In case you hadn’t worked it out or I haven’t had the chance to be in contact, I am now safely back in the UK after our trip to Romania. We got back late last tuesday night, so I'm sorry for not updating you all until now. We had a good trip overall – many challenges (as some of you will know), but we saw and learnt a lot of good things and we saw God move in amazing ways. Thank you to those of you who have been praying for the team while we were in Romania. Much appreciated. I have now written a mammoth report of our trip, detailing some of the things we got up to. Many of you should have received this already, but in case you've been left off the list for some reason but you would like a copy, then do let me know. (And when I say it's a mammoth one, I really mean that ! But it's hopefully worth taking the time to read.)
p.s. some of my photos are now up on facebook, if you haven't discovered that already.
p.p.s. The New Root are playing a gig at The Croft this friday. Details should hopefully by on their website as usual. Should be a great night. Do come along - I'd love to see people if they're around, as I should be there and it will be my last evening in Bristol ! :-( (Unless I manage to find a job and come back in September that is). Although, what better way is there to spend my last evening than with a New Root gig ?!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Well here we go !
I can't believe we're actually going tomorrow. There's been so much preparation going on this last week, but we're finally leaving early tomorrow morning. This week has been interesting -both last placements and lots of goodbyes at the same time as preparations for Romania. I don't think it's really sunk in yet that I'm no longer a year teamer. I'm focusing on next week first really, which I guess is a good thing otherwise I might be even sadder than I am. But I am excited about this trip now. We've met most of the team we're going with twice now. They all seem great and it's going to be good getting to know them better. In a way it feels like this is now the chance to see if we can put into action all that we've been learning this year; can we do in big team what we've been doing in small team all year. It's amazing to be so supported in prayer too. There are so many people who have said they'll be praying for me and who have prayed for me, and I appreciate it so much ! Without God being at work, what would be the point of this trip and camp ?!
Anyway, I should stop rambling now. I finished packing a while ago but I need to go get something to eat and then have an early night, in preparation for a long day of travelling tomorrow.
I won't be able to be contacted for the next 9 days now (from tomorrow) as I shouldn't think we'll have any internet access and mobile phone coverage might be sketchy. But I will post again once I'm back to let you all know how the trip went. In the meanwhile, have a good 9 days everyone !!! Continued prayers while we are away are much appreciated.
Anyway, I should stop rambling now. I finished packing a while ago but I need to go get something to eat and then have an early night, in preparation for a long day of travelling tomorrow.
I won't be able to be contacted for the next 9 days now (from tomorrow) as I shouldn't think we'll have any internet access and mobile phone coverage might be sketchy. But I will post again once I'm back to let you all know how the trip went. In the meanwhile, have a good 9 days everyone !!! Continued prayers while we are away are much appreciated.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Trip to Romania July 2007
At the end of our year on year team, 5 of us from the team are going out to Romania next sunday (8th) for 9 days, to help with a kids camp and to visit some families. We are going as part of a team of 25ish. It's so soon! (We had a training morning yesterday). It's exciting but also fairly daunting too. I am just in the process of sending out a prayer letter, about the end of year team and more details of our trip and some prayer points. If any of you don't receive a copy (either because I forget to put you on the list or I don't have your correct details) but you would like a copy then please do let me know and I'll e-mail one to you !
You can find out more about the work of Eurovangelism, the Bristol-based organisation who have organised the trip and who do a lot of work in Eastern Europe, either on their website or their prayer blog
You can find out more about the work of Eurovangelism, the Bristol-based organisation who have organised the trip and who do a lot of work in Eastern Europe, either on their website or their prayer blog
Friday, June 29, 2007
You know you've been on the woodies year team when...
-when you can tell, just by scanning around a room, which chairs are in stacks of 8 and which aren't
-Chairs in stacks other than 8's just 'look wrong'
-You get a lot of satisfaction every time you look at the sink that you've just cleaned
-You've become an expert at looking for the joins in carpets to enable easier vacumming of big open spaces
-spending an evening scraping walls no longer sounds like an odd thing to do
-You're starting to come round to the idea that orange sofas with red cushions might not look quite so bad together after all
-You have many new skills to add to your cv, including: making an excellent tea or coffee (even if you don't drink it yourself), lining up chairs in straight lines, being able to carry a tray of wine glasses up/down steps without dropping them, being able to carry a stack of 8 chairs using your knees, mopping floors, being able to read childrens' books upside down (so they can see the pictures), filling up baptistry tanks, oh and did I mention being able to put out chairs in straight lines ?
:-D More seriously though...It's hard to believe year team is coming to an end already. In some senses it has gone by so quickly, yet I had my end of year review today and in other senses so much has happened ! We officially have one and a bit more weeks on year team, and then are off to Romania for 10days to help with a kids camp. Before I started year team people said to me that I would be challenged physically, emotionally, spiritually, and any other -ally's I could think of, but that it would be a good year. I do feel that is very true. But it is so hard saying goodbye to so many people, those that I have worked with for a year as I end my placements this week and next as well as to those who are themselves moving on. I know that this is not, by far, the end but is in fact only the beginning of something, yet I still cannot help but feel an ache in my heart, despite the fact that I know I still have another week.
