Weblog of a Country Priest

I was asked to present the prizes at our village flower show today.  It was a tremendous event.  Representatives of every part of village life were there; and many were exhibitors.  The standard was very high, and afterwards the goodies were auctioned.  We were lucky with a medley of fruits, now a cooling bowl of summer fruit compote, and some lovely large english tomatoes, which actually smell like tomatoes should.

It is very sad that the lad shot at Stockwell lost his life, and that it has caused such heartache for his loved ones, but however the error occurred he is one more victim of the suicide bombers.  Society and its servants may make mistakes, and mistakes must be put right so far as they are able to be so.

But don't let us loose sight of the fact that the police officers involved were doing what they did because they believed they were protecting first those nearby and ultimately all of us.

We should pray for a reasonable and responsible approach to this whole matter.

So Nottingham Police Officers - serving in a so called post religious secularised society - are to wear green ribbons on their uniforms to show friendship to those other members of the community who recognise the colour green as an emblem their religious faith.

We have spent all day attempting to transact some business with our bank.  It began with a long queue at about 10.45 am. We are both well known to the staff and visit the bank on business at least once a week, and have done so for the past five years.  It was the beloved that wanted to do the deal, because the documents are in her name.  She explained what she wanted to do and filled in and signed the proper form.  Then she was asked for some proof of her identity.  No five credit cards, a National Trust card, and last month's statement from the bank in question, were deemed inadequate.  A current passport or current driving licence would have done nicely.  She has neither. 

A call must be made to Head Office to see what can be done.  Oh, a letter from the Pensions Agency setting out her pension entitlement would also do nicely. This of course was at home 7 miles away.  So back home we went. eventually at 3.45pm we reached the head of another queue, handed over the document requested (which is computer generated and bears no signatures of any sort - neither from a member of  the Benefits Agency nor the beloved's).  This was copied and the copy was accepted!

How do rogue builders take little old ladies to the banks and obtain their life's savings?

Yes, I do think we are all locked in a lavatory.

At a funeral service today the family asked for the Londonderry Air to be played when the coffin was brought into church, and for Danny Boy to be played when the coffin was taken out for burial. 

You couldn't make it up!

Newcomers to Wells on Sea on the north Norfolk coast have been complaining about the noise the seagulls and the boats make in the harbour.

You really couldn't make it up!

Hiroshima?

Nagasaki?

Manhattan?

Enola Gay?

The Twin Towers?

The Gaza strip?

The Russian sub?

The shuttle's return?  Perhaps?

Our greatest achievements?  Or.........?

Sunrise?  Sunrise? Winter and Summer?  Seedtime and Harvest?

All still remain!

When soars my soul, creator God, How great THOU art, How great THOU art!

The bombings.

The failed bombings.

The lad killed with an axe.

The video of Bin Laden's assistant warning about further terrorist attacks.

The remembrance of Enoch Powell's derided prophecies.

The pseudo-apologies sought and offered for slavery and other historical wrongs.

And all around these events the gathering of the career handwringers (inside and outside the media) telling the rest of us how we are the real culprits.  We provoked these things.  Apparently the responsibility is ours!

So I give thanks that my God only holds me to account for what I have done.

Indeed not only am I responsible for my wrongs, but in the last judgement when my God recalls my sins He also pronounces my acquittal He has already provided in Jesus of Nazareth's life, death, resurrection, ascension and promised return .

Jesus died for me.  He died for you.  Praise his Name.