job hunting

Since graduation in June from Maths and Computer Science I have been scaling the job market to finally get myself a 'real job'. So far I have completed 12 applications, 8 of which were unsuccessful, 2 are still pending, another 2 I got invited to attend an interview, and one of those I finally received a job offer - praise God - that being from the Northern Bank (which I have subsequently taken).

What I can not understand is the age-old argument of experience. Everywhere I looked it was 2 years experience this, 1 years experience that. How is anyone supposed to gain said experience if no-one is willing to give them that chance? I heard Great Victoria Street Spar had over 100 applications for just 2 customer advisor positions. The way they filtered the applications was to separate them into experience and non-experience and then binned the non-experience. What has the world come to? You don't need experience for a bottom-of-the-food-chain shop job, where you pack out shelves and serve on tills!

The reason for all of this is that I am giving consideration to doing a second degree in Youth & Community Work with Applied Theology to qualify me with the lawfully required JNC to work with young people. I do not wish to go further into debt so I am going to work this year to help pay for this 2 year course. It's amazing how unrelated all this is to Maths & Computer Science, but I guess that is how God works sometimes. It's for that very reason that I am keeping an open heart for the gentle whisper of God that could blow my plans completely out the window, because I really want this to be all about Him (see my post on Matthew 7 : 21-23). So please pray...

"All of my ambitions hopes and plans, I surrender these into your hands"

West Cork

I had the pleasure of spending the last week on the Sheep's head (see below) near Bantry in West Cork. It took me over 12 hours and multiple bus journeys to get from Dollingstown to Bantry via Belfast, Dublin Airport, Dublin and Cork (see above). This magical place is less popular than others on our little Island but it has quickly become my favourite.

There is much to do around here such as fishing on Bantry Bay (see right), sailing in Adrigole, the market in Bantry, visit the many towns & islands, Ceiledh's in many local pubs, eating out at the many lovely restaurants around, climbing mountains (only in Ireland would you find mountains names Hungry Hill & Sugar Loaf!), or simply just savouring the local scenery which in my opinion is the best the country has to offer.


One place I have yet to go but would love to is Sherkan Island. I hear it has beautiful sandy beaches and an amazing surf!

women bishops, homosexuals and harems

I am deeply concerned by the recent bad press the Church of England has been receiving with respect to women bishops and homosexuals (see Mark Russell's blog). Personally speaking, I am unsure of my position on women in leadership roles within the church. There are explicit verses in 1 Cor 14:33-36 and 1 Tim 2:11-12 that forbid women from teaching men in church, however it is sanctioned for women to pray and prophesy with their head covered in 1 Cor 11:5. In today's society, feminism has made the Gospel seem sexist. I think rather that the roles described for men and women in the New Testament suit the natural order of creation and that it should not be considered that hospitality, mercy, teaching and helps are lesser positions that pastorship and preaching. Click here to read more.

The other issue in the CoE is ordination and the sanctioning of marriage of homosexuals. I am often wary of positioning myself on either side of sensitive issues such as this one, so what I do say, I say with love, an open mind and I hope without discrimination. I find it hard to accept how the act of homosexuality can ever be described as not sinful. The bible makes this clear in both the old and new testament e.g. Lev 18:22, 1 Cor 6:9. However in a world that is obsessed with sex, Christians often fall into the trap of making this sin bigger than the rest. God will punish liars for their sins in the same way he will punish sexual sin. There will not be one Bishop in this world who can say he (or she lol!) has never lied. Everybody has a sin that is a "thorn in their side"; for some that will be lies, others lust, and some homosexual temptation. I say temptation because one has not sinned by being tempted by homosexual tendancies in the same way another has not sinned by being tempted to lie. The sin only occurs when the temptation has been been acted upon. Therefore i think that people who struggle with homosexuality can of course be in ministry as long as they do not act upon their temptations (which is the same for everybody!)

The problem with all of this is not everyone in the Church of England agrees on what is right on these matters, and it has caused threats of a split in the Anglican church, which is utterly ridiculous! This should never be a reason for splitting a church, I would like to think I wouldn't leave a church if it contradicted what I have stated above. It's not like these issues are fundamental to our salvation, and all this in-fighting and bitterness makes Christians seem old-fashioned and irrelavant to the rest of the world. Not only is it a terrible witness, but the church is already multi-denominational and it flies in the face of one of Jesus last requests to His Father - that His church would be united!

We need to show the world that Christ can unite us no matter what. I mean if Ian Paisley and Martin Maguiness can do it, why can't Christian men! Shane Claiborne wrote a funny and very appropriate line in his book Irresistable Revolution, "Jesus is returning, and we need to unite as one body because Jesus is coming back for a bride - not a harem!" Boy have we made a mess of God's amazing story! Praise God for his promise that I will build my church and gates of hades will not prevail against it.

A change of the guard? - Wimbledon 2008

I must admit I have usually cringed at this statement this year as Roger Federer has had an incredibly difficult year battling with mononucleus (aka Glandular fever). People started writing him off months ago when Novak Djokovic beat him in the Australian open semi's, and after which having some shock losses. I couldn't believe this because this is Roger Federer, who has been (and still is for that matter) world no.1 since January 2004! Yes his year has not been up to his usual impeccable standards but even after that, the rest of the pack still haven't caught up.

This is reflected in the fact the Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon yesterday, and now owns 2 of the 4 grand slams in comparison to Federer's one, and is still behind him in the rankings! However, after Nadal beating Federer at Wimbledon (Federer's favourite surface where he had a 64 match unbeaten run), it would be difficult to argue now that Rafa is indeed the best player in the world at the moment. It leaves Federer needing to retain his US Open title in September, and have a great end-of-season run to have any hope of holding on to his no.1 spot, and perhaps more importantly for him, a chance of equalling Pete Sampras' record of 14 career grand slams to be considered the best player ever (Federer is on 12).

Yesterdays final was amazing, probably one of the best tennis matches I've watched ever, and I watch a lot of tennis! I am traditionally a Nadal fan, but I was won over by Federer's incredible heart to come back from 2 sets down, and facing championship points. Two of the best points you will ever see was Nadal's pass to get championship point in the 4th set tiebreak from an almost perfect approach shot from federer. Then only to have Federer save it with an equally as amazing pass from practically in the spectator stands (see video below). It was heart breaking to see him lose after such a fightback, and I felt so sorry for him when I saw his face at the prize-giving. I do hope he doesn't lose motivation like Borg did after such a demoralising defeat.



I think the match was more lost by Federer than won by Nadal, that is no disrespect to Nadal for he too played extremely well. Coming into the net is grass court tennis 101 and as the kind of grass, Federer should know that only too well, but he seemed reluctant to do this. In fact the whole first two sets he seemed scared to play his best shots. This is because Nadal is in his head and has been ever since that 5 set comeback in Rome 2006. Perhaps this rivalry would have a completely different look if Federer had won that. I said before the beginning of the match that Federer's serve would be key and I was proved right, for when he served well, Nadal could not get close to his service games, but in each of the 1st, 2nd and 5th set Federer lost his focus and played some mindless points which cost him the sets. What did work for Federer was playing the dangerous yet if done right, successful tactic of playing wide to Nadals's forehand to open up a show at the backhand wing. Perhaps this will be a feature in a future Federer comeback?

I myself had the luxury of going to wimbledon this year for the second and third round. I got to see Federer, Nadal, Serena play Mauresmo, David Ferrer and Mario Ancic, Chris Eaton and Maria Sharapova. Speaking of Sharapova, she played absolutely rubbish, practically every point was an error, and it was terrible to watch. In fact (without trying to sound sexist) I found most of the womens matches error-strewn this year. The best match I saw was Ferrer vs Ancic. It was high quality tennis throughout with long rallies and by the end the crowd were really into it.

The new brit - Chris Eaton was a surprise package. He serves and volleys very well and is a bit like Tim Henman in that respect. I don't think he will quite reach the heights of Henman/Murray but I do think he can beat the rest of the british men into the top 50. Which is good news for all round for British tennis as the women are coming on much stronger now with outstanding perfomances from Anne Keothvathong and the Junior champion, Laura Robson.

I would recommend Wimbledon to anyone, it's worth trying at least once as it's great fun (even the queuing overnight!) and the quality of tennis can only be appreciated fully watched live. In saying that next year I think I will be up for something different and head the the dirt of Roland Garros! Check out my photo's on bebo