Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Alt-click to Answers
I love Internet/windows tools which are invisible and unobtrusive until you need them, at which point they are simple and quickly accessed. A recent favourite has been the alt+click tool from Answers.com. I got rid of the docking bar, etc. and the only obvious sign that it's installed is that it appears on the right-click context menu in IE. But I have used the alt+click operation on numerous occasions to access information on various topics at Answers.com. On occasion I have intended to access the dictionary when I've been curious about the actual definition for a phrase or technical term, but more often it is the Wikipedia entry which has proved the most helpful. For example, today I have used this method to quickly find out what a website author meant by 'MST3K' and later the 'memex').
Reading Isaiah 5 - The Song of the Vineyard
"My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside...cleared it of stones...planted it...built a watchtower...cut out a winepress...Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit." (v.1-2)
God's chosen nation was to bear fruit. As Ezekiel points out a vine is good for nothing else!
In Isaiah's song, the vineyard is planted with the choicest vines. Everything is taken care of and made ready in anticipation of a good crop...yet bad fruit are the only result. What went wrong?
As the song asks,
"What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?" (v.4)
You can sense the owner's sadness and disappointment as he asks "why?" (v.4)
God's intention for Israel was to be a witness to the nations of the world, (Isaiah 43:10) He wanted them to display wisdom and understanding (Deuteronomy 4:6-8 ) yet it was failing dismally in its role. As Isaiah has already mentioned, they have become "a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers" (1:4) and "They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines" (2:6) - so much for being a witness!
A vineyard which does not produce good grapes is no good to anyone, so the owner declares his intention to abandon it by breaking down its hedge and wall and leaving it a wasteland (v.6).
In v.7, the last of the song, the owner is revealed as Yahweh and "the men of Judah... the garden of his delight." The fruit he was looking for was justice and righteousness - but he saw only bloodshed and cries of distress (v.7)
Jesus uses a similar picture of vineyard and owner in his parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mark 12:1-9, also in Luke 20 and Matthew 21). In this allegory, the owner sends servants (the prophets) to collect the fruit, but the tenants (Israel's religious leaders?) kill them, until finally he sends his son (Jesus, obviously!). But the tenants also kill the son, (so Jesus again foretells his death). Even the pharisees understand that Jesus is speaking against them, (v.12).
In John, Jesus also reveals the secret to bearing good fruit, referring to himself as the vine, and his Father as the gardener, cutting off every branch that bears no fruit, (John 15:1-8). "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (v.8)
God's chosen nation was to bear fruit. As Ezekiel points out a vine is good for nothing else!
In Isaiah's song, the vineyard is planted with the choicest vines. Everything is taken care of and made ready in anticipation of a good crop...yet bad fruit are the only result. What went wrong?
As the song asks,
"What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?" (v.4)
You can sense the owner's sadness and disappointment as he asks "why?" (v.4)
God's intention for Israel was to be a witness to the nations of the world, (Isaiah 43:10) He wanted them to display wisdom and understanding (Deuteronomy 4:6-8 ) yet it was failing dismally in its role. As Isaiah has already mentioned, they have become "a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers" (1:4) and "They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines" (2:6) - so much for being a witness!
A vineyard which does not produce good grapes is no good to anyone, so the owner declares his intention to abandon it by breaking down its hedge and wall and leaving it a wasteland (v.6).
In v.7, the last of the song, the owner is revealed as Yahweh and "the men of Judah... the garden of his delight." The fruit he was looking for was justice and righteousness - but he saw only bloodshed and cries of distress (v.7)
Jesus uses a similar picture of vineyard and owner in his parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mark 12:1-9, also in Luke 20 and Matthew 21). In this allegory, the owner sends servants (the prophets) to collect the fruit, but the tenants (Israel's religious leaders?) kill them, until finally he sends his son (Jesus, obviously!). But the tenants also kill the son, (so Jesus again foretells his death). Even the pharisees understand that Jesus is speaking against them, (v.12).
In John, Jesus also reveals the secret to bearing good fruit, referring to himself as the vine, and his Father as the gardener, cutting off every branch that bears no fruit, (John 15:1-8). "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (v.8)
Group Blog
I've started a group blog for the Kings 2030s crowd. Email me or Seymour or Chris Juby if you want to want to be invited. You don't have to be a member to post comments however.
I started it because everyone has such interesting takes on things and I learn a lot when we all get talking about serious things - especially on theology and philosophy etc! So I thought it might be fun, while we're all into this blogging thing, to put some discussion online where we can all take part (perhaps at a more considered level). I thought it would be interesting to introduce a passage or a thought and 'meditate' on it...as a group. It will only be as good as people want it to be. I've put something up to get us started. Feel free to respond in the comments or to post your own passage for 'consideration'!
I started it because everyone has such interesting takes on things and I learn a lot when we all get talking about serious things - especially on theology and philosophy etc! So I thought it might be fun, while we're all into this blogging thing, to put some discussion online where we can all take part (perhaps at a more considered level). I thought it would be interesting to introduce a passage or a thought and 'meditate' on it...as a group. It will only be as good as people want it to be. I've put something up to get us started. Feel free to respond in the comments or to post your own passage for 'consideration'!
Trackback craziness
"Haloscan trackback has been added to this blog." Hmm, still playing around with this thing. I've installed the autodetection feature as well but as far as I can tell it won't detect references *I* make to other posts. Hopefully work it out soon!
Monday, May 30, 2005
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Pride and Prayers
I was just reflecting on wanting God to 'fix' my life while at the same time understanding why He's not doing it the way I'd like. What i mean by that, to give a trivial example, is that often I wish that I knew how to do something - like keep my bottom set year 9's busy on a Friday afternoon! - and that I was good at doing it. But at the same time I'm perfectly aware how easily I slip into self-sufficiency and pride, forgetting God. So even though I hate not being able to do things, at the same time I'm glad because it keeps me humble and reminds me that I can't do everything and that I am not complete on my own.
I'm reminded of a quote I heard last year: 'God does His best work in apparent weakness' (can't remember the exact words)
I know, right down to the bottom of my middle of my inside that if God's going to change me He's going to need to break me down first. That sounds depressing but I want it. We build up these ivory towers but they're empty inside - if God needs to smash a hole in me to fill me up, then that's how it has to be. And I say this because I know me, and I know what i'm like. There's so much work to be done!! I want to be filled to the measure with all the fulness of God (Eph 3:19) - no substitutes!
I'm reminded of a quote I heard last year: 'God does His best work in apparent weakness' (can't remember the exact words)
I know, right down to the bottom of my middle of my inside that if God's going to change me He's going to need to break me down first. That sounds depressing but I want it. We build up these ivory towers but they're empty inside - if God needs to smash a hole in me to fill me up, then that's how it has to be. And I say this because I know me, and I know what i'm like. There's so much work to be done!! I want to be filled to the measure with all the fulness of God (Eph 3:19) - no substitutes!
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Durham
What do people think about a walk around the city one of these days? I can think of a few places which it would great to walk with people on a sunny day- especially the 'new' people who may not have discovered everywhere yet!
This is my list so far...
Wharton Park - the fort
Flass Vale - the meadow
The Sands to Maiden Castle
Whinney Hill
Behind St Margaret's
St Oswald's cemetary
what have i missed?
This is my list so far...
Wharton Park - the fort
Flass Vale - the meadow
The Sands to Maiden Castle
Whinney Hill
Behind St Margaret's
St Oswald's cemetary
what have i missed?
Against the rules?
Is changing your title something that's 'not done'?? I have a sneaking suspicion. Oh well, I was bored of the last one.
Friday, May 27, 2005
A swarm of motorbikes
On my way home this afternoon, in my newly fixed car (!), I saw something I've never seen in that way before. I spotted them first as a bright trail of lights emerging over the hill in front of me down the opposite carriageway. It took me a second to register as to what they were! The bright lights of a long parade of motorbikes.. and they kept coming! I trailed along behind a lorry at 50mph because I was just enjoying watching them so much. It was overcast and fairly dark for that time in the afternoon, which made their lights that much brighter. There must have been over 100.. a continuous stream. I wonder where they were all off to?
Is there a name for a group of motorcycles?
Is there a name for a group of motorcycles?
Thursday, May 26, 2005
The Monty Hall Problem
I've always thought this an interesting problem.. not least for the amount of discussion and disbelief that always entails.
'Suppose you're on a game show and you're given the choice of three doors. Behind one is a car, behind each of the others is a goat. You pick a door, say door A, and the host, who knows what's behind the other doors, opens another door, say B, which has a goat. He then says : "Do you want to switch to door C?" Is it to your advantage to take the switch?'
I'll put the answer in the 1st comment. Keep in mind the solution is somewhat counter-intuitive and has been very controversial in the past!
'Suppose you're on a game show and you're given the choice of three doors. Behind one is a car, behind each of the others is a goat. You pick a door, say door A, and the host, who knows what's behind the other doors, opens another door, say B, which has a goat. He then says : "Do you want to switch to door C?" Is it to your advantage to take the switch?'
I'll put the answer in the 1st comment. Keep in mind the solution is somewhat counter-intuitive and has been very controversial in the past!
Loving People
I have been reminded that 'building community' is done by giving, not taking. When I go out with or see people I'm hoping that I can remind myself to look for opportunities to love people. To say deliberately and regularly to myself 'how can I show this person how important they are?' I'm going to pray that God shows me ways...
The question i'm left with is one of practicalities: does the loving lose value if it it not spontaneous? I'll explain.. If I ask someone how I can best love them, do my subsequent (informed) actions then decrease in value in that person's eyes?? Does it matter? Is it a weird thing to ask?!
The question i'm left with is one of practicalities: does the loving lose value if it it not spontaneous? I'll explain.. If I ask someone how I can best love them, do my subsequent (informed) actions then decrease in value in that person's eyes?? Does it matter? Is it a weird thing to ask?!
Adventures with a Ford Fiesta
Bit of excitement to finish off the day. Went to come home, only to find the car battery completely dead! Even the central locking and the clock had died!
Anyway, called the Green Flag man out and he fiddled around with his multimeter and talked me through how to test the battery... anyway the long and short of it was the alternator was draining the battery at near to 3A. So it got towed away to get the alternator replaced. Here's hoping they sort it out tomorrow so I can drive it home for the weekend!
Anyway, called the Green Flag man out and he fiddled around with his multimeter and talked me through how to test the battery... anyway the long and short of it was the alternator was draining the battery at near to 3A. So it got towed away to get the alternator replaced. Here's hoping they sort it out tomorrow so I can drive it home for the weekend!
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Change of Template
I was having a few template issues so decided the easiest thing was just to change the template, seeing as I wasn't that attached to the previous one anyway.
Some pictures from Hilary's party last night follow...
Some pictures from Hilary's party last night follow...
Sunday, May 22, 2005
One Solitary Life
While we're on the theme, here's another old favourite..
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never had a family or owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never wrote a book, or held an office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness.
While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends deserted Him. He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had --- His coat.
When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this one solitary life.
The original version of this is by Dr. James Allan Francis. It can be found in his book called "The Real Jesus and Other Sermons", published by "The Judson Press" (Phil.) in 1926.
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never had a family or owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never wrote a book, or held an office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness.
While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends deserted Him. He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had --- His coat.
When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this one solitary life.
The original version of this is by Dr. James Allan Francis. It can be found in his book called "The Real Jesus and Other Sermons", published by "The Judson Press" (Phil.) in 1926.
Indescribable
An unmissable speech by Pastor S.M. Lockridge..
The transcript can be found at: http://www.christchurchbedford.org.uk/Sermons/description.htm
Then download an audio-only (or even with drum backing!) version at: http://www.churchnext.net/resourcing_free_up_indescribable.shtml
(it has to be listened to!)
The transcript can be found at: http://www.christchurchbedford.org.uk/Sermons/description.htm
Then download an audio-only (or even with drum backing!) version at: http://www.churchnext.net/resourcing_free_up_indescribable.shtml
(it has to be listened to!)
This blogging thing
Ooo, let's introduce this blogging thing to more people...
Sherve has started one: www.shervington.blogspot.com
and Gav's had a pseudo-blog/message board for a while... http://www.homepages.ed.ac.uk/s0348720/portal.shtml
Anyone else?
Sherve has started one: www.shervington.blogspot.com
and Gav's had a pseudo-blog/message board for a while... http://www.homepages.ed.ac.uk/s0348720/portal.shtml
Anyone else?
Party
I love hosting parties and this house is so great for it - especially now it's summer. After a slow start getting the BBQ going and sorting out food (plus being slightly anxious about rain) it turned out to be a fab evening. Highlights for me... people liking my potato salad (!), a hugely enjoyable game of volleyball, flowers from Chris L and Alan and Christiana (from their own garden!), the Herms kids having fun, and mostly - a house full of people!
I'm just disappointed i didn't get any pictures...
I'm just disappointed i didn't get any pictures...
Friday, May 20, 2005
Invigilating - the silent killer
I wrote this in the exam hall yesterday to stave off death from boredom...
Long for Blue
Of all the horrors
Within this room:
Unseeing stares
And aching wrists;
The light’s the worst:
Yellow, heavy.
A sickly pallor falls
On all who wait
And long for blue
Skies and lunch.
Long for Blue
Of all the horrors
Within this room:
Unseeing stares
And aching wrists;
The light’s the worst:
Yellow, heavy.
A sickly pallor falls
On all who wait
And long for blue
Skies and lunch.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Neologisms
This is a very funny list of new words – a few made me laugh out loud!
http://www.wordspy.com/diversions/neologisms.asp
I particularly enjoyed ‘shiftless’ and ‘mental hairball’ – I suffer from those all the time!
http://www.wordspy.com/diversions/neologisms.asp
I particularly enjoyed ‘shiftless’ and ‘mental hairball’ – I suffer from those all the time!
Reading Isaiah 4 and 5
Chapter 4 continues as Chapter 3 ended, with a warning to the women of Jerusalem.
It then goes on to talk about 'The Branch of the LORD'
"In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel." v.2
The Branch of the LORD must be Jesus. It's a great picture...one picked up by Jesus in John 15:1-8, although in that case he refers to himself as the vine and believers as the fruit.
"No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine." John 15:4
[This is from http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/2304.htm
This image is repeated in Isaiah 11:1: There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. It is repeated in Jeremiah 23:5: “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.” It is repeated in Jeremiah 33:15: In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. It is repeated in Zechariah 3:8: For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the branch.]
"...wash away the filth...cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgement and a spirit of fire." v.4
The NIV gives an alternative to 'spirit' of 'The Spirit' .
And he continues.. (i'm going to quote all of it because it's so beautiful)
"Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding-place from the storm and rain." v.5-6
It's interesting how the cloud of smoke and the flaming fire are how God manifested himself in leading the Israelites in the desert. Essentially he seems to be saying that God himself will be over the whole assembly. It seems more likely this is the Spirit. Was the cloud and fire in the desert also the Spirit? ..seems to make sense!
http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/2304.htm explains that it means simply that when 'the Branch of the Lord' reigns God will be manifest as clearly as He was in the desert.
It then goes on to talk about 'The Branch of the LORD'
"In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel." v.2
The Branch of the LORD must be Jesus. It's a great picture...one picked up by Jesus in John 15:1-8, although in that case he refers to himself as the vine and believers as the fruit.
"No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine." John 15:4
[This is from http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/2304.htm
This image is repeated in Isaiah 11:1: There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. It is repeated in Jeremiah 23:5: “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.” It is repeated in Jeremiah 33:15: In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. It is repeated in Zechariah 3:8: For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the branch.]
"...wash away the filth...cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgement and a spirit of fire." v.4
The NIV gives an alternative to 'spirit' of 'The Spirit' .
And he continues.. (i'm going to quote all of it because it's so beautiful)
"Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding-place from the storm and rain." v.5-6
It's interesting how the cloud of smoke and the flaming fire are how God manifested himself in leading the Israelites in the desert. Essentially he seems to be saying that God himself will be over the whole assembly. It seems more likely this is the Spirit. Was the cloud and fire in the desert also the Spirit? ..seems to make sense!
http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/2304.htm explains that it means simply that when 'the Branch of the Lord' reigns God will be manifest as clearly as He was in the desert.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
A poem I found on my hard drive
Rain at Sunset
The air is yellow, perfect.
Rain falls gently,
Silently weeping.
Every drop tells a story;
Rolling together,
Lost forever,
Each and every one reflecting
The dying light.
The light is golden, royal.
The rain is cleaning:
The tears of heaven,
Claiming the dust.
Yet clouds linger,
Never still, never resting;
And the rays are fading fast.
The earth is still, waiting.
Cleaned, it rests,
Yet not unspeaking:
Above my head
The drops are playing
An everlasting rhythm,
Each one uniquely praising
The dying Sun.
The air is yellow, perfect.
Rain falls gently,
Silently weeping.
Every drop tells a story;
Rolling together,
Lost forever,
Each and every one reflecting
The dying light.
The light is golden, royal.
The rain is cleaning:
The tears of heaven,
Claiming the dust.
Yet clouds linger,
Never still, never resting;
And the rays are fading fast.
The earth is still, waiting.
Cleaned, it rests,
Yet not unspeaking:
Above my head
The drops are playing
An everlasting rhythm,
Each one uniquely praising
The dying Sun.
Return to trance?
I've been listening to a track called 'Flaming June' by Paul Van Dyke.
It's reminding me how much I enjoy trance. Despite trying to 'mature' in musical taste over the last few years, some things stay constant. Even as I listen, I wonder at it - such a strange thing to enjoy, and part of me doesn't. But then the melody kicks in and I'm suddenly feeling higher, lighter. Part of it is a nostalgic effect I think..brings back memories of losing myself in dancing in Planet of Sound. But it still makes my heart beat, uplifts my mood.
I have odd musical taste. Vic was listening to someone in the kitchen earlier and suddenly I was reminded of John Denver and had a wave of nostalgia. There's little music that I don't like actually. Mostly the stuff I dislike falls into the category of 'can't dance to it, can't sing to it' - not sure what this means! I guess both dancing and singing are uplifting, emotional in some way.
It's reminding me how much I enjoy trance. Despite trying to 'mature' in musical taste over the last few years, some things stay constant. Even as I listen, I wonder at it - such a strange thing to enjoy, and part of me doesn't. But then the melody kicks in and I'm suddenly feeling higher, lighter. Part of it is a nostalgic effect I think..brings back memories of losing myself in dancing in Planet of Sound. But it still makes my heart beat, uplifts my mood.
I have odd musical taste. Vic was listening to someone in the kitchen earlier and suddenly I was reminded of John Denver and had a wave of nostalgia. There's little music that I don't like actually. Mostly the stuff I dislike falls into the category of 'can't dance to it, can't sing to it' - not sure what this means! I guess both dancing and singing are uplifting, emotional in some way.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Reading Isaiah 3
Chapter 2 ended with the warning:
"Stop trusting in man,
who has put a breath in his nostrils. [refers to man's mortality]
Of what account is he?" v.22
Chapter 3 begins with a prediction of Jerusalem besieged and her leaders destroyed.
"Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the LORD,
defying his glorious presence.
...Woe to them!
They have brought disaster upon themselves." v.8-9
It describes a time when God will judge his people for their wrongdoing - in particular, the leaders:
"The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people.
The LORD enteres into judgement
against the elders and leaders of his people:
'It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
What do you mean by crushing my people
and grinding the faces of the poor?'
declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty." v. 13-15
=The LORD is concerned with JUSTICE=
The second part of the chapter deals with the women of Judah, who have concerned themselves with clothing and jewellery rather than God.
"In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery:" v. 18
"Stop trusting in man,
who has put a breath in his nostrils. [refers to man's mortality]
Of what account is he?" v.22
Chapter 3 begins with a prediction of Jerusalem besieged and her leaders destroyed.
"Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the LORD,
defying his glorious presence.
...Woe to them!
They have brought disaster upon themselves." v.8-9
It describes a time when God will judge his people for their wrongdoing - in particular, the leaders:
"The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people.
The LORD enteres into judgement
against the elders and leaders of his people:
'It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
What do you mean by crushing my people
and grinding the faces of the poor?'
declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty." v. 13-15
=The LORD is concerned with JUSTICE=
The second part of the chapter deals with the women of Judah, who have concerned themselves with clothing and jewellery rather than God.
"In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery:" v. 18
Time Traveler's Wife
My current novel. I'm enjoying this - it's creative and original. I'm about half way through i'd say and eager to continue....
It concerns Henry, a reluctant time traveller, dragged out of his own time for short periods and deposited randomly across a space of 100 years or so. Except that it's not random... his travelling often takes him to moments in his own past or that of his parents - and in particular into the childhood of his wife, Clare. As the title indicates, this is her story as much as his.
It concerns Henry, a reluctant time traveller, dragged out of his own time for short periods and deposited randomly across a space of 100 years or so. Except that it's not random... his travelling often takes him to moments in his own past or that of his parents - and in particular into the childhood of his wife, Clare. As the title indicates, this is her story as much as his.
Hamid Pourmand
I learnt about this man at the Kings church prayer meeting last night. It is rare that I am so moved...I think the Spirit induces teariness in me more than anything (not sure what that says about me).
Hamid is a Pastor in Iran who has been imprisoned on false charges and is currently in jail. His family has been left with no income and soon no home.
Jesus, my deliverer, rescue this man and his family.
Make the truth of Hamid's son's name - Immanuel (God with us) - a reality for them.
Hamid is a Pastor in Iran who has been imprisoned on false charges and is currently in jail. His family has been left with no income and soon no home.
Jesus, my deliverer, rescue this man and his family.
Make the truth of Hamid's son's name - Immanuel (God with us) - a reality for them.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Ron on Sunday
Last thoughts for this evening (i hope!)... just trying to get stuff down before i forget!
Ron was preaching on identity on Sunday evening. He said any discussion of identity should not lose sight of the fact that we're sinners.
As in the AA - 'I am an alcholic' - we should not let ourselves forget that our relationship with God starts from a position of admitting our weakness. 'I am a sinner'
It was an excellent analogy and a good reminder.
Ron was preaching on identity on Sunday evening. He said any discussion of identity should not lose sight of the fact that we're sinners.
As in the AA - 'I am an alcholic' - we should not let ourselves forget that our relationship with God starts from a position of admitting our weakness. 'I am a sinner'
It was an excellent analogy and a good reminder.
More stuff from Debbie
She quotes John 14-16 a lot in the talks. I was interested in her discussion of the three Greek prepositions (?) that Jesus uses to describe the way the Holy Spirit is 'with' us.
The first type used is 'para' (usually translated 'with')
The second is 'meta' mostly translated 'with' or 'abide with', though she talks about it meaning 'accompanying'
"...he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever"
John 14:16
The third is 'en', which is translated 'in'
"...and will be in you."
"a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest"
I found the Lexicon at Crosswalk.com really useful for looking these up!
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/NewTestamentGreek/
The first type used is 'para' (usually translated 'with')
"...you will know him for he lives with you..." John 14:17
- this word means, essentially, 'alongside' (as in 'paraclete')... or 'walks next to'
The second is 'meta' mostly translated 'with' or 'abide with', though she talks about it meaning 'accompanying'
"...he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever"
John 14:16
The third is 'en', which is translated 'in'
"...and will be in you."
"a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest"
I found the Lexicon at Crosswalk.com really useful for looking these up!
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/NewTestamentGreek/
Holy Spirit in NT
Was listening to Debbie Forster again in the car today.
She was comparing the experience of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament with that in the New. She described the work of the HS in the OT as being 'sporadic' - he comes upon people here and there and it's mostly temporary and for a particular purpose. He comes upon 'special' people as well - prophets and such. It's an outward 'resting upon' idea as well.
But the NT experience is an inward - and continuing - filling of the Spirit. We are living in the fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel:
"I will pour out my Spirit on all people...
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days." Joel 2:28-29
(emphasis mine!)
It's no longer a trickle.. now the Spirit is poured out on all people!
And he is no longer just resting on us for a short while... now he is with us forever, working inside us!
She was comparing the experience of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament with that in the New. She described the work of the HS in the OT as being 'sporadic' - he comes upon people here and there and it's mostly temporary and for a particular purpose. He comes upon 'special' people as well - prophets and such. It's an outward 'resting upon' idea as well.
But the NT experience is an inward - and continuing - filling of the Spirit. We are living in the fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel:
"I will pour out my Spirit on all people...
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days." Joel 2:28-29
(emphasis mine!)
It's no longer a trickle.. now the Spirit is poured out on all people!
And he is no longer just resting on us for a short while... now he is with us forever, working inside us!
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Debbie Forster on the Holy Spirit
Just been listening to Debbie Forster on a tape in the car.
She had some relatively familar but quite interesting things to say about the Holy Spirit.
She got the 'audience' listing the pictures given for the Spirit in the Bible. Impersonal / personal - most of the personal are in the New Testament. Many of the personal words used for the Spirit in our translations (comforter, advocate, counsellor, etc) are rendered from the Greek word 'Paraclete'. I remember dad preaching on this some years back. Paraclete means someone who stand beside you in court / times of trouble or accusation.
She also pointed out that in John when Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit it is always with a 'He' - not an it. This is not a translation issue, but a deliberate decision by John, as the Greek word for spirit is always neuter and should therefore never be referred to as 'he'.
That's about where I got to before I got home!
She had some relatively familar but quite interesting things to say about the Holy Spirit.
She got the 'audience' listing the pictures given for the Spirit in the Bible. Impersonal / personal - most of the personal are in the New Testament. Many of the personal words used for the Spirit in our translations (comforter, advocate, counsellor, etc) are rendered from the Greek word 'Paraclete'. I remember dad preaching on this some years back. Paraclete means someone who stand beside you in court / times of trouble or accusation.
She also pointed out that in John when Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit it is always with a 'He' - not an it. This is not a translation issue, but a deliberate decision by John, as the Greek word for spirit is always neuter and should therefore never be referred to as 'he'.
That's about where I got to before I got home!
Monday, May 09, 2005
Reading Isaiah 2
Chapter 2
In the last days..
all nations will come to God's temple
"He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths."
"They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks." v.2
The Day of the LORD
The people are worshipping idols and storing up treasure...
"Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made." v.8
"So man will be brought low and makind humbled - do not forgive them."
(who's talking here?)
fear the LORD!
"...and the splendour of his majesty!"
he has "a day in store for all the proud and lofty"
for all the tall things! (mountains, towers, trees, ships)
"...the LORD alone will be exalted in that day."
In the last days..
all nations will come to God's temple
"He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths."
"They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks." v.2
The Day of the LORD
The people are worshipping idols and storing up treasure...
"Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made." v.8
"So man will be brought low and makind humbled - do not forgive them."
(who's talking here?)
fear the LORD!
"...and the splendour of his majesty!"
he has "a day in store for all the proud and lofty"
for all the tall things! (mountains, towers, trees, ships)
"...the LORD alone will be exalted in that day."
Ok, so I really am bored. Or maybe just avoiding work.
So addictive!
(these ones were really hard..)
Verbal Intelligence = 89th percentile.
http://similarminds.com/int-verbal.html
Visual Pattern = 93th percentile.
http://similarminds.com/intdoor.html
Number.. just 77th percentile!
http://similarminds.com/intelligence-number-door.html
So addictive!
(these ones were really hard..)
Verbal Intelligence = 89th percentile.
http://similarminds.com/int-verbal.html
Visual Pattern = 93th percentile.
http://similarminds.com/intdoor.html
Number.. just 77th percentile!
http://similarminds.com/intelligence-number-door.html
Sunday, May 08, 2005
CS Lewis - Surprised by joy
This passage from 'Surprised by Joy' always reminds me of The Hound of Heaven (i'm not altogether sure why!):
"I am free to take it or not as I choose—like distant music which you need not listen to unless you wish, like a delicious faint wind on your face which you can easily ignore. One was invited to surrender to it. And the odd thing is that something inside me suggested that it would be "sensible" to refuse the invitation; almost that I would be better employed in remembering that I was going to do a job I do not greatly enjoy and that I should have a very tiresome journey back to Oxford. Then I silenced this inward wiseacre. I accepted the invitation—threw myself open to this feathery, impalpable, tingling sensation. The rest of the journey I passed in a state which can be described only as joy."
