Life's small-sized joy

Whilst pondering what makes me happy, I realised that the young kids that live on campus bring me joy. These are student's kids and they live in surrounding flats. Anyway, up until a few weeks ago (when the weather started getting mean), I used to finish class in the afternoon and go and play with them in the gardens.
We would do all sorts of things like pretend to be aeroplanes, on motorbikes, or swimming whilst lying on our backs on the grass.
The imagination they have is wild, and I wish I had younger siblings to do the same with. Man I can't wait to have kids. I feel like I was born to be a daddy.
You just wait. I'll be a rad dad yet.
Here are a few pics I took of them. There is an art pic I took which will go up on my photo blog in the next week. Oh, by the way, hardly anybody is posting comments about my photographs! Guys! C'mmon! Just write the good and bad points of each photograph, and if you don't think you have photogrpahic licence enough to comment, then just describe how the photo makes you feel. Gimme some support in this. Please! I'll be posting one photograph up each day for a little while.
P.s. Don't forget life's small-sized joys. Especially if they cry all the time. It's all good.

I feel... something?

What do you do when you stop feeling God?

One man sees Christ die and believes, but another only hears about Christ dying and believes. Who has more faith?
In the same way, what if one man feels God's presence & love and lives by Christ, and another man does not feel God's presence or His love, but still lives by Christ because he knows what is really true. Who is displaying more faith.
You'd all say the latter in both instances. But then, aren't we supposed to want more faith? Yet we still want to feel God's presence and love, right?
Ok, let's rewind...

All my Christian life I have felt God's presence, His love and His power. But for the past month I have felt nothing. What do you do if you wake up one day and it feels like God has gone. You know it's not true, and are firm in that, but you still feel nothing.
Well, that was me, about a month ago.
I didn't change anything. My praying, reading the Bible, Christian duties, attitude & behaviour. I trusted that God was still there, and I believed (and still believe) that this is a wilderness experience type thing for me.
I don't pray that this comes to an end straight away, but that God helps me endure it for however long He wants, and for me to learn from this and come out stronger on the other side.

Now I've been struggling through, until roughly somewhere in the last week, where things suddenly took a turn for the worse. I started losing feeling in other areas too. Mainly within the realm of human interaction. Like I am losing the ability to feel happy or sad, pleased or angry. I don't feel anything. Nothing
This is about the time I started panicking and wondering what to do.

Guys, I'd really appreciate your words on this one, because I'm afraid my own may not be sufficient.
All I know is I must remain thankful in whatever circumstances that may arise.

My New Art Photo Blog

Decided to host a blog just for my art photography.
These are not fun pics. This is photography. No digital manipulation (for the most part.)
Anyway, I created it last night and I will post on here every so often to let you know about the new photos I put up (for those who are interested).
The few photos on there right now are old ones from Capernwray that you have already seen.
Please feel free to comment and give your artistic opinions. Criticisms are just as welcome. (You know me).

www.daveophotography.blogspot.com

Noteworthy Phone Call to Minnesota

Today I made one phone call and got to speak to these 5 people...

Awesome, huh!

"Seriously, I'm fine."

So yesterday morning I threw up like 8 times before going to preach a sermon in Sermon Class (Like a homiletics class, but only the practical side). it had nothing to do with the fact that I was preaching, but it might have been to do with me staying up all night to write the (poorly presently) sermon. Or I might have eaten something dodgy. But I had to preach because there was gonna be a bunch of prospective students 'just looking' and sitting in on that class.
So, I told my lecturers for the day why I wasn't gonna be in class and went back to my room to sleep.
But, later that morning, loadsa people came in to see me, and give me food 'n' crap and to see how I was. What had happened, was that my lecturer mentioned it in class and they prayed for me. It was really weird cos people came in as if to pay their final repects at my deathbed.
Turns out it was probably just a 24-hour-bug or probably less than that. No big deal. But I think people are still praying for me even though I was like, 'Seriously, I'm fine. No, really.'
Later that evening i went and played fooball for like 2 hours and people couldn't understand it. Heh. I didn't really care.

In other news, I sent off my Moody application a couple of days ago, which is a huge weight off my mind. I'll find out if I got in by January 15th. Much prayer would be appreciated for this people. Thank you and good night.

Shannon Neufeld

Shannon has joined the blogging world!
Her link is on the side.

