Daily Thoughts - Celebrate Freedom: It's Good News

The Lord's Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, (Luke 4:18)

The theme of October’s Daily Thoughts has been around Freedom and Slavery. The mission of Christ was based around giving people freedom. Since then millions of lives have been set free by getting to know and follow Him. Far from being an easy time, this has caused people to suffer greatly both from internal and external opposition. Yet one thing that remains the same for all those who have taken the journey is their story of the great inner liberty they experienced when they received this good news. Perhaps it’s time to consider the power of this good news today.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Learning The Path To Freedom

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:17, 18)

Learning something new can be fun with thanksgiving. Freedom does not come naturally, neither is it something that is natural. Old habits die hard and have a … habit … of emerging under pressuring times. Yet as we remember the One who sets us free we can be motivated through thanksgiving and a new heart to follow the road to freedom. It is a path of discipline, but also a path of liberty and expression previously unknown. The standard of teaching is one based on following and accepting the Way, the Truth and the Life that is Christ.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Beware The Dodgy Freedom Salesman

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. (2 Peter 2:19)

‘I couldn’t help it’.

You may remember the initial question of whether you were a slave or not. As you chose to carry on with your daily activities with the choices open to you in so many areas, the answer to this issue would appear to be that we were all free. Yet whether it’s nicotine addiction, temper challenges or a critical attitude there are things that overcome us leaving us with these four pitiful words.

Be careful of some who may promote freedom only to find out that they too are confined by similar corrupting elements.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Weekend Extended Edition - Light on Identity

But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. (1 Peter 2:9)

On Thursday a group from the YMCA went to view the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool. This was part of the Christian Spiritual Development (CSD) month on the theme of slavery and freedom.

An interesting exhibit was on the strategy of the slave owners to destabilise the African slaves they had recruited by separating them from family and treating them little better than their own cattle. Hundreds of years later young people from an African-Caribbean background still struggle with a sense of identity – not just what it means to be black, or African, or Caribbean but even what it is to be a man or a woman.

The strategy of destabilising people by robbing them of their identity is not a new tactic, neither is it one that only those of African descent suffer from. The effects of the slavery of sin leave humanity itself deluded by a false notion of who they are. This has been brilliantly masked in the whole drive of ‘self-esteem’ where the focus is to look at the self first and get a good feeling about yourself before engaging with others. The problem here is the same problem that is seen in asking a broken pot to fix itself – though it may recognise it’s brokenness it evidently doesn’t have the resources to fix itself, however the pieces are readjusted. What is patently needed is the Master Potter who knows how to mould these pots as they ought to be. So when the focus is on the Potter, rather than ourselves, the healing process is likely to be substantial, meaningful and whole, rather than a shallow cover job.

Realising the great job that has been done in our lives in being brought from darkness into light, realising who we are as a result of this great transaction we are thus free to share with others what’s been done in our lives and who others can look to in hope of experiencing real enlightenment. The identity crisis is really over in the light of who God is in Christ and who we are in the light of His love.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Liverpool Trip - 25-10-07

On Thursday a group of us from the YMCA went on a trip to Liverpool - on the Albert Docks. The full report should be up on the North Staffs YMCA web-site soon, hopefully by tomorrow, but don't hold me to that. In the meantime following the success of a photo try-out on the other blog here's a really creative way to get some pictorial insight into how the trip went.

Look out for the report coming soon.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Free From Slavery - Free To Be A Slave

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (1 Peter 2:16)

Doulos. It is not frequently used as it is an old Greek word. It means slave and this is the word that is translated as servant. Effectively we are free to become slaves. All that grief of slavery; the hassle to be released only to be a slave again? Yet freedom in Christ shows how we always serve something or someone. We are only as free as serving Someone who releases us to be the good we were created to be. This is why this freedom is no excuse for evil but to reflect the nature of the Master Liberator.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Will Facebook Destroy My Wife?

So I be here checking through some songs on YouTube again ranging from The Isley Brothers’ Harvest For The World to the Fugees’ version of Wonder’s classic Blame It On The Sun. Earlier on I was having a look through Facebook and was just wondering about fads and trends that are hot flavour of the month things one minute and are gone before too long.

