Tonight the clocks go forward once again. When I wake at 6 in the morning it will actually be 7 am. The sun will be up, the chill will fill the air, many will spend much time in the morning changing every clock in the house, bar one, the one they need to be correct! I will begin tonight and hope not to miss one. I have no idea why I have so many clocks, but there is plenty when change time arrives.
Saturday 26 March 2022
Sunshine, ISP and Clocks
Tonight the clocks go forward once again. When I wake at 6 in the morning it will actually be 7 am. The sun will be up, the chill will fill the air, many will spend much time in the morning changing every clock in the house, bar one, the one they need to be correct! I will begin tonight and hope not to miss one. I have no idea why I have so many clocks, but there is plenty when change time arrives.
Friday 25 March 2022
Psalm 91
1. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.’
3. Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4. He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5. You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6. nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7. A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8. You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9. If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10. no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11. For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12. they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13. You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14. ‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15. He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honour him.
16. With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.’
Thursday 24 March 2022
Remember This?
Wednesday 23 March 2022
Another Wasted Budget
Tuesday 22 March 2022
Good Tuesday
Sunday 20 March 2022
Saturday 19 March 2022
Ukraine Pottage
I trekked through the town to see what was happening at the Saturday market. So little was about that even the regular fruit stall was not to be seen. I know they do tend to take holidays in winter, so as to get profit in Summer, and that may explain their absence. I noted Batman and Spiderman, several in fact, in various sizes, at one end of the high Street. I would have taken a picture but there were too many kids, and I try to avoid pictures with them. The purpose of the exercise I think was just to advertise a nearby newly opened shop by getting the kids to pose with these 'heroes.'
Having lurked enough I return for a healthy 'pigs head worth of pottage' and a night of football. What else could anyone wish for?
Thursday 17 March 2022
Brexit Comes Home.
Tuesday 15 March 2022
Neighbour News
Monday 14 March 2022
Awards
Sunday 13 March 2022
The Great Friendship
Saturday 12 March 2022
Saturday News...
Being Saturday I expect lots of this sort of thing going on tonight. This will not include me, and certainly not dressed in 1934 garb. Sadly I canny find who the photographer is, I suspect it may be Bert Hardy. Great photo, and I must find more to liven this page up.
Friday 11 March 2022
The Origin of the name BRAINTREE.
Tuesday 8 March 2022
Tuesday Twaddle
Monday 7 March 2022
Lent: Do we need it?
GooseIsland
For many Sunday was the first day of ‘Lent.’ This is a period of 40 days before Easter as Christian’s prepare. Those who follow, or at least claim to follow ‘Lent’ will often be heard enquiring what others are ‘giving up’ for Lent. The usual response appears to centre on foodstuffs, chocolates for the women, potatoes and beer for the men. In the end it comes to nothing. I have on occasion during such discussions suggested that instead of foregoing chocolate the women could cease bitchiness or gossip. I have remarked, in love, that the men could keep the potatoes and beer and instead deal honestly with their customers or staff.
I ought to make clear, I have few friends.
The word Lent comes from the old English word ‘lencten,’ which means little more than ‘Spring.’
A quick perusal of scripture shows that there is no mention of Lent. Indeed the nearest we get is a quote from a man called Irenaeus, (who lived C130 -202) in a letter to one Victor in Rome regarding preparations for Easter that, “Variation in observance did not originate in our own day, but very much earlier, in the time of our forefathers." This letter was written towards the end of the century, around C190, and could be referring to the actions of the early church one hundred years before. There is however, no hard evidence of Lent as we know it from this time. Irenaeus spoke of churches in his locale, Gaul, (that is France to you) having a two day fast before Pasha, or Easter. Tertullian, in North Africa in his time recorded that churches there also had a 48 hour fast, reflecting Christ’s time in the tomb. The 40 day fast was not known apparently in Egypt until after C 325.
Fasting was of course known in the time of Jesus. It was common for Jews to fast twice a week and clearly Jesus had practised fasting during his life. It is not possible to fast 40 days and survive without much preparation.
The 40 day fast before Easter did not emerge until after the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Even then some say this was only for new converts, and the actual days involved in the practice of fasting varied according to the region. After Nicea the fast became a strict one, no meat, fish or dairy, and one meal only after 3 pm.
However, we must remember that scripture does not demand fasting. This fast arose after Jesus death and resurrection and then in preparation for the commemoration of his rising, something we ought to do each Sunday anyway, and in fact we ought to be doing this each day, not just once a year.
While the early fathers may have been seeking spiritual benefits from Lent it is easy to see how this quickly became legalistic and man centred. Instead of fasting to get near to God it was fasting for its own sake.
A great danger, one which John Calvin spoke of, was the danger fasting being a form of works, to earn salvation. Salvation comes solely from the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross, if we see fasting as a ‘work’ we are no longer trusting him but ourselves. The reformers would argue that Lent encourages a form of self-discipline, whereas we ought to be seeking Jesus and allowing his Holy Spirit to lead is to repentance, not penance, Holy Spirit led discipline, trusting God ,not ourselves. For sure, our Father wants to lead us to a Holy Life. That is why Jesus died!
If we must have a term of Lent, let us make use of this to draw near to God our Father, through his Son Jesus. If we fast let it be so to cleanse the toxics from the body and enable us to hear the Holy Spirit lead us to the cross. We must not beat ourselves up to fast for the sake of it, it must be used to enable us to hear the Lord speak.
So, let us concentrate on reading his word, doing what it says, and spend time in prayer talking and listening to what Our Father requires to bring us nearer to him.