Biblically based. Uphold. - Protestant, reformed tradition. Often Calvinistic. Minister wears preaching scarf or mufti for services.
Open Evangelical. - as above but with a lot more talking before coming to the same conclusions. Cassock and stole worn for sacramental services, otherwise mufti. Fair trade stall after the main Sunday service.
Middle of the road. Broad Church. Traditional Anglican. - Usually, exactly what it says on the tin. Non directive preaching. Robes in the morning, often with chausible. Academic hood in the evening. No incense.
Liberal Catholic. - As "middle of the road" but with robes and even incense on high feasts during the week (and maybe even Easter Sunday). Comes from the Sarum tradition but they will long ago have forgotten that. Fair trade stall after the main Sunday service.
Inclusive, Liberal, Catholic. - As liberal catholic but with lots of incense, compulsory robing and more gay priests and laity than you could wave a stick at.
Resolution A and B or resolution A, B and C, passed. - Romanist (often pre-Vatican II). No women clergy under any circumstance. More gay priests and laity . . . etc. Marion vestments in wardrobe. Sign on wall stating, "A candle burns for (this church) at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham."
This is not an exhaustive list of terms by any means.
Please feel free to add your own suggestions.
Saturday, 19 February 2011
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
In the beginning God answered all the prayers that would ever be offered up. God created a universe where everything that is, was and will be is connected and prayer is a way of effectively utilising this unity. So the conscious and subconscious prayers of all creatures, of people of all faiths, of believers and unbelievers, are equally and scientifically valid. If God was to die our prayers would still be just as powerful.
Friday, 18 February 2011
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Turning the other cheek because of personal
cowardice is not what Jesus was on about.
cowardice is not what Jesus was on about.
MORAL CONUNDRUM OF THE DAY
The evil Sky media empire has made an exclusive deal with H.B.O. which means that H.B.O. shows will no longer be viewable unless you subscribe to the Sky package. The shows will be broadcast on a new channel called Sky Atlantic and will be free of charge to their subscribers. Even so they are asking too much dosh from other companies wishing to broadcast the channel on their own platforms. This means that unless people agree to move to Sky they will no longer be able to view some of the best U.S. programmes produced.
It would be illegal to download the torrents for these programmes we are missing. But because of the cynical, monopolisation of the product by Sky and H.B.O.'s cynical acceptance of that monopoly, would it be immoral?
It would be illegal to download the torrents for these programmes we are missing. But because of the cynical, monopolisation of the product by Sky and H.B.O.'s cynical acceptance of that monopoly, would it be immoral?
GENIUS
Click play on the video below and be transported back to a time when in order to be regarded as a great thinker you had to be able to go on the BBC, sit in a comfortable chair and explain a lifetime's philosophical enquiry in five minutes, and so simply that even the great, British public could understand what you were going on about.
The amazing thing is that there were philosophers who could. The even more amazing thing is that the great, British public would sit and watch them and then talk about what had been said the next day at work.
I must admit a tear came to my eye watching this last night. Imagine a world where the word "liberal" wasn't just employed as a term of derision. Imagine a world where idealism was idolised not dismissed as a human weakness. Imagine a world where you were allowed to imagine, not just in order to make money, but for the pure pleasure of doing so.
The amazing thing is that there were philosophers who could. The even more amazing thing is that the great, British public would sit and watch them and then talk about what had been said the next day at work.
I must admit a tear came to my eye watching this last night. Imagine a world where the word "liberal" wasn't just employed as a term of derision. Imagine a world where idealism was idolised not dismissed as a human weakness. Imagine a world where you were allowed to imagine, not just in order to make money, but for the pure pleasure of doing so.
ELSEWHERE ON THE OCICBW... EXPERIENCE
THE ANCHORHOLD @ ST. LAIKA'S:
"Reckless . . . severe . . . joy . . . everywhere"
TWITFACE CHIT CHAT:
Our weekly discussion starter.
This week - "First Love and Crushes"
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (7): MadPriest's latest podcast featuring two hours of real soul music.
And don't forget The OCICBW... Experience's
OFFICIAL HOME on facebook.
ST. LAIKA'S: A meditative service of daily prayer with music. And it really is worth listening to for the music alone. It is all taken, with the exception of the psalm, from the album "Vita" by the brilliant French-American cellist, Sonia Wieder-Atherton. I wholeheartedly recommend this recording to anybody who enjoys high quality, classical, solo celloness.
BIOGRAPHY of Sonia Wieder-Atherton
PURCHASE VIA MADPRIEST'S AMAZON STORE
"Reckless . . . severe . . . joy . . . everywhere"
TWITFACE CHIT CHAT:
Our weekly discussion starter.
This week - "First Love and Crushes"
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (7): MadPriest's latest podcast featuring two hours of real soul music.
And don't forget The OCICBW... Experience's
OFFICIAL HOME on facebook.
ST. LAIKA'S: A meditative service of daily prayer with music. And it really is worth listening to for the music alone. It is all taken, with the exception of the psalm, from the album "Vita" by the brilliant French-American cellist, Sonia Wieder-Atherton. I wholeheartedly recommend this recording to anybody who enjoys high quality, classical, solo celloness.
BIOGRAPHY of Sonia Wieder-Atherton
PURCHASE VIA MADPRIEST'S AMAZON STORE
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Fred, at OFF TOPIC ALLOWED, has defined the "Instruments of the Anglican Communion" very succinctly and, in my opinion, with 100% accuracy. Give yourself a gold star, Mr Schwartz!
THE PRAYER LIST - 18TH. FEBRUARY 2011
From REUTERS:
Ugandans voted in an election on Friday expected to extend President Yoweri Museveni's time in power to three decades but which could turn nasty because the opposition wants street protests if the poll were deemed rigged. The campaign in east Africa's third largest economy was bitter, marked by widespread claims the ruling party has been paying voters to return Museveni for a fourth term.
***
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
At least two protesters were killed Thursday when soldiers opened fire on stone-throwing demonstrators in the Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah as the unrest triggered by turmoil elsewhere in the Middle East reached the normally placid enclave of Kurdistan in northern Iraq. Forty-three people were injured when the Kurdish pesh merga fighters fired live ammunition at youths throwing stones at the headquarters of the region's dominant political party, the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), witnesses said.
***
From THE BBC:
Large protests have continued overnight in Libya following Thursday's "Day of Rage" against the government. Confrontations between security forces and protesters left two dozen people dead and many wounded on Thursday, according to Human Rights Watch.
Posted by Paul Bagshaw at NOT THE SAME STREAM:
Leonie Mendo is from Cameroon. She came to the UK at the invitation of a man she met over the internet. He locked her up, abused her and forced her into prostitution. When she became pregnant she was discarded. Only then was she able to ask the police for help. But she had no papers. She asked to stay in the UK on the grounds that she deserved humanitarian protection. The immigration court did not believe her account, nor has it accepted the expert witness reports of a midwife, a psychologist and a rape crisis counsellor.
I have known Leonie for over two and a half years. She is a devout Christian and a woman of deep integrity. There is no reason why she should invent a story which is, in practice, so self-denigratory and so harsh as a history for her daughter. She has been entirely consistent in her account since I have known her and I believe her entirely. She is terrified about being sent back to Cameroon - because her family will find her and are likely to attack her too, because she is a single mother, because she has a visibly mixed-race child who has no father.
The Home Secretary has the discretionary power to allow a person to stay. That is now what we are asking for.
***
Posted by Liz at FINDING LIFE HARD?:
I emailed the publisher to ask if they'd received my manuscript; yes, they had and I should get a reply soon. Today I had a rejection letter. A very nice rejection letter but nevertheless.
***
Please pray for our friend, Jack, who is having a miserable OFSTED experience and the inspectors haven't even arrived at his school yet.
Full details at WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS, SIR?
THANKSGIVING
From AFP:
Anti-whaling activists cheered Friday as Japan called its harpoon ships home early from their annual Antarctic hunt, citing high-seas harassment by environmentalist group Sea Shepherd. Activists from the US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society had pursued the Japanese fleet for months in the icy waters near Antarctica, seeking to stop the slaughter.
Japan, which hunts the giant ocean mammals under a loophole to a global ban that permits lethal "scientific research", has killed 172 whales this season, only about a fifth of its target, the fisheries agency said.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
Ugandans voted in an election on Friday expected to extend President Yoweri Museveni's time in power to three decades but which could turn nasty because the opposition wants street protests if the poll were deemed rigged. The campaign in east Africa's third largest economy was bitter, marked by widespread claims the ruling party has been paying voters to return Museveni for a fourth term.
