I feel kinda "geeky"

I have just given my blog a facelift AND added some links (there will be more when my head stops hurting!). This is a little worrying as I aint really pc-intelligent.
I'm gonna get some pictures on here soon. So watch this space!

Anyway. I'm now watching wife swap (with mouth wide open!).
Its in the US, and its a gay couple swapping with a really strict "bible-belt" christian family.
Its really weird.

I love you guys.

x

THANKYOU!

Last night was JCS, and I was realy blessed by the sheer amount of people who helped out (visually and behind the scenes). I think it was a brill evening and everyone looked really smart.
Maybe a new years jcs party?!
x

Lazy or what?!

It occured to me today that I've gotten kinda lazy.

Jon is like a lyric writing machine.

And I don't write too oftern now.

So I wrote this . . .

I wanna be who I'm supposed to be

I don't wanna be what I've become

I want me to be the real me

Because You sent Your Son

Low down

On the ground

Is where I am

It's where I deserve to be

Face down

Hide from the frown

On Your face

It's what I deserve to see

Walk tall

Never fall

It's what I am

And I don't deserve to be

Held tight

Treated right

In Your hands

Where I don't deserve to be

Skin torn

Crown of thorns

Taken my place

Where I deserve to be

Whipped and beat

Pierced hands and feet

On Calvary

Where I deserve to be

I've been really thanking God for the abundance of youth at our church at the moment. It really is a blessing to see young people CHOOSING to spend thier time in church.

The evangelical church by our house (the one that nearly burnt down) has an average attendance of about 15, and none of them are under the age of 40 !!!

It blows me away to see these little guys continuing their relationship with God (something that I struggled with!) and not only that, but taking on responsabilities within the church, like leading meetings.

R and R

This week is half term (I hear all the little guys cheering!), also I booked the week off (so I can cheer aswell!). Loads of cool stuff is going on at the moment. There is a new mentoring scheme we is trying to start up (watch this space), and JC's is just round the corner (and everyone seems to be up for it!) and finally, it's the Patriots bye week (so I don't have to worry about them loosing again this week!).

Anyway, last night I lead at church and Beck shared something about being late for the bus and running at big dogs (it was kind of metaphorical!), and it really challenged me.

I think if we stopped worrying about all the things that stand in our way and stop us doing what we should and remembered that we got this big guy on our side and nothing else can get in the way.

Stars

Maybe I've been part of the problem

Maybe I'm the one to blame

But even when I turn it off and blame myself the outcome feels the same

I've been thinking maybe I've been partly cloudy

Maybe I'm the chance of rain

And maybe I'm overcast and maybe all my luck's washed down the drain

I've been thinking about everyone

Everyone you look so lonely

But when I look at the stars I see someone else

When I look at the stars I feel like myself

Stars looking at a planet

watching entropy and pain

And maybe start to wonder how the chaos in our lives could pass as sane

I've been thinking of the meaning of resistance

of a hope beyond my own

And suddenly the infinate and penitent begin to look like home

I've been thinking about everyone

Everyone you look so empty

Everyone, everyone we feel so lonely

Everyone, everyone we feel so empty

When I look at the stars I feel like myself

When I look at the stars I see somone

This is my favourite song off of the new switchfoot album. It rocks! You guys should deffinately check it out.

At first I thought I was'nt going to like it (it didnt have the initial impact that their previous album[beautiful letdown] had), but after a few times through it grows on you.

However, it has been captured by J's car stereo, never to be seen or heard of again!

controlZ

However geeky you consider blogging to be, I would not consider myself a geek. As a non-geek, I feel very blessed that those geeky people who invented computers decided it would be a good idea to invent a undo function.

This little comand has saved my skin on many occasions.

Would'nt life be great if we had an undo button?

Everytime we screwed up or put our foot in it, we could just press controlZ.

I suppose (in a weird way) God DID give us an undo button.

When He sent His son to die on a cross and cover our sin with his blood.

So everyone join with me and thank God for controlZ !

x

Whoop-ass!

I've been playing on NFL street2 on the PSP today (my day off!) in preperation for kicking Matt's ass this weekend (and maybe Jon!).
I also watched constantine. I thought it was cool. I like the idea behind the film and the special effects are "king".

Pros and Cons

Life is always about a balance. The most important thing is how you look at it.

Optimism or Pessimism

The bad thing that has happend in the last few days is that the Patriots lost on Sunday to the Chargers.

However, today I got the new Switchfoot album and a signed CD inlay and a poster!

Ive only listend to the first few tracks, but it sounds like a good 'en !

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the weekend just flies by?
Its the weird way that time works. Like how the fastest hour of the day is your lunch hour!

Anyhoo, I was at work on saturday (boring!) but when I got home Janine gave me a PSP (get- in!)

Then, we went to the church and played computer and pool and watched a film (which also rocked!)

Then, last night I was leading, due to lack of worship teamers.

I was a bit miffed because no-one shared anything, but the worship and the message on worship was pretty cool. It was a bit quieter and laid back, I'm not sure how people felt it went. (How did you feel it went?)

THEN, I get home and find out that the Patriots beat the Steelers 23-20.

Woo Yeah! Thats 2 and 1 baby!!!

(2wins 1loss)

X

NFL DAY!

Today is my day off (woop woop!), so I have officially declared it an NFL DAY!
It started off nicely with me finishing off watching the redskins / cowboys game from sunday night (its a good game!), and then I've been on the patriots website and watched the PVN (patriots video news) and now I'm gonna go play Madden 06!
Its got a really cool mode where you play as yourself and you have to take interviews and go in for the draft. It starts from leaving college right up to nfl pro and retirement.

