Some Favourite Verses!

Well, you know, I've read this book a few times, and paid attention to at least some of it. And, at different times, some things have stood out to me. And kind of stuck. For varied reasons, and, sometimes, slightly surprising ones. But stuck they have. So I thought I would share some of them with you, to see what you think.


¹⁴ Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. ¹⁵ But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

 The book of Amos is one which is probably not that much read. I probably wouldn't know much about it myself if it wasn't for the fact that I had a module in it at Uni. I have no idea why I took it, I probably thought it would be interesting; and it was certainly that. It's full of powerful stuff, about God promising judgment on Israel and the surrounding nations for all the wrong they've done-which in Israel's case appears to involve a lot of social injustice and oppression of the poor. Anyone who thinks God isn't bothered by that sort of thing should definitely read this book. Or, indeed, most of the prophets in the Old Testament-it's one of the major concerns time and time again. Definitely a recurring theme. But for me, the verse over all that I keep thinking of is this one. The thing is, in OT times, prophecy was something that had more or less become sort of a family tradition-some people did, and most didn't. I say 'more or less', because here is one occasion where someone else did it. He makes it clear that this wasn't something that went on in his family; but God told him to do it, so he did. And things turned out the way he said they would. God can -and does- use anyone He chooses- and things work out the way He wants because He is in charge. Not us. So, what I remember from this, is that when God tells me to do something; it doesn't matter what I think, it matters what He does.

 ⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.

Pretty self explanatory really. Although it has three things there, I'm pretty sure it is thinking of them as one. It doesn't really want you to look to do these, but as you spend time with Him, you will express them more and more.

¹⁰ This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

This passage contains one of the best known verses in the Bible-verse 11 is often quoted as a promise that God knows what He is doing and has (y)our best interests at heart. Which is true. I firmly believe this, and wouldn't want to detract from this in any way. The reason I put the verses around up here is that it is sometimes necessary to put things in context. it doesn't mean that whatever you do, things will always work out fine. That's not what it's saying. What it is saying is that things will first happen when God wants them to, and second, when we come to Him, seeking Him with all our heart. A change in perspective is pretty much always a prerequisite for a change in attitude.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^[b]

 ^{Another well known passage here, which I like particularly, since I read an article by an Australian preacher called John Smith, who talked about how he'd seen that it didn't say what he'd always thought it said-which was exactly the same as I'd always heard. I'd always heard it talked about as it saying that the Spirit of God is like the wind; that He goes where He wants. But that isn't what it says, which is probably clearer with just this section shown. What is being compared to the wind isn't God, but Christians-those 'born of the Spirit'. What Jesus is saying is that people 'born of the Spirit' will come from surprising places and go to surprising places; and that this is 'normal'. Or surprising situations. Like churches around a notorious suicide spot running a nightly suicide watch-with counsellors and temporary accommodation. Or getting teens from different cultures learning comedy together. Or people from a church remortgaging their houses to buy accommodation for some vulnerable people. Or visiting brothels with cupcakes on a regular basis.}

^{The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.}

^{And finally, my favourite verse in the whole Bible. And the only one I can generally remember off the top of my head. To me, this is what the whole Bible is about. Jesus came to give us nothing less than everything, and we can only get it through Him. I often think of it together with the verse from Micah 6:8 (the second one here), as another way of looking at it. Or getting to it.}

^{So, that's some of my favourite verses, which may well give you some idea of how I think of the Bible. not all of them, but certainly ones which I think of fairly often. What do you think? Incidentally, all those examples above are genuine-and fairly recent.}

Art, Music And A Picnic

And so we move on to June. Skipping ahead to the second weekend, cos that's the first time that anything worth talking about happened. It was actually a fairly busy weekend, but also quite relaxing.

