Happy Christmas✨🎄 Who doesn’t love cauliflower cheese with their Christmas dinner, and Yorkshire puddings—they’re a nonnegotiable. Likewise, love is a nonnegotiable at Christmas. Love, found in Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. Take a listen👇🏼 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

open.substack.com/pub/salvodan... #homelessness #housing #roughsleeping #people

Daughter 2: “I’m looking for the cyclops carol on YouTube.” Me: “The cyclops carol? What do you mean?” Daughter 2: “The cyclops carol is my favourite. I can’t find it on YouTube.” Dad: *now confused* *trying to work out what she means* “Do you mean the calypso carol?” Daughter 2: “Yes!” 🤦‍♂️🎄✨

@salvationarmyuk.bsky.social welcomes the Government’s national plan to end homelessness, which includes measures that the church and charity have been campaigning for. However, a major concern is that the Government’s target to cut rough sleeping ‘doesn’t go far enough’. 🧵/1 #homelessness

I’ve reached a festive milestone today… the first mince pie of the season consumed. 🎄✨

I’ve just been Whammed in IKEA, Oxford Street. Fuming—only made it until 2nd December! ✨🎄 youtu.be/E8gmARGvPlI?...

Some of the measures announced in the Autumn Budget are welcomed, for example, the ending of the two-child benefit cap. This measure aims to bring many children and families out of poverty, leading to better long term outcomes. 🧵/1 #Budget2025

A Salvationist Faith-Based Response to Homelessness and Housing: Relationship and Community open.substack.com/pub/salvodan... #homelessness #housing #people #support #roughsleeping

An unplanned trip to Leeds enabled a trip to the Christmas market. Who doesn’t love a toasted marshmallow?! 🎄✨

A crisp morning in London Town.

It’s that time of year when my annual dusting off and a lot of practice is needed… if you know you know… 🎺 🎶 🎄

A Salvationist Faith-Based Response to Homelessness and Housing: Early Intervention and Prevention #homelessness #housing #roughsleeping #people #support open.substack.com/pub/salvodan...

A Salvationist Faith-based Response to Homelessness and Housing: The Context #homelessness #housing #roughsleeping #people #support open.substack.com/pub/salvodan...

PMQs should be an interesting experience today… let’s see if the rumours of rebellion are felt in the chamber. When it comes to leadership contests, I echo the words of Brenda from Bristol when she heard about another general election; “Not another one!” #PMQs

It’s always good to see the pre-advent decorations and cups arriving! 🫠 #GraceAndEmbrace

Finally getting around to finishing this book…with a brew of course!

Westminster, London is looking rather stunning in its autumn colours 🍂🍁

I know I am biased, but York really is the best city in the world. It has been a cold, damp, but beautiful evening walk through the city.

“Despair”—the word used by Wes Streeting to describe the feeling of the UK. Labour promised hope, change, and reform. Instead, we have incompetence, broken systems, and a lack of action. People are laughing at the state of the UK Government. Time for talk is over, we need action.

Front Line Our frontline, our whole lives, God’s grace and embrace. What are we germinating? What are we growing? Where’s our frontline? Being scattered, being the living Word. @salvodanholland.bsky.social #FrontLine @salvationarmyuk.bsky.social (Thanks to Mark & Lindy Rose)

I testify to the goodness and faithfulness of God. It doesn’t mean life easy but it means we are held by the One who has the victory. “All my life you have been faithful, All my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

“There is a terrible hunger for love,” Mother Teresa once said. “We all experience that in our lives ….” She added, “Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.” Yes!☝🏼

Praying for peace, especially for the Jewish community of Manchester. ‎גמר טוב

Trauma Informed Oregon have a range of excellent online courses available on their website, and many of them are free. Please check them out if you’re interested in trauma-informed practice 👇🏼 traumainformedoregon.org/resources/tr... #TraumaInformed #TraumaInformedPractice #TIP

Political Party Conferences and Salvation Army Officer Councils salvodanholland.blogspot.com/2025/09/poli... While officers have a lot in common with the political party conferences, I hope our difference can be felt because of the one we have ultimate faith in.

