tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-343470232024-03-13T16:57:08.975+00:00Delight in Light - Mark H Blog== Love God == Delight in Light ==Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-14651094510497562102023-03-08T23:34:00.007+00:002023-03-09T18:05:02.651+00:00The Hero of My Story<p>I was reminded today of a poem that I wrote a few years ago that was inspired by <a href="https://www.crawleybaptistchurch.org.uk/sermon-recordings-and-notes#think_right_live_right" target="blank">a series of sermons that was given at church</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I dream I'll be a hero,<br>
I yearn for all to see<br>
How wonderful I really am, <br>
How awesome I can be! </p>
<p>I dream of strength like Samson's,<br>
I long to teach like Paul,<br>
So thousands come to hear me talk<br>
And rally to my call!</p>
<p>Hmmm...</p>
<p>If that's the me I long to be,<br>
If that's the dream I have for me,<br>
I wonder if I need to see<br>
A truth to make me bend the knee...<br>
The truth that's there to set me free.</p>
<p>It's not my strength that God requires<br>
He's strong enough Himself.<br>
He doesn't need my wise advice,<br>
He doesn't need my wealth.<br>
He doesn't need my preaching,<br>
He doesn't need my songs,<br>
He doesn't need my strategy<br>
To rid the world of wrongs.</p>
<p>No - what He really wants from me<br>
Is not that I would somehow be<br>
The hero of my story,<br>
But that I'd stop and turn and see<br>
And understand His glory.</p>
<p>He doesn't need a hero<br>
To fill His leading part.<br>
(The casting for His central role<br>
Was filled right from the start.)<br>
He simply wants to pour His love<br>
Into a humble heart.</p>
<p>He wants to take me by the hand<br>
And guide me every day;<br>
To shine a light along my path;<br>
Illuminate my way.</p>
<p>He wants me to surrender;<br>
To put aside my pride,<br>
To place my hand into His hand<br>
And let Him be my guide.</p>
<p>And if a famous speaker<br>
Is what I'm called to be,<br>
Or if it's flames and lions' dens<br>
He has in store for me,<br>
Or if I'm simply called to work<br>
And serve Him quietly;<br>
In all things may I humbly say<br>
I'm here, dear Lord, send me.</p>
<p>For He's the one who knows the way<br>
To show the world His glory.<br>
And He's the one who really is<br>
The hero of the story.</p>
<p>So if I want to truly see<br>
The joy that He can bring to me,<br>
And if I want to be set free,<br>
A son loved for eternity,<br>
Then I should daily let <em>Him</em> be<br>
The hero of my story.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>.</p>
Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-10147943300299480762020-07-14T16:26:00.000+01:002020-07-14T16:26:43.811+01:00Amazing Grace - Saxophone<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IGnz9txp50Y" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-21557615868025289612020-06-12T12:36:00.000+01:002020-06-12T12:36:57.910+01:00O Love That Will Not Let Me Go<p>Having been teaching myself to play saxophone over the past couple of years, I decided to have a go at recording a cover of a song, so here's "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" - a beautiful song with beautiful words (the words are displayed in the video as I play)...</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a2tjs7oZHBA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-23914582936220296592020-05-18T10:58:00.000+01:002020-05-18T10:58:23.906+01:00Adam & Eve, the Snake and the Fall - and what happened then because of it all...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FvMy4IlcwrM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Adam and Eve, the Snake and the Fall
and what happened then because of it all...
</p><p>
It had been a lovely day;<br>
It always was for them;<br>
They’d walked and talked with God Himself,<br>
Just like you would a friend.
</p><p>
And as they snuggled down to sleep,<br>
You’d hear them softly say,<br>
“It’s been so good to walk with God<br>
In paradise today.”
</p><p>
You see, they lived in Eden,<br>
A place of joy and love<br>
All they needed everyday<br>
Provided from above.
</p><p>
I wish that I could find the words<br>
To tell you of that place;<br>
Or walk with you among its trees<br>
And watch your smiling face!
</p><p>
One morning as they went about<br>
Another lovely day,<br>
Just as she walked between some trees,<br>
Eve heard a sly voice say:
</p><p>
“Say, my dear,<br>
Stay, come near;<br>
Speak a while with me;<br>
Shall we chat<br>
Of this and that<br>
Here beneath this tree?”
