I have just recently found out that in the realm of freedom of speech the Blog owner is king.
But the "Print Screen" button is mightier than the delete button:)
"I am better than Robert, I can turn him off!" (Isaac Asimov)
"Is this the right room for an argument? I've told you once. No you haven't..........." (Monty Python)
God Bless
Jem
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Who do you say I am?
Quote
“Literally, the text reads "in order that every the one believing in Him, not to perish, but have everlasting life." It says "every" or "all the one believing..." That's hard to express in English, but in essence, it is saying "all the believing ones." That's what is being communicated. It is saying that there is no such thing as a believing one who does not receive eternal life, but who perishes. Though our English translation says "whoever believes" the literal rendering is accurately translated as "every believing one" and the emphasis is NOT AT ALL on the "whosoever" but on the belief. The ones BELIEVING will not have one consequence but will have another. They will not perish but will have everlasting life.” Rev John Sampson.
Even though the Rev. creates a good argument he is basing his argument on a his own understanding of the passage. As I have said in the past, all our arguments are coloured by our own beliefs.
John 3:16
The actual Literal translation from the Greek is :-
“thus for loves the God the world so that the Son the only-generated He-gives that every the one-believing into Him no should-be-being-destroyed but may-be-having life perpetual.”
To me you would have to be an accomplished linguist and Greek scholar just to put that into plain English.
Strong's Concordance shows that the word translated as whosoever could also be - all, any, every, the whole, all manner or means, always, anyone, etc., etc. G3956
As you can see it is dangerous to base an argument on one word, especially one that can have many similar meanings. Therefore we cannot use this to disprove or even prove universal redemption.
As the Rev. says “What does this text tell us about who WILL believe or who CAN believe? The answer is: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! The text does not address the issue of who WILL believe or who CAN believe.” (emphasis his).
Again, I do agree with the Rev. in that there is limited redemption because of “you must be born again.” As all are not born again, then there is a limitation. Eternal life is limited to those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
My emphasis in John 3:16 has always been on the “believing” and not on the “whosoever” as the whole conversation that our Lord had with Nicodemus was about salvation and belief.
We keep telling people that the bible is
“the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience” Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, 1 The Holy Scriptures, 1.
Then rip the word of God to shreds ourselves trying to justify our personal theologies to other Christians. All this is while the world looks on and says “Why should I join them, when they can't even decide amongst themselves the truth.”
Personally, I do not wish to waste time arguing with Christians when there is a great number of lost souls in the world, those who do not know Christ as their saviour, who only see him as a good man or a character from a story, who have never heard of Nicodemus, never mind Calvinism or Armenianism.
Why should we battle with our brothers and sisters when people are dying around us and going straight to hell, do not pass go, do not collect £200.00!
We need to be on our knees, praying for our wives, children, friends, work colleagues for them to come to see who Jesus truly is.
Our question should not be what does “whosoever” mean, but the question our Lord asked the disciples “But who do you say I am?”
If the non Christian is arguing that John 3:16 is saying that there is a universal salvation it is usually because they think that because “God so loved the world” he must love everyone the same way and not want anyone to perish.
This is usually because they do not want to make our Lord the Lord of their lives and submit all to him, they are trying to wriggle out of hell instead of stepping into heaven.
These are the arguments we should be looking at, we should be pointing our finger at the world and be asking “Who do you say Jesus is, who do you say God is, who do you say the Holy Spirit is, do you believe in the triune God.”
Let us speak and preach and shout of Christ, that he lived, was crucified, died, rose again by His own power and is now seated at the right hand of the Father, in order that sinners may come to repentance. This is the good news of the Gospel and nothing more.
God Bless
Jem
“Literally, the text reads "in order that every the one believing in Him, not to perish, but have everlasting life." It says "every" or "all the one believing..." That's hard to express in English, but in essence, it is saying "all the believing ones." That's what is being communicated. It is saying that there is no such thing as a believing one who does not receive eternal life, but who perishes. Though our English translation says "whoever believes" the literal rendering is accurately translated as "every believing one" and the emphasis is NOT AT ALL on the "whosoever" but on the belief. The ones BELIEVING will not have one consequence but will have another. They will not perish but will have everlasting life.” Rev John Sampson.
Even though the Rev. creates a good argument he is basing his argument on a his own understanding of the passage. As I have said in the past, all our arguments are coloured by our own beliefs.
John 3:16
The actual Literal translation from the Greek is :-
“thus for loves the God the world so that the Son the only-generated He-gives that every the one-believing into Him no should-be-being-destroyed but may-be-having life perpetual.”
To me you would have to be an accomplished linguist and Greek scholar just to put that into plain English.
Strong's Concordance shows that the word translated as whosoever could also be - all, any, every, the whole, all manner or means, always, anyone, etc., etc. G3956
As you can see it is dangerous to base an argument on one word, especially one that can have many similar meanings. Therefore we cannot use this to disprove or even prove universal redemption.
