Holy Cross Day

Holy Cross Day

Dead loss day

Look the other way day

Ignore what all the others say

Throw your faith in the bin day

Give way to their sin

Be as wise as the fools

With their oven ready politics

Their truth made of lies

Triumph made from deceit
or

Gain made from loss

Admitting our failings

Let’s become foolish

And look to the Cross!

Journal: A green day

Today was taken up with pastoral things and green things as I found myself in a couple of locations talking to people about ethical, morals and the values and standards that define us and our nation.

Would that the world and the Church embrace the same Values and Standards of the British armed forces. (remembered by the mnemonic CDRILS).

Courage: Moral and physical
Discipline: Self and imposed discipline
Respect: For others and for oneself
Integrity: WYSIWYG - are you/we what we tell people we are?
Loyalty: All found in that one word really
Selfless Commitment: Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friend

As I look at new recruits as they make their first contact with the military and begin their first day of training I wonder what they will look like when they pass off the square at the end of it all.

As I look at the Church I see what I fear most in the world as fewer and fewer of the Values and Standards are upheld and more and more people tell me what Church should be in their, often puffed up and dismissive of others, view.

One thing the Church is becoming is certainly not a mighty army. Is it any wonder that so many speak of decline when the world has so infected the Bride of Christ? It seems the grace and love that saw it grow became ingpfected by the leaven of power and politics under the Holy Roman Empire and the death knells are being rung by those who wish to see the world and Church become one - but not in an evangelistic sense - tragic.

As for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Father God, the Bride of Christ has taken on the mantle of Gomer and now sleeps with others in the name of integrity and inclusiveness and yet displaying duplicitous and exclusivity. Mutual flourishing  has become a pot of wilting flowers detached from the plant such that eventually both will surely wither and die. Many I talk with share things in secret for fear of being outed as dissenting voices and  merely remain silent. The conditions by which women were given their pointy hats have been trampled down and there is no shame apparent.

Lord, have mercy upon us and renew a right spirit within us, Your Church.

Forgive us Lord, for we know exactly what we do,

Journal: What was that?

2am and I find myself hitting the sack after what has ended up being a seventeen and a bit hour day - so much for me telling the other half I was going to behave with my daily round! But that's what this ministry thing is all about; meeting needs and being there.

The interesting thing is that there were no aircraft crashes or other disasters - all that happened today was just life going on, in abundance, but nothing more.

And me? I was showing God's love and doing the stuff people take for granted. There was. O running into burning buildings or any heroics: and that is what being a Christian is all about: Being there for the silly things; for the tragic events: The, "I don't want to bother you, but . . . " things.

Lord,
for the mundane things I give you thanks, for in them we meet with the exceptionaL
for the small things that combine to create a gargantuan,
For the minefields other create and in which we seek to grow a garden of peace,
for the grace to forgive as we are forgiven.
for the tears of loss and the laughter of remembrance.
for all that today was and tomorrow will be,
I offer You my thanks, love and self.

Accept this as my Lenten sacrifice this day.

Journal: Wrong turns

There are so many ways we can take wrong turns and so many ways we can make wrong decisions - and the sad thing is, people just keep on doing the wrong stuff regardless. We seem to be regressing as a society and self and selfishness are evident on a daily basis as the world descends into something quite zoo like!

I have never been totally convinced about our 'Christian' status and yet the less obviously Christian our nation is, the more selfish and awful we appear to be! I have always held the view that being 'good' (whatever that means) and doing good things are not the sole province of theists; an atheist can have high moral values and standards without the benefit of faith. But the proof of the pudding is in the experience and I'm beginning to wonder whether eschewing faith merely puts self on the throne after all!

So many places I look I find ourselves descending to being apes rather than descending from them - and it's so very sad.

Today has been a day of many parts. It started with me trying to get out of the door to do some funerals with the telephone ringing off the hook and people arriving at the front door. It was havoc - new policy: If it rings and I'm that place where I need space to get ready, it can go to the answerphone. First challenge to that policy: one of the calls was from a family with someone heading towards the end of life and so it might just be a crisis - should I answer it?

This is ministry in a nutshell: Thick lines drawn around stuff, however well intended, rational and apparently right soon find exceptions and caveats in place. The apparent need apparently needs to be dealt with when it presents itself. What a conundrum that is.

Elsewhere in today's news: what a strange funeral day I had. The FD provided the wrong CD and rather than something fitting and suitable we had something that sounded like the opening of a games show! Fortunately we had a bit of Mario Lanza in the middle on. CD I'd brought with me so we went out to that, so a bit of recovery there. But in another service I ended up with an unexpected bump of another sort and this saw me finish just over the line - but since the time was mine as I was doing multiple services we managed to leave the place with the cloak set back so the planned slots were intact and all was well.

The challenges of running church is to keep everything well-oiled without leaving stains on the fabric or causing people to slip on the stuff. To this end there was a warden's meeting and a meeting with a colleague to enjoy (and I enjoyed them both) before other stuff turned up - and there was still a Bishops Certificate to square away too.

