tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28722898110024190282024-02-19T01:34:09.340+00:00T Childs Christianity BlogT-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-30556645326187968072016-12-04T09:54:00.001+00:002016-12-04T10:15:45.605+00:00Last POST on HERE..........................................<span style="font-size: large;">Hi folks!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Haven't been here for a few years but still see people visiting it. I've moved on from this one for a number of reasons. I now write two new blogs which I'd love ALL of you to come and have a look at...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first is: </span><a href="https://controversialchristianityandfaith.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">https://controversialchristianityandfaith.blogspot.co.uk/</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> which is less controversial than this one, although called Controversial Christianity and Faith!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next one is called: </span><a href="http://mantalkingmanstuff.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">http://mantalkingmanstuff.blogspot.co.uk/</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> which is for Christian men who live in the real world, and is less serious than the above one. I put silly things on but also serious stuff on this one. But both blogs are written from a Christian perspective. You've heard the saying 'are you a Christian writer, or a writer who is a Christian?' I'd answer that I am both. I am a practising Christian with a number of issues I struggle with, but I am also an ordinary bloke with my feet very much on the ground. Please come over and take a look at my blogs!!!!</span>T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-90423440719088901962014-03-09T20:17:00.001+00:002016-12-04T10:20:54.098+00:00I want to set up a Merseyside based church help group for men struggling with porn addiction and all related issues.<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are no groups in the UK, certainly church groups, to my knowledge that deal directly with porn, sex and other related addictions and compulsions for heterosexual Christian men, whether single or married, in the UK or Ireland. I am ambitious for setting up a group in my local Merseyside area first, but not particularly ambitious to be some sort of leader because I am struggling with this issue myself and caught right slap bang in the middle of it sadly enough. I keep falling and struggling with this issue, and I know I am being disobedient to God but at least I am praying for forgiveness and asking Him into everything. I feel moved to involve myself in this issue because it has overwhelmed me before and it is overwhelming me now. And if this is affecting me, I know there are many other Christian heterosexual men going through the same painful and hard struggle I am going through.<br />
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I don't say to God 'It'll never happen again, I promise' because I have said that and I have done it all over again. I now say 'I truly don't want it to happen again and I am truly sorry and repentant at what has just happened and please be merciful to me and forgive me Lord.' It is all I can do at the moment. As you can imagine, I am desperate, distraught, feel at rock bottom and the lowest I have ever felt, and I know that I am disobeying God, making myself miserable and feel I am self destructing... and yet at the moment I just can't stop. So, that alone tells me I have a serious problem, and so I need serious help from as many quarters as I can get. But of course, I have prayed about this too. I feel called in some way to do something to help myself as I don't want it to get worse, and in the process try to bring some help to other men struggling with this issue too.<br />
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Now, you might say, 'why not a group for Christian men struggling with same sex attractions?' Well, primarily because I am not gay or have any of those tendencies or feelings, so would rather concentrate on what I do understand and what I am struggling with. I don't have a problem with heroin, so would it be wise to try and counsel others on a subject I know little about? You get my drift. If you do have issues with that particular struggle there are groups out there aimed at you. Or, start your own church group. Of course, that doesn't mean that if I can help in any way in helping you set up a group for other addictions I won't. I will be happy to do what I can, or at least point you towards who can help. We are brothers after all. <br />
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There is now no place for hiding. To get victory over this, I need to tell my church group or at least someone who will listen, but I also need serious accountability from someone who has struggled with this issue and overcome it with the precious blood of Jesus and who has gained victory through this battle by leaning on Jesus and asking Him into every area of this struggle. We also need to understand that as we need Jesus, we need each other, which is why I have called this particular Merseyside fledgling group, and hopefully UK and Ireland wide, 'Brothers For Purity' and the blog I have just set up of the same name, which I am just beginning to work on, which you can find here at: <a href="http://brothersforpurity.blogspot.co.uk/">http://brothersforpurity.blogspot.co.uk/</a> Just as an aside, I believe we also owe it to our Christian sisters to help them understand the enormous struggle some even decent Christian men have with this issue and we need to be totally open and honest here, without of course being in any way graphic, specific or explicit. That is not a Christ like approach. We merely need to let women know that even when we know what we are doing is wrong, and revolts us to the core, we still struggle with it all the same. I now believe to get through some of this, we must and have to be open and honest about our struggle. So I suggest that a Christian woman or women set up a Sisters For Purity group and blog/website too, for women perplexed by this issue, and also may I add for women struggling with these issues themselves.<br />
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I am asking for people, heterosexual Christians primarily, who wish to get involved in setting up a men's group in a Merseyside church dealing with porn and sex and all related addictions and compulsions. I am not trying to set up a secular group here, it is purely and simply a Christian based and Biblical based group, but all men of whatever faith or none will be welcome too, with the knowledge that only Jesus can bring us all through this self destructive 'lifestyle', if you can call it that.<br />
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There is of course a need for general anonymity here, everything will be confidential and kept in group, for obvious reasons. I will leave my email address at the end of this post so you can contact me in complete anonymity without leaving a comment at all. I have put myself in the breach, so to speak, because someone needs to and I feel that a small part of my redemption and repentance will come about through being completely honest and open about my struggle. I also feel that part of my Christian life is going to be rather curiously bound up with this issue, but of course I am asking God into this too.<br />
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OK, so I suggest these things for the group. We are all strugglers together and can encourage each other in this struggle. We also need men who have overcome this issue, with God's Strength, the indwelling of His Holy Spirit and the covering of His Grace, to counsel us as a group and with private one to one sessions when we need that too. We need especially for general accountability in this area because without that we will be isolated and feel no one cares just because no one knows. It is first and foremost a Christ centred recovery and help group, there are secular groups if you want them, and it will be based on the understanding that only Jesus can save us from this self destructive addiction and set us on a new course, bring freedom in its wake and give us a totally new life where we live through Him, and not the faulty or disordered desires of our corrupt nature or the fallen world system all around us.<br />
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I just want to add this. If I am called to lead this group in someway, in many senses God has called the least capable, the least able, the most socially awkward person imaginable, with no money, a bit of an education and someone who could not be called religious in any way, and I am not a minister or pastor or priest and don't belong to any denomination, I am just trying to live as a Christian. But, I am learning to be a fighter, and I believe we have to be proactive in this struggle, although we see before us Goliath and the whole army of the Philistines, we can win this fight if we ask God into the struggle, of that I am certain. </div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-62367818181812930032014-02-22T17:04:00.002+00:002016-12-04T10:23:13.683+00:00My Struggle Against Pornography (Part 2)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Here’s how some people may be
thinking about their occasional use of pornography, even the ‘soft’ variety: ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Could it get worse? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nah, it couldn’t happen to me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only buy a girly mag now and again, see a
few naughty movies, look at a bit of online porn sometimes, and yeah ok I sleep
around when I get lucky, but don’t all fellas?!!</i>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is often the type of thinking many
people adopt, and perhaps many Christian men, when they want to excuse their
actions of all kinds and especially when it comes to their sex life; a kind of
‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">well I don’t pursue it, not really, but
if it comes my way and I’ve not looked for it, then what’s the real harm?!</i>’
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, my fellow blokes, guys,
fellas, pals, mates, amigos, comrades, barroom buddies and all, we often say
and even think we are honest in our intentions to be celibate, to be pure as
Christians, to be honest to God and all that, but in many fellas there is just
a twinge of dishonesty, a twinge of rebellion, a hint of hoping that something
or someone might just come along and make the decision for us, so that we are
exonerated from all blame, and then we can indulge can’t we?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is how I operated when I went drinking
with my mates, not really looking for action, but kind of, sort of, secretly
hoping that someone might come along who I really liked that might like me
enough and… well you know the rest?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are
we all for Jesus, really living for Him and being completely and radically
obedient to His will at all times, as much as is humanly possible, or are we
being obedient when it suits us or makes us feel good or makes us feel or look
religious and important, and just when we want to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If most people are honest, they will see
themselves somewhere in that statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of us, if not all, are prodigal sons and daughters, we waste our
calling, our money, waste precious time and God’s time and are not fit for
purpose, and then we come back, tails between our legs, begging to be forgiven
and filled with every excuse and reason for living in sin and licentiousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, if we have any character at all left,
we just beg for forgiveness and throw ourselves on the mercy of the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I bet that many people who get caught up
in one addiction or ongoing sin or another often ask, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why can’t I be like the son who just did as he was told?</i>’ when we
are the ones who didn’t do what we were told but gallivanted off to ‘do our own
thing’!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an old, old story that will
be well known to many of us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What a wretch am I: unpitied,
storm tossed creature without hope and without peace!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indulging in porn makes me a sad, pathetic
person and disgusting… and afterwards it brings only emptiness and no peace
whatsoever, just a numbness inside, and also fear as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I expect many people, whether mildly addicted
or severely addicted to viewing pornography, could see themselves in the above
statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been mildly and
sporadically addicted to porn, mostly of the non-explicit variety, for many
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before the Internet, it was home
shopping catalogues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sound
familiar?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came to romance, girls and sex late in my
life and was in some ways quite innocent and backwards about all that stuff, even
though I did have an interest in girls, as some boys indeed do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like many teenage boys, the idea of going
out with a girl, the idea of actually asking a girl out was so far off my radar
that it probably didn’t even occur to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why worry about that when I could fantasise about girls when I went to
bed, if you know what I mean?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course
you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, let’s be deadly and
earnestly serious about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
been a Christian since I was about thirteen; I started praying to Jesus because
I was troubled and this was because things were happening in my life that were
affecting me that I had no control over nor could have had really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing utterly dreadful or utterly serious,
mid level stuff, but enough that I was troubled, so I began to pray and reach
out for help, to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t come
from a Christian family or a Christian background of any kind, so when I prayed,
when I approached Jesus, there was no ritual, no denomination I was part of, no
preconceived notions of who He was, I just prayed because I was reading a
Gideon Bible I’d been handed at school, and at that time I had no one else to
turn to at all, so for some reason I just prayed, and slowly but surely I began
to feel comforted, above everything else and felt God’s real presence in my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When God proves He exists to you
like this, even in ways that can’t really be understood or explained, it is
then that you perceive God on a completely personal, individual and intimate
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that until someone truly
understands that God exists, believes that He created the universe and
everything in it, that He has a purpose for those He calls, churchgoing, Bible
study, affiliation to a denomination, charitable works or any other religious
activity won’t have the same meaning without having a personal relationship
with Jesus and without putting God first, doing ‘religious’ things of all kinds
may have some value, and being busy in church activities may have some value,
but if God isn’t at the centre of it all, it may be, at best, somewhat beside
the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, and not to sound
rather slightly contradictory, if we put god first it is certain of course that
we will need fellowship with other Christians in a church or church group on at
least a weekly basis, we must get a Bible and make time to read it on a regular
basis and we need always, but always, to make time for regular prayer and
genuinely ask God into every area of our lives and to ask Him into the issues,
struggles and problems we might have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
amount of any kind of religious activity will help us overcome the world or any
serious problem or serious addiction we have, unless we truly believe that God
will help us, and of course if we believe He will help us then we must truly
believe He exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do not believe
in God, how can you really have any faith that He can save you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is not an abstract idea or a religious
concept to make us feel better or superior or to keep us controlled by
religious hierarchies of some kind, He is a real being who can and will
transform your life completely for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As for myself concerning
denomination, if asked I say I am not Catholic or Protestant, nor Methodist or
Seventh Day Adventist or indeed any such thing, not arrogantly or to stand out,
but simply because I just do not come from any Christian tradition or any
Christian background as I said, and so for me it just isn’t that important to
attach myself to a particular brand of Christianity, I will simply say I am a
Christian, a follower of Jesus, who tries to serve Him on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The constant desire to be
entertained in some way, and the constant desire not to be bored, having the
newest food, film, game, the latest technology, in fact the constant desire for
something new can be part of the malaise of addiction, or which can lead to a
kind of spiritual dissatisfaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
a malady that in the past probably only affected wealthy people and the
aristocracy and royalty when they had power and influence, and time and money
to indulge their hearts desire and any and every whim they wished to
fulfil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mantra today might be
choice, and the opportunity to indulge for even those who are not particularly
wealthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many people must have the
latest, the newest, enjoy the most exciting thing, experiences, holiday
destination, the most up-to-date mobile (cell) phone or TV or BluRay player or
whatever is flavour of the month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
someone does get everything and anything their heart desires, they can become
bored with everything eventually, and when people don’t get all they want, they
can become frustrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is then
perhaps that people can drift into other things which may not be helpful at
all, and even downright destructive in many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, or so I have come to believe, the
constant demand to keep being thrilled and excited everyday is not realistic;
some days and experiences have to be gloriously mundane, everyday, boring even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An addiction may in some cases be a cry for
help and a desire for spiritual solace and peace, or more likely a lack of
spiritual solace and peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But whichever
way you look at it, trying to find happiness or meaning through any serious
addiction or dangerous obsession is one of the worst things spiritually you can
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than finding peace, freedom
and happiness, you will only dig yourself deeper and deeper into a hole that
the longer you dig the harder it will be to get out of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus brings hope of escape, and brings
true freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"Come to me, all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When you hit rock bottom with
porn addiction, when you realise you can’t go any lower however that comes
about; through fear of what God might do, through disgust, through the
realisation that you are a pathetic individual, through any other number of
things that might be at the back of a person’s mind, when you hit rock bottom
and feel like s**t, the worst you may have ever felt and your world has fallen
apart, it’s then most people feel numb with it all and wish for everything just
to go away, or to disappear somewhere else: ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And I say, 'Who will give me wings
like a dove, to fly away and find rest? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
far I would escape, and make a nest in the desert!</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 55:6-7 NJB) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually when you decide you have had enough
and you are going to struggle against it, it is then that you see how the
desire overwhelms you and actually torments you, and the power of sin is truly
felt and understood when we actually decide to fight against those sinful
desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But every time I do what I do not
want to, then it is not myself acting, but the sin that lives in me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I find this rule: that for me, where I want
to do nothing but good, evil is close at my side. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my inmost self I dearly love God's law, but
I see that acting on my body there is a different law which battles against the
law in my mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I am brought to be a
prisoner of that law of sin which lives inside my body. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me
from this body doomed to death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God -
thanks be to him - through Jesus Christ our Lord. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is that I myself with my mind obey the
law of God, but in my disordered nature I obey the law of sin.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 7:20-25 NJB)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When you are going through hell,
keep going they say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your emotions may
literally be all over the place; you may be up one minute or for a time, and
then be in complete despair the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You may feel strong and above it all, and then suddenly feverish with
desire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may feel cast adrift and
blown wherever the wind or the mood takes you, and then you may genuinely get
some self control and tough it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
all of it, I suggest most urgently, you pray to God and tell Him everything,
and simply ask for His help wholeheartedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no</i> place for pride or
niceties here, this is a deadly earnest battle we have to wage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may have to fight for every inch of
territory, so we must be prepared for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The British SAS have a motto: ‘Who Dares Wins.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to dare to challenge our deepest
brokenness, our most sacred sins and our overwhelming lusts to win a pure heart
and pure mind and live like Jesus, far beyond the ‘normality’ of the world and
all its disordered desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Only be
strong and stand very firm and be careful to keep the whole Law which my
servant Moses laid down for you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not
swerve from this either to right or to left, and then you will succeed wherever
you go. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have the book of this Law always
on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may carefully keep
everything that is written in it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
your undertakings will prosper, then you will have success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have I not told you: Be strong and stand
firm? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be fearless and undaunted, for go
where you may, Yahweh your God is with you.</span></i></b>'<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Joshua 1:7-9 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Joshua merely said ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">…as for me and my house, we will
serve the LORD.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Joshua
24:15 KJV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "calibri";">Here are some reasons why viewing
even the ‘mildest’ lads mag porn is wrong and plain sinful:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">First off, before all else it is wrong because
you are being disobedient to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
sin starts with the premise that you are firstly disobeying God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">You may be looking at women (or men!) on the
street, where you work, shop or in coffee bars or pubs, or at college or
university, and wondering if they have the same perfect bodies and what they
would be like undressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, you
are becoming a pervert.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">You may be comparing the ‘perfect’ babes (men or
women) you see in mags and so on, with your girlfriend or wife or fiancé, or
just female friends and comparing them unfavourably to the one dimensional
beauties you ogle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you are comparing
fantasy to reality.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">There may well be a desire to see more explicit
stuff, and a desire to spend more time viewing the porn as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What may have started out as ‘a bit of fun’
in leisure, may well become a serious obsession, an addiction that becomes like
the darkest foulest prison cell.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Whatever you are doing, or viewing, especially
if it is explicit or questionable, would you want your wife, your friends, your
neighbours, your work colleagues and anyone else to know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guessing you wouldn’t.</span></div>
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</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It can and will probably be an
almighty struggle, a struggle which you have to ask the Almighty into, because
if you don’t you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i> keep failing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is possible that within yourself and
to God you are deadly serious about giving up viewing porn or indulging your
sex addiction or lusts in any and every way, but that you fall in a moment of
weakness, in spite of all the best will in the world; it happens to the best of
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But DO NOT use a slip up or
momentary fall as an excuse to indulge or binge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get on your knees and ask God explicitly for
forgiveness and help, pick yourself up, dust yourself down and start all over
again straightaway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, beloved</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">, whatever is true, whatever is
honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever
is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep
on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in
me, and the God of peace will be with you.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Philippians 4:8-9 NRSV)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well as asking God into the problem or
addiction, it might be good to find something that you like to do or have
always wanted to do, and developing wholesome interests that take your mind off
the problem and out of yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
could cover any number of things and need not cost lots of money or have to
take up lots of time or be anything complicated or too involving either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most people have hobbies of all kinds and no
doubt for all kinds of reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
couldn’t possibly list everything that anyone could do, but I would suggest
that whatever you might wish to do, it is something that you actually enjoy,
something that you can afford and that doesn’t actually stress you out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could also just be making time for
yourself and actually resting in God’s peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having too much time on your hands can definitely be a problem, but also
can being too busy be a problem as well, because time on your hands can be a
bad thing but being too busy can create stress which people might want to find
a release from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life I have come to
believe is all about balance, and if we get out of balance too much we may fall
off the narrow path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times, it may
feel like we are balancing on a tightrope like Houdini where we have to
concentrate on God far in front of us, and ever mindful of the dangers and
pitfalls that lie below if we aren’t careful to keep our footing and think
about each step we make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we look
down, we are not keeping our eyes on God, and if we keep our eyes on God, we
may fear that we won’t see what pitfalls we want to avoid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is better to focus on God ever in
front of us rather than on where and how we might fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the difference between focussing on
God, and focussing on our faults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
the difference between living by grace, and living by the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, in fact, walking by faith in God and
trusting in Him completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
separates the true believer from someone who just pays lip service to
Christianity, or claims to be a Christian for any other reason other than they
wish to serve Jesus and follow Him wherever He takes them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And obviously if you have faith in God, you
must believe in Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Anyway, I tend to have a number
of interests that I enjoy doing when I have the time and inclination, I like to
read, play the guitar, listen to a LOT of all different kinds of music from
Gregorian chants to Cool Jazz to Jimi Hendrix and everything in between, I
watch TV selectively and enjoy history programs and food and cookery shows and
I am also a reasonably good self taught cook and like to dabble in different
cuisines, and I enjoy taking photographs on my travels now and again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to get out to places when I have the
time, inclination and the money as well and love to go on long solitary walks
on holiday too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some might call that
boring, but I find it invigorating and I certainly need that time and space
completely on my own where no one knows me and I am anonymous at least for a
time anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that I am anti-social,
in fact far from it, but at times I need space away from everything I know and
where there is only me, God and open spaces; or quaint towns at least!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a creative person, whether any of my
ideas are actually any good or not, and perhaps some of my frustration in life
is that I have not had any real outlet for getting my ideas to a wider audience
although that seems to be changing slightly now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask God into this too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I could add all kinds of things anyone
could do that may make their life that bit pleasanter like learning a musical
instrument, taking a college course where there are usually so many courses to
choose from in all kinds of subjects and, like many people, if you develop a
love of reading that is possibly the best way to educate yourself on a million
and one subjects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point is to use
some of your spare time in wholesome pursuits; that also means making time for
God, saying effective prayers by being honest to God, and reading the Bible
too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">One of the curious things about
being a Christian is often the skewed perception non-Christians have about you
and Christianity in general as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is also it seems many people who don’t own a Bible and have never
read one either, but who can proceed to give chapter and verse from a version
of the Bible I’ve never read and then make all kinds of statements along the
lines of “But doesn’t God say that?” and “But I heard the Bible says this?”
from a book they’ve never read and have no intention of reading!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But somehow, these ideas about Christians,
Christianity, the Bible and of course God are accepted without question or
distorted or exaggerated in some way, almost always in some way negatively,
like the stereotype of the Bible bashing wild eyed fundie or the judgmental
accusing holier-than-thou type who is so perfect they can look down on all who
are not perfect and condemn them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are many others too, perhaps the English one is someone rather genteel, rather
unctuous in tone, rather respectable and Middle class, suburb dwelling,
affluent and already a rather nice person with no troubles or issues with one
foot already seemingly in Heaven!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
stereotype that gets mixed up with how people from other countries think all
English people are anyway, and with how Christians and especially vicars are or
certainly were portrayed in TV programs, comedies and sitcoms on British
TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s usually a dull, uninspiring,
slightly dippy and almost always an otherworldly, well spoken and posh
portrayal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, is it true?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is any stereotype really true?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can easily fit other people into
stereotypes, but does anyone see themselves as a stereotype?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, do you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The issue I am really getting at is the notion that Christians, every
one of us, are somehow all the same, all similar attitudes, all speak the same,
all boring or at least bland, with no problems, religious stereotypes filled
with platitudes and seeing the world through rose tinted specs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sound familiar?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it might.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the reality is that Christians, perhaps
I might say those who accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ and wish to be His
best mate (best friend, main man, numero uno amigo, bestest buddy etc) and
develop an intimate relationship with Him, are no more stereotypes than anyone
else is a stereotype either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, and
far more importantly, there seems to be the idea that Christians have perfect
lives, are constantly nice, constantly without problems, and go around with a
permanent fixed perhaps rather superior smile; such a person doesn’t have
problems do they, and to even admit to a sexual addiction or porn problem would
be beyond the pale!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, and here’s
where reality smashes all the preconceptions and stereotypes, many of the
people who admit struggling with sex and porn issues are Christians, and that
includes many Christian women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
this is because Christians are meant to be honest about their struggles, need
and must acknowledge their struggles to at least one completely trustworthy
Christian, cannot live in any kind of sin and must struggle against it pro-actively
any and every way they can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means
that we let our brothers and sisters in Jesus in on our struggles so that they
understand we have a weakness, can truly empathise, pray for us and offer
genuine heartfelt help with no ulterior motives other than we care about each
other and as Christians we also understand that it’s very likely that everyone
of us has some kind of struggle, however mild or extreme, even if that struggle
may be different; or not as the case may be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also a requirement for practising
Christians, those who truly are of the faith, to remain celibate until they are
married which even many Christians find difficult in theory and practise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What God is saying is that we cannot and must
not have sex with anyone outside of a heterosexual marriage (and I mean your
own spouse, not someone else’s!!!) we are in, and that your marriage partner is
the only person you can have sex with your whole life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this present age we live in, where
everything is disposable, or here today and gone tomorrow, or where inevitably
a newer model come along, like the latest TV or PC or i-pod or game console or
car, and so on and so on, we are so used in every area of our lives to seeing
something new come along, to see progression, a new cuisine, the latest music, to
be excited by something new and to have the next big thing and latest thrill,
that we can get bored easily and be constantly seeking new things, without
really appreciating what gifts both spiritual and material God has always given
us, and that includes the people, family and friends in our lives that at times
we might take completely for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where people are concerned, we cannot upgrade them or swap them for the
latest model.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I never came to church
(eventually) because I was some holy or ultra religious kind of person, nor did
I come because I liked the idea of singing hymns or listening to a sermon and
certainly not to be around perfect judgmental holier-than-thou types who would
either be shocked at being near such a fallen sinner like me with a mixed bag
of struggles, emotional damage and a sense of rage and hurt and injustice, or
would feel the need to patronise and feel superior because of course
churchgoers don’t have any problems do they?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, the reality is that I looked for a church where I could get help
with my struggle because I knew that without seeking Christian help in a church
that reaches out to people who are struggling in some way, my problem would
remain a problem without a solution and will keep coming back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joined a church with a Twelve Step Recovery
program, not because I wanted to do Christian things or sing hymns or be part
of any denomination, but because I needed help from people who wouldn’t judge
me simply because everyone else has a problem too; well, if you can’t beat ‘em
you might as well join ‘em!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I joined
a church not to be part of a socially exclusive club for the better sort, or
because I am some perfect person wanting to join a mutual appreciation society
or anything like that, which often is what many people in the UK seem to feel
many churches are, I joined because I was crying out for help and wanted to do
something instead of hoping it would all somehow go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God may indeed be calling addicted and deeply
broken people of all kinds to Him, those who may be marginalised, suffering,
feel hopelessly lost and blown this way and that by their emotions and just the
slings and arrows of outrageous fortune which none of us are immune to.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">You may have reasons why you are
addicted to sex or pornography or have issues that you feel you need to come to
terms with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will bring you to an
understanding and acceptance that you may have underlying issues of why you
have a sex or porn addiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps
there are underlying issues or unresolved issues of some kind, behind all sex
and porn addictions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end though,
there can be no excuse for using <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i>
issue as a reason or green light to indulge and get deeper and deeper into sin,
because no matter how innocuous what you are doing may seem or how trivial, it
is not a trivial matter to God at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God does <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> want you to view
any porn or act on a fantasy or sex addiction, He doesn’t even want you to ogle
lustfully at another person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continue to
practise any sin habitually and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">there
will eventually be a price to pay</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You will have to fully lean on God to struggle against this problem, and
I am seeing that this problem which has crushed my spirit almost completely and
brought me to maybe the lowest I have ever felt, may actually be a stepping
stone to a genuinely more intimate relationship with God, provided of course
that we are serious about giving up and earnestly fighting against this
addiction in every way we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If your
right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is better for you to lose one part of your
body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut
it off and throw it away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is better
for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 5:29-30 NIV)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, we need to pro-actively fight
against this, but when we do and God knows we are serious, He will do the
fighting for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Have I not commanded you? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be strong and courageous. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Joshua 1:9 NIV)</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I can say one of my problems in
life has been mood swings, and often my inability to keep on an even keel
emotionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I felt good I would get
carried away with that and feel positive and hopeful, but if I felt down I
would be depressed and negative, and allow myself to be dictated to by how I
felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now of course, if you feel good
you should be positive and hopeful, and if you feel down you probably don’t
want to go around pretending everything is just chipper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slowly began to understand that we can’t
really control our emotions, nor should we ignore them either, but we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can</i> control our reaction to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time we should pray that God
heals us from depression and the worst of mood swings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are going to be times in our lives
where we will feel depressed or under the weather and times where we will be
carefree and happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than
anticipating a time of sadness or waiting for a time of peace and happiness, we
should simply put it all in the Hands of God and ask Him to help us face with
good grace whatever happens to us in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We should be emotionally balanced in life, not giving in to mood swings,
neither too down or too deliriously high, but just right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may indeed be on stormy seas but we have a
shipmate aboard who can even calm the stormiest waters of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the
boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he was in the stern, asleep on the
cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care
that we are perishing?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He woke up
and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be still!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead
calm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said to them, "Why are you
afraid?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you still no faith?"</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Mark 4:37-40 NRSV)</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri";">One of the books I read on this
topic suggested that when you are struggling against it you need a plan of
action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote a plan of action but
also later thought of everything I could that might help me in this
struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the full list but they
are suggestions rather than a full plan of action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suggest you make your own plan of action to
tackle this problem, probably at most ten of the suggestions, but whatever gets
you through the day, hey?!</span></div>
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
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</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Ask God into everything, and tell Him all your
fears and concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask for forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask God into the struggle EVERYDAY,
throughout the day, especially if feeling overwhelmed by strong feelings of
lust or images or fantasies, or the desire to view porn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may say that now you must begin to put God
first in everything as par the course.</span></div>
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</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">No late night Internet surfing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No Internet surfing when tired or especially
when bored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EVER.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Sort out your PC in any and every way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means adding filter software if you have
to, and placing the PC if at all practicable in a place where other people can
see what you are doing online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the
Internet is a serious problem, maybe disconnect while you are using it for
something else, or get a cheap laptop without Internet access to use for other
things.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">No ‘googling’ even seemingly innocuous things
like ‘pretty women’ or ‘pretty girls’, ‘Italian women’ or anything like
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be a slippery slope.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Just because you see something by accident or
think of something, doesn’t mean you have to act on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But pray about it always in any event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take it all to God.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Learn to literally avert or ‘bounce’ your eyes
from anything or anyone that may hit your switch, so to speak!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means being aware of who and what you
are looking at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let your wife or
girlfriend do her own underwear shopping!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously, learn to discreetly and purposefully keep your eyes off
anything at all questionable and anything at all that may arouse you.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Ask God to bring you to wholehearted repentance,
and if you are filled with shame then let it be to keep away from what is
shameful.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;"><u>Think</u> about what you watch on TV, the
Internet, read in books and whatever else you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to be brutally, radically and
totally honest about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Take this issue extremely seriously; God
does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no acceptable porn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything that gratifies or stokes desire is
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you see it as the serious
problem it is, or just hope it goes away, you <u>will</u> keep failing and it
will remain an ongoing problem.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">It
would be wise to seek out an accountability partner, someone you can totally
trust that you can confide in and even seek guidance from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being accountable means that you have to be
honest about the struggle but <u>not</u> graphic, explicit or specific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That you have a problem is the <u>most
important</u> issue.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Fight
the issue on <u>all</u> fronts, as much as is humanly possible and with
complete honesty and to be done with it completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You <u>must</u> fight with every weapon
available. </span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Ask
God to make you disciplined and radically obedient to His will, and
wholehearted in your desire to flee completely, resist completely and even at
times bear the feelings you might get from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may get overwhelming feelings and desires
to indulge your addiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be prepared
for this!</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Ask
God to specifically develop for you a strong prayer life, regular Bible study
and reflecting on the scriptures and a genuine Christian to confide in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will need fellowship, and for Christians
who don’t go to church, you must think about this next step seriously.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Do
not just flee the problem, run to God and take all to Him as well.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">You
may have to fight for every square inch of territory, but God will go ahead of
you and do the fighting if you ask Him.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Be
aware: as God forgives and is merciful, He also punishes!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you habitually give in to sin, without a
concerted effort to stop and struggle against it, God may abandon you to
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there may be ramifications, in
many ways, for what sin you are indulging in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There <u>will</u> be a price to pay if you habitually practice sin and
give in without a serious fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
want to be known as a pervert or lecherous sleazebag, at worst end up breaking
up a marriage or ending up in trouble with the police and perhaps being
imprisoned?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want to face the
terrible wrath of the Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is a
dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>10:31 NIV)</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">You
<u>must</u> be pro-active in this fight, and when it ceases to be a serious
problem for you, you <u>must</u> continue to be pro-active in living completely
as a Christian, asking God into every area of your life, and then developing
and maintaining a completely intimate relationship with Jesus.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Get
rid of <u>everything</u> that may make you fall, as much as is practicably
possible, and you have to be radically, brutally and ruthlessly honest about
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, if you have a wife or long
term girlfriend or fiancé, you have to let her know you have a problem here and
suggest what should be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emphasise
the seriousness, but again, no need to be graphic or specific at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re a woman, the same thing applies.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Be
aware of <u>triggers</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A recurring
fantasy, a particular picture or something which makes you move towards what is
sinful is a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever your
weakness is, pray about it and confess to Jesus privately.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">Find
wholesome hobbies, pastimes and diversions to fill your free time, however much
or little you have.</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<li style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">First
and last, ask God into <u>everything</u>, every situation, every problem, every
failure and ask Him for His help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Without His help, you <u>will</u> fail. </span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></li>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></ol>
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri";">These are some things you might
like to think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Re-read it a few
times and let them sink in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some may not
apply to you, whereas a number will apply to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Culpability is also an issue here.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Here’s a prayer you might like to pray</b>:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lord,
heal me of all these sinful and aberrant desires of all kinds and the desire to
view pornography,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And
make me clean and whole and pure,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And
at the same time make me disciplined, completely obedient to your will</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And
give me strong self control in this area,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Amen.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s been said that most men live
lives of quiet desperation and many of us struggle to make sense of our lives,
on top of the fact we have to make our headway in the world like everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have to live like that, we don’t
have to struggle forever with addictions and we don’t have to be living in the
detritus and mess of our past either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can be free, truly free, and though we may have issues of rejection and even
anger towards the opposite sex for the way we have been treated, Jesus can free
us from that anger, that hurt and that pain, and as He forgives us for our sin
and disobedience, He will also help us to forgive others who have hurt us and help
us live a life without feelings of anger or vengeance and teaching us to deal
more constructively and more positively with the letdowns and hurts and
people-problems that will inevitably come our way now and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have to see every negative thing
that happens as a crisis, nor when someone hurts us, even purposefully and
maliciously, as a reason to fall into despair and anger or even an excuse to
indulge in self hatred or hating other people, or falling back into any type of
negative ‘security blanket’ which means that you are dealing it with it in
completely the wrong way, instead of letting God into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am talking from personal experience here as
I still have a problem with women and rejection and a number of failed romances
that either fizzled out or never even started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I still hurt from some of these experiences and I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i> to ask God into them or I might go off the rails in some way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a long road to travel, but each day I
am a little closer to real freedom and a little further away from an unhappy,
chaotic, purposeless and drifting existence that was going from one often
unhappy situation to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, at
least, has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do have a purpose
in life now. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"For I know the plans I have
for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will seek me and find me when
you seek me with all your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from
captivity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will gather you from all
the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord,
"and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into
exile."</i></b></span>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Jeremiah
29:11-14 NIV)</span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-13681137034321719492014-01-17T18:44:00.000+00:002014-01-18T22:14:21.408+00:00My Struggle Against Pornography<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is no humour here, no jokes, none of my usual light-hearted banter, and no clever wordplay either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am deadly serious, because this is a deadly serious business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a struggle with online pornography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not a decades long problem, nor is it something that I have indulged in every day for years and years either, it is something that has been a problem, in one form and another, for many years on and off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For years, or many months in a year, I manage to avoid thinking about woman <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in that way</i>, and don’t go near porn because I literally have no desire to look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may say this also, that I am always aware that looking at any kind of porn, however innocuous or ‘lads mag’ or Benny Hill sketch saucy it may appear, is not in any way acceptable to God no matter how prevalent it may be, when soft porn pix pop up in lads mags*, many daily British newspapers, adverts in all kinds of magazines, in music videos, risqué lingerie adverts on your email account and on TV shows and on all kinds of films now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the man especially, who truly wants to avoid the softest of soft porn that can be seen almost anywhere, it’s as if we are alone and cast adrift on a raft, surrounded by potential temptation all around with no island of safety or security in sight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first problem with anything that could be considered erotic, i.e. anything that sexually arouses a person, is that it is all abhorrent to God however innocuous or ‘a bit of a laugh’ it may seem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, it is being disobedient to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirdly, it is making a human being, someone who God specifically created just like you and me into an object to be leered at, or fantasise over; and usually whatever else follows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fourthly, like any addiction, there will be a desire to see more and more, and more often, and then to get bored with the usual stuff and want to see more explicit material, perhaps more questionable material, and whatever the case it could become a spiral of degradation where more and more extreme porn is needed just to titillate and arouse, whilst becoming more and more numb to the growing extreme nature of what is being viewed, which months before might have been too shocking to contemplate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the classic case of diminishing returns: the more you give into porn, the less you get back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, it brings no good, no happiness and no peace, only emptiness and shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fifthly, and obviously far more dangerously, some people may want to act out in some way what they might see in the sad deranged porn fantasy world they are inhabiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we are talking about serious ramifications, family disgrace, spells in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And beyond the human ramifications that may come someone’s way, there will be punishment from God too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think numbers of even serious porn addicts will not take it to such extremes, but there seems to be a sinister growing trend in that direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whichever way it goes though, a porn addict is still a sad, pathetic, imbalanced individual and living in a shadow world of sordid fantasy of the worst kind, which may take complete precedence over any balanced, truly Godly and just normal reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if it doesn’t involve people in a real sense, only virtually, what a sad life that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who wants to be like that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really truly do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you are far from God too, the only one who can really help you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to add one more thing to this list, an addendum if you like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone may just be looking for the archetypal ‘t*ts ‘n’ b*ms’ stuff, adolescent lads stuff, the naughty nurse in lingerie or the Benny Hill sketch ladies, but as they trawl more and more sites in the desperation to be turned on and overload the sensory pleasure organ, or whatever the scientific term is, there is a real danger that you might stumble across something you were not particularly looking for, which might shock you… but at the same time may give you a visceral thrill… where might that lead to?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(*<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lads mags are the type of magazines aimed at young men and red blooded males and almost always have pictures of scantily clad mid-twenties females in them, amongst other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are rarely bought for their intellectual content or quality of argument and debate.</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am writing about this and obviously concerned because I don’t want to end up a chronic porn addict, I really don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not too proud to admit it could happen to me, and nor should anyone else drawn in any way to linger on anything which sexually arouses them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you think you can’t fall, that’s just when you might.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even if you don’t act out any kind of fantasy, do you want to end up a sad, pathetic man, a half shadow, sitting in front of a PC screen hours every day?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a struggle against this, but I am at least battling against it, with church, accountability and filter software and of course asking God into every area of it through prayer and regular Bible study, and the knowledge importantly that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it is all completely repugnant</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>to God, and that He absolutely does not want us to indulge in<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">at any level</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Combat it firstly by taking it all to God, the whole mess of your life and the fact you may have hit rock bottom with this or any other serious issue or addiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then close down everything and anything which is a problem or may become in any way a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do talk about it to a Christian friend, or your wife or girlfriend or church elder or vicar or priest, or whoever you can totally trust, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you don’t need to be specific or graphic in any way</i></b>, you just need to say you have a problem and leave it at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Godly person will respond sympathetically and will want to help you genuinely get over the problem without offering platitudes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will also tell you to get back to God, to pray and ask for forgiveness and tell you to study the Bible and verses that pertain to this problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep away from sexual immorality. All other sins that people may commit are done outside the body; but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you not realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you and whom you received from God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are not your own property, then; you have been bought at a price. So use your body for the glory of God.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NJB) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One thing I would like to add is that God has put in me a sense of distaste and disgust for it all, even when I have been viewing it, and genuinely I thank Him for pulling me back from the edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But please understand, though there are men who have been far more seriously addicted to pornography than me and for far longer, there is no smugness or complacency in me about this whatsoever, because I know this is a slippery slope and God has placed it in my heart to have a real fear about disobeying, a deep sense of disgust at viewing what may seem innocuous and a broader sense of how pathetic and lonely to sit in front of a PC screen and get any kind of real satisfaction from looking at pornography of even the mildest variety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this what God created me for, or anyone else for that matter, to live in a shadow world, like the undead, a half-life that at best will only end in futility and more emptiness, and at worst who knows where?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For men in the UK, there is no real provision for this on a particularly Christian level although there are of course very good Twelve Step Recovery programs in some churches which I recommend, and there are secular sex addictions organisations in the UK too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you will notice, I have added a lot of links to this post as I think many of them will be relevant and I have looked at a number of them myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything which keeps a person on the straight and narrow will have some value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Here’s a prayer about this problem that might help or you can chop and change as you feel fit</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-bidi-font-family: Miriam;">Lord I am in the midst of an enormous struggle:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-bidi-font-family: Miriam;">Help me to do the things you want me to do,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-bidi-font-family: Miriam;">And help me not to do the things you don’t want me to do,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-bidi-font-family: Miriam;">Help me to flee this immorality completely, to resist this immorality completely</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-bidi-font-family: Miriam;">And as much as is humanly possible to bear it when I am overwhelmed,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-bidi-font-family: Miriam;">But knowing that I cannot do this in my own strength, I ask you to bring your strength,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-bidi-font-family: Miriam;">The indwelling of your Holy Spirit in me and the covering of your grace which is so much bigger than my compulsion to view porn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-bidi-font-family: Miriam;">Have mercy and compassion on me, and take pity on me as I struggle against this problem oh Lord, amen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the recent past, I have had a desire to indulge and at the same time a heart after God’s own heart; flawed like King David, but whose heart was in the right place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A spiritual madness and a crazed desire seems to overwhelm me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I do not understand my own behaviour; I do not act as I mean to, but I do things that I hate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I am acting as I do not want to, I still acknowledge the Law as good, so it is not myself acting, but the sin which lives in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And really, I know of nothing good living in me - in my natural self, that is - for though the will to do what is good is in me, the power to do it is not: the good thing I want to do, I never do; the evil thing which I do not want - that is what I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But every time I do what I do not want to, then it is not myself acting, but the sin that lives in me.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 7:15-20 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lust and the desire to view porn can also obviously involve fantasy, fantasies of domination, control and power: to take advantage of someone sexually is much like the desire to dominate, control and have power in the world in the spheres of things like business, politics, law and in the hierarchies of many things too, perhaps even in some organised religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may add that these desires, not particularly sexual in themselves, can fuel illicit desire and perhaps more importantly are part of the world’s fallen and corrupted nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just wanted to add this thing too; many kinds of pornography are seen specifically as something men look at and get addicted to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men are seen as disgusting for wanting to view women’s bodies but few mention the reality that online porn is now also a serious and growing problem for women too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to recent statistics I have seen, 8% of American men are seriously addicted to viewing porn and 3% of American women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is hardly a serious discrepancy, when many people might think that it might be twenty men to every one women viewing porn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is really one woman for every two men, which is probably very surprising to many people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say that this is a serious problem for many men and many women now, the only thing different is that men are far more likely to admit they have a problem than many women are!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most men are far more likely to be drawn to provocative and sexy pictures than a woman is, or that’s how society tends to see these things, but after spending some time researching this, it seems that many women are now also chronically addicted to viewing even hard core pornography online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for the statistics, I think that in most developed countries including the UK, those would be pretty similar to the American stats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to add this too: it seems that in some circles, maybe you might call them feminist but maybe you wouldn’t at all, there seems to be an attitude that it empowers women to show off their bodies in a raunchy or provocative and sexy way… yet if men are enticed to look at these women, the men are filthy perverts!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a double standard here that hardly ever gets mentioned, and may be actually beside the point, but somehow it’s ok for women to make money through showing themselves off, but we men shouldn’t look at the same time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entertainment industry like music and TV and movies often nurtures titillation and soft porn to win high ratings figures and get people buying or watching, and the ad industry can be the same, making sexually provocative ads to draw people in and sell products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seems to be acceptable and not acceptable at the same time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Acceptable because it makes lots of money for someone or some business, and unacceptable in the eyes of ‘respectable’ society even though this is only paying lip service really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps the viewing of pornography is really symptomatic of a deeply corrupt and deeply fallen world, when people abandon God and make something else an idol or obsession instead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It happened towards evening when David had got up from resting and was strolling on the palace roof, that from the roof he saw a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David made enquiries about this woman and was told, 'Why, that is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite.' David then sent messengers to fetch her. She came to him, and he lay with her, just after she had purified herself from her period. She then went home again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman conceived and sent word to David, 'I am pregnant.'</span></i></b>’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Samuel 11:2-5 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David had the power to carry out his complete desires, but most men do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if it can happen to a man after God’s own heart, it can happy to anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David’s adultery and womanising eventually caused all kinds of problems for him as it will for anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting involved in that way seems merely to complicate matters and it never brought David any real lasting happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I had made an agreement with my eyes not to linger on any virgin.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Job 31:1 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keeping your eyes off the ladies, virgins or not, is the first practical step and a brick in the wall of defence you must build to keep you far and away from this problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you allow yourself to ogle, and look someone up and down, you are half way to fantasising about them and other women (or men).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Averting the eyes is one of the strategies recommended in a number of books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t make it obvious, but be discreet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know how fellas can be discreet when they are eyeing someone up?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then be equally discreet about not getting an eyeful as well!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Wash me clean from my guilt, purify me from my sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong, that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence, and your victory may appear when you give judgement</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 51:2-4 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can overcome this sin, this desire to view porn and all that goes with it, and we can become pure again, made anew, but we must acknowledge our guilt, confess our shame to God and ask Him to change our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be done.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Some links to look at.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.12step.com/12stepprograms.html"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.12step.com/12stepprograms.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Twelve Step programs of all kinds.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.devinrose.heroicvirtuecreations.com/blog/overcoming-sexual-addiction/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.devinrose.heroicvirtuecreations.com/blog/overcoming-sexual-addiction/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A Catholic flavoured testimony, but well worth looking at.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.eternalchoice.com/lust.php"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.eternalchoice.com/lust.php</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A short lesson.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://h3sean.com/step-overcome-lust-pornography-addiction/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://h3sean.com/step-overcome-lust-pornography-addiction/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">An interesting lesson.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://sheworships.com/2013/05/07/immodesty-and-lust-a-mans-perspective/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://sheworships.com/2013/05/07/immodesty-and-lust-a-mans-perspective/"><span style="color: white;">http://sheworships.com/2013/05/07/immodesty-and-lust-a-mans-perspective/</span></a><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Interesting perspective from a man.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.wholeperson-counseling.org/sexual/pornaddict.html"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.wholeperson-counseling.org/sexual/pornaddict.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A straight forward, hard hitting summary, backed up with scripture, with a warning!</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.wholeperson-counseling.org/sexual/masturbation.html"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.wholeperson-counseling.org/sexual/masturbation.html</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A thoughtful article, backed scripturally, about the ‘M’ word.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/sex-and-the-supremacy-of-christ-part-1"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/sex-and-the-supremacy-of-christ-part-1</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/sex-and-the-supremacy-of-christ-part-2"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/sex-and-the-supremacy-of-christ-part-2</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">Some links you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MUST</b> read if you are struggling seriously with this and other related issues. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PLEASE AT LEAST READ THE FIRST ONE IF YOU CLICK ON NO OTHER LINK</b>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.pureintimacy.org/d/dangers-and-disappointments-of-pornography/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.pureintimacy.org/d/dangers-and-disappointments-of-pornography/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">It is vital YOU read this if you have a problem you want to overcome, and you understand the dangers of getting in too deep.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-f017.html"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-f017.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Struggles with overcoming lust.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/courses/way-of-purity/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/courses/way-of-purity/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> A<span style="font-size: large;"> free 60 day course for overcoming sexual addictions. Some of the testimonies on the home page are worth reading too.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ccef.org/breaking-pornography-addiction-part-1"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.ccef.org/breaking-pornography-addiction-part-1</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ccef.org/breaking-pornography-addiction-part-two"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.ccef.org/breaking-pornography-addiction-part-two</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Other links.</span></div>
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<a href="http://prodigalsinternational.org/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://prodigalsinternational.org/</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.purelifeministries.org/home"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.purelifeministries.org/home</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This is a good one, with some free resources particularly useful, the articles especially.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.purecommunity.org/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.purecommunity.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Interesting blog about lust and related issues.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.living-waters-uk.org/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.living-waters-uk.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">British website.</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.pureintimacy.org/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.pureintimacy.org/</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://womenfordecency.org/index.html"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://womenfordecency.org/index.html</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christian-sexual-addiction-self-help-books/lm/R10UYZC19G20JT/ref=cm_lmt_dtpa_f_1_rdssss0"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christian-sexual-addiction-self-help-books/lm/R10UYZC19G20JT/ref=cm_lmt_dtpa_f_1_rdssss0</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">British Amazon link to a number of self-help books on porn, sex addiction and related subjects which you can buy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think most of them are on the US Amazon site too.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.saa-recovery.org.uk/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.saa-recovery.org.uk/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">I think this may be a secular organisation, but it looks good.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.slaauk.org/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.slaauk.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This may be a secular organisation too, but it looks good.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">some links for singles.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.pureintimacy.org/singles-dating/"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.pureintimacy.org/singles-dating/</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">A link to K9 filter software.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www1.k9webprotection.com/"><span style="color: white;">http://www1.k9webprotection.com/</span></a></span>T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-91789500491235976842013-12-25T17:03:00.000+00:002013-12-25T17:04:43.285+00:00Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, whatever state of
inebriation or rampant shovelling of food down your gobs you might be in, I
just wished to say to you all: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%;">HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! </span><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you’ll notice, the President
of America, Barack Obama, who is a close personal friend of mine (hey, he owed
me money once) sent me his Christmas greetings, and wanted me to pass them on
to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a guy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said: ‘Hey fella, how’s tricks mate, just wanted
to let you know that me and the missus were thinking about you, and the kids
send their love as well, and I’ll get that £20 quid I owe you back as soon as,
promise, and don’t drink too much eggnog, and get drunk and vomit all over the
cat! Remember last time at the White House?! All my love, Bazza!’ He’s a laugh
isn’t he, he knows I hate eggnog (well, have you ever met anyone who likes it?)
but he insists on bringing it up every year! Not just a great Pres then?!! My
mate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XDO-xE2tP5VggRssvYIyHao8HrkLd-jCfdC81r1mMLLwPoi4gr8wrVHmnWBTghEmp4hgCmgmm9_IhLH1WpboJ00POyAzV-uMcEzTMe23hOT_mgmM2_Gn5SaRjcyp9cIPaLJ0yw6ucaU/s1600/article-0-16A6AFA1000005DC-303_634x422%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XDO-xE2tP5VggRssvYIyHao8HrkLd-jCfdC81r1mMLLwPoi4gr8wrVHmnWBTghEmp4hgCmgmm9_IhLH1WpboJ00POyAzV-uMcEzTMe23hOT_mgmM2_Gn5SaRjcyp9cIPaLJ0yw6ucaU/s320/article-0-16A6AFA1000005DC-303_634x422%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Merry
Chrimbo lad; from me and the missus!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, hope you all have a
lovely Chrimbo and a wonderful time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, if you can’t be good, be careful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-46964850202640298632013-12-02T22:26:00.001+00:002013-12-03T17:20:44.890+00:00The Flawed Men of God<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think of three men in the Bible
that I can particularly identify with, because although they all did wonderful
things through the God that called them and shaped for His purposes, they were
all flawed, they were all sinners and they all had to go through a lot of crap
in their lives before God straightened them out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds like my shaky walk with God to be
honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inference sometimes in
England, even amongst Christians it seems, is that a person must already be
good, already be respectable, already be rather gentle and well to do and then
you become a Christian to reflect that; in other words you join a nice brigade
to confirm how nice you are!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three
men I identify with at this particular time are King David, Saint Paul and
Moses, all men of God but in their own ways deeply flawed men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many people in England seem to
think that Christianity is a religion for nice people, people who have it all
together, the rather respectable sort of person who has no financial worries,
has the right social status, is perfect emotionally and spiritually and has no
real problems, and so going to church is the ‘icing on the cake’ to a wonderful
life, rather like a club for those who have made it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect this view could be held in America
and Australia and other countries where Christianity is, at least nominally
anyway, held as the religion or upholds the morals of that society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At worst in England it’s seen as rather
prissy, rather wussy, something that is part of genteel society and if I am
honest something seen as a bit Middle or even Upper Middle class and in some
cases like the Church of England seems almost to be a part of the
establishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not me being
cruel, but just how I see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the
Bible only for the well to do, the great and the good and those who have wealth
and privilege and power?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps if this
is what Christianity was meant to be about Jesus would have been born in a
palace and not a stable being chased out of Israel by King Herod, the genocidal
maniac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that Christians should be
gentle and kind and compassionate and concerned with other people, but
sometimes if I see wealthy people claiming to be Christians whilst at the same
time seeming to find their security in the wealth and high social status and the
material prosperity they have and the things it will buy them and the lifestyle
they can attain through that wealth, I seem to feel a little confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is as if by claiming Christianity, some
people can do what they like and use their Christian status as a kind of ‘get
out of jail free’ card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand
that this may offend some people but I feel it has to be said because it’s what
a lot of Christians say and I believe that the truth about these and many other
matters far outweighs the pleasant platitudes that some people speak or hold
about Christianity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christianity is not
a tool of the establishment, or of rich and powerful people, nor is it the
religion of the well to do or the Anglo Saxon cultures around the world or
particularly European either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone
at all in fact tries to ‘use’ God to rubberstamp their own possibly selfish
ambitions or use the respectability of being a Christian or regular churchgoer
or even being a reverend or priest to do things that are completely unchristian
or be nasty and offensive and as worldly as anyone not particularly a Christian
at all, they have misused faith like the Pharisees did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When the scribes of the Pharisee
party saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his
disciples, 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?' <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus heard this he said to them, 'It is
not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I came to call not the
upright, but sinners.'</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Mark 2:16-17 NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsqwaPToOQ2ECZAHMC-t7R8COF5STgxEHOQVbwkXASg1kK8ErpYgqdHSev9TiLKMVG4WTNXZd3crm2PVeJoRftsrHBbULA_OotM8Jn34Qw19iJ8j6SWTNwJf94-bxLFtU59hkZOjm1L4/s1600/Sinnerscut%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsqwaPToOQ2ECZAHMC-t7R8COF5STgxEHOQVbwkXASg1kK8ErpYgqdHSev9TiLKMVG4WTNXZd3crm2PVeJoRftsrHBbULA_OotM8Jn34Qw19iJ8j6SWTNwJf94-bxLFtU59hkZOjm1L4/s320/Sinnerscut%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">David was a shepherd boy and just
a nobody from a humble family, who was told by God that he was marked out for
something special, that being that he would be king of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I expect he thought at first ‘oh yeah, okay,
whatever, just let me tend me sheep mate!’ or words to that effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he became a king, and was a man after
God’s own heart, after many troubles and being basically a warrior and perhaps
was also an outsider within the most famous group of outsiders, the
Israelites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The term Hebrew is I think a
term similar to Gypsy today in that David and his kin were outcasts or outsiders
or like the Irish travellers, and yet God calls David to lead His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course David had to become a warlord and a
fighter to eventually become a king, and he liked his women too did David,
unlike Christian men today of course…?! Then again… anyway, he also had a man
more or less bumped off so he could get his hands on the man’s wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not really a nice bloke to be honest, yet God
said <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">‘…"I
have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will perform my
entire will."</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts
13:22 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm, curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A murderer, womaniser and man of violence,
and yet God’s man!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not exactly your
textbook English vicar from the Home Counties was he??!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvrbd3RJmwzZYMyPoNexSpGv_AH1XH0MKPqJkymdGwiO6k8IPcpPj1X3eJsdby1XL-5vg-uFZmsbLfmSU94I9HxQhE62T_ne0hUaKUqLIFx4SVxDMxvYFSyrRoJUzY1WL56P87oW9h_c/s1600/jr-634-copy%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvrbd3RJmwzZYMyPoNexSpGv_AH1XH0MKPqJkymdGwiO6k8IPcpPj1X3eJsdby1XL-5vg-uFZmsbLfmSU94I9HxQhE62T_ne0hUaKUqLIFx4SVxDMxvYFSyrRoJUzY1WL56P87oW9h_c/s320/jr-634-copy%5B1%5D.jpg" width="242" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saul was a religious man, a law
abiding man, a man who scrupulously kept the law and a man who upheld the law
vigorously, and a man of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or so he
thought anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He upheld the law so
vigorously that he persecuted the early Christians thinking he was doing God’s
will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Effectively, he was killing ‘in
the name of God.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that the truest and
most obscene definition of taking God’s name in vain, the vilest form of
blasphemy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t any form of self-righteous
behaviour hidden behind a religious front, especially when the person is
cynically using their respectability as a religious person to do things they
shouldn’t be doing, blasphemous to some degree?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But Saul, when he was Paul, admitted that while he sinned grievously, he
was in ignorance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His excuse was that he
thought he was truly in the right by ruthlessly persecuting Christians, but he
couldn’t have been more wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
a lesson for us all there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moses thought he was a high born
prince of Egypt, but he found out that he was a son of slaves, a low born
Israelite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man brought up in the
family of the pharaoh who was bred for perhaps the very highest office and the
most advanced and most powerful and certainly most sophisticated and enduring
civilisation of its day, who was actually something he never dreamed of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t that a bit like all of us to some
degree?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all get caught up in everyday
affairs, personality clashes, little and not so little worries and we become
sophisticated and worldly and at the same time world weary, stuck right in the
middle of what we think will make us happy and yet at the same time fed up with
it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi634oHZP9hBftTktehO5_PrlkHqJh4eV0WoH6g7d_fFZyvQEmtw9K8eRvUjTb_Uit4q4AQzc3S5IHRHScDmubi-ammUC9E7fA_XTiCu0hMfGxPS1Yc9u7Fuv0tj8Oxoujn6jGx1UAUhhA/s1600/Casablanca+amargura2%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi634oHZP9hBftTktehO5_PrlkHqJh4eV0WoH6g7d_fFZyvQEmtw9K8eRvUjTb_Uit4q4AQzc3S5IHRHScDmubi-ammUC9E7fA_XTiCu0hMfGxPS1Yc9u7Fuv0tj8Oxoujn6jGx1UAUhhA/s320/Casablanca+amargura2%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sheer futility, Qoheleth says.
Sheer futility: everything is futile! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
profit can we show for all our toil, toiling under the sun?</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe at times we all need a way
of escape, and it was of course Moses’ great calling that became the most
famous escape of all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I don’t mean
Steve McQueen as Hilts on his motorbike, as cool as Steve was in ‘The Great
Escape’!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean the Israelites out of
their 400 years bondage of slavery to Egypt, where they were making bricks for
the pyramids of the pharaohs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Egypt
represents the worldly, the material, the wealthy and the comfortable, although
Israel are enslaved to create these very things, as often people today become
slaves to ambition or to making money or lose themselves to excess or the
pursuit of pleasure and sensuality and finding security in their wealth or
sophistication or high social status of some kind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end however what they thought might
make them free actually makes them slaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a modern dilemma we all seem to face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses gave it all up to lead his people to
the Promised Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He left the land of
material wealth and worldly power for something that his people were really all
about, spiritual riches in abundance and an intimate relationship with God,
being obedient to God rather than their own fractured egos and individual
selfishness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t quite work out as
planned though did it?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s new,
hey?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got stuck in the wilderness
for 40 years, running around in circles, complaining, moaning, grumbling, not being
satisfied with the menu on offer, generally being pissed off with old Moses and
wondering just where on earth they were going anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve travelled on British trains you’ll
know the feeling well!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After escaping
the stifling slavery of Egypt, they meandered and traipsed and moved half-heartedly
to wherever they were going, like kids with their mum in the supermarket,
whining one minute and blaming someone the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no pleasing some people is there?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses was another flawed man of God, who did
actually murder an Egyptian, yet God makes something of him that no one would
have even guessed at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The three of them then were
deeply flawed men by any standards, definitely by today’s standards and
certainly by God’s high standards, yet each played a major role in God’s
purposes proving that even deeply flawed people whatever they have done can
have a second chance or can do great things for God, if they have faith and
call on Him from the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even flawed
people can have a thirst and hunger for God, in fact I sometimes think it is
those who are notoriously or chronically flawed who thirst and hunger the most
for God and for His righteousness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A Confession</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was a woman hater, the complete
misogynist, and for a long time have had problems with women and an anger and
bitterness towards women, the root of bitterness the Bible warns about
perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the case, I have had a
lot of resentment towards women for a long time, and I am beginning to get help
with this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My attitudes towards
women then have been skewed for a long time because for some reason I just
seemed to meet angry, unpleasant, indifferent and even hateful women especially
in pubs and nightclubs, but even in colleges and universities too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose I have just been unlucky but it
didn’t help matters and put me off women for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time though, God has sent me a
number of women friends, some Christian and some not, who I have growing
friendships with and who are all a regular feature of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, these are all women that I have a
fondness and affection for and who in many case I love like sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, being honest, my anger is as much about
the way I was treated than it is about who treated me so badly, or negatively
it might be better to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When anyone
puts themselves on the line and makes themselves vulnerable, risking being
rejected, who does in fact not take it completely seriously?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The British pub and especially the nightclub
scene is to a certain extent superficial and trying to find love or
meaningful<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>relationships there is
probably not the ideal place to look but as British culture can be a very
limited culture, where else can single people often find love, and that goes
double maybe for Christians?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being drunk
as well or at least half cut is also seeing the situation, and other people,
through beer goggles and is often not a good idea either I think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXuAeCtcvSoqJBgQva2s8-dgIdJyvFq17cfNsbRNaXoXb2kNuJA3qE735Zvm_9ztfmSU5kccEZY7CN3GlPbHO89Qwf5gEV7hF-KDD4HfU5gjxMeIa-FX4CbCwOIb6RH0KxmNYC5uj00A/s1600/funny-beer-goggles%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXuAeCtcvSoqJBgQva2s8-dgIdJyvFq17cfNsbRNaXoXb2kNuJA3qE735Zvm_9ztfmSU5kccEZY7CN3GlPbHO89Qwf5gEV7hF-KDD4HfU5gjxMeIa-FX4CbCwOIb6RH0KxmNYC5uj00A/s320/funny-beer-goggles%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we have a dilemma, or rather I
have a dilemma which I know millions of people throughout the world have; that
of wanting to find genuine romantic love but trying to get over the hurdle of
hurt, anger and pain that I feel over my past rejections and failed romances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wall builds up that seems insurmountable
and perhaps although other people help build it with their cruelty and indifference
and even nastiness, we sometimes supply the bricks and help build it with them
and then cement it with our own hatred and low self-worth and even by feeding
off the negativity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have done that
before today too for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Church Going Christian</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would Jesus accept homeless
people, the lost, the completely hopeless, those with mental health problems,
those who are chronically addicted to drink or drugs or caught up in OCD or
filled with anger and hatred?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know,
the sort of people we don’t really want to be around or can’t really be
bothered with or the people you don’t want sitting next to you on a bus because
they might smell or say something weird or just because they may engage us in
conversation and we feel embarrassed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">”For I was hungry and you never
gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink, I was a
stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed
me, sick and in prison and you never visited me." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord,
when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or
in prison, and did not come to your help?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he will answer, "In
truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of
these, you neglected to do it to me."</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 25:42-45 NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7CuZSu5hvbWB7552iWyo4R1sE2IM6ap0CKH4l9xSndbasUls3xKPiJvqsdj_6tNTg4AJlseUk6OKlSpCbTAjWygp2-MG8F803RCAaDOroPRT1H9dw8c9CD2XMXmPfhi-TqlEs_N3PBk/s1600/imagesCAWNSRI4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7CuZSu5hvbWB7552iWyo4R1sE2IM6ap0CKH4l9xSndbasUls3xKPiJvqsdj_6tNTg4AJlseUk6OKlSpCbTAjWygp2-MG8F803RCAaDOroPRT1H9dw8c9CD2XMXmPfhi-TqlEs_N3PBk/s1600/imagesCAWNSRI4.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would many Christians even want
some of those people in their churches?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do wonder sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Church is for people who have no friends,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s usually filled with rather
polite old ladies in flowery hats, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a place where you have to agree with everyone and there are no
characters or individuality, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
a clique for religious people who think they are better than everyone else,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could keep going on and on here
because I have thought, said and believed all of the above and much more about
church before today and I think many other people have and do, even some
Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a fear above all that
it would compromise my individuality and hinder my walk with God too!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hasn’t on either count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you probably guess that I am now a church
going Christian after 40 years in the wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah ok, that’s a bit dramatic but in essence
there is a lot of truth to it as I didn’t go to church for years and have just
got involved with one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was more likely
to attack the idea of church than actually see it as a force for good and that
it is essential for growing in the Christian life, having Christian friends who
know where you are coming from, which is important if you don’t come from a
Christian family or Christian background of some kind, and in encouraging you
in your Christian walk which of course your non-Christian friends just won’t do
will they, even if they are good friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, church is finally part of this Christian’s life, and about time too!</span></div>
</div>
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T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-52027363799027768482013-09-24T23:22:00.001+01:002013-09-24T23:22:13.134+01:00The Nice Guy
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone loves a nice guy
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the ladies sit around in
coffee bars and pubs and their friends’ home watching some soap and drinking
wine saying they’d love to meet a decent man but bemoaning the fact that there
are no decent men left anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, at
the same time, we all know that decent guys always come last don’t they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re the ones who get overlooked, ignored,
messed about, side-lined and, generally because they’re too nice perhaps, women
feel they can always depend on them to be there but at the same time aren’t
taken too seriously at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nice guy
always comes back, is always there on time, is always friendly, is always
sincere and genuine when he says he likes you and wants to take you out and is
nice and dependable… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and boring!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t that the downside ladies, the nice guy
is too nice, always dependable and quite frankly rather boring just because he
is such a nice guy?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the
perception I get from women anyway, from reading magazines and looking at
websites and just from being around many women in the past in colleges and
universities and friends’ houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women
like a bad boy, right?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They love
someone exciting, mysterious, perhaps bringing with them a frisson of danger
and unpredictability, someone who won’t be told what to do and won’t pander to
a woman’s sulks so she can control him or get him to do what she wants and when
she wants, a bloke who takes control and takes what he wants and is devil may
care even dismissive of the woman he runs around with, and it seems with this
type of bloke, women fall hook, line and sinker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9anchhdQx-NK6RptChXAtjhqNHc1BsazNj-Ib4PKhUxs9ZAiNk1OCWnEzD-IR0CYx4wQAKTYaGMk8rmvAJ230yIatcFOYNQ6ImT9MzKGDFtNwHBW8LfvaBjCW5GBgEYwmZwJ6ptXTug/s1600/nice-guy%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9anchhdQx-NK6RptChXAtjhqNHc1BsazNj-Ib4PKhUxs9ZAiNk1OCWnEzD-IR0CYx4wQAKTYaGMk8rmvAJ230yIatcFOYNQ6ImT9MzKGDFtNwHBW8LfvaBjCW5GBgEYwmZwJ6ptXTug/s320/nice-guy%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In some ways, I have often been a
nice guy, someone who thought the best of everyone and was naïve completely to
the ways of the world and the ways of people too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was put upon, bullied and pissed about by
friends and women I used to meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I
am not going to give you a sob story here because I haven’t always been a nice
guy either and have not been a saint either and there are things I have done I
regret, although nothing terrible, and there are things I said as well to other
people that I deeply regret but can’t really do anything about now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think most of us can be nice sometimes and
at other times not so nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few are
genuine saints anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I can also
say that at times I could be very cruel and sarcastic and vitriolic towards
other people, usually if they riled me or upset me in some way, partially
because I got fed up with being hurt and treated badly by people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I developed a hard shell to protect my
vulnerable soft centre and my very easily hurt feelings; I think many people
develop this and in some senses think it natural and even acceptable as long as
our hardness does not become callousness or an excuse to be cruel or even
indifferent to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person
bullied should never become a bully, in other words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is true that nice people in
general get taken for granted, even women, and are seen as an easy touch or
someone to poke fun at or just someone to rely on that someone can use and
generally not take seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if we
are honest, most of us have treated someone else like this once or twice in our
lives and have taken people for granted, and many of us have also been taken
for granted by people we knew or know and even by friends in the past and maybe
even presently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many of us, being
mistreated or generally taken for granted for long periods of time can leave us
feeling hurt, angry, mistrustful of others and even bitter and resentful
towards the people who hurt you and sometimes people in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have felt all these things and more before
today and it developed in me a sense that I seemed to meet, not always, people
who would hurt me and abuse me or just generally treat me like crap and that I
would continue to do so, so I became withdrawn and a bit of a loner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose I still am a bit of a loner really,
to a point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like most people I need
company and when I was younger and when I was a kid I had lots of friends, some
close and some not so close and others just acquaintances that passed into my
life briefly and then passed out again just as quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not a natural loner I think, just
someone who got used to it reluctantly and then accepted it to a degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have friends but don’t see them that
often at this time and I am still single too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is frustrating to me somewhat, yet how do people meet people these
days to genuinely fall in love with someone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Go to pubs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It never seemed to
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to nightclubs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, if you can speak over the absolute din
of the music, what can you really say to someone who just wants to dance around
their handbag anyway?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTSqlxgSKnu99eVTxcrT8ERSoPAQhDjo8Nd-iUl-ifrQWSdrsVMd9bEgjefMNiGxOx1ybSkVt4lDdQDCSpODpsqOvX5BlBolvT8yki7EwBTQV1vVnc7OC8ykj3UCWn-uYB3AGr7l-r84/s1600/3ofr7j%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTSqlxgSKnu99eVTxcrT8ERSoPAQhDjo8Nd-iUl-ifrQWSdrsVMd9bEgjefMNiGxOx1ybSkVt4lDdQDCSpODpsqOvX5BlBolvT8yki7EwBTQV1vVnc7OC8ykj3UCWn-uYB3AGr7l-r84/s1600/3ofr7j%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was younger I was quite a
good looking boy (if I say so myself!) but incredibly shy and would blush red
if a girl even talked to me; and then when I hit my mid-teens I kind of became
the classic ‘ugly duckling’, somehow not quite right and was teased and even
bullied and girls paid me little if any attention at all, and even if they did
I was too shy to respond anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then,
as happens to many young men and women, I began to notice women noticing me
because somehow I fit my face and found a look that suited me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the years of getting little interest obviously
affected me, as I know it affects many other people who bloom in their early
adult years, and so I remained for a long time unsure of myself and lacked
confidence in many things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose
this was also because some friends I had made me feel small by belittling
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if I am honest, we all took
the piss out of one another as well, so I am not claiming to be some suffering
saint here because I wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for all
this, I was never someone who was genuinely cruel to others, it was usually
people being nasty to me that got me going back at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first friend was cruel about the fact we
were poor and didn’t live in a very nice house and even criticised the food we
served him after we invited him to dinner!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yeah, some friends I had hey?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But this was when I was a little kid so I can’t hold any anger for that
or him, just a slight sense of amusement tinged with a touch of bemusement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But such is life, and I can honestly say that
as a kid I had a pretty decent and happy childhood with few real traumas… until
I got older.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I can say dispassionately is
that in my pursuit of romance, in finding someone to love and care about and
have a relationship with, women could be as mercenary as men in the pursuit of
meaningless sexual encounters and one night stands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deep down, I knew early on that I wanted a
proper relationship whereas friends of mine, not all of them and not all the
time either, often wanted no strings attached fun, and sought the type of women
that wanted that too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, I
understood one thing, that I knew then and I know now: that women can be just
as big players as men, and not all women are demure and sweet and looking for
long term boyfriends, but want casual flings as many men do, although the oft
repeated perception is that men are always predatory and women are the innocent
victims of men’s lusts and advances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think real life, and the men and women thing, is rather slightly more
complicated than that, in fact my experience of the pub/nightclub scene,
something I don’t participate in any more, is of all kinds of women and men,
some nice, some not so nice, and here I am talking specifically about women and
in this case some women were very sweet and nice to talk to, others were
coquettish and shy, others were angry and hostile even if you just glanced at
them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned, as do most men, to
leave those angry types alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of
course, as with all people everywhere, there are countless variants and
admixtures and characteristics of women’s personalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand that many women have been
mistreated by men, and some persuasive men will tell a woman anything at all
just to get her into bed, and have no qualms at all about doing so again and
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These types of men give all nice
guys a bad reputation, and then some of those used women become angry and
defensive and hostile, and offload that on to any man who approaches them, and
so the vicious cycle continues and the Battle of the Sexes notches up more
unhappy casualties; I am one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
matter who ‘wins’ in this vicious turf war, men blaming women and women blaming
men, no one ever wins and we all just retreat back behind the lines to carry on
our hostilities and attacking each other, sure of only one thing: we will
remain bitter and lonely, whilst always desiring someone to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are pulled in two directions, and this is
