Strangers & Aliens

There's a fuss in archaeology world (which few of us, I guess, move in). But this one is over a rare artefact which confirms the historicity of Ezra 1 - so long pooh-poohed by historians and liberal scholars. It's the Cyrus Cylinder, "property" of the British Museum, resident there since a BM sponsored dig in Babylon in 1879.

For ages, Logos has not had Baker Books in its libraries. All that is now changing after the signing of a major deal between the print and electronic publisher. This is good news for Logos users (like me) who lament the absence of some Baker titles. It also probably means that Logos is now the only real Bible software of choice in terms of its library reach. All we need now is for Zondervan (prop. R Murdoch) to follow suit. Goodness, even DayOne have signed up with them!

If you know anything about the history of UCCF or the IVP publications or the British Museum oriental department, then you have heard of Professor Donald Wiseman. He died earlier this week and an obit is likely in the Times next week (apparently). Meanwhile, as you visit the British Museum, it is his hand you see when you read Bible references around the Assyrian and Babylonian galleries (sadly, now slowly being removed by current curators). He was a giant of Old Testament study, and whilst a background guy in many ways has had a profound influence on many preachers through his indirect involvement with many IVP projects, as author, editor and advisor. He is also (and I didn't realise this) a decorated war hero! Read here for more biography and a picture of him with Agatha Christie (he knew her husband, Max Mallowan, an archaeologist well).

This morning's conversation went like this:

Today is our office Christmas party. Too expensive before Christmas. Too rushed. Too stressed. So, we're having it in February. This afternoon we're off as a team to the British Museum for a tour with the redoubtable Clive Anderson (the pastor-tour-guide, not the chat show host). Then it's off to one of our houses for an early evening reception. It's going to be good, informative, enjoyable, relationship-building - all the things a (Not) Christmas Party should be but so often is not.

My eye was drawn to some quotes in this morning's Metro. It concerns the rather sad case of Vanessa Perroncel (Wayne Bridge's ex-partner who ran off with John Terry). Here are the two quotes.

This evening, Mrs R and I are off to the Opera to see a Mozart classic about two guys who manage to let themselves be persuaded that their betrothed(s) don't love them quite as much as they like to think. They dress up as strangers and try to win the hand (successfully) of each others' fiancées. Hilarity ensues - but all ends up OK. That's Cosi fan Tutte in a nutshell.

If you read my blog for a five minute window this morning you will have seen a post which I've now removed. It was about two men who I really enjoyed meeting today - and God used to thrill my heart. But reading it back I didn't like it. I realised that it made me look like a name-dropping glory seeker. So, out went the post.

I'm half way through reading Professor Edgar Andrew's Who Made God?" which is turning out to be a great read (and possibly the only Christian book with a commendation by Fay Weldon?). Today he wrote to the Times in response to a less angry Richard Dawkins article yesterday, pointing out that true atheism struggles with one key concept - morality. It's a good, sharp, winsome letter.

Forgiveness is a transfer not a memory swipe.