Why I'm Not Doing the Ice Bucket Challenge

The Ice Bucket Challenge has swept across social media and the world it seems but has always not sat quite right with me. Whether it was the cold water on my head part or the part where I put the video online for all to see, I wasn't sure. But a recent blog post from The Good Book Company has helped me ground where my unfeeling comes from.

As the article says; I don't think it is wrong to take part. Indeed giving to charity and raising awareness of horrific diseases is important. Plus, I have enjoyed watching some of the videos. We're free to do what we like with our charitable giving - ice buckets or not - I just feel that this isn't the best way to do it.

I've copied the article below to show my agreement with it and because it puts things much clearer than I could.

Why I'm ن

A phenomenon has spread across the social sphere in recent weeks with profile pictures being replaced by an arabic symbol. For me, profile pictures are for pictures of you but I have added the sign to the end of my name on social. This is why.

Rebekah May - the Story So Far

The following is taken from my testimony at Rebekah's dedication service at TCM Baptist Church, Lincoln on Sunday 16th March 2014.

Like a Christening but without the splashing, the dedication service was a chance for me and Hannah to publicly show our intentions to bring Rebekah up as a Christian, to dedicate her life to God.  This is why we have those intentions.

Six years ago Hannah and I both chose the University of Lincoln to study and we both left home for the first time to live in Lincoln. Although neither of us really thought it at the time, God had huge plans for both of us and bringing us together to Lincoln was just the start...

3 Uses for Social Media at Visit Lincoln

Last month I was asked to speak about the work I do on social media with Visit Lincoln (both Facebook, Twitter and others) at the local Twitter meet-up: Lincs Tweet Meet.  I thought I'd share my notes below for anyone who is interested.

Me at the Tweet Meet (image: The Lincolnite)

Update...

It's been almost four months since I last posted a blog (terrible, I know) but I've got a couple of good excuses.  I now have a bun in the oven and also a permanent job to provide for said bun!

Mini-Murray at 21 weeks.

Some Things You May Not Have Known About Me

Engagement

Those of you who know me well will know of the big news I've had this week: I got engaged to my now fiancee, Hannah!

Hannah and her ring

Exciting stuff, had been coming for a while as I'm coming to the end of my education (only one year left at university now) and had got to a point in our relationship where it was win or bust really.  Ever since the first day I met Hannah I knew it was win for me so it was a non-issue really!  Now we can get on with the big day next year...

Just wanted to say a big thanks to all of you who sent their congratulations by text, by phone, by card or even on Facebook: don't think I've ever had a more popular post!

Most of all I'd like to say this to Hannah: I love you and can't wait to make you my wife!

What football should be about...

I've always said football is one of my three passions in life, mainly because of the amazingly exciting sport it truly is but also a lot because of the way it can bring together so many people from all over the world.  There is emerging, in the last few years, a new trend in football which is equally as good.

Barcelona have lead with the footballing initiative to support charities, having Unicef as their shirt sponsor (for free of course) and giving a certain amount towards their work each year. It's an amazing initiative by a world class club which have had an iconic sponsorless shirt for years and has started something great.  Aston Villa have followed  by promoting local charity Acorns Children's Hospice on their shirts for last season and this season Leicester City have had local charity LOROS on their away shirts.

I've been inspired to write about this from the LOROS fixture this Easter Monday where LOROS will have their vans outside the stadium before the Leicester City vs QPR fixture and fans are being invited to bring along unwanted items from home to put in there as donations.  If football can take on this kind of community and humanity supporting aspect worldwide, things would be much better going for a lot of people. 

 If you are able, check out the charities mentioned here and see what you can do to help: Unicef, Acorns and LOROS.

Orchestra is on its way!

So last year, my first year of university at Lincoln, me and some others joined together and tried to start an orchestra due to the lack of anything musical at the university.  After enlisting the help of Soar Valley maestro, Chris Dunn, we got started and almost a year and a half later we have performed our first concert!  It's taken a lot of work and persistent perseverance but we finally got there and I think we're onto something big...

 Thanks to James Doc for the photos (check out his album).  For more information click here for the Facebook group.

Update

For a change, I wanted to put something a bit more personal up here so you loyal readers could know what I'm getting up to and have planned.

Well, I'm still at the University of Lincoln, studying Media Production (check out my YouTube to see some of the Single Camera work I've been doing (see the picture below) and my Digital Media blog to see the animation I've been working on) in my second year which is going well. I've averaged at about 65% since the beginning of last year, a few firsts a few Desmonds (Tutu) so it's all good. My essays which I have done have been on regulation in the media and whether the distinction between realism and naturalism in narrative fiction is worth preserving. If they sound interesting to you, please have a chat! My projects for this semester coming are an animation based on Revelation 4 and a short film based around anonymous lovers. I have a school placement in place for the summer, teaching secondary school maths, and I see this as one big option to where I'm going in my career at the moment.

In societies, I'm staying on as Vice-President of the university's first ever musical society, mostly concentrating on an orchestra, supported by Soar Valley Music Centre. I'm standing down as worship co-ordinator at the University of Lincoln Christian Union but taking up a role as small groups leader, which could well take up just as much time in the week. However, it's worth the sacrifice, in my opinion, as it's such a tool for us students growing in Christ and for stirring up passion for evangelism! Plus, the guys doing it with me are some of my favourite people in Lincoln, so it's all good! All this time, I'm still playing football each week, spreading the Leicester City love!

The biggest thing in my life right now, however, is Hannah! We met about 5 months ago and since we met have grown to be such good friends and all I could ask for in a partner. I'm pretty sure this is what God meant when he invented love and it all gets me thinking of what he has in plan for lovers...scary but true! How do I see myself in ten years time? At the moment, she's in that picture.

That's pretty much me at the moment...subject to change!