Ships

"A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."


How great is my wee calendar? Most of the time it's cheesy and rubbish, but sometimes it provokes me to actually think for a moment.

We have been created, 'built' so to speak. I think that's fairly obvious to most people. But if we have been created, then for what purpose? To sit here idling away our days, working through our lives, just to die and be returned to the ground? That would be like a ship in harbour. It's there; it floats; but it's not exactly fulfilling it's purpose. A ship was built to be at sea. It's only made out of steel and bolts, but it has a greater calling. The person who built it has a purpose for it. We're like that. We've been built to do greater things even though we're just flesh and bone. The Bible tells us that God has created us, and if God has created us, then we have been made for God's purposes. And if we want to know what God's purpose is for our lives, then we gotta listen to God, and there ain't no better place to start than with God's words, the Bible.

Ships are quite simple to build if you think about it. It's just an inanimate object that floats. How amazing must be the purposes that God has in mind for us, the most complex and diverse creatures He's ever built!

Coupla minor legends in the making here.

L - R
Chris Baird (Fulham & Northern Ireland)
Dave Wilson (Crescent Church & Norn Irish)
Chris Brunt (West Bromwich & Northern Ireland)


Got to meet these two at a Nationwide sponsored Q&A session last night. Two sound guys like, and following recent performances, will probably never have to buy a pint this side of the border for the rest of their lives!
I only had one question, and I messed it up at the start, so managed to offend both! Both took it well though!

Dave: So Chris, you're a great player, with a real ability to see potential plays and putting the ball into space. Sorry, I mean you Chris Brunt. Not that you're not good either Chris, you're fantastic on the back line...
Chris Baird: Oh thanks very much!
Dave: Sorry! Chris BRUNT, these past Euro Qualifiers have shown that you have a real powerful shot as well. When you going to stop hitting the woodwork?
Chris Brunt: Yeah I know, it's actually the same question my family keeps asking me after every game...

Priceless.

Ain't gonna hold back

I am unhappy today because I am trying to be mature about my financial situation and realise that I cannot do everything. I am the type of person that bank managers love, because they know I will always owe them money so I ain't ever going to leave them.

I am quite a passionate Norn' Iron fan, and seek to attend all home games, but my bank account this month is similar to my digestive system following an attack of dysentry: completely empty. So the figures are suggesting I can't go and get tickets for next Wednesdays game against Bulgaria. But that doesn't necessarily mean I won't go and do it. I love to watch my country play, and hate missing games, so I'd rather push myself further into debt, skip meals, and run out of loo roll, just in order to indulge one of my passions.

When I think about this, and how I get excited in the build up of the game, how I sing and scream my lungs out at the games, how I wear my shirt, how I hold nothing back from going completely buck mental. I can't really describe it, t's probably a bit of mob mentality, a sense of belonging, a misplaced sense of national loyalty etc etc. However I can't help but realise that I am nowhere near as openly passionate about my faith as I am about the Green & White Army. Why? Why can't I scream and shout that knowing God has changed my life? I am worth nothing on my own, but now I am priceless in Him? I fail to show my love for God on the outside, despite my passion for Him on my inside.

I've been listening a lot to the Tim Hughes album, 'Holding Nothing Back' lately, and especially the title track. I'm tired of holding back my passion, for whatever reasons that I throw up in front of myself. God gave everything for me, so why shouldn't I give my everything for God?

Calendar

I would love to give an extended update on what's been happening the past few months, but I don't have time presently!

As I am in a new office with lots of calendars, I have one which gives wee wise words and an interesting fact about the day.

Today's is rubbish so I've decided to share one from a two weeks ago.

Date - Did you know that on this day (7th Jan) in 1990, they closed the Tower of Pisa to visitors because it had leaned too far? I certainly didn't.


Wisdom - The main thing is to make history, not to write it.

I am already feeling wiser and more intelligent. I hope you do too!

The last 5 weeks

So what have I been up to the past 5 weeks I hear you ask?
Let me tell you...
1. My birthday

2. A trip to see my cousin in Bristol

3. A trip to Cambridge & Royston




4. A trip to London

Then all my usual workings and social engagements have kept me pretty busy. But it has been good, no, FANTASTIC, catching up with friends and family. To me, they're what makes life great! Laughing, crying, eating, chilling, talking, shouting, seeing, visiting, travelling, playing, punching, drinking, worrying, debating, arguing, joking, messing... all these things are infinitely better when you're doing them with other people!