Because of the Cross.

I can never to truly express my respect, love and thankfulness towards Jesus on Good Friday using just words, it needs action. In Romans 12:1; Paul tells us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and this is our true act of worship, our true act which helps me express my real feelings towards Jesus on this day....... but that doesn't help me write a blog, which needs words!...... or does it!

What I have decided to do for this blog is to write out as many amazing, crazy and mind-blowing things I have seen Jesus do in past five years. All the things I write are 100% true, they are not invented or exaggerated and I have seen it with my very own eyes. They have all happened because of the power Jesus and because we have been faithful in prayer. Enjoy.

Just before we start I want to make sure that Jesus gets all the glory! Thank you Jesus.

Because of the cross over the past five years I have seen:
A boys eye pop back into place (my favourite), A gangsters broken finger healed, a random stranger crying on the streets of Wimbledon because God gave us a word about the loss of a family member, people who shouldn't be giving birth falling pregnant, a women stepping out of her wheel chair, money randomly being posted through my door, prophesied the name of a women's son, symptoms of a allergic reaction fade away after prayer, money appear in my bank account without a traceable source, young girl testify to Jesus healing her grandma of cancer, a girl cart-wheel on her arm which was broken before we prayed, Holy-Spirit Sat-Nav direct me when I am lost, more doughnuts appearing when we ran out at Jesus and Doughnuts, 15 year-old boy healed of the injuries afflicted on him by his father, the number 2 gangster of Southampton weeping during worship at his first visit to church.

Lets just stop there and give glory to Jesus. Thank you for the cross Jesus because of your sacrifice all of these amazing stories have been made possible.

An old man who was gonna commit suicide decide to give his life to Jesus instead, 6 brave men pray for a dead friend and believe 100% that he can be raised (we will see this happen in our lives), many, many knee problems healed immediately, person with bad back who can barely stand run around the room after prayer, a young person who tried to commit suicide get baptised, a family serving in church because of the testimony of the daughter, headaches gone immediately, Satanist's deciding to worship Jesus, had people tell me exactly what I am thinking and feeling, I have told people exactly what they are thinking and feeling, many aches and pains all over the body healed, demons driven out of people, peoples legs grow, swelling on a ladies nose disappear, asthma suffers completely healed, depressed people finding everlasting Joy in an instance and finally God has given me many prophecies to say to people but they are to detailed to write out on here.

All Glory to Jesus, none of this is possible without his sacrifice. Its because he suffered, bled and died to repair our relationship with the father, to take away our sin and give us the honour to stand in victory with him. Only a fool says there is no God.

Relationships: Dating

Dating: Where two people of opposite sex, who are attracted to each other, get together with the focus on getting to know one another to build a solid relationship without involvement of physical/romantic intimacy.

This is what we should all be aiming for. We all long for a dating relationship with someone and so we should, we were created that way! but on our quest for this mysterious, exciting and awkward thing we can get a little bit lost in our feelings and emotions. So lets clear things up a little to make sure we know what direction we are going.

Before starting the quest:
When starting out on this quest it is important to start by asking the right question. The question is not, how far can I go? or How much can I date? the question needs to be flipped it should be, How can I honour God the most when pursuing dating relationships? We must keep this question in our mind and remember that honouring God is more important then dating and when we keep this question at the fore front of our thinking it will automatically answer the other questions we have.

When I use the term honouring God I want to make it clear that this doesn't mean becoming all Super-Spiritual and praying and fasting for that perfect partner and hope that they ring your door bell because there car has just broken down outside your house and its raining so you have to invite them in and you share a hot drink in front of a roaring fire!....I believe (and feel free to disagree) that God doesn't have one perfect person for everyone and I don't see any evidence for God planning perfect partners in the Bible, in fact it is the opposite read 1 Samuel 25, David meets a girl who helps him out and looks hot so David decided to make her his wife, Lad. I believe we have a choice in the matter, I believe God gave us the skills to look for our partners and choose for ourselves all God wants from us is that when we have found this person we do the relationship his way! not our own way

Keep on the quest's track:
A verse that helps me make sure that I am doing it God's way not my own is 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but I will not be mastered by anything.
This verse is extremely helpful in keeping on the right track because it helps us ask the right questions. Instead of looking at relationships and saying that they are wrong this verse us ask is this relationship beneficial, for me?, for the person I am dating? and for the kingdom of God? if the answer is No to anyone one of these questions then surely whats the point in continuing in that dating relationship! And you can know whether it is beneficial by asking yourself yet more questions: Does it help me in my faith? Does it make me feel secure in who I am? Does it help advance the kingdom of God? (Might sound like a deep question but what is the point of doing something if it doesn't extend God's kingdom) Is this person the type of person I have dreamed of? Does it help me strengthen relationships with friends and family? Does it mold my character in a positive way?

It is important that during a dating relationship we regularly ask ourselves these questions and also that we are honest about the answers. I also strongly recommend listening to people who you respect in the faith, ask them the questions you have asked yourself and listen to their advice.

The destination of the quest:
Before we get into a dating relationship I believe it is important that we are willing and have the intention of completing the quest not just running around on path for some fun or taking certain parts of journey because they seem the most exciting, there needs to be some level of commitment that says I am ready to complete this quest. I am aware that sometimes the dating relationship just wont work out and that is absolutely fine or maybe you thought you were ready but it turns out you still have some stuff to deal with, I just think there is a danger in the idea that we can enter a dating relationship with no intention of moving forward. The danger comes because isn't it just a massive waste of time to date someone without destination or purpose? aren't we then just doing it to fulfill our own selfish desires? Aren't we just putting ourselves in temptations way? The world is to broken for us to waste time in pointless relationships, i think Paul says it best:

1 Corinthians 7:29-31
"What I mean brothers, is that the time is to short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who use the things of this world, as if they were not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away"

Relationships: Friendship

The Bible gives us several characteristics of friendship. It gives us some great advice and guidance to ensure that we build the best friendships we possibly can. Check out these dynamite verses:

Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all times
Proverbs 18:24- There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother
Proverbs 27:6 - Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:10 - Do not forsake your friend.

These verses are powerful stuff and illustrate God's heart for friendships. God wants to bless all friendships and encourages us to build up strong friendships which are based on honesty, commitment and affection. The word friend literally means "someone who you like who likes you" if you have someone like this in your life then it is a good thing! treasure your friendships put work into it, make them feel appreciate and be honest with them even if it hurts sometimes like proverbs 27 says it is better to have a friend who is willing to actually be honest with you then a whole bunch of enemies that just boost your ego.

I pray that I would listen to my friends when they offer me honest advice, may I have the humility to accept their rebuke and I pray that I would also have the boldness to be a true friend to show them grace in all situations yet speak truth into their lives. Grant me this Lord.

Push the Limits

What have you done that requires faith recently?

When was the last time you saw something impossible be made possible?

When was the last time you pushed the limits?

These are the questions that I regularly ask myself! I want to continually grow throughout the whole of my life. I never want to stop. Some people see this as a mentality of ambitious or proud people, but I always think to myself whats the point of stopping, why stop learning when there is a world of information, why stop the challenge because we can do more then we think, why stop discovering, have we experienced everything?, why stop working the harvest is plentiful, why stop growing in our relationship with God because he is endlessly mysterious and why stop loving people when this world is so full of hate!

2 Timothy 4:2-5

I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction for the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead , to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears long to hear they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Poem

When the Church of Jesus - Fred Pratt Green

When the Church of Jesus

Shuts its outer door,

Lest the roar of traffic

Drown the voice of prayer:

May our prayers, Lord, make us

Ten times more aware

That the world we banish

Is our Christian care.

If our hearts are lifted

Where devotion soars

High above this hungry

Suffering world of ours:

Lest our hymns should drug us

To forget its needs,

Forge our Christian worship

Into Christian deeds.

Lest the gifts we offer,

Money, talents, time,

Serve to salve our conscience

To our secret shame:

Lord, reprove, inspire us

By the way you give;

Teach us, dying Saviour,

How true Christians live.

Liam, from the view of EmzyK123@hotmail.co.uk

There once was a boy i know,
who's goal was to steal the show,
I asked him politely and he answered nicely,
Emily, jesus is my bro.

This statement I heard, which i first thought abserd, turned out to be entirely true.
But Liam said he, i have called you to be, the boy that does not drink of the brew

Good bye young liam, who always sings
the no drinker of brew, but yet he always brings,
the boy with all the love and so things
The master, the lord of all the rings.

Rocknations FAQ's

Hello Parents

I thought it would be a great idea to write out a few frequently asked questions about Rocknations and the organising of the event.

What is Rocknations?

Rocknations is a Christian Youth Festival where 1500-2000 young people gather together at the Abundant Life Campus and will hear great preachers, have some great worship and get involved in loads of crazy (but safe) games.

What is a typical day at Rocknations like?

This is what a typical day at Rocknations looks like, however I would like to add that on one of the days this year we are going to take the whole of Kerith Youth Bowling at a local bowling facility which is walking distance from the Campus.

9.30 - 11.15am : First morning celebration
11.15 - 11.30am : Break
11.30 - 12.30am : Second morning celebration
12.30 - 1.30pm : Lunch
12.30pm : Activities open
1.30 - 2.30pm : Leadership seminar
3.00 - 4.30pm : Workshops
4.00 - 7.00pm : Hot Food
5.00pm : Activities close
6.15 - 7.00pm : Pre-meeting entertainment
7.00 - 9.30pm : Evening celebration

How much free time will the young people get and where will they be allowed to go during that time?

Our dinner at the hotel is at 5:30pm everyday, therefore all Kerith young people will be back at the hotel at this point. The workshops are optional so the young people may potentially have from 3-5:30pm as free time. During these time Rocknations puts on many actvities including games zones, girls and boys lounges, football competitions, rock climbing walls and many more. If the young people don't want to participate in them they can also use the starbucks facilities or chill out on the Abundant Life field inside the campus. Over 16's are allowed to town during free time as long as they are in a group and that their team leader is aware.

Is Bradford safe for the young people?

The outstanding facility of the ALC campus is home to Rocknations. There is 24 hour security on campus throughout the conference, as well as specific security throughout the meetings. All shuttle buses to and from the hotels have a "Bus Buddy" on board to ensure security. All activities at RN have been through strict health and safety checks and there is a trained first aid team on hand if needed. The staff and security are clearly identifiable.

Food?

We will start the day with breakfast at our hotel which will be a wide range of choice from a classic english fry up to fruit and crossiants. The hotel also make us a packed lunch everyday which consists of simple sandwiches, fruit, crisps, chocolate bar and a drink. In the evening we come back to the hotel for food which again is a wide range of food but there are always three choices available at every meal time including a vegetarian option.

Leaders?

We are planning to take 16 leaders with us to Rocknations, we will give the names of the leaders once they have all confirmed but the leaders that we are asking for have all been CRB'ed and also have served in some area in the youth for over 6 months.

If you have any questions or queries then please do not hesistate in contacting either myself or lorraine. liam.parker@kerith.co.uk; lorraine.wade@kerith.co.uk