Predictions for 2007

1. There will be a prosecution of someone close to No 10 re "cash for peerages" but that someone will not be Teflon Tony.

2/.Gordon Brown will become Prime Minister and create a difference with Bush as a sign that things will be different.

3/.Manchester United will win the Premiership and Sir Alex Ferguson will retire in blaze of glory.

4/. Iraqi insurgency will contine with UK troops still present at end of year. Iraqi Gov't will resort to greater use of repression.

5/. Church of England will continue to implode over who can sleep with who and other denominations will follow suit albeit with less bitterness.

6/.Another major human rights scandal will break in Iraq.

7/. The Saddam Hussein snuff video featuring members of Moqtada al Sadr's militia gets blamed for mental health problems in western countries.

8/. France gets its first woman President

9/.Leona Lewis becomes an international singing sensation.

10/. Due to fitness crusade begun three months ago, I end year with a BMI in normal range.

Sermon for Epiphany

Today's sermon "Best and Worst" is to be found here

Arise Sir Dodgy Dossier

I feel honoured not be in such dishonourable company.

In a Britain with a modicum of principles in high office, Scarlett would have been sacked. His handiwork has its outcome in young men and women who have not returned to loved ones.

Tony sings "War, Whats is it good for?"

Well if anyone knows it's our Tony.

Download being released on January 1st 2007.

It's time to get Tony to No 1 in the charts.

War. What is it good for?

Killing ppeople and lining the pockets of fat cats I guess!

"Welcoming Christ" - My Christmas Day sermon

To be found here

Merry Christmas

Just to wish all readers the very best possible Christmas.

Blogging will continue at a reduced level for the remainder of 2006 before picking up again in 2007.

God rest ye merry gentlemen

What a treat!

Methodist blogs weekly roundup

Thanks to Alan Bevere!

Midnight Communion Sermon - The hills are alive to the sound of music

And so at this late hour we gather, a people filled with excitement as we stand on the threshold of Christmas. In a few hours, we will share gifts, party, eat, drink and be merry. And yet, we think back to a night two millenia ago which is the source of our festivities.

Continued

Songs for Christmas - Merry Xmas Everybody

And TC is now bopping around his study! A sight for sore eyes!

What would happen if Jesus was born in Bethlehem today?

Surely this is a scar on the world's conscience

Magnificat - the subversive message of Christmas

In that Christmas classic song, the “Fairytale of New York” recorded by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl about two bickering Irish immigrant lovers whose dreams of a great life together in the USA have been shattered by their alcoholism and drug addiction, there is a classic interchange between Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl in which she responds to his “I could have been someone” with a fiery retort of "So could anyone!"

The worst Christmas song ever!

Yes this is a song that makes "Mistletoe and Wine" seem acceptable.

Apparently this is popular with at least one Liberal Democrat frontbencher!

Songs for Christmas - My Grown up Christmas list

Take revenge on sprouts!

If you need a light break and like me share a hatred of sprouts, then why not try this?

Smash them sprouts

Poverty in Nicaragua

Ekklesia raises the issue of IMf conditions in Nicaragua. Newly elected President Daniel Ortega is concerned that conditions being imposed by the IMF might create great hardship for the neediest section of the country.

Ortega is not alone in holding this view. Cardinal Obando y Bravo, the former Archbishop of Managua, who has a conservative reputation views the situation with concern. Recently he told a mass to celebrate Ortega's sicty first birthday what he consider to be one of the greatest injustices today;

"It is relatively a few who possess much and many who possess almost nothing. It is injustice resulting from the poor distribution of goods and services destined originally for all.”

The Cardinal added;

“Human rights are violated not only by terrorism, repression and murders but also by the existence of conditions of extreme poverty and of unjust economic structures that cause great inequalities.”

In recent years, there has rightly been concern and campaigns relating to the extreme poverty in Africa. It would be a shame if the needs of the poor of Central and South American were to be ignored

The value of listening

When I went to my connexional candidates selection committee nearly 5 years ago, one of the people interviewing me suggested that I might be better at talking than I am at listening. He was probably right.

However, listening is something to be taken seriously as it is through being heard that many people find themselves valued and affirmed.

