Chris and Faith February 26, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Church, Glasgow, God, Re:Hope, What's happening with me..., You and me.add a comment
On Monday night I got a text saying my friend – Chris Gaston had died.
You know… I didn’t really know what to think. I was totally lost for words, and had no idea what to say or think. I said I would pray…
Then I found myself in a place I’ve only been once or twice before. The last time was when a close friend had a miscarriage and again I was asked to pray for them. Again I was lost for words, and couldn’t even think of what to say to God. On Monday night, I was thinking something along the lines of ‘How could this happen?’, and ‘Where was God in all this?’.
It was a couple of days later, when I was talking to my friend Scotty… and generally thinking about Chris, and what his family must be going through right at that moment, that I realized it came back to faith.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand some of the stuff that happens. It just won’t ‘compute’ in my head. And you know what… I don’t think I want to. I trust God. I know that He knows best. And I have faith in whatever His plan for my life, and anyone else’s life is.
On Sunday night I saw the most people I’ve ever saw at Re:Hope. I know that Chris packed out a church in N.Ireland. He doubled the congregation at Re:Hope. I see God moving in Re:Hope, through the death of my friend Chris Gaston.
I praise God for the life of my friend Chris Gaston. I’ll miss him, but I also know that Chris is where I want to be… and that I will see him again, and I trust in God’s plan for my life. I trust in the fact that God is in control.
He never fails to turn up February 18, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Church, God, Re:Hope, What's happening with me..., Worship.1 comment so far
Yesterday I (co)led worship at Re:Hope – for the first time in a long while.
I’ve been struggling with the thought of leading again. I’m not as ‘comfortable’ with my instrument or vocals as I have been before, etc. It’s been even longer since I’ve led with a full band as well – which made things slightly more stressful.
Both the morning and the evening service… I was feeling it. I was nervous. And the practice hadn’t put me at ‘ease’ either… as far as I was concerned, it didn’t feel like we had everything sorted out.
Last night, I remember thinking… It’s good to rely on God. It’s awesome when practice sucks, but when we’re actually worshipping – everything comes together.
It’s refreshing to see Re:Hope from the front too. I’ve not really realized it as much before, but we’ve got passionate people there. People are engaging with God – which sometimes is pretty hard to see from the back.
I think it’s a good thing to find yourself in a place, where you need to rely on God to move…
Part time or Full time? February 10, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Uncategorized.add a comment
When planning the last church retreat for Re:Hope, we had the words ‘Fully Now.’ as our flier title. That was the theme for the weekend. I’ve been thinking about it recently…
I hate the idea that I am not living for God as fully as a could be. I’m not following his plan completely. Know what I mean?
It usually bothers me when I have an amazing time worshipping God, and come away feeling great about everything. But then I think… this whole past week, have I even given God one minute?
I compare it to this:
Imagine you have a friend. This friend almost completely ignores you the majority of the time. All you want is to be close with this ‘friend’. There’s maybe one day (a Sunday for example) where you get their full attention. The rest of the week, you’re more of an afterthought, if thought of at all.
My point is… You can’t be the part time ‘Christian’. It doesn’t work. You can’t not read your bible, not commune with God, not spend time with Him all week, and then come Sunday give him your full attention and it’s all ‘fine and dandy’.
It’s insulting. You wouldn’t let a ‘friend’ treat you that way, because if they did… they wouldn’t exactly be a friend now, would they?
Stop treating God as an afterthought. Stop putting TV and MYSPACE before reading your bible and praying.
Start living for God fully now, you know… they way you feel on Sundays sometimes?
Get your priorities sorted.
Glasgow February 5, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Church, Community, Glasgow, Mission, Re:Hope.2 comments
“Its report predicted that half of all families in Glasgow would be headed by a lone parent eight years from now.”
“there are 170 teenage gangs in Glasgow – the same number as in London, despite Glasgow having just a sixth of the population of the English capital.”
“The proportion of young people not in employment, education or training was about 18% – 50% more than the Scottish average and roughly twice that of Manchester.”
“The critical issues are family breakdown and drug and alcohol abuse – which are very high here, with up to 15-20,000 registered drug users.”
Porn and false expectations February 4, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Relationships, You and me.1 comment so far
Porn – whether that’s pictures, videos, etc – gives guy’s false expectations of what a relationship ‘looks like’. They somehow get the impression that once they’re in a relationship, or when they’re married – that’s how it’s going to be.
Porn makes guys think women are something that they’re not.
Pornography: the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction. (Webster)
This is where I turn the table. Chick flicks and romance novels/stories can and do “arouse a quick, intense emotional reaction”. It’s giving girls a false impression of what a relationship looks like, and how a guy is meant to be. It encourages you (girls that is) to dream of ‘that perfect guy’ and hope for ‘one just like him’.
Seriously… where do you get your idea of what a relationship should look like? (Guys too!). You can say your parents – but that’s a married relationship, not a dating or ‘going out’ relationship.
Guys have to be careful they don’t get unrealistic expectations in what a relationship is going to be like. Girls have to do the exact same.
Guys – stop watching porn for one. And don’t expect that your girlfriend or wife is going to be anything like the ‘pornstar’.
Girls – Be careful you’re not wanting something that doesn’t exist, or at least is very very rare. Life isn’t a fairytale. You’re never going to find a guy with no flaws, shortcomings, or insecurities.
Guard your hearts.
Being Bold February 2, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Church, God, Prayer, What's happening with me..., You and me.add a comment
I am tired of ‘timid‘ praying.
People pray as if they don’t have the faith that God can actually do whatever it is they’re praying for. They ‘tip toe’ around the subject, as if to just go all out and have faith that God will move – that’ll be false hope?
I mean, if we ask God boldly for something (although it’s not all about the asking), what happens if he doesn’t answer? (the way we want Him to?). It’s gonna be a bit of a blow to what faith we do have if we believe fully that He will and does move, but… on this occasion… it doesn’t seem like he has/or did – at least, from our point of view.
We have to be careful we don’t give God the dates of our diary for when we expect stuff to be done by. We have to be careful that we don’t go in the huff because God didn’t answer us ‘our way’ or by ‘our standards’.
Take Abraham for example… God gave this guy a promise. He had to play the waiting game. Abraham had to believe in something that seems completely impossible. But it happened, didn’t it?
And you see how important faith is all throughout the Gospels too.
How can you expect God to move, if you don’t believe that He will?
How can you expect God to answer prayers of little faith?
Pray boldly.
