Not Grow Weary

"…The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT

Blog Feedback - November

Here's a few of the more curious comments left on my blog over the last calendar month. All of these are anonymous, so I have no idea who left them. Not a clue. Some of these make a bit of sense, but only some ...

"It's like you read my thoughts! You seem to grasp a lot approximately this, like you wrote the e-book in it or something. I think that you could do with some percent to force the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is magnificent blog. A great read. I will definitely be back."

"Greetings! I've been reading your blog for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Atascocita Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the good work!" 

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"I visited many blogs but the audio quality for audio songs existing at this website is genuinely fabulous." Gee thanks ... uh, there aren't any audio files on this site... :)

"Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic but I'd figured I'd ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My blog covers a lot of the same subjects as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might be interested feel free to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Awesome blog by the way!" Wow, thanks. If only this message wasn't left anonymously... how can I possibly send you an email if you don't leave me an address? 

Going Backwards

Facts Not Opinions

It's amazing what grabs your attention.... I was on the bus on Monday in Central London, having just come back from a long weekend in Edinburgh. I was physically and emotionally weary. And the bus passed by a building named after a man called David Kirkaldy...

Kirkaldy (1820–1897) was a Scottish engineer who pioneered the testing of materials as a service to engineers during Victorian times. He built a large hydraulic tensile test machine, later moving the machine to larger purpose-built new premises at 99 Southwark Street. This is now known as the Kirkaldy Testing Museum. Over the door of the building is the motto "Facts not Opinions".

I took the picture at the top of this post on Monday morning... because the motto yelled out at me. I had to blog about it...

Facts. Not Opinions.

A useful motto for me this week, with my feelings literally all over the place at the moment. I don't know whether I'm coming or going... getting it right or horribly wrong... on top of things or sinking fast...

I need some solid facts at the moment. Not just opinions...

Blog Feedback

All of these comments were left on my blog over the course of the last month. Feedback on my site is of course very welcome, but some of the entries don't seem to fit in to the topics discussed. It's almost as if they are simply 'cut and paste'. Rather than delete them, here they are. Cut and paste, back at you. Comments awaited...

"First of all I want to say awesome blog! I had a quick question in which I'd like to ask if you do not mind. I was curious to find out how you centre yourself and clear your head before writing. I have had difficulty clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out. I do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints? Kudos!"

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To thine own self be true

Polonius:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!

Laertes:
Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.
Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, 78–82

A quote from Shakespeare, there. Never thought I'd end up quoting the Bard in the blog today... but that's what happens when you start mulling over a particular phrase or saying and end up tracing it right back to the source... this follows a period of self-reflection. Did I make the right decision there?

Sure, came the initial answer. Got to be true to yourself, haven't you? Which led me up to this point, and to the realisation that Shakespeare made the character of Polonius a bit of a parody of a character - more the fool than the wise man...

And I keep asking myself the question:  so, then, am I guilty of simply spouting platitudes and glib phrases, or do I actually want to be out there making a difference in this world?

Do I want to be simply true to an altruistic public image, or more that I want to true to who God has made me and wants me to be?

Am I prepared to upset the apple cart?

Are people prepared for the fallout if I start saying things that people won't like?

Resting In God's Presence

I've been blogging a lot lately about the need to slow down, and thus be that much closer to God. That's been something that has come out of my recent health experiences - and hopefully I have learnt a bit following this. Hopefully...

There's also been a bit of a recurring theme in a few of the blogs that I have been following lately which have touched on the same subject. Coincidence? I don't think so...

One of the websites I have found have talked quite a bit about abiding, and referred to the book "Abide in Christ," by Andrew Murray, which focused the teachings of Jesus down into three words from John's gospel: "Abide in me."

Another blog made reference to contemplation or meditation.  Taking time out to reflect on the revelations of God.

Yet another used a charismatic Christian term called soaking. To disconnect from the world, and reconnect to God. Resting in God's presence, ready to hear from Him.

I wonder why this keeps going around and around in my head. Mmmm...

Being Fruitful

Going Slower, But Still Going

It's Monday morning as I start drafting this. The car has just been dropped off for a full service, and I'm chilling out with a latte.

I'm currently in Sidcup, somewhere I used to work in the 1990s. It was a time when the new digital revolution promised society increased productivity, and a better work-life balance.

And we all know that’s not how history has played out. In fact, in the decade after  I worked here I changed jobs a half a dozen times... not always by choice!

I am pleased to relax and just live in the moment today. Just to have a couple of things in the to-do list. And not to get stressed by the huge list of things I should have done, or should be doing...

I'm taking time to savour the coffee, to enjoy the surroundings of the coffee house with the comfy leather chairs. I've two books in my bag to dip into when I need to get on the train this afternoon  (I have a check up at the hospital for my eye)...

I tried to slow things down yesterday too. After church I deliberately sat for fifteen minutes and relaxed. Took some quality time for myself. I still had time to take in the video stream of a large Salvation Army meeting and did well practicing on my guitar (more on this soon!) ... but still took time for me!

I know that I overthink; that I have an overactive mind. Consequently, just telling myself that certain things need to stay in the moment isn't enough. I need to live it out. Easily sidetracked by jobs to be done, I can easily miss out on the opportunity to connect with myself. And with God.

Why do I feel so guilty when I include even a half an hour of unplanned time in my calendar?

Parkinson’s Law says : “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”

Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Staying Positive

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I'm finding it incredibly difficult to stay positive at the moment. Staying focused is taking all my energy - it's hard when there are so many around you who are throwing problems at you and expecting you to perform well, when you know in your heart of hearts that you are not working at 100% capacity.

I need to focus in on God today.

The main thing, is that the main thing should be the main thing.

A Cup Of Wisdom

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
Socrates

In my dome of ivory,
A home of activity,
I want the answers quickly,
But I don't have no energy.
I hold a cup of wisdom,
But there is nothing within...
(lyrics from 'Sat In Your Lap' by Kate Bush)

In my current stage of recuperation from the recent round of hospital visits I am increasingly aware that I have a tremendous opportunity here to take stock of my life.

And, of course, I need God’s help. In fact, I don't want to move forward without it.

Does prayer guide my life, or do I just make a series of plans and then ask God to bless them?

Dear Lord, please guide me today. Help me not to act on my own wisdom, as I realise how often this is lacking... Help me to seek Your will in every situation. Amen.

A Little Bit Lost

So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea… And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night (Exodus 13:18, 21, NKJV).

We often speak of the Israelites in the book of Exodus as having “wandered” in the desert for 40 years after being delivered from their slavery in Egypt.

I've felt a bit that way today. A little bit lost. I felt I was wandering a bit. I expect it is because everything was so much up in the air this week. Nothing was normal. On some days I even lost track of what day it was!

I read the passage shown in the adjacent picture earlier during the week and the message contained here keeps on coming back to me - particularly in this regard. Obviously meant to be...

So, has God forgotten me?

He hasn't. I'm just waiting for His leading in my life now. And I know need to pray first and then wait for the leading. Then I can make some plans...

I hope that I hear very soon... can't wait 40 years!

Picking Up The Pieces

Jeremiah 17:14 (The Message)
God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!

Today I was trying to get things in my life back to normal. It wasn't as easy as I thought.

I had spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in and out of St Thomas's Hospital, with all the inconvenience that a daily series of outpatient appointments can cause in a busy life. In fact, I did nothing on Wednesday apart from attending hospital and travelling by bus and train. All were draining. And, as expected, there was some physical side-effects from the course of steroid infusions, which threw my system completely out of whack. At least all the treatment seems to be having a positive effect...

I went back to the office today and was able to perform pretty well, but I felt so very tired. The mood swings were definitely well in effect and I tried very hard to hold it all together. At least, until I got in the car to go home. The delays on the motorway due to the Dartford Crossing getting snarled again (emergency repairs on the left bore tunnel) left my home town gridlocked and loused up my plans for the latter half of the day. It left me physically and mentally drained and sapped of energy. I flopped down on the sofa and just laid there for a couple of hours. That's not what I wanted to do tonight - but all I felt like doing.

One of the side-effects of steroids was supposed to be Increased Energy. Certainly not in my case!

Tomorrow will be better. Please...

Please take me away from here...

Leave my door open just a crack
(Please take me away from here)
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
(Please take me away from here)
Why do I tire of counting sheep
(Please take me away from here)
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep...
(lyrics from "Fireflies" by Owl City)

This is a scarily honest post, be warned. Scary for me.

I've had more than a few visits to the hospital last month with a mystery eye problem. So many that I ended up scaring myself and many, many others who know me and care for me. I'm sorry about that. I really appreciate those of you who reached out to me on email and on social media with prayer support. And my family thanks you, too.

Like the lyric says, I didn't want to be where I ended up. Still don't want to be here, but then why not me? None of us are immune from illness... And sometimes I felt awfully alone. There were too many scenarios to choose from, many involving the treat of major surgery and even worse. I felt quite down sometimes...

However, when things were darkest, and when I really needed Him, God was amazingly and powerfully there with me. He assured me that He was with me, and I need not be scared. The care I received from St Thomas's Hospital in Central London was excellent. I know I am in the best of hands - in God's hands and in safe hands with this hospital...

The treatment I am now on threatens me with mood swings and insomnia (both things I am all too familiar with in my normal life), so I suspect that I will need to take care not to push myself too far - in the month where many Salvationists are out there, going the extra mile to collect for The Big Collection. [sigh]

I would be right there with you. Next year, maybe. Right now, I need to be taking a bit of a back seat.