Not saying Facebook is one of those, hey the blogging buzz is still going strong after quite a few years. Just to say once more like some other things it’s a rush to get into takes up a bit of your time setting up stuff for what? Don’t get me wrong not saying Facebook is a waste of time, but don’t be surprised if you find me spending tons of time talking about it especially online. You know it’s something though when the wife gets herself on the thing with tons of people already there waiting for her to go online. It’s good to find old friends and see who’s on it and the like.

Still, just hoping the thing and the fame my wife gets won’t go to her head and destroy her!

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Free From Slavery - Free To Serve

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)

Some debate over whether freedom is positive or negative. Whether we are free to do whatever we want, or free from a nanny state telling us what to do. (What’s the difference?) God’s version of freedom is not about an anything-goes, do-what-you-like attitude, neither is it a jump from one strait-jacket of condemning rules to another. Rather responsible freedom leads to being a servant to others. Just to ensure that this serving in freedom is genuine it is done out of love – a (super)natural overflow from a connection with the Son of love.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Stevie Wonder - Tuesday Heartbreak

When I was at university back in 1996 it was the first time away from home and I was in me own room in a block of student digs.

With all the newness of having money to waste I took the opportunity to attain a fair quantity of CD's. My man then and my man now is Stevie Wonder and this song did more than anything to turn me onto him big time. The tune itself was already getting me but when you listen from 1:31 to 1:32 the instrument's wah-wah sequence had me going loopy. I repeated the tune for ages just to hear that bit again.

An absolute gem of a song scandalously underrated.

Get The Punchline

You know I’ve had this image on the desktop for the longest time with the aim of putting a blog entry online about it. So now I’ve got the chance and I don’t know exactly what to say, so here’s a ramble. I tell you what have you ever read an e-mail that seemed to thump you right in the face? I reckon an image like this is more than appropriate. Got one today from someone and after I read it, felt like being socked in the face with a huge thump. That didn’t even begin to tell the beating I was going to take when I actually met the person who e-mailed it, still just to remind you to be careful when checking stuff online because it’s not all the time you want to get the punch-line.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Set Free - Stay Free

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. (Galatians 5:1)

Door is opened. Walk out. Look back just once. See the bars. Grey room. Misery written all over. Never going back. Keep walking. Keep remembering. Never going back. The pain. The loneliness. Never going back. Drugs, alcohol, abusive relationship, financial mistake. Never going back.

Kept walking. Kept remembering. Adding stuff to avoid going back. Work hard. Make the marriage work. Must make the bills. Must keep the family secure. It’s too much. You stop. Look around. Surroundings are familiar. Right back where you started.

The freedom gained in Christ is precious and is maintained only through focus on Him.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Whom Nelson Sets Free?

"Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34-36)

All being well Nelson Mandela will celebrate his 90th birthday on 18 July 2008. His struggle in South Africa led to the amazing transformation of a country crippled in the degrading system of apartheid to one now known as the Rainbow nation. Rightly commended for being a freedom fighter, even Nelson could not offer the key to freedom that remains elusive in economic, social, political, educational programs. This is why the Son – He who knows the deepest part of ourselves – can offer us the chance to be free indeed.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

(Look out for a book review on Mandela’s autobiography ‘Long Walk To Freedom’ coming to a blog near you soon.)

Stone Cold Sista

Yeah, so the ol' don't try this at home business really is not working out is it? You know it's bad when a little girl is informing you of Austin 3:16 which would happen to be the bottom line cos li'l sis Stone Cold said so.

da man cd

About Yesterday's Phrase - What No Image?

I wanted to post an image on yesterday’s blog entry but the blogger was playing silly … bloggers (?) That won’t translate well unless people are aware of the silly beggars bit. In any case, so I posted something without an image – shock of all shocks. Well to amend that I’ve surely got a suitable image from the wonderful weekend with friends and on the understanding that eventually I’ll do a Bubble Share type photo album of the event eventually, then wait for that with eager anticipation. For the benefit of the exercise from left to right - Charles, Katie and Lloyd LIVE in the Black Country Living Museum.

Still too busy though

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Slaves To Sin

"Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34-36)

Apparently we live in a country where we are free to say or do almost whatever we want. It would be almost absurd to call us slaves. Jesus’ critique was to a people who thought that they weren’t slaves because of their ancestry. We can feel we’re not slaves because of the political and social liberties we have cherished for years. Jesus’ point though is that there is something deep inside everyone that enslaves us, preventing us from enjoying all that the Father has made this house – earth – for. We need someone to set us free.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

And The Phrase For The Day Is ...

You may have noticed that there hasn’t been the same spurt of non-Daily Thought entries as there were earlier in the month. Simple reason for that – far too busy. Too busy preparing for upcoming events. Too busy warding various irritants who seek to distract me from what I’m meant to be doing. Too busy doing what I’m meant to be doing and too busy finding some crumbs and bakewell tarts of comfort in the whole thing.

Anyway, in the too busyness I caught my mate’s blog who reminded me of the cool weekend I had catching up with them. Wish I could give you my full thoughts, but hey, guess what …

Too busy.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Consolation of Freedom

"If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” (John 8:31, 32)

The truth that frees us is not always comfortable. The challenge and commitment involved can lead to tough areas where our characters are severely tested and they may even upset us from time to time. The words of Jesus, however, strike to the heart of that which his audience needed most. Just the thought of being released from the chains of oppression not to an outer rule, but the rule within – whether it’s the chain of the past, negative habits and attitudes, or feelings of guilt, shame and fear. This consoling thought makes the cost for freedom worth paying.

For His Name Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Commitment to Freedom

"If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” (John 8:31, 32)

People like Gandhi, Luther King, Mandela and Mother Theresa are known for their lifelong commitment to freedom from harsh situations political, economic, racial, social or physical. What they highlight is that freedom cannot be taken for granted. What Jesus challenges His followers to do is to remain free by committing themselves to following His way – sticking with living what He tells us. What Jesus presents us with is committing to something even greater than political, racial, social or physical. He looks for us to commit to whole life freedom.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Challenge Of Freedom

"If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” (John 8:31, 32)

There are many definitions of freedom some more appealing than others. Jesus’ words to those who believe Him are attractive and challenging. The appeal is in the promise to be set free, the challenge is His exclusive claim to hold the truth that sets us free. Where many other sources offer freedom –successful living of the rich and famous, or excessive living, or even moral codes based on other walks of life – Jesus’ challenge provokes commitment to living by His word. The challenge today is will His word be followed for others to experience that freedom in truth?

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Gratitude For Deliverance From Slavery

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)

There are few more appropriate words of thanks for the Lord delivering from slavery than the words a former slave-owner penned in the light of God’s awe-inspiring work.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see
(John Newton)

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

An Experiment For My Family Album

I am a man of text more than anything else. After all that’s why you’ll notice there are more words on this blog than images by a sizeable margin. Having typed that though, I want to make it clear that I’m appreciating more and more the power of images and importance of the visual as well as textual. It was with this in mind that I was really excited to come across this neat web-site that helped with photos and the like. To give credit where it’s due, I’ve really got to thank Said at Southern for the link to an article by some hombre that I’d never heard of before called Alan Knox on whether elders should get paid. Fascinating article that it was I linked it to the dozens of other blogs I’ve favourited for what it’s worth. I then perused his profile and came across his family blog – interesting concept, don’t think I’ll take it up meself, but that’s all good. On coming across his site I found it had a series of photo slide shows. I was fascinated by that as it’s a concept we were hoping to install on the North Staffs YMCA and I thought it would be neat to have it on me own blog.

Hence this little experiment. Apparently I’ve got somewhere in the region of 2950 photos and videos of a personal nature to do with my jazz, my life, my stuff, you feel me. So this is in no way meant to be THE definitive photo collection of the life of Da Man CD, but it’s a good first go. I hope you’ll enjoy taking a photo-journey through the wonderful world of Da Man CD.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Christian Shopping Network

Oh my days - at last the channel I've been waiting for all my life with just the right products to support my marriage. There must be a God somewhere as K. Franklin once wrote for song.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Reap and Sow

This is a hilarious perspective on evangelism - I especially enjoy the updated version of the eunuch's baptism. Might try it myself when I learn to swim.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - The Journey Out

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)

Changes in life suggest some sort of journey. Various incidents on the journey reflect a need to get out of a situation – getting out of the comfort of parental coddling, getting out of the immaturity of adolescence, getting out of the boring monotony of meaningless work, getting out of painful relationships, getting out of debt, getting out of the prison of life’s harsh pressing demands. God does not guarantee a harmless passage out of life’s challenges, but He is available to lead you out of that place of pain and incarceration, to a place of real, whole freedom.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

What Is Idolatry?

