Wise words from St Augustine about Travelling

This is not a deeply theological blog about Augustine. I will include a little about him because I am using one of his many famous quotes.

So who was he?

Augustine of Hippo was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius in North Africa and is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers in Western Christianity.

What Did Augustine Believe?

Three of Augustine’s most important ideas or arguments for the God of Christian theism are the following:

1. Rest and peace for human beings is found only in God.  As creatures made in God’s image, humans can only find genuine rest and peace for their souls through salvation in Jesus Christ.
2. According to Augustine, human beings are dependent upon God’s grace for salvation. Known as the “doctor of grace”, Augustine argued vigorously that Christianity was uniquely a religion of divine rescue instead of a works-based, self-help religion that was advocated by some of Augustine’s opponents.
3. In response to the problem of evil, Augustine argued that while evil is real it is not a substance or a “thing.” Rather, evil is a privation, an absence of goodness in the human will. Therefore, God did not create evil; only good. Augustine further argued that the origin of evil resulted when Lucifer chose a lower good (himself) and exalted it above the ultimate good (God).

I am not going to discuss his theology in this blog.

I do strongly support his statement that:

I have been blessed by having travelled extensively and it is my intention to keep seeing new places for many years to come.

But travel always sounds so expensive and it can be costly however through the ministry of Christian House Sitters we can help you to greatly reduce the cost.

You can enjoy rent-free accommodation in lovely houses all around the world.

You can leave your own home in the safe and reliable hands of a person who will look after it and your pets if you have any, free of charge.

Have a look at our website and see if, with our help, you can ‘read a few more pages’

Why Join Christian House Sitters?

1. Christian House Sitters is not a money making business but a ministry to support the work and people of God.
2. Christian House Sitters started in order to provide rent-free vacations for Christians and reliable House Sitters for home owners who need someone they can trust to look after their home, pets and garden.
3. House owners do not pay anything to have their property listed.
4. House sitters are only charged £25 per year and in return for this many enjoy numerous rent-free vacations each year.
5. 100% of the income is used to support vulnerable children at the Home of Peace Christian Children’s Home in rural Kenya

For Home Owners leaving your house empty carries many risks. Through a free registration with Christian House Sitters we can help you go away feeling safe and secure knowing that your home is being looked after and if necessary your pets are being cared for and loved in their own home.

So what next?

All you need to do is visit our website, read all about our ministry and register.

Naturally we are very happy to answer any questions but hopefully, you will find most already answered on our FAQ page.

We look forward to being a blessing to you and your loved ones.

For details CLICK HERE

 

God bless you,

 

Ray

We are part of the registered charity

TLC Children’s Trust

UK Charity number 1156786

www.tlc-childrenstrust.org

WordPress are adding adverts to blogs. They are not always shown but if there are adverts on this page please note they were not placed by me, not approved by me and do not imply my recommendation

3 Good Reasons

I have allowed this blog to slip and I apologize for not posting anything for a while.
I could make a lot of excuses but the simple fact is even though life has been hectic I should post more often. Sorry.

Instead of just talking about Christian House Sitters I  thought that I would try and show you why we run this ministry. It has a 3-fold purpose.

1. It provides free accommodation to Christian’s who need a vacation.

2. It provides peace of mind to Christian’s who need someone to look after their home and pets (free of charge) while they are away. For example this morning I received the following email from one of our registered homeowners.

We recently had a great 3 weeks in the Deep South of USA – our much-needed break was made all the more enjoyable because of the peace of mind that two wonderful couples who were house sitting and caring or our two dogs. We even got regular email/text updates from them during our time away – so reassuring.

3. The funds provided by people paying £25 per year to register as House Sitters go to a Christian Children’s Home in Kenya. Yes, 100% of the funds. We do not hold back anything, the cost of running the site is covered personally by my wife and I. This is a ministry, not a business.

Here is something that we put on the Home of Peace Children’s Home Facebook page yesterday.

We recently faced a dilemma. We were visited by the Department of Children’s Services with a lovely young boy who needed urgent placement. I will not go into the details of why he needed the placement.
He arrived with just the clothes he was wearing. Nothing else!
Our dilemma. Do we accept him even though we don’t have any extra funds to look after him or do we send him away to live on the streets and probably die? To us the answer was obvious!
He is now living happily and safely at Home of Peace. Here is a picture of him feeling excited that he has a safe place to live, clothes, food and loving people to look after him.

