Beloved . . .

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

(1 Peter 4:12,13)

Your Forever Friend

I've just received the manuscript of another new song that I've co-written with my songwriting partner, Greg Scheer. It's called Your Forever Friend, and is a really nice love-song. If you'd like to see for yourself all you have to do is to follow this link to Greg's Musical Diary page on his website, and you can find a PDF of the sheet music and also listen to an MP3 of the tune. Why not pay a visit and let me know what you think with a comment on this blog post.

Hope you like it!

Barack Obama . . . Is it 'All Hail to the Messiah'?

The above photograph of Barack Obama comes from Reuters, halo effect and all, and demonstrates the power of the image as much of the mainstream Press continues to depict US President-elect, Barack Obama, as the new Messiah.

Should the world, and Christians in particular be concerned? Well, that's up to the individual to decide, but they should at least ensure that they are as informed as possible. Certainly the signs of the times in which we live mean that every Christian should ensure that their spiritual walk is with Jesus Christ, the TRUE MESSIAH, and that they are living the kind of life that God has ordained that they should. Too many people who claim to be Christians do little to demonstrate their faith beyond the Sunday Services, spending Monday to Saturday living worldly lives which show little or no proof that they are followers of Christ. Every Christian needs to be aware of the very real dangers that being worldly presents. True, we live in the world, but we do not need to be of the world, when it comes to the manner in which we live our lives.

I believe that there are many things happening in the world today that point to the 'End Times' foretold in the Bible.

Under Obama's Presidency it is likely that there will be a huge change in the way that the US treats the United Nations and concepts like global governance and transnationalism. Watch out for the new US Administration ratifying large numbers of suspect UN treaties, and watch out for a rejuvenated UN to begin announcing a series of global conferences that will spell TROUBLE ahead. 
Obama has spoken out against so-called Mexico City Policy, which forbids US money from supporting groups overseas that promote or perform abortions. This is a Reagan era policy that was struck down during the Clinton years and resurrected on the first day in office of George W. Bush. No one should be surprised if Obama strikes this down on his first day in office and that US money will begin to flow again to pro-abortion groups overseas.

Obama has spoken out against US refusal to fund the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), a United Nations (UN) agency that promotes population control, fertility reduction, and abortion all over the world. UNFPA helped the Chinese government set up and run its one-child policy, which has resulted in upwards of 100 million abortions many of them forced or coerced. A US law called Kemp-Kasten mandates that US money cannot support groups that cooperate in coerced abortions. The US State Department has repeatedly determined that UNFPA is complicit in the coercive policies of the China government and has therefore refused funding for the past eight years. Congress has for many years voted to resume UNFPA funding and has been overruled by President Bush. It is expected that Obama will resume funding. There is the question of UN treaties that the US has refused to ratify. These treaties include the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention of the Rights of the Child, the Kyoto Treaty on the Environment, the International Criminal Court and the Landmines Treaty. While various US presidents have signed some of these treaties, the Senate under both Democratic and Republican rule has ratified none of them. It is unclear that the left has enough votes in the Senate to meet the necessary two-thirds needed for ratification. Still critics fear that an Obama administration will try to move the Senate toward ratification. Obama’s UN and European allies will certainly pressure Obama to do so. 


With the increasing size of the European Union, it, together with the US, moves closer by the day towards a system of World Government, dominated by these two super-powers. It is in the face of this scenario that Barack Obama has been elected to become the most powerful man in America and, by implication, in the world.

We saw his charismatic rise in the media as he fought the election, a fight which cost an unprecedented half a billion dollars. We have seen the euphoria that continues to surround him, not only in the USA but in many other parts of the world as well. In Kenya, his tribal base, the people have made much of his election to such a powerful position. In my own experience, based upon my years in Zimbabwe, whenever a member of an African family achieved the status symbol of living in a large house there were a few obvious changes that showed. I recall Africans moving into houses that had previously been owned by white families, and taking large numbers of their families with them. Soon the house became vastly overcrowded. It was not long before the front lawns were taken up and maize was being planted. That the successful member of the family made provision for the rest was not only expected, but also fulfilled. Will we find that large numbers of Barack Obama's family will expect to move into the White House with him in the same manner? Only time will tell.

I happen to believe that it is unhealthy for any one individual to receive massive adulation, and that if this is the case then it can lead so easily to abuse of the power and trust placed in their hands. Will this be the case with Obama? Only time will tell, although I fervently hope that will not be so. I would like to believe that his election to the office of President heralds an era of positive change, and that much good will come from his term. Again, only time will tell. Certainly, to herald his election as the coming of a new Messiah is dreadfully wrong. There has been, and is, only one true Messiah, and that is Jesus Christ. Obama has an unprecedented following, but the truth of the matter is that he is just a man. Yes, his oratory powers are great. Yes, he is attractively charismatic. BUT, he is still JUST A MAN!

As a final thought on the matter for the time being, let me share this photo with you. It was prominently displayed at Obama's campaign H.Q. in Lake City, Florida, and was taken by Bruce Hoster. The sign, prominently posted in the front window, is visible from the street.

World News Daily reports that some of Obama's supporters have regarded him as a Messiah figure, heralding a new age.

