Game on for God!

Catch up

I have not blogged for the past 3 weeks at least.  Apart from being busy I have not had that much to blog about.  What has happened in the past 3 weeks?  where do I start?

Family - The family are all well #1 daughter is having a ball in America and has moved camps from the initial camp as it was working with special needs children which turned out to be adults and she is not trained to deal with that.  America may be a super power but it is awful for caring for people and its citizens with health issues.  Obama will have to reform somewhere and prioritise what America should stand for apart from being able to blow other countries up by the flick of a switch!!  #2 daughter is doing very well and enjoying the summer break and also her big sisters room.  # 3 & 4 are having a ball it is #4 daughters 4th birthday today and she loves it having her sister and brother at home with her playing.  Only son has totally destroyed everything that he can he is great fun and loves motor bikes and the fact that he now has a seat attached to my push bike so that we can go cycling.  It is great having him and he is just so much more sturdy and sure of himself than I ever remember the girls being.  My wife is doing well she is getting to preach a few times over the summer which she is really looking forward to.  I am preaching over the next few weeks and so will find out what it is like to prepare a sermon/service at least 4 weeks on the bounce.

Football - All is quiet on that front at the moment although we have started training on a Wednesday night now and had our first pre season friendly on Sunday which we lost 6 v 1 in but although the result sounds bad we learnt a lot from it and to be fare although they were a lot older than us on average they were a very good team.  I am in the process of ordering new strips for the team along with other equipment needed for the season.  Sadly we have said goodbye to a few players including Alisdair Morrow and Davey Stewart Ali has gone to play for someone else and Davey at 28 has retired???  The rest of the guys are still with us and I hope looking forward to another very exciting season in the football league.

Church & Faith - Still working for the methodist church in Milton and enjoying numerous opportunities to preach mainly in the C of S which is great fun.  Currently looking at setting up a womens meeting on a monthly basis Wednesday night which my wife will run and setting up a cafe type of adventure for the local community to come in and use along with the gym equipment that we have installed in the church.  God is good he has blessed us immensely and I am looking forward to what he has in store for us in the coming year or 2 what an adventure this journey is.  I am already starting to look forward to November and going down to Bradford to ALC and listen to what God is doing and is going to do with His Church.

Blessings to all who read this blog.

Whats been happening

At last my feet are touching the ground it has been a very busy 2 weeks so here is what made it so busy -

Football season finally finished on Tuesday night and we drew 2 each with Trinity Possil who for the next season will become St. Silas and will be run by a couple of our ex players along with some of the original TP guys.  Exciting times ahead for them plus they had a good season and finished second in Div 2 we finished 6th eventually.  We have a very good squad of players with exceptional talent I am proud of everyone of them and the contribution they make to the team,  There is however room for improvement especially on the discipline side of our team they will also have to improve because I am now the chairman of the league and so I expect them to improve and I think they realise they picked up some silly stuff during the season.  They have improved by 50% and so there is still room for more.

#1 daughter is in America New Hampshire and I think in Bedford which is ironic as I was born in Bedford England and have just studied the Puritans at college.  She is loving it so far but we miss her and it is strange to adapt to not having to run about after her.  She had a good flight and has already been shopping, typical!  She is back on the 24th August and I think she will have changed a lot and be ready to start uni or college whichever one she decides upon.  The rest of the family are doing very well the wife had a weekend in Bradford with #1 daughter at my favorite church ALC this is our only weekend at home for the next couple of weekends as we have a couple of short trips to make.  The wife has been working hard over the past few weeks and it was brought to a magnificent finally with the Powerhouse ball at St. Silas yesterday she did a fantastic job and everyone had a great time.  My wife is an extraordinary women and I am so proud to be married to her and call her my wife.

College life has 3 days left to run  and then I have finished one more essay to do and a reflective paper plus I have to meet with the bursar and then I will have left.  I am excited to be finishing and I look forward to the next step it has been a time of finishing as I have also finished the first part of my local preachers course and moved from on note to on trial which means I can lead and preach at services throughout the methodist domain??  I have been preaching a few times in the C of S which I love doing they are so open and very welcoming and they are very appreciative.

