I remember last year being absolutely freaked out at the thought of turning 18 years old and becoming an adult so I was surprised when I woke up this morning turning 19 feeling as if I was ready to turn 21 or 22. This year has most definately been a maturing one.
Lindsay died on Sunday morning and so the funerals today. I am absolutely gutted for Alain and the family. We have lost someone so so beautiful and no words can express this situation.
Please keep the family in your prayers and lets hope this last year of teenage life is as good as the past ones...
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Pray for Lins
Check out Alain's blog on the left hand side...
Blessed is she who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver her in time of trouble.
The Lord will preserve her and keep her alive. And she will be blessed on the earth; He will not deliver her to the will of her enemies.
The Lord will strengthen her on her bed of illness; She will sustain her on her sickbed. Psalm 41:1-3
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Bassano Del Grappa
This has most definately been the busiest 5 days ever since getting back on thursday so I'm only getting round to writing up about my time in Italy now.
...It was incredible!! The place where we were, Bassano del Grappa, is one hour from Venice and right at the foot of the Italian Alps. Such beauty.
The couple we stayed with, Iain and Moni were amazing and not only did they welcome us into their home but they treated us as family. So much so that Moni was like another Mum and Iain was another Dad for Joey. They loved us.
The Church was great. It's really big and has the potential to hold alot more people than the average 40 who go to it. It's situated above two supermarkets, a bar, a beauty salon and right next to a strip club.
We spent time handing out flyers for the church service and easter eggs in the town centre on saturday. Had a worship event that evening and on the Sunday we took the church service. It was great. The language was a slight barrier but we soon picked up the basics and learned to speak slowly for those who hadn't much experience with English. We also had the priviledge of going out to dinner with the english learning students from the church, these guys aren't christians so it was cool to tell them about taking this year out to work for the Church. They were really interested in it.
We had a lot of time to do some sight seeing stuff, we went to the beautiful Lake Garda, went up to the top of the mini Alps (I forget the name of them). That was incredible, it was 26 degrees at the bottom and an hours journeys to the top there was 4 foot of snow. And on our last day we went into Venice. (The photo is St. Marks Square)
The trip was definately unforgetable. We laughed so much and God definately blessed us while we were out there. I just hope we got to bless others.
...It was incredible!! The place where we were, Bassano del Grappa, is one hour from Venice and right at the foot of the Italian Alps. Such beauty.
The couple we stayed with, Iain and Moni were amazing and not only did they welcome us into their home but they treated us as family. So much so that Moni was like another Mum and Iain was another Dad for Joey. They loved us.The Church was great. It's really big and has the potential to hold alot more people than the average 40 who go to it. It's situated above two supermarkets, a bar, a beauty salon and right next to a strip club.
We spent time handing out flyers for the church service and easter eggs in the town centre on saturday. Had a worship event that evening and on the Sunday we took the church service. It was great. The language was a slight barrier but we soon picked up the basics and learned to speak slowly for those who hadn't much experience with English. We also had the priviledge of going out to dinner with the english learning students from the church, these guys aren't christians so it was cool to tell them about taking this year out to work for the Church. They were really interested in it. 
We had a lot of time to do some sight seeing stuff, we went to the beautiful Lake Garda, went up to the top of the mini Alps (I forget the name of them). That was incredible, it was 26 degrees at the bottom and an hours journeys to the top there was 4 foot of snow. And on our last day we went into Venice. (The photo is St. Marks Square)The trip was definately unforgetable. We laughed so much and God definately blessed us while we were out there. I just hope we got to bless others.
Photos of Italy
At the Airport.
Playing Basletball at the park with some random kids..
Abbie and I bowling
..in the snow
Janene and Colin Skiing
Driving on the opposite side of the car and road!! fun, fun, fun!
From Left to Right; Adam, Moni, two ladies from the church, Mama Cuba, Gabrielle, Nathan and in front Colin and Joey.
Dinner on our last night together
Romance in Venice
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Departing for Italy..
I'm off to Italy in a few hours. Quite excited!! I haven't actually packed one thing yet, I'm such a last minuter.. Just checked out the weather and it looks like it will hit a hot 20'C, ha!
This will be my second 'mission' trip, although with this one the information of what we'll be doing has been very vague. All we know is that a church was planted recently and we're going to help them get sorted and recruit new members!
The team consists of 3 Northern Irish, 4 Canadians and 2 Australians so it'll be fun!! Keep us and my fellow interns, Drew whos going to Brazil and Laura and Indya who are off to Thailand, in your prayers...
Hopefully I'll get to blog again when I'm away..
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Lionel Richie
I've fallen in love with Lionel Richie. I had the absolute pleasure of working at his concert on Monday night. He was incredible, no joke, was probably the best concert I've been too and I've been to alot. He gets a worthy 10 out of 10 while I'd say last weeks X Factor concert only got a 6, although I did get to meet Ray Quinn :)
I've been influenced by Lionel since I was a very young age as my Mum loves him but now I feel as if I can rightly 'on my own' be a fan as I've seen him. He was just so good. The way he interacted with the audience... great! It's class just standing there watching everyone having a great time, that's certainly a big influence.
Anyway, he's coming back to the odyssey on his 'Coming Home' tour on May 23rd... I'm going again for sure!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Wells
After I got out of work on Sunday morning I went back to Amys and decided to go with her, Jill (Amy's legend mum) and Joy to their church. It's called 'Wells' and in Moneyreagh. Boy did I love it.
I've heard so much about this wee church, so much so that it didn't really sound like something normal. They used to have it in a wee pub but have recently moved across the road to the primary school. It didn't really look like it but they must be growing in numbers.
Anyway, the whole time, as you do, I was comparing it to my church, one where we pretty much have everything regards building, equipment and funds to do alot of events and support missions. Don't get me wrong, I love all that but I don't think it's what really deep down matters.
This wee primary school had the wee school seats in the very small assembly room and just one guy playing the guitar, it was too cool. I wasn't impressed when the time came I had to go to the toilet, primary school sized toilets are not the way forward. It just made me think I was way too comfortable in my own church although it probably was alot more enjoyable as we had the lovely Ewan Lockhart sitting beside us, he kept Amy amused so all was good.
I have no idea what the purpose of this post is but I guess I'm trying to say that it doesn't matter where your church is or what your church has, it's what you do in it, making sure God is glorified.
I've heard so much about this wee church, so much so that it didn't really sound like something normal. They used to have it in a wee pub but have recently moved across the road to the primary school. It didn't really look like it but they must be growing in numbers.
Anyway, the whole time, as you do, I was comparing it to my church, one where we pretty much have everything regards building, equipment and funds to do alot of events and support missions. Don't get me wrong, I love all that but I don't think it's what really deep down matters.
This wee primary school had the wee school seats in the very small assembly room and just one guy playing the guitar, it was too cool. I wasn't impressed when the time came I had to go to the toilet, primary school sized toilets are not the way forward. It just made me think I was way too comfortable in my own church although it probably was alot more enjoyable as we had the lovely Ewan Lockhart sitting beside us, he kept Amy amused so all was good.
I have no idea what the purpose of this post is but I guess I'm trying to say that it doesn't matter where your church is or what your church has, it's what you do in it, making sure God is glorified.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Amazing Grace
I had the priviledge of going to see the movie preview of Amazing Grace on Monday night with the U105 crew (I love my job). To be honest it's probably not my type of movie, too thought provoking or something ha, but I really enjoyed it. Although I didn't know much about the slave trade and the work William Wilberforce did to get it abolished I somewhat related to him....
The story, based on the life of antislavery pioneer Will Wilberforce, who, as a Member of Parliament, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire. John Newton, a confidante of Wilberforce who inspires him to pursue a life of service to humanity. William Pitt the Younger, England's youngest ever Prime Minister at the age of 24, who encourages his friend Wilberforce to take up the fight to outlaw slavery and supports him in his struggles in Parliament.
Elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21, and on his way to a successful political career, Wilberforce, over the course of two decades, took on the English establishment and persuaded those in power to end the inhumane trade of slavery. Go him!!!
You really have to see the movie to know what I'm talking about but it made me think about how we, as christians, try to get people to see who God is and to learn the right from wrong and just how hard it can be. It's just so sad, even today there are still an estimated 27 million people live as slaves around the world!
Its out in cinemas on March 23rd, check it out...
The story, based on the life of antislavery pioneer Will Wilberforce, who, as a Member of Parliament, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire. John Newton, a confidante of Wilberforce who inspires him to pursue a life of service to humanity. William Pitt the Younger, England's youngest ever Prime Minister at the age of 24, who encourages his friend Wilberforce to take up the fight to outlaw slavery and supports him in his struggles in Parliament.
Elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21, and on his way to a successful political career, Wilberforce, over the course of two decades, took on the English establishment and persuaded those in power to end the inhumane trade of slavery. Go him!!!
