Soap for Jesus

Walking hurriedly along the street in the cool evening air, I glanced sideways at my reflection in the glass window, noting again my arms with dissatisfaction. I barely had time to think, rushing madly as I was to get the 8:39 train in time, trying to take in and appreciate the surroundings around me (anti-depression technique), but my shoulders sagged a little, thinking of my dissatisfaction with the way I looked, trying to concentrate on it being more important the way I am inside and yes, I DO like my style. Including the trainers. It's independent looking, like I don't care what people think - and I don't, to some degree. But there are certain things about my body that I don't like. Since being rejected, that insecurity has gained a lot of ground, even though I try to ignore it. Rushing along Broad Street, I neared three guys in suits sauntering along. Looking ahead, I went to go past them when one, on a phone, waved at me, in front of my face. I smiled at him as...

DO. NOT. LOOK. AT. THAT. FLOWER. Do not admire it. Do not appreciate it. Do not even compliment it. After all, it was designed by a Creator. And we should only thank the Creator for making the flower. "That flower is pretty!" is NOT an acceptable comment. "What a beautiful scent!" is also totally wrong. Does that sound acceptable, or do I sound like an idiot? ;) Would you agree that most of the time, the acceptable way to appreciate natural beauty is to praise it AND praise God for it? Oookay. So let's move from the third day of creation to the sixth. And...not to the animals. To humans! Recently, there's been an argument put forward that it is wrong for a guy to compliment a girl. It is that subject I'm attempting to address in a fashion today. Okay, so maybe the flowers don't have feelings that can be affected by such comments. If they did hear them, in association with praise to the Creator for them, do you think they would feel p...

I read a quote from my fav aeroplane brother Miguel Flores once. It struck a chord, and I and I think, others, asked him to write more. As you know, love has a big meaning for me. Been struggling with a few things today and this really struck me again as I re-read it. Without further ado, I give you: Miguel Flores. You are walking down a grocery isle and you pick up a new product on the shelf called “love.” It appears to be a special kind, with the subtext saying that it’s specifically for romantic love. Turning it over to read the label, you see that it has a wide variety of ingredients in it--things like patience, affection, selflessness, and other hard-to-swallow things. You put it in your basket, thinking it might help you with your relationship problems. Little did you realize that you skipped over the disclaimer’s tag, saying that some side effects of “love” might include “pain, hurt, loneliness, suffering, and even hate” if used inappropriately. And, ironically enough...

A thousand novels could be written and still not all could be explained of the complex, intricate creation of love… Where care meets protection there must be a balance. Love never hurts in the name of care. Love has self-control. Love stays through hurt. Love breathes. Love is gentle. Like a friend with patience that abounds, love listens. Love does not condemn. Love looks at others before itself. Never does love find blame in others to clear its name. Love is merciful, pure, kind, and forgiving. Love remembers the past, but does not let it damage the future. Where love stands, all can be overcome. Love should be calming. Like a blanket that keeps you warm and a roof that stops the rain. A sword for protection though not wielded against you. Love is safe and sound; calm and peace. A refuge from the storm of life. Love is not prejudice. Love is free from seeing self and viewing image or one’s own safety. Love sees what is and not what is wanted. Love does not change over t...

The love story of the year so far is this one: Here comes the pride! Words by: JENNA SLOAN, Pictures: ARTHUR EDWARDS Published: 04 Apr 2011 Add a comment (12) STANDING proudly at the front of the chapel, Rifleman Paul Jacobs turns to greet his beautiful bride in front of 130 family and friends. It is a significant moment for any groom, but Paul's wedding on Saturday was even more emotionally charged than most. The 22-year-old, who was awarded a George Medal for bravery, will never see his new wife Louise. For Paul was blinded by a Taliban bomb blast while trying to recover a colleague's body in Afghanistan - and Louise was the healthcare assistant who tenderly helped him at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital. Louise, 25, fought back tears as she said: "I'm so proud of Paul and everything he's achieved. I know he'll never be able to see me but that's not something I think about. I look past the disability and see Paul as my husband, just like anyone else. ...

