Staying up late

I love staying up late, listening to music, getting nostalgic, becoming hopeful, thinking thoughts, sitting back, smiling, relaxing with friends, wondering about how things have changed...

A few days ago we recorded a podcast...

http://web.me.com/tom.bray/Site/Podcast/Entries/2009/12/24_Godpast_1.html

What if?

I like the sentiment

"If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I'd limber up, I'd be sillier than I've been this trip. I'd make more trips. I'd be crazier. I'd climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. I'd eat more ice cream and less beans! If I had to do it over again I'd go places, do things, and travel lighter. If I had my life to live over I'd start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I'd ride on more merry-go-rounds. I'd pick more daisies."

An anonymous friar

Happiness

"trying to find happiness from this world is like trying to light up a dark room by lighting a succession of matches. You strike one, it flickers for a moment, and then it goes out. But when you find Jesus Christ, it's as though the whole room's suddenly flooded with light."

Professor Joad

Things I love about being home (no particular order)

1. Our shower.

2. The cat.

3. Mum and Dad.

4. No hills.

5. Minimal commitments.

6. People just around the corner.

7. TV.

8. Big, cumfy sofas.

9. Nostalgia.

10. Friends.

11. Warmth.

12. People from Southport.

13. Asda.

....

A tribute to Colin Bedford

What a man.

A pillar of our church died on friday. I got a text simply saying "Colin went home today", at first I was confused, then sad, then joyful. That is right. Colin went home.

This man has served his Lord for YEARS. He has testimony of all God has done throughout this time, in his life, in the life of his church, in the life of those around him. His stories were amazing, his networking vast, his knowledge encyclopedic and his love abounding.

There were several occasions when I was negative about Colin, but many more where I was encouraged by his words. He was always there with a welcome, a joke or a bit of knowledge of the world. I expect his funeral to be packed, mainly with people he brought to Jesus, people he served and people he encouraged. He continued to minister to the over 50s of our church for years after he retired from the ministry, bringing many to the church, taking many around the world to Israel, Toronto and other places and serving wherever he could.

He was one of God's leaders. He was a holy man. He knew Jesus, very well.

Colin leaves a big hole.

Praise God for his life!

A GMH...

Today, I was on the London tube. I was looking at the posters as I went down the escalators and there was one on plastic surgery. Someone had placed a sticker over the womans face that read

'You don't need this. You are perfect the way you are.'

THAT IS RIGHT.

GMH

Melissa has just introduced me to the website http://www.givesmehope.com/.

I love it. People sharing about times when they have experienced real love, real joy, real hope at the hands of other people.

Jesus gives us that.

I want to give people the real love, joy and hope that Jesus has given me.

I don't like stopping reading the Givesmehope stories. They are lovely.

"I don't touch any of that crap, my body's a temple."- Pheonix Nights

Later on at the student meeting this sunday a different elder (John) brought a word from Ezekiel 47. What a passage! He read about the river from the temple, and how the river first comes into our lives like a trickle but God's love overflows and overwhelms us so we can no longer stand in it and have to swim in his living water.
Wonderful imagery of a promise God sets out for us.

I was then drawn to reading all about the temple in Ezekiel, the vision of how the temple will be, we hear about the words on each gate, the rooms for priests, rooms for sacrifices, the altar, the glory of the temple, the people who live in the temple and then how the river flows from it. It is seven chapters of detailed description of the temple of God, going into amazing depth.

Then I thought about how we are the temple of God, how he is dwelling inside us and Ian Portwine pointed 1 Corinthians 3:16 to me where we read that we are God's temple, and I realised that we are described that intricately by the Lord, he goes into that much depth (like in Ezekiel) about how wonderful we are, how precise we are made to be; this made me joyful.

Then I was drawn to John 7:37 (the verse our student meeting is named after - "737"), and read about how Jesus tells those who are thirsty to come and drink. I then read on as he says - "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Streams of living water flowing out of the temple as we believe in Jesus. We are not just overwhelmed by the water that God gives to us, by his love and joy, but we are where his love and joy flow from. We have streams of living water flowing from inside us, we are temples of God.

Quality.

We need to acknowledge this and treat ourselves in this way. We are a wonderful beautiful temple, we need to treat sin and dirt as if it has no rite to be anywhere near us (it doesn't have any rite) and we need to remember that we are home to the holiest of holies, this makes us holy and this makes us pure.

