Frustrated ?

I havent prayed or read my bible (seriously) for what seems like ages.
I'm simply "too busy".

Busy . . . on the internet, watching T.V, reading secular books, sleeping, worrying about bills, working out, at work or wondering what clothes to pack on my holidays.

Look at this list.
I've put all these things above God.

I dont wanna let Him down.

If I feel this frustrated with myself, then how frustrated must God feel with me ?
What if God was "too busy" for me ?
I'd be screwed !

But then 'Adding to the noise' by Switchfoot comes on the stereo and answers all these questions.

If all this worldly stuff is getting in the way of God, then leave it.

Simple as.

wow

'Bout a wek ago, I saved a catterpillar who was wriggling around on the loading bay at the rock. I noticed him cuz he was vividly orange and black striped.

Then on monday, we had a furniture delivery (yawn!) and i noticed that there was a chrysalis (?) in the shutters. Then at break time I witnessed the butterfly emerging from the cocoon!

It was tuely amazing! To see this beautiful creature escaping from a dull prison ( the cocoon, not the rock!)

How can God surprise me more and more with new stuff when I've been on this earth for 24 years ?

The Lord moves in mysterious ways.

Have you got a Harry-Hole ?

Do not be freaked out.
Its not some gay wizard thing!

Since finishing the 6th harry potter book ( The half-blood prince), I have experienced something that I can only describe as a 'Harry-Hole'. I have tried to combat that by visiting the harry potter website ( HarryPotter.com ) and veiwed the teaser trailer for the 4th film ( the goblet of fire) but this had made me worse!!!

I then thought.....

"Why dont I feel this way about the bible?"

....The answer is, there is no answer.

We SHOULD get excited about the bible and we SHOULD get excited about what God has planned for us.

I think if people read the bible as intensively as the work their way through the hogwarts novels then our christian life would blossum.

From now on I'm working on filling my Jesus-Hole.

(Please note: Even if Harry Potter does not interest you, you can replace the aforementioned HP for a topic that you may obsess over. For example; computer games, films, comics, music etc etc.)

Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

I have started reading a book called HUMANIFESTO, which is about the sermon on the mount. I am only a couple of chapters in, but it's wicked cool!

This passage is going against everything that modern-day media say is the way forward in life.

The world says . . .

"What job do you have ?"

"Where do you live ?"

"What car do you drive ?"

"Who are you going out with ?"

"What designer clothes do you have ?"

. . . If you answer the "correct" replies to these questions, then in the worlds eyes you have "made it" and are a "winner".

Jesus says it dosent matter about any of this material stuff, it dont matter if you aint got an up-to-date hairstyle or drink the right soft drink.

Jesus dosent care whether or not the world thinks you are a winner.

Jesus loves losers!

Where's the vocals?!

We had a band practice on saturday night, and towards the end of the practice my monitor got turned down (so that I couldnt hear what I was singing properly), so I sang loud enough that I could hear myself over the music.

This, evidently, was very loud and at the end of the practice my voice was completely shot.

Well, that was saturday, and its now Monday and its still not any better!

This sore throat combined with the icky summer-cold (I always seem to get when the weather is nice!) is not good.

On a lighter note, has anyone seen the new eminem video with the puppets?

Thats one funny video!

The Dr Dre, Eminem and 50 cent puppets are funny at the end!!!

Way too much time on my hands!

Today is my day-off (woop woop!), except that the weather is sucky, and I was planning on lying in the sun doing diddly-squat. But now my plans have to be completely changed.
So now, instead, I'm gonna sit in the house doing diddly-squat!

Anyhoo, after talking to James and Lisa last night at band, I thought I would check out this dancing guy on t'internet. He's pretty funny. Today he is dancing with a lady to 'girls on film', it's quality veiwnig.

www.dailydance.com

Also, I've been reading 'Relevant' (which is an American christian youth magazine), its pretty good. I think J9 is gonna subscribe to it....oh yeah! I was reading an artical about a guy named Brian Welch (who, if you didnt know, is 'Head' from the band 'Korn'), and in the last few months he has found God and quit the band and gone on a pilgrimage to Isreal to be baptised in the river Jordan! (If somethings worth doing, it's worth doing right, right?)

