Game on for God!

Football & Friends

Yesterday we played Kilsyth COG and had avery convincing victory 5 nil - Although we didn't play the best all round football it was a fantastic display of counter attacking football.  Well done to all the guys especially Colin who got a hat trick.  Everyone in the etam did very well and this result menas that we stay joint top for another week.  9 games to go and now we have played all the top teams, beaten 3 of them and drawn against Ebenezer last week.  The team is doing very well at the moment and I cannot praise them enough well disciplined and scoring goals.  Well done guys.

We have a week off next week and so I will be trying to catch a few cup games and watch a few teams other than St. Andrew's it also means that I get to spend the morning with the boy as he will come and watch them with me.

Friday night the wife and I spent the night with our good friends Ruth & Jim at Margaret & Russell's.  We had a great meal and a good laugh plus as they are such good friends I got to watch the Rugby as well.  You can't beat friends like that.  Watched the Rugby yesterday and it was good to see Ireland beat England.  The results in the premier league were also kind to me yesterday with Man City winning never thought I would be saying that the only concerning thing was Arsenal winning and looking good along with it, it was sickening to see the young lad Ramsey breaking his leg but it did not appear to be a malicious tackle there have been worse and I don't think wenger should have his conspiracy theory head on he sounds like a lunatic yes it was bad but I don't think teams go out to delibaretely break Arsenal players legs every season - maybe wenger should start working on tackling with his superstars and also watch his own team more closely.  I hope the lad Ramsey returns as good as what he was when the injury happened he is a very good young talent.  Anyway Aston Villa for the Reds today in a cup final should be a good one but not sure what the result will be.

Church and it is a busy week for me - As a church we are trying to connect with the community more and so we are holding an art competition running for the primary schools in the area and so far all 4 are on board with it.  Bible study tomorrow night in Milton and then a league meeting on Thursday.  Next week is even busier as I am out nearly every evening with bible studies Monday and Thursday and also a praise night on Wednesday in Milton which I am really looking forward to and excited by our visiting speaker.  I pray that the church will be full and that God will be blessed by the praises of his people.

Blessings to all who read this blog

I'm Back

Sorry I have not blogged in ages.  The rest was good though.  It has been 3 months since my last blog and a lot has happened in that time!  Where will I start?

Children always a good starting point - #1 daughter is doing well at University and still talks about when she was 'in the States' argh! #2 daughter is doing well at school and has just finished her prelims. #'s 3 & 4 are great with #3 having her 8th birthday next week. The boy is well what can I say an absolute dream he is a boy and has wrecked just about anything and everything he can but he is so loving and servant hearted it is hard to get annoyed or angry with him.

The wife is doing very well, working hard and not relaxing enough but hopefully this year that will change and we will get to chill out with each other more often.

The Xcel conference this year was fantastic Andre Oliver was the guest speaker and wow!  He was fantastic - Paul Scanlon was also excellent and the whole conference was a touch of reality.  It was definately a very motivating experience.  Already booked up for 2011 so really looking forward to that.  The wife is off to Cherish in June and she is looking forward to that.

Life in ngeneral has been hard especially over the Christmas period when our heating broke just before and was condemned shortly afterwards but through all of this God has released numerous blessings on us including people who have/are supporting us through this time.  The Church has been fantastic and restored my belief in it as an institution but more so as a community of people helping, sharing and praying for one another.

Football and we have not had too much to celebrate so far this season but hopefully things will improve over the rest of the season.  We have not played for nearly 5 weeks now and have a game in Milton on Saturday against Erskine Bridge which because it is our first game back we are looking forward to it.  The last time we played them we lost 4 nil in a cup game. Hopefully the result will be more favourable this time around.

As a family we had a very good Christmas although quiet but that was what we wanted.  We were blessed and managed to get some rest as well. 

I am pleased to be back blogging and hopefully will be able to blog on a regular basis.

Good week/bad week but always blessed

This week has probably been one of the most difficult weeks I have had for a long while and it is only Wednesday!

Monday was probably the most difficult but I am coming through it.  Our children are all great and I love all of them very much but when of them does something daft it effects all of us not just the one who does it.  They then need to realise that it takes time to repair the damage a word or action has caused especially when you have that famous thought 'it won't happen to us' or 'it won't happen to me' and then low and behold it does.

Anyway now the week is getting better and as a family we are well blessed by God.  I have a very good friend who I hadn't seen for a while but we are now in touch on a regular basis.  He and his wife are very godly people and are very supportive of our family.  It is great to have good friends.

Football and we have a cup quarter final tonight against Mure Memorial 6.00pm KO at Blairdardie (Hopefully).  Should be a good game and hopefully a semi final visit for St. Andrew's next month.

College has finished for nearly 3 weeks and in that 3 weeks I have one essay to complete, a few thousand words of my dissertation to do to keep that on track and as the church is open for a couple of hours per day during Holy week a very busy time but at least I should get something of a break.  I am reading numerous books and articles to do with my dissertation and found this quote which has given me a lot to think about and write about - "The church, as the agent of Jesus, should be a community in which pain and suffering can be brought to rest.  An institution cannot do this; Only a community can."  The book goes on to say a lot more with regard to this but I personally think that sums up what church should look like and not something that is a nice place to go a meet with friends have a chat and go home but somewhere you can go and have a cry, scream, moan or even laugh and have fun it is a mixed up place not some nice smooth running place that is emotionless, that you can get blessed where you are at including in sin?!  It should be a place where the exterior is stripped down and you come as you are and do business with God (Not that you can't do that anywhere) amongst fellow believers who can support and go through all these emotions with you.

