Honestlyโ€”I really am not busy

Several ย times in the last week or so, I have received a communication from someone which says ‘I know you are very busyโ€ฆ’ and these have stuck in my mind. One of these said ‘I am sure you are very busyโ€”I know that I am.’ A couple of things struck me immediately. The first, and … Continue Reading

I’m really not busy…

Three times in the last week or so, I have received a communication from someone which says ‘I know you are very busyโ€ฆ’ and these have stuck in my mind. One of these said ‘I am sure you are very busyโ€”I know that I am.’ A couple of things struck me immediately. The first, and … Continue Reading

Preaching and creativity

In my nearly ten years teaching preaching, and my 37 years of speaking and preaching, I have come to the conclusion that the best way of summarising the task of preaching (in whatever context) is answering the question: What is God saying to these people at this time through this text? This roots preaching in … Continue Reading

Can we survive the email onslaught?

Driving back from deanery chapter last week with a colleague, the subject of emails come upโ€”I cannot now remember why, possibly in discussion of ‘What does the rest of the day hold for you?’ The mere mention of the word elicited a deep groan; who looks forward to dealing with their email inbox? It is … Continue Reading

How to manage emails

Driving back from deanery chapter last week with a colleague, the subject of emails come upโ€”I cannot now remember why, possibly in discussion of ‘What does the rest of the day hold for you?’ The mere mention of the word elicited a deep groan; who looks forward to dealing with their email inbox? It is … Continue Reading

I’m still not busy

Three times in the last week or so, I have received a communication from someone which says ‘I know you are very busyโ€ฆ’ and these have stuck in my mind. One of these said ‘I am sure you are very busyโ€”I know that I am.’ A couple of things struck me immediately. The first, and … Continue Reading

Preaching as creative act

In my nearly ten years teaching preaching, and my 33 years of speaking and preaching, I have come to the conclusion that the best way of summarising the task of preaching (in whatever context) is answering the question: What is God saying to these people at this time through this text? This roots preaching in … Continue Reading

How to file your sermons

Filing and organising past sermons doesn’t sound like a thrilling or life-changing activity. But in fact there are a number of good reasons to give it some attention: It helps to see what you have been preaching on, the diet you have been giving people, and the diet you yourself have enjoyed. Is it balanced? … Continue Reading

I’m not busy

Three times in the last week or so, I have received a communication from someone which says ‘I know you are very busyโ€ฆ’ and these have stuck in my mind. One of these said ‘I am sure you are very busyโ€”I know that I am.’ A couple of things struck me immediately. The first, and … Continue Reading