What's our perspective?

"And He came to reveal God, to give Him hands and feet. He came to be near, to be God with us. He came to love and know us and to be loved and known by us."

Micah Wierenga writes..

To Beautify the World

( Pollok House, Glasgow)

"I woke one morning recently with a strange goal. I set out with a desire to beautify the world as best I can, whether through cleaning my house, having an inspiring conversation with someone, or serving in a way that makes another feel loved. These are all ways in which I can beautify the world around me."

- Rebecca St. James

She talks about how the church should awaken its hunger for beauty at every level.

I love it when people see something that most see as a derelict and hopeless place, but they see it is worth salvaging and restore it to even better glory than it's been. Here in the UK it's a business and a passion for many people to buy houses and re-do them. I love that. It requires a lot of effort and engaging but they love (must love) to do it. I admire that.

This place used to be a factory and then I think unused (?) for many years. But it's a beautiful building. Well, some visionaries and entrepreneurs caught on it, and now it's a lively centre where there's many businesses (it's not a mall though), artists, events, there's even a church (Free Church of Finland) that has a Chapel/resides there! It's from my hometown, where I grew up in Finland. I think it is simply awesome what they have done. As many caught on it and stepped onboard, and now it is a lively centre and livened up the place. I'm sure it is a blessing to the whole town and provides vitality and brings people together. Well done, Kehräämö! I raise my glass for the two or three business men who started it all. I have such joy over this one.

I think the same way God sees us. He sees the potential in us. He sees us worthy of salvaging. He restores and beautifies us. He is into restoration! No hopeless cases.

Christian Clone?

Denise Morris on being a Christian woman -and being you, not a clone.

Embrace and Celebrate who you are...

"I have felt a lot of pressure to be like the NCGs (Nice Christian Girl) — mostly from myself. However, I think there is also some subtle insistence from churches and families that Christian girls are supposed to be mild and smiley. They are supposed to be obsessed with marriage, and want lots of kids. We girls should always present our best face — no matter what we're really feeling. And once we girls turn into moms, that's when we begin wearing embroidered vests and decorating our kitchens with chickens or apples. While not often vocalized, these ideas are engrained in us, where they quietly help us form judgments about the women around us."

The whole article is here

it's worth a read :)

You've got THE love

Check out this!

That should take you to BBC iPlayer and Glastonbury 2008: "The Best Bits" Scroll to 18th minute and watch - Amazing!!! Candi Staton singing "You've got the Love". I had never heard this song before but it was awesome - and at Glastonbury of all places! Wow! This is what I'm talking about. This is how it's meant to be.

(if that link doesn't work, go to BBC Website and click on iPlayer and then find the aforementioned programme. It is only there for one week though!!)

Pure Awesomeness.

Word

forlorn \fur-LORN; for-\, adjective:

1. Sad and lonely because deserted, abandoned, or lost.
2. Bereft; forsaken.
3. Wretched or pitiful in appearance or condition.
4. Almost hopeless; desperate.

From

I like words. I found this a few days ago.. I think in the sadness of it there is beauty. And it describes well what it means. Poetic.

Oh, Summer!

And this is the perfect song for it! Ihana kun on kesä.

Jason Mraz "I'm Yours"



I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours


He's up here in Gla next week!

The Acceptable Religion

I've been taking part (and still am) in this discussion course by Besom, actually it is organised here in Gla by St Silas . It's really good.. We have gotten through the first three sessons so far. This is from our last session, to me this is one of the baseline things..:


"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action,is dead." - James 2:14-17


"Religion that God our Father accepts is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" - James 1:27

Another passage worth looking up for, is Amos 5:21-24. The whole book of Amos just speaks to me about God's Heart and His heart for Justice.

Congratulations! Onnea!

Johanna & Markus!

Today - I am feeling sad for not being able to be part of my friend Johanna's wedding celebrations by physical presence! (I was there through mobile phone presence =)) In the picture here are my swiss friends Cristina who got married in April - in the middle of my final exams and hence I had to miss that one too. In fact, within the last four months I have missed FOUR weddings! May this post be dedicated to Johanna&Markus and also to all my friends who got married this spring. Lots of love,

I miss you all xx

(The photo is beautiful, isn't it! By D Rosenstock)

Rebecca St James keeping it real..

Isn't she lovely

My niece, E, on her 2nd birthday. Isn't she lovely! I love this pic.