Now need to make sure we definately have a pitch for tonight as it doesn't appear to have been booked by the council not me!

Update

I think update sounds better than catch up!  With the busyness of life I haven't had time to update the blog apart from the sad news with regard to Ted the VP of ICC.  He was the man that taught me 800 years of Israelite history in a whirlwind 8 weeks and added at each lecture, 'If I am going too fast just stop me'!

Football - we didn't have a game this weekend.  St. Andrew's got to the second round without playing a game and I was away on holiday with the family.  The last game we played was against Trinity Possil which we won 6 v 2.  Wee John scored a hat trick and I-Mac played at centre half and did very well.  They all buzzed about like 'busy little bees' - only Russell will understand this as he made the comment - To give him the benefit of the doubt I, in his defense, will say he was having 'one of those days'.  This weekend we play Kilsyth COG at Castlemilk sports centre and so the game will definitely be on although finding a referee was a bit of a struggle but finally got one tonight.  Looking forward to the game it should be good.

Work is going really well although I have had to hone my diplomacy skills.  I am having a great time with work although it can be a challenge at times but they are great people that I am working with, and the minister I am associated with is brilliant - very wise and very spiritual.  There is a lot of work to be done but in the end it will be worth it.  I am now on note and hopefully within the next 3 months will go on trial.  The programme to preach at the methodist circuit is very complex and thorough.  They have a very good training programme set up.  I need to complete 18 modules to become a licenced preacher and I hope to use this as part of my independent study for my honours year along with another 4 modules.

College is very exciting although I expect it to be quite subdued next week when I actually go in for lectures with the passing of Ted.  I have plenty of reading to do but this can only be good for me!

Holiday was absolutely fantastic.  Never went near a mobile phone and only checked e mails once whilst away.  Spent loads of time with the kids swimming and bike riding.  Most importantly got real quality time to be with the wife, drinking coffee and the odd glass of wine.  Just walking about and reflecting on what we have achieved together over the past 20 years.  So I really enjoyed it we had fun and I actually ate healthily well, at least once.  I thoroughly recommend Centre Parcs to anyone who is looking for a holiday with a difference.

I am away again in 7 weeks off to Bradford for the weekend on my annual pilgrimage to Abundant Life Church and this year there are 8 of us going, 6 from the football team and two other friends so that should be a fun filled weekend.  The theme is 'Heroes'.  I will be able to get some refreshing in a year that ministry has at times been very painful but thankfully God has lead me through and shown me a new side of ministry.  Paul Scanlon will be doing a few sessions, which is always good and an American guy who on paper appears to be a good speaker.  I always find going to Bradford a refreshing and relaxing time.  I do tend to phone home to make sure everyone is doing ok and also to let them hear the great praise music that happens at ALC.  It's all good stuff! 

Not Again!

I know I have already said this but this definately is the last time I will do a catch up as this week is my last week at the Wise Group and so I am going to blog a count down of what my last week at work is like.

Children are all fine, wife is fantastic and really busy as she starts her holidays this week.  We spent the day in Gretna and Carlisle Saturday doing the school buying stuff Praise God it is done.  It is the boys birthday soon and so we also had to do some birthday shopping for him.  Eldest daughter went to work for a day in a friends company and really enjoyed it she is now awaiting her results from a couple of interviews she has gone for.  No. 2 daughter just wants to spend money and we also have our niece over for the day - Praise God for work!  I spent most of yesterday evening in A & E Hairmyers due to an injury playing football and so this morning crutches are the order of the day and for the next couple of days as I shouldn't walk on it.  Note to self NO FOOTBALL for 6 - 8 weeks.  Plenty of swimming and hopefully some golf as well?

St. Silas played their first pre season game on Friday and drew 3 all which was ok but plenty of room for improvement and some players coming back and hopefully some new ones joining us.  Next game should be Saturday but still to confirm and then the next 2 Saturdays are taken up with football plus the teams presentation day which I always really enjoy.

1 month of nothing to do except stuff around the house and then back to work and then hopefully & prayerfully back to college for a year.  The new job involves plenty of training and studying but more of that closer to the time.  I am really excited by what God has done and is doing with us as a family at the moment and also the doors he has opened up for me personally and also praise God for the doors that he has shut.  Plenty of time to read some books and blog.  I am still reading Joel edwards book and really enjoying it will blog some more about it once I have digested some more and think it is interesting and challenging.

An Easter to remember!

What love He must feel for us all to sacrifice His only Son.  A love so great, so strong He forgave the sins of all mankind and opened the gates of Heaven to those who wish to follow Him. 

This was an easter message sent from Wesley Owen and one that I'd like to share with you who read my blog. 

I ask you walk with Jesus this Easter.  Remember Him in your heart and in your mind.  Rejoice for He has conquered death to forgive our sins.  Please, look around you this Easter, see His love still shining through.

There is no one more worthy to follow.  None more worthy of all honour and praise.