Friday, December 16, 2005
Family News Christmas 2005
We ended 2004 with some mixed reactions as Alison appeared to be in good health, but her father was not. 2005 started with a reversal with Alison’s dad showing great signs of improvement, returning to be at home after more than three months in hospital, but regretfully Alison had bad news that her tumour had returned.
Alison’s dad’s recovery has been amazing and he is probably fitter now than at any time during the last three or four years. He will be joining us for Christmas for a few days and absolutely insists on driving up from Bournemouth to north of Bristol - about 2 1/2 hours. An operation to clear up glaucoma now means he sees a lot better and doesn’t need his glasses so much as well.
Although Alison appeared to be doing so well she experienced some unusual sensations late in the year (2004) which lead the GP to arrange for a scan and an earlier than expected visit to see the oncologist. She was told the tumour had returned in two places and that either surgery or chemotherapy would be needed. In the end a 36 week course of chemotherapy started in January and finished in October, consisting of periods of treatment lasting for 10 days then four weeks recovery and so on. The chemotherapy was self administered apart from the first day in hospital and a morning of tests followed by an intravenous kick-start. Alison has kept well throughout, apart from a loss of appetite and energy but, unlike the first time six years ago with the radiotherapy, hair loss has been minimal - great news!!!! This has also meant we have been able to explore all means of recovery including seeking God for healing.
Although the final hospital session was delayed due to her blood count being low, the scan in October showed the treatment had been successful, but Alison will need to return to hospital every three months for further scans and oncology appointments.
Holidays, as you would expect, have been tricky to have this year but we have managed a week away in June near Stratford, where among other things we “did” Shakespeare and Warwick Castle (highly recommended), and later in October we rented a cottage in sleepy Devon near Totnes.
Alison remains very tired most of the time, something she has not really been able to overcome since the operation in 1999, and consequently the GP has suggested she does not try and return to work at M&S until February at least.
Meanwhile, Jim has been keeping up with a very heavy workload with the housing association and what with one thing and another had a problem with high blood pressure in the summer. However, a full MOT undertaken by BUPA revealed no underlying heart condition - in fact he was told he was actually quite well really - but should take more exercise and lunch breaks!!!!! Although the programme of new housing contracts has increased dramatically this year Jim is the only full time member of staff in his department as the Director started on a three day week to fulfil other private commercial interests and other staff work part time. Life is tricksy. The other major project this year has been the redecoration of our second bathroom, once our lodger left, and because of Jim’s real enjoyment of this sort of work it took rather longer to complete than expected!!!!
None of our lads have long term girlfriends and it seems that other interests for the time being are more important. Indeed Tom has taken up off road cycling and will even cycle to work most days even in winter. Weekends will often find him playing football on Saturday mornings and off during the afternoons to the some wild and bumpy place to cycle. He remains in work with a graphics company in south Bristol but is beginning to look for other things, as he feels that as he is primarily a people person, sitting in from of a computer screen all day is not for him to do for ever.
Chaz graduated from Northampton University in July with a 2/1 BA Hons in Fine Art and has sold a number of paintings already which are both sizeable in scale and income. He is off to Manchester in January for fame and fortune in the arts world. Meanwhile having not had a proper holiday since before Uni he flew to Australia in September before moving on to New Zealand and then back to Oz for Christmas. He will be leaving for the UK on Boxing Day hopefully arriving in time for a close friend’s wedding on 29th December in London.
Our youngest son Peter has surprised us all by working full time for a Christian organisation and he is now in his third year. The first two years were spent in Birmingham and from September he moved to nearby Thornbury. Much of his time is spent helping with school assemblies, youth clubs and training programmes particularly with young offenders, whilst also doing evangelism work in night clubs. He works as a volunteer with no direct income so if you would like to offer some form of sponsor-ship please do get in touch.
Tom and Pete play for the same football team now - the first time in the last 20 years (since Tom started when he was seven years old) so its been fun to go and watch them occasionally. We get visits from both lads during the week at odd times, with Tom often popping in after football training for a hug and to see what’s in the fridge!!!
We have really enjoyed having a daughter for the last year. Lauren, a young women from South Africa, came to stay with us for one month and stayed a year! She is now living in a shared house in Thornbury, but will be returning to her beloved Africa early in January. Alison particularly has enjoyed another female in the house after all these years with Jim and the boys; Nancy the cat after all, does not quite have the same interest in chick flicks, shopping and talking about clothes. We have got on together really well and its also been great to see the interaction between Lauren and her new brothers.
There is so much still to be grateful for.
Happy Christmas,
compliments of the season
and praying the best for you for 2006.
Jim, Alison and the lads.
Alison’s dad’s recovery has been amazing and he is probably fitter now than at any time during the last three or four years. He will be joining us for Christmas for a few days and absolutely insists on driving up from Bournemouth to north of Bristol - about 2 1/2 hours. An operation to clear up glaucoma now means he sees a lot better and doesn’t need his glasses so much as well.
Although Alison appeared to be doing so well she experienced some unusual sensations late in the year (2004) which lead the GP to arrange for a scan and an earlier than expected visit to see the oncologist. She was told the tumour had returned in two places and that either surgery or chemotherapy would be needed. In the end a 36 week course of chemotherapy started in January and finished in October, consisting of periods of treatment lasting for 10 days then four weeks recovery and so on. The chemotherapy was self administered apart from the first day in hospital and a morning of tests followed by an intravenous kick-start. Alison has kept well throughout, apart from a loss of appetite and energy but, unlike the first time six years ago with the radiotherapy, hair loss has been minimal - great news!!!! This has also meant we have been able to explore all means of recovery including seeking God for healing.
Although the final hospital session was delayed due to her blood count being low, the scan in October showed the treatment had been successful, but Alison will need to return to hospital every three months for further scans and oncology appointments.
Holidays, as you would expect, have been tricky to have this year but we have managed a week away in June near Stratford, where among other things we “did” Shakespeare and Warwick Castle (highly recommended), and later in October we rented a cottage in sleepy Devon near Totnes.
Alison remains very tired most of the time, something she has not really been able to overcome since the operation in 1999, and consequently the GP has suggested she does not try and return to work at M&S until February at least.
Meanwhile, Jim has been keeping up with a very heavy workload with the housing association and what with one thing and another had a problem with high blood pressure in the summer. However, a full MOT undertaken by BUPA revealed no underlying heart condition - in fact he was told he was actually quite well really - but should take more exercise and lunch breaks!!!!! Although the programme of new housing contracts has increased dramatically this year Jim is the only full time member of staff in his department as the Director started on a three day week to fulfil other private commercial interests and other staff work part time. Life is tricksy. The other major project this year has been the redecoration of our second bathroom, once our lodger left, and because of Jim’s real enjoyment of this sort of work it took rather longer to complete than expected!!!!
None of our lads have long term girlfriends and it seems that other interests for the time being are more important. Indeed Tom has taken up off road cycling and will even cycle to work most days even in winter. Weekends will often find him playing football on Saturday mornings and off during the afternoons to the some wild and bumpy place to cycle. He remains in work with a graphics company in south Bristol but is beginning to look for other things, as he feels that as he is primarily a people person, sitting in from of a computer screen all day is not for him to do for ever.
Chaz graduated from Northampton University in July with a 2/1 BA Hons in Fine Art and has sold a number of paintings already which are both sizeable in scale and income. He is off to Manchester in January for fame and fortune in the arts world. Meanwhile having not had a proper holiday since before Uni he flew to Australia in September before moving on to New Zealand and then back to Oz for Christmas. He will be leaving for the UK on Boxing Day hopefully arriving in time for a close friend’s wedding on 29th December in London.
Our youngest son Peter has surprised us all by working full time for a Christian organisation and he is now in his third year. The first two years were spent in Birmingham and from September he moved to nearby Thornbury. Much of his time is spent helping with school assemblies, youth clubs and training programmes particularly with young offenders, whilst also doing evangelism work in night clubs. He works as a volunteer with no direct income so if you would like to offer some form of sponsor-ship please do get in touch.
Tom and Pete play for the same football team now - the first time in the last 20 years (since Tom started when he was seven years old) so its been fun to go and watch them occasionally. We get visits from both lads during the week at odd times, with Tom often popping in after football training for a hug and to see what’s in the fridge!!!
We have really enjoyed having a daughter for the last year. Lauren, a young women from South Africa, came to stay with us for one month and stayed a year! She is now living in a shared house in Thornbury, but will be returning to her beloved Africa early in January. Alison particularly has enjoyed another female in the house after all these years with Jim and the boys; Nancy the cat after all, does not quite have the same interest in chick flicks, shopping and talking about clothes. We have got on together really well and its also been great to see the interaction between Lauren and her new brothers.
There is so much still to be grateful for.
Happy Christmas,
compliments of the season
and praying the best for you for 2006.
Jim, Alison and the lads.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Breath
The breath of your Holy Spirit
Delicately blows on my unbelief and fear
and like the wispy smoke of a smouldering candle
takes it away
in a drift of disintegrating translucent fingers.
Memories only of a flame that was:
But the aroma of the flame lingers:
And the aroma of your love lingers
to remind me of your care,
your comforting.
And this says to me I should allow the flame of the candle to be lit again
To enjoy its warmth, its beauty, its fragrance
to remind me
that the aroma of your love is more than just a memory,
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
History Just Doesn't Happen
I live in a small English village where community activities are central to the life of the community – but only if you take part!
The annual “Village Play”, a few years ago, tackled an awe inspiring subject of the people who lived in our villages over the last two millennia and who, by taking part, made history.
It was interesting to see that our villages were crossroads for many people whose lives are memorable because of the way in which they have touched history in spiritual ways; Augustine, George Fox, Wesley and others.
Tyndale was a history maker. I doubt he realised this at the time. He was so consumed by his passionate love for God and his overwhelming desire to translate the bible, that he forged a path for many to follow in making the bible accessible to ordinary people. He succeeded in his task, but, paid for it with his life.
The history we produce may not be so dynamic, but each generation lays down foundations for the next to build on.
Records of previous events keep us in touch with past momentous and every day events which become history when they affect our lives now. I have forgotten who said “Ignore history at your peril”, but the sentiment is that the present is guided by the past and that understanding past events helps us to understand what’s happening around us now.
God is interested in history too. Recall all those genealogies. Celebrations of Christmas and Easter may appear to some to be outmoded events, but remembering them continues to point us towards a God who involves himself in history and the present day. God revealed himself to Moses with the name Yahweh, “I am who I am”, also translated “I was, I am, I will be” – showing that God was the Lord of the past, the present and the future. Jesus often spoke in a way to indicate his presence with people would continue and indeed he promises just that in Matthew 28 v 20 “Surely I am with you always”
As we remember the events which have shaped our lives it is good to give room for God to make his story relevant for us so that we can face the days ahead knowing our story is linked with His.
The annual “Village Play”, a few years ago, tackled an awe inspiring subject of the people who lived in our villages over the last two millennia and who, by taking part, made history.
It was interesting to see that our villages were crossroads for many people whose lives are memorable because of the way in which they have touched history in spiritual ways; Augustine, George Fox, Wesley and others.
Tyndale was a history maker. I doubt he realised this at the time. He was so consumed by his passionate love for God and his overwhelming desire to translate the bible, that he forged a path for many to follow in making the bible accessible to ordinary people. He succeeded in his task, but, paid for it with his life.
The history we produce may not be so dynamic, but each generation lays down foundations for the next to build on.
Records of previous events keep us in touch with past momentous and every day events which become history when they affect our lives now. I have forgotten who said “Ignore history at your peril”, but the sentiment is that the present is guided by the past and that understanding past events helps us to understand what’s happening around us now.
God is interested in history too. Recall all those genealogies. Celebrations of Christmas and Easter may appear to some to be outmoded events, but remembering them continues to point us towards a God who involves himself in history and the present day. God revealed himself to Moses with the name Yahweh, “I am who I am”, also translated “I was, I am, I will be” – showing that God was the Lord of the past, the present and the future. Jesus often spoke in a way to indicate his presence with people would continue and indeed he promises just that in Matthew 28 v 20 “Surely I am with you always”
As we remember the events which have shaped our lives it is good to give room for God to make his story relevant for us so that we can face the days ahead knowing our story is linked with His.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Turtle Island
The relentless sun beat down on the holiday makers clustered on the quayside waiting for the treat of the week – a leisurely cruise on the Aegean.
We looked forward to the gentle sea breezes, promises of dolphin sightings, ports with ancient Greek character, an afternoon swim in the warm crystal clear waters and a look at Turtle Island.
“So why is it called Turtle Island?” we asked with the expectation rising of wading ashore onto some white sun kissed, palm fringed, sandy beach to commune with turtles doing what turtles do.
“No!” came the answer, “just snakes and a few goats”.
Our romantic balloon burst, but maybe we would see dolphins, we thought.
The first part of the boat trip went well with plenty of shade on the boat, lovely breezes and pleasant conversation with new friends. But no dolphins.
After an hour or so the boat sailed by a ragged outcrop of an island with a few small trees and scrub bushes, but no exotic sandy beaches and certainly no turtles. So this was Turtle Island; it was hard to understand why it had been mentioned on the cruise itinerary.
Still no dolphins.
The cruise continued and after a while the ship arrived at the harbour of a town set into the hillside where we enjoyed a leisurely break, partook of local hospitality and wondered whether the Greeks enjoyed playing tricks on the gullible tourists. No turtles and no dolphins.
Once more we set sail passing the rocky island in a different direction and then – no not dolphins – but we saw the reason for the naming of the island. As we sailed along the southern shore, but far enough away to see the whole island from end to end it became clear.
The island is shaped, quite remarkably, just like a turtle. Every proportion being correct. You could make out a head, pokey out feet, a large humpy back and a sticky out pointed tail.
There for all to see – Turtle Island.
It would have been very easy to miss the spectacle. If it was approached from the wrong direction, there would be nothing much to see, one might even turn around and return home either totally unaware of its existence or having set out as we did, with a promise, end up being disappointed.
Life can be like that. It so often depends on your perspective. How you see an issue is determined by the way you look at it.
To many, at the time, the death of Jesus on the Cross was a triumph of the establishment over a rebellious zealot while others were devastated at their personal loss. But within a short distance of time, the same people had to reconsider their perspective in the light of God’s intervention.
The visit to Turtle Island reminded me of God’s intervention in my own life and how, with His help, my perspective on life can be different.
Oh, and in case you ask, no dolphins.
We looked forward to the gentle sea breezes, promises of dolphin sightings, ports with ancient Greek character, an afternoon swim in the warm crystal clear waters and a look at Turtle Island.
“So why is it called Turtle Island?” we asked with the expectation rising of wading ashore onto some white sun kissed, palm fringed, sandy beach to commune with turtles doing what turtles do.
“No!” came the answer, “just snakes and a few goats”.
Our romantic balloon burst, but maybe we would see dolphins, we thought.
The first part of the boat trip went well with plenty of shade on the boat, lovely breezes and pleasant conversation with new friends. But no dolphins.
After an hour or so the boat sailed by a ragged outcrop of an island with a few small trees and scrub bushes, but no exotic sandy beaches and certainly no turtles. So this was Turtle Island; it was hard to understand why it had been mentioned on the cruise itinerary.
Still no dolphins.
The cruise continued and after a while the ship arrived at the harbour of a town set into the hillside where we enjoyed a leisurely break, partook of local hospitality and wondered whether the Greeks enjoyed playing tricks on the gullible tourists. No turtles and no dolphins.
Once more we set sail passing the rocky island in a different direction and then – no not dolphins – but we saw the reason for the naming of the island. As we sailed along the southern shore, but far enough away to see the whole island from end to end it became clear.
The island is shaped, quite remarkably, just like a turtle. Every proportion being correct. You could make out a head, pokey out feet, a large humpy back and a sticky out pointed tail.
There for all to see – Turtle Island.
It would have been very easy to miss the spectacle. If it was approached from the wrong direction, there would be nothing much to see, one might even turn around and return home either totally unaware of its existence or having set out as we did, with a promise, end up being disappointed.
Life can be like that. It so often depends on your perspective. How you see an issue is determined by the way you look at it.
To many, at the time, the death of Jesus on the Cross was a triumph of the establishment over a rebellious zealot while others were devastated at their personal loss. But within a short distance of time, the same people had to reconsider their perspective in the light of God’s intervention.
The visit to Turtle Island reminded me of God’s intervention in my own life and how, with His help, my perspective on life can be different.
Oh, and in case you ask, no dolphins.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Rainbow
A pot of gold
At rainbows end
A blend of colours
A loop of light across the sky
Rain speckled
Sun streaked
The emerald halo
Emerges from out of the mist
To embrace its own little world
From end to end.
Rain and sun together
A partnership
Of water and light
Droplets hanging in mid air
Searching for every bit of light
To catch
Bend
And catapult out again
Sending thousands of light crystals
To dance before their God.
Have you tried to chase a rainbow
Running fast to catch
Where it falls to earth
But surprise is all you'll find
For that bow of light
Laughs at you
Twinkles
And moves on
Always just beyond
Where it ought to be.
For you see
The rainbow is not up for grabs
Not for personal gratification
He put it there
For pleasure for all to see
A promise and a sign
Of justice and reconciliation
So share with me
The enjoyment of it all
And the knowledge of his love
And a participation in the Creator's handiwork.
At rainbows end
A blend of colours
A loop of light across the sky
Rain speckled
Sun streaked
The emerald halo
Emerges from out of the mist
To embrace its own little world
From end to end.
Rain and sun together
A partnership
Of water and light
Droplets hanging in mid air
Searching for every bit of light
To catch
Bend
And catapult out again
Sending thousands of light crystals
To dance before their God.
Have you tried to chase a rainbow
Running fast to catch
Where it falls to earth
But surprise is all you'll find
For that bow of light
Laughs at you
Twinkles
And moves on
Always just beyond
Where it ought to be.
For you see
The rainbow is not up for grabs
Not for personal gratification
He put it there
For pleasure for all to see
A promise and a sign
Of justice and reconciliation
So share with me
The enjoyment of it all
And the knowledge of his love
And a participation in the Creator's handiwork.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Motivation
Have you ever sat back and thought why should I do this or that.
