MONMOUTH CHRISTIAN UNION

After a week off where my computer didn't work my thought of the week is back to get us thinking again!

"One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it."

Verse of the week (Psalm 71 : v 20)

“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again”

Message of the week

Last week we talked about pain and why God allows it to exist. It is possible that if pain didn’t exist the human race would have been wiped out long ago. I know it sounds weird but think about it…if there was no pain we wouldn’t know when something was wrong e.g. a disease or emotional ‘gut instinct’. Both of these are useful although unpleasant. Focusing on emotional pain though, “how can that be good pain?” you may ask. It may be a sign that you are not living your life according to God’s will. Depression can allow people to view the world around them with more clarity and hence change there life to more in keeping with God’s wish. So emotional distress can bring about challenge and change. A blessing in disguise!!

Quote of the week

“Pain need not always be regarded as an enemy, it may become our ally in gaining a fuller life”.

Prayer of the week

Gracious Father, help me understand that in your universe you allow only compliments of you. Even in Pain and suffering you have an authentic word to speak to me. Please help me hear it. Amen.

Also pray for…

The ongoing divide within the HMSG, The deliverence of Fester as he misses the CU for the first time in forty-three years.

I know it's a bit premature, but I had to leave early, since global warming may have melted the glaciers I want to see by next week. I left school early, and drove to Plymouth where I caught the boat to the artic. There weren't many people on it, except for this crazy old guy next to me! In the distance you can see the very glacier im going to, and this isn't a joke its actually called the Fester glacier, named after me as I discovered it early last year! See geography is going places!

Anyway I will keep you informed on how my world tour is going, in my trusty campervan.
See you around
Fester

Apologies for this, but the thought i very recently had will probably be the most intelligent one ill ever come up with...so i thought id quickly publish it on our CU website.

It says in the Bible that if a man is not baptised, he can not enter the kingdom of God (or something along those lines).
Anyway, say for arguments sake that one day, you meet your perfect match and you fall in love with this person. You eventually marry him/her and have a wonderful life together. The only problem is though......is that this person has not been baptised.
Now here's the really questionable bit...........Gods kingdom is supposed to paradise, correct? (After all...it is heaven). But, when you pass away and enter the kingdom of God (providing that you've lived a decent life), how can it be called paradise if the one you love is never going to be with you?

Just thought id give that a mention anyway. Any replies would be appreciated...i will be very interested to hear them.
God bless.

The Pope of Pontypool

Is Baptism necessary to enter the Kingdom of God?

Every Friday for as long as Fester can be bothered there will be a feature on this Blog showing a Diary of Fester around the world. Opposite is a picture of the almighty Fester (especially for Chris ad Tay!!!) in his campervan before he sets off to the artic to look at Glaciers. You've got the whole CU behind you you Walking Machine!!!

Recently, i was fortunate enough to be engaged in a deeply religious conversation with fellow Christian Union member "Smudge". Don't ask why, but we some how managed to get onto the topic of evolution, and where mans existence really came from. However, the slight catch is: both me and Smudge take different opinions on this matter! Ater engaging in hours of conversation...neither of us could decide which of our theories were right....we just agreed to disagree. But..........which do you (the reader) feel is the best argument for the creation of man? Our arguments are listed below.

Smudges verdict

Smudge completely believes in the verdict of Genesis (ie: that man was created solely by God, and the story of Adam and Eve is true). God is solely and completely liable for the creation of man...nothing else.

The Pope of Pontypools verdict
I on the other hand take a different approach. I have (in the past) read in the bible that "a God who would prove himself would be an idol"........which is quite right! After all, if God proved himself to us, where would the need for faith occur?....everyone would now know of God's existence, so where would our faith and belief in his existence come into play?
And this is my ideology behind the creation theory. By just simply creating Adam and Eve, God is technically proving himself (because we all know it takes "two people to tango" to create another human). Hence, by creating Adam and Eve without any form of biological elements, the only solution to their existence would be God.
Charles Darwin however provided his famous account of "Evolution"....and this i believe to be true.......why? Because its the only way God can create humans without directly proving himself. By using evolution, God is now testing our faith, as we either accept the religious approach (ie: that he created mankind)...or we take the scientific approach (that everything in the Universe was created through science, and mankind formed solely from evolving).
Basically, what im trying to say is: God would never prove himself to us, because where would the element of faith come in? With this in mind, he created evolution to conceal his existence...leading to the development of man, and the choice that mankind faces today about the creation thoery.

So there you have it.......both me and Smudge have put our arguments across, but which do you believe in........the choice is yours: Genesis or Evolution?

Genesis or Evolution?

