A little research will show that the popular culture’s demand for ‘respect’ is very much linked with the Aretha Franklin song 1967. It is not without significance that as youth culture was being invented in the 1950&60’s that one of the anthems of those generations were for respect. Maybe just as they were losing all respect for their parents generations, (notably the generation that had sacrificed so much to win the war). Franklin’s song was of course focused on respect of women, not so much of one generation to another, but the pattern of one group turning on another and crying out for respect – seems at the root of the culture wars that wage all around us.

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The Triarri were the third line of the Roman army. They were those who were experienced in years, and more than that, experienced in battle. They commanded respect, they had, after all survived.

It is interesting to contrast them with the front line of the army, the Hastati, youthful, eager, lightly armoured and inexperienced – to some extent expendable. The classical period was certainly different to how we view the world today.

“Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.”

Job 12:12:

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Experience, age and wisdom were valued then and yet now the opposite seems to be worshiped. Youthfulness, energy, newness and novelty are the order of the day. This change of perspectives did not arrive suddenly; it can be rooted back to the enlightenment. The enlightenment, with its focus on rationality and moving from mystery and superstition, created a culture of focus on progress which in turn put an emphasis on newness and youth, the old is cast aside.

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The result of this is that we are culturally wired to desire novelty, youth, newness. At the expense of older, slower, wisdom, experience. Our language betrays us even when we are trying very hard not to offend our bias becomes apparent.

Why this reflection?

There are believers among us that could be just ‘put out to pasture’, they are no-longer young, they have not the physical energy they once had. They may be headed for a pension, focused on grandchildren, they are not the centre of so called ‘church life’. In many ways it is not what these believers do or don’t have, it’s just that they are not new!

The faithful are not as prized as the innovative.

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This was brought home to me with a bump a few years ago. My wife and I, don’t think of ourselves as particularly old and ‘passed it’. But we know we are not ‘cool’ – we have young adult children, we understand that cool left the building some time ago. But we have been pioneering a new approach to youth work and it seems that our house can still be a destination for a social evening for young people. So we were a little miffed to find ourselves at a leaders gathering separated from the young ‘emerging’ leaders and placed instead with the other group – with the after thought label of ‘veterans’. This second group had a wide range of people. In theory united by our experience and spiritual maturity. There were some who were willing on an easier life, with a drop of pace and reduction of activity, and I could feel the room going that way. It felt the energy was in the other room with the other group.

Words and labels are important and although there was no intention to put one group down, this was the result. I think the term veteran conjures an image of an old person, a Chelsea pensioner, and old war hero, but crucially, not someone for deployment now.

I vaguely remembered something about the different lines of the Roman army. Many times the intervention of the Triarri was crucial for a battle to be won. Not only did they have experience and better weapons, they had wealth and were citizens. Meaning they had stuck at it, learnt from their mistakes, they had a stake in the outcome of the battle and they were worth drawing from.

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”

Psalm 145:4:

It’s very hard to take this ancient mindset in until we recognise the prejudice of our enlightenment filters.

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My great friend Mike Stevens, was a young officer in the British Army in the 1960s and 70’s and he recalls that those soldiers who were to be deployed to Northern Ireland (in the period we have gently named ‘the Troubles’) were the most attentive to what experienced soldiers like him had to share. They were about to go to a war zone – they wanted to hear from those who had survived!

In the same way our approach should be like those who are going to war. This is not about nostalgia for the way things were, but an opportunity for the transference of wisdom, and if possible a taste of revelation.

Is there something that the Triarri amongst us have to give? Of course there is. Not many are ready just to be put out to pasture. The story of Caleb (Joshua 14) is a solid example of the dangers of retiring people!

What are the battle scars? What did you learn? How did you meet with God? Why do you do things like this?

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders.”

1 Peter 5:5:

We should respect the Triarri , seek them out and honour them so we can gain a spiritual inheritance from them.

However, there is a warning. This action needs to remain fresh and not become a rote tradition. In Zimbabwe, I came across the term Sekuru. This is a term of respect given to the older men. The term comes with weight and respect. But because of the weightiness it was easy for the respect to become one of lip service. The rolling of the eyes when older people meandered while addressing a gathering. Someone might be called Sekuru to mock them for being a ‘know it all’ or being out of touch or presenting themselves as a big man. So, a term which is to convey respect becomes the opposite of this. Little actual respect is paid to their experience and wisdom.

‘Let the little children come to me’

Matt 19v 14

In all of this – I don’t want to lose sight of Jesus calling us to be like the little children. He was not against youth. The emphasis is on swift response, innocence and coming and responding to him without hindrance. We can have this way about us all our lives.

One brother I know has maintained this youthful responsiveness well into his 80’s. A number of years ago, we were at a church retreat and there was a time of prayer and ministry. He saw what was going on and cried out “I’ll have some of that”, the words were hardly out of his mouth, when a tremendous encounter with the Holy spirit came upon him. His youthful responsiveness was a direct example of coming as a child.

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So what can we do? How can we rightly honour and respect the Triarri?

There are two parties to address the answer to.

For the spiritual Triarri – don’t get lost in recounts of the past and nostalgia. Instead seek to articulate revelation and convey succinct wisdom. Don’t settle, don’t retire your faith, keep pressing on.

For the young in age and faith – seek out the experience of those who have walked their faith out over time. Humble yourself, listen to the sparkle in their voice and in their faces

Flags, faith, nationhood and culture all seem to be topical at this time. Like many important topics it would be better to enter into this discourse in calmer times, as Prime Minister Harold MacMillan was to remark ‘Events dear boy, events’ life happens and we often have to respond to what is before us. Thus, here we are in a moment where attitudes to immigration, culture, faith and identity are lingering behind many of the news topics of the day.

I have been agitating for some time, that in the UK, we need a renewed discussion of what constitutes “British values”. Whether we want to face it or not, we are in the midst of this discussion now. However, rather than being a planned and thought-out exercise, it is taking place in the context of a melting pot of a sound bites, reaction and offence. It is harder to have a reasonable discussion when passions are running high and there is a pressure cooker environment, not helped by record breaking temperatures in the UK as we come into summer 2026.

Notable factors in our current context are; an Iran war contributing to rampant cost of living and inflation pressures, burgeoning unemployment, particularly amongst the young as AI begins to bite. Illegal immigration via boats in the channel, violent incidents perpetrated by migrants, acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred, and the government which seems unable to affect the economy or improve the standard of living, as well as an underlying suspicion that we are not safe from foreign enemies, as well as not in control of our borders.

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To top this all, the ruling labour party is in the process of ditching one Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, in favour of another – Andy Burnham, amid charges of Westminster bubble politics, and in the face of a public that does not believe anything can change.

In this season alternative simplistic answers and slogans rise in popularity, as there is a dearth of hope. Thus, anyone offering a ‘common sense’ answer looks particularly attractive.

Some patterns suggest class barriers are prominent, with working class or an ‘underclass’ reacting to the labelling of their concerns as being racism or right wing, pushing back on the liberal middle class dominant narrative of officialdom. Too long a propagation of political correctness has stymied discussion, as more and more issues become taboo, and the safety valve of debate is sealed up. This coupled with large numbers of graduates unable to find work, the discontented working class may soon be joined by a radicalised intelligentsia of a proportion that would make the French revolutionary era look like a family tea party.

In the midst of all of this an Anglican Vicar related to me a discussion with one of his ’English’ parishioners in east London. “Why is our flag a problem? why can everyone else raise their flag but not mine?”

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When I think of the discussions of positions taken on flags my mind wistfully returns to 2012. And the two major events in that summer, the jubilee and the London Olympics.

When I think of the 2012 Olympics, remembering some of the highlights for me I get quite choked up, I will explain this later (probably typing with a few tears in my eyes).

In 2012 flags were different for my wife, I would almost go as far as to say flags were redeemed that year. My wife grew up in Northern Ireland, where flags are not just flags, they’re symbolic, in an invasive fashion. When she first took me around her hometown, on my first visit to Northern Ireland in the late 1990s, I was soon to realise that flags marked territory and thus where I was welcome as Englishman and more importantly, where I was not.

Then to summer 2012, the very rainy celebrations, where sodden spectators cheered our much-loved Queen, with rosy red cheeks and beaming smiles and very wet clothes. For my wife, in London 2012, flags were cast in a different light, to what she had experienced in Northern Ireland. In that moment, at that time, there was a kind of redemption of our union flag.

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Forward on a few weeks to the Olympics themselves. Living just 8 miles away as the crow flies, there was this great sense of excitement building. The stadium was very close to the railway line which in turn is close to our house, in fact many of us claim to have heard a boom in our back gardens when Jess Ennis won gold medal. Many believe the noise we heard was the result of 10,000s voices crying out in unison a cheer as Jess won.

The flags were out, but the union flag was one of unity, it was a coming together, a true union flag?

As the games progressed, we were due on holiday in Northern Ireland. It was there that my favourite moment occurred. One evening we were out for dinner and had to wait for a table in the neighbouring bar. This bar was a little unusual in Northern Ireland, as it was frequented from people drawn from both the Catholic and Protestant communities. The screens were on as Mo Farrah was running in his second big race. The atmosphere was electric.

As he ran a superb race, in the final few hundred metres, from all corners of that bar, there was a roar urging him on. We were all brought together, Catholic and Protestant, young and old, to celebrate the achievements of a little Somalian man now proudly draped in a union flag.

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Isn’t it amazing how symbols can change. How the same things can mean different things. The 2012 Games were about hope there was a focus on young people and future legacy.

But of course the lead up to the 2012 Games was not plain sailing. The day after London won the Olympics the city was cruelly hit with 7/7 bombing.

That day, I was running a staff workshop in a local council building, as the news started coming in it seemed only natural to turn our time over to prayer. I was later to learn that my brother was seconds away from getting on one of the trains that were blown up.

I long to see national symbols as a point of coming together. A way of recognising we want to be in Britain, part of this nation and her story. This point was made to me just recently by Nigerian faith leader “this country is good that’s why we want to be here we must make the English people know that!”

I look forward to seeing the union flag as a place of celebration not a point of protest.

I wonder if we could coax Sir Mo Farah to run again and give us something to cheer about!

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A young woman received an inheritance, it was a significant amount of money, more than you would use to buy some nice new clothes or for a few nights out or even a nice holiday, in her own words ‘it was just enough to get herself in trouble, but not enough to get out of it’. It was an investment or ‘talent’, something that could be invested to improve life, or increase resources for her in years to come.

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After a while she realised that she was worrying about this inheritance. She had not worried about it before she had it, but its very existence in her bank account and the responsibility she felt she had made her worry. In truth she could blow it all and be no worse off than she had been before. The inheritance had become a tyrant not a trailblazer.

In many ways we can treat our spiritual inheritance in the same way. Studies show that people are more motivated by fear of loss than the possibility of gain.

This illustration from the Decision lab1, very aptly shows how many of us view finance.

In the original research conducted by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky in 1977, they established that the torment of loss can be psychologically twice as powerful as the joy of gain. They called this loss aversion.2

As followers of Jesus we are about serious business, but we should not be scared into solemn inertia.

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For my part the power of community and relationship as part of God’s plan for the world, is the spiritual inheritance I am most focused on.

I want to be evangelical with the inheritance of my community and relationships, and not to be ghettoised. That is, it is all too easy to fight a rearguard action, protecting relationships, keeping a closed community, having nice groups, where we feel we know each other and there is comfort. However, we should be using our community as a spring board, a base camp to bring others into (hopefully) the fullness of the body of Christ.

Returning to the young woman with the inheritance, how did she turn this financial windfall from a tyrant to a trailblazer? In the end it was quite simple, whilst out for a walk in the countryside she sat down on the bench, she looked at nature around her, there was no one else about to distract her for the moment, no social disturbance - just creation. Being in nature helped her step aside from the brain work and for a moment to stop worrying at it. Often in the countryside we see signs asking dog owners to make sure their dogs do not worry the sheep, in the same way we can worry at a problem or an issue, and sometimes we just need to take get hold of our yappy dog worry.

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She was reminded of the importance of thankfulness and gratitude “Thank you God for this inheritance, I know it is to bless me and not intended for harm. Help me engage with this opportunity that has been opened up. Let me see this as a challenge to grow me and improve me not a threat of loss.” Something lifted! That’s not to say that the worry in the work was gone forever, but in her mind she knows this can be a trailblazer and it doesn’t have to be a tyrant.

The Westminster catechism says ‘man’s chief end is to glorify God and to engage him forever.’

The spiritual inheritance should be for enjoyment not for striving.

So for us, it would be a great shame, to neglect our inheritance, To miss out on what we have, but we must also not be afraid to build from it due to fear of loss. Where the body of Christ is concerned it is important therefore for us to have an outward aspect. Yes of course, grow strong committed relationships. Challenge each other and spur each other on to greater Christ centred life. To be a demonstration of family, so absent in the world, (which is more focused on individualism and self gratification). In the world, preferring each other and submitting to each other are such radical and offensive concepts and practises.

However, we do not pull up the drawbridge, we look at how hospitality and shared life can be a route into fellowship for those who are outside. The purity and value of our inheritance may seem a little under risk by this open handedness, but our inheritance is to be a trailblazer towards the Great Commission.

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Are you more afraid of loss of what you have or the purity of your ideals, than being ready to risk what you have to go up higher?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote of the danger of the ‘wish dream’ of Christian community.

‘Every human with dream that is injected into the human Christian community is a hindrance to genuine community and must be banished if genuine community is to survive. He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.’3

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Our inheritance, and in my case the inheritance of community and relationship, is supposed to be used, it’s supposed to be put into action. It’s not supposed to be tucked away in a display case. If something is used if something is brought into the real world, there will be dings and scrapes. There will not be perfection, but there also could be an advance to a new place.

An eclectic mix for you this time; a book that worked on an e-reader, a Netflix movie and a podcast.

The Gun Seller – Hugh Laurie

This takes ‘sardonic’ to another level, it serves as a reminder of the comic genius and word play of Laurie and that the partnership of Fry and Laurie, was not just a display of the wit of Stephen Fry. The story of a gun-for-hire is both grippling and ridiculous. (I had purchased this book via bookbub.com which is well worth signing up for, as it gives notification of vastly reduced Kindle books every day). Despite having a bag full of books to read on holiday – this book had me glued to my kindle, both gripped and giggling.

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The Swedish Connection – Netflix

On odd occasions I find myself with control of the TV. “Great!” you may think, “you can watch whatever you want!’” But no – I have to choose something I want to watch and that no one else wants to see. Draft Day, Money Ball and the Big short (which I have tried 4 times so I can understand it) fit into this category. So, as I scrolled through Netflix, I thought I’d give Swedish Connection a go. I was pleasantly rewarded. A great film about how ordinary people can make a difference. The star protagonist was quite a nervous figure, certainly not a James Bond type, more a Swedish story to match One Life. There was office politics, petty tensions and a family not aware of the great acts of their own father. It made me reflect on the small actions, the behind-the-scenes activities that made up the resistance to Nazi tyranny and saved lives.

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Stay Together to Grow | Community E4 – John Mark Comer Teachings

This is available through Apple or other providers such as Spotify. As I have written on relationship, Shared life and community, I found it refreshing to hear about the raw and real experiences of John Mark. There is even a very practical guide to leaving, but this is very much a challenge to the hyper individualism that we live in. There is less biblical text here than is normally present, but it has a strong flavour of reality! If you like this try listening to the session on ‘confess your sins’!

…..And one extra …..

Contagious Disciple Making – David Watson & Paul Watson

This picks up on a theme linked to several other books that I have reviewed with a particular focus on the Discovery Bible Study. A strong emphasis on prayer cover, obedience to the scripture and nurturing and mentoring the man/women ‘of peace’ – stuck out to me. Underlying is a challenge to those who like to teach and preach that those approaches are not always (or often) what is needed as the gospel is spread. A consistent return to the Great Commission instructions is examined here, and it leaves me reflecting on what is mine to do!

