Bee happy.

Merry Christmas, all. It's a fantastic time of year! Stress, frustration, rushing, hurrying, busyness and having more to do in a day than you'd normally do in a week. It's good, but I think it's probably best that it's kept as an annual thing.

I mean - come on. This whole Jesus thing's getting old, yea? He's best kept as an ornament for the season. I understand. He's a big guy and He's always there. His hands, feet and side make an awful mess, covering us with blood. It's probably for the best that we go and sing to Him without getting too close. I know. Keep Him at a distance. Wouldn't want to mess our clothes.

And all that about forgiveness. Goodness. It's as if He wants us to look past what we've done and just focus on Him. A bit selfish, no? Wanting to be the centre of all we do. Giving us advice and telling us what's best for us. Who does He think He is? Our Creator?!

And what of love? Pah. If we show love we'll have to talk to people we don't like. We'll have to make the time to see people we barely know. We'll have to hear about what they're going through - about what they might need help with.

I'm not sure about you; but this is what I live for.

"Oh, HO," you say, "The ol' switcheroo."

Call me silly, but I love the fact that His blood has covered everything I have done. The fact that when He suffered and died on the cross, it was me He was thinking of.

I know you think that's a bit big-headed, the fact that I think that I was on His mind. Me. One in billions that have since walked - and still walk - the earth. That He would take the time to think of me as an individual. Well. He did. And you. I'm no different to you. I'm a sinner. That's it. Doesn't matter what I've done. If I so much as lie, it's as much a sin in God's eyes as someone who has taken a life without cause. The questions raised from statements like this often seem innumerable, but for each one there is an answer. I'm not claiming I have them all. Far from it. But I can point you in the direction of someone who does.

Truth is, He's by my side day in, day out. He's there to listen, He's there to offer help. So many people have the view that if they follow Jesus, He's going to ask them to do something they don't want to do. That He's going to tell them to go somewhere they don't want to go, to pursue a life that they don't want. If you take the time to actually listen, though, you'll find that this is not the case. His will won't take us out of His protection. His requests won't lead us out of His grace. Cast your cares on Him. Don't fear. He's got your back.

As a side note, many people think that being Christened makes them a Christian. It does not. This is a very dangerous thing to think. If, at the age of 3 months, you were able to make an informed, intelligent, individual, personal decision to follow Christ, then fair enough (what's it like being a genius?). But if your parents though it would either be right or nice to have you sprinkled, you're going to have to rethink. Your parent's faith will not cover you. It is valid for one. Get your own faith.

I tell you now. Following Him has given me a life that I could not have even dreamt about. I am studying in America this year. I have met great people out here and through following Him and getting involved in a church out here I've met a lot of people and done many things that I would never have met or done. I have the most beautiful girl in the world as my fiancée and I can tell you that were it not for God being in our lives and directing our paths, we would never have even known of each other's existence. It's amazing. She's amazing. An absolute gift from God. From the bottom of my heart I beg you to try it. I dare you to try it.

Don't just dismiss it. There's nothing more irritating than people who base their views on what other people tell them or what other people think. For your own opinion. Take everything you've ever been told about Jesus and throw it away. Read the book of John. Or Matthew, or Luke or Mark. Read for yourself the wonders of this guy. Then come back and talk about it like an adult.

And it's fun talking to people. I have been through things that will prove to be a big help to other people I meet in the coming years of my life. And they the same. How do we help each other without talking? How to we help each other without offering advice?

Similarly, how do we maintain relationships without talking and listening to the person? People say they're Christian and people say they worship Jesus. This may be the case, but if you're only talking to Him once a year, I wouldn't shout about it.

My God is as real today as He was on Friday. He's going to be just as real tomorrow. It's not that I'm disrespecting the celebration of His birth or the memory of His death. It's not that I'm belittling them and saying people are silly to get excited, but what are you really getting excited about if it's just the one time a year? I'm not for tradition, I'm for fruition. Christmas and Easter are good and all, but I know they're not all there is about Him.

Just give it a go. What have you got to lose?

God bless, guys.

I love you.

Birthday without presence.

Well. So much for updating it a few days after my last post. A few weeks isn't much different... A lot has gone on over the past month. Let me describe to you a glimpse...

It was my birthday on the 12th of November. I had a really good day despite my friends, my family and my love being 5,000 miles away. I have met some amazing people here over the past few months, however, and hanging out with them was fantastic. I had a few presents sent through to me from my parents and some money put into my account from my grandparents. I opened them with my girlfriend over skype and it was one of the best birthday mornings I have ever had. Later on a couple of people went to a café/restaurant and had a nice evening meal. It was a great day and a lovely way to enter my 24th year of life.

I went to Oregon for Thanksgiving. It is interesting to be part of a celebration in which people are enjoying not being associated with England any more. The meal was nice. Littered with "Oh, you must think this is so strange because you're English" and other such comments. I did not think it was strange. It was a nice day - I got to fulfill my dream of watching an American Football game on Thanksgiving afternoon. The whole week, overall, was very enjoyable. I did have four projects on the go, but to have a little bit of time off was much appreciated. A great deal of that time off was spent playing Modern Warfare II and getting my mate's level up by a great deal. Upon my return home (after having to pay a second time to put my bag on the plane I was on), I went to the fridge to get myself something to eat. As I'm sure some of you will know, going to the fridge after being away on holiday is not one of the things that is at the top of the to-do list. I found food that should not have been found. Food that should not have been there for much more than a day after I left, let alone a week. After throwing out the inedible I was left with two pop tarts and half a jar of peaches. What a feast.

One of the more memorable things I've seen here this semester was a billboard on one of the highways. It was simply telling people to "Eat smaller". That's right. There was a huge sign telling people not to eat as much as they do. Oh, America.

Well. This post was worth the wait.