One Hot Minute

2007-02-13T11:05:00.001-08:00

hI?

From Rob's Blog

2006-09-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

In remarks earlier this week, Pope Benedict, in remarks on Islam and terrorism, cited an obscure Middle Ages text of a conversation between an earlier Pope and a Muslim Emissary, which characterized Islam as inherently prone to use violence to spread the faith, rather than peace, piety, and good works.

In response to the Pope's remarks, the muslim world rioted in protest, paroxysms of violence, including the firebombing of two churches in the West Bank today, proved both that the Pope was right, and Islam hasn't changed significantly since the Middle Ages.

James Waterton, over at Samizdata, commented, "Isn't it hilarious? Muslims are outraged that the Pope would link Islam with violence, and react - with violence. Magnificent."

Exclusive

2006-09-18T05:39:00.000-07:00

An exclusive offer to ALL UCCF: The Christian Unions Student Card Members! UCCF: The Christian Union brand colour IPOD Nano's!

2006-08-15T05:42:00.000-07:00

KFC

2006-08-15T05:11:00.000-07:00

On the weekend I decided to buy a family size bucket of KFC just to see if I could eat it all. Now, That's 8 pieces of chicken, 4 corn on the cobs 4 lots of fries and a bottle of Pepsi. It has always been an ambition of mine since I was young and I thought - what the heck!

Drinking beer and slobbing on greasy fast food. It really doesn't get any better!

Resident Evil

2006-08-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight I got my head sawn off with a chainsaw, run over by a bolder 4 times and blown up with a stick of dynamite!

Catching up...

2006-08-12T03:16:00.000-07:00

Ok - so I've been really slack this week (agian). Here's a round uup of the weeks (non) events...

Monday night - working late in the office. Organising stuff for Soul Survivor, Annual Review and the newUCCF Student Card Memebership Scheme (to be launched at Forum). I'm quite excited about this but can't say to much here as we're in negotiations with various book publishers, retailers and distributers. This has been a fun and exciting project to work on that will benifit both UCCF, our partners and the students who sign up. Plus, as a communications function, this will give me another medium for communicating to the wider CU family about the CU mission agenda.

I really do love my job cause' it so varied. Current projects I'm working on are that I'm enjoying:

Student Card
Annual Review
Electronic Blurb (more news to follow)

Projects that I've had involvement with:

Developing the Relay brand and identity (it's like, retro Spectrum 48k graphics meets the UCCF colour pallet). Robust theological engagement, life on life discipleship and 80's funk!
RTSF rebrand. We're in the early stages but the bulk of the work on this will commence mid August.
Forum. I'm on the planning team and this has been loads of fun too!

Projects my team are working on:

New UCCF website. This is going to be amazing! We expect this to go live at the end of October
Bethinking and Pure adverts to be played at Forum.

All in all - the comms team are having a busy and creative summer. What a great job! I love it!

Tuesday evening - Went on a climbing wall with my good friends Joe, Ruth and some others. This was loads of fun. I can now tie a figure of eight knot, beelay and I can handle up to a 4c difficulty grade (the grades go up to 6).

Wednesday evening - My good friend david Nixon came round for some food and generally catching up. he recently broke up with hid Girlfrind so we chatted about that amongst other things.

Thursday evening - walk along the canal with vaious friends.

Firday - trip to IKEA and a meal in a Tia restaurant with Ruth and David. Muchos Funos!

So there you go. My week at a glance. Busy and fun! Gonna' read Lamentations now. I've been meaning to get round to this book for a while now. May post some reflective thoughts in a little while.

Just a quick thought.

It is great, isn't it, that we can open the bible with expectant hearts. That God WILL speak to us. He WILL reveal truth to us re: Himself. He is the God who longs to be known and has made knowledge of himself freely available to those who have ears and would listen. I just think that it's not to be taken for granted.

I wait in eager anticipation to discover that which God would want to show me as I open up Lamentations and listen with an expectant heart.

Thoughts to follow...

New Exhibition Stand - woo hoo!

2006-08-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

Ha ha - so, this is a scale model of the new UCCF Exhibition stand. Complete with scale model CUSW (I made that bit!).

One question though...who's that cheeky chappy in the back ground? Maybe I'll make him the new face of UCCF!?

The internet doesn't suck!

2006-08-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, I give in - The internet doesn't suck!

2006-08-07T04:59:00.000-07:00

2006-08-07T01:30:00.000-07:00

Ok - so I've been a little slack of late and this will only be a quick post...

These last few days I have been reflecting on the the hope that is offered in the gospel. Lately, I have really come to appreciate the promises that God makes. Those of you who read my BLOG will know that these have become very presious to me because they speak of the faithfulness Him who makes them.

I love the gospel because of the hope that is offered. Not just in the future but in the here and now. The gospel doesn't make promises about a number of things for this life. For example, I'm not promised that I'll remain in good health for the rest of my life. Nor does it promise that I'll ever be married, or someone close to me won't become sick. I'm not promised financial security or that clamity won't fall upon my head, even as I write these words.

However, the gospel does promise me that God is good. That He's faithful and generous and kind and loving. It does hold out great hope because if God can give His beloved Son for me than I need not question his generosity or goodness - in this life.

I was at church earlier today and, during communion, I almost heard God say to me in an audiable voice, 'I gave you my Son. I can provide for the things that you need. You needn't worry.'

I'm reminded of Jesus' words in Luke 11...oh - i can't be bothered to finish writing this post - you get the point. blah blah blah...

2006-07-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

Come and join the party - Luke 15:7

2006-07-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

Just spoke to my good friend Kenny who's currentlly on the Bournemouth International Outreach. It's a day before the end and there have been 5 confessions of faith. Who knows how many more will follow...

Please pray fpr Patrick who is from a Budhist background. He asks, 'Kenny, if I become a Christian who will pray for my dead relatives?'.

It was only a quick conversation but my heart truely rejoiced to hear what God has been doing through Kenny and others.

The kingdom continues to grow...

Letter from Tim Rudge

2006-07-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hi Pod,

Great to see you yesterday. Here is the Relay application pack. exploring what is involved. Just to recap on some of the discussion Pod, we couldn't dream of wanting to change your church allegience. Rather , we are about developing people for a lifetime of Christian service. This includes head - learning to think from the bible to practice not the other way round., hreat - loving God, growing in grace, loving others, passion, hands - practical engagement in the world (this would include a trip overseas to another IFES mission movement).

Nor are we a Calvinist/ Ceasationist movement. We have people from all aspects of the spectrum, all seeking to be faithful to what scripture teaches.

What you need to understand here Pod is GOSPEL UNITY! How can Nigel Lee and Bob Horn work together when one is a Calvinist and the other is not? They are both committed to unity around the saving gospel of Christ and are willing to see other things as secondary.

Finally brother, in regard to your future. Remember it is the Lord who orders your steps. You cannot plan it all out, nor can you know 100% how it will work out. Salt and Light may be the way into church planting, it may not. For me, what I care about is that you exercise faith in the Living God that he will sort this out as you make decision that honours him and promotes your own discipleship.

Bless you, I know future plans are not easy. I could see you making a great contribution to the CU in Derby but I want you to do that which will honour Christ. Let me know if I can be of any help.

Much Blessing,

Tim

2006-07-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

What I Ate For My Tea! Part1

2006-07-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new series of photos called, 'What I Ate For My Tea!'. Here are the first two:

I call this one, 'Steak sandwich with chips on the side'. One steak (well done), with mayo, spinich and watercrest, and a dab of course grain mustard spread over the meat. Served with a generous portion of home made chips.

You know you want it!

This one's called, 'Chicken salad with crispy backon'. Lightly drizzel some home made dressing over your green stuff. Add some brie, chicken and crispy, streaky backon....

You know you gotta' have some' a dat!

My friend Mark

2006-07-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

I'm just so thankful to God for the opportunity to meet with someone like Mark and read the bible together. When I was a staff worker I got loads of opportunities to meet with various non-Xns and read with them. I remeber, in my first year on staff, the only student I met with 1-1 at Nottingham uni was a a non-Xn. We would meet regularly and read the Old Testament together. Since moving to a Xn office it's been a lot harder to do this.

Anyway, back to Mark. We looked at the passage together. Chatted about Mel Gibson's film the Passion for a while. We then spent a large amount of time looking at (in Rico's terms) the cloud, the cry and the curtain and discussed the significance of each event. For those who are not familiar with CE...

The Cloud (or darkness) in the middle of the day represents God's Judgement.
The Cry (my God, my God, why have you foresaken me?) represents Jesus' abandonment on the cross. God Should have been angry with those that were crucifying His Son - yet it was Jesus who was abandoned.
The Temple Curtain - The way to God, access to God is now open.

We chatted about the stuff we had looked at in previous studies and my heart was greatly warmed when I asked, 'what response is God looking for' and Mark answered, 'for us to come to him and say sorry.'

I don't know if he's a Xn or not (maybe he is? He was certainly making the right noises tonight) but I do know that he has a hunger to know God more. I was thrilled when at the end of the night, as he was leaving, he asked if we could visit Mike's (Partridge) church again (we had visited some while back when I was preaching there one time). I desperately want to get Mark plugged into a local church so he can grow and really put down some solid roots in the faith.

What an immense privilage to be involved in God's work this way. I'm so excited for Mark as he embarks on this journey - to know God more...

Please join with me in praying for him.

I'm meeting with my cousin Gurpal tomorrow night. We were going to have a jam but that fell through. Instead we're moving a sofa from his mum's house to my mum's house. We had a brief chat about Xnity on the phone tonight and said we'd exchange books. He's reading one about Sihkism and I'm reading Tim Chester on prayer. I won't give him that one but do pray for opportunities to talk further about the Lord. He's very open. What would be ace wouls be to start meeting with him on a regular basis too and look at the bible together. I'm going to pray every day that God would do it. I know that that's the kind of peayer he just loves to answer.

2006-07-25T05:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Mark is coming to my house tonight for food and bible stuady. Mark Chp 15 - the crucifixion. Please pray - update to follow shortly...

2006-07-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

The Precious Promises of God - 2 Peter 3:3-14

2006-07-23T06:56:00.000-07:00

Theme: God has made very specific promises re: future judgement and salvation. These promises can be trusted because of God’s faithful activity in the past.

Aim : To live radical lives of discipleship in the light of these great and precious promises.
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We live in age of great promises and great disappointments. Never has so much been promised in terms of health, wealth, and success, dieting in this world. Never has reality been further for the ordinary person from that which has been promised.

Great promises about what you can have in this world, so big that, compared to the realities of life in this world which are far from them that we become cynical about promises in the age in which we live. It’s surprising indeed that anyone should bother to send an advert like this out at all. How can it possibly be believed or taken seriously by anyone – we become very cynical about promises. We take seriously only those things, which we can see or have right in front of us now.
And promises of course, are not like that. For they are about things we don’t have yet but may have one day. Which makes it very hard to be a Christian in this age. For the Christian life is all to do with promises about the future. And God given us very great and precious promises about heaven in the bible – and these have been given for a reason. We would do well to pay attention because what we think about the future will ALLWAYS effect how we live now.

Now, this evening, we’re going to be exploring the passage that was read out to us earlier and that’s exactly the truth that Peter wants to impress upon these early believers – that what we believe effects what we do.

Peter brings into sharp focus two promises made by God.

1 The promise of judgement for this world - 2 Peter 3:7
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

2 The promise of hope for the next world 2 Peter 3:12-14
Which talks about looking forward to the day of God…
12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[a]That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Looking forward – the verse is just pregnant with hope and suggests great anticipation as we look forward to a new world. A world Peter calls the home of righteousness.

Could not describe the world in which we live in now as the home of righteousness. A world of rightness and goodness and truth. God has given us a great promise of a renewed world where righteousness is at home. And he’s done it for a reason. Read Chp 1:4

4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Look at how kind God is. He wants us, in the end, to escape the corruption that’s in the world – to belong to a new world. What are the things you:

Things that you dread happening
Things that make you miserable
Things that make the world an unpleasant place to live in
Things that make us angry/ unhappy
Things in the inside of us that we wish were not true of us but they are

Then consider how wonderful the God is who wants you to be able to share in something quite different from that. Peter tells us that God wants you to live in a world that’s free of all those things and in order to make that happen he’s given us his promises about that world so that in the end you can escape from this one and belong to that one.

So there we have it – two promises; one of judgement and the other of hope

Now, this is message we urgently need to hear in the church today. The notion that Jesus is coming back to judge the world is just incredible for many people. Laughable, pie in the sky, ungrounded fantasy that’s nothing more then a pious fairytale. It’s something Christians tell each other to keep their hopes up.

One of the most famous songs of the twentieth centaury was by John Lennon called imagine, denies the reality of god’s promised future. Here are some of the lyrics:

Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try;
No hell below us, above us only sky;
Imagine all the people living for today.

Now, Things were not so different in Peter’s day. Read v3

3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."

You can almost hear the triumphant sneer of the scoffers in v3 as they say, ‘look around - where is the coming he promised? It all goes on as it always has. Nothing has changed. The second coming isn’t coming! So, live for now and don’t ask me to believe it or to live in light of such an implausible future!

Their focus was on the here and now and they deny/ ignores the future. And it’s really clear in Peter’s mind why they’re doing this So, v3, ‘they can follow their own evil desires.’ You see, the second coming is all about judgment. That’s when Christ will return to this earth and bring the final judgment. On that day:

Atheists will be judged by Christ
Muslims will be judged by Christ
Hindus will be judged by Christ
Sikhs will be judged by Christ
Agnostics will be judged by Christ
Me and you, everyone sitting in this assembly, will be one day judged by Christ

You see, the truth about the future and life now are intimately linked together. What we believe about the future will always effect how we live now.
Peter wants to lift the eyes of their heart to the realities of God’s promised future. Because judgement or salvation will await every human being at the end of time…

How does Peter answer these scoffers? Read v.5-7
5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Peter pushes the attention/ focus of his readers back into history and onto God’s activity of creation and judgement in the past.

