Strange Ideas

Job 9:1, Job 10:1-9,16-22
Psalm 20, 21:1-7
Acts 11:1-18
John 8:12-20


Acts 11:1-18

Today I bought some Hatch Peppers. Not peppers from eggs but ppers from the Hatch area of New Mexico. A Brit buying hot peppers, a very strange idea. Quite out of character, almost as strange as a Gentile asking a Jew to dinner. Almost as strange as a Jew thinking that God would look on a Gentile as a member of the family. But God did and does.

Hatch Pepper & Shrimp
for each person
1 green onion
1/2 clove garlic
olive oil
1/2 tomato
1/2 tomato
8 shrimp
1/4 cup rice
1/2 cup water
1/8 teaspoon tumeric


Chop green onions & garlic put in frying pan (skillet)with olive oil fry gently with lid on until soft.
Chop hatch pepper & tomato.
Add rice to frying pan fry a little then add water, tumeric and chopped veg.
Cook with lid on add until rice is almost soft about 20 minutes
Peel shrimp
Add shrimp and cook until shrimp is pink about 10 mintues.
Chop parsley and add just before serving. Stir well.


leave salad dressing out to decongele.
chop some parsley if its still edible.

Check the facts

Eve's Pudding
Job 9:1-15, 32-35
Psalms 16, 17
Acts 10:34-48
John 7:37-52


John 7:37-52

In the days before we had a television we used to play Monopoly. My mother did not like playing with us. She thought we ganged up on her so that she always lost all her money and one of us had a pile so big that we could hardly count it. We lived on a house, sort of middle aged by the standards of the village which had Viking remains and this year's model homes. The deeds on our house were dated 1824. This is relevant because it explains partly why the house had nooks and crannies and no central heating.
On the specific evening we ate dinner in the kitchen and retired to the sitting room for the Monopoly entertainment and coffee. The remains of dessert, Eve's Pudding were left on the table.
As the name suggests Eve's Pudding was a dish that Eve might have concocted for the unsuspecting Adam when he tried the delights of the fobidden tree. He would not have know what was under the topping until it was too late and he had fallen in love with the delicious sweet fruit. Sliced apples are covered with a sponge mixture and baked. Pour on hot custard in winter or cream in summer.
It was winter, we ate custard and huddled in the sitting room over our game. When I came back to the kitchen to contemplate doing the dishes the topping was missing from the pud. My immediate reaction was "What's Mother been up to now?" I had hoped that we would be able to have this dessert another day. Everyone claimed innocence.
There were a two people in the house who did not speak, Bong and Jenny. Weeks later when I discovered that the 12 inch tall dog could get onto the table by jumping onto the chairs I knew who have taken the cake. Meanwhile I blamed my mother.
The Pharisees made assumptions and thus could not make a valid judgement.

Eve's Pudding
ovenproof dish
3 or 4 apples
1 egg
2 ounces (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
2 ounces sugar
4 ounces flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons milk

Grease the dish
Core and slice the apples sufficient for a layer about 1 inch deep in the dish. If the apples are sour sprinkle with a little sugar but eating apples do not usually need any added sugar.
Mix the butter (or margarine) with the sugar until it is light and fluffy- best done with an electric mixer.
Fold in the flour and baking powder -or use the mixer on slow.
Add the milk to make a soft mixture.
Put on top of the apples
Bake 375 deg F until golden ( about 35-40 minutes).
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well.

Wings of the Wind

Job 8:1-10,20-22
Psalm 18:1-20
Acts 10:17-33
John 7:14-36

Psalm 18:1-20

10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind

Who needs a television when there are so many interesting natural phenomena to entertain? Ocean breakers pound the cliffs causing white froth to be whisked away is really my favorite but a close second is watching leaves dancing on their anchorage tethered by a slither of a stem, undersides announcing the arrival of a storm or just lazily lolling back and forth in a gentle breeze. In Fall the russet leaves their leave their mooring and sail to unknown depths descending casually to the foot of their own tree or blown violently further afield arriving broken and bruised having been buffeted against trunk and wall. Wind unseen but not unnoticed. Thus it is with God Himself. Ignored at my own peril.

Weaver's Shuttle

sSian/photo?authkey=Om_44VglYSg#5239226008431540610

Job 6:1, 7:1-21
Psalm 119:1-24
Acts 10:1-16
John 7:1-13


Job 6:1, 7:1-21

I love the brilliant colors in this cloth as they weave together ancient traditions and modern design, woven on traditional equipment for the modern world.
The rolling hills of Pembrokeshire, topped by the bleak Mynydd Presceli supported little agriculture other than sheep. Woollen mills hid in the narrow valleys protected from the lashing rain and howling gales. Some mills have survived, tourist visit them, ooing and ahing at the ancient way of life. The shuttle swings back and forth deftly through the warp. Long strings of yarn become beautiful cloth.
Job was in a bad patch. His life was racing away from him. The single thread of yarn of his life did not allure to the complex patterns and intensity of God's will for his whole life.

