Understanding Alice

Fun things for February

2012-01-31T01:52:00.000-08:00

While reading a post on teen granny, I came across fat mum slim and her monthly photo challenge - looks fun so I thought i might have a go... and pass it on to you, lovely followers of Understanding Alice.

The other thing I found, but haven't done anything about was Smith magazine, which is something for all you budding writers - enjoy!

New, all over again

2012-01-31T01:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes faith can be like a bar of soap, every time you think you have grasped it, it swooshes out of your hand. So it doesn't hurt to be reminded of why we all believe in the first place.

Reading "Hebrews for everyone" by Tom Wright is doing that for me at the moment.

I am reminded today that the grand promise of the Bible is redemption. You can see it all through the bible, the rescue of God's people, drawing them to God and to a way of being that was always intended for them, and then perfected in Jesus as he literally redeems us, paying the debt which separates us from God and bringing in new life.
And now we look forward to the time when he returns and everything is finally redeemed.

True peace between people, no separation from the love of God through sin, pride and selfishness. A true wholeness as the whole of created order, ourselves included, are restored to perfection - "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” as it says in Revelation.

And in the meantime we look for places where His promise is already taking place and we strive to be part of it through loving even when we don't feel like it and worshipping even when the day seems lost, because He is, and He will, make all things new.

Woven bag project

2012-01-25T01:49:00.000-08:00

What to do with the first bit of material you weave on your own 4 shaft loom?

Make a bag for your knitting of course! Well that's what I did anyway. Having woven a metre and a bit of twill using DK wool for the weft, I then cut it in half and mad a bag with some material I already had for the lining.

I'm very please with my "I made that!" bag:

Cambodian Wedding dip

2012-01-24T01:22:00.000-08:00

More food from the veg book - we had sort -of -tapas dinner the other night including this recipe from River Cottage. Both R and I really liked it and it is a definite winner with flat bread. Well worth the effort of making and gets a Subzero foodie rating from us :D

Blog posts to inspire

2012-01-22T02:08:00.000-08:00

Some of the blogs I am following have some jolly good things to say at the moment, so I thought I would pass on a few to you.
They share a theme of yearning for truth, justice, real life - I hope they inspire you as they have me:

Our Cinderella mission

The Caterpillar effect

Jesus vs Religion

The grey mist

2012-01-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

I have travelled for months. the journey in part, was full of good weather and cheer, but these past six weeks I have entered a grey mist.
The light has faded to gloom and the mist clings whenever I am in waking hours. those around me sound at a distance, their lives muffled to me by the grey and all colour in my days has faded before it.
I carry on my journey but it is with great weight upon my mind and sorrow in my heart.
There are moments when for a while the mist lifts and I am reminded of what sunlight can do. It restores colour to the world and purpose to the soul.
And yet, in spite of the great tiredness of ordinary tasks and the loss of colour in my journey, the mist has not taken it all.
I still travel.
And although for a while it would seem my journey covers difficult terrain, I am not alone. I still have the book and it's Author.
The mist seems to prevent me from seeing more than a pace or two ahead, but the Author illuminates my life through the pages of His work and his words bring a light to my mind.
I may not see the way ahead but I know He has gone before me, through the closest of mist and survived.
And if there is one thing I know, it's nothing ever remains the same. If I keep on walking and trust the Author to light my path, I will eventually leave this land of mist.
In the meantime his book makes purpose for my present journey and His life, a comfort to my sorrow.

comfort food

2012-01-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

I made pasties for dinner tonight, with enough left over for cold lunch tomorrow. (mine were about half the size of this picture!)
R had chicken, pea and gravy ones and I had cheese spinach and rocket.

they were only meant to be cheese and spinach, but the shop didn't have any spinach, so i bought one of those bags of spinach and rocket salad.

It was very yummy - so much so I am really looking forward to lunch tomorrow. Definitely a foodie subzero for me.

A hidden talent

2012-01-12T00:33:00.000-08:00

Who would have known?

My dear friend has decided to take a photo a day all this year and in order not to forget what they all mean, has started blogging with it.

It turns out the photos are just the appetiser.

Her writing is proving interesting, funny and heart warming, and as such, dear followers, I thoroughly recommend her blog - please follow it as well as reading it, how else is a blogger to know people read what she writes?

Veg everyday - north African squash and chickpeas

2012-01-06T04:32:00.000-08:00

I got Hugh Fearnly Wittinhall's veg cookbook for Christmas - it has lots of really nice looking recipies in it and the don't have a gazillion ingredients in them, which makes them all the more approachable.

We had the north African squash and chickpeas last night - i really enjoyed it! R had chicken with his, but for me it felt like a proper meal, not just a pile of veg.

Anyway, we gave it a foodie rating of cool, and as it is vegan, it's one we will be able to do in hay fever season when R can't have any milk.

Perfect.

New Year, new goals

2012-01-05T01:34:00.000-08:00

Predictably, i have made new year resolutions, but this year with renewed passion - while looking for things to bless the young people I mentor I cam across this site which helps you write a personal mission statement:

Live with purpose

And I have added to it some SMART goals... which are now my resolutions:

Read two chapters of Systematic Theology each Thursday and discuss it with others
Read morning prayers and pray for others before breakfast each day (and get up early enough to do it)
Do “small exercises” each morning and choose cycling over the car where possible
Cook at least one new recipe each week and go back to blogging about it
Write one other personal blog post each week
Don't eat between meals unless it it raw fruit or veg and don't buy rubbish from the co-op however bored or fed up I am.
Spend time in the garden at least once a week
Keep up knitting/weaving – do some each week
Have “date night” with R – preferably each week
Have people over for dinner once a month

I even have a little chart I can tick each week in order to review how I am doing.

Now this may all sound a bit contrived or restrictive, but I have learnt a simple truth:

We either live the life we want or we don't.

And this year I really want to live, not just get by. Lists and goals aren't everyones cup of tea, but in my ever busy life they help me achieve the things I want in life, and strangely create more space and time rather than less - perhaps the intentional list's most precious quality is the banishing of procrastination.

This week in the blogs I read

2011-12-23T04:29:00.000-08:00

I thought you might like to take a look at a selection of the things the people I follow are saying this week...

First of course, food at:

Half Baked

A fork full of spaghetti

Art, Craft and God:

Teen granny

Rethinking youth ministry

Visual theology

Sunday Scribblings (poetry/prose)

Stuff to get you thinking:

Simple Pastor

Breathe

Make wealth history

Knitted bells and other things

2011-12-22T07:56:00.000-08:00

It's the last push for Christmas knitting, and I am making a few bells for peoples trees. I would have my own picture up but I have yet to master the new computer... yes I am sorry to say I don't know where to plug the SD card in and will have to wait till R (who built the computer) to come home and show me.

Anyway.

They look a bit like this:

Although I did them with 14 stitches and not in pink... you can find the instructions on Squidoo.