He states that these ‘scoffers’ deliberately forget that long ago:

1. God created the heavens – by His word
2. the world was deluged and destroyed – by His word
3. By the same word – the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire

Here’s the point – If He created all things then it’s His prerogative to destroy all things. If He destroyed all things before, he can do it again – the creator has the right and the power to do that – that is the warning.

And here’s the thing – A promise is only ever as valuable as the person who makes it. I recently purchased a house and, on my dad’s recommendation, I hired a builder who, as builders have the habit of doing, didn’t always turn up for work when he said he was going to. In fact he pretty much just turned up when he wanted. He would promise that he would turn up and do the work but more often then not, well…he didn’t. Well, what were those promises worth to me after a few months of non attendance?

The point that Peter’s making here is that God has a very good record of keeping promises. In the past, God has made many promises to His people and at every point He has proved him self faithful and true. He promised to bring judgment to Noah’s generation - and that’s exactly what he did in the flood. Therefore, when God says he’s going to do something – we can trust that he will do it.

They (the scoffers) deliberately forget this. It’s simply not true that things go on just as they always have from the beginning. That things are just going on as they always have. It’s simply not true and they’re deliberately ignoring (a) the facts of creation and (b) the flood.

So why the delay? That’s what Peter turns his attention to in v.8-9

There those who scoff but haven’t you ever found yourself asking that question? In the midst of personal suffering and hurt? Have you not found yourself asking the question - where is he? Why doesn’t he end it all? The pain of waiting is just too much to bear! 100 billion people have died violently this centaury. Why doesn’t God just end all the pain now? If He’s good/ all powerful? Why the delay?

Well, it’s not because this is all a fairy story as the scoffers, of Peter’s day and our day, would have us believe . It’s not because God isn’t aware of the suffering in this world or that he has forgotten or slept in. Peter tells us, ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’

Patience is a lovely quality and is rooted in the character of God. Exodus 34:6-7 "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.

The reason why we have today is because God is patient and is giving us time for repentance because it’s not His desire to see anyone perish.

The bible is very clear in its teaching that some WILL perish. As we’ve read, there will be those who will be kept for destruction. Jesus was the most kindest, most compassionate man that ever walked this earth and he spoke plainly about the realities of hell and judgement.

Mark 9:42-48
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.[a] 45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.[b] 47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48where
" 'their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.'[c]

God’s holy response to human sin and we wouldn’t have it any other way would we? One author puts it this way:

There is something within Human nature that cries out for justice. When we see children molested or old people attacked in their homes. We long for the people who have done these things to be caught and punished. There is such a thing as justifiable anger we are right to feel that peoples sins should be punished – but its not just other people’s sins that need to be punished it’s our own as well. One day we will all be subject to the judgement of God.
The good news of the gospel (the message of Xnity) is that the destruction of ungodly people isn’t in line with the heart beat of God. He longs for men and women to turn away from sin and come to repentance. God is passionately concerned with the salvation of sinners.

The reason the final judgement hasn’t taken place yet is that God is waiting…giving us time to say sorry for living without reference to Him. However, He will not wait forever. Jesus WILL come back with the unpredictability of a burglar.

The scoffer says, ‘I’ve not been burgled yet, so therefore, I never will be.’ But that is foolish. v 10 it WILL happen!

And if you’re here today and you’re not a Christian then there is a solemn warning for you here.

The door of salvation is still open – God’s patience equals salvation
Xst has not yet returned but when he does He will close the door and judgment will follow and the day of opportunity will be gone.

Dear friends, the reason we have today is for repentance. I’m glad He didn’t come back 8 years ago. Where do you stand before God today?

11-14 – Live in light of that which is promised

Love 2 Peter because it’s such a practical book and in these last few verses Peter turns his attention to how Christians should live in light of God’s promised future.

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. 3But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

You’ve heard it said, “Some Christians are so heavenly minded that they’re of no earthly use!” i.e there are those who are always thinking about heaven and never really get on with life on earth.

Well, Peter tells us that having the return of Xst in our minds and before our eyes is crucial if we are to live out the Xn live now. Ashley Cooper (earl of Shaftsbury) said, ‘I do not think that in he last 40 years I have lived one hour that has not been influenced by the return of Christ.’

So, How ought we to live?

1. We ought to be people who long for that day to come v11 holy and godly.

Looking forward to the day ought to be the most natural thing to do if grasped what’s going to happen when it comes. If you have understood what God’s promise means you won’t be able to take your eyes off that day because it’s such a good promise – looking forward – longing/ yearning word.
If you’ve grasped the promise then the hopes, dreams and expectations ought not to be for the things of this world – what do you dream of/ hope for/ long for/ what do you most want to happen? The things that we long for/ hope for and desire will make us the people we become – if you long for that day it will make you godly now/ holy now. Distinct in behaviour because you have a distinctive future that you are looking forward too

How will this promis effect the decisions we take in life – job/ marriage/ where to live? Will that decision make me long for the next world or will it make me more at home in this one. The way I live with other people will it help them long for the next world or will my priorities encourage them to be at home in this world.

You hear of people who graduated 10 –15 years ago who have taken jobs that have taken them away from a good bible teaching church. And that’s meant that for many years they never really hear god s promise explained to them which has meant they have become more and more at home in this world.

Or – folks that have started relationships with non-xns – taken them away from hearing God’s promises and living in light of them.

Could I have less in this world that I may keep my hunger for the next world alive – we ought to long for the day

2. Prepare for the day v14.

People ought to see you and say, “there are strangers amongst us here – not like us. People who belong somewhere else” because we are preparing for a different future. In every single part of life the future always makes us prepare in the present – exams/ marriage/ going on hols.. Future always changes the present v14. Confidence in god’s promises leads to effort now 1:4 what effort are you making to prepare for the future. What are you working hard at now? Does what you are working hard at now have anything to do with Gods promises abut the future?

3. Accelerate the day v12.

The day here is for repentance. Top 5 things on your agenda now? Is repentance one of them because it is right at the top of God’s agenda v15. New heavens and earth are for repentant people not for people who won’t repent. There is nothing that reflects the character and nature of God more then evangelism.

These are great promises. The one who has made them is great. God’s promised future. Judgment for this present world and a great hope for the next. What will you do with God’s promises?

How cool are you!?

2006-07-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

Am I cool or uncool? [CLICK]

You are Cool!

You're pretty cool! People look at you and think.. 'wow.. that person is cool!' Congratulations. Use your position wisely and teach the dorks below you a thing or two. There's nothing like recruiting a cool person.

Cool quizzes at Go-Quiz.com

I want to lick your heart and taste your health...