As the Rev. says “What does this text tell us about who WILL believe or who CAN believe? The answer is: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! The text does not address the issue of who WILL believe or who CAN believe.” (emphasis his).
Again, I do agree with the Rev. in that there is limited redemption because of “you must be born again.” As all are not born again, then there is a limitation. Eternal life is limited to those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
My emphasis in John 3:16 has always been on the “believing” and not on the “whosoever” as the whole conversation that our Lord had with Nicodemus was about salvation and belief.
We keep telling people that the bible is
“the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience” Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, 1 The Holy Scriptures, 1.
Then rip the word of God to shreds ourselves trying to justify our personal theologies to other Christians. All this is while the world looks on and says “Why should I join them, when they can't even decide amongst themselves the truth.”
Personally, I do not wish to waste time arguing with Christians when there is a great number of lost souls in the world, those who do not know Christ as their saviour, who only see him as a good man or a character from a story, who have never heard of Nicodemus, never mind Calvinism or Armenianism.
Why should we battle with our brothers and sisters when people are dying around us and going straight to hell, do not pass go, do not collect £200.00!
We need to be on our knees, praying for our wives, children, friends, work colleagues for them to come to see who Jesus truly is.
Our question should not be what does “whosoever” mean, but the question our Lord asked the disciples “But who do you say I am?”
If the non Christian is arguing that John 3:16 is saying that there is a universal salvation it is usually because they think that because “God so loved the world” he must love everyone the same way and not want anyone to perish.
This is usually because they do not want to make our Lord the Lord of their lives and submit all to him, they are trying to wriggle out of hell instead of stepping into heaven.
These are the arguments we should be looking at, we should be pointing our finger at the world and be asking “Who do you say Jesus is, who do you say God is, who do you say the Holy Spirit is, do you believe in the triune God.”
Let us speak and preach and shout of Christ, that he lived, was crucified, died, rose again by His own power and is now seated at the right hand of the Father, in order that sinners may come to repentance. This is the good news of the Gospel and nothing more.
God Bless
Jem
Friday, May 16, 2008
Two or Three
Mat 18:15 (Jesus said) Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
I or should I say, we, were asked on Wednesday if we had ever used verse 20 in meetings, prayer meetings, bible study groups etc when only two or three have turned up.
I hold my hands up to this one, it is something I have done on more than one occasion.
We were told, regarding this passage, what we have done is taken it out of context, that it is not about our low attended gatherings but about when we have to deal with situations of sin (trespass) in the church.
Here we are given great instruction how to deal with these matters, and what is great about verse 20 is that it says that in these situations, if dealt with biblically, Jesus is in the midst of it.
How fantastic is that!
So lesson learnt there for me.
So what about those low attended meetings.
I have been part of a bible study group for a number of years and one thing you find is that there are days when people just do not turn up. Always the reasons have been honest and genuine (as you would hope from Christians) but the numbers would dwindle
At one time I would get paranoid about this.
Was it something I said last week?
Was it something I didn’t say last week?
Is it something we are studying this week?
Do I need to take a bath more often?
So, if I had a night when I got a few phone calls saying that people were unable to attend, I would cancel for that week.
Now I could say, this was because the remaining people had a long way to come and I didn’t want to put them to any trouble if there was to be only two or three of us. But to be honest some of the time it was easier for me. It meant that I could have a weeks rest from studying hard because I could use what I had done for the group study for the week after in the hope that more people would be available.
However, this was having an adverse effect on the group and me. The days when people didn’t come, grew. People found it easier to have genuine reasons not to come, and I found it easier to cancel. This also made me lazy in my studies, I didn’t put as much time into studying, left it while the last minute or didn’t study at all, because I started to expect people to cancel.
Thankfully, I was stopped in my tracks by God.
We talked in the group, how we should study the bible. And it turned out I was saying what we should do but not really doing it myself. A case of Physician heal thyself!
So I a decision had to me made, what would be the best way for me to continue or should I say add new impetus to my study. When did I enjoy studying most? When did I learn the most? Answer, when I was doing it for the group.
Now I no longer cancel group, no matter how many people are unable to come.
Has this made them less enjoyable,? No, because the people who do come, have done so because they want to.
Also there are less instances when people cancel.
What is the least number? Three. Me, SWMBO and one other.
So was verse 20 applicable at this time, and will I use it again in these situations? No because it is out of context.
But was Jesus still with us?
Yes, because He loves to see us study, have fellowship, build relationships and friendships and because He loves to be with us. God with us, in my house, with just a few of us, how fantastic is that!
God Bless
Jem
18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
I or should I say, we, were asked on Wednesday if we had ever used verse 20 in meetings, prayer meetings, bible study groups etc when only two or three have turned up.
I hold my hands up to this one, it is something I have done on more than one occasion.
We were told, regarding this passage, what we have done is taken it out of context, that it is not about our low attended gatherings but about when we have to deal with situations of sin (trespass) in the church.
Here we are given great instruction how to deal with these matters, and what is great about verse 20 is that it says that in these situations, if dealt with biblically, Jesus is in the midst of it.
