Writing

Well, I'm procrastinating a little ... well, a lot ... here. You see, it's National Novel Writing Month, and I have an hour before my maths workshop this afternoon, which I should really use to continue writing my novel, because I'm already a day behind, it's Week Two, and I'm going on a Christian Union weekend away this weekend, and I don't want to be completely antisocial and spend the whole time writing. So yes, I'm procrastinating, which usually gets me into some kind of sticky mess or another, but still I do it.

Anyway. Writing is good ... although I can't think of what to write next for my novel. I'm liking my characters (kind of), I'm learning from them (!) but I don't know what's going to happen next. I've got to get about five days more writing down before I can really start writing the next 'stage' of the plot I actually know about ... which is GREAT. What happens next?

Yesterday I was sitting in exactly the same place I am now (in the cafeteria on level 3 of JCMB, at the same table and same seat too, in fact) and overheard a conversation between a (probably English) guy and a German guy. They were talking about the English guy's use of the language, and (no I'm not a creepy stalker ... ) I heard the English guy say:
"If you want to correct your English, speak to a German."
This amused me, and now I think about it, it makes quite a lot of sense. Sometimes we become so used to something, doing something a certain way, speaking a certain way, living a certain way, that we don't notice where we go wrong.

If you're a Christian, have you ever been around non-Christian friends who know you fairly well, and you do something and they say:
"You can't do that, you're a Christian!"
It's a bit like the whole English-German thing. Sometimes we're so used to being Christians that we maybe don't examine our actions, our words, or our thoughts like we ought to; sometimes it takes someone on the outside to notice that, in fact, we're not perfect.

So here's a bit of a challenge. Try to keep perspective of what you do, think, say; just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you're just not going to sin or anything. We can think we're pretty good and actually be really horrible! I've done that before, and probably still do frequently. If you feel you need to, it can be good to find an older Christian to be accountable to as well - they should be pretty good at spotting those things we don't notice ourselves as well.

Ok, I'm going to go back to my novel now :)

Science & Faith

"You won't find faith or hope down a telescope

You won't find heart and soul in the stars

You can break everything down to chemicals

But you can't explain a love like ours"

Science & Faith, The Script

God gives us a glimpse of His incredible beauty in His Creation - I believe that the stars, and even chemical structures, reflect His glory. So I think we can see God (and so also faith, hope, heart, soul and love) in the stars and chemicals. Science amazes me, because the more we learn about our universe, the more we realise how much more there is to know! And with an infinite God creating our universe, I don't think we'll ever stop learning about what He has created.

This song is right, however, because science itself cannot save us. And there are things that are far too incredible in this world - such as love - to be explained by mere science. A science-only worldview is not satisfactory. A faith-only worldview is all we need, but science complements faith; I believe a faith & science worldview gives us a greater appreciation of our incredible God.

Beautiful

Where is God in the midst of unbelievable beauty?

This might seem like an odd question. Usually the question would be, where is God in the midst of unbelievable suffering? But I want to ask the first one.

Surely, I hear you say, true beauty comes from God, and is inspired by God?

I agree. But what if we see, hear, experience something beautiful, that is maybe not inspired by God - like a piece of piano music composed by someone who does not believe? What then? What if the most beautiful love poem in the world was not written for anyone in particular?

Can we experience God through something created by an unbeliever?

The Rock

“There is no-one holy like the LORD; there is no-one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2 (NIV)

We know, from the story of the man who built his house on the rock and the man who built his house on sand, that we need firm foundations to build on - but sometimes we don’t even know what the ‘rock’ we’re meant to build on looks like for the house we are building.

One of the biggest things you can build in your lifetime is your life. But what is the ‘rock’ when our life is the house being built? The answer, according to this verse, is God. He’s not just a rock, He’s the Rock. There is nothing else that we can build our life upon that will give us a firm foundation.

When God is our Rock, the storms can come crashing around us and we will not be toppled, even though those around us may be sinking in their foundations of sand. See also Psalm 62:6.

Crosses

Next Thursday, millions of Britons will be using the power of the cross in a bid to make a change in our society.

But, unfortunately, many won't even be thinking about the cross as they cast their vote in this parlimentary election.

Where, as Christians, should we stand when it comes to politics? Does it really matter? The answer is yes - it does matter. We have a right to vote, and with that comes a responsibility to cast our vote well.

