Matthew 22: 15-22 “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s: and unto God, the things that are God’s”. And so they conspired to put to him their needling question “Are we, or are we not, permitted to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor?” They were as ingenious as […]
Root Vegetables
Posted on by James Woodward
A Recipe for Braised Carrots and Turnips. Here is a recipe where vegetables are cooked with little water. You will need to check the pans frequently so that the ingredients don’t catch the bottom. The ingredients are as follows: Carrots 1kg bunched carrots, trimmed and cut in half lengthways 50gr butter 1 tablespoon […]
Human Restlessness?
Posted on by James Woodward
I had a fascinating conversation with a friend last night about the whole business of staying and moving. This is, I think, related to the restlessness which we all share in to some greater or lesser degree. I have friends who are constantly restless – who are almost incapable of staying in one place for […]
Bits of the Jigsaw
Posted on by James Woodward
Since my sabbatical earlier this year it has been understandably quite difficult to maintain any time of regular rhythm of reading. I am keen to want to harvest the privilege of those days spent in Washington and Chicago libraries absorbing and reflecting on narrative. But some of this has practical implications for my work […]
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Posted on by James Woodward
Many of my friends are quite prejudiced about Birmingham as a place to work and live. Well, of course, living on the edge of Solihull as I do many of my neighbours and parishioners have little to do with the city of Birmingham! Indeed, you could argue that places like Solihull, and, to a lesser […]
Greed??
Posted on by James Woodward
Jesus said to the rich young man, ‘if you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me.’ Matthew 19.21 What are we to make of the crisis around the economy? Are its roots in greed? Will the […]
In Praise of ….
Posted on by James Woodward
Writers’ Rooms A very kind friend, whenever possible, brings me the Saturday edition of The Guardian. To be honest it reflects my basic political and cultural position – open, liberal, left of centre ish on most things! I like the Review section of the paper and especially page five where a writers room is featured. […]
Do we welcome strangers?
Posted on by James Woodward
In a world completely obsessed with outcomes and tasks and strategies, one of the responsibilities of any leader is to create an ethos within which good things can happen. I think that we believe that far too much of our life and work can be enabled through control or management. Perhaps there are some signs […]
Can we ever define the spiritual self?
Posted on by James Woodward
Like the ocean is your god-self, It remains for ever undefiled. And like the ether it lifts but the winged. Even the sun is your god-self; It knows not the ways of th emole nor seeks it the holes of the serpent. but your god-self dwells not alone in your being…….. He who defines his […]
Food for Thought
Posted on by James Woodward
I remember a rather gloomy old Vicar in the north east of England where I was a curate, offering me advice from time to time. Amidst the many gems, all of which I ignored, was this: “Never start anything new – it’ll never work!” Perhaps it won’t come as a surprise that his neighbouring […]
Ten years – time or no time?
Posted on by James Woodward
Yesterday I marked ten years as Master of the Foundation of Lady katherine Leveson and Vicar of St Mary’s Temple Balsall. Here are some extracts from my sermon: From any perspective ten years is a reasonable slice of time. Perhaps, about an eighth of my life? 520 weeks. 3,640 days. Give or take a few […]
Retirement?
Posted on by James Woodward
This may raise a smile! James Woodward thinking about retirement…. well in a theoretical sense you understand! I have to speak at a leveson Centre conference about my aspirations relating to retirement and write to ask for any advice via this page. I remember one observation about people who read autobiography. Those who read you are […]
The art of life
Posted on by James Woodward
Zygmunt Bauman is one of the most important and stimulating social thinkers writing today. In this wonderful new book – Bauman argues that In our individualized society we are all artists of life – whether we know it or not, will it or not and like it or not, by decree of society if […]
Feeling pain?
Posted on by James Woodward
In the hazy period of waking up yesterday morning I overheard one of the BBC TODAY programme commentators inform the public that Christians do not feel pain in the same way as others do! The story relates to a piece of research where twelve Roman Catholics and twelve atheists were all given some electric shock […]
Harvest
Posted on by James Woodward
Yesterday in St Mary’s Church we celebrated the Harvest – meaningful and relevant because we are situated in a rural part of Solihull and some of our parishoners are farmers. In this global economy the production and movement of food across the world isan extraordinary feat of energy and skill. We seem so removed […]
Giving Advice?
Posted on by James Woodward
When did anyone ask you for your advice? When did you feel drawn to offer any wisdom to willing or unwilling hearers? I am intrigued by Tony Blairs present role at Yale University and, indeed the establishment of his Faith Foundation ( see www.tonyblairoffice.org ). I suspect that history will be kinder to Blair as […]
Henry Cliffe
Posted on by James Woodward
Here is another wonderful discovery!! Henry Cliffe 1919-1983 Born in Scarborough, Yorkshire. 1939-46 served army, met William Scott in Ruabon, Wales (Ordinance Section). 1946 enrolled as student BAA, studied lithography and painting until invited to join staff (married colleague Valerie May). Taught lithography full time, and gave technical advice to colleagues (see exhibition Corsham […]
Only in America?
Posted on by James Woodward
My fascination with the USA continues and I was glad to come across this excellent book by Matt Frei Matt Frei, the BBC’s Washington correspondent, goes under the skin of the nation’s capital to discover the paradox of the world’s last remaining superpower. Imagine a city so powerful that the weapons commanded from its […]
Canterbury, York and Capitalism
Posted on by James Woodward
At last the Church engages with something other than sex!! Both of these articles bear much further thought and reflection. The Archbishop of Canterbury has written in the Spectator Face it: Marx was partly right about capitalism. The Archbishop of York gave a speech to the Institute of Worshipful Company of International Bankers Archbishop Labels […]
Preaching??
Posted on by James Woodward
Listening to Gordon Brown and other political orators has got me thinking about public speech and the way we talk to one another. What about the sermon? Is it really any way to talk to people these days? What makes for a good sermon? Lets remind ourselves about some of the history and theory…….. Sermons […]