Church on fire!

Tomorrow we are off to Telford to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury...
Tonight we went to see the fireworks by the Green Man Inn, it was an impressive display (no photos yet as I cannot seem to focus right!...however hubby took a few (4....hundred ..) so I may post a few a.s.a.p...) and amazingly the wind was blowing away all the smoke far away from us. still one particle of whatever fell in my eye (obviously I looked up, eyes wide open!)  and four hours later it's a little bit painful..
Have a blessed week-end. Yours in Christ. N

The highlights of our hols in Norfolk..

 The forecast was rain in Norfolk for the week but fortunately it only rained one day! So we went birdwatching...four times...in fact it is so easy to go birdwatching as Heacham is by the sea and ducks walk alonside dogs in the village!








We went twice to Titchwell, the RSPB reserve, they improved the walk and did some digging and trimming round the banks..everything looked very new!

 
 In Wells-next-the Sea, we saw this baby cormoran, so cute lol!

 Our last day was spent in the butterfly and wildlife centre near Sutton Bridge. It was  such a challenge to photograph elusive butterflies in the tropical garden. In the end, I cheated and filmed them. There were  four iguanas relaxing and watching you incognito.

 

One of the eagles caused a bit of turmoil as he never came back..not unusual. However they still held a 'handling birds of prey' show. I do find the barn owl so beautiful, don't you?

The heart of worship

by Michael W Smith

Lately I've had to sort out a progamme called Shockwave Flash and I did not have a clue what it was. Basically, that programme allows your computer to connect with bits of media...this is what I understand..so I realised that it was part to the Adobe company (they do the pdf files!) therefore I had to download the stuff from Adobe website, (twice) then test it ( mean press on their link that said 'test' and it still didn't work. Somehow when I came back from work yesterday it worked..phew! and during those few days, I had this beautiful song in my head and my heart and longing to hear it so 'voilà'! I hope you like it too. If you do, let me know. Yours in Christ.

In His presence

This was the title of the 10th anniversary conference Steven and I attended last saturday in Lichfield cathedral. In the morning, we had a powerful address by Revd Richard Taylor and in the afternoon Michele Guinness invited us to party, yes, really we had a party!

Here are some brief notes I took while Richard Taylor was talking.

I was a heroin addict and Jesus saved me. I gave my life to Jesus. I want to share Jesus with everybody. My book, To catch a thief from career criminal to a life of hope is a UK based story. It can be found in most prisons in the UK as I believe if I can change, other people can change too and come to saving faith. We see them and they are transformed. One girl who was a hard drug user, a gaunt prostitute with scars all over, she'd been sexually, physically and emotionally abused for years. Trudy came to us  and became part of the family. We got used to her, show her love and three years on she is the manager of the girls home.

I became Christian in a pentecostal environment and then I was introduced to reformed theology. I became friend with Archbishop Rowan . I have what I have by the grace of the Lord and I believe in the power of the Gospel. Jesus is explaining to his disciples the type of relationship between him and the Father, entering in his presence. His presence lives in us. The anointing is in us already! We rely too much on the atmosphere. Jesus is saying that He is in the Father. Do we understand the power of God's presence? The scriptures point to the fact that his presence is already in us. I take his presence to street work. In Edgbaston, I asked a young woman for a coffee and she started to shake the coffee so much that she spilt it. She could experience something different, God's presence. We talked further and I told her I was a Christian. The presence of God is in us. We have the power of the living Christ in us. The same Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead dwells in us. Christ is more than a religious leader. John 8:58-59  ⁵⁸"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!  Jesus was speaking of his presence. Jesus-Christ is God. However ecumenical we want to be, the message of the Gospel is exclusive and politically opposed. We are not physical, Christ came with love. Now that we are forgiven, the gospel is inclusive to those who believe. [....] I recommend Richard's book, To catch a thief. It is an excellent read and you won't want to put it down!

