BAZZAS BLOG

Our pet dog, Rosie, died this week aged about 12 years - 84 in dog years. She had a heart condition for several months and the hot weather eventually took its toll on her and she expired on 25th June 2006.

We chose Rosie from an animal sanctuary about 8 years ago where she looked really upset at being locked in a cage etc. She was the scruffiest mutt in the place and the people there told us, in no uncertain terms, “This dog has no brains!”, and they were right. We are convinced she had ADHD or something similar!

Anyone visitng our home since will have witnessed that fact. Already we miss her barking every time the door bell goes or even when a buzzer in a tv programme goes off.

We did’nt realise how much of an impact she made on our lives and it’s strange to return home to an empty house and to not have to feed her before going to bed etc.

Anyway, thats it for us and pets so Rosie, RIP.

Stuart

…buy it and read it!

This book, written by Rev Steve Chalke is a fascinating and not too hard a read. For someone like me who finds it hard to read a whole book before getting bored etc. this one was hard to put down.

It has been a little controversial to some people and there are website links where you can read up on these issues and people’s thoughts etc including those of Steve Chalke.

It’s a challenging book in many ways and yet I thoroughly enjoyed the subject matter and was challenged by the themes in it. At the beginning of ‘The Lost Message of Jesus’, Steve Chalke MBE states: ‘My prayer in all this is simple - that this book might provoke thoughtful debate, pose fresh questions …’

Check out www.church.co.uk for more details

Bring on the debate….

Stuart

Yesterday, we waved off a group of our friends as they left Birmingham Airport for Uganda. The group includes my 15 year old daughter, Bethanie, who just happens to be the most beautiful daughter in the whole wide world (Biased view!) Beth has travelled to Russia and Ecuador with me and Sue before but this is her first time out without us. The team she is with is made up of people from our church and others so we know she is good hands and ultimately, she is in Gods hands (which is the best bit).

The group is going to Kampala to work with a project that is building orphanages for some of the many poor and needy children in the area. War and Aids has ravaged the country and, as throughout Africa, many orphans are created and left to fend for themeselves etc. One of my friends, Steve, is on the trip and he has written his thoughts about it all on his site which is http://www.steviesworld.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/news/news.htm

Check out the following link to find out more about the work in Uganda.

http://www.ndenetwork.com/web/kcc.php

Stuart

…it certainly is now! I wish I could explain how gutting it was to see England go out of yet another tournament on yet another penalty Shoot-out to yet another team managed by the infamous Luis Filepe Scolari!

I’m sure he’s a nice guy but can’t he just retire or something.

I find it difficult to understand why I get so passionate and hence so upset at losing in this way when, in reality, it is only a game but I do and I wonder if God wouldn’t want it that anyway.

I believe that God is passionate about us and as we are created in His image, I believe we should be passionate about things too - football not excluded! Obviously there are probably (possibly) other things more worthy of passionate support but it always floats my boat to follow Birmingham City & England even if it does (nearly always) end in despair. FLIP FLIP FLIP FLIP FLIP FLIP FLIP!!

Anyway, the great thing is that God’s love and passion for me lasts forever. I follow an England team for instacne, and eventually it’s going to let me down and leave me feeling terrible but God’s love is forever and in the end, If i am on overcomer and live my life for Him, in His strength, I will be see Eternity with Him. . . . YES YES YES YES YES

So, in persepctive once again, on to the next tournament!

Stuart