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, a powerful Chicago-based political figure associated with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and other long-time associates of Obama, told a crowd in February the Illinois Democrat's rise to power is a sign the Messiah is coming soon. "You are the instruments that God is going to use to bring about universal change, and that is why Barack has captured the youth," Farrakhan said. "And he has involved young people in a political process that they didn't care anything about. That's a sign. When the Messiah speaks, the youth will hear, and the Messiah is absolutely speaking.

"Brothers and sisters," the Nation of Islam leader said, "Barack Obama to me, is a herald of the Messiah. Barack Obama is like the trumpet that alerts you something new, something better is on the way."

God's Covenant of Peace

For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

(Isaiah 55:10)

And now for a Happy Pig!

Having posted that great picture of sheep I thought that I'd balance it out with this picture of a happy pig. Doesn't it look the picture of contentment, wallowing in cooling, satisfying mud!

If only we could all learn to be as happy as this pig is at the moment its picture was snapped . . .

All We Like Sheep . . .

I found this great picture which illustrates the point that

'All we like sheep have gone astray'

beautifully, don't you think!

The Holocaust - Sorry if mentioning it offends you!

It has come to my attention that a Government-backed survey in 2007 found that many schools no longer teach their pupils about the Holocaust in case doing so offends those Muslims who choose to deny that it ever happened. I vehemently oppose the airbrushing of history in order to avoid offending anyone. History tells us what happened, despite the attempts by some to deny things that don't happen to suit them.

Of course, denying that the Holocaust existed is a popular pastime amongst certain members of the populace, although I have to say that, in my humble opinion, anyone who does so must either be sick or stupid, or possibly both. After all, if we allow history to be airbrushed like this how long will it take to airbrush out of existence the various terrorist atrocities carried out by Islamic extremists, and by other groups such as the IRA in the past? Airbrushing things out of the history books supports claims of denial, and that can never be acceptable.

Thankfully Dwight Eisenhower made a point of having as many photographs and as much film taken as possible in order to ensure that the records of the atrocities of the Holocaust would be there for people to prove its existence for themselves.

The study, which was funded by the Department for Education and Skills, looked into 'emotive and controversial' history teaching in primary and secondary schools, and found that some teachers are dropping courses covering the Holocaust at the earliest opportunity over fears that Muslim pupils might express anti-Semitic and anti-Israel reactions in class.

The researchers gave the example of a secondary school in an unnamed northern city, which dropped the Holocaust as a subject for GCSE coursework. The report said teachers feared confronting 'anti-Semitic sentiment and Holocaust denial among some Muslim pupils', adding that "In another department, the Holocaust was taught despite anti-Semitic sentiment among some pupils, but the same department deliberately avoided teaching the Crusades at Key Stage 3 (11- to 14-year-olds) because their balanced treatment of the topic would have challenged what was taught in some local mosques." In other words, the teachers, afraid of upsetting the local Muslim community, decided to airbrush history to suit. This is unacceptable.

A third school found itself 'strongly challenged by some Christian parents for their treatment of the Arab-Israeli conflict-and the history of the state of Israel that did not accord with the teachings of their denomination'.

The report concluded: "In particular settings, teachers of history are unwilling to challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship."

But Chris McGovern, history education adviser to the former Tory government, said: "History is not a vehicle for promoting political correctness. Children must have access to knowledge of these controversial subjects, whether palatable or unpalatable." Thank goodness that there are some voices of reason prepared to speak up.

I have refrained from posting any holocaust pictures here, not because I do not have access to them but because the atrocities committed under Hitler's regime are too horrific to simply stumble upon.

In a few days time we will be remembering the fallen comrades who gave their lives up for this country, and we will be wearing red poppy's in order to show our solidarity on Remembrance Sunday. It is good to remember, for it is only by remembering that we can avoid the same terrible events happening again.

Never think for one moment that the Holocaust did not happen --- IT DID.

Never think for one moment that it could never happen again --- IT COULD.

Just because part of our history offends someone somewhere is no excuse to pretend it never happened.

One of the important things about history is that it taches us lessons that we need to learn if we are to help create a better world.

Christmas is coming . . .

Well dear reader, here we are in November already, and so soon the countdown to Christmas will begin with magazines, TV, and newspapers proclaiming that there are only so many shopping days left until Christmas. Of course, for many people the whole focus of the Christmas Season is one of holidays and the giving and receiving (especially receiving) of gifts.

Already I have had a raft of 'Christmassy' things through the letter-box, ranging from charity gift catalogues to jewellery and clothing catalogues urging me to 'Buy now, in time for Christmas', and one well-known sofa company has included the all-important wording 'Order now for guaranteed delivery before Christmas' into their seemingly endless TV advertising programme.

It won't be long before the stories start to appear in the Press about the banning of Nativity Plays, or the use of Holly (it just might prickle the innocent bystander), or items warning about the dangers of attempting to roast chestnuts (they could, in a wild moment, explode) or of setting fire to the brandy-soaked Christmas Pudding which could, if the pudding is sufficiently gargantuan and the pouring of brandy sufficiently liberal, set fire to the whole house.

Yes, without a doubt the Jonah's and the Jeremiah's will be coming out of their hibernatory period in order to regale us with the latest bits of Elf 'n Safety information, all in the interest of protecting poor, unsuspecting, (potential) victims from the accoutrement's and trimmings of the Festive Season.

