Adrian Plass: 'looking good, feeling bad'

I attended an evening with Adrian Plass, the author of a sacred diary of Adrian Plass aged 37 3/4 (followed by another edition aged 45 3/4) He is a gifted and humerous speaker with a helpful obsession with 'trivial pursuits', being naturally playful, light-hearted, flippant indeed frivolous. A man after my own heart.

It was part of Blokes Tour hosted by the Coign.

It was a great evening enhanced by having free beer and nibbles in the break and a free book at the end. (I like freebies) He suggested that there should be Christian men's magazines: 'PrayBoy', 'Repenthouse' and 'Amen Only'

I particularly liked his helpful suggestions for would be charismatics who do not have 'the gift' It is possible to act as if and get away with it. This is from his book 'Looking Good, feeling bad - the subtle art of churchmanship' which I picked up on the bookstall A pdf version is available.

The Art of Speaking in tongues.

All you have to do is recite the names of the Sri Lankan cricket team from the early 90s. Give it a go...... in a 'dull monotone in a prayer meeting' or 'delivered boldly with a slight slurring'

Marvan Atapattu

Sanath Jayasuriya

Hashan Tillakaratne

Suresh Perera

Aravinda de Silva

Romesh Kaluwitharana

Muthia Muralitharan

Kumara Dharmasena

Artuna Ranatunga

Mahela Jaywardena

He goes on to write:

A colleague and acquaintance of mine actually had his recitation

of the Sri Lankan cricket team interpreted by the lady next to him

as a call from God to build a community launderette in the village of

Cowfold in Sussex.

The world needs such wise-fools as Adrian Plass. Interesting that he and his wife ahve now shifted to Scargill House in N Yorks to help in its ressurection as a retreat and conference centre.