Again, it's late and God's Word is great

Hey guys,
Spurred on by Marisa's recent post - www.iconformed.blogspot.com
I wanted to write on why I firmly, 150%, whole-hearted believe that the only thing and the best thing we need to teach our young people in church and in youth groups is the Bible.

We see it all over, not just Iceland, that for too long, people have underestimated and de-valued the power and authority of the Bible. God's Word. I know we throw that around a lot, "God's Word", but have you ever stopped and looked at those two words sat next to each other in a sentence? God's Word. The Word of God. Word's from God's heart and mouth. God communicating to us humans. God wanting to speak to us. God wanting to speak to me. God wanting to speak to you.

Over the past year I have realised how much I love God's Word and how much I love teaching God's Word. I cannot escape it, God has gifted me with a love for His Word and for teaching it. I love it! And I thank Him for gifting me in this way.
I have also realised that for every program we design, for every new booklet and prayer diary we come up with, the best and most important thing in it all and at the end of the day is the Bible. God's Word.

God's Word is amazing. Not only do we get comforting, correcting and confrontational verses but most importantly of all, in every book of the Bible, we see a picture of Jesus and see how every book points to Him. Up until about a year ago, I never fully realised that Jesus was not restricted to the Gospels. We have a book that was written by the Creator of the universe and as He wrote it, He took care to include, on every page, a sign of what was to come. He took the time to make sure that Jesus, the Saviour of the World, could be seen wherever you read in the Bible.

Is that not amazing or is that not amazing?!

God has revealed Himself to us through creation and so on but the greatest and most clearest ways of seeing Him is through His Word and His Son. Combined. Not seperate. Not as different identities or different options, but together. We cannot know Jesus without the Bible and what it says about Him and we cannot understand the Bible without realising it's all about Jesus! They go hand in hand.

So we cannot teach our young people just about how great God is through looking at the mountains or a waterfall or a snowflake or a flower. We cannot teach our young people about Jesus just from our experience. We cannot teach our young people the Bible without showing them Jesus on every page. We cannot teach our young people anything but Jesus Christ and what the Bible says about Him.

Let's get it out of our heads that the latest Christian book, idea, theory, speaker, program, website or jewellery is what we push or teach in our youth groups. No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. What we teach them is the Bible. From start to finish. What IT says about Jesus. What IT says about God. What IT says about the Holy Spirit. What IT says about homosexuality. What IT says about sex before marriage. What IT says about how to treat each other. What IT says about love. What IT says about your parents. What IT says about life after death.

Get my point?

If we are someone who claims to love Jesus and does not teach the truths and realities of the Bible as God has written it, then we are doing Satan's work for him.

Anybody ever seen a dead cow?

This is another photo I have with memories from last summer at Capernwray. Right at the end of the summer Ray was seen with this cow, stone dead, in the front of his digger, driving round the loop while a family walk for the guests was happening. Classic.
So that evening, Andrew Wallace, Grace and a couple others went up to see this cow. I've never seen a dead cow before but it stunk! Andrew had to peel the plastic back, I couldn't go near it. We had a laugh, took some pictures and basically dishonoured the poor dead cow by having a laugh and taking photographs.



PS-Andrew Wallace is from Northern Ireland (like me!) and one of the funniest guys I know. Grace is pretty funny too. Funny looking that is! Ohhh! I'm so funny too.

I heart music

This is a post about music.

I want to recommend some artists to you and also, give you some tour dates for some of these artists and others so you may inquire into the availability of tickets and possiblty attend one of their gigs. Let me commence.

First up - The Feeling
They are a recent addition to the British bands with "The" in their name. They have three superb songs circulating at the minute - "Sewn", "Never Be Lonely", "Fill my little world right up". They are just a fantastic band with happy, pleasant music. Listen to them. Their album is, "12 Stops and Home"

Secondly - Keane
They have their second album out now, "Under the Iron Sea" and takes a different approach from their largely instrumental first album. Two songs from their new album that have been released are, "Crystal Ball" and "Is it any wonder?"

Thirdly - Badly Drawn Boy
This guy is just amazing. Not only has he been around for quite some time as the music industry goes, not only did he do the entire, superb, soundtrack for "About a Boy" but he has yet another new album out next month. This guy is just so fantastically talented.

Some tour dates -

The Feeling -
North America
Oct 8 2006 8:00P Crocodile Cafe Seattle
Oct 9 2006 8:00P Berbatis Pan Portland
Oct 11 2006 8:00P Café Du Nord San Francisco
Oct 16 2006 8:00P Varsity Theatre Minneapolis
Oct 17 2006 8:00P Aragon Ballroom Chicago
Oct 21 2006 8:00P Kool Haus Toronto
Oct 22 2006 8:00P Le Spectrum Montreal

UK
Nov 15 2006 8:00A Academy Manchester
Nov 16 2006 8:00A Rock City Nottingham
Nov 17 2006 8:00A Academy Liverpool
Nov 21 2006 8:00A Academy (upgraded from ABC) Glasgow
Nov 22 2006 8:00A University Leeds
Nov 24 2006 8:00A Mandela Hall Belfast
Nov 25 2006 8:00A Ambassador Dublin

Red Hot Chili Peppers -
North America
Sep 14 2006 8:00P GM Place Vancouver, BC
Sep 16 2006 8:00P Pengrowth Saddledome Calgary, AB
Sep 17 2006 8:00P Rexall Place Edmonton
Sep 19 2006 8:00P Saskatchewan Credit Union Center Saskatoon
Sep 20 2006 8:00P MTS Centre Winnipeg
Sep 23 2006 8:00P Pimlico Race Course Baltimore, MD
Sep 25 2006 8:00P Air Canada Center Toronto
Sep 25 2006 8:00P Air Canada Center Toronto
Sep 26 2006 8:00P Air Canada Center Toronto
Sep 28 2006 8:00P Bell Centre Montreal
Oct 28 2006 8:00P Voodoo Music Experience New Orleans, LA

