need

I watched the motorcycle diaries the other week, good film, I loved the fact that a man, travelled that continent, coming from a privileged backround, met real people, real people in need, and was changed. Che Guevara

During Che's journey, he responded to needs, as he came to them, he gave free doctors advice, gave people money, he did not really have, when arriving at the lepor colony he was heading for, he tried to break down barriers in the contact with the lepors, and was importantly struck by the fact that the healthy and sick were seperated by a river, which according to the film upset him deeply, leading him to swim the gap on his birthday, to spend it with the lepors.

I know this was just a film, and also, I believe importantly, Che turned to violence to change the world. I believe coming into contact with real people with real problems, should change us all, that is where Jesus was when He was here, a real person, living, helping, loving all those He came into contact with, and those people were the sick, the dregs, the hated, the needy.

Jesus has and continues to change the world with love, not hate, love, not violence, love, not judgement. I know it is my word of the moment, but its challenging to face all with love, all, its challenging not to react with anger, or disgust, or hate, but with love, It is challenging not to judge, condemn or point the finger, but love. That is what Jesus calls us to do, it is what He did,

He loved, He showed love, His greatest act of love, was the greatest act of love, to give up His life for us, He did not fight , judge, condemn, He forgave and loved. Full Stop.

My body is giving up

I'm not old, I feel it, I've just phoned in to work sick for tomorrow, I never have time off sick, I'd love to go to work, but the body says no, if you have seen the film Me, Myself and Irene, there is a point in the film where the main character snaps, the drums start playing in his head. I'm not losing my head, I just feel the drums playing and I need to stop, I'm oh so tired, but feel like I am just whingeing, even though, for once, Tanya seems to think I am not well.

I want to write so much, I have loads to write, I have been thinking, reading , I have been inspired, by some films, some people and by God, and I want to get it all down, but I am tired, so this is hello, I am about, I will try to be more attentive, if I get any time, bear with me.

challenges

I have been very busy this weekend at work, which is very frustrating, because I have a lot to say, this was not it. I thought I would write a quick post to keep myself in habit, and I just wanted to talk about some feelings of mine at the moment, nothing specific, just about being challenged, and how frustrating that can be.

I'm not talking about challenged as a disability, like vertically challenged, I'm not talking about challenge from a struggling sort of sense, and even though I am challenged, its others reaction to them challenges that frustrate me.

I am feeling really challenged at the moment about how I live my life and am questioning my role in society and the world, I have a sincere belief that I should question how my life reflects that which Jesus wants me to live, in other words, is my job where God wants me to be, is it right to work for an oil company, is it right to buy cheap clothes that are made by slave labour, is it right to be caught up as much as I am in this worlds media and money driven life. what sort of message am I sending to my kids about that life???????????????????

There are more, my point is, that when I talk about this, and even talk about these subjects as my own challenge, and that I am being challenged personally, people seem to be taking offence, they seem to think I am challenging there way of life, or criticising the way they live, or that maybe I am getting confused.

I don't feel under pressure, I want my life to reflect who I follow, and I feel that is not necessarily the norm, it is how I am being challenged, I think I just wanted to get this down to clear my own head. Not to say, oh yea, I'm right, just to say its ok if Jesus wants me to question certain things in my life now, I want to listen and follow Him.

Humility

Yesterday, I, as is my way, got all self righteous and preachy about being ready to be persecuted and not always following authorities line. I then went and read my bible, and God, as his way, put me right, not that we should not be ready to be persecuted ( did I put that right), but in Romans 12, I am told to submit to authority, so even when I find it frustrating, I should submit to rightful authority.

Anyway, ( my favourite word.) Northern Ireland played football last night, and in a wonderful display, I was able to watch, thanks to the wonders of digital TV, a great 1-1 against Sweden.

Its great being the underdog, I always cheer for the underdog, I even, and this is hard to admit, but when England played rugby against Australia, I was behind England, you say why is that hard to admit, because England aren't usually the underdogs, and aren't very gracious with it.

Being humble is the key, so if Northern Ireland go on to win the European or world cup, I pray we stay humble.

Persecution

Had a really good youth alpha group last night, fantastic, loved it. I prayed that I would feel better, ( since I have been sick, if you have been keeping up) this morning, I felt great, I was surprised.
Did I think that prayer does not work, did I not expect it to work, am I just better, because I'm not ill anymore. God works, He's good, He answers prayer. Remember it. Thanks God.

Not actually what I wanted to write, just a sort of update.
Persecution. I just worry that sometimes we are to ready to do as we are told by the world, we make excuses for the world , we want to abide by the law of the land , because it is right, but what about if it affects us doing God's work. I am not talking about unfair taxes, or the no smoking ban, or speeding tickets, or many other perceived unfair laws, that I and other christians may break from time to time, or don't agree with, especially speed limits.

I am talking about the pc laws, the laws which tell us we have to insure, protect, be careful, about reaching out to the world.

Are we ready to be persecuted, as a person, as a church, are we ready to do what is right, before God, in spite of the law, or insurance companies, or organisations that do not agree with us, or other religions.

Do we want to pander to others, do we dilute ourselves, are we, by trying to do right, in the eyes of the world, not following Jesus, not living as he would wish, not being open, when we should be, not giving when we have, because of regulations. Are we ready to break the rules, and as it says biblically, stand before the courts and say why.

Blog Action Day

Today is blog action day, all bloggers uniting to speak on one subject, which today, is the environment. Not my favourite subject, and personally I can think of other subjects I would like to join together to write about, rather than this, but here we go.

I am not an alarmist, I'm not going to jump on the first enviromental bandwagon that comes along, sprouting on about the end of the world, funny it used to be christians walking down the street with the sandwich boards telling everyone to stop, turn back to God, the end of the world is nigh. How times have changed.

I am not going to take that other view, that I have heard about, that of christians, wanting to abuse the planet as much as possible, to bring about the end of the world. Well that just has love written all over it.

I do want to say, I need to take responsibilities for my actions, you need to take responsibility for your actions. It is another one of those light in the darkness moments, stand at the sidelines moaning, or do our bit. God created this world, we are his, responsibility time.

I love the countryside, I do not want it to be one big waste bin, so I need to recycle more. I hate walking into town and breathing in loads of fumes, its horrible, I think about my baby daughter breathing that in. Smoking is banned in pubs and workplaces, but our kids now have to put up with more smoking at home, smoking on the pavements and nothing done about all the crap from cars that is pumped out.

I work in the oil industry, I do actually worry how I can continue to do so, and have a conscience. But even there, we know deisel cars can run on vegetable oil, we don't need to be abusing the world for oil.

We ( I mean I) need to really start to look at every decision we are making, is it based in goodness, light and love, or is there an implication to our environment or to someone on the other side of the planet, that we would rather not think about.

I am reading the irresistable revolution by Shane Claiborne at the moment, there are plenty of challenges in it, from the environment to community living, good book to read.

I suppose my end thought is......................THINK

I'm not well, typical really, I'm off work, I never get sick when I am at work, as soon as I have some time off though, bang. I think it is actually like a release, I always talk about relaxing, very rarely do it. I am not going to do alot at the moment, until I get better, well I'm gonna try. I really have to practice what I preach, rest in grace and love, but I just want to do so much. The trick is to be challenged, not ashamed or guilt ridden. That is so much of an answer to so many ways I and others lead our lives as Christians. I want to do so much for you Lord, I know you have done so much for me, teach me the way to live, in You, for You, walking the walk and talking the talk, in freedom and joy, wanting others to feel and know you, not out of shame or guilt, because You know all and have made everything clean and right. And help me to rest, because You need me fully fit. Thanks God.