Sour Milk....

Think i had better post something as i'm getting very bored of coming on here and nothings been added! just watched a very good fil with Denzel Washington called 'Hurricane' - its all about this real life story of an innocent guy who got locked up for 20 years for murders he did not commit in the Civil rights period in America. It was a realy brilliant performance by Mr Denzel (would expect nothing less) and managed to stir up real frustration and anger in me for the plight of Black people at that time...would recommend a watch! now finishing the night with customary evening-y milky drink and what do you find- the milk has gone off :S and there's me, who can't waste a whole cup of milk, has to finish it off.....

Trip to Sheffield

Oooohhf what a loverly weekend! After work on Saturday i trained it down to Sheffield to see my friend Ben at uni- was such a good time bar all the very steady and often quite steep hills which i had to pray up for God's strength to get me to the top without sweating tooo much....! i have never eaten so much with all the ALL YOU CAN EAT restaurants like the chinese wokmania which was fantastic ( 3 plates of delish chinese, taking them at their word!) i do love the univeristy atmophere, ben's corridor friends were great and james blunt look and sound a like Rick played his guitar for like an hour- he was really very talented and i could even forgive his long nails when he started to sing too. Church was immense too. After not being able to get myslef into the worship the man who was preaching seemed to speak right at me- he began by tlaking baout mozambique adn his time there with Heidi Baker, so i felt instantly drawn. He was tlaking on the passage John 15v18 i think it is, about how when we expose the world to Jesus we will get a reaction, and that may be positive or it may be negative. He challenged us to unsettle the status quo of the world which privatises our faith and encouraged us to expect a reaction. We must not be hindered by fear of unpopularity or looking foolish or what others think (proverbs 29v25) and this bit really spoke to me becasue this is what has been bugging me all week. My friend said that he found he couldnt be himself around me and my other christian friends because we didnt swear or drink excessively etc. This rejection (possibly a bit too strong a word) worried me a bit and i thought of maybe compromisign myself a bit so that i would blend in a bit more but this preacher just engoraged me so much. Of course we will get bad reactions as well as good when letting jesus out of us into our everydays, but its not us people push against but Jesus, and its better that then maintaining the status quo where everyone is OK but not safe after life. Anyhoooo, a very goood weekend topped off beautifull by a couple of episodes of 24!

My Birthday Surprise!!

Phew, what a busy few weeks it has been! so much has happened but i think one of the best memories would be my birthday surprise fancy dinner party that mum and my best friend's (who shares my birthday) mum had organised! me and jess were whisked off to our friend Kristen's house to get all glammed up in our posh frocks and then we were chauffered off by kristen's smart looking dad, who called for us at the door! after taking us all the way into kingswood and threatening the surprise was a big mac at Maccy D's, we were driven back into beverley where all our friends were waiting in the Parish Hall! then we had a three course meal and some games and lots of laughs and it was just a really special night, so thank you to mums and friends very muchly. The rest of the halfterm was brilliant too- a few nights with sister han in newcastle were very much enjoyed of it with LOTS of naughty food and fun times and then my lovely friends from deepest darkest North came for the day where we hit the charity shops and again ate lots of naughty food and a great weekend with my church youth group, which was better than i expected with some really good sessions and some new friends madfe, so all in all a good week.

4 more sleeps.....

Only 4 more sleeps until my very exciting 17th brithday!!!!! i actually cannot wait, for several reasons: its a birthday, EVERYONE likes a birthday; i have my first driving lesson booked for the day after my brithday on the friday (5 more sleeps); Mum and my firend Jess (who shares my exact birthday) have organised this surprise for us on Sunday (7 more sleeps) which all our friends have been very conspiratory about so that should be ace AND its the Brits on Thursday which is always fun to watch so there we go! Also at Church today, we had this lovely guy called David Hill, who preached all about Blind Bartimeaus, which never seems to run out of meanings. He so humbly but clearly spoke about how Bartimeaus called out against all the criticisms of the crowd and how we shouldnt get put off drawing nearer to Jesus because of our thoughts or pressures. David Hill also said how if we want to see something different happen, like Hull transformed and revived, then we have to do something different about it. Also when we draw near, Jesus will ask us, 'What do you want me to do?'. Bartimaeus could have asked for bread for the day or some money, but he went straight to his big issue and asked straight out for his sight. David Hill challenged us to find out what we would ask for. I thought about my 6th form and how i dont just want to see one or two come to jesus but the whole lot, but as soon as i think that, cynical thoughts enter in saying that will never happen or you havent got the courage etc. So when Jesus asks me what do you want me to do, i will reply, equip me and use me for the revival in the common room...

