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May 5 I realise that my website is not functioning as it should. A letter from abroad indicated that the person sending it explained that he had tried the feed back, but without success, My granddaughter's husband who is on furlough from Malaysia will endeavour to bring the site up to date. Please accept my apologies. April29 No doubt the goings on at Griffith University have caused many to raise serious questions concerning the inroads of Islam. I have aired my opinion on this latest charade on the page Contemporary Issues. April 18 I have added to the page on Missions March 31 2008 For some weeks I have been unable to add to my webpage. The most serious one has been a change in the ownership of the domain sites. Changes of this nature often become tricky and time consuming. Apart from that my health has not been such as to encourage me to sit before the computer screen. Approaching my 95th birthday I accept that the aches and pains that one would normally take in one's stride, are not so easily ignored. Let me take up what I intended when mentioning Islam a couple of months ago. I refer readers to the page on Missions and Missionaries. January 31 2008. I intend as soon as possible to return to the issue of Christianity and Islam. See Missions and Missionaries
February 13 2008 The fact that I have added little by way pf commentary during the past four or five weeks has been due to a wearying bout of arthritis. The Situation in Sudan I have discussed this on the page Missions and Missionaries - and reflected on its Implications. November 28 Beckham mania The back page of my morning edition of The Australian was almost exclusively given to the performance of Beckham who, watched by 80,000 spectators who had paid up to $85 to watch him. played less than a couple of hours with an American soccer club at the Telstra stadium last night. He had flown into Sydney by his private jet, and earns millions a year, not only for his soccer skills, but through the many endorsements which contribute overwhelmingly to his wealth. It made me wonder. Is this a measure of our priorities? To what extent are we the dupes of the marketing world? Sir Ronald Ross, who exposed himself to multitudes of mosquito bites, in order to discover the cause of malaria, and died almost penniless. We have foisted upon us through an all too eager media, those whose contributions are minimal in terms of the benefits to humanity. We fall for it. Who are the real dupes? November 24 Where did we read of wars, rumours of war, and times of distress'? The news to day is that there is a state of urgency in Lebanon. Politicians in Beirut have failed to elect anew president.. There is an unwritten agreement in Lebanon that its president must be a Maronite. There are many Christians in the Maronite sect, and it is this that is the sticking point. The government has failed to elect such, and the pro-Syrian president has declared a state of emergency and handed power to the army to as he said, ' preserve security all over the Lebanese territory'. The divided population consists of Maronite Christians and Shia Muslims. Now without a president the influence of Syria increases, and the risk of a pro-Syrian Hizbollah being set up threatens the whole of that region in the Middle East. More than ever Christians must pray that peace may yet come to a land which has known so many years of brutal war. November 23 The Commonwealth have expelled the Pakistan government. It will be interesting to watch developments November 20 I have just heard a news flash indicating that Imran Khan the test cricketer, now politician, is starting a hunger strike from his place of detention. Not a great day for democracy in Pakistan. November 15 My absence from this page is due for the most part, in that I have arthritis in the neck . Being in one position for too long aggravates the pain. However, I have added to what I had said about the situation in Burma. During the past few weeks there has been much diplomatic activity, and the United Nations has sought to bring things to a conclusion favouring a democratic government. These resolutions and appeals, and the threat of sanctions against Burma have had little result. Now the situation has moved to Pakistan, and we can but await to see what changes may be made to what is in effect a military dictatorship. With the arrival of Ms Bhutto and the activities of former cricket test player the situation does not appear to have improved. The former has been under house arrest, and Imran Khan, if we accept the latest report has been taken into custody. The UN is making the usual noises and the USA is issuing threats, but time alone will tell the effect these may have. October 18 I have added to the situation in Burma - The Burgundy Revolution ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 15 The fact that recently 3000 gold miners in South Africa were rescued when there was a collapse in the mine did not make front page news. Nor did the fact that some hundreds of miners were lost in a mine accident in China. Having once worked in a colliery company and having been down a mine, I appreciate what the conditions are like. Fortunately gold mining in Australia has of recent years almost been free from fatal accidents. That does not lessen the risks that underground miners face. I am reminded of a phrase by Livy the Roman historian, who said of gold mining, "many hands are worn down that one little finger may be adorned". It's worth thinking about. Those of you who wear rings on the third finger of the left hand may know that the ancient belief was that the vein from that finger led to the heart. Another piece of useless trivia, I hear you say!! The Burgundy revolution Many of us have been shocked by the news and pictures of the situation in Burma, or as it is called Myamar. The sight of tens of thousands of monks joined my thousands of ordinary civilians, speaks volumes as to the extent of the desire for democracy in a land which for decades has been in the grip of military junta. Thanks to the internet the dictatorship can no longer keep secret the extent of the oppression in that land. The scenes of Buddhist monks being subject to gunfire and tear gas, illustrate the passionate desire of the people of Burma for democracy. The United Nations special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, was kept waiting by the junta, but according to a news flash at 4p.m. Australian time he has been given an interview. There is no news as to what maybe the outcome. There is the plea for anonymity, citing protocol. If history is anything to go by the intervention of the United Nations will achieve nothing but the usual empty and for the most part meaningless resolutions. When did the United Nations take a clear unequivocal stand on any situation during its history. If ever there was a toothless tiger, the United Nations takes pride of position. Unless the international community puts the screws on the junta in Burma, precious little will change. Our only weapon at this stage is to pray for millions of Christians in Burma The story of the Karen people is well documented, they have been, and especially now, a shining example of loyalty to Christ to believers everywhere. If ever they needed our prayers it is now. One cannot but admire the fierce national desires of the Buddhists. Even now their burgundy robes are being stained with blood - a testimony to their ardent desires for their country. I have been waiting to ascertain what action if any has been taken by the International Community concerning recent events in Burma. Apart from a United Nations Resolution calling for a cessation of the crackdown on those seeking democracy, there has been little follow up. At least I have seen none in the Australian and British press. The UN Security Council did condemn the junta and urged the regime to open talks with opposition leader Aung San Sun Kyi, but one doubts the strength of such resolutions. The most significant action has been on the part of Japan. During the recent riots a Japanese video journalist was murdered. TV footage showed him to have been shot at close quarters by security forces. The Japanese government has cancelled millions of dollars worth of grants to Japan. The US government has urged the International community to step up pressure on Burma's rulers. President Bush has called for "enormous international pressure" to make it clear that the generals will be isolated unless action is taken. History demonstrates that resolutions and threats by the U N make little difference. The EU have taken a firmer stand and approved new sanctions against the junta, including an embargo on the export of wood, gems and metals, and threatened further penalties. One feels that unless such measures are punitive, there will be little change. All this means that as Christians our prayers for the many thousands of Christian in Burma and those along the Thai-Burma border must be intensified.
It has come to my attention that some readers of this website may have used the section for comments. They may wonder why questions have not been answered. The fault must be with the provider. A change was made and the new provider may have missed something. All comments come to my email address. I will look into the matter, and meanwhile apologise to any who may have thought that what they had noted by way of comments, had not been addressed.
