In praise of homeliness

The wonderful American etiquette writer Miss Manners once received a query from someone who was worried about what to do when shown photos of her friend’s ugly grandchild.  Should she lie?  Miss Manners responded, “It is not a lie.  All brides and all babies are...

1
0

God’s Responsibility 2

The second thing for which God is responsible, and which surely must have been planned by Him, is the passage of time. (For the first thing, see God’s Responsibility 1, 13th May.) It looks from the New Testament as if all its writers, and Jesus Himself, expected...

3
0

Charity collecting

NB This post is two days late, due to weekend gallivant to Hereford and Worcester, and technical difficulties.  My apologies. Last week was Christian Aid Week, as I’m sure you know.  I went out to collect from my usual street, which I’ve been visiting for somewhere...

3
0

Types of prejudice in Britain

Shane Sutton has just resigned as Technical Director of the British Cycling Team, because of things he may have said about and to female and disabled athletes. And the Labour party is having serious problems over the point at which anti-Zionism becomes (or is rooted in)...

0
0

Taboos (continued)

Someone mentioned, following last week’s post, that Christians have a taboo on talking about sex. I am in a slightly awkward position here.  My final “taboo” was the longest and most controversial point, and at the last minute on Friday 15th, I decided to leave it...

2
0

Charlotte Yonge – Victorian Bestseller

On Saturday 16th, I attended the Spring Meeting of the Charlotte M Yonge Fellowship in Eastleigh, Hampshire.  It was my privilege to give the opening talk, introducing the works of this author to those attending who might not be familiar with her.  This is an...

3
0