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A child in Gothenburg thanks his dad for sharing fruit, and suddenly the whole room remembers what faith is supposed to feel like—sweet, simple, and freeing. From that quiet moment, we trace a sharper line into the places where religion twists: the backlash to the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury, the old reflexes of control and fear, and the patterns that turn churches into machines for shame. We name spiritual abuse clearly, not to sensationalise it, but to give language to the wounds many carry: control dressed up as obedience, prosperity pitches that prey on longing, and the silencing of anyone who asks hard questions or tries to leave with their dignity intact.

We unpack practical ways to spot danger—legalism, fear-first preaching, information control, and insider–outsider hierarchies—and we hold that up against a healthier, warmer Christianity grounded in relationship rather than rules. Scripture becomes a lifeline rather than a cudgel: the Lord near to the brokenhearted, the Good Shepherd who lays down his life, the promise that bruised reeds won’t be snapped to prove a point. We also talk safeguarding, humility in leadership, and why a nurse’s instincts—care, calm, service—can renew a communion that’s tired of outrage and hungry for mercy.

This is a candid, hopeful journey from harm to healing, with space to breathe, pray, and begin again. If you’ve been burned by church, or you love someone who has, you’ll find language, empathy, and simple next steps here. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs gentleness today, and leave a review to help more people find a non‑weaponised, joy‑filled faith.

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A stormy weekend, a stalled roller coaster, and a headline that shook timelines: a woman is appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. We sit with the reaction—celebration, anxiety, and everything in between—and trace a wiser route through the noise by asking better questions. What do scripture, history, and healing leadership actually reveal about authority, service, and the future of the Church?

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What happens when we choose to forgive the unforgivable? This question frames our heartfelt exploration of forgiveness—that mysterious, powerful act that transforms both the forgiver and the forgiven.

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What can a 4th-century Scottish hermit, a beheaded North African bishop, and a 12th-century German abbess teach us about healing today? As it turns out, quite a lot.

Journey with us through the lives of three remarkable saints celebrated this September: Ninian, Cyprian, and Hildegard of Bingen. Each represents a fascinating thread in the tapestry of Christian healing tradition, from Scotland to North Africa to the heart of medieval Germany.

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The mysterious connection between faith and healing takes center stage in this thought-provoking conversation. Following a successful Healing Academy session that drew fifty participants from across the UK, we dive deeper into the foundations and controversies surrounding Christian healing.

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Have you ever wondered what spills out when life bumps into you? In this deeply reflective episode, we explore the profound question: what's in your cup?

Through powerful stories and honest conversation, we unpack how the contents of our inner lives determine our responses to life's challenges. When someone bumps into you and you spill coffee, you spill coffee because that's what was in your cup. Similarly, when life's pressures mount, what emerges from us reveals what we've been carrying inside all along.

Kris shares a moving personal story about carrying the pain of a practical joke for nearly thirty years before finding healing through an unexpected act of forgiveness. Lisa offers the striking image of someone clinging to something dead and decaying on their shoulder – a powerful metaphor for how we sometimes hold onto emotional baggage long after it's stopped serving us.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we compare inner healing to computer maintenance. Just as we clean a hard drive and update software for better performance, we must examine what fills our emotional and spiritual cups, removing what hinders us and making room for what brings life. While we may never completely erase all fragments of painful past experiences, we can install new "software" through faith that helps us process those remnants differently.

Science confirms what faith has long taught us – Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that forgiveness leads to lower blood pressure, reduced pain, better sleep, and decreased anxiety and depression. These tangible benefits underscore the importance of this inner work.

Whether you're carrying decades of unprocessed hurt or simply feeling weighed down by life's daily stresses, this episode offers gentle wisdom for the journey toward transformation. As Romans 15:13 reminds us, may you "overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" as you discover what truly deserves space in your cup.

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What would our world look like with more women in leadership? Could the answers to many global challenges be found in the voices we've systematically silenced? This thought-provoking exploration dives deep into the paradox of female leadership in a male-dominated world.

The conversation tackles the often-misunderstood concept of "feminizing" institutions like the church. Rather than representing a threat, what if female leadership offers precisely what our world desperately needs? As Kris suggests, "For men to feel threatened by the presence of women, instead of using energy to prohibit women... what we could do is just find a posture where we celebrate women and their gifts."

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Have you ever felt like everything around you is burning? Whether it's the scorching summer temperatures or the heated conflicts erupting across the globe, we're living in a world that's hot in more ways than one.

Record-breaking heat waves are melting glaciers while geopolitical tensions simmer in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and beyond. Even our personal relationships can turn into pressure cookers, with workplace hierarchies and family dynamics creating friction that threatens to ignite. When everything feels this hot, where do we find refreshment?

Drawing from both practical wisdom and spiritual insights, we explore cooling strategies for body, mind, and spirit. Dehydration affects not just our physical wellbeing but our emotional stability—even a 1% reduction in hydration can alter your mood and focus. Similarly, heated conflicts often stem from our unwillingness to truly listen to others. As James 1 reminds us, we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."

The most powerful antidote to heat might be curiosity. When we approach others with genuine questions rather than defensive postures, tensions naturally dissipate. This applies equally to family disagreements and international diplomacy. Imagine if world leaders approached conflicts with curiosity about others' experiences rather than displays of strength and dominance.

Jesus demonstrated this cooling presence throughout his ministry, calming literal storms and bringing peace to heated situations. We can follow his example through practices like "breathing prayers," finding shade in God's presence, and approaching conflicts with gentle answers rather than harsh words. As Isaiah reminds us, God has been "a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat."

Whether you're physically overheated or spiritually burning, this episode offers practical paths to refreshment. Take a moment to breathe, listen, and find your cooling shade in God's presence.

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