The day after the week before

today's lunch was a feast, there was no way as part of being below the line I could afford this even though this all came out of the reduced section it came to £1.73.  I'm still feeling very tired and the best descriptive word yucky.  Grilled chicken kebabs and salad

Fresh squeezed orange juice never tasted as good as it did this morning.

Day 5

Day 5 the last day and to be truly honest I'm glad that it is. This week has been both a challenge and at times has brought out the imagination. I'm feeling pretty rubbish now resorted to taking some headache remedy earlier today. i'm found it hard to actually focus today and lacked any real energy to do much at all, but had to push through as friday is often a busy day. concentrating on the small thing seems to be a challenge and finding the also that the slightest thing was starting to annoy and being on a very short fuse. a constant horrible taste in my mouth and skin that felt as though it was sticky. The real hard part has been in the last two days and today especially the tiredness.

To be honest I wasn't really expecting that to to be the case. I've fasted for a week or 3 days on many occasions over the years so was expecting to have a similar experience as to these times. but this was very different. 

One thing that hit home was how the type of diet I've been on this week effected over the short term, must effect those who eat it on the long term. 

Tonights final meal was one suggested by one of my youth group, Pizza.

Two medium slices of bread, pasta sauce, Mozzarella cheese and the last sausage on top. it worked well. 

breakfast was pasta with soup for lunch. 

the week started with a passage from exodus to gather what what needed each day. we need as a community of Gods people to begin to think afresh on just what this means today. What was gathered for this week was not fully what was needed for the day. The meals may have supplied the body with some way to continue to function for a short time, yet there isnt the full balance to say that this diet is fulfilling this passage. 

tomorrow is already planned salad and grilled chicken with orange juice for lunch, cereal for breakfast. 

Day 4

Today has been a struggle even with the feast last night of fish and veggies, I'm feeling tired and achey. 

Its been a long day too and it's not over yet. 

meals today 

Breakfast Porridge and Jam
Lunch Bread and cuppa soup
Supper tinned spagetti and sausage
   also ate some of the raw carrots left over.

had  serious amount of heartburn on and off all day

Day 3

Really started to feel the effects today. Monday and Tuesday seemed ok, but today I really want my supper. Feeling really tired and energy levels sapping. Really missing my fruit and especially orange juice. The lack of fresh fruit and salad is noticeable. Started with a headache too.

Tonight for supper though there is a little glimmer of hope, in the bargain bin at the local co-op was a bag of mixed veggies reduce to 20p and to top it off was 2 breaded haddock filets reduced to 30p the last of my budget now spent. I really didn't want to face more processed foods tonight. Feels like the lap of luxury. 

Hoping that this meal will do something towards kicking a big of life back into my body. 

Thinking back to the passage I preached off on Sunday exodus 16 when after hearing the complaints of the Israelites in the desert God speaks and sends them  to gather what was needed for that day nothing more that he might test them.

What sticking today about this passage is that living below the line this isn't possible. It's not possible to actually have the five a day fruit and veg that government guidelines say is needed to live a balanced diet. 

Supper I have to admit I ate several bits of the veggies before they got cooked 

Meals today
Breakfast Porridge, jam and a cuppa
Lunch Soup and bread
Supper breaded haddock, carrots, broccoli and a small portion of pasta and sauce.

Day 2

Breakfast porridge jam and a cuppa

Lunch made too much porridge so ate that.

Supper sausage 2 slices toast ( very thinly cut the bread) and half tin of spaghetti.

Did a little treat for pudding doughnuts. Interesting but worked well.

2 slices thinly cut bread, using pastry cutter make 4 circles place lump of jam in the middle seal down edges with a fork. Using the little bit of fat out of the sausages heat pan then place in doughnut and cook till golden on each side. Actually worked well, I'd seen this on one of those wartime garden type programmes. 

Doughnut waiting to be cooked.

Feeling pretty good today was ready for supper though. 

