Ok, maybe the England match was not a great match to watch, and there were some interestingly dubious decisions by the manager, but at the end of the first day’s play of Group B, England top the table with 2 point lead! I think thanks go to Brent Sancho of Gillingham and Shaka Hislop more than to the England squad but we’ll take those points however we can.

We had a few friend around and rigged up a big screen in the garden – this is where we shall be watching all the England games – anyone that knows me a s a friend is more than welcome to join us!

I’ve just booked my ticket for this on Saturday 15th July.

I’ve just been able to start reading ‘Emerging Churches’ by Gibbs and Bolger as I’ve finished SEITE work – interesting that I’ve read the first 4 chapters in only a couple of hours which is much quicker than the other books I have had to read. It’s definitely one of the most readable and best books I have read in a little while.

The day looks excellent and I am really looking forward to hearing from Ryan Bolger and particularly Karen Ward

Hoping to see some new and old friends there too.

It’s been an interesting last few days. I’ve been both too busy to write due to YFC and assignments. To be honest, after writing a few thousand words on theology its hard to feel up to writing anything else – so I’ve just gone to bed!

I have had chats with loads of people and had to get the windscreen replaced as a crack was growing by 2 cm each day! I kissed goodbye to £100!

It was a highlight, though,last night to join the trustees of Oxygen (Kingston YFC). Quite a cool bunch of people who rather than offer a cup of tea at the exec offer Bud’s and wine. That is not the only reason the meeting was cool, though, just in case you get the wrong impression here.

This was a group of passionate, brave people. Passionate to see young people of the borough reached, and brave because they are willing to try great new things to see that happen. Richard has taken the organisation from nothing to amazing things in just 5 years. It really has been mindblowing what has been achieved there – if you have a look at their website you’ll see what I mean!

It was a pleasure to spend a few hours with them, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

4 hours to go!
Excitement rising.
Just finished my last assignment.
30 pages of writing in all, thousands of words, hours of reading … and now no more!
I feel free!!!!
At last I can read some books that I want to read just because I want to read them for the sake of reading them!!

But not today – for today is the start of the World Cup – guess where I’ll be at 5.00 pm.

Tomorrow is England’s first game – big screen in the garden (hopefully, beers, friends and a good solid victory to start!

Did I say I love football!!??

This is a great website. Cheers Jonny.
I’m getting excited.
By far the best sporting event ever is about to start.
A few days and it starts.
Can’t wait!
Bring on the World Cup!!

I have just finished my assignment on the image of God. I will probably blog on this sometime in the future.

I need to write another 2 (it was a great feeling to hand in 3 today!), one being on my understanding of God.

I put the question to Joe.
After a short pause he came out with great words:

‘God ….. is God’

I now need to take that profoundness, add a few ifs and buts and pad it out to 1500 words!

Usually after a Monday t this time of the day, after SEITE, and so on I feel dead. Today I have felt alive, energised, enthusiastic and it took me time to work out why.

Usually on Monday I work from home, which inevitably means I sit in front of the laptop, or have large sheets of paper sprawled across the floor if I am being creative. Mondays are prep days, admin days, planning days. Usually I hate them, and by the time the children are back from school I am quite ratty and fed up.

Today it was an unusual Monday as I was out doing the ‘people’ thing. I had a great meeting this morning with Hugh from Greenwich YFC (new look website!) and then drove across to North Greenwich to catch a tube to Euston to meet up and talk mission with Dave. I was then home at 4.30 to get back out again at 6.00 for SEITE. I love meeting with people, it’s what I’m good at and it is what energises me. Admin doesn’t!

So … I’ve relearnt something today – to space my admin stuff out rather than condensing it into a day and to get out more on a Monday!

I liked this post from Mark Berry which I read earlier today.

‘Chaos is where creation happens… Comfort is where creativity stagnates!’

A short statment I find both challenging and enlightening as I approach what I think is going to be a stormy few months ahead.

I enjoyed the weekend.
Started brilliantly with a great evening with Darren and Kathryn – good food, conversation, wine and whisky!
England scored lots of goals – Owen on the scoresheet at last!
Didn’t go to church – instead went for a long cycle ride with my boys which was an excellent idea.
Was going to go out on Saturday, but the children decided they wanted to continue to play and just go to the park.
Finished my second assignment, so on track for my personal deadline of June 10th.
Went fishing with Tom at Gillingham Pier – caught nothing but we had a great time.
For the first time in ages I have felt like I have been back where I should be and I quite like it.

I have just come off the phone from Steve. Kim has been given 3 months, or a possible 12 if she has chemotherapy.

Obviously this is not the news we are wanting to hear, so I hope we will keep praying. Steve says Kim is very positive and is saying she is going to beat this and do what it takes.

I pray she can.