Learning to Walk

slightly bruised

Last night was an evening of mixed emotions:

We had friends round for dinner and after a delicious meal courtesy of YKW the gauntlet was thrown down, the Wii was switched on, and the bowling commenced.  Normally I would expect to win but, alas, my hopes failed to materialise as I was crushed - not once, but twice.

The only thing that helped me get to grips with the pain of defeat was the fact that Man Utd won through to the final.  But even still I went to bed feeling slightly bruised.

'tis the season...

...to be bitten by midges.

Following on from Thursday night's outdoor training session I realised that I have been bitten in several places down my legs.  But perhaps it can serve as some sort of lesson in self control as I attempt not to 'itch' them.

Mental note to self; wear lycra trousers next time!

personal training

Continuing the fitness theme of the last post...

As I've mentioned before YKW and I have been 'meeting' with a personal trainer weekly for the past 5 weeks, and have been very much enjoying ourselves - if half killing yourself around the gym can really be classed as enjoyment.  He has also set both of us training programmes for during the week, which we are following with varying degrees of success!  Apparently I have to change my mentality from "It is only good for me if I feel awful afterwards" to one where endurance (what?!) is the goal, over strength and power.

Given the busy nature of this term, the long hours of 'libray time', and the fact that the last thing I tend to feel like doing after the library is training, I have decided that for the next 8 weeks I will see him mid-week too.  Tonight was the first of these sessions, and involved an hour spent on the grass outside the gym throwing heavy things over my head and running around.

But it was great fun, the perfect end to a good days study.  Perhaps that running will start to pay off...

running

I have been trying to get into some more running lately.  Jogging would probably be a better way of describing it, with a bit of walking too, but the aim of the game is to reduce body fat and so high intensity isn't what is needed.  Neither is high fat food and so we have been trying to watch what we eat and (so far - this week!) it has been going OK.

As the term picks up pace it will be important that I don't let my training drop as I am feeling good with it at the moment which can only be a good thing for my study and, in fact, for all areas of life.

st silas is back!

Well, we had a wonderful weekend away; it was a weekend full of time spent with friends, time spent making new friends, and, significantly, some timely words from God through the excellent speaker.

We arrived home pretty tired but upbeat, and this was only added to by an unexpected gift to the church from someone who has been with us for just a short time but is moving on to pastures new.

A huge "thank you" to all of you who were praying for us.

st silas is away!

For the last few Sunday's the announcement has been made at each of our services that "St Silas is away on Sunday the 20th, so don't come here for any services that day!"  I wonder how many people will still turn up?

We are off to Lendrick Muir, leaving this afternoon and returning after lunch on Sunday.  It is my first weekend away with St Silas, although we did have a 'weekend at home' a couple of years ago now, at which I met my wife!  The weekend consists of times of worship, teaching and prayer; but also of activities, rest, relaxation...whatever a person wants, really (within limits!).

If you are into praying then please pray that this weekend would be a time for all of us in the St Silas community to grow in our relationship with the Lord and with one another.  Please also pray that by the end of the weekend, whatever circumstances the many individuals in our group are facing, we would be able to testify afresh to the greatness of God and His work in our lives.

buzz words

My tutor at college looked over the first two thirds of my research paper on biblical concepts/methods of/for discipleship and how they might inform the discipleship process in our context.  Thankfully he didn't find too much fault with it apart from our differences in writing style and the need for a few more sources.  I really need to get it finished off now as it has been dragging on for a bit - primarily due to the fact that I am not being disciplined enough in my study.  I have set myself the aim of having it finished by the end of next Saturday so will need to spend some nights in the library next week.

Classes this week have been quite interesting and the assignments have been announced; two exams, two 2500 word assignments, and two 1250 word assignments (all of which need passing) are now all that stand between me and some letters after my name (not including the aforementioned research paper and a reflective paper on my experiences this year).

Four buzz words for me at the moment, especially with more than an eye on whatever might be coming next, have to be head-down-and-graft.

Back to it...

4 down

4 classes completed; only 36 more to go!

back to the books

Tomorrow is the first day of my final term at ICC.  It is also the first day of my busiest term yet in which I not only have to complete my research project but am also taking 5 modules.  They are; Old Testament Theology, The History of Evangelicalism c. 1730-1980s, Islam, Christianity and Modern Science, and Children's Ministry and the Church.  Then, at the end of it all, a reflective paper!

So it is going to be 10 weeks of seriously hard graft; and after that?  Watch this space.

to the coast

We have been planning for a while to head down to Millport for a few days seeing as it is the only holiday that we share between now and the summer and so, if you visit the blog between now and the weekend, you may not expect to see any change!  But I thought I'd leave you with a psalm, which was shared by the person leading the prayer meeting at St Silas this morning.

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The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.