Saturday, March 26, 2011
Poem for Today : 'Tenderness'
Tenderness
Walking
Through a park
Any Park
No special one
Old couple
Sitting
Upon a bench
A bird flies
Above
Singing
The old man
Smiling
Turns
Towards his love
She thinks
Of this park
A special one
For them
© 1967 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Sunday School howlers: The funny things kids say!
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?"
A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."
A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the
"No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms."
A Sunday school teacher said to her children, "We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a Higher Power. Can anybody tell me what it is?" One child blurted out, "Aces!"
New Hymn for today . . . 'All Glory!'
All Glory! 9999 D
TUNE: Faith (Warren)
Glory to You Lord, You came to save,
Glory to You for beating the grave;
Glory to You Lord, Jesus our King!
Glory to You, our praises we bring!
Glory to You for saving my soul,
Glory to You for making me whole;
Glory to You Lord, Jesus our King!
Glory to You, our praises we bring!
© 2011 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Friday, March 25, 2011
Multiculturalism and Islam in France: A stark warning
A video exclusive from CBN correspondent Dale Hurd vividly illustrates the cultural clash that is occurring throughout Europe between those who want to preserve a Constitutional form of governance and those who want to replace it with Sharia Law.
France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain today… America tomorrow?
If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere in the Western world.
France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain today… America tomorrow?
If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere in the Western world.
Joanne Lowe's Meditations
JESUS REALLY CARES
"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."
Psalm 34:18,19 (King James Version)
Joanne Lowe
New Hymn for today . . . 'Eternal Lord'
Eternal Lord CM
TUNE: Abergele
You are the everlasting Lord,
O Christ, whom God did send;
You are the source of life and pow’r,
Whose kingdom will not end.
You never change, You are the same,
Through heav’ns eternal days;
All majesty and rule are Yours,
All glory and all praise.
You came to earth to pay the price
For folly and for sin;
When man repents and claims Your name
Then heav’n will let him in.
Almighty, everlasting Lord,
Through heav’ns eternal days;
We will proclaim Your holy name,
With glory and with praise.
© 2011 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Grace Bawden sings 'If Only I Had Wings'
To round of my trio of singers this morning I have chosen this video by Grace Bawden, the young singing sensation from Australia who recorded this song, written by myself and Greg Scheer, last year. I include it because it is a beautiful song, beautifully sung. You can download this song to your iPod from all the major digital music sites. If you haven't already done so, why not do it today!
Katherine Jenkins sings 'Abigails Song (Silence Is All You Know)'
This is turning into a musical morning as I add another video to my Blog. I can listen to Katherine Jenkins at any time and derive immense pleasure from her beautiful voice. This song really reaches to the depths of your being and speaks to your soul. This would be a great song to download to your iPod!
Siobhan Owen - Isle of Innisfree
What a lovely voice Siobhan Owen has! It gives me great pleasure to be able to share this video of her singing this beautiful song with you, dear readers.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Walking on Runcorn Hill
What a beautiful day it is today, the bright sunshine chasing away any 'blues' left from the winter months. Spring is really here, and I've been out with my little dog, Sam, celebrating it in all its glory! We are so fortunate here in Runcorn to have a well-cared for Nature Reserve. Set in the gorse and heather area of the old Runcorn Quarry, Runcorn Hill is a popular place for local people to walk their dogs or simply to wander through and enjoy the views and experience the historical connection to over 200 million years of archaeological history. The footprints of a dinosaur have been found embedded into the stone of the red sandstone quarry. In the photograph above the view takes in much of the nearby Mersey Estuary.
Last year, taking a rest for a while and enjoying simply being on 'The Hill'.
There are many woodland carvings to be found as you follow the various trails that have been created for the benefit of local walkers. This is one of the larger ones.
Light and shade mingle to create a magical effect as you follow the well-worn pathways, with the trees and undergrowth seen here in full leaf.
Even on a winter's day the sunshine maintains the beauty of all around you.
There are sheer cliff face to be found as a result of the quarrying that once took place here, giving work to many of the local people over the generations. Quarrying has taken place at this spot since the time of the Normans, ceasing around 1850, and there are many examples locally of the use of the red sandstone quarried from the hill. The stonemasons of Liverpool Cathedral used the stone in its construction, and stone was shipped as far afield as New York.
This picture is taken on the area known locally as 'The Cliff Top' because that's what it is, even though the cliff is within the boundary of the Nature Reserve.
A lizard carved into the sheer rock face forms part of the Nature Trail which is great to inspire children to explore further.
New Hymn for today . . . 'We'll Raise Our Arms'
We’ll Raise Our Arms 87 87
TUNE: Wellesley
We will praise You Living Saviour,
Help us all to play our part;
We will raise our arms before You,
With the Spirit in our heart.
We will give our praise for ever,
Words of love and words of praise;
Let us stand to serve the Saviour,
On the holiest of days.
Hear the sound of rushing zephyr,
On our heads are tongues of fire;
Hear the whisper of winged angels,
And the songs of heaven’s choir.
Now we lift our hearts in wonder,
Full of praise and full of love;
We will give our all in worship,
To our gracious God above.
© 2011 Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Time to Keep Fit!
You might not be up to getting the weights out like the tough little fellow above, but you can dust off the exercise bike or go out for a long walk at a brisk pace.
It's no use just hanging around like the kitten below, hoping that the weight will simply drop off you, 'cos it will just get weightier!
Poem for Today : 'The Empty Tomb'
The Empty Tomb
They came that morning at early dawn,
to the tomb wherein He was laid;
bringing their spices and rare perfume,
to that garden where history was made.
The stone was rolled from the tomb,
two angels in white stood nearby;
the terrified women bowed their heads,
and began to weep and to cry.
The angels questioned in gentle voice,
‘Why seek the living amongst the dead?
Have you forgotten the promise He made?
Turn your eyes to heaven instead.’
‘Remember the things that He spoke of.
He’s not here for He has risen.
The deepest grave could not hold Him fast,
nor cave ever be His prison.’
‘Delivered to hands of sinful men,
to be stretched on that awful tree;
His body was wracked with searing pain,
darkness fell until the hour of three.’
As they listened to the two angels,
the women remembered His words,
and hurried to share with the others,
the wonderful news of their Lord.
The apostles would not believe them,
would not heed the words that they said;
so the women gently spoke again,
‘He has risen and is not dead.’
© 2006 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Spirit-Inspired painting of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
This painting is incredibly powerful, and it really helps you visualize that powerful moment when Jesus rose from the tomb. We praise and thank you heavenly Father for Your Son, Jesus Christ!
Painted by the incredibly talented Ron DiCianni, this painting will speak directly to your soul and provide you with an amazing spiritual experience.
Painted by the incredibly talented Ron DiCianni, this painting will speak directly to your soul and provide you with an amazing spiritual experience.
Pray for Revival in France
"The kingdom of France is predestined by God to defend the Church of Christ Our Lord. This kingdom will be great among all the kingdoms of the earth. In as much as it is loyal to its calling, it will be victorious. If it proves unfaithful in this, it will be punished harshly. Nevertheless, it will remain until the end of time."
- St. Remi at King Clovis' baptism in 498.
From its very beginning, God has had a plan and a special calling for France.
We could write volumes about the historical and spiritual significance of France's past or speculate as to what God is doing today, but it really boils down to this:
France is poised for revival
HOW CAN WE SAY THAT?
- Evangelical Christian believers account for only .8% of the population. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia (1.5% and .9%) have more Evangelicals per capita.
- Church attendance is one of the lowest in Europe (6-8%, compare that to the USA's 44%).
- 80% of French people have never owned or even seen a Bible.
- There are approximately 50,000 full-time practitioners of occult arts (tarot, fortune telling, psychic healing, etc) who easily outnumber the 35,000 full-time Christian workers in France.
- Muslims make up approximately 10% of France's population (compared to 1.5% in the USA). This is the highest percentage in any European country.
(Source: Operation World)
precisely.
The light that shines where it is the darkest shines the brightest.
But we need prayer to pave the way!
More on France (from the United Prayer for France and FurrsinFrance.com):
France needs re-evangelization
Secularization has become a movement in France of which the sole objective is to confine faith and its expression to the private sphere. Today, barely one percent of the French nation can be counted as Evangelical Christians. We therefore believe it is time for the spiritual children of France to return to the soil of France and re-ignite the hearts of the French with the revival fires that had to leave France 300 years ago. This is not a work that can be accomplished by the ability of man, hence we believe the best way to go about it, is to establish a flood wave of sustainable prayer for France. We have heeded God’s call for the French nation and we invite you to join us in this endeavor.
Since 2001, French Evangelicals have come together during the season of Lent to pray specifically for France. For the 40 days before Easter, they have sought God and pleaded with Him to renew and revive their churches and to move in France. In the 7 years since this prayer effort began, there has been a gradual "opening" of French culture to Evangelicals and Christianity. The riots in the cities of France in the Fall of 2005 further pushed the subject of religion and belief into the public discourse. In fact, Nicholas Sarkozy has said, "Religion's place in France at the beginning of the third millennium is central." This statement, coming from the current French president (before his term) is astounding! France is beginning to re-think it's spiritual heritage. Young people, especially, are turning to the message of Jesus. A new day is dawning.
Watch the video now.
Poem for Today : 'The Poet'
An attic room
high rent
no food ---
how ill he looks
just sitting
thinking deep
transferring thoughts
to paper.
Genius or fool
we know
alive --- a fool,
dead --- a genius.
His work
makes people think,
makes people rich.
He died ill
in poverty
in that
cold
attic room.
© 1966 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
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