The Christian Web awards have a bit of a new look for 2009… a nice new yellow website, and also a slight change of focus, now it’s called “The Original Christian Web and New Media Awards”… does the inclusion of ‘original’ mean someone else is trying to rip it off and do their own awards thing…?

Anyway the categories are:

• Best Christian Blog
• Best Leadership Blog
• Best Christian Blog (under 25)
• Best Newcomer Blog
• Best Small Church Website
• Best Large Church Website
• Best Christian Organisation Website
• Best Christian Music Website
• People’s Choice Award
• Best use of New Media for a Christian Project
• Best use of New Media for a Christian Campaign
• Best use of Rich Media for Christians

You can enter now (entries close 24th August)… I will certainly enter the blog again – gotta try and retain the title… I think I will also enter the Bible by the Beach site, and might try and get a new church website ready soon…

Follow them on Twitter…

So somehow, I’m still not quite sure how, I ended up on the Victoria Derbyshire show on Radio 5 Live (starts about 42 mins in) this morning talking about why as a Christian I wouldn’t have a relationship with a non-Christian. There was also a Jewish girl called Jade, and a Hindu guy called Amit as well as a couple of others who joined the conversation.

I only got a couple of questions to briefly say why faith is a key factor in looking for a partner, I made it clear that while there are many factors, the key factor for a Christian relationship is to look for someone who loves Jesus. I was at a bit of a disadvantage in the conversation as I was sitting in a small room by myself in Brighton while the others were up in the studio in London.

It’s an interesting discussion, but I felt it missed the point – most of what was talked about was cultural differences, Jade (the Jewish girl) talked lots about cultural differences with a Catholic boyfriend and pragmatic differnces in potential partners. So I felt the point was missed as we were seeking to discuss how FAITH is a factor in relationships… given that I was expecting to hear about what the Torah says to Jade about relationships, and what the Hindu gods say about this stuff… I was expecting to talk about what the Bible says about relationships, but we never get round to this question!

Anyway, good fun, a good experience and they taxied me to and from home which was cool.

…was great! You should come next year.

I didn’t get much blogging done, but hope to get some rough talk notes up soon. In the mean time check out the new BBTB Website, you’ll find a Blog, posting conference snippets, a few freebie talks, online shop for media sales (£1 downloads coming soon), and a few pics from the event.

You’ll also find a little promo video for 2010. Alistair Begg is already confirmed to come and do the Bible readings, and we’re hoping that the Getty’s will join him to lead the music. You can expect to see another strong line up of speakers and seminars next year.

Having a quick break away in Scotland… this is the view from the top of the hill… nice.

On Saturday night at Bible by the Beach we welcomed Terry Virgo from Newfrontiers to speak, he spoke on Jesus walking on the water… here was his basic outline:

Mark 6:45-52

He sends them into the storm – he loves you just as you are, he loves you too much to leave you as you are.

He saw them in the storm – all is laid bare before him, he sees even through the darkness.

He saved them in the storm – he took the initiative, walking on water (this is truly God).

You can purchase a video DVD, an audio CD, or an MP3 download of the talk at the Bible by the Beach website.