Burn's Barn Dance

Well what fun was had here! Since starting Beverely Minster, i have discovered the ancient cenremony of 'bagpiping in the haggis' to celebrate an old poet (?) Mr Burns. ( i think the church has a pagan tendency....!) but anyway they celebrate it with a barn dance which is ALWAYS so much fun- able to dance to random fiddlers with a crazy caller, dancing with complete strangers and laughing all the more the more novel the dance steps! i was so proud of my friend Danny, who is quite new to Christian parties, because he got right into it and i think had a good time too. Here are a few pics!

My nose

Yesterday I finally after a lot of deliberating got my nose pierced! it was surprisingly more painful than i had first contemplated but i think well worth it. for those of you who have never experienced such an experience, it involves not freezing and a huge needle..although i was told htis afterwards by mum as i was obediently keeping my eyes shut. heres a picture!

Narnia

RRRAAAAAARRRRRR! on wednesday i went to see Narnia at the cinema- my wordy what a brilliant film! i must have cried at least 4 times all in totally inappropriate places but ah well!having studied the old BBC versions of the books with my friend Jess, i believe i can make quite an educated review of this new one...well i think the children were spot on with Lucy being adorable and not as annoying and buck toothed as the original and Peter, well me and Hannah decided his name could go up there in the lists of legends alongside sir Jack Bauer and Johnny Depp...brilliant film. and as i was watching it the whole spiritual side of the story really struck home to me in a different way than the books had done. in particular the whole forgiveness of Edmund by Aslan really affected me. I have to admit Gods forgiveness and grace are somethings that i struggle with, like how on earth can Jesus forgive me really? and how can he forget what ive done when i can still remember? but seeing so clearly how Aslan took Edmunds place on the stone table as a perfect and blameless sacrifice and how he rose again, fulfilling the deeper magic of Narnia which meant the old rules of eye for an eye etc was completely re-written and symbolised in the cracking of the stone table came alive to me. also, theres a bit where the white witch, after making an agreement with Aslan, turns around and asks him how can she know he will be faithful to his word. in reply Aslan just roars this almighty roar which shuts the witch up and sends her running! but i felt God say that when i question his authority over my sin and his faithfulness in cleansing every last bit of me, his reply is the ripped curtain in the temple and the raising back to life and the awesomeness of this world that he has created. Thats why i love Psalm 103 so much!

Feeling a bit flat...

Wow what a lovely Christmas week! lots of family, friends, food, films...anf just general fun! its been lovely to have the whole family back under one roof for a couple of days, we all went to see King Kong ( a definite must see at the big screen, it is pretty awesome) which was so lovely just because it was a family trip! Christmas day was a winner too... i was a bit dubious about the new regime of not opening presents until AFTER church (which i shook abit with) but actually turned out quite fun and helped draw out the excitement. (thanks to granny for the delightful pair of floral tights- challenge is to actually wear them on an everyday day!) we all went to our annual Boxing Day Games partay at the lovely Schelly's which was actually much enjoyed as new games had been introuced and THEN the party continued all the way through to yesterday when the LOVELY chix's came and 'did' Hull. they even endured the Deep ( the world's ONLY submarium ever) and we had a great time with lots of laughter. i think its because i had such a fantastically packed and exciting few days that i found yesterday so flat and the realisation of the mountains of work (and it reaally is a mountain joe, lots of words to do) and the fact that school starts again so soon and all that stuff just hit me! however a lovely wintery snowy walk in Welton cheered me greatly!

Thought id put a few pics of Christmas day on here....or maybe im not - grrrr i do hate computers!...now i can!

Baptism

Wow- what an amazing experience! i just so grateful to God for last night and preparing so many people with encouraging words which all seemed to fit in with eachother so awesomely. Thank you also so much for my testimony, although its not outrageous and a huge transfromation it has a been a steady journey of understanding Him more and and his love and purpose for me. I was so thoroughly blessed with the confirmations of his love and so utterly inspired and excited for the great things He has instore for me and my prayer is that He would work through the things in me that are not perfect yet and make me worthy of carrying out His will. And that he would have blessed and met with those people who came for the first time last night in an everlasting way. Thank you to Dad and Joeboy for dunking me adn for Hannah my expert towel bearer- and mum for being so good and getting such a mint party together last night!