I have kept quiet on the issue of Charles and Camilla because, in all honesty, I feel the monarchy are unimportant and need to be left to get on with their lives.

I find it intriguing that the Queen is not going to be going to her son’s wedding. Surely this will set tongues wagging and the press will love it.

If the queen is not happy, in one way I am incredibly impressed by her decision to stay away. On the other hand, her decision is surelygoing to hurt Charles.

I ask myself, what would Jesus do, and I honestly do not know! He would show compassion as he is the loving father. He would also speak his mind as he did to the rich young ruler. I end to think, however, that as a loving father he would be there ad I do ask myself how a parent can stay away from a child’s (even if he is an old one!) wedding.

For the record – I have no problem with Charles and Camilla marrying; what real right do any of us have to say who he can and can’t marry? Anyone who looks to commit their lives together need all the support they can get. I think, however, relationships have a cost. Marriage ulimately is a compromise of 2 people who are in love and want the best for each other. It was not that long ago that King Edward had to choose between love and the throne and I guess I think Charles has the same choice here. Marry Camilla – but let Harry take the throne …. if we have to keep a monarchy of course! I really don’t think we need to.

That’s now two political posts (I needed to get them off my chest I guess!)- normal service will be resumed tomorrow with my next post on Nouwens/Rembrandts Prodigal; that is if I return through the snow from Swindon, home of David Brent, but more importantly Simon Halls, Director of Swindon YFC!

It will be no surprise to many to hear that I am a bit of a Ken Livingstone fan. I have been for many years and I like his political persuasion which is not too different to mine in many ways.

It is disappointing to see how things are rolling out with these comments that he made to a reporter. Sadly, I think Ken needs to learn a lesson which many of us, as Christians need to learn and, I think adhere to, as well.

Ken does not think he has done anything wrong and so he s using this as a basis for a refusal to apologise for comments that have hurt others. How often we see the church acting like this – or rather some individuals in the church. Comments made against those who happen to be of a different sex, or a different sexuality, or of preference for a different style of worship, or of a different viewpoint or churchmanship. The harshness of the comments are justified by the words ‘I am right and they are wrong’.

It is ok, of course, to have our personal opinions and to speak our mind. We live in a democracy and it is very right to have our freedom of speech. I do believe, though, that where there is a freedom of speech we also need to keep a certain dignity and respect for others. Jesus clearly asks us to put the needs of others before our own. I assume that stretches to our ‘need’ to be right all the time!

If our comments have hurt someone, whether we are right or not is unimportant; surely the situation necessitates an apology. I might not actually disagree with what I have said, or feel that I have done anything wrongat all; but if I can see I have upset someone I hope I can make the apology.

Ken may be happy with what he has said – but he has upset a massive number of people from the Jewish community and so he should be apologising for the upset he has caused.

As Christians, as the church, we can take a lead in this. It’s a big lesson to learn, and often a hard one to carry out, but keeping that compassion and dignity of concern for the feelings of others above our sense of personal justice is surely the correct way to go.

After a long long wait (since Christmas!) the snow has finally fallen in Kent.

It was great getting home last night at just before midnight to see the road and houses totally white. My tyre tracks coming up the road were the only thing which did not glow eerily white under the streetlights.

I just hope, though, tht the snow means that the Gills can beat West Ham at Priestfield tonight.

Oh – the seeing God bit! Snow is easy – a blanket of whiteness from above making everything clean and sparkling or how a simple act of God, like falling snow, can bring our lifestyle and travel systems to a total standstill. Seriously, I look at the snow covered places around, even in a place like Gillingham, and am forced to acknowledge even more that God’s creation is beautiful.

With snow – it’s clear creation is beautiful and there for fun too … now where is that sledge!

Before I go I must post this excellent pic from youth blog.

The corresponding question and thought for the week….. do our lives match up to what we preach?

It’s amazing how quickly you get back into the swing of things after you return from a holiday. It’s certainly been an active weekend – although a bit strange.

Friday night I went to the Hoo Peninsula to speak about a possible YFC centre. It was amazing to see over 30 people turn out on a Friday evening to talk about how to reach the young people of their area. Sometimes I get blase, but I do seriously wonder if I will ever attend these meetings and not feel humbles and struck by the passion and commitment of people in their communities!

