Paul Long's Ramblings

Pastor's Notes for the 3 April 2011 bulletin To read, click HERE

Someone sent me this via email. Just had to pass it on. A real delight to watch!

Thanks Z for sending me this link .... truly brightened up my day. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece December 27, 2008 As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem - the crushing passivity of the people's mindset Matthew Parris Before Christmas I returned, after 45 years, to the country that as a boy I knew as Nyasaland. Today it's Malawi, and The Times Christmas Appeal includes a small British charity working there. Pump Aid helps rural communities to install a simple pump, letting people keep their village wells sealed and clean. I went to see this work. It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities. But travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I've been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I've been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stu...

Second Week of Lent - March 24, 2011 "There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man's table." (Luke 16) The elder (the elder brother in the parable of the Prodigal) is not free in his relationship with the father because he is bound by resentment. Resentment is probably one of the most pervasive evils of our time. It is something that is very real, very pernicious and very, very destructive. ... each of us might examine how our lives and relationships are wounded because of unresolved resentments buried in hour hearts. - Henri Nouwen  

Pastor's Notes for the Sunday 27th March 2011 bulletin. To read click HERE

Check this link out. Well written. http://write2rest.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-should-idris-tell-hisham.html

We had my old friend Geoffrey Woo speak / sing at KCC last Sunday. Hah! He went way over time! :-) But it was a blessed meeting. Many of the older folks gave me good feedback. But it was a special meeting for me for another reason too. New people getting up to serve.  And to help me try to bring an Island feel to the worship (if that makes sense). Audrey on the piano after a lapse of 20 plus years! Was good to have Kimberly singing too (next time with the ukulele too?) And so nice to have my two boys helping with the music - drums, guitar / bass.  And Sia and Kata - our wonderful consistent PI couple. Though their boys got the jitters at the last minute - it was still so cool, especially to have Kata a Samoan teach the Samoan verse of Glory Glory Lord and lead us! And it was "way cool" to have Sia be so totally relaxed and naturally bubble over up front, swaying and clapping while he sung. He helped get me swaying and moving naturally as I played the guitar (and those w...