I aim to dissapoint

Today I fitted 11 drawer locks to our kitchen. My son has the habit of wanting to play with whatever is in the drawers, and we know that sometimes kitchen utensils can be dangerous. Normally whatever I do I try and make life fun for my son, but this exercise will disappoint him. I have closed doors for him. Sometimes people think God is like this, setting out to disappoint and close doors, however like my kitchen cabinets, the doors will not always be closed to my son. One day he will have access and be able to create amazing things with what is inside, but at this moment it is right that he is patient and trusts that I know best!

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The self taught lesson that media learnt

I was in the car yesterday listening to an interview in connection with the recent trial of Knox. The presenter asked if the media's interest had not been good or had skewed the case and all agreed that the media coverage was not helpful at all. It was good for the presenter to then turn around and note how they were doing exactly what they said was not good in reporting on the story in the manner they were. The show was not sure whether it was helping, hindering or doing anything useful. I sometimes wonder whether my sermons (or even my blogs come to that) are useful and sometimes wonder what the point is and if they are actually helping people. I suppose whether we think something is useful or not, whether that be a sermon, a blog or a news programme, or anything else we just have to put it out there and see what God can do with it, sometimes we may be surprised, sometimes we will just never know, sometimes we may have to call it a day... I think for me, it is just about carrying on and seeing what might happen.

Garden of life and death

On one of my recent away days, I was in the presence of a beautiful garden that was so peaceful and quiet. As I wandered around it soon became clear that the beauty in which I was surrounded in was made up by both living plants and dead ones. The beauty of walking on the pathway with dead leaves making that ever so satisfying crunch sound, the trees that were half alive and green and yet had dead bits around them; the trees that had died yet still were beautiful and the dead grass waiting to be put back into the garden at some stage to help grow life. In life we are surrounded by both life and death, can we ever step back and see the beauty in all life has to offer. Sometimes it is hard and painful, yet it provides something of beauty and majesty.