When the eyes of Blind ones see again...

http://player.vimeo.com/video/103344928

Here is a beautiful link - just four minutes - in which our deaf and blind brothers and sisters take part in the tract campaign and prepare for the International Convention in Seoul, South Korea.  

They are so valiant.  And remind me that I really must get myself back together and get properly back out into the field.   If they can do so well...  I did do the rest of my route calls bar one today.  I have never been so late with them, but its been a fraught month, plus we have been away.   I was invited in for a chat by Christine, though mainly she wanted to compare operation scars - she too has had a knee done.   And I found Tony at home - he laughed at me a bit as usual, but we also had a long chat as usual.   And he who knows just about everything there is to know (he is astonishingly well read) was surprised by the article on the Syriac Peshitta in the September Watchtower.  I had drawn his attention to it, knowing it would interest him, and it really did as he said he hadn't even heard of it.    "I will read this" he said, as I said goodbye and trudged off into the rain.  Which was only a tiny rainshower, before I get too pathetic.  And left a lovely numinous light in its wake.

I will link the article in case anybody would like to read it:
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20140901/syriac-peshitta/

Sue - exPlanetExpat - will be meeting us in Arundel tomorrow for lunch.  She is down for the day. Clearly there is an Aramco vibe vibrating through the ether - we are suddenly seeing, or hearing from, so many old colleagues.

A Cottage Pie Supper

I made a cottage pie for Tom and Jacks for Friday  night - intending to make cauliflower cheese and carrots - which is the meal I used to make every Wednesday night (our Friday in ExpatWorld) during the DartsEveningocene Era.  However, I forgot the cauliflower, so we had broccoli cheese instead. And I made a sort of tomato ketchup, as we have lots of tins of tomatoes in at the moment.  It was nice and spicy.

Well, now that earth-shaking news has been headlined, I will note we seem to be at war again. And brother is killing brother.  I am not sure how you bomb ISIS, as they are not actually a country.   But... for decades we have been telling everyone who will listen what the Bible says is going to happen re the world's religions. And they are certainly goading the powers that be at the moment!

So I hope very much that you will note that in the August 30, 1914, edition of The World, a leading New York newspaper at that time, a feature article in the paper’s Sunday magazine section commented as follows: “The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy. For a quarter of a century past, through preachers and through press, the ‘International Bible Students’ (as Jehovah's Witnesses were then known) . . . have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914.”

The Bible has never been wrong about what is going to happen next.  Prophecy is history written in advance.  We are well into that day now, "the increasing of lawlessness" is all round us.  But it is a time of great hope - the darkest hour before the dawn.

And it will be a wonderful dawn, thanks to the incoming Kingdom of God, the heavenly government that will restore the earth to Paradise, and obedient humankind to the life and perfection that our first parents lost in Eden.

At The Lamb

Dave and Maggie treated us - the Captain, Jacks and me - to fish and chips at The Lamb on Wednesday.   Maggie still has her media career - including a very glamorous appearance on the cover of a glossy magazine.  Who says that retirement is boring?

They head back to Thailand in a day or two.   Lovely to see them.  And we hope they might consider a return to the UK at some stage.  They could always overwinter in their place in the Far East, as they are not ones for the cold.  And we can feel the coming Winter round the edges now, though the weather is lovely.  Its a sunny day here.

Back to the Kingdom Hall last night... and hopefully back to the field on Saturday.  

We were studying some aspects of the Mosaic Law last night - as we are considering how perfect Jehovah's law is.

"Even warfare was regulated under the Law. God’s people were to wage war, not to satisfy a mere lust for power or conquest, but to act as God’s agents in “Wars of Jehovah.” (Numbers 21:14) In many cases, the Israelites had to offer terms of surrender first. If a city rejected the offer, then Israel could besiege it—but according to God’s rules. Unlike many soldiers throughout history, men in Israel’s army were not allowed to rape women or engage in wanton slaughter. They were even to respect the environment, not felling the enemy’s fruit trees. Other armies had no such restrictions.—Deuteronomy 20:10-15, 19, 20; 21:10-13.
 Do you shudder to hear that in some lands mere children are being trained as soldiers? In ancient Israel, no man under 20 years of age was inducted into the army. (Numbers 1:2, 3) Even an adult male was exempt if he suffered from undue fear. A newly married man was exempt for a full year so that before embarking upon such hazardous service, he might see an heir born. In this way, the Law explained, the young husband would be able to make his new wife “rejoice.”—Deuteronomy 20:5, 6, 8; 24:5."

I was thinking of the exemption of those who suffered undue fear, and thought how kind, sensible and reasonable that was.    And how different human law is.   In WW1 if some poor shell-shocked young soldier could no longer face the horror of going over the top, he was shot - by his own side - for "cowardice".

Rudyard Kipling wrote this of such "cowards":

"I could not look on death
 Which, being known,
 Men led me to him
 Blindfold and alone."

Of course, it was never never Jehovah's wish that we should fight and kill each other.   But he has let us live for a while - only 6 days in his eyes - with the terrible decision our first parents made in Eden. The questions raised there are being fully answered before all intelligent creation - man and angel - and when the issue is settled, at the end of the Thousand years, "distress will not rise up a second time".   We should already clearly be able to see that we cannot rule ourselves, but need our Creator's loving law.  

Revelation tells us that Satan will be let loose for a little while at the end of the Millennial Reign, but he will never again rule the world, and he will be destroyed, everlastingly.

And, with the formation of the new Christian congregation in Jesus' day, a new situation came into existence.  Followers of Christ would be "sheep among wolves" - they would "study war no more".

The First Day of Autumn

Autumn started officially today, having given us plenty of warning of its coming, in the colours of leaves and the soft September sunlight.

We went to Pulborough Brooks today for lunch - cottage pie and veggies for Himself, macaroni cheese and salad for me.  It was a Dragonfly day - and we also saw a Clouded Yellow.

Dave and Maggie are coming tomorrow - there must be an Aramco reunion vibe going through the world.   We are going to go out for fish and chips. Jacks will join us. We wanted to go to the Arun View, but its still not open, so I don't know where we will end up.  Chip shop chips at home, if necessary.

I want to say something brilliant about Autumn - but will only say just look at it, the beautiful way the leaves die and are shed, the joy in seeing it all.  And maybe you will want to find and thank the Maker of it, as I was inspired to all those years ago on a September afternoon in Sheffield.

If you search for Jehovah, he will let himself be found by you.

Here is the promise, in Paul's speech to the men of Athens:

“Men of Athens, I see that in all things you seem to be more given to the fear of the deities than others are.  For instance, while passing along and carefully observing your objects of veneration, I found even an altar on which had been inscribed ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you are unknowingly worshipping, this I am declaring to you.  The God who made the world and all the things in it, being, as he is, Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade temples;  nor is he served by human hands as if he needed anything, because he himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.  And he made out of one man every nation of men to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he decreed the appointed times and the set limits of where men would dwell,  so that they would seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us.  For by him we have life and move and exist, even as some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his children.’"

The Triple-Headed Whippet

We got back here at 4.30, via a trip to Derby to see the new Martha.   We delivered our baby presents, and left with a bag load of apples from their tree.

Yesterday we saw the triple-headed whippet!!  It was coming up the road on its three leads with its whippet like owner in tow. We didn't have Ollie with us - we were driving to the shops - so there was no opportunity of a dramatic confrontation for his facebook fans.

I was tempted to leap out of the car barking and see what drama occurred.  But, sadly, my leaping days are long gone.

The Moon on a Stick

It was very misty on the high moortop as we drove over the Snake to Bea's this morning - appropriate for the "seasons of mists" as well as "mellow fruitfulness".  Then as we came through the fog and started down to Glossop there was soft September sunshine.

Bea's September garden was stunning.  We caught up on things, she gave us bean and veggie soup for lunch followed by tea and cake in Marple Bridge. And we visited the second hand bookshop there. And bought some books.   And Simon and Phyllis popped in to say hello and goodbye as they were just off to Scotland.

Talking of Scotland, the No vote won, though not by a large margin, so they will not have to take passports.  But Brit politicians promised the voters the moon on a stick if they voted No.  So they will now be under some pressure to deliver said moon on said implement.

We shall see...  

We met Janet for lunch at The Fat Cat yesterday.   We had quite a problem finding it - the Captain, Ken and me - the city has changed so much. A new ring road has sprung up from nowhere.  And it ran rings round us.  We had gone to the Millennium Gallery to see the Exhibition there first.

Anyway we did arrive. On time. The Cat is as lovely as ever.  Better if anything.  The landlord is the same and so, judging by our lovely lunch, is the cook.   Nute arrived just as we were ordering drinks and Janet arrived 10 minutes later.  The boys had steak pie with roast tatties and veggies; Nute and I had mushroom and leek pie with the same, and Janet had a lamb and mint burger.

A nice lunch.   And fun to see Janet after such a long time.

Scooter, Enraged by her Tail (again)

Scooter was enraged by her tail last night.  It kept lashing and lashing - and the crosser she got, the more it lashed about, and the crosser she got, until it was like a whirlwind. Both the Captain and I got a mini-clawing, though why we got blamed for it all, I do not know.

We were talking about the Scottish referendum last night - I think its any day now.    Both sides seem to have done a dismal job.  I must stay neutral and as far as I can tell (the human heart being "treacherous" at the moment), I am.   I would hate to lose Scotland - but do think it has to be up to the people who live there. This is supposed to be a democracy after all.

However, I can't compute the financial ramifications, and hope that the politicians and voters can.   Will they keep the pound?  And what would that entail?  And, if they do go for independence, why not have their own currency, which would surely be the Groat?

We are picking up Kathryn and heading off up to Jen's for lunch - everyone hoping that I can make it up and down the steep steep slope that leads to the Jen Chateau.  Sheffield is a very hilly city.  We have know Jen and Kathryn for nearly 60 years now.

Will we still be getting together for lunch 600 years from now?  I hope so. And of course, if we are, there will be no health problems to contend with.

Comparing Knew Knees

Jo and I got together over lunch at the bungalow today - foccachia (hot), hummus, tuna pate, avocado and Lilac Tree Farm tomatoes, followed by dessert - and compared our knee experiences and scars. Jo's knee was done 10 years ago and she has been told it has another 5 years in it.

That is very encouraging for me as, surely, in 15 years, I will either be "asleep in the ground of dust" with, hopefully, if Jehovah extends me undeserved kindness, a wonderful awakening ahead of me; or, maybe even already in the Paradise earth if it has come by then - and, once again, I will only be there if Jehovah extends undeserved kindness.

The point being I do not want to have to go through the operations again...

Col and I went into Sheffield for shopping purposes this morning.  The low September sun was shining through a misty veil of vapour - "the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" - and the city centre looked lovely.   We bought presents for the new baby, and for her new big sister and shopped for the Jo luncheon.

We are all off to Jen's tomorrow, as she is providing the lunch.  Had a long chat with Janet on the phone last night, and she may be joining us for lunch at The Fat Cat.

Martha (and Millicent)

A lot of excitement as we welcome a new member of the family - Martha Mary.   She was born last week after Nute received a dramatic call in the early hours and had to rush over to do her grandmotherly stuff.  We hope to see her and her big sister on Sunday.  We have already seen a lovely photo of the sisters.

So the Captain and I are now a great uncle and aunt for the 5th time.

Captain B also got some lovely photos of Millie picking apples at Lilac Tree.  We came back from there laden with apples, pears, grapes, tomatoes and a giant marrow that the Borrowers could have turned into high rise flats.

The Aramco Reunion...  maybe I will blog about that later. But as we were just looking round wonderingly, asking ourselves who all these elderly people were, and puzzling over where all our young colleagues had got to, we noticed everyone was looking at us with exactly the same expression.

What can it all mean?

Aramco was generous to its old employees as always and gave us a very nice evening with presents.

We stayed with Keith and Janet and the children were at home that weekend so we got to see them - a pleasure, as they are such good company - and we had a lovely day out at the Harrogate Betty's.

Nights with Scooter

Scooter is definitely a man's woman.  She snuggles up to the Captain and purrs.   She did stalk to the top of the bed to have a look at me - gave me a cold glance, and walked back down again.   The noise of her cat flap clattering becomes quite soothing after a while, like the waves on the beach.    Ollie seems in good form - is recovering from his "do" - hopefully last trip to vet today.  The Captain is out walking him in Endcliffe Park at the moment.

We got up here on Tuesday, having started the day at Worthing hospital.  We stopped for our usual sandwich lunch.   The September sunlight was so lovely, so transcendent, I wish I could do it justice in words.

The garden in the bungalow - can it be nearly two years since we last saw it? - has become more like a glade in a forest than ever.   I found a secluded sunny corner to do my studying in yesterday while everybody was out.

We are considering Jehovah's perfect justice at the moment, and this week's study end with words that everyone on earth needs to hear.

This is what we are being reminded of - worldwide - this week:

  "The Bible does not address every question regarding Jehovah’s actions in the past; nor does it provide every detail about how Jehovah will render judgment concerning individuals and groups in the future. When we are puzzled by accounts or prophecies in the Bible where such detail is lacking, we can display the same loyalty as did the prophet Micah, who wrote: “I will show a waiting attitude for the God of my salvation.”—Micah 7:7.

We can be confident that in every situation, Jehovah will do what is right. Even when injustices are seemingly ignored by man, Jehovah promises: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” (Romans 12:19) If we show a waiting attitude, we will echo the firm conviction expressed by the apostle Paul: “Is there injustice with God? Never may that become so!”—Romans 9:14.

In the meantime, we live in “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Timothy 3:1) Injustice and “acts of oppression” have resulted in many cruel abuses. (Ecclesiastes 4:1) However, Jehovah has not changed. He still hates injustice, and he cares deeply for those who are victims of it. If we remain loyal to Jehovah and his sovereignty, he will give us the strength to endure until the appointed time when he will correct all injustices under his Kingdom rule.—1 Peter 5:6, 7 ("Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time,  while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.")"


This is so important.  Otherwise we are going to take matters into our own hands and make things worse and worse.   If we study the Bible, we know that Jehovah will soon act to remove all the wicked and the violent from the earth.   And we can keep trying to stay on the narrow road that leads to life and help others to get on it, and stay on.

Yes!

A great article in the online Independent on Introversion.

A quote:
"Life as an introvert is rife with struggle: open-plan offices, teamwork, relentless after-work drink invitations, and the expectation that if you’re under the age of retirement you should spend your weekends in nightclubs. Simply, society is designed in favour of extroverts. The way our culture values extroverted qualities – competition, small talk, speaking up, taking action, relentless socialising – forces me to sometimes go along with extrovert behaviour and inevitably pay for it afterwards by needing a long nap. "
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/introvert-isnt-a-dirty-word-or-a-character-flaw-to-be-overcome-9719117.html


Yes.  Most people are extrovert so, obviously, society is set up in a way that suits them.  The whole business of parties...  And I have been to many - so I have researched it.  Yet, clearly they are important in a way that I don't understand.

What I enjoy is getting together with family and friends, for a meal, or coffee, or just a chat, but in a small group.  The only large group of people I easily cope with are at the large Jehovah's Witness conventions, where I know I am with my brothers and sisters, and everything is orderly.

I often wonder if introversion is a character flaw - not something you can correct - a part of our current imperfection.   But you can and have to adapt to the extrovert world. And, yes, as the article says, its tiring.  Or is it simply that at the moment nothing is right, nothing is in its right place. And when the earth is Paradise again, and all obedient humankind perfectly reflects the beautiful qualities of our Creator, there might be some areas, some jobs, that require introversion - solitary, lighthousekeeping kind of jobs?

Or probably we will all have a perfect balance between extro and intro then.

I don't know. I just wonder. But I don't worry,  everything will mean what it should then.  I just hope that we will all be there to find out.

The Team of Sarah and Sue

We were out on the doors on Saturday morning - but it was one of those mornings where nearly everybody is out, or not up yet.   Which shows the need for the public witnessing work with the bookstands.   Sarah was just heading off to do a couple of hours at the bookstand in the high street, so I dropped her off there when we finished our territory.

I hope to start taking part next month. Still have a lot of pain standing.

We found one really friendly Portuguese guy, who shook our hands, but didn't have much English.  I got out our little translation book, which gives a brief witness about the Kingdom in many languages, to explain to him why we had come to his door and then he managed to convey to us he was speaking to someone from the Portuguese language congregation.

It sounds like he is studying the Bible with them - and hopefully loving what he is learning as he was so welcoming.

Jehovah has had his Witnesses on the earth from the time of faithful Abel on. And the first and foremost of them all of course is Jesus Christ.

As Revelation 1:5 says:   "and from Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness,” “the firstborn from the dead,” and “the Ruler of the kings of the earth.”"

And our daily Scripture today is 1 Cor.11:1, where Paul says:  "Become imitators of me, even as I am of Christ."

The comment starts:  "How grateful we are that Jesus through his teachings and conduct willingly revealed his Father to us! We need to imitate Jesus by revealing the Father by our words and deeds."

Yes.

Captain Butterfly is carrying on as usual - out and about, and taking wonderful photographs. And I am more able to go with him now. We hope - all being well - for a day out at the British Wildlife Centre next month.  He and Nigel had a wonderful time there.

Jackie wined and dines us (along with Tom) on Saturday night.   Lasagne, salad, cheese, raspberries and creme caramel.  A lovely lovely evening.

Bibi’s ordeal

"Bibi’s ordeal began on the evening of July 5, 2014, when she and her husband, Vepa Tuvakov, along with their son, went to a train station in Dashoguz to pick up religious literature and personal possessions sent by a friend from Ashgabad. Just after the Tuvakovs retrieved the luggage, six male police officers in plain clothes detained them and demanded to see the bags’ contents. Finding a laptop computer and religious literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the police screamed obscenities and threatened that their son would soon be an orphan."
http://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/turkmenistan/dashoguz-judicial-police-abuses/

You can read her story on jw.org, if you want to.  They will keep us updated and we will be praying for her.   Jesus said that his followers would be sheep among wolves.  

But we are sheep guided by "the fine shepherd" - Jesus himself, who is Jehovah's annointed one.

A very quiet day yesterday, in which I seem to achieved nothing at all.  I did the Butterfly Paperwork the day before and got the Membership Packages to the Post Office on Friday.  I bumped into Tom in Waitrose, and one of my sisters in the Charity Shop.  I was looking for books - and am now re-reading "Martin Chuzzlewit" in consequence.

Poor Augustus Moddle. And poor not very young any more Charity (spoiler alert), left at the altar.

Apart from that... I did my studying, a tiny bit of housework, and made us a curry supper.  Or rather heated up a chicken curry I had made previously and re-heated.

Sylvia and the Talk

Sylvia and I did the talk tonight. This was my script, but we did manage to get it pretty much in our own words - Sylvia is very relaxed on the platform and that relaxed me.

HOW DO WE KNOW THERE REALLY IS A DEVIL?

(Material taken from "Reasoning from the Scriptures" p.361 par.2 - p.362 par.2)

Study No.25:  Use of an Outline

Setting:  Making a return visit to someone who showed interest.

Sue:  Sylvia, thanks so much for asking me in.   I wanted to find out if you enjoyed reading the Watchtower I left with you.

Sylvia:   Yes, I did read it thanks. It was interesting - but I was surprised by how literally you people take the Bible.  In that article about Genesis, you seem to think that there really is a devil, Satan. Surely he is not a person, he just symbolises the evil inside us?

Sue. Interesting that you say that Sylvia because while we do believe the Bible is what it claims to be, the inspired word of Jehovah, our Creator, and therefore true, we don't take every word of it literally. We know that some of  it, Revelation for example, is written in signs and symbols.  But we believe there really is a devil as the Bible clearly tells us so.  It repeatedly names him, as both Devil and Satan.   And Jesus himself spoke of and named the devil.   Let me show you a couple of Scriptures from Luke.  (Reads: Luke 22:31: “Simon, Simon, look! Satan has demanded to have all of you to sift you as wheat.)  Does it sound as if Jesus is talking about evil inside his Apostles, or about a person who is threatening them?

Sylvia.  He is talking about a person.

Sue.  Yes.  And there is this:  (reads Luke 10:18: At that he said to them: “I see Satan already fallen like lightning from heaven.")   Do you see that places Satan as someone who is in heaven, as he is going to fall from it.   He is, he was, a beautiful perfect angel, who willfully made himself the resister of God.  And also, the Bible tells us, he is presently in charge of the whole system of things on the earth.   And when you look at what is going on in the world does it seem to you that there is something terribly wrong?

Sylvia.   Can't really argue with that.  Here we are memorialising World War 1, the war to end wars, and yet we are all still fighting and killing each other.  It doesn't make any sense to keep killing each other this way.

Sue.  No. I agree with you.  And then there is the insane way we are treating the planet we live on.  We have an economic system that causes us to destroy the rainforests, the lungs of the planet.  Why would we do this to ourselves? The Bible warns that Satan is very real, that he is a destroyer and that he is pulling the strings.  He  is called both a liar - "the father of the lie", and "a manslayer".   And don't you think that the world is full of lies - or spin as it is called nowadays - and these lies are so often designed to get us fearing, hating, fighting and killing each other?

Sylvia.  It's hard to disagree with that I admit, but Sue, I just can't believe in this creature with horns, a pointed tail and a pitchfork, who roasts people in a fiery hell.  Its such a horrible idea, like an evil pantomime.

Sue.  Oh, don't ever believe in that Sylvia.  That is absolutely not a Bible teaching.  Jehovah himself assures us that the dead are conscious of nothing at all.    Would you read Ecclesiastes 9:5 for me?

Sylvia:  Reads Ecclesiastes 9:5: "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward, because all memory of them is forgotten."

Sue.  So can you see that the dead are not being tortured anywhere. They don't know anything. They have no more thoughts and no more feelings.   And would it surprise you to know that hell - which is "Sheol" in the Hebrew Scriptures, "Hades" in the Christian Greek - is somewhere the Bible tells us Satan never is, never was, and never will be?

Sylvia.  Are you sure?  Because that does surprise me!                                                      

Sue. If  you could spare me a bit of time next week, I can come round and show you why I say that.  The Bible tells us where Satan is now, where he was, and where he will end up.  A rescue is so close at hand - the rescue we are asking for when we say the Lord's prayer and ask for God's kingdom to come, so please have your Bible on standby.

The Missing Caption.

"Lovely photos, thank you darling" I beamed at the Captain as he put his Jewels of Autumn photos on my blog.   "But isn't there a missing caption?"  

 "How do you mean?"

"Well, why didn't: "The Fairest Autumn Jewel of All"  appear under the picture of Mrs.Captain Butterfly resting from her strenuous 10 minute hike?"

"Do you want to know?" asked the Captain, looking prepared to tell me.  

I decided to drop the subject.   They don't make these cameras the way they used to when I was young.

Yesterday was a happy day.  Sylvia and I practised our talk in the Museum garden, then had coffee in the little cafe.   And Mick and Micah came round in the afternoon.  It was such a comforting visit.  The Inspired Scriptures tell us that the elders are like "streams of water in a waterless country, the shadow of a heavy crag in an exhausted land".  They are a refuge from all that besets us in this system of things.

They emphasised that whatever help Captain Butterfly and I need in our tribulations - be in lifts to hospital, shopping, whatever - they are there to help.  Always.    I don't know how to thank Jehovah enough for the congregation family, and for sending his Witnesses to my door all those years ago.   The best thing I can do is listen to Him, obey Him, and get out there myself.   And try to give a good talk on Thursday night.

Sylvia will be very good for me, as I am supposed to be learning to use an outline, not a script.  I like everything written out, word for word, and stuck to. Sylvia improvises continually and confidently. So this should be a useful learning curve.

The Jewellery of Autumn

The Captain took me for a walk at Pulborough Brooks today.  And we lunched off a cheese veggie bake with salad.   It wasn't much walking, but it exhausted me.

It was a very grey morning, with a bit of drizzle now and again, but the jewels of Autumn really glowed.

Hedge Bindweed, Calystegia sepium on Brambles

Bramble, Rubus fruticosus

Fleabane, Pulicaria dysenterica

In which we meet a pit bull, and a rescue is required.

The Team of Steve and Sue galloped to the rescue Saturday morning.  We were out witnessing, when an elderly lady - well, ahem, a lady of my age - hobbled past with a lively and friendly young puppy, of the pit bull type, on a lead.   We all said hello went past, puppy lunging joyfully at us all, then we heard a cry for help.

We looked back. The pup had pulled the lady over.   Steve righted her, one of the sisters grabbed the dog, and Steve and I walked the lady back home.  Me walking the lady, Steve walking the dog.  She confided in us that the pup was her daughter's. The daughter would not get up in the morning so she had to take the puppy out. At six months, it was already too strong for her.

I only wish I could offer to walk it for her, but I am in the same position as the poor lady - we have both had our knees replaced and are convalescing. She will have to chivvy her daughter, whose dog it is, out of bed in the mornings.

And talking of parents and children, there has been a story in the press over the last week about a Jehovah's Witness couple who took their very sick child from a British hospital and took him to Spain - his mother's country - for further medical treatment that he was not being offered here.   They have been hunted across Europe by the police and have now been arrested and taken away in handcuffs ...  so have been separated from their very sick and very young son at the time when he needs them the most.

We really do live in the world that George Orwell saw coming in 1984.

They are Jehovah's Witnesses - therefore members of my own worldwide family.  This clearly has nothing to do with our beliefs or their not wanting treatment for their child.  They want treatment for him - proto beam therapy - which, it is alleged, was not being offered in the UK. And they took him abroad so he can have it. Wouldn't any parent do the same?   They had taken him straight to a hospital, where his condition is said to be stable.  Its heartbreaking.  But a reminder of how much we need the loving rulership of the incoming Kingdom of God.   It will reunite parent and child, not separate them.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/01/ashya-king-parents-court-madrid