Clapham Calling

Rev. Jesse Jackson doing a Dr. Martin Luther King when commenting on Barack Obama

I don't care what people say, Pastor. I like your sermons.

A busy day ahead

Tomorrow is an action packed day for me. First of all I am taking Caleb and Jacob to school. Straight after I need to take a bus to an appointment at St. Thomas Hospital (the number 77 bus takes a great route along the Thames, taking in views of the house of Commons, The London Eye and even Lambeth Palace!) I will need to move very quickly to officiate at a funeral. On return home I have to oraganise a copy to be made of a Wedding Certificate. The day will be rounded off with an Elders and their wives social at our house. In-between events I would like to make about 4 phone calls.

What will your day be like?

I hope you had a happy Father's day. I did.

Bill Cosby wrote, "Now that my father is a grandfather he just can’t wait to give money to my kids. But when I was a kid and I asked him for 50 cents, he would tell me the story of his life. How he got up at 5 a.m. when he was 7-years-old and walked 23 miles to milk 90 cows. And the farmer for whom he worked had no bucket, so he had to squirt the milk into his little hand and then walk 8 miles to the nearest can. All for 5 cents. The result was...I never got my 50 cents.

"But now he tells my children every time he comes into the house, ’Well, let’s see how much money old Granddad has for his wonderful grandkids.’ And the minute they take money out of his hands I call them over to me and I snatch it away from them. BECAUSE THAT IS MY MONEY."

Interesting clip about the freedom of speech

Moushiwake arimasen ga,
tadaima gaishutsu shiteorimasu.

I do not mention food again in this post - is this some sort of breakthrough?

It was our Church District fun day today at Roothill farm. That is less than an hour's drive if you know the way. I set off forgetting I didn't really know where I was going so we were an hour late. Anyway it was a dream to be able to let the boys walk where they wanted and not having to keep a constant eye on them as we do in London. I lay on a large trampoline and just looked up at an uninterrupted view of a blue sky then I walked on what seemed to be the most vivid green grass and it all felt fantastic like experiencing something great for the first time.

Tomorrow it’s to be 27c not great for preaching. But it may just be hot enough for our folks not to have the heating in Church on.

Myself and Caleb. Poole 2007

Clapham Common Collision

I was driving home yesterday afternoon when my route was obstructed by an accident. A motorcyclist was been administered medical aid as he lay on the road. I had to make the decision as to take an alternative route or drive around him. Two other cars had driven around so I did too. As I carefully negotiated my way, I thought to myself I could have taken the long way and afforded the man a bit of peace. I didn’t think much more about it until I read today that the man was killed by the ambulance as it was responding to a 999 call. So I have felt bad for forcing my way past, so near to him as he lay dying or in fact he may have died instantly.

I was moved enough to telephone our local Police station to ask them to pass on my sympathy to his family and ask if I could also leave my telephone number as a local clergy man. They said I couldn’t do that as they would be seen as endorsing me. So my mood was made the more gloomy.

 

*UPDATE* 

 

If you have come here after a google search I am sorry that I do not know any more information. If you do find out could you leave a comment here. Thank you.

 

Jonathan Gardner