You really have to see the movie to know what I'm talking about but it made me think about how we, as christians, try to get people to see who God is and to learn the right from wrong and just how hard it can be. It's just so sad, even today there are still an estimated 27 million people live as slaves around the world!
Its out in cinemas on March 23rd, check it out...
Monday, March 12, 2007
Brutal Honesty From A Young Adult
A friend told me recently to check this blog out on the ignite website, so I'm ripping it off and putting it here., I hope they doesn't mind.
Well, Here it is...
I Go to church...yet I party,
I say a prayer...yet I scream obsenities,
I sing to hymns...and shake my ass to hip-hop,
I reach out to people who need it...I reach out for a towel when I'm piss drunk puking my guts up,
I've read the bible... I've read Cosmo,
...After looking at that list... I look like some bipolar, hypocritical jackass.
But its all true, and I don't go to church to be fake, or meet people, I go because it's a place where other people or 'only humans' can go, to be a part of a group of not-so-moral minds, with one common goal...to have a better understanding and grow as a community under the name Jesus Christ.
I've been to A LOT of churches, a lot of youth groups, with many different youth pastors...most of the time, finding the same thing time and time again...(in the moviephone voice)'If you give your heart and soul to Jesus Christ, and accept him as your Lord and Savior, you win..........(drum roll please)......ETERNAL LIFE!.... and then there's the small print..."you must agree to living your life 110% devoted to Jesus Christ, be nice to everyone, never hate your life, always volunteer, be charitable, never curse, give to the needy, love life...love yourself, love jesus..."
It's not so much that Christianity isn't about all those things, but throwing it all out there at once... is like interviewing for a job in india... You've got a lot expected of you but you aren't gettin' *^%$ in return... I could be totally off pitch here... I would be more than happy to listen to any other opinions that might be out there.... Maybe I am just looking for an excuse to continue living the life I'm living without the judgement, which is a possibility, but I also think I have a pretty legitimate 'excuse'....
I call them my mentors, you might know them by other titles such as, minister, pastor, journalist, teachers...all leaders in the church i attend... Every single one of these people, are aware of how my friends and i live my life...but unlike what you would assume, these people don't lecture me, force their personal beliefs on me, try the good ol' intervention, or excorcisms...no...not at all... in fact... they do the exact opposite, they invite me into their homes, not to discuss my life's problems or religion, but to get together as friends and buy paperview movies, and play uno, and eat really really good homemade taco soup, they ask us over and over again to babysit their children...that's right they trust us with their kids...and then i realized... my idea(a common one) of christianity was all wrong...One of the main focuses, i believe, is not to make everyone the same, or follow all the same rules, or believe the same things...but maybe to express love to those who are least expected to be loved, to give a dollar to someone who is expected to waste it, but to at least have faith in them to use it for what they need, and maybe having that faith alone will show them something more than lecturing or preaching....maybe knowing that someone in this world is rooting for you is enough to give you a chance, and the drive to take that chance and run with it.
"He who is without sin among you, may cast the first stone"-John 8:3-11
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," - Romans 3:23
Thought provoking eh? I like it... I don't think the girl who wrote it was celebrating the fact she sometimes gets drunk. She was just being honest and revealing what her life is like. She was opening up and letting everything out. Maybe hoping for some answers. I think this girl has said some things which are very important - actually I think the way they are said express some important things ... so one question to anyone who is uncomfortable - is your discomfort an ethical or a spiritual discomfort? And which answer do you think Jesus cares more about?
Well, Here it is...
I Go to church...yet I party,
I say a prayer...yet I scream obsenities,
I sing to hymns...and shake my ass to hip-hop,
I reach out to people who need it...I reach out for a towel when I'm piss drunk puking my guts up,
I've read the bible... I've read Cosmo,
...After looking at that list... I look like some bipolar, hypocritical jackass.
But its all true, and I don't go to church to be fake, or meet people, I go because it's a place where other people or 'only humans' can go, to be a part of a group of not-so-moral minds, with one common goal...to have a better understanding and grow as a community under the name Jesus Christ.
I've been to A LOT of churches, a lot of youth groups, with many different youth pastors...most of the time, finding the same thing time and time again...(in the moviephone voice)'If you give your heart and soul to Jesus Christ, and accept him as your Lord and Savior, you win..........(drum roll please)......ETERNAL LIFE!.... and then there's the small print..."you must agree to living your life 110% devoted to Jesus Christ, be nice to everyone, never hate your life, always volunteer, be charitable, never curse, give to the needy, love life...love yourself, love jesus..."
