Just thought I would share this website with you.
Play On The Word
Fantastic resources for teaching children about Jesus through play, also a brilliant insight into one family and their wonderful life.
Wednesday 27 April 2011
Tuesday 26 April 2011
Miracles of Sale
I watched a Derren Brown show last night. I love Derren Brown, really enjoy his outlook on his work and his shows in general and last nights was something I really got into again.
It was called Miracles for Sale and he basically wanted to blow open the world of Faith Healers in the states to show that they are greedy and infact do no heal anyone, it's nothing more than trickery to line their own pockets. There have even been people who have stopped taking medicine because of these so called faith healers telling them they are healed, and then they get sicker and die.
Derren interviewed and tested various people to select his own faith healer, to whom he taught the 'tricks of the trade' to and then he and his team went over to Texas to put on their own Faith Healing show. The man they had selected has only a few months of 'training' to improve his stage presence, give him an insight and understanding of the Bible and basically turn him into the Pastor they named James.
They did indeed blow the greedy money driven world of Faith Healers wide open but throughout the show you could tell this man they'd selected was having a tough time with it. He believes in God and you could clearly see that he did not want to affect good people in order to expose the bad ones. Though as one person said, you have to be a hypocrit for a little while in order to expose these people. They did expose the world, perhaps not as massively and on a huge scale as they had wished as they cut ties with a Christian PR company as they did not want to ruin the life and business of the owner.
Derren, throughout the show kept saying that the program was not an attack on religion or faith or anything like that. It was simply a way of showing everyone the greed of these so called Faith Healers and how infact they ruin people's lives instead of helping them. They take peoples money form them and say they are healed, they take the last coins from people's wallets and then tell them they shouldn't take their medicine and when they don't get better tell them they have hidden sin inside them and it's basically all their own fault. They ruin people's lives, break people's finances and lead people to their graves.
I really enjoyed the show and the main thing I got from it is that people in that theatre where Pastor James spoke at the very end realise that they do not have to pay to be healed. God doesn't want you to hand over your money to someone who is pretending to channel the holy spirit in order to heal you. They cannot heal you, only God can heal you and sometimes not even that happens. All the medicine in the world can sometimes not help but sometimes it can and if you are told by doctors to take it, take it. You don't need to bankrupt yourself and your family in order to line someones pockets who is lying to your face, using tricks to fool you. Have your own faith, these Faith Healers have no more power than you or me. Miracles do happen, but they come from our Lord, they are certainly not available for sale.
Google 'Derren Brown Miracles For Sale' for more on the show.
It was called Miracles for Sale and he basically wanted to blow open the world of Faith Healers in the states to show that they are greedy and infact do no heal anyone, it's nothing more than trickery to line their own pockets. There have even been people who have stopped taking medicine because of these so called faith healers telling them they are healed, and then they get sicker and die.
Derren interviewed and tested various people to select his own faith healer, to whom he taught the 'tricks of the trade' to and then he and his team went over to Texas to put on their own Faith Healing show. The man they had selected has only a few months of 'training' to improve his stage presence, give him an insight and understanding of the Bible and basically turn him into the Pastor they named James.
They did indeed blow the greedy money driven world of Faith Healers wide open but throughout the show you could tell this man they'd selected was having a tough time with it. He believes in God and you could clearly see that he did not want to affect good people in order to expose the bad ones. Though as one person said, you have to be a hypocrit for a little while in order to expose these people. They did expose the world, perhaps not as massively and on a huge scale as they had wished as they cut ties with a Christian PR company as they did not want to ruin the life and business of the owner.
Derren, throughout the show kept saying that the program was not an attack on religion or faith or anything like that. It was simply a way of showing everyone the greed of these so called Faith Healers and how infact they ruin people's lives instead of helping them. They take peoples money form them and say they are healed, they take the last coins from people's wallets and then tell them they shouldn't take their medicine and when they don't get better tell them they have hidden sin inside them and it's basically all their own fault. They ruin people's lives, break people's finances and lead people to their graves.
I really enjoyed the show and the main thing I got from it is that people in that theatre where Pastor James spoke at the very end realise that they do not have to pay to be healed. God doesn't want you to hand over your money to someone who is pretending to channel the holy spirit in order to heal you. They cannot heal you, only God can heal you and sometimes not even that happens. All the medicine in the world can sometimes not help but sometimes it can and if you are told by doctors to take it, take it. You don't need to bankrupt yourself and your family in order to line someones pockets who is lying to your face, using tricks to fool you. Have your own faith, these Faith Healers have no more power than you or me. Miracles do happen, but they come from our Lord, they are certainly not available for sale.
Google 'Derren Brown Miracles For Sale' for more on the show.
Monday 25 April 2011
Song of the Week | Superhero 'Secret Life Of Trees'
Slightly different this week with no Youtube video but I couldn't find the song I wanted to share with you on there.
Instead we've got it as just audio, but nevertheless it's still awesome! A song by one of my favourite bands Superhero. I feel that 'Secret Life Of Trees' gives a message about our Lord Jesus in a contemporary way which perhaps will appeal to youth more so than some old fashioned hymns.
Remember, if you've not read our Superhero interview yet, check it out here.
Instead we've got it as just audio, but nevertheless it's still awesome! A song by one of my favourite bands Superhero. I feel that 'Secret Life Of Trees' gives a message about our Lord Jesus in a contemporary way which perhaps will appeal to youth more so than some old fashioned hymns.
Remember, if you've not read our Superhero interview yet, check it out here.
Sunday 24 April 2011
Thursday 21 April 2011
Dove Awards 2011
Last night was the 42nd Annual Dove awards. As always the prestigious awards recognise the elite of those bringing us the good news through gospel music.
Francesca Battistelli was 'on cloud nine' after scooping three awards, including the Female Vocalist of the Year and Artist of the Year. Chris August also took home a couple of awards including New Artist of the Year.
We'll bring you a full list of the award winner soon and also try our hardest to get interview with both of these singer songwriters as we aim to to bring more artists to our site.
Francesca Battistelli was 'on cloud nine' after scooping three awards, including the Female Vocalist of the Year and Artist of the Year. Chris August also took home a couple of awards including New Artist of the Year.
We'll bring you a full list of the award winner soon and also try our hardest to get interview with both of these singer songwriters as we aim to to bring more artists to our site.
Monday 18 April 2011
Song of the Week | Hillsong United 'From The Inside Out'
As we approach Easter this week the message about just what Jesus did for us is paramount. What better way can we show our love for him, for his sacrifice than to love him from the very core of our being. Everlasting, never ending, his love is huge, for every person on this Earth. Our love should mirror that, become everlasting, become never ending. Through him each of us can be...
Thursday 14 April 2011
Losing your Smartphone is like losing your keys?
I read that today as the title of some article in a technology magazine someone on the train had their head in. It got me thinking about how much we actually rely on things, objects in this world and how much they can become, perhaps take over our lives.
Losing your smartphone would be annoying yes, but the same as losing your keys? Maybe. To me, they would both be inconvenient. The keys could easily be replaced though, perhaps a neighbour keeps a spare set or the locks fully changed to ensure safety and security. The loss of a phone would also be highly annoying, yet another one could be sorted out and you would be up and running again in no time.
Now, I found it funny how the article focused on two things that can easily be replaced. The love of God cannot.
With the keys someone else can help with a spare set or replacing the locks, no one else can have your personal faith in God, this cannot just be replaced if lost. The same with a smartphone. Yes it may have your hundreds of pictures on it, your phonebook of thousands of numbers, office documents, access to emails and a couple of funky ringtones, however it's a phone, it is not individual, it is not unique, it's been rolled off the line with millions of identical ones, it can be replaced. This is something so far away from the love of God, from the faith you have in God. It is between you and he, it is unique, you are unique and God knows you.
Be smart, have faith.
Losing your smartphone would be annoying yes, but the same as losing your keys? Maybe. To me, they would both be inconvenient. The keys could easily be replaced though, perhaps a neighbour keeps a spare set or the locks fully changed to ensure safety and security. The loss of a phone would also be highly annoying, yet another one could be sorted out and you would be up and running again in no time.
Now, I found it funny how the article focused on two things that can easily be replaced. The love of God cannot.
With the keys someone else can help with a spare set or replacing the locks, no one else can have your personal faith in God, this cannot just be replaced if lost. The same with a smartphone. Yes it may have your hundreds of pictures on it, your phonebook of thousands of numbers, office documents, access to emails and a couple of funky ringtones, however it's a phone, it is not individual, it is not unique, it's been rolled off the line with millions of identical ones, it can be replaced. This is something so far away from the love of God, from the faith you have in God. It is between you and he, it is unique, you are unique and God knows you.
Be smart, have faith.
Tuesday 12 April 2011
He will provide
"But if I spend it, it's gone." Ever felt like that? Don't lie to me now...I reckon at some point we've all thought like that. I know I have that feeling when I look at a new pair of jeans or even think about buying a coffee from Starbucks (well to be fair, you do need a second mortgage for those!). However we know from the Bible that God will provide.
Now I'm not going on about throwing all your money up the wall, why would you intentionally bankrupt yourself and put your family at risk? Surely what our Lord provides is not only money, funds for us to live, get by if and when we have none, pay for those unforeseen circumstances when a pay cheque doesn't arrive or if the roof caves in on your house, but so much more too. Our father has thousands of ways of providing for us, many of which we never see, never think about, never acknowledge! It is much more than material things, objects...it is the safe journey we take from work, the roof we live under, the food we eat, the breaths we take, the beats of our hearts, the love we have from our families and ultimately, the love we are given from him.
