Sunday, November 30, 2008

Damian Green arrest : This smacks of a Police State!

There was a time, when I was a lad, that the police were viewed quite differently from the way that they are today, and the main reason for that was that they behaved differently. For the average law-abiding citizen, (including small boys who only erred slightly), there was great respect for the local policeman. There was certain amount of healthy fear from most small boys, but that was usually because you feared getting caught at at some minor misdemeanour. I remember, for example, one occasion when I was stopped by the local Bobby because my rear cycle light was out. On being questioned I confirmed that it had been working when I left home, but lo and behold! when he unscrewed the light to check it had no battery in it!!! I never pulled that one again, that was for sure! A severe reprimand and a threat to tell my father made certain of it.

Despite occasions like this there was, nevertheless, a healthy respect for the local police, combined with a sense of awe when it came to greater police matters that fell upon our ears. It was a two-way thing as well, for the local Bobby had a friendly respect for the people, including the children, and was a popular figure as he made his rounds. He was a very visible presence on the streets of my home town.

Generally speaking that has changed drastically. Even amongst the most model citizens there is little respect for the police, and perhaps that has much to do with the fact that many people don't feel that they are respected by the police. Cry for help these days and often your cry will either go unheeded altogether or be placed at a very low priority on the list of things that need to be done. Additionally, the lack of respect for the police is as much to do with the fact that they are perceived by many as considering themselves often above the Law that they are supposed to represent, as the rarity of their presence on the streets. To many growing up in today's world the presence of the police is represented only by flashing blue lights and screaming sirens when there are chases going on. In the Media we hear of people being killed by speeding police cars and find the drivers get meagre punishments meted out. Reports of senior police officers caught speeding on motorways and being let off or handed down a petty fine do little to beef up the image either.

Now we have so many new laws that have been introduced over the past decade that give the police unprecedented powers. Laws that purport to be for one purpose are worded loosely enough to be interpreted for other purposes, a classic example being the arrest and detention of Damian Green MP. His real crime was to make public matters of public interest and concern that the Labour hierarchy wanted to keep secret.

The manner of his arrest, the manner in which the raids were carried out, the treatment meted out to Mr Green, and the apathetic excuses that have been, and no doubt will be again, offered in an attempt to justify the actions, all smack of a POLICE STATE.

The police are there to uphold the Law, and the lawmakers are the politicians who are elected to represent the people --- in other words the Government. Damian Green was subjected to an act of political intimidation at the hands of the puppets whose strings were pulled from Westminster. It is a situation that should scream out a wake-up call to every citizen of this country, for next time it could be anyone of us. What it tells us about those who have the responsibility of governing us is that they are more concerned about getting away with things than of being open-handed. When those in power work with a veil of secrecy cloaking their actions then there is a very real cause to believe that we are living in a Police State. This sorry episode demonstrates to all of us that none of those whose task it is to protect us can be really trusted --- not the police hierarchy, nor the civil service mandarins, and especially not the government ministers.

Over the past decade this government, many of whom in their early political careers had shady connections to totalitarian policies and political parties, have introduced a variety of draconian and totalitarian measures that often appear to the general public to be more about protecting themselves from prosecution from corruption in office, than about promoting the well-being of the ntion and of the electorate that was responsible for getting them their tickets for the gravy train.

New anti-terror laws were introduced because the laws that already existed were not being applied. Islamic Fundamentalism was given a virtually free hand to flourish in this nation and now, having sown the wind we are reaping the whirlwind, not only here but across the world, as Islamic terrorism increases its grip of fear on nation after nation. Had the laws that were already in place regarding public order been correctly and timeously applied then the terrorists that have been allowed --- and continue to be allowed --- to foment their brand of hatred against any who dare to differ in belief, then we would not be in the situation that exists today.

It is time for common-sense to prevail!

