Out of the Mouths of Babes - An Assembly Tale

This morning I was doing an assembly at Woodmansterne Primary School as I do every Tuesday and as it was the penultimate one before the Easter break I decided to do it on Good Friday. (I took it from the book 'Everyone Matters' by Tricia Williams.) We looked at a cross on a Hot Cross Bun and the different types of crosses and what they mean, then looked at how that can teach us the meaning of Good Friday. An X next to an incorrect sum, X on a valentines card, X on a treasure map, X on a voting card and of course a crucifix. The sum reminds us we all do wrong, the valentines card reminds us that God loves us, the map reminds us that finding God and being his friend is like finding a lost treasure, Jesus died on a cross and we need to say 'yes' to Jesus like on a voting card.

That was what I had planned (and what I did) but just as I was about to finish a 5 year old girl shouted out, "How can we find God?". So taken aback a little I asked the kids and another 5 year old girl put her hand up and said "Follow the treasure map!". "What's the treasure map?" I asked. Hands flung in the air "A book?" said one. "What book?" I said, "The Bible" he said. Then I spoke about the Bible and how Jesus is the perfect guide to God.

I must admit I got a little carried away but it's amazing when kids ask such intelligent questions and give great answers. I hope this sort of response continues.

Praise God!
Till Next Time!

Bell's Hells - On Universalism

If you know who Rob Bell is, and have had access to the internet or a Christian bookshop then you've probably come across his new book 'Love Wins'. The internet is now full of various reviews and most of which go along the lines of 'Rob Bell is a Universalist and therefore a heretic!'

Before we go any further I would just like to note, for my sake and for the sake of those that know me, that I am not a Universalist (and actually not, not like Bell's expression that he's not!).

I think we all, especially those in the Evangelical traditions (of which I am one), need to take a step back for a moment and take a deep breath before we continue along this line. Universalism, (simplistically defined as) the belief that all will be saved, is a view that Bell has propagated in words if not in label. You may be interested in his interview with Martin Bashir if you've not seen it.

I believe that in all aspects of life and debate that we are only cheating ourselves if we build up a straw man to knock down. Universalism, despite not being a mainstream doctrine not a correct one, is still a legitimate belief and not one that removed you from the family of Christ. It is entirely possible to be a Universalist and an orthodox Christian. With that said,Robin Parry, of Paternoster, has written an excellent article for the Baptist Times entitled 'Bell's Hells' which you can read here. Please, if you care about this debate or are chipping in, read this article before you post any more comments or slander Bell.

Till Next Time!

P.S. At present I am chatting to my GF Lizzie who said "Urgh! I don't want to discuss Theology..." Oh the travesty!

God made you amazing - Bruno Mars cover

Today I did an assembly on 'It's good to be me!' at a local school and it'd been a long time since I took my guitar in so today I did. I did a cover of Bruno Mars' 'Just the way you are'. The kids seem to love it and I hope will remind the kids the God made them to be them and to use what he has given them, not trying to be like other...except Jesus of course :p Well a few people have asked for the lyrics so here they are. Feel free to use it and change anything you want although if you get done for copyright infringement it's not my fault. Enjoy! The chords just repeat ad infinitum: D Bm G D



God made you amazing – Bruno Mars cover

VERSE
Oh she said, she said, I’m not as important as my class mate
He said, he said, I’m not as good at football as my team mates
But you are important in a special way.
You’re made, you’re made in the image of your creator
He made each one with a role to do, by you, no others
Will you be who you are, who you are made to be?

CHORUS
Who else would do? Who else can do the things that you do?
God made you amazing just the way you are.
Got something special to do, God gave a gift to each of you
God made you amazing just the way you are.

VERSE
Sometimes, sometimes we don’t do what we are meant to
We try, we try to be like others, forget who we are
We forget who we are, who we are meant to be

BRIDGE
But God loves us and made a way to start once again
To be who we’re meant to be, use our gifts for him.
So, it’s time to start again and use your gifts each day, you know He’ll say.


CHORUS
Who else would do? Who else can do the things that you do?
God made you amazing just the way you are.
Got something special to do, God gave a gift to each of you
God made you amazing just the way you are.

The way you are, the way you are
God made you amazing, just the way you are

CHORUS
Who else would do? Who else can do the things that you do?
God made you amazing just the way you are.
Got something special to do, God gave a gift to each of you
God made you amazing just the way you are.

Till Next Time!