Lou's review of 2010!

I dont normally write reviews of the year. But having received several from friends and family, and having unexpected extra time on my hands due to the snow I thought I would give it a go.

Its been a year of highs and lows, success and difficulties, but looking back and having the benefit of hindsight its been good for me.

Feb- I decided to hand in my notice at Budmouth and look for a job nearer home. The journey was killing me!

March- BDFPA Unequipped Powerlifitng champ

April/May- spent preparing for first senior GB powerlifting appearance on the international stage. Competed at the European Championships. Came 7th. Just missed a medal in the deadlift. Great experience.

June- Athletics season started to kick in. Mixed bag this season. It appears that juggling school, weights/powerlifitng and athletics has been trickier than I thought it would.

July-Newly qualified teacher year complete. What a tough journey it was. Comuting to Weymouth and back to Bournemouth to train everyday was hard. I am glad of the experience I had at Budmouth and grateful to those who helped me along the way. Won the British Senior powerlifitng champs, 67.5kg.

August- I was so glad of the summer break. I felt huge relief completing the year. I needed a good rest. It was filled with excellent experiences which were life changing. I went on holiday to Switzerland, Austria and Leichienstein with Oakhall. I had a great time treking up the mountains and kayaking in the lakes. Met some amazing people. Traditionally every year I try and go camping. This year didnt disappoint. Spent a relaxing and fun filled week at momentum with some ace mates from Gateway Church.

Sept-Started new job at Corfe Hills School. I love it and want to stay.15 miuntes to work makes such a difference.

Oct-All England Powerlifitng champ 2010- got some British records.

Nov- Masters dissertation year begins. Final year.

So that takes me to December.....

2011 here we come.

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a successful New Year!

God bless

Lou xxxx

Book review: The Other-Loving Self, God, and Neighbour in a world of fractures

I have been reading this book since I bought it in the summer when I attended Soul Survivor momentum.
The title caught my eye and lives up it.It has not exactly been an easy bed time read. It is academically and in the content itself challenging.

Brewer explains of the many demographics we should compassionatly care about in order to truly live out the command of... "Loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind".... (Matthew 22v 36-40).
Noisy neighbours, international terrorism, racism, teenage violence and religious fundamentalism ...from the personal to the local to the international and theological, it is our failure to engage 'the other' that is at the heart of so many of the problems we face.

Beginning with Jesus' instruction to love God, and love our neighbour as we love ourselves, Brewin explores how we might better engage 'the other' within the Self, within God and within the worlds we inhabit.

Brewer prompts us to reconsider the key question of 'what kind of selves do we need to be in order to live in harmony with others?' Imagine if we actually did something!?

Blessed

I was having one of those moments the other day whilst preparing for telling my story at lifegroup this week.reflecting on my life thus far, it is clear to me how God has blessed me,met me in my need , and been my rock when I have gone through tough times.

In the uk particularly we can be negative and moan loads about stuff,most which boils down to our laziness or apathy.It is a challenge of mine to walk against the grain and be different,reflecting my appreciation and gratitude of the life I have and aspire to live it in all it's fullness!

I challenge you to do the same.

Lou-going without knowing!

The Games continue......

Well... the Commonwealth Games continue and what a competition it has been thus far!
Unfortunately I haven't managed to watch as much as I would like due to work but I have followed the live streaming each day on the BBC and occasionally watched the review show in the evening.

Today yet more 'special' performances were made by British athletes. It is good to see so many athletes stepping onto the track and winning medals. Congrats to the England relay teams who finally got some metal to take home as a result of their hard work. What a come back by Mark Lewis Francis (MLF). He is certainly someone who has a never give up attitude. Respect to him!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9082591.stm

My favourite performance of the day is that of Tom Daley and his partner in the syncro diving competition. A convincing Gold medal winner after  a year of difficulty with injury and the illness of his dad. Another guy that has such a great attitude to life. What a role model for people young and old.

Disappointingly amongst the successes there has been yet another report of a Nigerian sprinter taking a stimulant which is on the banned substance list. Apparently it may have only just been added to the list. Never the less, disappointing and point blank cheating.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9078690.stm

I look forwards to the remainder of the Games.

I LOVE books!

As many of you know, I LOVE books. I'm a bit of a book worm. I haven't always enjoyed reading, especially when it is forced upon you to read material which you are not passionate about or the slightest bit interested in. However, since my late teens I have started to build my own little library.

The sort of books in my library include autobiographies of sportsmen and women, comedians, and academics; fiction books; story books; teaching and educational books, coaching guides; Christian books, guides, study notes and legendary texts such as that from A.W. Tozer (of which I have blogged about previously).

I have many books on the go at the moment. One which was recommended recently, called 'The Money Secret' by Rob Parsons is the one I am reading at the moment. This book has been very helpful.

Money can be an issue which is avoided... so I thought it would be good for me to read. I am just over half way through having bought the book last week. This book is very readable as advice is given through a story not simply a list of do's and don'ts. There is loads of advice in it which I didn't know about. So I feel a bit more clued up to the tricks of things such as credit and store cards, interest free offers, and how to keep a check on income and expenditure. If anything, the most useful part of reading this book has been to remind myself of how I am blessed to be in a secure financial situation and to be wiser with how I use money in a way which will honor God both now and for my future!

Let the games begin!

So..after many difficulties the Commonwealth games 2010, Deli, has begun.

http://http//news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9056452.stm

Naturally, I have kept a close eye of the preparations and build up to Deli 2010. I really hope Deli is remembered for the right reasons. I'm sure there will be many fantastic performances that will come out of the games.

This is one of my favourite so far (Women's 48kg weightlifting- commonwealth champ at 17 years old)!

http://http//news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9058255.stm

I guess the circumstances that athletes face out there will be the true test of what they are made of! I watch will interest!

crazy Love!

Crazy Love is the title of a book by Francis Chan I have been reading over the last 8 weeks. Its only a small book, but has been THAT challenging that I have spent much time mulling it over and re-reading sections. There are very few books that do this for me. However this is one which I seriously recommend.

In short Crazy Love is a book about God's love for his people and as a result of this how we should love those around us- friends, family, colleagues, ands those who are complete strangers whom we come into contact each day.

It is obvious that from this book the author himself has been seriously challenged by the very own message he is writing about. This spurs me on even more to follow the call that God has put on my life to live life in all its fullness for his Glory, using all the gifts he has blessed me with.

Reading this book has coincided with a change in life for me. New job, new term, new training season, fresh vision for the year ahead at Gateway Church, Poole. Much of this has spoken to me about living a life of adventure- to not sit on the fence, in a luke warm life of not really anything. This is a on going challenge.

So... I recommend this book to you. Read it if you dare, if you want to be changed. It may be difficult but definitely worth it. All for the King!

Lou x

"The magic thread"

I read a good story recently in a Joshua Harris book. It is easy to wish our life away, especially when it comes to work-wanting to get through the day as quick as possible. This story is a poignant reminder for all!

In the book of Virtues, William J.Bennett tells a story called "The Magic Thread". In this French tale we read of Peter, a boy who is strong and able, yet sadly flawed by an attitude of impatience. Always dissatisfied with his present condition, peter spends his life day-dreaming about the future.

One day while wandering in the forest, Peter meets a strange old woman who gives him a once in a life time opportunity- the chance to skip the old mundane moments in life. She hands Peter a small silver ball from which tiny gold thread dangles. "This is your life thread", she explains. "Do not touch it and time with pass normally. But if you wish time to pass quicker you only have to pull the golden thread. But I warn you, once the thread has been pulled out, it cannot be pushed back in again".

This magical thread seems to answer to all of Peter's problems. Its just what he always wanted. The following day Peter is at school. The lesson is dragging and he gets told off for not paying attention. Peter reaches for the silver ball and tugs at the thread. Suddenly the teacher dismisses the class and its the end of school. From this moment on Peter pulls the thread a little everyday. But soon peter uses the ball to rush through larger portions of life. Why waste time pulling a little of the thread when he can use it everyday? He does so and finds himself completed school and working.

Peter uses the same technique to rush through the marriage of his sweetheart.Peter continues this passage through his life. When trying times come, Peter uses the golden thread as his get out. When the baby is crying, when hit with finiancial struggles, when wishing his children to be launched into careers, out came the magic thread. But sadly when it comes to the end of Peter's life, Peter realises the emptiness of his existence. Peter had robbed himself of life's precious moments by rushing through them.

The root of the righteous

This is the second book in the series, the first being the well know pursuit of God, which I read a few months ago. What has been helpful is these books are short snippets of Tozers work which are profound and rooted in Gospel truths. They are relatively easy to read however I recommend not too many chapters in one go otherwise you may find it difficult to process.

The book begins quoting from proverbs 12:12, 'the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit'. The are a number of books in the Bible where trees and roots are found to describe. For example the apostle Paul envises a Christian as a tree to be well rooted and as a temple to rise on a solid foundation;

"Rooted and grounded in love" (Ephesians 3:17)

"Rooted and built up in him" (Colossians 2:7).

In chapter 32 Tozer discusses 'Narrow Mansions' which is a commonly associated prayer with the great Augustine- bishop if Hippo. At the beginning of Augustines famous devotional work 'Confessions', he says, "narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge it, that mayest enter in".

On the surface this seems quite an egotistic thing to say.Not so, Augustines vision of God was so big that his own capacity to receive it seemed to him very restricted. And when Augustine looked at his own heart, as many of us would, he saw narrowness and constriction.

Keep me rooted, grounded in firm foundations and enlarge the mansion of my soul!

A. W. Tozer-legend!

This guy is truly a legend of the Christian faith. Tozer was a pastor, preacher, author and editor. He was often called the 20th centtury prophet. Tozer became a Christain when he was 17 after meetinga street preacher.

I have recently been working my way through the collection of essays that have been compiled from his editorials from Donkey's years ago. I thoroughly recommend them. However, prior warning- Tozer says it how it is...not for the faint hearted!

Thoughts and reflections to follow.

"Time to climb mountains"

I look ahead to this next week with a mixture of feelings; excitement, joy, elation, satisfaction , a sense of achievement..... sadness. This year has been a big year for me, having completed my Newly Qualifed teacher probation year. An amazing year it has been, having learnt so much, met some great people, and experienced a huge amount. My thanks to all who have supported, encouraged and cheered me on in this process.

Those who know me well know that I have an active faith in Jesus Christ, and try to live out my faith in every part of my life. This year has been a big test of this, in which God has asked on many occasions "Do you trust me"? This I am still learning! Last summer God spoke to me through a lady who prophesied that "I will climb mountains". This like many prophecies was confusing as I hadnt planned to physically climb any mountains in the near future! It was only the other day when driving back from work, reflecting on this year, that God revealled that this year was one of those mountains. I feel a big sense of achievement that I have reached the peak (almost), looking down on all that I faced. This leads me to thank my God who has sustained me, given me strength and energy, kept me safe, and provided so clearly for me!

Back blogging!

Yes, I am back blogging. After a period of substaining from some social networking I have decided it would be good to voice some of my thoughts, ideas, and experiences of the last year and ahead. Please feel free to comment, add, and correct where necessary!

Lou x