thoughts, life and everything else

Loving community

2010-11-10T23:41:00.000Z

The long road

Wednesday night is home group night! I can truly say that it is totally a joy!

I have come to be extremely grateful to have a group of Godly people involved in my life to care for me, look out of me and to love me. And I am happy to say that it is not a one-sided relationship.

I was blown away this evening by a great couple in our group who shared part of their journey with the rest of us. It was amazing to see their strength and courage, how they were willing to be vulnerable and open with our community. It encouraged and challenged me all at the same time. Their openness enabled the whole group to go deeper in our relationships with one another.

It has made me wonder, how do we do this with young people? How open and vulnerable should we be with them? I understand that there has to be boundaries and I am all for that, but at the same time there must be depth, shared journey and sense of them gaining the 'real me'.
A question I believe we need to ponder some more.

Childhood dream!

2010-11-07T10:22:00.004Z

Last night I lived the dream!! It was my friends 40th birthday party and the theme was 'Movie Characters' and I went as Batman! Since receiving my costume I have been dreaming about running around in the dead of night saving damsels in distress and being the hero vigilantly! suffice to say I have not as yet.

On the drive over to the party my car was filled with Batman and Bat Girl, Jigsaw from SAW and Dogtanian! Was it wrong to hope that we were pulled over by the police, just so when they asked what we were doing I could say 'Trying to save the world!'

Well, I believe that is enough day dreaming now, better go, Gotham needs me!

My movie!

2010-10-31T01:34:00.001+01:00

Just put together my first movie - enjoy!

I'm very excited!!

2010-04-20T10:36:00.003+01:00

One frustration about being loyal to Orange has been the fact that I have not been able to gain possession of the much coveted iphone. The ray of light was given late last year when Orange then gained the contract for the phones. Sadly I have been playing the waiting game for my contract to get to the renewal stage - soon that will be here!!

But now it seems I am going to have to curb my excitement as Apple are releasing a new iphone!! When will the wait be over???

I know I may sound a little over dramatic, but it feels like I have been waiting an age!

Please may it be released this June!!!

Here is the site that gained the secret new phone!!

You are beautiful!

2010-01-11T13:43:00.003Z

I have just checked out ASBO Jesus, a great site if you've never seen it.

I really liked today posting. It reminds me that God loves me and thinks that I am beautiful. I spoke at a church yesterday and we looked at the greatest commandments Mark 12:28-31. One of the main points I highlighted was that God loves us no matter what, he thinks that we are beautiful, even when we do not agree. He made you, he believes in you!

Smile because you are loved!!

2009 - people who've passed

2009-12-24T15:06:00.001Z

I just watched this on BBC News site, quite touching.

2009 People we remember

2009-12-22T14:23:00.004Z

Just caught this on ASBO Jesus and thought it was good. Strangely enough my wife and I were talking about how we show and share faith last night. She had come from a social engagement and had had a conversation with another Christian and they had shared that it is a huge struggle to share faith with their colleagues let alone tell them that they are a Christian.

We then talked about how often we leave it a while to show them that we are normal and not one of those crazies!! But after we've left it a while and maybe shared a few to many unholy jokes or said/done something that would tarnish our halo slightly we then often opt for just not saying anything and instead decided to be 'the good person'.

I am not saying that I am the bright shining star on how to share faith and live a holy life - those that know will testify to this, but still, surely we are charged with sharing something about our faith, even if it is that we go to church?

I undestand that it can be really hard to take the jibs and the ribbing that many may well give, but are we not told to pick up our cross? Are we not asked to stand in the face of hardships? I now it may sound as if I am on my little hobby-horse, I am not, honestly, this is a challenge to myself first and foremost. How do I show my faith?

Faith - how do you wear yours?

Drawing a Decade

2009-12-14T14:49:00.002Z

Saw this earlier and thought that it was pretty cool.

Anything that they have missed? BBC drawing a decade

Christmas!

2009-12-13T21:06:00.002Z

Well there are only 11 more shopping days until Christmas!!

Last night we put our tree up (twice! It fell down) and I have begun to feel festive. Not just that but the Christmas party season starts with the football social tomorrow night - always great fun!!

I really do love the whole Christmas season, everyone seems happier, life is more joyous and most people really enter the festive spirit. Not just that but you really think about what is most important to you.

Above all though we get to celebrate the gift of life!! That a God that loves us gave us his son, lived life as a human and tasted everything that is bitter and sweet about being a human so that He could show us that he knows what it is like to feel joy, pain, love and sorrow.

I hope that you have a great Christmas and that it is a time of joy and happiness, but I also hope that in between the food, drink and your neighbours Christmas lights that you are able to take the time to think about the gift that this loving God offers you.

Merry Christmas

ASBO Jesus

2009-11-02T13:07:00.002Z

Just found this really cool blog - ASBO Jesus really worth a look.

Sadly or maybe not sadly, so many of the cartoons on there are true!

Let me know what you think.

Oh My God

2009-10-21T09:44:00.003+01:00

Have just seen this trailer for Oh My God and it looks very interesting.

Out on the 13th November, so will have to go and see it and then let you know what I think.

Where The Wild Things Are - Are you a wild thing?

2009-10-20T14:16:00.003+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

I was sent this link earlier to Relevant, its about the new movie" Where the Wild Things Are" and I found it very enlightening. It made me ask the question, Am I a wild thing? Maybe some days I am.

I will not re-write or even plagiarise the article, but I encourage you to read it. Here is my favourite quote from it:

"Go ahead. Be mad. Shout your questions. Punch a wall. Color with red and black. Go to where the wild things are. But dock your boat, mark your trail and remember your own weakness. You could never be half as mad at God as He is in love with you.

In fact, He loves you best of all"

If you are anything like me, you may find yourself angry and annoyed at life sometimes, but it is true, once the moment has passed I realise that life is good, people love me, I am not perfect and most of all God is good.

Nearly there!

2009-10-20T11:33:00.002+01:00

Image by ecstaticist via Flickr

So it is nearly half term and there is light at the end of the tunnel. I had not thought that it had been a long term, but these last few days have been hard work to get up and out of bed!

It is funny how we work to these way points, we reach there physically and mentally tired. We have a few days and then it's back into the race they call Rat!

I am really looking forward to this half term as I get a few days away with Mrs M, time for us to just be, to reflect on the past 6 months of change and re-adjusting to what married life looks like and what it means to be married to me! (oh the poor women!)

As I was driving to work this morning I was praying that God would "give me my daily bread", that He would be my strength for today. I have been reminded recently that God asks us to live for today, He has tomorrow sorted so we have to get on with today.

God be my strength today, let me worry about tomorrow when it gets here!

Uplifted Spirit

2009-10-15T13:51:00.004+01:00

Image by Loci Lenar via Flickr

Last night I attended my home group from "Letchworth Garden City Church" and we had a great time. We have been looking at the Holy Spirit and last night we looked at "Baptism of the Holy Spirit". We spent a short time talking about it and looking at various bits of scripture, the leader was very sensitive that everyone of us would have or could have a very different view, so we kept it brief and then decided that it would be good for us all to pray for each other. With there being nearly a 50/50 split of "boys and girls" as he put it, we did just that.

So all us guys went through to the kitchen - the women were staying where they were! So all 5 of us went through and the long story short was that each of us received prayer and each of us received a fresh or new touch of the spirit. One of the guys had always wanted to speak in tongues but had never felt he could, so we prayed and he did! We then prayed that each of us would receive something from God for one of the lads and what happened? God spoke!

Personally I felt that God's holy spirit gave me a fresh touch and spoke to me both directly and through others. I came away with an excitement that I have not felt for quite a while. I was reminded that this faith is all about being, it is alive and if I want to life to the full (John 10:10) then I have to step out.

One thing that we all felt was that we had not been living that full life, so I encourage you to take the step, pray, ask God for a new or fresh touch of His spirit, even ask others to pray with you. Only by taking a step do we really live by faith.

The futures bright, the futures Orange!

2009-09-28T21:40:00.003+01:00

Well today i am a very happy boy! It has finally been announced that Orange will be getting the iPhone by the end of the year! My prayers have been answered!

Since the wife got an iPod touch I have been totally sold on an iPhone, I just had 2 problems
1. I am committed to Orange, as sad as it is
2. Orange did not have the iPhone (probably the bigger problem!).