A song I have found most helpful this week (one which I had in my head during my driving test but has since been used for more than that) is "Well with my soul", or the arrangement of it by Brenton Brown. (I know the context it was written in is very different to how I'm using it, but it nevertheless seems to fit how I'm feeling). It goes:
"Sometimes it's hard, sometimes I cry
Sometimes my heart, wants to know why
But Your yoke is easy, and Your burden is light
And though my heart is aching and there're tears in my eyes
Whatever my lot, You have taught me to know
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It's not always easy, I'm not always right
Sometimes I do things that are wrong in Your sight
But I have decided I'm going to follow Jesus
And there's no turning back, there's no turning back
But please hold my hand Lord, and hold on tight
'Cause the road here is narrow
Yes the road here is narrow"
-Brenton Brown
Whatever I've learnt this year I am not going to just forget. God has been building foundations in me (which implies now building on top of them?!) and I won't be going back. There's no turning back, only keeping on going forwards !
-Chairs in stacks other than 8's just 'look wrong'
-You get a lot of satisfaction every time you look at the sink that you've just cleaned
-You've become an expert at looking for the joins in carpets to enable easier vacumming of big open spaces
-spending an evening scraping walls no longer sounds like an odd thing to do
-You're starting to come round to the idea that orange sofas with red cushions might not look quite so bad together after all
-You have many new skills to add to your cv, including: making an excellent tea or coffee (even if you don't drink it yourself), lining up chairs in straight lines, being able to carry a tray of wine glasses up/down steps without dropping them, being able to carry a stack of 8 chairs using your knees, mopping floors, being able to read childrens' books upside down (so they can see the pictures), filling up baptistry tanks, oh and did I mention being able to put out chairs in straight lines ?
:-D More seriously though...It's hard to believe year team is coming to an end already. In some senses it has gone by so quickly, yet I had my end of year review today and in other senses so much has happened ! We officially have one and a bit more weeks on year team, and then are off to Romania for 10days to help with a kids camp. Before I started year team people said to me that I would be challenged physically, emotionally, spiritually, and any other -ally's I could think of, but that it would be a good year. I do feel that is very true. But it is so hard saying goodbye to so many people, those that I have worked with for a year as I end my placements this week and next as well as to those who are themselves moving on. I know that this is not, by far, the end but is in fact only the beginning of something, yet I still cannot help but feel an ache in my heart, despite the fact that I know I still have another week.
A song I have found most helpful this week (one which I had in my head during my driving test but has since been used for more than that) is "Well with my soul", or the arrangement of it by Brenton Brown. (I know the context it was written in is very different to how I'm using it, but it nevertheless seems to fit how I'm feeling). It goes:
"Sometimes it's hard, sometimes I cry
Sometimes my heart, wants to know why
But Your yoke is easy, and Your burden is light
And though my heart is aching and there're tears in my eyes
Whatever my lot, You have taught me to know
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It's not always easy, I'm not always right
Sometimes I do things that are wrong in Your sight
But I have decided I'm going to follow Jesus
And there's no turning back, there's no turning back
But please hold my hand Lord, and hold on tight
'Cause the road here is narrow
Yes the road here is narrow"
-Brenton Brown
Whatever I've learnt this year I am not going to just forget. God has been building foundations in me (which implies now building on top of them?!) and I won't be going back. There's no turning back, only keeping on going forwards !
Monday, June 25, 2007
I PASSED !!!
I passed my driving test this morning !!! (9 minors) A big relief. Thank you so much to all of you who have been so supportive, encouraging and have prayed for me !!!
I was so unbelievably nervous this morning after I woke up - I spent about an hour trying to calm myself down by listening to worship songs. I think that did help, as during my actual test I wasn't really very nervous at all, just concentrating on what I had to do, and I was able to hold onto some of those songs as I started to feel nervous. (In particular I had: "how Great" - David Crowder, "It is well with my soul" - the Brenton Brown version and "We are one tonight" - Switchfoot stuck in my head).
One more thing ticked off the list. (It might be a little while though before I have my own car, much as everyone would now like me to take them out for a drive!) Just now have to finish my Mullers assignments for tomorrow - when it's my last day at our Theology course. We have the last of everything at the moment, which is really sad. I don't want to leave Woodies.
I was so unbelievably nervous this morning after I woke up - I spent about an hour trying to calm myself down by listening to worship songs. I think that did help, as during my actual test I wasn't really very nervous at all, just concentrating on what I had to do, and I was able to hold onto some of those songs as I started to feel nervous. (In particular I had: "how Great" - David Crowder, "It is well with my soul" - the Brenton Brown version and "We are one tonight" - Switchfoot stuck in my head).
