Pages

Monday 15 October 2012

Bear Grylls Parts Company With Discovery Channel


Bear Grylls is a fascinating man. He's a risk-taker, an adventurer and someone I have admired for a long time. He has or had a very popular show that is/was aired via the Discovery Channel. But apparently he has parted ways with TheDiscovery channel due to differences which caused Bear to back out of some projects that he was contracted to, thus breaking his contract. When I first learned of Bear and found out he was a Christian I wondered how he got on with dealing with the world's media and squaring everything they stand for with his Christian faith. I thought he must surely have some difficulty at some stage. Well, now it seems that he has had to part ways with Discovery because of a difference of opinion. Discovery wanted Bear to do 2 contract events which Bear refused to do. He obviously didn't feel comfortable doing them. It had to happen some time! I was wondering what it was that Bear refused to do. This comment from a reader of the newspaper article sheds a little light on the situation. "The two contact events he refused at all costs to do were 1) A lunch with katie price promoting her new show, "Katie runs a zoo" and 2) lunch with rhianna promoting her new song " I dance like a raunchy animal", so poor Bear...I would back out of and break My contract too !!!"

Yes indeed. I agree with the commenter - anyone in their right mind would refuse to do it!!  Read more on Bear Grylls Parts Company With Discovery Channel: Read about Bear Grylls's Faith. The Wild Faith Of Bear Grylls

Thursday 14 June 2012

Interesting Books

Interesting books (and other stuff too!) Click here.

Friday 8 June 2012

Father's Day 2012

Remember it's Father's day on 17th June 2012.

Visit Father's Day 2012 website.

For gift ideas for father's day click here

Also here.

Thursday 7 June 2012

Helena Jones

Helena Jones is a gospel singer, a gifted song-writer and play-write from the UK. She has been singing for many years and has sung in gospel choirs and church. She completed a BA (Hons)Theatre, part of that included musical theatre. She has run her own theatre company for a short while, so that she could produce her own written work and also enable other actors to have a forum through her show at the time. Helena has a great passion for acting and singing and gives her all to it. She particularly likes dramatic roles and would like to explore more comedy and really would like a chance to better herself in the performing arts industry. Helena is a born again Christian and seeks to glorify God with the gifts He has instilled in her. She is a strong woman with a purpose who knows what she wants in life. She is also a woman with a testimony of God's goodness. Helena has been through many trials and tribulations but has come through them all with God's help and guiding hand. Despite the many trials and struggles she has encountered along the way, Helena has kept her faith in Jesus Christ and stayed true to God. Her songs are very inspiring - especially those that have been bourne out of her own personal experience. You can find some of her songs here. Why not take a little time out to have a listen? 

Saturday 27 August 2011

Saturday 8 January 2011

My First Ceilidh!

I went to my first Ceilidh on New Year's Eve. Yay! It was in Edinburgh, bonny Scotland. I've wanted to go to a ceilidh for a long time and now, especially after having to miss the one I was invited to earlier on in the year due to ill health. Now I've finally been to one. And I was very impressed. It was great fun!

Sunday 21 November 2010

The End Of Downton Abbey! (Boo Hoo)

Watched the last in the present series of the period drama 'Downton Abbey' earlier this morning. And as usual, it was great! Downton Abbey has attracted around 9 million viewers since starting in September. The drama is set in 1912, in a stately home named Downton Abbey, during the reign of King George V. The fact that it is a historical drama has led to a surge of viewers looking for any inaccuracies or errors they can spot and one such instance has involved the spotting of a modern day conservatory in one particular shot. Personally, I was far more interested in looking at the beautiful dresses and costumes that were being worn. I absolutely loved the dresses, they were just beautiful! If only we could walk into clothes shops today and buy such elegant clothing. If I had my way I'd dress as the ladies in Downton Abbey every single day! I'm really gonna miss that show. And I'm sure many others who have become addicted to their weekly helping of the drama will do too. Anyone suffering from withdrawal symptoms will be pleased to know that a new series is in the pipeline. One of my favourite characters in the programme was Thomas, played by the very handsome Rob James-Collier. (I bet many women thought he was absolutely gorgeous when he first arrived in Corrie. It was such a surprise to see such a good looking guy in that soap. A very pleasant surprise for many women across the nation! I think I actually did a double take! Gutted when they killed his character off. And isn't that just typical of Corrie? Don't think they like good-looking men on that show. Come to think of it, don't think they like men at all!) Here's hoping the villianous 'Thomas' will be back in the new series. I don't think the programme would be quite the same without his 'bad boy' plotting and scheming.

Thursday 11 November 2010

If I Were....

Found this very poignant bit of writing by Paul Harvey.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL
by Paul Harvey

I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world; I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's effort, instead of God's blessings;

I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around;

I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;

I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to leadership;

I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;

I would make it socially acceptable to take one's own life, and invent machines to make it convenient;

I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that the life of animals are valued more that human beings;

I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a lawsuit;

I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I would get sports heroes to advertise them;

I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the mind of every family member for my agenda;

I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation. I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so does the nation;

I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and movie screens, and I would call it art;

I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;

I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who call themselves authorities and refer to their agenda as politically correct;

I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, and the Bible is for the naive;

I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional;

I guess I would leave things pretty much the way they are.

If I Were....

If I Were The Devil (In the UK)
(By a different author)

I'd fill the churches with converts. I'd make sure they didn't move on to become disciples (way too dangerous)

I'd fill their minds with lies, self-righteousness and religious pride.

I'd continually tell them that they are better than others. All that humility stuff is for wimps.

I'd make sure they held on to their racist attitudes.

I'd make sure they continued to be completely hypocritical about their sexual issues so that they would remain obsessed with sex and sexual perversion.

I'd fill the church with people who are selfish and self-seeking.

I'd fill the church with people who do not love others, even though the God who they claim to believe in told them that is one of the commandments and is a sign that a person belongs to God.

I'd get them to believe that gossip is ok.

I'd get them to believe that 'once saved always saved' so they'll think they can go around treating others like c--p and still go to heaven! I'd get them to believe that it doesn't matter how they live or how they treat people, they'll be going to heaven anyway. I'd just peddle cheap salvation. Man-centred salvation. Say a quick sinners prayer and viola! I mean, what a great thing such cheap salvation would be! I'd tell them they can live like the devil and still get into heaven. Hate others and still get into heaven. They'd surely buy that. I mean, who wouldn't want cheap salvation like that?

I'd make sure no preacher ever preached "without holiness no man shall see the Lord" or "blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God". Those two scriptures would be banned!

I'd get them to continue to hate others because of the color of their skin. (Just like they did before they got 'saved') That would be a great one. An absolute scream! Hilarious to watch, especially when they are singing (maybe even with their hands lifted up) during 'praise and worship'.

I'd get them to seek their own will and their own way. I'd just keep them the way they've always been - completely selfish.

Hmm. Well I guess I too would leave things pretty much the way they are!

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Overcoming The Spirit Of Racism

That could easily be re-named 'overcoming the demon of racism, because not only is racism a sin, it is a demon spirit! To read article, click here.

Monday 1 November 2010

English Made To Feel Like Outsiders In Scotland

Scotland has a rather unsavoury reputation for being a country full of small minded racist bigots. But I was a bit surprised that there still is so much resentment amongst Scottish people against the English. I came across this article recently:-

"The English in Scotland are constantly reminded of being different and face a difficult task in blending in with the majority population, according to new research.

As the largest immigrant population in Scotland, they face strongly negative attitudes towards them as a group, while often being welcomed as individuals, the Stirling University study found. The findings, set to appear in the journal, Sociology, are summed up by the reports title, quoting one example of the attitudes towards those in the research: We Hate The English, But Not You, Because You're Our Pal.

Using in-depth research into the experiences of a sample of 30 English people living in central Scotland, the researchers found that "recurring moral panics" in the media about belligerent discrimination and anti-English prejudice are not borne out by the experience of the English in Scotland. But it also found that the English minority is not comfortably well-integrated as others claim.

There was a preoccupation among Scots for seeking out differences, and the study concludes this is made stronger because of the outward similarities between the English and Scots. The research is all the more timely this week after First Minister Jack McConnell set out his plans to make it easier for people to migrate to Scotland to live and work. Much of his plan has focused on bringing immigrants into Scotland from outside the UK. But one of the easiest ways of turning around the falling Scottish population could be through attracting more English workers and retaining more English students after graduation from Scottish universities.

According to the most recent 2001 Census statistics, eight out of every 100 people in Scotland were born in England, a total of 409,010. Of those in the research sample, the average person moved here at the age of 28 and had been in Scotland for 18 years.

McConnell tackled the "fresh talent" issue in his Labour conference speech in Inverness yesterday, warning of people who "are frightened by diversity and others whose intolerance and prejudice do nothing but hold Scotland back."

He added: "Welcoming new people to Scotland does not threaten Scots, their jobs or way of life. New talent will help grow the economy, create new jobs and enrich our culture, just as Scots have done across the world for two centuries".

The Stirling research found that being English is the subject of constant reminders from Scots, including teasing, jokes, questions, hostility over sports, or the assumption that they were only briefly visiting Scotland. There is stronger antipathy to some accents, such as the educated twang of the Home Counties, while Scots can be more tolerant of northern English accents, assumed to be more working class. English-born people reported they were particularly conscious of the alleged links made by Scots between English accents and being "upper" or "middle class", "posh", "arrogant", "snobby", "individualistic" or "rightwing".