2006-07-20T01:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your txt and the inviting offer of you licking my face. Were you to lick you'd find my health salty and sweaty. Beyond that I'm doing OK.
Yes, a phone chat is in order. I want to check you're not being sawn in half by Tom and his swimming pool chain saw action.

Al

Liberation Transmission

2006-07-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

I am more for you than you have ever thought. You have such a malicious enemy whom I hate, says the Lord. Such a malicious enemy who tries to lie to you day after day, movement after movement with hoards of followers trying to drag down my beautiful bride, my choice, my darling, my beloved, always trying to undermine your confidence in me, always trying to snatch away moments of delight, telling you how unworthy you are. I tell you I am more for you than you could ever dream.

I want you to allow my love for you to captivate you to be like a powerful warm air current, gathering you up into my presence where I can embrace you. I say to you, you earn no merit by feeling unworthy. You earn no merit by having your head down. You do not impress me by embracing condemnation and walking in the shadows. You do not impress me.

You impress me when you believe my words of life. You impress me when you take free mercy. You impress me when you put all of your confidence in blood that was shed out of love for you, when you turn away from every accusing words and once again apply faith to the finished work that I accomplished for you on the cross.

It was for you I suffered. It was for you I laid down my life. It was for you because you captured my heart. You are my joy. You are all that I did it for. I did not do this for some principle but for you. I have loved you and I am for you, beyond your wildest dreams. I am for you and I delight in you. I am always watching over you, knowing your thoughts from afar, knowing your down sitting, your up rising, knowing every sigh, every sigh. I know every sigh. I know every tear. I know every step that you take, says the Lord and I want you to know my love even more.

I want you to tread under foot the lies of the enemy. I want you to refuse them. I want you to mock the lies of the enemy. I want you to turn away and despise and cast aside lies and condemnation and the shadow that goes over your soul. I want you to gain a maturity that recognises that foul voice that says ‘it’s you again’ and throw it out and refuse it and reject it. I want you to know that you are forever my beloved and I want maturity that knows; I have the smile of my saviour. He came to save me. He didn’t come to condemn me. He didn’t come to show me how weak I am. He came because He knew how weak I am. And I want you to ever lift your face to the sunshine of my love. I want you to ever know the blood is enough for you.

And this way we shall win the world. This way we shall conquer. For I cannot conquer the world with ha bride pre-occupied with her failures. I cannot win the world with a bride overwhelmed with her sense of inadequacy I want you to take hold of my sufficiency for you. I want you to believe that I am enough for you. I am for you. And I tell you it’s time for you to throw off those fears and to embrace the wine of heaven. I want you to drink in the wine of heaven. I want you to taste and see that I am good, not for a fleeing emotion, but for strength in your inner man, that you can drink of heaven’s nectar, you can drink of heaven’s resources and you can know the strength of the Lord.

Come and drink. Come and receive. Refuse the poison that the enemy wants to feed into your drink and drink the wine of heaven that I have loved you freely, that when you have run out, when you are embarrassed by your inadequacy, I keep the best wine. I can Supply. I cam meet your need in a moment. A word from me is enough for you. I want you to live there, says the Lord, I want you to enjoy my provision and drink from my ability to meet your need, says the Lord.

Prophesy delivered at a church I had the privilege of visiting recently.

My soul must sing...

2006-07-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

Wonderful, so wonderful
Is Your unfailing love
Your cross has spoken mercy over me
No eye has seen, no ear has heard
No heart could fully know
How glorious, how beautiful you are!

Beautiful One I love You
Beautiful One I adore
Beautiful One my soul must sing

Powerful, so powerful
Your glory fills the skies
Your mighty works displayed for all to see
The beauty of Your majesty
Awakes my heart to sing
How marvellous, how wonderful You are

You opened my eyes to Your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
Because nothing on earth is as beautiful as You

My soul, my soul must sing
My soul, my soul must sing
My soul, my soul must sing

The God who cares

2006-07-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

The bible is not simply a maker's instruction hand book. It is a love letter from the bridegroom to his bride and his bridegroom has not left his bride alone.

I used to think (although I never would have said) that God had set up the universe, given us the bible and left us to get on with it. It was almost an entirely deist view of God. God is less concerned with who we marry, the job we do, etc. he is more concerned that we are holy. There is, of course, truth in that but I’m discovering there is just so much more to the xn life than just – follow the bible…

Some folks would argue God has made us and given us various abilities and now it is up to us to make decisions for ourselves about life so long as I follow God’s moral will. So, we shouldn’t look for any kind of witness or any kind of special application of verses from the bible to my situation. We shouldn’t expect any dreams or intuitions or words from the Spirit, etc. God has no plans for my life and I must stand on my own two feet and make decisions for myself based on the teaching of the bible. In practice, God doesn’t really care who I marry or what I do with my life so long as I’m obedient to the bible.

This view becoming increasingly popular amongst evangelicals as they react against some of the more whacky Spirit focused extremes we see in the church today. But here’s the thing…

We are not servants of an all powerful emperor but little children cared for by our Father. Our God is our FATHER. We are to understand our lives within the context of a loving family NOT an impersonal government. Read Matthew 6:25-33 – If He puts so much care into the lives of plants and birds, how much more does He care for us who are His children. He numbers the hairs on our head and He worries about what we need each day so we need not worry. He wants us to talk to him about EVERYTHING we need. He is more generous than even the most indulgent father with his favourite child. Mathew 7:11 – if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.’

1 Peter 5:7 – ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’ What kind of loving Father would God be if he didn’t care about the important decisions in our lives? Even the most unfeeling father has some kind of view on what their child should do with their life.

As I said, God has not left His bride groom alone. He hasn’t just set up the world, given us a few instructions and left us to toil on our own. He is intimately involved with every aspect of every small detail in every little part of our lives. Of course He is? Wouldn’t you be interested in the hopes, dreams and aspirations of your kids?

In my life, I have often found myself feeling confused and slightly alone. I was an English/ Indian kid growing up in two worlds and not really understanding either. I was popular at school but I was very aware that things were different for me. I was different. At home, my father wasn't around much and my mother was coming to terms with her own situation. My sister was older than me and eventually found her place in the wider family. I kinda' struggled along on my own. Made my choices and lived with the consquence of some pretty bad desicions that got made along the way...

What am I trying to say? I guess I'm saying that my whole life I have been looking for guidence. Someone to show the way, to tell me what to do, to tell me waht's right and wrong and to teach me wisdom. I have longed for that my whole life. Maybe that's why I fell in love with some of those old Kung Fu/ martial arts films! The relationship of master and apprentice. The apprentice was always sfae in the hands of his master and there he would find wisdom, guidence, acceptence and love. I love Paul's relationship with Timothy and Elijah's relationship with Elisha. Teacher and student with a common purpose.

I find myself at a time in life where I am in desperate need of guidence. I was finally able to muster up courage to ask God for some direction. We do need couarage if we're to approach God in this way. It's not a thing to be taken lightly. If I ask God to speak to me - what am I to do with what He says? I know what I want but God knows what I need and sometimes what we need and what we want can be very differnt things.

