All 22 entries tagged Christian Randomness

Have mercy on my soul…

Dear help us all.

Today I went and talked to my vicar. As lovely as he is, it was scary. “So,” he said, “you and the ministry!”

It’s not like I haven’t been thinking about this constantly for about four months. It’s not like I’m not fairly sure God wants me to be a minister.

It’s just that I’d rather not. I don’t think I’m good with people, difficult emotional situations, leading stuff, basically…

I’m just not cut out to be a vicar. I’m not brave enough.

However, it would seem God has a serious sense of humour. And the conviction just won’t go away. Oh well. Never mind.

I’m going to go and hide now.

(Pic courtesy A Cat named Jane)

: 27 Sep 2006 18:43 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

I'd forget my own head…

I left my Bible at church last week.

I came back this week to get it…

Slight problem. There was a Bible exactly the same as mine, but it's not mine. Ah.

This would be fine, if all that were in there were bits of ribbon and bookmarks.

But there's other stuff in there too. Letters and suchlike.

And I'd kind of like it back.

So if anyone at Westwood opens up their metal NLT and finds my name inside…

Please give it back.

Thank you!

I'll even give you your Bible back as well. :)

: 05 Jun 2006 11:58 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Yawn.

I'm pretty tired again.

Exciting things that have happened in my life:

1) I got baptised yesterday.

It was really great. There were seven of us getting dunked, it was fun.

My housemates made it in time for our testimonies (which were cool, and also funny) having taken a wrong turn and thus having had to tramp across a field to get to the church (now that's dedication!)

So…we gave our testimonies, and said our bits, and then we went to the sheep dip.

(No, honestly, it is an actual sheep dip. However I am assured there haven't been any sheep in it)

And I went second and climbed in, not without some difficulty, and went to the front of it…

Where Peter took off my glasses. Oops. I forgot about those.

So we had the 'I affirm your baptism in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen' and then he pushed me backwards and I got ducked extremely rapidly by Matt and Phil.

But the water was warm, so it was fine. :)

So I stood in the water dripping while we prayed some more, and then I (with less difficulty) got back out of the sheep dip and stood with my towel round me watching everyone else. And people gave me cards and presents and words of encouragement. Woo!

So that was the exciting thing I did yesterday.

And it was very cool, because afterwards I had a headache but was otherwise fine, whereas for the whole of the morning I'd been on the point of collapse. I even had one of those lovely instances where your eyes roll back in your head. I think I scared Charley/Charlie/however you spell it. Sorry Charlie/ey.

Anyways, Exciting Thing Number Two!

2) It's my birthday tomorrow. I will be the ripe old age of 20.

Linked to this is 3) I had a birthday party last Friday night. It was fun. There was chocolate cake. Lots of my friends came. I was happy.

I got…The Princess Bride (the book: so good) Advice to US soldiers coming to Britain in 1942 (hilarious) and The Blue Day Book (some bits made me cry, it's so sweet and has such lovely pictures). I also got a picture, some ice cream, a grape (don't ask) and a chocolate cake which I am obliged not to share. Oh, and ten (count 'em, ten!) different kinds of herbs and spices. Odd, but very cool. :)

My mum and my friends from home have my other birthday presents. But seeing as they're Law and Order: Criminal Intent seasons 1 and 2, they are under instruction not to give them to me until after my exams.

Not that this will make much odds, because:

4) The doctor thinks I might have chronic fatigue.

It might be post viral again (here's hoping) but it might not. So please pray that I'm ok. Thankfully, the Engineering Department seems very understanding of the fact that my exams will not be my best work (average concentration span: 15 minutes. Average no. of hours I can go without sleep: 6. Frustration level: remarkably low. God loves me, exams aren't the be–all–and–end–all, it'll work itself out eventually.)

So that's everything, pretty much, in my life at this moment. I'm going back to bed, having managed a whole hour of revision. Go me!

: 29 May 2006 11:52 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (7) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

It was a good weekend…

Westwood Student Weekend away. Remember my general hyperactive joy at going?

Oh yes. It was, in fact, that good.

Or possibly better.

There were many cool and froody things. :)

There was also one interesting thing: I lost my voice. For the entirety of the weekend I croaked at people and they gave me strange looks. However, it did have one interesting side effect.

If I couldn't sing I would get very upset indeed. And so instead of losing my voice, when my throat gets croaky my range drops. I start to sing tenor.

Much better than not being able to sing at all, I would say, though I would like to be able to hit high notes again soon. Singing the same notes as Liam Jones is an interesting experience, to say the least. :)

Anyways. We went for a not–terribly–long–but–slightly–longer–than–originally–planned walk, which was huge amounts of fun. There was a sheep which jumped a five foot wall, and about a dozen students who had to do the same. Short cuts are fun!

Here, for your perusal, are Diggory and David who led us on the aforementioned walk. They also camped outside for the duration of the weekend. Mad. Totally mad.

There were three talks: one by Phil (aka International Phil cos he runs Globe Cafe, or, if you prefer, Phlanne cos he's dating Anne) on covenants (three point sermon and the points rhymed; really, what more can you ask?) one on Saturday evening about spiritual gifts, and for the life of me I can't remember who was speaking. That's kind of bad. If anyone knows do comment.

I was given the gift of tongues. It's very cool, but also slightly freaky. Of course, it also meant that there was a bit of a thing. Some poor soul had to feel my pain to help me release it, and that isn't fun. But to be fair it really really worked.

This is me, singing very low:

Anyway, enough of my rambling. The last talk was by Gareth, and it was on community. And it was an acrostic.

I like acrostics. ABCDE: Adoration, Belonging, Compassion, Discipleship and Evangelism. And how we're called to interdependence (as opposed to independence or codependence).

Right, having bored everyone who wasn't there to tears, here are some pictures for your general amusement:

Here are the lovely people who made the whole thing possible: Becky and Matt who organised the noisy rabble who make up Westwood Church's students, and Gareth and Anne who took care of us and made sure we didn't do anything too stupid.

Well I for one had a great time.

When's the next one?

: 01 May 2006 21:56 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Weekend away Westwood–stylee!

I'm sooo excited.

No, I really am, as in hyperactively blue-Smartied hyper. I'm really looking forward to the weekend.

It is…(drum roll please)...

The Westwood Church Student Weekend Away in the Peak District Thing!

(I'm sure the real title is a bit snappier)

Ah, I'm really looking forward to it. :)

(sighs happily)

This despite the fact that this morning I was…er…to put it nicely, not well at all. But hey. What can we do?

Woohoo! Weekend away!

: 25 Apr 2006 20:33 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Solitude

Today I am most probably not going onto campus.

I have spent most of today in bed already, and will probably go back and sleep very soon.

A couple of days ago, this would have been intolerable.

I'm naturally shy. And naturally something of a loner. Which means that if I'm seeking company then I'm afraid to be alone with all the voices in my head.

At the moment though, they don't bother me so much.

I was eternally grateful to Hannah and Mark, who've both come to visit in the last week (and both brought food). I'm also hugely grateful to Tom and Chris, who have both put me on a bus and sent me home when I was feeling icky.

But today being on my own doesn't seem so bad. More time to pray. Also more time to read, though, being ill, reading takes much longer.

Life is good. God is good. And so we carry on. :)

: 02 Feb 2006 13:31 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (12) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Text A Pancake!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, here it is: the start of the CU's Essential Week. Woo!

And to commemorate this wonderful event, our 1025 group is doing something special for all those in Rootes J-L!

It is…(drum roll please) Text A Pancake!!!

Basically, here's the drill. You text us (clever, huh?) and tell us which room you are in and what you would like on your pancake (I think you can have sugar, lemon juice, ice cream, stuff like that) and we will make it on the spot and deliver it to you!

Great, isn't it?

And the best bit?

It's totally free! Yup, we're serving you completely without payment just cos we think it's a cool thing to do.

So. Rootes J-L…what do you want on your pancakes?

: 23 Jan 2006 08:12 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (14) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Compromise

The Westwood Church Engage service on Sunday evening was about Daniel 1. The point to ponder was this: where do you draw the line? How far do you go in fitting in before you say 'This far and no further'?

