à la Koko Rachelle

The Year of the Lion

2012-01-23T07:07:00.006Z

Happy New Year! It's 2012.

And yet amid the wishing good tidings to all I can't help but hear the news brought by the news.

And it's 2012. That year I hear is supposed to bear cataclysmic events. Mayanism foretold the end of the world. So I hear. And tis the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese New Year.

And all these thoughts melded in my mind and brought on this blog post.

A movie came out entitled '2012' and when I looked at the poster for this film it was reminiscent of oft depicted scenes of Moses, the parting of the Red Sea, the handing down of the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai as recounted in the Bible. This in turn made me think of Noah who preached his vocal cords out to the people of his time, letting them know that the end was nigh. But he was branded a nutter and disbelieved, people carried on with their way of life, completely disregarding the God who created them and doing the most unthinkable acts until the floods came - and that was the end for them.

And then I thought of the dragon. A creature which symbolises chaos or evil in the West, while being associated with water and the heavens in the Far East.

I see no contradiction there when I read through the lens of the written Word. The word 'dragon' comes from the Greek drakōn: 'serpent'. This creature is revealed in the biblical book of Revelation as representing the devil himself (Revelation 12:9). The Bible depicts the Devil as that serpent in Genesis and the dragon in Revelation. He isn't a horny, ugly, goat-like creature but was created as a powerful beautiful angel who was indeed a figure of superiority, rule and power, just as he is perceived in Chinese thinking.

But my focus is not on the opinions of the Mayans, the Chinese or any other civilisation. Because to me, this year is the Year of the Lamb. The God of the Bible is the kind of God who despite his great power and superiority, decided to humble himself to a position lower than the angels he created in order to pay the penalty that humankind thoroughly deserves. This God has freed me from the bondage of sin so that I no longer have to serve a master who doesn't have my best interests at heart; who lies to me about the reality of my sinful choices and leaves me to wade in the muck of consequences. Instead I serve a Master who gives me the freedom to choose or reject him. Who presents me with a realistic picture of what the future holds. Who holds me in the storms and offers me true hope. This is the Year of the Lamb to me. And although it may look rather much like the Dragon is having his day, the Year of the Lion is on its way.

Happy New Year indeed!

All the best to all whichever calendar you go by!

[Before pride got to him and he became the enemy, the devil was an angelic being of high rank]

Ezekiel 28:12-19 (KJV):

Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

[Jesus is the Lamb that was killed and the conquering Lion who overcame sin and death for us]

Revelation 5:5-14 (KJV):

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Hebrews 2:9, 10 (NLT):

What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

Star de Noël

2011-12-25T20:48:00.006Z

Tout le monde veut être une star de nos jours.

En cette saison c'est le Père Noël qui cherche à être l'effigie avec ces cadeaux, sa barbe et ses fringues rouges. Mais moi je dirais qu'une vraie star c'est quelqu'un qui ne se prend pas pour une star. Il n'y a aucun besoin de se prendre pour quelque chose ou quelqu'un si on l'est véritablement. La vraie star de Noël c'est Jésus Christ. Un Dieu qui se fait homme, qui meurt pour sauver une humanité qui l'a rejeté et qui le rejette sans cesse et surtout pendant Noël en se livrant à la folie du matérialisme.

J'aime ce Dieu.

Paul le décrit si bien dans son épître aux Philippiens...

*Si donc il y a quelque consolation en Christ, s'il y a quelque soulagement dans la charité, s'il y a quelque union d'esprit, s'il y a quelque compassion et quelque miséricorde, rendez ma joie parfaite, ayant un même sentiment, un même amour, une même âme, une même pensée. Ne faites rien par esprit de parti ou par vaine gloire, mais que l'humilité vous fasse regarder les autres comme étant au-dessus de vous-mêmes.

Que chacun de vous, au lieu de considérer ses propres intérêts, considère aussi ceux des autres. Ayez en vous les sentiments qui étaient en Jésus Christ, lequel, existant en forme de Dieu, n'a point regardé comme une proie à arracher d'être égal avec Dieu, mais s'est dépouillé lui-même, en prenant une forme de serviteur, en devenant semblable aux hommes; et ayant paru comme un simple homme, il s'est humilié lui-même, se rendant obéissant jusqu'à la mort, même jusqu'à la mort de la croix.

C'est pourquoi aussi Dieu l'a souverainement élevé, et lui a donné le nom qui est au-dessus de tout nom, afin qu'au nom de Jésus tout genou fléchisse dans les cieux, sur la terre et sous la terre, et que toute langue confesse que Jésus Christ est Seigneur, à la gloire de Dieu le Père.

Joyeux Noël!

*Philippiens 2:1-11 (LSG)

Philippians 2: 10,11 (KJV): That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hush-hush Closet Stuff

2011-12-25T01:48:00.029Z

*WARNING: This is real to me so it's gonna be real to somebody else. If you want to think happy thoughts only, you may not want to read today. Everything I write though will be with purpose and have solutions. Smile 'cus Jesus loves ya! :-)*

Hearing people talk about Christmas made me realise that it is oft associated with family meltdown moments, crazy crises, taut tension... (sorry for the overload of alliteration and pleonasms - I'll stop there). Basically, what I'm hearing is that Christmas is often synonymous with ugly family time. I was somewhat surprised to discover this but then again, I oughtn't be. Let's be honest, it's not just on that one day out of 365 that there's family drama. Family issues go way back. Way way way back. Oh dear. This is such a massive topic, I'm going to go in with one aspect that led me to get blogging.

I didn't want to do this. On Christmas Day. Or ever really. But I really must. *Sigh* *Deep breath*

So, we sometimes use the image of the closet. You know, all those awful family secrets or personal secrets that nobody EVER needs to know about.

But the reality is that absolute madness goes down in the family tree.

I've come to realise that this great war that is raging: good versus evil, between God and Satan, runs deep into DNA. (Praise God for victory already gained through Jesus!)

I've come to realise that the devil tries to screw us up as much as possible as early on as possible.

My experience has revealed this truth to me in two main areas:

#1. Sexuality

- sexual abuse

- molestation

- sexual exploration

- sexual activity

- pornography

All encountered in ~~the~~ my family, with my relatives, people from the same gene pool as me, extended family though they may be. And all that before my teenage years ~~have~~ arrived.

Madness.

#2. Violence

- verbal abuse (shouting, swearing, cussing, putting down...)

- physical abuse (hitting, scratching, punching...)

I have witnessed this madness.

I have been a perpetrator.

I have been a victim.

I've experienced guilt from being both a perpetrator and a victim. That's how sin works. It messes up both parties. On purpose.

But how do I move on from that guilt? From hurt, anger, pain, shame?

This is a question many of us have tried to answer or tried to ignore.

At the end of the day (or the blog post, or whenever) you're going to choose what you do with the question but of course I can only tell of what I have experienced.

I've experienced forgiveness. Forgiving the ones who have made me a victim - which frees me! I think it's so so crucial. I urge and plead with all to do just that, 'cus guess what - when you don't forgive, you hold on to the hurt and it makes you sick. Sicker. Emotionally, physically... you're in bad shape spiritually. No they probably don't deserve it, but you deserve to be free of anger and pain, right? Why should you double the effect of their wrongdoing against you? Nah!

When I consider the fact that God forgives me over and over and over and over and over and over again for the wrong that I've done. When I actually experience His forgiveness which is characterised by the removing of that heavy sense of guilt and replacing it with perfect peace *contented smile* I need to give that to somebody else. If they don't want it - that's their choice, but I refuse to be chained by the weight of chains that are not mine! Mercy is a concept we humans struggle with.

Something for nothing? A gift? "What must I give in return?" we ask, with suspicion in our question mark.

But what I love about God is: He is not like me. His thoughts are not like mine. I find that the harshness of my judgement of what I consider to be unforgivable acts is incompatible with my pleas for forgiveness when I've done wrong. I'm so so quick to say 'forget you', but I want to be forgiven like - yesterday. So yeah, I'm glad God is who He is. His character is attacked from every angle - people don't understand: why does He let these mad things happen? (I need to give that question a blog post of its own.)

