Apologies...Again...

Hey peeps...

Sorry again, but you'll have to wait until next week for a proper post. I'm completely wrecked, so I'm going to have an early night. Sorry again...

Ciao...

I'm Back....

And no, I didn't say that with an Austrian accent....just in case you were wondering....

So yes, my exams are finally complete, aside from my French oral on Wednesday, but that's not a big thing. They went better than I expected. It feels so good to be free from the study...at least for a couple more months anyway.

I shall be posting my regular post on Sunday....question is, what do I post it on? Suggestions?

Its great to be back guys!

TTYL!

Ciao!

Apologies...

Hey guys,

Sorry for the late post, but due to stupid early Christmas exams, I'm afraid I won't be posting for about two weeks or so. This has really bummed me out, but the study is absolutely killing me, so I've decided to focus on it. In the mean time, if you guys have any suggestions as to what I can do a post on, feel free to let me know.

See you in two weeks!

Ciao!

Next-Time...

Quick post,

I've finished typing up my application letter for Christmas work at SuperValu...Hope they take me back, cause I'm really gonna need the money...

I have something picked out for next weeks post.


"Sometimes, there are things that seem confusing to us...


If we want to move forward, we just need to do them..."


That's just a very brief look at what I'll look at next week...

Until then,

Ciao!

A Freedom Hard-Fought...

This week, history has been made. And no, I'm not talking about me getting the 40th cold this year, which is probably a world record. Barrack Obama, has finally become the president elect, and now we wait until he takes up his office. Listening to some people talking about this momentous event, I heard one woman saying "At last, the freedom we've so long waited for has finally come..."

Freedom.

That's a funny word. I mean, really, what exactly does it mean? To be free to do whatever we want? Well, if that was the case, we could commit great atrocities without so much as a scolding, so that really doesn't work. Free to shape our own paths? Well, to a certain degree yes, but much of our lives are shaped by the circumstances of others, and the world, so that doesn't work either. I realise I'm knit-picking, but I am getting to something.

As discussed in an early post, I talked about how God gave us free-will, and the implications of doing that. Because of free-will, we are who we are, but because of it, we have become trapped by the very ideals and morals of this world...So to you sitting at home, do you really think you're free?

The world, whether you want to accept it or not, infiltrates every part of our lives. And not only that, it manipulates us, to the degree that it takes over.

As long as the world exists as it does today, we will never truly be free.



Metal Gear Solid is perhaps one of the greatest stories ever told. I just finished playing the 4th installment for the 23rd time, and I finally realised what the theme behind the whole story is. I'll let Big Boss explain it;

"We all fought a long, bloody war for our liberty. We fought to free ourselves from nations... And systems... And norms, and ages. But no matter how hard we tried, the only liberty we found... Was on the inside... Trapped within those limits. The Boss and I may have chosen different paths... But in the end, we were both trapped inside the same cage... Liberty. But you... You have been given freedom. Freedom to be... Outside. You are nobody's tool now... No one's toy. You are no longer a prisoner of fate. You are no longer a seed of war. It's time for you to see the outside world with your own eyes. Your body... And your soul... Are your own. Forget about us. Live... For yourself. And find... A new lease on life."

Freedom to be outside. Outside of the ideals and morals of this world. Outside of corruption, greed, malice, debauchery, jealousy, war, poverty, manipulation... That is what freedom is. The only question is how, in this world, do we gain that freedom...other than becoming a super soldier and taking on bipedal tanks, bisexual vampires, talking arms, and the occasional love interest...?





But you see, we have that freedom already...

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."

-Romans 8 v 20-21

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men..."

-1 Timothy 2 v 5-6

We have been set free through Christ. His blood was shed for us, so that we may walk outside of this world. No greater price was ever paid, and no greater gift was ever given. Then why do people choose to throw aside the gospel, and live according to the morals of this world. The thing most people would say is that they have become accustomed to it, and are afraid to venture outside of the safety zone. While that is true, just as Big Boss said, they are in a battle...

A battle for the freedom of the soul...

Its almost like a game of tug-o-war... but instead of two opposing teams vying for a trophy, it is the world vs God, with us in the centre, being tugged from both sides.

And not only this, but the world has conspired to make sure that we have as difficult determining who God, or Jesus really is. Some TV evangelists, church groups, governments...all of these and more try to fog our minds.

But to us who believe, we see as clear as day;

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

-1 Corinthians 1 v 18

So how does the world reach that point..?


