Demographics

According to blogger statistics, if you are reading this there is a very very good chance that you are in the UK....or if not, there is quite a good chance you're in the USA. There is also a good chance that you're using Windows, or perhaps a Mac. There's also a good chance that you're using Internet Explorer...followed closely by Google Chrome. If you're on IE, switch to Chrome - I love it.

If you're from another country, and don't know me. Why not leave a comment with where you're from...then I might be able to understand my audience a bit better...not by much, but a little bit may go a long way.

If you're from the UK, let me know. Do you know me? Do you not know me? Where are you from?

Wherever you're from, are you a regular? or have you just stumbled upon this page because you searched for a picture and it came up here...or you wanted to find the music to Brad Paisley's Cliffs of Rock City, and it led you here...perhaps to your disappointment.

Just let me know, I am intrigued as to who you are!

NWA + HBC

Anyone know what these acronyms stand for? Yes...well done. NWA is New Word Alive, and HBC is Holiday Bible Club.

Last week, I spent an amazing week in Pwllheli at New Word Alive, a Christian conference full of great teaching, worship and friendships. I can't quite describe how much I enjoyed last week, and can't quite describe the intricacies of the emotions I experienced there when I realised...again...what a horrible sinner I am, and when I realised...again...how loving a God I have, and how he sent his son to pay for the sins of mine which I am so ashamed of. He has paid the price for me - one atoning sacrifice...and now, it's not about what I can do to achieve salvation, but it's what God has already done. With this in mind, God is bigger than any sin (compared to God, our sin is nothing) and he is gracious and glorious, and not only has he already saved us, but he helps us to live for Him by giving us his Spirit! What a gift! I am so undeserving of it, yet, God has graciously given me this gift to help me live for his glory. Fantastic. This is a brief description of my emotions, if you'd like to know more, talk to me. I'm going to get on with the next section of this post...

HBC. Holiday Bible Club. This is an amazing opportunity to tell kids about the above! The thing is that children can understand and know what they need to do to be saved...yet, I still think I can earn my salvation? As adults, we can often twist and over complicate the gospel, when it's actually a very simple message. Last week was a great week to help me remember the glorious gospel, and this week helps me to remember the simplicity of the gospel. I'm so thankful that I can serve God in this way by doing HBC...I'm so thankful that God saved me. One of the questions that was on the worksheet today was what do we see in the world that makes us remember that God is amazing - the kids were giving great answers like the countryside. The countryside, the mountains, the sea...I often take for granted. I've seen them so many times, it's like they're just a part of my thinking -- and I can often forget that it had a Creator. I had a moment last week where I did the whole 'Gladiator' thing, and picked up some sand from the beach...and just looking at each tiny grain of sand was created by God - and it just struck me as brilliant.

It's been one day of HBC so far, and enjoying it so far. The kids understand it, they don't try to extort it - the gospel is simple, and God is amazing. Easy stuff. It's great to be reminded of it by the kids. The memory verse is Romans 5:8, 'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: Whilst we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' - such a great verse, it's our one memory verse for this week....it'll not only be good for the kids to understand this verse really well, but for me too.

I'm up early tomorrow again ready for another HBC day! So I'm going to be off - check you later.

America's Most Hated Family in Crisis

The BBC description,

"Following up on his 2007 documentary, The Most Hated Family in America, Louis Theroux returns to Topeka, Kansas, for a week-long visit with the Westboro Baptist Church."

Watching this documentary made me feel a vast array of emotions, sadness, anger, fear, amongst others. I can't quite explain my feelings in a written format, so I'm attempting to write a blog with a lot of inspiration, but lacking in being able to explain what I'm seeing and hearing.

This family preach that God hates sin...and the sinner. They don't only preach this at church, but they picket events in which to proclaim their belief with huge signs reading 'God Hates Fags', and 'Thank God for Cancer'. This is simply not Biblical.

In one of the most famous verses in the Bible, it reads,

'For God so loved that world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' - John 3:16

and

'But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' - Romans 5:8

God loves us...but he hates sin...and rightly so. He created the universe and everything in it, and man rejected God. This rejection is inbuilt within everyone, and we are all sinners. However, God's infinite love for us saw him send Jesus, his son, to Earth to die for us. Jesus, the sinless one, the only perfect man, died. Taking our sins and putting an end to them. Taking our punishment on the cross, and being the one atoning sacrifice for us. This is AMAZING news. Not only this, Jesus rose again three days later - no man can do that...only God can do that. This is AMAZING news. Through Jesus' blood, our relationship with God is restored. We can come to Him, whatever we've done in the past...whether it be a little white lie, a lustful thought, murder, pride, theft, greed...etc etc. We can ask for forgiveness, and come to Him who saved us from death. We can ask Him to turn our lives around, that we would want to turn away from sin and live for Him. This is the gospel. Isn't it BRILLIANT?!

Now I wonder why this family are proclaiming that God hates specific people. This shows that they consider their own sin nothing compared to the other sinners who practice homosexuality. Why are they comparing themselves with others? None of us are perfect, and 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23). We should be comparing ourselves to Jesus, and striving to be more like Him, not comparing ourselves with others to make ourselves feel better. Instead of picketing funerals of soldiers, burning flags and calling Obama the anti-Christ...evangelising with the family of the fallen soldiers, with homosexuals, with anyone...this gospel is for everyone. This is GOOD NEWS. We can't do anything to achieve salvation, as we are sinners, but thankfully God is merciful and gracious and has given us a way in which we can be saved - so let's proclaim that!

This family, this church, preach a false gospel. They are leading people into a religion built into hate...pure hate against others. This family has a daughter who decided to leave the church as she wanted a boyfriend [which is wrong apparently, as having a boyfriend obviously means having premarital sex, according to them - therefore I have no idea how you go from being single to married in their minds, but anyway...] and her church kicked her out, her family kicked her out of their home, no longer talk to her, have removed all her pictures from their home, and were thankful when she left. Her best friend was asked whether she was sad to see her go, she said "She wasn't my friend" I'm sorry - I would try and explain my thoughts on this further, but I could cry. Family and friends are a beautiful gift from God, to encourage us, to support us, to help us grow, and their false gospel shatters it...and makes family and friendship absolutely nothing.

Louis Theroux doesn't believe the Bible, and he makes it clear in this programme. He tells this family that what they say is offensive, and this family laugh. It's so sad that this guy has an opportunity to hear the gospel, and all he sees is hatred against everyone. They believe that natural disasters happen as it is judgment from God, that those who denounce their church die [a Muslim man denounced the church, and a week later his wife died] as judgment from God. They say that Hell is a scary thing - yes, it is - but they don't know that they are driving people even further away from God.

Louis interviewed this girl 4 years ago who was adamant she would stay at the church. When he came back to do this next programme, she had left the church and explained that after long tensions with the church, she felt a strong urge that she had to get out of the church. She is scared that she's going to Hell for what she did whilst in the church...I pray that she meets someone soon who is able to tell her the true gospel of grace and despite what she has done, Jesus has saved her. The church are not allowed to make personal interaction with people not in the church...how is evangelism possible this way? It's not.

The more and more of the programme I watch, the more and more saddened I am in how lost these people are. This guy spoke to one girl who came over, and there was no reference to Jesus, only how her parents raised her from the devil and that her parents hated her. This programme has made me angry, and I have judged these people, and I just pray that God works in their hearts to the real truth. The gospel of love, not hate. The gospel of Jesus, not religion. Please pray for these people.

"So how many are we taking out today then?"

Dentists.

I haven't had the best experience with them, to be perfectly honest with you.

I'm pretty sure the first teeth that grew in my mouth were wonky, and they continued to grow wonky. Very wonky. My two front teeth had a huge gap...not a Madonna gap, but a big gap that formed in the shape of a triangle. And the rest of my teeth were in there, but all over the place. I couldn't bite into an apple because of the shape of my teeth...this made apple bobbing one of the most difficult things to do in my childhood. I competed an apple bobbing relay race at my youth club once, and need I say, my team lost - very badly. But at the time, I loved the uniqueness of my teeth. But, the dentists did not feel the same way. I was told I need braces when I was about 12 years old, and they said that they'd send a letter with my next appointment. I seem to remember always falling ill on these appointment days...for about 3 years.

When I was about 15, the dentist set an appointment, and my mum got in on the fun too. My mum said I needed a filling, so I was like - ok. Let's go get a filling. I sat down on the dentist's chair ready for my filling...the chair goes back and as I was reclining, he turned around and said those fateful words. "So how many are we taking out today then?".......

I'm sure you can imagine my horror. Tricked into it! That day he took out 7 of my teeth. They were milk teeth that just didn't want to leave...I gave them a nice place to live, why leave? But, in order to have braces, they had to come out...and that's what happened. When you're 15, the last thing you want is a smile where teeth are missing...and that's what I had.

The problem? After the milk teeth came through, one of my adult teeth didn't want to come through. So, back to the dentist. They said that I needed an operation on my gum, and essentially, I needed a window in my gum...and that's what happened. I went to the hospital and had a window cut into my gum.

But, what? The tooth started growing the wrong way? Of course it is. Back to the dentist. He refers me to an orthodontist, and when I had just turned 16...I got my brace. I had the brace until the week before I came to uni. And despite the years of horror as explained above...and the fact that I don't trust anybody when it comes to my teeth, I am now happy with my relatively straight teeth. I still don't like going to the dentist, they're perfectly nice people, they play the radio, they ask questions they know I can't answer because their hands are in my mouth...but I don't enjoy going, just in case they say those words again...

"So how many are we taking out today then?"

Hope

I sat down this evening to watch one of my all time favourite films, 'Hope Floats'.

This film is not well known, at all. It's highly under-rated in terms of the theme and the acting.

I've seen this film many a time, and always used to watch it with my mum at home. But only today's sitting of it has made me reflect on it.

We see the main character (played by Sandra Bullock) on a Jeremy Kyle/Jerry Springer type of show where it is revealed to her that her husband has been having an affair with her best friend. She is obviously distraught. She leaves Chicago and returns to her home town with her daughter. After wallowing in grief, many tears and arguments with both her mother and daughter, she finds a job and gets back on her feet. It all appears to be going well - a handsome cowboy [Justin] from her high school days likes her, and she's happy. Until it is realised that she still thinks about her husband despite his infidelity and the fact he doesn't love her. She gets drunk, her daughter hates her, her husband doesn't love her and this guy has left indefinitely. After this, a brief shining moment when her mother explains to Sandra's daughter about the importance of family and love. That night, her mother suffers a stroke and dies. At the funeral, her husband asks for a divorce and her daughter wants to leave with him. Everything has just fallen apart in her life.

Yet, in these circumstances, she still has hope. Her daughter and herself are reunited. Her husband leaves and shows his daughter that he is doing the leaving, not Sandra. And she realises through these circumstances that she loves Justin. At the end, we see a family and she narrates...

'Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will...'

This is the ultra-paraphrased version of events...and it is worth a watch to fully grasp the intensity of the situations.

This story sort of reminds me of the story of Job, a bit. He loses everything. Absolutely everything and it is shown how through his circumstances, he still relies on God wholly. How does he do this? Just now I've been thinking about 1 Thessalonians and how we should be joyful in all circumstances and what it would look like. This film [despite it not being a Christian film] does give some good advice. She lost nearly everything and yet had hope. As Christians, we should have hope in any circumstance...hope in the resurrection, and we can place our hope and trust in Jesus. In the film, she doesn't do this, but she still has hope. It is hope that we should have day to day - being joyful doesn't mean being happy all the time - but it means rejoicing that God has a better plan for us, and having that hope of salvation. There are moments in our lives that are unhappy, and it is right for us to feel upset about them - but having this hope we have in Jesus is life-changing - we don't see unhappy times in life as the end, but we can look to the future and rejoice that God is in control and is truly sovereign.

Dear Jerry Bruckheimer,

I have to start this letter by saying that I love CSI, and both spinoffs. You won't meet anyone who can defend CSI like I can - it's one of these shows that I can easily defend as it is a really great show, which has changed TV history forever, and for the better. I've watched them since the beginning, and have even gone to the extent of going to university to study forensic science and criminal investigation to find out more about this field. It's clear that I love this show.

