eChurch Blog

As some of you have noticed the facility to edit comments after posting has vanished. This was due to an update in the software that had the effect of killing it dead.

I’ve installed a temporary fix that ironically has more features and so perhaps more to go wrong.

I’d appreciate some robust testing of the software, so we can identify if there are any issues.

I have the option of extending the comment editing time beyond 15 minutes, let me know if you’d like more time or if you feel this is adequate.

Feel free to make any random comments here for the sake of testing.

As it’s customary for more established blogs to support and introduce the newbies, this seems an opportune moment to bring to your attention the new God and Politics in the UK Blog written by Gillan Scott.

His current post looks at UK foreign aid given to countries known for persecuting Christians and argues – as I have done so many times in the past – that this aid should be directly tied to the recipient country’s treatment of religious minority groups.

I like what I’ve read so far on Gillian’s blog and especially what I’d term as the “Outward Look”, in other words, the interplay between Christianity and society.

Why not hop over to his blog and give him a boost.

As I played my part in introducing Gillian to Twitter, why not give him a follow.

Welcome to the blogosphere Gillian.

Obviously, with Wiki down today in protest over two Internet copyright bills in the US, I’m unable to blog as they are my source of ALL information and knowledge.

The first bill is the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA) in the House of Representatives, and the second is the “Protect IP Act” (PIPA) in the United States Senate. Wiki is actually open for business if you wish to find out more.

But would these bills potentially impede the online fight against “False Teachers”? This blog certainly seems to think so:

What’s bad for free speech is bad for sound doctrine. In the battle for ideas, the ability to discuss those ideas freely is critical. And free discussion requires the freedom to reference and quote opposing voices.

Christian websites, blogs and radio programmes depend upon being able to make fair use of copyrighted content for the purposes of comment and criticism. Our ability to stand up for sound doctrine will be severely impaired if we cannot freely quote, embed or link to the copyrighted sermons, articles, books and videos of today’s false teachers.

….read all

So there you go….

UPDATE: Christian Web Trends also has a piece on this. And so have ChurchMag.

‘You’ve decided to become unappointed uninformed arbiter & commentator’ <— Yes, it’s called blogging…

SOURCE

By way of a little Saturday lightheartedness, I share below a few of my fave chat acronyms from a list a friend sent me which has been complied by NetLingo:

2BZ4UQT – Too Busy For You Cutey

9 – Parent is watching

99 – Parent is no longer watching

::poof:: – I’m gone

ACORN – A Completely Obsessive Really Nutty person

AFAHMASP – A Fool And His Money Are Soon Parted

AIAMU – And I’m A Monkey’s Uncle

AIMP – Always In My Prayers

ALOTBSOL – Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

BHIMBGO – Bloody Hell, I Must Be Getting Old

Cof$ – Church of Scientology

FYLTGE – From Your Lips To Gods Ears

IANADBIPOOTV – I Am Not A Doctor But I Play One On TV

IASAP4U – I Always Say A Prayer For You

ICBWICBM – It Could Be Worse, It Could Be Me

IMNERHO – In My Never Even Remotely Humble Opinion

OTASOIC – Owing To A Slight Oversight In Construction

PEBCAK – Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard

PNATTMBTC – Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain

RTH – Release The Hounds

TINWIS – That Is Not What I Said

YIC – Yours In Christ

If you think blogging is a bed of roses, or if you think everybody will be your friend, then you need to think twice. There are hateful people online hiding under the cloak of anonymity. There are also people who are ready to vent their anger on you as a result of some personal problem they’re facing. The best way to deal with this is to be prepared, and to get ready for the worst at any time.

SOURCE

Our brave new world…..

Facebook quelled a public relations flap over abortion last week when the social networking site pulled instructions for a do-it-yourself abortion from the page of the Dutch group Women on Waves.

The women’s rights organization posted a graphic detailing how to terminate a pregnancy using the drug misoprostol, commonly prescribed to treat ulcers.

[.....]

The problems started on December 30, when Women on Waves reported that Facebook removed a link to the abortion instructions.

Once journalists and blogs started reporting the company’s actions, Facebook promptly followed up with an apology yesterday.

….read all

I’ve had the privilege of meeting Richard Collins – Linen on the Hedgerow -  twice now and the second time he was with his lovely daughter, who kindly put together prayer cards for us bloggers. Here’s the prayer:

God our Father, source of life and freedom, through Your Holy Spirit, you gave the Carmelite, Titus Brandsma the courage to affirm human dignity even in the midst of suffering and degrading persecution. Grant us that same spirit so that, in refusing all compromise with error we may always and everywhere give coherent witness to Your abiding presence among us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Richard is a lovely man in all respects and a fine blogger and so I was particularly proud to find myself on his New Year Blogger’s Honours List and noted as:

Squaring up to what the faith embraces and for being on the journey

I think that must be the nicest comment I’ve ever received online.

In terms of being ‘on the journey’ it would appear that Wifey and I are on the final furlong towards acceptance in the Catholic Church. A testimony was taken from my Mother-in-Law in regard to my Wife’s annulment shortly before Christmas, and so we wait.

Watching the Catholic Interweb recently has sure blown away any illusions that UK Catholicism is unified, as there has been an ongoing “Spat” (as Ben describes it) which has been rather dispiriting and depressing. But it is better to enter into the Catholic Church with my eyes open to the reality that the Church is a hospital for sinners, rather than a museum for saints.

With this in mind I should fit in rather well.

Anyway, the words of St Peter always echo around in my mind: to whom shall we go?

My good friend Edmund Standing has announced his retirement from the blogging world over on Harry’s Place.

He was a singular champion in the fight against the rise of the far right.

He also blogged on other diverse subjects and wrote one for eChurch back in August, entitled: Black Britain: Broken by the Left

Although on a selfish level I’m gutted to see Edmund walk into the sunset, his reasons for doing so are wonderful:

Since I passed 30, bought a house in suburbia, and got married, I’ve very much made my peace with the mainstream, and unashamedly so. I enjoy gardening, photography, going for walks, reading up on local history, and have even started getting into cookery. It may seem like a shallow ‘white picket fence’ existence to some, especially those filled with rage and righteous indignation about all manner of issues, but I’m happy. Indeed, very happy.

All the best Edmund, you’ll be sorely missed and may your happiness increase and continue.

Back in August there was literally a global response to Stacy’s post entitled: Can’t even go to the park, which I blogged about here. The post detailed an incident revolving around a gay couple engaged in a public display of affection.

Well, it transpires today, that as a result of that blog post the incident has been turned into a cartoon strip by one of her detractors. Imagine that, someone going to all the effort to turn you into a cartoon. I think that’s rather cool.

Anyway, it’s well worth hopping over for Stacy’s reaction to this.