True friendship isn't about being inseparable, it's about being separated and nothing changes.
- Unknown
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Why Trust The Bible?
On Christmas Eve it seems fitting to ask the question, Is the Bible true? After all, many people will have been reading the Christmas story in the Bible in the weeks leading up to Christmas. How we do know what REALLY happened? Can we trust the Bible as a reliable historical manuscript?
These are good questions to ask and are a stumbling block to many when it comes to investigating Christianity. Amy Orr-Ewing was challenged by her friends with these very questions and so she set about proving that what the Bible says about history and Jesus is wholly reliable and true.
In the book, she addresses 10 main questions that non-Christians challenge the Bible with:
It's also ideal for Christians who've been asked this question by friends and are not quite sure to say. It helped me feel more confident in explaining why I trust the Bible and that it's not a book of fairy stories.
However, the thing I had to remind myself was that faith is ultimately God's work. A book like this is great to give to someone wanting to hold the Bible up against time and history, but it cannot change people's hearts. It may set them along the path to faith, but only God can make the seed grow. Too often when I've had conversations with people wanting hardcore proof, I've thought that if only I could find enough proof, then they'd come to faith. But sometimes the questions come because people DON'T WANT to believe. I used to ask these questions before I became a Christian, but I didn't really want the answers - I just wanted an excuse to mock the Bible. I was quick to believe other stories passed down in history, but doubt the Bible because it makes such big claims on our lives. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.
Still, for someone with these questions, whether they are genuinely seeking or not, this book would be good to give to them.
These are good questions to ask and are a stumbling block to many when it comes to investigating Christianity. Amy Orr-Ewing was challenged by her friends with these very questions and so she set about proving that what the Bible says about history and Jesus is wholly reliable and true.In the book, she addresses 10 main questions that non-Christians challenge the Bible with:
- Isn't it all a matter of interpretation?
- Can we know anything about history?
- Are the biblical manuscripts reliable?
- Is the contents of the manuscripts reliable?
- What about the canon?
- What about the other holy books?
- Isn't the Bible sexist?
- What about all the wars?
- Isn't the Bible out of date on sex?
- How can I know?
It's also ideal for Christians who've been asked this question by friends and are not quite sure to say. It helped me feel more confident in explaining why I trust the Bible and that it's not a book of fairy stories.
However, the thing I had to remind myself was that faith is ultimately God's work. A book like this is great to give to someone wanting to hold the Bible up against time and history, but it cannot change people's hearts. It may set them along the path to faith, but only God can make the seed grow. Too often when I've had conversations with people wanting hardcore proof, I've thought that if only I could find enough proof, then they'd come to faith. But sometimes the questions come because people DON'T WANT to believe. I used to ask these questions before I became a Christian, but I didn't really want the answers - I just wanted an excuse to mock the Bible. I was quick to believe other stories passed down in history, but doubt the Bible because it makes such big claims on our lives. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.
Still, for someone with these questions, whether they are genuinely seeking or not, this book would be good to give to them.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Bible Verse of the Day
Merry Christmas to all readers of this blog in 2013! May you rejoice that the Saviour of the world is come, and His birth was foretold hundreds of years earlier.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Friday, December 20, 2013
Friday Funny
For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Rory in person....now you'll believe me when I say he has the best laugh! :)
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
I'm Not The Only One...
... in my household to have suffered from depression and anxiety this year.
In March, when Rory was two months old, I noticed Ebony had a bald patch on her abdomen. When she rolled onto her back, I was shocked at the extent of it. Not long after that I noticed her pulling her own fur out.
At our first trip to the vet to investigate they checked her out for ringworm but she was all clear. Apart from her increasing baldness, she was in otherwise good health. The vet came to the conclusion that Ebony must be suffering due to Rory's arrival. It is common for cats to respond by grooming excessively when a dramatic change (such as a new baby) occurs. They sold me a diffuser which emits an odour that is meant to calm cats. I tried it for a month but it didn't make a difference.
