Learning to Walk

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.

back in town

I got back into Glasgow just in time to make it to a friends wedding.  YKW and I will both be heading to the ceilidh tonight but, having not seen each other since Tuesday morning, won't be staying too long and will spend the rest of the evening catching up with each other.

I had a good time 'down south', apart from not being well on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I managed to spend some good time preparing for Sunday morning's sermon.  We are starting a new series looking at Jesus from John's Gospel and this Sunday the passage is John 1:1-18 with the title, 'Jesus is God on earth.'

I have been touched by a number of things during the week; two of the major ones being, firstly, the mystery of the incarnation and, secondly, the fact that it is so important for us to keep the basics of our faith in mind at all times as they are the foundation upon which we build.

I have also really enjoyed my time of preparation for Sunday (which included a couple of very enjoyable hours sat in a pretty busy pub writing out thoughts and wondering how most of the other people in there would respond to what I was thinking of saying), even if I have been singing 'Meekness and Majesty' to myself since Monday morning.  I bet they didn't have it on the karaoke list though!

star trek theology

One of the things that I have been very fortunate in since I became a Christian is the people that I have had around me; people who have looked out for me and been a source of encouragement, rebuke, advice and friendship.  Today I learnt a new lesson from one of these people and, despite the fact that I am not a Trekkie, the seriousness of the imagery was not lost on me.

There are exciting times ahead, potentially dangerous times too, but with the people I have around me and - in Christ - a source of guidance second to none, I am prayerfully confident of continuing in the truth until the day that I am 'beamed up.'

footy

Yesterday afternoon one of my mates took me to my first professional football game in Scotland.  Despite the fact that the crowd were quiet and the team served up little in the way of entertainment (despite a 4-2 win [we left at 4-1]) I had a really good time as we sampled the whole match day experience.  I will be back...