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Buckden Roundabout
July 2017
Thought for the month
Another day, another controversial tweet from a world leader, whose press and PR departments immediately leap into action
to explain what was “actually” meant. In the modern world we call this ‘spin’: a nice political concept that seeks to present a
positive interpretation of an apparent faux pas. In almost any official communication, the “facts” and statistics reported seem to
vary wildly, depending on which side is asking or answering which question.
Technology has clearly advanced our society and brought many benefits to health, communications and travel. The ability to
send a message to the other side of the world at the click of a mouse has brought friends and families closer than ever but has
also given our leaders, and their spin-doctors, a new kind of problem. Once something is posted it goes viral on a worldwide
scale in less time that it takes to put the bin out, and the ‘digital generation’ is being formed in a world that sees fewer abso-
lutes and more relative ‘truths’.
The transmutation of what can sometimes be an off-the-cuff remark into "fact" has left many of us confused as to what to be-
lieve anymore. With the rapid progression of science, we have achieved an ever-increasing understanding of “Life as we know
it, Jim”. Still our perception of the world is so often forged in the fire of emotion without being formed on the anvil of truth.
So, in this brave new world where instant news, fake news, views and opinions are being broadcast at what seems to be speed
of light, it can be very hard to know what the truth really is. Does ‘truth’ even exist, and can anyone be trusted?
Two thousand years ago a leader emerged who had been the subject of prophecies for thousands of years and whose life,
death and resurrection is still shaping the world today. He never travelled more than three hundred miles from his place of
birth, and didn't have Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or even a PR agent.
Despite these serious handicaps, Jesus taught and spread the message that a true leader seeks to serve, not to be served. He
taught us to love, not hate, and that it is better to give than to receive. He taught us to look outwardly to God and to others, not
inwardly to our own desires.
So in a world of mixed messages, fake news and leaders who appear to be seeking their own glory and legacy, we can find
strength and hope in these words of Jesus: "I am the way, the truth and the life". He calls us to trust Him in the midst of the
ever-shifting sands of a confusing world. To hold on to a solid truth rather than being swayed by the malleable nature of our
emotions.
In the words of CS Lewis from his book ‘Mere Christianity’:
"Faith ….. is the art of holding on to the things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your ever-changing moods”.
Baptist Church.
Weekly Prayer Roster
Each week during the year the Churches, in their prayers, remember the residents of particular streets in the village, those who
work in the parish and village organizations. Those to be remembered this month are:
2nd July
Hunts End, Copes Close, Monks Cottages, Hunts End Court
9th July
Manor Gardens, Manor Close, Glebe Lane, The Grove
16th July
Park Road, Falcon Way, The Marinas, and those who live and work there
23rd July
Field Close, Lincoln Close, Silver Street, Beaufort Drive, St Hugh’s Road
30th July
School Lane, Buckden Primary School (pupils, teachers and teaching assistants, governors, vol-
unteers, midday supervisors, all support staff)
Church News