Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category
May 30th, 2008
For too long I have put off writing this post, and for too long I have stagnated in my Christian faith. The Bible says…
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9
Well, as a basic statement of faith I believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life of all humanity. He has given me abundant life, and given me new hope.
When I returned from University in 2003, I was not a believer. In fact I cringed in embarrassment the one and only time I did make it to church. ‘What are these nutters doing?’ I thought, as all around me people we’re raising their arm and singing at the top of their voices in praise to their King. And then I went along again to church, for a friends wedding blessing.
Again, at first, I was an awkward affair. I didn’t feel comfortable around these people making fools of themselves. But, right there in the middle of the midst of my embarrassment and endless questioning, God met me. I can describe this experience as nothing less than an amazing filling of God, the Holy Spirit.
Things that I’d pushed right down, things I didn’t want to think about burst into my mind. The deep black endless pit of depression that I’d suffered with the previous five years was suddenly at the forefront of my mind. But there was something else, something much much bigger than that - an overwhelming Joy. Tears streamed down my face as I too now worshiped God who’d given me this wonderful gift. It was a light bulb moment, a sudden realization that where I once thought there was nothing, there was indeed something.
From that day I went looking for God. It wasn’t like I had that experience and that was it, I had to actively seek him out, read the Bible and spend time with Him.
All of you that know me (hopefully) know I’m a Christian - But it’s not simply something I do, it’s who I am. Jesus is like oxygen. But I have to confess that the majority of the time I don’t show that. I should be telling people about these wonderful experiences with God. You too can have them, you just need to choose the free gift of life that he offers.
I know it’s embarrassing, awkward or you just think I’m a weak minded fool - But I’m telling you Jesus is real and you can know him.
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April 26th, 2007
I’ve been involved in Kidz Klub (admittedly on and off) in Coalpool for a while now, and this year I got to design the boards we use as a backdrop to the games and stuff we do with the local kids.
I’ve loved working with the whole team over the last couple of years, and all credit to Esther, Sarah and the guys for the sterling work they do.
Unfortunately, we’re up against it as Walsall Council in their wisdom have decided to stop charging us the £20 per week rent we used to pay and increase it to £100! How nice of them. Obviously the KK needs to keep going, so any fundraising ideas (or indeed donations) are gratefully received.
I put together the original design in good old Fireworks, the scale was a little off tho.. whoops!
The design was then transferred onto the boards using a combination of bits of string, pencils and one massive ruler. Hannah then got to work painting…
The finished thing (although not quite the same as the original) turned out alright… Dee provided some lamiate stickers for the 4 points (which looked awsome, thanks Dee).
Photos of the whole process are this way…
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January 2nd, 2007
Buzzzzz…. Oh crap, it’s 7:59 and I’m feeling… well, like it’s back to work after a week off. The weather is chilly, and even more so when I get into the office and discover that the heating hasn’t been on and my fingers are freezing to the keyboard. My heart sinks as a torrent of 800-odd e-mails come flying in; In amongst the yule time spam there’s clients demanding things done now now now and all I can think about is my warm bed.
This is it then, back to reality. And that God! Thank God that I’m back at work, safe and well after a brilliant Christmas break. There’s a whole new year ahead full of possibilities, full of promise, and hope. My heart maybe doesn’t agree with my heads upbeat attitude, in fact it’s very much feeling the anti-climax of the first day back at work and the stresses of the last few months. But with most things like this, if you set your mind against something, your heart inevitably catches up (that’s the theory at least).
It may be taking all my effort, but I’m actually looking forward to 2007, what have I got to complain about anyway? I’m almost afraid to write something like “time for a new start” it sounds so bitter, a little “yeah yeah yeah”, but what the heck. Maybe it is time for a change of attitude. Maybe this is a one day wonder, but I really do hope not.
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August 30th, 2006
Okay, maybe not a tan but you can certainly see the sun-burn line on my neck thanks to a groovy new haircut. What a week I’ve had in sunny (aka drizzly) Littlehampton, home of my No.1 lady-fan who also took a few well earned days off work.
So back at work again and last week feels a million miles away. This coupled with the impending winter and uncertainty about my future finds me in a melancholy mood this morning readers. Where oh where has our summer gone? Only a few weeks ago we were set for another heat-wave, and now we’re facing the arse end of August and hurtling towards colder weather faster than a greased-up fat man on a steep hill.
Perhaps it’s also because I’m moving out of my house that I’ve been in for six months this weekend. Admittedly I haven’t been there much, but I enjoyed my time at Drayman Close.
So all this leaves me feeling like I’m hanging on my the skin of my teeth, waiting for this storm to pass and coming to the realisation that I have no-one to blame but myself. Maybe it’s post holiday blues, but I suspect that’s just a contributing factor. I’ve felt God in all of this, I have had people I didn’t expect shore me up at times, and for that I’m very thankful.
So where now? What now? I guess I’ll just have to find out…
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June 19th, 2006
I know I said I was taking a short break, and I still am, but this is just a short break from the short break to bring you this one post…
It was an amazing privilege to see four people I know and respect get baptised. For those of you that don’t know, the idea behind baptism is as a declaration of faith. It says that you’ve chosen to follow the message of Jesus, and symbolises new life, basically you believe and get dunked! Maybe you should see what answers.com has to say about it.