Of course it will be deemed absolutely necessary to do everything possible to remove any of the Christian symbolism from the Festive Season, just as attempts are made every year, something which has happened increasingly since the inauguration of a Socialist form government in the UK. This year the prize for coming first in the race for the most stupid piece of Christmas insensitivity goes to the Oxford City Council who have proclaimed that there must be no mention of Christmas in their (Christmas) Lights display this year.

Oxford Council chiefs have designated the period as a 2-month WinterLight Festival, claiming that it is intended to mark the various religious festivals from all faiths; festivals such as the Hindu Diwali, Jewish Hanukkah, and not forgetting (even though they would probably like to) the Christian Christmas. Strangely the Council Chiefs seem to be alone in their thinking, for the decision has been greeted with derision by the leaders of the various faith groups. The chairman of the Muslim Council of Oxford, Sabir Hussain Mirza, goes as far as saying that the decision upsets him, stating, " I'm really upset. Christians, Muslims and other religions all look forward to Christmas." Further condemnatory statements have emerged from Christian and Jewish leaders amongst others.

However you might like to know that Ed Turner, deputy leader of the Council who have banned the mention of 'Christmas', has promised that there will still be a Christmas tree erected --- or should that be WinterLight tree, Mr Turner?

Meditation

“For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
(Colossians 1:16)

Where are You God? --- An Open letter

Dear God,

In my newspaper there are reports of death and destruction in some form or other every day. At the moment for example, the reports about the murder trial in the case of the shooting of 11-year old Rhys Jones in Liverpool last August. The defendants in the case are all children. In fact it seems that somewhere in the UK every day children are killing or horribly maiming children.

Other reports from the world's Media tell us about wars that are going on in different countries, often Civil War where people are killing sectors of their own population simply because they disagree with something that they are saying, or doing, or believing in. In some countries the people are systematically being destroyed by tyrannical despots who bleed the country of its wealth to such a degree that ordinary citizens struggle to find scraps that are left. I have read recently of people who survive --- just --- on a diet of wild berries, drinking water that is almost guaranteed to make them ill enough to die. Mind you, for many of those people death may well be the better alternative, so awful are their lives.

Then there are the natural disasters around the world. I know that these are Your fault God, because the Insurance Companies make a point of telling us that they are. They say that damage and devastation caused by earthquakes, floods, tidal waves, lightning strikes and so on, are all 'Acts of God'.

All of these dreadful things make me wonder where You are. After all, it is to be argued, if You really are a God of love who really cares about us then where are you? If You really do have the power to bring about a world of peace and plenty for all then why don't You do it?

I know that we all do things wrong but then, nobody is perfect are they? Sure, You've given us a set of rules to live by, but even You must have realised when You gave them that they would be far to difficult for us to follow.

Hold on! I've just had a thought! I'm assuming that all the blame is Yours for the state of the world, when really pretty well everything that is wrong is man's fault. Man invented the guns and knives, and man concocted the poisons, and man killed and maimed and then man looked for someone to blame for all of his failings.

I know that Your rules are not easy to live up to, but I guess that we can at least try.

I still wonder where You are though. Is it possible that finding You is so difficult in our world because man has systematically shut You out of it? For years we've been telling You to get out of our schools and our children's lives, to stay out of our government and to get out of our lives. Why, even in some churches it seems that You have been shut out in order that the congregations can feel more self-satisfied at how much better they are than those people who don't belong.

How can we expect You to bless us and give us Your protection when we demand that You leave us alone? After all, the choice is ours as to whether or not we let You into our lives, isn't it God? And if we choose to shut You out almost all of the time how can we expect You to come running whenever we feel that we need You to solve our latest crisis?

I guess that it's time to take stock of the situation before it's too late. Time to apportion the blame where it really belongs, with ourselves. Oh, I know that I haven't killed anyone, or starved them out of existence, or made them homeless, or anything like that, but I still stand as guilty as anyone else who chooses to accept the status quo and stand by and do nothing.

So, God, here and now I'm saying 'Sorry' for my part in doing nothing.

• Sorry that I haven't complained about the things that offend, not only against your laws but also against me.
• Sorry that even small children, learning by the example of their elders, often use gutter-language to express themselves.
• Sorry that nobody in authority in the world of supposed entertainment is prepared to stand up and be counted when it comes to banning the use of blasphemous expression and the foul language that is used on television, even on programmes to demonstrate cookery.
• Sorry for not fighting the authorities harder when they try out experiments in schools that risk damaging young minds.
• Sorry for not standing up for the Christian heritage of this land in the face of imported opposition.
• Sorry for allowing our nation to be reduced to a land of greed and selfishness without fighting harder against it.

Here, today, God, I REPENT of everything that is wrong in my life. I acknowledge that I NEED YOU in my life in order to live it the way that it should be lived, and indeed the way that You deserve it should be lived. I want everyone I love to be IN my life in a full and meaningful way. I love You, God, and so that means that I want You in my life every step of the way.

Your servant, Rev Colin

'SURVIVE the DEPRESSION' by Andrew Strom : The shaking has begun!

The latest book from Andrew Strom, the founder of RevivalSchool.com and the international REVIVAL List, deals with current world financial crisis from a spiritual angle. Just a year ago, whilst preaching in Wisconsin, Andrew Strom reiterated earlier warnings that he had prophetically given about a coming economic crash in America, predicting that within six months America would be in Recession, and that within 12 months the actual Depression would begin.

