#oldmanrunning stop and smell the tulips! 🌷💐

He is risen! "The Good News of the resurrection is not that we shall die and go home with him, but that he is risen and comes home with us…" - Clarence Jordan, co-founder of Koinonia Farm

This is going to be a wonderful service to kick off the sabbatical visit of Archbishop Thabo Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) - I will be there! I hope you can join us! www.linkedin.com/posts/jan-jo...

Happy April Fool’s day!

‘What is the sense of our small effort? … God will take them and multiply them…’ - Dorothy Day

How wonderful that the Margaret Fell's 'Women's Speaking Justified', an important historical text in Quaker feminist political theology, was gifted to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Revd Sarah Mullally. I was grateful to write one of the endorsements for this new edition, thanks to Paul Anderson.

My thanks to Julie Clague for inviting me to teach on how Africa and Africans shaped Christianity throughout history. And also to Doug Gay for a deeply meaningful Eucharist service with Trinity College, Glasgow. It was a stunning day with colleagues and friends! I am grateful!

It is such a joy to be visiting my dear friend Prof Scott Spurlock at the University of Glasgow. Scott has been a close friend for many years! Yesterday I read a paper, had meetings with colleagues, and toured the campus. Today I will teach and attend a Eucharist service. I am very grateful!

Spring is springing! We went for a beautiful little walk after work!

Much wisdom, many blessings, for my Dutch siblings who will vote today! Cast your vote for a safer, more sustainable, more peaceful, more inclusive society. In the end, love wins! It is a strong and durable political force.

Today I give thanks for the life and witness of a mentor, and dear friend, Prof John de Gruchy. It is his 87th birthday today! Happy birthday John! You are a gift!

It is important that we name the genocide in Gaza for what it is. We have heard the lived experiences from Palestinian siblings for more than two years now. It is devastating. Continue to pray, support, and act for justice and true peace. Do what you can. www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026...

Today, there is mourning in the public sphere. A great tree has fallen. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...

Last night Megan and I attended a beautiful Iftar dinner hosted by the Centre for Islamic Theology from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam The friendship, food, and the lecture were wonderful! We are very grateful! See more about CIT here: vu.nl/nl/over-de-v...

I believe in the separation of Church and Hate…

The promise of spring in Amsterdam! It was so beautiful on my ride home from the office this evening! Flowers everywhere!

You cannot love your enemies by killing them. Prince of Peace, raise up women and men who will wage peace, and not war. Give us courage to join them.

Imagining Lent… Let us prepare well.

“The nation needs Christians to believe killing is necessary; the church exists to produce people who cannot believe that lie.” - Stanley Hauerwas

Just about as Dutch as it gets! 🇳🇱 Wow, the promise of spring! Sure it was only 3 degrees, but +3 instead of -3 🤣 and the birds are chirping! Stunning! 🤩

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born on this day (4 February 1906). What can we do today, that can secure peace, justice, and flourishing for coming generations? Here are a few ideas from Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Steve Biko. www.researchgate.net/publication/...

‘More than ever before in our history, we need a new kind of personal and social fuel. Not the spirit of hostility, but the holy Spirit of hospitality.’ - Brian D. McLaren, We Make the Road By Walking

Today my darling Megan Forster and I celebrate 32 years of marriage!!! Please join us in giving thanks! Wow! What an immeasurable blessing!! Megie, thank you for being my best friend, my co-adventurer, and the most wonderful partner anyone could wish for! I love you SO much! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Sunrise 🌄 So beautiful, sure it is 8.20 am! But Ja! Any sun is a blessing! 🤣😆🙌🔥

Off to Church 🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶 -2 C! The train will be warmer!

My last day at Wesley House, Cambridge started with an early morning run. Then a discussion with my dear colleague Dr Jonathan Chaplin about last night’s lecture, and my scholarly focus and journey. After that we had worship in the chapel - a perfect day of scholarship, fellowship, and worship.

The day in Cambridge started with a lovely run on my familiar route! Then worship at Wesley Methodist Church! Then, I returned to Westminster College to prepare my sermon for the next Sunda, then grading of AUC papers. Now, Wesley House, Cambridge for pizza! A perfect day!

I am so grateful to work alongside my amazing colleagues and serve gifted and dedicated students! This was written last year, and it remains a great reflection on our work at the School of Religion and Theology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam www.rd.nl/artikel/1090... #Theology #study #VUAmsterdam

Is it time to "un-think" the West? My newest article explores the future of Public Theology, decoloniality, and the rise of "theme park theology." I’m interested to hear from fellow theologians and practitioners: Read it here: doi.org/10.51619/stk... #PublicTheology

“For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

‘I want to be ever a child…’ Blessings and joy to everyone who is returning to work and service today! Do good wherever and whenever you can. Take care of people and creation.

The WCC condemns US attacks in Venezuela, warning they set a dangerous precedent by normalising armed force for political ends. It calls for an immediate halt, respect for international law, and action by global bodies. oikoumene.org/news/wcc-con...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ⛄️☃️🌨️❄️

At the start of a new year, I find myself returning to the Methodist Covenant Prayer. It frames my hope for the year ahead: faithfulness, service, and to be more deeply shaped by Christ, the Prince of Peace. May this year open paths toward peace, justice, wholeness, and love. God bless you all!

We watched MK Dons beat Swindon 1-0. Such a fun afternoon with family!! The football was great and the crowd was amazing!

‘O Word, now wrapped in human skin: speak peace on earth through your children.’ - Common Prayer: A liturgy for ordinary radicals ⁠ Child of Bethlehem, Prince of Peace, what do you wish for your birthplace, Bethlehem? What do you desire for your descendents in Palestine? youtu.be/9j4DO-_PLpE

#oldmanrunning slow, steady, and with freezing legs 🥶❄️🤣🎄🙌 in beautiful Hemel Hempstead.

A blessed Christmas to all of you, dear friends, dear family. We wish grace, peace, hope, goodness, and love for you and your loved ones!

I took my darlings to visit my old (and current!) college, Wesley House Cambridge. It was a beautiful day! It was amazing to show them some of my favorite places. I am back to do the Brian Beck Memorial Lecture on 22 January 2026, and spend time with colleagues, friends and students.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Getting a head start on Christmas! 🎅🎄❤️🎉🥳❤️🙏

We’re on our way to London! We drove from Amsterdam to Dunkirk and caught a Ferry to Dover, and then the last little drive to Craig and Kathryn! Let the festivities begin! We are so grateful to be with family this Christmas! We wish that Courtney and Darren were here too!🎄🚙🥳

I don’t write like ChatGPT, ChatGPT writes like me! A painful, yet beautiful reflection learning to read and write in English, and the distrust and miss-recognition that some in the majority world (and elsewhere!) face in the age of Large Language Models. marcusolang.substack.com/p/im-kenyan-...

💡Hoe krijgen we het politieke en maatschappelijke debat weer op de rails? Misschien door gewoon terug te grijpen op de klassieke deugden, betoog ik samen met @rikpeels.bsky.social: www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

@davidboogerd.bsky.social so great to find you here! I am absolutely loving De Ongelooflijke Geschiedenis - the longer episodes around a theme are a winner! Thanks David!

Go Cheetahs!!! We went to watch the South African Cheetah 🐆 rugby 🏉 team playing in Amsterdam! It was wonderful to be with friends, and sunshine in December was amazing! #Cheetahs @cheetahsrugby

The latest edition of our journal, IJPT has just been published. The theme of this issue is: ‘Public Theological Issues in Disputed Framings: Studies on Religious Freedom, Conflicts and Pressing Contemporary Debates’ brill.com/view/journal... Thanks to Prof Rudolf von Sinner.

“Remembering the stable where for once in our lives. Everything became a You and nothing was an it.” - W.H. Auden, For the Time Being

Dear friends, please join me in congratulating Dr Elijah Keay and Dr Wynand Marc Breytenbach who received their PhD degrees at Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University today! It was such a joy and a privilege to undertake this journey with you! Congratulations!

I spoke with @lesterkk on @CapeTalk about why religious groups oppose the CRL Commission’s plans to regulate religion. In SA we must protect people from abuse and safeguard religious freedom. Listen here ➡️ youtu.be/zBIJVaBXASs?... #ReligiousFreedom

Dearest friends, I am so grateful to deliver the Brian E. Beck memorial lecture at Wesley House, Cambridge on 22 January 2026. If you are in the area, please do join us! Registration is open for January's Brian E Beck memorial lecture: brianbeck.eventbrite.co.uk