Carrot & Passion

Image via Wikipedia

"Carrot cake please", I say, trying not to give away the faint guilty pleasure of anticipation. A day off today includes a walk along the river, ending in a Starbucks Selah. "After all", I reason, "carrots are healthy".

"Is that carrot and passion cake?", she retorted and I nodded. "Do you have any peppermint tea", I ask sheepishly. "Of course!", she says, making me feel less inappropriate in this temple to caffeine. "One or two bags?", she enquires. I am surprised by the question and then I feel that a little indulgence with peppermint can't be a bad thing so I plump for two.

I sit and eat, telling myself that this can't be as sinful as a Belgian chocolate brownie. Carrots are healthy. The little child on the adjacent table is downing a chocolate muffin and is told by Mummy, "You're very lucky, you've got chocolate", and I feel jealous. As I continue scribbling I wonder if I can actually write at all, and why on earth I am doing it. And then I feel a little bit of it. A small snack of passion wells up and I want to get inside everyone's bones. The old lady collecting her medium hot chocolate, the petite Japanese girl waiting quietly in the queue. The two businessmen discussing earnestly in the corner, and the blonde who continues dishing out cake and coffee, asking everybody the same question ad nauseam, "What size would you like?" Everything and nothing in common.

At the next table Mummy announces, "it's time to change your nappy", and I decide it's time to leave.

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• Raw Carrot Cake (rawlivingfoods.typepad.com)

Skywatch #41

Osterley Lake, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.
Hosea 6:3

This Year Persevere (4)

Image by showmeone via Flickr

We will reap a harvest if we do not give up
Galatians 6:9

Perseverance is a trait that can be cultivated, and the initial step to cultivating it is to eliminate two of its greatest enemies. These are:

1) A lifestyle of giving up. A little boy was promised an ice cream cone if he was good while accompanying his grandfather on some errands. The longer they were gone the more difficult the boy was finding it to be good. 'How much longer will it be?' he asked. 'Not too long,' replied the grandfather, 'we've just got one more stop.' 'I don't know if I can make it, Grandpa,' the little boy said. 'I can be good. I just can't be good enough long enough.' As children we can get away with that, but not as mature people, and certainly not if we expect to succeed in what God's called us to do.

2) A wrong belief that life should be easy. Paul told Timothy he must 'endure hardness, as a good soldier' (2 Timothy 2:3). Having the right expectations is half the battle. Clinical psychologist John C Norcross found the great characteristic that distinguishes those who reach their goals from those who don't; expectation! Both types of people experience the same amount of failure during the first month they strive for their goals. Members of the successful group don't expect to succeed right away; they view their failures as a reason to re-commit and re-focus on their goals with more determination. Norcross says, 'Those who were unsuccessful say a relapse is evidence they can't do it. They are the ones who have a wrong belief that life should be easy.' Bottom line: 'We count them blessed who endure' (James 5:11 NKJV).

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Lost Without You

In the 70's and 80's, Adrian Snell was a big part of the Christian music scene. His songs are haunting and have the same effect on me now as they did back then. One of his masterworks was Alpha & Omega. He is continuing to write and release albums and here is an offering that was posted on You Tube just last year, from Every Place Is Under The Stars. Enjoy.

One Thing

Image by DavidDMuir via Flickr

Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him..
Mark 10:21

It's a familiar story. A rich young ruler is faced with a huge challenge. Having asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, he is stunned to hear that he must go away and sell all his possessions. Of course, Jesus is not telling us all to do such a thing, but He is telling us to do something much harder. "You lack one thing", Jesus says. Here is a man being asked to let go of an idol. Look at his reaction; "he went away grieving", v.22. Has Jesus ever asked you to give up something that made you really struggle? I know He has of me. I wonder what that thing is for you? Whatever it is, it will keep us from Him, from loving Him with all our hearts, from joy in our walk, and victory in our spirits.