August 26 Perhaps you would like to know more of George Abbott, that is if you don't already know about him. If his name is unfamiliar I have added some information on George Abbott, on the page 'Growing old'. August 22 Yet again Anything to do with Nursing Homes catches my attention. I suppose since my wife and I reside in one that is inevitable. Some nursing homes leave a lot to be desired. The scene in Melbourne lately has provided proof of that. Now another has surfaced. The Belvedere Park Aged Care in Sydenham has been ordered to close by the federal government. A recent audit revealed that 42 out of the 48 set care standards had been breached. One might make allowances if the number was four - but 42 out of 48 is an alarming number. The four day audit found the home had serious and widespread problems. Residents were not receiving appropriate clinical care, and staff lacked skills and knowledge to meet residents needs. The report states that "The level of non-compliance is unprecedented". The home should have been closed before this. This is not to overlook the fact that nursing homes are under pressure. One of the obvious needs is to have sufficient trained staff. In a day of skill shortages, many homes have to get by with insufficient and even untrained staff. The pay for staff is such that it is unlikely that those with the skills will necessarily be attracted to nursing homes. It must not be overlooked that nursing homes have to make a profit, and cost cutting may often be in the region of staff numbers. I do not pretend to have the answers but the problem is not likely to go away. All the evidence provided by an aging population indicates that more must be done - and that quickly.
August 13 I have added to this page.......scroll on August 10
Echooonomics That is a new one. John Howard used it to describe the policies of his opponents. It made me reflect. I have, for most of my life, been a keen follower of politics both here and in the U.K. Some things become very obvious - that is if one thinks deep and long enough. The one certainty is that what politicians offer can sometimes be completely reversed very soon after. If not reversed they can be dramatically changed. There was a time, and some of those who read these comments may well remember, when those of us who lived in England were promised that there would be 'blood, toil, tears and sweat.' Churchill's prediction was true. I suppose we imagined that with the end of hostilities things would turn to normal. Yet, two years after victory the very people who had been given that dire prediction were left standing in queues holding damp ration books. March 1947 was one of the coldest I can remember. We had the worst snowfall of the century, which was followed by the worst floods on record. Rivers split disastrously across the countryside, swamping roads and railways - to say nothing of countless carpets. I suppose we could not be blamed for being disgruntled. However one needs to have a sense of perspective. England was bankrupt. The debt owed to America was astronomically high. Many towns retained most of the evidences of German bombing. There had been widespread disruption of industry. When, soon after the end of the war, the people threw Churchill and his government out - with a huge landslide, they may have done so in the expectation that things would soon be put to right. It was a false hope. All the evidence was against it. Which brings be back to what politicians of all persuasions offer. They need to be taken with a large grain of salt........to be continued I intended to say more but came across the following before I added it. The following is part of an article by Peter Saunders, who is social research director for the Centre for Independent Studies, and appeared in The Australian. Although the artic is set in an Australian context, what he says has far wider areas of influence. Politicians talk down to us like children assuming (rightly in many cases) that they can buy our votes with handouts rather than win our support with arguments. And on TV, they try to act dumb. Before he got the Labour leadership, hacks speculated that Kevin Rudd was too clever to be elected, but larking around on Friday mornings on Channel 7 with Mel and Kochie helped him over come that obstacle. On Channel 9 recently Tony Abbott, Health Minister ridiculed himself for using the phrase "supping with the devil" after he realised nobody else in the studio had heard the term before. The worst thing for a politician is to stand out from the mob and set a standard. American research finds that candidates in presidential debates are increasingly using simple, child-like language as the years unfold. The Gettysburg address cannot compete with a 10-second sound bite. It is said that we get the politicians we deserve - which makes many of us look stupid. It's Tax Time July 26 I guess most of us have been either contemplating filling in those endless forms, or have actually commenced the task. Mind you the computer has made the chore less demanding. I have no need to add up. just press the appropriate button and all that is taken care of. That does not mean that I can afford to be careless - it's up to me to put the correct amount in the first place. And that's where the trouble often is to be found. I need another pair of eyes to make sure that I have done the correct thing. Colin Lynch provides the extra eyes, and amazes me with the speed with which he takes care of these things. I am grateful for his competence so gladly shared. But thinking of taxes made me reflect. The American War of Independence was waged over the matter of a tax. The English Parliament, egged on by King George 111 - of whose sanity most historians have had doubts - decided the colonies should pay their way. There had been the paper tax, and then a sugar tax, both of which had been initially resisted - and then came the tax on tea. That was taking things too far, and the colonists didn't like it. You can go today to a replica of the little ship at Boston where the tea was first thrown overboard, and re-enact the scene. The outcome was the war the English lost and the colonists gained their independence. It was all over the matter of a tax. Taxes are never popular and governments need to consider what they may lead to before imposing them Then it was the turn of India. The English rule over India was widely disliked - for good reasons, one of which was the vexed question of taxation. If you run a country, you need the cash necessary for the job. And in India one way of getting it was by taxation. It was when they decided to tax salt that the trouble began. Salt, like fresh air and clean water were essential for everyone, and the poor were not an exception. When the law to tax salt was imposed, Ghandi decided to oppose the measure. He along with thousands of his supporters marched 240 miles to the coast, where Ghandi raised a lump of salty mud, and declared "With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire" He urged his followers to make salt by the seashore. India soon after gained Independence in August 1947. The salt tax was a contributory factor. Margaret Thatcher, leader of the British parliament made the mistake of introducing a much-opposed tax - a poll tax. When four out of every five people refused to pay the tax, she dropped the idea. It was too late. Her party was divided, and she was challenged for the leadership in 1987, and resigned in 1990. The unpopular poll tax was the beginning of her troubles. Tax has always been unpopular. The temptation to avoid it is present with most people. A prominent Australian entrepreneur has recently been sentenced to prison for deliberately avoiding tax. It was Benjamin Franklin who said, In this world nothing can be more certain, except death and taxation. It's wise to pay out cheerfully, and count the benefits that come through wise taxation. It was the emperor Augustus who ordered a census, for the purposes of taxation, which required that the people of Palestine had to return to the place of their birth So Jesus was born at Bethlehem. As the prophet Micah had predicted the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. Peter speaks of having 'the sure - or certain word of prophecy''. The Word of God makes promises and offers benefits, but we need to accept the terms. ***************************************** June 30 A bout of pneumonia and a fall necessitating constant physiotherapy over the past month may explain why I have been unable to add to the website. I hope that will soon change.
************************************** June 11 Islam and women
The attitude 0f Islam to women is so well-known that one hesitates to mention it. But when a Moslem woman draws attention to it, the facts still need to be repeated. If you are interested turn to Contemporary Events May 31 Islam shows the way to evangelise
If you are interested in the way missions work, especially the methods of Islam, you may read my comments on Missions and missionaries. May 24
The Latest News ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` The fact that I have been inactive as far as the website is concerned, is due to a lingering condition subsequent to a fall, and a bloodied skull. The doctor has advised xrays to determine if there is any damage to the neck and spine. Through these days Adrian and Stella - Stella is Mona's niece - have been a tower of strength. In adversity one soon discovers who will go the extra mile. Mona continues to be cheerful, and shames me for having the nerve to occasionally complain when things go wrong.