What are the consequences if I do something differently. Who will benefit? Is there a benefit? Will it grind to a halt if I’m not involved?
There are times when assessing ”where we’re at” can be helpful to ensure which things/matters/events/concerns are right to pursue and those which are right to put to one side either permanently or for a time.
The assessment can be undertaken quite legitimately on the basis of one’s own need or in the light of corporate pressures to ensure there is value and quality in what we’re trying to achieve.
So it comes down to a basic question of what is my motivation. Where is the passion or driving force that stirred the emotions or desire to instigate that particular course of action or to become involved?
Rediscovering what motivates us is like a medicine or tonic. Rejuvenating the mind, restoring the soul and stirring the spirit.
There are times when just identifying the source of our motivation is enough to provide a sense of well being. Feeling good about ourselves and having a positive self image is just as important as being busy.
After all as a friend of mine says “we are human be-ings not human do-ings”.
There are obviously positive and negative things that motivate us, but, for each of us to look to achieve something of eternal worth and value, its important to feel good about ourselves and be secure.
The Bible records these words in John’s Letter “God is love and the one who abides (or rests) in love abides (or rests) in God and God’s love abides (or rests) in them.
To know we are loved by God must surely be the greatest motivation.
Father God, after all, was so motivated by his love for us that he asked Jesus to come into the world to demonstrate and personify that love.
What are the consequences if I do something differently. Who will benefit? Is there a benefit? Will it grind to a halt if I’m not involved?
There are times when assessing ”where we’re at” can be helpful to ensure which things/matters/events/concerns are right to pursue and those which are right to put to one side either permanently or for a time.
The assessment can be undertaken quite legitimately on the basis of one’s own need or in the light of corporate pressures to ensure there is value and quality in what we’re trying to achieve.
So it comes down to a basic question of what is my motivation. Where is the passion or driving force that stirred the emotions or desire to instigate that particular course of action or to become involved?
Rediscovering what motivates us is like a medicine or tonic. Rejuvenating the mind, restoring the soul and stirring the spirit.
There are times when just identifying the source of our motivation is enough to provide a sense of well being. Feeling good about ourselves and having a positive self image is just as important as being busy.
After all as a friend of mine says “we are human be-ings not human do-ings”.
There are obviously positive and negative things that motivate us, but, for each of us to look to achieve something of eternal worth and value, its important to feel good about ourselves and be secure.
The Bible records these words in John’s Letter “God is love and the one who abides (or rests) in love abides (or rests) in God and God’s love abides (or rests) in them.
To know we are loved by God must surely be the greatest motivation.
Father God, after all, was so motivated by his love for us that he asked Jesus to come into the world to demonstrate and personify that love.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
A Taste of Fish
In an article in The Sunday Times of 28th September 2003 it was reported that fish and plant oils in supplement form could assist in providing improvements in reading age and numeracy for children of primary school age.
The study, in schools in County Durham, England, showed a number of remarkable improvements in the reading age of nine year olds who had been selected for the study for showing slight difficulties in learning, memory, concentration, co-ordination and other behavioural factors.
The study was conducted using a placebo group to compare children taking the supplement with those who weren’t. Although not all children being given the supplements showed an improvement there was such a significant change in some that all the children were put on the supplements by the research team for a further three months
The Sunday Times reported that Dr Madeleine Portwood, a psychologist with Durham education authority, suggested that “...it is possible that adults may also benefit”.
The UK Food Standards Agency recommends salmon, trout and mackerel for people looking to increase their intake of fish oils, however, it has also warned the public recently that some fish can contain high levels of mercury and dioxins.
In a separate article a well known British consumer magazine reported in 2002 that two high street “names” selling health food supplements had to remove cod liver oil products from its shelves due to excessive heavy metal contamination.
Some authorities suggest that it is difficult to take sufficient quantities of oils, or essential fatty acids as they are known in medical circles, without supplementation. But how does one choose a safe supplement when even what you can buy over the counter may contain “safe” levels of heavy metal contamination?
Medical doctors and dieticians are increasingly aware of the differences in quality and effectiveness of products which merely meet basic food standards and those manufactured to pharmaceutical (USP & BP) requirements of purity, absorption and bio-availability.
The study, in schools in County Durham, England, showed a number of remarkable improvements in the reading age of nine year olds who had been selected for the study for showing slight difficulties in learning, memory, concentration, co-ordination and other behavioural factors.
The study was conducted using a placebo group to compare children taking the supplement with those who weren’t. Although not all children being given the supplements showed an improvement there was such a significant change in some that all the children were put on the supplements by the research team for a further three months
The Sunday Times reported that Dr Madeleine Portwood, a psychologist with Durham education authority, suggested that “...it is possible that adults may also benefit”.
