All posts by Straughan Ian

Ian Straughan is a confident, self motivated Christian. His background in Education and the Security sector He currently works in Mental Health. Although outside of his job, he uses his skills as a motivator and qualified trainer to inspire and encourage others to cope with daily living. The 'Walk to Glory' was created in 1994 out of Ian's desire to communicate and share his faith and passion for life with a wider audience.

First Thoughts!!

Just one night in a hospital

It taught so much to me

My values, frailty and focus

The things couldn’t see

 

Brought in by friends, but left alone

Just me without the love

I glanced around with no one there

Then looked to God above

 

I told Him I was alright

He showed me I was scarred

I wore the robe provided

Laid down, emotions bared

 

I drew back the long curtain

To hide my self away

But knew the Lord was waiting

For words I had to pray

 

“Dear God please help me through this…

It’s not about the pain

Just that I must go through it

All on my own again

Three times before with no one there

But wait that was a lie

I’d forget to count my Father God

Who reigns from up on high

THE GOLDEN TELEPHONE

 

 

 

 

 
   
   
   

 Whilst on vacation in Rome, I noticed a marble column in St. Peter's with a golden telephone on it.  As a young priest passed by, I asked who the telephone was for.  The priest told me it was a direct line to heaven, and if I'd like to call, it would be a thousand dollars.  I was amazed, but declined the offer. 

Throughout Italy, I kept seeing the same golden telephone on a marble column.  At each, I asked about it and the answer was always the same: 

It was a direct line to heaven and I could call for a thousand dollars. 

Then – I continued my tour and arrived in Israel.  I decided to attend temple services at a local synagogue.  When I walked in the door I noticed the golden telephone. Underneath it there was a sign stating: "DIRECT LINE TO HEAVEN: 25 cents." 

"Rabbi," I said, "I have been all over Italy and in all the cathedrals I visited, I've seen telephones exactly like this one.  But the price is always a thousand dollars.  Why is it that this one is only 25 cents?" 

The rabbi smiled and said, "You're in Israel now. It's a local call."


 
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy.

The amount of work is the same. – Carlos Casteneda

 

 

 

 

In God's Hand

 

 

 

 

I rejoice in the hands of God,
Today, tomorrow and forever,
I hunt every enhance of God,
Powerful hands to support me,
Gentle hands to uphold me,
Peaceful hands to calm me,
Guiding hands to lead me,
Loving hands to win full,
Healing hands to strengthen me,

Saving hands to rescue me,
Redeeming hands to save me,
Graceful hands to accept me.
I rejoice in the hands of God,
Today, tomorrow and forever.
Amen!

Controversial or True?

 

My jumbled thoughts whilst praying one evening…

My faith is the only thing I have that I will never give up.. but I am willing to share it with anyone, anywhere and at any time.
God’s grace is the best gift I have every received, but never deserved.
His mercy gives me the confidence to accept the correction I need to grow in Him.
His forgiveness allows to try my best although I often make mistakes
His words encourage, and drive me on along life’s often rocky road
His sacrifice has taught me that there is a price that I could never pay for the liberty I currently enjoy.
His love knows no bounds so I must strive open my heart to love my fellow man without condition. 

It sometime feels like it is getting harder to stand up for our beliefs, or share our faith,  what with political correctness and such, but in fact it is easier (dependant on the way you view it).

The believers of old never had the internet, the mobile, telephone, television, radio’s and such. They just lived the life as best they could and when people questioned the way they were living they explained as best they could. The prophets of old went around the streets, temples and synagogues and proclaimed their faith. The apostles went from town to town and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ

“ Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centres of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Robert F. Kennedy

 

My favourite quote!

 

Robert Lewis Stevenson once said; 

"To talk is our chief business in this life,

It founds and fosters friendships,

It can be enjoyed in any state of health,

It cost nothing and is all profit."

 

Quote

So let's communicate more and profit!

I can never understand why we as a people tend to look at each other and make, what can be interpereted as, brash judgements about one another, when we can just speak to each other freely and acquire a greater and more honest understanding of each other. It could stop wars, predudices, and divisions.

Language is a great gift and coupled with cooperation …good communication can achieve great things.

But what do I know?…I am only the servant and try my best to learn from the master ..my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

God Bless you all.

Sonnet: Is There Not Joy?

 

Is there not joy in being man, woman?
Is there not joy inhabiting the earth?
Is there not joy in being an Indian?
Is there not joy in having still our breath?

Is there not joy in being born well formed?
Is there not joy with senses all intact?
Is there not joy with brain so well informed?
Is there not joy in living for truth/ fact?

Is there not joy believing in one God?
Is there not joy in fighting evils?
Is there not joy when Friend is but the Lord?
Is there not joy resisting all devils?

Is there not joy preparing for Heaven?
Is there not joy to say always, `Amen’?

Disturbing signs

 

Now around the world people love to put up signs and warnings but every now and then I see the odd one that really disturbs me, eg.

BE AWARE
SECURITY GUARDS ARE OPERATING
IN AND AROUND THESE PREMISES 
24 HOURS DAILY

 

Now I have a big problem with this informatin as it is posted all around the grounds of my local hospital.

I honestly thought that only these chaps…

   

..are supposed to deal with operations anywhere on the premises!

Or is really true that the health service are really struggling that much!

Lyrics & Memories

Song lyrics are very poignant to many of us and tend to remind us of a specific period in our lives, or of a relationship we shared. Coupled with the melodic tunes good lyrics can stir up emotions deep within us that sometimes reduce us to tears of both joy and sadness.
As a child I was exposed to Country & Western, Calypso, Reggae and a style of Caribbean music aptly named ‘Lovers Rock’. I remember this distinctly because at the weekends my father would ocasionally take himself off to the front room of our home (the best room). After a hard week of working in a cotton mill this was one of his ways of relaxing where he had a well kept radio-gram record player and a light maple coloured wooden box full of 7″ inch singles which I must say he kept in perfect order. He would take with him a packet of Monkey Nuts and either two bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale or two cans of Long Life Lager, then sit in the room for a couple of hours listening to his records. i assume that they reminded him of his youth back in Barbados’.He referred to his place of birth as “Back home”

I remeber distinctly the chorus of one record in particular that used to resound in my head whilst I would lay upstairs in my bed late on summers evening. At the tender age of ten years old these lyrics created my image of what perfect love should be like.

What’s in this world with me,
Goes where I go?
Shares all my dreams with me,
I need to know.
In life we search,
And some of us find.
I’ve searched for you my love,
A long, long time.
And now that I’ve found you,
You are all that I see.
Come take my hand
And walk through this world with me.

It is funny how this chorus still means a lot to me, but for a different reason other than intended by the original writer. 

It relates to my standing with God in whom I place my trust.

 

Meet our friends

Hello .. I thought it would be nice for me to introduce some friends and people who have encouraged and inspired me to create the 'Walk to Glory'

  KnowlesFirstly this is David Knowles my friend of many years and my brother in Christ. Without his technical know how this site would not exist. He is a constant source of inspiration to me and his house is a second home for me whenever I visit the Nederlands. His wife Els and two children treat me like one of the family.

He maintains this blogg and corrects any background problems we may encounter. I am blessed to have him as a friend.

 

Postie

Meet my friend Postie, he travels with me and  loves having his photo taken with my friends and any new people I meet. He also enjoys visits to church so you will see pictures of his travels and who he meets in future articles.

 

Julie & husbandAnd the Stainsbridge's a lovely couple who played host to me and three friends on our visit to Le Charente in France. The own a lovely Bed & Breakfast establishment in a lovely rural setting. It was during my stay with them when I wrote the poem 'I Fell Into A River' (see Article Archives)

 

Friends

And this is David  a former work colleague,  friend and of course another brother in the Lord. We've known each other since 2004 and both work in education. Dave is a very talented 'Dance DJ' who has a unique gift in the way he creates and uses dance music to share his faith.

Dave has recently joined us at the Walk to glory and is now developing the 'Music & Dance' section. So keep an eye on his bloggs you clubbers out there. I have no doubt you will all be inspired by his veiws.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorrow the teacher..

 

I walked a mile with Pleasure;

She chatted all the way;

But left me none the wiser

For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow,

And ne'er a word said she;

But,  oh! the things I learned from her,

When sorrow walked with me.

By Robert Hamilton

 

"We never truly comprehend the sorrow of others, so it is best to learn from them by just being there to listen. And hopefully view them from God's perspective:"

"What a Caterpiller calls the end. God calls a Butterfly!"

I. O Straughan