Yes, we need the law to afford protection, but it needs to be administered and upheld by a non-political police administration. One most urgent task is to throw out of the country all who are known to be connected terrorism, and to cease immediately any public benefit towards their families. If, due to their nefarious activities in the country of their origin, they are likely to face imprisonment or even death, then so be it. They are the authors of their own destiny. They know the risks they take when they embark on their acts of outrage, whether it be to act first-hand or to encourage others to perpetrate them.

It's time for change!
What we currently have is not democracy, merely a shadow of what democracy should be.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Book-signing at The Curiosity Bookshop

Yesterday I was invited to a local bookshop to sign copies of my books of Christian Verse and poetry, together with popular local singer Alan Watson who has just recorded his first release on the Sheer Joy Music label. The Cd is called Songs of Worship, and on it Alan has recorded four of my worship songs. This release is a taster for a series of CDs which Alan will record under the same label in 2009.


In the above photograph, Alan is busy signing a copy of Songs of Worship for one of several people who purchased it.



We were joined at the signing by local author Chris Darlington whose new book about Runcorn Football Club and the rise and fall of their Canal Street ground, Gone! But not Forgotten, is due for release in the next couple of weeks. The book will be on sale in the Curiosity Bookshop and is also available direct from the author by
emailing him direct.


In the above photograph Rev Colin discusses his work with one of the customers at the signing who purchased both a CD and a book.
All of Rev Colin's books, together with the various Cd's on the Sheer Joy Music label which feature his songwriting, are now available from the Curiosity Bookshop in High Street, Runcorn, or via their website.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

The GREATEST American Fraud!

Following on my post earlier today about President-elect Barack Hussein Obama's refusal to offer his birth certificate in order to confirm his legality to be the next US President, I recommend you to watch the following YouTube videos and form your own opinion. The speaker is a very brave man, speaking out as he does despite the massive cover-up attempts that exist in this matter.

Runcorn's Footbal Club's History : 'Gone! But not Forgotten'

This new book, which records the birth, growth and history of Runcorn's Football Club, will be available in a couple of weeks time, and is a 'must-have' book for everyone interested in the history of the game in Runcorn. The author, Chris Darlington, obviously writes with the passion of one who has been involved first-hand, and he has interviewed countless numbers of people in the process of researching Gone! But not forgotten. There are eleven pages of photographs, some of which portray the team as far back as the 1920's, and all of which add to the general feeling of a Club that was well loved.
From humble beginnings to the final chapter involving the sale of the Canal Street ground for a housing development, here is the story seen through the eyes of supporters. It is well written and well researched, and at £4.95 will make a welcome stocking-filler for many a fan of Runcorn's football past.
If you would like to order an advance copy then you can do so by emailing your details to the author.
A poem of mine has been included on the final page, and I post it here now for you to read:

The Stands are Silent Now

The Stands are silent now.
No more the crowds that cheered
the yellow and the green;
no more the players and the fans
where once our pride had been.
No more the glorious sound
of leather boot on leather ball,
across our hallowed ground.
For now, where once we stood
to watch our heroes play the game,
and cheered them on and on
and watched them win the cup,
the Stands are silent now,
and they’re putting houses up.

© 2008 Colin Gordon-Farleigh

Obama's #1 State Secret? Relatives say that he was born in Mombasa!


I'm sharing this report by World Net Daily with you, for I feel that it cvers an important issue, not only to the citizens of the USA but also to many other countries, including the United Kingdom. The American Constitution clearly states that a person must be born in the USA in order to qualify for the post of President (Article 2, Section 1, no one can be sworn into office as president of the United States without being a natural born citizen). Although it has been stated that Obama was born in Hawaii, it is also recognised that Hawaii has a history of registering births that took place outside of its borders, as a matter of convenience. Some of Barack Obama's relatives in Kenya state that they recall his birth being in Mombasa, and if that is proven to be true then it automatically disqualifies him under the Constitution from taking up the Presidency. All that is necessary to disprove the allegations are for Obama to release a copy of his birth certificate to the Media. The question will then be resolved.