An interesting post on this subject comes from John at Locusts and Honey. It contains good practical advice from his own training as well as this gem from Stanley Hauerwas concerning Job's friends who came to comfort him when his world fell in;

For in spite of the bad press of Job's companions usually receive (and in many ways it is deserved!), they at least sat on the ground with him for seven days. Morever they did not speak to him, "for they saw that his suffering was very great." That they did so is truly an amazing act of magnanimity, for most of us are willing to be with sufferers, especially those in such great pain that we can hardly recognize them, only if we can "do something" to relieve their suffering or at least distract their attention. Not so with Job's comforters. They sat on the ground with Job doing nothing more than being willing to be present in the face of his suffering.

Unfortunately, it is all too easy to follow their later example of seeking answers to everything rather than their earlier example of attentively but quietly being with the afflicted Job.

A look at Eastern spirituality

Sean Madden is one of my favourite bloggers. His Inoodle site is in the finest traditions of political campaigning with a powerful commitment on peace and justice issues.

Sean is also interested in spiritual issues. He approaches spirituality from a different place than me but I find his insights to be thought provoking. His new site Mindful Living Guide reflects some of the influences in his spiritual journey which seems to be influenced by Eastern religious traditions. It is well worth visiting by those who are prepared to have their horizons widened.

As a sample I would draw your attention to a post concerning the 11th Century Buddhist master Attisha who offers the following words of wisdom;

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the world's ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

Some wisdom there in my humble opinion.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup

Thanks to Alan Bevere for all his work. It is appreciated

The difference Christmas makes

Today's sermon preached at Alwington Methodist Church.

Songs for Christmas - Fairytale of New York

I just love this one. Sounds as if it was written in a bar yet some of the instrumentals are out of this world.

Ipswich murders

The Methodist Church website contains the following prayer provided by the National Christian Alliance on Prostitution;

LORD, we pray for the families of all the young women
who have been murdered in Ipswich..
We pray that you would hold them in the palm of your hand.
We pray that they would know your comfort in the midst
of their agony and grief.

LORD, we pray for the streets of Ipswich that your peace
will surround the women there.
We pray for the community that they would know your comfort
in the midst of this.


Hopefully the killer will be apprehended and the terror on the streets removed.

In the longer term, given the inevitability of a measure of prostitution, we need as society to explore how best sex workers and local communities may best be kept safe. We also need to question how after years of talk about war on drugs that many of these women are on the streets to feed a habit. Clearly, we haven't got it right yet.

Hat Tip John Cooper

Benny Hinn goes heavy metal.

This is the stuff!.

Coming soon to Bideford, I hope! My sort of "fresh expression."


Hat Tip Locusts and Honey

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Sarah aka Ramblin Folkie offers us this alternative version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" composed by Graham J Adams which I certainly find very powerful.

O troubled town of Bethlehem
with conflict still you lie.
Above your deep but restless sleep
indifferent stars go by;
yet in your dark streets may you find
resilient, endless light:
for hopes and fears of all the years
were borne in you one night.

For Mary's child was born, and cried
unnerving powers above
whilst God of Life who bears our strife
encouraged hope and love.
O morning stars, now sniper-fire
obscures such hopeful births;
but mothers sing of everything
their prayer still 'peace on earth.'

How silently, how violently
your wondrous gift was given;
while God is grace for every race
your streets with fear are riven.
As Jesus came amongst the poor
(confronting powers-that-be)
through risen will and faith he still
invites us 'set them free.'

O daring child of Bethlehem
empower us all, we pray
to work for peace that wars may cease
and love be born today.
With all the nations angels
proclaiming we shall tell:
"Heal Bethlehem, join 'us' with 'them'"
Amen, Immanuel!

It all goes to remind me that Christ's coming is not about a fluffy story but is about that which can transforms the world.

The Sun gets sick about the Ipswich murders

I never thought they could go this low but The Sun's editorial attacking BBC coverage of the Ipswich murders is downright disgusting!

Whilst women are dying, the Sun can only indulge in its traditional juvenile habit of getting at the BBC as shown hre:

Final insult


THREE prostitutes have been murdered in Suffolk by what appears to be a terrifying serial killer.

Two more are missing.

The women who died had tragic personal histories. At least one was driven to sell her body by a craving for drugs.

