The Easter Refill (20/4/25)

'He has risen, just as he said.' Happy Easter!

What a Sunday to see the return of the Refill (thanks for your patience, by the way)! Part of the absence is because I've been enjoying (and enjoying returning from) a sabbatical. And as I rested and pondered, I thought that we'd see if we can get the Refill up and running again. So here we are!

Seven up...

1) “Up To 500 Witnesses!” Is There PROOF of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection? Wesley Huff Interview - Fascinating to watch Christian apologist Wesley Huff share about the historicity of the gospels on the Piers Morgan Uncensored show.

2) Could I become a Christian in a year? - Writer Lamorna Ash sets off on a very personal quest, as the title of this Guardian article suggests, to consider why so many of her generation seem to be quietly turning towards the Christian faith. I think this both reminds us of the questions people are asking today, but also nudges us to be the kind of church that people like Ash can actually imagine stepping into. Not dissimilar, Elle magazine recently reported on 'Why we're all turning to religion', which also picks up on Ash's book. Unherd also had an article on 'The Age of Nihilism is Over - Gen Z Wants to Fill the Void', which in part references the Bible Society's Quiet Revival survey report (which has led to a lot of attention and reflection - and which I will focus on in a stand-alone post!).

3) Phil Wickham - What An Awesome God (Official Lyric Video) - I'm enjoying this fresh adaptation of Rich Mullins' popular song from the 80s.

4) 321 Podcast - This looks really exciting! The Speak Life team have launched the 321 podcast to follow on the fruitfulness of their 321 course for introducing people to Christianity. In it, Swarzy, Graham, and Glen explore life through the lens of Jesus. Check it out!

5) “So What if He Rose from the Dead?” - Resurrection Apologetics in a Post-Truth World - I've been really appreciating the Growing Young Disciples blog recently - there have been some cracking articles, and this is no exception.

6) Rory McIlroy’s pilgrim’s progress - I enjoy Graham Tomlin's writing, and this piece over at Seen & Unseen is a lovely little example. Tomlin spots a striking parallel between McIlroy’s recent Masters win and the spiritual journey in Pilgrim’s Progress, including a burden lifted, tears of relief, and a new identity. But while Rory’s victory is earned through effort, the gospel offers something deeper: grace for those who fall short, a joy that doesn’t depend on winning.

7) If Jesus Died in 2025... - For something a bit different, you might think this is irreverent, but I think Jake Lambert captures well some of the different responses to Jesus and social media culture. And here's Father David Michael too, with a little bit of simple comedy gold...