It's a new year!

I know lots of people make New year's resolutions around now, but they often don't last...
I've recently taken some time to reflect on the past year... 2016 has been challenging. A lot of new experiences, and a lot of them not necessarily good. And yet at the same time I feel like nothing's happened, like I'm just stuck in a constant.
Looking forward to 2017, there's the potential for a lot more changes, for goals, and resolutions, but there was only really one thing that I could think of that I really want for this year... I want to become a person I want to be, where I'd be comfortable to shout from a rooftop, 'this is me' ... And I'm not that person at the moment.
Please be praying for me, as I will also be praying for you, that when we shout from that rooftop, God might respond... 'and you are mine'

It's a minefield mindfield!

I feel like blogging is dying. Or to a wider extent the art of the written word. Vlogging and audio is taking over. But then, I'm not doing anything to help this predicament by only posting a couple times a year.

As an occasional blogger I often forget what the last thing was I wrote about, and when. I say wrote, but I actually feel like I'm talking to you - that's the way I write. Perhaps I should get into vlogging since I already write that way... sorry, back on topic. I often forget... and so I will go back and read the last few entries before I write a new post. The thing is, I'm so often surprised by what I read - like, did I really say that, that sounds really wise or eloquent or thought out which just isn't the way I see myself day to day... but then again, I have to be in a special kind of mood to write a blog normally. Or get me when I'm really tired (I mean REALLY tired) and I can get really philosophical, so much so I confuse myself.

Do you guys ever get that? Just like do a double take, 'did that really just come out of my mouth, my head?!' But then I start to feel bad. I was so right, that's really good advice - I'm not doing that at all, I should start to take my own advice. How many of you guys neglect to take your own advice as well?

It's 2016! Can you believe it? I'm sure that the older I get the faster time is passing. Or perhaps they secretly embed us with something when we're young to change our conception of time as we get older as an attempt to lower suicide, depression, and other such bad things - because just imagine what it would be like for some people if time passed as slowly now as it did when we were three or four years old. Oh my goodness, the year would never end as opposed to currently flying by.

Anyway, I wanted to catch you all up a little bit on me. (That sounds so self centred). A lot's been happening in my life recently, but also not much at all. On the outside life is pretty quiet and calm, and on the inside it's a metaphorical minefield just waiting to explode! (My mind scares me sometimes). So, there are four main things I'd like to share with you in a vague manner - work, study, health, and faith.

Work. I got a new job last September which was awesome because it was in a position I've never had before, and I enjoy it and it's during the day. But... I don't want to stay in it. Honestly, I like working during the day because it means I'm actually sleeping properly for the first time in I don't know how long but I'm tired of being shut up inside all day - I want to be able to go outside and enjoy some of the sunshine (especially now that we're actually getting some) and I don't like the stressful environment of my workplace either. So, good and bad.

Study. I don't know if I've talked about this before or not, but I am a terrible student. I'm not just saying that either, it's true. I always said that I would never do any more study once I finished my Bachelor because I knew that it would kill me and it would be unfair towards any of my lecturers/tutors/classmates/friends - basically anyone around me. But, I have started a Masters (via correspondence). I say I've started but that's only sort of true, because I've started twice and stopped twice - third times a charm, right?

Health. I have a few different health problems which have stuck with me over the years, the main one being IBS. This was playing up quite a bit end of last year and so the start of this year I decided that my goal for the year (a new years resolution of sorts) was to get all around healthier. So, I worked out what was making me sick, started being more active, readjusted my eating habits, started sleeping proper hours, began a fitness regime. Some weeks are better than others (last week was a bad week) but overall I am already feeling healthier. You're very welcome to check in with me on this, and keep me accountable over the next year.

Faith. As you'll know or will have worked out if you know me at all, or have read any of my other blogs - I'm a Christian. Not just a label to give myself, but honestly believe that Jesus was a real man and is God, and is the Christ (the promised saviour) who is still alive today and will return to judge everyone and that our ultimate purpose in life is to be in relationship with God through Him. These things I still believe. I'd like to say unwaveringly or without a doubt but that would be a lie, there are times, now and again, when there will be that moment when you say to yourself, 'Do I really believe that? That sounds crazy.' but in the same moment I also say yes, I do believe that, and I believe it because.... a, b, c. It's not blind faith, it's faith with it's eyes wide open. But I have been struggling a lot recently with spending time with God - with reading my Bible, with intentional prayer, with being 'still'. And also I have been challenged or confused or investigating, I don't know what the right word is to use, on a number of different issues related to the church (institution), the church (body), and the Christian life (morals/ethics). The church (institution) has got things wrong in the past and makes you wonder and question if perhaps they have some things wrong now. And upon reading the Bible, and listening to differing opinions on different issues sometimes I come back being unconvinced either way which is extremely frustrating! (So, this is mainly what's messing with my head)

Okay, I think that's the end of my ramblings today. If you have any thoughts or questions or suggestions, etc. please comment below. Thanks for making it to the end!

 

Trust

Recently I have been traveling through Italy a little on holidays but also using the time to think about what's ahead in life, and where that might be. Thinking in this way as you move about another country I think helps you to pick out more of the little things which are different in the culture from those you are m more familiar with - not just the big things which you j have probably already heard about before you left.

I found myself asking this question - what qualities or things in life are really important to me? I thought of a number of different things but want to focus on just one, trust - and connected with that, truth.

These are two different qualities which I think we often attribute to being universal b but in actual fact, in some ways, are a lot more cultural than what we might have previously realized. This is not to compete however with universal and absolute truths but more with how these are understood, what they mean within a culture.

If you tell someone something and trust them not to share it with others, what does that mean? If somebody else asks about it are they to lie, either outright of by omission? Or is it okay to share it with family and close friends whom they share everything with normally? Or can they share about it with anyone providing they don't say who it is? Or maybe they can share vague details and say who it is? And then what about when they want to help, either by prayer, support of some kind, or more practically or directly - can they share then, and how much?

I can think of situations with different people from different cultures where each of these is acceptable and maintaining the trust given them, and also of situations with different people from different cultures where each of these would break the trust given to them. So in this way, trust and what that means is imbedded into our culture.

There are two main problems with trust - the first is the existence of secrets, and the second is human error. I think the problem with secrets and trust is an obvious one but with human error let me give two examples. The first, 'don't worry, I'll catch you - trust me' and they don't. What's gone wrong? They've misjudged their capabilities, or the distance/landing place, or between distracted for a moment, or weren't ready when the other person decided to drop... Human error. The second human error is in regards to truths and our understanding of conceptions of the world. For example, take into consideration the religions of the world - one might say this is truth while another says that it is truth and the previous is a lie - we must consider what is being said and decide which one is telling the trek other and which one is lying... Or are they both lying, but they can't both be telling the truth. Or consider previous scientific principles and discoveries which in further years have been proven to be false, a misunderstanding of the information at hand, or rather missing an important piece of information to complete the puzzle correctly.

If trust is implicitly problematic and not really ever truly particle considering the above problems and its grounding in culture, why is it so important to us? I would suggest that it's because of these very reasons that it is so important to us. Trust, rather than being imbedded in culture or always delivering disappointment is rather rooted in the fundamental human relationship.

There are many different levels and ideas of trust but the real trust which we look for is in the idea that we can know and understand another human being so well that there is an explicit understanding of exactly what they mean. A trust which goes beyond words and into the depths of who that person is, subconsciously knowing their body language which says often so much more than what comes from their mouths.

And then there is the trust which is rooted into the confidence one had with an absolute truth. It is not an idea that we put trust into as much as some people would like to say that it is, but trust always belongs to a being. They may trust a friend, relative, of teacher who told them about this; or they may trust in themselves and their own understanding of the way things are, but for some they trust in an invisible and eternal being who is so much more trustworthy than any other since he had known us since the beginning of the world and promises to be with us into eternity - He knows us completely in a way that no other ever can, he understands, and while we don't know him the same way he never changes so only truth comes from him and he invites us to come and know him in a similar way, even if it will take eternity - it is an adventure and relationship greater than any other.

