100 Questions 26-50

Part 2 of my 100 questions challenge. Here we go again :)


26. Are you friends with any of your exes?
Basically, no.

27. Name a book you loved as a child?
I used to love reading the Mr. Men series. I also liked Narnia. As a kid I wasn't as much of a reader as I am now though.

28. What's your native language?
Gaeilge, though I cannot speak it as much as I wish I could. English is my, unfortunate, first language.

29. Which email service do you use?
I used to have the email address davidcowpar@all4god.co.uk, I really liked that one but the server disappeared. I also had a hotmail and a live.ie which I can no longer access. Now it's gmail all the way.

30. Is there anything hanging on the walls of your bedroom?
One day I was having a bad day and so I put up loads of Bible verse posters. I have a funky John 3:16 one and a "Be still" one and a few others. I also have a massive Cork flag and a Man of Steel logo in the sky poster. Oh and the Ten ODD Years timeline is on the back of my door.

31. What's your favourite number and why?
11. Easiest question ever. I was born on the 11th of November, that's 11/11. I once won 50Euro in kiddies bingo at the call of 11 and, ya, 11 is a running theme.

32. The earliest moment in your life you can remember?
Gosh, I don't actually know! I don't know if I remember things or remember people telling me things. I know that when I was two I used to be asked to say words from the dictionary by my aunt because she was convinced I wouldn't be able to do it, but I did and surprised her. I don't know if I remember that or not though.
I do remember being about eight and going to a place in Wexford and walking out with my best friend and saying that my brother would have loved it at the exact same time as he did

33. What did you have for dinner yesterday?
Chicken wraps by Old El Paso, specifically the ones below. They were really good, the best dinner I have had in a while. My tastebuds enjoyed it immensely.

34. How often do you brush your teeth?
At least twice a day and sometimes three times.

35. What's your favourite candy/chocolate?
I shall give thee both. I love the Natural Confectionary Company's Sour Squirms, specifically the yellow and pink one. That's my favourite sweet in the world. Chocolate is Cadbury's Marvellous Creations, Jelly Popping Candy Shells.

36. Do you currently have any other blog or vlog sites?
I have another blog with some of my writing on it, which I intend to put more writing on, it's at www.justwavey.blogspot.ie. I have a YouTube channel as well. I have nothing on it, yet... There are plans though.

37. If you were suddenly very hungry what would you eat?
Probably cereal... I like Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Nesquick, the old Corn (Honey) Pops and Lucky Charms.

                                                         They're Magically Delicious!

38. What fandoms would you consider yourself a part of?
I am assuming in the answer to this question that the word Fandom is about the things that I would consider myself a big fan of.
-Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
-Joss Whedon.
-Sarah Michelle Gellar.
-Star Wars.
-Marvel.
-Superman, maybe...

39. If you could study anything what would it be?
A Masters of Divinity in Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA.

40. Do you use anything on your lips? (Lipstick, chapstick etc).
Normally no, but if they are very chapped then yeah, I wanna make that better...

41. How would you describe your sense of humour?
I laugh at everything, funny things, people's pain, comedians, stupid jokes... I don't know what my own sense of humour is... Situation comedy maybe? I hate puns and smutty jokes.

42. What annoys your more than anything else?
Honestly, the thing I find the most annoying is people who have over-thought God. Systematic Theology that has gone so far that the person is convinced they can explain everything about God. Someone who says they know and know because of theory X. These people, who think they capacity for reason is greater than God's infinite nature, annoy me. (Generally only when they preach it at you.)

43. What kind of position are you in at the moment?
I'm not fully sure what this question means...

I am sitting down, on a chair by my kitchen table.
I am unemployed.
I am a student of Applied Theology.
I work with local Corkonian, and diaspora Corkonian Christians.

44. Do you wear much jewellery?
I have a ring on the ring finger of my left hand (see http://waveysthoughts.blogspot.ie/2012/11/my-ring.html for more on that). I have a Celtic Cross on a black rope around my neck (I also own three silver crosses, and one that's made of diamonds) I also have two Christian wristbands and a watch.

 

Not exactly the same but these are pretty close!

45. Do you prefer to text or call?
I hate making phone calls. I'm not fully sure why. I much prefer texting. I can think about them longer and not seem so... me... in my responses. I also can look at a text when I feel like it, not when you feel like it. (Normally I answer a text within five minutes) but a phone call forces me to stop whatever it is I'm doing and talk to you. With texting I can talk to you for 5 hours, and still study, write, read, watch a movie, whatever it is I'm doing.

46. Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes I do. I do not, however, believe that they are the spirits of the dearly departed trapped between here and the next life. I believe that they are familiar spirits, demons that attach themselves to people and take on some of their characteristics, thus they can seem like the person you once knew but they are not. I think that people who talk to the dead actually talk to these demons and they are hell-bent, excuse the pun, at keeping people from Heaven so will give misleading information about life after death and about living too.
I also strongly believe I saw a ghost. It was in Spain in 2001. There was this burnt out house near our hotel and it had a skull in it. Later on in the holiday this moving, spectral form came towards the hotel, I was standing outside it, from the direction of the burnt out house.

47. What do you carry your money in?
A bank! I keep my bank card in a black leather wallet, which has to have a compartment for coins. I really dislike when wallets have places for cards and cash but no room for coinage.

48. Do you enjoy driving?
I am ashamed to admit I cannot drive... I know, pathetic right? I am almost 24 years of age and I can't drive yet... I took Religion instead of Driver's Ed. in school... seriously!

If I could have a dream car it would be this though:

Ain't she so pretty? It would be that colour as well. In case you were wondering this is a Mercedes Benz, SLR McLaren which was produced in the UK between the years 2003-2010. Bet you didn't know I knew stuff about cars!

49. What is the longest drive you have ever been on?
Eugh, the trip from Cork to London via bus.
We left Cork Bus Station at 4pm and arrived in London at 8am the next day. Then returning we left London at 7pm and arrived in Cork at 10:30am... It was a horribly tiring journey; but a good trip and an excellent time in Londonia.
See http://waveysthoughts.blogspot.ie/2013/08/totd-uk-port-customs.html for how I felt as if I was treated like a member of the IRA by Her Majesty's Customs (see gave me chocolates and a Gold Coin once I visited Buckingham Palace after arriving in London though, so that kind of made up for it.)

50. Furthest away from home you have ever been?
Hold on and I'll check Google Maps and answer this with a picture of the place.
It is as I thought, at almost 4000 miles it's:

Okay, so that's part 2 of my 100 question challenge. Tune in next time for part 3.

Also, I haven't forgotten about the TotD blogs on the Church and Evangelism I promised... They are coming, I just have some things that are taking priority right now.

THIS IS THE MAIN ONE!

Soon one will be able to purchase this and the old book by June project. Exciting times.

God Bless friends,

ask.fm/wavey1111

100 Questions 76-100

Part 4, finally the final part of 100 questions on getting to know Wavey better.

76. What time is it currently?

It is presently 1:03am

77. What are your favourite smells?

Lavender is really nice, I like the smell of Subway too, also Chinese. Freshly washed clothes smell really good too.

78. Can you go a whole day without caffeine?

No, Coca-Cola and tea, yum!

79. Who knows more about you than anyone else?

Andy, Dan, Jason, Makka and Richard I would guess, probably in that order too.

80. What song did you last listen to?

Superman, by Five or Fighting, it's on right now!

81. Are you satisfied with your life right now?

What a wonderfully loaded question.

No,

You would think I would be with two books coming out in around 6 weeks or so, and being able to study a Masters of Applied Theology in IBI.

Yet,

I feel like I'm doing nothing, I'm not doing any of God's work. Since not being auditor of CU I've not found a task to do to the glory of God that involves people. Sure, I get that God is teaching me lots in my IBI work, and that He could use the books to advance His Kingdom, but it seems that if I am not working with people directly I feel as if I am not doing anything and I don't know what (specific task) to do to make myself feel like I'm being who I should be and serving God the way I feel He has designed me to serve Him.

82. Do you have a crush on anyone?

What am I a teenager? No I do not.