But now life is great!! What wonderful news it was to read that the rumours were now true! Not often we like rumours to be true!

The future is bright and it will be Orange!

No 'I' in team

2009-09-05T18:06:00.003+01:00

So they say that there is no 'I' in team, but there is me - OK probably not very helpful right now.

Isn't weird how our worst attributes only come out towards those closest to us. I am beginning to realise that I can be a little bit of hard work and can often be stubborn and probably rather frustrating for those around me.

A marriage is meant to be a team and not two I's trying to fight for tog dog, even when we are not sure what top dog is?! Think that I need to spend sometime cogitating what it means to be team and not about 2 individuals bumbling through mostly together!

Saying all this makes it sound like hard work, never, still amazing and I suppose I bit like a fire that refines me, us, together more than before.

Team, that's what I want.

Some Space

2009-09-03T21:44:00.004+01:00

It has been an evening of looking after the wife as she has not been too well, the bonus (for me) is that I have had some time to just browse the net. Over the past few months I have not really had the time to just surf, I treat that I have missed!

As I have been mooching from one site to the next I read my good friend Joe's blog, he was sharing a bit about his adventures over in Africa. Sounds like he is having some good times!

On a completely different note seems as I am rambling, I lost a whole website today! Was not too overjoyed when I realised. I was planning on updating it but looks like I will be doing it somewhat sooner! Such is life as they say.

Now for something completely different - over the summer I read a few books, one in particular got me thinking and that is Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, I found it a very interesting read and gave me a heap of questions to think about, most of all about faith and that possibly everyone has it, the question is what in?

Well I think that is enough nonsense for now. If you've read the book let me know what you think, also if you've got any cool sites to just surf, be rather grateful if you passed on the links.

Good day

Shining a light

2009-03-05T00:03:00.001Z

Red Candle, originally uploaded by King Kieran.

It's only 38 days until I get married and just been thinking about the wedding ceremony.

Had not really thought how hard it may be for people that I love that do not know God to come along and hear about our commitment to each other and God?

I want to be a shining light for those around me, I want to be salt and light to their lives, but how do I do this?? I am just an ordinary man and not a very good one at that! But I do love God.

I was encouraged the other day when I was reading Psalm 42 - it talks about even though we might be lacking in faith and life might be hard God is still good and God is still our saviour! That really encouraged me. If David could write that after all the troubles he faced then I am sure that i can make it.

As the deer pants for water, I want to be a shining light for all those around me.

A New Day

2008-07-29T16:03:00.002+01:00

It's nearly August and the pressure of school is off for the next few weeks, gives me the time to catch up on the things I have been putting off until now! Sadly the problem is now 'now' is here I still don't want to do them! How sad am I?

So to try and keep me sane I decided to update my blog and give it a virtual lick of paint! So here it is the all new 'King Kieran' blog, enjoy!

Hopefully over the summer period I will update and blog the thoughts that I am having.

Letters from God

2008-04-17T13:43:00.003+01:00

Found this on Jonny Baker's blog yesterday. I found it really interesting and very thought provoking as to how people see God and their understanding of how faith and relationship with God should work.

I am sure at one point I must have thought that God just created us then left us to get on with it, like a parent who give their child a lego set but with no pictures or plan just the blocks for them to work it out and then comes back later and says that it is all wrong.

After watching this video I searched for more Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip on youtube and found some really interesting stuff.

So what do you think? What does it say about God?

Time?

2008-02-18T16:24:00.001Z

time spiral, originally uploaded by strange_wax.

The saying 'that really does fly when you're having fun!' can be so true. But why then does it still fly when you are not having fun?

Time is such a precious thing that we take for granted so often. We waste so much of it, never give enough of it to friends or family, work tales to much and we never seem to have enough of it!

For a friend of mine that is all he has left and it has made me think, what do I do with my time? Do I really use it wisely? As he has to face the fact that time is slipping away, I ask myself 'what would I do?'.

Why does it take such drastic things for me or others to start to take account for how we use our time. Why do not start living instead of just working or pursing things that will not bring us happiness?

As it comes to Easter and I start to think about Jesus' last days on earth, what must he have been thinking? I think of my friend and I ask myself how can i support him?

Monday Night Live!

2008-02-05T22:25:00.001Z

tackle3, originally uploaded by ufopilot.

Monday nights straight from work it is football! It is something that for me that makes a Monday seem that bit brighter!

There are around 15 of who meet on Monday evenings for a good 'kick-a-around'! And that is what it really can be! As football goes it is probably one the most physical games I have ever played!

Every Monday there a few shady tackles made but all in good spirit! There are a few who forget that you are meant to go for the ball and not the person! I must admit that i am in this group, but hey play hard win hard!

I like to think that we play old skool!

My world view?

2008-02-04T10:14:00.001Z

What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Emergent/Postmodern

71%

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

71%

Neo orthodox

64%

Charismatic/Pentecostal

57%

Roman Catholic

50%

Classical Liberal

46%

Reformed Evangelical

39%

Modern Liberal

29%

Fundamentalist

29%

My World view?

2008-02-04T10:10:00.001Z

Is January that bad?

2008-01-24T11:05:00.001Z

Depressed in the dawn, originally uploaded by iiana.

Speaking to some friends the other day, they told me that statistically January and February are the most depressive months of the year!

I struggled to believe this, for me January is a great time to take stock, to think about the year ahead and to dream dreams! I feel energised in January, I tend to play more sport and make myself busy with the things I want to do.

Am I so different? Is everyone really down in these first 2 months of the new year?

I understand with the days being generally darker that many people can be a tad negative, but is there more to it than that?

Hmmm?

Water crash

2008-01-24T00:44:00.001Z

Fountain, originally uploaded by King Kieran.

As it comes towards the end of the first month of 2008, already time seems to be rushing by.

Every year I tell myself that I will relax a bit more and take life at an easier pace 'there' no need to rush so much!' but every year life just gets busier and the waters keep crashing down!

Are we all just caught up in the rat race?

Ssshhhh!

2007-10-26T23:43:00.000+01:00

There is a website called Post Secret and I read it once a week once they have updated it on a Sunday evening.

I find it really interesting to see what people send to it. I ask myself what secrets do I have that I feel I cannot tell anyone? Do we all have these secrets hiding inside? What would happen if they came out? Once they secrets have been posted do the people that shared them feel free from that guilt or pain?

Should we share our secrets or just stay quiet? Sshhh!

Strangers = angels in disguise?

2007-08-20T16:44:00.000+01:00

Just got back from a fantastic week at Soul Survivor and feel uplifted and ready to face the coming year.

While I was there I realised how amazing strangers can be to everyone. They are someone who does not know so they seem to have no judgment of you or you of them, what you tell them means very little to them so when they say something to you it is only based on what they have been told and not about anything else.

I prayed with a lad and knew nothing about him. I passed on what I thought what God was saying to him, it is for him to take it away and see if it is right. 2 days later he came and found me and thanked me for what I had said, I was really touched by this as he could of just thought about it but not done anything. It made my day.

Are strangers just angels in disguise?

Is God a DJ?

2007-05-25T09:40:00.000+01:00

Found this today as I was looking for some stuff to use in a lunch time group. Thought it was really interesting.

It made me think about things but would young people grasp the concept? Guess it's worth a try!

I h8 it m8!!

2007-05-15T16:59:00.000+01:00

One thing I cannot stand is when people email me and use text type!
I struggle to understand a general text message let alone a whole page email! What is happening to the English language? Are we losing the ability to actually formulate correct sentences? It is not just the use of text type but also all the abbreviations people use, lol, brb, lmao and heaps of others that I have no clue of!

Well that is my short little rant over, thank you!

Parody

2007-05-13T23:56:00.000+01:00

Found these and they made me laugh!

Bra Boys

2007-05-11T16:27:00.000+01:00

When I was away in Sydney I hung around with a couple of people who were associated with the Bra Boys that are based in Maroubra Maroubra.

I have contacted the producers and they are going to confirm when it will be released in the UK.

Watching the trailer takes me back!

Stitched Up!

2007-05-05T00:49:00.000+01:00

Here it is less the patch!

Eye for an Eye

2007-05-04T13:05:00.000+01:00

An eye for an eye!

Where to start? Today I went into the operating theatre to have cyst removed from my eye lid. It was only under local anesthetic and so was always going to be an adventure.

When they first inject you they do it just under the eyeball and this is painful. But they no not only do it once, oh no they do it 3-4 times!

Next they wheeled me into the operating theatre put on some massive bright lights then siad keep your eyes open, it was like looking directly at the sun. After they covered me in operating sheets they then set upon my eye. Now this is where it gets really bad! I can see everything they are doing, slicing, cutting, quartarizing and then stitching up! All the while this is going on I can hear my heart beat on the machine, I thin it was about 150 bpm and rising!

After the whole drama they let me see what they cut out, pretty cool!

My Visual DNA

2007-04-18T23:32:00.000+01:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Thought this was quite cool found it on Tom's blog.

Every Eminem Song Ever!

2007-04-17T12:52:00.000+01:00

Found this and thought it was good.

Not bad ot have made a whole career out of - Mum, Kim, Hayley, Dre and Shady!

Wallington Boys

2007-04-10T12:41:00.000+01:00

This is a great video of 2 lads I met in Australia. Just watching their video made me smile and think about all the memories they'll always have.

Enjoy

Ghandi

2007-03-23T00:31:00.000Z

Was just reading Jonny Baker's blog and he has posted a quote from a book he is reading Christ of the Indian Road. Really got me thinking about some of the things Ghandi said and how he saw Christianity being shown to Eastern religions.

What i feel he boils it down to is live what you say you live. If you say you follow Jesus then do it! DO not just go on about it but show people what he means to you.

It has made me think, which is never a bad thing! I spend a lot of time talking about Jesus but do I spend as much time trying to be like him?

Why do we always try to get people to see things our way, why not try to understand them firs them see where our common ground lies? I do not want to hassle someone into faith, I want to walk with them.

Moving Forward

2007-03-22T09:27:00.000Z

Change is as good as a rest they say! Is it? Change and moving forward can be hard and far from restful.

Moving forward is hard work and can encounter a lot of pain and heartache. Recently I have been talking to different people about change and it just seems that it very rarely feels easy.

But we need change, if we do not have it then we become stagnant, we stop growing, we become like Gold Fish in a bowl. Once they have filled that space they stop growing.

At work we have been talking about Contextualisation, Lil Bill found a great blog by Matt Stone. It has got me thinking and these are very rough thoughts, but how much has our use of words changed over hundreds of years. Everyday our use of language changes. As a Christian where should I stand on adapting my language to better engage people of different world views? Should I adapt it at all?

Hmmmm, what to do?

Cell Retreat

2007-03-20T10:34:00.001Z

Cell Group, originally uploaded by King Kieran.

This weekend I had my very first Cell retreat. It was a time for us to get to know each other, spend time listening to God, praying and just having fun as a group.

Running up to it was a little stressful/worrying as I was organising a lot of it and I had that worry 'what if people do not enjoy it?'

Well I am pleased to say that that was far from the truth. we all had a great time. and God spoke so much to us as a group and so much as an invidual. I came away feeling uplifted and that my faith had deepened.

It was the first retreat that I have ever chosen to go to. Working for LCET retreat becomes part of your life but it is not something that you choose. Don't get me wrong, I love retreats but there was something freeing about chosing to go on this one, with a whole group that I have chosen to spend time with.

All in all it was a huge sucess, the thing we are left with is where next as a group?

329 and on!

2007-02-23T17:13:00.001Z

Floating library, originally uploaded by King Kieran.

Not blogged for a whilebut felt that this could de worth a note.

This picture has been on my flickr site for 36hours and at the time of print has been viewed 329 times!

The question for me is why? My previous picture was a lady boy and that i can understand, but a floating library, not sure why it has been so popular?

What do you think?

Snow place like home

2007-02-09T10:27:00.001Z

Misty, originally uploaded by King Kieran.

I love snow days. It would have been more fun had my Dad not stolen my walking boots!

I opted to take my dog Misty over the park and had a great time. Thee were families having snowbal fights and bulding snowmen. Everyone was miling which is a joy to see in this place.

I took some photos and when I got in I decided to tel my Dad how I felt about the stolen boots, below is the email I sent with teh picture above!

"Hello Grandad,

Well as you can see I had a woofing excellent time over the park with King Kieran, even though he did not have the correct weather gear. He told me some stupid senile git stole his winter boots. If I ever find out who it is I will shitzu on him!

We had fun, I ran around in the snow, rolled over, chased some teenagers and generally kept my tongue hanging out.

I hope that can mirror this fantastic event tonight when you get in. King Kieran says that if that stupid incontinent old git brings his boots back you are more than welcome to borrow them.

Woofs and Licks
Misty"

View Point

2007-01-24T01:06:00.001Z

Underneath, originally uploaded by King Kieran.

I am not sure if anyone reads this but if you do, I am sure that over the last few days you will have heard all about the Big Brother saga with Jade Goody and the racist comments. Well as I was driving along today I heard about another race problem that has come on a Channel 4 show - Shipwrecked. A young girl has made racist comment. I do not believe that this girl is racist but more small minded and rather a sheltered life. I am actually straying off the point I am trying to get to. A caller made great point on Radio 1 which was 'this is reality TV and this is how some people are'.

So really the question is if people want to be so involved in reality TV do they want it to be real or do they want a censored and fluffy version? If we ask to see reality then we should expect to get reality even if it is something that will offend us or make us feel uncomfortable.

I am not a fan of this type of TV but I do think that if people want to watch it then they should expect realiness instead of a manufactored glorified lab rat test, like Big Bothered, opps Big Brother

My Intelligence

2007-01-19T00:44:00.000Z

I should reall y find something better to do with my time!

Your Dominant Intelligence is Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

You are naturally athletic and coordinated, good at making your mind and body work together.
Sports are fun and easy for you, especially those requiring good hand - eye coordination.
There's also a good chance you're a great dancer, or good at expressing yourself through body language.
You learn best by doing, and you feel like you've always got to be moving (even if it's just your hands).

You would make a good athlete, physical education teaches, dancer, actor, firefighter, or artisan.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

A promise made

2007-01-18T11:46:00.001Z

Home Coming, originally uploaded by King Kieran.

Today I saw on the BBC news website and article about Jono the breakfast DJ in London.

He has moved hima and his family back home to look after his elderly mother. It was the dying wish of his fatehr that he always take care of her. As I read it I was amazed by the fact that his family means so much to him. In an age where family life is not a priority and values seem long forgotten, he has chosen to uphold them at a huge cost.

It gives hope that maybe we can bring back these values, that they are still present in many people.

I know from being away form my family my love for them grew. We had to work at building real relationships. We actually started to talk about our feelings and became more open. It may have taken thousands of miles but it was worth every moment for what I have now.

Through the Wall

2007-01-17T23:51:00.001Z

Brick work, originally uploaded by King Kieran.

Last night I took a big step in my New Years resolution and joined the gym! It was a proud moment, made even better by the fact that they waivered my £30 joining fee, how cool.

So now that I have taken the great step, I now need to take the even bigger one and start going.

Fear of the not I will be an english versin of Arnie soon!

Nealry tested

2007-01-15T13:30:00.001Z

I have nearly tested most areas of my life, here is another one!

You Are A Fun Friend

You're the one who keeps your group laughing
And you've always got an idea for something fun to do
The party's not complete without you
And you wouldn't miss it for the world

What Kind of Friend Are You?

More Cool Tests

2007-01-15T13:24:00.000Z

These tests are cool and also seem rather accurute.

Your Values Profile

Loyalty:

You value loyalty highly.
You're completely devoted to your friends and family.
Even if they totally screw up, you're still there for them.
Just make sure they're equally loyal to you!

Honesty:

You don't really value honesty.
You do value getting your way, no matter what.
And if a little lying is required to do that, no problem.
A few white lies never hurt anyone (at least, that's what you tell yourself!)

Generosity:

You value generosity a fair amount.
You are all about giving, as long as there's some give and take.
Supportive and kind, you don't mind helping out a friend in need.
But you know when you've given too much. You have no problem saying "no"!

Humility:

You value humility a fair amount.
You tend to be an easy going, humble person.
But occasionally your ego takes over.
You have a slight competitive streak - and the need to be the best.

Tolerance:

You value tolerance highly.
Not only do you enjoy the company of those very different from you...
You do all that you can to seek it out interesting and unique friends.
You think there are many truths in life, and you're open to many of them.

The Five Factor Values Test

Extrvert or not?

2007-01-15T12:03:00.000Z

A little test I tried this morning. Not a bad result!

You Are 90% Extrovert, 10% Introvert

You are as outgoing as they come
The life of the party, you're friends with everyone
You're a people person, and you are quite the entertainer
You love being around a crowd and acting spontaneously

Are You An Extrovert or An Introvert?

Most Popular

2007-01-08T17:06:00.000Z

That's no lady!
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

This is my most viewed photo on my Flickr page. At present it has 102 views and it has only been up there for 2 months. I am not sure which man people are looking at most!

Changing Times

2006-12-28T04:38:00.000Z

Changing Colours
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

Tonight I went to James Bond for a second time Such a great film. Anyway, a couple o the adverts before the film really made me think.

The first was an advert for a Remmington shaver and the end line was 'it's what' on the outside that matters'. It made me think where have we got to as a race? It seems that we are completely tied up in this idea that what we have, what we own and what we look like is all that life is about. What ever happened to what is on the inside? I am really only worth as much as my clothes?

The second advert was along the same lines but right now I am strugling to remember what they were forcing upon me. If anyone has seen tha James Bond film recently then let me know what the ad was.

I am just struggling with the fact that we seem to no longer care what people are like but just what they look like. I want to know people, to get to understand them and why they think what they do. I want to learn from them and have my life enriched because I have spent time getting to know them Of cours I will only do this if they wear designer clothes, have the latest phone and ipod and all the melarky!

Superman!

2006-12-20T17:08:00.000Z

stolen car
Originally uploaded by catartica.

What a day it has been. I had to go to B&Q to get some stuf for work and as the lady was showing me where to go I noticed a guy who had something up his jacket. I told the lady who then went and passed the message on. Guy does a runner and I go to go after him but they stop me!

With all this happening Mr Stealy Man got away. None the less B&Q were grateful for the help!

Forbidden Word

2006-12-20T02:07:00.000Z

Anzac Memorial Sydney
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

Last weekend a close family friend died. It is a sad time as he was slightly younger than my father, this I believe has played on his mind.

It really seems to have affected my parents badly. Does this mean that feel that they are at the age when people start to pass away? I hope not.

Death is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. One very sad day I remember was when my mother gave me a gift she never wanted to give me, a funeral tie. She said to me 'Sadly you will get a lot of use out of this'. Poor Mum.

How should we cope with death? It there a right way? Why does it always seem so wrong? I never know what to say. Does anyone?

On the 28th of this month it will be the 18th anniversary of my Grandad's death (mum's dad). Still 18 years on I get upset and miss him dearly, should I be over this by now? Maybe time is not really a healer but just a long term plaster?

Flickr!

2006-12-19T02:12:00.000Z

Funky
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

I think I am getting addictted to Flickr. I love posting photos and also sad as it is I keep looking to see how many views I've had. Currently I am at 8676. Also I am top hit on Google if you type in 'King Kieran'.

This is how sad life has become now.

But do me a favour and google me and then check out the photos!

Time to stroll

2006-12-19T02:06:00.000Z

Tim strolling
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

It seems to me that everyone is in such a rush all the time and that nobody knows how to relax. As I walk to work everyone is rushing by me while I am just strolling along seemingly without a care in the world.

This weekend a friend of the family died, not even 60. Life is to sort for us to be rushing around and not giving time to each other. I feel that I have changed in the last year and my time away has helped me realise how important people are. I saw great places while I was away but what I noticed is that the things I remember most is the adventures I had with people. It was them that made my trip all that it was.

A question that I am asking myself at the moment is 'what can I give to people to better them?' If I have changed then how can I better serve others? How can better myself with all that I have gained in the last 12 months?

Time to ponder.

Jump!

2006-12-15T02:27:00.000Z

Jump!
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

That is a choice I have right now.

I half assumed and very stupidly thought that I would have time to breath before I had to start thinking about my long term plans.

Something has come up as a possible but it just seems so big and beyond me. I am not to sure what to do?

If onl there was a little magic ball you could roll to tell you if it is right or not. Guess I just have to kee dreaming there.

I know I have not posted in quitea while but now I have internet at home hopefully it will help me to post more often and then Joe will keep me on his favs!

Blurred Vision

2006-06-04T06:19:00.000+01:00

Blur's Today, or Pharmaceutical Vision
Originally uploaded by hackdaddy.

Recently I have been chatting to another christian about loads of different stuff and I just feel that one of us seems to have blurred vision! The question is which one?

We were talking about churches and our families and I said that my family come to church when I speak. They asked 'what when you are introducing the service?' I told them no, when I am talking the sermon. They were very perplexed by this and said that they believe only someone who has been educated at a bible school and who has had proper training on how to deliever a sermon should speak. I asked why do you think that? They said because when you speak up there you can have a lot of influence, so you need to know what you are talking about. I asked well does that mean that your pastor never gives his point of view when preaching? Of course he does but he is trained!

I asked what they thought about the disciples and the fact that some of them were young? That was different! They said.

So do you think only people who are educated at bible school can have a word from God? Of course not they answered! So why cant they speak in church?

This person quite likes Soul Survivor and wishes to go, so I told them that last summer they had a year out guy (17yrs old) take the morning meeting. 17!!!! what can he know!!!

I felt that they were missing the point and may well be holding themselves back by thinking like this. I know that speaking in front of people has huge responsibility but God uses all people doesn't he?

I do not claim to be a bible scholar but I do feel that anyone can have a message to share.

I started to realise from other conversations that we had had that they highly value education. What ever we want to do we must educate our selves, experience is not enough!

What do you thihnk about that?

Missing

2006-05-18T08:08:00.000+01:00

i missed my sky
Originally uploaded by Pesi.

The other day I was thinking about some stuff and suddenly a friend popped into my head! A friend who passed away over a year ago. I realised that it was him that I went to talk to about this stuff, he would listen and then share his experiences, a truly great man!

What is it that people will miss about you, me, us? We give so much to each oterh that when it is taken away we realise how important it was.

What is it that we want to give to people? What is it that I want to pass to other people? Life is about sharing, sharing everything! Happiness, saddness, good times bad times, all that life holds. One questions is who do we want to share this with?

Think I am rambling now!

Up close and Personal

2006-05-18T08:01:00.000+01:00

Up close and Personal
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

Seeing so many beautiful sights in New Zealand has really helped me see God's beauty! What he has created is so amazing! Everywhere I look I see such wander!

It is so good to have time to just sit and reflect on his creation and there is no better place than here!

looking back/looking forward

2006-05-08T10:04:00.000+01:00

looking forward/looking back
Originally uploaded by warxal.

I was talking to a friend the other night and they were asking about my job back at home, I reflected back and started to realise that I really miss it, I miss talking to people and trying to help them see past their troubles, I miss going into schools and finding out from the young people what they have been up to. I miss seeing them down town, meeting them for coffee, them popping round to see me. There is so much I miss.

I look back and I think what else would I do, than work with young people, what else could I do? I do not feel there is much else I would be able to do?

My friend said that I talk with such passion about the young people. I guess I do because I believe in them, I believe that they have something huge to offer us all right now, they help me more than I help them.

Also I started to look back upon my life over the last couple of year adn all it has been through and where it is now, some journey! The strengh I have gained the and insight, also the pain I have been through and put others through. It has been hard a lot of the time. It has been a rteal growing experience as well, but through all of it God has been there for me even when I feel I have turned away he ha still been there with me.

As I look forward I wander where I will end up upon my return to England, what I will do, all I now is that I want to make a difference to people in a positive way, how I'm not to sure but time will tell!

Is life really Black and White?

2006-04-13T05:30:00.000+01:00

Black, White and Green Beach
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

So is life really back and white?

Recently some of the people I ave been talking to seem to have such black and white views on life! They seem to think that certain people in the world are causing al the trouble! I couldn't get them to understand that our own thoughts and view points can actually make things worse!

Where do we go from here? It just feels as if some much of the world has hate for so many people!

Our views points are like pictures, everybody sees something different!

It also seems that when we try to do the right thing we please some people and hurt others. Sometimes can be rather cruel. or at least seems to be.

Point of View

2006-02-26T07:29:00.000Z

My point of view
Originally uploaded by Dhabyani.

It is funny how different points of view people can have, even when they have so much in common!

