February 2007 – For the fainthearted . . .

Cameron’s bones

So, James Cameron has found the grave of Jesus?

Isn’t it odd, that if Cameron is right, the opponents of the early Church didn’t say the Christian stuff was all nonsense? “Sure, don’t be believing all that stuff, doesn’t he live down the street there with his wife and kids!”

Isn’t it odd, if Cameron is right, that Peter became the leader of the Jesus movement? Look at what happens when the Christian movement begins – the leader is not the one most people would have chosen. Peter was a …

Words of different meanings

A friend working for a development agency in Africa, emailed me this afternoon. Even in email he observes the old African courtesy of a formal greeting and inquiring after the health of myself and my family before going on to the business of his communication. There is a formality in African etiquette that is both an expression of deep respect for the other person and of a willingness to spend time showing a genuine interest in the other person in order to build a good and strong relationship.

Responding to …

Unwitting blessings

The archbishop blessed our new Rectory yesterday; it was a jolly occasion with the builder arriving with bottles of champagne. Everything is not 100% ready yet, but the house looks well.

I remember conducting a house blessing ten years ago. There was no crowd, just myself and the lady who was moving into the house. It was a fine new red brick house, the work of the Housing Executive in the North which has built the best public sector housing in these islands.

The lady was delighted at her new …

In the desert

Sermon at St Matthias’ Church on 25th February 2007

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert.” Luke 4:1

The story of the temptations in the desert, which we read at the beginning of each Lent, usually prompts us to think about the temptations we face. Instead of thinking about the temptations, I want to think about the context of those temptations, the circumstances in which Jesus found himself; what can we learn from the place where Jesus went?…

Hiding from the desert

Three days of Lent have passed and I haven’t engaged with the idea of Jesus in the desert; probably because I’m not good at coping with the isolation of desert experiences.

I have suffered from depression since I was quite young. Not that I knew what it was in younger years. I would feel almost trapped at times, surrounded by a dark shadow, held by this sort of feeling of melancholy that had no cause or reason. I used to watch the television news, even when I was at primary …

Cultural exchanges

Jasper is a member of the travelling community. Jasper is, of course not his real name (how did you guess?), but if I am going to use an alias, why should it be a stereotypical travellers’ name?

Jasper calls at the door most weeks and stands and chats for fifteen to twenty minutes. I wouldn’t call him a friend; I am under no illusions that if I didn’t give him a few quid, he would immediately cease calling. One of the reasons I give him a few quid is that …