Do you have any thoughts on trust???

New year

So, we are now in January 2015.

I remember some years ago listening to some songs which were looking forward with aspirations to the year 2020. It sounded like such a long way away and now it seems in a blink of the eye and we'll be there. They were singing of an end to all of the world's big problems - but now if it's really just a blink of the eye away, those songs which talk about man destroying everything seem much more likely - unless of course Jesus the Christ returns.

They say that in different cultures we have different ways of looking at things - some look just at the now, some are always looking back, and some are always looking forward. I think these are all helpful things to do.

Think back over 2014 - what's changed? How have you been challenged? Grown? How about others? Nationally? Globally?

Think forwards through 2015 - what's coming up? Any changes? Challenges? Concerns? Think forward beyond 2015 - what are you most excited about? Why?

The world we live in often encourages people to make new years resolutions. I don't know how this stated our where it came from but it is what many people do, and actually that is not a bad thing. The problem is that these resolutions have often become something to wish without putting in any work or effort and so the words are empty.

If you're making any new years resolutions this year, let's make real ones. Ones which takes into account where we've come from and where were going - not just where we're now. And let's be men and women of our words, and follow through - not giving into darkness but remaining in and/or pursuing the light.

So while I don't generally make new years resolutions I feel like I should be sharing with you so if I were to make one it might be something like... To continue and progress in all that I have already begun, reaching and keeping to micro targets/goals along the way, while keeping true to myself and growing closer to God. Okay, if I really made them this would be bullet pointed and more specific but you get the general idea.

God bless.

Draft 1

It was the year 19...

No, no, no.

The day was bright and cheerful when...

No, no, no.

You might wonder...

No.

This is the story of...

No.

...

Whenever anyone writes anything, they are telling a story. Whether it's found in a newspaper, a text book, a diary, a loose piece of paper, a novel, a sign, or the back of their hand - it is a story. So I suppose this is just a story too even though it feels like much more, since it actually happened. In some ways it's a story about one person, but in other ways it's a story about lots of different people, and in another way it's a story that's not about any of them.

Most stories start at the beginning. They do this by establishing a time line, setting scenes, introducing characters -or- establishing common ground, or the level of man's understanding thus far -or- explaining the purpose of the story. This cannot happen with this story for to do so would be to go back to before the beginning of time, and while I am certain of events which transpired at this time before time I certainly cannot describe and explain them in any great depth and I fear to do so would take you away from the real story I am trying to tell here.

Have you ever had a dream? I don't mean the magical and scary things which dance before our eyes in sleep, or the vague hopes of someone for when they're a little older. I mean the type of dream which grows inside you with roots that reach into the centre of your heart, the kind that perhaps you're not even aware of, sown from fear which never seems to go away unless this secret dream can be realized. Some might call it hope, but for me hope is something different. Hope is given and certain although not yet, while a dream is created by you and never certain until it is the now.

He had a dream tied up with family, acceptance, and provision, but really it was all about love - giving and showing it generously; receiving and being worthy to receive it.

trust 'n' dreams

How do you sleep?

Often I will toss and turn a little bit but generally sleep through the night, waking in the morning with almost no memory of what's happened in the last 6+ hours. But occasionally, I will remember a dream....

Dreams about people and fishing, parties and conflicts, friends and family, talking pets and moving furniture, 'monsters' and traveling, laughter and drama, past, present, and future. And then when you wake up you know it was just a dream...

... except sometimes. Sometimes a dream is so real you have to really question if it was a dream or if it really happened. Last night I had a dream of an email (I know, not a hugely interesting thing to say I was dreaming about - but you don't know what was in the email), and this morning I had to check to see if it was real or not. It wasn't, and I didn't think it was, but I couldn't be sure - I didn't trust myself, I had to check. Have you ever had a dream like that?

How much can we really trust ourselves?
And if we can't trust ourselves entirely, who can we trust entirely?

Personally, I only know of one person I can trust entirely - and that's Jesus. Because he's always honest, true, caring, just, there, and unchanging. I can trust Him entirely - can you?

6 months later...

Today we were talking about foresight and hindsight during a bible study, how different things appear when you're planning, living, and reflecting. And it got me thinking - when I look back and reflect on my current life, what will I think?

I moved a couple months ago, at the beginning of September. New town, new people, new place, new church, new role... old me? Sometimes this is what we want, but the truth is we never stay exactly the same, and while sometimes that might sound scary actually it's a really good thing.

I'm sometimes afraid of change. Of needing to start from scratch, of 'opening up' yet again, of putting in the extra effort it takes to establish good relationships - and then keep them, of not having the time with all of the new things to keep up those relationships from the 'old', of being made into something different from what you are - or have been.

But mostly, when I get past all of the surface things, the little worries and the insecurities we pile on ourselves, I'm excited about change. If we didn't change, if we stayed exactly the same - always, we'd be a bit like robots, and we'd be stuck. Change means a potential - to grow, to learn, to truly experience.

When I have hindsight of this part of my life - I'm sure there are things which I'll say 'I shouldn't have done that', or 'that was a real blessing', or 'why didn't i see/do that sooner' - I think I will see it as a time of change. What I hope is that it's all change in the right direction, in the right way.

Looking forward to myself looking back gives me a different perspective on my life now, and makes me want to change some things for the better - which just yesterday I didn't notice as clearly because I was only focusing on the day to day. I wonder, if you do the same thing, how will you see your own life?

Much Love


For Christians the concept or idea of change should be really exciting, because without it life isn't possible - not the way we know it to be anyway. The way we know God is by the Holy Spirit living within us, who is also working within us - changing us to be more and more like Him. Change here is a good thing - taking us away from every evil thing, both in the physical and spiritual world, and within us, and bringing us towards God, our eternal Father. And on that last day when Christ returns there will be another change as each of us is transformed from our current lowly and temporary state to our eternal one.

blogging and reasons

It seems to me that when you actually make time to sit down and write a blog post you can't think of anything to say, yet during the rest of the week there are a hundred different incidents or thoughts which you could write on.

Sometimes it's that your mind goes completely blank, there's things there yet as soon as you open up that web browser it's like it's suddenly empty. White perhaps. There's not even anything at the back of your mind, or even an annoying tick-tock or drip-drip sound - just nothing.

Sometimes it's that there's plenty of things in your mind but it's like they're zooming around so fast (if you could enter them into the speedway you'd be a winner) that you don't actually know what any of the individual thoughts are, all you can recognize is that there's something there - actually, lots of somethings there but you have no idea what they actually are.

Sometimes it's that there's so many things in your head that you just can't pin one down, make a choice, decide. As soon as you do though, you can't think of anything to write about it because all that's in your head is all the other things (better things) that you could be writing about - crazy!

Sometimes it's that you know what you want to write about, sort of, but suddenly you just completely forget how to speak English - and it's my only language! All that comes out is abstract sounds and gobble-dee-gook.

Sometimes it's that you can think of plenty of things that you'd love to share with people but somehow as soon as you write it down, it just doesn't sound the same - it's not as funny, or interesting, or profound, as it was in your memory, your head.

And when any of these things happen you suddenly don't feel like writing a blog just now, yet at the same time you really want to, because part of you is telling you that you can't, and/or that's what you're supposed to be doing now!

But then again, while true, these are also just excuses (placing blame) and the frustrated ravings of a blogger, when all I should really be saying is... 'sorry for not writing for a while now'. Let's keep ourselves honest.

a quick note to my readers

I've been writing this blog, sometime regularly, sometimes irregularly, for almost 4 years now... that sounds like a long time, but it really doesn't feel that long - I suppose because I really do enjoy writing here, and sharing with you all.

I just want to say that I'm sorry if I start repeating some things, because honestly, I don't remember everything I've written.

And if I do, it's obviously something which I really want to share with you all, so you should read it anyway - and perspectives may have changed too... mine and yours.
I'm now looking forward to the next 4 years and all that they will bring, and to sharing those times with you if you will also stay with me.

 

With love...

This is Jesus

Next week is CICCU's (Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union) Main Event, this year titled 'This is Jesus'. The video below is quite good... I think. What do you think?

 

This is Jesus: Something More from CICCU on Vimeo.

What do you think of... ?

If I were to say to you 'blue' what would you think of?

The colour, the sky or ocean, the feeling, or maybe a person...

If I were to say to you 'oil' what would you think of?

Cooking, fast-food, or maybe plants or fields where it comes from, or maybe natural products, or lanterns, or maybe drilling, or ships, or perhaps sick animals... 

If I were to say to you 'far' what would you think of?

The other side of town, or maybe the next city, the end of your country, surrounding countries, across the ocean, the opposite side of the world, the moon, or perhaps beyond the stars, or fantasy lands, or perhaps happiness, family, the end...

If I were to say to you 'new' what would you think of?

Clothes/tools/car/electronics, or maybe food/design/invention, or perhaps year, or opportunity, or friends/family, or life...

If I were to say to you 'god' what would you think of?

...

midnight madness

There once was a snail that grew a tail.
So long did it grow that the snail couldn't go.
Along came a worm with a lovely perm.
The snail's tail it did see and fell in love immediately.
For the snail was lost far away and its tail mistaken for a worm that day.
She wriggled with happiness for it would be the end of her loneliness.
But her new found friend, he did not even bend.
Angry and confused, the tail stood accused.
Until she saw a-fresh her friends blemish.
For he had no eyes or ears and his tail stretched so far it increased her fears.
But give up she would not and followed it, every last jot.
At the end was a surprise, although at first thought a guise.
A snail so lonely and sad it made the worm feel very bad.

There once was a worm with a lovely perm.
And a snail with a very long tail.
Both were sad and lonely, often thinking... 'if only'.
Then one strange day they met by way.
Sharing their grief together, they swore friends forever after.
And that is the ending, much happier than the beginning.

2am stories: part two of two

When he got back he went straight to the leader and managed to get out 'volcano... need... go' before he fainted. The pain was too much....

The leader didn't need to ask him any questions about how or why, he knew that nobody knew that mountain better than he did, he had been going up and down it for many years. He made sure that he was still breathing okay and went straight to ring the big bell in the middle of the village which would tell everyone to come straight away.

The first person there was the runner - the leader told him quickly what was to happen and he left to tell all those who were away from the village or were sick and unable to leave what was happening so that no-one would be left behind. They were to pack their things, and leave.

They were all ready to go very quickly. A stretcher had been made for those who couldn't walk, including the boy who had warned them all, so that they could be carried. The fastest way to safety was to go to the top of the next mountain which was far enough away from theirs, but in the valley further down from them there were three more villages - the furthest was 2 days away, without rest.

They couldn't just leave them, and so that is the way the village went. They sent their runner ahead to warn the next village so they could get ready - then they would rest there until their village arrived before going on to the next village, until they got to the last one.

By the time they got to the last village there were three villages all walking together, but the last village - they didn't believe them that the volcano was really going to breathe fire again, after all it never had before that they had seen. Never the less, they sent everyone to pack up their things so that they would still have a good relationship with the other villages - they needed them.

When they were ready to go, they still did not want to leave and insisted that they all stay in their village, and then if the volcano did do anything - then they could go, after all the nearest mountain they would all go to for safety was only 2 hours away. The other villages didn't like this at all but they didn't want to leave the last village behind, so they agreed.

As they agreed, they all looked up toward the mountain, and someone noticed something looked a little different about the air surrounding it. That was enough, that was all it took, those who were still not sure were convinced by everyone else to move anyway, just in case, and so all together they made the final journey to the mountain.

They made it, it's okay, but that's not what I want to tell you now. You know the boy from the beginning of the story - he was unconscious this whole time and his village carried him all the way. As they arrived at the top of the mountain there was a big tremor making the ground shake, and the mountain breathe fire. It was at this point that he woke up, and when he looked around do you know what he saw?

He saw not only his village, but three more also. He saw a sky of semi darkness, and red flames leaping from a mountain and racing down a valley below. He saw that what he thought was pointless to begin with was actually a very important job. He didn't feel worthless anymore. And he also realised that it was okay that his leg was broken, because everyone else was safe.

My apologies to my 'dear friend' (Brown Bear) if I've remembered part of this story wrongly!

2am stories - part one of two

There once was a small village which was at the bottom of a big mountain which used to be a volcano. The people in the village, they had never seen the volcano do anything, to them it was just a mountain, but the stories had been passed down so they always watched it.
Everybody in this village had their own special job to do, that only they would do, so that everyone was important in the running of the village. One person was the builder, another the doctor, another the farmer, another the teacher, another the tailor, another the hunter, and so on.
There was one in the village though, he was not really a boy anymore but perhaps not quite a man either, and he also had a job but he often felt like his job was pointless and didn't help with anything. This made him feel worthless but still he would do his job because he had nothing else which he could do.

His job was to climb up to the top of the mountain and check that it was still just a mountain. It would take a whole day to climb to the top and then a whole day to climb back down again. Every 4 or 5 days he would make this trip, but it seemed pointless because nobody in the village had ever seen it breathe fire, and he was always so tired when he got back. 

One day when he got to the top he noticed something was different - it was something that maybe someone else might not notice, but he knew this mountain, he had been climbing up and down it for years. Near the top the ground was a little different, and perhaps a little warmer, and the air smelt different. He knew that the mountain was changing, and suddenly he remembered the stories that the village had of what had happened long ago and he got scared of what might happen. In fact, he ran down that mountain to get back faster... until he tripped and fell.
Oh no, what was he going to do now? His leg was at a strange angle, he could not use it, but he needed to tell everyone what was happening. Do you know what he did? He got some bark and but it in his mouth to bite down on, then he made his leg straight, kind of and put some sticks either side which he tied on with some of his shirt. Then he found a strong stick he could lean on, so he could keep on going. And he didn't hobble, or even walk, no, he kept on running all the way back to the village. In fact he was so fast, it only took him half a day!

When he got back he went straight to the leader and managed to get out 'volcano... need... go' before he fainted. The pain was too much....

 

fridge word magnets

only one light in life shines over all
when you run
when you dress
when you want
when you ache
when you are lazy
when you are fast
when you are mad
he is always there
do you want it?

seasons

summer.         autumn.          winter.          spring.          

wet.          rain.          dry.          

sowing.          harvest.          plowing.          breeding.          

baby.          toddler.          child.          teenager.          adult.          

school.          holidays.          work.          retirement.          

remember.          forget.

 

There are many different seasons in life. each one has its own place. which seasons are you in? what roles to do you think each of these seasons play?

 

The bible also speaks of seasons...

 

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

 

The second line might also read... 'There’s a time for everything that is done on earth.'

 

The season or time that I look forward to the most is the one which has not been mentioned yet, and that is when there will be a new earth and new heaven, when they will be together and we will be with God in a way which we cannot be now.

 

What season or time do you look forward to the most? Is it one that is mentioned above, or another one?

 

God Bless

it's just so comfy...

Comfort... is it a good thing or a bad thing?

 

Comfort is something many of us strive for - in clothes, in people, in leisure, in life - and it can be a good thing to aim for, but is it always a good thing?

How about when you put comfort above other things, it becomes more important than people, than health, than common courtesy?

How about when you become comfortable with your religion, your church, your relationship with God? These can be good things, but they can also be bad if you get too caught up in being comfortable and become forgetful to what is most important.

What is most important is God. And our relationship with Him. And sharing the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven with others. If comfort challenges these things, then we should in turn challenge that comfort.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. -Matthew 6:33

 I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. - Revelation 3:1b-3a

 

God Bless

Following a thought

Writing a blog post every week sometimes I think for a moment that I might run out of things to share. It has been almost 2 weeks since I last wrote a post, but in those two weeks sooo much seems to have happened.