The words we use can have such tags and pre-conceptions attached to them. I was talking about Christians and how we put tags on who is and who is'nt! I was saying that we can not say who is and is'nt as it is their heart that confirms that. Also I said that as Christians we are so hypocrictical as we continually do things worng but then we just hide behind the grace given by God and say that the non-chritians as wosre than us because they do not know God!

Our words have been changed and have been made to be tags and a way for us to look down on other people. When we use them like this we do not show the love that God asks us to. Why have we got it so wrong?

I know that most of the time I am a bad example of what a Christian should be but I also want people to see that i am not perfect but that I get up and try again with God's love being my support.

What do you think?

Eternal Flame

2006-02-16T03:26:00.000Z

Eternal Flame
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

After I had emailed home about what had happened to my passport a friend replied to me and really encouraged me with there words...

Sorry to hear your news about all the losses but glad to hear how philosophical you sounded as it became resolved - God places things in your path & helps you along the way as these little/big things go pearshaped - all part of the big picture & your life changing journey.....Glad you seem to be fitting into your new way of life & travels, & I always look forward to hearing from you - your chatter is so lively & full of fun - just like you - so the irrepressible young man seems to jump off the pages, larger than life. So keep up the good work, by filling up our boring days back home with the mundaneness of it all.

These words really gave me hope and ligth! It is nice to know that no matter where we are we are able to encourage each other however it maybe, words, a phone call, what ever!

God puts people in our paths as he knows what we need and he wants us to be encouraged and feel loved. I hope that I make people feel loved.

Time to reflect

2006-02-15T04:13:00.000Z

IMGP0631
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

While I was in Melbourne I took some time to go to the Rememberance Shrine. It was a great experience. It was quiet and gave me time to think.

I pondered about war and why there is so much. I read a fact the other day that said something along the lines that in the past 3500 years there have only been 267 of peace! That shocked me! I feel that the world wars were for peace but what about the Iraq war? Why is that going on? Time to think more I guess.

I think it is important for us to remember about all those who have given their lives for peace.

Bookworm? Never!

2006-01-12T05:55:00.000Z

day 444: reading is fundamental.
Originally uploaded by snowdeal.

When I'm at home I struggle to read anything apart from the Sun Newspaper (why would you read any other paper?).

Since I have been away I have read 4 books! That 1 more than I had to read for work!

I sat down by the cliffs yesterday after work and thought about this. My conclusion was that I have less to do here, less to do in the sense of people to see, sorting stuff out at home (I don't have a home!) just the day to day things that we usually do. My work now has no real meaning, once the clock hits 3:30pm I'm out of there nly leaving a cloud of dust behind (it's OK I will have to sweep it up in the morning anyway!).

It is quite a nice feeling not having to much to do, but then other days I miss it. I quite liked rushing around doing stuff. People here have said that I am not very good at relaxing, I always seem to be thinking about the next thing I have to do!

On a compleltly diferent note, I received an email form my Princess Leanne saying she had put more pictures on her site, so off I went to view them. It made me smile so much. I saw all three of my princesses and most fo my family, it was a little bit of heaven!

fish out of water

2006-01-07T07:56:00.000Z

fish out of water
Originally uploaded by isto-ica.

Well this is the first time that I have blogged in what seems like an eternity!

Having spent Christmas and New Year away from home and in a hot country I felt like a fish out of water! All the festivities were happening but it just did not seem right? Why was I wearing shorts and a vest to go to a beach on Christmas day? Where were my family adn friends? Why did I open my presents on my own sitting on a bed in a dorm with 5 people snoring? All these questions. Yet I still had fun!

It has been a real experience so far out here. I find that people will come and talk to me about what they are worried about or what happened. The strangest one being when I went ot buy some shorts form Footlocker and the 2 workers started to tell me about the manager that has been stealing and what do I think they should do? So I spent the next hour talking to them about the different optiona and possible outcomes! How mad! When I got back to the hostel, everyone just said it could only happen to you Kieran!

It hass been funny to see how people interact with each other, If you are quiet and shy then people tend to give you one chance, if you do not talk after that then sit back and enjoy the silence you will have from now on!

One guy that this has happened to I took for a coffee. after 10 minutes of feeling like I was trying to pull teeth when asking him anyhting, he just suddenly opened up! It was great, I got to find out about his family and his life, aspirations fears the lot! All because I gave him so time!

My New Years resolution; give people the time they deserve!

Highs and Lows

2005-11-14T12:02:00.000Z

Lonely Rowboat in Digby, NS
Originally uploaded by wjklos.

Well I have now been away for 11 days and Ihave had some highs and lows.

Most days have been good or even great. But sometimes in the day I just suddenly feel lonely! I do not have any of my friends or family around to share these experiences with, something that I love to do.

It has been a real test of myself so far, I am so used to havign people around me that not having them feels so alien. In some ways I do not feel myself. It is also good as I feel that you have to find your feet as your complete self, also it is helping me to share how I feel more when I speak to them, no that is really alien to me!

I just hope that the coming months become easier and that they help me to grow.

Some Good byes!

2005-10-25T10:11:00.000+01:00

the heart is a rorschach above all things
Originally uploaded by Tsunami Notes.

Let start by saying that I chose this picture just because it looks good! My blog, My choice!

Yesterday was really cool, I saw Gill in town with Tasha (chilled with the Gill!) we strolled around town for an hour trying to find a photo album. It was great just to spend time with them, and mock Gill for the whole time! Mentioned a name that made her go red!

After that it was off to Aroma for lunch with some of my 6th formers. I will miss them they are fantastic people. There are so many people that I will miss. It was lovely because they said that they want me to call them before I leave.

Also had my leaving service on Sunday, and that was wonderful, people were really encouraging and seemed quite sad that I am leaving. Secretly they are probably really happy!

Monks

2005-10-21T17:46:00.000+01:00

Monestry, Arequipa
Originally uploaded by quarkness.

I spent last night at Turvey Abbey, a wonderful place that i have been to many times with LCET. But last night I went on my own to seek some quiet time with God and spend a great evening with a good friend and monk Brother Tom. It was a fab time we chatted and we prayed, we drank wine and we laughed. It was just a great evening, we learnt so much about each other.

It is quiet surprising when you find out abot people, I am really looking forward to this year and meeting many different people for different walks of life and different world views.

We talked about the past and how hard it an be to move on from past hurts, this is very true, sometimes the pain seems just as real as it did when you first encountered it. We talked about the whole forgive and forget senerio, and we said that there is a lot of value on remembering; not holding it against or over people but lettign God work in you through what has happened. I pray that he does that in me

the big ear in the sky

2005-10-11T08:14:00.000+01:00

the big ear in the sky
Originally uploaded by Naty Z.

Yesterday I met a good friend of mine and they shared what they are going through right now. It was good to be able to listen to them, from what they said everyone else just has advice for them and not the time to just listen.

We even talked about God and about when I just need time to be quiet and reflect where do I go? I told them I go to Turvey Abbey and just spend time with God, because he always wants to listen as he is so interested in us.

I left Sainsbury's coffee shop (they should give me some sort of discount there, the amount of time I spend there!) and took a slow walk home praying for them and the situation that they are going through. I pray that they meet God in such a real way.

Someone once said to me that peole share stuff with me that they may not tell others because 'Ihave the eyes'! Was not to sure what they meant but God has given me something as people do share with me and I am grateful that they trust me.

Had a teacher in school talk to me about there plans for the future, or lack of them! Praying for them too! Let's hope God answers some of these before I go.

Empty

2005-09-22T15:49:00.000+01:00

factory1
Originally uploaded by amanda paredes.

Some days don't you just feel empty?

Prison

2005-09-20T17:35:00.000+01:00

alcatraz_inside
Originally uploaded by lil'murmurs.

Yesterday I helped take 13 year 10 and 11 pupils to a prison. It was a strange day for many reasons. Firstly I was quite looking forward to meeting real inmates and seeing inside a real working prison. Secondly and the rather scary reason was that these pupils had been hand picked because it seems that they are in risk of ending up in prison!

It was a very insightful day. We were taken on a tour, shown the shower block, a cell and the common room. We then went to the chapel and were shown what you would receive in prison i.e. clothes, bedding and your ration pack, either chocolate and sweets or a smokers pack. Next they talked to us about prison life, the violence, loneliness what it is really like. This was an eye opener, most trouble happens in prison because of debt, what ever you borrow you pay back double. We saw pictures of injuries received from violence in prison.

After this we saw a drama written and preformed by the inmates themselves. It depicted the life of one person and the choices they made along with what could have happened had they have chosen differently. It was interspersed with their stories. At the end we were able to ask them questions. It was something different, most of the 25 inmates we met had got to prison because of drugs.

I came away deeply affected by the whole day, these men knew that they had made bad choices in their lives, many of them had been dealt a bad hand in life but they said that it was still themselves who had made the choices to put them in jail. So often we pass blame to others for the reason why we are in the crap, but sometimes we put ourselves there.

I am not saying that they are innocent, as they would agree that they are not, but they say that they have seen the error of their ways and are hoping to help young people make better choices for their futures.

It also made me think about how they must get treated once they have left prison. WOuld I give them a job? Not sure? I would like to say yes, but in reality not sure I would.

Jesus was and is an amazing person, being able look past all this stuff, I know that in God's eyes I have sinned just as bad if not worse than those guys in that prison, but God still gives me chance after chance, shouldn't we do the same?

Soul Survivor Pictures

2005-09-14T10:35:00.000+01:00

Main Tent
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

I have just uploaded the pictures form Soul Survivor 2005. Hopefully this will keep Gill quiet for a bit as everytime I have seen her she has nagged me!

It was a great time as I have posted before. Hopefully now you will be able to see for yourself!

Horizon

2005-09-11T02:29:00.000+01:00

Pastel Midnight
Originally uploaded by INTTraveler.

Saw this picture this evening and it seemed to capture a lot that I have been thinking about.

The horizon! What is on the horizon? What does the future hold? Who knows? Well one person knows but as yet he has not told me.

It feels rather funny adn weird at the moment. So much is happening as I prepare to take my next venture. It feels strange preparing to leave LCET. That has been a place that means a lot to me, more the people than the place. Over the past 4 years I have grown and learnt so much. We have just been preparing some training days for YFC and it has been quite hard to put down what I have learnt. The 2 sessions that I am part of are 'Issuses in taking lessons' and , wait for it ....... 'Story Telling'!! Not sure I could have got a better 2! So all week I have been trying to work out about story telling. It is just something that I have always done. Joys of an over-active imagination!

At first I was thinking 'I am not sure if I have anything that i can teach anyone?' But as the planning time went on I realised how much I have learnt! It was really cool! So really all I have done this week is tell stories!

I will let you know how it goes!

Best Job Ever!

2005-09-06T14:32:00.000+01:00

SOmething that I mean to write about recently and have only just got
round to is the fact of how privileged I feel to be able to work with
young people.

So much happened over the summer holidays to make me think how
grateful I am to do what I do! First of all there was Face the Fish,
which was awesome. The time I got to spend with different kids was
great, being able to run the Soul Cafe and see kids giving each other
chance when maybe usually they don't!

Then it was Soul Survivor, this was cool as I got to catch up with
some guys that i had not seen in a while, some of the first young
people I started to work with. Over the week we had great chats. By
the end of it all 3 of them had decided to get baptised!! This was
so cool, I was invited to the service, and as I listened to their
stories of how they came to know God 2 of them said that i had played
a huge part in their journey! I was amazed and so grateful to God
for where he has placed me and who he has made me to be, also just
felt humbled by the whole thing!

After this I had some other guys from Newman that I have done some
stuff with call me on the results day and asked if they could pop
round to share their results with me! This was 10 in the morning and
they woke me up calling me! Again I felt so privileged as they had
only just got them and then they wanted to come over and show me!

Also I drove some 6th formers to the back of beyond to go sky
diving. They were staying over and they wanted me to stay too! I
was gutted that I could not, I had to tell them that I would have to
ask them not to drink etc, so I thought it best I did not stop their
fun, but hey I went back the next day to collect them and it was great.

As I start to prepare to go, it is things like these that I will
really miss, the joy of the job I do is when I see something happen
in them or I see a real change in our relationship.

God has been so good to me and has let me see so many great things, I
pray that over the coming year and beyond that that I see even more.
Not sure what he has in store for me but I am sure that it will be
awesome!

Face the Fish

2005-09-06T10:21:00.000+01:00

DSC_0759.JPG
Originally uploaded by King Kieran.

Just trying to upload photos via flickr! Hopefully this will work.

If it does then you should see a picture of Tim and I hard at work in the Soul Cafe! Well not quite hard at work as it had finished and this was us reviewing whay we had done. The funny thing is that we spent more time reviewing than we did planning! It was great to work with him, Tim is a top man with a great sense of humor and fantastic at performing skills. I will miss the fact of not being able to do this with him next year as I will be the other side of the globe! I am sure he will find a suitable replacement!

Photo uploading, here goes!

Soul Survivor

2005-08-16T19:47:00.000+01:00

Got back form Soul Survivor yesterday after helping take a group of
young people from Luton, who were absolute pleasure to be with.
(Guess I should say hello to a few - Tom, Simon, Gill, Hannah, Dan, Gareth, Abby, Louanne)

It was an amazing week and God really moved in everyone including
myself! It was a privilege to see those young people move on in
their faith. I went away feeling slightly less passionate about the
year ahead and about the work I do and even low in my faith. I had
asked myself all the usual questions Am I in the right place? Am I
really called to this? And all that sort of stuff. But God really
spoke to me in lots of ways, I feel a real peace about the year ahead
now. I felt God say that He will not leave me and that He will let
me know what he has in store for me when it is time!

He also spoke to me through other people which really encouraged me,
people really believe in me! That to is a privilege!

I am looking forward to hooking up with some churches while I am away
to hopefully do some youth work of some sort! I got quite excited
about that while I was away. I think that because I had got restless
at work as well as everywhere else I had lost a some of the passion
that I had for the work that I do. After being away this week I feel
that I have got that passion back and with going away it gives me a
whole load of new challenges!

Repeated myself slightly, but hey it's my blog and I can write what I
like!

Lifted!

2005-08-08T00:54:00.000+01:00

Tonight I had a good time with a good friend. We talked for quite a
while (we have not done that for a long time).

We shot the breeze for a while and then we just started to have quite
deep conversation. They said that I always keep people at a distance
but I let them believe that I have let them into my circle but really
they are on the outside! They said that I do this with everyone and
that there are only a few people that can actually see the 'me'
behind the mask.

This got me really thinking! Why do I keep people at such a
distance? Recently a friend said to me 'I can not tell you what I
know about you!' They have known me for some time and yet they can
not recall anytime that I have shared something with them.

I get a bit obsessive about anyone trying to read my mail, emails or
texts on my phone, but yet I have nothing to hide! Why is this?

My friend tonight said something that really encouraged me. It gave
me such encouragement because they really meant it, what they said
was 'I truly believe in you. You will succeed in all that you do!'

This meant a lot to me because as I prepare to go away for a year on
my own - anyone who knows me knows that this is a huge deal as I
always want people around as I am an extreme extrovert! I have to
deal with the fact that I am going to face hard times, lonely times,
times of just feeling inadequate and not feeling myself. So for them
to say this really lifted me, they said that I may face these times
but they believe I will overcome them. I pray that it will be these
times that will draw me closer to God, that I will rely on His
strength and not my own. That is the other challenge; not being
strong. I am always strong, I try never to let my emotions out.
Sometimes you just can't help it.

I was given a picture of one of my Princesses and I just stared at it
and then thought of what it will be like to leave them, that got me
upset! See even I have emotions.

What will the next 12 months have in store for me? Who knows! What
I do know is that as I a person I am bound to change and I pray that
it be for the better!

I think that this is enough for one night!

Still recovering!

2005-08-06T14:07:00.000+01:00

Camp finished last week (Monday afternoon for me as I had to drop a
load of stuff back!), but I am still tired. Each day I or night I
say that I will get up at about 10am, but I actually pull myself out
of my pit about 1!!

Maybe I am just lazy?!

Need to say hello to Sunshine or she will moan, so 'Hello'. So
called Sunshine as she always brings a ray of light when ever she
opens her mouth. Irony is such a great thing!!

Still suffering the post camp blues, missing it all. Also keep
thinking if next year and the fact that I will be across the other
side of the world while it is happening. Always the year after.

Tim has been checking the BBC Talent website (no not for a new Bint)
to see if there is an opening for The Tim and Kieran Show! (Maybe a
more catchy title is needed!).

Who knows maybe we will be famous! Liz I will let you know how far
our tactic gets us!

Home Sweet Home

2005-08-03T02:12:00.000+01:00

It is so good to be home again!

I have been away on summer camp for the past week and it has been great! The kids were superb and the leaders were fab!I always get back off camp and actually miss the leaders, I always miss all the fun that we had in the team lounge, giving people nick names like Sunshine, and Hairy, or even Mugarbie!

It was an awesome week, I got to work really closely with a great guy called Martin, he always helps on camps but this time I worked with him the whole week and he is a true legend!

Tim and I ran a Soul Cafe in the evenings which was a chill out and get entertained type of thing! We had a great laugh, we did not plan to much other than what feature would come next the rest we left to happen! It was just how we liked it!

I got a bit sad as I will miss the next summer camp as I will be away traveling, who knows I might get involved on something over there!

The other great thing about camp is that you see kids change over a week. I played basket ball with some kids one evening and after I told them that I would not let them swear or cheat they had a little moan they just got on with it! They let kids play that were not so popular or were not very good and they gave them a chance, that to me was God at work!

I am looking forward to all the leaders going out for a curry next Monday!

Also the celebrations were something different! Churches have a lot to learn from what happened!

Summer Camp and Wifi Monks!

2005-07-12T09:31:00.000+01:00

It is under 2 weeks until Summer Camp and it still feels as if there is so much to do!

Not sure where to start? I start to make some lists and then I wander off on a tangent and end up doing something else (like writing a post on my blog!).

Last week in one hand was good, we went on team retreat and the other hand the news of the bomb attacks has really left a strange mood. The day before everyone was over joyed about getting the Olympics and then under 24 hours later everything changes. What is the world coming to?

Last week at Turvey (the Abbey we go to for team retreat) I found out the the monks have wifi internet! They are monks, they probably shouldn't have internet let alone wifi! I am half expecting to see Brother Tom pull up in a brand new Lotus next time I am there! Each time I meet them I gain more respect for them and I am also more amazed about the life of a wifi internet monk!

One strange thing on team retreat was planning dates for next year. If you do not already know I am off traveling in November so I will be leaving LCET! It felt strange and slightly sad only having to write down the dates for what is happening up to the end of October! I started to miss it all already, the Christmas dinner that the trustees put on for us, team retreats and even training days believe it or not! In 16 weeks I will be gone and Luton will be a brighter place for some - check out the post about the one who hates me!!

If you want to keep up with my travels check out my other Blog!

Hair today, bare tomorrow!

2005-07-04T11:13:00.000+01:00

The waxing is now over!

I had a discussion with my friend who did the waxing and believe it
is probably more painful than child birth!

I am sure that my pain threshold must be high as I had to go through
3 sitting to remove the mamouth amount of hair from my chest.

I had it all finished on Saturday, but I am still feeling rather
tender, also my chest is covered in a rash! But have no fear soon I
will be a bronze adonis!

On reflection, I think that might be the last time I get waxed!

Mr Hoody Two Shoes

2005-07-01T12:23:00.000+01:00

Just found this great article on the BBC news Website

Fair play to him! To often we tar everyone with the same brush. I recently had a discussion with a friend about race and racisim. He was saying that the problem is all the Asians move into the same area! I asked him "If you were thinking about moving what sort of area would he look for?" He answered by saying a white middle class area! We all want to be around people of similar cultures and backgrounds, so it is no suprise that peole of all different races and background tend to live in the same areas!

Generally all people think teenagers are trouble makers, especailly the ones with hoodies! I work with young people everyday and soem of them are the most wonderful people I have ever met, so caring and kind, just sometimes misunderstood!

I guess it is hard not to judge as we all do judge people as soon as you see someone you start to decide things about them, but we have to try and not let that cloud our thoughts! I was reading Matthew 9:1-13 in the message today and that made me think about how we treat people and how we judge them. What would people think about me if I started to spen my time with drug dealers and prostitues? Would my peers, church and work judge me?

I am not saying that I would not struggle to do this, but as a Christian have our/my views not become like those of the Pharisees?

Wax On Wax Off!

2005-07-01T12:01:00.000+01:00

I think I could beat that Mr Meagi (if that is how you spell his name) up!

I went to have my chest waxed last night and it hurt like hell! I have recently become a warewolf and my mum and friends said I should get waxed. They probably just wanted me to go through pain. But I spoke to my friend who does it and she said no probs!

Went round last night nervous as hell, got started and boy did it hurt! It turns out my chest hair is to long and it also grows in different directions! So I had a patch removed and I am going back for the rest to be done tonight!

I will let you know how it goes!

Rules for Life

2005-06-28T11:25:00.000+01:00

I was sent this by my sister-in-law and liked them. They are the
kind of thing you might expect to find in the book of Proverbs!

Enjoy

1 Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their
conversational skills will be as important as any other.

3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

4. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

5. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

7. Believe in love at first sight.

8. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't
have much.

9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only
way
to live life completely.

10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

11. Don't judge people by their relatives.

12. Talk slowly but think quickly.

13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile
and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk

15. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

16. When you lose, don't lose the lesson

17. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and
responsibility for all your actions.

18. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

19. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to
correct it.

20. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your
voice.

21. Spend some time alone.

Is it just me?

2005-06-10T11:40:00.000+01:00

My friend spoke to me yesterday and said that someone we both know
wants to meet with as they need to discuss with me the fact that they
HATE ME!

Hate me! I was a surprised by this, I know that she is easy to wind
up and she always bites at every little thing, but I never thought
that she would hate. Instantly I started to think of how I could
wind her up more but on contemplation I have decided not to.

She spoke to her home group about it and she said that she would try
and play me at my own game and try and wind me, thankfully someone
had the nouse to say that if this is what I am good at it will only
back fire on her! I feel that person saved her with that comment!

I will meet with her and apologise, no one wants someone to hate
them. The real funny thing is I actually like her, I think that she
is a real great person, but she completely misses my humor! Not to
worry.

I will let you know how it goes! Between me and you I think it all
stems from the fact that my team won Cranium when we played, but keep
that on the QT

Not so scared

2005-05-25T19:52:00.000+01:00

A while ago I posted about being in charge of a huge part of summer
camp and how scared I was about this. Well I am pleased to say that
I am not feeling so scared now.

The planning group that I am part of are great, they have been real
stars. Paul asks more questions than Magnus Magnus, but he is great.

I felt last week that I was way behind but after the last 2 days I
feel nearly on top of things, which is cool. A few urgent jobs
tomorrow and I will feel great

It is good to be stretched, if we are not we become stagnant.

Also read Psalm 23 the other day that is always a great one to read.

Nothing Important

2005-05-19T12:03:00.000+01:00

Just realised that I have not blogged for a while so I thought that i
would jot a small something down.

Tomorrow my sister gets married, slightly scary as she is younger
than me and within the next 24hrs she will be a wife. It does make
me think about how things would have been had i have gone through
with getting married, I guess we will never know.

Future is that strange thing that we wished we knew but are also glad
we do not, or at least I do.

I have been thinking a lot about future recently and I am looking
forward to the next 18 months as i have made a few decisions about
where I will be and what i will be doing, life long dreams soon t be
fulfilled!

Part of my plan is to find out what God wants me to do, where he
wants me to be, these questions I have no answer for right now but
hope to soon. I must keep praying about this!

Well that is my little rant over!

PS I have been quite surprised by how many people who have found
this, ooooh scary!

Memories forever

2005-05-03T11:36:00.000+01:00

As we all get back to work after the long weekend I look back and
think what a weekend! This has been one of the best weekends I have
ever had.

It is going to be my birthday on Thursday, but I decided to celebrate
it this weekend as it was the Bank hols. Saturday me and my friends
went to St Albans. It was great, I had invited different pockets of
friends and we all went together, everyone spent the entire evening
together and had a great time! I had arranged for a minibus to take
us home and I was able to play tour guide! Bonus!

On Sunday we had a BBQ and many of the people who came out Saturday
and long with a few who did not came round and shared food and
fellowship! My best friends were there and we had so much fun and
laughter!