One more thing ticked off the list. (It might be a little while though before I have my own car, much as everyone would now like me to take them out for a drive!) Just now have to finish my Mullers assignments for tomorrow - when it's my last day at our Theology course. We have the last of everything at the moment, which is really sad. I don't want to leave Woodies.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Driving (again)
I feel so exhausted ! Nervous energy is so draining. I've just come back from my last driving lesson before my test (on monday!) Hopefully it will be ok - my instructor reckons it will anyway - as long as I manage to stay calm !!! A couple of weeks ago I failed my mock test, purely because I was driving far too fast and so made more mistakes (as I was so nervous!) Today i really concentrated on trying to keep my nerves down; trying to think of other things, to pretend there's noone else in the car with me and just enjoy driving...; but it's so hard !!! Especially after you make one mistake, trying to not let the nerves spiral. Well, I'm going home this weekend - for my Mum's birthday but I should also be able to get a bit of driving practise in too, in which I'll have to work on this ! So, for those of you reading this who are Christians and know God, prayers would be much appreciated - both in the run up and on monday morning itself ! I'll be sure to post up here after monday to let you all know how I've done ! But for now, I just need to concentrate on work I have to do and try to regain a bit of energy before I go out again in a bit !
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
More fun
I found this postcard in Wesley Owen the other day. A little out of season, but I bought it anyway 'cause it made me laugh lots. (It says on the back of the postcard: "God has brought me laughter" Genesis 21:6) I hope you appreciate it as much as I did ! :-)
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Star Wars,Star Trek and Monty Python
I seem to be very good at procrastinating at the moment - I think it's because I have a lot to do, which I don't want to have to do. (The usual reasons). But anyway, last night I discovered a lot of funny video clips on youtube (courtesy of a friend's link on facebook) which I thought I'd share. There are a lot of good ones involving star wars, star trek, Monty Python or a combination of the 3. I thought I'd share a couple of the best (in my opinion) ones:
Monthy Python (black knight) meets Star Wars
Star Trek meets Monty Python
Star Wars vs Star Trek
Star Wars mistakes
Star Wars help desk
Star Wars episode 1 bloopers
They should all be funny in their own right, but the first 3 might be more amusing if you actually know the proper scenes to which these are refering. Well, at least they were funny late last night !
In other news I've started saying "Genius" a lot (instead of for example, that's great or brilliant). Don't know where I've picked that one up from !
Monthy Python (black knight) meets Star Wars
Star Trek meets Monty Python
Star Wars vs Star Trek
Star Wars mistakes
Star Wars help desk
Star Wars episode 1 bloopers
They should all be funny in their own right, but the first 3 might be more amusing if you actually know the proper scenes to which these are refering. Well, at least they were funny late last night !
In other news I've started saying "Genius" a lot (instead of for example, that's great or brilliant). Don't know where I've picked that one up from !
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Google bombs
I learnt many things over this last weekend. One of which, is that you should go to google, type in french military victories, and click "I'm feeling lucky". It's quite amusing. I won't tell you what happens as it will spoil the surprise !
In other news, this weekend is the Bristol Festival of Nature. You may remember me mentionning it about this time last year. It's a great event; great for a day out. Do go check out the website and this year's programme. I'm not sure whether I'll make it down this year, but I'm sure it will be good as always.
In other news, this weekend is the Bristol Festival of Nature. You may remember me mentionning it about this time last year. It's a great event; great for a day out. Do go check out the website and this year's programme. I'm not sure whether I'll make it down this year, but I'm sure it will be good as always.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
W3 weekend away
A couple of hours ago we got back from the W3 pastorate weekend away. I am quite exhausted, purely from the drive back I think (as I slept fairly well on the weekend) but it was an amazing weekend. It was quite unlike any other weekend away I've been on. I'm used to, when you go on a weekend away, everything being very regimented in terms of timings and packing as much in as possible. But it was really refreshing to have a weekend away which was just that, a weekend away; where it was really chilled, with a retreat-like feel, where we could just have fun hanging out with each other and with God (I almost didn't know what to do with myself at the beginning, but then it flew by so fast!) We did have so much fun. I couldn't possibly do justice in summing it up, but some of the highlights included the drives down and back, the beach on saturday afternoon, the French evening on sat (some amazing costumes - photos going up on facebook soon), the worship time this morning, the duck race in Porlock (very funny), and just hanging out with friends. Basically, it was all great.
I love W3 so much and am so glad I joined this year. It takes a little while to feel comfortable anywhere, and there are still so many people I don't know too well, but at the same time, W3 does contain some of my best friends at church. And what I love most about W3 is just that sense of being family. That's what it felt like this weekend - just hanging out with each other as family. It got me thinking about how, it's not just a case of how W3 'feels' like family. Actually, we ARE family. We're all part of the body of Christ; sons and daughters of Christ (the whole Church - in the widest sense, not just W3). So we ARE family. That is our identity, whether we accept it or not. It's just a case of how well do we live out of that new identity, showing that it is true. (Something I've been thinking about a lot, not just in terms of family. Cause that's what a lot of the Christian life seems to be about - we HAVE been given this new identity; it's learning to live out of that and to live believing that it's true.) It's difficult being family a lot of the time. We can annoy each other, have the potential to hurt each other more as we're so close. But when it works, it's amazing.
Another hard thing about family is leaving. When I go home for a bit to see my family and then leave again, I feel SO homesick. Like a big part of me has been torn out. I'm beginning to feel that maybe this year, W3 and generally Woodies has been beginning to also feel a bit more like a second family. My wider family. I'm scared that if I end up leaving Bristol at the end of this year, I'll feel homesick in the same way; like a big part of me has been torn out. For that reason I find it hard sometimes to let myself get close to people, when there isn't anything I want more really. But I do know that, as people have said to me, that family is family. I'll still be welcomed back when/if I stay/come back. And there is a wider family I'm part of now, which I'll always now be part of. And even if I do end up leaving Bristol, that won't stop be being a part of that amazing family, and God will find me another part of his family to start to belong to.
I think being family with one another is something we're all learning how to live out and something which we will be working out for the our whole lives. But personally, I think the start W3 has in this area isn't too bad :-D
I love W3 so much and am so glad I joined this year. It takes a little while to feel comfortable anywhere, and there are still so many people I don't know too well, but at the same time, W3 does contain some of my best friends at church. And what I love most about W3 is just that sense of being family. That's what it felt like this weekend - just hanging out with each other as family. It got me thinking about how, it's not just a case of how W3 'feels' like family. Actually, we ARE family. We're all part of the body of Christ; sons and daughters of Christ (the whole Church - in the widest sense, not just W3). So we ARE family. That is our identity, whether we accept it or not. It's just a case of how well do we live out of that new identity, showing that it is true. (Something I've been thinking about a lot, not just in terms of family. Cause that's what a lot of the Christian life seems to be about - we HAVE been given this new identity; it's learning to live out of that and to live believing that it's true.) It's difficult being family a lot of the time. We can annoy each other, have the potential to hurt each other more as we're so close. But when it works, it's amazing.
Another hard thing about family is leaving. When I go home for a bit to see my family and then leave again, I feel SO homesick. Like a big part of me has been torn out. I'm beginning to feel that maybe this year, W3 and generally Woodies has been beginning to also feel a bit more like a second family. My wider family. I'm scared that if I end up leaving Bristol at the end of this year, I'll feel homesick in the same way; like a big part of me has been torn out. For that reason I find it hard sometimes to let myself get close to people, when there isn't anything I want more really. But I do know that, as people have said to me, that family is family. I'll still be welcomed back when/if I stay/come back. And there is a wider family I'm part of now, which I'll always now be part of. And even if I do end up leaving Bristol, that won't stop be being a part of that amazing family, and God will find me another part of his family to start to belong to.
I think being family with one another is something we're all learning how to live out and something which we will be working out for the our whole lives. But personally, I think the start W3 has in this area isn't too bad :-D
Thursday, May 24, 2007
computers, grrr...
Is it just me, or does anyone else hate applying for jobs ? I always feel so vulnerable. Ok, so I've just sent someone I've never met a letter, CV and application form e-mail trying to sum up everything I am and have ever 'achieved', in a worldly sense and why I'd be perfect for this job you're advertising. And it's not just that sense of vulnerability - I could cope with that if it wasn't just so annoyingly complicated ! It has just taken me, basically a whole afternoon and evening to try and apply for one job. My computer being annoying hasn't helped - I had to type out the covering letter three times before it let me save it and print without crashing (I was getting good at writing it by the end). Then, to top that off, I think I've finished then realise that I've just printed out my CV and covering letter with the wrong Bristol postcode on them, so I need to reprint, but my computer won't reopen them without crashing !!! And I still have to pack for the W3 weekend away. My Mullers assignment won't get done tonight now. Grrr.
Am feeling better now, apart from the left-over cough (sounds worse than it is now) and feeling of being drained of energy - which staying up til midnight applying for a job I probably won't even get doesn't help ! So what am I doing writing this you might ask ? I don't know. Perhaps giving my computer some time to decide it would like to be nice to me again ?! (I can hope anyway). I'd better crack on anyway. I just hope I can get SOME sleep on the W3 weekend away. Lol.
Am feeling better now, apart from the left-over cough (sounds worse than it is now) and feeling of being drained of energy - which staying up til midnight applying for a job I probably won't even get doesn't help ! So what am I doing writing this you might ask ? I don't know. Perhaps giving my computer some time to decide it would like to be nice to me again ?! (I can hope anyway). I'd better crack on anyway. I just hope I can get SOME sleep on the W3 weekend away. Lol.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Vern strikes again...
I've not been wonderfully well (again!) the last couple of days. Vern has been creeping up on me gradually during the last week, but he finally got me about thursday evening. The reference (as a few of you might be aware) is to a blog post Rhys made a few months ago, when he was ill. I completely agree with what he said (apart from the bit about the whiskey), especially the bit about the "bin resembling a snow-capped Himalayan mountain from all the tissues" - that is how mine does look at the moment ! He puts it much more eloquently than I ever could.
I'm already a lot better than I was on thursday evening and friday - I even slept well last night and have been hungry at meal times again today ! And I'm sure it will pass completely in a few more days (I hope.) It's just so annoying. I don't like taking time off and cancelling things, as I feel like I'm letting people down. And I'm not much good at resting either - there's only so many films one can take in a weekend before you wish you could just get back to doing 'normal' things again. It would be ok if I could use this time I have productively, say doing some of the reading I have to do for my next theology assignment (which is now going to probably be in late) or applying for jobs, but I can't concentrate. I guess if I could, then I wouldn't be ill or be able to justify time off :-D
I also try and put what I'm going through into perspective, and think of how this will pass soon, some of my flatmates have also had similar things recently, and that it's absolutely nothing in compared with what some people experience every day of their lives! Yet, somehow that perspective is nigh impossible to hold onto when you can't breath without really concentrating and your head and ears feel like they are about to explode ! Well, I just hope that Vern doesn't stick around to get any of my other flatmates, especially during this exam season.
p.s. On a more cheery note, The New Root were truly amazing on monday !!! Thankfully I wasn't ill earlier in the week and so was able to go to the gig ! Do check out some of my photos in my public facebook album . (They're not great pictures, but will give you an idea.)
I'm already a lot better than I was on thursday evening and friday - I even slept well last night and have been hungry at meal times again today ! And I'm sure it will pass completely in a few more days (I hope.) It's just so annoying. I don't like taking time off and cancelling things, as I feel like I'm letting people down. And I'm not much good at resting either - there's only so many films one can take in a weekend before you wish you could just get back to doing 'normal' things again. It would be ok if I could use this time I have productively, say doing some of the reading I have to do for my next theology assignment (which is now going to probably be in late) or applying for jobs, but I can't concentrate. I guess if I could, then I wouldn't be ill or be able to justify time off :-D
I also try and put what I'm going through into perspective, and think of how this will pass soon, some of my flatmates have also had similar things recently, and that it's absolutely nothing in compared with what some people experience every day of their lives! Yet, somehow that perspective is nigh impossible to hold onto when you can't breath without really concentrating and your head and ears feel like they are about to explode ! Well, I just hope that Vern doesn't stick around to get any of my other flatmates, especially during this exam season.
p.s. On a more cheery note, The New Root were truly amazing on monday !!! Thankfully I wasn't ill earlier in the week and so was able to go to the gig ! Do check out some of my photos in my public facebook album . (They're not great pictures, but will give you an idea.)
Sunday, May 13, 2007
New Root gig TOMORROW (monday) @ the croft
I know most of you who read this know already, but in case any of you don't...The New Root are playing tomorrow night (as flyer above - I now have a scanner so can do clever things like putting flyers up on my blog!) They are an awesome band musically and great people too :-) It should be a really fun night, so do come down if you're around. Bands are on from 9, New Root playing second (out of the three) just after 9.30.p.s. I didn't watch the main bit of it, but I caught the results, and was fairly pleased to see that last night Serbia actually won (despite all the political voting). It's been a good few years since I actually correctly predicted who would win. Wow !
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Oh dear !
A slightly lighter post than my last one :-) It's another Eurovision final this saturday. Held in Finland, after getting distracted from work and looking through some of the acts (as shown on the BBC news website) I can see that it promises to be an interesting evening. Acts ranging from dance, to 'typical eurovision', to heavy rock and songs about vampires ! But have you seen the UK entry ? Honestly, go and watch the music video on their myspace. So funny (intentionally?) - I think (unless I am drastically mistaken) that the UK are due for another year of low points. The band has many similarities in my mind with Steps, not that it's entirely a terrible song completely, fairly catchy etc, but it's just so unoriginal - and it seems to be a balance between originality, so a song sticks out, and the kind of songs people always like that win (last year as an exception, where 'originality' did win it). I hate using the word cheesy, but if it applied anywhere, it would be here. The music video is so funny - the bit which finally cracked me up was where the whole plane starts bopping in time with the beat (go have a look). Well, we shall see what happens on sat. As we know, anything can happen at Eurovision. Personally, I quite like the entry from Serbia (no 3 in the BBC article) and I hope it gets through to the final and does really well (semi-finals tonight). And, much as I love the Swiss, I really hope that Switzerland do really badly (although, knowing Eurovision I doubt it unfortunately.)
In other news, I turned 22 last saturday ! (Hoorah!) I had a lovely restful weekend at home and am really grateful to everyone who sent me texts/facebook messages and cards etc. I have such amazing friends ! :-)
In other news, I turned 22 last saturday ! (Hoorah!) I had a lovely restful weekend at home and am really grateful to everyone who sent me texts/facebook messages and cards etc. I have such amazing friends ! :-)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
"You call me beautiful"
:-) There's been a lot going on in my head and my heart the last few weeks. Last night I was really encouraged at the last night of the wholeness course (for those of you reading this who don't go to Woodies, this is a 6 week course which "helps people discover their identity in Christ and to resolve issues of past hurts, fears and rejection" and which we had to go on at least once in our year team year.) It was an amazing evening ! (I wrote 8 journal pages on it !) At wholeness, while the talks are good and helpful, they are really (or feel to me to be) simply jumping off points for the ministry times, which for me are the truly valuable thing of the course. It's not frequently that you find a place where you can just sit and be still before God for about an hour (or more), in a darkened church building, where there are people willing to pray for you. Such an amazing resource.
I have found some of the 5 out of the 6 weeks I attended fairly hard going, but I was really encouraged last night. I don't really want to go into details on here, but suffice to say that I was so encouraged, God is very good and He knows me so well ! But I was reminded by several songs and Bible verses last night (it's how my mind works, and how God seems to speak to me!) Two songs in particular struck a chord and seemed particularly relevant and these I will share. Firstly the chorus of a song by Bethany Dillon (one of my favourite songs ever) and a song by Ginny Owens. Have a read and a ponder and hopefully they might encourage you too.