The sharpest suit you will ever wear

The student meeting at church this week was a lovely time. We worshipped the whole way through for about an hour and a half, different people brought different words, prayers or thoughts through the evening. One of the elders (Alan) said something about who we are, why we are free to worship, why we can meet with God. One phrase that he said resounded in my head and heart, he told us all that we are now clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. He said a lot more, but I only really took that in.

My thoughts went into overdrive, I was reminded of baptism and particular baptism at church at home. Those who are baptised walk into the water, are dunked, and walk out, amazing symbolism of death to our old lives and the start of the walk in our new lives, exciting. After they get out they are wrapped by someone they love in a bright white dressing gown (it is grey now after a few years! Someone get some Daz!) and walk away to dry off and then worship the Lord.

This picture was speaking to me about being clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.

We approach God's throne as unworthy sinners, we should be trembling in his sight, we do not deserve to be near God, but while we are still far away from the throneroom we meet Jesus who wraps us tightly in a beautiful, bright dressing gown that is his righteousness and brings us through to the father presenting us perfect and holy in his sight. The father sees us and Jesus, he smiles at his children and can do nothing but love.

Jesus died so we can come to the father like this, so we can approach his throne with confidence, so we are free from our old lives, from condemnation, from fear, from embarrassment and so that we are dressed in the finest, tailor made Italien suit this world will never see...

Battle

A few of us prayed today. It didn't seem easy to actually find somewhere to pray. We had planned to meet in the library, I had forgotten my campus card. I had booked a room in the library, but they wouldn't let me have the room because I had no card. It seemed very petty. We then tried to go to a little room in the engineering department that we thought we could use, we couldn't get in, so we went into a lecture theatre, sat down and prayed. It was a short but lovely time of prayer for the science site, for durham and for our lives. Thinking about what Sean Feucht had said over us students all those months back, when the weather was hot and we were on fire for more of God.

However, I couldn't help but think someone didn't want to it happen.

Maybe that is encouraging.

The weather changed, I think we are still on fire.

The price to pay

Small group is consistantly a blessing to me. I love the people there, I feel I learn every week. I feel loved, encouraged and needed. A lovely place to be.
Recently at church we have had preaching on forgiveness, on repentance, on the cross. I missed one week because I was out with the young people. This week we were discussing the sermon and looking deeper at forgiveness, the small group filled me in about the sermon, about Philemon and the wonderful story and difficult time he went through.
It was an excellent summary! I got a lot from the group filling in the gaps.
Then, we began to discuss forgiveness. The general consensus was that we must forgive like Jesus did for us (I was fine with that, spot on) but people must still be punished for doing wrong (I couldn't believe what I was hearing, we are not punished for sin).
It seemed to be that this was all wrong, 'No, surely we need to forgive as Jesus did, without consequence, we sinned, we hurt our Lord but still we are free to be in a relationship with him, surely this is how we must live' I thought.
My understanding was... even if something horrific happens to you, you still must forgive and love as if it had not happened, this horrific thing should not happen again but you were safe in the knowledge the perpetrator had been forgiven, there need not be any consequence for the sin or crime because there was no consequence for our sin or crime from the Lord.
I then had a bit of a brainwave (I might credit this one to God speaking to me).
Of course there was consequence for our sin. Jesus was that consequence. He paid a HUGE price for each and every one of us on the cross. He took that incredible weight of sin on his shoulders and died in our place. The price was so high there was nothing any of us could do without Jesus, without his love on the cross.
So does forgiveness come with consequences? Of course it does.
"Should we keep on sinning so he can keep on forgiving? Of course not!" After forgiveness pain, suffering and sin must stop.
If sin does not stop, if we do not have repentance, if we continue to be wicked there must be consequence, a serial killer, a long term abuser, a professional theif must stop committing crime, and in this world they must pay the price. In the kingdom, Jesus paid the price, hence we must accept this and turn away from our sin.
We need to repent. If not then there may be consequence (I say may, there will, but see last post...!)

I haven't really got this across very well.

God 1 - Devil 0

There are some times in life when I actually start thinking about who God is, what is actually happening, and how that effects us.
This means I start asking questions.
Here is one.
I know that on the cross Jesus said "It is finished!" and I hold on to that truth. It is finished, he has done it, death is beaten. We no longer are condemned by the law, we are no longer slaves to sin, we are free, we are alive in Christ, we are living life in all its fullness and will be made perfect in his glory at the end.
But what happens to those who are not saved? We know that Jesus fought the Devil and won. When someone is not saved what is happening in them going to hell? (Do they go to hell?)
My logic (which is often dodgy) tells me that if the devil has been beaten, he has been beaten, Jesus did it, GAME OVER. But we also know that we need to be prepared for battle (armour of God), does this mean there is potential to lose?
God and the devil are not even in the same league, they are not competing, never were competing, never will be. But if someone goes to hell is God's will fulfilled? Does he not wish Salvation on all men? Is hell a time when God loses? And if people do end up in hell is that the devil becomming victorious in that individual battle?
So my question is this ... Is hell, as a necessity* (rather than a punishment), a part of the war (against the devil, against evil, against death) that the cross can never win?
I want to say no. The cross is enough. God's grace is enough, but in saying no does that mean all are saved? Please give me a kick if I am being foolishly stupid or blind. Or if I am being just foolish. Or if I am barking up the wrong tree.
*I use the word necessity as I realise that God cannot be near to sin, and my theology would say that only Jesus can wash us of sin, so hell is a necessary outlet.

Faith, hope and love

Three beautiful words. Words that I am tempted to say sum up the gospel. Sum up the bible.

We are famous for judgement. As christians we have painted a picture that God is about no sex before marriage, about hell and condemnation, about sadness, solitude and boredom. When in fact Paul simply says that 'these three remain'.

Faith in our Jesus Christ, in his death on the cross and his resurrection to life, 2000 years ago for Jesus and today for me.

Hope that through Jesus and through his spirit God is transforming our very lives, day in day out, to be more like him so one day we can rest in his presence forever.

Love for our God for the things he hath done, and love for others despite the things they hath done.

So I thought to myself; 'The bible doesn't judge. It is a love story written from God to me'

I believe that is the truth, and what does the truth do?

(Answers on a postcard to 39 Geoffrey Avenue, Durham, DH1 4PF. Thankyou..)

Pressies... YAAAAAY

I lead youth group for years 7 - 9 at church today, on the subject of spiritual gifts (they are going through a series on living with the spirit, its sweet), they seemed attentive for a change...

In preparing it though I couldn't but think about God's gifts, his good gifts.

People can be healed, we can see supernatural wonders, we can speak in heavenly languages, and then the greatest gift of all, the salvation of our lives For eternity we are saved, delivered, covered.

What greater gift?!

Dancing in the light

I had a quality evening.

After a lovely gig by Phatfish, worshipping the Lord, a load of us decided to go to the pub to catch up with Ali Scott and chill out in fellowship together. The swan and 3 cygnets was full. So, we went to Boathouse, a cocktail bar by the river in Durham.

The music was loud and I wasn't sure how it was going to work, how could we catch up like this?

Me and Ali had a great chat, about where he is, what is going on, about Durham, what is going on here, was sweet. And the girls started dancing!

I was well up for dancing.

Dave Milledge said something about going out and worshipping the Lord in clubs. This is what we did, we danced together in fellowship with each other, but also remembering why we can dance... Jesus!

Even some of the lyrics to the dance music pointed towards him - "I believe, I believe, I belieevvvvveeeeee in love", "the sun (son) is shining".

It was quality. Lets go again, let us pray, dance and worship as a big group in a nightclub. Show the devil that he isn't welcome there either...!

Truth

Roald Dahl the poet - The Twits

Reflecting glory

My walk home from lectures is now very very lovely. A walk through Mary's college, then up a grassy bank to a high point above Durham city. It is beautiful. The cathedral standing out above a see of green and speckles of houses. Lovely.

Tonight was just as beautiful. The stars were out, the cathedral prominent and a full moon topping off the glorious view.

I couldn't help but think of Jesus. (Surprise surprise!)

2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory..."

How obvious was this tonight? The moon shining bright, bright light over the whole of the city, reflecting the glory of the sun. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory.

That is an amazing testament! We reflect the glory of Jesus, and how bright is that?! How glorious is he?! When we are transformed, when we are made more like him we reflect him more and more, we go from a lunar eclipse, through the crescent moon and half moon, to reflecting all of Jesus in all his glory.

I cannot wait!!!

I sang out and praised God for the beauty of his creation. It was wonderful. It was speaking to me about my king, it was glorifying him!

I also thought of the verse about shining like stars in the darkness (Phil 2:15), and that is life as a christian; reflecting Jesus, pointing out his beauty, shining a light to show the way, becoming beautiful ourselves, loving the whole universe.

I am both amazed and excited by his glory. And I simply say... MORE LORD.

I can't wait to see it again tomorrow morning.

The Steering Wheel, the Map, the life...

At the start of this academic year I started telling people and myself that I would have to rely on the Lord to get through this year. I thought this a positive statement to make, acknowledging that he is in control and by him and only by him can I get through what seems to be a very very busy and difficult year of study.

What has changed that makes me suddenly think I need him?!

I need him in everything I do!

For too long I have been in control. Abba Father has been tapping me on the shoulder asking me if he can do it, telling me he is in control, for too long I have turned to him and arrogantly said "I can handle it".

When I really can't.

Who do I think I am?! What is this life I have been living?

Where is my humility? Why don't I come to him begging to help every morning, every minute?

What would life look like if I did?

Paul said "I can do all things through him who gives me strength", not "I can do most things on my own and then I only come to him when I really need help, when I am depressed and lonely, when I am lost."

I seriously hope my weakness is made perfect in him. I seriously hope he takes my foolishness and teaches me an essential, good, harsh lesson.

(Radiohead's 'Just' has come on... You do it to yourself you do...)

Unhappy Halloween

I have never, enjoyed the idea of Halloween. I do enjoy it though, getting together with friends to avoid all the trash outside. Last year was really nice, this year I expect to be the same.

I really didn't like walking back home from Durham City seeing all the Halloween decorations, seeing people dressed in costumes of Witches or vampires or devils or monsters, seeing children being led around by their parents knocking on doors... What is this?! What are we doing?

I think that tonight the devil sits back and smiles, we let him in to our lives, we encourage our children to mess with fictional evil things, that in turn makes the devil seem ok and acceptable, I really do not like it...

He has no place in this world, he has no rite to be here, he is not welcome.

(I hope I am not bigging him up too much....)

Facebook Ministry

I am not sure whether this is positive or negative.

I often have Facebook statuses about Jesus; what I think he is saying to me, what he has done in my life, or something I think people should hear, Jesus is pretty much all I am an interested in so ... I preach via facebook, via this internet blog.

And it is so easy.

I have no responsibility for what I say. I am just hoping my babbling thoughts might encourage someone or challenge someone.

I think I need to get more like this in real life as well.

(This little post is a perfect example... I am just thinking outloud... hmmm..!)

Over and over and over and over again

So after Momentum Jo, Ben and I rushed back so I could get to work, which I did (2-6pm).

After work It felt strange not to be heading to a meeting, to worship, to learn. So we went to small group. Had a wonderful time of fellowship, worship and prayer (in that order), really nice to share a little bit about Momentum with some people drowning in the Lord and then worship together. Lovely.

(We sang the song 'healer'. Controversial but excellent)

A thought came to my mind of something Amy Orr-Ewing said in a seminar about thoughts in Worship. She asked 'what do you think about when you worship?'

I thought this a stupid question ... 'We focus on the Lord, we strain for more of him, we want to hear his voice'

I think I might have been wrong.

At momentum I had started thinking about lots of different things, in particular I had imagined some of my non-chrisso friends worshipping with me, wow what a sight! Joy!

At small group I realised this, and let my thoughts go wherever they could.

I wrote down this in my phone...

It is so easy to sit in Worship straining to concentrate on the Lord. Straining to make your mind blank and clear so he can speak to you. When in fact worship is creative and diverse. Worship is meant to be full of God given distractions; thoughts planted, visions seen, excitement grown. JOY. Bring on new worship.

And this is my excitement, the hope and wonder that I now can worship God more freely and he can speak to me more elaborately.

COME ON JESUS.

Oh no, we won't stay silent

Wow, what a week at Momentum.

So much learnt, so many challenges, a heart continuing to be transformed for love and incredible times of worship.

LOVED IT.

What I thought was really nice was some of my good friends from Durham meeting some of my good friends from Southport, getting on and forming friendships. Jo Rowe proclaimed on the way home that he is going to miss Dave Simpson. That brought me joy!

It was ace to meet new people; from Durham, Lucy's brothers, and one or two others, a really special time of family and fellowship.

Cafe Uno was simply OUTSTANDING, Our Dad excellent. We danced the night away to smooth funky jazz each evening (very sweaty), enjoyed wonderful mile high cakes, met some lovely people, and had such a fun time. I fear my sweat and excitement weren't the best first impression... ah well!

I didn't go to every seminar possible but went to some that challenged my heart. A couple stood out. Frog and Amy Orr-Ewing are spot on, bought their book called deep, and plan to go deep with it (deep down in my heart). As was Graham Cray, a seminar on culturally significant church planting that blew me away, words that resonated in my heart and sparked off ideas, dreams and a nervous heart beat...! He seemed to speak right to me.

(I hadn't clicked that he was a mate of my Godfather... quality... I know people who know people, be careful)

The worship blew me away, with Tim Hughes at his very best, with songs that set my heart alight, with touches of the Lord that amazed me, with testimonies of healing and with time to really come before God.

The teaching was excellent. i was devastated when I heard Mike Erre wasn't going to be preaching because he had to be at home, and a little sad when I heard that Jo Saxton would be preaching (not sure why...), but she then went and had me in awe for three consecutive mornings. Her words on Covenant really spoke to me and encouraged me, and she delivered them brilliantly. Very very very anointed and good. Crofty spoke a little as well, he was good. He goes deep. Big Mike did the rest, still on form with the comedy, and continues to rip Andy Croft and Tim Hughes which is brilliant! I realised that all he speaks about is Gods love. Its awesome. I love listening to him waffle on for ages about how we are free in Christ, we are covered by grace, we have no guilt or shame, we only have love. I love him talking about his weakness (even though he is clearly very blessed with talent), and I love his honesty about his life with the Lord. He was ace.

All in all, best week since House-Party... if not a bit better.

I would love to carry on writing about it, but for fear of repetition I shall stop (limited vocab and that).

Good Jesus, Good Bible, Good friends, Good music, Exciting future.

Banter

I dislike that word, but use it to describe an excellent week of fellowship at Adcote. In which I made some quality new friends, had so much fun and probably made a bit of a fool of myself by sharing a little bit too much of me and my loud voice.

Still it was wonderful. Great young people. Great team. Lots of fun.

Immense theme, excellent video, real family.

You've got to hold and give, but do it at the right time...

All the people I love are here...

After House-party (what a week), Adam drove me and Sarah to North Wales to meet up with the Parents, Andy and Lucy, the Harris' and the Hughes'.

It was lovely. Relaxing with your best friends, your family, in the comfort and beauty of the Llyn Peninsula doesn't get much better. We were blessed with surprisingly good weather, which allowed us to have two days on the beach, body-boarding, building damns, playing boule and cricket, swimming out to the rocks and generally chilling with Friends.

It was ace to see all the Brays together, and to begin to celebrate Uncle Bernie's 60th birthday.

Family, including the Harris' and Hughes' made me Joyful.

I think we were sorry to leave ....

(but then came Momentum)

Give it away give it away give it away now

I was asked to do a talk at Adcote CYFA camp this year with the title "Have a nice life... ? A call to sacrifice", and I wondered why? What experience do I have about Sacrifice? What does this arrogant, immature, foolish Christian know about giving up his life for Christ?

I didn't spend long in preparation beforehand (assuming there would be time during the week, in fact I just had not been willing to sacrifice any time or effort before house-party... hmmm) but had some vague jottings about Stephen, the Apostles and my life. Not really anything to start a talk on.

As the week went on and I heard God talking through other people he began to shape thoughts in my head, and then the saturday afternoon before the Sunday morning when I would speak, I decided to spend time working out what it would be I would talk about. I believe God spoke to me.

(this is where this post gets a little bit helpful rather than just waffle)

He showed me that Jesus actually does call us to sacrifice our lives. He showed me examples in the Apostles of real Christians who were really willing to do so, willing to be persecuted, imprisoned, battered, disowned, attacked, crucified and killed, for their Lord. He challenged me about what I sacrifice... (what do I sacrifice?).

But then with the most clarity spoke to me about JOY (not for the first time).

These apostles loves the Lord their God with all their hearts and suffered for it, yet we read in acts that the rejoiced in the suffering (How?), we read in the story about Stephen a humble, gracious, loving, forgiving, provoking, glorious man, even to his stoning and death, we see men and women living in sacrifice but living with life and life in all its fullness. How can life in its fullness be a life of sacrifice (I asked myself)?

He answered.

