CATFISH

Catfish is a MTV programme that came from a film of the same name. The film was based on a guy that had entered a online relationship with this girl and his film making mate asked to film the progress of this relationship.

All was good with things going well. He would receive gifts from the girl which would include paintings that the girl had done and would even receive links on email to songs that she said she had written and sung.This girl had become a big part of this guys life and being a good looking model, artist and and singer why wouldn't he be falling for this girl.

The twist came when he found a song (she had said she sung) on you tube, it was the same recording but was not her on the video. He googled more songs and found them to also be someone else's voice on them, this is when alarm bells started to ring.

The long and short of the movie (now a TV show) was that this girl turned out to be a completely different person, and older ladie was many children. The turn "CATFISH" came when the ladies husband mentioned that she was like a catfish, and explained how fishermen would put a catfish in with their catch on long trips to keep the other fish caught on their toes and fresh.

So a Catfish is someone that deceives anoth person on the internet by making out they are someone else, hence keeping the other person keen and falling for the lies.

I was trying to think of a biblical character that could be loosely discribbed as a catfish, and the most obvious one I thought of was Delilah, she tricked Sampson into falling in love with her and when he fell asleep Delilah a cut of his hair hence making him loose all his strength. She made Samson trust her when secretly she had other plans. 

Anyway in the TV series these guys from the film go around exposing these catfish type people and quite often put closer on the situation. Or sometime even turn the situation in to a positive thing. 

Now god has the abilities to turn the worst situation into good and promises that he has the best for us all if we trust him. But this can only be done when we have Gods will and good intentions, the nightmare about that is that we don't know what that is. 

I guess what a so called catfish does is try's to force something that may not be good or of wisdom. And that goes for all of us. I kind of think we all in some way pray or wish for things to happen. this could be winning the lottery or winning over a curtain person. But we don't see what god sees but we learn in the bible that his plans are far far better than we could imagine.

See if we think we know what's best for us, then rest assured God knows he wants better for us. If we think we can change our future then know god has already planned it. I can't have what I believe god wants but then again maybe he wants better. I can't do what I think god wants me to do, because god wants me do so much more.

In the sewage

Wow been a while since I blogged, but I found myself on Christmas Day all alone and missing my family more than ever. It's not that I hadn't  had offers of Turkey dinner but I guess I just felt I didn't want to feel needy or a charity case.

Not having my family round and kids waking me up excited that father Christmas has been, smell of roast dinner and opening of presents has of course been hard and at moments been a bit depressing but I guess in a way a simple, quiet Christmas Day gave me time to reflect on what Christmas really mean. 

It's strange that we all look at Christmas as a time to share with others and to reach out to people in need. And TV is filled with not only adverts of goodie to buy for the festive time but also adverts for charities to ask for donations to help the less fortunate.

As a Christian it is a time to remember and reflect on the fact that it is the time we celebrate the comming of Jesus, the king of kings and son of God (pretty important title right) bringing peace on earth and good will to men.

So I've been wondering what makes Christmas a more charitable event than the rest of the year, and if we all do enough throughout the other 11 months to please God and help extend that peace on earth and good will that the angels spoke about.

Is there rules about when the good will should be performed? Is there a label on when we should give a little more than usual? I don't think there is, so I've been thinking that there so much more I can do to try and serve God.

I guess 2013  has been for me a year to try and forget. With so many bad events in it. It's almost as if the Last 2 years have been a walk through the long sewage tunnel struggling through the horrid smelly sewage waste high at time only to find that when you seem get clear of the deep stuff you walk a little further to find yourself upto your neck in it again.

The only light comes in the form of drain covers to high to reach but locked anyway so even if you try to get to the light you'll be waisting your time. 

The only true light comes from the entrance and how ever hard it is, you have to find it no matter how deep you find yourself in the muck you have to keep moving in the hope the exit is comming soon.

I'm not going into what I've had to deal with this year but let's say its a year I'm not going to want to repeat and like 2012 it's one I can't go back and change as much as I want to. But still I have to try and move forward and trust that I will see the exit light soon. Turning back is not an option.

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the light" but sometime even when I know god is there I have found myself doubting it. It's a tuff thing trusting in god when everything is against you. Yet as a Christian I believe in the bible and know it to be the word of God so in 2014 I'm not going to make resolutions or start by saying it's going to be any different to 2012 or 13, I'm going to try and continue walking and listening more to God and know that through him everything is possible 

More Trust

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

 Proverbs 3:5-6

How Many of us struggle with trust? I've blogged about it before. but Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of those bible verses that seem to come up time and time again.

 

Ever had some great news or some amazing situation that you just find to good to be true. It may be a bonus something you've been looking and asking for a long time.

 

Although it seems great you still don't really trust it, it could be something that in your mind could bring so many great things yet you still worry that it all unreal and that the bubble will burst at any point.

 

Maybe you just don't feel worthy of it, and feel that with the bad stuff that seems to happen in your life just doesn't tie up with this good thing.

 

I guess trying to work it all out is just an impossible task, and as much as we try to make sense of it all just seems don't we don't want to trust it.

 

Well These verses in Proverbs now can come clear. Don't worry about the situation TRUST IN THE LORD. Don't try and work it out and find a negative side LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. try and see God as a guide and trust him as he wont let you down HE WILL MAKE THE PATH STRAIGHT.

Target.

So once again it Wednesday and I find myself catching up on paperwork and updating spreed sheets. Its all part of running a business I guess.

We had a meeting at the Rugby club last night, this was to do with the schools rugby I am running. so people from RFU, the School and the club all sat down and chatted about the project.

I was really surprise that the RFU where looking at getting 10 new players into the Club. To me this seemed like a low target as already we have had 4 new players turn up for youth training. I was expecting at least double that.

I then got thinking once home, do we set out targets for ourselves that are easily achieved?

See when god set people challenges in the bible, they weren't easy every day orders, they where big scary challenges with target so great that the people being ask just couldn't see the possibility.

Gideon, Joshua and Moses to name but a few where all give great challenges in the bible which they thought was way beyond what the thought they could achieve. but guess what... they achieved it every time.

Sure its good to set achievable Targets. As a youth  rugby coach this is important so that the players Im coaching continue to achieve and stay interested and a feeling of pride.

But do we set ourselves life challenges with big enough targets?

God wants us to think big. he wants us to trust him and know that with him anything is possible. I have a few targets and things I want to change and I know with him the impossible is possible.

Passion

So what's your Passion? So many people all with different passions. We sometime look at other peoples passions and just can't understand how they are passionate about that thing.

But with out passion can we truly be happy or truly reach our best?

Some people change there passions and become passionate about something for a short time before moving on to something else. Others will hold a passion that lasts a life time dedicating their spare time to what they love. 

I am finding new passions in people. Not only that but am finding an old passion in rugby too and have started to realise that the two things can run along side each other.

Rugby is one of those rare sports that has a place for all types of people. On the rugby field there is a job tall guys, there's a job for big guys there's a job for little guys and a job for clever guys and not so clever guys. All the different positions on a rugby pitch have skills that every one can fit in to a position. This is not always a matter of size it's also a matter of personality.

Jesus had a passion for all people, no matter who they where he saw the good in everyone. His biggest passion was for the sick and the poor people sure, but his passion for all was shown Many times through his healing a preaching. He loved children and also the elderly because he knew that each person he met is love by god.

Weather your passion lies in people, sport, work, home, transport, cooking, cleaning, places, the stars, television, movies.... There are so many to mention. Try and find a way to use it, because god wants passionate people and can use any passion for his work.

Purpose

I'm writing this blog for the first time on the iPad. Yet another gadget I'm finding makes life a little more barrible.

The iPad has almost made my computer redundant and while my lap to is down I am using it for much more than I expected, including writing this blog.

I think we all need a purpose, it helps us to continue to live in a way that is worth living. For some of us we really struggle to find a real purpose in life and have to dig deep to find some thing to stay positive for.

This is quite often true in the church where many times you will find people not feeling important enough to be part of the church. 

Recently I've been feeling like this and some how think I'm a spare part in the church I attend. 

I guess when you have been let down by the person you love and things taken away that made you who you are you start to question your purpose in life.

The one person I love left and everything I was proud of got all but taken away. The things I cherished got broken and dissolved. When then one person you love and trusted cheats and misuses your love and trust it make all those things you live for seem pointless. 

When people you view highly as friend turn against you and you realise they have a very low opinion of you, it take that spence of purpose away. 

Well I read something earlier that read. "Happiness is way of travel, not a destination" made me wonder is my purpose was to lose so others gained. Sad thinking but it is a harsh reality that however we look at it, one person has to lose everything for another to gain it.

I'm not sure what my purpose is in life. But if we stop then we will never find it. 

I have to settle for second best for my boys and me. But those who have shattered our lives will go on to acumplish more. If I am but here to loose then gods will be done. 

The best is heaven and not here, so to let others take better and me too settle for 2 nod best then so be it because the real best comes when we are with our maker and that lasts for ever.

Time Waits For Nothing.

So the school holidays are over and everyone is going back to school. Parents are feeling strange in quiet houses and the morning traffic has got busier.

Some will be meeting up once again with old school friends and others will be meeting new ones. Some will be back in familiar settings and others will be finding the way around new schools.

Its the start of a new school year, the time when new uniforms are smart and pencil cases are correctly filled and bag neatly packed.

Time doesn't stop for no one. We go on with our daily lives and sometime days roll into weeks and weeks into months.

there is 7 Days in each week all with 24 hour in. Each hour has 60 minuets with 60 seconds. That's 86,400 seconds in it day that's 604,800 seconds in a week and even while your reading this blog those seconds have ticked by.

Is there things your putting off? Time wont wait for you, so don't wait for time. Make the choice today, make every second count.

The years I waisted away, running from the truth and trying to be someone I wanted to be not being who I am have gone, yes I can learn from it but cant get that time back to change it.

God promised that when we trust him and follow his call we will be given the best. God doesn't look back nor does he stand still. He knows our future he has planned for us and waiting for you to ask him for directions.

So if there 86400 seconds in today, that's 86400 opportunities to say yes to Gods call.

I Had aDream

Two days ago marked 50 year since Martin Luther King gave the famous 'I had a dream' speech.

Many years before this inspirational speech there was another speech that started very similar. This was the 'I had a vision' speech by William Booth.

HERE IT IS.

Trust to Succeed

As a rugby coach I occasionally have to attend coaching days with the RFU. This can be a full day in the class room or a full practical day out on the field leaning new ideas and ways to make rugby more fun.

Yesterday I had to drive to Wymondham Rugby Club for a mix session to learn a newish concept of ''Student lead'' Coaching.

The idea is to allow students to make up their own game giving them a criteria, this could be to improve any part of Rugby or general character development.

For me, I find this hard to grasp but as a RFU coach I guess I should follow and trust the guidance of the more qualified and go along with this idea.

Trusting sometimes is really hard, taking advice sometimes can be a real challenge, but sometimes we have to take the advise and trust others to direct us to a better option.

Disciples on the sea of Galilee where having a nightmare one day when they where out fishing. Along came Jesus and shouted out to them '' throw you nets over the other side of the boat..... I guess the fishermen looked at Jesus and thought the guy was joking, Why would that make any difference.

But the disciples knew Jesus and had seen him do quite a bit of amazing stuff so decided that Trusting this almost pointless advise could harm an already rubbish fishing trip.

The rest is history, they followed the advice and pulled in the biggest catch ever.

Learn Before Judgeing

One of my downfalls is picking wholes in people and having a good old moan about others. This could be anything from people believes to the way they Drive. The old saying that says people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Sadly we all at some times feel the need to moan or pick wholes in the way people do things, but lets be honest, non of us are perfect and people have different ideas and different ways at looking at things.

Chatting to a friend who was brought up in a Catholic home I stated that I find Catholic belief hard to line up with Christian Faith. I went on and said Praying to Mary and confessing to a priest doesn't line up with pray to one God and the way to the father is threw the son (Jesus).

I found myself almost Questioning the Catholic faith and moaning about the way they do things. then my friend started to explain that they don't pray to Mary, what they do is pray to god, but hale Mary was more a symbol of asking saints and angels, and others in heaven to pray for them to. (Almost asking the whole of heaven for prayers).

I then was told that it wasn't massively important to attend confession, as the bible says only Jesus can forgive us from sin and died on the cross to do so. the confession box where you can confess your sins to a priest is almost another symbolic thing where people can hear they have been forgiven rather than just knowing.

Maybe its time to start looking into other peoples reasons for doing things rather than picking holes and deciding they are wrong and you are right. The world is full of people with different views on all sorts of subjects and every person has made choices for different reasons. I'm not saying we have to agree with everyone, but we can try and respect others and us and them have the ability to change.

 

''If you live in a glass house and throw stones, then you going to have a constant window repair bill. Maybe its time stop throwing stones and start cleaning the windows''

What is a Christian?

The other day I was chatting to a friend who said that the bible is written by humans so can never be believed as truth.

I found it hard that another Christian was suggesting that they didn't believe that Jesus could have possibly been born to a virgin mother, or that he could raise from the dead.

I suggested that as a Christian surly these two major points in the bible must be believed by all Christian people as they are the fundamental events on which we place our belief (without going to far into depth on a philosophical discussion)

This got me thinking, What makes a Christian?

This could be Answered in John 11:25 when Jesus said "I  am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in me will never die". Maybe this isn't the whole answer, and I'm sure someone somewhere will what to add to it but I think its a simple explanation.

Trouble with all explanations is there is always going to be simple thinking. and just because you may believe I God doesn't mean you will go to heaven.

here's a better explanation....

 

So Is it enough to believe?

 

I'm not so sure it is. See to me things it tells us in the bible should be believed too. One of these is That Christians should attend Church (Church being a group of Christians, not a building)

 

It tells us that attending church and meeting with other Christians to share and listen to help strengthen faith and to work together for Gods good. That's not saying that going to church makes you a Christian in any way shape or form.

 

OK I'm not a model Christian, and I'm not always on the right path. but I would like to think that with Jesus in my life he will help direct me in choices and I would try my best to seek his will.

 

Christianity isn't about Perfect people, do gooders or bible bashing nutters. Its not always about Reading the bible (I listen to Christian Radio that helps with this)

 

And it definitely isn't about putting C of E on a form where it asks for your Religion.

 

Like I say, I am far from being a model Christian and there are some things I hope to change in my life. but I do believe God listens and wants to use me in time. And I also believe he has the best waiting for all of us.

So what do Christians do? ok I know what many think... they go round with tamborines singing and giving out leaflets, ask for money to fix the roof and shove the bible down you throat till you blue in the face. "Right?".... Wrong.

Sure this is a good description of some, and I do think that there is a time and a place for preaching and collecting money, or shoving the bible in people faces. but I also believe that there is a more important Job a Christian should try and do and that's know that God will create opotunities to tell others about Him, and even then its not about preaching or trying to prove, its about telling others about you experiences and why you believe.

Bear Grylls

When ever I seem to get things moving in the right direction, I do something or something happens to put you back to square one. Its like the one step forward and two back scenario.

Bear Grylls is a TV survival expert who is also Chief Scout for the world wide scouting movement. In his programme he survival techniques and ideas to survival in all sorts of situations.

What Bear does is use his vast knowledge to find his way back to safety some times using some extreme ideas and eating some pretty horrid stuff

What Bear Grylls does is use what he has, he will eat pretty much anything to keep his energy up, and will always improvise with what he has at the time.

What Bear can do is use the things around him and when facing the most cruelest of places and near impossible tastes he tries to make everything work for him rather than against him.

When faced with hard life situations I tend to panic and forces me to worry and get myself all down and give up. I get angry and start to upset people around me. It almost as if I grabbed a loose bit of rock and slid back down the rock face into the ruff sea bellow. The I find it hard to cling back onto the rock to start climbing again.

This is what Bear Grylls warns about in his programme. When you start to panic and worry nothing will seem clear. To Use the situation to you advantage is to know where you want to get too.

Instead of splashing around in the waves and not getting anywhere fast is not the ideal thing to do, OK it may keep us afloat but doesn't help us get out of danger.

Use the Waves and tide to your advantage. try and use closer to the rock face and maybe the waves will help you to start you higher up the cliff.

You know, life is bound to be a roller-coaster if you keep looking back. A life that matters is focused on where you’re headed, not where you’ve already been.      


I herd once that to fall is not to fail but not getting back up is failure. So maybe its not the down turns and mistakes we make, its how we learn by them and try to climb once more.

God Can turn our weakness into his strengths, and if we know that we have already succeeded.

Tiny Earth

Walking along the Prom the other night I couldn't help think about how lucky I was to live by the see. As I walked I watch birds Flying, boats sailing and many people walking, running and some swimming.

As I got to the I came across about 30 people enjoying the beach on a clear evening. Some where sitting chatting and some where playing beach football and a couple where enjoying a swim in the calm sea. 

I got talking to a couple of these guys and they told me they where on a week holiday from London. One lady told me that it was four years since her family had been on a beach. Another told me that her son had never seen the see so close and he was 7.

I guess for these people on the beach at 9 o'clock at night enjoying the sun setting and relaxing as the stars started to shine was some sort of Treat for them all. But Living by the beach for me and many others becomes something we take for granted, and maybe don't make the most of.

I remember Going to the Lake District and standing in the middle of Keswick town centre. I stood and was just amazed at the view of the hills all around. It was almost one of those feelings that makes you feel so small. Standing Keswick Shopping precinct and seeing these massive mountains coming up from behind the buildings. Seeing people as tiny little dots walking up the paths to the top made me realise how small we all are compared to the world we live on.

That's not all.... we are told that some planets are double, triple and even 4 times as big as the earth. So How Massive is God? 

Before we go about our business in the next couple days, maybe we should all think about are surroundings and the fact god that made the Universe as great and as massive it is also made us. Each unique. All of us made in his eyes and he has a great plan for all of us that ask him for help.

Underlay.

Being in the carpets trade, I have to try and ensure I know a bit about underlay. Yep you got it... that stuff we don't see but has and important roll to play, as it Provides comfort and helps to lengthen the life of a carpet.

these days we have so many types of underlay to choose from and from old fashioned felt to the new 'eco friendly' foam underlay.

the thing is with underlay it can be miss interpreted as just another way for people like me to making money. and to try and sell it without sounding like your just after a few more extra pounds is a challenge in its self.

As a carpet salesman that has been in trade over 20 years I hope people will trust I have a pretty good knowledge on the subject of flooring, but sadly far to many try and cheat people out of hard earned money which in turn gives other salesman a bad name.

I find the best way to deal with the 'underlay sales saga'' is to just try and give my honest opinion and basic facts.

1. A good underlay can extend the life of the carpet by up to 60% longer.
2. Using the exsisting carpets to act as an underlay is in no way the same as a really underlay and gripper fit.
3. it should last 10 year plus or as long as the life of the carpet

I guess like with any sale, the customer has to be able to trust the salesman. A salesman has to be truthful and give the best advise possible. Yes its about making money/ living, but its also about giving the best value for the customers need.

It would be so easy for me to say that underlay softens and takes wear away from carpets just like god it is there and cushions the blow and so on and so on. but that's is just to obvious and lets face it a bit tacky.

how do we know which salesman is giving us the best advice and which is just trying to make more money and reach his target. That's a question we can only answer with experience and maybe others advice.

The people around me where Christians, my mum was a Christian and my dad is too. I guess 2 years ago I made a decision to take those peoples advice and trust in a God that promises the best. that knows what it is to live and who's love for every one of us remains the same no matter what.

He Knows.

In the walk from the city centre to the hill of Crucifixion, understandably Jesus would have been close to death and unable to go on for much longer as the cross he was carrying would have been far to heavy.

It is at some point in the journey he falls and the solders start to beat him to make him carry on, but he had seemed to lose all strength to lift that cross anymore.

Standing in the crowd was a Cyrenian  guy  called Simon. I'm not sure what happened but I imagine Simon may have tried to get the solders to show a bit of respect to Jesus, or maybe even tried to help Jesus as he struggled on the ground.

What ever happened Simon was told by the solder to carry the cross for Jesus. This to me has a important part to play in the story and in the bible.

At the point in the journey as Jesus hit a point that he just couldn't carry on alone Simon was the one to take up the challenge with him. Jesus had been almost beaten to his death but Simon was fresh and had the strength to help Jesus.

Jesus would have realise that this was the only way he was going to get to the end and needed Simon's help to see him through.

We all have times when we just cant do it alone. We need people around us. We need support from others. Even as Christians it is essential to have the support of the Church.

Jesus experience our struggle to receive him. He experienced the what it was like to not be able to carry his burden alone. he experienced the feeling of having to depend on others to keep him alive.

He know, and he know the inability we have to carry our burdens alone.

Toilet Thinking.

There's a curtain pride in a mans heart that can sometimes stop him from being the best he can be.

Sometimes the male ego can get in the way of what really matters and the fight against brain and reality can sometimes spiral out of control.

Its a bit like when the 2 yard flop over the line in the corner to score a try becomes a 40 yard solo run past many defenders to score the winning try under the posts. Or the time you hit 80 mph on the M25 turns into 110 mph.

We all have the ability to bend the truth, or in many cases lie about it to make ourselves look better or feel better. But the truth is we are all in reality who we are and who we are made to be.

 When we think about it being ourselves is one of the hardest things to be, but its also the one thing we can excel in.

If we feel we have failed then maybe we need to look forward and turn that failier into success. If we feel we have lost then maybe we need to find a way of winning.

It is said the best place to think is on the toilet, its also one of the only places we can truly be ourselves.

At the beginning of this year I lost something that I truly felt the world of (and still do). Now I feel I have failed and lost the chance of an amazing future because of this. I also have been wondering why God let me down at that time.

I listened and listened and followed what I felt he was saying, but I have lost that now and just cant see a future as good as it could have been.

I guess looking back is never the best way to find success. Bending the truth is never the way to become better. And accepting failier is never the way to the best future that god promises.

If you feel you've failed make that decision to turn that failier into the success. Its gonna take time but the bible tells us that Gods time is nothing like ours and patients is the key to to faith, and faith is the key to Gods Glory.

In The Lions Den.

So today the British & Irish Lions Kick of the first of three games against Australia. The Lions have been Touring over the past few weeks and have been playing Clubs from around Australia in the warm up to the main Test Matches.

Being in Australia the Lions will be livings in amongst Australian fans and media and the home crowds will ensure the Brits know they are in Australia.

Among the sea of Australian yellow and green colours there is an ever growing splash of red as the British fans arrive down under to follow the British rugby hero's as they play there way through the three tests.

The amount of media coverage these days both on and off the pitch and with social media like twitter and facebook means its possible for fans to get messages to the team and payers can update statuses and share parts of their trip.

The first test in Brisbane, and as the Lions travel to the Suncorp Stadium they will get to see the many British fans that have travelled to support them and may well get a feeling that they are not alone.

I guess the link to Daniel and the British tour of Australia is obviously the Lions. Daniel got thrown into the Lion den for his beliefs. Many before him had been thrown to the Lions and become dinner, but Daniel (even though alone amongst a pack of hungry lions) kept his faith and knew God was there and keep him safe.

Just like the British Lions in Australia have the fans there to support them and keep them from feeling alone. Daniel knew God was there supporting him and kept him safe.

Going through a tuff time when you feel your alone, or feeling like everything is against you remember Good is not going to leave you and is there ready for you to call him and ask him to support you.

Doubt

I guess there is times for all Christian's when we doubt God, Maybe our trust seems all pointless and we feel let down by him. We feel we have done things the way he wanted and get left with nothing.

Gods promise is that he has the best for us. He wont ever leave us or even give up on us. He wants the best for us even if he has to find a different way of providing it.

Its said,  ''Nothing is impossible with god, the impossibility lies with us when limit God.''

I guess at the moment I find myself doubting weather those plans for good applies to me. I feel like Ive messed up and lost the chance the have the best. I find myself praying for stuff that I hope god wants and how ever impossible it seems I just have to keep trusting.

So how do we achieve the impossible? Well truth is we cant, unless we put when we but our trust in god all things are possible, its not about having false hope, it about having a real hope and real faith knowing that the future is in safe hands.

I will rise - Chris Tomlin

He knows what he's doing.

The other evening I was chatting online to a friend and at a point in a conversation they accidently copied and pated this...

Romans 9:21..Does not the potter have power over the clay....In Jermiah 18:6 God spoke and said Behold, as the clay is in the potters hand, so you are in mine hand..He is the POTTER and we are the clay. Allow Him to apply His hands to your heart today. To shape you and mould you. He might use someone elses hands, he might use circumstances to apply the needed presure. But he WILL get you in shape. Remember He knows what he is doing. HE is the potter not you, your just the clay. Then when he has shaped you to finish you off he will put you in the fiery kiln! And like a refiners fire you will emerge a vessel of Honour. He is the breaker of men and the maker of men. Allow His hands to work on you today and know this - He KNOWS what He is doing.

Straight away they apolagised and said they had been reading it earlier and must have copied it by mistake then paisted it by mistake.

As I read this something suddenly hit me. Maybe Im trying to write my own script and maybe im trying to do to much to change the future. maybe those things I pray for will come but I cant force them.

''He is the breaker of men and the maker of men'' just like the potter is the maker of pots and the clay he puts on the potters wheel is already destined to be a plate, cup, pot or vase. The potter knows the clays future.

So let God do his job... HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING.

The fact is that God already told us in the bible that he knows what is best and what we have to come. he writes the plans not us.

Long Time, No Blog

Well its been over 2 months since I last Blogged and during that time I have attempted to blog but just not really found the words to write. People keep asking whats happened to it and will I blog again. I guess you could say its been a busy time with lots going on and not much time to sit and blog.

The Shop has a new General Manager and seems to be ticking on nicely and Ive moved into the Flat above and starting to settle in as me and the boys try and make a new start.

We also have a new puppy called ''Stevie'' who joined us a few weeks ago, so as you can see its been a little crazy.

Over the past few evenings I have been trying hard to think of a blog that would fit into the time Ive spent away from the blogging. I guess my faith has started to wobble and my mind has been all over the place. Ive been busy running around moving house, running a business and trying to make sense of stuff Ive been through that Ive not had time to sit and talk or listen to God.

I was then chatting to a lady yesterday who basically said she had given up on God and didn't trust him anymore. This status rang bells in my head as I told her that giving up on god was not the solution.

Faith is about believing that the best is to come, not what has already happened. We can possibly know, or even imagine what that best is. but having a faith means that we can be assured that good will come if we trust in Jesus.

Faith Gives Hope, Hope brings a future and future is in Gods hands. What does the bible say about that? It says God Knows the plans he has for you, Plans for good.

This means if we trust God and keep faith in him, he will be faithful to us. He  it but he may not give us what we want or when we wont it, but have Faith that he is a faithful God.

Finding faith 2

In the midst of a very black tunnel people can start to do strange things. Panic and confusion can creep in and people start to get disorientated.

I guess for the people looking in the most obvious thing for that person to do is keep moving forward. Soon the light of the exit will appear and everything will be one clearer and less stressful.

But for the person in the tunnel those rational thoughts just don't register. It is as if other crazy thoughts over take the mind.

Well I guess sometime life can be like getting stuck in a tunnel. Not able to make sence of what has happened or not seeing a future.

Trusting in God is one of the hardest things to do when it seems that he has failed you. I know as this has been an issue of mine recently. But somewhere in a little corner of my head tells me to keep trying to put faith in God.

When all around you seems to have fallen and all about you looks lost the only rational thing to do is try and keep moving on. Try and fix your eyes on Jesus and try and find faith that he has a plan.

Finding Faith

So the bible says 'trust in God' it also says 'depend not on your own understanding'. So what does this mean?

I find this a pretty hard thing to follow, after my experience of "trusting God has seemed to lost me more than what I had. Following what I felt God was saying to me has lost me something amazing and trying to depend on God seems a pretty stupid thing to do.

I'm not saying I've completely lost faith, but I must admit the way things are is starting to make me wonder if God is actually as faithful as it says in the bible.

I heard so strongly from god that I followed what I felt was right. I also did something that I thought was what Jesus would do in a situation. I prayed for god to step in another situation and he didn't.

So how do I continue to trust God?

Well I guess I have to try and dig deep in the lowest and darkest time of my life. Having things taken from me, having depression and wrongly listening to god is way behind my understanding and this faithful God has not yet proved himself to me. But I continue to try and trust and continue to pray that god starts to become faithful.

who is Jesus?

I've been attending a bible class at church called ''Christianity Explored''. Now so far in the two sessions we have been looking at who Jesus is and things he done.

Now the New Testament was written by people that that either knew or had links with Jesus. Now to dismiss the bible would be foolish, as it is written evidence of things that happened in those times.

So to dismiss the fact that Jesus was a real person that lived would also be pretty foolish too. See people wrote about Jesus and things that he said and did. He must have been pretty important to so many people for them to even bother writing about him.

I guess in many ways Jesus was like a leader or iconic figure for the people of that time. He brought hope, he performed miracles and he showed love to every man.

Jesus heeled the sick and raised the dead. He calmed the storms and controlled the weather. These event are hard to believe and I guess in our group we discussed this and think we came to the conclusion that it is all down to Faith.

This week is called Holly week by many, Sunday saw Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey where people lined the streets cheering and waving palms.

This Made the leaders and high authorities annoyed seeing the people cheering at this guy on a donkey and that's when things took a turn for Jesus and the disciples.

The Events of this week would change the World forever, and all down to this one man Jesus.

So who was he? well that's a question that can only be answered by faith and belief in the written evidence of the Bible. If he was just a bloke that was good at tricks, nice to people and a hope bringer, then I guess Easter is just a holiday with chocolate eggs.

If you believe the written evidences in the Bible then Jesus was more than Just a guy in sandals. He was a guy that had followers, he was a guy that controlled the sea he was a guy that defeated death. He was God.

look at the Easter story... THURSDAY - the last supper, FRIDAY - The death on a cross, SUNDAY - Jesus was seen alive by many.

If you want to dismiss the Bible as ''just a good book'' then enjoy the eggs and break.

If you cant dismiss the Bible then maybe this weekend has a much important meaning.

The best is yet to come

Once again I have left it to long to do a blog and once again people are asking for one. Truth is I guess I've not had the inspiration to write.

I'm really finding it hard to follow what I think God may be telling me as these past few months have been a down hill journey.

I guess sometimes the only thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that God wants the best for us all and that he promises the best and tells us he has plans for good.

After trying following my heart and praying for direction I must admit Im more confused than ever.

I recently watched Bruce Almighty for the first time and in this film Bruce soon discovers that the answer to prayers cant always be ''Yes''.

This got me wondering if what I wanted, maybe is not what God wants.

I recently got a strong feeling to follow my heart and after a week of stewing I finally decided I had to do it. OK I may well have been wrong but I guessed as the feeling wouldn't go I had to do something about it.

I found out I was wrong but no real harm came from it and and I hope I can now try and move forward and work out what God has planned for me.

Like I have said in the past, being a christian doesn't remove us from pain or stop bad things happening to us. What it does mean is that we know and can be reassured that God is working on bringing us the best.   

Improving.

I remember a few years back I was Captain for the Felixstowe 2nd Team. We had to travel to Colchester for a league game and as per second team tradition we scraped a side together including one of our player mate that had never played before and jumped into the cars to go and play.

Now we had a pretty young and quick side that day, and the new boy although not knowing what he was really doing ran like the wind. The Colchester side however was older and slower but never in rugby do you look at this as an advantage.

I have played these old boys many times and they are strong and hit hard and this day was to prove no different.

We got to half time 10 points behind and as captain I was trying to explain to our young backs that to score try's we needed to run round them not through them. This seemed to fall on def ears as we fell further behind and our centres seemed to have no passing ability.

I remember one of our older forwards and myself shouting at them PASS, PASS PASS... that seemed to do the trick and what happened next changed the game.

The centre's had finally got it into there heads that this funny shaped ball could be passed to another guy and decided to try it. This was a revelation and once they got it the ball ended up out on the wing and who should be holding the ball.... yep, the new guy.

He ran like the wind passing with ease the defence and ran in for a try. Then again the revelation of ''the pass'' was awarded straight after with another try on the other wing. We one that day and I can honestly say this was one of my most memorable moment in my rugby playing days.

