Painting an image here.....

 If we agree the decline of organised religion is taking place Catholicism and Anglican movement witnessed increased numerical evidence.  Perhaps the loneliness and uncertainty of modern life, coupled with Christianity’s surprising appeal to a new generation with diverse beliefs and politics. Just may suggest something else is happening .Questions posed include ;- Is Britain witnessing a genuine religious revival?  Could answers to very modern problems be found in our religious institutions ?  Is that a question worth considering? ?Some of these institutions are glorified in prayer that runs through the heritage veins. 

Its Friday spending time away from Gym and medical observations, away from any gatherings looking at the news issues ones that catch a Northern guy in a northern town with Northern heritage. OK you got the image.

 Last evening, Further issues arose when Israeli groups gathered to discuss the end of twinning arrangement between London Bough and Israelite town. The group appears to show a woman shouting abuse at protesters before eggs are thrown towards the demonstration. No injuries have been reported.

Please folks it is ok to comment on this Blog it is not OK to be foolish or threatening.

Please folks  it is ok to comment on this Blog it is not OK to be foolish or threatening.

Another idea for our spiritual renewal

 

 It's difficult one which might not make any sense or purpose. We run around and that includes Church when we should just ease it all off a little. We get pulled into the numerical evidence to demonstrate where getting people to attend our provision. Start taking short cuts seen people stop accurately reporting the people attending.
Stop addressing issues start implying some other issues then the work practices encounters. Because we got caught in little bit of manipulation. The government led project.
Seen effects lose people in projects. Seen this happen in environments of commerce. Something becomes the engine no longer the nature of the work. We started to pay attention to the service level agreements. Extra meetings more difficult paperwork. Less time with client groups. Not addressing local issues, lose some relationships everyone now around us plus our work, becomes less important. No longer focus on what we had been doing.

So rediscover that's been my recent learning rediscover the pace. It's not huge numbers it quality of the model you are to them. Rediscover the value being among the powerless, the vulnerable those who don't count nor can exercise any real influence. That's the testing issue. The young people really at the bottom don't wield influence.

More time to find you.....Like you found this page.

Spirituality is not a holiday from the discipline of LIFE it's part of your life like music you play, TV you watch, food you share ,work/school/ or hard hard stuff. Relationships formed or growing among.

But we like to put each part into compartments keeping such areas separate. We shouldn't because areas leisurely, emotional, spiritual all fold into the rest. What we do then secondary discourse is we forget some areas. We neglect areas. They become forgotten. Not so important.

Add to that people...economic wellbeing ..health ..searching for wisdom.Neglect the forgotten we forget people...we forget relationships...we don't treasure or develop our spiritual well being 

Mind gets confused live less worthy. Often become more busy. Anything sounding familiar?

Anything sounding like YOU. Sounds like ME sometimes.

Part of the solution is recoup your time with spirit. Before you get too busy time with God. Time reflecting in silence. Return to developing time with others , listening to others and practising having a cuppa with friends. Read more anything yesterday the Bible but anything. Listen to your music . Watch TV with others invest invest invest with people, relationships, Church walking in nature...Dance weep and cry.

Developing a bit of you. Kevin directed Spiritual excersie!

Here's some the truth however uncomfortable this may sound but fiercest defenders of Christian faith in the UK are not remotely part of the indigenous population. Not by along long way. One could even experience that most of  the strongest forms of anti-Christian contempt exist within hyper-liberal , neo liberalism so evident in last 30 years of the Political climate. The faith which requires us to see God, hear God, follow God, hold faith are Allien to the modern native majority.

So how do we prepare as individuals to know God?
So how do we prepare as individuals to see and hear God?
So how do we prepare as individuals to develop hold onto and explore Faith. 

It's very difficult if you do not desire these things. But have to move away from the chaos and seek. Seek silence experiance quietness. Switch off the social media. Listen to others on faith journey. Recognise that being constantly on the go isn't the way it should be nor should it be as required for LIFE to flourish, grow and for you to develop.

There is something in each of us that if we stop the struggle the real you will come out of the internal self. Try each day to turn off the social media and technology. Sit silently. For same period, same time, in perhaps same place.

