Preaching with a purpose

I am back, but only to give you the link to my latest Squidoo lens. I mentioned My Christmas Story in my last post. It's all about Christmas the year I was seven. What we ate, what we did and the presents we gave and received. It was quite a change from Christmas today with it's consumer razzmatrazz. My Christmas Story

Have you ever wondered what Christmas was like years ago? No I don't mean the Victorian Christmas, I'm thinking of the 50's in rural Britain. I was seven then and I'm making a lens about it on Squidoo. It's a work in progress at the moment so I can't give you the link just yet, but I wanted to whet your appetite. We were a relatively poor family, as Dad was a farm labourer. I went to school with other children like myself and also the farmers' children who were better off. We had quite a spartan Christmas, but we had enough to get by and have some extra treats on the day itself. This was thanks to our resourceful parents. Very few people had television at thast time, but we had the radio, or wireless as we called it then and enjoyed that immensely. So keep your eyes peeled for the link when it comes, in the next few days.

I seem to be making a monthly visit here. I am still writing my daily poem on Squidoo, see below, but my blogging has fallen by the wayside. I have jumped another hurdle in that I have passed Section C of the Faith and Worship preaching course. I am well into section D and hope to send it off in good time for the end of March. Life is good. I am looking forward to a fuss free Christmas. Jesus came to save us, not to shackle us to consumerism. I'm not being a kill joy. If you enjoy all the razzmatazz, go ahead. I would rather have a bit of quiet contemplation. If you are not careful you can end up serving mammon for Christmas. Here is the link to my latest month of poetry. A poem for every day in November

It's been all play and no work here for another month. I make no promises about my blogging. I am now working on the last section of Faith and Worship, the preaching course I am going through.I hope to finish by March but again can make no promises. I am continuing my poetry challenge on Squidoo where I am writing a poem a day for a year, and I can promise that I have so far not missed a day, although due to holidays away from the PC I have sometimes had to catch up at a later date. Here is my latest lens, but do feel welcome to look at earlier ones all presented on this one. A poem for every day in October

I've had a whole month not writing on my blog. It's good to take a rest. Perhaps you have enjoyed the rest too. But now I'm back with renewed energy. I've had another holiday, just a short break in Cornwall with my family. I've had problems with my landlord but they seem to be sorting themselves out now. I'm still on Squidoo and include the link to my latest lenses below.I've given up Farmville but am still available for co-op jobs if my friends need me.That means that Farmville is still there beckoning me, but I will resist, there are more important things to do. I am sending off Section C of my Faith and Worship preaching course at the beginning of next week. Life looks good. The music of Arvo Part The cycle Tour of Britain goes through Hemyock

Lord, you know what it is like to be without a home. Bless all those many millions throughout our world who do not have a proper home. Bring your love into their lives despite their poverty and help us to realise how poor we wealthy ones are because we allow wealth to get in the way of our knowing you. Amen Are you poor? So cluttered up with possessions that you have no time to think about the spiritual side of life? Surely there is more to life than a computer, an i-phone and all the other things we crave after these days. Humans need more in life than these things. We need to meet together and discuss. To share our lives with others. Yes the laptop can be a good slave to help us reach new people, but it is also a cruel master if we let it take over every moment of our life. This morning I enjoyed playing quartets with three other friends. What joy that was to share music together. I'm sure no one would want to listen to us, but we loved it. We played Mozart and Beethoven and...

How nice to settle in at home again, To watch the trees grow in the rain. To settle into bed at night And stay there after dawn's first light. To wander gently through the day Without a timetable to control my way. To amble on from meal to meal. To let time's balm my mind to heal. 'Tis good to go about and play But better far at home to stay. I've been away, now it's good to come home. If you like my poem take a look at some more here. A poem for every day in August