If I am up all night tonight I'll be praying for you all collecting. I may as well, I'll be awake anyway...

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?

    to be out of your sight?

If I climb to the sky, you’re there!

    If I go underground, you’re there!

If I flew on morning’s wings

    to the far western horizon,

You’d find me in a minute—

    you’re already there waiting!

Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!

    At night I’m immersed in the light!”

It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;

    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

(Psalm 139 7-12 : The Message translation)

Z is for Zebras

Zebras are the name given to several species of African equids best known for their distinctive black and white striped coats. Their stripes come in different patterns, and each are unique to each individual. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and donkeys, zebras have never been truly domesticated.

So let's ask the question - what colour is a zebra? It was previously believed that zebras were white animals with black stripes, since some zebras have white underbellies. Recent studies, however, shows that the animal's background colour is black and the white stripes and bellies are the additions. Under their fur, their skin is black!

Y is for Yawning

Yawning (also known as oscitation) is something that occurs before and after sleep, as well as during tedious activities. It is said to come from "primitive reflexes in the primary motor cortex — an area of the brain responsible for motor function," according to a press release from the University of Nottingham.

It can be contagious and can be triggered by seeing other people yawning. This reaction has also been observed in chimpanzees, dogs, cats, birds, and reptiles, amongst other species.

Approximately 20 psychological theories for yawning have been put forward by scholars, but experts are still debating. One popular theory is that when the level of oxygen in the body depletes, we yawn to get the necessary influx of oxygen. A new study released in 2014 has now suggested that yawning works in order to cool down our brains and help us think a little clearer.

On average, a person yawns 240,000 times in his or her lifetime.

X is for X-words

Five interesting words, beginning with the letter X:

• xenon: a colourless gaseous element occurring in trace amounts in air - used in radio valves and bactericidal lamps.
• xenophile: a person who likes foreigners or things that are foreign
• xylophonic: describing the sound made by xylophones
• xylography: the art of engraving on wood
• xerothermic: An adjective used to describe dry and hot climates.

W is for Water

Here's seven fascinating facts about water...

1. Water comprises 71% of the Earth's surface, mostly in seas and oceans. Because the oceans reflect blue light, the Earth appears blue from space. 
2. 97% of the water on Earth is salt water, with an average salinity roughly equivalent to 34 grams of salt in 1 kg of seawater.
3. The balance therefore represents fresh water, which is rather unevenly distributed on the Earth. 68.7% of this fresh water is trapped in glaciers, ice caps and permanent snow. Of the liquid surface fresh water, 87% is contained in lakes, 11% in swamps, and only 2% in rivers. Small quantities of water also exist in the atmosphere and in living beings.
4. The human body contains anything between from 55% to 78% water, depending on age, health, weight, and sex. To function properly, the body needs to be hydrated - the NHS tell us that we should drink about 1.2 litres (six to eight glasses) of fluid every day to stop us getting dehydrated.  If the weather is hotter, the body will need more than this. We also get some fluid from the food we eat. 
5. 70 -75% of the human brain is water.
6. Water is unusual in that its solid form, ice, is less dense than its liquid form, which is why ice floats. 
7. Water is often called the "universal solvent" because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid.

V is for Veganism

I've been reading and studying a lot lately about the Vegan lifestyle and diet. Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in your diet, and with an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. That means - no meat, milk, eggs, wool, leather, honey and so on.

The word ‘vegan’ was coined by Donald Watson in 1944: he took the first and last letters of ‘vegetarian’ – because it was ‘the beginning and end of vegetarian’.

I am not currently a vegan, or even a vegetarian. But I am interested in understanding their radical lifestyle choices...

U is for Unicorns

The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as an animal, often horse-like, with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. The unicorn was mentioned by the ancient Greeks in accounts of natural history by various writers. Its popularity reached its peak in the chivalry novels of the Middle Ages.

While the unicorn legend evolved in the West, a Japanese creature called a kirin was a fierce creature that sought out criminals, punishing them by piercing them through the heart with its horn. In China, there was a similarly named qilin which reportedly didn't harm anyone, and even appeared to Confucius' mother before he was born.

If you’re looking to hunt down a unicorn, but don’t know how or where to begin, try Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. There's a list of their Unicorn Hunting Regulations here.

T is for Trousers

Many Victorians thought the word 'trousers' so rude that they often used euphemisms instead of mentioning that vulgar word.

These included ‘sit-upons’, ‘inexpressibles’, ‘unutterables’ and ‘unwhisperables’.

S is for Space

Of course! We are one big, happy fleet! Ah, Kirk, my old friend, do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold? [pause] It is very cold in space!
Khan, from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

So, is it true that space is always cold?

