Corbyn, Sultana and the Carnival

 

Labour Outlook

The launch of the first Scots branch of the party for the moment referred to as 'Your Party,' will it appears be held in Glasgow next month.  In some ways this is understandable, Glasgow was once the centre of 'Red Clydeside,' a place where many far left socialist men operated among the workers in the heavy industry that flourished there.  Ship building on the Clyde, steam trains in the east, mines close by, and a variety of works coming from these major centres.  The pay was poor, the conditions intolerable.  Imagine a tenement block holding 82 people with one outside toilet on a Saturday night!  Appalling conditions, appalling management, and it is no wonder people went on strike!  Add to this the moments during the war when rent were increased, though most men were away at the war.  The women refused to pay and were threatened with eviction!  Such causes increase the desire for change, and socialist change at that.  Change did come, but not in the early days of the 20th century, change came only after yet another war leaving 50 million dead and a Labour Party that put the needs of the people before the needs of the shareholders.  Clem Attlee's 1945 government created a new world off fairness and opportunity which has gradually been taken from us by a right wing coup.

Will Corbyn and Sultana's party save the people?  Probably not.  If they seek to create a fairer society many will join and other will vote for them.  However, Corbyn and many of his friends soon go off into adventurous places far from what the voter wants.  If they follow policies that do not ring true with the locals then they will disappear like so many other 'socialist' parties disappear.  The man in the street does not want extremes, he wants fairness for all, forget that and Corbyn and Sultana will fail also.

The Met Police have, very sensibly in my view, taken action before the Notting Hill Carnival, to prevent organised gangs turning the weekend into a small bloodbath.  Can you have a 'small bloodbath?  Discuss.  We know the gangs that like to gather at the carnival are often organised, as opposed to groups of young black men who come and get into bother like a crowd of football fans.   Drugs of course is one thing, crime also, but the vast majority come to enjoy the aura of the weekend.  It is unfortunate that several die during the carnival.  

I first attended one of these in 1973, before you were born.  That was a relatively quite affair, the weather dreary, the clanging of empty 'Double Diamond' cans common amongst most.  No trouble and lots of oil drums providing background sound.

Later, I lived in the middle of it for near 20 years and my opinion changed with the times.  Far too big, far too much trouble, and as I aged, far too noisy.  Most locals of course leave London for the weekend, others drift to outer London and return when they hope it is all over.  I certainly do not miss it now, and the misuse of the carnival by many encourages calls for it to end, or be moved, or cut down in size.  Quite how any of these ideas could operate is not made available by those who suggest this.

One fact we know is involved in the troubles.  West Indians, or their descendants as few actual West Indians from the 'Windrush' days are around any more, have one major flaw, too many dads do not look after their kids.  They say that 60% of young black kids have no idea who their father is.  If they do he has no influence, or appears to desire any.  That is with these 'West Indian' fathers.  Nigerians on the other hand have strong family ties and tend to be among the best educated and brightest in the UK, should we note such differences?  The 40% who have better families and kids who make it need support, and probably enjoy the carnival as much as any.  Why does no one speak out in support of ending the fathers refusal to look after their kids?  Are they afraid to be called racist?  Or are they afraid to admit a child needs two parent, on father and one mother, not two of one kind.  That truth upsets too many.  That truth exposes their failures as fathers and mothers, and exposes their loose sex lives as damaging for their kids and themselves.

However, you will never hear the press discussing this.  How can they?  The media is the most immoral organisation known to man, bar politicians obviously.

'Keeping the Lights On.'

 

 

‘Keeping the Lights on’ by David Craig, describes the joys and difficulties experienced when following the calling of God to lead and build a church. In fact two churches are here built and both are still going strong. 

Having known the author and his young wife for fifty years I loved watching again their successes and shared once again the many heartbreaks endured. Nothing is without trouble in this life, church leaders know this too well, they too share the same problems, difficulties and joys following Jesus brings.

Beginning as a History of the last 30 years the book has developed more into a mix of biography, History and instruction to young men faced with the ‘Call’ to build a church. From the cold north in Aberdeen, via well paid employment in Edinburgh and moving abroad to England and the London Bible College David is always honest about the doubts, fears, financial woes encountered, as well as the joy of provision from a God who never forgets his people.

The first church ‘Westbourne Grove Baptist Church’ as was at the time, ‘The Grove,’ to all who have known it, began with a congregation of 14 members! This really was the last shot! Several years of bible exposition, personal counselling and a great many bacon sandwiches at the ‘Manse’ led to an increase in numbers, around 65 or so, and a sense of ‘Love’ that remained long after they had left. That is ‘Love,’ not the sentimental hush that so often represents ‘love,’ today.

The Call to Bournemouth and a slightly larger church followed. Similar hard work, personal discussion, bible based teaching, personal seeking after God for the congregation followed. Again hard work, much prayer, and by prayer we mean listening to God not reeling of a shopping list like I do, brought a numerical increase, a number of fellow leaders for the growing organisations, and the a powerful ‘renewal’ for the church. ‘Renewals’ during the 80’s and 90’s often caused much pain, Satan worked marvellously to insert hate on many occasions, I experienced this myself twice, but the church in Bournemouth pulled through by making every effort at keeping the ‘agape’ between all concerned alive.

The author does not hide failures or personal crisis, indeed such honesty encourages belief in Gods work. Good times and bad follow as the church seeks to follow Jesus, this book makes this clear.

There are pages of description regarding the practical requirements that will benefit many building churches today. Experience learned the hard way is always good. The end result after 30 years and retirement (do preachers ever ‘retire?’) was a church now settled in an old cinema, a building suitable for the 500 or more no members of the church.

Both churches had connections to mission work overseas, the home church made sure these people far off and often in difficult situations were not forgotten. Social media of course helps here today. This along with the many connections the those around the church continue, and will continue unabated as long as these churches thrive.

Advice to young pastors includes the requirement to spend time with God alone daily, to spend time with wife and children daily, and especially to take time off before burn out and destruction arrives. The need to pray regularly with elders and leaders is stressed, as is communication to one and all when required. The whole church must pray, not just the leaders. House groups and prayer groups must be used when possible. The church must lean on the God who called, not individuals own ideas. We can trust the Father to make known his will.

One thing is clear, without his wife David could never have succeeded. Her willingness to support the work, indeed the development of her many gifts in prayer and counselling the women in the church, her support, and often rebuke, we have all endured that, enabled David to finish his calling. He could not have done this without his wife Maureen.

This book is easy to read, informative, full of the daily stresses and joys of church building and a credit to both David and Maureen and to the Lord who called, enabled and provided all the way through. I recommend it.