Rector's Ramblings

The RW and I are off for a week to Rhodes for some R & R. Thanks to the EMS for doggy sitting, house sitting and dog sitting. I'll miss you all.

Sometimes it's nice just to record how much you love your partner. So take that RW! Now that was cheaper than flowers!

Getting myself psyched up for a week in Rhodes. We fly out tomorrow night, but much has to be done in preparation, including sorting out a priest to cover who will hopefully not upstage me!

From The Herald Diary today:

WITH the role of football referees under the spotlight, amateur player Graeme McGregor tells us about his team being in a final last week, and thus having the luxury of two linesmen with the referee for the first time.

During the match, a contentious decision was questioned by a team mate, only for the referee to explain: "I was unsighted, and looked to my linesman for assistance. Unfortunately, he was clapping a dog at the side of the park."

................ This must be the same linesman we get regularly at Partick Thistle Nil matches!

Courtesy of Mad Priest.

Dad was 83 today, and we managed to get him into Glasgow today to hear some Jazz! (His favourite)! (Almost as good as Cathedral Evensong) Wonderful meal, and wonderful music in Oran Mor, a building at the top of Byres Rd which was once a glorious church, and then, in recent memory, a Bible College. Their restoration/adaptation was done by the same firm who restored St Augustine's, a firm called Hunter Clark. They do some wonderful work!

Oh, and Oran Mor sell Macallan too, so dad was a happy bunny!

We had one of those Baptisms today!  With an anticipated half-empty church, because of another bank holiday, I arranged to have the baptism to fill the empty pews. (Well, that wasn't the only reason, but you know what I mean!)

I talked a wee bit to this congregation, mostly made up of non-church-goers about God's grace, and how it was all free. I talked about the practice in some churches of refusing baptism, and explained how I could never refuse the Grace of God to a little one, whatever the family circumstances.

After the service I was approached by a few "strangers", some offering me money for the church, (they had been out for a fag during the collection, I think), some saying "thank you" for something that had obviously moved them, but another couple talked to me about this free Grace, and asked me if I meant it!

They then asked if they could be re-married to each other. After a Registrar's wedding some years ago, and a subsequent divorce, they have come together again in a renewed commitment and wanted to make promises to God this time around, as well as to each other.

Now. Do I ask permission to re-marry these divorcees? I will, but I doubt if a Church that preaches that God's Grace is free, could possibly say no. The Epistle from Paul today says some important things about judging others!

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.

 (Now public!)

Having slogged all day to finish the Parish Magazine, the RW and I had a wonderful dinner with a recently married couple who have just joined St Aug's. Tremendous company, and a perfect antidote for tiredness!

Well, Celtic won the League tonight, and I have to say I'm happy about that. On reflection, they had a great season, and entertained with a superb passing game, which ripped most teams apart. Opposed to the negative, defensive tactics from Ibrox, they deserve the plaudits. I just wish it was Partick Thistle Nil.

Tonight was emotional as the memory of the late, great Tommy Burns seemed to be etched on the Celtic match. Tommy will be happy!

As I laud the football, I return to the crap. Why the polical pro-Irish unity stuff. How can a Dutchman learn the words of The Fields of Athenry? Why does he sing it?

The sectarianism blossoms, and it's a shame, because the football has been fantastic!

Now, will Gordon Strachan take the opportunity to tell the Celtic support to stuff it? I would!

The cat brought a bird in to celebrate. I doubt if it was the dove of peace. Glasgow will be a divided city tonight, and I'm fearful of the consequences.

Well, we've gone live with the new website, although some stuff needs to be added. In the next week or so, I hope that will happen and we'll be the finished article! I'm rather proud of what we have produced, with the befuddled nonsense I sent being put together into something bright and sensible by UK Churches. Thank you to them!

Once I get the hang of the daily input of news and events, and upload a couple of sermons, provide a myriad of links, and shove up some more photos, I'll sleep easier!

Please visit the site at www.staugustinesdumbarton.co.uk and we'll welcome your comments!

It's now heading for midnight. Our Leckie is OK. Outside, because the Leckie is NOT Ok next door, they are digging the road up with pneumatic drills. The noise is unbearable. I can't even hear the telly, and the RW has little chance of sleeping. It's at times like this I'm glad to be deaf in one ear. Lights everywhere!

Drama tonight! The SA brought in a mouse for the dogs to play with, in celebration of the Man Utd victory. I saved the mouse in the style of Van der Saar. Clever eh?

The Scottish Power people have been to the door asking if our Leckie was off. No! Well it is next door! Just arrived, road diggers! Am I going to lose my Leckie during the Champions League Final? Disaster!

Sometimes, I just know myself, that I'm not the sort of person who should blog. Very often I say things and write things without proper thought or care, and that is the nature of the beast. My motto should be "Please engage brain before opening mouth", and the same is true of some things I write.

