Life Issues

How much of our time do we focus on the here and now, and dealing with the everyday challenges, rather than looking to the future? Is eternity about our happiness, or God coming home to be truly with us? Is it even possible to live a heaven-soaked life now? The Right Reverend Professor N.T.Wright, a world-renowned Bible scholar and the former Bishop of Durham joins Vicky Gibbens for this Life Issues.

Around the world 1 in 7 Christians face persecution, so what is the hope we can offer to them – and given what the bible says about the expectation of persecution could their example, experience and theology be more in tune with biblical Christianity than our “comfortable” freedom based, western experience? In this week’s Life Issues, Hope for and from the Persecuted Church Paul is joined by Henrietta Blyth CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland.

Do you ever struggle with inconsistency of the Christian Walk? What if our “relaxed”, “I can pray anytime” attitude, towards spending time with God, that much of modern faith has come to inhabit, contributes to that?
In years gone by, the monastic rule of life provided a framework and focus through the day, that pointed towards our Father in heaven. So given that the bible tells us to Be still & know…. What if we could embrace a “rule” for life, that balanced the best of that history with the freedom of spontaneous spirituality?

This week’s Life Issues - A spiritual rule to make good faith habits.

When it comes to faith is it ok to say I don't always get it? I mean, can we ever fully understand God; the all-powerful all-knowing creator of the universe?
Maybe the mystery of God is why you struggle to believe? But what if we are not meant to figure it all out? In this week’s Life Issues Helen is joined by Zach Bolen who is lead singer and guitarist from Citizens, a band whose music delves into the relationship between doubt and faith…

With the fragility of international relationships, crisis fatigue, and financial instability, are we doing enough to care for the marginalised and oppressed? How can we counter attitudes of indifference when trying to overcome problems like poverty, and gender-violence, that persist across generations? In this week’s Life Issues, Vicky Gibbens speaks to Canon Bev Jullien, the Chief Executive of Mothers’ Union, and the charity’s Worldwide President, Kathleen Snow, as the organisation celebrates its 150th anniversary.