While I was look for a picture, I also found something I would LOVE to be able to knit - a shell - how beautiful is this (click the picture to see more):

#298 - Health

2011-12-18T13:09:00.000-08:00

For Sunday Scribblings:

Slices of cold creep

Our unhealthy house leaks heat

But Christmas cheer warms

Seismic reading

2011-12-15T01:20:00.000-08:00

I have just finished reading Scott McKnight's "Junia is not alone" and I can feel the seismic reaction beginning to rumble inside my thinking.

I am aware that the arguments around whether Junia was a female apostle will seem to some, weird and to others old news, but for me, this book has been profound.

It goes like this... I read Romans 16 and I find not only a woman apostle but also a woman deacon. Not "deaconess" but deacon. Church leader. And Junia, not treated any differently in her apostleship, mentioned with no special fanfare... and therefore her position a perfectly natural thing.

Suddenly Paul saying:

"For you are all childrenof God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28)

makes perfect sense.

This means for me, as a Christian woman, that I really am able to be whatever God calls me to be, regardless of my sex. What freedom.

There is of course a more troubling side to all of this, McKnight points to the use of politics in church history to suppress the voice of women in the Bible and therefore in society. But then what's new? There was a time when people used God's word to justify slavery. Thank God for people like Wilberforce and Luther King Jr.

And of course Mary McLeod Bethune.

All this draws me into thinking, how can I tell the stories of these women both in the bible and in our history without swinging the pendulum too far the other way? How can I as a woman leader, preacher and teacher (all part of my church youth worker job) draw up both young women and young men in a balanced view of scripture and how God sees them? How to raise up young men and women without one half feeling less significant?

A sensible contribution to this topic can be found via Krish Kandiha and part two here.

The journey continues...

Art thats out there

2011-12-14T05:39:00.000-08:00

A few things I have discovered on the net today... their web sites are welll worth the look :)

Film review - The Big Year

2011-12-07T04:57:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't normally attempt a film review, but R and I have just been to see The Big Year. A lot of critics have slammed it, and it hasn't done very well on Rotten Tomatoes but I really can't see why.

We found it a gentle, humorous, well scripted film, a human tale with some decent messages, wrapped in a different topic to the normal run of the mill comedy.

I'm not one for noticing the music, but I even found that good. All three main actors play their parts beautifully and it would be a shame to miss it.

When it comes out, we will be getting it on DVD.

Advent begins

2011-12-01T02:30:00.000-08:00

This is well worth a read:

http://www.rejesus.co.uk/blog/post/christmas_countdown/

#295 - Investigate

2011-11-30T00:18:00.000-08:00

For sunday Scribblings:

My eyes are shut

the bed is warm

and it is only the

squeaking of my alarm

which causes me to investigate the morning
and i discover to my joy

the glory of your dawn

softly tip-toeing through the clouds
a kiss of light on my face
as i pull back the curtains.

A story of restoration

2011-11-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

Once there were three sisters – Suffering, Sin and Disappointment and they lived together in a little terrace house on the outskirts of town.

One day, the postman brought the three sisters an invitation from the King, inviting them to a party.

But Suffering said “this can’t be for me, I have suffered such illness loss and desertion, I can’t imagine that God loves me given all that has happened.

And Sin said “I have done so many wrong and selfish things in my life, how could the King possibly look at me now?”

Finally Disappointment said “This couldn’t possibly be for me, all the things I have ever hoped for, children, a secure job, a safe marriage and faithful friends, they have all passed me by, I can’t imagine this is for me”

So the three sisters left the invitation on the mantelpiece and carried on with their lives.

A week passed and there was a knock on the door – Suffering opened the door to find the King himself standing there! Amazed the three sisters invited him in and this is what he said to them.

I know that life has weighed you down and caused you to feel that I live a long way from you, but you will find that I am not at all far away. So that you can come to my celebration I am going to restore your true names to you.”

The King stood up and took Suffering’s hand and said “follow me, for in me your name is Compassion. You may have had to walk a hard road, but I will always walk with you”.

And turning to Sin, the King took her hand and said ”follow me, for your name is forgiveness. For all that you have done in the past will be washed away when you come to me”

Finally the King took disappointment’s hand and said “follow me, for your name is new hope. You may not have gained all those things you have longed for but I will give you, life to the full”

So Compassion, forgiveness and new hope put on their best clothes and went with the King to His great celebration.

My latest, and last tattoo

2011-11-25T02:02:00.000-08:00

So I have had my last tattoo. This is because I am picky where i have them and i have officially run out of places I would choose to have a tattoo. The last one was always going to be an act of worship.

Hence the Ichthus - a Greek word meaning fish, which is an acronym for Jesus Christ God's Son Saviour.

learning to knit

2011-11-23T04:54:00.000-08:00

You can tell we live in the era of the digital native. Although I may be too old to be one (hello, gen x here) I still find the internet invaluable.

How else would i learn to knit? As it happens some of the young adults I work with knit, and they have taught me lots. But along with them comes knitting help and the stitch library which have enabled me to learn things like the mesh stitch i am doing for my sister in law's Christmas present...

Yes, everyone is getting scarves this Christmas... and getting them all done is something the internet can't help me with.

River Cottage we love you

2011-11-23T03:10:00.000-08:00

This month's copy of vegetarian living has some lovely things to eat. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has come up trumps with a new veggie cook book (that's gone on my wish list!) and they have some of them in the magazine.

so far I have tried Vegeree - yes its kedgeree with aubergines rather than fish. It was really good, even R who doesn't normally like aubergines liked it.

I would give it a foodie cool board rating of cool.

also in the magazine was chilli and black bean stew, which got a subzero from me, and next to try is falafel nutty roast... I reckon that will be good too :)

Inspired again

2011-11-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have just come back from Youthwork the conference and now I have a head full of ideas for next year.

There was much talk about how we as youth workers support and encourage parents. With speakers such as Rob Parsons and Ali Campbell encouraging us to provide resources and events which encourage and promote the family unit in church (whatever shape that family might be) and Cris Rogers inspiring us to teach the Bible in new and beautiful ways, I now have an armful of ideas to implement. Add onto that Jason Gardner's succinct explanation of life for young people now and its battle stations for the new year.

Also some personal excitement theology wise coming across the Theology Network, St Mellitus and St. Paul's God Pod all of which will help me go deeper without having to pay thousands of pounds for a theology course.

One happy youth worker here :)

You can download talks from Youthwork the conference here.

#293 - Life is Good

2011-11-14T04:05:00.000-08:00

I have...
a place to come home to
with you
these past three years
brighter than the ones before,
we are better for each other.

Life, is good.

It's as true as ever

2011-11-12T00:24:00.000-08:00

Flicking though some of my old posts I came across this:

http://understandingalice.blogspot.com/2010/01/10-follower-of-him.html

I have to say, church where I am now is lovely, but the words of this hymn stand true as ever.

Where would we be without Him?

hat making

2011-11-06T08:39:00.000-08:00

I really like this hat:

I'm making something similar... sort of making it up as I go along so it could be a complete disaster, but we shall see - my version is rib just the same as this followed by moss stitch. I will probably post the finished article, but in the meantime why not go over to dream and knit and have a look at all the lovely things she posts :D

#291 - Operation

2011-10-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

for Sunday Scribblings

There is something about your sweet earth
and the things you cause to grow in it
There is something about the trees, the birds, the air
You have operated on my heart.

I find you close as I tend the plants we chose together
you drawing me in love to colour, form and leaf
There is something about the warm spring sun on my face
You have operated on my heart

On my knees in the garden
tending to plants
there a little part of heaven kisses the earth
and you operate on my heart.

My middle name is Alice, and I thought you might like to understand.

2011-10-24T04:40:00.000-07:00

Depression is a funny business. And not the ha ha sort. Of course it affects everyone differently, but for me it caused me to shut shop.

I became ill in May and it is only now that I feel able to truly open the door again.

Of course I did all the wrong things, stopped doing all the things that might have helped like exercise and healthy eating.

I also stopped blogging, going out, gardening, house work, cooking... everything except work, because that was all I had the energy for. And when it looked like that might be under threat, that's when I went to the doctor.

Why do we only go for help when we can't bear it any more? Why don't we preempt such things?

I will in future.

It could have been worse, I could have waited until it all fell apart, but I have been there before and I didn't fancy it thank you very much.

Anyway, some medication and some CBT counselling and most importantly the prayers of others and my own return to such things gave me a road to travel on and made room for God to bring about my healing.

I have also found some more balance in life. Witness the return of exercise, proper food, and time management (ok I'm still working on those) along with gardening, a new obsession with knitting and weaving, blogging, and proper time each day with Jesus.

And witness the exit of worry. The counselling and the prayers have helped drive it out.

So now you know why I have been away. And if any of this sounds familiar, here are some places to go:

Mind

Samaritans

TWLOHA

#290 - My Backyard

2011-10-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

for sunday scribblings:

I used to live in a little terrace house with a little backyard
now I live in a two bed semi
with a garden

but in both places
you could find
a little slice of heaven
being lovingly tended

All these things I grow
they remind me of you.

Apple crumble and the environment.

2011-10-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I have blogged regularly. More of that in posts to come. But in the meantime, I have discovered that making apple crumble with your own apples is great. No more going to the supermarket for really old apples, now R and I can nip out the back door a pick a few off the tree - what a luxury :)

It's all rather good timing seeing as I have just been to the Enough Gathering - a weekend of thinking about what it means to take care of our planet by living lightly and taking action, run by A Rocha's Living Lightly and the Breathe network.

i have come home with a renewed passion to communicate these issues in the church I work for and attend. And a deeper appreciation of my apple tree.

Chestnut and lentil loaf

2011-09-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

You can find it here...

http://understandingalice.tumblr.com/post/9715498098/vegan-dinner-homemade-chestnut-and-lentil-loaf

...and it gets a rating of subzero from us :)

My latest poem

2011-08-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

I'm not gone from blogger forever, but for now you can see my latest stuff on my tumbler blog, including my latest poem:

http://understandingalice.tumblr.com/post/8426243783/she-sails

She sails the seas

other lands to find.

She dreams of

green pasture

and apple blossom,

but the journey is rough

and the boat leaks.

She wonders if there is,

enough strength to bail.

Yet there is bright hope ahead

and hands to reach out to.

She sails the seas with others

and with only a word

they will reach out

to take the load.

She sails the seas

other lands to find

even though the boat leaks

those who sail with her will bail.

Then she who sails the seas

can hold the dream

of other lands to find.

Coming up for air

2011-07-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

Image via CrunchBase

These past few months have been difficult. I am beginning to come up for air, but it hasnt been easy. With all this comes a desire to change the way I blog - for now at least. So for the time being I wont be posting here, but instead over at my new tumblr blog.

I hope you might go find me there.

Green Blade

2011-07-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Image by jcolman via Flickr

R and I went on a retreat day yesterday. It wasn't overly his cup of tea (not that he drinks tea) but it was very nice having him there with me.

We went to Green Blade, so called because of the hymn by John Crum:

Now the green blade riseth

from the buried grain,

wheat that in the dark earth

many days has lain;

Love lives again,

that with the dead has been:

Love is come again,

like wheat that springeth green.

The day was lead by Canon Ian Morgan and was entitled; "Embracing Distraction" and was all about finding that silent space with God through listening. He used Beethoven and other classical music to make his points.

I always thought that going on retreat was a process of emptying, of leaving the world behind to go to another place in order to meet with God and in that place, for a while, setting aside life to find Him.

But yesterday I found myself filled rather than emptied. I felt like the whole of life came with me, and during the day bombshells of new understanding kept exploding all around me.

Each thing I was taught yesterday acted like a bridge into my life on which the Spirit was walking over. I have discovered that minute moments of silence can be as priceless as the long times of solitude I have longed for. That as long as we aim to give all we have, it doesn't matter if what we have is small.

I found that instead of having to loose myself, I have found myself, right here with God, just as I am.

Most beautiful of all, where as before I wondered how I am to "do God" as a married woman, I find Him here in the middle of who R and I are - and who we are is ok too.

Instead of absence, listening and in that, the presence of God - even if He is silent, He is more present that anything else in all of life.

And instead of distraction, maybe, finally, a closer walk with God, right here in the ordinariness of daily life.

New garden

2011-07-04T02:34:00.000-07:00

It's been difficult to blog since we moved house, mainly because our home laptop has died... we are still waiting for it to get fixed. It means I haven't really documented the new garden. It started as all grass, and now I am steadily digging up the turf in order to - eventually - have raised borders with gravel paths in between. I think the digging and gravel may get done by the end of the year, and in the meantime I am putting what flowers and veg I have (and have been given) in where ever I have already dug. A few photos...

We have learnt to love

2011-07-04T02:24:00.000-07:00

Image by Gnal via Flickr

We are the walking wounded,

we carry the weight of our lives,

the loss colours our souls.

we are, the walking wounded.

And yet the hope of what could be,

filters through -

a dawn where once

there was only night.

We are the walking wounded.

We have learnt to love

in spite of all that has been - that is

and the joy of it causes a spark in the dark.

We are the walking wounded.

Sweet potato falafels

2011-06-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

I have gone back to being vegetarian (I may have already mentioned the, its been a long week). Of course this time of year that makes life interesting as R can't have milk in hay fever season.

Today I made sweet potato falafels - microwaved sweet potato mashed with lemon juice, garlic, coriander, cumin and flour - all baked in the oven then munched with pitta, coleslaw, avocado and houmous.

R and I enjoyed them although the falafels could have had more spice... so its get a foodie cool board rating of OK from us.

A little bright moment

2011-06-16T03:05:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

You know, sometimes I wonder if there are any human beings left in corporate land. Normally any interaction with any sort of customer services leaves you thinking perhaps not.

But the along comes a little bright moment, in this case the reply from Sainsburys to a little girl's letter:

Threescore

#271 - The Next Step

2011-06-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

For Sunday Scribblings

Deeper

Stronger

Lighter

I would be

More patient

More organised

More Faithful

but somehow the next step eludes me

Perhaps instead of striving so hard I should

Stop

and take you at your word.

