Youth Alpha Weekend Away. SO TIRED!

I've been a lazy blogger again. Sorry.

Actually, it's not so much laziness as extreme tiredness! The weekend just gone was the Youth Alpha Active Weekend Away, which meant a weekend spent entirely with 20-something 11-14 year olds. I have to say, it was tremendous fun and went really well ... but I've never been so tired as I was on Monday morning. It physically hurt to move. I managed to get out of bed for staff meeting, but only just!

As I said, the weekend was great. We had three sessions on the Holy Spirit, went sno-tubing on the Saturday, had a water-fight, ate food, played football and frisbie, and I preached at Measham Baptist Church - my home church and the venue for our weekend - on the Sunday morning. Inexplicably, I almost burst into tears halfway through my talk ... not something I normally do. I was chatting to Clare about that, and we thought that it was a combination of tiredness, emotion at being "home" and EITHER tears left to come about the fairly emotional story I was telling, or that the story tapped into something I am currently upset about. Not sure which, not sure what ... I'll let you know when I've processed it.

One more indication of how tired I was... on the way home from Derby to Bristol, a journey that I have done with no problem, quite literally hundreds of times... I GOT LOST! I took the wrong lane and ended up on the M5 North! Laura still can't quite believe I did it!

A quick word too, once again, for Emma, Ruth and James (pictured). They came along as young leaders and worked really hard. They really got stuck in and made the whole weekend far more enjoyable for me (even if James did keep me awake on Saturday night because he thought "there was a ghost downstairs. Wimp!). Also, Ruth and Emma kept me awake, too, but this time when they were supposed to ... while I was driving the bus! So cheers, guys!

It's the first time that Trevor has organised a weekend away on his own, and I have to say, it was almost flawless. Still, if you learn from the best...

And Cath was great too. She was very worried about her talk, but it went really well, and she was actually in her element on residential, as I suspected she might be!

There's stuff to update you on that's not about the weekend away ... quite a lot, actually ... but I'm going to save that for tomorrow (when I promise I will post it!). More to follow... see you then.

Posting... but not much to say!

It's been a pretty quiet weekend, and I really don't have that much to tell you!

I played cricket on Saturday and we lost heavily. I still bowled ok, and even made my first runs of the season with the bat, but in the end our pawltry 92 all out was never going to be enough. So I'm not going to talk much about that.

On Saturday evening, we had Laura's sister, Emily, and her husband, Ed, round for tea and a game of cards. It was really nice ... we really should spend more time with them.

Sunday was busy but not taxing. I played guitar at the morning service, then we had Wiz and Ben's celebration lunch. Then off the the Mix in the evening.

I was still shattered by the end of the day, as I'd had about two hours sleep the night before. The house behind us decided to have a late-night party ... and I mean late night! They started about 3am and were still going when I got home on Sunday afternoon. There had been a lot of alcohol consumed, by the sounds of things, and the music wasn't quiet. I gave up at 5.30am and got up to do some work. I'm praying it was a one-off...

This week's busy... it's the Youth Alpha Active Weekend Away this weekend, which includes me preaching at Measham Baptist Church on the Sunday, so lots to do and organise.

I might not have time to blog much, but I'll fill you in when we're back.

Keep praying for this busy Term 6!

A minor miracle

Here's why I believe in a God of miracles today:

It was Rock Solid last night, it was the first one I've done since the Easter Holidays, I was already tired and stressed out and needing to properly chill out.

The miracle? I really enjoyed myself!

Trevor has done such a great job with Rock Solid. I decided to change it to an open youth club style for 11-14s a while ago, and I know he wasn't entirely convinced it was the right move. But the person that Trevor is meant that I could count on his full support and energy in trying to make it work. It has, and that's down to Trevor's hard work rather than any inspired idea on my part. I've said it before, but I'll make no apology for saying it again: the guy is seriously gold-dust. We're so blessed to have him staying for another year!

Today there's a Mix Leaders meeting and interviews for next year's second Youth Ministry Assistant. Tonight brings Youth Alpha Active, RE:fresh and then hopefully a well-deserved pint.

Please pray for Laura, she's really tired. I think it comes from carrying another human being around inside you! I'm so proud of her though... she's coping really well!

Almost there...

... on two counts.