How fantastic is that!
So lesson learnt there for me.
So what about those low attended meetings.
I have been part of a bible study group for a number of years and one thing you find is that there are days when people just do not turn up. Always the reasons have been honest and genuine (as you would hope from Christians) but the numbers would dwindle
At one time I would get paranoid about this.
Was it something I said last week?
Was it something I didn’t say last week?
Is it something we are studying this week?
Do I need to take a bath more often?
So, if I had a night when I got a few phone calls saying that people were unable to attend, I would cancel for that week.
Now I could say, this was because the remaining people had a long way to come and I didn’t want to put them to any trouble if there was to be only two or three of us. But to be honest some of the time it was easier for me. It meant that I could have a weeks rest from studying hard because I could use what I had done for the group study for the week after in the hope that more people would be available.
However, this was having an adverse effect on the group and me. The days when people didn’t come, grew. People found it easier to have genuine reasons not to come, and I found it easier to cancel. This also made me lazy in my studies, I didn’t put as much time into studying, left it while the last minute or didn’t study at all, because I started to expect people to cancel.
Thankfully, I was stopped in my tracks by God.
We talked in the group, how we should study the bible. And it turned out I was saying what we should do but not really doing it myself. A case of Physician heal thyself!
So I a decision had to me made, what would be the best way for me to continue or should I say add new impetus to my study. When did I enjoy studying most? When did I learn the most? Answer, when I was doing it for the group.
Now I no longer cancel group, no matter how many people are unable to come.
Has this made them less enjoyable,? No, because the people who do come, have done so because they want to.
Also there are less instances when people cancel.
What is the least number? Three. Me, SWMBO and one other.
So was verse 20 applicable at this time, and will I use it again in these situations? No because it is out of context.
But was Jesus still with us?
Yes, because He loves to see us study, have fellowship, build relationships and friendships and because He loves to be with us. God with us, in my house, with just a few of us, how fantastic is that!
God Bless
Jem
Friday, March 07, 2008
Lets Twist Again Like We Did Last Summer
Title above has nothing to do with what I am going to write, just some random thought that came into my head while trying to think of one.
Well I was beginning to think that very little was happening to challenge me in my Christian life when.... POW out of the blue comes a real wowser.
A very good friend of mine, and my spiritual dad, has decided that he wants to leave the church he has been in for the last 30 years or so. And no amount of persuation from me or others can make him change his mind.
And why, well he says that he has had a longing for a long time to serve with a community church.
The body of people we share the good news with is city centre based.
Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem with what he wants to do - evangalism in the local area - Alpha type course and other good stuff.
However, it's this serve bit.....
this guy was serving people already,
in love
in friendship,
in wisdom.
He has a real gift for talking to people
getting along side them
understanding their problems
helping them to resolve them.
Telling them straight when they were in the wrong.
Any new person who walked through the door, he was there.... making them welcome, introducing them to people of a similar character or people who would do them good. He has a real love for people.
He had a responsible position, that could only be a calling of God, where he was able to challenge accepted practices, keep the leadership on an even keel, keep the Pastor looking at all the options. And many other great assets.
If you told him all of the above to his face he would be very humble about it
Now don't get me wrong he was not perfect, like any of us.
You knew you needed bringing back on track when he said "Jem, can I come and see you." or "Have you just got five mins."And for the first few years of my Christian life I was scared of him. However, I was young and foolish and proud and stubborn like any fathers child and needed these "talks" :)
It wasn't in his nature to say "well done." or "just want you to know you are doing a great job."
To me the silences meant you were doing well:)
I love this guy and he has my greatest respect.
But I just can't get my head round this move at all.
When he announced his leaving, half the congregation tried to persuade him to change his mind.
On top of this there are other things happening within the church now which need his personal gifts and support.
Some people are saying it is political
Some people are saying it is an emotional response to something
But most people are saying it is wrong
Anyway, I think it is time for some of his own medicine "dad, have you got five mins."
I've got some questions for my dad. Expect a visit.
God Bless
Jem
Well I was beginning to think that very little was happening to challenge me in my Christian life when.... POW out of the blue comes a real wowser.
A very good friend of mine, and my spiritual dad, has decided that he wants to leave the church he has been in for the last 30 years or so. And no amount of persuation from me or others can make him change his mind.
And why, well he says that he has had a longing for a long time to serve with a community church.
The body of people we share the good news with is city centre based.
Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem with what he wants to do - evangalism in the local area - Alpha type course and other good stuff.
However, it's this serve bit.....
this guy was serving people already,
in love
in friendship,
in wisdom.
He has a real gift for talking to people
getting along side them
understanding their problems
helping them to resolve them.
Telling them straight when they were in the wrong.
Any new person who walked through the door, he was there.... making them welcome, introducing them to people of a similar character or people who would do them good. He has a real love for people.
He had a responsible position, that could only be a calling of God, where he was able to challenge accepted practices, keep the leadership on an even keel, keep the Pastor looking at all the options. And many other great assets.
