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Shoulders, Ethnomusicology and Burgers!

Where has the week gone? It is already Sunday afternoon and the week 5 is about to begin!

So, once again time to take stock, reflect and see what the last week held. Bit of a busy week, so grabbing some time between helping the youngest with her homework ... The daily life of Celts! ... And preparing for tea! (anyone know where I can get my hands on a copy of Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals? Even if they do take and hour and a half!)

On a personal note, my wife had her operation on the shoulder, which I understand is an incredibly painful procedure ... The Doctor said it would be, and my wife confirms it!! This has meant that since Thursday I have also been chief cook, sandwich maker and everything else that we normally do together for the family. The kids have rallied round and filled in the inevitable gaps that I leave between what 'Mum' usually does, and what 'Dad' remembers to do! Also had a great time queuing for a KS2 Disco with my youngest daughter ... The fever pitch of excitement and squealing voices was almost too much! On Monday evening we had the delight of going to the Theatre, courtesy of Tesco club card points, to watch 'Blood brothers' - an excellent production with some interesting themes - google it if you're interested in exploring them.

So this has meant that I am working from home ... Of course the emails still find me there ....

Have been really blessed on reading John Stott's 'The cross of Christ' ... Not the lightest of reads, but well worth reading in chunks, rather than a dip in and out as some books will allow! Recommended reading for both Christian and non-Christian alike! Also a small article from the Evangelical alliance ... Check it here http://www.eauk.org/snapshot/read.cfm - has been well worth a read. Good to get a broader perspective, and again good for both Christian and non-Christian alike.

On Tuesday I trekked up to the Manchester area to meet with two of our UK team leaders. Always encouraging to touch base and talk about what is happening, and thinking ahead to hear what we are trusting the Lord to do in the coming year. Keep your eyes pealed for our forthcoming Online Missions bookstore, and we have a band that have come together to demonstrate to the UK church the development of ethnically relevant worship music ... Excellent. A long day on the train, but well worth it .... All I need to do now is type up the outcomes!! (There's always tomorrow!)

BTW if anyone is interested in hearing the band then they will be playing at the GO2011 - Mission festival in May ... Come along and hear them! Or, invite to come to your Church ... Get in touch!

Thought for the week ...
1/ How wonderful my wife is .... And how much I miss all that she does when she has to stop doing it!

2/ Ephesians 3:12 (NIV) In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Do we walk in this liberty? Always? Or are we crippled by guilt when we sin? What overwhelmed us, sin or grace? Paul's prayer is that, in order to walk in the liberty we have in Christ, we need to have an ever increasing revelation of the overwhelming power and strength of the love of God in Christ Jesus. Not that we receive more, we already are rooted and established in that love ... What we need to to more fully appreciate what we have been established in ... Amazing!!

Well, let's trust for week of ever increasing revelation, and of walking in the freedom and confidence we have in Christ ... Great!

Now, what do Celts do for entertainment? Also, I reckon I can bash out some burgers in 25 minutes - without Jamie's help!

- Press on!

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