Book Group Review

Me and my friend Caroline decided to start a Christian book group. We had the first 'meeting' last night. (Meeting sounds too formal, it was three of us sat in my garden on a lovely summers evening!) I will attempt to write a little something about each book we read.

We had decided to all try and read 'A Pilgrim's Progress' prior to the first meeting. It was not an easy task. I had been loaned two copies of the book months ago. I sat down on many occasions and tried to read the old English version, it was very difficult. I admitted defeat and was ready to tell the group that (knowing that Caroline was struggling too!). Then I remembered the hardback illustrated copy that I had also been lent. I sat down to read it a few hours before the meeting. I managed to read half of it in an hour, excellent! It made much more sense and was easier for my little brain to cope with! I would recommend for anyone to read it, but in a modern translation, or (as pictured) the illustrated copy I have on loan! I find the parallels with scripture amazing. Here is a description and reviews I found online, they are a lot more descriptive than I could manage!

Online Faith Dating

My friend Tim is being featured as 'the Christian one' in this new ITV show. I saw the first one last night and its quite interesting. If you catch the series look for a photo of me at an 80s party in episode 3!!

Film Review

A fun film for everyone. Go and see it!

Interesting to see what could happen to our planet in time...too much rubbish and one massive corporate company running everything!

New Garden

I've lived in my little flat for almost four years now. I love it, however the back garden used to get me down, such a big space going to waste with over grown weeds and little use out of it from the shop below.

This is what the garden looked like when I first moved in!! We have weeds that will not die off and they take over the garden. My landlady has them cut down, but they eventually grown up again. After dinner at a good friends house and much garden envy on my part, she encouraged me to do something about my desire for outside space and my vague mumblings about fencing an area off in my wasteland garden.

I spoke to my landlady and she was happy to let me do this, create a small area for my own use. The garden at this point looked like this...

Some weeding to do i thought, but do-able! I did my homework and spent an afternoon on my day off trawling round B&Q and Crews Hill. Was trying to work out how to put together a non permanent space that was not on show to shop staff etc. I found all the bits I needed and set to work with my friend Caroline and my Dad. A big help was my landlady getting all the weeds cut down again the week before, it saved us a lot of work! I'm so pleased with the space. Here is a diary of the work so far in photos...

Yes the garden as a whole may be a tip (the bags of rubbish are soon to be removed!), but I now have my own little outside area to relax in. Its been less than 48 hours, but I've already sat out there with three different friends who have popped by to visit! I just need to purchase plants now!! (and maybe a little BBQ!) I'm on a very tight budget, but so far everything has cost me less than £100! I know the plants will bump up the cost, but not bad going for a small area of 'paradise'. :-)

A Bit Of Fun

My lovely boss sent me custom made receipt today from this website.

Wedding Bells (again)

Congratulations to my friend Jonica and her new husband Richard. A lovely wedding yesterday at All Souls and reception at Dulwich College.

Encouragements

I've just had an online conversation with a friend in Germany and she really encouraged me. Both in what is going on in her life and by her words to me. We were discussing about how we need to trust wholeheartedly in what God is doing in our lives. We cannot see the full picture about situations, even when they are going bad. God works through everything. So even with massive changes in my work and personal life I need to stand firm and trust that God knows what He is doing!

Mistake Reminders

I've recently been made very aware of how much of a mistake I made with something. Its one of those times where we humanly let our guard down and wish we could see the bigger picture. God wants to protect us from things, but we think that 'it will be fine'! The potential bad witness from my actions to other people, including the youth I work with and backslidden youth is huge! It makes me want to curl up and hide! I'm being very careful to not say what it is as it is not relevant. I just wanted to share that if you feel like having a 'day off', then don't!

Only In America!

I really did not know what to make of this.

Wedding Bells

My good friend Mel from uni married Ian yesterday. It was a lovely day and I wish them every happiness. It was also nice to spend some time with my girls too.

Dressing up + old friends + dance floor = happy Ruth!

Film Review

I shall do a very light-hearted review. This is a feel-good movie. It was very cheesy in places, but it was a good watch. The use of all of the Abba songs worked really well, it was clear why the musical was such a success.

Seeing 007 singing took a bit of getting used to, along with a (PLOT SPOILER!) gay Colin Firth! It was shot really well and made the Mediterranean island lifestyle look very appealing.

If you do go and see it make sure you stay for the beginning of the final credits. The best thing about the film was everyone filing out of the cinema singing along to the final Abba song.

Film Review

I was looking forward to seeing this film. I am quite a Will Smith fan and the trailors made it out look like a good film...

I wouldn't say that I was disappointed, but I didn't feel totally happy that I had seen a good film when the credits went up. I think I have become very cynical about films that are not totally straight forward. I've probably said this in a previous blog post, but my ability to suspend the disbelief is getting less and less. It was a fairly original storyline and the insight to a 'non-perfect' superhero was interesting. The conclusion of the film for once was not the hero flying off with the girl. The twist (which I won't ruin) in the film was good, however I failed to follow some of the history surrounding it. My main question (for those who know what I am talking about) was how did they both survive in the city and surrounding areas before?!

The 'a***hole' and 'crazy' references were far too 'don't call me chicken in Back To The Future' for me, but still made for good audience reaction throughout the film. The majority of the other funny moments were all included within the trailor, so not many left to amuse the audience. Biggest laugh surrounded the over kill of 'good job' and being incredibly 'P.C' towards a rescue victim.

The Image Of Church

Originally uploaded by Roothie

The place where my office is based/rented is in the lower level of a very run down church. It makes me sad when a church gets to this state of disrepair. In a weird twist of events I am working in the location that was my Mum's family church for many years when she was younger. My Grandparents were married here and served faithfully through the uniformed organisations for many years. (and, if I know my Grandma well enough she would have run around serving in all kinds of other ways too!) Now the congregation is very small and relies on a small group of people to keep the premises clean and maintained. When my Grandma returned for a centenary event she described the church as a shell of its former self.

I have to walk through the church sanctuary each day to get the post and every day something new stands out to me. I used to go to a very sleepy Methodist church when I was little and the things I see each day at this church take me back twenty years!! PGBC has decorative organ pipes, faded hymn books, a pulpit bible bound with parcel tape, home-made jam for sale (that is now out of date), a box for used stamps with the proceeds going to BMS, hymn and bible reading number boards, out of date church magazines, plastic flowers etc. All that is missing seems to be a tin foil collection for the blind. (something from my childhood that I never understood how it could be exchanged for money!)

Is this the sleepy image of church that non-believers have? I am not saying that these things are necessarily bad, but it does put an 'old-fashioned' date on things in my opinion.

Back in January I took these photos but have never got around to doing anything with them. The set can be found on my flickr page.

Exercise Time!

A very good friend of mine offered me her bike that she never uses on long term loan. Today I FINALLY picked it up! My intention is to brave cycling to work, and if that fails then just for general exercise! We shall see how this new project goes!!! (photos to possibly follow soon!)

Being Brave

I was asked to lead a workshop for young people by two youthworkers. I had never done anything like that before and wasn't quite sure where to start! I have been intercessory dancing during the n:flame celebration worship for ten years now, but to teach on how it's done is another matter! I put together a 'fancy' PowerPoint presentation to give a bit of background on why such dancing is done. To be honest I was educating myself! I found good websites such as these to help me out. Not forgetting the Wikipedia definition.

I carefully picked out songs to practise to and was proud of the mixture of scripture references, website quotes and general explanations. The group were a lot younger than I had bargained for and none of them were really used to charismatic worship styles! It was quite tough at first as none of them understood and the presentation went over their heads. Four boys turned up, and they weren't really joining in, so it did make me think what they expected to do in a creative worship dance workshop! The girls got a lot of out of, even if what they worked on did turn out to be routines. At least I stretched myself by running the workshop.