Firstly an apology for the blog silence - a couple of weeks speaking away, a couple of weeks holiday, and a smashed screen have not allowed much internet access - it's amazing how you can survive without the net when you have to! Anyway, I am sure that you are as relieved as I am that New Orleans has not been massacred by hurricane Gustav. (Although, I do also pray that places which don't have so much media-power are not suffering without us knowing). The next few weeks and months will see masses of clearing up, rebuilding, construction of new defences and warning systems and so on... What will be fascinating, though, will be to see if anyone takes an environmental line on the situation... and if they do, whether anyone responds. No one seems to doubt that Gustav has been exacerbated by climate change, but I bet the next time something like this happens we will see more pictures of 'SUV's queuing to get out of the city. Humanity does sometimes seem to have an aversion to treating the cause of problems when it is easier to address the symptoms. And as so often happens, what is true physically is true spiritually; we are blind to the spiritual catastrophe being wreaked among us, and unwilling to pay the price to address it, even when the price has been paid for us and all we are called to do is follow.

I've missed it really. When I was a child I used to watch quite a lot of Wimbledon (or Wimbly Dunn as it sounded like it was called), but this year I have missed it almost in it's entirety. Apparently the men's final was quite something to behold, and part of me wishes that I had had time to watch it, but actually I got more pleasure from the fact that we won the girls' single's final... ... although, of course we didn't. Miss L Robson did. It's just that she's British and it makes you feel proud that a Brit won something! This feeling of national pride is an odd one, isn't it? Why do we identify with folk born in the same country as us? Actually I think it is quite a good thing, at least when it is not taken to too many extremes. However, there are others with whom we should identify and take action because of our empathy. I am thinking of the citizens of Zimbabwe, fellow humans like us. Or of the thousands of Christians who are suffering persecution because of their faith today. Or of the millions who are starving today due to a lack of food. Identifying with others is important, let's try to respond rightly to it.

Have you heard that, as from today, you can't smoke tobacco in cafes in the Netherlands. There's nothing surprising about that, you might think, until you realise that you can smoke cannabis; at least you can as long as you don't mix it with tobacco. I mention it, partly because it amuses me, but mainly because it is such a great picture of the inconsistency of human nature. Every time I go tot he leisure centre, for example, I notice that mine is the only peddle-bike outside that temple to fitness. People want to get fit, so they pay money for a class or the use of the gym, then they get in their cars and drive to it. Why not increase your exercise and save the planet at no extra cost? This is true spiritually too. We want to be better people so we take on this plan or that. At some point, though, we have to face the truth that with God it is all or nothing. It is only by fully turning to him that we find the life, forgiveness, freedom and hope that he longs to give us.

I know that this is last week's news, but did you hear that the government expect Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England to write a letter! And that's not all, he might have to write two or three letters this year to the chancellor of the exchequer. Honestly, they only pay the man £285,000 a year, how can they expect him to sign five pound notes, play golf and write a letter? I know that's not what is meant, but I did get the feeling the reporters loved saying that old Merv had to write a letter, poor chap. It almost makes up for the fact that we can't afford to heat our houses, run our cars or feed our kids due to the soaring price of things. I'll shut up about it now, but it did make me think how silly and how twistable our language is at times. It's not only that we use jargon all the time, although we do. We also change the sense of what we are doing by how we talk about it. Are you lying or bending the truth? Full of lust or a red-blooded male? A sinner or merely human? Perhaps that's why truth is such a key value for God... however we dress it up, truth matters, especially before God.

I am delighted to hear that Israel and Hamas have called a truce. I pray that it lasts and is part of the route to peace. But what I don't get is WHY IS STARTING TOMORROW? How can you call a truce, in other words agree to stop killing each other, and not do it now? When you agree to stop doing something you only carry on for a while if you have to or want to. You can terminate your phone contract but you will see out the terms of the agreement. You can agree to stop the game after everyone has had two more turns. You stop banging your head against a wall now. You don't realise it is harmful and then say, "I'll tell you what, we'll do it for a couple more days and then stop!" There's something diagnostic about humanity here though. We know things are bad, but we are trapped in them. That's the reason God cares about sin; it's the thing that rips apart those whom He loves. God, though, wants to help us break out now. Why wait?