Saturday: I, once again felt extreme emotions while listening to the closing stage of the Gillingham game against wolves. 90th minute and we score what I believe must be the winner to hear Wolves respond immediately to make it 2-2. How can 2 goals be scored in the 90th minute!!

It was also strange because Tom spent Friday night with Uncle Andrew, Aunty Sarah, Rachel, JT and Emily. Stranger still that this 1 nighter stretched to 2 so that we did not see Tom until Sunday afternoon in church. It was strange being just a four as we went out on Saturday.

Saturday, as a 4 we visited Chatham. Not a great place but we needed a new coffee maker (espresso addiction!)and Allders is closing down. WE got one. But … this sums Chatham up really, the 3 floor Allders is being replaced by a 3 floor Primark! At least I will have somewhere to get my clothes for the summer!

Sunday – I bunked (used that term as I did actually feel like a naughty school boy!) the morning service as I was not in a ‘people’ mood and joined the Landmark group for lunch in MacDonalds! They then came back to our house for tea and have now left me with the children as they and Sarah go off to do a creative evening service.

And now I start to think about Monday – off to Halesowen in the morning for 1030, and then to a training event at Barnes Close on stress management before leaving at about 9 pm. It’s going to be a long day and so I’m off to bed soon. I’m glad I’m picking Sharron up on the way – the journey always seem to go quicker when there is someone to talk to.

AS I drive and the sun rises I’m looking forward to how I will experience God tomorrow in my normal everyday life.

While away I was able to to read this book by Henri Nouwen as the Parable of the Prodigal Son has got to be my all time favorite story from the Bible. This parable speaks to me on a different level than any other and reassures me over and over again that I can always return to my father. In fact I have a blank key on my key ring which was given to me a while ago at a YFC event. It symbolically reminds me that when I return I do not have to knock – I can come straight in!

I have reflected a lot from this book over this past week – I have indulged in God’s presence as I have tried to get inside this parable and think through what it means to me, but more importantly what God is saying through it to me. I found myself asking the question ‘What are you really calling me to, Lord?’

The book is written really from a kind of meditation over years. Nouwen was struck by Rembrandts painting of the Return of The Prodigal and spent years looking at it after he fell in love with it. In particular he was drawn, initially, to Rembrandt’s painting of the fathers hands. If you look carefully one is clearly masculine and one clearly feminine, alluding to the mother and father aspects of our God. I wish to write more about that in future posts.

I have always thought of myself in this story as the wayward son returning with no real right too. In many ways I still view myself as the son who ran away and came back. The son who was lost but has now been found.

Nouwen fascinates me by looking at this returning son as Jesus himself. Jesus did the same in many ways, but out of obedience and without sin. This son, went wild with disobedience and was sinful. He did, however, give up all his rights as the heir and disappear off in the distance although to satisfy his own selfish desires. Jesus gave up his rights as the heir and came to earth, but to satisfy his fathers great love for each of us.

Jesus became the prodigal for our sake. Nouwen suggests that the broken young man kneeling at the feet of the father is no other than ‘the lamb who takes away the sin of the world’. He then goes on to suggest that this young man is then, not just one young repentant on returning to his father, but in fact the whole of humanity returning to God through what Jesus has done.

Obviously this goes way beyond the traditional interpretations of this parable. But, as I consider this, I believe there is something here of the secret of sonship. It says a lot about the oneness of my sonship and that of Jesus explains to me more of the meaning of my home and the home of Jesus being the same. IT makes me realise even more that there is no journey that I can possibly take that Jesus himself has not taken first.

Maybe this is not orthodox or traditional but it is an amazing parallel which I have loved delving into.

There is loads more in this book on the characters and significance of the elder son and the father which I will try to articulate – but in a way that you will wish to go get the book for yourself.

