The King is coming-again!

Two more days to Christmas, two days to that time when the God became man, the reality of this is that He is coming again.

Continental market

On Tuesday past we eventually had a free night to visit the continental market in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.
The night was dry and crisp and the town was packed by people doing their Christmas shopping. It appears to have expanded since last year and a large collection of stalls offered food varying from Kangaroo burgers to bowls of Irish stew. Tim and I opted for the roast pig that was gently turning on the spit.
Bought some cheese, ate a few free olives
and Heather bought her sweets.
May refused to try the Belfast eye so had to forgo that pleasure.

The Christmas story.

Belfast - City of change.

As someone who lived in Belfast for the first 26 years of my life, but has lived outside it for almost 30 years , I see changes in the city every time I return to it. Most of these changes are for the better, others I feel have ruined the character of the city particularly in the northern part. Driving through it on the park and ride bus I noted the changes in an area known as sailor town and in the cathedral quarter. Even up to my late 20's these areas still had thriving communities with albeit poor quality housing, but instead of upgrading the council in their wisdom demolished the whole area and replaced it with motorways and parking areas.
But yet it is good to see the prosperous look that is beginning to mark Belfast as the place to visit Belfast Tourism | Goto Belfast Belfasts Offical Tourism Website Even on a cold November day the city was full of foreign tourists, something unimaginable even 10 years ago.
St Georges market was full to capacity


The newest attraction to the city is the Belfast eye offering panoramic views over



the whole of the city, three uninterrupted revolutions of the wheel. I thought it was really good value and hope it can be relocated permanently after its short time by the city hall.

39 days to go.

Talking to Debbie Allen on Facebook the other day she mentioned she was putting up her Christmas lights.And driving home last night I passed the second house that was fully bedecked in stars, climbing Santa's, snowmen etc.
However I think we have a long way to go before we meet the standard of this house.

The Flu and men.

One of the "advantages" of working in the health service Health and Social Care Northern Ireland Gateway is that as a member of staff I can get an annual flu jab.
I can count on three fingers the number of times I have had the flu, so I usually decline the offer, maybe when I'm a bit older I'll take it!
There is a certain tendency to imagine that there is a specific flu that applies only to men - the "Man Flu".
I poured scorn on this idea until someone sent me this clip.

Things I haven't heard before.

Gerry Anderson on his radio show (BBC - Northern Ireland - Homepage) often comes out with the statement "I haven't said that before on the radio", well I thought I'd start a run on things I haven't heard before. Please feel free to add your suggestions to this comment.
This morning in church the speaker came out with the statement "lets play chopsticks for God this week"
Now don't get me wrong I am not criticising the speaker-far from it- it followed on from a good illustration, but in my twisted mind as he said it the thought "I haven't heard that before in church" came to mind and hence this post.

Collective nouns.

I attended a seminar yesterday at Altnegelvin Hospital, nothing exciting, all to do with document management systems, but it enabled me to be home earlier than needed to pick up my daughter from Irish dance class. As it was a sunny afternoon I took the proverbial walk along the marina.
It was then I spotted something I had never seen before-about eight seals just lying basking in the afternoon sun, lying on rocks just under the water that made it appear that the seals where floating.




As usual the digital camera was in the car so excuse the phone pics,



Which brings me to the title of this blog-what is the collective noun for seals? Is it a school, a pack a herd or maybe just alot!

Saturday

Saturday the 20th was a busy day in the church. On the morning we held a Precept meeting for men with the International Ambassador for Precept, Bob Vereen Precept Ministries International:
While we weren't overflowing with men a good morning was had and a number are going to continue the study on Leadership.



Saturday night there was a surprise 40th birthday party for Phillip, a reconstruction of his 20th party even down to the games that we played. It was odd the Phillip's team managed to win every game!



Also about 20 years ago a photo was taken of the youth fellowship, and at the close those present had a reconstruction of that picture.

Rich man Poor Man

On Saturday afternoon I walked up the Lisburn Road in Belfast, a relatively well to do part of the town. I noted three Bentley motors including two continental GT's



Every other car parked by the road appeared to be some super four-wheel driven off- road vehicle. Truly there are people who give the appearance of having great wealth.
Outside those cathedrals of commercialism, M&S, Tesco's and the CO-OP there where however people who give the appearance of having great need, begging and selling the Big Issue.
I managed to cleverly avoid looking at them, making the mental excuse of the state provision and not wanting to buy the Big Issue because it's the southern edition. And yet I felt uncomfortable doing that. Those verses in Matthew 25 came to mind

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

It doesn't sit easy reading those words and I wondered if I stopped would the image of Christ be seen in me as I took the time to recognise those less fortunate?

Family Day

All of my family stayed overnight in the Roe Valley hotel following the wedding. It was an opportunity, a rare one, for all the Aunts, Uncles Nephews and Nieces, cousins and grand children to do something together. As my Mother is in her late 80's something not too energetic was required so the suggestion to visit the Giant's Causeway was rejected. We drove down from Limavady in glorious sunshine and headed for Portstewart for a walk along the sea front and then to call in at Morelli's.



However just as we arrived so did a shower of rain so the order was reversed, Morelli's first and then we had a walk!

Another one bites the dust

On Thursday we as a family headed off to attend the wedding of my nephew known to us as David ,now apparently called Davy, to Sandra. The service was held in Hazelbank Presbyterian Church,Hazelbank Presbyterian Church Coleraine and the reception in the Roe Valley Hotel. Hotel Information - Radisson SAS Roe Park Resort, Limavady United Kingdom



The weather was changeable but thankfully remained dry for most of the afternoon and enabled the pictures to be taken at Sandra's parents home.

Franklin Graham -Celebration of Hope

I attended a launch on Wednesday at the Kings Hall for an event to be held in Belfast on the 4th - 6th April 2008.
Franklin Graham Celebration of Hope



I approached this with the usual scepticism about big events but left feeling that it offers a great chance for the churches to work together in order to reach the lost. They are seeking to equip the believers to reach out to their friends and have organised widespread training that will be available to all.



If the people get together this has the potential to have a big impact, they are keen not to fill the Odyssey with "Christians". The one thing they do request is prayer.

Time like an ever rolling stream...

It never fails to amaze me at how quickly life and situations change. My last post was of the church BBQ and the fellowship and fun together and yet by the following Monday the church family mourned the death of one of it's great statesmen, a former elder.

Events come upon us at a rapid pace, sometimes we are just reduced to tears, crying out to God for wisdom and understanding.

I felt drawn to read this Psalm 42 on Sunday, reminding us ,His people, that irrespective of the situation we are found in our hope is in God

1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
4 These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me
For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
6 O my God, my soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my rock, "Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"
10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me,
While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
11 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

It's that time again

On a glorious September evening we held our annual church BBQ at Carnfunock country park. The righteous brothers did the cooking!



Aided by the head cook


It was a pity that not more attended but there was stiff competition from the Proms in the Park at Carrick Castle(Google Image Result for http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1180522564/img/1.jpg), Northern Ireland playing a football match(,Irish Football Association, Northern Ireland) the air show in Portrush ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH7EUN5J-b4) and of course the Rugby world cup(RWC 2007) but a good night was had by everyone.

The wedding -Part 2

Friday evening we had a rerun of the wedding that took place in Lindos a few weeks ago. This time it was heldin Carrick Golf Club and about 100 attended the meal and evening reception.

September

So today is the first of September, summer is gone and the start of Autumn with all the new beginnings of events that have stopped for the summer. It has been a disappointing summer weather wise, the fact that we had such good weather in April and May lulled us into a false sense of a good summer to come, as it was it turned out to be the wettest since records began.
We are just back from attending the wedding of my nephew in Lindos, Rhodes in temperatures that reached extreme heights.


Lindos is a quaint old town with it's own amphitheatre and acropolis, development is prohibited and all building must follow the traditional format, so it is quite unlike the rest of the island with it gross commercial developments and tacky displays





We in the west have an over inflated idea of our importance in world development,it is staggering to remind ourselves that great civilisations where present here while we were still digging with our hands to eek out an existence.

The wedding went well, apart from the copious amount of sweat flowing down everyones back

After the ceremony in St Paul's bay we made our way to a local restaurant for a traditional Greek dinner with compulsory wedding cake.

Sun, sun sun

At last a glimpse of the summer that we had in April and May. Two good days in a row and the promise of a few more, too good to waste at home. It was time for the annual trip to Carnfunnock Carnfunnock, Larne, Carnfunnock Country Park

The early cloud soon disappeared to be replaced by that burning sphere in the sky. The park was full with day trippers,summer schemes and caravaners. Had a game on the 18 hole crazy golf and Heather tried her hand at the bungee rope(a treat she missed at school because of illness)


Lost ourselves in the maze for a while-altogether a pleasant day out

No trip along the coast on a sunny day is complete without a stop at the Rhinka for a home made 99 ice cream

Old routes and fond memories

Decided to head off early today and drive the long way down the Ards peninsula via Millisle, Ballywalter, Portavogie,Cloughy and eventually to Portaferry. Ards Peninsula Tour
I must say that it seems regional development stops at Groomsport, this area must be one of the most poorly developed in Northern Ireland, with roads that at times could barely accommodate two cars passing and potholes every half mile or less.

First stop was Bangor and a walk round the Pickie Pool (not as it appears in this old photo)

Heather and I decided not to ride on the swans and the railway was closed so off we headed for Millisle to have a 99 ice cream. Then it was on to Portaferry, home to the Exploris centre. Exploris - The Northern Ireland Aquarium, Open Sea Aquarium, Strangford Lough Portaferry. Spent some time viewing the fish and also at the touch tank for a hands on display

On the way down we passed through the village of Cloughy, a place that is dear to me.

White-rumped Sandpipers, Cloughy, Co. Down, 16th October 2006. (Photo: Derek Charles).

One of my fondest memories is of a childhood holiday spent there as a young boy of about 8. I have this memory of my Mum and Dad, my twin sister and my older brother all laughing as we played on the beach. I thought of my daughter sitting in the back of the car, a couple of years older than I was in my memory, and I wondered what she would recall as she becomes older. For the last few years I have spent about a week each year, as Father and daughter, just doing things and going places together over the summer months and I hope these will be a legacy in her memory!
We finished our tour with lunch together in a beautiful small restaurant in Portaferry.