Attention to detail

365/365

2007-05-27T21:41:00.000+01:00

Well this is it. The final post of this 365 blog, a blog committed to seeking out the good stuff in each day, the fine details of life, the stuff to be thankful for. Whether in the dancing specks of dust in the sunlight streaming through windows, or in the beauty of good food, in enjoying fine company, in moments of joy in a day, in moments that remain even when there seems to be no good at all in a day, all these moments have made up my life for the last year. It has felt good to record them. It has been good to have to sit here and type positive things into a computer to remind myself there is always stuff to be thankful for. It has been good to remember that I have someone to thank.

Today it was the simplicity of sitting on a sofa on a rainy day reading a book and drinking tea with Lizzi. Life is made of these moments, and if we don't stop and look around in a while we miss out on them. Life in all its pain and struggle still has these glorious shiny details in it. I'm not sure what happens now. I think my long neglected other blog may get some attention now, but maybe in a more attention to detail style way. Whatever happens, I like the fact that this year is here.

364/365

2007-05-26T21:40:00.000+01:00

Late morning fry up. Pirates of the Caribbean 2. Not getting up until 4pm. Pirates of the Caribbean 3. We want to be pirates now.

-/365

2007-05-25T13:32:00.000+01:00

The longest day, telling some students about God's forgiveness at silly o'clock in the morning, waking up half way through the talk realising what I was saying was true. Good chats with my prayer partner about this life being managable if we hang onto the reality of the character of God, that deep sense that knowing our God better really does help. Book group and the lovely brief chat with Binface.

-/365

2007-05-24T13:25:00.000+01:00

(Looking at when I started this I should be due to finish it on the 27th May. Clearly I've missed a couple of days out so I'll put these in as extras...)

A whole day of not going anywhere or driving a ridiculous distance in my car. Playing tennis in the early evening light. Pink skies and the tennis court signalling the beginning of beautiful summertime moments.

363/365

2007-05-23T23:11:00.000+01:00

Light in the dark. Believing Hebrews 13 for a bit this afternoon whilst telling some students about life after Uni. Glad that I have a Father who sticks with me even when I am grumpy rebellious cynical old bag. Very glad He is expert at softening hearts. Jess and Ceryn's inappropriateness (Ed I think it came from me. Sorry.). Heading out with urban singleton family tonight, hot chocolate and baileys.

362/365

2007-05-22T22:07:00.000+01:00

The moment when the magic of exercise kicks into my head and the cloud disappears for a bit. Mmm.

361/365

2007-05-21T21:59:00.001+01:00

The messages that reminded me that I'm not entirely alone in this job right now. Glad that someone cares and God's impeccable timing was at work again. The fun of hanging out with Jess, Ceryn, Ed and Carolina for the day. Chilled times with students this evening. My Brother hearing my frustrations and attempts to try and not moan but giving me space to express some of the angst within right now. (He's had 4 years off and should really thank Mr G for that, but he's back on duty now)

360/365

2007-05-20T20:36:00.000+01:00

Kassa:
R R L L R
B T T T S

Macroo:
R L L R L R L R L
B T T B S B T B S

Cuckoo:
L R L R
S B T T

359/365

2007-05-19T23:08:00.000+01:00

Saturday bliss. Mum and Dad, walks on the downs, good pub lunch, pretty fields, lazy afternoons with cups of tea, shouting at Saturday night TV. Saturday bliss.

358/365

2007-05-18T23:18:00.000+01:00

The girls coming around tonight. Wine helping grumpy Kath. The thought that maybe people still like me despite all of this rubbish.

357/365

2007-05-17T21:07:00.000+01:00

I can't help noticing that the end is approaching, only 7 more days of this blog. I wonder what will happen then? Will I return to my old blog which is gathering cobwebs over in some other corner of this internet thing? (does the internet have corners?) Will I forget the good stuff if I don't write it down? Will I go back to being a cynical old bag in the corner? (corners feature a lot in this paragraph). Ah well, these questions can wait for a weeks time.

As for today: Looking after the lovely Lou, figuring out our video player so we can record Hustle tonight and back to drumming, hitting things with nothing else to think about. The thought that tomorrow is Friday and that can mean only one thing... It's nearly the freakin weekend baby. (which I'm looking forward to a silly amount considering I've only worked 4 days this week...)

