Favourite blogs for Mike's blog

What's so amazing about grace?

I think an easier question to ask would be "What's not amazing about grace?" cos the answer would be NOTHING!!!

I've recently returned from Spring Harvest Word Alive* and the whole week was spent looking at the book of Galatians in the bible. And this book is a letter written by a guy called Paul to the early Christian church in Galatia asking them why they had started abandoning the way of life they had when they first became Christians and he encourages them to return to the freedom they have in Jesus Christ.

This is one of the key fundamentals and beauties of Christianity. It's called GRACE and it basically means receiving a free gift which we don't deserve. You see, being human means we're born with a desire to be in control of our own lives and want to do things our own way cos "we know best". However, this is not how we were created. God, the amazing creator of the universe, created us to be in a perfect relationship with him.

SIDETRACK Imagine being in a perfect relationship with the creator of everything we see, from the small creatures that roam our earth to the vast galaxies that tour the universe END SIDETRACK

But man wanted to be in control of his own life and decided it would be a good idea to rebel against God. This busted that perfect relationship. This rebellion was accepted by God and death was introduced.

But amazingly, God didn't leave us to fester away on our own. He didn't create us to die and be seperate from him forever so he provided a way for us to fix that relationship with him. He sent his only son, Jesus to this world to pay the punishment for our continuous rebellion for all time. And all we have to do is accept this free gift.

And this is what grace is. We don't have to do anything to gain this free gift from God. This is what makes Jesus Christ unique and Christianity itself, we, humans, don't have to do anything to gain this free gift from God. We don't have to perfect, brilliant, good, he'll even have us if we're the worst human being alive. And by accepting, we inherit eternal life, and get to live in absolute freedom!!!

Many people struggle with this idea cos for some reason we want to have to earn our way to eternal life. But that won't work. We just have to humble ourselves and come before God and accept it. A free gift of freedom. Brilliant.

*Spring Harvest Word Alive is a large Christian Conference held every year in Butlins, Skegness. Lovely stuff.

: 09 Apr 2005 22:52 |  Tags: Faith |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Free Hot Chocolate, Free Biscuits!!!

If you want to keep warm while waiting for your bus after Top B, come and grab some free hot chocolate and bikkys hosted by the Christian Union, and even hang around for a chat if you fancy.

Jimmy: "Theres gotta be some kind of catch Andy?"

Andy: "Thats what most people ask dude, but there's not!"

There's absolutely no catch, we're just giving out free hot chocolate and free bikky's and the option of a chat (which is also free). So pop out to the top of the Piazza.

: 16 Mar 2005 13:50 |  Tags: Faith |  Comments (7) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

I forgot to introduce Jimmy!!!

As the title of this blog suggests, I forgot to introduce a very crucial character in my life. His name is Jimmy the Wolf.

He's a very good friend of mine, sort of like an alter ego, but less alter and more ego.

Andy: "Jimmy, I'd like to introduce you to everyone who reads this. Everyone who reads this, I'd like to introduce you to Jimmy the Wolf."

Jimmy: "Helloooowww everybody!!!"

Jimmy will be co-writing this blog with me, or at least chipping in his opinion whenever he feels like it.

Jimmy: "So shouldn't the blog be called "The Ponderings of A Bass and his Puppet?"

Andy: "Ermmmmm….........No!"

Jimmy: :-(

: 13 Mar 2005 00:06 |  Tags: General Ponderings |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The Piano Student

I recently started learning to play piano from my Sensei Mikal (lovely bloke) and I've just been having a bit of a practice. The reason I'm blogging is to talk aboot beginner songs which are just a bit weird really. Obviously they have to be simple, so does someone sit around and make them up or are some derived from more harder songs but just made simpler. I wonder???

Jimmy: "Hey Andy, that was a really pants blog you just wrote, can't you think of anything better to write?"

Andy: "Cheers Jimmy son, and no I can't think of anything better to write, I guess this old bass doesn't have much to ponder aboot!"

Ps. Jimmy is my pet wolf (a puppet) HE'S GREAT

: 12 Mar 2005 23:20 |  Tags: General Ponderings |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Welcome to the bizarre mind of me!

Well, I've finally got around to getting myself one of these lovely blogs. I feel it may take up large amounts of my time. I can't even begin to think what I'm gonna put on here but hopefully you'll all get to know me more through this lovely system.

So for those who don't know me, here's a wee bit about myself.
My name is Andy Giles and I'm from the beautiful county of Derbyshire. I'm (unofficially) the second least fresh fresher at this looneyversity (cookoo) studying Computer Science (GEEK!!!).
I'm a member of the Christian Union here at Warwick and also Revelation Rock-Gospel Choir in the Bass section (the best section – hence the name). BUt now I'm gonna go have some ham sandwiches.

I will write to tell you all more soon.
Peace and Love!!!

: 12 Mar 2005 13:52 |  Tags: General Ponderings |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem