Seven Ways to Cultivate Joy

This week our little part of the earth has begun to wake and warm up from a long, cold, and tiresome winter season. Last Sunday saw the start of Daylight Saving Time. So it is still light out as we finish our evening meal.
All this, as it were, turned over the soil of my heart and prepared me to receive the message of  Today's Topical Bible Study from BibleStudyTools.com entitled Seven Ways to Cultivate Joy from Insight for Living.
What I propose to do is to write a series of 7 posts that will focus on these 7 ways. This then is post 1.
"1. Rehearse with God the reasons you trust Him. Tell Him which of His attributes is your favorite right now. Read the praises of Scripture back to Him — begin with Psalm 103. Join with another believer in prayers of thanksgiving, and delight yourself in His character."
At Kelly Creek Community Church pastor Mike Martinig has just embarked on a series on the Attributes of God. As I think about it my favorite attribute of God is that He is a promise-keeping God. When I read my Bible I revel in the love that God, my Heavenly Father, has for me as I see all He promises me.

A request for submissions-

What is your favorite attribute of God? Why?    

On a more serious note- I am receiving many comments from this guy "anonymous". Usually he wants to sell me something, it makes me blush to think about it. So I am asking you to join The Ministers Cat so I won't miss your comments. Thanks.
John Dalziel 

Valentine's Day Poetry "Love is not all"

I found this love sonnet on a U of Toronto website: 

St. Valentine's Day Gifts | Representative Poetry Online Check it out. There are some real treats!

Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink

Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain;

Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink

And rise and sink and rise and sink again;

Love can not fill the thickened lung with breath,

Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone;

Yet many a man is making friends with death

Even as I speak, for lack of love alone.

It well may be that in a difficult hour,

Pinned down by pain and moaning for release,

Or nagged by want past resolution's power,

I might be driven to sell your love for peace,

Or trade the memory of this night for food.

It well may be. I do not think I would.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

Sonnet xxx, "Fatal Interview"

A New Year, A Breath of Fresh Air

In my first post of 2014 I wrote of my excitement about the spiritual discovery of the term Immanuel. I truly intend to follow up on that but ... as I embark on this new year I am also facing the prospect of a change in my physical life as well. On Tuesday I met with a surgeon, Dr. Yee, in Vancouver to set the wheels in motion to get a Diaphragmatic pacemaker:

A diaphragmatic pacemaker, in medicine, is a surgically implanted device used to help patients breathe following complications from spinal cord injuries. For a full discussion of what is involved in having a Diaphragmatic pacemaker check out the article in Wikipedia.

Since my accident I cannot breathe without a ventilator. This means that, at my bedside or on the back of my wheelchair I have a machine that breathes for me by forcing air into my lungs. The diaphragmatic pacemaker allows me to breathe more naturally by stimulating my diaphragm. The advantages:

1. I will not be as susceptible to pneumonia.
2. My senses of taste and smell will return.
3. I will not need the ventilator all the time.
4. My voice will be stronger.

So, am I excited? YES
I am expecting a call for the operation this summer.

A New Year ... Renewal

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
(Revelation 21:5 KJV)

As I set forth into another year it does my heart good to read that God is in the business of renewal. Each year as we end with the wonderful story of God renewing His relationship with us the sense of a fresh start fills me with new energy. So I have decided to restart The Minister's Cat. In this year my focus will be on one of the names of our Lord:

Often I tend to focus on the name "Jesus" which means "Savior" but this year I am going to focus on what my Savior saved me for. Yes, I mean "for" Stay tuned, more to follow.

The Minister's Cat on YouTube

Over Christmas I amused myself by viewing several versions of Charles Dickens "Christmas Carol on YouTube. (my favorite is still the black and white one with Alistair Sims) However, the 1970 version with Albert Finney has the guests at Scrooge's nephew's party playing the game. It is around the 1hr 11 minute mark. Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7cPJmlQmNI  The adult version is competitive. When playing as family I suggest cooperation.

Today Deer Tomorrow . . .

 Spring

Spring is sprung.

Harbinger

For me it is the first crocus

On the Wet Coast I call home.

In the West Kootenays where

I grew up

Bare pavement and the

Appearance of the first

Bicycle signalled Spring.

The grass is riz.

Busi-ness

For landowners, like

My friend Gerry,

It signals long months

Of lawnmower stories.

Another friend, Al,

Professional gardener

Awaits the time of planting

Making beds afresh

To receive new plants.

I wonder where the birdies is?

Musing

I sit in my

Powered chair.

Look out my

Studio window.

I see the deer,

My eco-frienidly

Lawnmowers,

Munching peacefully.

But, where are the birds?

Postscript

Today I visited Your Dollar Store With More and bought . . .
a bird feeder.
Watch this blog for updates.

the April PAD Challenge?

What is the April PAD Challenge?
April is poetry month, and Writers Digest has poem a day (PAD) challenge. I did not connect at the beginning but I'd like to share day one: A Communications Poem

Yesterday I wanted to speak

To you. What I had to say

Was important to both of us.

So important that I could not

Find words.

A reef knot tied my tongue

And fear froze my tonsils.

Fear of rejection?

How foolish!

Fear of failure?

Not my duty.

What would I tell you?

God loves YOU!

And has . . .

A message for me.

“when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

To check out the PAD challenge visit the WD poetry blog.

The Next Step and a Challenge For You!

One of the results of my love of books and reading is that I have wanted to write a book. When I retired I thought I would have time to write. Dr. Bob Butkus was an inspiration to me. He was the principal of the Powell River campus of Malaspina University College and my boss. He retired before me and wrote a book.

I found that even in retirement I didn't find time to write my book. But now I do have the time; so I am trying to get started. To help me get going I am working through The 12-Day Plan of Simple Writing Exercises from the Writers Digest online newsletter.

Now I come to my challenge to you and, incidentally, an opportunity to inspire me. The challenge comes from the first day:

Day 1:
Write 10 potential book titles of books you’d like to write.

I added a short description of the story to each title. Here is one of my 10:

1. A Woman For All Seasonings a cook makes meals for the elderly and listens to their stories

Your challenge: to post a title with a short explanation of the story. 

And now is a good time to encourage you to join the Minister's Cat. If you do join then your posts will include your name and I'll know who you are.

The Minister's Cat says, "Bye for now. Meow!"

A Man of the Book?

I am a man pulled in two directions. Ever since I read The Tale of Reddy Fox by Thornton W. Burgess by myself in grade two I have loved books. I can recall the smell of books, the second hand Kipling stories my Mom brought home from Vancouver or the new books my uncle Bill gave me each Christmas. But since my accident I have lost most of my sense of smell.
Also I can no longer turn the pages of a book. As a result I have resorted to my computer to continue my reading passion. How? I'm glad you asked. I'd like to share three ways I do this.

1. I downloaded a Kindle for pc a free program for my sip and puff equipped laptop. I tried the Canadian version but although they said they had free books I could not find them. I found thousands of free Kindle Books some are modern, many are classics. One treasure I found was a series of commentaries by Alexander McLaren covering the whole Bible. Another was several thrillers by H. Rider Haggard, including King Solomons Mine.
2. I also found a free Bible program, http://www.e-sword.net/ Again there are many free resources. For example, although most modern Bible versions must be bought, I find the English Standard Bible ESV to suit me. On the other hand, I did purchase Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words for e-Sword PCs. I have a copy of the New Testament book in my library upstairs (I haven't been up there since my accident). Now I have both the New and Old Testaments and a direct connection to my Bible. I found an article that I really enjoyed about electronic Bibles. Check it out. People of the Nook
3. One of the recurring problems a quad has is periodic infection. At such times I get too tired to read. Then I like to listen to books read aloud. Two online sources of public domain books are http://librivox.org/ which has a large number of titles but is not easy to browse. http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/ has fewer titles but can be browsed by genre.
4. Yes, I know I told you tshat there were 3 ways. I feel like the writer in Proverbs 30:18  Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: I think I may have written about them before: 1) BC has a wonderful online library of both ebooks and audiobooks. 2) Christian Audio has a free download every month. If you give them your email they send you a notice. I have used this service for years with no problems. 

