The Reluctant Ordained

When not to answer the phone!

stubiedoo — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:43:46 +0000

When deconstructing a greenhouse of course!!

2nd Tea Break with a slice of Sarah’s ‘wake cake’ mmm

At Lunch, it was 9 for no loss, (panels down with no broken glass!!)

All down by the close of play, still no broken glass, what is going wrong here??

March

stubiedoo — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:45:28 +0000

A month for moving.
I walked a labyrinth yesterday. Something I’ve done many times before, however, as always with the labyrinth it is different every time. This was one of what I call the “proper ones” without modern distractions on the path! (they are good in their own way, but really don’t compete). As I entered the centre, all the past and the future was before me, memories long hidden came flooding to the fore, hopes dreams and expectations for the journey out. We are always journeying in and out. I’ve just got to the outside and am about to start in again!! I start the journey inwards on the 17th, we move on the 26th (ish)

Last Sunday…

stubiedoo — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:36:17 +0000

Dutifully looking up the readings for my last Sunday in the current parish, (Luke 13: 31-35) I was astonished to read the short passage – how apt for one leaving… The I noticed I was in John, not Luke. Uncanny though, how appropriate some of the words from John were!!

Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”

On a related subject, this came in the post!

From sheep to feet

stubiedoo — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:41:20 +0000

The process is finally complete!

home made socks

and they are really warm!! (and not at all scratchy Hannah!!)

Ashes to ashes…

stubiedoo — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:52:33 +0000

…dust to dust!

Maggi's book amongst the recycled paper

My study employs an open cast filing system. So much so that as I’m preparing to move this Lent, it seems a great opportunity to clear the rubble and gather only the important things after the dust has settled. Lent of course is a great time to do this. Rather than throw away or recycle some of the paper I’ve been making new paper myself. I had already made a number of sheets of brand new paper out of the rubbish. I’m reading this Lent Maggi Dawn’s Giving it up, she speaks about “clearing out the mental and spiritual clutter” Hopefully the strips of recycled paper I attached to our Ash Wednesday service sheets will serve as a reminder that if we clear away the clutter – all things can be made new!

Top fillings – by request

stubiedoo — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:53:58 +0000

for pancakes of course!!

All request made during breakfast… The Top 6 are:

no.1 Chips (and i’ll add chilli sauce of course)

no.2 Melted mars bar

equal 3rd Peanut butter and cherry jam

equal 3rd Neopolitan ice cream

no.5 Banana and brown sugar

no.6 Lemon and brown sugar – (it actually made their list!!)

Other suggestions relegated to the recycling bin…

Creamy mashed potato and ketchup… mmmnnnnn no

All in a bid to use up those things in the house superfluous to a period of lenten fasting of course.

is free the opposite of heavy?

stubiedoo — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:11:40 +0000

Mr Rabeder who gave away his fortune thinks it is.

Perhaps you might agree with him??

Embarrassing initials

stubiedoo — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:13:39 +0000

There are many sets of initials that one would really not want, however one would really not put C.F.A in that category. However, Charlie Andrews must have really done something extrordinary to be re-named within his life time as ‘Christ’s Faithful Apostle’ much to his embarrassment! He probably deserved it though from the testimony of one Mohandas Ghandi, when asked by Christian missionaries how they should witness he answered, ‘copy Charlie Andrews.’ I mention him in relation to South Africa where he had an extreme experience of the scandal and racial division. 20 years ago a young school boy of 15 was stunned into silence by the teacher (who’s name admittedly has gone the way of many things) announcing the release of one Nelson Mandela. The significance of that day was only to be realised manay years later. Those who followed Ghandi’s advice and have copied CF Andrews in his humble service to the poor and to Christ have much to rejoice on such a day and many such were striving for the peace of South Africa. If only the same spirits able to be reproduced in today’s places of apartheid. (BBC on Mandela 20 years on.)

February

stubiedoo — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:40:51 +0000

So, finally we turn from the baby-fest to the provocative preacher. February marks the bizarre American festival of Groundhog day. Sadly Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell arn’t gracing our televisions this next week – shame. Underneath the rather barmy exterior it explores the relationship between head and heart. Arrogant and mediocre weatherman Phil Conners lives life in his head. However, as events in small-town Punxsutawney unfold, he is forced to confront his attitude. Eventually he begins to live life from his heart. Once he realises that February 2nd is never going to end he begins to see his life and the lives of those around him in a different light. If we begin to see with our heart rather than our head two things can happen. The first is that we might seem as if we are in love. The second thing is that our priorities change. As we move into Lent this month, we once again meet, in the image of Jesus, one who was always ruled by his heart and who was never stuck in one day!

on enlarging the heart

stubiedoo — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:22:51 +0000

We are a lazy species for the most part, that’s not to say we don’t need (want?) all manner of things to take away some of the effort of daily life, how long before the ipad becomes a necessity as have gadgets before it. Two of the best comments on said item are conveniently together, the ipitaph.

When it comes to church and religion in general we can be even more lazy. Few of us, I think, will ever do what St. Thomas Aquinas did and put theology before such rigorous questioning. Of course papal authorities were lazy too! Instead of engaging with the questions that Aquinas raised his “Summa” was seen as the answers to theological inquiry. I wonder what the heart of Aquinas was like? The legacy of St. Thomas Aquinas is then perhaps an open mind and an open heart both at work ready to discover the best, then of course at the end, when it is revealed to us, to lay down the pen / ipad / iphone / laptop etc. and dwell in the vision of God. An open heart, open to a myriad of possibilities.

I know, Aquinas is normally remembered on 28th, but I was lazy…