Povey Prattle

In his journal John Wesley wrote about the day when he received assurance of salvation.  He said:”In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans”. This morning (31st March 2012) I went unwillingly to our Cathedral Church in St. Petersburg, FL. I was unwilling because the occasion was a funeral.   I was unwilling because I usually dislike “big Church events”. The funeral was for Mary Ellen Smith, aged 56.   I did not know Mary Ellen (perhaps I had met her in passing) but I know her husband.  He is the Bishop of South West Florida, the Rt. Revd. Dabney T. Smith.  So I was at a “big Church event” with some six to seven hundred others who were there to honour, respect and in some ways share the grief of our Bishop and his family. We were there to witness yet again to the hope we share in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been known to say that “welcome...

1. There was high drama just outside my lanai this afternoon (30th March 2012). I am not sure if I was witnessing copulation or grievous bodily harm. What I saw was one crow who was pinning another crow to the ground. Was the dominant crow a male and the submissive a female?   Were they ensuring the evolution of their species? Or were they two males in a fight for dominance:  their part of the survival of the fittest? I’ll never know, for neither of the crows spoke English, and I do not speak Crow. What I do know is that within seconds a whole gang of crows came to witness this.  They cawed with great energy and enthusiasm. I came to the conclusion that these spectator crows were either like: (a) The audience in a gladiatorial fights in ancient Rome or (b) Dirty old men at a strip club I am embarrassed to tell you that my junior cat Adelaide was enthralled by this performance.   She watched every moment, she chattered with glee, and I know that s...

I’ve mentioned before that I most often wake up with a song or tune running through my mind. .It’ll often stay with me through mid-morning. On three days this week the song was “Old King Cole was a merry old soul” (go figure). It drove me “nuts”.  I suspect that you too would get a bit cranky if that song stayed in your mind for five or six hours! I had a merciful release today.  The song which arose from my memory and which has been my companion all day is an old “chorus” which I learned in the Plymouth Brethren Sunday School all those years ago. “There’s a way back to God from the dark paths of sin. There’s a door which is open, and you may go in. At Calvary’s cross is where you begin, When you come as a sinner to Jesus” That’s a pretty good exposition of the “simple gospel”.  I’ve enjoyed the song, especially since we are on the cusp of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. The mind has its own ways, and for reasons which I do not understand and cannot explain, that simp...

He was sitting in the Chapel at Sarasota’s “Resurrection House” when I arrived there today for the prayer service which I lead each Wednesday. I know him well as a regular “Res House” guest.  I greeted him warmly. He barely responded. I said “you look very sad today”. “I am” he replied. “Why is that?” I asked. His response was curt.  “It’s because everyone hates me”. “That’s not true”, I countered, “I do not hate you”. It was clear that he did not believe me. So I asked “why do you think that everyone hates you?” “Have you heard of the Illuminati?” he asked. I responded that I was familiar with them. “Well”, he said, “the Illuminati are out to get me. There are rich and powerful people who want to see me locked up in jail.  They are writing songs against me”. (Please use Google to find out more about the historical Bavarian Illuminati, and for information regarding 20th/21st C ‘”conspiracy theories”) It was at this point that I realised that th...

The planets Jupiter and Venus, together with the Moon have been in a wonderful alignment in the western sky these past few nights. I oohed and aahed  at them on Sunday (25th March 2012) as they came into view as I enjoyed a gathering at the Bradenton FL home of my friends Jack and Donna Chrisman. Ooohing and aahing were also my sentiments last night (26th March 2012) as I looked at these two planets and earth’s satellite from just outside my front door. Meanwhile there was Mars, clearly visible in the eastern sky. “ Look west – see Venus and Jupiter”. “ Look east – see Mars”.  Cool indeed. I am glad that I have not lost a sense of awe! It all reminded me of some words which were written some 2,500 – 3,000 years ago. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalm 8 verses 3 and 4, from the Authorised [KJV] transla...

A scene which is typical of my childhood and up-bringing. (Tongue in cheek.  Thanks to Bob G for this cartoon)

Gospel   John 12:20-33 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say–‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing...