Relevance

Hi avid readers!

Relevance in our daily lives. Seems like quite an unusual topic to be grappling with and to be honest at times it is very easy to drift along in life and take a back seat. But being relevant in your daily live means actively seeking and understanding the events happening in your life; while sticking firmly to your principles to your beliefs. It means having the freedom to give friends and family information which is not only useful, but valuable throughout their times of hardship.

If the above paragraph isn't enough of a clue for you, being relevant in your own life means...BEING YOURSELF! For we were made by God:
"13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

And He knows every intimate detail of our Body, Mind and Soul. He has created us, and created us ALL differently. There are no two people alike, because God doesn't believe in spares. He made us all perfectly the first time; yes we have failures, yes we have fears and minds that can wander, but these are the things that MAKE us human. These are the things God is constantly helping us work on in our own lives, even if we can't see it at the time.

Being relevant also means living in the present, FOR the future. It means planning ahead and understanding that not all things can be prepared for. Dwelling in the past can be dangerous, not only to you but also to your friends, to your family; yes lessons can be learned, but only when you can look back without being bogged down by it all. In the end God has a plan for each of our lives, all we have to do is ask Him what He wants us to do/say/act and God will provide the Spiritual Effect.

It may be hard to see but God is constantly working behind the scenes, in each persons life everyday. It may just happen that you say something, which that person has been thinking about for a long time which helps them understand life more. Thus we all have a responsibility to project the best image into the world; even if it's smiling more, or becoming slow to anger. God can and will use what you are prepared to give to help others.

Well I hope this firstly is useful to you and that you can make sense of it, so that you may become more relevant in your lives.

God Bless

One Positive

There have been many things a Mr. Cameron from the ‘Government’ has done and said. However, on the issue of financial aid to countries abroad I find myself agreeing; if not vigorously. It is ‘for a dead man walking’ a step in a better direction. He has come too far, too quickly for it ever to be a step in the right direction, but I’ll let that slide for now.

Charity begins at home. Harsh words for some, I am aware, but as good old Abe Lincoln said “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. Once we have sorted out our own debt, once we have doused the fires, stemmed the tides and dammed the rivers, will we have enough of a foundation to stand on. How many millions have been poured into foreign aid? Where is the difference? I can only see the richer grow richer, while the needy try and endure.

Look through your town, your city; how many lives could be drastically improved with £67 million poured into community efforts? Once the quality of life for every man, woman and child in England is equal then can we reach, ever the stronger, abroad. Once the safety and security of every teenager, every pensioner, and every helpless baby is assured then we can muck in for the nations. Once we all realise we are human can we start behaving that way.

I once lost faith in Mankind. There were too many people trying to burn the world, trying to inflict pain, for any of the good deeds to matter. Don’t make my mistake. I have Hope now, that we can make the World better, even if it means moving street by street. It will take as long as it takes; the world is changing and people need to start growing up before they are swept away by the tides. Now is a time to get to know your neighbours and show them you care.

Progress by Default

No person can learn, if they do not see themselves as equal with their teacher. Of course, you may not be equal in knowledge or experience; but you surely have other gifts. This belief, this knowledge allows the student to comprehend what the teacher teaches and thus develop it further; by not being restricted by habit or rigid belief [which may be suffered by the teacher]. It takes a lot of internal change to accept that which is different, but being too open minded can also result in catastrophe.

You can allow yourself to be persuaded by others in order to feel as though you belong. Your morals will suffer for your ego. You should be certain of this: you were made unique to allow yourself a different experience, and for your future to be bountiful. This is how the student becomes the master [I know very corny and feeble] by taking the knowledge from several sources and varying application by experience.

This is how we form wisdom. Understand the knowledge and how it applies, then utilise it in the best way for the situation at hand. No one deserves the 'honour' of being called stupid by your mouth. For there is always someone smarter...always. Your pitiful measurements of intelligence and negligible next to the infinite in which we live each moment.

Vising

Or to be more precise (re)vising can be at times a seemingly tiresome affair that may feel like it is accomplishing very, very little. However, the brain is an advanced and extremely complex and unusual organ, that still baffles scientists; so who knows what goes on in there.

"You can only try your best" is what I tend to hear at college, but what about when your best isn't good enough?
1 Corinthian 2:14-16 Go look it up right now!
We have the mind of Christ! Isn't that amazing? Thinking short term here, that means i can remember AND understand all my work and revision for the exams that are facing me. No mountain of work is too big for God...He is God!

Look to God and the answers will become clear to you. No journey undertaken with the right mindset and blessing from God will fail. Even though at times it can appear to be hopeless stand tall and trust your God, for there is always Hope; and where there is Hope there is Faith.

Matthew 17:20 states that with Faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Nothing is impossible in Faith.

But now we have to understand the right application of Faith. You cannot simple fly because you want to. The application of Faith must achieve something of purpose, either in your life or the lives of others to be brought closer to God.

What then can I do? Well you want good grades, or a promotion, or even to get on better with someone. Well heres a newsflash, God may not give you want you want. He will however give you what you need; and if you approach the situation in the right way, all will fall into place. So God may give you a promotion in order that your family is more financialy secure, or that you can exercise your talent as being a leader...the possibilites are limitless. But as I said earlier...you may not. And it's in these times we must cling to God and actively seek out His plan for us. It may take a long time, but thats where Faith comes into play again. And where there is Faith there is Growth.

Where Will It End?

Is it funny that sometimes in life we seem to only complain about very trivial matters? It seems that the higher the degree of comfort we live in, the more we take for granted and as a result we moan about the smallest things. Of course we have to loose it ALL before we truly know what we had; freedom is only freedom, when you have been in slavery (of any form).
Is it right that we complain about the temperature of the shower, while other less fortunate people have to spend each day looking for enough food to survive? Even in this "More Economically Developed Country" there are people who can't afford to live.
The amazing part is; they know what they need to do so they don't complain or protest. Who would they talk to anyway? It's not like your going to listen to their small voices, while you turn up your ipod and rush off to some 'vital' meeting. You don't have time...YOU'RE BUSY! Yeah right! The world is busy, but charity still survives.
So far you have grown up in a world without a threat of death, where you can get whatever you want. It will all change soon.
Perhaps. perhaps there can be a difference if you change right now. It's not too late. Stop wasting money and time; live a simpler life and find fulfilment in what you do. Stand still, listen...that's the world calling. Can you here the voices that want to be heard?

Life in General and My Agenda

It has always seemed strange to me that people could be so trust less. That any action taken could be perceived in so many threatening ways. Perhaps it once again comes from my past [as does everything that has shaped me] being surrounded by people who (i thought) had secret agendas [but probably didn't, they were just thinking about number 1], I decided to create my own agenda. Must admit as I write this it still sounds a little strange, but for me it is less selfish and more for peoples benefits than most agendas. But i am still fractured.

Here is a question and more altogether the topic of my blog for today. Is it odd that i take the future for granted? Or in fact does everyone?

I'm sure there are people who don't. People who are living in fear of loosing their jobs, or having to move away or any number of life altering events, but I do take the future for granted. And at times it scares me. Some people are given the impression that i don't care about my life or what happens. That was once true but now is not. I was just never fully aware of my responsibilities, and now i hope i am more sensitive to the people and understanding what is needed.

I hope in the far future some people come back and read this and understand where I have come from. But what is the future but hopes and dreams dreamt while we are still sleeping? It is more than that. It is our lives. It is what will happen regardless of time, of money, of feelings. Life goes on and we cannot dream when there is a future to build. So where do we go? What do we do?

I like the film 'A Christmas Carol' But the message never really struck me until last year. Humanity is our business. And we must try as hard as we can to show the people out on the streets, to show the people who don't understand, to show anyone who needs love; that there is Love, and someone cares for them. I once said we can only truly develop by embracing our past. Now I realise that although that is good, we must also embrace our neighbours and our families to grow into this world.

