My feet hurt a lot! They are very tired after the walk that I did today. Started in Brixington, went to town centre then down to the beach, across to orcombe point, down to Budliegh Salterton, up the otter to East Budliegh, across to Knowle and then down the old railway line to Littleham and then back to Brixington and I'm shattered. I also have a big blood blister on my left foot, so I'm in a bit of agony!

Anway apart from walking I had my first chance at leading Supergang today which was good. A lot of the kids were away on a school trip so we had a smaller group but we were working on the topic 'Our God is so big!', looking at creation and stuff.

Also done some youth emmaus / alton towers prep work and now all I can think about is going to sleep! I'm just praying that my foot will be better by the morning because at the moment I can't walk!

Sleep as well as I will!

A day of discovery. After what I posted yesterday it was bound to happen - a day of discovery with God! After getting really frustrated for the past couple of days I decided (rather on the spur of the moment) to take the train to Exmouth from Dawlish with a break in the middle.

Stopping in Exeter I grabbed a bite to eat and got to speak to God in an awesome way. Discovered a couple of things 1/ God works in a different time frame to us, 2/ I need to breathe slow, 3/ I've been doing so much stuff for God that I've missed him, 4/ He's always carried me and he's going to continue to... As I said awesome stuff from God.

Needed to talk to someone after that so went to the Egglestons and it was really good to be with them and stuff. Earlier in the before my trip I'd had cluster where I got my 100 hour millenium vollenteers certificate and we'd worshiped together and stuff.

Bought a book in Exeter today called Youth Emmaus - a youth discipleship pack which God has told me to use rather than wasting my time creating something that wouldn't even reach this standard - he did it very graciously thou. Anyway I'm going to get some sleep - tomorrow brings a day of walking to Ladram Bay and Supergang.

Awesome God!

Today I'm feeling FRUSTRATED!! I dunno why really, I just feel like a lot of work is going in at the moment and not much is coming out. I also feel like everyone wants me to be a tame little youthworker who they can put on their chess board and use to win a personal battle. WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Think some stuff got to me today but God keeps sending stuff to make me laugh when it seems to get the worst. Had some txts today that really made me feel a bit better after a slightly minging patch. Think I might have to go and do some roaring tomorrow...

Anway was in school today showing a potential ice worker called Tim around the place. He was quite a nice bloke and interacted well with the kids and stuff. Got really tired feet now though due to all the walking from place to place.

Just had elevate youth club which was good. Tomorrow I've got cluster at Dawlish and an early start cos I now have to walk around to Davids. Hopefully I can get the bigfattoothbrush music update for May done in the afternoon (hopefully) and then I might go to housegroup - just depends how I feel.

ROAR LIKE A LION RIGHT NOW!!

Hello! well it's late Monday night after a jolly exciting and again rather hot day in Exmouth! School was good today, got to see all the kids after the three week break and they all seem to be fine - if not a little crazy! Got into science to find that we're doing sexeducation at the moment which was very exciting for the kids - and quite disturbing to see how exciting it was for the kids for the adults - maybe we shouldn't be teaching them the whole sex thing when they're 11...as one lad said today "My target is to have sex before I'm 15"...nuff said.

After school went down the beach with Ruth, David and Josh but also found that David & Abbie plus Katie and Nadine were down there so we had a bit of a get together which was rather nice. Had dinner back at the Egglestons before getting into a comfy seat and watching Smallville (a rather bizzare yet interesting episode - no good as a stand alone episode but worked as part of the ongoing tale).

Just got back and I'm going to drink my horlicks and go to bed! Hurrah!

Have a good nights sleep!

It's HOT!! The weather in Exmouth has been awesome for the past three days and I really do have a bit of a red face and some brown arms! Yesterday I went into Exeter with TJ, David, Ruth and Katie where I did some shopping (for Josh's birthday on Tuesday and for some bits and bobs for the Supergang Youthgroup), also had lunch (a flat cornish pastie, a belgien bun and some diet lemon coke) sat in the sunshine on the cathederal green.

In the afternoon we went across to the beach in Exmouth which was very nice and we played some games with a tennis ball. In the evening we watched the two 'Bad Boys' films staring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith which had LOADS of swearing BUT that were rather good!

Today we went up to Woodbury to visit a church called Christ Church where the Ice team led the service. It was really good looking at Peter walking on water. Remember God is calling you to get out the boat and fix your eyes on him and that if you fall he'll be there to catch you. It was good. Been out for lunch with housegroup at Avril and Pete's and I'm now about to get some website work done with http://www.SWYMing.org.uk.

Get out the boat today if you haven't already...

Wahey! I'm back from two very tiering weeks of Spring Harvest conference followed by SWYM conference.

At Spring Harvest I got the chance to meet some nice people from Shepshed's anglican church (near Loughborough). Hello to Nicky, Laura, Matt, Dan, Rosie, Keria, Dave, Jon, Jema, Philip, Richard and all the others who I can't quite recall at the moment! Spring Harvest was basically all about Grace - recieving it/walking in it/spreading it. It was really cool got to see some good bands (YFriday were awesome in concert) and some good talks (Steve Chalke was pretty good both times he spoke).

SWYM conference was again very awesome, I arrived slightly late on the Monday and so I was there in time for evening worship at which Colin Piper opened up our theme - thinking out of the box. Tuesday started with worship (and an awesome talk where we were told to roar like a lion!) then the leadership lecture, an afternoon with Catherine and this visiting lass about Women in Ministry and mission and then some pastoral team time. The evening talk was done by Mel and was about Moses at the red sea - God tells him "I've given you everything you need - get on with it" and how she think we need to get on with it as well! Wednesday we had Dorit telling us about her hawii/india experiences, then Colin took us through some difficult passages to do with women's ministry (which was very good). Had the afternoon to sleep before a prayer concert in the evening. Thursday we had Dwight talk to us about taking opportunities and making them count followed by a personal development lecture and home time!

Yesterday had a day off and the weather was awesome - so awesome I spent the day on the beach and I'm just a little bit red today! Had a lovely ice cream, did some walking played a little football - all very nice!

Today I'm going into Exeter with some peps which'll be vey cool, updated http://www.SWYMing.org.uk with a load of new photos and aguilder is currently under the makeover spell - should be with you soon.

Have a day where you make every opportunity count!

Very quick post as I need to try and get some sleep before travelling back to Exmouth (well Newton Abbot this time - but hey!). Had a really good week at Spring Harvest, hopefully be able to transfer my journal onto here when I get back from SWYM conference on Thur or Friday. Hope all is well with you - I'll be back soon!

HONKIN STONKIN!

Wahey! I'm sitting here listening to my old Utopia Radio shows that I did back in 2000 (like 4 years ago!). They are making me laugh quite a lot because I can see some glaring errors but there's a good base of stuff there!

Anyway, hope you had a good Easter - I did I spent the morning in Church, where I got to do some colouring in with the Under 6's and be part of the longest ever communion administration (which took around 20 minutes)! Nearly completed one of the four assignments that I'm meant to be doing (though this one is quite long - around 6000 words) and I've done it in an e-book format so I can release it after it's been marked and stuff.

Just packing and stuff for Spring Harvest, shut all my e-mail stuff down until 24th April (after Spring Harvest and SWYM conference) and I've got to go into town to get a couple of pairs of jeans (which will be really thrilling).

Have a great day!

Matthew 28 (New Living Translation)

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you." The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel's message. And as they went, Jesus met them. "Greetings!" he said. And they ran to him, held his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."

As the women were on their way into the city, some of the men who had been guarding the tomb went to the leading priests and told them what had happened. A meeting of all the religious leaders was called, and they decided to bribe the soldiers. They told the soldiers, "You must say, 'Jesus' disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.' If the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for you and everything will be all right." So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him – but some of them still doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

I'm really going to get some assignments done today - I've also got to pack ready to go to Spring Harvest (horray!) on Tuesday and at the same time I've got to pack for SWYM conference (because I like have a 12 hour turn around and I'm going to be sleeping (hopefully) for 8 of those hours!). Also really got to tidy the place up - though I do need to make a start on the assignments!

Anyway yesterday was Good Friday and we had a really good service to match. We went around doing the different bits of Good Friday around the church (Garden of Gethsemane, The Trial, Carrying the Cross and The Crucifixion). And there was only one song - when I survey the wonderous cross - a personal favourite of mine. It was a very good and moving service and though it was all age I think it was especially good for the adults (which may come as a shock with it's all age label!).

I'm looking at going along to the passion today (maybe - if I do some assignments) so that'll be interesting if I get there! I did a bit of messing around at aguilder.co.uk last night - but that's really next weeks project and I shouldn't be doing it yet!

Getting back into delirious? for a while. Can't stand the most recent albums but I do like the older stuff, King of Fools, Mezzamorphis and Glo. Some awesome tracks are currently belting out from my stero system!

Have a great Easter I'll try and post again tomorrow (if there's time amongst all the stuff I'm trying to do) and remember that Easter isn't about Chocolate it's about this....

There was a mine in Wales and everyday a bus would pick up the miners along the way and then drive them right down into the mine. At the end of the day it would bring them back up again. The bus ran for six days a week - allowing the miners to have the Sunday off.

One day just as all the miners had boarded the bus and as they began the descent down to the mine they began to realise something was wrong. The scenery was going past faster and faster and faster. The bus driver spoke up "Guys, the breaks aren't working", panic spread amongst the bus and cries of "oh, no", "we're going to die" and words which can't be repeated here were said.

The driver calmly spoke "Ok guys, we've got a procedure for this, you need to addopt your crash positions and I'm going to try using the emergency pit to stop at the end of the hill" (for those of you who don't know and emergency pit is when the road breaks off and there is a pit of gravel and stuff that can slow fast moving vehicals quickly - they're created just for these kind of situations).

The drivers got their bags under their seats and a deadly silence went through the bus, all that could be heard was the engine and the sound of the surroundings going past faster and faster. The emergency pit was just off a short straight and as they came on it they saw something was in the way.

The driver looked closer as they came closer towards the something and it was a young boy playing with the gravel. Some of the miners saw as well and in the second or two the driver had to decide who was going to die (the miners or the boy) they screamed out. The driver took the the emergency pit route and as they drove into the pit a thud was heard and the wheels went over the boy of the young boy.

The miners rushed out to see if the boy was ok - but he was dead. One of the miners went up to the driver and asked him "Why didn't you hoot the horn of something this lad could have gotten out of the way in time". "No he couldn't" said the driver who had his head in his hands "he was deaf". "And how do you know that" said the miner, "He was my son" replied the driver.

God's love is the love that he sent his son to die at Easter this is an offer to all unconditionally - the only question is if we accept it!

When I survey the wonderous cross,
On which the prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the Vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did ever such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Traditional Hymn from Issac Watts

Hiya, it's been a very wierd and quite sombering day today. We had the funeral of a young lady who had died a couple of weeks ago from Anorexia. The service was incredible there were so many flowers and the songs and stuff were awesome songs of worship - it was a celebration of life and a celebration of the life she was now living rather than how I expected it to be.

But it also made me think - about death yes - but more so about new life, about being able to live with God in heaven without sin or anything to hold us back, being able to worship him and to give him glory (which is why we are here). And we only have that thanks to God offering up his son as a sacrifice WOW! "Cos God loved us so much that he gave his one and only son to die for us, so that if we believe in him we never have to die but we recieve a limitless life".

God Bless

Thought I'd post first thing this morning because I watched a real good program on TV last night called 'Jesus Who?' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/misc/easter/jesus_who.shtml). It was on BBC 2 at 11.05pm (which was quite late but hey I'm on holiday). It was all about this old rock star guy Rick Wakeman who went out in search of wether Easter was dead in the UK.

He went around and spoke to all sorts of different Christians and stuff about Easter and went to some very hip churches (though he admitted when you see it on TV you'll probably think it's really cheesy). He spoke to some activist students a lady minister who was married to an athiest and this women in a Monastry. The conclusion - Christianity may seem as though it's doing downhill but thanks to individuals who live the message and pass it to those around them it's sticking in there!

I was struck by the way that individuals can be struck so much just by someone living 'Christ' by them. Maybe if every Christian took this to heart we could see the number of Christians around the world doubled in the year!

Hullo! Well it's been another good relaxing day on holiday. Just been playing some computer games today (old and new) with the fantastic Dizzy games (that I got from http://www.yolkfolk.com) and the Sim's (with the Vacation expansion pack) which is quite a good fun game though far too hyped up IMHO.

Also listened to Professional Rapper by John Reuban and working out some questions for http://www.Bigfattoothbrush.co.uk to as what questions I want asked for our site at the GMA Week. There is some cool people and stuff going on (take note - I aim to go to GMA at some point!).

I'm also wrestling with the thought of doing some prose writing and doing a book (mainly for myself) but called something like 'The life which I've probably lived' which takes parts of my life and makes them larger than life just thinking of a decent pen name like Earl Drew Gunid or Wane Durergild. It could be a bit of a laugh. Probably should do all the other stuff I'm meant to be doing though!

Got some stuff coming up this week. Funeral of a young lady at church who died recently which will be sad but we've been asked to wear bright colours and make it a service of celebration and colour and some of the lady's artwork is going to be on display. That's Thursday.

Thursday evening I've also got drama rehersal for Friday's Good Friday service at Emmanuel then tomorrow I've got to have my hair cut (horay!) and I really really have to get these assignments done! Big Post-It notes to remind me all over the place.