A sadness came in the shape of the apparent death of someone who has struggled for many years - well the apparent is apparently obviously real, but until I get it confirmed by a trustworthy source, it has to be a 'probably' rather than a definitely.

Add to this the normal daily weirdness and it's been a long and challenging day - finally drawing stumps around 23: something.

Lord, I commend the souls of those who have departed this life to your grace, love, care, and mercy. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Lord, I comment to you those who live as beasts; may they find something of the nobility of this life and may their standards and their actions be raised that even if they should never know you their lives may have something to commend them and the society they create be something better than it it now.

Lord, I thank 6ou for the joy of learning - may we do more teaching and may we open the eyes of those around us - and our own eyes be opened too - as we dialogue and develop.

Lord, for those whose mental health is a challenge - still broken minds and calm the waves of madness that crash relentlessly in the lives of some. Help us to be a tolerant people and to show love and care where the world generally pays lip service and provides something poor.

And for all the challenges of today, help me to learn and to go forward in love understanding that:
The things we walk past without a murmur are the things we give our approval to.
The actions we remain silent about are the things we have permitted to exist.

Lord, help me always to correct sin, oppose wrong actions, and to stand with (and for) the oppressed, marginalised, and excluded.

For the bread before me, I give you thanks and for the life I have, I praise You.



This place of reflection is here for me to dialogue internally and gain insight and perspective. It first appeared in this current form for some of those looking at creating their own journal as part of the their journey to discerning vocation. The Morning prayer is there also for that same purpose: to create the discipline of prayer. Dialogue, insights and experience of others concerning this entry is always welcome - all grist to the mill.

So it's goodbye from us ...

And 'Good Riddance' from them?

As we all know by know, the people of the United Kingdom have, albeit narrowly, voted to leave the European Union.

Some will be cheering - others will be fearing.

Some will see this as an opportunity to regain sovereignty and put the 'Great' back into Britain whilst others will see this as us condemning ourselves to becoming a small minded nation on an even smaller offshore piece of land outside the rest of the world.

Much like the peasant's revolt of 1381, this was as much a revolt against those who govern and the taxation and nation's spending as it was about the other much proclaimed issues - although that said, the majority of the 'Leave' voices brought the issue back to immigration (more on that shortly though).  The Peasants Revolt was also about and end to serfdom - what I was taught of as 'unify' labour - whilst this was, for many, about 'free labour'!

So here we are, about to go it alone and this for me means that we should, immediately, look to Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and start the two year exit process rolling. Many people are calling on us to hold fire with this because the effect it will have on us nation but it seems to me that this newly recovered sovereignty and national identity, as with everywhere in the world where people have fought to become free, comes at a price.

This price, thankfully, is not paid in blood or lives (unless you consider the assassination of an MP to count - and I do) but in cold hard cash. Freedom is never cheap and we will have to grin and bear the rises in the cost of living, the fall in our house prices and the jobs that are lost as the price we are all willing to pay for our breaking free from the bonds of European membership.

As we make our journey we need to realise that we are now looking towards the goodwill of those who remain in the EU and, like any divorce, this might not be a generous as we think we deserve. To quote European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker:

"Britons decided yesterday that they want to leave the European Union, so it doesn't make any sense to wait until October to try to negotiate the terms of their departure - I would like to get started immediately." 

You see, Europe would like us to be gone and whilst what some exit politicians are asking for is akin to a divorces settlement where one party retains the right to have meals cooked for them, their washing done and conjugal rights to continue - the other is looking to distance themselves from their estranged partner as quickly as possible, and despite the well meant words from family gained through marriage when divorce comes, the relationship are rarely continued and when they do, never the same!

Those who preached exit are now telling us that migration into the UK will continue - it has to, that's how the rest of the world lives these day - and that the money saved might not be what was first preached to be - that we will have to abide by EU laws if we want to trade with them and more besides.

So perhaps our exit is not going to be the paradise it was billed to be - but the trigger has been pulled and the bullet has left the chamber, there's no going back and the challenge for us is to work out how we can regroup and reform our national identity and that takes public will and solid and intelligent government. The key is for us to become a United Kingdom (talk of referenda regarding the Union from Northern Ireland and Scotland aren't helping this) and to look at the positives that being British bring.

We need to be open and honest about our views and seek a middle way - something the Church of England excels in - if that happens then this will indeed be something quite positive coming from the result.

I think we need a new government, not a new Conservative Prime Minister, because the government is looking at areas and actions never spoken of in a manifesto nor voted of at the last election. This is time for a new leadership across the board in the house of Commons.

One of the hopes of those who preached on the exit side of the debate was that we would return to our national roots and this, and of course I would say this, means a return to the biblical values and standards that shaped us and a putting aside of self and selfish ambition. We need to establish a nation where humility, not the nationalism that brought about a global conflict, is the hallmark. National pride not nationalism being the bedrock upon which we look to exhibit mercy and crave for justice as that which we value and live by.