Many people would say the future is what we make it, or what we make for ourselves...I'm not yet convinced on this, but if it is then let's try our best to make it a good future; for the world.

Steps on the Pyramid?

It is a rather odd thought to me, that my thoughts (go figure) would feel so much more ordered and understandable when i am the most tired.

Either you a trawling through the senseless ramblings of a tired 17 year old lad; or you are witnessing the well structured and proved prose of a keen young mind. But at times we are called to work with what we are given so...here we go.

Due to my young age, there are many things in life that i have not experienced; as of yet. One situation that has only recently reared it ugly head is, inequality. Sure we see it in films, on television; or hear of it in talk, but up until recently i have never been a victim of it.

On this count i would consider myself blessed, because inequality IS a horrible thing. As just mentioned I did experience it quite recently from someone who is equal to me, and being that I am still young, and forming of opinions and views are not yet set in stone, it shook me up a fair bit.

Now I really know what injustice feels like, and it's only from our own emotional experiences that we can create opinions and perspectives on situations in life. What then, am i going to do?

I am going to give this person and peoples the same respect i give to everyone else. I would consider us equals and try to help, as I have helped others. I would wish them, well and long lives, and show them that I care for their future. Even if they do not.

I'd hope any person reading this would be challenged and also give it a go. For it is not the depths of our wallets, nor the height of power of our acquaintances that make us friends of the people. It is the sacrifices and time, and equality shown to the people. That earns true respect, and that is hard to break.

Ramblings

For some strange reason I'm finding writing quite hard at the moment [so bear with me]; stories, poems, blogs have slowed down. Perhaps it's due in part to this emotional journey I'm on. Some things have changed, I've grown...and the shifting of life from one area of comfort to an unknown is looming [University]. A question I have always wrestled with is "Am I ready?", but that's just being selfish of me, I'll never be completely ready for anything. I may as well give it a go rather than spend an entire lifetime being fully prepared. Life cannot develop without unforeseen consequences and challenges that we have to overcome. Shame no-one i talk to seems to feel the same way.

And if I am sure of what i have to do, then by a 'little help from above' and with my love for God and his plan [and all the rightly deserved respect there] then surely [Romans 8:28-31] 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

I will go for it, rather than waste a lifetime in contemplation. Why? Because i want to try for God and I have faith. I want to enjoy myself and make Him smile, at the same time. So if I appear a little random, a little loud, a little crazy, a little unique...it's because I am and I know I am and I am comfortable with myself. And I'm doing it for the betterment of people so they have something to cheer them up rather than a year of sadness.

And now on to something a little less related. Yes, a tangent. I found it quite odd after writing a few poems that people and websites said "it's good to be surrounded in what you are doing", in this case to read poetry before writing it. I didn't find it hard to write poetry, and to me reading other peoples poetry was an optional step which I am yet to take. So where are my poems now? Well my friends are reading them, then i can bring in the 'system' and get them published. YAY!

Necessities of Living

O.K. so it has been a while and I've been busy thinking...or more precisely revising for exams. But that's cool we need exams to test the knowledge that has sunk into our brains to see if we can remember it at pivotal moments [like exams].

There is one point though that nearly everyone seems to come back to. "If we are going to get jobs where we can always check out our writings or statements, why can we not use revision notes in the exams? We will never have to undergo them again, so why the pain?" And I can completely understand where you are coming from, but if that happened the people who don't try very hard would be able to get higher results and, as bad as it sounds, that would hit employers very hard in the future.

Think about it, if they can't be bothered remembering a few facts now and undergoing a little pain, then in the future where the choice is clearer they just wouldn't bother.

Now i know i sound very pessimistic and harsh in most respects but for a society and economy to function EVERYONE has to pull their weight. if we don't then the worlds stagnates and global development and well as social and personal falls. Meaning that we end up with a planet full of wasters who try to live life with as much pleasure and as little pain as possible. But if you undergo, the necessary pains of life at the right times, in the end it will all be worth while.

Songs of the forest of men

I feel inclined to inform you of a recent development in my life. I have become a poet. Yet who can say if it is just a passing phase, or something i am committed to.

I find myself writing poems about things i have not quite experienced, but I know they are there. There was once a time when i was not inclined to poetry, though we did tend to do a lot of it is school. I think that perhaps my horizons have grown and i am expressing myself in different ways. However it could just be a deep seated yearning to return to those days when life felt the same, but now i look back it was different.

Your potential is unlimited, if you wish to apply yourself. Success is not how much money you have from a job, but how happy your job makes you, and then how that happiness makes other peoples lives better

A strange direction or just life?

What strange paths the journey of life takes us on. Yet we say strange in that context rather freely, as if we have had some pre-birth experience of life with which to compare our present life. Is any situation in life strange? Or are we to just expect or in fact, hope for everything that comes our way?

People, humanity has existed for a long time, and in that time it is safe to say that people have gone through all sorts of trouble. But none of them are inconceivable, as even now writers are coming up with some almost impossible stories, which capture the people’s imagination because of their likelihood.

So what can we say about the paths of life? These “strange” directions that our lives can follow? I would say this; there must be a finite number of paths, they may be as numerable as the stars, but I recon at least one human has traversed each path. Not saying that one man has travelled them all, but that in fact each path has had one traveller upon it.

And thus there will always be someone who has experienced what you have. Meaning that advice is always out there in one form or another, and people who care will try to help. How "strange" life is! Or just maybe, what an adventure today is!

Also it is important to realise that the world doesn't revolve around you. If you feel life is unfair and these "strange" twists are taking you into worse and worse situations. Perhaps your the one getting in the way. Maybe these directions are trying to show you the way forward while you're too busy concentrating on your job or looking behind you. Just follow them. But be careful not to follow all of them. Some will try to lead you off into worse places, it takes understanding, selflessness and faith to pick the right strange twists.

Relational Advancement

You know if you want to get to know someone, texting, instant messaging and even video calling is good, but you never get the whole story. If you want to know someone really closely, you have to spend time with them. So you can see how they react, but also so they understand how you react in certain situations it's a two way thing.
The best thing i can recommend if you are feeling down is to be with people who can understand how you are feeling, but also engage with you on a level that you are comfortable with. Yes it's good to spend time alone, but too much of that and your thoughts will wander into areas you may not really understand.
Being with people can help keep you in check, even if your mood is bad. You just let them know how your feeling and try to be civil and responsive. So maybe civil isn't a word you've heard for a few years, but i believe it's still relevant in today's society. In once definition it means to keep to the normals of polite social relations. Not necessarily sincere but at least responsive.
Back to the main point. relationships are pivotal in our day to day lives. They help us grow in so many ways and understand so many things. Without them we become estranged and lost. But don't let things drift about in friendship. You must let them know you are friends and your life actions must back up that statement. I'm not talking about entering a dating relationship, but rather showing all your friends that they do actually mean more to you than just someone to talk to. So spend time with them, talk about life and the future and help them as best you can. Otherwise, you will be a bored, disillusioned old man/woman for the rest of your life.

Love, Emotions and Life

Why does life never go the way we want it to? In my life that is one of the most relevant questions i have ever heard. Sometimes i feel like complete rubbish because i feel there is no one there.
A feeling of deep sadness or loss sometimes engulfs me. I wonder at life and try to show people how i feel, who i really am; but selfish emotions lead nowhere. So what can we do?
a few hard ideas here. Stop thinking about yourself, damn, if it was just that easy. But really if you spend more time helping others your own wants will die away. Remember in life it's not what we want that matters its what we need.
Remember that there will always be people who love you. You can talk to people you trust if you go about in the right attitude, don't be self centered just explain it as a life consuming problem.
Try to do things that engage your time well and make you feel good inside and out. Its a cliche answer but helping others works. Also you could try changing the world/or just your lifestyle.
Now, lets get to a more direct issue. Is there a someone who makes you feel joyous one day and hopeless the next? Emotions are a two-edged sword; used with skill it can be precise, used without it can be lethal. I won't give you people any advice i wouldn't try myself, but get to know them. Get to know the person you like (or think you like). I know it sounds strange but it will save a lot of time later on. Most times you just like them for their looks, but personality is just as important. You may find out their going in a completely different direction to you and on that you don't want to ruin a good friendship.
Spend time with them, if they want to. Don't create any uncomfortable moments that you both may regret. Show them that you care about them. A lot of people don't make the effort, but it's worth it, after all they're going to want to talk to someone who wants to know.
A good strong relationship takes time. A lifelong marriage was never built overnight so move forward together at a rate you are both comfortable with. And talk about it. Talk about where your relationship is going. Talk about how you are feeling, help each other and understand one another. Conversation can build so many bridges and open so many doors and create so many more cheesy metaphors, talk and share your love show your feelings, support each other and there is one more thing.
God. Creator of all, friend to all. Father and provider. If you put God at the center of all you do you cannot go wrong. Let God help and guide you in daily life and ask him about the major decisions in your life. God wants to know how you are doing and how he can help.

God wants to know you so listen to THIS.

A Pass on Truth

Why is it that we get so entangled by emotions? We want to tell people how we feel but, inside we are embarrassed or ashamed of what we have to say.

If there is one lesson I want to show to the people it is this:
'never be ashamed by your love, for love itself is a pure creation. It has innocence, forgiveness and above all it seeks truth. For when truth and love are united as one, there is no power that can overcome that universal truth'
Let not love be an idea, let it be a way of living and let those you care about know that you love them.

So back to the question; why is it that we get so entangled by emotions? The answer lies in several places and i think each one is different to the type of person. It may be that you are insecure and are scared of people picking you apart, but remember love overcomes fear. It may just be that you feel the time is not right. Fair enough. Everything has its time, but don't put it off because of fear. For you may end up waiting too long and missing the chance. Or it could just be solid doubt. Do i really like them? Do they feel the same way? Well if you never tell them you will never know how they feel.

Yes love is kind and completely enrapturing. But it takes guts to admit real love. It takes an inner strength that dosen't come about easily, to show someone you care.
A real relationship will involve you fully. It will involve every aspect of your life coming under some type of scrutiny. But do not shy away for a bold heart IS a strong heart in love

The true expression

The written word. One of the greatest achievement of humanity, but which can sometimes carry so little value. We are seeing more and more that heart moving speeches are so simple to write (any decent politician can write a lovely tear jerker), but they fail to put belief behind the words they sing so freely.

I ask you, in a world where language is changing, where everything is changing are we allowing so little emphasis to come on points of view? Are we failing to see that the more we talk the less we actually say? Soon it will take us minutes to relay how we feel, or maybe emotions will be a thing of the past, where we actually can't explain how we feel. I hope not, but we live in an ever changing world, and if we ever tried to stop it changing we would become the enemy and misunderstood. Life goes on always but i do, in the back of my mind, fear an age of Newspeak coming upon us. Don't take this the wrong way I'm definitely not a prescriptivist, but i do believe that language should try to hold on to the value of emotional representation. Otherwise our society may one day die out from the lack of "something the scholars used to call 'love'".

So let us spread love while we may. The hardest thing for me to write is "tell someone you love them" and i don't really know why. It seems that deep down i feel embarrassed saying it, and personally i feel as if it's something I have to say on my own, without any help of any form. Something which is gone after a moment, but takes an eternity to build up to. So here's a challenge for me too. Tell your loved ones how you feel. And I'll leave it at that.

Have we ever had innocence?

