Ramblings along the narrow way

It all started with a rather rude awakening by the telephone – well rude for a Saturday morning anyway. (You know who you are!)

The day deteriorated when I played snooker – I lost! 3-2 frames to David! Well done!

Strangely, my mobile phone was unable to either send or receive text messages, so I wondered along to the shop I got it from after the snooker, to be told it was a fault with the network provider and would be resolved soon. We’ll see…

Meanwhile, the parking ticket for my car expired by five minutes and I got a parking fine…£40(!) 🙁

Ah well, it could be worse – by the grace of God I still have my family, friends (even if they do phone you on a Saturday morning! I love you really :)), health and general well-being.

Well, been learning the violin for almost nine months now I think. I can now play all the major scales from G to D in two octaves, learnt E this evening, with just F to go. 🙂 Saying that, I still need to sort out arpeggios and minor scales, although the arpeggios sound a little scary. The other thing which needs work is speeding up my playing so I play stuff besides adagios! I think it’s getting there, but I occassionally end up with my fingers going faster than my brain and doing their own thing! Heigh ho. 🙂

Played football after work with my colleagues this evening. Haven’t really done any running around since Christmas, so I was expecting myself to collapse on the floor after running for a few minutes. Surprisingly, I managed to run around for most of the game, and still managed short spurts of… faster than plodding… pace towards the end. I guess the whole thing about regular exercise is that the build up is gradual, and any tail off is just as gradual. A slow and continuous process.

As we are looking at Mark, it is interesting to see what he records and, conversely, what he hasn’t. Unlike a modern biography, Mark’s Gospel doesn’t explain what events, people etc. shaped Jesus Christ as a person. He doesn’t say much about Jesus’ birth, his parents and childhood friends. He concentrates on the final few years of Jesus’ life, specifically on what Jesus did in the last week before his crucifixion, and resurrection, and the these events themselves. Mark spent a lot of time travelling with Peter, and what he recorded was very similar to what Peter preached on.

It is evident Mark considers the crucifixion and resurrection, the sacrifice of God, to be the most important aspects of Jesus’ life. It is these things which form the basis of Christianity. Without the sacrifice, there is no forgiveness of sins. As sinners, without the sacrifice, there is no good news. Mark opens his Gospel with the following words though:

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mk 1:1

It is because of this sacrifice that Peter can proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ:

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Acts 10:43

Of course it is not enough to believe that Mark is true, it is not enough to believe that Jesus Christ lived and died for the forgiveness of sins. Even Satan believes that. God says we must believe in Jesus Christ. We must put our faith in him, and if our faith is in him, we will do what he commands. As sinners, on our own, this would be impossible, but through faith we also receive the Holy Spirit who works in us, changing us from within, slowly conforming us to Christ’s image.

God has done everything to make us right with him. Will we accept it?

First ramble of the year! (Walking, that is :)) Despite the freezing temperatures, rain/sleet and a generally grey outlook, a few of us wandered down to the North Downs for a five mile jaunt in the fresh air. After the lethargy induced over the holidays, it was good be be out and about.

Spent the evening round Sarah’s playing Diplomacy (again :)). My enthusiasm for the game was slightly cooled as I drew Italy out of the hat. With a full complement of seven players, I feared it would be a difficult game. Sure enough, after a couple of years, I was scrabbling around the Italian peninsula grasping for survival. Fortunately, the game ended with Germany and Austria-Hungary also vying for first exit, with Russia, France and England forming a rather inescapable pincer movement. The only thing stopping the inevitable happening was a shortage of time! I think we’ll have to start these games a little earlier in the day!

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

Isaac Watts

Q: Are there more Gods than one?
A: There is but One only, the living and true God.

Q: How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A: There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

(Questions V and VI from the Westminster Shorter Catechism)

Last day of the holidays…. 🙁 Decided another bash at Diplomacy would be in order. So we gathered ourselves together, six leaders of Imperial Europe, with only Italy left as a non-player. I was France, and I must admit, France’s record in the past two world wars wasn’t great, so I was a little apprehensive. For the first few years, it went well, with a curious tripartite alliance with England and Germany against Russia. Meanwhile, in the east, Russia and Austria-Hungary sliced up Turkey between themselves – poor Dave! I must admit to getting slightly frustrated when the alliance started to choke French expansion, so I turned on Germany and Austria-Hungary at the same time…not a wise move. Fortunately, just as it was all going pear-shaped it was time to head to Windsor for some ice-skating.

I hadn’t been ice-skating since last winter, so it took me a good ten minutes to find my feet. I eventually managed to do multiple laps without touching the sides before the boot managed to remove a layer of skin from my ankle, making skating more painful than pleasurable. Ah well.

Anyway, afterwards we descended on Pizza Express, opposite Windsor Castle to celebrate Steve’s birthday. A slightly bizarre experience, but fun none the less. 🙂

The disciples had lost sight of their Lord, even though he had appeared to them in his resurrection body. Instead of heeding Jesus’ words and doing his will, they decided to go out fishing. Their labours were futile though and they caught nothing. Their thoughts were so far from the Lord, they didn’t even recognise him when they saw him standing on the shore. Even though they didn’t recognise him, they decided to do what he said.

The result of doing his will was a complete turnaround for their labour, with the result causing them to realise who he was. Jesus had already prepared a meal and could’ve just stood on the shore. He had no need for their fish, but he delighted in their joy. He wanted to involve them, and even took some of the fish they had caught to add to the meal.

Today, we are to do the same. We should keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, to read his word so that we know his will and to pray for he delights in our prayers. Whilst he doesn’t need us to labour, he delights in our labour and wants us to be fishers of men. Through all of this, he is glorified and our joy increases.

May you all know the blessing of God in 2006.

Saw Madagascar on DVD this evening round Karen’s. I hadn’t actually seen it before, but had experienced a little taster when I went to see Wallace & Gromit. The film is quite light-hearted, with plenty of gags, a nice simple story and a short running time. This combination makes it a great piece of light entertainment, with the added bonus of a slightly unusual underlying message. Throughout the film, the lion fights his natural carnivorous instinct to maintain his friendship with the zebra. Despite trying all forms of vegetation and fruit, he still has a craving for meat. Whilst the metaphorical leopard can’t change his spots, he can change something. 🙂

I spent a whole afternoon playing a game I haven’t played in ages! I’d managed to find Diplomacy going for £20 at Amazon and couldn’t resist. A number of us had become hard-core Risk players, so it seemed logical to introduce them to Diplomacy. After spending a short while explaining the rules, we proceeded to re-enact early 20th century Europe. I must admit, I didn’t get much chance to form strong alliances as I spent most of the time coaching, but Russia and Austria-Hungary both seemed willing passive partners allowing me to fend of a pernicious Anglo-French alliance, allowing Russia and Austria-Hungary to deal with the Balkans and Italy. Whilst we spent quite a number of hours playing without coming to a definitive conclusion, I think we may be playing it again in the near future. 🙂

Spent yesterday evening celebrating an 80th birthday! It’s not often you get to celebrate such an anniversary, even someone elses, so this was certainly different. This one was slightly different in that it was a complete surprise for the birthday boy. Being around Christmas, the church usually has its Christmas party around now, inviting all and sundry to enjoy fellowship with us and see the Gospel in action. What better way to celebrate a birthday of one of its longest standing members. As such, his neighbours and friends were also present. There was fun, games, food and the obligatory cake. A very good evening.

Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!�
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!�

Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!�

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Charles Wesley