We need to continue to welcome the oppressed and marginalised, to act to support those in other lands who face genocide and oppression, to stand with our neighbouring nations to work together for peace and freedom for all.

And oddly - if we do, it won't look much different from that we've just voted to leave!

So pray that 'God's will be done' rather than 'give us our own way!'

Going to be a very interesting time - and when the going gets tough (and I'm sure it will) look to the words and example of Jesus, the Christ, rather than the self-serving needs of our fallen race.

No man is an island - even when he lives on one!

Church Growth strategies: 'Be Relevant!'

As always I'll begin with my Hauerwas' comment that:

'Church growth strategies are the death rattle of a church that has lost its way.' 

I have to issue a warning that we are now moving into some of the more dangerous issues in this blog. Dangerous because some people will undoubtedly take umbrage at some of the views aired and points pointed to. Some will say that what I am saying is 'who they are' rather than something they do to grow church - and I'm sure that some are right and others might be less so; but this is merely a mirror and an means by which I and some others are engaging so read it and then engage brain, pray and dialogue. 

It is not meant to be offensive but I know some who will perhaps be offended: Not the goal but possibly the reality (I ask forgiveness and understanding in advance).

One of the most frustrating of the 'strategies' that I encounter is concerned with the issue of 'Rights'. It's frustrating because many people are unwilling to say that it's a strategy and it's frustrating because concern with rights is who we are as Christians. After all, it's what Jesus did when He walked the earth - He just didn't bill it as such, He just got on an addressed the issues. And so should we!

I an more than a little tired of those who want to convince me about Church (universal) and its history of oppressing women and the many minority, and action, groups that we have before us these days. This is not because I'm not concerned with those issues by the way! No, no, no - not at all. BUT I see Jesus setting those who were non persona (non people - meaning those without a voice and the ability to be heard and afforded dignity and respect) free and giving them rights and privileges and all that good stuff we drone on about today. I see Jesus as concerned, and by His Holy Spirit, engaged and with many in the various campaigning and rights groups.

Look at the New testament situation: Women, slaves, children - Jesus spoke into their lives through the Gospel and through His one atoning act of reconciliation to God by the cross and the recognition that He, Jesus, is the Messiah; The Christ. I don't think anything has changed!

The problem is that we want the Church to be popular. 

No, let's back the bus up just a little and rephrase that: 

We want US, and Church, to be popular!

So, because the second comment is more likely the most accurate we engage in the practice of telling people what Jesus would be concerned with now and how He would be preaching something different from the stuff He told those primitives 2,000 years ago! Of course we don't know what He would have said now, because He hasn't said it (and if someone tells me that the Holy Spirit told them I'd have to test it against the received word (the scriptures) tradition and reason to ensure that what I had heard was orthodox (right thinking) - and this is where much that arises also falls.

Seeking to be pastoral we set about rewriting the Bible to stop it being offensive or unpopular. This is a shame because it's supposed to be offensive! It was counter-cultural then and I think that it's countercultural now. 

Then it was different in terms of practices, attitudes and beliefs because the world was different. 

Now it's different because whilst the Biblical position might be static, the world is changing to look like it did when the scriptures started getting written and so the Word of God and the world of man find themselves chaffing! So rather than stand with what we have believed as truth for 2,000+ years, we look to become relevant by changing our message to affirm and permit stuff that Jesus didn't then and, I feel sure, probably wouldn't now. (I have to say probably because of course I don't know because all I have to go on is what He, and the writers of the Bible did say, anything else is like me finishing the end of an unfinished symphony - it's my adjunctive contribution).

The thing is that I like rights but believe that with the conferment of rights comes the demand that we act responsibly and rightly and yet this is not what I am encountering in some in the Church, and when some of theses are leaders then what we have is a 'house divided against itself' and as we know from Mk3//Matt12: 'It will not stand!

One of those moments when you want to shout: 'Let those who have ears (and brains) listen!'

The road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions and this is where we are leading others unless we are careful. We bless that which Jesus never blessed and we defend our causes in futile arguments regarding slavery (Jesus lived when slaves were slaves and yet through Him they received the dignity of personhood. We until recent times had people who supported slavery or apartheid and a number of other things and even used their Bible to defend their position - but they were wrong and so too are those who would use it wrongly today in their quest for popularity and relevance!

The Church should be an inclusive place - but not a permissive place.

The Church should be a place where all are welcomed into. But the motto should be:

Come as you are - expect to leave changed!

Some of my colleagues crave the oxygen of acceptance.

They actively seek to be popular and so they are heard telling jokes that would make a miner blush (if we had any left - two pits to go and the breed are all but gone)!

They use what I consider to be foul and inappropriate language both in, and outside, the church building and yet, when challenged, consider themselves to be relevant and me to be a bit of a dinosaur (I think I might be and if so I'm a 'Duknowhesavedus').

