Word Cloud for Easter

I stumpled upon a site called Wordle, which creates word clouds from texts, as I was preparing for this mornings sermon. So I put todays Gospel Reading of John 20:1-18 and ...
No Easter bunny required!

Visit http://www.wordle.net/ to make your own

Superb Arthritic Support

Let me introduce you to Tigger. Here he is - Tigger is my trusty walking stick - with attitude. When it was plain I needed that kind of support, I wanted one that was not regular grey issue. So he came to live with me. Delighted to say that I've very recently had to speak to Tigger and tell him that, for the time being, he's retired, alleluia!

One of the well known sayings about inflammatory arthritis is that: it may not kill you but it can take your life. Sadly, this is true for some suffers. Amongst typical manifestations are exhaustion, fatigue, pain and inflammation. It's a condition that cannot always be seen by onlookers, or even carers, but it can be devastating, especially in a 'flare'. A flare may range from being utterly debilitating, with one or more joints inflamed, to finding it tough getting about, particularly first thing in the morning, to just feeling out of sorts. In a severe attack sometimes the sufferer just wants to withdraw from life.

If you suffer from a chronic illness, knowing about it can help. Knowing, too, where you can turn for support will also help. Here on the Island, we have a terrific arthritis team made up of Drs, Consultants, Special Arthritic Nurse Ellen, OT Mandy, Pharmacist, Physio, Podiatrist (Hope I've not missed anyone off). They offer a course about Arthritis, which is full of all kinds of information. It's one afternoon a week for six weeks. I have learned so much, and that knowledge is very empowering. Diagnosis for Psoriatic Arthritis happened about 6 years ago, and had this opportunity been available all that time ago, I may have been better equipped to cope. Big Big Thank You to the SAS Team.

What a difference a day makes

It's been a beautiful day, a good to be alive November day which makes me want to sing! It's hard to imagine that vicious storms were assaulting our shores a day or so ago. Looking out across the beach, instead of sand, there's tons of seaweed. Sadly we don't have a garden as it would make an excellent fertilizer.

Singing seems the right response to such a lovely day. Hymn singing was a part of daily assembly, for me and many of my age, which gave us a foundation few of us recognised at the time. It set me to thinking which particular hymn I would chose for today. Could it be All creatures of our God and King ... perhaps, it does celebrate creation and Creator?

Yet it was just 36 hours ago the storm raged. John Newton's hymn, based on Isaiah 33: Glorious things of thee are spoken. Line on line and verse on verse, it's brimming with assurance.

As I researched this hymn, I came upon the site that I've posted at the bottom of this post. I had no idea of Newton's history. His father was a sea-captain, and took his young son to sea. On these journeys, the young Newton was schooled in the harsh realities of life. He remained at sea after his father retired, and over the next few years experienced many kinds of terrible situation. At one point he even fell into the hands of a slave trader.

Finally Newton was reading Thomas à Kempis and ...

... the fearful experiences of a storm at sea in which his ship was almost lost, his deliverance from a severe fever in Africa, — these, and other experiences, at last awoke in the sinful man the memories of the religion his mother had taught him, and he turned from his sins with true repentance.

Reading his history, it's possible to see that the terrible journey that eventually brought Newton to faith informs his writing. I include just one verse, this is my song for today, but go and look at the others.

Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Form'd thee for His own abode:
On the Rock of ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.

http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bnewton8.html

We will remember them

There is a time for everything ... so we read in Ecclesiastes 3. On Remembrance Sunday, we give thanks for all who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I am moved by television news coverage of those who make their final journey through the town of Wootton Bassett. The people of this small town stand in silence to pay their respects to our fallen. These young men and women return, not to the bosom of their families but, to be laid to rest in home soil. Wootton Bassett remind us that we live in Great Britain.
I pray that, as the family and friends grieve for their loved ones, the seed of hope will be planted in hearts.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

The chattering of everyday life can become a cacophony. Just stop, in silence, to remember and give thanks for them.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/poetsandprose/binyon.htm

The power of naming

Over and over again, I find myself amazed by the awesome goodness of the Almighty.

I have been very ill recently, so bad that I thought the end was nigh ... even went to the solicitors to write my will ... I could hardly walk, the pain was terrible and I was very, very frightened. (At the time I thought this strange, now I know the reason).

An appointment was made to see my rheumatologist. On arrival that morning I was dismayed to find instead a 'General Physician'. What an encounter! A simple question from him 'How did you feel as you prepared for your last post?' and one reply from me 'Really excited'. A statement from him 'And you were bitterly, bitterly disappointed'.

There you have it. This is not the time perhaps to write the details. Almost the first thing I had to do on arrival in post was to clean my front door of smeared human faeces - And I am sad to say there were all kinds of things that followed. I must add that amidst the mess there were some treasures.

Last night I sat with Psalm 116 and, found words to describe how it was at times in that place and, I know healing is underway. In just a few days I no longer need 'Tigger' my walking stick with attitude. I can once more move around with ease and I find I'm me again.

Humbled by His love.

Today I celebrate all that is good, all that has been and all that will be, and know there is nothing to fear.

Yachtmaster in Progress

Another attempt has been made today to make a bolt for Alderney. Not sure of the timings, but this time Inspiration of Boss cleared the Needles, and was about 3 hours out. It was now blowing 8-9 and gusting 45 knots. In the conditions a decision to heave to was taken and at this point the grabrail on the coach roof was under water.

Rather than plough on when some were unwell in difficult conditions they returned to safety in Swanage, and tonight they are in Poole.

Swanage has a place in our family history. During the war my mother, Norma, went there with some of her family. While on the playing on the beach they saw a Luftwaffe plane coming towards them. They huddled under the sea wall, and Mum's brother Rodney, aged about 10, lent over the females to protect them. Later they returned to the haberdashers shop for more provisions, and found it had received a direct hit.