I hate spiders! So does a friend of mine. Apparently she spent an hour or two chasing a huge one around her house with a spray gun of Windolene! She maintains that it was huge with hairy legs and fangs.
Why do spiders exist? Can we not just invent something to rid the planet of them? Why are they so creepy and why do they always seem to come and get you when the lights go out.
I hate spiders!
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Martyn Joseph - Forum/Community
Martyn Joseph - Forum/Community
Sign on here for fun and fellowship and lots of chat about Martyn Joseph.
Sign on here for fun and fellowship and lots of chat about Martyn Joseph.
Being Church
Or How to Live Authentically ....
My local church (C of E) has been around a lot of years and has seen a lot of changes but I think now it's facing it's toughest test. We have been without a full time, paid priest for far too long. I live in an Urban Priority Area in the inner city. Most of the people who attend our church live in the locality, many are unemployed or in low paid jobs. We have ages across the spectrum - the youngest is 14months old and the eldest are 80+. We are a small congregation with the potential to be much bigger.
The people in this area need someone with a uniform - a dog-collar - an identifier that says "I come with the authority of the church". Our temporary Priest leaves at the end of September - he came to help us out for a year, two years ago. He will be missed.
The Diocese is trying to come up with a plan to staff our church and the neighbouring one without using too much of their resources, ie without spending money. The area I live in is quite poor and many of the residents feel as though they have been forgotton. Now it would seem that the Church is treating them the same way.
So how do we be church to the people in this area. How do the few of us who have a little time and a little money to spare make a difference to these people. How do we live the gospel and bring the 'good news' to those whose souls are crying out for living water.
I don't have the answers. All we can do is learn a new way of being church that doesn't rely on the structures of the established church but that maintains an honesty and an integrity that will appeal to people and bring them home.
My local church (C of E) has been around a lot of years and has seen a lot of changes but I think now it's facing it's toughest test. We have been without a full time, paid priest for far too long. I live in an Urban Priority Area in the inner city. Most of the people who attend our church live in the locality, many are unemployed or in low paid jobs. We have ages across the spectrum - the youngest is 14months old and the eldest are 80+. We are a small congregation with the potential to be much bigger.
The people in this area need someone with a uniform - a dog-collar - an identifier that says "I come with the authority of the church". Our temporary Priest leaves at the end of September - he came to help us out for a year, two years ago. He will be missed.
The Diocese is trying to come up with a plan to staff our church and the neighbouring one without using too much of their resources, ie without spending money. The area I live in is quite poor and many of the residents feel as though they have been forgotton. Now it would seem that the Church is treating them the same way.
So how do we be church to the people in this area. How do the few of us who have a little time and a little money to spare make a difference to these people. How do we live the gospel and bring the 'good news' to those whose souls are crying out for living water.
I don't have the answers. All we can do is learn a new way of being church that doesn't rely on the structures of the established church but that maintains an honesty and an integrity that will appeal to people and bring them home.
Bank Holiday Weekend
So.... What did you all do with the extra day off? My husband and I did very little! We are in the middle of redecorating our front room and making it baby friendly for our 14 month old son. Unfortunately I've had a cold all weekend and haven't really contributed very much to the team effort. Mr Blog, however, has done sterling work and made some good progress. He has taken the week off to continue his supreme efforts.
One good thing over the weekend was the Belgian Grand Prix. Yes, I know, Shuey got enough points to see him crowned champion for the seventh time but Kimi Raikonnen came in first and Coulthard was in the points so a good race for Mclaren. There were also some very good crashes! Yes, I know, it's not necessarily a good thing to enjoy watching crashes but my view is as long as no-one is seriously hurt it all just adds to the fun!
So the Olympics has finally ended and Team GB celebrate their haul of 30 medals, nine of them gold. Whilst I celebrate my nations achievements I can't help wondering what the Olympics really stand for these days. The athletes all wear the latest gear much of which is produced in Third World sweatshops and thousands are spent on the opening and closing ceremonies, in an effort to outdo the last host, while thousands are dying in places like Darfur. If only some of the good stuff about the Olympics could really make a difference after the event - if North and South Korea could be as united as they were when they carried their flags side by side - then the Olympic ideal would be something more than passing sentiment.
One good thing over the weekend was the Belgian Grand Prix. Yes, I know, Shuey got enough points to see him crowned champion for the seventh time but Kimi Raikonnen came in first and Coulthard was in the points so a good race for Mclaren. There were also some very good crashes! Yes, I know, it's not necessarily a good thing to enjoy watching crashes but my view is as long as no-one is seriously hurt it all just adds to the fun!
So the Olympics has finally ended and Team GB celebrate their haul of 30 medals, nine of them gold. Whilst I celebrate my nations achievements I can't help wondering what the Olympics really stand for these days. The athletes all wear the latest gear much of which is produced in Third World sweatshops and thousands are spent on the opening and closing ceremonies, in an effort to outdo the last host, while thousands are dying in places like Darfur. If only some of the good stuff about the Olympics could really make a difference after the event - if North and South Korea could be as united as they were when they carried their flags side by side - then the Olympic ideal would be something more than passing sentiment.
John Walsh
I have just finished reading a book by John Walsh. For those of you who don't know John Walsh is the host of Americas Most Wanted and The John Walsh Show. The latter being shown on ITV2 at the moment. The book is entitled Tears of Rage and it deals with the abduction and murder of his six year old son Adam.
These events happened in 1981 around the time that Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles. Adam disappeared from a Sears store in Hollywood and his head was recovered two weeks later. The book is a powerful account of the event and its aftermath. John and his wife pretty much had to organise the search themselves and 15 years on it became clear that the Hollywood police department had done very little to find Adams killer.
The book shows the evil that humankind can do and changed my opinion on one or two things. I used to believe that capital punishment could never be justified, that there was no crime severe enough to warrant it. John Walsh has changed my view. The violence that is done by a handful of people to innocent children should carry just one sentence - death. In cases where the evidence is overwhelming and it can be assured that the accused is guilty then the death sentence should be implemented. I know this view will be unpopular in many quarters but these despicable criminals should be removed from society with no possible chance of ever being reprieved or paroled.
I do believe in the power of forgiveness but I also believe in justice. The Walsh family were denied justice for Adam by an uncaring, unsympathetic, inefficient legal system. The book charts their fight to change that system at the highest level. I strongly reccommend this book but be warned, the subject matter is graphically violent and it is not an easy read.
These events happened in 1981 around the time that Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles. Adam disappeared from a Sears store in Hollywood and his head was recovered two weeks later. The book is a powerful account of the event and its aftermath. John and his wife pretty much had to organise the search themselves and 15 years on it became clear that the Hollywood police department had done very little to find Adams killer.
The book shows the evil that humankind can do and changed my opinion on one or two things. I used to believe that capital punishment could never be justified, that there was no crime severe enough to warrant it. John Walsh has changed my view. The violence that is done by a handful of people to innocent children should carry just one sentence - death. In cases where the evidence is overwhelming and it can be assured that the accused is guilty then the death sentence should be implemented. I know this view will be unpopular in many quarters but these despicable criminals should be removed from society with no possible chance of ever being reprieved or paroled.
I do believe in the power of forgiveness but I also believe in justice. The Walsh family were denied justice for Adam by an uncaring, unsympathetic, inefficient legal system. The book charts their fight to change that system at the highest level. I strongly reccommend this book but be warned, the subject matter is graphically violent and it is not an easy read.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Martyn Joseph
In my humble opinion Martyn Joseph is the best thing to come out of Wales since...... well he's just the best thing to come out of Wales!
For those of you who are scratching you're head and saying 'who?' Martyn Joseph is a singer/songwriter of extreme talent and worth. He has been described as the Welsh Springsteen and has been in the business for about 20 years. His newest album is catchily entitled 'Whoever it was that brought me here will have to take me home' and much of his back catalogue is still available. For more inf on Martyn Joseph, including gig dates checkout his website at www.martynjoseph.com.
Quite simply he is well worth five minutes of your time to check him out.
For those of you who are scratching you're head and saying 'who?' Martyn Joseph is a singer/songwriter of extreme talent and worth. He has been described as the Welsh Springsteen and has been in the business for about 20 years. His newest album is catchily entitled 'Whoever it was that brought me here will have to take me home' and much of his back catalogue is still available. For more inf on Martyn Joseph, including gig dates checkout his website at www.martynjoseph.com.
Quite simply he is well worth five minutes of your time to check him out.
Lunch pt 2
So I went to the uni shop and bought an egg mayo sandwhich on brown, a bag of crisps and a bottle of diet coke. Yep, I know how to splash out!!
While at lunch I read an article on unhappy rich people. Apparently, so the psychologists say, we are driven by a need for more and more stuff. Rich people can buy stuff more easily so the happiness derived from each new purchase doesn't last for very long before the need for something else crops up. Now I don't know about any one else but if I had a few bob more than I have I would be thankful for it and make do. The thing that really annoyed me about the article was the comment from a multi-millionaire who lives in a ruddy great mansion. She figured she would be happier living in a modest house in the suburbs - so why doesn't she stop moaning about it and just do it?!!
While at lunch I read an article on unhappy rich people. Apparently, so the psychologists say, we are driven by a need for more and more stuff. Rich people can buy stuff more easily so the happiness derived from each new purchase doesn't last for very long before the need for something else crops up. Now I don't know about any one else but if I had a few bob more than I have I would be thankful for it and make do. The thing that really annoyed me about the article was the comment from a multi-millionaire who lives in a ruddy great mansion. She figured she would be happier living in a modest house in the suburbs - so why doesn't she stop moaning about it and just do it?!!
Lunch
Well it's almost lunch time and I've already eaten my sandwiches. I could nip over to the shop and get some more sandwiches or I could try out one of the university cafes. If any of them are open - this being the height of summer and the students haven't really started to arrive fot the new year yet.
My problem is that I only have 1/2 an hour for lunch and the university library, where I work, is not exactly centrally located. So having already eaten my packed lunch I am a little low on options.... I guess I'll probably end up in the student shop even though their stock levels are low because it's summer and the students aren't here.....
My problem is that I only have 1/2 an hour for lunch and the university library, where I work, is not exactly centrally located. So having already eaten my packed lunch I am a little low on options.... I guess I'll probably end up in the student shop even though their stock levels are low because it's summer and the students aren't here.....
My First Post
So here it is - my very own blog and my very first post. I am excited and a little daunted by the prospect. Excited because I like to write and this is a way to do that and daunted because ... well because this is being published and what if no-one gives a s**t about what I write?
Oh well, nothing ventured -nothing gained as they say. Who says? I don't know! I was inspired to blog by reading a blog by the Real Live Preacher ( www.reallivepreacher.com ). He is a minister in the states and is really very inspiring, I would encourage you to visit.
Oh well, nothing ventured -nothing gained as they say. Who says? I don't know! I was inspired to blog by reading a blog by the Real Live Preacher ( www.reallivepreacher.com ). He is a minister in the states and is really very inspiring, I would encourage you to visit.
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