William Wilberforce - A 'fanatic' who changed the world for the better

I’m sure the word ‘fanatic’ sparks different emotions for all of us.

‘Fanatic’ can be a description of an extremist, even a dangerous person … or not

William Wilberforce, the famous Member of Parliament (MP) was described recently by the Archbishop of Canterbury as the greatest Englishman of the last millennium.

As a Christian and an MP, William Wilberforce led the battle, for 20 years, to abolish the British Slave Trade. He was hated by many because slavery was big business and people ‘in the business’ were strongly against abolition because their livelihood would be threatened.

Nevertheless Wilberforce remained single minded and determined mainly because of his faith in God. Despite numerous defeats of his Bills to abolish the Slave Trade in the House of Commons he persevered.

Eventually the British Slave Trade was abolished in 1807. Wilberforce carried on for another 27 years leading the battle for slavery itself to be abolished. Three days after the abolition of slavery Wilberforce died.

He had battled for almost 50 years to rid the world of this appalling testimony in the history of mankind.

At the height of his battles Wilberforce was described as a ‘fanatic’ by his many opponents. In a speech to the House of Commons, William Wilberforce said;

“If to be feeling alive to all sufferings of my fellow creatures and to be warmed with the desire of relieving their distress, is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.”

What fabulous words from an incredible man.

Lucy Johnson

In the words of Lucy's parents;

''Buried under bandages, wires and tubes galore,

lies a fighter of unmatched strength'

Through my Simplicity Blog today I am asking anyone who reads this to remember in your prayers a little girl fighting for her life in the US.

I’ve got to know Dick Field in the last couple of years through my writing and through Simplicity Blog. Dick works in healthcare in the US military and so we have things in common, not least we are both Grandfathers. Dick’s Grand daughter Lucy Johnson is currently fighting to survive a double lung transplant. Little Lucy is 8 months old and been awaiting a double lung transplant since December.

After the diagnosis of Lucy’s rare lung disease her family were informed shortly after her premature birth that Lucy’s only hope of survival is bilateral lung transplant, and this was performed at St. Louis Children's Hospital just a few days ago. Lucy continues her battle and as Dick says ‘I believe this little girl is being saved for something special.’

There are many people throughout the US and beyond who are now praying for Lucy. Regardless of religious beliefs I ask all readers of Simplicity to find some time to pray for this little girl and ask your friends to do the same.

You can read more about Lucy at this link http://www.carepages.com/AboutCarePage?id=125313 where you can register for updates on Lucy’s condition. Once you have your registration you can search for LucyGwendolynJohnson and you will then be able to access a message board and updates as well as many photos of her short life that has been spent entirely in hospital.

We may not be able to offer hands on practical help for Lucy at this time but we can all pray - and God of course hears us.

True, Good, or Useful ...

Socrates (469 - 399 BC)

Annie and I are indebted to our Christian missionary friends David and Alisan currently working in Namibia for this gem of wisdom. It is for all of us involved in the world of business, leadership and management ... indeed life in general ....

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC) Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said

"Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really"

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor Good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

Early Management Gurus

I’ve been persuaded that the greatest management gurus lived many centuries ago. It seems my management hero Tom Peters was not actually the first one after all!

How about the two pieces of pure wisdom shown below for present day managers? This advice is free and goes back fifteen hundred years and one thousand years.

So often in modern management we think that we must understand absolutely everything before we take any action.

This wonderful ‘old world’ wisdom tells us that we should just simply ‘believe’ and then work to understand, rather than be obsessed with searching for understanding and look for proof of everything before we believe.

To me it’s called having faith in what you feel is ‘right’ in your gut – ‘going with your heart’ as I often describe it.

I cannot see how this can possibly be considered controversial …. But I’m sure some of you will come back to me with a counter view.

Anyway – here is the wisdom – let me know what you think:

“Credo ut intelligam – translation; I believe in order to understand.” - St Augustine of Hippo: (354-430 AD)

“I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand” - Anselm (1033-1109)

And now for something completely different ...

I hope readers of Simplicity Blog enjoy this wonderful Alan Jackson version of one of my favorite hymns 'How Great Thou Art' - it is beautiful - and it reminds me of the wonder of God.

Sound advice

Three simple bits of advice from the sermon today in our local church. I suggest this could be the mission statement of all managers and leaders in business:

Quick to Listen

Slow to Speak

Slow to Anger

Irate mother punishes 61-year-old son

One of the funniest stories from Nicky Gumbel last Sunday was about how we all need to 'grow up' spiritually. He related this wonderful story from Italy. You can see the original story by clicking here

An irate mother took the house keys and allowance away from her 61-year-old son because he did not come home when he was supposed to and did not tell her where he was going when he went out.

According to the La Sicilia daily, the 81-year-old mother even went to the police in her home town of Caltagirone to ask them to convince her “hard-headed” son to “behave correctly with his mamma”.

The son replied that it was his mother who behaved badly and added that “my weekly allowance isn’t enough… and she doesn’t even cook well”.

After locking her son out of their home, the mother told police that “my son doesn’t respect me, he never tells me where he goes at night and comes home at all hours”.

“I was forced to punish him by taking away his keys and locking him out after he yet again came home late at night. He always complains about my cooking and this just couldn’t go on,” she added.

According to the son, “it’s not my fault. She always treats me badly. I’m unemployed and the allowance she gives me isn’t enough. And her cooking is really awful!”.

A policeman was able to convince the mother and son to reconcile and they returned home together, where the son was given back his keys and allowance.

Wonderful - thank you Nicky!

Gordon Brown, Nicky Gumbel and The Proms - all in four days!

Apologies for lack of posting – It's been very hectic for a few days

Brilliant weekend – Annie and I went to Hyde Park, London to see the BBC Proms in the Park on Saturday evening and then saw Nicky Gumbel speak at Holy Trinity, Brompton on Sunday morning.

Also heard this great quote form Prime Minister Gordon Brown who I had the immense pleasure of meeting last Thursday.

"Children may only be 20% of our population but they are 100% of our future"

I like that.

This says it all don't you think?

A Bug's (After) Life

Something completely different this week for the Audio Blog. Annie and I are performing a short drama sketch at Church on Easter Sunday and you can here it in this Audio Blog. The sketch is called 'A Bug's (After) Life' and it lasts 3 minutes and 7 seconds. I hope our American friends don’t get too thrown by the Cockney accents!! We did the same sketch last year and the picture is from Easter 2006 performance. Enjoy.



MP3 File

The Desert

One of the best things that has happened to me since I left the corporate world of healthcare and became independent is that I have made many 'virtual friends' all over the world.

One such person from the United States is Dan Ward with whom I regularly exchange thoughts on all matters!

Dan and I share a passion for simplicity.

He has written a number of short books in the last couple of years.

Dan recently sent me the manuscript of his latest book The Desert which is a great read. I read it on a train journey so in an afternoon you can sit and read this little masterpiece while enjoying a glass (or two) of wine sitting in the sun in the garden.

I hope Simplicity readers will take a look and maybe consider buying it - you will not be disappointed and I’m sure you will enjoy Dan’s engaging writing style.

This what Dan says:

‘I just wanted to let you know that my latest book The Desert is finished. It is a happy little collection of stories and reflections about grace, difficulty, faith, joy and love. It offers an optimistic perspective of life, based on the reality of God's goodness. You can read more about it at by clicking here'

What if?

What if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we travelled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we upgraded to include 24/7 tech service from the Holy Spirit?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phones, we don't ever have to worry about our bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!

The David Greeff Beatitudes 2007!

My friend David Greeff has posted such a wonderful comment to the post about the Beatitudes I wanted to publish it as a posting in its own right.

David has produced a 21st Century adaptation of the Beatitudes that we might want to apply in business and work.

As far as I am concerned they are brilliant and I would love to have your comments.

It would make sense to read the original Beatitudes first followed by what I will call from now on the David Greeff Beatitudes 2007!

Fulfilled are those who are not ambitious,
For they will have ultimate success.
Fulfilled are those who admit their wrongs and make amends,
For they shall be forgiven.
Fulfilled are those on the lowest rung,
For they shall have recompense from God.
Fulfilled are those who strive to do the right thing,
Right will indeed come to them.
Fulfilled are those who are fair,
For they shall be treated justly.
Fulfilled are those with clean consciences,
For they shall receive what they deserve.
Fulfilled are the catalysts of harmony,
For they shall be called God’s people.
Fulfilled are those who suffer because they have done the right thing,
For theirs is an unspeakable reward.
Fulfilled are you when you are insulted and mocked, because of association with me (Jesus) and this teaching.
Be deeply and inwardly at peace, for life is infinitely more than the world and work, and everyone who has lived like this for God has experienced the very same.

The Beatitudes

My good friend Troy Worman from the US published the Beatitudes on his excellent Blog Orbit Now at this link http://troyworman.com/wordpress/

It reminds me how much we can still draw from the greatest book ever written

How wonderful in the modern world we still see this as perhaps the greatest wisdom even though it was preached over 2000 years ago.

The message is as true in business as in our lives – please think about it whether you are or not a Christian.

The Beatitudes

1And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
2Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.