SOUL SURMISE

SHOULD WE FORGIVE GAVIN WHYTE HIS LEWD ACT

Northern Ireland soccer player Gavin Whyte is all over the news having been caught on video doing a lewd act in public.

Today, Whyte has responded with an apology:

"I apologise to anyone I offended - I was stupid and completely regret being part of it. I hope Oxford and NI fans can forgive me for a moment of real stupidity.”

Whyte goes on to say,

”It was wrong, I know that, but it happened and now I have to try and move on. I have so many good people around me.”

How should Oxford and NI fans, and indeed the public in general, respond to Whyte?

There is almost a classic Biblical repentance in his response. He actually uses the word forgiveness. If we take a Biblical template to repentance and forgiveness, it is all here.

In the Bible repentance is not always necessary before forgiveness but forgiveness always follows repentance. 

Gavin Whyte’s hopes of forgiveness should not go unfounded. We need to accept that he has acknowledged his wrong doing and learned from his mistake. 

That should be the end of this newspaper story. That should erase the black mark against his name. It should not be held against him or dragged up at any time. Not even by away supporters! He should get a fresh start. He should be allowed to move on as he has asked for.

The press and indeed wider society is not good about such things. Away fans even less so! We hold something done decades ago against people whose lives have radically changed since their misdemeanour. That lack of forgiveness paralyses individuals and society. Those of us who don’t forgive get caught up in the bitter stagnation of the society they themselves have paralysed. 

A Biblical model for forgiveness would be such a helpful force to the transformation of individuals, like Gavin Whyte, and society as a whole. 

Gavin Whyte you are forgiven. Or you should be. I wonder if God would find it unforgivable not to forgive a repentant footballer!

 

note: for the theologically squeamish, this article has nothing to do with Gavin Whyte and God. What he does in that realm is up to him and God. This is about societal forgiveness.

This year's 4 Corners Festival from January 30 - February 10th is all about forgiveness. Info here -  https://4cornersfestival.com 

 

DREAMING SCANDALS

Dreading the scandals of 2019

The celebrity mogul who sexually assaulted a teenage client

The sportsman who throws a punch in a night club

The school principal with porn on his school computer

The politician who frauded their parliamentary allowances

The CEO who sexually harassed her mail boy

The Scandals of 2019

Like the scandals of 2018

With different names in the headlines 

And underneath the photographs

 

Dreaming of the Scandals of 2019

Scandals of forgiveness

Where Republicans and Nationalists forgive the British

For 400 years of brutal Colonialism

And Unionists and Loyalists forgive the Republican terrorists

For the bloody paramilitary campaigns of the Twentieth Century

Like Jesus forgiving those who nailed him to a cross

"...for they don't know what they do"

Scandalous forgiveness

Dreaming of scandals in 2019

Scandals to build a future on.

 

Scandalous Forgiveness - 4 Corners Festival 2019

STOCKMAN AT GENEVA COLLEGE, BEAVER FALLS, PA - FEB 14-15, 2019

Some of you  who live near Geneva Geneva College have been asking for details of my visit in February. Here's the skinny...

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO... U2

February 14th @ 7pm

The Sky Lounge

The title gives me a wide remit but I will be hoping to show a video or two and bring some substance to the library of theology that can be found across U2's catalogue. My thought at the moment is to show their vocational arc from Boy to Songs of Experience but perhaps concentrating on the last two records that reveal so much...

 

That would seem to be the best event for the public to attend but I am speaking again the next morning...

 

TRANSFORMATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: ONE COFFEE AT A TIME

February 15th @ 10.10am

The Sky Lounge

At this talk I will be talking about my reconciliation work in Northern Ireland that is centred on a friendship across the traditional divide with, Catholic priest, Fr Martin Magill. I will be sharing how the simplicity of friendship is a depth charge that ripples all kinds of transformational waves from its centre. I believe that there are clear applications for contemporary America. 

 

I am not imagining that these are advertised as public events so those of you interested should get run touch and I'll bring you in as my guests.

 

 

CLONARD/FITZROY for WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

for the Week of Prayer For Christian Unity

CLONARD/FITZROY FELLOWSHIP 

presents

BROTHER THIERRY

from the Benedictine Monastery in Rostrevor

and

THE STUDENTS OF CALVIN COLLEGE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI

who will show art work from their current study trip to N. Ireland

SUNDAY JANUARY 20, 2019 @ 7pm

FITZROY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, UNIVERSITY STREET, BELFAST

(enter by Rugby Road entrance)

We will talk to and listen to Brother Thierry tells us about the reconciliation ministry of the Benedictine Monastery. We will also hear about Calvin College's trip to N. Ireland in the art that they have been working on inspired by their time in here.

COVERS AND COLLABORATIONS - STOCKI'S JASON ISBELL PLAYLIST

This is a collection of songs that Jason Isbell has done with other artists, for Tribute records and a couple fo live songs from his own releases...

 

INTO THE MYSTIC (LIVE) 

(from Live At Twist & Shout)

covering East Belfast’s finest Van Morrison

 

BLOW WIND BLOW

(from The Musical Mojo of Dr John: A Celebration of mac and His Music)

a New Orleans filled Dr John cover

 

NEW YORK MORNING

(from the Lang Lang album New York Rhapsody)

collaborating with classical pianist Lang Lang to cover Elbow

 

PANCHO AND LEFTY

(from Tecumseh Valley/Pancho and Lefty)

with Elizabeth Cook he takes on Townes Van Zandt

 

I KNOW A LITTLE (LIVE)

(from One More For The Fans)

a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover

 

NOW THAT YOUR DOLLAR BILLS HAVE SPROUTED WINGS

(from Beck Song Reader)

a Beck cover

 

GOD IS A WORKING MAN

(from Southern Family)

contribution to a unique concept album about the American Civil War

 

JOHNNY REB, THAT’S ME

(from You Don’t Know Me: Rediscovering Eddy Arnold)

remembering Eddy Arnold

 

BORN IN THE USA

(from Dead Man’s Town: A Tribute to Born In The USA)

contribution to a tribute covers album of Springsteen’s best selling record

 

I AIN’T EASY TO LOVE

(from Muscle Shoals; Small Town Big Sound0

for this tribute to Muscle Shoals Isbell gets together with John Paul White again but this time Candi Staton of all people anchors the team

 

THINGS THAT I LEAN ON

(from Wynonna & The Big Noise)

guest appearance with Wynonna Judd

 

PRAYER FOR LOVE

(from Welcome To Alabama)

another collaboration, this time with The Kenneth Brian Band

 

OLD FLAME

(from High Cotton; Songs Of Alabama)

another various artists contribution, this time with ex Civil Wars’ John Paul White

 

NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT

(An Album to Benefit The Preservation Hall and The Preservation Hall Outreach Programme)

made popular by Bessie Smith in the late 20s

 

DEEP RIVER BUES 

(from Accomplice One)

guest appearance with Tommy Emmanuel

 

WOODEN SHIPS 

(from Live From The Newport Folk Festival)

a David Crosby cover with David Crosby on vocals and the 400 Unites

 

LIKE A HURRICANE (LIVE)

(from Live From Alabama)

a cover of Neil Young’s classic guitar classic, live with his 400 Units