The things I've mentioned are those things we know have happened in the family, between different members, but that we never ever mention - as if it will make these things disappear or undo themselves. Reality is, they've had an impact on who I am today.

But I am so grateful that these things haven't defined me. Or perhaps I should say, they haven't defined me as the devil intended and definitely not forever.

The way I see it beloved, is that as a battered woman, I can either hide my bruises...

or let you see them,

break down how I got into the situation where I got them,

and let you know how I've come out on the other side,

and how these souvenirs of my past pain remind me that I am able to overcome.

Oh yes, every scar reminds me who gave me strength to get through: my God - even though I may not have acknowledged Him at the time, I see it now. And knowing Him gives me true purpose so I can use my story to encourage others who are hiding their scars, letting them know they needn't beat themselves up but instead recognise that they have a purpose and they can weather any storm by getting self-worth from the One who made them.

So Christmas is that time where many people get together with their families. Christ is not really the reason for the season to many but he is the reason I'm alive and whole despite the fact that pieces of me have been taken, or I've given some away. I have tears in my eyes as I actually think about this. That someone - not just anyone, but God himself - was willing to come in the form of a mere mortal to save me from this condition I call 'madness' is mind-blowing.

Merry Christmas! I'm going to keep on loving my family and they'd better keep on loving me so we can extend this celebration into eternity!

*I had to go back and edit this post to actually make it personal. It is haaard. But you, Reader, are teaching me that it's necessary. Bless you. x

Isaiah 55:8 (KJV): For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

1 John 4:20 (KJV): If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Luke 6:32-36 (NLT):

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Nue

2011-10-22T23:32:00.010+01:00

Nue, elle était

Nue, elle s'est vue

Dévêtue de lumière

La gloire de Dieu qui l’encerclait

Perdue

Sa vue maintenant perçoit

Des choses qui n’existaient pas

Avant qu’elle ne croque ce fruit

Nue, je suis sans Lui

Zéro, c’est-à-dire vide

Mais avec son Saint Esprit, remplie

Équipée pour servir

Koko Rachelle

22.10.11

Good Girls Don't...

2011-10-21T10:14:00.019+01:00

Ok. I was a chicken. I didn't put it in the title.

But the initial idea was:

'Good Girls Don't Masturbate'

Yeah. I typed it. Why? I'm not trying to shock or attention-seek by making outlandish statements. I am just so fed up of superficiality. Satan is out there flaunting his stuff as prince of the darkness of this world, how dare I as a child of the King hide my light under a bushel. I dare not. The Bible talks about God's people not having been given a spirit of fear, a spirit of timidity. So I can no longer shut up and have ideals solely in my mind where no one can see, hear or be enlightened and delivered from that bondage.

I know contemporary media has us feening for that good girl gone bad image. And yes, those terms have hopped straight into my vocab from the kind of music that cultivates that carnal side.

So, I shan't prevaricate, let me go right in. Masturbation.

Introduced by pornography, eroticism in literature, television programmes, sexually explicit and implicit songs... the list could go on.

The idea is that you're on a journey of self-discovery and then you simply find yourself addicted.

Addicted to feeling a rush within. Feeling like you're 'grown' because you 'know yourself'. And no man can ever please you the way you can please yourself. He just won't ever be able to get it.

The more you masturbate the more you lie.

You lie to yourself, tell yourself you aren't an addict.

Despite the intense feeling of emptiness and dirtiness that ensues - you know, like after a sugar rush.

But then, one day, I really came to terms with this issue.

I addressed it as an issue. An addiction. I had sought answers about it's 'christianness' before but with very unsatisfactory results.

I considered masturbation in the light of God's word.

What first came to me was the concept of self. It is all about self. Self 'gratification'. Self worship. That's how I came to see the act. And that's what clinched it for me. I prayed and the Lord took it away.

The 'self' thing is a key part of what masturbation is about, but there are other dangers. And if you listen to your heart's thoughts you may hear similar thought processes.

1. False beliefs about the opposite sex. They can't satisfy you like... you! This can mess you up prior to entering into a relationship with someone and if you're in a couple. (Oh the insecurities if you find your other half doing the deed without you.) --- I think I'll address *just* pornography sometime.

2. This is how I see it: you 'doing' you (sorry sounds crude but it's clear) is...

Wait, for greater clarity: me 'doing' me is... female pleasing her female self. This cultivates the idea that only a woman can really understand me and please me (anti man-ism - hello lesbianism). This also overlaps with images seen in the media (porn or other). You (especially guys) may be shouting: no, I'm not gay, I'm not gay! (*Silence* gay bashers, that is not my thing at all). But if you are seeking to sexually gratify someone of the same sex... I need to do a post solely on those -isms and -alities.

3. Addiction of any kind is inherently negative.

4. An extension of that point. You're showing who your master is through your actions. Ok, I confess I wanted to use the word master in relation to masturbation for wordplay! :P

I still mean that though!

5. Get a life! I'm thinking about myself here tbh. Time spent doing things that will not actually benefit you when you could be doing things that could benefit both you and others!

What to do?

- Realise that self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, so get to know more about Him and His character will become manifest in you.

- Believe that the enmity prophesied about in Genesis 3:15 came to fruition in Christ and once you accept Him, our weakened enmity* is bolstered by His!

- Remember that you are adopted by the Father. He's your Daddy, call on He who is able to give you everything you need!

So, I said I prayed and the Lord took it away. Let me be straight. Temptation surfaces every now and again, usually when I'm in deep sleep. But praise God you can still hear him then! Don't ever feel like you're too far gone. Or you've slipped too many times. That's where the enemy would love to keep you.

A friend just sent me a text mentioning James 5:15. Timely indeed!

"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

Get on your knees about it, then step out in newness of life!

I don't have to feel dirty 'cus Christ has washed me...

I don't have to feel shame 'cus I have the testimony of Jesus Christ... He endured the cross, despising the shame and I shall not be ashamed of his gospel (good news).

At the end of the day. You may read this and be like "poor sad Christians who don't wanna have fun". Or whatever. And that's fine. Really. I believe in freedom of choice. But if the Spirit pricks your conscience, abeg, don't ignore.

With love,

Koko Rachelle

(Erm, I dunno why I ended like that. It's not a letter. Then again it kinda is. Ach, I'll leave it there!)

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV): For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP): For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Romans 8:15 (KJV): For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:7-10 (KJV): Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV): The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Proverbs 28:26 (KJV): He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Revelation 1:5,6 (KJV): And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV): Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 1:6 (KJV): For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth

*On this topic, I listened to the 'I Will Put Enmity' sermons by Pr Henry Wright. You can check them out here.

Spiritual Hater * Ex-Esclave

2011-10-15T19:02:00.019+01:00

You've seen the tees.

Hi Hater.

You've heard the term flung about here and there.

Well, I confess.

I have been a spiritual hater.

In both senses.

Sense A: hating spiritual things.

Sense B: hating on the spirituality of others.

You may think I'm being rather extreme, but in order to truly come clean I feel I must go in.

I must dig deep and show the spiritual hater for who she really is.

Let us begin with the context. A 'Christian believer'/'disciple of Christ'/'follower of Jesus' who

(Sense A) doesn't really want to dissociate from darkness.

Whose knees hurt before she gets down on them to pray.

Whose thoughts wander as she wonders about things that do not pertain to any form of goodliness.

Whose skin crawls at the thought of godliness.

Whose cheeks blush at being associated with righteousness.

Whose eyes contemplate images which Technicolor presents in bright lies, deceit, injustice, impurity, abomination, disrepute.

(Sense B) actively tries to work her way to heaven.

Who forgets that being with Jesus is what makes heaven.

Who tries to stir up passion for Christ within her own soul.

Who sees workers for the kingdom of God with green eyes.

BUT to refer to 'senses' is nonsensical. For if I made sense I would not venture to utter these two opposed words in the same breath.

For me to realise the nonsensicalness of my condition was the first step.

For the Holy Spirit told me who I was: a spiritual hater.

But also told me who I am in him: a minister of the gospel.

So the good news is: I've been saved.

The lover of my soul let me know that my mission is to share my testimony: that Jesus has set me free.

That I am no longer a slave.

That's right.

I no longer have to be ruled by longing for something I don't have because I already have all that I need.

