A day or two of reading… June 27, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Bible, Christianity, Read Through, Relationships, The Bible - it's quality stuff!, What's happening with me....2 comments
Yesterday was interesting. I’ve got a new book called ‘Desiring God’ by John Piper. And it’s brilliant. So much so that last night I went to be, couldn’t sleep from thinking about what I’d read and learned, and had to get up in the early hours of the morning to share it with people. 
Today however, I spent more time focusing on some BIBLE!
My bible reading is a bit all over the place at the minute really. I’m mixing a lot of Old testament with New, and generally reading a lot of whatever takes my fancy.Today was a section of Genesis.
I love the fact that having been through the bible several times now, there’s always something new that jumps out at me. So here’s my 3 points from Genesis 2.
1) Genesis 2:9(b)
The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now, we see a few verses later that God commands Adam, saying “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
We also see in chapter 3 that the tree was “good for food”, and that it was a “delight to the eyes”, as well as it being ‘desirable’ to make one wise.
What I found interesting here is how this ‘temptation’ is right in the centre of the Garden of Eden. Adam, would have to walk by this ‘temptation’ all the time. It wasn’t on the edge of the garden, or off in a corner… it was in the centre. Which relates to temptation today. In a culture (for guys, for example), there’s temptation everywhere. It’s not hidden from us. It’s in the ‘centre’. It’s in the spotlight. Through media, the internet, shops, billboards, the movies, pubs, barrs, etc, etc, etc.
We see in chapter 3 the ‘fall of man’. But the idea is that before that, the tree was right in the centre. It was a temptation that required walking by, and perhaps away from.
2) Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
God put Adam to work. I get the impression that ‘work’ for a guy is an important thing. Even when God curses the ground (NOT ADAM), it’s all related to ‘work’. I believe guys need to work. Some guys probably even need 2 jobs. Even in relation to the last point, I think guys that don’t work will be tempted in their bordom. Guys that are working full time, and involved in their local church, aren’t going to have as much time to be sitting in their bedrooms, in front of a computer, looking at Porn… or even wasting their time playing computer games.
3) Genesis 2: 20(b)
But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.
God decides it’s not good for Adam to be alone. And that he needs help. Then after going through the possible animal companions, God creates EVE! (PRAISE GOD!). I think I would struggle with a cat as a companion. Something tells me it just wouldn’t work. I like this idea of Eve being Adam’s helper. It points towards guys not being single. It shows that we need ‘help’. It shows that we need a wife, I guess. It shows that we’re not complete without a wife.
On top of that, the idea of Eve being formed out of Adam’s rib. Eve being made out of Adam’s side. I guess that’s where guys need a wife! At their side. It would potentially also explain why ‘girls’ or ‘gurls’ enjoy cuddling so much. They’re at home. At your side. hahaha.
Anyway. Back to reading Desiring God by John Piper.
Year in review June 20, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Church, Glasgow, Internship, Re:Hope, What's happening with me....2 comments
So all of a sudden, I realize I only have just over a week before I move back home to Ardrossan (unless something changes very quick, like me getting an amazing job with good pay!). That means I’ve got a lot of packing to do, and have spent a lot of time in the flat over the last week, which has given me A LOT of time to think about the last year – working with Re:Hope, the internship, where I’ve grown, etc.
The Internship
First off, my mentor Mike Libolt has been amazing. Anyone who knows ME, knows that HE has put up with A LOT! This guy has been there from the start, guiding me through the internship program, coaching me, pastoring me, and giving me a kick up the backside when it’s been required. Looking back from when I started the internship, I am amazed at the amount of stuff I’ve learned, and how I’ve grown through it.
I remember when I first felt sure about being Called to do the internship, and wondering what God had in store for me. Now all I can think is WOW. I couldn’t have imagined all of the stuff over the last year, the books, coaching sessions, prayer, spiritual retreat, etc.
If it wasn’t for the fact I know how much work and time it takes Mike, I’d strongly recommend the internship. It’s a huge growing experience.
Re:Hope
I am honoured (not a word I’d generally use!) to be a part of what God has been doing in Re:Hope. Equal to the internship, I’ve learned a huge amount from working with Brian Ingraham and the staff at Re:Hope. It’s astounding looking back, having been part of the church for around 3 years now, and seeing the growth (in congregation size, in Spiritual maturity, in Godly Character), in particular over the last year.
In a dark city, Re:hope has been a light. In a City where many Church buildings are either crumbling around their dying congregations, or turning into pubs, we’ve seen Re:hope grow. One point in particular sticks out: having prayed for growth, within 2 weeks, we doubled in size!
Seeing a Church be ALL IN, any time, any place, no matter what the cost. Seeing more people join bible read through groups – becoming a people of the word. Watching people come to know Jesus. Seeing people get baptised. Seeing people making Jesus’ mission – their mission. Seeing people making ‘this’, their life – what they’re living for. Seeing people follow God’s plan, at any cost, instead of their own.
If Re:Hope had a lifetime membership, I’d sign up. Although I don’t intend on going anywhere for at least this year (unless someone has a spare £18,000?), when the time comes when I have to leave – at least for a little while, I will continue to pray for Re:Hope, and take what I’ve learned in Re:Hope where ever I go.
Ohio June 1, 2009
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I’m in OHIO!
Stephen Irwin, one of the staff at Re:Hope facilitated me going to Ohio with him to help him raise support. Basically, I’m here representing what’s going on in Re:hope, and why we need help doing what we’re doing.
It’s a 50/50 split of ‘work’ and FUN. Stephen has a lot of meetings with current/potential supporters, as well as sorting out some of his old storage stuff, and a lot of dinners at people’s houses.I guess even the work is fun.
On top of that, I’ve had the opportunity to go shooting with some of the guys from Stephen’s church, been driven around in a MUSTANG COBRA, and ate the largest steak I’ve ever seen in my life.
Anyway, a brief update. There hopefully will be more, but blogging feels like a chore at the minute, so we’ll see.
Austria ‘09 April 18, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Austria, God, What's happening with me....add a comment
So, last Saturday I got back from the 2009 Scripture Union Austria camp. I have to say, it was a lot of fun.
This year there were a lot of changes. First off, we weren’t staying at the place we usually stay at – a huge Castle run by and for Christians, who accomidated us for as long as I can remember. This proved difficult because where we had what was pretty much a conference room in the ‘Castle’, we were now in a hotel, using the dining room for meetings and worship, not to mention food!
We also had a lot of new leaders. My cousin Stephen was the main man for the trip this year, with my brother Gareth being his right hand man. All the old (literally old) ski instructors had decided last year was their last year. It worked out as Stephen, Gareth, Linny (another cousin), and Andy taking the classes, and me at least putting my name to the ‘Free skiers’ – I was responsible in a very informal way. EEK.
So, leading worship this year was different. I didn’t have a sound man. I didn’t have a PA or a sound desk. I was working with Me on guitar and vocals – through a huge marshall amp, Gil on Piano and vocals – through another acoustic amp, and a last minute addition of a cracking wee musician called dean, who brought his bass guitar and amp along. The sound mix was probably awful. And the dynamics of the room were dreadful, with me not being able to see what seemed like half the campers. It was hard for me to get over the things I could control being far from ideal and trusting God that he’d move regardless.
Then the powerpoint! AGHHHHHHHHHHH! I had also organised powerpoint, meaning I brought a projector, and a laptop, and ‘borrowed’ the church lyrics and what not. It was a disaster. Something seemed to change/go wrong every single night. Plus, I was speaking the first night on congregational worship, and pretty much forgot about powerpoint entirely.
And my ‘talk’, or message. Having worked on it in advance of Austria (something other leaders clearly didn’t do – something I realized when they were taking afternoons of skiing to work on it! ;-p. (I only mention it because it makes me look organised for the first time in my life!). But yea, the message went pretty alright. I’d threw it (emailed) to my pastor Brian Ingraham to have a looky at and give me a few pointers, and suprisingly it wasn’t ‘crap’ like I though it’d be. At least that’s what he SAID.
There seemed to be a good response. People definately took the things I’d challenged them with and tried out a few things during the week relating to what was being talked about. Although writing was one thing, I definately need to work on my communication.
OVER ALL… I loved it. It was good to be more organised BEFORE I went this year, which meant it was less rushing, etc. Worship went good – because God moved, and it had nothing to do with me. The talks rocked, even the badly communicated, lack of powerpoint ones (mine) – not because anything I had done, but because God intervened. Skiing was amazing, not just because it was skiing, but because I spent a bit of time just relaxing and standing in awe of God’s Creation.
Following on from that last post – Meet ‘Lou’ the snake. March 4, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Glasgow, What's happening with me....Tags: snake
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Meet ‘Lou’ the snake. Named ‘Lou’ because we captured him in the toilet aka. Loo. On Sunday afternoon a couple of the guys that had been playing football inbetween church services came back to use our flat’s shower, etc. We joked about how 3 showers in a row would no doubt bring out the snake.
By the second shower, the snake came out… And I caught it. Basically kept it in a pillow case over night, a shoe box by day… until yesterday afternoon (monday), the owner came to claim him/her. It was sad to say good bye to what we thought might be our new pet – Lou the snake.
The ‘horror’ in/under the bathroom… March 1, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Glasgow, What's happening with me....Tags: snake
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I’m assuming from the title you can tell this is another one of my silly blogs… which is more for my entertainment that to blog anything meaningful.
Anyway, It being as Saturday, I was having what was meant to be a long lie… and it was probably about 11am when Stuart (my flat mate) came into my room, telling me I had to come see something. Usually, in my half asleep state, I’d tell him to ‘go away’, but something in his tone of voice suggested urgency.
I clambered, nae… jumped off my bed (which is up ladders on a platform), and followed Stuart out of my room, through the living room, and into the bathroom. I literally could not believe what I then saw. A big spider? No. Something only boys would be proud of in the toilet bowl? NO! A large bright yellow and orange snake, coming out a hole in the floor behind the toilet. AGHHHHHHHHH!