Rugby is sometimes about thinking on your feet and having the ability to learn and change your way of thinking. It's sometimes essential to listen to others around you and work with them in order to improve the teams performance.


We all have to learn to listen as we go through life, its not easy and sometime we have to swallow our pride but trying to work with whats in front of you can sometimes be the only way forward. God will not put anything in your way that you cant deal with, and we sometimes have to try and find a way round those things.

If your struggling with stuff right now and cant find a way through it, maybe there's away round it and just maybe God will show you and help you to pass it.

Living Sacrifices

Working Parts

When the Disciples where out fishing they where suddenly hit by a great storm. They started to panic and started to think that they where all going to drown.

They looked at Jesus and saw he was fast asleep so woke him up in the panic. Jesus woke and stood up and called out 'Peace be still'' and at that point the storm stopped and the waves calmed.

He turned to the disciples and said, why you panicking for, do you think Id let you drown?

What Jesus was did was question the faith of the disciples. He saw the panic in their eyes and was telling them to trust him.

I think sometimes putting trust in God can be the hardest thing to do when we go through bad times, and many time we just cant see the end of them. Time after time things just seem to go wrong one thing after another and before long it just seems like we are in the middle of the Storm.

How can you Trust in God when it seems that trusting him hasn't got you anywhere in the the past. When you have trusted and faithfully seemed to have followed his lead then it has all just come crashing down again.

A tricky thing to learn is patients, you want prayers answered the moment you say Amen, you want to touch that certain something but you just cant seem to reach it.

That's not how God works. It takes time to make everything work for good. You cant Just take parts of an engine and and chuck them into a bonnet of a car and expect it to work. Each part has to go together in the right way for it to work.

This is the same as things we want, and to make things work that we ask for means other things have to be in the right place too. But God is always working to put all the parts in the right place.

 

Perfect Peace by Laura Story

Toy Train

Last night I got into watching ''STORAGE HUNTERS''. Basically it these two guys that go round and bid for storage units. Some times its Just a pile of junk but most of the time there is something in the unit that will make them a profit.

Last night they came across an almost empty unit and most of the people looked at the unit and walked away. But this one guy decided to buy the unit for $1.

When they got into the unit they found nothing but an old plastic Christmas tree in a box. But this guy was not giving up. He stuck his hand deep into the box to see if his luck was in.

What he found was an old toy train, about 100 years old, made of tin. It would have been part of the Christmas decorations and would have ran around the base of the tree. He also found it worked too.

Later they sold the tree and lights for $50 and the train fetched $325 leaving a profit of $374.

Now that guy found something good in a storage unit full of junk and when everyone else had walked away he had faith in the almost empty unit.

God see good in us and although our lives may seem empty and future dull, he will always find a way of making things work out better than you think.

Choices

We all have the ability to make decisions. Some better than others, but even from an early age we have decisions to make.The Fact is we sometimes make wrong choices that we look back and kick ourselves wishing we had seen what we see after the event.

I'm no different and recently I made a choice that I wish I could change. I did it thinking I was doing it for all the right reasons but looking back it now looks like I may have made a terrible error.

I have over past months been trying to make decisions with God. Asking him for direction and praying that these choices are correct. I shouldn't, but I'm now starting to doubt if I did the right thing.

Things we choose to do, or not to do have an impact on our future. Becoming a christian was the best thing I ever did but it doesn't mean I'm without my troubles. And some choices I have made as a christian have been fantastic but some have back fired. 

I may have chosen to oversee Gods best and maybe my best as I try and walk towards my own goals. I guess I can only hope God brings the best back to me. 

It all comes back to faith. I need to find that stronger faith again as without it a christian cant be at his best and doubt starts to creep in

I really hope that God brings back the best as looking back I can see a bright future and one with God alongside. I also hope that others will see gods best in me.

There once was this bloke

There once was this bloke that grow up in a christian family and believing in god was just something he did. He had no reason to not believe in God.


He would go along to church with his family every week and again this was just normal thing to do on a Sunday.

in his teens he rebelled at little (like many do) and didn't really have any reason to ask to many questions about god as just knowing he was ''around'' was enough.why would he need to think to hard about it, after all if God was there then why worry about it.

As he grow older and life chucked a few more things his way he would some how find the ability to turn to god or turn away from god. A big event in his life came when his mum died and seeing her faith come through in that situation got him thinking more about God and how he works.

Still he continued with life with a care free attitude and hard two sons that he thanked god for and identified the importance of teaching them about God too..

It was when this guy hit a low point in his life and marriage started to break down that he found himself seeking God more than ever. I guess you could say that his belief in god hadn't changed but the situation made God seem more important.

See belief in God (where he is just there in the background) and having a relationship with god (where you talk to him and read things in the bible about him) become 2 totally different things. What this guy found was that it just became more real.

At this point, in the darkest time of this chaps life he found himself asking God to ''sort him out'' and it was then that God pretty much kicked he up the back side.

Life change instantly for this guy. Not in the way he wanted or in the way you imagine but in the way this guy looked at the world and how he looked at others and different situations. Don't get me wrong there was know real change in his situation, but the change was in him.

I guess you could say he was on a very long and winding road that was up hill all the way. And all the way along there where still mistakes to make and hard times to cross.

I know this guy well and even recently he has blown out a candle that God had lite for him to help him build a and see future and is now trying to lite it again.

What this guy is starting to learn is he has to make decisions and sometimes will make bad choices even when god shoves them in his face I guess he still struggles.

