On this day in history the US tested the H bomb at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific. The bomb was equivalent to 12 million tons of TNT, making it 600 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Two questions:
1. Why?
2. Have we learnt anything from our history?
I have never really given much thought to the older brother in the past. As I do, however, I can see a lot of him in me – and I think that distresses me somewhat.
The older brother has ‘lost the plot’. He is so wound up in what he has not received and in the belief that he is second favourite to the younger, that he fails to recognise the true joy of the occasion.
You possibly recognise some of the symptoms yourself. Big Bro tries hard. He rarely puts a foot wrong and works hard. He is kind of frustrated by the whims of his younger brother and thinks he should ‘grow up’. He observes all the rules, does the right thing, makes sacrifices for the good of others.
He feels others do not notice all the hard work he does. He wishes others would work as hard as him. He thinks no one else is as committed to ‘the cause’ as he is.
There is, however, an even sadder side to big bro’s character. He does not really believe he is loved or approved of. He cannot comprehend that he is truly loved by his dad just because he is his son. He does not accept that dad loves him and his little brother equally.
Externally he has done everything his dad wanted, and more. Internally he has wandered miles away from him. H has become lost in resentment. The resentment that we can inexplicably feel when we see others having fun when we have to work or the resentment when others have an expensive holiday when we choose to donate the money to the church.
The root of all this is summed up in these words:
all these years I have slaved for you, and never once disobeyed any orders of yours,yet you never offered me so much as a kid to celebrate with my friends.’
The older brother is consumed by resentment because he feels, deep down that he has not been given the reward that he deserves. The resentment over this means he cannot join in the joy of the party in the house.
The father response to this is brief and simple, yet genuine. son, you are with me always and all I have is yours’.
I reflect on the older son and I have to ask myself some hard questions. The older son is not a good character to compare yourself to as it can be a painful and unpleasant experience. It is, though a good and fruitful exercise as it can make us aware of characteristics which can be extremely harmful if we allow them to develop.
The alternative to being like the older brother involves me being grateful for what I have. Instead of believing I am not well thought of, or I am not given what I deserve I need to remember what God has done for me, what I do have, and trust that I am totally accepted. It’s weird, but I guess even gratitude takes effort – it is a lot easier to moan.
I guess at the end of the day we have a choice. To trust or not to trust in God’s all forgiving love. As Nouwen says. ‘I myself am the only one who can make that choice’
Last night I watched the BBC BAFTA tribute to Bruce Forsyth. Sad, I know, but he is a celebrity of my era. I had a think and I cannot remember a time in my life when ‘Brucie’ has not been on TV.
A particular theme came out again and again in each of the tributes. Brucie was an all round talented man who had the respect of his colleagues. He was looked up to by all and others wanted to emulate his good practice, but could not. He was/is a natural who can sing, dance, compare, tell jokes and so on.
As I watched I asked the question- where is the next Bruce Forsyth? There is no other similar person ‘in the pipeline’, no other all rounder who people can look up to.
My thinking went wider as I think this is not only true of the entertainment world. I think, generally, my world, our world is getting poorer.
Where are the heroes of today in all fields?
Where are the next TV personality heroes to follow on from Brucie?
Where are the real musical heroes of today that will still be here in 20 years time like Elvis?
Where are the political heroes of today who campaign to make a difference since the likes of JFK or Churchill?
Where are the sports heroes of today who we are happy for our children to aspire to, such as Linekar, Redgrave or Holmes?
Where are our theological thinking heroes after the likes of Nouwen?
Where are our evangelistic heroes after the like of Billy Graham or David Watson?
The Stranglers asked the question many years ago – I just pogoed along and gave the lyrical question very little thought. If you forgot the track words I print them below to remind or educate you
Whatever happened to Leon Trotsky?
He got an ice pick
That made his ears burnWhatever happened to dear old Lenny?
The great Elmyra, and Sancho Panza?
Whatever happened to the heroes?
Whatever happened to the heroes?Whatever happened to all the heroes?
