Just Thinking

Right now, I am in a place where I want to know where I am going, where I am meant to be, what I am meant to be doing. I don't know. That is ok.

I think sometimes you just have to go and do it anyway. In Matthew chapter 18:18, Jesus says to His disciples, whatever they loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven, whatever they bind on earth will be bound in Heaven. I really believe, some people are sitting, waiting for something specific in their lives, some kind of word, when God has already given it. Sometimes there are times when I and I suspect a lot of others feel like they have a word for someone, or we feel someone needs prayer, or even we feel like we should be doing something physically to help someone, we don't, or more probably, we ask God to confirm, we ask God for a sign. He has already given it.

If you feel you have that word, or that action to do, do it. Jesus, in that passage, I believe, is saying, step out in faith, you already know I am with you, step out and I will back you up. You have His word, stop waiting for signs and start being what God intended you to be. I will make a special point, that I am writing this to me, to remind me, to encourage me to step up and out.

Keeping busy honestly

I am finding that I have to keep busy. The first few weeks out of my job, I found I had loads to do. There were things around the house, the garage, the garden, there were jobs to apply for, time to make up, relationships to rebuild. All that is still going on.
Last week though, I found myself bored, I struggled. Mentally last week it was easy to knock me down. I was weak last week. Haha. I was unorganised, I am still getting up earlier and being disciplined, but I found that hard last week. This week I am more organised, I have plans for the week written out on the fridge freezer. I think it is something I have to watch, be focused.
This does not mean I cannot relax. Of course according to Tanya, I can't relax, but I had a lovely Sunday afternoon, on the sofa, watching 'Holes' ( lighthearted kids film). But I do love to be busy. Yesterday I had lunch with a good friend, nice to catch up, he has been so busy with work and family and stuff, it was great to spend some time with him, it also reminds me that I love to be busy, but I am blessed to have this time to spend on relationships, so I hope I get busy with relationships.

I also want to add today, that I need to be more honest in everything I do, I do hold back. Like when someone says 'are you ok?', I'll probably just say yes, ok or not. I sometimes hold back when I am writing this blog, thinking don't be too honest, well maybe I need to be more honest.

Well here is to honest busy relationships.

Tigers, football and a 20p suit

Saturday was good. It really was a great day. I did feel a bit down the night before, the youth cafe went well, until the end of the evening, when on doing an inspection, we found a large mirror broken in the mens changing room, another breakage. I do find I get knocked easy, when it comes to the yc, I take it personally. I commented to someone the other day, that the yc only happens because I turn up. I have been thinking about this, because the truth of the matter is, the yc only works, and everything I do only works, because God shows up. So I am sorry, for being a moaner, and thinking it is all me. Time to get positive, and Saturday helped.

First thing Saturday, we had a football tournament to go to, with our youngest boy. He is year 4, but was picked to play in the year 6 team, he is very good at football, but he seriously needs to work on his temper, and he he kept on going up to the goalie, when he let in a goal, to tell him how bad he was. He takes everything so personally. Anyway, it was good and a nice start to the day. I have to say that Mason's passion for things which he does is why he takes things personally and I think passion is great.

Beautiful day, the sun was out, we had some lunch and headed off to a jumble sale. It was packed, all these people, were scrambling over these clothes, it was like sales day at debenhams. So we had a bit of a look, and we were probably going to leave, because it was so busy, when I saw this suit, beautiful looking suit. My mother in law is getting married soon, so Tanya has been on about what am I gonna wear. Well we like a bargain, so I tried it on, perfect fit, so we asked how much. 20p said the lady, 20p, we said back, Tanya then asked the lady about another 4 times, how much the suit was, 20p was the answer, so I paid, and walked quickly away, feeling like I had just nicked something. A £200 suit, for 20p. That was why it was like a sale day, every item of clothing was 20p. We stayed a bit longer. Tanya got some bits.