Thank you for caring for me.

If you are thinking of a vacation and want someone to look after your home please visit our website and register as an owner. It is FREE.

Register as soon as you know your vacation dates, don’t leave it to the last-minute, as that way you will have a much better range of sitters to choose from.

If you want to be a sitter and to enjoy a rent-free vacation then we can also help.

Have a look at the website for the details. CLICK HERE

God bless you,

Ray

We are part of the registered charity

TLC Children’s Trust

UK Charity number 1156786

www.tlc-childrenstrust.org

WordPress are adding adverts to blogs. They are not always shown but if there are adverts on this page please note they were not placed by me, not approved by me and do not imply my recommendation

We had a glitch……….

A couple of days ago we suffered a ‘technical glitch’

Our intentions were good. We decided to upgrade the security on our website. I consulted with the experts and they assured me that they could handle the upgrade without any problems.

The site would be down for a maximum of a couple of minutes and it was all a routine, simple process.

Great.

Next I heard was that they had done the upgrade but ran into an unexpected problem and as a result needed to change our ‘nameserver’ so although the site was up and running it ‘may take a few hours before people were able to access it because the new DNS needed to be propagated‘.

Oh how I dislike technical jargon. Why can’t they just speak English?

Anyway by the next day our site was still down so I had to have a few long and firm discussions with the technical folk.

Eventually I was ‘escalated to a more senior person‘

I assume that means I was put in touch with someone who actually knew what he was doing.

Anyway we are back!

So if you are looking for a rent-free vacation. Visit our website

If you are going away and need someone to look after your home and pets. Visit our website. This is a free service

I look forward to welcoming you to our family of members all over the world.

To visit the site CLICK HERE

God bless you,

Ray

 

CHRISTIAN HOUSE SITTERS

Is part of the registered charity

TLC Children’s Trust

UK Charity number 1156786

www.tlc-childrenstrust.org

WordPress are adding adverts to blogs. They are not always shown but if there are adverts on this page please note they were not placed by me, not approved by me and do not imply my recommendation

The long spoon………

I am blessed to receive numerous uplifting, encouraging and challenging email most days. One that often helps me is from a man called Pastor Tim Burt who writes a blog called Fresh Manna. You can see it at https://todaysfreshmanna.wordpress.com/

This morning I received the following from him. (Note he has previously granted me permission to reproduce his posts as long as I link back to his blog and acknowledge him as the source.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Spoon That Feeds… (Author Unknown)

A man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, “Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.”

The Lord led the man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the man’s mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, “You have seen Hell.”

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The man said, “I don’t understand.”

“It is simple” said the Lord, “it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. While the greedy think only of themselves.”

Gal 5:13 “For you have been called to live in freedom–not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This in many ways is the philosophy behind Christian House Sitters.
Christians blessing each other and being blessed at the same time.

Those who are going on vacation get the blessing of having someone look after their home and pets free of charge

Those wanting a vacation get a rent-free house to live in.

Both parties are also blessed by knowing that they are helping another Christian.

For more information have a look at our website. CLICK HERE

God bless you,

Ray

We are part of the registered charity

TLC Children’s Trust

UK Charity number 1156786

www.tlc-childrenstrust.org

WordPress are adding adverts to blogs. They are not always shown but if there are adverts on this page please note they were not placed by me, not approved by me and do not imply my recommendation

If money was no issue?

I love travelling. Seeing new places, meeting new people and experiencing new and different cultures.

The only real problem is paying for it.

Through Christian House Sitters people all over the world are enjoying the pleasures of travelling without having to pay any rent for their accommodation and in addition, if needed, having someone who will look after their home and pets free of charge while they are away.

Membership lasts a year so I have just looked back at the past 12 months and I see that we have been able to provide lovely, rent-free accommodation in the following countries.

Scotland

Germany

South Africa

England

Australia

Spain

Wales

Ireland

Mexico

France

New Zealand

USA

Do you know anyone who may benefit from this wonderful opportunity?

Have a look at our website and contact me if you have any questions. CLICK HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you got any interesting, funny or heart warming vacation stories that you would like to share on this blog?

