Carl, Platty and the magic mystery tour bus

I think we're all enjoying Carl's climbdown over the celebrities, now kissing the hands he once used to bite. I've not got a dog in this fight, I don't even know most of the people at the conference. David Platt was one of the best central midfielders in the 90s for England and the fact that he's now plying his trade in American church life is fantastic.

However, I do think we want to say that these men who are well known speakers and leaders should be honoured as all Christian leaders should be. But they must also allow themselves to be mocked gently. The fact that Matt Chandler has a tour bus for his forthcoming tour is hysterical. I don't know him from Adam but I hope even he can see that is funny. He may well need it and I'm sure it is an essential when you are doing a multi state, big venues tour to promote a book. But if you do it you must allow yourself to be lampooned.

Sometimes I fear it's like the time I got my parents to buy me cowboy boots for Christmas and my brothers mocked me so mercilessly I never wore them again after Christmas Day. If you're going to start wearing cowboy boots round South Wales don't get upset when someone starts to take the mick.

If you have tours to promote books, put yourself out there on tour  and appear in trendy videos you surely have to expect some pushback.

Now having said all that if I am invited onto the platform of T4G 2014 I'm willing to retract this piece.