Pressing On

It is the middle of the last afternoon before going away for a few days to celebrate Christmas with family in the south west ... I hope the snow will permit the travel! I just wanted to write to say 'Happy Christmas' to all of you who work, pray and support the work of WEC International here in the UK. (And, of course, any who have stumbled across this website - get in touch if you have any questions about what you are reading.) As I come to the end of the year I am reaching the end of my 'read the Bible in a year' programme - which has been tremendously inspiring and ultimately very satisfying. I already have my plan for what to do next year and am starting with a 30 day study of John 15 'The True Vine' - Andrew Murray... can't wait. As with most Bible reading programmes the book of Revelation comes last - much of which is difficult to understand to say the least ... however some aspects ring through loudly and clearly, and are an encouragement to us all ...

Spent the last week in the UK Conference at our UK HQ ... A good time to meet the wider WEC fellowship and to seek the Lord together for His leading and direction for our future work and ministry ... But more precious still was the sense of His presence with us as we worship and praise Him ... How refreshing! Our half night of 'prayer for the nations' was also a high point for me ... As I was reading in Revelation recently 'You are worthy .... Because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God members of every tribe and language and people and nation.' (Rev 5:9) Lord fulfill your plans for the nations ... But what an honour to be joined with Him in the task. The theme for the Conference was 'Establishing the fondation ... For the next step' and, whilst it may appear to us that we are sometimes moving ahead, sometimes working hard to stand still and sometimes going backwards, Paul's word in Corinthians are an encouragement to us all ... 'Bu...

Perhaps surprisingly this has nothing to do with first book of the Bible and everything to do with a well known 'prog rock' group!!! I had the opportunity to go to a concert in London to watch a cover band playing the music of one of trhe favourite bands of my youth ... Genesis ... And I was not disappointed ... Great evening of quality musicianship and music! One of the things that struck me was that it was the quality of the music that superceded the 'names' of the band ... It didn't matter that it was not the original band members, we were left savouring the quality of the music ... I wonder how we might reflect on this? I was reading in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 last week ... Where the apostle Paul wrote 'thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.' This is where we need to get to that place of trusting ... That what people are left with, after an e...

One of the great things about living at a Mission headquarters is the access we have to hear what the Lord is doing in people's lives ... Whether that be experienced missionaries, new workers or short term volunteers ... This week was no different. One of our voluntary helpers led us to look afresh at James 5:16 which says '...confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.' A simple testimony brought home a profound truth which is so powerful, yet so rarely experienced in the body. True humility and vulnerability ... Allowing the Spirit freedom to go into the dark places, reveal the truth, shine light and bring things into the Light, that we might confess before the Lord and our closest friends ... To know healing AND a powerful and effective prayer life .. Sounds too good to be true doesn't it? Maybe it is so simple that we too often miss out, figuring that it must be more comp...

My littlest one has spent the last few weeks 'worrying' her two front teeth ... Knowing that things don't feel right ... But not having the courage to do what was needed (despite much agitation by her siblings, and Father, and many assurances that it would not hurt!!) ... eventually one fell out! ... then, realising that it didn't hurt, she swiftly pulled out the other! So what can I learn from this? How many times to I allow myself to listen to my doubts and fears, which then prevent me from doing what I know I should ... And all that despite the constant affirmation of the scriptures and the Spirit within telling me to trust .. 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me, Jesus!' Trust and obey ... Simple isn't it??!!

What a challenge we face in Europe ... But what a Father we serve, who equips us for the task! Discussing ways in which we can engage all those who live in europe, demonstrating the reality of the gospel message and sharing the hope we have in Christ! The key seems quite simple ... Seek the Lord ... And do all that He says!

Well ... Another month and another conference! This time with the wider WEC teams working in Europe. We have come together to reflect on the contemporary scene in Europe ... and, more importantly, to seek the mind of the Lord as to how He would shape us in our lives and ministries in this continent such that we are doing what He would have us do .. in a relevant way. How awesome too, to hear stories of Jesus, and all that He has been doing in Europe since we last met as a group, totally awe inspiring ... from the small intimate testimonies to the larger impossible things that He has accomplished ... all testiment to His greatness!! Trusting to hear the leading of the Lord!

You may have been wondering if the redevelopment has ground to a halt! Well the answer to this question is most definitely not ... Whereas the updates did slow for a while ... Sorry! But for those who have been following the redevelopment, and especially those who have any familiarity with the house, you will be interested to see the latest pictures. The freshly completed rooms are already in use as seminar rooms, with one as a prayer room! The last residents to move into the new buildings have vacated rooms that are now in the process of being gutted before awaiting final painting. The Lord, as always, has been so faithful in His provision of skilled workers to compliment the team here, and so progress has continued apace. However, we don't presume so please continue to pray that the Lord would release His abundant provision on us for this season ... All that we need not only to do the task at hand, but also that we might be in a position to bless others! Recently I was reading th...

It is my birthday this week - so Pauline and I went to watch Mousetrap at the theatre in London ... Preceded by a walk round a bustling Covant Garden ... I am now a member of a cultural subset ... I know who did it!! (but, of course, my lips are sealed ... I can say that it wasn't Professor Plum in the Library with a Candlestick ... Because that's Cluedo!!! ... But I can say that the end was unexpected, but what else would you expect!)

Well, that is the end of this years GLS ... And what key thought can I take away with me? ... The first must be how humbling it is to live in a culture that is so rich in resources ... When I know that there are so many areas of the world where leaders are lacking the opportunities to be resourced for the tasks they are fulfilling in the Kingdom .. But the last session contained an excellent talk by a Pastor working in Detroit, his main point was this ... Equipping is okay, as long as it leads to doing the work, and not just the gaining of another 'binder' that sits on the shelf in the office ... So, what real differences will it make to me, my walk with the Lord and my ministry with WEC? ... The answer is ... Watch this space, and give me time to reflect and ask the Lord ... And if nothing has changed by the end of next month then please contact me and ask me why not!

Mmmm ... Trade vs Aid, and how to lend money most effectively into a majority world environment ... It all sounds so simple in a seminar room ... My experience in Senegal, and elsewhere, seems to give me a different expectation ... But, the challenge is to not become cynical and unaffected by the poverty around us in our global village ... How can the Christian dollar in my hand be most effective? ... Here are some thoughts which might be helpful pointers. A/ Recognise that what I have is His not mine ... I am a steward. B/ Trust in His ability to provide for my needs, and give generously ... Beyond that which I can afford. C/ Make giving a priority, the thing I do first each month not last, distributing out of the firstfruits and not from what is left over. D/ Be deliberate, intentional in my giving. E/ Be joyful, what a privilege it is to be free to give. F/ Ask Him 'what do you want me to do with this money you have given me!' - and then do it!! If we all did this I am sure ...

Spending two days at the GLS, run by Willow Creek ... It is always very interesting to see how the Lord organises these things in a perfect, timely fashion!! ... The first session was looking at priorites and our 'replanishment strategies' ... As leaders this is vital but too often the 'urgent' overtakes the important (see last blog as an example) ... So we now reflect, make changes, and trust that, as a result, our leadership is more fruitful and therefore honouring to Father! ... Rom 8:6 says that 'the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace' ... Let it be so for us all ... Father, lead us on!! ... Time for the next session!

Just a quick snap, taking in the dingy light of a local restaurant! Having dropped a number of the kids off at various clubs ... Church youth group, Scouts etc ... We have managed to fit in a quiet hour together ... No mean feat! ... It is funny to think that whilst we know that time alone together is very important it seems to be low in our actual 'to do' list ... Swamped by other 'urgent' things ... Life is like that, the urgent often overtakes the important.

This is a little snap of our littlest 'Baggie' - enjoying the sun in the South of France ... really just trying out the camera and mobile posting to the blog ... couldn't bring myself to delete it after the test worked ... too gorgeous! ... truly children are a gift from God!

Had the opportunity for weekend of ministry in the Isle of Wight recently ... so Ollie and I decided to go together ... the weekend was made up of a multi-cultural evening with food from many different countries ... the Senegalese Chicken Yassa was a firm favourite ... Ollie managed to take a chunk out of my finger with a cantankerous roll-out display ... he thinks it was my fault ... then we had a Church service in the morning before returning home ... the hospitality was very warm ... the weather was great and it was good to spend some time together ... as well as meeting friends from our time in Senegal ... should do these road trips more often. I think I may have converted him to Prog Rock ... many hours confined in a car with your Dad's limited collection of CD music can have that effect ... though he now listens to it voluntarily I notice ... is this brainwashing?