If so please let me know using the contact form. Especially if they involve House Sitting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God bless you,

Ray

 

We are part of the registered charity

TLC Children’s Trust

UK Charity number 1156786

www.tlc-childrenstrust.org

WordPress are adding adverts to blogs. They are not always shown but if there are adverts on this page please note they were not placed by me, not approved by me and do not imply my recommendation

This could be the answer for your family?

 

 

Are you starting to feel that you need a break?

 

 

Yes I know it is only March but it is a good time to start planning your next vacation.

Many people wrongly think that a vacation is a luxury. No actually it is a necessity.

Everyone needs a break! Working without having a real break will damage your health, harm your relationships and make you less efficient.

Do not be put off because of the cost.

Hotels are expensive but did you know you can enjoy rent-free accommodation all over the world through Christian House Sitters?

Yes I did say rent-free!

Ahh but what about your animals? It will upset them and cost a lot to have them looked after while you are away.

No it will not!

Christian House Sitters will be happy to arrange for someone to look after your pets and your home Free of charge while you are away.

So if you cat (or dog) is getting upset seeing you read about going on vacation tell them we have it all under control.

All you need to do is visit our website, read all about our ministry and register.

Naturally we are very happy to answer any questions but hopefully you will find most already answered on our FAQ page.

We look forward to being a blessing to you and your loved ones.

For details CLICK HERE

God bless you,

Ray

We are part of the registered charity

TLC Children’s Trust

UK Charity number 1156786

www.tlc-childrenstrust.org

WordPress are adding adverts to blogs. They are not always shown but if there are adverts on this page please note they were not placed by me, not approved by me and do not imply my recommendation

Crazy, funny, international laws

There is a lovely quote in Oliver Twist when Mr. Bumble, the unhappy spouse of a domineering wife, is told in court that “…the law supposes that your wife acts under your direction”, replies: “If the law supposes that,” said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, “the law is a ass – a idiot”.

I enjoy finding old laws that are a bit odd or unusual.

With Christian House Sitters offering people rent-free accommodation all over the world may I suggest that you brush up on local laws before you travel.

Although to be honest most of the following are not enforced. I have gleaned them from a range of different sources.

Enjoy and laugh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Tennessee, shooting at an animal from your car is forbidden, with one exception: it is not illegal to draw your weapon on a whale. Good luck finding one in that part of the world…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kansas. If two trains meet on the same track, neither shall proceed until the other has passed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A law in Nevada forbids anyone from placing a park bench in the middle of the road.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In England dying is illegal in the Houses of Parliaments – This has been voted as the most ridiculous law by the British citizens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A law in Alaska forbids motorists from driving around with a dog attached to the roof.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you’re taking a drive in South Berwick, Maine, it’s important to note that parking in front of a Dunkin Donuts is against the law.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Imagine you’re in Florida, and you fancy a ride on the back of an elephant. Well, don’t forget that you’re still required to pay for your parking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is Illegal to Wear a Bullet Proof Vest While Committing Murder in NJ. For those of you planning violent crimes in New Jersey, according to New Jersey statute 2C:39-13, a person has committed a crime if “he uses or wears a body vest while engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit murder, manslaughter, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, kidnapping, criminal escape or assault.” In other words, the vest could bump your offense from third to second degree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you know that if you take your life into your hands getting behind the wheel in China, and more specifically in Beijing, you must under no circumstances stop for pedestrians? You could be arrested.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Missouri it is illegal to drive with an uncaged bear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Californian law forbids women from driving a car dressed in a bathrobe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Oklahoma, it is against the law to have a sleeping donkey in your bathtub after 7pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Ohio, you can be fined if you’re caught going around a traffic circle more than 100 times.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you fancy a Sunday drive around Denver, Colorado? If you’re unlucky enough to own a black car, you’ll have to go on foot. Driving in a black vehicle on Sundays is not permitted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you planning some time away?

Would you like rent-free accommodation?

Would you like someone to look after your home and pets while you are away. Free of charge.

Have a look at our website. www.christian-housesitters.com

If you have any other questions that are not answered on the website please use the contact page and I will do my best to answer you promptly.

God bless you,

Ray

We are part of the registered charity

TLC Children’s Trust

UK Charity number 1156786

www.tlc-childrenstrust.org

WordPress are adding adverts to blogs. They are not always shown but if there are adverts on this page please note they were not placed by me, not approved by me and do not imply my recommendation