There’s no word to describe the screach of disbelief that came out of my mouth. This thing was huge, and it certainly was no grass snake, adder, or any other boring UK snake… this thing was big, boy band coloured (you know, bright orange, sky blue, sea foam green – those sort of colours), and foreign.
Now what does one do with a large unknown species of snake, from an unknown origin, with no prior experience of handeling snakes? I decided I wanted to pick it up. Thankfully, Stuart spoke sense, and suggested that because we didn’t know what the snake was… whether it was aggresive/dangerous/etc… maybe I should be careful, and not stick my right hand in it’s face as I was about to.
I then proceeded to armour myself with winter gloves (bough for my by my lovely mother for the cold season of winter), a towel wrapped round my arm… and my boots. However, as if the snake knew our plan… it decided to begin to slither back down the whole from whence it came… I arrived back in time to see it disapear back down the hole in the bathroom floor.
Anyway, it was exciting. Until we realized that we had to ‘use’ the toilet…
Who knows… maybe the snake will come back again… and if it does… I’ll hopefully have the sense to take a picture… and then you’ll perhaps understand the horror, the terror… that is the snake in/under the bathroom.
The tin opener January 31, 2009
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My beloved flat tin opener. I’m sure you’re wondering how could such a simple device, a common tin opener… deserve the honour of a blog.
It’s because, for the life of me… I can’t work it. The tin opener completely perplexes me. I have absolutely no idea how to work it. It was actually so bad that until recently, I had been using a kitchen knife to stab open any cans of desired food.
Which brings me to my first tangent. Why on EARTH do they still make tins without the ring pull? To me, and in my current tin opener situation… it would seem that the only reason why all can goods have not converted to the highly superior ‘ring pull’ opening technology… is to ensure that the tin opener factory does not go bust. Imagine the jobs that would be lost?
Anyway…
I myself am now wondering why I didn’t ask one of my fellow flat mates – Stuart or Gordon – how to work the tin opener. But I can quickly conclude that it comes down to pride. ME? Ask for help on how to work a simple tin opener? I THINK NOT!
Now, I’m sure many of you are concerned as to my well being, especially in the area of food, proper eating, and ‘is he starving out there’? Rest assured, all is well. Thankfully, my mother still occasionally sends up food packages, including Marks and Spencers Chicken curry – which comes canned, and has the handy, genious ring pull technology.
The tin opener itself, has finally revealed it’s mystery to me. What I thought was a tin opener with only one handel, in fact has a stealthily hidden second handel!!!!!!!!! Some sneaky designer decided to hide one within the other. I personally think he should be thrown into a jail cell, along with previously mentioned heretics, false teachers, and… Dan ward.
In conclusion, there is absolutely no point to this blog what-so-ever. Other than to save me from bordom, to ’slight’ Dan Ward, and to reassure you all that I, Mark Jones, have mastered and conquered the tin opener. VICTORY!
“God, make me like Peter…” January 19, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, God, What's happening with me....Tags: boldness, initiative, Peter
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I think Peter rocks.
I think I’ve got a bad impression of the guy somewhere along the line (I’m thinking Sunday school). You know… the guy who denied Christ. The guy who sank when he tried to walk on water, etc, etc.
Scripture covers the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to Peter.
I guess there’s a few things in Peter’s life I’d probably like to avoid, but at the same time there’s a lot I admire.
Just as I aspire to be like David with his faith-based optimism, I love the idea of Peter’s willingness to step out and take action.
Even though Peter gets a bit of heat for sinking when he tried to walk on water, shouldn’t he get some credit for being the only disciple who actually got out of the boat? That took initiative.
And Peter made some commitments he couldn’t keep. But I respect the fact that he was the only disciple out of the twelve to man up and speak up. He was the first to publicly identify Jesus as the Messiah.
And THEN… we see Peter chop some guy’s ear off, when they came to arrest Jesus. He couldn’t sit there and let them drag Jesus off. He felt he had to do something!
I can be pretty bold some of the times (which can get me into trouble occasionally too!), but there’s a bunch of times I’ve chickened out of decisions, etc… because I’ve lacked the ‘initiative-taking boldness’ of Peter. Decisions that require boldness. Being a Christian – truly seeking to follow God’s plan… can often require bold decisions that have associated risk.
G0d, make me like Peter.
A brief visit home… December 17, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in What's happening with me....Tags: Ayr Ark
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Yesterday I managed to have a brief visit back to North Ayrshire!
Even though I’m not used to seeing my living room decorated completely differently from when I left for Glasgow, and my room is clearly falling into disorder (judging by the amount of stuff/posters, etc that are falling off the walls)… It was good to be home.
I also made it out to the Ark Christmas night in, where I caught up with some old friends and got a quality and very tasty Christmas dinner.
All I can say is I can’t wait to be home for Christmas, and I’m clearly going to put back on some recently lost weight.
You want to know what I think of Joel Osteen…? December 10, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, What's happening with me....Tags: False teaching, Joel Osteen, Prosperity Gospel
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There’s been some chat about Joel recently. Here’s my view… via Mark Driscoll.
