iChaplain

Spoiler Alert: Ark Building for Dummies If you've somehow managed to avoid Evan Almighty over the last nineteen years, here's the plot in a nutshell: ambitious politician gets a visit from God, grows a beard he can't shave off, attracts every animal within a hundred-mile radius, and ends up building a massive ark in the middle of suburbia. In other words, it's Ark Building for Dummies with Steve Carell at his comedic best. I caught it on TV recently and realised I hadn't seen it for years. I'd forgotten how warm, funny, and genuinely feel-good it is. It's one of those increasingly rare family films that manages to entertain without cynicism, leaving you smiling by the end. Steve Carell is brilliant as Evan Baxter, a politician whose life is turned upside down when God calls him to build an ark. The film is packed with laughs, memorable moments, and a strong message about family, perseverance, and making a difference in the world. As entertainment, it works w...

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash The Takeaway Comedy isn’t just allowed in the Bible. It’s everywhere: satire, irony, playful exaggeration, and wonderfully human moments. And when you spend time organising comedy events for a church, especially when you’ve never done it before, you start to see how laughter builds connection in exactly the same way Scripture often does: by helping people breathe again. But comedy isn’t everyone’s favourite thing, and that’s important to acknowledge. Many people come along not because they adore stand‑up, but because they want to support these events held by a church, to stand with the community, or simply to encourage the people involved. That kind of quiet loyalty deserves real respect. And then there are the ones who get up to participate, offering their own humour, their own courage, their own willingness to be part of something slightly unpredictable. There are those who laugh freely, letting the room loosen and warm. And there are others who s...

  In a world that often emphasizes self-reliance, the Bible calls believers to something different: carrying one another's burdens through prayer. One of the most beautiful expressions of Christian love is praying for others. It is a simple act, yet Scripture teaches that it can have a profound impact on both the one praying and the one being prayed for. What Does the Bible Say? James writes: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16 (NIV) This verse does more than encourage prayer. It instructs believers to pray for each other. Prayer is not meant to be limited to our own needs and concerns. God invites us to stand in the gap for our families, friends, churches, and communities. Looking More Closely at James 5:16 At first glance, this verse appears straightforward, but it contains several important truths about Christian community and prayer. First,...

Sometimes the best ideas arrive unexpectedly. I had just left a service at St Nic's Church in Durham. The reading was from 2 Corinthians 4, where Paul writes: "We have this treasure in jars of clay." It is one of those passages that stays with you, reminding us that extraordinary things can emerge from ordinary people. As I stepped out into the city, I found myself in the middle of the Durham Brass Festival. The streets were alive with music, performers and visitors. One moment I had been sharing in worship with a church community; the next I was part of a gathering united by music and celebration. The experience left me wondering about the relationship between worship, music and community. More Than a Contrast At first, a church service and a brass festival seem quite different. One is rooted in worship and faith, the other in musical and cultural tradition. Yet as I reflected on my experience that morning, the contrast seemed less important than I had first imagined. Br...

A Simple Question with a Complicated Answer When people think about Peter and Paul, they often picture two of the most influential figures in the early Church, united in their mission to share the message of Jesus.  Yet when we look more closely at the Bible, the relationship between Peter and Paul seems more complex than a simple friendship story. Were they best mates? Probably not. They came from very different backgrounds. Peter was a fisherman, called by Jesus while working on his boat (Luke 5:1–11). He was passionate, courageous and often impulsive. Paul was a Pharisee, highly educated and deeply knowledgeable about law. His encounter with Jesus came dramatically on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–19). Not only were they different, but they sometimes disagreed. Paul even writes about challenging Peter over an important issue in the early Church (Galatians 2:11–14). Yet despite their differences, they remained united.  In many ways, that might be more impressive than friend...

  The Verse We Reach For When Words Run Out Jeremiah 29:11 appears everywhere. It is printed on mugs, cards and posters, and shared in messages to people who are having a hard time. It is often used as a quick reassurance, a comforting line we offer when someone is struggling and we do not really know what else to say. I have done it, and you probably have too. Sometimes we reach for this verse because we want to offer hope, and it is the first thing that comes to mind. However, Jeremiah 29:11 was not written for people who were about to step into a bright new chapter. It was not a motivational quote for someone starting a new job or waiting for exam results. It was not even a promise of quick rescue. It was spoken to people living far from home, trying to make sense of a life they did not choose. These were people whose world had fallen apart. They were confused, unsettled and unsure what the future held. In many ways, they were experiencing the same kind of uncertainty that many ...

Image by Pete from Pixabay The theme of this year's 2026 Durham Miners' Gala, "The Past We Inherit, The Future We Build," is both simple and profound. It speaks of gratitude for those who came before us and responsibility towards those who will follow. While Jesus never used these exact words, the idea runs deeply through his teaching. The theme invites reflection not only on the mining communities of Durham, but also on the wider question of what we receive from the past and what we owe to the future.  The Gala itself is rooted in memory. It honours generations of miners, families and communities whose labour shaped County Durham and much of modern Britain. Their struggles, sacrifices and achievements are part of an inheritance that cannot be measured merely in economics. They handed down values of solidarity, dignity and mutual care. Yet inheritance is never meant to be an end in itself.  Jesus often taught that what we receive carries with it a responsibility. In ...