Last week I woke up early in the morning; tired, dragging myself around, I was not appreciative of being rushed out of bed to go and clean out the chickens. I stepped outside and looked around casually as I carried the cleaning items over to the chicken house...and gasped in happy surprise at what I saw. I noticed even more when I was scrubbing down the roost, so much so that I pinched my brother's camera because I wanted to show you. Spring crocuses: Purple and pale lilac: The forsythia blooms: Unfolding its flowers: Snowdrops: Whiter than snow: Crocuses on the other wall: An overview of the snowdrops: These are only a small selection of what I saw. There are daffodil plants just starting to glint with gold at the edge. Bluebell leaves are stirring in the dirt. Sticky new buds are appearing on nearly every tree. Life is starting again God is not finished with you. Spring returns, and so will life for you. Lift your head and look at your future, not your present. Who you are doesn...

If I ever get married, this is the music I want to walk down the aisle to. It's beautiful. Hope you don't mind, husband-to-be-whoever-you-are! XD :P

Warning: Not suitable for younger readers. Thursday morning during work, my brain was working overtime. I guess that comes with fervent praying and thinking, something which is not an unusual process with me, but one that I haven't subjected myself to for some time. Results of this being, 1) I was able to write an email with prayerful consideration, and 2) three blog posts I wanted to write. This is a minor one, but still an interesting note. As I was cleaning down the front of her fridge, I noticed that my employer had a certificate on it from her boyfriend/partner. "The World's Sexiest Female". A few of the words underneath were, "hot, sassy, sexy, flirty". The cute little picture in the corner was one of those little-girl stick figures, with an angelic smile, red horns in her head, a pointed tail and a trident. (No, it wasn't me. :) ) It struck me as I looked at it that that is entirely the world's idea of love. All guys want in a girl is the hott...

Some of you might like to see an update of my beautiful little niece... Here she is at the age of three months! She can: Gurgle baby coos, Smile, Laugh, Support her own head (was doing that at two weeks), Roll over, Attempt to sit up alone, Attempt to stand up. My twin brother Jose and I, with Ayanna in the mirror. The photos to the left are Jose and I as children. :) Ayanna and me, again in the mirror. Ayanna, her Mom - my sister Sam - and me. :D A little blurred, but Ayanna smiling. :D

Christmas. A time of peace and joy and family and loving and giving. A time to remember the cause of the celebration - the Lord Jesus, the God of all, becoming smaller than the full stop at the end of this sentence. One of the things I love about Christmas is a childish anticipation that usually possesses me at the beginning of December, a gay* abandonment of spirit, excitement at the approach. Second thing I love most is when one goes out on Christmas Day, with a smile on one's face...people walking past beam back at you and the happy greeting of "Merry Christmas!" is exchanged. For me, that symbolises a little the line, "peace on earth, goodwill to all men." This year was one of the worst Christmases. We ran a high risk of not being able to get my brother home; my sister was living on our living room floor. Most of the days were spent trying to sort problems out and waiting hand and foot on Ayanna. Out of our usual stock of mince pies, rum truffles and marzipa...

So! After that last blog, I really have to do the follow up photos before getting on with my multitudinous other blog posts. I mean, this whole morning is devoted to blogging...and I need to look up exam papers and work on my CV too. Argh! :P Well! Last Thursday or rather, two Thursdays ago - day after Miss Ayanna made her appearance into this chilly world of ours - Grandma, Grandpa Jeff and Auntie Sian made their way over to the Safari household, just as soon as they were back from hospital. I'm glad Sam and Dennis have given Dad that title. To Jamie and George, Dad is known as "Uncle Boo" (from peek-a-boo ;) ), as he is only "stepdad" to Simon and Sam, and Si was 16 and Sam 10 when Dad married our Mom. So it really is nice that with both sets of Ayanna's real grandparents alive, that they chose to give Dad that name. Rambling again, sorry! So here are the photos. Mommy got a little cross with Auntie cause Auntie kept flashing lights and Mommy thought Ayann...