Events

It is a long time since I have been on this page, many times I have intended to write something but as you can seen these good intentions didn't materialise.
Christmas has come and gone and also my Mums 90th Birthday so here are a few pics.

Youth fellowship christmas dinner

Christmas day


Mums 90th

Third time

I am just back home again from my third visit to Precept International. I still find it amazing that I chose to spend a week away studying the Bible-if someone had told me ten years ago that I would do that I simply wouldn't have believed it.


Went with 10 others from NI and as usual the Americans didn't quite know what had hit them.
In a state that voted overwhelmingly for McCain there was great consternation about the future under the new president elect, I did on one occasion hear of the old prejudice-colour.
But if we believe in a sovereign God then he is there in God's will.
We had a nine to five study day so didn't get to see many sights this time, however we did have a few invites- to Jack and Kay Arthur's for tea

and to Bob and Diane's for dessert(on separate nights)

Most other nights the woman spent either in the mall or in Walmarts.It was enough to put you off your food!



Arrived home safely on Monday despite having a lightning strike on the plane just as we came into land at Dublin airport.

Time goes

Everything seems to go at such a pace at the moment that I don't seem to have the time or perhaps inclination, to sit at the computer and write on the blog.This past week I attended my biannual committee meeting in Glasgow. I arrived early courtesy of Easy Jet and had some time to spare so I decided to wander around the old cathedral right beside the hospital Glasgow Scotland - Cathedral Precinct


In the grounds amongst many ancient gravestones I found the tomb of Dr Peter Low who founded the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons at Glasgow Infirmary

I liked the inscription!
On Saturday Heather and I had the weekend to ourselves -went for a walk in the sun at Whitehead.

The times they are a changing

Wednesday like many other days dawned dull and wet. Summer, for the second year in a row, appears to have occurred in April and May and ever since then we have been on a slow ride to autumn. There was a distinct chill in the air on wednesday as I left to leave my daughter to school and the leaves on the trees have long ago lost that bright green hue and have started to turn russet and fall. I made my way into Belfast and into the centre, a cold and wet tramp, with an injured leg that didn't help. It was in one of the major retail chains that it happened!
I spied my first christmas tree, admittedly a small decoration, but in a sea of other christmas paraphernalia. I couldn't believe it, that on the 3rd of September, just two days after the schools went back christmas material was out.

Surely this is too far, we don't need christmas in September-I think we should adopt the american style and not commence christmas celebrations until the first of December

Just back from a week at Capernwray Hall. Great place in the heart of the countryside. Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers The last time I was there I was in my early twenties and I was fascinated looking at the antics of the young people and wishing I had their energy and get up and do.
It was a great week away meeting brothers and sisters from many different continents and having that friendship because of Christ.

The Last choir standing

One of the choirs through to the last 8 was the Open Arts community choir, a Northern Ireland choir that promotes the inclusion of disabled people in arts activities.
Open Arts
This is their final piece-enjoy.



They didn't make it to the last six.

Unchained melody

On Saturday evening the BBC have a music programme called "Last choir standing"
BBC - Last Choir Standing - News - Track List
I have managed to see a couple of these shows and every time I am reduced to wiping away tears as I watch. I have a deep appreciation of choir singing brought about by my fathers involvement in male voice choirs. Every time I see or hear a male choir it transports me back to days long gone and I can see people in my minds eye now long departed.
On this weeks episode a gospel choir called Revelation came top of the heat.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchoirstanding
They sang one song called shackles, a line of which is -Remove the shackles from my feet that I may dance, I just want to praise you- a sentiment that echoed deep within. I would say every time I praise God I'm shackled by chains of some sort, whether it's memories, or embarrassment or fear of what someone is thinking. Watch it as a link above or as sung by the composer on you tube

Saturday

Saturday started off as a dull, cloudy day giving every appearance that it would be wet. We headed off early to go to St Georges market in Belfast.


I love the market, so many free samples to try and foods to eat. We bought the obigatory token, this time Irish marmalade(which is delicious) and a craft maker for Heather. While we were in the market the clouds dissapeared and the sun came out making the market a very warm place to be walking arround.
In Carrick that afternoon there was a cancer charity day with the emergency services present. There were long boat races and joisting in the castle grounds as well as a display from the police helicopter



All in all it was a very pleasent day.