The Rantings of a rural Youth Worker

First week back

2012-01-16T10:46:00.000Z

Well It's been an eventful first week back into this new year. We have a New Minister. How exciting is this. We have been a vacant charge for over two years and I have never had a minister as my boss. So as we get ready to have a full time Minister again we can hardly believe that we have a minister.

As long as I have been in my job here i have had a line manager but never a Minister as my line manager. I have had one in the past and my experience of this was not so good. Sometimes youth workers and ministers see things very differently. My idea of Church from some people's idea is very different and yet even I am coming round to some proclaiming the Gospel and that relational youth work needs to be more than it is. I'll explain.

Don't get me wrong, I still think there is a need in this day and age to build up trust and relationship and the right to speak to a young person. I don't think now that many people will even entertain going to Church unless they have a connection or a relationship with someone from that Church. I am realizing though there still has to be a preach the Gospel element. For me that is taking the Gospel and using the culture that is around me in this Parish. Relationship alone can't work. It's a good theory. Someone sees what you are and the more they get to know you, they start asking questions and the chat can go to Christianity. In some cases this works but not in as many as youth work books would like us to believe. I think they leave out the next step and that is what is wrong with youth work in Churches today. We don't go that extra step, the discipleship, mentoring step.

I still don't think that traditional ways of measuring young people and Church work. It still really annoys me when people count my job success by the number of young people who attend Sunday service. If that is all my job is then I don't want to be that kind of youth worker. I see Church youth work as a job for all week. To be involved in school, community and Church groups.

I know that I have has a free reign here in my job so far. It will be challenging to work with someone else but I look forward to that challenge. With a team there is so much we can do and achieve for God. So it is with anticipation and expectation that I wait for my new boss.

I will also get a chance to explore my call to Ministry of word and sacrament further at the beginning of next month. I go to the enquirers conference. So another step on the way and who know maybe I'll become one of those Minister types after all. Who would have thought it but for now I'll have to wait and see and trust God.

Til Next Time

Kindle

2012-01-11T11:44:00.000Z

I don't think I mentioned I got a Kindle for Christmas. Mum had said that there were to be no more books in the house. The book shelf's were full in the office, six crates were littered in various cupboards and generally just everywhere. So many in fact the house would have burned for days if there had been a fire. So I got a kindle.

I didn't really want one if truth be told in the beginning. I love books, I love reading and as much as I love techy gadgets well I wasn't going to give up on books that easily. Well I thought that. So since owning a Kindle, I have read 6 books and had flu for a week, so it's save to say I love my Kindle. I can read and store as many books as I like and don't need room in the house.

So what have I been reading. Well there is a bit of a theme emerging. I started reading books by Richard Wurmbrand, who had been in prison in Romania for being a Christian during the communist era. I read three of his book and his perseverance for his faith was amazing. I also got round to reading Robert Murray M'cheyne autobiography. Well that was well worth the read but a wee bit off theme. The next book I read and the one I am going to blog more about is Duncan Bannatyne's autobiography. I read it a while ago but thought I would re read it on my Kindle. He too has been to Romania many times, in situations that are desperate. So it was one night like most people who go there he was touched so much by a situation that he just had to go and find that place where you can be by yourself and just cry.
Bannatyne says " I had no tears left to flow,and they just kept pouring out of me and wouldn't stop. After many minutes I began to get the feeling I wasn't alone. I felt that i had been consumed by this presence, that something had completely shrouded and taken hold of me. It was unmistakable: I knew who had come and I also knew why............." God says Bannatyne came that night but he knew that we would have to give up on the bad stuff in his life and the searching after wealth. He didn't want to do that and told God "No, I'm not ready". God said "OK". This reminds me of the passage in Matthew 19 about the rich young man. He too had the chance to give up all he had and follow God but choose not to. God comes to everyone and they get a choice. For some the trappings of this world are to much for them to see the bigger picture. A life everlasting, with the creator of all things. They have too much to give up or so they think.

So two contrasting stories from Romanian experiences. One risked life and family for the faith in God whom he knew was worth risking everything for. One whom this world and it's temporary riches meant so much that he couldn't get the life that God had planned for him.

So as i continue to read my Kindle and look for other books to download, I know that my reading will slow down, what with work and life and all that. It's good to know that no matter how many books I'll read they won't take up any more space and that will please mum.

New year new possibilities

2012-01-08T10:42:00.000Z

Well it's not been the best start to 2012, what with one thing and the other and of course i've had the customary Christmas holiday bug. Been in bed for three days and only yesterday did i venture out into the big bad world. I still don't feel 100 percent.

So today could be a big day. We have had no minister in my Parish for over two and half years. Today we have someone preach as sole nominee, so depending on the congregation, I may have a new boss by dinner time. So we leave it with God and wait and see what his plans are for our Parish.

The best is yet to come is a phrase many people have been using this New Year. So I pray that indeed the best is yet to come.

Til Next time

Resolutions

2012-01-02T12:19:00.000Z

Well we've had Hogmanay. For non Scottish readers, Hogmanay is New Years eve. In Scotland well in the olden days not so much now. People cook and clean all day and then friends and family and neighbours come into an open house, anyone is welcome to party. At midnight a tall dark man comes to the door and is the fist foot. The first person to cross the threshold of the house. He brings gifts of coal,shortbread and cake and of course Whisky. There is then a party well into the night. This doesn't happen much now. Young people go to clubs and pubs for new year parties.

So what did I do. Well my family stay on Hogmanay. So we play games and xbox just dance and have something to eat. This year though I never even stayed up for the bells, I had early Church to lead in the morning.

So what are my resolutions. Well I don't make any. But I would like to read the Bible in a year as I have done for the past number of years. With my new Kindle I got for Christmas I have already read three books, so i suppose I would like to continue reading at this pace, although work will get in the way of that. So I think I will aim for 4 books a month. My biggest challenge this year and I suppose every year is to rest. To take time and just be with God and not be working. We'll see how this goes.

So anyway. Off to read and enjoy the rest of my holiday. Have another whole 10 days left!!

Til Next time.

2011 blog review

2011-12-31T12:20:00.001Z

I love this post in the blog, having been taught to be a reflective practitioner, it's good to look back at the year and see what has happened. This blog for me reminds me of what has been going on this year, and when I look back I am amazed at the things I have forgotten.

January saw me looking forward to the year, to where God would lead me. It was a time of uncertainty at The Ark as our team leader would soon move on. It was also a time of firsts as I spoke at the Church guild for the first time. They must have enjoyed it or can't get another speaker because they have asked me back!

February saw the team leader of the Ark move on to parish ministry and I started schools work in earnest at the three primary schools. I also decided to go back to Romania.

March saw some Divine appointments just when we needed them at The Ark.

April and May saw some big events at The Ark,weddings, holidays and me reflecting on rest again!!

June and there was the annual catch up at the Parish workers conference at Stirling this year. Nia took us down memory lane and back to the start of Smiles. Lots of schools work and services and the end of term.

July saw the Ark open for a summer programme a great success and we had some great God talks and movement of God.

August saw me have three weeks holidays and the family headed south to Dorset. We tested our Sat nav and I reflected on following God as he navigates my life for me. England had riots and young people again were front page for all the wrong reasons.

September say me finally following the call and applying for Ministry and Sacrament in the Church of Scotland. I talked to young people about rumours and began preparing for my trip to Romania.

October has to be the highlight of the year again where i visited Romania and saw a continuation of all the work of The Smiles Foundation. It was just amazing to sit in Church and worship, to see people moved from the streets to container homes and old people moved to the nursing home. TO lay paths and knock down walls. It is a privilege to share in God's work for a week with people who serve God out there all year. I never come back home without being taught something by them and God.

November saw me looking at Isaiah 40 and using it when my friends mum has an accident in Romania. I also was asked to open prayer rooms in the schools. The boys played five a side against other churches and won.

December saw a mad month of services, concerts and schools work. A visit with school to the Imax and Chocolate nativity.

So all in a busy year. I look forward to 2012, to see where God will lead me. Will I be going back to University and studying for Word and Sacrament. Will I return to Romania. These things will be reviewed next year.

So as we start the year with ~~365~~ 366 blank pages, I hope that each day we use for God's glory and for his plans. That we write great things on them next year. I pray 2012 be a blessed year for all.

Til 2012

I never want to see any more Chocolate!!

2011-12-27T12:35:00.001Z

Well Merry Christmas to all who read my ramblings and incoherent thoughts all year. I pray you had a great day and celebrated the light coming into the world our Saviour Christ the Lord.

I was let loose on the family service and I thought I would just go for it. Go for a different take on the nativity story and readings. Well it went down a storm. I did a chocolate nativity with 63 bars of chocolate. It was fun, the adults joined in and at times it got a bit competitive to see who had won the Chocolate. Best of all though people listened to an old familiar story in a modern form. Family Christmas eve service is a great opportunity to reach those in our community and their families who visit. It's our chance to say hey were here all year and you can be as welcome as you are tonight.

Also at the family service a bumped into an old friend who was visiting the village. Lots of my friends no longer stay in the village. If people go to university they don't usually come back to stay. There are no jobs. So at Christmas it's just great to catch up when they come home. That's what they all say this is home. No matter where they stay now, what family they have. This wee rural village is home. So anyway as we talked and caught up my friend and I discuss Church. She says she was nightmares about it closing and turned into a theme park. Maybe she has been to my services!! But seriously it is a concern to her and she lives in London. Like many of my friends they go to Church only when back home. They want the Church to be there when they come back.

So this coming year as I work with young people and hopefully get a new boss. Watch this space. We strive to do more than keep a Church building open. We strive to add to God's kingdom.

Til next time.

Another year

2011-12-16T14:46:00.001Z

Well as I approach another year on this earth, I'm thankful for all this year has brought. Having had my big birthday last year, tomorrow will be just another birthday. Each year though brings with it different things.

I will do a review of the blog later but a review of my year. Well there has been holidays and family trips. There has been work and loads of exciting opportunities. My highlights are getting into all schools and opening prayer rooms.

Then there has been another visit to Romania, with first in many projects. Worshiping in Church and seeing the homeless village among some highlights.

So where will God take me in 2012. I look forward to seeing where and doing whatever that may be. So next blog I will be a year older, will I be wiser, that's another story!!

til next time.

The start of Christmas madness

2011-12-12T08:47:00.001Z

Well last night saw a packed Church in Dalmellington, it was so good to see and hear that many people. We had our annual ecumenical carol service, where Patna, Bellsbank, Dalmellington and our friends from St Francis Xavier RC primary school join us in a carol concert.

As we go round the schools for assemblies and schools work, we try and have a wee competition. Just to encourage the head teachers i may add. That the other schools sing better than they do!! Well I can tell you that this is really working because last night I don't think I have heard school choirs sing so well. They were just brilliant. All of them but I will still tell them that that the other schools were just to get an even better performance next year.

I was thinking and reflecting last night. A packed Church at night because of a Christmas concert. 30 people during the day. That is 470 more people at night. I know it's not about numbers and where you get young people performing, adults come to watch but how can we get Christmas and all it means to these people for the rest of the year.

I know people who only come to Church for Christmas events. They tell me that they are part of the Church. Who am I to say that they are not. Why then do they like Church at Christmas but not any other time? Questions that need to be thought out and explored. If people's faith only stops with the birth and coming of Jesus to this world and never progresses to Easter and the power of the cross and Resurrection. That is a huge problem and one that needs to be addressed.

So as I lead services in the next few weeks, I am exploring this and thinking on it.

Til next time.

This thing they call work

2011-12-08T09:37:00.001Z

Yesterday I got the opportunity to go to the IMAX and science centre in Glasgow with Dalmellington primary school. We had a brilliant day.

I got to go with the whole of P5. I usually only take my few wee cherubs on a Tuesday. I know most of the class but it was great just seeing them so excited about science and technology, things I can explain to them and get interested about. It was like Christmas for me with so may gadgets and science all around.

As I started to reflect and think on what I was seeing, it was so different. The young people I work with were lost. They were away from familiar things and were so quite. As I observed this it was strange for me to see them like that. They are usually the very opposite to this. Many of these young people don't leave the village much, don't have treats like the cinema and holidays. So it's all new to them.

It made me think of the different lives they lead. That God has so much more planned for them, if they get the chance. That they don't need to follow on and be the next generation in the village that have no future.

I had some great conversations with them all yesterday, I love that just being there and getting to know them all so much more just opens up lots of things to talk about. I am so glad we were not going today. The weather is dreadful and schools have been cancelled.

So things are going well here. As we get ready for the mad Christmas season of plays,trips,parties,events and services. I'll be well ready for two weeks holidays.

Til next time.

Advent

2011-12-03T08:18:00.001Z

As regular readers of this blog and friends will know, I don't do Christmas. I'm a bit ba humbug. I better explain because as a Christian and someone who is going through enquiry for Ministry of Word and Sacrament I think I better.

I don't do endless shopping, Christmas tree and all the trimmings, Santa and all the chessy songs. I loathe all this. As a youth worker though I need to try and use this to get across the real reason that I love this advent season. So this year in school services I am using the Christmas story and telling it in Chocolate and sweets. Will see how it goes.

What else has been happening in my world. Well schools are going great. The pastoral work is bringing some really challenging and encouraging conversations. The two prayer rooms will open really soon maybe even this week if time permits. I am doing lots of chaplaincy work in all the four schools, it's amazing that all these young people in the midst of all their problems, always come and ask me about what I think of God. We have been having some fruitful conversations of late.

Sunday saw me meet up with most of the Romania 2011 mission trip team. Great to catch up watch videos and look at the 2000+ pictures( no not an exaggeration ). It has reminded me again of why I go out there. When I look at the pictures and remember the situations these people find themselves in, there by the grace of God I think, It could be me if I lived elsewhere. So plans are in the early stages of going back out next year.

So busy, busy. The Christmas madness at schools is starting. With us going to the Imax on Wednesday to see Santa v the snowman. Should be good although personally the visit to the science centre before hand appeals more to me!!

So until next time.

updates

2011-11-07T15:29:00.000Z

Following on from my last post. My friend in Romania, mum has only broken ribs. Praise God it could have been so much worse.
So what's happening this week?

Schools work is taking off like wildfire. Been asked to open two prayer rooms. One in the secondary school and one in one of the feeder primaries. Exciting times of God opening doors. I feel like right now their is an expectation of God in our area, That projects and people are coming together to follow where God is.

The Lazers our group for s1 up is great. I love it. We have young people from all backgrounds. We love to do new things. So this week we have challenged three other football teams and well I have to say it but we're going to win. So by Friday I could have some disappointed young people!! It's just been great to see them fired up and excited. To go to school and see them training at break and lunchtime. To have something to look forward to. Small steps in a big plan.

So a busy week ahead and who knows I could dust off the boots and be in goals for a spell!!

Until next time.

Prayer request

2011-11-03T18:51:00.002Z

I opened my email this morning and got a real shock. One of my friends in Romania emailed asking for prayer for another Romanian friend. As much as they need prayer out there they never email, we pray for them daily, they never ask. So immediately I knew something was wrong.

I was right. My friend said that our other friends mum had fallen from a tractor and the trailer had run over her body. She was really badly hurt and has had to be moved to another hospital. My friend is at the other end of the country and her mum is a lovely woman. So as I reflect and pray. I think on the many times we have had reflecting on this passage together. It is one of my Romanian friends favorite

Isaiah 40 >>
English Standard Version

Comfort for God’s People

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare^a is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries:^b
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

The Word of God Stands Forever

6 A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said,^c “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty^d is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

The Greatness of God

9 Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;^e
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;^f
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has measured^g the Spirit of the LORD,
or what man shows him his counsel?
14 Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as the dust on the scales;
behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
17 All the nations are as nothing before him,
they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

18 To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?
19 An idol! A craftsman casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and casts for it silver chains.
20 He who is too impoverished for an offering
chooses wood^h that will not rot;
he seeks out a skillful craftsman
to set up an idol that will not move.

21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
23 who brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25 To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

I know that she will be using this passage and the song that uses the words to this. That God will comfort them and strengthen them and that their faith will carry them through this. That our God is strong and there is nothing he can't do that is in line with his will. So we wait in expectation and hope. Praying for our friend and family and her mum. When God's people pray great things happen.

Til next time.

Some Romanian firsts

2011-10-29T11:23:00.001+01:00

Well been back a week now from Romania, It’s taking a while this time to settle in. There was so much happening, so many situations that my head is still back there, while I work away here.

So what was happening? Well the new enterprise business to make the charity self sufficient is going great. The charity has a huge glasshouse and this year this has produced tonnes of cucumbers, which have been bought by a huge supermarket chain from Europe. They also have four shops, one new one having just been purchased in the city of Oradea. These shops provide reasonably price clothes to be sold to the Romanian people and the money then supports the Smiles projects. The next phase is a coffee shop. I worked on the demolition of five walls there, so hopefully next year I can drink a coffee in the shop and read a book. It will soon be a Christian coffee and book shop. It’s exciting because the next phase after that is a care home for the elderly. Way back in 2007 i was shocked by the treatment of the elderly. Families abandoning their old folk, stealing their houses and land to build huge big house and making their parents homeless. Today this still goes on and we hope and pray that soon some will find a home in the new facility.

I visited families in the family care programme. I love the work of this programme. It is the cornerstone of the charities work and the first project to be started. I visited families in a setting like where I stay here in Scotland. It was a remote rural location. The roads were bad and access to the city was very limited. These folks lived hard lives. Yet there was community and family and just a happiness that they were together. Things i see becoming lost in our rural community. Hope for these people comes once a month when they get a visit from the Smiles social worker. He is a man with a great big heart. It’s like visiting with a celebrity when you go into villages as people shout at the van and come and see him. He has a tough job on who to help but the ones he does depend so much on the help they get.

A project very close to my heart is the Homeless project. Last year our group saw some horrific sights. It broke the hearts of some of my young people. This year I was so privileged to be involved with the opening of the Homeless container village. We laid a path and saw for ourselves these converted shipping containers which have been turned into lovely houses. There are toilets and shower blocks for the short term containers and toilets in the family homes. This is an amazing project. The city of Oradea is in partnership with Smiles for this and that in itself is an achievement.

I also visited homeless sleeping places. These vary from rough built house structures to plastic bags and boxes. These people are the bottom of society in Romania. They have nothing. There is no state help. They have no money, no food no hope really. That’s where the smiles social worker comes in. He finds their sleeping places takes food, tries to verify their stories and where possible they can go into the container village. For some this will not be possible as it is an alcohol free area and many use alcohol on the streets to block out their circumstances. So we moved a pregnant lady into a container. Her baby will be born in a warm dry place and not a cardboard shelter. There is hope and we continue to work towards the day when all God’s people will have basic needs met.

So still lots to process. It was great to be in a team of people of different ages, different backgrounds, different denominations and faith stages but when we came together and did God’s work for a week, what a difference that made, even if it was only for one person. I am reminded time and again of a conversation i had years ago with Kevin Hoy the CEO of smiles. I had been overwhelmed by the vastness of a situation and he said it’s when we do nothing that we fail God. Small things lead to big things. Each time I go back i reflect on this and see the small things that the charity have done, becoming big things. The school, the Church, the medical facility, the family care programme, the homless projects. It’s being faithful to God in small things, then he leads us to the heart of the problems.

So as I settle into life and ministry in Scotland. I wait and see where God leads me next who knows what or where that will be but God who knows all things.

Til Next time

Romania Reflections 2011

2011-10-24T10:59:00.000+01:00

Well that was the quickest week I have ever spent in Romania. I've been back in the UK one day now and already i feel the pull to go back. I sit here in the office and think what am I doing. I know this will fade as I get back to work but do I want it to?

But anyway what a week. To sit in the Church and take part in the service was amazing. It will be like that in Heaven, only Maria won't need to translate! The people are just so friendly, so thankful, so changed by God. When things get tough as the week goes on, I think back to the change among the Gypsy community and it give s me hope.

I knocked down walls and laid paths. Not something I would do here but to just serve God doing things that you really don't like is a really satisfying feeling at the end of the project. To leave behind something for the people to use and be of use is amazing.

The theme for the weeks devotions what will we leave behind. As I reflect on this and had been reflecting on before I left, It's a good question for us all to think on. What do we want to be here of us when we go? For me it's not that I leave my family wealth, or possessions. It's not that I will have a famous name that people will know and talk about for years when I am gone. It's that what I have done and tried to do for God will make a difference in the lives of those God asked me to be in contact with. That is worth leaving behind. Also memories, memories of the times we shared together. For me in Romania being in a team, of all ages, differing personalities and backgrounds is a great experience for memories. We talk about the shared experience, even when there is not much in common with the rest of our lives.

So this last week, I have learned that God uses me again, as a small, insignificant person to do the job only I can. That me calls each one to do their part. No one else will do. So as John Powell writes:
There is an old Christian tradition
that God sends each person into this world
with a special message to deliver,
with a special song to sing for others,
with a special act of love to bestow.
No one else can speak my message,
or sing my song,
or offer my act of love.
These are entrusted only to me.
So as I get back to work and Scotland. I remember all I saw last week. I'll blog a bit about projects when my head is more clear. There was some hopeful and painful experiences.

Until next time.

Day 3

2011-10-19T05:58:00.000+01:00

Well it's been a physically demanding few days, knocking down and clearing rubble from 5 walls that will make the new Smiles coffee shop. Well I couldn't not do this. I love my coffee so much that I need to make sure when I come back to Romania I can have some. Well if I ever had some spare time here, maybe one day.

The homeless container village got it's first new people yesterday. I hope I get the chance to visit and work there later this week. How good is it that they have a home. I think back to last years visit to emptying the container and visiting some really bad situations where people were sleeping. There is so much need here still.

One day I pray that this beautiful country and people can be the people God knows they will become, until then we need to help give chances and an arm up. To look after them and care for them.
So today I go to visit families on the family care programme. The first Smiles project to begin here. You never know what you will see or where you will go but I hope I see some I have met before.

Oh and for all you who love the farm Babe is due her piglets any day. Will keep you updated.

Day 3

2011-10-18T05:56:00.000+01:00

Well I love that when I come here I get to do loads of different jobs, see a different side of life and just trust in God.
I have been knocking down walls with a team of 4 other people. We worked really hard and it is so rewarding see huge chunks of concrete fall and hit the floor. We need to finish the job as we want to stand and look and see all the work we've achieved, so back to finish what we started today. This will result in a Christian coffee and book shop, when i'm back here next I can sit and have a coffee and read a book, two of my favorite things and well maybe talk about the walls we knocked down!!

Knocking down walls, removing barriers. I have been thinking and reflecting on this greatly, so great sermon illustrations for me when I go home.

I was reminded yesterday by Kevin, that only one person does the job God calls then to do. We have our job, sing our song, spread our act of love and no one else can. In this huge world God's plans are amazing. Here in Romania God is moving and active. Great thing are being done and will continue to be done here.

Waiting in expectation to see what's next.

Day 2 Romania

2011-10-16T17:24:00.000+01:00

Well we arrived safely in Romania. Long trip but were here.
Today we have been to Church and visited the farm and joint facility of love. Loads of changes since last year. Never saw any sightings of the MONKEY though.

Til Next time.

And I'm off

2011-10-15T00:17:00.001+01:00

Well I sit writing this blog and wonder if it's worth going to bed, for you see I need to be up and at the airport at 6am. It is now 12:11. My head is full of all the things i hope I have done and packed and all the plans for the trip.
So tomorrow is a travelling day. Glasgow to Amsterdam. Amsterdam to Budapest and then Budapest to Oradea, Romania. Please pray for our travelling. If you have ever experienced Romanian roads you will know what I mean.
So I will try to post everyday. Some days are just too emotional and it takes time to reflect before I can post but I will post something.

Til Next time.

Will you come and follow me

2011-10-10T09:15:00.005+01:00

Well this time next week I'll be back in Romania. Monday's are usually a hard working day there, as I tend to do something completely different, like knock down walls , build walls or paint or chop down the enchanted forest like last year. So as we sung in Church this hymn yesterday, I was reminded of the call of God and the call to serve him in words and in deeds.

1. Will you come and follow me

If I but call your name?

Will you go where you don't know

And never be the same?

Will you let my love be shown,

Will you let my name be known,

Will you let my life be grown

In you and you in me?

2. Will you leave yourself behind

If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind

And never be the same?

Will you risk the hostile stare

Should your life attract or scare?

Will you let me answer prayer

In you and you in me?

3. Will you let the blinded see

If I but call your name?

Will you set the prisoners free

And never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean

And do such as this unseen,

And admit to what I mean

In you and you me?

4. Will you love the 'you' you hide

If I but call your name?

Will you quell the fear inside

And never be the same?

Will you use the faith you've found

To reshape the world around,

Through my sight and touch and sound

In you and you in me?

5. Lord, your summons echoes true

When you but call my name

Let me turn and follow you

And never be the same

In your company I'll go

Where your love and footsteps show

Thus I'll move and live and grow

In you and you in me

.

Catch up

2011-10-06T09:18:00.000+01:00

It's been a busy but great week.
Sunday saw the first service of our worship team, this is one of the new Church of Scotland ways of helping with the shortage of ministers and an ever increasing number of vacant chargers. Our worship team I think will be used quite a bit. Anyway we took the Harvest service and we have received positive feed back from the congregation. The team were a bit apprehensive, we have a very traditional congregation, and a worship service without a minister or reader had never been experience by them before. They need not have worried because the congregation were really supportive. So on to the next service I only hope that it doesn't take so long to pick the Hymns for that service or we'll need an over night stay!!

Schools work has just gotten much busier. I now have as much access to the local secondary school as I like. Plus a new Scripture union group is stating next Tuesday. God is opening so many doors.

Wednesday was the youth workers prayer breakfast. It's just amazing to get together, encourage each other and hear what God is doing in Ayrshire. Ministry can be a lonely, busy place and it's so important to have other people who know what you are experiencing and be a shoulder to lean on.

Wednesday is my busiest day of the week just now. I have a full day at the Ark and then the youth group at Church. Some weeks especially at the start of a new school year, youth group is madness. With young people pushing boundaries and seeing what rules will be enforced. So I try to get an incentive for them, something to work towards. This year we have arranged a trip into town for a football game against other Churches. This has had a tremendous effect on these young people. They have by themselves organised trials, picked a team and started training every night at the local park. The buzz about the group last night was amazing. I have been assured by the team appointed manager that we will not loose. What this space.

It's only nine days until I head off again to Romania!! Panic I still have so much to do. We are having a commissioning service on Sunday. So that will give me an opportunity to meet some of the team. Which takes me on to my devotional passage for Saturday night's team at the Ark.

Galatians 6

Bear One Another’s Burdens

¹Brothers,^[a]^(A) if anyone is caught in any transgression,^(B) you who are spiritual should restore him in^(C) a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ²^(D) Bear one another’s burdens, and^(E) so fulfill^(F) the law of Christ. ³For^(G) if anyone thinks he is something,^(H) when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴But let each one^(I) test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵For^(J) each will have to bear his own load.

⁶^(K) One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷^(L) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for^(M) whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸For^(N) the one who sows to his own flesh^(O) will from the flesh reap corruption, but^(P) the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹And^(Q) let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap,^(R) if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then,^(S) as we have opportunity, let us^(T) do good to everyone, and especially to those who are^(U) of the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

¹¹See with what large letters I am writing to you^(V) with my own hand. ¹²^(W) It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh^(X) who would force you to be circumcised, and only^(Y) in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.¹⁴But far be it from me to boast^(Z) except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[b] the world^(AA) has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For^(AB) neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but^(AC) a new creation. ¹⁶And as for all who walk by this rule,^(AD) peace and mercy be upon them, and upon^(AE) the Israel of God.

¹⁷From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸^(AF) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be^(AG) with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

This passage has been the inspiration for me and driving force to help others, I suppose to follow the call. I first heard Kevin Hoy of The Smiles foundation speak on this a bit at my Church many years ago. It opened the door to me thinking and acting on God's plan for me. Years later I sat in the newly opened Tileagd Community Church and heard the gypsy leader speak from this passage about how it changed his life. That by people following the call of God and coming and helping the people of Tileagd their live have been transformed.
So never grow tired of helping others, We never know the effect we have on them. God's words never return empty.

Til next time.

Old familiar things again!!

2011-09-26T11:50:00.000+01:00

Psalm 40

My Help and My Deliverer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

¹I^(A) waited patiently for the LORD;
   he inclined to me and^(B) heard my cry.
²He drew me up from^(C) the pit of destruction,
   out of^(D) the miry bog,
and^(E) set my feet upon a rock,
   ^(F) making my steps secure.
³He put^(G) a new song in my mouth,
   a song of praise to our God.
Many will^(H) see and fear,
   and put their trust in the LORD.

⁴Blessed is the man who^(I) makes
   the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
   to those who^(J) go astray after a lie!
⁵You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
   your^(K) wondrous deeds and your^(L) thoughts toward us;
   none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
   yet they are^(M) more than can be told.

⁶^(N) In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
   but you have given me an open^(O) ear.^[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
   you have not required.
⁷Then I said, "Behold, I have come;
   in the scroll of the book it is written^(P) of me:
⁸^(Q) I delight to do your will, O my God;
   your law is^(R) within my heart."

⁹I have told the glad news of deliverance^[b]
   in^(S) the great congregation;
behold, I have not^(T) restrained my lips,
   ^(U) as you know, O LORD.
¹⁰I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
   I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   from the great congregation.

¹¹As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain
   your mercy from me;
your^(V) steadfast love and your faithfulness will
   ever preserve me!
¹²For evils have^(W) encompassed me
   beyond number;
my^(X) iniquities have overtaken me,
   and I cannot^(Y) see;
they are^(Z) more than the hairs of my head;
   my heart^(AA) fails me.

¹³^(AB) Be pleased, O LORD, to^(AC) deliver me!
   O LORD,^(AD) make haste to help me!
¹⁴^(AE) Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
   who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be^(AF) turned back and brought to dishonor
   who delight in my hurt!
¹⁵Let those be appalled because of their shame
   who^(AG) say to me, "Aha, Aha!"

¹⁶But may all who seek you
   rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
   ^(AH) say continually, "Great is the LORD!"
¹⁷As for me, I am^(AI) poor and needy,
   but^(AJ) the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
   do not delay, O my God!

This psalm is the piece of scripture that I reflect on when I need God. Right now for me as I reflect on where I have come in my walk with God and where I think I am going next it's good to reflect on this Psalm.

As I wait again it's great to give thanks to God for his faithfulness and salvation.

So in the midst of all that is happening I say "Great is the LORD"

Here we go again!!

2011-09-24T13:04:00.001+01:00

In three weeks time I will be travelling to Romania. This visit will be different again to all the others. I travel this time with people from different Churches. Some I know, some I've met once or twice and other I haven't. I look forward to catching up with friends and seeing what hard work they have been up to during this past year. I look forward to working hard and spending time with God in my thin place.

For you see Romania for me is a thin place. Th early Celtic Christians believed that there were places on earth that were so thin that Heaven and earth met there. Iona is one such place for my line manager, who spent a few years there working but for me it's Romania. I see God at work there, I feel so close to God when I'm out there. I also wait and see where God will lead me when I'm there. I think when you work with a group of people for a week or two and spend time serving God, worshiping God and sharing in God's word, then the real community of Christianity comes together. We've been going through the book of acts at work. I have always been challenged by the way the early Church lived and worked and acted together. Yet I see the Church in Scotland and see the flip side of this. So I think when I go to Romania and see community and living and acting for God, I am living part of the gospel.

It's been a journey of reflection this week. I have been reading through my journal from the trip last year. Before I go back out to Romania, I always look at what I wrote and how that has changed me or the situations I wrote about. My journal is full of stories of what my young people experienced out there. It give me hope for the future. One day I'm sure that when they least expect it, God will remind them of the promises they made to him in Romania. We never know the impact that we have on young people but God asks us to try and give them hope and a future.

My journal entry for 12th October last year brings back to me how God moves and acts in this world. This was the day that I would visit the finished Tileagd complex. The school had been opened the last time I visited but the Church was only being built. As I sat in the finished building, it was just an amazing experience. To see the Roma people have a place to worship God. To have a faith community just blew me away. As I sat there the words of my reading that morning came back to me.
Psalm 100

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

A Psalm for^(A) giving thanks.

¹^(B) Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
²^(C) Serve the LORD with gladness!
^(D) Come into his presence with singing!

³Know that^(E) the LORD, he is God!
It is he who^(F) made us, and^(G) we are his;^[a]
we are his^(H) people, and^(I) the sheep of his pasture.

⁴^(J) Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his^(K) courts with praise!
Give thanks to him;^(L) bless his name!

⁵^(M) For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his^(N) faithfulness to all generations.

That Psalm summed up my last trip. I had been taken on a journey by God with a group of people of all ages and God had been faithful to us all. That night we had an amazing time of worship, where in that thin place God moved and acted.

I look forward to seeing what God will do this time. Every trip is different, yet it is the same. To go and serve and work for God and the Romanian people he puts in our path.
Til Next time.

2011-09-22T11:10:00.000+01:00

I used this video last night at youth group. To illustrate how rumours start. I had text a leader to ask them to start a rumour about me!! Well they did and it took off like wildfire. I won’t tell you what the rumour was but I can tell you, that if the Church of Scotland or The Ark ever find out I can tell you I better find a new job.

It was an interesting experiment. Some of our new first years couldn’t wait to spread or add to this rumour, some you would have needed to torture to get them to tell you. The most interesting were the young people whom I’ve know for the past six years. They were disappointed and even angry that I would act like that but no one asked me if it was true!! They believed the rumour.

There was a really funny ending to this though. Two of the longest serving youth group members left before the talk. They heard the rumour but never heard it was made up. Young people were frantically phoning and texting them to tell them.

So if you hear a rumour about me. How will you react?

Another turn on the road

2011-09-13T10:12:00.001+01:00

I have been thinking greatly for the past few months that God is moving me on again. I love working with young people, in the parish and on the streets and The Ark. It has been an amazing journey to see young people grow and change and ask questions but there is always the feeling that things are about to change.

I thought at first that it was because my line manager from the parish was going to retire. I began thinking of all the things in the parish that would not get done in her absence. Things like hospital visiting, visiting the sick and housebound. Funerals and visits. All the things she was so good at. Then there was the Sunday services. We have a locum who works eight hours a week!! He does the service every Sunday, except the 1st Sunday in the month. So all this got me thinking, what else would I be asked to do to help out and what could I do with limited time available.

We have been a vacant charge for over two years. The shortage of ministers in the Church of Scotland means that rural parishes like ours who have three Churches and Three communities don’t seem like good places for most ministers. I say most ministers because I believe that somewhere out there is the right person for our parish and in the right time we will have a minister to lead us again.

So what has all this to do with me!!

Well finally I have posted my application. Application for Ministry of word and Sacrament. It’s exciting and scary. A long and difficult process lies ahead. I don’t know if or for how long I need to go back to uni for. What I do know is that I need to try my call. If I don’t I will always be thinking would I have been a minister. So the road takes a turn again and i wait and see where God leads me. The process starts in February with the conference and then a period of extended inquiry and local reviews and other stuff, a long process.

So I wait and see what God has in store for me. What lies around the corner only God knows. I’ve been here before and trust and put my faith in God who knows the plans of my life.

Don't follow me i'm lost!!

2011-08-28T09:21:00.000+01:00

I bought a t-shirt with “Don’t follow me i’m lost” a few months ago. It was a standing joke among friends and family that we never came back the same way anytime I took them somewhere in the car. We were never lost only chose a different route!

Anyway they bought me a Sat-nav one Christmas and from that really unreliable version, whom I nearly baptized(well if i was allowed to) in the river. I now have a built in version and she is really great. If there is a jam up ahead, she finds a clear route. Which I follow every time. Well there lies the next school assembly talk.

I was at a conference in Perth yesterday. Perth is a city that no matter how many times I go to I get lost. Unlike Dundee and Glasgow or even Aberdeen where I can get around without Sat-Nav. Anyway I got to Perth and found the Church really easily with the aid of my trusty friends in car and phone Sat-nav’s . After the meeting I set out back for home. The weather was horrific. With heavy rain, thunder and lightning etc. I got to the outskirts of Stirling and the Sat-nav saw trouble ahead. I followed her and got back to a clear road. Then as I approached Glasgow she saw trouble. I saw where she was taking me and chose not to follow. Then spent an hour and a half in traffic not moving!!

See sometimes it’s like that with God. I say ok God i’ll follow you there. That sounds good it’s where I want to go. It’s God’s plan and the road ahead is clear. Then there are places and things God wants me to do and like my Sat-nav instructions, I thinks no. I don’t fancy that or that’s not the way, or it’s too much effort and I don’t follow. Then the road is blocked and I need to wait and it’s more trouble than it’s worth. When following God’s plan would have been a clear road. A road that was on the right track.

So who says technology is bad?? I know now I will follow my Sat-nav. Where ever it takes me in future. Well!!

Hope

2011-08-09T09:22:00.000+01:00

Last night I sat in disbelief as I watched the TV. Pictures of buildings on fire and people running riot, stealing and fighting. Normally this would be in country far away, but this week it’s in our country.

The BBC are saying it’s young people who have no hope and no future. I’ll pick this up later. What I see is people of all ages, race, and colour. What has happened to society to make them loose control?

I’ve been on holiday for three weeks. The first two were great. i didn’t need to worry about work, being in the office planning or being with young people. I enjoyed the break. This week though I look forward to being back in the office, catching up with folks and young people. I have a job or jobs to go back to.

For these people who are rioting, many have no job. The weeks drag on and there is no job to go to. They see no end in sight. People are loosing their job left , right and centre. For young people many have never had a proper job. They look around and see the things that the media says they should have. Big TV, Laptop, Smart phone, nice car etc and they think I can never be like that. There is no hope!

And yet there is hope. I am angry that the media is portraying young people in this situation as the villains once again.Sure I see young people in the pictures but I also see older people too. I work with some amazing young people. Who really don’t have that many chances in life. They come from the third or fourth generation of families who have never had employment. They are all about to embark on the next stage of their journey having just left school. All have did extremely well despite the odds stacked up against them. The sad thing for me their youth worker is that most will leave this village and head off to Uni.

So what made this group different for the rioters? I believe it was hope. They believe that God has a plan for them. Even in the hard times. They know that the future is theirs for the taking. They just have to go for it, and if they fail it’s no big deal. Not trying is worse than failing in God’s eyes.

So pray for all youth work providers in these difficult time financially , that the work done can be long term and that young people can see hope. I think especially of XLP. They work with young people in all the areas where rioting is happening. I met Patrick Reagan who heads this project up and they do great work. So if your the praying type pray for him and his team.

So to use the words that help and inspire me to work with young people. “ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I've talked a lot on here about faith, hope and love. It is because that is what I believe as a youth worker, God wants me to give to these young people. It's when we see on faith, no hope, no love, that we see massive problems.

So for our society, we need to inspire hope and future for all people. We have to have faith in God and those around us. There is a lack of trust in humanity just now. We need to go back to basics and love our neighbour.

I wait and see and pray for peace. Many reports and committees will be formed to look at these issues. Millions of pounds will be spent to clean up and write reports. There needs to be hope and future. Lets hope this will lead to that.

Some breakdowns and techie stuff

2011-07-23T09:31:00.002+01:00

Well I’m now on holiday for three whole weeks. I will spend my time reading and walking the rat-dog!! It’s been a week of reflecting and fixing.
We’ve been having a few breakdowns at work, of the techie variety! I have spent a few days watching flashing lights, scratching my head and even venturing up more than one rung on a ladder tracing cables. So eventually today we saw the google screen and now have Internet again. It’s been five years since I left that world. The world of flashing lights, head scratching, patience testing, techie stuff. Do I miss this, not much.
I have been reflecting though on the skills and gifts that God gives us and that we should always use these and I suppose keep them up to date. Who would have thought that youth work would require the same skills as techie stuff but as I have been thinking this week, there are some skills that are the same no matter where you go.
So would I go back to techie work? No as much as the church annoys me at times I still see that as the plan God has for me. I just need reminded at times to wait, be patient and all in good time the plan will be revealed. It’s like waiting for a flashing Internet light and in good time it switches to a solid light. When the light finally goes solid the circuit is complete.
So back to holiday mode. Searching for reading material. Looking for dog walks and refereeing fights.

2011-07-16T19:05:00.002+01:00

To follow on for the last post, it’s a quote from the book I’m re-reading by Vincent Donovan and from his book Christianity rediscovered. I have loved this book since the first time I had to read it for college.
This quote for me as a youth worker and working in ministry for the Church sums up my job. Much as a would like young people to see life and faith as I see it, it’s not their faith and it doesn’t connect with their lives. So I need to go with them to the place where they will go and walk with them. Like Jesus did and teach by example in the places that they are.
In the book Donovan is working with the Masi tribe in East Africa. They have no knowledge of Christianity and he finds himself struggling as to what is the gospel. He has to find a way to bring Jesus to these people who have never heard of him. Now I’m going to compare my work with this and I don’t see my parish like the Masi before anyone comments but there are huge similarities.
The young people I work with have a slight knowledge of Christianity, they get the basic stories in school. The picture they have of Christians is of judging and not being any fun and stopping others doing so. I get some great quotes from young people. When I do assemblies and Church services I wear a suit, When I go into classes and lunchtime groups I wear jeans. A young person asked me ” Are you sure you are a Christian?” when I asked why they said ” because you wear jeans.” I don’t have any problems with young people accepting me as a Christian. It’s been the least problematic part of my job. They love to start conversations of faith and life. The problem that seems to me is that where do we go from these conversations?
Donovan talks about first evangelisation. It’s great to talk and explore faith together but recently I have been thinking on what next. Are we just being lazy and hoping the next stage will happen. Are we scared that we frighten them off. So for me next session, I am trying to look for signs of God. Follow where we is working already and getting in on the action.
We in the Church need to join up youth work and Church. It’s my job. As I try to wrestle with ways of bringing young people to faith. Where then do I bring them? I don’t like youth Church. I learned so much from the older people in my Church. I see older Christians as great ways to work with young people but so many of my Parish are scared of them. I’m looking for ways to join them up and bring them together.
So back to the book and more reflecting to come.

Gods behaving badly

2011-07-13T11:20:00.000+01:00

I've been reading Pete Wards book Gods behaving badly. It looks at celebrity culture and is there a worship of celebrities and even is there a Church of celebrities. It's interesting reading this book during all this controversy surrounding trust in the media. After all we only hear and read what the media want us to know about anything.

I met Pete at Solas. He is an interesting man to have a conversation with. He doesn't think that the Church should be influenced with celebrity and that we have looked to use culture to reach people when truth and authenticity are what society is after. I have to say that I am slowly getting to that view myself. At college I would never have said that. We studied culture and how to cross into that culture and I still believe that we need to know about the culture of those around us but when that culture can trust no one. Is that not the place to start.

So I'm reflecting on this.

When i've thought more I'll blog more.

Til next time.

Getting stuck in the boat again!!

2011-07-11T10:28:00.000+01:00

I've been challenged these last few weeks by a source that when I originally read it made me evaluate my life and just what I would do with my life and what did I really hope to leave behind. I had better explain more.

We are still in a time of vacancy at my Parish, it's been over two years since we had a full-time minister. Instead we have a locum who works seven hours a week. He is a source of encouragement and frustration to me. In a good way I may add. He gets me to think and act and sometimes pushes me in the right direction. He is like a grandfather I suppose. So anyway back to the point. He tends to go off in preaching tangents and sometimes I would love to hear what the actual sermon was about!! So he has started a series of sermons on John Ortberg's book If you want to walk on water you've got to get out of the boat. I started reading this book when it was first released in 2003. It was one of a series of books that would get me to the point where I knew that my job in electronics was not the place I would be if I was to follow God's call and indeed that was the boat I had to climb out of. So here we are again. Reading and studying and listening to this book. Only this time I have other boats and another life.

So after Church yesterday I as usual am in a hurry. Somewhere else that I had to be like ten minutes ago, when the boss stops me and says do you remember this lady? Well if you know me you'll know that by now in my brain I'm searching for a location that maybe I know her from. I would be safe if that were work or Church or college but I don't think it's any of them. Help!! The boss sees my struggle and helps me out. I met her at the Solas festival. She makes films. Really famous good thought provoking films. So I stop and talk and before I know it more than an hour goes by. We talk about youth work, issues in society, faith and loads more. A really interesting lady. Who has said she will bring some films and just a few "people" she knows to my work. Really!!! Yes.
So once again God moves and people come into my path, If only I stop and look and listen.

Time to reach for the hankies!

2011-06-29T11:48:00.001+01:00

There have been a lot of goodbyes this last week. Some I won't see very often again and others I will see in their new places.

This has been a week of school prize givings and services. With one prize giving and one service to go before school stops for the summer. I have said goodbye to teachers who are retiring and some who are moving on. I have said goodbye to some pupils who move to secondary school, who hopefully of plans work out I will see next term. Today we will say goodbye to my line manager who retires in August but this will be her last day in Patna school. Then tomorrow I will say goodbye to my p3 and 4 teachers as they retire after thirty odd years teaching each at Bellsbank Primary. A very long time to have been teaching and how so many lives have been touched by them. I am trying to prepare my talk and it gets to me each time I try to write it. There could be tears tomorrow.

I asked them what they thought they had achieved in all those years. They think they have only did the job they have been paid for. This is far from the truth. They have supported and encouraged and loved nearly four generations of young people in the village. They have helped to inspire community and faith in these young people, whom I am one. So as I try and sum this up in my talk I am reminded of a quote I love from Vincent Donovan. Donovan was a missionary to the Masai tribe in Africa. He has taught me so much in trying to bring faith and God to the culture that I am working in . Here is the quote
"In working with young people, do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, as beautiful as that place might seem to you. You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have ever been before."
As I reflect on this again and on the ideas of slipstream ministry. Where God is at work and I just need to look for signs and join in. I see people who have done just this without even knowing. Just following their calling and looking for the good in all young people.

So much to think on during the summer.
Til Next time.

Memory Lane

2011-06-20T12:00:00.000+01:00

Last week was a strange and disjointed week. I was away for two days at the conference and then worked Thursday night at a P7 function at the Ark. Then had another day off!! Well I took P7 from Patna to visit the Ark. A bus mans holiday really. It was great to see them just having fun and being able to be trusted to do their own thing. It makes me thankful for God's provision of the Ark and it's facilities and how when my two jobs link up it shows me some of God's plan for the work I have been asked to do.