I am currently reading Michele Guinness 's  autobiography : Chosen and I am enjoying it thoroughly!
Blessings. Yours in Christ.

Renewal Conference.

 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

 ² Worship the LORD with gladness;
       come before him with joyful songs.

 ³ Know that the LORD is God.
       It is he who made us, and we are his ^[a] ;
       we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
       and his courts with praise;
       give thanks to him and praise his name.

 ⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
       his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

Last time we went to one of those renewal days we were edified and inspired. I do recommend the experience. Blessings.

Swapping clothes..

Saturday night Imo and I met up with our friends Trena and Lizzie in town. We had a curry quite early, we were sitting in the restaurant at about 5:15  the reason being we were going to a 'swapping clothes' event starting at 7:30 in the Christian Elim Centre! We had a lovely time in the restaurant and then we moved to the centre. Everybody invited (ladies mainly only) brought a bag of clothes and then we were given a number of tickets corresponding to the number of items.
While we were having tea and muffins, Mrs. Comfort Owusu Otchere, the Schools Coordinator for International Needs Ghana told us about this Christian organisation where she has worked for 17 years. One of their success stories is how they managed to rescue young children at risk while working for fishermen, children as young as five. If they'd drown while repairing the nets or the boats, nobody would report them.  A high percentage of them managed to attend one of the schools provided by IN, International Needs. They also provide healthcare and have an anti-slavery programme.
Do you want to help too or do you wish to find out more? Click on this link:  http://www.innetwork.org.gh/
Let us pray for the churches, the church planters and their families, and everybody involved in the organisation. May the Lord gives them strength and guidance for the success of their projects. In Jesus-Christ. Amen. Also here is the link of their 'gifts of compassion' shop : http://ineeds.mimegraphics.com/index.php?education We had a fantastic evening. Blessings.

Creation or evolution?

Lately, it looks as if this question is a source of tension, so much that one may think wise to stay out of it for fear of upsetting one's friend.. In fact there are many Christians who tell me that evolution does not bother them, they add : if it is the big bang, then God created it!
I find it useful to know a bit more about the debate. Somehow, you must have noticed that the evolutionists viewpoints seem to be everywhere, in most of our schools, universities, documentaries and media. However there seems to be cracks in the theory of evolution and the creationists are fighting back for recognition as they believe that the evidence gathered by the evolutionists have not always been accurate for instance..you have heard of the 'missing link' ..but there is MORE!
Interested ? then why don't you visit Dr. Grady Shannon McMurtry's website : http://www.creationworldview.org

Blessings. Yours in Jesus-Christ.

Let's rejoice and praise the Lord!

Blessings.

..live at peace with everyone..

      17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
    ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
    ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.
    ²⁰ On the contrary:
   If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. 
 ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:17-21

I think that you will agree that sometimes living at peace with everyone can be difficult!
We have to be on our guard all the time so that difficult situations do not develop and end up overcoming us to a point where we feel that forgiving is too hard.
This afternoon, I was reading in Lynn's blog http://lynnmosher.blogspot.com/   how she blessed her employer instead of cursing her.
So if we choose to bless our enemy we will be able to move forward and remove bitterness from our heart. I must add that in such a situation, I asked the Lord to help me as I felt I could not do it on my own! Blessings. Yours in Christ.

There is a King in you!

You come from royalty

An aristocratic dynasty

The goal of the enemy

Is that you don't know who you are

There's power when you speak

Be mindful of words you release

I know that life has challenged you

But the king in me speaks to the king in you

You were born to rule there is a king in you

You come from royalty

An aristocratic dynasty

The goal of the enemy

Is that you don't know who you are

There's power when you speak

Be mindful of words you release

I know that life has challenged you

But the king in me speaks to the king in you

You were born to rule there is a king in you

Is there no king in you then why do you speak

Speak with such defeat?

Is there no king in you then why do you speak

Speak with such low esteem?

