Christmas Parteeee

Be there or be square…

Half term

How cool is it that I get half term at college…

Bet you’re all jealous now

Hot Fuzz

I’m doing my community placement at the Police Service (not force – that is too aggressive) in the centre of Bristol with some other guys from college.

It is very difficult not to ask questions about the “greater good”, “crusty jugglers” and “Bad Boys 2″ though…

Yesterday we were with Neighbourhood Watch… they run a very tight ship there.

Broken Car

I managed to snap the gear stick mechanism yesterday whilst trying to reverse park.

I am really grateful to all the lovely people who beeped their horns at me because I deliberately broke down in the road, and for trying to push my car on my own into a parking space. I’m glad none of them had to get soaked by the rain by helping me.

I AM really grateful for the lovely people who did help – including one lady going through Chemo… shame on you other car drivers!!!!!!!!!

Apparently this has happened before on newish Ford Focus’ – it may have to be recalled…

Gotta love warranty!!!

Great weekend

Just got back from a great weekend back in Tewkesbury… lovely to see family, friends, go back to our old church etc.

On Saturday I managed to squeeze in some fishing in the morning… caught myself a pike and a zander – both small but great fun all the same… always great to see the sunrise.

Saturday evening we went to Batsford Falconery Centre for an “Owl” evening… we had an great time. Got to hold various owls, including a European Eagle Owl (huge).

Back at Trinity Tewkesbury this morning for a great service – I recommend the sermon! Click on the Trinity link and find the sermon there.

It did feel strange going back to our old home… it was a great reminder that we have homes in more than one place now.

Its good to hear that the youth work is going better now I’ve gone as well! New people in church,  a thriving Alpha course, great worship, teaching, ministry…

Our response to the credit crunch

Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give

Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give

Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give

Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give

My new toy

My birthday is this Thursday and my folks have given me a Kelly Kettle.

See here for more info about it.

Being a boy I like burning things, so on Monday lunchtime on our balcony I boiled my first cup of tea from my kettle. I didn’t drink it because the water contained sealant from the kettle… not good.

Check out more photos on the Flickr link below.

What kind of bankruptcy is worse?

“It is extraordinary to me that you can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can’t find $25 billion to save 25,000 children who die every day of preventable treatable disease and hunger. That’s mad, that is mad. Bankruptcy is a serious business and we all know people who have lost their jobs. But this is moral bankruptcy.”

Bono

Leadership

I’ve had several conversations recently about the whole issue of church leadership and in particular the issues of why leaders fail, especially morally.

Christian leaders are called to a high standard of morality. Faithfulness in relationships, integrity with money, humility with power. We are to be servants before we tell others what to do. We are not to manipulate or make people meet our needs.

Its hard to be a leader.

One thing that a few of us have discussed is the issue of overwork… as I’m at college now, its not a big issue (!) but it has been in the past, and looking at leaders that I’ve worked with its a big problem for some of them. Here are some of the observations I’ve made, and ones that I’ve read…

If you overwork you are more likely to burn out – a temporary blip or a permanent fall.

If you overwork you are more likely to fail morally.

If you overwork you are more likely to die younger and suffer health problems.

If you overwork you are more likely to grow bitter and angry at the demands of ministry, especially towards others who don’t work as hard as you do.

If you overwork you are more likely to hurt others by encouraging them to do the same.

I think one of the main reasons that we fall into overwork is that we don’t treat the commandment of Sabbath as it is – a commandment. We rightly slam adultery and murder, but at times quite happily flount the Sabbath day. And we think it makes us better leaders.

If you are a leader ask yourself these questions…

1. Are your family (if you have one) happy?

2. Do you constantly apologise to others that you’re too busy to see them socially?

3. Are you slipping into bad habits – drinking more, overeating, sexual temptation etc?

4. Do you have any time to do nothing?

5. Have you ever boasted about not taking a day off?

6. Have you spent time with God today?

7. Are others telling you to slow down? (Especially medical doctors)

8. Is your body, mind or spirit telling you to slow down?

9. Have you compromised the truth because you were too tired to think clearly?

10. Do you think about running away and escaping everything?

I’m so grateful for the great leaders I’ve followed who have given me good advice and support. I need it. I’m really grateful for my love of fishing… you can’t overwork and go fishing. I’m grateful for the fact that I’m still going now. I want to be still going in 10, 20, 40, even 50 years from now.

Dartmoor

Visiting my folks at the moment who live on the edge of Dartmoor… with the 20 degree temperature and completely clear blue skies, we had a fabulous walk – able to see for miles.

I love the sun