Thought for the Day

When teenagers, my sons embarked on a mission to buy me the worst-taste birthday present possible. I have clockwork toys from this period including Stunt Grannies, Racing Nuns and a battle game with old folk called Zimmer Wars. My favourite of all I have in the studio this morning. He is Jesus on Wheels. Four inches tall with ball-bearing base and adjustable arms.

You can see his photo on the BBC Radio Bristol Twitter feed.

Bored with the game I fought back. What if I turned this toy into a popular icon? I began a process of sending Jesus on Wheels with any friends who were going to exotic locations. I have photos of him at Victoria Falls, Sydney Opera House, the Commonwealth Games and he has even played percussion in Paris with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Obviously today marks the pinnacle of his journeying career.

Two thoughts. Firstly, not being a great traveller, I have loved seeing the world this way, as photos of his exploits are sent to me. And accepting the slight risk that one day he may not return.

Secondly, it reminds me never to limit what something can become. If a small toy can explore the world how much more should I long to become all that God wishes me to be. Bible says we should let God transform us by the renewing of our minds. Then we will know his will, and obey it, just as this toy obeys my will.

I'll have him with me at the Trendlewood Community Festival in Nailsea tomorrow afternoon. Come and meet him on Golden Valley Fields from noon (I promised the organisers I'd crowbar that reference in). Go on. Be photographed with a true globe-trotting celebrity.

Jesus on Wheels

He reaches Kuala Lumpur on his journey down under.

Jesus on Wheels

Our little wheeled mate has been MIA for a few weeks but has now returned from an exciting tour of Hong Kong, Fiji and New Zealand with my friends Martin and Pauline.

Remember he loves new experiences so if you are going somewhere he hasn't been (check the label on the side bar to see previous) ask to take him with you.

Jesus on Wheels at the Commonwealth Games

Possibly my little friend's most exciting trip so far.

Jesus on Wheels

My little wheeled friend went with @goodinparts to Greenbelt this year where he seems to have been attracted to the special offers.

Jesus on Wheels

Jesus on Wheels has been to Greenbelt and Tunisia in the recent past but as yet no photographic evidence. I gather he has been on a camel and met someone called Amen.

Now, anxious to be with people in difficulty, he is off to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. As he is going with a BBC sound engineer and not a competitor he will be staying in a five star hotel.

Please pray for healing. His left arm keeps coming off.

Jesus on Wheels Summer Holidays in Rome and Crete

Many thanks to Roger and Sandie for taking JOW to some places he may have felt brought back memories. See him teaching on the beach, blessing the Pope's crowds, contemplating the sea and having a moment of quiet contemplation at an empty cross. Too profound for words. Next stop Greenbelt and then the Commonwealth Games in India. Anyone going to South America any time soon?

Jesus on Wheels

At the start of the holiday season a reminder that if you are going somewhere Jesus on Wheels hasn't been he would love to accompany you. I'll get him to you. Take him, snap him and return him. He's only four inches tall and quite light.

Jesus on Wheels

A reminder that JoW is looking for far-off places to visit in 2010. Email me and tell me when you are going somewhere and I will get him to you. All I ask is a digital photo or two as evidence.

Nice picture of Gozo here. Sigh. Five more months. No snow there.

Come to think of it it doesn't have to be that far off. He may as well visit this country too.

More shots with different arm positions please. If you've got it, why not flaunt it.

Jesus on Wheels

Finally he got to the game. Pity about the result. His custodians did well not to throw him on the pitch after waiting 24 hours on the continent for a delayed kick-off and then losing. The wheeled-Messiah obviously prefers to bestow his luck on the round-ball followers. Those santa hats look a bit sad.

Jesus on Wheels

The rugby game was postponed for a day so off he went to Brussels (as you do).

Jesus on Wheels

I was a little worried about my little plastic mate going on rugby tour to France with a bunch of Irish fanatics. What I didn't quite anticipate was that I should have packed his thermals.

All this after a surreal moment on a Belfast door-mat when he arrived at the same time as a fantastic fast-food brochure.

'Cod and chips Jesus?'

'It's OK son, I can make my own.'

It's been a good year for the beardy wheely one - Japan, Gozo, Australia, St Lucia, Africa. I want his air miles.

Jesus on Wheels

Jesus makes it to the Victoria Falls. How impressive is that?

