Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i’r hen iaith barhau.Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i’m golwg sydd hardd;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad tan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
I’m back!
Well, I’m now living in a new home, both physically and virtually. Moving home is hard work, and that was just the virtual side of things! After significant help from Ally, David, Dave, Deanna, Jason, Nigel, Sarah and my brother and his wife, all my physical worldy possessions were packed and transported safely to my new abode. Some of it was even unpacked for me at the other end. After a few weeks of slowly unpacking everything, working out where things were, sorting out utilities and surviving Christmas (cards, presents, parties…arghhh), as well as carry on with life, I was finally ready to set aside some time to transplanting my blog. This wasn’t helped by Blueyonder terminating my account immediately!
After a little rummaging around, I found that WordPress was quite popular with bloggers, and had a Greymatter import facility! A few attempts later, I have a working blog again. Now all I need to do is tie up the loose ends and all will be well again. 🙂
If you find any errors in the imported blog entries, please let me know.
a.m.: Psalm 132 p.m.: Joshua 22:1-9
During his reign, King David looked at his palace and compared it with the tabernacle of the Lord. He considered that God should dwell in a structure more magnificent than his own. Of course, the tabernacle was merely a tent for meeting with God, in which the Ark resided containing the covenant God had made with his people. God could never be contained within a tent, building or even the whole universe. It was left to his son, Solomon to build a permanent structure in which God could be met.
After the building of the Temple in Jerusalem, when the people approached, they pleaded not in their name but in the name of David, the anointed one of God. They knew they weren’t worthy themselves to approach God, to plead the covenant God had made with David.
For though God had declined David’s desire to build him a house, God promised to build a house for David. A house which would never fall, but would last for ever. For it is through the line of David, that the King of kings and Lord of lords would be, Jesus Christ.
For through Jesus Christ, God would truly dwell amongst men, in the hearts of all who believed in the Christ. Through Jesus Christ, men would be able to plead before God, not claiming any righteousness of their own for they have none, but pleading solely in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Walking, walking walking
Went rambling along the North Downs, starting at Silent Pool, through Shere, down to Albury and back to where we started. It’s been a while since we’d been rambling, and today was perfect. The scenery was magnificent, with leaves in varying stages of colour, bathed in warm Autumnal sunshine, with clear blue skies to boot. The walk was a good length and I came home with a good clean air change in my lungs.
The evening was spent with the usual suspects in Battersea Park to view fireworks and other traditional events commemorating the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot. Unlike last year, the evening was dry, cold and clear – perfect. 🙂
A good day.
Unusual foul
The week has been pretty much going along as usual. There have been a few memorable points though. On Monday evening, Derek scored two goals. On Wednesday, I must’ve witnessed one of the more unusual fouls ever committed in a frame of snooker – Ed was chalking up his cue and fumbled the chalk, it then landed on the green ball which was minding its own business on the baize – easy four points for me!
a.m.: 1 John 4:12-16 p.m.: Joshua 21:43-45
The whole of John’s first epistle exhorts those who call themselves Christians to inspect themselves to check they are indeed what they say they are. It can be very easy to think we are something which we are not.
In this short paragraph, John says Christians are those in whom the Spirit of God lives. If the Spirit lives in us, we must know what God has done for us in his great love. For if we do not know the forgiveness of sins through his Son, how can we profess to be Christians? To know the forgiveness of sins, we must know the truth of the gospel and we must believe in the truth.
If we know the love of God through his Son, then we also must love God and in doing so do what he says, obeying his commands, including loving others. In this way, we know we are born of God, and what we claim to be.
The Bible and Shakespeare
After a day doing the usual Saturday things, I settled down to watch To End All Wars on DVD with some of the usual suspects.
Based on a true story, it is set in one of the Japanese POW camps during the Second World War which were used to build the railway through Burma to support the invasion of British India. The film draws on some of the most influential ideas in Western thought, drawing on Classical philosophy, the bible and Shakespeare. It contrasts these with the Japanese philosophy and the codes of Bushido and the Samurai. At the very thick of this clash of philosophies are the men at the camp, both Allied POWs and their Japanese captors, who approach their situation in many different ways. It becomes evident that each of the men have their own mix of philosophies within them, and as well as the external struggle, there is the internal struggle going on in the hearts of these men.
The film itself is superbly made, with a strong set of characters, portrayed by very capable actors. It is possible to see the interaction of characters merely through their posture and eye contact. It also doesn’t attempt to hide the strong influence of Christian belief which influenced these men greatly.
Well worth watching. May we never forget the sacrifices which have been made for us.
Christian clothing
Given the recent furore recently concerning religious belief and outward appearance, I thought I’d drop my tuppence worth into the mix.
In general, I think people should be allowed to wear whatever they want to work, as long as it is appropriate for the job. If an item of clothing is dangerous, it is inappropriate, and should not be allowed. If a job requires communication, an item of clothing shouldn’t hinder that. Conversely, communication shouldn’t be distracted by clothing or the lack thereof. (It would be difficult to communicate properly with someone wearing a veil, and similarly with someone wearing just their underwear.)
As for the Christian point of view, ‘Christian clothing’ and any other ‘Christian’ apparel is an oxymoron. Whoa, you may say – doesn’t that sound a little too puritanical? Is it possible one can show one is a Christian by wearing a cross? Well, I would say no, on two counts.
Firstly, anyone can wear anything. You could be an atheist and wear a cross, especially when it’s fashionable. You could be a Christian and wear a hijab – the bible doesn’t forbid wearing a modest scarf. The main line of thought from a Christian point of view can be typified by Peter’s letter.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes.
1 Pe 3:3
Now this particular command is to Christian wives, as can be seen if you read the whole chapter, but the spirit of the law is that clothing should be modest. This reflects the general teaching that Christians should be wise and in so doing be humble. Anything else concerning clothing is up to the wearer.
Secondly, as can be inferred from the quote from Peter’s letter above, is that people should know you are a Christian, not from what you wear, but from your behaviour.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.Mt 5:16
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. Jas 2:18
The bible is clear that the mark of a Christian is that they do what their Lord commands.
We need the light of the world in our hearts, that we may be lights to others. We need faith in Christ that we may be clothed in righteousness.
…put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:24
Routine, routine, routine…
So far so routine. 🙂
Monday evening was spent playing football with work colleagues, although the opposing team went one man down with a hamstring injury. Didn’t seem worth playing after that – he couldn’t move properly. Maybe I’m not competitive enough?
My violin lesson yesterday evening recapped scales and pieces I’ve learnt already, as well as learning G# minor (!) and a couple of new pieces.
This evening was spent with Dave and Ed on the green baize, ending up with 2-2-3 frames (Dave, Ed and myself respectively :))
a.m.: Mark 5:21-34 p.m.: Joshua 21:43-45
After healing the woman, some servants of Jairus told their master his daughter had died and so he might as well leave Jesus. If Jesus were a mere man, this would’ve been a reasonable thing to do, but Jesus wasn’t merely a man. Their response demonstrated they didn’t really know who Jesus was. Jesus told Jairus to believe in him, and Jairus did just that. Jarirus continued with Jesus back to his home, along with Peter, James and John. Jesus was careful who the witnesses to his next miracle would be. He dismissed the professional mourners, and then demonstrates his uniqueness – with a word Jairus’ daughter is reanimated, she has been brought back to life. This same God who said “Let there be…” at the beginning, now says “Get up”, and at his command it happens. He is not content just to leave it at that though, for Jesus shows his compassion by remembering the important things amongst the commotion of the celebration – he requests food for the girl.
Similarly, Jesus is uniquely able to save us from death, to save us from our sin, if we turn to him and believe in him. With the same creating power he is able take us as we are and to make us a new creation, not leaving us as we are, but supplying his Spirit for our spiritual growth.
Useful or useless?
Spent the day at Swindon Evangelical Church for the Swindon Youth Conference, in er…Swindon! The theme of the conference was “Useful or useless”, showing that Scripture tells us we’re either being useful or useless as Christians and there is no neutral zone. Additionally, God gives us everything we need to be useful as Christians, with all grace and power that we might serve him.
As well as the addresses and the discussion times, it was good to be able to meet up with old friends and to make some new ones.
The Word
Q: What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?
A: The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all of which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
Q: How is the word made effectual to salvation?
A: The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation.
Q: How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
A: That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer, receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.
(Questions LXXXVIII, LXXXIX and XC from the Westminster Shorter Catechism.)
a.m.: Mark 5:21-34 p.m.: Joshua 21
As Jesus travelled to Jairus’ house, a woman with a debilitating condition sought healing. She’d seen many physicians, but none could help her, some had even made things worse. She heard about Jesus and sought him for healing believing he had the ability. She didn’t think herself to be worthy of his attention, seeking merely to tough him, after all he was off to heal a synagogue ruler’s daughter. She managed to touch Jesus’ cloak and was immediately healed. Not content with healing her discreetly, Jesus turned to her. Instead of leaving her with any misconceptions about her healing, he clarified what had happened. It was her faith in him which had healed her.
Much like this woman, all of us have a debilitating condition, that of a sinful nature. Like the woman, some of us realise we need healing and seek it in all manner of places. The remedies can range from carrying out rituals, making pilgrimages, attending services, doing good deeds, self-deprivation, etc. Much like the physicians the woman consulted, nothing we attempt can heal us, some might even make us worse. It is only if we turn and place our faith in Jesus Christ can we be healed. He will heal us just as we are, but healing means leaving us changed – his Spirit dwells in us and our old sinful nature no longer rules us, though it may still linger. It doesn’t matter how much faith we have, as long as our faith is in him, for it is Christ who heals us and not ourselves.
Happy Birthday Funmi and William!
Another Saturday, another afternoon running like a banshee after a ball of animal hide inflated with air. I must admit, it’s doing wonders for my fitness as I’m now able to run around a lot more than I used to. Of course, this isn’t going to make me a great footballer – just someone who can run around a lot!
The evening was spent in Nandos in Slough to celebrate the birthdays of Funmi and William. Whilst there are no surprises with Nandos, the food was good and the birthday boy and girl seemed to enjoy themselves.
A good, if slightly exhausting day!
Give and take
Went over a whole load of old pieces this evening in my violin lesson. It would appear I am better than I was – which is a good thing. 🙂 Shame I couldn’t say the same about my football skills yesterday evening…
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