Yep, you guessed it... Place Jesus as the Nexus of their lives;

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

-Romans 12 v 2

Freedom comes at a price, both for us, and for God. He gave his only Son so that we might be free. We in turn must give up our lives to Him. And in return, we will become free from this world, and we'll finally be able to walk with Him...


Freedom comes when we turn to Jesus as our Nexus...

A Good Week..

Well this has been a good week! Obama is now the president elect, and I have to say major congrats to him. I believe he can make the change in America, and not just there, but the world...

I'm heading to CERN in May! Yep, the European Centre of Nuclear Research has beckoned me forth! I've paid my deposit, so my place is guaranteed.

School's been going good, but as always, its very tiring.

Church on Sunday, along with celebrating my Grandad's 93 Birthday! Should be great!

Next post will be up either Saturday or Sunday...








Don't think I've forgotten about the MGS post...


It






Is












Coming....

An Account Of Hearts...

I’m not a huge fan of Halloween. It just really isn’t that much of a big deal to me. And so it’s nice to know that at that, Ovoca Manor’s doors would once again open to the multitude of teens, gathering to have an experience with God. This year was no exception.

GAP 08 was amazing, not only because of the insane amount of fun that we had, and not only because I finally had the time to chill with all my friends under one roof, but because of the way God moved throughout the camp. I’m going to give a very brief outline of what happened in the camp, and then move to the main body of the post.

As per usual, a meet and greet was first on the menu. Meals were prepared by the fantastic Susan, who once again prepared meals fit for kings. Many games ensued including ice breakers and time in the sports hall. Much of them were the same games. Time for using the slide, climbing wall, and archery was also present. Toy Story was watched by many…what, can’t we older kids enjoy some classic movie magic?

A lot of the time was just spent chilling out. Relaxing was something that I wanted to do, and I did it in spades. For the first time, for me anyway, the girls slept in the attic, while the lads enjoyed the nicest showers in the manor. Quiet times were awesome, with Stephen Byford, a good friend of mine. Sleep came relatively easily, despite the amount of sugar products in our rooms.

Of course, we can’t forget about the main body of the camp. Jude and Jonny organised a stellar camp, and part of this was because of who they got to speak. Ferg Breen is a legend. Full stop. From leading some of the most powerful worship ever, rivalling that of TeenStreet, to speaking incredibly on the Father Heart of God, he was astounding in every way.

Here’s a quick list of the name of the talks;

1) God the Father: Who He Really Is…
2) Jesus the Son: Why the Father Really sent Him…
3) Suffering: Where Our Father is when it hurts…
4) Prayer: Resting in the Presence of Our Father…
5) Worship: Praising the Heart of the Father…

God worked miracles in that camp. I know that the previous statement is true for me, and I’m sure that the same can be said for many of you who attended. Some of the stuff that Ferg talked on was amazing…so amazing I’m going to share my thoughts on 2 of them.

The first point comes the 2nd talk, where Ferg asked the question “Why did Jesus come?” Many people answered straight away with the statement to die for us. But there is something was wrong with that. If that was all Jesus was sent to do, couldn’t he have been killed as a babe, and still have accomplished the same? You see there’s another reason which had skipped passed me; and it fitted perfectly with the theme of the Father’s Heart. We are all broken, clasped in darkness. People back then had no idea about what the Heart of God was really like. And so Jesus came, not just to save us, but to reconnect us to our Father’s true heart, that we may also turn from our life of slander, and run home to our Father, who is already running to us.

The second point I’m going to simply show you in picture form;

We all need a father. Someone who can guides us down the road of life. Someone to give us advice when we need it. Someone to comfort us when the pain is too great. Someone who we can confine in when the problems of this world arise.

Unfortunately, not all fathers are like this. Some are cruel to their sons and daughters. Some lie about the world and its corruption. Some are untrustworthy, selfish, mean, lazy...I think you get the picture.

I myself have an amazing father, who I know loves me very much. But I know that in this world, there are children who are afraid of what their fathers have done to them. They are scared of the anger within their father's heart. I have never met a father like that, and it is one of my greatest desires that I go through life without ever meeting one.

But there is another who is perfect. There is a Father who loves you, no matter what.

GAP was an amazing camp, because once again, something that I had glanced at suddenly came and smacked me in the face. I am a prodigal son. I have taken all that God has given me, and put it to waste.

But I know that when I go back to my Father's house, I know he will run to me, with his arms wide open, and will rejoice over me;

"...But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him..."Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found...""

-Luke 15 v 20, 22-24

And so I leave you now, at this the end of my shortest account of any camp. But before I go, I'll leave you with this. Just something that sums up GAP;

Let Him be the Nexus of your life...