While visiting a school I spoke with a woman who called herself an Arab Israeli Christian…. Before I went I would have thought that I was talking to three separate people, but the reality is far more complicated. And that is typical if Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
The ‘Welcome to Jerusalem’ that sits on the Security Wall makes a mockery of its message as ordinary people face the ordeal of the checkpoint. I understand the need for security and can’t deny the need for it, but such security has to be applied uniformly, and not on one sub group of the area. I learned of one lady who bravely faces this on a weekly basis, trying to get to a church she loves, not knowing if she will get there or be turned back, or allowed to return. Her faith shines through what she does, and it’s people like Helen that the Church of Scotland supports through the World Mission Council. Another school tries to build bridges across communities through its education process, and it’s surely through the youth that bridges must be built and sustained. Having said that, what do you say to statistics of 67% unemployments and 50% of the population being classed as young ? What chance do these folk have ? And yet, there are groups partnered with the Kirk who are trying to offer hope where it doesn’t naturally exist.
I’m still really having a Jeremiah moment where I’m still quietly thinking things through. Special moments with special places and special people.
More thoughts later…

I’ve got the opportunity to visit Israel in my two weeks of study leave and there is part of me rejoicing and anothet part that is apprehensive. Really don’t know what to expect, although friends who have gone previously tell me I’m in for an emotional and spiritually challenging time.
This is the time of year where the phone melts with undertaker calls, and this year is no exception. My colleague already has four (possibly five) of my funeral load to add to his own. Part of me wants to be involved in these pastoral situations, but that would negate the purpose and value of the study leave, time gifted to me as a chance to develop my own thinking and understanding.
I’ve promised my Session Clerk that I’ll send an email or two for her to keep the church informed about what I’ve experienced (not to make them jealous) and I’ll send some to famil as well of course.
I appreciated looking at Stewart Cutler’s blog on his visit to Israel and it has helped set up some of the challenges I’m going to face.
Initially this leave was resisted as simply a holiday by one or two in head office, but it was organised by the World Mission Council. There is a part of me that wonders if the different councils actually talk to each other…. (I know they do, but..)
As things stand, the Presbytery reatreat falls immediately after my leave and in between is my monthly meeting with my spiritual accompanier and friend/
Lots of thinking needing done.

Big deal. Surprised he’s lasted this long. No, strike that. Of course he’s lasted that long. Get the money from the contract and run. Typical lack of ethics. No surprise, and no loss either.

Just took the family to see Avatar, the new James Cameron film. All the hype suggested that this was to be a defining moment in the history of cinema.
Not sure if I’d quite go that far, but Avatar is a good film. It isn’t often the humans are cast in the role of bad guys, but you find yourself cheering mentally for the so called aliens who are taking on heavy modern artillery literally with bows and arrows. It’s a sort of western like Dances With Wolves where the white cowboy becomes a member of the (in this case blue) Indians.
The story itself has a strong eco-message, one that should be taken to heart, and has several moments in the film where your heart is in your mouth. Won’t say much more about the content so that it doesn’t spoil your viewing of the film.
There are moments where the 3D doesn’t quite work so well, but where it does it is breath taking.
The only sadness in the film is that if there is a sequel, there can be only one outcome, and it won’t paint humanity in a good light at all.
Will I get it on DVD when it’s released ? Definitely !

It was a surprise to see Ryan Giggs win the Personality award on the BBC last night. There has been a great deal of discussion about that on the radio today, mostly bemoaning the fact that big Man Utd vote would have clinched the award.

Not convinced about that. He certainly has been a role model for any aspiring footballer, much better than Rooney or Ronaldo or Henry. He lives well and keeps himself fit and tries hard all the time and doesn’t cheat, as opposed to the three I’ve mentioned (that last bit about cheating doesn’t yet apply to Rooney). He perhaps should have been in the lifetime achievement category, but Seve Ballesteros quite rightly won that one.

The issue with Giggs is more complex when you think that it is supposed to be an individual award, and yet Giggs is part of arguably the best team around during last year, and Jensen Button was driving a car that had a whole team behind him. What chance an single athlete (admittedly with a team behind her too, but not actually helping her to perform- and that is crucial) ?