Actually, you are asking the wrong question. Space is mainly empty - no air, no matter, nothing. It’s only when you put something in space, like an asteroid, a satellite, or even an astronaut, that you can measure temperature. If you're in total darkness at the coldest spot in the known universe, the vacuum of space can get down to -270.45 degrees Celsius (reportedly the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation, which permeates the entire Universe). Which is as cold as it can get.

However, in direct sunlight near Earth, temperatures can vary wildly. A piece of bare metal in space, under constant sunlight can get as hot as 260 degrees Celsius. This is obviously dangerous to astronauts who therefore take great precautions to protect themselves if they are called to carry out an EVA (extravehicular activity, or spacewalk). That's why astronauts wear reflective white spacesuits, complete with both heaters and cooling systems.

R is for Ravens

There is a superstition that states that if the Tower of London's six ravens are lost or fly away, "the Crown will fall and Britain with it". Undoubtedly, this is just a piece of British legend - the Tower's official historian has himself stated that the "tower's raven mythology is likely to be a Victorian flight of fantasy".

According to that legend, they have kept ravens here ever since the reign of Charles II - and reportedly against the wishes of the king's astronomer at the time, John Flamsteed, who complained the ravens impeded the business of his observatory in the White Tower. (The Observatory was subsequently moved to Greenwich.)

Nevertheless, the modern-day Beefeaters are not taking any chances. As of 2018, the names of the current Tower ravens are Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy and Merlina. There are seven ravens at the Tower - the required six, plus they keep one as a spare! Their wings aren't clipped - the Tower's Ravenmaster occasionally trims some of the ravens' primary and secondary flight feathers to encourage them to stay at the Tower. All the ravens are thus able to fly but are happy to call the Tower their home. The ravens are free to roam the Tower precincts during the day and can be seen during the tour of the building.

Q is for Queen Victoria

During the course of her 63-year-long reign, Queen Victoria was attacked on at least seven separate occasions by men. Because of the seriousness of this, all are recorded in history as assassination attempts. Many happened while the Queen was travelling in her carriage, and at least four of the attempts involved a gun. In one case, someone struck Victoria in the head with his cane. The blow was so strong that it reportedly drew some blood.

None of the men who attempted to assassinate the Queen were sentenced to death. Most were found to be of unsound mind and were either banished to a penal colony or held in custody for the duration of Victoria’s reign.

P is for Pirates

The traditional literary image of a pirate is of a seafarer who stole great sums of money and buried it on a desert island, with its location marked by a treasure map.

Not so. There are very few documented cases of pirates actually burying treasure, and no documented cases of a historical pirate treasure map. Most of what we know about pirates and buried treasure comes from the pages of Treasure Island.

It's true, pirates raided many ships, but most of the time the items stolen were practical things - food, water, alcohol, weapons, or clothing. These things were be needed immediately, so weren't buried. In many cases the ship itself was taken or scavenged.

The pirate most responsible for the legends of buried treasure was Captain William Kidd. The story was that Kidd hid valuables (gold and silver) from a plundered ship called the Quedah Merchant on Gardiner's Island, near Long Island, New York.  He was subsequently captured and returned to England, and the buried loot found and used as evidence against him. Kidd was then put through a very public trial and executed in 1701.  Although much of Captain Kidd's loot was recovered from his wife and various others who were given it for safe keeping, there was still much speculation that a vast fortune remained, buried in another location. None has ever been found. Some are still looking for it...

O is for Owls

Three fascinating facts now about owls:

The eyes of an owl are unusual - they have fixed eyes that go far back into their skulls, giving them excellent binocular vision — however, they have to turn their heads to change view. These gives them the fantastic depth perception necessary for low-light hunting. Their close-up vision is not as good, so once they catch their prey they use filoplumes - hairlike feathers on the beak and feet - that act as "feelers".

In many cultures, owls are seen as a symbol of death, and many see their appearance as a sign of impending death. An owl was said to have predicted the death of Julius Caesar! That's possibly why they've been linked so often with Halloween...

Owls are often depicted in fiction as being wise. This possibly stems from Greek mythology, where the owl is the symbol for Athena, the goddess of wisdom. A group of owls is called a parliament, and this is the term used by C.S. Lewis for a meeting of owls in The Chronicles of Narnia.

N is for Nursery Rhymes

Do you remember some of the nursery rhymes you were taught as a kid? ... many of the meanings are lost or disputed, but here's a few that made me think...

Many scholars agree that Baa, Baa, Black Sheep is a reference to a tax on wool introduced in 1275 by King Edward I. Under these rules, a third of the cost of a sack of wool went to the Crown, another third went to the church and the last to the farmer. The wool of black sheep is said to have been especially prized as it could be made into dark cloth without dyeing.

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush is often sung as part of a nursery game. According to historian R. S. Duncan, a former governor of England’s Wakefield Prison, the song originated with their female prisoners, who were exercised around a mulberry tree. "On a cold and frosty morning..."

