Twinky

I sing with a church music group. This year, I've asked if a group of us can go into a nearby care home (where I have an old friend) and sing carols for a little while. So that's what I'm doing on 20 Dec (I'm even cancelling an afternoon's work to be able to do it). It will bring much joy to the residents. I'm also serving on Christmas Day by fetching people for a Christmas Dinner and Party, put on by (mostly) Christians in the city, for people who would otherwise be on their own. There will be (so far) about 130 guests and there are dozens of people willing to lend a hand to put the party on: present wrappers, vege peelers, cooks, table setters, table hosts, fetchers of guests, others to take guests home, helpers for those who need a little extra attention for special needs such as toileting, washers-up... many hands make light work. Some have volunteered for more than one role. Everyone says it's a jolly occasion. Some volunteers have been doing it for many years. Additionally, quite a few churches are hosting Christmas lunches. Recently, October or November, as a church we held a Saturday morning for local tidying action. We hire three big skips, put at different locations, and people can bring rubbish to toss into them. The church is in one of the poorest areas of the city, and it's not easy for some to dispose of the broken fridge, the wretched old mattress, the table that finally broke, etc. Rather than dump in the street or leave to moulder in the back garden, we help keep the area tidy and more attractive to live in. The skips are manned, and those not manning skips were litter picking in the nearby streets and in the little shopping area. Local residents are amazed that we should do this - free! And we tell them that we do it because we love them, Jesus loves them and cares about them. And how else can we help them (as individuals)? Recently, some members of the church have seen a need for housing vulnerable people and have got involved with "Hope into Action." I am on the prayer and support team for this. Idea is to buy a house (=get an investor), furnish it, house some vulnerable people, and over two years mentor them, help them grow into responsible adults, and move on with their lives. There will be one social worker involved, and there will be two "befrienders" per tenant. Our first house has been bought, many members of the church helped with cleaning, painting, getting the garden up straight, and furnishing. First tenants move in very soon; three girls who have been in local authority care for some years. The tenants will know we are from the local church (it's actually 50yards across the road from the church!) but there is no pressure to come along, convert, or any such thing. It's just - loving them into becoming responsible adults. Bravo, Rob, for this outreach! https://www.hopeintoaction.org.uk/ So many ways to serve the lost and lonely.

Also if they decide they don't want someone on staff, or in the WC, any longer. They'll be out of there within hours, without the opportunity to see anyone or say goodbye.

ECN from TWI: A. Our old practice was to encourage leaders to get their sexual needs met, by any female already a part of TWI. It does not matter if that female is already married. B. Our new practice is to remind leaders that sexual activity outside marriage is wrong and against all Biblical principles. We specifically state that adultery is wrong and sinful. Way clergy who are found to have indulged in sexual activity outside marriage, will be stripped of clergy status and will be marked and avoided. ********** C. If you do indulge, be a bit more discreet about it.

No. Any such policy needs to be available to any person involved at any level. That means from twig (home fellowship, is it now?) level upwards. If someone is over-touchy at twig, who should that be reported to? Twig leader, initially, but if no response there - or if it is the twig leader? If someone is on staff, there needs to be a clear path to whistle-blow on offenders. And that's a clear path to someone with appropriate authority to take serious action. Preferably someone external. Yeah, right...!

Uncalled for, Mike. And untrue. Stop it. I have treated you politely and would prefer you to treat me politely too.

Maybe - if if if - if - they acknowledge that in the past they haven't addressed this and made it clear [as if they need to!] that adultery is wrong in God's eyes, and so is other abuse not infrequently found in such close personal relationships. And if they apologise for what they condoned, even encouraged, in the past. And if, going forward, they stamp hard on such out-of-line behaviour - and are seen to do so. In reality, I don't see any of those things happening. I wonder if they even now have any procedures to report inappropriate behaviour? I see nothing on their website, no safeguarding or security policy, call it what you will. What structures have they put in place to ensure that this behaviour does not take place any more? And who else have they castigated for doing this hitherto? Because it wasn't just Craig alone, as we all know. All churches in the UK now have Safeguarding policies and a nominated Safeguarding Officer, to whom abuse or suspected abuse/inappropriate behaviour can be reported. This is investigated carefully and discreetly, outside the church setting, reporting to an overseeing body/the diocese/external oversight - especially important if the alleged behaviour is done by clergy. Outcomes obviously depend on what is found, what is substantiated. Can result in de-frocking (removal of clergy rights), or referral to police if serious abuse/imprisonable behaviour is found. So... With an organisation that insulates itself from outside scrutiny, who could be trusted to deal with any allegations of inappropriate behaviour? They know how to find us, if they want to apologise publicly.