One of my greatest friends said to me as we stood and chatted on our
own, 'it is a real testament to you to have all these people here to
celebrate your birthday' He told me that a lot of his friends at work
think I am great and love it when I meet up with them, he then said
that he was proud to be my friend!

This just made my whole weekend/birthday/evening the lot! It just
touched me and made me think that God has blessed me with amazing
friends. I am grateful for all the memories that they have given me,
not just this weekend but throughout my life!

I am a person who loves to be around people, I enjoy talking to people
and finding out about them and what they have been up to and all that.
All weekend people have been around and it has been wonderful. Will
be it be the same next year? Who knows. Where will I be next year?
Again who knows.

Friends this is my prayer for you all.

Colossians 1:9-12

Verdana3333,3333,6666
9Be assured that from the first day we heard of
you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise
minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough
understanding of the ways in which God works. 10We pray that you'll
live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in
his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn
how to do your work. 11We pray that you'll have the strength to stick
it out over the long haul--not the grim strength of gritting your
teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures
the unendurable and spills over into joy, 12thanking the Father who
makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful
that he has for us.

Another Life

2005-04-28T11:25:00.000+01:00

One website I really like is BBC in Pictures and i try to check it every day.

I saw this the other day and it really touched me. Sometimes I think that I have a hard life and that I have been delt a bad hand, but then I see this and think 'thank you God!' So often we complain about life and what is happening and we forget how good we have it! we end up praying God get me out of this, when we should pray Lord give me the strength to get through this. I think it is time to go back and read James.

I also watched the Make Poverty History adverts last night and this one really touched me, check it out. Off to Oxfam to get the band tonight.

Let's pray we can make history.

Now off to eat my fair trade snack bar, yum!

Addictive!

2005-04-27T16:20:00.000+01:00

I feel that I have moved up the
ICT ladder by being able to add links

Sitting here feeling slightly smug. Hopefully my blog may now be some
what interesting. It is always nice to have pictures and other stuff to keep you
entertained!

The Link

2005-04-27T14:26:00.000+01:00

After checking out hairs blog and thought that I would be posh and post some links.

See if this one works first!

Dream Car

2005-04-27T13:49:00.000+01:00

Just trying to post pics! Let's hope this works.

Quote that fits best!

2005-04-27T12:27:00.000+01:00

Just found this on my friends blog and thought I may as well have a as
I had a few free seconds!

src="http://images.quizilla.com/P/PainfulBliss/
1113237805_uote.kind1.JPG" border="0" alt="Kind person">
Your wise
quote is: "Be kind to unkind people,
they probably need it the most"
by
Ashleigh Brilliant.
You try to look beyond apperance, try to
give
people second chances and are probably very
kind.
Understanding is your biggest personality
trait, and thoose you can
see through should be
grateful. If they aren't already. You
detest
narrow minded people, because they can't see
what's really
there. Facades is not your thing
and you strive to always be who you
really are.

href="http://quizilla.com/users/PainfulBliss/quizzes/
What%20wise%20quote%20fits%20you%3F(pics)%20UPDATED/"> size="-1">What wise quote fits you?(pics) UPDATED
size="-3">brought to you by href="http://quizilla.com">Quizilla

Fame and Fortune on it's way!

2005-04-25T14:11:00.000+01:00

I have become famous! Please form an orderly cue for photos and
autographs.

I have been mention on the world wide web thanks to Neil 'The Beard
less One' O'Hara! (thought I would repay the favour!)

Check it out
http://neilohara.blogspot.com/2005/04/hey-dell-boy-i-give-you-good-
prize.html

Woo Hoo!

Pleasant Surprise

2005-04-21T14:24:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday it was one of my house mates, Tim's birthday (as it
happens it is the other ones, Gordon's birthday this Saturday, not sure
the bank can take this!), so all 3 of us and a few more friends all
went out for a few birthday drinks.

It was a really pleasant evening, we had had a good laugh and some
entertaining conversation, upon leaving the venue that we had been to
we haled down a taxi for 6 people. We got into the taxi and headed
back to Mansions. The driver was a young Asian man who I talked to the
whole way home about cars.

Once we got home I paid the driver and we all went in to play with
Tim's birthday present a giant pea shooter! After about 10 minutes
there was a knock at the door, I opened it and it was the taxi driver!
He asked if any of us had dropped a wallet in his cab? I looked at the
wallet and thought that it looked like Gordon's, I asked if I could
check for any confirmation that it was Gordon's, he said fine. I
opened it and it had a Gordon's cards and £40 cash! The driver just
said I saw it on the seat and so thought that it must be one of ours!
We gave him some money that he reluctantly accepted and then we went
back in.

We gave the wallet to Gordon and he had not even realised that it was
missing.

I was completely shocked by this as too often you hear stories of
people who have dropped stuff in taxis and never get it back, the
biggest shock of this is that we did not even know that it was missing!
I had a warm feeling come over me, a feeling that maybe there still
are decent people in our society. As a Christian sometimes I feel that
maybe I am a lone voice for honesty, I am happy to say that I am wrong!

Also I wrote a letter to the taxi company (Spearhead 01582 505050) to
tell them what had happened and how amazed I am and grateful!

Thank you Lord that there are still some decent living young people out
there!

Next Step

2005-04-18T10:06:00.000+01:00

Been thinking about the next step! Where should I be, what should I be
doing? Those sort of questions. I feel slightly restless and would
like to experience something else, traveling has been something that I
have always wanted to do and it has been on my mind for quite a while
and I have started thinking about just going.

I once thought that I was risk averse rather than risk embracing but
someone I spoke to recently about this said that I am more risk
embracing by the sounds of things as I talk about going on my own soon.

Not to sure what to do, lots of questions to ask myself before I decide
what i will do. In lot's of ways it is the ideal time to go as i have
no commitments or things to hold me down.

Just praying lots about this.

untitled

2005-04-08T12:25:00.000+01:00

What an amazing man! Pope John Paul II, even in his death he is
bringing people to God.

To be a Christian is to live like Jesus, but that is so much easier
said than done. I continually struggle like Paul did in Romans 8, I do
what I do not want to do and what I wan to do I do not do! How
frustrating!

As I reflect on life and the past year I see that no matter what God
has been with me, even on those days that I have felt so very far away
he has had me in his wings.

As I contemplate the year ahead my mind starts to wander, where will I
be?

There is being Stretched and then there is being snapped!

2005-02-09T11:49:00.000Z

They say that we should always be looking to stretch ourselves, our
abilities, push ourselves to reach more, gain more, never staying still
as we may become stagnant.

Last night we had a camp planning meeting and we decided that we need
to break down into more specified planning groups. There were 3 groups
Performance, Celebrations and Camp. Lillie is heading up the
performance, Chris the celebrations and he has given me the task of
heading up the camp!

When I asked what that involved he told me if it is not performance or
celebration, then it is camp! How daunting!

I was freaked out for a bit but after speaking to a few trusted people
I began to realise that I must be the main communicator to all the
people working with me, this way everything will get done. My problem
is that I am not to good if people do not do it properly, I do not
suffer fools lightly!

Recently I meet with someone who said to me about where I plan to be or
head to in youth work? I said I am not to sure, I love working in
schools and spending time with young people and that is why I am a
youth worker.

They said had I ever thought about leadership? I said I struggle to
dress myself in the morning, not to sure I am the right person to lead
others. They were encouraging and said that I have leadership skills
and people follow me (was not sure that was a good thing!).

Well I now have the challenge of stretching myself more than I thought
I would in this space of time, naturally with things life leadership
and responsibility I tend to hang back as i do not like it in a way, I
much prefer helping so that I can spend more time with the young
people!

I will keep you update as to where I am!

Maybe a blessing in disguise!

2005-02-09T11:33:00.000Z

How frustrating! My training was going so well then i had a slight
injury in my foot, got over that and now I have a pain in my calf every
time I run!

I was really getting into running again and I was feeling much fitter,
but now I am losing motivation and have had enough of the little
niggles.

But then again maybe it is a blessing in disguise, I put a lot into
training as I want to see the results, it means a lot to me. Being a
Christian also means a lot to me but I am not sure that I put as much
effort into that 'training' as I should and many days I am not sure I
see any results. I have tried to keep to a idea that I will not train
unless I have done something spiritual. As with a lot in my life it is
all good intentions. I do want to give more time to God, so maybe not
being able to train will force me to do that.

Let us hope so.