Jack and Jill is commonly seen as a nonsense verse, particularly as the couple go up a hill to find water, which is usually found at the bottom of hills. However, an woodcut that accompanied the first recorded version of the rhyme showed two boys (not a boy and a girl) and used the spelling Gill not Jill. This may be related to the fact that a Gill is an Imperial unit of fluid measure, defined in the Imperial system as a quarter-pint. In the same system of measure, a Jack is defined as a half-gill. So, Jack and Jill (Gill) represent a eighth-pint and quarter-pint respectively. It has therefore been suggested that the rhyme records the attempt by King Charles I to reform the taxes on liquid measures. Curious...

And finally, Ring A Ring O' Roses  (in the US Ring Around The Rosie)- the most popular contention is that this verse refers to the 1665 Great Plague of London. Sorry, no - even Snopes labels this as false now, and quotes folklorist Philip Hiscock with a more likely suggestion: That the nursery rhyme probably has its origins in the religious ban on dancing among many Protestants in the nineteenth century. The debate continues...  https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ring-around-rosie/

M is for Marriage

What finger does the wedding ring go on?

It used to be pretty well accepted most people in English-speaking countries wear their wedding ring on their left hand ring finger. This reasoning can be traced right back to Roman times, and even before that. It was believed that the vein in the ring finger (technically, the fourth finger) on the left hand ran directly to one's heart. Because of this, the Romans called that vein the vena amoris or vein of love. To reinforce the fact that the union was based on love, they'd place the ring on that finger that housed the vein of love to signify the romance the newly married couple shares.

Our modern-day understanding of biology suggests that all your fingers have vein connections to the heart.

There are, however, other cultures with their own traditions about wedding rings. People in many other countries wear a ring on their right hand (including Austria, Denmark, Poland, India, Venezuela and Chile). German couples place a gold band on the left hand before the wedding. After they’re married, they move it to the right hand as a symbol of unity. In The Netherlands, Catholic people wear it on the left, all others on the right. Greek people, many being Orthodox Christians, also wear the wedding rings on the right hand in keeping with Greek tradition. There are bound to be other exceptions.

So, the answer is ... it depends...

L is for London

One of the key stops in a tour of Central London are the Houses of Parliament, which is situated on on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster.

The buildings are actually officially known as the Palace of Westminster and it is actually the largest palace in the country. It is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It has been a Grade I listed building since 1970 and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

The Elizabeth Tower and the clock contained within it are both commonly referred to by the name of its main bell, Big Ben, which is itself an iconic landmark of London and the United Kingdom in general.

The Palace of Westminster has eight bars, six restaurants, 1,000 rooms, 100 staircases, 11 courtyards, a gymnasium, a hair salon, and a rifle-shooting range. Despite persistent rumours to the contrary, it has not been permitted to smoke anywhere inside the Palace since 2005. Members of Parliament may not eat or drink in the Parliamentary chamber; the exception to this rule is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who may have a beverage of the Chancellors' choice while delivering the Budget statement. Traditionally this is an alcoholic beverage, although recent Chancellors have opted for water.

K is for Kangaroos

The word kangaroo to describe the Australian marsupial comes from the Aboriginal word gangurru which described the Grey Kangaroo. The name was first recorded as "kanguru" on 12th July 1770 in an entry in the diary of Sir Joseph Banks. Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook first referred to kangaroos in his diary entry of 4th August 1770.

If you have heard the story about the name being a misunderstanding - it's not true, it's an urban myth. This story was finally debunked in the 1970s by linguist John B. Haviland in his research with the Guugu Yimithirr people.

J is for July 4th

The fourth of July is a day my wife and I remember well - it's the day that Chris and I were married, over 26 years ago! And many around the world celebrate along with us, as it is also the anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence...

... except, of course, it isn't...

It's now generally accepted that the Declaration of Independence wasn't actually signed on the Fourth of July — the Second Continental Congress had officially voted for independence on July 2nd 1776. The final text was agreed and officially adopted on July 4th 1776 and copies given to be various political committees, but the majority of the 56 people who signed the official (and larger print) copy did so on August 2nd 1776, with others following at a later date. John Hancock (president of the Congress) signed his name on the earlier drafts and again on the official version (and was the largest and therefore most visible name - hence why his name is now a popular pseudonym for a signature).

There you go...

I is for The Incredibles

Leading highlight of our recent trips to the cinema has to be 'Incredibles 2', the sequel to the original Pixar movie that has been a long 14 years in the making (the length of time between films one and two. I'm eagerly awaiting the third film some time in the future).

Apart from showing us all what a full-length animated version of Marvel's Fantastic Four could look like as a blockbuster movie (sigh) - it also shows how each ability in the Parr family reflects their individual roles within the family - and more... According to creator Brad Bird, “Men are always expected to be strong, so I had Bob have super strength. Mothers are always pulled in a million different directions, so I had [Helen] be elastic. Teenagers are insecure and defensive, so I had Violet have force-fields and invisibility. Ten-year-old's are energy balls that can’t be stopped. And babies are unknown — maybe they have no powers, maybe they have all powers, we don’t know.”

That's awesome. So, Jack-Jack's varied abilities are a metaphor for how young children have infinite possibilities ahead of them in life. Very true.

H is for Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

It's always interesting to know how someone first came up with the concept of a long-running series. It's frequently something particularly random.

The idea for The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy first came to Douglas Adams as he was lying drunk in a field. It was 1971, and Adams was stargazing one night in a field in Innsbruck, Austria. He was strapped for cash, hitch-hiking from London to Istanbul with a stolen copy of Ken Welsh’s Hitch-hiker’s Guide to Europe. Adams later admitted to Welsh, “I got frantically depressed in Innsbruck ... When the stars came out I thought that someone ought to write a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy because it looked a lot more attractive out there than it did around me." The radio series that kicked off the franchise first aired in 1978.

G is for Guitar

The evolution of the modern guitar can be traced right back to the stringed instruments played across Central Asia and India at least 5,000 years ago. The oldest picture of an instrument is a 3,300-year-old carving of a Hittite bard playing an instrument.

The name ‘guitar’ dates back to the Latin word cithara. By the year 1200 we get the Guitarra Moresca (Moorish Guitar, with a rounded back, multiple sound holes and wide fingerboard) and Guitarra Latina (Latin Guitar, with a more narrow neck, a flat back and one sound hole). Both were four-string guitars.

The earliest six-string guitar dates back to 1779, and is believed to have been made by Gaetano Vinaccia, a member of the family of Italian luthiers (stringed instrument builders). The dimensions of the modern classical guitar were first introduced in the 19th century by Antonio de Torres Jurado, a Spanish luthier.

The electric guitar was first made by George Beauchamp in 1936.

F is for Flag

It's an iconic image, isn't it? The Stars and Stripes on the moon.

Except, you won't see this if you go there now.

NASA has now confirmed any American flags that are still in situ on the moon are now totally white.

According to lunar scientist Paul Spudis:

For forty-odd years, the flags have been exposed to the full fury of the Moon's environment – alternating 14 days of searing sunlight and 100° C heat with 14 days of numbing-cold -150° C darkness. But even more damaging is the intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the pure unfiltered sunlight on the cloth (modal) from which the Apollo flags were made. Even on Earth, the colours of a cloth flag flown in bright sunlight for many years will eventually fade and need to be replaced. So it is likely that these symbols of American achievement have been rendered blank, bleached white by the UV radiation of unfiltered sunlight on the lunar surface. Some of them may even have begun to physically disintegrate under the intense flux.

The NASA website about this can be read here.

E is for the English

Here are a list of five slang terms for people from England. [however, often these terms can also be applied to people hailing from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), the United Kingdom (Great Britain + Northern Ireland), or the British Isles (the geographical grouping for the area off the northwest coast of Europe comprising Great Britain, the whole of Ireland, and adjacent smaller islands)].

Limey
The term is thought to have originated in the 1850's as "lime-juicer", later shortened to "limey". A derogatory term for sailors in the Royal Navy, because of the Navy's practice since the beginning of the 19th century of adding lemon juice or lime juice to the sailors' daily ration of watered-down rum (known as grog), in order to prevent scurvy. The term is used mainly in North America.

Pommy
The terms Pommy, Pommie and Pom, in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand usually denote an English person (or, less commonly, people from other parts of the United Kingdom). Etymology unknown, although there are several theories.

Tommy
This term is derived from the name "Tommy Atkins", used as a generic name for a soldier for many years (and even used as an example name on British Army registration forms). It is known to have been used as early as 1743.

Sassenach
Deriving from the Scottish Gaelic, the term is still used by Scots to refer to English people, frequently negatively. Used regularly since the 18th century (as a noun), although it's probably goes back much earlier...

Rosbif
A common humorous French term for an English person, rosbif refers back to the English tradition of cooking roast beef. It's been in use since the 18th Century.

D is for Dali

Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, 1st Marquess of Dalí de Púbol, known professionally as Salvador Dalí,was a prominent Spanish artist.

He could be extremely surreal in his life as well as through his work. Here's one bizarre example (there are lots to choose from!):

• In 1936, he delivered a lecture titled "Fantomes paranoiaques athentiques" ("Authentic paranoid ghosts") while dressed in a deep sea diving suit, carrying a billiard cue and walking a pair of Russian wolfhounds. Apparently he nearly suffocated during the presentation, as Dalí had to be rescued by the young poet David Gascoyne, who arrived with a spanner to release him from the diving helmet.

C is for Carrots

What colour are carrots?

The clue is in the picture. These are orange. In fact, I was brought up with the idea that carrots are orange. Modern day carrots are!

