I have just received this birthday card from one of my younger sisters: Or to use the language of our Scottish bard, Robert 'Rabbi' Burns, in his poem To A Louse: On Seeing One On A Lady's Bonnet, At Church, 1786. "O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see …
Obama gives a lead to Trump
There has been much media coverage of Donald Trump's use of social media and mis-calling main stream media. Let us remember that it was Obama who used social media to galvanise support for his successful campaign to reach the White House. It looks like sour grapes to complain that Donald Trump did the same. "President …
What is Islamic Reformation?
Tonight, 14 Feb 2017, BBC Newsnight's Viewsnight carried an opinion that Islamic State is a Reformation in islam. Canadian author Graeme Wood compared the similarities of the rise of Islamic State (ISIS) with the Protestant Reformation under Martin Luther, pointing to 1. the call to return to the original sources (the Bible and Quran) to …
Seven Testimonies to the Person, life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ
The three Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, give us three independent accounts of the Person, life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are called synoptic because they are so similar to each other. Why does God’s Holy Spirit give us three similar accounts? There are many reasons, but not least is to …
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Another pioneer dies – leaving an honourable, global and on-going legacy
On the day of John Glenn's funeral, another pioneer died. John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth, restored American prestige in 1962 when it seemed that the Soviet Union was moving ahead in the space race. A lesser known pioneer died today, aged 96 years old. However, his name is known to …
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Morality and women in politics
The Women’s Equality Party is the new lassie on the block. It does not like Donald Trump's victory in the USA. Its spokeswoman on the Daily Politics today complains that his election means that one can demean woman and 'it doesn't matter'. Secular morality is offended. The secular elite is now discovering how Christians have …
Patrick’s Places – the difference between Law and Gospel
Patrick’s Places – the difference between Law and Gospelby Patrick Hamilton, 1527. Patrick Hamilton was Scotland’s first Reformer and martyr, burned at the stake by Roman Catholic cardinal Beaton at St Andrews in 1528 for preaching the Gospel. Of noble birth, he graduated MA from the College of Montaigu, Paris, in 1520 and enrolled in …
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Missing the Wood for the Trees
The Labour Party Conference begins tomorrow for four days. But...its website doesn't tell us the agenda nor timetable. Its conference page tells us a host of activities and details but not its agenda nor timetable! I hope those who booked to attend this conference know what they have signed up for. Yes - it is …
BT and identifying cold callers
Following my blogpost on cold calling, another issue is the problem of identification. Occasionally British Telecom (BT) phone me. The most recent call was to remind me to renew my broadband with them. This needs serious consideration because tonight I sent an email which did not go through. What was the reason? This is what …
The Ark of Noah – and The Unsinkable Dream
I have just finished reading The Unsinkable Dream by Johan Huibers, the Dutchman who has built a full-sized replica of Noah's Ark. Its Dutch title is Let Your Dream Sail. It is a wonderful read about an amazing project with so many lessons that you should simply purchase the book for yourself. The Ark is …
Donald's Thoughts 