A colleague in my diocese, is a heated discussion (sometimes the bestest sort of discussion) told me that to hold the views I held would, 'Empty the churches.' The continued to tell me that by their inclusive and accepting views they would fill the church they were in. Oddly, some ten years on where they are has declined whilst the church up the road has benefitted from their neighbours 'accommodating attitudes' and grown steadily (including engaging in some sheep stealing'* from that place).

The problem is that being relevant shouldn't be about popularity or growth or anything but being able, as we find in 1 Peter 3.13-17 (NLT)

'Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 
14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. 
And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 
16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

We must always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have in Jesus, the Christ. We need to ensure that we are relevant and open, honest and showing respect. But at the end of the day we must also remember that all we have is Jesus, the Christ, crucified, risen and ascended: He is our hope and our integrity.

So the bottom line (almost) is a plea: seek to be relevant and to meet those around with love and integrity.

'Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.'

Matthew Henry

Pax

* Sorry, I meant 'transfer growth!' must be a dodgy keyboard or something!

PS. The problem is that some will hear me saying that the many causes are wrong or that we are merely posing in front of causes and the like. I'm not (I have a number of causes and they are who I am) - but I am asking for authenticity, integrity and the Gospel (as it is, not as we would like Jesus to return and rewrite is as now). 

The many issues before us are real and we need to stand for the oppressed, marginalised, disenfranchised and all those who need a neighbour: But never at the expense of the Gospel!

Hope this challenges and even inspires just a little - I know it has done that for me :-)

The General Election: tears or cheers ...

Just taken a step back and have been thinking, and praying, for all who lost their seat in parliament today as the results of this stunning 'the people have spoken' moment starts to settle down in my brain.

It is a day which will result in cheers for some, ambivalence for others, and will bring a great deal of sadness to many besides. So, as Clegg, Miliband and Farage bow out of leading their parties and British politics enters a new, and interesting, phase please spare a moment to think of all:

All who have lost their seats

The three leaders who are now stepping down

The families, the researchers, secretarial, and other staff who might find their lives, their jobs and their livelihood, greatly affected by today's results.

Behind every rosette stand many more people than just a candidate.

And we need to pay tribute to all who stand, even the rampant lunatics, because this is one of the joys of democracy - people have the freedom to stand, to put their views and have the people decide.

It's something we need to treasure and take pride in.

Please pray for our government that it might act with humility and have justice and mercy evident in its dealings.


Pax

The people have spoken

Tamworth Hustings Today's the Day!

In case you haven't noticed, there is a Hustings event taking place at St Editha's Church, Tamworth a7 7:30pm

Here's the poster (for one last time - honest):

And here's the equipment that will make it all heard:

Just like the old days - the car is full of PA kit

(Now where's the Gaffer Tape?)

And here's the venue all set up and waiting for you (you are coming, aren't you?):

See you tonight - bring your questions and make a difference to Tamworth by voting, 

and voting intelligently!

CHURCH MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Tamworth Hustings - ONE day to go

It's all quite steady state politics as far as the polls are concerned:

Conservatives 34%

Labour             33%

UKIP                13%

Lib Dems          9%

Green Party      5%

One of the pundits on the BBC was saying that the six week election period was making the whole thing the most boring election on record and pointed out that viewing figures for the debates were lower than five years ago. Another was saying that there were perhaps more undecided voters than ever and more were saying that they were willing to change their vote should they hear something that persuaded them it would be the best thing to do (best for them or their party or what I wondered: Lots of naughty encouragement to vote tactically to undermine others in this election)!

Where I am, some of the Christians I have encountered are telling me that they have no idea as to who they should vote for, some looking to maintain their traditional allegiances whilst others are looking for 'Christian' stuff and others still are looking to see stuff that isn't 'Christian' so they can vote for the last man (or of course woman) standing.

Many of the older folk I chat to are telling me that it's time to 'do something' positive, but what that thing is, and what area it is to be found in, they aren't sure: Just something different please.

The first time voters are apparently being wowed by their big issues and the bold promises of some to address them. Interestingly some are digging deep and challenging the ability of people to keep their promises should they be elected: Others are reading the headlines and, ignorant of substance, telling me that they vote for them because it sounds good.

So it is still all to play for - are you decided?

Do you have a concern you'd like an answer for with regard to the way it might be handled by the next government or your MP should they be in opposition?

Get to st Editha's tomorrow and get stuck in

Tamworth Hustings - 2 days to go

As usual, let's look at the polls:

Conservatives 34%

Labour             33%

UKIP                13%

Lib Dems          9%

Green Party      5%

A little fluctuation but generally we have a rather static picture before us - all the more reason to come and ask questions and get out and vote.

Lots of questions on HS2, Overseas Aid, freedom of speech and religious tolerance colliding with those who want to shut the door on immigration, cut the money our nation gives and those who want, and don't want, to see euthanasia made legal.

Just a foretaste of what is to come on Thursday night - so put your TV onto record and drag yourself down to town (and there's always the King's Ditch micro pub afterwards for a post mortem drink).

Come and make politics something enjoyable and be the difference in our town.

Tamworth Hustings - 7 Days to go: A two horse race?

You might think it is a two horse race as the latest figures look like this:

Conservatives 35%

Labour             34%

UKIP                13%

Lib Dems          8%

Green Party      5%

But of course it isn't! Every player has the potential to influence the overall result and that's what the hustings event is all about.

The hustings will be split into two sessions, the first of which will feature questions from the community. These will be sent to the candidates by Monday 27th so that they can prepare an answer in their own words (rather than merely read from their manifesto).

The second session will feature questions taken from those present (and you can ask them yourself if you wish) and this, last time we did a hustings event, was the more challenging part of the affair for me as it got close up and personal (but not too personal or offensive).

So let's have those questions sorted - the polls tell us that this is a two horse race but of course with 650 races in the overall competition this provides us with 650 chances for an outsider - and it could be your question that settles it where you are.

Whilst 326 seats marks the overall victory for whichever party would form the government, here at home it's a different battle that contributes to the whole.

So get thinking about what matters to you and if you're not sure what your candidates think:

Ask the question

Finding Talent: The Modules

The report tells us that the means by which training is to be delivered is a 'modular development programme' undertaken over a period of 12-18 months consisting of three modules which are (and I quote directly here):


Module One - Building Healthy Organisations.
In preparation for this module, learners will be asked to work through a suite of on-line tools that will measure the effectiveness of the team they lead. They will also be asked to participate in a 360 degree feedback exercise. The module will start by exploring the current context of the Church and the challenges and opportunities that face the organisation now and in the future. The spiritual focus of the programme will be underlined. Ecclesiology and perspectives from different traditions in the Church will be included. The ‘healthy organisation’ will be defined as the foundation for the success of the Church in the future. Learners will work on their team and individual 360 feedback reports and construct action plans around their development needs.

Time will be spent on approaches to change management and how to lead complex decentralised organisations through change. Conflict and coaching support for difficult conversations will be included. External perspectives will be supplied from organisations like the National Trust, BBC, NHS Health Trusts and the Armed Services. The module will conclude with examining the importance of measurement and controls, including an overview of financial and other measurement tools and techniques. Refresher and updated material will be offered to cover safeguarding and legal issues. Each cohort will be divided into action learning sets and these sets will agree development tasks focused on the healthy organisation for completion before the second module. The action learning sets will also form the basis for prayer and spiritual reflection between each module.

Module Two - Leading Growth.
This module will look at the challenges and opportunities presented by the intent to grow the Church. As course preparation, learners will be asked to review any planning material for their diocese and come prepared to discuss and share plans. The module will open with an exploration of growth, why evangelism is so important for the future of the Church and will examine the importance of planning for growth. The module will aim to offer peer reviews of existing diocesan plans and assistance to design and implement a plan where none exists. Work on team effectiveness from the first module will be revisited to examine in more detail the importance of building the right partnership between lay and ordained ministries. A field trip will be organised so the cohort can experience personally a part of the Church that is experiencing growth and this will lead to sessions sharing best practice and looking at successful initiatives, including ecumenical perspectives. The module will conclude with action learning sets agreeing development tasks focused on evangelism and growth, for completion before the third module. Once again the action learning set will be the basis for prayer and spiritual reflection.

Module Three - Re-inventing the Ministry.
The final module will focus on the capabilities required from senior leaders to improve talent management in the Church. As preparation, each learner will be asked to review the current status of MDRs in their diocese and review their senior staff meetings from the perspective of how it could be better used to identify talented individuals. This module will help participants to both conduct and receive a MDR and will work on best practice. The module will include further work on developing coaching and mentoring skills. The new approach to identifying talent within the Church will be highlighted, together with the key role of senior clergy within the process. The module will conclude with sharing best practice in ministerial development, using case studies both from lay and ordained ministries.

This is nothing more than the basic management courses that would elsewhere lead to a DMS* type qualification which with the addition of communications, marketing and financial papers would form at its highest level an MBA. What is sad (from where I recline) is that these skills should have inductively been added to the portfolio of anyone who has been around in the real world of management and are no great shakes at all. So what;s the fuss about with those who had texted and mailed to tell me it's 'elitist' - for what's on offer here is merely bread and butter skills (for £2m - have I mentioned this - not sure we're getting value for money or even looking at the right people to deliver the training to either!).

The 'healthy organisation' is something that should be featuring large in today's organisation and yet, if those I engage with are being honest, they don't appear to feature even barely in some places! Growth as a learned and transferable reality is also great fun for, wearing my missioner hat, I don't find that replication comes through ageing what is seen any more than it comes by buying into to 'the only effective ± ten years of the minister's age' theory!

Re-inventing the ministry is a little bit insulting. Insulting because it's not the ministry that need 're-inventing' it is the way that senior church people use the talent that already exists - and this is about more than 'releasing the laity' (also known as 'skint so can't afford to pay') and MDR (Major Drain on Resources?) as an exercise that keeps blue riband clergy frustrated and leaves the hopeless and hapless clergy hopeless too.

