From Under The Duvet..: March 2008

Better at Preaching than Praying?

“Where is our delight in praying? Where is our sense that we are meeting with the living God, that we are doing business with God, that we are interceding with genuine unction before the throne of grace? When was the last time we came away from a period of intercession feeling that, like Jacob or Moses, we had prevailed with God? How much of our praying is largely formulaic, liberally larded with clichés that remind us, uncomfortably, of the hypocrites Jesus excoriated?
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I do not write these things to manipulate you or to be engendering guilty feelings. But what shall we do? Have not many of us tried at one point or another to improve our praying, and floundered so badly that we are more discouraged than we ever were? Do you not sense, with me, the severity of the problem? Granted that some of us know some individuals who are remarkable prayer warriors, is it not nevertheless true that by and large we are better at organising than agonising? Better at administering than interceding? Better at fellowship than fasting? Better at entertainment than worship? Better at theological articulation than spiritual adoration? Better at–God help us!–at preaching than praying?”
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Pg 17, A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson

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I'm really enjoying this book and am being incredibly challenged by it. I'm enjoying getting ideas on how to improve my prayer life (for those of you who think that just because I'm prayer sec it means my prayer life is perfect? very very wrong!). I love the way I can give more time to reading over the holidays!

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Labels: prayer, question

Small Victories and a Brilliant Blog

The HFE bill I blogged about a little while ago has been making a lot of news recently:

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Lots of people started requesting a free vote. And Brown was heavily criticised. But he compromised.

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Labour MPs will still be expected to vote for it in the final vote but they've been given a free vote for three parts. Obviously there are still concerns with the bill - although it seems it will be going through. Although what about the NI abortion bill?

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And, the second half of the title, this is a hilarious blog. I found it hilarious, anyway. And there are definitely elements of truth in it...

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Edited, thanks Robert.

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Labels: church, faith, politics

Easter Sunday

The rule has been disproved
The stone it has been moved
The grain is now a groove
All debts are removed
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Oh can't you see what love has done
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- Window in the Skies by U2

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On Easter Sunday we find an empty tomb. This split time in two (BC and AD). Jesus is risen and everything that could ever have had any power over us has been defeated. Jesus is alive and nothing will ever be the same...

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Labels: Easter

Good Friday

"[On the cross, Jesus is] alone so that we might never be alone. He cries out to God, "Why have you forsaken Me?" so that you and I will never have to make a similar cry. He was cut off from the Father so that we can boldly say,"

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Nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus." He's forsaken so that we might be forgiven. ... Nothing in all creation is more steeped in the miraculous than the fact of your forgiveness and mine. In the last twenty-four hours alone, I have sinned more than enough to be justly judged by God. But instead of condemning me, He forgives me. And that forgiveness is derived only from that One suspended between heaven and earth in utter abandonment from God."

(CJ Mahaney, Christ Our Mediator, 76-77)

It's Friday. It ends in heartbreak and desperation. But we do not worship a dead God – Sunday’s coming…

