Tuna mayonnaise and Salt and Vinegar crisps!!!

So, in my never ending quest to appear more intelligent than I actually am, (some people really are fooled that I'm clever, like my uncle Craig; he still thinks I invented post-it notes!!!) I've started reading "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam." The bible study supreme Beth Moore referred to the Dummies Guide to Judaism the other day and I thought that would be rather interesting, but due to my undiagnosed ADD, I bought the one about Islam instead. So, I am reading this book and am totally fascinated about it all.

The fact that Islam came from Abraham rocked my wee world a bit, but still, it's a great read - especially in the world's current climate. To know that the only other religion currently being attacked for living out it's belief's in the most extreme and legalist fashion, (ours being during the time of the Constantine,) comes from the same root as ours is amazing to me, and most likely not unrelated. Genesis 16 sees the introduction of Ismael, the man that founded Islam, who is the step brother of Isaac - both came from Abraham. God gave Abraham promises for both of his sons, however, the promise for Isaac was more profound/successful/honouring - can't think of the right word... The author, Yahiya Emerick, (I would love to know how to pronounce that name, it's well good. Maybe even better than M-hair-I!!!) brings up a lot of interesting ideas.

I am only a wee bit into the book, so there is bound to be more on this subject, but for now, it's worth the $$, go to the library and get a copy - or, if you are like me and scribble all over your books, buy it, or stick it on your Christmas list.

Peace ya beast....LOL

Get potty trained already!!!

Today is one of those all day deals at church; actually every Sunday is an all day deal at church. (When I was wee-er, a girl from "The Rink" in London came to my home corps and told us about Sunday's at the Rink. I was amazed with how many meetings, open airs, rehearsals, etc they had on a Sunday. So, being the granny I am, I was telling my Episcopalian friend about all the meetings that they have, and she looks at me in total bewilderment and says, "What do you have to talk about?" I was so amused, I was about twelve and I laughed so hard at her...we Salvationists use so much jargon. I explained to my friend that it was just "chat" and that it was a church service, not a committee meeting. I was amused.)

My wee friend is 3, his name is Noah, and at the moment he is struggling with the potty trained-ness of life. He is the most adorable wee thing, (however, the diapers are... shall we say pungent...) but he won't be a Jedi Knight when he grows up, cause he ain't trained to use the potty.

Philippians 2:14-16

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

And so, that is my life for another couple of days... (My mammie and daddy come on Friday!!! yippee!!!)

under the b&f

I wonder if this is what being pregnant feels like?

For the third year running, I have put my body through yet another day of severe over indulgence, I cannot even begin to tell you of the vast quantities of food that I consumed; the laughter across the table as Carole, Jeff and I laughed at goodness knows what - while the real adults actually had conversation. (Maybe that what was what we were laughing at; our inability to have adult conversation...) I believe this is the holiday called Thanksgiving!

Three years...I've been in this country three years, I can't hardly believe it. It has been alot of fun; I have learned a tonne - about myself mainly - and missed home more than I thought I would. My first thanksgiving, someone asked me "how do you celebrate thanksgiving in Scotland?" I had to laugh - "It's just Thursday in Scotland!" was my reply. We do not celebrate thanksgiving, it's not our history, and therefore it was not something I worried about. People were so concerned that I was away from family over thanksgiving, I was fine, I had never been with them before for it! It wa just a nice day to get on the "fat granny plan" and make a pig of myself.

I get homesick, (if you are ever praying for me, please pray for my homesickness, it gets worst the longer I am here, not better,) but, when I do go home, I see how everything there has changed. It's not just me that has moved on. Most of the friends back home would barely recognise me, (I'm talking personality and not looks - I've always had unruly, big hair and no firm eye colour,) I was just the girl who didn't drink in the pub, but that everyone wanted to be there when we underage, cause, "she's tall, she'll get us in, naebody'll ID her!" She was sobre enough to hail the taxis for everyone else. So while I do get homesick, and most days just to be in the same town as my mammie would be enough, this is my home, for now at least. I was at a baby shower for a baby funnily enough, and I was singing the song my mammie sang to me when I was a wee one, (or when I am sick, she still sings it to me over the phone.) The babies aunt joked with me that she was gonna have to take a picture of me, 'cause when the wee one is older I may be in some other country, my name in the war cry at Christmas, cause I'll be doing some other wierd thing.

I hope not...two countries is all my heart can take. You know the game "Simon says," I'm playing that with God... THIS or THAT? The english language has no other options, thank you Jesus!!!

Hope you had a great thanksgiving, I'm going for some coffee...

Wow....transparency

So, erm... I'm just in from work!

Tuesday tend to be one of my more hectic days. I leave for work at around 7.15am and don't get home until normally 1 am the following day... 1... 2... 3... awww!!! No, it is a choice I make. Just busying at church. I have bible study this night, which truly is one of my most favourite things in life. We, (my corps,) have a bible study for the women of the corps and we use anything of Beth Moore's - if you know a woman who loves the Lord, get her something of Beth's to read - what a woman! Right now it is a study called The Patriarchs: The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. Can I just say, that I am so grateful that I am doing this; seriously, it is much easier to be ok with being chosen of God knowing you are so undeserving when you are looking at the people that started our faith!!! They were a bunch of complete losers - yippee!!! Kinda validates me a bit.

My word of the moment - which will mean nothing to 99% of you, is transparent! I'm leaving it with you though - mull over that one....