The fact that God knows our every necessity means that he knows what he needs to provide and when. As I've stated in previous posts faith is not only having a faith in God, but also having a faith in yourself. You have to believe in yourself in order to believe on the Lord and the fact he will provide for you, for us.
We are told that what you sow today, you will reap tomorrow. By this I mean if you put your trust in God then he will see you right. That's all it means, it simmers down to that when you take all the fancy words and complex understanding out of it. Believe in God and you will be OK.
By OK I don't mean you will be blessed with that perfect job, that bright red sports car and the holiday home in the south of France. In the end he knows what you need, and he will provide. Stop asking him for a Audi TT!
Just be aware of what you are sowing today and if you are indeed sowing the right things, the reaping, the reward will be rich and plenty tomorrow.
Now I'm not going on about throwing all your money up the wall, why would you intentionally bankrupt yourself and put your family at risk? Surely what our Lord provides is not only money, funds for us to live, get by if and when we have none, pay for those unforeseen circumstances when a pay cheque doesn't arrive or if the roof caves in on your house, but so much more too. Our father has thousands of ways of providing for us, many of which we never see, never think about, never acknowledge! It is much more than material things, objects...it is the safe journey we take from work, the roof we live under, the food we eat, the breaths we take, the beats of our hearts, the love we have from our families and ultimately, the love we are given from him.
The fact that God knows our every necessity means that he knows what he needs to provide and when. As I've stated in previous posts faith is not only having a faith in God, but also having a faith in yourself. You have to believe in yourself in order to believe on the Lord and the fact he will provide for you, for us.
We are told that what you sow today, you will reap tomorrow. By this I mean if you put your trust in God then he will see you right. That's all it means, it simmers down to that when you take all the fancy words and complex understanding out of it. Believe in God and you will be OK.
By OK I don't mean you will be blessed with that perfect job, that bright red sports car and the holiday home in the south of France. In the end he knows what you need, and he will provide. Stop asking him for a Audi TT!
Just be aware of what you are sowing today and if you are indeed sowing the right things, the reaping, the reward will be rich and plenty tomorrow.
Monday 11 April 2011
Song of the Week | Britt Nicole 'The Lost Get Found'
A walk with Christ is a path that requires us to step out often in faith.
Britt Nicole's 'The Lost Get Found' really does sum up the way that we must step out into the world for the Lord. We may at some times feel lost, we've all been there, but have faith in the Lord, he's there and he'll find you.
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” - Ephesians 1:17
Britt Nicole's 'The Lost Get Found' really does sum up the way that we must step out into the world for the Lord. We may at some times feel lost, we've all been there, but have faith in the Lord, he's there and he'll find you.
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” - Ephesians 1:17
Wednesday 6 April 2011
New Interviews
Evening all.
Just a quick post to let you know of two interviews hitting the site very soon.
The first one is with Ken Riley, yes of YFriday fame, now a solo artist.
The second one is with band Above The Golden State.
Keep checking back for them, as well as more blog posts.
Have a blessed week!
Just a quick post to let you know of two interviews hitting the site very soon.
The first one is with Ken Riley, yes of YFriday fame, now a solo artist.
The second one is with band Above The Golden State.
Keep checking back for them, as well as more blog posts.
Have a blessed week!
Monday 4 April 2011
Francesca Battistelli - 'This Is The Stuff'
'This Is The Stuff' is a single taken from Francesca Battistelli's 'Hundred More Years' album. Francesca is a contemporary Christian musician who has been in the music charts since her debut single 'I'm Letting Go' in 2008.
How many of us feel like like we're "In the middle of my little mess."
We should remember "I forget how big I'm blessed."
It's all about trusting in the Lord our God.
How many of us feel like like we're "In the middle of my little mess."
We should remember "I forget how big I'm blessed."
It's all about trusting in the Lord our God.
Sunday 3 April 2011
Faith & Happyness
People seem to think that Faith is just what they have in the Lord. "I have Faith in God that everything will be OK", I have Faith in God that this, that or the other. However our Faith shouldn't just be focussed directly on God, it should also be about faith in ourselves. God won't fix everything himself, he gives us opportunities to sort out our own issues, our problems.
The classic joke, a line taken from the excellent movie The Pursuit of Happyness - a man is drowning, a boat comes along and offers to save him, he says, "No, it's OK, God will save me." The boat leaves the man still struggling in the water before another boat comes along. They try and save him, he says "No, it's ok, God will save me." The boats leaves. The man drowns. When he gets to heaven he says to God, "God why didn't you save me?". God replies, "I sent you two boats you big dummy!"
Not the greatest or most serious example I know, but it illustrates the point perfectly. God doesn't always send lightning bolts down when we ask him for help, he doesn't always move mountains to aid our path. He puts in place little stepping stones for us to take to get ourselves out of trouble. Having faith in God is also having Faith in yourself to do God's work, listen to him and trust in the path, the opportunities and the offerings that he puts in front of us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)