Archive for August, 2009

Collision

by Hugh on August 20, 2009 in Books, Faith, Film & TV with 2 Comments

I love the debates between Douglas Wilson and Christopher Hitchens. Hitchens is so arrogant, witty, quick, has a way with words, is persuasive, and oozes intellect. Doug is measured, thought through, firm in what he believes, picks the right arguments, thinks outside the box, and actually attacks the foundations of the Atheist worldview, rather than simply defending the Christian one.

…all this is why I’m quite excited by the forthcoming release of the DVD of Collision, a documentary following the lives, interactions and debates between these two men. It’s due to be released on the 27th October 2009. You can pre-order from Amazon in the States, no word on the UK site as yet. Check out the preview below:

Also, I just found out there’s a book on their debates – ‘Is Christianity good for the world?‘ – looks good, I’m gonna get it. Just £6.40 at Amazon, looks like a bargain as well. This book has the main content surrounding their initial private correspondance and then their public debates.

I’ll post a few more resources in the coming weeks, but I think we’ve had enough of Hitchens really, while I do admire the way he debates in many ways it does seem to be a case of who can shout loudest!

Chocolate ‘toothpaste’ Tart

by Hugh on August 20, 2009 in Life with 38 Comments

Anyone who went to school in Bedfordshire, probably elsewhere too, and had school meals will remember the infamous dessert ‘Chocolate Tart’ – we called it chocolate toothpaste.

Interestingly one of the most viewed posts on this blog is the Winnie the Pooh cookbook recipe for Chocolate Rock Cakes – 1st result on Google! So I have another recipe, it’s top secret and was acquired from my friend’s mum who was a school cook.

Chocolate Toothpaste Tart

Ingredients (for 8 portions):

A pastry case, 1.75 oz – Margarine, 3oz – Caster Sugar, 1 dstspoon cocoa powder, 1 dstspoon drinking chocolate powder, 4oz full cream powdered milk (sometimes called 5 pints), 2.5 fl oz warm water, chocolate sprinkles and squirty cream for decoration.

Add some fruit if you're feeling healthy...

Instructions:

1: Get pastry case ready (easier to buy a pre-made one, cos I’m lazy)

2: Mix the margarine and sugar untill light and fluffy

3: Add cocoa and drinking choclate powder and mixwell

4: Add the dried milk and water alternatly and beat untill mixture resembles whiped cream

5: Pour into pasty case and leave tart to set (probably in the fridge

6: Decorate with sprinkles and cream

Hitchens: Damned if you do/don’t

by Hugh on August 19, 2009 in Faith with No comments

Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens is probably the most eloquent, best debater among the leading New Atheists, he is a wordsmith, and knows how to say things to convince you that he’s right! He does a pretty good job… but all the fine words cover up some pretty ropey arguments and inconsistencies:

Take for example the idea of violence, war, self-defence… Hitchens says that genocide is wrong, the killing of nations, he always bangs on about the Amalekites… Exodus 17, Numbers 14, Judges – the Amalekites attacked Israel, they were threatening their very existence. According to Hitchens it’s wrong to fight and destroy the Amalekites.

But then he says this in debate with Alistair McGrath (3:30):

“…the worst kind of immorality yet, which is the, the wicked idea of non-resistance to evil and the deranged idea that we should love our enemies. Nothing, nothing could be more suicidal and immoral than that. We have to defend ourselves and our children and our civilization from our enemies. We have to learn to educate ourselves in a cold, steady dislike of them and the determination to encompass their destruction.“

You can’t criticise the God of the Bible when you endorse exactly what He endorsed… seems a little inconsistent!

Liberty!

by Hugh on August 18, 2009 in Faith with No comments

Madam Roland

New Atheists love to talk about the evils of religion, crimes done in the name of religion… but what about crimes done in the name of secularism/atheism…?

Take the French Revolution for example, secular at heart:

Madame Roland on her way to the guilotine sees a statue of Liberty, and cries – “Liberty! What crimes are done in your name!”

