Your story

Psalm 78
Genesis 45:1-15

1 Corinthians 7:32-40

Mark 6:1-13

Psalm 78

When Psalm 78 is the psalm of the day I usually groan. It is so long, even if you are only reading the part for morning or evening, and the story is so familiar. Those same old ups and downs of the Israelites. Today it occurred to me that I am just the same. God and I have been knocking around together for a long time. he has been doing the knocking and I do the running.

We first met when I was a teenager on a Christian Camp at Llanmadoc on the Gower Penisnsula in Wales. A beautiful setting. How could anyone not appreciate God and his creation? Towards the end of my high school career I decided that perhaps this was not the way to go. Apart from my faith how did I know there was a God. Also I was forgetting about Jesus party trick at the wedding, yes Jesus is a party animal otherwise he would have done nothing to the water as it was the end of the wedding and so everybody needed to sober up or given poor wine for the same reason. Agnostic, sitting on the fence, seemed to be the way to go. Even so when making the decision as to which college to attend I felt as if my brain was being guided. I did of course find a semi-logical explanation for my mother.

I could go on, just as Psalm 78 but I try to keep my thinking short so that it is easier to dwell on it and take out into the world for the day.

After I had decided that Psalm 78 would be my topic for the day I turned to one of my special books, A Guide to Prayer, which my friend Leslie Williams gave me about 20 years ago. She told me that she used a different color pen each year to make her comments and underlinings. I think it was about this time that I took courage in my hands and started making comments in books. On the eighth March 2002 I wrote "tell of your life with Christ" beside an extract from Henri Nouwen's "Time Enough to Minister". So apt after Psalm 78 though there was really no connection between them other than I read them both today. Our story and experience, the ups and downs, ins and out, and especially the to's and fro's of our relationship with God, his ever presence even in our shady times are our story and we each have one.

Click here for licensing arrangements for the photograph

In the Fast Lane & Tram 25

Psalm 77, 80
Genesis 44:18-34

1 Corinthians 7:25-31

Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

When my third child was born one of my neighbours asked me "What's it like in the fast lane". Being fairly new from Britain I had no clue what she was talking about. Now of course 22 years later I have had plenty of experience of the fast lane. "Don't ask me now, I'm too busy". Jesus was a single man, no house, no wife, no kids what would he now about the Fast Lane. Then we read this story. The relgious leader asking for his help, and quickly because his little girl was dying. We know how desperately we parents behave when we think our child is sick. If we think they are dangerously ill then we take our actions to new levels of desperation. Jairus' daughter was that sick. He had risked the wrath of the pharisees in asking Jesus to come to his house to heal his daughter. He might even have been risking his job and his position in society. He was living dangerously for his daughter. He knew that he needed action quickly.

We now take a break and discuss the Tram 25 route in Brussels. It must be one of the slowest routes I have ever travelled. It conveniently goes from a downtown shopping centre to a few minutes walk from our apartment but it seems to travel all round Brussels to get there. A combination of the Metro and Tram 94 is much quicker but then one has the change. Also the 25 goes to Gare Nord which the Metro does not which adds another leg to the journey home. Becky and I went to Antwerp for the day. Antwerp has very good shops and also a few famous artists in its history. When we got to Gare Nord there was an announcement that the train was not going any further. Don't you hate your plans being interupted? I bet Jairus did. The only means left for healing his daughter was on the way to the house and then there was the announcement.

We went to the tram stop to make our way to the metro and the first tram which came along was a 25 so the obvious thing to do was to get on it. At 5pm all forms of transport in Brussels are busy. Gare Nord is near the beginning of the route so we easily found space on the tram but not a seat. Fine but as more and more pushed their way onto the already crowded tram we found ourselves in the worst place- that part where the two coaches of the tram join, the one with the moving circle in the floor. You have to be able to brace yourself against something especially on all bends and particularly if you have one foot on the circle and one on the relatively stable tram. We were like sardines. The only reason I stayed vertical was because of all the other people squeezed into the tram. And Jesus in the crowd said "Somebody touched me". The disciples replied "You must be joking. Of course somebody touched you.' We are so crowded in here we are all touching each other". They did not know about the special touch of Jesus but the woman who needed healing was aware of it. She had edged her way through the crowd to the right place, the place of healing.

