Eternal Echoes

Diet Change

'What we eat has a direct bearing on the sustainability of the earth. For example, its been calculated that the worlds petroleum reserves (with current technologies) would last just 13 years if all human beings ate a meat-centered diet. But they would last 260 years if all human beings ate a vegetarian diet...'

This information came from The Year of Living Generously web-site, makes you think doesn't it!!! They have some really good ideas for Lent...

'What we eat has a direct bearing on the sustainability of the earth. For example, its been calculated that the worlds petroleum reserves (with current technologies) would last just 13 years if all human beings ate a meat-centered diet. But they would last 260 years if all human beings ate a vegetarian diet...'

This information came from The Year of Living Generously web-site, makes you think doesn't it!!! They have some really good ideas for Lent...

My Spirituality

I have a vocational discernmaent day again tomorrow, it is based on my spirituality...

What works best for you in your private devotional life and in public worship?

In prayer I'm not sure any more, I used to love free and open prayer times but recently I've come to appreciate written prayers such as those from the Celtic tradition. Music especially Bach sets me worshipping at a place deeper than words can go...and bizarely films and TV can set me off connecting with God especially narrated stuff like the Shawshank Redemption and Desperate Housewives!!! Walking in the countryside or along the beach can also be a real point of worship and prayer...

What do you find difficult, when leading or participating in worship, and in your personal prayer life? Can you think why?

I have real difficulty with modern charasmatic worship, some lyrics e.g The wrath of God is satisfied from In Christ Alone leave me cold. I find discipline hard and need to work at creating regular prayer times. I think in the first instance this is hard froma purely personal point of view. One of the most helpful books I have read is Praying for your Personality...but I loaned it to someone I've forgotten who and its out of print now!!!

Have you ever had a mountain top experience, or an experience of darkenss, casn you describe what inspired or triggered it?

Yes to the mountain top and the dark time. The Mountain top experience was walking around the sea wall in Essex one day when the physical seemed to melt into the spiritual, it is an experience that has never left me and I am still unsure what to make of it... another time was when the twins were small and life seemed too much I was keenly aware almost tangibly of Jesus being in the room with me.

Wilderness rather than real black periods come and go, in these times I find it hard to pray or read the Bible, my devotional life goes to pot and I cling on to faith by my finger tips...that is where I am right now, yet at the same time I suspect that God is carrying me and all will be well again...

I guess this could be an meme

Any thoughts anyone?

Nurturing an attitude of thanksgiving

I have decided to take on something for Lent...a little different to giving things up I know but I realise how much I grumble and have decided that everyday I will focus on one thing at least to be thankful for.

Today I am focusing on my family, we often rush around one another, everyone busy with different things and being a chauffer to different activities can be trying...but today I am grateful for the many different gifts and talents my children have and how they bring us so much joy. I am grateful that inspite of my best efforts they have grown into wonderfuly balanced and lovely people.

I look at the mess and confusion they leave behind yhem in the morning, music and philosophy books, guitars out of cases and abandoned coffee mugs and will remember to thank God for the gift of their lives, and how he trusts them to our care.

Lord, help me not to moan about my children, help me to see them as you see them,I thank you for them, for their individuality, their different characters, thank you for the many ways we see you in them, their creativity, their sensitivity, the love they freely give and share.

I ask your blessing on each one of them today.

In Jesus name Amen.

The whole family a couple of years ago, mant changes since then, Paul and Kamilla are currently seperated, but we pray they will be able to work things through.

Jo doing what she loves best!

Her twin Jon doing the same!!!

50 tips for living

Friends of the earth have produced 50 tips for cutting waste

Here are the top 10

1. Use your kerbside recycling scheme, if you have one, as provided for under the new Household Waste Recycling Act.
2. Next Valentine's Day or Easter, send an e-card instead of a paper one - nearly 10,000 of our e-cards were sent in December. See www.foe.co.uk/cards.
3. Avoid disposable batteries - use rechargeable ones with solar powered rechargers.
4. Refuse plastic carrier bags - use a cotton one instead.
5. Buy loose fruit and veg from a local market or grocer rather than highly-packaged goods from supermarkets - it can be cheaper too.
6. Buy cotton cloths for the kitchen clean-up instead of disposable kitchen roll.
7. Buy refills for sturdy packs of washing powders, liquids, salt, etc.
8. Use a milk delivery service - the glass bottle kind - if there's one in your area.
9. Home compost your garden and kitchen waste - most councils now offer advice.
10. The fibres from your old clothes can be shredded and rewoven. Try British Red Cross shops www.redcross.org.uk, tel: 020 7235 5454.

See more 

Outside my window

A few of our morning visitors

Aren't they great... they are all Blue Tits, such beautiful little thing, they form a queue and come to feed every morning..they've become an interesting part of my prayer time!

The promise of spring

I've just been out in our garden with my new camera recording signs of spring-here are a few of them...

Thought I'd better catch them because the forecast is for snow!!!

Even the cat has been enjoying the sun, he's spent the morning bravely capturing fir cones...

Living responsibly

I have featured Affluenza as a book that inspires me and thought I'd like to give a few reasons why...

1. Like many people in the West immersed in a materialistic culture I have not understood my addiction to material things until now, recently I have cleared out closets and looked through make-up bags etc horrified at the ammount of stuff I have.Christmas this year was a case in point... we have several gifts that will not be used, that we do not want or need... we gave several ethical gifts this yaer which were recieved with joy
2. We decided our shopping habits and our diet needed reviewing, the results have been surprising, we have planned and budgeted carefully each week the results...not constantly popping out to the shops has brought about a £60.00 reduction in our weekly food bill and saved petrol! We have eaten more heathily and lost weight as a result. Our rubbish production has been halved, bins and recycling materials have been reduced.
3. I have planted some veg indoors to be planted out later on...there is enormous satisfaction in watching things grow.. I guess that will be even better when we can eat the harvest.
4. I have experienced withdrawl symptoms ... the buzz of shopping is hard to explain... It fills an emptiness...Tim (hubby) and I have decided that this is a reflection of our impoverished spirituality and are seeking to find ways of being thankful for the riches we have through sharing our wealth with others, and through appreciating the world we live in. We are also exercising more regularly, a new buzz!
5. How we live is important, as Christians we are responsible for our lifestyles. I want to be good news for my family, my town and the planet as a whole. The message my life speaks effects the environment and the people around me.

I feel I have a long way to go and a lot to learn... I am recovering from Affluenza  ....

Evidence of design

The Art of Physics...wow!!! Check out the whole collection!

Part of the problem? or..part of the solution?

Its been a busy day;  Bible Study group with good discussion followed by swimming an optitians appointment (I need new glasses!!! MUST BE GETTING OLD) then house work cooking a bit of reading& planning, Tai-Chi and now I'm unwinding.

I've been thinking over the days conversations and wonder why it is that we like to deflect any challenges to our comfortable lifestyles on to "them" those other ones who ought to be living differently...

I took my ecological footprint recently if everyone lived like me we'd need another half a planet to survive. So I have to ask myself what I can do to make a difference... am I ready to make radical lifestyle changes and what would that entail?

That question echoes into all corneres of life, what is radical discipleship, can I truly live that way, will I make that choice?

Both conversations identified the prevelant greed in the west as thje root problem, are we ready to be a part of the solution