1) My talk for the Mix is ... well, I was going to say "almost finished" but I think I'm going to plump for "taking shape nicely". The inspiration that I have been so desperate for finally hit yesterday afternoon after a lot of panicking and no few tears of frustration.

Actually, I was talking to my friend Clare last night about how God so often works through the tears. I think I needed to realise that I actually COULDN'T do it on my own. Once I'd done that, I gave it up to him and BAM! Inspiration hits. Co-incidence? I think probably not.

Wickwar Cricket Club

2) The cricket season starts for me in about two hours. I am, like my talk for the Mix, horribly underprepared. I haven't made it to a single practice and so have barely touched a bat or ball since the end of last season (so, about September!). There's a strong chance I'll make a bit of a plonker of myself today. I'm just praying that somehow, my body remembers how to do these things!

Last night was another succesful night, work-wise. The new Youth Alpha Active course (for 11-14s) was on at tea-time, and we did session three, "How Can I Be Sure Of My Faith?". It's always a really good session, and this time was no exception. There is a really nice atmosphere at this group, and quite a buzz about the Weekend Away in June.

Just a word, too, for the Young Leaders - Ruth (middle), James (top) and Emma (bottom). These guys are only 15 or 16 years old themselves, yet they're leading small group discussions for 11-14 year olds on a Youth Alpha course, and what's more, they're doing it with confidence, style and enthusiasm. I don't think I could have done that at their age. Fair play!

And also for Cath (above). Cath may be coming to work with me next year, but in the meantime she is co-leading the Youth Alpha course with Trevor and I. Last night she did her first ever talk for this age group, and did a brilliant job. She has a lot of potential... watch this space!

RE:fresh was also great... no time left to write too much about that, but I'll say this: the atmosphere was great again, and the brand new Xbox 360 (a gift, unbelievably!) was a big hit.

Finally on this mammoth blog-entry, an update on Zac. He is now at home with Rachael and Dean and it turns out he has viral gastro-enteritis (no idea if that's how you spell it or not!). He still isn't quite right, but at least we know what the problem is, and he is improving. Thank you all so much for your prayers.

Off to make a fool of myself at cricket!

Busy day ahead

Tuesday used to be my day off. How times have changed! Here's my day:

9.00am - Office, admin stuff
10.00am - One-to-One with Kelly
11.00am - Meeting with Dan Jones (Diocesan Youth Officer)
12.30pm - Lunch (hopefully!)
1.00pm - PBF (Lunchtime Club at Filton High)
2.00pm - Youth Alpha planning meeting with Cath Hetherington
3.30pm - Youth Alpha small group planning with Ruth Hepburn
4.30pm - Off for a couple of hours!
7.00pm - Mettle Youth Alpha + group
9.30pm - Home. Beer. Bed.

Little wonder I'm tired! Tomorrow will be almost as busy too... Day off Thursday - although I'm going over to Mark's to help him with the marketing for his Youth Ministry.

A young person the other day said, "but you must get loads of days off ... you've got nothing to do all day". If only they knew!

On the up...?

Still feeling a bit on the low side, but things seem to be a little on the up emotionally.

I don't know what it is about Term 5, but I always struggle at this time of year. I think part of it is the climb-down from the Spring Harvest mountain-top, added to being surrounded by people who have exam pressure and a lot on their plates. When you care so much about these young people, their problems become your problems a little bit. I want to share lives with them, and I wouldn't have it any other way ... but it can still be hard.

Small mercies ... Term 5 is pretty short this year - only another four weeks to go! Then we start the countdown to the Summer and September next year. Lots to do!

Work-wise, things have been pretty positive. Youth Alpha on Friday evening was 100 per cent better than last week, and there seems to be a sense that the group is starting to bond.

RE:fresh was also good on Friday ... a nice atmopshere and two really good conversations. I love unstructured work when it goes well! A lot of non-churched young people are choosing RE:fresh over drinking at the Poplar Rooms on Friday evenings, which is really encouraging!

Today has brought a good RS2 session, a Derby defeat live on Sky which means we now have to settle for a play-off place (which I would have taken at the start of the season) and tonight's Mettle session, which is looking promising.

So in all, mixed. Struggling, but feeling a bit more positive. Please don't stop praying though!