"I am free to take it or not as I choose—like distant music which you need not listen to unless you wish, like a delicious faint wind on your face which you can easily ignore. One was invited to surrender to it. And the odd thing is that something inside me suggested that it would be "sensible" to refuse the invitation; almost that I would be better employed in remembering that I was going to do a job I do not greatly enjoy and that I should have a very tiresome journey back to Oxford. Then I silenced this inward wiseacre. I accepted the invitation—threw myself open to this feathery, impalpable, tingling sensation. The rest of the journey I passed in a state which can be described only as joy."
The Hound of Heaven
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat - and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet -
"All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."
I pleaded, outlaw-wise,
By many a hearted casement, curtained red,
Trellised with intertwining charities;
(For, though I knew His love Who followèd,
Yet I was sore adread
Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside.)
But, if one little casement parted wide,
The gust of His approach would clash it to.
Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.
Across the margent of the world I fled,
And troubled the gold gateways of the stars,
Smiting for shelter on their clangèd bars;
Fretted to dulcet jars
And silvern chatter the pale ports o' the moon.
I said to Dawn: Be sudden - to Eve: Be soon;
With thy young skiey blossoms heap me over
From this tremendous Lover -
Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see!
I tempted all His servitors, but to find
My own betrayal in their constancy,
In faith to Him their fickleness to me,
Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit.
To all swift things for swiftness did I sue;
Clung to the whistling mane of every wind.
But whether they swept, smoothly fleet,
The long savannahs of the blue;
Or whether, Thunder-driven,
They clanged His chariot 'thwart a heaven,
Plashy with flying lightnings round the spurn o' their feet: -
Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.
Still with unhurrying chase, And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
Came on the following Feet,
And a Voice above their beat -
"Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me."
Now of that long pursuit
Comes on at had the bruit;
That Voice is round me like a bursting sea:
"And is thy earth so marred,
Shattered in shard on shard?
Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest Me!
Strange, piteous, futile thing!
Wherfore should any set thee love apart?
Seeing none but I make much of naught" (He said),
"And human love needs human meriting:
How hast thou merited -
Of all man's clotted clay, the dingiest clot?
Alack, thou knowest not
How little worthy of any love thou art!
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,
Save Me, save only Me?
All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might'st seek it in My arms.
All which thy child's mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:
Rise, clasp My hand, and come."
Halts by me that footfall:
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?
"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me."
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat - and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet -
"All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."
I pleaded, outlaw-wise,
By many a hearted casement, curtained red,
Trellised with intertwining charities;
(For, though I knew His love Who followèd,
Yet I was sore adread
Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside.)
But, if one little casement parted wide,
The gust of His approach would clash it to.
Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.
Across the margent of the world I fled,
And troubled the gold gateways of the stars,
Smiting for shelter on their clangèd bars;
Fretted to dulcet jars
And silvern chatter the pale ports o' the moon.
I said to Dawn: Be sudden - to Eve: Be soon;
With thy young skiey blossoms heap me over
From this tremendous Lover -
Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see!
I tempted all His servitors, but to find
My own betrayal in their constancy,
In faith to Him their fickleness to me,
Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit.
To all swift things for swiftness did I sue;
Clung to the whistling mane of every wind.
But whether they swept, smoothly fleet,
The long savannahs of the blue;
Or whether, Thunder-driven,
They clanged His chariot 'thwart a heaven,
Plashy with flying lightnings round the spurn o' their feet: -
Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.
Still with unhurrying chase, And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
Came on the following Feet,
And a Voice above their beat -
"Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me."
Now of that long pursuit
Comes on at had the bruit;
That Voice is round me like a bursting sea:
"And is thy earth so marred,
Shattered in shard on shard?
Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest Me!
Strange, piteous, futile thing!
Wherfore should any set thee love apart?
Seeing none but I make much of naught" (He said),
"And human love needs human meriting:
How hast thou merited -
Of all man's clotted clay, the dingiest clot?
Alack, thou knowest not
How little worthy of any love thou art!
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,
Save Me, save only Me?
All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might'st seek it in My arms.
All which thy child's mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:
Rise, clasp My hand, and come."
Halts by me that footfall:
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?
"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me."
Reading Isaiah
Isaiah - chapter 1
God's people have rebelled against Him.
"They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him." v.4
The country was suffering and hurting and yet they had cut themselves off from God's help.
"...there is no soundness - only wounds and bruises and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil."
God speaks with despair of their meaningless offerings. He takes no pleasure when religious ritual is carried out without a simultaneous sacrifice of the heart.
"Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me."
Our sins block our relationship with God:
"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayer, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean."
He urges them to stop doing wrong and start doing right. "Seek justice"
However, there is forgiveness:
"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;" v 18
"If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword."
[Is this a general principle?]
God grieves over Jerusalem "become a harlot" - he cannot stand by..
"I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities... Afterwards you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City."
(brings to mind CS Lewis' quote about the living house - see the previous post!)
God will judge wickedness and bring down the mighty.
