The Writing Desk 27

For many of us, Field of Dreams makes a persuasive case for #cricket as an agent of hope. It also has much to teach us about recovery. My piece @ChurchTimes 👇 churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/… @flintoff11 @kylehogg22 @cofelancs #bbccricket @BBCSport @VernonCaruscc #CricketTwitter

Two years ago, I was struck by a move of God in Edinburgh, & followed up with this piece. It's a reminder at #Pentecost of the power of #prayer & the #HolySpirit premierchristianity.com/features/is-re… @ddaverichards4 @TheJamesJGlass @peteedinburgh2 @EAScotland @thykingdom_come @JohnJBostock

🕯️DAY 11: The Spirit of Power “When we come together in one accord, God turns up.” For the final day of #ThyKingdomCome, Bishop @_mikeroyal, General Secretary of @ChurchesEngland, shares a hope filled Pentecost message on the call to carry the Good News into the world.

@thykingdom_come @_mikeroyal @ChurchesEngland Absolutely brilliant. Amen @_mikeroyal. From Jerusalem to Emmaus to now, when we pray & seek, God will make it happen again 🙏🏽 Thank you. @ChurchesEngland @thykingdom_come

@thykingdom_come @BallersinGod Excellent @JohnJBostock. Love what you're doing and I hear footballers are having a huge impact on young boys/men finding Christ 🙏🏽 @BallersinGod @thyki

🕯️DAY 9: The Spirit of Evangelism “Your life can either reveal Jesus or conceal him.” In this powerful reflection, John Bostock, founder of @BallersinGod, shares on the work God is doing through the global ministry to bring the love of Christ to the world of football.

This is well worth a watch from footballer @JohnJBostock of @BallersinGod 👇🏽 @thykingdom_come #thykingdomcome #football #bbcsport

Sarah Taylor's appointment @englandcricket encourages all women & speaks beyond #cricket to the times we enter challenging & unfamiliar spaces in a man's world. My piece @WomanAliveUK womanalive.co.uk/opinion/in-sar… #bbccricket @CricketSociety @EAUKnews @readwhiteglove @peterhardy51

Ceylon Tea. Really is the best. 🍃🫖☕️ 🇱🇰 #internationalteaday #tea #ceylontea @5BooksBlog @DominicMachado1 @adaderana @MuraliPod

@Mahishini Here here! Nothing like Ceylon Tea. So proud of it 🫖 🇱🇰

On International Tea Day, here’s to the people, the history and the shared heritage behind every cup of Ceylon Tea. 🍃☕ #internationalteaday #tea

Really enjoyed this reflection from @MothersUnion for @thykingdom_come on women stepping out for God & his equipping - a topic I explore in my piece @WomanAliveUK, citing Deborah, Esther, Ruth & Mary Magdalene. Link 👇🏽 @ChurchesEngland @PremierRadio womanalive.co.uk/opinion/in-sar…

@WG_RumblePants I think you make a brilliant point. Our sport is becoming too money-driven, even at county level. I have the joy of spending time in Limpsfield Chart this year. My schedule didnt chime with matches during my last stay, but watching @ChartCricket is on the list 👏🏽 @googlyfund

If you want genuine, authentic cricket with great access to players, a pitch-side view of your own choosing, a great atmosphere and pleasant surroundings, there’s something — whisper it — that’s arguably even better for your soul than the County Championship. And it’s absolutely FREE! Our sport is increasingly dominated by money and politics, yet club cricket remains an oasis of quiet sanity in an insane world. So maybe wander over to your local club this Bank Holiday weekend. They’ll be pleased to see you.

@thykingdom_come @MothersUnion Lovely reflections, @thykingdom_come @MothersUnion. Really relate to what Kathleen shared about our first reactions to calls often being "we can't do that" & how God equips us. Been thinking about this of late - & writing about it as a journalist 🙏🏽 @ChurchesEngland

🕯️DAY 7: The Spirit of Leadership “He enables us and He equips us. ” Watch this beautiful reflection from Kathleen Snow and Comfort Idowu-Fearon of @MothersUnion, as they share how God led Mary Sumner to begin a movement that continues to witness His kingdom around the world.

🕯️DAY 8: The Spirit of Empowerment “Everything changed when I met Jesus.” In this wonderful film created in collaboration with @TWsocials, hear from three everyday Christians as they share how faith shapes the way they serve and bring God’s love into their places of work.

✨🕯️ This Pentecost weekend, Christians from across denominations will gather in the heart of London for the Jesus March, an afternoon of celebration, ending with a time of worship and prayer in Trafalgar Square. With worship led by @MakeWayMusic and @NoelRobinsonUK, the celebration will be a time to lift up the name of Jesus and pray for hope, joy and peace in our communities. Find out more here ➡️ jesusmarch.org

Division 2 this may be, but for me - & chatting to Surrey, Essex and Kent fans, for others too - @jimmy9 has made division 2 the focal point of this #countycricket season & critically, is drawing eyes back to our county game. @Lanky_Lanky @LancsCCMG @lancscricket @CricketSociety

@Lanky_Lanky Really enjoyed dipping into your site just now at CounterPress. I've written a bit about Field of Dreams before, so it was nice to see @kylehogg22 as a lead feature. And Jimmy's simply made Div 2 the talking point of #countycricket this season. All the best.

Tea, day 4 at Southport where the draw is looking very likely with Worcestershire 2nd inns 159-5, leading by 148, and D'Oliveira 27no & Waite 26no looking well set. James Anderson has bowled 15 overs, 2-27 & Tom Hartley has 2-32 from 13ov.

@thykingdom_come This is so incredibly powerful. Please thank Nita. It encourages us to keep going & that insight to allow God to be God in a crisis is gold. Be thankful in all circumstances 🙏🏽

🕯️DAY 6: The Spirit and the Still Small Voice “Whenever a crisis does happen, allow God to be God in it.” Nita Rogers shares a powerful story of choosing to follow Jesus, and how God’s quiet voice led her in a moment of crisis that changed her sister’s life.

@thykingdom_come This is so good 🙏🏽

Day 6 - The Spirit and the Still Small Voice ✨ Today, let us pray that the Holy Spirit would meet our Five in the stillness and help them hear the gentle whisper of God. When the heart is hard and parched up, come upon me with a shower of mercy. When grace is lost from life, come with a burst of song. When tumultuous work raises its din on all sides shutting me out from beyond, come to me, my lord of silence, with Thy peace and rest. When my beggarly heart sits crouched, shut up in a corner, break open the door, my king, and come with the ceremony of a king. When desire blinds the mind with delusion and dust, O Thou Holy One, Thou Wakeful, come with Thy light and Thy thunder. Amen 🙏 [Rabindranath Tagore - 1861 –1941]

Nice piece @readwhiteglove on ENG #cricket. Understand on Crawley, but remain a fan of his sublime shot-making, lost in execution; & Pope's a v fine #5 bat lent slim chance at 3 (& effectively opening). Ahmed, Robinson, Tongue feels promising. @iamaryansurana @TReynolds_Sport