GoodThings

Here's a space for us to express things that we're happy about, that we've enjoyed, things that have helped us or encouraged us. There's so much bad news about, it'll do our hearts good to hear about this stuff... Wide range - let's mix and match TV progs, things we've read in the Bible, good things at church, enjoyable evenings out, the lot; God's in the whole of life, not just the things we normally call 'spiritual', so let's celebrate the good things he's given us here.

• Some very cool friends. People on here included. Who make life so much more bearable when they encourage, challenge or rebuke me and stand by me through whatever comes along.

• Life of Mammals on BBC1 last night; phenomenal! Really amazing to see a tiny, pink duck-billed platypus that had just hatched.

• Deut 22.1-8 - I read this today. I'm increasingly pleased to see that there are various things about conservation and care of animals in the Old Testament law. Here, it says we're to care for lost animals (and lost property of all sorts) - to get involved, not to ignore the problem. We're to help animals that have fallen down - again, getting involved, not ignoring. It's OK to eat birds, but again we should conserve - we shouldn't eat both mother and chicks. Thought I'd pass that on; I was pleased to read this.

• This site - thanks to everyone who's making it what it is! (this is Andy, just to make it clear I'm not doing subliminal advertising!) Seriously, I really felt that God wanted me to do this, and it seems he's helping us make it a success. Tell your friends!

• Socialising - often I feel like I don't do anything in life except think about the work I should be doing, but in fact in between I get plenty of opportunity to enjoy being with friends. Nine of us went out for a v tasty curry last night to celebrate my birthday, and I want to thank God for such enjoyable company! It's great to be able to spend time with good friends!

• Music - click here for more on GoodMusic!

• I must say that I've really enjoyed the worship music in my church the last few weeks, believe it or not! There are some great songs out there, and we've got a great mix of instruments, and I really feel like we're all worshipping God with enthusiasm! It's not always the way...

• Charity shops! One of my housemates dumped all the things from our student kitchen that he thought were superfluous in the hall, and keen to see them put to good use instead of chucked, I took them along to the local Salvation Army shop - apparently one of the biggest charity shops in the area/country/world - it used to be a cinema apparently. Imagine my surprise when I managed to pick up FOUR WWMT albums, Cutting Edge 3 & 4 AND Matt Redman among their music selection. Then later on I popped over to Oxfam for some chocolate to help me work, and picked up a Fatima Mansions album. Aren't charity shops great? Everybody wins.

• My family's sense of humour which makes me laugh and cheers me up. Here's a bit of an email I've just got from my brother (well, I found it funny):

Ah yes, the ear-man. For Bupa's �100 I got the reassurance that the consultant wouldn't tell me anything I didn't know already. OK, he did look up my nose and in my ears, which I couldn't do myself. An audiologist measured my hearing too (presumably paid for by the NHS) which again confirmed that I'm not deaf. I asked to have my hearing measured again in a year to see if there's any noticable difference, which the consultant (after thoughtfully rattling his 3.4 Litre Jaguar cufflinks) agreed to.

Work is going fine, in a going nowhere sort of fashion. I've got a 'annual personal development review meeting' with my manager tomorrow where he will politely ask me what I've been up to since we last spoke at the 'quarterly personal development review meeting' in October. I'll then explain how I'd like to do a job which has a job description, where the management is worthy of respect and there is opportunity for career development. Fighting to stop his eye-lids from drooping completely shut my manager will ask me how well I have fulfilled the Bookham Values in the past 12 months - Passion for Action, Do Right By Each Other, Do Good Work. I kid you not.

• The 'Essential Poems' series on the Beeb last week - really fantastic, Damian Lewes reading 'To His Coy Mistress' was superb.

• Freedom of Speach

• Politicians with a sense of humour - well, this one anyway, as pointed out by the Guardian (I'm not sure if they got it): http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/teens.html

• Dave here, I'm just trying this out to see if I can make it work, these computers can be very messy with a brand new operator at the keys, and I'am 56 years old, and I believe I read where this web site was for youngish saints, will I be welcome?

Dave - All are welcome. Come to the main site and say hi in the dicussion board. http://www.guiltyexpression.org/index.php You see how warmly you will be received. Darkly

Dave - completely agree with Darkly! andy