Self supporting minister at ChristChurch, Woking (PTO) and father of two, grandfather to four. Love helping people to make some sense of it all.
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Well worth a read!! "It would be far better to report the land war for what it is—a bloody quagmire for Russia, where the Russian state is expending vast resources and losing mass numbers of soldiers for little or at times no gain. Because that is the truth."
Well worth a read!! "It would be far better to report the land war for what it is—a bloody quagmire for Russia, where the Russian state is expending vast resources and losing mass numbers of soldiers for little or at times no gain. Because that is the truth."
"It would be far better to report the land war for what it is- a bloody quagmire for Russia, where the Russian state is expending vast resources and losing mass numbers of soldiers for little or at times no gain. Because that is the truth"
Brilliant summary here. Russia failed to break the line somewhere of questionable importance, Ukraine systematically degraded Russia’s oil industry, which is unquestionably important.
Life’s getting a bit more crap here if you are a person from an ethnic minority 🧵
I have written to the Dept for Culture, Media and Sport this morning to ask the, to look into the BBC’s almost blatant right wing bias, especially their frequent platforming of Farage, something they don’t extend to the other parties with low numbers of MPs. #BBC
The US funded 1/3 of Botswana’s response to HIV. Trump and Musk ended that, of course
I first saw ‘double tap’ attacks during the siege of Sarajevo. A shell or missile hits a building, then as the rescuers arrive, a second one hits. Much used by Russia in Ukraine. Western leaders are demanding to know if the IDF gave orders to do this at the Nasser Hospital.
My letter in today’s Times:
300 people in Mold, North Wales was the peak of this weekend Significantly larger protests earlier this month in Dudley, Nuneaton (500+) Much the largest protest about asylum this summer seems to have been the Epping pro-refugee counter-protest, July 27th www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It is clearly the case that asylum protests were smaller this weekend than the small over-hyped protests on August 8th, and smaller than in the second half of July. No broadcast outlet has accurately conveyed that + asked why: they have explicitly stated and inferred growing protests
Latest freedom of religion news in the US
I'm not sure who turned my words into a meme, and included U.S. citizens (most of whom do not want a new war!), but I appreciate how many people are connecting with it. May all of us, in all of our different situations, somehow help bring the justice this world so desperately needs. 💔
Wow it's a small world isn't it!
I didn't wear my collar at work though all my colleagues knew I was ordained. I visited clients as my employers representative so I think Wearing a dog collar would have been confusing. Hope that helps :0)
I’m curious: For self-supporting clergy who also work outside the church (I think referred to as bi-vocational in the US?), when do you wear your dog collar? It feels like a bigger question around living your calling in different parts of life, so beginning to think about it early seems sensible. ✝️
America is an honest broker, then?
Trump: "We are now the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting." He's right – except for the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Canada, India, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Russia, and 22 other countries.
I’m sorry to say but the claim that the US under Trump is going to provide Ukraine with militarily enforced security guarantees, is simply the newest version of the Trump will hit Russia hard with sanctions delusion. Neither will ever happen, but if it makes you feel better….
More dangerous and inflammatory casual racism from Tommy Robinson and his online army having dangerous consequences in the north-east of England in promoting everyday xenophobia, online & real world racism against anybody who is not white. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
100 Women's Rights Organisations, including @rapecrisis.bsky.social, @refugecharity.bsky.social, & @evawuk.bsky.social have signed a letter warning that attempts to link rape & violence against women & girls to immigration is a racist distraction. They urge the govt to address dangerous narrative
Okay, this is perhaps not the best way to organise such things but I've gone through the usual list of people. If any of you bluesky CofE clergy have PTO in the Diocese of London and are free on Sun 31st Aug in the morning please get in touch? I'm trying to find cover for two services. ✝️ #CofEPeeps
With a few days' perspective, I think we can confidently conclude that Trump successfully brokered an agreement between Zelensky and Putin to bump Epstein chatter from news headlines. We all woke up in a new world over the weekend, and the sun is shining.
The super rich aren't smart. They have no idea how dangerous the situation is
I’ve mulled over posting this for months now. But yesterday it came to a head. And I’m aware that the people who need to see it will either not be here, or will suggest that I’m lying. I live near an asylum hotel. The reason I didn’t post earlier is that I didn’t want to raise undue attention
Russia: Invades Moldova 1992 1st Chechen war 1994-96 2nd Chechen war 1999-09 Georgia war 2008 1st invasion of Ukraine 2014-22 Syrian Civil War 2015 2nd invasion of Ukraine 2022-present Also Russia: "We'll promise to change our constitution so illegal war is illegal
⚡️Do NOT let Musk get his hands on British utilities. He’s applied for a license to supply energy here. ✍️ Tell Ofgem what you think about that: www.bestforbritain.org/petition-elo...
