The awkward squad

In the spirit of supporting the "awkward squad", I have linked to David Hallam. David is a former Labour Party Euro MP whose blog is currently blogging up quite a storm on the question of whether Methodism is making a sufficient stand against the expansion of gambling that our Government has kindly brought us. Years ago, I hoped to be an investigative journalist. Well David is certainly digging deep!


Meanwhile that most turbulent of priests, Mad Priest has recently celebrated a year on the blogosphere. He has been particularly forceful in challenging the Anglican Church re its failure to adequately stand against homophobia whilst also providing the best, most mischievous religious humour.

Why not visit both of these sites today. I hope both will be around for a long time! So Mr Hallam, I suggest that lent must not mean the end of your blog.

Meanwhile, if my wife is better by tomorrow, I will address the expansion of gambling which is effectively state pimpery at the expense of the most vulnerable

Another version of "Amazing Grace"

Sadly the Blind Alabama Boys version is no longer available but I like this very different version by Leann Rymes.

No sermon this week.

I have not posted a sermon this week. That is because on Wednesday, I went down with some sort of a bug. Since then, I have felt a little washed out and lethargic. Therefore, today at Northam, I spoke on the slave trade without a script. I hope to post on some of the issues I mentioned later in the week.

In the meantime, my wife Andrea went down with the same bug this morning. She is at present in bed and feeling far removed from being a happy bunny! What a way to celebrate our 18th Wedding Anniverary!

Amazing Grace

As we prepare to remember the 1807 Abolition of Slavery Act this Sunday, I recommend this version of John Newton's great hymn, "Amazing Grace" by the Blind Boys of Alabama;

The Bogeyman who will be King

Less than Parliamentary behaviour by Gordon Brown while Tony Blair speaks.

Almost as bad as the Budget!

New Labour talk with forked tongue

I find the following exchange from the House of Commons to be indicative as to how low the current ruling clique have taken British politics;

Nicholas Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the infliction of simulated drowning falls within the definition of torture or cruel and inhumane treatment used by the Government for the purposes of international law.

Ian Pearson (Minister of State (Trade), Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Whether the conduct described constitutes torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment for the purposes of the UN Convention Against Torture would depend on all the circumstances of the case.


Really, what do we have to do to get an adult government. Simulated drowning is torture and only a fool or knave would even question it. And fools and knaves are unfit to hold government office!


HAT TIP: Blairwatch

Jesus camp and the worship of Bush

This video makes me understand how the ancient Israelites worshipped a golden calf.

Absolute blasphemy!

End Mugabe's reign of terror

To that end I urge you to sign this petition urging Zimbabwe's major trading partners who are South Africa and the EU to implement tough targeted sanctions to bring about the end of the bloodstained Mugabe regime

More than a father - A sermon for Mothering Sunday

“As truly as God is our father, so truly is he our mother.”

Words from a radical feminist? Not really! Words from a trendy liberal? Not quite!

No these are words from the 14th century anchoress Julian of Norwich, probably the greatest theological thinker produced by the England of the Middle Ages.

These are words that might seem appropriate for Mothering Sunday. However, on first examination, the same cannot be said of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. After all the three central characters were all male with only the fatted calf possibly being female but there again the fatted calf ends up as the biggest loser in the story.

Sometimes, I think that we are over familiar with this story. We have tamed it. And now we see God as like a good father as a result. The trouble is that this parable is so much more radical than that.

Continued

George Galloway - That's my boy!

I have some regard for George Galloway but a song called "That's my boy" isn't what I would normally associate with him. Still have a listen;

A sermon for Lent 3

Does God push old ladies down church steps? - a rather rushed sermon for Lent 3

Little mosque on the prairie

Enjoy!

Bush in la La Land

Stop the clash of civilisations

Please watch this inspiring video.

It reminds us that we need to seek understanding of those whose life experience is diffeent than ours. Particularly relevant here concerning the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Time for action? Surely!

Best sermon I've heard for a long time

Listen to Ed Bacon preach on God stays the course.

This is so worth listening to and is the most powerful exposition on God given value to all people that I have heard for a long time. This is the true Gospel.

I would have given him a standing ovation!


HAT TIP Susan Russell

Tragedy

Tragedy is an overrused word but it is the only word I know to sum up yesterday's events on Dartmoor.

My son has been away over the weekend at the training event for the Ten Tors. My wife and I are both very proud of the effort he is putting into what is generally regarded a great character building event.

Sadly, however yesterday became a sad day. On a day in which the weather took a turn for the worse, a teenager lost her life. She was a student at Edgehill College which is a Methodist private school here in Bideford.