</p><p>
“Oh,” said Eve, “Hello Snake,<br>
How are you today?<br>
There’s nowhere that I need to be,<br>
So certainly I’ll stay.”
</p><p>
And so they spoke of this and that;<br>
And then of that and this;<br>
Until at last it got to where<br>
That crafty snake could hiss:
</p><p>
“So it’s true – <br>
Is it true?<br>
This God you say is ‘kind’<br>
Won’t let you eat<br>
(However sweet)<br>
Whatever fruit you find?”
</p><p>
“Oh no,” said Eve“He loves us so;<br>
And really is so kind;<br>
We can eat ’most any fruit – <br>
’Most anything we find.
</p><p>
Surprisingly enough, in fact<br>
This tree, in all the land<br>
Is the only tree of all<br>
That has a fruit he's banned
</p><p>
You see, He says that if we eat<br>
The fruit from off this tree,<br>
A fearful thing will come to pass – <br>
For then we’ll die, you see.”
</p><p>
“This tree?<br>
I see<br>
How very interesting;<br>
What neat<br>
Deceit<br>
We’re seeing from this ‘King’!
</p><p>
You’ll die??<br>
My my!<br>
You’re sure that’s what He said?<br>
No, no!<br>
Not so!<br>
You’d be like Him instead!
</p><p>
Oh dear!<br>
No fear!<br>
If you just eat one bite:<br>
You’ll grow,<br>
You’ll know,<br>
The truth of wrong and right!”
</p><p>
“Um, well,” said Eve, “it does look good<br>
I would quite like a taste;<br>
It would, I s’pose, be rather sad<br>
To let it go to waste!”
</p><p>
“In fact,” she said, “to know what’s good –<br>
Well – can that be so bad?<br>
Then I will be as wise as God – <br>
That'll surely make Him glad!”
</p><p>
Her heart was full of butterflies;<br>
She knew it wasn’t right;<br>
But still she went and plucked the fruit;<br>
But still she took a bite.
</p><p>
Now Adam could have intervened,<br>
But though he was right there,<br>
Not only did he not shout, “Stop!”<br>
He also had a share!
</p><p>
But once they’d done that first wrong thing,<br>
A strange new feeling came:<br>
A sadness they had never known:<br>
A sense of guilt and shame.
</p><p>
And as they drooped their heads down low.<br>
All heavy with despair;<br>
They noticed that they had no clothes;<br>
They realised they were bare.
</p><p>
They quickly took some leaves to make<br>
A sort of covering;<br>
As if the presence of some clothes<br>
Would wipe away their sin.
</p><p>
Then came a sound they knew so well:<br>
The Lord God walking near;<br>
But though they’d once have called in joy;<br>
Today they hid in fear.
</p><p>
The breeze was stirring in the trees<br>
As softly God walked on,<br>
And then (as if He didn’t know)<br>
He called, “Where have you gone?”
</p><p>
“We were afraid,” the man replied,<br>
“When we heard You come through:<br>
We’re naked and we have no clothes,<br>
And so we hid from You.”
</p><p>
“You’re naked, hey, who told you that?”<br>
He asked; “What did you do?<br>
Did you eat fruit from off the tree<br>
That I forbade you to?”
</p><p>
Then Adam cried, “It’s not my fault – <br>
Please let me just explain:<br>
This girl you made gave me the fruit;<br>
So she's the one to blame!"
</p><p>
Indignantly Eve cried out “What!<br>
You can’t go blaming me!<br>
The snake tricked me and made me eat<br>
The fruit from off the tree!”
</p><p>
And so the Lord turned to the snake<br>
And grimly said to Him<br>
That he’d be cursed from that day on<br>
For causing them to sin.
</p><p>
But then He turned and said to Eve,<br>
“Because you broke My ban,<br>
You’ll suffer pain when you give birth;<br>
You’ll argue with your man.
</p><p>
And, Adam, you will toil and sweat<br>
You’ll struggle and you’ll groan;<br>
And both of you will have to leave<br>
This garden you’ve called ‘home’”
</p><p>
And so they had to leave that home,<br>
That land of joy and peace;<br>
Their time within that wondrous place<br>
Forever had to cease.
</p><p>
And at the gate, with flaming sword<br>
God placed some cherubim;<br>
So no one ever could come back;<br>
So no one could get in.
</p><p>
From that day on, creation’s been<br>
In bondage to decay;<br>
And all around there’s death and pain<br>
Since Adam sinned that day.
</p><p>
But yet there’s hope, because, you see<br>
It doesn’t end that way;<br>
Another “Adam” came to Earth<br>
To take our sins away.
</p><p>
That second “Adam” is our King;<br>
Our Saviour, Christ the Lord;<br>
That baby born in Bethlehem<br>
Whom angels all adored.
</p><p>
For Jesus came in grace and love<br>
And died in so much pain;<br>
So now, though Adam’s sin brought death,<br>
Through Christ, life comes again!
</p><p>
And one day when He calls me home,<br>
When all my journey's done;<br>
Because God’s love has set me free;<br>
Because of God’s pure Son;
</p><p>
I too will live in paradise – <br>
One better than before<br>
I too will walk and talk with Him<br>
Each day forevermore!
</p>
Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-89584116602043587942016-05-29T14:33:00.002+01:002016-05-29T15:08:23.260+01:00Feeding the 5000 - Video<p>The feeding the five thousand video is now online on YouTube:
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ak_zipTFvVk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>I hope you enjoy/enjoyed the video, and that you are encouraged to see if you can find ways to use your own gifts to serve God - even if your gifts seem "small" to you. Remember that a gift doesn't need to be something that people would consider special or unusual for God to use it.
<p>If you enjoy colouring, you can download a <a href="http://delightinlight.com/docs/f5000_colouring_page.pdf" target="_blank">printable Feeding the 5000</a> colouring page.
<p>You can find the accounts of this even in the Bible in the following places: Matt 14:14-22, Mark 6:34-44, Luke 9:11-17 and John 6:1-13 - it would be great for you to look those up so you can read about it for yourself.
Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-44427724119199076692013-06-16T19:52:00.000+01:002013-08-03T18:10:45.104+01:00Why Are You Struggling There? (Ocean of Love)<p>Ages ago I wrote this song. It's called "<em>Why Are You Struggling There?</em>" (or alternatively, as my wife prefers, "<em>Ocean of Love</em>"). It's inspired by various personal thoughts and Bible passages regarding the love and salvation that we get when we turn to God.</p>
<p>I wrote the music using an application called "<a href="http://www.myriad-online.com/en/products/melody.htm" target="_blank">Melody Assistant</a>" but never seemed to quite get around to recording the singing... However, earlier this year my wife and I had a (rare!) spare afternoon alone, so we grabbed the opportunity to record it at last. It's not a perfect rendition, but hopefully good enough for you to enjoy :)</p>
<p>Having recorded it, the next step was to bundle it into a video for YouTube - I considered various options for the accompanying visuals, and in the end decided that it would be fun show the music score as it is being played by Melody Assistant. There are quite a few staves in the music, so you really need to watch it in HD on a reasonably large screen if you actually want to be able to see the notes (and even then it may be a bit of a struggle!). By the way, I can't actually play any of the instruments involved - I just chose ones that sounded nice in Melody Assistant :) - I have no idea if it would be actually possible to play the various parts on real instruments (I suspect not in some cases!).</p>
<p>Anyway, enough waffle - here's the video...</p>
<p><iframe class="youtubevideo" width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8RCLFoRvtX4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>... and here are the lyrics:</p>
<table border="1">
<tr><th>Men</th><th>Women</th></tr>
<tr><td>My feet were all blistered with hot baking sand,<br>
I struggled on forward through parched, barren land,<br>
I’d used my last strength to press on to the prize,<br>
The fruit of seduction on palm trees of lies.
</td><td>My journey planned,<br>
Seeking a far, distant land,<br>
Hoping to win the prize,<br>
Aiming for highest skies.</td></tr>
<tr><td>But as I drew near it began to unfold,<br>
That all of the fruit that I once could behold,<br>
Were shimmering mists that had vanished away,<br>
No lakes of refreshment just, dry beds of clay.</td><td>But dreams grow cold,<br>
Rainbows just don’t lead to gold,<br>
Hopes dreamed along the way,<br>
Seem to all fade away.</td></tr>
<tr><td>But then, in the midst of my deepest despair,<br>
A voice strong as thunder yet gentle with care,<br>
Swept over my shoulder and sung 'round my head,<br>
It tugged on my heart and my soul as it said:</td><td>A lonely tear,<br>
Head hung in weary despair,<br>
That’s where my journey led,<br>
Until a calm voice said:</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><em>"Why are you struggling there?<br>
Come – I bring joy, not despair.<br>
Come to my family above,<br>
Come to my ocean of love."</em></td></tr>
<tr><td>I turned slowly round and I saw standing there,<br>
With face like the sun and with flowing white hair,<br>
The Almighty God; the Magnificent King,<br>
The Ruler of Heaven and Everything.</td><td>I turned around to see<br>
The Lamb of Calvary,<br>
The Prince of Eternity,<br>
The King of Kings, the Almighty.</td></tr>
<tr><td>The fire in His eyes and His sword wielding hand,<br>
They filled me with dread and I fell to the sand,<br>
But then on my shoulder His hand gently pressed,<br>
And wonderful calmness and warmth filled my chest:</td><td>But when I saw His might,<br>
His dazzling face of light,<br>
I fell to my knees in dread,<br>
But He reached down and tenderly said:</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><em>"Stand up there’s no need to fear,<br>
Rise and let Me draw you near,<br>
Sing, your salvation is here,<br>
Dance with the joy that we’ll share."</em></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2">He lifted me out of that miserable place,<br>
With ruby-red blood He cleansed all my disgrace,<br>
Poured open His heart so that I could be free,<br>
And carried me home to His land ‘cross the sea.</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2">Now free from the desert of endless defeat,<br>
I'm walking in sunlight, but not burning heat,<br>
For gushing and bubbling around at my feet,<br>
Are rivers of love that flow down from His seat.</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2">So friend if your soul longs for meaning and light,<br>
Your heart wants to sing and to dance with delight,<br>
If you’ll stop and listen, if you’ll turn to see,<br>
You’ll hear the same words that He once said to me:</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><em>"Why are you struggling there?<br>
Come – I bring joy, not despair.<br>
Come to my family above,<br>
Come to my ocean of love."</em></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><em>"Stand up there’s no need to fear,<br>
Rise and let Me draw you near,<br>
Sing, your salvation is here,<br>
Dance with the joy that we’ll share."</em></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><em>“Come to my family above,<br>
Come to my ocean of love."</em></td></tr>
</table>
<p> </p>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-61993122930854672582013-03-02T06:48:00.000+00:002013-08-03T18:11:17.828+01:00On Psalm 23 and Being a Sheep - Video<p>Some time ago I wrote a poem based on Psalm 23 called <a href="/2008/05/on-psalm-23-and-being-sheep.html"><i>On Psalm 23 and Being a Sheep</i></a>... Well, I'm now excited to say that I have created a <a href="http://youtu.be/EuGFtAIRaWg" target="_blank">video version of that poem</a>!</p>
<p><iframe class="youtubevideo" width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EuGFtAIRaWg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>This is the first video of this kind that I've made, so I'd love any feedback on it - it has certainly taken quite some time to do, particularly as I have a full time "normal" job and a family, so finding time to work on it hasn't always been easy.</p>
<p>As well as just watching the video, here are some suggestions for some fun activities that you may like to try...</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Read Psalm 23</strong> - The poem and video are, obviously, based on imagining what someone may have been thinking about that psalm, and, after all, he <i>was</i> a little confused about some things, at least at first. So why not look up Psalm 23 in your own Bible and read it for yourself?</li>
<li><strong>Colouring page</strong> - (or "coloring" page, if you're American!) - I've created a <a href="http://delightinlight.com/docs/p23vid/ps23-colouring-page.pdf" target="_blank">colouring page that you can print out and colour in</a> - then, if you like, you can pin the picture up somewhere so you have a regular reminder of your Shepherd :)</li>
<li><strong>Draw your on picture</strong> - Rather than (or as well as) printing out my picture, why not draw your own picture of the Good Shepherd?</li>
<li><strong>Hide and seek</strong> - I've created a little <a href="http://delightinlight.com/docs/p23vid/ps23-hide-and-seek.pdf" target="_blank">hide and seek game</a> based on the video - there are ten things for you to try to find that appear somewhere in the video. There is also a document with the <a href="http://delightinlight.com/docs/p23vid/ps23-hide-and-seek-answers.pdf" target="_blank">answers.</a></li>
<li><strong>Hold your own show</strong> - Of course, you can share the video with your friends, etc. if you want to, or watch it with them, but why not see if you can hold your own show? You could make some characters and use them to act the story just like I did in the video - as you can see, it doesn't even matter if people can see your hands holding the characters. You could base your show on my poem (like in the video), or you could base it on the actual psalm, or you could make up your own words.</li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks for watching and God bless :)</p>
<p>p.s. You may also like to read some of my <a href="/2008/04/christian-poems-for-kids.html">other poems...</a></p>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-89964038032571817062012-12-09T19:49:00.000+00:002012-12-09T20:10:26.638+00:00Two Things For Christians To Be Sure OfIt seems to me that Christianity is becoming more and more marginalised in Western culture. This means that we are more and more likely to be the target of opposition and/or persecution.<br />
<br />
One result of this is that people who see themselves as Christians, but are "nominal" or "half-hearted" about it, are more likely to be forced to make a decision one way or the other - will I stand up for Jesus in spite of opposition, or will I just follow whatever happens to be popular at the moment?<br />
<br />
One possible way to "test" whether I am "nominal" or not is to consider two key things:<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>Do I really believe in God?</li>
<li>Do I have a genuine love for God?</li>
</ol>
To answer the first of these, think about this: when someone challenges your belief, or presents something that could be considered to be contrary evidence, how do you react? If you react defensively or emotionally, then you should check whether your belief is really founded on a "wish" rather than on solid evidence. Are you genuinely interested in seeking truth, or are you just wanting to protect your belief?<br />
<br />
I recommend that you embrace your doubts, investigate other points of view and face the possibility that your cherished beliefs may be wrong. Then you can come out the other side with a much stronger belief that is based on fact rather than on wishing.<br />
<br />
To answer the second, consider your attitude towards chocolate (or, if you are one or the few people who doesn't like chocolate, something else that you do like/love). How often do you make excuses to avoid "having to" eat a piece of chocolate? Or do you rather (since chocolate is not really that good for you) make excuses or rationalisations that allow you to eat <i>more</i> of it? Similarly, if there is someone that you really like and love, do you make excuses so you can avoid spending time with them? Or do you look forward to, and seek out, opportunities to be with them?<br />
<br />
What about your relationship with God - do you make excuses to avoid interacting with Him? Are you thankful if something comes up that prevents you from attending church meetings?<br />
<br />
If so, maybe you don't really <i>love</i> God. If that is the case, then I recommend that you prayerfully focus on learning how to develop a love relationship with Him (rather than one that is based on a sense of duty or guilt). This book that I wrote a while back has some ideas for how to develop a relationship with God that is based on love: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Would-like-More-Still-Heaven/dp/144674003X" target="_blank">Would You Like To Sin More And Still Get To Heaven</a> - but there are also many other resources and people around who will be able to help you develop that kind of relationship with Him.<br />
<br />
So in summary, look at yourself and consider the strength of your belief in, and love for, God. If both are strong, you will have a strong foundation on, and connection to, the One who can carry you through any opposition that may come your way. If they are weak, then maybe you should ask God to help you do something about them - after all, failure to do so could have eternal consequences.Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-21917521566196870692012-12-01T19:30:00.001+00:002012-12-09T19:52:00.702+00:00@delightinlight - Getting Into TwitterAccording to <a href="http://www.whendidyoujointwitter.com/" target="_blank">http://www.whendidyoujointwitter.com</a> I joined Twitter on 1 April 2011 (hmm - April fool's day - maybe I should have waited a day!). However, until recently, it's not been something that I've really used very much - there were just a couple of users that I followed, and occasionally I would post a "tweet" that would be read by, I suspect, exactly nobody. I had, I think, 2 "followers".<br />
<br />