So now that I have done all that I expect a busy summer work wise however, I am playing golf next Monday/Tuesday with Nick Cox and possibly one other as I have looked forward to the day of finishing for so long and now it is upon me.  I will miss college though and I am already thinking of maybe going back and auditing a Church history module next semester.  Now though it is time to get on with some church work and enjoy playing some golf.

I now need to get on with my essay, a church report for Tuesday, my expenses for Tuesday and a reflective paper plus I need to alter the church website as it has wrong information on it but after Wednesday I will be free of the college side of things but will have more meetings on the football side and church side where the majority of my working time will be spent.  The great thing about finishing is I can spend time with the family and enjoy their company without having to go and finish something else.

Work and play

I've just one assignment to complete now and then I'll be finished my Honours Degree!  I'm glad it's done.  I haven't really had the time to devote to it that I would have liked but I've enjoyed studying again. 

It's been a busy time and 1# daughter flew out to Boston yesterday for 3 months in the middle of all that's going on so we'll miss her not being around.  The wife's been working hard and has another busy week ahead but we're both looking forward to a quieter month in July while the kids are off.

I'm now the Chairman of the SEC League and looking forward to working with the member churches in this role. 

Now that the summer weeks are here I'm hoping to spend some hours on the golf course with friends.  It's been so long since I had a game!

Long time no blog!

It has been a while and a load of stuff has happened since the last time I blogged.  Most recently I have written my dissertation 10,000 words and handed in.  All I have left to do is 1 exam 4/6 and an essay to be in 09/06 oh!  Presentation 02/06 @9.15am and finallt a reflective paper to be in by the 12th June.  The next 2 weeks are going to be very busy.

Football team and we have been doing very well over the last 2 weeks and have 1 final game left and if we win we can finish as high as 3rd depending on results.  We have lost 1 player for next season Davey S has decided to call time on the team for various reasons.  He will be a sad loss.  As a team we have secured a home pitch in Milton plus we can use it as a training ground as well.  It is a new 3g astro pitch which hopefully we will be able to benefit from being able to always have a park to play on.

Man Utd. were rubbish last night but 3 out of 5 ain't bad maybe next season?  Ronaldo is once again undecided on if he is going to stay!  I hope he makes up his mind soon.

Church is going well and once I have finished college I will be able to concentrate all of my efforts on work or more of my time on organising stuff in order to move forward.  I have had my trial service and so hopefully I will move on to 'trial' at the next local preachers meeting which is on Wednesday.  I have the leagues AGM on Thursday and our last game is on Tuesday.  Although not taking services in the Methodist Church at the moment I am doing some in the C of S which is great and I am really enjoying the time spent preaching and leading the services and also the preperation.

I am looking forward to having a break soon as it is/has been a busy time.  The family are all great #1 daughter should be going to America soon, #2 daughter is doing well and being a great help this weekend looking after #3 & # 4 daughter plus the boy who has just fallen asleep on my arm.  The wife and I have celebrated 20 years of marriage this week wow! it went quick and is still as good as day 1.  The wife & # 1 daughter are in Bradford at the Cherish conference this weekend I hope they have a great time as I am sure they will.  So far this week the wifes computer has broken and when they arrived in Bradford the engine on the car is not very well and it sounds like it could be terminal which is not good news as money is non existent at the moment.  I am praying that it is going to be ok but have to be realistic and expect a miracle.

I am now going to try and blog more regularly (Have I heard that or said that before?) especially as my work load is going to be less I hope! 

Catch up....

It has been a while since my last blog and a lot has happened.

Football firstly St. Andrew's need another 3 wins out of 3 to remain in the division they are in.  This is due to league restructuring!  We have a game tomorrow night against EK Claremont at Toryglen which I have to say is one if not the best facility we have played at for a while.  Recent results have been a 4 v 3 win against KCC and also a 4 v 1 win against KCC (we hadn't played them at all this season so this was the rearranged fixtures).  We still have Trinity Possil and Mure Memorial to play over the next 2 weeks.  No game Saturday as our opponents are in the cup semi final and I am at a friends daughters wedding.

Family are all well #1 daughter has her visa for America and leaves in 3 weeks.  #2 daughter is very excited as she gets her room while she is away.  #3 & #4 don't care and the boy well that is another story and one that will take a seperate blog.  The sun is out and trying to keep the son in is a nightmare and so far this week he has wrecked the barbecue and the wall in the garden, destroyed 2 plants and climbed the fence at least 5 times and that is in 2 days.  There is a lot to be said about rain.  The wife is doing well and has been asked to write some material  for the expositary times.  I am really proud of her she is awesome and a real b lessing to me and our children.

Work is going ok.  I am preaching on Sunday which I am looking forward to and then 2 weeks after that I am preaching again.  Exciting times are coming.  Anyway that is probably all I need to say just now?  Oh!  My dissertation is due in in 15 days time argh!!!  Better get on with it again.  St. Andrew's had another Praise night which went well and I am looking forward to the next one already.  Oh and I drove an Audi RS 4 amazing! fast,  awesome what else can I say 4.2 ltr engine 0 -60 in 5 secs.

St. Andrew's, Man Utd & Church stuff

St. Andrew's drew 2 each today with goals from Jason & Colin plus a sending off for Del which was a harsh decision but he did deny a goalscoring opportunity!  A good game against Hope Hall all the same.  Boycey saved another penalty which was great.  Our games against Hope Hall are always tough ones and this one was no exception a draw was probably the right result.  The season has 5 games left and then a couple of months off before we start again  and for the next season we will be better prepared.  Training will start mid July and then 4 or 5 games pre season and then off and running for a challenge for whatever division we are in.

Man Utd come back from 2 nil down  to beat Tottenham 5 v 2.  Could have been a dodgy penalty but it was given can't change it now.  There was a stupid comment on the radio from a Liverpool fan suggesting that the officials that come to OT are bribed in some way.  Must be in the same frame of mind as Rafa??  Anyway it was a great result for us and hopefully this will be a kick start to finally winning the premiership.  On another front MU have lined up Kaka to replace Ronaldo and RM have lined up both Kaka & Ronaldo maybe to replace Pepe for 3 crazy acts on Tuesday which have cost him a 10 game ban should have been more try and find it on YouTube it is very interesting watching.

Todd Bentley has remarried, so rumour has it.  Oh! How the mighty have fallen.  Obviously reconciliation to his wife was out of the window.  It is sad how the great revival was brought to a sudden halt.  I wonder if it was meant to be or if God chose to bring it to such an abrupt endt?

Church, Football, Family & Study

Preaching went well on Sunday and I have had an email to say they will be inviting me again.  That was a surprise.  The service went well and thanks to some very helpful people it went smoothly.  The organist was really helpful, the clerk had a great ability to put everyone at ease and the beadle was brilliant especially as I had to ask him a few times where I stood and moved to.  He had three points set up with water in case I wanted to speak from them.  I opted to speak from the pulpit which was a great position to speak from.

Saturdays game against Kings Park was fantastic we won 5 v 1 not only was the score impressive but the way in which we played was fantastic.  This Saturday we are playing Hope all and hopefully we will have a full team to select from although I suspect this won't be the case as a couple have already pulled out because of work committments and golf.  10.00am in Easterhouse Lochend Community High School.  A great facility although not the best astro carpet in the world.  We are still awaiting the opening of the 3g pitch in Milton but as with everything else to do with Glasgow City Council it has been delayed.

Finally I have finished and handed my church history essay in with 4 minutes to spare.  Now I can work on my dissertation which will be my focus between now and the middle of May.  Once that is completed back to another essay and an exam and then I can graduate.  After that who knows what is the next thin on the agenda?  

PS I have had someone in Milton contact me to set up a prayer meeting for the area which is really exciting and something that I feel led to developp for the area.  We are also having another Friday night at which Jane our treasurer will be speaking with regard to what she is going to Malawi for and what they hope to achieve it will be on May 8th and she is also having a coffee morning on the 9th to raise funds to help her on her way.

Football & Preaching

Football today and the team performed exceptionally well we won 5 v 1 with 2 goals each from Colin Crichton and James Ghattas along with won from Ally Morrow before he picked up an injury which meant we played with 10 men for nearly 50 minutes of the game.  There was not one player in our team who did not perform today.  Boycey (Keeper) saved a penalty and a one on one after doing nothing special throughout the whole game.  Our captain Chris Malone was exceptional what a talented player and even the referee commented on how good he was.  We have the basis of a fantastic team for next season and hopefully with 6 games to go we can start putting the points in the bag although we have some very difficult games to go but hopefully with a few players coming back we should be set for a good run in.  Scott, Davey L, Davey S, Graeme, Del, Keith, Ally Morrow all did exceptional very pleased with the way they played and how they won.

Tomorrow and I am preaching in Coatbridge which I am looking forward to immensely, sermon prepared the passage is John and the story of Thomas (Doubting) so I am going down the labels route.  Hopefully they will get something from it.  I now have to spend the evening preparing prayers, finalising the sermon and then going through the plan for the sermon.  Knackered but having fun.

#1 daughter is off to America in 5 weeks she is doing Camp America until the end of August.  The wife will worry about her and we will all miss her she is a very special young lady as are all our family.  #2 daughter will try and steal her room for 10 weeks and will probably succeed.  The younger daughters will definately miss her a lot.  The boy he won't care as he just gets on with stuff ( he's a boy).   we pray that she has a great time and that God will keep her safe and bring her back refreshed, relaxed and having got to know Him more.

Life, work and everything ...

I have finally got the chance to blog!  A lot has been happening.  Where will I start?  The good Friday service at Milton was great - had a good number of people at it including a number of friends of #1 daughter.  #2 & 3 daughters were involved in the service and did a great job.  The boy was at his nanna's because he would have heckled and shouted continuously and so he got barred.  The wife and  #1 , #3 & #4 daughters all helped with the art work which was great.  If they had not helped I probably would not have seen them until Saturday afternoon. 

Football - hopefully the tide has turned as we have actually drawn a game at last and started scoring some goals again also we have got a number of players back which is always good although we were meant to play a game against KCC on Wednesday and couldn't put a team together due to injuries and work.  This is the first time this has ever happened and hopefully the last.  Saturday we are playing Kings Park Baptist away.  We still have a few injuries but we don't have as many players working on Saturdays.  I am however having to organise at least 4 midweek games now as our season finishes in 2 weeks and we still have 7 games to play.  This has been a long hard season and I am glad it has nearly finished however, I am really looking forward to next season and having a great squad to work with.

College - I have 2 essays to write plus my 10,000 word dissertation which is on mission and maintenance in the context of the Glasgow Methodist circuit.  It will all make sense when it is finished.  College is going well and I am especially enjoying the children's ministry module which is on children with additional support needs.Fantastic subject.  I had a great experience with regard to this at the 'walk of witness' in Milton last friday.  After all the ministers had done their bit, a girl with down's syndrome started singing 'How great Thou art' and for me it was the spiritual high point of the walk - it was just fantastic!  It was one of those special God moments when God puts what we call 'normal' right out the window and does something absolutely amazing.

Church is going well and I am preaching at various now which I really enjoy.  I'm leading a service at a C of S church this Sunday, so that should be fun and hpoefully I'll get asked back!?!  We are planning another Friday night praise service in roughly 3 weeks, which should be another good night with more opportunties to try new things.  I have also been asked to go to Edinburgh and attend a Fresh Expressions event in order to train to deliver a training course on a mission.  Once I have been I will blog about it in more detail. 

Lastly I have been listening to some of the Hillsborough stuff on the radio today and couldn't believe it was 20 years ago that it happened.  I remember it quite clearly.  A very sad day for Liverpool FC and football itself.  Throughout the 20 years the whole incident has not been a 'fine moment' and it is about time that there was justice for the '96' and then maybe some of the people I listened to today could move.  They will never forget the people they lost.  My prayers go out to the city of Liverpool and those involved. 

Holy Week

It's been a busy week at church this week.  Church has been open every day and we've been preparing for the Good Friday service tomorrow at which I am preaching.  The kids have been most helpful in preparing some artwork and banners - they've done a great job.  

Football on Saturday - playing at Netherpollock against Kilbirnie, depending on ref availability, out for dinner with friends on Saturday night, followed by the Easter service on Sunday.   Hopefully some R & R next week!!