Confession…
stuart | September 1, 2010
Ok…I’m back blogging with a confession to make… a confession that only a few people really know about. I have to confess that I’m a secret hip-hopper (if that’s even a term?!) I like a lot of music, but the music in my ears pumpin’ out the beats most frequently at the moment is hip hop (I blame DVC for this!). I’ve become a big fan of Lecrae, a Christian hip-hop artist. He has a song called ‘Don’t Waste Your Life’ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RWEllqh5J0&feature=related
Great song, decent wee video too…
What about these lyrics from the song:
While I’m here livin’ man I gotta ask why,
What am I here for I gotta figure out,
Waste my life, no I gotta make it count,
If Christ is real then what am I gonna do about,
Everything in Luke 12:15 down to 21 ya really gotta go and check it out,
Paul said if Christ aint resurrected we wasted our lives,
Would that imply that our lives drift around Jesus being alive,
Everyday I live I try to show the world why,
Christ is more than anything I’d ever try…
I’m coming off the back of a busy summer of activity, lots of teams, lots of missions, all sorts of stuff. All good stuff. And now, as I look ahead to another busy year of youth ministry I echo what Lecrae says: While I’m here livin’ man I gotta ask why, what am I here for I gotta figure out, waste my life, no I gotta make it count…
As the question sometimes crops up - why? Why bother serving God? Why spend a life lived this way, living for Jesus? Why…when I could spend my time doing other things? The answer comes rushing to me again and the answer excites me:- JESUS IS ALIVE. ‘Paul said if Christ aint resurrected we wasted our lives’. Because Jesus is alive, we are alive in Him, our faith is alive, the mission we are on is alive and this life we are living becomes the most exciting adventure to be on as we ’show the world why…’
Wherever you find yourself today: Don’t waste Your Life. Make it count.
I’m just home from being part of an SU team at New Horizon (7 day Christian conference) in Coleraine. I’ve truly had an amazing week working with an amazing team and we encountered some amazing young people. A song that I sang for the first last week is left ringing in my ears. I’ve included the lyrics and a link below for you to look at. You’ve maybe heard it before…worth a read and listen…
Let’s be honest, sometimes the Bible isn’t always that easy to understand.
I love this picture. I came across it this week on one of my regularly reads (theresurgence.com)




I’ve been reminded tonight again about just how amazing the grace of God is. The fact that he would want to know, and even use a scoundrel like me. A dirty rotten sinful scoundrel. Isn’t that really all we are as followers of Jesus…we are all just saved, dirty, rotten, sinful scoundrels! The key word being saved. Saved by Jesus. Saved by his amazing grace. We don’t deserve a life of forgiveness and purpose but he gives it to us. Amazing grace. Amazing grace that demands an amazing response from our lives.
Struggling to read/study the Bible?
Today I had Caleb (our oldest boy, nearly 2) at the pool for a swim. Now, I tend to be quite a cautious Dad. I try to prevent Caleb falling if I possibly can, I’m always on the lookout for potential danger…basically, I tend to be a wee bit too protective…and maybe it’s not always such a good thing.
I have been massively challenged over the last couple of days. Our church are spending a week out in the local community going round the streets, knocking doors, asking people about church, about faith…about Jesus. I was out last night (with my partner, Mr Sharks). We set off for our area for the night and knocked on the first door with anticipation. With our first row of homes being pensioners bungalows the response wasn’t great…then…the first guy to open the door was a blind man. We chatted briefly, handed him a postcard with some info on it that he said he would get his friend to read to him…then he had to go…his dinner was ready!! Nonetheless, our first contact of the evening was made. We knocked a few more doors with no joy until a door opened and we were greeted by a lady in a wheelchair. She warmly welcomed us to come into the kitchen where we met her husband, also in a wheelchair. We chatted. We very quickly discovered that they were Christians and loved Jesus. They expressed how they believed God had brought us to the home…they shared how they couldn’t get out to do what we were doing but that God had brought us to them! In return they felt they could be a blessing to us as we headed back out. And, my goodness, we were blessed! The husband prayed for us…and God really spoke through him…we were really touched by the whole experience and left the house feeling that we had all the strength and all the power to do whatever God was wanting us to do. We met and talked and talked to many people that evening…it was a privilege. People need to talk about Jesus. They need his followers to speak up. I’m always a fan of trying to build relationships first before talking about Jesus with people…but sometimes people just need to hear - there and then. Right there and then, at first contact.
Well, this is my first blog in along time. On the 19th December - Day 19 of my blog project (Project 25) - our wee baby boy Joel was taken into hospital where he remained until the 23rd, fighting off a severe case of bronchiolitis. He has made a full recovery and is doing really well. On reflection I’m just so thankful he is well. Thankful to God, thankful to the RVH…thankful for all those who were of help around this time, thankful for everyone who was praying. This thought remains with me though - God is still good, even when things don’t work out as everyone would hope. Easier said than lived out, right? But amazingly it is true…





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