In this episode I am going to borrow from a great book, Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness – Jerry Cook & Stanley Baldwin as well as my own thoughts and experience of many years of ministry and leadership. See my review of Love Acceptance and Forgiveness and other resources.

While listening to the Rebuilders Podcast by Mark Sayers, Apple podcast link or spotify podcast link, as he was exploring the economic shocks coming down the line in 2026, due to the conflict in Iran and around the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, I was intrigued that as Sayers swung his commentary from what is happening to how Christians should respond, that he spoke at length about the potency of community. How believers can support one another, share resources, and example community, as a living witness in contrast to the heighten individualism and self-focus that is normal in western society. Not a retreat into a faith ghetto, but a demonstration of the Kingdom of God, Much as I found when I did post-graduate research into Shared life and Christian community in 2021. Being ‘In the world but not of it’ should be at the root to our calling. If we are having nice church meetings, shut off from the world around us, we have missed something very fundamental.

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In the same way God’s people are not to be passive spectators of professionalised clergy, but instead released to minister wherever they find themselves, classroom, prison, factory, nurses station or school gates. The Church of Jesus Christ, is to be a people, a force, that makes a difference in the world not a destination for Sunday mornings.

Those who are familiar with Jerry Cook’s writing will have come across the concept of ‘Church as a force’ and the antithesis of this ‘Church as a field’. The latter is pretty familiar. The work of the Church takes place in the ‘field’ of the church. That is at events, services or generally part of the programmes that are organised by the leadership. In some cases the actual building is central to the work of the church, the work of the church has to be in ‘the church’. Never mind that the word church ‘Ecclesia’ in the new testament was never a place or building, but instead a people. ‘Church’ was not a replacement for ‘The Temple’ – however the followers of Jesus themselves were to become the new dwelling of the Holy Spirit and presence of God (1Cor 6 v 19).

This the sense when Jesus says ‘the fields are ripe to harvest’ (John 4 v 35) his followers are to go out to take in the harvest. This seems to be lost on Church as a field, instead the Church programme is the harvest field and all the work needs to take place there.

Consequently there comes a pressure for high quality and persuasive, programmes, facilities and professionalism. Now don’t miss understand me, I believe there is room for all these things, I believe we should strive for excellence in what we do, after all we are doing it for the King of Kings – but Jesus looks at the excellence of heart. See the story of the widows mite – (Luke 21 v 1-4) I believe she was showing excellence, she was giving of her best within the limitations of what she had, unlike the rich around her. But the Pharisees would have squeezed her contribution out their religious ceremony, not allowing it as it was too small an offering in their eyes. If the programme is to be ‘perfect’ soon the participants have to conform to a certain way of being themselves, and we have lost our childlike approaches.

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Have you ever noticed how new believers are often the best at reaching others. They are still in touch with their first love they are not jaded, their child like faith is on display. The efficacy of new believers and ‘men of peace’ is explored at length by David and Paul Watson in Contagious Disciple Making. They warn of ‘extraction evangelism’ where we attempt to pull those coming into contact with the gospel out of their culture and into our space/ style/ religious culture. Or as Cook would say we are trying to pull them into ‘our field’, and not being a force that goes into their field.

‘nations rarely tolerate traitors’

Watson & Watson

There is another dark side to the issues of ‘extraction evangelism’ expressed by Watson and Watson. If it is successful the individual new believer, becomes part of the field, the new culture. They are likely not to have to the same kind of traction with their former culture. They can be seen as being part of a rival nation ‘nations rarely tolerate traitors’. It seems to me that there is further consideration needed about ‘go and make disciples of all nations’ – particularly in modern cities when there are so many nations among us with different cultures and outlooks. I will not go further in this episode – but there is more to explore here.

In the church as a field, performance becomes very important, and church leaders are under pressure to make sure all goes well, after all everyone has come to their field – so they best perform. The temptation can be to take more and more on themselves, so they can make sure all is professional. A gifted bible teacher told me recently that one of the things he most admired about my father’s ministry was how he had many streams coming into the Church. My friend said, as someone whose gift was primarily teaching, he was always shy to hand over the pulpit, for fear that a different direction or emphasis might result. This just builds pressure and the leader is running around and doing everything.

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I remember once visiting another church for a baptism service. The pastor of this church welcomed us and led worship. The church was pretty full that day, well over hundred people from the church were present as well as some visitors like us. This church did not strike me as particular needy, in fact I knew some people there who were pretty solid and I suspected quite able.

I was somewhat surprised that after the worship, the pastor reappeared in a full rubber suit, so that he could conduct the baptisms, on his own. After this was concluded, as everyone sat there watching (maybe considering what great value they were getting out of this over worked pastor), he hit play on a cassette player where some more music played, while he removed the rubber suit and took his position behind the pulpit to give a sermon. He did all this and was still miraculously at the door to shake hands with everyone as we left.

This pastor was a lovely and dedicated man, he served and visited, prayed and counselled, but there was something wrong with the dormancy of his congregation. They were probably too fattened on milk and childlike, when they should have been chewing on meat.

With field it is very easy to get institutionalised, lose that raw-ness of people and spirit working together. The facilities, programme and profession become what is protected rather than the calling to go into the Whole Earth. Instead the church becomes;

‘an island of irrelevance in a sea of despair’

Cook & Baldwin

This is without going into the danger of settling – moving from initial pioneering sacrifice and faith to compromise and comfort to mediocrity, which Cook & Baldwin explore, with a sense of sad inevitability in Chapter 3.

It is far away from our calling channelled throughout the new testament of priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2) or the richness of the declaration ‘Christ in us the hope of glory!’ (Col 1 v 27)

We need to take our emphasis of getting the ‘community’ into the church (building) and instead get the Church (the people of God) into the community. But far too often Pastors communicate, implicitly and subconsciously that the people are not ready to minister. The focus on programme rather than equipping people where they are can do this. It is easy to fall into this thinking, but when we look at the actions of Jesus, the most qualified to minister heaven there has ever been, he released people who we probably wouldn’t feel are equipped to open the door of our buildings or direct cars in the car park.

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Jesus sent out the 12 and 72 with very basic instructions, but boy are there some results. At this point remember there had not been a resurrection, nor had the day of Pentecost taken place. Phil Moore documents how revival has taken a new direction in Iran. Where men and women ‘of peace’ have been sought out to lead the discovery bible study, with very little training, just a good bit of on the job mentoring. And many of these men and women of peace, would not even call themselves Christians. But they are leading people to Jesus. Almost - 50 years ago – Jerry Cook was making the same point, the gospel is so powerful, you don’t have to be a follower to explain it to another. He tells the incredulous story of a weed smoking hippie directed to salvation through the vague memory of another smoker’s Sunday school experience.

The role of leaders is not to do it all for the church members, its not even to do all the ministry – its to equip the church for works of service;

Works of service – not endless saturation. I love how Isaiah 61, starts with a pronouncement of how the lord will bring Jubilee, wrongs righted, mourning to joy, riches instead of poverty. But there is a great big THEN ‘they shall be called oaks of righteousness’ – in modern jargon we would call this agency! Those who were in need take on the baton they make a different the narrative is about them!

‘… Evangelical Christians tend to have a lot of religion in their hearts, a good bit in their heads, but not much in their feet. And Christianity that doesn’t walk around in shoes isn’t worth much. It has to walk in shoes, all kinds of shoes – sandals, boots, high heals, and suedes. It has to walk.’

