New Blog Space

My new blog, at least for now is here |

Odd way to start the day

I had a strange dream last nite, or it may have been late morning as I woke up and got up for a bit, around nine am, and then went back to sleep after a while for an hour or two. But I dreamed I was with a guy who was handy with his fists. I had the TV on as I slept, and one of the guys from the proggie was the guy in question tho have no idea why he should be. But, I had embarassed this guy by answering him back and making him look foolish when out in public. And he was just dying to get home to have his revenge with his fists. I remember it was some kind of systematic abuse but beyond that don't really remember much. But it was a strange, strange dream. I remember in the dream procrastinating and trying to prolong reaching home, and actually I'm not sure if it wasn't a mixture of feeling fear plus also actually being in alot of physical pain which woke me up. I actually find when I am asleep and yet conscious of pain I often dream about violence to my body, by one event or another. As the pain invades my dreams, so that could have been what triggered it. But, it was surely an odd way to start the day. |

Old Friends

I had to pop out this afternoon, didn't really want to but with it being the Sabbath tomorrow and a bank holiday here on Monday, it was today or never. I only went up to the supermarket, but as usual stopped for a coffee while there. And an old friend who I'd lost contact through circumstances more than anything else came in with her mother and daughter. She is also a full time wheelchair user, and tho I wouldn't go as far to say she is a believer, I did meet her at my former church. But things that turned me away from that church, (at least the nature of them)also turned her away, and she hasn't been to another church since, tho because she did attend mine for awhile, in her own mind, she is a believer. But, she's a nice person nonetheless. So it was nice to catch up, and also swap contact details as both of ours have changed since we last saw one another about 18 months ago. God does somehow seem to use my link with that church, as bad as I feel the experience was personally in different ways. The last time I attended there, I met properly for the first time, which again was just over a year ago, but I met who is now my closest friend here. It struck me last nite, that those Christians who disagree and in some way find offensive my RP beliefs, that when I first knew them all, I didn't have those beliefs. Yet this person I made friends with at the last time I attended, my beliefs were the same as now, and its made not on iota of difference. Richard Cameron when he spoke up for his beliefs also had a similar reaction from those more respected Christians or older folks, so it doesn't seem that dissimilar, with him it was because his beliefs was by implication saying those older or more respected Christians were wrong and even sinning, which is basically what my adherence to the RPW, would say. I think that speaks quite loudly.Yet, somehow God seems to use the contact I had with that church in the past in the present more than anything else in my day to day life. Its strange tho how one of the biggest thorns in my side day to day, (which the way the isolation has increased the whole load it will only ever be) even tho I left over a year ago, contacts from there and people I met there, is ongoing, especially when one considers the initial friends when I what was had average Christian beliefs are really not in the picture alot. God sure does work in mysterious ways. But its always good to renew old friendships.

While out, I got called, "bab," (that one used to irritate me but its the one folks still use most often, "petal" "sweetheart" and "love" by perfect strangers. I don't know if this is an English thing where you always call folks a name like that, or if it goes on abroad too. I never call anyone anything, except a dog maybe or a child, but that's different. But it strikes me as a peculiar practice. |

Facist Face of UK Politics

George Galloway who is known because of his openly hostile stance against the War in Iraq and his sympathies with the Iraquis has been at it again, by, saying if PM Tony Blair was assassinated by a suicide killer, it would be morally justified, because of all the innocent Iraquis who died during the war. He says he's not advocating anyone try to kill Blair, and would report if he heard anything being plotted. But Galloway has wriggled his way out of tight corner after tight corner, by his silver tongue which wouldn't know the sunny side of the truth if it blinded him. But guess anyone who sides with Fidel Castro has to be a facist. Anyone who knows me knows I'm no fan of Tony Blair, however, to take the law into ones own hands is to become like the enemy.

A few weeks ago, we heard of John Prescott's adulterous affair. As well as always seeming a thug and a bully boy with a loud mouth and little going on in his brain when he opens it, well basically he just comes across as totally pig ignorant, and this man is the Deputy Prime Minister, for goodness sake. Some envoy for our country when he sounds like he'd be more at home in WormWood Scrubs.
But British Politics has its facist elements, no matter how democratic Tony Blair may like to believe he and his merry men are. The conservatives of course with there many (at least in the past) openly racist politicians are no better. But, I don't want to live in a facist country. To be black and live where you are counted as a lesser citizen is one thing. To be black AND disabled where you are completely invisible if you fit both of the above criterias is harder still. I'm not just in one minority group but two. Three if you include Christian too. But as the video below shows, John Prescott has actually shown his bully boy tactics in the full glare of the camera when supposedly was trying to win votes. If that's him when trying to win the electorates vote, I don't think any of us can be surprised whatever he may do in between election polls.

Of course, all the above is a subtle form of tyranny in one aspect of another. Which will ALWAYS happen in any country when we stray away from Biblical law, and replace it with human law. We haven't had the death penalty for years. And the only folks likely to have guns in our country, are the criminals, because they get them illegally. Just two examples of an endless list.

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Eurovision song contest from hell 2006

I didn't watch the Eurovision Song Contest last weekend. Okay, I KNOW no one ADMITS to watching it, even if they do, but I REALLY didn't. I saw the result on the news is all. I haven't watched the flippin' thing for years, I think the last time I watched it Johhny Logan won it for the second or was it third time?

