Your Mat

Luke 5:12-26

Your Mat

Jesus told the guy who had been let down through the roof that his sins had been forgiven, then he told him to take up his mat and walk. How did the man know that he could walk?

The story takes place in Capernaum, (Mark 2:1-12), one of the places where Jesus is reputed to have lived (Matt 4:14). The carpenter said “Get up and walk”. Yes, we know that he had healed many people and that he preached a very good sermon. How could this man walk? The evidence was all against it. Presumably he had been lying paralyzed on his mat for years.

What would his life be like if he did get up and walk? What if he fell over after a few steps, or tomorrow, and was back on his mat? What if he could not find a job, he could no longer beg? What would be his wife’s reaction to her husband walking in through the door through which four friends had carried him out? She would be delighted. Her breadwinner was fully operational again. But would she begin to doubt? Perhaps she might think that his sickness had all been in his mind and that he had been malingering all those years. It might just be safer to stay on the mat. The whatifs can be very powerful. Fear of the unknown can be more unpalatable than very unpleasant but familiar circumstances.

How did this particular paralytic have the confidence to know that he could walk? He only had Jesus’ word for it yet he got up, rolled up his mat and he walked home.

Jesus means what he says. If he says ‘walk’ then it is alright to walk. There need be no fear of not being able to do as he says.

Jesus knew that the man would be able to walk. He knew that it might be safer to stay on the mat. Perhaps that was why he said ‘Your sins are forgiven’ before he told the man to get up and walk. He was giving the man confidence to get up and go. Jesus knew how loud the whispering whatifs can shout, their voices like the compelling sirens of the Greek gods. The sin of listening to fear was overcome.

He does not ask us to do anything that we are incapable of doing, given that he is with us and helping us to bear the load (Matt 11:30). Walking had very extreme consequences for the man. Not only would he be capable of getting himself home but tomorrow he would either go to work or look for a job. No more lying around whilst others served him. He could get his own food and take himself to the bathroom. Listening to Jesus and obeying him opened up a whole knew existence for the guy.

What is your mat? What is keeping you from fulfilling the role God has for you? What command are you are pretending not to hear? What is it that you cannot do because you don’t feel equipped, either physically or mentally?

Following

Hosea 2:14-23
Psalm 89:1-18
Acts 20:17-38
Luke 5:1-11


Luke 5:1-11
Today we went for a walk in the dog park. Sometimes I called and the intrepid duo followed. Sometimes I called and they did not. Sometimes they were just too busy occupied with sniffing the latest message or deciding which blade of grass to grace with their own personal odor. In some of those obedient moments they came bounding over to me straight away others they ambled as if they were intent on going in that direction anyway and they would follow the path that they were on and also the timetable that had previously been decided.
Now, how am I responding to Jesus' call and how am I following him?

Spread- Salmon Pate recipe

Esther 8:1-8, 15-17
Psalm 88
Acts 19:21-41
Luke 4:31-37

Luke 4:31-37

37And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

"Spread?"
This question is a foreign language to a Brit ordering a lunch at a sandwich joint manned by Southerners. Habitually and without a word a butter goes on our bread. Thereafter other items may be "spread" on the bread, maybe mayonnaise, or jam or honey or Marmite or Nutella. The spread will probably constitute the whole filling of the sandwich though a nice roast beef sandwich might well be enhanced with mustard - on top of the butter of course.
Spread covers the surface and gets to the edges, all parts of the bread experiencing the joy of flavor. Smoked salmon pate on fresh toast though it is passable on crackers, honey joining butter to drip through the holes of a hot toasted crumpet. Toast, or crackers or crumpet are ok by themselves but add that spread and you are transported to an epicurean world.
Thus it was with Jesus. He healed the sick and provided wine for the party and food for the crowd, even money for taxes and fish for nets. The news spread, low level and thinly but it went all over the place and the people came to Jesus to experience his bounty.

Smoked Salmon (Fish Pate)
1 stick of butter or margarine - you may not use it all
1 lemon
6 ozs smoked fish
2 tablespooons cream


I have also made this with cooked salmon, both the Nova and wood smoked salmon, smoked trout, smoked whitefish and canned salmon.

Melt the butter
put the fish in a bowl
add about half the butter and beat with a mixer to mush up the fish and blend.
Keep adding butter slowly until the mixture forms a clump.
Add some lemon juice to taste
Add a tablespoon of cream and taste to see if you want to add more
Refridgerate.

Death and Chocolate not Brandy Cake

Esther 7:1-10
Psalms 116, 117
Acts 19:11-20
Luke 4:14-30

Psalms 116, 117

3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

Death binds the mind, it freezes the thinking. Even thoughts of the dead whose death is the overwhelming force in your life do not exist. One just is, trouble and sorrow are the all. Thus it was when our son died. I have heard of a mother who even had to be reminded to go to the bathroom in those days immediately after the death of her baby. Yesterday I heard of an fellow British lady whose son was killed in a car wreck, the memorial service is on Saturday.

Whenever I hear of the death of a child, be it young or old it the memories of Matthew's death flood my mind as I empathize with the parents new to the Lost Child Club. Reading Psalm 116 today reinforced the feelings of loss and emptiness. However much we believe and follow Christ or know about eternal life it does not occupy the same place in our hearts as our child.

There is always the question "How many children do you have?" I hate that one. The muscles of my abdomen and pelvis know how many though I always answer one less because to explain that one child died seems to make the hearer uncomfortable. Why, I do not know. Death is as much a fact of life as birth. So is living with death. And that we do. Eventually the chords of death loosen, the anguish becomes dim and the emotions heal from the cut as a scar changes color and heals; but I can show you the scar where my trunk lid fell on my hand 38 years ago, it is dim but it is there.

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.

Yes, simplehearted because that is all that there is, nothing else is in life when death overcomes it. All else dims in comparision.

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.

My friends, the members of our church family ministered to us. They brought us food and organized the funeral service. They just sat with us. They were God's love to us.

8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

And so we do.

The living eat so here is the Chocolate brandy cake with no brandy recipe!

8 ounces (2 sticks) margarine or butter

8 ounces chocolate chips or good baking chocolate

8 ounces 'digestive bicuits' or graham crackers

2 eggs

3 ounces sugar ( 1/2 cup?)

3 ounces red cherries or drained marachino cherries

3 ounces walnut bits

Melt the chocolate and maragine together in a saucepan. I suppose it could be done in a microwave.

crush the biscuits into big chunks -not so that they are in crumbs

beat the eggs and sugar until they are pale and creamy

stir in the melted chocolate mixture and then the cherries and walnuts.

Put into a greased loaf pan or suitable dish or pan.

Store in refridgerator until set. If you need to speed this up you can put it in the freezer for a while.

Note this contains raw eggs

A Light for my Path

Esther 6:1-14
Psalm 119:97-120
Acts 19:1-10
Luke 4:1-13

Psalm 119:97-120

We went for our walk as the sun was rising. No sooner were we outside than a shadow loomed out of the darkness, a neighbor out to pick up his newspaper. The dogs were terrified of this person whom they would normally greet as a friend. They let the whole subdivision hear of their fear. Soon I was stumbling over the tilted blocks of the sidewalk, tilted by the roots of the trees that were shielded me from what light that was available. A light to illumine my path would have been useful.
Your word as a light for the path of my life. Do I take it with me to reveal the way I should go, to prevent me from stumbling? I do not think carrying a bible is the way to go but have some of God's words in our mind and heart to recall in times of trouble. Even so I think it is just as important to remember God's presence and use his guidance in normal day to day living as it is when we acknowledge that we are in a quandary. Reading the bible regulary helps one to absorb the contents for easy recall when necessary.
About 1991 The youth of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas produced a tape of music in memory of one of their number who had died. The Amy grant and Michael Smith song "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path"* was the song on the tape which spoke most to my heart. This was during our time back in Britain. A Texan sent us the recording. I played it was much that the tape wore out. It reminded me so much of the ones I knew who were singing, the church family which we had left and the walks through the trees at Camp Allen. Lin who sent it to us could be a pain but when there was a crisis she was there dispensing God's love whether she was your friend or foe at the time God's helping hand was paramount.

*©1984 Meadowgreen Music
Words and Music by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith
For a softer recording click here.I could only find instrumental recordings

Apollos -an example

Esther 5:1-14
Psalm 78:1-39
Acts 18:12-28
Luke 3:15-22


Acts 18:12-28

Apollos is one of my biblical heroes.

• he was able to prove from the Old testament that Jesus was Lord
• he was open to being corrected
• he spoke with fervor and accuracy
• he was a great help

One of my soap boxes is 'that it should be possible to know and love Jesus with only the Old Testament as scripture.'
Apollos spoke publicly did not mind admitting that his knowledge was incomplete.
Do I need to say more about fervor and accuracy? Or helpfulness?

Straight Paths

Esther 4:4-17
Psalm 80
Acts 18:1-11
Luke 1:1-4, 3:1-14


Luke 1:1-4, 3:1-14

To start with this path was all ups, then of course coming back it was all downs. Sometimes it was through a sparsely wooded valley and then we were in the a shady glade amongst dense trees. We did not know what to expect from the next twist to left or right or brow of hill; sometimes a broad open valley with sweeping views to the not so distant Tetons, sometimes a moose on the path, sometimes a steep incline for us to defeat with our puffing panting aging bodies. Those kinks in the incline certainly slowed us down. Thus we slowly progressed up the canyon.

What progress we would have made on a straight and paved footpath with no obstacles to prevent us from seeing Jesus coming down the road towards us.

loose tongue, tight ears

Esther 3:1-4:3
Psalms 93, 96
James 1:19-27
Matthew 1:1-6, 16-18


James 1:19-27

quick to listen, slow to speak

How I wish I could remember this when my tongue is loose and my ears are tight.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
What else really counts? Yes my own spirituality is important to me but what relevance can it have to my neighbor's eternal life, or even the life of the person who lost their livelihood in the hurricane?

Floods

Esther 1:1-4, 10-19
Psalm 69:1-23, 31-38
Acts 17:1-15
John 12:36-43

Psalm 69:1-23, 31-38

Some people drowned last week as Hurricane Ike flowed through their house. A thirteen foot tall wall of water came over the seawall and came crashing down on Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula. People in the vulnerable areas had to been told to evacuate and many did. Most who stayed survived but a few did not. They drowned in a hotel, in a truck, in their house. The brown and muddy Gulf rose up and swallowed them.
Sometimes it is plain old everyday circumstances that rise up and engulf us. The pressure of life is overwhelming. The pressure to work and provide for our family; God does not seem to be there giving us the basic necessities. We call to Him for help and tire looking for the way He wants us to go. There seems to be no way out of the situation.
Grope in the darkness, one step at a time knowing that God sees the big picture.

"you who seek God, may your hearts live!"

(We may not have suffered flooding but we did lose part of the fence and hence were able to see this small flood where we have not seen water before).

Ike thundered?

Job 28:1-28
Psalm 70, 71
Acts 16:25-40
John 12:27-36


John 12:27-36

I thought that hurricanes were large storms filled with terrifying thunder and lightening but if there was any thunder associated with Hurricane Ike it was not loud or noisy. There were almost continuous flashes of lightening but no cracking thunder. I kept waiting and listening for the deafening cracks thunder as the enormous storm passed us by. There were none, not that I heard.

God spoke. "Some said that it thundered". We impose our own terms of reference on the unfamiliar. We interpret the supernatural by the mundane. We impose our earth- bound thinking on the greatness of God. Vice versa might be better.

Acorns

Job 42:1-17
Psalm 72
Acts 16:16-24
John 12:20-26


John 12:20-26

It is not grains of wheat but acorns that I almost see in my sleep this week. Hurricane Ike 'harvested' acorns. Our front yard is covered in oak twigs still with leaves and acorns attached. I do not want that many baby oak trees. Our three oak threes have done their part and produced many embryonic trees. Most of these fallen acorns will remain acorns, maybe slightly dried for many years to come. They are being raked and bagged, destined to the landfill where they will be squeezed so tight that air, microbes and any other natural elements necessary for the process of decay or development is almost excluded; one could say that there will be no place to breathe, hence live and emerge into another form be it compost or young oak.

Do I want the pressures of life keep me just as I am, to stifle my growth and potential?

Taskers School for Girls

Job 29:1, Job 31:24-40
Psalms 40, 54
Acts 15:12-21
John 11:30-44

John 11:30-44

I have 'spoken' before about Mrs Llewellyn who nurtured my liking for mathematics. Today it is the scripture teacher who I had in my first two years at the school. Her name eludes me except that I think her Christian name was Marjorie though why I should know that I do not know- perhaps that was just our name for her. I think her surname was Lewis or Davies, some fairly common Welsh surname. It is however irrelevant to the story.
Like most schools Tasker's had outgrown its home. It spread into some of the neighboring mansions. Haverfordwest being a County Seat and home to Assizes was historical an influential and important town. There were therefore quite a few odd mansions, almost derelict that the county could acquire for educational purposes. The first that tasker's spread into was just up Tower Hill from the school, they even blended the back yards. Just before I went to the school there was a problem, the fear of many old houses, dry rot. The mansion had a hole in its floor, not too safe for vivascious teenage girls. The lower school was relocated to Foley House on Goat Street. This is where we had most of our lessons. The garden was the ancient garden of the house with spreading trees and grass, far more elegant than most school yards. we had our PE lessons in the old school, in the hall that is in the picture, after PE we were marched in crocodile fashion through the streets and up the hill to Foley House, rain or shine, usually rain. The people who had th e pleasure of accompanying us were either school prefects or a teacher who was moving at the same time as us between the two sites. Miss Scripture had to walk us on Tuesdays.
We had two scripture lessons a week. One week we had to right an essay on just this passage. Icannot remember the title of the essay but I do remember being very pleased with mine, especially the way I described Lazarus coming out of the tomb. I wrote that "Lazarus jump-walked out of the tomb". This was ridiculed to the whole class. I was indignant. How else could a guy who has his ankles tied together make his way out of a tomb?
Whatever.
Different people see the same circumstance through different eyes. We are all part of the patchwork of creation.