Finally I leave you with two bookish quotes:
The first from THE BOOK:

 Ecclesiastes 12:12  My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

The second from my favorite essayist, Sir Francis Bacon:

 Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

Judging from this quote I must be an omnivore. Your Sip n Puff friend says so long. I have a book that needs tasting.
John D.

Don't Worry, Read Happy: Alan Jacobs on The Pleasures of Reading | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Don't Worry, Read Happy: Alan Jacobs on The Pleasures of Reading | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction 

At the end of 2011 this was just one of several articles I read to help me form resolutions for the new year. Strange how, when thinking of growing old, the one thing I dreaded was the loss of my eyesight and the inability to read. Little did I know that instead I would lose the use of my hands. I can read but I can neither hold a book or turn the pages.
This could lead to major frustration but thanks be to God for the computer and programs like Dragon and Darcy that enable me to control it.

Update on my health: I am feeling much more alert thanks to your prayers. However, my skin is breaking down and it is a real battle to get it back into shape. I do not feel discomfort and cannot relieve the pressure by shifting position.

Under the Christmas Tree

Our tree with the Ministers Cat in the background

It is the day before Christmas, and I contemplate the gifts that Jesus has left under the tree for me. When He was born the angels proclaimed:
Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
and
Luk 2:14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
So, present 1 a Saviour, 2 peace, 3 God's good will. Then I thought of John 17 where Jesus prays for us:
Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
But, enough. Now it is your turn.
What Christmas present has Jesus given you?

The Twelve Prayers of Christmas | Kyria

 Update: I have been taking Tisanadene, a medication for spasms, that makes me very sleepy. I usually take it at lunch and then fall asleep at my computer when I want to work on my blog. So am cutting out the lunch dose and taking only 2 pills a day, breakfast and bedtime. Pray that I will be more awake in the afternoon and that my spasms wont increase.
Now, to the topic for today. The 12 days of Christmas are usually thought of as the days after Christmas leading to Epiphany. The  Twelve Prayers of Christmas, on the other hand, are a plan to bless someone on twelve days leading up to Christmas. Click on the link The Twelve Prayers of Christmas | Kyria  to read more.

2. Truth

Truth is much more powerful than bombs and tanks and weapons.
This is a quote from John Stotts article. Our world is bereft of truth. Many are in despair of ever finding truth to base their lives on.
Jesus spoke about truth in praying for those who believe in him:
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.  (Joh 17:17)
The word sanctify is the key to this prayer. Part of the definition is to: set apart as holy. So the thing that sets Christians apart from the world is the truth found in Gods word. This is the solid rock that we base our lives on.

1. Prayer

The first of the 4 ways John Stott says that Christians can influence the world is through prayer. I have always been tickled by a made up verse for the chorus I've Been Redeemed:

You can talk about me any time you please.
I'll talk about you, when I'm on my knees.

  A Biblical example of this is found in the life of the prophet Samuel. After Saul and the people had disobeyed Samuel his response was:

 (1Sa 12:23)  Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

My church is across the street from Kelly Creek Community School (K to 6). We have had a very cordial relation with the school over the years. Do we always agree with the school? No ... but, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for them.

If I were to invite all my neighbors (readers) to church this week it would be very difficult for me and them. But if I asked them if I could pray for them I think it would be easier for all of us.
So ... What can I pray for you? Email me with your prayer needs: j_dalziel@yahoo.co.uk
Till next time
john

John Stott: Four Ways Christians Can Influence the World | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

 John Stott died earlier this year.
 
Over the years I have enjoyed the thought of this Anglican practical theologian. His book, Basic Christianity, was a great influence on my early days as a Christian. Much later I attended Regent College and heard him speak. Regent Bookstore has a good selection of audio teaching by him.
I intend to look at each of Stott's four ways in future posts so read the article below. The first way is Prayer.

John Stott: Four Ways Christians Can Influence the World | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction