Adrian Plass - Escaping the Island

A little something I was sent the other day

I was reminded of this poem by some of our discussions tonight 

shalom and have a Blessed Easter

Escaping the island

 

Those of us who have mapped out the geography of ourselves know what a dispiriting exercise this can be. We start off okay. Marching boldly towards the edge of our talent or our goodwill or our patience or our generosity and then suddenly, we are brought up short by a precipice, usually at the point where we were just beginning to believe that the firm ground would go on for ever. Setting off in a different direction, we find that exactly the same thing happens. In fact it happens again and again and again. Until we start to learn that there is a shape and a limit to what we are. For some this is a welcome piece of  learning – settle down get on with it, they say. But for others, those with the blood of explorers in their veins it is a kind of a prison – a kind of island. We  look for enough compassion to truly care about the world and we find a pathetically limited ability to place our arms around the suffering of others. We search for the strength of will to set ourselves and those we hate free from the chains of resentment and bitterness only to find weakness and a cherishing of hurts. We hunt within our hearts for the courage to fight when everything in us wants to lie down, and for the obedience to wait quietly when we are full of anger, but we discover instead a self – indulgence that will have what it is greedy for.

We stand on the shore of our own lives, calling out to God that we can go nowhere unless he provides a way.

 

 

Adrian Plass. 

Chameleon or Flamingo?

The subject of today's sermon.

As a Supervisor for UPS I should have been a flamingo. I tried. I'm still trying.

Maybe it's the brown colour. Everybody tries to look right, to blend in.

Employees alter to match the background of deceit and dishonesty. Manager's came with high reputations for doing the right thing. It rarely lasted long.

Whenever I was asked to do something that was wrong, I always made a point of following up the instructions with the Manager at the time. Most of these issues are small internal audit anomalies. Some aren't. Some involve defrauding the customers.

There's a limit to the number of times that you can bang your head against the wall.

Flamingo predators? Vultures.

There's too many of them around, especially within UPS.

Time to re-deal the cards. I know I've still got a winning hand.

URC News

A little extract

Our churches need to be oases of light.

They need to shine with honesty, courage and truth.

They need to embody Christ’s glory through their compassion and prophetic action. In many places that is exactly what they are seeking to do and it is inspiring to see. We need to love one another as he loved us, stranger as well as friend. Then the light will shine and people who see it will recognise that something unusual, something very special, is happening right in their midst.

Longcauseway

Notes from last Sunday's service, a paralympic special

Battered and broken body

Bears the scars, Mental & Physical scars

Later I watched Evan Almighty, never seen it before. Full of messages for me.

And a message for everyone.

The ARK

Acts of
Random
Kindness


Plot
Newly elected to Congress, former local television news reporter Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) leaves his hometown of Buffalo, New York and moves to the fictional town of Prestige Crest, Virginia, where his campaign promise to "change the world" is ridiculed by some, but Evan remains optimistic about his new position at the beginning of the film. On the first day on his job, Evan is given a spacious office and is invited to co-sponsor a bill with Congressman Chuck Long (John Goodman), something rare for a first-timer. His family is happy, but due to the change in their situation to the move when Evan's wife, Joan (Lauren Graham) prays that Evan will have a greater sense of togetherness. Everything seems to be going well for Evan. Soon after Evan's election to Congress, strange things start to happen in his household:

1. Evan's alarm clock repeatedly goes off at 6:14 A.M., despite being set for a different time every night.
2. Large quantities of ancient tools and wood are delivered to Evan's house daily without explanation.
3. Animals follow Evan without any apparent reason (with birds even getting into his office through the window).
4. Evan grows a beard that is restored wholly every time he shaves.
5. Eight vacant lots in Prestige Crest are purchased in Evan's name.
6. A mysterious company named GO-4-WOOD delivers a shipment of lumber that Evan did not order.
7. The number "614" follows Evan everywhere he goes.

Evan soon learns that 614 refers to the verse in the Book of Genesis, where God (Morgan Freeman) instructs Noah to build an Ark in preparation for a flood. God appears to Evan and cordially insisting that Evan should build an Ark as well. Although Evan resists, God follows him using different guises and convinces Evan to build the Ark. Joan, concerned about his behavior, believes that Evan is having a mid-life crisis. Without Joan's support, Evan enlists his three sons, Dylan, Jordan, and Ryan (Johnny Simmons, Graham Phillips, and Jimmy Bennett) to build the Ark. Reappearing, God tells Evan the flood will come on September 22 at midday.

 

The Ark used for filming was located in Crozet, Virginia.

 