And the love of Christ now animates me.

❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧

Le mois d'octobre au Royaume Uni c'est 'Black History Month'.

L'esclavage a été aboli.

Soi-disant.

Mais je ne veux pas parler que d'un 'peuple' (les noirs).

Mon sujet n'est pas seulement d'intérêt pour un mois, mais pour tous les jours de l'année.

Je veux parler de l'esclavage du péché.

Mais pourquoi est-ce que je m'obstine à marcher, pleurer, chanter comme une esclave quand je suis libre?!

Jésus, mort sur la croix et ressucité afin que je n'aie pas à avoir la haine dans mon cœur. Pourquoi envier quiconque alors que je suis satisfaite, remplie du Saint Esprit?

Vraiment, il est temps d'accomplir la mission en tant que vraie disciple du Christ.

De partager mon témoignage pour que les autres puissent créer le leur par leurs expériences avec un Sauveur qui rend libre!

Philippians 4:8 (KJV): Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Ephesians 3:19: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Romains 6:20-23 (LSG):
Car, lorsque vous étiez esclaves du péché, vous étiez libres à l'égard de la justice.

Quels fruits portiez-vous alors? Des fruits dont vous rougissez aujourd'hui. Car la fin de ces choses, c'est la mort.

Mais maintenant, étant affranchis du péché et devenus esclaves de Dieu, vous avez pour fruit la sainteté et pour fin la vie éternelle.

Car le salaire du péché, c'est la mort; mais le don gratuit de Dieu, c'est la vie éternelle en Jésus Christ notre Seigneur.

Matthew 7:21 (WEB): Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Ephesians 2:8,9 (KJV): For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ekklesia

2011-09-04T08:18:00.024+01:00

Le temps est venu d'arrêter le jeu de cache-cache.

De sortir de la chambre, de l'église, de tous ces espaces sains et paisibles...

Le temps est venu de faire ce que le Seigneur nous a dit de faire.

Le Saint-Esprit nous donne la capacité de faire exactement ce qu'il y a à faire.

L'église - 'ekklesia' en grec - l'assemblée « qui a été appelée hors de ».

Le temps est venu d'accomplir cette mission répétée dans l'Apocalypse - de sortir de Baylone (tout ce que représente ce monde sous l'empire de Satan) et de prêcher la Bonne Nouvelle (la vie en Christ) dans le monde. Eh oui faut sortir d'en dessous de la couette pour ce faire!

It's time to stop hiding in the bed chamber. But still pray, fast & study therein.

It's time to stop heating the pew. But still fellowship with believers, sing praises and encourage with Biblical promises.

Who is the church?

The church is the body of Christ, the group of believers/followers of the Word who are called out.

That's the meaning of the Greek 'ekklesia' (ἐκκλησία) and that's what God continually does...

- calls us out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9)

- tells us to "Go... therefore and preach the gospel..." (Matthew 28:18-20)

- tells us to come out of fallen Babylon and to worship God (Revelation 18)

He's calling us out. Will you respond to the call?

*Don't get distracted by your phone's continuous ping now!*

Matthew 6:16-18 (KJV): Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Ephesians 6:18 (KJV): Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (KJV): Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV): But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Matthew 28:19 (KJV): Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

Revelation 18:1-4 (KJV): And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Moi, Alumna

2011-07-20T00:41:00.019+01:00

L'année dernière j'ai obtenu ma licence en Lettres. Hier, j'ai eu mon diplôme (BA Joint Hons English & French)... Alors je dois vraiment vraiment remercier Dieu de m'avoir permis d'obtenir des résultats excéllents! La grâce de Dieu - c'est ça. Je suis si souvent madame dernière minute. Ce n'est pas du tout une bonne habitude - ne le faites pas!!

Le fait d'avoir ces diplômes me fait penser au fait que Dieu utilise absolument n'importe qui pour faire son travail. Il faut tout simplement s'ouvrir à sa volonté et vous voilà équippés par le Saint Esprit... que tu dises "Je ne sais pas" ou "Ché pô" - peu importe, parce qu'il y a une chose à savoir, et c'est que "Dieu ne fait pas de favoritisme".

Galates 3:28 dit: "Il n'y a donc plus de différence entre les Juifs et les non-Juifs, entre les esclaves et les hommes libres, entre les hommes et les femmes. Unis à Jésus-Christ, vous êtes tous un." Ah que j'aime ce texte! Notre société se dit unie mais prône tous les jours la ségrégation, la classification - par couleur de peaux, accent, pays d'origine, éducation, profession... Mais en Christ *selon la Bible* nous sommes différents mais unis (cf. 1 Corinthiens 12). Y a qu'à comparer le langage de Marc et celui de Luc pour voir un peu comment ces hommes s'exprimaient différemment - et pourtant ils étaient unis par Une Vérité! Que c'est beau!

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Yesterday was graduation day for moi. It's been a long time coming but finally made it. So now I get letters after my name. Yay! I now have a Bachelor of Arts in English and French with First Class Honours. Oh and I discovered I'm the recipient of two prizes - don't ask me what the prizes are. Graduating with a 1st just reminds me of when the Bible talks about being "the head, and not the tail" - and yes I am totally bringing God into this because no one knows better than I that I've achieved the result I have!

*WARNING*

Stop reading if you think you may incur severe hateration synderome - I'm just going to keep it real!

The reality is that since I got back to the UK and began college, I haven't studied hard. In francophone countries I feel that there is a strong need for good revision and I have always felt the need to study regularly... not so over here. I *head lowered in shame* have really slacked when it comes to just doing the work! Don't get me wrong - I don't do nothing! I attend lectures and seminars, I do the reading (mostly) and always participate in class. However, I always find myself on my knees begging God for 'one more chance' - I will no longer procrastinate, say I, I will no longer do essays the night before - or *shock horror* on the day my assignment is due. Hmm. Mercy and grace. These are words I truly understand. I considered my English Dissertation my 'real last chance' and I am pleased to say I was not rushing around like a mad person on the day of submission and I worked well on it (though not as much as I could've tbh). A wise man once said, 'Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.' So I'm giving God praise for my brain :-) and for reminding me that He has 'destined' us all for excellence.

Now, I would like to address a point which tends to frustrate me... as you know I am cultivating grace in my speech... Those who say something along the lines of 'You know French already so that's easy/obviously you'll get an A it's nothing special'. I guess this line of reasoning applies to English too since I know that already... *sigh* I think I need more grace-cultivating before I address this.

Moving on swiftly.

Some look down on the non-academic. But I've also noticed that some shun those with education!

I find no justification for the attitude of either party. I love that God is no respecter of persons.

He uses the ones who structure grammatically sound sentences, using flourish with every utterance as much as the ones who tell it like it is, no embellishments, spiced with colloquialisms and always to the point. The disciples (as in Christ's followers) really testify to this.

For example, the writer of the biblical book 'Luke' and 'Acts of the Apostles' "was highly educated, well traveled, well connected, and extremely widely read. By the time he composed the Gospel, he must have been a highly practiced and competent author - able to compose in a wide variety of literary forms according to the demands of the moment." As for the writer of the Gospel of Mark - he "is non-literary, having a simple and popular style; [which] has affinities with the spoken Greek as revealed by the papyri and inscriptions."

The disciples had different jobs, different personality traits, different ways of expressing themselves... but they had the same Teacher and the same conviction... That's something I particularly love about Christianity. This is where *biblically* we find true unity in diversity. Where we encounter unity which does not presuppose uniformity. It is the powerful work of the Holy Spirit which unifies people from different backgrounds with the same drive and the same purpose to do amazing things.

Deuteronomy 28:13 (AMP): And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.

Matthew 22:21 (NLT): “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” - Jesus' words

Romans 2:11 (AMP): For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another].

Galatians 3:28 (KJV): There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus

Sources:

*Tip for academics: how to use wikipedia effectively, check out the references on the wiki page!*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Luke

Fizmyer, Joseph. The Gospel according to Luke: introduction, translation, and notes. The Anchor Bible v. 28-28A. (2 vols) Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1981-1

http://www.abu.nb.ca/courses/NTIntro/Mark.htm

Parole parole parole

2011-07-13T22:55:00.003+01:00

Belligerent. An adjective which aptly describes my manner many a time. It stems from the Latin and signifies ‘waging war’. And that’s exactly what I find myself doing at times, warring against somebody else with my words, my demeanour, my gestures… they all signal to my interlocutor that they are my adversary.

