Around the Table ~ Pamela

Pamela is a 2nd-year Napier University student studying Nursing. She is originally from Northern Ireland. I know Pamela from King's Church and from small group. Discover who God is to her.

Around the Table ~ Kat

Kat is a 3rd-year medic student from Plymouth, England. I know Kat from Christian Union and from performing together in the Mark Drama. Hear how God has moved in her life.

Around the Table ~ Angela

Angela is a 2nd-year student at the University of Edinburgh and is from Northern Ireland. I know Angela from King's Church and from small group. Find out what God has been doing in her life.

"Around the Table" ~ A New YouTube Series

Faith and film are two of my passions.

So my heart was encouraged to combine both.

Thus was born "Around the Table." Students sharing their stories of faith.

Who is God?
Why do people believe in God?

Find out more and to hear my friends' stories, stories of how Jesus Christ has changed their lives. And maybe you, too, will discover your own story.

Thanks for watching!

SOLAR ECLIPSE OVER SCOTLAND

You know those once-in-a-lifetime events where you mark your wall calendar iCal make sure you set an alarm 3 alarms to wake you up in time for such an event?

It happened this morning.

BAM. BADABING BADABOOM.

A solar eclipse over Scotland. Cue music.

So maybe I didn't necessarily get a Bonnie Tyler moment like in the music video above, but it was cool to experience a total solar eclipse while living in the UK.

Millions of people across northern Europe, from Scandinavia to the British Isles, set aside their morning to witness the moon passing over the sun in perfect form. In Edinburgh, hundreds of people showed up on The Meadows, a vast stretch of green space in the heart of the city. Dog-walkers, joggers, throngs of primary school children happily running around and swinging on the playgrounds, and university students like me waited with bated breath to catch a glimpse of the ever-elusive eclipse.

In the days leading up to today, all the news outlets (and my friends) told me not to look directly at the sun. I pleaded, noooooo whyyyyy in typical pleading fashion, because I wanted to watch the exact moment the moon covered up the sun. But alas, my friends, especially my astrophysicist friend, implored me to use a pinhole cardboard device or special eyewear or just simply don't look at the sun directly, lest I damage my eyes. Permanently.

I don't want my eyes to develop cataracts or go blind, so I opted to follow the advice of the people around me (thanks, friends and BBC).

This got me thinking...the Sun sort of represents God. It's not a perfect metaphor to describe the nature of God, but the Sun does provide insights into his holiness and life-giving power.

(so you might be thinking, "waaaaiiiit whaaaa" ... #dontworryigotchu)

3 REASONS WHY THE SUN = METAPHOR FOR GOD

1) Without the Sun, we'd be dead. Let's be real, the world would be an ice-cold, frosty-frozen place.

do you want a world full of frozen Kristoffs? (no.)

No plants, no trees, no jungles, no Lion King...no food, no crops, no bread, no bread pudding because of no bread...

SAME WITH GOD. Without God, we wouldn't exist. The first thing the Bible talks about is God creating the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), and later on the same story declares God made mankind in his own image (Genesis 1:27). I believe we were created with a purpose, with a reason for existence, and we wouldn't have existed if it weren't for God's great love.

2) No matter how tempting it may be...no matter how beautiful the Sun is...ladies and gents, please don't look at the Sun directly. (Take it from someone who has, and is probably suffering permanent eye damage right now...). The Sun is awesome, but if you (i.e. astronauts / NASA people) travel too close to the Sun, they'll burn up because the Sun is so hot! 

Similarly, we as human beings can't approach God by ourselves. God is so holy that nothing unclean can enter his perfect presence. (Remember when God told Moses to take off his sandals because the ground he was walking on was holy? And other stories like that show us God's amazing holiness and perfection). We are unclean people, sinners in need of saving. God did that. God sent his son Jesus Christ to die for us so that Jesus could clothe us with His righteousness, with His perfect holiness. That way, we may enter into God's kingdom (and party with God forever)!

3) There are sunny days, and there are not-so-sunny days. Attending Brown University in Rhode Island has taught me that. Living in Scotland has taught me that. First-hand experience has taught me that beautiful sunny Sundays may turn into cloudy-and-stormy Mondays.

But just because the Sun shines bright on Sunday doesn't mean the Sun disappeared on Monday. Just because we can't see the orange orb rising or feel the warmth of its golden rays doesn't mean the Sun vanished...it just means there are things in the way, like rain, or hail, or clouds. But the Sun is always there. It's always there.

So it is with God. Some days we're gonna feel like we've known him for so long (#bffs), other days we're gonna ask him "where are you?!". But just know and believe and trust that God is always there, with us. He's not up in the sky or thousands of miles away. He is here, right here, with you. All you need to do, is just ask him to make you more aware of his presence. His awesome, perfect, loving presence.

(Where is the) Sun in Scotland

found this bag in a tourist shop. pretty much sums it up

These past few days in Edinburgh have been particularly rainy and foggy.

fog #alldayerrday

I look out my window. (sigh) No sun in sight.

blue skies come back

It's as if a woolen blanket of gray has cloaked the stone buildings of the city.
Where is the sun?

This got me thinking how a lot of times, we feel like the sun isn't there. Especially during thunderstorms and hailstorms and windstorms, we think the sun has vanished. We think the sun has stopped shining, stopped emitting its golden rays of light, stopped being there for us.

But in reality, the sun is always there. It hasn't vanished.

When those foggy and cloudy days descend, we may feel like God isn't there, too. I've asked this question multiple times: where are you, God?

Yet God is patient with us, showering daily mercies on us, mercies we often are not even aware of.
When you feel like God isn't there, Jesus understands. One afternoon in the midst of spring in Israel, as he hung on a wooden cross, arms stretched out with nails pummeled into his palms, a crown of thorns piercing into his forehead, Jesus died the death we should have died. He suffered tremendous separation from God.

But Jesus had the incredible courage to keep going and pursue the heavenly Father's will and see through it to the very end.

That's what faith is. Believing, even when it's difficult to believe.

Let us be like Christ. In our darkest moments -- those moments when we don't see the sun -- let us trust in God. He is the great I AM, he existed before we even existed (and before the whole universe was even made!), he is Immanuel ~ God with us.

so we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
for what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen
is eternal

2 corinthians 4:18

there will be days like this

but just remember, there will be days like this, too

What is God's will?

Raise yo hands if you've asked this question.

Raise'm. Raise'm high.

'Cuz I, too, find myself asking this question. A lot.

What is God's will?

I'm the type of person who likes to plan things out. Graduate, finish my medical degree, get a job, earn money, find a guy, marry, build a family, star in a movie alongside Tom Hanks, etc etc etc...

Yeaaa, being abroad has compelled me to be more spontaneous --- lots of things are done on the fly, like choosing to hop on a bus and venture out to Murrayfield for a rugby match I had just heard about that day, or deciding to take an early morning train to the northern Belgian town of Bruges the very day we were supposed to hop on a plane back to Edinburgh...

But I'm still an ol' fashioned planner. (I even write out all the food items I need to buy before going to the grocery...and I map out all my meals for that week...lol...)

I am also the kind of person who is so indecisive. (Just ask any of my friends, and they know not to ask me where to eat out for dinner, because literally I will say, "whatever is best for you guys!" or "I'm good with anything!"...sorry, friends!)

In a sense, I'm a bit flawed in those ways, because this often leads me to fear.

Fear of making the wrong decision.

Fear of stepping out of God's will.

******

What is "God's will"?

Many of us want to do God's will, but sometimes we struggle because maybe God's will isn't as clear as we'd like it to be. We want to know his plans for us, we want to know where he will lead us, we want to know when this or that will happen, and so on...

When things aren't clear, go directly to God. Voice your concerns to him, because he truly does care. Speak with him, and listen, too. Relationships are a 2-way thing. If you put your trust in God, He gives you his Holy Spirit and lives in you. The God of the universe offers himself to you in a personal relationship. #amazing

When things aren't clear, go to the Scriptures as well, because "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I like to start my days by reading a passage from the Bible, like a Psalm. As the word of God becomes more and more embedded in you, the more he is able to guide you on a daily basis.

I could go on talking forever about God's will. God's will is "good, pleasing, and perfect" (Romans 12:12). What God wants for us is to have a personal relationship with Him. To put our faith in Him. That's all he wants. He doesn't want perfect hearts, but yielded hearts. In all things, then, whether it's our careers or relationships or aspirations, let us seek Him and His will. So if you're ever worried about a decision you have to make, thing about this: does it seek to glorify God? is it in tune with what the Bible says? does it reflect the love of Christ?

I believe that anything you do out of love, of the kind of love that Jesus Christ gives us, can bring no harm. I believe a decision based on Christ's love is good.

For now, I think I'll end with this: the apostle Paul writes,
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. +1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I read this and it gave me tons of encouragement. I hope it does for you too.

I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.

this is what happens at 1 am...

so I wrote a love song lol...

You Are

Verse 1:
you give me hope
when no one else can
you are the rock
on whom i can stand

you love me for not what i am
but for who you are

Verse 2:
you reach my heart
with your tender voice
you see my soul
above all the noise

you love me for not what i am
but for who you are

Chorus:
you are my love
you are my joy
you are my freedom
and my light            (2x)

Verse 3:
you make me laugh
when no one else can
you are foundation
on which i can stand

you love me for not what i am
but for who you are
 
Verse 4:
you still my heart
with your gentle voice
you whisper words
into my void

you love me for not what i am
but for who you are

Chorus

Verse 5: 
you are
you are
you are
my God    (2x)

Chorus

Why Did Jesus Come During Roman Rule? (Thoughts from a Day Trip to Chester, England)

On Sunday March 1, my friend and I took a train from Liverpool to nearby Chester. Decked with cobblestone lanes and Tudor-style townhouses, the city transported us back in time.

 In fact, all the way back to ancient Roman times!

The biggest Roman amphitheater in the UK is in Chester. The remaining stone walls outline a huge arena, which could have seated 8,000-10,000 people! The Latin nerd in me still stands strong!

Russell Crowe, come at me

This got me thinking about the vastness of the ancient Roman Empire. When he defeated the King of Pontus in 47 BC and won the Battle of Zela, Julius Caesar (in)famously declared, “veni, vidi, vici” = “I came, I saw, I conquered.” From Egypt to Spain to Turkey to yep even England, Roman influence stretched across the Mediterranean.

And my mind stretched back to a different Roman province: Judea.

*****

            Why was Jesus born there? Why did he live and do all his ministry there?

            Why not North America, or Asia?

Why not somewhere else, and at some other time?

Hmmm, I’ve always wondered that...

Why did God specifically send his son to be born in a little town called Bethlehem in an area reigned ruthlessly by the tyrannical Roman rulers?

I think it was exactly because of that.

At the time of Jesus’ life on earth, the Romans taxed the people heavily, took away their livelihoods, and governed viciously.

Jesus wanted to tell the world of a different kingdom. He wanted to give hope and new life to his people. He came to earth, not only saw us but also lived among us, and conquered death for us.

Born around 7-2 BC and living on earth until around 30-33 AD, Jesus came at the right time. The Jewish people were looking for a king, a hero, a rescuer. Jesus is that king. Also, at the time, the worst possible way to die was death on the cross. Though innocent, Jesus died the criminal's death in the most horrible way ever. When he rose from the dead, I'm sure he not only baffled the locals, but the Romans, too.

Practically, roads had been built by the Romans, so all across the Mediterranean, from Greece to Turkey to Italy, Christianity spread quickly. And the written word of Latin and Greek could be understood by many peoples across many provinces.

(I'm sure there are more reasons as to why Jesus came to earth during Roman rule, but these are just a few that I'm thinking of!)

The Latin phrase imperium sine fine (aka "empire without end" -- the Romans, o so humble) expressed the thought that their empire knows no bounds. 

I believe, though, that Jesus declared to his people of a new kingdom, one that truly goes on without end. A kingdom that is limited by no walls, no geographical lines, no boundaries. A kingdom for all peoples of all nations. A kingdom that, in the very end, will stand strong.

Life Lessons from Football: A Weekend in Liverpool

This past weekend, armed with a bag of carrots and a pack of crumpets, I boarded a train at the leisurely hour of 6:32 am. 4 hours later, after a scenic journey through the Lake District (and after a wee nap), I arrived in Liverpool to meet up with Quyen, a friend from America.

Liverpool boasts a dynamic waterfront, Albert Dock. I enjoyed wandering through all the museums and lil’ shops and cafes, learning about the city’s connection with the Titanic, seeing seagulls fly over the sea, and consuming a ginormous crepe-topped-with-2-scoops-of-ice-cream.

Liverpudlians (as the locals are dubbed!) also proudly showcase a dynamic musical history as the home of the Beatles.

 

3 interesting facts I learned:

1)    Did you ever watch the “Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends” show on TV? Turns out Ringo Starr narrated some episodes! #mindblown.

2)    The band first started out at a local club called The Cavern!

3)    As the Vietnam War stormed onwards, in 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono conducted 2 week-long “Bed-Ins for Peace” (in Amsterdam and in Montreal) to advocate for peace.

Liverpudlians also proudly showcase their football pride. The city bears a long-standing friendly rivalry between its 2 premier football clubs, Liverpool FC and Everton. “You’re either red or you’re blue!” Despite the competitiveness between the two, both teams came together to support their city after the “Hillsborough disaster”: on April 15, 1989 at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, during the FA Cup semifinal match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC, 96 people died and 766 people were injured due to a mad rush/overcrowding crush. The teams set aside their differences and came together in support of one another. 

Football has been known to unite countries and peoples of all backgrounds. (Tis true, from watching the World Cup to playing FIFA on the Xbox, football has forged a stronger bond between me and my brothers.) Other sports, like rugby, have been known to stitch back together wounds of a land (just look at South Africa and the 1995 Rugby Cup, the first major sporting event in South Africa after the end of apartheid #Invictus #Mandela).

We won’t achieve world peace through football alone, or through music alone, or through our hands alone. This world is broken, and we are a broken people. But when moments like that of reconciliation remind me of the God who came down from heaven to live among us on earth, the God who offers true peace, a peace that lasts forever.