The BBC exists in a politically correct world in which words like ‘prostitute’ are deemed offensive.

But they do nothing to dignify these poor victims by creepily describing them as ‘sex workers’ in every bulletin.


I say that if the term 'sex worker' offers greater dignity to women who work the streets, then tat is hardly grounds for attack especially at a time when such terrible things have happened. Also terms like "Suffolk Ripper" are just cheap sensationalism out of this dreadful series of events.

Meanwhile, readers will be glad to know that Murdoch's minions are eagerly asking for information about the victims!

Oh and just for good measure, don't forget that they are desperately seeking girls fresh out of school to get their kit off.

What a sick rag!

Jesus is the goodness of God - Barth

“Jesus Christ means: God, not against the human, or – which would be even worse – without him, but God with him and for him as his Friend and Helper and Saviour and Guarantor. Jesus Christ means: God himself becomes the human’s Neighbour and Brother…. Jesus Christ is in person the faithfulness of God which draws near to the human’s unfaithfulness and overpowers it, as God the creator not only confirms and maintains his covenant with his creature but once and for all leads it to its goal and secures it against every threat. Jesus Christ is the reconciliation of the world to God which does not merely look and go beyond human sin but sets it aside…. He is the kingdom of God which with its comfort and healing has approached and invaded torn humanity suffering from a thousand wounds, and put an end to its misery…. In a word: he is the goodness of God.”

—Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics IV/3, pp. 798-99 (KD IV/3, pp. 913-14).


Beautiful words from Karl Barth. A powerful reminder that Christian proclamation has to be rooted in God's love which is most powerfully revealed in Christ.

Hat Tip Faith and Theology

A beautiful prayer

I love some of the reflections and prayers of the Sufi mystics. Therefore, I include this prayer which comes from the 8th Century mystic Rabi'a al-'Aadawiyya who lived in Basra;


O Lord, if I worship you out of fear of hell, burn me in hell.
If I worship you in the hope of paradise, forbid it to me.
And if I worship you for your own sake,
do not deprive me of your eternal beauty


That prayer comes from her devotion to God as fostered within the Muslim community. Yet as a Christian, I can say a hearty Amen to it also.


Hat Tip Jahane Rumi

Kaye is twelve today

Yes our lovely daughter Kaye has today celebrated her twelfth birthday today.

Kaye has many interests in life. She loves dancing and is currently learning to play the tenor horn and piano. Recently she has become a keen hockey player. Her attitude at school is great and today she had a terrific end of term report. Of course, as her Dad, i am just a tad biased in my assessment of her.

Most people see Kaye as a conformist unlike our son, James who is a bit of a rebel. However when in 2003 at the beginning of the Iraq War, people in Cambridge where we were then living, were invited to write our feelings on cards that would be attached to the church railings at Great St Marys, Kaye to my surprise wrote;

"Peace not War. I hate Bush and Blair."

Obviously she is her father's daughter!

Voice of a victim of Pinochet

We are 5,000 — here in this little part of the city
We are 5,000 — how many more will there be?
In the whole city, and in the country 10,000 hands
Which could seed the fields, make run the factories.
How much humanity — now with hunger, pain, panic and terror?

There are six of us — lost in space among the stars,
One dead, one beaten like I never believed a human could be so beaten.
The other four wanting to leave all the terror,
One leaping into space, other beating their heads against the wall
All with gazes fixed on death.

The military carry out their plans with precision;
Blood is medals for them, Slaughter is the badge of heroism.
Oh my God — is this the world you created?
Was it for this, the seven days, of amazement and toil?

The blood of companero Presidente is stronger than bombs
Is stronger than machine guns.
O you song, you come out so badly when I must sing — the terror!
What I see I never saw. What I have felt, and what I feel must come out!
"Hara brotar el momento! Hara brotar el momento!"


These are final words of Victor Jara who was butchered to death by Pinochet's goons at Stadio Chile. Read these words and weep for Victor Jara was deprived of the old age and non violent death that was the lot of his butcher, the friend of Henry Kissinger and Margaret Thatcher.

What a preformance!

This was just great!

In search of Christmas poems

With Carol Services to arrange, I am looking for meaningful poetry to communicate the message of Christmas.

