Dear All
Well I hope I didn't frightened too many of you with the technology involved with "Blogs". As I said, I'm still on that learning curve. I understand blogs to be online logs or journals by individuals, who invite colleagues, friends or general members of the public to respond, in my case, it's just yourselves that can add to it, but I will not say more on the subject, for fear of boring you all.
From the Patio Doors;
The turf is laid, what a transformation, Brian the gardener, even managed to get his hand on special turf, which when it's laid in different directions gives a illusion to the lawn, within hours of it going down the ants which had burrowed below, had made their way to the surface and were flying off into the thundery sky.
At the bottom of the garden, we have 'planted' the squeaky trampoline, it's ideal, as it benefits from the early afternoon shade, so the children can play with sun safety in mind. The cherry tree, and oak, cast beautiful shadows over the watered grass, and the sun glistens through the dew drops of water.
Thoughts today;
18/8/05 I listen to the children laughing on the "bouncy machine" or playing in their rooms, throughout this rather too long summer holiday (general agreement for that statement, from all parties). I ponder about how to explain (what little I know) to the children about why Dad is unwell, how much I should tell, should it be tailored for each of them differently? I pray to the Good Lord that he will offer me guidance on this matter.
Two other matter have been receiving my prayers over the past few days, as well as my normal devotional readings. The poor family who's daughter was trapped in the sands of the beach in Kernow. No parent, should see a child go through any suffering, physical or mental. To stand on that beach helpless must have been so traumatic for them and I pray for all parents who have lost children at such tender years.
The other event has been the eviction of the Jewish settlers in the Gaza strip, I purposely don't want to have a political view on the rights or wrongs of the event. But once again, I pray that the mental effects the children of the settlers are witnessing, will not affect them for the rest of the lives. That with prayer, they will find peace in other parts of the Holy Land, that the tears of sadness, hurt and inner trauma their parents are feeling can heal with peace towards all.
I would like to especially thank Irene and Sue for calling to see me this week, it was so wonderful to see you both, and at last Len and Sue have been added to the PLFTPD email list - - - you can run but you can't hide!!
19/8/05 What a sad morning, as this morning bought us the news that Dr Mo Mowlam had passed away, for those of you, who remember PLFTPD (3), she is a lady, who I held with great respect and admiration, and I would invite her to my 'dinner party'.
There is nothing like a good storm to clear the air, and 'by gum' we had one of those last night, so much so the lawn was watered by the Good Lord rather than Severn Trent!
21/8/5 I'm in the middle of reading a book at the moment called "Rowing without Oars" by Ulla-Carin Lindquist. Parts of it were read whilst I was in London, on 'Women's Hour'. It's about a mother, of two older girls and two much younger boys who was diagnosed, at the age of 50 with ALS, we call it MND over here. It's written with a rather reflective slant and jumps around a bit, but once you've'e got used to the journal style of writing it's very easy to read, the fact that Ulla-Carin used to be a TV journalist in Sweden helps. It is beautifully written book and I would recommend it, although the subject matter is a little morbid, she combines her childhood, the swedish countryside, the hospital visits and her young boys reactions to her illness, I will just quote one small part;
"Mummy, every second is a life", Gustaf says gently. "What did you say?" "Every second is a life". "Where have you heard that?" "Nowhere. I made it up now". And he carries on, "You have hundreds of thousands of lives left, Mummy."
We don't get an idea in the book how old Gustaf is, but I believe he is primary school age.
25/8/05 Four months to Christmas Day, it does not seem two minutes since we brought the Tree into the house, and now it's sits waiting patiently on the patio in readiness to bring a promise of spring and in the dark days of winter it's bright greenery will make us smile. Our children have already started looking through the 'argos' catalogue.
A friend asked me today about the religious angle to my letters, and where it came from. I re-told the story of how when my Father was terminally ill, my faith dwindled, and whoever I sat and spoke to about how I could deal with the situation, I did not appear to be receptive to their advice. I started a period of searching, questioning different faiths about my dilemma; I attended a Friday evening shabbat service in Warwick, I spoke with Seventh day Adventists, I tried everything. Until one day a few years ago, MY FAITH FOUND ME, and every calling and message I received from the Good Lord, made sense once again to me.
27/8/05 I'm not usually one to read my horoscopes, but when I do, they seem very real and pertinent to me, baring in mind the last paragraph, look what I found on the www.word-on-the-web site today the following;
What has God done for you in your life? What is your story? Don’t be ashamed of
where you have been and where God has brought you from. Your story is one of the
most powerful things that you have, to show others the reality of what God can
do in a life.
I encourage you today to think about what God has done in your life, and to pray
about how you can share that with somebody else. Who knows what effect it may
have on someone else’s situation today, when they receive that word into their
life?
Prayer
Father, I thank you for the amazing things you have done in my life. Help me to
recognize those things and to be able to share them with someone, so that your
life-changing power can be shown through me. In the name of Jesus, Amen
A Joke to end with:-
Two beggars are sitting on the pavement in Ireland. One is holding a large Cross and the other a large Star of David. Both are holding hats to collect contributions. As people walk by, they lift their noses at the guy holding the Star of David but drop money in the other guy’s hat. Soon one hat is nearly full whilst the other hat is empty.
A priest watches and then approaches the men. He turns to the guy with the Star of David and says, "Don't you realize that this is a Christian country? You'll never get any contributions in this country holding a Star of David."
The guy holding the Star of David then turns to the guy holding the Cross and says, "Hymie, look who's trying to teach us Marketing."
I pray and thank the dear Lord for every second of my life I have, with many thousands to come, and that I can use them wisely to his glory.
Shalom, God Bless and Loving wishes to all
Paul