Theological College

 

(A photo of me at college reading a theology book about the gospel of Matthew. I'm wearing a grey hoody, red wooly hat and no thick black glasses)

Last year, a friend sponsored a theological taster course for me. Initially, I hesitated. I felt called to do more in my faith 11 years ago, but as my marriage ended in divorce, Mum died, I became unemployed, bankrupt, had a breakdown, and fought alcoholism, all in the space of 18 months. Subsequently, I wondered if I imagined my calling.

Over the years, I became an armchair theologian as relatives and friends bought me theology books for Christmas and birthdays. I preached on Facebook and Instagram for my church, led bible study groups, and wrote studies on biblical books, themes, and events. Love of theology persisted but was now the time?

The Other Dad

 

The stepkids just returned from seeing their dad. Unfortunately, this is one of two occasions they regularly see him, with the occasional visit near A12's birthday.

He's been offered every school holiday since they moved in with me. Yet he frequently declines these because "I'm working and cannot get time off" and "I'm only allowed 3 weeks of holiday." (Like that's even legal.))

I understand working parenthood, but I don't get why it's a problem. Parents nationwide work full-time, some with stay-at-home partners, but many are in dual-income households. School breaks are difficult, but many parents leave their kids with family or trust them to stay home alone, like our teenagers. This results in many families spending just a few hours together. However, their dad won't do this. He absurdly thinks "I either have the kids 100% or I don’t". He has family who can oversee them if necessary, but he won't accept more.

This hurts the kids, especially M15.

Church Demons

Don't panic, this isn't a highly Christian and the world's ending post 😉😅🤣

The past 18 months have been spiritually turbulent. Our two sister churches appointed a new priest-in-charge, but the newfound optimism, growth, and unity quickly disappeared.

As previously posted, this position fostered evangelical ableism, but anti-LGBTQ+ sexism, division, and lies also occurred.

Ecclesiastes 10:1-6 emulates the experience:

"As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour . . . Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are. If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offences to rest. There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions."

Our new Reverend wanted to "shake up" practises, cut bad, and encourage good. However, Simon was different. His presumptions were misguided and outdated; what he deemed good was foolish. For example, Hannah and I managed the church's social media. After 18 months, our church accounts—especially Instagram—went global, reaching 30,000 people, but he, disinterested, found it meaningless, favouring a new website without grasping social media’s impact. So, discarded, the accounts slowly died, going from 500+ interactions to 20. Then more happened.