83. If you could choose one colour to wear for a whole year, what colour would it be?

Blue, jeans, hoodies, Superman t-shirts, an old CU hoody... I think blue!

84. Do you cook often?

Most days, yes I do. I have won a competition for cooking, maybe even two...

85. What was the last film you watched? Did you like it?

Disney's "The Wild". It was okay, I guess, but you can't help but compare it to Madagascar and that is much better.

86. Do you eat fish?

If I can avoid it, then no.

87. What is your favourite fruit?

Like a Despicable Me Minion it is BANANAS!!!

88. Do you curse a lot?

No, I don't particularly like it but sometimes... I also don't consider some words curse words that other people might...

89. When was the last time you had a pint of beer?

I don't think I have ever had a pint of beer. I think the last time I had beer was Finbarr's 18th (May 2008) but I could be a little out with that one. The last time I had alcohol was a fruity cider in April I would say. Not really into alcohol!

90. Are you pro-life or pro-choice?

Up until a couple of years ago I abstained from being either. Now I would be pro-life.

91. When was the last time you ate at Burger King?

When I filled in part one of this I wasn't sure on this answer. Now I know it was Tuesday after IBI and CU, with Andy, Jon, Brogan and Tamaris.

92. What was the last book you purchased?

I have bought so many recently... It could have been one by Bill Johnson...

No, I remember, Tuesday I bought Philosophical Foundations of a Christian Worldview... Haven't started it yet though.

93. Where was your last holiday?

London, Disneyland Paris, London again. :)

94. How often do you cry?

As a teenager I cried too much, don't remember if I cried a lot as a baby...

But I think my teen years cried me all out! Sometimes I get the feeling like I want to cry, but I just can't... Ah well :)

95. What are you looking forward to?

Purpose coming back to me.

Cat's study on prayer next Monday (after bank holiday).

Alpha starting.

The release of the ODDs and Lee Kennedy.

The next time I'm in IBI.

Sannadh

Graduating IBI.

Moving to California, to hopefully go to Fuller Theological Seminary to study a Masters of Divinity.

Being a proper pastor.

Opening/running a church or para-church organisation.

Being married (if it happens).

Being a dad (dependent on last one)

The ODDs movie.

Heaven.

96. When is the last time you were shirtless in public?

Hmm... Maybe May 2003...?

97. Can you change a car tyre and wire a plug?

No, on both accounts, I could figure both out though. YouTube videos :)

98. How do you like your eggs?

White, poached.

Or scrambled (or maybe fried) on toast.

99. What was your last argument about and who was it with?

I don't remember...

100. Is there something you should be doing right now?

It's now 1:36am (you can see how long this section took me :) ) so sleeping is a good bet :). Goodnight I will post this in the morning.

100 Questions, Getting to know a Wavey (part 1, with pictures)

Someone sent me a link to these 84 questions... I won't do all 100 here, I will do 25.

1. Put your iPhone on shuffle and list the first ten songs.

Seriously? Okay...

1. Let my words be few- Matt Redman

2. Undignified- Matt Redman.

3. Oh no Little Things- One Direction.

4. God of this city- Chris Tomlin.

5. A Thousand Years, part 2- Christina Perri (yes, it is from Twilight... I shouldn't have done this...)

6. Death of Death- Charlie Hall live at Passion 2013.

7. Here's my Heart- Crowder live at Passion 2013.

8. Once Again- Matt Redman.

9. Our God (violin version)- Chris Tomlin.

10. The Imperial March- John Williams, Star Wars Original Saga Soundtrack.

2. If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Would you take anyone with you?

Orlando Florida, Disneyworld, Universal Studios, the Florida Keys, Kennedy Space Station, Busch Gardens etc. Everyone if I could afford to.

3. What is your preferred writing implement? (eg. Blue pen, pencil, green pen)

I used to have a blue pencil (grey lead) that I wrote the ODDs with. Nowadays I am a simple Bic biro man... I like blue and black ones. The IBI (UCC Society Guild Pens from 2011) are really good too. These days I type way more than I write though.

4. Favourite month, and why?

Random, I don't really like any month more than any other. I don't like December or January, they are too cold. May, I think May is my favourite month. It's the start of summer, the wasps aren't out yet (I immensely fear and dislike wasps), college and school come to a close.... yeah May.

5. Do you have connections to any celebrities?

Technically there are about two fans of the ODDs in the world at the moment so that would make me a celebrity to them! Does that count?

I kinda know Leanne Moore (winner of some RTE X Factor thing, backing singer in the Eurovision for Ireland and Sandy in the recent production of Grease in the Cork Opera House).

A friend of mine in school is the nephew of Tim Wheeler, the lead singer of the band Ash and my cousin used to babysit for Richard Harris... I met the previous three Irish Presidents at one point or another in my life, and Eamon Gilmore (the present Tanaiste). I also stood on the same stone as St. Paul in Corinth... Ok, now I'm really clutching at straws haha.

6. Name 5 items you can pick up from where you are right now?

My phone, my laptop, 'City of Ashes' (book two in the Mortal Instruments Series by Clare), 'The Cost of Discipleship' by Bonhoeffer and my pillow.

7. What brand logo is closest to you currently?

Does this mean physically or to my heart?

Doesn't make a difference, both are Coca-Cola. I love Coke (of the drinking variety) and there is a can of it on my nightstand right now.

8. Do you ever play board games?

Seldom if at all. I own chess, the Buffy board game, Monopoly here and now Ireland, Monopoly Cork, Monopoly all Ireland edition, Discovering Ireland. Of those I have played 2.

9. Name a music artist you love that isn't well known.

Oh dear... Kurt Hugo Schneider... I am an unoriginal individual.

TG Lurgan, I liked them way before this whole Avicii thing.

10. Name a music artist you love that is well known.

Much better question. Owl City, Katy Perry, P!nk, all of the ones.

11. What is your desktop background?

The same one as came with the laptop.

12. Last person you talked to, and through what you talked to them?

Andy and Jon before we all went to our rooms tonight, through the wonderful piece of modern technology known as my mouth.

13. First Colour name you can think of that isn't in the rainbow?

Black, like my soul!

14. What time keeping devices are in the room you are currently in?

My watch, my phone and my laptop, but not my internal clock... it's broken!

15. What kind of headphones do you use?

They are white, with a little red, Sony ones. I, like most of the things in my life, won them (this particular prize was from a Coca-Cola competition.)

16. What is your favourite food?

It is a toss up between the very Irish mash, or the Chinese Chicken with Green Pepper in Black Bean Sauce.

mmmm mash.

17. Does virginity mean anything to you?

Wow.

Yes, God designed man and woman to be together with one another in marriage. It would be awesome if this was still respected by our generation. Really sad thing that it isn't, and even sometimes among Christians :(

18. Do you own any games consoles?

I hate video games. Despite this I own an original Xbox, though I have not touched it in about, a long time. I bought it for KOTOR (a Star Wars game) and the two Buffy games. I have completed two of the three.

19. What pets do you have?

I once had two goldfish, Power and Kid. I also had half a cat, called SnowB.

My sister owns a cat called Tara, I'm sure my brother has vermin of some sort and Andy has 5 goldfish, Flounder, Nemo, SunnyD, Othello and CORock.

20. What's the best job you have ever had?

I don't know if it counts but if so it was definitely Auditor of the UCC Christian Union. That was a year of challenge, stretching, blessing, stress, frustration, despair, hope and growth. Praise God for the opportunity to learn how to serve Him. :)

21. What's the worst job you ever had?

I was an examiner once. I examined Higher Level Junior Cert Religious Education.

I absolutely hate projects. (Remember, JC students, put the title in there as often as possible and talk about what you did and what the overall project was. Don't spend 15 pages talking about how you bought a thank you card and had to make a life altering decision as to whether to pick the one with the flower or the puppy). Not actual answers, illustrative purposes only, no breach in contract here.

I went to the cinema at 11:30 with Andy and some other people I don't remember who, on a Saturday and during the 2 hour movie my supervisor phoned me 4 times.

It was madness. Don't do it unless you are homeless!

22. What magazines do you buy, if any?

Oh, another embarrassing one.

-Writers Magazine,

-Batmobile Collection,

-Star Trek Ships Collection,

-Total Film,

-Star Wars,

-History Magazine,

-Soap ones sometimes,

23. Inspiration behind your blog title?

Wavey's Thoughts? Really? My name's Wavey and I think things.

I have one called Just Wavey too, that was something I said and Mirka made into a brand.

24. Do you wear socks to bed?

No, nor do I wear a top.

25. Favourite item of clothing?

This is really hard.

I am the proud owner of a Superman Cape, a Superman hoody, four CU hoodies, a Coca-Cola shirt, a Papal costume, a hoody made for me about how inspiration Waves are, a Mickey Mouse hoody from Disneyland Paris this summer, and denim shirts... I love all of these things...

Here's some pictures with some of those things in them:

Ok, that's 25. Tune in soon for the next 25...

TotD: What is Church?

Some of my blogs, some I am working on as I work through my own thoughts, others will be posted while in the process of thinking things through. This is going to be one of those. This might seem teaching but it's not meant to be that way. I've been learning things in IBI and through reading from IBI and I don't think these are things a lot of people have thought about, but maybe we, as the Church, need to think about these things, so I will try my best to present what I'm hearing from God through this study for people to ponder on. (Shur isn't it great that IBI has me thinking about church anyway)


There is a lot of talk and questioning going on these days across the Western world about what is Church. Since the year Constantine made Christianity an official religion, an idea of Church has developed across Europe and into North America and down to Australia that understands Church a certain way.

Personally I think this way of looking at church is wrong for the present age we are in. It seems to me, and a lot of others, I am discovering, that the Church, since Constantine (c300AD), has been wrapped in power and has been the dominant voice in society.
Some of us, in some of our churches (maybe most in most) want a return to this, or think it is still the same. However, Christianity is living in a new period. This period has been called 'post-Christian' by Christians that study these things.

Up until very recently Ireland would not have fallen into the category of post-Christian. However, things have changed and Ireland is becoming rapidly post-Christian. I don't know who remembers the Lisbon Treaty referendum of 2009(?) the one we voted no to and part of our voting no, maybe a small part but still a part, was because voting yes would allow for abortion to be introduced in Ireland, I remember seeing that on campaign posters. The EU then gave guarantees for Lisbon 2 and it seems one of them was that pro-life laws would be protected in Ireland. A short few years later we have a situation where abortion is in this country... Ireland is changing fast.

Living in a post-Christian world means that the Church cannot have power as it once had anymore. This is actually a good thing. Jesus never spoke as if he intended governments to be run by Christians. Now we can get back to our roots.

I never want to suggest the idea that we become like the first millennium (first century) church. I think we can learn about what a third millennium church would look like from it though.


What does this mean practically?
In the first, and most obvious instance, we need to look at we think of Church. The twentieth century led to a growth in the idea of a consumer Christian, someone who goes to a Church. This is one of the first ideas we need to combat. In 'TotD: What is Church 2" I want to look at the biblical definition of a church and the doctrinal and religious trappings we have added to that over the years and hopefully it will help me, and some of you, to see what it might mean to have a church in post-Christian Ireland.

The second thing about living in a post-Christian Ireland we have to realise is that there is a difference in how we tell others of Christianity, "TotD: Evangelism in Post-Christian Ireland" will look more at this.

What we need to take from watching our culture changing around us is that the church either needs to reform or it will die... Across the globe churches are seeing drops in youth membership and this is worrying a lot of pastors.

Being perfectly honest I don't really like going to church, this isn't because I'm rebellious or trying to cause trouble or anything like that... There is a disconnect between me, and I think my generation, and the church (unless you were brought up in church, some people brought up in church cannot see this disconnect unless they have people around them who point it out). There are things I love about every church I have been a part of, and there are things, important things, that annoy me immensely about some of them. Part of this is because of the consumer Christian mentality twentieth century Christianity has propagated among the generations that have preceded me, other parts are due to the fact that years of ideas about church and Christianity have amassed and now we, as the Church, cannot shift through the weeds to find the good crop that the Church should be anymore.

The future of the Church, and reaching people of our day (in a Post-Christian Ireland/rapidly changing Ireland), depends on how we, as the Church, think on and respond to these issues.

TotD: Bodhisattva

This blog post is a follow on post from TotD: Christian. If you have not read that one I suggest you peruse it in the first instance and after such has been accomplished come back to this post as it continues the thoughts of the previously mentioned post.

I don't think I have ever used ideas from a non-Yahweh worshipping religion to talk about an idea in Christianity before. I believe this is the first time. All that education is finally paying off ha.

For those of you who don't have a notion what the titular term is could you have a guess which religion it comes from?

Buddhism is the answer. Not all forms of Buddhism have Bodhisattva's (pronounced Bud-tiss-sat-vah) [there are more variations between the 'denominations' of Buddhism than there are between denominations of Christianity, this has prompted some scholars of religion to call for terming them individually and not putting them all under the umbrella term of Buddhism.]
Anyway, in Theravada Buddhism (the main one you would learn about in school) Buddha refers to himself in his previous incarnations as the Bodhisattva. The term is more commonly associated with Mahayana Buddhism though. In this religion a person training to be a Buddha is known as a Bodhisattva.

The Bodhisattva is someone who, over successive lifetimes, commits themselves to learning and living the example of the Buddha in order that, one day in one lifetime sometime, they too may become enlightened as the Buddha was and thus become a Buddha themselves.

Similarly to this as Christians we are like Bodhisattva's to Christ. The analogy has a lot of falling down points of course: Jesus is alive and active in the affairs of the Earth, the Holy Spirit lives in us while the Buddha is distant and we don't turn into another Jesus at the end (but we do become one with Him) nor of course do we have many lifetimes to work on allowing ourselves to be transformed to be like Jesus.

However, there are similarities that are worth noting: the Buddha, like Jesus, left teachings about how to be like Him; both Christianity and Bodhisattva have the idea of learning from the teacher and training to be like Him and both have an idea of what it means to do this successfully. Also both have a finality and a hope for the future about what happens when we train to be like the teacher.

I am in no way saying Buddhism and Christianity are alike, they are not, but it is interesting to look to the Bodhisattva in particular to understand a little bit more what it means to be Christ-like and what it means to be Christian.
Of course all I have mentioned is found in the Bible, and if we took that as seriously as we say we do there would be no need for my mind to think about practically living like Jesus in the world and what it would look like (because all Christians would do it) and happen across the idea of the Bodhisattva and how they live out the teachings of their religion's founder and train themselves to be like him in order to accomplish the things he accomplished.

I think it's an interesting idea to try and reclaim the word Christian from either being Christ followers only, or even just mere spectators in a church, to the idea that we are to be like little Christs living in our individual and unique situations, in the same way that a Bodhisattva is like a little Buddha in their situation.

ask.fm/Wavey1111

ODDs: 150,000th word of book 2

 I did a blog a long time ago now on the 100,000th word of my second ODDs book. Something I like doing, and I imagine any author likes doing, is mapping out my milestones. It makes me feel as if I am achieving something, even if that achievement is only on my computer and may never see the inside of a book cover, or a movie adaptation. This is another point on that map.

The ODDs 2: Chaos and Discord has had to be a different writing process than either the first ODDs book (ODDs Beginnings, still available from amazon.com for the Kindle or any Kindle app, and plausibly going to be an actual book book by the end of 2013, with the help of God)

ODDs one and Lee Kennedy (the book by June project, see www.waveysbookbyjune.blogspot.com) which I actually finished in August, were more accessible.
Being the first book of their respective series' they could have chapters, prologues and pages posted online.

This is not the case with the second ODDs. You would need to have read the first book to understand the second, obviously. Shane Vaughan has read some of the second book but found it hard to get into the story because he hadn't read the first. (He was editing, and reading it for its flow).

Therefore, instead of doing the chapters and milestone pages thing, with the second ODDs I have done milestone words.

The 1st milestone word (www.waveysthoughts.blogspot.com/2013/02/odds-whats-in-word.html)
was and until I changed it to winking.





The 150,000th word of the ODDs is gained!

That's a beautiful milestone word isn't it? It makes me think of what I've gained since beginning to write the ODDs, and later Lee Kennedy.

I've gained a world I can escape to and maintain, improve and build (or tear down) when this world is so difficult.
I've gained improvements in an ability to write.
I've gained a small fanbase, having met two people I don't know who know about the ODDs, have read it and like it.
I've gained money with over 500 copies of the ODDs 1 downloaded on Amazon Kindle.
I've gained knowledge about the world, God and mythology that, if I had not tried to write a book I would not have. Lee Kennedy especially helped in this area as I learned to understand what someone, who was truly living as Jesus in their situations, would do to help a friend in need to better their own life, which I believe has an awful lot to do with Jesus and God, and less to do with education and social standing.


Gained, definitely a good milestone word, unlike the one that was the 100,000 word (before I changed it.)

TotD: Michael

Maybe I should call these Thoughts of the Night.... Michael is possibly a changed name. Normally I don't tell other people's stories but this nearly made me cry for joy, so I have to.

There was a guy going on a missions trip to England (from the USA). In the US some mission groups do weird team building things (like businesses and schools do) in activity centres.
In the centre they do height exercises for three days. This group had a guy called Michael in it. He was a quiet and reserved person. The rest of the team said he was quite reserved and intelligent.

The evening of the first night the team had to do the 'trust exercise'. This is when you stand with your back to your teammates and fall and they catch you.
The reason it is done is to help people deal with trust and touch issues.
The whole team did it and Michael caught each of them without hesitation. The leader of the camp was afraid when it came to Michael's turn, he was afraid because Michael was so quiet that the leader worried he would not be heard when he said he was ready to fall and then would not be caught.

The leader, Mark, moved in front of Michael and told him it was his turn. He describes Michael as freezing up, sweating and the colour draining from his eyes.
Michael was told to prepare to fall by Mark and he obediently did so and then he allowed himself to fall. A second later his brain had obviously decided he should have already been caught and so Michael left out the most terrified, blood curdling scream.

After he was caught and calmed down Michael explained what happened that made him so terrified of falling and heights.

When he was an infant he was put in his cradle but he attempted to climb out and got to the top but his foot got caught in one of the bars and he hung upside down. He cried as hard and as loud as he could for as long as his little body would carry the noise and the tears. He screamed until his voice no longer worked, but he wasn't heard. He wasn't heard for two hours. He hung upside down for two hours until someone came to check on him, and since that, though it was unlikely he remembered the actual event, he had fears of falling and heights; life-or-death fears.

At this news, the other Christians praised God that Michael had, in some small way, faced and overcome his fear. Michael, who had seemed metal, finally showed a weakness and he was happier for it and the group supportive.

Day 2 of heights activities came about and Michael asked Mark about what they would be doing. Each team member had to climb up forty feet into the trees and traverse a forty-five minute obstacle course alone. Each person would be harnessed but would need to upclip themselves and connect to a new rope three times during the length of the course.
Michael was white as a ghost. Mark suggested he sit it out. He had done enough facing his fears for one mission trip. Michael was determined though. Mark harnessed him up himself and went through all he was doing in the safety procedures with Michael and answered Michael's dozen questions and showed him how to strap and unstrap himself safely.

Michael nodded that he was ready to go, he had asked for certain support including the leader of the team going to England doing the course behind him, not in his sight but there if he needed it, and two other people to walk underneath and cheer him on from the ground. Mark and his wife did this.
He would be alone, and he would feel alone but he would have support surrounding him.

Michael looked up the first ladder panic-stricken. Mark says he looked more scared than anyone he had seen in a few years of doing this course and he had seen people cry, say they couldn't do it, hug trees and not move, curse everyone they could, curse nature itself for having trees that tall and give up. Michael looked worse than all of them. Yet he climbed that ladder.

