Check out 'A Just Church'

Sorry to look at this and realise its so out of date. For those that follow these things, you may have realised that since the publication of my first book - I've been blogging under the title http://ajustchurch.blogspot.co.uk/ for the last 2 years - please follow link if you are interested in liberation theology and fun/political views on life!

For those that knew me from Bradford days - you might be surprised to discover that after 23 years in the city, I've moved to Sunderland - another great city, but this time with a seaside. The Victor Jara Liberation Library is here with me now should you every want to visit!

Many blessings

Chris Howson

Dental Scare!

Like most sane people, I loath going in for dental work, and yesterdays was the worst! I had to have minor surgery at the local hospital to remove a tooth that was causing problems. Shouldn't have been too bad, but I was to make a terrible error.

Full of cold, I took 3 anti-decongestants to help clear my nose, thinking that this would help during the surgery. As soon as the anaesthetic was administered I knew something was wrong. The Adrenaline is supposed to make the room spin for a couple of minutes, but for me, it was to last for an hour or so. The operation was quick and easy - the skill of the dental surgeon was very evident. But when I tried to sit up, it was clear there was a problem!

I went a yellowy/grey colour, and found myself drifting away. I could hear the words 'keep your eyes open - KEEP THEM OPEN!' then found my finger attached to a beeping machine and extra nurses around. What a shock! When I mentioned the Sudofed I had taken, it all made sense to the doctors - ant-decongestants and adrenaline don't mix well at all!

Within a few hours, the doctors allowed my friend Anna to take me home - where I was very grateful for my bed! I had quite a scare, and got very tearful when I got home to my kids - all sorts of weird thoughts enter your head when things go so wrong.

Recovering now, I thankful to God for the skills of the doctors and nurses, and for the support of a good friend. At the moment, the new government is beginning to mess with our National Health Service.  They cannot be allowed to ruin one of the greatest achievements known to humanity - free health care of high quality.

Now back to bed!

Christmas Thoughts!

It was wonderful to do a proper few days work! I did a midnight mass at St Saviours, and then a Christmas Day service - around 45 people came for Christmas communion, and it all felt very special. So many people have lost how important it is to come together as a community, to celebrate together and to show affection for each other.

We had some lovely people sharing our day with us. We had Cecilia from Brazil (who lived with us for 6 months 7 years ago) Karla from Mexico, Nobuko from Japan and Mancy from India. After a lovely meal, opening presents, and lots of chocolate - there was great fun to be had on the sledge! The move out here to Fairweather Green has been such a good move for the family.

With so much to do, and so many people around - TV thankfully took a back seat this year - the only exception was an attempt to watch the Dr Who Christmas special. What a huge disappointment, and even his assistant running around in her police uniform did not help! A load of gobbledygook!

On Boxing day, Ernest, Mary, Anna, and a whole host of kids and families descended on our vicarage - it was fantastic - another big meal and a trip out to the glorious Chellow Dene Reservoir - with tons more sledging! Then Mel and Henry (Cat's Brother and new wife!) arrived, with lots of games for the kids.

What a wonderful Christmas - I give thanks for church, friends and family! Merry Christmas to you all!

Dancing in Millbank

The protests in London regarding the increase in fees have widely been condemned in the press and by government. They argue that the violence that occurred at the Tory party HQ meant that the march and protest was 'hijacked' by some extremists and that the thrust of their campaign has been lost. Whilst not condoning any violence towards police or individuals, I think that the occupation of Millbank was important and understandable. I too danced around to the pulse of the sound system and shouted 'They say cut back - we say fight back!'. History has shown that marches that simply end in a field with a poor PA system, listening to a long list of trade union leaders may be worthy, but is simply ignored by the Government and by the media. Attention to the tripling of Fees for students, and the impact on education of government cuts is now firmly on the agenda. People are angry, and this was their first opportunity to express it. Thousands of people joined in the party and occupation, and 99% of it was good humoured and positive. There was very little violence towards people, and even towards the police, even when they were working hard with their batons to protect the Tory offices. I applaud non-violent direct action (which includes occupying symbolic sites as resistance to injustice) and was deeply heartened by students taking a lead in saying no to the cuts which are about to be ideologically imposed on our country by a coalition that seems to be representing the interests of the wealthy and of corporate needs. The chant 'Nick Clegg, shame on you, shame on you for turning blue' summed up the disappointment of young people that the lib dems have colluded with Tory cuts and not entered into the coalition with a strategy to protect public services.

The press will say one thing, but those of us who were there will remember what we actually saw and heard - Students actively and mostly non-violently saying that in our society education should be a right, and not a privilege. Occupations? Strikes? Public acts of resistance? Prayerful action? More will be needed, not less!

Getting out more (but staying in bed longer)

It was half term, but due to sickness in my mum's place in London, we decided to stay at home for the week. Two things happened, almost by chance. First, we started having lay ins. Cat and I arranged the breakfast cereals in 'easy to get at' ways. Milk in jugs, spoons at the ready. We were finally able to send the early rising kids off our bed when they came to disturb at 7.30ish (actually, its just Angela). Clara can operate the TV now, leaving parenting completely redundant. We slept, and read, and cuddled.

The guilt set in, so at about 11am each day we decided to get the kids out and about - swimming and walking. We took the bus at the end of the road one day and it took us to a unexpectedly good reservoir (Doe Park) with great views and muddy stepping stones. The walk ended with the abandoned church in Denholm, with its many wonderful stone faces peering down from high. Another day was spent in York, scaling the city walls (not much else to do due to a power cut closing much of the city!) The final stop today was a trip to the St Ives Estate in Bingley, a gem if a woodland - with witches and dragons - and a top children's play area consisting of giant glockenspiel's and zip wires! What an ace holiday!

Intoxicated by 'Go'

Jonsi's new album is superb, and I am loving listening to it again and again. I had seen the lead singer perform the album in Leeds a few months ago, but had lost track of the evening because the person i went with was mugged on the way home from the concert. He came to my home covered in blood, as it happened close to the vicarage. It was very disturbing, and I 'lost' the evening for a while. I was in one of my favourite places in the world - 'Fopp' (a specialist music and film store that nearly went bust a few years back, but was saved by HMV) when Jonsi's cool vocal penetrated my skull. I picked up 'Go' and couldn't wait to get home. Sure enough, it brought back the energy, depth and emotion of the concert. It makes me want to dance and cry. It is beautiful. I thank God for his musical heart, long may it move mine!

Crazy week

I've had a pretty busy and crazy week - so I'm just writing a note to myself about some of what I've been up to over the last eight days. Wednesday 13th Oct: After a fairly mundane meeting of the fresh expressions network, I went over to Leeds to listen to Irma, Gonzales, daughter of one of the Miami 5, a group of Cubans locked up in the US for spying on anti-Cuban terrorist working out of Miami. Irma was a great speaker, with a very personal story as well as a political one. She was so proud of her father, despite the hurt caused by hardly seeing him in 12 years. Her mother has been denied a visa from the US authorities to see her husband since they dragged him away in 1998. Cuba had suffered hundreds of US backed terrorist attacks, particularly on the flourishing tourist industry. Rene and the four others had risked their lives and lost their family life to protect the gains of socialism in Cuba. I thought of my two daughters, and wondered what I would be prepared to do to protect their future?

Thursday 14th Oct: Phone call from BBC World service - could I be a guest on 'World have your say'. With a no time to prepare, I ended up in the BBC studio in the National Media Museum talking about the rescue of miners in Chile. I layed into President Pinera and celebrated the ordinary workers from around the world who endure so much, but show such strength and solidarity. Fielded thoughts from all around the world - very interesting experience!

later I chaired a meeting with Linda McAven, Labour MEP for the Yorkshire region. It was about Food Speculation and Climate Debt. Loads of people came, and we made it quite fun, especially for the 20 or so woodcraft folk who had come along. I was impressed by Linda - one of the last socialist MEP's to represent Britain.

Friday 15th Oct: In the morning I went down to the crown court appearance of Stephen Griffiths, Bradford's alleged serial killer. I spoke to the son of one of the victims. He was anxious that Stephen would kill himself before revealing what he had done to the bodies. There has never been a funeral for one of the missing victims, and it has caused great pain. I wanted to see Stephen, but the court room was too full. How would he respond to seeing me? He was always around the city centre and knew me by my first name. When I saw him at events, he was always alone, but was always very civil. It is horrifying to think what some people are capable of.

I was given great hope later on as our church showed a documentary on Dr Martin Luther King Jr at the newly opened 'Student Central', part of the Black History Month program. What a life, what an inspiration. May we hold his achievements in our collective memory and push society forwards with his vision of peace.

Don't know where I had the strength to do Street Angels tonight - I had been awoken at 7am with the news that some of the Asylum Seekers we work with had been dawn raided by the UKBA and police. Luckily they are safe, and one is in hiding - but I just feel knackered and angry. Still, we helped a few poor souls out, and gave out a sleeping bag out to a very grateful homeless guy called James.

Sat 16th: The Active Citizens 'What Matters to You' event at the university, reminded me why i am so anxious about the models of participation that are developing at university life. The 'Open Space Technology' was a very cliched way of opening up discussions, but seemed an even poorer way of making things happen. Skills of community organising are being lost while we waste our time.

I went on to enjoy seeing the family at CND's day of dance, and enjoyed catching up with old friends. The new playground at Roberts Park in Saltaire was particularly enjoyable for Clara and Angela! Exhausted by the evening

Sunday 17th: The inability to say no, meant I spent the day balancing a days training on the Enneagram with doing Sunday worship. Both turned out pretty well - thanks to a marionette during the service, and a great bunch for the course from Manchester. After the St Columba prayers at 8pm, I was ready for a good night sleep!

Monday 18th: Had great fun teaching at Bradford College on the Community Development course. I spent 1 1/2 hours looking at Saul Alinski, Paulo Friere, Gutierrez and Martin Luther King! The class was pretty segregated between white women, Muslim males and Black Africans. I explored some of these issues by asking everyone to share about their school life. It was really to everyone. I love teaching! Popped into Student Action for Refugees after rushing around as usual. don't feel I have enough time to do all that I want to do! Had meal with Ruth and Matt Dowson - they kept us sane! I remembered halfway through that I had an appointment to do a house blessing that night! My memory is a sieve.

Tuesday 19th: Chaired successful BEACON forum, a place for representatives of many groups to share info and support. Really worth while, glad I've been pushing for it to continue. In the evening we had a great meeting with the Rohingya community (Burmese refugees) planning the events to mark the fake elections being held by the Junta on the 7th of November. The promise to release Aung San Suu Kyi on the 13th November is another opportunity to alert the community to the plight of these beautiful people.

Andy Sykes was fantastic at JustSpace, telling his story of involvement with the BNP - He is the bravest man I have ever met. Inspiring and honest, its an honour to call him a friend.

Wednesday 20th Oct: Went to St Joseph's school to kick start a scheme helping refugee families with their English. Took two students down to meet the staff - really hope that it takes off. On the way home I noticed the bulldozers demolishing some beautiful old buildings in the grounds of St Luke's Hospital. It was a real crime, so I contacted the local press immediately. I managed to get the press to take some pictures in between demos against the cuts down at city hall. Appeared briefly on the BBC news and had an interview on BBC radio Leeds about the spending review - Bradford is going to be hit very badly - but nationally it is a disaster - with the poor being hit worse. We had a public meeting later at the Resource Centre, with over 90 groups represented. We launched the Bradford People's Coalition. I really hope we can resist the worst of the cuts, but fear that the local council will not join in our struggle!

Thursday 21st; Back in Holmewood for an 'Estates Network Conference'. Hearty Holmewood food and wonderful Holmewood hospitality - one of the best places in the world! Picked up Betsy from Japan later in the evening, and went and performed a blessing on a loft apartment. Betsy was dragged around the city, and will have some great tales to tell! Enjoyed a bottle of rum to wash down the day!