The Prestige

As some may know I like to blog about films which I have seen. If you are aware of this you will probably also know that I have very little skill when it comes to being a film critic! You may wish to keep this in mind as I tell you about The Prestige which both I and the person I was with said it was: "rubbish", "predictable" and "that's just a pure gay film". While, if you follow the link, it is given 8.1/10 by IMDb.


The story follows two magicians in Victorian times who try to out do each others tricks. One of the men Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) is in jail, charged with the murder of the other Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and we learn in a variety of ways: through the reading of both men's diaries and the events after the writing of the diary, how he ended up their.By the end of the film the true twistedness of both men, who have sacrificed so much to out do one another, is revealed.

Unlike the trailers suggest though, there was little or no friendship or rivalry between both characters. Instead one see's a deep hatred, which then changes into a passion to beater the others tricks. This desire leads both men to dark places where they are willing to do anything. Although the acting is good, there seems little attempt to get over to the audience either what is going on in each man's mind nor the real horror of their actions. One is left with two men who seem a little strange at the end, that's all! I have enjoyed the film afterwards, thinking about it. Though during the film I just wanted to leave.

Delirious?

Alan (brother) bought "Now Is the Time: Live at Willow Creek DVD/CD" on Saturday. After going to see them in Glasgow I wrote this about them but after much more listening (They are on at the moment) I have to say they are starting to grow on me!

There are a number of songs which have good chorus', easy to sing long to and with some good solo's. The singer sounds very Bono from U2ish at times which is slightly irritating though his lyrics are powerful. Thank God for the gifts he's given them!!

Here is a taste of there new music with "Now is the Time": (which they wrote with Matt Redman)

Callum:

On Saturday after football I got a call from my best friend Craig. He told me that a guy form his course at Uni, Callum, had been killed by a train early on Friday morning. Craig and Callum had become really close since the start of the year and for the first time in our 6year friendship I heard Craig was crying/sobbing.

It appears Callum, after a night out and saying bye to people, was walking along some tracks was hit by a goods train. Although I only met him several times he was a great guy, full of life and only 18 with his whole life in front of him.


If your the praying type then it would be great if you could ask for Craig, the others who where out with him and Callums parents/family to have time to grieve and that they would feel the peace and comfort that God can give. Also If you could pray for me as I seem to have been quite hit by the whole thing.

Kilsyth Vs St Silas

In Cummburnald, 9am Saturday, St Silas football team took on 3rd in the league Kilsyth Congregational. On paper St Silas had a weakened team with three suspended players and Davy Lawler unable to make it due to work commitments though this wasn't shown in the score line; 3-0.

First half: Kilsyth started well and put St Silas under pressure for much of the first 45. This pressure resulted in a few half chances though the St Silas defence and replacement goal keeper (Gordon) stood firm, repelling the attacks.

St Silas could only really counter attack and one of these breaks from defence saw John Wood score a fantastic goal. Ali Morrow picked up the ball in the centre of his own half, moved forward then passed the ball to the right to Frank Brodie. Frank then managed to get some space from the defended before crossing to the edge of the box right onto John's toe. John took full advantage and expertly volley the ball into the net.

Second half: St Silas came out in the second half working a lot harder, pressuring Kilsyth into mistakes also the away team seemed to have much more space with the ball and found passing easier.

St Silas's 2nd was an excellent team goal. The ball was moved from defence to the right wing, then some neat skill and passing between the right mid (Paul McGee) and myself I was able to play the ball inside to Ali Morrow, who did another 1-2 with Frank (I think), the ball then was moved to Alan Dock on the left wing who slipped a perfectly weighted ball into the box which John Wood took, shrugged off a tackle, and placed into the bottom right hand corner.The continued pressure from St Silas and Kilsyth only half clearing it gave Alan Dock time near the edge of the box and his powerful shot sailed past the keeper, 3-0.


St Silas's defence must have a special mention after some superb defending they got a well deserved clean sheet, without which this game could have been a very different story. MOM was John Wood (Gutted :P) who was subbed for Iain McRichie in the 2nd half. Iain aka Bionic man played well after a long term absence due to ligament damage. Gordon in goal was brilliant too!

Team: Gordon Comrie, Al McGeoch, Richard Olyott, Richard Grant, Murdo, Paul McGee, Graham Cuthbert, Ali Morrow, Alan Dock, John Wood, Frank Brodie

Excel

The weekend down at Abundant Life Church in Bradford was good! Though it started of in a bit of a mess:

First of all Steve Ford was to be picked up at St Silas Church though due to the awful weather he decided to wait in the Church office. When Russel and the others came to pick him up they couldn't find him anywhere so, after waiting a long time, they left. Darren then went to go get Steve later on. When we got to East Kilbride (the meeting place) we found that the "fixed" minibus was leaking a lot of oil/diesel. After a bit more cuffule we rented another bus which, we discovered just before we left, one of the doors wouldn't close (sigh). So we got another rented bus which worked and left like 6 hours late. Thank God for answered prayer! Got us there despite the enemies best efforts.

The conference was called "Band of Brothers" yet the theme wasn't really use. The speakers, Paul de Jong (a minister of a Christian Life Centre Church in Awkland) and Paul Scalon (the minister at the Abundant Life Church in Bradford), preached on several different points which where aimed at christian men. Now I've read a few books about this but It was really refreshing to have some more practical pointers on how to be a man of god.

It was difficult to take in everything which was said over the four sessions though I feel I've learned a lot and found it very thought provoking too. Getting to know the other guys in the team was a pleasure too as we don't often see each other off the pitch.

Weekend

This weekend a large number (12) St Silasers and members of the St Silas Football team are heading to Bradford for a Conference. It is an all men's conference and funnily enough I have little-no idea what I signed up for. We will be leaving on Friday during the day and spending the weekend done there.Please look at my friend Darren Darlows blog for some information!

6 of the 12 are non-Christians so could you pray for them. The Church and conference is large, thousands. Also it is evangelical (that word so doesn't mean what it used to) aka charismatic which they (and I) may find a little intimidating! This is such an amazing opportunity to share with them the gospel and show them Christan love. So please pray that the holy spirit would work in them and us as we witness to them! Also on a personal note I pray that I might learn much from the weekend and god would just blow away all the difficulties I've been struggling with.

Darren says he will keep his blog updated over the weekend so check there in the next couple of days if your interested.

The last few weeks I've sadly been to busy to blog bout a lot of things so here is a short little bit of each! (Sorry if there are too many moans and "I", it is witten quickly!)


Are you man enough?

Burger King have launched the "double" and "triple" whopper meals. (see an advert here, for triple) I love to eat and normally I can finish most things and still be hungry but after this monster there wasn't much room left!

The Triple whooper has according to this site 1260 cals, excluding drink and chips! The Recommend Daily Allowance for a fully grown man is around 2200 cals! and today (Wednesday) I had the pleasure of eating one. Now this is a proper meal!!

I also LOVE the double advert (which I cannot find of the Internet anywhere)

DR GOOGLE!

As many of you will know google has been buying everything online! Absolutely everything! (Just follow this link to see the REAMS of thing which the massive company now owns.) There reach now stretches so much that to use the latest version of blogger (the blog site I use) I was forced to sign up for a google account! This a CLEAR sign that google is in fact going to take over the world! Mark my words!

Borat:

Also on Wednesday one went to see Borat. From all the reviews I was expecting the most amazing film ever, I was sadly disappointed!

Although the film had many funny parts I cannot help but suspect large portions where scripted. Also it seemed quite empty I can't make out quite why. It was fantastic to see someone not scared to be non PC though and had a number of things which I thought "you can't get away with that"

Borat is a good film and I advise you to see it!

Football, Glasgow CU vs Strathclyde CU

On Wednesday night the great rivals took to a very wet football pitch to play the glorious game. Glasgow where clearly a stronger team and it took Strathclyde a while to get more organised. I'm told Glasgow train and play regularly which showed in the scoreline, 5-0. St Silas' own Darren Jackson played for Glasgow and put in a good shift for his team!!! Thank god there where no injuries!

The evening didn't improve for me as all the trains where cancelled when I arrived at the station. Praise the Lord because my mum was able to come pick me up at almost midnight. Thanks to her!!!

Mission:

This evening (Thursday) the Strathclyde CU had UCCF people talking about "Short Term Mission". This is basically going for a short time and helping out in a massive variety of different ways around Scotland and the world. My parents recently suggested going to help in the mission which St Silas church is helping to sponsor. (I sadly cannot remember the county and cannot find GadgetVicars Blog on it.) Which got me thinking and after this talk feel I need to spend time prayerfully considering doing something along these lines.

Stressed

The past few weeks I have been extremely stressed with various university essays, exams and tutorials and a number of commitments (almost all christian related) bearing down on me. Much of this is my own fault for taking on too much and also I'm very aware of how much more work others do that I. Yet it is proving very difficult to make time for my non-Christan friends which is such a shame on many levels. Also finding alone time to spend with God is becoming increasingly difficult. This is a problem because its even harder to try to "listen" to where god is guiding me. The above mini blog about the mission is just one of a couple longer term things which need to have decisions made about them.

So if your the praying type could you pray that God would continue to teach me discernment and therefore I could make more time to do the things which matter to me and him. Also that God would give me mind space and concentration for him and studies. And finally that he would give me rest bite from the work load! (and a few others but I feel like I'm saying "I" too much and also moaning too much!)


Radiohead:

As many of you undoubtly know Radiohead are one of the greatest bands on earth! The album "OK Computer" has been voted no.1 ablum on poll after poll and after a 6month break a passion for there music has reimerged from my soul.

The music seems to stike a chord with many people. Oh how I wish I could write music like that!

(wants to write more but needs to go)

Horror

This weekend was not as busy as normal but still tiring; the football match was called off and in the afternoon a number of us went to see Nick play rugby (they won convincingly and Nick got a try, well done!!!). For those supporting it was a good humoured affair with a lot of "banter". Sunday involved playing bass at church, spending a lot of money for lunch (tea and bagette...£4.20!) and two very thought provoking sermons. Though the thing that hit me this weekend was something I watched on Saturday night. It was on Channel 4, a repeat of a show called "The Somme".

The documentary type feature length film told the story of a few British/French and German soldiers, using their diaries, letters and military records to give an account of the first day of the battle. The battle of the Somme was fought in the First World War. The Allied forces attempted to break through the Germans lines along a 25-mile front in northern France. One purpose of the battle was to draw German forces away from the Battle of Verdun; however, by its end the losses on the Somme had exceeded those at Verdun. The first day was the bloodiest day in Britain's long military history with 57,470 casualties on the British side alone of which around 20 thousands where dead. By the end of the battle, which lasted 142 days (as far as i know), there where over a million casualties. The allies made around 5miles, FIVE MILES!!!.

These figures are not something I can comprehend One of the people which the film focused on had just turned 17. Out of the 1000 men in his group he was one of only 27 to be alive after just the first days battle, thats means they had a 2.7% chance of living.........Not only that but he was then sent back to the front line a year or so later. As I thought about this I found myself in tears, I'm not sure why. Yet as I think of all the "healthy" men and boys around me; friends, family, work mates, people from Church, all of whom would have been sent to war, I just cannot picture only 2.7% of them living, its just beyond words, beyond belief.

As far as I can make out around 10million people died in the First World War: A war for a little bit of territory Such losses, for something of great importance, maybe just justifiable but for that no. All the Horror.


As I think about it more I saw things from another angle. As a Christan I belive that all those whom don't follow Jesus will have an eternity in hell. The horrors of war will surely be nothing compaired to the day of judgement. Not only for those who have the horror of an eternity without God but also for use who are being saved. Beacause we may watch, our friends, family and a massive proportion of the human race suffer for there sins. It is unimaginable.

Yet just as people being to talk about WW1 as just the historical fact it is the world (Christan's more than most) just talk about Hell as something which will happen. The Horror of WW1 will be so small compaired to Hell, yet we choose to brush hell under the carpet. One can be forgiven for trying not to bring up the past but, unlike that war, all the people around you can be saved, look around. If you stood on the battlefield would you let your closest friend die when you could prevent it

Game OVER!!!

Well not really; St Silas' Football match was cancelled due to the bad weather in Glasgow. What a shame because, for me, there is NOTHING BETTER than getting right muddy and having a nice scrappy game. Maybe I'm in the wrong sport?

With that in mind I'm off this afternoon to watch The Glasgow Hawks take on Aberdeen. I'm embarrassed to say that I've only ever been to two other rugby matches before: Scotland at Murrayfield and, the local team, Cambuslang. In both cases "we" where destroyed but I'm sure things will be different as my friend Nick plays for them and I may be joined by Olly and David as well as a few other people from St Silas giving the 16th man support (is that right? there are 15 players in union?). So, yeah, it should be a grand day out!


St Silas have a weekend off next week giving some players a much needed rest! Many of the team are going to Bradford for a Christian Conference which should be interesting! More later

Graham's Casino

On Monday the gambling games went just as planned; everyone of the kids, bar one, lost large amounts of "money" and the casino also made a killing! John's (my father) talk was very informative and thought provoking! There was an air of informality as the kids seemed more willing to talk and express there views! Also we had 6 kids, two of whom had come back for the first time in a while, just brilliant! Thank you very much for all your prayers! God is amazing! Next week we have a night out 10Pin Bowling in Finiston which should be good fun!

Crusaders is a non-denominational games based Christian youth group which runs in Pollockshields Church of Scotland on Monday nights normally from 7-8:30 pm. Children/youth people from ages 8-16 are most defiantly welcome. Feel free to email or comment if you would like more information. Similarly we are also always needing leaders so if you feel that's something for you please get in contact

Bus Drivers!

Today my friends and I where nearly knocked down by a angry bus driver! Picture this senerio:

• Walking towards green man, green man is green so begin our epic journey across.
• As we get about 1/4 of the way there the green man becomes a red man!
• We continue walking
• A bus (which is about 2 metres from where we are walking) starts going on a red light
• Using only what I can describe as James Bond like dodging skills we avoid the bus, which had managed to get up to atleast 10miles an hour and weighs more than a house!!!!

This is the second time in around 3months I've nearly been knocked down by a bus, first one was kinda my fault, yet this was not! Do bus drivers get training in hitting members of the public. Or maybe its just a student killing scheme?

St Silas vs Dumbarton

Sorry! I've just been too busy to do a match report! St Silas won 4-2 which was brilliant! Please look at Darren Darlows blog for a good match report!!

Next week is a big crunch game was we take on fellow table toppers Erskine Bridge. With three players suspended and a couple of slight injury's (including me) this will definitely be a hard game. Though the St Silas team should be lifted by the prospect of our minister coming to watch. Thank you very much to our loyal support, if you would like to come along please email me and I'll let you know where we are playing!!

Crusaders

This evenings teaching at Crusaders is on luck and gambling. I guess: "Why Christian's don't agree with gambling" could be the title. I found this helpful to remind myself of the different Christian points against gambling.

Three months ago when we planned the different nights "Casino Night" seemed a great idea but now we come to actually doing it things are proving more difficult. The idea was we would have a variety of gambling games and then show that its not good. I volunteered to organize the games and after praying and consulting we have decided to go ahead but it would be great if you guys could pray for us. We can easily see things going wrong and the kids to really enjoying the games, going home and continuing.

Also would be great if you could pray for my dad (John) who's is going to be doing the actual teaching!

Click

"Click is a comedy/drama/fantasy film directed by Frank Coraci. Click tells the story of overworked Michael Newman (Adam Sandler), an architect so wrapped up in his job because of his boss (David Hasselhoff), that his family is forced to take the backseat. He gets a "universal remote" from an eccentric engineer (Christopher Walken), and finds he can literally control the universe around him." (Taken from here)

I don't wish to ruin the film by telling the plot but its defiantly one to see!

(hoping to see Borat on Friday! :D)

St Silas Football team Website!

Davy Stewart (i think) who plays sweeper for St Silas football team has made a website up for the team! The link is http://www.freewebs.com/stsilas/. As far as i know its only been up for a day or so but its just brilliant!

Thank you Davy :P

St Silas play Dumbarton tomorrow morning! We would be looking to win this game though every team still needs to be beaten! Please contact Darren if you would like to come watch, you will be more than welcome! Ill be a sub (slight injury) so come talk to me :D

A Good Year

I went to see this film on Wednesday. Russell Crowe stars playing an English stock-broker who inherit his uncles French vineyard and tries to sell it. Over the film his attitude changes partly because he meets the very beautiful Marion Cotillard (who is French :D) and because he falls back in love with the place he spent his childhood summers.

Russell Crowe plays his character well as he changes and with the subtle subplots and a pinch of comedy I recommend this film!

Prayer Walk:

Tuesday was Halloween and my friend Johnny felt God was asking him to arranged a prayerwalk. This is basically, as the name suggests, walking around and praying for people and places which we go past. Especially things which we feel god was puttin on our hearts to pray for. Praise the Lord because it was just amazing!

People had pictures/visions/words from god and that was before we even left the flat while we where worshipping him. As we walked around the whole team felt god pushing and telling us where to go and what to pray for. Guiding us on what specifically we needed to do.

Before we began we had a plan of where we would head to but god gave a picture of where we needed to go: There was a large metal bucket which was pouring out this very white water down the hill which the flat is built on. As it flowed down the hill it went into all the streets but apart from one. So we went down that way and someone had a pictures of a wall which was a barrier to the water. The street was also called "White Street"!!! Just amazing! The pictures, words, what to pray for and feels of where to go next came regularly for hours!! (please read Johnnys blog for more) I could spend hours talking about all the different things. If your interested then email me or something! Very importantly this revelations did not only from one of us but there was so much confirmation from the others in the group on almost every situation we where in.

Personally I felt so out of my depth before we started yet it was infact me who got the picture of where to go which was just amazing! It was also the first time I had been in that part of the west end but I knew exactly which road to go down! God gave me a "fair share" of revelations over the evening which is not important or in anyway taking it away from god cos its all him! Yet this was the first time I had ever done anything like this and I am VERY inexperienced with things to do with spiritual gifts etc yet god still used me too, thank god! It really reminds me that god will always prepare us and use us at all times, even though we are being "trained" we are still always ready to complete what god wants us to do at that time! IF we let him, if we just let him use us which is why gods power was so shown yesterday evening!

It was also brilliant to spend time with more experienced people, to see how they operate and how god uses them. Also met three people which is always a good thing! As I look around at the people who surround me I realize how extremely blessed I am that god has put them there, helping me learn more about him! (Though clearly that is not there only purpose for being there!)

Praise the Lord!!!