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Familes eh?

Well I was over at my bud Jerrys blog, and saw his awesome family portrait. Now, there's a family to be proud of! But with ones own family, do you ever feel that "you can choose your friends, but not your family" there was never any trueer words spoken!!

So, in a moment of madness and to prove my point! (HA!) I am posting a DJ family portrait. I am the only "normal" person in this pic. The only one not all in black for a start! i tell you, its a wonder I came out as normal as I did!!!! (click thumbnail for full size pic)

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You are 'growing one's own food'.

You are guided by two words: 'Live simply.' You
value quality over quantity in most things, and
you have little use for the materialism and
consumerism of modern culture. You know the
value of hard work and try to be
self-sufficient as much as possible, and what
you do you do well. Unfortunately, no man is
an island, and you cannot do everything
yourself. Your puritanical work ethic makes
makes people think that you are weird, and not
much fun. Your problem is that growing one's
own food has been obsolete for a long time.


What obsolete skill are you?
brought to you by Quizilla |

At the end of a week of hardship and at times massive deterioration in my health, it was nice today, when a friend called by with one of his sons. Kids tend to like visiting here, and I can be around kids for the most part now without too many difficulties, and yet three years ago, it was an impossibility.

Sometimes its nice, to just forget the world, life, hardships, poverty of any kind, and good to just be silly, happy people. |

Joel Osteen

please go read Michael Spencer, AKA The internet Monk's article and then re-post it in your own blogsphere: Click here |

An anecdote on Question 8

From today's quiz on the sidebar

8.) Where did the devils go when Jesus cast them out from a certain person?
a herd of pigs
a flock of sheep
a herd of cattle
a flock of birds

We all live with our own particuar demons, which may not add up to demon possession, yet we can become spiritually oppressed by them, often its what would be known in the secular world as "depression" and are not saying that clinical depression does not exist, but do think there are usually physical causes when spiritual reasons have been ruled out. But this is an anecdote I heard ages ago, I won't say who by, there's no need, but it is true nontheless as most people will agree if they've ever felt so afflicted spiritually etc.

The anecdote went like this: That Jesus cast the demons out, and they took up residence in the herd of pigs. And even the pigs couldn't stand it, which is why they took the quickest route out of lfe that they could. Matt 8:32 |

Godbloggers

Well, for my fellow (what's the female word for that?) but Christian bloggers, California seems the place to go. Seems an oxymoron with its Liberalsim, but hey, Pastor Chip Ingram used to preach from their, who was one of the few Radio broadcasters who I used to find reguarly made God's word applicable, tho I ain't listened to him for yonks, rather than a condensed version of airy fairy Christianity. I mean Chuck Swindoll i don't doubt has some good things about his ministry, but I could never really take to it big time.

But I digress, The Christian Convention this year will be held in California. Click
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How Long?

How long for that spacious place? How long in this valley of death, with the accuser walking behind taunting and tormenting as he did Christian in Pilgrim' progress.

The hill, though high, I covet to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend;For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear;
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe. [John Bunyan]

4 The cords of death entangled me;

the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

5 The cords of the grave [b] coiled around me;

the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called to the LORD ;

I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice;

my cry came before him, into his ears.



18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,

but the LORD was my support.

19 He brought me out into a spacious place;

he rescued me because he delighted in me. [Psalm 18] |

DJ bites back!

I have always disliked being patronized. Its one thing that will get my goat quicker than anything. Its where my singular dislike for anyone using the term "dear" comes from, after spending a life time having "yes dear" said in a oh so patronizing way.

Disabilities can be hard at times for other folks to understand, and that's fair enough. I have actually found the biggest bigots against disability if it doesn't fit into a regular category, are the disabled themselves. Not one person I know whose able-bodied has had a problem with me becoming disabled even tho when we were first friends I was physically active, and new friends who are able-bodied the only thing they are at times shocked about is my size as they've never seen me stand up, and assume I am average size, largely because its only my legs which made me exceedingly...ummm.. okay short!

But I saw this poster on my travels, (web-wise) and it kind of appealed. At least as a statement to those who do patronize. I mean sometimes, you feel like folks are just about to pat you on the head, for no other reason than one is disabled! Lord save me from well meaning yet off the mark do-gooders. I know in my own situation which tends to not be the norm amongst the disabled community, I would rather have understanding than pity.

This poster is a graphically engineered euphimism of the subject, and you will see why it say DJ bites back. (clicking on the thumb-nail opens a larger picture)

[Edited blag]

I saw this posted at a friend's site, and since it further reflects societies views on the disabled and its something that needs to be heard, thought I would post it here:

OUR LIVES ARE WORTH LIVING - Remembering Tracy Latimer

Please find below:

1. article by Catherine Frazee, "Our Lives Are Worth Living" - Comments from a Vigil for Tracy Latimer (1995) 2. interview with Catherine Frazee, "A Wake Up Call - Why is the Latimer case important?" (1994)

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Our Lives Are Worth Living Comments from a Vigil for Tracy Latimer by Catherine Frazee (1995)

It's a simple question - -why have all these people left their homes and their jobs to be here? Why have we made the considerable effort that it always takes for most of us to get anywhere in this big inaccessible country? Why are we huddled together out here in the February cold, sacrificing the comfort of our regular routines and risking our health?

We are here because on 23 October 1993, a twelve year old child named Tracy Latimer was murdered by her father, and in 16 months since that event, our ears, our minds and our hearts have been assaulted by the voices of Canadians who believe that this was not a crime.

Fear brings us here. Vulnerability brings us here. Pain brings us here. Anger brings us here.

People with disabilities are afraid for our lives. We are afraid that others could be empowered to decide whether we live or die. We are afraid to be in a society which weighs the severity of a child's disability in its judgment of whether and how to avenge her murder.

People with disabilities and our allies across Canada have been touched on a very deep level by the murder of Tracy Latimer, and the subsequent and similar death of Ryan Wilkieson. We feel Tracy's vulnerability. And we feel our own vulnerability heightened as our neighbors and our colleagues suggest that there was something noble and humane in what Robert Latimer did to his daughter. We grieve Tracy's senseless death. We are pained and horrified each time we see Tracy Latimer portrayed as a creature less than fully human. We are enraged by the insinuations that Tracy's life was not worth living. We came together today with feelings of fear, vulnerability, pain and anger. And much more than that. In honor of Tracy and Ryan and other vulnerable children and adults whose names and stories we do not know, we came to affirm our humanity, our passion for life and our solidarity.

Insight brings us here. We know what it means when a society abandons its fundamental standards of respect for the dignity and Human Rights of every citizen. In a civilized society, there should be no debate about whether it is right or wrong for the more powerful to cause harm to the less powerful. It is wrong. It is wrong, no matter what the motivation or rationale.

Courage brings us here. The courage which has served us well in our daily struggles to resist the labels, to preserve our autonomy, to live with dignity and to refuse to see ourselves as we are seen by others. The courage to speak out. The courage to confront the insidious stereotypes which underlie public sympathy for Robert Latimer. Strength brings us here. The strength of conviction which sets us apart from the ambivalence and indifference of those who say that this is not an issue that affects them. The strength to say no. NO to the segregated schools. Today we are saying no to death as an option. Strength, not death, is our response to the immense personal, social and economic challenges of disability.

Solidarity brings us here. Whether or not we have disabilities, whether or not we have "severe" disabilities, whether or not our circumstances are similar to those of Tracy Latimer, we consider Tracy Latimer to be our equal. Because she was. In her humanity, in her entitlements, in her citizenship, she was everyone's equal. Yes, we came together today with feeling of fear, pain and anger. And now we bring all of our strength, all of our courage and all of our insight to this moment in the history of disabled persons in Canada--the moment to confront those who assault our ears, our hearts, our minds and our very lives with their misguided notions of "compassion". In solidarity let us affirm that our lives--however much pain, however much struggle -- OUR LIVES ARE WORTH LIVING. Taking our lives to spare us OUR pain and OUR struggle is a crime. A crime that must be met with the full force of the law.

Source: ARCHTYPE, August 1995

Tracy Latimer - Backgrounder & Facts click here
We have to be aware of the perspective the media is projecting and to challenge it with an alternative. We have to be mindful there are people who believe that what Robert Latimer did was right and/or that he should not be sent to prison. We don't get very far taking a position of indignant outrage, when we are confronted with people who believe differently than us. We have to be sensitive, persistent, and very persuasive in attempting to bring people to an alternative point of view. We also have to make the links for people. There is a tremendous irony in that we have all the allies in the world when we want to remove ourselves from the planet but very few allies when demanding that our human rights be respected.

How will the Latimer case end?

I am reluctant to make any prediction. In the Latimer case, two courts have been operating: the court of law and the public opinion. I wouldn't want to speculate on what the Supreme Court will do. In the court of public opinion, I am hopeful we will see a more balanced presentation of the issue. That at least would be a step forward toward a greater understanding and a possible victory at some time in the future. Hopefully, we can lay the foundation for the further work we must do.

Why is Austin Bastable's assisted suicide so often cited in discussion of the Latimer case?

In any debate people are always anxious to find individuals on the opposite side of the debate. In this debate, the nondisabled population is only too happy to find persons with disabilities who share the view that our lives are worth nothing and that we would be better off dead. In this case, we saw a great deal of attention being paid to Austin Bastable and his choice to commit suicide. It "proved the case" for those who support Robert Latimer and for those who seek the legalization of assisted suicide, although the two cases are quite different. Our position being, of course, that Latimer's act was an act of homicide. Still the premise that underlies the public response is the same premise--that a person is better of dead than severely disabled.

What I think is particularly important about the Bastable case is that within our community we have to be aware of the fact that there are disabled people who do support Latimer and disabled people who do support Austin Bastable, that he ought to have had the right to chose when and how to end his life. When you are very vulnerable and very very depressed and you have been programmed, as it were, to believe that disability renders life not worth living, then you will make the kind of "choice" that Austin Bastable made. What we have to realize is that as an oppressed group in society we have been bombarded with messages. Not just by the broadcast media but by virtually every person we encounter in our day to day lives, that having a disability is a tragedy, a highly negatively charged phenomenon. To be quite candid most of us spend a great deal of our lives believing that. We have to remember that there really isn't a choice when there is such a pervasive set of negative messages, values and conditions in society really shaping that choice. It is my firm belief that someone like Austin Bastable simply didn't have the support, the positive experiences, the time to work through the issues and to come out on the other side of it and declare, as many of us have, that our lives are extremely rich and gratifying and we have no desire to end them simply because we have a disability. That takes time, support and a good measure of pure luck--the luck of circumstance of having the resources to live comfortably with a disability. We don't know all the details of Austin Bastable's life, but I think from what I have been able to glean from the information available about his live that he had very little choice but to believe that his life was not worth living.

With our community history of advocating for choices for people with disabilities, it may seem inconsistent to oppose assisted suicide. I don't believe it is inconsistent. It is a very shallow understanding of choice that underlies the arguments in favor of legalizing assisted suicide. In our current social context one cannot make such choice freely.
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Another Final, Final Thing!

I've just been by my haloscan account for this blag. And all I can say, is that over the next day or two, I would imagine, this blag will likely get its thousandth comment. So, you can comment (or not) as you wish, but I shall keep a check on just who grabs the thousandth, and will try not to myself! Mrs Bee would be green you got a chance of getting this Beth, without her as competition! I shall think of some suitably suitable prize for the thousandth comment nabber! You will be totally under-whelmed! On your marks, get set, GO! |

Crazy Question...

The interactive challenge for this week. Its deep, ponderizable, and simple. Well it would be seeing as I am setting the Question! Answers in the comments please!

Question: The following number is the only one of its kind. '8,549,176,320' Can you figure out what is so special about it?

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BRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Well, I don't like the cold, (never have done) I can't take the heat anymore, and the wet makes everyones aches and pains worse.

But the view from the little gerbils cage window, is enough to make you adopt a squirrel to stop his nuts freezing! Maybe I should actually invite them into my attic/loft to take shelter during this cold spell, seeing as they never made there way in by force as I thought they had a little while ago: But if this itsy bitsy little bit of snow, brings the whole of the UK to a halt like it normally does, well, tis more than a bit pathetic, considering how much snow they get in other parts of Europe.

Click on thumbnail for bigger image.

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Quick Thought...

On Disunity...