In my experience, the only reason that anyone, politicians in particular, make a point-blank refusal to comply with such simple requests is that they know that the result of such compliance will bring about their downfall. If Obama's protest that the allegations are patently untrue then he will have no problem in satisfying the growing sea of unease at his current refusal to prove his words against his those of his accusers.

Because of the vast power that is vested in the office of the US President, it's obviously of the utmost importance that a matter such as this, which challenges the Constitution, be resolved.

Under the headline Do You Believe in the Constitution? the WND report reads as follows:

Last Friday, a judge in Hawaii threw out the latest lawsuit seeking public release of Barack Obama's No. 1 state secret—his birth certificate!

In ruling against the challenge, the judge wrote that he found "insufficient evidence to indicate that the public interest supports" release of the document.

Since that judge's ruling, more than 95,000 WorldNetDaily readers have joined you in signing the petition to demand documentation of Barack Obama's eligibility to hold the highest office in the U.S. Nearly 1,000 people an hour have signed the petition. How's that for an expression of public interest?

It's not surprising that WND readers are well-versed in the controversy and understand the stakes. No news organization in the world has done more to get to the bottom of this eligibility question. During the presidential campaign, WND:

  • dispatched senior staff reporter Jerome Corsi twice to Hawaii to investigate the matter, including an appeal to the governor.

  • hired a battery of private investigators in Hawaii to check every hospital for birth records—to no avail.

  • sent Corsi to Kenya where he talked with some of Obama's relatives who clearly recall the birth taking place in Mombasa. (While there, Corsi was detained by Kenyan officials and a press conference he had scheduled was canceled at the last minute at the order of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has since made clear he has expectations of payback from soon-to-be President Obama.)

Why not log onto the WND website and sign the onlne petition in support of making Obama's birth certificate public.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!


I hope that you have a great Thanksgiving Day, surrounded by those you love, and that you both give and receive all that helps to make it a memorable occasion.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Take a moment to reflect . . .


  • Sometimes, in all the hustle and bustle of the world around us, it's good to step aside for a moment and just simply take time to reflect on all the beauty of the world that we live in.
  • It's so easy to become downhearted when we read of the ugliness of daily living with all of the struggles and the strife that we can sometimes be faced with.
  • It's at such times that we need to refresh our souls, and what better way than to step to one side and look around at all that God has made and count our blessings.
  • How often we find that there are many more blessings than we ever thought possible, and it's at that moment of realisation that we find also that our souls respond and we are transported to realms of glory from our inner being, heavenward to a moment where we experience God's presence.


I pray that today will be a special day for you, dear reader, and that you will experience a moment in the day with God the Creator of all things.

I was interviewed on the radio . . .


Last Sunday evening I travelled about forty minutes to Leasowe, which is on the Wirral, to be interviewed by Chris Youngman on her radio show Cafe Sunday, which is broadcast each Sunday between 5 and 7 pm on 7Waves Community Radio. Above is a pic of Chris and myself in the Studio having a discussion prior to going on air.
The Recording Studios are fairly new, having only been opened in March this year, and they boast really great up-to-the-minute equipment, with three studios in all. It was a good interview, discussing the various aspects of my work in the ministry, my magazine, my books and my music, and she played several tracks from the various CDs that showcase my worship songs and love songs.
All in all, an enjoyable interview. Thanks, Chris!

SMILE! Jesus loves YOU!


Once again I share with you, dear reader, a meditation from Joanne Lowe. You can get these meditations yourself every day simply by visiting her website and subscribing.

YOU CAN GIVE A SMILE

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Acts 3: 6 (King James Version)

For many years I didn’t think there was anything I could do for Jesus. I have been told many times that I can’t carry a tune in a bucket so according to the world I can’t sing. However, when I sing to Jesus, I know it makes Him happy because it comes from my heart. You may not be a singer, a preacher, a teacher or anyone who is in front of the public but if you have invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, you can smile at people.

I know that it is impossible to smile all the time because we have so many disappointments, burdens, heartaches and sorrows in our lives. However, if Jesus lives in our hearts we have His joy in our hearts. We could never generate that joy. It is His joy, not our joy that shines on our faces in our smiles. The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8: 10).

Even in the midst of the hurricanes of life, we can smile at people because we know that Jesus loves us and His joy is our strength. How sad it would be if people didn’t see the joy of having Jesus in our hearts by our smiles and hear His compassion, understanding and unconditional love in our words. You may not feel like being cheerful and smiling and talking to people. However, I’m sure when our precious Saviour was hanging on that cruel cross of horror and excruciating pain that He didn’t feel cheerful or feel like talking to anyone. He certainly didn’t feel like smiling but He still loved us even though we had beat Him beyond recognition, had spat on Him, had cursed Him, had mocked Him and had rejected Him.

You might think “I’m not guilty of crucifying Jesus. I didn’t beat Him or spit on Him, or curse Him, or mock Him or reject Him. I wasn’t there that day.” However, every time we say criticizing and sarcastic words to someone or we are cruel and mean to someone, we are just as guilty as if we were there that day pounding the nails into the hands and the heart of our precious Saviour.

Even in the midst of all of the agony and the suffering that our precious Saviour endured for us, we read in the Bible that His heart was still full of compassion and unconditional love for us. “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23: 33, 34 ).

Are you willing to allow the joy of Jesus to shine on your face in your smile and in your words even when you are discouraged and heartbroken? If Jesus could love us so much while hanging on the old rugged cross, heartbroken, bleeding and beaten beyond recognition that He said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” how can you and I not give of ourselves and smile for Him?

Remember, the level of your service to Jesus depends on your level of love for Him. Let me repeat this because it is so important “the level of your service to Jesus depends on your level of love for Him”. How much do you love Him and how much are you willing to do for Him? Do you love Him enough to shut off the television and call someone who is lonely, discouraged, and heartbroken and who desperately needs to know that someone cares?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Emynau Cymraeg/ Welsh Hymns


I often have folk visit my music website looking for any of my hymns which have been translated into Welsh, something that I am always anxious to include. The problem is getting someone with enough time to spare for the task, and whose command of the language is matched by their musical ability, the combination of which results in a really good translation which retains all of the original meaning without distraction from the music. I'm always interested in people who can help in this voluntary task, and their work would ultimately help to provide a collection of new Welsh hymns. If you are interested then why not pay a visit to the Sheer Joy Music site and look through the hymns that are posted there. You can contact me here.

One person who has done a couple of excellent translations for me is Parchedig Olwyn Williams, a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Wales with whom I was at the Theological College in Aberystwyth. Below is her translation of O the Wonder! which is one of the hymns that she has translated, and which she has done an excellent job of. I have included the original English words as well in this post. I hope that you will enjoy singing it in either language, but especially in the Welsh.

O’r Rhyfeddod! 8.7.8.7.
Tôn: Blaenwern Cyf: Olwen Elena Williams


Clywaf d’alwad O! Waredwr,
I dy wasanaethu Di:
Fendigedig Iesu, deuaf
I’th ewyllys, plygaf i.
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Brynwr gwerthfawr ‘rwyf yn rhydd,
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Bodlon yn Dy waith bob dydd.

Drwy fy mywyd, cwsg neu effro,
Ddydd neu nos, O! ysbryd byw
‘Rwyt arweinydd a diddanydd,
Ti yw popeth im fy Nuw.
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Brynwr gwerthfawr ‘rwyf yn rhydd,
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Bodlon yn Dy waith bob dydd.


Teimlaf Di gerllaw yn fythol,
Cerddi gyda mi bob cam,
Yn ddiogel ‘rwyt yn gwarchod,
Cariad mwy na chariad mam.
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Brynwr gwerthfawr ‘rwyf yn rhydd,
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Bodlon yn Dy waith bob dydd.