Animals continue to follow Evan around, getting increasingly annoying as time passes. At first, Long is unimpressed, and allows this behavior to occur, but warns Evan that he will not want any more animal surprises. Unfortunately, the animals follow Evan to Congress numerous times, despite his efforts to detain them. This compels Evan to confess Long, other Congressmen, and the television cameras broadcasting the meeting is that the reason for the animals, strange behavior, robe, and beard is because of God convincing Evan to build the Ark. Humiliating both Congress and the controversial Public Land Act bill that Long is attempting to pass, Evan is temporarily suspended from Congress and removed from Long's bill. As security guards kicks Evan out of Congress, some birds poop on Long's face upon Evan's departure. Joan becomes angry and disappointed on Evan's behavior and leaves Evan alone because she believes he is insane. Evan does not let this stop himself and continues to build the Ark alone, gaining international notice and public ridicule. Meanwhile, God appears to Joan, disguised as a waiter at a diner with his name tag "Al Mighty". In this disguise, God tells Joan that he believes himself and does not give things, but only the opportunity by which to obtain things, and gives an example of family togetherness. Having a revelation, Joan returns to Evan with newfound faith to finish the Ark together. Meanwhile, Evan is informed by his three congressional colleagues, Rita, Marty, and Eugene (Wanda Sykes, John Michael Higgins, and Jonah Hill) that Long has unexpectedly given an approval to build a dam near Prestige Crest and has cut corners in building codes in doing so.
On September 22, Evan loads hundreds of animals onto the newly finished Ark in front of hundreds of spectators and live news crews, and invites the crowd to join them, but is made fun of. However, the police arrive in Prestige Crest with a wrecking ball and attempt to destroy the Ark because of its violation of numerous building codes within the town. Noon arrives, and minutes pass with no sign of rain, provoking spectator scorn. A short downburst of rain does come, but it is short-lived. Joan asks Evan to leave the Ark, explaining that Evan has built it and succeeded in his mission; but at this moment, Evan sees Long's dam burst from the distance. With the water from the dam rushing towards them, all of the spectators, reporters, and policemen immediately seek refuge in the Ark, which rides the flood through the streets and historical landmarks of Washington, D.C.. The Ark eventually reaches its final destination in front of the Capitol, where other Congressmen are greeted by the Ark by crashing into the side of the structure. Long, who is outraged that the flood did really happen earlier, is told by Evan that the flood was caused by his defective dam, but Long did not believe this, and tells Evan already that this would not happen again. Those events entice Evan and other Congressmen to turn against Long. While Congress is investigating Long about his dam, Evan celebrates the events by going on a hiking trip along with Joan, three sons, and his newly adopted dog, where God reappears and tells Evan that the way to change the world is by doing one Act of Random Kindness (ARK) at a time. The film ends when Evan and God doing a happy dance together before God disappears, leaving Evan, Joan, and three sons behind

Beyond Belief Radio 4 - September 3rd

An excellent series on Radio 4.

Listen 'Live' on your radio or computer, or download the podcasts and listen at your leisure.

Ernie Rea explores the place of faith in today's world, teasing out the hidden and often contradictory truths behind the experiences, values and traditions of our lives.

The next episode on Monday will be on;

Baptists

Duration: 30 minutes

Ernie Rea is joined by three prominent Baptists: Dianne Tidball, Ruth Gouldbourne and Peter Morden to discuss the history of the Baptist Church and its significance today. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the first Baptist congregation in England and Baptists form the biggest Protestant denomination in the world but what do they stand for? Ernie's guests discuss the often bloody history of the Baptists from their origins as a persecuted dissenting movement in the seventeenth century. And they consider what Baptists contribute to Britain today. Are they still a voice of protest, speaking out for justice and for religious freedom?

Episode Guide

Click on episode guide as a link to the website

Ernie Rea
Ernie Rea presents Radio 4's discussion series Beyond Belief, which examines the place of faith in today's complex world.


He joined the BBC in 1978 as a producer in the Religious Broadcasting Department and for the next 23 years worked for the BBC in a variety of capacities. He spent three years as Head of Network Radio forthe South and West of England, responsible for, among many other programmes, Any Questions?. But his most significant and challenging role was as Head of Religious Broadcasting (later renamed Head of Religion & Ethics), responsible for all of the BBC's religious programmes across radio and television, which he took up in 1989.


During the 12 years he was Head of Religious Broadcasting the department won many awards for outstanding programmes. In 1997 he was personally awarded the Gold Medal of the International Council of Christians and Jews for his outstanding contribution to Inter- Faith Understanding.

In 2001 he resigned from the BBC to pursue a career as a freelance writer and broadcaster and consultant on inter-faith issues.

Since leaving full-time employment with the BBC, he has led a project commissioned by the North West Government Office to investigate the reporting of the disturbances in Burnley and Oldham in the summer of 2001. His final report was delivered in July 2003. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Three Faiths Forum which exists to foster understanding between Muslims, Christians and Jews. He continues to broadcast and is a regular presenter on Radio 4's Act of Worship and contributor to Radio 2's Good Morning Sunday.

Ernie was born in Belfast in 1945. He graduated from Queens University Belfast with a First Class Honours degree in Theology. In 1971 he was ordained into the Presbyterian Ministry and served for three years on the Shankill Road in Belfast at the height of "The Troubles".

Easter

Palm Sunday saw a procession in Dewsbury, complete with Donkey

Easter week has seen a cross outside Longcauseway Church

But what is Easter in our current climate?

Nice to see the spammers having a day off yesterday, perhaps they really were worshippping in their Churches. No spam or Junk e-mails at all yesterday.

A lever for the Unions?

Strikes threatened by tanker drivers to disrupt Easter

Strikes threatened by airport staff

A chance for the 'budget' airlines to rip off their customers. I use the word budget loosely and with as much sarcasm as I can muster

Gone are the traditional values in society, and not just at Easter

Todays Sermon

Thanks John for your inspiring words.
I have received many messages through the Sermons over the last few weeks.
Thanks too to Mark, Alan and Peter. Those words have given me alot of strength.
Some of my Eureka moments have been triggered by these words of wisdom.
Can anything good come out of Nazarth was part of this mornings reading, with all the bad press over the last couple of years a more up to date scenario might be "Could anything good come out of Dewsbury?" I hope to be able to have some influence on that in the future if everything pans out well.
Nathanial was genuinely searching after the truth, maybe he should go and work for UPS, not.

Hi Nige, welcome aboard. First non Frost*ie