Good Leaders...what makes them...

Discussing in our youth group what makes a good leader...

well, my dad has it, maximus had it, and Jesus had/has it...

FACIAL HAIR.

that's what makes a good leader...(and strawberry blonde haired people...our current youth leader and our not so current youth leader both have strawberry blonde hair.)

x

Footprints in the Sand

My brother got me the Leona Lewis Cd for my birthday and one of the songs is called footprints in the sand. it reminds me of that poem or story of someone walking with God and wondering why along their life there is just one set of footprints instead of two.
Here is that poem:

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.When the last scene of his life flashed before him,he looked back at the footprints in the sand.He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it: "Lord,you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way".But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,there is only one set of footprints.I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."The Lord replied: "My son, my precious child,I love you and I would never leave you.During your times of trial and suffering,when you see only one set of footprints,it was then that I carried you."

now here are the lyrics: compare for yourself!

Footprints in the Sand sang by Leona Lewis

You walked with me
Footprints in the sand
And helped me understand
Where I'm going

You walked with me
When I was all alone
With so much unknown
Along the way
Then I heard you say

I promise you
I'm always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand.

I see my life
Flash across the sky
So many times have I
Been so afraid

And just when I
I thought I'd lost my way
You gave me strength to carry on
That's when i heard you say

I promise you
I'm always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand.

When I'm weary
I know you'll be there
And I can feel you
When you say

I promise you
I'm always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand. (x2)

how nice are those words?

freddie x

time goes by .... so ...quickly actually...

wow whee...2007 almost over...Christmas is here again and it all feels slightly surreal. i don't know if its just me getting older...i think it is but it doesn't feel like Christmas...not yet anyways. it probably will on Tuesday..it did that last year. but i cant tell why...something kinda feels missing or wrong. i cant put my finger on what it is...I'm assuming its the fact that I'm older and the excitement of being a little kid at Christmas time has gone replaced with the excitement of getting more expensive useful items.

it feels like yesterday i was getting up at five in the morning to watch a film with my brother and my grandma before getting my parents up and rushing downstairs.....that was exciting! i cant believe that its just about 2008 and I'm nearly 17...where has all the time gone? it kinda leaves me flabbergasted about all the things in life -this year and all the years which have gone by in a blink of an eye...it may not have felt like it at the time but it has gone by so quickly...so many thoughts....so many laughs....cries....mistakes....so many good times that are unforgettable. so many different people that I've met along my way....so many people that i am going to meet along my way through this life...

what is planned is amazing....what has passed was planned....what has passed has been amazing

i kinda dread the new year as i don't know what it holds....i always do dread it in a way. but i know that it has to happen and that what is in store for me will be good - in the end.

Delirious? concert...

heya dudes/dudettes!

theres a delirious concert on saturday...(3rd November) and its at the liverpool cathedral erm..one of the two i believe but i dunno which one.

i think its 15 quid which i think is a lot but im gonna go cos i love delirious. was wondering if any one else wanted to go?

let me no soon....

freddie x

Music A level...a hard subject in many different ways....

hello everybody!

i've just moved up to sixth form at my school and im doing Chemistry, Pe, Biology and yes you've guessed it...Music. now i haven't done GSCE music so A level is gonna be a big challenge. i do have the background knowledge of reading music from the army but that appears to be it...i don't have a clue about 6ths and minor/major...so any help on te theory and compositions is very grateful.

the other difficulty is performing...which i'm not too bothered about..yet..but that'll come later. However i am bothered about one performance.

within the next week, i have to perform in front of a camera (im singing) to be able to record and analyse your performance. you're probably thinking, its nothing...not like theres an audience of 100 people or what have you.

well theres not and its not that im worried about. its what im singing. im gonna sing "this is the air i breathe" and "draw me close to you" out of (those who are familiar with it..) the source two. now im not worried about the singing - its about the peoples reaction. i dont mean im ashamed of singing it or anything its just i've never done anything like this in front of non Christians before - on my own. i just ask for you to pray to help me say the right things to anyone who asks. i'm not sure if my faith is strong enough to do it and so i'd ask for you to pray for strength on the performance day.

i cant wait to sing as i love these songs so much...they mean so much to me. i want to sing them like i always do...meaning what i say...and i want others to see that. its just the talking about it afterwards thats hard. please pray, thanking you in advance.

freddie c xx

General Ramblings...

hello friends....i really need to start posting again don't i? ah well...

part of the reason i haven't posted is because i've been busy...i've been serganting at Jscamp (and i dont mean to be harsh - but can we have more food next time?) and then i was at my friends for the weekend. o after all this....i'm now very fatigued....with a week of summer school on its way and a two week holiday in France i'm likely to be dead for the coming sixth form year... not a good thing....

just thought i'd let you people know that i am still alive but i'm not poating the way i used for certain reasons...(explained above).

hope everyone is well and fandabidozie as we wastewatchers would say...

God Bless x

f-c

13+ (24th June) notes (haven't done this in a while)

heres a few things we looked at in 13+, i'll explain them afterwards....

Proverbs 22:9
9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.

Kaiser Chiefs - Love's not a competition (but i'm winning)
I won't be the one to disappoint you any more,
And I know I've said all this and that you've heard it all before.
The trick is getting you to think that all this was your idea,
And that this was everything you've ever wanted out of here.
Love's not a competition, but I'm winning.
I'm not sure what's truly altruistic any more,
When every good thing that I do is listed and you're keeping score.
Love's not a competition but I'm winning,
Love's not a competition but I'm winning,
At least I thought I was,But there's no way of knowing,
At least I thought I was,But there's no way of knowing,
You know what it's like when you're new to the game but I'm not.

I won't be the one to disappoint you,
I won't be the one to disappoint you any more.

Matthew 5:16
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 Corinthians 13:3
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body [to hardship] that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Philippians 2:3
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.


Explainations....
To begin with we looked at some celebrities, (for example the Beckhams, Cliff Richard, Bob Geldolf etc..) we looked at which all of these have in common....they all support or run a charity. (Victoria Beckham - Meningitis Trust, David Beckham - NSPCC, Cliff Richard - Charitable Trust and so on...) We thought about why they support these charities and it could be because they really want to help and feel that they fame can help...maybe they have a personal experience...or maybe it could be that they love the attention...or they may think that if they help it can boost their fame and make the public like them more...whatever it is i think it is good that they help, it would just be better if it came from their heart, well thats what i think.

We then looked, well listened to the Kaiser Chiefs song printed above. According to our newly appointed ancient leaders this song is about the singer questioning his own motivation behind his good deeds.

We then looked up the above verses to see what they said about doing good deeds and about our motivation behind them. We know that only God can judge our deeds and our hearts because he can see our motivation. We learnt that it is ok for people to notice our good deeds but not if we are acting in order to be noticed. If we find that our good deeds are about us and not them, we have totally missed the point and we should alter our ways.

Personally I think that our good deeds should come from our hearts, wanting to help others in anyway we can. If people can see Christ in us without us trying to get noticed or even telling them, then we are being used by Christ to do His will.

summer nights...

well. got back from the corps retreat (weekend away with the corps family)yesterday. it was great! lots of laughs fun and a share of tears here and there too. but, thats what it's all about.

we go together...

it was great...the games night was so funny...i got soaked...so did steph..!....lots of photos some of which i may put on, or may not...depends if i can work it! some really thoughtful stuff (most of which i missed with revision but i was there for some of it.). playing football at 9 o clock in the evening...in the summer nights.

i just want to encourage those who didnt go this time to go next time...you never know..you might enjoy it! :P

it was a great weekend and especially a good start when me n steph frightened her mum! :P

i had lots of fun...now just to settle down and get through the next 10/11 days of exams...nearly over!

freddie x

(can you see the two Grease references in this post? i was listening to those songs when i was writing it..)

;-(

wow! i've never cried so much about something i love before! schools over - and i know i sound mad saying i love school but i do! just so much happening and it all stops so soon! obviously my favourite place in school is the PE department so, instead of going home at 11oclock like everyone else, i stayed in school to help in lessons in PE! i know its sad but PE helps me to relax and calm me down and well it worked! i've never laughed so much with or at teachers! :P Whoo!

It's the end of an era and a new style of life is coming my way when i go back to my sixth form in september....cant wait! anything to be back at school! (i'm so sad i know...stop telling me!) I dont know what im going to do in the summer!!

the only thing in the way of me and september is my exams....the biggys! (well so far - A levels will be worse!) i would really appreciate it if you could pray...i really want to do my best in my revision and my exams (especially PE - A* all the way!) (dont you dare comment! :P)

My exams start next thursday (17th may 2007) and last till the 15 of june! its going to be tough and i hope i can pull it off! i dont want to do all this hard work for nothing!

anyways, i better go, revision awaits (or maybe Friends!). love ya all,

freddie-cafone
xx

P.S Thank you!!

STRESSED!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

im officially paniking....well...ish....

i have science coursework in on monday that was meant to be on wednesday and i didn't start till tuesday.....ok its my fault but i've been so busy im exhausted.

had an art exam that i finished last week....got I.T coursework and im trying my hardest to keep up...but failing.

i was told that my spanish speaking exam is four weeks from when we come back from my easter holidays and im paniking.....ahhhhhh!!

any advice will be really appriciated!!!

freddie-cafone
xx

Hello! Everybody!

Hello! sorry i haven't posted for so long! I've had trouble updating to blogger beta!
Hope everyone is ok! i will post soon when i have something to say!

love all
freddie cafone
xx

mmmmmmm.......

a while ago i had a conversation with my dad about the garden of Eden and the fall.

recently i had a theory about the Garden of Eden, but was later ruined. im going to tell you anyways.

you know the Bermuda triangle? well i was wondering where the Garden of Eden is...it's on earth but nowhere to be seen...?.....i thought it was the bermuda triangle, then it was ruined by someone who went in it and came out alive (not a bad thing!) i thought everyone who went in died...so that went to plot.....i know think that the Garden is either Heaven or its just the beautiful places on earth....anyone else have any thoeries....or ideas?

i know this sounds weird for those who know me but thoughts like this keep me thinking! ( something im now getting used to doing!)

freddie
xx

sorry...dudes...

yo homies....sorry i havent posted recently, ive been rather busy with exams...so far this week ive had seven exams and i have two to go but three days worth. :(

so far so good i supose....

anyways, im off to have some tea...mmm... pizza....

freddie
xx

the next step????

i know that being a Christian and all i am expected to believe in life after death wioth God & Jesus in Heaven.

well thats the thing, im not sure what to believe. i'd like to think we go to Heaven, but i supose there is all things about reincarnation and all that stuff that is confusing me.

i am starting to feel like this is the next step in my faith, trying to find out what i believe, but im finding it quite hard.

i had a conversation the other day with my mate (was in science but dont worry we had finished our work). we were having a good discussion on this and the thing i found most rewarding (i could call it that) is that she doesn't mind whether i have a faith or not, she will always be my friend. she doesn't have a faith and she admires people who can take that step because she feels she is not the type of person to be able to do that. but even so we have good discussions. she said to me don't stop asking questions so....

can someone please guide me in the right direction in my faith? help me figure it out?
i'd really appriciate some guidence.

thanks
xxx

Family.....lots of it!

this week i heard the news that one of my closest family friends is moving. i value this friend as an auntie and it kinda hurts knowing that she won't be living here soon. it got me thinking about how much i not only value my family but my close friends at the army for instance. the youth of my corps i value as my brothers and sisters or cousins, those a little older i value as my aunties and uncles and those older than that i tend to value as grandparents. it's been the same wherever i've been and it never changed. i don't know whether its because my own family have never lived near us or whether its because i feel at home with them but whatever it is i have and always will value those at my corps and previous corps. love you all people!

anyways, just a little thought to keep me going!

night!
freddie
xx

wow haven't blogged in ages! im sorry people!

wow im sorry i haven't blogged my life was just so full for a while!

i have a few of those questions again, you know, those that are hard to answer. i came up with them in R.E today at school. i would appreciate any opinions on them.

1. (ok ive said this before but im going to repeat it) Why does the world cope with diseases and wars and famine? isn't God good?
2. or is it the devil? (i know it is the devil but i used it to get to the other questions) why doesn't God overthrow the devil?
3. has the devil contaminated too many people for God to get rid of the devil?

just a few things to think about. also if you read Noah (Genesis Chp6-Chp8) after coming up with these, it becomes quite scary.

freddie xx

guess what? WE ARE MADE TO CHEER! WHOO!

did you see the england match yesterday? did you see the big t.v's in Leeds, Manchester, Hull, and London? did you see all the people cheer when Beckham's free kick deflected a paraguay player and went in?

i did. the reaction was amazing. this is the type of cheering we should give to our God. He deserves it more than Beckham. God might not score the winning goal in the world cup final, but he did make us and making us is more important than winning the world cup (believe it or not!).

And yes...even i think being made by the mighty creator is more impotant than winning the world cup.......really i do.....................

so the main point today is.....cheer for God.....He's the winner not Beckham or Gerrard (though i think they are good footballers i haven't seen God play football yet!)

We cheer at things we like so God must get all the praise! just remember to cheer for God think of it like he did score the winning goal in the final! don't stop praising him, he's worth it all.

WHOOO! GO GOD, GO GOD! GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOO!

love freddie xx

i know i've blogged today but i had to blog about this...

today we've had some friends do our meetings. they go to our corps and they will be in next years session at the training college for the Salvation Army. tonights sermon made me think alot about things and about meself as a person. instead of my friends speaking they showed us a video of about 15 minutes long with an awful lot to think about.

i can't remember what the theme was but the sermon was about God having faith in us and us having faith in God and ourselves to be able to be like Him.

this was based on the time when Jesus was calling His disciples and he asked them to follow Him. now the video said (and its very true) that its hard to understand this if you don't know the background of the time. once it was explained i began to see it slighty clearer.

he said, in those times children at the age of 6 went to school to read and learn off by heart the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuternoomy). by the time they were 10 years old they new all these books off by heart. (thats saying something as i had to look up the names of the books).

at the age of 10, most children went off to learn their familiy trade or business. few of the 10 year olds went on to learn the rest of the old testament (34 books more than the torah). they did this until they were 15 years of age, and again only the best of these went to different Rabbi's to see if they could become a disciple. the Rabbi's would then ask many questions and if he thought they were good enough they would leave their families and friends to follow the Rabbi. personally i dont think id be able to do anything like that.

now when Jesus called Peter and His other disciples from the boat, it is now clear that Peter was not one of the best. he was carrying on his families trade, which means (not to be rude or anything) but he left school a while ago because he didn't do as well as the others.

This indicates to us that Jesus believes in us all, whether we're the best or not.

its quite a powerful thing. Jesus believes in me. I believe in Jesus. Jesus believes in me.

just something to think about.

nothing nothing nothing....bored

hiya people! have been away his past week on holiday to see family. didn't realy like the travelling bit but the footy and shopping bits were fine! well i'm sitting here at the computer doing nothing (well almost nothing, i am writing in my blog) with only our golden ager kevin on the other side of the room. Golden ager Lynsey, and my inmates, squelch and schlurple the purple have left me to do nothing. Kevin has nothing planned and i'm as bored as a koala bear in a tree eating leaves all day. zzzzzzzzzzzz. why do they do it? i'll get them back, i would rather do youth alpha than do nothing at all. love youth alpha, we have a laugh i get to spend time with my lovely friends and at the end of it all (sometimes...if i can remember it) theres usually something i take home with me to ponder over (don't ask where ponder came from because i don't know!). today...nothing. anyways i'll stop rambling and go play on the drums...write later!

frediie-cafone
xx

Holy Spirit - the confusing bit....

well i'll tell you the rather obvious bit about the Holy Spirit, it's very confusing. i really don't understand it but i suppose one day i will, a little bit. those who do understand i'm welcoming any "teaching" on it.

All, i know is that the Holy Spirit is everywhere in everyone. Kevin (our golden ager leader!) (that's just one golden ager! i wonder who the other one is.............Lynsey! :P) pointed out that the Lord POURS out his Holy Spirit on his people and its always there. it never leaves you.

The Holy Spirit does many things to many different people. In the Bible the Holy Spirit lead Gideon (Judges 6:14-16, 34), it gave Isaiah the gift of prophesy (Isaiah 61:1-3), and also gave Samson great strength.

the Holy Spirit also came in new and different ways.

anyways, next time dudes.....going to go home for some lurrrrrvly lunch...hehe!

freddie-cafone
xxx

p.s when i said i need help with the Holy Spirit, i mean it, most of the above was just rephrasing our golden agers!! :P