When we love the Lord with all our hearts, sacrifice for him doesn't seem so daunting. When we love the Lord with all out hearts, we begin to live life in all its fullness, we see wonder, we have joy, we are full of wisdom and knowledge, we see the fruit of the Lord, we live.

When we are joyful in the Lord, living life to the full sacrifice turns from a negative, unhelpful word (that dictionary.com gives a defintion of as 'Something so forfeited' ie relinquished, given up) to an exciting word of life, hope, wonder, humility and eternity. We take love and happiness from our sacrifice and from the Lord. What joy. What hope!

And when we are joyful with hope in our sacrifice the scary stuff becomes much less significant.

(I think I said it much better on the day, here I have waffled quite a bit).

I can move on from hang-ups about popularity, a girlfriend, a degree, a wife, a family, success, friends, and learn about living life in all its fullness in the Lord.

I can't imagine Stephen sighing and asking "Must I?" before he preached so boldly and powerfully.

The Drug-Lord

I have been blessed in getting a job at a pharmacy, after a month+ of looking I have had some shifts working just round the corner.

Pharmacies really highlight how much of a sick world we live in, people in care homes taking 10 different tablets everyday, drug addicts getting medicine to help them get off the drugs, to help them with alcohol problems as well as anti-depressants (ironic) to keep them happy.

Don't I know a Lord and Saviour that I believe is my healer?

There is freedom from drugs in our Lord, there is healing from Sickness in out Lord, there is hope in our Lord.

Because his grace is enough.

I wish I had the balls to tell people that.

Animal Bars are Nice

So it's been a while since I have felt like writing here, I have had an up and down summer where my relationship with God has been like a relationship on Facebook, I haven't put in enough effort, I have flitted back to him when it's easy and I have not chased him the way I should.

He is full of blessings nevertheless as his grace is more than enough.

I will try to sum up everything I have learnt at Houseparty, with Family and at Momentum. It has made this summer simply quality.

I have butterflies.

Dead Works

When God calls us to do something we know it is right, it is for him, it is advancing the kingdom, it is a good and right thing to do.

What about when we are not sure God has called us to do something? Or he hasn't called us to do something? Or we (just us) think something is a good idea? Something that may advance his kingdom anyway, something that honours and glorifies him, something in faith, something out of love and joy, something good and exciting, should we do it anyway? Without a specific confirmation from the Lord?!

Or would that be a dead work, a tangent, distraction, red-herring getting in the way of what he wants us to do anyway?

Do we pray, asking for the answer or confirmation we want to move forward, do we just move forward without confirmation, or do we stop and look for his will again?

I don't remember specifically being called to do June Project, to go to Soul Survivor, to help at CU events, to be on the pure team, but I did them anyway. Were these works dead? Or were they made alive through my faith and God's grace in me? I do remember feeling called to do certain things that I didn't actually do, like 'a mission to Southport', like a chat to a friend and others, did my apathy, other people's apathy, my lack of time, my worldly mind stop me from doing God's will and lead me to dead works...? I do remember being called to do something that I did do, like CU in Birkdale, or questioning friends' faith at times like easter... were those works alive in God, was the kingdom advanced through my work, was God glorified?

Should I just go for it until I get the no-no from God?

Have I been called to do this and the Devil is putting doubts in my mind?

Can I do a good work if God hasn't called me to it? Should I?!

Just a few questions....!

The Freedom of Christ

So, I haven't posted for a while but there has been a lot going around in my head.

I have been reading God's Lavish Grace by Terry Virgo over the last few days. I am really enjoying it. My one sentence review would be that it reminds me of all the fundamentals of what Jesus did on the cross. This is important!

One thing that the book spends a lot of time on is the law, all the things that people think about when looking at Christianity;

The 'Thou shalt not...'-s, etc etc.

But Terry Virgo points out that in Jesus this is not the case (now this is surely a basic to our faith, how easy has it been for me to forget...), in fact the grace that Jesus brought through dying on the cross renders 'the law', the 'thou shalt not'-s, the 'prohibitions' that Christianity has become famous for absolutely obsolete.

We are free in Christ to be who we are, whoever we want to be, to be free from Sin, from the law, to be free from condemnation. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.

We have, for so long, preached and taught the law, the 'thou shalt not'-s when the bible is so clear in the opposite. Clear that Grace covers a multitude of sins, that we are dead to the law, that Jesus saves.

