Faith is being sure of what you hope for

It's been a busy couple of weeks, something on every weekend and preperation for exams and concerts in school. Two weekends ago was an ignite event setting the scene for Ignite Hope that will be taking place next weekend. A weekend of social action by a group of 500 young people and adult Volunteers, across the Vale, the Valleys and Bridgend. The ignite worship band will be playing in the morning and evening meetings... 'Open up the doors and let the music play... songs that bring you hope!' I naturally think of the word hope meaning something that we would like to see happen, or could happen with a bit of luck. The Bible actually uses this word in a different way... Faith is being sure of what you hope for! Therefore hope is being certain of God's promises! I pray that there will be hope brought to lots of lives next weekend.
The weekends sandwiched in between have seen TBT (tim Bannister trio) play at a wedding (good fun, everyone was up and dancing), and this weekend, yesterday saw me play pedal timps for the first time live, with the Cynon Valley junior Brass band... was asked to do it about an hour before, only two notes in each song, so just about managed it, and today I am off to do a recording with Gruff Rees at Sonic one studios in Llangenech.

I've been playing drums since I was 7 years old. It's my passion. There is something that is much more important and amazing though, and that is the worship of God. The word worship simply means to give worth to something or somebody. God created the universe and sent Jesus to be our Saviour. There are plenty of reasons to give God Worth. He also gave us the ability to be Creative, as He, the Creator God is creative. Therefore, I pray I will continue to give worth to God through Worship music and that we can inspire musicians to give God their all through their musical abilities. www.igniteme.org/inspire

Teaching drum kit

Teaching can be really rewarding with perseverance and the right mindset. I try to keep the teaching as fresh as I can with new ideas, for myself! I think that way the pupils benefit more, rather than me reeling off the same lesson plan over and over... they can tell if their teacher's bored I'm sure. The start off a long summer term... here we go! Here's to keeping it positive!

It was the Ignite worship band practice tonight. This is the band of 2007! It's been a privilage to be involved in the work of ignite. I hope as a band we've been able to help people to understand truths about God, and helped them meet with God as we've worshipped Him together? That's what it's all about. It looks like there is a new band coming through the ranks... my friends it's been fun!

It's all about grace!

You see I am a Christian, I believe that Jesus is the son of God who came down to earth, Immannuel (God with us) God incarnate (God coming to earth in human form). His purpose in doing this was to take on the punishment that we were supposed to take for being disobediant to God's rules (which he gives us to have the best life possible). It's known as substitution, he (Jesus) takes the wrath in our place, wrath not towards people but towards disobediance to God (sin) which causes all sorts off mess. So God took it upon himself to send Jesus to take the punishment instead of us.

It's not that God is angry all the time and set us up to fail. He gave us free will, so that we wouldn't be robots. The thing is some of the stuff that we do can't be tolerated by a Holy, Righteous God. Therefore he has to deal with it. We all get it wrong from time to time. Thank Goodness that God looks at the heart (the want to get it right although we fail from time to time) and not at the record of getting it right or wrong! We all need grace everyday. Thank God he gives us Grace everyday.

Back from Holiday!

My wife and I are both teacher's. The problem is our lives are so full outside of school that during the holidays we still can't fit in everything we want and have to do. No complaints at all, especially after a great holiday in tenerife sipping sangria, and many games on the Nintendo Wii, on which I managed a fitness age of 31 tonight!