Scots tend to define themselves by not being English, according to the research. And one effect of living in Scotland among the English- born is that they take on some of the perceptions of injustice and unfairness common among native-born Scots. According to one 46-year- old woman: "I've become quite nationalistic up here. I'm very much for the Scots. I can't stand the way the southern English felt they were far superior and that Scotland was nothing really."

The researchers contrasted the difference between Scots living in Scotland, for whom a sense of identity exists in the background, and English people living north of the Border who face constant reminders of their difference.

"Choosing an 'identity' - certainly in the case of those who wanted to be seen as 'Scottish' - can prove to be a problematic endeavour," said the research. "This was the case even for a relatively powerful minority such as the English in Scotland."

The evidence for that came from several quotes in the report, often from people who enjoy living in Scotland and getting on with Scots-born family, friends and colleagues.

"Englishb*****ds - it's like one word," said one 41-year-old man.

And a 39-year-old woman commented: "I got p****d off with all the put-downs I didn't want to participate in being part of the Scots culture that wants to put me down."

One woman, aged 53, said: "A lot of Scotland's raison d'etre seems to be anti-English." And a woman in her 40s added: "I don't ever admit to being English if I can possibly get out of it."

From another came the comment: "I do think the accent is a key thing actually. Not being Scottish you always kind of feel an outsider when you open your mouth."

The study was undertaken by Douglas Robertson of Stirling's applied social science department with Ian McIntosh and Duncan Sim. Robertson said the findings were relevant to efforts to increase economic immigration.

He said second-generation English immigrants tended to assimilate and it was only where migrants cluster that the difficulties of assimilation and discrimination become apparent. He added that a similar study could be made into Scots living in England, since twice as many Scots live south of the Border as English north of it".

Is Your Church Infected By Racism?

Click here to read article.

Friday 29 October 2010

The Jason Black Story

I absolutely love classical music, quite like SOME opera (as long as it's not to shrill) and love to hear inspiring testimonies, the kind that give you goose bumps. And that's why I've posted this video, because it combines all three. Please take some time to watch this, it's awesome!


Thursday 28 October 2010

Dressing Modestly

Pastors call for revival but are not willing to preach the truth concerning the way a Christian should live. One disgraceful practice in the church is women who show part of their breasts. They brazenly walk around with part of their 'private parts' showing, in public - in church! And they claim to be Christians. They profess to belong to Jesus Christ. By showing their breasts (even if only part of them) in public, the woman is in actual fact partially naked. This is sin and pastors are cowardly avoiding dealing with this. Some pastors reason that people know better and don't need to be taught. Well it looks like some people don't know better. Some do, but either way, pastors need to publicly from time to time tell women to cover up when their private bits are on public display in church! Women would be so upset if the pastor touched what they showed but they won't repent of their sin of immorality. Don't be confused because it is only the top or sides of their 'top half'  they are showing. It's still wrong. Many women today are guilty of double standards. Apply the same standards to a man. If a man wore a low cut belt buckle and just showed the top part of his stuff, people would be repulsed or grossed out. If kids saw him he would probably be arrested for indecent exposure! In Matthew 5:27-28 Jesus told us, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Most men would have been married that heard this saying. For the unmarried lusting after the unmarried it would have been fornication. The concept is still the same. If it is adultery for a man to lust after a woman then why isn't it adultery for a woman to try to entice the lust of a man? Women who publically show their private parts are perverted. They do this knowing full well that it will not be only men who can see this, but also women and children. They have perverted lust in their hearts. And they have been planted in the church by the devil. It's time for preachers to grow some back-bone and begin to speak out about this sin that women in the church who expose their breasts in public are practicing. Their hearts are full of lust, sexual perversion, fornication and lesbianism. They are completely self-centred and don't care how their actions effect or offend others. Such people have no interest in holiness, doing God's will or pleasing God. Can such a woman really be classed as a genuine Christian who has past from death to life? If you are a woman who professes to be a Christian and yet publically exposes parts of your breasts, you are deceived. As a woman I'm here to let you know that what you are doing is gross! Any normal person is sickened by it. You need to cover the private parts of your body up and live to please God, not yourself. The bible says those who will be saved will be those who do the will of God. And perverts who like to go out in public (including to church) partially naked do not do the will of God, they do the will of the devil. The truth of the matter is when a person is truly born again, the Holy Spirit changes their nature so that they don't even want to go out partially naked any more. They want to dress modestly because God's Holy Spirit gives them a new nature, God's nature. They don't need to be told to dress modestly by man, the Holy Spirit speaks to and corrects those who belong to God so that they do not even have the desire to go out in public with their private parts exposed. Which leaves 'Christian' women who do this with a problem. Any 'Christian' woman who can go out in public with parts of her 'top half' exposed without any conscience needs to ask herself who she really belongs to - God, or the devil?