All the Shakespearoes?
They watched their Rome burn
Whatever happened to the heroes?
Whatever happened to the heroes?No more heroes any more
No more heroes any moreWhatever happened to all the heroes?
All the Shakespearoes?
They watched their Rome burn
Whatever happened to the heroes?
Whatever happened to the heroes?No more heroes any more
No more heroes any more
The world is getting poorer for the lack of heroes to inspire us, people who will challenge us, individuals who will commit to the graft that it takes to make a difference in their chosen field.
Has our complacency and comfortable lives resulted in the death of the hero?
In the 21st Century western world I can see we need heroes to inspire more than ever.
We had a white Sunday with some good sledging experience down the banks and then miniture snowman building.
Sarah went to church – the children and I went up the road to play in the snow.
The funniest bit of the morning was Joe (6) deciding he could not be bothered to wait for the 15 year old ‘big boys’ to get off the sledge slope ny longer so he sledged through them! It was very funny to see. It’s great when children just get on with it. The task was clear, the snow was melting, people were holding him up unnecessarily – should I wait or should I go was never a question that entered his mind!
… to Terry and Jo on the arrival of Conner John at 4 am on Saturday morning. Not seen him yet but hope to do so over the next few days – the miracle of a new life is always cool.
It’s happened at last – a decent victory, and against top of the table Wigan.
C’mon Gills we don’t deserve to go down after playing like that! Here’s hoping this is the confidence boost that the team badly needs.
I saw, sadly, on Dave’s MSN tht he has his pic on Hot or Not.
Well … I was sent this alternative a while ago and it makes me laugh!
On Wednesday night I attended what was, I think, one of the most potentially community changing events that I have ever been to in Gillingham.
Love Gillingham is a vision from Landmark and Sarah who returned last year from Soul in the City and asked the question, ‘Why can’t we do this in Gillingham?’ The plan is that the church will in August. People from the church will show the community that they ‘love Gillingham’ by doing things that will help or improve the community.
We worshipped God with incense (thanks GYFC) and then walkd bits of the half square mile patch askig God to show us where to work in the community. We think we got some guidance from God – watch this space!
I watched this program tonight on Channel 4. There has been, unsurprisingly, a lot of controversy over this and so I thought I would watch the program for myself.
Essentially this was an experiment, a bit of a combination of science and God I guess with the person’s brain being studied as he is prayed for.
The program started with 2 fairly solid interviews, one from an Anglican priest, and then a bit of history, with good reference to the fact that Jesus cast out demons. It is made clear that exorcism/deliverance is part of mainstream Christianity. The research into the program struck me as being very professional and balanced. I think I was expecting a mickey take – but I am glad to say this was a serious investigation.
The deliverance (as I don’t think this was an exorcism) itself on ‘Colin’ was very undramatic. There was no shouting pastor as I feared with lots of sensation – in fact the pastor, Trevor Newport, treated Colin with dignity and respect throughout and the whole event lasted for about 2 minutes. In that short time, Trevor prayed in the name of Jesus and kept asking and checking that Colin was ok. If anyone who watched this had suggested to them they needed deliverance and so should be prayed for, there would have been nothing here to put them off.
Colin was interviewed afterwards and explained what he felt had happened. A very peaceful process was how he described it although he could not identify a definite time when the spirits left.
From the brain scanning it was reported nothing extraordinary happened was recorded. They could, however, identify a point of deliverance in the brain activity patterns.
The best comment from a professor when asked for a comment: ‘What we have seen here is someone prayed for in the name of Jesus Christ who now feels better. I can’t comment any more than that”
There will undoubtedly be more opposition to C4 for showing this. I think, though, that the program was one that was well thought out and planned with an atmosphere of dignity and respect. It was great to see different wings of the church agreeing and disagreeing without losing the plot.
The most amazing thing that struck me about tonight – virtually no one disputed the possibility that God was involved.
You can read a further BBC report on Trevor Newport and his church, Life Changing ministries, here.
The Shiny Headed Prophet 