Rough - but Ironic

Kez got there first - and go read...

This Rough Sleepers thing has got to me too. (And I only did one evening) Sunday night I was chatting with the guys who came in from the cold - in Church - they having been the first to pray out loud when space was given (gobsmacking). One of them (boyfriend of the pregnant woman) asked if I had a spare bed.

Now I sort of do - and sort of dont - for one thing the house isn't mine. (I'm housed by the mission I work for). But for 2 pins....

Back home Flora agreed - it would be really daft - but.....

One of the ironies was Andy's sermon (and for once he didn't cry - got close though) - one of his passages was the parable of the banquet - inviting all of the rough sleepers in.

The big irony though was Christmas night - the shelter was open, and in our church we had a pregnant woman come in from sleeping rough.

Sometimes irony is really beautiful - but very sad.

Epiphany

On the way to a meeting this evening I was listenong to U2 up loud (nothing new here) and thinking about Christmas. "Original of the Species" came on. Just be thankful you weren't in the car - it was loud, and I was singing along (loud, out of tune, words wrong, bad timing) (plus ca change).

I love the track - ostensibly to the daughter of the Edge. I've always seen more there - there is a touch of worship there (references to kneeling) - perhaps normal when considering a child - particularly for a parent.

Then I saw that this (for me) had the feeling of a nativity song.

Wonderful.

• Video link (cannot embed it - it is an official one)
• Lyrics Link

Preach it brother!

Woah - cynicism lives!

Or is it sarcasm? (sorry - too lazy to google the difference)

Way to go (if you are British - because we love cynicism) If you aren't - sorry to say this national trait is not one of our nicer features - but hey somebody needs to say it sometimes...

Well done Simon.

Evangelistic Sermons

Read this today.

I don't think the problem only exists in Japan - I have heard it rather nearer to home.

(Not you Mary/Andy/Kez/Glen)

Dogville

Being home alone last night gave me a chance to watch a film at random. Thanks to Ruth who lent it to me.

The film is intruiging, boring, fascinating, though provoking, and shocking.

It is a lot about Grace - both the name and the idea. Same link as in the U2 song of the same name...

Grace - its a name for a girl
It's also a thought that can change the world

At times the grace is so great that the undeserving recipients accuse Grace of being arrogant. Interesting thought...

In the end grace stops and something else happens - even that has biblical overtones.

Tagged ...

I was tagged by Mark Robinson

I'm not wildly excited by it - but hey - why be a grumpy old git all the time?

The Rules:
Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write six random things about yourself.
Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1. I cannot tell left from right
2. I do sometimes like my music soft and calm
3. I once ran a disco from a Hearse
4. I once did PA for Graham Kendrick with only one mic (and no guitar pickup)
6. I'm not very good with numbers

I have tagged Simon Cozens, Glenn Myers, and Andrew (My son) Only 3 because I am not greatly convinced about these pyramid viral tagging things..... (I suspect they may be less so)

God forbid!

Really excellent piece from that wonderful source of "news" the Onion.

"I'm Not One Of Those 'Love Thy Neighbor' Christians"