Random Articles
The Most Significant Event?
(Copyright 2009) by John Jewell (London, England) Checking the television listings on Sunday to see if there just happened to be anything worthwhile to watch, I was struck by a program title. It was “Christianity: A History” – it was being presented by Dr Robert Beckford. The TV listing had a comment about the program, it said that when the Roman Empire collapsed, a new chapter began in the history of Britain that was more significant than the Reformation, the Magna Carta and the Battle of Hastings combined – or so claimed Dr. Robert Beckford. Well, I thought, that’s quite […]
Pigs Might Fly!
(Copyright 2012) by John Jewell (London, England) A not uncommon saying in Britain is “pigs might fly!” — in other words, this or that will probably never happen just as pigs won’t develop wings and fly! I had such an experience the other day as I was reading one of my morning newspapers. The heading read “Evolution does not mean there isn’t a God, says Attenborough.” My immediate reaction was to blink my eyes and think “Can this be the Attenborough we all in Britain know?” Who, along with other notable atheists has consistently denied God and the Creation. I […]
An Annual Confidence Trick?
(Copyright 2011) by John Jewell (London, England) It’s been threatening everyone for a number of weeks, in fact ever since the school summer holidays ended and the monthly bank statements arrived and now, instead of the cry “what are we going to do this summer?” it becomes “what am I going to get for Christmas” or “what can we get for your mother, uncle, aunt, etc Are we going to have a tree again this year? Then comes all the planning! Often encouraged by local councils putting up a large tree in the shopping area and intended to bring in as […]
What to Expect in 2012
(Copyright) by John Jewell (London, England) What do you expect to happen in this new year of 2012? It certainly hasn’t started very well. Millions still suffer from an ongoing drought in various parts of the world. Many more suffer from the aftermath of floods over the past two or three years. Others still suffer dreadfully from the massive earthquakes that have inflicted the planet in recent years.. Countries such as Haiti where more than half the population still suffer and regardless of the weather continue to live in ramshackle shelters made of whatever scrap of wood or piece of […]
The Lobster in the Pot!
(Copyright) by John Jewell (London, England) You may, or may not, be familiar with the example of the lobster in the pot. This has been used in times past as an example of how things, events, will creep up upon you until finally it is too late to change them. You fill a cooking pot with water, place a live lobster in it and turn the heat on. We assume the lobster could get out of the pot, but it doesn’t. It may feel the water getting hot, but it feels comfortable and so stays in the pot. The water […]
A New Beginning, An Inauguration!
(Copyright) by John Jewell (London, England) From January 23, 2009Naturally, the big news at the moment is the election of Mr. Barack Obama as president of the United States. The TV footage and radio interviews showed what a great deal of hope the American citizens, and also citizens in other nations, have in Mr. Obama. Indeed, many have shown a considerable faith in him, yet no one really knows a lot about him. As we said in a recent Letter from London he was born in Hawaii of an American mother from Kansas and a father who is a Kenyan […]
Yet Another “Happy New Year”
(Copyright) by John Jewell (London, England) Is what most of the British people were wishing each other as the chimes of Big Ben rang throughout London and resounded from the loudspeakers of radios and television sets throughout the rest of the western world as their citizens likewise wished each other a Happy New Year or however it is in their local language. Bonne Annee I think, in French! Throughout the United Kingdom parties were being held, fireworks let off in celebration. And, of course, the usual competition for best firework display between Sydney in Australia and London. The London organizers […]
Wake Up to Reality
by John Jewell (London, England) In the Letter from London a couple of weeks ago we wrote of the next major financial disaster to hit the western world following the credit crunch and the fallout from that. This was the incredible scam perpetrated by Bernard Madoff which resulted in a large number of people losing around $50 billion in total. A newspaper survey of the major losses showed that quite a number of people, who had many millions of dollars and pounds and wanted a safe, but profitable, haven for these funds had entrusted Mr. Madoff with the entire amount. […]
Happy New Year…!
by John Jewell (London, England) That’s what most of the British people were wishing each other as the chimes of Big Ben rang throughout London and resounded from the loudspeakers of radios and television sets throughout the rest of the western world as their citizens likewise wished each other a Happy New Year or however it is in their local language. Bonne Annee, I think, in French! Throughout the United Kingdom parties were being held, fireworks let off in celebration. And, I suppose, the usual competition for best firework display between Sydney in Australia and London. I enjoy firework displays. […]
Another Fine Old Mess!
by John Jewell (London, England) Do you remember the Laurel and Hardy films or movies of years ago? Every now and again one will pop up on television. One of the catchphrases used by Oliver Hardy was “this is another fine old mess you’ve got me into.” It’s a phrase that with a slight adaptation would fit the way the world is right now. Re-stated it looks like this “regarding the planet what a fine old mess we’ve got ourselves into!” I’ve also just been listening to a discussion on BBC World Service’s “One Planet” series. The three contributors made some […]
One Small Step
by John Jewell (London, England) THAT’S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN! ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND! are the words uttered by Neil Armstrong as his left foot touched the surface of the Moon on 21st July 1969, as he stepped down from the Eagle landing craft which he had piloted and guided from the mother ship Columbia accompanied by Ed (Buzz) Aldrin, one of the two other crew members who had brought Columbia along with Eagle from their base at Houston in Texas. A further 10 astronauts in six more missions have travelled to the moon with the final, manned lunar […]
Living Life Today
by John Jewell (London, England) Poet John Masefield wrote “All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” Oh, if only mankind as a whole could find such satisfaction and happiness so simply stated. Today, however, in nation after nation of the western world, there can be few who find any satisfaction with their life and/or lot. At this point why not carry out the simple test of asking ones-self the question “am I honestly really satisfied and happy with my life in today’s world” or what’s life all about anyway!” Many people in the western […]
…Does the Devil Hate Christmas?
by John Jewell (London, England) On the surface, it ‘seems’ logical! What is the devils’ attitude toward Jesus? It ‘seems’ logical that since he tried to kill Jesus on several occasions, and since he was able to influence the Jews and the Romans to finally KILL him, that the devil’s attitude toward Jesus would be one of HATE! And, if that is true, it logically follows that the devil would also HATE anything that is intended to be WORSHIP toward Jesus! Today, Millions of sincere Christians participate in ‘holidays’ that are supposed to be WORSHIP toward Jesus. What does the devil […]
End of the World
by John Jewell (London, England) The end of the world! Is it, or the possibility of it, a reality or not? Is there something in the message that one used to see in some of our bigger town centers? “Flee from the wrath to come” and sometimes accompanied by the words “The end of the world is nigh”All carried on boards slung over the shoulders! Or propped up on the pavement.However, one may be forgiven, as we look at the state of the world today, for thinking there is some validity in the statements. We do, after all, live in […]