A rose by any other name...

When I was growing up, at primary school at least, 'Emily' was a relatively uncommon name and if it was used it was usually directed at me!Even during secondary school I can only recall one or two others that crossed my path. Now however, be it in youth group or collecting children in the playground, if the name 'Emily' is called it appears that half a dozen people turn around to respond! With lots of my friends pregnant at the moment, choosing and thinking of names is a pretty big past time! According to a recent study, a name can make or break you in terms of success. It is being debated as to whether George Clooney would have shot to stardom sooner with a name like Ryan! Elizabeth and James are considered the most successful sounding first names, Lucy and Jack the luckiest and Sophie and Ryan the most attractive. But can a name determine our fate? For what it its worth I think a lot of snap judgements can be made when a name is presented before you on a piece of paper, but the challenge there in lies for us to see past the name or the face or the clothing style. I guess even when one of us blogs on here and uses the name 'Jesus' a number of thoughts may come to mind... a bible basher, a cold and grey church building, hymns, Christmas time and a manger, a good man who some people have chosen to idolise, an historical figure? 'He will be called wonderful counsellor, mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel - God with us' - that is how scripture unravels and explores the significance of Jesus. Why not google the meaning behind your name?

Consider yourself at home...every Saturday night

For good or for ill, Saturday night TV is back with the singing and dancing showdowns of Oliver and Nancy wannabe's for the West End's theatre production.Don't get me wrong I love a bit of 'consider yourself at home... you gotta pick a pocket and please sir I want some more?!! We love to watch the verdict unfold as a panel of judges' yey or ney people's best efforts. Simon Cowell has made his name in most homes for being one of these. Have you seen the newspaper headline today about the apparent 'Mr Nasty' paying off an american couple's mortgage? The couple had been struggling financially as they had to travel more than 100 miles every day for their daughter's cancer treatment. How would you feel if you were a part of that couple? A stranger, hearing of this situation of spiralling debt and strain in your life, being moved enough to give. To give of that which he doesn't have to, to save your bacon. It's a pretty big deal to have the price paid for you. And it is exactly this reason that the country have been given Friday and Monday off work this weekend, not merely to indulge in some extra chocolate, smell in those daffodils and soak up those lie in's but to take stock on the real meaning of Easter. The first Easter weekend when Jesus took our place in dying for all the stuff that we mess up in, in choices we make, words we speak and thoughts we have. We all know the ones that we regret or would die even at the thought of them ever being made public. But they are public to God and that still didn't stop his love taking him through a bloody death and glorious resurrection so that we can know and be in a friendship with him... thoughts worth chewing over with your chocolate eggs 'eh, even if your end result is a decline of his offer? Have a lovely sunny (hopefully), chocolate eggy, oliver and nancy filled weekend!