However, I have acknowledged my weakness in this area and Proverbs 15:1 is my goal. But the Lord has been speaking to me about this very much of late. It’s time to stop looking towards the goal from afar and to just get in there!

So, God took me to His Word wherein lies wisdom and sound counsel.

The Scriptures

Colossians 4:6

(KJV)

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

(NIV)

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

James 1:19

(KJV)

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

(NLT)

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Proverbs 4:24

(WEB)

Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.

(NLT)

Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.

Proverbs 12:17-22

(NLT)

¹⁷ An honest witness tells the truth;
a false witness tells lies.

¹⁸ Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing.

¹⁹ Truthful words stand the test of time,
but lies are soon exposed.

²⁰ Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

²¹ No harm comes to the godly,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

²² The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in those who tell the truth.

(KJV)

¹⁷He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

¹⁸There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

¹⁹The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

²⁰Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

²¹There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

²²Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Proverbs 15:1

(KJV)

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

(NLT)

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

(YLT)

A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.

Proverbs 15:4

(NLT)

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

(KJV)

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

(YLT)

A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.

Cf. tree of life in Genesis 3:2, Prov 11:30, Revelation 2:7; 22:2, 14

And a hymn came to mind and collaborated swiftly with my vocal cords

'Wonderful Words of Life'

(lyrics here and beautiful acoustic version below)

And yesterday I gravitated towards a sermon entitled

‘How To Communicate Well with Others’

Ah yes, God has been speaking to me about my speech through people, the Bible, devotions, sermons and song. Every means necessary.

I’ve slipped up in the past few days since studying this matter. I lied to justify myself to a stranger this morning. It was such a silly silly and utterly pointless lie I’m still bemused as to why. Just why. I was monosyllabic when a sentence was required this afternoon. I spoke abruptly to a friend this evening. Slip of the tongue. Call it what I will, the bottom line is that as a follower of Christ my speech should harmonise with His words and the Holy Spirit is always letting me know what should be coming from these lips of mine right in the heat of the moment.

I pray that I will cease to ignore his voice of righteousness.

That I realise there is a war being waged between God Almighty and the Adversary and that’s the only war I need to be involved in as a lamb following the Shepherd Jesus Christ, the Lamb who takes away my sins and who has already won!

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Seigneur,

Que ma parole soit toujours assaisonée de sel

Que je sois celle qui écoute bien

Au lieu de toujours vouloir avoir le premier et le dernier mot

Alors que Tu es le début et la fin

L’Alpha et l’Oméga

En toi est la genèse qui complète

Que ma langue soit douce tel un arbre de vie

Au lieu de briser l’âme de mon interlocuteur

Que ma réponse douce calme la fureur

Car la mort et la vie sont au pouvoir de la langue

Et si je suis ton disciple,

Toi, la Vérité, le Chemin et la Vie,

Mes paroles doivent te suivre.

Que je sois celle avec la parole bien assaisonée de sel.

Amen

2 Timothy 3:16, 17 (NIV): All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

John 1:29 (KJV): The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Apocalipsis 1:18 (NVI): y el que vive. Estuve muerto, pero ahora vivo por los siglos de los siglos, y tengo las llaves de la muerte y del infierno.

Colossiens 4:6 (LSG): Que votre parole soit toujours accompagnée de grâce, assaisonnée de sel, afin que vous sachiez comment il faut répondre à chacun.

Le Quart Du Siècle * The Quarter Century

2011-07-11T10:42:00.004+01:00

Voilà vingt-cinq ans que mes parents sont mariés.

Vu le déclin du mariage de nos jours, je reconnais le miracle qu'est ce fait.

Et je remercie Dieu d'être tout simplement mon Dieu.

The majority of people I know don't actually have married parents.

Majority.

Woah! That's a lot. [Forgive statement of the somewhat obvious!]

This very topic has cropped up in a number of convos with friends and I've been exhorted to appreciate this blessing.

A quarter of a century. That's how long my parents have been joined in matrimony.

We thank God.

[Royal 'we']

Genesis 2:24 (KJV): "and they shall be one flesh"

Genèse 2:24 (LSG): "et ils deviendront une seule chair"

Get Your Own * Perso

2011-07-10T12:34:00.002+01:00

She stood at the pulpit and after being granted permission to do so

She began to sip on her bottled water

She tipped her head back and

She gulped it down greedily

Guttural sounds let us know how much her H2O was quenching her thirst

And then she offered us some...

"Why would you want somebody else's backwash?"

The sermon she preached was dynamic, it was powerful

It stirred every soul

But because it went beyond theatrics and preaching tactics,

Because it was rooted in the Word of God...

The message hit home: "Get Your Own Experience."

The song is Personal.

It is a testimony.

And though it resonates with others everyone must sing their own.

I'll gladly to tell you my story, but I'd love for you to write your own.

❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧

Témoin (n.m.): personne qui voit quelque chose.

Jean 20:29: Heureux ceux qui n'ont pas vu, et qui ont cru!

Avoir une expérience personnelle avec le Christ c'est ce qui donne au chrétien son témoignage.

Quand le chanteur chante les paroles "I used to be blind but now I see" - un homme, physiquement aveugle qui parle de son état spirituel - cela rappelle Apocalypse 3:18: "je te conseille d'acheter de... un collyre pour oindre tes yeux, afin que tu voies."

Je ne peux pas faire voir à quiconque ce que j'ai témoigné. Je peux simplement donner mon propre témoignage et espérer, et prier pour que chacun voie par lui/elle-même.

Philippians 3:10, 11 (NIV): I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Psaume 34:9 (OST): Goûtez et voyez combien l'Éternel est bon!

Voir avec le cœur * Seeing with the heart

2011-07-09T21:58:00.008+01:00

Cette photo est l'une de mes photos préférées.

J'y vois une certaine beauté

Une beauté certaine

J'y vois du Psaume 139:14

Un homme souvent défini par sa condition plutôt que par son état d'homme

J'y vois du Galates 5:14

Un homme, un autre prochain à aimer.

This is one of my favourite images. It's in my 'Beautiful People' album.

Perplexed, you may be

Beauty you may not see

But as they say, she lies in the eye of the beholder

And yet I say the eyes often lie

Unintentionally perhaps because they can't really see

Beyond the epidermis

Beneath the hair follicles

Into the core of a human's being

Yet I see someone like you, me

Psalm 139:14

Made wonderfully

I see.

The eye often betrays the truth

Revealing the real 'I'

As the eye is a lamp

Providing light for the body

And so I, daily behold the One who died

Only to live again

The One I dub 'Saviour'

The One who is I AM

Knowing that if the eye is sound

The entire body will be full of light.

John 3:16 - The Story of Love

2011-07-08T10:16:00.006+01:00

Plus que des mots.

Parfois

Dire

Ne suffit pas

Montre-moi combien.

Combien?

Combien tu m'aimes

Je t'aime

α_____________________________________ω

De mon début jusqu'à ma fin

Je t'aime éternellement

Et plus que des mots

La croix

Mes mains

Mes pieds

Les trous

Jésus m'aime, t'aime, aime plus que tout

God is Love

John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:8 (NLT)

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

John 20:27-29 (NLT)

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Revelation 22:13 (KJV)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

I was supposed to...

2011-07-07T07:07:00.011+01:00

I was supposed to stop

I was supposed to delete this

I was supposed to delete this blog

I was supposed to continue

I was supposed to continue writing but in another direction

I was supposed to stop writing with my left

I was supposed to stop handing out leftovers

I was supposed to start

I was supposed to start writing right

I was supposed to start living right

Mi amiga and I met up a few months back and she told me she had an idea - she thought I should blog and share the poetry I write... she was taking up blogging about her testimony.

I told her I actually had a blog but I was planning on deleting it - but her intervention was timely and I've just been waiting for the time to take up my new blogging path well and proper.

I decided on a date: the 7th of July because I like to do things in a significant manner. The number 7 is one that symbolises completion, often dubbed 'God's number'. Ooh I actually included something on this in my English Dissertation (praise God for the 1st! Ah I have multiple academic success testimonies!)

The number seven symbolises perfection and completion. In the Bible for instance, the seventh day (Shabbat) is the day of rest which marks the end of God’s creation of the world and everything in it (cf. Genesis 2.1-2).

And then I realised upon perusing my blog that my last post is dated 7 July 2010 - so I obviously applied this same thinking a year ago...

Reader, I was supposed to get married.

If not today, then on July 17th because it's a Sunday - easier for people to make it to the wedding day and it has the number seven in there - how marvellous.

Yes, I like to plan ahead

But most times what I plan in my head

Fails to harmonise with the plan of the Godhead

Yes, I said I was supposed to get married

But who said?

I did give him (my anonymous fiancé-to-be) some leeway

With dates in 2012, 13, 14...

But I failed to align my thoughts with those of the Way, the Truth and the Life

And now, I still struggle with the self-centred

Desire to control

Which in essence is the desire to be god

Caught up in a Genesis 3:5 lie

Confusing the desires of my deceitful heart

- Exposed by Jeremiah in chapter 17 verse 9

With God's desires for my life

- Revealed in Jeremiah 29:11

But I now operate on the Seek Ye First Principle

I seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness

And all those things will be added unto me

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Eh oui, j'avais l'intention de supprimer ce blog, mais bon voilà, nouvelle direction définie. J'en avais marre d'écrire sur des sujets qui ne changeront pas ma vie (sauf de meilleur en pire).

J'en avais marre de ne pas vivre pleinement mon christianisme - cad suivre le chemin que Jésus Christ a tracé pour moi, pour nous, pour qu'on puisse vraiment vivre et pas seulement exister.

Je n'ai pas supprimé tout ce que j'ai écrit sur ce blog - keeping it real, qu'on puisse voir un peu de quoi je parle quand je dis 'nouvelle direction'.

Ah, j'ai un peu négligé mon français, mais plus maintenant!

Aujourd'hui c'était le jour de mon mariage.

C'était planifié quand j'étais ado. Eh oui, je suis organisée à ce point.

Mais le fiancé ne s'est toujours pas manifesté donc je me dis que ça sera pour 2012, ou 2013, ou encore 2014, parce que j'avais bien entendu envisagé ce fait dans mon plan extraordinaire.

Mais Dieu merci, je me suis rendu compte qu'il y a des choses plus importantes. Que dis-je? Une chose primordiale: "Chercher premièrement le royaume et la justice de Dieu" et tout le reste viendra!

La Bible parle de la relation entre Dieu et son peuple en employant la métaphore de la femme/mariée pour désigner son peuple. C'est vraiment une très belle image - surtout quand on considère l'union et l'unité des deux (Genèse 2:23, 24), et l'amour sacrificiel (Ephésiens 5:25).

Aujourd'hui c'est le jour du mariage, le mariage n'est pas que pour la journée.

Vivons pleinement cet amour manifesté par le don du Père, en la personne du Christ et par l'action du Saint-Esprit.

Ma Passion Pour Le Christ * Because Nobody Sweets Me More Than Jesus

2010-07-07T16:01:00.003+01:00

Le film de Mel Gibson, La Passion du Christ a provoqué tellement de réactions fortes autour du monde. Scènes extrêmement crues que plusieurs ont manqué de voir dans leur totalité tellement elles étaient difficiles à visionner. C'est plus qu'amer, ce qu'a souffert le Christ. Je parlais à une copine l'autre jour et je partageais mon opinion sur ce qu'on entend si souvent : ce sont les Juifs qui ont tué Jésus. Mais en tant que chrétienne je ne peux pas vraiment dire ça, en tant qu'être humain, pécheresse qui a besoin d'être sauvée de cet état, j'ai causé la mort de Jésus Christ. Mais Dieu merci il n'est pas resté mort et la relation avec Dieu est rétablie car je choisis d'accepter le don de vie et de plénitude en lui. Comme je dis à tout le monde, je peux seulement partager mes expériences mais il faut découvrir pour soi-même la beauté d'une telle connaissance. Quel dommage quand on reste enfermé dans un paradigme juste parce que c'est ce qu'on a toujours connu. Tant de choses attirent mon attention dans ce monde: la musique, l'art, les relations avec mes pairs... mais rien ne surpasse la passion que j'ai pour le Christ.

The sweetest thing.

❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧

So many things in this world capture my attention.

But nobody can sweet me like Jesus.

I can share what I've got

but when it comes to

Love

there's only so much I can say

one must experience it for oneself to really feel me.

I was talking to my friend about a ministry brought to my attention a couple of years back.

I have been blessed by what they do, and God has spoken to me through them.

So I'm sharing the poetry that introduced me to them, oh the depth!

Reprises * Covers

2010-06-21T10:25:00.013+01:00

C'est la fête de la musique!!

L'autre jour j'étais posée, tranquille au Bar Vieux Mûrier dans Tours avec une copine.

L'ambiance était bonne, il y avait de la musique qui jouait et... Beatles. Non, une reprise.

C'était douloureux aux oreilles de ma copine, une véritable fan qui pense 'pas touche' aux hits/chansons connues.

Puis nous avons reconnue l'air de 'You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman' (oui c'est bien cela le titre du tube). Et moi j'ai reconnue l'incomparable voix de Ayọ. Je dois dire que je préfère de loin la version d'Aretha Franklin mais je trouve son interprétation agréable.

Puisque nous sommes à Tours, j'en profite pour partager les 'sweet' sons de Ben l'Oncle Soul qui vient de cette belle ville. Une de mes amies me l'a fait connaître et sa voix a aussi parcouru les haut-parleurs du Vieux Mûrier. Il me rappelle beaucoup Anthony Hamilton et Amy Winehouse (cela ne lui causerait pas de souci j'crois étant donné qu'il les cite parmi ses influences). J'aime aussi son art - admirez le design le style so sixties pour la promo de son album (very visible dans le métro parisien). Faut dire aussi que Ben et ses choristes (Ulrich & Opé) ne font pas mal aux yeux non plus...!

❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧

Boyz II Men concert. Me. Friends. Forget friends. Me. They are so on point. Music is on my mind what with the French celebrating the M-word which moves us in more ways than I can murmur. These musings take me to the sounds of The Stylistics. You Make Me Feel Brand New (can't help but smile as he *croons* the opening line).

But The Five Satins, In The Still Of The Night make my day and night. I love the choreography, the swagger, the harmonies...

PS. Chipmunked B2M version here. Especially for when in silly mood - but it sounds really good and one can hear how well they actually sing.

Back back back * Poison

2010-06-20T20:11:00.010+01:00

A friend of mine particularly loves the late 80s/early 90s fashion. My own opinion is that there was a lot in the fashion of those days that should be forgotten and never recalled to remembrance - but each to her own!

At the same time...

Where would we be without the bitter/sweets of the 80s/90s era?

The curl without the Jheri

The fade without the hi-top

The glasses without the bug-eye

*Sigh* the memories! (Most of them forged via reruns... considering I'm too much of a spring chicken to claim them all!)

In our partial-reminiscing, my friend and I headed for youtube... POISON! POISON! (All who know where I'm going with this say "Aye")

Realising that I actually didn't know 90% of the lyrics a quick Google search enlightened me. Armed with greater knowledge, I was led to consider the veracity of the song. Slick whines the pre-chorus fabulously... but they're going on about falling in love and saying it's dangerous. Hunh? As for "Never trust a big butt and smile" (lol) - I think that's sound advice.

❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧

Une de mes copines kiiiifffffe le style vestimentaire années 80/90. Nous avons beaucoup en commun. Ce penchant ne tombe pas dans cette catégorie. Par contre la musique... c'est autre chose!

Il y a quelques années je suis tombée sur un site australien qui accorde des prix aux passionnés talentueux du design d'intérieur. J'y trouve souvent des concepts inspirés d'un style rétro (qui me plaît beaucoup). Les années 1980 sont de retour dans le cadre du projet 'The 80s Are Back'...

Il pleut * rain rain rain

2010-01-29T12:25:00.012Z

Il pleut.

