The Nobel Peace Prize puts pressure on China to release the worthy winner Liu Xiaobo

Lui Xiaobo was sadly not able to receive his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.  He is not a criminal but a peace loving intellectual who stands up for human democratic rights and against a repressive regime.  Shame on the Chinese authorities for imprisoning an honourable man of peace and integrity.  They are persecuting  intellectuals, Christian leaders and political opponents.  Dissidents really suffer.  China is not a free country, despite its economic power, influence and strength.

Agony in Adelaide for the Australian Cricket Team

The Australians admitted that they were comprehensively beaten in Adelaide by a superior performance by the Poms in the Second Test Match for the Ashes.  Swann and Anderson bowled magnificently, Cook and Pietersen batted supremely, and the Aussies could not get their opponents all out once.  England in their first innings scored 620 for five wickets (declared). The Poms managed to bowl out the Aussies twice and won by an innings and 71 runs.  That doesn't often happen in Australia!   It was a brilliant victory for England, who had looked strong in the First Test in Brisbane, especially in the second innings, when they scored 517 for one wicket (declared). In the last Ashes series in Australia the Poms were defeated in every Test match.  There are calls for Shane Warne to make a comeback.

The Russian World Cup bid win makes sense, but Qatar stinks!

I can understand that there are good reasons for Russia hosting the World Cup in 2018, but I agree completely with Mark Lawrenson and Jonathan Pearce that the 2022 choice of Qatar is an absolute joke.  Qatar does not have the infrastructure, the tradition or the suitable weather conditions.  Please tell me the name of one quality side or player from Qatar. Can you name one?  Australia makes far more sense.  But it is not the best bid from a footballing point of view that wins; it is the one that suits the corrupt and untrustworthy FIFA officials.  The money and the wealth are doing the talking.  And you can bet that certain geriatric FIFA officials will do very nicely out of the Qatar deal. FIFA has still not yet full embraced 21st century technology for goal line decisions and that is a disgrace.

The Priesthood of All Believers

The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is precious to many Bapists and those who hold to certain Reformed doctrines against the tyranny of priests, pontiffs and prelates.  It is not an assertion of ecclesiastical anarchy but the recognition of an every member ministry. It does not mean that all are called to preach or lead, but it encourages every believer to exercise the ministry, the realm of service to which God has called them, be it administration, evangelism, pastoral care, teaching, prophesy, or hospitality.  We all have a role to play in Christ and by the Holy Spirity we can discover what God has given us to use in His service.

The key passage concerning the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers in 1 Peter 2: 1-12, particularly verses 5 and 9.

As priests of God all believers are to exercise their ministry and service for God with responsibility and with an understanding of accountability.  We are accountable to God and His people.

Ministry then brings responsibility and accountability.


We bring to God our worship, our sacrifices of praise and gifts.  We are all called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives to God. for we are not our own we have been bought with a price, and for some that means laying down our lives as martyrs.  A martyr is a witness in death. 


We are here on earth to serve as good and faithful servants.

Bring the troops home from Afghanistan

This war effort in Afghanistan has gone on for far too long and the British troops should no longer be dying in Afghanistan. What a waste of life, money and effort! So little has been achieved.  There is no clear exit strategy and it has cost us far, far too much. Let's save money and British lives by withdrawing from this stupid conflict, which cannot be won by military options. We are foolish to think that we can bring about a political solution by fighting this stupid war.  When we will see sense and get out of this quagmire?  How many more will have to die in Afghanistan with precious little to show for such an unsound investment of time, money, effort, training, ammunition and lives? To fight on in Afghanistan is sheer folly. How can success be measured?  Failure can be measured, to some extent, by the body bags and the strength of the Taliban opposition.

Let's spend the money on health care and not on warfare. Health care not warfare!

Solva, Pembrokeshire

Earlier this month I was in Solva, Pembrokeshire.  It is very relaxing to sit by the harbour to watch the boats come and go.  There are such splendid walks along the Pembrokeshire coastal path.  I have attached some photographs taken in and around the Solva area.

Solva is a delighful place to spend a holiday by the coast.

Caldey Island

I have visited Caldey Island many times and I have been inside the Cistercian Monastery on a guided tour.  (I have expressed my views in my post of 2008.)  I took the boat to Caldey, which cost me £11.  The weather was fine, ideal for photography.  I have attached some photographs and I'm pleased with them. It was a most enjoyable experience, but I still think that the monastic way of life is unnatural, flawed and wasteful. It is such a large building for a very small monastic community.

The ancient Caldey Priory

Caldey Abbey chapel 

The view from Caldey Island across to Tenby