just the rev

Our wood supplies have just been boosted by some guys hacking down some trees in our road.I feel God has not been so much chopping away at me as chipping away at some of the things I tend to put my trust in. Was remembering poor old Gideon whose resources were pretty poor and then God reduced them even further. Been a good week of building relationships and L and I are off to T's school for an assembly this morning. Phil hammered me on the xbox last night so I am seeking my revenge on the squash court tomorrow! When we talked about it last night he tried all that "its only a game" nonsense......

Lab number 2 last night. bit thinner on the ground than last week but a really good evening. our mate Catharine from Malpas was there with some young people. We sang a lot and shared a few things. Catharine shared some thoughts around Exodus 33:12-23....which was very helpful and encouraging for me. Easy I suppose to get focused onto who God is going to send rather than the fact that unless God goes with us we are doomed anyway....we need His presence and oh for a glimpse of His glory!

do you think Moses had a 'parting ministry'?! or was the Red Sea a one off?!

hmmmm.....interesting week! Phil is now ok and raring to go for Lab no.2

Lucy has done a stint at the church restaurant as a volunteer which went really well and we had a fab couple called Antony and Jackie from the church round last night.

family night tonight with special guest Uncle James!

Phil has a peanut allergy.......more about that it in a moment.

Don't you hate it when you plan your week and people cancel things or circumstances mean you have to pull out of stuff. Was supposed to preach at Wycliffe College in Stroud but cos our motor is dodgy and can't go on motorways....I had to pull out. Was supposed to do an assembly at Toby's school this morning and the head had double booked us. was supposed to meet someone at lunch time today and they pulled out yesterday. Getting the picture? Anyway young Phil came round last for a meeting about the next Lab and we ordered Indian take away and two mouthfuls in he stops eating and his face/mouth starts swelling up. He tells us that it is not a serious reaction but after phoning his Mum we all decide a trip to A and E is in order. The people at the hospital were great and plugged him to a few machines and gave him some serious injections and at about 12.15 this morning we arrived home. He is fine and is sleeping it all off upstairs. sometimes missing a meeting seems like a big deal. Last night put things into perspective. I think I get a bit paranoid still about what people think.......I think that they will think good of me if I have a full diary and attend lots of meetings. Actually most people don't think like this and if they do they are very sad people....busyness is a killer. Not am I busy but am I fruitful?

Steer clear of the nuts!

where has the last week gone? what have I been doing? Hmmmm let me see....ah yes, the bass guitar still brings a sense of freedom and joy. have been listening to (and trying to join in on the bass) Stronger on Delirious?' Mission Bell. Great album - seems to sum up a lot of what we feel about The Lab. Had a prayer meeting for the lab at the church on Sunday night. Quite a lot of older people but a good mix of backgrounds. Felt great because it seems we have made an official/public start. Over the next few days need to do some serious thinking about where we are going over the next few months with the project lest the service on Sundays becomes our everything....just feel God nudging me to not hold too tightly on to it.....Hopefully meeting the wonderful but slightly elusive richard about the logo and flier. Watched the Chelsea match on Sunday round at Phil's. he had recorded it. he has Sky plus.

(lucky dog!)



Anyway the match was a bit dull apart from Robben's ridiculous departure from the field. A yellow card followed by a red for showing excitement! ah yes, the referee was just doing his job.....me thinks he was a bit too caught up with the letter of the law....not come across that before!!!!

Phil cooked us a wicked curry on Saturday and is doing really well in his new job. what else to say?.....loads probably! Please continue to pray for wisdom and openings for us with The Lab.

don't really know what I am doing yet (!) but already the bass has a special place in my world.

Richard from embrace designs has come with some ideas for a logo for the lab and as a team we have plonked for one of these. Will show it off soon! hopefully we will get some sort of flier out before our launch on the 29th.

good productive day today. Preached twice at St. Mary's Malpas. nice lunch out with our mate Catharine Morris and then the Christingle this afternoon. All the new kit worked a treat. Great singing led by Phil k and the rev Del and fab input from the wonderful Mrs G. interestingly I think all the oldies quite enjoyed themselves and most did the actions to Great Big God. Cool

nice one Leicester!

so getting under way with one of my goals for 06...learning the bass! my new mean machine arrive this morning!

sermon sorted for tomorrow and pretty much everything in place for the old christingle afternoon do.....40 oranges with sweets and candles on already for whoever turns up.

seeing wedding crashers on dvd tonight - hope its as funny as everyone else has said.

so the experiment continues into 2006. waiting for the lab to kick off at the end of the month. in the meanwhile am preaching at the evangelical church in Newport (Malpas) on Sunday and in the afternoon Lucy, Phil and I are taking St. Paul's Christingle service. Then an evening of prayer for the lab is on 15th. feeling pretty good about it all really....



was wondering whether Tobes could make an appearance as Darth at the Christingle and we could try and convert him to the Light Side........