Retronym (noun). A new term created from an existing word in order to distinguish the original referent of the existing word from a later one that is the product of progress or technological development. An acoustic guitar was simply a ‘guitar’ until the electric version was created. Then a new name was needed for the…
Author: Liam Thatcher
Writer, preacher, pastor, thinker, joker, gooner, baker, follower of the way. Husband of one wife, father of one child, author of no books.
Knowing Jesus like a cupful of the ocean
One of the things I love about Jesus is that there are always new things to discover about him. His eternal, inexhaustible nature, character and activity, mean that there are always new things to learn about who he is, what he is like, and what he is capable of. Having written a beautiful, ordered account…
Praises go up; blessings come down. Musings on Psalm 133.
I’ve been trying to grow in my appreciation for the Psalms recently, taking my time to savour them with the five Cs of coffee, crayolas, concordance, curiosity and commentaries. From time to time I may post a few of my thoughts. Here are some musings and scribblings on Psalm 133. Psalm 133 is labelled as…
“A truth I would surrender to”
I linked the other week to a video in which author and former environmentalist Paul Kingsnorth spoke about Christ and Creation, and expressed his surprise at having become a Christian. Today, I read this fascinating article in First Things called The Cross and the Machine, in which Kingsnorth unpacked in more depth his journey, and…
Five Cs to unlock the Psalms
I’ve often found the Psalms hard work. They can feel quite abstract, repetitive, and given their cultural context kinda hard to relate to. I know that is not everyone’s experience. For many, they are a favourite part of Scripture; a fuel for worship, and an aid to express emotions in prayer. And of course, they…
A Personal Update
After twelve years at Christ Church London, God is calling our family onto something new. Later this week, we will be leaving London and relocating to Oxford. We announced the news to our church on Sunday. You can watch a short interview at the bottom of this post, which we recorded for our online services,…
Kid-Friendly Hot Cross Buns with Orange Glaze
To help the kids celebrate Easter, various people from Christ Church London have created crafts and activities. You can download the programme and check them all out here! I was asked to make a video teaching people how to make hot cross buns. So here’s my attempt at making some with my 4 year old…
Good Friday: Seven Words from the Cross
The gospels record seven sayings, or ‘words’, that Jesus uttered from the cross, and they are beautiful. They are measured and deep, giving us incalculable insights into the very heart and purposes of God Himself. For the past few years at Christ Church London we have spent Good Friday reflecting on these seven words, and…
The Spirit Filled Life: Empowered for Mission
The resurrected Jesus stood before his disciples and breathed upon them, giving them the Holy Spirit. In this talk, Liam considers the significance of this strange act, and looks at how Jesus sends us out with his message of forgiveness. Audio: Listen or download Here is a small-group practice to help you reflect on and…
Millican’s Law for Preachers
This week we concluded a five-week preaching course at Christ Church London, by reflecting on the emotional and spiritual life of the preacher. Over the years, I’ve learnt so many things about the practicalities of preaching, crafting sermons, the art of delivery… I have plenty more still to learn. But the most precious lessons I’ve…
Liam Thatcher 