Why do we journey..

 I think we journey for two reasons.

To escape,

To enjoy.

This is only my view,and its my present

Position.

To escape perhaps a moment, a person,hositlity...

To enjoy differant people's discussion.

See better view's.

Internally examine self.

Alone or together with own ,plus shared thoughts.

To prepare for climbing mountain, cross river's, walk difficult paths.

Then to retoricaly ..'over come obstacles'..

Then to face real issues one may encounter.

But journeys can be more urgent, LIFE threatening escape movement.

But often we journey away...to than Journey back, better equipped to face event's.

Enjoy the paths you travel, Be safe as you wander, seek faithfully deeper conversation. Include one with the force, or power, of God who has already gone before you.

Even in the return to home, he has gone before you! 

Perhaps a journal would be helpful to record  thoughts...feelings..draw images.

Need a Maid!

Need to find me a Maid.

Email phone

Or just create  meeting

Before more washing day blues

Arrive

Anyone around willing still to risk take?

Something draws me to the coast.

Same thing internally makes me live as reflective practioner. Made as a warrior, Dreamer, spiritual Sojourner.

I best describe myself as "person wanting to discover Faith, God's place in our life's.

As a community development pastor, keen to explore how communicationi improves

       "How we live and grow."

The Dreamer in me still believe in a thing called love.

Guess that's why spend more time 

Risk taking on Cliff edges,

Less on the sandy beaches.

Anyone around willing still to risk take?

Yes we will struggle with dilemmas.

Do we want to become better people.

Do we want to become more conscious. 

What would happen to;-

Individual

Community

Wider Society

if we were willing to become more conscious of our ethical standards. 

Yes we will struggle with dilemmas.( l have helped publish a booklet on this,)

 but we should be in the debates daily.

We must raise our own awareness as;-

 Individuals

Place where we exist in Community

Impact on wider Society. 

Does our understandings around Theodicy (the nature of evil), affect others or just `solo mio,` ourselves.

I don't see many others being concerned about Syria and its situation.

Hear little about Women in Afghanistan

Don't see Church folk praying for Palestine . 

We should be exploring responsibility that this very awkward, at times vile, powerful technology demands. 

When the rummage sale ends...something's Ugly will persist.

Society has rummage sales, kicking out some stuff .

Creating new stuff, creating gatherings, toxicity, new beliefs, re-establishing old ways,all be it differantly.
That's a time we are presently experiencing.
Got wokeness, values being rejected, faith being devalued.
Sometimes the journey we are on, it's gets Ugly. Loudness creates hassles.
We must stay focused, be faithful and remain committed to truths.

When the rummage sale ends...something's that are Ugly will persist.
Truth will reconstruct, further Faith heritage will develop.
Although 'Constantine the Great' has gone. Some things have shaped our community, guidelines, even township.

Faith then like at present still grew, Jesus call for better , different, The Kingdom way.....still echoes.
Can you hear anything?

The Art of listening

That summer like others pretty clear what l recall in the 'video store' , that on show in my mind.

Suppose warm memories are easy to hold dear. If Listen to sounds in my mind, hear soundtrack to the same moment.

Although not certain about issues we were facing. Poverty still be evident, political uncertainty, that because of the voting system we use local, further national.

But less certain about smaller policy concerns. Faith development, Tribes gatherings, can remember work l am involved with, see the faces individual people, plus places we gathered. That's most vital.

Summer of 2023, still getting here.

Issues arrived, more isolation.

Less conversation, not gathering with my Tribes. People not listening, losing Art of social discussion, so we form balance of accepting another's view.

Understand the journey others have taken .

 We are missing out on each person, being an individual that matters.

It's Saturday ,time with nephew and son.

 Health ways just need to sleep. feel often that just can not do stuff

but that is not how to live.

So l am on way to being with two crazy youngsters, My family. It going to be a blessing. If l do get bit worn out.
LIFE sometimes about others first.
Matthew my son is not very well. But he has special love for his nephew.
Love when you watch it work is touching, affecting your mind along with heart. Which as have told you before `holds separate memories` to the mind.
Offered prayers for today.
Offering prayers as day close.
Been doing `Collect for this day`,  occasionally as spiritual exercises.