It seems from the artical that his life has completely changed, he's even sent a letter to 50 centwith a message from God! I'm not sure what 'fiddy' will make of that, but you never know!

Anyway, Head has got a website that is pretty cool. Check it out. . .

www.headtochrist.com

Anti-social old buggers!

" I went to a christening recently,

They had guitars, and they were singing songs,

Not hymns. . . . The worlds gone mad!"

[Old little scouse dude, on cutting edge channel 4]

X

Through the waters

Well . . . Yesterday I got baptised!

And to tell you the truth, I was more nervous about making a good job of singing RWJ's choice of song [the walk- J.T] than actually going through the 'dunking' or the testimony.

I think last night was brilliant. Everyone seemed to be in very high spirits, and the fact that there was quite a few non-church-goers there was a blessing.

Janines mom and dad really enjoyed themselves, which can only be a good sign.

If only we can get non-christians into the church, then they would see that its not stuffy (was guite warm last night!), and its not boring.

In fact, its a lot of fun!

eh? cool week!

I love weeks like this one!
Its my day off (which is a bonus)
I'm feeling good!
The new Foo Fighters album is out (and it ROCKS!)
And I get baptised this sunday!

This is probably the biggest thing I'll do this year (no, not buying the new foos album! My baptism!!!).

I think I must be allowed one a year. Last years was marriage.

Maybe next year a little Ste or J9.

I bet that strikes fear into some of your hearts!

Ive just done a real good work out (bone would be proud!)

And now I've got J9's electricution belt on, cuz I'm too lazy to do sit-ups today!

... Anyway, back to baptism.

Growing up in the church Ive witnessed my fare share of "dunkings" and its always been a very happy day in the church, but I never really considered the significance of the act itself, and also never dreamed that I would be getting ready to go thru the waters myself!

Well, I guess I did know I'd do it one day, but it seems such a 'grown-up' thing to do.

But, having said that, I suppose getting married is a pretty adult thing to do.

I just wanna take this oppurtunity to 'big up' the other dunkees . . . RWJ, Gracey, and of course Janine.

I can't wait.

oh yeah, RWJ wants Jons song played as come back up!

How cool is that?! We practised it last night, hope he dont mind that it has been well and truely "worship teamed". Sorry.

And on the third day . . .

Third day have some really good messages in their songs.
I was watching the live wire DVD and the whole concept of the 'wire' is fantastic!

Basically, walking the wire is treding the thin line of being in the world, but not of the world.

Too many people in church today only socialise with people from church, and loose touch with the 'outside' world.

How are we supposed to evangelise to these people when we have no way to communicate with them on their level.

Please take from me my life

When I don't have the strength

To give it away to you

Please take from me my life

When I don't have the strength

To give it away to you Jesus

Philipians 3: 13-14

Too many people worry about whats in their past, when they should be looking forward to what they can do for God NOW!

"You either get busy living, or get busy dying"

I was really blessed by these verses, they are an encouragement to me, so I thought they might encourage you also!

I got a new CD the other day (from E-Bay!), and the lyrics to this one song jumped off the page at me. I like to read the lyrics to the songs before I play the CD (I think its because the music isnt that important, its the lyrics that give a song meaning), anyhoo, the song is called No One Else Knows and the band are called BUILDING 429 . . . .

My world is closing in

On the inside

But I'm not showing it

When all I am is crying out

I hold it in and fake a smile

Still I'm broken

I'm broken

Only one can understand

And only one can hold the hand

Of the broken

Of the broken

When no one else knows how I feel

Your love for me is proven real

When no one else cares where I've been

You run to me with outstretched hands

And you hold me in your arms

Again

I need no explanation of why me

I just need conformation

Only you could understand the emptiness inside my head

I am falling

I am falling

I'm falling down upon my knees

To find the one who gives me peace

I am flying

Lord I am flying

I have come to You in search of faith

'Cause I cant see beyond this place

Oh you are God and I am man

So I'll leave it in you hands

Woooo for DAYS OFF !!!

Days off ROCK!

