Thursday, January 01, 2009
And...
Gah!!
I did it... now we wait...
Friday, November 28, 2008
"Perculiar People" ?
So, the church I go to used a have vision statement which said that everyone in the church were 'a perculiar people'.
As a teenager, when I first started going to my church, I was quite happy to stand out from the crowd, to be different and to say the things that I knew would separate me out from other people. In essence, I was chuffed to be considered 'perculiar' as the gift from God that went along with that title (eternal life) seemed a pretty fair trade off!
However, as I've grown and been to Uni and had a few years in the 'real world', I've wanted to be accepted and integrate myself into those new areas that I've been faced with. I didn't want to be considered as a perculiar, or a strange, or a weird person anymore.
I think in some respects, I thought that if I could be more like those people, I could relate to them better and so have a greater chance of bringing the Gospel to them.
However, in doing so, I've diluted myself down and forgotten what makes me, 'Me'.
Maybe the time is coming for me to turn the corner. For me to remember what it means to stand out and to be different. Not for the sake of being different, but different because of what's at stake. Different because it's the right thing to do. Different because the truth is in me.
I've been hitting who I am because I've been trying to fit in. To not be considered weird.
And I'm not weird. I'm just in truth.
As a teenager, when I first started going to my church, I was quite happy to stand out from the crowd, to be different and to say the things that I knew would separate me out from other people. In essence, I was chuffed to be considered 'perculiar' as the gift from God that went along with that title (eternal life) seemed a pretty fair trade off!
However, as I've grown and been to Uni and had a few years in the 'real world', I've wanted to be accepted and integrate myself into those new areas that I've been faced with. I didn't want to be considered as a perculiar, or a strange, or a weird person anymore.
I think in some respects, I thought that if I could be more like those people, I could relate to them better and so have a greater chance of bringing the Gospel to them.
However, in doing so, I've diluted myself down and forgotten what makes me, 'Me'.
Maybe the time is coming for me to turn the corner. For me to remember what it means to stand out and to be different. Not for the sake of being different, but different because of what's at stake. Different because it's the right thing to do. Different because the truth is in me.
I've been hitting who I am because I've been trying to fit in. To not be considered weird.
And I'm not weird. I'm just in truth.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
The World According to Me
I can't actually remember the last time I did a T.W.A.2 ... been a while.
Anyway, me, Gem and Nammer were round Loz's the other day playing the 'Name Game'.
(I've just realised that rhymes!)
Nami: He's the current Prime Minister
Tom: ... Tony Blair!
Anyway, me, Gem and Nammer were round Loz's the other day playing the 'Name Game'.
(I've just realised that rhymes!)
Nami: He's the current Prime Minister
Tom: ... Tony Blair!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
How would that be for a package?!
As most of you know, I don't have a job at the moment and so I've decided this week that I need to get my jogging groove going by going... erm... jogging.
I'm not the best jogger in the world and I seriously think I've got some sort of genetic condition predisposing me to not being able to jog or run for long periods of time.
Don't be fooled into thinking I'd be excellent at the 100 metres either, cos I ain't.
But a few of my friends have done Race for Life this year, and the year before, and the year before, which is only 5km. I say *only* 5km because surely, being a footballer and cyclist, I should be able to comfortably run 5km off the bat right? Right??
Wrong.
After weeks of football training, a few long rides and a couple of 1 1/2 mile jogs, I decided I'd attempt 3 miles yesterday (that's almost 5km, but not quite). I'd never felt so dead after a run in all my life. I mean, me and 'Nelly' went on a bikeride last Monday which we thought would be an 18 mile round trip (to the Severn Bridge) but ended up being about 30 miles and I was still more fresh after that than simply doing 3 miles in 20 minutes!!
I walked around after my run to warm down and thinking I'd done so, sat at my PC for 20 minutes, sorted some stuff and attempted to get up. I quickly realised my calfs weren't up to the task and stumbled around the room for a bit. They had pretty much turned to jelly.