Job 3:1-26
Psalm 137:1-6Psalm 144
Acts 9:10-19
John 6:41-51



Psalm 137:1-6Psalm 144

I can sympathize with the exiles, living in an alien country. I was brought up in a beautiful place. I often think of the hours spent on the shore in Pembrokeshire. The place to 'hang' was The Point at Little Haven. I would take a book and sit on the rocks high above the broiling ocean watching the boiling liquid swirl at the base of the cliff pounding with abeited energy at the ancient rocks. Those rocks were veined with quartz, thin layers of marble running through my bench. In those days all I wanted to do was leave and venture out to see the world.

Now that I have seen it and live in a place with no cliffs, the steepest hill being the bridge over the freeway I yearn to return to the place of my youth, to again enjoy the peasures of time watching the ocean and following the routes of quartz through the rocks.

However, where I am is where I am and that is where I live my life. My life of course is tinged with the memories of other places and people. That is the story that I tell.

Judges 18:16-31
Psalm 119:145-176
Acts 8:14-25
John 6:1-16

Acts 8:14-25

A Sunday evening in April 1962. The church, the mission church in a converted garage on the housing estate where I lived. A group of teenagers each wearing their school uniform, mine a bottle green gym slip a square neck white blouse. We girls each had a white napkin-like cloth on our head as a veil. We were dedication our life to Jesus and the church.
It was a sort of rite of passage. The sort of thing one did when one was twelve or thirteen years old. I don't know why other kids did it but I believed that I was a Christian because I believed in God and Jesus and I wanted to be a member of the church. So I was confirmed.
I was annoyed, probably encouraged in this attitude by my mother, because I was wearing a boring school uniform instead of a pretty, and probably over the top white dress was the habit at confirmation in other churches. My veil was falling off my head, or at least I thought it was and spent most of the service anxious that it would not slip down the back of my neck and arrive on the floor. my hair you seen was very fine and shiny. That day it was extra slippery because of course I had washed it so that I would be sparkling clean for the special occasion. Thus I knelt before the Bishop who put his chubby hands on my head and said some words. The hands caused my anxiety to increase. Surely he would not disturb the uneasy equilibrium of the veil and overcome the scanty strength of the two bobby pins holding the white veil. That would be mortifying and embarrassing- yes both together. It felt as if the thing was going to slip. The hands set my head tingle as if with pins and needles. Surely the veil was going to slip. But no. I managed to get up and return to my seat with all due decorum.

"17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. "

And so it was with me though it took years before I realized what had happened. Sometimes the jigsaw pieces never fit together to make sense to us but they do to God who is fitting them together.

Burning and shining lamp

Judges 18:1-14
Psalm 121, 122, 122
Acts 8:1-13
John 5:30-47


John 5:30-47

A lamp with a wick dipping down into a plenteous supply of oil, alight, is useful. It does not guide or lead but allows me to see where I intend to go. It is an aide on the path. It allows me to see if I am taking the correct path. John opened the eyes of those who heard him to a better a way. A way that followed God's truth and righteousness rather than selfish ambition and religious bigotry.
Now where am I?

Judges 13:1-13
Psalm 106:1-18
Acts 7:44-8:1
John 5:19-29

Acts 7:44-8:1

Special People

Enid Williams was my Girl Guide Captain. Her much older brother was killed in the First World War. All her high school friends went to university in Aberystwyth but Enid went to Teacher Training College in Carmarthen. A shorter course in a more convenient location. Enid spent her whole life being devoted to the service of other people.

I sing a song of the saints of God,

1. I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green;
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.

2. They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and his love made them strong;
and they followed the right for Jesus' sake
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast;
and there's not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn't be one too.

3. They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still.
The world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus' will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes or at sea,
In church, or in trains or in shops or at tea,
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.
Lyrics: Lesbia Scott
Melody: J.H. Hopkins

Telling the story

Judges 16:1-14
Psalm 107:33-108:6
Acts 7:30-43
John 5:1-18

Acts 7:30-43

This is one of the objects of this blog. Telling the story of how God acts in my life.

Faith

Biblical links are not working today.

Judges 14:20-15:20
Psalm 102
Acts 7:17-29
John 4:43-54

Often I think "I must contact so and so today" and then they call me. I am sure God acts in our lives in the small things and the big.

