The London riots have indicated that society here in the capital of what was once known as a Christian nation is going in the wrong direction. Groups of people mainly young and including children have been gathering in the streets this week. They have smashed windows, looted shops, set fire to property and caused distress by their intimidating behaviour. One observer of the Tottenham (in North London) riot commented, "what a waste of a generation we have brought up." In a recent article published on the BBC website, 10 different reasons were offered to explain the riots. Not one of them mentions moving away from Biblical values - the true cause behind all this. The rejection of the Bible and the spiritual resources available to Christians has resulted in a godless and selfish generation bringing up a yet more godless and selfish generation. In my podcast, based on the sermons I deliver weekly as the leader of Mill Hill East Church, I offer the way forward. A return to the ancient wisdom that historically sustained Britain and trained people in integrity and morality. In the latest episode, based on the book of proverbs, we look for answers to society's ills in "the God Direction".
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien tells a story in an imaginary world that somehow rings true. In Tolkien’s fantastic universe of humans, hobbits, elves, wizards, dwarves and monsters, a great evil threatens to cover the world in darkness and make every living being its slave. Chaos is the order of the day. Fear rules the hearts of most. Hope is faint. Yet amid the darkness, there are flickers of light in the love, unity and courage of a few heroic characters. One of them is Aragon, who is destined to be king. The trilogy ends with his long-awaited return to the throne and triumphant deliverance of his people. Mark 11:1-10 is one of the Bible passages for Palm Sunday, it tells of Jesus entering Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowd, it is the return of the King: Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a c