A brilliant day for all involved! If you’re interested (probably only if you were there), you can see ALL the photo’s I (and whoever had my camera) took. Feel free to help yourself to the ones you want. You can find them here.
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May 31st, 2006
Today I was reminded again of 1 Corinthians 13, verses 4 - 7 especially.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
It never says it’s easy, never an instant happily ever after, but always striving. Christian or not, I hope that these words are universally true.
Photograph by CookieChick079
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May 18th, 2006
You may have seen these guys Kissing Hank’s Ass. If not, have a watch, it’s funny and well written (although, it does contain swearing, so if you don’t like that sort of thing, don’t watch).
The story is written by the Rev J Huber an atheist with some pretty definite views on the whole idea of God. Reading his FAQs you get the idea that this guy is not only very opinionated but also fiercley intelligent. So why then am I raving on about a video that obviously mocks what I believe?
I’m writing about it because it matches exactly the attitude I had to the whole religious thing before I became a Christian. I can relate to the frustration that people feel that someone might believe in this God that doesn’t make sense, He doesn’t add up, and yet people still follow Him.
I’m also writing about it because I think it’s the impression that many people have of Christians today. We’re the guys that stand on the street corner shouting the odds, prophesying hell fire and damnation. And it’s true, some of us are. But I also think there are many more Christians that are out there, helping people, putting themselves in difficult and dangerous situations because they’ve dedicated their lives to making peace and following the ideals of Jesus.
So yeah, the bible is important, and it is confusing, but the message of the new testament remains the same. Have a look at Matthew 5, it pretty much sums up the whole idea for me.
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May 8th, 2006
I occasionally give my brain over to thinking about things. One of these things recently has been this very blog/diary/random crap generator which you (you lucky person) are currently reading. Besides pondering over the general design and, dare I say it, new features, I’ve been pondering the content.
Usually ideas for new posts come to me and I mental write them before I sit down at the keyboard. Then I’ll write a little of what I intended, and completely change it. Let me give you an example, are you sitting comfortably? Good, then I’ll begin.
The other week I watched a film called “Dead Man Walking“, which I thought was going to be a load of old crap but turned out to be one of the best films I’d seen in ages. It’s about a nun who befriends a murderer on death row. She shows him the kind of love and compassion you read about Jesus giving people, despite the fact that this guy is a rapist and murderer and everyone else sees him as nothing more than an animal. And it got me thinking what an awesome dude that Jesus guy was, that his message of love made him so dangerous that the authorities put him to death. All this in an age where things like stoning a woman to death for adultery was par-for-the-course. He really did give hope to the hopeless.
And then I think, nah, I couldn’t possibly write about that. I get half way through writing a post, and give up, or it gets stored in my ever growing unpublished folder. So I know I don’t need your permission to write about anything that inspires me, but what do you want? What are the things you’ve enjoyed reading (if anything) over the last few months? What are the things you’ve hated?
As per usual… Over to you.
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May 4th, 2006
After nearly two years I’m moving on from Michelle’s cell group. Steve, Gill & I are joining a brand new cell based in Coalpool, which should prove to be both extremely interesting and no doubt challenging.
While I’m keen to see what the new cell will bring, tonight has also given me a chance to reflect on the journey I started at the end of an Alpha in Michelle’s living room what seems like a life time ago. I’ll miss my weekly meetings with all these guys, it’s been interesting to say the least, and without doubt a lot a fun!
Onwards and upwards. For His glory.
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April 24th, 2006
There is a legend living in Walsall. His name is Vic and he is the guy who (with others) established Walsall Community Church. Nowadays you’re more likely to find him in some far flung place spreading the Gospel.
I want to share with you a story he told us Sunday morning. I want to share it because it’s an amazing story. I for one sometimes don’t realize just how awesome these things are that Vic brings back from his travels. It’s God moving and doing things today that the apostles were writing about nearly 2000 years ago.
Vic was travelling on a train, in a typical Indian carriage packed with hundreds of people. Just the sort of thing you see on TV travel shows, people clinging on where they could. It was to be about a three and a half hour journey, so Vic settled down with his lap top to make the most of the time by doing some writing.
The people on the train were fascinated by this, some of them were farmers and had never seen a computer before. Very soon a large crowd had gathered, and were shouting random questions to Vic about what this thing was. Vic, being an enterprising bloke, and never one to pass up an opportunity decided to show them a presentation he had about the Passion movie. The crowd, now about a hundred or so, were fascinated. It took time to go through each of the slides as information about what was going on was translated and passed back through the train to the people who couldn’t see.
One he had finished, Vic asked if there was anyone who was sick. A question that was met with confused silence. Then one man shouted from the back, “My daughter is sick, and she is here now”. As they fought their way towards Vic, it was obvious that she had a paralyzed arm, her fist was tightly clenched and the arm was hanging useless by her side. She had been injured in an accident two years previously, and had been like this ever since.
Vic started to pray for her. Gradually, she started to move her fingers, and then raise her arm. By the time Vic had finished, she was waiving her arms up and down, beaming from ear to ear. The dumbfounded father couldn’t believe what had happened. His daughter had been completely healed!
Not only had the little girl been given back the use of her arm, over a hundred people had witnessed the power of God.
Make of this what you will. It’s just one of many amazing stories Vic (and many, many more people) have of healing and the power of God. Some of you may be shocked by this, some of you may dis-believe it, some of you may even have seen this kind of thing happen. My point is that this thing does happen. Awesome? Certainly.
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