Word Alive Vlog 2016

Here's my Word Alive Vlog 2016. I attended on the Tuesday & Wednesday (5th & 6th of April). I attended some helpful talks and also brought back a few things from the book shop to show you.

A New Year - Latest Update

Hello everyone!

One of my "New Years Resolutions" was to keep up to date with my blogs so here I am! It's been a very long time since I last posted here but this will be updated a lot more frequently! Writing my thoughts down into words helps me a lot whatever the subject, updating this blog will help me spirituality also.

It's very easy for any Christian with a Chronic Illness to be too brain fogged, fatigued or just in too much pain to spend time with God. I've been making more of an effort to think of ways I can spend time with God despite the daily struggles. Something as simple as listening to Christian music can be so helpful, if you're too foggy to take in any information then simply just listening to a song with lyrics about God goes a long way, you're still spending time with God. Certain things will enter our subconscious that we will remember without us actually doing anything!

Church Help

I've been making more of an effort to mix within the church I attend. I can't always chat to people after a service on a Sunday due to the extreme exhaustion from just a conversation but what I can do is get involved in certain events outside of the church. I've started attending/co-helping out at a group once a month on a Saturday evening, it's encouraging teenagers to get together, play some games and have some food whilst there's also some spiritual input.

Another group I help out with every so often is called "Stepping Stones" which is basically looking after the 2-4 year old kids during the Sunday service. There's two of us and we'll play some games, get them to make a craft/colour in and there's a short Bible story whilst they have juice and a biscuit. I really enjoy working with the kids and it's something I'd like to do more of in the future.

Theology Study

Outside of the church I've been studying Theology for quite a while. I've left myself with a bit of an uphill task but I'm determined to get through it. I have until 16th April to complete 3 and a half modules to get my level 1. It's previously been very flexible as to when I get work finished (hence why I've only completed 2 and a half modules in around 2 years) but unfortunately the whole course is finishing in the summer so there's no flexibility this time. I will blog more about this in my next few posts.

The course has been very mentally challenging, mainly due to my brainfog. I was hoping to get to level 3 but there's always opportunities in the future to further my study. This course wasn't about qualifications, it was about keeping my mind active and to help with grow spiritually which it has certainly helped with.

I was actually going to write about a sermon I'd just listened to (I wasn't able to attend church today) but I've written quite a lot already! I like to keep my posts relatively short so maybe I will write about that next time!

This post was basically to bring you up to date with what's happening with me in this field, there's obviously a lot more I can say but I'll save it for another time!

Hope you've all had a great weekend and were able to make it to church!

A few words of comfort.

Hello all, I've left it late with my theology coursework deadline again! I've taken on too much recently but I'm determined to get it done with just a week to do it as I'd find it embarrassing having to message the tutors asking if I can have an extra term for the zillionth time! Personal issues have taken over but things will calm down soon, I hope...

Anyway, my faith is what keeps me going and I'd like to share with you a couple of images that really caught my attention on facebook.

Here is the first one, it's from a group called Jesus Daily which is very good. It really made me think as I'd never linked my stress to having to find a solution. I stress about a lot of things but reading this made me see it differently. I've had personal issues going on where I've wanted answers straight away, it's often resulted in hurt. Why does there have to be a sudden answer? Well stress makes me feel like that, whether it's people ignoring you or cutting you off through no fault of your own. It could also be getting behind on my studying, why aren't I progressing with certain things or why isn't my health improving. Having faith gives me that reassurance that all of my problems will be solved, though it will be in God's timing as stated above. Sometimes we might get answers we don't like or we get answers were others action contradict what God has said/done. Prayer is the answer and there is never a rush.

Here is the second image. A lot of the thoughts I have are very similar to what I've already stated previously. Both quotes go hand on hand. Remembering these words combined with prayer is a real help. As stated in my favourite bible verse Jeremiah 29:11:

God has a plan for us so what's the rush? There isn't one yet we can feel pressurised into thinking that everything has to happen NOW!

Lastly, I take no credit for the images used here.

God Bless,

Barry x

Thoughts for the day: 7th Jan 2015

Hello all, just a quickie!

As some of you will know, I like to do my daily readings each day. Despite having very soon published 2 books, I'm not a great reader as I find it difficult processing certain information. That comes from the mild Asperger Syndrome I've had all my life. Anyway, back to the point... This was my daily reading today:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute" Proverbs 31:8

I felt it really spoke to me, I've previously been a very shy person who was afraid to express himself. I had questions about Christianity that I could not answer because either the wording of the question wasn't clear or my mind was too muddled from bits of information I had picked up here and there. I've felt the size of a pea when I've not been able to answer questions about my own faith. My God who I've given my life to. "Does that make me a bad Christian?" I used to question myself.

These words from a friend have always stuck. I can't quote word for word but it was along the lines of "You don't have to know the Bible inside out to be a Christian, if you believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins then that's the most important thing".

It doesn't matter how much we know or how much we don't know. Having faith isn't about who can quote certain passages from the Bible in record time, it's about following God's word and having FAITH.

From experience, I've learned not to get into any discussions because if that person is set in their ways then you're just going to wind them up even more by responding. The best way for others to see how God works is to just follow his word and let the others see for themselves. They might question why you're so content or wonder how you've coped with certain situations. Then they will see God's work.

My thoughts for the day...

Amen and God Bless,

Barry x

FREE Kindle Download: See God's work - Link inside!

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a blessed CHRISTmas and New Year!

My theology studies are going to continue very shortly but before then I'm finishing off my new book about my experiences with Asperger Syndrome.

My 1st book is called "A New ME" and talks about my struggle so far with the illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. The reason I am telling you this is because there is a section in this book which explains how I became a Christian and you'll see throughout the book how God has worked in my life.

You can download it on your kindle for FREE for just another day so even if you don't read it all, just downloading the book is a massive support in helping to raise awareness for this horrible illness.

It's available in ALL countries so I'll post the link to just a few of those where my book's been most popular:

United Kingdom:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-ME-Barry-Evans-ebook/dp/B00L1LIT6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420579028&sr=8-1&keywords=a+new+me+barry+evans

United States: http://www.amazon.com/New-ME-Barry-Evans-ebook/dp/B00L1LIT6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420579690&sr=8-1&keywords=a+new+me+barry+evans

Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/New-ME-Barry-Evans-ebook/dp/B00L1LIT6E/ref=sr_1_1_twi_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420579760&sr=8-1&keywords=a+new+me+barry+evans

Denmark: http://www.amazon.de/New-ME-English-Barry-Evans-ebook/dp/B00L1LIT6E/ref=sr_1_1_twi_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420579801&sr=8-1&keywords=a+new+me+barry+evans

However I'd LOVE to get more sales from other countries too so please share also! :)

God Bless you all and I'll be posting more theology based stuff soon!

Barry x

God's Work - Happy Christmas!

Hello everyone, it's been such a long time since I've posted here though in the New Year, well from now really, I'm going to be posting here a lot more often.

My studying has been put off again but from now on it will get greater priority. The next term doesn't start till the New Year so I'm going to focus this post on how God has worked on me this year...

I'm not going to lie, there have been times where I've felt I've been "lacking spiritually" as every Christian will feel at times. After all, we're all sinful beings by nature. Not one of us are perfect, except God of course!

I've had lots of struggles, some this year and God has pulled me through it all. I'm a mentally stronger person now than I've ever been before and I solely put that down to God. I was a very timid and troubled child and he saw I needed working on. I suffered terribly with depression which had an effect on my studies. I remember having to complete half a years work in just one week and started smoking daily. I'd just had enough at one point and ended up overdosing. It wasn't a cry for help, it was a suicide attempt. I wasn't brave enough to hang myself or slit my wrists, I wanted to do it the cowardly way and take as many pills as possible. I actually recorded myself doing it on video so that if my attempt was successful, people would find the tape and know why I'd done it. I was very vulnerable after that and just wanted to be accepted, I won't talk about school but I'm sure that had a part in my depressive build up, the daily bullying etc though I overdosed when I was at college aged 16 going on 17. January 2008.

For a while after that it was very difficult and I just wanted to attempt suicide again. I'd become involved with the wrong people, romantically. Despite, never exploring God's word much, I had high morals and vowed never to sleep with anyone until after marriage which is something I've stuck to to this day. The women I was meeting up with weren't right, they weren't mentally stable themselves and messed me around an awful lot. I felt heart ache at a young age and I have very unpleasant memories of being hurt, losing appetite, sliding into depressions etc. To this day though, I find it hard talking about the subject. I can wear my heart on my sleeve which isn't always a good thing. I've fallen for people and I very rarely fall for anyone. Feelings have never been mutual, I feel I've been seen as an easy target but now that has all changed. I'm strong, I believe in myself, I believe in God and his word has kept me going. Certain people can have different effects on me spiritually as well, sometimes I get mixed signals, sometimes I need to pray for guidance.

I have the illness M.E. and God does not want me to hide it. It's opened so many new doors for me despite it being such a disabling illness. He knew that I could deal with it after bringing me through crippling depression. Having mild autism too means I get my views out slightly differently to the "typical" person. In no way do I see having Asperger's as a weakness, it's a strength. I feel it was God's call to write about my experiences to help others with regards to both of these things. I will continue to help others whilst progressing with what my plans are.

I really feel that 2015 is the year my relationship with God will go to the next level. My faith is strong now, I regularly read scripture and I pray daily. But as beings, we feel we can fall short at times but all we need is faith. God doesn't matter how many good deeds you do or how many times you think you've failed, if you truly believe in him then that's all he needs. I feel I'm a lot maturer than my age suggests and that's purely down to God and what he's done to me.

God's got me through university study and the rest when I've mentally been in a bad place. After being stable for a few years, I can go to the next level.

This is me getting thoughts out into writing, some of it may seem like waffle but it's all from the heart. Sometimes our words can appear to be muddled to others, but as long as we know what we believe in then that's all that matters.

See my plans for next year here: http://barrysme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/new-year-big-plans.html

Also, if you'd like to see my testimony from 3 years ago then here it is:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnIHC6OBNiY&list=UUCrsPBrO__GVcD3rm8nomjw

Thanks for reading,

Have a blessed Christmas,

Barry x

Study 1 - The Book of Books

Hello... I've got my Theology papers out again finally!!!

Lets get straight to it... Study 1 - The Book of Books!

So what did I learn in this Chapter?

Most importantly, I learned what the Bible is, what it claims about itself, the Bible's message, and lastly, the main divisions (old & new testament).

At the start of each study there is a section "Before you begin..." asking a question before looking into the study...

For Study 1 it was 'What is your favourite book of the Bible'? asking me what I would say and why...

My answer was the book of Daniel... Before I was baptized, I met up with a guy from church regularly who helped me a lot. He used to take me through different books of the Bible, the 1st one we went through was Daniel. They guy I met up with said he could see a lot of similarities between myself and Daniel so not only is it a book I know a lot about but it's also a book I can relate to a lot.

After some reading of the study I came across some research questions... This involved reading through Jeremiah 1:1-12 before answering the questions. The questions were as follows:

1. Why did God call Jeremiah to be a prophet?
2. Why was Jeremiah able to speak with authority?
3. How did Jeremiah know that his words would come true?

My answers...

1. God called Jeremiah to be a prophet because he knew Jeremiah in the womb before he formed him and also set him apart before he was born.
2. Jeremiah was able to speak with authority because the Lord was with him and would rescue him.
3. The Lord reached out his hand, touched Jeremiahs mouth and said, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth".

Then I came across the exercise questions! They were as follows...

1. Carefully re-read the section of this study summarising the Old Testament. Why did God continue to deal with the Israelites when they proved to be so unfaithful?
2. Carefully re-read the section of this study on the Bible's claim about itself. In what ways is the Bible a unique book?
3. Read the article 'Bible' in the New Bible Dictionary (NBD) and note down anything extra that is relevant for Study 1. If your interest for extra research is still strong, read 'Canon of the Old Testament' and 'Canon of the New Testament'.

My answers were as follows...

1. God continued to deal with the Israelites when they proved to be so unfaithful because God is faithful and he fulfilled his promise.
2. The Bible is a unique book because it was inspired and spoken by God. It is a book used for reference  against non-believers and teaching about God. The story's all link in despite the diversity of them (unity). It's authority makes it unique.
3. Extra from NBD relevant to study:

• Books and apostles declare that church existed from beginning.
• Term synonymous with Bible is 'writings' or 'scriptures' frequently used in NT to denote OT documents in whole or in part.
• OT and NT acknowledged in Qur'an as earlier divine revelations.
• OT in Hebrew is Jewish Bible. Pentateuch in Hebrew is the Samaritan Bible.

Lastly, there is a section from reflection (it rhymes!) at the end of the study...

In short, it asked what parts of the Bible I am familiar with and what parts I'm not so familiar with! My answer... I'm familiar with the structure of the OT but not so familiar with anything in depth (hence why I'm doing this course!).

So there we have that! That's the whole of Study 1 in a nutshell... hope you found it interesting and next time I'll move onto study 2! :)

x