The Chaos always nearby like a banana skin.

Even walk up a hill cannot guarantee peace nor silence. You have to try hard to find the isolation in Gods great cathedral. While of course avoiding God's great banana skin's. Enjoy today's special moments. Later you should find more peace joy and ability to survive the loud chaos.

Is it true that if your at the bottom, then...

Looking at TV play called 'The Old Oak' filmed a great deal in area worked Easington colliery, co Durham. But it's thoroughly depressing one conclusion is the lowdown the line you are easier it is hurt others and blame outsider's.

Also saw newspaper headline the more poverty you experience harder the impact on your mind. Easier it becomes to develop mental health plus dementia.

It was not so long ago but really feels so much further back. When l was still.psry time youth worker only holding a part time qualification. Met regular to discuss challenge, trying to grasp the implications of the 1989 changes to benefits allowances. So young energetic and confused. We pretty sure they bought we would change the he laws poverty would be ended. More luxurious life style could be evidenced. It wasn't to be.

Hope feels obscene.

You know, the only love I've ever known Was calling' me, calling' me, calling' me.

 Sailboats sailing' a crystal sea
Gypsy dolphins running' free
Seagulls circling endlessly
Calling' me home
Mocking bird, butterfly
Sunset colors, ah, they're filling the sky
Newborn baby starts to cry
Calling' me home
I've been most everywhere
A man can go
I've been this whole world round
Yes, I have
And I've seen most everything
A man can see
One thing I've found
Only thing I've ever found
When I was lost and all alone
I took a look on what I'd done

You know, the only love I've ever known
Was calling' me, calling' me, calling' me.
I heard Him calling' me home
I'm going home, going home
I'm going home, I'm going home

The only thing I've ever known.

Saint Paul’s own report of his adventures is captured in the new testament part of our belief system the Christian tribe follow. 

2 Corinthians 11: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 

25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 

26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 

27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked".

Me nothing quite like that.But got deeper into the faith business. One thing the actual one thing so evident in my life has been this.... A living relationship with Jesus Christ the son of the living God .

Apparently they say the words Jesus spoke collected together only amount to 2 hours in total. The Beatles music over the 10 years they recorded only make 10 hours. Influences attitude and sense it's all true and the spirit guided a snuck like myself.

The only thing I've ever known. Is my LIFE is better for following the Lord.

Hot. Hot. Hot....

Across Malta, where prolonged power cuts have left communities struggling to cope during a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 43% not the normal.

In the UK elderly man with Kidney stone problems, busy getting themselves bitten by strange garden insects. Also fruit trees are just too dry to produce a crop. 

Among the Travails of today is opportunity to value the emphy shown in piece of active listening displayed in Church last Sunday During our normal Sunday afternoon early evening Gathering. With some of the youth we share news of festival, they wish to attend. Spotify is now the 'go to' for music exploration. Justin Beider is still known performance.

Observations around area perhaps built into other detached mo.ents show Youths wanting less Fault intervention.. desire to be in smaller groups. If you have ever been ill with 'kidney stones' you will know about pain passage of streaming your infected area.

Well that's today's drama. 

just thinking aloud.

What does it actually mean to exercised freedom of speech? what would reasonable limits account too plus what would they look like ?. Can we just say what we feel in the public arena. When l was at university in Hull many years ago Christian groups often came under attack relating to LGBT ETC.. Comments plus perceived images held by the educational elite.

When did we first take out little steps into the world of tomorrow. Know the teenage years the most 'formative years' where in Church, Boxing game, plus family and local environment. But first steps to prepare me for the world l was growing up in. Nothing really coming to my mind. Could it just be my memory. 

Sitting by still waters...supping cup of tea, as l write this.

Then the chaos crept back in. Papers piled up. Dishes been waiting very patiently l must add, in the sink. Priority plus secondary emails got buried. Deadlines started being missed. Why l mean know all this is happening in and around myself. Except it's not really chaos it more of a first world statement and first world delimas. But it's adding to confusing seeing circling myself at the present.