I asked God to speak into my life - to give me that which I so desperately needed...guidence. Was the word I recieved from God, or was it my own imaginings? Well...that's the question I must now reflect upon, test and pray through. My dear friend Peter said to me one time, 'Pod - when God speaks to His poeple in this way the they often add more words than they should and can sometimes apply the 'word' in fallible ways.'

Please pray that I would exercise wisdom...

A special message of hope for the nations

2006-07-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

Since the fall, all have fallen short of funk.
What we need is a new heart. A heart of funk.
God is making all things new and there is a day coming when all will funk together. The lion will funk with the lamb and the lame will leep with funk.

Never again will there be an infant who is born without funk
or an old man who does not cry OOoooooOoooooowwwwww;
he who gets tired of listening to james Brown at a hundred
will be thought a mere youth;
he who fails to groove
will be considered accursed.

They will build houses and funk in them;
No longer will they build houses and others funk in them,
my chosen ones will long enjoy
the works of their cosmic bone crunching pyschedlic love funk.

They will not funk in vain
or bear children doomed to a life without Jimi Hendrix;
for they will be a people blessed by funk,
they and their descendants with them.

The wolf and the lamb will funk together,
and the lion will eat straw like George Clinton

2006-07-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

This evening, Myself and Giles watched Neighbors in our pants...

Giles: Neighbors is a crappy show for crappy people like us!

2006-07-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I ordered this book. I want to be more passionate about prayer and I think think this book will help...

The many faces of Ben Bhogal

2006-07-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

Crying face

Sad face

Excited face

Grumpy face

CE

2006-07-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

Just had a bible study with my mate Mark. We're basically doing the Christianity Explored talks converted to bible studies. We ate Pizza, watched a bit of Big Brother (that really is a terrible show!) and then sat down and read together. He seemed to respond well and undertsnad all the points. I really hope and pray that he would truely know, experience and come to enjoy God's grace found in Xst. He talked a lot about doing good things but said that he understood that his good deeds could never earn God's favour. That made my heart rejoice...

Here's the bible study notes we used. I wrote these notes in my first year on UCCF staff.

02 Jesus – Why did He come?

a. Jesus came to rescue rebels…

Read Mk 2:13-17.

Why are the tax collectors seen in such a negative light?
Summarise the teachers objections and Jesus’ response.
What's “The sting in the tail” i.e. what is the irony for the Pharisees in Jesus reply.
Mark describes two groups of people within this passage: the religious “goodies” and the “sinners”. Who is in most need of Jesus?
Summarise the main teaching point of the passage

b. We are the rebels…

Read Mk 12:28-31

According to Jesus what should a righteous life look like?
What does it mean to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength?
How do we match up to what Jesus says about God’s commands?

Read Mk 7:18-23

What does Jesus say our lives do look like?
Why is this the case?
Summarise the main teaching point.

c. We are all in danger…

Read Mk 9:42-49

What does Jesus teach us here about God’s response to sin? Why does he react this way? (see also Hab 1:13 and Isa 6:1-5)
What is our biggest problem? What is it that causes us to sin? Where does our sin come from? (Mk 7:18-23)
How are we to understand the command to cut off body parts in light of today’s study?
Summarise the main teaching point. We need help! Heart surgery! Is there a doctor in the house? (Mk 2:13-17)

New name for dissapointing Chili's album

2006-07-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

My housemate Giles has decided to rename the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album. So far he has come up with three suggestions:

Stadium Shite
Stadium mediocre
Stadium Pod is xxx

Red Hot Plagiarism?

2006-07-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

Should Tom Petty sue the The Red Hot Chili Peppers?

2006-07-06T17:23:00.000-07:00

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

My brother from another mother...

2006-07-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

Chili Peppers Shmilly Peppers...The best thing about the whole evening was catching up with my old band mate and friend Mark. I can't believe he now has a wife and three kids...

One Hot Minute

2006-07-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

I won't write a gig review cause' it's late and I want to go to bed but it was Awesome. All the classics...Give it Away, Under the Bridge, By the Way, etc...They rocked!

I said in an earlier post how much the Chilli's had influenced much approach to playing guitar. John Fruciante's playing has always been simple, minimalist but full of energy and emotion. Under the Bridge, possibly, has some of the most beautiful and emotive guitar playing I've ever heard. Very Hendrix-esq and fluid. It flows like liquid - one note to the next. As a musician he demonstrates maturity and humility in both his attitude to his music and his playing.

'My job in the Chilli Peppers is to make everyone else sound better' John Fruciante

I learned guitar listening to Chilli's albums over and over. Working out each guitar part, each and every note, how it was played and why it was played the way it was. The guitar solo to Californication was slated by the guitar magazines because it was so dry and simple. A learner player could play that solo - but that's not the point. The point is he wanted to serve the song not his ego. In Fruciante's mind that song required that particular solo. He isn't insecure and he doesn't care about the guitar mags. All Fruciante ever cared about was self expression and being faithful to his art.

Those who have heard me play guitar may not immediately see his influence in my playing. I use tons of effects - esp delay. My sound would never be described as dry and minimalist. I don't even use Fender Strats anymore preferring the more robust sound an Ibanez delivers. In many ways I have moved away from my roots. These last few years I've been experimenting with heavier tones and textures. My playing has become much more aggressive and I've preferred the emotionless tone of an Ibanez as I've tried to make my guitar sound like anything other then a guitar and something that sounds more like a synth or a couple of decks scratching...anything to sound different.

Well, I've been told to tone down my use of effects for Forum so maybe it's time to put away the Ibanez, lay off the Q-Tron, dust down the old Strat, brush up on my Hendrix, get back to my roots and lay down some funk!

Are you waka waka?

2006-07-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

Forum band practice all day on Tuesday...I love playing at Forum. It's a huge blessing and tons of fun.

Mark Stone (I like to call him Mark Stoned behind his back - hee hee!) is leading worship this year and he has has made it very clear to me that I'm to lay off the delay/ echo. So, I'm afraid there won't be as many wierd, uncanny atmospheric noises this year. Last year some UCCF staff accused me of making whale noises!?

Maybe I'll end up sounding like every every other guitar player...a little bland with not much depth, colour or texture? Nah...It'll force me to be more creative with the effects I do have left to use (like my crazy Electro Harmonix Q-Tron Envelope Filter...oh yeah...). When I play guitar I usually only have three modes:

Funk
Metal
Trippy/ narcotic...(Not that I'm trippin'. I'm refering to my style of play)

NOTE: Winners don't use drugs.

Catching up...

2006-07-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

The weekend was really cool. Me and my friend Mark went on the look out for a new car for me. there were a number of possibilities:

A 1.6 Golf. Rejected because of a lack of service history and the garage seemeda bit dodgy.
A 1.9 diesel Clio. Rejected because of a lack service history and...well...it was the same garage ...so that was that.
a Vauxall Tigra. Rejected because, in my brother's words, 'if you buy that car - people will question your sexuality'.