"Some make no other use of them than to observe in which way they may gain advantadge by them--how they may suit themselves to this side or the other for their gain, or to drive on some private design. As long as they can make use of the times that run in such a way, they are for them. If the stream turns, they can turn too. They can tack onto every wind. Their purpose is not to help heal them,but to contrive ways how they may benefit by them. Hence they wrench and sprain their consciences with quick turnings this way and that way. They will be on the sunny side wheresoever it is. Cunning heads and corrupt hearts will serve their own turns by all varieties of times.If they were in Diocletian's times they could be pagans; if in Constantine's, Christians; if in Constantius's Arians;if in Julian's,apostates; if in Jovian's, Christian's again and this within less thanthe age of a man"[Jeremiah Burroughs] |

New Blog Features

For my readers edification, amusement, etc. A couple of verses which will be updated daily. A Bible quiz, and a Bible search button. I hope you make use of what you want to, and encourages you to come back. All the new features (as one doesn't neccessarily see them unless you scroll) are in the left-hand side-bar.

[Edited blag]

I am still in extremities of illness, both pain wise, headwise, and over time that has spiritual impact. So, I shall rest on my bed, and later be back when more able, even if cos of bodily extremities still, its via my laptop from my bed! Most folks have bacon butties (sarnies/sandwiches) or something else that floats there boat for breakfast in bed. Deejay has her laptop in bed! But I always was determined to "be different." |

I think I may have *shocked* or surprised at least a Christian friend when today when they knew I listened to contemporary Christian music, and at times secular music too. Not cos they think its wrong or anything, but surely wish I could express myself better at times as I wonder if alot of Christians I know personally may thinkI spend all my days listening to Psalms! I've actually realized today, how inadequate at expressing and skirting around real issues we can be, in an effort or guise to prevent us further pain/hurt when we think we can bear no more. My visit with my friend was a blessing, cos at a low ebb over much from the past week or two, and still recovering from the attack from yesterday, I guess I let the wall down more than is normal for me, and let them in a bit. God was at the heart of our conversation, amidst the anguish, at times laughter and fellowship. And I may shy away from normally songs that mention Jesus in the same breath as Christmas, but this song is one of my favourite contemporary ones. As from a life so barren, often filled with anguish and pain, its true, He is my reason to live. As He's all I have in comparative terms, and yes life's hard and it hurts, and I don't doubt the anguish will continue, yet He's reason enough.

We Are The Reason

As little children we would dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find
But we never realized a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

And we were the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by we learned more about gifts
And giving of ourselves and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day a man hung crying
in the rain
Because of love, because of love

And we are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

I finally found the reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do every word that I say
I'll be giving my all just for Him
For Him

And we are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

He is my reason to live


CLICK to listen |

Quick Thought

Oh, that all we had hearts to say that if we have wronged anyone in their their names by word or writing or in any way, we will restore it. Mercy and love call for mercy and love. If we were in a right tune, there would be sympathy between the bowels of God's and ours. In two lute if the string of one is wound up to be answerable to the other, if you then strike one the other will move, though lying at a distance. Now God's love, God's bowels, move; let our love, our bowels move answerably. [Jeremiah Burroughs] |

Well this is real strange....

I may forget much, but this I have not. A package arrived through my letter box this morning, and its a book called "The Bible Promise Book" and inclusive of a CD too.

And there is a note from the sender, saying "Thanks for bidding on this book, etc, etc" with their address. Only one thing I didn't bid on it. I only use ebay for stuff that does bidding, so even if I forgot it would be listed on my account and it isn't. It was also adressed to the name of my first web design domain which I changed about three years ago to a different domain and business name.

The book looks awesome btw, but since I never bought it, I can't hep but wonder who the kind soul is who sent it me. But it will get much used I can say that for sure! |

Indestructible?

We'll see!

I think I mentioned how I normally buy most stuff off e-bay. And its true that my shopping items are largely much different to the stuff I used to buy. suchas mentioned a few days ago in a blag of Reflections

Yet of course at times I still buy normal stuff too. And for many months, the sound a noisy keyboard as I type has done my head in. I thought at first my aversion to noise was an age thing, then realized it can also be linked to many neurological illnesses. And because I am awake most nights the sound of a noisy keyboard in the still of the night made me feel like chucking it out the window. Anyhow, I also have a habit of sending drinks flying for reasons many folks would not, and I often also have a (very bad) habit of somehow my keyboard getting covered (and have no idea how!) in cigarette ash.