Labels: Easter

Back Again

“They say mugging is more likely in the city. So is everything else – like sex, coffee and conversation.” – Dylan Moran
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So, I’m back in rural Northern Ireland. I feel so grateful I survived the flight. As Ruth and Lucinda queued to board the 7.15pm to Belfast International there was an announcement about 8pm flight – it was going to become a 9pm flight. I got chatting to a third year medic which made the wait a bit easier. At 9pm we heard the first of the “you will be boarding shortly” announcements.
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Cardiff is a tiny airport and starts to close up – the last flight out is usually 8.45pm but we didn’t end up boarding until nearly 9.30pm. When we got on the plane we were told that they were late leaving Paris and there had been helicopters involved in “emergency operations” so they hadn’t been able to approach the airport.
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We were also told to expect a few bumps as we would be flying into “strong winds” – I’d received a text from Rob saying they’d been flying into 133mph winds that day and the Cardiff-Belfast plane is a tiny four-across thing! There were many bumps! I felt really bad because I needed the toilet and the guy beside me was clearly terrified but ended up standing up to let me out. And, as sod’s law would have it the second I locked the toilet door the bumps really started. So the guy had to stand up and be jolted around letting me into my seat again.
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As we descended to land it really felt like it was a rollercoaster – not only did it feel like we were going up and down but wobbling from side to side! It didn’t put me off flying – I adore flying and fly a lot (11 flights in 2006, 8 in 2007) – but I was a bit cranky! We got into Belfast a full two hours later than we should have. And when you set yourself up for being home by a certain time and it’s later it’s just annoying!
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But I’m now back in the wee field of saints and had a beautiful sunny day! I’m back to a place filled with daffodils with a tumble drier that only works if you hit it in a certain place and a day old calf skipping about the field.
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I can’t decide if I’m a country chick or a city girl – I feel at home almost everywhere I go. But there is something lovely about walking up your lane at night and being able to see the moon through the branches and look up to all the stars in the sky.
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“They bring out all the food in their house... if they don’t put on a good spread they’ll be ill spoken on in the village so they bring out 19 kinds of potato.” – Dylan Moran talking about country people.
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As I sat down in my granny’s surrounded by her husband’s various family this is what I was reminded of. I’m sure many of you will have seen Father Ted and Mrs Doyle. I can assure you the “Aw go on” is very true! It can sometimes even be taken a step further when guilt becomes another weapon – case in point being someone who tonight said “Well, if the [millions of] sandwiches aren’t finished I’ll eat them for breakfast.” I did take another sandwich!
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It’s so funny being back and being reminded of all the eccentricities of the place that you hadn’t realised you missed…

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Labels: laughter, NI

To Do:

A light in the upstairs of the social.

So, it's now officially today that I head back to NI! I have quite a bit on my to-do list:

Tidy room (you just have no idea...)

Sort out which notes I want to bring with me (part of me wants to bring them all and the other part knows if I try to do that they may not fit in my hand luggage - and if my notes got lost I'd quite possibly die so...)

Go to a two hour computing class by the most boring man on this earth - he is our stats lecturer of the moment and his repetition of "And this is what makes this equation really neat..." and the fact that he uses examples to teach us how to add/subtract/square numbers is just beyond boring! The only redeeming features are the amazing cardigans/jumpers he wears which keep me going to lectures!

Pack - yeah, I may need to consider starting that sometime soon... Oops...

Regain my NI accent! Perhaps an important one as although I will always sound NIish to my Cardiff friends I have noticed myself saying "mirr-or" and "pow-er" etc. The only word that is unaffected by this NI accent distortion is eight - I really don't know how what I say sounds so different! And after Sophie (from Devon) texted me after the New Leaders' Training weekend saying she was speaking with a slight Irish accent I really do fear what two months of living on the mainland has done to mine!

In other news: today was the most lovely day! Why? Well - it was sunny! Not only could you see the sun but there was the most glorious blue sky! The difference it makes in people is astounding - I may have skipped about this evening! The photos below were taken from Richmond Road early this evening.

Anyway, I quite fancy watching a movie... maybe while sorting out my notes to bring back? Who knows!

Labels: Cardiff, NI, to-do list, today

Do We Really Mean It?

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, a day we remember Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem surrounded by shouts of Hosanna, only a few days before his crucifixion. Oh how the crowd's shouts changed.

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I read lots of different blogs in my internet travels and loved this:

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I am desperate for a Savior. I am desperate to be freed from my oppressor. I am ready to be lifted from the miry clay and to have my feet set upon that solid Rock. No more slipping, sliding, stumbling. Just firm and steady ground beneath my feet....
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He is welcome in my heart; I want Him to come and make all things new. But…not too new. Not too radical. Not that, Lord! Don’t touch that. I’m rather fond of that. Ohhh…and not that either, if you don’t mind.
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Check out the rest of the post here - this woman is about to have her twelfth child!

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Labels: Easter, faith, other blogs

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Hey everyone,
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Happy St Patrick's Day!