It is childish to think that every person sees life in the same way. Here's an example. If we all saw the world exactly the same, we would be ruled over by one Global Government, and we would all freely take part in the party.
Fortunately, we are all much different and can see the world in our own ways. But this causes problems. This can cause cross purposes and in our minds people are insulting us when in fact they are complementing. Fortunately, this is where patience is key. We can spend time asking them what they meant and understanding their point of view. Thus we can develop together and help others see the different points of view.
Harmonisation. Not only in society with our friends and people, but inside us also. If we are all mangled up inside where our beliefs are constantly clashing with our lifestyle then we will act differently towards each other. A bad man cannot be made good by society, only by changing the fundamental morals on which he acts. If you see no link between these two truths (harmonisation and morals) then go, see how people with twisted morals react towards others and how their behaviour limits their uses. Then you may be able to understand that we need to be in harmony, as a united World. So that we can take the last few steps into the unknown together.

The People Responsible

Are you listening, are you paying attention? This world is changing, and at this very moment in time, not for the better. We allow the public to be bullied and harassed by the Government, while they hide behind their piles of money and the deficit. Yes people voted the current Prime Minister in, but that's only because they believed in his party's original policies.
Lets get things clear. Cameron holds all the power in the Government (well whats left), while Clegg changes his steadfast beliefs as quick as the wind changes, so he's always agreeing with Cameron. Clegg does nothing. He has no influential effect, he just gets his face on TV.
I'm not saying that Labour are the sinless, rightful party to run the Government, but at least they cared more about people in general. With Cameron, its let the rich dine heartily and let (or should it be make) the poor hold up the table.
A friend of mine complains that i moan too much about the Government. Well i wouldn't if their standard of living (3 LARGE houses, extravagant lifestyles, limitless money) was available to everyone. You have to be born into money, to be a member of Parliament. I wouldn't even moan if it was voluntary, and something deeply wrong has to in motion, if people don't want to live under 'the Government'.
It is meant to be a foundation where the best standard of living is made free for all. Where society develops as one and goes through troubles together. We are in a divided nation. No wonder life is so bloody hard, what they call freedom, is what we called slavery. I'll let you make your own parallels.

Free Water, From the Sky?

You know what I'm sick of? There is no-where on the (English) Governments websites where ideas can be recommended, so I'm going to publish a few more reserved examples here.
We recently (a few months ago) had quite a bad drought in which all the 'reservoirs where loosing lots of water' according to the media. So here's the idea. The Government distributes (for free) 50 litre containers which can be attached to the bottom of the gutter spout, collecting rainwater. Every fortnight or so a lorry comes around to collect the water which then can be put into the reservoirs. Especially in times of drought.
Now i know this will cost money, but with this Government who's gonna notice another 2% on the tax? (clear irony).
This could stop the hosepipe bans and anyone who doesn't want to be involved can opt out. Thus saving time and annoying everyone. Obviously an idea the Government* will love.

*note: the use of a capital G in Government is more out of contempt and hilarity rather than respect.
Oh and also i decided to publish this after being told that i should recommend what the Government should do to improve.

Help from Above

Boldness in decision making is vital. As the future come ever closer we as individuals but also as humanity will have some tough choices to make. But fear not for we are not alone.
We have a God who loves us. We have a God who will put us on the right paths and who will show us where to go. For we are all special, we are all unique, we are all loved...and we are all needed.

The Final Chance?

Brothers and sisters, the sky darkens as the future of the world becomes more clear, as the very planet releases it's anger upon us. The storm clouds build up quickly and eventually the rain will fall. In the distance thunder roars and a sense of foreboding looms.
We were put on this planet to care for it. We are the gardeners of Earth, but still we reject our duty. The rain begins to fall and we realise that our own greed and selfishness has destroyed this final safe place. A change of attitude and lifestyle is required but some of us cling to desperately to this thin sheet of life.
Life is only the thin shroud covering eternity and after death to us it will no longer hold much comfort. Lets save the world together. Field by field.