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Weblog Archives: December 2003
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
From Ian's Messy Desk i got the "heads up" about the Drag and Drop Nativity Story from ReJesus. It's a very nicely done bit of Flash animation - you put the story elements in the right order and are rewarded with a retelling.
I enjoyed it in the same way as I enjoy the traditional nativity play, but I do have a problem with it. Like the Nativity play, it takes both Matthew and Luke's account of the events around Jesus' birth and assumes that they're telling the same story, and that's by no means clear from the text. The only details that the 2 stories have in common are
I really don't understand why recognising this is so difficult for people. The important thing about these stories is that they're not conventional biographies, at least as we understand the word. These are stories told to help us understand who Jesus is. And that's really the only perspective from which they make sense.
- a miraculous conception
- Mary and Joseph
- born in Bethlehem
- raised in Nazareth
Posted by Richard @ 09:04 AM BST [Link] [Make a Comment]
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Blessed art thou, O Christmas Christ,
that thy cradle was so low that shepherds,
poorest and simplest of earthly folk,
could yet kneel beside it,
and look, level-eyed into the face of God.
Source unknownPosted by Richard @ 10:21 PM BST [Link] [Make a Comment]
Sometimes, the bizarre way my mind works (if you can call it that) disturbs even me. Working on a sermon, pondering the meaning of the phrase "Saviour of the World", what should pop into my head but the words of the 1968 (I think) hit "Lily the Pink" by The Scaffold. Such thoughts have to be got rid of, and this is the only place I know of.
And its a great song. Sing it with me...Lily The PinkThey just don't write them like that anymore.We'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the Pink the Pink the Pink
The saviour of the human race
For she invented medicinal compound
Most efficacious in every case.Mr. Frears
had sticky-out ears
and it made him awful shy
and so they gave him medicinal compound
and now he's learning how to fly.Brother Tony
Was notably bony
He would never eat his meals
And so they gave him medicinal compound
Now they move him round on wheels.We'll drink a drink a drink...
Old Ebeneezer
Thought he was Julius Caesar
And so they put him in a Home
where they gave him medicinal compound
and now he's Emperor of Rome.Johnny Hammer
Had a terrible stammer
He could hardly say a word
And so they gave him medicinal compound
Now he's seen (but never heard)!We'll drink a drink a drink...
Auntie Millie
Ran willy-nilly
When her legs, they did recede
And so they rubbed on medicinal compound
And now they call her Millipede.Jennifer Eccles
had terrible freckles
and the boys all called her names
but she changed with medicinal compound
and now he joins in all their games.We'll drink a drink a drink...
Lily the Pink, she
Turned to drink, she
Filled up with paraffin inside
and despite her medicinal compound
Sadly Picca-Lily died.Up to Heaven
Her soul ascended
All the church bells they did ring
She took with her medicinal compound
Hark the herald angels sing.Oooooooooooooooo Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the Pink the Pink the Pink
The saviour of the human race
For she invented medicinal compound
Most efficacious in every case.Posted by Richard @ 02:57 PM BST [Link] [Make a Comment]
They've got Saddam. The interesting thing is, it really hasn't changed much. People are still dying, there's still unrest, and there certainly ain't gonna be peace anytime soon. Is it not interesting how a situation that once revolved around the cult of one man, a situation that was victim to his every wish and action, now lives and breathes entirely independent of him? How fragile is the grip of power that one minute holds a nation under the shadow of fear and tyranny, yet the next reduces its bearer to a frail shell of a man?
Surely this an example of the nature of extremes? Saddam aimed for one, and instead descended into the other; does this not happen often? When we relentlessly grasp at something that we have no claim to, do we not often find that in this act not only do we fail to achieve what we'd hoped for, but we suffer the effects that come through the neglect of our God-given virtues? Fame, power, riches - the desire for each of these will always bring upon us the inevitable results that Saddam Hussein has so well demonstrated.
Saddam has raised another issue that has plenty of relevance for us today. What do we do with him? I heard a poll on the radio yesterday in which an overwhelming amount of British citizens were in favour of execution. Of course, for what he's done, he deserves no remorse, right? Wrong! What kind of attitude is that? We have an example of absolute forgiveness to follow, and we should follow it. We should show compassion and sympathy for what is clearly a tortured soul, a soul that will always have a chance of redemption (feel free to disagree with me here, I know some will). Please look at this site:
Time will tell. Can my opinion be as valid as those of the Iraqi people? They know him better than I do.
Posted by Mike @ 01:45 PM BST [Link] [1 Comment]
Monday, December 15, 2003
Hi everyone, i'm Mike! I was introduced a little further down the page, accompanied by a description that reads 'he's made of the right stuff'. That's quite a compliment, considering i've never really contributed to one of these things before. You have my apologies if what I say turns out to be less than interesting.
I've been thinking for a while about what to write, this being my first entry. I first thought I should try to sound like I know my stuff, maybe do a bit of research and write an insightful essay. But then I thought, hey, why not just put fingers to keys and see what happens?
I've gone with the latter. Thing is, i'm kind of stuck now. I've written this much, and now I can't think of what I actually want to say. This happens a lot, doesn't it? Don't you find that often, the thing you really want to say never gets said; instead, you miss these opportunities to share with others what's on your mind, to both educate and to learn. I've just read Richard's post below about the materialism of our Christmas celebrations; i'm quite impressed. Personally, it's not a view that I hold, but I like the way in which he's gone ahead and said what's on his mind. I think we could all learn from such an attitude. Ok, at times it can be abusive and it can be harmful to say what we think, but we must put this into the right context. In my experience, the only instances when such an attitude has been harmful have been those where what is said is done so out of spite or anger. However, if we speak our mind when influenced by our true convictions (be they guided by our faith, our politics or our history), then the outcomes can be overwhelmingly positive. These things need to be said; opinions need to be challenged. With the world in such a state as it is, with global power-politics reaching a point of masked despotism, there is no better time for us to use our freedoms and say exactly what we want to say. So this gives the BNP the right to spread racist propaganda, it allows Kim Jong-il to parade himself as a saviour? Yes, but it also gives each and every one of us the ability and the power to stand up and counteract it; the problem is that we don't. We don't speak out when we should, and we don't stand up for our beliefs when we should.