So who should you vote for? It's completely up to you. But if you want people representing you in parliament who will respect your faith, act on the issues that you feel are important, and uphold important values, you have to find out what the candidates standing in your constituency and their parties believe (you can do this by having a look at their websites).

If you can vote and are registered to vote in this election, don't let someone else make the decision!

Do you hear the people sing?

"Do you hear the people sing
Singing the songs of angry men
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drum
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes"

If you've ever seen a production of Les Miserables, you will remember the incredible passion and drive with which this song is sung. It is a song of battle, anger at the past, and hope for the future.

As followers of Jesus we are constantly in battle - a spiritual battle against the enemy - which can take many forms, such as a battle against our own sinful nature and our ungodly world. But God is fighting the battle in and through us, so we're not on our own. And what's more, we know we've already won - Jesus made sure of that on the cross! So why, unlike the cast of Les Miserables, do we often approach battle with little passion? Why are we not angry at the works of the enemy? Why are we not hopeful and determined for a better future?

If you can, get a copy of this song and sing along with as much determination as possible to kick-start your day.

Freedom

Ephesians 2:9-10
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no-one can boast."

The Pharisees were a group of very religious Jews at the time of Jesus, who acted as though by rigorously following the Law (the rules and regulations of the Old Testament) they could have eternal life. But they missed the whole point!

Jesus didn't die on the cross for us to grudgingly follow rules for the whole of our lives. He died so we can have freedom from sin :)

Adventure

At the SU camp I was at last week, held at Lendrick Muir in Scotland, there is a new "high ropes" course. One of the challenges, as you can see from this picture, involved jumping onto a trapeze from a small platform, then manoeuvring yourself upside down into this "star" position.
For me, the hardest part was the jump. I didn't have to jump very far at all, in fact it really should have been quite easy, but I was terrified I would miss it. But why? I had a harness on, so if I did miss it, I wasn't going to fall.
It's like this in life a lot. There's some great opportunity, some open door that promises adventure. As Christians we are told that God is always there for us, that He is our harness. But like I was on the ropes course, we're still terrified.
One of the boys in the group I was in missed the trapeze when he jumped - but the harness stopped him from falling, and he was slowly lowered down. God does not fail us. Even when we miss the mark, He is there to stop our fall.

Samuel

In 1 Samuel chapter 3, God calls to Samuel for the first time.
Samuel was a helper at the temple, and the temple would have been really busy during the day. But notice that God calls Samuel when he is in bed; at this time, the temple would be closed for the night and very quiet.
God can speak to us anywhere and everywhere, but if we give Him the chance, I think He's more likely to speak to us at a time when we are quiet and there is little to distract us. We're certainly more likely to hear Him if we're not distracted!

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Why not try and find some time to listen to God - removing distractions such as your mobile phone, computer, to do list, etc. can really help you to focus on God.

Just to let you know, I was away last week at a Scripture Union Study Camp, which is why I haven't posted! One of the leaders spoke on 1 Samuel 3.

God Makes Us

What makes us who we are?

This is a question I've been thinking about recently.
Is it the opportunities and scenarios we are faced with in life, is it our response to them, or are we born a certain way?

Here is a short poem I wrote last year to help you think about it.

Friends describe us
Our actions reflect us
Events shape us
But only God makes us

Launch of the *new* Daily Ukulele

Welcome to the updated Daily Ukulele!

In this newly updated blog, a thought, picture, verse, quotation, question, video, review, or something will be posted daily (at least I'll try) with the aim of encouraging:
>> Fun
John 10:10 says "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
>> Fellowship
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17
>> Spiritual Growth
Growing closer to God


So what do I actually believe?
I believe that Jesus, the Son of God and a part of the trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) led a sinless life, was killed and separated from God in our place, and was raised again on the third day. I believe that this means we never have to be separated from God and can spend eternity with Him, if we put our faith in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16)
I believe that God created the Universe ("heavens") and the Earth as outlined in the book of Genesis, and that He created men and women in His image. (Genesis 1:27) I believe that mankind was given free will, and chose to sin (disobey God).
I believe that through the Holy Spirit all believers have spiritual gifts, e.g. prophetic, healing, encouragement; and that these gifts are to be used for the good of God's Kingdom.


The Daily Ukulele is brought to you by Melanie, in association with the All Nations Christian Fellowship Youth ministry.