What time is it in your world?

On getting back from India last weekend, I let my watch adjust itself. You see, I have one of these rather clever watches- it has a link to a Satellite signal so it will always go back to the right time in the UK after a trip away. Or so I thought.

My watch is also an alarm clock. I set it as normal on Sunday for a 6.00am Monday wake up in order to get the 7.00 train to London. Sure enough, the alarm went off, I got up washed, dressed and headed out to the station.

I thought it was a bit funny that our neighbours Chris and Marion were not awake as the light is usually on as I pass their house. And there seemed to be a lot less cars on the road too. And where were all the passengers at the station?! It was at this point I looked at the station clock. Five to six in the morning! But my watch showed five to seven!

Needless to say, I was in rather early to work and had a bit of a long day. My watch is still adjusting an hour ahead. I've had to turn off the satalite link bit. Maybe the Satellite has been blown up or something?! Conspiracy theory time!

This is what the Bible says:

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life."

So fleeting in fact that I'm an hour ahead of myself!

India 2

It's not so much jet lag as culture shock, returning from a week in India. We have been working in one of the poorest areas of Andhra Pradesh with the most remarkable people.

They have nothing, yet they give everything. Such generosity of spirit. Such a willingness to give. It's not what you own, it's what you are......

India

It's snowing as I write this. A good couple of inches I think. Amazing that in just over 24 hours, I will be on a plane for India. The weather contrast will be quite something.

The other contrast is the poverty. India attacks your senses- blaring car horns, 'interesting' smells and everywhere, poverty in front of your eyes. Compared to what I have seen in the villages of Andhra Pradesh, every single person in the UK has more than them.

I'm out there doing some church and charity work, taking a team with me. For those that have not been before, it will be a life-changing moment. We know we live in the richest 10% or so of the world here in the UK, but until we experience what the majority of the world is like, it is hard to comprehend the difference.

There aren't any mountains in the area of India that I visit, but I will be climbing quite a few.

Interesting times

'May you live in interesting times' is supposed to be an old Chinese curse (it isn't but most people think it is!). But we certainly do live in interesting times here in the UK.....

I have a Christian faith. As such, it's been sad to observe the recent Government ruling on adoption, effectively forcing Catholic adoption agencies to compromise their faith by recognising gay couples. It seems to me that when we look back on this decision, it will be seen as something of a watershed. In recent years, we have moved from being a Christian country to being a multi-faith country. (I welcome multi-cultural but regret the crumbling of the Christian foundations our society was built on).

With this latest Government ruling, I wonder if we have now moved a step closer to being an anti-Christian country?

It's a hard one for the Government. They have some outspoken ministers on this (Peter Hain in particular). But they also have a number who hold a Christian faith. Blair appears to, as does Brown, Straw, Kelly. Sadly, their efforts to bring in non-discrimination legislation (a welcome move)is forcing a compromise on those with a Christian faith. For the church, it is not an issue of discrimination, it is an issue of what the Bible says is unnatural.

So, intersting times. Christians have dealt with 'persecution' before of course. It's just sad it is happening here at home.

Barefoot on the grass

A friend has just asked me to pray for his mum who has been diagnosed with cancer. That's what my mum died of a few years back. So I'll pray- and I know.

We only have one life. And we just don't know how long that life will be. It's the age old question of course, but if you were to die tonight, would you be able to look back on your life with satisfaction? Or maybe with a sense there could have been more?

An old monk was once asked on his deathbed what he would have done differently with his life. Bear in mind he had lived a simple, God loving, life. But he said he would have done something- he would have walked barefoot on the grass more often. Even for him, there were simple things he would have liked to have enjoyed.

Simple things. Family things. Holidays we meant to take. Presents we meant to give. People we meant to call.

So I'm not being morbid, but we only have one life. Don't forget to walk barefoot on the grass.

Lists part 2

Hey, maybe I'm not so sad after all. Having been at church on Sunday, we are starting down a list called God's Top Ten. It's the ten commandments presented rather differently. And the first preach arrived along with Top of the Pops theme music(.....you had to be there....).

Come to think of it, God makes lots of lists in the Bible. Lists of families, lists of churches, lists of heroes, lists of kings.... So maybe I'm not quite so sad....?

Lists

Have you ever noticed how much men like lists? And it really does seem to be a man thing. Maybe they are out there, but I have yet to meet a woman who loves making lists. They may have to, but they don't want to. Men on the other hand, have a fascination with the top ten of everything. A whole magazine industry has been born off the back of it- your top ten women, top ten holiday resorts, worst pop records of all time, ten things to do before you die.... and so on.

I have to admit I'm one of them. A man yes, but also a list maker. I was making lists while I was still in shorts! I had my own alternative top 20 to the one on Radio 1. And I used to keep up the revised list on a weekly basis. OK, so maybe I'm a bit sad....

One list I still keep, at least in my head, is things I'd like to treat my wife to. The problem is, the list remains a list most of the time. So tonight I did something about it. We're off to see a play in the West End next month that has been on my to-do list for too long.

Go on. Make a list. And then cross something off it. It won't get done otherwise.