The unforced rythmns of grace

2011-06-08T06:38:00.000-07:00

While looking at some resources for the Big Welcome, I came across this will known passage, in the case from the message version:

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Matthew 11:28-30

As I read this again I am reminded that the Bible isn't just a book, but God's word through which he still speaks to us. I have been blessed in reading this today and I hope it draws you into joy in the way that it did for me.

How to pray

2011-05-27T02:58:00.000-07:00

I have started reading a new book, called "How to pray" by Stephen Cottrell.

So far it seems well worth the effort. As he points out, so many books talk about prayer but don't actually tell you how to go about it.

I have high hopes that this book may well do just that.

I will keep you posted.

World giving

2011-05-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

Something else for you to think on while i'm still unpacking...

http://www.mint.com/blog/trends/which-countries-give-most-aid-0507201/?

Living the dream

2011-05-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

You may wonder why its been a bit quiet over here... we have been moving house. More of that later, but in the meantime, something for your interest:

#265 - Cake

2011-05-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

For Sunday Scribblings

My family loves cake. Its the thing everyone hopes to get whenever we visit each others homes... that and a nice cup of tea to go with it.

You can always guarantee a slice of cake will brighten our day. So I offer to you some of the recipes we use and some of the times and places they have been eaten... its all happiness and cake in this corner of England.

And another cake here :)

Grace when its needed

2011-04-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

It has been a difficult day. R and I are trying desperately to complete on our house - no wonder they say moving house is up there with life's most stressful events - we seem to be getting no where.

And then while I was just aimlessly wandering round the net to take my mind off it all, I Stumble Upon this video... Its too beautiful not to share, and below it some others by the same person - hope they bless you as much as they have me.

#264 - Shine

2011-04-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

for Sunday Scribblings

In all the dark

In the deepest confusion

all through grief

cutting though selfishness

washing away unbelief

bringing a new day

hope for the future

and peace for the present...

You shine.

Small things

2011-04-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

I'm still reading Consumer Detox by Mark Powley - its a beautiful book about God's kingdom, one which is causing me to search deeper into what it might mean for me to truly live a kingdom life. Powley uses the film Amelie to make a point, looking at how we are distracted from the deeper things in life. He says:

"Isn't this how it is in life? the spectacular is often hidden in the ordinary - if only we have eyes to see it."

The last couple of days I have noticed the smallest thing, out running and in the garden, dandelions - just a weed really, but so lovely - I took a couple of pictures this afternoon. It's worth coming up for air to see things like these:

Our actions, a window into our beliefs

2011-04-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

Anyone vaguely interested in Rob Bell could not have missed the storm over his present book. Having read it, I would say he I appreciate his view of what heaven is like, but as to what he says about who might or might not get there... I don't know. He certainly calls us all to think about our faith more deeply, whether we agree with him or not.

And there is something else. I think his book raises a deeper question about what we actually believe about God. Because all our beliefs have consequences. They are the genesis of our actions.

It goes like this:

for example, I believe that the "Earth is the Lords and everything in it" this changes my perception of the natural world and people which causes me to want to be involved in environmental and social justice issues. this week that is manifesting itself in two actions - reading Consumer Detox and hopefully buying (and eating) this fairtrade Easter Egg :)

The book is having a big impact on me and I can see it taking me through several more cycles as it changes what I believe about the world around me, and myself.

All this means of course, if we want to know what we truly believe about the world, rather than what we would like to believe, all we have to do is examine our actions.

Scary.

The People's Garden

2011-04-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Well. I finished volunteering at the People's Garden today. I'm not leaving entirely as I will continue to put stuff up on their blog - you can see what I put up today here.

I'm leaving because with our impending house move and selling of our second car (environmental victory, hurrah!) I wont have time to cycle to the project and then to work on a Friday morning - so its time to find a volunteering opportunity close to (our new) home. In the meantime, some People's Garden photos:

Apple samosa

2011-04-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

Even when you decide to eat healthy, that doesn't mean you cant have any nice treats... enter the apple samosa, courtesy of BBC good food.

I made them a little smaller than they said and used Splenda instead of sugar so I reckon each one is about 50 calories, whereas theirs are 65.

Anyway, I blew the calorie budget for R and put marzipan in his ones as well as the raisins and spice - he gave them a foodie cool board rating of subzero, although that might just be the marzipan :)

#262 - befuddled

2011-04-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

for Sunday Scribblings

Sometimes.

It seems like there is so much

discord

ungraciousness

difficulty.

It leaves me befuddled.

All I want to do

is find you again

and for my head

to hurt less

all these whys and how comes

buzzing round my head

like the swarm of bees

I once walked in on

in a past house mates room.

I know you are love

the one who calmed angry seas

perhaps you might do that

in me.

Fish with spiced lentils

2011-04-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

We had a rare foodie cool board Subzero meal tonight - and it was dirt easy to make. I think the mango chutney and curry combination probably did it - you can find the recipe here on the BBC good food web site. It even has how many calories and the like it has in it, which made it really simple for me to add it to my online food diary, hurrah for the Internet and a pack of lentils!

picture from BBC good food

Back to running

2011-04-07T05:41:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Having spent a couple of months doing exercise videos and loosing a bit of weight, i have been able to go back to running. I had forgotten how much I enjoy it.

Today I spent the Christmas money I had saved until I thought of something worthy - on a new pair of running shoes - New Balance because they are cheaper than other brands and do pretty well on the ethics, especially as they are made in Britain.

My new found motivation for all this has been helped quite a lot by being able to log my running routes and by recording what i eat/ how much I burn in exercise, but most of all having exercised six days a week, some running some aerobics video, I am reminded what a stress buster it all is - it really does make all the difference in my life - certainly R has noticed the nicer me - always a plus :)

Blog following spring clean

2011-03-25T15:33:00.000-07:00

Image by Mikael Colville-Andersen via Flickr

I have been having a bit of a spring clean of the blogs I follow - unfollowing all the ones I never read and adding one or two new ones of interest.

I am particularly loving Make Wealth History. I had been googling to find out which supermarket stocks the most fairtrade products and came across this article by make wealth history:

"In summary, if you must shop at the supermarkets your best bets are the Co-operative, Waitrose, and Marks and Spencer, probably in that order. All three are progressive businesses in environmental and social policy. The first two aren’t corporations either, and can afford not to pursue profit as aggressively as the others.

In the middle come Sainsburys, who have some good policies and are making better progress than Morison's, mainly because Morison's started from behind.

Tesco and Asda are in another category, being enormous and utterly irresponsible. They may yet implement some better policies, but their whole business model is rooted in the worst kind of growth capitalism, and it’s hard to recommend them."

The whole article is worth a read, along with more recent articles such as:

Waste: uncovering the global food scandal

and

Ten reasons to give up your car

You can see other blogs I follow on my blogroll - hope some of them inspire you too...

Earth hour cakes

2011-03-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

We are having an Earth Hour event at our church on Saturday - its my idea, and lots of the young people are leading stuff which is fabulous!