I know that it was not the most serious news of the week, but did you hear that they have mended the toilet on the international space station? What got me was that it had been broken for two weeks before they fixed it. What did they do for two weeks without a loo on the space station? There aren't exactly any bushes to pop behind, are there? I am sure that there are solutions, and I am equally sure I don't want to think too much about them, but this does raise the point that there are some needs that are urgent! I wonder whether that is partly why the church is so much more vibrant in parts of the world that are less comfortable. In the west we are, perhaps too molly-coddled, shielded from our real needs. The bible says that all of us sin; all of us need cleaning up, and only God can do it. Sometimes, I think, we need to wake up and see the urgency of our need.

I confess to being a bit of an armchair politician - in the same way that I am an armchair referee, coach, commentator and so on - but I couldn't have stayed in my armchair, even if I had been in it, when I heard about Robert Mugabe attending the UN food summit in Rome, despite the fact that he is banned from Europe. It's like some kind of sick joke and it shouldn't happen. On a broader note, though, it makes me think about how Christians should face conflict. Too often we take the easy route and avoid confronting someone even when they are clearly wrong. We have adopted the idea that this is what Jesus would want us to do, despite the fact that we see him provoking leaders, turning over tables in the place that was like a cross between Parliament and St Paul's Cathedral, calling his best friend 'Satan', condemning a pig-farmer's livelihood to a lake and so on. Jesus didn't seem to mind offending people if it served a greater purpose. I have no questions about the fact the the international community should stand up to Robert Mugabe, and even if I don't always like it, it seems to me that we should be prepared to be those who stand up for right more often than we do. It seems to me that this is what Jesus would do...

I know it is a bit flippant, but every time I listen to the news about Burma I do a double take. Fancy naming a national leader "Fung Shui". Is it supposed to bring positive energy, or whatever fung shui is alleged to do, to the country? OK, so I know the leader of the military junta is actually called Gen Shwe, but that is not how it sounds when you hear it on the radio. It set me thinking about how names sound. Mr Shwe's name does not sound good around the world; not because it is confused for some spiritual practice (which I am not advocating by the way), but because he has failed in the first duty of a leader, caring for his people. This is the duty that God places first and foremost upon leaders in any context, and why he refers to himself so frequently as a shepherd. What does your name sound like? I don't mean literally; when people hear your name, what image does it bring to mind. When God hears your name, what does he think. More than anything he longs to welcome you home and restore you to the inheritance for which he created you... restore to you your family name.

I want to shout this rather than write it, the situation in Burma makes me so mad. It is tragic enough what has happened without a government playing petty politics with people's lives. However, you don't need me to tell you this, so why am I writing it? Two reasons. Firstly, I need reminding to pray. It is stupid, but even after years of following Christ, when I get cross about something it takes me ages to remember to pray about it. I'm sure you are not so silly, but a prompt never hurts. Secondly, I notice that, despite my irritation at the perversity of the Burmese situation, it is not only there that we see people cutting off their noses to spite their faces. How often do refuse to let others help simply out of pride or a desire to be in control? It happens all too often, even when it is God who is there to help.

Just a thought that I have been meaning to put up here for a few weeks, but I do wonder how God would fair if he had to be elected to office. I find the thought vaguely offensive, but go with it for a moment. I have often thought that the real trap for the politicians is that the things that they need to do for the good of the nation are not always things that will make them popular. And conversely the things that make people vote for them are not necessarily good for those who vote. Hilary Clinton is proposing to remove all tax on fuel, so I hear; 'vote for me and I'll help you destroy the planet'? This ties in with a sense of bemusement that I have often felt as I have looked at people running for high office. Why would you want the responsibility? (It seems to me that a criterion for doing the job should be that you don't want it, but perhaps I am just perverse.) I am glad that God doesn't have to be elected. No-one else could or should do his job, and I for one am content (and trying to learn to be more content) to let him make decisions that are right for me, even if they aren't the ones I would vote for.

I don't care what people say, I feel a bit sorry for Prince William over all the fuss that has been made since he landed an RAF Chinook on his girlfriend's lawn. OK, so it shouldn't happen every day, and it is not what the helicopter is for, but what's the fun of being a prince if you can't fly the odd helicopter occasionally. I think the RAF have got it disastrously wrong saying it is good training. Actually it may well be, but that is not the point. We all know of times when RAF helicopters have dropped in to schools, dropped off pilots on their wedding days, and all sorts. I reckon if you are a prince and a serving officer then a little fun should be in order. OK, so I admit that I don't know all the facts. It is possible that there was gross irresponsibility taking place. However my suspicion is that it was a harmless bit of fun, and I have to say that I am all in favour of that. It is right to say that we should be diligent and responsible, however it seems to me that we have thrown out the baby with the bath-water. How many children are impoverished because their parents have forgotten how to play? How many marriages plundered because lovers have forgotten how to have fun? How many believers robbed of faith because workers have lost the ability to wonder. Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life and have it to the full"

Each brings new news of the state of international finance. Just today Gordon Brown (GB the PM of GB) is in the states to discuss the situation. If you are like me you will know something is up, but it is not clear what or why. It seems incredible that millions, even billions of pounds can be lost around the world seemingly based only on the fact that people have lost confidence in the market. All of this is interesting, but what I am wondering about is whether there will be consequences, spiritually speaking, to this lack of confidence. It will be interesting to see whether this crisis opens people's eyes to the fickleness of money as a master. Money is a good tool, but a hopeless (literally) boss. Jesus, of course, said that you could not serve two masters, God and money. You end up loving one and hating the other. Money is good, but it's not a patch on God!

I heard a wonderful story today on the news. Apparently a new report has concluded that hospitals do not say sorry enough and they do not say it quickly enough. People, the reporter said, will often feel better if the hospitals admit they have made a mistake and apologise. I love this story because it rings so true. People do mess up and that messes me around. It's a nuisance but it happens. What really gets to me is when they will not admit it was a mistake, say sorry and then get on with making things better. Sorry is a tiny word in the scheme of things, but it has a massive effect... and maybe that's why it matters so much to God?

I am sitting here trying to write this blog, which I know I should have written by now, but, although I know what I want to write about it is difficult to put pen to paper (or at least, finger to keyboard). It is Zimbabwe which is on my mind. There is much sermonising which could take place. It is astonishing that one man can have such a total and wicked control over a whole country. Unfortunately, though, it is an astonishing thing that we see reflected in many places. However, more than anything I want to join with countless others around the world and pray. It is hard to know exactly how or what to pray, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't. In fact it tends to mean that we should do so more not less. Furthermore, situations like the one in Zimbabwe remind us that it is OK to be angry in our praying. It is OK to tell God what we think, but it is also essential to be patient. However you do it, do join me in praying for this country, not just now, but also in all that lies ahead, whatever the outcome of the election.

I honestly don't know whether to laugh or not. I know it's not very Christian of me to be amused when so many people are so massively inconvenienced, but the mess at T5 is quite something to behold. There is a parable of note here; spending millions on a building and high tech systems does not guarantee anything at all. And to think that they wanted to take our fingerprints too... What made the situation particularly sad, though, were the reports that were sent through to the BBC yesterday from staff members saying that the situation was due in a large part to the way that the staff had been treated for a long time now. Here is an even greater parable: what matters is not the amount of money you spend, but how you look after people. It is the people who make the difference, who do the work, who bring satisfaction to 'customers'. This is true in T5, but it is true across the board too. New kit is fun and can be important, but it is not what really matters. I find this helpful when I think about others, but it is also helpful in thinking about the way I live myself. In this 'quiet' period after Easter I ask myself where I am investing my time, my effort, my prayers and my hopes... and as always I find my approach in need of attention.