Just spent a short time ... too short ... talking to another leader of a Christian organisation. How encouraging it is to talk about doing things together ... and seeing the potential for fruitful ministry that this brings. Of course, the Church is not renowned for working together ... in fact, quite the opposite ... but when this genuinely happens and people are prepared to set aside personal agendas for the One agenda that matters ... His agenda ... we will increasingly see the huge potential for fruit realised. There is much that could separate us ... doctrine, practise, conviction, denomination ... but there is one thing that must unite us ... Christ, who is the head ... and there is only one body, His Church ... in all it's glorious diversity ... but one nonetheless. There is still a lot we can be doing for Christ ... yet too often we resemble two ants arguing over the carcass of an elephant! I promise that if you and I are faced with sharing the great news of the gospel w...

Have just had a few hectic weeks chasing round the country .... many miles in trains, planes and cars ... too many different beds. However, at the same time it has been great to meet many new people, encourage some (I hope) and see things moving ahead. Very encouraging for me to see! God is at work! Then came home last week to have a flu jab ... I'm not old, just diabetic! ... which, as usual, gives me mild flu symptoms - this on top of all the travelling leaves me feeling fatigued and washed out. I tend towards being melancholic by nature, to see if you are check out which type of music most appeals to you, as some old sage suggested ' music touches the spirit it finds...' or something like that. So when I am feeling a little low I have to work hard not to continue feeling low. So what is the solution? Always to take a step back, reflect on the Word, and see all that is happening around me. How God's grace touches someone else in the midst of seeming despair, brings c...

As it is the Easter holidays we have taken the opportunity to pay a visit to our sending Church in Paignton, Devon. Had a great day at Church yesterday and am now sat around a table playing the classic family game 'snakes and ladders' - has there ever been a game more designed to frustrate or bring you to tears as you hit the head of the last snake at square 99 out of 100??!! Well that is the affect it has on a certain small member of my family - who knew that the game could have such importance? What a difference there is between this game and a walk of faith. When we listen to the voice of the Living God we are never led up blind alleys only to fall at the last hurdle! Hope is Him is never misplaced, and even if we stumble along the way, we never fall - because He is faithful. We will all get to the 100th square as it were! One similarity however is that we have to keep going - I must confess that after the seventh failed attempt at square 99 I went off, under the pretence of...

This is the second blog entry - unfortunately the last blog got lost in cyberspace whilst I was waitring in an airport en route to Albania. Anyway, here we go again! This year I was up to date with the changing of the clocks - springing forward - which meant that I got to Church on time on Sunday morning, rather than being an hour late, which is not unusual. It is funny but since living in Africa this is one of the things that I still havn't really readjusted back to. So this evening I have been outside with Pauline, sat in the garden enjoying a cup of tea. Somehow there seems to be more time in the day to do things ... which is great when there is so much to do. More time for family ... sport (45mins of football three times a week)... and work/ministry. Great! Having a sense of more time gives us the 'luxury' of reflection - a timeless activity that, by definition can't be rushed. The space that this gives provides an opportunity for the Spirit to share a simple or pro...

Am currently sat on a wall enjoying a cup of coffee, Costa decaf latte - coffee of choice!, pondering two things. 1/ If I use my phone to write my blog it will make each entry shorter - as my thumbs are short and fat making the keys more annoying to use over a long period of time .... and 2/ How varied my life is, and how much I enjoy that. Working full time as a Christian Missionary is a joy and a challenge - in varying amounts - but it is always a privilege. Being invovlved, by His choice not my ability, in something that is always changing and always growing, His kingdom - is just awesome. Especially when the Masterplan is always going to be fulfilled because it is determined by Him and not me! How liberating and encouraging. Anyway, thumbs are sore and coffee is gone - so on to the next thing ..... Father, what are you up to today? Can I be a part of it?? (Not my words - just a great quote, thanks Rubi.)