May 15
I have added comments on Coping with Cancer, and a final word on nursing homes - see below on Nursing homes May 1st
Mona's health continues to give us grounds for thankfulness. She asks questions and makes comments - "Isn't it a blue sky", or "Have you a headache?". Since maintaining a conversation with her tends to be demanding, I have started to read to her. She follows over a sustained period what I read. The selection as far as book is concerned needs some care. I have started with a book for young people I wrote many years ago. The background is familiar to her, and the place names she recalls very clearly. I will keep friends posted.... I have added a paragraph on books. If you are interested turn to that page.
April 25 Nursing Home News. If any who read these pages envisage the day when they will need nursing home care, may I give some advice - born out of experience:
1. Read the terms of the contract very very carefully. 2. Have a robust solicitor who will take care of your interests. 3. Do not depend on verbal statements. Always ensure that what is being conveyed to you, is in written form.
I had wrongly assumed that the state of things at the nursing home in Melbourne where 5 elderly residents had died during an outbreak of salmonella had been finalised. I was wrong. The results of an investigation determined that the nursing home was in breach of standards of care covering key areas including infection control, clinical care, nutrition, hydration and staff training. In all, Broughton Hall, an Anglican Home, had been in breach 0f 12 accreditation requirements. The Federal health minister stated that these failures "go directly to the outcome of five deaths at Broughton Hall". Fortunately most residents at this home would not be alert enough to know what was going on. It demonstrates how vulnerable the elderly are. It also proves that the accreditation Agency is not functioning properly if it takes the death of five elderly residents before it springs into action. Surely these deficencies ought to have been discovered long before they were eventually brought to light. It gives no cause for confidence for those in residential homes, and it ought to ensure that those responsible for running them need far greater vigilance than has been displayed at Broughton Hall. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx April23 Today is St. George's day. My parents saw my birth as the day before, and decided that George would be the most appropriate name. And who was St. George? If you wish to know more turn to the page Missions. I have added to the comments on Nursing Homes. see Contemporary Issues. April 17 Nursing homes in the news With the death of five residents in a Melbourne Nursing Home, the media spotlight has turned on the kind of care that elderly people are given. If the subject interests you I have made some comments on the page Contemporary Issues. These comments are continued...... April 20 Further developments .....
........................................... April 12 "I felt that Jesus was with me every step of the way" So Zach Johnson was reported to have said after winning the US Golf Masters at Augusta. He won by one shot from Tiger Woods. I suppose I am meant to be impressed by this testimony, but I have reservations. You may not share them, but you can see how the news affected me if you turn to Contemporary Issues. Maundy Thursday April 5
If you wish to know more turn to the page Contemporary Events The occasion has given me the opportunity to mention to some of the residents the meaning of the names given to certain Lenten days. **************************************
March 31 I must not wait another day - tomorrow is April the first, and whatever I may say tomorrow may be misinterpreted. At least as an exile from England I can say with Browning, "Oh, to be in England now that April's there... nostalgia prevents me from continuing with what Browning says. The fact that I have not added to the website for ten days I can explain in two ways. I have not enjoyed the robust health that would otherwise have made it easy to sit before a computer screen. I have mentioned the fact of my visit to the hospital a few days ago for x rays which may reveal the cause of much of the pain. I await the doctor's interpretation of the x rays It has given Mona a great deal of pleasure to be able to visit the coffee shop on the Strathalan site. Whenever a visitor who appears to have sufficient pushing strength calls, I have suggested that Mona be pushed to the coffee shop. We have had three visits in the past week. Which would indicate that Mona is much better. Anyone who has not seen Mona for some months, is aware of the difference. As I have said before, it may be due to the insertion of a new pacemaker. Much depends on what the next few weeks/months reveal. We must not presume, nor must we be tempted to an arrogant acceptance of the improvement. Arrogance - now there is a word which has been bandied about by our politicians recently. It is a word which sits easily upon the shoulders of many a politician. I was reminded of this fact when I came across a statement by Paul Johnson in his book Napoleon. He says, "We have to learn again the central lesson of history: that all forms of greatness, military and administrative, nation and empire building, are as nothing - indeed are perilous in the extreme - without a humble and contrite heart". But just think for a minute as to what those of us who have lived over many years have witnessed. Those with eyes to see have witnessed the evils of what Johnson calls Bonapartism. We have seen it on a gigantic scale in Mussolini that mountebank dictator, and the megolomaniac of Germany until it was snuffed out in a bunker in Berlin. But they were not alone. No dictator of the twentieth century from Lenin, Stalin, and Mao Zedong, to pygmy tyrants like Kim Il Sung, Castro, Peron, Mengistu, Saddam Hussein, Ceausescu, and Gadhafi - and now we can add Mugabe -was without echoes of the Napoleonic prototype. Paul Johnson concludes "We have seen the deification of force and war, the all powerful centralized state, the use of cultural propaganda to apotheosize the autocrat, the marshalling of entire people which came to hateful maturity in the twentieth century, which will go down in history as the Age of Infamy. Friday 23 March
The reason for the delay in giving news is due to the fact that the provider of the web website changed ownership. One expects that any change where computers are concerned means 'trouble'. So it was. My good friend Alan Lynch took many hours trying to get back to normality. He has succeeded, and I am very grateful. Mona went down to the coffee shop yesterday afternoon. Laurie pushed the large wheel bed and I followed with the aid of the walking frame. Mona had a cappuccino and a piece of cake, and said to me "This is great" - meaning of course the fact that she was having a change of scenery. This marks another stage of her recovery. The fitting of the new pacemaker has been responsible it would appear. Laurie Simpson suggested that the new pacemaker was stimulating the heart, and in turn the heart was pumping more blood to the brain. That is the most probable explanation for the change in Mona's condition. It remains to be seen how permanent this will be. I need to demonstrate the same improvement in my health. After some time enduring pains in the joints the doctor thought that I should have x rays to determine the cause. One thing the doctor ruled out was that the pains were due to the cancer. I will be at the hospital on Tuesday, and hopefully we will be able to ascertain the causes of the pain. Living on pain killers may give some relief, but they do not point to the source of the trouble. I will keep those of you who read this site informed as soon as the doctor has looked at the x rays. We are thankful for your prayerful concern.
Church of England in disarray I have added some comments on the above on the page 'Contemporary Issues. I found the debate not only critical but amusing. For those ecclesiastical minded you may read my reactions. February 28
Mona continues to improve, and enters quite spontaneously into conversations. I have googled as many articles as I can on 'pacemakers' but can find no suggestion that a replacement will have any noticeable effects. Let's believe that 'payer changes things'. February 22 Iti s a month since gave any news. The main reason is my fear of being either apprehensive or overly optimistic as far as Mona is concerned. Two weeks ago she had a minor stroke, and her responses were adversely affected. Last week she spent 24 hours in hospital having the battery of her pace maker replaced. I was surprised that she seemed much better when she returned, and since then has given clear evidences of an improvement. When I went to see her this morning she was in a physiotherapy group doing simple exercises. She participated as well as most, and better than some in the group. I don't think that the replacement of the battery in her pace maker has anything to do with her improvement. We thank many of you for your prayers. I am trusting that she will continue to improve and will keep friends posted.
Thursday January 25
Mona's condition remains much the same. Some days she can speak a few words, on others a nod or shake of the head is the only response. The doctor has arranged for her to go to a local hospital in order to recharge the battery in her pace maker. I was told some time ago that there was only three months' supply left in the battery. It will be a simple procedure. At least there are those who give her an expectancy of life needing the pace maker. Tomorrow is a public holiday - it is Australia Day. Monica will at last be taking Australian citizenship. We did that twenty years ago. It reminds me of the illuminating translation of Paul's words to the Philippians, when he wrote to them reminding them that 'our citizenship is in heaven'. Moffatt, I think it was, who rendered the words, 'We are 'a colony of heaven'. Philippi was a Roman colony. The Romans were adapt at planting 'colonies' - made up of those who had served in the legions. They were given land, and it was their privilege to live as Romans, and convince the people among whom they lived of the privilege of being a Roman. There were four colonies in Britain during the Roman occupation. Paul himself could boast that he 'was born free' - a Roman. The first convert in Europe was Lydia - not a Roman. She had moved to Philippi from Thyatira for business reasons. She traded in purple cloth. Where better to find customers than in Philippi, where there were always those ready 'to take the purple', a step up in the social ladder. So too, Christians are to live so as to persuade others of the benefits of being Christian.
I will keep those who read these pages up-to-date. Monday January 15 I have not been commenting on Mona's health. A daily bulletin is not necessary. Mona has days when she is unable to talk, and some when she can make statements. When there is any noticeable change, I will give details. Many thanks for your prayerful concerns.
I have added to the page 'Coping with Cancer. There was a error in my comments yesterday. It should have been headed Monday January 8: I had inserted the wrong day. Let me correct that... Tuesday January 8 Monday was not a good day for Mona. I saw her throughout the day and failed to evoke any response, apart from the words "I want..." several times, but she was unable to get beyond those two words, save later to say "thank you" to Glenys who brought her a bunch of roses. Peter and Glenys have been to see her several times and we are grateful for their help. Perhaps the efforts of her birthday had exhausted her.
Tuesday January 8 Yesterday was Mona's birthday. It was good that so many family members could get together. Tim's family was well represented, and Martin and Ana, with Monica and Laurie joined with me and Mona. She was able to join with us in that she was brought in a special chair. As part of our coming together was the dedication of Henry James. He was very well behaved throughout and smiled as I offered him to the Lord. Mona was alert and smiling through all this. Her eyes for the most part were on the baby. Monica had catered for afternoon tea, and did so splendidly. Mona had to watch, and I indulged in a mince pie. The rest of the fare was tempting enough, but good sense indicated that I needed to show restraint. Monica had also prepared a cake but Mona had not the strength to blow out the candle. I have just left her after seeing her in the last stages of a bed bath. It was so exhausting for her that I was unable to get any response, and concluded that she need a sleep more than anything. I will go again later in the morning. She is so frail that one can see the pace maker in her chest - there is barely enough skin to cover it. I am concerned that she is not eating, although a tray of food is brought to her. She needs to be spoon-fed, and that takes time. I will give more news later. Thursday January 4 The past two days have been sufficient to realise that Mona is under the kind of care she needs. She appears better for the change, and today was able to communicate. There was colour back in her cheeks. Along with all the residents she was 'wheeled' to church. I wasn't sure what took place, but she nodded when I mentioned 'hymns'. It is a case of a day at a time, which means that there will be no need to comment. She is certainly better than a few days ago. It will be interesting how she reacts to the birthday celebration we are arranging for her this coming Sunday. The fact that James Harry will be there will a great help: she responds each time she sees him. I swill keep those who share our concerns posted. Tuesday January 2 Mona was transferred today to the High Care part of part of the complex. I was able to speak with one of the carers, and was reassured when told that the staff to patient ratio was 6/32 whereas in the care section she has left it is 2/32. Mona will be under much closer attention than formerly. She spends her days in bed - that is unless they move her for a time to the armchair. Tim, Emily and the baby with other family members will be here on Sunday 7th January, which is Mona's birthday. We are arranging for the family to be together in the afternoon, and will use the occasion for the dedication of James Harry. He is a little over three months old now. They return to Kyrgyzstan on January 13. More news later. Sunday December 31 2006
The last day of the year, and a time for recollecting. Sunday morning; Mona is in my room on a portable bed which can be pushed to wherever one may wish. She has not spoken since she came here about half an hour ago. Lapsing in and out of consciousness has been the pattern of these past days There have been occasions when she has spoken, but they are few and far between. She smiles at me as if to indicate she knows what is going on. Tim, Emily and James Harry - 4 months old - are joining me for lunch. Mona may be revived when she sees the baby. We live a day at a time. 2007 will be marked by even greater change for us than the year that will soon close. "our times are in His hands". Mona is being moved to another section of Strathalan where the residents are for the most part confined to their beds. I understand that the carers have the skills required to care for cases such as Mona. To those I know who read this page -Thank you for your concerns Boxing Day Tuesday 25 December
Mona's condition these last two days is not markedly different, although no attempt is made to place her in a chair. Most of the time I spend with her she is asleep. I am told this is due to the morphine they are administering. I am sure she is no pain. She does take a little specially prepared food. Christmas eve
The past 24 hours have been strange. Yesterday morning and this morning Mona was wheeled in her bed to my room. The idea perhaps was that she might respond to familiar things. Both occasions she was asleep and did not respond. This afternoon Tim, Emily and baby James Harry called unexpectendly, I took them to see Mona and the response was remarkable. She smiled and made as if to talk to the baby. The changes was quite noticeably to me who had watched through the morning and afternoon and elicited little more than a squeeze of the hand. The carer also told me that she had eaten some dinner. I can only explain the change due to the administration of morphine. The nurse told me that they gave her the painkiller before lifting her in a frame from the large chair and into her bed, and vice versa. It may be that I have been with her when the effects of the drug were more pronounced. Tim and Emily are to look in on Christmas morning, it will be interesting to see what her response will be then. We live day at a time. Many thanks to concerned friends. Saturday December 23 Mona shows no improvement The carers very thoughtfully wheeled her into my room for an hour. She was in a bed/settee arrangement. The idea was that she might respond by being in my room where she spent so much of her time. I am not sure that it registered with her. She soon fell asleep holding my hand until it was time for her to be returned - "to her bed" the carer told me. One can agree mentally with Paul when he tells the Philippians that 'to be with Christ is far better'. In our present circumstances we long that it should be true for Mona. No more suffering and no more pain. Such is His promise. Thursday December 21
Mona is weaker by the hour. She does not eat, and takes little interest in what takes place. It is apparent that her strength cannot be regained, and I can do little but sit by her and hold her hand. Laurie Simpson saw her and she responded to his prayer. A little while ago when the chaplain asked if she would like a prayer, she said "Alright". I will keep those who read up-to-date. Tim and Emily called with baby James Harry. Between them they sorted out the problem of the gap in this page. They spent some time with Mona who had been transferred from the Austin at noon. She brightened up when she saw her visitors and was quite talkative. The difference between what she was yesterday and today was remarkable. Perhaps now she is back here she may begin the road to recovery. For a reason I am unable to correct a gap has opened on this page.. Please scroll down until I am able to get things to normal. |
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GEORGE LAZENBY COMMENTARY. Monday 18 December
I was with Mona this morning and was able to spoon-feed her a little lunch. I have no news as to when she may be returned here, suffice to say that she will need a great deal of care. I will keep readers up-to-date. Mona's condition has not improved. I was with her this afternoon - Monday. She is very weak and frail. The further surgery has obviously taken her strength. We are not sure where she will be accommodated, but wherever that may be, she will need palliative care. THE LATEST NEWS OF MONA IS NOT ENCOURAGING. SHE WAS TO HAVE RETURNED YESTERDAY THURSDAY - TO SRATHALAN. HOWEVER, X RAYS REVEALED THAT THE SPLINT IN THE FRACTURED THIGH BONE HAD A SMALL FRACTURE. I WENT AT ONCE TO THE REPATRIATION HOSPITAL, AND SOON AFTER THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED AND I WAS INVITED TO GO WITH HER. I SAW HER SETTLED IN THE AUSTIN, AND THE NEWS THIS MORNING IS THAT SHE WILL UNDERGO SURGERY TOMORROW. I ASSUME THAT WILL BE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PART THAT HAS FRACTURED. I will keep those of you who read his website up-to-date. Thanks for your prayerful concern. Mona has been moved to the Repatriation Hospital. adjacent to the Austin. It appears she may be there some time. Her mobility has not returned, but we pray that there may soon be a level of improvement that may enable her to return here. We are very grateful for the prayers and assistance of so many friends. I will keep those who read the website up-to-date. I may not be adding much for some time. Mona is in the Austin recovering from surgery after a fall, and the fracture of her other hip. She had the same experience about two years ago. Fortunately the Austin hospital is within easy reach by taxi. I will keep those who read up-to-date Those who may look at this website may realise that I have neglected it for some weeks. I suppose it can be attributed to procrastination among other things. When the intention is there it is so easy to put it off until tomorrow. It is also the case that since Mona and I are in separate parts of the home, I am not adjacent to the computer as much as previously. I need to spend time with her. Or, I might add to procrastination, cynicism. I have lost count of the political biographies I have read. Two awaiting me are those by Margaret Thatcher and Bill Clinton. I do not expect to gain any inspiration from them, although the 'lady is not for turning' had her good points. I have recently waded through the Latham diaries. That was preceded by a dip into the state of the church under Pope Alexander VI and Machiavelli's "The Prince". You will remember the latter "the ends justify the means" has made him famous - or infamous depending on one's views of the political process. All this coincides with a list of present parliamentarians in four of the Australian states, who are allegedly involved in bribery and corruption of various kinds in some cases, and to the abuse of children in one case, in which his behaviour it is alleged was facilitated out of his parliamentary expense account. It turns one's stomach to think of the ends to which people will go to feed their greed, and dip as deep as is possible into the federal or state till. I daresay that there are those who enter public life with altruistic intentions, but there are very many for whom those intentions are soon set aside in their attempts to climb what Latham called the 'ladder of opportunity' - in most cases the opportunity to get as much as possible for themselves out of the system. It is little wonder that the general opinion of politicians is so low. To be continued... Few television programmes impress me. A few interest me. Most I do not bother to switch on. Ninety nine per cent of those I do see lose their appeal as soon as the credits start rolling. This evening I dozed off after dinner, and woke up to see the beginning of the story of Aaron MacMillan, and that did inspire me. If you wish to know more, turn to the page on Coping with Cancer. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx It makes one think - but the next generation will have to do more Read the page on Contemporary Issues xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx In defence of the Pope and the cardinal with a closing paragraph on Political Correctness see the page on Contemporary Issues xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For almost three weeks I have been unable to make any comment. The fault has been my inability to follow instructions peppered with technical jargon. The provider decided to change the method whereby the website could be published, not realising that the instructions to do what was required was beyond me. In the end I was compelled to ask Peter to follow the instructions the server had mailed to me. It took him a few minutes. I am back in business - until the next problem comes along! I have added to the pages On Growing Old and Coping with Cancer Before I forget - how is this for objective comment? Terry Lane fell for the hoax that was perpetrated by a person stating on the internet that he was an American soldier in Irak under orders to kill civilians in Irak? When asked why he believed such fantasy, Lane replied, "Because I wanted to believe it". So much for independent integrity! The Prophetic voice see comment on preaching ```````````````````````` SIGNS OF THE TIMES I have added some thoughts on this topic on the page on Contemporary events ```````````````````` Should there ever be splits in the church? It may be the time to round up on the issue of division in the church. See contemporary Issues
I have discussed the fact that Spurgeon felt that he had no other course open to him but to take the Tabernacle out of the Baptist Union. He justified his action because he could not persuade the Union to draft a Statement of Faith that would safeguard the church's theological position. Compromise was offered to him by the leaders of the Union, but he saw no point in having a watered down statement. Was he right? Opinions have been mixed. The question remains, are there ever grounds for division in the church? The fact is that through the centuries the church has been marked by division. Paul had great difficulty persuading the church in Jerusalem to accept the Gentiles into the church. The elders at Jerusalem wanted converts to accept the regulations of Judaism - circumcision in particular - to be accepted by the Gentiles as grounds for membership. James offered a compromise which seems to have satisfied the parties, but its lasting effects have to be doubted. Few centuries have not seen division in the church. The history of Methodism is an example. John Wesley himself left the Church of England, after ordaining ministers in the Methodists. Schisms within the original Methodist church, led to the formation of a number of separate denominations calling themselves Methodist. The largest was the Primitive Methodist church, the Bible Christians, and United Methodist Church The major streams of British Methodism united in 1932. Much the same can be said of the Baptists especially in America where there have been numerous fractures, It was in 1891 that the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland was formed. This was a union of the Particular Baptists and New Connection General Baptist associations. These groups were historically linked to English Baptists who originated in the early seventeenth century. The first church was built at Spitalfield in London in 1612. Division has marked the church almost from the beginning. Sometimes it has been on doctrinal grounds. At others it has centred around prominent personalities. At others there has been division on the grounds of liturgy. But, like the poor it has always been with us. I have returned to this question because of the election of a woman as the first female leader of the American branch of Anglicanism. If you are interested in this issue I have commented on it on the page Contemporary Issues.