356/365

2007-05-16T22:01:00.000+01:00

Back in the pool this morning, up and down, up and down, the delights of endorphins in the brain. Actually praying. Getting a shiny new kettle for our house. Getting that Jesus being in authority over everything back then means he still is right now. A good way to end the day.

355/365

2007-05-15T21:38:00.000+01:00

Reading Hebrews with Jess and Ceryn, God being better than everything. Putting Roz's e-mail into the family folder on my computer. Grin. Finally seeing Lizzi again, hanging out in the house and being glad to be back.

354/365

2007-05-14T21:36:00.000+01:00

The random moment on our flight home when we had to sing Happy Birthday to Lisa, whoever Lisa is, I think I would have preferred our Pilot to fly the plane rather than sing. Driving over the hill into Hove, staring at the pretty sea, the windmill and our road very glad to be home after too much travelling.

353/365

2007-05-13T21:35:00.000+01:00

More lazy mornings and overeating. Karen's lush flat and hospitality back in Glasgow. Long drives made happy by good music and company.

352/365

2007-05-12T21:31:00.000+01:00

More lazing around the place, seeing Dolphins off the coast, the cheese fest of Eurovision. Karen's new name leading her to text Eurovision, imagining the person recieving this text from Celery Lady, Nayski, Binface and Peach.

351/365

2007-05-11T21:26:00.000+01:00

Lazy mornings, books, tv and chats. Pottering around Loch Ness in the afternoon, crazy Scottish Tat for American Tourists, finding Nessie, good chats, pretty scenery, lots of laughing.

350/365

2007-05-10T21:24:00.000+01:00

Scotland. After a car, a plane and a train, finally reaching Glasgow. 3 hours later we get to Inverness. Pretty Scottish mountains, green green landscape, amusing times with the girls.

349/365

2007-05-09T21:22:00.000+01:00

Praying to ward away the grumps and get back to attempting to be a little bit like Jesus. It working. Hosea and a God who wants us to cry out to him and pours out passionate love on his people. The cries of the spurned lover breaking our hearts.

348/365

2007-05-08T21:15:00.000+01:00

Bounce. Hysterical laughter and lots of bouncing with our lovely team. It's a shame we only read the '1 person at a time' notice after 7 of us had bounced on it together...

347/365

2007-05-07T22:46:00.000+01:00

Last moments in Denmark. Glad Birgitte didn't want to come back with us, delighted at what God has been up to in the last few months in her life. Landing in England to pizza, beer and yet more Hustle with the lovely Lizzi and Cathy H. Glad that it's felt like we've been away for years (although still no tea with a faun.)

346/365

2007-05-06T22:45:00.000+01:00

Beautiful walk in the woods, around lakes and the general peace and quiet of a Sunday morning. Playing pool, reading books, lying on the grass in the sun, more ice cream, Spiderman 3 and walking back imagining the pretty castle to be ours.

345/365

2007-05-05T22:40:00.000+01:00

Pottering around Copenhagen. Chats on the train about the faithfulness of our God, learning to trust in a God who knows how to look after us. Boat trips, Ethiopian resturants, dancing to late night Jazz in Tivoli.

This being our brunch in a cafe.

344/365

2007-05-04T22:39:00.000+01:00

Lazy mornings chatting to God, luminous green leaves on trees, blue blue sky, Ice cream in the sun. Viking ships, more Birgitte and Hustle.

343/365

2007-05-03T22:36:00.000+01:00

Denmark baby. Sitting in a random cafe asking each other strange questions. Finding our way around Copenhagen. Finally getting to see Birgitte. Inappropriate signs in Danish- Slags, i fart, Boghandeler and Bad toilet. Talking through life with a older wiser Danish lady called Ingborg, learning to say her name correctly, the stirrings of passion again. Peace.

342/365

2007-05-02T22:35:00.000+01:00

Enjoying questionaires, go figure. Plotting with Roz in the sun. Roz and Mark and all the fun.

341/365

2007-05-01T21:21:00.000+01:00

Out all day working in the sunshine.

340/365

2007-04-30T21:16:00.000+01:00

Walking through the laines in Brighton, loving the city in the summer, sitting outside reading my book, productive prep in the sunshine.