Vet Trip #2. Same vet clinic but different vet. She wanted to rule out allergies. Apparently some cats around Ebony's age (she is nearly eight) can suddenly become allergic to food they've always eaten and never had a problem with. Ebony was injected with a steroid. If the hair grew back they would know it was something in her diet and a food elimination process could begin. If it made no difference, it must be a psychological problem. The injection didn't make a difference.
Vet Trip #3. This time they tried injecting her with an anti-anxiety drug. It still hasn't worked. She is balder than she's ever been.
Apart from the fur loss, she is in otherwise good health. She sleeps on our bed every night. I make an effort to give her attention (but it is so SO hard with a baby). While she was wary of Rory at first, now she comes up to him and sits near him, even though he's now crawling and can easily grab her (I say, "NO Rory. Gentle."). Other than the excessive grooming, her behaviour isn't really any different to the pre-Rory days. She's always been a diva cat. I know that Rory's crying does freak her out a bit though and I think she can sense Duncan's and my stress.
My heart is breaking for my poor puss. The next step is probably going to be a skin biopsy. I don't want to blame myself for causing her stress when I've been unwell myself, but it's hard not to.
I've even emailed Dr Harry to see if we can appear on one of his surprise house calls!
These photos don't even show the full extent of it:
In March, when Rory was two months old, I noticed Ebony had a bald patch on her abdomen. When she rolled onto her back, I was shocked at the extent of it. Not long after that I noticed her pulling her own fur out.
At our first trip to the vet to investigate they checked her out for ringworm but she was all clear. Apart from her increasing baldness, she was in otherwise good health. The vet came to the conclusion that Ebony must be suffering due to Rory's arrival. It is common for cats to respond by grooming excessively when a dramatic change (such as a new baby) occurs. They sold me a diffuser which emits an odour that is meant to calm cats. I tried it for a month but it didn't make a difference.
Vet Trip #2. Same vet clinic but different vet. She wanted to rule out allergies. Apparently some cats around Ebony's age (she is nearly eight) can suddenly become allergic to food they've always eaten and never had a problem with. Ebony was injected with a steroid. If the hair grew back they would know it was something in her diet and a food elimination process could begin. If it made no difference, it must be a psychological problem. The injection didn't make a difference.
Vet Trip #3. This time they tried injecting her with an anti-anxiety drug. It still hasn't worked. She is balder than she's ever been.
Apart from the fur loss, she is in otherwise good health. She sleeps on our bed every night. I make an effort to give her attention (but it is so SO hard with a baby). While she was wary of Rory at first, now she comes up to him and sits near him, even though he's now crawling and can easily grab her (I say, "NO Rory. Gentle."). Other than the excessive grooming, her behaviour isn't really any different to the pre-Rory days. She's always been a diva cat. I know that Rory's crying does freak her out a bit though and I think she can sense Duncan's and my stress.
My heart is breaking for my poor puss. The next step is probably going to be a skin biopsy. I don't want to blame myself for causing her stress when I've been unwell myself, but it's hard not to.
I've even emailed Dr Harry to see if we can appear on one of his surprise house calls!
These photos don't even show the full extent of it:
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Quote of the Day
If you know someone who's depressed please never resolve to ask them why. Depression isn't a straightforward response to a bad situation, depression just is, like the weather.
Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness and loneliness they're going through. Be there for them when they come through the otherside. It's hard to be a friend to someone who's depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest and best things you will ever do.
- Stephen Fry
Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness and loneliness they're going through. Be there for them when they come through the otherside. It's hard to be a friend to someone who's depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest and best things you will ever do.
- Stephen Fry
Monday, December 16, 2013
Waking Up Tired by the Hoodoo Gurus
Harvest is tiring me out as much as it is Duncan. Even if Rory doesn't wake me, the summer weather and light is. Urgh!
Oh, the nights are long,
And I'm so tired of waking up tired,
Man, they just drag on and on,
And I'm so tired of waking up tired.
The company I'm keeping won't let me get my sleep in.
Oh, I hate the light,
And I'm so tired of waking up tired.
The morning sun is getting way too bright,
And I'm so tired of waking up tired.
If I was worth a fortune I'd never leave my bedroom,
I just wanna stay right here, safe and sound.
Oh, I have to go,
But I'm so tired of waking up tired.
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