Pilgrim's Progress

Time Out

Am off tomorrow for a couple of weeks' break ... happy blogging in the meantime!

One For the Road #2: Thus Far Has The Lord Helped Us

I was struck again in 1 Samuel 7:12 by the name Ebenezer (literally "stone of help"), which was a simple stone memorial set up, to commemorate that "thus far has the Lord helped us."

See also this from Yes Minister ...

Where does the road take us tomorrow? Who knows? But this far has the Lord helped us ...

I've made it through, God,
I've made it through ...
Don't quite know how sometimes,
It's a mystery to me.
Don't know what might have been,
Or what has yet to be.
But here I stand, before you —
Another step I will not take,
Until I stop to thank you
That I've made it through.

Keep it in Perspective

My hot water is back on again. I think. I'll hold my breath till the end of the week and see if it still works. It's been on and off (mostly off) since last August, and I've just about worn out the kettle and the immersion heater.

I'm off to a Trade Justice demo in town today, because there are too many people who don't have any water, while our wasted gallons gush down our plugholes. So this is a memo to myself to keep these minor annoyances in perspective and be grateful, and let that gratitude be a wellspring of action.

One For the Road #1: Are We There Yet?

Don't ask me why. Sometimes they fly past. Sometimes they drag. I'm talking about journeys home on the M6, late at night. Sometimes, if I'm weary, and longing to get home, the road seems to go on and on.

This animation is for those days that the journey seems long ... Daddy, are we there yet? (Flash 6; 105K)

Voting Intelligently

With a general election looming, and as a political novice, I've found myself seeking some way to understand the range of issues out there, and how the main parties line up, to help me vote more intelligently, and decide which issues I will vote on.

I found it here - after registering you can download a helpful overview, and some other useful resources. It's only a start, but it is easily digested, it does suggest further reading.

I want my vote to count ... and it's going to take more than a quick prayer at the polling booth to make up my mind this time.

Here I Stand #1

I feel so small sometimes ... not insignificant or unimportant ... just out of my depth.

I don't understand so much of what I see around me, and yet I am called to be a part of it, and seek to live significantly in a world  of general elections, tsunamis, superpowers, global corporations ... and so are each of you.

Feeling small has a flipside though ... perhaps we can call it worship? A right sense of scale and the awesomeness of God, and the wonder of it that he takes us, restores us, and gives us a place of influence in this vast and bewildering world.

From everlasting to everlasting, you are God. (Ps 90:2)

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Ps 33:11)

"Remember, even the smallest person can change the course of the future." (Lady Galadriel to Frodo in "Fellowship of the Ring"

Bad Influence

My vicar (and boss) has just told me he's begun a blog ... I do wonder sometimes if I'm a good influence! Well he got me watching Doctor Who so this is my revenge ...

Worship Backgrounds

Another worship background ... Click here to download (79K, Flash 6+)

Yet another worship background ... Click here to download (73K, Flash 6+). Suggest you might need a good processor (1.5GHz+ to run at full speed - 25 fps)

As with all the original artwork on this blog, I'd be delighted if it gets used in Christian worship, public or personal, of any sort, but by downloading it, you agree not to make any profit from it, or put it any commercial use. That said, if if speaks to you in any way, or might play some part in your own work for God's kingdom, that's more than enough reward for me! Help yourselves ...