I don't know how reliable these things are... but I took an online IQ test, and got 133!
Take some tests to see how our results compare!
To allow me to see your test results, just follow the link below. Once you sign in or register, the tests I've taken will be listed on your test results page.
http://uk.tickle.com/inv.html?inv=2984247074433260973
Below are the scores suggested by another site with an IQ test: www.iqtest.com
Intelligence Interval Cognitive Designation
40 - 55 Severely challenged (Less than 1% of test takers)
55 - 70 Challenged (2.3% of test takers)
70 - 85 Below average
85 - 115 Average (68% of test takers)
115 - 130 Above average
130 - 145 Gifted (2.3% of test takers)
145 - 160 Genius (Less than 1% of test takers)
160+ Extraordinary genius
Updates...
Stewart - 138
Lynsey - 135
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
John 11 - the danger of witnessing, and the prophecy of Caiaphas
John 11 tells us of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, where Jesus again showed his humanness, and his sharing in our emotions - Jesus wept. Note also that Jesus said: "Lazarus come out" when he 'called in a loud voice' into the grave... it has been suggested that had he not used Lazarus' name, all the dead in the grave would have come out!
But later in the chapter, we find two incidents of note. The first is the danger of witnessing. It was well known that Lazarus had been dead, after all, the professional mourners had been there wailing and crying for four days, until Jesus came and 'spoiled the party' by raising him! Bethany was close to Jersualem, and a lot of people had come out to mourn for him... so when they had heard that Lazarus was raised from the dead, they came out again, only this time, it was to see the proof of the miracle. Indeed, John tells us that they weren't only coming out, but also believing in Jesus!
And that's where the danger came in for Lazarus, a living witness of the power of God. Because the Sanhedrin, the elders of the nation, were becoming even more jealous of the standing and following Jesus was gaining. So do you know what they plotted to do in chapter 12? They plotted to kill him!
The second important thing that I noticed was the unknowing prophecy of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was High Priest, and as such, was the leader of the nation. They realised that if Jesus kept up his popularity, it could incite the crowd, which would lead to some sort of trouble, which would lead to the Romans coming in and establishing more complete control, which would mean the Sanhedrin would lose their own privileged position.
They plotted therefore to kill Jesus, reckoning that it would be better for the nation if he was done away with, as then, the nation would remain: ' "You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.' (John 11:50-52).
How accurate could Caiaphas be, without understanding the implications of what he was saying! Jesus indeed died for the nation, and for the scattered children of God. But Caiaphas meant it in a narrow, nationalistic sense, whereby their own privileges and state would be kept - rather, Jesus died for our sins, bringing us back to God. He died in the place of those who, trusting in him, will then not perish.
But later in the chapter, we find two incidents of note. The first is the danger of witnessing. It was well known that Lazarus had been dead, after all, the professional mourners had been there wailing and crying for four days, until Jesus came and 'spoiled the party' by raising him! Bethany was close to Jersualem, and a lot of people had come out to mourn for him... so when they had heard that Lazarus was raised from the dead, they came out again, only this time, it was to see the proof of the miracle. Indeed, John tells us that they weren't only coming out, but also believing in Jesus!
And that's where the danger came in for Lazarus, a living witness of the power of God. Because the Sanhedrin, the elders of the nation, were becoming even more jealous of the standing and following Jesus was gaining. So do you know what they plotted to do in chapter 12? They plotted to kill him!
The second important thing that I noticed was the unknowing prophecy of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was High Priest, and as such, was the leader of the nation. They realised that if Jesus kept up his popularity, it could incite the crowd, which would lead to some sort of trouble, which would lead to the Romans coming in and establishing more complete control, which would mean the Sanhedrin would lose their own privileged position.
They plotted therefore to kill Jesus, reckoning that it would be better for the nation if he was done away with, as then, the nation would remain: ' "You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.' (John 11:50-52).
How accurate could Caiaphas be, without understanding the implications of what he was saying! Jesus indeed died for the nation, and for the scattered children of God. But Caiaphas meant it in a narrow, nationalistic sense, whereby their own privileges and state would be kept - rather, Jesus died for our sins, bringing us back to God. He died in the place of those who, trusting in him, will then not perish.
Slow-goers
Why oh why do people drive slow? Last night were perfect conditions for driving - bright with dry roads... and do you know what? On the main road from Ballygawley to Omagh there was a car doing 30 miles per hour. Aaaaaaaaaaaagh! Now, normally it wouldn't be too hard to get past, but what made it worse was that there was an articulated lorry behind it, so it took a considerable straight bit to get past... And then not very long after getting past, there was a police speed camera watching... I wonder if the police would stop someone for driving too slowly because there was a big long queue behind the car. It can't be safe to drive so slowly, because you then annoy the drivers behind and make them more likely to take risks to try and get past...
Monday, May 30, 2005
Bank Holiday
Hurray! Today was a Bank Holiday, and thankfully our work takes it, so I found myself getting a lie in. I think it might have been about 11am that I got up, and then we went on a wee drive to various places including the Abbeycentre, Connswater and Belfast city centre, where Neil was able to get a new phone... he seems to go through them in no time at all.
Then back home I had to dung out the car somewhat, as there was a lot of stuff gathered in it etc...
So now I'm relaxing, checking emails and blogging before I head back to Tyrone - I just hope there won't be too much traffic on the road - it might be a bit slower than my Sunday night travels!
Then back home I had to dung out the car somewhat, as there was a lot of stuff gathered in it etc...
So now I'm relaxing, checking emails and blogging before I head back to Tyrone - I just hope there won't be too much traffic on the road - it might be a bit slower than my Sunday night travels!
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Y-Friday
I'm not long in from the Crusaders 'No Turning Back Tour' in Shankill Leisure Centre, Belfast tonight. We had a group from our YF at it, and they all seemed to enjoy it. The evening started with the ironically titled 'thebandwithnoname' (who evidently do have a name...). They were fine, possibly slightly loud, but urban/rap type stuff just isn't what I'm in to.
Then Y-Friday came on, and it made it all worth it! Most of the songs were their newer ones, but I did recognise 'Holy Holy Holy' from their gig in Summer Madness 1999 (all those years ago!), and on their cd.
But one thing struck me during the concert, when the white lights were searching through the crowd... about the brightness, the intensity of one light shining in the darkness. It made me think on the holiness of God, about how he dwells in 'light inaccesible, hid from our eyes' (to quote a hymn). Imagine what it is going to be like when we meet Jesus face to face!
Jesus Christ is the light of the world. He shines in the darkest places of our hearts, shining his light, and bringing our faults to light - not to condemn us, but to seek to bring us to the point of confession and repentance, where we invite him to chine even more in us, and through us.
John chapter 1 tells us about Jesus:
'In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it... The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world' (John 1:4,5,9)
Oh Lord, shine in me and expose the dark places of my heart, that your light may shine in every part of me, and thus shine through me to those around. Bring your kingdom of light to this dark land, and so increase your glory.
Then Y-Friday came on, and it made it all worth it! Most of the songs were their newer ones, but I did recognise 'Holy Holy Holy' from their gig in Summer Madness 1999 (all those years ago!), and on their cd.
But one thing struck me during the concert, when the white lights were searching through the crowd... about the brightness, the intensity of one light shining in the darkness. It made me think on the holiness of God, about how he dwells in 'light inaccesible, hid from our eyes' (to quote a hymn). Imagine what it is going to be like when we meet Jesus face to face!
Jesus Christ is the light of the world. He shines in the darkest places of our hearts, shining his light, and bringing our faults to light - not to condemn us, but to seek to bring us to the point of confession and repentance, where we invite him to chine even more in us, and through us.
John chapter 1 tells us about Jesus:
'In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it... The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world' (John 1:4,5,9)
Oh Lord, shine in me and expose the dark places of my heart, that your light may shine in every part of me, and thus shine through me to those around. Bring your kingdom of light to this dark land, and so increase your glory.
Sunday
Boys oh! Last night was another bit of a late night, being up until after 1am, then this morning I was wakened by the sun and the brightness at 6.45am... so I dozed over, and wakened another few times before getting up at 9am.
Church, Sunday Club and Church this morning went quite well, with the choir doing the whole Sung Responses again this morning - let's hope it isn't EVERY service!
This afternoon, we're going to watch the Orange parade in Lambeg, in which the Lisburn district walks from Lisburn, and the Derriaghy District walks from Derriaghy, before converging and going to Lambeg Parish Church... a quare walk, all in!
Tonight, then, we're going to the Shankill Leisure Centre to see Y-Friday in concert... update later on maybe...
Oh, and happy birthday to Heather - she doesn't read this, but sure...
Church, Sunday Club and Church this morning went quite well, with the choir doing the whole Sung Responses again this morning - let's hope it isn't EVERY service!
This afternoon, we're going to watch the Orange parade in Lambeg, in which the Lisburn district walks from Lisburn, and the Derriaghy District walks from Derriaghy, before converging and going to Lambeg Parish Church... a quare walk, all in!
Tonight, then, we're going to the Shankill Leisure Centre to see Y-Friday in concert... update later on maybe...
Oh, and happy birthday to Heather - she doesn't read this, but sure...
Star Wars
This is just an initial reaction as it is getting late, but wow! The new Star Wars film is excellent! The action scenes were probably the best ever, and plenty going on. Well worth going to see, to complete the 6 films... I am a bit of a Star Wars fan now, having never seen the original 3 until after I saw Episode One (The Phantom Menace) at BB Camp when it came out. But when I say fan, it is just a fan, not an anorak!
Saturday, May 28, 2005
The Good Shepherd
What's the difference between a middle Eastern shepherd, and a shepherd in Ulster?
No, this isn't a horrible joke... it's a look at the different ways of working, and an insight into John 10! Maybe I'm going back a few years, but a popular programme on tv was 'One Man and His Dog', in which shepherds used their sheepdogs to round up the sheep, and drive them from behind into the pen.
But the middle Eastern shepherd walks in front of the sheep, and the sheep follow him. Or in the words of Jesus: 'The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.' (John 10: 2-4).
Jesus described himself as 'the Good Shepherd', who lays down his life for his sheep. He knows his sheep by name, and gave his life for them. The challenge is - do you know the Good Shepherd? Can you say with the Psalmist 'The Lord is my shepherd'? (Psalm 23:1) Do you know Jesus' voice, and are you following him? Because there is only blessing from doing so. As Jesus himself said: 'I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' (John 10:10)
No, this isn't a horrible joke... it's a look at the different ways of working, and an insight into John 10! Maybe I'm going back a few years, but a popular programme on tv was 'One Man and His Dog', in which shepherds used their sheepdogs to round up the sheep, and drive them from behind into the pen.
But the middle Eastern shepherd walks in front of the sheep, and the sheep follow him. Or in the words of Jesus: 'The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.' (John 10: 2-4).
Jesus described himself as 'the Good Shepherd', who lays down his life for his sheep. He knows his sheep by name, and gave his life for them. The challenge is - do you know the Good Shepherd? Can you say with the Psalmist 'The Lord is my shepherd'? (Psalm 23:1) Do you know Jesus' voice, and are you following him? Because there is only blessing from doing so. As Jesus himself said: 'I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' (John 10:10)
Friday, May 27, 2005
Time
As you probably know by now if you have read any of the blog before, I'm heading to Dublin in September. I first knew I was going last June (2004), and to be honest, it seemed like it would never come, it was so far away. And anyway, my job was finishing in December, and I had other things to think about - either getting an extension, or looking for a new job...
But now, it is hitting me that time is so short! What with the tidying of the flat earlier in the week (surprisingly though that remains for so many of my 'friends'), and then today when I came home from work was the information letter, telling me what date we start and all that... so roll on the 24th September at 1.00pm...
But before that, I have the Proclamation Trust Student's Conference in London in July, and either finding a job, or staying with West Tyrone Voice, if we can get the funding secured... But no doubt, the 24th September will come round very quickly...
But now, it is hitting me that time is so short! What with the tidying of the flat earlier in the week (surprisingly though that remains for so many of my 'friends'), and then today when I came home from work was the information letter, telling me what date we start and all that... so roll on the 24th September at 1.00pm...
But before that, I have the Proclamation Trust Student's Conference in London in July, and either finding a job, or staying with West Tyrone Voice, if we can get the funding secured... But no doubt, the 24th September will come round very quickly...
Friday night
Tonight I was at the youth event in Laurelhill School, called Focus. It's my first time at the event, and it seemed to go really well. The music is (from what I can tell) done by students of the Lisburn School of Music, and was great, as was the testimony, drama, soloist and speaker.
In a very passioned and youth-relevant talk, he looked at Job, as an 'exam' where Job faced two practical tests, then an exam from God, which he passed, because he praised God, and humbled himself and repented.
Then it was back to Dromore where I watched a band parade for a while until it got too cold to stand out any longer... and then it was onto the net to type up this and see who was on msn...
Tomorrow will probably be the usual mad Saturday, heading away somewhere with mum...
In a very passioned and youth-relevant talk, he looked at Job, as an 'exam' where Job faced two practical tests, then an exam from God, which he passed, because he praised God, and humbled himself and repented.
Then it was back to Dromore where I watched a band parade for a while until it got too cold to stand out any longer... and then it was onto the net to type up this and see who was on msn...
Tomorrow will probably be the usual mad Saturday, heading away somewhere with mum...
Friday
Well, today I wasn't on a computer in work as I was away at a conference... and then when I called into the office, my computer wouldn't work... rage! So I'll have to have a look at it on Tuesday (being off on Monday!)
Later on I'll be going to a worship event in Laurelhill School called Focus... I'll report on it later!
Oh, and a well done to Lynsey, who passed her exams totally unexpectedly (in her words, not mine!) Well done Lyns!
Later on I'll be going to a worship event in Laurelhill School called Focus... I'll report on it later!
Oh, and a well done to Lynsey, who passed her exams totally unexpectedly (in her words, not mine!) Well done Lyns!
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Policing
Maybe this is a just a bit of free advertising for them, but the District Policing Partnerships are currently recruiting independent members. Independents are members of the public (rather than elected politicians) who give up 15 hours per month to assist in the oversight of strategy and performance of the police in a specific District Command Unit. For more information see the website.
Weather...
Ok, I know what you're thinking... He can't possibly be talking about the weather again... and I promise I won't do it too many times. I know how frustrating it can be to have constant updates on the weather - indeed, the only bad thing about my Vauxhall Corsa is that it has a temperature display. My ma, being unable to see the speedometer clearly (and maybe thankfully!), instead focusses her attention on the temperature display, reporting a change in temperature of 0.5 degrees up or down...
Sort of: 'Oh, it's 19 now, that's the warmest this week... ah, it's down again to 18... etc...'
So this blog is not going to become the official MET Office report for Newtownstewart and district! But just one comment on the weather, and I'll be done. Last night it was raining very heavily and had done all day. The very day I would have went for a nice drive somewhere. And you know what? Today is bright and clear. Rage!
Sort of: 'Oh, it's 19 now, that's the warmest this week... ah, it's down again to 18... etc...'
So this blog is not going to become the official MET Office report for Newtownstewart and district! But just one comment on the weather, and I'll be done. Last night it was raining very heavily and had done all day. The very day I would have went for a nice drive somewhere. And you know what? Today is bright and clear. Rage!
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Driving
Well, the tradition of going for a drive on Wednesday evening has had to be curtailed this week due to the rain... It wouldn't be nice to drive in, and I wouldn't see very far in front of me, so I only went as far as Omagh to get some groceries, and back again. So no driving tonight, except for the driving rain...
Accumulation
It really is amazing how much stuff can be accumulated in a short period of time. I've been in the flat for just over two years, and it's untidiness was rather legendary in our YF, or certanly among my friends...
But with moving out coming in the near future, I thought I would need to tidy it a bit, and got into it last night. I found stuff I had lost, stuff I didn't know I had, and such like.
I can now report that the bedroom is tidy! The bathroom was done on Monday night, so the kitchen might get a touch tonight...
But with moving out coming in the near future, I thought I would need to tidy it a bit, and got into it last night. I found stuff I had lost, stuff I didn't know I had, and such like.
I can now report that the bedroom is tidy! The bathroom was done on Monday night, so the kitchen might get a touch tonight...
Perspective
Allow me to tell you a little story, which took place in my bathroom... I was 'busy' the other night, and for some reason, I leant over towards the sink, to get something, and the plug fell from the sink, and down towards the big skirting board panelling, behind which the pipes run. From where I was sitting, there was a big gap between it and the wall, and I thought it had went down in behind the panelling. So when I was finished, I tried to move the panelling to find the plug, but couldn't get the panelling removed. The plug was gone.
But the other night I was doing a bit of clearing, and had the brush in the bathroom, and getting it all a bit tidier (seeing I might be leaving soon...), and behold! The plug was sitting on top of the panelling, but in a place I couldn't have seen it before... right in behind where the toilet was. So then I tried to see how it could have ended up there, rather than going down behind the panelling, and when I was at the sink, looking down at the path it would have taken, I realised that the crack wasn't big enough for it to slip through from that angle - it must have hit the top of the panelling and rolled along out of sight.
Which got me thinking about perspective. How you see something is linked to how it affects you. The missing plug was a relative disaster from my first perspective, but once I saw it from a different perspective, it couldn't have been missing! In a much bigger way, things can happen to us that we don't understand or think are total disasters - at the time they are. From our perspective, they seem to be. We can't see the big picture. Imagine standing in the centre of Belfast - you can only see the small bit around you... but if you go to the top of Cave Hill, or the Pond Park Road in Lisburn and look down, you can see the whole city!
Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God's perspective is different to ours - when we're going through things, it can seem as if they are going wrong, and they don't make sense. But we have the promise of God: 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.' (Romans 8:28)
Things can seem hard at the time, and you might not understand them, but stick in there... God knows what is happening, and works for the good of those who love him in everything that happens!
But the other night I was doing a bit of clearing, and had the brush in the bathroom, and getting it all a bit tidier (seeing I might be leaving soon...), and behold! The plug was sitting on top of the panelling, but in a place I couldn't have seen it before... right in behind where the toilet was. So then I tried to see how it could have ended up there, rather than going down behind the panelling, and when I was at the sink, looking down at the path it would have taken, I realised that the crack wasn't big enough for it to slip through from that angle - it must have hit the top of the panelling and rolled along out of sight.
Which got me thinking about perspective. How you see something is linked to how it affects you. The missing plug was a relative disaster from my first perspective, but once I saw it from a different perspective, it couldn't have been missing! In a much bigger way, things can happen to us that we don't understand or think are total disasters - at the time they are. From our perspective, they seem to be. We can't see the big picture. Imagine standing in the centre of Belfast - you can only see the small bit around you... but if you go to the top of Cave Hill, or the Pond Park Road in Lisburn and look down, you can see the whole city!
Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God's perspective is different to ours - when we're going through things, it can seem as if they are going wrong, and they don't make sense. But we have the promise of God: 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.' (Romans 8:28)
Things can seem hard at the time, and you might not understand them, but stick in there... God knows what is happening, and works for the good of those who love him in everything that happens!
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
John 7 - the words of life
Last night I was reading John chapter 7. It tells of the time when Jesus went up to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. The chief priests and Pharisees were getting cross with him, and so sent guards to arrest him.
You can imagine the scene when the guards returned to the Pharisees, without Jesus. The Pharisees were ripping! On being asked why they hadn't brought him in, the guards replied: 'No-one ever spoke the way this man does.'
You can sense the amazement the guards had, in seeing Jesus, and hearing him. It rendered them incapable of arresting him.
Do we know the wonder of hearing Jesus? He offers us words of salvation, comfort and life. Indeed, when Jesus' teaching became harder to listen, some of those who had followed him left. Jesus challenged the disciples - will you also leave me? But Peter answered: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.' (John 6:68).
Come to Christ, and hear his words of eternal life:
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Mark 6:31 "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
John 6:37 "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."
John 7:37 "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."
John 6:48 "I am the bread of life."
John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 10:9 "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture."
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd"
John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies"
John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me."
John 15:1 "I am the true vine"
You can imagine the scene when the guards returned to the Pharisees, without Jesus. The Pharisees were ripping! On being asked why they hadn't brought him in, the guards replied: 'No-one ever spoke the way this man does.'
You can sense the amazement the guards had, in seeing Jesus, and hearing him. It rendered them incapable of arresting him.
Do we know the wonder of hearing Jesus? He offers us words of salvation, comfort and life. Indeed, when Jesus' teaching became harder to listen, some of those who had followed him left. Jesus challenged the disciples - will you also leave me? But Peter answered: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.' (John 6:68).
Come to Christ, and hear his words of eternal life:
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Mark 6:31 "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
John 6:37 "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."
John 7:37 "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."
John 6:48 "I am the bread of life."
John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 10:9 "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture."
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd"
John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies"
John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me."
John 15:1 "I am the true vine"
Monday, May 23, 2005
History
It's amazing how small things can become huge things, without any expectation, and how those same things can bring pleasure.
When I started in West Tyrone Voice, my boss, Hazlett Lynch, asked me to design an Irish History class, lasting four weeks, that would explode some of the myths and help our people to understand their history a bit better. We couldn't think of a title for it, so used the general descriptive title of: 'Historical Awareness Course'. That week we were putting together a training survey, as I was new in post and trying to guage the level of interest among our members in a variety of courses and training.
So I set about designing and researching the Historical Awareness Course, which would look at four topics - The Ulster Plantation, The Williamite Wars, The 1798 Rebellion, and The Ulster Crisis. Who knew if anyone would come along...
Well, the first course finished, and even before it did, there were requests in for another course... which we complied with. But, because it was four weeks and there was such a lot of material to get through, the students asked could it be extended, with more time devoted to specific periods? So, that course was lengthened to about 7 weeks.
Now, in 2005, we seem to have grown the historical element of the training beyond all recognition. Tonight is session 5 in the Course being run in Newtownstewart, in which we are looking at the 'green grassy slopes of the Boyne', Aughrim, and the Penal Laws. We also have been awarded funding by the Community Relations Council to publish a book based on the material of the course and my hard research - this is being read by CRC at present, and will hopefully soon be available for publication and then purchase!
Also through CRC Funding, we are pleased to announce that we will be running a shortened course of 5 weeks in Mid-Ulster. This will begin on 2nd June, for 5 Thursday nights, so watch this space for more details, and wee reports on how it is going.
When I started in West Tyrone Voice, my boss, Hazlett Lynch, asked me to design an Irish History class, lasting four weeks, that would explode some of the myths and help our people to understand their history a bit better. We couldn't think of a title for it, so used the general descriptive title of: 'Historical Awareness Course'. That week we were putting together a training survey, as I was new in post and trying to guage the level of interest among our members in a variety of courses and training.
So I set about designing and researching the Historical Awareness Course, which would look at four topics - The Ulster Plantation, The Williamite Wars, The 1798 Rebellion, and The Ulster Crisis. Who knew if anyone would come along...
Well, the first course finished, and even before it did, there were requests in for another course... which we complied with. But, because it was four weeks and there was such a lot of material to get through, the students asked could it be extended, with more time devoted to specific periods? So, that course was lengthened to about 7 weeks.
Now, in 2005, we seem to have grown the historical element of the training beyond all recognition. Tonight is session 5 in the Course being run in Newtownstewart, in which we are looking at the 'green grassy slopes of the Boyne', Aughrim, and the Penal Laws. We also have been awarded funding by the Community Relations Council to publish a book based on the material of the course and my hard research - this is being read by CRC at present, and will hopefully soon be available for publication and then purchase!
Also through CRC Funding, we are pleased to announce that we will be running a shortened course of 5 weeks in Mid-Ulster. This will begin on 2nd June, for 5 Thursday nights, so watch this space for more details, and wee reports on how it is going.
SNYF
The title of this posting is pronounced 'sniff', and stands for Sunday Night Youth Fellowship - the YF we have in the Cathedral parish. I've been involved with it since it began in July 1998, and am in the leadership team, along with Scott, Donna, Lorna and Dave (and Heather for this year!).
Last night we had a split programme for the first time, which was open to people to choose which room they attended. Downstairs, we had a session on teamwork/teambuilding, led by Donna, and upstairs we had a discussion on the End Times, thinking about whether there will be a Rapture, as described in the Left Behind series, which the Biblical evidence suggests won't happen; as well as what will happen when Christ returns.
There wasn't a talk as such, so I have no notes to copy and paste here, which left the session open to exploring some of the passages relating to the topic (1 Thessalonians 4:13-16, 1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20), and dealing with issues or questions as they arose.
I think the session went quite well, with everyone getting involved and having a hard think around the topic! It is my hope that we will be able to have another such open session where people can raise questions and we can explore the Bible together, without fear of losing the younger members, who had a distinctly glazed look when we talked about the Rapture and such things in a bigger session with the whole group on the Second Coming.
Last night we had a split programme for the first time, which was open to people to choose which room they attended. Downstairs, we had a session on teamwork/teambuilding, led by Donna, and upstairs we had a discussion on the End Times, thinking about whether there will be a Rapture, as described in the Left Behind series, which the Biblical evidence suggests won't happen; as well as what will happen when Christ returns.
There wasn't a talk as such, so I have no notes to copy and paste here, which left the session open to exploring some of the passages relating to the topic (1 Thessalonians 4:13-16, 1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20), and dealing with issues or questions as they arose.
I think the session went quite well, with everyone getting involved and having a hard think around the topic! It is my hope that we will be able to have another such open session where people can raise questions and we can explore the Bible together, without fear of losing the younger members, who had a distinctly glazed look when we talked about the Rapture and such things in a bigger session with the whole group on the Second Coming.
Evensong
So last night we had Evensong, for the first time in the Cathedral for ages. We were using settings from St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin (changing the 'O Lord guide and defend our rulers' to 'O Lord, save the Queen'), and a version of the Magnificat which combined plainchant and harmony sections.
The service seemed to go very well, with just one of the responses stumbling slightly... but we'll get better as we practice it more, and use it more... We might even get to do the Nunc Dimittus as well, which was sort of abandoned last night at the last minute cos we weren't fully up to speed on it.
I wasn't talking to anyone in the congregation after the service to hear what they thought of it, but it seemed to go well from where I was sitting.
The service seemed to go very well, with just one of the responses stumbling slightly... but we'll get better as we practice it more, and use it more... We might even get to do the Nunc Dimittus as well, which was sort of abandoned last night at the last minute cos we weren't fully up to speed on it.
I wasn't talking to anyone in the congregation after the service to hear what they thought of it, but it seemed to go well from where I was sitting.
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