URBANarmy

Wow - so even philanthropy is to be privatised! Check out this article: Social bond pilot schemes to run in 2012 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/social-bond-pilot-schemes-to-run-in-2012-2344100.html Sent from my iPod

Tent hitched ready to head off to a favoured campsite on the IoW. International Drought Breakers are go.... Sent from my iPod

"... I got the barbecue out" Wasn't really the answer I was expecting. Conversations after church over a cup of tea are pretty always good. I like them! You get to connect, to share and to know each other. I had been doing well with Ron, his week hadn't been good workwise, carwise or in fact catwise. Suzy family pet for many years had died and I was being talked through the decision to cremate rather than bury. My pastoral face was caring and unshakeable. ".... Sorry to hear about your cat, so how does cremation for pets work ?" The answer asked intense questions of my pastoral face. "Ron... You barbecued your dead cat? It must've taken ages...!" "yeah... even after I stuffed her with fire lighters! ... we got there in the end, Marlene bought a new biscuit tin for the ashes..." The pastoral face disappeared. "Ron I don't want you taking this personally, don't be surprised if I don't come to a barbecue at y...

What is it, exactly, that he, the incarnate Lord, does? What, if you wish, is he "good at"? The answer is found in the gospels: he lives out the kingdom of God, and he applies that kingdom for the good of others and even makes it possible for them to enter it themselves. Willard How to be a Disciple 1998 Christian Century April 430 ff Sent from my iPod

Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. The aim of the project is to expand access to educational materials for all who wish to learn. Looks a good resource to me! More here

The group that stays for discussion after Monday Drop in at Faith house is developing really well with Rob Bell's Nooma a good starter. I love the way Malcolm takes it all so literal and after a great discussion about anger and irritation he starts to make a point about RB's story involving him chasing a man who tried to break into his car. "The thing that I don't get is this...." We wait expectantly. "Why didn't he have an alarm on his car...!" What I really love is that his literal observations are always receieved by the group as if they are made by Gregory of Nyssa himself!