Whilst I visit the school from time to time, I did not know this girl. However, I know that the school has many fine people both amongst the staff and students. Under the excellent leadership of the Headmaster and Chaplain, the staff will be doing all they can to help members of a close knit community to handle their trauma.

Anyhow, tonight I invite you to pray for the girl's family and friends, the students and staff who were with her on Dartmoor, the other students an members of staff at Edgehill. They need your prayers to help them through this valley.

Kernow bys Vicken

Today is St Pirans Day and so in honour of Cornwall's Saint, here is a treat from my homeland;

Love in the ruins - A Sermon for Lent 2

“Ten measures of beauty gave God to the world: nine to Jerusalem and one to the remainder Ten measures of sorrow gave God to the world: nine to Jerusalem and one to the remainder.”

So records the Talmud which is the compendium of the Jewish oral law. And indeed there is much beauty in Jerusalem. In that ancient city are to be found the places held to be holy by the followers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Yet also, in Jerusalem the signs of hatred and conflict between those who are described as “Blood Brothers” by the Palestinian priest Elias Chacour. This is the city in which three faiths engage in conflict both with each other and even amongst themselves. For this is the place where God has been too often betrayed by those who speak of One God and claim a lineage that goes back to Abraham.

And all of us are affected by the highs and lows of that great city. For as the American spiritual leader, Barbara Brown Taylor puts it;

“Nothing that happens in Jerusalem is insignificant. When Jerusalem obeys God, the world spins peacefully on its axis. When Jerusalem ignores God, the whole planet wobbles.”


Continued

God TV Anonymous

Just been watching the whacky God Channel where there is some sort of collection going on tonight. I have to say I have been sickened by the way in which giving is encouraged by notions that the greatest giver becomes materially the richest man ( based on Solomon)and the linkage made with healing.

My irritation is increased by the fact that one of my churches has today had its annual Gift Day. I know that many of our people give sacrificially but I would rather shut the place down than to use such methods.

It is sad but I could never recommend this channel to anyone seriously interested in Christianity. Yet it is addictive and I blame my addiction on Richard Hall who seems to have a similar problem. Trouble is we both have wives who cannot stand it. So I guess that Richard and me are destined to end up as sad lonely men losing what remains of our sanity as we with forrified fascination we watch God TV, hoping to be rescued by rapture!

Till then please cough up for God TV Anonymous!

Loving the unlovely

Richard Hall and Kim Fabricius have written to their local newspaper concerning its ongoing coverage concerning the killing of local schoolboy, Ben Bellamy.

Supporting the penalty given to the three young men convicted concerning this killing and arguing that they should not be released whilst a danger to the community, they then put the message of the Gospel;

The media goes banging on about how the UK is no longer a Christian country while simultaneously insinuating that the bottom line for those who commit dreadful crimes is to lock them up and throw away the key, and successive governments also collude in pandering to a public vindictiveness that (as polls on capital punishment continue to demonstrate) hardly needs encouragement.

Non-Christians can, of course, ignore the dimension of mercy and forgiveness that is at the very heart of the gospel.

They can also ignore those who appeal for a penal policy constructed around the ideas of restorative justice and rehabilitation into the life of the community, not to mention the personal repentance of offenders. But Christ himself forbids his followers to hunt with the hounds.

A recent poster outside a church in Australia caused quite a stir. It read: “Jesus loves Osama”. But this is true. And Jesus loves Joel Taylor, Joshua Thomas and Andrew Rafferty too.

It seems that they have received some negative reaction from some within the church. This saddens me because it seems that there are some within churches who seem to want to put limits on the love of God. Well there are none! The message of the Gospel is not to tickle our sense of self righteousness and respectability. It is more radical than that by far!

As Richard says of Christ;

"He writes off no one as irredeemable.

If the church cannot proclaim that message, we have no message at all."


And that is the truth without which we have no Gospel at all!

But which way is the Gospel? - A sermon for Lent 1

About 20 years ago, I for a time often attended what would probably be described as a rather fundamentalist church. The reason to be honest was that this church had a few rather enticing women even though any mission to corrupt them, was an abysmal failure on my part.

One of the practices of some within this church was to occasionally give a verse of scripture to others. Generally, the motive was to encourage friends in their Christian walk. Only once did someone offer me a verse. It was Isaiah 1 verse 6;

“From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
There is no soundness ---
Only wounds and bruises and open sores,
Not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil.”

Mmm. I guess it was his way of telling me that I was a heretic. Whether he was right or wrong, in the immortal words of the late Ian Richardson’s “House of Cards” creation, the scheming Frances Urquhart, “I could not possibly comment.”


Continued

Tony's Number 1?

Watch for two well known figures at the end!