A few years I saw these bendy, roll up, slicone keyboards, that one is supposedly able to pour a cup of coffee over and it not damage your keyboard or your puter As normally, liquid on the keyboard will wipe alot more of your computer out than just the keyboard. But at the time they were like most new products and hideously expensive. However, after surfing at ebay a week or two ago, I saw one for less than five pounds + shipping. Advertised as Indestructible. And what is more, *silent* as one types. So, I decided for that amount of money it would be worth giving it a go. Especially because of the above factors I have to replace my standaard keboard so often! And it came, it works, and is as quiet as a church mouse as I type on it! As I said it is billed as indestructible, but the makers may not have counted on Deejay so only time will tell!

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Yesterday...

Was a day of extreme illness, where it felt like for a few hours that going Home to be with the Lord was possible. As well as the usual, constant symptoms, my liver and one kidney was so on fire and painful it felt like one or the other (or both) would bust. Now its dealing with the aftermath of of the attack, which includes my mind being affected to some degree, my vision worse than is norm, and half deaf in one ear.

Please pray for this weak, sin-filled person. As there's not much like extreme affliction to bring temptations of various kinds. Murmuring and discontent being ones that seem to be the ones I constantly wrestle with.

Phil 3

8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- 10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.



Straining Toward the Goal
12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. |

A Christian's right to choose?

Well, I musta been the last person to know here in Merry Ole England, that Prime Minister Tony Blair has called a General election for this year. He will either be re-elected as Prime Minister, or, the opposition (The conservatives) will oust him and take office. After 17 years of Tory Rule, most of those under the oppression of Margaret Thatcher, who single handedly did more to set this country onto the path to destruction than any Prime Minister I recall neither the thought of another 4-5 years of Tony Blair in office or the Conservatives gaining power, "floats my boat."

Now, a question? Should we as Christian's vote?

There is currently in America a dispute between two well known ministries. James Dobson's Focus on the Family and John Macarthur's Grace to you. Click here about Christians trying to use politics to make a difference in such things as Abortion, Homosexuality, drug abuse and other issues of moral decline. So, this brings me back to my original question. Is it a Christian's God given duty to vote? Or:

Do we as Christian's take the old and New Testaments as the infallible word of God and accept them as our rule of faith and practice and try to establish Lordship for Jesus Christ in all areas of life, whether that be,personal, family, church, or state?

Another ponderizaton: Are there limitations on what constitutes God's Kingdom or is His dominion Universal? Is there any place or corner on earth exempt from God's rule? When Jesus said in Matt 28:28 that ALL authority...had been given unto Him, did that only include a minority part of it? As Christians generally speaking are a minority anywhere in the world. Does His rule only extend to those tiny little corners where there are Christians? And if so, does that mean that unbelievers don't owe loyalty and allegiance to Christ? So, why would anyone who believes in Christ's Lordship over all areas of life, elect a government anywhere in the world, that will manage its own affairs without any reference to Christ?

Psalm 2

1Why do the nations rage[a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3"Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us."

It can be clearly seen from this and other verses that every nation has a responsibility towards Christ. And every government or ruler a duty to enforce God's will on all matters. Failure to do either is a very serious sin. And a national sin. Yet what government today, either here in Britain, or America or any other country that comes to mind, does actually give all Authority to Christ? And I won't point to specific disasters or plagues upon the world, but God warned us of such, and that a turning back to Him was the answer. And yet, governments get elected, and we as Christians often help to get them into office. I have heard it said by many Christians in America that George Bush, was a good choice because he is a man of faith. And leaving George Bush's faith out of it, as no one except God can know what is in his heart, he may have good intentions, yet does he give all authority to Christ and govern in accordance with God's will in every matter, big or small?

If God is left out of the equation, and that includes in governing the nations, and being given ALL authority, then the nations are destined for destruction. And IMO it is not only a Bible believing Christian's duty to NOT vote. But to do so, and have these governments put in place who rule under their own authority is a matter of serious sin.

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John Bunyan-Reflections on Grace

1. Of all the temptations that ever I met with in my life, to question the being of God, and the truth of His gospel, is the worst, and the worst to be borne; when this temptation comes, it takes away my girdle from me, and removeth the foundations from under me. Oh, I have often thought of that word, 'Have your loins girt about with truth'; and of that, 'When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?'


2. Sometimes, when, after sin committed, I have looked for sore chastisement from the hand of God, the very next that I have had from Him hath been the discovery of His grace. Sometimes, when I have been comforted, I have called myself a fool for my so sinking under trouble. And then, again, when I have been cast down, I thought I was not wise to give such way to comfort. With such strength and weight have both these been upon me.


3. I have wondered much at this one thing, that though God doth visit my soul with never so blessed a discovery of Himself, yet I have found again, that such hours have attended me afterwards, that I have been in my spirit so filled with darkness, that I could not so much as once conceive what that God and that comfort was with which I have been refreshed.


4. I have sometimes seen more in a line of the Bible than I could well tell how to stand under, and yet at another time the whole Bible hath been to me as dry as a stick; or rather, my heart hath been so dead and dry unto it, that I could not conceive the least drachm of refreshment, though I have looked it all over.


5. Of all tears, they are the best that are made by the blood of Christ; and of all joy, that is the sweetest that is mixed with mourning over Christ. Oh! it is a goodly thing to be on our knees, with Christ in our arms, before God. I hope I know something of these things.


6. I find to this day seven abominations in my heart: (1) Inclinings to unbelief. (2) Suddenly to forget the love and mercy that Christ manifesteth. (3) A leaning to the works of the law. (4) Wanderings and coldness in prayer. (5) To forget to watch for that I pray for. (6) Apt to murmur because I have no more, and yet ready to abuse what I have. (7) I can do none of those things which God commands me, but my corruptions will thrust in themselves, 'When I would do good, evil is present with me.'


7. These things I continually see and feel, and am afflicted and oppressed with; yet the wisdom of God doth order them for my good. (1) They make me abhor myself. (2) They keep me from trusting my heart. (3) They convince me of the insufficiency of all inherent righteousness. (4) They show me the necessity of flying to Jesus. (5) They press me to pray unto God. (6) They show me the need I have to watch and be sober. (7) And provoke me to look to God, through Christ, to help me, and carry me through this world. Amen. |

Start Knitting! Support your local Penguin

When an ocean-going tanker goes down at sea, loosing crude oil into the ocean, the immediate and long-term effects on the environment are often catastrophic. Equally as dangerous is the illegal practice of passing ships' dumping fuel oil into the water rather than properly disposing of it in port. In the case of the "little penguins" (previously known as "fairy penguins") who live on Phillip Island near Melbourne, Australia, such accidents and illegal activities have threatened the entire population of penguins.
Cleaning the animals by hand with warm water and a mild detergent then returning them to their natural habitat has been found to be an effective means of dealing with the danger posed by oil spills, but there's a snag in the plan: Often the little penguins are far too ill to be bathed right away, and the scrubbing can be quite stressful. The solution is to slip the oil-coated birds into wool sweaters, which prevent them from preening themselves and possibly swallowing toxic petroleum-based oil as they regain needed strength, and keep them warm until their bodies are once again producing the natural oils (removed by the cleaning) necessary to their insulation.

Where does one get such penquin attire? Appeals are made to the knitting public to place their time, skill, and leftover yarn into the service of animals in need. A New Year's Day 2000 spill of 260 gallons of fuel oil off the southern tip of Australia prompted an appeal that resulted in piles of sweaters ("jumpers," in Australia) being sent to aid the damaged little birds, many crafted by the capable hands of American knitters.

To be better prepared for the next such environmental crisis, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust and State Library ran the knit-for-a-penguin campaign. They hoped to build a stockpile of 100 sweaters. They got more than they bargained for.

The result originally had been an oversubscription of this entreaty for aid, with the appeal threatening to escalate into a "Sorceror's Apprentice" situation. One thousand sweaters have been received so far, with more arriving all the time. The organizers originally wanted to conclude this part of its Oil Spill Response Program, but then rethought that action, deciding to ask the knitting public for a further two thousand penguin sweaters. |