Ti O! Grist, yw fy ngwaredwr,
Aethost drosof fi I’r Groes,
O! Fab Duw fy mhrynwr dedwydd,
Fe’th addolaf hyd fy oes.
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Brynwr gwerthfawr ‘rwyf yn rhydd,
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Bodlon yn Dy waith bob dydd.

© Colin Gordon-Farleigh, 2006


Oh, the Wonder!
8.7.8.7.
Tune ‘Blaenwern’.


Saviour, now I hear you calling
Me to serve You here below;
Blessed Jesus, I will follow,
Where You lead me I will go.
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Precious Saviour, I am free!
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Purest joy of serving Thee.

In my waking and my sleeping,
At the morn or eventide,
Holy Spirit in this temple,
As my Comforter and Guide.
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Precious Saviour, I am free!
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Purest joy of serving Thee.


Knowing You are always near me,
Walking always by my side,
Ever safely watching o’er me,
Blessed Saviour, friend and guide.
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Precious Saviour, I am free!
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Purest joy of serving Thee.


I acknowledge You as Saviour,
Who hung there upon the tree,
Worship You, my blest Redeemer,
Son of God who died for me.
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Precious Saviour, I am free!
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Purest joy of serving Thee.

© Colin Gordon-Farleigh, 2006

Saturday, November 22, 2008

A new CD by Alan Watson

Alan Watson, a great singer who lives in the same town as me, recently signed to record with Sheer Joy Music, and his first CD, Songs of Worship, will be launched on 26th November at The Curiosity Bookshop in Runcorn. Alan will be alongside me as I sign copies of my Award-winning books of Christian verse, and we will play tracks from his CD which features hymns that I have written set to popular hymn tunes, all of which have been beautifully arranged by Sarah Atter, a gifted young musician currently at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

If you are in the area, why not come along and meet us. You'll find a warm welcome there if you do!

Let's talk about HOLIDAYS!

On a very cold morning here in the North-West of England, in an attempt to warm up my mind at least, my thoughts wander down the holiday trail. I remember holidays from years past, spent mostly at Bournemouth in Hampshire when I was a boy. Along with my parents and with usually at least five of us siblings, off we would go every August to stay in an hotel. In between times spent building sandcastles on the beach or dashing in and out of the water we would do the occasional Day-Trip or go off to visit relatives, several of whom lived in the vicinity. Of course, all those holidays are remembered as happy times, for what child would not be happy playing on the golden sands?


The beaches would usually be packed as tight as sardines in a tin during the weeks of July and August when the sun was blazing in the sky almost every day, and even when it rained the rain felt warm!

Nowadays, rather than building sandcastles, and too wise to go into the sea, I much prefer a deck-chair if I spend time on the beach anywhere!


How well I remember the happy hours spent with a child's fishing net and bucket, looking for small crabs and prawns along the edges of the groynes. Built as part of the coastal defences and to protect the beaches from being washed away, these groynes provided a sanctuary for a myriad small creatures and a playground for generations of inquisitive children.

A favourite place to go was Fisherman's Walk at Southbourne, where we would often see and feed Red Squirrels. At night they looked very special with all the lights.


When darkness fell the lights and their reflections made a very dramatic picture, as this photograph of Bournemouth Pier shows.

I hope that you enjoyed this little wander down the Memory Lane of my childhood holiday times, dear reader, and that it brought a little sunshine and warmth into your life on a cold day.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Be Content . . .

"For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."
(Philippians 4:11-13)

Renewal : Psalm 103 vs 1 - 5


"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."
Psalm 103: 1-5

Revival! Memories of 1904 and the last great Welsh Revival


Last week I went to stay with friends in Swansea, South Wales, for a few days and, whilst there, we went to visit Moriah Chapel at Loughor, which is the place where the 1904 Revival --- the last great Welsh Revival --- broke out. What a great experience it was to stand in the schoolroom where the Revivalist, Evan Roberts, then a young man of 26, spoke to the young children and where the Holy Spirit filled people with such a sense of their need for repentance and salvation that a great spiritual shaking began.