 

Sometimes life seems to speed right past us so that we blink and are surprised to realise that a weeks has passed, or a month, or a year... but other times it slows right down and we can't wait for that next moment to come. Between the two though there is a balance, where time passes both quickly and slowly at the same time - this is good. Each view helps us to appreciate the other, and together they are a great tool for teaching patience and perseverance, which go together.

 

In Galatians we can read that patience is one of the qualities which is of the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

 

In Proverbs we read that 'whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.'

 

So what kind of spirit is this, how should it be ruled?? Psalm 119 says... 'My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.' and 'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.'

 

Salvation, and real life (eternal), can be found in Gods Word. That which shows us the way and navigates us along the path of life should be Gods Word. It would make sense then that the way in which we understand and perceive life, the coming and passing, would also show us something of God - after all, he did create it as well. [Genesis 1]

 

So next time you wish time would just slow down a little, or hurry up and pass by, why not thank God for the time that He has given us, ask Him to continue to grow you in patience and perseverance, and think on these things.

Finally, brothers (and sisters), whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. -Philippians 4:8

 God Bless

a wonderful week end

Another week has passed. For me, and many others in this little part of the world, our last week ended fabulously as we celebrated with friends their marriage before God and man.

 

Amongst the promises they made to one another in their vows were the following...

...I promise with God's help to love you as Christ loved the church. I promise to be a faithful husband, until death separates us, or the Lord Jesus Christ returns, according to God's holy law... 

...I promise with God's help to submit to you as the church submits to Christ. I promise to be a faithful wife until death separates us, or the Lord Jesus Christ returns, according to God's holy law...

The talk which followed focussed on these statements of love and submission. I often hear of many people who do not understand how the bride can say in her marriage vows that she will submit to her husband. The truth is that the way we understand the term 'submit' in our everyday language is not the way that it is meant here. Here, it is in the context of how the church submits to Christ. Just as important however is what is meant by the term 'love' as this is also possibly a little different, carrying more weight with it, in this context of Christ loving the church.

 

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (The Bible, Ephesians 5:21-33)

 

 

This is the passage where these words in their promises to one another come from. Where it says the church, it is not talking about a building, but rather a group of people. God's people. We see here that the husbands love should be complete, even self sacrificial, putting their wife first and presenting her holy and blameless - perfect. The wife is to submit to her husband, not meaning that she has no mind, or that he can tell her to do anything he likes, but rather knowing that he has the best intentions for her and will do everything he can to ensure her well being. This is a good type of submission. And when both of these roles are filled both will have, must have, a deep respect for one another.

 

In attendance there were friends from, well, all over the world. It is quite wonderful to see so many different people come together, and to celebrate with dear friends such a wonderful occasion. After all, these promises and these words are not meant only for westerners but are talking about Christ and the church, which is universal!

 

God Bless.

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time...

 

Nah, forget that. I find that stories which begin with this line already have the feeling that they are not real, but made up - and from a long time ago. I don't know about you but I find the best stories are ones which are real, ones which involve people I know, and ones which have a purpose.

 

Some stories fizzle out and die at the end, but the greatest ones keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end - and the end demands a response from you, you have to say or do something. You can't just listen.

 

I have heard many stories from friends over the years, and family, and strangers. About friends, or friends of friends. About serious things, and funny things, and silly things, and thoughtful things. Often these stories do a great job on their own but can easily be ruined if told by the wrong storyteller.

 

Of all of these there is only one story which stands out strongly, which is never ruined as it has the same storyteller every time, and it is the greatest story ever told - not about just one of those things I mentioned before, but including all of them and much, much more.

 

It's the story we read in the Bible, about God's relationship with His people (and vice versa) and the storyteller is always God, because it is His Word, and His Spirit in us which helps us to understand.

 

Do you agree?

 

God Bless