Mystic Deejay

Well, as I may have mentioned before, we have this woman on BBC TV who goes by the name of mystic Meg, and she's supposed to be able to picture in her mind, on a Saturday nite, the winner of the national lottery. (Tis a load of ole tosh, but a right crack up!) tho, I think she may no longer do it, not sure. But in the tradition of good ole Mystic Meg, this is Mystic Deejay's fortelling of events at the upcoming Royal Wedding, or at least by the queen and her corgi's!

Very Rivetted Guests!!

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Reflections of Job

I ain't a naturally downcast person, if I was, think I would no longer be here now. Yet this crook in my Lot in many ways reminds me so much of Job's. In that its not only a bodily affliction, that affects him from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, and he is in physical pain in all areas, but the added afflictions he bears too. His nearest family, (his wife) who turned out to be a thorn in his side. who told him to curse God and die, (now that would be a woman who if Job had have done, and left her a widow, all men would do well to avoid taking up with her!) To loss upon loss upon loss. The anguish that comes from Job's lips are often in my own heart. The not understanding why or what God is doing in this whole thing. The searching for iniquty within that could maybe make it stop if repented of, and at times the hoplessness. This chapter from the Scriptures is probably the one in the whole Word of God, that seems to express the emotions and pains and difficulties that often leave me too weak want to go on, weeping without real hope of it ending, and at the same time holding on no matter how weakly that this will be made right, cos my Redeemer lives. Incidentally, if any of my friends who read here, know of a commentary or exposition on Job from a Reformed perspective would they drop the title in the comments with the authors name. I would have liked Calvin's. But fascimiled pages are not easy with the vision problems to read, and also I think a friend told me too, it was in very old english, so would not be something I would understand well.

Job 19

1Then Job answered and said:


2"How long will you torment me
and break me in pieces with words?
3These ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
are you not ashamed to wrong me?
4And even if it be true that I have erred,
my error remains with myself.
5If indeed you magnify yourselves against me
and make my disgrace an argument against me,
6know then that God has put me in the wrong
and closed his net about me.
7Behold, I cry out, 'Violence!' but I am not answered;
I call for help, but there is no justice.
8He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass,
and he has set darkness upon my paths.
9He has stripped from me my glory
and taken the crown from my head.
10He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone,
and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
11He has kindled his wrath against me
and counts me as his adversary.
12His troops come on together;
they have cast up their siege ramp[a] against me
and encamp around my tent.



13"He has put my brothers far from me,
and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
14My relatives have failed me,
my close friends have forgotten me.
15The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger;
I have become a foreigner in their eyes.
16I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer;
I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.
17My breath is strange to my wife,
and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.
18Even young children despise me;
when I rise they talk against me.
19All my intimate friends abhor me,
and those whom I loved have turned against me.
20My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh,
and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
21Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has touched me!
22Why do you, like God, pursue me?
Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?



23"Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
25For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.[b]
26And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in[c] my flesh I shall see God,
27whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!
28If you say, 'How we will pursue him!'
and, 'The root of the matter is found in him,'
29be afraid of the sword,
for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
that you may know there is a judgment." |

No Queen Camilla in this murky isle

Well, it may have spread abroad now, that Prince charles plans to marry his ole nag. camilla parker bowles. Now I am not against anyone being happy, (even ole big ears Charles) but when he was seeing this woman, even before he married Princess Diana, during their courtship and when she was carrying his children, yes, it sticks in my throat. I am glad to hear however "that bloody" (that's what Charles used to call Diana) woman will never be queen. Our monarchy used to be something to be proud of. The fact that the future King of England is allowed to marry this woman says how far down they've gone along with the rest of us. And I am not so shallow that I think beauty or looks is all there is to anyone. But he chose Diana Spencer. Who by any standards was a beautiful woman. So, why would he want to be seeing a woman who resembles in all sincerity.. a horse! No Queen Camilla but they will wed on April 8th.

Still think Princess Diana died by accident while being chased by the Paparazzi? Some of us never have believed that!

As someone on the BBC said when asked for a response to the announcement. "One lady gets stabbed in the back. Her enemy gets to eat her cake."

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Sad, alone and Sick.

Sometimes its hard to be so sick and alone to cope with it. That seems like half the affliction at times. As it can be hard to know this comes from God in love, and to feel loved by Him, even if in lighter times, you see His hand and some of the way the affliction has drawn you to Him. Yet, on nites like these, you wonder if you died, if you would feel loved by anyone at all, if it would matter... the answer to that is no it wouldn't, we're just gnats in the wind, but it ain't nice to feel maybe you could, and feel unloved, sad, sick and alone.

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Am always Left Behind

But once again, I've done my bunny hop around the block, and caught Jerry and Gogh Gurl up!

Blog Survey

1. Your name spelled backwards: JMD (and dat's all you get folks!!)

2. Where were your parents born? Heck I dunno even know where I was born let
alone my parents!!

3. What is the last thing you downloaded? a pdf file on porphyria.

4. What's your favorite restaurant? KFC.

5. Last time you swam in a pool? Never.

6. Have you ever been in a school play? Newp.

7. How many kids do you want? alas poor yorick. It wasn't to be. But
wouldn't mind a puppy or two.

8. Type of music you dislike most? Rap

9. Are you registered to vote? No. But have been registered insane which
could be similar.

10. Have you ever ridden on a moped? no

11. Ever get a parking ticket? No. But have caused the odd obstruction or
two with my wheelchair!

12. Would you go bungee jumping or skydiving? Sky diving yes. Definitely.
Bungee jumping I only go when friends foist it on me against my will! (am
kidding with the last part)

13. Farthest place you ever traveled? Isle of Wight

14. What's your favorite comic strip? The perishers

15. Do you know all the words to your National Anthem? Yes, but I change
them, in hopes of deposing the Queen.

16. Bath or Shower, morning or night? Shower

17. Favorite pizza topping? Cheese.

18. Chips or popcorn? Chips. of course! either crisps kind or the fried
potato kind!

19. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? No thanks, being addicted to cigs is
bad enough!

20. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? lol. Newp. Thought about
auditioning for beauty and the beast, as the latter half!

21. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato? Summer I think....

22. Have you ever won a trophy? Yeah.. for English.

23. Are you a good cook? I think excellent. But few other folks do!

24. Do you know how to pump your own gas? (mental images abound)

25. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work? newp

26. Ever throw up in public? Probably. if you're gonna make an ass of
yourself, I know how to do it.

27. Would you prefer being a millionaire or find true love? hmmm. probably
be a millionaire... because I can't imagine what finding my true love would
be like.

28. Do you believe in love at first sight? Dunno. if a dog yes. you can
trust a dog.

29. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital? The doctor cos I was
sick. (didn't take him a bunch of flowers tho)

30. Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby? yeah, thick and .
curly.

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Personality Test

Well, the psyches who mis-labelled me schizophrenic for years would have a birthday with this. Personally, I'm in two minds about it!!



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Name This Blog -- Readers Poll

When I first started this blog just about a year ago or at least properly. It was after a friend had gotten one and at that time had done nothing with it, and I didn't really know what I was supposed to do with it. Watching Jerry's blog when he told me he'd got one, gave me some ideas, especially when he was so ardent in blogging. But the first friend had stated on her blog, that she was not intending to "pontificate" on it. And me, being me, thought "oooh, pontificating definitely sounds like something I could do" You know, you still have that desire or urge, you may have had at ten years old, where if someone says no or don't, it kind of seems appealing and a want to do more than anything else at the current time! So, I started it, and you know the name ponderizations. This word now gets said in some parts of America apparently quite often! But, the poll I would like you to cast your votes in the comments on is this: I don't intend to alter the format of this blog. Whether it be stuff for God, the leave 'em laughing motto that has always been a personal favourite whether in life or online, or musings of various kinds and often angst.

But I would like to know. Should I keep the name "Ponderizations" of a crazy Calvinist.

or as I am tempted to, but not sure, should I change it to "Pontifications" of a crazy Calvinist ?

I do have a yahoo nic somewhere or other, called the "Reformed_Pontiff" cos of my habit of pontificating.

So, please cast your votes.
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The Whole Word of God

Ponderizaton

Was just thinking how in my (somewhat limited) experience Christians who will argue that to follow the whole word of God is "extremist" or legalistic, often seem to reject the Old Testament, and always say to substantiate their point, "We are not under law, but under Grace" which while true because of the way they use this to make the Scriptures meet their requirements as soon as I hear those words it sets me on edge waiting for what may come next. And if saying this in a particular context, you ask them to show you where in the New Testament, Jesus recinded this particular thing they are on about, normally they don't (can't) and will not even try to. Without which such evidence of them Scripturally backing up their words, it just becomes another ignorant opinion.

This quote will appear on my blog repeated times, simply because when I first saw it about two years ago, and having never heard of Calvin and Hobbes at the time before that, I fell in love with it, and it immediately became my most favourite every day quote, and it often fits the things which are on my mind at any current time.