Channel 5 are showing Kansas v Denver on monday night (12:50) you should definately check it out!

Go Cheifs !

God has really taught me some amazing stuff this week. I had a serious prayer time on monday morning (something that I dont do enough of!) and I've started reading the book of Daniel.

I like the Daniel story, its something I think all of us can relate to,

"I cant do that God . . . I'm just little old me!"

We've all used excuses similar to that. Anyway, since I opened up to God I've been really feeling his presence at work and on a few occasions have caught mysely singing worship songs in the warehouse!

WAREHOUSE WORSHIP (that sounds pretty cool!)

I cant wait for what God has instore for me just around the corner! I'm hoping to get along side Janine and Jon and really put a lot of effort into the youth work (if they'll have me). I am really blessed by the way those two little guys have stepped out for their faith.

I also cant wait for God to bless my face off! (see James' comments on Jons blog!)

x

Catholocism WOW!

(Anyone pick up on the 'Dogma' reference?) . . . Kevin Smith kicks ass!

Anyway, I'm reading Angels and Demons by Dan Brown and it is heavily rooted in the catholic faith (as is the Da Vinci code!) and it struck me that catholics are stoopid!

They believe in this hierachy . . .

God

Pope

Everyone Else

Its as if the only person who can have a link to God is an old dude who has been elected by a bunch of similar old dudes! (Did you know the pope must be at least 60 years old?!)

I am SO glad that God talks to all of us.

We are all as good(or bad) as each other.

Also, the message on sunday night really blew me away. It was like it was a direct sermon for me. I really struggle with the fact that although we have been forgiven, we still continue to let Him down. When Claude put the idea of Body, Soul and Spirit into a very visual way, it really helped me to understand the concept.

...good times!

Woke up this morning and "ow!". Is anyone else feeling like they've been kicked repeatedly in their sleep?!
I think the youth weekend away was wicked cool!
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we are already talking about planning the next trip!
x

SPORT !

When I was younger I did'nt really care too much for sports. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed kicking a ball around and watching the world cup.

But, this week is just a sporting spectacular!

There is England against N Ireland tonight

Test match final (England and Aus)

And, (more importantly) the NFL season starts tomorrow night! And the Patriots are playing the Raiders!

Should be quite a game!!!

Work it out!

It is my 4th day back at work and I'm kinda back into my everyday rhythm. (It sucks!)
Also, while we have been away I did no exercise (other than walking and swimming!) and today I had a proper work-out at work. (we've got weights and a sit up bench and a pull up bar.Its pretty cool in the warehouse!) and I found it really difficult to get back in to it.

For example; Before holiday I was lifting three sets of 12 reps of 15KG with minimum effort and I'd upped to 20KG of reps of 8 with three reps (with a little struggle!) And now when I come back I'm stuggling to do 15's at all!

But today I really pushed myself and feel a lot better for doing so. It was tough.

I reckon the same can be applied to our christian life. If you can force yourself into a routine of praying at a certain time and reading the bible at a certain time you will see results!

Its all about discipline.

And just like with the work out, if we ignore the everyday things like prayer and bible reading, its SO much harder to get back into a routine.

Did you know... it takes a third of the time it took to build muscle to lose it.

So if you've been trainig for three years, it only takes one year to get back to your original fitness level. What a bummer!

So remember "we're better than you . . . and we know it!"

It was my first sunday back at church, since we got back from holiday, last night.

I REALLY enjoyed myself!

Playing the worship songs and singing and listening to everyones share time and listening to the message.

You dont realise what your missing until its taken away from you.

Cheers to Jon, for including me in the "boys prayer" in the middle room.

Gamers delight

Hand-held gaming just got a whole lot better!
Before we went on holiday I got the chance to play the PSP in game.

WOW !

I played wipeout fusion (a game that I'm not that keen on, but...) it rocked!!!

Now I find out that Janine has pre-ordered it as an early christmas present!

Wives are cool!

Everyone should have one!

The PSP is way cool. If I were Jon I would say it was "King". It plays games (obviously!) and dvd movies (which can be bought OR downloaded of t'internet) and music videos and mp3s loads of other cool stuff!

Come on! Get excited with me!!!

Crapola on toast !!!

The New England Patriots lost their second pre-season match against the Saints last night, 37-27.

It sucks when your team loses.

Oh well, least its only pre-season (that means no lost points!)

Pre-season don't count.

First ones always a practice (everyone knows that!)

Peace

HERO!

On sunday I was lent a DVD by Jon, it's called HERO! and its an off-shoot of the novel (with the same name) and is described as a rock oprea/musical.

Think Joseph and his technicoloured dream coat but with distorted guitars!

It was actually very good, Janine and I are thinking off showing it at church on the big screen (that'd be cool!).

And we were even thinking of peforming it as a play at church (a kind of alternative to the christmas panto).

Laters

The Beautiful Letdown

I've come to the understanding (since my last post) that no matter how hard we try, we will never stop letting God down.

We is human.

Its what we is good at.

I've been spending a lot of time in thought (instead of working!) and God expects nothing more from us than faliure.

He is the all knowing, all forgiving.

He's had a lot of practice!

We just gotta get over the fact that "we're not worthy!" and get on with getting to know Him more.

He's my best friend.

Why would'nt I want to be with my best friend?

Switchfoot helps . . .

It was a beautiful letdown

when I crashed and burned

when I found myself alone, unknown and hurt

It was a beautiful letdown

the day I knew

that all the riches this world had to offer me would never do

In aworld full of bitter pain and bitter doubt

I was trying so hard to fit in, until I found out

I don't belong here

I don't belong here

I will carry a cross and a song where I don't belong

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.