Chemistry teaching fun

Year 11 are leaving this week and so I gave the students a treat for their final lesson: a bunch of explosions. One of my students filmed and edited the demonstrations. Here's the youtube video.

The words of Matthew, of his wife, that his Father taught him.

An excellent wife who can find? Indeed I have.

She is far more precious than jewels.

I trust her with my life,

and I will never lack gain.

She does me good, never harm,

all the days of her life.

She brings my sustenance home after work,

and lovingly makes our dinner and feeds me.

She buys many gifts for me and others.

She irons my shirts late at night.

She keeps me warm when I am cold.

She dresses beautifully and I am proud she is mine.

She brings home money to keep us

and the future never phases her,

for it is in our Father's hands.

She speaks wisdom, kindness

and always tells me she loves me.

She cares for our house and is never lazy.

I say of her:"

Many women have done excellently,

but you, Melanie surpass them all."

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but my wife who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Adapted from here.

Storm the gates!

Jesus said this to Simon Peter just after he confessed the Lord as the Christ:

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:28 (ESV)

I was meditating on this scripture recently. I hadn't noticed until now the importance of Jesus speaking of the gates of hell. He didn't talk about a mobile army of hell that would attack us. Indeed He seems to imply that we, as the church, ought to be the one doing the attacking. Now I don't know about you but gates don't tend to do much walking around or attacking, at least not in my experience. The way I see it, gates are the ones that tend to be attacked and always on the defence. So the gates of hell, the established kingdom 0f darkness need to be attacked.

Church, we need to go on the offensive. Recall, though,

"we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

So we fight against the devil not other humans. Indeed though living Christ-like lives, through prayer (Ephesians 6:18, intercession and declaring the Word of God (the sword of the Spirit - Ephesians 6:17) we storm the gates of hell to free the oppressed, give strength to the weary, bind up the broken-hearted and lift up the poor.

YOU ARE A WINNER!

I received this text message today:

YOU ARE A WINNER!

Call now to claim your guaranteed prize!

(it goes on...)

CALL NOW!

Most of us have the sense to know a scam when we see one. But has our hardness clouded our judgement when the offer of a lifetime comes our way?

It already has!

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere" 2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

Jesus, through the cross and His resurrection has given us the victory. Now let's get this straight: His sacrifice for us doesn't just give us partial victory, it's total, guaranteed! Triumphal procession!

This is truth but it requires a response on our part: it needs to be claimed like the above text message said. And what are we claiming? A guaranteed prize! But we do need to CALL NOW!

How could we even contemplate going another day without receiving this victory into our lives?

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

Call Him - He's waiting to give you your guaranteed prize!

Heaven cheers you on!

Why does it seem that very often when we are going through a circumstance we have a crowd watching up? Sometimes we'd rather the crowd wasn't there as often we take to heart what they might think when we mess up. We fear the rejection of men.

But this is just the away team...the home team is also watching you, and they're cheering you on.

Jesus talks about a great crowd of angels that rejoiced when you were saved (Luke 15:7)

We are also encouraged by the writer of Hebrews thus:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1)

In all circumstances, know that the legions of heaven are chanting your name, exhorting you to keep going. A round of applause for you dear reader. Hold fast: God and heaven sing over you!

Is God watching us from a distance?

A few weeks ago we were visiting my Mum & Dad in Carlisle. During one of our excursions my Mum had a CD playing in the car by Bette Midler. A lyric in one of the songs was "God is watching us, from a distance". As we heard this my wife looked at me and smiled as if saying, "how sweet". Granted, it could be said that the song was indeed sweet.

However, I didn't like the message the song was giving about God and so I wanted to set this straight.

The Bible - the living word of God, God breathed and inspired - is God speaking to us about who He is. In one such verse in John's gospel, Jesus states:

"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23

So, God is not watching us from a distance, but indeed if you love the Lord and follow him, He will make His home in your heart. What an awesome thing! Almighty God who put the stars into space will live in your heart by His Holy Spirit if you give your life to Him.

Now as you read this, I want you to do something for me. Yes, it may be silly but when you say something out loud there is a certain power in your words. Ready? Place your hand on your heart and say to God:

"Lord, you have made your home in my heart because I love you and I have made you Lord of my life. Thank you Father, thank you Jesus that you live in me"

Now, let me know how you felt when you said that. Leave a comment, and God bless you.

Disclaimer: by leaving a comment you agree to let me publish this on my blog.

My Grandma vs. the Charities

I had a real laugh doing a favour for my Grandma the other week. She's a wonderful lady who has blessed me greatly throughout my life. However she surprised me with this favour: Son, please can you use your computer to make me a sign for my door saying. "Please do not put any charity bags through my door. Thank you."

I produced a sign as requested, but also a second one which I have shared here, should the first one not deliver the required message.

Please note: I am not against charity bags coming through my door.