Learning to Walk

no comment

No comment.

(But I wish I could sometimes.)

volunteers

I have really enjoyed my job since I came into it last August and it has helped me to become even more aware of the hard work that some of the volunteers at our church put in.  With that in mind I have decided that whenever a new pair of leaders come onto the team of Small Group Leaders we will have them over for dinner by way of a "thank you."  Last week we had 4 new leaders over for dinner and tonight we have another 2 coming over.  I will be cooking roast beef with all the trimmings.

I love to cook, and I love to cook nice things and have always thought that there is something about a roast that makes a house smell like a home.  I am just slightly worried that I will start to get a bit of a name for being a 'one trick pony' - it's just that roast beef is so nice!  But perhaps I will have to change the menu next time.

where the what

As YKW comes towards the end of her probation year and I close in on graduation we are needing to give serious prayer and thought to what comes next.  I should probably phrase that better as being 'where comes next' as we are pretty sure that we have heard God speak to us in terms of what it is (at least for now) that we are to be doing, so it is more a question of where the what will take place.

We certainly have hopes for that, and find some encouragement that those hopes may be realised.  I have also been encouraged that we both have something to offer in our different areas, whilst at the same time being aware that there will always be more lessons for us learn.  But that is healthy I think, and I would be more concerned if one or both of us thought we had it all figured out.

So for now we will seek on.

The journey continues...

researching

I have set about my research project this week and, so far, I am really enjoying it.  It is a required part of doing a Block Placement (which I have done this term) and, alongside a 5000 word placement report, makes up a significant part of my grade.

I am doing my project on discipleship, especially that of new believers although I may make it slightly broader.  So far I've been working through scriptural evidence and I am then planning to look at a number of approaches taken by a range of churches in Glasgow.  I also hope to give some consideration to historical methods although my limiting factor is going to be the 4000 words I have to write it up (I have written 4000+ words of notes so far - just on the biblical side!)

As I find myself back in the library after an extended time that has been much more practical I need to be careful not only to discipline myself in my study but also not to take on too much which could distract me from my study, work, and stop me from resting.  This is sometimes easier said than done as I like to be doing things, especially if it can divert me away from another hour stuck in a book.  But in the end it only eats into 'down' time, something which our Lord recognised was so important when he said to the twelve; "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Tonight's rest will be a trip to the gym which, despite not sounding all that restful, will be a great way of refreshing myself ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

week #1

Yesterday was our first follow up session with the personal trainer, and with it the first weigh in...

To my delight I had lost 2 pounds!  If that continues it won't be long until I am 19 stone something; but I am not sure if it will seeing as I am pretty tired today and planning a night in front of the TV with a convenience tea!

end of an era

It feels a bit like the end of an era as today was my final service as a member of the All Age Worship team.  I came onto the team almost 2 years ago and it has been a great privilege to serve the church in this way for that time.  Being involved in All Age has also led to me being given other opportunities to serve at St Silas, something for which I will always be grateful.

But despite all of that there comes a time when it is right to move on and for me, with a very busy final term at college and some uncertainty over what the future may bring, it is now.  And, with some kind of symmetry (of which only I was aware), I did the kids story at this morning's service, just as I did in my first ever All Age service.  An appropriate way to step down, I felt.

So the end of that part of my life at St Silas, and tomorrow sees me back into the thick of academic study as I start work on writing my placement report and my research project.  There are 6 weeks until the start of the final term, which should be plenty of time to get it all done (9000 words in total) and then final term - including exam weeks - is another 10 weeks.  That means that in 16 weeks time I will be out into real life.  I can't wait; I wonder what that era will hold?