Cook & Baldwin

The pastors, church leadership have to recognise, Sunday morning, midweek meetings and small groups are not the field. The fields are out there! ‘If we only teach them how to think Christianity and how to feel it, but not how to walk it we are failing.’ Many times I have heard people ask for prayer to get them out of a difficult job situation. They have wanted to preserve their light and get out of these dark places. But if we are to equip the saints, then sometimes we need to stand with that person, day after day, pray and counsel. Many times this is what was needed and people have shown a light in those situations. We have to ask, if the believer is the only salt or light in a situation, is it right to try to extract them? The education system is another example, Should we use these years to make a difference as a family, to the education system by our presence and witness. Each individual/ parent/ family has to ask God what is ours to do.

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There is something special, and often quite gritty, to walking through with someone a real life situation, where you as the leader are merely a coach and the individual believer has to be the main protagonist. There is both proximity and autonomy. You can see growth happening or being avoided, as it is easier to dodge the hard choice. But what a privilege to be part of the journey and not just delivering theoretical teachings.

Jerry Cook argues that the gifts of the spiritual are primarily for the market square not the church sanctuary. My reading of the Acts seems to support this. Not that gifts shouldn’t operate in meetings of believers – very much so! But that we should not restrict ourselves as believers in this way.

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A healing, a word of knowledge, prophetic insight, these can make significant impact with the world around. And what’s more …. Followers are operating in the market square, they are not under the guidance of the church professional!

This brings me back to young people. I am writing in April 2026. 6 Years after the initial Covid19 lock down in the UK. I still think we are yet to fully work out the consequence of that time. I know already that ‘before Covid’ and ‘after covid’ is a modern descriptor as ‘before the war and after the war’ was for previous generations – (these phrases have so much more bound up in theme, they may even denote an epoch change). We have found that those formulative years, where separation and screen meetings took priority, have made it difficult for young people to relate. Our burden remains to release them as a force, not spoon feed them in a soporific way.

Like the humans in the animation Wall-e, there is a danger that ease becomes an end in itself, and to stay is much more attractive than the Matthew 28 go! which we as believers are all called to.

If you haven’t already – do take the opportunity to read the introduction and first part for of this series Church as a fortress.

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Head to substack.com/notes or find the “Notes” tab in the Substack app. As a subscriber to D J Singleton - A Ponderer, you’ll automatically see my notes. Feel free to like, reply, or share them around!

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What on earth am I here for? This question often comes to mind for me, why am I here? What has God got for me to do? What is his purpose for my life? Have I missed out, made too many bad turns and am I now on a lesser route?

Sorry to say I have no answer to those questions…..

….. but I think that I can start to answer a questions about ‘me’ or ‘us’ corporately, that is I think that I can say something about me and us and our purpose or at least our position.

Often in this world of consumerism and individualism we are left as egocentric babes to bleat about ‘what is my place?’ ‘What is there for me?’ rather than being satisfied that ‘I’ should be part of a ‘we’ and that ‘we’ is the church and bride of Christ.

I don’t think that Church should be merely a gathering place of those who have a warm regard of Jesus, I don’t think that it is only a place where we can draw together as we have things in common. I don’t deny it can be both those things, but if church is merely a gathering place for the saints then it is missing out on great possibilities and quite possibly the great commission. (Matt 28v 18- 20)

I have heard the term ‘gathering churches’ it seems these are places that gather Christians and of course after a while a crowd draws a crowd. There may be something good happening there, if so it is missed, because all that is spoken of these Churches are their size.

Pastors and Minsters of such gatherings need our prayer and support as they have a difficult burden. There are a lot of people in front of them, but who is behind them? who is joining with their vision, putting their shoulder to the plough. Rather than those who are there because a thousand others are there and there is a ‘buzz’ about the place.

Church is to have a purpose, a commission to go and make disciples of all nations. It’s easy to lose sight of this, particularly if you are busy with ‘church busyness’, the needs, the ministries, the teaching etc.

The way I read the New Testament, seems to suggest that the Jerusalem Church had to have a bit of a push to get it out into the rest of Palestine, let alone the rest of the world.) So it is no surprise that we can get a little caught What up with our patch of Christendom.

Let us change the question to ‘What on earth are we here for?’

Part 1 of this series

Church as…. a Fortress

The first of these pictures of church I want to explore is the concept of Church as a Fortress. And I want to challenge us to be this Church. Some won’t like it, I hope most of us will feel uncomfortable (castles have always been uncomfortable places). It may make some of you consider that maybe a gathering place is a better place for you. And there can be different expressions of church, I don’t want to invalidate that (God has not given me the ability to hold two preferred versions, of a way of being in my head, I have to pursue what I have full throated and uncompromised and bless you in what you feel you have to do).

Most know that fortresses or castles are established at strategic points. A ford of a river, a key hill, a port. However, many assume they are defensive establishments, where rulers can retreat to against an unruly mob. But as they are strategically positioned, they are often very aggressive and provocative moves. They may be built with defence in mind, but they demonstrated aggressive purpose. You cannot rule a territory unless you occupy a particular hill, you cannot have that hill unless you have the castle which is on it. The Norman forts, mote and bailey castles which sprung up after the invasion of England in 1066, were tentacles of increasing control and occupation.

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As such if the church is to be a fortress church, we need to be prepared to confront a culture which is opposed to Christ, and we must consider how to establish strong points for the Kingdom. Of course I am not advocating a literal Christian ghetto or commune, we are called to be in the world and not of it, there is a limitation to how we achieve this if we are isolated from the world around in a monastery or a commune, but we do need to look at the mentality of a fortress.

Let me beg your indulgence and allow me to fall back on my old profession as a history teacher. Below you will see a diagram of the White Tower, the oldest part of the Tower of London, commissioned by William the Conqueror, sometime after he won the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

The White Tower serves as a superb illustration for Fortress Church. There are number of elements to consider;

· Difference

· Proclamation and Placement

· Projection and Recovery

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Difference is worth noting. For British school children and many tourists, the White Tower is a fixed feature on the London landscape. However, this was not the case in the 11^th Century. The White Tower was positioned a little apart from the City of London, on a hill towering over the wooden building of the city. As the fortress of William, it was some way away from the palaces of Westminster established by his predecessor Edward the Confessor. It demonstrated the new Norman overlords were not just taking over from the Saxon and Viking Kings who had come before. It was also made of White Stone. Which was shipped in from Normandy, what better propaganda and display of power, but a huge white, gleaming monstrosity which would cause the residents of London to turn and wonder.

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Let’s hope the Church does not become a huge monstrosity in our local areas! But you see the picture. The Church should be an example something that should be looked up to. Like stone from another land, the church should be a place of innovation, different life ‘technologies’ should be in operation (to pick a few, ‘there were no needy among them’ Acts 4 v 34 ‘love your enemies’ Matt 5 v 44 ‘bear with one another’ Col 3 v13.) The white stone would have seemed not of this world and the instruction and expectations that Jesus gives us as the church are much the same.

Proclamation and Placement

There is a clear line through the Bible of God giving a mandate to his people to be a positive effect on the whole world. To be an example. Not to be cowering away hoping for ‘pie in the sky when you die’ but co-heirs with Christ. As Jesus declares on the sermon on the mount (Matt 5) we are to be salt and light and the more deliberately corporate image as City on a hill.

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By our conduct and lifestyle, and at times our collective voice and endeavours we should be making a declaration of the Kingdom of God. I remember visiting a college in a run-down part of South London. The college was bristling with the latest technology and fresh classrooms. The principal told us that when she arrived all was run down and there was little hope about the place. She bullied her board for special funds for a classroom in each to the 4 corners of the building. They were redecorated and fitted out with state-of-the-art equipment. This was her declaration of where this institution was going. She held up a vision, the students and sponsors followed, until all the building was uniformly of a high standard. The 4 classrooms were like a prophetic statement of where the environment was to go. The example of the church must also be a prophetic statement of the Kingdom – a sign of hope.

The placement becomes a proclamation of Jesus’ authority. But where we are placed can also be a projection of Gods authority.

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Back to the history lesson. The Norman invaders considered a number of places in the British isle to be wild, Scotland and Ireland were obviously so, but the Welsh were a particular concern. The Normans established a string of castles in the Welsh Marches (or border lands), these were controlled by Marcher lords, who were semi-autonomous they were to raise armies control the border and subdue the Welsh. They were later to cause trouble for the English kings and there is maybe a warning even here about churches who lose their first love and get out of alignment with our Lord. We will not digest now but instead use the example of the original design. The Marcher lords projected authority into a yet untamed land. Much like modern-day navy and aircraft carriers. This is a good picture to reflect for the church. We can be part of reflecting God’s authority into new areas. However rather than dropping bombs and creating destruction, we are proclaiming the rulership of Prince of Peace, with the power to establish kingdom in our words and acts.

Like the college there is the prophetic in this story. (Aware of upsetting some Welsh nationalist with this retelling) The Marcher lords were the first step but in due course Wales would be taking into the kingdom, to the extend that it is not represented separately in the union flag, (which contains the St George cross of England, the St Andrews cross of Scotland and St Patricks cross of Ireland). As with the Lords Prayer ‘your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’ – our prayer is that the kingdom of heaven comes on earth so there is no separation.

If we are to be a people of a fortress church, surely we should be asking the question

‘Lord where should we be, so that we can be a projection of your kingdom on the earth?’

Of course this is exactly what Christians have asked over the ages. It is in the places that no one else would go, in areas of plague, poverty, looking after the orphans, being a voice against slavery. I’m sure we can think of such areas.

This may all have been a little too martial in metaphor and the theme somewhat aggressive. Our sensibilities are so conditioned to always see the coming of authority and rule and reign as aggressive and overbearing, but this is because we have so often seen authority done badly in a fallen way. Not the way God intended, as in the garden.

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Recovery has a role to play in the safe place of the fortress as well. Behind the safe walls of the keep there can be reviving and recovering. This should also be a place of the Church, within the wall of our relationships there is healing, training and development. This can involve challenge, because we are heirs not playboys, we have an inheritance to engage with. Even within recovery there is a sense of equipping so that we might ‘Sally forth’ and take ground.

The fortress church is not about hunkering down and waiting for deliverance. Rather it’s about working with Jesus to establish His rule and reign. It is not about total focus on the church’s inner life but on its prophetic calling. Many Christians find themselves as individuals in places of influence, as trustees, school governors, company directors, health commissioners, politicians etc. But there is a vulnerability to being on oneself.

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What if we are called to band together to make a greater difference? To concentrate our individual lamp lights collectively, that we might be a City on a hill! What if there is an as-of-yet unheard calling, for many of us, to be part of the projection of Gods Kingdom rule into areas hitherto unseen and in darkness?

³ Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2Tim 2 3-4 (NIV)

Are we being called to join together, not distracted by ordinary ‘civilian’ life we see around us, but on a mission to bring light into areas in society which are crying out for the solution of the King, borne out by His people.

What areas spring to mind?

What could you do as a corporate fortress not just a lone Soldier?

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Just a quick note to regular readers this offering will be somewhat outside our normal focus on faith and society, and more on an area I have no particular expertise in, other than that of a student of history, and an observer of politics.

At the danger of upsetting Trump loyalists, I want to stick my neck out and say I don’t believe it’s in the gift of an American president, to determine who is a Churchill and who is not a Churchill. That is surely the purvey of the British people. However, although Churchill has been much admired across the pond, there seems to be a complicated relationship with his memory, with various presidents, bringing in a bust of Churchill to the Oval Office or taking it out.

Anyone watching the great romp of a film ‘The Darkest Hour’ will notice the subtle politics at play between Churchill and President Roosevelt. In 1940, whilst facing the might of the Nazi war machine alone, in the film Churchill is trying to deal with a somewhat distracted FDR, and secure just a little of the military aid, which it is worth noting was not provided for free. The much talked of destroyers in exchange for bases, must be one of the worst financial and strategic deals the British government ever engaged in. Of course, it really wasn’t about ships or ports it was about endeavouring to tie America to the British cause.

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In the same way President Trump’s, desire to access British bases, to bomb Iran in Feb/ March 2026, seems to be less about actual military need, and more about bullying allies to be associated with the American and Israeli attacks.

There is another contrast between the USA and Britain. In the UK we seem almost embarrassed to be pursuing foreign policy –‘in our own interests’; yet an American administration puts this as upfront and central. There seems to be a different value judgement. And of course in 1940, the USA did not stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain. The USA did not join Britain in its hour of need, only in 1941 when Germany had already declared war on America, did America become a fighting partner with the United Kingdom.

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When Britain and France worked with Israel to try to arrange affairs in the Middle East in a more favourable way in 1956, Trump’s republican predecessor Eisenhower did not stand unquestioning with his allies then. Yet this is what is expected by Trump in 2026. (The Suez crisis, was a death nail in what remained of Churchill’s post war government, by this stage he had handed over the reins to Eden. An American republican president putting paid to Churchill’s governments legacy). Of course, it has been argued that the actions of Britain France and Israel in 1956, were if not illegal, at least dubious, the same could be argued now about the US/ Israeli decapitation of the Iranian regime.

What of Sir Keir’s reaction to this non-Churchillian charge? In many ways Starmer is not like Churchill, for one thing Churchill was relatively free with his emotions, he had a way of connecting with people which our current Prime Minister seems somewhat bereft of. Churchill was a maverick, if anything Starmer is a technocrat. But the real question becomes one of judgement. Leaving aside domestic politics, up until this recent crisis there has been very little to criticise Starmer’s approach to foreign policy.

There has been perhaps a little too much of a whiff of appeasement in his dealing with Donald Trump. In that sense, standing against the bombastic president could be seen more as Churchillian defiance then the usual Chamberlain style acquiescence.

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It is the criticism that Starmer has faced recently which is unusual about this particular bout of foreign policy. But if this particular crisis could be summarised as one of judgement, there is a clear difference between Starmer and Churchill. There are very few Churchill biographers who would not recognise that on a great many significant occasions Churchill had poor judgement and made bad decisions in relation to foreign policy or war policy. In that way Starmer is probably not a Churchill, because he has not made as many cockups as Churchill did in foreign policy!

Starmer will not go down as a great rhetorician. He does not inspire those on his own benches let alone those on the opposition benches. It is true Starmer is not a Churchill, but Churchill and the Dunkirk spirit, was not so because of America but despite it!

I recognised this after reading Macolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point.

I connect, I can’t help myself, I just see connections in lots of different places, but I believe one of the key strengths and thus weaknesses of a connector is that we believe that a connection is an end in itself. I won’t spend time arguing for this, (Gladwell effectively makes the point about how useful connectors are) but I do want to acknowledge that some people only see a connection as a means to an end. That’s not my position, but I want to be honest, so as we journey together I will try to identify connections and justify their importance…. See how I do!

In making this confession, I am also recognising my innate bias. I believe connections, community, relationship, and shared life are not only desirable but essential for successful human life. This seems even more apparent to me as a follower of Jesus.

I grew up in a church tradition, which gave particular emphasis to community. Unfortunately, there is not an agreed way of describing this particular movement in recent church history, but you may recognise terms such as, the house church movement, restoration, new churches. The common feature is often that at one-point churches related to this tradition had the word community in their title. Some went further still and rejected the term church and called themselves a ‘Fellowship’. For Lord of the Rings devotees ‘fellowship’ has a special resonance - a fellowship being a troop bound together for a quest to make a difference in the world!

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Let me give a rough context to this church movement. In the 1950s and 1960s, there was a renewal of interest and experience of the supernatural in Christian experiences, in what became termed the charismatic renewal. This was experienced over different wings of church expression, in the UK and beyond, with Catholic and Anglican as well as non-conformist and Pentecostal Christians being affected by this move.

One of the outworking’s of this awakening, was that many existing church structures and traditions could not cope with these new/ renewed expressions, despite the biblical precedence in the New Testament and particularly in Acts.

Many in the late 60s and early 70s, found themselves increasingly unable to express this newfound charisma within the churches that they were part of. Some were asked to leave, others found they wanted to find a new expression for this new revelation. Over time small clusters of these believers started to meet in homes, they did not tend to have separate buildings to meet in, hence the moniker ‘House Church’.

Although the name house church was merely a description of where they met and worshiped, the home or household took on a further significance. It was this de-institutionalised, organic expression of Christain life that was an aim in itself, not just a location title.

For my parents and their close family, the choice to pursue this relationally based faith expression was central to their choice to leave the Pentecostal Church they had grown up in.

The restoration of Apostles and Prophets and practice of spiritual gifts was important. However, the pursuit of community and practice of Shared Life was to be the defining feature of my dad’s ministry and central to the journey of Lifeline Church (formerly North London Community Church).

Definition of Shared Life

Shared life is the practice, that arises from an active decision by a group of Christians (followers of Jesus) to live in relationship with each other beyond formal meetings or services. It involves tangible, practical, committed, and beneficial relationships.

The Inheritance of Intentional Shared Life

It is this inheritance of Intentional Shared Life that I think is worth emphasizing. I want to stress intentional – in 2021 I was fortunate to do a Masters with Coventry University and undertook research into Shared Life and the pursuit of church community in the UK1. What became quite clear is that Shared life doesn’t appear all by itself, it has to be pursued and shaped for. The influences of society all around and quite frankly our own selfishness, means that community within a body of believers has to be pursued actively.

So, this then is an expression of the spiritual inheritance that we are liable to lose or at least neglect, as the generation who left their comfortable church situations start to leave the stage. Sadly, often the hard-fought freedoms and choices of one generation are not appreciated by the next, but with a quick look around us, we will see what a prize we have, or at least a treasure that is still in our field.

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Whether it be the constant reminder of rise in mental health referrals, the epidemic of loneliness or the post lock down shocks to the young – we know not all is well with ‘business as usual society’. Coupled with the breakdown of peace in local areas, tribalism denoted by flags and marches. We can hardly say we are a nation at peace with itself! ‘Community tensions’ would be better expressed as ‘group tensions’, as using ‘community’ as a description of people who are only bound by a postcode seems inappropriate.

But yet here we have within the Body of Christ a living organism of example to the world – imperfect though it maybe. A place where there is;

Shared life, the fellowship of believers, moves us from a potentially performative Sunday morning corporate gathering, to the sharing of life and food, troubles and successes, joys and tears. Freely going into one another’s homes, is an expression of being in one another’s lives.

This is where we have to be intentional. Shape our lives for sharing. Give room to the involvement and quite frankly the interference that that will feel like. Not small nuclear family units of 2.4 kids - households in name only, where we may sit together but are all glued to our own individual screens, not fighting over the remote control, or the ketchup. But instead, we need vibrant extended families where ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ where we share our lives- express office in practical ways to one another bearing each other’s burdens and joys and did I say? sharing meals, a true picture of communion.

So what are we to do? How can we harness this inheritance for our own benefit and for that of wider society?

The starting point has to be to gather some that God is stirring in the same way – share this blog as a discussion starter – do you want to do this? Do you yearn for an Acts expression of Church? What will it mean to our behaviour the way we live our lives?

Do we want shared life?

Maybe we should count the cost.

Photo by DJ Singleton - North Coast Ireland

Here are some facets of Shared life to consider

Shared life is intentional

Shared life is the practise that arises from an active decision by a group of Christians (followers of Jesus) to live in relationship with each other beyond formal meetings or services.

Shared life involves tangible, practical, committed and beneficial relationships.

Drawing from the pictures of everyday relationship in the gospels and the New Testament, shared life involves a proximity and involvement reminiscent of extended family the signs of which could be meals and possessions shared confrontation and sharing of experience as well as prayer worship and teaching.

Shared life means there is someone to call at 3:00 AM there is someone who will join me to rejoice when I rejoice and mourn when I’m mourn.

The Forgotten Manifesto of Jesus – Phil Moore

This book gets the dizzying accolade that I purchased a number to give to friends before I’d even finished reading it myself. And that doesn’t mean that I agreed with all that was said or how it was explained. But this book is certainly a challenge around how we share our faith, the levels to which we will engage in relationship with others, and what restrictions we potentially put on ourselves and on those who hear the Good News. It also provides a practical guide to starting Discovery Bible studies with non-believing friends

My main criticism is that some biblical stories and references were made to work quite hard to fit within the authors framework. I generally I’m reticent about Christian methodologies which push a system or a legalistic approach. However, it is the provocative nature of this book that made me want to share it, how it made me want to reconsider the way I approach my Christian life. Thanks to my father-in-law who gave this book to me in the autumn and insisted I read it carefully!

The Secret of Secrets – Dan Brown

This of course is not a non-fiction Christian book but just like others on this list it does make you think. Dan Brown is such a cunning storyteller, that he weaves fact in with fantasy, to the extent that I had to pause and Google some of the neuroscience that he was quoting, just so I could try to keep a handle on what was real and what was fiction. With this riveting thriller, that doesn’t seem to pause for breath, Brown searches for bigger answers, to things such as consciousness, out of body experience and is there something waiting for us after death.

Shortly after completing this book, I had the most vivid of dreams, and I sat up in quite an emotional state to make a note of what happened in my dream, so that I could ponder consciousness and the spiritual realm.

This fiction thriller, make me think.

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And a few from the DJS archive….

For many years I’ve made a list of the books that I read each year, I have a few rules, and mark if it was on the kindle or audio or hard copy, and I add a star to books that I started but maybe did not complete - I often read a number of books at once and sometimes books stretch over a period of years.

I have got some good books on the go at the moment, but I don’t want to add those to the list until I’ve completed them. So now I will add a few books which I’ve read a little while ago.

Love acceptance and forgiveness - Jerry Cook and Stanley Baldwin

This book is by far the most shared and passed on to others. (Periodically I do a hunt on eBay, another second-hand sites, just so I have two or three copies ready to hand out). First written in the late 70s, the concepts of relationship, community and of course love acceptance and forgiveness, are as relevant now as they ever were. My Dad read this book whilst on sabbatical with the Vineyard Churches in California in 1986. I read it in the late 90’s and then realised my father didn’t have an original sermon in him! so affected had he been by this book, that it was a cornerstone of his ministry, and I would say mine as well. The chapter on Church as a Force and Church as a field are worth the purchase, just as a stand alone, and particularly challenging in our context of individual consumerism.

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Live no lies – John Mark Comer (Audio and podcasts)

With kids away at university necessitating long road trips a good audio book is essential and actually I have found a bit of a treat. As well as this great book JMC has produced some related podcasts (I’ve given the you tube link below). As I have been listening to many of his sermons, there was much which was familiar here. The subtitle is Recognise and resist the three enemies that sabotage your peace, those enemies are the Devil, the Flesh and the World. It was the part on the Devil that I found most enlightening. And as a sign of a good audio book I went out and bought a hard copy.

Live no lies podcast/ videos start here

… and this episode with Jon Tyson was particularly challenging – check out the ideas on ‘spirit formation’ for young people

Revival: Repentance & Renewal - David Cassidy (7/9/2025) https://spanishriverchurch.subspla.sh/sft8n76

A little extra – departing from books – this short talk by David Cassidy I found stirred something in me – I was listening to while doing a run (I’m not a great runner so I need distraction) and I found myself quite overcome with the heart cry ‘do it again lord!’. Cassidy weaves stories together with scripture that spoke to me, resulted in me sending to others and listening again.

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How it all began

It is only correct to place any discussion on inheritance or legacy in context. As a child I spent a lot of time listening to my paternal grandfather’s stories of the War. He joined up before the outbreak of war in 1939 and was stationed throughout the country. Narrowly missing deployment to Italy, he was in the first wave at D-Day and was injured in summer 1944 just outside Bayeux. Before this, he did a stint in the Fire Service during the Blitz 1940 and that’s where he ran (literally) into my nan. Their stories of suffering and determination, as well as trivial details about bread puddings, rationing and avoiding the ‘redcaps’ (military police) brought things alive for me. Even when the war wounds and concussion that my grandfather suffered, meant there was much debate between them both of their shared memories, which added to the fun and raucous re-tellings.