Here is a wonderful definition

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Journey From The House Of Slavery

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)

You don’t have to imagine being in dehumanising slavery for 400 years to understand how difficult it is to live free from it. It is one thing to be set free and another thing to get used to freedom. Living in freedom and enjoying it takes time. It is not unusual for the slave mentality to affect people in freedom. The key to freedom is continued focus on the Deliverer who not only sets us free but is present with us on the journey from the house of slavery.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Charlie Rich - The most beautiful girl 1974

Ahh the golden oldies remain just that - golden!

da man cd

Friends: Here And Gone

I appreciate the fact that work can be unrelenting at times. I’m just here to intrude and ask if you can make some time for a little respite, please check this blog entry to remember the value of our near and dear ones. Some may have passed on, but others are still here whom you may have overlooked in the relentless pressure of life. And there is still One who sticks closer than a brother.

Just a few minutes, check the link and reflect on those key relationships … then you can go back to work if you want.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Out Of The House Of Slavery

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)

Sometimes the Ten Commandments are scorned for just being a set of rules of do’s and don’ts. It is a negative rather than a positive. This does not take into consideration God’s heart for freedom expressed in these words. Egypt for Israel was a time of darkness, misery and oppressive slavery. They had cried out for deliverance for some 400 years. God’s words are not those of a harsh dictatorial slave-master. These are the words of a strong compassionate Liberator with words that can set free those in slavery just as much today as He did all those years ago.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

For All The Bloated People

I've been on a special diet for the last few weeks and was hoping that among other things I'd get discipline as a central part of my physical life as well as mental and spiritual. Indeed the time started well and I lost some weight. Put it this way there were a pair of jeans that I could not fit into at the start of the time and about a week or two into it I was able to put the jeans on and not have to breathe in deeply for the rest of the day.

Anyway this weekend the oddest thing happened. On Saturday I deliberately refrained from eating until I went round my mate's house. He (and his wife presumably) put on this fabulous meal - jacket potatoes, oven cooked vegetables, beans - the works. It was awesome. After I had my share I was well and truly stuffed. The next day I was on the monthly one day fast that the church regularly has. At the end of it we as men had elected to prepare and share out the breakfast meal. Some genius who will remain nameless, even though I live with her and am married to her, thought it would be a good idea to bring and prepare all four of the bean burgers frm my crib. Now I don't have more than one bean burger per meal, neither am I of the school of prepare them to have later on, so out of necessity I had to consume the bean burgers, and a veggie cottage pie and a pasta with some salad. Obviously as a Dryden of great eating pedigree the consumption of the meal was accomplished with little doubt. However since then and for most of today for all the weeks' worth of effort I feel bloated as a hot air balloon.

So the picture (left) is a word of consolation to people who don't so much feel bloated as actually are bloated. But hey ... the special diet continues and when it's done I'll let you know how it all went. In the meantime pray for the belt that has to keep in the bulge.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - For Crying Out Loud

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. (Psalm 34:6)

When in a potentially enslaving situation and the options appear restricted. Perhaps it calls for desperate measures that reduce even the strongest personality to the brink of hopelessness and despair, the Lord has promised to be there to save from all troubles. Indeed as Lord He looks to show the path to freedom away from all troubles before they have even begun. Cry out today.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - He Set Me Free

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

The good news of Jesus is the reality that God sets us free. He reaches the deepest part of our hurts and inner chains to bring freedom. This is not about a feel-good factor; this is the reality for many who have as a result devoted the rest of their lives to following and serving Him. It is the reality of His liberating power that allows followers to cope even in the dark nights of the soul. It is this reality that is extended to you to experience by calling out to Him now believing He does set people free.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Another Wrong Picture Explained

I was in the kitchen – which of course is an event worth remembering as I don’t endeavour to stay there longer than I have to. As I mulled through the cupboard to get the concentrated drink of the evening my hands fell upon a sachet. I quickly glanced at that which I was about to spill over the cupboard and when I looked at first I had to take a double take and check if I was reading right. On double reading and then triple reading the spelling had not changed indeed the letters were clearer before than they ever were before.