I’ll trot out this cheesy meme - again - as I have the png saved on my iPad, but it makes a good point. Tolerating intolerant people who have no intention of tolerating *you* is the road to perdition. Karl Popper’s paradox of intolerance.
"No one in Ukraine, Europe or the US benefited in any way!"
Second, US threats to sanction Russia are basically gone--and the direction of travel is about getting back to business with Russia. Third--Trump admitted that he and Putin agreed that Ukraine had to give Russia territory, and its up to the Ukrainians to accept that.
Just sent out this free piece. I hear some saying yesterday's summit changed little--nothing could be further from the truth. The summit helped Russia and hurt Ukraine. It had 3 main components. First, US-Russian relations are being normalized in front of our eyes. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Evangelical theologian and activist Krish Kandiah coming out of this kerfuffle better than Jenrick (or the BBC) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
🔴 The Media Distortion Warping Britain’s Views on Immigration Unbalanced coverage of migration is twisting the public’s perspective, argues Christian Christenson
An odd choice for JD Vance to come to Britain on holiday, where he might get arrested for saying a prayer
True, but perhaps they deserve one another!!
If Trump thinks the exchange of a few bits of Russian and Ukrainian territory plus a ceasefire will constitute peace, he’s wrong; Putin will just start up his attacks again when he chooses. There has to be a binding agreement which Russia won’t break. Not much sign of that.
I need to find someone who wants to get rid of their bass guitar. I remember how expensive this particular recurring hyperfixation is 😁. Should never have broken my old one.
One of the best things I’ve seen in ages.
Latest religion news from The Land of the Free
Hi All, Just released my free weekend update. This week started as a potential disaster for Ukraine, as the government moved to weaken anti-corruption efforts. However it ended with another lesson of why Ukraine's victory is so important to the future of Europe. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Even in the midst of an existential war, Ukrainians were willing to protest against a bad law and make the government listen. Its completely different from today’s Russia, where rising up against the leadership on an issue of freedom seems impossible to imagine.
The toxic distortions of truth need to be countered by FACTS! Please share this post! #immigration #asylum #truth #asylumhotels
Ooh, first spot of the German version of (the husband) @jamesbluecat.bsky.social's PAGANS in the wild. Out 29th Aug!
I saw this and thought of you @peternimmo.bsky.social :0)
Whoever it is going round Glasgow putting daft signs on stuff, please keep up the good work. Thanks.
I wonder how that will play for the tories at the next election?
O’Brien: “as Ukrainian success in this war is becoming more and more vital to Europe (as the US is withdrawing), European leaders are agreeing to walk back their NATO commitments to Ukraine. For this reason alone, the summit was a failure.”
Hi @willforster.bsky.social Here is another iniquity in the immigration system. The numbers of people entering the country this way are around 80,000 Tiny compared to the grand total. If you think about it setting the financial costs so high is implicitly racist. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Anyone I see basically blaming Starmer for not being Corbyn, gets blocked. We've got a decent bloke trying to do a reasonable job. And occasionally failing. Annoyingly so sometimes. But rather Starmer than Badenoch, Sunak, Farage, or Corbyn.
I just thought you should know how this works out on the ground. There will be many in Woking who suffer in this way :0(
I don't I'm afraid, but my Son in Law is Kenyan so we know first hand how nasty it can be. He is currently preparing to renew his work visa and has had to retake his English test at considerable cost despite holding down a job as a debt centre manager which involved substantial qualifications!
@willforster.bsky.social
Have you seen this @willforster.bsky.social?
When I first saw the headline I assumed it was an error, but on reading the piece I see that no, the Home Office is genuinely suggesting that two children go and live in Brazil without their parents, who are both legal UK residents and employed.
This is awesome news :0)
My letter about clergy pay rises in today’s @thetimes.com @thechurchmouse.bsky.social @churchofengland.org #CofEpeeps
There's some who benefit from war
Who has all the cards?
Dear Russians, this is not a terrorist attack. This is war. Ukraine targeted your strategic bombers, not your homes. Your own armed forces are, on the other hand, constantly terrorising Ukrainian civilians.
Hi All, I released my weekend update a few hours ago, and the Ukrainians turned around and launched what is arguably the most successful operation of the war--so I updated it with all the information I could get. Russian strategic airpower received a mighty blow. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
These threats are actually attempts to help Putin and gaslight Europeans and US-supporters of Ukraine. They are tactics to delay steps needed to help Ukraine and to give Trump more time to string things out. The amazing thing is that people time and again fall for them.
Hi All, After Trump's latest threat to sanction Russia, I lost my mind a little and decided to write the history of Trump and his acolytes toothless sanctions threats on Russia. It’s rather long but at least it’s free. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
JUST IN: One of the leaders of party Lelo, Grigol Gegelia, my friend and colleague, has just been attacked by regime thugs as he exited a shop near his parents’ place. From what I know, they hit him four times in his head and his health needs monitoring. 1/
Yeh fancy having to clear up after that lot!! 🤪
So important
My pal Ben Cohen the ice-cream-man & I just released this article about why we were arrested this month, and why we’d do it again. This piece will circulate tomorrow -- spread the word and help us get it out there! religionnews.com/2025/05/22/w...
I don’t recall any of them pointing this out to the public at the time! The Labour government must now hold them to account for the damage they’ve done with Brexit
Well done to both Erdogan and Zelensky for calling off Putin’s bluff on ‘peace’
Hey friends, I’m trying to raise funds to support my ministry as a gaming chaplain. Please consider donating and, even if you can’t, I’d appreciate it if you shared. www.gofundme.com/f/support-sa...
This is right up there with "Benny Hill and Michael Jackson were best mates" and "Boy George was on The A-Team" in the weird 70s/80s US/UK pop culture crossover stakes.
Excellent thread this.
“When six young women hired a room to discuss the war in Gaza, the gathering ended with 30 officers storming in to make arrests The building in which they sat was a Quaker meeting house, the home of a movement whose centuries-long history is peacemaking” This is more than a dangerous precedent!
As Trump goes on about Victory Day, and Putin holds a parade, maybe there is something to be said that the UK sent its head of state and political leaders to a Christian religious service to think about sin, evil and repentance on VE Day
Very frank conversations about possibly irreparable damage in the transatlantic relations interrupted by a 2-minute silence in memory of the end of WWII at London Defence Conference. Saddening to think what a decisive role the US played for Europe to get over its past. And where we are today.
Yes, there is anti-Christian bias. No, it's not against the people claiming to be Christian in order to cement their own power. It's against the Christ who was killed by the state and his followers.
"Port Operations in Bandar Abbas, Iran Remain Heavily Disrupted" maritime-executive.com/editorials/p...
Container trade braced for negative growth if US-China trade war persists ▶️Early signs of a slowdown at major US ports emerge, as carriers are cutting capacity to cope with the plunge in Chinese exports www.lloydslist.com/articles/202...
Latest data out from the Port of LA. ▶️ As expected, this week the port is seeing a 35% drop in container volume from this time last year ▶️Wk 20 is showing an 11% drop ▶️Wk 21 has a spike upward, BUT that number is always the softest. These ships have not all sailed yet, and some may blank (cancel).
Most OECD countries have more modern rail infrastructure than the UK. Electrification is proceeding slowly, averaging just 100 km (0.6 per cent of the network) a year in the last five years. At this pace it would take almost three decades to catch up to the current OECD average.
Oh. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
And JD Vance thinks that people get arrested for praying in Scotland...
Note how much of what Trump is trying to destroy, from Radio Free Europe to transatlantic trade, is precisely what the Russians most want him to destroy www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/u...
This "no shots fired in Crimea" myth repeated by Trump is offensive. Ukrainian service personnel were killed during Russia's annexation operation. Videos like this one, composed of material posted online by Russian forces in 2014, make the violent force of the operation clear.
A reminder: Russia signed a treaty with Ukraine in 1997, accepting that Crimea was part of Ukraine. In 2014 Russia infiltrated Crimea and seized it. Now Pres Trump proposes that Ukraine should accept the loss of Crimea, and blames Pres Zelenskyy for refusing this peace deal.
"Europe's got to find the balls to do this." Former Nato commander Sir Richard Shirreff tells @krishgm.bsky.social "Ukraine has to be supported in defeating Russia" because "America absolutely has walked away and cannot be trusted as a reliable ally." Read and watch here:
“The lesson that Putin will take is that you can annex, invade, slaughter and occupy… do it long enough you’ll get a frozen conflict as a reward.” Jim Murphy, Leader of Scottish Labour, 2014-15, on US-Russian negotiations on Ukraine. #Newsnight
One regular phenomenon of US politics is that news stories involving individuals - Elian Gonzalez, Terri Schiavo, George Floyd - tend to be the main way that big questions over migration, medical ethics, police brutality, etc actually catch fire politically. Kilmar Abrego Garcia is in this tradition
This is what we all feared. The United States and Russia bullying brave President Zelensky into a terrible deal. Time for the United Kingdom and Europe to stand up to Trump and seize the Russian assets so we can go it alone.
Anyhow, prayers for the southern neighbours today!
It costs about 7k visa and NHS fees for a 3 year postdoc. My post doc pay is about 35k before tax. It is ridiculous. I paid for it using my grant money but that means less money to actually do science.
IMHO, the UK government should substantially increase the budget and reach of the BBC World Service immediately
Hi @fortrenn.bsky.social I thought you might be interested in this. Given your background I'm sure theres probably nothing new here for you but hopefully a helpful bit of context from someone in academia? ATB Martin PS I promise not to keep sending you stuff!!!!