So Donald Trump has suggested that perhaps if we try injecting disinfectant into people it will cure COVID-19. It’s one of those moments where his minders must have been thinking “Oh… no” and everyone else wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. A good part of me leans towards the latter. I remember saying to… Continue reading Disinfectant for the Soul
Category: Opinion
Why talking about virtual church is unhelpful
My friend John was in the later stages of Motor neurons disease. Each Sunday he would come to church and each Friday to our home group. He’d had surgery on his throat and so was no longer able to speak. He relied on one of these voice synthesizers made famous by Stephen Hawking. Several of… Continue reading Why talking about virtual church is unhelpful
#Coronavirus – why do the rules have to be so strict?
You are driving down the street and you see one of those road signs, it has a red outer circle and on the inside it says 30. What does the sign mean? That’s obvious isn’t it? It means you could probably get away with driving at 40 miles per hour! There is something about our… Continue reading #Coronavirus – why do the rules have to be so strict?
Learning the Wrong Lessons: Lies damned Lies and Statistics
Every day brings more news about new coronavirus cases and a rising death toll. The figures are put under intense scrutiny. Questions being asked are Is the rate of infection increasing or slowing? Is the figure accurate, does it confuse those who die from an illness with those who die with? Does it include all… Continue reading Learning the Wrong Lessons: Lies damned Lies and Statistics
Festival of the Local Church
Usually at this time of year, there would be a number of Christian festivals and holiday conventions happening. All have had to be cancelled. It looks like this will apply to summer conventions too. Personally I’m a little disappointed, we were looking forward to joining the Keswick Convention having had a few years away. We… Continue reading Festival of the Local Church
Learning the wrong lessons (2) The Sweden factor and panic time
“It’s all too complicated, it’s going to go massively wrong, we’ll lose money, jobs will go, national security could be put at risk. Others are handling this differently. We need to change course.” That was the gist of the conversation I had a few time with my bosses. It was back in 1999 and we… Continue reading Learning the wrong lessons (2) The Sweden factor and panic time
A strange Easter?
Easter Sunday is going to be weird this year. We are used to celebrating in style. For Bearwood Chapel, Easter means a week long festival including gatherings, a breakfast and communion on Good Friday, children’s clubs and usually some special events such as Arts Days and café nights. Then on Easter Sunday we all gather… Continue reading A strange Easter?
Learning the wrong lessons from a crisis
Don’t you long for the days of good old political knock about and debate? December, the General Election and Jeremy Corbyn’s resignation as Labour leader seems so far away now. For us political anoraks, this week should have been a big occasion. We would be looking forward to the special conference revealing a new leader… Continue reading Learning the wrong lessons from a crisis
The ugliness of death
Yesterday, Steve Kneale reported on new restrictions concerning burials and funerals that are being imposed in West Yorkshire. Grave-side mourners will be limited to 10 maximum (nb it is 6 here in Sandwell) but now, no mourners will be allowed at the Crematorium. Instead the Council will offer “direct cremations” with no mourners present and… Continue reading The ugliness of death
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
We are now entering another week of lockdown. We are under strict instruction not to leave our homes unless we are key workers except for daily exercise, essential shopping and medical needs. Hitting the Easter holidays will make that sense of what we are missing out on all the more painful for many of us.… Continue reading Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Faithroots 