This all sounds disappointingly pessimistic. I assure you, though, it's not. Things appear to be changing. If we look at our own situation, our country's political landscape is being torn apart by such expressions of belief. There's a lot of discontent. But I ask you, is this actually a bad thing? Will it lead to a divide, or will it turn full-circle and lead to a process of unification? Only through continuously questioning, and continuously expressing our views can we find an answer. It may be the beginning of something extremely positive, or it may lead to more division, more disruption and eventual chaos. Who knows? The thing is, because of such fears, we as a majority (a potentially influential majority at that), are continually withholding what we want to say. Desparingly, through fear of what may go wrong, we may miss entirely an opportunity to put things right. Can we justify that with our silence. I don't think so.
Posted by Mike @ 03:46 PM BST [Link] [5 comments]
At this time of year it is common to hear the complaint, "The trouble with Christmas is, it's too materialistic these days." Christians up and down the land go even further, "It's all very well celebrating, but what about the spiritual spects of Christmas?" And there is no shortage of evidence for the truth of these complaints. Christmas has become a riot of spending and gluttony. The rule seems to be, if it can be indulged, it must be over-indulged. You haven't had enough to eat if you can still move. You hven't had enough to drink if you can still stand. You haven't spent enough if there is still credit on your VISA card. More! More! More!
Every Christian I know complains about it, and of course they're right to do so, Right?
The commercialism and materialism of Christmas is such a soft target, I almost wonder why we bother. If everyone agrees it's wrong (At last! Something the whole church can agree about!) why do we bother talking about it? I want to suggest that even in the materialism of a modern Christmas, there's a lesson for God's people if we are willing to hear it.
Christmas is a supremely materialistic festival. We celebrate the fact that God took human flesh -- became incarnate -- and lived among his people. He did not enter the world as a glorious heavenly being. He came as a baby, doing all the things that babies do. Forget the sentimental carols and Christmas cards. If the Christian gospel means anything at all, it is that "God is with us". Through the incarnation, God takes fallen human flesh and makes it holy. I think it was Irenaeus who put it this way: "He became what we are, that we might become what he is." So if ever there was a time to celebrate our flesh with eating, merrymaking and music -- this is it! Christians should not be on the sidelines looking po-faced. We should be showing the world how to party!
The real trouble is not with Christmas, but with the rest of the year. In the west we live every day as though it were a party. The reason we over-indulge to such excess at Christmas is that we over-indulge the rest of the year. The target of the church's complaint should not be the materialism of Christmas, but the materialism of a lifestyle in which excess is not only lauded, it is practically compulsory. But, of course, it is much harder to address an overindulgent way of life than it is to "Bah! Humbug!" about a short time of celebration. We complain about the splinter in our brother's eye but don't notice the plank in our own.
Merry Christmas.
Posted by Richard @ 12:53 PM BST [Link] [1 Comment]
Sunday, December 14, 2003
I wonder if anyone will get the the $25 million?
Posted by Richard @ 05:13 PM BST [Link] [Make a Comment]
GLORY be to God on high,
And peace on earth descend!
God comes down, he bows the sky,
And shows himself our friend:
God the invisible appears!
God, the blest, the great I AM,
Sojourns in this vale of tears,
And Jesus is his name.Him the angels all adored,
Their Maker and their King.
Tidings of their humbled Lord
They now to mortals bring.
Emptied of his majesty,
Of his dazzling glories shorn,
Being's source begins to be,
And God himself is born!See the eternal Son of God
A mortal Son of man;
Dwelling in an earthly clod,
Whom heaven cannot contain!
Stand amazed, ye heavens, at this!
See the Lord of earth and skies;
Humbled to the dust he is,
And in a manger lies.We, the sons of men, rejoice,
The Prince of peace proclaim;
With heaven's host lift up our voice,
And shout Immanuel's name:
Knees and hearts to him we bow;
Of our flesh and of our bone,
Jesus is our brother now,
And God is all our own.
Charles WesleyPosted by Richard @ 05:04 PM BST [Link] [1 Comment]
My site seems to have been down for a few hours. I wish I could say why. The staff of connexions each offer their deepest and most contrite apologies for any inconvenience you might have been caused.
Posted by Richard @ 09:31 AM BST [Link] [2 comments]
Saturday, December 13, 2003
She gave birth to her first-born, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger - there was no room for them to stay in the innIt's a scene beloved by nativity players and audiences. Mary and Joseph tramp wearily from one innkeeper to the next: "Have you got any room?" It's a great way to include lots of children - there's always room for another innkeeper's part, and the lines are not difficult to learn. (Except for the play my colleague was telling me about in which the first innkeeper responded, "Course we have! Come in!" It makes a bit of a difference to the plot.) The image we have is of a couple in great need wandering a town of strangers, finding no room until someone offers the use of a poor stable.There's another possibility, and to me it's a more challenging one. It hinges on the translation of a greek word kataluma. This is the word that's traditionally taken to mean "inn" - you know, the one there was no room at. However, the word can also mean "guest room", and in fact that's exactly how Luke uses it in Luke 22. It was in a kataluma that Jesus and his disciples shared their Last Supper. With this one change, the story is recast. Joseph travels to Bethlehem to fulfill his duty to the authorities. It is the town of his ancestors. What will he do when he gets there? Wouldn't he knock at the doors of his relatives? And, shockingly, they turn him away. Read this way the Christian gospel begins, not with the meaningless apologies of a hotelier who's overbooked, but with the embarassment of a family turning away one of their own. As at the end, so at the beginning: Christ is rejected by those who should most gladly receive him.
And I wonder. In the rush to prepare for Christmas, to get the house ready, to have all the cards sent in time, to have the best possible sermons for the season - do we who should receive him with greatest gladness end up by rejecting him all over again?
Posted by Richard @ 04:50 PM BST [Link] [Make a Comment]
Posted by Richard @ 10:59 AM BST [Link] [3 comments]
Friday, December 12, 2003
"Peace on earth, goodwill to all men!"
Great words! But are they relevant words? Are they true words? Look at all the other words we'll hear this week - look at the news headlines.
Ivory Coast TV attack 'repulsed' Attackers strike US base in Iraq Neighbour cleared of harassment Motorway horror leaves two dead UNHCR prepares for winter in Afghanistan despite security constraints
Peace on earth?
Because we cannot escape the limits of human failure and mortality, God chose to enter our world and share our human limits in Jesus. While the story of Jesus' birth is sweet and precious, it is also stark and real. Taxes displace a family from its home at the worst possible time. A poor family has to take shelter in a barn. No room in the inn. While common folk have a great celebration, the powerful jealously plot murder to protect their power. A family has to leave the neighbourhood for the safety of their child. Many children are murdered by rampaging soldiers. A mother marvels at the beauty of her child and wonders what he will be. A father must act decisively to care for his new family. Gifts are exchanged by people who don't really know each other except because of a shared sense of hope. This is Christmas in the real world.
