Thursday, January 18, 2007
Exorcism
Ok, I was going to post last night because I had loads of time and then couldn't think of anything to write! And then, once I'd gone to bad I remembered what I want to rant about today! There's been a 'conversation' recently. If you read these 'conversations' you'll know what it is, but I won't give away any names!! There was a discussion as an officer had been asked to pray in the house of someone who was being 'visited' and was asking for help and advice.
Now, wait for the responses...
...
find someone else who is qualified and trained
...
Call the local bishop
...
the person is probably mentally or pscychologically ill
...
don't assume it's demonic, there's probably a rational explanation
I couldn't believe it, well I could, but then I couldn't. How can people be so blind to what the devil is doing in these times? Especially when he is working in those very open and blatant ways?
Just to say, there were also some very helpful comments and offers of support and advice for this officer, and assurance that the issues were a reality.
Jesus said:
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Where are those signs today, then, if we believe, or do we? He didn't say some people who are trained and authorised by the church will do these things, but 'those who believe'!
Now, wait for the responses...
...
find someone else who is qualified and trained
...
Call the local bishop
...
the person is probably mentally or pscychologically ill
...
don't assume it's demonic, there's probably a rational explanation
I couldn't believe it, well I could, but then I couldn't. How can people be so blind to what the devil is doing in these times? Especially when he is working in those very open and blatant ways?
Just to say, there were also some very helpful comments and offers of support and advice for this officer, and assurance that the issues were a reality.
Jesus said:
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Where are those signs today, then, if we believe, or do we? He didn't say some people who are trained and authorised by the church will do these things, but 'those who believe'!
Labels: demons, exorcism, officers
Monday, January 15, 2007
Daily 'Theme Song'
Not really managing to keep up with this blogging thing, but got a few spare minutes right now. (I wrote a whole long post the other day- but wih Ceitidh on my knee- big mistake- it went to the big rubbish bin!)
Anyway, theme song- spent a lot of time today with the song 'Storm the forts of darkness' in my head, but not in an annoying way, but in a positive way! It's amazing what a difference it makes when you make this the context to everything you do in a day:
Soldiers of our God arise
The day is drawing nearer
Shake the slumber from your eyes,
the light is drawing clearer
Sit no longer idly by
While the heedlees millions die
Lift the blood-stained banner high
And take the field for Jesus
Storm the forts of darkness, bring them down
Bring down the devil's kingdom
Where'er he holds dominion
Storm the forts of darkness bring them down
(from memory so apologies for a wrong word here and there)
And then God shows you where he (devil) holds dominion and you can pray about that too!
What's your theme song? Any suggestions for tomorrow's?
Anyway, theme song- spent a lot of time today with the song 'Storm the forts of darkness' in my head, but not in an annoying way, but in a positive way! It's amazing what a difference it makes when you make this the context to everything you do in a day:
Soldiers of our God arise
The day is drawing nearer
Shake the slumber from your eyes,
the light is drawing clearer
Sit no longer idly by
While the heedlees millions die
Lift the blood-stained banner high
And take the field for Jesus
Storm the forts of darkness, bring them down
Bring down the devil's kingdom
Where'er he holds dominion
Storm the forts of darkness bring them down
(from memory so apologies for a wrong word here and there)
And then God shows you where he (devil) holds dominion and you can pray about that too!
What's your theme song? Any suggestions for tomorrow's?
Labels: spiritual warfare
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Casino Royale
As the title suggests, we went to see the new James Bond film tonight. It was amazing! Eaten much too much popcorn. Will post some more tomorrow when I'm more awake. That film is very long!
Labels: cinema
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Fundraising
Sorry for lack of posting. Would have written something last night, but was busy trying to raise some much-needed funds for the corps. The latest initiative, which I hope will bring in some decent money is by linking with the Invitation Book people.
Some of you COs (or others!) might find it useful for fundraising for yourselves. Basically it works like this: we get 100 books (or how many you choose) full of vouchers for restaurants, shops, cinema etc in Bristol, and give them out to all the people linked to the corps who then get 3 weeks to decide whether or not to keep it, for £19.99, or they can bring it back. For every book we sell we get £4! All Pill corps folk, you can get a copy from me!
So, I spent all of yesterday evening putting 68 books and letters into envelopes, and writing down reference numbers! Fun, eh?
Got an amazing Christmas present from my friend. £15 in cinema vouchers, so we're going to the cinema tonight. Not sure what we're going to see, but will let you know if it's any good.
Some of you COs (or others!) might find it useful for fundraising for yourselves. Basically it works like this: we get 100 books (or how many you choose) full of vouchers for restaurants, shops, cinema etc in Bristol, and give them out to all the people linked to the corps who then get 3 weeks to decide whether or not to keep it, for £19.99, or they can bring it back. For every book we sell we get £4! All Pill corps folk, you can get a copy from me!
So, I spent all of yesterday evening putting 68 books and letters into envelopes, and writing down reference numbers! Fun, eh?
Got an amazing Christmas present from my friend. £15 in cinema vouchers, so we're going to the cinema tonight. Not sure what we're going to see, but will let you know if it's any good.
Labels: cinema, invitation book
Monday, January 08, 2007
Flickr again and other stuff!