This is such an oil well for material that I will not even bother. Needless to say, however, it’s moments like that for which I believe the Father would have me be a non-meat eater.

I mean I was brought up by parents from Jamaica, steeped in the culture with a regular culinary diet that consisted of nothing but the best – and my mother was up there with the best. In all that time I do not recall (or maybe it’s been repressed, and for good reason) ever coming across such a seasoning or such a spice.

Sure, I know, I’m not in the kitchen long enough to inspect what’s there, but I’m pretty certain that I would know about something like this. But … what can I say? I mean what do you say? I mean obviously other than when the meal is prepared … ‘enjoy’?

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Jon Gibson On Calvary

It's been a very interesting week for me so far, but one thing I am grateful is for the increased opportunities to blog on both blogs.

It would be remiss of me to enjoy such opportunities and not post this tune. I first heard it last week and I was captivated by it - the message, the music, the vocals everything about it. When I consider how He gave His life on Calvary I can agree that indeed He broke my heart and saved my soul.

Thank God for Jesus and thank God for this beautiful gift in song.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Is Anybody Listening? Does Anybody Care?

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

It is tragic to come out of one form of oppressive slavery only to fall into another. No longer bound by the effects of alcohol only to be afflicted by debilitating anxiety. Free from an abusive parental relationship only to fall into an abusive sexual relationship. In the agony and despair it is often easy to wonder where is God, is He listening, does He care? It is easy to think He does not care, but in fact He does and He is able to release people from captivity in all areas of life by believing when He is called.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

OK Now What's Wrong With This Picture?

Right-e-o.

Now here's a picture you may think is somewhat inappropriate for so sacred, hallowed and faith-filled a blog. Stick with me though, there's a reason for this.

You know the drill - what is wrong with this picture?

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

What's Wrong With This Picture - Explained

So yesterday I put the picture up for y’all to figure out for yourself what’s wrong with it. And in the best traditions of post-modern, pluralistic relative tolerant dogma there are no wrong answers!

From my perspective I did make this observation. Now I’m not a marketing expert or a salesperson for retail superstores, but it appears to me that as the retail brand it’s in your best interests to actually have a product that’s cheaper than another brand name.

It makes a pleasant surprise that in this situation Rubicon comes out looking fine. As I did mention in the previous entry on the company, though, I’m quite partial to mango juice from Rubicon. They do it very well both the fizzy version – which I’m off at the moment cos of a new temporary diet regime cutting out the fizzy stuff – and the still stuff as pictured. It’s quality stuff I tell you and worth drinking.

Hopefully my mate Lloyd won’t start a campaign to squash all mango drinks that are not … errrr … kinda … err … OK I just hope he leaves the mango drinks alone. I’m still suffering the after effects of his War on Secret Lemonade Drinkers.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Crying Out For Help

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

The first day inside he was screaming. Banging at the walls he ranted for someone to get him out. He trashed whatever was let through and begged for help. By day three he was hoarse from shouting and sobbed desperately for release, scratching desperately at the door. Months later his spirit was crushed, a pale shadow. Withered and haunted, whatever life left was draining away.

This is the life of someone whose cries of freedom had been drowned out by the slavery of routine and ritual, addiction and abuse, crisis and fear. Yet when he cried to the Lord …

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

That Will Teach You

I think there’s something inherently wrong with the system of education. I was reading a part of Shawn Michaels’ autobiography mentioning how when he got into wrestling as an interest on of his teachers also was a big fan so would often show Shawn that he was reading a wrestling mag in the class and talk the business before class.

What this highlights to me is the fact that teaching has become so clinical and professional that the real intimate personal styles of discipleship and learning from the character of someone else has been lost, which to me has to be wrong. Surely the whole point of education is not just the ability to retain and regurgitate facts, figures, quotes and systems of thought.