But here are the words, read them for yourself and see that there's nothing special here - that's going to be the people they pick perhaps?




*Diploma in Management Studies

Scotland/England and that referendum

I have to say that I'm feeling rather sad over the issue of Scottish independence for a number of reasons, the greatest of these being what a friend referred to as a prime example of 'Narrow Nationalism'! I'm concerned with poverty across the board (and borders) but this doesn't necessarily apply to those who want a 'Yes' vote - and that is indeed rather sad.

Add to this a comment from a young person from the oil capital of Scotland, Aberdeen, who (perhaps ironically wore a 'Yes' badge) thought that the money generated from the oil and gas industry that is centred in that place, "Hadn't made much difference or been seen here!" and the claims of wealth (see below) and the promise of Scotland as a land of plenty all seem just a little hollow if the OBR (Office of Budget Responsibility) are to be believed:



Interesting that the Scottish claims, which generally appear to be founded in the land of 'I want it to be' are estimated by an expert on the subject, Sir Ian Wood, to be as much as 60% too high. A spokesman for the 'Yes' party response was something akin to, "That can't be right because we don't want it be!"

Look at the pound and the 'Yes' vote group are determined that they will keep the GBP (that's Great British Pound) 'because they want to!' and that is really all that needs to be known. Mind you, since then Alex has said that should it come to it they will keep the pound (Guess that will be the SAP - Scotland Alone Pound). I can't wait to see the exchange rate!

When in Scotland I was stunned to find out how many businesses from that side of the border are looking to move South should the 'Yes' vote succeed. I was then appalled when someone explained that a 'Yes' would lead to Scotland becoming an independent, England-free, third world nation as billions of SAPs were lost from tax income.

I see Scotland is keen to get rid of things that go bang in the night and this meaning nuclear would see British military establishments close. Personally I think this can only be good for those places in England that would be receiving them and so this is surely a win-win outcome. Mind you, can't see how the Scottish military are going to find a home in NATO but guess the border guards and those on guard outside Edinburgh would find something for those who choose to remain to do. I read somewhere that Scotland would have its own Special Forces (perhaps they could be called 'Special Brew'?) to protect the rigs and the like.

All in all I am sad because I don't think this campaign gives a monkeys about the people who live in Scotland and don't think it's beneficial for any of those who consider themselves British (which I do). I am sad because I found Scotland to be a wonderful place to be and found it populaced with extremely lovely people too - and I would like us to be working together for a common good.

BUT

I can understand that many would rather be free from England in their own country regardless of the fact that it might mean they can stand proudly, but bankrupt, rather than solvent but on their knees!

I can understand that a vote for the 'Yes' campaign might mean that at last Scotland could have its own Eurovision contestant and vote of their own!

I can understand that losing the BBC and other media channels (TV and Radio) might be seen as a good thing, after all they can always subscribe to Sky and other channels (can't they) but would they take all the great Scottish TV shows (Balamory to name the only one I can think of) with them? This would be a shame from my side of the TV!

Scotland could have their own monarch (I'd favour Billy Connolly) and bard (think J K Rowling's out of the running for that job) and better still - could, once it's gained the required status and approval (which I read takes 3-5 years) could even join the EU (I fancy the name ALBA myself).

So where we are waiting to see which way the vote goes - and I have to say that that anything other than a vote to stay together would be a tragedy for all concerned - mind you, shouldn't all members of the United Kingdom have a vote? The Scots as to whether they want to stay and the others as to whether we want to keep any union with them! Seems to me that this is a very one-sided divorce in prospect and should they go they will not only have to take over custody of the children (who one Glaswegian said were like people from nnnnn - an not popular people group - who had many of the jobs in England) and also pay their part of the national debt as they leave too.

Seems to be a divisive and wrong discussion all round - has nothing to do with the people only bitterness, rancour and division and I can only see the poor getting poorer North of the border and those to the South losing something money cannot buy :(

Made me Laugh: F_lying Scot

I have to say that this looks just a little too contrived to be true but it's one of those images that, regardless of your politics or nationalistic zeal, appears to bring a smile to the face of all who see it:

And, as we have seen before, there are people who do forget that doors open so there is a degree of plausibility too (but the font looks too clean for me)


Happy Saturday folks

Canon Andrew White: "The governments and media of the world may have forgotten us . . . "

It is a tedious seasonal metaphor, now clichéd to the point of political hollowness, but these "Arab springs", once hailed as the founts of liberty and democratic dreams, have become long, cold winters of turmoil, suffering, persecution and mass slaughter.

Egypt is economically unstable; Syria is is meltdown; Iraq is disintegrating; Libya has become the very bloodbath we tried to avert; Saudi Arabia is struggling with internal discord; and Iran is fomenting regional conflict. The Arab world is collapsing in painful spasms and convulsing in a series of existential catastrophes. The disintegration has been swift and inexorable.

