Just over three weeks ago, I wrote my first of two parts concerning this year’s football World Cup (see here), just after the group stage had finished, mindful that it was going to be knock out from then on. I focused on the football but had to cover stuff like politics. In this sequel, I intend to do the same.
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St. Vincent de Paul and the SVP (Southend) Charity
Earlier today I asked AI a question: “There is a Catholic charity known as SVP, which operates in my city that is named after St. Vincent Paul. Tell me about this man and why the name of the charity is appropriate”. It gave me an excellent answer, which I will include at the end.
Continue readingAsaph: Prophet, Worship Leader, and Voice of the Nation
Our church pastor has been running a series of Bible studies on the Psalms of Asaph. This got me thinking …
Continue readingMy Tribute to Ann Widdecombe
Four days ago, I learned of the death of Ann Widdecombe. I would not have been shocked if she had died naturally (she was 78, after all), but because she was murdered I, like many, was taken aback. We still don’t know the full details of what happened or that of the murderer and his motive. That itself is a concern as already things don’t seem to add up, but that is not why I am writing.
Continue readingI want to be Blackadder; I’m usually Mr Bean
On Rowan Atkinson, jesters, and why we still need comedy to speak freely.
Continue readingOne reason why studying the minor prophets matters
One of the lovely things about God is more often than not He uses unlikely people to take up His cause and often leaves behind those who seem more qualified, evidenced in the way that He used the Hebrew prophets. I have been doing a deep dive into the minor prophets of the Bible and found them all to be a fascinating bunch, with something to say, much of it applicable to our own times.
Continue readingHas King Charles III reneged on his Coronation oath?
I used to be a moderate monarchist and saw having a monarch that “reigns but does not rule”, to quote Walter Bagehot who I studied back in the day, was a good thing overall and part of the checks and balances inherent in the technically unwritten British Constitution.
Continue readingJohn Barber’s May and June writing and blog update
Below are click onable links to articles I posted on my website since the last time I sent out to my “those who may be interested” e-distribution list. Feel free to either check out anything of interest or ask to be removed from the list. May God bless you in your endeavours for Him
Continue readingAmos – an eight century (BC) prophet for our twenty-first century (AD)
My latest minor prophet in my current round of OT studies is Amos and, like all the prophets, he was a remarkable chap, with his own distinctive features, audience and message. Rather than make this long, besides drawing on a recent presentation (see below), here are some that come to mind …
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