It's not so much that Christianity isn't about all those things, but throwing it all out there at once... is like interviewing for a job in india... You've got a lot expected of you but you aren't gettin' *^%$ in return... I could be totally off pitch here... I would be more than happy to listen to any other opinions that might be out there.... Maybe I am just looking for an excuse to continue living the life I'm living without the judgement, which is a possibility, but I also think I have a pretty legitimate 'excuse'....
I call them my mentors, you might know them by other titles such as, minister, pastor, journalist, teachers...all leaders in the church i attend... Every single one of these people, are aware of how my friends and i live my life...but unlike what you would assume, these people don't lecture me, force their personal beliefs on me, try the good ol' intervention, or excorcisms...no...not at all... in fact... they do the exact opposite, they invite me into their homes, not to discuss my life's problems or religion, but to get together as friends and buy paperview movies, and play uno, and eat really really good homemade taco soup, they ask us over and over again to babysit their children...that's right they trust us with their kids...and then i realized... my idea(a common one) of christianity was all wrong...One of the main focuses, i believe, is not to make everyone the same, or follow all the same rules, or believe the same things...but maybe to express love to those who are least expected to be loved, to give a dollar to someone who is expected to waste it, but to at least have faith in them to use it for what they need, and maybe having that faith alone will show them something more than lecturing or preaching....maybe knowing that someone in this world is rooting for you is enough to give you a chance, and the drive to take that chance and run with it.
"He who is without sin among you, may cast the first stone"-John 8:3-11
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," - Romans 3:23
Thought provoking eh? I like it... I don't think the girl who wrote it was celebrating the fact she sometimes gets drunk. She was just being honest and revealing what her life is like. She was opening up and letting everything out. Maybe hoping for some answers. I think this girl has said some things which are very important - actually I think the way they are said express some important things ... so one question to anyone who is uncomfortable - is your discomfort an ethical or a spiritual discomfort? And which answer do you think Jesus cares more about?
Thursday, March 01, 2007
1st of March 2007
I am in shock.... it's already the first of March!! Where do these days go to?! I'm currently sitting in school, shocking really! Listening to good old Flash Harry and watching the sun beam on the school car park, how nice...
I had the best weekend ever with the girls for Amy's 18th Birthday. We had a surprise party for her on the Friday which consisted of a boat trip down the Lagan on the 'booze cruise', and a party back at hers, the house was packed and George and Jill even got a wee man to do an acoustic set in their kitchen, it was so nice! Johnny and friends surprised us all and came home from uni for the weekend, that was the real surprise... so we had a good wee night hanging out with them till the late hours of saturday morning! (you feeling it baby?! lol)
Went to the Wedding Fayre in the King's Hall with Lynsey and the other bridesmaids on Saturday, it was hilarious... met Malachi from Fame Academy and for some reason I told him I listened to him on my ipod alllll the time, random! I did continue though to tell him I'm going to be a tv presenter. His career now consists of singing at Wedding ceremonys, poor guy!
On Saturday, us 6 girls (Amy, Joy, Lauren, Carly, Yvonne and I) went up to Castlerock for a nice wee chill out time, it was so lovely.... Amys house up there is amazing! I hate that we're not still up there....
So it's Thursday the 1st of March now. I can not believe it... before we know it it'll be summer!! Heading out for dinner tonight with the U105 crew, should be fun!
Anyway, I have ALOT of assignments to get finished so i'm away back to work...
I had the best weekend ever with the girls for Amy's 18th Birthday. We had a surprise party for her on the Friday which consisted of a boat trip down the Lagan on the 'booze cruise', and a party back at hers, the house was packed and George and Jill even got a wee man to do an acoustic set in their kitchen, it was so nice! Johnny and friends surprised us all and came home from uni for the weekend, that was the real surprise... so we had a good wee night hanging out with them till the late hours of saturday morning! (you feeling it baby?! lol)
Went to the Wedding Fayre in the King's Hall with Lynsey and the other bridesmaids on Saturday, it was hilarious... met Malachi from Fame Academy and for some reason I told him I listened to him on my ipod alllll the time, random! I did continue though to tell him I'm going to be a tv presenter. His career now consists of singing at Wedding ceremonys, poor guy!On Saturday, us 6 girls (Amy, Joy, Lauren, Carly, Yvonne and I) went up to Castlerock for a nice wee chill out time, it was so lovely.... Amys house up there is amazing! I hate that we're not still up there....
So it's Thursday the 1st of March now. I can not believe it... before we know it it'll be summer!! Heading out for dinner tonight with the U105 crew, should be fun!
Anyway, I have ALOT of assignments to get finished so i'm away back to work...
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