We are now in Advent.
Wishes abound.
For those of you interested
I’ve updated my Amazon wishlist!
(you can find it in the right hand bar
just above my photos!)

ASBO Jesus again causes me to think.
Can we ever genuinely think outside of the box?
Are we so immersed in our cultural upbringing that thinking outside of the box is an impossibility?
Are there any truly genuine ideas?
What is thinking outside the box anyway?

I read this today and was surprised to see that Crouch is still bearing a grudge, some 7 years later!
I was at the match, and yes we did should out names, and yes it was just normal football banter in an effort to be the teams 12th man and put off the opposition. It looks like it may have worked a little too well.
I’m a Liverpool fan as they were the first team I ever watched from the terraces with my scouser step dad – but I wouldn’t like to see the reception that Crouch gets at Priestfield if we are drawn in the FA Cup this year.

and a final one …

Jon Birch over at The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus continues to create and inspire. I am particularly loving dualism, the latest series.

I’ve started reading Ian’s blog.

ACPI have uploaded the talks from the church planting conference the other week here. Session 3 with George Lings is well worth listening today and I remember his thoughts really challenged and excited me on the day.

The Work of the People as ever are producing great visual liturgy to go with the lectionary. They are highlighting Advent Conspiracy in their current mailing.

Proost are also producing their creative stuff and you can now subscribe for the year to get more of it!

Hope you enjoy them too.

Today was a sad and exciting day.
Earlier today we met the vicars house where we had a BBQ to say goodbye to Jim and Mags.
Sad because I will miss the Fndlay family who have been a part of our lives in the last 3 years that Jim has been curate at St. Marks. It’s always sad to say goodbye.
Exciting as Jim and Mags are taking on the leadership of St Mark Salisbury.

I pray that God will blesss themall and that Salisbury will very soon feel like home. God … bring good friends around tham quickly that will be an encourageent and anchor to them, that will be a blessing and a refreshment. God, give them vision and the ability to see it through. Amen.

A busy and packed weekend consisting of curry, wine, dance rehearsals, football games, rounders, chatting, eating and ending the weekend by preaching a (not very good) sermon on peace which I should have prepared better!

Sunday was a cool time when, instead of doing the traditional church thing, lots of the congregation wen to the local country park to chat, play games, enjoy the sun, eat and generally just ‘be’ together. Not sure if this was church – but it was clearly community with the common denominator being on the journey with Christ.

Oh how I hate admin days! I was going to file a mass of paper today – but it is still laughing at me from on top of the filing cabinet when I dare to enter the study which I don’t use!

For the last two days I have been planning,reading, writing, filing, absorbing, disseminating … I’ve had enough!
I need people to talk to, to be with, to laugh with.If I ever doubted that we were created in God’s image to be in relationship with other images of God then those doubts have gone!
I’m looking forward to tomorrow when I meet with some people in the morning looking at the arts status of the school I am governor at.
While doing the examen today I realised massively that the parts of the day where I felt most alive where when speaking to people: a friend over the telephone, kicking the football in the back garden, the chat on the doorstep, the email from a long lost friend!

So I’m looking forward to seeing people … but after that it’s more admin, sermon writing, filing …..so if you wish to disturb me, please do!

Fantastic News!

‘helped me believe in myself’
‘made a difference wherever she went’
‘Inspirational’
‘humble person’
‘Down to earth and easy to chat with’
‘lived and breathed compassion’
‘secretly visiting the needy out of sight of others’
‘she said more with that one lovely action than I had attempted in years with my words’
‘the ability to make others feel special’
‘a commitment to the poor and needy’

These are comments made by people throughout today at the Diana Concert who had met Princess Diana.
The thoughts and memories are wonderful.
I believe it’s a challenge to us as Christians.
Here in one woman so many God-like attributes are evident.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could be like this.