Monday 26 December 2011

Song of the Week | Casting Crowns 'A Christmas Offering'

One of my favourite Christmas songs. It sums up everything about the festive season, Him.

Sunday 25 December 2011

Merry Christmas

We hope you have an amazing Christmas Day celebrating Jesus' Birthday!

God Bless you, your family, friends & loved ones this day and always!

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday 21 December 2011

The Best of the Rest

We've already taken a look at three of the Avengers, Thor, Iron Man and of course Captain America. As our series of 4 blog posts exploring their relation to Christianity and our Lord draws to a close, we're going to round up by taking a quick pit stop with a few other members of the team.

Dr Hank Pym was one of the founding members of the original Avengers, having gone under various identities with varying powers, including the ability to shrink to the size of an insect (Ant Man) and grow the other way too (Giant Man). Whether the size of an ant or the 12 foot tall Giant Man, we can relate Hank Pym to our relationship with Christ. When you're at church, praising the Lord, up close and personal it's fantastic, you feel his love, his warmth, his grace. However even when you are ultra busy, maybe with work, family life, we often seem to struggle, but with the smallest prayer, a few words to Jesus, it makes everything better. We can also look at it with what size you are feeling. People often get depressed saying that they feel really small, down in the dumps. If that's the case, or whether you feel 100 feet tall and elated, God loves you all the same, regardless.

Janet van Dyne, otherwise known as Wasp was also a founding member. She was often looked at as the weak link yet eventually became seen as one of the smartest members. Jesus' mother Mary was also one of the founding members! People called her all sorts of names when they knew she was pregnant, but she was so strong and after everything she went through was able to stand at the foot of the cross and say goodbye to her son.

Hawkeye was the 'world's greatest marksman' but when joining The Avengers he pretty much immediately clashes with Captain America, rebelling against his authority. Eventually they learn to get along, The Cap forgives him and everything is good. The obvious person to relate this to is Judas who betrays Jesus, yet our Lord forgives him for what he has done. Thomas doubts Jesus throughout the Bible and Peter denies that he ever knew him. Sometimes we can take the wrong steps, sometimes we mess up, but with, through and in Jesus we will be saved.

The list is endless, there have been so many characters dip in and out of the Avengers. They have so many characteristics, so many different powers and abilities. As fun and exciting as they are (and as much as I am ridiculously excited about my Steelbook Captain America Blu Ray from my wife for Christmas!) we must remember that they are purely fictional. Jesus is real. He is the light of the world, has the best abilities, and really can save your life. He is the true superhero. There are so many awesome and amazing, colourful and creative fictional superheroes, but remember Jesus - he rose!

Monday 19 December 2011

Song of the Week | MercyMe 'What Child Is This?'

A fantastic cover of an amazing song! Let MercyMe put a little modern twist on this classic.

Saturday 17 December 2011

The Nativity

Today our friends at house group met up for a 'Christmas Day'. Unfortunately we couldn't make it due to prior commitments but I wanted to share this with them (and you all too!)

It's the Nativity, but a digital version for our modern world. I hope you enjoy it. I particularly like the part where the wise men 'follow' the star :)

Wednesday 14 December 2011

The Hammer & The Rock

We're into the third week of our look at The Avengers and Christianity. This week we're taking a look at Thor.

Stan Lee, creator of Thor once asked himself, how do you make someone stronger than the strongest human? His answer, don't make him a human, make him a God. Thor is not immortal, unlike our Lord. Whilst Thor is physically stronger than any human, our Lord Jesus is stronger perhaps not physically but spiritually and mentally. Whilst we could say that he was weak, hanging on a cross, demoralised, beaten, Jesus took the entire world's sin on his shoulders and then returned from the dead. How strong is that!?!

If we look back at Thor's origins, his father Odin decided that his son needed to be taught humility and so placed him in the body of a partially disabled medical student without any memory of his godhood. So in a nutshell, a father placed a son on our earth for a reason. Where have we heard that before?

He eventually found Thor's hammer, the Mjolnir, struck it against a rock and transformed into the thunder God. Thor's hammer is a massive part of the character but what do we see similar in the bible? Well of course we have the hammer than nails Jesus to the cross, that pierces the skin of the limbs of Jesus Christ. On the flip side hammers were also used for good. Remember the man who built his house on the rock rather than the sand, he'd have needed a hammer! Our superhero struck his hammer into a rock to become the thunder God - Jesus is our rock.

He came to break the chains, to free us. Our Lord completely defeated death, his enduring love is stronger than any weapon, any destructive force. How will you use your hammer?

Next time...the rest of 'em!

Wednesday 7 December 2011

The Stark Truth

Continuing our look at The Avengers and how they relate to Christianity in our modern world, this week we focus on Iron Man.


Yes, Tony Stark himself. Brilliantly portrayed on the Silver screen by Robert Downey Jr and with bags of origin behind the character! In the first movie we see our hero kidnapped and thrown into a cave by the 'bad guys'. A few days later he emerges and escapes! Haven't we heard something similar somewhere before?


We see Tony Stark as the figure head of a global company, Jesus is the head of the entire world. Tony Stark is a billionaire who makes weapons whilst Jesus is the leader of billions who brings peace. Tony Stark is no stranger to standing up and being heard, nor was Jesus, how many people did he spread the good word to, not just through his voice, but through those of his disciples and more! Later in his story Iron Man can heal, we know the stories of Jesus healing. Tony Stark does though change his ways and try to create a change in the world through Iron man. Our Lord brought the biggest change to our world - his being, his dying for us.

We must explore whether the actions of Iron Man are justified though? We read in the Bible about 'an eye for an eye'. Is that what he is doing? Using weaponry and violence to indeed fight weaponry and violence? Is he correct for trying to right the wrongs of his past and seek redemption? Jesus Christ didn't use violence and look at what he achieved in this world!

Jesus is the real "Iron Man" it says in Revelation 19:15:


A sharp sword comes out of his mouth to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod and crush the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.


Finally, the electro-magnet that Iron Man puts into his chest to keep metal fragments working their way into his heart and ultimately killing him is much like the love of Jesus. The fact that He was nailed to a cross and took away our sins is much like him being that electro-magnet holding back sin from harming us! Amazing ey!?


Next time...Thor.

Monday 5 December 2011

Song of the Week | Jars of Clay 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'

It's December, so prepare for some awesome Christmas songs by some of your favourite Christian artists! Let us start with Jars of Clay...