Day 1

So day 1

Meals today,

Breakfast porridge with Jam and a cuppa

Lunch cuppa soup

Supper 2 sausages some of the pasta sauce and pasta.

Chopped  up the sausages and did it it bit like meatballs. 

Today I've noticed that the timing of meals is going to be a major factor in how My days goes.  Keeping the balance so that the gap in the day is enough to last until the next meal. Snacks of fruit or other stop gaps are not an option.

Below the line

So here it is, a week living below the line. It took a while on Friday as I walked round the supermarket looking longingly at the things I would normally be putting in my basket.

£5 for a weeks shopping so here it is 

porridge 75p

Jam 29p

Sausage 56p

Mozzarella Cheese 44p

1lt lactofree Milk £1 on offer 

Bread ( bargin cheap bin) 14p

veggies ( bargin bin) 20p

Pasta 30p

Tinned spaghetti 16p

Tea 27p

Pasta sauce 39p

Cuppa soup 20p

Below the Line..

recently I've been writing my Dissertation Hence the Quiet times on here and on Facebook. As part of writing social action in different ways became a focus again. For a long time when asked my political view the answer has been - fight for the forgotten and marginalised. ~So this year for a week I'll live on a £1 a day for christian aids Livebelowtheline.

 I live on a small budget most months, but this is way less than that £5 for a weeks food, and anything in the cupboard has to be accounted for in that. I tend to look at the price of things when it comes to food but, above all tend to watch out for fair trade or free range products. I guess its a good job i like porridge :)- the money for my weeks shopping  will go to Livebelowtheline..

How Does It Work

 Live Below the Line, but you’re not sure what you’re getting yourself into. Ok so here are the basics:

• From the 29th April – 3rd May you can spend no more than £1 a day on food and drink.

• This means you have a total of £5 with which to buy all ingredients for your meals.

• The full cost of all the items you consume must be included in your budget. This means budgeting for whole packets of food items such as rice, pasta, noodles and eggs etc.

• For items such as salt, pepper, herbs and spices, simply work out the cost of each item per gram and budget your shopping proportionally. Separate your items before the challenge so there’s no need to be digging around in your cupboards.

• You can share the cost of ingredients amongst a team, as long as no participant spends more than £1 a day or their total £5 budget. Working as a team will allow you to pool together funds and do more with your cooking.

• You can’t grab a cheeky snack from the cupboard unless you include the cost of buying the item new in your budget.

• You can use food sourced from your garden as long as you can account for the price of production!

• No combination of meals on any given day can exceed the £1 spending limit. Remember this is a challenge to eat creatively and be enjoyed – don’t at any point deprive yourself of three meals a day.

• You cannot accept ‘donated’ food from family or friends, but monetary donations towards your fundraising goals are acceptable, and encouraged!

• You are allowed to drink tap water – remember you should try and drink at least 6-8 glasses of water each day.

If You'd like to donate to the £1 campaign  heres the link to my christian aid page   Belowthelinekasbee.. the money goes direct to christian aid via paypal..  

Snow feet

If you hadn't noticed the UK is currently covered under a blanket of snow. Yesterday here in Leicester it snowed all day. In a gap as the snow fell lighter I went out yesterday afternoon to check the bird feeders.

In the light snow under a tree one set of of footprints tracked their way to the feeders.


Those footprints got me thinking about the famous footprints poem.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied:

"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

As the day went on the little birds footprints were slowly covered and know longer was there any evidence that the bird had been there.

So often that's how it is for each of us. Just like the footprints when the tide comes in and covers the trail. What then came the question what happens when we when I no longer can see even the one set of prints in the snow or sand as I journey. What things are there to help see in the good and the bad times those moments where God picked us up and carried.

Crowns

Christ the King was the theme for this sunday in the church calendar the week before the start of Advent. Preparing for the sermon I spent a fair bit of time on youtube looking up clips. Type in coronation and you come across a assortment of things from coronation street to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II to Narnia and the Lion King. There are many different symbols of a kings power They include the crowns, sceptres, orbs, rings, swords

I really love it when the congregation become part of the sermon and shout out what they are thinking.  They question I asked 

What do you think of when you see a  crown.  

