One of the most annoying things is having a leak in your home. I currently have one. It is a tiny leak from the bath. It’s nothing major, but I can’t quite find where the source of the leak is. So, just so you know, I’m not in a very good mood about it. And once you find one leak, you often find others.
Efforts on a final solution to the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico were hampered with the arrival of a tropical storm last week. It meant that a ship drilling a relief well had to leave the area. Thankfully. the storm soon passed and drilling will be resumed in the near future. I just hope they marked the spot where they were drilling.
If it isn’t oil leaks, it’s information leaks. Some highly sensitive information has made it into the public domain over the weekend. Phrases like freedom of information and national security may be on the news quite often this week.
And in WordLive, we have Jesus going about his ministry of Good News, healing people and releasing those whose ailments have kept them from having a decent life. And yet, he utters some interesting words, ‘don’t tell anyone.’ Perhaps the gospels have more in common with WikiLeaks than we think.
And so the most tenuous link of the week arrives, as we see this amazing footage of a boat having a whale of a time at sea (sorry for that pun). Fortunately, the whale only managed to damage the surface of the boat, including the mast, and the boat made it safely back to shore; with no leaks.
Darren
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Read all about it
Bad news is all around us. And in the age of 24 hour TV news, every story has to be entertaining and keep us glued to the screen. Hyperbole abounds and the more shocking and frightening the story the better.
However, I thought it might be pleasant to look at some good news this week. So let’s begin with BP, and no, I’m not being ironic.
Although there are some concerns still remaining, it seems that after months of trial and error the leaking BP oil well has been capped. This is good news for the environment, BP and anyone who has investments in BP (and that is most probably anyone with a UK pension).
There is also potential good news for those of us who shy away from needles and turn a shade of pale green at the thought of an injection. A team of researchers has created a patch that can replace a needle for the flu vaccine. It may even be more effective than the yearly jab from the doctors.
This week in WordLive good news is the theme too. We’re in the book of Mark and he starts with the point of it all, the good news of Jesus (Mark 1:1). And although things don’t go smoothly throughout Jesus’ life, the ending is pretty positive, especially for anyone who wants to believe.
And finally we have some more good news, especially for champagne lovers, as the oldest drinkable champagne has been discovered. The 200-year-old vintage tipple will be auctioned, so if the constant drip feed of negative news is too much to handle then you can always drown your sorrows in style.*
Darren
*Before you think I am advocating forgetting reality by downing a hefty dose of alcohol, I am not. That would be neither big nor clever, and quite expensive in this case.
However, I thought it might be pleasant to look at some good news this week. So let’s begin with BP, and no, I’m not being ironic.
Although there are some concerns still remaining, it seems that after months of trial and error the leaking BP oil well has been capped. This is good news for the environment, BP and anyone who has investments in BP (and that is most probably anyone with a UK pension).
There is also potential good news for those of us who shy away from needles and turn a shade of pale green at the thought of an injection. A team of researchers has created a patch that can replace a needle for the flu vaccine. It may even be more effective than the yearly jab from the doctors.
This week in WordLive good news is the theme too. We’re in the book of Mark and he starts with the point of it all, the good news of Jesus (Mark 1:1). And although things don’t go smoothly throughout Jesus’ life, the ending is pretty positive, especially for anyone who wants to believe.
And finally we have some more good news, especially for champagne lovers, as the oldest drinkable champagne has been discovered. The 200-year-old vintage tipple will be auctioned, so if the constant drip feed of negative news is too much to handle then you can always drown your sorrows in style.*
Darren
*Before you think I am advocating forgetting reality by downing a hefty dose of alcohol, I am not. That would be neither big nor clever, and quite expensive in this case.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
We have some questions
If you take a look at the sidebar on the blog you'll see we have a couple of polls running. It's all about information you see.
The first poll is asking what you'd like to see on WordLive. We're always looking to develop WordLive so we'd like a little bit of guidance as to what you'd like. There are four options and they should make sense. However as a little bit of extra illumination I'll elaborate:
So please, tick a box or two and let us know what you want.
Thanks
Darren
The first poll is asking what you'd like to see on WordLive. We're always looking to develop WordLive so we'd like a little bit of guidance as to what you'd like. There are four options and they should make sense. However as a little bit of extra illumination I'll elaborate:
- Ability to comment - this would enable you to post a response directly onto WordLive in response to an activity
- More smartphone apps - we already have an iPhone and iPad app, so do we need apps for other smartphones
- Choice of readings - at the moment the reading is set from our syllabus that covers a lot of the Bible, but would you like to have the ability to use different passages
- More varied content - we don't mean more content but we mean something slightly different to what there is now, using different approaches and styles
So please, tick a box or two and let us know what you want.
Thanks
Darren
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
The beautiful game?
When Howard Webb was awarded the honour of refereeing the 2010 World Cup Final his wife wondered how he could keep control of 22 grown men when he struggled with three young children.
Of course the mistake she made was to think that the football match would involve grown men. As Nigel De Jong’s kick to the chest of Xavi Alonso showed, this wasn’t always the beautiful game as played by adults.
But football wasn’t the only sport taking place over the weekend. The British Grand Prix had its own brand of excitement.
Both McLaren and Red Bull brought ‘improvements’ to their cars for the race. However, the Red Bull that didn’t get the upgrade won, and the two McLaren’s were quicker without the upgrades too.
Events that began a week before came to a chilling end when Raoul Moat was finally cornered by police. Perhaps the biggest surprise of these events was that he had been hiding very close to where they thought he was.
The Netherlands failed to beat Spain because their plan didn’t really work. The Formula 1 racing teams’ attempts to improve performance failed and the old cars were just as good. And a simple place to hide enabled Mr Moat to evade the police for several days.
This week’s WordLive sees the Israelites ask Samuel to improve their situation. They want to be like the other nations around them and have a king. They thought this plan would be the best for them.
They looked elsewhere for stability when stability was right under their noses. Sometimes the answer is the simple One.
Darren Hill
Of course the mistake she made was to think that the football match would involve grown men. As Nigel De Jong’s kick to the chest of Xavi Alonso showed, this wasn’t always the beautiful game as played by adults.
But football wasn’t the only sport taking place over the weekend. The British Grand Prix had its own brand of excitement.
Both McLaren and Red Bull brought ‘improvements’ to their cars for the race. However, the Red Bull that didn’t get the upgrade won, and the two McLaren’s were quicker without the upgrades too.
Events that began a week before came to a chilling end when Raoul Moat was finally cornered by police. Perhaps the biggest surprise of these events was that he had been hiding very close to where they thought he was.
The Netherlands failed to beat Spain because their plan didn’t really work. The Formula 1 racing teams’ attempts to improve performance failed and the old cars were just as good. And a simple place to hide enabled Mr Moat to evade the police for several days.
This week’s WordLive sees the Israelites ask Samuel to improve their situation. They want to be like the other nations around them and have a king. They thought this plan would be the best for them.
They looked elsewhere for stability when stability was right under their noses. Sometimes the answer is the simple One.
Darren Hill
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
WordLive App averages over four stars
The WordLive app for Apple's iPhone and iPad was released just a few weeks back. And it seems to be doing pretty well. So far the average rating for the app is four and a half stars. But don't let me wax lyrically about our own product, let's see what some of the users say about it...
So if you have an iPhone or iPad, then take a look at the app on iTunes and then you could be meeting with God anytime and anywhere.
WordLive for the iPhone/iPad
This application is amazing! I loved the Wordlive website for its simple user friendly format.This ap uses the same style, but this enables me to have my quiet time anywhereEven the reviews that are suggesting improvements are positive for what the app actually does. All the comments are being taken on board and looked at for future development.
What a great resource! This is worth a lot more than £2.99. I would definitely encourage people to get this! :)
Great multimedia approach to a short daily bible passage
The daily bible passage can be read or you can listen to the audio version
So if you have an iPhone or iPad, then take a look at the app on iTunes and then you could be meeting with God anytime and anywhere.
WordLive for the iPhone/iPad
Monday, 5 July 2010
Dedication's what you need…
A former speed eating champion was arrested as he caused a fracas at the annual hot dog speed eating event in New York. Mr Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut was allegedly barred from this year’s event because he hadn’t signed a contract that would exclude him from other speed eating events.
Meanwhile at a sunny SW19, Rafael Nadal notched up a second Wimbledon victory. Having broken the hearts of many full-time (Scottish) and part-time (English) Andy Murray fans, he masterfully won the tennis title.
If we look around the world we'll often find that people’s success, especially in the long term, is down to dedication. A single minded determination to be the best at what they do is evident. Yes, it even takes dedication to eat over fifty hot dogs in a minute, especially if you know the ingredients.
In this week’s WordLive the focus is on Eli and Samuel. These two people lived their lives dedicated to God. In the case of Samuel he had literally been given by his mother to God, to serve him. But the lives of Eli and Samuel turn out differently, as you’ll see.
Despite being handed over into God’s service, Samuel still had to listen for God. Samuel was called and he had to respond. Amongst the ritual and all the religion there is still space to hear from God. But it may take a little dedication.
Darren Hill
Meanwhile at a sunny SW19, Rafael Nadal notched up a second Wimbledon victory. Having broken the hearts of many full-time (Scottish) and part-time (English) Andy Murray fans, he masterfully won the tennis title.
If we look around the world we'll often find that people’s success, especially in the long term, is down to dedication. A single minded determination to be the best at what they do is evident. Yes, it even takes dedication to eat over fifty hot dogs in a minute, especially if you know the ingredients.
In this week’s WordLive the focus is on Eli and Samuel. These two people lived their lives dedicated to God. In the case of Samuel he had literally been given by his mother to God, to serve him. But the lives of Eli and Samuel turn out differently, as you’ll see.
Despite being handed over into God’s service, Samuel still had to listen for God. Samuel was called and he had to respond. Amongst the ritual and all the religion there is still space to hear from God. But it may take a little dedication.
Darren Hill
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Paying the piper
In Britain this week all eyes have been focused on George Osborne’s budget. Well, all except the millions who watched England recover some semblance of respect by beating Slovenia and then throw it all away on Sunday. (Or did they?).
But back to the budget. Reaction has been varied. But the vox pops all seem to have one theme – we need to do this, but it shouldn’t affect me.
The bulk of the developed world has been living on borrowed money and borrowed time. The good times have rolled, and now the bill has been presented. It is larger than we would like.
In Greece crowds have taken to the streets to protest against the austerity measures and it may well happen elsewhere. But, like it or not, the piper has to be paid.
The letters to the churches, set in the context of the whole of Revelation, remind us that Christ is in control of human history. This gives us a positive message in troubled times.
But there is another side. The poor can end up paying the heaviest price. George Osborne has tried to avoid this, but there are questions – only time will tell.
Hannah and Mary celebrate a God who cares about justice and will bring equity. If we do not see it now, is it because we are not that bothered about kingdom values?
Who will speak for the woman I met recently in a Nairobi slum; over 70 with no income and struggling to bring up five great-grandchildren? Who today will dare to sing of a God who will bring down the rich and exalt the poor?
John Grayston
But back to the budget. Reaction has been varied. But the vox pops all seem to have one theme – we need to do this, but it shouldn’t affect me.
The bulk of the developed world has been living on borrowed money and borrowed time. The good times have rolled, and now the bill has been presented. It is larger than we would like.
In Greece crowds have taken to the streets to protest against the austerity measures and it may well happen elsewhere. But, like it or not, the piper has to be paid.
The letters to the churches, set in the context of the whole of Revelation, remind us that Christ is in control of human history. This gives us a positive message in troubled times.
But there is another side. The poor can end up paying the heaviest price. George Osborne has tried to avoid this, but there are questions – only time will tell.
Hannah and Mary celebrate a God who cares about justice and will bring equity. If we do not see it now, is it because we are not that bothered about kingdom values?
Who will speak for the woman I met recently in a Nairobi slum; over 70 with no income and struggling to bring up five great-grandchildren? Who today will dare to sing of a God who will bring down the rich and exalt the poor?
John Grayston
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