Povey Prattle

Johannes Brahms:   German/Austrian composer. May 7 th 1806 – April 3 rd 1897. The English poet Robert Browning was born on May 7 th in1812. “Petr Il’yich Tchaikovsy” -   there’s   a wonderful name for you !    This famous Russian composer was born on May 7 th 1840. On May 7 th 1901 the famous actor Gary Cooper entered human life in Helena, Montana. The infamous Argentinean, (Evita) Eva Peron was also a May 7 th baby. Most importantly, our dear mum Evelyn Maud Finch (her birth name) was born this day in 1913 – in Lowestoft, Suffolk, U.K.   Today would have been her 98 th birthday, but by the mercy and grace of God she died 9 years ago at aged 89.     Her life had featured many hardships and very many joys.   We were sad when she died.   We were also glad that her passing was peaceful, and that she was well prepared for death. Mum gave birth to ten children.   One (my sister Sylvia) died in infancy. The remaining n...

I was at Lowes ( http://www.lowes.com/ ) today with Aldo Bari, a handyman who will work on some cosmetic and decorative improvements to my screened in porch.   Aldo and I were picking out lumber, beading, insulation, and laminates for the work he will do. Lord above, did I feel like a manly man! I am (as my Dad would have said) “cack-handed” when it comes to tools, DYI, materials etc.   Ne’er mind -   Aldo was the expert, and I was there to make sage comments, to choose styles, to load the store cart, and to pay the bill. But as I said above “I felt like a manly man”. I wished that I’d been wearing a tool belt so that other shoppers could have resonated with my DYI skills. On the other hand, had I been wearing such a belt I probably would have revealed a bit of “plumber’s crack”, and thereby be recognised by other friends who could have been in Lowes today. (There’s a bit of wry humour here which I’ll leave you to discern!)

American President, Barack H. Obama has hit all the right notes following the killing of Osama Bin Laden. My President has seemed to be -   well -    calm, collected, wise and "Presidential" The same is true for his predecessor President George W. Bush.   His reaction to Bin Laden's death was muted. His words about Pres. Obama were entirely gracious.    And he rose to the occasion by declining Obama's invitation to the "Ground Zero"  wreath- laying ceremony today so that he would not be in the spotlight. I express my admiration for both Presidents.    "Well handled sirs!"

A video advert for the (Chrysler) "Jeep Compass"  included these words: "Genetically engineered" "Iconic beauty" "Red blood attitude" "The evolution of a legendary blood line"  I suggest (with all modesty) that this is a bit "over the top" for a gas/petrol guzzling motor vehicle. 

After a few years of apparent dormancy the "Love Bugs" are back in full force. See  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebug See also http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110503/COLUMNIST/110509864/2416/NEWS?p=all&tc=pgall They are not "dangerous", but they have a huge nuisance value.   Penne, my dog, loved to snap at them and eat them as we walk.  Not much I can do about that! Speaking of Penne:- although she is a short haired mutt, this is her hair shedding season.  I brush her (outside the house) at least twice a day.  Despite this, the floors in my house get "covered"  with dog hairs, and I have to vacuum clean or dry mop at least twice a day. When I am not worrying about Love Bugs or pet hairs, I continue to read. Here is my report about one of my latest reads Benjamin Franklin - An American Life,  by Walter Isaacson (Simon and Schuster 2003). This is the most recent and (probably) definitive biography of one of America's "F...

Osama Bin Laden has been killed. I am neither happy nor sad about this.  His death is simply a verification of Jesus' teaching that "they who live by the sword will die by the sword" His death will not add an iota of "security" to our western world.   Truly, truly I ask: (1) "will you sleep sounder tonight  because Osama Bin Laden is dead?"   (2) "will those of you who gloated over his death (and maybe "partied" in the streets), do all in your power to work for justice and peace in all places?" (3) will you listen to the following "alternative voices"? A . Via my friend Bob G.    Religious wisdom always has us look at ourselves and what opportunities we have to be makers of peace.   As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once said, “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart, an...

 The Revd. J. Michael Povey at All Angels by the Sea, Longboat Key, FL Acts 2:14-41; I Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 A meditation in four parts. ( Introduction) The Gospel according to John was most likely compiled in about A.D. 90.  It is therefore a reflection on the meaning of Jesus by those who were convinced that Jesus had been raised from the dead, and that he was God’s Messiah. They already believed, and wanted others to believe . Meditation One These believers were living in a time when the rupture between the synagogue and the church had become acute. So it is, that when John’s Gospel makes frequent and unflattering reference to “The Jews” it is about Jews who were their contemporaries, not the Jews of the time of Jesus.  Jesus and the disciples were all Jewish. John’s constant and unflattering references to the Jews led to the ghastly and violent anti- Jewish word and deeds which are a shameful part of our Christian history. “Jews” became stereotyped to repres...