And each year I’ve made new friends, either through sharing a tent with them or being in their group, or discovering we share a dislike of bugs. (Not that there are ever that many on youth camp, I’m just a wimp, really)

I’ve always come away from youth camp different than when I went, (at the very least, I have a nice tan and I’ve learned a few interesting chants) and not once have I regretted going. It’s brilliant to be able to get away from everything, even if it’s only for a few days, and the site of the camp lends itself very well to peace. Sited as it is on the Wye river, it’s a fantastic spot. It gives you space to think about things, away from the ‘noise’ of everyday life. I don’t mean the physical noise; there’s a fair share of that on youth camp; there’d have to be, with around one hundred young people in one place, not to mention the occasional fly over by BIG planes from the RAF base.

What I’m referring to is the thing that keeps a lot of us from real peace. Whatever it may be; work, school, or just the noise in your own head. Those things lose their power when you’re perched on a grassy hill watching the river. It’s a chance to slow down, and think things through, reconsider some of your choices or actually make some. I know quite a few people who have had the direction of their lives completely changed because of what God told them on youth camp. I’ve had a few of those moments. The underlying idea for youth camp has always been getting to know God. Sometimes that’s hard to do in the noise. I wish I could take more time to get away from things, because it’s in those times I usually hear Him the most.

Sometimes it’s a HUGE realisation, leading to tears and prayers, other times it’s a quiet discovery, and just taking the time to absorb what it means for you. But there’s always something. It might not be a life changing, earth shattering revelation, but it doesn’t need to be. God always gets His message across.

The best part for me is that it doesn’t end when the last car pulls out of the field either. The revelations can be built upon, and changes made for the rest of the year, so that by the time you come back to that field, you’re ready for more. Except now you don’t need to go to the field to hear God, you’ve got the tools to get Him anywhere, but you want to go, because it’s a great week. That’s how it was for me, anyway.

One of my favourite parts of youth camp, apart from meeting new people and experiencing things I’ll always remember, is seeing the changes in other people, that moment of realisation; ‘it doesn’t have to be that way,’ ‘He really does love me,’ ‘So that’s what He wants me to do!.’ Things like that I love seeing.

Being in a team is interesting. There’s usually a few people I don’t know, so by the end of the week I have a new friend or two. And the activities are always good fun. We still talk about some of them….

And then there’s everything else. At first I wasn’t so sure about spending a week in a field with a hundred other people, but five minutes into it, I was hooked. Sure, it can be loud, sure, it’s camping, but I love sharing a tent with six other people, and eating with everyone. One of my favourite parts of the time after a youth camp is seeing the people you camped with; all the in jokes, looking back over the past week, it’s great. And it’s stuff you remember.  That, and looking over all the photos on Facebook. There’s something about youth camp that makes people just wear what they like. I know it’s the only time I genuinely need to wear my cowboy hat.

It’s difficult with something like youth camp to really put into words what it is that makes it so great. All I can really say is, ‘come and see.’ You won’t regret it. Yes it’s camping, but we have toilets and showers, and you’ll meet some nice people, eat some great food, and, most importantly, you’ll get to leave the noise behind and meet up with God. Also, there’s a river.

Robin Hood is a film that has potential. There are times in the film when you are fully engaged in the action on the screen,  but unfortunately these moments are few and far between.

It felt that as a film it lacked an identity. Almost as if they never could decide on what genre or type of film it would be; drama, romance, adventure, action or sweeping epic? It fails to engage consistently and I left the cinema with a rather unfulfilled feeling. It reminded me of Troy, which was the best average (I’m being generous) film that I saw when it came out and to be honest I have the same sentiments for Robin Hood. Ridley Scott, who I usually enjoy, just never got the most out of Robin Hood.

We all joked that this would be Gladiator in tights or England, I so wish that had been the case.

If you are wondering whether to see Robin Hood or Iron Man 2, choose Iron Man 2.

Book name:

Author: Michael Volland

From back cover: Newquay: the UK’s infamous summer party capital.

The town was heaving with young clubbers and surfers, each one desperate to live life to the full, eager for experience, ready to rid e the waves and hit the heights.

Into this chaotic carnival dropped Michael Volland; DJ, surfer and team member in a beach mission 21^st-century style. There was just one problem: Michael was not at all convinced that God would turn up.

The events that followed blew his mind.

Basic synopsis of plot/content: A group of young Christians travel to Newquay during the height of the summer to take part in a beach mission.

At first glance, God on the beach is not a deep book. Young Christians walking around in hoodies and flip flops handing out leaflets and playing beach volley ball isn’t the stuff of legend.

Newquay is famous for surfing, and during the summer months, thousands of people flock to its beaches. Michael Volland was no different; surfing was what drew him there, rather than the ‘mission’ part of the trip.

Almost straight away, God started challenging him. Michael struggled with ‘Christian guilt;’ the thought that he wasn’t doing enough, he wasn’t good enough, that he wasn’t spiritual at all. As soon as he got to Newquay (after surfing) he started second guessing himself, thinking he’d made a mistake and shouldn’t’ be there. Over the following week that conviction was thoroughly turned on its head.

Over the course of the book, we hear about how the team used games of beach volleyball as a way to get to know people. How a random encounter with a stranger asking them for drugs turned into a two hour conversation about God. We hear about a conversation with a white witch who had been casting spells against them ended with her praying with one of the team.

Books like this are what inspire me; ordinary people, people who cringe at the idea of praying out loud, never mind with anyone else, who have no idea how to tell people about Jesus, and who would rather hide in the background. People like that, who make a tiny step of faith. God loves thing like this, and when people make that tiny step, He comes and does amazing things, surprising, interesting, amusing things.  And inspires us to do things we wouldn’t normally do. OR, in this case, things we used to do…but now we do them for Him. The group hosts an evening at a local nightclub, complete with DJ and a breakdancing competition. It’s an important reminder that life with God isn’t about NOT having fun and only following rules, but living life to the full, real life, that we can only find in Him. I think the idea of life being fun is something that appeals to me. God having a sense of humour is mentioned several times over the course of the book.

Director: Clint Eastwood.

Certificate: 12a

Main stars: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon.

Invictus is Latin for ‘unconquered.’The dictionary defines this as ‘unbeaten and undefeated’, words that truly describe this powerful movie about courage and the ability to stand in the face of ridicule and criticism from friend and foe. It is also the name of a poem written by William Ernest Henley (1849-1903); ‘I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul’. What powerful words and to be quoted by Morgan Freeman in his excellent portayal of Nelson Mandela.

I went to see ‘Invictus’ at the end of January 2010. From the time advertising began for this movie it was in my opinion a ‘must see’. I am not as you would say an avid reader, but I was very interested to learn more about this part of South African history and the faces that represented that time (1948-1994). I believe the ‘apartheid’ is a lesson in history everyone should learn about as a reminder of how low humanity can stoop. Mandela was a man who represented love for all men and it reminds me of another great man in history who said ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’.

During the whole ‘2 hours 13 minutes’ at no point did I regret purchasing the tickets for Invictus. The fact that the movie house refused to sell us popcorn at the upstairs till did not in any way infringe my perspective of this movie either.

‘And what for Mr Damon?’ you may ask. Well ‘our Matt’ (as us Bristolian’s like to say), was both stunning and excellent as ‘Francois Pienaar’. I won’t mention about the accent (having many south African friends I think authorises my saying this), but he was inspirational in his approach to this character; full of potential flaws and weaknesses and yet destined for greatness, his determination carried the rugby team to success and caused the nation to cheer ‘together’ for the first time in 46years. I walked out of the movie feeling ‘proud to be a south African’ and yet I am British! For a second I sighed…..but ‘Go SA!’

In my opinion this movie should be viewed as many times as possible and when the DVD comes out I may just have to buy it for my husband on his birthday.

If you want to find out more about how south African rugby made it big or the inner strength and endurance of such a respected man in authority (Nelson Mandella), and even learn a lot about how to become a real ‘leader’ (not just a ‘title’) then this movie is for you.

Book name: Soul Revolution

Author: John Burke

From back cover: ‘What if life’s deepest longing, sewn into the fabric of our souls, is to express and experience the love of the greatest, most beautiful, knowledgeable caring being in the universe? To do life with the one who loves you more than any other?’

-          John Burke

‘Soul Revolution may be one of the most important books you’ll ever read. In it, author and Pastor John Burke guiders you on a journey of experiential discovery. Called the ’60-60 experiment,’ it has already made a profound impact on thousands who have discovered what it means to actually do life with God.

Through real –life stories, explore how God takes imperfect people, regardless of their past, and leads them into a relational journey towards their hearts greatest desire. Experience for yourself how moment-by-moment connection to God with wide-open willingness fulfils our deepest longings and transforms us into life-giving people.’

Soul Revolution is a difficult book to review, in that I can’t really sum it up. One thing I will say; I recommend it to everyone. Every believer.  I came to the book needing a change and a fresh perspective on my walk with God, and I got one, but even if you’re not looking, this book will still give you a jolt, and make you look at things in a fresh light, which with God, is never a bad thing.

John Burke writes from the heart. This is a book for ‘real’ people, not those trying to put up a front of religion. He cuts right to the hear t of the matter, which is Life with God. He suggests the ’60-60 experiment’ which is simply staying continuously aware of Gods presence, every hour of every day, for sixty days. Just staying connected to the maker. At the end of every chapter, we’re given questions to help us figure out where we’re at over the next few months. It’s a spiritual inventory, designed to help us figure out what we want from life, and how God fits into that. OR rather, how that fits into God.

The books points us towards God, helping us revaluate our lives and reorient them towards God, and showing us that living life with God isn’t a constant struggle to stay connected.

Really, it’s not a book, as much as an experience. It requires willingness and commitment to do the 60-60 experiment. But it’s not done when you close the book; it gives you tools you can use for the rest of your life.

That’s why I recommend this book to all believers. It’s an incredibly useful tool. When I read it, my brain went racing off in all sorts of directions, and that’s what makes a good book for me; one that makes you think and inspires you to do better. This is a book I can go back to again and again and see something new.