If you told him all of the above to his face he would be very humble about it
Now don't get me wrong he was not perfect, like any of us.
You knew you needed bringing back on track when he said "Jem, can I come and see you." or "Have you just got five mins."And for the first few years of my Christian life I was scared of him. However, I was young and foolish and proud and stubborn like any fathers child and needed these "talks" :)
It wasn't in his nature to say "well done." or "just want you to know you are doing a great job."
To me the silences meant you were doing well:)
I love this guy and he has my greatest respect.
But I just can't get my head round this move at all.
When he announced his leaving, half the congregation tried to persuade him to change his mind.
On top of this there are other things happening within the church now which need his personal gifts and support.
Some people are saying it is political
Some people are saying it is an emotional response to something
But most people are saying it is wrong
Anyway, I think it is time for some of his own medicine "dad, have you got five mins."
I've got some questions for my dad. Expect a visit.
God Bless
Jem
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Reading
As I said in the post below, reading a lot again.
Just read The Time traveler's Wife, good book, love story with a twist, highly recommended.
Also just read, Pushing Ice, Sci-Fi, again good book, describes itself as a Space Opera
Just in the process of reading a biography of Spurgeon.
Good book, easy read, very full life this man had.
But....
The only problem I have with this type of book is that I can't relate to these people. They don't seem to lead normal lives.
"Aha", I hear you say, "the Christian life isn't normal"
Maybe not to the man in the street, but I am a Christian, it is who I am, not what I do, but I still lead a life where I go to work to put food on the table, have a wife and two children and have constant contact with the people who live in this world.
But these godly men I read about seem to be super human and the only sins they seem to have are the sins of omission.
You never read that Spurgeon shouted at the kids because they got on his nerves or shouted at the wife because he had a bad day at the Tabernacle.
You never read that they didn't read their bible for a week because they got complacent or that they couldn't get to the meeting because their wife said they had to decorate the back bedroom.
Their prayers are eloquent and always seem to be answered, their preaching is powerful and fill churches. There wives are equally godly people and you never hear much about the children apart from how many they had (unless they went on to be great themselves then they have their own book)
Maybe things are harder these days, we have to compete with TV, game boys, x-boxes, computers. Instant gratification. A sermon over 20 minutes is too long for people, and they have to be multimedia performances.
Surely there were distractions in the 1800s
Why don't you read that that Spurgeon got stuck in traffic and came into the pulpit hot and sweaty and dying for the loo.
(they did have traffic jams in the 1800s, London streets used to get clogged up with horses and carriages, there was no High Way Code then)
Don't get me wrong, he was one of the greatest preachers in our history
But will someone make these guys real.
I had read that there is a biography/autobiography out there that runs into six volumes - maybe this will be the one to read.
God Bless
Creatist
Just read The Time traveler's Wife, good book, love story with a twist, highly recommended.
Also just read, Pushing Ice, Sci-Fi, again good book, describes itself as a Space Opera
Just in the process of reading a biography of Spurgeon.
Good book, easy read, very full life this man had.
But....
The only problem I have with this type of book is that I can't relate to these people. They don't seem to lead normal lives.
"Aha", I hear you say, "the Christian life isn't normal"
Maybe not to the man in the street, but I am a Christian, it is who I am, not what I do, but I still lead a life where I go to work to put food on the table, have a wife and two children and have constant contact with the people who live in this world.
But these godly men I read about seem to be super human and the only sins they seem to have are the sins of omission.
You never read that Spurgeon shouted at the kids because they got on his nerves or shouted at the wife because he had a bad day at the Tabernacle.
You never read that they didn't read their bible for a week because they got complacent or that they couldn't get to the meeting because their wife said they had to decorate the back bedroom.
Their prayers are eloquent and always seem to be answered, their preaching is powerful and fill churches. There wives are equally godly people and you never hear much about the children apart from how many they had (unless they went on to be great themselves then they have their own book)
Maybe things are harder these days, we have to compete with TV, game boys, x-boxes, computers. Instant gratification. A sermon over 20 minutes is too long for people, and they have to be multimedia performances.
Surely there were distractions in the 1800s
Why don't you read that that Spurgeon got stuck in traffic and came into the pulpit hot and sweaty and dying for the loo.
(they did have traffic jams in the 1800s, London streets used to get clogged up with horses and carriages, there was no High Way Code then)
Don't get me wrong, he was one of the greatest preachers in our history
But will someone make these guys real.
I had read that there is a biography/autobiography out there that runs into six volumes - maybe this will be the one to read.
God Bless
Creatist
Mr Brown
Hi Bro my comment to your blog
I have read the book, and yes, I agree that some of my "brothers" have taken up too much of their time "promoting" this book, but their problem is that Mr Brown does say at the beginning of the book that it is historically correct.
Hence, knickers, twist
There are many out there who would agree with him but there are also many out there (non Christian as well as Christian) who show that it is not historically correct and a lot of the "signs" he speaks of are open to interpretation in many ways.