"You make me beautiful,
You make me stand in awe
You step inside my heart,
and I am amazed.
I love to hear You say,
who I am is quite enough,
You make me worthy of love and beautiful"
-chorus from "Beautiful" by Bethany Dillon
"I've been waiting, for a hero who's brave and strong
Someone to love me, someone to tell me I belong.
But I pretend I'm satisfied,
As I stand watching from the sidelines,
Til You pull me in to the light
And say "It's your turn now, welcome to your life!"
And You call me beautiful,
You say You've loved me all along,
And You've always held the keys to unlock my soul
Oh You call me beautiful.
There's a smile on my face and a brand new light in my eyes.
It's a new day, and I've never felt so alive.
I feel as if I could conquer anything,
Oh that's what Your love has done for me,
And now all I want to be
Is everything You say I can be !
Oh You call me beautiful,
Say You've loved me all along
And You've always held the keys to unlock my soul,
But I didn't know.
Now I can finally start to live,
Take these chances I have missed.
Things will be so different,
Now that I know, You call me beautiful.
The story is better than I could dream, after all.
Now this is reality, to know You and to hear You call me beautiful,
call me beautiful !"
-"Beautiful" by Ginny Owens
I have found some of the 5 out of the 6 weeks I attended fairly hard going, but I was really encouraged last night. I don't really want to go into details on here, but suffice to say that I was so encouraged, God is very good and He knows me so well ! But I was reminded by several songs and Bible verses last night (it's how my mind works, and how God seems to speak to me!) Two songs in particular struck a chord and seemed particularly relevant and these I will share. Firstly the chorus of a song by Bethany Dillon (one of my favourite songs ever) and a song by Ginny Owens. Have a read and a ponder and hopefully they might encourage you too.
"You make me beautiful,
You make me stand in awe
You step inside my heart,
and I am amazed.
I love to hear You say,
who I am is quite enough,
You make me worthy of love and beautiful"
-chorus from "Beautiful" by Bethany Dillon
"I've been waiting, for a hero who's brave and strong
Someone to love me, someone to tell me I belong.
But I pretend I'm satisfied,
As I stand watching from the sidelines,
Til You pull me in to the light
And say "It's your turn now, welcome to your life!"
And You call me beautiful,
You say You've loved me all along,
And You've always held the keys to unlock my soul
Oh You call me beautiful.
There's a smile on my face and a brand new light in my eyes.
It's a new day, and I've never felt so alive.
I feel as if I could conquer anything,
Oh that's what Your love has done for me,
And now all I want to be
Is everything You say I can be !
Oh You call me beautiful,
Say You've loved me all along
And You've always held the keys to unlock my soul,
But I didn't know.
Now I can finally start to live,
Take these chances I have missed.
Things will be so different,
Now that I know, You call me beautiful.
The story is better than I could dream, after all.
Now this is reality, to know You and to hear You call me beautiful,
call me beautiful !"
-"Beautiful" by Ginny Owens
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Proverbs and anatomy with a twist
I am now back in Bristol (as of yesterday afternoon). It's a bit of a shock to the system going from sitting outside in the sun all day to a full day of theology 'lectures' today, and having my diary now filling up already with church committments for this term. But I am sure I will re-adjust after a few days. In the meantime, I would like to share with you something which caused me and my brother great amusement a couple of days ago:
My brother has found this piece of software for his mac which lets him hold a 'conversation' with his computer (text not verbal - a bit like msn with a computer). It was so funny though because from the conversation it appeared that, although the program learnt, it had certain phrases (notably proverbs and human anatomy) in it's vocabulary, but it kept mixing them up, with each other and with any new words it learnt, with hilarious consequences. I shall share the best gems with you:
Proverbs and anatomy according to MegaHAL:
-I'll never see myself in the hand is worth two in the abdomen which collects urine from the body usually performed to music.
-You can lead a horse to water, but you are the computer program, and I am a man.
-Cry and I'll laugh anyway.
-A sack in the hand is worth two in the mirror with my eyes closed. (My personal favourite)
-A sack in the hand is worth two in the bush.
-An aircraft is a living organism which does not have sensory organs or digestive organs.
-A baker is a cell which receives and transmits electrical impulses (i.e. a neurone!)
-The lungs are organs used for filtering urine from the heart.
-The pelvis is a secretion of modified skin glands of female mammals.
-An animal is a body fluid that carries food and oxygen to the horse and zebra (i.e. blood -->body cells)
-Anatomy is the force of attraction between two objects resulting from their mass (i.e. gravity)
-Anatomy is the organ used for hearing, and it converts sound into electrical impulses is a congregation of stars held together by gravity.
-The brain is the organ of the cheap motor car.
-The brain is the thinking organ of the body between the ribs and the engine.
-The achilles tendon is the organ of the human body.
-The lungs are organs used for hearing, and it converts sound into electrical impulses is a body fluid that carries food and obtaining energy and vital substances from within the body.
-The brain is the organ of the body which connects the body to the horse and zebra for cells of the cheap motor car.
-A computer is a rhythmic movement of the alimentary canal is the organ of the bed this morning?
-I have no idea about that. I wish I could jump out of my tongue.
Conclusion: I think computers are a long way off being intelligent and be grateful they did not design the human body !!!
My brother has found this piece of software for his mac which lets him hold a 'conversation' with his computer (text not verbal - a bit like msn with a computer). It was so funny though because from the conversation it appeared that, although the program learnt, it had certain phrases (notably proverbs and human anatomy) in it's vocabulary, but it kept mixing them up, with each other and with any new words it learnt, with hilarious consequences. I shall share the best gems with you:
Proverbs and anatomy according to MegaHAL:
-I'll never see myself in the hand is worth two in the abdomen which collects urine from the body usually performed to music.
-You can lead a horse to water, but you are the computer program, and I am a man.
-Cry and I'll laugh anyway.
-A sack in the hand is worth two in the mirror with my eyes closed. (My personal favourite)
-A sack in the hand is worth two in the bush.
-An aircraft is a living organism which does not have sensory organs or digestive organs.
-A baker is a cell which receives and transmits electrical impulses (i.e. a neurone!)
-The lungs are organs used for filtering urine from the heart.
-The pelvis is a secretion of modified skin glands of female mammals.
-An animal is a body fluid that carries food and oxygen to the horse and zebra (i.e. blood -->body cells)
-Anatomy is the force of attraction between two objects resulting from their mass (i.e. gravity)
-Anatomy is the organ used for hearing, and it converts sound into electrical impulses is a congregation of stars held together by gravity.
-The brain is the organ of the cheap motor car.
-The brain is the thinking organ of the body between the ribs and the engine.
-The achilles tendon is the organ of the human body.
-The lungs are organs used for hearing, and it converts sound into electrical impulses is a body fluid that carries food and obtaining energy and vital substances from within the body.
-The brain is the organ of the body which connects the body to the horse and zebra for cells of the cheap motor car.
-A computer is a rhythmic movement of the alimentary canal is the organ of the bed this morning?
-I have no idea about that. I wish I could jump out of my tongue.
Conclusion: I think computers are a long way off being intelligent and be grateful they did not design the human body !!!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Easter weekend
(Unfortunately, I was green and my brother was black. Needless to say he won the game of Risk !)
Easter cake !
Sunday, April 01, 2007
p.p.s. 2) New Root Comeback gig !
As most of you reading this will know already, The New Root's comeback gig is this coming saturday (7th). 8pm at the Louisiana, all ready with some of their new songs and two new musicians. Do go, I'm sure it's going to be amazing ! I'm gutted I can't really go :-( But I'm looking forward to future gigs. Check out the website for more details and to join the mailing list for cheap(er) entry !
That really is it for me now, for a while. Have good Easters everyone ! Make the most of the time to reflect on what Easter is really all about - more than just chocolate eggs (although, anything with chocolate in can't be all bad!)
That really is it for me now, for a while. Have good Easters everyone ! Make the most of the time to reflect on what Easter is really all about - more than just chocolate eggs (although, anything with chocolate in can't be all bad!)
p.s. 1) Antiques Roadshow !!!
Having said I'd sign out, there are a couple more things I just wanted to mention, which I think deserve their own posts ! 1) The antiques Roadshow was in Bristol today ! (In the Wills Memorial Building.) So, as it's not everyday you get to see the BBC filming, this afternoon I went down with a friend to have a poke around. It was quite fun seeing all the lights and cameras, and queues of people waiting to see the experts. Also fun to see all the Memorabilia on sale - they had everything you could want, from rubbers to postcards you could get signed to tea towels and of course, the Antiques Roadshow book ! Anyway, do look out for the show on sunday afternoons. Apparently it's being broadcast fairly soon as it's the last programme of the current series. Would be quite fun to watch, and I might even be in the background of a shot somewhere ! So, if anyone hears when it's on, do let me know !
Words part II and general update
Hi, it's been a while - probably the longest I've not blogged in a while. And though that's not necessarily a bad thing in itself, I do feel rather that I left a few loose ends hanging with my last posts, so I shall attempt to update you all !
In response to my post entitled 'words', can I thank all those who commented. Although I didn't respond immediately, I did find all three comments really helpful. So thank you. (Plus it's nice to know there's still some point in writing on here, as I still have a few readers and I can still provoke other people to think !)
Matt, I did indeed on your advice look into the 'word of faith' heresy. (One of the few times in past months I have actually been grateful for the deception in the church website, which I normally find quite unhelpful - but that's a whole nother blog post in itself!) I was shocked. And shocked as to the links with prosperity gospel stuff...I was going to post links on here, but it was a while ago I read them so I won't or go into detail, but suffice to say it made me stop and think.
Although I was 'working' pretty much the whole weekend Ken McGreavy was at Woodies (23-25th March), I still managed to take in a few things and some of what I did catch was quite helpful on this whole topic. A few of things he said: it's about where we put our confidence. God knows how to answer far better than we know how to ask; That what is important is not the contents of out prayers but our attitude, lining our hearts with the will of God; that prayer isn't just about speaking to God, it's also about listening; He is far better at speaking than we are at listening; we need to switch our attention from our inability to listen to His capability to speak.
Prayer, like worship, (in my mind anyway) is in some ways such a simple thing. Yet in others, it is so immense and complicated, having so many sides to it ! But at the end of the day, on the Devotion weekend away (16th-18th March - it was exhausting but amazing!) I did pray for a couple of the Devotees. I struggled with myself for a long while, I left the room during the saturday night ministry time. But after spending a few moments in quiet, went back up and with God-given courage I was able to pray. Now I don't for a minute want to pretend I then prayed the most amazing prayers ever or that I even really knew what I was praying, but I did pray and I know that God heard me. He is SO much bigger than all my fears and worries, if I let Him be.
Playing at Livesoc went ok (in follow up to my last post). We did find a keyboard, and I did play it - all my 3 songs. I was so nervous, but it went ok. The room was very quiet afterwards (I don't think they quite knew how to respond to what I'd sung!) But I just pray that God will have used some of what I sang to make an impact and stir things up. I think people there know me well enough now to appreciate that I only sing about stuff I believe in and agree with, and that I'm honest in my music. I really enjoyed the night in the end, and appreciated having a few friends from outside livesoc come and support me. At the end of the night I then even got to go up onstage with Pondlife to help with harmonies and broccoli waving (long story) for their last song - quite an honour since they say this will probably be their last gig ever in the Student Union !!! (Check out the photos and video footage - some of which I am in - in this Pondlife fan's web album).
Having responded to those two things, I will sign off for now. I may not post as frequently anymore as I once did, due in part to time pressures but also due in part to the potential leaving of a couple of people from Blogger - I only really started this all up you know so I could comment on all your blogs ! Anyway, I for one am looking forward to Easter now - I go home tomorrow or tuesday for just under 2 weeks. I am currently feeling very tired and drained from the term, especially the last month of it, and I currently have much on my mind - far too much to blog about. Year team is, as I was forewarned and can now testify to, completely amazing (!) but also very challenging (physically, emotionally and spiritually, and probably any other -ally words you can think of) most of the time !
In response to my post entitled 'words', can I thank all those who commented. Although I didn't respond immediately, I did find all three comments really helpful. So thank you. (Plus it's nice to know there's still some point in writing on here, as I still have a few readers and I can still provoke other people to think !)
Matt, I did indeed on your advice look into the 'word of faith' heresy. (One of the few times in past months I have actually been grateful for the deception in the church website, which I normally find quite unhelpful - but that's a whole nother blog post in itself!) I was shocked. And shocked as to the links with prosperity gospel stuff...I was going to post links on here, but it was a while ago I read them so I won't or go into detail, but suffice to say it made me stop and think.
Although I was 'working' pretty much the whole weekend Ken McGreavy was at Woodies (23-25th March), I still managed to take in a few things and some of what I did catch was quite helpful on this whole topic. A few of things he said: it's about where we put our confidence. God knows how to answer far better than we know how to ask; That what is important is not the contents of out prayers but our attitude, lining our hearts with the will of God; that prayer isn't just about speaking to God, it's also about listening; He is far better at speaking than we are at listening; we need to switch our attention from our inability to listen to His capability to speak.
Prayer, like worship, (in my mind anyway) is in some ways such a simple thing. Yet in others, it is so immense and complicated, having so many sides to it ! But at the end of the day, on the Devotion weekend away (16th-18th March - it was exhausting but amazing!) I did pray for a couple of the Devotees. I struggled with myself for a long while, I left the room during the saturday night ministry time. But after spending a few moments in quiet, went back up and with God-given courage I was able to pray. Now I don't for a minute want to pretend I then prayed the most amazing prayers ever or that I even really knew what I was praying, but I did pray and I know that God heard me. He is SO much bigger than all my fears and worries, if I let Him be.
Playing at Livesoc went ok (in follow up to my last post). We did find a keyboard, and I did play it - all my 3 songs. I was so nervous, but it went ok. The room was very quiet afterwards (I don't think they quite knew how to respond to what I'd sung!) But I just pray that God will have used some of what I sang to make an impact and stir things up. I think people there know me well enough now to appreciate that I only sing about stuff I believe in and agree with, and that I'm honest in my music. I really enjoyed the night in the end, and appreciated having a few friends from outside livesoc come and support me. At the end of the night I then even got to go up onstage with Pondlife to help with harmonies and broccoli waving (long story) for their last song - quite an honour since they say this will probably be their last gig ever in the Student Union !!! (Check out the photos and video footage - some of which I am in - in this Pondlife fan's web album).
Having responded to those two things, I will sign off for now. I may not post as frequently anymore as I once did, due in part to time pressures but also due in part to the potential leaving of a couple of people from Blogger - I only really started this all up you know so I could comment on all your blogs ! Anyway, I for one am looking forward to Easter now - I go home tomorrow or tuesday for just under 2 weeks. I am currently feeling very tired and drained from the term, especially the last month of it, and I currently have much on my mind - far too much to blog about. Year team is, as I was forewarned and can now testify to, completely amazing (!) but also very challenging (physically, emotionally and spiritually, and probably any other -ally words you can think of) most of the time !
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