General Chat

Hello Cynthia :-) :-) I thought it was so refreshing when Justin Welby was appointed. He had been in a career before church, albeit it in the hated banking industry. And I so agree with his attack on usury and hope he will not be put off by the church finance people investing in Wonga. That sort of thing is bound to happen. However ethical we try to make our private investments and personal pensions, we are bound to get some of our income from very dubious companies with dubious practices.

I thought of him too John. He was in the oil industry in finance though wasn't he?


As for church finances - we have seen some dreadful mis-handling of church money by the Church Commissioners over the years. Absolutely heartbreaking how they could get things so wrong on occasions. :-(

Thank you Cynthia for your daily words which I always read though I don't often comment.

I heard the interview on Today with Justin Welby and did think how refreshing it was to hear a man of God who sounded as if he had some understanding of the world outside the church.

The best priest I ever came across had been a Christian all his life but had worked in industry until he was 50, and then had been ordained. Perhaps there should be a requirement for anyone entering the priesthood to spend time working in other fields first!

Love your thought for today Cynthia.
My best friend since I was 15, became my husband
and now my carer, I have other dear friends and count
my blessings everyday.

Emma :-)

Thanks Vera, you've certainly got a good point there, and it's interesting to note how many men/women DO feel called to the ministry during their working life. One of the first that I remember was actually our family doctor! He continued as a GP but also trained to become a priest and and was able to exercise that ministry most weekends.

Emma......you've made me think!! I thought the following words were apt following your comments - there's bound to be a musical version somewhere on YouTube!
:-D


When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain



Now, how many of you will be humming that, off and on all day? :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9aLhTHmuTg

Will your anchor hold? Sung at my favourite cathedral of all 2 years ago - Ely Cathedral near Cambridge.

Such similar words to lovely hymn provided by Cynthia this morning.

I am not sure I agree with Vera at all. I do agree that it is good to see so many clergy who have worked in commerce and industry. Yet I rather like the idea that Roman Catholic priests are set aside from a very early age. It seems quite scriptural to me - Jesus and his cousin John the Baptist seem to have been destined for the Jewish rabbinical priesthood from a very early age.

And one Methodist Minister who has a great influence on me was almost always in the ministry. He had absolutely no jobs to talk about outside his Christian calling and had a sort of simple naivity that everyone was basically a very nice person and life has caused them to go off the rails. I had formed exactly the opposite view - that we are all basically not nice people and we are hauled into being nice and caring by example and life of Jesus.

It was so refreshing to meet and learn from such a nice man though. And he knew his Bible almost off by heart, knew hymnology better than anyone else I have met and was a wonderful listener. Never drove, never had a TV or computer. And would cycle to his services - sometimes 10 miles away. Rev Edward Houghton was his name. Ted died late 1990's aged 83 running for a bus in Birmingham after a hymn conference as he was late for bus to Northampton. Had a heart attack.

His death was so typical of his life - he knew his dear wife Marion would have made the journey into Northampton and would be waiting for him to get off the bus in the cold so they could both catch a local bus back to their home 8 miles away in Towcester, and she would be worried sick if he has missed the bus and caught a later one. And no mobile phones possessed by either of them. So he started jogging in Birmingham for his bus :-( :-(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm_gmEJjHws

Thank you Cynthia, I also remembered the Luton Girls Choir
version of Count your Blessings which I loved listening to as
a child.

Emma :-)

Cynthia Thank you. Count Your Blessings (we do every day), the words and tune come easily to mind from Sunday School days very many years ago now.

John your chosen hymn brings to mind a lovely neighbour who sadly lost his fight with cancer but was involved in Boys Brigade for several years. His widow chose Will Your Anchor Hold at his funeral service..... so appropriate I thought. He comes to mind whenever I hear this special hymn. Thank you.

Does your anchor hold in the storms of life
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tide lifts and the cables strain
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain.

My OH was in the BB, as was the vicar kandj. We have a thriving group at the moment and that hymn is always sung at their re-dedication service each year. Great words. :-)

Many thanks Emma. Hymnwriter was Johnson Oatman Junior (1856-1922). (I wickied). He was a Methodist Episcopal Minister in New Jersey. A part time Minister as he also worked full-time in retail and insurance for most of his ministry.

And he wrote over 5,000 gospel hymns!!! Many still popular today. One I like is "I will trade the old cross for a crown"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOS1k71SP0Q

Thanks for that John, I knew nothing about the hymn writer,
5000 hymns wow. My daughter's favourite is The Old Rugged Cross
and must admit one of mine also.

Emma :-)

I love The old Rugged Cross. I choose it quite often, have to print words out as it appears in so few hymn books today. My Minister is a bit snooty about it - emotional schmaltz, cross was not old, and it was not rugged etc.

And I am sure he would hate me posting this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07w4848lvA

Who cares? Great hymn. Greatest of singers :-) :-) :-)

Aw John just the best.....Your Minister must be very old if he knows
what the cross looked like ;-) :-D
Thanks for the link :-)

The Old Rugged Cross is a great favourite with older folk but, I'm pretty sure that it has bypassed the younger generations sadly. I'm not sure when I last sang it but it's a great hymn to sing I agree.



Cooler and damp here today, but not unpleasant.


Some thoughts for today....


Ideals

Remember that ideals
are like stars up in the sky,
You can never really reach them,
hanging in the heavens high ...
But like the mighty mariner
who sailed the storm-tossed sea,
And used the stars to chart his course
with skill and certainty,
You too can chart your course in life
with high ideals and love,
For high ideals are like the stars
that light the sky above ...
You cannot ever reach them,
but lift your heart up high
And your life will be as shining
as the stars up in the sky.

- Helen Steiner Rice


Hope everyone has a peaceful and happy day.... :-)

John, as a golden oldie I also am drawn to the comfort and reassurance I find in the words of The Old Rugged Cross. Usually only sung with tears at funeral services lately though.

The Ideals words are thought provoking and helpful as always Cynthia, thank you and I hope your day is good too.

Wonderful start to week. Cynthia - as one who is still setting highs for the bar and failing miserably sometimes. Not only tipping the high jump bar off, but failing to get my lead leg off teh ground and finishing in a heap on the floor. But at least each day and each week starts with ideals.

And yet another wonderful week in Christ's love, to be comforted by the Holy Spirit when needed.

I think it is such a shame when we hear Abide with Me, the Old Rugged Cross and Psalm 23 only at funerals. Almost as if they don't belong in a service where death is not a factor.

I must say that here in Wales Y Gwahoddiad (the Invitation) is very common as last hymn at funerals. I think in English it is "I hear his welcome voice". But it is so fantastic and can be used on many occasions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dPXl6lxyk

John, a new one on me but beautiful to watch and listen to, thank you.

I also watched the link of Only Boys Allowed choir singing the same hymn in Welsh, which gave me goosebumps. Absolutely awesome, God bless them all.

kandj That was final hymn at my father in law's funeral in 1994. He was one of the Welsh farming community in Flintshire. There must have been 200 of his friends behind us in church and as they began to sing "Mi glywais dyner lais" the roof of the church seemed to lift. It sounded like all the angels in heaven had joined in. One of life's great memories.

Think I have posted Y Gwahoddiad on another thread by Pendyrus (Cor Meibion Pendyrus), one of the local Rhondda male voice choirs (AnnC's late husband was a member).

When the Welsh sing - they really sing. Marvelous voices come from the Welsh Valleys.... :-D


A reasonably quiet morning at church even though there were quite a few tiddlies in.


Speaking to the Vicar later, he was telling us about 2 young mums who come to the mid-week service on Wednesday mornings.

They each have a small child and they are, apparently, two little characters. it seems as though one of them, when she is taken to the altar rail for a blessing, takes her dummy out of her mouth, says "Amen" and then pops it back in again.

Both mothers have asked to be confirmed later in the year which is rather nice :-)


Cx :-)

Cynthia just like a child. :-)

I so agree wonderful voices from Welsh male voice choirs.

Emma :-)