The UK Food Standards Agency recommends salmon, trout and mackerel for people looking to increase their intake of fish oils, however, it has also warned the public recently that some fish can contain high levels of mercury and dioxins.
In a separate article a well known British consumer magazine reported in 2002 that two high street “names” selling health food supplements had to remove cod liver oil products from its shelves due to excessive heavy metal contamination.
Some authorities suggest that it is difficult to take sufficient quantities of oils, or essential fatty acids as they are known in medical circles, without supplementation. But how does one choose a safe supplement when even what you can buy over the counter may contain “safe” levels of heavy metal contamination?
Medical doctors and dieticians are increasingly aware of the differences in quality and effectiveness of products which merely meet basic food standards and those manufactured to pharmaceutical (USP & BP) requirements of purity, absorption and bio-availability.
I Like Stories
Even though I can’t actually remember my parents reading me any stories when I was young I’m sure they did. When my sons were small there was nothing I enjoyed better, at the end of a busy day, than to sit up on the sofa or in one of their beds and read to them. Sometimes it was just one short story and other times it would be a chapter of a popular book.
One holiday in Wales the weather was appalling with day after day of rain and so we started to read one of Arthur Ransome’s adventure books. Each one of our three lads would sit enthralled as I read chapter after chapter with each character having a different voice. However did I remember which person went with each voice?
Anybody who has read to young children will know how important it is to keep to the right story line. You may read the same story over and over again and just when you think they are dropping off to sleep and you skip a few lines or even a whole chapter to get to the end of the book, a little dreamy voice says “you missed a bit”. Oh well back to script.
I also sometimes made up my own storyline with a little bit of mystery, a pet, some friends and an ordinary day turning into something extraordinary - now where have come across that before? I would sometimes even tell a story with one of the lads or all three as the main characters - how they loved that!
Remembering all this has lead me to reflect on my own story and the part others have played in writing it. There are some who I value greatly and others who, quite frankly, I wish had never been part of my life. But my story is made up of good things and some not so pleasant; that’s what life is.
There are plenty of biblical characters with some amazing stories but I often think how on earth did that person’s story come to be in the “holy” bible, surely it should only contain references to upright, honest and holy people. What of Moses the murderer, David the adulterer, Peter the denier, Thomas the doubter.
I’m glad though that it doesn’t. My story is reflected in those of many in the bible who ultimately found their place in God; loved by Jesus and worked on by the Holy Spirit and adopted by the heavenly Father.
My story has some unfinished chapters - I am a work in progress, as they say, so how about yours?
One holiday in Wales the weather was appalling with day after day of rain and so we started to read one of Arthur Ransome’s adventure books. Each one of our three lads would sit enthralled as I read chapter after chapter with each character having a different voice. However did I remember which person went with each voice?
Anybody who has read to young children will know how important it is to keep to the right story line. You may read the same story over and over again and just when you think they are dropping off to sleep and you skip a few lines or even a whole chapter to get to the end of the book, a little dreamy voice says “you missed a bit”. Oh well back to script.
I also sometimes made up my own storyline with a little bit of mystery, a pet, some friends and an ordinary day turning into something extraordinary - now where have come across that before? I would sometimes even tell a story with one of the lads or all three as the main characters - how they loved that!
Remembering all this has lead me to reflect on my own story and the part others have played in writing it. There are some who I value greatly and others who, quite frankly, I wish had never been part of my life. But my story is made up of good things and some not so pleasant; that’s what life is.
There are plenty of biblical characters with some amazing stories but I often think how on earth did that person’s story come to be in the “holy” bible, surely it should only contain references to upright, honest and holy people. What of Moses the murderer, David the adulterer, Peter the denier, Thomas the doubter.
I’m glad though that it doesn’t. My story is reflected in those of many in the bible who ultimately found their place in God; loved by Jesus and worked on by the Holy Spirit and adopted by the heavenly Father.
My story has some unfinished chapters - I am a work in progress, as they say, so how about yours?
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
An Ode to a Fly or Fly Noon
Is it fiction or is it fact
The story of a fly
With a ten gallon hat.
Can I hear a western drawl
Coming from
The fly walking across the wall.
Myth and moth call out the name
Of the fly
Who is the insects modern John Wayne.
When he zooms across the sky
All the world
Stops to admire our cowboy fly.
He fights for the right and the just.
Bang! bang!
One more spider bites the dust.
He is the fastest on the draw.
Our six legged hero
Has just increased his score.
Spiders and earwigs,
when breaking the law,
Should keep a low profile
Or you’ll breathe no more.
The story of a fly
With a ten gallon hat.
Can I hear a western drawl
Coming from
The fly walking across the wall.
Myth and moth call out the name
Of the fly
Who is the insects modern John Wayne.
When he zooms across the sky
All the world
Stops to admire our cowboy fly.
He fights for the right and the just.
Bang! bang!
One more spider bites the dust.
He is the fastest on the draw.
Our six legged hero
Has just increased his score.
Spiders and earwigs,
when breaking the law,
Should keep a low profile
Or you’ll breathe no more.
For In Her Eyes
“I don’t believe in God you know”
Said the architect to me
“I build my buildings just
For other men to see
And so I build them very high
So men like you will stop and stare
What matters is the way it looks
And not the people living there”
Well I’ve never built a building
And I’ve never planned a plan
But I’ve wondered where the stones came from
That were never made by man
You can’t believe that Jesus stuff
Said a scientist I knew
The facts are not explainable
And therefore are untrue.
For man is mainly water
And water’s H2O
A scientist can split a cell
As far as it will go
But you can only get so far
Dissecting bit by bit
And when you’ve split the world in two
There’s nothing left to split
You can’t believe in Jesus Christ
Said Pilate in my dream
I had him killed, oh years ago
To keep the city clean
Its true we had to bribe some guards
And persecute a few
And most left Jerusalem
And that’s the last I knew
And suddenly the scientist
Was also in my dream
And by him stood the architect
With Pilate in between
And by each one stood Jesus Christ
And then a woman came
A prostitute from Magdala
They certified insane
And Mary Magdalene spoke
And each man watched her eyes
Which spoke much more than words of truth
Where they had spoken lies
So split the atom, clone a sheep,
Or build your buildings high.
But do not ask me what you saw
In Mary Magdalene’s eye.
Said the architect to me
“I build my buildings just
For other men to see
And so I build them very high
So men like you will stop and stare
What matters is the way it looks
And not the people living there”
Well I’ve never built a building
And I’ve never planned a plan
But I’ve wondered where the stones came from
That were never made by man
You can’t believe that Jesus stuff
Said a scientist I knew
The facts are not explainable
And therefore are untrue.
For man is mainly water
And water’s H2O
A scientist can split a cell
As far as it will go
But you can only get so far
Dissecting bit by bit
And when you’ve split the world in two
There’s nothing left to split
You can’t believe in Jesus Christ
Said Pilate in my dream
I had him killed, oh years ago
To keep the city clean
Its true we had to bribe some guards
And persecute a few
And most left Jerusalem
And that’s the last I knew
And suddenly the scientist
Was also in my dream
And by him stood the architect
With Pilate in between
And by each one stood Jesus Christ
And then a woman came
A prostitute from Magdala
They certified insane
And Mary Magdalene spoke
And each man watched her eyes
Which spoke much more than words of truth
Where they had spoken lies
So split the atom, clone a sheep,
Or build your buildings high.
But do not ask me what you saw
In Mary Magdalene’s eye.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Do Levi’s or Wrangler have the answer?
I came across a web site once called “Have Theology Will Argue”; a tongue in cheek response to a very common situation where people either avoid discussion on “religion” like the plague or love to open up debate. Topics with a distinctive religious focus seem to arouse two extremes of emotion, on the one hand intense fervour to prove or disprove and the other total disinterest or apathy.
In this context it was interesting to read recently that the scientists who worked back in the 1950s on the discovery of the gene, had an attributed purpose to prove once and for all that God did not exist. If they could unravel the essence of our make up from a scientific perspective, they propounded, then people would see the sham of religious belief for what it really was.
In the last year or so geneticists have opened up this thorny question again, but from a slightly different angle. In an article by Roger Highfield in the Daily Telegraph, it is reported that some geneticists have suggested it may be possible to identify a spiritual gene that some of us may or may not have.
So, in the same way that some may have blue or brown eyes because of the gene code for eye colour inherited from our parents, there could be a gene code, the scientists say, that may determine how likely we are to be a religious or spiritual person.
I do not know whether there is any scientific evidence to substantiate this position, but I wonder what other new discovery could be round the next corner, as it were. Will a kindness gene be the next attribute to be identified or a gene code for generosity, or even ones for the more unattractive sides of our personality?
If there is a kindness gene, would that mean that I am excused from being kind if the appropriate code was found to be missing from my particular genetic makeup.
Forgive the whimsical meandering, but there is a serious point to be made here for even if the geneticists are right, who can say for sure that this religious gene is present or absent from their DNA and what about personal responsibility? There have been many well known people who have become Christians in their senior years, C S Lewis for one, so, did he have a latent gene waiting for the right opportunity for a life experience to release its full potential? Who can say they have no need of religion or christianity, for perhaps when they least expect it, like Lewis, they might be surprised by joy and find love and acceptance in Jesus Christ.
In this context it was interesting to read recently that the scientists who worked back in the 1950s on the discovery of the gene, had an attributed purpose to prove once and for all that God did not exist. If they could unravel the essence of our make up from a scientific perspective, they propounded, then people would see the sham of religious belief for what it really was.
In the last year or so geneticists have opened up this thorny question again, but from a slightly different angle. In an article by Roger Highfield in the Daily Telegraph, it is reported that some geneticists have suggested it may be possible to identify a spiritual gene that some of us may or may not have.
So, in the same way that some may have blue or brown eyes because of the gene code for eye colour inherited from our parents, there could be a gene code, the scientists say, that may determine how likely we are to be a religious or spiritual person.
I do not know whether there is any scientific evidence to substantiate this position, but I wonder what other new discovery could be round the next corner, as it were. Will a kindness gene be the next attribute to be identified or a gene code for generosity, or even ones for the more unattractive sides of our personality?
If there is a kindness gene, would that mean that I am excused from being kind if the appropriate code was found to be missing from my particular genetic makeup.
Forgive the whimsical meandering, but there is a serious point to be made here for even if the geneticists are right, who can say for sure that this religious gene is present or absent from their DNA and what about personal responsibility? There have been many well known people who have become Christians in their senior years, C S Lewis for one, so, did he have a latent gene waiting for the right opportunity for a life experience to release its full potential? Who can say they have no need of religion or christianity, for perhaps when they least expect it, like Lewis, they might be surprised by joy and find love and acceptance in Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Bird Feeding Blues
I have made use of a small bedroom at the front of my house as my study. The room faces out onto the main road into my local housing estate and my view is constricted by the other houses on the other side of the road.
However, there is a mature wild cherry which softens the hard landscape as I look out of the window.
None-the-less I wanted to provide some additional area of interest so I bought a bird feeder and filled it with the recommended feed - no peanuts please!
I like to spend time out in the local countryside and dig in my garden so often get a visit from Robins and daring blackbirds, but I thought it be good to encourage a wider variety of bird life in a position well away from the fluff ball of a cat we call Nancy, who really fancies herself as huntress bar none.
So far - and its been four days now - the feed level has remained the same and I have not seen any bird, not one tit even!
So is it me or the feathered fraternity that have the bird feeding blues?
However, there is a mature wild cherry which softens the hard landscape as I look out of the window.
None-the-less I wanted to provide some additional area of interest so I bought a bird feeder and filled it with the recommended feed - no peanuts please!
I like to spend time out in the local countryside and dig in my garden so often get a visit from Robins and daring blackbirds, but I thought it be good to encourage a wider variety of bird life in a position well away from the fluff ball of a cat we call Nancy, who really fancies herself as huntress bar none.
So far - and its been four days now - the feed level has remained the same and I have not seen any bird, not one tit even!
So is it me or the feathered fraternity that have the bird feeding blues?
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Techno Fruit
I rang him on my orange mobile
and
he said the job had turned into a lemon.
His design, on an apple mac,
should have been a real plum job,
but the CEO had given it the raspberry.
So he had to pear up
with someone else from abroad, a Kiwi,
but instead of joining the team as a gooseberry
- she really was a peach -
she had some good ideas and we all became very fruitful.
and
he said the job had turned into a lemon.
His design, on an apple mac,
should have been a real plum job,
but the CEO had given it the raspberry.
So he had to pear up
with someone else from abroad, a Kiwi,
but instead of joining the team as a gooseberry
- she really was a peach -
she had some good ideas and we all became very fruitful.
Journalling
This is my first blog. I am told though its a bit like "journalling" and so I shall wander around with some personal and general observations about.....you've guessed it.... life, the Universe and everything.
I remember Doctor Who and Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy the first time around and no I didn't hide behind the sofa when the Daleks came on!!!
I'm older than 42 (Hitchikers) and I now know this is not the answer to life, the Universe and everything.
Pause for deep thoughts to surface........ah well perhaps later.
I will probably include some of my poetry after all its the only way to get it published (some of it is quite serious but a lot is humerous in a British sort of way), and promise not to bore myself or I hope others too much.
I remember Doctor Who and Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy the first time around and no I didn't hide behind the sofa when the Daleks came on!!!
I'm older than 42 (Hitchikers) and I now know this is not the answer to life, the Universe and everything.
Pause for deep thoughts to surface........ah well perhaps later.
I will probably include some of my poetry after all its the only way to get it published (some of it is quite serious but a lot is humerous in a British sort of way), and promise not to bore myself or I hope others too much.
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