Mais pourquoi passer mon temps à me plaindre du 'sale temps'? Non! Au contraire, pensons au belles choses associées avec ce ciel qui pleure (c'est assez jolie comme image même si ça fait un peu triste).

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Because there's a consistent pitter patter of the raindrops on my window sill I shall share some rain-related things I ♥

Rain poem in Mancunian by Lemn Sissay

Can You Stand The Rain ??? Boyz II Men

No More Rain by the sultry songstress Ms. Stone, Angie

Umbrella covering or covered by Sara Bareilles

And I must admit I'm quite partial to singing Singing In The Rain when it's raining outside and all the better if there's a lamppost nearby...

Guilty Pleasures

2009-08-14T00:12:00.005+01:00

The dance moves CRACK ME UP but there is greatness in this tune. I'd like to thank my mother for endoctrinating me with this song in the days of my youth. Equating a guy with a sweet - questionable but understandable in some respects I guess!

Ah, la choréagraphie me fait trop marrer mais je dois dire que je trouve le son énorme !

Je tiens à remercier ma mère de m'avoir infligé cette chanson au cours de ma tendre jeunesse. Je veux bien un Chupa Chups maintenant...

The Soloist * Le Soliste

2009-08-04T12:05:00.018+01:00

I read about the movie The Soloist a while back and have been awaiting its release since then. Finally this movie starring Jamie Foxx is out in the US and soon to be in the UK (25th September).

It's based on the true story of a relationship between LA Times journalist Steve Lopez and an ex-Julliard student, schizophrenic, über-talented musician called Nathaniel Ayers.

It makes me think about the people on our streets.

The 'crazies'. The 'tramps'. The 'bums'.

The homeless, loveless, mentally unstable with problem-ridden lives.

We generally don't know where people are coming from and how they've ended up in the situation they're in.

I think it's sad how we, I included, tend to brush them to the outskirts of our consciousness only to feel slight pricks on the conscience upon seeing a particularly disheveled victim of our society on an episode from a reality TV show.

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Enfin l'heure du Soliste approche.

Il s'agit du développement d'une relations amicale entre un journaliste et un musicien SDF.

Ça me fait fait penser à nos (mes) réactions envers les SDF. Soivent, on préfère oublier qu'ils existe parce se soucier réellement de l'état d'autrui prend trop de temps. Dommage.

Enfin, le film a l'air assez intéressant, j'essaierai d'aller le voir...

Ça sort en France le 2 septembre 2009.

Let's Take A Walk?

2009-08-03T12:03:00.023+01:00

Raphael Saadiq. This man is over 40 and has a whole lot of 'swagger'.

His song Let's Take A Walk has a retro sound - very back-in-the-day Motown - and his new video to accompany it is... also retro - very 60s.

Cue the scantily clad women doing intricate choreographies and turning their cute bonneted heads towards Mr. Saadiq.

Like many things that come out of men's mouths, the overall sound did sweet me - until I heard the actual lyrics.

Pardon? You need some sex. Really?

I'm thinking this 'walk' is a euphemism for something that entails a different kind of leg action.

Maybe I should congratulate the artist for being honest...?

Anyway, in my view it's a bittersweet song that I can't in good conscience sing along happily to.

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Il a dépassé la quarantaine mais cet homme rayonne de charme autant qu'il y a une vingtaine d'années.

Raphael Saadiq nous présente Let's Take A Walk.

Enfin, il nous répète qu'il veut faire une promenade avec la dame en question, mais à vrai dire je pense que c'est plutôt un euphémisme pour bien plus, vu qu'il nous informe qu'il a besoin de sexe.

Ah les hommes, ce qu'ils disent parfois semble tellement douc aux oreilles, mais quand on écoute un peu mieux, c'est une autre histoire.

Contraste avec la chanson de Jill Scott A Long Walk dans laquelle elle parle de promenade en tant qu'une façon de mieux connaître l'esprit de l'homme en question.

Cela pourrait bien être le sujet d'une dissertation : examinez les différences entre les sexes quand il s'agit de faire une promenade.

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You'll need to endure a few seconds of advertising before you see what I'm on about.

Methinks it makes an interesting contrast with Jill Scott's A Long Walk.

Essay question: Discuss gender differences with regard to going on walks.

The Light Factor * Illuminé

2009-07-30T20:27:00.023+01:00

Our ________ fear is not that we are inadequate.

____deepest_____

Our ________ fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

____deepest_____

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

[Powerful words right there from character Timo Cruz in Coach Carter that I was watching today.]

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Les membres de Lichtfaktor, un groupe d'artistes de Deutschland, s'engagent à nous apporter leur art illuminé : light graffiti / lightwriting peu importe ce qu'on l'appelle, je vous offre un vrai régal pour les yeux... !

Graffiti Illuminé

['current']

Don't be afraid of the light...

['forest']

ButterFlight!

['forest']

Love is in the air...

[for Max Ophüls Preis - Film Festival 2009]

Lights around Big Ben

[starwars vs startrek]

Sounds of the Underground * Musique du Métro

2009-07-29T08:42:00.025+01:00

I'm a faithful victim of public transport. Its delightful noises, pleasant smells and energetic rush hour. But thankfully there are a few joys that make journeys on the London underground more than bearable. The random overheard conversation that is so funny I can't help but laugh out loud, when the tube gets stuck for a while and people start loosening up and talking to one another, the antics of a dog (owned by a young lady) that insists on befriending a young man despite her frantic tuggings on the lead... Yes, public transport has its sweet moments!

I thought I'd share some clips relating to the joys of the underground...

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Je suis une victime fidèle du transport en commun avec tout le bruit, les odeurs et la folie des heures de pointe. Heureusement, les voyages en métro sont parfois illuminés par les choix de vêtements des uns, les conversations humoristiques des autres et la musique!

Alors, je partage avec vous quelques clips que j'aime bien concernant les sons du métro...

[British/Nigerian comedienne Little Miss Jocelyn and some young enthusiasts on the Central Line]

FYI Liverpool Street Station was named after the street it's on which was named after Prime Minister Lord Liverpool. Yes I think Wikipedia is a reliable source!

[Groupe US 'Naturally 7' chante In the Air Tonight de Phil Collins. Big tuuuune!]

[Keziah Jones, chanteur Nigérian en concert dans le métro parisien]

[Bluey Robinson partage sa belle voix avec Paris!]

Here he is at Charing Cross Underground Station. You can check out what mi amiga Coco Pine thinks here.

Élocution * Pronunciation

2009-07-27T20:31:00.006+01:00

En français la prononciation des mots se passe plutôt bien. On prononce chaque syllabe bien comme il faut. Mais pour l'anglais c'est toute une autre histoire, comme le savent des centaines d'étudiants de la langue qui se voient en train de prononcer un mot qui ne ressemble pas du tout à ce qu'ils voient sur la page.

L'articulation est primordiale en français alors qu'en anglais du point de vue phonétique les voyelles sont souvent relâchées pour devenir très souvent le schwa [ə].

Bien que mon élocution soit assez abominable parfois, il faut dire que certains assassinent les langues!

En anglais, je ne sais où commencer alors je laisse ça de côté.

En francais, est-ce que c'est juste moi qui n'arrête pas d'entendre les gens dire pratiquement tous les mots en verlan?! Mais c'est un truc de ouf! Au moins ouf au lieu de fou ça va. Mais l'emploi de mots en verlan jusqu'au point où on oublie l'original...?

Enfin, si c'est la direction que le français veut prendre, ça m'est égal. Après tout la langue est dynamique ; on se retrouve avec beur au lieu d'arabe, meuf pour femme et rebeu au lieu de beur qui remplace arabe... Intéressant la lnague en tout cas!

Audrey Hepburn joue le rôle d'Eliza Doolitle dans My Fair Lady une jeune femme qui devient le cobaye du linguiste Prof. Higgins [cliquez ici pour en savoir plus]. C'est une comédie musicale classique... à voir!

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I could have danced all night... my fave song from My Fair Lady with the delightful (non-annoying) birdlike sounds of Marni Nixon, and the lip-synching of the lovely Audrey Hepburn.

Control-Freak-Annoying-Professor-Henry-Higgins takes on the arduous task of giving Eliza Doolittle diction exercises to transform her from a commoner to a lady. It says a lot about British society in particular and how speech is so closely intertwined with social class.

I read George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, upon which My Fair Lady is based before I saw this version. They are quite different and I love both! Barring a few negligible things...

Languages are dynamic and don't I know it! In London alone the varieties of English are unbelievable, coming out of the mouths of Londoners and Brits & the various other nationalities that add themselves to this: Americans, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, plus tons of other people who don't have English as their mother tongue. Different generations speak differently and I think it's possible to say there can be language barriers amongst English speakers! And to this confusion, text-speak comes and adds itself to speech.

"How jolly funny!" <> "That's hilarious!" <>"El-em-ay-oh" (i.e. LMAO)

I think it's symptomatic of our general laziness.

The amount of us who have to reacquaint ourselves with pens because we type so much.

Those who don't read and so can't improve their spelling and falsely hold the belief that Word-processor spellcheck will sort out all orthographic needs.

Laziness.

Meanwhile I shall attempt not to be lazy and articulate properly when I speak.

Also, just thought I should point out: the word pronunciation is pronounced pretty much how it's spelt and not pronounciation!

They Call It * Raï'n'B Fever

2009-07-26T20:30:00.002+01:00

Je me souviens du premier son que j'ai entendu des Magic System.

Premier Gaou qui a plu à tellement d'oreilles, partant de la Côte d'Ivoire en '99, atteignant les autres pays africains, allant jusqu'aux ondes françaises (2002) et même dans les cercles britanniques (j'ai entendu le son juste hier - ça ne vieillit pas!)...

A'Salfo et les autres gars de Magic System n'ont pas encore fini avec nos oreilles. Après leur son Raï'n'B Fever avec les mecs du 113 (Un Gaou à Oran) les voici avec Khaled - qui m'a enchantée ainsi que tant d'autres avec son tube Aïcha - dans un clip que je ne trouve pas super intéressant mais je kif' l'ambiance relâchée.

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Côte d'Ivoire meets Algeria on this track by Magic System and Khaled: Même Pas Fatigué.

The playfulness of Premier Gaou (love it), Un Gaou à Oran (love it!) and Ki Di Mié (like it) follow the Magic System guys onto this track with Khaled.

It's a disctintly French sound/taste, a place where West Africans come and mingle with North Africans; where they sit and share foods infused with North American flavours which hark back to African dishes. Zouglou meets Raï meets R&B - that's a little Raï'n'B Fever spice for ya!

Strawberries and Cream * Je n'aime pas les cerises

2009-07-25T22:26:00.016+01:00

Today at a friend's house we started talking about things most people seem to love that you just can't abide. Here comes my confession...

I don't like strawberries.

Is that a crime?

I just don't like the texture of the skin. Like an overly porous and pimply red face.

And that mini mass of greenery that tops it off...

Thanks but no thanks.

I love strawberry-flavoured drinks/foodstuff though. Does that redeem me at all?

Why do I always hear people banging on about the delights of strawberries and cream?

[Bald Monk has some amazing stuff on flickr with some lively, playful photography,

click and explore if such is your desire!]

Did I mention, I don't like any kind of cream unless it's the kind I can put on my dry elbows or it has the word 'ice' before it.

When I see people joyfully spraying cream into their mouths as they so often do in 'happy' movie scenes I just feel really queasy.

I don't do olives. I've tried. More than once. But they're just not for me.

(I'm not alone on that one in my circle of friends who forsook me on the strawberry stance!)

I don't like mushrooms. I think the texture doesn't do it many favours either.

Nuts. I can eat them. I'm not allergic. But I'd rather not.

And the cherry on top: I don't like cherries.

As my sister pointed out to the group, I love condensed milk and will put it on most anything.

I have some strange food cravings (chalk is great), which leads me to believe that my future pregnancies will leave me eating completely 'normally'!

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Eh non. Je n'aime pas les cerises.

Elles sont assez jolies, c'est vrai.

Fraîches. Elles semblent toujours venir en paires.

Glacées. Elles décorent les gâteaux.

Superbes. À l'œil. Mais ni dents, ni ma langue n'ont envie de (re)découvrir leur goût.

[check out more photography by chotda who makes food come alive (a scary but fabulous thought) - she seems to capture taste on camera... cool hunh?]

Ah, la crème fraîche.

Ah, non merci. Ça ne me dit rien. La crème glacée par contre... volontiers!

Et le chocolat, j'adore! Pour de très bonnes raisons bien sûr.

Voici une petite leçon à retenir:

le chocolat > produit des endorphines

les endorphines > procurent une sensation de bien-être

le chocolat <=> le bien-être

Alors sois bien!

Race

2009-07-20T20:41:00.013+01:00

Race.

As in colour of skin.

Or colour of your parents' skin.

Or how you categorise yourself on skin colour/ethnicity/cultural/socioeconomic lines.

Or how other people do just that.

'Race' is quite a nonsensical concept.

You only need to consider how difficult it is to even define what it is.

Consider the above.

So basically I saw a trailer for the movie Skin based on reality.

It's the biopic of the life of Sandra Laing.

A girl born of 'white' parents in an apartheid-stricken South Africa.

I intend to watch it. Shall share my thoughts when I do!

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Noir/e

Black

Blanc/he

Métissé/e

Des appellations pour des gens de différentes 'races'.

Mais quand on y réfléchit, il n'y a pas beaucoup de sens dans le concept de 'race'.

Il y a tant de confusion.

Pourquoi faut-il qu'on se catégorise tout le temps?

Pour illustrer combien le concept est arbitraire, allons en Afrique du Sud, pendant le règne de l'apartheid.

Un couple d'origine européenne - dit 'blanc' donne naissance à une fille... qui ressemble à une 'noire' ou au moins à une métisse.

Elle s'appelle Sandra Laing et a eu des expériences traumatiques dans sa vie dû à la couleur de sa peau (entre autres).

Réalisateur Anthony Fabian, a entrepris la tâche de mettre son histoire à l'écran. Skin avec Sophie Okonedo (qui a joué dans Hotel Rwanda - film superb) sort bientôt sur les écrans où je suis. J'ai l'intention de le voir alors je vous ferai part de mes réflexions!

The Grass is Greener here! * L'herbe n'est verte que chez soi!

2009-07-06T23:39:00.018+01:00

The other day I was watching 'The Grass Is Greener'.

Love love love the movie 'cus it makes me smile, reflect and smile some more.

The film works with stereotypes based on nationality: mainly US American & English; but at the end of the scene I've referred you to, the somewhat proper English Countess played by Deborah Kerr and the arrogant American millionaire played Robert Mitchum have a conversation which brings up the characteristics of American, French and English men.

The sum of the matter:

- a French person will say what s/he thinks outright

- an American will say what s/he thinks after a slight hesitation

- an English person will take a more oblique approach in conveying his/her thoughts

From my experience of people from all three countries, I'd say that's pretty much right!

I think it's a good idea to understand how people come at things so one doesn't misjudge them as rude - which happens quite a bit:

French people think the English are a quite standoffish when they're just trying to be polite and they think the Americans are ignorant when they're merely being open about something they don't quite grasp.

Americans think Europeans are quaint and old-fashioned. Period.

English people would say full stop and consider the French quite rude and the Americans uncouth.

Of course, these are generalisations. So please don't get offended! But trust me there's truth in all of that!

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On l'entend tout le temps, il est comme si ou cela parce qu'il est (insérer la nationalité) ou elle dit ça parce qu'elle est (insérer la nationalité). On le dit souvent.

D'après les personnages du film The Grass is Greener que j'ai re-regardé l'autre jour,il paraît que:

- les français disent ce qu'ils pensent

- les américains (états-uniens) aussi, après un moment d'hésitation

- et les anglais eux le font de manière plutôt oblique

Intéressant, je trouve - et bien qu'avec les stéréotypes on tombe dans les généralisations, je dirai qu'il y a beacoup de vérité!

Entre les français qui trouvent que les américains manquent de culture, et que les anglais n'ont pas de cuisine; les américains qui trouvent ces européens si charmants à observer mais très dépassés; et les anglais qui trouvent que les français sont trop impolis et que les américains parlent trop fort... on tombe dans toute une gamme de clichés.

Mais au lieu de se fâcher, il vaut mieux savoir se moquer un peu de soi-même (comme dans le film) et embracer toutes les cultures!

Sur cette note, quittons l'Europe et l'Amérique et allons en Afrique avec les notes de la nigériane TY Bello.

Swedish Style * Le Style Suédois

2009-07-05T13:58:00.048+01:00

Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Långstrump)

I remember reading about this little Swedish redhead who had incredible strength and wit when I was a girl.

Pippi's idiosyncrasy is perhaps not far removed from what I perceive to be the Swedish aesthetic.

There is a strong sense of identity and the occasional splurge of a rainbow of colours.

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Je me souviens de Pippi dans les histoires écrites par Astrid Lindgren et des adaptations à la télé. La petite rousse avec une puissance incroyable, elle était capable de soulever un cheval avec une main et de répondre aux adultes dans son monde avec beaucoup d'esprit.

On pourrait comparer cette petite suédoise à l'esthétique suédois, caractérisée par une identité bien particulière et l'occasionnel éclat de couleurs.

Going back to the native Scandinavians handicraft with Sami slojd...

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Retournons jusqu'au temps du peuple indigène avec l'artisanat ou slojd Sami ...

Photos: Annika Vennerus and LarsThulin / Johnér. Source: visitsweden.com

and moving into the contemporary, which embraces the 'colour-splurge'

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et passons au monde contemporain qui adopte cet 'éclat de couleurs'

I'm feeling these voluptuously-shaped lamps. * Envoûtée par ces lampes aux formes voluptueuses.

"Glow" by FRONT DESIGN. Source: visitsweden.com

while championing minimalism with clean lines and forms...

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tout en favorisant le minimalisme avec les lignes et les formes pures...

in architecture and furniture design

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en architecture et en design de meubles

by CLAESSON KOIVISTO RUNE [oh click & see!]

in glass design

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en verrerie

I ♥ the 'Drop' series - it makes me want to purchase a paperweight I don't need. And if you got me one of those sweetie bowls I'd love you for life (although my love is unconditional of course!) * Je kiffe ces objets en verre. Regardez ces bols pour bonbons avec cœur, fleur et étoile de David - fantastique!

I love the vibrant colours and fantastical shapes. * J'aime les couleurs vives et les formes fantastiques.

by SVENSKST TENN

in interior design

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en design d'intérieur

I particularly like these pieces which are reminiscent of fairy tales. * Coup de cœur pour ces objets qui me rappellent les contes de fées.

Source: DesignTorget

in fashion

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en mode

An effortlessly fab collection which "gazes towards the Orient." * Style chic et décontracté, aux influences orientales.

The Swedish have got quite a bit to say for themselves when it comes to Design. And it sounds good!

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Il faut dire que la Suède a beaucoup à dire quand il s'agit du monde de Design.

J'adore!

Je m'appelle… * What’s In A Name?

2009-07-02T21:03:00.021+01:00

Je m’appelle Rachelle. Comme la femme de Jacob dans la Bible. Ça signifie brebis, celle qui est pure en hébreu. En écoutant le tube des Noisettes (mdr en lisant leur nom en français) intitulé ‘Never Forget You’,

la jolie chanteuse anglaise d’origine zimbabwéenne qui s’appelle Shingai Shoniwa m’a fait penser au sens des noms que nous avons. Son prénom à elle signifie ‘persévérance’.

Pour moi, un nom - prénom, surnom ou autre - fait partie intégrale de l’identité. Quelle tâche revient aux parents qui doivent nommer leur petit trésor! Il faut prendre en compte l’orthographe, le fait que le jeune Sacha pourrait être traité de fille à cause de votre choix de prénom ou encore la possibilité que l’enfant vous en veuille lorsqu’elle se voit en train de corriger tous les profs tout au long de sa scolarité.

En tout cas moi je suis contente avec mes appellations diverses et je pense que tant que votre nom a quelque chose de positif dans son sens/origine - vive ce nom et vis ce nom!

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“You know the stripes of a tiger are hard to change” sings lead singer of a band I’ve heard quite a bit of noise about in the media: The Noisettes. The song is ‘Never Forget You’ and my verdict on it: like those lyrics, love the ‘photographic’ shots in the video, I’m feeling her hairstyle and I ♥ the dress…

Her name: Shingai Shoniwa. Which gives me an excuse to delve into a topic I treasure: the meaning of names. Shingai is Shona (courtesy of her Zimbabwean-ness) for ‘soldiering on’/‘perseverance’.

Names are an integral part of one’s identity. Some people embrace theirs while others can’t wait till the day they’re allowed to legally change it. My mother’s friend got named Delilah and knowing how not-so-great-a-character the biblical namesake was, she was not impressed as she grew older. Naming babies is such a massive responsibility - you have to take into consideration the fact that your son Tracy just might get a little bit teased for having a girl’s name (even if it is a unisex name meaning ‘warlike’) or that the teacher and supply teachers may consistently mispronounce your daughter’s name.

All in all it’s fabulous when you can embrace your name, whether it was given to you by a loving relative and is right there on your ID or if you picked it up somehow as a nickname. If your name bears a positive significance, I say live up to it each day of your life!

Love Peace ‘n’ plentiful Hair Grease,

From She Who Takes After His Mother’s Blood

Life as a Fairy Tale * La vie en conte de fées

2009-07-01T07:32:00.006+01:00

One of my favourite pieces of artwork is one my mum got me a copy of when I was a girl. I searched for it later in life and discovered it's by an artist called Laverne Ross and entitled 'Tribute'. Great stuff but I still prefer my interpretation of it which was a vision of the dancing princesses in a fairy tale I loved love reading. 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' by die Brüder Grimm - if you don't know, get to know! I quite like it because it's an unexpected kind of tale featuring a really cheeky guy who screws up 12 sisters' nightlife. But it also makes me think about the role of stories children are told and their impact on expectations in future relationships.

The Good

- (for gals) you are a princess and your kind heart will make you valued

- (for guys) you need to make an effort to get the gal - your efforts will be rewarded

The Bad

- (for gals) you must be a princess or really good looking to get the guy

- (for guys) all she is seeking in life is you

and the Ugly

- erm, doesn't usually work out too well for them.

Conclusion on the matter: forget the bad (and the 'inner uglies'), focus on the good in a fairy tale land far away and in the real world right where you are.

source: art.co.uk

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Voilà une œuvre d'art que j'apprécie beaucoup beaucoup. Ma mère m'a donné une copie quand j'étais fillette. J'ai toujours imaginé que ces femmes étaient les princesses dans le conte de fées des Brüder Grimm intitulé 'Les souliers de bal usés'. J'aime bien cette histoire dans laquelle figure un mec assez insolent qui met fin aux activités nocturnes de 12 sœurs! Ça me fait penser à l'influence des idées qu'on retrouve dans les contes de fée sur les relations amoureuses une fois qu'on est grand/e.

Il y a en gros 3 types de personnages:

Les Bons

Les Méchants

et les Moches

Et selon les contes, tout ira bien dans votre relation si à la fin vous êtes bon - même si vous étiez méchant (ingrat/e comme la plupart des princesses ou sot/te comme Blanche Neige) ou moche (je parle de mocheté intérieure bien entendu).

L'Entrée

2009-06-30T23:59:00.006+01:00

Alors comme ça vous entrez dans mon univers - que nous partageons bien entendu, mais il est très possible que nous ne nous sommes pas encore rencontrés. On va voir comment ça va se passer avec ce bilinguisme anglais/français. Notez que je ne vais pas traduire exactement, chaque langue à ses particularités et puis peut être que j'aurais envie de dire quelque chose dans une langue et pas l'autre.

Je vous laisse avec un peu de Corneille qui s'entend très bien avec le français et l'anglais, nous le faisant savoir avec sa belle voix veloutée.

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Come hither into my universe - a universe that we share of course, but it's highly possible that we haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting. Let's see how this English/French bilingual blogging goes. Please note that I shan't be translating exactly what I say in the other language, I might just get the urge to say something in one and not the other!

I'll leave you with the sounds of 'Cornelius' (Corneille), an artist who gets on very well with both English and French and lets the world know it with his lovely velvety voice.