A World in Turmoil

Those who know me well, know that I am not a political person, I don't consider myself particularly intellectual, and I also don't really want this blog to become home to political statements. BUT ... I cannot remain silent in the light of all that's been happening over the past few weeks.

Along with millions of other people around the world I find the election of Donald Trump, all that he stands for and his actions since he took office deeply disturbing. This man's banner says it all >>>

How sad that two days after the Canadian President, Justin Trudeau, said, "To those fleeing persecution, terror and war. Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength"; someone took it upon themselves to enter a mosque in Quebec and gun down innocent worshippers!! Denying people life and breathe, and robbing families of their loved ones.

Let me say here, I LOVE our Muslim students, our Hindu & Sikh students, those of any faith or none. If I was to name here all those students, British, European and international, who have enriched my life over the past 13 years this blog would go on, and on, and on ...

Jesus said, "When you welcome the stranger, you welcome me. When you do not welcome the stranger, you do not welcome me."  I hope and pray that this is, and always will be, one of the hallmarks of my life.

February 2017 calendar

God on Trial

TODAY is

Holocaust Memorial Day

This day serves, not only, to remind us of the atrocities

of the Nazi persecution during WWII, but the subsequent genocides that continue to plague our world 

Join us for our film showing of

Awaiting their inevitable deaths at one of the worst concentration camps, a group of Jews make a rabbinical 

court to decide whether God has gone against his Holy Covenant and if he is the one guilty of their suffering.

Friday, January 27th

Jellicoe 106 @ 7pm

Values, Beliefs & Attitudes

Slightly fewer people at TABLEtalk last night but a fab discussion evening based on the topic of 'Values, Beliefs & Attitudes'.

We began our evening thinking about the difference between these three words: VALUES - BELIEFS - ATTITUDES. That in itself was a bit of a challenge. 


Then each group was presented with a list of 38 different values and initially asked to remove 10 they thought were less important. The list contained several words of similar meaning such as: commitment, loyalty and reliability. This resulted in some good discussion and I heard one student comment that someone could be "reliably disloyal".  

Each group then moved to another table and once again were required to take out another 10 values. This stage proved easier because there was an immediate removal of any values they had pulled out in the first round.

Again, another change of tables and the removal of a further 10 values. Now we had whittled our 38 to a final EIGHT.

Last move ... and the final challenge was to put those EIGHT values in to an order of importance from most important at the top to least important at the bottom.

Here are the final six lists our groups came up with  ...  soooooooooo interesting!!

 

When we amalgamated these lists on to the board, it gave something of a better picture of our corporate values as a group.

Personally, 'education' would not appear on my own list of values, but I really shouldn't be surprised when doing this exercise with a group of university students. What I was pleased to see was that 'faith' stood out as the only value consistently appearing in each of our final lists.  With integrity, education, respect, trust, visionary, justice and relationships following behind.

Hi Sonali, if you are reading this you will recognise the exercise. I did tell the story of your first week at Warwick :-)

Games Galore!!!

For only the third time in 12 years TABLEtalk was cancelled last week due to the snow :-( 

However, we got off to a MARVELLOUS start last night with 30 students in attendance, including TEN new students from our January intake. 

As always with a great mix of 18 different nationalities ... Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt, Holland, India, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria and Turkey!!!

After a big mingling version of 'Who Am I?' we spent the remainder of the evening playing games and getting to know each other better. 

Medway Student Hub opens

Our fantastic new Medway Campus Student Hub was open for viewing today; with the official launch date next Monday, January 16th.

I love all the touches of decor, giving tribute to the naval history of the campus, and also the fact that this building was once a swimming pool.

There is a fabulous mezzanine space that can be closed off and used for a whole raft of events; but also affords a great view down into the main space.

 

Also on site, easily accessible but set apart to provide confidentiality you will find the GK Unions Advisors. They can help you with a plethora of problems related to finance, housing, and the list goes on.

Whilst viewing the space I also got to taste a little of the cuisine on the menu ... truly scrumptious!! 

Well worth a visit!!!

January 2017 calendar

Happy New Year!!!

May memories of 2016, be they joyous or painful,

serve to shape our path ahead in a positive way.

May we enter this New Year with hope

and a deep sense of God with us!

May our focus this coming year be on

love, peace and unity.

May we be slow to anger

and swift to admit our own shortcoming.

May we grow in wisdom, courage and humility.

May we grow in faith

and walk in obedience to God's Word.

May we celebrate our differences

and respect the things we do not understand.

May all that we think, say and do be saturated

by the unconditional love of God.

May 2017 be a blessed year for you all.

On a personal note ...

Just a few pics of my family Christmas ...