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'Communities together: Build a Bridge' is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2013.  Since 2001 in the UK the 27th January each year is designated as a day to learn lessons from genocides, with the aim of creating a better future and challenge hatred and persecution in the UK today. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust chose 27 January because it is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on 27 January 1945. Has humanity learned the lessons from the genocides of Nazi persecution? It seems not: consider Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur and many more tragic destruction and persecution of communities of people. Remembering is important, but it is not enough. What can any of us do to prevent repetition? Take a look at this video 'Lessons Learnt?'  To show your support you can 'build a bridge' for Holocaust Memorial Day Trust site here.   

It's Burns night and in an hour I expect friends to arrive for a celebration of the birthday of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. This is the day when my Scottish genes start asserting themselves.  We will of course be eating haggis. Haggis actually tastes much better than it looks. Earlier today I went out on a successful haggis hunt and the beast is prepared and getting hot, knife is sharpened, 'neeps' prepared to boil and mash, whisky and Burns poetry lined up ready. We may just manage the 1st stanza of Burns' 'Address to a Haggis'. Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,  Great chieftain o' the pudding race!  Aboon them a' yet tak your place,  Painch, tripe or thairm:  Weel are ye' wordy o'a grace  As lang's my arm. Just for fun and if you want to know more about haggis take a look at this post (with a pinch of salt). 10 things your never knew about haggis If you are celebrating the Conversion of St Paul today, her...

What does the Bible say about homosexuality? The February 2013 edition of Christianity magazine tackles this topic and presents a range of views from evangelicals in the UK.  What caught my eye especially today was the  article by Steve Chalke  which in my view is much better argued than the article by Greg Downes  in the same magazine. Perhaps I think this because I agree with Steve Chalke. More of this in another blog post to come. Steve Chalke is a Baptist minister and founder of Oasis . In 2004 he was awarded the MBE by the Queen for his services to social inclusion. I recommend reading the full version of his paper A Matter of Integrity which you can download to Kindle or read on the Oasis website. Tell me what you think. Update: In response, Peter Ould has some relevant Questions for Steve Chalke here. Image Credit: suenosdeuomi on Flickr, CC License