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Given by Richard

If you listen to this recording, can you let Sam know, either in person, or using the contact us page.

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If you listen to this recording, can you let Sam know, either in person, or using the contact us page.

You may need: Adobe Flash Player.

Download mp3

If you listen to this recording, can you let Sam know, either in person, or using the contact us page.

You may need: Adobe Flash Player.

Download mp3

If you listen to this recording, can you let Sam know, either in person, or using the contact us page.

You may need: Adobe Flash Player.

Download mp3

If you listen to this recording, can you let Sam know, either in person, or using the contact us page.

You may need: Adobe Flash Player.

Download mp3

There's no doubt about it: trust is a precious commodity.

When the Labour party came to power in 1997, they pledged a new era in British politics, free from the sleaze which characterised the Major years. But of course, before long Labour were embroiled in controversy over donations made by F1 supremo Bernie Eccleston. And so it went on, most notoriously with that dossier on Iraq.

And then over recent months, the coalition have had to fend off controversy over links to News International and other news publishers (not to mention the question as to whether Chris Huhne really did ask his wife to take the rap for his speeding ticket).

Perhaps one of the major challenges our society faces is the widespread lack of trust in our elected representatives.

And it's not just about politicians. The reason that the Rio Ferdinand story was decreed to be 'in the public interest' is that he was appointed England captain in place of John Terry, in the wake of the latter's affair, which was deemed to be inappropriate conduct for someone occupying such a prominent position. Turns out that our Rio wasn't so squeaky clean either ...

 Finally got round to watching 'The King's speech'. Glad I did - thought it was a good film, well-made and brilliantly acted. Quite apart from all the grown-ups, casting Ramona Marquez (Karen, in Outnumbered) as the young Princess Margaret seemed an inspired choice.

The film has a number of strong story lines. The contrast between the stammering, socially awkward Bertie (Colin Firth) and his older brother and party animal David (Guy Pearce) was striking. David (briefly, Edward VIII) was all suave sophistication. And yet, it was Bertie who courageously battled his speech impediment and stepped up to the throne (becoming George VI) when David chose to abdicate rather than abandon his love for Wallis Simpson.

I don't know whether it was deliberate. If it was intentional, then it was bold piece of scheduling which led Channel 4 to broadcast the film 'Four lions' just a week or so before the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

In case you've not seen it or heard anything about the film, it's a satirical look at the world of radical Islam and suicide bombers. That bare description may be enough to put you off - you might feel that there are some subjects which are too important or too raw to be treated as a source of comedy.

 Here's the quote from Brennan Manning (in 'A glimpse of Jesus'), which I referred to this morning:

"Jesus perceived that the only way to help people experience life as gracious gift, the only way to help them to prize themselves as grace and treasure, was to treat them as treasure and be gracious to them. I can be anointed, prayer over, sermonized to, dialogued with, and exposed to God's unconditional love in books, tracts, and tapes, but this marvellous revelation will fall on ears that do not hear and eyes that do not see, unless some other human being refresh the weariness of my defeated days. Barring prevenient grace, we humans simply will not accept our life and being as God's gracious gift unless someone values us. 'We can only sense ourselves and our world valued and cherished by God when we feel valued and cherished by others' (quoting James P Mackey)."

There is profound truth here, it seems to me - and a vital clue as to how it is that we fulfill our calling to bring blessing to the world.