Finally, Tigers. Tony Anthony, a man with an amazing testimony, if you have heard of the book 'Taming The Tiger', it is about him. He spoke locally on Saturday night. He was kung fu world champion 3 times, he grew up in China, a man who was brought very low, who has had an amazing life and has found Jesus. My son Morgan is a bit oriental obsessed, I thought he would love hearing this man speak. I arranged for some of the older youth to take him, so that I would not cramp his style, etc. Sure enough, this guy gave his testimony, at the end there was a call, up went Morgan. Woo hoo, yesterday, he said to his mum he wants to be baptised now. Brilliant eh. It was a good day, but Morgan responding to that call, just tops it all. Another step on our way as a family. Just makes me appreciate this time with them more, Thanks God. Lead on.

Flippin Eck

I have been saying flippin eck a lot lately, all the time in fact. I have a friend who I am sure must hold some kind of world record for saying 'flippin eck' . It has rubbed off on me, and after saying it last night far too many times at the youth cafe, I said I would write a post on it, here it is.

I thought I would write something on the etymology of the saying, and try to sound all clever showing that the saying derives from some saxon word for goats wee or something, but unfortunately, it is a lot plainer than that. It is just a term, to replace a more vulgar term, also beginning with the same letters, I am not going there.

I have had a few conversations lately with people about watching what we are saying, you see I think we do this too much, always worried about upsetting someone. I think people need to get over themselves, concentrate on content, not etymology.

When it comes down to it though, I don't want to swear, so I say flippin eck. Hope you weren't offended.

Self Harm

I was just reading that one third of teenage girls have self harmed and about one fifth of boys. What is going on. I have wanted to write a post on this for a while, but I did not know what to write. I still don't.

I have spoken to young people who self harm, I know people that self harmed when they were younger, I know some older people who probably self harm, is this one of these taboos, something we cannot talk about, something that is hidden in darkness, so that it becomes a secret struggle, a silent call for help, a personal pain.

I can only try to understand the whys, but I am not going to be patronising and talk about why I think, or what to do if you are self harming. I don't think that is my place. What worries me, is the lack of conversation.

Working with youth, I am constantly on the lookout for ways to reach out, ways to say to young people, you are not alone, others are going through it, others have been where you have been. I once read and I may have mentioned it before, that one of the strongest and most encouraging things to say to someone, is 'Me too'.

We all struggle with different issues, to hear that someone else has gone through or is dealing with those issues, is such a blessing. By admitting we are struggling, we encourage, we also admit, that we are weak but He is strong.

If anyone knows of any resources that can be of use, please let me know.

I know Hopextreme, from Book Of Hope, is a magazine asking some real questions and involving testimonies to talk to young people, very useful and gets the point across.

Discipline

I am finding I am being called right now, to be more disciplined. I don't think this is a bad thing, good picture though, and I want to know where I can get a good cage.

I have started getting up earlier, I feel good getting up early in the morning, before everyone else, I put God first, I'm in a better mood when everyone else gets up and I have more of a day.

What has also helped here, is me stopping drinking so much. I used to drink every night, at home, out, wherever, a lot. Now I don't. I like a drink, now I have a beer socially, it is important, I am healthier, my mornings are better and my mind is clearer.

Tanya and I have been talking today about putting time together with God, it is important, it is also something I think God is doing. As we step out more in faith, it is important that our relationship with God is good, that we are disciplined and spending time with God.

One of the biggest things I have noticed in my house now, is our reaction to the tv.

The tv used to be on, and it was our duty to find something to watch, if there was nothing on, something would do, anything, and it used to be the case that there were certain things on, we couldn't miss. Things were the wrong way round. If there is something I want to watch, I put the tv on, if there is not, it is off, and tv programmes do not come before living and doing. I sometimes just like to mong out, but it is a rarity, there is so much to do.

Of course, I have to be careful that the computer does not become the new tv, I also have to be careful what I am watching on the internet. I just have to make sure I am doing first and have some discipline.

Today

I wanted a funny picture today, I like funny church signs, hence picture. I like the word 'hence' too, I always tell my children to come 'hither', another good word. Enough of this randomness, yet I am a very random person.
My wife tells me, I don't always finish my sentences, I just find as I am saying something, it leads me into some other thought and I start talking about that and the same happens again. It is like my faith and my life, I have trouble verbalising exactly how I am feeling or how I am being led, this can also end up in verbal diarrhoea and often I find writing so much easier, but even then, as you can read, I start to babble. This can also come across, writing or talking, as judgemental or angry. I am probably both of these things, but do not intend to be either.

I am feeling quite down this week, even though on Sunday, I had a really great experience and a really great word, a real filling of the holy spirit, a real reality check of God being in my life, brilliant. Now I feel down, I am not worried, I feel sad, maybe it is getting use to a new situation, this new way of life sinking in. Worries on the horizon and I'm not sure what is going to happen. Maybe that is why my previous 2 posts have been about faith, exactly what I need more of. Saying that I don't feel worried, and there has been a closeness of God, so I am wondering if I am in mourning. Mourning a job and friendships of 10 years. Mourning a place that I grew up in, that really is no longer part of my life, mourning a change in lifestyle, in earning, and what also may be my house, maybe . I will be signing on this week, a good lesson in humility, I am a very proud man, maybe that is something else God needs to deal with. In His hands be it.

Upward and onward. Hence, I go hither.

Pale Rider

I watched some tv last night, not something I do very often nowadays, maybe that is something I will write about tomorrow, anyway, I did watch Pale Rider, to tell the truth it was late and I was channel flicking, but I stopped at Pale Rider and then I heard these lines;

'Their spirit was nearly broken and a man without spirit is whipped. But a preacher, he could give them faith. S***, one ounce of faith, they'll be dug in deeper than ticks on a hound.'

Absolutely amazing. You know Jesus said something similar;

'I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'

Big thing faith. What are we without it. I believe we are whipped, like it said in Pale Rider, we are under the cosh, without hope, uncertain, lost. With faith, we are victorious, free and full of hope.

There are a lot of depressing things in the media right now, actually there always is, but right now, I feel there is an awful lot of doom and gloom. I really feel this nation is under the cosh, whipped and needing hope, and I know that is felt by a lot of christians, as there is something called Hope 08, going on everywhere this year. I am also aware that my personal situation looks hopeless, and there are very testing times ahead. Where do I turn. I have faith, I am scared but I have faith. I really do not know what is going to happen, I have faith. I really want to increase that faith, because there are times when I feel the darkness encroaching, well there is no turning back, I have faith.
I want to be a tick on a hound, I want to see mountains move, if people get hold of the fact that there faith is so powerful, that with faith in God, mountains can be moved in this nation. Things can be turned around, faith can be turned into action.

Stories of Faith and Fame

I went into Oxfam the other day and got a youth bible that I am able to give to someone if necessary at the youth cafe, I have some other books I have ordered and some magazines that I just want to put out, that if anyone wants to read they can, and if they walk out with them, good. I have a Manga bible and I want to get some hopextreme magazines, I just want there to be options, I don't want somebody with questions, walking away with nothing.

Another book I bought was 'Searcher for God' the story of Isobel Kuhn, it is from a series called 'stories of faith and fame', which has brought back some happy childhood memories for me, I remember books like this, I remember reading them, enjoting them and being inspired by them. They are a simple childs version of stories of some real faith driven people. I remember once visiting a church, where my Dad was speaking, and they had these books, they also had a childs version of 'the pilgrims progress' , I loved it. Happy memories. It is good to have happy memories, I can look back and see real adventures in my life and real times of faith, sometimes these can be overshadowed with sad memories.
I will not let the sad memories get me down, they are areas in my life which can be useful to others, not times to dwell on and be depressed about. I am walking forwards, not backwards.

Anyway, I have been on Amazon this morning to try and see if I can get some cheap 'stories of faith and fame', there are loads. woohoo.

