The full Gospel

An enjoyable trip to Bedford today. We had a lovely trip round the town's "other" church (St Peter's - as opposed to the rather more well-known St Paul's in the centre) and a walk round the river. And I was intrigued by the sign outside a Pentecostal church in the back-streets near the station (Bedford is a very religious place - there are little churches of all denominations all over the place). The sign in the Pentecostal church promised the "Full Gospel".

Now I presume by "Full Gospel" they mean not just salvation through Jesus Christ, but also the Pentecostal gifts such as tongues, healing and prophecy. And that's great. Let's celebrate a living Spirit working in her church. What a gift the Pentecostal church was in reminding us that the experience of God isn't only waiting for us on the other side of Jordan.

But if the Gospel is one of healing - then healing of what? Not just individual people, surely - we aren't individuals in any case, we're embedded in families, in friendships, in churches often, in bodies and associations. But maybe healing of society? Healing of personal relationships? Healing of divisions? Healing of unfair work practices? Healing of unbalanced trade relationships? Healing of the way we treat the world?

I reckon that's all going to add up to a bit more of the Full Gospel.

Short issues

I've had an interesting conversation with Mrs Woodhouse, and her son Mansfield.

Mrs Woodhouse, dragging herself from the chaise longue to which she normally repairs for fits of the vapours, tells me that Mansfield has trouble with "height" issues. She tells me that essentially he is quite tall, but he has a short tendency. She wonders if counselling can help with his shortness issue.

As far as I can tell, Mansfield is about 5'2". I've told him that there is no amount of counselling that will add an inch to his height. I've said that  it doesn't matter - he's a great bloke and he should learn to accept his shortness. Some people are just meant to be short. But Mrs Woodhouse has suggested that maybe laying on hands would help him to grow taller.

They've gone off now to buy some shoes with subtly raised heels, and a top hat. I've told them to go ahead if they like. But he'll still, deep down, be short - whatever he says.

O'Vienna Syndrome

Rob comments on my occasional habit, when moved by strong emotion, to express myself in the language of the 1980s synth-disco-post-punk band "Human League".

I'm afraid that it's true that I suffer from O'Vienna Syndrome. The symptoms are that you inadvertently quote New Romantic lyrics, you're constantly hungry like the wolf, and you suffer from a painful Visage.

Healing Service

I know I should say that we were blessed at the Healing  Service last night. After all, wherever there is prayer for healing there is blessing.

But it's also very disappointing. Fourteen people went forward for healing. But none were healed. Fancy out of all those people, not one having sufficient faith. I'm very disappointed in them.