Jesus on Wheels

Jesus has been to Australia with my friend Helen. He writes:

Yo! Steve my man - just got over the jetlag coming back from Sydney. The old woman who took me shoved me in her suitcase to come back. I mean, a man of my position being shoved into a suitcase.

Admittedly she did cover me in bubble wrap, as she said that she was terrified that I would arrive damaged and wouldn't be able to make my next trips to Zambia at the end of the month and then Berlin in October.

As soon as she arrived in Sydney she did tell her friends Karen and James, who are committed Christians, about me as she didn’t want to offend them. They thought the idea of taking pictures of me in front of local landmarks was hilarious and were all for it whenever possible. There is even one of me watching over James as he barbecued our first meal. Naturally I didn’t want to overshadow James so I made myself small for the picture. Their daughter Keziah (nice name by the way) was very taken with me as well and had her picture taken with her mum in front of the opera house holding me. I can get it sent on to you if you like, but it’s not quite what you want for your blog I think.

We started off our visit on an open top bus tour of the city and when I saw the opera house for the first time I couldn’t resist breaking all the rules and jumping up out of my seat. We were going under the harbour bridge at the time and you can just see part of the bridge in the right of the picture. Each time Karen and Keziah saw a new sight they said 'Take a picture with Jesus'. This caused a few funny looks and after a while the old woman insisted I be referred to as JOW.

The following day the old woman took me to Bondi beach. There were a few sniggers and giggles when she took me out of her bag and took photos of me; she – and I – just ignored them. After staying at Bondi for a while we took a walk along the coastal path, passing a pop-art memorial to those people from Bondi who perished in the Bali bombing. It was a lovely thing to see and very in keeping with the area. The next beach we reached, Tamara beach, is a very small cove and very pretty. This is obviously a favourite walk as lots of people were doing the same thing and along the way we passed all sorts of information for visitors. We followed on to Bronte beach, which was about 3k from Bondi. Originally the old woman was going to walk on to Coogee beach but she decided she’d had enough by the time she got to Bronte beach and we caught the bus back to Sydney.

As we had time before the next bus the old woman decided to have a drink at the nearest café. Can you believe I was taken to the Bogey Hole café? The old woman seemed to think that bogey hole means something different in Australia, but she didn’t go into details. I can tell you, when I found out the name of the café I wheeled myself straight out of there! The waitress saw me and said 'What a funny little man'. The old woman just smiled as she didn’t want to get thrown out of the place, having tasted the pear and brown butter tart which was delicious.

We also went to a suburb of Sydney called Manly which, although touristy, was very nice. I had my picture taken in front of the Manly Surf Pavilion where the lifesavers are stationed. The old woman liked Manly so much she went back again before the end of the holiday, but did she take me? I think you know the answer!

Well, that’s my report from Down Under.

This is JOW signing off.

Jesus Down Under

Good on yer cobber.

Jesus on Wheels in Gozo

In the centre of the island of Gozo is the capital, Victoria. It is known as Rabat in Gozitan. In the centre of Rabat is a citadel, built by the knights of St John, to provide protection and sanctuary for the people of the island in the event of marauding Turks or other barbarians intent on taking the people into slavery.

It is fearsomely high and protected by sheer walls, cannon and the fact that any invasion has to be done in temperatures of over 30 degrees celsius most of the year.

There is a great view of the island if you are invited in rather than having to cross the ditch and climb the wall. It is a very Catholic island and I rather think they would have approved of my little bewheeled friend offering his hand of blessing and protection. There is probably a shop in the town which sells his friends. This has been a record breaking year for JoW and it will end with trips to Australia, Zambia and Germany.

Jesus' Summer Holidays

Jesus on Wheels has been to St Lucia with Ali and her family. Looks like he had a good time. Jesus admires the work of the St Lucian Gideons, did a bit of diving, visited a drive in volcano, had a few boat trips and did a bit of chilling out on the beach.

Ali says, 'I think the helicopter pilot was a bit confused when half way through our flight my son piped up 'Mummy, take a photo of Jesus', but he didn't say anything and as I was concentrating on keeping my eyes tightly shut at that stage, I was unable to take the photo. He also caused great amusement at security at Gatwick on our way home when he was found in my carry-on harbouring a half bottle of rum. Now that he is over his jet-lag, and more importantly so am I, I will return him forthwith. With a little memento of his trip, which hopefully is not swine flu. Looking forward to having the pleasure of his company again.'