Among the blogs listed in my sidebar is ASBO Jesus a cartoon blog that both entertains and prompts thought.  Cartoon number 1000 is imminent - it has to be said there have already been over a thousand posts as the odd one here and there has been words.  The most recent post sums up a lot of what the site is about - honesty, openness, laughter, vulnerability, catharthis, sharing.  Jon is sometimes provocative in what he posts, and is always ready to engage in generous-spirited debate with those who comment.

I am looking forward to the book being published and feel it is a must for any minister to own - perhaps especially if she/he tends a little too much to the serious.

A couple of spoof blog posts really well done are here and here.  Enjoy.

And this one made me smile too.

It's past midday so I'm not allowed to play any April Fool jokes.  Instead here are two things that you possibly wouldn't have believed had they been posted before that time...

Firstly, the News of the World worthy one - "Baptist Minister in Topless Photo Shoot" - or, alternatively, my plastic surgeon wanted some 'medical photographs' (not sure how they differ from any other sort) before radiotherapy so that she can observe how irradiation affects the work she's done.  Should said photos ever appear beyond the vaults of NHS GGC I know precisely which heads will roll!  In an odd way, it's good to be part of someone's research that may one day help other people.

Secondly, twice this week I've had to evacuate a public building due to a fire alarm going off.  Wednesday evening at my exercise class, and this morning the coffee shop in a well known bookshop.  Neither time was there any evidence of a fire, so the local fire service will charging a fair old whack for their troubles (evidently £250 per appliance per call out).  Better safe than sorry anyway.

I could, I suppose have invented a third odd event and asked you which was the false one, but my brain is too straight forward.

Anyway, happy April, and I hope that wherever you are today is a good one. 

... is a slow process!  Still at it but getting there.  Surprisingly I am quite enjoying reading my stuff and concluding I'm cleverer than I thought!  Have excised around 500 redundant words (in one passage) so far and have identifed one bit of similar length for a possible rewrite... but overall its 'no bad'!

If you have (or sign up for) access to audiopot you can hear this year's short reflections for Lent produced by GRF based on the C of E Lent material Exploring God's Mercy (also here). 

A combination of words and music - not too many words and lots of reflective space with the music.  Titles to date are...

Lost and Finding the Way

Trapped and Set Free

Sick in Soul and Healed

Storm Tossed and Comforted.

One more still to come...

C of E study title: Living the Fruitful Life

More busy Gatherers (and a few other readers) at work, so I guess this is a kind of advert!

(I did wonder about the inavertent (?) pun in the third title though... soul and healed.... sole and heeled?!)