Honey

Judges 14:1-19
Psalm 105:1-22
Acts 6:15-7:16
John 4:27-42


Judges 14:1-19

Uncle Geoff was my mother's cousin. He married her best friend who I always called Auntie Margaret. They spoke with a gentle north midland accent- similar that that of Robin Hood and his merry men for they lived very near to Sherwood Forest. They took me to see Major Oak, the tree reputed to have been Robin's pantry and it certainly looks like it, as you can see from the photograph. I was very unimpressed the first time I saw it.
Uncle Geoff kept bees. He had a vary large garden. In fact he had two very large gardens. The one which adjoined the house had a beautiful bowling green type of lawn edged with herbaceous borders and a tennis court in the lower part. The other was the vegetable garden which was across the cinder back lane and through a little gate. Mr Atkins the gardener had a potting shed here. This was where I spent much of my time when I was staying with Auntie Margaret and Uncle Geoff. Mr Atkins grew all sorts of vegetables, my favorite was yellow tomatoes. The bee hives of course were in the vegetable garden.
We often went to stay with Auntie Margaret and Uncle Geoff in the summer holidays. This was the time when Uncle Geoff took the honey out of the hives. He took over the game room. There was a billiard table in the game room. Uncle Geoff used this for his honey separator. I large drum with a handle. He used to put the frames that hold the honeycombs in the drum, turn the handle really fast and the honey would spin out, drip down the sides to the bottom and be collected in a jar. Delicious sweet smelling honey, golden in a special honey jar with a slim layer of wax on the surface.
Uncle Geoff and Auntie Margaret are some of the special people in my life. When my father died they were really good friends to my mother, having us to stay and clothing me in their daughter's idyllic dresses which Auntie Margaret had made. Auntie Margaret also inspired my mother who was raised to be a lady of leisure, to go to sewing lessons so that she could make clothes for herself.
Once when we were staying there Margaret, their daughter and I decided to hide from our mothers. We opened the wardrobe door and quietly sneaked in to jump out and give our mothers a surprise. Problem. The wardrobe fell and we were trapped inside. Our mothers were not only surprised they were distraught. Uncle Geoff was a colliery manager which why he lived in such a palatial house courtesy of the National Coal Board. He was called from the pit and brought two or three miners, complete with lamps on their helmets to rescue us. Actually we were quite safe as the wardrobe had landed on a bed. It was scary at the time.

To whom am I showing God's love?

Wells

Judges 13:15-24
Psalm 101, Psalm 109:1-4 (5-19)20-30
Acts 6:1-15
John 4:1-26

They are trying to do some building behind our house. There is no water supply which surprises me since we are on the fringes of urban development. A well will have to be dug. Recently we stayed with friends in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I found it easy to believe that the water came from a well as the house is almost in the National Park. But I would not have known if I had not been told as I just turned the tap (faucet) on as the same as I would have done in my urban house.
Sometimes you just do not know where the water is coming from, it is just there ready for you to use. But you have to turn on the tap and drink. it is the same with the Holy Spirit.

Shadows

Judges 12:1-7
Psalm 89:1-18
Acts 5:12-26
John 3:1-21


Acts 5:12-26

In Houston the prize parking spot is the one under the tree. For part of the day it might give some relief from the sweltering heat and keep the internal temperature of the car a degree cooler. But who can feel the difference between 99 and 100 degrees (F)?
People were laid so that Peter's shadow would pass over them and heal them as he walked by. The nearest we hear about Jesus in a similar situation is the lady with the bleeding being healed by touching the hem of his garment. Peter the guy who sank into the water when he was trying to walk on it, Peter the man who swore and cursed that he did not know Jesus. This same Peter had spiritual strength oozing from his shadow, strength sufficient to heal the sick.
Peter wanted to succeed, that was why he was the only disciple to try to walk on the water. I could say that he then got cold feet and began to sank but it might be more appropiate to say that he got wet feet. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It seems to have made an immense difference. Wow, what a change. And as the baby used to say "Me too, me too".

Storms

Judges 11:1-11, 29-40
Psalms 66, 67
2 Corinthians 11:21b-31
Mark 4:35-41




Mark 4:35-41

Living Houston storms and fear of hurricanes are a way of life, particularly in the summer and fall. Last week Eduord came by. He never posed much of a threat but we brought in most of the small yard items that he could have transformed into missiles, made sure that we had plenty of water and batteries and filled the car with gas. Then we waited. The rains came, gently at first then more torrential until nobody would want to go out in it, especially the dog.
The time of preparation is anxious. Remember the year of Katrina and Rita. new Orleans may never recover from Katrina. Houston saw the devastation of Katrina on New Orleans and feared that Rita would have a similar effect. The city emptied, or attempted to empty. The roads were so full that nobody could get out and 17 people died in the traffic. Fear and anticipation of the worst overwhelmed Houston. This is why the disciples woke Jesus. They had no clue how bad the storm was going to be.
Neither do we know how bad the storm will be. All we know is like the disciples we have Jesus with us. Storms blow up from nowhere. Many times I have had an overbooked day and things have happened which have reduced the load. This of course is just a very small instance of Jesus' calming influence, but then he acts in the gentle breeze just as much as in the cyclone.

