VOICES ARE FOR SPEAKING

If you don't know by now that I love SUNSHINE then where have you been and what are you reading? This blog is called 'WORLD OF SUNSHINE', would I invite you into a World that I wasn't completely in love with? What are you like? Have you learnt nothing at all? I talk and I talk but nobody listens- ARRRRGGGH...

*COUGH* Ahem, sorry. I get a bit dramatic sometimes. Can you blame me though? I mean I like having a voice which links nicely to the title of today's blog:

VOICES ARE FOR SPEAKING

How would you feel if your voice was taken away from you? Some of you are thinking 'I would be fine, I would write, I would use symbolism, I would use hand gestures...'. Well, by voice, I meant freedom of speech and also interpretation. Those of us who live in the modernised Western society have so many different rights and one of those is the right to vote. 'Arggh again with the politics talk' you say? YES, again with the politics talk. The right to vote is your voice, your chance to fight against the things you feel are wrong and support the things you feel are right. Forfeiting your right to vote or voting for a random person without knowing what they're about is effectively putting yourself on mute.

Don't be fooled into thinking that your voice won't be heard because it will, no matter your race or ability, if this is your home (UK) then have your say because the outcome of the election really will affect you. One of the best ways to have your say is to actually go down to a polling station on May 6th (subject to registration) and VOTE! There are however, more radical means as some of you may be aware. There are occassions where Gordon Brown has been ambushed by angry members of the public trying to get their voices heard.

There are some people who cannot actually vote but cannot wait to get their voices heard: As I was writing this I flicked over to BBC2 and there was a program where young people were given the opportunity to voice their opinions and some of them even got a chance to quiz an MP. Now none of them were old enough to vote but they made sure they got their voices heard. The ringleader, of Asian descent, was outraged by the fact that his generation (when they start working and paying tax) will have to bear more financial costs because of mistakes made by the current government. "Why should we have to pay for your mistakes?" he asked the MP in an angry tone. The MP's response was clearly evasive and undermining which the boy was quick to point out "You still don't seem to be answering the question! Why do we have to pay for mistakes we haven't made?" (this was a boy of 14 or 15 years). Evidently the MP had underestimated the youth as a lot of MP's do the public. Don't allow yourself to be underestimated, challenge everything- It's your right!

The future is in your hands, if you have dreams for yourself or your children then make sure they are not ended abruptly by the government.

MAY 6TH 2010 (7am - 10pm) - SPEAK UP, USE YOUR VOICE, VOICES ARE FOR SPEAKING!

EXCUSE ME! YOU'RE BLOGGING MY VIEW!

As jobhunting is boring me to death Today I decided to read something other than job specs - other people's blogs. It's actually quite fascinating because while reading some of them you realise that you're not the only one who's going through a certain phase. Far from it! In fact most of the blogs I've read, spanning from Today to about a month ago, confirm the opposite. It seems that another season is now coinciding with spring- 'THE WHY SEASON'.

This is the time when people feel like it's make or break, whether in terms of their plans for this year, their careers or their studies, a lot of questions are being asked. And those questions are coming from the inside (our own minds), the questions that would frustrate or convict you if other people were to ask them. The questions that you dare not ask your friends in case they ask "and you?"- *Shivers* *Leave me alone, don't watch my life, concentrate on your own- GOSH*. Does that sound like you? Trust me, you are not alone.

I've lost sleep over such issues in a bid to escape funny looks from peers but why should I let other people's status' define mine. Does God not have a plan for each of us? After all we are individuals. I'm not saying we should pretend we feel great and everything's in order but we can try and turn the 'WHYS' into 'HOWS' by being practical. 'WHY' will only hold you back from the change which requires a 'HOW'. All it takes is a little change in mentality to stop looking at where it all went wrong and start focusing on how to make it right.

So HOW I am going to make this work? Well, I'm gonna do my research and ask God to show me the way!

What about you?

STILL SHINING

The sun's still shining on my part,
Albeit dimly the clouds can't tear me apart
From my destiny
Though they move slowly, majestically
Hope will pierce through like a knife
Most definitely
Wisdom needs effort, effort needs force
Look Fear IT'S OVER I want a divorce
I got me a prenupt you're not getting half of me
Gone are the days when you had a good laugh at me.

You killed my dreams slowly like they were bad habits
Made me believe that I had little talent
Well you can kill dreams but you can't kill a dreamer
Shine like the sun I will
Bright like a daffodil
Almost gave in thought I had no more output
Eyes sunken in had a deep and dark outlook
Then I met Confidence
Me and her are tight now
In fact, she's backing me right now!

Strong like a tidal wave
Thick as a lion's mane
Not with me for her gain
Definitely real
Sure like deodorant,
My nerves are gone
I no longer feel afraid like a debutant
I feel...
Yes NOW I feel
I'm back to my senses
I'm keeping my eyes peeled

I see now that your grip was relentless
Gone are the days when I was afraid to end this.

I see now that your grip was relentless
Gone are the days when I was afraid to end this!


Poetic Sunshine -`o -

Cry of a student

I haven't occupied this space for a while so I thought I would share a poem with you. This is inspired by students worldwide. The style was adapted from what a friend of mine wrote.

Cry of a student


Times are hard.
Like real hard.
Like '9p noodle' hard,
Like 'skipping lectures to try and claim back fees' hard,
Like 'baked beans 21 times a week' hard,
Like 'i would sell the clothes on my back' hard,
Like 'how many times can i give blood?' hard,
Like 'crying when i see chips on the floor' hard,
Like 'slow down, this tshirt is for the week' hard,
Like 'Blackberry messenger? Where is he i'm starving?' hard,

Like 'Vans? Sorry, no speak dutch' hard,
Like 'is that a digestive under the couch?' hard,
Like 'fasting is not a choice' hard,
Like 'hot water? No no, no speak german' hard,
Like 'who's going to morleys to get salt tonight?' hard,
Like 'we've been making live versions of eastenders for years' hard...
Yep, real hard.
C'est tres difficile indeed...
Times are hard!

Back to Basics

This year got off to a very funny start. I decided that I was gonna go back to basics in every area of my life and see what I would learn. I wanted to see what I would learn about myself and why I act in certain ways and do certain things, both positive and negative; and about life in general. Needless to say this has been an interesting exercise and I have learnt quite a few things- and as I have an inside-out view of my life and those close to me look from the outside-in I accept that sometimes I may be the last person to realise certain things about myself.

One of the main things that struck me was that I have devoted very little time to gaining knowledge intentionally. Hosea 4:6 (NIV) says "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge". Knowledge is vital! Far too often in life I take people's word for things because I don't know any better, this is true of a lot of us. It's so easy to get side-tracked when you don't know the difference between right and left. That's why I've gone back to basics, back to the way I was in primary school when I knew nothing and I asked a lot of questions because I still know nothing. I also used to read a lot back then- a hobby I have forced myself to rediscover since mid January.

So following on from the realisation that I know nothing and I have done nothing about the fact that I know nothing came the will to learn something. Just this morning I started reading a book called 'Can you handle the truth?' by R.T. Kendall and Andrew Sampson. It is a Christian book giving different perspectives on 2 Timothy, a book in the Bible written by Paul.

I've only read about 40 pages of it but it's already changed my outlook on a few things. One of the authors, Andew Sampson, was talking about the anointing that Timothy had but didn't know how to tap into it and he was already quite timid, that's why Paul had to encourage him (and us)through these letters. He made a point that we rob ourselves of time and try to hard to do things when we need not to. He went on to say that when you know you are operating in the anointing of the Holy Spirit everything you need to do becomes so much easier.

This to me was so profound because I've always felt that I have a knack for complicating my own life before trials and tribulations even come so by the time they do I'm already on my knees because I'm shattered and the next stage is to fall flat on my face. It doesn't have to be like that. I need to start gaining more knowledge and stop trying so hard because in truth it's easier for me to go round in circles than move forward in my own strength.

I can't stress how important knowledge is, both of our Creator and our relationship with Him and of the world we are commissioned to affect. Find yourself, seek knowledge, meet the Holy Spirit, start living instead of existing!

Much love people,

Speak soon!

Body of Christ

The church (Christians as a unit) is often referred to as the body of Christ... 1 corinthians 12:12 "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all the parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." This is just describing the fact that different members of the body have different gifts whether spiritual or otherwise and therefore have different parts to play in the kingdom. I'm going to use that analagy of the body and take it a step further in saying that we all have different roles in each other's lives on an individual level as well but first I want to try and explain something.

The Body of Christ (the way it was intended to be) provides a unique opportunity for us to network with fellow believers and help each other through the Christian walk- Romans 12:5 "so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others". As Christians we are supposed to be united against 'the world' in order to overcome it's difficulties. In order to do this we have to share in each other's difficulties which means we need to be accountable to one another. It seemed to work well in the New Testament and most of the time they managed to encourage instead of condemn. This is the way God intended it to be but in this day and age the devil, through society, has confused our minds to make us feel like we are alone, even to the point that we feel most people are against us.

Openness is now predominantly seen as weakness and people would rather suffer in silence. It doesn't have to be like that. We can apply the 'body analogy' to individuals as well in the sense that we can't exist on our own- we technically need other people (body parts). I believe I have different friends that are in my life for various functions. I'm not encouraging you to be open with everyone but there is a peace that comes from being accountable to the right people. The only catch is that you have to find out who they are.... I need a friend to fill each of the following functions, some will obviously overlap:

Sometimes I need a kick up the backside, are you willing to be that swinging leg? Sometimes I need a shoulder to cry on, will you play the sturdy shoulders? At times I may need comfort, who will be those loving arms? There are times when I need approval, who will be the mouth that utters words of encouragement? There are even some times when I can't see certain things clearly myself and need another perspective, does anyone mind acting as an extra pair of eyes?

Apart from all that, I need a friend to look up to at all times meaning that at least one of my friends has to be the one who walks on spiritual stilts!

One church, One unit, One body!

Peace out!

Inconceivable

To most people whether they believe in Him or not, the concept of God is a hard one to understand but if He made our minds then surely He would have put a limit on our knowledge? .....wouldn't He? Just a thought. The point is that we will never fully understand God and He cannot be properly described even if you used all of the letters of the alphabet and alliterated each one;

Observe below Exhibit A:

God Is The...

Adept Alpha
Benign Benefactor
Creative Connoiseur
Dreamer of Destinies
Eternal Excellency
Faithful Father
Gallant Giver
Honourable Hope
Inconceivable Illuminator
Jovial Joygiver
Knowledgeable King
Loving Lord
Merciful Maestro
Nurturing Novelist
Omnipotent Omega
Proven Panacea
Quiet Quencher
Ready Reconciler
Selfless Saviour
The Truth
Unfailing Unction
Vivid Veteran
Wonderful Word
Xenium
Yearnful Yahweh
Zealous Zoologist


As you can see, I tried but my efforts were in vain. I give up, He's too much- case closed!