***
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
At least two protesters were killed Thursday when soldiers opened fire on stone-throwing demonstrators in the Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah as the unrest triggered by turmoil elsewhere in the Middle East reached the normally placid enclave of Kurdistan in northern Iraq. Forty-three people were injured when the Kurdish pesh merga fighters fired live ammunition at youths throwing stones at the headquarters of the region's dominant political party, the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), witnesses said.
***
From THE BBC:
Large protests have continued overnight in Libya following Thursday's "Day of Rage" against the government. Confrontations between security forces and protesters left two dozen people dead and many wounded on Thursday, according to Human Rights Watch.
Posted by Paul Bagshaw at NOT THE SAME STREAM:
Leonie Mendo is from Cameroon. She came to the UK at the invitation of a man she met over the internet. He locked her up, abused her and forced her into prostitution. When she became pregnant she was discarded. Only then was she able to ask the police for help. But she had no papers. She asked to stay in the UK on the grounds that she deserved humanitarian protection. The immigration court did not believe her account, nor has it accepted the expert witness reports of a midwife, a psychologist and a rape crisis counsellor.
I have known Leonie for over two and a half years. She is a devout Christian and a woman of deep integrity. There is no reason why she should invent a story which is, in practice, so self-denigratory and so harsh as a history for her daughter. She has been entirely consistent in her account since I have known her and I believe her entirely. She is terrified about being sent back to Cameroon - because her family will find her and are likely to attack her too, because she is a single mother, because she has a visibly mixed-race child who has no father.
The Home Secretary has the discretionary power to allow a person to stay. That is now what we are asking for.
***
Posted by Liz at FINDING LIFE HARD?:
I emailed the publisher to ask if they'd received my manuscript; yes, they had and I should get a reply soon. Today I had a rejection letter. A very nice rejection letter but nevertheless.
***
Please pray for our friend, Jack, who is having a miserable OFSTED experience and the inspectors haven't even arrived at his school yet.
Full details at WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS, SIR?
THANKSGIVING
From AFP:
Anti-whaling activists cheered Friday as Japan called its harpoon ships home early from their annual Antarctic hunt, citing high-seas harassment by environmentalist group Sea Shepherd. Activists from the US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society had pursued the Japanese fleet for months in the icy waters near Antarctica, seeking to stop the slaughter.
Japan, which hunts the giant ocean mammals under a loophole to a global ban that permits lethal "scientific research", has killed 172 whales this season, only about a fifth of its target, the fisheries agency said.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
EDWARD LEIGH JUST DOESN'T GET IT
From THE TELEGRAPH:
Plans to allow gay couples to marry or register their civil partnerships in church have been condemned as unChristian and unConservative by senior Tory MP,Edward Leigh.
The MP for Gainsborough, a former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, stressed that he was not criticising the rights of homosexual couples to “get on with their lives”. But he continued: “This does not extend to mangling the language of marriage so that, for the sake of the tiny number of gay people who prefer marriage to civil partnership, everyone else in society must have the definition of their own marriage altered forever. I am astonished and disappointed that a Conservative Government, albeit a coalition one, has announced it is consulting on whether to do away with traditional marriage which has always been between a man and a woman. Once we have departed from the universally understood framework of marriage, there is no logical reason why the new alternative institution should be limited to two people. Why not three? Or thirty-three? Same-sex couples already have all the rights of marriage in the form of civil partnership. Why must they also have the language of marriage? No doubt because it is an important symbol to them. But it is also an important symbol to many other people. Must the religious and cultural heritage of the whole nation be overturned to suit the demands of a minority even of the gay community itself?”
COMMENT: Mr. Leigh is either rather dense or a bigot. If he really believes that gay people being allowed to marry will lead to thirty-three people insisting on getting married to each other, he is certainly dense. If he is just scare-mongering, then he is the nastiest of bigots, even by Conservative standards.
You see, the reason why gay people want to use the language of marriage is because they want traditional, two people, in sickness and in health, till death do us part marriage. For a heterosexual to claim that gay couples will have a different view of marriage to heterosexual couples is displaying both arrogance and a complete lack of human understanding. The last thing that gay people will do, should they ever be allowed to marry on exactly the same terms as heterosexuals, will be to undermine marriage by insisting on the allowance of the ridiculous. Because to do so would undermine their own marriages as much as anybody else's. I am absolutely certain that should the Association of Thirty Three Times Bigamists ever try to get their evil way, it will be the newly married gay couples who will be leading the campaign against such rot.
Mr. Leigh is, of course, not that stupid.
Mr Leigh is the closest thing to Sarah Palin in British politics.
He is even trying to get ripping foxes to shreds made legal again.
Plans to allow gay couples to marry or register their civil partnerships in church have been condemned as unChristian and unConservative by senior Tory MP,Edward Leigh.
The MP for Gainsborough, a former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, stressed that he was not criticising the rights of homosexual couples to “get on with their lives”. But he continued: “This does not extend to mangling the language of marriage so that, for the sake of the tiny number of gay people who prefer marriage to civil partnership, everyone else in society must have the definition of their own marriage altered forever. I am astonished and disappointed that a Conservative Government, albeit a coalition one, has announced it is consulting on whether to do away with traditional marriage which has always been between a man and a woman. Once we have departed from the universally understood framework of marriage, there is no logical reason why the new alternative institution should be limited to two people. Why not three? Or thirty-three? Same-sex couples already have all the rights of marriage in the form of civil partnership. Why must they also have the language of marriage? No doubt because it is an important symbol to them. But it is also an important symbol to many other people. Must the religious and cultural heritage of the whole nation be overturned to suit the demands of a minority even of the gay community itself?”
COMMENT: Mr. Leigh is either rather dense or a bigot. If he really believes that gay people being allowed to marry will lead to thirty-three people insisting on getting married to each other, he is certainly dense. If he is just scare-mongering, then he is the nastiest of bigots, even by Conservative standards.
You see, the reason why gay people want to use the language of marriage is because they want traditional, two people, in sickness and in health, till death do us part marriage. For a heterosexual to claim that gay couples will have a different view of marriage to heterosexual couples is displaying both arrogance and a complete lack of human understanding. The last thing that gay people will do, should they ever be allowed to marry on exactly the same terms as heterosexuals, will be to undermine marriage by insisting on the allowance of the ridiculous. Because to do so would undermine their own marriages as much as anybody else's. I am absolutely certain that should the Association of Thirty Three Times Bigamists ever try to get their evil way, it will be the newly married gay couples who will be leading the campaign against such rot.Mr. Leigh is, of course, not that stupid.
Mr Leigh is the closest thing to Sarah Palin in British politics.
He is even trying to get ripping foxes to shreds made legal again.
Thursday, 17 February 2011
GENERATOR ABUSE LEADS TO CONFLICT
From THE DAILY SUN:
All is not well at Our Saviour’s Church of the Anglican Communion, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, as members battle their Vicar, Venerable Sam Igein Isemede, and Parish Church Council (PCC) over various allegations.
The allegations were said to border on pride, dishonesty, high-handedness, mismanagement of funds, wrong use of generator in the vicarage, divide-and-rule tactics and N300 million pipe organ project of the church among others.
Daily Sun learnt that a member of the church, Ms. Bukunola Odusanwo, sent a petition entitled: My Concern about the Church Leadership, to the vicar in October last year in which she brought all the perceived atrocities against the leadership of the church to his notice.
COMMENT: Now this is just the sort of thing that the Anglican Covenant is designed to nip in the bud. On page 7614 of the Covenant document, paragraph 27, it states: "Any province caught wrongly using the vicarage generator will be immediately sneered at from afar and NOT invited to Rowan's birthday party (which is at MacDonald's this year, so they will really miss out and serves them right)."
WARNING: This is a funny story, children. But using generators for purposes not set out in the manual of instruction can lead to serious burns on parts of your body which, believe me, you just don't want to get burnt (honest - the chilli pepper idea sounded great at the time but it was, in hindsight, a big mistake). Treat all vicarage machinery with respect at all times.
All is not well at Our Saviour’s Church of the Anglican Communion, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, as members battle their Vicar, Venerable Sam Igein Isemede, and Parish Church Council (PCC) over various allegations.
The allegations were said to border on pride, dishonesty, high-handedness, mismanagement of funds, wrong use of generator in the vicarage, divide-and-rule tactics and N300 million pipe organ project of the church among others.