Now my faith is strong enough not to be swayed by such a thing that
one, has been said in the past, and
two, will blow over and be forgotten about in a couple of months when the media frenzy has died down.
In fact I have found it a good opportunity to talk to people about what I believe.
Just as an aside, the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail (written 15 years ago), took Dan Brown to court saying that he had copied their work. Big media coverage.
(it turns out Mrs Brown found most of the stuff on the net).
But, they both had the same publisher, and low and behold the latter book is now back on the shelves, (updated of course:)
So if you want to sell a book by the millions, arrange to have it banned......Hmmmm what was that book about Islam that they tried to have banned and the author got death threats?
To finish, if Mr Brown did this intentionally, then he has done very well out of it, but if he actually believes it he is a poorer man for it.
God Bless
p.s book about Gospel of Judas? Someone has. WH Smiths for about £15.00
and the Gospel of James
and every other disciple
but thats another post
p.p.s I also read once that a cow jumped over the moon, I wonder if I can prove it.........
Creatist
I have read the book, and yes, I agree that some of my "brothers" have taken up too much of their time "promoting" this book, but their problem is that Mr Brown does say at the beginning of the book that it is historically correct.
Hence, knickers, twist
There are many out there who would agree with him but there are also many out there (non Christian as well as Christian) who show that it is not historically correct and a lot of the "signs" he speaks of are open to interpretation in many ways.
Now my faith is strong enough not to be swayed by such a thing that
one, has been said in the past, and
two, will blow over and be forgotten about in a couple of months when the media frenzy has died down.
In fact I have found it a good opportunity to talk to people about what I believe.
Just as an aside, the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail (written 15 years ago), took Dan Brown to court saying that he had copied their work. Big media coverage.
(it turns out Mrs Brown found most of the stuff on the net).
But, they both had the same publisher, and low and behold the latter book is now back on the shelves, (updated of course:)
So if you want to sell a book by the millions, arrange to have it banned......Hmmmm what was that book about Islam that they tried to have banned and the author got death threats?
To finish, if Mr Brown did this intentionally, then he has done very well out of it, but if he actually believes it he is a poorer man for it.
God Bless
p.s book about Gospel of Judas? Someone has. WH Smiths for about £15.00
and the Gospel of James
and every other disciple
but thats another post
p.p.s I also read once that a cow jumped over the moon, I wonder if I can prove it.........
Creatist
Recently
Can’t believe that it has been nearly five months since I last left anything on here!!
What’s been happening? Well let’s say that the only thing that is constant is change.
Additional hobby – Woodturning – addictedJ
New office @ work
New responsibilities @ work – my colleague and counterpart left too sunnier climes, now interviewing for replacement
Wood turning
Reading (on the grounds that for every book I buy, I give one away)
Furniture restoration (Can you make my table smaller?)
Woodturning
Changes in responsibilities @ church
Oh, and did I mention Woodturning
Holiday to St Ives (fantastic weather)
Holiday to Scotland (next week)
And of course Woodturning
Creatist
What’s been happening? Well let’s say that the only thing that is constant is change.
Additional hobby – Woodturning – addictedJ
New office @ work
New responsibilities @ work – my colleague and counterpart left too sunnier climes, now interviewing for replacement
Wood turning
Reading (on the grounds that for every book I buy, I give one away)
Furniture restoration (Can you make my table smaller?)
Woodturning
Changes in responsibilities @ church
Oh, and did I mention Woodturning
Holiday to St Ives (fantastic weather)
Holiday to Scotland (next week)
And of course Woodturning
Creatist
Monday, December 12, 2005
Kill the Wabbit
You will have to forgive me if this is not my usual, Spiritual blog.
Been having problems with the old modem for a couple of weeks very up and down since provider upped the bandwidth.
Friday evening downloaded new drivers for "frog" and this seems to have cured the problem though line still drops occasionally.
So thought, will have to get up to date with e-mails, reading blogs etc.
But Bugs Bunny struck again. I say again because a couple of weeks ago our darling pet wabbit, Bramble, chewed through the cable to the mouse,
while I was using it,
not funny.
Out came the black insulating tape and mouse back in action.
So lesson having been learnt, door to computer room is shut when wabbit is having her daily wander.
But today, taking a leaf out of urbanshamen's book, (telly switched off) sat in lounge, (posh in 'our 'ouse) reading latest woodworking mag that has dropped on the doormat when SWMBA says, "Where's Bramble?"
Me, engrossed in the delights of a bit of 2 be 2 and the electrical gadgets to turn it into a Chippendale (that’s the furniture maker, not the ones with oily chests), says, "Under the settee where she usually sits when she is supposed to be having her run round"
"Nope, not there." she quips, "Already looked."
"Has she gone upstairs, sweetness?" I say, thinking of a good use for a band saw.
A shout comes from upstairs, "She's in your computer room"
Knowing habits of said wabbit I tear up the stairs to find evil bunny under the desk having a feast of spaghetti, the computer wire type.