I could never understand why others are not equally fascinated by the past, but there are some who aren’t, notably my wife! (Then again I can’t get excited about mathematical patterns in music, or how time signatures represent the Trinity).

As I grew older and started to ask more in depth questions, the bravado and simple anecdotes were replaced by more thoughtful observations and thought-provoking discussions. (I went on to study history at University and then become a history teacher in East London, a few 100 metres from where my grandfather boxed before the war.) In later years the very nature of war sat in the background of our conversations. My grandad had a boy scouts nominal Anglo-Catholic background. When he met my Nan the nature of his faith was to change, as well as his attitude to war, fighting and killing. He came to faith in the Pentecostal church where my Great Grandfather was the pastor.

As we spoke, he would often reveal his discomfort with killing and in the end told me that in many ways he was thankful for his injuries which meant his fighting days ended pre-maturely and he had not had to kill.

That personal account and dilemma served to help me consider the contradictions of fighting and faith. Thus I benefit from the mentors’ story, I am presented with deep questions, which I may not have had to consider until I was faced with a similar pressured situation in my own life.

In other words, I learn from his past.

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And that is just it. The past/ history is not just supposed to be put on some nostalgic pedestal but to be used to inform the present and the future.

Which brings me to Inheritance Vs Legacy. Whilst I recognise that there could be a charge of semantics laid out at this point, what I am driving at is the different ways we honour, utilise or remember the acts of those who have preceded us.

Mark Sayers devotes a chapter, in his book ‘Platform to Pillars’, to Paradosis or the tradition of handing down. Sayers charts the effect of digital immediacy, the simple fact that we can ask AI for information or how to rather than the more humbling ancient approach of asking those with experience.

This was brought home to me, when my youngest son inquired about using a fountain pen. I had one still in the box and handed it over to him. I later learned that he was baffled by the cartridge but rather come back to me to ask for a demonstration, he turned to YouTube for an anonymous stranger to show him. It was easier and swifter than the relational approach, but it seems like the small threads of connection get severed with these choices.

The fountain pen is really a helpful illustration rather than a cause for alarm – but I think it demonstrates the convenience of access to information, in comparison to the inconvenience of learning. We no longer need to ask for information -help, directions etc. We don’t have to go through the humbling admission of “I don’t know something, you do, can you tell me/ show me/ point me in the right direction”. We don’t like to face the teacher/ guide/ expert who either lords their knowledge over us, luxuriating in their superiority, or the grump who doesn’t want to help and gives begrudgingly.

As I write, I confess that I fear my primary teacher trained wife will appear and look over my shoulder, with a Lazer sharp eye for typos, ‘disturbing my flow’ (at least that’s what I will say).

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Willing Apprentice?

In church settings we are often challenged to be ready to disciple new believers. I suggest that often the challenge is more to those who are to be the recipients. If we accept that the discipleship is maybe best defined as apprenticeship, this tension is not with the ‘master’ /teacher being available, but rather the willingness of the young/ apprentice to submit and humble themselves to learning.

Who likes being corrected – of learning in public. No wonder that one of the greatest uses of AI is for counselling and advice.1 (1) Apprenticeship explored

Paradosis is more than passing on of data and information. Wisdom comes closer as a description of what is being passed down with inheritance. It’s not a downloading of data, there is something more available. This gets to the heart of my contention of Inheritance vs legacy. For the purposes of the argument let me lay out my definitions and thus differences.

Legacy

• A monument (either physical or pictorial) which speaks of the achievements of those who have passed. There may be some thing to be learned from their journey, but the principle of legacy is about celebration of what has happened.

Inheritance

• An investment passed forward, often with a cost, of one generation to the next. This enables those who follow, to benefit or springboard on from the foundations of the first generation. Essentially inheritance is about looking forward.

An inheritance mentality can stop the past being viewed with nostalgia. It is a challenge to the mature to view their experiences and knowledge as hard-won tools for the present and future, rather than a collection of teaspoons or thimbles from their journey along the way.

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If the younger generation of Christians are to see the elders amongst them not merely as nostalgic dreamers, but repositories of greatest value. The young would go at their relationships with those elders, in a new way. Rather than ignoring or paying lip service to those who are more mature in the Lord, they would engage with determination, like those seeking pearls of wisdom in oyster shells, prizing away in their interactions to retain the treasures within like tenacious pearl hunters. After all what does it matter if you lose face, in what can seem to outsiders as menial and odd activity, spending time sitting at the feet of elders. If instead, that time is spent, rather than wallowing in the trends and fads of one’s own generation, stocking up from the riches of those who have gone before. As The Message translation says

A quick internet search on the terms, will confirm that inheritance is considered more tangible, a legacy is what’s left behind and inheritance is about what is taken forwards. The learning from one generation to the next is part of the tangible investment – the most valuable inheritance.

My dad passed away in January 2025. He was my father, my pastor, spiritual cheerleader, Papa to my children and my greatest friend. Within the busyness and intensity that such a passing creates – many times people said what a legacy he leaves, and of course I know what they mean and agree. But I found those words were not enough to describe the investment that his life had been to those of us who had been a part of his faith community. In fact, I felt many were kindly focused on our loss as an immediate family and not really coming to terms with their own loss of a spiritual father and friend.

It was in this time that I started to see this definition of inheritance more clearly. And although it was earthed in my church’s experience of my dad, I believe there is something for us all as a generation passes. Particularly as the pioneers of the house church movement – come to the end of their race. However, inheritance is not just restricted to our particular situation, in fact it is the propagation that I want to promote. There is a spiritual inheritance, faith wisdom that we could squander, or bury in the ground, like a neglected talent, rather than using it as a starting point to bring greater affect those around our localities and faith settings.

A warning is imbedded in the parable of the talents. ‘You should have invested my money with the bankers at least I would have received interest’ Matt 25 v 27. I believe there is a sense of momentum not monument, how we should view the spiritual investment of those who have gone before. Not to be lost or squandered, but to be invested (with all the risks that entails.)

The story of the prodigal son shows the other risk- to squander. But it is worth noting that Christ indicates more grace for the squanderer in this parable than there is for the selfish fearful servant who just buries the opportunity in the parable of the Talent. I could be accused of making the scriptures work too hard for the sake of my interpretation but bear with me a while.

In the story of the Prodigal son, the younger son asks for his half of the inheritance. The shock of this request may be somewhat lost on a western reader today2 – but effectively this was highly disrespectful and more or less wishing his father dead! He is the bad example of what to do with inheritance, true he doesn’t build a monument (in later years, one wonders if the elder son might want to build a monument to their good father, after his passing, to lord over his restored little brother.) The Prodigal uses the money, he takes the wealth, but he does not take the wisdom of his father. He doesn’t fall into the looking back of legacy, but neither does he use it a s springboard to better outcomes. Thank goodness he can only waste half, and then of course he comes to his senses.

But there is a warning in the older brother who has not benefited from the journey and ‘coming to his senses’ as his younger brother has, but neither has he made good forward use of the money, he has not taken benefit of his father’s wealth and inheritance. In fact, unchanged will he not be like the final servant who receives the one talent? Is the elder sons attitude betrayed here? Even it could be argued he has not had access to his father’s wealth, his lack of forgiveness and celebration shows he has not inherited the fathers heart, (he is not keeping vigil, he is not leading the dance at the party, or presented his father with choice clothes to place on his restored brothers back) potentially he has a more dangerous heart position than that of the prodigal.

In January 2025, as I reflected on my own loss and that of my church, Hebrews 12 verse 1 came into sharp focus in my mind.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,..

For me I could picture that cloud of witnesses and a familiar face at the front, urging us all on, “come on, join with our efforts, you can do it, we have come this far!” interceding for our victory, reminding us of our inheritance and our heritage.

We have a great example in Jesus and the saints who go before us, some we have known and some we have never met. They provide an inheritance for us that we can take, learn from, advance our walk, or just foolishly neglect.