Anyhow! Whatever happened to Abba? Who won it in 1974! (I don't mean what HAPPENED to them, I mean they were fun, and none gross!) Believe it or not, back in 1974, when Abba came on the stage at Brighton, everyone thought THEY were outrageous! But everyone was mesmerized too.



Or the Brotherhood of Man two years later?





Or Bucks Fizz in I believe it was 1981?

Okay, so we get 2006 roll around and we get the self-confessed Devil Worshippers of Finland winning the song contest and the day! Who from the news clip I saw sounded every bit as dreadful as they look! When they came on I heard more than one person who did watch the contest say, they said: "They're so aweful, they're just bad enough to win it" and they did. But the verdict of Deejay is "nil point"! (Deejay's dodgy French Accent)




Either I am getting old, or the world is a much more dangerous place than thirty years ago. Maybe a bit of both.

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Following on from an earlier in the week blog, the technophobic art of procrastination, I have finally got my bluetooth device connected, and actually got my phone to upload a few pics and a test video clip. I'm thinking I could get some short excerpts of the neighbourhood in video when I am out and about, which isn't frequent but now and then. But knowing some of my neighbours, it could be embarassing, not for me I hasten to add. But, you wouldn't believe some of it. Oh yes, likely you would. As it seems pretty general wherever one is located. |

Awwwww.. anyone know how he feels?

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Easy Jet Airlines

Sadly, well in fact more tragically (!) I have airline on the TV due to exhaustion making understanding others words difficult. What comes out of ones own brain is always easier. But actually some of my contentment has come from not struggling to "do" when its physically impossible for me to. But, anyone in the UK or europe or wherever this TV proggie airs, will know it is largely full of disgruntled easy jet customers. (one of the cheap flight airlines) People come and are late, miss the boarding or closing time, and people rather than submitting quietly no matter how incovienent usually have a fit in the air line and many of them end up cussing and shouting the odds at the airline staff.

In this particular episode, there were a couple from Greece, who arrived a day late for their flight having mistaken the day for their return flight. The next flight that had seats on it was four days later. However, out of all the customers who had difficulties, they were the only ones who quietly said, okay, and were restrained, polite, friendly even. Others even if paying additional money was involved were not happy and made it known, and yet the couple going back to Greece, even tho there was no additional money involved whenever they got their flight, were the only folks in the whole 30 minute programme who the airline went out of their way to help, and actually did what they don't normally do in an effort to help them. And it was soley because of the couples happy go lucky, friendly even tho disappointed and she was at one point tearful attitude. So, this is one instance of proof, where good behaviour, and nice manners, speak much louder than money or power or anything else.

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The House of Mourning

Boom Boom John Knox

Well the Boom, Boom, should be a dead giveaway to anyone who read what I said here, that I've been listening to Reverend Paisley. His sermon was on the life and work of John Knox. He spoke of when Knox was a slave, and in the greatest pit of oppression, and I know that pit because of different circumstances, but just as dark and just as oppressive. And Reverend Paisley said, its easy for any of us to stand for God when everyone is telling us how good we are doing, and patting us on the back, yet alone in a pit, is when the truth of how far you will stand speaks out. It kind of assured me where assurance can be so lacking, because I know what a single hour in this pit can entail. Not a day goes by at some time I don't feel bodily I am on the rack, and sometimes it can last for days. To endure it all separated almost entirely from all things and others of the faith, is oppressive to the utmost. And knowing in large measure its BECAUSE of my faith, even more so. And I know how my Reformed Presbyterian beliefs have left me in a wilderness, not by those who are clearly hypocrites, but by those who I believe will also one day be in Heaven. But, I think Reverend Paisley was right. It is easy to stand for God, when there is no risk to life or soul to do so. When theres always someone around to tell us we are doing well. But, and I speak from the experience of a level of oppression that is really in the same equation as what Knox and Martrys of God experienced, it takes a lot more to stand for God when experiencing that level of adversity, day in day out, week in week out, month in month out etc. By God's grace He is letting me. My prayer is that He continues to do so, because yes I do and alot of the time are even joyful in it, but its by no means easy in any reckoning of the term easy.

The house of mourning however, does have its upside. I am currently reading as part of my devotionslas Eccles, and read what Solomon had to say on the house of mourning, and he is so right in many respects. I could be sowing all the oats I never ate, and laughing my way to hell. I do still have the whacky sense of humour, yet I also find myself much more serious minded, in many respects. The house or mourning is the school of God. but as hard as the house of mourning is, it does have its benefits too.

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On a totally different note, beware of an email scam from "Eco Bank" mine was from a chappie named MR Rishi Gosine. Theres a new one every week, don't be the "one" who bites the wicked hand, thinking it will feed you. |

The New Webspace

I need to get to bed to rest my body, as if I leave it many more minutes I shan't be able to get outta my w/chair! But, just needed to make a public note about when the new webspace happens, which is taking longer than I anticipated, but when it does, I shall be leaving the majority of this blog on blogger space, and just starting the new space with what's on the index page of this blog. Several reasons for this, one of them being I've been in a spiritual wilderness for a long time. But, I just feel its a time for new beginnings, including my blog. The URL should be the same at least to start with. But will obviously let folks know when that happens or if theres any changes. But any further blogging tonite, or anything online will be from the papal bed! :P Tomorrow I have a reclining chair being delivered which is mostly to sleep in when bed causes me too many problems. Blogging almost upside down could be a new experience! |