castle conference

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This week I am at the annual YFC staff conference, being held again at Bodelwyddan Castle in North Wales.

Conference is a great time for us all to et together for some good training, worship, prayer, food and a chance to catch up properly. The programme is usually great, but the after-hours chats around the bar often take some of the subjects we have been considering during the day to a deeper level. Certainly, for me, it i true that some of my theology has been developed at these conversations which have gone into the early hours.

Conference can be hard work as well as I already have quite a few meetings booked in with people. That is not a complaint though, as it is such a real privilege to meet up with the rest of the YFC family. It only happens once a year!

If you have some time this week, please pray for the safety of the YFC family as we travel to North Wales from all over the country on Monday and as we return to our homes on Friday. Please also pray that we may hear God in a fresh way for both ourselves and the areas in which we are working. Finally, please pray for all the family members of YFC workers which will be left alone this week – for me personally I find I miss Sarah and the children increasingly more with each conference – and tis is the 12th or 13th (I lose count!)

Epiphany Baptism

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It’s the start of Epiphany today, a time when we remember the 3 wise men visiting Jesus and bringing their gifts.

For me, Epiphany is all about revealing Jesus for who he is. The wise men brought gifts, and in that act tell the world that this is the Christ child, God incarnate.

Epiphany (the time from now until lent this year) is a time for me to consider what I can do to to help those around me to be able to make the connection that this child was God incarnate.

Epiphany is a time for me to think about the ongoing mission of God.

This morning in church Sam was baptised. This amazing 11 year old who we have had the pleasure to see grow up shared that following his baptism he was praying that he would have more opportunities to share Jesus with his friends.

What better time than Epiphany is there to make such a commitment! Excellent Sam!

Anglican Bloggers

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cartoon from www.weblogcartoons.com

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

I visit Dave’s Blog regularly and decided to join the Anglican Bloggers Facebook group.
No real reason for this other than to see what other Anglicans are out there, what people are saying and not saying and because I classify myself as such (an Anglican and a blogger), in a very broad sense of course!

failed plans

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Today has been a great day for catching up friends, but that is not what I had planned.

I had got the tasks I needed to do out of the way over the last few days with the plan of popping up to London to catch the last days of the Turner Prize exhibition at the Tate Britain. That plan failed as Joe was ill and off school.

The day has been great though, as well as getting future tasks done, due to technology of various parts (facebook, email, telephone) I have been able to catch up with a friend I last saw some 20 years ago, another friend popped in for a cup of tea who I had not seen for ages and spoke to still another on the phone for longer than I would have done if I was wandering in London.

I feel ‘relaxed and content’ after an unplanned good day at home.

Making plans is not all what it’s cracked up to be ya know!
Sometimes it is right to make plans and work within them.
Other times it is right to sit back and wait to see what God brings along.
I do more of the first, and sense I need to do a little more of the sitting back and waiting.

Please don’t forget

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Only one thing has changed.
The conditions that caused the marches are still in place.
But the monks are not on the streets or in their monasteries.
The stranglehold on the people tightens.
Pray
Write
Campaign.

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For the last few months I have been using the lectionary and Common Worship (which, incidentally the CofE put here for us to use) as the backbone to my daily prayer life. It’s thrown up a few surprises, one in particular being the knowledge that millions of people are considering the same parts of the bible that I am looking at on that day and remembering certain saints.

Today in Common Worship we remember Basil the Great. To be honest I do not normally look up the particular saint as time is scarce, but today I did and the story is a great one.

At a time of great persecution and when there was a need for someone to make a stand for theological truth Basil was the man. When confronted with persecution he replies:
‘Well, in truth, confiscation means nothing to a man who has nothing, unless you covet these wretched rags and a few books; that is all I possess. As to exile, that means nothing to me, for I am attached to no particular place. That wherein I live is not mine, and I shall feel at home in any place to which I am sent. Or rather, I regard the whole earth as belonging to God, and I consider myself as a stranger wherever I may be. As for torture, how will you apply it? I have not a body capable of bearing it, unless you are thinking of the first blow you give me, for that will be the only one in your power. As for death, this will be a benefit to me, for it will take me the sooner to the God for whom I live . . .’

This example of great faith has been a source for reflection throughout the day. As I have got pointlessly frustrated with technology, or concerned by phonecalls St. Basil’s example has brought things into true perspective.

08 … the year of …

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Happy New Year!
I’ve had a bit of a blog break over the festive season due to wanting to prioritise partying rather than sitting in front of a screen.
The break has been good, and I have also managed to get 2 essays done pretty quickly when we have not been walking, eating, drinking, unwrapping presents, drinking, eating, partying, watching pantomimes, playing games, drinking some more, eating a little, attending church, eating again, celebrating, drinking more, watching fireworks, laughing and laughing some more.

I have enjoyed the Christmas break. There have been many highlights:
the look of joy on peoples faces as they opened presents
food
the post Christmas walk
pantomime at the Barbican …. he’s behind you
new years eve Italian style
New Years day breakfast
People have been great, and some have been very creative in presents.

But this is now 2008!
Tomorrow I am back at work with millions of others.
I could look back on the year, but I want to look ahead.

2008 … the year of Hope.
I hope the church rise to the challenge to bring hope this year rather than complain.
For us 2008 will be a year of change in so many ways.
I have dreams for 2008.
Some big, some little.
Some totally in my control, others not.
All important.
2008 will also be a year of painful anniversaries for family and friends alike.
It’s not all going to be rosy!

I’m making no resolutions this year, just a commitment to myself to be realistic and keep my promises which probably means I will have to say ‘no’ every now and again!

Whatever happens, 2008 is going to be a year of opportunity.
We can look back and regret, or we can look forward and grasp the opportunities that arise.
Here’s to looking forward.

Merry Christ-mas

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The God child is born
Merry Christ-mas

Happy Birthday

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For as long as I can remember it has been tradition in the Ryan household to invite friends around for a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve. I guess you can say it has become a tradition over the last decade or so.

Interestingly we started this when our children, and my nieces and nephews, were very little, but on the odd occasion when we have mentioned not doing this (such as this year) our children have made it clear that it is a tradition that is important to them to continue.

Traditions have developed within this tradition, such as the drinking of the odd glass or two of vodka (including toffee vodka tonight!) and the time together is good fun and a chance for all of us to relax together. It’s just good to eat,drink and laugh together.

Tonight I reflected on how we have all changed over the last decade, and certainly the children have all grown immensely, which shows that time is running quickly.

To those that it concerns, thanks for coming and joining with us in our traditional Christmas Eve birthday party for Jesus. Without you being here it would be a non-event. More photos here.

Advent: Christmas Eve’s extraordinary surprise

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I have enjoyed Disturbing Complacency as it has assisted and enabled me to at least start each day focusing on what this season is all about.

Today is the last day of Advent, and as such focusing on the surprise of a child as God’s answer to what the world needed is quite amazing. Were we might think a great army, or money, or something else might be needed to transform the world; God comes up with the idea of a weak and vulnerable baby.

It is even more amazing to realise that that weak, vulnerable baby totally in the care of a teenage mother and her husband, is actually God incarnate in human flesh.

The miracle, the gift of the season, is so amazing on so many different levels. The more you think about the vulnerability and what may have gone wrong, the more amazing it becomes.

The gift of Christmas is God who became vulnerable out of a great love for the world.

Extraordinary!