Does anyone have suggestions?

Mary's Song

Blue homespun and the bend of my breast
keep warm this small hot naked star
fallen to my arms. (Rest …
you who have had so far to come.)
Now nearness satisfies
the body of God sweetly. Quiet he lies
whose vigor hurled a universe. He sleeps
whose eyelids have not closed before.
His breath (so slight it seems
no breath at all) once ruffled the dark deeps
to sprout a world. Charmed by doves' voices,
the whisper of straw, he dreams,
hearing no music from his other spheres.
Breath, mouth, ears, eyes
he is curtailed who overflowed all skies,
all years. Older than eternity, now he
is new. Now native to earth as I am, nailed
to my poor planet, caught
that I might be free, blind in my womb
to know my darkness ended,
brought to this birth for me to be new-born,
and for him to see me mended
I must see him torn.

I find that poem by Luci Shaw so thougy provoking. Its link between Christmas and the Passion challenges our jolly view of Christmas. It takes us also on journey of imagining the costly discipleship of Mary.

Hat TIP Maggie Dawn

A day without a sermon

No sermons was preached by me today.

This morning I led a service at my smaller church, Alwington Methodist Church. It included a Christmas presentation by our small but talented group of youngsters, the Alwingtones. It was excellently done and contained an interesting mix of traditional Nativity and modern music. Next Sunday evening I will be there again for the Carol Service.

This evening I had no service to lead which was a good thing as it meant that I wa free to go with my family to the Royal Hotel for a party out on for a group of people with what are often termed 'learning disbilities.' This group meet every month at the hall at the Bideford Methodist Church where I am minister. The organistaion is not a church organisation but many of the people involved belong to the church.

Anyhow, it was a great evening. The folk who came are a remarkably sunny group. I am constantly amazed at how much these people have to teach the rest of us about living.

With that in mind, I recommend an article by Kim Fabricius concerning a lecture by Professor Frances Young regarding severe learning difficulties. Too often we are inclined to get sidetracked as to what people should be. Surely, the first needs of humanity are to love and be loved. I saw plenty of that tonight. I cannot help but feel that when we judge the lives of people with learning disabilities, we would do well to focus on what we can learn from them.

Songs for Christmas - When a child is born

A ray of hope flickers in the sky
A tiny star lights up way up high
All across the land, dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born

A silent wish sails the seven seas
The winds of change whisper in the trees
And the walls of doubt crumble, tossed and torn
This comes to pass when a child is born

A rosy hue settles all around
You've got the feel you're on solid ground
For a spell or two, no-one seems forlorn
This comes to pass when a child is born

And all of this happens because the world is waiting,
Waiting for one child
Black, white, yellow, no-one knows
But a child that will grow up and turn tears to laughter,
Hate to love, war to peace and everyone to everyone's neighbour
And misery and suffering will be words to be forgotten, forever

It's all a dream, an illusion now
It must come true, sometime soon somehow
All across the land, dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born

Such beautiful words and music about the Christ who comes to bring hope and who transforms the values of our world. May we be open to the Christ whose coming we prepare to celebrate.

The Christian Union debate

Great debate on Christian Unions over at Connexions. I tend to agree with Richard and Kim on this one but unfortunately (can readers tell me why?) my postings get lost in cyberspace. Still, perhaps I will post on this one in the next few days.

Sally Coleman - Superstar

An excellent school assembly from Sally Coleman. Last Thursday I plagiarised it for my school assembly at St Helens School in Abbotsham. It was great!

Do I feel guilty at using Sally's work? Frankly the answer is NO! And I am not alone. Dave Warnock has shared in my sin. Perhaps, Dave and me are starting a trend of becoming gentleman ministers benefiting from the good efforts of the hardworking Sallys of the world whilst we contemplate the cricket.

Anyhow, many thanks to Sally!

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup

Yes it's the latest Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup.

Thanks to Alan Bevere for his work. His site is certainly well worth a visit with much excellent theological reflection.

Brummies can't even complain properly

Really the country has gone to the dogs. Compared to Helsinki, we are useless at compaining.

Looking for someone to teach me the Finnish language!

I don't believe it!

Welcome to a world of people more cantankerous than me! Yes it's the Helsinki Compaints Choir.