It took Michael twenty minutes to climb to the top, he took it at his pace; one step at a time. Once he reached the top the most amazing thing happened. Michael was terrified, he struggled and he cried out to God for deliverance from, what was, his own personal hell. He lost his balance and expressed emotions that must have embarrassed him but he never stopped. Not once, he never hugged a tree or froze, he kept moving.

As Michael went he wept freely. Tears streamed down his face, and more with every step. He cried and cried, as did Mark and his wife as they watched him, as he continually quoted Scripture reminding himself he was safe in the hands of the Lord and that he could trust Him and that God was his strength. He pushed on, ultimately taking three hours to complete the forty-five minute course, physically alone the entire time. He wept. He prayed. He kept his focus. He was scared to death. But he never stopped.

Mark says, "My wife and I, as well as all who were watching, choked up as we witnessed a man looking solely to God to face the darkest challenge in his life."

Michael faced his fear head on. He didn't just want to face this fear but to conquer it as well. He also moved out in God's strength, not waiting for God to make him braver, or send him help. He stepped out when it could not have possibly been more difficult, becoming completely dependent on God and allowing Him to make good on His promise that we can do all things through Him that gives us strength.

Michael finished the course and at the end you had to allow yourself to fall the forty feet to the ground, there was no ladder. He must have known at that point, being the intelligent one in the group, that this last obstacle would be the biggest falling sensation of his life yet he prepared himself to do it.

The facilitator at end of the course asked him if he wanted to say anything, knowing how momentous this all was, before he jumped off the edge. Michael wept and looked to the skies, beyond the treeline, into the heavens- then he whisper-screamed...

"for You!"

Then he jumped and landed safely. God kept His promise, and Michael became everyone's hero. A man that would face his fears and conquer them, not in his power but in God's.

TotD: I have a dream... A Dream of a Church

I have a dream of a Church that listens to, and is obedient to the voice and calling of God.

I have a dream of a Church where people who are not 'Christian' but committed disciples of Jesus.

I have a dream of a Church in which people who are not Christian become disciples regularly.

I have a dream of a Church which sees those who traditionally are not involved becoming more involved.

I have a dream of a Church where people are in deep with God in all of their being: mind, body, soul and spirit.

I have a dream of a Church in which our Western culture is met, challenged and transformed.

I have a dream of a Church living life to the full (joy, fun and excitement) which is part and parcel of our lives.

I have a dream of a Church that sees God's Kingdom being brought to earth in real and powerful, and undeniable ways.

I have a dream of a Church in which love is the characteristic most witnessed; love of God and the neighbour.

I have a dream of a Church which values art and creativity as an expression of being like the creator.

I have a dream of a Church that brings justice, mercy, grace, love and righteousness into the community.

I have a dream of a Church where truth and honesty are the way of life.

I have a dream of a Church in which worship of God, even throughout pain and suffering, is full, vibrant, real and pleasing to God.

I have a dream of a Church where faith, hope and love are the context for all.

I have a dream of a Church which sees the next generation of leaders and helps train, prepare and give them opportunities without hesitation.

I have a dream of a Church that sees our weaknesses as humans as strengths for God.

I have a dream of a Church everyone is equipped to care and reach out to one another, and those outside the church.

I have a dream of a Church which makes disciples of Jesus and not converts to Christianity.

I have a dream of a Church, and this one scares me a little, where God's Spirit takes priority over all the systems, structures and ways we have of doing things.

I have a dream of a Church which has a Christian community that is friendly and attractive to outsiders.

I have a dream of a Church where people participate in the Kingdom of God and its coming as God has designed them.

I have a dream of a Church where people are living as the people God made them to be and are encouraged to move closer and closer to that each week.

I have a dream of a Church in which we are connected to, dependent on, and serve the Global, Universal, catholic Church.

I have a dream of a Church which is full of members that take the Bible, apply it to their lives and live it out, powerfully in their contexts.

I have a dream of a Church which both supports and values other churches around it, instead of being in competition with them.

I have a dream of a Church where everyone can be used to the fullness God has planned for them, allowing them to be part of what the Church says and does.

That's the Church I dream of!