Or take Socialism under Lenin:

“The rise of the Soviet Union was of particular significance. Lenin regarded the elimination of religion as central to the socialist revolution, and put in place measures designed to eradicate religious beliefs through the “protracted use of violence.” One of the greatest tragedies of this dark era in human history was that those who sought to eliminate religious belief through violence and oppression believed they were justified in doing so. They were accountable to no higher authority than the state.” – Alistair McGrath

Alistair McGrath some good debates with Christopher Hitchens, check them out on Youtube – ‘Religion – The Center vs The Fringe’.

New Beginnings (part 2)

by Hugh on August 18, 2009 in Life with No comments

Dad and Kim

Suspense over – there was a part 2… maybe even a 3rd…

In May 2008, my mum passed into glory – as Paul would cry “Gain”! Family life has been a bit weird since then, home isn’t quite the same, family holidays, Christmas is all different, mum’s side of the family seems that bit more distant, and I’ve got a pretty small family as it is.

But God is the God of new life and of new beginnings. Which is why it’s a good thing that my dad is getting remarried in October, to the lovely Kim. The reality is this just makes things even weirder… you get used to one change, then you have to start getting used to another change… families are strange things aren’t they?!

But it’s good for Dad, good for Kim, good for the two families, and good for the gospel.

Woolie 3 � Being an AL

by Hugh on August 17, 2009 in Faith with No comments

I got back today from Woolhampton 3 after a long week of washing up! I was part of a two-man, one-woman team heading up a team of Assistant Leaders. AL’s help a camp like Woolie to run smoothly – we do jobs like washing up, cleaning, running games, moving stuff around, so that the main leaders can focus on building friendships with the members and sharing Jesus with them.

Was great to be part of this team, to make friends, to serve, to teach, to learn, to be encouraged. I’ll post some more stuff in due course about what I was teaching – a seminar session on the Emerging Church…

Here’s what the ALs get up to in their spare time… Kitchen Stomp!

The observant among you will notice my absense – I was choreographer!

Signs

by Hugh on August 16, 2009 in Life with No comments

Soon, I’m preaching on Matthew 24 – ‘Signs at the end of the age’…

…speaking of signs, here’s a sign which amused me this week at Elstree School, where Woolie is, and also where James Blunt went to school. Brilliant.

Caution Boys

Identity and Clothing

by Hugh on August 14, 2009 in Faith, Talks with No comments

Tonight, I’m speaking to the whole of the Woolie 3 camp. It’ll be the main evening meeting – I’m speaking from Colossians 3:12-14

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Bourne Identity

There’s two main points – Identity (understading who we are) and Clothing (what clothes do we wear to match our identity?). There’s awesome stuff here, check out the identity of the Christian… they belong to God, they’re chosen by Him, their holy (set apart for him), and they are dearly loved!

Ultimately we’re clothed with Christ’s righteousness… but he calls us to imitate him, to put on the clothes that he wore… compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love…

…and you have an awesome model and motivation to do this… forgive… as the Lord forgave you!!

Please pray for me and all who hear.

Recessive Genes

by Hugh on August 13, 2009 in Life with No comments

This is what happens when recessive genes go wrong:

Do love these guys though...

Ruth Gledhill on Woolie

by Hugh on August 12, 2009 in Faith with No comments

I’m currently on a Pathfinder camp at a place called Woolhampton… this is Woolie 3.

Myself and Povey are helping to lead the Assistant Leader team… basically the student age ish helpers who do the washing up. We do a lot of the teaching slots for them… going through Colossians… Resurrection… Idolatry… Heaven & Hell, Suffering, Islam, Bible, Emerging Church, Atheists… all fun.

Please pray for the camp… it’s going well – I’m speaking to the whole camp from Colossians 3 on Friday night.

Anyway… you ma have seen Ruth Gledhill’s article in The Times on Christian and Atheist camps – for her report she popped along to Woolie 1 and loved it…. see here.