Snapshots

A hard days work

A night of bad taste

A celebration of new life

A discussion in Starbucks

A look at past frolics

maybe

the sun is shining, really.

the glass is really half full.

not everything people do is based on sneaky ulterior motives.

there really is a galaxy far, far away (cue John Williams soundtrack).

we were never really meant to learn how to fly.

politicians have just been misunderstood.

there is a method to the madness of this universe.

I'm just tired and cranky.

we just need to do good, instead of just thinking about it.

there is a point to life.

North England Easter Conference 2007

Apprehensive, unsure and even a little afraid.
On the other hand, cynical. I've been there before. And I know.
Nothing ever changes.
Most of the time.

Rush rush rush. Long wait. Rush rush rush.

Meeting of minds. Some expected, many unknown.
Maybe I don't know it all.

Guilt
Shy
Gratified
Laugh out loud

Old habits die hard.

New truths, some easier to absorb than others.

Eclectic construct, shrouded in deconstructionalistic verbiage, peppered with hermeneustic suspicions creating a sense of hyper-reality...
Merely quoting.

Hands raised now, with eyes still wide open.
Its different from the dream-like state I used to be in.
Seeing things clearly, being emotional while retaining objectivity.
Some say its impossible.

Meeting of minds. Finding connections. Malaysia, Singapore, KL, old friends back home.
Meeting of minds. Guilt. Rebuilding memories. Lack of connection produces wonder at new growth since the last meeting of minds.
Networking continues.

Green hills, white sheep, large expanse of grass and a cool breeze at our backs.
A leisurely walk and talk.
Photographs. We're Asians after all.
Two share easier than twenty. In a wide space, privacy can be maintained while still in sight of each other.
Surprise!
Interruption.

Tons of food producing post-meal sleepiness.

During the last night, angels rejoice.
Affirmation. Hugs all around.
Surprise!

The days when handing around books for autographs seems to have passed.
New connections made, old ones strengthened.
No high this time.
Prefer it that way, many echo.
Dare we say?
Back on the path. Renewed. Mostly.

Some unfinished business.

To the next meeting of the minds.

North, south, west, easter!

To those who recalled a certain CF poster-making effort back then, well done. You others, some things are better off unsaid.

Anyway, forward.

**

A young lad of about 23 wandered along the dusty alleyway. More dusty than usual. He looked down with some irritation.

"Rats, my sandal strap's gone loose again. That's the 3rd time this month!"

His steps turned towards the local shoemaker. Or sandalmaker, I should say. Shoes were still an unknown commodity then. And definitely NO platforms or high heels either. But I digress.

'What's up old man?'

'Why can't you be civil and say 'Shalom' like other folk do, John?'

The 'old man', barely a full decade older, looked up as the boy entered. Beckoning his servant to get the boy a towel for his feet, he began work on the offending sandal.

'So, what's the news? Town seems pretty quiet today.'

'Well, since you've been spending all week with your, ahem, girlfriend, you wouldn't know, would you?' A glint in the eye as he searched for a new strap.

"Not so fast there Zed. She's still, well, we're trying to sort out stuff. She said something though. Told me to go check out some guy in town for advice on 'matters of the heart' "
John looked up, remembering. "Who's this guy, anyway? Wasn't he from some small fishing village?"

"Nope. He's from Nazareth. Hell of a guy. Remember my sister's aunt's friend, I'm sure I've told you about her before." John shook his head, then nodded.

"Well, that guy from Nazareth healed her. She'd been bleeding for years and years, was just here asking for money to see another specialist just last month. And he cured her in ten minutes!"

"No kidding?" Thoughtful now, John looked up.

"That's not all. If you'd been here, you'd have seen him. Crowds of people following him around. The day he came into the city, it was like King David had returned, people were making so much noise. They even got out the palm branches, for goodness' sake. And you know how much cleaning up those take, not to mention how long we have to take regrowing all them palms."

The sandalmaker shifted slightly to get a better grip. A nail dropped on the floor.

"No need, I'll get it." John bent down and retrieved the nail. "So, is there any way I can meet him? Know where he's staying while he's in town?"

Pausing in his work, the sandalmaker shook his head.

"Thats the thing. they're taking him down today. He got on the wrong side of the Pharisees."

John furrowed his brows. "That doesn't sound right. You said he was popular with the people. So what, they're throwing him into prison?"

"No, they're going for the worst."

"What? The cross? What'd he do to deserve that?"

"No idea. Right, here's your shoe done." John reached over, his mind still in a whirl.

"Well, you going to stand there all day, or pay up?" John looked up at him, eyes coming into focus again. "Rats, I left my coppers in another tunic."

Before the sandalmaker could reply, the candle flickered, and went out. John looked up, suddenly noticing how much darker the room had become. Weird, it was still the middle of the year. He went to the door and looked out.

"It's not supposed to be this dark. It's only the sixth hour, isn't it?" The sandalmaker was too busy getting more candles to reply. Didn't need them though, as the darkness passed after a few minutes.

"Weird. Anyway, here's your sandal. Don't forget to pay up."

"Thanks. Pity about the guy who got killed. Wish I could've met him."

"Yup I know. I'd have a thing or two to ask him myself."

**

You know what's really weird? How the supernatural can take place amidst the natural without people taking notice.

Relaxing

Who needs a nice snowy mountain?

Is a sunset beach really necessary?

Its been a while since I've been able to pop on the sofa with a book on a nice breezy afternoon and drop off to sleep without feeling guilty.

I like holidays.

Just one of those things

I've been meaning to post this for some time, but have always felt inadequate to do so. A bit hypocritical, really. Its just that one of the questions I get asked most concerning Christianity is: 'why do you go to church?' or some variant of that like 'whats the singing bit at the start of a church service all about?'

And when I reply something about 'worshipping' I get a nonplussed look.

Anyway, about this post: Based on a talk about 'worship' in Spring Mount the week before mock exams. I took a few notes. Excuse the mushiness; none implied but some may be misinterpreted


What is worship?

Worship is throwing our arms around and saying ' I love you'

Worship is drawing near enough to kiss

Worship is holding on to the reality that God, despite my circumstances, is still God and worthy of praise

Worship is being constantly aware of God and what He is doing, and responding appropriately

Worship coming from the word 'worth' -
what worth are we ascribing to God, if we are not moved in the least?


The worship we see in church - the singing of songs and lifting of hands, is a small part of the whole word. Worship - the act of acknowledging that God is above all is part of every Christian's life, whether busy taking histories from patients, or while out playing frisbee. For if God is really that big, that would be worth mentioning.

I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise...

The world rings with praise...Lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside....

I had not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it.

"Isn't she lovely?" "Wasn't it glorious?"

The Psalmists, in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about...

C.S.Lewis (late author of the Chronicles of Narnia)