It was the same place that Jairus experienced a while later in the quiet of his daughter's room.

Jesus understands our chaos and distress. He heals both.

Tram 81 are the same style as Tram 25. To view licenses for this picture click here.

Psalms 34, 93, 96
Genesis 44:1-17

Romans 8:1-10

John 5:25-29

Genesis 44:1-17

What sort of a guy was Joseph that he put his brothers through all that stress even after they had proved that they were now genuine chaps? Why keep accusing them of being dishonest? Was he being vindictive and trying to get his own back. Had they grown up and he had not? Seems a strange situation.

Whatever our foibles and weaknesses God can still use us.

The Lord is my Shepherd

Psalm 23, 27, 75, 76
Genesis 43:16-34

1 Corinthians 7:10-24

Mark 5:1-20

David's example of praise and trust is difficult to follow. Have a try with me.

Psalm 23

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

I trust you to provide for my basic needs. Usually when we have a problem you resolve it. Why else are we living in Belgium.

³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

I wonder why we are here? I am sure there is a reason other than my ability to make coffee on a Friday when no other person is available.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

When we experienced death we felt that you were close to us in the love and support that our friends gave us.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

You get me out of sticky situations.

⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

I do not doubt that you will continue to look after em all my life.

This image is in the public domain because it contains materials that originally came from the Agricultural Research Service, the research agency of theUnited States Department of Agriculture.

LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE GOD

Psalms 69:1-23(24-30)31-38; 73
Genesis. 43:1-15

1 Corinthians 7:1-9

Mark 4:35-41

Psalm 69:1-23, 31-38

Psalm 69:2 When I was young my mother was so fearful of me being in water that I was not allowed to go into the deep end of the pool for it was a scary place. I grew up, I went to the deep end but I still cannot get my ears wet or submerge my face. Once we were staying at one of those hotels that has a pool inside and out. I dearly wanted to swim from one to the other but the only way I could do it was for my boys to hold me down and push me through. Getting back I was no braver and we had to repeat the torture.

Genesis 43:13 Israel's fear for the safety of his children, or is it really his fear of suffering the loss of his offspring. Those of us who are parents know this even before the birth of the baby we are concerned about it- will it be a normal healthy baby; what will they get up to or into in preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, high school, college; the first time you let them go with another teenage driver; the first time they drive, especially by themselves. Raising one's children is wrought with fears.

Mark 4:38 The disciples fear the storm, even though they were fishermen and presumably used to being out on the lake. Perhaps it was because of their experience that they knew to be afraid of the sudden squall- like the Texan and the hurricane.

Today is Women's World day of Prayer. The service, LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE GOD, was written by women in the Cameroon. We prayed for their fears. Fear that the crops would not grow, fear of disease to livestock and family. A whole different set of fears from mine. Their theme was praise. Praise in spite of fear, praise for life itself for we all have that gift.

Antiques Road Show

Psalm70, 71,74
Genesis 42:29-38

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Mark 4:21-34

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

We have a lot of sort of antiques, lots of "things" gathered from our parents, grandparents, great aunts, friends, garage sales and the odd junk shop. Most of it we did not buy we acquired. I have spent many hours searching the internet to find similar items so that we could complete our inventory for the moving company. The contents of some cupboards I could only guess at as I really do not know in detail what is there, a silver spoon brought back from the First World War and a china teapot which I know my mother valued but I cannot remember the story. Many treasures without a story or a monetary value.

It is the same with my body. I have no clue what is in it. I know that it works and is very uselful, particularly when there are no painful parts. All the little bits of our wonderful bodies usually just get along fine doing their job without a worry or a care from us. Usually it is only when something goes wrong that we take a thought for our body. The French for surgery (am) or operation (en) is 'intervention'. I certainly feel as if somebody has been putting herself (the doctor is a lady) into my face, albeit for my ultimate benefit. The cost is a few days discomfort and a few euros, just fixing the body that is here.

One of our prized possessions is a Welsh Dresser which we bought from the mother of a friend. Genuine Welsh, handmade in Wales. We display some of our plate collection on it. The really special plates are edged in gold. Originally we bought them as a Christmas present for each other on alternate years, after we had children we shared the gift each year! We have twelve of them, two sets of six; new price $480, from a dealer $1200 or ebay $94. What price our body? It depends who is valuing or cherishing it. My physical body is a gift from God to be nurtured and maintained as His to go about his business.

My spiritual body bought with Jesus' life- priceless.

Judi-"Sorry about having to use this photograph. I intended using Sharon's photograph of the Welsh Dresser but I think it is in David's workbag." Maybe I shall change it later in the day.

Bread and spreading friendship

Psalms 61, 62, 68

Genesis 42:1-17

1 Corinthians 5:1-8

Mark 3:19b-35

1 Corinthians 5:1-8

This does not sound like the bread (recipe below) that I make but more like a sour dough type where it is essential to have a previously made starter fermented from flour and water rather than the modern little balls of yeast that I buy in large quantities at the grocery store. Some of the starter is added to the bread dough and the rest carries on living and growing. Bad starter, or yeast, will give bad bread.

It reminds me of a "friendship cake" starter that went the rounds in Denton. Denton is a village in Northampton. At the time it had a population of about 600 people. Somebody was given a helping of starter for a cake mix. The instructions were to make the cake and then give away 3 lots of starter taken from the dough whilst mixing the cake. The problem was that in such a small community even if one kept one of the starter mixes for another cake for your own family you ran out of friends with whom to share the starter. friends almost became non- friends. Diffidently one would inquire if a friend had already received the cake and rejoice if they had not. Soon there was hardly a household in the little place that was not having friendship cake for their afternoon treat on a daily basis. It even sustained one at elevenses with our morning coffee. Yes that starter worked through the whole village.

I suppose we need to be careful about what we share. last week I visited Denton. I saw friends who I had not seen since 1992 and one who I had kept in contact with. God puts in our way people who are just in our lives whether we see them or not but when we do meet up the time is precious. This brings me to Jesus' comments in Mark 3:34, 35, the end of today's gospel but I shall not go there.

³⁴Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Note: I could not find the copyright information for this photograph but the original can be seen on

http://www.northantsvillages.org.uk/denton/ where there are more photographs and information about the village

Bread

3.5 cups flour I usually use wholewheat but best result is 3 wholewheat, 0.5 white

1 tps dried yeast

1/3 cup oil ( I like sunflower but any is OK, sunflower is sometimes difficult to find in USA but not in Europe)

tepid water to mix ( just right to your finger- neither too hot or too cold)

Put the flour and yeast into a bowl and mix. Make a well in the centre and add about 1 cup of water and the oil. Stir until the liquid is absorbed. add more water slowly, stirring well to absorb it before yo add more. When everything comes together in a nice ball you have finished adding water. If it is sticky you can add more flour if you like. I usually do not, David does. A damp dough gives a crusty bread.

Leave in the bowl until it has risen a bit- how much depends on how quickly you want to cook it. Bread is very forgiving. In Houston I just left the bowl on the countertop, whatever the time of year. In Brussels I have to put it near a radiator.

Heat the oven to 400 deg F, maybe 425 or 200/210 deg C

Place the mix the dough. If you like to get your hands floury then knead it on a floured table, if not or you are in a hurry turn it over and bash down with a wooden spoon whilst it is still in the bowl. Grease either a backing tray or a 1lb loaf pan. Place the dough on the tray or in the loaf pan. Bake about 40 minutes