Daily Sun learnt that a member of the church, Ms. Bukunola Odusanwo, sent a petition entitled: My Concern about the Church Leadership, to the vicar in October last year in which she brought all the perceived atrocities against the leadership of the church to his notice.
COMMENT: Now this is just the sort of thing that the Anglican Covenant is designed to nip in the bud. On page 7614 of the Covenant document, paragraph 27, it states: "Any province caught wrongly using the vicarage generator will be immediately sneered at from afar and NOT invited to Rowan's birthday party (which is at MacDonald's this year, so they will really miss out and serves them right)."
WARNING: This is a funny story, children. But using generators for purposes not set out in the manual of instruction can lead to serious burns on parts of your body which, believe me, you just don't want to get burnt (honest - the chilli pepper idea sounded great at the time but it was, in hindsight, a big mistake). Treat all vicarage machinery with respect at all times.
THE MIDNIGHT JUKEBOX
Claudius Ress is a jazz musician from München, Germany, who leads a very talented quartet consisting of Vlado Grizeli on guitar, Klyuic Igor on bass, Stefan Staudt on drums and himself on trumpet. On his new recording, "Ballet Belly," I particularly like the play between Vlado and Claudius in which the trumpeter shows that he is a very generous band leader. Here are three tracks from the album, a couple of soulful numbers followed by a track on which the band let's go and really rocks.
CLAUDIUS' MYSPACE PAGE (English)
THE ANGLICAN COVENANT -
AN INSTRUMENT OF DOUBLESPEAK
The propaganda department of the Convocation of Anglican Cardinals has today published what it disingenuously calls a "Study guide of the Anglican Communion Covenant." Of course, it is not a study guide as it comes complete with another document, entitled "Questions and Answers" that sets out plainly exactly what we are expected to conclude after we have studied the first document.
This duplicity is only to be expected as the gradual, but unyielding, imposition of the Covenant upon the Communion has been one prolonged exercise in doublespeak. The new documents continue this process of deception through meaningless statements which you can tell are extremely dubious by the over the top confidence and authority they are exclaimed with. For example, take "Question 9" on the "Questions and Answers" document:
Will the Covenant strengthen central control within the Anglican Communion?
To which we are given this answer:
It is sometimes said that the Covenant will increase central control within the Anglican Communion. However, it must be stressed that the Covenant continually emphasises the autonomy of the provinces of the Communion. This helps to ensure that local and regional churches will not be swamped by any central power. Here are some examples of the way in which the Covenant expresses the importance of local and regional churches.
Although the Covenant does not in any way suggest the creation of a centralised authoritarian structure, it does affirm the importance of our interdependence and mutual responsibility. A common life means that each Church of the Communion should be mindful that its life and decisions impact positively and negatively on the lives of other Churches. Therefore, the Covenant commits us ‘to have regard for the common good of the Communion in the exercise of autonomy’ while ‘upholding our mutual responsibility and interdependence.’ (3.2.2)
This is waffle and meaningless waffle at that. It sounds like an intelligent statement but it is the Church Political version of an optical illusion. The truth is that if the local can be vetoed by an outside body then the local does not have autonomy. Delegated and restricted autonomy is not autonomy, it is patronising condescension.
The truth of the matter is that the proposed Anglican Covenant has been constructed upon the shifting sands of doublespeak from the word "go." The primary deceit is that it is a democratic initiative. But it can never be a democratic instrument of unity as it is being imposed without any reference to a democratic process.
I have a friend who is constantly telling me that "the Church is not a democracy" and how right he is. The Anglican Covenant will insist that all Anglicans, including those who signed up for Anglicanism before the Covenant had even been conceived, agree to believe in the ethical and religious beliefs of a very small number of powerful people within the Communion. Almost all of the people who will be subject to the rules of the Covenant will not get to vote "yes" or "no" to it. So we are being sold the Covenant as a democratic and fair "instrument of unity" whilst democracy, because "the Church is not a democracy," is completely absent from the process other than within the phoney democratic processes of some provinces which are themselves an expression of ecclesiastical doublespeak.
My question is simple. Is it morally right for an organisation to insist its members change their beliefs from what they were allowed to believe when they joined the organisation without those members being allowed to personally vote on the issue?
And, in homage to the question posing style of the Covenanters, I will answer the question for you.
No, it bloody well isn't!
This duplicity is only to be expected as the gradual, but unyielding, imposition of the Covenant upon the Communion has been one prolonged exercise in doublespeak. The new documents continue this process of deception through meaningless statements which you can tell are extremely dubious by the over the top confidence and authority they are exclaimed with. For example, take "Question 9" on the "Questions and Answers" document:
Will the Covenant strengthen central control within the Anglican Communion?
To which we are given this answer:
It is sometimes said that the Covenant will increase central control within the Anglican Communion. However, it must be stressed that the Covenant continually emphasises the autonomy of the provinces of the Communion. This helps to ensure that local and regional churches will not be swamped by any central power. Here are some examples of the way in which the Covenant expresses the importance of local and regional churches.
Although the Covenant does not in any way suggest the creation of a centralised authoritarian structure, it does affirm the importance of our interdependence and mutual responsibility. A common life means that each Church of the Communion should be mindful that its life and decisions impact positively and negatively on the lives of other Churches. Therefore, the Covenant commits us ‘to have regard for the common good of the Communion in the exercise of autonomy’ while ‘upholding our mutual responsibility and interdependence.’ (3.2.2)
This is waffle and meaningless waffle at that. It sounds like an intelligent statement but it is the Church Political version of an optical illusion. The truth is that if the local can be vetoed by an outside body then the local does not have autonomy. Delegated and restricted autonomy is not autonomy, it is patronising condescension.
The truth of the matter is that the proposed Anglican Covenant has been constructed upon the shifting sands of doublespeak from the word "go." The primary deceit is that it is a democratic initiative. But it can never be a democratic instrument of unity as it is being imposed without any reference to a democratic process.
I have a friend who is constantly telling me that "the Church is not a democracy" and how right he is. The Anglican Covenant will insist that all Anglicans, including those who signed up for Anglicanism before the Covenant had even been conceived, agree to believe in the ethical and religious beliefs of a very small number of powerful people within the Communion. Almost all of the people who will be subject to the rules of the Covenant will not get to vote "yes" or "no" to it. So we are being sold the Covenant as a democratic and fair "instrument of unity" whilst democracy, because "the Church is not a democracy," is completely absent from the process other than within the phoney democratic processes of some provinces which are themselves an expression of ecclesiastical doublespeak.
My question is simple. Is it morally right for an organisation to insist its members change their beliefs from what they were allowed to believe when they joined the organisation without those members being allowed to personally vote on the issue?
And, in homage to the question posing style of the Covenanters, I will answer the question for you.
No, it bloody well isn't!
WILL THE MODERN DAY ATHEIST EVER GROW UP?
At least fundamentalist Christians are only hateful. Antitheists are downright smug and that has to be a far worse sin in any true free-thinker's (unbelieving or believing) book.
ELSEWHERE ON THE OCICBW... EXPERIENCE
ST. LAIKA'S: A service of daily prayer (download podcast or stream) for the feast of Saint Janani Luwum with some interesting, Uganda related, music.
THE ANCHORHOLD @ ST. LAIKA'S:
"Complete Dedication."
TWITFACE CHIT CHAT:
Our weekly discussion starter.
This week - "First Love and Crushes"
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (7): MadPriest's latest podcast featuring two hours of real soul music.
And don't forget The OCICBW... Experience's
OFFICIAL HOME on facebook.
THE ANCHORHOLD @ ST. LAIKA'S:
"Complete Dedication."
TWITFACE CHIT CHAT:
Our weekly discussion starter.
This week - "First Love and Crushes"
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (7): MadPriest's latest podcast featuring two hours of real soul music.
And don't forget The OCICBW... Experience's
OFFICIAL HOME on facebook.
SAME AS IT EVER WAS
Today the Anglican Communion celebrates the
life of Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda.
1977: After receiving a letter from the bishops protesting at the virtual institution of state murder, Janani and two of Amin's own government ministers were stated as having been found dead following a car accident. It emerged quickly that they had in fact died on the implicit instructions of the President.
2011: According to the Uganda Police, Sydney Nsubuga has confessed to killing Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato in his home in Mukono last week. Nsubuga had, according to the story, been having an affair with Kato and killed him in anger when the latter failed to give him the glittering presents he had promised.
life of Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda.
