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Ray's Blog
Finnish Clergy And Prayer In The Shed
About thirty senior clergy from Espoo Diocese, Finland were hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh this week. Andrew Bain and I led a day on Benedictine and Celtic spirituality. The idea was to explore the changing world framework to which even static state churches need to adapt. In order...
Norwegian Beachcomber
Why do so many Norwegians come to Holy Island? Is it because they like walking, boats, football, nature, and praying? A pilgrim group from rural western Norway walked St Cuthbert’s Way and stayed four days on the island. Some live on islands and have boats. Others have a boat hanging from...
Pie In The Sky Or Resurrection Of Earth?
Time Magazine (April 12 2012) ran an article under the title Heaven Can’t Wait: Why rethinking the hereafter could make the world a better place. It contrasts a traditional view of heaven, where believers go through pearly gates as an escape from this world, with a biblical view of a bodily...
Edmund
Edmund had impeccable timing. He died, aged ninety, on the eve of Resurrection Day. When his widow, Joan, rang to tell me I said: 'Typical.'
I met him about 1958 when, as a Church Army Captain, he ran a tin tabernacle church on a housing estate outside Bognor. He had an accident and...
Donkeys Make A Come-back. Why?
A UK report says Palm Sunday open air processions with donkeys are increasing, and churches can't get enough of these lowly creatures. Why might this be? I can think of three reasons:
1) Attendance at Easter services is hit by the mass exodus to holiday destinations. Local church communities are still...
Igniting A Movement
Ellyn Sanna of Anamchara Books, New York and her colleague Ken McIntosh have been working with me on a substantial book about the life and times of Saint Aidan and his significance for Christianity today. Aidan's name means Flame. Holy Island's famous Aidan sculpture portrays him as handing on the ...
Purity And Internet Publicists
When I reached maturity I joined The Society of Authors. A risky business for someone vowed to simplicity and purity. I now receive 'The Author' magazine. Much of it is about how to promote a book, complain about unfair treatment, get on the literary festivals circuit, or dominate the internet. So...
Health Services And The Crisis Of Capitalism
‘I was sick and you took care of me’ said Jesus, referring to anyone who cares for the sick, ‘so you inherit the kingdom’ (Matthew 25:16). The establishment of Britain’s National Health Service following the devastation of World War Two was the greatest single step towards establishing God’s kingdom on...Is Sex Part Of Capitalism's Crisis?
Feed-back on ‘The Cowshed Revolution’ and the crisis of capitalism continues. Don, of Droitwich writes 'I shall continue to study it since it's a mine of information.' It has no information about sex, however. That is because I've only just seen ‘Free sex: Who pays?’, a cutting edge contribution from...
Aroha
One year since earthquake decimated Christchurch, New Zealand I was in touch with our friends in both South and North Islands. The Maori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa. The Maoris have a one word greeting that is as packed with meaning as is the biblical greeting 'Shalom'. Teacher and... Page 67 of 95