It proved to be an unsuccessful morning but we had fun hanging together, test driving cars I couldn't afford and there were even some cool conversations about God and stuff.

Afternoon - a buch of people came round to the Palace of Pleasure (my house) to see England under perform once again. A fun afternoon but England out...nuff said...boo!

The evening was spent with my good friend Canvin and his folks. It was Calvin's birthday and Valerie cooked up a special treat for all...steak and chips with lovely a 2000 riocha.

Now, these folks are like my second family. When things were kicking off between my mum and dad, when I was younger, it was Peter and Valerie that took my sister and myself in. We've spent Christmas' with these guys when we had nowhere else to go. They have loved us and cared for us for many years. There is so much I am thankful for to Peter (more than I could ever write about here). I owe bening a Christian to these dear friends.

2006-07-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

Question: Who just purchased an S reg VW Golf 1.6 with only 48,000 miles on the clock and a full VW service history?

Answer: Me!

Funk!

2006-07-05T03:18:00.000-07:00

funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk, funk funk, funk, funk...

The Peppermint Power Tower

2006-07-05T02:58:00.000-07:00

Going to see the Chilli Peppers later today - Can't wait. I grew up listening to this band. They inspired me to learn guitar in the first place...more about them later - after the gig.

This is the best bit - my old friend Mark is goona' be there too! I was in my very first band with Mark (10 years ago?). He was the guy that put me onto the Peppers in the first place. Our band was called Full Metal Octopus and we wrote such songs as:

Squeezing
The Freak Inside
Hole In My Sock
Squeezy Beaver

Fruity Flyer

Sometimes I feel that life's so bad
Sometimes I fele I'm better off alone,
But then you come along and sing me that song
andI feel my funkyness grow

Your my one and only friend
you make my stars shine so bright
So respect to you and all that you do
Let's stay up - all night

Funky and Brown - respect to Pod

can't remeber all the lyriocs to this...

He gives his but a shimmy, shammy to side as the funk starts to gluide
He's on the slim side - hung like a bass line

(I didn't write the lyrics to this song)

I'm SOooOOoo looking forward to seeing my old pal. It will be a reunion of funk of cosmic proportions....

I'll Blog about it later...

Stay tuned...The funk is coming....

England Out

2006-07-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

England loose on penalties to Portugal again, as Eriksson reign ends in defeat.

Wayne Rooney was dismissed against a poor Portugese side, whose players cheated, dived and intimidated the referee all through the match.

As unsporting as the Portugese players were (and Cristiano Ronaldo was particularly disgraceful) blame for the defeat has to fall at the feet of Eriksson, whose inept management through the last five years had seen three disapointing quarter-final tournament exits.

England had played poorly again, but Rooney's dismissal after 62 minutes galvanised the team, and another heroic England rear-guard action was fourght.

Penalties seemed England's best chance of a victory, but even in extra time England had the better chances.

Without Beckham, who was replaced after being injured on 51 minutes, Terry and Ferdinand led by example in the centre of England's solid defence.

In the last few minutes of extra time, the impressive Hargreaves (who had one of his best games for England) burst through the midfield and into the penalty area. His pull-back eventually found Terry, who spun and saw his shot deflected narrowly over.

The inevitable penalty shoot-out arrived, and once again England faultered. Ricardo saved from Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher and Portugal won the shootout 3-1.

The match was a fitting end to Erikkson's reign - a disapointment.

2006-07-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

I just saw a hedgehog in my garden. He saw me then rolled himself into a small ball. I didn't manage to get a picture. I need to go to bed now...

Blah, blah, blah...whatever....

2006-07-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

Apologies for not blogging. The weekend has been very busy and full and I haven't been able to find time to update. Lots of cool things to report back though. I won't have time to update tomorrow either as I'm at an all day band practice.

Here is some scripture I have been reflecting on and praising God for:

Psalm 116.1

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice

It's simple, it's true, it makes my heart rejoice....He heard MY voice...wow...He who threw stars into space. He hears my voice...MY voice....Isn't it incredible that God hears our voice? Sometimes I go on so much that even I get bored of my voice! Blah, blah, blah, blah....whatever...

God hears my voice and delights. I LOVE the Lord...

2006-06-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

To obtain a ‘birds eye’ is to turn a blizzard into a breeze....

2006-06-27T05:32:00.000-07:00

I never thought that words could ever help the process of healing. Words, I understand, don't change things. They may change perceptions of reality but they can't change reality itself.

They say time is a great healer? Time sometimes doesn't heal. Sometimes it just dumbs down that which you once felt so deeply. Where there was once a wound, now there remains a scar. Maybe it doesn't achce as it once did but it's there all the same.

I can see now, more clearly then ever, words are able to make a difference. There are times in life when perspectives are challenged and are allowed to be changed. Blessed is he who clearly sees the wood for the trees. Blessed is he who has persective because perspective pries oyur once weighty eyes and gives you wings...

2006-06-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

2006-06-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

You're on the edge of the woods now. You've made it through darkest part - the worst is behind you now. I think I can see where you are and I can see green fields stretching right upto the place where you are going to emerge out of the woodland and into the sunlight. Any moment now, and you'll be in the open.

PARDEISCO

2006-06-26T04:19:00.000-07:00

If you played for Brazil what would your name be?

2006-06-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

Some random pics from the last few days

2006-06-24T16:26:00.001-07:00

My JVC!

The lovely and very beautiful Linda Marshall.

Like freaks of a feather we rock together. I know my friend well but I think she knows me better! Just another half of this two headed freak but I need her like my heart needs to beat - me and my, me and my, me and my, me and my friends!

Ian's making a very strong point about something (probably the Englad/ Sweden game).

I call this pic - JJ throws frisbee.

Jo and and JJ explian the Rodreguez (sp?) goal from tonights game against Mexico. I believe the orange slice represents the Mexican goal keeper.

IVP book covers?

To be in love?

2006-06-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Loving someone can make you do some pretty dumb things. Rational thought, wisdom and logic are discarded. It's often difficult to see past the fact that you’re in love and that pretty much drives you to wherever that road may take you. I guess the point I'm making is that it's less about rational thought and more about instinct and desire.

Now, I'm not saying this is good practice and a model for relationships (it's not!). BUT, what would my life look like if my relationship with God was driven by that kind of love? Love that couldn’t see anything beyond the fact that I was hopelessly in love. Love that was driven by instinct, desire and passion. Love that says, ‘I love YOU! I need YOU and I can’t be without you! EVER – not even for a second!

My decisions would be driven by that love. My thoughts would be consumed with my my God. My hopes, dreams, desires and aspirations would be found in knowing that I’m loved. All I would need in this life would be to know, feel, experience that love. I would be a broken man wiithout it. I would be crushed should that love ever be removed. That kind of love says, ‘I would do anything for you my love, because my heart is filled with joy at the thought of you!’

I’m not making big statements. These are just my muddled thoughts and muddled prayers. I am (clumsily) trying to express that I want to be in love.

