Category Archives: Uncategorized

Research proves arming teachers won’t make students safer — ThinkProgress

Posted on February 23, 2018 by peddiebill

After last week’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Americans are imploring their leaders to take serious action on gun control. During a town hall Wednesday night, for instance, survivors of the shooting suggested plenty of steps that could be taken, … Continue reading →

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Lectionary Sermon for December 10 2017 (2B) on Mark 1, 1-8, Isaiah 40 1-11

Posted on December 6, 2017 by peddiebill

We live in a world where papering over the cracks has been elevated to an art form. Far from self assessment, getting ready for Christmas has come to mean responding to advertising, putting up shiny decorations, twinkling lights and listening … Continue reading →

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Lectionary Sermon for 2 July 2017 on Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Posted on June 26, 2017 by peddiebill

Ours is not the first generation in history where people have displayed feelings of superiority when they involve themselves in conversations describing the shortcomings of those who have chosen different paths of enlightenment. It is an age old game where … Continue reading →

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Lectionary Sermon for 7 August 2016 on Luke 12:32-48 (Year C, Pr 14)

Posted on August 1, 2016 by peddiebill

On Looking Busy (an edited version of my sermon on the same topic for 11 August 2013) In the spoof spy film “Johnny English” there is one scene where the evil pretender to the British Crown is readying a look-alike … Continue reading →

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SOME INITIAL BACKGROUND THOUGHTS ON THE TURKISH COUP ATTEMPT

Posted on July 16, 2016 by peddiebill

The current and now failed coup attempt causing initial disruption in Istanbul and Ankara may indeed be sending shockwaves through Turkey but no one who follows Turkish politics should be overly surprised. For a good few years now the Army has … Continue reading →

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Lectionary Sermon for Easter Sunday 27 March 2016 on Luke 24: 1-12

Posted on March 21, 2016 by peddiebill

“Christ is risen!” And they all replied….. “Christ is risen indeed”. It is clear that many in the wider Christian Church take it for granted that they are expected to make this response. However if there should be a supplementary … Continue reading →

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Why Protest the TPPA?

Posted on February 6, 2016 by peddiebill

At the very least we should concede the recent signing of the Trans- Pacific Partnership agreement for 12 Pacific trading nations trumpeted with such fanfare by the New Zealand Government offers the promise of clear advantages. On the other hand these advantages are unequally … Continue reading →

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Some thoughts on Euthanasia

Posted on January 23, 2016 by peddiebill

The decision to allow for the termination of life has some interesting legal and ethical implications which require precise legislation. I suspect that with of the order of more than six out of ten New Zealanders supporting an end of … Continue reading →

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Failed Prophecies of Joseph Smith

Posted on December 14, 2015 by peddiebill

Failed Prophecies of Joseph Smith (information gleaned from the 1997 study of the same name by the Institute of Religious Research) Joseph Smith has often been called The Prophet by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter … Continue reading →

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Harry Potter…not me!

Posted on December 13, 2015 by peddiebill

As a retired science educator and sometime amateur stage magician I have always enjoyed presenting jaw dropping demonstrations. Unfortunately as a self confessed hard boiled cynical showman, it is one thing to organize a flash of fire, float a lady … Continue reading →

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