The ensuing humanitarian tragedy is epic - one might almost say 'biblical'. Tens of millions across the Arab world are in need of urgent aid as they displaced, made homeless and hunger for their daily bread. Hundreds of thousands have lost their lives through civil war and sectarian strife. Now that the regional strongmen have fallen one by one, the vacuum is being filled by the Salafist-Jihadist Islamic State, and they have brought hell on earth.

Where is the Arab League in all this?

How are they responding to the Caliphate?

What are they saying about the apocalyptic death and destruction?

Where are the declarations opposing Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi or uniting in their condemnation of his 'robust' interpretation of Islam?

Silence! 

There are, however, a few causes of optimism. God's people are not mute; nor are they turning a blind eye. Here is the latest update from the Vicar of Baghdad, Canon Andrew White: 

I can’t express how immensely encouraged I am by the huge amount of support we have received here for the persecuted Christians here in Iraq. People have prayed and sacrificially given. They have enabled us to at least begin to meet the crucial needs of the people. Dr Sarah and I have been working flat out on meeting these needs but we have to have more help and I pray that today we will find the help we need. Today I will head North to Kurdistan where Sarah is at the moment.

Helping Through The Iraqi ChurchesThe main way we are helping the massive numbers of internally displaced people is through the various indigenous churches. The different denominations know which of their people need help, and who they have who have fled Mosul and Nineveh. The money is received through our Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME) and given through our one Anglican Church in Iraq. So the help is given from Church to Church. The Foundation is a 501C3 in the US and a registered charity in the UK. So people can give in tax beneficial ways.

http://frrme.org/get-involved/donate/
www.frrmeamerica.org

Daily InformationDaily information is provided through Face Book and on less regular email updates sent about twice a week. My personal face book page is full as I have 5000 friends and am thus not allowed anymore. I do however have a popular figure page that you can like and get regular updates there.

The message to those who want to be friends:I would very much love to have you as a friend but I am afraid I have reached the limit of 5000 friends on my page there are two public figure pages that you can join that get my same updates. You can also sign up for my regular updates at www.frrme.org .Please do join one of these pages. These pages are:

https://www.facebook.com/CanonAndrewWhite
https://www.facebook.com/FRRME

Together We Have HopeEverything maybe awful but we have such hope. HOPE because we are not alone the support from our friends around the world has simply been phenomenal. The governments and media of the world may have forgotten us but the people of G-d are with us Jews, Christians and Muslims the people who know that the Lord is here and His Spirit is with us.

With love thanks and blessings,

Andrew White

The darkness becomes more obvious

The words of John 1.5:

The light shines in the darkness - and the darkness . . .

are probably some of the best known words from the Bible; everyone appearing to know it.

This and, 'It's always darkest before the dawn,' are definitely two of the top trite phrases of 2014 thus far. Used by well-meaning folk who are seeking to bring some cheer and hope in what appears to be a cheerless and rather hopeless world.

We need only to open our newspapers or turn on the TV or radio to realise that we live in a world where the darkness is becoming more obvious and the light, which my scientific training and empirically derived knowledge of the properties of darkness and light tells me the light is destined to win, is appearing to be overcome!

Experience, from working a hundred feet or more underneath London, tells me that even the smallest light (literally at the end of the tunnel) can dispel the blue-black that swamps you once your Tilley lamp (a pressurised paraffin lamp) goes out. As the light vanishes the darkness greedily washes over you and your senses, swamped and confused by the loss of light, renders you totally lost. Hearing is affected too - and standing between the two tracks - you begin to feel the panic rise, just a little, in the pit of your stomach and that little space at the back of your brain.

Apart from the bizarre knowledge that being a smoker would mean you had a lighter to see momentarily with (and destroy for longer any chance of seeing in the longer term) you stand still and, collecting whatever composure you might be able to muster, reach out to the side of the tunnel. Your hands seeking two copper wires which, should you have the field telephone to hand, would enable you to communicate with people who, oblivious to that which you're experiencing, are living in the light!

These two wires also tell you which you're going - East or West - something that offered you a little control in an otherwise potentially out of control situation. Feeling them on the right of the tunnel meant you were facing East. This knowledge allowed you to start the journey to the nearest station and safety.

Having read the news, seen the dawn break and experienced the relative darkness that is night be dispelled it seems to me that the spiritual darkness is slowly, like fog on the Thames, creeping in and gaining the upper hand. It's removing clear vision and touching the emotions and muddling the senses. Our clear sense of direction, whilst intellectually maintained, is replaced by something more akin to panic!

So how do we proceed in a world:

Where war crimes abound in Syria, Iraq, Israel and Gaza?

Where innocent lives are taken by lunatics armed with weapons provided by more powerful lunatics?

Where ordinary people in an affluent Western world find themselves relying on Food Banks to survive?

Where 'drug resistant' Malaria and untouchable Ebola virus are tightening their deadly grip*?

