May 2007

Bene Diction reports a new study in the US that “shows conservative evangelical religious leaders (Pat Robertson, Tony Perkins, Richard Land et al) have a larger representation in traditional media than any other religious group”. The only surprise here is that anyone should be surprised by this. The conservative claims about liberal media, especially in [...]

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You might have heard recently that France’s new President, Nicholas Sarkozy, intends to ban the use of the ’second person singular’ (tu) in schools, so that pupils are obliged to use the more formal vous (second person plural) when addressing teachers.
English-speakers are more or less denied the ability to make this distinction, the second person [...]

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Most daring underwear combination (7)
Starts with a B…

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From July 1st, England will join the rest of the UK in banning smoking from all public spaces. This is a Good Thing. Not sure about the signs going up everywhere though. The BBC has more about the controversy.
I will admit to feeling sorry for those forlorn souls you see standing outside every pub in [...]

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Since we’re in poetic mood, Turbulent Cleric has video illustrating Mark Twain’s War Prayer. Strong stuff.

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Call me a sad act, but there’s always a little thrill that goes with discovering that another blogger has linked a post here. Well, nearly always. Today, for example, I read mself described as a nasty little man by someone I’ve never met, but who I’m theoretically in fellowship with.
s this really the way a [...]

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Speaking of poetry …
I wrote the following piece, entitled “Moribund”, after visiting one of my members in a residential home, one of Swansea’s grimmer ones. I didn’t actually think of it as a poem, though it has an intra-linear rhyme scheme. Anyway, here it is.
Old age, last page, mute rage
Antique, pipes leak, joints [...]

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The Fire and the Rose has been running a poetry competition. Although I’m not much of a lad for poems, I particularly enjoyed this entry
As Christ (by Aric Clark)
Make of me no Christian,
God of Israel and of all,
Endlessly debating doctrine,
Instead of rising at your call.
Make of me no Christian,
Counting angels on a pin,
Make me salt [...]

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This was the shocking picture on the front page of yesterday’s ‘Independent’, showing African migrants clinging to tuna nets after the sinking of their boat. They spent many hours in the water while officials of the Maltese and Libyan governments argued about who should rescue them. They were eventually picked up by a vessel of [...]

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Over at Faith and Theology, our friend Kim makes a plainly preposterous statement.

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I have a confession to make, but I’m hesitant. Who wants to look ridiculous? But my guilty secret is weighing me down and I’m hoping that ‘getting it off my chest’ will bring some relief. Confession, I’m told, is good for the soul. So here goes.
Mia nomo estas Richard, kaj mi estas Esperantisto.
That’s right. I [...]

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Here is the sermon I preached this morning at Bethel URC, Swansea.
Text: John 16:14:
“He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (NRSV).
In the creed issued by the bishops gathered at Nicaea (in what is now Turkey) in the year 325, there is a brief section on God [...]

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The Methodist Church of Great Britain has had the decorators in at its website. My first glance was favourable.

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Head of Thy church, whose Spirit fills
And flows through every faithful soul,
Unites in mystic love, and seals
Them one, and sanctifies the whole;
“Come, Lord,” Thy glorious Spirit cries,
And souls beneath the altar groan;
“Come, Lord,” the bride on earth replies,
“And perfect all our souls in one.”
Pour out the promised gift on all,
Answer the universal “Come!”
The fullness of [...]

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On May 27th, 1977, the Sex Pistols gave two fingers to the Establishment and the celebration of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. With the release of “God save the Queen”, punk rock hit the mainstream — whether the mainstream wanted it or not.
God save the queen
The fascist regime
They made you a moron
Potential H-bomb
At the time it [...]

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On this day, 1738, John Wesley wrote in his journal:
In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while the leader was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith [...]

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A good deal of a minister’s time is spent with the bereaved, time during which I have often felt helpless, useless, even fraudulent. Here is a reflection/meditation on my almost twenty-five-years’ experience of grief - and of grieving.
Grief that to cure must first poison.
Psalm 22:1, not 22:24, grief,
God deaf to my cry and “Why?” [...]

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A government white paper has suggested that new nuclear power stations will be essential to secure Britain’s energy needs.
I’m less than convinced. First, it just isn’t true that nuclear stations are carbon free. It may be that nuclear power produces no carbon at the station, but what of the carbon cost of producing and transporting [...]

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