Sorry the thought of the week is late this week, but i have had both my evenings full with a pantomime competition, im sorry i didnt have time to make an entry with playin Peter Pan in our panto on the Monday night and watching the other 5 competitors on monday and tuesday. Im happy to say though that we won and have progressed through to the full Wales stage in Port Talbot in 10 days time! woohoo but it will mean ALOT more practice has to be done, anyway you didn't want to read bout this so heres the thought:

"So faith, hope and Love these three abide, but the greatest of these is Love. Make Love your aim..."

Verse of the week (2 Timothy 1 :10)

“Christ has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospels”

Message of the week

There are some truths we can all hold close and use as anchors for our souls. Firstly (raised last week), in a fallen world pain has a positive function. It is a sign that danger is coming! We can’t fully comprehend why God allowed pain in the world but as discussed last week we can see its positive purpose. Secondly, that the Christian Faith has survived its worst moment, the death of its leader! By his life and deluge into darkness and most awful death he has brought renewed hope to the Christian faith. The hope that if they accept this that redemption, joy and eternity with him will be the consequence. This will long outlive the one-dimensional and shallow philosophies of life.

Quote of the week

Christianity is unique and invincible. No other faith has such a message, no other faith has such a saviour.Prayer of the weekLord Jesus, help me remember when life is difficult that I belong to a saviour who has not only made life possible, but full of possibilities. I am so thankful, Amen.

Also pray for…

A commitment to Christian traditions throughout the world, Those whose faith are weak, the sexually immoral

Wow, that was an awesome concert yesterday! How good were Delirious? ? It was pretty good being at the very front this time! We thought this was one of their best concerts, and not a bad trip for our C.U ;-) Hopefully we will have more like this........! We have some pictures but will post some of them latter, as it is school today and we're quite tired! Also Fester, was a legend, we didnt have a parking ticket, but our minibus has got a some pretty big scratches on the top ;-) Oh, and we we arrived back at school all the gates were shut! So we had no where to park, so we left it in the car park over the road, so it must have looked really funny this morning! We hope everyone enjoyed it, it was really cool seeing so many youths there! So if you were from our C.U or were at the concert please leave comments on what you thought! And hi to the girls who were from Essex, we're sorry but we even forgot to ask for your names, sorry! Hope your results went well and your trip back wasnt too long, we dont know our results because our school has messed them up on the computer system!!! But please do comment it would be cool to hear from you, Festers picture will be coming soon, and believe us we got a good one on the minibus on the way home;-) Also look at the links on the site as some of us have our own blogs!
Blessings

B.T.W review of Delirious? to come with pics ;-)

The way is not in the sky, the way is in the heart.

Well, its the moment we've all been waiting for...its an interview with Jesus, with your host: James Skinner.

James Skinner (JRS): Welcome Jesus.

Jesus Christ (JC): Thankyou for having me here today.

JRS: No problem. Anyway, the first question I want to ask you is...how would you rate our Monmouth School Christian Union...do you feel it is a worth while organisation?

JC: I feel it is a very worth while organisation indeed. It just shows that there is no limit to God's word...and you give up your valuble lunchtime just to worship myself and my Father...lunchtimes where you could be playing pool and improving on your Team Ponty skills...by the way...i watch you and Andrew Smith play pool all the time, and I just have to say that you two are brilliant! Your skills are beyond those I have ever seen.

JRS: Why Thankyou Jesus. Thats very kind of you

JC: Can i get an autograph after the interview?

JRS: You certainly may. But onto my next question...how do you (as the saviour of all mankind) feel about Speni being the leader?

JC: At first I was wasn't sure, but after seeing Speni perform in recent Christian Union meetings...I am certain that he is not suited to the job...I mean.....last week, he wore a pink/purple/yellow multi-coloured shirt to CU, what is the boy thinking?! And electing him as leader was a big mistake by your group....the guy cant even spell "bible" let alone read one.

JRS: I see. But you still value Speni as a human being dont you?

JC: Of course I do.....I value everyone as a human being...especially that Andrew Smith fellow; now there's a pool player and a half! Whilst watching from heaven, i saw him seven ball this kid they call "the watcher"....what a game!

JRS: Are you a pool player yourself?

JC: I have been known to play a few shots with God now and again...he always beats me though...but i swear he cheats.

JRS: I see. Anyway, my final question to you today is this........if there was one thing you could change about our Christian Union meetings, what would it be?

JC: I would probably have to say that I would like to see that Speni kid read more often...that boy needs to read as many books as he possibly can...and the bible is a good place to start. Tell him that from now on, i expect him to read at every Christian Union meeting...atleast twice.

JRS: I will pass on the message...im sure he will be pleased. Anyway, thank you very much for coming in today Jesus...it is much appreciated, and i hope that you will continue to watch the Team Ponty pool matches.

JC: Oh i will...ill be watching.

JRS: Jesus Christ, thank you.

JC: Thank you, and may God be with you all for now and evermore.