Anyway I'm going to watch Law and Order and go to bed. Nite!

Had a good day yesterday! Went to church in the morning which was OK. The dialogue and stuff was really good and there was a top sketch but the songs were total pap! Had a nice Sunday roast dinner went out to town and bought a couple of new PC magazines (.Net and PC Format) which between them have some lovely cover software including Canvas 7, Games Factory Pro, Browser Bob, E-Campaign, Web-Compiler and more - nice!

The evening service at church was a bit different it was a service but with a passion play interspersed thoughout it performed by the Riding Lights theatre company. It was good (though a couple of dodgy theological bits) and I really did enjoy seeing it. The actors were very good, but the audience participation bits (like the litergy and the signing) was bold but being sung because it had to be! It was good though and as it was free you can't really complain.

After the service got some chips and shared them with Mum, Dad, Matt (my brother) and Jenny (his girlfriend), tried to introduce them to the devonian custom of chips and cheese but they seemed to think that was a bit minging - apart from Matt who became a convert. I then had a good couple of hours working on my new secret project! It's coming on very well and I'm going to be starting to film the video from tomorrow.

Today pretty much is a project / assignment day doing bits of both and seeing what I feel like. I also want to write some Easter articles if there is time and stuff. Also going to carry on with the secret project - because there's a lot to do before I can tell people it's no longer a secret!

I'm in Loughborough! Hurray! It's Palm Sunday as well so I'm just going to have breakfast and then get ready to go to church which is going to be really nice because I can see all my emmanuel church friends again!

Don't think much else besides that is happening today. I'm either going to start getting osme assignments done or work on that top secret program I was kinda not really telling you about but is very cool and will go worldwide! Might catch ya later!

It's early and I've now been up for a hour and a half or so. The family I stay with has just left to go on holiday to France and at half eleven Si is giving me a lift to the bus station to go on that long trip back to Loughborough!

Yesterday was quite a good day in the end. The lessons went well and the reading bits I did weren't too bad! We then met Katie's parents who have come from across the pond (to you and me they've come from America!) along with her best friend Katlin.Showed them a couple of the highlights of Exmouth (like the powder monkey) and recommened they go to the ice cream shop opposite the pavilion (best in the UK IMHO).

When we were at the powder monkey noticed Darren Pike the SWYM training co-ordintor and his wife plus two daughters going past and went over to see them. They were well and Darren is looking at going into Baptist ministry which is quite cool. He also wants me to do some website work for him which is v.cool.

The service last night went well also. I was a bit nervous (as there was quite a lot of people) but I think that God was doing the business! The vid went down well at the end may get a few hits on the site today cos of it (www.aguilder.co.uk). Talking of aguilder it's my easter project so you'll see something a bit different after the hols. Also look out for my new project coming to a PC near you - details are coming...

Have a great and safe day!

This is going to be probably the only chance I'll get to post today as from this point in it's all going to get quite hectic! This morning we've got two Easter lessons period one and two to groups of 60 year 8 students which should be good. It's then onto the final break duty this term with the year 7's and it'll be the last time I'll see a lot of them for 3 weeks! I've then got two lessons a maths and geography lesson which may be slightly more relaxed as it's the end of term (I hope so anyway).

There's no lunch or anything because it's the last day of term and we have no final lesson! Then it's sorting out the service for tonight.I've got a video that now needs to be put to tape after problems with the projector (not technical problems but people worrying problems!) and as I'm leading it from the front some links and stuff to just check through and everything. The meeting last night with Katie and Geraint was really good to find out what was going on during the service.

After that I've got to pack because tomorrow I'm on one of those lovely 12 hour journeys on the national express (hurrah!) and then I'll be home for a break (a real hurrah!). Anway got to get ready for the day a have some breakie. Don't stop breathing!

Hiya, I've got soooo much done today. Did some website update/assignment work on SWYMing.org.uk which is actually really good and great fun! Did background type thingys for the Leadership and Personal Development assignments. When I start an assignment I always gather all my resources together at the start and I thought if I put them on the site that could help others which would be cool.

I've also been cracking on with loads of other stuff for the Furnace (prayer room at our church) and looking at all sorts of other stuff. Just about to have dinner and do a newsletter to give to people when I go back for the Easter Hols to Loughborough.

Got a meeting tonight about the service tomorrow (young people's easter celebration) which I'm leading! The set looks fantastic - there's this huge tomb model and stuff and hopefully I'll be playing my video clip of the Supergang kids talking about what Easter means to them which I've spent an age editing! Should be good.

Food about to go. Be good!

Please note that all posts from before April can be found at http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=guilder