The good thing is my legs actually feel fine today, so my recovery rate must be pretty good. I went for a shorter run to the post office to get a stamp for a speeding fine letter (GGGGRRRRRRRR!) and this actually (finally) brings us to the title of my blog.
Cos the guy in front of me had a package worth £2,500.
... Which he'd put in a Ambi Pur box.
Can anyone say 'drugs'?
I was tempted to grab it and run, but knowing my own endurance I don't think it would've ended with me looking quite so pretty ;)
I'm not the best jogger in the world and I seriously think I've got some sort of genetic condition predisposing me to not being able to jog or run for long periods of time.
Don't be fooled into thinking I'd be excellent at the 100 metres either, cos I ain't.
But a few of my friends have done Race for Life this year, and the year before, and the year before, which is only 5km. I say *only* 5km because surely, being a footballer and cyclist, I should be able to comfortably run 5km off the bat right? Right??
Wrong.
After weeks of football training, a few long rides and a couple of 1 1/2 mile jogs, I decided I'd attempt 3 miles yesterday (that's almost 5km, but not quite). I'd never felt so dead after a run in all my life. I mean, me and 'Nelly' went on a bikeride last Monday which we thought would be an 18 mile round trip (to the Severn Bridge) but ended up being about 30 miles and I was still more fresh after that than simply doing 3 miles in 20 minutes!!
I walked around after my run to warm down and thinking I'd done so, sat at my PC for 20 minutes, sorted some stuff and attempted to get up. I quickly realised my calfs weren't up to the task and stumbled around the room for a bit. They had pretty much turned to jelly.
The good thing is my legs actually feel fine today, so my recovery rate must be pretty good. I went for a shorter run to the post office to get a stamp for a speeding fine letter (GGGGRRRRRRRR!) and this actually (finally) brings us to the title of my blog.
Cos the guy in front of me had a package worth £2,500.
... Which he'd put in a Ambi Pur box.
Can anyone say 'drugs'?
I was tempted to grab it and run, but knowing my own endurance I don't think it would've ended with me looking quite so pretty ;)
Monday, September 01, 2008
Poem Numero... 10?
The tangeble touch You seem to be hiding,
I can only wait for so long without minding.
Yet You say "Hold on", "Be Patient", "Just wait".
"My love won't delay, it will never be late."
In a World that's cracking, crumbling, falling.
When all my emotions reflex into mourning.
I know Your words are truth and life.
I'm just finding motivation hard to find.
I've peered into the past, and seen my reflection,
But the person I was is lost in deception.
He saw the endless possibilities with you,
But you threw away, seemingly out of the blue.
I've found myself since, but just need Your touch.
For You to come now, to just lift me up.
For faith to be stirred and freedom to reign.
To forget my pride, and be me again.
I can only wait for so long without minding.
Yet You say "Hold on", "Be Patient", "Just wait".
"My love won't delay, it will never be late."
In a World that's cracking, crumbling, falling.
When all my emotions reflex into mourning.
I know Your words are truth and life.
I'm just finding motivation hard to find.
I've peered into the past, and seen my reflection,
But the person I was is lost in deception.
He saw the endless possibilities with you,
But you threw away, seemingly out of the blue.
I've found myself since, but just need Your touch.
For You to come now, to just lift me up.
For faith to be stirred and freedom to reign.
To forget my pride, and be me again.
Monday, April 14, 2008
L.A. Baby
So I went to LA last year in September. I know it's a bit late but I just wanted to mention the fact that I...
Met Will Smith.
It's true
Also, typing on laptops is really, really difficult.
Peace out
Met Will Smith.
It's true
Also, typing on laptops is really, really difficult.
Peace out
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Soul Survivor 2008
"Into His Likeness."
Once again, like last year, before the week started I really wasn't looking forward to going to SS.
And like last year as I got home I was actually so glad I had come.
With SS you get out what you put in. It's the way that relationships work with God. He's done the hard part... all we've gotta do is come with willing hearts (easier said than done considering I've been extremely unwilling this entire year!) and what you get back (even if it does take a bit of perserverance) is always, always worth it.
Myself, Tim, Ryan and Luke stayed on for the last meeting and I know God touched the latter two in a deeper way then He'd done all week because they were more willing. And I know God worked in me in a greater way because I was more willing as well.
I've realised that the key to a joyful life is to abide in God. I've been told church meetings aren't the be-all and end-all of Christianity and that's 100% true. I also believe that church should be a place where you celebrate God's goodness and what He's performed. However, I also think that church is that place you go to when you just need to be refuelled so that God can motivate you to work in His ways again.
Without God, we are darkness. "Our righteousness is like dirty rags" it says somewhere in the Bible. Google is if you want.
But with Him we are light. And it's not a chore either once you've been with Him. It's a joy! The Spirit motivates us (the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak) but we have to get with God. We have to be refuelled... and just like light needs a source of power, God is that power. But once you have that, it's not difficult to keep the light on until you exhaust the energy - you just need to keep topping up.
Why do people seem to come back from big festivals "on fire" yet they can't get that in their church? Actually... they can get it at their church too...
I think it's because:
They are more open at festivals,
They're surrounded by like-minded people,
Their purpose for being at the festival is because they want more of God,
The festival has been prayed for for God to strut His stuff,
Time is given for God to move.
Church meetings can be like that too!! But we've seemed to forget it because most of the time when I've come out of them this year, I haven't been changed.
Let's give church back to God and I mean really back to Him. And let's come to church to meet with Him and for everything else to be swept aside.
Damn. I'm preaching!
Anyway. God healed a woman of cancer, two of the youths knees, someones wrist, someones ankle (these are just the ones I remember cos there were over 100 testimonies at the end) met with some of our youth like they've never experienced before and over 500 people became Christians. I just pray they stick with it!
Once again, like last year, before the week started I really wasn't looking forward to going to SS.
And like last year as I got home I was actually so glad I had come.
With SS you get out what you put in. It's the way that relationships work with God. He's done the hard part... all we've gotta do is come with willing hearts (easier said than done considering I've been extremely unwilling this entire year!) and what you get back (even if it does take a bit of perserverance) is always, always worth it.
Myself, Tim, Ryan and Luke stayed on for the last meeting and I know God touched the latter two in a deeper way then He'd done all week because they were more willing. And I know God worked in me in a greater way because I was more willing as well.
I've realised that the key to a joyful life is to abide in God. I've been told church meetings aren't the be-all and end-all of Christianity and that's 100% true. I also believe that church should be a place where you celebrate God's goodness and what He's performed. However, I also think that church is that place you go to when you just need to be refuelled so that God can motivate you to work in His ways again.
Without God, we are darkness. "Our righteousness is like dirty rags" it says somewhere in the Bible. Google is if you want.
But with Him we are light. And it's not a chore either once you've been with Him. It's a joy! The Spirit motivates us (the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak) but we have to get with God. We have to be refuelled... and just like light needs a source of power, God is that power. But once you have that, it's not difficult to keep the light on until you exhaust the energy - you just need to keep topping up.
Why do people seem to come back from big festivals "on fire" yet they can't get that in their church? Actually... they can get it at their church too...
I think it's because:
They are more open at festivals,
They're surrounded by like-minded people,
Their purpose for being at the festival is because they want more of God,
The festival has been prayed for for God to strut His stuff,
Time is given for God to move.
Church meetings can be like that too!! But we've seemed to forget it because most of the time when I've come out of them this year, I haven't been changed.
Let's give church back to God and I mean really back to Him. And let's come to church to meet with Him and for everything else to be swept aside.
Damn. I'm preaching!
Anyway. God healed a woman of cancer, two of the youths knees, someones wrist, someones ankle (these are just the ones I remember cos there were over 100 testimonies at the end) met with some of our youth like they've never experienced before and over 500 people became Christians. I just pray they stick with it!
