I have started blogging again after a long break!! With all the recent changes in my life - quitting my job, selling my flat, moving to the US, studying Counselling, getting engaged, etc etc - it is time for a fresh start.
The new site is From Here on Out - check it out! No idea how often I will blog but I hope to update it as often as I can.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Natural Born Believers
I saw a New Scientist article this week that caught my attention. It was the line It seems that our minds are finely tuned to believe in gods that caught my attention.
Hold that thought - more soon!!
Hold that thought - more soon!!
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Ruffling feathers
It's great to see Andy Murray already playing tennis so well this season and, particularly, at the Australian Open. I love hearing the top 3 seeds whingeing about the new kid on the block (see Jonathan Overend blog) - here's hoping Murray can keep the momentum going...
Friday, 23 January 2009
The Church of Obama - Post Script
In my last post (The Church of Obama) I wanted to blog on Inauguration Day but it was very late and I was exhausted. Perhaps I sounded somewhat negative or harsh on Obama. That was not my plan. My eyes filled with tears at the significance of the day, especially watching the heartfelt and huge smile on Obama's face as he was sworn in to office. I love a country where such a thing is possible today - where anyone, no matter their race or colour can be elected to office.
My main purpose for the blog was to comment on the fact that one man will not solve humanity's deepest needs, although I do hope and pray that, for the terms he has while in office, President Obama will help make the world a better place.
My main purpose for the blog was to comment on the fact that one man will not solve humanity's deepest needs, although I do hope and pray that, for the terms he has while in office, President Obama will help make the world a better place.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
The Church of Obama
Inauguration Day 2009
How many superlatives have been used over the course of today as Barack Obama took office as the 44th President of the United States of America: transformation, change, remaking America, hope, future... to name but a few. One newscaster on Radio 5 described the thronging crowds in Washington DC as worshipping at the church of Obama. It's hard not to get swept along by the excitement and euphoria.
It was exciting; it was momentous to watch as the first African American was sworn in to office. I am excited and happy to have experienced this day, although over 2000 miles away.
But, Obama is only a man. The real job of leading starts now and I hope and pray that Obama will be a wise and discerning President. In a sense, Obama has set himself up to fail, because hope can mean so many things to so many different people, without actually being defined. I hope that Obama does make a good President, both for the United States and for the wider world.
But, Obama is only a man. He may be a good man; he may be an exceptional and wise, intelligent man, far exceeding his peers. But, he is still a man. Some of today's zeal - and some during the election campaign - was almost messianic in its fervour. Please don't take me wrongly. History has been made. When Obama was born, some parts of the United States were still experiencing segregation.
But, Obama's message of hope is not infallible hope. It is not unshakable hope. The only place that absolute hope can be found is in another man, the Man Christ Jesus, who also came on a wave of hope to the world. Not political hope but spiritual hope. Not temporary hope but lasting hope. Hope that is assured and promised to those who put their faith in and cling to Jesus, because of his death and resurrection. We live in a world which is falling apart, which is transitory and fleeting. The stock exchange was reported today as being the worst ever on Inauguration Day. We get little glimpses of hope in this life of brave leadership.
But, I'm talking about One greater than that, who is not only man but who is also God in the flesh. God with us. That is real Hope and one where I am willing to put my faith.
How many superlatives have been used over the course of today as Barack Obama took office as the 44th President of the United States of America: transformation, change, remaking America, hope, future... to name but a few. One newscaster on Radio 5 described the thronging crowds in Washington DC as worshipping at the church of Obama. It's hard not to get swept along by the excitement and euphoria.
It was exciting; it was momentous to watch as the first African American was sworn in to office. I am excited and happy to have experienced this day, although over 2000 miles away.
But, Obama is only a man. The real job of leading starts now and I hope and pray that Obama will be a wise and discerning President. In a sense, Obama has set himself up to fail, because hope can mean so many things to so many different people, without actually being defined. I hope that Obama does make a good President, both for the United States and for the wider world.
But, Obama is only a man. He may be a good man; he may be an exceptional and wise, intelligent man, far exceeding his peers. But, he is still a man. Some of today's zeal - and some during the election campaign - was almost messianic in its fervour. Please don't take me wrongly. History has been made. When Obama was born, some parts of the United States were still experiencing segregation.
But, Obama's message of hope is not infallible hope. It is not unshakable hope. The only place that absolute hope can be found is in another man, the Man Christ Jesus, who also came on a wave of hope to the world. Not political hope but spiritual hope. Not temporary hope but lasting hope. Hope that is assured and promised to those who put their faith in and cling to Jesus, because of his death and resurrection. We live in a world which is falling apart, which is transitory and fleeting. The stock exchange was reported today as being the worst ever on Inauguration Day. We get little glimpses of hope in this life of brave leadership.
But, I'm talking about One greater than that, who is not only man but who is also God in the flesh. God with us. That is real Hope and one where I am willing to put my faith.
Saturday, 17 January 2009
'09 - Oh, yeah!!
Thanks to Learning from Sophie for the challenge of having a structured blog. I hope to do that this year and, certainly, to be more regular with my blogs in 09 than I was in 08. Here are some ideas for themes:
At the turn of the year I made some of my usual resolutions to be more disciplined in 2009, to exercise more, to eat less, and so on - but I have been doing more thinking these last few weeks about what it means to me to make and break resolutions over and over. Check out Rob Waller's challenging article, from Jan 1st, on resolutions and his thoughts on transformation - Romans 12:2 style. It's a useful exercise to make resolutions but how often does it become another performance treadmill for us? There is a thought provoking sermon at the MBC web-site (Growing in Faith, from Jan 4th). How often do resolutions, taken in the wrong attitude, make us step outside the realm of God's abundant grace? I am going to endeavour to keep my resolutions this year but, more than that, I want my mind to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and, from that, my behaviour to be changed into something beautiful and more like the pattern of Jesus.
- Travel blog of destinations from last year's trips: Transylvania, Maramures, Budapest, Bremen
- Book reviews:The Kite Runner, The Shack, The Gift, I am Legend and any more I may well have forgotten about
- Jesus' authority in a world without it
- Sport comments
- Choices
- Coffee...and cafe musings and ratings
- Biblical character sketches - not majorly theological but things that have excited and stretched me as I have thought about them
- Random thoughts
At the turn of the year I made some of my usual resolutions to be more disciplined in 2009, to exercise more, to eat less, and so on - but I have been doing more thinking these last few weeks about what it means to me to make and break resolutions over and over. Check out Rob Waller's challenging article, from Jan 1st, on resolutions and his thoughts on transformation - Romans 12:2 style. It's a useful exercise to make resolutions but how often does it become another performance treadmill for us? There is a thought provoking sermon at the MBC web-site (Growing in Faith, from Jan 4th). How often do resolutions, taken in the wrong attitude, make us step outside the realm of God's abundant grace? I am going to endeavour to keep my resolutions this year but, more than that, I want my mind to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and, from that, my behaviour to be changed into something beautiful and more like the pattern of Jesus.
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Waking Up
What is the strangest thing that has woken you up? I woke up this morning laughing - out loud - at something in a dream!! It has tickled me all day thinking about it. I wish I could remember what the dream was, but it was certainly funny enough to wake me up!
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