Christmas is coming…..
The cries for a new blog are growing more incessant by the day! It’s great to be missed! The problem was a technical one, Google changed the blogging method and I’m just about coping with text messages!
But here goes. Hope this blog stimulates the “grey cells” and causes some response.
Boy has a lot happened since May! Who would have believed that we find ourselves in a recession and all the attendant misery it threatens. I hate the words “Downturn” and “Credit Crunch” and get tired of seeing the BBC symbol on each news bulletin. But the current crisis raises several important questions for Christians, so forgive me if a I blog on a bit about them.
First, we are forced to question the whole basis of our capitalist approach to life. I find it hard to understand how it is possible to continue to live on credit. My family struggled to bring up 6 of us and many of our needs had to be met through the “never, never.” Perhaps my parents had little choice. But when Angela and I married we agreed not to go down that route. We determined that we would save and pay cash for major purchases and would only take recourse to a loan for major capital items like car or house. If we can’t afford it, we manage without. It worries me that the latest attempts by the government to get the economy moving again involve persuading the consumer to spend and presumably in many cases, increase their personal debt burden. Surely there has to be a better way? As it is we are only putting off the evil day when all this has to be paid for.
My second reflection is to ask if this is some kind of judgement on us. Now I’m not going to get carried away by this thought. But part of what is happening, as I understand form listening to various commentators is that there is an adjustment taking place and the centre of economic power is moving to the Far and Middle East. For years we have crippled developing economies by loading them with debt. We’ve spent huge amounts of money on defence and space programmes and ignored the needs of the poor when comparatively small sums can be used to eradicate health problems and promote a better life for many struggling just to survive.
A third and hopefully more positive reflection is that perhaps all this will encourage us to review the way we live, to take a serious look at our lifestyles. I suspect there will be an increase in the number of people growing their own vegetables and gardening in general. There are many simple lifestyle choices we can make that don’t involve having to spend money. We could recover skills that are being lost in order to make things, recycle etc. Wouldn’t it be good to invest in relationships and friendships. Kids, you need to get away from those computer games and do something creative!! Get out there and play! Or build a model railway or something!!
Enough!! Its all too serious! Since I last wrote I’ve been introduced to the music of Imogen Heap who writes some fabulous songs. Visit her website www.imogenheap.co.uk and sample it for yourself.
Well we’ve had Horseman’s Sunday and 13th Floor have come and gone…preparations are in hand for Christmas services (hope you’re looking forward to Christmas!)….and I’ve still to make the Christmas Cake!
The first season on the allotment has been an interesting experience. We’ve enjoyed courgettes, squashes, beetroot, onions and garlic. Some things didn’t do as well as we expected but its all a steep learning curve!
If I can post this blog successfully – I’ll attempt to do a proper Christmas reflection in the next week or two….would you like that?
A bientot
David
The cries for a new blog are growing more incessant by the day! It’s great to be missed! The problem was a technical one, Google changed the blogging method and I’m just about coping with text messages!
But here goes. Hope this blog stimulates the “grey cells” and causes some response.
Boy has a lot happened since May! Who would have believed that we find ourselves in a recession and all the attendant misery it threatens. I hate the words “Downturn” and “Credit Crunch” and get tired of seeing the BBC symbol on each news bulletin. But the current crisis raises several important questions for Christians, so forgive me if a I blog on a bit about them.
First, we are forced to question the whole basis of our capitalist approach to life. I find it hard to understand how it is possible to continue to live on credit. My family struggled to bring up 6 of us and many of our needs had to be met through the “never, never.” Perhaps my parents had little choice. But when Angela and I married we agreed not to go down that route. We determined that we would save and pay cash for major purchases and would only take recourse to a loan for major capital items like car or house. If we can’t afford it, we manage without. It worries me that the latest attempts by the government to get the economy moving again involve persuading the consumer to spend and presumably in many cases, increase their personal debt burden. Surely there has to be a better way? As it is we are only putting off the evil day when all this has to be paid for.
My second reflection is to ask if this is some kind of judgement on us. Now I’m not going to get carried away by this thought. But part of what is happening, as I understand form listening to various commentators is that there is an adjustment taking place and the centre of economic power is moving to the Far and Middle East. For years we have crippled developing economies by loading them with debt. We’ve spent huge amounts of money on defence and space programmes and ignored the needs of the poor when comparatively small sums can be used to eradicate health problems and promote a better life for many struggling just to survive.
A third and hopefully more positive reflection is that perhaps all this will encourage us to review the way we live, to take a serious look at our lifestyles. I suspect there will be an increase in the number of people growing their own vegetables and gardening in general. There are many simple lifestyle choices we can make that don’t involve having to spend money. We could recover skills that are being lost in order to make things, recycle etc. Wouldn’t it be good to invest in relationships and friendships. Kids, you need to get away from those computer games and do something creative!! Get out there and play! Or build a model railway or something!!
Enough!! Its all too serious! Since I last wrote I’ve been introduced to the music of Imogen Heap who writes some fabulous songs. Visit her website www.imogenheap.co.uk and sample it for yourself.
Well we’ve had Horseman’s Sunday and 13th Floor have come and gone…preparations are in hand for Christmas services (hope you’re looking forward to Christmas!)….and I’ve still to make the Christmas Cake!
The first season on the allotment has been an interesting experience. We’ve enjoyed courgettes, squashes, beetroot, onions and garlic. Some things didn’t do as well as we expected but its all a steep learning curve!
If I can post this blog successfully – I’ll attempt to do a proper Christmas reflection in the next week or two….would you like that?
A bientot
David
Labels: Christmas is coming......
posted by Rev Dave @ 18:18
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