BerryBunch Family @Berrybunchfamily@dingdash.com

S05E040, Phone a Friend… Andy B 2 Minute Video

https://vimeo.com/770722748

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘phone a friend’? While it may have been made more widely known by a popular British TV quiz show, I’ve used it and heard it for many years before that. The meaning is fairly simple – when you get stuck, you contact someone who may know more.

We all need people we can talk to – either as some form of a sounding board (I have several people like this who are happy to listen to my Andy B thoughts spilling over) or as someone to whom we make ourselves accountable.

Accountability is hugely important, and a subject for another day: we can’t force people to be made accountable! But we should be allowing ourselves to be made accountable to other people. And it is super important never to exist in a bubble of our own thoughts and feelings. That’s just inviting big and painful trouble: a different perspective can see what we can not. [READ MORE]

Andy B

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/s05e040-phone-a-friend-andy-b-2-minute-video/

S05E041, Remember! Andy B 2 Minute Video

https://vimeo.com/770779336

There will always be parts of our lives we’d rather forget – those moments when something traumatic happens to us, or those times when we’ve done something that may have ruined the life of someone else, perhaps permanently.

Those moments define us, and they can be moments we’d rather not ever have to remember.

But, having undergone a 15 month of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - for childhood trauma - I find it fascinating that the way to help someone process that trauma is to enable them to relive that trauma, and yet remain in control of that memory they are reliving. That control was lacking, hence the therapy approach.

Those 15 months were incredibly exhausting, but that process of remembering – in a safe environment – meant I could finally move on something I had had no choice over suffering. [READ MORE]

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/s05e041-remember-andy-b-2-minute-video/

S05E042, Pace Yourself!! Andy B 2 Minute Video

https://vimeo.com/770799901

If you’re late for work, then rushing like a mad thing is rather a sensible course of action. Of course we shouldn’t break any speed limits doing so! But hanging about and taking our time to drink a second cup of tea isn’t appropriate either!!

There are times in life when we simply need to get a hustle on, to get the job done…and keep our job, perhaps…

As we switch across to some new video editing software, we’re taking our time. Sure, we’re pressing on to make the switch over to the new software but we also, already, have work we are already doing. So, we’re taking our time and doing a little bit more each week the new software, and a little bit less with the old software.

Within a couple of weeks, that process should have been completed.

There’s a phrase that goes a bit like this: slow is smooth, smooth is fast. The basic point is [READ MORE]

Andy B

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/s05e042-pace-yourself-andy-b-2-minute-video/

S05E043, Buffer Zones, Andy B 2 Minute Video

https://vimeo.com/770818378

It’s easy to see all the gaps and fill them up. If it’s a dam, great. That same finger shoving effort may not be quite as helpful if it’s a colander you’re filling the holes in, while you’re trying to strain some cauliflower from the water it was just boiled in - for your dinner!

Context, as ever, matters!

We can treat our diaries, and our time, a little like this – we can fill every second available, and leave no spare capacity (or room for other people, or room for God).

I once chatted with a minister in a church. He was pretty new, and his immaturity was sadly all too easily on display as he talked about how important he was, and why his diary was so very full all the time. [READ MORE]

Andy B

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/s05e043-buffer-zones-andy-b-2-minute-video/

A Brief Pause with Andy B, 15.11.2022

Most of our life is spent hoping God’s got this, remembering that He does and seeing that He has.

Andy B

It’s good to check in with God during the day, so take a brief pause every hour or so and reflect on this quote/image.

#abriefpause #justsaying #justathought #p4t #wordsofwisdom #pauseforthought #dailymotivation #berrybunchfamilyfive

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/a-brief-pause-with-andy-b-15-11-2022/

haven't posted our videos for a while...here's a few to keep you going into the weekend

Andy B

PS [not]sorry in advance 😂

During the Konnect Radio quiz today we had this comment come in from one of our lovely listeners. A screenshot I'll keep I think!!

Which brought a smile to my face 😊

I've rarely been described as normal 😉

Missed the quiz? Fridays, from 8am. Brilliant fun - listen in and get involved: https://www.konnectradio.com/

Andy B

S06E002, Remembrance, Endurance

https://vimeo.com/769514221

In this episode we are focusing on Remembrance – remembering the sacrifice of those who have died fighting for their countries. But also the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Endurance is your weekly spiritual workout, whether you think of yourself as a beginner, an intermediate, or advanced!

Go Deeper

As it is Remembrance Sunday, for GoDeeper this week Steven reflects on those who have fought for our freedom. He starts off with two absolutely perfect scripture verses – John 15:13 and Galatians 5:1.

