Moving day

Roger is still in the process of moving house.

You may recall that his new abode has already been decorated (read about it here).  He has since moved in and is enjoying life in the metropolis of Ballymena.  However he still has a house to clear and so enlisted the help of the best people he could find (which included me) to help.

It went a little like this:

'Bin, bin, bin, charity shop, bin, do you want this?'

'No thanks.'

'Bin, charity shop, charity shop, bin, do you want this?

'OK'

'Bin...'

On and on it went until the sum total of Rogers possessions could fit into the gym bag of a first-year boy.  It was both very practical and very cathartic for Roger.  He is not a hoarder, he is not materialistic compared to a lot of folks but even he had acquired a lot of surplus pruck over the last few years.

We do that. We gather stuff around us that we use for a time and when we are finished with it we don't want to let it go so we store it.  The problem is that all this stored uselessness makes it difficult to move.

When God gives a new life to someone a lot of the things once thought of as vitally important very quickly becomes surplus to requirements.  These things aren't just material, they can be old habits, dangerous practices, childishness, irresponsibility, drunkenness etc etc.  We know they're not good for us, that they are now unnecessary but we hold on to them anyway - for sentimental reasons if you like.

They are no good, they are slowing you down, they are unnecessary cargo, ditch them!  Sentimentalism for the old life left behind (in my experience) reduces growth, restricts development and slows you down.

Roger is now able to move house with just a car and a trailer, he is slimmed down and ready to go where-ever, whenever.  Are you the same?  Can you do what ever God asks, when He asks or are you burdened by the accumulation of junk that you are clinging on to?

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness

Ephesians 4:22-24

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Let it snow

There's nothing quite like the first morning of the season when you pull back the curtains to see a blanket of snow over the land. That's what it was like this morning is beautiful Rathcoole. 

There was a light hazy glow hovering over the fresh crisp morning.  All was calm and bright, the world seemed as delicate and intricate as the snowflakes covering it.  It's no surprise that mornings like this are what children dream of.  to put on hats and gloves, go outside and have fun flinging the soft snow at each other.  Oh the joy of seeing their rosy cheeks as they come back into the warmth smiling and laughing at the fun they've had.

We were keen to let little Rocky outside as is his routine.  We wanted to see him frolic in the wintry weather, maybe flick up little puffs of snow as he investigated this strange new world.  We wondered how he would react.

We opened the door.  He ran outside, barked at the snow, did a pee and ran inside again. Disappointing.

What we saw as fascinating and fun he though of as different, weird, and it frightened him.  Just like humans when he encountered something different from the norm he reacted against it.  Change is wrong, new is uncomfortable, unknown is suspicious.

So often in life we do not give new ideas or new ways of doing things a chance.  We resist change at every level.  Only when it is instigated by ourselves do we really embrace it. Only when it's in our favour do we say 'a change as good as a rest'.

But things change regardless.  People are born and people die.  Stuff happens, people move on, nothing stays the same for ever.  Our world is completely different than it was 150 years ago, we hark back to the good old days but does anyone really want to go back there?

There is only one unchangeable, one constant - God.  That does not mean that he is being left behind or becoming out of date but instead he is not dependant on culture or fashion to find relevance.  Where-ever there is creation, whether it is mountains or angels or suns or people, God is not just in tune with it but sets the tune.

God understands the hip-hop culture because He enabled the people who thought of it to think in the first place.  God was not surprised by wi-fi or mobile phones or deep-fried Mars Bars. He isn't shocked by Call of Duty or Saw VI.  He understands 'street' as much as he understands any language.  God never changes -He always knows and understands what is going on with you in your life.  In fact he gets it more than you do.

God is everywhere, intimately involved in everything, and that never changes.

“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
   your years go on through all generations.
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
   and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
   they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
   and they will be discarded.
But you remain the same,
   and your years will never end.

Psalm 102:24-27

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8

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Exciting news! Tomorrows post will be written by the fabulous Caroline Moore.  She is my first ever 'guest poster' and I'm ver much looking forward to what she has to say.