God's people have rebelled against Him.
"They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him." v.4
The country was suffering and hurting and yet they had cut themselves off from God's help.
"...there is no soundness - only wounds and bruises and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil."
God speaks with despair of their meaningless offerings. He takes no pleasure when religious ritual is carried out without a simultaneous sacrifice of the heart.
"Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me."
Our sins block our relationship with God:
"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayer, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean."
He urges them to stop doing wrong and start doing right. "Seek justice"
However, there is forgiveness:
"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;" v 18
"If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword."
[Is this a general principle?]
God grieves over Jerusalem "become a harlot" - he cannot stand by..
"I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities... Afterwards you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City."
(brings to mind CS Lewis' quote about the living house - see the previous post!)
God will judge wickedness and bring down the mighty.
The Living House
C.S. Lewis says.
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right, and stopping the leaks in the roof, and so on; you know that there jobs needed doing, and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that he is building a quite different house from the one you thought of- throwing up a wing here, putting up an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage; but he is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it himself ". Mere Christianity p 172
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right, and stopping the leaks in the roof, and so on; you know that there jobs needed doing, and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that he is building a quite different house from the one you thought of- throwing up a wing here, putting up an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage; but he is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it himself ". Mere Christianity p 172
prosperity v suffering
"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." CS Lewis, Mere Christianity
This quote makes so much sense to me, as much of Lewis does.
This quote makes so much sense to me, as much of Lewis does.
Belbin's Team Roles Test
(you'll have to email me for the test - I have no accessible webspace at the moment!)
‘How to play’
- in each section of statements you have a total of 10 points to allocate according to the statements which make most sense to you. For example, you might give 5 or 6 points to the statement you felt most strongly about, then 3 to another which you were fairly convinced about, then just 1 point to another which you feel says something about you. Of course, if you felt equally about all of them you would give 1 or 2 points to each. But, as with all such tests, try not to be too ‘fair’ – read the statements through and go with your first instincts. Obviously, the ‘stronger’ the numbers the stronger the analysis will be.
If you want to find out what the roles mean, check out these links…
http://www.belbin.com/belbin-team-roles.htm
http://adrianwalsh.com.au/nine_team_roles.htm
For interest, I just completed the test again myself.. I have a primary preference for ‘Monitor Evaluator’ and a secondary preference for ‘Shaper’. I think most people would agree that these two describe me reasonably well, although of course none describe anyone completely! I would be interested to hear what others come out as…
Oh dear, I should have remembered this testing thing gets addictive. Just one more…
According to this test: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm I am INTJ, which in reading the following: http://typelogic.com/intj.html seems a fairly good descriptor.
‘How to play’
- in each section of statements you have a total of 10 points to allocate according to the statements which make most sense to you. For example, you might give 5 or 6 points to the statement you felt most strongly about, then 3 to another which you were fairly convinced about, then just 1 point to another which you feel says something about you. Of course, if you felt equally about all of them you would give 1 or 2 points to each. But, as with all such tests, try not to be too ‘fair’ – read the statements through and go with your first instincts. Obviously, the ‘stronger’ the numbers the stronger the analysis will be.
If you want to find out what the roles mean, check out these links…
http://www.belbin.com/belbin-team-roles.htm
http://adrianwalsh.com.au/nine_team_roles.htm
For interest, I just completed the test again myself.. I have a primary preference for ‘Monitor Evaluator’ and a secondary preference for ‘Shaper’. I think most people would agree that these two describe me reasonably well, although of course none describe anyone completely! I would be interested to hear what others come out as…
Oh dear, I should have remembered this testing thing gets addictive. Just one more…
According to this test: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm I am INTJ, which in reading the following: http://typelogic.com/intj.html seems a fairly good descriptor.
- slightly expressed introvert
- moderately expressed intuitive personality
- moderately expressed thinking personality
- slightly expressed judging personality
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Christian Politics?
I was reflecting with a friend recently on the positions that Christians take across the political spectrum..on a purely economic level. I am certain it is possible to take a Christian perspective on either the left or right wing ends of the spectrum. This is where i've got to: (feel free to disagree!)
As a left wing Christian, one believes, as any Christian, that we are called to act out Christ's ministry on Earth, to fight injustice and feed the poor and so on. Therefore we must to everything in our power to make these things a reality.
As a right wing Christian, one believes the same thing. Except that you leave it to individual responsibility. The fate of the 'poor' in general is ultimately in God's hands, not the government's.
I find myself sympathetic to both positions!
As a left wing Christian, one believes, as any Christian, that we are called to act out Christ's ministry on Earth, to fight injustice and feed the poor and so on. Therefore we must to everything in our power to make these things a reality.
As a right wing Christian, one believes the same thing. Except that you leave it to individual responsibility. The fate of the 'poor' in general is ultimately in God's hands, not the government's.
I find myself sympathetic to both positions!
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