Oh the finality of it all

did you ever stop and wonder just how final some decisions are? Like, no hope of ever going back to something?

I don't think any human can cope with that thought - the thought that something is irreversibly set in stone with no hope of redemption of reconciliation. So we hold out at least in some small way in the back of our mind.

Which is great when applied to world problems like thrid world debt or acid rain - but not som much when it comes to relationships.

M

By the way . . .

I am rather glad england are still in the footie as it is taking away from the cricket team's weak, insipid, spineless capitulations to a team they damn near thrashed in the tests.

Im English, and as such i crave dissapointment

Unsure and tentative

Today's main feelings.

Every morning recently I have been walking past King Square just off St Pauls. For a couple of weeks there have been a few people setting up camp there, sleeping in the square. Each morning I wondered about going over and chatting, or maybe telling someone but something stopped me. I guess I thought they couldn't be there much longer. Then they weren't there this morning.

Life is about taking risks when you're unsure I guess. Apply to life especially relationships!
M

Partay ...

If you read this and are over 18 we are having an Independence Day / Joy's brithday party this sat.

Come after the footie to celebrate / drown sorrows (*delete as appropriate)

Joy will celebrating her nation's independence. We will will celebrating that 200 years ago we got rid of them.

American fancy dress - character or stereotype.

M

The curious case of Theo Walcott

With Michael Owen's world cup over, and Rooney barely back from injury, the England squad is left with three recognised strikers.

Well, in fact two. Walcott has yet to feature in this competition, with circumstances dictating a need for experience over youth.

Theo should have come on last night – being the only recognised striker left on the bench. You get the sense, however, that he will play no part in this world cup. I think Sven is incredibly scared of bringing him on and leaving him exposed like a rabbit in the headlights. If he was too scared to do this against T&T, what chance he will risk it against Germany when it really matters? Can you see young Theo being asked to take a penalty? Would you take the chance of crushing one of England’s brightest young stars with the ignominy of a penalty miss?

I think this is one gamble which has gone horribly, horribly wrong. We have effectively reduced ou squad by one player. Ouch. What if the oh – so – inconsistent crouch was to go down injured? Walcott start? No way. Gerrard or Cole behind Rooney … but the whole POINT is that Rooney is one of the best link players around. He and Crouch looked completely at odds yesterday, both dropping deep .

I say one thing. Jermaine Defoe proved himself in qualifying that he had the pace, determination and character to play international football, more so than Walcott at the moment. Yet he is sat at home.

read this and nearly choked

http://www.christianitytoday.com/bcl/areas/smallgroup/articles/061406.html
This has to be the most condescending piece of drivel I've heard for a long while.

Among the most heanous of assumptions made in this article has to be this

Singles in general tend to look out for what's best for themselves and are often not concerned with how those choices affect their lives, or anyone else's.

Turns out singles are human ....

then this :

I love those crazy-messed-up singles ...

yeah. we're all messed up. i don't know any married poeple with porblems. heck I've NEVER even heard of a married christian having an affair, for exmaple, or cheating their partner out of money.

No - it appears that we singles have a lot to answer, being the root of all the problems within church. I guess we should all just sit at home doing the ironing waiting to be married when we'll finally be adjusted enough to relate to normal people.

What utter disgraceful nonsense.

Matt

and relax ....

Everybody just needs to take a breather I think.

Last night we introduced two Americans to the joys of world cup football when it matters. Joy and Mirial (beating us limeys hands down on the name stakes BTW - Tom, Matt and Sam don't really match up) were hugged kissed and generally thrown round the pub as crouchy stooped from his 20ft perch to nod to ball down into the top corner.

but what this post is about is what happened after. the Kookie Kollektiv went back to the Nevil Kommunity house of Love for some mean fajitas. Dani, Claire, Will, Andy, Joy, Mirial, Tom and ultimately Jim and Jules. With the exception of Jules , single people all and loving it. Two bottle of wine, some quality laughs, running up and down the street singing eye of the tiger wrapped in the stars and stripes ...

I am very blessed with some quality, godly friends. We live a very blessed and lavish life, guys. Relax. Blog ends

M

Something to ponder

have been researching for a preach at the fuse.

The bonds of addiction are too soft to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.

Nothing

life without coffee is nothing

a band without percussion this sunday could be interesting

What do you do when you someone likes you more than you like them but you still like them ? What do you DO?

These are the imponderables with which I while away the hours

A man's legs need only be long enough to reach the ground.

M

I love church

Pretty straight forward 'blog this.

I did something that was potentially difficult, and in fact turned out to be difficult, but felt I wanted to support someone else who has helped me out on numerous occasions.

And that person did a great job.

Sam , you were spot on.

Philippians 2:3 (New International Version)

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

I love that church is the place where selfish agendas should dissolve. I felt very rubbish this morning until I reminded myself that worship comes in any triumph of the will to serve God over circumstance. You know what? God LOVES costly worship. And you can't out give the giver of life.

I could have very easily stayed in last night feeling pants. But I felt god nudging me to go - so I went, and had the privilege of leading people into God's presence, and then the really amazing chance to just bless one of my housemates when he was being prayed for by Tim.

If only I could learn this lesson ...

'O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bare  .... all because we do not carry evrythign to God in prayer'

I'm mature honest

Just keep me distracted and I�m OK. I don�t want to engage with the pain right now. Marx claimed that religion was the opiate of the masses. These days I wish it were that simple � I think technologies as they stand today promote isolationism and self centredness. You�re bored? You shouldn�t EVER be bored! Go buy something, go hire someone �

One of the truest definitions of sin is humani incurvatus se (apologies I only got a B in latin) meaning humanity turned in on itself. Our iPod PS2 myspace blogging dominated world can risk promoting that.

I feel like I�ve grown up a lot. I feel much more like a twentysomething rather than a graduate � and it�s a nice feeling. I never bloody liked Uno anyway. I like coffee and dinner and drinks and meeting with friends who make you laugh and having massive discussions about everything. I like going places and doing things and reading things and writing things. My friendship group has shifted too � I�m often the youngest now. I�ve had countless moments over the last 4 months where people have said "24? You�re 24??" and I think they meant it in a good way.

So bring on the baldness. Bring on the pension. Bring on life. BRING IT ON!