not good for anyone’s emotional state or mental health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28soncB5vzZv4CT0BLPuXqXSbiuNEDNZuE-Tfrv2mDaqrrXEl-GNoBHXb3SyufcW3ukKaXcnylB5XeHor0N2kb0EyiruMEroUt2YyNWSkJlbGmEIchLLjhKHquz6sbukAGomPM14EFco/s1600/battle_of_the_sexes_header%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28soncB5vzZv4CT0BLPuXqXSbiuNEDNZuE-Tfrv2mDaqrrXEl-GNoBHXb3SyufcW3ukKaXcnylB5XeHor0N2kb0EyiruMEroUt2YyNWSkJlbGmEIchLLjhKHquz6sbukAGomPM14EFco/s320/battle_of_the_sexes_header%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></o:p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I found that on nights out, and
even in colleges and places like that, women when approached might not even be hostile
or angry, just indifferent and not even interested enough to be disinterested;
but, sometimes when you see the same woman weeks later, perhaps in the same pub
or place you saw them before, they seem interested or they are looking at you,
not angrily but just what might be deemed curious or even interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women especially seem to blow hot and cold,
and not to say this is only women, we all do to a certain extent, we might see
someone we were not interested in and then suddenly find we are interested in
them; this even goes for friends of the opposite sex too, who we can suddenly
or bit by bit start to develop feelings for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, speaking as a man, I have found that women can be like this a lot,
indifferent almost as a default stance, and for many men this can be off-putting
and upsetting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may say, well you
need to develop backbone and be more of a man in this kind of situation and all
the rest of it, but men are no different to women in that we don’t want to be
hurt and we don’t like to be messed around and nobody but nobody likes to be
rejected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another core of the dating game
and the whole looking for love and romance scene, is the whole issue of rejection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the fear of rejection is so big for many
people, for both men and women, that it means we don’t speak to someone and we
go home regretting what we could have said but didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody likes being rejected because it makes
everyone feel like a loser and, not to be vulgar, it makes everyone feel shitty
and even worthless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you already
have issues of rejection or low self-worth or feel unloved for some reason as
well, this can be a very painful stumbling block for many of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the romantic version of the Israelites
seeing the Sea of Reeds and seeing no way through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rejection is a big problem for me, as I think
it is for many people both male and female, and in the past if someone rejected
me I often took it to heart and it depressed me, and of course as you go out
again to change your luck but only notch up more rejections, it begins a cycle
of misery, feelings of worthlessness, a growing anger towards women and the
need the week after to go out again, only as you do, week after week, you are
feeling more and more dejected and likely to be ignored or rejected anyway
simply because you look miserable or angry or disappointed or a mixture of all
three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be like an addiction in
itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to quit eventually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am in a healthier place emotionally now,
but in the first instance I had to suffer these things, these rejections and
the emotional pain of feeling and being rejected too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as I said, no one but no one likes to be
rejected and no one but no one likes to feel rejected, nor may I add does
anyone like other people knowing they have been rejected either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for the most part, it is something that
some of us can internalise to even a very great degree, as I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The British way as well, is to drink a lot
when we go out, so our emotions are on overdrive and our critical faculties
become blurred just like our eyesight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s then that many men make their move, after summoning up Dutch
courage, and this is perhaps another problem for men to think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeking a loving and lasting relationship
rarely comes about through people being in an artificial situation whilst being
lubricated, especially if you’ve had one over the eight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-Tr4eo9vRlfOx8awPOS-0l8MytaPv0HNGe96NipFBSy86n-o0Kgiw-l6YxAy4LSm3iLQdKptSDbw2VJ_QjqCZyy179bNvCuevheatGKZ4cplMEnapktRwR5Nj9WHe4Bx8ogBFDvWWRI/s1600/Z-BRITS-articleLarge%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-Tr4eo9vRlfOx8awPOS-0l8MytaPv0HNGe96NipFBSy86n-o0Kgiw-l6YxAy4LSm3iLQdKptSDbw2VJ_QjqCZyy179bNvCuevheatGKZ4cplMEnapktRwR5Nj9WHe4Bx8ogBFDvWWRI/s320/Z-BRITS-articleLarge%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some may conclude reading this ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you seem extremely bitter about this, and
even bitter about women</i>’ and I am bitter, but at least I am honest,
brutally honest and I think we all need to be honest about this subject instead
of just hiding behind hearsay and half-truths and stereotypes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am at least writing about my personal
experiences here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that until
we get honest about this whole dating scene, and the way women and men
misunderstand and mistreat each other and basically polarise and blame each
other, we will all be walking around blind, refusing to accept home truths
until we decide to get real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This in
fact could be said about any such situation like class and racism and
inequality and prejudices of all kinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A little dose of honest and plain speaking all around may be the fresh
air we all need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, I think the last thing I
say will tally with both men and women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We all go to places like colleges, pubs, coffee bars and places like
that and sometimes we see someone all the time that we like and we get the vibe
they like us, but somehow etiquette or the situation or something else means we
can’t say anything, added to the fear of rejection and the fact that if you are
on a course or go to a place regularly for any reason, making a move on someone
however politely and nicely you may do it and then getting rebuffed in some way
means you will keep bumping into that person again and again; speaking from
experience again, this is not a nice thing to go through at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, if suddenly the person who has snubbed
you suddenly starts paying attention to you but doesn’t say anything, again you
are in a bind; go over and risk making a fool of yourself again, or just ignore
them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, it is painful and
nobody really wins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no happy
ending or perfect solution here, because we live in a fallen and hurting
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe our reaction in the end
to the complexities, problems and sometimes downright painful realities of dating,
romance and meeting someone to love is to be a Christian one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing more, nothing less. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Love is always patient and kind;
love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, it is never rude and
never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up
grievances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love does not rejoice at
wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure
whatever comes.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1
Corinthians 13:4-7 NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Marriage must be honoured by all,
and marriages must be kept undefiled, because the sexually immoral and
adulterers will come under God's judgement.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews 13:4 NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After all, brothers, you were
called to be free; do not use your freedom as an opening for self-indulgence,
but be servants to one another in love, since the whole of the Law is
summarised in the one commandment: You must love your neighbour as yourself.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Galatians 5:13-14 NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some links you might like to look at:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/mr-right/#comment-47996"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/mr-right/#comment-47996</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://cassiclerget.com/2012/08/16/sex-and-the-christian-woman/#comment-1730"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://cassiclerget.com/2012/08/16/sex-and-the-christian-woman/#comment-1730</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://bible.org/seriespage/eat-my-dust-genesis-38-24"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">https://bible.org/seriespage/eat-my-dust-genesis-38-24</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-71871174951463903402013-09-08T00:10:00.002+01:002013-09-08T23:57:09.075+01:00Charity Begins at Home?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently it has come out that a
number of well known British charities pay their CEOs 100k salaries and in some
cases well over this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For someone who
has given to a number of charities over the years, this has come as a bit of a
shock but not that much of a surprise to be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that there is always a way to find
high wages for the people at the top and in the middle of most organisations,
but the wages at the bottom always seem to be low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Equally, it seems that many positions in
charities are also volunteer ones, so it’s fine for a Working class person to
stand around on the street rattling tins in people’s faces and not get paid but
somehow if the person is from a more affluent background then high wages must
be paid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say that this kind of
thing angers me and upsets me for a number of reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firstly, I have given to a number of
charities many times before today and I do not like the idea that money has
gone to pay the often very high salaries of people working in an industry that
by its very nature is about redistributing wealth to those in genuine need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, my idea of charity is certainly not
keeping affluent usually privileged Middle class people in foreign holidays,
piano lessons and private tuition for their kids and living in an exclusive
suburb with a four wheel drive in the garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thirdly, again charity now seems another business that affords professional
people a good living and the rest of us without connections have the ‘privilege’
of volunteering with the vague hope, if that, of getting some form of probably
low paid employment at some future date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course this doesn’t seem to happen to those in the middle ranking and
high end jobs, where wages seem to be very good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fourthly, my worries are like many people who
feel that if large chunks of money given openly and freely and out of the
generosity of often many ordinary people are going in high wages and expense
accounts, just how much is actually going to the people who are supposed to be
the actual recipients of it in the first place? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And fifthly and finally, how different then is
the ‘business’ of charity compared to banking, law, the media, politics,
business and many other institutions that are a part of the economic and social
infrastructure of Britain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t see a
great deal of difference in any of them now in that wages are very high at the top
and afford an affluent lifestyle to those in the middle, but almost always are
low waged at the bottom with the added emphasis now of volunteering being often
the first option for getting on the first rung of the ladder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who does this benefit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It benefits the people in the middle and the
top at the expense of the people at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does this really surprise anyone, if they are being completely
honest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even charity then now is just
another form of easy money that isn’t always being used for what many generous
givers think it is being used for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXg08LlJ2Wq6aRNC18s1v4SFaS1JnwEqkcsk-UjlKf52XOivZE6geSzu6ZFhq7RpkQsNoTbTir1apvQPAbpSGm45SZ_Q8MWUMeC2yiBDGumcOGcBvjogYLgOH59B_DHR71Dyaacc9kpfc/s1600/tumblr_mqdeglCV3Z1r6v7ito1_500%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXg08LlJ2Wq6aRNC18s1v4SFaS1JnwEqkcsk-UjlKf52XOivZE6geSzu6ZFhq7RpkQsNoTbTir1apvQPAbpSGm45SZ_Q8MWUMeC2yiBDGumcOGcBvjogYLgOH59B_DHR71Dyaacc9kpfc/s320/tumblr_mqdeglCV3Z1r6v7ito1_500%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does this sound like I am bitter
and envious and angry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well you’re
right, I am all of the above and many more and I feel that many more people are
too, for many reasons but mainly because somehow affluent people always seem to
remain affluent even in institutions that are supposed to be about
redistributing wealth from the haves and wealthy, to the have-nots and poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not even the fact that there are people
who will get more than someone else perhaps because they have more
responsibility and do a job that requires more skill or education, it is that
there are many skilled Working class people with good educations and degrees
now and often we don’t get a look in, it is always someone from an already
affluent background going on to get a good job whilst the rest of us have to
make do with what’s left over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkQvq7npIkCSku_Zpq3CWKqGQJrJTbckhpC6Q3NPDiVZiKsaFsBPuX8oo6DhnBkvKcgmkeORuppL3-6jMXgBmRRAPPJ8wIf-gozkZxhe6oLUwFLaiJRgkuGFyHGx0RBVuofodsATrMIM/s1600/rights-not-charity%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkQvq7npIkCSku_Zpq3CWKqGQJrJTbckhpC6Q3NPDiVZiKsaFsBPuX8oo6DhnBkvKcgmkeORuppL3-6jMXgBmRRAPPJ8wIf-gozkZxhe6oLUwFLaiJRgkuGFyHGx0RBVuofodsATrMIM/s320/rights-not-charity%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have said this before as well,
but I have noticed that many equal rights organisations purporting to fight for
fairness and justice are almost always top heavy with privileged Middle class
people as well, who seem to always be speaking on behalf of the rest of us not
so lucky and privileged but we are deemed not good enough to speak for
ourselves and consequently from what I have seen of many such organisations
there is nary a Working class person or any kind of person who has endured real
poverty or struggle amongst them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Henceforth, the people who get the good jobs in these organisations are
usually Middle class and don’t really know anything about poverty or real
struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also means that it becomes
a business, a profession, and far less about actually trying to change
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel that such organisations
tacitly and very carefully keep Working class people and poor people out of
them because such a person would see much of what passes for those
organisations as a sham and just another Middle class talking shop and not much
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did actually write to a number
of equal rights organisations a while back asking among other things why they
curiously enough never mentioned class as an issue when all other prejudices
were mentioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only one actually wrote
back to me, and when I replied they never bothered after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought that considering they were
organisations purporting to be fighting for equal rights they didn’t really
respect my rights at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest,
I expected them not to get back to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
feel that class is one of the major issues in Britain and yet it is both subtly
downplayed and constantly ignored by the affluent Middle classes so they can
use it to their advantage in the same way they pretend to be interested in
Black rights and minority rights and because the Middle class, as we all know,
benefit from the unfairness inherent in the system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqtH7iwOiAsuOb2lUlcU2pvFZs5SLwfQO-MlDv8w-KuHoY0yVIbNEX8_qAKRTgk7ZP_U6omWUPXr3XnrU3HF3k0U53d2kPV_UFB1d4s8BKbmLE5OrgFX5sJ8KJhuhyphenhyphen6REhLFyg-XUIes/s1600/Asking+y+ou+to+give+me+equal+rights+implies+they+are+yours+to+give%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqtH7iwOiAsuOb2lUlcU2pvFZs5SLwfQO-MlDv8w-KuHoY0yVIbNEX8_qAKRTgk7ZP_U6omWUPXr3XnrU3HF3k0U53d2kPV_UFB1d4s8BKbmLE5OrgFX5sJ8KJhuhyphenhyphen6REhLFyg-XUIes/s320/Asking+y+ou+to+give+me+equal+rights+implies+they+are+yours+to+give%5B1%5D.jpg" width="318" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My conclusion then is that
privileged and affluent people, although some are concerned about poverty and
try to make a difference, most do not and even those who claim to do so
actually don’t which makes them look dishonest and disingenuous, especially if
someone is saying one thing but doing something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would even say this kind of this is
prevalent to a degree in organised religion where people get a good position
because they are educated and whether they are genuinely Christians or not
seems to be less important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It then
becomes like a business, where the actual message is not important but where
the only thing that matters is just keeping the organisation going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it any wonder that many of us feel
disillusioned with so many things?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As Christians, we know that the world although
on the surface appears fair and just and that good people act for the
betterment of us all, that the reality is that the world is at best unjust,
unfair, riven with all kinds of divisions and every kind of unfairness and that
sometimes bad, uncaring and unscrupulous people rise and decent people with
morals and consideration and compassion for others get sidelined, marginalised
and even ignored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t say everyone
who prospers is bad however, that would be unfair and untrue, nor do I claim
that everyone who is poor or struggling financially or in some other way is
automatically a suffering saint either, because that would equally be naïve and
untrue as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that at times the
world is much more likely to be an unjust place than a just one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Your uprightness is too great, Yahweh, for me to
dispute with you. But I should like to discuss some points of justice with you:
Why is it that the way of the wicked prospers? Why do all treacherous people
thrive?</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Jeremiah 12:1 NJB)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-74745821578998971062013-07-28T23:38:00.002+01:002013-07-30T05:48:26.981+01:00In From the Storm<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It sometimes seems as if all of
my life I have been running from something, but if you asked me what exactly, I
really couldn’t tell you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At many times
I have felt troubled, disappointed, let down by so many people and constantly
experiencing inevitably depressing things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I mean that I have been so used to failing at things that it has become
almost part of my character sadly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
have been things in my past that have affected me, perhaps more than I realise,
and yet I had a pretty happy and peaceful childhood for the most part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alongside all of this, I have a
calling on my life from God and at times I have heeded that call and at many
other times I just haven’t, it is as simple as that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never lived as a regular Christian
because I was not churched and nor do I come from a Christian background or
community and have never been to a church as a part of a believing group so it
has just been me and God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjMJm4N6TJ0_-KN7n1bQ3blU1qEhLXHhkFFDqpxWxXUJL-u0xk-Gz4kkZFdBCxYEJ5ViMO6vZZV9y8dOROUrgQGchRJhJBFegPeBFqscjwPg_jL64lwFhmrBlDyc4rwVafYBzINfAZzk/s1600/20051127224009_england_london_loner%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjMJm4N6TJ0_-KN7n1bQ3blU1qEhLXHhkFFDqpxWxXUJL-u0xk-Gz4kkZFdBCxYEJ5ViMO6vZZV9y8dOROUrgQGchRJhJBFegPeBFqscjwPg_jL64lwFhmrBlDyc4rwVafYBzINfAZzk/s320/20051127224009_england_london_loner%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes, and at the moment, it
seems I have been on the end of emotional distress that isn’t helped by other
negative things in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray, and
it feels like I am not heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I sulk
at God, and won’t talk to Him because He seems not to answer me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I feel abandoned, storm tossed, and thoroughly
miserable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a great place to be, to
be honest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiqyV8oSf5U7_Ft23GDwb9ivQSbMPmtHhDsAIh3CT5yZ8wDXW1leDl5KY-QSoEheekZXznwZFf2hR7nHnFPIzbCk9u1x3JCq5KqpyXOcENrWgu8rpsak_AthSy6N8PSFQutamUw5qpY4/s1600/imagesCAFQUD7Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiqyV8oSf5U7_Ft23GDwb9ivQSbMPmtHhDsAIh3CT5yZ8wDXW1leDl5KY-QSoEheekZXznwZFf2hR7nHnFPIzbCk9u1x3JCq5KqpyXOcENrWgu8rpsak_AthSy6N8PSFQutamUw5qpY4/s1600/imagesCAFQUD7Q.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Compared to some people, I haven’t
had a terrible life, and perhaps compared to others I have suffered badly at
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are issues in my life that
need dealing with, anger issues, issues of low self-worth and issues from the
past that keep coming up to haunt me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
said things to people that I now bitterly regret and did things, few of real
evil intent, that I now regret also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, there are no human beings out there who I harmed in any real
way, no one who would bear me ill will for anything I have done, just want to
make that clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s mostly an
accumulation of things from the past that trouble me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-1Td8AFRXWA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In From
The Storm" (by Jimi Hendrix)</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well i, I just came back today...<br />
I just came back from the storm.<br />
Yeah!<br />
I said: "i just came back, baby...<br />
I just came back from the storm.<br />
Yeah, from the storm.<br />
Well, I didn't know it then,<br />
But I was sufferin', sufferin'<br />
For my love to keep me warm.<br />
It was so cold and lonely, yeah.<br />
The wind 'n' cryin' blue rain<br />
Were tearing me up.<br />
It was so cold and lonely.<br />
The crying blue rain was tearing me up.<br />
Oh, tearing me up.<br />
I wanna thank you my sweet darling<br />
For digging in the mud and picking me up.<br />
Thank you so much!<br />
<br />
It was a terrible rain that was burning my eyes.<br />
......<br />
It was you my love who brought me in.<br />
I love you so much,<br />
I'll never stray from you again.<br />
Hey!<br />
<br />
I just came back baby.<br />
I just came back to get my baby on her way.<br />
Yeah, yeah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On your own day of ordeal God will remember you:
like frost in sunshine, your sins will melt away.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ecclesiasticus
/ Sirach 3:15 NJB)</span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-52447218217197224562013-07-20T23:53:00.001+01:002013-09-04T23:33:25.285+01:00The Whole System is Inherently Unjust<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s obvious that ordinary people
all over the world are now saying that the extreme system of capitalism we live
under is not working for the many but actually the few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not being provocative here nor trying to
stir up trouble or attack individuals either, just being honest and nothing
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is as if we are entering a new
age, a Neo-Feudalism where a relative few own and control everything and
everyone else has to put up and shut up; and it is not working and will cause
problems now and in the near future and in the future to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s look at the problems of
overt capitalism without any concern for other people and without some form of
social justice or even just some common sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Firstly, it is solely about profit, large profit, and nothing else really
matters other than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, it is
often harshly exploitative of everyone involved, except a few at the top and a
slightly bigger minority in the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thirdly, it encourages through the profit motive the practise of paying
low wages at the bottom and trying to get as much for products as
possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fourthly, often the very
wealthiest people and the global corporations, the one who could afford to pay
the most, are actually paying the least in tax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That alone should be enough for people to think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is just on a simple human greed level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid64uQZJEE9lc3tYj-DaFHlxRV6VPXKB-W16YsAmw-agu2rjV7ks_TUwF13DW5vpQrL_axlMZlf_q-d6yVYKyZhPtqRle9igMc6FXY4UsP9Fj-tz6_01tZj3OVj3Lwl_lMFtQpkOQwRI0/s1600/950840421_8f51e70401_b%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid64uQZJEE9lc3tYj-DaFHlxRV6VPXKB-W16YsAmw-agu2rjV7ks_TUwF13DW5vpQrL_axlMZlf_q-d6yVYKyZhPtqRle9igMc6FXY4UsP9Fj-tz6_01tZj3OVj3Lwl_lMFtQpkOQwRI0/s320/950840421_8f51e70401_b%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We then come to the moral issue,
the one that often seems to be ignored or brushed under the carpet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people are utterly selfish and
completely obsessed by greed and being wealthy at all and any cost, it often
almost always impacts on everyone else, in some way or other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People see that justice and compassion,
consideration and fairplay are for losers and nice people, and that being
aggressive, selfish, arrogant, ruthlessly ambitious, cavalier about other
people and overly greedy benefits a person far more in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being greedy means that wealth is
concentrated more and more in fewer and fewer hands and gives less and less
people a chance to benefit from that wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also creates more and more people who think that the only way to get
on is to be as ruthless as those who are rich, so creating more inequity and
more reasons to exploit other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We brought
nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it; but as long as we
have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who long to be rich are a prey to
trial; they get trapped into all sorts of foolish and harmful ambitions which
plunge people into ruin and destruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The love of money is the root of all evils' and there are some who,
pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith and so given their souls any
number of fatal wounds.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1 Timothy 6:7-10 NJB) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some people have abandoned
any moral or decent behaviour, even Christians who put greed and selfish
ruthless ambition, lose sight of anything that is real and get caught up in
what is worldly and also get caught up in competition with other people to have
the most money, the biggest business, the biggest and most expensive house, the
most expensive car, the holiday home, all the most expensive things and the
trappings that comes with having lots of money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you have
millions, once money becomes in a sense immaterial, where do you go then, what
do you do and what can actually add anything to your life when you have everything
you want?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it just becomes a
monopoly game where a person just has and wants more and more for no good
reason, and all the double standards and unfairness meted out to poor people
that there is no money for fair wages, no money in some wealthy countries for
even basic health care, no decent chances for promotion and constant attempts
to belittle anyone who in any way who tries to make things better for poorer people at
the bottom, with words like ‘Communist’ or ‘Socialist’ or ‘not realistic’ or
anything else which simply closes the debate and continues to justify greed and
injustice in the very economic system that underpins the West and now most of
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s all stop hiding behind
political ideology, let’s stop using religion to justify somehow selfishness or
the Prosperity Gospel or anything which is supposed to be about love for other
people and twisting it into a false gospel that has no real value when examined
and is lacking in any truth.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that anyone who reads this who
is poor and struggling, or who is finding it hard to get a
reasonable paying job or paying their mortgage or just finding that bills and
the cost of living seem to keep rising whilst wages and any kind of income
seems to get less and less will probably agree with all I’ve said, whereas
those who are rich, especially those who make their money not to help other
people or even partially for some altruistic reason, but merely to be as rich
as can be regardless of how they get it, will probably dismiss all I’ve
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if God has a calling on
your life, or you have any ounce of conscience, especially the former,
injustice has a way of coming back on you one way or the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And abandoning God for greed may have very
serious, if unforeseen, consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix69ySaXDC0bYKqJkbCDqbySHgHPMvIa_YNJAH-ISWiEGpTEW9o27qJe6mIQpovZFr9_qAPEKUbWdwf38koMsdzvo7a8wfcSAaUFFw5_nm9Z0iY2pR4BdrrYgGjTmTSmmGohFjE01VuCY/s1600/james-carville%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix69ySaXDC0bYKqJkbCDqbySHgHPMvIa_YNJAH-ISWiEGpTEW9o27qJe6mIQpovZFr9_qAPEKUbWdwf38koMsdzvo7a8wfcSAaUFFw5_nm9Z0iY2pR4BdrrYgGjTmTSmmGohFjE01VuCY/s320/james-carville%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What is the answer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all of us to stop being greedy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To stop buying into the culture that
constantly bombards us with the newest phone, or the newest TV, or the newest
trainers (sneakers) or the newest home entertainment system and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To stop living on credit and beyond our
means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To accept that as you
and I have a right to be ambitious for better lives, that also everybody else does too and so
we should not endeavour to walk over other people or dismiss their rights to a
better life while we get ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
