Tony Blair became Prime Minister a few months before Cathie and I moved to Houghton le Spring to work with Bethany Christian Centre.  He has presided over an interesting decade, hasn't he?  Just compare a photograph of Tony Blair's face ten years ago with one taken recently; that is the cost of ten years worth of eighteen hour days on top of seven crises a week.

The world loves to hate and to criticise, and Christians all too quickly join in the chorus, we are more worldly than we think.  So when people pour out their hatred and scorn of people like Tony Blair I try not to get swept along.  Ten years ago we asked him to lead our nation and he has done so to the best of his understanding and ability - I believe that Christians should honour this and give credit where it is due.

Try a simple excercise in creative imagination; put ourselves in his shoes.  A princess has just died and the nation is starting to turn on the royal family; you must do something, what?  People are waiting two years for joint replacements; you must help them, how?  Bhagdad may have a chemical weapon that could reach Tel Aviv, they may use it, Bush wants to go in but he needs your help; you must deal with the bad guys, how?  Protestant and Catholic are killing each other in Northern Ireland; you have to cut a deal that will end it all, you must make the first move, what?

I find it astonishing that anyone would want to do this job.  Even more amazing is the list of talented and creative people who have stepped up to the plate, only to be insulted and derided by people like us.  The Apostle Paul was subject to political leadership that was apalling by our standards yet he tells us to "Pray for the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God."  Thank God that he has been so kind to us... we could have got Nero!