In his Pentecost 23 sermon John Bluck, retired bishop of Waiapu, looks at the images presented by NZ public figures and wonders if they are credible.  While seeking to be believable are they credible.  Who does God listen to?

"It was a rough couple of weeks for Bill English. He’d just explained his way out of the living expending, family entrusting tangle when a row breaks out over a not very plain tv promo for a programme called Plain English.

"But things are looking up for Bill, unlike Rodney Hyde who usually dances his way lightly through the media wonderland. But he’s been stumbling about in a controversy over his partner’s travel costs and his throwaway lines about the prime minister. He won’t be winning any bonus points this month for nimble footwork.

"Nor will Bishop and now becoming King Brian Tamaki with his claims to divinely bestowed royalty in the Old Testament model of David and oaths of allegiance from followers in the model of the Mafia.

"But Graham Henry will do better because all he has to do to silence the carping from the twilight world of radio talk back is to win a game. And the All Blacks have awon two in a row. Winning is believing.

"It’s hard to become a public figure and be heard in this country. And its even harder to stay credible and believable."

Full text and video links available at www.stmatthews.org.nz.