High flyer. Low flying. Swine flu

Barack Obama seemed to have a better week than Gordon Brown. The row over Air Force One flying low over Manhattan was far outweighed by generally positive assessments of Obama’s first 100 days in office. Still popular in the polls, he declared himself ‘pleased … but … not satisfied’ with his performance.

For Gordon Brown, however, it was a pretty grim week. Climb downs over MPs expenses and defeat in the Commons over the treatment of Gurkha veterans left even his own supporters calling for change.

Yet whilst politicians may be facing a ‘meltdown of trust’ we still look to them for solutions to our problems. The outbreak of swine flu – officially virus influenza A (H1N1) – is one such case.

Unfortunately for the authorities, they probably can’t win. If the outbreak is bad they will be accused of not being prepared. If we are spared the worst, they will be accused of crying wolf – one newspaper wrote about the ‘Sars and bird flu false alarms’.

The big temptation for leaders in all ages is to trust in themselves, not in God. This week’s readings illustrate that well. Ironically, with British troops having left Iraq last week after six years, 2 Kings tells of a much earlier Iraqi leader importing a foreign army to Babylon, which was in present day Iraq!

But despite the failings of leaders, these readings should not lead us to cynicism. Hezekiah looked to God for healing. Josiah rediscovered God’s law and renewed the covenant with God.

What is your prayer for Gordon Brown, Barack Obama and the other world leaders?

Emlyn Williams

Who'd be a leader?

Barack Obama is back home, fresh from wowing millions of Germans.

After months of speculation, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says that he will stand down in September.

The media see the Anglican Bishops’ Lambeth Conference as some kind of a test of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s leadership (maybe they reached their conclusions about the outcome even before it started).

Meanwhile the British Labour Party is facing its own leadership issues.

And – perhaps predictably – the England cricket team’s test match against South Africa has provoked questions about captain Michael Vaughan.

All this without me even mentioning Robert Mugabe… Leadership is as big an issue as ever.

Leadership challenge
Leaders appear to have great power. But the reality is often different. Those they are supposed to lead can soon tire of the leadership they have cried for.

Already, some Germans seem to be a little less keen than they were on what an Obama presidency might bring. Still, they won’t be voting for him or anyone else in the US.

So this coming week’s readings in WordLive may challenge some of our thinking about leadership. Old Testament leaders weren’t too bothered by opinion polls. But then how much do we ask what God thinks?

And as for Jesus, his leadership challenged the religious and national leaders of his day. How would he fare in today’s confused climate?

Emlyn Williams