At such times ask what not internally in place, forget the CDs not in right case. Vinyl albums not in correct orders. Is something bigger happening to my processing of internal stuff. This is the wisdom of life acquired. They say Biblically it's is written ..."times of trouble discover the true worth of a person"...

So events everyday chaos shouldn't weaken us, no it should widely demonstrate something about the nature of who we are and what we are about. Processing thinking about this moment, thinking about past moments when we experienced moments like now. Am l supporting others?

Am l being a comfort to others?
What help am l offering 
Is there something l can pastorally offer to teach and advise another ?
Am l listening?

 

Not an Odyssey but more of a sojourner!

So sitting not often that offered myself such a privilege, well not recently, when with youth groups we often found ourselves sat around chatting. A gathering.
As l drove home past and across the Westwood. Noticed small group 3 parents females with group young children playing football. Yes in this hot summer we are at last experiencing while mothers sat with wine ending their picnic.
Is that not wonderful the very simple values of sharing, external looking and internal encounters. And the everyday peace that can be ours if we only seek these moments 
But l'm left wanting...well ask you to indulge myself as l ponder again and ponder anew. Why do we not seek more of this?

How did we become so task centered and orientated to miss these opportunities?

I no longer meet with the walking group to take daily walk. This was for long while a few times a week , like the trio from `Last of the summer wine`, strolled along promenade spring summer, autumn winter, these days no longer happen. Moved onwards and away geographically. It got suggested to myself, perhaps l was the glue held us together made this happen. Now l'm gone it's not a gathering. But events end serve a purpose we move away,  moments just don't arrive. Walking group was informal unstructured but it happened as regimented practice. Mostly same time we met knocked on each others doors went to pier head gathered few more walked along the same route.

When do you arrive to a place of togetherness. Now for these days got my gym buddies we chat some at one gym others briefly at another . More commonly at Outer town gym. Good sessions often end with us drinking water, some have a coffee. Plan and sometimes we meet at places away from gym. Also other places where us search knowingly each other internally and externally because we share, we gather often and we love each other in a family way and a growing familiar way these other encounters happen for myself in Church along with Malta contacts .

What endings are taking place for you?
Are you experiencing new gatherings? 

Consider not the passage of fools.

The tribe are treating an outsider in cruel manners. It could get ugly presently the outsider is playing by the Law using all legal resources. But  witnessed these before eventually the outsider has enough they get revenge.

It gets ugly Argentina are playing England tonite indeed in few hours playing each other in semi final of the world cup. It's again from the hot headed Argentina leaders become a moment to political get abusive, threatening, awkward. Acting tough and strutting the world stage.

They make films about such foolish behaviour.

Individuals can be Foolish 

Community's can behave in Foolish manners.

Leaders cannot behave in Foolish ways. 

The Bible reflects great deal about our encounters about the way we treat each other. It's filled with examples around deception. Mistreatment stories difficult to grasp often informing those who read about way to behave with and towards each other. The Bible has many biased stories about mistreatment the outcomes are identified time and time again. Well we get advice pointers and inferred values about how we should share this life together. Lots about encounters further the effect about lessons to be discovered, learned, and applied.

The steps away from this despair are actually very easy. Not steps we will find difficult.

Looking out of the window from the bus journey witnessed a Beautiful day unfold. If you switch off Facebook plus tic tok and others sure l know little if anything about. If you do switch off then detach your ears you can do something real special. 

You can enjoy the moment the clouds forming.

If your able to complete the task on a regular bases.

Observe the cattle moving across the Westwood stopping the traffic filter the day into their moment. Slow everything mechanical.

With little practice you can start to see other people not just why they look like but further their internal murmurings.

But you won't because many have found that the lure of social media is too big to move away from this, now we recognise the damage being done. So what are we too do? Society has began to record numbers of young people with classic mental health issues. Other illnesses to do with bodies, little things like condition of skin. Fears have grown among the younger generation, self esteem is highest it's ever ever been.

The steps away from this despair are actually very easy. Not steps we will find difficult.

As we stated before, gather often and discuss all the issues. Learn to argue and accept those who do not agree with you. Switch off them damaging slaves you are beholden too.

