iTalker

Lima is an amazing city with over 8 million of a population. You can sense the changes that are happening in society. Increased wealth and confidence and a booming economy. Yet we need to be reminded that the country still has a hinterland of rural communities which are being challenged by the enconomic improvement of [...]

When David slew Goliath with a sling we are told that all Israel rejoiced at his death. When I read such words I can’t quite understand, I can’t get excited about any human beings death. I think it is hard for those of us who have lived in stable democracies all our lives to imagine [...]

This afternoon, I had the privilege of attending Jolyon Mitchell’s Inaugural Lecture, marking his appointment as Professor of Communications, Arts and Religion in New College Edinburgh. Jolyon has been given a well earned honour by Edinburgh University. He has worked tirelessly to bring academic credibility to his subject and has sought to inspire theologians and [...]

Taoiseach Enda Kenny who told the Dail yesterday that the culture of the Vatican was dominated by ‘dysfunction, disconnection, elitism, the narcissism’. Photo: Dara Mac Donaillaoiseach Enda Kenny (file). Photo: Dara Mac Donaill

I watched BBC Newsnight once again dissecting the the fall out of the News International scandal. Its getting to the stage of being ridiculous, so much important news being missed or not reported in depth. Anyway at the end of one interview the question was asked what is happening to all of our Institutions in [...]

Last night history was made the Bogle Boys (The Bogle Boys are you’ve guessed it a father and son act. Well, act might be too definative) appeared at the Linlithgow Rose Club. Now let me say, this is a famous club. It can boast of some amazing acts having performed there including the world famous [...]

You might not believe this but apart from bringing health care to over 100,000 thousand people in Amazonia. Amazon Hope can also add to its impressive CV the fact that it has encouraged friendship between the Huitoto tribe and the Bora and is promoting international trade. The picture captures Alec Carstairs the Vine Trust Treasurer [...]

Yesterday I visited my favourite place in Iquitos Puerto Allegria. The setting is idilic. Here in this home run by Union Biblica and funded by Vine Trust boys of all ages who have no homes to call their own can begin to find a family and discover security and love. It was wonderful to see [...]

You’ll have noticed that I’ve been making one or two comments on the blog about the 400th Anniversary of the King James version of the Bible. Its actually been quite wonderful to begin to rediscover the shear wonder and magic of the language especially when it is read out loud in church. We’ve been doing [...]

I’m going to represent the Vine Trust at the funeral of Tom Dunn a retired naval architect who was strategic in making the dream of the Trust’s medical work in Peru a reality. Some people make an impression on you not by what they say but by the things they do. Tom for me was [...]