Friday night I had a night off yeah. I went to see an old friend in concert. Nia was up in Troon for the night, and took us on a stroll down memory lane. It was great to remember the 80's and perms and the start of Smiles. It took me back to what things were really like in Romania and how much work the charity have done and still do out there. There was a surprise for Nia at the end when Ann the concert organizer showed us a clip from the early 80's she had found of Nia in the early days of her music career. Memories are a great way of seeing God's hand in our lives.

This week is a busy week. School is nearly over. Where did this term go? So we have set the schools a challenge for their end of term service. They have to write their schools version of 7 chapters of Luke's gospel. I'm in school all week to help them out. I look forward to the end result and will share some here when it's done. It's been a privilege to be working in all the schools in the parish and although it takes me so much longer to walk around the villages now, I get stopped by so many young people. I look forward to working more with the schools next year.

On Saturday I am heading over to the Solas festival. It's the Scottish version of Greenbelt. I've never been before so I will blog about it when I come back.

Til Next |Time.

Leonard Cohen/ Anthem live

2011-06-16T11:00:00.000+01:00

I'm just back from the Parish workers conference. Where Deacons, ministers, youth workers, Parish assistants and presbytery workers meet once a year. This year we met at Stirling university. We met to discuss ministers council business and a time of training a fellowship and worship. Each year we have a different minister to lead and care for us pastorally.

At evening prayers we looked at Jesus being the light of the world. The minister used this Leonard Cohen song, I love the analogy of light getting though the cracks. That there are cracks in everything. That the young people I work with have so many Cracks if we use this analogy. There broken in so many places and yet Jesus the light of the world can get through the smallest crack.

The Challenge to remain positve

2011-06-13T13:27:00.000+01:00

This week has been a trying week. Things that were in my plans went awry somewhat and I was beginning to think that no matter what i tried was going to fail but all was well.

In the midst of all this I was reminded of Scripture and in particular 2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

² Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God's precious promises. I began to remember. God's faithfulness and strength. That if I keep going I will be increased in all these things mentioned in this passage. Even if that is holding on when no one else is. It's the hardest part for me in ministry. I know what I am being asked to do. Getting others to buy into that is the hard part. Especially in an aging congregation and working with young people. There seems to be so many people who don't value young people. That was until yesterday, then it all changed.

I've been reading Eugene Peterson's book The Contemplative Pastor. It's been a real encouragement to me. I've been reminded to look for where God is already working and look for signs and get in on God's work. This leads me on to this weekend. I had loads of volunteers calling off for clubs all week. It had been a struggle to do any work really. The first of our Praise services that we had fought so hard to get started was about to happen. We had a band and all was well. Then for reasons out of our control we had no band!! What to do. I arranged for our organist to play thinking that's ok but I wanted a different type of service. Notice the I want bit. I arrived at the Church an hour or so early for the service. I wanted to salvage something and talk to the organist. I go round the corner to be met by a group of 10-12 young people all early for the service. I was amazed. I know I should have been looking for signs of God's work. We played pool and chatted for over an hour and then they stayed for the whole service. For some they took a massive step in just entering the building but it's a step. Lesson from this week: Don't stop looking for God even when my plans are falling apart.

A time for action.

2011-05-30T11:44:00.003+01:00

It's been a week of reflection. Things could have gone better but it could have been much worse. That sums up most weeks I suppose. I have been reflecting on a passage in Deuteronomy and the more I reflect on it the more it is helping me to come to an important decision i need to make.

Deuteronomy 2
Wanderings in the Wilderness
1 Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea,[a] as the LORD had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir.

2 Then the LORD said to me, 3 “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north. 4 Give the people these orders: ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful. 5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own. 6 You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”

7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

8 So we went on past our relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber, and traveled along the desert road of Moab.

9 Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.”

10 (The Emites used to live there—a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. 11 Like the Anakites, they too were considered Rephaites, but the Moabites called them Emites. 12 Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land the LORD gave them as their possession.)

13 And the LORD said, “Now get up and cross the Zered Valley.” So we crossed the valley.

14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them. 15 The LORD’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.

16 Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died, 17 the LORD said to me, 18 “Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar. 19 When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.”

20 (That too was considered a land of the Rephaites, who used to live there; but the Ammonites called them Zamzummites. 21 They were a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. The LORD destroyed them from before the Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place. 22 The LORD had done the same for the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day. 23 And as for the Avvites who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorites coming out from Caphtor[b] destroyed them and settled in their place.)
Defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon
24 “Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. 25 This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you.”

26 From the Desert of Kedemoth I sent messengers to Sihon king of Heshbon offering peace and saying, 27 “Let us pass through your country. We will stay on the main road; we will not turn aside to the right or to the left. 28 Sell us food to eat and water to drink for their price in silver. Only let us pass through on foot— 29 as the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir, and the Moabites, who live in Ar, did for us—until we cross the Jordan into the land the LORD our God is giving us.” 30 But Sihon king of Heshbon refused to let us pass through. For the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to give him into your hands, as he has now done.

31 The LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his country over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.”

32 When Sihon and all his army came out to meet us in battle at Jahaz, 33 the LORD our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army. 34 At that time we took all his towns and completely destroyed[c] them—men, women and children. We left no survivors. 35 But the livestock and the plunder from the towns we had captured we carried off for ourselves. 36 From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the gorge, even as far as Gilead, not one town was too strong for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them. 37 But in accordance with the command of the LORD our God, you did not encroach on any of the land of the Ammonites, neither the land along the course of the Jabbok nor that around the towns in the hills.

I have been looking at verse 7 in more detail. The Israelite people had been wandering for forty years. The LORD had taught them enough. It was time to enter the promised land, to settle down. To be a settled people . The LORD had guided them by day and night. He had fed them protected them, provided for them on their journey. He had blessed them and they lacked nothing!!

I don't know whether it's because I have reached the magic number forty and can relate to this but this passage really is helping me at present. I know like the people of Israel, God has fed me and kept me and walked the journey with me. I have lacked nothing. I need to trust and act on what I know is right. I feel the time for action and decision is around the corner.
So as I keep on reflecting and thinking, I'll let you know soon what the outcome is. I've never been good at making decisions, this is where I'm glad that God knows the plan, if only I listen and act.

We're still here!!

2011-05-22T13:18:00.002+01:00

Well after all the predictions of Jesus coming back this week. We're still here!! The amount of conversations we have been able to have about Jesus with young people this week has been amazing. Real conversation sparked off by young people thinking and wondering all about God and God's plans. So much so that we have a list for our Christianity explored course. God never misses an opportunity.

It's the General Assembly of The Church of Scotland this week. One issue will hit the headlines but there is so much to discuss and so much to do if we are to move forward and reach all in our Parishes. In Ayrshire we wait to see if we can get our Presbytery reclassified to Rural. This will be important for the future of the Presbytery. So we wait and pray for God's guidance and leading this week. For God's will for the Church in Scotland.

This morning in Church I used the oldest Psalm to remind us of our history, or unity with the past but also that old and new can go together. I've said before that I struggle greatly with some traditions being kept and that I feel they hinder young people from worship. But the Psalms still connect me to God as they have done for every generation. It never fails to remind me of my connection to God and to the covenant when I sing this Psalm and especially sing it unaccompanied. So the oldest Psalm. it always amuses me when I'm reminded that only one word was changed for Presbyterians of old to sing it. "Mirth" was replaced with dread because Presbyterians feared the Lord. It's since been put back but it reminds us of the the image of our forefathers as dour and stern, fearing God. So here is Psalm 100.
1. All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell;
come ye before him and rejoice.

2. Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make;
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.

3. O enter then his gates with praise;
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.

4. For why! the Lord our God is good;
his mercy is forever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
So as we enter the court of the General Assembly this week,remembering that God has stood with us from age to age and the truth has stood firm at all times. May we seek after God's truth for his Church.

Sabbath Rest

2011-05-17T11:46:00.003+01:00

Genesis 2
The Seventh Day, God Rests
1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and(A) all the host of them. 2And(B) on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

I've been reflecting greatly on this passage. This last few weeks I realize that it's been too long since I had a Sabbath rest. I've been using the excuse that I'm busy, there's so many opportunities I need to take. That I'm serving God. That's just an excuse!!

I have come to see again. I know we've been here before. That if God rests then I need to rest even more. If I continue to work and work and work in my own strength I will achieve nothing except exhaustion. So the plan is and it's one I'm really going to stick to is, I will have one day away again every week. A day where I don't check email, phone or anything else that distracts me. A day where I don't go into the office.
Yesterday I achieved this for the first time in months. Today I feel so much better. I need to spend more time listening for God, looking for God and following God. Then I know that all he has in store for me will follow. There's no point of me chasing after things if I don't know what they are.
So a change of pace is needed I think. This is a time when I need to assess what I really need to do and what I really don't. To manage time much better. Then I will be able to spend time with family and friends. My mum said last week "It's a good job I have pictures of you". That's when I know it's time to stop and take stock. I love that those around me can tell me how it is and be honest with me.
So Monday is now my Sabbath rest day. No contact and rest. If God needs that then I sure need much more.

Til Next time.

Old familiar things

2011-05-12T13:50:00.000+01:00

As I have often said the Presbyterian in me like tradition and the youth worker in me like new and change. Sometimes it's a real struggle. This week I've had them both.

Last Saturday at the Ark we had our Urban Arts festival. We had street dance, beat box, bands, skate park and free running and graffiti artists. The good Scottish weather played a part and some had to be moved inside but it was a good day. It was a long week last week but it has helped me make some important decisions and i now know I can't be in two places at the same time. I know I am a slow learner!!Lots of possible activities and events for young people could spring off this. So many contacts made and ideas for change. So that's the new.

To the old. We are in a time of vacancy in my Parish. It's been nearly two years since we had a a full time minister. We have a reader who does a great job and works many more hours than he should. He can't take sacraments and we need to get a minister for this. This usually means we get someone who has retired. Sunday was communion and we had a visiting minister. It took me back to when I was young. The old communion hymns and a sermon preached and studied for. The old and the familiar speak every time.

Yet for the young people I work with old and familiar change as the latest craze, changing all the time. How will they find connection through constant change.

Yesterday my nephew had his fourteenth birthday. Where did the time go?? He has an i-phone stuck to his fingers now and is taller than me. It seems like yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital and he was so small that he was lost in the car seat. He is already counting down the years until he can borrow my car (he can dream!).

Til next time.

Catch up

2011-04-25T11:48:00.002+01:00

Well it's been a wee while since I've updated the blog I see. I've been really busy, much busier that usual if that's possible.

So what's been happening?

I've been working extra hours at The Ark in this time of looking for a new project worker and have even been left to steer the ship as my boss got married at the start of this month. We had a great day at the wedding an I even managed to go a whole day in a dress and heels and not get one picture of said dress. So much for evidence many of my friends don't believe that I wore said dress. So much for believing without seeing!!

Church work goes on and it's such a privilege to go into my old schools and some new ones and leading them in their Easter worship. It's been an eye opening experience to be involved in the ecumenical work of this Parish, at Easter this year. We have joined with St Francis Xavier RC Church at their Good Friday service and I help to read the passion. It is always good to reflect on different ways of worshiping God. Yesterday Easter Sunday we were joined by St Francis Xavier folks and we walked up the hill behind the cross for our Easter Sunday outside service. I love this service. I missed it so much when I was away in Dundee. The view of the whole valley can be seen from up there, it's so still and peaceful, as we read from Scripture and pray and listen in the stillness there. Then walking down and catching up with all the folks over a bacon roll and Church tea. My niece only drinks Church tea, I think she thinks it's some magical liquid.

So much to reflect on. I think though Scotland is getting so much bad press just now for sectarianism, especially the west coast. I don't see that here in the valley. We have such a good relationship with the Catholic community. I don't see what is happening in football as anything to do with faith. These so called supporters tag on to religion as a way of causing trouble. I pray for more of what we had this weekend. Unity and understanding. We may never agree on what traditions we adhere to but we follow the same Saviour who died and rose again to give us live. We need to focus on our common ground.