Look closely

I love peices of art like this, so much going on, this piece is by Thomas Eakins, I believe it is called Gross Clinic. I also like black and white photos of cafe culture, in 50's France or Italy, always something going on. There are always the questions, of what is that person thinking or what are they doing there? there is always something you didn't notice before, every time I return.

I have noticed the bible can be like this, there is always something you did not see before, you can read a passage a hundred times, then return to it one day and you suddenly get it from a different point of view, there are people in the bible who I think, what were you doing and why, how could they not get it. Then I look at myself and at some point, I get it.

Also, to see the whole picture, you have to give it time, you have to focus, concentrate, like the bible as well.

The 70s

My apologies but I have had to implement the word verification on comments, due to spam commenters. Do you think that is someones job, do they tell other people that is their job, 'Hi I'm a spam commenter' or is that commentator? Anyway, the 70s.............

I was born in 1976, so I did not live in very much of the 70s, but memories I have a plenty, and I can easily start singing that Sandi Thom song about how things were different and better, how as we have advanced, we have killed off so much good.

I am told that in Bhutan they no longer measure the wealth of their country in terms of financial wealth (GDP) but in happiness ( GNH), and one of my brothers tells me that they measured the gross national happiness of the UK on the same scale as the Bhutanese, over the last 50 years and found that peoples happiness increased up to the year 1976 and from then it has decreased. Now it is easy to say that once I was born the world became a sadder place, but I think there is more to it than that.

Did we suddenly reach a point, where our priorities changed. I watched a film over Easter, the Bad News Bears. The kids in it were ugly, badly dressed delinquents, one was an immigrant, the others had all sorts of family issues. I don't think it mattered, it was an enjoyable family film, cheesy, pretty crap, badly acted and simple. The type of film that just would not be made today, or at least with a better looking, better dressed, politically correst cast. How we have complicated things. My son asked me the other day, are hand me downs an American thing?

We need to get back to simpler things, like hand me downs and community, its ok to be ugly and badly dressed, its ok to be poor, its ok to have 'issues'. Where else are we heading?

Who do we think we are

I was just thinking about the nature of God's love and comparing it to our own nature.

I was in a supermarket the other week, and there was a young lady walking about with her kids, music blaring from a mobile, talking so loud that everyone could hear her conversation, dressed as chavs with rollerskate trainers and fashion conscious names like chelsea and britney. I was embarrassed, why?
I see road users that don't think of others, whether it effects me or not, why do I get so angry.
Youths in the high street the other day, swearing as I walk past, no respect.
The person walking out of somewhere, who has to stop in my way to light up a cigarette, because they could not wait a moment longer, as if.

I have been a too loud, fashion conscious (supposedly), road raging, chain smoking, swearing person. What have I become. A person that looks at others and judges.

Is the church ready for all of the above and more, without judging. Has the church become so middle class that we cannot relate to anybody in the real world, have we lost our salt or scarily worse, do we put our faith out of reach of those who desperately need it.

How would any church react on a Sunday morning, to a loud chav, a disrepctful youth, an angry chain smoker, how about to loads of kids who had never set foot in a church and ran around out of control, or someone off their heads on something we have never heard the name of, or a prostitute battered and bruised from a hard nights work.

We expect. People should have respect, they should know, they should................Why?

Jesus hung about with prostitutes and thieves. He saw them as people. Full stop.

It is time to get over what we know and start listening to the one who knows.

clearing out

I am finding it really easy to blog at the moment, probably because I am unemployed, I have a lot of time to think, I am trying to use my time off, (because I just consider myself as having some time off, will have job soon) as energetically and productively as possible. Tanya would say I am missing the point, but I like being busy.

So at the moment I am having a big clear out all around the house, not quite like the picture above, but I am also straining, haha. I am being quite harsh on objects in my life and throwing a lot away, it is hard but I believe it is healthy. We all carry around things in our lives we do not need, or want, or have even looked at for 10 years. We say it has sentimental value. That is why it is in a box, collecting dust, using up space, not being used, what a waste. cleaning out is good, maybe it also forces us to look at our lives in the same way.