I love days off, they're cool. Its the time when I can not only chill out, but I get to spend time with the dogs and get all the things done that need doing.

Things I like to do on days off include;

T'internet

Gamecube

Walk dogs

Exercise

Listen to music

Its the last on the list I wanna tell y'all about.

This morning whilst playing Madden 2005 I put on a CD (I didnt really pay much attention to which one, I just wanted some background noise!), it was Third Day [Offerings].

It got to the last track and I had to pause the game and just listen. Its a beautiful song and the lyrics are so powerful and humbling. Its called Love Song and here it is . . . .

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain

Just to be with the one he loves

How many times has he broken that promise

It has never been done

I've never climbed the highest mountain

But I walked the hill of Calvery

Just to be with you, I'd do anything

There's no price I would not pay

Just to be with you, I'd give anything

I would give my life away

I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean

Just to be with the one he loves

How many times has he broken that promise

It can never be done

I've never swam the deepest ocean

But I walked upon the raging sea

I know that you dont understand the fullness of My love

How I died upon the cross for your sins

And I know that you dont realise how much I give you

But I promise, I would do it all again

Just to be with you, I've done everything

Theres no price I did not pay

Just to be with you, I gave everything

Yes, I gave my life away

Surprised by the radio !

Yep . . . You read correctly, I actually listen to the radio! . . . Only at work to pretend that I'm not there!!!

I was listening to Radio one this afternoon, and heard the new Daniel Beddingfield single. now, Im not the biggest fan in the world, but the words blew me away.

Its this artist along with the likes of Switchfoot, that are bringing the worship of God to a secular audience on their terms, in an enviroment that is not alien to them.

I believe that this is the way forwards in evangelising to people, using talents and gifts that have been given to us by God to reach out to the lost.

Here is the Daniel Beddingfield lyrics . . . .

THE WAY

To love somebody like you

Would take the rest of my life

This is my revelation

I feel my heart falling off

And give my conscience a knife

This is my reservation

This is the way of the moon

Waxing and wane

Fro-ing and to

This is the way of the sun

At the end of the day

Night always comes

This is the way of my youth

Risking it all

Pursuing the truth

This is the way of the world

My love is changing

I really meant what I said

All of it wasn't a lie

You were the one I wanted

But in the new light of day

Affection started to die

Our house of love was haunted

This is the way of the rains

Evaporate up and falling down

This is the way of her smile

It burns in her eyes but lasts for a while

This is the way of the Earth

The cycle of life

Of dying and birth

This is the way of my heart

My love is changing

Season changes

My life changes

Memory changes

My love changes

System changes

My world changes

Jesus, Jesus never changes

Hearing "Jesus never changes!" blasting out on national radio sent shivers down my spine.

Peace x

Bone, Thugs and Harmony

Confused by the title of this post? . . .

Yesterday Jon (bone) handed me some lyrics he had been working on, and they are really good!

me and Jon had talked about working together on songs before, and after sharing the same bed in Russia, it seemed the natural progression! (only kidding!...but we did share a bed!) Anyway, this is the second song he's wrote and here it is . . . (hope he doesnt mind!) . . .

The Walk

One foot infront of the other, the path seems so familiar.

Maybe its because I've trod these roads so often before.

It doesnt matter which way I turn, it all becomes the same place.

The same people pass me by always saying hello.

Too quick to stop and speak, too fast to see them cry.

Ive walked this way for so long now ( with salvation on my tongue )

Ive walked this path for so long ( from these footsteps I found this song )

Ive mastered the walking, I almost had to run

Maybe just from boredom, maybe just for fun.

The path is so narrow its easy to fall

but I can see the lost now, and hear them call.

But I'll keep walking, Im gonna carry on,

Until Ive found my purpose, until my job is done.

This morning I sat down before I went to work, and prayed that God would enable me to write the chords to go to this song, and that what I would come up with would be the right style to get the message across. And the second I started to play, it fir into place perfectly!

Isnt God amazing?!

I even put it down on tape (so I wouldnt forget how the tune goes!) all in about 15 minutes.

Gods will is . . .

