Same Jeans

In his new song the dude from the view claims he's had his jeans on for four days!! Maybe he's telling the truth, maybe not?! Either way its a good song (even if they have ripped off "Brimfull of asha on the forty five!")



Whats the longest you've had your jeans on for??? Think my record is nine days.....

Weekend

St Silas won 8-4 against CEC2 with five goals from Frankie , two from Ali Morrow with Davy Lawler getting one too!! Although Silas ran away comfortable winners in the end we had to come back from behind twice.

This trend of only starting to play when we are loosing seems to be happening an awful lot since the turn of the year which is a little worrying. At the end of the match the team seemed so discontent about the loss of four goals, its was as if we had lost!!

Two F.A. Cup matches where televised over the weekend: Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest and Man Utd vs Portsmouth; both good games. It was quite a lot of football over load.

On the Saturday afternoon Scottish Crusaders changed their name to Urban Saints with 75% in favor, thank God for a clear majority! Some less urban groups will now be called “Rural Sinners”! (Sadly can’t take credit for that)

Saturday evening I finally went to my best friend Eilidh's flat, staying the night. It's rather strange that despite us being best friends we struggled so much to stay in contact before she came to Uni. Now she lives in Glasgow we see each other a lot more but it was the first time I'd been round to her flat!! Spending time with her is fantastic so it was of course very lovely. We watched Pay It Forward on DVD. It is a book which I started to read a few years ago though gave up as it was rather rubbish; thankfully the film was much better!


Sunday morning was All-Age at Church (all the children stay in the service rather than going to their own activities). We started the new series, faith, with the story of Noah a fantastic example of faith (Genesis 6:9 onwards). What an amazing guy he was. In Genesis when it talks about Noah and his Granddad Enoch it says "they walked with God". I can think of little else which could be such a powerful statement of there lives and I am filled with a desire to be like them. There is also a new theme song for the series called "faith" which Jenny and the band did a particularly good version of. It is lyrically brilliant too; straight out the bible.

All in all a very tiring weekend but it was good.

Crusaders/Urban Saints

After 100 years The Crusaders Union felt it was time to change the name to a less offensive one. Here is an article from the Times about it. Due to constitutional rules the name of the organisation will still be "The Crusaders Union" but will just run under the new name. Scottish Crusaders, though, is different! This is because it is a part of the overall Crusaders Union and this means a vote has to be taken to change from "Scottish Crusaders". I apologise if that is all a bit confusing!

Anyway, there is a meeting on Saturday afternoon to discuss and vote on what to do; all "leaders" are able to vote. Some people are really keen about the new name but it seems that there was little or no discussion about the change. This has left some annoyed and others are against the whole name as they think its silly!

There seems to be a huge chance of division and trench lines being dug over this. There is a great need for prayer!!!

Bible Study

There is a group of four of us young guys who have been meeting on Friday's for a few months now. It's been fantastic as we all grow closer together and trusting each other more. Tonight was particularly good as we continued opened up and became more accountable. We all are growing in faith and relying on each other. I personally was so encouraging! Praise God

Deflated:

I blogged last month (here) about an event which the Crusader group was planning to hold. Earlier this week we (leader) found out that we wouldn't be able to put inflatables ie. sumo wrestling, bounce castle etc inside Pollokshields Church. This came as quite a shock because we have been planning an event for a few months now in which we hoped to encourage young people to come along to our group. The main attraction was the inflatable games and we where all set for February 3rd (a little later than my blog mentioned). We had just got everything in place last monday when the caretaker of the Church mentioned that he wasn't sure if we would be allowed to put the things in the hall like that which we all found quite surprising. When we then phoned up the Church leader and where told that we defiantly wouldn't be allowed.

There seems to be no reasons given to why they have made the rule and the person who we are renting from is sending his risk assessment to the Church to see if they will reconsider so there is hope. It has come as quite a shock and at a very bad time as we need to publicise and look for more volunteers. It seems that the 3rd atleast is out of question.

This is all very disheartening after so much effort has been put in. I find myself becoming angry at my stereotype of the Church we are using despite personally never dealing with them. Also one is left wondering if it is a good idea to continue down this road, doing the old "is this Gods plan??" thing. Maybe God his bringing this season to an end and we are just too stubborn to listen. Yet I wonder if this is just a stumbling block which we will have to overcome, with God's help. Your prayers would be very much appreciated

St Silas vs Hope Hall

5-2 was the final score in this hard fought match. Hope Hall (who are high in the table for a reason) lead twice in the second half before Silas fought through for the win.

The teams met at Scotstoun Leisure Centre on the astro turf pitch. Before the game even began Silas where on their hands and knees (not praying, sadly :P) but picking up shards of glass as one of the floodlights had been smashed and not cleaned up. A striker claimed we should just play on without tidying up, much to the disgust of the right back and right midfield who would be playing through it all! That little comment proved to be the most entertaining part of a first half which was ruined by high winds causing most passes, shots and clearances to go over the fence!!

The second half saw the wind die down and the play improve greatly. Hope Hall went a goal up with a header after a little goalkeeping error. Silas got back on level terms before Hope Hall scored another: a shot from outside the box which caused our goalie some problems. Silas then rallied and with an Ali Morrow goal into the top corner from short range made it all square. John Wood then scored a goal after the keeper didn't catch the ball properly. The goalie (who is very good: saved a good header form me anyway) then kicked John as he ran to celebrate. This left the ref (who had a good game) with no option but show the red card. With Hope Hall down to 10 men (and a new keeper in) Silas then scored two more well worked goals. (Appologiese for the lateness, shortness and "without even goal scorers names"ness of this report)


The Silas defence dealt well with the weather problems and can't be blamed for the two goals we let in. The midfield and attack were not firing on all cylinders but still managed to score 5 (which can only be a good thing). Also the two attackers both got an assist or two which is great also. MOM was given to me (Graham Cuthbert), which was really nice to get. I feel bad though that other player don't get as much credit as they deserve though. For example, I thought Murdo, Alan Dock and Richard Olyott played particularly well on Saturday, but everyone in the team makes a real contribution. Without a team we would never win!!!! Thank God for the gift of sport and football!! :D

OI, referee!

Saturday evening I helped at out by refereeing! It was the under 11s Scottish Crusaders Indoor Football tournament and what a lovely experience it was!! The kids were so pleasant but also had a lot of passion to win. One of the teams was made up of all 8 year olds including a girl who, in her obsession to get the ball, ran into me, knocking me over (much to the hilarity of the parents and other players). A particular highlight was the fact there were no controversial decisions,Thank God! Being "cheated" is the sort of things which can ruin the whole experience for a team and leave parents shouting at the poor ref!

Lenzie Crusaders (as usual) won the tournament. The reason they win is because they have the best team but the reason they win so often is because they have a massive group. So big, in fact, they have to meet a number of different nights! For years the Pollockshields teams ,which I was part of, used to complain about how unfair it was. Now though, as a leader, its just fantastic to see how strong there group is and I pray that our group will grow again and see people meet God. A man called Gordon has run the Lenzie group for many decades and thank God for him and all the work he has done, still does. His service is something which, again, I only noticed when I was a leader.

Only 15 years ago Scottish Crusaders used to have athletics, swimming, badminton and football competitions annually for all the different groups to compete in. It was a very good way of getting children of all ages to get involved and along to Crusader grups. The need to work as a team helps built up friendships and comradery between younger people and also there leaders; relationships which grow over the years. Sadly, as my friend Darren talks about in his last blog post, a few years ago everyone decided that competitiveness, for children, was bad. As a result Crusaders stopped many of there competitions from happening, what a mistake! Thankfully Gordon, I'm told, fought to keep the football tournament and after seeing the children at the weekend enjoy it so much I see how important it was.

Sport is such a good way to get kids interested, fit and having fun. As a society we need to bring back competitiveness in schools and sports. Not to make people feel they are rubbish, but to encourage them to play hard! Everyone winning leaves children with no reason to push themselves because without a reason to do try why should they? After being and seeing children play (especially boys) its important that winning is something which is emphasised as a good thing, not the only thing, but a good thing!

St Silas Vs Trinity Possil

3-2 was the final score in a close game which saw St Silas bounce back against a very strong Trinity Possil. John Wood, Frank Brodie and David Stewart where on the score sheet.

Trinity's number 7 scored a superb goal in the first half where he out positioned me and drilled a shot into the bottom corner. John got one back for Silas before the 7 scored again when he out positioned his marker and volleyed into the bottom corner.

In the second half the game was still even but St Silas seemed to be on the attack more and with some good football, moving the ball from defence to attack, Davy Stewart played the ball past the keeper. The prolific Frank Brodie scored the 3rd and with some strong defending towards the end Silas claim a hard fought win.

M.O.M. was given to me for some reason even though, I felt, it was one of my worst performances this season. We gave the particularly skillful "number 7" their award and after playing him for the university too he is one of the best players I've played against.

Richard Grant got a serious concussion so will have to take at least a month off football.

Age


Last Sunday was a great day for me, the day that I became a man!! I shaved on Saturday morning and by Sunday some stubble had grown in, not loads but still enough to shave off again (which was completed with glee).

Yes, I know you are laughing but strange as it might seem most of us 18-19 year old guys still ain't shaving everyday..... It's quite a turn up for the books because when you were 10 did you not think that people at uni where adults, I did anyway. Yet most at 19 are still physically growing, have hormones flowing and many are just as lost as they were at 10.

Even around my peer group the misconceptions of what different ages bring are plain to see. The number of 15 year olds that wish they where 18 because they crave to be an adult: go drinking, earn good money and be treated with respect. Yet most 18 year olds find themselves sometimes wishing to be 21 because they feel that then they will get the respect that comes with being an adult. On the other hand there are those 21 year olds who wish they were back at 15 because life was so much simpler then. I guess it's the human problem of claiming that "the grass is greener on the other side". The same thing applies for people who are older with the statement "I wish I was X years old", if I had a 1p for every time someone said that.....

I'm coming more to the opinion that we should be happy what age we are. Why? Because you are only going to be 48 years and 21days old once in your life (the age isn't aimed at anyone by the way). You are only going to experience that age once so why wish it away? Every age has is perks and flaws; so being grown up is not just freedom as younger people are led to believe. Similarly, people only seem to remember the good things in the past and therefore forget that being younger isn't all good either.

A wise man once said, "you are only as old as you feel" and it's completely true! My Grannie is 80 odds yet she goes around everywhere on her bike, is constantly gardening and still runs her churches youth group. It's so sad to see grandparents in there 50s deciding that they are old and limiting what they will do. If you convince yourself that "your old" then you will be!

So I urge you, what ever age you are not to wish today away because you want to be some other age! Enjoy where you are now because your only going to have that day once!

Snowboarding

As a Christmas present my parents got my sister, Rachel, and I skiiing and snowboarding lessons! So last Wednesday we headed off to Xcape to learn! This is an example of the sort of stuff we where doing doing:



Snowboarding is brilliant! It's such a satifying sport and I can't wait till the next lesson (though my bank account won't like it)! I was amazed at how frictionless the boards where! Now that might sound silly but just go try it and you'll know what I mean!



How many professional snowboarders like the guy above have knee ligament damage?? When I started out you could feel them straining as I slide around. What if your doing a trick and catch an edge in the snow??


NOTE: The video's are not in the wrong order!

St Silas vs Sherwood-Greenlaw

The league leaders St Silas started 2007 with there first lost of the season in dramatic style with a 5-4 defeat to Sherwood!

FIRST HALF: The league leaders started the first half brightly passing the ball well and John Wood scored from close range. Sherwood then came into the game as St Silas couldn't seem to couple with their high work rate. After a couple of good chances (which where well saved by Martin) Sherwood manged to play it through the Silas defense to a midfielder who passed the ball inside to an attacker who, in this reporters humble opinion, was offside. The attacker then side-footed into the net from close range.

St Silas then got a penalty when Ali Morrow did a trade-mark fall in the box (NOTE: not a dive! but he always looks a little strange when he gets fouled!) which John expertly whacked into the top corner.


SECOND HALF: Seconds into the second half Sherwood scored making it 2-2. They then scored a third after another defensive mix up. St Silas then rallied and made it 4-3 (defender come striker Richard Olliot scoring another goal with his left) but Sherwood then went 4-4 and then 5-4.

Apologies for the lack of second half reporting but I can't remember exactly what happened with the goals! St Silas seemed to gift Sherwood almost all their goals. Both Midfield and Defensive units where all over the place and in attack St Silas missed a number of opportunities in probably the worst performance in the last two years.

The attitude of "we'll win" which most of the team held led to the lack of focus which has got us to the top of the league.Also the team spirit which as been our strongest asset over the last three seasons was missing! But its not all doom and gloom! We are still top of the league and have the same team: skillful, hardworking and most importantly a great bunch of guys! So I see no reason why next week the team shouldn't get back to winning ways!

MOM was John Wood who played well, adding to his high goal tally! My excuse is that I only played the second half cos I was ill :P

St Silas will be back to winning ways next week! I'll put a £10 on it!!

Myspace Laughs

Sorry for not blogging much interesting stuff of late, just had no Internet access! I hope you find this funny!!

When I plugged in the LAN to check emails I logged on Myspace and saw this message:

Anyone else just laughed?? Maybe the church should use this picture as a publicity thing? (I'm Semi-serious!!).


Upon further inspection of the site (www.myspace.com/jesus_is_the_real_way) I found that I've been following the wrong God for the last 18 years!! Did you know that Jesus is only 100years old, didn't live in Israel and wasn't a Jew?? According to Jesus he's a Catholic from Italy!!!! Didn't see that one coming did you?

Iron Maiden on Friday 16th

I went to see the legendary Iron Maiden but forgot to blog about it so here it is almost a month late!

The gig, In one word: Disappointing!

Don't get me wrong, its was good but they played all these new songs that no one knew :( and the warm up act "Trivium" just swore a lot. It's not cool duuuude!

I WANT MY £32.50 back!!!!