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Hope you have a great day - filled with the peace and knowledge of God St Patrick brought to our land.
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And - don't get completely drunk!
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Labels: NI

Northern Irish News (and a comment on Obama)

Are you kidding me, Translink?

It currently costs £5.40 for a return between Saintfield and Downpatrick. Weirdly, it's "only" £5 to go the same distance between Saintfield and Belfast (again, return). To put this in perspective... I think it cost the same for unlimited travel for 5 days in Prague. It's utterly absurd. If governments are serious about getting people to stop using their cars they need to put on viable alternatives - it's cheaper for me to drive in (petrol and parking) to Belfast for a quick trip than it is to get the bus.

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This guy is our second-in-command (I know it's a bit old!)

I think my Northern Irish political affliation is pretty clear so perhaps this influences how I feel about this article. I really don't think someone in power in a country which is in the United Kingdom alongside Britain, in a country where people can hold (and many do) British passports should come out and say stuff like this! Our leaders should stop the focus on violence - even when talking about what they would have done. I really think McGuiness should face some sort of consequence for saying this. And let's not get me started on how ridiculous it is to have someone who has been in prison on charges of terrorism in power...

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Obama has fallen out of my favour

I know that anyone standing for the presidential campaign as a democrat has to be pro-"choice" (strangely, the choice that always seems to be proposed by these people is abortion - not adoption etc) and that is usually my only sticking point when it comes to thinking who I like in the presidential races. I did like Obama. But the link.. is absolutely sickening. How anyone... We need to stand against the evil that is infilrating our country - guys, if you're in the UK DO do something about the HFE bill. As Christians we need to stand on these issues - the bible is so clear about the sanctity of life.

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Labels: NI, politics, rar, USA

Grace and the New Leaders' Training

It’s All About Grace

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So, I’m back from Ledbury – what an amazing weekend. I could talk for hours about all that I learnt there. I did wear my rugby shirt (and spilt tea on it…) and we weren’t allowed to tell anyone the result of the match as we recorded it and watched it after 11 last night. It was so annoying to keep receiving messages and not looking at them! I don’t think we played that well but really there is no shame in loosing to an undefeated side by such a close margin – and in such a rough game!
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There were four main talks and they were given by the UCCF relay co-ordinator who turns out to be from the proper Bangor (that being, Co Down Northern Ireland!). And we found out our almost one degree of separation by the end of the weekend (Paul- it was you! Or Roz really).
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The talks were about grace – how God is glorified because of His grace to us, how it is all we can boast in, that is makes us all equal because we have all fallen so short, how no one is beyond God’s grace, how no one doesn’t need God’s grace, what our attitudes should be to others and how nothing we could ever do for God could compare in any way to His amazing and glorious grace. The passages covered were Hosea 11, Romans 3 v 21-29, the Lost Son in Luke 15 and Philippians 3.
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The more I learn about grace and God, the more I read my bible, the more I want to pray and realise how important prayer is. I went to a seminar type thing on the power and practice of prayer. We looked at Hebrews 4 v 12 – 16 and how we can boldly approach the throne of God. Compare that to Esther who was so fearful of approaching King Xerxes’ throne – unless he extended his sceptre to her she would have died. Through Jesus we can approach God and receive all the grace and mercy we could ever need. And we shouldn’t let guilt or shame about something stop us from approaching God because He knows everything we’ve done wrong already.
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Between the practice of prayer part of that seminar and the “Job Slot” for prayer secs I was really encouraged and challenged about the prayer life of the CU. I’m really excited about this year and kind of daunted! To say prayer is important is such a huge understatement…! My hope and prayer is that God will use me in this next year for His glory and that I would remember it’s by His grace and for His glory that I am in this role – nothing about my own strength at all or about what I can do as prayer sec. It’s all about Him.
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It was also good to spend time together as a committee and get to know each other more (although a committee member finding out about my phobia may not turn out so positively!). And on the way home in Sarah’s car it was fun to talk about some very interesting things!
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An amazing weekend – a weekend with great teaching, great craic, meeting new people, learning new ideas, coming back and hearing about the Gospel again (something we should always be doing because it means we remember who God is and leads us to pray more and love Him more), being in the countryside and surrounded by green.
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But more than that – it was challenging, uncomfortable and made me cry at places but that made it all the better. We need to be broken for our friends and family who are not saved. We need to know that it’s not about us. We need to remember it’s all about God.
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As good as it was, we can’t stay on that mountaintop. It’s back to real life and with a real hope and prayer that none of us forget what we heard this last weekend, that we all remember and share what we learnt, that we remain passionate about the Gospel.
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I returned from the weekend with seven new books… argh! Why do I do this? To be fair, I’ve been eyeing up three of the books (three were sold in a pack of three) since CU houseparty (Too Busy Not to Pray, Cross-Examined, Out of the Saltshaker), two of them were given as a gift to everyone on the weekend (Living the Cross Centred Life, How Good is Good Enough?) and the other two… well, one is Seeing and Savouring Jesus Christ by John Piper and the other seems like a good one for me to read as it’s The Message of Prayer by Tim Chester. Keep in mind I already have over eighteen books in my room here that either haven’t been started or haven’t been finished! I need to read more!
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To end, here’s a great advert:
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“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3 v 20-21

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Let’s believe in that power!

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Labels: CU, God, grace, prayer, weekend

Off to Ledbury

I am off to Ledbury after having one hour's sleep in the past 24 hours. Rebecca and I hung out for 12 hours last night and talked for at least nine of them! It was very interesting and great to talk so much. But I'm a tad tired! And now going off on a weekend away, which never contain all that much sleep...

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Anyway, I'm in England but I'm with the leaders from all the CUs in Wales. Could be interesting as it is Ireland-Wales tomorrow! I have packed my rugby shirt but don't know how brave I'm going to be! I'd love it if we could win - and some of the Welsh are not that confident!

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Anyway, must run. Really resisting the urge to get back into bed - and I've to leave here within 20 minutes!

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Have a great weekend folks!

So prove it..

So, lately I've been feeling that God has really been reminding me about how faithful He is and how I can really trust Him - because, not only is He faithful but He is good.

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And I now feel like I'm being told to walk the walk that matches the talk!

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The bank card.. finally arrived today but I was getting stressed about it. My little lamp in my room broke. My watch has stopped working. My boots have a hole in the top of them (how on earth does that happen through wear and tear - although I have worn them every day really since buyin them at the end of October). So I'll need to find time to go and buy new shoes. And after having a free evening on Sunday the next one I can hope to enjoy is Thursday 13th March.

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Crazyness.

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And I've something due in Thursday which is hideous. Three weeks of deadlines.

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But God is good - and so much bigger than my duck watch breaking. And God holds all of time in His hands and knows what's going on in everything. And He is faithful. Always.

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So here's to trusting Him even when I don't overly feel like it... because I know He's always there, trustworthy and faithful.

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Labels: bad days, faith, God

Would you have stayed?

Sunday morning during service, a 2,000 member congregation was surprised to see two men enter, both covered from head to toe in black and carrying submachine guns.

One of the men proclaimed,"Anyone willing to die for Christ remain where you are."

Immediately, the choir fled...

the deacons fled...

and most of the congregation fled....

Out of the 2,000 there only remained around 20.

The man who had spoken took off his hood...

He then looked at the preacherAnd said "Okay Pastor, I got rid of all the hypocrites.Now you may begin your service. Have a nice day!"

And the two men turned and walked out.

Labels: thoughts

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Better at Preaching than Praying?

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Small Victories and a Brilliant Blog

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Easter Sunday

Friday, March 21, 2008

Good Friday

Back Again

Thursday, March 20, 2008

To Do:

Monday, March 17, 2008

Do We Really Mean It?

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Northern Irish News (and a comment on Obama)

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Grace and the New Leaders' Training

Friday, March 07, 2008

Off to Ledbury

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

So prove it..

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Would you have stayed?

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