Yesterday's action was to mention the carbon fast in church, which I did, albeit briefly (I did mention it last Sunday as well...).
Today's is say goodbye to standby. Turn appliances off rather than to standby; i.e. pull out the plug, as there's normally no other way! But now a problem. We have a hard drive recorder (the video recorder went wrong some months back and this seemed a good alternative). But the instructions say DON'T turn it off because it may download programme updates overnight. I fear until the industry is more carbon friendly, we're not going to have a great deal of success. (Sorry this entry is so serious!)
Monday, 11 February 2008
In the News Today
This morning on BBC Radio 2 news the first item was Amy Winehouse's wins at the Grammy awards and the second item was Atonement winning best film at the Baftas. So those were the two most important news items from the whole world ... No BBC, of course you're not dumbing down!
Suffering a sermon on suffering!
The subject for my sermon yesterday was Finding Hope in Suffering. Not an easy subject, you may think! And you'd be right, yet a couple of things came up in my study I'd like to share.
One was St. Paul's theology on suffering, found in Romans 5:3. He says we can rejoice in our sufferings because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope. So there it was, without realising it when the title was chosen, St. Paul says you can find hope in suffering. And if you're thinking, "It's all very well for him!", then you need to also read St Paul's testimony on suffering, which he wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (around the same time he wrote his 'theology on suffering' in Romans). Here he tells of is own suffering, which he calls a 'thorn in the flesh' and which God didn't take away, but gave him grace enough to cope with it. Having accepted that, Paul did indeed rejoice in his suffering.
The second thing I found was a little book by Margaret Clarkson, Destined for Glory. She has suffered a terrific amount in her life but realises that God can turn it all to good (see Romans 8:28). She talks about God's alchemy. In the middle ages alchemists tried in vain to turn base metals into gold, but God transmutes suffering from Satan into good for his glory.
There are no easy answers to the problem of suffering but the above thoughts may help.
One was St. Paul's theology on suffering, found in Romans 5:3. He says we can rejoice in our sufferings because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope. So there it was, without realising it when the title was chosen, St. Paul says you can find hope in suffering. And if you're thinking, "It's all very well for him!", then you need to also read St Paul's testimony on suffering, which he wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (around the same time he wrote his 'theology on suffering' in Romans). Here he tells of is own suffering, which he calls a 'thorn in the flesh' and which God didn't take away, but gave him grace enough to cope with it. Having accepted that, Paul did indeed rejoice in his suffering.
The second thing I found was a little book by Margaret Clarkson, Destined for Glory. She has suffered a terrific amount in her life but realises that God can turn it all to good (see Romans 8:28). She talks about God's alchemy. In the middle ages alchemists tried in vain to turn base metals into gold, but God transmutes suffering from Satan into good for his glory.
There are no easy answers to the problem of suffering but the above thoughts may help.
Friday, 8 February 2008
Lent cont'd
The next day in our "Carbon Fast" (see earlier entry) is trying to do less journeys in the car. Well I did! Got a lift to work and back! But a one-off I'm afraid. I'd cycle more BUT Brentwood isn't at all cycle-friendly! Not like Ipswich where we came from. In the local paper there was an article about how they are going to put in a bit of fence on a path to stop cyclists. Thanks, that's where I cycle! The thought of putting in a cycle path, well ... - but mustn't go on!
Next day is re-examine your re-cycling. We would re-cycle more if we could do veg peelings etc into garden rubbish, but can't. Now, back in Ipswich we had ... oh, I'm going on again! Maybe I should have given up chocolate for Lent instead!
Next day is re-examine your re-cycling. We would re-cycle more if we could do veg peelings etc into garden rubbish, but can't. Now, back in Ipswich we had ... oh, I'm going on again! Maybe I should have given up chocolate for Lent instead!
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Rise and Shine!
A poem for the 60 pluses written by me for, well if the cap fits ... Enjoy!
Out of bed I start to bumble,
Round the room begin to fumble,
By the chair I trip and stumble,
Trying not to take a tumble.
Mind is in its usual jumble,
Stomach gives a funny rumble,
My whole body seems to crumble,
I complain but in a mumble,
“Not as young as Nicky Gumbel!
What a life; it keeps me humble!”
So I say, “Well, mustn’t grumble!”
Out of bed I start to bumble,
Round the room begin to fumble,
By the chair I trip and stumble,
Trying not to take a tumble.
Mind is in its usual jumble,
Stomach gives a funny rumble,
My whole body seems to crumble,
I complain but in a mumble,
“Not as young as Nicky Gumbel!
What a life; it keeps me humble!”
So I say, “Well, mustn’t grumble!”
For Lent or for keeps?
Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Tearfund have suggested a "Carbon Fast" for Lent (see www.tearfund.org/carbonfast ). They have 40 suggestions for cutting down one's carbon footprint. The reason for the number is that there are 40 days in Lent, in case you hadn't realised. I will try to blog our successes and failures!
Day 1 says "Remove one light bulb and live without it for 40 days." Success here in that we have unscrewed two downlighters in our kitchen! And I think we can do without that light.
Day 2 says "Check your house for draughts with a ribbon or a feather. If it flutters, buy a draught excluder" Don't need a feather! The wind howls through the letterbox (although better since we bought a new flap) and there was also a gale blowing through the side of the bathroom window this morning! Not so easy to fix!! So maybe more of a failure on this one ...
Still there's the next day - Oh, I've just read it - maybe not! Don't miss the next thrilling instalment!
Day 1 says "Remove one light bulb and live without it for 40 days." Success here in that we have unscrewed two downlighters in our kitchen! And I think we can do without that light.
Day 2 says "Check your house for draughts with a ribbon or a feather. If it flutters, buy a draught excluder" Don't need a feather! The wind howls through the letterbox (although better since we bought a new flap) and there was also a gale blowing through the side of the bathroom window this morning! Not so easy to fix!! So maybe more of a failure on this one ...
Still there's the next day - Oh, I've just read it - maybe not! Don't miss the next thrilling instalment!
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Experience proves it
I've just read Psalm 37:25:
I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging for bread.
I identify with the first line and I'm encouraged by the secoond! Not that I'm 'righteous' on my own, (see Isaiah 64:6) but Jesus has has forgiven me and he imparts his righteousness to me. So when I begin to doubt God's provision (as I do, often!), this verse reminds me that God has never let us down and his promise is, he won't.
I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging for bread.
I identify with the first line and I'm encouraged by the secoond! Not that I'm 'righteous' on my own, (see Isaiah 64:6) but Jesus has has forgiven me and he imparts his righteousness to me. So when I begin to doubt God's provision (as I do, often!), this verse reminds me that God has never let us down and his promise is, he won't.
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