What a time that was! As a result of the Revival, which spread from Lougher across much of the world, hundreds of thousands of souls were saved and individual lives changed. Whole communities across Wales were radically changed and even society itself underwent drastic change, pubs closing their doors and judges being handed white cotton gloves to signify that there were no cases to be tried. No records were kept of the actual number converted, but 150,000 is a very conservative estimate during the first six months. Wales once again became a God-fearing nation as it had been as a result from previous Revivals.

It was reported that not only did the colliers put in a better day's work, but also that the pit ponies failed to understand their orders because those in charge of them no longer cursed and swore at them! Within both families and communities there were healing of relationships where previously there had been rifts. People who had not spoken to one another for years repented and made up.

It's important to understand that all this came about because there were people praying to God to come and change the world. When we seek Revival then we are seeking change. Change from the life which we are currently experiencing to that style of living which God would have us live. True Revival starts with the individual, for only the prayers of the repentant sinner will stir God's heart. Without repentance there can be nothing, for it means that we are still in sin, and sin is a total abomination to God. We must be cleansed and the only way for that to happen is for us to humble ourselves before God and repent of every area of sin in our lives, no matter how old or how seemingly small --- no sin is small enough to be considered insignificant by God!

Looking around us at the times in which we live there is such a need for a spiritual shaking in the world and in the Western world in particular. If only we could see a genuine hunger for God amongst the people, yet that doesn't even exist in so many of our churches. Complacency has been allowed to convert to apathy. A weak ineffectual watered-down gospel has been created in order to satisfy the listener. Many churches have become more like Sunday Clubs than places where God is truly worshipped. Walk into the vast majority of churches whilst people are seated awaiting the commencement of the service and you can hardly hear yourself think because of the noisy chatter that is going on. Ask people to be quiet and you upset them. They will often tell you that it's the only opportunity that they get to speak to the person sitting next to them. Well, despite the fact that I may well upset some people, I suggest that when you come to a service with the intent to worship God then the best thing is to hold a reverent silence, thus ensuring that you are well-positioned to hear God speaking to you.

In fact a good maxim would be:
  • Before the service begins prepare yourself for worship and listen for God.
  • During the service listen to God.
  • After the service tell others about God.

If you really want to talk to someone that you currently only see at the church service then surely the best thing would be to arrange to get together with them during one of the remaining 166 - 7 hours of the week! That way you can chat over a cuppa or a meal as well!

Let us all turn to God with genuine repentant hearts and confess our sins to Him. Then, when we have done that, let us plead with Him through prayer to send His Holy Spirit down upon us and revive us and the whole of His church and thereby heal our lands of the corruption that has been allowed to exist and foment.

Monday, November 17, 2008

I charge Rowan Atkinson with Blasphemy

On Saturday last, 15th November, the TV viewing public were 'treated' to the sight of comedian Rowan Atkinson dressed up as a vicar and blaspheming, using the Bible as a prop and misrepresenting Scripture. As a result of the text of his so-called humourous broadcast I charge him with outrageous blasphemy. He contravened the rules laid down by Ofcom in the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, which state :
2.1 Generally accepted standards must be applied to the contents of television and radio services so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion in such services of harmful and/or offensive material.
4.2 The religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular religion or religious denomination must not be subject to abusive treatment.
5.7 Views and facts must not be misrepresented.


