Adrift

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I’m off on retreat early in the morning (5.15am!) so won’t be blogging for a while. (I didn’t blog early in the morning – I’m making use of the new blogger scheduling tool which is pretty cool!)

I’m looking forward to some time to contemplate as life has been mega busy recently with family, work and study. It’s easy to lose the focus and to feel adrift in such circumstances.

I guess that pretty much sums up how I am feeling at the moment – a little adrift and just floating in a calm summer sea merrily going where the lapping waves take me and not really having a lot to do with the direction I am taking. That’s sometimes a god place to be, and I wish to be there in September – bu for now I need to be a little more disciplined so that targets are met and things are achieved.

These next few days I will pretty much be having a technology fast and making an attempt on re-centring around the stuff that matters.

During the retreat we are going to be taking the theme of trees and looking at how the tree grows, how it is shaped, how it is identified, how it bears fruit … and so on and looking at the parallels between this and our spiritual lives.

Please pray for the YFC staff there – and see you in a few days time!

Burma storm deaths

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As if the people of Burma have not suffered enough …

The death toll from a devastating cyclone that hit western Burma on Saturday has now climbed to 3,939 people, state television says.

All those deaths were recorded in Rangoon and Irrawaddy, only two of five regions declared disaster zones.

Many more are feared dead in devastated outlying regions not yet reached by authorities or aid agencies.

A member of the ruling junta told diplomats in Rangoon that the final toll could reach 10,000.

read more here.

Amidst all our questions I guess all we can do is pray!

weekend reflections

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It’s been a great long weekend with lots of time to chill with the family and do some reading – although I am still struggling with the theology of other religions assignment which is becoming a bit of a frustration.

Yesterday we took a great walk along the coast from Seasalter to Whitstable. Looking along the coast and out to sea it was amazing to be able to notice and enjoy different elements of God’s creation. The sea is always a place where I feel the closest to God and parts of yesterday this was very true.

I enjoy noticing God in the everyday as it reminds me, and shows others, how accessible God has made himself to us:

God in the beautiful parts of creation we observed.
God in the joy of our children playing.
God in our conversations of laughter.
God in the ordinary everyday stuff of family life.

The great long weekend is coming to an end though as I have to attend SEITE tonight as I can’t make it tomorrow – although the subject is St Ignatius’ spiritual writings so I’m quite looking forward to it. (Honesty moment: I’d miss the lecture but I’m going to write my assignment on this so thought I should make the effort!)

what a joke

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Mark sums up the Boris and London situation very well here.
What a joke!

contrasting emotions

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Today has been a day of sadness when I have reflected on the events of the last couple of days.
Labour’s dismal performance in the elections and the election of Boris Johnson as the Mayor of London cause more than a little concern. I’m glad I don’t live in London at this point in time! A sad day for politics.

Today Gillingham were relegated to League 2. We’ve have not played at this level for some 12 years and I’ll be praying we cam move onwards and upwards quickly. A sad day for football.

These emotions of sadness have to be contrasted with the great joy experienced while spending time fixing and rebuilding a Guinea Pig run today with Joseph. W chatted, I measured, he sawed, we both hammered nails and in just a few hours we had a smart looking run for the newest members of the family to run about in. A happy day for family life.

Today I’ve remembered to live!

Nervous

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Today is a nervy day, especially the next couple of hours.
Our house is experiencing tense nervous worries.
Many people today are hoping for Gillingham to win, and two other teams to lose so that we stay avoid relegation.
C’mon you Gills!

Urban Expression and the Incarnate Network Conference

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I saw this on the YFC Blog and it looks excellent although it looks like I won’t be able to be there as it clashes with Rochester Diocese’s residential for Continuing Ministerial Education. Oh the joys that lie ahead for me ….

Urban Expression and the Incarnate Network Conference
Michael Frost – 9th October 2008 – CMS Centre Oxford

Invite you to join us for a day conference with Michael Frost to explore the implications of incarnational mission.

The day conference will run from 10.00 until 4.30. We will ask Michael to speak twice and give the rest of the time over to interaction and discussion around thetwo main themes. There will also be an opportunity for an open question/answer session to explore other issues

Michael will be talking on these two main issues:

• What are the implications of an incarnational approach to mission?
• How can indigenous leaders be empowered and released?

The cost for the day will be £20 (including lunch) or £15 (unwaged). To book a place, complete the booking form which can be obtained from this link and send it with a cheque payable to ‘Urban Expression’ to Urban Expression, 24 Effingham Road, Bristol BS6 5BJ.

Any queries, please contact Stuart Murray Williams: stuart@murraywilliams.co.uk

Beth’s in print!

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Today we got some great news … and of this I am WELL PROUD!

Beth’s school entered a poem she had written for the Young Writers Competition. We heard today that Beth’s poem, ‘Graffiti and Teenagers’ is going to be printed in a book of poems called ‘Talkin’ Bout My Generation’ on August 31st.

Obviously Beth is very excited and we are all very proud of her!
Way to go Beth!

a first!

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This is a unique and first blog for me – written on my shiny new Mac Book Pro which I bought today in the Apple Shop at Bluewater.
A beautiful machine – and a big thank you to the very generous person who helped me get this!
So … my first post from my Mac … nothing to say other than brag on my blog!

Urgent Action – Leading Burmese Democracy Activist May Face Blindness

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Dear friends

We are extremely concerned for the safety of leading democracy activist Min Ko Naing, who is being held in Rangoon¹s notorious Insein Prison. He is suffering from a serious eye infection and may go blind because he is being denied medical treatment. It is reported that his eye condition has deteriorated to the point that he is unable to sleep or eat because of the pain the infection has caused.

Min Ko Naing has been in prison since August last year. He was arrested for leading protests in Rangoon. The protests triggered the biggest demonstrations in Burma since the 1988 uprising, but were brutally crushed by the dictatorship. We will never know how many were killed during the regime¹s brutal crackdown. Today, the situation in Burma remains as severe as ever. Arrests continue and torture is routine. Political prisoners are singled out for brutal treatment, including the denial of medical treatment.

Min Ko Naing is a leading democracy activist and one of the most famous student leaders from the 1988 uprising. He was arrested in 1989 and spent more than 16 years in prison. He was severely tortured and held in solitary confinement for most of his sentence. He was released in 2004 and despite constant threats and harassment by the regime, he has continued to campaign for freedom and democracy in Burma.

Please take action now. Visit The Burma Campaign and send an email to urge the Burmese authorities to allow immediate medical attention to Min Ko Naing and all political prisoners.

Thank you for your support.

Anna Roberts
The Burma Campaign UK