John Watson - Priest in Residence

New atheist campaign...

Woke up today with the news that the final part of the famous 'bus campaign' began this week. It is a creative poster with a colourful image an loving life child. Yet for it being so creative - the message just seems to come up with the same old tired line about people needing to be free to make up their own minds.

I wonder if it occured to them as to how people may make up their own minds? If people do not have access to information about faith, values - but are spoon fed a diatribe of secualrism, how on earth are people expected to make up their minds?

It rather crudely assumes that bringing up our children with no input from anybody, or any philosphy, or any values, will suddenly produce a morally balanced, well educated, whole human being...er where have they got this from?

If we do not teach our children the values we have - then someone else will. As Bishop Nick Baines says

"to repeat the obvious: to not tell a child that there is a God is not to leave that child philosophically neutral, but to positively indoctinate the child into the assumption that there is no God. Why is that more rational or less bad?"

How to Worship

via www.youtube.com

What a great little clip!!

I wonder what one would look like to give directions for middle of the road Anglican church?!?

BBC iPlayer - Sunday service

Recorded this service for the BBC which was aired today (13th September) - if you want to listen to it (next 7 days) drag the tie bar to 1:04 and start playing!!

Appeal to Governments and others by the Archbishop of the Sudan following murder of Archdeacon Garang at the altar in Sudan

Read here for this terrible course of events must not be kept silent. Read and act.

EMC in an hour ... - Brian McLaren

via www.brianmclaren.net

New Wine - Same Weather!!

Sorry for the absence online - lost the discipline - will be tryong for more after the holiday break....

Just got back from New Wine 09 - Central Southwest - we took 40 people from my church there. It was great, if not wet and muddy for part of the week. Usual blend of good talks to pretty unusual and hitting the mark talks and of course the worship is unique.

Recommend listening to Rich Nathan on his moring Bible studies covering the book of Proverbs. Available I  here.

'Right', said FRED

A report out today from OXFAM reveals the hidden poverty and the challenges many are facing in the light of increasing financial pressures. Those who are Forgotten, Ripped-off, Excluded and Debt-ridden (FRED) need support and change in policies now.

This poverty is not restricted to our inner-cities (of which I have 12 years experience of) but also in outlying towns. I made a visit to one home the other week and was shocked to see the conditions and issues present.

Jesus said that our neighbour in the one whom we place ourselves among - not avoid or pretend are not there. They are not be ridiculed or taken advantage of. People in such circumstances often have further issues due to cheats and loan sharks preying on them.

Our churches are called to engage with those in need, to offer food banks, debt advice, soup kitchens, shelter.  Let the National Secular Society campaign all they want to against faith involvement in the relief of suffering and pain in our national institutions and country - we who do the actions and deeds will carry on regardless and look to see what they offer too, other than words and a stagnant position.

Free to worship, free to live

Yesterday saw one of our Sunday readings focus on the 10 Commandments - cue mutterings of approval and hints of a judgement.

One thing which struck me was the opening line - God did not say "Here is the Law: You must obey it or else". He did say "Once you were slaves, but now you are free'.  He gave them in the context of the freedom they had just been released into. They are far more than a tick-box to moral living. Behind the precepts lies a more obvious force:

They were once slaves - now they are free. They are a call to live in the oppositite to that which they have just escaped from. To become a liberating people as well as a liberated one.

They were once having to work 7 days a week, perhaps 52 weeks of the year – you do not have to do that now – you can take a rest, you need not be chained to the desk, or home, or field – God is the one who provides, who creates work, but also rest and fun.

They were free from that.                                                    

You do not have to steal to make a living, or kill to make your place secure in this world;

you do not have to follow the desires of your heart and pelvis when it comes to loving your neighbour and honouring their freedom – there is a higher way, a better way.

You are free from all of that.

You need to not be concerned about how your neighbour is getting on, how much they earn, placing your own value and sense of worth on the amount you have or have not. You do not have to keep up with the Jonses.

You are free from all of this.

Keith Harding '5th Commandment'

This kind a' changes the way we view them - not as binding laws, restricting life - but liberating ones which release it.

Former CEO of RBS pension madness

In this season of Lent - only a day old - where we are called to begin to examine our selves and I would add our society for improper attitudes, sin, and greed (among other things) - Lo and behold the former chief of RBS- the bank whose records losses were recorded today (over £24bn) -  the  BBC states:

that Sir Fred Goodwin, the bank's former chief executive, is already drawing a pension of £650,000 a year, despite only being 50.

In a year already loaded with huge job losses and more to come, how can this be justified.

Oh I know that some will say he has earned it, the stress and everything and the long hours -but there are some I know who work 18 hours a day just to put bread on the table and keep a roof over their heads.

Perhaps he would like to examine his own conscience and not sit behind lawyers arguements.
Cartoon by Dave Brown of the Independent

Zimbabwe - quiet but unflinching resistance

This article in the Times by Archbishops Rowan and John shows the spirit if Lent in the Zimbabwean churches - they continue to witness, to show mercy and love, generosity and justtice in the face of hunger and oppression. This is the example we can learn from our brothers and sisters there.

In the face of overbearing suffering, they continue, steadily and surely - to hold there heads above the darkness to reveal the light of Christ.

Pray for them, Support (via USPG) them and stand with them.