Save a Prayer

Season's Greetings one and all.

I ask you to save a prayer today for this remarkable lady.

While you are at it, spare a thought for my colleagues who are out at the coalface today. Stay safe.

Finally, when you are surrounded by the warmth of your family and friends today, and those of you who might consider saying Grace, cast your minds towards those who are far away on the real front line fighting for us.

.... and yes, cast a thought on what this day is really about celebrating.

Now playing: Duran Duran - Save a Prayer
via FoxyTunes

© Noddy
Published by Toy Town™ Times

Use your imagination

Have a go yourself!

H/T to Nightjack.

© Noddy
Published by Toy Town™ Times

A powerful wee message

There was a time when my father passed away far too young in life and I was 'lost' without him.

I was searching for the friend, guide and counsel he represented.

I was unable to settle and one night I woke bolt upright from my sleep and these following verses were directed to me as if in a dream.

Being hardly the world's foremost expert on The Book, I hadn't even heard of Ephesians and knew even less about what was within.

Reading the verses, I found I had a new 'Father', guide, friend and counsel. There was an even more humbling message, which to this day I find so difficult to reconcile with my less than perfect 'brand' of Christianity.

On this special eve, I bring you my own revelation and the genesis of my faith.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1, v2-14

© Noddy
Published by Toy Town™ Times

Hundred Acre Hood and other tales

A wee round-up of happenings north of Watford Gap.

Lost and Found.

A Toy Town™ Polis spokestoon commented, "We are glad to see the wee bear back with Piglet, Eeyore and the gang. Winnie has a serious pot habit (honey that is- ed.) and he was persuaded by some clever but unscrupulous types to venture into Toy Town™ to source his stash. Fortunately, we combed the city and in the bees nest that is Hundred Acre Hood, during a co-ordinated intelligence-led sting operation our colleagues traced Winnie. Toy Town™ Polis would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that it will not tolerate the kidnapping of toons."

PC Milne (no relative) added, "I'm glad he didn't come to a sticky end."

The local paper reported that, "After a hive of activity in the north of the city, Pooh was rescued."

Jacquelyn Liddell, Managing Director of Storybook Glen, originally told BBC Scotland when Winnie was reported missing that: "It's shocking. I just wish parents would see where their children are at night."

Wise Owl responded last night by stating, "Sometimes people jump to conclusions."

Eeyore, never one to be serious, said, "Here's some more Poo."

When asked to comment, Piglet merely said, "Oh, d-d-d-dear."

Bad day at the Office - Part 1

Some days you just wish you'd been elsewhere. Horrendously bad luck all round, for the bereaved, the other car driver and the poor Polis.

Bad day at the Office - Part 2

Every custody officer's and force's nightmare, but whatever the reason it's even more of a nightmare for the relatives. However, after the loon's last two exploits, I do hope he'd asked for forgiveness for his sins before his untimely death.

Note to Northern Constabulary - I'd start crossing your collective toes if I were you.

What a silly Hunt

Well clearly the digit curling up North isn't working. Read the article's comments to get the full flavour of the 'story'.

Judge Dredd

I have to admit I had to read this article twice. Well that's because the first time I fell off my chair in shock. Without wishing to add my support so freely to the vigilante system in Prison, it should at least make those who commit the more dastardly of crimes think twice, because despite it all there is still a moral code amongst some of the pros amongst the cons!

That's enough jox vox for now.

© Mr Plod
Published by Toy Town™ Times

GOD bless her

I'm going to pose the question and hang the consequences.

What kind of religion is it that drives you to shoot at point blank range a defenceless woman who works with disabled children for a charity in a foreign land?

It would appear some folk need some extreme diversity training.

Being serous, this was murder plain and simple and that, my friends, was still a sin the last time I looked!

God rest her righteous soul.

© Noddy
Published by Toy Town™ Times

But the Bish bashed back

I'm keeping my posts short and snappy today.

"He's a great leader and doesn't cloud his views in political correctness."

OMG!

© Chill Bill
Published by Toy Town™ Times

Cooking the books

I got tagged again....

But funnily enough I'm quite pleased because the subject at hand is one I've been meaning to post about for some time now and it gives me a number of puntastic opportunities.

Books.

First off, are you sitting comfortably? Make yourself a cuppa and read on.

AnneDroid invites me to consider this:

"Books are scarce in the world. They are illegal in some provinces. They are not easily replaced, if not impossible to replace if lost in many if not most circumstances. If you can replace a book or buy one, it is usually through the black market at astronomical costs that you cannot afford. Yet you have been able to maintain one of the best collections in the world. If your entire library was about to burn up and you could only have one* book to take with you other than the Bible (ed. - Torah, Koran or whatever your God's guidance be - see me I'm diversified), what would that be and why?"

Simple Rules:

Answer the question.
Offer one quote that resonates with you.
Tag five people whose response is of genuine interest to you and inform him or her that they have been tagged.

*and it cannot be an entire series of something, that’s cheating.


For me it is a slightly left field choice. I would like to suggest the whole series of Don Camillo books by Giovannino Guareschi, but in line with the rules, I will plump for one, namely Comrade Don Camillo.

Not many folk will have had the pleasure of reading the series of books based in late 50's/early 60's Italy and the 'battle' between the Parish Priest - Don Camillo, and the communist Mayor - Peppone.

p.s. You can get a flavour of the first book here.

The series comes to its peak, in my opinion, when Don Camillo gets 'invited' on a tour by the local communist party to Mother Russia. This particular collection, hence the title Comrade Don Camillo, is a complete hoot, but has moments of intense spiritual awakening.

I won't quote from it, so please get yourself a copy (Anne - I wonder if you've read them), because no-one likes a story's end revealed before you've read it, but what a punch line. Suffice to say the mental picture and its guidance have stayed with me all the years since I first read it more than 30 years ago.

Added to that, the book(s) have an even greater resonance because it was my late mother who introduced them to me and I believe it was the core subject that nailed my decision to study International Politics and Economics at Varsity. God only knows then why I ended up a Polisman!

The infamous five I will tag are:

RT
Uphilldowndale
Dickiebo
TotallyUnPC
and
Brain Strain.

What I had been thinking was how little I read books these days - or is it how little time I have to read these days? I used to be a total bookworm. What has happened? Is it just a busier lifestyle or the pull of modern communication and multimedia? Let's face it, I'm blogging just now and surfing the web most days, so it's not as if I don't have the time. I never see younger folk reading anything more weighty than Bella or GQ. Most of the books I buy nowadays are light in content or are Xmas presents I eventually get round to viewing snippets of months down the line.

Reading books is almost like going on a diet or stopping smoking. You know it's good for you, but......

Like many aspects of modern life I think it's just that the times they are a-changin'.

Speaking of books how's about, now boys and girls, a bit of Fixing. Much has been written lately about the wonders of NCRS or as we have in our parts the SCRS (same thing but different crimes and we don't appear to deserve the National bit).

Norfolk Constabulary stand nigh on being accused of cooking the books.

What is it about stats that drive people to this apparent dishonesty? Do the public really care about detailed crime stats, hospital waiting time reports and school league tables? Why can't politicos let the Professionals get on with what they are professional at and thus reduce the problems that we seem ever more slavishly devoted to auditing rather than addressing. The public would like that much more than reading how bad things are when HMGovt. is beating public servants with a spin stick, or so much better just as an election looms.

Book 'em Danno!

© Noddy
Published by Toy Town™ Times

Xtian 1 liners

Hat Tip to my American cousin Marion.

Don't let your worries get the better of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

Many folk want to serve God, but only as advisers.

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but midgies come close.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

If the church wants a better minister, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Peace starts with a smile.

I didn't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a full stop.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!

The task a head of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don't change the message, the message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to.........discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given.

© Noddy
Published by Toy Town™ Times

Christmas Crackers

First off congratulations must go to Toy Town™ FC for their exceptional result last night in the UEFA cup. The Dandies have now drawn a cracker against Bayern Muenchen.

Regular readers know I'm really a fan of the Blues, but I was there at Pittodrie in 1983 when the Dons, en route to winning the European Cup Winners Cup, embarrassed the German Meisters. Wonder if I will be working on Valentine's Day?

Secondly, I'm about to delve into the myriad of mumbo jumbo and mystification over the Xmas celebrations.

Many have posted over the place of a Christian celebration in our diverse and multi-cultural society. Let's get one thing straight. Xmas has little to do with Christ and let's stop pretending otherwise. In other words, why do we insist on the use of His name in the moniker for what is essentially a pagan winter holiday aggravated by the pavlovian devotion to greed and excess typified by modern secular society.

In my brave new world we would continue to recognise the birth of Christ by maintaining the education and interaction children get at skool with nativity shows and the like, but we would weigh this against the need to celebrate Easter as the truly significant time for Christians.

I could ask you to consider the devout and essentially pure stance taken by some of our local Presbyterians at this time. Surprised? Personally, I prefer this tale. It about sums up my view perfectly. So go on enjoy the festivities! Only spare some time and contemplation for your Maker. If you don't, this could happen to your weans.


Meanwhile, at your local Primary Skool, it's just as well the new security system doesn't listen in as well as talk to the kidz.

Did I mention I was now on my Yuletide / Festive / Seasonal / Winter Holiday (a.k.a. Annual Leave) till the third day of next year and that I have got my SPP and full 2.5%?

I'm off to drink mucho whisky and beer. Will think of you as I do.

Finally, does anyone know how much a Wii weighs?


© Noddy
Published by Toy Town™ Times