New Kid on the Blog

Hi - remember me, and that Jan 3rd posting about blogging daily? Well, that hasn't worked out too well. So I am back, hopefully with some ideas to be kicking around and getting responses to. As I've mentioned before I do blog every now and then on our Church website St John the Divine Anglican Church  - in fact I did managed an Art blog every day through Lent there, and I do get to write for the local paper's Spiritually Speaking every few months with an article in the print edition and a blog post follow up. I'm also doing the usual round of preaching, speaking, leading etc, even in these Pandemic times - and there's daily prayers on our website and Facebook Page , and our Sunday Services are livestreamed to our YouTube page.  So it's quiet here, but I am not quiet. As my wife will probably tell you if you ask!  That aside - why the sudden urge to post?  Well #BlackLivesMatter and so does truth, and today I saw on a page a posting by someone who clearly doesn...

Well, as Quilly said in comments, the service that I thought might just have a few folk at had over a hundred people along and was joyful and filled with praise. Sadly, the loss of puppeteers was a disappointment to a few, but on the whole those who made the effort really appreciated and enjoyed it. The worship was uplifting, the fellowship was heartwarming and the feeling of being together as the people of God was quite overwhelming. It was encouraging to see how many had braved quite difficult conditions (much of the snow, and snow melt lying on the roads had re-frozen overnight making some bits very exciting indeed) to come to Church. I was moved to see the cross section of those who came, from different villages, different ages (we had four generations of one family at the service), different backgrounds - with various levels of commitment to Church! So a tiring, but worthwhile experience. This morning, in between bits of admin and tidying, preparing assembly for this afternoon ...

Just been reading some comments on posts at New Kid Deep Stuff , where all my sermons - or most of them - end up and its amazing how people feel the need to complicate religion by making up stuff to add to it! There's only a few comments like that on the blog, this is more of a reflection on some of stuff I have read around the place and blogs I've ended up browsing.... It's not like Theology isn't complicated enough, but how do folks have time to look up obscure Bible verses and then interpret them in a way that is entirely contradictory to the witness of the early Church, of those who actually knew and shared life with Jesus? It gets worse the more I look out and about on the internet, so I don't think I'll waste time with that today! Keep the faith!

Most of these online tests that are available are pretty useless, but this one seemed to make some sense. I did wonder whether I really do have 'slightly low masculinity' and 'slightly high femininity' - or rather, I wonder what that means. If being sensitive and trying to think of others are feminine qualities, then i have no worries about being like that! It was an interesting bit of self reflection going through the test, though Scroll over the colours to see some detail, and see if my blog reflects what's said here....

Thanks to Tomas and Dr John for your comments on what was quite a personal post - having read the comments I went, as I often do, off to Dr John's site and enjoyed his wry observations on life and the surreal yet addictive stories of Pigeon Falls then I visited Tomas' art site - a riot of colour and feeling, I loved the pictures and found much of it truly moving. I love abstract art that communications with form, shape and colour, and Tomas site does that. If you prefer pictures of landscapes or dogs playing poker, this isn't the site for you, otherwise check it out.

Every now and then you need a bit of internet insanity, and a good laugh, so try will it blend - follow the iphone and bic lighters links to watch the best vids, and it is worth it despite the annoying ad that precedes it... This is not a pay per post or an advert or an endorsement of any kind, just something that made me laugh...

Rumours is a weekly email list which sends stuff out about the readings for the next week. That sounds really boring, its not, it is funny, thought provoking and well worth getting, all you need to do is sign up and you will get Ralph Milton's thoughts for the week, a joke or two, a look at the Psalm for the week, some funny stories, and a variety of bits and bobs which are far more interesting than the usual blurb in the electronic mailbox! Here's his instructions for joining and leaving: To Subscribe: * Send an e-mail to: rumors-subscribe[at]joinhands.com * Don't put anything else in that e-mail To Unsubscribe: * Send an e-mail to: rumors-unsubscribe[at]joinhands.com * Don’t put anything else in that e-mail I've put [at] instead of the usual symbol to keep those ever present spambots from picking up the address easily... Thanks to moog for that tip... The other thing to remember is make sure your spam filters let rumours in! If you want to see a copy of rumours b...

Whilst surfing for a few points in the traffic exchange system (traffic pods, team hits etc) I am constantly amazed by the number of schemes that promise me untold riches if only i will sign up for this or that free scheme, or for a minimal outlay. I am happy to be proved wrong, but it strikes me that if any of them worked then the world would be awash with very rich people indeed. Or am i missing something? Naive, i know, but i make it a point to be naive as often as possible in the hope that i will be surprised by the goodness of my fellow human beings....

Found this site that generates various useful (actually useless) signs, posters and seals (amongst other things) so i have put together a seal for my site and here it is...