339/365

2007-04-29T20:36:00.000+01:00

Waking up with the thought that I am God's workmanship going around in my head. Crying through the Baptisms at church this morning at our God who is real and does stuff. Pottering around the South Downs with friends, drenching ourselves in beauty.

338/365

2007-04-28T23:51:00.000+01:00

Jess and Ceryn's desire to woop during Ephesians 2:1-10, thinking that it might not have been such a boring talk after all. Seeing all of Anna's community in one place this evening, putting faces to names with Sarah.

337/365

2007-04-27T23:49:00.000+01:00

Remembering why I'm a Christian, and the reality of it all, and wanting more. Hanging out with Binface, smiling during songs and feeling free.

336/365

2007-04-26T21:30:00.000+01:00

Hustle arrived in the post. We are excited.

335/365

2007-04-25T22:35:00.000+01:00

Sleeping all the way through the night. Awakeness being a Good Thing. Last wise words from the G man, fish finger butties, getting to expound my theories once more, despair over the levels of testosterone in certain Christian circles right now, seeing the change over the years, rejoicing in all God has done in and through us, loving his patience (God and Gareth's), and being told to stand firm. Grateful to the man who taught me to be hopeful, to seek the best in others, to love well and trust that God is at work in us right now. Followed by a good meeting in which I was articulate and able to explain the vision of what we do. Driving home smiling at God and His work in this crazy world.

334/365

2007-04-24T22:20:00.000+01:00

Catching up with a couple of friends, both chats in different ways making me ponder life, the universe and everything. And strangely making me want to talk to my potter.

333/365

2007-04-23T20:34:00.000+01:00

Being pursuaded to rest by lovely work colleagues. Getting to watch trash tv all day in the spaced out world of illness.

332/365

2007-04-22T22:40:00.000+01:00

Chats with Lizzi and Dee. Pub lunch. Lying on the beach.

331/365

2007-04-21T23:34:00.000+01:00

Saturday. Mum and Dad to visit, eating food again, sitting on the beach in the sunshine. Demelza to stay. The joy of guessing all the chocolate in the blindfold chocolate taste test at the Church Quiz tonight. I think my best guess was the co-op fair trade one, tricky but it's all in the tiny ridges in the top of the chocolate. Mmmm.

330/365

2007-04-20T19:05:00.000+01:00

Despite feeling sick all day, enjoying the sunshine with students. Chatting about the brillance of Jesus transcending all tribal boundaries and cultures. "You're not really like any UCCF worker I've ever met." (not sure whether that's a good thing or not :-)

329/365

2007-04-19T22:43:00.000+01:00

Liking my job for the day. Sussex Campus in the sunshine. Getting most of it right in drumming tonight.

328/365

2007-04-18T22:41:00.000+01:00

Post Relay Day, cycling up to the downs with blue sky, yellow fields, green grass and purple flowers. Back home for fish and chats with the lovely Lizzi. I like summer evenings.

327/365

2007-04-17T22:06:00.000+01:00

Seeing Jess and Ceryn again. Evening in catching up with life. Telling stuff to Binface.

326/365

2007-04-17T22:05:00.000+01:00

Calling Jess and Ceryn and sharing the confusion of remembering who we are and what we do. The randomness of Debs turning up on my doorstep and praying with her, feeling like putting on a comfy slipper.

325/365

2007-04-15T22:01:00.000+01:00

Getting out of the shaky box in England, total confusion as to the time and day. Sitting on a train in my jeans, big coat, shoes and big jumper realising that everyone else around me was in shorts and little summer tops. Staggering vacantly down the road and into bed. After some sleep driving down the pretty spring roads to home. Catching myself thinking; 'it's all so small and cute'. Oh dear. Delighted to be back in church and singing I cannot tell. Debriefing with my Brother and telling him about my Ferris Bueller style week. Finally sleeping after the strangest day.

324/365

2007-04-14T22:00:00.000+01:00

Final moments in the city, sitting in bookshop cafes reading and chatting through life.

323/365

2007-04-13T21:55:00.000+01:00

Up early to head to Ellis Island on the ferry, freezing cold queueing rewarded by Manhattan skylines. Fascinated by history and sad for the empty sky where the Twin Towers were. Out in the evening to the top of the Rockerfeller building, incredible views and the pretty city at night. Cocktails two floors down with New York by night in the background. Morrells wine bar. The Modern for dinner and lovely lovely food sweetened by the rarity of the experience. Hugely grateful for overly generous friends. The best way to end the week.