We are having two halves, the light hour and then when we switch the lights off for earth hour itself, the dark hour... not that dark hopefully what with candles and wind up torches.

There will be a fair trade cafe and shop, a chance to make bags out of recycled clothes, coasters out of recycled Cd's, bird feeders using old drinks cartons, a clothes swap, games, a video and talk, puppets of praise and star gazing.

Sadly the man at the council hasn't replied to me so no bicycle smoothie maker.

So today I have been making lots of cake - fruit cake, cherry chocolate cake, lemon cakes and banana and fruit cakes - R has got a sample of each, so that's his lunches sorted :)

I am reminded in all this how much environmental and justice issues matter to me. I'm hoping in taking part, it might inspire some of the young people to further action - hopefully more clothes exchanges, or "swishing" and a regular fair trade shop at church.

#259 - Free

2011-03-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Image by asonted128 via Flickr

for Sunday Scribblings

They say,

there's no such thing

as a free lunch.

And its true.

But you paid,

not just for lunch

but for my life

Free.

I'm free at last.

Roast rabbit with flatbread

2011-03-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of nothing ventured nothing gained, we have at least found out that home made flat bread (flour, olive oil, water and salt rolled out and baked for 10 minutes) tastes nice with pesto for R and honey for me.

Having given up on the rabbit which i had lovingly marinaded in rosemary, thyme, garlic, honey and lemon, but which had about as much meat as a sparrow... we sat eating sweetcorn and mushrooms, which both reminded us of our honeymoon.

So all in all the rabbit got a foodie cool board rating of uncool but at least the sweetcorn made us smile.

#257 - Raw

2011-03-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

Image by oedipusphinx — — — — theJWDban via Flickr

For Sunday Scribblings

We travel with a smile

all alike

in getting on and doing

in loving and living

but we are the walking wounded

our healing in the hours

and the prayers.

But to some extent

its still all so raw.

All it takes is a

lime green baby grow

or for others

a friend's marriage

or simple family life

or money to spend.

Will we hide behind

I'm fine

and

I had a great week thank you!

Or will we open a little the door to our hearts

so that the raw in the other

might know its not alone

so that those who walk wounded

don't walk alone.

Fairtrade Curly Windmill cake

2011-03-05T05:41:00.000-08:00

Its fairtrade fortnight and the Fairtrade Foundation have lots of cool fairtrade competitions on their facebook page. I decided to enter the baking competition, so for your delight I present the fairtrade curly windmill cake!

Well they did say go over the top:

#255 - Food

2011-02-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

Normally for Sunday Scribblings i would write a poem, but as the theme is food, I would like to take the opportunity to tell you about the Foodie Cool Board.

for about as long as I have been blogging, I have been cooking, R and I have eaten it and then I have blogged including a score, from the awesome subzero, through cool, ok and down to uncool.

It has included all sorts of yummy things, quite a lot from Jamie Oliver's magazine, along with some recipes I learnt from my mother - I would love it if you took a little journey with R and I enjoying food and the Foodie Cool Board as much as we have!

Veg with everything

2011-02-17T14:25:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to be more healthy, to keep my life in balance, and be better able to combat stress... and food wise this means more vegetables!

I'm trying to do the thirds rule by making sure my plate has a third carbs a third protein and a third veg.

Hence having spinach on top of my scrambled egg and spaghetti hoops on toast this lunch time:

It was really yummy and therefore gets a foodie cool board rating of cool from me.

Bible in one year and the trauma of leviticus and numbers

2011-02-17T03:13:00.000-08:00

One of my new year resolutions in 2011 has been to read the Bible in one year, straight though from beginning to end. I am nearing the end of Numbers, and what a challenge it has been.

All I know of God is his deep mercy and faithfulness, so how to square some of the frankly, awful things I have read in Leviticus and Numbers.

How can the God who is the same yesterday, today and forever, ask people to be stoned to death for collecting firewood on the Sabbath or sanction the genocide of an entire nation be the same God who said love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?

If God really is the same, and I believe he is, then there must be something else at work here, some piece of the story missing. There is. I find it here is Jesus words:

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

Matthew 5:17-18 (New Living Translation)

It seems to me that although those who lived in old testament times saw the things around them in terms of vengeance and judgement, standing this side of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we can see them as consequences.

Not so much sent by what looks like a hateful god, but permitted by an unchanging God who has always been slow to anger and abounding in love - because this horror is the true consequence of sin, more than that, the final consequence is death, which he has held back on.

And then the true wonder of it all. The purpose of the law was always to make people holy so that they could be with God, and Jesus came to fulfill that law. When you see the true consequence of sin, you begin to get an understanding of what Christ's sacrifice is.

In reading the old testament, in the middle of my bewilderment over some of the things I have read, I have found a deep gratitude for the love of God expressed in the utter beauty of the life and work of Jesus.

My reading of the new testament will be enriched by all I have read in the old.

Spring Clean

2011-02-17T02:41:00.000-08:00

Over at the People's Garden this week there were lots of spring cleaning jobs to do, and while we gave the grasses a hair brush and the borders a tidy, the first snow drops and crocus are busily coming up:

The Peoples Garden goes all youtube

2011-02-06T09:15:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

To tell more of the story of the Peoples Community Garden, we have started filming some of the people who are part of the project. You can see some of the volunteers stories here.

2011-02-06T07:17:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

for Sunday Scribblings

In every eye

in every word

the meaning of each reaction

there is the story

of what has gone before

sometimes our hidden narratives

tangle with each other

knot us up in misunderstanding

but sometimes

the beauty of our

patchwork quilt of pasts

brings about

a richer

beginning

middle

and end.

Home is where the heart is

2011-02-05T05:30:00.000-08:00

Image by linda yvonne via Flickr

Buying a house is a tricky business. R and I are first time buyers and have just had our offer on a house accepted. Of course with these sorts of things its not done till its done - the house may yet prove to have something dire wrong with it.

But we have been dreaming in wallpaper all the same.

Of course Jesus didn't say home is where the heart is, he said Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Its got me thinking about why it is my treasure is in having a home of our own - because that is certainly where my heart is right now.

Owning a home is no safer than renting - if you default you are out, and at least with renting someone else pays for the broken boiler, so it cant be security.

Its nice to be able to put a picture on the wall whenever you like without having to ask, but this seems no big deal to me, so it cant be autonomy.

I do however have a longing to stay put, put down roots, grow long term friendships and make the place I live in a warm, open welcoming place where people can meet the true owner of the house - Jesus.

So it is about community.

I left home 17 years ago and since then I have lived in 14 houses. My heart is longing for something deeper, and I hope, in buying our own home R and I might find treasure.

#252 - Safe

2011-01-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

For Sunday Scribblings:

The road may be

dark and cold

bitter thorns pressing in

Light may fade

and night close around my heart

And all the world, grey for me

even in the same breath,

technicolour for everyone else.

My soul is safe

with you.

I know that night

is as day to you

that you provide,

manna in the desert

loaves and fishes

for the hungry of heart...

light for the journey

a colour palette for the weary

beauty instead of ashes.