Well, of course I would say this, the answer is simple.

We pray - we keep calm - we act like Jesus tells us to act - we give our money - we give our time - we tell it as it should be told (excuse me Israel, you're not acting like God's people, you're acting like very naughty unbelievers - love The Lord your God and your neighbour as yourself, humility, justice and mercy - and that sort of thing) - we tell our politicians what we feel they should be doing to make things right - we teach our children right from wrong - and (you know what the 'and' is don't you?)"

It's not really dark at all - try removing you head from under the covers and you'll not only see the light dispel the darkness but you'll also see it's probably later than you think too!

This is your 'Happy Friday' wake-up call ;-)

* I got pinned in a corner at a party by a medical researcher some years back. A nice chap who told me how if we spent just 2% of the money the world spends on weapons and armament, how we would eradicate malaria, polio, diabetes and the other 'popular' diseases in the world - doubt this scenario has changed much!

Got five minutes? Then please pray

Here are just four of the things that need our prayer - if you have five minutes to spare - please read and pray (and discuss these issues with others) - Thank You:


Iraq and Syria
In Iraq those who oppose the ISIS forces, or are from different sects within Islam or different faiths, are being put to the sword or fleeing for their lives.
Churches are desecrated and bear the writing shown below - proclaiming that they are now the property of the state.
In Syria, in the northern province of Raqa, ISIS militants have killed at least 85 soldiers - more than 50 being summarily executed (which is murder and a war crime) - UN spokesman says:
'Some of the executed troops were beheaded, and their bodies and severed heads put on display in Raqa city.'
This is as much of a humanitarian tragedy as the Israel conflict - and yet is now generally unreported - please pray that people will understand what is going on and will call upon their governments to act.

'Property of the Islamic State' - on the wall of a former Christian Church

Israel
It is right to pray for the peace of Jerusalem - and for that of the Palestinian territory.
To pray that those who fire rockets into Israel would stop and choose a path of dialogue and peace.
To pray that the nation of Israel would remember that the law calls on them to act with proportionality and to avoid retaliation that endangers those who under the law have protected status.
It is right to pray that the US, rather than vote 'No' and turn its eyes away from the humanitarian tragedy that is this conflict makes a stand for that which is right, moral and courageous.
That those nations who fuel this conflict through arms, political means and self-interest seek instead justice, mercy and peace.

Why can't we be friends?

Ukraine
Please pray for those who sift through the wreckage: For their protection and their sanity as the engage with such a scene of loss and devastation.
Pray for the relative and friends of those who were lost and for their protection and support as they come to terms and live life without loved ones.
Please pray for the political situation and for peace and commonsense to come to the fore.
Please pray for those who seek power everywhere that they would understand the results of their actions and, even if they will not repent, step back.

The greed of men is paid out with the lives of the innocents

Education
Please pray for the education of our children in this country of ours as Academies fail to deliver, reforms of the student loan system look likely to increase the fees Universities can charge and schools are seeing more and more teachers leave, or crumple, because of the pressures on them
Pray that education is seen as means of delivering a well-rounded and fulfilled population - it's about living to our potential, not maximising our earning (isn't it?)

Money and Education: when did it become such big business?

As some vote - the majority won't

Many others will make their voice heard by refraining from doing so, and it is them that are most likely to hand over power to the wrong people. I once thought that 'people get the government they deserve' (at least that's what I've been led to believe Alexis de Tocqueville said regarding democracy) but now I think that people get the government others condemn them to have - and this is not because they majority voted for it but because the majority declined to vote!

Those who refrain from voting are, sadly, in my view quite pathetic (yes, I know that might be considered to be rude). Those who bleat about not having a voice or not being able to make a difference or not really being interested condemn the world to disaster and consign the future into the hands of people who are not fit for role.

So here's a heartfelt plea:

Make your vote count

As ever, a provocative, funny and excellent cartoon from the pen of Dave Walker:

Wars and rumours of wars . . .

 . .  do not be alarmed!

Well that's what it says in my Bible (Matthew twenty-four, verse six: 'You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.') and I have to assume that it is a worthwhile thing to keep in mind as this morning I am finding so many prophets of doom predicting a 'firm and robust' American response to Russian boots on the soil of Ukraine. The reservists in that nation are being mobilised and this act of unwarranted aggression by Putin, who has gone from Sochi good guy to clown overnight (always was I fear), needs to be (and will be) dealt with politically.

To my colleagues who are writing that this is 'something spiritual' all I can say is 'Duh, really?'

There are always differences and conflicts and the way forward is by politics to do what politics does best rather than look to soldiers settling the dispute in the way that they do (which is politics backed by physical engagement as a last resort). As we move towards the end of our presence in Afghanistan the last thing we need is a new engagement!



Please pray

Please read more than one account of the situation and be informed when praying and intelligent when talking to God and those around you.

The only thing holy in war is the Bible that is used to pray over the dead - speak, pray, preach and be prepared (as the very last resort) to fight for peace.