Peace my wee friends

Long live Cedric Diggory!!!

It's late, and my eyes are stinging, so please excuse me jumping all over the place; I edited it as best I could.

So, this evening the long wait was finally over! Harry Potter was being viewed in cinemas all over the country; in a wee theatre in a town called Clifton, was 5 wee Army lassies, giggling away - aren't those Wesley twins rather funny!

I know that it most likely terribly un-orthodox to compare Harry Potter to the life and times of our Lord and Saviour, but I can't help myself. I cannot believe that it is by accident either, life is not that random! All the time I kept thinking to myself, "I wish I could write this stuff down!" (But, being that the cinema was dark and I am not that organized as to have a pen and notepad with me, it was not an option.) I have forgotten the majority of what I wanted to remember. J.K. Rowling has taken a lot of stick from the Christian world, (way to go us; people react positively to love, not criticism - doh!) for her ridiculously imaginative books. She has huge potential to reach millions of kids - whatever she does from here on in, will be awesome - she was the lady that wrote about the "boy who lived!"

For those who have read the book, you'll notice a huge part missing, (relating to Harry's love life, haha,) just when you are watching, keep your eyes and ears open for symbolism. Harry is not "Jesus," it's not clear cut like that - but there are sure a lot of great illustrations from this movie - just shame we would offend so many with it's use. Which gets me thinking...

Do we shoot the messager? Just because they themselves are not exactly a poster-boy/girl for perfection, (actually, if you meet a person like that, get them to blog me - I'd love to know what that life was like - how the other half live, u know the type; you'll have been yelled at by them when you were wee...) we discount all of what they have to say. Grace ladies and gentlemen...that's what it's called from God, and I believe the same for His people - it's grace when we afford it for others - undeserved, yes!

Harry Potter is a wizard, and his friends mess with spirits, but how is it that they are castrated from the body of Christ? I know that Harry is a fictional character, but I am sure there are some like him - cheaters, liars, murderers, addicts, adulterers whom we throw out of our churches. Kinda crappy if you ask me...and yet I too am one who leave people out from the body.

I am saddened by the press that we, (Christians,) have given J.K. Rowling. I feel that she is someone that we could waste for God. Why are we so intent on correcting people? People react to love more positively than they do criticism. I am pretty sure that God's will for J. K. Rowling would not have her spending years of her life concentrating on the "boy who lived" through a magic spell intended to kill him - unless He had one cracker of a redemption plan for her. (Careful on your "accountability" people, make sure it's love that motivates it.) Do we believe that God has a plan for people like J. K. Rowling? People like Ozzie Osbourne? People like so many others whom me castrate, or by our actions ignore them and their lack of Christian standards - how can we? What do they know about Jesus? What are we representing of Him to the world? If they were brought up in the church then you could be forgiven for keeping them accountable, but if you don't know what they are, or what they are from, why you commenting?

So yeah, there it is, blah, blah, blah....

Of course you know that I am a mess, and I am a hypocrite - I make grand sweeping statements and of course, being human, mess up...

Peace

Mhairitschka

So, I have been noseying around others blogs, and have since decided that this is something that I can do!!! For those of you who don't know me, I have a few opinions, most of which I am eternally apologetic for, and others; well, they are just funny - the lack of thought which went into those is just amusing for those on the more intellectual side of life - as always, pleasure to be of service!!!

Most of the blogs I have been filling my day with, have shown the same idea throughout. Being that I am a Salvationist and have a very small circle of influence, (otherwise known as the world of the Salvation Army,) the blogs I am most inclined to muse over are those of Salvationists. I have since found that there is type of Salvationist these days that have a very loud voice that seems to be getting muffled. This Salvationist, which we can call Sam, has a very distinct idea of what the army should be doing. (Let me stop here for a moment and jump on board with the rest of the "Sam's" and admit that I too am one of them, as much to my shame as to my gain.) The Army is needing to listen, the Army is needing to change, the Army is needing to re-establish it's roots, the Army is needing to be doing better teaching, the Army is needing to....blah, blah, blah, blah.... Which got me thinking; you know the ------ needs game? Well, I can't play it with my name, being that it is so random; all I got was "Mhairi needs to know the secret of elf hair" Big hair being one of my passions, I was amused, but also quickly bored due to the grand lack of funny sayings. So, I plugged in "Army needs"

• Army Needs to Address Resource and Mission Requirements Affecting Its Training and Doctrine Command
• Army needs to develop a dependable logistics system and a professional cadre of noncommissioned officers
• Army needs new recruits
• Army needs international help
• Army Needs More Soldiers
• Army needs special power
• Army needs help in recruiting

(One which I could not agree with however was this one, "Army needs a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" PolicyReligion" NO! Tell me, talk to me, let me know what it going on! However interesting that point is, that is not really what I want to impresss upon, just wanted to show you that.)

If we "know" all the problems, we see all the areas that need improved upon, why don't we put our money where our mouth is? Why can't we move forward and take care of our own wee corner? You don't ask a new Christian to read the entirity of the bible in a week - that's impossible; so why are we expecting the army to perfect itself instanteously?

(Of course you know that in the interest of the future of my blog, I will be hypocritical, and I will speak more about the Army. Just know this, I love the Army!!! I accept that we have some areas to brush up on, but I am passionate about it. I want more for it.)

This may or may not have made any sense to you, I hope it has, if it didn't, don't tell me :)

under the b&f

Mhairitschka