Thursday 30 March 2017

Language: The Alphabet

As kids the first thing we are usually taught is the Alphabet, we all need to know our A's to Z's to help us read and write. How did you learn it, did you have a rhyme to help you?

I can't remember how I learned mine, it was 34 years ago and my memory is not that great. But I recently came across this rhyme which is entitled: "The Tragical Death of A, Apple Pie, Who was Cut in Pieces, and Eaten by Twenty-Six Gentleman, With Whom All Little People Ought to be Very Well Acquainted"

Here is the rhyme:

A was an apple pie
B bit it,
C cut it,
D dealt it,
E eats it,
F fought for it,
G got it,
H had it,
I inspected it,
J jumped for it,
K kept it,
L longed for it,
M mourned for it,
N nodded for it,
O opened it,
P peeped in it,
Q quartered it,
R ran for it,
S stole it,
T took it,
U upset it,
V viewed it,
W wanted it,
X,Y and Z all wished for 
and had a piece in hand. 

Wednesday 22 March 2017

Musings: Church Signs

Moving on from the funny Church bulletin notices, here are some real signs from Church noticeboards:

Free Trip to heaven.  Details Inside!

Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!

Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons - come hear one!

God so loved the world that e did not send a committee.

Come in and pray today.  Beat the Christmas rush!

When down in the mouth, remember Jonah.  He came out alright.

Fight truth decay - study the Bible daily.

How will you spend eternity - Smoking or Nonsmoking?

Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives.

It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin.

Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church.

If you're headed in the wrong direction.  God allows U-turns.

If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again.

If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again.

Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon.

Forbidden fruit creates many jams.

In the dark?  Follow the Son.

Running low on faith?  Stop in for a fill-up.

If you can't sleep, don't count sheep - talk to the Shepherd. 



Tuesday 21 March 2017

Musings: Occupational Hymns

Ever wondered which church Hymn went along with your profession - well look no further

Dentists:  Crown Him With Many Crowns

Weather Forecasters:  There Shall Be Showers of Blessing

Builders:  The Church's One Foundation

Tailors: Holy, Holy, Holy

Golfers: There is a Green Hill Far Away

Politicians:  Standing on the Promises

Opticians: Open My Eyes That I Might See

Tax Collectors: I Surrender All

Electricians:  Send the Light

Librarians: Whispering Hope

Pilots:  Closer My God To Thee

Doctors: Revive Us Again

Judges:  Almost Persuaded

Architects:  How Firm a Foundation

Postal Workers: So Send I You

Waiters: Fill My Cup, Lord

Lifeguards: Rescue the Perishing

Criminals:  Search Me, O God

Cobblers: It is Well with My Soul

Travel Agents:  Anywhere with Jesus

Geologists: Rock of Ages

Linguists: O for a Thousand Tongues



Monday 20 March 2017

Musings: More Church Bulletin Funnies

Here are some more funny notices that been spotted in church bulletins:

The concert held in Fellowship Hall was a great success.  Special thanks are due to the minister's daughter, who laboured the whole evening at the piano, which as usual fell upon her.

22 members were present at the church meeting held at the home of Mrs Martha Crutchfield last evening.  Mrs Crutchfield and Mrs Rankin sang a duet, The Lord Knows Why.

The juniors will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m.  The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled.  Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.

The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.

This afternoon there will be a meeting in the South and North ends of the church.  Children will be baptised at both ends. 

Christianity: Events in Jesus' Final Week

Easter is coming soon, so I thought I would reflect on the final week of Jesus' life and the events that took place on what we know as Holy Week.

The three and a half years of Jesus' earthly ministry culminated in the most amazing events ever witnessed.  The days leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus were packed with drama, teaching, betrayal, zeal, anguish and triumph.  Here is a summary of that fateful week:

Sunday - Triumphal entry into Jerusalem  -  Matthew 21 v 1-11

Monday - Clearing the Temple - Mark 11 v 12 -19

Tuesday - Teaching at the Mount of Olives  - Matthew 24 v 1-35

Thursday - The last supper - Matthew 26 v 17-30
                 - Betrayal and arrest - Mark 14 v 43 - 72

Friday - Trials - John 18 v 28  - 19 v 16
              Crucifixion - Matthew 27 v 32-56

Sunday-  Resurrection and appearance to the disciples  - Luke 24 v 1 -43


The first Sunday = is also known as Palm Sunday, and the Friday is known as Good Friday while the second Sunday is known as Easter Sunday

Saturday 18 March 2017

Bible: Bible Features

Ever wondered how many books the bible has or what the longest verse is or are many verses are in the bible? Well here are the answers to your burning questions;

Feature
Old Testament
New Testament
Total
Number of books
39
27
66
Chapters
929
270
1,199
Verses
23,214
7,931
31,145
Longest Book
Psalms
Luke

Middle Book
Proverbs
2 Thessalonians

Shortest Book
Obadiah
1 John

Middle Chapter
Job 20
Romans 13 & 14

Middle Verse
1 Chronicles 26 v 17
Acts 11 v 17

Longest Verse
Esther 8 v 9
John 11 v 35

Musings: Psalm 23: Frae Hebrew intil Scottis

I'm in the Maister's flock, He is my herd:
And sin' He loo'es His ain, I''ve a' that's best;
By caller burns He airts my thowless feet,
And in the guid green haughs, He bids me rest.
He kens my failin's, merks my ilka turn,
And whiles, when frae te track I gang astray,
Wi' tender care He taks me in His airms,
And sets me dooon in His richteous way,
Though death suld cuist her shadow in my gate,
And eerie seem the valley, mirk and lang;
I;m suire nae hand daur fash or daunton me,
For Ye are there, my comfort and my sang
Ye've given me meat amang my verra foes,
Ye've shoo'ered your blessin's on my worthless heid;
My cup o'joy is fu' and rinnin' owre,
My Maister's guidness, and His mercy strang,
Hae gane wi' me, and will through aa the days;
I've mair in Thee than meets my ilka need.
Till in His name I dwall for evermair -
Mine then the bliss, but He be aa the praise!

William Landles

Bible: Important Bible Numbers

Here is a rundown of important numbers in the Bible and why they are important:

ONE: Unity - one God, one body, one Spirit, one baptism, one faith

TWO: Accord - the disciples went in pairs; contrast - the Pharisee and the tax collector

THREE: The number of power and emphasis: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead; Saul (Paul) was blind for three days; Peter's vision was repeated three times; and a cord of three strands is not easily broken.

FOUR: The number of completion - four Gospels; four horsemen of the Apocalypse: Ezekiel's four living creatures.

FIVE: God's grace -  David had five stones to slay Goliath; five loaves fed 5,000 men; five wise virgins brought spare oil for their lamps.

SIX: The number of man.  Adam was created on the sixth day; six stone jars were miraculously filled with wine in Cana; and there are six days for work.

SEVEN: The number of heavenly perfection.  God blessed the seventh day and made it holy; Enoch was the seventh from Adam; Noah went into the ark with seven others; and only the Lamb of God (who has seven horns and seven eyes) can open with the scroll with its seven seals.

EIGHT: A new start -  a male child was circumcised on the eighth day;  only eight people were saved in the ark.

NINE: God's blessing  - nine fruits of the Spirit and nine gifts of the Spirit.

TEN; The number of order and judgment. There were ten Commandments; ten plagues upon Egypt; the faithful servant was made head of ten cities; and ten kings have ten horns in Revelation.

FORTY: The number of testing - 40 days and nights of rain led to the Floods; Israel wandered for 40 years; Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights before being tempted by the devil.

FIFTY: Release - after 50 years, the land and slaves were liberated (the year of Jubilee).

SEVENTY: Judgment - there were 70 elders of Israel; the exiles returned to their land after 70 years; and Jesus appointment 70 to declare the kingdom of God in Babylon.

Poetry: Ten Little Christians

Ten Little Christians, standing all in line
One disliked the preacher then there were nine.

Nine Little Christians stayed up very late;
One slept in on Sunday morning, then there were eight.

Eight Little Christians on the road to Heaven;
One took the lower road, then there were seven.

Seven Little Christians got into a fix
One disliked the music, then there were six.

Six Little Christians very much alive;
But one lost interest, then there were five.

Five Little Christians wishing there were more
One got into a quarrel, then there were four.

Four Little Christians cheerful as could be;
But one lost his temper, then there were three.

Three Little Christians knew not what to do
One joined a curling club, then there were two.

Two Little Christians as hard as granite stone
Differed from each other, then there was one

One lone Christian won his neighbour true,
Brought him to the Church, then there were two.

Two eager Christians, each won one more;
That increased their forces – then there were four.

Four sincere Christian working in full spate;
Each won another one, then there were eight.

Eight committed Christians…quite a decent team
Worked so well together they raised it to sixteen.

Sixteen earnest workers doubled six times more
Raised the mighty arm to one thousand and twenty-four


Quite a church full!

Layland G Smith. 

Thursday 16 March 2017

Musings: The Prodigal Son in the Key of F

Feeling footloose and frisky, a feather-brained fellow forced his fond father to fork over the family finances. He flew far to foreign fields and frittered his fortune, feasting fabulously with faithless friends.

Fleeced by his fellows in folly, and finally facing famine, he found himself a feed-flinger in a filthy farmyard. Feeling frail and fairly famished he fain would have filled his frame with the foraged foods of the fodder fragments left by the filthy farmyard creatures.

‘Fooey’, he figured, ‘My father’s flunkies fare far fancier.’ The frazzled fugitive fumed feverishly, frankly facing the facts. Frustrated by failure and filled with foreboding, he forthwith fled the foreign farmyard, back to his family. From faraway, the father focused on the fretful familiar form on the horizon and flew to him and fondly flung his forearms around the fatigued fugitive.

Falling at his father’s feet, he floundered forlornly. ‘Father, I have flunked and fruitlessly forfeited family favour.’  But the faithful father, forestalling further flinching frantically flagged a field hand. ‘Fetch forth the finest fatling and fix a feast.’

Faithfully, the father’s first-born was in a fertile field fixing fences while father and fugitive were feeling festive.  The foreman felt fantastic as he flashed the fortunate news of a familiar family face that had forsaken fatal foolishness.  But this fault-finding first born frowned on the favor shown the fugitive and such fickle forgiveness from father. His fury flashed. He’d never faultered, he’d never fled the family farm.  He was forever faithful.  But fussing was futile.  The far-sighted father confirmed, such filial fidelity is fine, and the first born would be furnished with the remaining family fortune, but what forbids fervent festivity?

The fugitive is found! “Unfurl the flags, with fanfares flaring! Let fun and frolic freely flow!” “Former failure is forgotten, folly is forsaken! And forgiveness forms the foundation for future fortitude.”

Timothy E Fulop - adaptation of Luke v 11-32

The Bible: Popular Bible Sayings

There are many sayings which people say a lot, that actually come from the Bible, but do you know which part of the bible?

An eye for an eye                                                           Exodus 21 v 24

A house divided against itself cannot stand                   Matthew 12 v 25

Cast the first stone                                                          John 8 v 7

Don't throw your pearls before the swine                      Matthew 7 v 6

He who fights with the sword will die by the sword      Matthew 26 v 52

It is more blessed to give than to receive                       Acts 20 v 35

Labour of love                                                                1 Thessalonians 1 v 3

Man does not live by bread alone                                   Deuteronomy 8 v 3 & Matthew 4 v 4

No peace for the wicked                                                 Isaiah 48 v 22

Pride comes before a fall                                                Proverbs 16 v 18

Red sky in the morning                                                  Matthew 16 v 3

Salt of the earth                                                              Matthew 5 v 13

Signs of the times                                                           Matthew 16 v 3

Some fell on rocky ground                                             Matthew 13 v 5

Suffer fools gladly                                                          2 Corinthians 11 v 19

The blind leading the blind                                             Matthew 15 v  14

There is nothing new under the sun                                Ecclesiastes 1 v 9

The love of money is the root of all evil                         1 Timothy 6 v 10

Thorn in the flesh                                                            2 Corinthians 12 v 7


Musings: From the mouths of babes and infants

We all know that infants say what they mean and wisdom can come out of the mouths of babes! Here are some that babes and infants have asked God:

'In Sunday School they told us what you do. Who does it when you are on holiday?'

'I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday'

'Are you really invisible or is that a trick?'

'Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?'

'Who draws the line around countries?'

'What does is mean, you are a jealous God? I thought you had everything'

'Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy!'

'Dear God, please send me a pony.  I never asked for anything before, you can look it up'

'I bet it is very hard for you to love all everybody in the whole world. There are only four people in our family and I can never do it'

'Dear God, if you watch me in church on Sunday, I'll show you my new shoes'

'We read at school that Thomas Edison made light.  But in church they said you did it.  So, I bet he stole your idea.'

Monday 13 March 2017

Poetry: A Fiercehearted Woman

Looks life in the face and says, “You can’t beat me.”
Knows love is risk but reaches out anyway.
Understands kindness takes real courage.
Believes the impossible.
Fights like she’s unstoppable.
Dares to find beauty in a ragged soul.
Scandalously picks warm over cool.
Tastes life as a brief, salty-sweet miracle.
Skins her knees, has scars that bear witness.
Defends like a warrior and weeps like a girl.
Makes gentle the new strong, small the new big,
ordinary the new extraordinary.
Sees wrinkles on a face as lines in a victory story.
Never gives in, never gives up, never lets go.
Chases Jesus with a tender, world-changing wildness.
Lives in your neighborhood or not even on your continent.
Looked back at you from the mirror this morning . . .
And has yet to fully see the force her star-scattering,
mountain-moving, water-walking God created her to be.


Holley Gerth

Saturday 11 March 2017

The Bible: 'God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong'

Ever thought that you were not good enough to be a Christian, that you were too weak - if so, you are not alone as many of the important figures in the Bible had a weakness. And it's ok to have a weakness as God uses the weak in the world and we gain strength in Christ.

Name                                                     Weakness
Moses                                                     Murderer
Timothy                                                 Weak Stomach
Paul                                                        Thorn in the flesh
Jonah                                                      Disobeyed God
David                                                     Murderer and Adulterer
Abraham                                                Too old to bear a son
Gideon                                                   Scared
Jacob                                                      Liar
Jeremiah                                                Depressed and suicidal
Elijah                                                     Burnt out
Noah                                                      Drunkard
Saul                                                       Consulted a witch
Hezekiah                                               Naïve
James and John                                     Impulsive
Peter                                                      Disloyal
Thomas                                                 Doubter
Samson                                                  Deceived

Ruth                                                      Penniless widow 

Musings: New Testament Catechism

Ever wondered what each book of the New Testament in the Bible are about. Well look no further as in the wee rhyme below I will tell you:


Matthew and Mark and Luke and John the holy Gospels wrote,
Describing how the Saviour died - his life and what he taught,
Acts proves how God the apostles owned with signs in every place,
St Paul in Romans teaches us how man is saved by grace,
Th'apostle in Corinthians instructs, exhorts, reproves;
Galatians shows that faith in Christ alone, the Father loves,
Ephesians and Philippians tell what Christians ought to be.
Colossians bids us live to God and for eternity,
In Thessalonians we are taught the Lord will come from heaven,
In Timothy and Titus a bishop's rule is given.
Philemon marks  Christian's love which only Christians know.
Hebrews reveals the Gospel as prefigured by the Law.
St James insists that without deeds faith is but vain and dead:
And Peter points the narrow way in which the saints are led.
St John in his epistles on love delights to dwell,
And Jude gives awful warning of judgment, wrath and hell.
The Revelations prophecies of that tremendous day
When Christ, and Christ alone, shall be the tremblings sinner's stay

Anon



Musings: Funny Church Notices

Notices can be funny, when there are misspelt words etc. Here are some funny ones found in Parminder Summon's book 'Christian Miscellany':

Worm welcome to all who have come today

Don't miss this Sunday's exhibit by Christian Martian Arts

We have received word of the sudden passing of the Reverend Smith this morning during the worship service. Not let's sing 'Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow'

Next Friday we will be serving hot gods for lunch

If you would like to make a donation, fill out a form, enclose a cheque and drip in the collection basket

Applications are now being accepted for two-year-old nursery workers

We are grateful for the help of those who cleaned up the grounds around and church building and the rector.

Newsletters are not being sent to absentees because of their weight

Sign-up sheet for anyone wishing to be water baptized on the table in the foyer

Helpers are needed! Please sign up on the information sheep

Thank you dead friends

Diane and Don request your presents at their wedding

Lent is that period for preparing for Holy Weed and Easter

Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget all his benefits

Wednesday 8 March 2017

Book Review: Make Me by Lee Child

Make Me is the twentieth book in the Jack Reacher’s series, and to me it one of the weakest stories.

Reacher is ex-Military Police but is now a nomad who goes from town to town just for his own amusement, but wherever he goes trouble inevitably follows him.

In Make Me, Reacher by way of train finds himself in Mother’s Rest.  He got off the train at that particular stop because he was interested in the name of the town – why would a town be called Mother’s Rest - Reacher wanted to know the story behind the town. He was curious and as we all know curiosity can get us into trouble.

Reacher’s visit to Mother’s Rest sees him bumping into a private detective who is investigating the disappearance of another private detective.

The story sees them going to different places in America in order to discover the truth – the truth of the detectives disappearance and to find out what is actually happening in Mother’s Rest.  And like other Reacher novels, a lot of violence happens in order to get to the truth. A truth which doesn’t want to be found out.


For me, Make Me is not a strong story, it did not have me hooked as other Reacher novels did. However, I will continue to read the Reacher novels as the man is captivating and I do want to know what happens next in his life. 

Book Review: Journeying with Jonah by Dennis McBride

The Struggle to Find Yourself

Journeying with Jonah is an exploration of the biblical character - Jonah – an unlikely hero.

You may read the book of Jonah in the Bible and think to yourself, “I am nothing like him” - but I believe at times, we can all see ourselves in Jonah.

Jonah believes in God but struggles to accept some of the choices He makes – why would God have mercy on the people of Nineveh – a city of sinners.

Jonah cannot accept God’s mercy and flees from His presence when he is asked to go to Nineveh. However, despite Jonah’s disobedience, God is not angry with him – He shows him mercy.

The story of Jonah celebrates the beauty of the indiscriminate mercy of God, a message we all need to hear.

Dennis McBride brings us the story of Jonah in a very clear way and the book is easy to follow and shows us just how Jonah struggles with the task God gave him. Although Jonah is a prophet, McBride brings across the human side of him as well.


As well as being a commentary on the human condition, this book is helpful to everyone but especially to those who are struggling to discern their vocation and afraid of the consequences of saying ‘Yes’ to God.

Musings: Biblical Mnemonics

Have you ever found it hard to remember important things - Mnemonics are great to help remember information - the meaning of the word is just "assisting or intended to assist memory". Below are some biblical mnemonics/rhymes to help remember important facts/truths from the Bible:

The Twelve Disciples

This is the way the disciples run:
Peter, Andrew, James and John,
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas next,
Matthew and then James the less,
Judas the greatest, Simon the zealot
And finally, Judas the traitor

The Ten Commandments
  1. Thou no gods shalt have before me
  2. Before no idol bend the knee
  3. Take not the name of God in vain
  4. Do not the Sabbath day profane
  5. Give thy parents honour due
  6. Take heed that thou no murder do
  7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean
  8. Steal not, for thou by God art seen
  9. Tell not a wilful lie, not love it
  10. What is thy neighbour's do not covet 
The Pentateuchal Books of the Bible

General Electric Lights Never Dim

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy 

Definition of Grace

God's 
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense 

Definition of Faith

Forsaking
All
I 
Trust
Him







Christianity: The Seven 'I AM's' of Jesus

In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes declarations beginning with the phrase 'I am....'.  This signifies His deity, since the phrase recalls the story of Moses. When Moses asked God who he should say had sent him, God revealed himself as, 'I am who I am' (Exodus 3 v 14)

The seven I'AM's of Jesus are:

I AM......

The light of the World  - John 8 v 12

The gate - John 10 v 7

The good Shepherd - John 10 v 11

The resurrection and the life  - John 11 v 25

The way the truth and the life - John 14 v 6

The true vine  - John 15 v 1

He (Jesus of Nazareth)  - John 18 v 5

Sunday 5 March 2017

Christianity: John 3:16 - The Pinnacle

I am sure you have all heard John 3:16 quoted often in churches, school or somewhere else - it is the most popular verse in the bible. In case you don't know it or need a reminder, here is the verse:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"

But have you ever wondered why this verse is so popular or the meaning behind the verse? Well here is the verse broken down:

GOD                                                                                       the greatest lover
SO LOVED                                                                            in the greatest degree
THE WORLD                                                                        to the greatest number 
THAT HE GAVE                                                                   with the greatest act
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON                                              by the greatest gift
THAT WHOSOEVER                                                           through the greatest offer
BELIEVETH                                                                          to the greatest simplicity
IN HIM                                                                                  from the greatest man 
SHOULD NOT PERISH                                                       by the greatest promise
BUT                                                                                       with the greatest difference
HAVE                                                                                     to the greatest certainty
ETERNAL LIFE                                                                    for the greatest future

Musings: The Bible in Fifty Words

There are 775,632 words in the Authorized Version or King James Bible. This is the condensed version:

God made, Adam bit, Noah arked, Abraham split, Joseph ruled, Jacob fooled, bush talked, Moses balked; Pharoah plagued, people walked. Sea divided, tablets guided, promise landed, Saul freaked, David peeked, prophets warned, Jesus born, God walked, love talked, anger crucified, hope died. Love rose, Spirit flamed, word spread, God remained.

Anon.

I love this condensed version of the bible, it just brings the true meaning of God's word and of Christianity - God made and God remained - God is the way, the truth, and the life.

Poetry: Dealing with Disappointment

I came across this wee poem recently and thought it was a lovely wee poem and fits in with times when we all feel down and wonder why things are happening when they are - why does sickness come when it does, why do we lose our jobs etc  - and I wanted to share it with everyone.

Sometimes we may not get the job we want and we feel disappointment, but what we need to remember is that it is not the end of the world and God knows what we need and when we need it. So trust and hold onto the truth. 



Disappointment - his appointment
change one letter, then I see
that the thwarting of my purpose
is God's better choice for me.
His appointment must be blessing,
though it may come in disguise,
for the end from the beginning
open to his wisdom lies.

Anon

Thursday 2 March 2017

Musings: Biblical Songs

All of us have a song that sums us up - don't we? Have you ever wondered what songs would suit key biblical figures? Well look no further - again taken from Parminder Summon's below is a list - made me giggle. And if you know the stories of the following then you will understand why the songs match them!

Noah: 'Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head'
Joseph: 'Any Dream Will Do'
Goliath:: 'Another One Bites The Dust'
Adam and Eve: 'I Feel Free
Stephen: 'Tears in Heaven'
Esther: 'Wonderful Tonight'
Job: 'I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues''
Lazarus: 'Please Release Me'
Samson: 'Delilah'
Salome: 'I Could Have Danced All Night'
Daniel: 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'
Joshua: 'Good Vibrations'
Peter: 'Keys to Your Love'
Esau: 'Born to be Wild'
Shadrach. Meshach and Abednego: 'Great Balls of Fire!'
Jonah: 'Gimme Shelter'
Elijah: 'Up, Up and Away'
Methuselah: 'Stayin' Alive'
Nebuchadnezzar: 'Crazy'
Judas: 'My Way'
Enoch: 'We Can Work it Out'
Jude: 'Hey Jude'
Nehemiah: 'Another Brick in the Wall'
Satan: 'Sympathy for the Devil'
Jezebel: 'Under My Thumb'
Paul: 'Losing My Religion'
Jeremiah: 'Worried Life Blues'

Can you think of any more?

Book Review: The God who makes Himself Known by W Ross Blackburn

The missionary heart of the book of Exodus

Exodus, the second book of the Old Testament in the Bible is a book of many dimensions and revelations. Throughout the book, the Lord continues to make himself known to the people of Israel – The Lord wants people to know Him.

The Lord reveals Himself to Israel so that they will reveal Him to the rest of the world. Through this, God is showing His missionary heart, and that is what W Ross Blackburn is concerned with in his book – mission – primarily God’s mission to the world.  God’s mission for His own glory and His name to be exalted among the nations in the book of Exodus.

For me, The God who Makes Himself Known is not an easy read, it is full of technical terms and a lot of quotes from Theological Scholars, but the content and context of the book are very interesting – it Is worth persevering with the book as it goes make you see the complexity and beauty of Exodus unveiled within the pages.

It is a challenging book to read at times, but it also challenged me to think more about not just the story of Exodus but also of Jesus and the complete biblical story.


I do recommend that everyone reads the book of Exodus and if you want to delve deeper into the story then this book is a good read. By reading this book and going deeper into Exodus I have learned things I never knew and discovered answers to some questions I had. 