Ok so theres always one and the pub was mentioned :)

A crown is a symbol of power and authority.

Now there was a young prince who had a idea about what power and authority meant  when he became the King of the Beasts. In the film the "Lion King?" the young prince Simba sings the song  "I Just Can't Wait to Be King."  one of the reasons why Simba was so anxious to become king was that he didn't want anyone telling him what to do. He didn't want to hear anyone saying, "do this" or "stop that." He wanted to be free to run around all day doing everything his way.

It wasn't just that Simba didn't want anyone to tell him what to do, he was also looking forward to telling everyone else what to do. Just listen to what he says! "I'm gonna be a mighty king so enemies beware! I'm gonna be the mane event like no king was before. I'm brushing up on looking down. I'm working on my ROAR! Oh, I just can't wait to be king!"

A King ruling telling people what to do we see in a lot of films and on the TV no one daring to tell them what to do..

But the Kingship of Christ is so very much different to this picture and the symbols are somewhat different.....

Crown not of gold or silver but of Thorns

This is a reminder of Good Friday, but that wasn’t really a great day for Jesus, was it?  I mean, he was arrested, he was yelled at and hurt, and things just got worse.  Not exactly the glorious kind of day that we usually hear about with kings.

  palm branch or palm cross

The triumphal entry into Jerusalem  People where lining the street and cheering for him, and putting palm branches and cloaks on the ground in front of him.  yet he entered on a donkey a borrowed one not a large powerful horse decked out in the Kings colours.

the bowl and towel? 

Jesus took of his shirt knelt down and did what the lowest servant in the house would be expected to do.  Thats not the behaviour of a King...  They should have been washing his feet. I’m come on anyone who’s a rich have servants to do this sort of thing to, well they did at downtown Abbey and they weren’t Kings and Queens

When we look at Jesus He’s not the kind of King that we typically think of or expect.  He had no elaborate decorated crown and robe. No palace or carriage. The signs of His Authority and Kingdom turn our image upside-down

 The important things in Jesus’ kingdom are not wealth and power, but love and mercy.  In that kingdom Jesus makes the perfect king.  Jesus is even the king over death!  Yes, he died on Good Friday, but he was raised to life on Easter!  So, on this Christ the King Sunday we celebrate the Kingdom of God, and the promise of mercy and love for all.

So as we draw toward advent and the celebration of Christ stepping into the world what image of Him do you carry is it still one of a harmless innocent baby or of the Servant King 

Laying down picking up

Pick up sticks, and age old game that I introduced to one of the junior schools that I go into. It's strange how in the age of the Xbox and other interactive gadgets  this simple game has captured the imagination of so many children. I started with two boxes of these sticks and have since expanded to six. 

To play pick up sticks you first have to lay them down.  Theres two ways of this. Laying the down as precisely as you can so they land neatly. That isn't always the easiest of things. They fall how they want to no matter how you try to get them to land . The other option is just letting go and dropping them not caring how they land. 

It's is not just with this children's game we put things down in these two ways. Our gifts, talents, Ministry , Call and even friends and family. 

We can lay things on a alter before God to leave them in His care gently with care not knowing if or when we may return to lift them back up again. The other option is to almost just drop them like the sticks, not bothering. Laying things down comes through differing reasons but how we respond to the reasons really matters. 

 Its possible that both of these actions are done through anger or despair through struggle. 

Sometime ago it the second option seemed the best choice, not just throwing it down but throwing back at God rather than to  lay things down through prayer. The process was one of not wanting to use or have the call and gifts to go with that. At the time there seemed no way out of the situation that was engulfing  everything. There was no joy or life in the gift something that was once enjoyed now was a chore. 

This week the gift and call that was thrown down in anger and hurt was gently if somewhat scarily given back. 

Picking that gift back up started with the preparation a couple of weeks ago. What was amazing was the way in which the enjoyment of the preparation that revitalises and refreshes came flooding back. 

 This week a fresh and new understanding of the words of Jesus 'I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly' (John 10:10) opened up for the first time since throwing down that gift and call once again life felt truly full.

Orchestra Unwrapped

Theres more excitement and noise than you'd expect then as the lights dim they cheer eagerly as the musicians enter.. Its not the usually audiance in DMH nor the welcome for a orchrister. Today that welcomed Philharmonia Orchestra. The auditorium was packed with children from all over leicester. I went along with Scraptoft Valley Primary School 

so what is it all about 

Orchestra Unwrapped is a uniquely ambitious project, offering every 7-11 year old child in Leicester the opportunity to hear the world-class Philharmonia Orchestra. The project will offer children, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, access to music education through a dynamic programme of interactive schools concerts, bespoke educational materials for the classroom, and online learning guides, all adhering to the National Curriculum.

This project is a national first, because it will reach every Key Stage 2 child in the City, and as Resident Orchestra at De Montfort Hall the Philharmonia is launching this initiative in Leicester.  We hope that will make a real difference to children across the City.

Throughout the performance everything is explained how the music works, the names for different styles and ways of playing.

the large screen and video images show the musicians and conductor close up. 

As part of the project the children had been learning Merlin, and so to that we turned as the story narrated from the stage a little symbol appears on the screen and everyone stand we are the choir. and it sounded wonderful. 

They clapped in the wrong places and and giggled and laughed there way through the concert and it was fantastic. 

Holy Island

Last week I had the opportunity to go on retreat to Holy Island. A place I've wanted to visit for a while now. Living on the island you are bound by seasons bound by the rhythm of the tide. For a short time each day when at low tide you can walk and drive across the sea bed to the island. each day pilgrims and visitors make the journey. 

on the oppersite side of the Island to where most of the tourists stay is a pebble beach. ten's of little piles of rocks mark the way like the one above. Evidence of pilgrims  past   show us the way forward along the path. a connection with the saints of old lay scattered on the side of the path as wind, rain and tide displace the pile that once stood.

Throughout history these markers have been built to represent promise, hope and encounter with God, a way of remembering.

a question echoed on the incoming waves how do you mark the good things that God has done in your life, those markers that guide and remind of HIS faithfulness Grace and Love .....

exploring My Patch

Yesterday I managed to get out and explore a new part of my Patch and wandered off towards the feilds I walk past most days. What i love about being here more than anything is the differences. Stand at the top of the hill outside the church and look one way, you see the houses of the two estates and down towards the village. Turn and look the other and theres fields.  Walk through the estate and the noise of traffic and life being lived in its many forms can be heard and smelt. But walk the other way the very different sound and smell of life takes shape. 

Yesterday was cool but nice perfect exploring weather.. There was part of me that began remember the time a group of us would head off to explore the local woods as kids. Walking through the quite was great. exploring the different tracks that cut back and circled going nowhere at times It didn't matter.

WALSINGHAM YOUTH PILGRIMAGE 2012

50/55Phone a friend or ask the audience they are the choices ( life lines) when playing the game who wants to be a millionaire.  They are also the choices that went with the question leading up to the summer holidays. For the first time we planned to take a group of 10 young people to the youth pilgrimage at Walsingham. There's nothing new in taking a group of young people camping or on a camp durring the summer holidays. leading upto the week away I'd used all my life lines on just one question how will they find they week,  - answer at the bottom of the post :)

“More than Gold or Silver” was the theme of the week building on the olympics that were taking place. 

on a bright monday morning saw Y@AS (Youth@All Saints) heading off for the first time to the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage. And  Joining up with around 700 other young people from the UK and much further afield.

The week was one of many firsts,  as a group it was our first major event. This was a time of many firsts.As leaders it was the first time of being away together.The first time of being a leader.For some it was the first time of campingIt was a first in number of ways: putting up tents  for most ( two of the girls managed to have 3 tents and not manage to put any of them up!) The week was mix with fun and laughter and seriousness. We celebrated Mass in a Big Top and we had Supper with Bishop Lindsay. 

Midway through the week there was a washing-up mutiny ( due to the priests group seeing Him doing the washing up and doing a runner 20 mins later and a run round the site they finally turned up to help) and also a trip to the beach. There was  VERY late first-night/early morning (you know who you were who wen to bed at 2:30am and were up again by 4am)and I did get my own back on them :) . We walked the Holy Mile together, finishing at the Shrine as the day slowly drew to a close – it was a powerful experience for all, as was the all-night Vigil.

Within the week was also a opportunity to just be together and get to know each other in stronger ways.

How best to really sum up the week the words of two of the young people:

 ”Walsingham; life changing, memorable amazing.”  Mollie

 ”My week away at walsingham was memorable, dramatic, and life changing! I wish to go again next year: D “  Maisie

I need not have worried by midway through the week they were all plotting/ planning how to come back next year :)

looking back, moving Forward

It's hard to believe that at the end of this week I'll have been in post as the Youth Missioner in this patch for a year...  There's been so much happening in what seem to be all to short a time. Two MA papers submitted and passed with great grades. Moved house again. started a Youth group, a weeks youth pilgrimage, 2 baptisms and 4 taking communion for the first time, a house group started. two holiday clubs planned one completed and one starts in the morning. Trips to olympic warm up games ( we saw Mexico the Gold medalist play). and a weekend brake to Turin. There plenty more I've missed I'm sure of that.

Theres been learning curves some steep, laughter and pain.  whats for the coming year. that together in this little patch in a corner of Leicester we continue to build on the foundations of this year. that we continue to press on together...

None of what has happened this year could have happened in our own strength.  One of the passages that has been a constant this year was psalm 37: 3-7

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 
⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, 
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;

It's so easy to have plans and ideas that we think are great or good. If we are not seeking after Gods will and vision for the place that we are called to it's like building on sand with no foundation. yet when we seek him and those plans are ideas come from HIM then those projects and plans will move forward not always with amazing here and now celebrations. rather with the laying of seeds in the lives of others.

MA

My patch has bee quiet again recently, One of the last things I've wanted to do is spend time writing. Why well, the third paper for my MA has been the paper from hell.. The essay title I had chosen was and is something that I'm interested in.  The paper and research just wouldn't come together.  The paper was handed in at the end of June and last week it wasn't as bad as I had Thought..


One more paper and the dissertation to go and thats it the long wait for the final marks and then..  Hopefully Graduation...

Interesting

I was telling the Godly Play Holy family today at Kids Club we got to the time of wondering

Me: I wonder which of these you could remove and the story still work.
Kid 1: grown up Jesus..
Kid 2: if you remove grown up Jesus then take away baby Jesus too. There would be no need for Him. You need both.




Love the way these young lives question and think...

click here for answers

If only it was as simple as that, 

I don't know if you remember there was a real crazy several years ago for those 8balls you asked it a question it gave you a answer. That sorta fitted your question.  

Yesterday during the youth time before we rejoined the service for a baptism and the Communion. We and a interesting time of question and discussion. We're using the UCB word4u2day as a ay of introducing daily time with God and getting them to read the bible in small steps. It's a challenge to for me to make sure I am reading the notes they have. The notes from yesterday we did together.  During the week the questions or things that they want to talk about or share from there reading they make a note off and bring with them on a sunday or Thursday and we loo at them together. The questions are getting back to basics things we would take for granted. The simplest question this week was, Why are capitals used for He Him and  His when theres no full stop.  The answer the group came up with well is a written way of kneeling or  standing to show  respect and honour .   I like that don't know about you :). What I truly love about this group is they come as they are, they ask questions, they think about  they share and expect that back from each other...  and from whoever is leading... Asking questions is learning. Not every question thats asked will get a press here response, but working out the answer together weighing cup different ways of thinking and making it their own as they grapple with the questions they own.