No go areas

No go areas are usually pretty unpleasant. It is reported that Tower Hamlets has seen hate crimes and some say there is a real danger that parts of the borough are becoming no go areas. Paris too has evidence of no go areas springing up. If this is so, it's not a new phenomenon. History shows restricted and prohibited areas crop up from time to time, somtimes on massive scale. Maybe there will always be no go areas in this broken world. We would not always be aware of them. Some such areas carry the banner, "You cannot enter here," or "you cannot do that here." There will be some threat behind the banner such as, "We will not allow that here," or "enter at your peril," etc. It is reasonable that our private dwelling place is a no go area in general terms. I don't just want anybody and everybody to enter, neither do you. My thought life too is something I want to manage and control. I reject many things that want to enter my mind including the dictats of the pc brigade. We face a problem. Open borders can make way for those who want no go areas. If I let their thoughts in, my own views and beliefs could soon be attacked and infiltrated. I will have counter concepts that want to direct my own mind thrown at me or imposed upon me, "You cannot think like that," or "you cannot believe that any more." Previously pleasant imaginings I relished, along with liberating concepts and beliefs I cherish, could soon become prohibited. Years ago, a bunch of folk called Jebusites told King David he wouldn't be able to enter Jerusalem. "The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." They declared it a no go area. David enterd and won a victory. No go became go. I have to admire those who take the city against the odds. We need to be vigilant and willing to keep things open as usual and rejct the imposition of no go areas, unless of course they are imposed under statute by those democratically elected to make laws for us.

Education, education, education

"Tests" on selected pupils worldwide show that British teenagers have been relegated from the top 20 rankings in the core subjects of maths, science and reading. Disclosed too, is the fact that students from Vietnam, Shanghai and Poland, among others, have a better grasp of these subjects. Well, well. Should we blame anyone for this? If so, who is to blame? Should we give credit to those who have done better? It's not necessarily that our students have not done as well as previously. Maybe others have improved greatly thus pushing UK students down the tables even though UK students have done as well as before in real terms? Ah that could be it. After all, general levels of IQ are not likely to have altered over the years. Presumably, teachers are as good as ever and presumably, teachers still know what bascis to pass on. There is a possible further view that appeals to me. For those of us who can read and have access to the news, it will hardly have escaped our notice that standards of behaviour have slipped in the UK education system. For example, it is reported that 25% of UK school children in the age group in question played truant in the two weeks before the OECD tests were held, whereas other countries recorded scores as low as 4% truancy for a similar period. Is it a surprise that those countires rank higher? Teachers have often been reported complaining quite loudly that a major part of their time is occupied with managing bad behaviour by students in the class room, to the clear detriment of other able and willing pupils. Ho hum. Without some serious reforms, we can look forward to further slippage in years to come. Let's hope there will be some folk around in the UK sufficiently well taught to read the results of future surveys.

Open all courts to public scrutiny at once

Today it is reported that Sir James Munby, the President of the Family Division  of the High Court, has ordered that he will personally hear the next court proceedings relating to the adoption of a baby taken from its mother at birth.

The facts of the case are disturbing to say the least. A baby taken from its mother who had undergone a ceasarian section by order of the court. The court had sat in camera it seems. She had then seen her baby taken immediately by social services. Her pleas were, it appears, not heeded.

Of course we do not have all the facts. There will be more than meets the eye. However, Sir James is right to demand there be transparancy in court proceedings. Any court that is acting openly and fairly has nothing to fear from independent scrutiny. It cannot be in the greater interest for any proceedings to be hidden away except very rarely and then only on the tested grounds of national security of the highest order.

Do you see any emerging trend here?


 

Plumbing

The paper says, "Rain or showers." We would have never expected that, after all it's only Wimbledon fortnight.

Of course, the rain is very welcome. Most of the time. At least hosepipe bans look as if they are over for this year at least.

Now, water leads to plumbing, dunnit? 

Plumbing? After a hectic time in the forest, it was a competition to see who could get to the tap for a drink of cold water first. No ice cold coke to hand in those far off days. Generally I got there before my younger brother. Oh what a selfish thing! Still sometimes he would overcome me with craft, "Bag first at the water tap," and of course honour demanded I yield.

Imagine never thirsting again. No need for taps, washers, fresh water pipes, filters, water companies, reservoirs, filtration beds etc. you get the picture. Imagine rivers of living water flowing from within you. Never thirsty, waters of life flowing from you to others. Imagine. Want that? Are you thirsty enough?

So what am I on about?

If you want to know, take a look at John's gospel in the New Testament, chapter 4, verse 14 and John 7 verses 37-39.

Have a great day.

Action now please!

Today, again, the papers are championing the enforcement of restrictions on the internet providers so that our children will be protected from porn filth. Good.

Labour have jumped on the band wagon and why not? Cameron can and should do something now.

For the sake of those who are vulnerable, I hope we will soon read of strong action and that change is afoot.

Hear, hear.

Reading the paper and listening to radio 4 could leave you believing we are on the brink. Europe will implode in 10, 9, 8 ....... . The end is nigh! That kind of thing. I read today Europe speaks German and Merkel and Cammeron don't agree. My paper was in English.

Politicians and economists espouse different views and routes to salvation. The wonder Euro must be saved. More importantly, it is heralded from Brussels and elsewhere that the great Europian Experiment must not be allowed to fail.

Oh the vanity of it all.

Doubtless, the Euro will fail one day. Some think that there will be a refined eurozone of 10 nations. Time will show. Have a look at the news in the Bible in Daniel chapter 7. What do you think?

We have no need to fear; for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"(NIV) Rom 10:13-15

The great thing is that there are many who have been sent to proclaim the good news.

In these days of doom and gloom, I say, "Find a lively church and hear the good news every week. Start this Sunday."

Looters are scum

On a T shirt staring back at me from my paper last week, I read, "Looters are scum." I don't accept that "scum," is the right word.

If we ran with the OED., scum can be: "a layer of dirt, froth, impurities, or other matter, forming on the surface of a liquid," or, "Dross rising to the surface in the purifying of a metal," or "Worthless despicable people," etc. etc.

Are the looters a layer of dirt? I don't think so. Were the looters going through some sort of purification by fire? I don't think so. Is anyone worthless? I don't think so. Can we more accurately define them? For sure.

Here is my starting point. All humans are fearfully and wonderfully made. Looters included. All humans have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. Looters too. All humans can be forgiven and made new through Jesus Christ. Looters also.

So I define looters as, "Humans who have done wrong but for whom there is still hope of redemption through Jesus Christ."

Do I approve of what they did? No. Do I excuse them? No. Can I justify their behaviour from any view? No. They did wrong and properly face punishment.

I just don't accept they are scum.