Learning to Walk

reflecting on 2006

Started down.  Finished up.

My prayer; that through all of the ups and the downs I will have learnt.  That through the experiences of this past year I will know how to serve and honour God better in my life.

executed

I don't know much about politics, law or the complexities of the situation in Iraq but I am saddened to read of the execution of Saddam Hussein.  I am sure that there are people who may feel able to justify execution biblically but at this time and with little prayer/thought/study/reflection I am not one of them.

What I realise as I write is that I need to become much more focused on my prayer for the world.  I don't think my prayer is as self centred as it once was - I pray for family, friends, church people and local situations - but I rarely (though not never) pray with the wider world in mind.  Perhaps this can be one of my aims for the New Year.  At this time, if you do pray, we should unite in prayer for Iraq, where as well as many rejoicing at this news there will be others mourning and plotting revenge. 

The problem with execution is that is just so final.  The great thing about God is that in Christ he has given us all a second (and countless more) chances.  Can the two go hand in hand?

odd mix

I am reading The God Delusion

I am listening to Beautiful World

I am playing (though not for money) Poker

A bit of an odd mix...blame that on Santa!

the collect of Christmas day

Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

happy Christmas everyone!

If anybody actually comes on the blog today I hope that you have a really blessed Christmas day.

Yesterday I got home in record time without a stop and walked in to the kitchen to surprise my Mum who thought I was still on the M6!  Last night was midnight mass at the local church and this morning a great service - the Christmas Eucharist - at Coventry Cathedral.  It was lovely to see a few old friends.  The lunch guests are beginning to arrive so I had better go and be a chilled out entertainer!

advent 4

O Lord, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end.  Amen.

3 out of 3

Mission accomplished, I will hand the team back over having won 3 out of 3 games since I took the reins.  By a combined total of 9 points I think, but they have been big wins and ones that many might not have expected us to get.  I have got a terrible headache which often comes on after rugby and is hampering any work for the morning.  I think I might just call it a night, hit my bed and pray that what comes out tomorrow will be ok (if you pray please pray that the video I really want to finish with will work).

On the subject of church, a few of the boys were commenting again on how much they enjoyed the carol service last week.  One even came and offered Dave the loan of a real sheep for next years nativity.  Good stuff seems to be happening.

nerves

It is less than 3 hours to kick off and I am nervous.  It is my 3rd week in a row as captain, which I consider to be a great privilege and responsibility, and I hope that when the regular captain returns from injury in the new year I will be able to hand over with a 100% win record.  But that thought just makes me even more nervous!

support welcome

A fairly busy weekend lies ahead.  Tomorrow we have a huge match at home to Ayr.  This is traditionally a quite bitter fixture between the West coast rivals and tomorrow promises to be an intense affair added to by the fact that they can still win the league and our intense hope that they won't.  They will be bringing up plenty of support so any extra Hawks fans will be most welcome; 3pm kick off at Glasgow High School.

Then on Sunday morning I am speaking at the St Silas nativity service.  I am planning to look at Luke 1:26-38 and what we can learn from the passage of how God may call, lead and provide.  Straight from church I hit the road for the 320 mile journey down to my folks.  I have got my girlfriends car (which is a much nicer drive than my tin can on wheels) as she is flying to Birmingham from Belfast on the 27th and we can then drive back up together for New Year.

So here goes; one final burst of energy before the most delicious meal of the year!

the honesty policy

Over the last couple of weeks I have been faced with a difficult decision.  Without going into it too much I had a decision to make which could either greatly upset a friend or greatly compromise my faith and integrity.  I chose the former option and for a while things looked bleak with my friend.  But I stuck with it, prayed hard and yesterday the situation was resolved by my friend in the correct manner.

I feel excited about what has happened because it has shown God at work in a situation which cannot fail to be exciting!  It has also served as a practical reminder of what we at St Silas have heard over the last few months as we work through 1 Corinthians.  That "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing..." means that for those of us who choose to try and live by the way of the cross our actions may often be seen as ridiculous.  But thankfully we know that to walk the way of the cross - whilst painful at times, lonely at times, hard at times - is to walk in the power of the crucified and risen Lord.