However, about a week ago, I decided to really start actually, you know, <i>using</i> Twitter (and I already can't remember what prompted that!). So I started looking for interesting people to follow and started posting more tweets.<br />
<br />
Here's some things that I personally have found in that week (i.e. the experience of someone who is, in effect, a newbie):<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I've really enjoyed it. Actually, I think may be getting hooked! It's great to have a constant stream of encouraging and challenging thoughts to keep me focused on God and His purpose for my life.</li>
<li>#1 above, of course, depends on following the right people. However, it has been really easy to find great people to follow. If you <i>do</i> happen to follow someone who turns out to be inappropriate, then it's very easy to "unfollow" them.</li>
<li>There's a great, overriding temptation on Twitter (to add to all life's other temptations) -- joining the "number of followers" race. Seriously, it's not about how many followers you have. Really. I have to keep reminding myself of that, because it really does seem to lure one in! Actually, I think I should write a blog post with more thoughts on that subject at some point... I may need to continue to be reminded ;-)</li>
<li>Many of the people that I follow have points of view on various theological points that I don't necessarily 100% agree with. That feels really quite irrelevant. Because what I notice more is that they seem to, first and foremost, reflect God's love. So I can listen to the occasional bits that I disagree with and feel encouraged to challenge my own position without jumping to the defensive. That feels to me like the kind of unity that Jesus would like to see in His family.</li>
</ol>
<br />
Now, I'm sure that, as time progresses, unpleasantness will pop up from one corner or another (this is the web, after all). But it looks like it will be a place where I will be able to continue to get that encouragement and challenge.<br />
<br />
If you are not a Twitter user, then I suggest you give it a try. Find some great Christians to "follow" and enjoy the spiritual feeding that they willingly and continuously send your way :)<br />
<br />
As a suggestion of where to start, here's a list of some people who not only have had great things to say over the past week, but have also taken the time to interact with me on Twitter in some Twitterish kind of way - in spite of me being a "nobody" in Twitter terms (i.e. "a person with few followers"). That means that we can be reasonably sure that they are genuinely interested in encouraging and helping rather than just being in it to promote themselves. Here's their usernames and current profile comment:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Michelle Castillo - <a href="https://twitter.com/mishiroo" target="_blank">@mishiroo</a> - "In the comfort of His love"</li>
<li>Kelli Trujillo - <a href="https://twitter.com/kbtrujillo" target="_blank">@kbtrujillo</a> - "Author, editor. Into Christian spirituality, environment, justice. Busy mom of 3. Foodie, book-lover, indie music fan, film watcher, poet, gardener, journaler."</li>
<li>Greg Holt - <a href="https://twitter.com/writinggomer" target="_blank">@writinggomer</a> - "Love God, inspirational writer and tweeter. Need encouragement and positive change? Follow me!"</li>
<li>Tiffany Barkley - <a href="https://twitter.com/TiffanyBarkley" target="_blank">@TiffanyBarkley</a> - "I love family, diversity, missions, orphans, scenery, music, art, tattoos, holidays, Jesus & I live to make Him known--Check out my Non-Profit! @GivingOthrsHope"</li>
<li>Jarrid Wilson - <a href="https://twitter.com/JarridWilson" target="_blank">@JarridWilson</a> - "Pastor, Author, Blogger. A Gospel Sharing Misfit. I yearn to share Jesus to the world. New book, 30 WORDS is NOW AVAILABLE. http://30WordsBook.com"</li>
<li>Rebekah - <a href="https://twitter.com/rebekahlynn" target="_blank">@rebekahlynn</a> - "If you're a southpaw and you can quote Big Daddy then I'll probably love you. COWBOYS.CUBS.MARCHMADNESS. Matthew 6:33 | thubby: @_jacobself"</li>
<li>Kari Maidment - <a href="https://twitter.com/Karimaidreal" target="_blank">@Karimaidreal</a> - "i love Jesus."</li>
<li>Kim Montepara - <a href="https://twitter.com/kimontepara" target="_blank">@kimontepara</a> - "A Beloved daughter of God. Have a heart for my family & friends, people, stories, children, youth & animals"</li>
</ul>
<br />
...why not stop by each of them, say "hi" and see if you would also like to follow them...?Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-27668182964179392092012-01-23T07:15:00.001+00:002012-01-23T07:17:41.843+00:00The End of the FilmConversation with Lucia (aged 5) after she had finished watching a film (Dad had watched most of it with her, but had had to go and do something else before it finished):
<br />
<blockquote>
Dad: "So, Lucia - what happened at the end of the film?"<br />
Lucia: "Well, um, it finished."</blockquote>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-45049111071308771202011-11-26T10:07:00.001+00:002011-11-26T10:16:08.339+00:00My Little Paper Aeroplane<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delightinlight/6404348261/" title="My Little Paper Aeroplane" style="border:none"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6404348261_d37185dcbd_m.jpg" width="146" height="240" alt="My Little Paper Aeroplane"></a><blockquote>Whilst in my hands I pray for help to shape your wings just right;<br />'Cause one day soon the time will come to launch you into flight.<br />I pray God then will bear those wings upon His winds of love, <br />And carry you along His paths till you alight above.<br /><br /></blockquote><div class="poemsignoff">- Mark H (DelightInLight.com)</div><br /><blockquote><strong>Note</strong>: This is one of a number of poems for Christian children that I have posted on this blog. If you want to see more of them, please have a look at this post: "<a href="/2008/04/christian-poems-for-kids.html">Fun Poems for Kids</a>"<br /><br />You can also share this post by clicking icons below...</blockquote>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-79516058420014826802011-08-19T07:45:00.003+01:002011-08-19T07:50:09.451+01:00PatienceQuote from Abigail (aged 7) on being told she couldn't do something immediately:
<br /><blockquote>Mum: "You'll just have to practise patience."<br>Abigail: "I've practised patience hundreds of times and I'm very good at it. ... I just can't <em>wait</em> anymore!"</blockquote>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-61584395308291032232011-06-10T19:15:00.004+01:002011-06-10T19:18:03.831+01:00Me and My BrainLucia (aged 5) was being told off for not doing something she was supposed to do.<br /><blockquote>Lucia: "Well, it's not my fault!"<br />Dad: "So whose fault is it?"<br />Lucia: "It's my brain's fault!"</blockquote>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-76295733635450545332011-06-07T07:07:00.001+01:002011-06-07T07:09:30.198+01:00Life Without ComputersLucia (aged 5): "Dad, did you have computers when you were young?"<br />Dad: "No, not when I was your age."<br />Lucia: "Wow! That must have been horrible!"Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-30940488649775664982011-04-19T16:02:00.001+01:002011-04-19T16:04:24.099+01:00I Love ProteinA quote from Joanna (age 8) following a comment about protein:<br /><blockquote>I love protein ... although I don’t really know what protein is ... is chocolate protein?</blockquote>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-66564630224205509072011-03-08T18:43:00.002+00:002011-03-08T18:46:52.700+00:00Book now available on Amazon.com<a href="/2011/01/sin.html">My book ("Would You Like To Sin More And Still Get To Heaven")</a> is now available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Would-like-More-Still-Heaven/dp/144674003X/" target="_blank">amazon.com</a> - still waiting for it to become available on other Amazon sites...Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-9505059264668032762011-03-06T15:11:00.001+00:002011-03-06T15:12:50.996+00:00Waking Up In HeavenQuote from Abigail (aged 6):<br /><blockquote>I think I shall call life a dream... and heaven is the waking up.</blockquote>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-44577547120761402222011-03-06T15:04:00.001+00:002011-03-06T15:06:43.581+00:00The BrownsQuote from Abigail (when she was aged 5):<br /><blockquote>When you come to think of it, the Browns* are actually quite nice. <br />But I don't usually come to think of it.</blockquote><br />[* Name changed to protect the innocent... :)]Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-68901328799063802712011-03-06T15:01:00.003+00:002011-03-06T15:10:55.704+00:00On Turning 40Another quote - from Joanna (aged 8) the day after my wife's 40th birthday:<br /><blockquote>Well, I'm not used to you being 40 - it's too old. You have to go back to being 39 again.</blockquote><br /><br />And another one from a few days before her birthday - conversation between Mum (aged 39), Abigail (aged 6) and Lucia (aged 5):<br /><blockquote>Abigail: "You'll be 40 - you'll be as old as Dad!"<br />Mum: "I can't catch up with him you know."<br />Lucia: "Yeah, you will. He'll just be older than you when you're the same as him."</blockquote>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-52919031025301962342011-01-31T07:14:00.004+00:002011-01-31T13:50:52.062+00:00Getting to Know Jesus BetterIn Phil 3:10, Paul says "My aim is to know him...".<br /><br />One of the targets that I have set for myself for this year (now that I have finished the work on that book!) is to "get to know Jesus better". My plan is:<ol><li>Get a parallel gospel resource (thanks, Google :) )</li><li>From that, compile a list of events in Jesus life.</li><li>Go through them all with the objective of trying to understand what they reveal about Him (His character, motivations, aims, methods, etc.)</li></ol>... Nothing terribly complicated, but hopefully useful in helping me grow in my knowledge, understanding and relationship with Him.<br /><br />I'll try to keep on top of posting updates on my progress and interesting points or thoughts that occur to me as I go so you can follow along if you are interested.<br /><br>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-3694204121565719292011-01-30T20:19:00.001+00:002011-01-30T20:21:19.416+00:00Lines From My EyesAnother kid's quote - from Lucia (aged 4):<blockquote>"Daddy - you're joking - I can tell when you are joking because I can see the lines coming out of your eyes!"</blockquote>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-8701253850538557522011-01-24T06:45:00.029+00:002012-10-31T13:34:19.754+00:00Sin More and Still Get to Heaven?<div style="float:left; margin-right:10px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/delightinlight/5392473162/" title="Would You Like to Sin More and Still Get to Heaven? by Mark H - Delight In Light, on Flickr" style="border:0px;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5392473162_cfb38ce01d_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Would You Like to Sin More and Still Get to Heaven?" /></a></div> Well, it's taken a long time, but I have finally got around to getting my book to the point where it is ready for release.<br /><br />The title is "<em><strong>Would you like to SIN MORE and still GET TO HEAVEN?</strong> - How to deal with sinful desires and become a more fruitful Christian</em>". See below for more info on what it's about.<br /><br />At the moment, there are a few ways of getting it...<br /><ul><li>You can buy a paperback copy <strong><a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mark_h" target="_blank">from LULU</a></strong>. The RRP is £9.68, but there is currently a 20% discount on it there, so the actual cost comes to <strong>£7.74</strong>.</li><br /><li>You can buy a paperback or Kindle copy from <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Would-like-More-Still-Heaven/dp/144674003X/" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></strong> or <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Would-like-More-Still-Heaven/dp/144674003X" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></strong>.</li></ul><br />Here's a brief description of what the book is about:<br /><blockquote>Many of us have certain sins in our lives that we just can't seem to "shake off". However hard we try, we don't seem to be able to make any progress in overcoming them. This book is about that problem and the Bible's answer to dealing with it (largely based on Paul's letter to the Ephesians).<br /><br />In the book I look at how a fundamental change to our approach may be the key we are looking for. Instead of "trying to sin less", we should focus on "rooting ourselves" in God's love and "walking in a manner worthy of the calling". I also talk about a number of practical things that we can do in our daily lives to help in the struggle against sin. </blockquote> If that sounds like something you may be interested in, go ahead and <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mark_h" target="_blank">buy a copy</a> :) - I pray that what I have to say will help you in some small way in your Christian walk.Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-77333803172593340662010-12-28T12:15:00.002+00:002010-12-28T12:22:00.485+00:00Getting there with the book...Many moons ago I said that <a href="http://blog.delightinlight.com/2008/01/say-something.html">one of the things that I needed to get round to doing</a> was to finish off my book and make it available online.<br /><br />Well, the good news is that things are moving forward on that front - I've now all but finished publishing it on <a href="http://lulu.com" target="_blank">Lulu</a> - I've just got to wait to receive a proof copy to make sure all is well at which point I'm planning to make it available to download or to buy as a "proper" book.Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-9658329833249301852010-09-09T20:43:00.003+01:002010-09-09T20:59:27.272+01:00JobsHere's another quote from the kids...<br /><blockquote><br /><p>Kathleen (aged 10) is complaining to Mum who has told her that she has to do her morning jobs (chores):</p><br />Kathleen: "Why do I have to do jobs - no-one else I know has to do them!"<br />Mum: "Yes they do."<br />Kathleen: "Who?"<br />Sister Lucia (aged 4 1/2) pipes up from nearby: "Me!"<br /></blockquote>Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34347023.post-22348550998479894912010-08-05T12:36:00.004+01:002010-08-05T12:42:23.244+01:00Two thingsTwo brief comments -<br /><br />1) Again, I seem to have been silent for quite some time - this is partly because we have changed the meeting structure at the congregation where I meet, so we are not doing formal "sermons" any more (rather shorter contributions from more people - more in line with what's set out in 1 Cor 14) - as a result, we're not currently videoing anything. It's possible that we may move back to videoing the shorter bits and pieces at some point in which case I may be able to start uploading that kind of thing again. However, in the mean time, I should really be uploading other bits and pieces. Slap wrist!<br /><br />2) There seems to be intermittent problems with Tangle, so the videos posted here don't always actually work. Hopefully this is something that they are dealing with!!Mark Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187295291904280287noreply@blogger.com0