Funny Old World

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The big news today is that the baby faced assassin aka health secretary has been caught doing something very naughty. Strangely the whole focus is on him not maintaining social distancing rules but nobody has even batted an eyelid over his alleged affair. As I listened to the World at one while preparing lunch, I had to chuckle because everyone who was interviewed focused on the secondary offence but were quick to say that the primary offence is a personal matter.

I am sure that in days gone by even the irreligious would have condemned his primary offence.

In the Ten Commandments, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife comes after thou shalt not kill which makes me think that both these acts are equally wrong!!!!

Our Paper Shredder

On Sunday past, after coming home from the morning service, I went to the kitchen to make myself a hot bowl of porridge. As I was making my porridge, I tuned in to the Archers omnibus on Radio 4. I just wanted a bit of company since the Mhinisteir had gone to conduct the other services.

As I was waiting for my porridge to cool down, I decided to do some shredding in our utility room where our paper shredder lives. For the life of me, the shredder wouldn’t work. I decided to leave it and enjoy my by then warm porridge. As I was enjoying my porridge, a thought came to my mind…… maybe some things are best left on the Lord’s Day. Anyway, as I got on with the day, that thought was at the back of my mind. By the time Monday came, I had forgotten all about it until I had to go to the utility room for something. I desperately wanted to know if it was God reminding me that the Sabbath is a day of rest. In Scotland I would never have dreamt of shredding on a Sunday as it was just not the done thing. In any case, in between the morning and evening service, we would have folk around for Sunday Lunch so there was never the time to do it. I know of people who wouldnt even wash their dishes on a Sunday!!!!

I want to be obedient to God but I am also one who don’t follow rules just for the sake of it instead of understanding the real meaning behind it.

Anyway back to Monday, I turned on the Shredder and guess what? It worked. The light came on and the shredder functioned as normal.

Many will quote the fourth commandment that says keep the Sabbath day holy to justify not doing any work etc. I couldnt agree more that we need to keep it holy but I also think that the second part of the verse about rest often gets overlooked.

Personally, I think that God was reminding me that resting on the Sabbath is important for there is always the six other days to do my shredding!!!!

Churchwardens

Until I moved to England, I was not familiar with the term Churchwardens.  Back in Scotland, under the Presbyterian system, we had Deacons and Elders.

These are some of the observations that I have made of Churchwardens.  I was prompted to write this blogpost after seeing Dave Walker’scartoon in the latest Church Times.

1. Unhealthy obsession with Church building.  They like to say “it’s their Church!!” but absolutely no interest in spiritual things.  In fact, they don’t attend Sunday services regularly!

2. Never available.  Work, holidays etc.

3. Do not want to give up their position.

4.  They can “never” find a deputy when they go on holiday and even insist that funerals be rearranged!

5. Have absolutely no clue of their responsibilities.

6. Everybody in the Church is afraid of the Church Wardens!!!

7. Not uncommon to find a Husband and Wife team = more control!!

8. Do not have the Church’s interest at heart.

 

 

 

Glastonbury & Sir David Attenborough

On our way back from the Petertide Ordination, we had to have an overnight stay at Travelodge.  Travelodge wasn’t my preferred choice but that was the only option available.  After that stay, I have come a Travelodge convert!!!

Once we arrived in our room, I crashed into bed while the Mhinisteir catched up on the day’s news.  We do not own a television in the Vicarage so It took the Mhinisteir quite a while to find the BBC NEWS Channel.  By the way,  It is by choice that we do not have a television.  We also do not have any of the subscription channels like Netflix, AmazonPrime etc.

One of the main news headlines for that evening was the appearance of Sir David Attenborough at Glastonbury.  I know Glastonbury is a music festival but nothing more.  But what was Attenborough doing there? Didn’t know him to be a musician.  Curiosity got the better of me and so I decided to sit up in bed and watch the news clip.

Sir David Attenborough was in Glastonbury to talk about climate change.  He received such a warm welcome from the festival goers who were mostly young.  A few were interviewed by BBC News and they all said that they found him so inspiring and that they had so much respect for him.  Really?  In this day and age when we have become youth obsessed??

Unfortunately, Churches are guilty of youth obsession too.  EVERYTHING has to be centred around the young so much so that we have started singing action songs in some of our Churches! The mantra is that the youth are our future!!! Vicars need to have cute boyish looks and chiselled jaws in order to attract the young heathens.

If this is really the case why was Attenborough so well received in Glastonbury? He certainly looked his age with his shrivelled skin and a head full of silver hair.

It was his message that was attractive!  We too in the Church have an attractive message.  THE GOSPEL!!!  Sadly, we no longer find it attractive ourselves and have started to idol worship the young.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” – Exodus 20:3