So into another busy week. Schools have holidays again, so it's a bit disjointed. There has not been much school this month and as time marches on it will soon be school holidays.

Til next time.

Happy St Patrick's day

2011-03-17T10:03:00.002Z

I think I qualify as being able to call myself part Irish, three quarters of my grandparents came over to Scotland from Ireland. I really like what St Patrick wrote Here:
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.
Powerfull words.

Come follow me

2011-03-15T08:50:00.005Z

Jesus Calls His First Disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

I am following the 24/7 prayerpodcasts for lent. I have found them leaving me with many questions. It's been a great time for me. I don't mind admitting but prayer for me is sometimes difficult. I am getting to grips with it now and it's easier but I would like to be more proficient at it. So I am looking at prayer models and I am really benefiting from 24-7 prayer styles.

The passage above from Matthew's gospel really speaks to me, every time I read it. Today though i thought, what must Jesus have been like face to face that these men left everything they had to follow him. They didn't like us ask questions. I can imagine if that were today. we would ask " Lord can I not just do this and then go". " Why do you want me to go, why not take..". " What will be in it for me".

The same Jesus that called these men, calls us and our generation. I am asking myself this question. What have we done to the message and power of Jesus, that makes people so disinterested? I work with many young people who the only soultion to their problems is Jesus and yet he would be the last person they turned to. He is the same today as yesterday, so I am asking myself, as one of his followers what am I doing to call these young people. Am I holding them back from following, am I not presenting Jesus in all his power and glory. So much to think about and reflect on.

Til next time.

Divine Appointments

2011-03-13T09:20:00.002Z

There are many times when I would really like to share whole stories of my work with young people here but being professional is always the first thing I need to think about. This week has been one of these weeks. It's been tough but through it all I have felt God speaking and directing all the situations.

Last night we were in dealing with some issues that were needing to be dealt with in a particularly sensitive way and I love how God just sends the right person, at the right time to help out. It's never a coincidence that someone is just passing!!Especially where our project is.

I've been reflecting on how I see God. At work in devotions we have been looking at how God can't be boxed in. And it's the measure of the person in how they look at God. I think that the events of the last few weeks have shown me that when we don't limit God's power and strength we start to see all manner of things happening. When we let God lead us and guide us amazing things will happen.

Psalm 90
BOOK IV
Psalms 90–106
A prayer of Moses the man of God.

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.

7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Relent, LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

I love the Psalms. They tell us so much about God and how he interacts with his people. That through all the generations, God remains the only constant. For the young people I work with, consistancy is not part of many of their lives. Folk don't stick around for long. There is constant change but with God there is the assurance of the generations. God will establish the work of our hands. This is our prayer at present, as the project goes through a time of change.

Til Next time.

Thorns in the Straw

2011-03-07T09:06:00.000Z

We're singing this song at our monthly service in Bellsbank. I'm loving it. There is so much to think on. A good song for Lent.

Dreams and changes

2011-02-15T10:43:00.003Z

Well last week was a mad busy week, even by my standards. Many interesting and useful conversations and meaningful contact in schools, youth groups and The Ark. Our team leader said goodbye and there were some difficult times with young people saying goodbye. We never know what influence we have with young people and he has had a powerful effect on them. They will miss him but God has called him to another place, another ministry and to another coast. God will establish the work of his hands there.

We on the other hand move into a time of change. God will show us the plan and we wait and look for new direction under new management. An exciting time ahead.

Last week at house group one of the young people talked about dreams. As always their imagination is amazing.They shared this dream they had had all week. They talked about being a millionaire. They had gone to live in Romania, bought the biggest house and fanciest car and gave nothing to those around them who had nothing. Each morning they woke up either angry,crying or wanting to do something. We had a talk about it and as always our thoughts went back to our mission trip. For three night after this I could not sleep or when i did I had dreams of Romania. So last Wednesday I made a decision and I will head out to Romania on October 16 for a week. Some young people are talking of coming with me but we'll see, they go to uni this year. I want to do more street work and work with the homeless. So plans are in place and we'll see where they go.

Go works and moves in many ways. I learn so much from young people.
So back to a quite week for me. Schools are off this week, so only office work and The Ark to keep me busy.

Til Next time.

Young people and faith

2011-02-07T15:40:00.002Z

We are in a time of change at The Ark. Our team leader moves on this week after seven years. The magical number seven. He set up the project and put into reality the vision of the twelve churches to have a safe place for young people in Ayr. A long journey and a great adventure. Many young people have come through the doors and there is a great legacy left behind. God moves and we have to follow. So we have been reflecting a bit on change and where to go and where God will lead the Ark next.

The book of Joshua has been coming up in devotions for the past three weeks. I personally have reflected on chapter 4. One of the local Ministers spoke from Joshua 1, and spoke of being strong and very courageous. That God was with Joshua as with Moses. This week we heard from Joshua 6 about walls coming down in Jerico. We know that God will be faithful and that although change is hard and young people build up relationships with people and it's difficult for them to know why people move on, it's part of the plan.

I have been talking to my youth group. We have amazing times at our house group, in fact we need to keep an eye on the time, as last week we were still talking at midnight!! They have real imaginations and are really bright. We got on to talking about their favourite subject dreams. What they would like to do in the future and what they actually dream about!! It has got me thinking about the passage in Joel 2.
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
30 I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
32 And everyone who calls
on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the LORD has said,
even among the survivors
whom the LORD calls.
These young people have come so far. They have come from places that were far away from God. God has brought them into the fold and they have gave him their hearts. There was weeping and mourning. They saw how compassionate God is among the poor, the homeless and the helpless in Romania. They have seen that God is the only help to all. They dream like all young people that their world would change, that this world would be a better place. Who knows where their dream will take them. It's going to be all change for this group. They leave school in the summer. Many will leave this wee village and head off to the big cities to university. Some will try and find employment around this area, a difficult task in current climate. My prayer for them is that this world never takes away their power to dream. That when they get discouraged and down, they think back to the times we spent dreaming, that the dream we had together to help others came true and that God will be with them to the end of the age.

So it's all change around here. Work is getting mad, doors are opening up and i am in all schools now. I have plenty of challenges and encouragements. Working for God can never be described as boring and dull.
So another busy week ahead.

Til next time.

The power of story

2011-01-24T12:10:00.004Z

I've spent a mad two days preparing for an unexpected talk to the local guild. I nearly said woman's guild but that's not correct now as men can go but in my village at least we have all women. They have been let down by their speaker and asked if I could do my week a week early. Of course I'm prepared, I'm a youth worker!! So the talk and presentation are all done. I have to say that I am a bit apprehensive. It will be great to share in my work with these ladies who I have known all my life but at the back of my mind I know that they will expect much.

I've been reflecting again on why I left the electronics industry, which seems so far away now, and the journey from college to work. Mission trips to Romania and Church youth work. It's been an amazing journey!! None of which would be possible without faith and the God of the impossible who's hand has been with me through it all.

The power of story, I realise time and again is what God uses to bring us all to the place where he needs us. I think back to the stories I heard growing up. How the Bible was made real to me by the telling of stories, by the examples of the stories of the lives around me. I realised and still do that many of the young people I worked with and work with don't know the story. I found some old quotes while doing the presentation that have inspired me.

Like
" Jesus did not write a book but formed a community"

How true ,Jesus taught and told stories to his ever growing community of followers. Today i believe that my work should still be the same , as a follower of Jesus it is up to me to tell the stories and help expand the community. Not just that but work with those in our community who need the sense of community the most.

I have been thinking of examples of the work that I have been involved in to tell the guild. I was thinking that there are some things and stories I shouldn't tell them. Then I thought if they never know the other side of the story, they will always think that everything in the garden is Rosy. So I will tell them about seagull fishing and all the other exploits of the young people we meet on our travels along Ayr beach. God uses stories to teach and inspire, to rebuke and correct and highlight the plight of our neighbour.

Another quote I found is one that I go back to time and again. I used it in a lot of work with the Lazers before we went away to Romania but it was when I first heard it alongside the verse from James 2 that brought about the change in my live and where I am today.

Faith and Deeds

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^d]">[d]? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^e]">[e] and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

"A dream without and action is just a dream, an action without a dream just passes time; a dream with an action can change the world."

This quote by Nelson Mandela sums up what I have been reflecting on for the guild. I could have had a dream about helping young people. I could have saw all their needs and read and thought about how I could help, and never left the comforts of home. God never let me do that and although I will never change the world, I hope and pray that one persons world will be changed by something I say or do.

So off to the guild I'll go and hope that something I say makes a difference.

Til Next time.

Going Green

2011-01-20T09:49:00.005Z

Before my nephew and others have a fit I'm not changing sides and supporting Celtic!! I thought I would post my experiences of public transport. I don't go on the bus or train that often, I passed my driving test when I was seventeen and have been fortunate enough to have had a car since then. So public transport is something I don't use. Living in a rural area it's not practical, or so I found out on Monday.

I had to travel back from Glasgow by bus on Monday. It was an experience. First I has to travel by local bus to the city centre. It took 45Min's to travel one and a half miles. The bus was old and cold and packed. It cost £2.50 for the privilege. I then got the bus from Glasgow to Ayr, not a bad experience really. It was a modern coach and in about an hour I was back in Ayr. The next part on the journey was something else. I got on the bus back home. It was old and dirty and took over and hour to do 15miles.

It has made me think. The Scottish government want us to give up our cars. For me and many of my rural neighbours it would mean giving up work. I could not get a bus back when the Ark closes. Many of my neighbours could not get a bus to start work as they would have to leave the village so early.

So if I were to leave behind my car many improvements would have to happen, like more buses, better, cleaner buses, direct buses and not stopping at every lamppost and farm. I need to be convinced after so many years of driving. It's going be a while until I'm back in a bus. I'm thankful that I don't need to travel on them every day and think of those who have no choice.

Til Next time.

The times are a changing

2011-01-18T11:18:00.004Z

Joshua 4

¹ When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, ² “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, ³ and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”

⁴ So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, ⁵ and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, ⁶ to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ⁷ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

⁸ So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. ⁹ Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been^a]">[a] in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.

¹⁰ Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, ¹¹ and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. ¹² The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, ready for battle, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. ¹³ About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war.

¹⁴ That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life, just as they had stood in awe of Moses.

¹⁵ Then the LORD said to Joshua, ¹⁶ “Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant law to come up out of the Jordan.”

¹⁷ So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”

¹⁸ And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.

¹⁹ On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. ²⁰ And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. ²¹ He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ²² tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ ²³ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea^b]">[b] when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. ²⁴ He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”

I have been studying the book of Joshua over the last week. I love this book and time and again it speaks to me in times of change. I really love how God uses Moses and that Moses like me was never someone that the world would have thought God would use. Moses led the Israelites and showed them God's will for their lives. He showed them God's promise. Moses never led them into the promised land.

In our lives, in ministry many times it's like this. We work with young people, we set things up but just when it looks like God is moving we sense that God is moving us too. It's time for a change and the next person will work on what God asked us to start.

Again I look and reflect on what it is that God asks me to do. It's not about what I do. Not about what great things I can achieve. It never was and never will be. It's about what will be left behind and how many years from now, as we read in the passage, people will ask what God has done. In the lives of the young people, in our community.

God has been faithful in all that I have done. He has been faithful to the work that I am engaged with. I know that the plans he has for the future will be amazing. That he has given us all we need to do the work he has called us to. That everyone he need to carry the work of his hands are in place and that the team he picks, is the team he needs for the work to succeed. I only need to look at Moses to be reassured.

No matter what this week brings I have reasurrance in this:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Til next Time.

First week back

2011-01-09T15:35:00.003Z

It's been a tough week pastorally for me. I can't go into details as that would be unprofessional. Circumstances and events have made me think and reflect. It's what shapes and changes our youth work practice. Could that have been done better, different or just was that out of my control.