Original Sin v Original Innocence

Today in my Pentecostal Theology class there sparked a discussion on whether we as humans are born with original sin or original innocence. i.e. are we born as sinful beings or as innocent beings because we have not yet sinned?
Moreover, if a baby/child dies do they go to heaven or to hell? Original innocence suggests that if they die before committing their first sin, then they get into heaven on their own merit of a sinless life. However, Christianity teaches that nobody bar nobody gets into heaven on their own merit, but it is only through Christ's atonement of their sinfulness/sinful nature that gets us in. There is no biblical evidence for us being born innocent until we sin. Hmmm... Is not every person that enters the world doomed to sin?
What are we therefore saying? That young babies/children who die without accepting Christ are going to hell? That's a bit strong, ain't it? But are we always looking for a theological loophole to make us feel better and fit our circumstances? Also, what about God's grace?

In the 3 minutes that this discussion lasted, I concluded that we are born with original sin and that God is still the judge of all people, of which we play no part in, and He is a just and fair God.

I hope that this, my Torchbearing buddies, provides food for thought, and I'd love to hear those thoughts...

My God Reigns? In Me?

This morning at devotions we sang 'Over all the earth' (or 'Lord reign in me'), which, if I'm honest is not my fave tune in the world. However, as we were singing it, I thought, "is this just lip service that I'm paying?"
I came to the conclusion that I didn't want it to be like that, so I decided to concentrate on the words. I didn't get a big message from the Lord. I just concentrated on the words.

There's a line (as you know) which goes, '...over all my dreams, in my darkest hour...' and I asked myself, 'Does He reign in those areas?'
As of late I have entertained realisations such as that God really isn't the boss of this area or that, and He isn't really the number one thing in my mind when I am doing this thing or that. But the sad fact is, I realise these things and don't do a thing about them.
How many of us need to ask whether God rules in every area of our lives? I often ask God to do just that, yet somehow I find myself living against that request.
I also realise it will all be ok, and I understand it's a journey I have to continue walking, and so onward I press.

I conclude that even though God may not truly reign in all areas of my life, He is still there and still knocking at the door, asking to come in.


"Lord, my one request,
Lord my only aim
Is that you'd reign in me again.

The Daveo Photo Smile

In response to Marisa's comment on the last post (Life in Green) about my fake photo smile, I decided to teach the tricks of the trade to you all.
For those of you who are baffled, an example is shown in the previous post.
I challenge each of you to take a photo of yourself doing The Daveo Photo Smile and then post it on your own blog under the title "The Daveo Photo Smile" for all to see. Then I will collect them and put them all in one blog-post.
Hoorayyyyyyy!

"But Daveo! How on earth do I do that crazy, sexy, lovely smile of yours??!" I hear you cry!
Alas my Torchbearer siblings, I will give you a step by step (play by play)...

Step 1: Relax (don't do it, when you wanna go through it)
Step 2: Now press your upper lip lightly against your upper row of teeth (but don't concentrate on this too much. It's not that important.
Step 3: Smile slightly by raising your cheeks a little.
Step 4: Let your lower lip hang slightly away from your lower set of teeth.
Step 5: Move skin between bottom of chin and lower lip in a downwards direction.
Step 6: Take the Photo

Other important notes to uphold are to not frown; make sure your lower and upper sets of teeth are together; look lovingly at the camera (it loves you back); and finally, remember, if this doesn't work out, it's ok. You still have to post the best one(s) on your blog, and you don't have to give up your day job.
Allison is the first to try it, so if you are confused about what to do, then just look at her blog.
Good Luck fellow smilers!

Life in Green

Today no less than 8 people used the exact phrase, "You're looking very green today,"
Here is a photo of how I look on Wednesday 16th November 2005.

Yes the T-shirt is from American Eagle (in some American Mall in San Diego) and in truth, the only reason I bought it was because I promised myself I would buy something from AE to take home with me.
Oh, and If you're wondering why their is an indent in the hair on the side of my head, it's because 1. I'm growing it again (picture Daveo at the beginning of Capernwray, but sexier), and 2. because i was wearing a matching green visor all day.
And before you start on the unfashionability (new word to add to my dictionary of discombobulated words) of visors, it was from H&M (Regent St, London). Phew!

Justin Nanfelt

The main man himself has started a blog too! Wicked Awesome!
The link's down the side...
I'd check it out if I were you. There are some great pics there.

This is the pic we had on our door in Austria, in honour of you Justin. Maybe i'll get one sent over to you sometime.

Elin Austbø

Our Norwegian friend Miss Elin Austbø has joined the world of blog. Her link is down the sidebar, for all you Elin fans...
Also, she has joined Skype, as has Jimmy! Hoorah! Anyway, here is the lovely lady herself.

My Longest Skype

Tonight I had my longest skype with Miss Janice Rae.

It was 3hrs 58mins 4secs.
Anyway, I thought I'd post some sexy pics of the lady from Winter School because she is so wonderful.

Excuse me, have you seen my motivation?

Today is a slow Sunday.
Lately I have been comtemplating my existence. Purpose in life, mainly.

I am a very goal-orientated person, and as of late have been looking at my goals and aims in life, and I ask myself, 'How badly do you really want these things?'
Do I just say I want to achieve something and then not apply myself to fulfil this achievement? I dunno.
Maybe it comes down to motivation.
I remember Rob Whittaker's lectures on Personal Evangelism, (which I do look at from time to time), and he said the greatest obstacle in converting non-Christians is a lack of motivation. The same applies for work, and menial tasks. Am I not even bothered to do anything about this obstacle? Of course I am! But it doesn't feel like I'm doing anything.
When I was at Capernwray and T-Hof, it felt like I had such a motivation to do stuff. What was my motivation there? I think it was you guys.
I'd really appreciate some of your thoughts on this one.

Mr Brent Potter

Most of you already know this from Pam's blog, but Brent now has a blog. Hooray!
Brentsu, you were the first of my roommates I met whilst catching the coach up from London. And then to find you with all your crap sprawled across the floor in Austria only to be told I was roomming with you again! Man, apart from with my sister when I was a youngster, I have not shared a room with anyone as much as with you.
Bro, here are pics of Room Thir-ee and Room 1:

Abortion in Britain

Ok, so devos was good. A guy called George Verwer (from OM) was speaking to us about some interesting shiznit. He mentioned a topic which was all on the news in Britain yesterday, and following Marisa's rant on it on her blog, I thought I'd let you people know what the dealio-yo is in your much beloved Britain. I don't know exactly what the law is in Americanadia, but this is what it is in B-rizzle. I got this info from a BBC site aimed at educating teens. I copied and pasted some lines straight from it...

Facts and figures
In Britain about 180,000 pregnancies are terminated every year. Teenagers account for 20% of these. More than half of pregnancies in under 16s end in abortion.
...500 women die each day from illegal abortions worldwide. Take no chances with your body - do it properly...
Is it morally right?
This is the difficult bit. Some people know immediately what to do when they get pregnant. For others, it’s a confusing, scary time. Many people have strong views on abortion. But it’s your life, your body, your decision and your right to request one.
What does the law say?
Up to the 24th week of pregnancy an abortion is legal, with the agreement of two doctors. It is not legal in Northern Ireland, except under exceptional circumstances.
If you’re under 16, you needn’t tell your parents if both doctors believe you fully understand everything involved. The docs won’t tell your parents (although they may encourage you to do so) unless they believe you’re in danger.
How do I get one?
Go to your GP, local sexual health centre or nearest Brook Advisory Centre (see below). A (very) few doctors don’t agree with abortion, but they are duty bound to refer you to someone who does, without delay.
They will arrange for you to be seen in a special clinic, usually fairly quickly, at your local hospital.
Is it free?
The majority of abortions are free, done on the NHS. In a few areas the NHS may not pay for all abortions. If you go private, you can expect to pay around £400 for an early pregnancy abortion.
I'm scared
You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t. This is the biggest thing ever. And all those questions, prying and prodding... it’s enough to put anyone off. It isn’t going to be easy. But be brave. No professional you meet will judge or lecture you. They are on your side.
After the abortion, what next?
You may feel relieved, sad or a bit of both. You’ll never forget the abortion. Most women never regret it either. If you need to talk some more, counsellors are there for afterwards, too.


Can you believe that!! For those of you who didn't read all that, This is the law and some stats in Britain...
- If you're under 16, you can get an abortion without your parents knowing. If you're 16 or over, you're not under anyone's jurisdiction on this issue. (Oh, by the way, at age 18, you cannot obtain an aspirin from the school nurse without phoning your parents and getting consent.)
- In Britain, 180,000 unborn babies are murdered each year.
- Doctors are required to appear pro-abortion, or refer you to a doctor who is, straight away.
- They are free to get done.
and this is what a top educational site advises teenage girls...
- It’s your life, your body, your decision and your right to request one.
- All those questions, prying and prodding... it’s enough to put anyone off.
- It isn’t going to be easy. But be brave.
- No professional you meet will judge or lecture you. They are on your side.
- You’ll never forget the abortion. Most women never regret it either. (bullshiznit)

So there you have it.
And you all thought Americans were stoopid!
People! We have a contender!

