Infantino following the ways of Blatter?

 Questions are now being asked about Infantino’s management of FIFA.  Is he feathering his own nest? Is he now following in the footsteps of Sepp Blatter? Is Infantino  a money mad Swiss businessman and bureaucrat, a merchant banker? 

Sepp Blatter was accused of corruption and squirrelling away fast funds, doing dodgy deals.

Now the crucial question being posed is whether or not the current FIFA proposals will harm football ? Will FIFA under Infantino cause scorn and contempt bringing the beautiful game into disrepute? 

The game will live on. Many hope it will be without Infantino.

Freddie Sayer RIP

 It was good to see so many people at the graveside and then inside the Hornchurch Methodist church where Freddie worshipped, preached and shared his Christian faith. The church was so full that there was an overflow area in the hall. 

Freddie was respected for his vision for the Hornchurch Passion Play, his work in constructing the cross for the performances on the green by the Queen's Theatre. 

I remember him driving the van down the alleyway at the back of his house, near where I once lived, working into his seventies having lost his pension as the result of someone's wicked act of fraud and greed.

I remember Freddie's sincere commitment to biblical truth and his firm faith which he shared so willingly and winsomely.

I remember his fascinating accounts of working as a welder, even for Stanley Kubrick filming Full Metal Jacket on location in docklands before the Banks and financial services moved in.

Freddie was a lovely man , who with Jenty, moved hearts and minds in Hornchurch. 

FIFA, finance is first aim

 FIFA reveals its ugly head again in serving mammon and putting finance before football.  There is a stench of corruption, something rotten in the state of play when FIFA have their way.  People smell more than a rat but an infestation of money making mania.  FIFA has been bad for football and many are saying that it is ruining the beautiful game on the world stage.  There needs to be a thorough forensic investigation into FIFA. 

Crying for Argentina

Many Argentinians were crying when they lost in the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, USA.

Messi and his team were down and deeply disappointed.  They wanted to win a back to back trophy and make history.  They played with passion but sadly in a nasty, cynical, disgraceful and despicable way.  They fouled and spoiled their opponents open football. Spain were worthy winners. The Argentinian team showed how unsportsmanlike they were when Spain celebrated and received the winners' medals.  There were some clear and obvious examples of bad conduct, violent behaviour and vile manners. Shameful. 

The way the Argentine team failed to make shots on goal and had a win at all costs approach did not endear them to neutral nations.  Spain became the heros and the highly acclaimed team. Most nations were rooting for them and wanted another win, another star on the team shirt for Spain. 

Analyzing the game, it was clear that Argentina were very negative and committed some bad fouls, which are being used in evidence against their bad plays, nasty ways.

FIFA will be investigating the disgraceful post match conduct and behaviour of the Argentinians.  The world's press has already condemned such disgraceful and shameful delinquency.  The political aspects in showing a message about Las Malvinas will be bitterly remembered. These players were role models but now some of them are examples of bad sportsmanship and being sore losers.  

Concerning heresy

Christians, those who love, serve and live in Christ Jesus, are enjoined to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Saints, those who are sanctified by the Lord’s grace, are involved in a spiritual battle against dark forces, spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6: 10 onwards makes this point clearly.

In the various denominations today there are destructive doctrines that have crept in slowly and subtly. They have been expounded and promoted by clever and cunning folk who believe that there can be spirituality without repentance, discipleship without holiness and Christianity without the cross. So their god has no wrath, their kingdom has no judgement, their followers are not concerned about sin, their Christ is a social worker and their authority derives from their own experience, knowledge and world view. Well that’s heresy.

TENBY IN JUNE

I spent a wonderful week in west Wales, in Pembrokeshire, notably Tenby, that's Dinbych yr Pysgod in Welsh.  After the heat of southern England, it was so splendid to spend time enjoying the milder weather and the sweet sea breezes, the beautiful beaches, the charming alleys, the coastal paths and small shops in and around Tenby. 

I wish to share some photographs, which I hope capture to some extent the love and affection I have for this special place, which I have visited regularly since the early 1970s when my wife had family in the area.

Under construction.  Seeking more photographs.

Ann Widdecombe, Rest in Paradise

 I have admired Ann Widdecombe's clarity, conviction, commitment to causes and her Christian faith.  I remember her climbing seven flights of stairs in the Home Office building in Queen Anne's Gate to keep fit.  AW did have a weight problem at times, and a love for chocolate. Unlike other HMG ministers she was never aloof, arrogant or haughty. In fact AW was friendly, gracious, kind and compassionate.

Ann Widdecombe was active in the Oxford alumni network and hosted London events. During her student days she was involved in Christian witness attending OICCU meetings.  In later life she became a Roman Catholic, disliking the weak, wishy washy and woke theology of the Anglican leadership, which seemed to be about sanctified good manners and little substance, not the Gospel that she believed in.

While many may disagree with her politics and theological views, Ann Widdecombe was a woman of great integrity, grit and determination, who passionately believed in free speech. AW was courteous and vigorous in debate, never nasty or unpleasant, a gentle soul.

May Ann rest in paradise. Pax. RIP.