The organisation 'Christian Voice' has outlined the case clearly in an email sent to supporters, and I reproduce the body of that email here for your benefit, dear reader:

Rowan Atkinson mocks Christ at Prince's Birthday Show

Rowan Atkinson mocked the Bible, Jesus Christ, His miracle at Cana and His crucifixion on the
Prince of Wales' 60th birthday show at 8.35pm on Saturday 15th November 2008 which was broadcast on ITV as 'We are most amused'.
Atkinson came on dressed as a vicar and began to read from John Chapter 2. After half a verse he began to
blaspheme the word of God and mock the Lord and His miracles as conjuring tricks. Since the presentation did not change, it would not have been clear to someone unfamiliar with the scriptures what was from the Bible and what was not. Atkinson finished up by saying: 'He did go unto Jerusalem and he did his full act ... they absolutely crucified him.' (A reference to a common showbiz saying when an act has gone down badly.)
Here is a YouTube clip
All this was in front of the heir to the throne, who, if the Lord wills, will be granted the title 'Defender of the Faith' when he is crowned. Atkinson is a friend of the Prince of Wales, and he thinks he can do as he likes. The camera did not record the Prince's reaction.
That comedy can be clean, respectful and side-splittingly funny was shown earlier in the evening by Bill Bailey in a brilliant musical piece of solo stand-up comedy.
Atkinson has rightly defended political satire and
his biography quotes him as saying: 'The freedom to criticize ideas, any ideas - even if they are sincerely held beliefs - is one of the fundamental freedoms of society.'
But his sketch was not political satire, nor did it criticise any idea or belief of Christianity. It was just insulting, mocking, crass and disrespectful. Civilised, decent people do not behave like that. Plainly Atkinson thinks there is not enough disrespect in our society already today.
And as he wouldn't come on dressed as an Imam and ridicule something in the Koran, he evidently thinks Christianity is a softer touch than Islam. Atkinson chooses to offend Christians but would never dare to offend Muslims. He displays all the cowardice of his class.
The
Ofcom Broadcasting Code states:
2.1 Generally accepted standards must be applied to the contents of television and radio services so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion in such services of harmful and/or offensive material.
4.2 The religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular religion or religious denomination must not be subject to abusive treatment.
5.7 Views and facts must not be misrepresented.
(1) Make your Ofcom complaint by
clicking HERE:
You have all the details above. In the last box I said: 'Blasphemous, insulting, offensive and abusive of Christianity, contrary to Sections 2.1, 4.2 and 5.7 of the Broadcasting Code.'
But you can say more if you wish, and indeed if all comments are the same they will only say it was an 'orchestrated' campaign. So use your own words.
(2) Write to the Prince of Wales at: Clarence House, LONDON, SW1A 1BA or at: Highgrove House, Doughton, TETBURY, Gloucestershire GL8 8TN.
He is addressed on the envelope as 'HRH The Prince of Wales'. The salutation is 'Your Royal Highness' and you end with 'I have the honour to be Your Royal Highness's obedient servant' and then sign it. You can
email but it is far, far better to write, and to do so in legible handwriting is best of all.
A good question to ask is whether the Prince's office knew anything about the content of Atkinson's act in advance and was asked to approve it. Write in your own words, of course.
(3) Write to Rowan Atkinson at his home address which is: The Old Rectory, Waterderry, OXFORD, OX33 1LB
READ: Luke 23:36-43 - It is so easy to mock the Lord, but also possible to find faith and repent even at the last hour.
PRAY: That Atkinson will be castigated and chastened by this event and will repent and turn to the Lord he has mocked. Pray that the Prince of Wales will distance himself from Atkinson's remarks. Pray that Ofcom will find a breach of its Code. And may God have mercy on us.
Well, dear reader, there you have it. Are you happy to have Jesus Christ mocked and blasphemed in this manner? Are you happy to have Holy Scripture misrepresented for the sake of so-called comedy? If you are then that's your choice and prerogative, but if, like me, you are not, then I hope that you will write and make your complaints known.

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)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

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."


Monday, November 10, 2008

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)

Thursday, November 6, 2008

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!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

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.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

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?

Monday, November 3, 2008

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