However, carrots can also exist in yellow, purple and white varieties.

There are many claims that Dutch growers specifically created orange carrots in the 17th Century to honour the Dutch flag at the time. However, there is a lack of convincing evidence for this. Many scientists simply say that is the way they have been cultivated over the centuries. The Dutch were at the forefront of agricultural innovation in the 17th Century, so may have favoured this variety, which produces a nicer tasting carrot - but they didn't create the orange carrot.

When checking this fact, I discovered the wonders of the Carrot Museum!

Check this out: http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/history5.html

B is for Bronze

The modern definition of the word 'bronze' is an alloy consisting primarily of copper and some other metals. There's a whole period of history named after 'bronze', designating the period when this brown alloy was most in use. We refer to people who have a deep brown tan as being 'bronzed' - and understandably so. Apparently, the first recorded use of bronze as a name of a brown colour in English was in 1753.

And yet, I have been told that the Ancient Greek scholar Homer wrote about the sky being 'bronze' in colour - meaning blue. Really? It was on a TV show, a radio show, in a reference book. So, plenty of evidence. And yes - indeed, Homer did refer to the sky as bronze. Curious...

So I did some more checking - and in addition to finding a couple of sources reporting that it was a reference to blue, there was an interesting article from a Greek scholar who insisted that Homer's writings including a poetical reference to bronze, not one related to colour. Another website insisted that Homer was in fact colour-blind. Yet another told me that Homer's colour description usage was a cultural phenomenon common among the Greeks at that time.

So can we say that Homer saw the sky as 'bronze'? Possibly... did he think it was blue? Probably not.

And I've even found an additional reference to a bronze sky in Scripture:

Deuteronomy 28:23 New International Version (NIV)
The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron.

A is for Apple Pie

I love a slice of apple pie. And, apparently, so do the people in the US State of Vermont.

Vermont went and designated apple pie as the official state pie in 1999 (and the same Act also designates apple as the official state fruit of Vermont).

The legislation also went on to specify that;

"When serving apple pie in Vermont, a "good faith" effort shall be made to meet one or more of the following conditions:

(a) with a glass of cold milk,
(b) with a slice of cheddar cheese weighing a minimum of 1/2 ounce,
(c) with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream."

The legislation can be found here.

A-Z: Fascinating Facts

It's coming up to the month of August once again, and as usual I am setting myself a challenge to blog every day for 26 days solid - right through the alphabet on one particular theme. There's been a number of changes in my life over the last eighteen months - some good, some not so good - and therefore blogging has taken a bit of a back seat for a while. However, I'm keen to 'rise to the challenge'...

This year I've come up with a list of fascinating facts, all of which have resonated with me when I read them; all have a particular meaning to me.  I hope you find this strange list of facts interesting. I've taken the time to double-check all of these, have done my best to ensure no dodgy information or 'fake news' here...

Have a good August, catch you on the other side.

Take Heart

Rather Sad, Really

I stopped off on the way home from work tonight to buy a cable for the computer at home. I searched through the many accessories they had at the big superstore; regretfully they didn't have just what I needed.

The shop that did have what I wanted was the adjacent Maplin store - which was due to be shut down in ten days time as the store was now in liquidation. And this was despite the fact that the shop had been decimated in anticipation of its coming closure. I could still pull exactly when I needed off the shelf.

I was happy to get what I wanted, however overwhelmingly saddened when I realised that this was probably the last time I could shop at this store.

I felt really bad as I handed the money over to the guy on the till. A guy who would soon be out of work.

The whole thing was rather sad, really. I'm still feeling quite down about the whole experience.

God Has It All Figured Out

I'm reminded today of the words of Colossians 3:15, which says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”

When we have that peace in our hearts, then naturally we’ll be at peace with other people. Which in my case is just as well. Things have a habit of going a little bit crazy in my life at the moment, it's hard to figure out quite what is going on.

But God has it all figured out. I need to trust Him.

We all need to trust Him.

If we don’t trust Him, then we'll always be anxious; always striving to manipulate others, to control them, to get what we want out of life. That's not a good way to live, is it?

So, give in to God. This means learning to say “Thy will be done” instead of “Me first.”

When you say this, that is when the peace process starts.

Enjoy The Ride?

As I mentioned last week, sometimes it feels like life is a roller-coaster.

However, don't get me wrong. I'm not so concerned about the ups and downs. Because it's not so much that I want things to be going well all of the time. I know that life isn't like that. You have good days and you have bad days. Wouldn't it rather boring if all the days were the same?

No, it's more the speed that I'm taking the corners at... the sheer pace of life. That's the bit that I can often find to be overwhelming ...

The ups and the downs are all part of the ride. However, it's when it's all coming all at once, there is little time to get ready for what's about to happen next. That's when I find it tough...

Life is like a roller-coaster. It has its ups and downs.
But it’s your choice to scream or enjoy the ride.

I'm trying to enjoy the ride. :)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28

Emotional Roller-Coaster

Boy, what a weekend!

Since leaving work on Friday, here is a list of  pretty much everything that happened since then. It's Monday morning when I draft this and I'm feeling emotionally drained... these are the events in alphabetical order, not order of occurrence...

• A night out with my Street Pastors team, and the corresponding lack of sleep
• Avengers: Infinity War (if you've seen the film, you'll understand...)
• Being turned away from my favourite restaurant as the girl said the kitchen staff simply couldn't cope with the backlog of orders. And where did we end up? … see below
• Doing the paperwork in preparation of our church administration meeting - which then had to be rearranged 
• Having the cinema projector break down after ten minutes of Infinity War starting. There was a further ten minute delay while they fixed it. And they restarted it again from the beginning, making a very long film - even longer!
• Purchasing the most expensive meal of burgers and fries that I had ever ordered! (this was where we ended up after not getting into my first choice of restaurant…) And I can't say I could taste the difference in the price. In fact, the fries simply weren't that good… not going there again!
• Sickness in the house - at one stage, thinking we might need an ambulance, then relief that it wasn't necessary, and then caring for the individual until they felt better. Was that food poisoning from the above restaurant? Not sure...
• Sorting out a current account at my bank for my youngest as she starts work
• The partial demolition of a local power station, less than a mile away. By explosion. At 11pm on a Saturday night!
• Waiting for a promised call from a double glazing company, which never arrived...

I've cut the usual weekly activities out, this is just what I did on top of 'business as usual'. I need a holiday... or a less eventful weekend!

Just Hold On

Why I Need To Do It Anyway...

Apologies, I need to stop and rant today. And to take time to listen to God's small voice (in bold type below) in reply...

I get fed up with people around me who seem to take delight in being unreasonable, irrational, and incredibly and annoyingly self-centred. Today I want to scream!
Forgive them anyway.

I strive to be kind, and yet they tell me that I need to stop, and in fact that I need to give up all these things and rest more. They accuse me of having selfish, ulterior motives for doing what I do. I can't think of anything more selfish that doing nothing...
Be kind anyway.

I take pains to do the best I can, however every day there seems to be someone who takes pleasure in criticising the things you do. It's so difficult to succeed. I seem to make more enemies than I do friends.
Succeed anyway.

I get awfully fed up with people who seem to take delight in criticising my willingness to serve, and when I start to argue they then try and pick holes in the things I do and my reasons for doing them.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

There are some people who (possibly for the best of reasons) have succeeded in dismantling some of the things that I've worked at for the last few years. All the time that I spent creating - and suddenly it's all swept away. Argh!
Create anyway.

I want to find peace and to be happy. Isn't that everyone's goal? However, it would appear that others don't want me to be happy and to find peace. Are they upset with me?
Be happy anyway.

Despite my best efforts in trying to do good, much of it seems to be swept under the carpet, quickly forgotten. Do good anyway.

I try and give the best I have, to be the best that I can be - and it seems never to be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

(based on The Paradoxical Commandments by Dr. Kent M. Keith. And my earnest and heartfelt prayer today.)

The Lord's My Shepherd

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.

CHORUS: And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,
And He anoints my head with oil,
And my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on His pure delights.

And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know.

(Lyrics by Stuart Townend, based on Psalm 23. Sung at the meeting today)

Help Needed

"I don’t think there is anyone who needs God’s help and grace as much as I do. Sometimes I feel so helpless and weak. I think that is why God uses me. Because I cannot depend on my own strength, I rely on Him twenty-four hours a day." - Mother Teresa

H – Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Psalm 86:1 (NIV)

E – Establish my steps in your word.
Psalm 119:133 (NASB)

L – Let your compassion quickly meet our needs because we are on the brink of despair.
Psalm 79:8 (NLT)

P – Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
Psalm 16:1 (KJV)

A Few Stray Thoughts for Easter Monday

“I haven’t always been a Christian. I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” - C S Lewis

“We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”  - Max DePree

“A ship in a harbour is safe, but that’s not what a ship is built for.”  - John A Shedd

So what happens now?
(Another suitcase in another hall)
So what happens now?
(Take your picture off another wall)
Where am I going to?
(You'll get by, you always have before)
Where am I going to? - lyrics by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber

• May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships,so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.
• May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.
• May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.
• May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.
• And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator, Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Saviour, and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide, be with you and remain with you, this day and forevermore. Amen. - A Franciscan Blessing

Set The World On Fire

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” - Catherine of Siena

Make a difference in this world.

I am the candle of the Lord,
with truth and love more powerful than sword;
O fan the flame, its single gleam diffuse,
And let my spirit be the light that You can use;
I am the candle of the Lord!
Light me!
(lyrics by Joy Webb)