I have been reflecting again on Matthew 25:31-46
The Final Judgment
31(AI) "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,(AJ) then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32Before him(AK) will be gathered(AL) all the nations, and(AM) he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates(AN) the sheep from the goats. 33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34Then(AO) the King will say to(AP) those on his right, 'Come, you(AQ) who are blessed by my Father,(AR) inherit(AS) the kingdom(AT) prepared for you(AU) from the foundation of the world. 35For(AV) I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you(AW) gave me drink,(AX) I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36(AY) I was naked and you clothed me,(AZ) I was sick and you(BA) visited me,(BB) I was in prison and you came to me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40And(BC) the King will answer them,(BD) 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these(BE) my brothers,[f] you did it to me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left,(BF) 'Depart from me, you(BG) cursed, into(BH) the eternal fire prepared for(BI) the devil and his angels. 42For(BJ) I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these,(BK) you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away(BL) into eternal punishment, but the righteous(BM) into eternal life."

The words have been going round in my head all week " I say to you, as you did to one of the least of these my brothers you did it to me." In my work I work with some of the least of these or so society thinks. Young people who come from backgrounds that are difficult, whose parents have split, who live in violent households, who are face to face with addiction from an early age. Some who through circumstances of this world don't even live with parents but grandparents or are even in care.
Society has written them off, already, some being only 12-13. They're not worth the effort, they'll turn out the same as their parents, why waste time. I'm getting a bit fed up and a wee bit angry at the reaction of other adults to young people in our society. As an adult I think young people should be given a chance, hope and a future. Who among us has never had more than one second chance? I think of the places and circumstances these young people find themselves in and they have no hope, no future. That's where it's up to the people of God , the body of Christ. To show hope and future and a second, third, hundredth chance. Somewhere along the way young people ask questions. Like why do you bother with me, no one else does? That's our opening. To tell them that God doesn't see them as society does. That it doesn't have to be the way they think their life will go. God changes lives and his plan is better than our plan. That people do care and that their lives really matter. When they see that things change, behaviour changes. We all need to feel that we are here for a reason and that people want us to be around them and that we are loved. Many young people I work with don't get this, don't get loved or get attention and this leads to them seeking attention by any means. Any kind of attention. Positive or negative.

It's made me think on my hopes for them. I was drawn back to this song by Lee-Ann Womack. I heard it long before Ronan Keating did a cover version, I really like the words and It's a prayer for all those God puts in my path and as inadequate and overwhelmed as I feel sometimes in dealing with their problems. I know God, is the same God and the nothing is impossible if within his will.
I Hope you Dance
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I really pray this week that God reveals himself to those who are struggling this week, that lives change. That second chances are taken and that consideration and conpassion for our neighbours be exhibited. Then we are closer to the kind of society God wants for us to live in.

Rant over. It's been a while since I had a long rant. I hope it's a long while since I need to reflect on a week like this.

Til next time.

2010 on the blog

2011-01-01T09:44:00.002Z

Well it was a busy year in 2010 and the blog suffered a bit.Posts were cut to half. There was waiting again at the start of the year for me as i waited for an interview and then a start date for my job with the Church. I eventually started in April.

Waiting and excitement were another theme as we prepared to go to Romania with the young people. This time last year we had no money, only excited young people. I always knew we would make it and that God would be faithful to his promises. On October 10Th we set off, thanks to fundraising and generous supporters. What an experience and privilege to be involved in. Lives were changed that week and God moved.

The outreach work at the Ark made good progress and we engaged with many young people out and about around the beach. Many stories and young people who need to have positive influences in their lives. We wait and see what God has in store for us this year as we are in a season of change at The Ark.

There have been family celebrations and holidays and I said goodbye to the thirties and hello to the forties. We had some loss with the passing of my Uncle.

All in though it's been a good year. God has been faithful, I have seen his hand on many things. Doors have been opened and new experiences have been gained.

What will this year bring when I review the blog this time next year?
There are plans to go back to Romania in the summer. It's in the early stages. Some of the young people plan to spend the summer there, so i plan to go out for a week or two. Work plans to be busier but that's good. I'll wait and see what else this year brings.

Happy New year to you all and I hope it's filled with many blessings.

Christmas and Hogmanay

2010-12-30T10:04:00.005Z

Well I hope you all have had a great Christmas. I know I have. It's was a bit mad and manic in the run up but on Christmas eve I had a chance to sit and reflect. Santa brought my new car on Christmas eve but it has made me reflect on how different life is for me, to that of those I know who don't have anything. How grateful I am for the gifts that God gives me, and that these need to be shared and not kept.

I am reflecting on the end of this year and will blog on the highlights later. For now though I'm taken back to the passage that stirred me up, and made me move, and change the direction of my life.

The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Matthew 25:31-46 always get me to think and assess my life. When things are getting too comfortable and I am just going through the motions, I return to this passage. It's easy for me to be a spectator in life, that comes easy to me. God has shown me though that I must act ,and that I need to show compassion ,and action to those who need it. Whether that is here in my jobs or in Romania. I thanks God for the reminder and that I am not in charge of my life, look what I would miss if I was.

Going back to Christmas eve, it was a time of reflection and laughter and pride for me. Why pride you may ask? Well some of the young people who visited Romania with me came to Church, not just once but twice. They enjoyed the service and are slowly making progress in their walk with God. The work God does in each one of us is amazing and there is so much to be thankful for, this year and all years.

So until next time.

Christmas and the life of a youth worker

2010-12-20T14:05:00.002Z

This time of year I need extra hours, or so it feels. I have been to so many kids parties I have lost count. Santa has promises delivery of my new car though, so I live in hope. It has only been ordered since August!!

I have been to many school concerts and plays and it has been amazing the talent we have in three small villages. This week though it's time for school Church services. The first being today. Doon Academy the local secondary school had theirs this morning. It was a privilege to conduct my former schools Christmas service. As a former pupil I had fond memories of trudging up the huge hill from school to the Church in the freezing, snow. Today was no different for the pupils, except they came to a warm Church.In the olden days, as nephew would say, we arrived at a freezing building. The building was packed with pupils and staff and it was great to see and even hear as the singing was great. The team from Romania did us proud and spoke of their experiences and asked the other young people to think of those less fortunate than us this year, and then took up an offering for The Smiles Foundation.

It is strange being a youth worker for Church and I think I have reflected on this before while on placement. Young people accept me and talk to me in school, in Church clubs but when they see me take services or even meet me in the Church building it all changes. Today as I welcomed the pupils into school, some young people I know well just made it clear that they couldn't talk to me, there was just that look that said it's not cool to talk to you in Church. They come to youth work all the time and stand and talk and even when I meet them in the parish they happily stand and talk. The Church building though is such a barrier to these young people. Hopefully today though is the start and these barriers can come down. In years to come they may feel quite different to this.

So back to preparing for primary school services. I have two still to do, having done one on Friday. Holidays are approaching and a rest is in order I think.
Til next time.

Where have the years gone??

2010-12-16T10:38:00.003Z

Where have the years gone?? I must be getting old I think as I ask that question. I am in the last day of my thirties today. What an amazing journey it has been. There have been times when I have been tested to the limit and times when I have witnessed touching places here on earth but God has been faithful throughout. As I look back and see God's hand on my life it's been an amazing journey.

There have been some amazing sights I have seen on my travels. I love to visit different countries. I have seen the pyramids, I've seen the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza and many more places. I have been privileged in travelling much of this world. I have been influence by many people and places but Romania and the people there just draw me back time and again. I go and help and God uses me in ways I never thought possible but I always get taught a lesson on the way. This year with the young people I work with it was just an amazing privilage to be there while they experienced first hand what we had hold them for many years.

There have been many people also who have influence my life and I thank God for all of them. They have made me who I am today. Some journey with me always, they know me even better than I do, they put up with me and still love me. Some have been there for a time and a season, God used them for that time, and I am grateful to have known them, and then there are those who walk with me now, what will the future hold? Only God who knows the whole story can answer that. What I do know though if the life I have had up until now is anything to go by, I look forward to the next chapter.

There have been big influences in my life, people like Nelson Mandela, U2 but I love this quote from Mother Theresa " We can do no great things, only small things, with great love."

I hope I have achieved small things with great love and continue to do so. God uses us to fit together the small pieces of his big picture, for that I am so thankful.

So until Next time, when I am a year and a decade older.

I'm still here

2010-12-03T09:26:00.004Z

It's been a bit quite on the blog. I've been sick and trying I think now foolishly, to keep working. Anyway I hope I'm getting better it's been over two week now of coughing and sneezing etc.

Work wise things are gaining momentum and if I had more hours in the day, which I don't, I could be in school much more connecting and talking to the young people. I've started a lunch time club in primary school for primary three. These wee kids are amazing. They make me think of answers to questions I never thought of before and they are only six and seven. It's why I do the job I do. To be challenged, to think and reflect and try and take them with me on the journey. To be honest with you, when the headteacher suggested I take primary three, I thought oh no they are too small. What will we do, I would have preferred to get primary seven. So again a lesson for me there. I want to share with you the insight that I gained from a primary three this week and it has made he think so much. We were doing an illustration with some stuff and I asked them to pick out the one they would most like for Christmas down to the least. They all had their list and we talked about presents and what Christmas means to different people. One of the things on the table was a doll. I asked them if the doll was God, would they choose it as a present. Some said yes, because they are p3 and if you suggest an answer they agree. I went on to say about that being the best present. One wee boy said "Christmas day is Jesus birthday", I agreed and then he went on to say " and we get presents. When it's my birthday I get presents, no one else does."
It made me think he's right. No else gives other people presents on their birthday. No else came to lay their live down for others. So this Christmas as we give and receive and get the best present, Christ with us here on earth. I'll be thinking of my wee p3 and everyone getting presents on Jesus birthday.
Til Next time.

Loss

2010-11-13T11:34:00.002Z

It's been a hard week. My uncle passed away on Wednesday and I have been working on the service I am reminded again of God's faithfulness, of times we spend with others, the only time that is not wasted or regretted as we have memories to treasure. I love this poem by Bonhoeffer:
LOSS!
You walk away—love’s happiness and sore pain.
What name shall I give you? Distress, life, bliss,
part of myself, my heart—times past? All gone?
The door slams shut,
I hear your footsteps slowly die away.
What is left when you are gone? Joy, anguish, longing?
I know only this: you go away—and all is gone.
Can you feel now, how I clutch at you,
how I hold you so tight
that it must hurt you?
How I open the wounds,
that your blood may flow,
only to be sure that you keep close to me,
you, so full of real and earthly life?
Can you sense that I have now a terrible longing
for my own suffering?
That I yearn to see my own blood flow,
only that all may not sink
into times that are gone?
Life, what have you done to me?
Why did you come? Why do you pass away?
Times past, if you flee from me,
are you not still my past, mine?

As the sun sets ever more quickly over the ocean,
sucked into the darkness,
so sinks and sinks and sinks,
relentlessly,
your image into the sea of forgetfulness,
engulfed in a few waves.
As a puff of warm breath
dissolves in the cool air of morning,
so fades your image,
until your face, your hands, your figure
I no longer know.
A laugh, a glance, a gesture appears to me,
then it fades,
disappears,
without comfort, without your nearness,
it is destroyed,
an illusion from the past.
I want to breathe the air of your being,
absorb it, lose myself in it,
as on a hot summer’s day, the heavy blossom
invites the bees,
and intoxicates them;
as the mohawk becomes drunk from the privet;
but a rough wind destroys the fragrance and the
blossom,
and I stand like a fool,
as all vanishes and is gone.

