Virtual Methodist

"Ascension at Malahide" by Robert Shaw Below is my responsive version of Psalm 68 which we used in an adapted form for our pre-recorded service for the Sunday after Ascension and Aldersgate Sunday , available on South & Central Belfast Methodist's YouTube Channel. Sing songs to God, sing praise to his name: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! Let those made right with God be glad, Let them rejoice before their Lord: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! His name is the Great I AM, Let us rejoice before him: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows, is God whose home is on high: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! He creates homes for the homeless And places the lonely in a loving family: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! He leads prisoners to freedom, singing for joy; but leaves rebels to rot in the heat of the sun: Lift up a song to ...

In the light of the last post, and yesterday's celebration of Ascension Sunday, I just wanted to reassure(?) any remaining readers out there that I haven't been raptured, promoted to glory or otherwise translated to another realm. I've simply been trying to balance work with the rest of life, and part of that is that I've put rules on me being nowhere near the computer at certain times of day and certain days of the week... If truth be told I'm breaking one of those rules right now... But life has been a little busy recently and so I haven't had a chance to post anything. Not sure how the next week will be either, given that Virtual Methodist is going to have to spend time with a lot of other flesh and blood Methodists at our Annual Conference towards the end of the week, as well as doing my day job! Maybe by this time next week I'll wish I'd been raptured... Shalom

Sing songs to God, sing praise to his name: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! Let those made right with God be glad, Let them rejoice before their Lord: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! His name is the Great I AM, Let us rejoice before him: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows, is God whose home is on high: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! He creates homes for the homeless And places the lonely in a loving family: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! He leads prisoners to freedom, singing for joy; but leaves rebels to rot in the heat of the sun: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! Sing to God, all you nations of the earth, sing praise to the Great I AM, Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! Proclaim the power of God, who thunders with mighty voice. Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds! Praise be to God! Am...

Last night I took my son Owain and his friend to see the new film "Iron Man", but the kids were only an excuse. I have been busting to see this movie for months. OK! OK! It sums up everything that is wrong with Hollywood film-making... real artistic creativity supplanted by big names, big budgets, big bangs and CGI. But this was "Iron Man." Now for some people their super-hero of choice is Superman... But he was of the wrong era, and wrong planet for me... And that costume was way too camp! Others prefer Batman... either in the form of the 1960's Adam West send up, or the later brooding "Dark Knight"... But again that wasn't quite me... Didn't quite get the buddy-thing going on with Robin. Then of course there is Spiderman... For my other son Ciaran, no other superhero quite matches up to the webslinger... and he isn't alone in that... Do you know that there are apparently more Spiderman pyjamas sold than any other type? But my favourite su...