Spirituality is good practice to take even at young age. We visited a Church today

Expensive £3-50 for coffee, and pricey `knick-knack's`. Didn't feel artificial leg coupled to the visit was required.

Spoilt the experience.

 Here's to the babies in a brand new world

Here's to the beauty of the stars

Here's to the travellers on the open road

Here's to the teachers in the crowded rooms

Here's to the preachers of the sacred words

Here's to the wisdom
 
from the mouths of Babe's.

3 hours to get 33 miles.

 The weather bit like summer today

although need a jumper, pavement not steaming. Fish and chips on the coast.

Buses are full, but took 3 hours to get 33 miles.

Now heading back. But nature and creators work , well always good place to spend a little moment.

To you l wish same sense of Peace 

Step back out of the trees so can see the whole forest. What beautiful thing do you recognise?

How can you understand LIFE.

Start by informing you , not going to get a lot of information here,

         l am someone who likes to help others question what they see.

Where they may see LIFE happening.

Understand the role they play in `wrestling` further.

Not sure, but tend not to say `its like this..`

But we must be trying to examine the meaning in lots of ways then begin to sit ,discuss, drink tea, JD, or whatever then talk more.

Yesterday l had two very different experiencing's of Human nature.
LAST one is the primary discourse from a neighbour, they not very good at interplay with  others. 
THEY chose a road `well travelled`  HAVE Been on manslaughter charge, deal drugs, committed fraud, 

Mostly spend lot of time in places their feet should not have taken them in the first place.

 I did not want to engage with that person, nor listen to that persons `Take on LIFE`.

The secondary experience happened for quite a long time at a community gathering in rural setting.

Most everyone chatted, shared cake, comfortable with each other, talked about TV series, camping, weather, faith, Music, health, benefit system. The past, family.

All persons at one time or another took time with others listening.

My Task.

one l love was servanthood role getting place ready with another, taking drinks around, topping up cups of tea and Coffee.

My Other Task.

l get to hear beautiful conversations as l hoover around with T-Pot and Coffee Pot.

i get to see the Forest as l emerge from the trees and back into the growing forest of human interaction.

Task three, I get to go back to the Kitchen, there restock Tea and coffee.

l get to see the beauty of each tree flourish with others as l observe the gathering from the Forest canopy.
May you get this experience also at times. Its Beautiful.

Drinking JD with cool coke, kissing, walking romantically along the beach. Trying to understand . . etc...

 Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I’m about to do . . .

Is God talking to others and who are they, ?

Is God also talking to us.?

Could it be that he talking to the Angels, Principalities the Powers.

What is God about to do and why is God affected, to what extent?

You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah
But what do you care?
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame,
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name.

Even in the age we are in the biblical imagery creeps into our narratives, the way we live LIFE and avoid discussion.

The art of conversation with each other has become void , dull, not required so we communicate via social media, loosing the WAY to interact. 

but there's HOPE as we rediscover books.

Gathering together becoming essential 

Zoom appears more and more for those awkward, `never really got social interaction, groups like ,the` deconstructionist's`. 

Vinyl become rediscovered as a good way to listen to music.

Talking yesterday found out there need to meet, and plan, networking collectively.

Like camping, cooking outdoors, walks along cliff tops, looking together at nature.

God being recognised as a creator.

Bible having literacy value,

Wisdom from the street preachers.

Joy communicating with children.

Recognising drama in old movie, that inferred ethical statement, we may want to cherish.

Its all coming back to us.

Peace, being kind, drinking JD with cool coke, kissing, walking romantically along the beach.

Trying to understand films, Bible, lyrics each other.   

Its my back to basics faith mantra.

Back to basics..just trying to explore what it is l believe, start with God music tastes.

He loves most music, enjoys few hymns..and dislikes modern worship especially those you-tube tokens.

you cant put God into a ..

• Box that for deep spiritual stuff
• Another for emotional literacy issues
• Yet another for your own gatherings leisurely pursuits
• Further boxed off physical standards

God is holistic, gathered into all areas enjoys many more topics than we imagine.

Loves dancing, The 11th commandment...DANCE.  

listens intentally to Chics..`Yosha yosah yosha..`

Concerned more about justice, economic well-being, and treatment of vulnerable, desires that we

communicate his message to all, less thinking about `Last Days and Judgement`, more talking about whose invited to the table.

Love God , Love one another , Follow Jesus.

Later for all that other stuff.

Its my back to basics faith mantra. 

Constructing Faith.

When in my developing faith, many folks were already in frontier situation.
Seeking the SHALOM of the inner cities.
The Prophet's of the market place had 'raged hard', about the injustice so evident.
Many narratives took place in my mind,as in silence ,contemplation with tonne of teenage issues, walked beaches thinking stuff though in my mind.

Eventually found others wrestling with this stuff, perplexed, working it all out in a mixed up messy, mixed up, spiritual ways.

Sharing odd books, places to begin thinking,talking, cup of tea debating, larger supping discussions. listening in different ways to music, watching differently films. Telling each other our narrative.
Our journey begins as we listen to others story's, trying hard to equate one experience with our own.

What's so old fashioned about love,peace, being kind.

It's as perihelion as the grass.

Required presently.

Able to grow if nurtured

Always best if given away.

Never can have too much love.

All best songs are written about love.

Best three words you could

Say to another. I love you 

Without love we starve our souls, mind, and body.

Most heart failure is around not having enough love. (I made that one-up).

Love is in need of Love.

Love never gives up.

Love never ends.

The greatest is 

Love 

Everybody's talking about love.

But so few follow

Loves Biblical guideline's

Why not!

My faith has changed but it was never a "get to heaven and exclude others type of movement" . .

IS being disabled just part of the ageing process.

its not the blues to acknowledge that the body does less.

it the doing it in such a difficult way that l have difficulty with.

My faith has changed but not drastic perhaps early exposure via lot of Christian folk meant it was never  ..."get to heaven  and exclude others type of movement" . .

Youth and community work was always about Networking with others whose values, although different to my own. Shared stuff, issues, reading, learning that we could reject or enquire further and deeper around.

l have put around because that's what we did, also what we should still be doing. looking learning ,sharing ,debating around.

Striving further to have less social media periods.

something l would encourage more epically the younger readers to experience, then practice.Less time on social media.

What do you do on Saturdays when there is no football on  . . .

Bible reading or Scrabble, nature walks, war gaming, Kissing, sleeping, watching TV.

In the film forest Gump, what's the concept about JENNY, is she just the LOVE he could not keep, thus she abused him.

OR is is a concept that's bigger. THE love Forest Gump displays is very like HOSEA in the bible, The LOVE of emotional soul songs like the back catalogue of Motown, Stax, Philly.

IF YOU KNOW LET ME BE EDUCATED.

Shadow dancer.

I do not do more 
than rummage known landscapes.
In such strange places
that I can not share with you.
In any sign I pursue you
I am drawing you in a shadow.
Signs and shadows are lost.
Luck did not come with me...

This life is one of trying to keep the sea on the right when leaving the town.

In view always, the North sea

In front always the low fields, not many trees.

No Horizons.

It's a flat place. But Moors dark, cooler, a uninvited place has been company these short few days.

Everywhere.

You miss those conversation.

Miss that long absent look.

Miss the staring into space, sat in complete silence.

But don't know about days.

That don't start

days of sleeping.

Frustrated days of nothing achieved.

Hard to explain...when days just don't get anything started.

My stars do not respond.

Experiancing a different culture

You don't have to travel long way.

Nor for very long time.

But we all need some time away

Perhaps if can cope with solitude some time alone.

MY LIFE journey has a best before date.

My heart is failing, known the slowness along with complicated happenings as arrived.

Talks around clinical solution is for another day.

Today has been place in nature, along cliff tops, watching Sea fret roll inwards 

Breathing. Nothing too deep just enough.

Joining again with others.

We went to a club, for drink listen to this singer. Simply my idea of hell.

Worse then bland loud karaoke Queen.

Most unpleasant experience.

Hated each moment.

Each second said nothing  of value.

But l was in Another's culture with another set of inferred values .

Perhaps l discovered something Which I future could reflect upon......NO it was Hell 

Blood Brother's.

