17. When People Only See Who You Were

17. When People Only See Who You Were

Someone overheard me telling a customer I was a pastor this week. They laughed. And what they said next stopped me in my tracks — because it was a reminder that the people who knew us then don't always see who we've become. This week's Thought For The Week is about the gap between internal transformation and external recognition. About the courage it takes to hold your new identity when someone else is still reaching for the old one. And about a couple of Bible characters — Paul, who nobody believed had really changed, and Simon, who Jesus called Rock before he'd done a single rock-like thing. You don't have to be a Christian for this one to land. Anyone who's ever worked hard to leave a version of themselves behind will know exactly the feeling I'm talking about. Buckingham Vineyard is a new church in Buckingham. We haven't started meeting in person yet — but we're here, thinking out loud, and you're very welcome to listen in.

16. Why Being a Lemon Matters

This week's Thought For The Week comes live from a very loud, very cold data centre in the middle of the night — where I went through full biometric security clearance to sit in a narrow corridor with cramp in my legs and do absolutely nothing useful. Kai, one of our incredible Radio Christmas volunteers, fixed everything. I sat there like a lemon. But somewhere between the ringing ears and the cramped legs, I found myself thinking about what it actually means to show up for someone — even when you can't fix anything. About a largely forgotten Bible character called Barnabas, whose name means Son of Encouragement. And about why choosing the background might be one of the most important things any of us ever do. Whether you're a Christian, curious, or just ended up here somehow — you're very welcome. Buckingham Vineyard is a new church in Buckingham. We haven't started meeting yet, but we're here — thinking, talking, and working out how we see the world. This podcast is part of that. Come and listen in.

15. Sharing What We Love

A day at Silverstone with our foster son turned into something much more meaningful than cars, racing, and tyre smoke. As I watched him experience something I love for the first time, I was reminded that some of life’s greatest joys aren’t found in the things we enjoy, but in sharing them with people we love. This week’s Thought for the Week explores relationship, foster care, adoption, and what a day at Silverstone taught me about the heart of God. Could it be that beneath all of Jesus’ invitations is a Father who simply wants to share life with His children? Whether you’re exploring faith or have been following Jesus for years, I hope this week’s reflection encourages you.

14. How Do You Measure a Good Day?

This week’s Thought for the Week was written late on a Sunday evening after a day that felt full from beginning to end. Two church talks, a long-overdue garage clear-out, a car repair that should have taken thirty minutes but somehow took four hours, and a growing sense that despite being busy all day, there was still far more left to do. It got me thinking about how often we measure our days by what didn’t get finished rather than what did, and whether that’s really the way God sees things. Looking at the life of Jesus, who somehow managed to live with purpose and peace despite constant demands on His time, this week’s reflection explores busyness, faithfulness, unfinished jobs, and the question many of us wrestle with: How do you measure a good day? Whether you’re juggling work, family, church, caring responsibilities, or simply feeling like the list never quite ends, I hope this week’s Thought for the Week encourages you.

13. What It Means To Be a Godparent

This week Grace and I became godparents again, but the question that really stayed with me didn’t come from the church service, it came from our six-year-old foster child on the way home: “What actually is a godparent?” This week’s Thought for the Week from Buckingham Vineyard Church explores what being a godparent really means, why we dedicate children rather than baptise babies, and why helping shape the faith and identity of the next generation might be one of the most important callings we ever carry. Whether you’re a parent, godparent, exploring faith, or simply curious about church here in Buckingham, you’re really welcome.