Life is just a bowl of All-Bran…

(Sun 30 May 2004, 23:51)

I’m writing this on my Psion on the plane.

We packed yesterday, and set off for Oxford this morning. We revisited James Street Church, which we attended when we lived in Oxford from 1992 to 1995. It was a real encouragement to see how the church is doing. There were quite a few new people there – but then, we haven’t visited for some years.

They, like TCF, have a flat next door that they own. In fact, it used to be the local police station. They have recently trasnformed part of it into the offices for a ministry sending out Chinese worship tapes around Europe, and are in the midst of transforming the basement room into an office for the local Scripture Union worker. Interesting that they are doing something similar to us at almost the same time!

Had a lovely lunch with Berenice. Lucy stayed with her at one point while we were in Oxford, and Berenice was very kind and accommodating. We found out more about her fascinating family, including a married daughter in the Solomon Islands. She has hanging on her wall the “bride-price”, a petrified clam shell which is a highly valued item in the Solomons.

Then, on to Robin and Beth’s, where L’s dad Chris was staying too. He is looking after the car while we are away. It’s a great thing to be able to meet up with vaued family and friends, a real gift from God.

Eleanor throughout has been utterly charming, well-behaved and peaceful, except when she dipped her fingers into my tea while I thought she was out of range. She screamed, but no harm done, the tea was lukewarm by then.

We drove to Oxford bus station and caught the Heathrow coach. Oxford is briliant for this. Reasonably priced coaches travel very regularly to London Victoria, Heathrow and Gatwick. Only 70 mins to Heathrow, and Eleanor’s first coach trip. After a great deal of excitement, she settled down and slept, only to be rudely awakened by the driver announcing our arrival.

We chose a coffee shop which was half open (not selling coffee, see also “pub with no beer”) to give E a feed, then headed off for the plane. We decided the best way to help her with her popping ears was to feed her, and it seemed to work. L has her in a sling and is feeding her when she wakes up, though she is pretty sleepy most of the time so far.

Looking forward to a good rest, some nice weather, and the final part of the dedication, with Yiota and Steve as our third set of godparents. We really do have a capacity to drag celebrations out to their fullest, don’t we?

It’s been one long party preparation time recently. First the “19″ event, then our birthday party-cum-celebration of Eleanor’s dedication.

As Lucy & I are only fifteen days apart in age, we can enjoy the benefits of a combined birthday party every five years. Roll on our 80th in 2009.

We had a great time, and lots of people were around, even though we seemed to have picked the worst weekend imaginable for many. Lots were on holiday, had other events they had been planning for months…we must pick any time other than mid-late May next time!

The party was at Riverside House, an excellent newish venue. We had tea & cakes at 4pm, and lots of people came. Nice to see many old friends, from school & university days, as well as people we see more regularly.

However, the big event in the evening was a performance by Die Laughing, the band consisting of friends who do it for the laugh. Boy, did we have to laugh! Someone has recorded the whole concert, and I’m tempted to investigate putting it onto Real on our website, just for the entertainment value.

I started one song in the wrong key, broke a string, and lost my capo necessitating a last-minute set-list rewrite. You could even believe that I was trying to sabotage my own party. The best bit was playing Elinore by the Turtles, in honour of the bab. She laughed, wriggled with delight and waved!! I really hope that was captured by somebody on video or camera.

Sunday was very special. TCF was full, with people having travelled from far and wide. We sang some songs, with John Lanchbury leading really well. Then Lucy spoke of our problems in having children and how blessed we were to have Eleanor. I spoke about what dedication means. E was not baptised (we believe that should come later, when they are old enough to make a decision) but given back to God in recognition and thanks for what He has done for us. Then, our godparents came up: John, Elsie, Carlo & Kate. They prayed for us all, and we were very moved indeed. The service was taped: think I’ll try to put that up as a Real file too.

We had photos at the back of our building, like this one, whilst the children discovered a dead squirrel in the back garden! Lots of us piled off to Deep Pan Pizza afterwards, and that was a great opportunity to catch up with family and friends.

Great as the weekend was, I’m looking forward to going to Cyprus next week, just for the break!

LeadershipJournal.net – The Strong Little Church

Research says small churches are best, in all aspects except music/worship.

Large churches have their place, but small churches should not feel cowed. I believe that scholars think the average NT church was about 20-25 people. They seemed to do well – and had their fair share of problems too!

Paul, Lucy & Eleanor after the dedication. Eleanor is holding a card in a most official manner! 

Die Laughing stun the crowds with their musical prowess at the party! 

Christian Herald this week has an article by Nigel James about the use of Christian and biblical language by society. Examples include club venues called The Temple and Salvation, and even Sky One, who ‘repeats its favourite shows on a Sunday evening and invites the audience to “worship at the church of second chance Sunday”.’

He concludes, “Is it time that we reclaimed what rightfully belongs to the Church, and make better use of and explain more clearly some of the key words of Christianity that are in danger of being hijacked?”

I’m all for the church being clearer in its language and message, and yet it seems that there is something that appeals about “religious” terms to our wider culture.

Perhaps we are best off praying for our country, repenting of our lack of love for others, and getting on with showing them what Jesus came to do and how He is alive today, by whatever words they will understand it. Sometimes that may be “church” lingo, sometimes not.

What do you think? Each entry in this blog has a Comments section, which I invite you to use. You don’t need to be registered with Blogger to use it either.

[NB the article can be viewed at http://www.christianherald.org.uk/vulture.htm, but not for long, as the site is updated weekly and has no archive I can find.]

Why is it so hard to pray? We frequently talk to other people very successfully and without difficulty.

Perhaps it is because we are used to seeing the person we speak to. Yet we all manage OK with phones.

Is it, in some way, an issue of unbelief? It was said of Moses that

““By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.”” (Heb 11:27 NIV)

This kind of seeing is not done with our eyes, but with the spiritual eyes of faith. God is there & He is real. We need to be clear about this, so that praying does not become some sanctified form of talking to ourselves, but a vital interaction with the living God.

Having planned to do it for so long, I finally found myself in the upstairs of the Balti Cottage in Stirchley ready to enjoy an evening with my colleagues. I had Rich & Glyn to help me set up, and we were still hard at it when guests came along.

Once the MP3s of 1985 hits were playing, the atmosphere became much more like a party. Lots of “18″ and “1 today” balloons in pairs and a “Happy Birthday” banner helped the air of a celebration.

Michael Green was a very enthusiastic mingler, and Bruce Kuhn kept the maths department fully entertained too!

The balti was good, and after the main course I got up to say a few words. I talked a little about Sheffield, the city of my birth, using the start of the film The Full Monty. I talked a little about my family, and what a debt of gratitude I owed my mum and gran. However, my family was in no way religious, and I found any mention of religion acutely embarrassing.

When some of my friends invited me to Billy Graham, I saw no reason to go to a football stadium to hear a man who would say things to make me cringe! Nevertheless I went, and completely changed my mind after hearing Dr Graham speak about John 14:1-14, especially Jesus being the Way, the Truth and the Life. Bruce Kuhn performed this for us, and really brought it to life in a fresh way.

Michael spoke about his experience of coming to know Jesus whilst sat amongst the cricket equipment at his public school. The need to get rid of our nastiness (”sin”) was highlighted, and Jesus took that for us on the cross Himself.

I then spoke about what happened since I became a Christian, concentrating on how God was kind enough to give us such a beautiful baby daughter (see below!).

My colleagues were very appreciative, and warmed to Michael, Bruce and the whole evening. It was a very special time I won’t easily forget. One said that he felt the presence of God throughout the evening.

I’m so grateful to have had the privilege of spending that evening with valued colleagues, talking about the Rescuer and Ruler of my life, Jesus Christ.

Michael Green explains the problem of sin, using Lucy’s inflatable nursing cushion…(!) 

“19″ birthday event at Balti Cottage