This is also the story of Jesus' birth. This is the way God chose to come to earth. Not as a conquering king, but as one of us. Not in a royal procession isolated from the realities of human struggle, but placed in a feed trough right in the middle of human struggle. God anchored himself to our world through the common and everyday realities of our lives so we could know we are invited to go be with him when our time here is completed.
When you see the headlines in the paper or broadcast on the evening news, remember, Jesus came to ensure we find peace by taking part in our world without peace. The headlines we hear were the headlines he lived. More than a sentimental journey, Christmas is a reminder that God loved us so much that he would wear human skin and face human challenge so we could find peace in him when we're finished here.
"Peace on earth, goodwill to men!" That's God's blessing to his troubled children. So don't just look for God's grace in the twinkling lights and the sweet smiles of happy children at Christmas. Hear the bad news of the headlines and be reminded of his grace because he has lived beneath those same headlines so that we wouldn't always be bound to them.
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill to all people. (Luke 2:14)
Posted by Richard @ 11:58 PM BST [Link] [Make a Comment]
Wood, gratefully recovering from server problems, tells us about reactions to a service he was involved in last Sunday.
I spoke for seven minutes, Tracy for fourteen, so the inevitable "you were too short" comment came from our minister. I was also told variously that I was "too political", that the first couple minutes of my own talk were "an advert for the Christian Socialists" (and why that was a good thing), and that I had one illustration that was so good, it distracted the listener from the rest of the talk.It got me thinking about some of the comments I've received after preaching, particularly those of the "too long" or "too short" variety. My first reaction is that in my experience congregations never grumble about "too short" unless you go to extremes. The old preachers' adage, "Stand up, speak up, shut up", has alot of merit! More seriously, the question a preacher has to answer is not "Have I used the right amount of time?" but "Have I adequately given the message that has been laid on me?" Time isn't irrelevant, but my advice would always be to err on the side of shortness rather than the other thing. (And, yes. I'm fully aware that I need to listen to my own advice!) The causes of "too long" or "too short" can be criticized of course. That 50 minute sermon on "The New Covenant" probably didn't benefit from a 27 minute excursus on Hittite suzerainity treaties. And the 12 minuter that relied on a congregation understanding the difference between expiation and propitiation could, in all likelihood, have benefitted from the time it would have taken to give an adequate explanation of the distinction. But in both cases, it isn't the time itself that's the issue but rather the preacher's effectiveness in conveying the message.And in my (not very) humble opinion, a message that can be delivered in 7 minutes should never, ever be delivered in 20. Or, God forbid, 40.
Posted by Richard @ 04:15 PM BST [Link] [Make a Comment]
I almost missed this story from the BBC: The new weapon in crimefighting
Policing crackles with buzzwords nowadays, from zero tolerance to on-the-spot fines. The power of prayer is an unlikely addition to that list - but could it be an effective weapon in the battle against crime?Posted by Richard @ 08:42 AM BST [Link] [1 Comment]
Thursday, December 11, 2003
I've added a new author to connexions. Please look out for Mike and be sure to give him a warm welcome when he puts fingers to keyboard. I'll let him introduce himself as he likes, but you can take it from me that he's made of the right stuff.
Posted by Richard @ 10:45 PM BST [Link] [3 comments]
It went down for a short while, but I'm very pleased to see that BlogShares is back.
Posted by Richard @ 04:36 PM BST [Link] [Make a Comment]
'Tis the Season offers suggestions for Christmas presents that cost hardly anything at all. There are some great ideas here, thou I'd caution against following suggestion to give "Something Stolen"!
If you're really stuck for a gift idea, you might think about their advice to "Striptease for the givee" -- but do take note of the rider that "this works better for a boyfriend, partner, husband or wife than for, say, a great-aunt or business client". Quite so.Posted by Richard @ 02:57 PM BST [Link] [1 Comment]
Well, what do you suppose?
A bee sat on my nose.
He gave me a wink, and said,
"I beg your pardon!
"I thought you was the garden!"
Author UnknownPosted by Richard @ 08:52 AM BST [Link] [Make a Comment]
Ah! Those wibloggers! Such bright young things!
Posted by Richard @ 08:50 AM BST [Link] [3 comments]
Bene Diction has a last look at God-blog demographics. Good stuff - but I need to go to bed...
Posted by Richard @ 01:04 AM BST [Link] [2 comments]
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
I'm a great admirer of the work done by the Truth Laid Bear in tracking and "mapping" the strange blog universe. The ecosystem is both geninely useful and a bit of fun too. Even so, I don't very often find myself agreeing with the ursine Californian. Today I discovered something on which we have common ground
The latest prank making the rounds in the weblog world is an effort to ensure that a Google search on "miserable failure" turns up pages on George Bush ... So far, it seems to be working rather well.I almost blogged something to that effect myself the other day and couldn't quite get the words to come out properly. I'm no fan of GWB's, but the google thing seemed childish and pointless to me. More than that, it's an act of vandalism on a tool that almost every web user in the world finds useful. So thanks to N. Z. Bear for putting it so clearly.I think I can credibly claim to have functional sense of humor, but I just don't see much funny about this particular joke. All too often, people delude themselves into thinking that if they keep repeating a falsehood over and over again, it will come true: and here we see that philosophy taken to its logical conclusion. Nevermind argument and reason: let's just say it's true, and that's sufficient.
There is something fundamentally wrong about weblogs being used to such a purpose: in a medium which allows anyone to express their own ideas and logic, this isn't an argument: it's just a rude noise. Using your weblog to hack Google like this is like using a master's paintbrush to scrawl obscene graphiti on the bathroom wall. Sure, you can do it, but aren't there better uses for the instrument?
Posted by Richard @ 01:12 PM BST [Link]
Please give a big hand for the return of looking back...looking forward.
Welcome back, Richard!
Posted by Richard @ 07:11 AM BST [Link]
Tuesday, December 9, 2003
Martin Roth nominates Darren Rowse as the first of the "cybermonks" (I hear he has some dirty habits! GROAN) a pioneer of the church of the internet. I doff my cap to Darren and hope that his hermitage has an ISDN line! There is no doubt at all that the internet is having a profound impact on the Church, as it is on the rest of society, and I'm delighted we've got folk like Darren helping us to find our way.
I feel some caution though. The Celtic monks like Columbanus who are the models for the new cybermonks were not "one man bands". They lived according to a discipline and were anything but laissez-faire in their attitude to doctrine. They lived to proclaim the gospel and serve the people of God. In a sense, they opersted very much alongside the structures of the Irish Church. That, I think, is a good model. Whether it is possible for "eChurch" to replace "real Church" is very much open to question in my mind. One thing that needs to be given very careful thought is the impact that the internet will have on the content of the Church's proclamation. Television has established itself as the medium of entertainment par excellence and Christianity as it is presented on television has adapted -- or been changed -- accordingly. The internet, still in its infancy, is not sufficiently established for us to be sure what effects it will have on our message. But we can be sure that it will have some. So forays into cyberspace will necessarily risky and adventurous. It is new ground for us all -- challenge, opportunity, and unknown threat awaits. We can take these steps with boldness and use all the emerging technologies we have: blogs, wikis, IM and the rest, to make proclaim the good news that "Jesus is Lord". But we can only do that rooted in a praying community with a shared discipline and commitment.
Posted by Richard @ 04:18 PM BST [Link]
It looks like the wiki idea is beginning to catch hold. Darryl Dash is doing something disctinctly wiki-like with an "open source" article The Death of the Modern Church. Read the article -- then contribute to it. That's the wonder of wiki!
Speaking of which, Tim Samoff has made some stirling contributions to BlogWiki recently.
If blogging isn't your thing but Christianity is, my other wiki project compass is alive and well and ready for your contributions.Posted by Richard @ 02:06 PM BST [Link]
Monday, December 8, 2003
From the United Methodist News Service
YAOUNDE, Cameroon - Africa's ecumenical movement is getting new wind.
Church leaders are intent on harnessing the potential of pan-African Christian unity for the well-being of the continent, judging from the All Africa Conference of Churches' 8th Assembly in the central African capital city of Yaounde.
"This may mean speaking out to those in power in ways that will not always make us popular, but we have a responsibility to God and to the continent to do so," said the Rev. Mvume Dandala, the group's new chief executive. Dandala, a Methodist pastor, drew a standing ovation after giving his report to the assembly.
The Nov. 22-27 meeting of delegates from the conference's 169 national member denominations and 27 national ecumenical councils was part business meeting and part family reunion. The event drew representatives from 39 countries. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the 40-year-old organization is Africa's largest ecumenical body.
Drawing on Nehemiah 2 for its theme, "Come, Let Us Rebuild," the assembly committed to a 10-point plan of action on HIV/AIDS; set in motion a restructuring of the organization aimed at making it an example of integrity, prophetic witness and self-support; and resolved to promote good governance by Africa's nations.
Dandala said churches must hold the new African Union accountable to its own commitment to ensure that member countries are "governed democratically, responsibly and transparently." Religious leaders also must examine the values and strategies employed in the union's New Partnership for Africa's Development to make sure those are accompanied by values and principles that the church believes should guide stewardship of the world's resources, he added.
"The church must ... constantly subject capitalism to the values of the Kingdom of Christ, where caring for and sharing with the weak are the operative maxims," said Dandala, the immediate past presiding bishop of the Methodist Church in Southern Africa. [more]
Posted by Richard @ 11:06 PM BST [Link]
On Sunday, Scotland's Sunday Herald ran an opinion piece expressing surprise at the enduring place of Christian faith in American and British politics
More than two hundred years after the Scottish Englightement philosopher David Hume first tried to drive religion out of human affairs, could it be that God is now staging a Millennial comeback? Political scientists claim the world is polarising into rival civilisations, based on Christianity and Islam, and a century after Charles Darwin destroyed the Creation myth, we have a US President who seems to believe the Bible is the literal truth. On top of it all, one of the least religious countries in the world, Britain, has a deeply religious leader in Downing Street.The spiritual roots of some politicians convictions are noted but with disapproval. The underlying assumption of the piece is that faith represents a threat to rational good order. By contrast, there's an article in the the Scotsman headed Like it or not, this country is a Christian one
...
Sir Peter Stothard, former editor of The Times, spent 30 days with the Prime Minister at the height of the Iraq crisis. He says Blair simply can’t function if he doesn’t worship regularly. He loses all confidence and conviction if he is detached from his hotline to the divine – so he keeps God on hand at all times.Blair’s faith inspires his politics and his approach to world affairs in a way we haven’t seen in this country for generations. British political culture was predominantly secular throughout the last century. Many leaders have been Christians, like the late John Smith whom Blair succeeded, but their faith has always been a private affair.
Blair makes no secret of his conviction. He is ostentatiously spiritual and seems to positively relish being filmed in church. He is almost certainly the most devout prime minister since Gladstone, and has the Bible with him at all times.
Whether our secular leaders like it or not, Britain is a Christian country, because Christian belief has underpinned all the societal developments of which we are proud (education, charity, individual conscience) and some of which we are not proud (intolerance, bigotry, arrogance). It would be nice to get rid of the latter, but we cannot do this by pretending that Christianity never existed. It will be achieved only by learning more about it and how to express it in its best form so that everybody, not just those brought up as Christians, can have some understanding of what the whole thing is about.I almost missed that point and it's a really important one. Christians are used to being reminded of the wars that have been prosecuted in its name, but the great goods that have resulted from the practical expression of Christianity are often overlooked. I can't think of a single instance of major social progress -- the abolition of slavery, universal education, free access to healthcare (I'm British, remember) -- that has not had it's origins in Christian faith.Whether Britain is a Christian country or not is a moot point. It is certainly true that a small minority of our citizens ever find themselves in church on a Sunday. The church bears some of the responsibility for that, but I don't think widespread sociological changes can be ignored either. In many ways, the church in Britain is in the same position as our early church forebears. A small, misunderstood minority with a message that goes against the grain of our contemporaries. And like our forebears, it remains true that the church "punches above its weight" in social terms. I think I'd want to say that not only was Britain built on a foundation of faith, that same faith is an essential part of the life of the nation today albeit often unrecognised or disregarded. But just as it is for individuals, so it is for nations. For Britain to warrant the title 'Christian' means that the life of the nation needs to bear the marks of Christ. God's people of old were commanded to care for the poor strangers who lived among them, to protect the widowed and the fatherless and to give justice to needy neighbours. I'm not at all convinced that we are living up to that calling.
Posted by Richard @ 09:30 PM BST [Link]
Sunday, December 7, 2003
News from Australia: Bible goes mobile
A new text message service launched yesterday in Sydney allows mobile phone users to receive Bible passages direct to their handsets.What a great idea! I wish they did that here in Britain!The project – Daily Verse SMS – was developed by religious group Church Resources along with the Bible Society in Australia.
It aims to bring "prayerful reflection" into people's daily lives, Church Resources chief executive Father Michael Kelly said.
"Mobile phones offer an immediate and very personal way of engaging with people. You've got to yell if you want to sell," he said. "Now they are a way of encountering the word of God."
But wait a minute -- I've got a Bible just here. Maybe I could just look up a verse or two for myself. I shouldn't be cynical. I wish I thought this was a useful evangelistic tool. But I don't.Posted by Richard @ 08:50 PM BST [Link]
If you've got half an hour to spare (and if you haven't, you're overdoing it!), you might enjoy A Bit of Pipe with Six Holes, a BBC radio programme about the penny whistle. It's presented by James Galway (of golden flute fame) and features some lovely playing, including some really exciting kwela. If you haven't heard of kwela, you need to listen to this!
Go to the BBC Listen Again page - it's under 'B' for 'Bit'.
You'll need the RealAudio Player to listen.Posted by Richard @ 01:14 PM BST [Link]
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Charles Wesley
Posted by Richard @ 07:29 AM BST [Link]
Saturday, December 6, 2003
I wrote this post imagining a disciple looking out on a tired and hungry crowd. This is what comes next. It's a conversation, but you'll have to fill in the other half with your own imagination.
"What's that you say, Lord? 'How shall we feed them?' If you don't mind me saying, it's a daft question. We're miles from the shops, they're shut by now anyway and even if they were open it would take months to raise all the money we'd need. Don't even think of mentioning it to Judas. He'll only start banging on about 'the need for proper financial management' and 'the prudent use of scarce resources'.You know what he's like when he gets going. He'll be unbearable if you even mention that you were so much as considering the merest possibility of even thinking about feeding them. And I'm sure he's got your best interests at heart.
"Say that again?! You can't be serious! You do want us to feed them! Honestly, Jesus, I'd follow you anywhere, but I do sometimes wonder if you're quite in control. It has been hot today -- are you sure you haven't caught a touch of the sun? I've asked around, but all I could scrounge was these bread rolls and a rather nice looking bit of fish.
"No, I'm sure the kid didn't mind. i told him you needed it and said 'Great will be your reward in the kingdom of heaven.' That's one of your lines, isn't it? Anyhow, it'll do the 2 of us nicely but I think Jim, John and the rest will have to fend for themselves. After all, there's no point in all of us going hungry.
"Pardon? 'Remember the weeding'? Now you've lost me. I've never been a gardener. You know she takes care of all of that and I don't see... Oh! Not 'the weeding'! The wedding! Ah yes, well... To be honest it's a bit of a blur. I remember how surprised we were that you could dance so well. I remember your mum whispering that the wine had all gone. And I'll never forget the look on that steward's face when you told him to try the water jars. The party went really well after that! But this is different, surely? The jars were there. Here we've only got this bread and fish. Why don't we talk about it again when we've had our snap*?
"OK, OK. You win. I don't see what good it will do, but if you want to waste a perfectly good supper on a gesture, don't let me stop you. You're the one who doesn't like sailing on an empty stomach.
"What' s that? We'll keep the leftovers for a midnight snack?
"Whatever you say, Jesus."
----
*Snap: Where I come from, "snap" is the packed meal of a workmanPosted by Richard @ 10:16 PM BST [Link]
The Gutless Pacificist has a great post about economic justice that hits the nail squarely on the head, quoting from Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
hame on our own dependency on the underpaid labor of others. When someone works for less pay than he/she can live on-when, for example, she goes hungry so you can eat more cheaply and conveniently-then he/she has made a great sacrifice for you, he/she has made you a gift of some part of his/her abilities, his/her health, and his/her life. The "working poor", as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so that inflation will be low and stock prices high. To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor to everyone else.Posted by Richard @ 02:51 PM BST [Link]
Thanks to the Wibsite for pointing us Hymns Modern & Ancient, a frankly hilarious new hymn book. Be careful - you could easily find yourself singing along. I know to my cost that choking is a distinct possibility. As a taster, here's the opening verse and chorus of I danced in the chancel
I danced in the chancel when the service began,
And I danced to the altar when the offert'ry was sung,
I waltzed to the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei,
And leaped up the nave crying, "Oooh I say!"Dance, then, wherever you may be,
Dance in the pulpit and the sacristy,
I'll lead you on, whenever you agree,
For I love to mince in the liturgy!Posted by Richard @ 08:21 AM BST [Link]
Friday, December 5, 2003
I mentioned Wood's article about Blake yesterday, and I'm cut to the quick at his suggestion that I didn't take the ensuing conversation seriously. ;o)
For those of you who haven't been paying attention (Stop fidgetting at the back! Yes, you!) the issue concerns the hymn Jerusalem and its patriotic associations. Wood's point is that William Blake did not intend his original poem that way, and that he would be horrified at this appropriation of it. But the combination of a stirring tune by Parry and the words about England's green and pleasant land make the patriotic association pretty well inevitable - provide, that is, you don't actually listen to what the words say! There is a gap between what Blake meant and what most of us hear when the hymn is sung.
There are other examples of this. You remember when Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA was adopted in a certain election campaign? Some can even listen to This Land and admire the fervour of its patriotism. Which is a shame -- it really doesn't have any, at least in the conventional flag-waving sense. Similarly, when Irish band Stiff Little Fingers sang (yelled!) White Noise they delighted skinheads and appalled woolly liberals with the overt racism of its lyrics (I invite the easily offended not to be too hasty here)
Rastus is a nigger. Thug mugger junkieYou can see why the skinheads loved it, and why those of a more liberal persuasion were horrified. But you can only take this as racist if you don't listen to the rest of the song, remembering that those singing (yelling) are Irish
Black golly gob. Big horny monkey.
Pimp pusher coon. Grinning piccaninnies
Send him home soon. Back to the trees.Black wogs, black wogs. Face don't fit
Black wog, black wogs. Ain't no Brit.Stick together we'll all be white me and you(I predict that Andrew Careaga will be the one to spot the accidental-on-purpose amendment I've introduced here. I'm a sensitive soul really)
The only colours we need are red, right and blue.Paddy is a moron. Spud thick Mick.
Breeds like a rabbit. Thinks with his pick.
Anything floors him if he can' fight or drink it.
Round them up in Ulster. Tow it out and sink it.Green wogs. Green wogs. Face don't fit.
Green wogs. Green wogs. Ain't no Brit.If the victim ain't a soldier why should we care?
Irish bodies don't count. Life's cheaper over there.Green wogs. Green wogs. Face don't fit.
Green wogs. Green wogs. Ain't no Brit.
Green wogs. Green wogs. Get 'em boys.
Green wogs. Green wogs. Turn up the white noise.It isn't just song lyrics. John Wesley's (in)famous formula "Gain all you can / Save all you can / Give all you can" was quoted by Mrs Thatcher more than once as proof that Wesley would have approved her brand of capitalism, though I doubt she ever bothered to read any deeper to find out what Wesley might have really meant. (In this case, it was Wesley's own fault but that doesn't affect my argument here). She took the words as affirmation of her position and used them accordingly. If they hadn't seemed so amenable, no doubt she would have just ignored them.
But we all do that to an extent. Every preacher I know speaks of occasions when it has been obvious that the sermon they preached was not the one the congregation heard. Unless we stay "alert and watchful", it is easy to listen to others knowing it advance what they're going to say and judging it accordingly for good or ill. I've even -- believe it or not! -- seen people react to blog entries this way. Really listening is hard work sometimes, especially when we have to hold our prejudices in check to do it. But the song lyrics show us it's going to be essential to mutual understanding.
Posted by Richard @ 06:53 PM BST [Link]
Thursday, December 4, 2003
0 little town of Bethlehem
I thought this was worth sharing. Several weeks ago Brian Jolly led a small group including 4 ministers on a visit to Palestine and Israel. Their programme included time in Bethlehem.Brian writes:
When we sing or read about the little town of Bethlehem this Christmas time, let us spare more than a passing thought for the people who live there today.Entering and leaving Bethlehem is not a pleasant experience for anyone. On the outskirts of the town, several miles to the south of Jerusalem, are the Bethlehem checkpoint and the beginning of the fence surrounding the town. To enter Bethlehem we had to leave our taxis before the checkpoint. Israeli soldiers, machine guns at the ready, eyed us from vantage points as we approached the barriers on foot. Vast coils of razor-wire stretched out before us in various directions. The soldiers at the barrier uttered a meaningless 'Shalom' as we reached them, demanded our passports and examined us closely with suspicion. After a while passports were returned and, with an equally meaningless 'Have a nice day', we were pointed along the road. Razor-wire coiled high on either side, we walked to the rough ground serving as a stand for a few taxis whose drivers were eagerly awaiting scarce visitors wanting to venture into the town where Jesus was born, -the town where today the Palestinian population is held captive by the Israeli army.
The economy of Bethlehem is dependent upon visitors, not least pilgrims and tourists. A few years ago Manger Square was a large, congested coach park, inadequate to accommodate the steady flow of buses bringing people to the Church of the Nativity. Then it often seemed as if the town was full to bursting point, and languages from across the world could be heard as visitors explored the churches, markets and specialist olive-wood carving factories and shops. Now the scene bears no comparison. There are no buses, no pilgrims or tourists today. Manger Square, transformed into an attractive plaza for the Bethlehem 2000 celebrations, was literally empty of people as we walked from one side to the other. International visitors are few and far between, which is not surprising, for how many people will go out of their way to enter a prison-town?0 little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!And so the people of this little town have been fenced in and their economy has been crushed - in what must be an attempt to destroy the spirit of the people. The blatant, extreme injustice of collective punishment is heaped upon the people of Bethlehem (and other Palestinian towns and villages throughout the West Bank and Gaza) - they pay the price set by the Israeli government for the crimes of the suicide bombers; meanwhile the terror activities of the Israeli government and army go unchecked and they continue to confiscate land and property. But despite such harsh oppression the spirit of the Palestinian Christian people we met in Bethlehem has not been destroyed. They greeted us warmly, offered us generous hospitality and shared some of their stories. And In many, many ways they expressed their faith In God and the future - deep, enduring, faith which was stunningly challenging - faith which had nothing superficial about it because it had been successfully developed and tested in extreme conditions.
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;We paid a visit to a friend of mine - a Roman Catholic whose family business over many generations was in olive wood and mother-of-pearl carving. During the siege of Bethlehem last year his shop and factory had been occupied by Israeli soldiers who converted the roof into a turret for machine guns aimed at the Church of the Nativity. In spite of the razor-wire fence imprisoning them and keeping pilgrims and tourists out, this family continues to
produce high quality souvenirs of Bethlehem In olive wood and mother of pearl - such is their faith in God and the future. As we stood on the roof overlooking the church coverlng the birth-place of Jesus, with the razor-wire coiling through the shepherd's fields in the distance, they talked and laughed with us, urged us to tell their story back home, told us in no uncertain terms how much our brief visit meant to them, and begged us to return soon and to bring other friends with us.The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonightAnd we met Palestinian artists working with glass and stone - shattered fragments of window glass and floor tiles collected from the streets and homes, markets, school, hospltals and churches of Bethlehem following the siege of the town in 2002 and whenever now the Israeli army makes its presence felt. From these remains of broken-ness, humiliation and death arise beautifully crafted pieces art created by lives of faith and hope. By their quiet work these artists declare that each time it is crushed the spirit of the Palestinian people of Bethlehem will be restored and they claim the gift of the kingdom of God.
How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is givenA Palestinian priest from' the Lutheran Christmas Church introduced us to some amazing, creative work being developed by the churches for the whole Bethlehem community. Here in the middle of the town The International Center of Bethlehem - dar Annadwa Addawliyya, which in Arabic means the 'House of World-Wide Encounter' - is being developed ecumenically, and is committed to equipping the local community to assume a proactive role in shaping the future, with an emphasis on children, youth and women. The resources available will include a cultural & conference centre for the use of local groups and international visitors, an arts and crafts centre to promote and market goods across the world, media and communications facilities to enable the people of Bethlehem to communicate with the rest of the world, and a health and wellness centre to enrich the lives of the people of the town; together with two vital educational establishments - a school serving children from 4-18 years, and a small community college offering higher education in music, arts & crafts, media communication cultural management, tourism and Christian ministry. Through this pioneering work the church is seeking to empower the people of Bethlehem, develop their resources, cultivate their talents, and facilitate international encounter, and so to promote the building of Palestinian civil society - to enable the people of Bethlehem to enjoy the fullness of life God wills for all people.
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven:
. . . where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.As we made our way through the deserted streets of Bethlehem back to the checkpoint and the road to Jerusalem, we saw buildings and roads damaged by shells from Israeli tanks, premises occupied by the army to provide gun-positions and lookouts, land confiscated by the army, olive trees up-rooted. It was an uncomfortable journey because we knew that, difficult as it might be for us to pass through the checkpoint on our way to Jerusalem, we would be allowed out of Bethlehem - but all those we had met, Including our friend from the olive wood factory who insisted on transporting us to the checkpoint to save the cost of a taxi, were prisoners in this little town, unable to go beyond the razor-wire fence which enclosed them.
Our British passports allowed us an exit from Bethlehem - the process for getting out was much the same as for getting in. Looking back through the razor wire fence we were able to say that God had been with us through the people we had met there. And we knew that we had a responsibility to share with others the tragic news of today's people of Bethlehem and the glad tidings of Immanuel (God present) in the midst of harsh oppression.
Posted by Richard @ 11:56 PM BST [Link]
Wood waxes politically poetic (or poetically political, your choice) as he ponders the "wild prophetic imagery" of William Blake.
When I was at school, they would sing this in the speech day. Even as a boy, it felt wrong, out of context, to be singing it in praise of the established order and the middle class way. Long before I read what Blake was actually about, I knew that it meant something else. And it stirred my heart.There are no permalinks - you want to go to 3rd December to read it all.
And did those feet in ancient times
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?Posted by Richard @ 02:55 PM BST [Link]
Rummaging around on Ian's Messy Desk turned up new blogger UrbanArmy, a Salvation Army Officer in Poplar, East London. Church history buffs will recall that's where the Sallies began, but even without the historical interest this looks like it should be on your "blogs to watch" list. Here's a teaser
John is one of the many characters who come into our church looking for community. His life has not been easy and he is a captive to his own failures. He sees no way out. Frequently we help him with food, sometimes clothing. Mostly we just sit and chat, and give him the respect he feels he does not deserve.Take it from me, you want to read this entry right through. Good stuff -- welcome to the blogosphere Gordon!Posted by Richard @ 02:11 PM BST [Link]
Closely related to that last post, comes the following news that just turned up in my email
Christmas and Hanukkah to Merge:o)New holiday to stimulate the economy while bringing Jews and
Christian together!Continuing the current trend of large-scale mergers and
acquisitions, it was announced today at a press conference that
Christmas and Hanukkah will merge. An industry source said that the
deal had been in the works for about 1300 years. While details were
not available at press time, it is believed that the overhead cost
of having twelve days of Christmas and eight days of Hanukkah was
becoming prohibitive for both sides.
By combining forces, we're told, the world will be able to enjoy
consistently high-quality service during the Fifteen Days of
Chrismukah, as the new holiday is being called.
Massive layoffs are expected, with lords a-leaping and maids a-
milking being the hardest hit. As part of the conditions of the
agreement, the letters on the dreydl, currently in Hebrew, will be
replaced by Latin, thus becoming unintelligible to a wider audience.
Also, instead of translating to "A great miracle happened there,"
the message on the dreydl will be the more generic "Miraculous stuff
happens." In exchange, it is believed that Jews will be allowed to
use Santa Claus and his vast merchandising resources for buying and
delivering their gifts.
One of the sticking points holding up the agreement for at least
three hundred years was the question of whether Jewish children
could leave milk and cookies for Santa even after having eaten meat
for dinner. A breakthrough came last year, when Oreos were finally
declared to be Kosher. All sides appeared happy about this.
A spokesman for Christmas, Inc., declined to say whether a takeover
of Kwanzaa might not be in the works as well. He merely pointed out
that, were it not for the independent existence of Kwanzaa, the
merger between Christmas and Chanukah might indeed be seen as an
unfair cornering of the holiday market. Fortunately for all
concerned, he said, Kwanzaa will help to maintain the competitive
balance.
He then closed the press conference by leading all present in a
rousing rendition of "Oy Vey, All Ye Faithful."Posted by Richard @ 10:15 AM BST [Link]
First it was from Scotland, now a similar appeal comes from Australia:
On the eve of the festive season, Multicultural Affairs Minister Gary Hardgrave has called on schools and kindergartens to set up nativity scenes, throw Christmas parties and remember the story of the birth of Christ.My experience of meeting with people of other faiths is that they are never offended by celebrations of Christmas. A few years ago, the city of Birmingham (Britain's second largest city) had a "barking mad" experiment in which the City Council's banners and stuff referred to an entirely artificial celebration of "Winterval". Leaders from a variety of religious groups in the city were interviewed and unanimous in their response: Christians should celebrate Christmas in an authentically Christian way. It shows no respect to their faith to distort or weaken Christian festivals."We should get out there and flaunt it rather than having people retreat from it," he told The Australian.
Mr Hardgrave is concerned that children are missing out on Christianity's core traditions and values, because schools and businesses are canning celebrations for fear they could offend those of other faiths.
Posted by Richard @ 10:13 AM BST [Link]
Thanks to Quantum Tea for coming up with this new take on Blog Ranking.
Posted by Richard @ 07:20 AM BST [Link]
I hope I can be forgiven for "re-blogging" an entire post from someone else, but this piece from Orcinus was irresistible.
Can anyone tell me why this story is not leading the evening newscasts?Well, indeed. I think I can answer Orcinus' opening question: because the media are driven by an agenda that this story would not suit.CBS 11 Investigates Poison Gas Plot
Federal authorities this year mounted one of the most extensive investigations of domestic terrorism since the Oklahoma City bombing, CBS 11 has learned.
Three people linked to white supremacist and anti-government groups are in custody. At least one weapon of mass destruction - a sodium cyanide bomb capable of delivering a deadly gas cloud - has been seized in the Tyler area.
Investigators have seized at least 100 other bombs, bomb components, machine guns, 500,000 rounds of ammunition and chemical agents. But the government also found some chilling personal documents indicating that unknown co-conspirators may still be free to carry out what appeared to be an advanced plot. And, authorities familiar with the case say more potentially deadly cyanide bombs may be in circulation.
Imagine if these had been Muslims.Thanks to Michael @ the Gutless Pacificist for flagging this up.
Posted by Richard @ 12:10 AM BST [Link]
Wednesday, December 3, 2003
Interesting stuff from the Edinburgh Evening News
DESPITE being an agnostic, I was angered by reports that the Scottish Parliament had abolished any reference to Christianity on its Christmas cards, and delighted to hear MSPs would in fact be given a choice of card, with or without religious message.Read the whole thing. It's a fascinating contrast to the usual conversation about Church/State seperation.An agnostic angry about the deletion of Christianity, surely a contradiction? Not as much as it would seem.