A new year

2011-01-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

Muck spreading in the cold and other things at the Peoples Garden...

#251 - Eternity

2011-01-23T06:57:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

for sunday scribblings

I could love you

for an eternity

in the small

and the large

in our laughter

and sillyness

in our pain

and wishing things

were different

I could love you

for an eternity

in our shared faith

and hope for the future

in our doubts

and fear in the now

I could love you

for eternity

every time I see

your tender care

and hear your words of love

I could love you for eternity.

Earth Hour

2011-01-18T11:31:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

I wouldn't usually have an advert on my blog, but this would be a worthy exception - I'm signed up and I hope you might too:

Sign up to WWF's #earthhour. Lights out on 27 March to show we care about climate change.: "On Saturday 27 March 2011 at 8.30pm, we want a billion people around the world to switch off their lights for one hour – WWF's Earth Hour. Show you care about climate change."

#250 - Invisible

2011-01-17T02:11:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

for sunday scribblings:

Alive with it all

a style of her own

creativity

that would reach the stars

sensitivity

to comfort any soul

but her tender 17 years

the blond stripe in her hair,

black skinny jeans

and pierced nose

they render her

invisible

when will we learn to see?

Not much to see yet

2011-01-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

There is never much to see in January, but it was so warm this afternoon I had my first chance in the garden.

This meant a bit of tidying and moving round - as we now have the allotment, I have the luxury of growing flowers and herbs in the back yard. I have planted some of the flowers that were in pots - making room for more pots when the time comes.

I am very much looking forward to the growing season this year!

The return of Herman

2011-01-15T10:48:00.000-08:00

Young people are great. In my last job, a young person gave me a German friendship cake called Herman. I fed him and stirred him for ten days as instructed and then shared him out, mostly passing him on to friends at the peoples garden. R and I enjoyed eating our Herman cake too.

Well lo and behold he (or perhaps his cousin) has returned:

I'm now in a new youth work job, working for a Baptist church (yes, amazingly, just one church) and I have been visiting all the groups they run, both for young people and a variety of others. But it was at an evening group for the young end of primary school that Herman reappeared. A boy had brought three lots of him in for the leaders and I ended going home with one.

So I shall grow him again and give him to more young people :)

How nice :)

2011-01-15T09:05:00.000-08:00

That was very nice of you A Novelist's Blog for awarding me a Stylish Bloggers Award. Lego disco Man and I are impressed :)

And given the rules of this award, I thought, what a grand opportunity to show you some of the blogs I like.

The Mighty Rules

1. Thank and link back to the person that awarded this to you.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

Seven things about me

1. I'm a Christian

2. I share an allotment with my husband and five of our friends

3. I work for a Baptist church as a youth worker

4. My husband and I have two pet hamsters

5. I like cooking - especially the eating part

6. I would love to visit America

7. I blog because i love to write but am secretly over the moon to have followers

Fifteen fabulous blogs

How we live

1. Superbadger

2. Conspiracy of freedom

3. Simple Marraige

4. Rowdy Kittens

Food

5.Tea and wheaten Bread

Writing and art

6.Through the eyes of a park ranger

7. Creative everyday

8. Sunday Scribblings

9. Keeping up

10. Kodjo Deynoo

11. The Caterpillar Uprising

12. Honor and Truth

Faith and life

13. Are you there God its me Generation X

14. Dialogos

15. Visual theology

Only to you

2011-01-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

There are days

when we are weighed down to our feet

and grey rain the only sound.

For all our knowledge of His greatness,

we are left wondering

How can this be?

We prayed.

Didn't you hear?

And in all this, we are left to choose,

His words ringing down the ages -

who do you say I am?

And we reply, as Peter did,

you are the messiah,

Son of the living God.

Because grey or gold

it remains true,

where else would we go,

but to you?

#249 - A Walk in the Park

2011-01-10T01:39:00.000-08:00

Image by irish-adam via Flickr

for Sunday scribblings

They say

the older you get

the more you realise

how little you know.

Or perhaps its just,

with the passing of years

we learn to lift our heads

drawing our eyes

from the all consuming issues

of our own little worlds

to see a greater dawn.

I never thought it was a walk in the park,

but now I know

a deeper journey with you

and I notice each leaf

each drop of water

filled with sunlight

as you reveal it
little by little

to me.

Vegetable lasagne

2011-01-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

Last lot of food for a bit... We like our meat, but every now and then we get a hunger on for something veggie - so home made vegetable lasagne it is - or you can omit the cheese sauce for a milk free vegetable bake:

chop all the veg you fancy - fry things like carrots and onion first,

then add the rest and fry until it begins to go soft

I cooked aubergines separately so I could layer them, then the rest of the veg (then cheese sauce and lasagne)

Add some herbs to your veg,

then the tomato, and in the meantime,

make some white sauce and add the cheese:

then layer your veg, sauce and lasagne sheets and cook for about 50 minutes

yum :)

I like lasagne more than R does - he would give it a Foodie Cool Board rating of ok whereas I would give it a cool.

Pomegranate and walnut chicken

2011-01-08T01:59:00.000-08:00

More food from the latest Jamie magazine. This looked a bit fiddly but in the end turned out to be fairly straight forward, although mine was an approximation of the recipe as I didn't have everything - for example I couldn't find any pure pomegranate juice so I had to reduce it for much longer and i expect it would have been more sticky sweet if I had had the real deal.

And of course chips weren't part of the recipe - not very posh I know, but we really enjoyed this meal all the same, and gave a it a Foodie Cool Board rating of - cool. This is R's photo by the way - I thought it was really good!

Beef curry

2011-01-04T01:09:00.000-08:00

I have slipped a bit over the last month and have been resorting to pizza and the like a bit too much - bought pizza at that (eek).

But its back to form now and something from the latest Jamie Oliver magazine - a beef curry which was about as quick to make as the bought pizza - but much yummier.

Fried beef, a few spices, some ginger and garlic, coconut milk, (didnt have any of the curry leaves he suggested)and at the end bean sprouts, served with noodles.

And because we like it, lime pickle - this meal gets a cool, possibly even subzero (although that might be the effect of all that pizza) rating from us:

#248 - Progress

2011-01-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

Image by WolfS♡ul via Flickr

We all work

eat more

buy more

owe more.

We all rest

less

grow less food

take time with our family,

our friends

less.

and we call this progress.

Maybe we threw out

the baby with the bathwater.

2011 here we come

2010-12-31T02:12:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Its new year resolution time - I'm not immune to writing them, but perspective is everything. Its like that story of the blind man and the elephant - we all experience the world around us from the personal view point we have.

But what if I changed my view? What if I said of the difficult times, you are not a closed door, but an open one. What if instead of saying of the good times "this is it" I said onwards and upwards?

Life really is what you make it.

This last year, while doing youth work stuff in a lesson on matters of life and death, I got into a conversation with the class about how could God be good when life can make us so unhappy. I gave them an answer, and as I reflect on that moment I realise that how deeply I believe what I said will ultimately change the quality of my life.

I said, if I thought the purpose of life was to be happy, I might be pretty fed up with God. But I don't, I think the purpose of life is to worship God in every circumstance, and that, eventually will bring a more lasting joy regardless of circumstance.

As Forrest Gump's wise mama said - Life is a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.

So my longing for 2011 is, that whether I get the best fudge or a yukky peanut brittle, it might be for me, a true year of worship.

Twenty Four Seasons of the Heart - 11 & 12

2010-12-29T07:47:00.000-08:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Kelly was finding the evening completely satisfying all round and she had meant what she said about John's pictures, she found them beautiful, absorbing.

John was beginning to feel photography snapping at the heels of running in his affections as he looked at one of Kelly's photographs of the coast. She joined him, explaining how she had managed to get the final result through the use of four separate photographs and some dedicated time in photoshop. He hadn't realised you could do so much, especially as his experience had been only with his camera and a touch of cropping - he could see a whole new world opening up.

Kelly found she was struggling to spread herself around everyone at the event, John's enthusiasm causing her to loose track of time, but then Adam came to the rescue suggesting they met up at the pub afterwards and she left John chatting with Adam to attend other visitors.

He watched her go, and it was a minute before he realised Adam was talking to him about their next race.

As Adam locked the door to the church, Kelly finally had a chance to thank him for asking her to help, she had enjoyed the whole thing far more than she could ever have imagined. Adam cheerful as ever, waived off the thanks pointing out how up the creek he would have been without her, and then off to the pub they all went where Adams wife Clare was already waiting for them.

john filed in with the others as they entered the pub, giving Clare a kiss and then dragging Adam to the bar to get drinks.

They came back to the table and settled in, John asking Clare if she was coming to watch their next race.

"As it happens I can" Clare said explaining that she and Adam had managed to sort the Saturday staff at their farm shop so that they were both free for a change.

By the end of the evening all four of them had decided on the race followed by dinner at Adam and Clare's, Kelly finding as she walked home that the warm hope of the last few weeks was taking long term residence in her heart.

Gold in the bleak mid winter

2010-12-28T12:14:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder.

As I write, there is a fire engine and two police cars in the street above us. And in our street discarded needles. (Tomorrow, when it isn't bank holiday I will go clean them up - with a dust pan and brush - then ring the council to find out where to dispose them).

And today, while i was in a queue in a shop I saw this:

Santa still looking great and the baby Jesus thrown on the floor. Today it feels like a metaphor for my street, for our country.

And those poor parents on the news, visiting the place their murdered daughter was found on Christmas day - I cried with them.

It really is a bleak mid winter.

As I travel with so many others between Christmas and the turn of the year, I am reminded of the Magi and their long journey to the King. And I am reminded of the hurried journey, Joseph grabbing his family and running for their lives from Herod. Jesus' life was to be as difficult as the hardest of winters.

But I am also reminded of the Risen Christ's words:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

He is with us - right to the end of the age.

Even when there are needles in the street, He is with us. Even when the police are regularly in the neighbourhood, He is with us. Even when the society we live in sees Jesus as a throw away commodity they didn't really want anyway - He is with us, right to the end.

With this gold in my heart, I find myself thirsty for what else Jesus had to say here - to make disciples, drawing them into the family of God and helping them grow in the life of faith.

When I start my new job next week, it is the gold I will take with me.

Lego disco man... plays with the new camera

2010-12-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

As I said before, R and I have been saving our birthday/Christmas money for our new camera - Lego Disco man got in on the action today. Its so COOL being able to twiddle the focus yourself! A Small thing I know, but it will be invaluable in the garden next year. In the meantime...

#257 - Manifesto

2010-12-26T00:41:00.000-08:00

for Sunday Scribblings

What kind of person do I want to be in 2011? I would like to be the kind of person that:

Cycles to work,

prays for others each day and give thanks to God for all I have,

reads the Bible from beginning to end,

grows good food and eats healthily,

treats my time as a valuable possession,

and listens more than I speak.

Advent 2010 - 4

2010-12-24T05:58:00.000-08:00

All the rush of work

and Christmas preparation

the crowd noise

of things to do

is silenced in this night.

We gather as

eve turns to day

and all that was blurred

by worry or loss

dials into focus -

Is there any moment

more beautiful that this?

Our sacred hour

Your holy birth.

Christmas Cooking - Cranberry Bakewell

2010-12-24T05:43:00.000-08:00

I really love cooking when I have time to do it properly, even if it goes wrong like yesterdays chocolate log disaster.

Today I have been trying a Cranberry Bakewell recipe. Its still in the oven so we shall see - I reckon it will get a rating of cool from my family tomorrow. In the meantime, I took a few photos of the cranberries with R and I's combined birthday and Christmas present from everyone - we got it this week because it was £30 cheaper than next week - always like a bargain :)

Christmas Cooking - chocolate log

2010-12-24T05:36:00.000-08:00

I tried to make a Christmas chocolate log yesterday, but it was a bit of a disaster - I think I would need a slightly less rubbish oven for a start. It really is rubbish - I have to put everything up by 10 degrees and sit still takes twice as long to cook anything. Hey ho.

Also it was one of those recipes with lots of dark chocolate in it - too much for our taste really. I think when i try another one, I will use the sponge mix but just do butter icing inside and white chocolate with the icing etc for the outside. It was a bit of a disaster really but it still managed a rating of OK from us!

Advent 2010 - 3

2010-12-19T04:47:00.000-08:00

Image by MelvinSchlubman via Flickr

Im still behind with my Advent weeks - ah well, I will do number four in the week. But for now, the third week of advent has been much like the first week, a week of rediscovering Carols. The beeb did a very good programme on "The truth about Carols" and personally, I have been wowed all over again by the carol "Hark the herald angels sing"

It is, the whole of the christian message - who Jesus is, the purpose of his birth and life. The beautiful truth that God is indeed with us, that he has not and will not leave us abandoned to this life, but instead lives with us, has lived as one of us and is intimately involved in our lives - if we let him.

I have found it worth reading the carol without the music in order to let the words sink in. And I guess that is also my goal for this Christmas - to stop long enough to let the truth of God reach my heart:

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

#246 - December

2010-12-19T04:09:00.000-08:00

Image by don2g via Flickr

for Sunday scribblings:

In the midst of festive preparation

the year quietly slips by.

All its triumphs and sorrows

momentarily swept up

in tinsel, cheer and snow.

But as the turn of the year

beckons though Decembers song

amongst all the rush you may find

a moments sorrow

for all that is past and

bright hope for things to come.

Tis the season... to test mince pies

2010-12-17T06:33:00.000-08:00

Image by Caro Wallis via Flickr

R has hit on a cunning plan which enables us to eat lots of yummy mince pies - although some of them have not been so yummy. He has decided to test as many different varieties of mince pie as possible before Christmas. Sounded like a plan to me, so I have been helping. So far our list goes like this:

1. Neros (mind you, you pay for it)

2. Sainsburys (lovely and not too expensive)

3. My home made ones (not bad for bought pastry, mince meat and some added marzipan)

4. Mr Kipling (pastry tasted a bit undercooked)

5. Tescos (don't even bother)

Our quest continues :)

Winter Pruning at the people's garden

2010-12-17T06:26:00.000-08:00

It was jolly cold at the People's Garden this morning - thankfully Ric did some of his teaching us how to prune in the cabin - in this case how to take care of your secateurs:

Allotment digging begins and there's a bit of time with Him.

2010-12-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

With the temporary thaw, I have had a chance to start the digging of our allotment, while A and P got to with the measuring - the plan being that the seven of us will get together and plan our veg for the year.

I only had an hour for digging this morning, but it was just what I needed. What with the long goodbye work wise (it never was going to be a one day affair, what with working for four churches) and the new job looming, it was nice to dig in the silence and spend some time with God.

It was lovely.

I thought I would share a bit of our conversation as it made me smile - how good is God to take the time for that - given all else He has to do -

me - you know Lord all this stuff, it leaves me feeling a bit like King
Canute, like it all might wash me away.

HIM - you are talking to the one who parted the Red Sea and stopped a storm

me - oh yes, so you did. Thanks Lord :D

So there you have it, a fine case of all good things come to those who dig.

#245 - Limits

2010-12-12T14:29:00.000-08:00

Image by Robert_Ball via Flickr

For Sunday Scribblings:

I always feel

it should be possible

to do all the things I see

which

are good

and right

and whole

and just.

But a wise woman
once told me

that there are many true battles,

but a limit
to the time,
the resources you have;

So choose your battles wisely.

Advent 2010 - 2

2010-12-12T14:21:00.000-08:00

You can tell I haven't been well - its actually the first day of Advent 3 today, so I am playing catch up. Anyway - i have been reading the excellent blog Visual Theology and I wanted to share some of Dave's posts with you.

But first, advent or adventus, - the coming or arrival of Christ, our waiting for him...

Our anticipation of him tends to centre around cards, presents, a tree, calendars and food. But the anticipation of Christs first advent can be seen in the longing expressed in Isaiah 35:1-7 and in the constant looking of the Hebrew people - its why as soon as John the baptist started doing prophetic things they asked him if he was the Christ - this is active longing.

As we prepare for Christmas, and long for that second advent - what is it we are looking for? Something comfortable perhaps? An easy and peaceful life?

Instead how about this from David Perry on what Christmas looks like.

And if what we see at Christmas is Gods powerful love turning up in all the painful, barbarous places in this world, surely our waiting should have a particular quality. Look what Jesus has to say in John 13:33-35.

We are to wait by showing love and to make disciples, so that people are ready for his return. Jesus warns us about what it will be like for those unprepared for his return: Matthew 25:1-13

So as we prepare to remember Christ’s first coming to us, we also live, longing for his return. I would encourage you to finish by reading this second post from David Perry.

Second anniversary meal

2010-12-12T13:43:00.000-08:00

R and I have been taking it in turns to be ill. I was in bed for three days last week, he has been in bed 4 days this week. So neither of us have really got round to doing anything for our second wedding anniversary, which is tomorrow. We had planned to do something tonight as work gets in the way tomorrow... so instead I did an emergency shop at the local co-op and made prawn skewers and home made mince pies for afters (hooray for ready rolled pastry, mince meat and marzipan).

We gave it all a foodie cool board rating of cool. And as I type this, sitting next to my husband who is watching TV, I realise that in fact, I would give my marriage a rating of subzero - food and hugs, what more could you want for :D

12 days of Eco Christmas

2010-12-07T01:33:00.000-08:00

Its gone all Christmassy over on Living Lightly's Facebook page:

They have reached day two of their 12 days of Eco Christmas - if you are interested they are on Twitter too.

Advent 2010 - 1

2010-12-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

Image by freeparking via Flickr

Advent, that time of year where traditionally Christians look forward not only to celebrating the birth of Christ, but also look forward to His return. But does that just mean the second coming, when he will wind up all that is and renew it into perfection? Not really, not if you take on all that "the kingdom looks like this" stuff that Jesus said.

I am reminded of a carol which often gets seen as a children's carol - until you stop and read the words that is and then its beauty can been seen for all of us - O Little Town of Bethlehem.

It says:

"Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight"

and

"So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in."

Our world can be a difficult and dark place, but the coming of Christ offers us hope and light. We are called to step out of our depth and receive Him still - stretching out our hands to do his work and see his glory in the small and the big things of our lives.

He is our everlasting hope, the joy of our lives, the Saviour of the world.

Nativity Festival

2010-12-01T02:31:00.000-08:00

Lego disco man has been out and about again. In spite of the snow, I managed to get to the Nativity festival at my parents church - there were over 300 different nativity scenes from all over the world. Sadly I only had my phone camera with me so the pictures are a bit rough to say the least - but I thought you might like to take a look at some of them all the same. Particularly this first one from Palestine, depicting how, if the wise men tried to get to Bethlehem today - the wall would be in the way:

Palestine:

Argentina:

Celtic:

Italian:

Local Suffolk artist:

Mexican:

Local Suffolk artist:

Ceramics:

South Africa:

Thailand:

Local flower arrangers:

#243 - Antidote

2010-11-29T03:04:00.000-08:00

for Sunday Scribblings

It may seem odd

that this

scruffy piece of land

full of weeds and lost hope,

could ever possibly be

an antidote

to the rest of my life -

But it will be.

Understanding Alice

Fun things for February

New, all over again

Woven bag project

Cambodian Wedding dip

Blog posts to inspire

The grey mist

comfort food

A hidden talent

Veg everyday - north African squash and chickpeas

New Year, new goals

This week in the blogs I read

Knitted bells and other things

#298 - Health

Seismic reading

Art thats out there

Film review - The Big Year

Advent begins

#295 - Investigate

A story of restoration

My latest, and last tattoo

learning to knit

River Cottage we love you

Inspired again

#293 - Life is Good

It's as true as ever

hat making

#291 - Operation

My middle name is Alice, and I thought you might like to understand.

#290 - My Backyard

Apple crumble and the environment.

Chestnut and lentil loaf

My latest poem

Coming up for air

Green Blade

New garden

We have learnt to love

Sweet potato falafels

A little bright moment

#271 - The Next Step

The unforced rythmns of grace

How to pray

World giving

Living the dream

#265 - Cake

Grace when its needed

#264 - Shine

Small things

Our actions, a window into our beliefs

The People's Garden

Apple samosa

#262 - befuddled

Fish with spiced lentils

Back to running

Blog following spring clean

and

Ten reasons to give up your car

Earth hour cakes

#259 - Free

Roast rabbit with flatbread

#257 - Raw

Fairtrade Curly Windmill cake

#255 - Food

Veg with everything

Bible in one year and the trauma of leviticus and numbers

Spring Clean

The Peoples Garden goes all youtube

Home is where the heart is

#252 - Safe

A new year

#251 - Eternity

Earth Hour

#250 - Invisible

Not much to see yet

Related articles

The return of Herman

How nice :)

Only to you

#249 - A Walk in the Park

Vegetable lasagne