He explains a little about Remembrance Sunday for our viewers around the world. Obviously, he talks about those who died defending freedom during World War 1 and 2, as well as other more recent conflicts, but he also reflects on those who have fought for our freedom in politics and law like William Wilberforce.

Steven and Nathan

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/s06e002-remembrance-endurance/

S03E002, Remembrance, Special Family Prayer Time

https://vimeo.com/768160636

JoJo and Peter continue to encourage us to pray as a family and this week take time to mark Remembrance Day. Peter and Jo remember the men and women from the armed forces who have died and those who continue to fight to protect us today. And Peter reminds us that we mark the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour with a 2-minute silence in remembrance.

In this special Remembrance Family Prayer Time, Jo reads the well-known poem called – For the Fallen – by Robert Laurence Binyon – first published in 1914, to aide our reflections.

Peter leads us in prayer for those who have fought for our freedom and those who continue to do so today.

What better way to end this time family time of Remembrance than with the words of Jesus himself:

‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’

Jo Jo and Peter

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/s03e002-remembrance-special-family-prayer-time/

Rock and roll baby!!

Anniversary gift for each other? A replacement thermos flask 😁😊😉

Living the dream on our 26th wedding anniversary 👌

Andy B

#anniversary #weddinganniversary #marriage #rockandroll #berrybunchfamilyfive #loveisintheair #livinthedream

#TestimonyTuesday: God Saves

I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121: 1-2)

I have heard that it’s good to open with a joke and I happen to have one!

I was struggling to know how to deal with a situation at work and I was reminded of the joke about the guy who asked God for help. Do you know the one I mean? Whether you’ve heard it before or not, let me share this joke:

A man goes swimming and gets pulled out to sea. A boat passes by him and the man is told to climb aboard but he says, “I have faith, God will save me.”

The Coast Guard arrives with a rescue helicopter and tells him to climb the ladder up, but he says, “I have faith, God will save me.”

The man is now getting tired but thankfully a dolphin swims under him and starts to carry him to shore, but the man pushes the dolphin away [READ MORE]

Jo

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/testimonytuesday-god-saves/

Ministry, Priorities and God’s best, by @Olamide Dawson

https://vimeo.com/764558292

Meet my very good friend Olamide Dawson, or Olli D to his friends. Ok, I call him that - I don't think anybody else does...

Anyway, Olli is a Missionary Pastor working in Nigeria, and my good friend. He loves Jesus and has much wisdom on how we should prioritise ministry life.

This short video is especially good fro anybody who is in full-time ministry. But, if you're not, it's just as appropriate for you too, because it will help you better support those who are.

Enjoy the delightful, and ever effervescent, and dulcet tones, of Olli D.

Andy B

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/ministry-priorities-and-gods-best-by-olamide-dawson/

My own copies have now arrived (always take a bit longer for the author!!).

Look even better than I had hoped

Just a thought...

Have you bought your copy yet? Available on Amazon, as paperback or eBook.

47 chapters to get your brain going every day, as I connect the dots between ordinary life and everyday faith

Andy B

2 days (9th November) and we'll be celebrating 26 years of marriage.

I can't say it's all been bliss - it hasn't.

I can't say it's all been easy because God is at the centre. He is, but it hasn't been easy!

But, I can say that I'm looking forward to the next 26 years because we've gone places I'd never had dreamed of (although not really geographically...)

This time last year we were all very all as a family with COVID. So, our celebrations for 25 years were Jo monitoring my breathing in case she needed to call an ambulance!

But if that isn't a picture of true love in marriage, I don't know what is...

The foam heart she made for me for that day is the most precious item in my house (that she made from a left over sheet of thin foam - she had COVID too)

Andy B

Another great blog post by my good wife - Jo

Riddles in the dark

I am not sure if you are someone who enjoys riddles or not, but they are supposed to be fun and entertaining. Riddles describe things in a way that can be long winded, complicated, or confusing and the answer to these riddles are meant to be clever or funny.

You may or may not know that there were a number of riddles presented during an encounter the main character, Bilbo had with a strange, hobbit-like creature by the name of Gollum in ‘The Hobbit’. Bilbo found himself in a ‘tight spot’. It was not just because he was in the dark, in a cave, alone and lost, but because his life depended on winning a game of riddles, he was forced to play with this sinister Lord of the Rings character.

You will find the whole scene and all the riddles and answers in chapter 5 of ‘The Hobbit’ book by JRR Tolkien. And the same scene, although with some differences from the [READ MORE]

Jo

For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/riddles-in-the-dark/