No Scot, whose family roots go back in time to when this country was part of Christendom, can avoid being deeply influenced by Christianity.
Nor is that an influence I reject. I know all the humanist arguments that religion was the opium of the poor people, promised pie in the sky when they died as long as they remained poor and meek on Earth; and that in our islands, disputes over the Christian religion brought wars and cruelty. But that is only one side of the coin.
It is from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount that our society has drawn its moral values, its core of belief about how we should treat each other, and few have been able to decry the essential good that lies in that message. Christianity, and the struggles within it, has shaped our society and the moral philosophy which underpins it.
Posted by Richard @ 08:45 PM BST [Link]
Kudos to Shade for the additions to BlogWiki.
Respect.
Posted by Richard @ 02:33 PM BST [Link]
If you keep a blog, does its "ranking" matter to you?
If you're a blog reader, does the popularity of the blog make a difference to how you read it? Are "rankings" useful tools, fun games not to be taken seriously, or just an irrelevance?Questions, questions. But not, for now, any answers.
Posted by Richard @ 12:26 PM BST [Link]
Posted by Richard @ 12:00 AM BST [Link]
Tuesday, December 2, 2003
From the United Methodist News Service:
WASHINGTON - As Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader rode in a taxi from Reagan National Airport to the heart of the nation's capital, she heard a story on the radio that was all too familiar.
A 9-year-old child was killed in the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
"There should be no more of this killing," she said.
That message was at the heart of a press conference Dec. 2, where 32 prominent interfaith leaders gathered at the National Press Club to encourage President Bush to continue his efforts at building peace in the Middle East.
Rader, bishop of the United Methodist Church's Wisconsin Area and secretary of the denomination's Council of Bishops, attended the meeting as a representative of the council.
"The significant thing about this group is that it involves Jews and Muslims and Christians together," Rader said after the press conference. "It involves not only Protestant Christians but Roman Catholic Christians, evangelical Christians as well as mainline, and that's very significant."
[more]Posted by Richard @ 11:07 PM BST [Link]
According to Agape Press, US voters are divided along religious lines
If you follow your regular routine and attend church on Sunday, October 31, 2004, there is a good chance you will vote two days later to give George W. Bush another four years in the White House ... people who attend church regularly will probably vote Republican by a 2-1 margin (63% to 37%) -- and the reverse is true: those who never do to church likely will vote Democratic by a 2-1 margin (62% to 38%)I can't make my mind what point this article is trying to make. Is it simply a dispassionate report of a survey? Or are we being reminded that good Christians vote Republican?Posted by Richard @ 05:43 PM BST [Link]
Monday, December 1, 2003
From the United Methodist News Service:
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (UMNS) - Christian leaders from around Africa have pledged to support a 10-point covenant for fighting HIV/AIDS that emphasizes prevention and the provision of affordable drugs for all who need them.
As World AIDS Day - Dec. 1 - approached, church leaders from across the continent prayed, sang and spoke out boldly as they made a commitment to defeat HIV/AIDS. During a Nov. 26 all-day focus on the pandemic, delegates to the All Africa Conference of Churches Eighth Assembly reviewed the dire facts and figures, heard testimonies from HIV-positive clergy and laity and adopted the 10-point covenant.
To dramatize the importance of HIV screening, the assembly offered free, voluntary on-site testing. According to clinic staff, 105 of the assembly's 800-plus participants were tested and, when supplies ran out, others were given vouchers for testing the next day.
"As far as we are concerned, this is war," said the Rev. Mvume Dandala, a Methodist pastor who serves as chief executive for the All Africa Conference of Churches. "We declare unequivocally that HIV/AIDS is not the will of God for Africa. We will try with all we have to resist it."
At a candlelight vigil and service, Dandala had strong words for international pharmaceutical companies and countries in the northern hemisphere that are falling short in their support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
"The church must resist any tendency by the pharmaceutical companies to see Africa as an open market for HIV/AIDS drugs because of the virus' prevalence on the continent," he said. Such an attitude would be a sign of moral bankruptcy, he added.
[more]Posted by Richard @ 11:24 PM BST [Link]
There are more reflections on World AIDS Day at the LivingRoom and Bene Diction (neatly linking to some thoughts about "body image"),
Posted by Richard @ 11:00 PM BST [Link]
Five people worldwide die of AIDS every minute of every day. HIV has hit every corner of the globe, infecting more than 42 million men, women and children, 5 million of them last year alone.Link and Think "is an observance of World AIDS Day in the personal web publishing communities. The project involves hundreds of webloggers, journalers, diarists and other personal website publishers, each linking to resources about HIV/AIDS or publishing personal stories about how the AIDS pandemic has affected them."
The Methodist Church in Britain has published a primer, Speak Out About HIV/AIDS: A Guide To Resources, available in print or for download. It will encourage groups of all ages to reflect, talk, and pray on the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.
A World AIDS Day Prayer, from Catholic Relief Services
We bring our prayers before a God who knows our prayers before we pray them, who in listening to
our intercessions helps us to acknowledge the desires of our own hearts.
Bless us with compassionate hearts
God of compassion, many step away from people with AIDS out of ignorance, or fear or denial. Help us to step toward our brothers and sisters who have AIDS, those who are an ocean away and those on the sidewalks downwhich we walk. Help us stand in solidarity with their suffering, in recognition of their worth. We pray…
Bless us with compassionate hearts.
God of the poor, AIDS does not discriminate by race or religion or economic class. But people do. Help us to respond to the cry of the poor for AIDS medications and health care, for food, for education, for communities of support. We pray…
Bless us with compassionate hearts
God of the orphan, there are villages in Africa where all of the adults have died of AIDS; only their children remain. Help us to create a global village that will raise these children in love and hope into a secure future. We pray…
Bless us with compassionate hearts
God of justice, our nation has the power to fund a large percentage of the efforts that will slow the spread of global AIDS. Strengthen our call for a U.S. response that is wise and immediate and generous. We pray...
Bless us with compassionate hearts
God of our inmost hurts and heartbreaks, AIDS reaches us where we live. Be with us as we call to mind the people we have loved, known or encountered who are living with or who have died from AIDS...
We pray...
Bless us with compassionate hearts
We have brought our prayers for healing and compassion before God. Let us go forth as
compassionate healers into a world that awaits the full Reign of God. We pray this in Jesus’ name….
Amen
