08:31 31/05/04 The Holy Spirit In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit arrives, and enables the disciples to speak in foreign languages. (Not, please note, unintelligible babblings.) But the continuing frustration is that his presence should be tangible, not just 'believed in'. There is nothing clever in believing in something for which there is no evidence.

Watched a perceptive and interesting programme on television this evening. The programme previewed the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and characterised the coming debates in terms of what is seen as the most significant difference in theological viewpoint within the Church of Scotland. Illuminatingly, the programme makers visited two congregations, one located in the Gorbals, the other on the outskirts of Aberdeen. The minister of the former emphasised the work he was doing in the community, to promote harmony, to heal divisions, to help the poor. The minister of the latter said that he wished to be faithful to the gospel. The snapshot of the church highlighted bible study and prayer. From my own experience, I believe that both pictures were, on the whole, fair representations of their subjects.

Of course, the two viewpoints may be alternate sides of the same coin. But in practice they can underly fierce debate.

But there is one thing, at least, that they have in common (perhaps unknowingly). The Iona Community (with which I believe the minister in the Gorbals is strongly associated) has a rule (or, at least, when I knew them, had a rule). For half an hour each day, each member should spend time quietly with his or her Lord. And Scripture Union (who probably belong towards the opposite end of this particular spectrum) promote the idea that to enjoy a healthy spiritual life, a Christian should spend around half an hour each day, reading his or her bible, to get to know his or her Lord better.

I see the weakness of the evangelical point of view. There can be greater emphasis on what you believe than in whom you believe. And I can see why the evangelical point of view tends to be media-unfriendly. But I have to say, from personal experience, that nothing beats a daily read of the bible to keep me on the straight and narrow.

Rant for the day I have to travel to Kirkliston on Saturday from East Lothian. There is an Edinburgh CrossRail service from Newcraighall which goes on to Bathgate. But does it stop anywhere near Kirkliston? Of course not. So, it looks as if I shall have to take the car.

Take note, Edinburgh City Council. You say that you want people to leave their cars at home, that you want to reduce congestion. But you do not make transport services available. I see on maps a place called Ratho Station, but if I search the rail network, it claims to be 'not found'. If you want people to leave their cars at home, then put pressure on the rail operators to stop where it would help.

Or, if you are particularly mean, just tax drivers for driving into the city.

13/5/04 15:15
Waiting ... to hear whether we are to continue with the dexamethasone. Daughter's sight has improved, but there is always a cost - in this case the medicine has side-effects.

Making it easier

Surely a good thing ...

Back online !!!

10/5/04 22:53

There must be a better way. I can't support granny's computing from afar. And I can't face a daytrip to do it there. But why isn't it working? I can check her mail from my own computer.

10/5/04 23:01

Just fine-tuning the system ...

Burning the midnight oil

But maybe one success (and there have been a few successes to-day, as well as a couple of notable failures) will help me sleep.

Inside the Active Directory - sounds great - wait and see ...

Seems that it was Francis Bacon who said, "What is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer." But what is truth?

29/4/04 14:38
Thinking allowed. People talk (argue) about inerrancy. What do they mean? It seems to me that those who take seriously the whole (Christian) bible (the old and new testaments) claim that the bible is inerrant, while those who disagree with some aspect of what it teaches say that it isn't. The problem for me is that while I am uncomfortable with trying to argue that any piece of writing is inerrant, I am generally more in sympathy with those who say that the bible is than with those who say that it isn't.

Congestion charging
Mixed feelings. Angry, because it appears to be a tax imposed by Edinburgh City Council on people who live outside the city. They're claiming that their primary concern is to reduce congestion, but in that case why are the residents of Currie and Balerno exempt? We do have to find ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but it has to be done fairly.

Sleep deprivation - a method of torture - a by-product of being a parent ...

Weekend becomes week. Family and personal concerns give way to work concerns. But family questions which can only be answered by people who work 9-5, Monday to Friday still have to be asked. And, it is in the nature of the way that one thinks, that one's mind goes on trying to find answers even when the priorities have shifted.

Syndicated
The Site Feed link goes to an RSS feed - Atom - so you can be quickly notified when this blog is updated.

Exploring i-church. Feeling just a little bit guilty, as I sign up for the newsletter, of unfaithfulness towards the physical congregation I belong to. But I do not intend to transfer my allegiance. I just think that the Internet could help my local church to function better as a community.

Journeying
I believe, what? Do I believe the same now as I did 40 years ago? Is there something which is real and unchanging, which I should believe? Is my belief more accurate now than it was?

On the help desk
Realising that one of the most significant emotions affecting my working life (my whole life, in fact) is insecurity. It's not just job insecurity. I do worry that my job isn't secure. But more than that, I worry that if I lost my job, I simply wouldn't be able to cope.

A new trick (thanks, HanDBase mailing list) - to enter date & time, just do dts. Wonderful.