From this website.

My two songs for today…

The first is an acoustic version of “Home” by Zero 7 sung by Tina Dico. It is a really lovely song, acoustically or otherwise. The second is by Thunder (retro!) and is called “Like a satellite”. I just think that Danny Bowes has the most beautiful voice. It is actually quite a sad song, like many of theirs. However, I love it. Enjoy….

Democracy – a funny word roughly translating as ‘the power of the common people’.  I often debate with my work colleague about democracy as he is very ‘pro’.  He is a great believer in freedom of speech and says that if we voted for democracy then it should be allowed.  His argument would be that Islamic extremist groups should be able to march through Wotton Bassett but that by the same token, they should be prepared for people to beat them up (although unfortunately whilst you might get away with freedom of speech you’d probably get arrested for beating someone up).  He is, as you can imagine, a socialist.  In the main, I agree with him, because in theory democracy works very nicely.  In practice, it doesn’t, depending upon how you define ‘works’.

If you are a part of the animal kingdom (some would say that we are), then democracy as a ruling, is perfect.  One animal goes where it pleases and gets mauled to death by another because both have made decisions exactly as they please and the repercussions are not enforced by anyone other than themselves.   However, as a structure, it is imperfect.  There is a hierarchy (known as the food chain), so every animal is not equal in terms of status, rights, freedom of passage etc.  It is similar with humans.  We can only be equal in the eyes of God, not in earthly terms.  There has to be hierarchy.  People cannot be treated the same (i.e. a 5 year-old child cannot be given the same responsibilities and decisions to make as a 40 year-old man, a paedophile should definitely not be allowed to hang around outside schools – the vulnerable must be protected).  The reason for this is that we are all at different stages.  Equal opportunities are alright up to a point, but where are the boundaries?

If people believe that there is no God, then scientifically, there is no basis for any kind of morality at all, as morality is not a scientific process.  Why would you have a sense of right or wrong, or good or bad, if you are purely a scientific matter?  It is not a requirement for a device to function (i.e. a plant, which has a complex system of functionality but no feelings – that we know of!)  Democratic theory fits with this notion.  Every man for their own, equality and fighting your corner.

If this is true, then why should we not break the law?  What tells us that to kill is wrong?  What makes us know that raping people is evil?

It is my belief that we live (or at least should live) in a theocracy.  Everything under God’s rule.  It offers the same freedom as democracy, as He has given us free will.  However, He gives us a sense of morality – what is right and what is wrong, where the boundaries lie etc and allows us to make decisions (which we often get wrong).  We are given a guide (the Bible) to help us make informed decisions about life.  We have voted ‘democracy’ because we are not allowed, it seems, to vote ‘theocracy’ despite being a supposedly Christian country.  Hmmm…. Thoughts in progress…..

I have just read this article about a graduate who was told she was not allowed to play an instrumental version of Ave Maria at a graduation ceremony because it was an ‘obviously religious piece’.  How utterly ridiculous.  As the article correctly suggests, if they start taking this line, then just how far will it go?  Will freedom of speech be restricted as such that student speeches will not be allowed to take place, because they proffer an opinion?  Will it be acceptable to graduate at all, because this suggests a hierarchical societal status?  Will, indeed we be able to say that it is 2010, because that counts back to the year of Christ’s birth?

Whatever you believe about Jesus, historical records show that he was a real person, so we count back to his birth as a historical reference point.  There is no need to bring ‘religion’ into it.  As a Christian, I personally count back to the most amazing year of the world’s history to date, when a being who was fully God, became simultaneously fully man.

With regards to Ave Maria, I am also led to believe that one of the primary American mottos is supposed to be, “IN GOD WE TRUST”.  So why on earth, did the American judicial system see it fitting to disregard this case out when it was taken to court?  At what point amidst all this ridicule will people realise that in an effort to be politically correct, they are persecuting Christians?

That said, I am not sure how I feel about the girl in question trying to sue.  I am reminded of the Bible verse that says “And now one believer takes another believer to court and all of this, in front of unbelievers!”  It is a message about forgiveness.  How can you say that someone is forgiven by God for a life of crime and then take someone else to court because they owe you 50 quid?  With the same measure that you forgive, you will be forgiven.

I do, however, believe in justice.  There will be times when it is appropriate to take people to court and for these, you have to use discernment.  Was it necessary to sue someone for not allowing a religious piece of music?  I am not sure it was.  What was her motive?  To be able to play the piece, or to get money?  To make a stand for Christianity or to further fuel the ammunition and hatred of those who already took issue with it?  I am not saying we should be doormats, but I do think that we should choose our battles carefully. Fight for the ones that will bear fruit for God’s purposes, not the ones that just make you look like a bit of a pain in the backside.  At the end of the day, if it is crowned a “secular event” then what is the point fighting that decision?  Every man will be given the choice to accept or reject God and this organisation had made their decision. If the event had been all about democracy and freedom of speech then fight the battle.

Well I am HUGELY excited!  My bike is arriving this week!!!  It seems that the pink I wanted has been discontinued, which I was very sad about.  However, I am getting this shade of pink instead:

Isn’t it pretty?  Very ladylike.  You can also accessorise, it has matching bells, baskets, handlebar grips with streamers, wing mirrors etc.  I am so excited.  However, I will have to save up some more before buying any of those.

I love my new kitchen (not a new kitchen but a kitchen at a new place).  In particular, I love the kitchen table, which I am trying to persuade JT to keep.  It is a real ‘baking and crafts’ table.  So today, I got out my coolest kitchen things and decided to bake some cupcakes.  Photo documentary?  Here goes:

Firstly, my sunny view across the rooftops from the kitchen

Kitchen table

Getting everything ready

My JosephJoseph nesting bowls (I love them!) The missing one is the colander, which is in the dishwasher!

Cute cake cases

Trying to beat some very stubborn butter

buttercream

putting the (now pink) buttercream into an icing syringe

cooling the cakes…

Varying success at ‘Mr Whippy’ effect!

A good Mr Whippy

Fairy sprinkles!!  Imagine my excitement….

Magical…

Finished articles on Paperchase pink cupcake stand!

Cupcakes!

Thanks to Rachel Wibberley for this….

We have just returned from a lovely weekend in Wales with the lovely Owen and Anne.  We had a brilliant time chilling out in their beautiful new surroundings.  They are located just outside the village of Penycae in this house:

Lovely, isn’t it? Not a bad ‘garden’ either!

We went for a pub lunch and a lovely hill walk on the Saturday, before watching the rugby and The Curious Tale of Benjamin Button, which, if you haven’t seen it, is a beautiful (if slightly bonkers) film.  Really good.

This shot wasn’t posed – honest!

Catkins

Lichen

A sheep skull

Sockface (the Pink Sky mascot) came with us of course!

View around O & A’s house

Owen and Anne have hundreds of different birds in their garden.  I liked them very much.

And finally, a sure sign that spring is on the way!  On the Sunday, we went to Owen and Anne’s church, the Swansea Valley Bible Church.  It was brilliant.  When you come from a church of around 2000 people, it is really humbling to go to a place with around 100 passionate people from whom you can learn so much.  As we walked in, several different people welcomed us.  As the worship started, it was clear that everyone was genuinely overjoyed to be there singing their hearts out to God.  There was a fantastic sermon about psalm 42 (or was it 48?  Better read and check) with some really interesting points that I am sure I will blog about.  The teaching was delivered in a very biblical and humble way, with great insight appropriately balanced with a sense of human limitation (i.e. not being afraid to say “I don’t really know whether it means this or that” rather than wild ‘theological’ speculation.  All in all a really great service.  We took communion at the end which consisted of crackers and grape juice.  I was really glad that Owen told us that they all eat the crackers at the same time before I gobbled mine down with a mumbled “Amen”, which is the standard practice.

That afternoon we watched the Grand Prix and then I embarrassed myself on the Playstation, before setting off for home.  A great weekend and our huge, heartfelt thanks go out to Owen and Anne for having us and for cooking awesome food and for bearing with my physical limitations.  You’re ace!

I haven’t been able to post many flouse pics yet as we have not unpacked!  However, here is a small taster:

This is our bed.  Note the crazy silk ceiling (if you can see it!)  The bedroom stretches out behind the photo towards the en-suite.

My customised dressing table.  I need to lower the mirror, as I have just hung it on an existing hook and it is too high!

Have you ever noticed how weird your face looks in the bottom of a mug??!