Honest Scales

Job 29:1, Job 31:1-23
Psalm 50
Acts 15:1-11
John 11:30-44

Equations are algebraic scales. Everything has to balance or you get the wrong answer; what happens to one side of the equation must happen to the other side too or you upset the balance. Turn the scales and see life from the other direction, the balance is still true.
It is easy to use dishonest scales, just turn the screw a little. For spring scales this moves the pointer slightly off zero, in balance scales the is a large nut in the center, move that and the equilibrium may exist but it is not true. You do not have to turn the screw much to get off center. A cent or penny under the bowl would be dishonest too, just a little but over time littles add up to bigs.
Seemingly we can be balanced but actually unbalanced by either not being centered on God or by carrying unnecessary baggage. Fortunately Jesus is the counterbalance for both. He has saved the day for us by adjusting the scales in our favor.
...and that favorite cake recipe, which can use scales, will follow today!

A crumb of cake or a loaf of bread?

Job 29:1, Job 30:1-2, 16-31
Psalm 119:49-72
Acts 14:19-28
John 11:1-16

Acts 14:19-28

Whatever happens to Paul and Barnabas they just get up and carry on telling the Gentiles about Jesus and God's love. They might leave where they received a beating but wherever they go to they start again. Their joy on reporting how the Gentile's responded to the message was greater than the news of their 'discomforts' and rejections.
Half empty or half full? With God it is always half full, a crumb of good news is far more of an excuse for a party than a loaf of complaining.
Maybe this afternoon I will add a cake recipe!

Drenched with Cream

Job 29:1-20
Psalm 45
Acts 14:1-18
John 10:31-42


Job 29:1-20

Freshly baked golden scones, a layer of strawberry jam and a generous spoonful of Devonshire clotted cream, though whipped cream will substitute very well. Lemon meringue pie with thick cream attempting to run over the slice, the cream slightly cracking the light and airy topping; caramel ice cream, an sensation for the tastebuds that is too exquisite to describe; cream on cake, any cake blending with decadent chocolate or rich almond; cream as an enhancing sauce on chicken or pasta. A Brit will pour cream or drop a dollop of whipped cream onto anything. And so it it was for Job all those thousands of years ago.

I was amazed when my American friend told me that the first time she had cream on a cake was in Wales when she was visiting with her husband. Imagine attaining adulthood before experiencing such a blend of flavors.

Job talks about olive oil too, another of my favorites. This brings me to Linguine Alfredo, cream and olive oil in the same recipe, what a culinary delight, quick and easy to concoct, one pot to clean up.

Linguine Alfredo
2 ounces of linguine or any pasta for each person, bowtie is another of our favorites
olive oil
cream
basil
sundried tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
pine nuts or other chopped nuts.

Boil and drain the pasta. If you train it in a colander then return the pasta to the pan. Add a little olive oil, stir and add a few tablespoons of cream until the pasta is coated leave on a low heat to get warm- a minute or two. Add chopped herbs, tomatoes, nuts. Stir and serve.

Sheep

Job 32:1-10, 19-33:1, 19-28
Psalms 41, 52
Acts 13:44-52
John 10:19-30


John 10:19-30

When the farmer came into the field behind our house he would call to the sheep and they would come running towards him. They certainly recognized his voice. He did not always bring them food. Sometimes he would take them out of the field to change their pasture or down to the farm for a bath. Like most animals they did not like this one, the noise from the farmyard at dipping time was a cacophony of bleats. I am not sure what they thought of the changing pasture routine. The sheepdog would make sure that all the sheep were near the gate, running hither and thither up and down the field nagging the stranglers. (Is this what God's workers do now for us, His sheep?) Now was not a good time to have to make the journey down the lane to Grendon, a journey that I did often ferrying my children to and from school. The sheep filled the road. All one could do was stop and wait. If you were going in the same direction as them then it was a long wait. The opposite direction was not so bad though the sheep did not think so the complaining they did as they passed the car.


Do I recognize Jesus' voice? When I think I hear it do I run to or from it?

