Count them

Sometimes, just sometimes we forget to be thankful.

God has blessed me so much and yet sometimes the first thing I do when talking to him is to ask for more. On one occasion Jesus healed ten men of Leprosy (Luke 17:12-19).  Only one came back to say thank-you.  Are you one of the nine or are you like the one who came back? I know which one I want to be but sometimes I am thoroughly ungrateful.

I think we need to count our blessings more, and we need to tell others about what we have to be thankful for.

You see being a witness for Christ is just that, telling others how He's blessed you. And we are called to be witnesses.  Of course sometimes life is very difficult.  It's at those times when it is most important to remember what God has done for us in the past, then we will find reassurance that He will not abandon us in the hard times.

So I would encourage you now to leave a wee comment to tell what you have to be thankful to God for.  This will be a reminder to anyone else reading this what a gracious and merciful God we have.


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And a cheesy tune to cheer you up!

(Special thanks to CM for her wonderful link and apologies to JH for sharing it with others!)

Hic!

I'm scared of hiccups.

It's not that hiccups are particularly scary but they are a little bit sore and a whole lot annoying. What really scares me about them is not knowing when they are going to stop.

Charles Osborne, an American pig farmer (not the chancellor of the exchequer!), started hiccuping in 1922 and didn't stop until 1990, that's 68 years! Every time I get the hiccups I wonder will this be me until I'm 97, what a horrible existence that would be!

I mention this because last night I got a dose of hiccups. It turned out not to last too long but it was pretty annoying. Rocky had been naughty and I was telling him off, 'Bad dohukg!, bahuk dog, huk'. My wife laughed, even the dog chuckled, discipline became impossible.

It's the uncontrollable element of hiccups that makes it so disconcerting. You just never know when they will strike. They control you, you are a slave to them. There are many theories as to how to get rid of them but I'm not sure any really work.

Sometimes when we do things we shouldn't we think of it as a hiccup. Just a blot on our otherwise clean paper, just a slip-up, a one off. If our sin is just a series of hiccups Then I have had hiccups from the day I was born until now and it shows no sign of abating.

There seems to be no cure for sin either. In 1 John 1:8 the bible says, 'If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us'. But this tendency to sin is not the same as being a slave to it. We can overcome what we do wrong with the power of the Holy Spirit.

The bible also says, 'count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.' Romans 6:11-12. We do not have to be controlled by the things that are against God any more. By accepting Jesus we can be free from that, we can do good. This needs work, hard work to resist sin, to not let it fester in our bodies, to not indulge in deliberate sin. But the joy of release from slavery and the joy of pleasing the Saviour of the world, is worth it.


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Last night was a quiet one in Rathcoole, we thank God for that.  Please continue to pray for our estate and the people in it.  Also feel free to share any prayer requests you may have, I and others here would be happy to pray for you.

Greater things still to be done

The last couple of days in Rathcoole have been very tense.

On Monday there were a couple of raids on different houses around the estate.  These were in connection with 'historial enquires'.  As a response to these raids rioting has taken place on the outskirts of the estate for the last to nights.  (Read BBC reports here).

The vast majority of the people in the estate are not represented by the rioters but we are all impacted by it.  It is difficult to know what to do about the situation, how to influence it. There is one thing we can do and that is pray.  Rathcoole Presbyterian Church will be holding a prayer meeting tonight from 7:00pm.  If you are willing to come and it is safe for you to do so then please come along.  If you can't make it I would encourage you to pray at that time for Rathcoole.

Some things to pray for:
*God would move in the estate to change the hearts of those causing trouble.
*That young children would not be manipulated into taking part.
*That police, rioters and others would be safe from physical harm.
*That it would rain tonight.
*Church leaders in the area would find success as they seek to influence the situation
*That the reputation of the estate would not disadvantage it's young people.
*That God would send revival to this place.

The Santa Rant

I hate Santa.

You may think that's a little harsh but it is absolutely genuinely true.  I hate Santa.. I love Christmas but I hate Santa.

I bring this up now, on the 26th October to give you a chance. A chance to turn your back on Santa this Christmas.  I know that may seem like a crazy thought and I know that for many parents it is unthinkable but hear me out, maybe I will convince you.

1) Santa steals Christmas from Jesus.  As I have said; I love Christmas.  I love trees and carols and excited kids.  I love spending time with family, buying gifts and I especially love Christmas lights.  Jesus is the light of the world and to see the place lit up like...well like a Christmas tree in massive celebration of His arrival thrills me.  Unfortunately Santa Claus wants the credit for Christmas to go to him and not the Saviour of the world.  Schools, homes and even churches give far to much time to the Santa myth to the point where many children of primary school age see him as the central figure to Christmas.  This is shameful.

2) Santa steals Christmas from families.  Think about it, parents indulge their kids at Christmas.  The buy them more toys than they could ever play with, let them eat all their favourite foods, take them on trips and try to make it as special as possible.  Yes, they do this because of the media pushing materialism and peer pressure (from their kids peers and from their own peers) but the main reason they do this is because they love their kids.  Rightly or wrongly their love for their children is manifested in the act of giving, in many cases sacrificial giving, and who gets the credit - Santa Claus.  'Wow', say the little Kids, 'look what Santa got me, I love Santa! Mum? Dad? What did you get me?'.  Reclaim Christmas for your family tell your kids that Santa doesn't love them but you do.

Everyone loves Santa?

3) There is no reason for Santa.  I can find no conceivable reason for continuing the Santa myth.  There is nothing good about it, nothing.  And don't give me all that 'magical time for kids, let them have their innocent wonderment' nonsense. It is a flat out harmful lie.  If you want your kids to be filled with wonderment at Christmas time, tell them the story of the king of the world who came to be born in a stable.  Tell them about the angels heralding Him in, about the shepherds who came to see His, the wise men who travelled hundreds of miles to worship Him (find the Christmas story here).  Tell them the story of Jesus, tell it accurately and they will be amazed.

There are many other reasons for hating Santa, I just don't have space here but I'm sure you could think of a few.

Christmas does not need a tacky false lie stuck on the end of it to make it a good time.  If you choose to celebrate Christmas do it truthfully and it will be beautiful and love-filled.  Sure your kids might take a week to get their heads round the fact (note the word fact) that Santa is the product of the Coca-cola company, but they had to find that out someday anyway and they'll not care half as much as you think they will.

So here's my advice.  Tell your kids that Santa didn't come through for them, it turns out he doesn't love little boys and girls after all. But they are not to worry because the people who really do love them are here and will make this year truly special by allowing Christmas to be Christmas.

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Maybe you agree with me, maybe you don't, I'd love to hear your point of view. You can also express yourself by voting in the poll in the sidebar.  >>

Knackered

Rocky got neutered on Friday.

Neutering was recommended to us by the vet and the people at the pound.  It seems most professional animal carers say it's a good thing. It reduces aggression, eliminates the chance of a herd of little Rockys and reduces his desire to stray.

If your wondering what exactly neutering involves google it because I'm not getting into it here.   Let's just say that for a lot of men it's not something they want to think about to much.

Poor wee Rocky didn't know what hit him. When we picked him up he was still groggy from the sedative.  The vet slid him into the consulting room on the end of a lead.  His eyes were rolling about in his head, he was bumping into things  (I think they may have sedated him with alcohol). To top it all off he came out wearing the most ridiculous protective collar I have ever seen.



Since then the effects of the drugs have worn off but the collar is still there.  He looks like a massive canine lampshade.  He now has no peripheral vision and can't really hear that well either.  The thing is ludicrous, it's hard to take him seriously, even strangers in the street laugh at him when we're out and about.

On top of all that he's not supposed to out for long walks or doing any rigorous exercise so the stitches have time to heal.  Rocky is energetic at the best of times but with no opportunity to get it out of his system he's starting to get a little frustrated to say the least.  And this is to last for 10 days!



Rocky's is better, he can get Sky on his!



A wee bit like Rocky and his lampshade we get frustrated when we don't see and know everything.  Why can God just not reveal the big picture to us and prove that He is here once and for all?  Why can't He show me His plans for my life so I can be content where I am.  If only someone would come back from the dead and tell us what was in the afterlife then people would repent, then people would believe.  Show us everything Lord.

Jesus explains to us that we have all information we need, all the information we can handle.  God has revealed Himself to us through the Bible and that is enough.  The world around us and our experiences prove the Bible correct and so we must follow what it says.  Jesus said,  'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'

We may not see everything but we can see all that we need - Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fairness?

What matters, really?

In the recent spending review Britain has pledged to increase it's commitment to foreign aid.  Cue lots of Daily Express reader types up in arms about Johnny Foreigner 'nicking all our readies what-what'.  It takes me to the fair.

On the one hand our media hammers the government for hitting 'hard-working families' (a phrase I find utterly repulsive) too hard.  Then they criticise the coalition for placing the burden of cuts on the poorest in our society while at the same time is happy to reduce the aid we give to people earning 60p a day.

It seems everyone wants equality but only with people better off than themselves.

There is huge burden on Christians to lead the way in this.  We have everything if we have Christ.  From time to time money will be short and it can be a real and genuine problem. If we truly love our Lord then we should follow His teaching and help the poor. Hold on to our processions lightly, they are not ours. Share what we have with our brothers and sisters here and overseas and wherever there is need. Don't love money, don't love stuff, love Jesus.

Colour me beautiful

So little of what goes on in Northern Ireland, the UK, the world, is a black and white issue.  There are many shades of grey. 

Some people are fed up with grey, they want to tell it in colour.  UTV journalist and newsreader Jude Hill has decided to do just that - Tell it in Colour.  She has set up a website that allows people to share their good news stories from around Northern Ireland which she hopes will help people realise that life is not as grey as the news channels would have us believe.

After yesterday's spending review (or should that be 'let's stop spending ever again review') you would be forgiven for thinking the country is facing death by a thousand cuts.  That is far from the case for there are many many people out there making life better, making it colourful. 

You know someone in your life who's doing that for you. Someone who brightens your day.  I hope you too are someone who brings a little colour into the world. 

So what is happening around you that gives you hope, that cheers you up, that brings some colour.  What are the good news stories around you, wherever you are.  Pick one (or pick more than one) and post a comment.  Cheer us all up, let us no that we don't have to be grey any more.