Gates

Judges 9:22-25, 50-57
Psalm 87, 90
Acts 4:32-5:11
John 2:13-25


Psalm 87, 90

Big strong gates used to fill the entrance way to the city. They protected the inhabitants from intruders, they were a welcome sight for the country folk coming to market to sell their goods.
Entering God's kingdom is a happy affair, a time for partying and it is good to know that once we are there inside the strong gates are protecting us from the evil ones.

Weddings

Judges 9:1-16, 19-21
Psalm 88
Acts 4:13-31
John 2:2-12

John 2:2-12

Today is an apt day for the wedding at Cana reading as it is our 34th wedding anniversary.

Evening

Judges 8:22-35
Psalm 145
Acts 4:1-12
John 1:43-51

Acts 4:1-12

I love evenings and not only because I like watching sunsets. The day begins to wind down, the frenzy of trying to get things downs is abated and life looks forward to a rest. The problems of today can be dealt with tomorrow. Perhaps sleep will shed new light on them.
It seems as if times have not changed much over the last 2000 years. The chief priests were looking forward to their evening rest and the strength to be gained from sleep.

Peter got his batteries recharged overnight. Next morning he spoke 'filled ' with the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps as I put my cell phone to charge I could say a prayer that my batteries are also recharged. ( I try as I do certain chores during the day to pray for certain people). Brother Lawrence, the seventeenth century Carmelite monk, prayed continually always consecrating every act to God.

Telling

Judges 7:19-8:12
Psalm 119:97-120
Acts 3:12-26
John 1:29-42

John 1:29-42

Easter Minto was a friend of mine. She was a member of my church. The first service we went to she spoke to us. She spoke to us, I think at every service we went to. I think Easter spoke to everyone who went to every service; she was a very special person. Easter was called Easter because she was born on Easter Day a long time ago. She was a faithful writer in our meditation books but none of these are the reason why Easter is so important to me. When I was sick she made soup. In her old age Easter knew when somebody was sick and did something about it. God must have kept her safe on the freeway to my house because her eyesight was not good.
Easter was not into Bible Study. She said "I have read my Bible. I need to know about Jesus. I want to hear about Jesus."
That is why I am talking about Easter today. Andrew told Simon "We have found the Messiah". Now I am telling you about Easter being Jesus' hands to me.
Now tell...

Light in a dark forest

Judges 6:25-40
Psalm 80
Acts 2:37-47
John 1:1-18

John 1:1-18


The picture which I hve in my mind is of an ancient forest where the trees have not bee disturbed for hundreds of years, rather like Sherwood Forest of Robin Hood fame. The branches of neighboring trees interlock creating darkness. The path has been established by the feet of many centuries: just like the walls of the Gothic cathedrals of Europe resound silently with the prayers that have been whispered within sonce the walls began.
The sun's rays filter through a hole in the forest canopy, refracting at their edge, demonstrating one of the many wonders of nature and remind me of the "awesomeness" of God.


A Walk in the Forest

I grope through the forest of life
Daily living darkens my soul
Great oaks of busyness cast shadows over my day.
Never do I pause to stop and pray,
To marvel at the beauty of the battered path
Worn by footsteps of the past.
Let me out of here, this is not my way
Where is my pedestal of fame?
Inconspicuous motherhood, slave of time.
Shafts of light pierce the canopy of gloom
Spectrums, rainbows of white light
Minituia extraordinaire,
Guides for the frustrated soul
Blessed lanterns in despair
Illumine singly the glories of your plan
Details freely given for those who care.

Language

Judges 5:1-18
Psalm 69
Acts 2:1-21
Matthew 28:1-10

Language

Acts 2:1-21

I am supposed to speak the same language as most of the people in this town. Today I tried to order a sandwich. I started my order by saying what I wanted. After we had got through the variety of bread and spread the sandwich maker shuffled my bread to the meat section and looked at me as if I was lacking some brain cells because I was not telling her what sort of meat I wanted. Now I had already told her twice that I wanted "No meat" so I was equally surprised. I always used to have a problem with Sprite and fries, especially at drive throughs. I got round that problem by always getting a 'child' to do the ordering. I would have a child almost lying across me so that their little voice could be heard through the microphone. They might not have much volume but they have the right accent.

I of course have no accent. Our daughters say that we sound normal to them. They also say that all the local people sound normal too. Presumably what you hear regularly is what you consider 'normal'. The girls say that other Brits, unlike their parents sound British!

Now all those chaps from many different places could understand all that the disciples were saying, and the message was more unusual than ordering an avocado sandwich at sandwich bar or hamburger and fries at McDonald's.

God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in my eyes, and in my looking; God be in
my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be in my end, and at my departing.
(Old Sarum Primer)



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