1977: After receiving a letter from the bishops protesting at the virtual institution of state murder, Janani and two of Amin's own government ministers were stated as having been found dead following a car accident. It emerged quickly that they had in fact died on the implicit instructions of the President.
2011: According to the Uganda Police, Sydney Nsubuga has confessed to killing Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato in his home in Mukono last week. Nsubuga had, according to the story, been having an affair with Kato and killed him in anger when the latter failed to give him the glittering presents he had promised.
THE SOPPY DIANNE SELECTION
This is Siren "on top of the high forbidden place."
There are loads more photos of Siren and Isadora
at FORKS OFF THE MOMENT.
THE PRAYER LIST - 17TH. FEBRUARY 2011
From REUTERS:
In Bahrain, police firing tear gas and rubber bullets cleared hundreds of people from the central Pearl Square in the early hours as they tried to end three days of protests. At least two protesters were killed and armored vehicles were later seen heading to the area.
***
From AFP:
At least four people were killed in clashes with Libyan security forces on Thursday, as the country faced a nationwide "Day of Anger" called by cyber-activists.
"Internal security forces and militias of the Revolutionary Committees used live ammunition to disperse a peaceful demonstration by the youth of Al-Baida," leaving "at least four dead and several injured," according to Libya Watch.
***
From REUTERS:
Hundreds of Yemen government loyalists wielding batons and daggers chased off a small group of protesters trying to kick off a seventh day of rallies on Wednesday to demand their president end his 32-year rule.
***
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
Skirmishes broke out Wednesday at the funeral of a man killed during anti-government demonstrations, Iranian state television reported, as the state prosecutor declared that opposition leaders would face trial.
***
From AFP:
A series of blasts levelled several arms depots at a Tanzanian army base and killed at least 17 people, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said Thursday, in the second such incident in two years. The blasts, which the prime minister said also left 145 people wounded, went off inside the Gongola Mboto army base in Dar es Salaam late Wednesday and destroyed several arms and ammunition depots.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
In Bahrain, police firing tear gas and rubber bullets cleared hundreds of people from the central Pearl Square in the early hours as they tried to end three days of protests. At least two protesters were killed and armored vehicles were later seen heading to the area.
***
From AFP:
At least four people were killed in clashes with Libyan security forces on Thursday, as the country faced a nationwide "Day of Anger" called by cyber-activists.
"Internal security forces and militias of the Revolutionary Committees used live ammunition to disperse a peaceful demonstration by the youth of Al-Baida," leaving "at least four dead and several injured," according to Libya Watch.
***
From REUTERS:
Hundreds of Yemen government loyalists wielding batons and daggers chased off a small group of protesters trying to kick off a seventh day of rallies on Wednesday to demand their president end his 32-year rule.
***
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
Skirmishes broke out Wednesday at the funeral of a man killed during anti-government demonstrations, Iranian state television reported, as the state prosecutor declared that opposition leaders would face trial.
***
From AFP:
A series of blasts levelled several arms depots at a Tanzanian army base and killed at least 17 people, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said Thursday, in the second such incident in two years. The blasts, which the prime minister said also left 145 people wounded, went off inside the Gongola Mboto army base in Dar es Salaam late Wednesday and destroyed several arms and ammunition depots.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
When you read the words of Jesus Christ do not be like the church leaders and theologians who ask themselves, "What could he mean?" But be like the holy fools and ask yourselves, "What does he mean?"
MADPRIEST RECEIVES A LETTER
I receive quite a bit of hate email. I regard it as a badge of honour as it shows that I am getting under the skin of the haters. But I received the following unsigned attack through the post this morning and I can see from its contents that it has come from either someone at my previous church or someone on the bishop's staff. I don't believe it to be the latter. Although I am reading and writing about people actually being treated as less than human, physically attacked or even killed, everyday due to the hatred inherent in those who claim to be religious in this world, it still surprises me, and in this case, upsets me, when a so-called Christian can act on the hatred and bigotry in their hearts in such a way. I have met many mentally ill people in my recent life and I can promise you this letter did not come out of madness. It came out of evil.
Now, I completely accept that not one of my regular readers will expect me to justify any of the points raised by my anonymous libeller, but I need to say the following.
All donations are recorded and I have already spoken to my accountant about them. After the 31st of March this year I will have to declare them to the taxman. Due to amount I have received so far, I will not have to pay any tax on them as my total income will fall under my allowances. I will have to pay a small percentage of what I have been given to pay for national insurance.
I have received no money from the diocese since the end of August last year. I received my first donation in respect of my unemployment on 24th. September 2011.
I am a beggar. If I was a Hindu or Buddhist cleric, chances are that is how I would earn my money. Saint Francis, and all his followers up to the present day, have survived through begging. Jesus and his disciples survived by begging (I know this because I actually read the Bible everyday). It took me a while to get used to the concept but I now embrace it and rejoice at the freedom from hypocrisy that it gives me.
My anonymous correspondent does not want me to know who he or she is. Since I began OCICBW... my real name and location has been up on the sidebar for all to see. I do not write or say anything that I am not prepared to own and I can be easily tracked down. Heck, if people feel so inclined, they can even write me a letter.
Okay, here's a cheeky suggestion from your very own holy beggar. If you really want to get up Anon's nose, and only if you can afford to do so, you could always send me some cash in support of my "immoral" ministry. My unemployment benefits ceased today (£65.00 per week), so I could do with the money. These are the details of how to do so:
The administrator of this site is the Reverend Jonathan Hagger (a.k.a. MadPriest). He is a Church of England priest but he receives no salary from any church or any other employer.
At present his ministry consists entirely of his work at St. Laika's and OCICBW...
However, he likes to eat occasionally and his blogs cost quite a bit of money to run. So, in true Anglican style a collection plate is being made available for your donations (via PayPal).
Full accounts will be posted here each year. You will never be asked to pledge or tithe but a regular monthly contribution from you would give him security and peace of mind.
You do not need to have a PayPal account to subscribe or donate via the buttons below.
Now, I completely accept that not one of my regular readers will expect me to justify any of the points raised by my anonymous libeller, but I need to say the following.
All donations are recorded and I have already spoken to my accountant about them. After the 31st of March this year I will have to declare them to the taxman. Due to amount I have received so far, I will not have to pay any tax on them as my total income will fall under my allowances. I will have to pay a small percentage of what I have been given to pay for national insurance.
I have received no money from the diocese since the end of August last year. I received my first donation in respect of my unemployment on 24th. September 2011.
I am a beggar. If I was a Hindu or Buddhist cleric, chances are that is how I would earn my money. Saint Francis, and all his followers up to the present day, have survived through begging. Jesus and his disciples survived by begging (I know this because I actually read the Bible everyday). It took me a while to get used to the concept but I now embrace it and rejoice at the freedom from hypocrisy that it gives me.
My anonymous correspondent does not want me to know who he or she is. Since I began OCICBW... my real name and location has been up on the sidebar for all to see. I do not write or say anything that I am not prepared to own and I can be easily tracked down. Heck, if people feel so inclined, they can even write me a letter.
Okay, here's a cheeky suggestion from your very own holy beggar. If you really want to get up Anon's nose, and only if you can afford to do so, you could always send me some cash in support of my "immoral" ministry. My unemployment benefits ceased today (£65.00 per week), so I could do with the money. These are the details of how to do so:
The administrator of this site is the Reverend Jonathan Hagger (a.k.a. MadPriest). He is a Church of England priest but he receives no salary from any church or any other employer.
At present his ministry consists entirely of his work at St. Laika's and OCICBW...
However, he likes to eat occasionally and his blogs cost quite a bit of money to run. So, in true Anglican style a collection plate is being made available for your donations (via PayPal).
Full accounts will be posted here each year. You will never be asked to pledge or tithe but a regular monthly contribution from you would give him security and peace of mind.
You do not need to have a PayPal account to subscribe or donate via the buttons below.
THE SOPPY MAUIGIRL SELECTION
This is Baxter:
Baxter is looking annoyed because he is having to share HIS house with Angel (photo below). Read about how this unhappy state of affairs came to pass at MAUIGIRL'S MEANDERINGS.
Baxter is looking annoyed because he is having to share HIS house with Angel (photo below). Read about how this unhappy state of affairs came to pass at MAUIGIRL'S MEANDERINGS.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Jan at A CHURCH FOR STARVING ARTISTS has posted a piece that many of you will find interesting and will want to comment on. She writes:
I'm increasingly wondering about the correlation between the decline of the institutional church and increasing number of church rules.
Go read the rest.
I'm increasingly wondering about the correlation between the decline of the institutional church and increasing number of church rules.
Go read the rest.
THE PRAYER LIST - 16TH. FEBRUARY 2011
Lots of serious stuff to pray for today, but PLEASE do read the "Thanksgiving" item at the bottom of the list. Excellent news, in deed!
Also, I must ask those of you who include this list in your own regular prayers to please take the time to light a candle using the link provided, making sure you type "Laika" in the group box. We started off very well when the facility was first introduced but it has now got a bit embarrassing. I am worried that someone we are praying for will go through to the candle site and feel underwhelmed by our support. I would rather get rid of the candles than risk disappointing anybody.
From REUTERS:
Attacks by a renegade militia in south Sudan's oil state of Jonglei have killed at least 211 people, a southern minister said on Tuesday, doubling earlier estimates of the death count. South Sudan's army said forces loyal to George Athor, a former army officer who launched a revolt after losing in last year's elections, carried out attacks in Jonglei last week. Army and government officials told Reuters on Tuesday the scale of the carnage emerged after searches found bodies of women, children and other civilians still lying in remote areas.
***
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
Rising food prices pushed tens of millions of people into extreme poverty last year and are reaching "dangerous levels" in some countries, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Tuesday as he released new data showing that the cost of grain and other staples is near a historic high. The costs of some key commodities such as wheat have doubled in the past year, and a World Bank index of overall food costs rose 15 percent from October through January.
***
From THE TELEGRAPH:
The Dalai Lama's nephew has been killed after he was hit by a car on the side of a highway in Florida. He died during a 300-mile "Walk for Tibet," a charity walk to raise awareness of the Tibetan struggle for independence. The Florida Highway Patrol said that the 45-year-old was hit by a four-wheel drive at about 7:30pm local time on Monday on State Road A1A, which runs along the east coast.
Posted by Lesley at LESLEY'S BLOG:
Dad had another fall last night. He is back in hospital again, having only been home less than a week. This is his third stay in hospital in a month. This time he has pneumonia as well. My poor mum is 85 and has been very stressed indeed, and witnessed all these falls.
Posted by IT at THE FRIENDS OF JAKE:
We interred my father's ashes in his family's plot under a Victorian angel statue that is dusted with lichen and worn by well over a century of rain, in a Roman Catholic cemetery about an hour away from where I grew up. He rests next to his grandparents, his great grandparents, his aunt, and his great-aunt.
The family spent the evening eating, drinking his favorite wine, and telling familiar stories of his 83 years, washing our grief with tears but also celebrating his life with our laughter.
During the run-up to Prop8, my Dad went to his Rotary Club and told his fellows, "You will oblige me by voting against this. My daughter is a lesbian and getting married." He was so pleased to show me his huge "No on Prop8" yard sign. And he walked me down the aisle with a huge grin, and we danced at my wedding.
I love you, Dad. Rest in peace.
***
Posted at WOUNDED BIRD:
UPDATE ON AILEEN AND MIKE
From Aileen's husband, Mike:
Aileen is still doing well in the same ways, however she had about a 45 minute procedure to put some type of filters to block the blood clots from moving up from her legs to the organs; heart, lungs, brain, ect. She does have quite a few more clots in both legs today so the doc thought it was necessary to get one put in as soon as possible. She did very well during the procedure. I'm proud of her.
***
From JCF:
I went to a demonstration today, to protect my uterus from those who want government to control it . . . but the Government-Control-of-My-Uterus crowd was out in force (and when I say "in force" . . . their side has a history of SHOOTING people on my side). They really terrify me, and they know it (they take your picture, announcing they'll post it. Will it go on their next "Wanted for Murder" poster?)
That's the mood I'm in . . . when I just learned that my FAVORITE TV reporter, Lara Logan of CBS, was RAPED in Tahrir Square last Friday.
I feel like, as an XX-person, I'm a target. All of us XX people are.
THANKSGIVING
Posted by Father Dougal at DOUGALTHINK:
Regular readers of this rambling record may recall a post on the 29th of September regarding romance etc. Matters have progressed a little on this front. Yesterday I got down on one knee and she was daft enough to say Yes! So I am officially engaged and am much to my surprise a fiance. :-)
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
Also, I must ask those of you who include this list in your own regular prayers to please take the time to light a candle using the link provided, making sure you type "Laika" in the group box. We started off very well when the facility was first introduced but it has now got a bit embarrassing. I am worried that someone we are praying for will go through to the candle site and feel underwhelmed by our support. I would rather get rid of the candles than risk disappointing anybody.
From REUTERS:
Attacks by a renegade militia in south Sudan's oil state of Jonglei have killed at least 211 people, a southern minister said on Tuesday, doubling earlier estimates of the death count. South Sudan's army said forces loyal to George Athor, a former army officer who launched a revolt after losing in last year's elections, carried out attacks in Jonglei last week. Army and government officials told Reuters on Tuesday the scale of the carnage emerged after searches found bodies of women, children and other civilians still lying in remote areas.
***
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
Rising food prices pushed tens of millions of people into extreme poverty last year and are reaching "dangerous levels" in some countries, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Tuesday as he released new data showing that the cost of grain and other staples is near a historic high. The costs of some key commodities such as wheat have doubled in the past year, and a World Bank index of overall food costs rose 15 percent from October through January.
***
From THE TELEGRAPH:
The Dalai Lama's nephew has been killed after he was hit by a car on the side of a highway in Florida. He died during a 300-mile "Walk for Tibet," a charity walk to raise awareness of the Tibetan struggle for independence. The Florida Highway Patrol said that the 45-year-old was hit by a four-wheel drive at about 7:30pm local time on Monday on State Road A1A, which runs along the east coast.
Posted by Lesley at LESLEY'S BLOG:
Dad had another fall last night. He is back in hospital again, having only been home less than a week. This is his third stay in hospital in a month. This time he has pneumonia as well. My poor mum is 85 and has been very stressed indeed, and witnessed all these falls.
Posted by IT at THE FRIENDS OF JAKE:
We interred my father's ashes in his family's plot under a Victorian angel statue that is dusted with lichen and worn by well over a century of rain, in a Roman Catholic cemetery about an hour away from where I grew up. He rests next to his grandparents, his great grandparents, his aunt, and his great-aunt.
The family spent the evening eating, drinking his favorite wine, and telling familiar stories of his 83 years, washing our grief with tears but also celebrating his life with our laughter.
During the run-up to Prop8, my Dad went to his Rotary Club and told his fellows, "You will oblige me by voting against this. My daughter is a lesbian and getting married." He was so pleased to show me his huge "No on Prop8" yard sign. And he walked me down the aisle with a huge grin, and we danced at my wedding.
I love you, Dad. Rest in peace.
***
Posted at WOUNDED BIRD:
UPDATE ON AILEEN AND MIKE
From Aileen's husband, Mike:
Aileen is still doing well in the same ways, however she had about a 45 minute procedure to put some type of filters to block the blood clots from moving up from her legs to the organs; heart, lungs, brain, ect. She does have quite a few more clots in both legs today so the doc thought it was necessary to get one put in as soon as possible. She did very well during the procedure. I'm proud of her.
***
From JCF:
I went to a demonstration today, to protect my uterus from those who want government to control it . . . but the Government-Control-of-My-Uterus crowd was out in force (and when I say "in force" . . . their side has a history of SHOOTING people on my side). They really terrify me, and they know it (they take your picture, announcing they'll post it. Will it go on their next "Wanted for Murder" poster?)
That's the mood I'm in . . . when I just learned that my FAVORITE TV reporter, Lara Logan of CBS, was RAPED in Tahrir Square last Friday.
I feel like, as an XX-person, I'm a target. All of us XX people are.
THANKSGIVING
Posted by Father Dougal at DOUGALTHINK:
Regular readers of this rambling record may recall a post on the 29th of September regarding romance etc. Matters have progressed a little on this front. Yesterday I got down on one knee and she was daft enough to say Yes! So I am officially engaged and am much to my surprise a fiance. :-)
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
THE LAST CHORD FADES
Sir George Shearing, OBE
Pianist
13th. August 1919 to 14th. February 2011
Born in Battersea, London, Shearing was the youngest of nine children. He was born blind to working class parents: his father delivered coal and his mother cleaned trains in the evening. He started to learn piano at the age of three and began formal training at Linden Lodge School for the Blind, where he spent four years. Though offered several scholarships, Shearing opted to perform at a local pub, the Mason's Arms in Lambeth, for "25 bob a week" playing piano and accordion. He even joined an all-blind band during that time and was influenced by the albums of Teddy Wilson and Fats Waller. He made his first BBC radio appearance during this time.
Shearing collaborated with numerous singers including Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Ernestine Anderson, Dakota Staton, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson and, most notably, Mel Tormé, with whom he performed frequently in the late 1980s and early 1990s at festivals, on radio and for recordings. (WIKIPEDIA)
In 1962, George received a golden retriever guide dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California. The dog's name was Leland ("Lee" for short). The two traveled together for more than a decade. George did many benefits and media interviews to raise awareness and support for the organization's free services.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
CAPTION COMPETITION
Mark in Connecticut sent this little gem in for your imaginations to run wild with.
Mark writes: "Does not this image (a still from a video at Episcopal Café) cry out for a caption competition? Or is it just me?"
Oh, I very much doubt it, Mark.
Mark writes: "Does not this image (a still from a video at Episcopal Café) cry out for a caption competition? Or is it just me?"
Oh, I very much doubt it, Mark.
THE MIDNIGHT JUKEBOX
DINO VALENTI
(a.k.a. Dino Valente, a.k.a. Chester William Powers, Jr.,
a.k.a. Chet Powers, a.k.a. Jesse Oris Farrow)
7th. October 1937 to 16th. November 1994
Who'd a thought that we'd ever uncover lost Dino Valenti music and that it would be this damned good? The tapes used to form this album were found in a storage unit in northern California by some very nice people who just knew this music was valuable without even hearing the tapes. They figured out how to reach Dino's son and the rest is history in the making. This CD marks the very first time that a Dino album offers his own recording of his song, "Get Together" (made more than famous by The Youngbloods). It also features covers of "Midnight Rider" (Gregg Allman) and "I'll Try Something New" (Smokey Robinson) which are both stellar performances. But the true gems on this album are the original tunes that were recorded back in the early to late Sixties. How did this stuff survive all this time and sound so cool?
(Dean Sciarra - ItsAboutMusic.com)
DINO'S WEBSITE
For an excellent, short biography of Dino Valenti
check out STUCK IN THE PAST.
PURCHASE VIA MADPRIEST'S AMAZON STORE
SAVITRI SPELLS IT OUT
I posted a couple of pieces last month in which I claimed that the primate's meeting in Dublin was all about the primates of the Communion strengthening their position as the pseudo-cardinals of Anglicanism. I don't think I received one comment on either posts, most of my blogging colleagues were intent on talking the meeting up as a success for other reasons. So, it is good to see that ace Guardian commentator, Savitri Hensmen, has come to the same conclusion, albeit with a far politer tone than I managed.
Check out her article on the subject at COMMENT IS FREE. Here's a taster:
The primates' meeting is now regarded as one of the instruments of communion uniting Anglicans internationally. Yet it is relatively new – when I was a child, there was no such thing. That was a time when ordinary people's views were valued in church and society. The 1968 Lambeth Conference recommended "that no major issue in the life of the church should be decided without the full participation of the laity in discussion and in decision". In other churches, too, it was recognised that not only bishops but also ordinary churchgoers and parish priests trying to live out God's love in their neighbourhoods, as well as scholars and scientists, might have valuable insights.
Check out her article on the subject at COMMENT IS FREE. Here's a taster:
The primates' meeting is now regarded as one of the instruments of communion uniting Anglicans internationally. Yet it is relatively new – when I was a child, there was no such thing. That was a time when ordinary people's views were valued in church and society. The 1968 Lambeth Conference recommended "that no major issue in the life of the church should be decided without the full participation of the laity in discussion and in decision". In other churches, too, it was recognised that not only bishops but also ordinary churchgoers and parish priests trying to live out God's love in their neighbourhoods, as well as scholars and scientists, might have valuable insights.
NEW FRIENDS
It's always a sad moment for me when I have to add newly discovered bloggers to my blogroll. I fully realise that their lives will be ruined by their association with the ne'erdowells and miscreants who hang around OCICBW... But what can I do? It is my duty and everyone of the following unfortunates deserve their place in THE NEIGHBOURHOOD hall of shame.
FINDING LIFE HARD: The thoughts of Liz and her dog who used to be Harvey, but is now George, who is Harvey's great-great-great-great-nephew. Liz lives in Wales, but because we are Christians we must treat her as if she is just a normal, human being like each one of us. But do be prepared to repeat everything you say to her two or three times and very, very slowly, of course. Atheists and those of other faiths can be as merciless as they like.
PREACHER WOMAN: Preacherwoman is a woman who preaches. She also teaches and writes and lives in the U.K. She is very clever. I'm finding that a lot more common among women nowadays. It's probably something to do with global warming.
THE DEACON OF DIBLEY: Her aspirations include "attempting to enter ordained life with hope, joy, grace . . . and a bit of humour." Unfortunately, being spotted at OCICBW... has most probably scuppered that plan. Never mind, I hear that Sainsburys are looking for shelf stackers at the moment.
By the way, MadPriest has no idea if the Deacon's fellow ordinands, Hope, Joy and Grace, have their own blogs.
BOSGUY is a "gay, urban foodie and travel nut from Boston who wants to see the world and make some friends along the way." So, other than the Boston bit, he certainly isn't going to stick out like a sore thumb around here. But, if he does stick out like a sore thumb, I will call the police. I won't have that sort of behaviour round here. It could really upset KJ.
BLOGGERTROPOLIS: Steve from Leamington Spa's blog. (Leamington Spa isn't all posh, there are some pretty rough areas within its boundaries). Steve is a writer and has a taste in music that gives his age away better than it being tattooed on his forehead. He also has a blog called LEGOTROPOLIS which proves beyond doubt that Steve is completely insane, but in a non-dangerous way.
THIS LITTLE LIGHT JUST KEEPS ON SHINING:
Kevin F openly admits that he has no idea what he is going on about but, being an ace blogger, he doesn't let that stop him. To say that Kevin's blog is bit esoteric would be saying that Kevin's blog is a bit esoteric. He certainly has the generic OCICBW... taste in kitsch and, as they say, de gustibus non disputandum est.
APPLES OF GOLD: Red is a bit of a swinger (see photo), but then she is an artist and you all know what they are like. Red is married, but her husband has absolutely no idea how to keep her under control (really, men should have to take a test like you have to before you are allowed to drive). She also picks on me quite a lot and has even been known to tell me off. But then that's my general experience of women and Red is a sweetie compared to Grandmère Mimi.
I can vouch for the fact that Robert, THE RADICAL METHODIST, knows his stuff when it comes to strip joints, which is pretty radical for a Methodist. He also admits to being on the circuit, if anyone is interested.
Robert has a second blog which is called THIS AND THAT. It's all about flowers and gardening and bee keeping and that sort of sissy stuff - so I wouldn't bother checking it out if I were you. Honest, there's no jokes or photos of babelicious priests, hunks in shorts or anything. It's a complete waste of time really, I don't know why Robert bothers.
FINDING LIFE HARD: The thoughts of Liz and her dog who used to be Harvey, but is now George, who is Harvey's great-great-great-great-nephew. Liz lives in Wales, but because we are Christians we must treat her as if she is just a normal, human being like each one of us. But do be prepared to repeat everything you say to her two or three times and very, very slowly, of course. Atheists and those of other faiths can be as merciless as they like.
PREACHER WOMAN: Preacherwoman is a woman who preaches. She also teaches and writes and lives in the U.K. She is very clever. I'm finding that a lot more common among women nowadays. It's probably something to do with global warming.
THE DEACON OF DIBLEY: Her aspirations include "attempting to enter ordained life with hope, joy, grace . . . and a bit of humour." Unfortunately, being spotted at OCICBW... has most probably scuppered that plan. Never mind, I hear that Sainsburys are looking for shelf stackers at the moment.
By the way, MadPriest has no idea if the Deacon's fellow ordinands, Hope, Joy and Grace, have their own blogs.
BOSGUY is a "gay, urban foodie and travel nut from Boston who wants to see the world and make some friends along the way." So, other than the Boston bit, he certainly isn't going to stick out like a sore thumb around here. But, if he does stick out like a sore thumb, I will call the police. I won't have that sort of behaviour round here. It could really upset KJ.