I remain one who is not afraid to learn from the past and not too proud to build on the spiritual inheritance which has been past down to me, so that I might...

“…run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Heb12 1&2)

Well I wanted to put my own spin on reviews – and share a review of some books I have read this year. This is ahead of a more substantial Substack post later in the month.

The first 3 books* reviewed are of particular note as I read and then bought additional copies to give away.

The Other half of Church* – Jim Wilder & Michel Hendricks

Due to a series of long road trips I first listened to an audio version of this book. But I was compelled to then buy a hard copy. The importance of relationship and community for spiritual maturity, is explored through brain science. As with many books the analysis was stronger than the proposed practice, but this book shows a unique approach to this area of corporate fellowship.

Platforms to Pillars* – Mark Sayers

Sayers is a master of cultural commentary and this book is full of insights. However, this is definitely much more than commentary as it illustrates and critiques today’s culture with its ever present undertone of self-promotion and building platform, Sayers suggests an antidote. Sayers points out the root of our individualism and profile building and counters it with the idea of becoming pillars. In the context of generation Z’s spiritual searching, where many are assuaged from celebrity ministries and Christian platforms, Sayers puts forward a truly counter cultural thesis. I certainly found much to challenge my thinking, but a resounding sense of internal congruence as I read this book.

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A Year with C S Lewis* – C S Lewis

With a short reading for every day this is an excellent start to each morning. The editors have drawn from a wide range of Lewis’s writing so this also serves as a great introduction to the brilliant insights of C. S. Lewis. Some of these works are over 80years old and yet they still resonate in the 21st century as they did in the last.

Travellers in the Third Reich – Julia Boyd

This was an unusual book on Nazi Germany as it was about ‘ordinary people’ who chose to visit Hitler’s Germany from 1933 to 1939. It provides an intriguing insight of how we can look passed horrific things, either through lack of attention or with purposeful avoidance, to carry on with our life’s pursuits. It is far too easy in the 21^st Century to condemn the actions of ordinary people in the 1930’s, and not reflect on the fact that we too maybe overlooking creeping despotism and significant injustice.

A winter in Madrid - C J Sansom

This book has sat on my shelf for a number of years, sadly an all too common occurrence, but the difference with this book, was that I had picked it up a number of times and tried to read but had not completed, finally this year I got hooked. It may be not as riveting as the Shardlake series, the reader does not care for the lead characters as much, and Sansom does not allow us a nicely resolved ending. But it did introduce me to some of the nuances of the Spanish civil war and renewed my determination to read some history of this period.

Precipice – Robert Harris

The historical novelist is operating at their best, when they write of a period I feel I know well and they put a new spin or subplot on what we know from the textbooks. Harris does this here. His writing is so good that it makes me want to read all that he has written, including areas of ancient history that don’t normally hold my attention. He is the weaver of ripping good yarns.

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A few thoughts for anyone trying to put together that ultimate event!

1. Remember it’s not your day!

Whether it’s your wedding, birthday party or conference, it is always key to remember that in fact, it isn’t just ‘your’ day. It is for the benefit of your guests, customers or delegates. When I was trailing around after my fiancée to the photographer, venues, florist etc, I got quite miffed with the constant reference to my bride and ‘her day’ - “Oi! I’m here as well!”. The honeymoon was for us; the other stuff is for others to celebrate with us.

When it comes to conferences and official events, your mind needs to be in two places at once. Ensure the event is running smoothly, but also be ready to grab opportunities that only come precisely because you are leading an event. At ‘your’ event, you suddenly have a magnetism that you didn’t have the day before. People now want to speak to you - often seconds before you are about to give a keynote speech! It would be very easy to say “I’ll catch up with you tomorrow” - but don’t. This is an opportunity to show hospitality, to respond and have that conversation you have been waiting a year for, right then.

2. Ushers shouldn’t be ornamental

Ushers, bridesmaids, stewards, front of house: they need to look good, be smart and presentable. That can be quite a mission in itself, but these people are more than photo-filler. They are essential to make the event work well. They need to know what you want from the event and that you expect them to play an important role. If you brief them well you should be able to watch the colour drain from their faces as they come to understand that they are not just there as eye candy.

Guests or delegates will expect your ‘staff’ to know stuff. Where are the toilets? What time is lunch? Did my dietary requirements get through? They should also act as a filter of issues arising from guests. As an usher at weddings, I have sorted extra places at a reception, organised an ‘artistic’ photographer who had forgotten this was not his studio, and gently but firmly told brides to get up and circulate with disgruntled guests (a bride in full regalia is like a fairy - everywhere she goes she creates happiness!) Much of this can take place without the real-time knowledge of the bride and groom.

3. Know who is in the room

This is such an important tip, for the workshop leader as well as the conference speaker. Beware of in-jokes and different approaches to humour. I gave a best man’s speech once which had one half of the room screaming with laughter and the other side in stony silence. You need to appreciate all your guests/delegates: don’t just gravitate to your friends.

4. Beware of elephant traps

Quite by accident, when we at FaithAction were preparing for an event with an imposing secretary of state, we were sent an internal civil service briefing document that asked the question ‘Any elephant traps?’ Considering what could go wrong is a worthwhile thought - and also who could go wrong. Is there a guest who needs to be managed? Who will you put on the case? I had an event where a VIP needed to be kept clear of a lobbyist. What ensued was a bit of a Georgian farce of entrances and exits through different doors.

Catering is another potential flash point. Despite all the signs about dietary requirements, food is rarely well labelled by caterers. Another common issue is one-line buffet tables - why not allow people to go both sides and thus double the capacity?

Spontaneous speeches can be a headache. Never hand over the microphone to a member of the audience; keeping hold of it helps remind everyone that there is limited time.

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5. Get a good number two

In the theatre, it is disconcerting for the director to find that the deputy stage manager has taken over in the final rehearsals, as he/she calls the cues and runs the show. You need a good number two - someone who doesn’t have to be in the limelight (probably not the best man/bridesmaid), but is dedicated to smooth running and has natural authority and problem solving abilities.

Finally consider how all these different element flow together, like scene changes in a play, are they smooth and seamless?

What goes without question is the need for team. We don’t all have the same role, but we all contribute.

Hope is all goes well!

First published on Huffington Post - https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/daniel-singleton/five-handy-hints-for-wedd_b_16752166.html

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Get Cracking

When I was a young student studying Drama - our tutors often said “Don’t talk, just act!” I have often found that to be a great nudge. So after months of thinking about it - I’m going to get on and Just write!

1. Why this, why now

The world we live in needs some work - I believe that there is a significant role for Church and faith. But what is that role to be? and how should we go about it?

It’s certainly not about forgetting the past and those who have come before, nor is it about being stuck in tradition either.

What is the shape of things to come? was the question I took up with fellow ponderers in 2020. I intend to ponder further with you.

I hope to share some insights, ask some questions, provoke some discussions.

2. What kind of community is - aponderer substack - to build?

Well as I have said before - there are no experts here just fellow travellers.

That being said there is some important insights will be presented here. We will draw on different voices and perspectives, from the work of myself and fellow ponderers around; social policy, faith in the public square, theology, church life, leadership and apprenticeship to Jesus.

This will be a forge or workshop in the sense that there will be rough edges, where ideas are floated and descriptions are teased out.

You will see behind the scenes as writing and publications are developed

This will be a live research community where new thingsa re developed and tested.

3. What and When

This is the plan; -

• Free subscribers will be able to preview an extract of the monthly publications

• Paid subscribers will get

  • Full access to the monthly publications

  • Access to the substack archive

  • Join the ‘a ponderer’ community and post comments

  • Invitation to Fireside chat online event (20% Discount) with guest ponderers

• Co-ponderers will get all this and

  • a quarterly catch up

  • free entry to the Fireside chat events

a last note ….

I love photography - so I will throw up some my snaps - sometimes relevent, often not - so enjoy ;-) !

The picture in this post was taken in Zimbabwe in 1999