322/365

2007-04-12T21:52:00.000+01:00

Discovering the beauty of the city on a rainy day. Beautiful food shops that were more like art works. The Espirit changing room experience. Joy at shopping and gazing at pretty things in shops. Huge dinner out and the ever continual use of the phrase "I'm never going to eat again." Chats into the evening.

321/365

2007-04-11T21:50:00.000+01:00

Park day. Sunshine. Deep thoughts and chats with Sarah and Anna. Visiting the Met. Picnic in the Park. Going to the Baseball in the evening. "Please stand for the national anthem, tonight the national anthem will be sung to us by Art Garfunkel." Cue much excitment. New York Baby. Hot dogs and vaguely understanding the game. Our team lost, how English. Giggling with Sarah and loving the randomness of it all.

320/365

2007-04-10T21:46:00.000+01:00

Book day. Soaking in music and books all day. Sitting in the park with Anna creating a whole life for the random man doing strange things. We even drew his family tree. Out for cocktails in a round red booth and a posh meal. Delighting in the simplicity of every restaurant placing iced water on your table the moment you arrive and keeping your glass full all evening. English eatery's take note.

319/365

2007-04-09T21:41:00.000+01:00

Shopping day. Interspersed with a ride on a tourist bus around Manhattan. Overwhelmed again by how a city can be so beautiful. Finally understanding what the makers of SimCity were trying to get me to do all those years ago. Running to a warm restaurant and feasting on meatballs. Watching when Harry met Sally in the evening.

318/365

2007-04-08T21:37:00.000+01:00

Early jetlag rising with a beautiful dawn over the city. Resurrection morning. Sarahbeths for breakfast. The randomness of going to church and meeting someone who'd been to my church. Singing: "Intercessor, friend of sinners, earth's redeemer plead for me".

317/365

2007-04-07T21:11:00.000+01:00

7 hours of sitting in a bumpy box and we're in New York. Looking at the movie style houses as we drove in, seeing the signs to the New Jersey Turnpike and realising that I was in for a week of many songs going around in my head (other treats for the random song generator were touching down at JFK, being in New York, going to church on the Upper East Side and walking down Bleecker Street, prizes for the song and artist for each of those.) Walking from our apartment to Central Park and down into Time Square. Catching a yellow taxi back. Gobsmackingly strange to be in New York, Baby.

316/365

2007-04-06T16:10:00.000+01:00

Tired dazed wanderings in a pretty, sunny, Guildford, going to the meditation on the cross and crying for an hour. Tears of hope, thankfulness, reassurance and joy. Wanting deeply to live nothing but the cross for the rest of my life. Knowing that there are certain things, there is a God who came, lived, died and rose again. Death is dead, love has won Christ has conquered. There is a dawn to come. This world is not all there is. A future awaits. Genius.

310-15/365

2007-04-06T15:57:00.000+01:00

Back in Skegness.
The same God at work on my heart.
Hebrews.
"You're funny and you love the Bible, a winning combination" (hehe)
The genius shirt and jumper on-stage-at-word-alive outfit.
Wooping a lot.
Melinda's bags full of wine and chocolate, skegness survival is sorted.
Sitting in the team lounge chatting to anyone and everyone.
Tea, chocolate, tea.
An old mentor seeing the change in me. (grin)
MC hammer with my impact group.
Singing "When peace like a river" twice.
Zippy meeting Roger Carswell and Marcus' desperation to get in on the photo action.
ONCE for ALL.
Knowing who it's really all for.
Running along the beach Chariots of Fire stylee.
Old friends.
"We're the mediocre ones- not too good to promote, but not too bad to sack!"
Crying at a God who holds, keeps, knows, understands and so much more.
"I don't want to be a statistic, I don't want to become a middle of the road Christian."
Another Mark Stone 'Content' moment.
Marcus' prayer reassuring me it really is all about God shinning out.
"Does anyone else think that Kath looks like the lady from the Kingsmill adverts?" (presuming they meant Sue Perkins and I am happy)
Loving the BIble.
Home to a world beyond Butlins, back to parental hugs and knowing.

310/365

2007-03-31T15:55:00.000+01:00

Staying with the lovely Laura and Alistair, 1000 wedding photos later... "This is the room we call Kath's room". More tea and lots of fun chatting.

309/365

2007-03-29T22:15:00.000+01:00

The randomness of praying on Skype with Birgitte. Good invention this world wide web thing. Shopping for clothes for Saturday night, needing the 'I am confident in God for this evening but quite like to feel good about what I am wearing' outfit. Finding it. And some other pretty things. Off to Skegness and New York, so bumper 365's in a couple of weeks.

308/365

2007-03-28T22:54:00.000+01:00

My visitor this morning... He came in through an open window. Cute, apart from the rather painful scratches I now have on my arm as a result of trying to move him away from my computer. Ah well.

307/365

2007-03-27T20:35:00.000+01:00

"Are we all alright?". Honesty being a Good Thing. Paddling in the sea.

306/365

2007-03-27T20:34:00.000+01:00

Birgitte being back. Heading down to the beach and spinning around really fast until we fell over, just to feel the earth spinning. Star gazing.

305/365

2007-03-25T20:39:00.000+01:00

Time with friends. Just the freedom of being ourselves, chatting, catching up, sharing ideas, stories, fun, depth and all the brilliance of friendship. Being with people who care about me.

304/365

2007-03-24T21:26:00.000Z

A day just being with the lovely Sarah, good food, the paper, books and catching up on the weirdness of life. Coming home to BIRGITTE. Woooop de woo! Being exceptionally tired but very happy that our house is back to normal for a few days.

303/365

2007-03-23T21:25:00.000Z

Jess and Jonny in Costa. Up to London for Posh evening with Posh people. Almost managing to hold my own amongst them. Hehe.

302/365

2007-03-22T21:38:00.000Z

Davina and the Bible waking me up this morning. (an interesting combination). Talking about God with Jo this afternoon.

301/365

2007-03-21T21:35:00.000Z

Interviewing potential Relay workers and the shiver down the spine at a God at work in lives. Getting to once again bang on about how our God works as I helped led a seminar on FE work with Kenny- The weak and foolish. The small and stupid. The overlooked and undervalued. The one person sitting in a room. Our God is brilliant in his use of fools like us, so that He gets the glory, and we get to see how great he really is.

300/365

2007-03-20T21:28:00.000Z

The man who makes us cry at Team Days. Really, really wanting to know God like that and live in obedience to God again. The stomp around the duck pond and a God who listens, takes my telling him to f**ing well show Himself and brings the truth to light in my heart. Glad he hears the cries of his daughter, and is big enough to take my puny punches in his Big loving arms. Wanting to walk in His ways again. Gareth's amazing insighful questions asked at the right time. Getting to tell the team how great he has been over the years. Lots of laughter at the South West team's acting ability...

299/365

2007-03-19T21:22:00.000Z

Fun with Jess and Ceryn at Starbucks and the usual Gunwarf Quay trip before Team Days. Choosing Gareth a shirt for his leaving present. Discovering all the news, glad it's all out in the open now. Well almost.

298/365

2007-03-18T20:07:00.000Z

Surprising my Mum by turning up for lunch, glad for a home I can walk into and get hugs. Mum hugs. Laughing with my family. Realising this afternoon that God does answer prayers and I need some more faith. Glad there is more to this world than I can see in front of me.

297/365

2007-03-17T22:35:00.000Z

Saturday. Bliss day of sleeping, cycling and watching a lot of Black Books with Lizzi and Cathy. Buying a Davina workout Dvd for the house and Cardio Boxing. Oh Dear.

296/365

2007-03-16T13:19:00.000Z

Sitting in the sunshine on Campus, attempting to remember that God really DOES love me and isn't disappointed in me. Because Hebrews 2 and 10 are true (and the bits inbetween...) Chats about God with the not at all mainstream Binface, book group and the wonders of Johnny Cash live from San Quentin in my ears all the way home.

295/365

2007-03-15T22:31:00.000Z

Getting it SO wrong in drumming tonight but not caring all that much because some bits I got right and that sounded gooood. Home after a grumpy tired day to calling my Mum and telling her all about it and then eating an amazing fish finger buttie with my housemate. As Binface would say, it's not so bad after all.

294/365

2007-03-15T22:29:00.000Z

Supervision in the sun, Hebrews 10 making us woop! Amazing salad, beaching it and the first paddle in the sea of the year.

293/365

2007-03-13T22:32:00.000Z

Driving through the delightful Sussex countryside this evening, sunset through the trees.

292/365

2007-03-12T22:49:00.000Z

An uber productive day. Staying awake enough in the afternoon to finish prep.

291/365

2007-03-12T22:48:00.000Z

Lazing on a Sunny Sunday. Morning beach, church, sorting, West wing, friends on the phone and trash tv in the evening. Mm.

290/365

2007-03-11T12:37:00.000Z

The endorphin high of cycling up to Devils Dyke and then freewheeling all the way down. Sunny Saturdays, Mark and Roz to visit, the sea to walk along and eating beautiful food with Mum and Dad.

289/365

2007-03-09T23:44:00.000Z

Relay Day, laughter, tears and lots and lots of the Bible. Shedding a small tear with love for my wonderful brother and the deep reality of how 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 is the air of his life, he is a walking example of those verses. Lou's laughter at finally seeing where I get everything from. The passion welling up within me again that God is not impressed with what we are impressed with. We love the bold, the 'cool', the big named speakers, the people who've written loads of books and have clever things to say. God really really isn't impressed, He loves the weak, the foolish, those of us who know we need only Him and cry out to him. Wanting to spend the rest of my life living this and telling it to the world around.
Discovering that although my broadband is dead dial up still works and I am in touch with the world, just in a less surfing the internet constantly and more time and space to not spend all my time staring at a screen, this is going to be good for me.

288/365

2007-03-08T22:42:00.000Z

Sunshine and the Bible doing it's work. Getting to be in the right place at the right time and be of use despite my sinful heart. Glad God works inspite of me and through me. Seeing God at work through Binface once again. Trusting in the Bible being brilliant and the only way to guide us through this life of living out the reality of who we are. Glad that God has shown us Him. Glad that life boils down to the simplest of things. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Amen.

287/365

2007-03-08T15:56:00.000Z

"Get your coat and wellies, we're going out." Stomping the downs with Jess, sunshine, the simple beauty of lots of green against a pure blue background. Remembering Joy. Pub food, cute dog, gong to Singleton. The moment when Ephesians 1 kicked me up the backside and I was reminded of the good things of this life. Adoption, forgiveness, restoration, chosen and delighted in. The end to moaning. Speaking to Birgitte and thinking she was just downstairs.

286/365

2007-03-08T15:54:00.000Z

Lots and lots of laughter and good chats with prayer partner tonight. Reassured about the usefulness of this crazy job and sharing lives.

285/365

2007-03-05T22:12:00.000Z

Visting cute small children. Chats to God in the car on the way home. Chats in the evening, realising again that all I want is heaven here and now, attempting the contentment, trusting in God's wisdom thing until it all gets made right again. Scrabble and tea tonight.

284/365

2007-03-05T22:10:00.000Z

Cheering talk with someone who does know what he is talking about and helps me be more confident in trusting the Word more and more. Getting pretty flowers. Home to a long deep hot bath. Mmmmmm.

283/365

2007-03-05T22:04:00.000Z

God at work on my stoopid pride, his word working it's way into the hardness. Bongo/djambe action moments, hitting things in time and loving every moment of it. The stupid grin came back. Dancing moments with Jess, watching her and Ceryn in top Relay action. The lunar eclipse. Hot Chocolate from the G man. Banter and enjoying each other. Sleep.

282/365

2007-03-02T22:00:00.000Z

Heading off to the Training weekend to work with my lovely team. Glad to have colleagues in the same place for a whole weekend. Dolly Mixtures to keep us awake. Champagne and Caviar, all you need is the gospel, God has brought us into fellowship with him. Crazy.

281/365

2007-03-01T20:59:00.000Z

"What kind of I'm fine are you?". Being glad I won the battle of the duvet this morning and swam. Sunshine in the sky. It is no longer February. Hitting things in time again making me happy, and my back ache...

280/365

2007-02-28T21:16:00.000Z

Jess the Staff Worker: "You just need to get over yourself". Well said. Getting over myself and doing something. Much laughter in Chi, transformation really happens. ONCE for ALL. A new method of picking Bible passages to study-
Old or new? History or wisdom? History or Prophecy? Kings or Judges? Kings or Elijah? Elijah or Nehemiah? Nehemiah 1 or 9?
Nehemiah 9, one of the best chapters. - A summery: God is faithful, stubborn in love, gracious and compassionate time after time. Humans reject, rebel and harden their hearts, time after time. God remains wonderful.
Plotting.

279/365

2007-02-27T21:12:00.000Z

People turning up at lunch time. Moving through acceptance to anger and denial at Gareths departure. "How ARE you?". Dinner with the lovely Nay, laughter and surprise. Going slightly mad in Asda and more hot chocolate and inappropriate video watching. Unity in grumpyness.

278/365

2007-02-26T21:09:00.000Z

Cooking a healthy and wonderful meal with Ceryn. Just knowing together that life really does suck. The student who cared. Leaving the gig and breathing in fresh sea air. The sound of the sea at night. Back to welsh cakes, white hot chocolate and Friends.

277/365

2007-02-25T21:42:00.000Z

Finally doing this. Double rainbow in the sky this afternoon.

276/365

2007-02-25T21:41:00.000Z

Touring Anna's community to make sure I'd seen everyone. Sitting reading the paper.

275/365

2007-02-25T21:39:00.000Z

Alice and Melinda, telling stories, Cambridge coffee shops and the West Wing.

274/365

2007-02-22T22:19:00.000Z

Back to drumming to ease the spaced out brain. It really works. Hitting things rhythmically makes the fuzz disperse for a while.

273/365

2007-02-21T21:08:00.000Z

Thankful that this is true today, and in fact everyday.

"17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

That means this is also true:

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."55"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

272/365

2007-02-20T22:13:00.000Z

Laughter with Jess and Ceryn, a 'normal' soupervision. Home to pancakes and then evening out with my lovely big Bruver. Looking and laughing at old letters sent to each other. Hoorah for God's work in our lives and hoorah that I'm no longer a messed up teenager. Being a messed up adult is so much more fun.

271/365

2007-02-19T21:52:00.000Z

The main two applications of my talk on joy:
1. Do a 365
2. Shut down your computer, turn off your phone, switch off the tv and talk to the Maker of all things. Get thinking about the hope we have in the new creation and know that in this crazy messed up world there is some glimmer of hope.

270/365

2007-02-18T21:55:00.000Z

Cooking a grown up lunch for a family. We have branched out. Getting to hug my Mum.

269/365

2007-02-17T23:06:00.000Z

Home to some cleaning, a long hot bath, fresh food and wine and Lord of the Rings. The hope of heaven reducing me and my brother to tears on the phone tonight.

"And if I weep, let it be as a man who is longing for his home"

268/365

2007-02-16T20:45:00.000Z

I have no idea how to describe today. Privileged maybe. Glad to be part of the patchwork that helps my friend in these horrible times, glad to know that others are as well and together we share out the pain. A day where we cried, laughed, cried some more, remembered and told stories. An important day.

267/365

2007-02-16T09:42:00.000Z

Binface, Witsy, B and Peach.
The Indigo Girls. "How long til my soul gets it right?".
Oh and getting to be a Bridesmaid again. Woop.

266/365

2007-02-14T20:49:00.000Z

Um. Inbetween staring at walls in a daze... The hanging out with students in Portsmouth this afternoon. Entering the world of lazing around, drinking too much tea, talking about nothing at all and occasionally commenting on daytime tv made me almost wish to be back there. And slightly chuffed that I got to call it work.

265/365

2007-02-13T23:17:00.000Z

La Tristesse Durera means, the sadness will never go.
The Manics wrote a song that said this:

"Life has been unfaithful
And it all promised so so much
I am a relic
I am just a petrified cry...
....Oh, the sadness will never go
Will never go away
Baby it's here to stay
La tristesse durera
Scream to a sigh, to a sigh"

Jesus says this:
"I am the resurrection and the life"

God says this:
"1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

In the face of today and the years that remain we say:
"Come Lord Jesus. Come."

We live with all these emotions and more.
The screams have just as much place as the hope and we cry with threads of gold in the tears.

264/365

2007-02-12T22:54:00.000Z

He's only gone and done it hasn't he? Good news is a welcome relief. Hoorah.