I did it !

I did it....(1 hr 45 mins 40 secs) The kids made some flags for me!

Here's the link to the results (it's an Excel file).....I came 700th !!

My First Half

This Sunday, at 10:30 am, I will be running in my first half marathon (13.1 miles). It is the Worksop Half Marathon which is just down the road from where I live (well about 12 miles away). I should be ok….I’m looking to do it in a nice steady 2 hours.

Middle Earth Discovered

‘In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.....’, well a Homo floresiensis actually.

Scientists have gone and dug up one of those old skeletons again and come up with a brand new species of Man. He’s little, hence the nick-name ‘Hobbit’.

This has confused scientists as it’s only dated at around 12,000 years old. I guess because there were some of our rather taller ancestors around at the same time. Apparently according to the scientists they may have evolved their small size in response to the scarcity of resources on the island they were found. Mmmmm?!

Anyway where was I.....’Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.’

Socrates Returns

No not that Socrates….Brazilian football legend Socrates, at the age of fifty (5-0), has agreed a deal with the West Yorkshire non-League team Garforth Town of the Northern Counties East League.

Unbelievable eh?!

Praise!

Tonight I will be meeting with our Worship Team to go over some new material. I will also be sharing some thoughts on ‘Praise’. Here is a brief glimpse at my notes.....


......The Bible is full of the word ‘praise’. (Mentioned 346 times in the New International Version of the Bible).

This emphasises its importance. How often does our society reflect the opposite of praise? Very often it is eaten up with a critical attitude, disrespect, indifference and at times selfish arrogance.

Two important principles regarding praise:

• Praise is an eternal exercise. Before time began, God was praised, and after time is no more, God will be praised.
  
  
• Everything was created to praise God. Not only is God praised in heaven, He made everything to praise Him.
  
  

As a Worship Team we should aim to be…

A group of people that are full of praise for God….and for one another.
Not having a negative, critical, cynical spirit. A positive, uplifting kind of people. A blessing to all those around us. In our actions, speech, behaviour.

Our music is one expression of our PRAISE.
Our lives are full of it.
Our times together are the continuation of that life of praise.
Sunday’s are our corporate opportunities to give our very best in praise to God....and to bless others!

Psalm 150:6 ‘Let everything that has breath praise the Lord’.

Last Post

I did consider deleting the last post. I think I'll leave the punditry to the experts next time.....that's a promise!

Mind Games

Alex Ferguson is at it again. In the build up to today’s massive encounter between the two giants, Arsenal and Manchester United, he declares that United will always be Number One.

He’s quoted as saying, "Every player wants to play for Manchester United and it will always be the same. Arsenal's unbeaten record is terrific but we are ahead of everyone else in England when it comes to tradition."

Incredibly Arsenal have now gone 49 games unbeaten. Will today bring a halt to that incredible record? I don’t think so. United seem to be well behind Arsenal at the moment in belief and more importantly in the kind of quality that Arsenal are producing. Still, it’s a funny old game!

'My Mother in Law....'

My Mother and Father-in-law are staying with us at the moment for a few days, looking at houses for sale in the area. They’ve just sold their house down in Kent and are planning on moving nearer to us here in Chesterfield.

Now for some the thought of their Mother-in-law moving to just around the corner might be a little daunting. But not for me.























Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!


No….I’m only kidding. They’re both great and we are all looking forward to them living near us.

As a big fan of Les Dawson here are a few Mother-in-law jokes:

• I wouldn't say that my MIL was ugly, but every time she puts on lipstick, it tries to crawl back into the tube.
  
• A guy brings his dog into the vet and says, "Could you please cut my dog's tail off?" The vet examines the tail and says, "There is nothing wrong. Why would you want this done?" The man replies, "My MIL is coming to visit, and I don't want anything in the house to make her think that she is welcome!"
  
• I bought my MIL a chair for Christmas, but she wouldn't plug it in.
  
• I picked my MIL up at the airport last night. Yeah, those airport lounges are so dark!
  
• My MIL is so big, we had to stop buying her Malcolm X tee shirts, because helicopters kept trying to land on her.
  
• I always know when it's the mother-in-law knocking at the door – the mice throw themselves on the traps.
  
• My mother-in-law is a big woman. She got run over last week. The driver said he had enough room to get around her, but he didn't know if he had enough petrol.

I love you really Pat!

What Kind of Chocolate Bar are You?

We had another awesome time in church last night.

One of our great friends was with us again, Louise Davies from the Hope City Church in Sheffield. (And she brought her Mum!)

She spoke about ‘being people with the Mars Bar spirit’….being able to ‘work, rest and play’. (Remember the old advert?!)

Rest….spend quality time with God resting in His presence. Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
(The Message) - "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything."

Work…think positively about the position/job God has placed you in.

Play….enjoy life! Plan a day where you get to do something you really enjoy doing.


By the way, Louise is a bit of a ‘Snicker’ person really, slightly nutty, but soft and gooey on the inside!! Sorry Louise!

Photos from Down Under

Here’s a few photos we’ve just received from Helen (sister-in-law) and her husband Steve who live in Perth, Western Australia. They’re taken from their recent holiday in Dunsborough about 3 hours south of Perth.

Helen at Bunker Bay
Steve at Bunker Bay
Bunker Bay

'Doh' a Deer, a Female Deer

‘More people gain their philosophy of life and spiritual values through musicals than by going to church, says a new book. So what life lessons can musicals teach us?’ BBC Link

If I remember rightly a similar thing happened with the Salvation Army and William Booth in the late 19th Century. They realised the value of using melodies with which the people were familiar. William Booth is reputed to have said, 'Why should the devil have all best tunes?' Soon music-hall and other popular tunes were being used in Salvation Army meetings with new words.

Granted this was music driven back then as opposed to the actual ‘message’ of the musicals, but still, something to ponder.

The challenge for the church is always to present the unchanging powerful message of the Gospel in a relevant and contemporary way.

So what Musicals are they suggesting can teach us lessons in life?

Annie - Believe in yourself
Wizard of Oz - Stick by your friends
Sound of Music - Make the most of what you have
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - Good things come to those who wait
Paint Your Wagon - Share and share alike
Half A Sixpence - Be true to yourself

Think of anymore??

Important News Flash

I use the BBC Breaking News Alert Email Service which is quite handy at times when I’m sat at my desk at work.

Every so often though, like just now, I get some really important news items flashing up in my Inbox....

'Cambodia's royal council elects Prince Norodom Sihamoni to be the new monarch after the abdication of his father King Sihanouk last week.'

Thank goodness for that piece of news.....I will sleep easy tonight!

Sorry for the sarcasm, I’m not that cynical (honest!). I know this is very important news to some people in our world. Most news is.

The important thing is not to be afraid of it....

(Psalm 112:1 and 7) Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.....He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

The Matrix

I have the privilege of speaking to a group of teenagers on Friday night at a weekly event we put on called ‘Chatroom’. These are a great bunch of unchurched kids from the local area.

I will be talking to them about ‘Choices’. We all have and will have choices to make, some easy and some difficult. A great film to highlight this topic is the popular sci-fi movie, The Matrix. I will be showing a clip from the film, here’s a taster:


Morpheus: "It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth"

Neo: "What truth?"

Morpheus: "That you are a slave Neo, like everyone else you were born into bondage, born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch, a prison for your mind".[soul]


John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to know God, but through me."

Like Morpheus, Jesus said that He was offering us the truth. Not another set of rules or religion....but Himself.

We either accept Him or reject Him….that’s the choice for us all today.

Running the Race of a Lifetime

I’m looking forward to speaking at church on Sunday 24 October. My message will be entitled, ‘Running the Race of a Lifetime’. Basically this will be ‘life lessons from running’. As a keen runner who is planning on doing a half marathon and then moving up to a full marathon, I felt there where some great lessons in life that we can learn from a runner’s perspective.

My six main points will be…

• Choose the right race
  
• Get started
  
• Find the momentum and stay there
  
• Training - staying focused on the day to days
  
• Make sure you’re eating properly
  
• Finishing the race well
  

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (24) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (25) Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (26) Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. (27) No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

And in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.

Choice.......Whose?

The Sunday Telegraph has reported that the British Pregnancy Advisory Service helps set up hundreds of late abortions without medical justification..... See BBC link.

I was watching the BBC Breakfast News this morning and heard Natasha Kaplinsky grilling a spokesperson for the anti-abortion organisation ‘Life’. That over-used phrase kept surfacing throughout the interview, ‘Isn’t it all about choice….a woman’s right to choose’.

This really does ‘grate’ and anger me. They never mention the unborn baby’s rights. I know the thought of having a baby for some, when it wasn’t planned, can be daunting especially when it is going to involve serious lifestyle changes. But how many times do things happen in our lives that are not planned for that need major adjustments in our life. Do we normally take such drastic actions to ensure that our lives remain the same as before?

Great Church Last Night

Great time in church last night. Paul Benger continued speaking from the Psalms (Psalm 2). It was an excellent message comparing two ways of living. One from a negative mindset where rage, bitterness and resentment has control (vs 1 to 3) and one from a life lived wisely where God is central and loved with reverence (vs 6-12).

Psalm 2:1-12 New Living Translation (for Paul)
(1) Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans?(2) The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one.(3) "Let us break their chains," they cry, "and free ourselves from this slavery."(4) But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.(5) Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.(6) For the LORD declares, "I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, my holy city."(7) The king proclaims the Lord's decree: "The LORD said to me, `You are my son. Today I have become your Father. (8) Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,the ends of the earth as your possession.(9) You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.' "(10) Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!(11) Serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.(12) Submit to God's royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of your pursuits--for his anger can flare up in an instant. But what joy for all who find protection in him

As the Worship Pastor it was also an exciting night to be able to teach the church a new song written by one of our talented young musicians, David Wilkins (lead guitarist). The song is called ‘Dreams’….here are the lyrics:

I fall before Your throne of grace
I’m here upon my knees again
I’m reaching for the love
I know that saves
Deeper in You I strive
Reaching for the things beyond my view

Assured of Your faithfulness
Trusting in You
Alone I seek to praise You
Glorify the One
Who reigns on high

My dreams are in You
My dreams are of You
Sanctify this heart and make them true

Above is where my destiny lies
I trust in You at all times
I’m desperate for You to reign
Empower this life You so freely gave
Humble before You
I can only adore You
So focused on You
You’re all that’s in view

Though I may fall and break
My faith is in You
The restorer and sustainer of all
Show me more

'Our Lass is Feeling a Bit Manky'

Continuing our medical theme of the day.....here’s how some Austrian doctors are integrating into the South Yorkshire area. They’re learning some of the wonderful Yorkshire dialect.

Some examples:

YORKSHIRE TO ENGLISH

Ey oop = Hello
Fizog = Face
Lughole = Ear
Jiggered = Exhausted
Manky = Rough
Our lass = Wife
Gipping = Vomiting

Heath and Fitness: The Real Facts

Here’s some important health advice from Dr Paul Baggaley (aka Baggas) from Perth, WA. Not to be taken too seriously though.

Table Tennis Anyone?

My good friend Paul Benger reckons he's pretty good at Table Tennis (or Ping Pong in some countries). Is he as good as these two, though? Amazing stuff......eh?!

'No one would have believed.....'

Here’s a film I’m looking forward to. The HG Wells classic ‘The War of the Worlds’, starring Tom Cruise and directed by Steven Spielberg.

I loved this story growing up and also Jeff Wayne’s musical version. I was never that keen on the first movie set in 1950’s America…..always looking forward to one based on the original novel.

Well hopefully this new version, out in the Summer (2005), will not disappoint!

By the way, the web site above is a great place to find out about up and coming movies. It’s on my Favourites list.

Be Happy!

Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT) - (1) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. (2) But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. (3) They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper

Last night at church, Paul shared with us an excellent message from Psalm 1, the first 3 verses.

Here’s what I loved….

3 keys to being truly happy or blessed:

Delight (vs 2 - But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants) Be enthusiastic about the things God has called you to do!

Meditate (vs 2 - day and night they think about his law) Regurgitate, go over the promises of God. When negative thoughts come replace them with God’s truth.

Planted (vs 3 - They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper) Wherever we are planted, good or bad, the fruit we bear will reflect the place we’re at. We need to make sure we’re planted in a good place.

Psalm 92:12-14 (NIV) - (12) The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; (13) planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. (14) They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.

Room 101

I hear that comedian Harry Hill is on Room 101 tomorrow night on BBC2 (9:30pm). I might give it a view, I quite like Harry Hill and apparently he will be suggesting that God should be consigned to Room 101.

He is quoted as saying ‘God lacks vision. He’s like a builder whose got another job on. We have all these bad things that he’s organised – hurricanes, earthquakes and so on – but when was the last time we had a miracle? Two thousand years ago we had miracles everyday!’

I don’t think its God who lacks vision!

Let’s see what kind of a response he gets.

The Road Goes Ever On and On….

I know I’m sad when it comes to all things 'Lord of the Rings' but I am going to miss my fix this Christmas time!

Or maybe not....as the Return of the King extended edition will be out in December with an additional 50 minutes, making the third film in the trilogy 3 hours and 50 minutes long.

Imagine that, watching this along side the other 2 extended versions and you’ll need to set aside 11 hours and 23 minutes to watch the whole saga from beginning to end!

Time is a precious thing……