PLEASE GIVE ADVICE>>>OR HELP!

Ok so my last post got me thinking ......more than usual.....it hurt....

I was thinking of prophetic lyrics in "secular" music (hate the term)

ok i know this isint metal but snow patroll sing

"its so clear now that you are all that i have, ive no fear now for you are all that i have"

I remember Snow patroll playing in Ward park Bangor and when they sang that part i strongly felt the presence of god! thousands of people with hands held high into a sea of fellow worshipers, given they were worshiping the band and not god but imigane that! ten thousand people at a festival hands out stretched eyes closed singing at the top of thier voices! I remember thinking THIS IS WHAT CHURCH SHOULD BE!!!

I also was stricked with the openness of people within a festival setting!

Made me thinkages ago i posted this and after a little research i totally got sidetracked and never followed it through...Maybe now is the time...Your at a masive music festival, 100,000 people, constant music, everyone laughing, singing, crying, shouting. Drink is cheap, drugs are plenty, sex is easy, bands are awesome! The festival is 24 hours, 5 days long, campsites are packed and loud!

Now youve lost your friends, cant remember where the tent is, left you phone in your bag at the tent. People everywhere, youve had loads to drink, taken a few hits, your looking for that "spiritual expierence" thats why your here, but all your finding is emptiness and a headache. no substance. You are totally surrounded by people, your fully alone.

So where can you go to escape? to relax? to re-charge? to talk to people who actually want to listen and not just waiting for thier turn to talk. (we all do it)
This place is where you can un-load and even be left alone, but because of YOUR choosing. This is wheere you can meet Jesus.
Somewhere you can talk to him. Talk about anything and everything. This is a prayer room, a retreat, a help center for the soul (cheezy i know) it can be a tent, a caravan (hint, you know who) a trailer or a tee-pee!

Now imigne this tent traveles to festivals and events. A place for people to met jesus where they are at, not feel judged or out of thier comfort zone. Simply met Jesus. Escape.

Im asking for some help, anyone knows anything about getting this vision started or wants to be involved in any way please e-mail me at dexter_chris@hotmail.com

Cheers!

Jesus Listenes to Black Metal!

Sounds like a stupid statement....bit of an oxymoron some might say, but is it true?

I men i totally believe it! I believe Jesus loves black metal the same way he loves, switchfoot, chris tomlin, delirous, third day and casting crowns!

Not just Black mwetal but all forms of matal have such a bad rap and have been labeled "devils music" simply because they are not "easy on the ear" its all goes back to the redicelous steriotype of angels sitting on pretty fluffy white clouds playing thier golden harps, watching bugs bunny float up every so often! RUBBISH!

Who says angels dont weild thier flying vs and keep one foot on the amp with white smpandex and a ripped slayer t-shirt on?

now iam not blaspheming or poking fun in any way of peoples perceptions or intend to scuew peoples beliefs or images in thier mind, just simply as you to think a little!

I sometimes connect more to lyrics from metal music than that of worship songs....

"seize the day or die regreting the time you lost,
Its empty and cold without here,
Trials of life, questions of us existing here,
dont wana die alone without you there"

(Avenged Sevenfold : "Seize the day")

"Can we still be saved?
Does your god hold a place for us,
is there time to repent?
will we rise from the dead?
can these sins even be forgiven?
is there still hope for us?
where we ever even alive?
is any of this real?

(Lamn of God : "blacken the cursed sun")

If god created beauty, creativity and music as a release of emotion for us how dare people point a finger at what god favouers and dislikes about his own creations!

Back to basics

its been a while since i last blogged, but better to blog when i have something to say rather than saying something in order to blog......

Over the past few months ive been reading a good few books, books that have changed...no....MOULDED my ideas, views and some opinions on christian life. Books like "Exiles" by michael frost, "punk monk" by andy freeman, "prodical friendly church" by Jeff Lucas, "being a contagious christian" by Bill Hybels......Truth is i find that you can get so bogged down in a "contempory christian lifestyle" that you some times forget the real basics on which it is all founded on!

Here are the things i hold highest...

(in no order)

God (ok this one is in order..)
Community and people
generousity with time (and money, this is something i struggle with, but i am getting beter)
Forgiveness
LOVE (to everyone)
evangelism (not like milk box evangelism! living evangelism, through actions, relationships, lifestyle. Living as Jesus would in our culture!)
Forgiveness

All of these are as important as the other i supose but its good to think back on them.
How do all of these relate to the way i live my life?

Its all about Matthew 5:13 (NLT) You are the salt of the earth, but what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? it will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."

I want to be salt! i want to bring flavour to Newtownards or wherever it may be that i am called to (another blog post for another time)

I want to be a...
salty drum teacher
salty youth worker
salty photographer
salty friend
salty son and brother

I can do this, it is written...Philippians 4:13 "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength"

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (The Message)