Gah! I hate reversing!!
In a car that is. It is one of the things that I can do if I have to, but if I don't, I will just avoid it. *sigh*
I was reminded of this just tonight as I was at my grandparents house dropping off something for my Dad who is staying there tonight. Anyway, they have a reasonably long driveway, so I went all the way down it and then had to reverse back out of it (of course!).
Anyway, I probably would've put some lovely paint on the corrugated iron fence if it hadn't been for Mum and Dad, but I was frustrated that Mum was talking to Dad, and Dad was talking to Mum, but it felt like no-one was talking to me and telling me what was happening! Plus, it was dark, and that wasn't making it easier.
And so I have been thinking tonight that sometimes (though we don't like it!) we actually need to reflect, and 'reverse' as it were into our own lives in order to be able to move forward again. I know it is not a novel idea, but it is still a good one none the less.
Recently, I was talking to a pastoral friend of mine, and he was asking me about Vanuatu, and what the main thing was that impacted me about the trip.
You know what? I don't know what it is! I know that it was a God thing, and that He was very faithful in it, but I didn't know what to tell this person when the question was asked.
For me, Vanuatu was a long time ago, even though it was only at the start of this year!
Sometimes we really do need to take time to reflect, and to remind ourselves of the past - even the recent past! - to give us direction for the future.
That one lunch with my pastoral friends was really good for me - God timing - to remind me that what I was doing was the right thing to do to honour the dream that I have.
So reflect, look for the God timing and:
HAVE FUN!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Jehovah our Concentration
Jehovah Jireh, The Lord our Provider.
My question is, does God refer to Himself as The Lord our Concentration in the Bible?
Just looking at this week I have been doing assignments and have been terribly terribly distracted by so many things (mainly internet related....) that I am wondering if I can ask God to be my concentration.
You could say that concentration is a by-product of strength, and God certainly is our strength.
So is He, or can He be, our concentration?
We live, now, in a world full of information and entertainment, and even info-tainment (!).
But we are not called to be a part of this world, we are called to be a part of God's world. Maybe that, then, is our cross to bear as westerners, the thorn in our side, the fact that we MUST get beyond ourselves, have some self-control and forcefully sit down and get concentrated on God for a bit everyday.
I, personally, find that I cannot read my Bible in the morning or pray if I turn on my computer first. My God time in the mornings needs to be before I hit electronics of almost any kind (except for microwaves and toasters, I like breakfast!).
If I don't do it before then I can't concentrate, the world is in my head (like The Doctor) and no matter how much I want to spend some quality with God I can't.
I see why King David liked to spend his mornings with God.
And also DC Talk
What do you think?
My question is, does God refer to Himself as The Lord our Concentration in the Bible?
Just looking at this week I have been doing assignments and have been terribly terribly distracted by so many things (mainly internet related....) that I am wondering if I can ask God to be my concentration.
You could say that concentration is a by-product of strength, and God certainly is our strength.
So is He, or can He be, our concentration?
We live, now, in a world full of information and entertainment, and even info-tainment (!).
But we are not called to be a part of this world, we are called to be a part of God's world. Maybe that, then, is our cross to bear as westerners, the thorn in our side, the fact that we MUST get beyond ourselves, have some self-control and forcefully sit down and get concentrated on God for a bit everyday.
I, personally, find that I cannot read my Bible in the morning or pray if I turn on my computer first. My God time in the mornings needs to be before I hit electronics of almost any kind (except for microwaves and toasters, I like breakfast!).
If I don't do it before then I can't concentrate, the world is in my head (like The Doctor) and no matter how much I want to spend some quality with God I can't.
I see why King David liked to spend his mornings with God.
And also DC Talk
What do you think?
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The Uncultured Project
So I'm sitting at home, chilling because I have a sore neck.... (bah!)
And I am catching up on my blog reading (so far behind!!) and I read this:
The Uncultured Project blog
The Uncultured Project is run by Shawn Ahmed who is Bangladeshi, but lives in the US. He started the project when, instead of buying an Xbox, he decided to go to Bangladesh and use the money to benefit others by buying mosquito nets, etc. I really love what Shawn has been doing, both alone and with Save the Children, and so I have subscribed to his blog.
The link above is to his latest blog post, and I thought it was a really great read.
It is really interesting to see how many aid programmes seem to miss the boat when it comes to getting local knowledge on how communities work. I was especially wowed on Shawn's look at Orphanages.
In a Muslim country, like Bangladesh, Orphanages are the best thing for those who do not have parents, as the western way of thinking does not give the child any better opportunities than the orphanage, and may in fact be treated worse than at the orphanage.
But, should Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) follow some of the customs of the country they are entering, then fantastic things may result!
So have a read (it is a LONG read, btw), and let me know your thoughts. I would love to hear them and discuss! Plus I am on holiday, so I will happily converse with you all.
And I am catching up on my blog reading (so far behind!!) and I read this:
The Uncultured Project blog
The Uncultured Project is run by Shawn Ahmed who is Bangladeshi, but lives in the US. He started the project when, instead of buying an Xbox, he decided to go to Bangladesh and use the money to benefit others by buying mosquito nets, etc. I really love what Shawn has been doing, both alone and with Save the Children, and so I have subscribed to his blog.
The link above is to his latest blog post, and I thought it was a really great read.
It is really interesting to see how many aid programmes seem to miss the boat when it comes to getting local knowledge on how communities work. I was especially wowed on Shawn's look at Orphanages.
In a Muslim country, like Bangladesh, Orphanages are the best thing for those who do not have parents, as the western way of thinking does not give the child any better opportunities than the orphanage, and may in fact be treated worse than at the orphanage.
But, should Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) follow some of the customs of the country they are entering, then fantastic things may result!
So have a read (it is a LONG read, btw), and let me know your thoughts. I would love to hear them and discuss! Plus I am on holiday, so I will happily converse with you all.
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