“”I SEE myself now at the end of my journey; my toilsome days are ended.
I am going now to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and that face which was spit upon for me.
I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith: but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with Him in whose company I delight myself.
I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and wherefore I have seen the print of His shoe in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too. His name has been to me as a civet-box; yea, sweeter than all perfumes.
His voice to me has been most sweet; and his countenance I have more desired than they have most desired the light of the sun. His word I did use to gather for my food, and for antidotes against my faintings. He has held me, and has kept me from mine iniquities; yea, my steps hath He strengthened in His way […]
Glorious it was to see how the upper region was filled with horses and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with singers and players on stringed instruments, to welcome the pilgrims as they went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the City.
Africa: no more tears, no more pain (Rev: 21:4)
“A BOY of around nine came to us who had been punished by adults by being strapped to a tree and beaten with a hot rod.
“The abuse was so severe his back had been split into pieces and his bones exposed.
“He obviously came here as a totally broken boy. He couldn’t trust, never mind love.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve been giving him a living environment where he feels a accepted.
“At first he was too scared to hug you, and recoiled at the presence of adults. So I decided I would spend as much time as I could trying to love him and speak to him with affection.
“It was a struggle – often with him kicking and lashing out at me. But, you know, after a few weeks, one day he came running down the path as he saw me, and he just wrapped his arms around me and gave me this big hug.
“It was amazing. A big step for this little guy.
“This is how we want to love back to life a generation of kids so they can lead the [Africa] of tomorrow.”
- Emma Cave: missionary nurse, SZ, 2006.
“ The great challenge of the twenty-first century is to raise people everywhere to a decent standard of living while preserving as much of the rest of life as possible.”
The Guardian: Brand on Margaret Thatcher
WHAT an amazing way with words, Russell Brand has.
Don’t always agree with his politics, but this is a colourful piece. Worth a read.
Voyage d’Hermes - TV ad.
My new fragrance por homme. A winner at a friend’s wedding, over the weekend, with the international justice crowd.
Available here.
Not looking too shabby, these days.
Here’s my latest John Lewis procurement — a Canterbury Gilet, in navy blue.
A gilet is pretty much the french term for ‘tasteful body warmer,’ they say. So now you know.
Out to the Peak District - for lunch - I go.
Israel Houghton: Moving Forward (The Power of One)
“You. Make. All things. New.”
Easter address: Bishop Steven's sermon @ The Cutlers Hall, Sheffield
OUR new Bishop in Sheffield - Steven Croft - is absolutely brilliant.
How pioneering is this: because of refurbishment currently under way at the Cathedral, he and his team led the Easter celebration service this weekend — in the Cutler’s Hall.
The Cutler’s Hall, on Church Street, is no doubt the city’s most iconic building. It stands, rather grandly, as a testimony to decades of Steel Manufacturing here in Sheffield.
Ordinarily, it is a venue for entertainment, civic functions and political get-togethers. But on this occasion, Easter Sunday, it was a venue to do church, and remember Christ’s resurrection, as well as the new life He brings us.
My elderly relatives, who are not Christians, listened intently at our dinner table as I quoted Steven’s poetic sermon, spoken at a place they had so often eaten and danced the night away in years gone by. It was a remarkable response. They could identify with his message!
I think the Church across Sheffield needs to do this kind of thing more often. It so positively communicates how Christianity really is good news today for all people, and that the Church is alive, and well, and not only relevant to individuals, but also takes an interest in the life of the city beyond itself.
As Bishop Steven has said before, the Kingdom of God is poised to not simply meet the needs of its members, but also influence wider society, as salt and light — making a difference in business, politics, the arts, in health and education, and in various communities and neighbourhoods where Parish churches can be found.
Well done, Bishop Steven. Please keep up the good work!
BBC Proms: Rule Britannia..
“Rule, Britannia! rule the waves: Britons never will be slaves.”
Classic: by song lyricist James Thomson and put to music by Thomas Arne.