As our daily media reports from around the globe testify, this is now the case. Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac, the two largest Mortgage giants in the world, collapsed in September, the world's largest Insurance Company and the largest thrift bank in America collapsed, Lehman Brothers, in business for 158 years, went bankrupt, Money Markets reeled, the Investment Baking Industry crumbled, and the Stock Market plunged by 777 points, the greatest fall recorded in a single day. Without question the Depression had begun.

Here in the UK, although it took a little longer to take effect, the same sort of thing has happened. Familiar names from the High Street and the City have all but disappeared, certainly as individual trading entities, already many have lost their jobs, house repossessions are increasing daily, thousands of people are already in a negative equity situation, with thousands more about to join them, the FTSI is taking an unprecedented battering, and there is an air of unease throughout the political and the business world. Billions of dollars and pounds are being thrown at the situation in order to attempt and force a rescue. Here in the UK the government are trying to persuade us that the way out is to 'spend our way out of Recession', and interest rates in the USA are at rock-bottom in an attempt to kick-start the economy.

What can we expect for the future? Is this recession something that will soon go away? Will the tumbling house prices be restored to their former extravagant glory?

Approaching the matter from a spiritual aspect, the question we ask is: 'What has God been speaking prophetically about this very period that we are now in and moving even deeper into?

This latest book from Andrew Strom explores all of these matters in an in-depth and eye-opening way. For anyone who wants to understand the situation better, then this book is, I believe, a must read for these perilous times that we are now in.

In fact, dear reader, so strongly do I feel that it is a 'must read' that I am offering you the opportunity to get a copy simply by making a donation towards the costs of getting it to you. All you need to do is to email me with your details and leave the rest to me.

Brand resigns, Ross suspended . . .

In the latest news regarding the saga of Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross and their combined obscene phone messages left on Andrew Sachs' telephone is that Brand has resigned (expeditiously I think, before he was sacked), and Ross has finally been suspended from broadcasting until the BBC have investigated and reported on their findings.

What I fail to understand is the manner in which the BBC continues to refer to the whole episode as a 'prank', rather than stating exactly what it was, a case of gross misconduct. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a prank is 'a practical joke or mischievous act', neither description coming anywhere near defining what this puerile pair were involved in. Turning to the Oxford Dictionary once again we read that a joke is defined as 'a thing to cause amusement' and 'a trick played for fun', and I don't believe that any right-minded person would be able to describe what they did in either of those terms. On the other hand, the word joker is defined as a 'foolish or inept person'. Now that comes close to describing this duo!

I think that one of the things that causes such intense furore in this matter is that both of these people are so grossly overpaid for what they do, Jonathan Ross in particular, who receives a reported £6 million of licence payers' money for his brand of so-called humour.

The best result of all would be for this pair to be removed from broadcasting altogether, and simply fade into oblivion.

Time to be CHEERED UP a Little!

The picture above should help to focus your thoughts on holidays, either past or future, and that's a cheering thought

--- lying on a beach in the sun, preferably in some exotic location.

With the cold days upon us, and snow already even though it's still only October, we need a little cheering up. Many years ago it was normal for the family to sit around a blazing fire, perhaps one thing that is sure to cheer even the most depondent person up --- a little at the very least. I remember getting the toasting fork out and toasting either bread or crumpets, afterwards savouring the spoil with an ample spread of good farmhouse butter.

Even the thought of it makes my mouth water ... mmmmmm!

Of course, the arrival of daylight saving time, which started last weekend, heralds the coming of Winter and dark afternoons when we all need to turn the lights on a little sooner than previously. Of course we all need to have light in our lives too, and what better to have than the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, to light up our lives, no matter what darkness we encounter in our daily lives. His is the light that overcomes all darkness, and lets even the sightless glimpse the glory of God!

Thoughts of Winter, coupled with thoughts of the Light of the World, turn our minds to the Nativity story, one that will be enacted throughout the world in a few weeks time, wherever Christians gather to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World.

It's a story that tells us of God's overwhelming love reaching down into an undeserving world, a world where people so often live in the shadows. God's love, personified in Christ, casts the shadows away and brings Light, Love, and Joy, into our lives once we learn to stand aside and let it flood in and over us.

This final picture, of the flower that heralds the Spring, was taken at Lake Vyrnwy in North Wales, and serves to remind us that God has a plan for our renewal and reconciliation; a plan that we can claim ownership of when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

Andrew Strom visits Runcorn today

Andrew Strom, the prophetic revival preacher from New Zealand, will be speaking at my church in Runcorn, Cheshire, this evening, and judging from the number of telephone calls that I've had it's likely that we'll be putting the 'Full House' signs up.

I'm looking forward to meeting up with Andrew, who has been a regular contributor to The Voice magazine for the past few years, his articles always being a worthwhile read. I always think that it's a great privilege to hear speakers of this calibre, and to have them come to our church is especially so.

If you are reading this and live close enough to come tonight, then the venue is St John's Presbyterian Church, Victoria road, Runcorn, and the meeting starts at 7 o'clock. I'm sure we can 'shoehorn' you in somehow!

We will have copies of Andrew's latest book, True & False Revivals, available. If you'd like a copy but can't be there tonight then you can order one by clicking here. There is no charge for the book, although we appreciate a donation to help with the despatch costs.

Andrew will be speaking in a couple of weeks time in South Wales, visiting Cardiff on 12th November and Neath on 13th November. More details regarding these venues are on the Voice Ministries website.

BBC is guilty by association over Ross/Brand affair

The furore created as a result of the obscene messages left on Andrew Sachs' 'phone does not want to go away, despite a lukewarm apology by the BBC for the 'unacceptable and offensive' content of calls made to him by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross during a radio show.

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The BBC has said that they are to investigate how the offensive content came to be aired. Brand has said that it was 'just a joke'. Well, in my opinion, the correct answer if any sort of confidence is to be restored to the licence payers who combine to pay the inflated salaries of these two poor excuses for comic expression, and of the executives who allowed this to be broadcast, whether knowingly or simply because they did not know what they should have done --- i.e. what is being broadcast on the BBC --- then the only acceptable answer is the dismissal of all concerned. At the very least, all should initially be suspended without pay whilst the matter is investigated.

I come down heavily against this sort of thing because it is typical of the gutter-mentality that has damaged the moral fibre of this once-proud nation. I believe that it is up to those people who are aware of what is morally right to make protest at such loutish behaviour. To pass something as offensive as this off as a joke is to insult the intelligence of every decent-minded citizen.

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As a Christian I believe that I have a duty towards others to do all that I can to help make our nation and our world a better place for all to live in, and that means that I will protest against the unacceptable levels of crudity that seem to prevail in our dumbed-down, anaesthetised society.

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me. And your right hand shall hold me."

(Psalm 139:7-10)

Ross & Brand controversy: Now there's a surprise . . .

Interest in the controversy caused by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, the two so-called comedians who left obscene messages on the answerphone of Faulty Towers actor, 78-year old Andrew Sachs, has been immense judging by the huge number of references to it on the Internet, and certainly by the amount of hits to my own piece on it yesterday.

There is a strong possibility that the BBC will be prosecuted over the affair, not because they were the ones who carried it out, but because they are complicit in it by virtue of their sanctioning the broadcast of this obscenity. I sincerely hope that they are prosecuted, for this will let them know that even if there are individuals within the BBC who consider this type of filth to be humorous, that does not make it acceptable.

As for Brand and Ross, --- well, personally speaking I fail to see even a smidgen of real humour in either of them, finding them both somewhat puerile. In fact, to refer to either of them as having 'schoolboy' humour even, would be to elevate them to a description beyond their worth.

As I pointed out in yesterday's post, as BBC licence payers we are responsible in part for the employment of anyone working for the BBC, whether executive or performer, and I, for one, do not wish to my money squandered on trash like this. What has exacerbated the whole issue is that, far from condemning these two vacuous individuals for their behaviour the BBC has said that it is 'standing by them', thereby compounding their complicity in the matter. What makes the matter even more repugnant is that, reportedly, Andrew Sachs was approached prior to the broadcast and asked whether he was offended by the pre-recorded segment, to which, naturally, he replied that he was. However, the BBC decided to ride roughshod over his feelings and air it anyway. How thoughtful of them!!!

Yesterday the BBC claimed that they had not processed any complaints from Andrew Sachs, despite the fact that not only had he told them that he considered the segment offensive prior to it being broadcast, but also that a formal email of complaint was sent to the Radio 2 controller, Lesley Douglas, on Thursday. The BBC has admitted that they had received 69 complaints up to yesterday, though I doubt if that concerns them in any way whatsoever, as they seem to opt for anything that is offensive in preference.

I believe that it is time for change to take place --- time to be rid of infantile comment and behaviour that is passed off as humour --- time to start a clean-up that will reach out with the statement that we seek to make things better in our world and not worse. Starting with this incident, I suggest, as strongly as I am able, that not only are the contracts of both Ross and Brand torn up and thrown in the trash, but also that the BBC executives and staff members who happily sanctioned this debacle are thrown out with them.

I repeat what I said yesterday, for the benefit of the BBC hierarchy:

It's time to put the trash out!

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A story of BBC TRASH!

Front-page news in the UK Press today is the story about two BBC presenters, Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, who thought it highly amusing to telephone 78-year old actor Andrew Sachs (who is best known for his role as Manuel in Faulty Towers) and tell him that Brand had had sex with Georgina, Andrew Sachs' granddaughter. Not only that, but it was done before an estimated 2 million listeners.

Now, just how hilarious was that piece of broadcasting! In the twisted minds of these two so-called entertainers, they obviously thought it was side-splitting, but then that shows just how puerile they both are.

If the offensive had been mounted live on air then the BBC might be forgiven for it, BUT it was not only a prerecorded section of Brand's radio show, it had actually been PASSED as being OK!!!

Quite apart from my consideration for the feelings of Andrew Sachs, I am also highly concerned that part of my licence money goes to pay the inflated fees that these two trashy 'entertainers' receive.

I sincerely hope that both the BBC and also Brand and Ross are prosecuted for this highly offensive episode. Perhaps the BBC might even consider the best final solution. If they are unsure of what that is then I'll tell them now:

PUT THE TRASH OUT!

Different Laws for different Citizens

One of the basic tenets of true democracy is that the same applications regarding freedom of speech, freedom of religion, human rights, and matters of law will apply equally to every citizen. It is wrong to discriminate against people on the basis of their age, colour, religion or interest; perhaps with the proviso that such is applied unless it either offends against the greater beliefs and practises, or that, in the case of an individuals interests, it is not in the interests of the nation or a significant part of it. I think that this is right and proper, safeguarding (at least as it should) the rights of the majority, and basing those safeguards on a clear understanding of what the morally right responsibilities of every citizen are reckoned to be.

In this country we have upheld a system that is based on Judao-Christian laws and beliefs, and one factor in particular is that one legal system serves all, thereby ensuring, at least as far as possible, that in matters of law every citizen is equal.

Why then if this is supposed to be the case, are we legitimising the use of Sharia Law in the United Kingdom, a country that, despite the lack of spirituality amongst so many, is still nominally a Christian country. Is our law so badly flawed that we need a separate system for some of our citizens? If that is the case then should we not be doing all that's necessary to correct matters rather than introducing a parallel system, even if the decisions made under that system require the rubber-stamping of the existing law courts. Indeed, the term 'rubber-stamping' itself indicates that it is nothing more than a formality ---- something require to legitimise.

For those who wish to live under Sharia Law there are plenty of nations that they can turn to and live under. Of course, one of the problems of most if not all of those nations is that there is no sense of the equality that is enshrined in our own UK constitution. They are male dominated and favour males above females. In fact in many of them, women are regarded in many ways as being no more than a chattel, a belonging. Wives can be dispensed with simply by stating the fact three times, thereby ensuring that they know their place --- which is a long way below their male masters.

In the UK, some Muslim priests have warned against sharia having an official role in society because of the manner in which women are discriminated against by the fact that sharia accords unequal status between men and women, weighted in favour of men.

Dr Rowan Williams, the current Archbishop of Canterbury, suggested in a speech that he gave last February that a move towards the inclusion of sharia law was unavoidable. His appointment, in case you are wondering, makes him the official spokesman for the UK's tens of thousands of Christians who belong to the Church of England. Thankfully he is not, therefore, my spokesman!

Despite the assortment of flaws that seem to be in our own legal system, matters such as treating criminal perpetrators more as victims and vice versa, most of them arise not as a result of flawed laws but due to the application of the laws in conjunction with the prevailing political expedience. Hence we have seen this week, for example, that many instances of knife-crime violence have, in the past, been downgraded in order to manipulate the crime figures released to the general public. Overall this misapplication has resulted in too many people being handed a custodial sentence for less serious crimes --- things such as non-payment of council tax --- and yet given a community service order for crimes which deserve a custodial sentence.

Notwithstanding the flaws that exist, either those due to misapplication or those due to the particular law being overtly flawed, I believe that we have need for only one legal system in this country, for to bring in a parallel set of laws brings in with an imbalance in the equalities of the society in which we live. For example, under British law it is a crime to commit bigamy, whereas under Sharia law it is not.

If we are to truly live in a democracy then we must protest at different legal systems being put in place that disadvantage any of our citizens who might have a case tried by a secondary legal system. For this reason I protest most vehemently against the introduction of Sharia law into the UK, and urge all who believe in democratic freedom and true justice for all based on equality, to do the same.

Guest Meditation from Joanne Lowe

IT IS NOT EASY

“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
John 8: 7 - 11 (King James Version)

It is not easy for us to admit that we are wrong about something or that we have sinned. It’s certainly not easy for us to admit that we are addicted to drugs, television, sports, alcohol, pornography or anything else that hurts Jesus. There’s nothing wrong with playing sports or watching television, provided that the programs we watch are programs that we would watch if Jesus were sitting beside us, unless we put these things first in our lives. Anything that comes before Jesus or interferes with our fellowship with Him is sin.

I was in a church service many years ago when the pastor stopped preaching in the middle of a sentence and said “The football game will be on soon so I am ending my sermon early so that we can get home to watch the football game.” How that must have broken the heart of our precious Saviour. Jesus must come before everybody and everything. He paid a very expensive price to earn that right when He was crucified on the old rugged cross of horror and torture for our sins.

While these things hurt Jesus, there are other things that also hurt Him. It hurts Jesus when we abuse our spouses physically or verbally. When we criticize and ridicule our children and our parents and our siblings, it not only hurts our loved ones, it also breaks the heart of our precious Saviour. If we are constantly hurting people on purpose because we are stronger than they are or to get even with them for something they did to us or if we are addicted to something, we need to understand that we must stop doing these things.

Also, we should never condemn someone for being addicted to something. Just as Jesus said to the woman “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” so He says that to us. None of us are perfect. All of us fail and hurt Jesus. The sweetest Christian we know is just a sinner saved by grace. How dare we criticize and condemn someone when Jesus doesn’t criticize and condemn the person. We are at times a very arrogant people. May God forgive us for our holier than thou attitudes.

Our precious and loving Saviour is waiting for us to come to Him with humble and broken hearts for sinning and hurting Him. We need to ask Him to forgive us and help us get through these difficult times. Our precious Saviour is a loving, understanding and compassionate Saviour. Reach out and take the hand of our Saviour. He will take your hand and walk beside you as you are going through these dark valleys. He will never leave you, not even for one minute and He will set you on the mountain tops of joy, peace and happiness. Thank God for our risen Saviour!

Joanne Lowe
joannelowe8@cox.net
www. fromtheheartofjesus.blogspot.com

In Everything Give Thanks . . .

In everything give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Saying 'No!' . . . Part 2

Yesterday I posted comments regarding the proposed sex education lessons to be instituted into the curriculum of Primary Schools. Personally I feel that the children that this programme will be aimed at are far too young, and see the programme as being yet another step in the sexualisation of our children. Already their young minds are being programmed by the amount of sexual content that is allowed to be screened in television programmes that are aired at times when children are able to freely view.

One claim by Schools Minister, Jim Knight, is apparently that 'age-appropriate sex and relationships education from five onwards was needed to combat the 'earlier sexualisation' of youngsters.' I believe that it is good parenting to answer the typical questions of children who ask where they come from, but in most cases the simple explanation that they 'come from mummy's tummy' will, I believe, satisfy most enquiring minds of a very young age. A question has been asked and an answer given. In most cases, in my own experience, that is enough. I believe that to delve too deeply into the subject of either sex or, even in some instances, relationships, serves to arouse the curiosity in children to potentially unhealthy depths.

It often seems to me that we live in a sexually-obsessed culture, and it appears that these moves will do nothing to calm that situation and much to inflame it. Should these proposed lessons become a reality then I believe that they should only be allowed with one or both parents of the children present. This would ensure that parents are fully conversant with exactly what is being fed into their children's minds, and also enable them to answer any later questions in the most appropriate manner.

We have seen the various attempts in the past to infiltrate our children's education in the matter of relationships with the attempts to normalise same-sex relationships in families. It is widely recognised that if you can manipulate the mind of a child up to the age of seven then you have them for life, at least generally speaking. Surely the best education that a child can have is that which points it towards respecting self and others, responsible citizenship, a strong sense of right and wrong, and a strong desire to grow up as caring and responsible members of both family and community. I do not believe that giving lessons which name genitalia, talk about contraception, and so on, appropriately fit into this blueprint.

Yes, by all means answer the natural questioning of a child's mind, but do not elaborate unnecessarily and open Pandora's Box in their little lives. It is obvious from the problems that young people face over sexual matters such as teenage pregnancies, teenage abortion, unsafe sex, and STDs, that attempts at sexually educating them have so far fallen short of the mark. The traditional reticence of so many parents to discuss personal relationship matters with their children, the attitude that it's the job of teachers or the job of the State, do nothing to help either. There is a great need for people at all levels and from all quarters to adopt responsible attitudes when it comes to discussing the various aspects of personal relationships, including sexual matters. If that can be achieved, together with the instillation of the responsibilities that ALL people have, then perhaps we might start to see a change for the better which will, in turn, let us see more responsible members of society in all its facets.

What's wrong with saying "NO!"

On September 16th I posted an entry on this blog about the 'No Outsiders' project being promoted here in the UK, which includes, amongst other aspects of its agenda, the following stated intention, which appears on their website:
During the course of the project, a team of primary teachers from three areas of the UK will develop ideas and resources to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in their own schools and their communities.

There is more news of the project in the Media today, trumpeting the fact that children as young as five will be taught the names of genitalia and taught about the basic differences between boys and girls. As they progress through their school lives the children will then be taught increasingly about sexual relationships.

Talking to my 14 year old step-son, he advises that at their High School the sex education/ relationship lessons take the form of one day a year where discussions take place, primarily focusing on contraception. When it comes to the question of saying 'No', the brief discussion centred around a situation involving a girl of about 15 who had a boyfriend aged 18 or 19 who was pressuring her to have sex with him, and in these circumstances the class were advised that the best answer is 'No'. He advises me that there is not a lot of discussion about relationships otherwise, beyond the question of whether or not the children conversed with their parents.

Nowhere do I see any indication that children might be taught that ABSTINENCE is the BEST PATH TO TAKE! I can hear some people laughing even as I write. Abstinence? Why that's an infringement of their human rights, or at least, if it is NOT then it SHOULD be!

Yet surely the best course of action if we are to teach our children anything about the subject of relationships at all, is to teach them about RESPECTING OTHERS, and RESPECTING THEMSELVES. A better world is not created by making children aware of sex at too early an age, but it is helped by teaching them MORALS, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY and the fact that there are many things in this world where the best answer to the temptations offered is simply the word 'NO'.

Successive governments over the past few decades have promoted an assortment of policies regarding our children's education, particularly on the subject of sex education. Now, I agree that the better informed that ALL people are, irrespective of age to a degree, about all matters concerning that which serves to hold families together, to preserve community and foster good and responsible citizenship, then the better it is for everyone. However, when it comes to sex education I hear the figures of over 4300 abortions per year for under 16's in the UK, and I have to acknowledge that the education obviously has been misguided, and has failed in its prime purpose, which is to educate.

Why can we not have government by people who are concerned more about creating a better world than they are about amassing wealth and power for themselves?

It is so easy to talk about our children 'being the future', but the reality is that our children are 'the NOW'!

If we fail them now and behaviour continues to spiral out of control in the way that it currently is, with so many teenage pregnancies, such a great a 'knife culture' that sees, according to statistics, over 300 instances of knife-crime in the UK every day, so much 'yobbish' behaviour, drunkenness and disrespect, then we fail them, not only the 'NOW' but the 'FUTURE' as well.

Of course I am aware that much that is deemed 'bad behaviour' is displayed by only a relative minority of our young people. There are thousands of young people who do good because they are good. In general they will come from situations where they are cared about, in the home, in the school and in the community. One of the greatest means of getting respect is to give it, but it is a two-way street.

A child's everlasting Prayer

A Prayer

O Lord, I come to Thee
On bended knee,
To this Thy shrine,
This holy place of Thine,
To pray.
To pray for peace,
That war may cease,
And that all mankind
Will not be blind to God.
I thank You for the things You’ve done
Throughout the day, each little one
I treasure dear. So Lord,
Please hear my prayer to You.
Forgive me for those things done wrong,
I’ll try, as I’ve tried all along,
To do Thy will:
And I’ll try still,
Until I die.

The above was originally written when I was a boy of fourteen, way back in the dark ages --- well, in 1957 actually. It was my very first piece of published poetry, and was published in the church magazine of St Bartholomew's Church in Corsham, Wiltshire, (UK), when I was sixteen, after which it appeared in several other church magazines as well.

One very special thing about this poem is that it has weathered the years well, and is as appealing to people today as it ever was. I think that the reason is simply that the sentiment expressed in this poem is timeless.

I have one particular memory regarding this poem:
It was one Thursday in the Summer of 1961, and being a Thursday afternoon it was my half-day off from work. At that time I worked for Weaver to Wearer, a retail tailoring establishment in Bath. I was on my way home, sitting on the upper deck of the bus in the front seat, and opposite me there were two ladies who, it didn't take long to discover, were on vacation from Canada. They were travelling to Corsham to look around, having been recommended to check out the history of the place.

Having nothing particular to do I offered to show them around, thereby ensuring that they would see as much of the town as possible within the relatively short time that they would be there. I showed them the Flemish Buildings, the Almshouses, Corsham Court, and all the main buildings that I felt would be of interest to them. It was a great afternoon, and one that I still remember vividly after all these years. It was whilst we were at the approach to Corsham Court that the ladies asked if they could look around the church, the entrance to which shares the same approach as the Court.

Once inside they showed great interest in everything, exclaiming every now and then on one particular aspect or another. As they came to the table which had various books and so on, available for visitors, they picked up the latest issue of the church magazine and started to thumb through it. As they did, so they came across this poem, and said how good it was, although I declined the information that I had written it. Even though it bore my name they only knew my Christian name at that point.

Soon their visit was drawing to a close and as a way of saying 'Thank you' for my time and company, they offered to take me for the 'Strawberry Tea' that we had seen advertised at Aust's, a small shop where Mr Aust sold prints of old maps, and Mrs Aust was a purveyor of Strawberry Teas. Over tea --- which I can still recall the taste of! --- the ladies questioned me about the poem and I finally admitted that it was indeed written by me a couple of years prior.

I had a letter about a week later updating me regarding their travels, they having removed from my home area down to Hampshire for a while before returning to Canada. They promised to write again, and in time I received a lovely letter from one of the ladies, now back in her own domicile, and in this letter she reiterated her thanks for 'what had been a lovely afternoon when they had enjoyed not only my town but also my company,' commenting that she had cut my poem from the church magazine and pasted it into her diary in order to read it every day, adding that it would remind her of both the afternoon and of me.

Not a major incident, perhaps, but certainly a memorable one. After all, here I am, after almost fifty years, recalling and recounting it for your interest, dear reader.

Blessed are . . .

I've spent a little time trawling through my blog today, and have even surprised myself at the y to wide variety of subjects that I have 'blogged' about so far!

Of course it's easy to see the things that I'm affected by, for they get the highest number of write-ups. Things such as the massive problems in Zimbabwe caused by the Dictatorship and tyranny of Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

My years in that now beleaguered nation were made all the happier because of the amazing friendships that I enjoyed with so many of the people --- people who I now wonder have even managed to survive the deprivations of the last two decades. One of the things that so impressed me about the Zimbabwean people is that even despite their poverty in material things, despite the problems of knowing where the next meal would come from, despite never truly owning even a small part of their nation, they still were so rich in spirit.

When I think of this I am reminded by those people of Christ's teachings which we find in the Sermon on the Mount, referring to them as the Beatitudes. There are eight of these teachings altogether.

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS
Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Matthew 5:14-16

Fear Not

Night Must Fall

A couple of days ago I wrote about Emlyn Williams, mentioning that I had acted in a couple of his plays when I lived in Mid Wales. I've dug out the programmes of the two plays concerned, Night Must Fall in which I played the part of Hubert Laurie, and The Late Christopher Bean in which I played the part of Rosen. Both were great plays to be cast in and each ran, as did all of our plays, for a week's run. We had our own little theatre in Newtown, Powys, which is still going strong all these years later.

Anyway, here are the pictures of the two programmes plus a few shots from Night Must Fall. Regrettably, I do not have any shots from the second of the two plays, although my memories of both are still strong and able to bring pleasure with their recall.

I hope this blesses you . . .

Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil: [Then] your body will be healed, and your bones will have nourishment.

Let your ear be bent down for hearing My words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.

Let the teaching concerning Christ remain as a rich treasure in your heart for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.

Proverbs 3:7-8. Proverbs 22:17, Colossians 3:16, Proverbs 3:2