An explanation

My, my. Where to begin?

How about I start with the reason I haven't updated this blog for nearly two weeks. Quite simply, I haven't been able to because I haven't had a computer with internet access. My laptop got stolen in the office break-in.

Yes, the office was broken into two weeks ago on Thursday. They got into my office and took the laptop, stereo and quite a lot of money. They also got into the other office upstairs and took some stuff.

What upsets me most is the photos that were on my computer. All the other stuff can be replaced, but they were my record of all the work I've done with the teenagers over the last two or three years, and I can't replace them. Gutted isn't the word.

What's happened since then? Well, so much it's hard to remember. The stand-out thing is the Big Day Out, which, despite a slightly disappointing take-up, proved a massive success. The rain held off for the whole day in the theme park, and for most of the evening on the beach. Then the heavens opened, and we all got soaked to the skin. Didn't spoil the day though! There are some pictures, but of course the break-in also claimed the cable that I use to transfer photos onto the computer. I'll put them on here when I can find a way.

And the other big thing is that we have, as of today, broken up for the summer. I'm off on retreat this weekend for a few days, and then I'm going to visit my parents for a few more days, so I'm looking forward to the next week. Then a week of nursery decorating and a week of Soul Survivor. Then we're about back to school. It's going to go far too quickly!

Footie and sneezes

I have been blogging... I'm not sure why Blogger isn't displaying July posts. Watch this space, they'll all appear in one go (probably including this one!).

The photograph above shows the highlight of the last few days. Friday evening was our RE:fresh footie night, when 20 lads from St Mikes Youth (mostly RE:fresh regulars) took on the comparitive might of the Friday evening footie crew from church - tentatively known as St Michaels Church FC.

To be quite honest, I did wonder whether their extra knowhow and experience may mean a whipping for our enthusastic but young squad. Not a bit of it, as you can probably tell from the trophy nestling in our captain James Gardiner's hands. We beat them 3-1 and, I think it's fair to say, deserved our win.

But, even though it's a cliche, I'm going to say it anyway: the real winner was football. And not just football, either. Christian football. Most of the lads that come to RE:fresh are by no means churchgoers. They're just a group of lads. But the game was played in a good, friendly-but-competitive spirit, and everyone involved really enjoyed it. I'd love to make it an annual event, at least, and am currently considering the possibility of a St Mikes Youth FC in the Bristol Churches League. Not next season, but maybe in the future. I may look at entering the cup next year. There are some very good players amongst the group and I think we could hold our own. We'll see.

One downside was that I was ill for the game. I still forced my aching body through a bit of the game, but I had a rotten cold and really didn't feel well at all. I'm still trying to shake the tail-end of it now, but I think I'm nearly there.

What else is going on at the moment? Well, I'm still desperately short of leaders for next year, so please keep praying. I have had one or two postive connversations with potential leaders this week, so let's see where they lead.

Jamie Rawlinson, Trevor's brother, is on "work experience" with us this week. It's a quiet week, to be honest, but I still think he's been surprised at what has to happen to make a busy youth ministry like this one function. I think people generally are. One teenager once said to me, "but you must get loads of time off ... almost every day?" Yeah, right.

But I don't mind. In fact, I like it busy because youth minister is more than my job ... it's a massive part of who I am. I'm at my happiest when I know that I'm serving God effectively amongst the young people. God's given me a heart for this, so I can do what I do and enjoy it.

This Sunday will be a highlight. Claire Mill (pictured) is getting baptised, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Claire has really benefitted from the start of Mettle two years ago. Reflect wasn't really her cup of tea, but this has been. She's grown so much. She leaves Mettle as a member this Summer (although she is making a swift comeback as a Mettle Sunday leader!) but I can't think of a more appropriate way for her to finish her time with us. A baptism sums up beautifully what God has done in her these two years. It should be a special night.

Anyway, I'd better go and sleep off the back-end of this cold. Lemsip. Bed. Busy day tomorrow.

God bless x

Ps. Remind me that I have something to say on "answered prayers" that would make this post too long if I wrote it now. Leave comments to nag me, and so I know people are reading!

Big Update

So I'm posting again. At last. Didn't even manage it on Sunday this week. It's getting worse.

As a result, I've got loads to say. It might have to happen in more than one installment. We'll see. I'm due a visitor in a few minutes, so it rather depends how late she is...!

Where to start? Well probably with the Student-Age Pastorate Weekend Away. I was invited to joing our 18-25(ish)'s on their weekend away in Telford as their guest speaker, worship leader and minibus driver. I spoke on "The Nature and Character of God" and did it in four parts: an introductory session on the Friday night, "God is Love" on Saturday morning; "God the Creator" on Saturday evening; and "God is Holy" on Sunday morning. And I really enjoyed it! I felt a little like my teaching was going to a new level. I felt comfortable, relaxed and able to be myself, and also noticed the benefits of having done some serious Bible-study recently. There's so much in there that I'm excited about, and I just kept dropping bits into my teaching, which I've never really done before. It's one of several new gifts that I feel like God's giving me at the moment ... more on that later.

But people's response at the weekend was noticibly different, too. Rather than wanting to come an encourage me for "a good talk", people wanted to come and ask me to pray with them, tell me about how what I'd said spoke into their life, or what they intended to do as a result of a teacher. I felt like I'd moved from a guy who everyone wants to encourage to one that people really thought was capable of ministering to them. It feels good. Please pray that God keeps growing this new gift and also that I don't get all arrogant about it. I know, you simply can't imagine that happening with ME, can you...???!!!???

The other really nice thing about the weekend (apart from being on a residential and being allowed to go to the pub which, working with teenagers I never get to do normally) was that a lot of the guys on the weekend were people who were members of the youth group (Reflect, in those days) when I arrived in Stoke Gifford six years ago. I'm still in touch with most of them, but it was really nice to have then chance to have a proper catch-up with them. I also got to lead worship with Ali B, Sam and Nath. We used to do that a lot for Youth Services, but it's been a good few years since we all played together, and it was so nice to do it again. And also, interesting to note that we can all still read each other so well. It's fair to say we sounded good (on the occasions when I didn't stuff up the rhythms...)

I got back tired, as usual, but perhaps not as much as when it's teenagers. I didn't have to run the whole weekend which, in many ways, was a joy because in theory it meant I could relax. But it was also hard because it rubbed up against my control issues... However, a massive "well done" to Emily and Ed, because they'd thought of everything and it was a top weekend. A very fitting way for them to end their time as leaders of the Student-Age Pastorate.

Now, control and leaders ... both mentioned in that last paragraph, which leads neatly to the next big thing that's going on here at the moment.

Just as I thought we were getting out leaders situation sorted out for next year, with Mettle and RE:fresh almost there, we lose a couple of good Rock Solid and RS2 leaders! It's a tricky one, because we can't go on with Rock Solid with a team this size. I've spoken to a couple of people who sound keen-ish, but I'm panicking about it, and have a sneaky suspicion that God won't reveal his plan for who and how until I give it up to him. I'm trying, but it's hard! Pray that I would want to let him drive this ministry...

There's still more, but my visitor is here, so I'm going to give her my undivided attention.

Not so long til the next post, I hope...