Mandy Bayton

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  Raising successful people: five things parents need and the one thing they shouldn't forget

  When my daughters were very young, I attended a parenting course at our local church. I went along rather reluctantly because I already had three children and wondered what on earth I could be taught – God has since taught me about the importance of a teachable spirit!

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  #BecauseofRHE: What I will remember about Rachel Held Evans

  Rachel was able to confront evangelical controversies wisely, graciously and assertively both in her writing and speaking.

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  Have we failed the generation who are now parents?

  I wonder how many of the people receiving a food bank parcel know what to do with what it contains?

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  What do I wear? My dilemma about identity and throwaway fashion

  If I give in to the culture of throwaway, fast fashion then I'm not honouring my responsibility to be a good steward of the creation I have been put in charge of or upholding the greatest commandment of loving God and loving my neighbours as myself.

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  Managing Momo: Why coddling our kids isn't the way to protect them from harm

  This past week another disturbing internet game hit the news – the Momo challenge.

• Valentine blues: What does God have to say about finding love?

  I was made to feel so guilty about wanting to be married again that I prayed for God to take my desire for a partner away.

• The Jericho road: Jesus' parable is about transformation, not charity

  Jesus deliberately set his parable on the Jericho road because it was 17 miles of violence and oppression.

• The power of hope: Christmas and the death of fear

  One of the reasons many of us are avid movie watchers is that Hollywood blockbusters often give us hope.

• 'God with skin on': Learning to live as the body of Christ

  As for many of us, my life hasn't been particularly easy. At times there have been moments when I have felt as if God had abandoned me.

• More than justice: Why homeless people don't just need homes

  Eighteen years ago my first marriage ended. My three daughters and I had to leave our family home and register as homeless.

• Bring on the ghouls and zombies: Why I'm embracing Halloween this year

  As Maya Angelou said: 'If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.'

• Christians won't transform communities until they fall in love with them

  I am aware that not only have I adopted the nation, city and community where God has placed me, but I have fallen in love.