abandoned! April 30, 2005

Hubby is performing in Norwich tonight, and so I’m home alone for the evening and I’m bored!
There’s the option of doing the washing up, but I feel I’ve done enough housework for the day.
There’s nothing on TV (apart from Lord of the Rings – but I’m not in the mood for that!) and the latest book I’ve picked up (on why infant baptism is wrong) is rather dull.

I shouldn’t moan, I’m going to have to get used to hubby being out more and more in the evenings when he goes full time magic!

Ummm, I wonder what the kitchen cupboards hold. I could do some baking! Anyone for cake?

The Anointing April 29, 2005

I’ve just finished reading The Anointing by RT Kendall. I found it an interesting read, I’ve been confused, challenged and enthused. But now I’ve finished reading it, I’ve also finished considering and understanding all he had to say.

I’ve concluded that is doesn’t matter if you are yesterday’s person, today’s or tomorrow’s. What does matter is your attitude towards God. Are you obedient to God? Are you hearing from God on a regular basis? Do you grieve the Spirit, and if you do, do you repent so your relationship can be restored? Are you as open to the word as you are to the spirit? All of these (and more) affect your anointing.

The last few chapters are devoted to thinking about how open we are to the word and the spirit? Depending on our background we often have a leaning towards one or the other. RT suggests we need to be open to them both equally. Right now I’m not sure how open I am to either! I’ve become rather cynical lately!
What does it mean to be open to the word? Is it as simple as reading it regularly, considering it and applying it to our lives? Can we get stuck in a rut with what we believe, so that we are not open to new ideas or different interpretations?
What does it mean to be open to the spirit? Is it looking for manifestations of the spirit? Is it expecting the Spirit to move?

Perhaps I haven’t finished thinking about this quite yet! But one thing I do recognise, is that I need to be more open to letting God into my life – through his word, and his spirit.

church just for girls? April 28, 2005

Had an interesting discussion about church and more specifically worship, at the town wide youth workers meeting this morning. We started talking about a youth worship event which is town-wide, held every three months. The emphasis is on music, but what about those who aren’t into music? Why do we have to worship by singing? This months event will include art during the worship, but we were a little unsure as to how this should be done.

One person commented that the way we ‘do church’ is geared towards the way us females work – talking in small groups, corporate singing, listening to a speaker etc. He struggles to get the boys in his youth group to engage with church.

Our discussion didn’t really bring any conclusions, but we did think encouraging the young people to be actively serving God was a way of engaging them in church.

Whoa, what a weekend! April 25, 2005

Saturday morning: interview
Saturday afternoon: visited an old school friend
Saturday evening: visited family friends with parents. On the journey to North London, I had a phonecall offering me the job! Two frantic phonecalls later, hubby was in his car on his way down south! He stayed overnight with his parents, as I returned with my parents gone 1am!
Sunday morning: hubby and I are reunited at my parents, drive to new church. We were given a really warm welcome (no-one knew I had been interviewed the previous day), and even though the service included the church’s AGM, we really enjoyed it and felt at home. We then walked round the local area, and discussed the ins and outs of moving to new church.
Sunday afternoon: My sister cooked us a wonderful roast dinner, and after a snooze we visited hubby’s grandparents.
Sunday evening: Back to new church for their evening service – a celebration of Africa. Another great service (again, a special service so we haven’t seen a ‘normal’ sunday.) Then back to my parents for a quick tea before the journey back home!
Monday morning: Both of us are exhausted, but really pleased to have decided to accept the post and move to London! Of course it hasn’t been formally offered or accepted yet, so I hope I’m not making a mistake posting this! May the adventure continue!!!!

sunny south! April 22, 2005

I’m down south at the parents for the weekend. It’s a chance to get a away for the weekend, and plus its close to another interview I have tomorrow!
I’m hoping to see a few friends too, and my brother who hasn’t got out of bed yet!!! I’m wondering when he’ll come downstairs to discover his sister is home!!!

