Tikhtak

Washed out in Yorkshire

This morning I set off on a GNER train bound for Doncaster not knowing what was to hit me. We were to have a youth and children's team meeting at my colleague Mike's house in Donny. I got as far as Grantham before we hit our first flood in a tunnel and the train was canceled. Some American tourists kept all our spirits up by reminding us that Margaret Thatcher was from Granthem... And I shared a carriage standing with Phil Tufnell, but alas not even his celebrity status could help!  Finally I met my other team mate Anita in Donny some 4 hours later and we set off to Mike North's house in Adwick. It was simply flooded everywhere and we couldn't get to him. At one point we were sent on a back route by the diversion and the road was in danger of becoming a river (see pic). Just 10 minutes from his house and we had to give up and back I got on to a packed GNER train, which took me back to Grantham and eventually to London. What a day!

Bombers fail and life goes on

I was actually at Liverpool street when yesterdays incidents happened but didn't hear all the details till I got into a taxi at St Margrets station to go to All Nations Bible College. I immediately telephoned Irfana so she knew of my whereabouts as last time this caused a bit of stress as the phone lines were not working. I then focused on the day and had an inspiring meeting with Jill Ford, the course leader for the Arts and intercultural studies certificate. She has a vision for using the Arts to explore culture and it's value in mission and communicating the Gospel. It was strange to get on with life while at the same time not knowing what was actually going on in London. I am hoping that we at CMS can take this meeting forward in some way and hope to take part in some workshops Jill will be running in the Autumn. I then made my way back home. I had a long treck across London by bus with everyone talking about what had gone on. Things were brought home even more when I realised one of the failed bombs was on a tube at the Oval, which I pass through everyday to work and is not far from us in Clapham. I could well have travelled on it around that time to Liverpool street if I hadn't have decided to take a bus instead. I then saw my freind Pete from church interviewed on the news. He had been in the carriage when the rucksack exploded. It highlights how these incidents have a knock on affect which touches us all. I took this picture this morning on the way to work by car as I passed the Oval station. It seems things are still unfolding. For the latest check out the bbc website

Theological response to London bombings

Ekklesia's Simon Barrow has written a paper for a theological response to the London bombings. His article is on the CMS website and is challenges religious groups to examine their own teachings and face up to the "difficult bits" where violence is promoted. He also challenges our terminology when talking about waging a "war on terror", which speaks more of revenge than Christian Love. The challenge we all face is knowing what label belongs to who. Muslims think it's Christian's bombing Iraq, While Christians in the west see it as a secular response party due to countries turning their back on God. The US probably share both these view points! so how on earth can we really know what to think about anybody? Perhaps it's like Solomon's wisdom in descerning between the two women who claimed they both were the mother of a baby. He deemed the baby should be sawn in two and given to both women. Of course the mother couldn't accept this and so conceeded to let the other women have the baby. By this Solomon could see the Mothers love for her child and gave the baby to it's rightful Mum. So in the face of anger, fear and persecution, who of us, no matter which side of the fence we stand can forgive and so show our genetic similarity to God.

London stood still

On Thursday we remembered the tragic events of the week before. It was a powerful time as everyone took to the streets to hold a 2 minute silence. Opposite us the London Ambulance staff held their own time of rememberence and as the 2 minutes came to an end someone shouted "Two cheers for London  Ambulance". The whole street joined in with a hearty British hip hip horaay. It really was a great moment to be part of such a mood of unity.