Keane -
North America
Unfortunately, Keane's North American tour seems to have been cancelled which included gigs in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and LA
UK
Oct 18 2006 8:00P Apollo Manchester
Oct 19 2006 8:00P Press and Journal Arena Aberdeen
Oct 26 2006 8:00P Alexandra Palace London
Oct 27 2006 8:00P Alexandra Palace London

Badly Drawn Boy -
North America
Oct 14 2006 8:00P Mod Club Toronto
Oct 16 2006 8:00P Great American Music Hall San Francisco
Oct 18 2006 8:00P Troubadour Los Angeles
Oct 19 2006 8:00P Troubadour Los Angeles

UK
Sep 23 2006 12:00A Cohesion Festival (with Elbow, Graham Coxon & More) Manchester

So there you have it, some gigs for you to check out. I just love music and am quite surprised I haven't posted more on just music. I think it's a topic I could come back to.
You can of course look all these guys up on myspace and check tour dates yourself from their official sites or on their myspaces'
Enjoy!

Pictures and memories

These are some photos of when some crazy North Americans invaded my beautiful, peaceful country in search of new land, new scenery, new experiences and new people to annoy. Let me just explain each picture briefly -
1. This was all of us in Bewley's in Belfast getting something to eat
2. That was the Giant's Causeway
3. Caleb took this great picture of me clicking my heals in Dublin train station
4. Adrian and Joy had us to stay the night of Caleb's birthday
5. Caleb and Jeff were just messing around in Belfast
Good times, good times

God, friends and family

You know,
Although it is 1am, I felt the urge, while on the computer to write a wee blog on God, friends and family as the title suggests.

I do not mean to offend anyone by leaving people out as I type this but I just wanted to blog and really thank God for friends He has quite clearly given me.

My friend Alec for example. We met at Capernwray waaayyyy back over 10 years ago and he has been a loyal friend ever since. Over the years, we've never really seen each other more than once a year and as it stands at the moment, I haven't seen him in almost a year. We talk on the phone though and each time we do, it's a good time. He lives up in Scotland, in Aberdeen, where he is at uni. He originates from Scotland and has lived on the isle of Skye and in Campbeltown. Thank you God for Alec.

I just got off the phone today with another good friend, Marisa. She was just great at Capernwray but to think I have now known her over 2 and a half years, ever since we started talking via the Capernwray forum. I feel so blessed to have known her so long and to have had the privilege of getting to know her before Capernwray as well as during and of course after. To think she is now only an hour behind me in the whole time zone thing and that she is only a couple of hours away by plane makes me so excited! Thank you God for Marisa.

Jeff. Wow. That guy is just fantastic. In many ways, he has actually been a sensible and clear head to have around. He is kind, he is sensible and he does have an amazing sense of humour. Anytime we talk, it's just honest. We can be real with each other. That guy is a joy to be around and to talk to. What a champion. Thank you God for Jeff.

There is no way I can overlook my friend Caleb. When I was out in Bellingham, it just really strengthened our friendship and to know he wants me to be involved in his wedding next year means so much to me. He has been one of very few people I can just be completely myself with and just talk about anything and everything with. I love him to bits. What a guy. Thank you God for Caleb.

Matthias is another guy who has been outstanding. We get on so well and the times we have spent talking about God and to God have both encouraged and challenged me. His English is not perfect and my Spanish, is well, non-existent and yet we can communicate perfectly well to each other, it's amazing! All it would take is a look or a word and we know exactly what each other is thinking. We connected in an amazing way and our friendship has been encouragement for us both. Thank you God for Matthias.

Of late, I have found another friend in Matt. To have someone living close by, sharing similar passions, going to the same church and being a guy has been exactly what I have needed. I think that our real desire to build each other up and encourage each other over this next year has just fired me up and revitalised me. I cannot deny that this is from God. Thank you God for Matt.

One person who has really been there for me over the past year too has been Sarah. I think I could class her as one of about 3 friends I have within a 40 mile radius of where I live now. Her willingness to take me to get shopping, to hang out, to give me lifts elsewhere, to want to meet up has been such a blessing to me. Having her around, having someone who knows me and understands me way before I became the 'happy','friendly','childrens and youth worker' at my church has just been amazing. Thank you God for Sarah.

There are so many people who are a friend to me. You know who you are. They have been Jesus to me when I've needed it, they have listened to me ramble on endlessly, they have taken me out places, they have prayed for me, they have enjoyed my company and I their's, they have corrected me, they have prayed with me, they have travelled miles to visit me, they have brought me presents and they have loved me.

Without a shadow of a doubt, I think my biggest thanx to God goes to my family. They have always been at the end of a phone, they have always listened to me, they have always listened to my tears, they have always been ready and willing to help me out in any way they possibly can and they have always loved me. They support me 150% over here and yet they are always there with a big hug when I come home. My time in England would have been so much harder if it hadn't have been for them.

Above all, I cannot stop praising God. I can thank each person, I can thank God for each person but all I want to do is thank God. His provision and presence in the past couple of years has never, ever, ever, ever, failed to blow me away. He gives me friends. He gives me the food I need. He gives me the sleep I need. He nourishes my soul. He encourages me. He comforts me. He improves me. He challenges me. He loves me. He died for me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me.

God first. Everything else and everybody else second. My thanks for everything and for everyone goes straight to God.