It's really difficult. Especially as you don't really ever know where your lines are until you're just about to cross them. And that's never exactly a good experience. You end up right on the edge and don't really know what to do. That's where the grey areas are, and that's where the problems lie.

It's all very well saying, 'I'll do this but not this, that but not the other…' and so on. But why are you drawing the line where you are, and is it a case of 'this is what is best for me' or is it a case of 'this is a standard of behaviour I expect everyone to try and live up to'?

Murdering someone, for example, is something I won't do. It's also a thing I expect everyone not to do, because it's a bad thing. And you wouldn't like it if someone did it to you.

On the other hand you have something like, say, drinking. I don't drink. This is because I think for me it would be a bad idea, and make me sick, and generally be not fun at all. On the other hand I have no problem with anyone else who decides that they will drink alcohol. It's not a standard of behaviour that I expect anyone else to follow because it's not illegal nor immoral nor against my culture or my religion.

How do you know where to draw the line? Why, in fact, do you need to draw it at all? Would it be easier to go along with whatever everyone tells you?

Er…no. Firstly because doing something you aren't sure about cos someone else told you to is a stupid reason for doing anything. Particularly if there aren't really any benefits. And secondly lots of people tell you different things, so you can't hold two contrary opinions at the same time. It just doesn't work.

How far is too far?

: 09 Jan 2006 18:20 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (5) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Gadget's (splendiferous) Guide to…Hot Chocolate

All right ladies and gentlemen. Here, for your perusal, in the style of silent film (except black and white is boring) is the story of Hot Chocolate. An homage, if you will, to all the guys and gals who turn up every week to offer hot chocolate and biscuits to the tipsy, drunk, plastered and (very occasionally) sober patrons of Top Banana.

(clears throat)

Ahem.

Once upon a time, a very long time ago now, back when Adair was a fresher…(ETA: Apparently he wasn't. So maybe not that long ago)

There was Top Banana. And it was a little something like this:

But after Top Banana, people had to go back outside, and it was a little something like this:

So the CU:

Were trying to think of things to do. And suddenly:

Someone came up with a clever idea! The head of the Union Council, according to the Wise One. They quickly went to work, assembling all the stuff they'd need, and Hot Chocolate was born!

Now this year, there are many brave (or foolish) souls who brave the elements every Monday night to bring hot chocolate, flyers and decent conversation to the masses who are freezing to death in inappropriate clothing. I give you:

The Hot Chocolatiers!

(If you can't tell which one I am…I'll be seriously worried.)

Thank you, thank you.

(bows)

I'm here all week. Try the veal.

PS: Note to Hot Chocolate people. If you don't see yourself in the last picture, then tell me. And remind me what you look like, and I shall add you in! (I couldn't remember everyone)

: 04 Jan 2006 20:14 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (16) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Carols.

Two of my friends decided that a good Christmas present for me and my other friend Hannah would be to go see Carols by Candlelight in the Waterfront hall.

A. Maze. Ing.

Seriously. Now, admittedly, the choir could have used mics, we were late (crazy traffic, took us nigh on an hour for a twenty minute journey) and the audience seemed to be half asleep…

But wow. So brilliant anyway. It was a little orchestra too: 9 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos, 1 double bass (seriously, everyone else gets to sit down but the double bass player and the guy on percussion) 2 oboes, 3 trumpets, 2 French horns, and a partridge in a pear tree.

No partridge. But the conductor was a dab hand on the harpsichord, and there was a guy with timpani drums and also one with a thing that looked like a mini pipe organ.

Did I mention they were all in breeches and daft coats and white wigs?

Always amusing.

Still better than us, of course, but tonight I'm doing a carols by candlelight in my church anyway.

And singing 3 (count 'em, three) solos. How did that happen? I was only meant to be doing one!

Oh well. We'll survive.

Even if we do have to wear coordinated clothes. Black and white and red. Who thought that one up?

Oh yeah. It was Auntie Flo, musical coordinator, Trinny and Susannah aficionado and very keen to get her money's worth out of me before I go home again.

Happy carol services, one and all. I'll no doubt be back to wish you a happy Christmas. :)

: 18 Dec 2005 18:00 |  Tags: Christian Randomness |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem