You ain't got no alibi

81,729,433 and counting.

That's the number of hits Rebecca Black's song Friday has recieved on Youtube.  I am not a musical expert, I can barely sing in tune but in my opinion the song, while catchy, is pretty weak.  Some people are calling it the worst song ever and I find it hard to disagree with that.

However...

This little girl (13 years old) is having a go.  She has a decent voice and she's made a video that I would've been pretty chuffed with at 13. The reason I'm even mentioning her is not because I love or hate the song but because of the response to her on the world-wide internet.

The girl has had over 1.6 million dislikes on Youtube which is fair enough as that function is well known to anyone uploading to that website.  But some of the comments are wrong, cruel and unnecessary.  In my opinion the worst comments are the ones calling Rebecca Black ugly.  She is not ugly by any stretch of the imagination.  But who is, what makes a person ugly?

I would suggest that beauty comes from the heart and so does ugliness.  Be careful that your own heart is not ugly.  Are you proud, boastful and unable to take criticism?  Do you think of yourself better than you ought, better than those around you?  Do you feel free to criticise people you don't know, to ridicule their looks, personality or talent?  Do you feel superior and condemn others when the only thing stopping you from behaving as they do is the grace of God?

Are you ugly? Am I?

The only person who can make us beautiful is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He died to take away our ugliness and make us beautiful in the eyes of God. If He has done that, made us beautiful, then we have nothing to boast about because it not a result of our effoerts but the unmerited grace of God.

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them; 

male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

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Everybody needs good neighbours

At last, a good news story from Rathcoole!

For years and years all the press associated with the great estate of Rathcoole has been negative and the main culprit for that have been paramilitary groups who are keen to establish a power base for themselves built on drugs and money.  That has been an ugly reality for a long time but it is not the whole story.  The estate has a great sense of community and a kind streak running through the middle of it.

'The present sight is unacceptable'

This week it was reported in the local press that Rathcoole is to have a new group of residents.  Deputy Mayor of Newtownabbey, Tommy Kirkham, has been  instrumental in donating a piece of land in Rathcoole known as 'The Diamond' over to a group of Irish Travellers who have been evicted from numerous sites in the area recently. (Read the full story here.)

The Diamond football pitches are still used regularly but the Deputy Mayor said, 'There is enough capacity at the Diamond to accommodate both the existing football commitments and our homeless friends from across the divide'.  He goes on to say that recent television programmes like, 'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' raised his awareness of this 'great sub-culture and religion' and believes the encampment in Rathcoole will be a welcome addition to the community there.

This is a surprising but exciting development in Rathcoole, bringing two diverse people-groups together.  Mr Kirkham played down the £3 million of government funding for the scheme which will be channelled through his office.  I for one am looking forward to meeting  and interacting with our new neighbours.

I'll leave you with a quote from the head of this particular group of Travellers, Mr. B. O'Boyle, 'We wish to thank Mr Kirkham and the people of Rathcoole for their very kind invitation.  We would like to invite them to visit us in our 'vans, get to know us and enjoy a drink together.'  And why not?

 ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Matthew 25:34:36

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And now a video from the home of good news stories.

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Fail

Watch this amazing stunt and be totally amazingly amazed.  (No sound neccessary.)

Sometimes we get very excited about the plans we have that God is sure to bless.  Sometimes they fail and it's quite frustrating and a little embarassing.

It's not God's fault that they fail.  God's plans will succeed but if we simply have a bright idea and ask God to bless it because we want to look good then we will fall flat on our faces and we only have ourselves to blame.

God is both good and able, He will bring blessing where it will benefit the people who love Him.  We need to search for His will and do it His way.



“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:9-11

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The mighty Rend Collective Experiment with You Bled



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The rival

There's a pretender to the throne and she means business.

For the last six months Rocky Salvador Houston (I just made up the middle name but I kinda like it) has reigned supreme as the the undisputed 'king of pets' in our world.  This was widely acknowledged by anyone who's met him and doesn't have a pet of their own.  His ponchant for leaning, tail-chasing and sitting down almost half the times you ask him too is legendary.  It seemed that his position was secure. Until now...

There's a new kid in town.  Her name is Bailey and she is Roger's new dog.  She's a cross between a Shih Tzu and a West Highland White Terrier. Roger calls her a Shestie or a weshtoo or something (I call her a mongrel, Rocky calls her 'lunch').  She is inferior to Rocky in everyway, of course.  She is small and fluffly (pfff), she can't jump onto the dining room table from a standing start, her poos are tiny, and worst of all - she's a girl!

I'm sure you'll all agree, she's rubbish.

The wife and I have a dog, he is our 'first-love' in the pet world (sorry Trevor, you're a very close second) and no-matter how cute and lovely any other dog may seem, Rocky is ours and will remain number one.

God demands the same courtesy.  He is Number One.  No matter how nice chasing after other things may be, no matter how shiny and bright the latest distraction may seem, God requires us to keep Him on the throne in our hearts.

But why?

Because nothing else, no-one else, no material possesion, human being, clever idea, amount of money or flattery of fame can ever love us with the immeasurable, unequalled and overwhelming love that God has for His children.

Settle for nothing less than the King of the World on the throne of your life.

Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Exodus 34:14

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Bin and gone

It's time to put the bins out.

Every two weeks all the dross and stink from our home gets wheeled out to the front of the house and a team of under-appreciated and underpaid people rock up and take the mess away.

There is stink in our hearts as well.  Happily, you don't have to wait for a slot in a two-week cycle to get rid of it.  Just hand it all over to Jesus.  Ask Him to take away the sin and the guilt.  He'll do it and you'll feel peaceful, clean and free.

Jesus is the only one able to wash out that messy heart of yours so invite Him to do it today.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, 

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

I could be your hero, baby

Superman, Batman, Spiderman and I all have something in common.

I'm not talking about the beautiful love interest (high-five to the Wife) or the oddly dressed and slightly camp side-kick (high-five Rocky).  Oh no, I talking about the secret double life.

That's right folks, by day I am a mild-mannered, bible-thumping, blog-writing, ginger-haired ordinary, run-of-the-mill kinda guy.  But at night I change into a crime-fighting, Lycra-wearing superhero with dayglo tights and my undercrackers on the outside.  I can scale tall-buildings (with the help of a lift) jump higher than a house (houses can't jump) and strike terror into the hearts of bad-guys everywhere...

Oh no wait, that's not me...em...

Unfortunately my secret double-life is not as exciting as the heroes of old.  In fact it's not even always a positive side of me.  The things I do in secret are often done that way because I am ashamed of them.  Am I the only one? Are the rest of you completely good and upright in private as well as public?

The bible says broadly two things about our secret private lives.

1) It's shameful to even say out loud what some of us get up to behind closed doors. (Ephesians 5:12)
and
2) We should be spending our private time with God instead of indulging our pride by praying, fasting and giving in front of everyone for all to see. (Matthew 6)

In short, we are being told to keep our private times pure by devoting them to God instead of shameful 'deeds of darkness' and keep our public lives humble by not boasting or showing of how flipping utterly wonderful we are.

I don't need to be a superhero, I've got one of them already.  I just need to remember that His vision of me is much clearer than even x-ray eyes could see and that He demands the highest level of devotion from those who rely on Him for their safety.  In Jesus' case hero worship is entirely appropriate.

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.

Romans 13:12

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:5-6

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A question of faith

High school pupils aren't scary.

I have had the immense privilege of helping out at the 'scripture union' in our local secondary school.  I love it.  It gives me the chance to talk about the nitty-gritty of a life of faith, it challenges me to know my stuff and to communicate it in a way that isn't just a repetition of phrases that churchy people alone understand.

We've been doing a wee series recently of trying to answer questions they have about God or the Christian faith.  The questions are thoughtful, intelligent, challenging and important.  These kids should not be dismissed lightly.

It's got me thinking that it's something we could maybe do here, in the blogosphere, as well.  I know you lot are pretty shy when it comes to asking questions but I'm sure there are a few of you out there with things on your mind.  Now I am not the source of all knowledge and may not answer the way you would like but what have you got to lose? Ask the question you have about life, death, the end of the world, dinosaurs, terrorists, Jesus, Jehovah witnesses... whatever you like.  I'll answer those with broad appeal here in a post and of course you have the right to reply.

Either comment on this post or send me an email to myquestionis@rathcoolepci.co.uk. The authors of any questions will be held in the strictest confidence of course.

It is of course God himself who instructs us.  He sends the Holy Spirit to guide and impart understanding.  It is on God whom I will rely on to keep me honest and on the straight path.  I trust and pray that He will guide us all through the scriptures so we would all come to a fuller understanding of God and His love for us.

I look forward to hearing from you!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; 

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8

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