I was planning on writing this later on but with the baptisms service at LCC coming up in about 3 weeks I thought I may as well right it now. I got baptised on April the 1st, and I got baptised after midday :). This is my story as to why I got baptised. I'd been a christian all my life, but when I was 14 and put in hospital I decided that he wouldn't of allowed this to happen and so I found refuge in cricket. As people know cricket is a summer sport so when that finished I found myself back at church again. The months after that were great getting back in touch with God and praying and reading the bible but however this all stopped again when the following season came around. After that season I went back to church yet again and found the same experience that I had before, only this time I got more involved. I was now on the PA sound team. Doing that was great, I 've always worshipped more to God through music so being involved in that boast my relationship with him. Soon after I was asked to help out with another sound system was a group of christian singers so of course I said yes. About a year after doing this sound system for this group of christian singers they asked me to join and play my guitar for them. I was over the moon to be playing christian music in a christian band. The best thing about this was it didn't get interrupted by cricket, all practices were at night and so were the gigs so I could continue doing the two things I enjoyed the most. Praising god and playing cricket.
Unfortanatly the group decided to go there own separate ways about a year after I joined. but at least I still had my church sound system to work on. I continued going to church and doing the sound system. I then had a massive choice soon after, join the worship band or continue playing cricket. The best thing I could think of was putting off the music band until after the season. The season came and went and during that time I decided to apply for a place at university for some unknown reason to me I had said previously that I didnt want to go and that the police force was my calling. September drew upon me quickly and with my university place in the balance te worship leader once again asked me to join the band after he'd seen me in a charity concert. Once again another hard decision faced me. I decided I needed to carefully think about it with in the next week. The next week had come and gone and before I knew it I was on my way to university. My place was comfirmed and so the place in the band had to wait.
When I came up to university I found a bible in my room, I decided I wasn't going to take mine as there was unexplained happenings in my life that I needed to know before I picked it up again. I dedicated a song to my grandad when he departed us and he seemed to watching down on me, when ever I got angry or annoyed his song would come on and even to this day I still look up at the sky and say "thanks grandad". He seemed to be looking down on me and my every move. I then picked up the bible again I decided that I had to find a church but it felt like i was in the middle of nowhere so I listened to music and prayed more. When second year came I joined the Christian Union with my mate and 4 days later was on my way to a church. I had this plan to go to a different church for 4 or 5 weeks to see what other churches were like. I turned up on my first week and i never looked back.
I continued going to the same church and made a lot of close friends. Towards Christmas I had felt something that I'd never felt at church before, it felt like Christ was living inside me. Every word of the gospel and songs seemed to reach out and touch me and so over the Christmas period I had a long hard think about baptism. I returned after Christmas to the church once again and the same thing happened, God was with me and I knew then I had to get baptised. The build up to my baptism became very hard with events in my life and even on trips away it seemed to follow me everywhere. I remember this one trip away where everyone prayed for the problem that had happened and the spirit of the lord went through me and stayed deep inside of me but i was so touched to see so many people willing to pray for me. That was I think the most testing time of my life, it confirmed to me that I wanted to become totally Christ centred.
When the ceremony arrived on the baptism day, I remember the drive up in the lovely sunshine. Cruising along the motorway dodging the road works and other cars until we finally arrived at church. I remember talking to someone about whether I was going to write something down to read out on stage but I decided to go off the top of my head. Which looking back was a mistake. I had a check list in my head of who I wanted to say thanks too but when it came to it I could only remember a few of them, although I did thanks the closest to me. We got in to the pool to be baptised and just before the questions came the person baptising me said to shout my answer out. So on the first one I did, he spoke to me again and said the same thing, shout it out and yet again I did. On the third occasion he said go for it so at the top of my voice and in my best Churchill impression I answered with "OH YES" I'm pretty sure the crowd will remember the day getting them smiling with every answer I gave.
Tuesday 11 September 2012
Saturday 8 September 2012
My Hernia. Read with a cuppa.
Ever since got diagnosed with my hernia loads of people have asked two questions the most. 1) how'd you get it? and 2) How'd you know you'd get it. this was usually followed by " a hernia at you age". Now I know that at 21 its unusual for anyone of that age to get a hernia but like most malfunctions in the body it can happen at any age.
I first noticed the hernia one morning when going for a shower and like a normal bloke I ignored it. in the build up to finding it I had times where I was in total agony and on one occasion I end up on all falls after collapsing in pain. My first rule for injuries in particular is if it affects my cricket then something has to be done about it. Which in case could of cased more damaged and a longer lay off. it happened to be 3 months after I first notice the swelling where my hernia was that I then took noticed. I remember the game well as it was the first game in 3 weeks which I started to feel a lot of pain and discomfort. however I still carried on playing in that match. running up and balling 10 overs pretty much straight through with the odd stoppage to try and get rid of the pain. my investigation in to the lump got more in serious when I struggle to run in the same game. Something had to be done!!!!
4 days after that game I finally got in to the doctors to which he confirmed it was an inguinal hernia which could become more serious if the intestines carried on moving in to a strangulated hernia. My doctor gave me the news that I couldn't work and couldn't play sport but I could still umpire and score, which at least was some good news if anything. So taking my doctors advice on I played that night in the evening league match. which looking back was the best of things to do. towards the end I over stretched for a ball that shot over my head to which my wall muscle stiffened and contracted which then pulled on the intestines which had gone through the middle of the muscle. that confirmed to me that my season for the moment was over.
A few weeks down the line came pre op which I'll never forget, the doctor got me on the bed and was looking at the hernia she said "does it go back in if you push it in" I said no I knew how much pain I'd be in if she pushed it back in, i found that out myself!!!!!! So doing what she had said she tried to push it back in. now if he head had stayed where it was we'd had one less doctor in Nottingham, my knee shot up because of the pain and came up with such speed it would of connected with her temple.
Then came the operation day, it was 3 days after my mates wedding and 2 weeks before my holiday which was good timing. I'd never had an operation before but the nerves didn't show, I had a good laugh with he doctors and nurses. I also found at the you cant be allergic to hard work. I had the gas and the next thing i remember was being woken up shivering. after being moved to the ward the nurse said would you like tea and toast and my normal self came out I'd prefer a pint of lager and a bacon butty. I soon found out that not on the NHS menu so tea and toast it was. After 8 rounds of toast and 4 cups of tea later and after getting help to do basic stuff like getting changed came the had bit.............Walking.
Soon after I was allowed to go but before I did I asked the doctor 2 questions that seriously needed answering 1) was it a weak spot in the muscle or had I torn it. he confirmed that it was a weak sport that I could of had since birth and 2) What about the other side?. Ge confirmed that he couldn't see anything and I had to continue to rest which is hard to do. I'm happy to say the recovery is going well however I still cant do some of the stuff I want to do.
I first noticed the hernia one morning when going for a shower and like a normal bloke I ignored it. in the build up to finding it I had times where I was in total agony and on one occasion I end up on all falls after collapsing in pain. My first rule for injuries in particular is if it affects my cricket then something has to be done about it. Which in case could of cased more damaged and a longer lay off. it happened to be 3 months after I first notice the swelling where my hernia was that I then took noticed. I remember the game well as it was the first game in 3 weeks which I started to feel a lot of pain and discomfort. however I still carried on playing in that match. running up and balling 10 overs pretty much straight through with the odd stoppage to try and get rid of the pain. my investigation in to the lump got more in serious when I struggle to run in the same game. Something had to be done!!!!
4 days after that game I finally got in to the doctors to which he confirmed it was an inguinal hernia which could become more serious if the intestines carried on moving in to a strangulated hernia. My doctor gave me the news that I couldn't work and couldn't play sport but I could still umpire and score, which at least was some good news if anything. So taking my doctors advice on I played that night in the evening league match. which looking back was the best of things to do. towards the end I over stretched for a ball that shot over my head to which my wall muscle stiffened and contracted which then pulled on the intestines which had gone through the middle of the muscle. that confirmed to me that my season for the moment was over.
A few weeks down the line came pre op which I'll never forget, the doctor got me on the bed and was looking at the hernia she said "does it go back in if you push it in" I said no I knew how much pain I'd be in if she pushed it back in, i found that out myself!!!!!! So doing what she had said she tried to push it back in. now if he head had stayed where it was we'd had one less doctor in Nottingham, my knee shot up because of the pain and came up with such speed it would of connected with her temple.
Then came the operation day, it was 3 days after my mates wedding and 2 weeks before my holiday which was good timing. I'd never had an operation before but the nerves didn't show, I had a good laugh with he doctors and nurses. I also found at the you cant be allergic to hard work. I had the gas and the next thing i remember was being woken up shivering. after being moved to the ward the nurse said would you like tea and toast and my normal self came out I'd prefer a pint of lager and a bacon butty. I soon found out that not on the NHS menu so tea and toast it was. After 8 rounds of toast and 4 cups of tea later and after getting help to do basic stuff like getting changed came the had bit.............Walking.
Soon after I was allowed to go but before I did I asked the doctor 2 questions that seriously needed answering 1) was it a weak spot in the muscle or had I torn it. he confirmed that it was a weak sport that I could of had since birth and 2) What about the other side?. Ge confirmed that he couldn't see anything and I had to continue to rest which is hard to do. I'm happy to say the recovery is going well however I still cant do some of the stuff I want to do.
Thursday 6 September 2012
Dreams and Bucket Lists
I was going to try and limit my blog writing to once a week but since I've got time on my hands I thought I'd write the 2nd one this week.
I was talking to some friends of mine about their bucket lists as well as mine. I decided that after the fantastic year I had at Longton that I should write one myself. I could only think of 7 points to put on it but then I took a step back and looked at life and thought some things on my bucket list are life changing events, some that I wont complete this year, others that will come and go.
I decided to share my short list of things to do with readers of my blog.
Go to 5 football matches
Get a 2:1 at university
Try and get involved more in the youth work at church
Get a local work placement
Do at least 6 inside out projects
Visit the National Rail Museum.
Now I know its not the most exciting list of all but to me tee things are really important to me as a Christian and as a friend. the one I haven't put in that list up there is the final point for this year but it also happens to be a point that's on every bucket list I make from now on and that I can to be more faithful to God. Now a lot of non believers that read this will just say pray more or go to church more but staying faithful to God is so much harder then that. its following in his foot steps everyday, listening to his work, being the best I can be for him and showing everyone what the true meaning of Christianity is.
How ever there is also 1 massive dream that I have, like everyone else I too that have desire to complete an achievement in my life that I want to do. now its an achievement I cant do at the moment things like the cost, the timing, and logistics of it don't fit but I'm hoping that in two years time after I've completed university that I will be able to go to Australia to coach and play cricket for 6 months. not only will this help my complete my ultimate dream but it'll help develop my career and boast all my skills at the moment. although while I write this one thought has occurred to me, at some point in the future i want to do a summer soccer with Longton in Seattle .
So why not take 5 minutes and write a bucket list for yourself for this year my list at the moment isn't that long, but over the coming weeks and months I know that my list will grow and things will start to be crossed off on it.
I was talking to some friends of mine about their bucket lists as well as mine. I decided that after the fantastic year I had at Longton that I should write one myself. I could only think of 7 points to put on it but then I took a step back and looked at life and thought some things on my bucket list are life changing events, some that I wont complete this year, others that will come and go.
I decided to share my short list of things to do with readers of my blog.
Go to 5 football matches
Get a 2:1 at university
Try and get involved more in the youth work at church
Get a local work placement
Do at least 6 inside out projects
Visit the National Rail Museum.
Now I know its not the most exciting list of all but to me tee things are really important to me as a Christian and as a friend. the one I haven't put in that list up there is the final point for this year but it also happens to be a point that's on every bucket list I make from now on and that I can to be more faithful to God. Now a lot of non believers that read this will just say pray more or go to church more but staying faithful to God is so much harder then that. its following in his foot steps everyday, listening to his work, being the best I can be for him and showing everyone what the true meaning of Christianity is.
How ever there is also 1 massive dream that I have, like everyone else I too that have desire to complete an achievement in my life that I want to do. now its an achievement I cant do at the moment things like the cost, the timing, and logistics of it don't fit but I'm hoping that in two years time after I've completed university that I will be able to go to Australia to coach and play cricket for 6 months. not only will this help my complete my ultimate dream but it'll help develop my career and boast all my skills at the moment. although while I write this one thought has occurred to me, at some point in the future i want to do a summer soccer with Longton in Seattle .
So why not take 5 minutes and write a bucket list for yourself for this year my list at the moment isn't that long, but over the coming weeks and months I know that my list will grow and things will start to be crossed off on it.
Tuesday 4 September 2012
Who would of thought........
Who would of thought that 3 years ago I'd be going in to my third year at university, got a foundation degree, and living with one of my best mates. If someone had offered me that 3 years ago I certainly would of taken it. So far it has been the best 2 and a half years of my life, not only have I made some amazing and caring friends but it feels like I'm grown up...... slowly but surely I've grown up (although some of you would this different).
The past year feels like the most important of my life, going in to my second year at university, joining Longton Community Church, getting baptised, celebrating my 21st, being elected a vice captain, getting injured, having my first ever operation, graduation and finally getting the outstanding student award from my course. But my year has had more then just those major points in it and it would of happened if I hadn't been rejected from Nottingham Trent University.
I was 18 and got rejected from Nottingham Trent so I decided to take a year out and didn't do anything special with it, I just worked, and then by some luck my mum found an article in the paper in the worlds greatest newspaper ever........... The Sun. It was a course coaching cricket which was right up my street and with only two universities doing the course there was a slim chance of getting on but if you believe then good things will happen so I applied.
Funny enough just before the interview in a freak accident I received a cricket ball to the eye and turned up for my interview a few days later (after a trip to A and E to get stitched up) to have this interview. Half way through the interview the interviewer finally asked the question I was expecting, "how did you get a black eye, was it fighting" and after telling her it was from sport everyone was relieved.
So from that very day I was offered the place on the course which I took and after some more ups and downs regarding the course I finally ended up on sports coaching and thus tried never to look back and in a weeks time I will become a third year :)
The past year feels like the most important of my life, going in to my second year at university, joining Longton Community Church, getting baptised, celebrating my 21st, being elected a vice captain, getting injured, having my first ever operation, graduation and finally getting the outstanding student award from my course. But my year has had more then just those major points in it and it would of happened if I hadn't been rejected from Nottingham Trent University.
I was 18 and got rejected from Nottingham Trent so I decided to take a year out and didn't do anything special with it, I just worked, and then by some luck my mum found an article in the paper in the worlds greatest newspaper ever........... The Sun. It was a course coaching cricket which was right up my street and with only two universities doing the course there was a slim chance of getting on but if you believe then good things will happen so I applied.
Funny enough just before the interview in a freak accident I received a cricket ball to the eye and turned up for my interview a few days later (after a trip to A and E to get stitched up) to have this interview. Half way through the interview the interviewer finally asked the question I was expecting, "how did you get a black eye, was it fighting" and after telling her it was from sport everyone was relieved.
So from that very day I was offered the place on the course which I took and after some more ups and downs regarding the course I finally ended up on sports coaching and thus tried never to look back and in a weeks time I will become a third year :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)