I was really challenged today already (its only 7:30 am!), about my intentions towards the will of God for my life. It seems we (as christians) tend to be up for doing Gods will, so long as it benefits me in some way! This train of thought ties in with the cat/dog theology. However, if Gods plan is different to our own plan then we are a little less enthusiastic.

In extreme measures living by our faith must also mean willingness to die by our faith (see RWJ's blog from about a week ago).

Its a case of selflessness or selfishness.

Jesus obeyed the Fathers wishes, even though in human form He really didnt want to. (Luke 22:41-44)

Jesus chose to do Gods will, even if it cost Him His life.

It did.

YEZZZZIR!

I appologies for the gangster title, but snoop and pharrel are on MTV . . . "lets get blown".
Anyhoo, its my day off! (woop woop!), and that means chill out day. It usually involves a little bit of eat, a little bit of drink, a liitle bit of banya and then bed (Gennady joke!).
No, there will be T.V., book, gamecube, NFL and a bit of a workout.

My bible study was about Zachius today.

He was a little man and a very little man was he!

Andy is back today, so you will all be glad to know that you wont have to suffer my drumming for another sunday night!

Pats RULE !!!

KNACKARD!

. . . . As you can guess from the title I'm kinda tired. The reason for this extra lethargic behaviour is because last night i went to see WWE RAW in brum. It kicked ass! There were lots of people (old enough to know better!) taking it WAY too seriously. Here are some of the wrestlers I saw . . .

Batista

Christian

Edge

The Hurricane

Chris Benoit

Y2J

HBK

Hulk Hogan

Kane

HHH

Rick Flare

....and many more!

I also saw (my personal favourite!) Stacey Keibler.

Whooo Baby!

Laters

This is a party political broadcast. . .

... So, general elections, again! Doesnt time just fly by?

I can remember when I had just turned 18 (many years ago!) and I was kinda excited to be voting. Finally I had a way to voice my opinions. Oh how naive I was!

It doesnt matter whether you vote for either of the two main parties, cuz they're both the same !!!

"When I were a lad, the conservative party were for the upper class 'yuppie' types, with their own horses and barn conversions. And the labour party were for the working class everyday folk" [said in a northern accent]

But now, the conservatives have dumbed down a little with their snobbery (to accumulate more votes) and the labour party have raised their standards (to . . . you've guessed it! . . . accumulate more votes!) and have both kind of met somewhere in the middle.

Therefore, whether you vote one way or the other, it doesnt really matter, cuz they're the same!!!

*DISCLAIMER* This is not a blog instructing everyone to vote BNP or UKIP, fascism is deffinately NOT the way forward.

*2nd DISCLAIMER* This is not an attempt to rig the election for my own personal gain. I dont care who you vote for!

Ramble over!

Laters x

Don't TEMPT me !!!

Recentley in my biblestudy, I have been doing about important aspects of Jesus' walk on the Earth as a man.

Today was about the 40 days of fasting in the desert and then being tempted by the devil. It seems the best way to keep the devil off your back is to know your scriptures. So (like the bone) I am going to start reading my bible more.

Also one of the other passages of Word was from Ephesians. It was about God's armour. It made me think of Andy D. Please pray for him, he must be fed up being stuck at home, so pray for God to heal his knee. Plus Meg was at the Tuesday crew (stoopid name!) last night, and it was a real blessing to see her playing with the kids and stuff.

Anyhoo, Im rambling! Laters.

From Russia with love

O.K. so we are back from Belarus, and everyone was realy expectant of me to say something about the trip last night at church. The time didnt feel right and I couldnt possibly do the trip justice by talking about it for 5 minutes.

One of the biggest things I got from the trip had nothing to do with the worship team (shock! horror!). The thing that effected me the most was how willing Gennady was to open up his home and family to a bunch of weirdos and feed us and keep us warm.

Its this way of treating others and showing acts of kindness that Jesus was really promoting in the bible.

"Love one and other, as I have loved you"

I guess seeing the way that the priest welcomed us into his family has really humbled my heart before God, and I will try and live my life the "traditional Belarussian way".

And in the wise words of someone a long way away . . . "DO IT !"