I know that life has challenged you

But the king in me speaks to the king in you

You were born to rule there is a king in you

Donald Lawrence and Co. 

The Venice of the Languedoc!

Later on we went to Sète. I'd never been there before but I knew that it was one of the largest harbours on the Mediterranean. What I did not know is it has been given the name of Venice of the Languedoc!  It is situated between the Thau Lagoon (Etang de Sète), the sea and various canals! Paul Valéry and Georges Brassens are its two most famous people. 

Imogen pausing on the parapet in front of the Chapelle Notre Dame de la Salette (see below). 

 Having a drink in one of the many cafés in the town center.

Walking by the harbour.

We had lunch in one of those restaurants. One of the dishes i had was called the tielle sétoise, a round pastry filled up with octopus pieces in a tomato sauce. 

 View from the mont  St Clair (183 m)

I thought that this tiny street with the washing on the line does look like an Italian street! What do you think?

Have a blessed week-end.

Jousting in Agde

One day we went to Agde, in the Languedoc Roussillon region, and we realised people were getting ready for the Joutes Nautiques (nautical jousting). Apparently this sport has existed in Sete the 25th of August 1743...

The Rules

The tournament starts with a parade of the jousting “knights” with traditional music: oboe and drums are the two main instruments. There is a blue and a red rowboat guided by steersmen and powered by 8 to 10 rowers.

 In the front of the boat, 2 musicians accompany the tournament with a traditional music.

 The jousting members are armed with a spear and protected by a “pavois” (a shield). 

The aim of the game is to make the opponent fall in the water with the spear when the boats pass each other. 

 Hum, wonder who is there, hidden in the crowd!

 The jousting fighters stand on the “tintaine”, a plank set at the back of the boat

 about 2 meters above the water.

 Here is the blue team and the musicians

 Nobody in the water yet!

The red team.

This went on for at least two hours and it was good fun! Here is a splash. I must say that though the sun was out, the temperature of the water was below 16 ...

A few holidays snaps...

 We are back home and it is strange not to be able to walk on the sand

 nor hear any French people talking in the background.

 This is the market, colourful and usually full of people. They were closing on that day. 

 A myriad of restaurants in the town center!

 The harbour!

The harbour seen from the market.

That's all for tonight! Blessings. Yours in Christ. 

Jesus is our Prince of Peace

What are holidays for?
I am sure that you all have a very good answer and maybe it will match mine. To refresh; to experience a change of scene and a warmer weather? Do let me know.
We could have gone back to the Camargue as we thoroughly enjoyed it last year but we wanted a change.
Since our first day in Valras plage, the Med has been so cold that nobody dared swim in it. It doesn't stop the children to have fun paddling and building sand castles. Yesterday, the wind stopped and we managed to swim. 
Now, are you one of those who like to be active during their hols or you'd rather read on the beach. We do  a bit of both, getting up at ninish, exploring castles (Carcassone) and places (Narbonne, Agde..) taking photos, socialising and the inevitable food-shopping. We also had to fit in walking on the beach, picking up shells, looking for the biggest grasshoppers in the garrigue..(photos to come soon)
Last Sunday we worshipped in  in the Eglise Evangelique libre de Beziers and met new brothers and sisters, Joseph and Anne-Marie. We had the pleasure of hearing a visiting pastor preaching on Jesus, the Prince of peace. It was awesome and timely to hear those comforting words as there'd been trouble in the campsite very near us as late one night, a young father got quarellous after a drink too many and was told to leave in the morning.
Peace be with you. In Jesus' name.

Off to Béziers..

We are off to the south of France. 

Enjoy the summer.

Blessings.

Did you know that...

God loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you?


God created you:

In Psalm 139:13-14  the Bible says ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.
 ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,  I know that full well.
God loves you:
John 3:16 ¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God wants you to know Him:
 John 17:3   ³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
We are all so special for the Lord. Let's praise Him!