Saturday evening I went along to an art exhibition in Montpellier Gardens, as part of the Cheltenham Open Studios fortnight. This is a regular occurrence, and as you may guess, most of them are in individual artists' studios; none of which are in the gardens. So why there? I guess it was because some artists are either unable to have visitors come round, or think they're too far out to get many visitors. Anyway, there were about 8 artists of various kinds in the Gardens Gallery, which is where I went. It opened a few days earlier, but mostly when I was at work. I also work Saturdays, but then it was open to 7-and what was even better about that day was that it was the 'preview', so some of the artists were there as well.
So, after doing a couple of things in town, like buying a birthday card and present for a friend, I wandered along up there. I really liked what I saw-it's a small space, but it was used well. As full as they could get it, but also leaving plenty of space to see everything. There were a couple of sculptors and a jewellery maker who were occupying the corners, and then there were paintings on all the walls. In different media and styles; but also covering a variety of content. On one side, there were portraits, then landscapes and abstract pieces in the middle, and on the other side, mainly animals-big cats, wolves, foxes and others. That was what I liked the most. I also liked the jewellery, and I will remember her for future potential presents. Then I got a text from a friend to say he and another friend were on their way, and they came and had a look round too. And, after that, we wandered off back to mine, and had tea in the garden while watching the sun go down-at least until it started getting a bit chilly, anyway. Then they went, and I relaxed and read for the rest of the evening.

And on the Sunday, I was invited to a picnic in Pittville Park to celebrate a friend's birthday. I don't have picnics anywhere near often enough, in my opinion, and it was certainly a good reason for one. And the weather was wonderful-bright and sunny, but not too hot. I got there a bit late, cos that's what I do, generally (people wouldn't know what was going on if I arrived on time), and joined the other picnickers. There was a silver band playing that Fiona, the birthday girl, had been in, so they played an old favourite hymn of hers, and embarrassed her by playing 'Happy Birthday'-which she refused to stand up for. And, also, presents and cards were given and opened. And it seems she is well known, as most of her presents were books. One on physics and superheroes (called 'The Physics of Superheroes'), and one on being a godly woman (I think). Oh, and there was also a cake that was in the shape of either a lion or a hedgehog, depending on who you ask. Very tasty, too. Anyway, time went on, and we had to pack up and head off to the pub, before church. Definitely, we absolutely had to. So, we had a quick drink, and then off to church. Which was, you know, as loud and enjoyable as usual. After church, we saw it was someone else's birthday, and I restrained myself from pointing her out to have 'Happy Birthday' sung at her for the third time that day. And then we went back down the pub-well, where else would we go? a fine end to a fine day, in my opinion...

May - A Magnificent Month!

I was going to call this one 'A Month Of Luxury' as I appear to have spent a lot of money, but I can't really remember what I spent it all on. If there were any luxuries, you'll have to figure them out for yourselves by (re)reading the previous few posts.

However, the month as a whole was very good, with all sorts of interesting things happening. Obviously, the most important thing was the whole moving house business (you know, that tiny little thing at the beginning of the month); which was more important than I knew then. I knew something of how it was important, in that it was a new start, and also that it was God wanting me to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone again. The thing about comfort zones is that they move-when you have moved out of it, it moves back around you, and the new place and/or situation becomes comfortable; and, once again, it becomes an effort to move on. And sometimes moving on is important. I never wanted to move just for the sake of moving, I have thought for a while that it is better to move to something, rather than from it. But here I had a great opportunity to move somewhere nice with a good friend, literally just down the road; and the main reason I was hesitating was because not doing it was easier. And, though I can't say that I had any great answer to prayer about it, that was what decided me-that I could do it, and that I should at least give it decent consideration. And changing from saying 'hmm, maybe' to planning how was moving on in itself.
And that was definitely A Good Thing. Since I moved I have felt a lot better in myself. A lot happier and calmer. I can't trace it to anything in particular, but in general I feel better all over. about the only thing I have to be slightly disappointed about is the fact that I didn't write any poems in the month. So i'll have to make sure I try extra hard to do so this month.