Surely the whole point of education is to equip people with all that is required to succeed in whatever one chooses to do whether that’s housing maintenance, sewage works, administrative support, managing a company, playing for a hockey team or writing for a newspaper. Surely the tools that we need are better gained from associating and picking up tips, characteristics and the like that academia will not satisfy. To do that properly this professional, institutional relationship of teacher and pupil is too distant and untouchable – obviously not helped by the numbers of pupils in typical classes.

This is where I feel homeschooling has a distinct advantage and how parents should really make the most of the time they have with their children to really share life with them. I’m learning to do that with my son, Kevaughn and I’m seeing the benefits of relating to him as a pal as well as a father – as someone he can chill and chat with whilst still respecting the relationship dynamic between us. Hopefully that would allow him to pick up things from me just be association and also be aware of my frailties, flaws and faults and avoid them whenever possible.

Reading the style that Jesus modelled I’m sure this is what made the disciples such effective witnesses because he allowed them to come up and personal and not be distanced by a formal approach to teaching. That relational style of learning is what I’m also detecting in the early church and the examples of guys like Paul and Peter in their letters and also in the general behaviour and movements with others.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Quiz Time and the Lemonade War Update

It might be worthwhile doing this quiz about Jesus’ words found through a blog through another blog.

In an update on the Lloyd campaign to stamp out modern lemonade I got word from a colleague that indeed R. White’s Lemonade falls into the category of modern lemonade. This means my dear friend Lloyd and I find ourselves on opposite ends of the war. Now let the battle commence, and I’m sure beyond a shadow of a doubt this missile launched against the enemy will see us gain the victory!

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Oki-doki-smoki-poki-folki

Yo(ki)

Suss out what's wrong with this picture. Mull it over and I'll share my views all being well in the morrow.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Defining Slavery

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

It’s interesting seeing definitions of slavery and what it is to be a slave. It is fascinating to see images associated with slavery. Slavery, however, is not just a physical, social or economic way of oppression commonly associated with people in chains. Slavery can be seen in the deepest part of ourselves where we long to break free of a controlling thought, habit, past experience or relationship. Some people who live in apparent freedom can be trapped in the worst forms of slavery possible. That is why the cry for freedom is so apt for people from all backgrounds.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Protect All Secret Lemonade Drinkers - NOW

My mate Lloyd on his blog - http://20six.co.uk/lloydd - has made an appeal for classic lemonade drinkers to unity and combat the evil of modern lemonades.

Now I need more clarification on what is defined as classic and what is defined as traditional. I have a concern however that this campaign could put in jeopardy drinks like this one from back in the day.

Join in prayer with me that Lloyd is not referring to this. For the sake of all civilised humanity.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Believe In The Best

So Tottenham concede another four goals, eh? I don’t care if they get back from 4-1 down it is still shocking that a team with aspirations for the top four are playing so shockingly.

Anyhow today’s image that made me think is Sky’s latest efforts to woo people to purchase their product. It’s rather intriguing how they’ve subtly hinted at the alternatives without going whole hog and stating their case for being the best thing going. Remember, it’s only believing in better, not believing in best. I often believe however that the enemy of the best is the good – is the better. Sometimes, and I think this is a particular disease of the middle class set of people of which I’d consider myself to be a part, we accept the better without really pushing for the best just because it’s better. As in it’s better than what I was used to, it’s better than the majority of alternatives and as its better then when I get it I’ll be better. Only problem with that is surely the pursuit of the best is something worth going for not in order to show a superiority complex but to completely rest in the best. Surely.

Yet another really neat trick is that if some things can be shifted away from the absolutes into relatives that it’s just cool for me and I don’t have to worry about objective standards. So it’s better for me. That’s all that matters, right?

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts - Freedom and Slavery

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

What is freedom? What is slavery? Hardly the questions you’re pondering over the regular morning cup of tea and yet scratching beneath the surface of day to day existence these themes are important to people from all backgrounds of life. Are you really free? How can we help others enjoy freedom? Over the month of October Daily Thoughts will share some tidbits on these topics to help explore these issues and how they affect life as you know it. In the meantime consider this – are you a slave to someone or something?

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd