Back from Malawi

So, back from Malawi and better from a gastric flu virus, plus had a tooth out! Thankfully these ailments occurred after I got back from Africa, and not while I was out there!

Malawi is a beautiful country, but suffers from the combined effects of mismanagement, corruption, AIDS, lack of investment, poor climate etc etc. The problems of Africa run very deep indeed. But we had a good trip.

Malawi could do really well out of tourism if it had the infrastructure to support it

Off to Malawi

On Tuesday I am travelling to Malawi, one of the poorest countries in africa. I am leading a team of 5 people, including a nurse, doctor, photographer and a colleage who is a computer expert. We will be visiting projects including an orphanage, a Christian work which includes a school, a Bible school, prison work and support for widows. It's my first time in Africa and its a bit daunting, but we are looking forward to the trip! More info at www.revivalmedia.org

"Risk and Reward -The Challenges and Triumphs of UK Commercial Radio"

My 2006 MA Dissertation entitled "Risk and Reward -The Challenges and Triumphs of UK Commercial Radio" is now on the web at

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/patrick.home/dissertation.pdf

What are we here for?

Taken from the Westminster Catechism

What is the chief end of man? (In other words, what is life all about, what are we here for?)

"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever."

Methodist Prayer

Wonderful Methodist prayer - the language may be archaic but the sentiment behind it is great. (Thanks to Wikipedia for locating this!

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

(as used in the Book of Offices of the British Methodist Church, 1936)

Support for marriage

Interesting article in The Times. It seems the message that marriage is the best way to bring up children - which Christians have known for generations - is finally getting through to Government and wider society.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1466737.ece

racist nonsense

All the recent fuss about Big Brother and alleged racist comments about the Indian actress. Racism of course is bad, but we do seem to make it out to be the worst possible thing in the world. You can call someone stupid, or incompetent, or talentless - or worse insults, with no response at all, but call them a "Paki" (or similar) and you have the wrath of half the country on your back. Why? Why is it worse to insult people by reference to their skin colour or ethnic origin? I'm half Irish, if people call me "paddy" thats fine. The Aussies call us Poms, and thats OK, we call them Aussies, and that's Ok. But colour-related insults are an abomination, for some reason. I'm not advocating racism and i do not practice it, but it seems a strange set of double standards we live by. Really any kind of insulting or abusive behaviour or language is wrong, but why get so hung up on racism? I think its the least harmful aspect of BB!