Book Review: How to understand the Whispers of God: Adam Hogue

Everything you will ever need to know to hear God’s voice and understand His will for your life.

This book isn’t just one singular book – it is a box set of four books which have been compiled to give us as the title says – everything we will ever need to now God’s will for your life.

It is a very interesting book, which makes you sit back and think and also be thankful for all God has already done in our lives.

Through personal stories and biblical perspective, the author gives us tips on how to hear God’s voice more clearly and shows us the importance of praying before we do anything, as well as listening to the tugs of our hearts, spending time in God’s word, have a wiling heart and have listening and attentive ears as God can communicate to us in many ways – however it is important to confirm everything that we feel God is speaking to us and the ‘ultimate method by which everything will be confirmed is through the voice of the Holy Spirit’


I found this book extremely helpful and God spoke to me while I was reading it. I highly recommend this book to others – take the time to read it and read it with an open mind, heart, and ears – read it prayerfully.

Poetry: When I say I'm a Christian by Carol Wimmer

I came across this poem by Carol Wimmer and it really made me think, and it sums up what is is to be a Christian. And because it resonated with me I thought I would share it for others to read. 

                 When I say, “I am a Christian”                
I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost sometimes
That’s why I chose this way”

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble –
needing God to be my guide

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak
                       and pray for strength to carry on                       

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I’ve failed
and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
asking humbly to be taught

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible
but God believes I’m worth it    

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache
which is why I seek God’s name

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority
I only know I’m loved

Written in 1988

To read about the history of the poem click here.

Musings: Twelve Noah's Ark Truths

Found this in Parminder Summon's book Christian Miscellany and it made me giggle so thought I would share - Twelve Noah's Ark Truths that we should all take on board!!

  1. Don't miss the boat
  2. Try to remember that we're all in the same boat.
  3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
  4. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something really big.
  5. Don't listen to critics, just go on with what has to be done.
  6. Build your future on high ground.
  7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
  8. Two heads are better than one.
  9. Speed isn't always an advantage; after all, the snails were on board with the cheetahs.
  10. When you're stressed, try floating awhile.
  11. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs; it was the Titanic that was built by professionals!
  12. No matter what the difficulty, trust in the Almighty; there';; be a rainbow at the end of the storm.

Anon 

Wednesday 1 March 2017

Book Review: Breaking Busy by Alli Worthington

How to find peace and purpose in a crazy world


Life can get very busy, we have so many things to do and not enough hours in the day to do them, so we need to reassess our lives and focus on what is important/essential and break busy.

Breaking Busy is a Christian book, primarily written for women – it includes personal stories and biblical references. It is an aid to help us see that we can move from being a crazy busy person to a confident calm person.

Alli is a great writer and is very personable in the way she writes and she makes you feel that you know her and she knows what it is like to be so busy there is no time to sit still.  We like to be busy and at times we make ourselves busy in order to prove to ourselves that we are important, have worth and are needed in this world.

What Alli says is that it is ok to take a step back and breathe, to focus on yourself, your friends and your family. She shows us how to stop chasing what leaves us empty and to start doing what we were created to do.  She helps us identify the common lies we believe and how to strip their power from our lives and to find our purpose and calling in life.


For me, Breaking Busy was a very interesting, informative, useful and personable book.  I read the book for my book group and we were all very impressed with the book and the overall score given to the book was 9.5 – the highest score a book has ever gotten in the four years the book club have been meeting!

Musings: The 10 Commandments for the Road

I came across this from Parminder Summon and had to share it as it made me giggle:

Ten Commandments for the Road from the Christian Road Safety Association

  1. Begin with a prayer
  2. If you start late, arrive late
  3. Alcohol is for the radiator, not the operator
  4. If entry into the flow of traffic is facilitated by the courtesy of another driver, wave in appreciation
  5. If you have inadvertently endangered the safe passage of another vehicle, wave as an apology
  6. Make it easy for aggressive opportunity snatchers to get ahead of you - far ahead
  7. Drive so that the sudden appearance of a police patrol car is a pleasant sight
  8. Give plenty of space to cars marked with dents
  9. Never accelerate, and decelerate if advisable, when another car wishes to enter your lane
  10. End every trip with a prayer of thanksgiving