Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi

So the Scottish Justice Secretary released him on compassionate grounds. There has been no end of criticism for the decision from all over the world.

He was the only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, yet the evidence is up for debate. Many Americans were killed in the disaster, and as such the Americans have been the loudest voice of dissent at the release of al-Magrahi. Terrorists should not be released, they say. Not even on compassionate grounds. That will send out the message that we are weak, they say, and we will be bombed more. We need to be strong, ruthless, damning. These people are terrorists, they don't deserve decency or compassion, they say.

But wait.

We, the West, are one very small step away from announcing to the world that terrorists are not human. That they should be treated differently, as animals, as those who are sub-human, with no rights. What rubbish. What is it we are getting into? For the West to be so forcefully for 'freedom' and 'democracy' when it suits them, yet to assume the role of Divine Judge when it comes to terrorists, stinks of self interest and rotten politics.

Far weaker is the man (read: country) who fights back, condemns men for eternity when it only for the Lord God to pronounce such judgements, and looks upon 'terrorists' as sub-human - unworthy of compassion and forgiveness - than the man (read: country) who has compassion, forgives, blesses their enemies and prays for those who harm them.

For my part, I am in full support of Kenny MacAskill and his decision. War and hate will only breed war and hate. When MacAskill released al-Megarhi, the West took the biggest step to date in defeating terrorism. Forgiveness, compassion, mercy and love will win. The Americans, the English, the rest of the world, need to take note of what has happened in Scotland - a minister stood up for what was right, and continued on that path until what was right was complete, not matter what the consequences were.

Praise the Lord, that he is still at work.

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He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

All change in life; all change on blog.

I sit at my dining table, in the flat I have occupied for the past 29 days. The small balcony has one of it's doors open, and the David Crowder Band bounce out of the stereo. I have just eaten dinner... a moderately successful omelette (the first attempt, about a week ago, ended up as scrambled egg with onions. Hmmm.....), and some Bramble Jelly on toast, homemade by the lovely lady living below us. Today I have been in to the office to sort out some internet / email logistics for my account with the church, and in to the LST library to start some preliminary reading for the M.A. course which starts in about four weeks.

I tell you all this by way of introducing you to the fact the my life has changed, and I have moved on from being a student, living in halls, and am now a part time Pastoral Assistant and a part time post-grad student. One week in to starting work, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Pray for me, that I may remember that godliness is good in every way, because it holds promises for this life and the next.

And, of course, the blog has changed.

Living the Tension has two meanings, though they overlap. The first tension is between this life and the next. Living as heirs with Christ, living with a message, living in the world, but citizens of the next life, of a new world, we are not of this world. The second tension is between study and ministry, between theory and practice, between orthodoxy and orthopraxy, between studentdom and adulthood.

My aim will be to blog about these tensions and how God's grace is more than enough for any person to cope - more than cope: to thrive - and stay focussed on the goal, by His unending love and mercy.

Leaving Town....

Yesterday I left Worthing. I now live in London. To mark this strange and beautiful occasion, here are a few pictures of some of the people who made Worthing the best place to begin life.