the problem of sin .. April 21, 2005

Anyone remember the ‘vain glory’ conversations at the Matrix conference (Sarah – what book was it from?)
Well last night we were with some friends going through a bible study all about sin, which led to a discussion about the sin of pride, and how it is the root to most sin.
My thoughts were focussed on achievements, and how we’re taught to be proud of things we have achieved. Is this wrong? Should we be encouraging pride in young people, by telling them to be proud of achieving good grades, or completion of a project?
The thought last night was that we should encourage children to be thankful to God for giving them the ability to achieve. Its about fostering the attitude in them that God is greater than they are, and that they are no greater than anyone else. Pride does the opposite of this. Can we still be proud of ourselves and yet have the right attitude towards God and others?

Anyway, I need to go and repent of being proud of learning to read and write!!!!

Magic!!!!! April 18, 2005

I’ve really enjoyed being the wife of a magician this past week!
For four years running, hubby and I have performed in the Derby Magic Stage competition, with different illusions every year. This year (Apr 8th), he decided to perform by himself, with no big illusions. I agreed with this decision as I knew I’d be in need of a rest after our holidays and travelling! So for the first time, I was able to sit in the audience and watch. To my suprise, he came second in the competition! The results of the competition tend to be the same every year, as the same few people compete! But this year, he was the runner up, and the trophe now sits on the top of our piano!
This weekend just gone, we performed as part of a show in Wolverhampton. The midlands region of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians get together twice a year or so to put on a show, and to enjoy fellowship. It was another great show (we performed cube zag) fundraising for the church in Wolverhampton. We all went out afterwards to a Chinese restaurant, and enjoyed talking magic, church and life.
Tonight we have Richard Sanders coming to Leicester Magic Circle, and although I’ve never heard of him, he’s supposed to be really good, and the circle have been plugging tonight for months! I’m looking forward to another night of good magic!

not a lot to report April 15, 2005

I’ve not done much this week apart from moan about my sore throat and cold! Today I’ve been a lot better, hubby is at school helping the girls finish their GCSE projects, and so I’ve reclaimed my desk!!!!!

I’ve spent most of the day preparing two youth sessions I’m leading tomorrow.

Now I’m beginning to worry exactly what will happen at tonights youth meeting. It is supposed to be a Battle of the Bands evening, but due to not getting promo material out in time (Easter hols didn’t help!) we only have one band. We’re planning a jamming session with chill out. Should be interesting!!!!!!

teach abstinence only? April 11, 2005

Lovewise provide sessions on choices and marriage for sex education in schools. They ran a seminar at the FIEC conference I was at last week. What they do is very well done, but it made me ask a few questions.

Should we teach just abstinence in school? All the stats appear to say this is the best thing to do, but do schools really welcome this as much as they say they do? I know one of the two high schools I am currently in would welcome it, the other wouldn’t. Lovewise teach abstinence from a Christian stance with bible verses and the lot, – surely not all schools will accept this?
Can we teach abstinence without the Christian stuff?

I’ve never been asked to provide sex education in schools, and I’ve never really come to any conclusions on the issues. (I once had to decide whether I would continue to work with detached workers who were gaining the licence to hand out condoms, but they moved the day they went onto the street to one when I already had a youth meeting, meaning no decision made!)

It’s easy to know what to teach in a Christian youth group, I have no problem with just teaching abstinence there. But it’s still worth asking the questions.

back, and hoping for a rest! April 8, 2005

I’ve had a lovely time away. Guernsey was beautiful. If you ever go to Guernsey, enjoy the walks and the beauty of the island as the tourist attractions aren’t up to standard! We had a gorgeous costal walk (where we both caught the sun a bit) and we did see a few tourist attractions – like walking round someone’s back garden, and a telephone museum (hubby’s fav!).
The FIEC conference was interesting. I attended a seminar run by Lovewise, an organisation in Tyneside that provides sex education for schools. Good stuff. I might post more later.
Now we’re back home, I got my first good nights sleep since we’ve been away! There’s nothing like your own bed! Hubby performs in Derby tonight, and the in-laws are coming to stay! I’d better get back to my big pile of washing! But its nice to be back blogginh again!