I wonder if they are looking for a Methodist minister. If so, it's way out of Blair's Britain.

HAT TIP Pam BG

Songs for Christmas - Merry Xmas War is over

WE want it!

Mike Blakey

I have never been to Swansea where he studied or Burnley from whence he came. Yet,I feel only a heart of stone would not be moved at the tragic death of Mike Blakey. There have been many tributes on the web espcially from Swansea, some of which have been collected by Wood. It is clear from these that Mike Blakey was well regarded by many people who are at present hurting very much at his violent death.

Richard has been posting some of the articles that Mike Blakey wrote for Connexions. One that blew me away was regarding the use of fear in how Christianity is all too often presented. The last paragraph offers the following insight:

Only the good news of the love of God, and the saving grace that is there for us to receive, can do this. Only by acting through love can we truly work for the glory of God, and only by living with compassion can we do justice to the sacrifice made for us. To preach a gospel of fear is to remove all that is glorious about our relationship with God, and to deny people the essence of the good news. God is love, and without fear, we should accept him as such.

When I read that article at our Bible Study, the people there were very moved. We committed ourselves to pray for those who are grieving at this time and for the work of Tong-Len with whom Mike Blakey was working in India at the time when he was killed.

There are no adequate words to describe the killing of a young man especially one who seems to have been such a positive influence on his peers in Swansea and in his work with the needy both in Swansea and in India. There are no answers as to why such terrible things happen and to pretend otherwise would be grotesque. All that we who have read about this can do is to pray for all who grieve and to dare to have our own comfortable lifestyle challenged by one whose example is a challenge to all of us.

Church leaders to go to Bethlehem

In view of the need to support the "Living Stones" who have maintained a Christian presence in the Holy land, it is heartening to see that the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and free church leaders are to visit Bethlehem and East Jerusalem ahead of Christmas.

Their visits are to support the declining Christian community. The cardinal puts the situation well in saying;

"I think it's a very important visit really because it should be clear to everyone that in the Holy Land there are not only Muslims and Jews, there are also Christians. And it would be very sad if Christians were, as it were, being forced to leave because of the political situation there.

I think that's very sad because the Holy Land is our land too, where there is the birthplace and life of Christ."

Certainly the combination of economic and political factors threaten the presence of a historic community in the land win which Jesus walked. A Holy Land without a Christian presence would surely be a sad situation.

Meanwhile, a useful site is Open Bethlehem.

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam

Hope you enjoy this treat as you enter a new day!



HAT TIP Mad Priest

Why I regret Blogger Beta and may have to leave it

A couple of months ago I updated to Blogger Beta. It seemed the sensible thing to do. However, I now have doubts.

You see I recently joined The Methoblog. And that is where my problems with Blogger have taken off. For some reason, I have found that in the blogroll, rather than my front page, the page varies. Furthermore, when I made a number of postings, the consequence was that it brought up loads of my postings on their listings yet all pointing to one moveable page.

I am no longer on The Methoblog as it would be unfair to others. Yet, I was led to believe that Blogger Beta was to be a glorious improvement in my service. At this moment I would be glad if this site could go back to Blogger as it was.

Anyhow the state of affairs is that I have contacted Blogger. If they can sort it out, I am happy to stay as getting used to a new site is just too much hassle for a IT illiterate such as me. BUT if I do not get satisfaction by the end of the week, I will reluctantly be forced to move this site to another place.

Three cheers for Mr Blair.

Before anyone gets too excited, I have not had a Damascus moment. But, our beleagured Prime Minister does have his better moments.

One of those better moments ocurred last Friday. Addressing the calamity of AIDS on World Aids Day, Mr Blair took a strong stand in support of the use of condoms.

Addressing a calamity which worldwide creates in terms of deaths a frightening 2-3 Septmber 11ths every day, Blair said;


"The danger is if we have a sort of blanket ban from the religious hierarchy saying it's wrong to do it, then you discourage people from doing it in circumstances where they need to protect their lives.


"I think that the real key to it is education. That is about two things: educating people about sex when they are young, but also making sure that if people are sexually active, then they are taking protection. There is a big debate about this; how far are you going by saying to people, 'take protection with you'? Are you encouraging young people to have sex?"


At a time when some religious leader including much of the Roman Catholic hierarchy would seem to be arguing that abstinence is all that is needed and condeming the use of condoms as a sin, Blair exposed the shallowness of such thinking by saying;


"You should try to encourage people to be responsible, but you should recognise that, if you are sexually active, it's better to be sexually active and responsibly so."


The reality is that whether the numbskulls of the anti condom movement like it or not, people will have sex. Surely it is better that they protect their lives by wearing condoms rather than put themselves and others at risk.

The fact is that if religious leaders such as the Pope do not take this on board, they will be remembered in history as agents of death. The reputation of Pope Benedict's Papacy will be made or broken on this issue. All the other fine initiatives will pale into insignificance by comparison. In the name of Christ, the Pope must on this if nothing else, listen to Tony Blair!

The endangered living stones

Many Christians long to visit the Holy Land. Years ago, my cousin,Stephen Dray led a group on a pilgrimage there which happened to coincide with the Oslo agreement. Some friends from the Bideford Methodist Circuit have just returned and doubtless I will get to hear some of their stories.

I have hoped to one day join such a tour. In part, I would like to see what remains of the places about which we read in the Bible even if some of them have been drastically changed and even subjected to rivalry between church traditions. My fear is that I would be disappointed but I think that's a risk I am willing to take.

Yet my greatest interest as someone who is very enthused by interfaith dialogue is in experiencing something of the diversity that is to be found in the occupants of this disputed land. Of course, the three great faiths share so much in common. All believe in monotheism and trace roots that go back to Abraham even if they interpret his story and meaning in differing ways. Of course, it is a scandal that the children of Abraham should so profusely she each others blood. And yet, I cannot get away from a feeling that this scandal and pain is merged with the beauty of three great faiths which have so much to offer the world.

And yet, is it not sad that as we are drawn to the ancient stones of this historic land, we pay so little attention as Christians to the "living stones" who have maintained their historic Christian witness in the Midle East for some two millenia. Caught in the Middle of great struggles and largely ignored by their fellow Christians who have westernised Christianity, the Christian presence in much of the Middle East is being diminished. One cannot wonder if this presence will all too soon become as extinct as the dodo.

Hopefully, a wakeup call is being heard. The Presbyterian Church in the USA have decided to call a week of prayer next year for the endangered Christian communities in the Middle East. I hope that the idea catches on. Certainly, Bideford Methodists will be seeking to follow PCUSA's lead in this matter. Surely, we need to listen with sensitivity to Christian voices emanating from the Middle East. After all, they are our older brother in faith from whom we have much to learn. And surely, living stones are more precious to God than monuments.

U2 and Grace

Sometimes, I feel that adulation of U2 borders on idolatry but I have to confess that some of their music and lyrics are rather inspiring.

Last week, for the first time I bought one of their CDs. It was "Al that you can't leave behind." Indeed, I played "Peace on Earth" during the offering at a shared service with the Anglicans on Sunday morning.

However, the song that is really grabbing me at the moment is one I had never heard of before, "Grace." Here are the rather beautiful words:

Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name

Grace...
It's a name for a girl
It's also a thought that, changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma, karma
She travels outside... of karma

When she goes to work, you can hear the strings
Grace finds beauty in everything

Grace...
She carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition

What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings...
Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things

Grace finds beauty in everything

That last line is particularly beautiful. It reminds us of the power of "Grace" to give meaning to even the most broken and destructive lives. But as Bono reminds us "Grace" has "changed the world." All of this surely means that as we approach the celebration of Christ's coming, "Grace" must surely be at the centre of our thoughts and thanksgiving.

As my family are deserting me for the evening, I shall listen to the entire CD. In a day or so, I might just post a few reflections.

Save our Santas!

See how Santa comes to us!

Thanks to Justin for exposing a scandla that degrades us all.

Advent 1 sermon

And so we begin our countdown to Christmas. This is a time when so much of our attention is upon cards and gifts, carolling and partying. It is as the old song puts it “the time to be merry.” Or is it? For whilst we may be longing to think of baby Jesus, our Bible readings this morning point us to very much harsher world.

Margaret Thatcher invites you to an Acid Party!

Not to be missed!




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