I would like to ask people on the street to name something they know from the bible to see what proportion would say the 10 commandments.

Terry Virgo points out that the law does have some purpose, and that it is essential to point out sin, to reveal sin, but it is not now to condemn, maybe to encourage but not condemn. Who are we to say 'thou shalt not' to someone...?

So, God's grace is enough to cover the law, we no longer live under the law but under his grace. This is why we worship him.

Let's tell people more about this grace, it saves.

(I think some of the things I say aren't quite right, please tell me if I have worded things a bit interestingly!!!)

Challenge to myself

So my exams have finished.

I am going to set myself a challenge. I am going to spend more and more time with the Lord, as I have little else to do...! 

I am going to pray and worship as much as possible.

I am going to try and read lots more bible (is a book a day doable?!).

I am going to meet up with Christians more, and pray with them.

Ask me how I am doing...!

Cracking Google Searches

Daley just typed in Tom Bray Table Tennis into google and got loads of cracking hits....! I loved it! It has brought back many a memory of wins and losses gone by as well as people I have met over the years... QUALITY! It is weird what you can find about yourself on google...!

Jesus is funny

Sweet. Break from revision, after first exam. Write a blog.

Had a really nice time at church on Sunday it was sweet.

God the father, provider and friend.

So my parents decided to start helping me out money-wise each month. Mum sent my 1st lot of pocket money about a week ago. With 1st class post. We both started to panic it hadn't arrived in my pigeon-hole by the weds, thursday, friday or saturday. 

Me and Daley left for church a bit early and were waiting in the foyer for Dave and others. I thought I could check again then, and there it is, a letter from my mum, a cheque and a £10 note. I was relieved and happy to have some been given some cash and that my mum's post had finally got through!

We get to church, me with letter in tow. Guess what? It is gift day!

I turn around and exclaim to everyone... 'I had forgotten about today, I haven't got any money...'. Before several minutes later remembering that I had Mum's gift with me.

Yeah, that's great, the lord provides. He held back the letter and brought it when I had to bring money to sow into church (when I wouldn't have taken it otherwise).

Someone comes and brings a message, during the worship before we had given up any offerings, about all that we own being his, that all our gifts are from him, and that we need to give gifts generously and joyfully. I was a cheerful giver (for one of the first times)! I had received a generous gift from my Mother. I give a generous gift to my church. JOY

Ali then went on to share to the whole church about our selfishness as Christians, about true religion in James and about living as Christians.

We hypocrites. Why should we preach and tell people about Jesus, what rite do we have to profess him as Lord if we don't practice what he preached?

Ali again mentioned Shane Claibourne (what a story, I must write about him one day). And quoted him when he talked about admiring Jesus, applauding him, loving him without actually taking up our own cross........ (I realise this over and over again).

I couldn't find this quote on the internet but I found him saying this....

“Preach the gospel

always. And when necessary, use words.”

In quoting a old franciscan (might be wrong in calling it that) saying.

That is right.

Again, I was overcome with a need to LIVE. I had this wonderful idea of going out into the night and being Jesus. To show the face of Jesus today. As a hobby. Each week. For fun. Because his kingdom is Joyful. And because we need to. Out of worship.

What a joyful life; being Jesus to people. Helping the widowed and fatherless, praying for the sick, loving the world.

We sang the song by Delirious called 'Now is the time'. TUNE...

It has the lyric- "Everything you touch you change and we have all been changing"

Yes we have. We are beginning to realise the joy the Lord gives us, how wonderful life can be with him and how much we are being changed, transformed by his joy and glory. 

Bring it on. Change me. Bend me. Break me. Anyway you want me.

My exam was ok but could have been better. Still joyful.

A passion and joy for his presence

YESSS.

We met at Emmanuel last night. Enjoyed excellent worship led my Sean Feucht and team. What a joyful occasion.

I won't go into specifics, but there was lots of sweaty dancing, excellent words, passionate prophecy and an extended time of prayer for us blessed students!

We all came away with a new view of God. Inspired to push into his presence, his glory, his love his joy more and more. To concentrate on the lord rather than our work, in CU or not, rather than our theology.

We came back ON FIRE. We still are.

We need a constant renewal of this joy. I 'couldn't help but talk about what I had seen or heard' when I got back (that's well biblical). 

So we will be worshipping together, praying together, asking for more of him, pushing into his presence.

What else can we do? 

MORE LORD

The JOY of the lord is our Strength