened when God told Andrew Mitchell to stop releasing worship music, walk away from a record deal, and as a married couple, focus on deepening their faith roots? Andrew and Jill joined Vicky Gibbens for this week’s Life Issues as they discuss what it means to have ‘Christ in us,’ and to hope for true glory?

I confess that I have often struggled with the way Mary the mother of Jesus was portrayed by the church.

That ethereal/ “holy”/standing to one side with a radiant smile – insipid imagery of a white, often blue eyed, westernised Madonna with only her hair colour as a nod to her true ethnicity – often deified into an unattainable ideal by Catholicism, and sidelined into an image of subservience by the reformation – could we be hiding the true strength and influence of “the handmaid of the Lord” in Jesus life and ministry?

LI podcast – available now on UCB player - “the Virgin Mary..." disciple and prophet, as well as a mum

Have you ever thought about a title for your autobiography? When Bishop Rose Hudson Wilkin was appointed as Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, the next morning in the paper she was referred to as “The girl from Montego Bay.” Though what she felt they meant to disparage, she made a thing of honour. Paul Hammond is joined by Bishop Rose to talk about racism, sexism and how your yesterday doesn’t have to define your today on this week’s Life Issues “Bishop Rose “The girl from Montego Bay.”

Do you struggle with the relentless demands of life?

Is it possible to live slower and freer but still keep up with all our responsibilities?

And what can ants teach us about living in freedom?

Katharine Hill, UK Director at Care for the Family and author of Born Free joins Helen Lea in this week’s Life Issues: How to flourish in a hectic world.

In 1995, the UK decided it was time to “provide a level playing field” for those living with the constrictions of disability. The Disability Discrimination Act was born - to end discrimination, to ensure fair treatment, to bring rights not charity, not to give special treatment but to give equal opportunity.

In this week’s Life Issues: Paul Hammond is joined by Rev Katie Tupling and Stef Benstead to ask, “30 years, but have our attitudes towards disability really improved?”

Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Maybe life hasn't turned out as you'd hoped? From becoming a parent, to owning a home, getting married or pursuing a certain career...

How do we deal with these unfulfilled desires?

Can we rewrite the narrative and find a new vision for our lives?

And is it ok to grieve something you've never had? Helen Lea is joined by midlife mindset coach Helen Louise Knight who's passionate about helping people who feel invisible - embrace and make the most of the life they have.

In Ecclesiastes we read there is a time to be born and a time to die, but what about the middle phase of life? In this week’s Life Issues, Jayne Manfredi, an Anglican Deacon and author of Waking the Women: Faith, Menopause, and the Meaning of Midlife, shared with Vicky Gibbens how it should not be framed as a time of loss for women, but of discovery

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Hinduism is the 3rd largest faith group in the UK, but how much do we know or understand about it. It is so much more than Diwali or Hindu nationalism, in a very real sense it’s a different worldview. Rahil Patel is Paul Hammonds guest on this week’s Life Issues podcast entitled ‘The Christian said “Jesus is the answer,” the Hindu said “what’s the question?”’