We had a good time away – thanks Jim and Mags for allowing us the use of your home in Bournemouth. Great to be in a house which is only a 10 minute walk away from the beach. I do love where I live now (there is, after all, no place like home) but, being still a Weymouth boy at heart, I miss being so close to the sea. Being able to stand on the shore and look out at the vastness of the sea is something I just love to do. I can sit for hours and do just that. (Actually, writing this has given me an idea for Lent Blog!) No surprise to parents out there to hear, though, that I did not really get a chance to do this last week as children don’t like to sit and stare for that long!

The week away was good. We spent lots of time together seeing some sites, walking along shore lines, crabbing on harbour sides, eating in pubs with mothers/grandmothers, playing with the camera, playing ‘skimmers’ with flat pebbles.

There were some noticeable and funny moments which I want to include here so I don’t forget them:

walking along the beach and seeing a woman walking her 2 dogs: one being an Irish Wolfhound and the other a Scottie Terrier. It looked bizarre with this giant and minute dog walking together and made me smile and think of God’s great sense of humour.

Beth developed a habit of writing poems in the car. In one poem about food she wrote about ‘roar food’ which produced a bit of laughter and discussion on the creative image that a graphic designer might be able to come up with! Could this be an alternative title for an alpha type course?! I patent and copyright it here and now – on behalf of Beth of course! Beth has started her own blog. Check out Boo’s Blog for poetry and insights on the Ryan household. I am starting to be afraid!

I realised, again, that Tom is so like me and would often retreat or lag behind to chuck stones in the sea and play chicken with the waves. I realised, again, he is growing up fast and that we have little time left with him as a child. Scary when you can still remember sitting with him in the maternity suite when he was less than an hour old!

I saw, again, the funny side of Joe and the quick wit answers he can give to seemingly any topic of conversation. I was amazed, again, at how much information a 6 year old retains and can articulate.

I was struck, as well, at how lucky I am to have such a cool family and a beautiful wife that is so talented and able to deal with a multitude of things all happening at once, and still remain focused.

Sadly, the holiday is over and we are back to the real world. A world of work and activity where it is all too easy to forget the things above that God reminded me of.

I will be having an enforced blogging break over the next few days.

It’s half term and we have been offered use of a house in Bournemouth by friends for a few days so we will be taking a holiday.

It will be good just to get away together, build sandcastles, fly kites, visit parents/grandparents and have no phone to worry about.

So normal service wil be resumed on Friday!

Have a good week.

Interesting to see this quote in this months Youth Worker Journal following the CS Lewis quote from Friday.

Whether we realize it or not, our methodology flows from our theology. If we aren’t thinking about theology, then we’ll only have a shallow form of youth ministry. We allow whatever works to drive our hearts and minds because we’re mainly judged by and rewarded by results—if the teenagers have fun, if they enjoy coming to youth group, if the numbers are up, if the parents are happy, etc. All of these types of subtle measurements force us to focus predominately on methods without even realizing it

It is important that our theology determines our methodology, not the other way around.

Well, the Gills didn’t lose but I was not expecting a 0-0 and, to be honest, a pretty uneventful match.

I had an interesting experience on the way in to the ground where some Millwall guy threatened to smack me in the mouth. On ignoring this he threatened to ‘cut your ******* throat’ and made signs illustrating this throughout the match – so I am told as I tried to avoid making eye contact with the guy as a fight at the end of a match has never really been me! I was thankful for the stewards keeping an eye!

It’s a bit sad that people can come to this over a football match – but then I guess we all have very stressed lives and I am sure this guys anger was caused by more than just me. We all sometimes snap due to ‘last straw’ circumstances, usually leaving some innocent person to suffer from our outburst. I really hope this was an example of that. To think otherwise does lead you to start to lose faith in humanity!

It was quite a scarey experience. I can’t actually remember ever being worried for my safety on the way to a match or even in a match. Sitting here writing – the experience has made me wonder what the anger of God must be like. It’s a pretty scarey thought and one that I do not consider often. I did wonder where was God in this bloke – I truly believe we are all created in his image and, as such, display some of God’s attributes. Was this guy displaying the God anger attribute? Or was he in total denial of his creator? I don’t know!

Anyway – it didn’t stop me taking the cowards way out and taking the long way back to the car with Tom! I hope the bloke has calmed down though.