This book is written by a friend of ours Roger Aubrey. He is the principle of the bible college down in Cardiff.

It is a really accessable read. A book that is life changing - if/when you apply the principles laid down in it. If you want to increase your faith, if you want to learn more about confessing life changing words or if you want to learn basic principles for successful living - then read this book.

This is a great book for youth to read because if you apply these principles now whilst you are relatively young it will have a profound affect on the rest of your life. The principles he talks about are very clear and easy to apply - they are not difficult, but are essential for a faith filled life.

GET IT - READ IT

(especially for those on study leave now who are bored and have nothing to do!!)

Well here is a big clue as to who everyone in our house will be cheering for. We are Liverpool fans and will be on the edge of our seat to see if they can pull it off once more.

And yes - just because I am a woman does not mean I don’t understand the offside rule!!

Yep we went to the Hope Tour on Sunday night and jumped our hearts out. Blush started off, then Bandwithnoname followed by LZ7. It was a cool and rockin night. The set included fireworks and very good lighting. Our own Dan Lush was one of the engineers on the sound.

The crowd took some time to warm up, but once they got going they were great. The bouncy theatre floor was brilliant, it gave a real lift to jumping. In fact you had to jump or you would feel sea sick when everyone else started!

Bandwithnoname did a really different and very theatrical number. They dressed up in clothes that reminded us of the Mask. One of the band members had such a cool hat with a massive floppy fringe. They and Blush did a whole dance routine to the song and it was very entertaining.

My favourite song of the night is Bandwithnoname’s ‘Amazing Grace’. It gets me right there every time. I love the part when there is a break in the song and the lights are on really bright. It is such a dramatic pause and really gives you time to think about the words.

If you missed the Halifax gig click on the web site and catch the tour somewhere else. It is well worth seeing.

Readings this week:May 21: 2 Ki 2:15-4:44; John 6:15-40
May 22: 2 Ki 5-7; John 6:41-59
May 23: 2 Ki 8-9; John 6:60-71
May 24: 2 Ki 10:1-12:8; John 7:1-24
May 25: 2 Ki 12:9-14:29; John 7:25-53
May 26: 2 Ki 15:1-17:18; John 8:1-20
May 27: 2 Ki 17:19-18:37; John 8:21-30

Umm we were talking about snowballs in the freezer - as you do.

My second take on all this is that we should remember great and happy memories. Sometimes we are so eager to live our life at such a speed we don’t have time to sit back and enjoy the little pleasures in life.

A snowball fight isn’t expensive, wasn’t planned, wasn’t with anyone unusual or a celebrity but the kids and me had a great time. I remember getting home late and the kids should have really been going to bed but instead we ran up and down the road laughing with snowballs flying and the dog barking(sorry neighbours). It was a great memory, a treasured thought that makes me smile.

It is good to see what we have got, remember the good things and good times that we have, and thank God for them. THANKYOU GOD!!

(PS. Yes the snowball is still there and everytime I look at it I smile!)

You have heard of skeletons in the cupboard, well have you ever heard of snowballs in the fridge? Yes that is  my secret. We have a snowball from December in the freezer. What’s more it is a big snowball and a smallish freezer!

Last time I went on a weekly shop for our family I was trying to put all the frozen things into the freezer. They just wouldn’t fit. I had to take out everything that was in there and put it all back again. Whilst I was doing this I was re-arranging the snowball.

A thought came to my mnd “What on earth am I doing re-arranging a useless lump of ice, why don’t I get rid of it”.

I have two takes on this. Sometimes there are memories in our lives that are not bad in themselves but are taking up valueable God space. We hold tight onto past events or unreal dreams of the future. We need to let them go and see them for what they are - a puddle.

May 14: 1 Ki 9:10-11:13; John 2
May 15: 1 Ki 11:14-12:33; John 3:1-21
May 16: 1 Ki 13:1-15:15; John 3:22-4:12
May 17: 1 Ki 15:16-17:24; John 4:13-38
May 18: 1 Ki 18-19; John 4:39-54
May 19: 1 Ki 20-21; John 5:1-29
May 20: 1 Ki 22-2 Ki 2:14; John 5:30-6:14

I was watching the SaaB adverts this week and I really like this song. It is all about someone feeling trapped by another person, wanting to be free and released.

It is sometimes easier to blame others for how we feel. Even if our bodies are emprisoned no-one can hold our spirits down. Look at Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:25). As Christians God has set us completely free. Our spirits are free to fly and soar with God. The only person who holds us back from reaching the ultimate heights in God is ourselves. Now listen to this song and sing it too yourself - release yourself to be everything God wants you to be

Its been a while since I got Katie out off the rack and gave her a twirl on the old CD player. As I was listening a line came up and I felt God asked me to put in on my blog for some-one.

The lines are

“Under this national rain cloud
I’m getting soaked to the skin
Trying to find my umbrella
But I don’t know where to begin

And it’s simply irrational weather
I can’t even hear myself think
Constantly bailing out water
But still feel like I’m gonna sink”

If you feel like this and need someone to chat with and get some support or help please do not hesitate to contact me. youth@community-church.co.uk

‘What you see actually motivates how you live. What you see is that which draws you on…If you have seen a world in disaster, a church in collapse, and opposition gathering like the dark storm clouds of a coming clamity, then you will live on the defensive. But if you have seen the glory of the Lamb, if you have seen His radiance filling the earth, if you have seen His Kingdom coming and the nations of this world becoming the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ, then you will live in triumph. You will live an overcoming life because what you have seen in the Spirit is more real to you than what you have seen in the natural.

I do not know about you, but I have seen something. I have seen something of the purposes of God. I have seen something of the splendor of Jesus. I have seen something of the glory of His Church… If you have seen Jesus you will never be the same again’

The Lion and the Lamb (Tony Ling) p76

 if you havent seen this it is worth a watch, it is a real giggle. For all those English teachers out there!!! (including Trev)  

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Apr 30: 2 Sam 3:22-6:11; Luke 20:27-47
May 1: 2 Sam 6:12-9:13; Luke 21:1-19
May 2: 2 Sam 10-12; Luke 21:20-38
May 3: 2 Sam 13-14; Luke 22:1-23
May 4: 2 Sam 15:1-17:14; Luke 22:24-34
May 5: 2 Sam 17:15-19:30; Luke 22:35-62
May 6: 2 Sam 19:31-22:10; Luke 22:63-23:12

If anyone is interested - the video used to intro the gig@jc  can be viewed for a short while on http://www.myspace.com/gigatjc

Dan on his blog recently used this idea he copied it off someone else and now it’s my turn. It is a programme that makes a word cloud of the most used words on the blog. If you want a laff there is a picture of a youth leader in rather interesting clothes on Dans blog - click here.

I was looking out of my kitchen window early Monday and mourning the disappearance of blossom. No longer are the trees on the back field behind our house covered in colour and clothed in petals - they are just plain green.