Wabbit is banished to cage in basement.
Damage to computer =
Speaker wires
Cable to monitor,
smell of ozone,
hot wires!
Pull plug quick!
How little grey fluffy wabbit did not end up as even smaller, black and smoking wabbit I do not know.
So out came the insulating tape again and after half an hour of stripping ridiculously small wires of their insulation, tying them back together monitor is back up and running.
My next creative urge is to run the mains cable from the fuse box through the rabbit cage.
That reminds me, it’s a long time since I’ve had rabbit stew!
God Bless
Creatist
Been having problems with the old modem for a couple of weeks very up and down since provider upped the bandwidth.
Friday evening downloaded new drivers for "frog" and this seems to have cured the problem though line still drops occasionally.
So thought, will have to get up to date with e-mails, reading blogs etc.
But Bugs Bunny struck again. I say again because a couple of weeks ago our darling pet wabbit, Bramble, chewed through the cable to the mouse,
while I was using it,
not funny.
Out came the black insulating tape and mouse back in action.
So lesson having been learnt, door to computer room is shut when wabbit is having her daily wander.
But today, taking a leaf out of urbanshamen's book, (telly switched off) sat in lounge, (posh in 'our 'ouse) reading latest woodworking mag that has dropped on the doormat when SWMBA says, "Where's Bramble?"
Me, engrossed in the delights of a bit of 2 be 2 and the electrical gadgets to turn it into a Chippendale (that’s the furniture maker, not the ones with oily chests), says, "Under the settee where she usually sits when she is supposed to be having her run round"
"Nope, not there." she quips, "Already looked."
"Has she gone upstairs, sweetness?" I say, thinking of a good use for a band saw.
A shout comes from upstairs, "She's in your computer room"
Knowing habits of said wabbit I tear up the stairs to find evil bunny under the desk having a feast of spaghetti, the computer wire type.
Wabbit is banished to cage in basement.
Damage to computer =
Speaker wires
Cable to monitor,
smell of ozone,
hot wires!
Pull plug quick!
How little grey fluffy wabbit did not end up as even smaller, black and smoking wabbit I do not know.
So out came the insulating tape again and after half an hour of stripping ridiculously small wires of their insulation, tying them back together monitor is back up and running.
My next creative urge is to run the mains cable from the fuse box through the rabbit cage.
That reminds me, it’s a long time since I’ve had rabbit stew!
God Bless
Creatist
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Just Creating
As requested I have started another blog for just my "other" artwork. http://just-creating.blogspot.com
I hope the pictures bring some pleasure to you.
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It has been said that I am not creating but copying, that I am copying what the creator has already made.
They are right in saying this.
But each piece of work is a part of me is some shape or form, each stroke of pen or pencil has taken a part of me and put it down in a tangible form that cannot be totally described.
In her book “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain”, Betty Edwards talks about a place that you reach when you are drawing, a switch from the logical left brain activity to the right brain, that eureka moment, where everything falls into place.
I have been there, but this does not totally describe that almost (have to be careful here) “spiritual” time where, as you paint, draw etc. you lose all sense of time, space. A place where nothing else matters but the subject in front of you.
Yes, I am copying; I copy the world around me but in a form that is pleasing to me and hopefully pleasing to others.
Some have also said that, what we artists do is a God given gift. That it is something that cannot be learnt, that it is something we are born with. I would have to disagree with them.
Is a mathematician any different or a singer or a dancer, were all these born with the “gifts” they have? I am sure a lot of them worked very hard to achieve the level they are at.
In some ways this is a public confession, I have never verbally given Him the credit because, yes, God has everything to do with it, he created me, he created me with a brain, with hands (though if you know the Mouth and Foot Painting Artist, this is not a requirement http://www.mfpa.co.uk/) but He also created me with a will of my own and it is through choice and desire that I have worked the last twenty odd years continually trying to better express the world around me in different media and showing maybe just a little of God the Creator.
I think in some ways I have a bit of narcissism in me in that through my art I sometime feel I am saying “Look at me, look at what I can do. Aren’t I great!” but then I look at my work, weeks, months even years down the line and think “What a load of rubbish that is!” (You should hear some of my sermons, aaaaargh)
If I have to put it down explicitly, I think, if anything, He wants me to work at it, and sweat over it and look more closely at the world around me, then work at it some more.
God created in me the “desire” to create. In creating the creature, the Creator left something of himself on the paper of my life.
I know I can’t create the life He has put in his creations but even if I can show a small part of this in my meagre work then I will keep working at it.
But as I have always said to my kids, “Try your best at everything you do! You might not always get it right but if you do the best you are capable of, you are on the right track."
As for my “creations” judge for yourself, I will put them up there “warts and all.”
p.s. A note to my artistic twin, I am getting there with my picture sermon. Might start with the first seven days of Genesis, what do you think?
p.p.s the picture is some digital art I created based on a dream my daughter had.
