Categories: uncategorized
Date: 13 April 2006 16:46:18
Well, I actually got into Walsall on Tuesday and went directly to the pub with one of my fave mates, we found a few lovely people there and chatted.
Then I found home.
Still no Guy! (I knew that, don't worry, just saying)
I've tracked him down leaving Mom's this weekend and meandering with her and a mate of hers up across France towards Claire's. They should be there by now.
Talking about Claire's, a sad note to all you Tolkien fans out there: Bag-End is no longer called Bag-End. Claire's B-F decided to change it. He hasn't decided what to though... Sad sigh as an era ends.
Gloria is still expecting a ransom for Guy's return but I've negotiated those Green & Blacks Easter eggs into the deal so fewer kinder eggs is ok. I can cope.
Spring Harvest!!
What a week!
I never seem to have a bad year.
I had the best team ever this year and am proud to add that they returned the compliment by saying I was the best team leader. I'd say that was pish-posh but will take their word for it. My 2 guys took very good care of me and we shared tasks well and made a solid team. As I say, they are my best ever team. I couldn't have done it without them. What stars!
As for the journey:
I paid premium for my ticket and my travel expenses were £7 or so short of that evil amount... Nevetheless, it was a smooth journey. I got a lift from SH pretty much down to dad's afterwards. Finally on the way back up northwards the kind man on the train waived the fact I got on in Exeter with a ticket that only began in Taunton. Save me a few ££.
SH 06 teaching?
Themed around ONE BIG GOD, we looked at what God is like, who He is in the BIG picture... Creator, Gatherer, Shepherd, Redeemer, Saviour, Comforter, .... I forget. I decided on a change: I took no notes this year and brought back a few carefully chosen snippets in my brain instead of on paper.
The guys who preached on 'the problem of pain' rocked and reminded me of some very good points/promises/truths. Biggest of all was how Jesus walks with us through pain and suffering, that he has walked that road before, that he has known pain & suffering in it's most base forms. "Jesus spoke angrily at death as He stood outside Lazarus' tomb." I'd love to know the Greek to check that comment, but it wouldn't at all surprise me. He didn't much care for death getting the upper hand did our Jesus! We are allowed to feel angry at death and to speak it out, to tell Satan off. I like that. Suffering also puts us into some of the darkest places, where God's words might otherwise not reach. I mean, I don't know anyone who'd book in for a long stay on a cancer ward for terminally ill patients or the like... Unless a nurse serves there, how else is God going to find workers for that field. I'm exagerating the point a little but actually, maybe I'm not... God does work weird-ways. Mostly I wonder if that sort of applies in some ways to people I know who have odd illnesses that keep them physically bound but mentally alert... I know that unless I become self disciplined overnight it's only being bed-ridden that would cause me to spend appropriate time in His presence without running off to do something (are any of you surprised by me saying that?)
Finally, though there's tons else I'm forgetting, my comment of the week, reply to an atheist who said he didn't have the faith to believe in God and all the rest: "Yes, but I don't have the faith to believe in nothing and that there is no God!"
My days at Dad's were ace. No road noise to wake me, fresh air and wide sky, me, Dad and my bro Danny mostly just chilling and spending time together. We did a fair amount of graft. My Dad got us putting up wire for the climbing plants that will in time hide the garden a little from the neighbours and tidying the fencing around the veg patch. I stirred the sugar syrup with which we fed the bees. They need extra munchies in the winter until the flowers are all out and showing their pretty hearts for gathering pollen. The honey Dad brought me last visit was ace. Imagine, sometime you'll visit me and eat honey from my Dad's and I'll be all chuffed to tell you that I helped make it :) How cool is that!!
On Sunday Dad and I cooked the biggest chicken stew ever. I think the pot we cooked it in takes about 10l, possibly15l if I estimated right. It was yummy. The chicken was called... nearly kidding no name but it was picked and killed and plucked by Padre on Saturday, I helped clean the beast and prep it for the soup!
Oh yay!!
My little bro Danny needs all your very fervent place. He's in a bad place going nowhere. He's spending dole money on dire beer and on cannabis or getting mugged or whatever and sinking lower still when I thought he couldn't really sink any more. He's got no purpose at the mo but get smashed or stoned or a combi of those. I shudder at the thought of when he's 'not there'. Not sure I've got heart to ask or much idea what to ask for but I still leave him to God... How helpless do I feel! Let's not go there. No let's not.
On a different note, had a God sent sort of chat with my aunt and Dad and cousin Al (Danny was there but 'not there'). Main points were:
God and where He is: in creation (as in everywhere and everything) or present but in Himself, not amalgamated in His creation but watching over it and looking after it
Creation and the mishap in the garden of Eden and the problem of pain (useful reminders anyone??)
What God means to me: I would never chose to live without Him and I know that I know that I know He is because I have seen and experienced Him in my life and others'
Hope: "I will write my Word in their hearts and they will know Me and they will be my people and I will be their God" or whatever that verse in Jeremiah says where God promises that He Himself will teach us about Himself.
My mate Rach is home for a while. She's been in Norway at Bible college (in Bergen) and is back for a rest. I'm so glad to be able to spend time with her. Oh Ye locals, do check in with her if you know her!! And if you don't too, why not.
Where I work hasn't burnt down but lots of change. I'd forgotten all about the existance of work until NVQ yesterday... Nice feeling.
Oh, for those who've kept asking me in spite of my efforts to ignore it. Translation exam. Well, exams. No results yet!! but if I believe the website they should be on their way around now. So wait a couple of weeks and then if I've said nothing, you can ask.
Oh blissful ignorance! All things must end sometime...