This was far too cold! I'm waiting till May...at least.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Soda Bread!
I managed it - at last! For so long i couldn't get hold of any buttermilk here in Ibiza (which apparently you can make yourself), and that was the key ingredient that hindered me trying this loaf. But the local supermarket now stocks some. Result!
Soda bread is a typical Irish bread, with many various forms. In Northern Ireland, it is usually made with wholemeal flour and takes the name 'Wheaten Bread', which is chuffin' delicious with butter and jam. Because Bicarbonate of soda is used for leavening instead of yeast, this is a real quick bread to make and needs no proving. You gotta try it - takes about 10 mins to make and about half an hour to cook. Having got the taste for the real thing when in Northern Ireland in 2008, i'm glad i've finally made some, and with my girlfriend being Irish, i have plenty of reason to cook this more often.
By the way, check out my friend Phil Evan's cool blog called Creativitiy with food. He's living and working out in Macedonia and doing some 24-7 Prayer stuff there. I got some inpiration from his website when i cooked a meal on Saturday using Pork Belly - a cut of Pork that i've not used before. I cooked it with fennel and got the crackling just right. The meat is so tender and tastes great! I got it from the market in Ibiza town, which i love looking round and taking in all the sights and smells, a real experience.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Bible:Napoleon Dynamite Version
My friends did this whilst in Bible College - really profound stuff
Mary hasn't done flippin' anything today!
You're just jealous 'cos i've been chatting to Jesus ALL DAY!
(Martha to Jesus in Luke 10:38-42)
In the beginning, God did whatever the hell he felt like doing GOSH...and he saw all that he had made, and it was sweet.
Disciples only like Messiahs with great skills...walking on water skills, feeding 5,000 skills, raising people from the dead skills.
Daniel would chat to God for like 2 hours everyday, so i guess you could say things were getting pretty serious.
King Saul: 'Hey David, what experience do you have that qualifies you for standing agaisnt Goliath?'
David: 'I told you! I spent last summer with my uncle in Alaska hunting Wolverines.'
KS: 'Did you kill any?'
David: Yes, like 50 of 'em! They kept trying to attack my sheep, what the heck would you do in that situation?'
Jesus sends out the 72 (Luke 10) 'No more flying solo. From now on we use the buddy system, you need someone watching your back at ALL TIMES.'
Goliath: 'Do you think anyone wants a roundhouse kick to the face whilst i'm wearing these bad boys?'
Mary hasn't done flippin' anything today!
You're just jealous 'cos i've been chatting to Jesus ALL DAY!
(Martha to Jesus in Luke 10:38-42)
In the beginning, God did whatever the hell he felt like doing GOSH...and he saw all that he had made, and it was sweet.
Disciples only like Messiahs with great skills...walking on water skills, feeding 5,000 skills, raising people from the dead skills.
Daniel would chat to God for like 2 hours everyday, so i guess you could say things were getting pretty serious.
King Saul: 'Hey David, what experience do you have that qualifies you for standing agaisnt Goliath?'
David: 'I told you! I spent last summer with my uncle in Alaska hunting Wolverines.'
KS: 'Did you kill any?'
David: Yes, like 50 of 'em! They kept trying to attack my sheep, what the heck would you do in that situation?'
Jesus sends out the 72 (Luke 10) 'No more flying solo. From now on we use the buddy system, you need someone watching your back at ALL TIMES.'
Goliath: 'Do you think anyone wants a roundhouse kick to the face whilst i'm wearing these bad boys?'
Monday, March 29, 2010
One of those blogs you'll hate me for - sorry!
I know you're gonna hate me for blogging like this, but it'd be rude not to. This blog covers all the bases don't you know. Question: have you ever seen a yacht with a group of people on it, all of them seemingly having the best time of their lives and jealously thought 'I wish that was me?' (by the way, they are in fact having the best time – I can prove it).
I've often coveted (ever so slightly) those people on their yachts and sailing boats here in Ibiza, and yesterday was a chance to sample the high life as I got invited out on one of Brian and Tracy's friend's sailing boats. Martin – the guy who owns the boat - is such a generous guy, and really treated us all to an amazing day. We all took goes steering the boat as we sailed a little out to sea until Brian did some interesting skippering of the boat and took us in a whole new direction...but it was time to get to a little inlet and anchor down to have lunch anyway. We popped open the wine, had some bacon butties with English cheddar cheese and enjoyed the warm weather on deck listening to some music. It's moments like that you you think 'am I really here?' We cheered the Heasley's for having been in Ibiza 5 whole years as a family. Absolute awesome effort guys – pleasure to enjoy the moments with you.
The questions on our lips were: do we go swimming? Will it be warm enough? The lads got in, and I couldn't let them out-do me, so I got involved with Ellis, Dan, and Matthew and had a dip - albeit an ABSOLUTELY freezing one! I went with the 'dive-straight-in' approach, preferring that to the lad's 'slowly-slowly-in' technique. But it was a shock to the system to say the least. I swam one circuit of the boat before getting straight back out. March – too cold to go swimming in Ibiza!
When you cap off a day like that with a curry, you know it's been one of 'em days! What a wkd day - good times!
I've often coveted (ever so slightly) those people on their yachts and sailing boats here in Ibiza, and yesterday was a chance to sample the high life as I got invited out on one of Brian and Tracy's friend's sailing boats. Martin – the guy who owns the boat - is such a generous guy, and really treated us all to an amazing day. We all took goes steering the boat as we sailed a little out to sea until Brian did some interesting skippering of the boat and took us in a whole new direction...but it was time to get to a little inlet and anchor down to have lunch anyway. We popped open the wine, had some bacon butties with English cheddar cheese and enjoyed the warm weather on deck listening to some music. It's moments like that you you think 'am I really here?' We cheered the Heasley's for having been in Ibiza 5 whole years as a family. Absolute awesome effort guys – pleasure to enjoy the moments with you.
The questions on our lips were: do we go swimming? Will it be warm enough? The lads got in, and I couldn't let them out-do me, so I got involved with Ellis, Dan, and Matthew and had a dip - albeit an ABSOLUTELY freezing one! I went with the 'dive-straight-in' approach, preferring that to the lad's 'slowly-slowly-in' technique. But it was a shock to the system to say the least. I swam one circuit of the boat before getting straight back out. March – too cold to go swimming in Ibiza!
When you cap off a day like that with a curry, you know it's been one of 'em days! What a wkd day - good times!
Friday, March 26, 2010
God's Power is just awesome!
How often do you read the stories found in the Bible - in the Gospels and in Acts and are blown away at how God's power totally transformed people's lives? I mean, when I read some of what Jesus or the disciples did I am flabbergasted at just the way God's Kingdom really did break in and arrive, with such power. Jesus never just used persuasive words, but always gave a demonstration of His father's power.
Check this passage of Scripture found in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
The last few days we've had some amazing times of prayer. We're basically calling on God to pour out his power here in Ibiza. Today I prayed for God to really demonstrate his power through us. I'm hungry to see miracles and healings take place out on the streets and have insights into people's lives that I could not have other than God's Spirit revealing it.
Our message this summer isn't just about 'Repentance'. Yes, that's important – the need to be in right standing before God. But our message this summer will be coupled with powerful actions too. So many times I've been having great chats to some random person and it just ends up with me not knowing where to take the conversation. I really hope that this summer I rely on God's amazing power and just get praying for it for people.
Bring it on!
Check this passage of Scripture found in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
The last few days we've had some amazing times of prayer. We're basically calling on God to pour out his power here in Ibiza. Today I prayed for God to really demonstrate his power through us. I'm hungry to see miracles and healings take place out on the streets and have insights into people's lives that I could not have other than God's Spirit revealing it.
Our message this summer isn't just about 'Repentance'. Yes, that's important – the need to be in right standing before God. But our message this summer will be coupled with powerful actions too. So many times I've been having great chats to some random person and it just ends up with me not knowing where to take the conversation. I really hope that this summer I rely on God's amazing power and just get praying for it for people.
Bring it on!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Taking the leap of faith
With the run up to the summer season beginning, I am thinking alot about all the people who'll be coming out here to serve with us on teams for 2 weeks. I am also thinking about the people who are planning on moving here for anywhere up to six months. What an incredible step of faith they're all having to make.
I know that some have given their notice in to their bosses and some are applying for careers breaks too; others are thinking of using their savings to invest in coming here and still others are travelling incredibly long distances and taking huge amounts of time away from loved ones.
I just am thrilled that the sense of adventure is alive and kicking in people's hearts! People are still being caught up in the wild life of following and trusting in God, no matter what, and it's such a blessing to have these people considering working out here with us. I can't wait!
Ultimately, when we give something up for God and for his Kingdom, we will get it back in some other way. It's like what Maximus said in the film 'Gladiator': 'what we do in this life, echoes in eternity.' Love that quote! Jesus said that whomsoever has 'left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother of children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.' (Matthew 19:29). What payback that is! Whatever we give up for God, we will get back 100 times more in eternity. Now that's a good return on your investment! Are we willing to have faith in God that he will honour our step of faith?
Most of the time our investment and sacrifice just does not compare to that of what God did by sending his only Son because he loved the world so much. God is our inspiration and the ultimate giver.
I know that some have given their notice in to their bosses and some are applying for careers breaks too; others are thinking of using their savings to invest in coming here and still others are travelling incredibly long distances and taking huge amounts of time away from loved ones.
I just am thrilled that the sense of adventure is alive and kicking in people's hearts! People are still being caught up in the wild life of following and trusting in God, no matter what, and it's such a blessing to have these people considering working out here with us. I can't wait!
Ultimately, when we give something up for God and for his Kingdom, we will get it back in some other way. It's like what Maximus said in the film 'Gladiator': 'what we do in this life, echoes in eternity.' Love that quote! Jesus said that whomsoever has 'left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother of children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.' (Matthew 19:29). What payback that is! Whatever we give up for God, we will get back 100 times more in eternity. Now that's a good return on your investment! Are we willing to have faith in God that he will honour our step of faith?
Most of the time our investment and sacrifice just does not compare to that of what God did by sending his only Son because he loved the world so much. God is our inspiration and the ultimate giver.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Inspired by Banksy
Love this Banksy image. I saw this when in London with Christine and she bought me a copy of this image. It reminds me of the people that we meet and help in the summer here in San Antonio. Most of those we help are far worse, covered in sick and sometimes worse. Many wonder in disbelief as to why we help total srangers, but it's because we believe them to be incredibly special and most of all created in God's own image; they're not just a statistic or a number.
When someone says 'just leave them, it's their own fault they got into this mess', i ofter answer: 'if this was your son or daughter, would you like me to be helping them?'
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