 Since starting to recognise that others don't have all l take for granted.

The life of the people in f Bible lands been a issue simply struggling to understand.

Its complex, heritage hatred, no desire for Shalom.

Deeper is the love required.

When it comes to the middle East

Love remains in need of Love.

If these feet ain't where Kevin should be, then neither is Kevin.

 

When a day appears messy
The traffic heavy
Timings difficult.
Bad behaviour effect own nature.
Miscommunication exists
Disabilities not taken into account LIFE
Feels uncomfortable
Keep a focus, say your prayers.
Keep on carrying on.

Nature enabled me to breathe today.
Took simple steps.
Firstly yesterday was most difficult for many reasons. But it's just Life.
I forget this natural personal strategy.
Then l begin to stumble
So time to refresh, accept some challenge. Keep the sea to your left.
Keep both of your feet in nature.

Genesis 6:6: “And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart”

 

"The Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, it grieved him to his heart”

Beginning to wonder what are we becoming. Appear to struggle with any compass that directs us into being a more Loving, kinder type of person.

How we live together and serve each other is one of the best measures around who we serve ourselves.

A master who chose to serve us , then desires that we love one another and follow that example.

Perhaps we need to explore deeper the character of God.

if the `flood is a fairy tale`,not a logical true story. Is the character of God the one that grieves about our being

Troublesome and rebellious.

do we accept that God is unchanging, a creator, example of best Love we could imagine, literacy, emotionally an example what we should strive to achieve.

did the Lord really regret that he had created us in his own image.

OR did that just fit another writers narrative about his neighbours.

OR has God changed as the story of God further his relationship 

with you and l has developed, therefore changed.?

Well it is Monday, lets get our thinking heads on.

Beware of the environment cultural affects

 

The culture of the environment can affect you as a individual.
Bringing attitude and feelings
Carried with you always.
Affect friends you choose , custom's you follow, even places you reside.

Where you feel you belong.

Whose there that you gather with.

How then you interact with others.

Gatherings then further impact wider society you whole has that Community belong too.
Encourage each of us to explore the culture of the environment.

What values are inferred?

Who may not feel welcome?

In which ways does that allow change plus personal development?

Is that a strategy for holistic growth growth.

Tough places.

 The good old days, maybe they weren't so glamorous,maybe we were poorer.
But confident we appeared Kinder.
Witnessed drunkenness, strange aggressive behaviour. So many foreign People, in such a crowded poverty stricken place.
Talk about mental.health crisis, emergency responders not coping.
Neighborhood more blighted.
Started to affect my emotions.
Like to watch people as we drink cuppa. Eyes reflect self concern.
Body's reflect struggle taking place.
Shop fronts bare testimonials to imprisoned soul's, prices of basics are so high,conversation about osterity.
We are sick as a society. Images of this are very evident.
It effecting how l perceive LIFE.

Lord heal your People.

On simple things like reading and looking

  “Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape"

Love this quote from films like, Nora Ephron, writer of such films as ` When Harry Met Sally`, `Sleepless in Seattle` etc... 
It creates this matrix around simple everyday task that we all attempt to achieve. Reading but l want to emphasis real proper reading not text stuff people practice on Social media.

Our faces project so much about who we are!

What we are beginning to think about.

How that may even be changing at that moment.

Where we might have been.

How perhaps we may be feeling.

Perhaps what we ca hanging our feeling about.

Where we have just been.

That Face tells others what we might even be trying to hide.

That face you sometimes look at in the mirror is Like a canvass into US.

LIFE messy tapestry.

Pretty sure you have attempted to reflect your faith in God favouring method.

Don't get hung up on your ability to behave like others.

Be you, God already loves you enough.

As the day began, that's was assured.

No person can take that away.

Enjoy LIFE it's hard already.

Enjoy LIFE it for living, even boring TV,cup of tea that got cold.

The toast you dipped into cold cup of Tea. The Washing-up that still waiting,

everyday mess that needs clearing up. It's all in `tapestry of LIFE`.

 

Pretty sure they did not go to any gatherings l been a part off belonging. Pretty sure gonna keep the Faith.

 

Callous men in business costume speak computerise
Play pinball with the Third World trying to keep it on its knees
Their single crop starvation plans put sugar in your tea
And the local Third World's kept on reservations you don't see . . . 

Been thinking about what may be seen as normal and trying to wonder if it what l have become,

its a bit like playing Vinyl...some say its cute..but not very modern.

However as myself and friend spoke about earlier today,

its all still `rock N roll`. 

SINCE YOUNGER THEN I AM TODAY,

Had this desire to follow Jesus, pretty sure it not a `spiritual micro wave fast solution`, to anything,

"Pretty sure it works in a clumsy , me failing, me trying kinda way.

Pretty sure if give it a try it works for you in a applying the words, applying the example, applying the lessons kinda way.

Pretty sure my Churches are full of kind people, struggling in Faith but still gathering in a messy spiritual way.

Pretty sure if we could go back to the start of the journey still choose to follow Jesus.

Pretty sure the good folk in my journey will strive to understand better.

Pretty sure not heard a sermon that told me to hate either Women, nor oppress them nor judge them.

Pretty sure social Science educator's believe l have heard such teachings.

Pretty sure they did not go to any gatherings l been a part off belonging.

Pretty sure gonna keep the Faith."

l can only practice this by failing every day at this.

Is faith a place where we should expect to fail a lot.

Especially in area of loving others. Because l struggle more in these areas...

.l recognise that the first commandment is to love god with all your being. that's a commandment. not negotiable.
 
Coming next is other commandment (which, lets suggest  is not negotiable), but rather the same as the first is ..`to love your neighbour as if they are your self` . . . the commandment Jesus cites as the minimum.
 
Not suggested as a visionary type thingy, not workshop handout but a reachable goal, But here l shame myself .

I don't know what enough is. 

LOVE  here is not an intellectual exercise but requires the courage, something we all suspect we have got enough inside each of us.
            

But life, the world, individuals, and community are not good. 
To take responsibility for whoever is in need love, like giving away everything you have and sharing it with those who haven't. 

THAT REALLY HARD... I ASK IS IT POSSIBLE, HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS,
             l can only practice this by failing every day at this.

That's the way it has to be...

Am l aware of how fortunate my position as Western Christian looks to Others.

Maybe not.

Does it just feel rebellious to suggest that not the way it really feels.

Unaware of the lens l view things through most of the time.

Maybe so. 

I am so totally sorry, but this here, that's just how cookie crumbled.

Is the song Rocket launcher by Bruce Cockburn a Gospel song?

 It's lyrics are about killing another

About death on large scale

About political over throwing

It's about hatred to another group.

Bringing sorrow to family

Creating enemies.

It's about pain.

Lack of justice

Prophetic and standing as an outsider's

Being alongside impoverished.

It's about wrath No mentioning love.

Plus some 'Son of a Bitch'!

Modern new millennium rhyme . .

 A million tomorrows shall all pass away

ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.

What did l do yesterday?
What will we do today?
Where are you blocked?
Comfort Level — How close are we to achieving vision we share, developing better mission statements.?

Most adults cannot focus their attention, often  struggle to stay engaged more then 10-18 minutes in each hour. So l find try to aim for 60-minute meetings because they fit nicely, into way our mind understands. But some younger get frustrated when have no time to run to the restroom ,more frustrated has they discover , yet to drink very first cup of coffee.

Frustrated by not being allowed access to Mobile/social networks.

That`s when health issues manifest and develop.

Get some frustrations in relationships and synergy in community development. Health affects how you belong.

So that the main Blockage...l do not like that use here of the `word`.

Its not just age or getting Old.

Its about not contributing or belonging.
SUPPOSE that is sharing of a feeling.  

A text out of Context is always a pretext to causing hurt to others.

Political debate and the Gospels.

One thing l have learnt is this.

A scriptural text and a quote from the Bible used to promote own argument, or bring down the view of another, is often unhelpful. A better way to say this is below.

A text out of Context is always a pretext to causing hurt to others.

 

"One thing l need, perhaps you also,  lot more at present , those wise, thoughtful, pastoral voices.
People who demonstrate compassion, care thus will make you want to `reflect on Questions you face`.
Encouragement to be kinder , but especially to those who are bit awkward."