I was talking about a lot of time to think earlier and as I'm clearing out, my mind is processing, memories, choices, journeys. I can see where I was, where I am now. With so much time to think I do find my self veering off into that other life sometimes, in my head, I think thoughts that I shouldn't be thinking and I understand Paul, talking about capturing every thought.

It is good to dream, to plan, to meditate. Just be wary, keep focus.

random

Tanya has been hogging the pc today, she has been getting things sorted on something she really feels God is pushing her to do, which is a drop in/advice and guidance centre for youth. Cool eh, I won't say any more about it, she will have to tell you.

I was busy today anyway, I had a really good time of fellowship with some of the older youth last night, had a lay in and then have been sorting out bedrooms.

There was one point today when I could not do anything and I found myself in front of the tv watching an old film called 'Odette', a true story of a female allied spy during ww2, who was captured and tortured by the Nazis.

Near the end of the film, the Americans are nearly on top of the camp she is being held in, and her warder begs for forgiveness and asks what do I do? Odette says to her, have you forgot how to pray?

That line got me straight away, its a question we should all ask, of course we know the technical bits and could probably recite the Lords prayer, but have we forgot what we are doing, the reality of created talking to creator, the relationship we are building, who are we talking to, why and when. Is it the true heart reaching out to the first love, is it the saved reaching out to the saviour? It is important.

Starting Over

I am aware that Monday morning is not exciting for everyone, it is a new time of oppurtunity though. For me, right now, it is more of me changing, a new week, a new push to be more disciplined, more priority moving, more sorting out and stripping back.
I got up 20 minutes earlier this morning, part of my new routine, I hope that becomes half hour and then an hour, time I want to devote to God and putting Him first in my day, small changes, manageable changes, one step at a time changes, but importantly making these decisions and putting God first.


All of the people mentioned on Saturday are from Northern Ireland, but are not well known for being so, at least to the people I know.

It has been an interesting weekend, God speaking in peculiar places. You have to listen.
I watched a band on Saturday night, I really started to think about a friend of mine as the music played, a friend who is not saved. I will be praying for him, I will be speaking to him, I feel God is pursuing him.

On Sunday, on our way to church, we were late, I really felt God say, He was going to interrupt our meeting( a term used by my brother Brian, see his blog). He interrupted our whole day, I really felt I was able to respond to some different peoples needs, to help, to be Jesus' hands and feet, mouth and ears. I love Sunday morning church meetings, worshipping God and hearing something to build you up for the week ahead, I think that you have to be ready to respond to God. That might mean missing Sunday morning, or a small group, or an event. meetings, events, groups, all build us up, all teach us something and fellowship is so important, but without action, without responding to God, they cease to be important.

The guy speaking yesterday, Albert, spoke brilliantly and one of the points he made was when Jesus asked Peter, 'Do you love me more than these?' and then he went on to question what is the 'these' in your life? Is it telly, or having a beer, or a nice car/house/holiday/football, or is it Sunday morning church service? Do we love these things, do we put these things before Jesus, before loving, serving and living Him.?

Weekend stuff

Great time at the youth cafe last night, deep questions ( Why won't God forgive Lucifer? ) and drunk girls, ( who just would not go home) police ( very helpful) and angry parents ( not so helpful), good relationships being built, all good.

Right, what do Lord Kelvin, Sam Neill, Kenneth Branagh, J.B.Burnell, Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard) and C.S.Lewis have in common.

Answers on a postcard, have a good weekend, back next week.

Officially unemployed

As of today I am without a job. This is one of the reasons I have been giving my testimony. I have been on a journey and right now I am just about to take a huge step of faith, I have left my job.

As I have said before, I certainly have not got it all together, I am not some uber spiritual guy, who is always walking in spirit and truth. I have not got this big mission set up, a calling to go out somewhere into the world. I believe I am acting in faith though.

I keep saying I, Tanya and I are stepping forward in faith and this effects our 3 children as well. We are all in it together, with God.

As I was saying yesterday about being challenged and changed, well we are being challenged about every way we live our life, being changed for His purpose. I actually felt God saying when I made this decision, that now I am giving my life totally to Him.

When we made this decision, there were a lot of reasons, a lot of worldly reasons, like travelling and job fulfillment, there were a lot family reasons, like the amount of time I spent away, the moods I would be in as my body clock readjusted, there were God reasons too, like not having the time to do His work, to have fellowship, to regularly commit to things. There were all these reasons. But I have prayed and prayed for God to be in this, He has answered prayer, people have come to us with words from God, we have had those same words, they have generally been about focusing on God, not the world.

I am without a job, I have a mortgage and bills and all the other stuff that goes with that. I can only rely on Him. Believe it or not, I feel great, I am not worried. This is a situation which is dire, as far as the world sees it, But I have something else. I will have bad moments, but I am not going to worry.

Over the last 2 weeks, I have also felt God really start to challenge where I am going, how I am thinking, I have been reading a lot, and getting really inspired, so God is talking and stirring me, that is great. I know He is with me, I know He is leading.

I also know there are a lot of people who read this blog, I have a site meter. I would ask for your prayers right now, that is all, spare us a word to the Big Man and remember F.R.O.G.

What next

I'll just carry straight on from yesterday. I had just had this real and personal experience of Jesus, what now?

I did an alpha course, which was good at just reintroducing me to church a bit and I got to know some new people.

Then those songs I didn't know, I suddenly realised weren't about me, they were about God, and about worshipping Him and I love to go for it worshipping God. I'm very loud, I don't know if I'm in tune, but that isn't the point is it.

In August of 2006, I got involved with the youthwork at church, which has ballooned since, which has also lead to some great relationships being formed, real friendships.

I have been set free. I am heaven bound, I have a new life. That is the fact now. I suppose the question is, what do I do with that freedom, what do I do with this life?

It says in Romans, that some people will get into heaven by the skin of their teeth. I believe that is those who just accept Jesus and all that He offers. They accept and then fail to act. Because I know Him, because He is inside of me, because I want that relationship with Him, He is changing me, He is challenging me. Forward.

I struggle with all sorts of hangovers from my life, but I want to continue to step forward, I am weak but He is strong, He is with me leading the way. I hope I have the guts to keep following.

That is where I am at right now. I am a Christian, who is listening, feeling, loving, reading, praying, singing and asking God, where now, what next? I will not stand still on my faith, more on this tomorrow

The big push

I was busy yesterday, its good to be busy.

When I moved to Diss, I didn't really know anyone, except my now 2 remaining brothers ( remaining in town that is, they are all still alive). Tanya started to go to a small ladies group, and then church, then she was really filled with the holy spirit and baptised.

I watched all of this, pleased. I started to go to church with her, I didn't like it though, I complained about the songs, the preaching was not real preaching. I still went, I was still asking the questions. I just did not know how to make that next step. I started to read my bible, finding out that God is not vague, He is quite clear on most subjects, the biggest point being, to surrender your life and will to Him.

I wanted to do so much of the worldly stuff still, I still wanted it to be about me, but life for me was getting me nowhere, and I was having a relationship with God, where I knew He wanted me to live His way, I wanted to wait till I was 30, then give my life to Jesus, I had every excuse. I was going nowhere, I wasn't good enough, the drums were playing loudly in my head.

One Sunday, the sunday before mayday 2006, a guy called Martin, spoke at church, about giving your all, in everything we do, he spoke about passion and about prayer, about the word of God and about worship. Something in me stirred. On the Tuesday morning, I drove to work, and I prayed, I want to know more of you God, and I worshipped God, I sang songs from my childhood, because that is all I knew. I gave my life to Jesus, I wanted Him to have my all, there and then He filled me with His spirit.

At work, I kept on singing to myself, I couldn't wait to get home. All the way home I sang and cried, when I got home, I went to go and get my bible, I wanted to read His word. I never got to the bible, 1 verse resonated in my head;

John 3:16 " For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"

Right at that moment, God was speaking to me, He sent Jesus for me, Jesus died for me, if it had of only been me, He still would have done it. I cried like a baby. I cried as well, because I knew that most of the world does not know, He loves them, so much. They'll never be good enough, He loves them, they can keep searching, He is waiting, He knows it all, He has seen it all. He is there.

The Next Step

Back to my tale.

I have already said, that throughout this story, I was searching. Well it got to a point, where nothing else made sense. You cannot have 2 conflicting truths, karma cannot sit with grace, the spirit world cannot sit alongside heaven. So much of what I had read, seen and listened to, started to fall down. I was left with God, the God of my childhood, the God I had prayed to, but I still didn't think He had it right.

As I said the other day. Tanya and I, with our 2 boys, had moved into a caravan, a bit difficult, we were searching for more, for freedom, for escape. I still had my job, so I had to commute quite a distance, and at this time, I began to pray, I mean I really started to talk to God, question, chat and pray for people. I still didn't get it though, I was still justifying myself, justifying anything I did wrong, justifying my desires, I was still doing so much, that was wrong, destructive and dangerous. I thought God was alright with it, scripture is vague, there are all these gnostic gospels to give me more excuses, I can still know God, but I don't have to do anything. I was getting somewhere though.

After a couple of months in the caravan, we wanted a house again, but we refused to go back, we decided to drive around and find somewhere new, somewhere fresh. We drove out into the country, to the seaside, to different places, and then one day, we stopped for lunch in Scole, which is a village, next to the town of Diss, where at the time, 3 of my 4 brothers were living, everything felt right. We went to the different estate agents. There was this big house, for a bargain price, we just wanted.

So we moved to Diss.

And now for something completely different

It is the weekend, the youth cafe was very good last night, not as many kids, it still being the Easter holidays, but very relational. Had some really good chats, as my brother would say ' caring, not selling'.

Anyway I'll get back to me next week, as it is Saturday, here is my favourite joke;

Irishman, American and Russian sitting in a pub, having a discussion on who the superior race is.....
" Ve are zi superior race of course, ve put the first man in space" Exclaimed the russian. " Yuri Gagarin, first man up there, you know I am right."
" No way Ruskie" said the american"Now we put a man on the moon, your lot still ain't managed it, 'One giant leap for mankind' that was us, we are the greatest."
"Now I hate to be disagreeing with you gentlemen there now" Put in the irishman." But I am afraid you would both be wrong, because, you see, us irish we are planning to send a man to the sun, now surely that would make us the superior race?"
The american and russian, both looked shocked and then started to laugh and laugh.
" You idiots, you send a man to the sun, he'll shrivel up before he gets anywhere near." Said both.
"See there you go now, underestimating the irish again, do you think we haven't thought of that" replied the irishman." Do you think we are that stupid, we are going to send him at night."

I thank you, and good night.

In my head

When I got with my then girlfriend, who became my wife, my head was a mess. I had so many questions, so many desires. I thought I had been missing out on so much. I thought my life had been so sheltered, and everyone else had been living. I thought there were so many people I knew who were good people. I thought God had to be more of what I wanted rather than what He wanted. I was bitter with what I saw as constant judgement, I did not see any life or freedom in Christ.

I went looking for easy answers, I read books on other religions, I looked into the occult, where you seem to get proof, but proof of what. I still loved Jehovahs witnesses coming to my door, so I could argue with them, every Christmas and Easter there was a prayer from me that went up to God, to thank Him and every time I was in need, I called out to Him. In my darkest times crying out to Him.

With the birth of our second child, Tanya dropped into post natal depression. I did not understand. I don't think I wanted to. I looked after the kids as best I could, worked my socks off and started to drink very heavily. I grew bitter with Tanya. You can't see mental illness, its not like being phyically sick. There are happy times and then there are dark times.

I grew angry, I lost my temper easily, and that destructive anger is something I still struggle with now. I started thinking and behaving very selfishly, started folllowing the world more and more. There were drugs and drink and my behaviour with women was inappropriate. Me and Tanya's relationship was up and down like a yoyo. We even briefly seperated and when we came back together, things started to change.

Firstly, Tanya came out of her depression, it was not the counselling or the drugs, one day she picked up a bible and started to read. ( If you ever get the chance, Tanya's testimony is on her blog somewhere). As a couple we started to question everything around us, we started to question the world, our lives, our spirituality. What had we achieved, where were we going, We decided to leave our Hometown, Grays, we left the trappings of society, the house, the friends, I kept my job, we moved into the caravan we owned.

More next time.

Change of Plan

I am away today, so I will not be continuing with my mini bio, until hopefully tomorrow, short thought for the day though.

I was in a couple of bookshops the other day, tiny Christianity sections. How come the thing that was the reason behind the printing press, how comes, that freedom of literature begotten ( cool word) by the protestant reformation has been consigned to a couple of shelves near the back of every bookshop.

Amazing how many biographies there are, how many self help books, business books. It is a world of me, me and me. Have a good look around. This me business isn't doing the world too good, is it?

There is more to life than you.

Lost

I wanted a picture from lost, because it is recognisable. I watched the first 2 series, then when it moved to sky. I gave up. This is my continuing story of where I am and how I got here.

I ended up in some horrible and scary situations in my life, I am thankful to say that the girlfriend I moved out with, became my wife, eventually. Before that we ended up living and working in Majorca, which was a fantastic time, with some great adventures, but also a time of danger and for one of the first times in my life, that my life was threatened, due to my drunkenness ( not sure on the spelling there).

We returned home, to marriage, to a mortgage, to a son, (Morgan )some may say, to boredom and conformity, to work, and I was still only 19.

At 20, I got an offer, from some irish gypsies, to go to work in Germany, tarmacking. I went with my best mate, leaving wife and son behind, to go and earn my fortune for them. After enough adventures to fill its own book, I once again escaped with my life, literally running, being chased, and being very scared, and very glad to get home.

This incident affected me alot. I came back to England and once again settled into normality. After nearly losing my leg in a steel yard, tearing my hands on sacks of tea, getting seriously frozen cleaning freezers, smelling from salmon packing, working production lines and being a security guard, I got a wonderful job in an oil refinery, where I have been working for the last 10 years, as of yesterday.

So professionally, I started to get it together, I was still very messed up in the head. This is dragging on, so I will continue tomorrow..............................

Beginnings

I have had what many would call a different life. As a child, difference is like a disease, as I have grown, I look back and see what has made me and I notice the sometimes boring lives of my peers and realise I was blessed. I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, but moved to England as a very young child, (although I retained my accent for many years) my father was a minister, and got a job at a baptist church in Grays, Essex ( Don't worry, I'm not writing a life story, I will try to be brief). I, at this time, had 3 older brothers and a lovely mum, and I, even though I was so young, have some wonderful memories of this time in my life.

My mum died when I was 4. Cancer. As a 4 year old, the only thing I remember in my head, was thinking, was that my mum had gone to heaven, no more pain. I think we could all do with looking at things like a child sometimes. Simple, but honest.

My dad remarried, he resigned as a minister, we had to move, we gained another brother, things were very different, what seems in my memory, very quickly.

As I grew, in our new home, I started to encounter things I had not before. At school, I was a paddy. I started to notice, we were not very well off ( something, we probably never were, but I had not noticed, the world has a lot to answer for). I started to experience different forms of church, I have to say, I saw some amazing things, heard some great people speak, met some really cool people. As I grew, I probably became more ashamed of this to my peers. that disease, difference, while I actually spoke to God more, my life was moving farther from Him. I never denied Him, I never said His name in vain. He was there in my life. Just at the back of my mind, until the quiet moments. Or Sunday morning. My life moved my way.

God was there watching. I wanted to do my thing, to fit in, to be me. Drink, drugs, sex and rock and roll. At 17, suddenly, living with my girlfriend, no family, no church, God forgotten, in my quest for me.