A Year Of Kings...

“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even one term, but…I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there.”

-President Elect Barrack Obama

2008…what can be said? Well actually quite a lot, as this blog will point out. This is the first time I’ve ever done a year in review blog, and looking back on the year gone by…it’s staggering everything which has happened. Not just in the global scale, but in community life, and personal life.

I’m going to try and remember as much of this year as I possibly can, but if there is anything I forget, please let me know, and I’ll make changes where necessary.

The quote above comes from one Barrack Obama, the new President Elect, who fought a long and hard campaign battle to get to where he is today, less than 3 weeks from his inauguration. For this year, much hope has come from this man, and maybe finally the world has turned a new page…perhaps his words will come true…can we change? “Yes We Can…”

But it hasn’t been all fluffy bunny cakes this year…The world is facing the biggest financial crisis in over 5 decades, with shares falling, banks becoming stringent money-grubbers, and the trigger fingers of the Wall Street share holders going crazy. Not only that, but every country has had to come up with a way to protect themselves from the ensuing crisis, with Ireland releasing an early, and frankly appalling budget, in October.

Petrol has fluctuated, prices have shifted, VAT has been upped, or if you’re lucky to be living in the UK, lowered…it’s all a cavalcade of mayhem. Education cuts, medical cards, cycling incentives, protests, the NO vote on the Lisbon treaty…all of this has take place within the Emerald Isle…and let’s not forget about the scandals…

It must be great to be Mary Harney, being able to have a private pianist play for her, and enjoy a nice beauty treatment all at the cost of the tax payer…did I mention it was in Bora Bora…screw the Mechanical Engineer idea, a bloody politician seems like the right way to go…

Ever ensuing wars have broken out, attacks escalated in Afghanistan, Iraq… but what about the news which doesn’t make the headlines? What about the child soldiers in Uganda, the slave labourers in Asia, the crippled state of countries hit by natural disasters? Seems like even a good hurricane doesn’t generate enough interest nowadays for the media to profit off of…

Speaking of media, there have been some great TV and Movie moments…I know this sounds contradictory to the last paragraph, but what are you going to do? For me, 24 Redemption has to be the TV highlight of the year, with movie honours going to The Dark Knight and Twilight…

Games have also been in great anticipation, with the release of major titles such as GTAIV, Fallout 3, Little Big Planet, Gears of War 2, and my personal favourite, and recently voted as GameStop’s game of the year, Metal Gear Solid 4…

Sport…well I’m not majorly into the whole thing, but this year played host to what is possibly the greatest Olympics in our time…Lewis Hamilton won the F1 championship, along with many other events being hosted, including Wimbledon, US Masters, boxing championships, rugby…ohh and not forgetting Strictly Come Dancing…

We’ve had crisis’ in Africa too…Along with the growing rate of AIDS victims, child soldiers and orphans, we’ve had coup d’états, fighting, and cover ups, all within the state of Zimbabwe…

But all of this has happened outside of our general communities. You see, as much as this blog is dedicated to looking back on major events, such as the above suggests, much has happened within our own personal lives… These are the major events of this past year for me;

I suppose the first noticeable thing to those of you reading is that I started up this blog in September. This has been a great vent for me to write, giving me the freedom to develop writing skills, and also share with you what I feel about a certain topic, or sharing my experiences.

New Year’s came, and now it returns, and as this happens, my mind cannot be helped but be drawn to school. I completed Trans year, and started 5th in exuberant fashion…which was quickly dispelled in the following weeks. But I am so glad I did Trans year. It gave me a break that I needed, but more importantly, I did so much during that year than any other… Adventure activities, plays, radio shows, projects, work experience and just general fun times within school, and because of it, I feel I have grown somewhat in myself…

5th year on the other hand, not such a doddle… for those of you doing 5th, I think its pretty safe to assume you know how difficult it is…man, there is a lot of work involved, so much more than I expected… However, I was well pleased with my exam results, and feeling confident heading into the next half of the year…

I got a new laptop and mp3…which at this current moment, has nearly 5000 songs on it. And the laptop has been fantastic, not breaking down a single time, or having to wait 2 months to get it fixed…not looking at anyone in particular *cough* Bernard *cough*

Family life this year has been testing. As I gain maturity, many of my emotions begin to surface unexpectedly. Not only that, but my uncle Mike, aged 65, finally returned home after battling cancer for 4 years. This was hard on everyone, especially my Gran and Grand-dad. And speaking of whom, has just returned home after being hospitalized for over 2 months now.

I’ve been to many events outside of school, with a big focus going to Wesley’s awesome production of Grease. I’ve also been to see Tennis legends play in the Odyssey, seen Paramore rock my socks off, and been to the Christian equivalent of Oxygen, MAD.

A major part of this year was the holidays, and this year has to be the best by far. My family and Bernard headed over to Budapest for around a week. And the fun we had! Check out a previous blog everything which happened on that holiday.

Camps and conferences have been a big part of this year for me. Beyond 48 was a great experience down in Kilkenny College. RAW was possibly the greatest Ovoca camp I’ve ever been to. GAP was a truly inspiring time. Check previous blog entries or my bebo page for posts on each of them…

Speaking of which, I set up Prayer4Hope on bebo, in response to the need of a very good friend of mine. Please take a look at it if you haven’t already…

Those of you who remember, may recount that I had a job in the local SuperValu, working as a butcher. In the months leading up to Summer, I felt the need to spend time with my family, and so handed in my resignation. I’ve read countless books in the mean time, including several Rob Bell books, Donald Millar, C. S. Lewis, Fred Stoeker, and my personal favourite, reading the 4 gospels in the space of two months. I have also completed a study on 1st Thessalonians, and will be providing a link in the New Year.

Church has played a major role this year, and its seems I have finally settled down in City Gates, a church in Cabinteely. I have enjoyed every time I have visited, and plan on making a return shortly. I have also managed to attend a number of their youth group meetings, entitle GAP and I have to say it has been a huge encouragement for me to go there, and have some of the most fun I have had in a long while.

Meet ups were quite standard, and once every month, or so, a group of us would get together to celebrate a birthday, or moving home, or just for the hell of it! It was at the meet up for my birthday, that I gave a talk on authenticity, and commissioned Christopher Ecclestone, as he headed off to America to study God’s word.

We’ve been to the cinema, enjoyed ramblings in the park, and just hung about. Major thanks have to go to Damo, who in the past two months, has met up with me and looked after me more times than I can remember. Props also have to go to Bernard, who put me up a number of times, and had general craic with.

Special mention must go to Teenstreet. This was probably the greatest experience I’ve had this year. The passion, the praise, the talks, the food…ok, not so much the food…the NET times, the general fun, the personal moments, the tears, the joy…all of this and more happened within the space of a week, and if I were to sum it up, I would have to say Life Changing, because that is what it was. Look out for my blog on the week.

Those of you who know me, know that I have struggled with an addiction to porn and other related activities. I continue to struggle with this, but I know a breakthrough is coming, because I have seen now what it takes to fight it back. Special thanks go to my accountability partner, who has walked this road with me, and cared for me. Thank you.

My family have been a huge encouragement to me throughout the year. Seeing them cope with the loss of my uncle was extraordinary, and seeing Dad complete our shed which has taken months of hard work is great to see. They’ve stayed up late at night, helped me study, but most importantly, been the best Mum and Dad ever. Thank you.

My friends have also played a huge significance throughout this year. From old to new, you have helped shaped me to become who I am today. Your constant care and support has been unwavering, and it is with the upmost gratefulness that I am honoured to be called your friends. Thank you.

And special mention most go to A and A…no, I’m not talking about the car recovery service…two friends who have been with me through hell and high water. You have helped me through so much; my addiction, during my uncle’s death, problems dealing with my faith…and out of all this, you two are without a doubt the most understanding people I know. Thank you.

And by now, if you haven’t figured it out, I am a Christian, and damn proud of it! My faith is my life, and one day, I plan on becoming a youth minister to spread the word of my Savior…

To you, my Jesus… Alpha and Omega. Beginning and End. The Lion and the Lamb. No words can describe the thankfulness that I have for your provision of strength, kindness, mercy, faith, hope, friendship, grace and love to me. It is you who I live for, now and for all my days, for there is none like you, my Jesus. Let your name be exalted on high, and may your glory touch the lives of others like it has touched mine. And may your voice, word and light be my guide for all my days. Thank you for what you did 2000 years ago, and continue to do everyday of our lives. May Christ be the centre of my life, and may I take up the challenge that you have given me: “To live as a Godly man, not just on the outside, but on the inside, and through everything I do…”

Already change is on the way. I have friends going to Africa with HFH, friends already in India helping the Leprosy Mission. I have exams coming up, friends doing their Leaving, me preparing for my Leaving. Friends moving away, and friends growing closer. A new president, and worrying financial future… Change is coming.

And so to 2009…

The Year of Change…


Bring it on…


Let Him be the Nexus of your life…


In His Name, and for His Glory…

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
-Ephesians 5:1-2

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
-Galatians 2:20

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
-2 Corinthians 4:18

“The promise of being transformed and ignited to holy passion by understanding and beholding God’s glorious personality is for all believers. No matter how weak or strong we feel, regardless of our previous failures, irrespective of our natural temperaments or personalities, each of us can be set ablaze with passion for Jesus.”-Mike Bickle

“In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel.”-Ephesians 4:1

“Can I bear the torment,
Of the bloody war for my soul?
Or will I tumble into darkness once again?

Take this mind and mould,
You very existence into being,
For though I may not see it,
You still live inside of me.

Should darkness take me back,
And all I know separates,
You still hold he candle,
That can free me from its chains.

For you light will never die.”
-Philip King

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.”
-2 Thessalonians 2:15

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.”
-2 Thessalonians 3:5

“Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!””
-John 14:6

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” -John 3:16