Ten Things I ...

Inspired by a post on The Private Life of a Girl, here is a list of things I don't like that everyone else does.  And a list of things where I’m one of the everyone.

Don't get:

• Game of Thrones.  I love SF and fantasy, but I don't understand!  It’s just soft porn in wimples with great fight scenes.  

• High heeled shoes.  There's no point in shoes that hurt your feet or you can’t walk in. (This from a Doc Martin wearer!)

• Too tight anything / Body-Con.  Buy the bigger size!  It’s not comfortable or flattering.

•  Dark chocolate.  Bitter.  Your mouth will do the cat's bum face thing.

• Gin.  What evil tastes like.  Unless it has raspberries in it.  

• Oranges.  Not the only fruit, thank goodness.  Also not good as a look for the face or body.

Totally get:

• Coffee.  It's a major food group!  Best shared in a coffee shop, along with cake and someone you love.  Also useful for jump starting the working day.  

• Who.  Classic or re-boot.  It's what Saturday nights and the back of the sofa was made for.

• Hydraluron.  No, I don't understand the science behind it either, but my skin looks better.  Please do not discontinue this product.  Ever.

• Doc Martins.  The cockroach of shoes.  The ones I wore through university have only just fallen apart, necessitating a repurchase.  New ones come in a narrower width for ladies and colours. Colours including purple! They even make extra thick Doc Socs to help you work through the pain of breaking them in.  This may prove that the youth of today do a) have it easier and b) are more wimpy.  We just wore hiking socks, walked through the pain and covered our blisters with plasters!  Yes, of course I bought Doc Socs!

• Apple.  Beautiful, shiny gadgets.  Although, given the price point being currently quoted for a new phone, my love may yet be fickle!  

• Richard Armitage.  I'm a bit old for fan-girling, but what the heck?! 

Thanks to everyone who's read and commenting!  I'm so pleased to discover the page views aren't just me!  Hope everyone is well.  

Goals for 2015

At the moment, the blogosphere is full of examples of goals as it’s the start of the New Year! 

Last weekend would have been mum's birthday.  One thing that the last year has taught me is that you never know what's going to happen next.  Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and hope you don't tread in anything!  

Here's what I'd like to achieve this year:

• Spend as much time having fun with, and enjoying, my family / friends.

• Try new things - I might like them!  Keep doing the old things that I enjoy - hopefully better!

• Be a good friend, help others and love my neighbour (as myself).

• Remain gainfully employed and do the best I can in the 9 to 5.

• The figure on the credit card is a limit, not a target.  Keep within the means and find ways to stretch those pennies further.

• Read at least 4 books a month.  One of which should be non-fiction.  

• Eat less and move more.  Use the exercise bike for it's intended purpose rather than a laundry rack.  (It's a good laundry rack though!)

What comes out is based on what goes in.  Hopefully, if I achieve my goals, I might just manage the sign below.  (Sometimes).  

Random sigh spotted on the Internet:

"Oh Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff and shut it when I've said enough ..."

Romans 12 v 11-12 (CEV):  

 "Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying". 

Philippians 4 v 8 (CEV):

"... keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise". 

Apocryphal Bible Stories

The Bible isn't the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”:

It doesn't have "Don't Panic" written on the front in large, friendly letters.

It doesn't provide simple answers to difficult questions. If God had wanted to do that, he wouldn't have given us a book with many literary forms, written in numerous languages by people from a completely different culture and time from us.  He'd have given us a 6 page tract.  

The Bible has to be read with the understanding that "A text without a context is a pretext” and in accordance with Cresswell's Laws:

• A Bible passage is not the end of a discussion; it's the start of one. 

• A discussion in which only one answer is possible sounds tedious, not to mention pointless. 

Use it wisely.  Read it in conjunction with commentaries, common sense, church tradition and wiser people.   Wiser people tend not to have their own TV show, social media feeds, a private jet, a mansion, posh car, designer anything or a book deal.

The Bible was never intended as a weapon.  Although some of Rev T’s study Bibles are large and could do significant damage when applied to the head area or thrown across a room.   

Whilst The Bible contains absolute truths, other things are up for debate.  Two people can read the same passage, interpret it completely differently and be able to give a well-reasoned answer for why - and that's okay!  Some things will never be certain this side of death. 

Christians view the Bible as the final authority, others don't.  When talking to non-Christians,  "The Bible says ...",  won't cut it as an argument.

Rev T's rule of application, Matthew 22 v 37 - 41:  

"Jesus answered:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments". 

All of which may seem glaringly obvious, but a look around the Internet shows how easy it is to overlook the obvious.  

There's a wonderful entry from Real Live Preacher’s Blog,“There's Something About the Way You Use the Bible”.  Wish I'd written this, but am happy to share it:

“…the bible is not a self-help book full of easy answers, but a book of stories and wisdom that is meant to lead us into relationship and worship. There are hard and fast truths in it, yes, but they are surrounded by soft truths, and slippery truths, and sometimes truths, and truths that once were true but are no longer true, and truths that are only true if you are in the right state of mind, and truths that are only true if you are not hurting someone, and truths that are true in the moment but not if you are talking about the moment, and truths that can only be lived and should never be spoken, and truths that we cannot hear, and truths that are more than we can bear.

The truths of the bible are utterly beyond anyone who seeks to own truth and who seeks truth above the Spirit of God.  ... The bible is a book for pilgrims and wanderers. It is a book for children and for those who wish to become children again. It is a book for seekers and searchers and dreamers.

It is a book for anyone and everyone who hopes that the desires of God might be written upon their hearts”.

Right now, I'm particularly loving the Psalms:

"I patiently waited, Lord, for you to hear my prayer.  You listened and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire.  You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm, and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you.  Many will see this, and they will honour and trust you, the Lord God".

From Psalm 40.  There's some great stuff about being thoroughly miserable and generally fed up, wondering what on earth God is playing at!  I can really relate to that right now.

And Here We Are

Blogging fell off the radar due to a family bereavement.  My lovely mum died just before Christmas. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.  

It wasn't entirely unexpected, but it's still a life changing event. Many thanks to Rev T, the Tubblet and my friends for the support, good wishes etc.   

Now it’s time to carry on.  Not sure what I’m going to do blogging wise this year, but am going to give it a go.

Happy New Year!