How Writing (& X-Men) Saved Me From Myself
One value I place above all is authenticity. And on a blog, this means always being honest, and being vulnerable as much as is appropriate.
I firmly believe the best creative work – including our lives – is always honest, always authentic.
Tell the truth, the last few months have been tough for me. Without going into too much detail, I’ve been feeling led to confront issues from my childhood, which I’ve buried and run away from for 20 years. They’d been undermining me and controlling me for too long – and this year, I knew it was time to confront them. I knew this would mean going down a dark path, into the valley, and knew this would impact me – but I also knew it was, and is, absolutely necessary for me to grow.
What I didn’t expect was the depths to which this would go, and has gone.
Episode 54 | Christine Sine & The Spiritual Rhythms Of Life
Christine Sine of Mustard Seed Associates, blogger, author, missionary & gardener joins me today. Christine shares her fascinating journey which took her from Australia all over the world, led her to found Mustard Seed Associates, a Christian charity, create and grow a blog and co-create several books. You’ll also hear about how she discovered a…
Episode 53 | Alexander Shaia & Our Gospel Journey 3: Luke
Today it’s the final part of our series with Alexander Shaia on the gospel journey of Quadratos. Today, we examine the book of Luke, and how we mature in service, and take the lessons we’ve learned, and the good news of the Christ out into the world. Alexander & I talk about the background the…
Episode 52 | Alexander Shaia & Our Gospel Journey 2: John
Alexander Shaia returns in the second of our three part journey through the gospel(s). Today we focus on John, and how we discover joy, even in the midst of the most terrible suffering, and then enter into a resurrection path into a new tomorrow.
Time To Ditch Fear & Join The Movement Of Love
The world as it is now, is one where fear, division, hatred and violence seems to be winning. America is divided over gun control, immigration, refugees, much of which has been fuelled by…and is fuelling…the rise of Donald Trump.
And here in the UK, the EU referendum and it’s result has not only divided a nation, but exposed a hidden cancer of racism and prejudice in parts of our nation.
Much of the West in living in a culture of fear, scarcity, lack, division and hatred.
It can’t go on this way. It’s not meant to be this way.
And there is a different way.
The path of love.
Episode 51 | Alexander Shaia & Our Gospel Journey 1: Matthew & Mark ,
Alexander Shaia returns to James Talks today, for the first of a new series over the next three weeks, walking us through the Gospel Journey of Quadratos in much more depth. In our previous discussion, in Episode 43, we briefly covered all four stages of our journey of identity through the gospels – or as…
What Jason Donovan Taught Me About Hope
My writing, and all my work, is generally about creativity, spirituality and identity. Those are the areas I’m passionate about, and those are where I can use my gifts best. And in one sense this is tied into all of those topics, though on the surface, it may not seem so.
I’ve not seen my country so divided as it’s been over the last few weeks – and even more so since Thursday.
There are divisions on nationality, age, politics, more than ever before. As Britain voted to leave the European Union, it created a rupture in our culture which would break the richter scale. It’s one of those inciting incidents in our culture. A moment that once you’ve passed, you cannot go back from.
And we’re still feeling the shockwaves.
Episode 50 | The Fiftieth – Back Forward Now
It’s the 50th episode of James Talks! Today I share some updates on my latest work, including my upcoming book, blog posts, the podcast, and mostly, a personal reflection on my recent journey. I talk about what I’ve been facing & what it’s taught me about the importance of going back to confront the pain…
To Orlando – With Grace & Love
What’s happened in Orlando has shaken us all. The worst mass shooting in US history. 49 dead, far more injured. More violence. More death. These tragedies seem to piling up in the States.
And from America, to here in the UK, and arguably all over the world, the shockwaves are being felt.
It was a human tragedy. We all feel it. Our hearts are all with the people of Orlando right now,. Our prayers, love and support are with the victims, their friends, families & the LGBT community as a whole.
There are barely words at a time like this. And I stand with all those in that place of grieving.
There’s a despair, a frustration, an anger, at this injustice. It wasn’t just wrong , this was evil. And it shouldn’t have happened.
Episode 49 | Orlando & Guns – An Outside Perspective
We’ve all been shocked & deeply moved by events in Orlando this week. Today I posted a blog post about Orlando itself, and in this podcast I discuss the issue of guns, gun crime, and the myth of redemptive violence. From the perspective of a UK citizen living in London, a culture where there is…