Roast Lamb

Job 22:1-4, 21-23:7
Psalms 30, 32
Acts 13:26-43
John 10:1-18


John 10:1-18
There were sheep in the field behind our last house in England. They would frolic around the field, graze on the pasture, rest in the shade of the ash tree in our garden. Moms would nurture their lambs and lambs would play with the next sheep's lamb. A bit like us really, daily just getting on with life. When the farmer came to check on them they rushed to him as sometimes he had food.
Is this my attitude to Jesus?

Roast Lamb
some leg or shoulder of lamb
rub with a cut clove of garlic
lay meat in roasting pan
add some leaves of rosemary and sprigs of mint.
cover with foil
roast 375 for 15 mins/lb but not less than 1 1/2 hours

This can aslo be used for any cut of lamb and lamb chops

Castles and Germans

Job 19:1-7, 14-27
Psalm 31
Acts 13:13-25
John 9:18-41

Psalm 31

"Keep down the're coming." We crouch behind a ruined wall which protects us from the invading army. The Germans are upon us, rifles on shoulders, sour faces. The rhythm of the march is terrifying. They pass without a glance in our direction. Gingerly we peep around the remains of the castle wall, our French farmhouse. "All clear, come on." and we can run with safety to the next crumbling shelter. We are out on a dangerous mission, two strangling soldiers surviving, trying to get back to civilization from the barbarianism of the battlefield.
We had to hide frequently. Our Germans were meandering tourists enjoying the Castle Hill and its views over the Bristol Channel. My companion lived just two doors from the castle. What a backyard!
Of course we knew the outcome of our 'war'. We were on the good side, the winning side.
In my grown up, non play life God is my good. I am on his side and therefore I know the outcome
I can
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.

Tenby Castle shows all the nooks and crannies of the our games.

The picture above is picture from
http://www.tenbymuseum.org.uk/index.htm

On our first Sunday in church in America we were introduced to a lady who was evacuated to Tenby during the World War II. She was taught by my fellow soldier's father. Small World, maybe- but not for God.

The Light of Dawn

Job 16:16-22, Job 17:1, 13-16
Psalm 37: 1-18
Acts 13:1-12
John 9:1-17


Psalm 37: 1-18

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Even though my body would sometimes prefer not to have the experience the light of dawn is an awakening excitement whenever I see it which is all to often. The light grows from the ground pushing away the blackness of night. Dark forms take on color and shadows become alive.

Righteousness a word mongered by William Tyndale as he translated the Bible into the vernacular from Hebrew and Greek. The Hebrew equivalent occurs more than 500 times in the Hebrew scriptures yet English had lived without 'rightways'. Perhaps this shows how pagan the Brits really were. How can my righteousness shine like the dawn? How can my ways be bright? Maybe I can just hope that I am a way that others can come nearer to God, that my way will be a light to guide them to the Father and instigator of rightness.

Flowers

Job 12:1, Job 14:1-22
Psalm 38
Acts 12:18-25
John 8:47-59

Job 12:1, Job 14:1-22


Flowers are a joy. In the yard their give color to the landscape. In the house they bring a reminder of the wonders of creation.
My rose Mrs B R Cant is seldom without a bloom. The little twig that I bought fifteen years ago is a six feet tall bush spreading out for eight feet. People stop to admire it. I cut the blossoms and share them with my friends. Their delicate fragrance can fill a room.

My life too may be fleeting. To whom am I a reminder of the joy of God's love? To whom do I bring color and life. freedom from the daily treadmill and an uplifting of the heart. Tough, but it's what Jesus does for me and therefore that is what I need to be as His body today.

Tomorrow I wll add a photograph of Mrs B R Cant!

Harbor

Job 12:1, 13:3-17, 21-27
Psalms 26, 28
Acts 12:1-17
John 8:33-47


Psalm 28

A safe place to keep one's boat. What do I keep in safety?

A place to sail from and a place to come back to. Where is my home base?

There are many harbors in Pembrokeshire.

Solva

A natural harbor favored by the Vikings. The bend hides the village from the ocean and therefore from invaders looking for easy plunder. The steep cliffs reminded the Vikings of the fjords of their homeland.


Tenby

In the days before everybody had a car and the Severn Bridge you could sail by ferry from Tenby to Ilfracombe. Great Aunt Olive had a daughter who lived in Ilfracombe. She and Uncle Hedley would go to Ilfracombe from Bolsover and then come to visit Grandma and Grandpa, who was Auntie Olive's brother.

The picture is from
http://www.virtualtenby.co.uk/media-gallery.asp?page=1&gallery=6

Job 13:1-6. 13-25
Psalm 25
Acts 11:19-30
John 8:21-32