But, what is going on? Even an avid fan like myself just can't understand why some decisions have been made to try and improve ratings. CSI was a show that was so good, the storylines, the chemistry of the characters, the reputation - that it stood out from the rest because of it. CSI didn't rely upon big names to make it great. But now, I feel that CSI is selling itself out.

My first observation was after William Petersen left, and the greatest character in CSI history, Grissom, with him leaving...the decision was made to bring in Lawrence Fishburne. He is brought in as a new character and doesn't have any CSI qualifications, he is brought in to be a consultant...ok. But, to replace Grissom's screentime with Ray Langston was not a good move. It felt like Ray Langston was too forced into the show, so forced that there wasn't the chemistry there as there was with Grissom. William Petersen was on the show for 10 years, and had an irreplaceable chemistry with the original team. No matter how forced Fishburne was into the show, there is no way he could gain the same standing as Grissom had. It was a real disappointment how the audience had to watch Grissom leave, and be left with a character who just didn't fit. There wasn't enough of a transition period with both Ray and Grissom, had there been then Grissom leaving would have been seen as a sad, but you'd have a character you could fall back on. It's much like having your childhood dog die, and having another dog brought in the next day and being forced to love it. It's not going to happen...and there's no way you can love that second dog in the same way as the first. Grissom's shadow will always be in CSI, and it takes a certain type of character to overcome it, Langston cannot. Sorry.

This same thing has happened in CSI: New York - but there wasn't even a transition period. Stella Bonasera was a central character to the team. Stella was a boss when she needed to be, and a really good friend. She offered a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, and great advice. She was the advocate between the team if there were any tensions. She was the person the team would go to before making decisions. She knew when people were acting differently and needed someone to talk to. She was the glue of the team. Mac is the boss, but Stella held the team together. She's been through loads with the team, and there was a real chemistry and history with every person on the team. Stella's last episode was at the end of season 6, and in the beginning of season 7, we discover (via a letter) that Stella has moved to New Orleans and the new character Jo Danville, played by Sela Ward, has come in to replace her. She comes in, tells a joke about 'BYOB: Bring your own body' - and that's it? That joke is all she says to replace the legend that was Stella Bonasera. I love Sela Ward as an actress, I think she's great. But again, sorry, as an avid CSI fan, I was disappointed with watching a character come in and expect the same chemistry. It's more than just having chemistry with the other actors on screen, but the chemistry has to be there with the audience too. It wasn't there for me. When Lindsay Monroe was brought in to replace Aiden Burn, it wasn't forced. She was shy, she didn't expect the audience to love her, but through the joking around on screen with Danny, the chemistry built up...and Lindsay is a brilliant character. The character was not forced, and didn't have much screen time to begin with...just enough for you to understand who she is, and a few chemistry building scenes. The problem with Jo Danville is that she came in, told a joke, and then suddenly everyone was her best friend. This is unrealistic, and again, didn't work for me.

The final point I'd like to make is using big stars to improve ratings. Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. I love these singers, I've been to see Taylor Swift in concert, and at the time Justin Bieber was supporting her...now I love his music as much as hers. But. Why? Ok...Taylor Swift wasn't too bad as she was playing a confused teenage girl...and yes, she did do it well and I enjoyed the episode. However, why use Justin Bieber? Why? He was 16 when he filmed CSI, and we're meant to believe he's some sort of terrorist bomber? I can understand the point which would say that the least likely people would be terrorist bombers, that it could be anyone. But, this was an obvious use of getting the biggest name there is at the moment, and putting him as a central character for a couple of episodes. CSI could have used any young actor to play this role...and CSI has regularly used relatively unknown actors for roles and having that quality to it. CSI is good enough to hold its own without using big names. And in terms of using a big name, it will improve the rating for that episode, then will most likely come back down to its regular viewers.

Though, I was a regular viewer...but after all these changes and money making schemes, it has lost its quality, and I continue to watch old seasons of the TV series', and remember how great it used to be instead of watching something which is craving for more attention, and forgetting its original qualities for the sake of new watchers. It seems to be wanting more viewers, but forgetting about the viewers it already had. I'll stick to watching the older seasons, but bring Grissom and Stella back, and don't use random A-listers for the only fact to increase ratings, and it may bring me back to watching, as well as the other original fans who have stopped watching for the same reasons.

Yours,

Steph Parsons.

CU? What is that?

I've discovered over the past 2ish years that I've got into the habit of using the term 'CU' in everyday language - assuming everyone knows what it is an acronym for, how it works, and the purpose of it. Therefore, I am going to apologise now for all my usage of it...and explain everything.

Over 200 universities and colleges in Great Britain have one...and that is a Christian Union. Regularly shortened to "CU" to those involved in one, have been involved in one, or have a close relation to them. Another acronym that I often use is "UCCF", which stands for the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship - this is an organisation that oversees CUs across the country. UCCF provides CUs with help in the form of a staff team including a staff worker, and a relay worker. A staff worker works with a few CUs, helping them in anyway they can, and a relay worker is participating in a training scheme called, 'Relay'. This is a year's scheme where the graduate assists the CU in its events, organisation and preparation...but at the same time, it is a discipleship course - which means to increase their knowledge of the Bible, but not only gaining head knowledge but being able to apply it to their lives, and to grow in their relationship with God through it.

This is what a CU in principle is...but there is much more to it.

When I first came to university, I wanted to join the CU. I was a young Christian, and I wanted a circle of Christian friends. Joining the CU is a great way of meeting other Christians who attend the same uni as you...however, I soon realised that CU was much more than just a holy huddle of Christians who met every week. The CU is a mission team. Christians believe that God created everything, and everyone - and that during the events of the Fall, humans rejected God as their creator and King, and wanted to rule themselves. This sin was passed down generation by generation - where every person born was a sinner, who naturally in our hearts wanted to rebel against God. For this, as God is a just God and the fact that everyone has rebelled and rejected God - the punishment is death. However...God is not only just, but a loving God. He sent Jesus - who was born pure and holy...he committed no sin...and was blameless. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, was beaten, flogged and hung on the cross - and died. He took our sins, and died for them there. One atoning sacrifice. If we leave the story there, Jesus was a man... but three days later, Jesus rose from the dead....conquering death, and showing he was God in human form, and had authority over anything. This death, this payment...restored our relationship with God. And God wants us to know him, He created us, He designed us, He wants to know us...and us to know Him. He is a personal God - who we can talk to, and rely on. We, through Jesus' blood and sacrifice, can trust him, and ask for forgiveness for those sins that Jesus died for...and turn away from our lives which are all about us, and turn to our Creator. We no longer have to fear death, as Jesus died for us...and He has taken our place so we can have a relationship with God. We can now make this decision, to either live for ourselves in this life or live for God and be free.

This is what Christians believe...and this is what CU is about. Sharing this amazing message to everyone on campus. CUs are not trying to convert you to achieve higher numbers in meetings, but to give everyone the opportunity to hear the good news, or the "gospel" as it is called in the Bible, and provide everyone so they can make their own decision. The CU is a way for the gospel to be spread, so people can hear and ask questions. It is a huge decision...and the CU is made up of members who will be willing to answer those.

The CU is often disregarded by Christian students, as they may not see the importance of sharing this good news. We are at university for a very short time, and we have this incredible opportunity to talk to thousands of people about Jesus. It makes me upset when students have this opportunity and ignore it. I don't know why they do...because this message is the most important message you can ever hear. We were told about the gospel, via friends or family, or CU events, and have made that decision for ourselves...so why do we shy away from sharing the message with others and keeping it to ourselves? No idea...I know I'm guilty of falling into the trap of feeling like I *have* to go to CU sometimes, but I remember Jesus and the price he paid for me, and me being able to tell my friends about Jesus and meeting with other Christians to talk about Jesus is just amazing...the freedom we have in GB is incredible. There are students in other countries who would give almost anything to meet with other Christians and share the good news, but can't due to oppression and persecution. We should be seeing that the CU is a great opportunity, as we can share the gospel of Jesus with the only fear of being said "No" to. This is nothing compared to the sacrifice Jesus made for us, so go out and share the news as it is totally worth it.