BLOGGERTROPOLIS: Steve from Leamington Spa's blog. (Leamington Spa isn't all posh, there are some pretty rough areas within its boundaries). Steve is a writer and has a taste in music that gives his age away better than it being tattooed on his forehead. He also has a blog called LEGOTROPOLIS which proves beyond doubt that Steve is completely insane, but in a non-dangerous way.
THIS LITTLE LIGHT JUST KEEPS ON SHINING:
Kevin F openly admits that he has no idea what he is going on about but, being an ace blogger, he doesn't let that stop him. To say that Kevin's blog is bit esoteric would be saying that Kevin's blog is a bit esoteric. He certainly has the generic OCICBW... taste in kitsch and, as they say, de gustibus non disputandum est.
I can vouch for the fact that Robert, THE RADICAL METHODIST, knows his stuff when it comes to strip joints, which is pretty radical for a Methodist. He also admits to being on the circuit, if anyone is interested.
Robert has a second blog which is called THIS AND THAT. It's all about flowers and gardening and bee keeping and that sort of sissy stuff - so I wouldn't bother checking it out if I were you. Honest, there's no jokes or photos of babelicious priests, hunks in shorts or anything. It's a complete waste of time really, I don't know why Robert bothers.
P . . . P . . . P . . . PICK UP A PENGUIN
From THE LOCAL (Germany):
Sandy, an independent penguin if there ever was one, who lives in Münster Zoo, has eaten sumptuously from the smorgasbord of love, and never let convention or public sanction determine which dishes she tastes. Her history of serial monogamy includes everything from cross-species relationships to a stint as a "cougar" mom. She found love early in life. She fell hard for a human at the age of two when she laid eyes on Peter Vollbracht, a much older zookeeper. For the next ten years, she was almost constantly at his side.
But love can be fickle. When illness kept Peter away from the zoo for six weeks, Sandy’s eye began to wander and soon it landed upon someone of her own genus, Tom. Although he was much younger, the couple were soon blessed with two chicks. Her happiness was sadly fleeting, however, and when a bacterial infection took Tom to an early grave, Sandy found herself on her own with two kids. Single motherhood was not to her liking; the babes were fostered out.
Not one to stay home by the phone on a Saturday night, Sandy soon returned to her first love, zookeeper Vollbracht, lavishing him with affection and delighting the crowds at the zoo again with her displays of love.
“She was looking for someone, and I was there,” Vollbracht told the magazine Der Spiegel back in 2009.
But that was then, this is now. Sandy has found happiness among her own kind again, this time with the older and wiser penguin, Hermann. The couple is busy these days gathering twigs for the nest they’re building together. Zoo staff hope that this love affair is the real thing and that Sandy won’t find her attention wandering when some new young thing joins the enclosure and that Hermann won’t shuffle off this mortal coil just yet.
“Up to now, she’s hasn’t really had that much luck with men,” said zoo spokesperson Ilona Zühlke.
Sandy, an independent penguin if there ever was one, who lives in Münster Zoo, has eaten sumptuously from the smorgasbord of love, and never let convention or public sanction determine which dishes she tastes. Her history of serial monogamy includes everything from cross-species relationships to a stint as a "cougar" mom. She found love early in life. She fell hard for a human at the age of two when she laid eyes on Peter Vollbracht, a much older zookeeper. For the next ten years, she was almost constantly at his side.
But love can be fickle. When illness kept Peter away from the zoo for six weeks, Sandy’s eye began to wander and soon it landed upon someone of her own genus, Tom. Although he was much younger, the couple were soon blessed with two chicks. Her happiness was sadly fleeting, however, and when a bacterial infection took Tom to an early grave, Sandy found herself on her own with two kids. Single motherhood was not to her liking; the babes were fostered out.
Not one to stay home by the phone on a Saturday night, Sandy soon returned to her first love, zookeeper Vollbracht, lavishing him with affection and delighting the crowds at the zoo again with her displays of love.
“She was looking for someone, and I was there,” Vollbracht told the magazine Der Spiegel back in 2009.
But that was then, this is now. Sandy has found happiness among her own kind again, this time with the older and wiser penguin, Hermann. The couple is busy these days gathering twigs for the nest they’re building together. Zoo staff hope that this love affair is the real thing and that Sandy won’t find her attention wandering when some new young thing joins the enclosure and that Hermann won’t shuffle off this mortal coil just yet.
“Up to now, she’s hasn’t really had that much luck with men,” said zoo spokesperson Ilona Zühlke.
THOSE SATANIC SWEDES
Having been added to the Axis of Evil due to their promotion of hunting wolves on their property, the blood hungry citizens of Sweden must have decided to go for broke and become the number one international pariah. Their government has announced that they are going to replenish their wolf stock from abroad so that they have plenty to shoot at next year.
The killing of healthy dogs and cats, of any species, is an abomination. They are our kin folk. Okay, killing a wolf is not as bad as killing a domestic dog, which would be like murdering your own child. But it is as bad as murdering somebody else's child.
MadPriest says:
BOYCOTT IKEA NOW!
OCICBW... will be arranging a ceremonial burning of ABBA CDs and vinyl outside the Swedish Consulate in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the near future. Demonstrators will be encouraged to take their dogs with them - fully armed.
Full details of the cruelty of Swedes can be found at THE LOCAL.
PLEASE NOTE: MadPriest is fully aware that Americans also pay to murder wolves (and anything else they think they can get away with), but the world expects that sort of behaviour from its primitive peoples. However, we have higher expectations when it comes to the Swedes. They are always boasting about how civilised they are. But, Mama Mia! They are lying.
The killing of healthy dogs and cats, of any species, is an abomination. They are our kin folk. Okay, killing a wolf is not as bad as killing a domestic dog, which would be like murdering your own child. But it is as bad as murdering somebody else's child.
MadPriest says:
BOYCOTT IKEA NOW!
OCICBW... will be arranging a ceremonial burning of ABBA CDs and vinyl outside the Swedish Consulate in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the near future. Demonstrators will be encouraged to take their dogs with them - fully armed.
Full details of the cruelty of Swedes can be found at THE LOCAL.
PLEASE NOTE: MadPriest is fully aware that Americans also pay to murder wolves (and anything else they think they can get away with), but the world expects that sort of behaviour from its primitive peoples. However, we have higher expectations when it comes to the Swedes. They are always boasting about how civilised they are. But, Mama Mia! They are lying.
TWITFACE CHIT CHAT (5)
If the number of comments on any one TwitFace post gets to fifty, all those who have commented will receive 500 days off purgatory. Should the comments ever reach one hundred I will grant all the participants a general plenary. Now, you don't get offers like that on Facebook!
This week, as you would expect, our theme is love. And, as a special Valentine Day present to my lovely readers, I am giving you a choice of two (closely related) subjects. You can choose one or the other or go for both.
Your subjects for discussion this week are:
First love and/or teenage crush
My apologies to those of you who may
have problems remembering back that far.
Off you go then!
DON'T BLAME MADPRIEST, BLAME MAD DAD
For several years, a man had been having an affair with an Italian woman. One night, she confided to him that she was pregnant.
Not wanting to ruin his reputation or his marriage, he paid her a large sum of money if she would go back to Italy to secretly have the child. Also, if she stayed in Italy to raise the child, he would provide child support until the child turned 18.
She agreed, but asked how he would know when the baby was born.
To keep it discrete, he told her to simply mail him a post card, and write 'Spaghetti' on the back when the child was born. He would then arrange for the Child Support Payments to begin.
One day, about 8 months later, he came home to his confused wife.
'Honey,' she said, 'You received a very strange post card today.'
'Oh, just give it to me and I'll explain it later,' he said.
The wife obeyed and watched as her husband read the card, turned white, and fainted. So she picked up the card and read it.
On it was written:
"Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.
Three with meatballs, two without. Send extra sauce."
Not wanting to ruin his reputation or his marriage, he paid her a large sum of money if she would go back to Italy to secretly have the child. Also, if she stayed in Italy to raise the child, he would provide child support until the child turned 18.
She agreed, but asked how he would know when the baby was born.
To keep it discrete, he told her to simply mail him a post card, and write 'Spaghetti' on the back when the child was born. He would then arrange for the Child Support Payments to begin.
One day, about 8 months later, he came home to his confused wife.
'Honey,' she said, 'You received a very strange post card today.'
'Oh, just give it to me and I'll explain it later,' he said.
The wife obeyed and watched as her husband read the card, turned white, and fainted. So she picked up the card and read it.
On it was written:
"Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.
Three with meatballs, two without. Send extra sauce."
ELSEWHERE ON THE OCICBW... EXPERIENCE
ST. LAIKA'S: A gentle service of daily prayer for today with lots of music. I particularly enjoyed today's service. It turned out really well. Do check it out.
THE ANCHORHOLD @ OCICBW...: A place to meditate, examine your own thoughts and get close to God. All cobbled together by our very own spiritual warrior, Ellie Finlay.
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (7): MadPriest's latest podcast featuring two hours of real soul music.
And don't forget The OCICBW... Experience's
OFFICIAL HOME on facebook.
THE ANCHORHOLD @ OCICBW...: A place to meditate, examine your own thoughts and get close to God. All cobbled together by our very own spiritual warrior, Ellie Finlay.
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (7): MadPriest's latest podcast featuring two hours of real soul music.
And don't forget The OCICBW... Experience's
OFFICIAL HOME on facebook.
THE PRAYER LIST - 15TH. FEBRUARY 2011
From THE FINANCIAL TIMES:
Protesters clashed with police for a second day outside a hospital in Bahrain’s capital of Manama, following the death on Monday of a young demonstrator who was allegedly shot by police. A funeral procession for Ali Abdulhadi al-Mushaima – a 27-year-old man allegedly shot in the back while demonstrating on Monday, according to activists – was forced to drive through tear gas outside the Salmaniya Medical Complex in Manama after a second day of violence between riot police and protesters. Security forces fired tear gas and bird shot at thousands of protesters who chanted “down with the police” and “the people demand the fall of the regime” as the procession passed from the hospital to the dead man’s home village of Daih, 7km from the capital Manama.
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
A suicide bomber struck at the entrance of an upscale mall and hotel in Kabul on Monday afternoon, leaving twisted metal and broken glass at a venue frequented by foreigners and wealthy Afghans. The lunchtime blast at the newly renovated Kabul City Center shopping mall and the Safi Landmark hotel killed two security guards. Two people were wounded.
***
Posted by LKT at THE INFUSION:
The only thing on my mind today is that I killed a dog last night while I was driving home from dinner with my parents. He was a little chihuahua, black and tan, no tags, no collar. Neighbors came out to see what was going on, but no one knew whose he was, just that he had been running in the street all day.
His eyes were open, he had a wound on his head, he wasn't moving. We had boxes in the car from stuff of mine my mom had cleaned out of the attic. We took off a lid and put his body on it and carried him to the car. We put him in the hatchback. I petted him. He was still warm. I felt no heartbeat.
Poor little guy. I hope he didn't suffer. I hope he's happy now, and at peace. I hope I treat my own dogs and cats with care. If there's more I could have done, I pray that God will forgive me for not doing it.
On the way home, we found a place for him to rest with dignity, I think. At any rate, that is my hope and my prayer. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. St. Laika, pray for us. And God have mercy upon us.
***
Posted by BARRYSHAP on his blog yesterday:
Farewell to the Colonel
We didn’t know he was growing weak with age and weariness. Curious, but lately, Wally had been more affectionate than usual. He’d press his lips to my face and sometimes try to nibble at my forehead. He’d get a faraway look in those eyes. Kind of the look he had when I found him Sunday afternoon, lying on his side half in and half outside of the goat grotto. I tried to get him to stand up. I don’t know why but learned later that it was the right thing to do. Dr. Deitrich said that when a goat lies on his side like that he’s liable to bloat. He was going and there was nothing I–or anyone else–could do. We got him to where he was comfortable, or more comfortable, anyway. Dr. Deitrich came over. He saw the blood dripping out where pee should have been. He told us he thought maybe he had bladder stones, then he took an ultrasound. Wally’s bladder had ruptured. We gave the doctor the okay, cried a bit and caressed the old boy's face as he drifted off.
He’s off running, now. In a field thick with fresh, full grass. His smile is genuine and he is free. Truly free.
Posted by Freda at WHAT'S THE STORY IN DALAMORY:
Am recovering from ‘flu and hope to be back online in a week or so.
***
Posted by Lionel Deimel on his POETRY blog:
My friend Jane was sent to the hospital two days ago because she was not feeling well and was having trouble standing up. This morning, a diagnosis has not yet been established.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
Protesters clashed with police for a second day outside a hospital in Bahrain’s capital of Manama, following the death on Monday of a young demonstrator who was allegedly shot by police. A funeral procession for Ali Abdulhadi al-Mushaima – a 27-year-old man allegedly shot in the back while demonstrating on Monday, according to activists – was forced to drive through tear gas outside the Salmaniya Medical Complex in Manama after a second day of violence between riot police and protesters. Security forces fired tear gas and bird shot at thousands of protesters who chanted “down with the police” and “the people demand the fall of the regime” as the procession passed from the hospital to the dead man’s home village of Daih, 7km from the capital Manama.
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
A suicide bomber struck at the entrance of an upscale mall and hotel in Kabul on Monday afternoon, leaving twisted metal and broken glass at a venue frequented by foreigners and wealthy Afghans. The lunchtime blast at the newly renovated Kabul City Center shopping mall and the Safi Landmark hotel killed two security guards. Two people were wounded.
***
Posted by LKT at THE INFUSION:
The only thing on my mind today is that I killed a dog last night while I was driving home from dinner with my parents. He was a little chihuahua, black and tan, no tags, no collar. Neighbors came out to see what was going on, but no one knew whose he was, just that he had been running in the street all day.
His eyes were open, he had a wound on his head, he wasn't moving. We had boxes in the car from stuff of mine my mom had cleaned out of the attic. We took off a lid and put his body on it and carried him to the car. We put him in the hatchback. I petted him. He was still warm. I felt no heartbeat.
Poor little guy. I hope he didn't suffer. I hope he's happy now, and at peace. I hope I treat my own dogs and cats with care. If there's more I could have done, I pray that God will forgive me for not doing it.
On the way home, we found a place for him to rest with dignity, I think. At any rate, that is my hope and my prayer. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. St. Laika, pray for us. And God have mercy upon us.
***
Posted by BARRYSHAP on his blog yesterday:
Farewell to the Colonel
We didn’t know he was growing weak with age and weariness. Curious, but lately, Wally had been more affectionate than usual. He’d press his lips to my face and sometimes try to nibble at my forehead. He’d get a faraway look in those eyes. Kind of the look he had when I found him Sunday afternoon, lying on his side half in and half outside of the goat grotto. I tried to get him to stand up. I don’t know why but learned later that it was the right thing to do. Dr. Deitrich said that when a goat lies on his side like that he’s liable to bloat. He was going and there was nothing I–or anyone else–could do. We got him to where he was comfortable, or more comfortable, anyway. Dr. Deitrich came over. He saw the blood dripping out where pee should have been. He told us he thought maybe he had bladder stones, then he took an ultrasound. Wally’s bladder had ruptured. We gave the doctor the okay, cried a bit and caressed the old boy's face as he drifted off.
He’s off running, now. In a field thick with fresh, full grass. His smile is genuine and he is free. Truly free.
Posted by Freda at WHAT'S THE STORY IN DALAMORY:
Am recovering from ‘flu and hope to be back online in a week or so.
***
Posted by Lionel Deimel on his POETRY blog:
My friend Jane was sent to the hospital two days ago because she was not feeling well and was having trouble standing up. This morning, a diagnosis has not yet been established.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
Monday, 14 February 2011
ELSEWHERE ON THE OCICBW... EXPERIENCE
THE ANCHORHOLD @ OCICBW...:
"Christ's Paradise" and "Right Here, Right Now."
ST. LAIKA'S: A service of compline for the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. There's lots of orthodox sounding music and, right at the end, Bruce Springsteen singing "Valentine's Day."
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (7): MadPriest's latest podcast featuring two hours of real soul music.
And don't forget The OCICBW... Experience's
OFFICIAL HOME on facebook.
"Christ's Paradise" and "Right Here, Right Now."
ST. LAIKA'S: A service of compline for the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. There's lots of orthodox sounding music and, right at the end, Bruce Springsteen singing "Valentine's Day."
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (7): MadPriest's latest podcast featuring two hours of real soul music.
And don't forget The OCICBW... Experience's
OFFICIAL HOME on facebook.
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
It would appear that the "senior staff" of the Church of England prefer the clergy to do what they like but keep their mouths shut rather than them saying what they like whilst abiding by canon law.
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