Moving Pews

A relatively unknown Japanese inventor, Sfo Ollirpa, has created a system that could revolutionise churches across the world. Imagine being the first to arrive at church on Sabbath morning and finding an empty building but for one solitary pew along the back wall. Having sat on this pew, the pew will begin to move slowly forward before grinding to a halt at the front of the building whilst another pew appears at the back ready for the next person who enters. This process repeats itself until everybody has arrived and is seated at the front of the building. In one interview the inventor claimed that the Pewmover2000 is the solution "to a problem facing many traditional churches". He spoke of visiting churches where people had "family pews" or sat as far away from the preacher as possible "without sitting in the porch".

There has already been some opposition voiced to this new technology. The high carbon emmissions could lead to some churches rejecting the technology to protect the environment although strong speculation remains that a Green Pewmover2001 will soon be available for those who prefer a solar-powered system. The fiercist oppostition comes from those who claim such technology is inerrantly evil, such as Rev. J. King of the AFJ church of Atlanta, who issued a statement saying "If stationary pews were good enough for Paul, they are good enough for me."

I believe if the trials, currently ongoing in America, prove Ollirpa's claims that the Pewmover2000 will lead to greater church unity surely we should be considering investing in this new technology? This piece equipment whilst costly could prove to be beneficial in our church buildings and moving pews would make seating for the elderly considerably easier. Onwards and Upwards with the Pewmover2000!

Installation Day at one American Church

World At Our Fingertips

We live in a world of instant communications, luxury that could have only been dreamed about 20 years ago. This luxury enables us to keep in touch with friends and family so easily but with this relatively new technology comes new problems, new responsibilities and new temptations. Here are five fatal flaws that can occur hurting friendships, destroying trust and leaving a great big mess!


1. Instant Misunderstanding
Unlike talking to someone face to face you can't hear the tone of their voice. Remember words always look a lot more serious written down than when they are said. You also can't see the person's reaction so you don't know there's been a misunderstanding.


2. Instant Gossip
The temptation to gossip is increased by the ability we now have to "share" information instantly. There's no longer any need to wait to see the person, write a letter or hear the other person's voice on the end of the line each giving us time to realise that we're about to gossip and disobey God's command. We're also liable to forget that gossip isn't just the spreading of rumours and hearsay, even if it's fact and you're spreading it unneccessarily, its gossip.


3. Instant Anger
Another problem posed by instant communications is that we can reply in the heat of the moment. We need to take a deep breath and not vent our anger by a text or over msn. The world says "let it all out" but scriptures tell us to be self-controlled and that includes online!
"But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander" Colossians 3:8 (ESV)


4. Instant Lies
Not only can we spread gossip or vent anger, the temptation to tell a "white lie" is made all the more appealing through the internet or text. The words don't even have to leave our mouth,we just have to press a few buttons! We can be tempted to make things more interesting with our own little story or make ourselves seem more appealing by distorting the truth. It's easy to think that no one will ever know but God sees everything including your computer screen and your "Sent" folder!


5. "Send to All" Instant communication isn't just a problem because it's instant but because it reaches so many people. You don't have to spend time hurting your fingertips by typing out the message again and again. Just select "Send to all" or copy the text from another MSN conversation and the damage is multiplied!

In conclusion. I'm not saying take your phone outside and repeatedly hit it with a mallet before attacking your computer! Just be wise! A few good thoughts are would I say this to their face? Would I say this infront of my Christian friends? And do I need to say this?


"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up"
1Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)




James McCullough

P.S. Rumour has it that the Andrew Morrison has set up his own website which you'll now find a permanent link to at the side or you can click here. Enjoy!

The Mobile and the Bible

This is an extremely good post from Mark Loughridges Blog (see link on Homepage). Don't worry, I did ask him for permission!

(Local newspaper column)I love gadgets. I love having a digital camera and playing around with it. I love my iPod and being able to listen to whatever I want wherever I am. But there is one gadget that just doesn’t excite me – the mobile phone. I do own one, but it isn’t the latest or the smallest and it doesn’t even have a camera. But I see that I am almost alone in this. Everywhere you look someone is gabbing into a bright shiny phone, or a cluster of people are standing round peering at photos on a 2 inch screen, or talking about their latest upgrade deal.It has become the new mentor that has to be consulted before we do anything. It carries our lives, our diary, numbers, games, messages, pictures, and music. It has become the new Bible. But I can think of several ways that a Bible is better than a mobile:

It doesn’t need charged.
There is nowhere where it is out of coverage.
No-one will beat you up for your Bible.
There’s no monthly bill, or pay as you go.
A mobile turns you into a slave who can always be found, the Bible sets you free.
Phones carry possible health risks; the message of the Bible enables you to live forever.
They don’t keep issuing better models with new options every two months.I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our mobile phone?

What if we carried it around in our bags or pockets?
What if we turned back to go and get it if we forgot it?
What if we referred to it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages from God?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we took it out of our pocket to pass the time on a journey?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we travelled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?

One more advantage a Bible has over a mobile - You can get one free from me, but you won’t get a free mobile! If you would like one, or if you would like someone to give you a beginners guide to the Bible, get in touch.

The Writers