"I've got better things to do than argue with every wrong-headed crackpot with an ignorant opinion! Im a busy (wo)man! I say, either agree with me or take a hike! Im right, period! End of discussion!" [Calvin and Hobbes]
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Cat? Dog? Baby? or Video Card?

Do you really want a cat? a dog? a kid? Or would you rather have a new video card for your computer? Let's compare...

Herewith, a rundown of the relative merits of four options for the computer enthusiast - a kitten, a puppy, a baby, and (as a representative example of the more usual kind of home information technology purchase) a new video card. Click here
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The English Puritan

Well, whenever I hear Christians knock other believers (whether its me they knock or others) because they have this false picture of unhappy, dour, sombre folks, who must be miserable cos they take their faith seriously and is at the centre point of their lives, this quote seems a good one to bring to mind. As these people were involved in every aspect of life. There's loads of unpublished thus far Puritan sermons preached before parliament. But there faith just was active in every area of life, and isn't this the kind of Godliness and piety we should all strive after? And does this word picture bring to mind an unhappy misery guts? Or someone happy in serving God to the best of their ability? Again I dunno who it was by, as again I heard it during a sermon. But the description was apparently given by someone who was a friend of the English puritans in their day.

"The old English Puritan was such a one that honored God above all else and under God gave everyone his due. His first care was to serve God and therein he did not was good in his own but in God's sight. Making the rule of God the rule of his worship. He highly esteemed order in the house of God and would not under color of that submit to superstitious rites. He reverenced authority keeping within its sphere. He was much in prayer with which he began and closed the day. In it he was exercised in his closet family and public assembly. He esteemed that preaching best wherein there was most God and least of man, and that method best which was most helpful to understanding affections and memory. The Lord's Day he esteemed divine ordinance and rest on it necessary so far as conduced to holiness. He was careful to remember it, to get house and heart in order for it, and when the Sabbath came he was serious to take advantage of it. The sacrament of baptism he received in infancy. The Lord's Supper he accounted part of his souls food. He esteemed those churches most pure where the government is by elders. His chiefest music was by singing of psalms wherein he neglected not the melody of the voice he looked chiefly after that of the heart. He accounted religion and engagement to duty that the best Christians should be best husbands, best wives, best parents, best children, best masters best servants, best magistrates, best subjects. The family he endeavored to make a church. Both in regards of persons and exercises admitting none into it except such as feared God and laboring that those that were born into it might be born again under God. He blessed his family morning and evening with a word in prayer. His whole life he accounted a warfare wherein Christ was his captain, his arms prayers and tears, the cross his banner."


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Pope Gregory I

Well, most folks know I am not a fan in any way, shape or form of the papacy. But today, thought a quote by Pope Gregory I seemed appropriate. He was a powerful man, as the pope but the office then had nowhere near the power it wielded in later years.

These were Pope Gregory I words when a guy named John in Constantinople wanted to claim for himself the title of the Universal Bishop.A word the papacy has used for a long time now. Pope Gregory didn'trefute and rebuke this guy John because he wanted the title for himself, he refuted and rebuked him,because he could see how wrong it was. Please note carefully Pope Gregory's usage of the term Anti-Christ, to anyone who takes and uses the name The Universal Bishop of the Church. I don't have a source for this quote, as I heard it during a sermon.



"The whole church falls from its condition if anyone who is called universal falls. For our brother and fellow Bishop to take the name of sole Bishop, despising all others is a very sad thing to bear patiently. But what else does this pride of his signify except that the times of Anti-Christ are already near at hand. For he's obviously imitating Him, who spurning fellowship with the angels tried to climb to the pinnacle of uniqueness. None of my predecessors ever wished to use this profane word. For clearly, if one Patriarch is called universal then the name patriarch is taken away from the rest. But let this be far from the Christian mind that anyone should wish to claim for himself an advantage by which to threaten the honor of his brethren in the slightest degree. To consent to this wicked word is nothing less than to destroy the faith. Its one thing that we should preserve unity of faith, another that we ought to repress self-exaltation, but I say it confidently, because whoever calls himself universal Bishop or wishes to be called so, is in his self-exaltation Anti-Christ's precursor. For in his swaggering he sets himself before the rest. I have said the church cannot have peace with us unless he corrects his pride over superstition and proud words which the first apostate invented. And if one Bishop is called universal the universal church goes down, when the universal bishop falls."

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Well....

That was a day to remember!!

This Day in History
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The "arrogant" calvinist

As long as I recall, I've tended to take a middle road with people, to try and keep the peace, avoid unneccessary confrontation or disagreement. Even when one lot of friends turned against others in an online forum, it was the road I took, to try and keep the peace and avoid fall outs and hurting feelings. That went so wrong it was probably the first time it occurred to me this wasn't neeccessarily the right thing to do.

Tonite during a telephone conversation, my Biblical convictions which are purely from the Word of God, came under scrutiny from a friend. Because I see the Regulative Principle of Worship as the only Biblical worship and what God desires and commands of us to do, I was left feeling that somehow I had commited the biggest sin against Christendom that anyone had ever known. Also because I am not a mature Christian, though the words not used, the implication of arrogance for having this opinion and being a lone voice amongst Christians in my local circle was plain, when mature, Godly people didn't see this as Biblical truths. I did ask them if I was supposed to take the word of men or the Word of God as my rule of faith. But they also said that me not celebrating Christmas, or thinking hymn singing was wrong, was a depressive outlook. From how they spoke they had me sat here for hour or upon hour only thinking of what I can't do to please God and having no joy in Him. Which when I spoke to another believing friend here, who I see more often said was quite ridiculous. My life is mostly barren, and bare, owing to how this illness affects me, most natural comforts have been taken, the one joy I do have is in the Lord. But this first friend was concerned for my state of mine and how extremist my views are. I kept my counsel as in not getting upset or mad, there was no point. But its not fair that folks will have you as this or that, just for trying to be pleasing to God and doing as He requires of us. They said I was like a monk who sat in a cell whipping themselves, to try and please God. The conversation was awkward after that. The conversation went much deeper into this stuff. And they wouldn't discuss the theology issues as debating theology is not their thing. But as John Knox said:

"For as I depend not upon the determinations of men, so I think my cause no weaker, albeit their authority is denied unto me; provided that God by his revealed will, and manifest word, stands plain and evident on my side" [John Knox from First Blast of The Trumpet]

"I've got better things to do than argue with every wrong-headed crackpot with an ignorant opinion! Im a busy (wo)man! I say, either agree with me or take a hike! Im right, period! End of discussion!" [Calvin and Hobbes] |

The Lord Gives

My pastor quotes a puritan saying which goes along the lines of "When we are down, God is up to something" I dont know who said it, but he's said it to me more than once. {if anyone can name this puritan, then feel free to go ahead! Tho its not the quiz, so no prizes!!}

Well, yesterday it felt as if all hope of dealing with this illness had been stripped. And today with increased illness again, it felt like a double whammy. And then I stumbled more by accident than design, that for the third day running I took something in, (foodwise) and the previous days felt some improvement but today with the increase in illness, the extra illness was instantaneously fixed in a flash, and because of the drastic turnaround, was able to make the connection with the food I ate, which would immediately boost my glucose levels. The biggest protector one can have against this illness is if you also develop diabetes, you will be a lot better than with the Porph alone, as glucose levels are fundamental in how severe it is. So, yesterday my hopes seemed dashed upon the rock, yet today, for the first time despite the bomb in the mail yesterday, have real hope that day to day can be more manageable.

I should also add, that for umpteen years, I have consumed 3-4 lb's of sugar a week in drinks. And only lived off carbohydrates. Both of which have even not knowing at the time I had this desease, but both of which, have probably helped keep me weller for longer. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and in my experience, that also includes often the body knowing exactly what it needs. If anyone pictures me as big tho, (from all that kind of food and sugar... you need your mental image replaced!! The most concerning outward thing has been the weight loss but I always swore I could stand to be anything BUT fat)

As Job says: The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:20-21
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Prayer

Every Lord's Day morning, which Alex Henderson prayed before reading the Scriptures. Henderson was also one of the divines at the Westminster Assembly.

"And therefore thou Lord who has power over our hearts and takes the Scepter of thy word and commands them as it pleases thee, we beseech thee O'Lord to see what is wrong in us, and make everything in us subject to thee, and command our hearts, speech words and action, so that none of them maybe dishonoring to thee and that we may not now sin against thee, but may enter in of the way of life. Lord to this end, let they word be spoken and accompanied by thy own Spirit that so we may know that it is not the word of man but the Word of the Living God, that so it may bring out fruits in us and may change our hearts within and then renew our lives without, that so our lives maybe honoring to thee exemplary to others and be in comfortable to ourselves in Jesus Christ."
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Holdin' On When it seems Hopeless

Psalm 13:2-4

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and every day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?



3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"

and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

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