You gotta love the English, if nothing else they are so English. Even
speaking their own language, English, which is far different, and somehow
superior to ours. Opinion, not fact. Having a soft spot in my head for English
cars and motorcycles, I have had overcome the translation from the homeland to
the colonies, bloody Colonists, we muck everything up. But as early as watching
A Clockwork Orange, and receiving a a tolchuck to the gulliver, a hit in the
head, I have been fascinated by the English, theirs, language.
All vehicles have tyres, I can give them that one, but spanners as
wrenches, we fill up with gas, they use petrol, and we all must stop for the
zebraway, or crosswalk. And who better than the Brits, who are able to get a
tan from driving in the English rain to call it a windscreen, instead of a
windshield. I wonder, does being a Brit preclude you from using your indicators
as it does in the colonies? By the way, putting your turn signal on in
California does not mean you can turn without looking...while pulling in for
your fish and chips, fries, chips are crisps, which are best eaten at the pub
instead of taking them back to your flat. Not the tire you’ve been meaning to
fix.
With all America coming unhinged with SUV mania, the Brits still drive a
shooting brake, station wagon, or estate car. When it isn’t raining they can
lower the top on their drop head, or while waiting for the lorry to pick them up
when out of petrol. And what Limey would go out at night in his Lucas equipped
car without taking a torch for an emergency? Flashlight for those of you in the
dark still. Especially when going on holiday....
But my favorite that do not translate as equitably are boots and bonnets.
Bonnets are for Easter in the colonies, bonnets are lifted to expose the motor,
sneaking a peak under a bonnet? Means much less in England...what’s under your
bonnet? Hoods are hooligans, or those who ride Brit bikes. As you wife returns
to her flat in angst. But as once Nancy Sinatra sang “these boots are made for
walking,” boots are for storage, aka the trunk. A quick peek into the boot of
an MG is much different than going shopping for a pair of boots, but you still
can put your boots in the boots. You can put your bonnet under the bonnet, but
fries will always taste better crispy, chips will be for chocolate to us, and a
flat tire is the same as a flat tyre. Which used to be kept in the boot, or
trunk. Does anyone know the number for 911....you can only imagine the look on
my face when the old chap told me he was breaking in a new set of braces.
Suspenders, lest I keep you in suspense....
Now just because you no speaka the language should you be considered stupid
or a fool. Yet many in churches today are graded unofficially by their Biblical
knowledge, based on study, attendance, and other extra curricular activities
within the fellowship. Seems spirituality is based on rote regimen many times
other than being spirit based. But while we are quick to comment on others, do
we apply the same test to ourselves? Pau warns us not to think more highly of
ourselves than we do of others, and a Christian life is based on not thinking of
ourselves, except in prayer, of course, but to think of others as more highly
than we do ourselves. Which has led too many to sticking their head in the sand
when it comes to evaluating themselves, or performing a check to see where they
are in Christ. That working out your salvation, the fear and trembling part we
avoid, for aren’t we perfect? My pastor told me so....but really we are a work
in process, only God sees us as perfect, the finished product, but we still have
a lot of work to do while still here. And so we do a self evaluation.....but
never based on emotions or moods. Our evaluation should be based on God, not
us. Do we really trust God, or just until the next catastrophe? When our faith
is tested, do we do the grading, or even grade us on a curve? If faith is
trusting God when there is no evidence of him, do we still trust, have faith?
Did you know God has given each one the same measure of faith? And faith is
based on what he can do, not on what we can do. Has not Jesus risen from the
dead as he said he would, or are you still living a life of legalism, and basing
your life on the sin of Adam? Don’t ask your friends...or put your ear to the
wall to listen, you may not like what you hear. Pride shows up I very subtle
ways, and what we say will not always match up to our actions or what we
believe.
So do not stray for the truth, Jesus Christ. The, not a truth. Do not get
confused with Christianese, that only the church folk speak. Saved means
rescued in all examples, and only Jesus saves. Lost is lost no matter what the
map says. And many need to look under the bonnet of truth to see where they are
in Christ, not keeping him in the boot hidden. Or giving him the boot
altogether. God has prepared a flat in heaven for those who believe, yet many
fuss over the flats in life, never checking the spare, which often is just as
flat. Only in Jesus will you be told the truth, and see an example of the
truth. There will be times we may not like the truth, but it will always set us
free when we turn to it. And then we can make better decisions. Some still
don’t drive at night, Lucas the Prince of Darkness blinding their way. God is
light, in him there is no darkness. Jesus, a torch we all must bear, showing us
the light. So simple even a droog could get it!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com