If GSC is a religion, in Mike's eyes, it would be interesting to know what this "religion's" main beliefs are, apart from that TWI is a moneymaking scheme, VPW was a fraud, and PFAL was an amalgamation of plagiarised material. It's clear that Mike cannot recognise the different voices of the main posters here. I can read most regular posters' posts (and also posts of those who don't post regularly), and without seeing the name at the top, know that it was by (say) Nathan, or T-Bone, or WW, or Rocky, to name but a few. Because we all have different points of view, different backgrounds, different TWI experiences at different levels and periods of involvement, and so have different voices. Yet we have come to the same conclusion, via different routes, of the usefulness or otherwise of PFAL, VPW, and TWI. But Mike is happy to lump everyone together as though we were the clones that TWI endeavoured to make its followers into.

You mean, kinda like this?

What did Jesus do? Walked about, interacted with the people around him. Noticed folk (or they noticed him). Smiled and said Salaam (or hello), perhaps, to them. Observed what they were doing. Got involved, but not in an oppressive way, just interested. Early on in my Way life, I remember chatting to an E-Corpsman or perhaps he could have been WC but a Brit, a nice chap, can't remember his name now. We were up in Gartmore, sleeping on camp beds in the gym - so early on in that purchase. And I remember "Chappie's" words: "If you want to help people, you've got to really love them." (Whoever he was, I hope he has escaped TWI and has his brain still intact.) That love and care will come out in our actions. Each person you talk to, smile at, is special. Remember too: Jesus died for that person. How special is that? As City Pastors in the city in which I live, our role includes going out on the streets and interacting with whoever we find. The first part of our patrol is often having a chat with people begging in the streets. Yes, we look at them. We talk to them. We see them as human beings, and don't let our eyes slide over them like a heap of rubbish in the corner. Sometimes, we offer a hot drink and a cereal bar, or warm hats and other clothing. But the main thing with this group of people is: we notice them. If you see a beggar in the street, stop and have a chat. You're perfectly safe; they won't attack you. If they're willing to talk, you might be surprised at their life story and what has made them become street-homeless (there might be a bit of "embroidery" in their story, but maybe not too much). You don't have to give them money, but they might appreciate a sandwich, a coffee or a chocolate bar.

No, actually, the goal of the internet was to spread opportunity. To spread information sharing - between scientists. That's how it started: to try to link up work on free-standing computers and to allow data sharing. Britain was a big leader in this, quickly taken up (and eclipsed) by the USA. USA realised the potential and quickly moved to use it in defence situations. It was the dissemination of information was the goal of the internet. There were many early developments over quite a long period and the usefulness of this form of communication became very evident. Developments escalated, speed and ability to transfer information quickly grew. As the ability to move data became easier, so "social media" sites of good or dubious value began to develop and they have themselves eclipsed what most people think "the internet" is. But seriously, it would be impossible to live the lives we now have without the internet and the serious use to which it is put. Our city infrastructures, health services, gas/elec provision, banking, your TV channels, anything you can think of - is pretty much run by online services - sometimes just within one organisation, but frequently linked with other organisations. Sometimes you're aware, but whether or not you're aware, always internet provision is working away in the background. Heck, I do a lot of gardening work - and even so I rely on the internet. It's how I check the best way to tend a new (to me) type of plant, find a way to deal with plant disease, locate specific plants my clients want, etc - and how I file my tax return. That social media and the rumour mill in general have found the "internet" and perhaps abused it is not the fault of "the internet" but of the owners of various websites and types of social media. Some social media is abused to bully people. Other social media is used to build others up and to form support networks. As always, we as individuals get to choose what we want to look at, listen to and pay attention to. Here is some history of the internet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Internet

Several regulars, and quite a few occasional pop-ins who've been around a long time. Also other recent joiners.

See! Educational, this site!!

Would you prefer "ROFLMAO" ("rolling on the floor laughing my behind off")? I could think TWI laughable. But actually, I think they're pitiful. And pitiable.

Hey Charity, laugh away, life is to be enjoyed! Peace!

This version (arr Cleobury) is what we sang in my new choir's carol concert last Saturday, but there are many other versions, often longer, with more discourse between Joseph and Mary. The choir in the clip above sings a slightly different version, too. You could google to find other words. Joseph was an old man and an old man was he, When he wedded Mary, in the land of Galilee. Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard good, Where was cherries and berries, so red as any blood. O then bespoke Mary, so meek and oh, so mild: ‘Pluck me one cherry, Joseph, for I am with child.’ O then bespoke Joseph, with words most unkind: ‘Let him pluck thee a cherry that brought thee with child.’ O then bespoke the baby, within his mother’s womb: ‘Bow down then the tallest tree, for my mother to have some.’ Then bowed down the highest tree unto his mother’s hand; Then she cried, ‘See, Joseph, I have cherries at command.’ O then bespoke Joseph:< ‘I have done Mary wrong; But cheer up, my dearest, and be ye not cast down.’ Then Mary plucked a cherry, as red as any blood, Then Mary she went homewards all with her heavy load.

Cherry tree carol. Very old, traditional: some say 13th century, others 15th century.

@ Charity:

Very easy to do! And yes, a bad habit ingrained by TWI. Write your question or interesting word down ("Any questions will be answered after session 12") but remember, you can always go back and have a go at answering your own question, or considering why that word was used in that passage, to what effect? Or was it just - a word? You may find it helpful to read a completely different version of the Bible, with fewer trigger words, perhaps. I went straight from AV/KJV to reading The Message (I read something different now). The change shocks you out of TWI-brain and makes you pay attention to the passage you're reading.

How does God work in us, Charity? Love God, love your fellow human beings. And yourself. Do nice things for people. Be kind. Remember with a thankful heart what God has done for you. Simples!

For the record, I don't think Mike is a troll. I think he's sincere in what he posts or posits, but he's badly deluded. Also, not meek to consider properly another point of view. Sincerity, as we were told on many occasions, is no guarantee for truth.

Can't say that I'm tremendously interested in this, because I think anything VPW said is nonsense. The truth of it is God's business and God alone decides who's his and who isn't. There was, however, this Roman business of adoption. The choosing of the heirs. The adoption in to a family, whether one was "blood" or naturally a part of the family ("born again"), or whether one was an outsider. For those who are interested in pondering this, could it be that "seed of the serpent" is a figurative expression denoting not a "new birth/born again" as a physical thing, but more like a rite of adoption?

Who's Branham?

Awesome, hey! I like walking. Long walks, in forests or in mountain ranges. Especially forested mountain ranges. I pause and look at all the different colours of green that there are in a mixed forest, or in a small copse. Bluey greens, yellowy greens, reddish ones, and even greeny ones. So many different shades of green. I think: God had fun doing this. Could've made everything one flat colour, but no - look at the variety. Just done for pleasure, fun, enjoyment (a botanist might say differently ). Just like we're all just a bit different from each other. God didn't make us all the same, either.

Now this is some interesting gardening and spiritual stuff: We all know this verse: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal 5) Are we so familiar with this verse? In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Rev 22) I’m intrigued that there are twelve fruits on this wonderful tree in the new Jerusalem. There were 12 tribes of Israel. Now there are 12 fruits. However, it’s not defined who these fruits are for. But the leaves of the tree are not for the 12 tribes, but for the nations. For the Gentiles. For us. There are healing leaves that we as Gentiles eat: herbs, vegetables. Leaves of trees, less so in the usual western diet, but possibly so in other cultures. Sometimes, I wonder if there are more fruits of the spirit, but we don’t have access to those. Yet.

These days, I'm a s/emp gardener. I just love being in gardens and helping plants "be their best." I learn so much about God, and about living, from tending plants. Plant something in the right location and watch it grow. It may need more - or less - sun or shade. Acid-soil plants won't grow in some soils and need special soil or being planted elsewhere. Is your job, for example, the best place for you to flourish, or does it drag you down. Is your church the right place for you? A plant needs proper nutrients and water. Do what's necessary, to get the best growth. Feed yourself with the right things to help you grow ("think on these things!"). Don't poison your own growth with things that either stunt growth or don't allow growth at all and which will ultimately kill the plant. Are your habits beneficial? Occasionally a plant needs pruning - to keep its shape, to stop unwanted growth, to encourage it to produce more fruit or blooms, etc. Think how savagely roses can be pruned - back to not much at all - yet the next year they're flourishing. If you don 't cut them back, they revert to root stock and lose their lovely blooms. So with us. Sometimes bad things happen. We can let them "kill" us, or we can allow this to be a pruning of unnecessary "stuff" so that we can grow in the best way to suit our own personalities and gifts. Put a plant in the best and most appropriate location. It should grow. Sometimes it doesn't thrive. Take it out and put it somewhere temporarily - and it really takes off. Sometimes what seems the ideal isn't in fact the best for that plant. Some plants like companion plants. They tend to thrive best if other plants are nearby. Some plants help ward off insects or diseases off the principal plant, or attract good pollinators, or give shade, etc. Some plants just look good together and enhance others' beauty. Do you have companions who help and guard you, and who bring out the best in you? All plants are seasonal and nothing bears fruit or new leaves all the time. It has a rest every so often ("fall" or autumn). This is necessary. But then the plant "wakes up" ("spring") and next year's growth is better. Sometimes there's nothing obvious going on because last year's growth has been cut back to the roots. Don't worry if there's nothing to see: back next year in better form. So we need rests occasionally. Sleep well at night but get busy the next day. Allow yourself a rest or vacation - but remember, it's only temporary, not sitting back being a couch potato for ever. And the fruit needs enjoying. It's not just there to be pretty. It needs eating, digesting, and helping nurture your own body. Some parts of the fruits need replanting, for more crops next year. So feed yourself and share with as many others as possible with the fruits of the spirit. Enjoy being kind, patient, forbearing, etc, because these things will help you and others become more kind, patient, forbearing, etc. I could go on indefinitely. But you get the gist.