Asaph knows what I’m talking about:

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:25)

I know that Asaph’s desire, love and hope in the Living God were based on rational thought. He understood the holy, rescuing, merciful nature of His God. But there’s more to this relationship then just rational thought. He LOVES his God. He says, ‘There is NOTHING on earth I desire besides you!’ These are the words of a man who is in love! He feels these things deeply in his heart…

These are just my muddled words that are an expression of my muddled thoughts...

My family

2006-06-18T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ok - I just got back and I'm pretty wiped out so I'll justpost the pics I took on my new phone (hee hee!) with minimal commentry...

My brother Moninder with son Rubin.

Nephews - Ben and Ashar. Yes, Ben does play with dolls...shut up!

My sister and her husban Sanjay. Sab thinks she's a movie star...

Brother in law Simon with daugher Zeta.

The most beautiful girl in the world? My god daughter Jazzy.

Simon's sister, Lucy, reads Jazzy a story over breakfast.

Japan, Croatia and one BIG TV!

Two Indain women!

Zee!

So that's it. No commentary but I hope the pics give some flavour of a brill weekend of drinking, eating and time with recharging with family.

I'm off...

2006-06-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

Ok - off to spend the weekend with my cousins, God daughter, sister and other folks in lovely Buxton. Yay.....!!!!!

My friend Mark

2006-06-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

My good friend Mark came round last night. I met him a number of years ago through a mutual friend. Over the years we've got to know one another a little and have formed a solid friendship. I'm not sure if Mark's a Xn or not. I think he might be but I'm just not sure. Sometimes he says things like, 'If we do the right thing then God will invite us to the party'. Other times he displays such effection for Xst and humilty before him - it's just so hard to tell...

Anyhoo - last night we ate proper stodge. Sausages, mash potatoes, carrots, brockely and gravey. We talked about cars, football, life and love and then retired to the living room to srudy Marks gospel together.

What an ace evening! He relly seemed to (a) enjoy opoening the bible together and (b) grasp the main points of the passags. I was really encouraged. We'er meeting again next week to study Part2. Mark works wierd shifts (he's a bus driver), so I've decided to work my hours around him so we can meet up every week. He really seems up for it.

Please pray:

* That we would continue to meet on a regular basis.
* That he would have a life changing encounter with the Living God
* That as we syudy the bible together (and as he reads it in his own time) Jesus would walk of the pages and meet with Mark in very real and personal way
* for conviction of persoanl sin and the need for repentance

2006-06-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

The Yes/ No game

2006-06-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

When I was a child I used to play a game called Yes/No. Mostly, I used to play the game with my friends during RE because I found Religious Education hopelessly irrevant to anything (how ironic).

The game involved trying to make the other person say either yes or no. 'Do you like apples?' I would ask, 'erm...depends how I'm feeling' would come the reply - and so on and so forth...My favoured tactic to catch out newbies was to accuse them of saying 'it', aggressively whilst pointing:

Me: YOU SAID IT! YOU SAID YES!!!

Newbie: NO I DID'T! NO I DIDN'T!!

Me: Ha ha - you just sadi it twice!

Most people could hold out for a time but the urge to say yes or no in that game was overwhelming and sometimes it was all a bit too much.
I was reading Psalm 103 thins morning in my QT and realized that the Psalmist never actually asks God for anything in this Psalm. It's full of praise and adoration and that's it!

He reflects upon what God has done (v1-5):

* Forgives sin
* Heals diseases
* Redeems his life
* Crowns him with love and compassion (my favourite)
* Satisfies his desires with good things (I like that one too!)

He reflects upon what God is like (v6-19):

* Righteous
* Just
* Cares for the oppressed
* Knowable
* Father
* Compassionate
* Gracious
* Patient
* Full of mercy
* Loving
* Rescuing
* Forgiving
* Holy

Did you know the Hindus have 1000 names for god and none of them is father? The Psalm reminds me of something Mike Partridge said to me a long time ago. 'Pod, there are two things that are fundamental to our understanding of the doctrine of God. First, He is holy. Second He is love and everything else hangs off or those two attributes. What an amazing God He is.

He reflects upon what God is worth (v20-22)

The Psalmist wants other people to join with him in praise. Not just praise MY soul but you come and praise him too – praise YOUR soul.

Yes/ No?
This morning I tries to just praise God for who He is and tried to not ask Him for anything. to just adore him and reflect on all He has done. However, Like the Yes/ No game I found the urge to ask God for 'things' just a little too overwhelming. Oh well...Interesting experiment whilst it lasted...

Ginger movement?

2006-06-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

Earlier today, during the England game, Reo Ferdinand was reported as, 'moving a bit gingerly'. Could some one please explain to me what 'ginger movement' looks like!?

The melancholy mechanics of my mind

2006-06-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

Quick release chemicals strike with incomprehensible precision. Bio-organic electronics targeting microscopic destinations of devastation. Cleaner then light, meaner than a laser fight, billions of micro-maniacs known to most as the uncontrollable soldiers of suffering succertash. Instantaneous infiltration leaves me with a case of bustation, frustration, alone in a constellation of alienation, detached from empty conversation….

I wait…

I wait…

…For the wave to break

Sunny day

2006-06-18T15:18:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of cool stuff that happened to me or I did yesterday. God is good and generous and kind and good...

1. I woke up and spent about about an hour listening to worship music. Just adoring He who has loved me with an unfailing love. His grace truely is sufficient for me.

2. I have come to realize just how much I need to be upheld in prayer. I can see this more clearly now than ever before - if I need the prayers of others to sustain me then those around me need my prayers too. I spent the next hour talking to God and have committed myself to praying more for those who need it.

3. Blogged for a bit and that was healthy, wholesome and fun.

4. Who'd have thought that tidying mess could actually be thereputic? I Cleaned my whole house and used my (now fully armed and operational) dishwahser - cool!

5. I felt the need to have an encounter with the awesomeness of the Living God in all of His glorious rescuing activity. Two sermons on Exodus 1-6 did the trick...

6. My mum came round and was SOoooOoo sweet plus she gave me some cash for a new car! Woo hoo!!! Nothing brings a bit of cheer to my cheeks like new material possesions!

7. I went on a clibing wall with my dear friend Hannah and a guy called Dan (a random non-Xn guy I met at a BBQ last week). We had an ACE time! I can't wait to go back next week.

8. Ordered take out curry because I'm a lazy ass and couldn't be bothered to cook. It tasty so nice...

All in all a fun day of activities. Thank you God - for being so generous to one so undeserving.

2006-06-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

E-mail from Kenny

2006-06-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Pod,

Hope that you are well. I am good but would like the weather to brighten up a bit!

Thanks so much for agreeing to do a 1-1 next year with Andy - he's a top bloke and I'm sure you'll get along really well. When I told him that I was going to link you with him he was really excited as I think he'd been to a seminar of yours at Word Alive and was really impressed with it. That's really good.

Over the summer I'll be in contact with all those who are disciplers in 1-1's and I'll be sorting out some support material and stuff. I know that you are experienced in leading 1-1's so it might not all be that relevant to you but we shall see. I'll talk to you more about htings as the summer goes on but I'll probably be asking for your advice on what material to include etc.

What's your phone number - I'll email him your details later, if that's ok?

Have a good day at work and I hope that you're enjoying the World Cup

God Bless

Kenny

I need to take a break!

2006-06-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a dream that Richard Cunningham was the manager of the England football team and I was trying to persuade him NOT to bring out Wayne Rooney against Trinidad and Tobago. I've decided to take the day off and spend it with God.

Would you go?

2006-06-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

Truth be told - the last two days have been very sad for me. I was cheered up today when I found a note on my desk from Tom Price.

Pod,

DO think about joining me in Bucks by the pool next week. Call me if you want to chat. You're amazing - don't forget it for a second.

Tom

Tom isn't just someone I work with. He has time after time shown me great warmth, friendship and love BUT seriously would you join him?

Boo hoo!

2006-06-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

Ok - so today was the first time I've ever cried in a bible study - ha ha! I've been leading some bible studies on 2 Peter today. Myself and my team have been studying this amazing book for a number opf weeks now and today was the final study.

I was reading out the notes I posted earlier and about God's promises and started to choke and by the time I got to 'Gen 3 teaches us that we're not meant to be comfortable in this life'I was full on gushing - ha ha. Tom had to carry on reading for me. Much embarssemnt and awkwardness all round...

Actually - not really. I looked up and I strated a couple of them off too so it was all ok.

Why am I writing about this. Well, I have found much comfort and conciviction in 2 Peter Chp 3. No matter what is going on around me God's promises are still real and true and a promise is only ever as valuable as the person who makes it. What I mean is that when God say's he'll do something He does it.

It was good (if not a little embarrassig) to be moved by God's word. Now, the context of all of this is judgement and the point that Peter seems to be making is that what you believe effects what you do.

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

There is real responsibilty that comes with being a Christian and there's never been more of a time when I need to be reminded of this then right now.

God's pomises part3

2006-06-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

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We live in age of great promises and great disappointments. Never has so much been promised in terms of health, wealth, and success, dieting in this world. Never has reality been further for the ordinary person from that which has been promised.

Great promises about what you can have in this world, so big that, compared to the realities of life in this world which are far from them that we become cynical about promises in the age in which we live. Its surprising indeed that anyone should bother to send an advert like this out at all. How can it possibly be believed or taken seriously by anyone – we become very cynical about promises. We take seriously only those things, which we can see or have right in front of us now.

And promises of course, are not like that. For they are about things we don’t have yet but may have one day. Which makes it very hard to be a Christian in this age. For the Christian life is all to do with promises about the future. And God given us very great and precious promises about heaven in the bible – and these have been given for a reason. We would do well to pay attention because what we think about the future will ALLWAYS effect how we live now.

God's promises: Part2

2006-06-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

Living in light of God's promises. Here are some notes I wrote for a Relay training day a while back....

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

1. We ought to be people who long for that day to come v11 holy and godly.

Looking forward to the day ought to be the most natural thing to do if grasped what’s going to happen when it comes. If you have understood what God’s promise means you wont be able to take your eyes off that day because it’s such a good promise – looking forward – longing/ yearning word.

If you’ve grasped the promise then the hopes, dreams and expectations ought not to be for the things of this world – what do you dream of/ hope for/ long for/ what do you most want to happen? The things that we long for/ hope for and desire will make us the people we become – if you long for that day it will make you godly now/ holy now. Distinct in behaviour because you have a distinctive future that you are looking forward too

If you believe this promise you will ultimately believe that there is nothing to hope for in this world – we mustn’t behave as though we have an ultimate hope here.

We are not now, meant to happy and content in this world. Genesis 3 tells us that every thing that is closest to the way we are created has been frustrated. All of our potential is blocked all of the time. Every human being wants to achieve more then they can and at every point of life we are made to feel uncomfortable and dissatisfied.

The last thing that we need is to be comfortable in this world because the rest of the bible story will reveal that the world as we know it in it's current state is under God's judgement and wrath and is going down the tubes, if we were at home in it we would go down the tubes with it.

How will effect the decisions we take in life. – job/ marriage/ where to live. Will that decision make me long for the next world or will it make me more at home in this one. The way I live with other people will it help them long for the next world or will my priorities encourage them to be at home in this world.Where will I work? People who graduated 10 –15 years ago who will base there decision on where my work will take me and that meant for years they never really hear god s promise explained to them which has meant they have become more and more at home in this world.
Could I have less in this world that I may keep my hunger for the next world alive – we ought to long for the day

2. Prepare for the day v14. People ought to see you and say, “there are strangers amongst us here – not like us. People who belong somewhere else” because we are preparing for a different future. In every single part of life the future always makes us prepare in the present – exams/ marriage/ going on hols.. Future always changes the present v14. Since (a) do the appropriate thing now. Confidence in god’s promises leads to effort now 1:4 what effort are you making to prepare for the future. What are you working hard at now? Does what you are working hard at now have anything to do with Gods promises abut the future?

3. Accelerate the day v12. The day here is for repentance. Top 5 things on your agenda now? Is repentance one of them because it is right at the top of God’s agenda v15. New heavens and earth are for repentant people not for people who wont repent. There is nothing that reflects the character and nature of God more then evangelism

God's promises part1

2006-06-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

Today, I'm reminded of God's precious promises....

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.^[a]

Calvin in his commentary says…

But the day of the Lord will come Thus divine patience is balanced by justice, and we are told:

a. the certainty of the coming: will come

b. the character of the coming: like a thief

the consequences of the coming: The heavens will disappear with a roar. It will be then clearly seen that nature is far from immutable (unchangeable). Note other references to phsical convulsions as accompanying the day of God. (Isaiah 34:4, 51:6, Mark 13:24-5). The elements seem to be the heavenly bodies in this verse.

Prayer

2006-06-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Ok - so I've got a little behind but like my quiet times I refuse to feel guilty. To be honest I'm not even sure anyone (apart from Nat) actually reads this blog. I'll keep going with it when I have special moments. That way all my posts will have some value attached to them.

erm...today wasn't a very special day but I was reminded how very thankful to God I should be and am for all he has done for me and given me.

Today I was reminded of just how much I really need to pray. For my friends, for myself, my parents and those whom I love. Prayer is a very special thing. Here are some reasons why I think it's cool to pray (some of these are from Peter Lewis):

Jesus was crucified in order that we might pray.

Other people need our prayers

God commands us to pray

Jesus prayed

Prayer is the means by which God achieves His puposes

Prayer works

There are obviosly lots more reasons to pray. I'm just saying that today, I was reminded what an awesome privalage it is to pray (and it works too - bonus!)! I wish I was more passoinate about prayer...

Did I just come full circle?

2006-06-18T14:58:00.000-07:00