God Bless
Creatist
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
A Thousand Words
Just to let you all know that I have created a new blog http://just-photos.blogspot.com/ you will not see any text just photos that I have taken which have appealed to me. Some will have been manipulated slightly but only things like contrast or a change to B&W.
And as a picture paints a thousand words you can't complain about me not posting:)
Let me know what you think
God Bless
Creatist
And as a picture paints a thousand words you can't complain about me not posting:)
Let me know what you think
God Bless
Creatist
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
The Gift That Lasts
Hi all
I will give you a tip. Type your blog in Word first.
For 2 reasons:
1) You can turn on spellcheck
2) YOU DON’T LOSE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE JUST BEEN TYPING FOR THE LAST 10 MINUTES BY PRESSING THE WRONG BUTTON!
Ahhh, that’s better.
So here goes, a bit of waffle and a bit of ramble.
Thanks for the posts, it’s nice to see someone is reading these.
My question to you is; who buys York Fruits?
Someone must, as they appear in the shops at Christmas year after year (and earlier each year). I can cope with Chocolate Brazils, (I admit to buying these, but not at Christmas).
But York Fruits?
The people who buy these need their bumps feeling.
Is there anyone out there who actually likes them or do you think, when you get them as a present, “Well they really gave some thought to what I wanted for Christmas.”
Maybe there is some vague religious significance I have missed all my Christian life.
I can just see it now,
The Kings (or Wise Man if you prefer) enter the smelly stable, shoving the donkey out of the way, trying to avoid treading in something nasty.
First King: Hi Mary, how ya doing. Jus come from from t'North.....
Mary: Don't you mean the East?
First King: Sort of luv, North-East. Anyway lass, just popped by t' drop you and the ankle biter a pressie off.
Mary: Oooh, Lovely, a nice bag of Gold, that will do very nicely f' when the bailiffs come knocking again.
Second King (bowing and scraping): Oh great and mighty female of the Lord, I bring you offerings that are not worthy of your praise and ask that you receive them from my humble self; I bring you frankincense and myrrh.
Mary: Don’t be so daft Fred. That’s grand. Sit down and have a cuppa; they will do nicely for covering up a few baby smells.
Third King (rushes in out of breath):
All great theologians know there were only three:)
Mary, (puff pant)
sorry love, (heavy breathing),
had a busy few months, (puff, puff, pant),
Christmas got sprung on me this year, (sits down heavily)
and haven’t had time to do any real shopping, (mops brow)
so I nipped into Morrisons, (wrings hanky out)
and got you some, (puff, pant, sweat, mop, wring)
York Fruits.
And the rest, as they say, is history:)
God Bless
Creatist
Friday, October 07, 2005
Eye hath not seen
Hi People
After being chastised by Bigsheff, I thought I would write a bit more on the blog. Mainly because I have a bit of time now as "She who must be adored" (from now on to be referred to SWMBA) has gone off to work and the mini 1 and 2 are in bed.
Those of you who know me will like this one
Get settled, it is a long one.
End of last week after very hectic week at the grindstone (not that pub Bigsheff), thought, must have some time off to recharge the batteries. So booked following Friday off.
Then thought, I won't tell SWMBA and surprise her on the day. But kept checking her social diary just in case she decided to take a trip to western China or something at the last minute.
So the day comes (today), we both take mini 1&2 to their seat of learning and I pretend to head off to sweat shop while she takes mini 1&2 into play (they don't have to do any work until they leave school these days)
I wait for a couple of minutes to make sure SWMBA is out of sight, double back, and wait outside front gates of said seat of learning, just across the road, leaning against a lamp post, looking highly suspicious, and feeling like I am going to be arrested any minute for loitering in area where young peeps are.
There I was, stood there, thinking to myself, she will be surprised to see me and when I tell her that I have took the day of "just to be with her" she will be over the moon.
See SWMBA walking away from seat of learning talking to guardian of mini 2's friend. Both chatting happily away…..
Me standing there thinking, she will be surprised any minute...
SWMBA walks through play area chatting happily away.....
Me standing there thinking, she will be surprised any minute...
SWMBA walks through gate chatting happily away....
Any second now she is only 10 foot away.....Me standing there thinking, she will be suprised any minute...
SWMBA crosses the road chatting happily away....
Any millisecond now she is only 2 foot away.....Me standing there thinking, she will be surprised any millisecond....
SWMBA walks straight past................
Now you would think that after 13 years of marital bliss that SWMBA would spot her own hunk of glory a mile away, never mind 2 foot away.
There have been a couple times in my life when I thought I must be invisible, and a couple more where I wished I was, but this one took the biscuit.
So what did I do, apart from standing there stunned for a couple of seconds, what could I do? She was "chatting happily away" so I couldn't shout out "Oy! missus are you blind" or "Can I borrow yer white stick luv" So what did I do?
I know I thought, I will walk a couple of steps behind and eventually she will notice....
200 yards later, nothing, not a sausage, they could have had a mad axe man behind them and they wouldn't have noticed.
At this point, the said guardian of mini 2's friend parts company with SWMBA, so me thinks again. She must notice now.....
Nope, blind as a bat, off she walks another 100 yards to road where she would have to stop for traffic and she is bound to notice me there.
Nope, might as well have been tree, or bush or any other object that doesn't make a habit of following you down the road.
So SWMBA is just about to cross road, so invisible man says, "Good morning missus".
SWMBA says "Good morning." turns to cross road then......
Have you ever seen those cartoons where light suddenly goes on in brain box. I swear that is what happened here. Expression went from blank, 'I am just passing the time of day' expression to (though left unsaid, her being a lady of breeding) "What the bloody hell are you doing here!"
It was classic! I was worth every second of being an invisible man just to see that look and one I will remember for ever.
After this dramatic start to the day, it was very pleasant to spend some time together without mini 1&2 snapping at our heels and I won't bore you with the details, but.....
NEXT WEEK SHE IS GOING TO THE OPTICIANS!!
By the way the title is taken from:
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
And as you can see from this tale, he prepares some strange things for you:)
God Bless
Creatist
After being chastised by Bigsheff, I thought I would write a bit more on the blog. Mainly because I have a bit of time now as "She who must be adored" (from now on to be referred to SWMBA) has gone off to work and the mini 1 and 2 are in bed.
Those of you who know me will like this one
Get settled, it is a long one.
End of last week after very hectic week at the grindstone (not that pub Bigsheff), thought, must have some time off to recharge the batteries. So booked following Friday off.
Then thought, I won't tell SWMBA and surprise her on the day. But kept checking her social diary just in case she decided to take a trip to western China or something at the last minute.
So the day comes (today), we both take mini 1&2 to their seat of learning and I pretend to head off to sweat shop while she takes mini 1&2 into play (they don't have to do any work until they leave school these days)
I wait for a couple of minutes to make sure SWMBA is out of sight, double back, and wait outside front gates of said seat of learning, just across the road, leaning against a lamp post, looking highly suspicious, and feeling like I am going to be arrested any minute for loitering in area where young peeps are.
There I was, stood there, thinking to myself, she will be surprised to see me and when I tell her that I have took the day of "just to be with her" she will be over the moon.
See SWMBA walking away from seat of learning talking to guardian of mini 2's friend. Both chatting happily away…..
Me standing there thinking, she will be surprised any minute...
SWMBA walks through play area chatting happily away.....
Me standing there thinking, she will be surprised any minute...
SWMBA walks through gate chatting happily away....
Any second now she is only 10 foot away.....Me standing there thinking, she will be suprised any minute...
SWMBA crosses the road chatting happily away....
Any millisecond now she is only 2 foot away.....Me standing there thinking, she will be surprised any millisecond....
SWMBA walks straight past................
Now you would think that after 13 years of marital bliss that SWMBA would spot her own hunk of glory a mile away, never mind 2 foot away.
There have been a couple times in my life when I thought I must be invisible, and a couple more where I wished I was, but this one took the biscuit.
So what did I do, apart from standing there stunned for a couple of seconds, what could I do? She was "chatting happily away" so I couldn't shout out "Oy! missus are you blind" or "Can I borrow yer white stick luv" So what did I do?
I know I thought, I will walk a couple of steps behind and eventually she will notice....
200 yards later, nothing, not a sausage, they could have had a mad axe man behind them and they wouldn't have noticed.
At this point, the said guardian of mini 2's friend parts company with SWMBA, so me thinks again. She must notice now.....
Nope, blind as a bat, off she walks another 100 yards to road where she would have to stop for traffic and she is bound to notice me there.
Nope, might as well have been tree, or bush or any other object that doesn't make a habit of following you down the road.
So SWMBA is just about to cross road, so invisible man says, "Good morning missus".
SWMBA says "Good morning." turns to cross road then......
Have you ever seen those cartoons where light suddenly goes on in brain box. I swear that is what happened here. Expression went from blank, 'I am just passing the time of day' expression to (though left unsaid, her being a lady of breeding) "What the bloody hell are you doing here!"
It was classic! I was worth every second of being an invisible man just to see that look and one I will remember for ever.
After this dramatic start to the day, it was very pleasant to spend some time together without mini 1&2 snapping at our heels and I won't bore you with the details, but.....
NEXT WEEK SHE IS GOING TO THE OPTICIANS!!
By the way the title is taken from:
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
And as you can see from this tale, he prepares some strange things for you:)
God Bless
Creatist
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Saints Rest
Greetings
As some of my family are doing this I thought I would try one myself.
Hopefully here you will find inspiration and someblessing, but don't be suprised if it gets a bit silly or even frightening.
Word for today = Whoopa Wheyhey
God bless
Creatist
As some of my family are doing this I thought I would try one myself.
Hopefully here you will find inspiration and someblessing, but don't be suprised if it gets a bit silly or even frightening.
Word for today = Whoopa Wheyhey
God bless
Creatist
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