A couple of months ago the physio department at Lymington hospital suggested I take one of their 6 session core stability programmes to help with some ongoing back problems.
So I turn up for the first week.
In fact as I write this I'm sitting in the reception area waiting to be summoned to who knows where. I'm 15 minutes early and I'm here, waiting, with NOTHING to do. I never go anywhere without at least some of the contents of my "reading tray" but not today. What was I thinking as I left my study? I tried as best I could to time it so that I could drive to the hospital, park, find the place and be just in time to go straight in. Something has gone terribly wrong. What a complete waste of 15 minutes. I could have DONE something, but no, I just have to sit here waiting.
Note to self.......either come prepared to sit and "be" or take something but but don't put yourself through this ordeal again. A guy's just arrived and signed in. Now he's got it right, 4 minutes to spare. Oh to be him! But wait, here's someone who's arrived with just one minute to spare. Awesome performance. Much respect etc.
Ok time to go........
Monday, 26 April 2010
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Top Ten Reasons to Vote
Not sure what all the fuss is about? See if this helps....
1 Voting publicly recognizes that we submit to the authority of the political system in our nation as established by God (Rom. 13:1–7).
2 Voting recognizes the equality of all people and their right to speak and be heard (Deut. 10:17–19).
3 Voting is one way that we can obey God’s command to seek the good of those around us and our nation as a whole (Jer. 29:7).
4 Voting shows that we care deeply about who our leaders are as we are urged to offer prayer and intercession on their behalf (1 Tim. 2:1,2).
5 Voting is a simple yet significant way we can do something about politics in our nation. ‘All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing’, Edmund Burke (see Ps. 34:14).
6 Voting makes a difference the way a grain of salt makes a difference, and that is how we are to influence our society for good (Matt. 5:13).
7 Voting is a privilege not to be taken for granted. Those of us who reap the benefits of living in a democracy should play a part in upholding the principles of democracy.
8 Not voting is a form of voting, as it will influence the outcome. We need to take responsibility for our actions, as well as our lack of actions (Luke 10:25–37).
9 Voting is part of our stewardship to use all the resources we have been given in ways that honour God; to waste a vote is to squander a gift.
10 Voting is the way we delegate our own responsibility to take care of the planet to others more capable, so we can pursue our own vocation.
(Source EAUK)
1 Voting publicly recognizes that we submit to the authority of the political system in our nation as established by God (Rom. 13:1–7).
2 Voting recognizes the equality of all people and their right to speak and be heard (Deut. 10:17–19).
3 Voting is one way that we can obey God’s command to seek the good of those around us and our nation as a whole (Jer. 29:7).
4 Voting shows that we care deeply about who our leaders are as we are urged to offer prayer and intercession on their behalf (1 Tim. 2:1,2).
5 Voting is a simple yet significant way we can do something about politics in our nation. ‘All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing’, Edmund Burke (see Ps. 34:14).
6 Voting makes a difference the way a grain of salt makes a difference, and that is how we are to influence our society for good (Matt. 5:13).
7 Voting is a privilege not to be taken for granted. Those of us who reap the benefits of living in a democracy should play a part in upholding the principles of democracy.
8 Not voting is a form of voting, as it will influence the outcome. We need to take responsibility for our actions, as well as our lack of actions (Luke 10:25–37).
9 Voting is part of our stewardship to use all the resources we have been given in ways that honour God; to waste a vote is to squander a gift.
10 Voting is the way we delegate our own responsibility to take care of the planet to others more capable, so we can pursue our own vocation.
(Source EAUK)
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
The Curse of Public Swearing
You know how sometimes you come across someone who says (or writes) just what you've been thinking (or saying) but haven't been able to express. You think "Yes - that's it - what he's just said...that's what I want to say!"
This happens to me a huge amount. I guess that's one of the reasons I use a blog - I'm always finding stuff that's someone else has said so much better than I could ever articulate.
The latest occurrence was a few minutes ago when I read Ryan Gilbey's column in the Guardian online. I think he's got a great point:
Last Sunday, I took my nine-year-old daughter swimming. There was a towel hanging up at the poolside, bearing the letters "fcuk. "Isn't that a rude word?" she grinned. "Almost," I replied. After swimming, we passed a billboard advertising an exhibition by the photographer Rankin. The poster posed the rhetorical question: "Fancy a Quick Rank?" Classy.
There are worse things that can come out of our mouths than obscenities; I'd be more upset if one of my children used the word "gay" as a pejorative. What grates is the commercial potency that becomes attached to swear words and sexual innuendo through the determination of ad agencies to smuggle as much schoolyard naughtiness as possible past the Advertising Standards Authority. What must that say to children about the preoccupations of the adult world? Only that coarseness sells.
This happens to me a huge amount. I guess that's one of the reasons I use a blog - I'm always finding stuff that's someone else has said so much better than I could ever articulate.
The latest occurrence was a few minutes ago when I read Ryan Gilbey's column in the Guardian online. I think he's got a great point:
Last Sunday, I took my nine-year-old daughter swimming. There was a towel hanging up at the poolside, bearing the letters "fcuk. "Isn't that a rude word?" she grinned. "Almost," I replied. After swimming, we passed a billboard advertising an exhibition by the photographer Rankin. The poster posed the rhetorical question: "Fancy a Quick Rank?" Classy.
There are worse things that can come out of our mouths than obscenities; I'd be more upset if one of my children used the word "gay" as a pejorative. What grates is the commercial potency that becomes attached to swear words and sexual innuendo through the determination of ad agencies to smuggle as much schoolyard naughtiness as possible past the Advertising Standards Authority. What must that say to children about the preoccupations of the adult world? Only that coarseness sells.
Well said.
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Weird....In a Good Way
I worked a couple of hours at Costa yesterday. OK, I wasn't feeling 100% but it was exhausting. I left after my short shift and headed back to my study at the church absolutely done in....and I still haven't mastered the Flat White.....
I'd only been in a few minutes and one of the guys was telling me that they'd gone to church recently. Their friend had wanted to go and didn't want to go alone and so my colleague had nobly volunteered to go along too.
I asked him how it had gone and he said:
"Yeah, like, I mean, it was really kind of like really weird [said as a question....!]. Somewhat hesitantly I said:
"Weird in a good way?"
"Oh yeah weird in a good way!" He asked if my church was like that and I said:
"Weird in a good way...I guess it is!"
I want to be weird in a good way. I'm not sure I should blend in as much as I do.
Ditto the church. I want us to be weird for good reasons like the fact that we're seeking our joy and satisfaction in Christ rather than other stuff, that we're serious about living for the honour and reputation of Him rather than anything else. I want us to be that kind of weird.
I'd only been in a few minutes and one of the guys was telling me that they'd gone to church recently. Their friend had wanted to go and didn't want to go alone and so my colleague had nobly volunteered to go along too.
I asked him how it had gone and he said:
"Yeah, like, I mean, it was really kind of like really weird [said as a question....!]. Somewhat hesitantly I said:
"Weird in a good way?"
"Oh yeah weird in a good way!" He asked if my church was like that and I said:
"Weird in a good way...I guess it is!"
I want to be weird in a good way. I'm not sure I should blend in as much as I do.
Ditto the church. I want us to be weird for good reasons like the fact that we're seeking our joy and satisfaction in Christ rather than other stuff, that we're serious about living for the honour and reputation of Him rather than anything else. I want us to be that kind of weird.
Friday, 2 April 2010
CPR for Spouses
Came across this on Piper's Blog and was deeply moved by it's simplicity. He got it from Ray Ortlund who I've never heard of but who sounds like he's got some good stuff to say....
“Let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33
God made Adam first and put him in the Garden with a job to do, a mission to fulfill.
In the heart of every fallen man is the self-doubt that wonders, “Am I man enough to climb this mountain God has called me to? Can I fulfill my destiny?” A wise wife will understand that question at the center of her husband’s heart. And she will spend her life answering it, communicating to him in various ways, “Darling, I believe in your call. I know you can do this, by God’s power. Go for it.” In this way, she will breathe life into her man.
God made Eve from Adam, for Adam, to help him follow the call.
In the heart of every fallen woman is the self-doubt that wonders, “Do I please you? Am I what you wanted?” A wise husband will understand that question at the center of his wife’s heart. And he will spend his life answering it, communicating to her in various ways, “Darling, you are the one I need. I cherish you. Let me hold you close.” In this way, he will breathe life into his wife.
“Let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33
God made Adam first and put him in the Garden with a job to do, a mission to fulfill.
In the heart of every fallen man is the self-doubt that wonders, “Am I man enough to climb this mountain God has called me to? Can I fulfill my destiny?” A wise wife will understand that question at the center of her husband’s heart. And she will spend her life answering it, communicating to him in various ways, “Darling, I believe in your call. I know you can do this, by God’s power. Go for it.” In this way, she will breathe life into her man.
God made Eve from Adam, for Adam, to help him follow the call.
In the heart of every fallen woman is the self-doubt that wonders, “Do I please you? Am I what you wanted?” A wise husband will understand that question at the center of his wife’s heart. And he will spend his life answering it, communicating to her in various ways, “Darling, you are the one I need. I cherish you. Let me hold you close.” In this way, he will breathe life into his wife.
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