people to pay their taxes like good citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For Christians and good people everywhere to learn to be content with
what they have and stop worrying about what they haven’t got, if basic needs
are met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I do not say this because I have lacked
anything; I have learnt to manage with whatever I have. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know how to live modestly, and I know how to
live luxuriously too: in every way now I have mastered the secret of all
conditions: full stomach and empty stomach, plenty and poverty.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Philippians
4:11-12 NJB)</span></div>
</div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-1400499963882533042013-07-07T01:07:00.005+01:002013-07-07T01:08:40.871+01:00What’s It All About?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the last few years I have
struggled against so many things, and usually nothing I do has turned out
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to do something, and
somehow I always fall flat on my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whatever it is I want to do, find time to write my books, work on my
dissertation, find a church, be a more pro-active Christian, find someone to
fall in love with, with the exception of giving up drinking alcohol, has failed
disastrously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has on many occasions
left me feeling down and even depressed, even though within myself I am
generally an optimistic sort of bloke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That seems like a contradiction I know, and it is strange to have two
sides to my character but I think many people are the same as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot wallow in misery, it doesn’t do any
real good but sometimes we have to accept that life doesn’t always go to plan,
or in my case it rarely if ever goes to plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUkrYF4ucUM32JhLNMOMxnOyi3Dso0UdTgLnxtawtl3hbD3DL1FSNdzy3vTrcbp9WBB3AKWBm0ZOrqciCZ2mdf-IRY9ZQFeDI-ufbLVo-m7ferirS5ZtBX8IMzPs-GcJVjaCQLSGqW30/s1600/keep-calm-you-re-a-loser-anyway-1%5B1%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUkrYF4ucUM32JhLNMOMxnOyi3Dso0UdTgLnxtawtl3hbD3DL1FSNdzy3vTrcbp9WBB3AKWBm0ZOrqciCZ2mdf-IRY9ZQFeDI-ufbLVo-m7ferirS5ZtBX8IMzPs-GcJVjaCQLSGqW30/s320/keep-calm-you-re-a-loser-anyway-1%5B1%5D.png" width="274" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, what’s it all about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all must amount to something, right, or
what’s the point of anything if nothing means anything after all? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all just pissing against the wind, and no
matter what we do good or bad has any real meaning anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are told in the Bible that God wants us to
have peace, joy, happiness, contentment and abundant living among many other
good things, and yet life, all life is suffering, all life is pain and all life
is sadness, or seems to be at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are born innocent and free into the world, and somehow we are stained from the
world and all its evil and vices, all its temptations and complications, by all
its contradictions and angriness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
all the stories we are told as kids are about being kind and respectful, being
considerate and caring, and that when we are, nice things will happen to us, we
grow up and realise it was a load of crap quite frankly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see plainly in the world that greed,
selfishness, corruption and a lack of morals and compassion takes a person far
further than a nice person with all these qualities, and that nice people get
walked over and are often side-lined and ignored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course when we are sometimes angry,
confused and even not happy from time to time, we have to pretend otherwise don’t
we, I know I do all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone asks
‘how are you’ even just in politeness, and we repeat almost by default ‘oh fine’
even when we might be anything but.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
who wants to put their condition or suffering on someone else, or get someone
offering well-meaning but often trite and unhelpful advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we don’t to upset even our families or
close friends do we, no matter what hell or suffering we might be going through?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mdmSs3gID-f2o1WlOPQ6YR9aZlPeYNNR3VX_Gj2c1b_l0V-ERUUc3mg3O5WbLNlUgyBlK5CoZEfrqB_AeihcMckqqM65_-iHSH48E-zlFwcs4Fm2Fw7g4Km4m9-SDVECpM8sQtuyTSE/s1600/imagesCAK174YT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mdmSs3gID-f2o1WlOPQ6YR9aZlPeYNNR3VX_Gj2c1b_l0V-ERUUc3mg3O5WbLNlUgyBlK5CoZEfrqB_AeihcMckqqM65_-iHSH48E-zlFwcs4Fm2Fw7g4Km4m9-SDVECpM8sQtuyTSE/s1600/imagesCAK174YT.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What’s the answer, if there is
any that is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Wisely I have applied myself to
investigation and exploration of everything that happens under heaven. What a
wearisome task God has given humanity to keep us busy! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen everything that is done under the
sun: how futile it all is, mere chasing after the wind!</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the writer here, whoever he (or she)
was, seems to be fed up with everything, fed up with anything and if not in
outright despair is just questioning everything and dismissing all human
activity as somehow pointless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Obviously, whoever wrote this was feeling down or extremely cynical at
the same, but it has to be said that it is at least radically honest, which is
refreshing when so many people, even many Christians, seem to think that the
Bible is filled with folk tales and well-meaning platitudes of all kinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hasn’t everyone felt like this at some
point?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seem to feel like it about ten
times a day, but there you go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This society that teaches us
through various means to be ambitious, individualistic, achieving and always
striving may in fact be the very reason why so many of us, often in the midst
of plenty, are unhappy or deeply frustrated in some way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are these desires, these ambitions, things we
really want, or are they brainwashed into us, to make us slaves to power, wealth,
social status, having the ‘best’ of everything or at least slaves to the
attainment of these things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because
we are slaves, or can be, to these and many other things, we can be controlled,
manipulated, told that if we work hard or plan or scheme we too can join the
beautiful people and live in a mansion with a swimming pool and the expensive
car in the drive and the millions in the bank; if only we accept hardship and
struggle and low wages for the time being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s all a trap, an illusion, and although I am not saying that we
shouldn’t better ourselves and be ambitious for better lives, we should really
think about what we do want rather than buying into something simply because it’s
expected of us or just because someone else has got what we think we should
want or have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a big mistake to
covet what other people have, simply because we don’t know how they got their
wealth and success and also because just because someone is wealthy and
successful and has all the trappings of a materially successful life, it is no
guarantee at all of being happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course they could be happy as well!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
people like that piss you off?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_zRkSD6NMirIKc15rH_wPySBHHaQJ8xv_JhtGtmHpt1nMlhHE3af0Txb6z0is3YkfDJ4uIaUSokGIfekYp5Ztx8OU3AFyotbYCk4DBnAAfIenPgc0UJACCV32NLzyYGf2vHlM1S_dSw/s1600/imagesCAINWLQI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_zRkSD6NMirIKc15rH_wPySBHHaQJ8xv_JhtGtmHpt1nMlhHE3af0Txb6z0is3YkfDJ4uIaUSokGIfekYp5Ztx8OU3AFyotbYCk4DBnAAfIenPgc0UJACCV32NLzyYGf2vHlM1S_dSw/s1600/imagesCAINWLQI.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Solomon had everything in terms
of worldly wealth, or it’s reputed that he did anyway, and when asked by God
what he wanted, he asked for wisdom, quite wisely, and God made him the wisest
man on earth and blessed him with power and vast riches too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also had seven hundred wives and three
hundred mistresses as well, so if he staggered home from the pub and was
feeling, shall we say, frisky, there was always someone he could turn to for
some fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, some men might say that
one wife is enough and I am certain that many women would say the same
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean having one wife nagging at
you would be enough for most people, but having seven hundred on your case
complaining you hadn’t washed the dishes again when you’d promised to, or to
not go down the pub with your mates and come home singing again and pee on the
front door, or because you hadn’t put the cat out before going to bed; sheesh,
any benefits of having one thousand women would soon disappear then wouldn’t
they?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as for what program to watch
on the TV?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I certainly think that
old Solomon must have had a shed near his palace where he could get away from
them all and just get some peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7fDWZg_FZC2oWV03jreE2OwngcfEYEkbhh1fO8cUUkajEKRFQD5d2uEEV4yZ3Ud1gkDwDfDT6HvKmeZZHi0PigwM4O7F0TeUts9bxQqJe9xPNzW1I2lm0eZk5q04sk-67jzxtrvtRp4/s1600/16%2520x%25209%2520apex%2520garden%2520shed%2520bespoke%2520600%2520x%2520400%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7fDWZg_FZC2oWV03jreE2OwngcfEYEkbhh1fO8cUUkajEKRFQD5d2uEEV4yZ3Ud1gkDwDfDT6HvKmeZZHi0PigwM4O7F0TeUts9bxQqJe9xPNzW1I2lm0eZk5q04sk-67jzxtrvtRp4/s320/16%2520x%25209%2520apex%2520garden%2520shed%2520bespoke%2520600%2520x%2520400%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When we are going through severe emotional
distress, we should ask God into the situation and spend some time looking at
scripture and spend some time asking God in prayer for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s all I can do at the moment anyway.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-29595991843921731082013-06-29T23:44:00.001+01:002013-07-01T21:19:28.945+01:00Forgiveness, Redemption & Reconciliation<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There has been so much suffering
in the world, for many thousands of years and for many reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of it was because families, tribes,
nations and even empires clashed with the resulting horror, bloodshed and
brutality that always usually ensued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of it was, sadly, ‘religious’ in nature, people using religions to
gain power over other people, gain wealth, land, resources, justify oppression
and ruthless exploitation, slavery and the conquests of other countries, even
‘holy’ wars and crusades, and many other things lost or basically forgotten in
the mists of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we need as
Christians especially to accept that European empires used the notion of being
godly, to conquer other vast territories all over the world, and rather
ironically do very ungodly things to achieve worldly ambitions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was the conquest of New Spain or the
conquests of the British Empire really done for the glory of God, or was it
about greed, selfish ambition, a desire for land, gold, slaves and women and to
make vast profits along the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I
really need to have that answered?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are very specific arguments in Britain about the nature of empire; those whose
ancestors were crushed in some way or ruthlessly exploited have one story to
tell, and those whose ancestors profited or who made good in the British Empire
have another story to tell, quite understandably perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all people from Britain who went out to
the far flung corners of the empire were going specifically to exploit people
and many people were actually going to escape living in poverty in Britain and
for better opportunities in another country, but those who made vast profits in
the slave trade, the plantation system all over the empire and later the
factory system in the Industrial Revolution in late 18<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century,
and throughout the 19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century, England were making vast profits through the ruthless exploitation of people who were generally paid so
little and worked so hard that many of them had very short and very brutish
lives, and if they lived they were worked very hard and paid generally a
pittance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2mtk1Kr4dQN-KtKOVfSBeKKnbV0ky1Y-1XyHdo20BfypdvPjO1iPYaHo_nwUwdeutIH4vZMa9K4IDhNh7BTiKp2Fvt0kqP1WuUrMwOO9IgQTuFLmTY1K-onVzj0olfjlwYcoXLEMbV0/s1116/British_Empire_1897%2520PD%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2mtk1Kr4dQN-KtKOVfSBeKKnbV0ky1Y-1XyHdo20BfypdvPjO1iPYaHo_nwUwdeutIH4vZMa9K4IDhNh7BTiKp2Fvt0kqP1WuUrMwOO9IgQTuFLmTY1K-onVzj0olfjlwYcoXLEMbV0/s320/British_Empire_1897%2520PD%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, as well as harsh
realities, there seemed to be a necessity, especially throughout the 19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
century, of ‘justifying’ the ruthless exploitation of people and the grabbing
of land and wealth and resources, so there developed the idea that white
Europeans, of a certain class at least, were superior to the poorer classes of
Europeans and were certainly superior to Africans and Indians and other peoples
around the world, particularly those with darker skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In effect, adding insult to injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our whole modern world, and indeed global culture
and trade and ideas of all kinds, come out of the ideas and practises of
Europeans and European ambitions and global colonialism for the last five
centuries and certainly for the last two hundred and fifty years at least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some British people, Americans, South
Africans, Australians and others are very reluctant to hear this, and some even
get bitterly angry that anyone should even mention it, but it has to be
mentioned and it has to be talked about, like so many other things that have
been, sometimes very carefully and purposefully, brushed under the carpet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we talk about these things we come to
terms with them, and through talking about them we can seek forgiveness,
redemption and reconciliation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyeQQIEH9Sev-4mPQCMn5VM_tl5ZFWRosU0SeuNin9PhEgryXBfd6mQrCuM398mdRhVa70gusQm3lexe8xzk7FzTE2vw-gH7YQIeYZZV87M8mkVbTF2pexpWn2YnQoeq1Z_sxGz2HXrw/s480/417961_480839855321032_2029235010_n%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyeQQIEH9Sev-4mPQCMn5VM_tl5ZFWRosU0SeuNin9PhEgryXBfd6mQrCuM398mdRhVa70gusQm3lexe8xzk7FzTE2vw-gH7YQIeYZZV87M8mkVbTF2pexpWn2YnQoeq1Z_sxGz2HXrw/s320/417961_480839855321032_2029235010_n%5B1%5D.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For Irish people, Jewish people
and Black people, these notions of European superiority and European global
ambitions have had very bitter, poignant and real consequences, of which for
the most part I don’t have to go over here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My own story alone, as I wrote about in a recent post, is of having
Irish blood, and Welsh blood too, even a little Scots for good measure, and of
course after that, goodness knows what!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we as a family grew up in poverty very probably because my ancestors
on one side of the family at least also grew up in poverty too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can sometimes be a long chain of poverty
that is very hard to break, which is why I try never to judge someone who is
struggling in some way, or who has issues with drink or drugs or even if they
are in and out of jail for that matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We never know what someone else is going through, or has gone through,
so we should never judge for that reason alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Suffice to say, many Jews, black people and Irish people feel angry at
the way their ancestors were treated in the past; we all know about the
Holocaust, we all know about the Slave Trade and most people are aware of the
Irish Famine and perhaps the English establishment encouraging colonies in
Ireland and violently suppressing rebellions against this, for many
centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These stories of course are
just the tip of the iceberg in the story of European empires and European
ambition and expansion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will also add
something else too; I notice that in America and Britain especially, there is a
sense to all these stories that one story is worse than the other, that our
people suffered worse than yours, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Please do not ever go down that path, because it is one of self-pity, it
is judgemental, it is comparing different experiences and it is playing off
your suffering against someone else’s suffering when you may know nothing at
all about that person, their suffering or their history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all bad in effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And above the horrors and sadness and tragedy
we know about, there is so much heartache and sadness in the past that is
forgotten simply because the people who were oppressed or abused or harshly
mistreated had no one to speak about it to or anyone to turn to, and perhaps
lived sad lives of poverty and struggle and hardship as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these things enter our collective history
someway and we are aware that not so long ago people’s lives were for the most
part very hard for all kinds of reasons and most people’s ancestors lives even in the
recent past were hard, or at least unremarkable except for a boring low paid
job and little in the way of plenty many of us have today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pDRKMvwS0TedLqmQAeVNIgazcuGuSdLKXk7Rr5VpQvjVoz0aZFVe6-k0vbVsLCjgKdCieBpBto_gqJip2S0iAskB98j2OHddAi03RqDTRGJHx89k6yZr4SUg9RR8lSO8HekWWOzqyW8/s640/art-suffering%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pDRKMvwS0TedLqmQAeVNIgazcuGuSdLKXk7Rr5VpQvjVoz0aZFVe6-k0vbVsLCjgKdCieBpBto_gqJip2S0iAskB98j2OHddAi03RqDTRGJHx89k6yZr4SUg9RR8lSO8HekWWOzqyW8/s320/art-suffering%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But, notwithstanding all of this,
getting angry and upset is acceptable and understandable, but it won’t change
things one iota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have to forgive
the oppressors and exploiters of long ago, we have to seek redemption for the
hatred we have for other people for any reason, and above all perhaps we have
to seek reconciliation, because in the end we are all hurting for one reason or
another, perhaps for a number of reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We also have to live the lives many of our ancestors couldn’t, the lives
of peace and freedom, the chance to prosper and live decently, that so many
people in the past couldn’t even begin to have because they were poor or black
or Jewish, because they were women, because they were Irish or for any reason
whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forgiveness, Redemption and
Reconciliation are bigger words than hatred, self-righteousness and revenge
anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/OFGgbT_VasI/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/OFGgbT_VasI&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/OFGgbT_VasI&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s a few links to photographs
of times gone by, and some of them also have galleries of other photographs too
and articles attached to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2165262/Rogues-gallery-Fagins-children-Mugshots-Victorian-criminals-shows-thieves-young-11-jailed-stealing-clothes-cash-metal.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2165262/Rogues-gallery-Fagins-children-Mugshots-Victorian-criminals-shows-thieves-young-11-jailed-stealing-clothes-cash-metal.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/02/28/victorian-mugshots-police-portraits-bonhams_n_1306045.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/02/28/victorian-mugshots-police-portraits-bonhams_n_1306045.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/flashback-secrets-of-merseysides-workhouses-4750558"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/flashback-secrets-of-merseysides-workhouses-4750558</span></a></span>T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-46677542761394882312013-06-24T00:17:00.001+01:002013-06-24T16:19:32.226+01:00On My Travels<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I haven’t travelled anywhere this
year, for one reason or another, but do love to travel, usually local places or
places a little further afield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me,
it isn’t just getting to a destination that I really enjoy but it’s also the
actual travel, the getting to the bus or train station, seeing people doing the
same thing, and then of course getting on the bus, knowing that I can relax for
a few hours, have a sleep if I want, have a snack and drink of coke and most
importantly for me, watching all the towns and cities and fields and all kinds
of places and houses and businesses pass by and trying to take it all in; it
gets too much trying to see it all, but to me it’s very pleasurable and of
course the cherry on top is that you are going to somewhere nice, for just a
day, or perhaps a couple of days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I go, wherever I go, I
always take my camera, always and I love to take photographs to remind me of the
nice places I’ve been, even though when I go to the same places again I take
more photographs anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to take
pictures of beaches, sunsets, castles, little towns and villages, places off
the beaten track and just places that are peaceful and, dare-I-say-it, quaint. Just wanted to add, these two towns, Llandudno and Conwy, are both in North Wales. You can google them and see them both on google maps too.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Been a bit busy this week, with one thing and
another, so I’ll cut it short and leave you with a few photographs of my
travels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to write some more about
my travels, with plenty more pix, very soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope you like them?! If you want to see more detail, just click on a pic.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMMdpIveT_2BRatVJTdm7f_4TeEPalXeZYT2tPPIHWoIJOQhpJDwoQ3oHIG1iqOWUa1HMSSRNhkoI8xRD_wr7HRK9ubLgk4vHnbSBtWfUideKLQyc2T_wYUa6MVG7B73Sj7GeCiGBJx0/s1600/Llandudno+beach,+Great+Orme+in+distance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMMdpIveT_2BRatVJTdm7f_4TeEPalXeZYT2tPPIHWoIJOQhpJDwoQ3oHIG1iqOWUa1HMSSRNhkoI8xRD_wr7HRK9ubLgk4vHnbSBtWfUideKLQyc2T_wYUa6MVG7B73Sj7GeCiGBJx0/s320/Llandudno+beach,+Great+Orme+in+distance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Beach, Great Orme in distance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJI57zi-xa6mVUv1b_E-5dN3vw-t4mdP44B8Xy_eN_LXyhb3uUexefn0CY68oRUwOsgtNDK5ShlRNqg4N284CV2osjfKgtwtTZ4F-uI6lyH-oRDZQbAkbU8_FkE-mj0c2ukXUSvsXZF4/s1600/Llandudno+beach,+Pier+in+distance+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJI57zi-xa6mVUv1b_E-5dN3vw-t4mdP44B8Xy_eN_LXyhb3uUexefn0CY68oRUwOsgtNDK5ShlRNqg4N284CV2osjfKgtwtTZ4F-uI6lyH-oRDZQbAkbU8_FkE-mj0c2ukXUSvsXZF4/s320/Llandudno+beach,+Pier+in+distance+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Beach, Pier in distance 1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3kZ8RhkRbvZyYmGq8p6PGaNfVblfTVpF3sz5qz3Np4yEKx-1TWpg4M2tIoyRzVklVX5m3-9htnZJ_RrhzN8vGOrSeUtjFLdTWunry7uxVKLDiRvzQX7yOVLI7l4L7sF0CXXzVCEuMx8/s1600/Llandudno+beach,+Pier+in+distance+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3kZ8RhkRbvZyYmGq8p6PGaNfVblfTVpF3sz5qz3Np4yEKx-1TWpg4M2tIoyRzVklVX5m3-9htnZJ_RrhzN8vGOrSeUtjFLdTWunry7uxVKLDiRvzQX7yOVLI7l4L7sF0CXXzVCEuMx8/s320/Llandudno+beach,+Pier+in+distance+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Beach, Pier in distance 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jycwo3eTCS_u6hBZYjqNukEZ80O15_8MChsMumJG8NxUmOFHz0TjjKbArayMc8afCT_WbfL_fqxcZjWAWv24D9WnHgSF4CQ2TItxg9h2h1v2ebZt-20S9m3pxnvsMMG5Pu19kDTOllQ/s1600/Llandudno+beach,+Pier+in+distance+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jycwo3eTCS_u6hBZYjqNukEZ80O15_8MChsMumJG8NxUmOFHz0TjjKbArayMc8afCT_WbfL_fqxcZjWAWv24D9WnHgSF4CQ2TItxg9h2h1v2ebZt-20S9m3pxnvsMMG5Pu19kDTOllQ/s320/Llandudno+beach,+Pier+in+distance+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Beach, Pier in distance 3</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6XT1cdmecnj0D_tLw_qFk39WgPWAXqzbY0kjAl2QJrpQtjmNhGQUJu1qO-OEsqm2TZuAzvO0h1eYqoRXIbIaTJ5VVAEei6B8o-miUAyj_0acy2el0Spqxfage91SOOjwLTju9F1mcyA/s1600/Llandudno+beach,+Prom+in+distance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6XT1cdmecnj0D_tLw_qFk39WgPWAXqzbY0kjAl2QJrpQtjmNhGQUJu1qO-OEsqm2TZuAzvO0h1eYqoRXIbIaTJ5VVAEei6B8o-miUAyj_0acy2el0Spqxfage91SOOjwLTju9F1mcyA/s320/Llandudno+beach,+Prom+in+distance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Beach, Prom in distance</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Beach</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Pier</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpazk-a4qp2swBS_E51kquUK8sqI070Rh2lOX5JRVN9IhVKK37GZ43inesPf4DotixGynIb4sYTN5pbvUDxwjNNwAEcgYvq87Pi9BpxFmbKWAbRBIN45satlZxohcAAFKmuNCJvYy5pZo/s1600/Llandudno+Prom+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpazk-a4qp2swBS_E51kquUK8sqI070Rh2lOX5JRVN9IhVKK37GZ43inesPf4DotixGynIb4sYTN5pbvUDxwjNNwAEcgYvq87Pi9BpxFmbKWAbRBIN45satlZxohcAAFKmuNCJvYy5pZo/s320/Llandudno+Prom+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Prom, Great Orme in distance</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Prom</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1L_kCvwOrZmyQEuu2TwOHU2ERcmB_JXJ9uevy5CmGcNzfCD1NjQRPA3VvZhjNqc0UIO11Ogq_IFpdSmB6GWfzFrUfFynyw65gfwmaDF8Gcael8URSwOiQE2gv42GwvmrHontOMo8E_c/s1600/Llandudno+Prom,+at+night+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1L_kCvwOrZmyQEuu2TwOHU2ERcmB_JXJ9uevy5CmGcNzfCD1NjQRPA3VvZhjNqc0UIO11Ogq_IFpdSmB6GWfzFrUfFynyw65gfwmaDF8Gcael8URSwOiQE2gv42GwvmrHontOMo8E_c/s320/Llandudno+Prom,+at+night+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Llandudno Prom at night</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Queen Vic Pub, Llandudno</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvIBzvo3cdAGZHw9FNiIxOJJU1QGiy3r9SGyGITr2IV81kgML3vEpR1EUBqi0rT99fSjyNMCCGdOWOMMB6H2rQsDcC291ucc7236hRhk5uZTkSxt9YtJAYQNJGW6LRy-f1xpzYzSepO4/s1600/St+Tudno's+church,+Llandudno.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvIBzvo3cdAGZHw9FNiIxOJJU1QGiy3r9SGyGITr2IV81kgML3vEpR1EUBqi0rT99fSjyNMCCGdOWOMMB6H2rQsDcC291ucc7236hRhk5uZTkSxt9YtJAYQNJGW6LRy-f1xpzYzSepO4/s320/St+Tudno's+church,+Llandudno.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gravestones, St Tudno's Church, Llandudno</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu9PXp6P7l_n9uFGRdxUWenlLQC0GP3ngc38Cp_A2Q_PN3kUdUcQftionFv0Z16IwofmYnKeanLwRi8cXmcGha8kDhI3DuEgZujAb4XsADARFDjaUxsapff4EmIuWGxd9jmWdgyTAPhg/s1600/Tram,+Great+Orme,+Llandudno.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu9PXp6P7l_n9uFGRdxUWenlLQC0GP3ngc38Cp_A2Q_PN3kUdUcQftionFv0Z16IwofmYnKeanLwRi8cXmcGha8kDhI3DuEgZujAb4XsADARFDjaUxsapff4EmIuWGxd9jmWdgyTAPhg/s320/Tram,+Great+Orme,+Llandudno.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tram, Great Orme, Llandudno</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's some photos of Conwy, which is literally up the road and round the corner from Llandudno.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D1ceIYlMgDNGlwxb0wu1mi12i1elwc8tFHOYmdY41Ji383f7LroAZdbABk6EpV0fo5CbyNehgLhJu0r_lpszjjMznwC_-uDCJiOsufkQv5vwD_IVc2u6PpvF7a2t0isk-vRs-Rn4tsU/s1600/Conwy+castle,+Conwy1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D1ceIYlMgDNGlwxb0wu1mi12i1elwc8tFHOYmdY41Ji383f7LroAZdbABk6EpV0fo5CbyNehgLhJu0r_lpszjjMznwC_-uDCJiOsufkQv5vwD_IVc2u6PpvF7a2t0isk-vRs-Rn4tsU/s320/Conwy+castle,+Conwy1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conwy Castle</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeFDOYoXySDgZk1prJQhIC1167XUbtNlx6htCXAhSqtfbRN_PVc2BS6IbieYXmZfVEmCVaUJtgi0l0Y-5kVJf7qk-gxsKwZ_tt54960dARZvCISn7UZ_6rLnueOhSRIIJ-RkL5hyphenhyphenKEs8/s1600/Conwy+castle,+Conwy2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeFDOYoXySDgZk1prJQhIC1167XUbtNlx6htCXAhSqtfbRN_PVc2BS6IbieYXmZfVEmCVaUJtgi0l0Y-5kVJf7qk-gxsKwZ_tt54960dARZvCISn7UZ_6rLnueOhSRIIJ-RkL5hyphenhyphenKEs8/s320/Conwy+castle,+Conwy2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conwy Castle</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gLB_HSQvD9MaVx-Pm11IP7Vg-E-BNbqkwOvmIipTg6lNRHzZ4EUylJ_WcnNzqsM87RmznAvSVBc4gX5tpzvDW8JPMJrRJNYfuxehXa_3oX52AXIA7mvazfeCNyNGORskr7tWTdJA-QU/s1600/Conwy+castle,+Conwy5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gLB_HSQvD9MaVx-Pm11IP7Vg-E-BNbqkwOvmIipTg6lNRHzZ4EUylJ_WcnNzqsM87RmznAvSVBc4gX5tpzvDW8JPMJrRJNYfuxehXa_3oX52AXIA7mvazfeCNyNGORskr7tWTdJA-QU/s320/Conwy+castle,+Conwy5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conwy Castle grounds</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuTYvdMKutydWo07kovUhi_K_ckzCNsogNNQvkOXAmoLcbUdPCuJm7A96Dlev_AEaw29E7C6Pjj8XbbvtqDDsoJd3Ful-rmmDF9pC_F7EtluUDkBBJSdmq9Cct2D_rGe6UyDGIGjA-1E/s1600/Conwy+castle,+Conwy7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuTYvdMKutydWo07kovUhi_K_ckzCNsogNNQvkOXAmoLcbUdPCuJm7A96Dlev_AEaw29E7C6Pjj8XbbvtqDDsoJd3Ful-rmmDF9pC_F7EtluUDkBBJSdmq9Cct2D_rGe6UyDGIGjA-1E/s320/Conwy+castle,+Conwy7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conwy Castle, American tourists!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conwy Castle, inside, taken from turret. Talk about vertigo!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conwy Castle, looking at river</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; 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mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; 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mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; 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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; 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font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; 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mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conwy Gift Shop</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conwy, the smallest house in Great Britain.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-41257614676574548912013-06-17T00:02:00.002+01:002013-06-23T23:28:50.266+01:00Chaos Boy<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems that life can sometimes
be suffering, and what I have found as a Christian is that suffering brings out
questions in me, one way or the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No one likes to suffer, no one, but it’s a reality that some time or
other we will all succumb to some kind of suffering or emotional pain or
heartache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is often big themes too;
love, lust, success, failure, war, peace, happiness, sadness, hatred, harmony
and so much else that makes human life so complex and so interesting but of
course what often goes beyond them all is when we suffer for some reason;
probably one thing all humans have in common is that we have all experienced
suffering in some way for some reason or other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our common human experience today as well as historically is that people
have suffered, do suffer and will undoubtedly suffer at some point in their
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not trying to be miserable here,
just basically honest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a lot of emotional
baggage, in fact I think most people do, but much of my negative feelings come
from past experiences of meeting flaky and not very nice women in pubs and
clubs and trying in my own way to be nice and to get to know them only to
usually meet with some unpleasant or generally negative response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I have issues with this and am asking
God into this each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s rather
curious though is that I have a number of women friends, a good few of them
dotted around the world who except in one case I haven’t personally met but who
I at the same time consider really good friends who I love as sisters, and one
female friend who I see regularly every week and have a good natter with and
share all kinds of DVDs with, especially my growing collection of Film Noir
movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my negative feelings are
already healthily balanced out with this fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, and not to digress, I have felt at times in my life that I was
mistreated by women even though most of these women I never knew at all, just
in passing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times, though only
occasionally I feel a bit down about this and I pray Lord that you give me
inner peace instead of the inner turmoil I have now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God is merciful and He sends me all kinds
of decent people, both male and female, who I love and who love and care about
me too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps my problem is that I am
too sensitive, but I just don’t know really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Unhappy creature, storm-tossed, unpitied, look, I shall lay your stones
on agates and your foundations on sapphires. I shall make your battlements
rubies, your gateways firestone and your entire wall precious stones. All your
children will be taught by Yahweh and great will be your children's prosperity.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Isaiah 54:11-13 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that most single men, and single
women too, desiring genuinely to meet someone to love, be their best mate,
marry and have kids with can take solace in that piece of scripture and I know
that all scripture is worth reading because it has value and God does not make
idle promises, not now or not ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAOAYe1dymSQJqgS_anq2lzaTgY3rj8IVrTuFS06lQQBvhC4O5Q9DuxMq958y-jJ-5pF33YbFlmBtpgH1jl52RETQ8uhx_QKO_9GfzB-s5Z2yBKyTl5szyQ-VJX43ADki45DfxGLMhao/s1600/storm%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAOAYe1dymSQJqgS_anq2lzaTgY3rj8IVrTuFS06lQQBvhC4O5Q9DuxMq958y-jJ-5pF33YbFlmBtpgH1jl52RETQ8uhx_QKO_9GfzB-s5Z2yBKyTl5szyQ-VJX43ADki45DfxGLMhao/s320/storm%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I have come to understand
about love, romance, finding someone to love and all that is that it is not an
easy thing at all, and it isn’t all about being fantastic looking or having
lots of wealth and a big house with a swimming pool with a £100,000 car in the
drive and a few businesses and a holiday home; when people confuse security of
some kind or because someone looks great with love I think in the end they make
a mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course no one wants to be
involved with someone who sits around drinking beer all day watching the TV or someone
who has no drive or ambition, or would be with someone they didn’t find at all
attractive, but there is more to life than perfect looks and a bulging bank
account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although I am a Christian
and try to be modest in the way I approach women, there is an aspect of lust in
the purest romance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you love someone,
you might say in the understated English way ‘she’s alright’ but you might also
add in that saucy English way ‘she’s a bit of alright!’ too, which basically
means that she looks attractive and sexy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whichever way you look at it then, physical attraction has to be part of
love, indeed how could it not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God
created men and women, He created something in us, certainly men at any rate,
to find women attractive, to find femininity and sweetness and long hair
something that we men can’t really do without.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And perhaps women find us men attractive too; sometimes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuJipj7K8khh9_StL5kiP-2vZ8q_1YYv1skrhlsfIfPkotxtTn8W84eyr-xkLoaoBSlY5IvCudJCFL2zlNNcaT7tl8DW3e81nSmwUL48bzWxXJVqMAAnMVcUA-rA1lswAn4PgYMuh8lQ/s1600/47850814761072763uTcnRbc1c%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuJipj7K8khh9_StL5kiP-2vZ8q_1YYv1skrhlsfIfPkotxtTn8W84eyr-xkLoaoBSlY5IvCudJCFL2zlNNcaT7tl8DW3e81nSmwUL48bzWxXJVqMAAnMVcUA-rA1lswAn4PgYMuh8lQ/s320/47850814761072763uTcnRbc1c%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all have struggles with the
flesh, in one way or another. I hasten to add I’m not running around with wild
wanton women, getting drunk and running off into the night; more’s the pity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, we all struggle with our feelings,
all kinds of feelings, and our feelings often affect the way we are physically
to a point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are happy, then
generally we feel physically good, and if we are unhappy then this can make us
feel run down, or give us headaches or stomach aches or generally make us feel out
of sorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And many Christians, both men
and women, struggle with feelings that God wants us to control, and perhaps many
Christians, if they are honest, feel a twinge of jealousy when they see people
doing what they want and living lifestyles that perhaps in the end don’t really
bring any peace or meaning into their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before I was a Christian, I was a bit wild, I partied, looked for women
and drank a lot of beer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, doesn’t everyone
get a bit wild sometimes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I drink
moderately or often not at all, I rarely go out on the town; and as for
women?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I’m working on it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vYnR8nUhV1P5Gyn66gF_-UNSv_9z4hFybyrp_LappOFtm6ga5EAlV9XYUl65eCB8cIGuvYX02KqX7Veg5UynsemRpW-ql_s25qo51CqjAvpKTfJIT1mVtirQKZJjVU8PDp3Bft3fn4I/s1600/367176141_7961500a18%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vYnR8nUhV1P5Gyn66gF_-UNSv_9z4hFybyrp_LappOFtm6ga5EAlV9XYUl65eCB8cIGuvYX02KqX7Veg5UynsemRpW-ql_s25qo51CqjAvpKTfJIT1mVtirQKZJjVU8PDp3Bft3fn4I/s320/367176141_7961500a18%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now I see the value of not living in the past,
not living in the future, just trying to live day by day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I worry about something in the future, I’ll
get all stressed out about it and then when it finally happens, as is usual, I’ll
be thinking what did I have to worry about anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect we all do this from time to
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am firmly trying to put my life
in God’s capable hands and just let Him deal with everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And letting go and just letting God work in
our lives is the easiest thing to say, and perhaps the hardest thing for
Christians to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, we’re very good at
preaching aren’t we, but not so good at listening to biblical advice and wisdom
ourselves?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will
take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Matthew 6:34 NJB)</span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-81158381840263043762013-06-09T00:25:00.001+01:002013-06-09T15:08:40.883+01:00The Irish Experience<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the last few days, the British
government has offered to pay compensation to a group of people called
collectively Mau Mau’s after an uprising in Kenya against British colonial rule
in the 1950’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A British government
spokesman, William Hague, said that the British government were apologising for
its part in the ruthless campaign against these Africans and would be giving
compensation to a number of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a
British paper I read, the Daily Mirror, the atrocities mentioned that the
British used against those who they believed had resisted in any way included
rape and castration, apart from those just killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And please let me say quickly that both sides
committed murders and atrocities against each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the culpability it now seems, admitted by
the present British government, lies with the British administration first for
its ruthlessness, arrogance, racism and pomposity of the British rulers and
their general high-handed attitude to those they ruled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DnIoI8bMG2TemkC7KZ22Js_z_23kxm8HAeQYPlZ27Bf0iyzcRHfL2blU3nku3DPvuQJ0zZOJYQnyHUEsOY7HcbxGUZndartKXboMHiDjHLHgFKsqRUlK7dwMANUA6goQ1Et1GDMsCns/s1600/_63292879_ijhg5jvb%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DnIoI8bMG2TemkC7KZ22Js_z_23kxm8HAeQYPlZ27Bf0iyzcRHfL2blU3nku3DPvuQJ0zZOJYQnyHUEsOY7HcbxGUZndartKXboMHiDjHLHgFKsqRUlK7dwMANUA6goQ1Et1GDMsCns/s320/_63292879_ijhg5jvb%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This possibly little-known story,
one of many such stories throughout the time of the British Empire shows up
empire for what it really was, all empires I may add, and gives the lie to the
sometimes fondly fostered myth that British people and Europeans, even rather
genteel Middle and Upper class well educated and polite Europeans, were
civilised and the rest of the world outside Europe was uncivilised and filled
with barbarians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been a theme used
ever since people have conquered and colonised other parts of the world, but it
seems that by the 19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century such ideas like civilised versus
savage, superior versus inferior, European culture versus the rest of the world’s
lack of culture, where beginning to be promoted and becoming a part of
mainstream scientific and intellectual thought, helped along by Darwin’s and
other pre-eminent men of letters ideas and thoughts of this nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These notions, especially simplistic, easy to
understand and highly charged ones like ‘civilised versus savage’ became the
backbone of the ideology which blithely allowed British people, of all
backgrounds, to conquer, ruthlessly oppress and exploit, grab land and
otherwise murder and eliminate people all over the world, people they were
calling savages!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there not a dreadful
irony to it all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most people if they’re
honest would suggest so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end,
such ideologies merely added insult to centuries of injury, and gave
justification, if that was really needed anyway, to the greed and selfishness
of Europeans in their growing empires around the world.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefO3pLjCBCRK1kxjwgCSE2t6Q9EAOg1TnQrvJ2Li4nFg5YF2F7sXfyz2wmUGM-Fpi8lNpLcn81jf8bbasCt9aewTNmt32LkLNAJyfkQ1HS-ZCmUjym_BMTu4-yxq65JIC5_jCeujJ0uE/s1600/Cecil_Rhodes_bestrides_Africa%5B1%5D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefO3pLjCBCRK1kxjwgCSE2t6Q9EAOg1TnQrvJ2Li4nFg5YF2F7sXfyz2wmUGM-Fpi8lNpLcn81jf8bbasCt9aewTNmt32LkLNAJyfkQ1HS-ZCmUjym_BMTu4-yxq65JIC5_jCeujJ0uE/s320/Cecil_Rhodes_bestrides_Africa%5B1%5D.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many people seem to think that
such racism, such vile and simplistic ideas were directed only against black
people or generally non-Europeans, but here is where racism and basically cruelty
and unpleasantness take another turn, that of the Anglo-Saxon ‘superiority’
against the perceived ‘inferiority’ of the other Celtic peoples in the British
Isles, falling particularly hardest against the Irish, but also culminating in
oppression and brutality against the Welsh and the Scots too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One Englishman, a clergyman called Charles
Kingsley, a supposed man of God remarked on the ‘white chimpanzees’ he had seen
in Ireland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kingsley had been impressed
by Darwin’s 'On the Origin of Species’ which fed into the growing ideas of the
day and helped them along, ideas that evolution and most perniciously ideas
like ‘the Great Chain of Being’ where not theories but actual realities of the
way the world had worked and the way the world should be conquered, dominated
and colonised by superior white Europeans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Irish Famine of the 1840’s, where about a million people starved to
death has left an indelible stain on Irish history and popular culture to this
day, and whatever the true facts of the case, there is a feeling amongst many
Irish people even today, and those of Irish descent too, that those primarily
in charge, the English establishment in London, did far too little and acted
far too late to actually alleviate any of the suffering than if they had acted
earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some Irish people, although
this can’t really be proved or substantiated to any serious degree, believe
that the English wanted to clear the poor Irish off the land, one way or the
other, so that they could get if for themselves and put pigs and perhaps other
livestock on the land, more profitable than poor Irish peasants at any
rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the truth of the matter,
it seems that a combination of English conquest and interference in Ireland for
centuries, neglect by the English who ruled Ireland, a basic lack of
consideration for what were seen as just Irish peasants, and basically English
racism culminated in the tragedy or helped to make a bad situation into
something that still makes Irish people bitter and angry to this day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJInZqruBGi10DeQfBcoQqUpbd598TTDqRCoP56VWXAjJ8Pl488kFnIkVJXFheUk1HyB3xBmbMfPhDbQCie2K-cobPoBXJIBBzx-IBSIUj1g04LqWo2c7T5pXWuWdmwERcyDWYnhsHvs/s1600/Irish%2520Famine2eviction%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJInZqruBGi10DeQfBcoQqUpbd598TTDqRCoP56VWXAjJ8Pl488kFnIkVJXFheUk1HyB3xBmbMfPhDbQCie2K-cobPoBXJIBBzx-IBSIUj1g04LqWo2c7T5pXWuWdmwERcyDWYnhsHvs/s320/Irish%2520Famine2eviction%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have my own personal story to
add to this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad was an Irish orphan,
although brought up in England, and my mum has Irish and Welsh ancestry too,
with a little touch of Scots for good measure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On discovering a little about my family’s ancestry, to my knowledge
there is no English of any kind in us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ironically all over the world, in places like Australia, New Zealand,
Canada, America, many people now speaking English and being seen as part of the
‘Anglo-Saxon’ world are as much likely to be Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish
and even Manx as they are to be English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And in England itself, many people are like me, descended from Celtic
ancestors who now might be calling themselves English or just the umbrella term
‘British’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The racism towards Celtic
people was also possibly due to class differences as well; the rather superior
English, or some of them at least, seeing that many poor people coming to find
work in England from the middle of the 18th century onwards were not
particularly educated, may have been poorly dressed and not sophisticated in
any way, racism and class prejudice being in this way interlinked as they often
are around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The curious thing
is, I cannot really define what being English means; it is as much about
culture, accents of all kinds and upbringing as it is about any real genetic
idea of Englishness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps this is
where English racism and notions of superiority come from, indeed all racism
and notions of superiority come from, ignorance and uncertainty about who you
are and what you might be culminating in a growing sense of hatred towards
people that might seem to have a more solid ethnic identity like the
Irish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But perhaps that is too
simplistic, I just don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s some links you might like
to look at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.eirefirst.com/archive/unit_2.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.eirefirst.com/archive/unit_2.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://robertnielsen21.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/was-the-irish-famine-genocide/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://robertnielsen21.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/was-the-irish-famine-genocide/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/sadlier/irish/Famine.htm"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/sadlier/irish/Famine.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://www.victorianweb.org/history/race/Racism.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.victorianweb.org/history/race/Racism.html</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.sovereignindependentuk.co.uk/2012/07/11/potatoes-and-white-chimpanzees/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.sovereignindependentuk.co.uk/2012/07/11/potatoes-and-white-chimpanzees/</span></a></span>T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-84717025704132242322013-06-02T23:34:00.000+01:002013-06-02T23:36:40.606+01:00Rebel at Heart<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much of what we do in life is
based on law, we have to do things often that involve the correct procedures,
health and safety, consideration for others and just because doing something
wrong will 99 times out of 100 result in an unwanted outcome of some kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for the Christian, being law-abiding
isn’t something we choose to do, it is part of our calling from God that we
must do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In saying all this, there is a
desire in many people to rebel, to do something that they shouldn’t do, to dye
their hair green even; in short, to do something naughty!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing bad to anyone else I mean, or being
anti-social to others in the street, I’m going beyond that; I mean doing
something that you wouldn’t normally do, taking a bus ride and not worrying where
it will end up at, buying a leather jacket that makes you look edgy and cool,
doing something out of character and changing your image and even being the
person you have always wanted to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
having to worry about what others think about you, being happy, being
eccentric, not taking yourself too seriously at all, thinking of a funny joke
or witticism and saying it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ned Kelly was an Irish-Australian
outlaw, a rebel and hero to some, a murdering amoral bandit to others, but he
is Australia’s Jesse James or their Robin Hood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If he had been around in the 1940’s he probably would have been an
Aussie film star and made it to Hollywood, or if he had been around in the 1960’s
he might have been the Aussie Eric Clapton or Jim Morrison, his rebellion and
anger expressed in a more positive way, but low born Aussies of Irish descent
in the 1880’s in the wilds of the outback didn’t have those options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Australians may feel troubled by knowing
they are descended from a British convict and even feel anger towards British
people or Britain, but the bigger picture is what’s needed to be seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all descended for the most part from
poor obscure people and most of our ancestors struggled with some terrible reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a sadness in Ned’s eyes, even behind
the anger, a sadness that speaks volumes, a human sadness that we have all felt
at times, a sadness that through all the suffering and even horror, there could
or should be something more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a now mostly forgotten film,
called ‘The Petrified Forest’ the character Alan Squier, played by the very
English actor Lesley Howard, who is a drifter looking for something or perhaps
looking for nothing in particular, gets caught up in a situation where the
famed killer Duke Mantee, also played ably and convincingly by Humphrey Bogart
takes over the diner they all find themselves in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the film, after a little chat,
as Duke and his gang want to escape the encroaching police, Alan says of and to
Duke ‘…you’re the last great apostle of rugged individualism’ and with that shoots
him; not a happy ending for either as Duke and the boys get their comeuppance a
little later too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the scene just
before Duke goes, there is a sadness in his eyes that almost made me cry; again
a sadness that says if only things had turned out better or had been better in
the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the now seminal and legendary
1960 film ‘Saturday Night and Sunday Morning’ the very Working class Arthur
Seaton is a bloke who works, parties hard and is a womaniser who even messes
with other men’s wives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arthur is the
first real English Working class rebel, on film anyway, an honest earthy
portrayal of a real Working class lad with a Working class upbringing in
Working class surroundings, where he says honestly : ‘What I'm out for is a
good time - all the rest is propaganda!’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, he is settling down with his real
girlfriend onto a new housing estate, his rebellion probably disappearing with
his growing beer belly, responsibilities and future prospects; oh well, at
least he was a rebel!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then there is John Lennon, the
Liverpool rebel and writer of the song ‘Working Class Hero’; for many people in
Liverpool, John represents their wit, intelligence, cheekiness, sassiness,
creativity and a general all round individuality and anti-authoritarian tone
that many Liverpool people cherish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was
he Working class or Middle class? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suspect the jury is still out on that one, but he came from the obscure suburbs
of Liverpool to the world’s stage, and nothing was ever the same again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the start the Beatles were writing poppy,
pleasant ditties, nice enough for the most part but nothing too great, as their
career progressed however their creative muscles flexed wildly and their fame
then turned to admiration as they led the world of pop music to new heights and
took pop music into the world of serious culture, something that was considered
art in its own right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the driving
force behind it all was John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sad and
fractured childhood, where both his parents effectively abandoned him, left him
angry and bitter and with a very sardonic and sarcastic wit, and a desire, as
we have seen, to make something of himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And so the world gave birth to another erratic genius, another genuine
rebel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I listen to a lot of music when I
am writing, and now and again I listen Beethoven primarily because his music
moves me, sometimes to tears and other times just to know that this man was
writing music that he was investing his emotions and his soul into, which is
why it stands the test of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
so the story goes famously cantankerous, not easy to get on with, and someone
who though supremely gifted was looked on by some in high society as a commoner
or upstart; the same old story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
rebel without a cause could we say?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ultimate rebel for me is
Jesus; a man who decided willingly to go to a painful death when He could like
the rest of us would have, done a runner and disappeared to some backwater
somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the Devil tempted Jesus:
‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Next,
taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the
world and their splendour. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he said
to him, 'I will give you all these, if you fall at my feet and do me homage.'</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 4:8-9 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we know Jesus didn’t, and He remained
true to His calling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the Rolling Stones song ‘Sympathy for the
Devil’ they are saying that the Devil was the first real rebel; no he wasn’t!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was the first real rebel.</span>T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-60704153546693775232013-05-26T23:17:00.001+01:002013-05-26T23:18:55.761+01:00Bread & Roses<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I watched a pretty good film the
other day called, surprise surprise, ‘Bread & Roses’ and it is about mostly
poor Hispanic cleaners in Los Angeles USA fighting for their rights, better pay
and health care against employers who couldn’t care less, and also the story is
about how other people are exploiting them too, and they even squeeze in a love
story as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed it to be
honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me think of the menial
jobs both my parents did when I was younger; my dad worked at various times as
a navvy, basically an unskilled labourer, fixed street lighting, worked as a
chef, a bus conductor and even did national service, what Americans call ‘the
draft’, and served his time in Cyprus when there was trouble there in the 50’s
and also a stint in Jordan around the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all bad jobs by any means but mostly
Working class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mum worked in a big
department store at one time and then cleaned pub toilets at another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose for one reason I have had chunks of
unemployment in my life, partially due to bouts of severe depression in my
life, even though I did get educated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have come to the understanding that no one wants, or deserves, to be ruthlessly
exploited by other people, especially if those doing the exploiting are making
lots of money at the expense of those who they are exploiting, and usually for
low wages in dead end jobs with no security or real benefits of any kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not about politics, it about fairness
and social justice; it is also a moral issue too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone claims to be a Christian, and then
happily accepts that someone can work for a criminally low wage whilst they
themselves are making a fortune, how then is that manifesting a love for your
neighbour?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t quite frankly, it is
just hypocrisy of the worst kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve struggled all my life with
low self-worth, for one reason or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Always felt for this reason or that I was somehow less than other
people, no confidence at all in who I was, whoever I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, I can’t really say; not fully
anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I have a calling on my life,
and how can anyone really understand that or explain that to someone else, then
surely that should mean something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coming
from a Working class background could account for some of it, but certainly not
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people have Working class and
Blue Collar backgrounds, it’s not an uncommon experience at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were poor, but not in any way really
deprived; no it’s more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house
we lived in was a slum, no more or less; no bathroom, no electric sockets, one
bedroom for the whole family, one crappy living room doubling as a kitchen, no
fridge, TV run off the light socket, a roof that leaked in about eight places
when it rained, a loft that had pigeons living in it and to top it all an
outside toilet; don’t ask what we had to do if we needed to ‘spend a penny’ in
the middle of the night!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even that
wasn’t so bad, because for the most part I feel I had an idyllic
childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t think about such
things as a kid, everything that happens or the way you live is just normal to
you; only when you meet other people you see that you were ‘deprived’ somewhat
or even ‘privileged’ or whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
then what can it all mean, we’re all different anyway, all often very different
experiences, different ancestors, different stories to tell, not one of us is a
stereotype, we are all different people; and yet at the same time, we are all
only human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, back to the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it’s then that I suffered with bouts
of at times severe depression from my late teens till I was about thirty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That didn’t help matters to be honest and the
subsequent unemployment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But is it
something more than all this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can’t
answer this it’s unlikely anyone else can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But something within me tells me that when I started to be aware of
other kids’ affluence that I started to feel deprived in some way, and in
another way I was a quiet kid too; sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At other times I was a cheeky, funny, trusting kid who tended, and still
do at times, to take people at face value and had a tendency to believe what
anyone said; I soon found out that even the nicest people can lie, even if just
to amuse themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, is my low self-worth
something deeper, is it something that is because of my poor background, or my ‘lower’
class background, or my depression, or what? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I was transported back to
America in the 50’s when Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker was playing in a nightclub in
some glamorous or even down at heel downtown big city club, and drinking some
great tequila, I’d wonder if I was in a dream, and if I was, just don’t wake me
up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>American culture represents two
contradictory realities; one, a hard-assed, hard-nosed, totally profit oriented
reality, and often always combined with the other, an artistic, completely free
pursuit of the artistic muse for its own sake that can’t be faked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we see that with Jazz for example,
something which was an underground, sometimes underclass African-American
musical expression of their lifestyle, a lifestyle that was different from the
mainstream Middle class white experience, becomes an accepted American art form
that transforms American society and then a global art form that helps change
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does a calling from God
really mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">'Before I formed you in the womb I
knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I appointed you as
prophet to the nations.'</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Jeremiah 1:5 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is obvious
that when we start to understand God’s calling on our lives, however that comes
about and however we become aware of it, it is something that goes beyond our
understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, it must have bearing
on our lives, perhaps slowly at first, but eventually completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have learnt this the hard way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it mean that we are better than other people
or that somehow we are more holy than other people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well I’m not anyway, and I am certainly not particularly
holy or religious for that matter either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Read this: ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then since the gifts that we have differ according to the grace that was
given to each of us: if it is a gift of prophecy, we should prophesy as much as
our faith tells us; if it is a gift of practical service, let us devote
ourselves to serving; if it is teaching, to teaching; if it is encouraging, to
encouraging. When you give, you should give generously from the heart; if you
are put in charge, you must be conscientious; if you do works of mercy, let it
be because you enjoy doing them.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 12:6-8 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is then that God picks us because He gives
us spiritual gifts to use wisely and as part of that calling, especially for
the benefit of other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For the Son
of man himself came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Mark
10:45 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our calling then is not a
selfish one, or to make us look good or feel that we are better than anyone
else, because we are not quite simply, but to serve others and to serve God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does ordinary mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does special mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a big fan of Jimi Hendrix, and although
he came from a very fractured and poor background where his dad was often out
of work and when he did work it was low paid, and because he was black the
employment laws in Seattle meant that black people were kept out of all kinds of
jobs, and only the most menial and low paying jobs were open to them, Jimi was
one of the most talented musicians and performers and one of the most creative
composers in rock and pop, in spite of the fact he grew up in poverty and
reduced circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was ordinary,
his background was similar to many poor black people and poor white people of
that time, in fact it was when things were slowly beginning to change for poor
black and white people, but he was extraordinary at the same time, his talent
and genius lifting him out of poverty and obscurity to then becoming, and still
now, one of the most famous people on the planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we could look at someone like an
aristocrat of some kind, who more often than not may not be very accomplished,
not particularly bright, not overly talented but still somehow be seen as
special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, are they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who says so?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some ways, regardless of talents or
accomplishments or lack of them, I feel all people are special and certainly
unique, and in other ways we are all ordinary, we do mundane things, we all for
the most live mundane lives and have to do normal things whoever we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all extraordinarily ordinary. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Does anything we do, anything we eat, anything
we say, anything at all we experience really matter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as something happens we all seem
happy enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it fish and chips you
ate, or the most expensive chateaubriand steak with everything else just right
and the finest wine you could afford?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does it matter anyway?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your belly
is full whatever you ate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does any of it
really matter after all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saint Paul said
this about the subject, or thereabouts: ‘</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know how to live modestly, and I know how to
live luxuriously too: in every way now I have mastered the secret of all
conditions: full stomach and empty stomach, plenty and poverty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing I cannot do in the One who
strengthens me.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Philippians 4:12-13 NJB)</span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-77822073168733714092013-05-19T22:20:00.000+01:002013-08-04T20:12:40.924+01:00City Boy<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">City boys have more fun, but do
we miss out on things that those in little villages and those
off-the-beaten-track places you might find in rural Wales or Scotland or
Ireland do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, although many city people are Working
class economically or because of the job they do or the accent they have, we
are classless in some ways the same as Americans are classless, because we are
more or less the same in some ways at least and have the same problems people
living in big cities often have to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Living in a city is a great leveller; we all go to the same colleges,
travel on the same buses, visit the same supermarkets and we have to put up
with all the things that big city people have to deal with; bad councils,
rubbish everywhere, run down parks, gangs hanging around street corners,
unemployment, drug problems, higher rates of crime and many other issues that
anyone living in a big city will be only too aware of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am a person from a fairly big
city, a city boy, someone who has at various times been used to living
cheek-by-jowl with many thousands of other people and seen the best and worst
of people all having to live together for one reason or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cities create good people and bad people, although
I will always say that we all have bad experiences now and again and it’s not
the experience that defines us so much as our reaction to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was bullied in school, and although for the
most part not serious systematic bullying, I still have anger towards it to
this day and I generally despise bullies, who are always usually cowards who
pick their targets, and so have a bit of an attitude myself; I admit it, I
still feel a residue of anger towards one or two who bullied me to this
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, by the grace of God, I
don’t feel the need to dominate or belittle others to make myself feel better,
or feel the need for revenge either; what would be the point anyway?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, wouldn’t God have a problem with me if I
sought even the merest notion of revenge?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Never try to get revenge: leave that, my dear friends, to the
Retribution. As scripture says: Vengeance is mine -- I will pay them back, the
Lord promises.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans
12:19 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if I am honest, most of
the bullying was verbal with the occasional punch and one or two other slightly
worse things; but it was generally sporadic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also tend to dream regularly about one of my bullies and in the dream
I am scared too, which is strange to be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyway, I generally look like a city boy and sometimes wear hoodies and
tracksuit bottoms, but I can also dress ‘urban smart’ too, and can fit in most
everywhere to be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all very
different people too even though all living the same largely urban life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last night I felt so stressed
that I thought I needed a few glasses of wine to chill out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, eat your bread in joy, drink your wine with a glad
heart, since God has already approved your actions.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ecclesiastes 9:7 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know people can take scripture out of
context and perhaps do so all the time, but as I very rarely drink alcohol to
excess, and didn’t on this occasion I thought that I would have a drink in
moderation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incidentally, I notice when I
get seriously stressed or have a minor passing bout of depression, both usually
infrequent, I can get headaches, stomach problems, shoulder aches and back
aches and generally I feel out of sorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m totally fed up with suffering; but who isn’t?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it true that people in big cities are more
prone to stress than people living in small villages in the country somewhere
or people who live way out far from the madding crowd and right off the beaten
track?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much of our stress is down to wanting
things we don’t really need and how much is down to not trusting God with our
lives?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do any of us really let go and
just let God do whatever He wants to do 100%, or is there some little bit of us
that wants to be in charge?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I had
a few glasses of wine, a few double Bacardi and Cokes, drank them slowly and
watched a few films, and think I enjoyed myself too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And today I seem a little less stressed to be
honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You should give up drinking only
water and have a little wine for the sake of your digestion and the frequent
bouts of illness that you have.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1 Timothy 5:23 NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the 1500’s or 1600’s when most
people’s lives were hard one way or the other, did people enjoy the feel of the
sun on their faces, or the sight of a beautiful sunset at the end of the day,
or a particularly beautiful cloud formation or a seagull crying on the wind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these things can in their own way bring
joy and happiness, they cost nothing and yet can mean more than many material possessions
can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who in the UK when going on a
holiday or day out as a kid to the seaside didn’t feel something akin to joy
when they heard a seagull cry, knowing that it meant the beach and simple
pleasures were not that far away?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
yet…and yet, all those things seem so far away when we reach adulthood,
fripperies that we aren’t meant to be bothered with any more as we make our
weary way in the world and wonder what the magic of childhood actually meant,
if anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now we see only reflections in a
mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can know
only imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Corinthians 13:12 NJB)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zyz1L1XH698/UZlFuNY3QZI/AAAAAAAAAzo/VcKSCS2wVm4/s1600/Sunset,+West+Kirby+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How should a Christian live in the city?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we judged by different rules to those in
more hidden places, or are God’s laws applicable to us as well?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I have found that having respect for
others in a city is also having respect for self; there are a lot of sometimes
very tough hard-bitten people in big cities and being aggressive and angry to
others may very well result in someone taking a slight to you, and this could
result in unforeseen but perhaps obviously inevitable outcomes, at the very
least someone abusing you verbally to getting beat up, or worse even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Respect for others is respect for self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no one said that Christians anywhere had
to be wussy or prissy in any way, I am hardly that myself, we can still be
blokes who dress and look ‘street’ and yet as Jesus has a calling on our lives,
we must learn to be gentle in a hard world, and what better grounding for that
than living in a big tough city?</span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-2387066515862166812013-05-12T00:52:00.001+01:002013-05-12T00:52:24.853+01:00Heaven Can Wait
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remember my childhood; poor but
generally happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I entered my
mid-teens nothing seemed certain anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of the friends I had all went on their separate ways, mostly never
to be seen again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if any of
them really remember me as I remember them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I still haven’t made a success of
my life, and still wonder what my future holds and what great plan God has in
store for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In thinking such
philosophical things, I either come to some conclusions or I just end by asking
myself even more questions, which equally lie unanswered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s a general curse of humanity that we
all have so many questions but rarely ever any satisfying answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evolution?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Creation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From apes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or specially created?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6000 years old?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or unfeasible billions of years?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A reason to it all, or just empty
meaninglessness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if God cast
out Adam and Eve out of Paradise because they wanted knowledge that was beyond
them, or they just asked too many questions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has sometimes felt that I have
journeyed strange voyages alone and my consciousness and certainly my
imagination has gone to places strange and wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m not talking about going the
supermarket!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I mean that sometimes I
feel that I am the only one asking questions; of course we all have questions
but it seems that no one wants to hear them, seemingly no one even believes you
should be asking them and few if anyone can really answer them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And sometimes the people we expect to be
trying to answer them, are the ones who seem the most reluctant to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As someone said about organised Christianity
‘we have all the answers, but don’t ask any questions!’, and because some, but
certainly not all, Christians are cowed into accepting and swallowing what
those in power in the churches say without question, the only people who are
asking genuine and meaningful questions about Christianity and belief in
general, even if for the wrong reasons and intent, are atheists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQZaCb6XhQkYw8f67JA_qOUFKI9_DlKqCE1eqkTlqXLp3IkT3U37Tux7VyNhgoAPVkuBy1EAGniUyrP9j7TbZ4Qlbd5LD-UOcY3XeeJ03GRUDvbGUssCXGhMkA675v41KSUIXVAy7c_U/s1600/article-1232045-076897AC000005DC-952_468x286%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQZaCb6XhQkYw8f67JA_qOUFKI9_DlKqCE1eqkTlqXLp3IkT3U37Tux7VyNhgoAPVkuBy1EAGniUyrP9j7TbZ4Qlbd5LD-UOcY3XeeJ03GRUDvbGUssCXGhMkA675v41KSUIXVAy7c_U/s320/article-1232045-076897AC000005DC-952_468x286%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We need to take back the debate
and Christians and those at every level of organised Christianity need to
accept that we want to talk about contentious issues, we have questions and we
should talk about them in an open, honest and meaningful way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need more democracy in the organised
denominations too, less hierarchy, less of an obsession with social status and
more genuine grassroots participation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It shouldn’t just be about particular denominations so much even, but
perhaps meeting in houses or pubs or cafes, places where other people already
go; well, it’s just a thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I’m
saying is that a reappraisal of organised Christianity can’t hurt, and rather
than something from top as usual, it should be about all Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The age of the Internet proves that many
people have a voice and are increasingly being heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What church do we want?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should Christianity reflect the Internet
age?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we preaching to the converted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is Christianity fuddy-duddy and frankly too
Middle class in England?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have
all the answers but I truly wish these and many more questions would be
asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we may ask the most important
question: is Christianity religion?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is there a fear amongst those who
believe in a particularly organised Christianity that if we strip away the
religion, the ritual, the hierarchy that there will be nothing left?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would be left would be at least
relationship; at the very least this would be an interesting proposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sometimes think that some people are
religious because they want to keep God at a distance: ‘I’m holy enough God, I
do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> these religious things, so
back off!’ or words to that effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
I mean is that sometimes the adherence to religious rituals and dogma may
actually be because deep down a person has doubts, or they fear a deep meaningful
relationship with God, so settle for something less, which is where religion
comes in perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to me religion at
best is like telling a hungry person to sit at a table full of food, and then
being told not to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do people fear
the sheer simplicity of relationship, that something so profound yet
essentially simply is just too good to be true?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYYLf1gYq6FXq7bFk7dlTLT6usS4C0kcTXV_skuZxwUDZ22gRP7z84cp5buSgNjRdt1O34oREO7nyJPmk-YgtU2lCFC7YnzFZvtd4yg9VwHu48fOZ9aUtbmtDwNxoR5SiWhDqjC-fnJM/s1600/_67483072_father_ted_generic_015%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYYLf1gYq6FXq7bFk7dlTLT6usS4C0kcTXV_skuZxwUDZ22gRP7z84cp5buSgNjRdt1O34oREO7nyJPmk-YgtU2lCFC7YnzFZvtd4yg9VwHu48fOZ9aUtbmtDwNxoR5SiWhDqjC-fnJM/s320/_67483072_father_ted_generic_015%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are all destined for Heaven as Christians;
aren’t we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been thinking about
this for a long time now, and admit that sometimes I feel a little confused
about it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is Heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is Heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t worry too much about the details but
I want to live my life fully on earth before worrying about anything else that
I don’t really have any control over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t we all worry about things now and then, and some of us find we are
worrying all the time; that can be exhausting can’t it, just worrying because
even if you try to stop, then you are worrying about worrying!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh brother!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes it’s a pain, but what can you do?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For me, Heaven can wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
haven’t even lived my life yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As John
Lennon once said ‘Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other
plans’ and it’s the truth, we can’t live in a constant state of worry or even
anticipation, we have to do mundane things sometimes, go the supermarket, watch
a bit of telly, feed the cat, iron our clothes and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life in all its glory and mundanity; we can’t
escape either so why bother worrying? </span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-39684700656470565352013-05-04T23:27:00.001+01:002013-05-04T23:27:23.887+01:00The Fall of Man, the Loss of Our Innocence
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why were we so carefree as kids,
why were the holidays we took so joyful and happy, and we often had no cares at
all in the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why when we grow up do
we often end up with the weight of the world on our shoulders?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are trapped by our
circumstances, feel trapped by our past, feel trapped by what our future might
hold, trapped by our surroundings, feel hemmed in by every bad thing that
happens to us; oh God what will set us free?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you ask God to make you a
multi-millionaire or even a billionaire, I believe one of the first questions
God might ask you is ‘why?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you in
fact worshipping money, and being a slave to it, rather than worshipping and
revering God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say money makes the
world go round, they even wrote a song about it, and it’s certain that without
money in modern countries we couldn’t exist today; we have to pay bills, pay
rent, buy food and essentials and all kinds of things, but it should always be
only a means to an end, and not an end in itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and
love the second, or be attached to the first and despise the second. You cannot
be the slave both of God and of money. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat,
nor about your body and what you are to wear. Surely life is more than food, and
the body more than clothing! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the
birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can any of you, however much you worry, add
one single cubit to your span of life? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why worry about clothing? Think of the
flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; yet I assure
you that not even Solomon in all his royal robes was clothed like one of these.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 6:24-29 NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe God may always ask us
‘why?’ when we selfishly ask for things we don’t really need, and may ask this
whenever we do things that we may know displeases Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not saying we shouldn’t aspire to better
things, or that being wealthy is in itself a bad thing, just that we can make
an idol of money and begin to worship it, instead of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course there’s nothing wrong with
wanting a new computer, or TV, or car or a nice holiday, and so many other
things, it’s just that if we are always wanting the newest commodity instead of
being grateful with what we already have, we can become shallow and obsessed
with less relevant things, and perhaps as importantly we can become
dissatisfied when we want new things and find quite simply we just can’t afford
them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dissatisfaction can be a serious
malaise for human beings, perhaps today and throughout history, when people
want more and more, and are never satisfied till they have all they think they
want; and it still isn’t enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the promise of youth seems to
dissipate, disappear into a mess of broken dreams, and we accept third best
lives and all kinds of situations we might think we have no control over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we stop believing, really believing, and
just go through the motions, not expecting anything much, thinking that God is
done with us and we’re just another face in the crowd that God has created and
plopped on the earth for no particular reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But somewhere, something tells us that we should be happy, we should be
doing what we want to do and what makes us happy; and we worry: ‘Is this all
there is to life?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Have I not told you: Be strong and
stand firm? Be fearless and undaunted, for go where you may, Yahweh your God is
with you.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Joshua 1:9
NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does it mean to be human,
what does it mean to be so magnificently, fearfully and wonderfully made and
yet to feel hemmed in, frustrated, seemingly without purpose and going nowhere?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many emotions just lost in the
stratosphere, all those human emotions lost to history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re a whirlpool of emotions, we can be a
slave to them and sometimes we can try to live without them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But’s what’s certain is that we all have
them; sometimes positive emotions and sometimes more negative emotions, and we
can’t escape them whatever we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are what make us human in fact, and hint at our spiritual dimension.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Isn’t it true that as we get older we lose our
innocence, we lose that spark of wonder we had as kids, that ability to find
enjoyment in simple things and the friendships we had as children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t care whether our friends were poorer
or richer than us, more posh or more common than us, whether they were black or
white or Chinese or whatever, well I certainly didn’t care anyway, they were
just my mates and we hung around and played war games and Cowboys and Indians
and ran helter-skelter through the streets and dingy entries and back alleys of
my childhood home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we get older, we
want to be successful or we want to attract members of the opposite sex
(sometimes even members of the same sex!), we want to be sophisticated and
worldly, cool and hip, and then we become unhappy, unfulfilled and uncertain
even of who we are and who we are meant to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also find that when I am angry, even if I have a right to be so, I
lose my happiness, I lose my joy and the ability to laugh; and I so love to
laugh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Becoming civilised often meant
ironically that humans became selfish and individualistic, they stopped
thinking communally and began to divide up into hierarchies, and then came
kings and wars; and then came organised religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we really need all the things so-called
civilisation brings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we need to be
worldly and sophisticated, important and wealthy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rejoice with others when they rejoice, and be sad
with those in sorrow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give the same
consideration to all others alike. Pay no regard to social standing, but meet
humble people on their own terms. Do not congratulate yourself on your own
wisdom. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never pay back evil with evil,
but bear in mind the ideals that all regard with respect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as possible, and to the utmost of your
ability, be at peace with everyone.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 12:15-18 NJB)</span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-14256053019981775922013-04-27T23:18:00.003+01:002013-04-27T23:18:50.395+01:00The One That Got Away
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a long litany of lost
loves, women that I really liked but for one reason or another, perhaps because
I was too shy, never plucked the courage up to ‘chat them up’ and make a move
on them, and so here I am again on my own going down the only road I’ve ever
known… well, you might know the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Life sometimes seems full of disappointments, inevitable situations that
somehow steal our joy or make us feel that we only deserve third best, or
somehow we are destined for one unfortunate thing after another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems so many Christians are going through
trials and tribulations, and although we all know the mantra and we console
ourselves with the fact that Christians will indeed suffer in this fallen and
imperfect world, sometimes we get fed up with it all, we get worn out because
we see no end in sight of it; then we can do one of two things: we can stick it
out and lean on God, or we can drift off into the wilderness looking for
something that will take our mind off our troubles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One thing I have learnt being a
Christian, and that is that we are in for the long haul, not just being a
Christian when things are going well but being a Christian all the time, and
not just being good and respectful of others when we feel good, but all the
time, and not just being nice when we go to church but every day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say nice, but that seems too, well, nice;
perhaps I mean that we should always be considerate of other people and respect
them, in the same way we hope that they are considerate of us and respect us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, sometimes you might not feel like
being nice at all, but we cannot take our moods out on other people for any
reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes it’s hard learning to turn
the other cheek, or being pleasant when we don’t feel like it, but it teaches
us to face the world and take whatever life throws at us and whatever
happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mean that we should
always pretend to be jolly and putting a false smile on our faces, but we learn
to stay on an even keel as much as possible, rather than reacting badly to
everything that might be a setback or a problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I noticed with women, when I was
in my younger days, that if you really showed any interest in a particular woman,
it went down like the plague, and often such a woman couldn’t get away from me
quick enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, if I
played it cool, as I tend to do now, not out of vanity or anything like that
just that I’m older and more mature I suppose, some women, even the nice ones,
became interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Problem?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, if I was too keen, they couldn’t get
away quick enough, and if I played it cool, then I still never spoke to
them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a conundrum; why do women act
this way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God alone knows!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have many issues around this topic,
you know, the whole ‘lurrve’ thing, but I also think that many people do too,
both men and women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can we be so
cruel to each other?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Hwdt9VD19AiggAUu43I-y-_2dgf8Q1-YQQZuTToe6eOHS_w7HrWRlN5BIKSGthZ240yWqNIt2Lx7GMsIZFb6iqgDfspxDi1JuFtcW3kVfAkDqJVI3aSeW-tD7gfKXHd1KJXcBbX0Epg/s1600/bigstock_angry_couple_126089271%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Hwdt9VD19AiggAUu43I-y-_2dgf8Q1-YQQZuTToe6eOHS_w7HrWRlN5BIKSGthZ240yWqNIt2Lx7GMsIZFb6iqgDfspxDi1JuFtcW3kVfAkDqJVI3aSeW-tD7gfKXHd1KJXcBbX0Epg/s320/bigstock_angry_couple_126089271%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why does God allow evil, and why
often do unscrupulous people prosper ruthlessly at the expense of other people,
and in general people who are nasty and have no conscience get what they want
in life, while those more loving and conscientious and considerate often get
side-lined and ignored?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
sometimes that God allows rapacious people to do bad things as a lesson to the
rest of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why then would God allow
evil?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely if He created everything
then why does evil even appear?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suppose there could be a number of answers to this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we have free will, quite simply, we can
choose to do what we like, and we can choose, in the full knowledge of knowing
right from wrong, to do something wrong or we can choose to do something right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, in the end, it is our choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it God then who allows evil to enter the
world, or us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We blame God when a plane
falls from the sky, or when a hit-and-run driver kills a kid getting an ice
cream, or when something doesn’t go right for us, when if we are honest it had
nothing to do with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plane might
not have been checked due to cost cutting, the driver might have been drinking
and when it is us, well everybody has setbacks in life; all we can do is pray
and have faith in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact is, we
can all turn a blind eye to someone else’s troubles, sorrows or suffering, or
have little sympathy, until we ourselves suffer, and then of course it’s a
different story altogether isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghlvpNQrSDslVSxmDAkNhLdexljIpkgoy2z1r9r8OxCru_qctMlRq8vHe3pkhx5ydZmEbSXVc8cHuSAzz5b7832kc13yQfP12CalUV5JRzQT9DveKm4px9Za2EN0nZrrhs9GDSKa4bZo/s1600/rawa%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghlvpNQrSDslVSxmDAkNhLdexljIpkgoy2z1r9r8OxCru_qctMlRq8vHe3pkhx5ydZmEbSXVc8cHuSAzz5b7832kc13yQfP12CalUV5JRzQT9DveKm4px9Za2EN0nZrrhs9GDSKa4bZo/s320/rawa%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sorrow and suffering seems to follow us all at
some time, and no one is free from the slings and arrows of outrageous
fortune.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without God, it might not make
any sense, in fact it would be like wandering through a desert and going from
place to place looking for shelter and water to drink, and finding none.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With God in our lives, even the most
meaningless and awful situation can be put into perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, we might indeed be going through a
desert, but we will find shelter and water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It isn’t that God is happy to see us suffer, I think that it is just
that being human, we will all suffer at some time or other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christian answer to the reality that we
all suffer is certainly that we don’t add to anyone’s troubles, but that we
should help the other person if we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I might add, that we should not add to our own troubles either, or
wallow in self-pity either; I have found in life that there is always someone
worse off than me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What God wants for us
as believers is perhaps that we stay on an even keel, and we learn to stay
physically, emotionally and spiritually sound whatever happens to us in life,
good or bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Equilibrium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s what we need.</span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-48127540930265421612013-04-21T22:02:00.003+01:002013-04-21T22:02:46.645+01:00The Only Normal Eccentric in Town
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am so normal I am eccentric,
and I am so eccentric I am normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a
person is really eccentric, then they probably think they are normal and
everyone else is eccentric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
eccentric because I follow the teachings of a man, who is called the Son of God,
who was personally present on earth two thousand or so years ago, who could
raise the dead and make the blind see, forgive sins, hey this bloke even turned
water into wine!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My kind of bloke!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, that makes me an eccentric; but I think
that I am normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think all those
people who pretend to be something they are not, or say things they don’t
really believe in, or live lives they don’t really want to live, they are the
eccentric ones, not me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eccentricity and
normality then are all just points of view or perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One person’s eccentricity is another person’s
normality, and one person’s normality can be another person’s eccentricity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the dyed-in-the-wool atheist, belief in
God can seem utterly weird, strange, even eccentric, and to the Christian, not
believing in a loving Creator can also seem strange, even eccentric.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9i5AyKpeDDcm3s0RaLdokXpWU4aYKQ9Ar74iJeJvlkFJKasVmy0q8JAFc9d4FeyVeuRYTEZKD4wDn3PC04fLrNHaK23WBA72g9CytBRiRv3Bl7OodRjiLv1k-OW_DUhVWBYRRWool7s/s1600/Salvador_Dali_NYWTS%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9i5AyKpeDDcm3s0RaLdokXpWU4aYKQ9Ar74iJeJvlkFJKasVmy0q8JAFc9d4FeyVeuRYTEZKD4wDn3PC04fLrNHaK23WBA72g9CytBRiRv3Bl7OodRjiLv1k-OW_DUhVWBYRRWool7s/s320/Salvador_Dali_NYWTS%5B1%5D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a Christian, I have
experienced many things in my life that those who are not Christians won’t have
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me make one thing clear; I say
I am a Christian because I have a relationship with Jesus and I work on that
relationship every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In many respects
there is nothing remarkable about me, and yet God called in the wilderness,
from a background that was not in any way Christian or religious, just
ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when I say ordinary, we
are all ordinary in some ways, and we are all extraordinary in other ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When God has spoke to me, not in my head as
voices nor popping His head out of the clouds and saying ‘hello’, but through
the Bible, or to my heart, or when reading something or even through other
people, I knew then He existed; He revealed Himself to me, and I believe simply
because I have experienced Him personally in my life, not because I am
religious or because a vicar or priest told me what to believe, but because He
pushed His way into my life; simple as that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are all eccentric to someone,
and we can all appear normal to another person; it’s all perspective
really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One person’s weird is someone
else’s normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if we are surrounded
by people who dress and think and act like us, we are all normal to each other,
even if everyone else thinks we’re a bunch of weirdos!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it’s all perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians were seen as weird in Rome, which
was pagan with many gods, a god for this and a god for that, and this
eventually helped get them persecuted and even killed in various ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believing in a God of forgiveness, a God who
preaches love your enemy, a God who tells you to turn the other cheek; are you
weird, or what?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Hcn3pXW1i10H2QlZPCtZnY2oiMrllZF8kieLOyntpoABjcgiCtRXtpHJbpNNXlke25edk4cKkRNR8OWCLZUCgZr8vKDSmiL0u7NXGVG1-qRtuHLxjCu-niI39OYI40ERCKtSgyn1IDI/s1600/oscar-wilde.jpg%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Hcn3pXW1i10H2QlZPCtZnY2oiMrllZF8kieLOyntpoABjcgiCtRXtpHJbpNNXlke25edk4cKkRNR8OWCLZUCgZr8vKDSmiL0u7NXGVG1-qRtuHLxjCu-niI39OYI40ERCKtSgyn1IDI/s320/oscar-wilde.jpg%5B1%5D.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, weird or normal depends on
your point of view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know about
you, but I often have abstract thoughts that make sense and don’t make sense at
the same time (like Bob Dylan’s lyrics!), but if I tried to explain these
thoughts and feelings to someone, I would definitely sound strange and yet I am
generally a rational person not really given to flights of fancy; not always
anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I understand from this, is
that we human beings are fearfully and wonderfully made, we experience things
intellectually and emotionally that we cannot put into words, nor adequately
understand or often really make sense of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is more to us than meets the eye, a whole lot more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the atheist, it’s all blind chance that we
are what we are; to the Christian, we are specifically created by God and there
is a spiritual dimension to humanity that atheists just cannot believe because
they don’t believe in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weird or
normal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You decide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God appointed a people who would
serve Him, worship Him and ultimately be blessed by Him, providing they were
obedient to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Israelites rebelled
again and again, so much so you begin to wonder why God picked them in the
first place!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where they weird for
continually disobeying God, or was this normal, a rite of passage for all those
called by God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who can say? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did they really understand at first at first
who was calling them, and why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
when I was called, I didn’t really have a clue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Was I weird not to understand or was I normal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t versed in the Bible and don’t come
from a Christian background or family, or any kind of Christian community, so
how could I have known?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weird, or
normal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You decide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwjpD9o14HgUQV252HDFY4a_oojUeDG8h_Z8OcwhaSLcUOrI5JpwcThawZ8wR5k2p0C-jFXsF-v_udq4NeIOepWMq5WrE-vEhx_ysX7QkriBxpSJBva2_red0tLE7SbIuAnmI7KeBo4A/s1600/van_gogh5%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwjpD9o14HgUQV252HDFY4a_oojUeDG8h_Z8OcwhaSLcUOrI5JpwcThawZ8wR5k2p0C-jFXsF-v_udq4NeIOepWMq5WrE-vEhx_ysX7QkriBxpSJBva2_red0tLE7SbIuAnmI7KeBo4A/s320/van_gogh5%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When anything new comes along, to shake up all
the old ways and old traditions, some people see it as a threat and others see
it as something wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To some,
Christianity was eccentric, to others it was normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Elvis burst onto the scene all those
years ago, and Rock and Roll with him, some people no doubt thought the end of
the world as they knew it was happening right in front of their eyes, whilst
others thought it was the greatest and most exciting thing they’d ever
seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some thought Elvis, Rock and Roll
and everything it all stood for as aberrant, bizarre and weird, whilst others
in no uncertain terms saw it as normal and just a natural expression of the
burgeoning youth and teenage culture that was really starting in America at
that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>America, the country that
gave the world youth culture and popular culture is also the most religious
country in the wealthy Western world; two things that at first glance might
appear contradictory and opposites that are at best uneasy with each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To those Americans who are not
religious, I think they perceive those who are to be a little weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To those Americans who are religious, however
that is manifested, those who aren’t religious appear weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each certainly thinks they are normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, whose right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a Christian I feel that I can like all
kinds of music and enjoy popular culture, and still be a Christian who serves
the Lord on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know some
Christians think this is weird, and know other Christians think it’s
normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weird?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really don’t care. </span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-3105008418595245742013-04-13T22:57:00.000+01:002013-04-13T22:57:03.030+01:00Another England
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems to me that all my life
I’ve suffered, all the things I’ve wanted, really wanted, have been denied me
one way or the other, and that nothing or very little went right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this a family thing, or is it just me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if God is a good God, and He certainly
has a calling on my life, why haven’t I prospered, why haven’t I been happy,
why have I spent many years in the wilderness and far from happiness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God is with us, who can be against us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Therefore, am I my own worst enemy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcMrbfry8zQwWm3ctpMvCdWZzd09iswy2ElE_1K9nT-TAMDJfG2v_5iVbSVNb-JTzY204BBmXvvFYLBIc25bM7SkL1qzGs7fFZbsbAJKcT_csmBZz87SgKBVUEPV0rxkuSBpTHcAu5aA/s1600/iStock_000001146227XSmall%2520troubled%2520man%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcMrbfry8zQwWm3ctpMvCdWZzd09iswy2ElE_1K9nT-TAMDJfG2v_5iVbSVNb-JTzY204BBmXvvFYLBIc25bM7SkL1qzGs7fFZbsbAJKcT_csmBZz87SgKBVUEPV0rxkuSBpTHcAu5aA/s320/iStock_000001146227XSmall%2520troubled%2520man%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The stories in the Bible, those
about humans, (and I suppose most are) are not perfect, they are chaotic,
filled with incident, sometimes sad, sometimes bad, sometimes funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They reflect us as human beings and our
stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing is perfect, things often
don’t go to plan, but those whom God called and also those who had faith and
stayed faithful to God, almost always won through in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Humans are chaotic, even the best of us, and
human societies however good and well run they may appear are the product of
the human mind and human invention, so are always in some way flawed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The stories in the Old Testament,
the stories of how the Jewish people come into being are to me the most
thrilling, enthralling, exciting, interesting, uplifting and wonderful stories
ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They resonate with so many people
and we can certainly identify with them as Christians in our many ventures and
our many troubles, trials and tribulations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With civilisation and the rise of
cities and settled urban living came many good things, but also many bad things
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hierarchy becomes an inevitable
part of civilised living in many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Fall of Man coincides exactly with the beginning and rise of civilisation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does this tell us anything?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fn0riHSFXBoFl9kFvf9ooQlRRzoFVbHe9KyJn61ODNwS0d3CDYmuAJbQMBPHtnMiiHu2NXz5jhCHIJR5zr9Lu7h1mbHTmzdCr54KGADZFz0sd1SY9BILp7VsJlR7JNMtJJPy3h46AYo/s1600/MV5BMTMwMDY4NzI5OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDQwODIzMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR5,0,214,317_%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fn0riHSFXBoFl9kFvf9ooQlRRzoFVbHe9KyJn61ODNwS0d3CDYmuAJbQMBPHtnMiiHu2NXz5jhCHIJR5zr9Lu7h1mbHTmzdCr54KGADZFz0sd1SY9BILp7VsJlR7JNMtJJPy3h46AYo/s1600/MV5BMTMwMDY4NzI5OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDQwODIzMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR5,0,214,317_%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Israelites at the start are a
tribal people, an earthy people, not a people given to abstract ideas and
concepts; they wanted a warring God on their side, and that’s what they
got!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>King David wasn’t a high born
educated rather genteel holy person, he was a low born shepherd, a warlord who
fought his way to become king of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In many ways he is more like a rough, tough person from a Working class
town in Britain or America, not really what we think of as Christians today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God picked a lowly people, perhaps partly to
let us understand that God is always just, when the world at large is usually
rampantly unfair and often unjust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Religion can sometimes be about the important, the worldly, even the
wealthy and powerful, whereas most people are not connected, nor wealthy or
powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might think then that God
is somehow concerned only with popes and archbishops, king and queens,
presidents and people that in worldly terms have power or are seen as
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be fooled; God is no
more concerned with the great and the good than He is with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, who often have no importance in worldly
terms, may just be the people God calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I sometimes wonder when Jesus went to the ordinary people, lived among
them, in fact was one of them, the poor, the suffering, and largely turned His
back on the religious authorities, that part of the reason they murdered Him
and wanted Him dead was because of jealousy, that He didn’t go to them or tell
them how wonderful they were or how wonderful their religion was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very fact that the religious authorities
crucified Jesus, the very reason for their religion in the first place, tells
you all you need to know about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is another England, away
from the tourist places and Shakespeare’s birthplace, far from the dreaming
spires of Oxford, seemingly from all that is nice and winsome and gentle, an
England that is largely hidden from the world, although occasionally there are
glimpses of it now and then when the riots kicked off a few years ago and the
careful veneer of a nice jolly England where everyone has a rictus grin on
their face, cycles through genteel villages, and all have good jobs, money and
live in nice houses gets blown out of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is poverty here, drugs, social
injustice, the rich often exploit the poor, the poor get blamed for all the
social ills, and the rich and powerful feel smug because they are far from the
sometimes dreadful poverty and council estates many poor people live in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the poverty comes the justification, and
the barely concealed contempt stoked up against the poor and vulnerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is life for many people in the British
Isles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What if Adam, and don’t forget little Eve,
hadn’t eaten of the forbidden fruit, hadn’t got into God’s bad books, and
decided to do what they were told; I wonder what the world would look like now
if they hadn’t been naughty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then each
of us may ask how our lives would be if we had been continually obedient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can ask this many times, and still don’t
get any real answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would human
history be like if Adam and Eve had just listened to God, and basically did
what they were told?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us have
suffered because of our first human ancestors basic disobedience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incidentally, I have often wondered whether Adam
and Eve were white, black, olive skinned or even Asiatic in appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s another story hey, for another
time?</span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-42902636039557500702013-04-11T00:55:00.002+01:002013-04-11T00:55:39.724+01:00Sincere Apologies!!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I get the feeling I've upset people, for one reason or another. Yes, I am opinionated, but in the end isn't that what blogs are about, our innermost thoughts and feelings? I don't set out to hurt people, I truly don't, and I apologise if I have done so. I'm not a fascist or racist, not a Communist either, though I'm pretty much left of centre, and what I am primarily is a Christian, who has lots of questions but few real answers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN6LQyMj1JPLNd1o5kdmA1R_eNnGC5pFkr5RIpbs58XTUo0tzAPo8JVss5AmW4v8UT22Gi1eMOqBk1pFoJ2tUx4UV2XqHw-F05qZykkrgKmD7YdrFAxarzqq1bWpJt8MZ7617LiDdFlo/s1600/apologies%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN6LQyMj1JPLNd1o5kdmA1R_eNnGC5pFkr5RIpbs58XTUo0tzAPo8JVss5AmW4v8UT22Gi1eMOqBk1pFoJ2tUx4UV2XqHw-F05qZykkrgKmD7YdrFAxarzqq1bWpJt8MZ7617LiDdFlo/s320/apologies%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What I've always tried to do is create debate, genuine debate, where we don't all have to agree, but where we can agree to be agreeable at least. One other thing I've always strived to be is honest, ruthlessly honest. That doesn't mean that everything I write is correct or I am infallible, but it means that my intent is to get to the truth, and not to harm or upset anyone, for any reason.</div>
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</div>
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So, if I have upset or offended anyone, by anything I've written, I apologise unreservedly and say that it was never meant.</div>
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T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872289811002419028.post-28023797417299821252013-04-06T22:57:00.001+01:002013-04-06T22:57:19.067+01:00You Can’t Always Get What You Want
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a thin line, a balance
in life, in virtually everything we do and everything we want to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we get out of balance, we might find that
certain unintended consequences follow on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, fast food and ice cream, crisps (potato chips), fish and
chips, burgers and fries, donner kebabs and all those takeaway treats taste
wonderful, but eat too much of it and your health will decline, and
unfortunately your waistline will expand too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Work too much, enjoy too little, and you will also be out of balance
here too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too much of anything is
probably not good for any human being; so I believe life is all about balance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I must put myself in this
post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a middle aged, but young at
heart, aspiring writer who sooner hopefully than later wants to be a published
author and of course wants to be earning a living doing what I enjoy doing
best, which is writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am absolutely
certain that I am not the only blogger who wants to succeed as a writer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My view is this; as a Christian I believe God
wants me to have a decent life, where He will always meet my many needs, needs emotional,
physical, financial and most important of all the spiritual need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I believe I have a perfect right as
someone from a poor and very traditional British Working class background to
aspire to bigger and better things, and to work towards my dream of being a
published author and successful writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
I have understood is this: that God is the perfect source for helping me, and
you, to pursue all the things in life we want, whether it’s just to be happier
and content, or whether it’s something more in line with a successful career or
starting a business, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is
both the God of the spiritual and the material too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also understood something else too,
which can’t be overlooked; we must accept that being a Christian doesn’t mean
that God will make us millionaires or billionaires necessarily, even though
there is no bad thing in being wealthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I now believe that God will take care of it all; if I become rich, then
God will have a plan for that, if I just become successful and earn a decent
living, then He has a plan for that too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have learnt that God will always meet our need, and not necessarily
our greed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, and I digress, I pray
regularly that God will help me to work towards my goals and dream of being a published
author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Equally, we must do our part; a
book doesn’t write itself, a boxer doesn’t get fit by sitting in front of the
telly drinking beer, and no good thing in life rarely ever comes if we just
hope for it without some hard work and aforethought on our part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can't always get what you want, but if
you try sometimes well you just might find you get what you need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yahweh says this: Stop your lamenting dry your eyes,
for your labour will have a reward, Yahweh declares, and they will return from
the enemy's country. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is hope for
your future after all, Yahweh declares, your children will return to their
homeland.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Jeremiah
31:16-17 NJB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Prosperity Gospel</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some Christians believe that you
have to be poor and humble to really be acceptable to God, and perhaps be
acceptable to other people too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
Christians though believe that God wants every Christian to be wealthy or at
least to be praying for prosperity and wealth as part of their daily prayer
routine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some Western countries both
views can be held in certain Christian communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is more attractive, poverty or
prosperity?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, whatever your view, who
would rather be poor than rich?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there
some truth to the idea of a prosperity gospel? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe there is, but there is more to God,
a whole lot more, than seeing Him as a granter of three wishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also have to be careful that we are not
using God, using our professed faith, for our own greed or selfish
agendas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a danger that we begin
to lose sight of what God wants for us, and what His will is for us, and we
become greedy for more when we really don’t need anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either
hate the first and love the second, or be attached to the first and despise the
second. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.</span></i></b>’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 6:24 NJB)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us truly know what God’s answer to the
prosperity gospel is, and let us be content when He supplies all our needs
first, before worrying about what we haven’t got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any Christian in dire poverty should in all
ways ask God to alleviate that and have faith He will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any of us not in dire poverty, and that
probably means the majority of us in the West, should first be grateful for
every good thing we have already, and then being honest about our dreams and
goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And remember this; if we take a
lot out, we should always look for ways of putting something back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, or Confusion?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe that God wants us as
Christians, of all varieties and backgrounds, to love each other, to love other
people and to love Him, in no particular order I may add.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a Christian, I think that when we show
respect for fellow human beings, be they Christians, or whether they are not
Christians, be they our family and friends or even whether they are just
strangers we meet on the street or in the supermarket, in the bookie’s or even
in the pub, we are loving those people and doing God’s will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is love, and we must spread that love any
way we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a fairly big guy from a
big, tough city; we are not known for our sentimentality nor are we
particularly genteel either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am just
an ordinary bloke who happens to be a Christian after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, my love for other people comes out in a
kind of street way, a joke here, a pat on the back, a friendly way that guys prefer;
you may be different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think that
when we love, and try to love, other people, it comes back to us, and God is
pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t all be highly educated
well-spoken vicars and priests, God calls all sorts of people to serve Him, and
we can only act sometimes in the manner of the people we are brought up
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better imperfect love, than perfect
intolerance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone, on the other
hand, is becoming a Christian to control other people, to manipulate others in
some way, or just to get everyone agreeing that ‘they are right and everyone
who disagrees is wrong’, are they really loving their fellow man, and are they
really doing God’s will?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, this
can be what passes for Christianity, but in my humble opinion it is not
Christianity at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5jTnvgVe_mcHAafY-yQ7VpNGITwUJtv1pzHH3bFfos23S3LWtuBXwnwc0YSqwFLweQ1yTy3ZAM-h1vmDoDMxj6emFChqkbXZRa4oMdLHHQTIslFz2rSKki0DWj9bKLMxt8j0Ht7cS_E/s1600/religion_relationship%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5jTnvgVe_mcHAafY-yQ7VpNGITwUJtv1pzHH3bFfos23S3LWtuBXwnwc0YSqwFLweQ1yTy3ZAM-h1vmDoDMxj6emFChqkbXZRa4oMdLHHQTIslFz2rSKki0DWj9bKLMxt8j0Ht7cS_E/s320/religion_relationship%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Popes and archbishops, well-educated vicars and
priests may know theology and Christology, they may know all the major events
in historical Christianity, and may have spent many years in theological
colleges and seminaries, but it still doesn’t mean that they necessarily know
God any more than any other common or garden Christian like you and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are truly called by God, we will be
determined to want to be living in the truth, regardless of what someone may
say, and we must always be prepared to study the Bible, pray regularly and ask
the Holy Spirit to be our guide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one
ever said we had to lose our common sense when we became Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new
creation: the old order is gone and a new being is there to see.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2
Corinthians 5:17 NJB)</span></div>
T-Childshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14973808285834438472noreply@blogger.com6