In between meetings and ordinary household stuff I have been trying to wrie an essay- it has been like pulling teeth; I have brain fog!- possiblyfrom the tooth ache.
In the end I gave up this afternoon and after a management group meeting I coasted around some blogs glad to find that Mike had also gained a lot from Ians talk this weekend. He also reflected on the "otherisisng"- (great word Mike!) of youth culture... I think that goes even further and anyone who is not a church goer is otherised in some way.
Perhaps we should all dress like this:
He made his point in what was a prophetic action... we need more prophets!
(Archbishop John Sentamu)
"People went away enthused, encouraged and challenged to say yes to young people - so that many more of them will be drawn to Christ and find a home amongst us."
After a few hours of struggling away I threw myself out into the garden and removed 3 large bags of weeds- there are still more... so I went for a walk over the fields. The promised sunset disolved as the mist rolled over the fens swalloing the red ball in a surreal light...
Came home to an encouraging phone call from H and S about F5 ,,, they are really excited and that excitement is infectious, Ruth had already encouraged us to dream big . On my walk I was musing about how impatient I am, how although a seed has been planted I am looking for magic beans and a Jack and the bean stalk kind of growth, God reminded me that a mustard seed needs time to sprout but will be a plant big enough to provide both shade and shelter, in the meantime we have to grow together and get to know one another more!
I am also itching to get on with a project for spiritual seekers (see White-fields prayer requests)
Tim has been out at Boys Brigade tonight, his role as chaplin is frustrating him, so many of them are simply rude and lack respect from one another- manyy have problems at school and at home - we continue to pray for them.
Jo is doing college work, Jon has gone to the theatre in Cambridge, and Chris has been out to a mid-week Bible study and come home to announce that he will be watching basketball at 1am. I find it hard sometimes to remember how we almost lost him last summer through the months in intensive care, at other times I wake up in the night hearing the blips of the monitors. Emma has not been in touch all week, but that is hardly surprising as she is preparing for her finals next month.
Weird though as I was walking I watched a dad playing cricket with his sons, it was great to see them all enjoying a late spring evening, it seems long ago that we had evenings like that, I realised yesterday that we have been back in England for almost 9 years (from Texas). Life moves too fast (there I sound like I am 90).
So with tomorrow another day- I have to go to a funeral as a part of my placement, and then into Cambridge to Wesley House for the evening ... think I might go early and browse around Borders- but then I'll end up buying another book or 10! I must learn self control where books are concerned.
Ah well heres to keeping on keeping on...
A few good links for you from todays browsing:
Dave Faulkener on Why we should not copy the successful Church
Dave Warnock on Jolly Blogger Offers and Olive Branch and Uniting Chrisitans who don't agree
Lorna on Conflict
And always provoking Soul Gardeners
