He didn't talk to us about hope

I've just spotted something. Jesus may give us hope but he didn't once say that.

He said things like "abide in me", "love me", "believe in me", "have and keep my commmandments", "don't be afraid", "follow me".

But never "hope in me".

better than the church deserves

His tongue sometimes stumbles, but his brain and his heart are
among the church's best, and probably better than it deserves.

These words come at the close of Alex Kirby's analysis for the BBC of the furore around the Archbishop of Canterbury, following his publicised exploration of how there can be legitimate provision under English law for religious conscience. (I believe that it's English law being discussed.)

And Comment from Rev Canon Edgar Ruddock of USPG

Archbishop Rowan’s comments were ‘intelligent, wise and prophetic’. After the wind came the fire and the storm – all in reaction to the Archbishop’s comments on Sharia law last week, it’s time for a pause.

In his role as Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams is uniquely gifted, as a churchman and an academic, to contribute to serious national debate about the kind of society Britain wants to become. His lecture to a group of senior lawyers legitimately addressed the complex issue of how the law contributes to the development and sustenance of a healthy pluralist society.

In the context of mission in Britain, where we live in an increasingly secular environment, many Christians have been concerned to explore how their voice can be heard, and their distinctive ‘conscience’ enshrined in law. Archbishop Rowan sought to extend this distinctiveness to other faith communities also, allowing all members of this society access to an understanding of the law of the land that links into diverse, not simply monochrome, spiritual roots.

could you shape a healthy community?

This is a neat idea.

Sam Cadman's ad is brilliant

Just 13 words but it says so much ...

gifts from round the world

Some people post amazing photos on Flickr ... and have a sense of humour to go with them. Try "smile".

and then there's this topical one - good inside information!


One engine approach with Airbus A330 simulator
Originally uploaded by Lo M

try some hope

fresh hope












and from Jude Simpson's broken open












(extracts)

Jesus came for the insane,
the unfulfilled,
the searching,
the street child the tramp and the urchin
the poor little rich girl snorting coke and cursing,
and the man who sold it to her

Jesus came for those nursing a need,
nursing a drink,
out of control,
on the brink,
falling overboard and about to,
sobbing at the kitchen sink

Jesus came for those the world drives mad,
for the bad,
yes the bad

He's not interested in courting the sorted
He came to fill the cup of the thirsty,
the worst,
the broken and the burst open

Jesus came for the sick,
the cracked up,
the packed up

Jesus came for those left behind,
for the cheats and the cheated,
the ones who crossed the line

for the broken to open
to break for those who choke

for the ones who know we need hope

benny wenda speaks