I want to look again at the Century of Witness. When the Northcote members faced a crisis with falling numbers and a sense of pessimism, I want to set their situation in the context of the church in general. The members then were searching for answers to the obvious decline in the membership and their appreciation of the factors that caused the decline. Since Northcote was not alone, many churches -certainly in the United Kingdom - were in much the same situation. I am analysing the situation and endeavouring to see what was taking place over the last quarter of the nineteenth century and the period in the following first 25 years of the 20th century. If you are interested in the church scene in this period, you might like to share my thoughts - and I guess have a different point of view. The subject is continued in the page on Preaching. For some weeks I have been unable to publish the website. Changes made by the server proved far too difficult for me to navigate my way through them. Had I not had the assistance of one who works for Telstra I would still be adrift. The fact that it took him several attempts over a number of days, made me realise how difficult was the problem and how much I needed the assistance of Peter Lynch. Alan Lynch has so often come to my rescue. Now his son is proving how invaluable he is when I have problems with my website, as well as the more ordinary problems I seem to meet all too regularly. I hope to add to the page on Preaching and am sure that with Alan and Peter's help I will again be able to publish. ********************************** I was present with other family members on Saturday for the first birthday of our great grandson, Peter. I 'dedicated' his brother Isaac almost three years ago at the Templestowe Baptist Church. Absent overseas for the past two years with an organisation in the Arabian Peninsula meant that the opportunity of the same taking place for Peter had not been possible Paul and Anna suggested a simple act of blessing among the family. I feel that there is confusion in the minds of many people when what is spoken of as dedication. If it is understood as something that is concerned essentially with the baby then we misunderstand scripture. Yet that appears to be uppermost in the minds of many people. The Anglican Communion realises this and makes provision for the baby as he grows up to have the benefit of godparents. The focus is on the child. But is that scriptural? When the parents of Jesus went to the temple 8 days after his birth, it was to present the child to the Lord and fulfil the obligations to the Law. It happened that at that time an old man was present in the temple courts. Simeon had been convinced that he would not die, until he has seen the Lord's anointed. He took Jesus in his arms and blessed God. He did not bless the child. Then he uttered the words that are now used in the Prayer Book - what is known as the nunc dimittis. To use the words of the Authorised Version - "Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of they people Israel". When Simeon handed Jesus to his parents, he blessed them. The focus was on the parents. It was to be seen as their commitment to the spiritual as well as the physical good of the child . This is often forgotten at what we call dedication services. It needs to be stressed that when Christian parents offer their child to God, they are assuming solemn duties. Only too often the child is brought that he may be blessed. This will be the case, but uppermost in the parents' minds should be their dedication to bring up the child in the 'nurture and admonition of the Lord' ************************ A Century of Witness refer to page on Preaching ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another chapter has been added to Coping with Cancer Battling with Boredom ~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is a Matter of Relationships see 'On Growing Old' +++++++++++++++++++ A long walk to be baptised If interested read the incident on Preaching ************************************ Before you were formed in the womb..." see On growing Old What are they doing to Shakespeare? see books April 29 Dignity Nurses...what next? A WORD OF CAUTION was given me by a friend when he heard that I was about to enter a retirement home..."Be prepared to lose your dignity" he warned." I am not conscious that I ever had much dignity, but I know now what he meant. Reading the London Daily Telegraph, I see that a Dignity Nurse is to be appointed in every health service hospital to ensure that elderly patients are respected rather than neglected, It was immediately condemned as meaningless by some critics. If you are sufficiently interested read further in On Growing Old. Ten Ways not to Waste your Cancer.. with thoughts on trade unionism. If interested refer to page 'Coping with Cancer'. I thought that I had exhausted the topic in the Page 'Coping with Cancer'. Not so. An English magazine came my way - Evangelicals Now. Anything English causes me to have a second look, but I did more than that when I saw that one of the articles was Ten Ways not to Waste your Cancer. I sincerely hope that the subject may be of little interest to you. However, I have commented on it on my page 'Coping with Cancer'. If you are still interested you can read my comments.
Sunday April 9 The Easter Period
Think how many sermons have been preached today. The Lord's Day has witnessed the holding forth of the Word of Life in tens of thousands of pulpits. What effect will it all have? We can leave that to the Lord of the Harvest. "The Spirit blows where it wills". Eternity alone will reveal what has been accomplished. That being true, it did not prevent me thinking! I have one who must have heard me preach thousands of times. My wife has been a member of my congregations through over 60 years of preaching. If anyone should have benefited it must have been Mona. I have summed up the effects of preaching. If you have the time and inclination you can find them on the page 'PREACHING" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` April 6 I have not been to the site for some days - a recurrence of a long standing complaint has stifled my ability to do a great deal March 31 At last I am free to do as I promised - add to "Growing old' and 'Coping with Cancer' The comments on both subjects may be of interest if you care to turn to them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`` I have added the summary of a message given at the Sunday evening service at Strathalan. If you wish to do so, you can find it on the page on "Preaching"?
Doctor Barnardo Last but not least. The page on Barnardo I have at last finished. Comments are on the page The Church at Mission I did not sit up to watch the firework displays and welcome the New Year as many people would.. There was no one to join hands and sing "Auld Lang Syne" with me. Better far to reflect on the changes of 2005, and in some fashion anticipate the events that will unfold in 2006. Which reminds me that I have an unfulfilled promise. What better way than to have a New Year's resolution and keep it. Perhaps we can start in Piccadilly Circus. If you wish to follow me - go to the Church at Mission. A preacher is the best person to explain why New Year's Resolutions are like babies that cry in church. Because they are meant to be carried out, but seldom are. I have two social Christian Reformers waiting to appear. After the next Sunday when I am preaching I will hopefully carry out the resolve to provides reasons why I believe William Wilberforce and Doctor Barnardo should be included.