Stuck in a Moment

So apparently, this is my 100th post. Who gives a damn.
Hmm, so last night I had like the worst night of sleep like ever. Or should I say non-sleep. I don't know what was up with that, but today is supposed to be a 'Day of Renewal' where we aren't allowed to do any work at all. Which should be good. I dunno what they have in mind, but I was thinking like a day spa and an hour long massage. (I'm still hopeful, but I'll find out in like 10 minutes.
Oh, here are lyrics which I thought summed me up at my present place in life:

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it.
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it.

Bono -You Too

That pretty much sums me up in my life right now. Dude what is up?
Here are some pics I took with Stephen Morris at Capernwray one day whilst trying to capture a moment. I'm trying to illustrate how I feel...





This is where I'm at...












...and this is where I want to be.

Elizabethtown

Tonight i went to the cinema to see Elizabethtown with Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom (from Kent, England, like me). It was fun, and afterwards, Kirsten and I ditched Orlando to go for a pizza. Don't get me wrong, Lando is a good guy, and of a great pedigree, but durign the film he just wouldn't pass the bag of sweets, (which was rude, because I paid for them).

I thought that Cameron Crowe did an ok job, but it was different to his others. I dunno, it had a stretched out feel to it, as if it was giving you time to think. Naturally I thought Dunst was spritely in the film and added a feisty kind of friendliness to her character. Bloom played the role like a real person. It was strangely refreshing actually.
I don't want to critique the film, just to talk about it is all. Hmm, the story is about a guy who has a big failure in business and is about to kill himself, before finding out his dad has just died. (don't worry, this is all in the trailer). So the film is about the journey he takes dealing with stuff, and his realisation of all that he needs to come to terms with. This is aided by a flight attendant (Dunst) who strikes up an unusual friendship with him. And so on and so on... Well, that's how I perceived it anyhow. A line in the film which struck me was when Bloom is driving with his father's urn in the passenger seat and he says, "This is a trip we should have taken years ago." I dunno, but I just don't want that to be what I am saying to God about something in years to come. Thoughts people? let me know if you saw it and what you thought.

Ode to Jón Magnús

Our Icelandic friend Jón Magnús Kjartansson has started a blog! You have to check it out!

Anyway, Here's my Ode to Jón...

We first grew close by praying about a certain situation,
Then in football in the Sports Hall, and with other recreation,
We had many good times at Capernwray, doing things that good friends do,
And to help you to remember man, I've written about two:

One time in the guys' corridor, in Room 23 at night,
We drew on our faces with markers, and had a plastic knife fight,
You stabbed me in the chest, but I only pretended to die,
Then I got up and killed you back, in the nipple (but you didn't cry).


Then one night with BJ Kirchner, we crept out to build a fire,
We talked about all kinds of stuff, as the flames climbed higher and higher,
That night was a milestone of Capernwray, more memorable than others,
It was there we built our friendships and became a band of brothers.

Jón, You Rock!

Street Evangelism...

Right now it's 1.52am and I'm just buzzing.
I have a million thoughts in my head and I just had to put them out here to let you know what's going through my mind.
I just have to share Jesus with those who don't know Him. I can't help it! I was thinking of street evangelism, and you know there is that whacky guy who stands on street corners calling out for repentance, and just gets heckled at and stuff thrown at him for preaching, well, that's ineffective because people just don't listen to him. Now imagine if what he was saying was not only true, but it was good preaching, and convicting. Would people listen then? No. -Why? because they don't want to and they don't have to. But supposing they had to, and couldn't stop till they had heard the whole message. What then. Maybe great things would come about. maybe they'd feel convicted, or overwhelmed with God's love. So how do we make that work people?
Everyone knows a crowd draws a crowd. Now say there were already a whole crowd listening to this guy when people saw him. They most probably wouldn't throw stuff. They'd stop and try to hear what all these other people had stopped to try to hear.
So the preacher could preach for like 5 minutes and the people already there can hand out tracts and do some street evangelism. Maybe some singing of songs. And then another person gets up to do another 5 minutes. Why not? This would totally work?
I feel like I'm waiting for God's call to send me. To anoint my ministry. I'm just waiting on the anointing people. I'm like a revved up racecar waiting for the light to turn green. We should be bringing a new person to church every Sunday. Everyone should. They don't get the chance to hear the Word, because nobody invites them. The y don't know what church is like because they never go. Because nobody invites them. Why aren't we bringing them in.
I'm sick of praying for this and that, for God to bless me, to bless my mum, to bless my dad, to save my friend, to save my other friend. I wanna do something about it all. I wanna be a blessing to others, I wanna let God use me to save people. I wanna be active in hand's-on evangelism.
When we feel spiritually dry, why aren't we taking a spiritual drink of water? We need to read our Bibles and pray. Are we praying enough? Are we reading our Bibles enough? Probably not, so let's get on that. Pray for a message from God, even when you don't feel you need one to direct you anywhere. Pray for God to wake you up to reality. Where are you? In a lost world with no hope but Christ. You hold that hope. It's in you. It's Christ in you. Share Him. Do it. You need to. It's what you were destined to do. It was what you were commanded to do. Just do it.
It's 2.05am, and I am pumped.

Church Visit - South Manchester

So today, I went on a compulsary school trip to visit the first of three churches to analyse the way churches are run.
When I first went in, I thought, man, this is small. It fitted about 250 people and for all services it accomodated 500 pentecostal charismatics. I mean, it's pretty big for an English church, but I was just expecting it to be massive.
When we were told what this church was doing, I was quite humbled and was left wondering why other churches weren't doing the same.
Now, you have to take into account that these people aren't your upper class rich Christians, but average earning Northern Joe's who attended a church 'that was given no hope' of surviving.
So they've grown from a congregation of 20 to 500 in the last few years;
Built a huge Bible College in India;
Recently built and planted 43 churches in India;
Just built 30 housed there for some Tsunami refugees;
Built a huge Adoption centre in Romania;
Built homes and churches in Romania, etc, etc...
Now, how does a church of this size do all this and have a turnover of £750,000 (that's USD $1.32m or CAD $1.55m)? Well, it started off creating it's own charity shops (thrift stores) and now has four, of which God seems to bless too. But the thing that bugs me, is that this church is making more of a difference in the lives of non-believers and believers internationally as well as locally, than some of our churches.
Hmm, do we lack the energy to go all out on planned out projects like the aforementioned? The pastor of this church said it was the people that mattered, and not the projects or premises, but the latter two seemed to be quite actively enlarging.
So why aren't even larger churches doing even greater things? Now you would say that this is not the idea of your church, and that's why it doesn't happen? Or that this church was just a one-off phenomenal church? To be honest, it didn't seem like it was. Only that people were actively doing stuff.
Just a thought.
Next Friday I go on my second trip. That is to a church in Leeds, where I was born, and apparently that one is really big. I'll let you know how that one goes.

This is a pic of me taken today by the way. It has no relation to the post, but thought you like seeing photos of me. Ha. J slash K. But I'm posting it anyway cos I thought it made me look cool.

STOMP!

So tonight i went to Stoke-On-Trent to see STOMP. If you didn't already know, it's a show where people make music fomr brooms, dustbin lids, sticks, paper and plastic bags, basketballs, zippo lighters, and loads of other street stuff. They even played music using a bunch of kitchen sinks!
It was absolutely outstanding!

Sarah Clerc

Sarah Clerc is back from her travels in Cananadia and now has a blog. You should check it out. The link is on my sidebar. You know the score.

Jimmy Haring / Napoleon Dynamite

Hey, so if you didn't know, Jimmy Haring has a blog now. If you hadn't already, you should check it out just for the wicked cool adventure he and Justin went on. His link is on my sidebar.

Remember at the beginning of Winter School, everyone called Jimmy, Napoleon? Well, linking the two, I thought those who hadn't seen some of the adverts for the Utah State Fair should check out these Napoleon and Pedro video and audio clips. They're Flippin' Sweet.




Napoleon1 (video1)
Napoleon2 (video 2)
Napoleon3 (video 3)
href="http://jakehilton.com/videos/vid_player.html?stream=01utahstatefair-ninjas">Napoleon4- Utah State Fair -Ninjas (audio 1)
Napoleon5- Utah State Fair -Cakes(audio 2)
Napoleon6- Utah State Fair -Sesquicentennial (audio 3)
Napoleon7- Utah State Fair -Diary (audio 4)
Napoleon8- Utah State Fair -Pedro’s Song (audio 5)

How cool are these?
I think they are pretty much the best video and audio clips ever made.
Tell me what your favourite bits are.