Well we shouldn't ..

 We can't undo the past and do things differently.

          That includes changing furniture around 

Deeply influenced by the "God in the corner of the room" people... No need for this Fury at all really

I live among non book people.
A blank expression on the way to the bathroom people with largest TV in the area people. A tribe deeply influenced by the "God in the corner of the room" people. Reading and books not required people. The TV News told us people. We don't leave our locality people. Biased always discriminatory people. ....Same people who passed over to the other side people. Same people who hurried along when the beaten up person lay waiting for the good Samaritan. 

Sent on mini sojourner today out to the castles And mounds of local History around 800 Years ago place. Place from Jorvik period the earlier very evident Constantine's period. Saw the place where they burned alive the others.

Please can you to do your own historical searches for what factual happened to others especially Judeo brothers in this locality. People hide these moments of fury. The followers of fake prophet claim like Holocausts...' it never happened'..But it's fact And it happened. The Fury. The Fury was spent on this place at that time where this mound remains with its prison walls still standing and the testimony to the Fury remains. 

Has does the Fury. Hidden by the young children playing run up to the top.

We saw Greenbelt Christian festival favourite speaker Peter Tatchell spew out his fury at the death of  Catholic Christian MP Anne Widdercombe. Yes at the Murder of a 78 year old Lady..he Rejoiced  

Are you sure the Fury of some people not still here?

Alister McIntosh in his rambling Poachers Pilgrimage comments on the Fury that came with the not so innocent Reformation. Reflecting on it's impact on the Isle of Harris and Tweed. Women Nuns banished, spiritual female leaders killed. Icons from Churches now lying ruined all resources looted.....Update to 2026 Witnessed several neighbours in this locality like other neighbourhoods spreading lies and fury against incomers.

In the Kingdom l expect ..

Is there a place you go and talk about .. .. well knowing you Son...talk about all that matters. You been on my mind and in my thoughts a lot as always. Perhaps it's the Goldcrest along with the the Goldfinches and the plans,hopes, l have for the Garden. 

Of course  Dad knows you would have planned it even better. ...yeah l know tell me when l get there... Till then it's tougher today then it was yesterday without you.

Difficult conversations need to be experienced.

Sometimes in my view we are not very good definitely includes myself, not very good at handling difficult conversations .More especially l feel if we are elders in society. Now, this is me wondering if that includes me or is Kevin just older.

Maybe when dealing with legal issues around boundaries and access you can't approach the concern on a face-to-face syneriou. People are limited in interactions on modern society plus not addressing informal methods of educational ideas to deal with Conflict.

Saw some strange behaviour by North Yorkshire homeless folks. This weather clearly a factor. But this group really struggling however what surprised myself is how large this group has become. Issues they facing not being resolved mainly because of economic strain along with sheer numbers of people imposed into housing situation. Influences here are external.

Second factor is that the training around housing matters is poor due to the high turn over of staff coming thru onto this service. Most authority have issues with recruitment selection and later retainment. My experiance that at lower edge of local services there is lack of understanding about complex issues. Results in poor delivery, inadequate responses. Increases the feelings of being let down at bottom of service users.

The people needing support most are let down the furthest. Also witnessed bad behaviour in neighbourhoods adds to frustrations and delimas encountered 

Difficult conversations need to be experienced.

What greenbelt festival 2026 will really be like.

It will lack grace.

No compassion to the indigenous white powerless?

No understanding of rural immunity issues.

Won't discuss the poverty experienced by impoverished communities in inner cities of UK.

Greenbelt 2026 will repeat it's bitter dialogue of hatred towards those who have any questions around what they are actually living among.

No the 'unwashed Nose ring brigade', lacking an ounce of spirituality, but will triumph as they spend this month's PIP allowance at the festival.

What these far right movements look like today, why they're growing, and perhaps most importantly, how hope, courage and community can offer a different story.

Now is anyone surprised about the issues they promote the stupid sound bites they repeat NO we former weep as we witness the place they are in plus the decline they created. It's not an inclusive environment  it's excluded the chance others may follow the prince of peace but adopted Bonheifner approach to protection.