And after that had all happened, I then had a very busy month. Which if you've been reading, you'll already have some idea of. I can tell how busy I was as I didn't read as many books as usual-something which seems to be happening again this month. Lots of parties and events. Which isn't usual, but I think is something that God wants to happen more often from now on. And I think He wants me to be arranging some on a (semi) regular basis. Which isn't something I think I'm that good at. Definitely not, if past experience is anything to go by-but if that's what He wants, then He's going to put a lot of effort into ensuring that that's what He gets. Which means He will keep nudging me to do things, however reluctant I am to do them; and I guess that it will change me, as well as others. I can only hope.
So, not only was it a very good month in itself; but it looks like this is going to be a very good future as well. I look forward to finding out what it's going to be like...

CELEBRATIONS - Farewell and Welcome and Happy Birthday and, finally Goodbye

Well, the title for this post is fairly self explanatory, I think. Lots of celebrations that came in the same week-actually following on from one another. Starting on a Thursday...

A couple of Americans I met in January, Ruth and Rachel had come over to study at the University of Gloucestershire for one semester, and that semester was now over. Which was a shame. I mean, obviously, things change and people move on, and that will be good for them; but they will be missed here. They're lovely people and will definitely be remembered. And so, it was decided to have a proper celebration to see them off. Any excuse for a party, right?
Put together in a bit of a hurry, cos that's the way we roll round here. Starting off with going to the Kashmir (a favourite indian restaurant-I definitely recommend it). Can't remember whose idea that was, but there was no chance of any disagreement, especially as I'd recommended it to them a while back, and they hadn't managed to get there before. And then, following that, we went on to the pub (that would be The Conservatory, a favourite place to go, cos it's right next to church-can't accuse us of trying to be different in any way); where a few others joined us. And at some point, a card and presents were given, so they will never forget us cos we wanted to, you know, say goodbye properly. One of them was an ornament of a squirrel, which will always remind them of us, because they seemed particularly amused impressed by the way we pronounce the word (you know, properly).

And then, on the next day, another excuse for a party; our house-warming party. It was originally going to be the next day on the Saturday (which would have been the first Saturday we were both free); but when I started inviting people, I was reminded of another party going on that night that I'd been invited to. Always the same-nothing to do most of the time, and then two things on the same night. Steve was away for most of the week, but thankfully I had been asked to open up the shop, so I finished early; which meant we had plenty of time to sort everything out for the party. About the only thing we weren't sure of was who was coming, as almost no-one had given definite replies. Though, as that's pretty much usual, we weren't worried. I was a bit amused that the first person to arrive was the one who'd travelled the furthest (i.e. another county). Anyway, quite a few people turned up; and a good time was had by all. I even got a present, though it wasn't, technically, a housewarming gift. When Ruth and Rachel went to Edinburgh, I recommended they try Edinburgh rock, which they did-and, very generously, bought me some too. Very nice of them. They also brought their parents-or, at least, one of each.General merriment continued until the eary hours, finishing with Steve playing worship songs on the piano for the few who were left. I have no idea how that happened.

So, on Saturday, I was very tired, and just wanted to relax when I got home. But I had said I was going to the birthday party of a couple of friends; one of whom doesn't live locally, so I definitely wanted to go. Which meant that I got there later than I could have done, but the party was still in full swing. I got to see some friends I hadn't seen for ages, and watch some of them do karaoke. Some of them even did it well; and, again, a good time was had by all. There were even quite a few who were going off clubbing after that-I was invited, but I figured it wouldn't be a great idea-if nothing else, I had to be at church at 11 the next morning cos I was on duty. Which I did manage.

And, after church in the evening, there was another, more informal celebration. It was the last day that Ruth and Rachel were actually in Cheltenham; and, therefore, possibly the last time we'll ever see them. So, going to the pub after church was a little different. For one thing, there were a lot more photos taken. Though not by me, or I'd be adding them. A lot of chatting and laughter went on; happiness was the order of the day, it seemed. Which you might have thought was surprising, but then, there's a lot of happiness around Ruth and Rachel. They're both very positive people, and they seem to bring that out in others. Pretty much any others, it seems like. And so, I say again, they will be missed.