Learning to Walk

days off

My blogging break (of ten months!) almost coincided with starting full time work at St Silas.  In that time - well over a year now - one of the things that I have needed to be disciplined about is taking a full day off.  This is not to say that I don't get down time most, if not all, days but is about recognising the importance of a whole day away from things of 'work' (in inverted commas as I don't really like to call what I do work!).  Friday is the day that I should take off and often it works out like that.  Yet when YKW has work - which she does at the moment - it can sometimes be hard to think of something to do on my own and so it becomes very easy to switch the computer on and do a bit of emailing (something I've already done today!).

Another reason that makes this a potentially tricky area is the inevitable 'blurring of lines' for someone who 'works' for a church.  I have many close friends in the congregation who I love to spend time with and which I certainly wouldn't see as working.  But what happens when, in the course of this time, we start talking about things which, for me at least, make up part of my work?  Does that mean that I'm working?  There are often no clear cut answers, and the messy nature of this life is something which I'm often very thankful for - although there are some days when a 'simple' 9-5 seems appealing!

A final area in which I've struggled and which relates to this whole issue of time off is how to fill my time.  It is necessary (or so I'm told) to keep time to react to things.  I.e. if I had every minute of every day filled with various meetings/activities and something unexpected arose then I would not have time to react to it.  I get this and it's something I'm trying to do.  But sometimes I worry that I'm being lazy or not giving the church 'value-for-money' - especially if nothing 'comes up'.

Thankfully I have good people around me to help me in these early stages and I've definitely done a lot of that in the last year.  It's going to be a life long journey but I think that by setting out good principles and taking on board good advice at this early stage I will be setting a solid foundation for whatever God leads us into in the future.

Now, what to do today...

catching up

YKW and I made the beautiful drive out to Aberfoyle last night for dinner with friends from the church I went to down in England who are staying here on holiday.  It was a lovely evening: great food, great wine, great views and, most importantly, great company.  Although they only arrived in Scotland on Saturday they had also been able to visit St Silas on Sunday which I was really touched by.

It was great to see them and to hear about some of their life story and journey with Jesus.   One of the things that we thought about on Sunday was talking about God's word and what He has been doing in our lives - "With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth." - and last night was certainly an opportunity to do that. 

not a good start

Hawks were beaten yesterday, and in all honesty they were beaten quite convincingly (29-13), by a side that weren't all that good themselves.  Whilst there were positives, particularly the performance in the last 20 minutes when we came back from 29-3 down - scoring a couple of good tries, if we don't improve quickly it could turn into a bit of a slog.  We are playing the other newly promoted team next week, but they won yesterday so will be coming to Glasgow on a real high.

As I suspected would be the case, watching wasn't easy and I am tempted to make myself available for next week.  But to do that I need to be able to run much more pain free than I could earlier this week, and realistically I think it might be a week too early.  But we'll see.

Today, at church, is another first for me - and there have been a few with GV away over the summer.  This time it's leading a dedication of one of our babies.  I am struck by the huge privilege that this is, and am actually a little nervous - thoughts of Rowan Atkinson in Four Weddings and a Funeral spring to mind!  We also have one of the patron's of the church preaching at both services.  He is a top guy (we actually met up with him and his wife while we were away in Cyprus earlier in the summer) who now works for this organisation (I think...).  It will be good to see them both again, and to hear him preach at both of our services.

going away

We are going away for the weekend!

We will be staying here and going to a wedding here, before heading to our Godson's 1st birthday party on Sunday.

Happy days!

small group

For the last 11 months I have been working with the Small Groups at St Silas - basically helping people to find groups when they want to join one, helping to organise training days for the leaders, offering support to leaders, and various bits of administration that are a necessary requirement for a church with 16 groups.  But, due in part to the fact that for the first half of my job I was travelling around different groups most weeks and also as I was part of a group along the same lines as a Small Group at ICC, I wasn't a member of a group myself.

I do, however, believe passionately in the importance of the groups and the role that they have to play in the life of the church and so now that ICC is done I am joining a group.  The first meeting that I attended was last night - and it was great!  I was so excited when I left and am really looking forward to it becoming a regular thing for me each fortnight.  As well as the many other great things about being a part of such a group it will be great to go somewhere where I have no responsibility (in terms of leadership etc) other than that which each member has to one another.  I can certainly see that it will become a real source of strength as I move into my new role.

whistling

I was just chatting with the vicar of the church where I became a Christian.  He has since 'retired' - i.e. taken on a smaller rural parish - but is still more than happy to be a sounding board, source of advice, and prayer support.  We chatted about some of the things that have gone on in the Anglican 'world' over the past week and what the future might hold.

I have come away whistling the song that goes with these old, but enduringly true, words:

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

day off

Today I'm having a day off!

It's been a busy week with lots of lectures (which though they are good is also mentally draining), some family visiting, and it's a busy time work wise too.  So, as I have no lectures today, I decided that I would take the whole day off.  I probably won't actually go back to study until Monday as tomorrow I'll need to continue spending time on the form for this, and on Sunday we are visiting a church down in Troon in the morning and then I have a meeting in the afternoon before the evening service at St Silas.

Today I am off to the Life of Christ play in Kelvingrove park which should be fun; especially as Pilate is a good friend of mine!  I saw something similar in the South-East of England five years ago and it was excellent, I am sure that today will be too.  Then in the afternoon YKW and I are heading for a session at the gym and tonight I am having a mate over for a bit of a boys night - curry, beer, computer games - and YKW is off with some girls doing something similar, but slightly more girly!

Happy days.

certainties

The old saying goes that there are only two certainties in life; death and taxes.

The thing about death is it can be just so unexpected.  Things can be going along so nicely and then, suddenly, gone.

If you are into praying then do pray for those who have lost loved ones in the recent past.  Whether that is individuals known to us or tragedies that we follow in the news, both locally and in the wider world.

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.

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.