Watching the sunset over London this evening. #London #Sunset

The Church is not called to label people “far right” or “liberal left.” We are called to preach the gospel, be salt & light, and stand in the gap; promoting peace, calling out hate. No slave or free, Jew or Gentile, right or left—we are one in Christ Jesus. #LoveGodLoveOthers

“Amidst the backdrop of increasing uncertainty, violence, hatred and people becoming increasingly vocal and unkind, Christ calls us to be in the world and be different: counter-cultural, radical… mercy and grace shift the world.” — General Lyndon Buckingham

A very different Sunday vibe on Oxford Street today.

I’m watching Last Night of the Proms: Finale. Spectacular and bonkers. Dramatic and relaxing. Flag waving and horn honking. Eclectic and eccentric. Traditional and modern. Musical and poetic. Alongside Eurovision (sorry!), one of my best nights of the year! #lastnightoftheproms

Founding Vision for a Future Army – Chapter 1: Identity Crisis salvodanholland.blogspot.com/2025/09/foun... I believe we are clear about who we are. Now, the question is whether our systems will allow us to live that out in the most Spirit-filled, mission-driven ways possible.

Being Well salvodanholland.blogspot.com/2025/09/bein... It seems that the word ‘wellbeing’ is everywhere… the term is used widely across workplaces, communities, and churches. But what does it actually mean? What is wellbeing? Perhaps an even deeper question is: What does being well look like?

I describe myself as socially conservative with an interest in liberation theology. I sit somewhere in the centre ground of politics, with a range of views on different topics. Today, the importance of peace, debate, listening, and loving the ‘other’ is more important than ever.

“…Let go Let God Come on, child, grow Get off the ground He is not found so low No! Wellbeing is not tight and mean It’s vast expanse embraces all Arms wide upon a cross Tomb empty So from the seesaw fall…” (Ruth Rice) #GraceAndEmbrace

Beauty for Ashes: Lessons from the North Yorkshire Moors salvodanholland.blogspot.com/2025/09/beau... Whatever season we’re currently in, and especially for those returning to school or college this week, we can be reminded that if we remain rooted in God we can grow into something even better.

“May I know grace to embrace my own finite smallness in the arms of God’s infinite greatness.” (Lectio 365) #GraceAndEmbrace

Coffee in the park this morning. The warmth of summer remains, but the changing colours of the leaves remind us that autumn approaches. Most things last for a season, and change is a fact of life. "#GraceAndEmbrace

From Social Service to Missional Community salvodanholland.blogspot.com/2025/08/from... This is not about integrating mission as a side project into services. The compass is pointing clearly. The question is, are we ready to follow it? If yes, let’s go and do something! #mission

A walk around the Museum Gardens before heading south. It’s been good to be home and great to be in worship at York Salvation Army, reflecting on the God who heals.

The beautiful city of York. It’s always good to be home!

Is Jesus Still in Our Homelessness Services? The Salvation Army’s homelessness services are not simply about housing solutions—they are about hope solutions. And that hope is found in Jesus.  But are we brave and bold enough? salvodanholland.blogspot.com/2025/08/is-j...

The beautiful Whitby! #Yorkshire

A visit to the Great Grandparents in York. Coffee and hedgehogs…

#GraceAndEmbrace “May God’s image in me be restored, and my imagination in God be re-storied. May the gravity of material things be lightened, and the relativity of time slow down. May I know grace to embrace my own finite smallness in the arms of God’s infinite greatness.” (Pete Greig)

It’s one thing to affirm that God is love. It’s another to receive that love when you feel utterly unworthy of it. That’s knowing it in your knower. That’s when theology becomes testimony. That’s when knowledge becomes knowing. salvodanholland.blogspot.com/2025/08/know...

Happy Yorkshire Day! I miss home, I miss the people, I miss the county, but today I celebrate all things Yorkshire. We'll be reyt!

Departed from the Elizabeth Line at Bond Street station to be greeted by the station announcer declaring “this station is Paddington”. A momentary panic, soon settled once realising the station announcer hasn’t had his morning coffee. I am indeed at Bond Street.

There’s something special about London at night.

Leadership is not about rank, title, or position; they come and go, and are easily lost, so hold them lightly. Leadership is about showing up when your people need you, being present, and having people’s backs. Be the latter!