Of course finding God standing beside you in those hard times may seem crazy to some but surly it stands to reason and to me it is God showing he is there.

You may think this story is just a crazy made up to just try and prove a point. You may think its one of those stupid story's made up by some religious nutter to try and convince others that god is real.

Well let me tell you this guy is in know way a change man. and there is no amazing ending to this story. What I can tell you is that this guy still struggles and still takes the wrong turns, but he know totally believes God is trying to do great things in his life even if he doesn't see it at the right time.

Real God

I few weeks ago i heard someone say that if someone wants to believe in God to make themselves feel better and comforted then he didn't see it a problem. Thing is with my situation many people could say the same thing.

I remember having the argument that in Africa thousands and thousands become Christians each year but it always seemed a little false to me. See in Africa many people live in poverty and with little hope. If a church offers food and hope, schools and hospitals then it stands to reason these people will become Christians in the search for a brighter future.

Its no secret that when bad times hit and people turn to god. I heard just last week a non christian tell her friend (who was going through bad times) ''please know your in my prayers''. That's great a non christian praying to God and is another situation where someone has look to God in the bad times.

The classic arguments for any non christian is sometimes based around science or life experience and I can completely relate with that. But science is still finding out more and more about how the world works and it is said that only 5% of things to discover has been discovered so maybe that tells us that science isn't a great source for evidence.

Life experience is base on our own thinking and I guess as non of us have lived our lives out in full yet we can only go by past events, and if we cant see God in those events it doesn't mean he isn't real. Sometimes when I tell people I pray for them I get a mixed reaction but no one person has ever asked me not to or told me its a waist of time.

I have learnt and am still learning that sometimes its harder to be a Christian than not to be a Christian not because its hard to prove to non Christians God is real (I don't need to do that) but because being a christian still means going through the hard times and the pain and trying to keep your faith.

God? Where?

If God is all doing, all knowing, all seeing and all being then it is hard to see why the things in life that seem to tare people apart and cause sadness can happen.

over the last year my life has been ripped apart and believe me, I'm know different to anyone else and many many times Ive cried out WHY?? then maybe that's a question we may never answer.

When disaster strikes the majority of us will turn and say... How can a God that we are told is in control of everything let this happen? I guess the only thing I have come up with so far is that God is not a puppeteer.

Hey I got no idea why some people survive cancer and some don't. Ive got no idea why it always seems to be the good people that get taken from us or why natural disasters happen and kill thousands.

Trust me when I tell you that many times I've asked those questions too.

I'm not going to apologise by bringing up Jeremiah 29 v 11 it says clear and simply 'For I know the plans I have for you... Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future''

I don't think God lets these things happen, and Ill put my hands up now and say I honestly cant say why they happen, but what I do see is that god has this amazing ability to turn these things into good.
Wheres
the hard bit in all of this is not understanding the reason why these things happen (we may never understand) the hard bit is letting God work his plan and have the faith and courage to believe in him

Different = Harder?

Its so much easier going with the flow. Why would we want to try and fight against the current when we could just relax and let life push you along with everyone else.

Its just to easy to go along with everyone else's ideas, and to be honest if we just agree with the majority of people life flows along so much more smoother.

At work we call white with two sugars ''The Trades mans Mix'' most carpet fitters I know ask for the same and when its my turn to make a brew Its just so easy putting the same amount of everything in all the cups. But then occasionally we have a rep in that wants black with one and for some reason it then seems more hassle.

Doing something different is not always going to throw a spanner in the works, and your going to get your critics trying to push and pull you to get you going in the same direction as them. At this point you need to try and work out a way to stay strong and battle your way throw.

Micheal McIntyre's sketch about skipping explains how he finds running hard work and walking just not good enough. he then states that skipping (how ever silly it looks) is the better option. Then by moving both hands together it is made quicker with less effort. 

I agree its an idea that will make you look silly in so many ways but he has a point. It is quick and almost effortless.

Maybe different doesn't mean harder after all.

Head or Heart

Sometimes I guess we all fall into the trap of knowing what is best. I guess our heart and brain sometimes go in different directions and when you have a brain like mine its impossible to know where its at or where its going.

The bible story about two women fighting over a baby comes to mind. Both ladies where saying they were the mother of the child and neither would give in. This guy (not sure if he was a king) pulled out his sword and said he would cut the baby in half so both woman could have a part of the baby.

As the guy lifted his sword ready to strike the baby one of the woman screamed for him to stop saying ''Spare the child's life and let the other lady take care of the child''.

At this the man put his sword away and give the child to the lady that had stopped him from killing it. He knew only the true mother of this child would do such a thing.

You see the man saw that the true mother of the baby was acting from the heart and the other was doing what her brain said.

Simon Cowell is often seen making final decisions on the X-Factor and Britain's Got Talent. Many times he comes out with the classic question ''now do I go with my head or my heart?''

So many times Ive had people say ''Go with what Gods telling you''. Now that's but how do you know what gods saying? and if we do here something how do we know its god telling us and not our Mind or Heart fighting again.

I guess once again Faith comes into it and I guess one thing I do know is that he cant work with you if you have stopped trying yourself.

Sent from my mate Luke.

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?

Student : Yes.

Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent.)

Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Is satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor: Where does satan come from ?

Student : From … GOD …

Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer.)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class broke out into laughter. )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

P.S.

I believe you have enjoyed the conversation. And if so, you’ll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same, won’t you?

Forward this to increase their knowledge … or FAITH.

By the way, that student was EINSTEIN.