But never one to end on a negative note, I cannot but quote this memorable, lasting refrain from another childhood singer(-songwriter, was it Ed Ames?),...as I/we witness the awful carnage in London...'copycatted', it's certainly true, throughout much of the Middle East upon an almost weekly and even daily basis; invariably targeting the innocents of this world, ever easy targets for the sick and depraved who carry out such dastardly deeds.
While a kiwi (Christchurcher) surnamed Dowling received nasty, near life-threatening wounds, we were also 'treated' to Australian Mum Verena Hunniford's expressing an admirably calm and composed, serene and seemingly unruffled spirit as she told TV reporters this evening - apparently having only just heard the news - how her daughter's guardian angels must have been there surrounding her as she miraculously managed to survive the knife-wielding assassins (wreaking their apparently random and sporadic mayhem and carnage, firstly by running down folk on London Bridge then by entering some pubs and bars in the vicinity. But of course many another person there was not so 'lucky'/blessed/supernaturally protected (from injury, or even death).
[Postscript: What a wonderful 'example' of indomitable human spirit and fortitude and family love and loyalty: the interview just now seen on TVNZ's Sunday with the Hedge family, Candace the daughter (and beloved/fiance of Luke) critically injured in the London pub attacks (by three knife- and machete-wielding assailants), and her Australian father Ross and sister Amber, recently reunited by (the now recovering and discharged) Candace's side in London. Sadly two Aussie nurses ('Zara' from Brisbane and 'Kirsty' from Adelaide) were not so 'lucky', though Candace expressed a beautiful empathy, wondering aloud in vulnerable and admirable honesty about who could really say as to whether she or they were ultimately so blessed; but she was looking at things positively, grateful simply to be alive (and surrounded with such loyal family love).]
Yes, Randy Stonehill says it all when he talks about 'all the innocent ones...born into a world they can't [?avoid]'...and our hearts should 'bleed' as his does for just such ones. Indeed, One did once do precisely that...and indeed experienced infinite suffering and sacrifice for each and every last one of us...both innocent and guilty...once for all time, it but awaits our heartfelt acceptance and resulting life- transformation...for our Maker and Redeemer has given each and every one of us that ultimate essence of true love: the freedom to embrace His unconditional love in responsive, grateful adoration...or to reject that love and turn away forever.
Monday, June 5, 2017
When One's Admiration Turns To Dust & One's Deepest Respect Is Betrayed
I cannot leave off recording on this 'day of all days', i.e. Queen's Birthday (weekend), both in Aotearoa-New Zealand and the United Kingdom - and perhaps even throughout the British Commonwealth itself, I don't actually know - in the aftermath of the horrific scenes and sounds we've 'all' witnessed on our TV screens and radios (and no doubt innumerable other modern devices and computer gadgetry)...emanating out of London, England over the last 36 or so hours...
...that my one-time 'faith in' or at least deepest respect for a former (musical/lyrical genius) 'hero' of mine has all of a sudden taken a dive... .
Or let me immediately correct that: over the past two weeks (I can't quite recall exactly when) I learnt something which may well - permanently - change my view of a certain major 'popstar' irrevocably and forever. Sadly I heard it mentioned (upon Jim Mora's esteemed weekly afternoon 'Panel' on RNZ Radio in God's Own) that a singer-songwriter I'd loved and admired for decades (probably three-quarters/four-fifths plus of my entire life depending obviously upon when I first 'encountered' him in my childhood years) has a shameful 'secret' in the past; though evidently it's 'on the public record' so its actual 'secrecy' may be a moot or contested point. Irrespective, it was a real shock to my system as it were to hear that my hero has feet of clay - to put it nicely (and as tactfully as possible).
Though I owe it to him (as with any figure, whether personally known or only admired at a (great) distance) to check out all the ins and outs of this public 'revelation', I've little doubt, from the person (i.e. the aforementioned Mr Mora, no doubt also and equally a fan of this 'gentleman' his whole life long) the info came down the grapevine through, that it's factual...at least in essence (though the context involved is perhaps less certain or up for debate or interpretation). Essentially being such a species of unwelcome knowledge I'd managed to thus far successfully push it back into the recesses of my consciousness. But on as I say this 'day of all days', and in light of what's just 'gone down' once again in the U.K., it has sprung back - involuntarily - into my conscious awareness. And so repress or suppress the matter I can no longer do - to my deepest regret.
So who is the individual I'm alluding to, and thus far successfully and circumspectly avoiding 'naming' (and therefore shaming, if only in my own small way)? I'll keep you guessing a little longer, by adding that - for some reason or t'other, *unbeknownst even to me, quite frankly - I've generally lived up to only one half of my blogsite mandate. That is, I've freely bestowed bouquets 'with favour toward none', but have desisted bestowing brickbats 'with fear of none'. Well, today that tendency must of necessity be deviated from.
Yes, upon this day of days of British nationalism and patriotism, of loyalty and pride - though I well realize that some of the former are veritably oftentimes the 'refuge of a scoundrel', and the latter can be confused with one's own mistaken biases and prejudices - all I can do is state that anyone who sanctions in any way, shape or form the killing of innocent people in the name of religion (or any ideology), or even 'merely' 'justifies' the aforementioned by refusing to condemn it when given more than adequate opportunity, thereby offers his (or her) own stamp of approval to that death decree. Just as those on British streets (and no doubt elsewhere, especially the Middle East) publicly demanding the deaths/killing of the Danish cartoonists (and their supporters) back in 2005 for creating/publishing/reading/circulating and approving of cartoons generally considered insulting to the Islamic religion or more correctly its founder 'Mohammed' were likewise guilty of.
So who has apparently done such a thing? In this instance, who has publicly (in some form or other) lent his own rather weighty (as in very influential) support to such a death edict, to wit one imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran back in the late eighties (I believe) upon the person of well-known British writer Salman Rushdie? By effectively - if indirectly - apparently asserting that his adopted religion has every right to pursue death upon the grounds of blasphemy of any such person determined to have insulted that religion, my childhood (and lifetime) musical hero (I've always found 'icon' distasteful) Cat Stevens, now going by his new Muslim name of Yusuf Islam, has apparently done just that. And we're all the losers. Shame upon you CS/YI...if that is indeed verily what you did say, and still maintain.
*Except perhaps (if only subconsciously) I like to focus upon the positive in people, and find doing the opposite somewhat distasteful - unlike some radio talkback hosts (and assorted other political/ideological partisans) I'm quite familiar with!
...that my one-time 'faith in' or at least deepest respect for a former (musical/lyrical genius) 'hero' of mine has all of a sudden taken a dive... .
Or let me immediately correct that: over the past two weeks (I can't quite recall exactly when) I learnt something which may well - permanently - change my view of a certain major 'popstar' irrevocably and forever. Sadly I heard it mentioned (upon Jim Mora's esteemed weekly afternoon 'Panel' on RNZ Radio in God's Own) that a singer-songwriter I'd loved and admired for decades (probably three-quarters/four-fifths plus of my entire life depending obviously upon when I first 'encountered' him in my childhood years) has a shameful 'secret' in the past; though evidently it's 'on the public record' so its actual 'secrecy' may be a moot or contested point. Irrespective, it was a real shock to my system as it were to hear that my hero has feet of clay - to put it nicely (and as tactfully as possible).
Though I owe it to him (as with any figure, whether personally known or only admired at a (great) distance) to check out all the ins and outs of this public 'revelation', I've little doubt, from the person (i.e. the aforementioned Mr Mora, no doubt also and equally a fan of this 'gentleman' his whole life long) the info came down the grapevine through, that it's factual...at least in essence (though the context involved is perhaps less certain or up for debate or interpretation). Essentially being such a species of unwelcome knowledge I'd managed to thus far successfully push it back into the recesses of my consciousness. But on as I say this 'day of all days', and in light of what's just 'gone down' once again in the U.K., it has sprung back - involuntarily - into my conscious awareness. And so repress or suppress the matter I can no longer do - to my deepest regret.
So who is the individual I'm alluding to, and thus far successfully and circumspectly avoiding 'naming' (and therefore shaming, if only in my own small way)? I'll keep you guessing a little longer, by adding that - for some reason or t'other, *unbeknownst even to me, quite frankly - I've generally lived up to only one half of my blogsite mandate. That is, I've freely bestowed bouquets 'with favour toward none', but have desisted bestowing brickbats 'with fear of none'. Well, today that tendency must of necessity be deviated from.
Yes, upon this day of days of British nationalism and patriotism, of loyalty and pride - though I well realize that some of the former are veritably oftentimes the 'refuge of a scoundrel', and the latter can be confused with one's own mistaken biases and prejudices - all I can do is state that anyone who sanctions in any way, shape or form the killing of innocent people in the name of religion (or any ideology), or even 'merely' 'justifies' the aforementioned by refusing to condemn it when given more than adequate opportunity, thereby offers his (or her) own stamp of approval to that death decree. Just as those on British streets (and no doubt elsewhere, especially the Middle East) publicly demanding the deaths/killing of the Danish cartoonists (and their supporters) back in 2005 for creating/publishing/reading/circulating and approving of cartoons generally considered insulting to the Islamic religion or more correctly its founder 'Mohammed' were likewise guilty of.
So who has apparently done such a thing? In this instance, who has publicly (in some form or other) lent his own rather weighty (as in very influential) support to such a death edict, to wit one imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran back in the late eighties (I believe) upon the person of well-known British writer Salman Rushdie? By effectively - if indirectly - apparently asserting that his adopted religion has every right to pursue death upon the grounds of blasphemy of any such person determined to have insulted that religion, my childhood (and lifetime) musical hero (I've always found 'icon' distasteful) Cat Stevens, now going by his new Muslim name of Yusuf Islam, has apparently done just that. And we're all the losers. Shame upon you CS/YI...if that is indeed verily what you did say, and still maintain.
*Except perhaps (if only subconsciously) I like to focus upon the positive in people, and find doing the opposite somewhat distasteful - unlike some radio talkback hosts (and assorted other political/ideological partisans) I'm quite familiar with!
Yes, Methinks Milady (i.e. the 'Iron Lady') Was Right All Along...Upon 'Europe', anyway; or Part Two (of my June 22nd, 2016 blogpost): So What Did the Iron Lady Have Right, if not the Might to enact/enforce?
Instalment #1 (Post-Brexit-Decision 2016)
As a follow-up to a blogpost I did way back in 2017 upon the very heels of the United Kingdom's European Union referendum, may I immediately apologize for one of my obscurest posts ever...though it did begin well! Meandering off as it quickly did into covering some fascinating 'stuff', but on a wholly unrelated topic, i.e. the breakup of the Soviet Empire both 'at home' (i.e. vis-a-vis the USSR's now 15 independent ex-republics) and abroad (i.e. throughout one-time Eastern Europe). Again, my apologies, and especially for failing to rectify the problem (i.e. the deviant post) at the time.
I will return in subsequent days to take up where I initially left off, and explain how I came to 'embrace' a politician I had previously learned to 'loathe'(intellectually, that is, if not emotionally).
Instalment #2 (Post-Election 2017, and the 'fire of London')
[Following the Brexit referendum and now British Prime Minister Theresa May's calamitous snap election - and the revenge of the Bremain-desiring 'Y Generation' (if I'm not mistaken and confusing my generations) c/o Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and *his resurgent Labourites.]
And so, before this becomes well and truly, wholly outdated, let me 'simply' record a few observations on 'Brexit' and one particular bugbear of many 'Britishers' vis-a-vis 'Europe' and/or the European Union, one that is thought (by many professional commentators and others) to have been/proven decisive in carrying the decision to leave the EU 'across the line': the spectre (and seeming reality) of 'endless' immigration, i.e. the seemingly never-ending influx into the United Kingdom of especially ex-European arrivals.
Personally I refuse to accept that the majority of (politically informed/concerned Englishmen and women, anyway) are patently racists, narrow-minded 'bigots' and the like, or even that that was the only major reason people in England and Wales especially voted to leave the European Union - sure, by a statistically 'small' but I'd maintain nevertheless numerically significant margin and sheer number. No, there were numerous other issues/reasons/causes, not least the ever-increasing and progressively impinging loss of sovereignty over their own affairs that folk throughout the U.K. were increasingly not just suspecting but actually witnessing - in many areas of their daily lives in fact; as European laws framed and legislated in continental European corridors of power were given effect throughout the European Union. But these 'other factors' I will put to one side for the present, and hopefully return very soon and give you the guts of my personal assessment in my third and major instalment.
*Though Mr **Corbyn himself, like his one-time fellow veteran left-wing standard-bearer Tony Benn, hwas actually long (if not always and ever) a Euroskeptic (usually in a distinct minority in the British Labour Party) - of/for wholly different reasons, 'for struth', from many Conservative Party and UKIP supporters and politicians - a whole lot of the proverbial liquid stuff has now long since passed under ye average (very English) moat, so to speak.
** 'Corban' is interestingly a word used exclusively by the Master in a Scripture containing pointed and stern rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees, appearing in two identical gospel passages in both Matthew 15 and Mark 7: meaning, according to my beloved 'ole Newberry Bible, 'a consecrated gift' and/or 'an offering to God', in this instance one devoted exclusively to Him as opposed to supporting one's (probably frail, vulnerable and elderly) parents.
As a follow-up to a blogpost I did way back in 2017 upon the very heels of the United Kingdom's European Union referendum, may I immediately apologize for one of my obscurest posts ever...though it did begin well! Meandering off as it quickly did into covering some fascinating 'stuff', but on a wholly unrelated topic, i.e. the breakup of the Soviet Empire both 'at home' (i.e. vis-a-vis the USSR's now 15 independent ex-republics) and abroad (i.e. throughout one-time Eastern Europe). Again, my apologies, and especially for failing to rectify the problem (i.e. the deviant post) at the time.
I will return in subsequent days to take up where I initially left off, and explain how I came to 'embrace' a politician I had previously learned to 'loathe'(intellectually, that is, if not emotionally).
Instalment #2 (Post-Election 2017, and the 'fire of London')
[Following the Brexit referendum and now British Prime Minister Theresa May's calamitous snap election - and the revenge of the Bremain-desiring 'Y Generation' (if I'm not mistaken and confusing my generations) c/o Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and *his resurgent Labourites.]
And so, before this becomes well and truly, wholly outdated, let me 'simply' record a few observations on 'Brexit' and one particular bugbear of many 'Britishers' vis-a-vis 'Europe' and/or the European Union, one that is thought (by many professional commentators and others) to have been/proven decisive in carrying the decision to leave the EU 'across the line': the spectre (and seeming reality) of 'endless' immigration, i.e. the seemingly never-ending influx into the United Kingdom of especially ex-European arrivals.
Personally I refuse to accept that the majority of (politically informed/concerned Englishmen and women, anyway) are patently racists, narrow-minded 'bigots' and the like, or even that that was the only major reason people in England and Wales especially voted to leave the European Union - sure, by a statistically 'small' but I'd maintain nevertheless numerically significant margin and sheer number. No, there were numerous other issues/reasons/causes, not least the ever-increasing and progressively impinging loss of sovereignty over their own affairs that folk throughout the U.K. were increasingly not just suspecting but actually witnessing - in many areas of their daily lives in fact; as European laws framed and legislated in continental European corridors of power were given effect throughout the European Union. But these 'other factors' I will put to one side for the present, and hopefully return very soon and give you the guts of my personal assessment in my third and major instalment.
*Though Mr **Corbyn himself, like his one-time fellow veteran left-wing standard-bearer Tony Benn, hwas actually long (if not always and ever) a Euroskeptic (usually in a distinct minority in the British Labour Party) - of/for wholly different reasons, 'for struth', from many Conservative Party and UKIP supporters and politicians - a whole lot of the proverbial liquid stuff has now long since passed under ye average (very English) moat, so to speak.
** 'Corban' is interestingly a word used exclusively by the Master in a Scripture containing pointed and stern rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees, appearing in two identical gospel passages in both Matthew 15 and Mark 7: meaning, according to my beloved 'ole Newberry Bible, 'a consecrated gift' and/or 'an offering to God', in this instance one devoted exclusively to Him as opposed to supporting one's (probably frail, vulnerable and elderly) parents.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
A superficial observer might well imagine, with events of recent days, that London Bridge is - literally - 'falling down', but, whatever befalls: "Je Suis England/Great Britain"
Once again, as 'Mother Shipton' so eerily prophesied those many centuries ago, whoever 'she' may indeed have been (composite of a whole lot of true prophets, or just one lone prescient 'soul'):
'England shall at last admit a foe, the world to an end shall come'!
But - thank God - not before she has time to hear and heed God's vital, merciful last-day message of a loving Saviour, Who looks down upon His scattered tribe of Ephraim with longsuffering mercies and lovingkindness.
"Whosoever will, let him - and her - hear!"
'England shall at last admit a foe, the world to an end shall come'!
But - thank God - not before she has time to hear and heed God's vital, merciful last-day message of a loving Saviour, Who looks down upon His scattered tribe of Ephraim with longsuffering mercies and lovingkindness.
"Whosoever will, let him - and her - hear!"
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