Holy Week in Seville has got off to a rainy start today, Palm Sunday. But the presentation of its controversial poster, work of the Sevillian artist Salustiano García, was much more of a storm. Salustiano’s hyper realistic Renaissance style painting, chosen by the cofradías — the confraternities that are custodians of the figures and in … Continue reading Art, Jesus, and Holy Week in Seville
As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind and set out on his way to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead of him, who went into a village in Samaria to get everything ready for him. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus, … Continue reading Take two – James & John at the Samaritan village (Luke 9)
I managed to catch most of Channel 4's Sunday night special, 'Jesus’ Female Disciples: The New Evidence'. I guess I'm not your average Sunday night Channel 4 viewer, but there wasn't a lot of new evidence for me. In fact, I reckon there's a whole lot of old evidence that could happily have added to … Continue reading Evidence or attitude?
Today saw me running a session on computer security and privacy issues for trainees on the World Horizons Equipping for Service course. (In other words, yes, I probably am a bit geeky...) Identity theft and maintaining individual privacy online has become a big issue. Now my main concern in doing this is to help people … Continue reading “Where thieves do not enter…”
The end of the Gérard Dépardieu epic film 1492: The Conquest of Paradise graphically depicts the failure of the Spanish expedition to curb the greed and violence of the Conquistadores. In the midst of a tropical storm whose physical violence matched the inner destruction of the colony, Columbus's faithful translator Utapan once again shaves his … Continue reading Capisci?
It's that time of year again when I find myself in Llanelli, South Wales, teaching a group of trainees introductory linguistics and language learning skills. I trust that by the end of this two weeks they will have learned a thing or two about how languages work, and how they can best learn one. And … Continue reading Do you speak Christian?
But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. Mary -- the first on the scene. Confusion. The stone's been moved from across the entrance. Panic. Wait, no body? What the... Quick, Peter, he'll know what to do. Or John. Come on! They've taken him. Gone. Gone! Peter and John did little but confirm what she already … Continue reading A veil of tears
I think Jesus would have done pretty well in the 21st century socially networked world. I'm not quite sure how he would have managed all his followers on Twitter, but do know he would have more than a few friends - all sinners - on Facebook. I guess he would have known what it feels … Continue reading “Let down your nets…”
Last Friday saw me in Ormskirk town centre for the grand Christmas lights switch-on. Sharing a stage with the mayor, Black Lace (of Agadoo fame) and the town's clergy was at the very least a novel experience. The town centre is transformed into something of a fair ground for the 2 or 3 hours that … Continue reading Godbaby – he cries, he wees, he saves the world
I reckon that Jesus would have made a first-class comedian. He knew how to get a message across, and there are times when humour is the absolute best way. Somehow, humour penetrates the armour that surrounds our thoughts and opinions in a way that engaging people in intelligent debate just does not. Yes, there is … Continue reading Behold I stand at the door and knock knock
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