Over the last 17 months, I have managed to offend many, and have written stuff that should never have been written. Why do I do this? What egotistical trip is it that bloggers think that they have anything to say that the world might be remotely interested in? In many ways, I used it, initially to pass on jokes and stuff I found funny, rather than emailing or forwarding the nonsense that I wanted to share with friends. It cut down the number of emails I sent!

To be honest, when I started, I didn't think anyone would be interested at all. I still think that few are actually remotely interested, and that is why often I write thoughtlessly. Reviewing stats for this blog, if they are to be believed, over 10,000 visits a month to the site, should remind me otherwise, unless people only look in to scoff!

The new Church Website gives me the opportunity to impart my parish news there as often as I like, and as a result am seriously contemplating closing this down.

Maybe it's something to pray about, but until I discipline myself properly, before shooting my mouth off, it may be the best thing. Now and again, I'm reminded that I am ordained and, as such, expectations are higher. I'm certainly thinking twice about the wisdom of being here, especially as one who suffers severe depressions, and often doesn't think too rationally.

Come to think of it, I'm lucky to be in a job!

Things are hotting up, and the new St Augustine's Website is about to go live in the next week or so. I received the finished, or almost finished article from the professionals today, and it all made me feel quite excited! On the site there is room for audio sermons, and some music from St Auggie's! Will I have the guts to start recording my sermons as the Provost of our Cathedral has started to do?

There is so much to just tidy up now before we go live to the world, although I can see it on a secret URL, and I'm editing it and deciding which photos to use!

This is also Magazine week, so technology is coming to the fore for the next few days. One of the congregation has just installed and started using Skype! It's just a name just now, but I fancy giving it a go! Soon, I'll be up there with Gadgetvicar and Mrs Blethers!

My "day off" yesterday was marked by something I haven't done for some time. Feeling sorry for the RW, having to go to work every Monday morning, plus the zillion and one other things she does for me, the dogs and the SA, I decided to help out, make dinner and do the ironing. The alternative was to start the June Magazine.

Of course, I know I should be doing all these things regularly anyway, but there you go. I'm a typical Scottish male who needs looking after, who plays on my lack of ability in the kitchen, and my lack of knowledge about things like washing machines and irons. There was this glimmer of hope that my efforts would be derided, and I would be begged never to set foot in the utility room or the kitchen again.

Unfortunately the ironing was fine, and the meal was, I'm told, delicious. I wasn't sure. It tasted like ashes in my mouth. Asking for trouble? Boy, have I made a mistake! A repeat performance is always required when things go well.

Walking in the park, at lunchtime, with the two dogs. Peanut has already found the one muddy puddle in the park and rolled herself right through it. Along comes this woman, with the designer dog by her side, dressed in a dazzling white trouser suit. She remarks, "What a lovely day, and what lovely dogs!" Peanut responds to affection as she always does.......

The Scottish Football season is coming to a thrilling climax. After yesterday's results, Rangers need to beat St Mirren on Monday. Then both Celtic and Rangers will be on an equal number of points. That sets up Thursday night as the last league games of the season, where if both sides win, the title will be decided on goal difference.

Rangers are trailing Celtic by 7 goals, but no problem there, as Rangers are sure to get six or seven on Monday, with or without the help of a referee. I've seen it happen too often not to expect it!

However, what idiot planned that on the last day, when tensions are high and drink will be involved, both Celtic and Rangers fans will be travelling together to the north-east of Scotland. There may be trouble ahead.......

After a few Trinity Sundays, you kind of run out of new stuff that's not going to bore folk rigid. I loved Roland Walls' tale of him trying to teach what the Trinity was all about to a Sunday School in Millport.

Eventually, this wee boy put up his hand and said, "Fr Roland, does that mean that God is three people who love each other so much they're actually only one person?" Roland was tickled pink and used to laugh uproariously when he retold the story!

Once again, I am indebted to Mad Priest for brightening up a day which started rather badly for me. Trinity Sunday is upon us again. So rather than God in Three Persons, I may well preach the other version! Canine Trinity....

The car-sticker post on Fr Rob Warren's blog!

The Pisckie Church has just come up with new car stickers. Fr Rob gives us some alternatives!

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.

'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveller asked.

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back towards the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'

'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveller gestured to the dog.

'There should be a bowl by the pump.'

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveller filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.
'What do you call this place?' the traveller asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered. 'Well, that's confusing,' the traveller said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'

'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope That's hell.'

'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'

'No, we're just happy that they screen out the people who would leave their best friends behind.'

My attempt to stop smoking has really hit the buffers of late. I'm afraid that the occasional fag in times of stress is not the way to go, and my non-smoking world has crashed around me. Perhaps it was all begun when my GP advised me three weeks ago that now was not a good time for me to stop puffing. However, he didn't buy me a packet of cigarettes! I did that!

I feel such a failure, such a dreadful failure, and incredibly low. Why can't I be like others and just "give up"?

In response, I've booked another session of hypnotherapy. Here we go again, I hope.

It's so sad that today, of all days, football, and the whole of Scotland hear of the death of Tommy Burns, (51). He was a dedicated Christian, whose life reflected his deep faith and commitment to Our Lord.

I remember him as a player I respected, but worshipped him as he and Walter Smith started a revival of the Scottish National Team after years of pain under the Wee German.

His commitment to youth football at all levels could not be bettered, and Scottish Football is deeply mourning his passing.

Thank you, Tommy, for the memories.

The more I see, the angrier I get. Here's a solution. Celtic and Rangers can go and play in the Irish League where they belong, and let Scotland have a decent future. They would still qualify for the Champions League, and it would save a lot of Irish folk a lot of money having to travel to Glasgow every second week. BTW I was astonished that the Rangers' manager is quoted in today's papers, saying that he only saw some fans who were "tired and emotional". The clip below kind of illustrates that!

Sorry folks, but I did warn you!

The screens in public places went dead in Manchester just before the Uefa Cup Final started. It seems the reason for this was simple...

I'm saying nothing! I print the words of a Scot living in the US. However, watch this, then read.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsjF5Wcdbf4

Well the UEFA cup has come and gone, Rangers have choked in the same way that Dundee United and Celtic have done before them. They fell at the final hurdle but I doubt this is the last we have heard of the events of today.

Rangers had their day in the sun, (quite literally) the convoy left from outside Ibrox and Strathclyde Park early on the Tuesday and many others followed in various intervals that caused a 60 mile tail back on the M6 on the day of the match.

One thing is for sure, unlike Dundee United and Celtic before them, it is very doubtful that Rangers fans will be awarded a UEFA fair play award. Of the estimates (which range from 100,000 to 200,000) there were pockets of rioting after the main screen in Manchester went down 10 minutes into the game.

Now since I heard that Manchester had opened it’s doors to the masses without tickets, I was sceptical. Football fans (without classification on teams) will be badly behaved if they spend all day on the beer, many of them will not have eaten. (eating’s, cheating remember) The inhibitions will not be there and carnage will follow.

I don’t fully lay the blame on the Rangers fans. A certain amount of blame lies there as the orchestrated attempt to beat Celtic’s 80,000 in Seville did have a factor on ticketless hoards travelling to a city they had no business being in. Many of whom had spent lots of money and didn’t even see most of the game. I find it astonishing that the City of Manchester got flak originally for telling ticket less fans to stay away. They had the foresight to see this would happen.

The City of Manchester must surely take some of the blame as it was their responsibility to make sure the equipment they provided was functional. They manage it most years for Last Night at the Proms. This was a shambles and the sun, mixed with alcohol and frustration at not seeing their team playing, it is not hard to see why Rangers fans started to riot and attack Greater Manchester Police.

Now I am not excusing the Rangers fans as they are most certainly not blameless. Greater Manchester Police didn’t cover themselves in glory as they were inconsistent with the actions of supporters. If people are taking liberties in your city, it is your job to stamp it out with minimum of force and issue. Instead they had to draft in an extra 300 police to deal with the rioters. There was no need to riot as the City of Manchester offered a back up plan. Instead the Rangers fans decided to go wreck the place. The pictures of this can be found here.

My heart goes out to the young Zenit fan that was stabbed this evening outside the City of Manchester Stadium. 6 men have been charged with this and I can only hope they have the right people. It is believed they are Rangers fans.

I am annoyed but not altogether surprised, I am glad that there was only 30 arrests and I hope there has been no permanent damage to the reputation of Scottish football supporters.

Above, you will have seen pictures of a Rangers fan knocking another one out in Manchester when all hell was breaking loose.

God Bless you one and all

Uilleam Alba Mac Gafraidh

Catholics in Space

From THE EARTH TIMES:

Belief in the existence of aliens from outer space is not necessarily at odds with being a Christian, according to the Vatican's top astronomy official.

"It is possible to believe in God and in extra-terrestrials," Father Jose Gabriel Funes was quoted as saying in an interview published in L'Osservatore Romano.

For Christians it is also possible "to admit the existence of other worlds and other forms of life, even those more evolved than ours, without necessarily questioning faith in the Creation, in the incarnation (of God as man through Jesus) and redemption" of mankind, said Funes.

Funes who directs the Vatican's Specola, or space Observatory, also said that despite most astronomers who "publicly profess atheism," astronomy does not favour the view of a God-less world. In fact, I think it is those who work at the Specola who bear witness to the fact that it is possible to believe in God and work with science in a serious way."