As I haven't said it yet (on my blog at least) a happy New Year to one and all.  I do hope the start of 2009 has been as exciting for you, as it has for me!?  The Christmas season for my wife and I, was particularly lovely.  Of course we got to spend lots of time with family and friends, and also got to eat a lot of food (as would be expected).

I'm sure some of you who are reading this are wondering by now, after my little detour, why the start of 2009 has been so exciting for me.  Firstly, of course, we have begun a new year which always brings a level of excitement (for me anyway).  Secondly, there are now only five weeks to go until my wife and I are joined by our first baby.  And finally, upon my return to work this year I have been given a new job role here at UCB.  In case you are a curious type, it's in the UCB TV department, helping put programmes to air at the correct times (if I do my job properly).  So this does mean that as from today (Saturday), I will no longer be with you over the weekends on UCB Inspirational.  Of course this may well change again in the future, but as too when, I'm not exactly sure.

So as I leave you for the last time on my blog (for now), let me pray that God will bless you and keep you, that God will make His face to shine upon you and give you His peace.

Many blessings,

Ben ><>

PS Today's show remains the same, with me doing my bit.  But Anne Henderson will join you for tomorrow's show, so please tune in and join her for it!

We're already one show down and we've got only one show to go together, until we reach another Christmas day!  It's surprising how fast these years go isn't it?  Well let me say, if you thought this morning's show was festive, then join me tomorrow, because it will be more seasonal than a Yule log roasting on an open fire!!

I don't know if you've heard about the Christmas statistics from Theos yet?  I mentioned them in today's show, but think they're definitely worth a second look... 34% of people agreed with the statement, 'Jesus was born to a virgin called Mary'.  56% of Britons believe that, 'Jesus was born in Bethlehem'.  But in my opinion, most excitingly of all, 52% of people agree or strongly agree that, 'the birth of Jesus is significant to them personally'.  How amazing is that?  We're in a time of real uncertainty in our country at the moment, but maybe this uncertainty is making people consider life's BIG questions, and maybe we can offer them some BIG answers.

Before I leave you for another blog, let me encourage you to join me tomorrow morning, where of course we'll be continuing our Christmas theme.  There will be plenty of songs, stories and messages and I'll even throw in some Christmas cheer as well! 

As I'm now communicating again with the outside world, you've most probably guessed, I'm back from a pre-Christmas break.  Adele and I went for a week to sunny Scotland, and surprisingly for us, it was actually sunny.  We even had opportunity to visit Iona (the island, not the band).  We then travelled down to visit my family in Kent for an early Christmas, so all-in-all we travelled almost 1500 miles in two weeks!!

But now it's back to business...

Let me say first thanks to Jesse for looking after my shows whilst I was away, I've heard lots of good reports from lots of people, so many in fact that I wonder if I'll still be in a job after Christmas!?  It also seems that there have been a lot of new things creep into the show whilst I've been away (well it is nearly Christmas after all).  Of course we do have everything that was in my show before, but we also have a few festive things like 'The A-Z of Christmas' and 'A Journey through Advent'.  Don't forget there's plenty of Christmas music, and I can tell you that there'll be plenty more of that next weekend as well!

That's enough from me at this juncture (if that's even a word).  I'll leave you with the thought that it's only 9 weeks to go till I become a dad for the first time, scary huh!?

Ben ><> 

Howdy people, I hope you're all ready for another fun-filled weekend!?

I can't believe that another week has gone by and there's only three days till my wife and I head off to Scotland.  We'll be travelling to see my friend Fraser (a great Scottish name) who lives near Glasgow, then it's three days in Edinburgh, then off to Oban and a day trip to Iona (which I'm really excited about).  Whilst we're on the subject of holidays, do you have anything planned before Christmas?  Well if you do, why don't you get in touch and let me know about it.  Where you're going, what you're up to, etc.

Of course, I'll still be here to do my weekend shows here on UCB Inspirational.  'So what stories are on the show this weekend?' I hear you cry, well on Saturday we've got stories that focus on computers, climbers, cabaret (a musical actually - I had to think of something beginning with C) and Christian Booksellers.  Also on Sunday we'll be looking at hair and a heralded message.  Don't forget we also have a brand new 'Top 10 at 10:00' at 10:40, Saturday and Sunday, but I'm not going to tell you what that is (I don't want to spoil the anticipation).

Finally, as already mentioned, I'm off on my holidays come Sunday but some of you may be wondering who will be taking my place.  In recent months it's been people like Anne Henderson and Paul Hammond, but not this time round!  We have a new-kid-on-the-block (could be a good name for a band), called Jesse Duggal.  He'll looking after the ship, as it were, for the next few weeks.  So please encourage him, pray for him and send him a message ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Of course I'll be off as soon as my show is done on Sunday, so if you decide to contact me over the next few days please bear with me if I don't reply straight away, I may be stuck in a blizzard!!!

Ciao for now.

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thanks for stopping by my blog for the weekend shows and my personal weekend activities.

As you'd expect there are plenty of things happening, not only on UCB Inspirational but during my weekend in general.  During these next few paragraphs I hope to give you an overview of everything that's due to happen over the next 48 hours, are you ready?  Well, let's begin...

We start with Saturday Morning, which in the early hours is sleep (exciting huh!?).  Then it's time too do the show.  We'll have our two regular slots, The Word For Today (7:40) and Connecting With Culture (9:40).  As always there will be lots of events happening this weekend and many stories from this weeks news, but don't forget we also have number 9 of our 'Top 10 Days Out with Disabled Access' (which means this current Top 10 ends on Sundays show).  After the show, I'm off shopping with the wife for a costume.  Sounds a bit strange I know, but if you have access to UCB TV you may want to watch out for cameo from me over the Christmas period!  Saturday evening is party time, but of course I won't be out too late, so don't worry.

Sunday morning, I'm with you again and have plenty of things to include in the show.  First, Dr R T Kendall joins us for God Meant It For Good (6:00-6:30), then Trevor joins us for some 'Great Hymns of the Faith' (7:00-9:00).  After 9:00, we have The Word For Today, plenty of stories that have been in the weeks news and again more events happening around the UK.  In the afternoon, I will be taking my brother-in-law to see a house that could potentially house his girlfriend, as she's soon to move down from Glasgow, it must be serious.  Sunday evening is going to a blast from the past because I'm going to speak at The Group, which is a youth group I was involved in a few years ago.  I will speaking on the theme 'In The Garden', which is a hymn Johnny Cash sings on UCB Inspirational (as I'm sure you know)!

My weekend will end at about 11:15pm Sunday night, as will my personal marathon and of course it all ends as it began... with sleep.  Please feel free to get in touch at any point over this weekend and let me know your plans; I'm sure they'll be just as exciting.

Ciao for now.

So I'm guessing by now some of you would like to know what Casting Crowns were like live?  Well in a word... AWESOME!!  I had an action packed weekend last weekend (as you may have seen from my blog, but this weekend is due to be a little quieter.  I thought I'd take a little time out of my Saturday show to tell you not only what's to come today, but also what's due to come tomorrow.

As for this mornings show, we've already had our biblical promise which was Romans 12: 17-19 (focussing on personal injustice), but if you're a person who'd like to dance upon injustice (as Delirious would say), then you can make your way to The Stand which is at the NEC today (in fact Delirious will be there!  We're also going to be looking at baby names between 9:00 & 10:00, number 7 of our Top 10 days out with disabled access between 10:00 & 11:00 and what the Archbishop of York has been urging us to do this week between 11:00 & 12:00.

Then it's on to do some shopping with the wife and have some friends round for dinner!

Tomorrow morning we start off with 30 minutes of great teaching from Dr R T Kendall.  Not long after that Trevor Kirk joins us at 7:00 for Great Hymns of the Faith.  Then when I return at 9:00 we'll be looking at what some local councils have banned this last week between 9:00 & 10:00, number 8 of our Top 10 days out with disabled access between 10:00 & 11:00 and a question that Bishop Tim Stevens has posed this week between 11:00 & 12:00.  Please don't forget that we will also be observing 2 minutes silence at 11:00 for Rememberance Sunday.

Phew!!!  It's then time too relax and get ready for what next week will bring. 

So where exactly do I begin with this?  Well let's be logical about it and start at the beginning.  It's the first day of a brand new month and UCB TV (from midnight) have had a make over.  If you haven't had chance to tune in yet and have a look, I'd encourage you to do so, it looks awesome (Sky 586).

Of course, I'm also in the middle of my show this Saturday morning and am looking forward to what the next 3 hours is going to bring.  We'll have some more stories from the weeks news, our top 10 at 10:00am (well 10:40am actually), some more events that are happening round the UK and great music.

After the show is finished today, my amazing weekend continues with a visit from my brother-in-law and his new girlfriend, which always makes for an exciting time.

Then it's watching the most important game of the football season, Stoke City FC (my wife's team) vs Arsenal FC (my team).  I would say this is a game that Arsenal should win, but after their mid-week performance, I'm not too sure.

Next we're out for a friend's birthday, which includes a curry (yummy) and a Casting Crowns gig, how awesome eh!

Finally, it will be time to get into bed, exhausted but I'm sure exhilarated by the day.  If you would like to get in touch and tell me what next weekend is going to bring for you, then I can get an idea of what our listeners do on the weekends (aside from listening to UCB Inspirational of course).