The real travesty was the team award. The England Cricket Team !!!! For what ??? Winning a tussle between them and one other team ?? The Ladies Cricket Team did that too, and several other things too and should have been far worthier winners.

The programme is in danger of degenerating into an England male back slapping festival (and yes, before anyone comments, I know Giggs is Welsh). There haven’t been too many women who have won the award and there have bene plenty of potential candidates even beyond the obligatory Paula Radcliffe (who does deserve a mention when she’s fit).

Should Giggs have won ? He is a worthy winner, but there was an opportunity for excellence of an individual to be applauded and that was missed.

I cannot believe that all the people who have come out of the woodwork are telling the truth.
Tiger is right to withdraw from competition for a while. He may return for the Masters, but whenever he does, the spotlight will be intense, and it won’t just be on him. Sadly, the tabloids won’t play ball. They never do. He’ll have to behave impeccably on the course (given the recent criticism of some of his antics) and even more so off the course.
I certainly wish him well, and hope that time is given for him to rebuild his life.

Once we get past the rather ignorant ‘you’re coming up to your busy time of the year’ joke, I find that I ask myself the question in the title every year.
I have a dread of Christmas primarily because the phone call from the undertaker makes someone’s Christmas a nightmare, and as minister you walk right into the thick of it. You also have the responsibility for all the worship services and have to come up with something original for that Watchnight service when all the C & E’s arrive (Christmas and Easter attenders) and expect a jolly old time for all.
I was in one church where the minister had just been told that the baby scheduled for baptism on Christmas Day had just died. How could he enjoy Christmas ?
The folk in the pew just don’t get it. They are focussed on the fun of Christmas (the sad bit is when they have to pay for it but that’s usually in the New Year), and there is no reason why they shouldn’t be, of course. We clergy are stressing the love of God and we fervently hope that something of that love will actually percolate down into the hearts of the gathered people.
Christmas for clergy usually begins on Boxing Day when we can de-stress and relax.

Having performed a couple of adult baptisms today, it proved to be a highly emotionally charged situation. Clearly, it had been a longed for experience and meant a great deal to all concerned. There was even a relative who had offered some holy water from Lourdes to be used in the sacrament. Special.

What happens when you face a pastoral decision that conflicts with your personal integrity ? When you’ve worked out your theology of baptism, say, and that emergency phone call comes ? Which gives first ?
I’ve generally taken the view that when the call comes, that’s when I find myself compromising my theology. I respond to the need. But a recent case has me wrestling with this situation again. A multiple phone call stressing the immediacy of the need almost demanding that I go and do the baptism as soon as, when the reality is that the emergency (though keen) is not as immediate as the pressure implies.
There is a part of me that is angry at being pressurised like this, and another part of me that wants to respond positively…. If only the emotional blackmail hadn’t been applied (for that’s what it feels like).
All of this rolling on the back of the death of an uncle, whose funeral I had just been at.
I can remember my Diploma in Ministry group of three where each of us would have responded differently. One would have asked the baptisee to wait a little. One would have been battering down the door ready to do the baptism, and me in the middle.
Not an easy place to be pastorally or theologically….

No, they should not.
There is no doubt about the hand-ball of Thierry Henry and no amount of excuses will cover up what has been a smear on a very talented career.
There should not be a replay and there should not be action taken against Henry as an individual.
What should happen, but won’t because no one will have the courage to do it, is that France should be eliminated from the World Cup and Ireland reinstated.
It will only be as a result of a national censure will such cheats truly get their come uppance.
In a sport, there should be true sportsmanship and things like diving (simulating !!) and foul language directed at referees will go on as long as the perpetrators are seen to get away with it. The likes of Rooney with his language difficulty should bring the wrath of Football Federations down on the team.
Individual sanctions won’t work, as has been seen with the Arsenal player who clearly dived in the Celtic match. Money spoke then, but should not be allowed to.
When will the powers that be finally act to rid the sport of such blatant cheating ?