The Power of a Handshake

In another blog I have recently written about a handshake that changed our nation. There will be another handshake this week that reflects friendship and forgiveness. For the Queen to shake the hand of Martin McGuinness, formerly of the IRA and now a Sinn Fein politician, is brave for both parties.

A line is being drawn and the past left behind. And hope is being celebrated. There will be cynics who see this as purely politics. There will be unforgiveness and anger from some. But there is hope too.

I was impressed as I listened in to Radio 5Live this morning. Michael Gallagher lost his son and his brother in the troubles, both murdered by the IRA of one brand or another. He spoke of the positive reconciliation reflected in the handshake.The Queen too, lost her cousin, Lord Mountbatten, to an IRA bomb. Both are choosing forgiveness.

Nothing can bring back those lost, nor should they ever be forgotten, but a handshake this week celebrates a hope and a future.

New days, New ways

Today sees the start of a new blog. I've been fascinated by Christian history for many years and there are so many stories that are worth retelling. Many have gone before us and we can learn from each of them. We can be stirred by them.

For some, history is a dead subject. I want to challenge people to think again. New days, new ways to communicate.

The blog starts small and will grow in time. Take a look:

Ralph's Christian History Blog.

Servant and Sovereign

Sixty years. We won’t see another diamond jubilee in our lifetime. As the amazing pictures of the flotilla of boats reached our screens yesterday, the pageantry of the occasion reflected on the worthiness of the subject. And the subject was the Sovereign.

But a servant before a Sovereign. When a young Elizabeth II promised to ‘always work to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples’ in 1952, she meant what she said. She has kept her word. I’m not particularly a monarchist and hers is not a justifiable position in a truly democratic society, but the majority of her subjects would have it no other way.

She has brought purpose and meaning to a ‘United Kingdom' through her service. She has brought a richness and colour to our nation. She has reminded us of our values and beliefs. Her 2011 Christmas message said:

“Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves - from our recklessness or our greed.

 God sent into the world a unique person - neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.

 In the last verse of this beautiful carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, there's a prayer:

 ‘O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray, cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.’

 It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.”


We do well to remember her prayer, as we remember all she has done for us these past 60 years.