But this story is also full of hope. It is shot through with Jesus love and compassion. Notice that Jesus comes and meets him at his own level, even in the quoting of the commandments he gives the man the opportunity to gain ground. And then perhaps the most extraordinary verse; "then, looking at him, Jesus loved him", v.21. For a look or expression to be noted and recorded, it must have had a huge impact, not only on the ruler, but also on those who observed it.

Let's take comfort from the fact that Jesus knows what we struggle to let go of. He knows how we've failed. He knows what we need in order to know His life in all its fullness. The young man went away grieving but there was hope for him for "Godly sorrow produces repentance", 2 Cor.7:10. May we receive the grace we need today to make the changes that He is asking of us.

This Year Persevere (3)

Image via Wikipedia

We will reap a harvest if we do not give up
Galatians 6:9

Observe two more things about perseverance:

1) Perseverance means stopping not because you're tired, but because the task is done. Diplomat Robert Strauss quipped, 'Success is like wrestling a 1000-pound gorilla. You don't quit when you are tired; you quit when the gorilla is tired.' When you're fresh, excited and energetic you work at a task with vigour. Only when you become weary do you need perseverance. The Apostle Paul recognised this: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Fatigue and discouragement are not reasons to quit, they're reasons to draw closer to God, rely on our character and keep going. We underestimate what it takes to succeed. When we haven't counted the cost we approach challenges with mere interest; what's required is total commitment!

2) Perseverance doesn't demand more than we have, but all that we have. Author Frank Tyger observed, "In every triumph, there is a lot of try." But perseverance means more than just trying or working hard. Perseverance is an investment. It's a willingness to bind yourself emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually to an idea, purpose or task until it has been completed. Perseverance demands a lot, but here's the good news: everything you give is an investment in yourself. Each time you do the right thing - seek God, work hard, treat others with respect, learn and grow - you invest in yourself. To do these things every day takes perseverance, but if you do them your success is guaranteed. As author Judy Wardell Halliday said, "Dreams only become reality, when we keep our commitments to them."

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Skywatch #40

Faro, Portugal, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

St Pixels

Just recently I have got reacquainted with St Pixel's and thought I'd share this extraordinary website with you. Here is a place for prayer, discussion, worship, reflection, blogging and much more! Each day you can attend a real live church service with an avatar (see image), that you create. It's held at 9pm GMT everyday and is led by different members of the St Pixel community. Listen to the sermon, join in the singing and intercessions, or just stay in the porch and have a chat. They even hold live Bible Studies. It sounds weird but it works! Hope to see you there.

This Year: Persevere (2)

Image by Express Monorail via Flickr

We will reap a harvest if we do not give up
Galatians 6:9

It's said that Walt Disney's request for a loan was rejected by 301 banks before he finally got "yes." But because he refused to quit, he built the world's most famous theme park. So, this year remember two things:

1) Perseverance is needed to win the prize . At a sales convention the manager said to 2000 of his firm's sales force, 'Did the Wright brothers ever quit?' 'No!' they responded. 'Did Charles Lindburg ever quit?' 'No!' they shouted. 'Did Lance Armstrong ever quit?' 'No!' they bellowed. 'Did Thorndike McKester ever quit?' There was a long, confused silence. Then a salesperson shouted, 'Who in the world is Thorndike McKester? Nobody's ever heard of him.' The sales manager snapped back, 'Of course you haven't; that's because he quit!' Quitters never win, and winners never quit.

2) Perseverance turns adversity into advancement. Paul writes, 'Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel' (Philippians 1:12 NIV). Paul didn't give up; he rose up! How did he do it? He found the benefit to him personally that comes from every trial. One Christian author writes: 'Today we're obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability. We want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. We want a sermon, a seminar or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation and release us from all growing pains. But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving.' Growth is gradual. The Bible says, 'Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters...and we become like him' (2 Corinthians 3:18 TM).

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Revelation Song

Sing a new song today!

Skywatch #39

Grand Union Canal, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Another Skywatch Friday.The Grand Union Canal is one of my local walking places and full of wildlife. Parts of the canal are not so attractive but occasionally it's worth a photograph. Enjoy more Skywatch photos by clicking on the logo below. Have a great weekend.

De-clutter

I love clutter
Originally uploaded by sindesign

"...there are still very large areas of land to be taken over...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest..."
Joshua 13:1 Hebrews 12:1, 4:11

De-cluttering. It’s what one does at the start of a new year. Stuff gets sorted and we resolve to do this and that and the other. If we’re lucky we make it through a good few months before we find other stuff sticking to us, weighing us down and holding us back. It might be sin that does it. That annoying tendency or habit that keeps sending us back to square one. Those things are usually easy to identify because our guilt sensors pick them up, but what about those “things that hinder”, things that are OK in themselves ie. not morally questionable, but threaten to take the place of Jesus in our lives?

For me, this is the real challenge, in a world where distractions come thick and fast and I can barely sit down for five minutes without 101 things running around my head begging for attention, things usually far more interesting than quiet prayer. Pray with me that we may be able to “throw off”, “take over” and “make every effort” to de-clutter this year and let Him through.

Father God, I recognise that there are many things in my life that draw my
attention and devotion away from You. Shine Your light and Your wisdom into
every area and grant me the courage and willingness to let them go. Amen.

This Year: Persevere (1)

Image by Tranuf via Flickr

We will reap a harvest if we do not give up
Galatians 6:9

Perseverance means: 1) Succeeding because you're determined to, not because you're entitled to. Achievers don't sit back and wait for success because they think the world 'owes them.' No, if you're wise you'll ask God for direction, stand firm on the word He has given you, go forward and refuse to quit. You must adopt the attitude of the man who said, 'We are determined to win. We'll fight them until hell freezes over, and if we have to, we'll fight them on ice.' Recalling the trials he'd faced, Paul said: '"I started, and I'm going to finish. I've worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death's door...And that's not the half of it"' (2 Corinthians 11:23-28 TM). One word describes Paul; relentless.

2) Recognizing that life is not one long race, but many short ones in succession. Each task has its own challenges and each day its own events. You have to get out of bed the next morning and run again, but it's never exactly the same race. To be successful you must keep plugging away. It's said that Columbus faced incredible difficulties while sailing west in search of a passage to Asia. He encountered storms, experienced hunger, deprivation and extreme discouragement. The crews of his three ships were near mutiny. But his account of the journey says the same thing over and over: "Today, we sailed on." And his perseverance paid off. He didn't discover a fast route to the spice-rich Indies; instead he found new continents. The scriptural key to success is running the race each day (Hebrews 12:1-2). So, this year; persevere.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Daily Audio Bible

A few days ago whilst browsing, I came across this brilliant site called The Daily Audio Bible. If you have ever tried to read the bible in a year, then you'll know that it's a challenge. These daily readings complete with background sound effects and short overviews of the books, really make compelling listening and the job a whole lot more enjoyable. There's even the opportunity to join the audio bible community. I think it's worth a go. Have listen here and see what you think. If you have a reader or podcaster then subscribe here.

Skywatch #38

Kew Gardens Treetop Walk, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Welcome to another Skywatch Friday. Yesterday, Kew Gardens was celebrating its 250th year with free entry for all. So, having heard the announcement on the radio and at a loose end I headed down there and joined the queue of cars for parking. I've never seen the place so full of people out for a New Year's Day walk; lots of families out making the most of the freebie. I was pleased to see the new treetop walk, but have to say it doesn't compare to a similar one I braved in Western Australia which swang from side to side!

2008 in Pictures

2008 in Pictures from Michael Keen on Vimeo.

A very happy new year to all my blogging friends! Here is a little taste of my year in photos. Hope you enjoy!