a short weblog on life, the universe and everything

Amazing Grace

Grace Ellingham turned one at the end of 2004, and featured on the front page and inside a South London newspaper.

She is an amazing Grace. Last year I blogged this entry about her life-threatening situation. (At one point early on, her heart stopped beating; 15 mins later the medical staff came close to giving up resuscitation efforts... then someone detected a pulse.)

She made a full recovery thanks largely, many of us believe, to the prayers of many all over the world. Sadly, the local paper didn't see fit to report the global prayer effort - a major part of the story - just the 'miracle' of Grace's first birthday, in the abstract. (Whose miracle, I ask you?!).

A touching footnote to this heartwarming story is that, soon after her health crisis was over, Grace's Dad took her on her first ever shopping trip. In the shopping centre was a man playing a grand piano. Taking one look at these strangers, he started playing Amazing Grace... Beautiful.

Painting with words: DianeBrookens.com

Today I'd like to mention a website I've just created for my friend, Diane Brookens. No poet paints on a broader canvas than she does... And speaking of paint, I'm *particularly* pleased with the colour scheme on this little effort. In fact, I'm amazed; I think it was inspired by God, he can certainly take the credit, anyhow. I'm planning on doing much more bespoke web design over the coming months - email me for a free consultation or a quote.

Meet the Monkeys

Took a trip to London Zoo on Saturday to 'meet the monkeys', in their brand new walk-through enclosure. Slightly depressed by the ticket price (£14) but impressed that a chunk of it goes towards conservation, including breeding programmes for some of the vulnerable and endangered species housed there. Saving creation is part of God's kingdom, after all, isn't it? Get a small piece of the action here or a close-up of it here.

Easter Day 2005: Mum & Dad 'go ruby'

Congrats to my parents, who celebrate 40 years of married life today! We've been searching for biblical parallels. Sadly, we could only come up with the children of Israel wandering for forty years in the wilderness, which doesn't seem too appropriate. Top marks for fortitude, though - going ruby is a pretty impressive feat these days. I know Mum & Dad would want us to celebrate Christ as the foundation of their marriage, so Resurrection Day seems very appropriate indeed for a Ruby Wedding.

Tony Blair Faithworks Lecture 22 March

Tony, he say yes to Faithworks Lecture number 3, following on from Charles and Michael. I quote the press release below:

In the run up to the General Election, the Prime Minister Tony Blair will give a major address to the Church via live webcast, speaking about the vital role that he believes churches and other faith groups should play in building healthy, active and trusting communities.

On March 22nd at 12.00noon in London, Blair will unpack his vision for the role of faith in the UK today through the third in a series of Faithworks Lectures, given by the three leaders of the major political parties. He will address a selected audience of church leaders, representatives of other faiths and community activists from across the UK.

The address will be simultaneously webcast live from www.faithworks.info, with local churches being encouraged to gather together to watch the lecture live or later in the evening.

Following the lecture, the Prime Minister will answer questions from the audience as well as taking questions that have been emailed or texted in by webcast viewers.

Rev. Steve Chalke MBE, the founder of the Faithworks Movement, who will host the event and who invited the Prime Minister to address this issue in response to his recently published book ‘Trust - A Radical Manifesto’ said:

“The fact that Charles Kennedy, Michael Howard and now Tony Blair have all accepted Faithworks invitation to address the Church as the election campaign gathers pace, sends some very clear messages about the role of faith-based groups - Christian and otherwise - and the task ahead in our communities. Churches are already delivering huge levels of voluntary community support across the UK because of our faith, not in spite of it, and it is time that this reality was publicly acknowledged.  But more than that, our society will never enjoy the social regeneration we crave without spiritual renewal.”

Absent without leaving

You know you've been away from the blog for a long time when certain friends start phoning you, wondering if you're ok. Thanks Trev! As ever, there's lots going on, lots to report online. Over the coming days I won't be leaving or abandoning all this web stuff; in fact, probably the opposite.