William Wilberforce I have commented on in The Church at Mission *********************************************** Multiculturalism see From Day to DAY ****************************** Midnight Oil Sees the Light Although I was of the opinion that I might leave the site unaltered, a remark by Peter Garrett proved too pertinent for me to desist from Comment. The member for Kingsford Smith who was catapulted into federal parliament by Mark Latham in the confidence - so some allege - of capturing the Green vote. The move made sure that Garrett's selection for a seat held by the Australian Labour Party for over half a century would take him to Canberra. As to securing the Green vote - that may not have been so successful as anticipated. Peter Garrett, a prominent advocate for many causes, particularly in the area of global conservation, is reported to have to has said "It's cool to be a Christian" At my age I am not sure what 'cool' means , but obviously it has nothing to do with meteorology. Be that as it may, he goes on to say what does makes some vague kind of sense. "I would not describe myself as devout, although certainly a Christian belief has, I think informed my value systems". One is tempted to ask for clarification. To answer as he does by saying "It explains who I am and what I believe in". does not take one much deeper into what he believes. There is a clue in his support of what the singer Marina Prior says: "People are supportive and respect churches because of their involvement in social welfare" Garrett amplifies this by saying "One thing I have noticed is that with the great concentration that many people have had regarding issues to do with poverty or environmental issues...quite often you find there is Christian input, represented through churches and organisations or through the people themselves." One may be forgiven by affirming to the former lead singer of the Midnight Oil group, "But it was ever thus, how come you have never before noticed?" Perhaps it is due to the fact that it is fashionable to say that it is cool to be a Christian. Without taxing my memory and only looking at the past 250 years or so I could introduce Peter to some of the very people he speaks of as doing good.............The Wesley brothers, whose social work is often overlooked by John's preaching or the hymns that Charles gave to the church, Then there is David Livingstone, Adoniram Judson, David Brainerd, William Penn, C.T. Studd, George Muller, William Carey, Hudson Taylor...and space forbids adding to the list. All these were inspired by their faith in the One who commanded his followers "Go....so that " the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached". How much of what Garrett alludes to has been done by Christian out of a sense of obedience to Jesus whose example they followed, because they had sensed the saving power of His life. In case you have the time I will take the first opportunity of going beyond the examples I have given to focus attention on others Peter Garrett would find inspiring. In the next day or two you will find these pen portraits of William Wilberforce, Robert Raikes, Doctor Barnardo and Lord Shaftesbury on the page 'The Church at Mission' For golfers the comments on Robert Raikes and the Ryder cup may be of interest. See page "The Church at Mission". +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Happy Holiday Or dare I say 'Happy Christmas? One has to be aware of political and now religious correctness. Last year I was bemoaning the fact that commercial interests had dropped the word Christmas. Civic leaders had been compelled to expunge the word Christmas from official pronouncements for fear of offending members of other faiths. I was glad that the public outcry was such that this year there has been a marked change back to the traditional Christian attitude to the Christmas Festival. One enterprising cleric in Melbourne, has set up a nativity scene, to which parents may bring their children to be photographed along with the baby Jesus, rather than they take their children to sit on Santa's knee. From all accounts he is doing a roaring trade at $20 a time. More power to his digital camera! But all is not as it should be in the USA. President Bush and his wife Laura - both committed Christians - sent out cards wishing recipients a "happy holiday Season". As one commented "Welcome to the Silly Season in the US, where even a president with proud evangelical credentials blinks in the face of political correctness". The editor of a conservative website said "I threw out the White House card as soon as I got it." It is all part of a broader debate un the US about the Happy Holiday phenomenon. One needs to ask the question "Has the pendulum on religious correctness swung so far that even the Christmas tree outside Congress in Washington was called a "holiday tree." It's happening all over the States. But is it going ahead of public opinion? About 600.000 people signed a petitiom sponsored by the American Family Association to boycott the Target retail chain's Happy Holiday advertisements and a decision to ban the Salvation Army from performing Christmas carols outside its stores. The secular message at Christmas has been part of the culture for some time. I recall a couple of years ago how the US Supreme Court ruled that a Nativity scene outside a Pennsylvania court house was unconstitutional because it was an official endorsement of religion. Had the Nativity scene included symbols from other religious denominations, it would have been acceptable. It beggars belief as to what these symbols would have been - especially from Islam which eschews religious symbols. Here goes: A Happy Christmas and may the Christ Child, the Saviour of the world, be the centre of your rejoicing. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sunday 27 November was Advent Sunday. It so happened that I was asked to be responsible for the evening service at Strathalan, the Community Centre where my wife and I are residents. Since I no longer have the physical strength which was once mine, I am sure that I will not go seeking preaching appointments at the of 92 -although I will not refuse them when asked. No doubt the words of Paul will be enough to motivate me should that happen... "I can..... through Christ who enables me". The first hymn almost selected itself/ - and since the theme of Advent is grace -the grace of God manifest in the incarnation: no hymn could have been more appropriate. James Montgomery based his words on Psalm, 72. which anticipates that glorious and triumphant reign when our Lord will be "O''er every foe victorious" If you wish to know a few details of the hymn writer I have included them under "The Church at Mission". I am hopeful to be able to include the sermon outline on the page 'Preaching" I just need the time to face doing it. In passing I might mention that the hymns were selected from The Baptist Hymn Book of 1962, a book discarded by many Baptist churches as being 'old-fashioned' or out of touch with the spirit of the age - and replaced by repetitive jingles that seem to have deliberately avoided anything to do with worship. Of course the setting was a Retirement Village - where residents ( the old folk )I guess deplored what they had been robbed of, and were ill-at-ease with what had been introduced as relevant to what people need to day. One gentleman waxed eloquently as he shook my hand and commented on the closing hymn I had chosen "Great God of wonders..." I knew how he felt. I am appalled at the craze for the contemporary. As for the sermon that was delivered on Advent Sunday, I hope to include an outline on the page on Preaching. Let me hasten to say to those readers of New Life, the theme was the same as that taken by another preacher, but handled in a very different way. There was no connection between the two, just the happy coincidence that both preachers used the same incident.
Halloween I must confess to being for the most part ignorant of the customs associated with Halloween. It was never included in the customs of my early years. The one custom that was part of those years was known as 'first-footing'. It was the practice of sending someone to the homes of others on the first hour of the New Year to ensure good luck. I recall going on such a midnight mission to a few homes since I fitted the requirements - which stipulated that the first through the door had to be male and black-haired. I never speculated as to whether I was successful, being more concerned with the rewards - a mince pie, and hopefully something more enduring - a penny was considered ample - for 80 years ago, a penny had purchasing power. Now Halloween, particularly in America, has apparently taken over. I was too young to know why Halloween was not celebrated when I was in my teens. The emphasis in England had been placed on November 5 when the Catholic plot headed by Guido Fawkes would have blown up the Houses of Parliament, and ended the reign of James 1. It was much later that I realised that the day Christians ought to be focused on was October 31, the date in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses on the church door at Wittenberg. That act of the fearless monk changed the course of history as far as the church is concerned. Why let a pagan feast take precedence over the Reformation? Let that be considered. I must fulfil my original intention and say more about Halloween. If the subject does not bore you, it is there on the page Day to Day for you to think about. We need to, since I believe there is something sinister about Halloween - the eve of All Hallows. ********************************************* The question of civil rights is constantly in the news as governments seek to respond to the threat of terrorism. I have put an observation on this on the page 'Day to Day'. Today, October 21 is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar when the British fleet under the command of Horatio Nelson defeated the French navy and thwarted Napoleon's plans to invade England. One reflects on the way the course of British history was changed by the outcome of two naval battles -. the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, and the Battle of Trafalgar two hundred years ago. One ponders the thought that divine Providence determined the outcome of these events. Was it true as Elizabeth believed when describing the defeat of Spain's Catholic Armada that "He blew with his winds and they were confounded"? Tempted as I am to continue history I come to the impact two books loaned to me by a friend a surgeon made on me. Two of the three volumes were on medicine and surgery. The Evolution of Modern Medicine fascinated me. The other The Century of the Surgeon was not exactly bedtime reading. Why do I mention medical books? Having stood on the spot on the Victory where Nelson died after being shot by a French sharpshooter, I thought of the evolution of medicine. It was not exactly as so many artists have depicted the death of Nelson. The space between decks was very cramped the central figure of the dying admiral captures all the attention. However one artist has included other wounded sailors and the ship's surgeons doing their best to treat them. It made the book The Century of the Surgeon cause me to be thankful I live when surgery has made such strides. The amputations made necessary by wounds such as suffered by the sailors of the British fleet must have been horrific. A few illustrations of amputations in the book I have mentioned, show a limb -arm or leg - clamped in a vice while the surgeon got busy with a hacksaw. To think that it was as recent as December 21 1846 that Robert Liston performed the first amputation under anaesthesia. I must ask my friend - surgeon and book lover - how he would have acted under such circumstances. I cannot thank God enough that medicine, and particularly surgery, has made such progress. Isn't' that how you feel? ************************************ I am uncertain as to where to add the following. Do I include it under Growing Old. or would it be more appropriately included under Books? Perhaps the latter. If you wish to see what I discovered in a book I was reading the other day, turn to the page 'Books' Avoidable stress Perhaps the granting of the Nobel Prize to two Australian doctors compels me to add a word of tribute. For many years - indeed since my late teens - I knew the meaning of painful stress. Duodenal ulcers seemed to be part of my life. I suffered periods of intense pain, relieved by times when pain was absent. The reason for the condition I was given to understand was due to stress or bad diet, or a combination of both. Was it heredity? My father and a brother suffered similarly, but not to the same degree. The only relief was to be found in taking quantities of antacids and constant doses of slippery elm. The treatment never succeeded, indeed the condition grew worse, until eventually I had to undergo surgery - a gastrectomy - when part of the stomach was removed. That drastic step did not cure the condition. From time to time the periods of intense pain to which I was prone had to be treated with antacids. Each new drug - and they came with great frequency - gave temporary relief. But was this accidental, or was it in my imagination? Was there a cure? The fact is - of which I was ignorant - Dr Robin Warren and Dr Barry Marshall of Perth had come to the conclusion that stomach ulcers were caused by the activity of bacteria which was called helicobacter pylori. To prove this Dr. Marshall swallowed a glass of the bacteria, and within a week had an ulcer proving the bacteria had taken hold. For almost 20 years their conclusions were dismissed. Eventually they were proved correct. About ten years ago I saw a reference to their conclusions, and having discussed the matter with my doctor, took to the medication they suggested with beneficial results. Their treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers is now prescribed in GPs' surgeries across Australia. The recipients of the Nobel Prize have silenced their critics and saved countless sufferers the sentence to years of chronic and crippling pain. Had this been known when I was in my early twenties I would not have had to suffer the times of pain and the stress that caused, but also saved the surgery which the specialist at the London Hospital said was necessary. I think the Nobel Prize is the least that can be done to acknowledge their determination and their refusal to allow conventional views to distract them in their search for the answers that now benefit millions. ***********************************************
Today, August 31, we celebrate 65 years of married life. I suppose that 65 is not quite the same as 50 or even 70. Some dates seem to have a greater significance than others. Sixty-five does not appear to gain the same significance as other anniversaries, although when one has been married for so long, even a day is given a special welcome. We have no idea how many more are awaiting us. We were not altogether forgotten however - we did have one card, and my physiotherapist came round with two huge Danish pastries. He had earlier tried to alleviate my back pains, and soon after came round with the cakes accompanied by four other physiotherapists to bring their good wishes. He is Chinese and has the most appropriate name - Cookie Wong. He is kindness itself. So after 65 years we live with our memories. And how much we have to remember! John Bunyan included 'Forgetful Green' among the places of hazard where Christian would be tempted to linger too long. The Children of Israel were always being called to remember. And when our Lord gathered His disciples together for the last supper, he was careful to tell them that they should remember. Christians down the centuries have, as he told His first followers in the oft-repeated words to: "do this in remembrance of Me". How much we have to remember with deep gratitude. One of the afflictions to which age is often subject is short term memory loss. However, balancing that is the ability to recall so much of what belonged to more distant days. Remembrance then seems to gain a new dimension, the ability to recall the smallest details of events that happened half a life time before. We are discovering the pleasure of allowing memory to furnish us with the pleasures that have passed, only to be recalled with added happiness. So Robert Browning did have something useful to say when he made Rabbi Ben Ezra say, "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be". **************************** Back after absence The web site has been unused for some days. In the first place the medication I am taking has one side effect - to which I can attest: it tires one. I find myself falling asleep at moments I never previously indulged. However, I am back and hope from time to time to add to the pages. The other more pertinent reason is that in my computer ignorance I lost the website, and had to wait until a friend came round and within 30seconds had located it. I am unlikely to fall into the same mistake again: another lesson on the ladder to greater computer competence. The days of deprivation have given me time to do more than the usual amount of reading. Now that the catalogues of local libraries can be accessed over the internet, and through the kindness of a friend who collects and delivers I am indulging myself. One volume that came through a reviewer who gave me the opportunity of reading it was Porridge and Passion, the autobiography of Jonathan Aitken, the British cabinet minister who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for perjury. It was fascinating to see how Aitken - by then a Christian - would handle the situation. I admired his disciplined approach and the benefit he gained from his prison experiences and the help he was to so many other prisoners. I have looked at some of the impressions the book made on me in the page on Books - if interested you may see what these were by turning to that page.
Islamic Reformation There has surfaced a renewed emphasis on the need for a reformation in Islam. Salmon Rushdie has brought the matter again into the open by urging Moslems to 'open its windows' and abandon what is a core component of Islamic belief. He is accused of suggesting that the prophet Mohamed concocted the Koran after hearing Bible stories from Nestorian Christian travellers in his journeys. I have long held to this position and for for those who wish to look at this more closely I have included material in 'Contemporary Issues'. August I have been unable to add to the site since time has been taken up with various medical procedures. Whether they have contributed to a general feeling of tiredness it is hard to day. As soon as I feel able I will add to these pages. Long hours with books as prompted me to add a few paragraphs on the page "Books" I have hesitated to add comment on the London terrorists' bombings. More than once I have commenced, but have given up until the fuller picture emerged. One can understand personal feelings when, having lived in London for 20 years, and very familiar with the places targeted, one hesitates with regard to comment. I have also been in and out of X-ray departments having bone scans and cat scans a very solicitous doctor assures me I ought to have. I found it hard to resist her arguments - since it was all in 'my best interests' - which I am sure it is. What the results will lead to, I have no idea. But the specialist who I see in two days time will no doubt have an opinion. I have added a comment on the London bombings on the page "Contemporary Issues"
*********************************************8 July 9 Return to web site added note to 'contemporary issues Owing to my indifferent health this page has been somewhat neglected. I hope to be more |
