Earlier in July the British Government hosted the Global Freedom of Religion or Belief Ministerial Meeting for government officials from more than 30 countries plus representatives from international organisations, academia, church groups, interfaith groups, and civil society. Even though Article 18 of the Universal…
This week I discovered that I was a victim of identity fraud. No one was impersonating me – an old bald man wearing a clerical collar with an Australian accent 😉 – but apparently I had moved to Salford and had contacted the credit…
Last week’s ELCE Pastors’ Study Week – although it is only three days – is a good time of fellowship, learning, and worship. We were certainly hosted brilliantly by Westfield House – and a big ‘thank you’ to them – especially for the meals….
How’s the weather for you? How would you describe it? Warm? Hot? Pleasant? Unpleasant? Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week recorded the highest temperatures three days in a row this year. Friday’s UK maximum temperature was, I believe, 32.7ºC in Suffolk, and the…
I thought I knew Australian history growing up. I knew a version of it – not incorrect as such – but definitely not nuanced or the ‘full story’. The ‘skeletons were in the closet’ about some things – particularly in relation to the indigenous…
Eric Bogle’s song ‘The Gift of the Years’ is about an old Aussie soldier returning to a ceme- tery in a foreign land, 75 years later, talking to his friend who had died. In the song, he says: And the country that you died…
Last week our grandson who turns 4 in a few days had a big smile on his face, in the photo, pointing to his green band aid on his arm. He got more ‘superpowers’ and he didn’t cry at all! Yes, he had another…
I was fascinated listening to – and marvelling – at a podcast about how neuroscience is trying to help people who suffer from such things as post traumatic stress disorder. Currently the chemistry used to help people affects all of the brain but if…
We have resumed Ascension’s Bible Study and we tend to ‘scratch the itch’ in terms of the topics we study whether that be biblical, confessional, doctrinal, ethical, historical, or practical – what do people want to study, know about, talk about? I was asked…
What’s funny? A man walks into a bar. Ouch. (You were expecting something else?! 🙂 ) I have chuckled at the bulletin notice – sometimes seen on church noticeboards – ‘Don’t let worry kill you. Let the Church help.’ 🙂 No doubt we’ve heard…