Ok so I haven't really got into this blogging thing yet, but I will, I promise! And I'm also rubbish at taking a photo every day it seems. (even the ones I've taken have come into criticism!) But I have put a photo on today. Interesting one I reckon. Was going to take a photo of our ward leaders as we met this evening, but then I forgot. Told you I wasn't good at this!
But anyway, talking about the wards, they seem to be going really well. There's encouraging stories coming out of the meetings, and individual conversations I've had have been very positive. It's been amazing to see a dream come into a reality!
There's a few things been going round my head this week, and I keep thinking 'I'll put that on my blog'. One of them is this song from Keith Green:
But anyway, talking about the wards, they seem to be going really well. There's encouraging stories coming out of the meetings, and individual conversations I've had have been very positive. It's been amazing to see a dream come into a reality!
There's a few things been going round my head this week, and I keep thinking 'I'll put that on my blog'. One of them is this song from Keith Green:
People smile at me and ask me what it is,
That makes them want to be just like I am,
So I just point to you and tell them, yes it's true,
I'm no special one, I'm just one man.
It's because of you, people smile at me and say, what a lucky guy,
It's because of you, I can raise my hands and reply,
And say I'm happy because of you.
Does that sound like your experience? No, me neither. It's a challenge, isn't it?
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Eastenders
In my house I often get criticised for watching the soaps. I follow the story-lines for Corrie, 'Stenders, and Emmerdale most of the time. I have a few excuses, which include: they're quite realistic so it keeps you in touch with issues going on in people's lives and lots of people watch them and it's often the topic of conversation at toddlers, so I need to keep up with what people are talking about don't I?
A few months ago I did Home League about TV and what people watch etc. I was talking to them about how Christians are portrayed in the soaps and I've been watching Dot recently. Don't know if anyone else has, but she really makes me cringe. She is everything I despise in the stereotyped Christian. She was telling Rebecca how Jesus had come to take Pauline away. She's always quoting the Bible at people, usually totally out of context, and it just really frustrates me. How can we show people a different side to Christianity, to our faith? We need to present people with a faith that is real, that is relevant. Easisr said than done, eh?
A few months ago I did Home League about TV and what people watch etc. I was talking to them about how Christians are portrayed in the soaps and I've been watching Dot recently. Don't know if anyone else has, but she really makes me cringe. She is everything I despise in the stereotyped Christian. She was telling Rebecca how Jesus had come to take Pauline away. She's always quoting the Bible at people, usually totally out of context, and it just really frustrates me. How can we show people a different side to Christianity, to our faith? We need to present people with a faith that is real, that is relevant. Easisr said than done, eh?
Labels: Eastenders
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Flickr
Just to say I've added a link to my flickr photos on the tool bar on the left, so people can see if I actually manage to keep up with it every day!
Labels: flickr
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Year
As the title says, 'Happy New Year' to anyone who's reading this! As promised some more photos of Christmas. Andrew just spent ages getting these to come up on the new laptop, the one with the wireless internet, so here they are!!
I've decided to do one of those flickr things with a photo a day. No idea if I'll be able to keep it up, but here goes. Here's the link to today's: January 1st
Not sure if I'm doing it the best way, so if anyone has any tips etc, let me know!!
Well, there's lots to write about, but here's a start:
New Year, Old Year.
Saw a list on Sam's blog about things she's done this year, so thought I'd come up with my own:
What I've done in 2006:
Had a little girl, Ceitidh (born 29th March), and dedicated her that day in the hospital, and 6 months later, officially
Started driving (passed my test in 2002, but got into it properly this year: recommend it to everyone)
Gained a dog, Brengle (born in July, came to live with us in September)
Bought and sold a VW camper (it was good while it lasted)
Had a son who started school (scary, makes me feel old!)
Visited the Isle of Lewis
Ok, so that's about all the things of note that I can remember!
From a corps perspective, it's been exciting too.
We started the year with a month of prayer, which became a strong basis for our corps review, which eventually seemed to take most of the year to come to completion. Some exciting stuff to come from it.
We started our wards this year in the corps. Not sure on the totals attended so far. The first 'round' there was 23 people altogether, but I've heard of quite a few others who've been coming along over the first few meetings. I reckon we're up to about 30 by now.
And so looking forward to 2007. What will the next 12 months have in store? I'm always glad that we don't know what will happen. I've not made any 'New Year's Resolutions'. There's lots of things that I know I should be resolving to do: pray more, read the Bible more, read more books, be kinder to Andrew, have more patience with my kids, balance work/home life, cook better, lose weight...
But, the problem with New Year's resolutions is that we get this idea in our heads that from 1st January, everything will be different. And, there's a few reasons I don't like that idea:
Firstly, there's nothing magical about that second when the bells start to chim at midnight. Nothing happens, the problems we had on 31st December are still there on 1st January.
Secondly, we get this idea that it's only on 1st January that we can change things in our lives. Every day, every minute, we can make that decision to change.
Thirdly, if we break a New Years' Resolution, we give up, don't we? (til the next year.)
Fourthly, the focus of New Year's Resolutions doesn't tend to be on God's power to help us in our resolves, and more on our own ability to achieve what we need to do.
So, yeah, I need to do all those things on the list above and many more! I won't be making them into New Year's Resolutions, but you can hold me accountable if you want.
So, yeah Happy New Year to everyone, and God's blessings on you and yours.
Labels: Ben, Brengle, Ceitidh, Christmas, New Year
