Black Friday, Good Friday?

Britain’s Black Friday shopping event fires the starting gun this weekend. Whatever the razzamatazz surrounding it, it can be quite a headache. With deals screaming out, I often end up with massive FOMO. What if I miss out?

Advent, Finance, Our NationGuest User16 November 2023Nick AllanComment

Wear Your Faith Fortnight

‘Wear Your Faith Fortnight.’ Christians across South Yorkshire are being encouraged to wear a symbol of their faith for the two weeks either side of Halloween. People sometimes say that faith should be a private matter. That is to misunderstand the very nature of the Christian faith.

Community, Hope, Our City, Responding to GodGuest User2 November 2023Nick AllanComment

Touching times

Meeting two guy friends for lunch. we greeted each other in the way most natural to us: we hugged. Connection is key. It stops things getting between us. You can make someone’s day with a simple touch, or, if it’s possible and appropriate, a warm hug.

Community, KindnessGuest User5 October 2023Nick AllanComment

Welcome to Sheffield !

Why do so many young people still flock to university? It’s the human drive to improve oneself, to learn, to discover. Sheffield has a simple, safe, homely feel. It’s been my home for 30 years.

Hope, Our City, Purpose, The Well SheffieldGuest User21 September 2023Nick AllanComment

Community heroes

This week my church waved off 21 teenagers to join thousands of others in a national Christian youth festival. As I waved my teenagers off, I was so grateful for all youth providers in our city investing their time and wisdom into the next generation.

Community, Kindness, Mental Health, Our City, The Well SheffieldGuest User3 August 2023Nick AllanComment

Land of the Free?

Americans this week are going big with their Fourth of July celebrations. What does freedom really mean,a dn why do you want to be free anyway?

Community, Personal Growth, Our Nation, Social JusticeGuest User6 July 2023Nick AllanComment

Where does charity begin?

“What are you doing this weekend?” “Oh, I’m mountain-biking from Chatsworth to Sheffield.” You guessed it, we’ve hit the peak charity fund-raising season. What motivates a person to raise money, or volunteer previous time and energy, on behalf of others?

Community, Kindness, Our City, Social JusticeGuest User22 June 2023Nick AllanComment

Here today, gone tomorrow?

I’ve been thinking about headlines. There’s a buzz about them, but headlines are superficial, they rarely tell the whole story.

Character, Personal Growth, Responding to GodGuest User8 June 2023Nick AllanComment

Life is suffering?

I flicked through the pages of The Sheffield Star this week, and if I’m honest, my heart sank. But a newspaper that only printed good news stories wouldn’t be telling the whole truth.

Community, Hope, Kindness, Mental Health, Our CityGuest User25 May 2023Nick AllanComment

Unsung Heroes

I’ve been thinking this week about unsung heroes. What would you and I chose to mark, to celebrate as worthy, within our own Sheffield region?

Character, Leadership, Our CityGuest User11 May 2023Nick AllanComment

What are we celebrating?

There are congratulations and celebrations in the air around Sheffield. So who, or what has top place in your affection and attention?

Community, Easter, Hope, Our Nation, Purpose, Responding to GodGuest User27 April 2023Nick AllanComment

Donkeys, Kings and Outcasts.

I’ve been thinking this week about donkeys and kings. It’s strangely appropriate as the Christians in our region prepare to mark the annual festival of Holy Week, which culminates in the Easter weekend.

Easter, Leadership, Social JusticeGuest User30 March 2023Nick Allan Comment

Is money my servant or my master?

You probably noticed it was the Budget this week. The saying goes: ‘money makes an excellent servant, but a terrible master.’ I wonder how you and I view money, or experience its effects?

Personal Growth, FinanceGuest User16 March 2023Nick AllanComment

We're praying for you, Sheffield

As Easter approaches, something unusual is underway which is unifying our city in a new way. Prayer. The Arise Sheffield initiative is inspiring thousands of followers of Jesus from across 100+ churches to walk along, and pray for, every single street in our city.

Community, Easter, Our City, PrayerGuest User2 March 2023Nick AllanComment

Love, Valentines and CS Lewis

You’d be forgiven for thinking happiness comes from chocolate, flowers and heart-shaped greeting cards. Actualy, the roots of Valentines season lie deep in something that every human heart seeks and needs : love.

Character, RelationshipsGuest User16 February 2023Nick AllanComment

What history teaches about 2023

In many ways the Bible proverb is true, “there is nothing new under the sun.” This worries me as our region and nation embarks upon yet another year of austerity, and tough times.

Character under crisis, Our City, Our NationGuest User19 January 2023Nick AllanComment

Permacrisis

Word of the year 2022 is the most alarming: “permacrisis” defined as “an extended period of instability and insecurity.”

Advent, Hope, Our Nation, PeaceGuest User22 December 2022Nick AllanComment

Hark the herald?

I wonder, have you stopped to hear the message of the carols? Lots of adverts this year mention “the magic of Christmas” but magic isn’t real. It is an illusion. The Christian message is that Jesus came into our midst,

Advent, PeaceGuest User8 December 2022Nick AllanComment

Why are we waiting?

Believe it or not, it’s that time of year when advent calendars become a big thing in many people’s homes. So what is really behind advent?

Advent, CommunityGuest User24 November 2022Nick AllanComment

Choose a good reputation over great riches

Confidence, initiative, teachability and tenacity. These words may sound like clues to a crossword puzzle, but in fact they are the goals of a ground-breaking youth employment scheme taking shape in Sheffield.

Community, Our City, CharacterGuest User10 November 2022Nick AllanComment

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