To me, it is as though red-hot pincers
tear pieces from my flesh,
when you, my past life, rush away from me.
Mad defiance and raging anger seize me,
I fling wild and meaningless questions into the air.
Why and why and why? Always the same question.
If my senses cannot hold you,
my vanishing passing life,
I will think and think again
until I find what I have lost.
But something tells me
that all around me, within and without,
laughs at me, unmoved and puzzled
by my useless labors,
snaring the wind,
to win back what is past and gone.
Eye and soul become evil,
I hate what I see,
I hate what moves me,
I hate all that is alive and beautiful,
all that should console me for my loss.
I want my life, I demand my own life back,
my past life,
You!
You! Tears fill my eyes;
perhaps through the veil of tears

I will win you back,
the total vision,
the whole of you.
No! I will not weep.
Only the strong are helped by tears,
the weak are made weaker.
I am tired as evening comes,
welcome is my cell,
which promises forgetfulness
when possession is denied me.
Night, quench the fire that burns,
send to me full forgetfulness,
be kind to me, night, and perform your gentle art,
to you I entrust myself.
But the night is strong and wise,
stronger than the day and wiser than me.
What no earthly power can do,
where thinking and feeling, defiance and tears must
fail,
the night showers its full riches upon me.
Undefiled by hostile time,
pure, free and whole,
the dream brings you to me,
you, from the past, you, my life,
you, from past days and past hours.
By your presence, I am awakened in deepest night,
and cry out—

are you again lost to me? do I seek you ever in vain,
my beloved of past days?
I stretch out my hands
and pray—
and I learn something new:
That which is past will return to you again
as your life’s most living strain,
through thanks and through repentance.
Lay hold on God’s forgiveness in the past,
pray that he will care for you this day and to the
last.

1980's

2010-11-01T20:37:00.002Z

This weekend has been an eighty's theme for me. I don't usually watch that much TV. Mum watches every soap and I tend to work or read when she does. Last night though I watched the X-factor with her, only because one of my very favourite bands were on, Bon Jovi. They take me back to school days and times when I don't really think I would like to go back to ,but as I reflect on this important milestone of a birthday that is coming up it's only right and proper that I reflect on permed hair and Bon Jovi.

This morning I went into school for a meeting with the rector and senior pupils. He was my history and modern studies teacher when I was at Doon. He said to me I have been looking through the archives and at my old diary and pictures. He said I have a soviener for you. Do you remember 1985 Ski trip to Austria. I did and he produced the savings card that we used to save up all the money and even our pocket money. A trip to Austria cost £264 in 1985 and I had £60 pocket money. A wee trip down memory lane. I remember the week well. We got to ski the olympic downhill slope and even see the three hills where the ski jump takes place. We visited Salsburg and ate loads of Milka chocolate and I think my love of travelling was found on these trips. The only downside to all this is that my youth group now know how old I really am!!
It's good to look back and remember important milestones and people who helped you on your journey. The rector at Doon is only one of many, many people who I thank God for and for what they did to help me on my way through live. As the weeks leading up to the BIG birthday approach I will try to reflect on more and more of those who have made a differnece to my life.

Romanian reflections

2010-10-25T10:47:00.003+01:00

I have just realised how much I miss sitting down each week and reflecting on my work formally. I'm sad I know and for all you youth work students who hate writing reflections you will think what a sad person, It's OK, I'm fine with that.

I've had the biggest challenge for a long time, I suppose it started when I started studying theology but in the past few months it has grown. I really agree with the relational style of youth work. Getting along side young people, being invited into their world and being part of their lives. The young people I work with just accept and expect me to be part of their world. This didn't happen over night but as it has it's amazing.The challenge for me is when do we proclaim the Gospel and in what way.

In Romania I have been challenged by the following passages:
Psalm 107
Book Five (Psalms 107–150)
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
3 For he has gathered the exiles from many lands,
from east and west,
from north and south.

4 Some wandered in the wilderness,
lost and homeless.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
they nearly died.
6 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he rescued them from their distress.
7 He led them straight to safety,
to a city where they could live.
8 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
9 For he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,
imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
11 They rebelled against the words of God,
scorning the counsel of the Most High.
12 That is why he broke them with hard labor;
they fell, and no one was there to help them.
13 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
14 He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom;
he snapped their chains.
15 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

If it is good news and our story, the story God gave us helps him change lives then I need to speak out. Some of the young people I work with are so good at seeing through people. Why do we try and hide the very news that will change their lives. This is my challenge. It's not enough to say that the life I live is a reflection of Christ, when folk don't know how Christ can bring about that change. One of my young people saw God in pain and suffering in Romanaia and said that only belief in God could answer their questions. God meets us where he knows he can reach us. That is in a variety of ways and places. We don't determine what and where they are. One thing through all this is that I need to make the most of very opportunity given.

Colossians 1
3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

The good news is changing lives. It can't be kept to ourselves. We need to walk the walk and talk the talk. It's all about attitude. In the right way and in the right time. God's word never comes back empty handed. When we take the opportunities God gives us, we share in the results of his kingdom.

One of my line managers spent a while in the Iona community. They believe as the early Celtic Christians did in touching places. Where earth and Heaven meet for a short time. I was privileged to find some of these over the last few weeks, In Romania, In my parish and at the Ark. God's work is amazing I wrote while in Romania, It is indeed.

What an amazing God week

2010-10-19T08:03:00.004+01:00

It's been an amazing week. It was great to see some old friends and spend time working with them, they do an amazing job and God works through them in mighty ways. We took a group of young people who we knew would work hard and just get stuck into things but we never dreamed of how hard and how much they would work. We have brought back the same number of young people but we have brought back changed young people. They have just become so involved with the people and situations they found themselves in. It was not easy for them but they rose to the challenge. We laughed together, cried together and became part of each others lives for ever.

There was so much going on with such a large group and I'm still trying to sort through 50 videos and 15000 pictures and more to come. Some highlights for me were. I got to see the finished Tileagd complex, sat in the Church and was moved to tears. For me this was just fantastic. To see a building site and plans turn into such a building is mind blowing and to see the transformation of the Gypsy community is only the work of God. I got to do some street work with Marius the social worker, this guy has such a heart for the poor and disadvantaged of Romania, one of God's true servants. We visited some horrendous places and people in desperate situations, some of the worst I have witnessed in Romania. That was a difficult day, for my young people a day when God spoke to them and changed their lives. It was through this that they saw God in the midst of all this pain and suffering and said to me if these people don't have God they have nothing. Young people who last week could not believe in God saw God at work. That night I had the privilege of leading the worship for them back at the mission centre. We all gathered in my room and I read them the passage from 1 Corinthians 13. We talked and prayed and for a long time we were moved to tears. God rejoiced when people are added to his kingdom.

The staff and all who met these young people commented on how amazing they are. Most of them are going back next year for the whole summer. I have the privilege of working with them. God's plans for us are just mind blowing and I look forward to see where they lead me next. I will continue to blog and post pictures as I process what has been happening.
Until then see you next time.

its finally happening

2010-10-09T17:43:00.000+01:00

well I update this from a break at work in eleven hours twenty six hyper people will board our plane to Romania.I can't wait. There has been so much time and effort put into this trip and so many expectations
So ill keep you posted all week. Also check out the lazers blog its lazers2010.

Time is flying by

2010-09-27T15:54:00.002+01:00

In 13 days I will be back in Romania, with a group of very excited young people, my sister and my niece. I can't believe that it's nearly time to go. The fundraising has been gigantic and we have loads of money to spare and take with us.

Today though has been a day of phone calls and praying and trying to avoid disapointment. One of our young people still has no passport and the form has been sent back. It will take about six weeks and we have 13 days. So much running around and phoning and it still looks like we will be one short and a very disapointed young person.

So back to my day off or at least for a few hours until my meeting.

Til Next time

a new addition

2010-09-14T07:54:00.003+01:00

Well amidst the busy days that lie ahead as all my work starts back this week, we have a wee addition to the family. Jessica and Iain have a new wee pup, she's called miss Issi-belle. I think she could be a wee but of a trouble maker. We are seeing signs of this already at seven weeks old!!

Better get back to work. I have an assembly in Ayr with the Ark today and then some sorting out of equipment at Patna for our new club opening there next Thursday and with the mission trip three weeks away it's all happening here.

Til next time.

Work!!

2010-09-06T10:21:00.002+01:00

Sometimes, well most of the time my job just does not feel like work. Saturday was the annual Church fete at Bellsbank Church. We had great weather and many of the parish came out to have fun and support the Church. We raised a grand total of £960. Fantastic work for a small community. For me though the opportunity to do outreach and to get to talk to so many young people and their families was valuable work. I even got to go on the bouncy castle!!
It will be a busy week this week and then things get even busier with the Patna side of my work expanding at the end of the month and then there's the mission trip. We are on hyper mode here now just short of exploding. The young people really can't wait. We have had so much support and encouragement and this morning i got a letter from the Scottish Parliament. Our MSP wrote to encourage and wish us well on our trip.
So back to my day off. My line manger has been telling me to take a day off. So I had better take one!!

Til Next time.

Five weeks!!

2010-09-03T10:11:00.002+01:00

It's been a crazy busy week but in the middle of it all we had a visit from our friends from Romania. I spent the whole of Wednesday with them and we had a great time. My Romanian being non existent did not even prove much of a problem!! We had a cheque presentation from Dalmellington primary and an awards for all Scotland presentation at night. It was just great to see some old friends and some new young mischievous ones. The choir have some new members, the old ones reaching 18 are no longer at school and some new members have been added. They certainly kept us on our toes and had great fun with all our young people.

We are now really excited about seeing them in their homes and going out and helping out there. Five weeks on Sunday and we will be there. So much to do and so many hyper young people. If you have time we would value your prayers so much. These young people who are going out to Romania have come from our parish, they have been exploring faith for a number of years but the final step of commitment has still to be made. I pray that what they see and do in Romania is the final piece in the jigsaw but it's nothing to do with me, it's all in God's time.
Til Next time.

Days off

2010-08-30T17:54:00.004+01:00

Well today is my day off. My line manager phoned to tell me it's my day off!! So off I went to try out the new camera. The old one having packed in at graduation. So into the parish I went. I don't appreciate where I live enough. I joke and say it's God's country but when I was looking around Loch Doon today it made me think and reflect on God's creation. The conclusion being do I live in the most picturesque parish in Scotland?? Well I think so.

Reflecting on the Church

2010-08-26T12:07:00.003+01:00

I have been thinking a great deal about the Church ,and how for me anyway, for a long time Church and faith were different things. There have been problems and divisions and sometimes I wonder about these things and how to match up Scripture to this.

I have been helped a great deal by the books I have been reading while on holiday. I have been reading some Bonhoeffer and some Barth. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is writing during Nazi Germany. He and his Church opposed Hitler and although he knew he would be captured went back to his homeland. His writings are from the time he was in prison. It was amazing for me to think that someone could write like this from a prison cell and from the fact that all his country were going through what they were. He talks about discipleship and grace. That the Church teach cheap grace but grace was costly. That Christ died that we may have grace. For me though the section on the visible community spoke volumes. No matter what my experience of Church is, it is the visible body of Christ here on earth. Each member of that Church can do nothing without each other. We all have sinned and fell short. We are called to forgive each other.
I really like this quote
" They wander the earth and live in heaven, and although they are weak, they protect the world;they taste of peace in the midst of turmoil; they are poor, and yet they have all they want. They stand in suffering and remain in joy, they appear dead to all outward sense and lead a life of faith within."

I have also been watching the BBC documentary on reformation and formation of The Church of Scotland The question being asked is "will we miss the Church". There were parts of the program that I liked. The history of the Church and the education and social provision. The program though focused on the doom and gloom. The closing Churches, the empty pews. Sometimes we see the golden age of the Church and forget that many people came because they had to. In my village employment came only if you attended worship on a Sunday. Also there are so many projects and Churches who are trying to work in their parish and are doing really amazing work. This was never explored. The Church is still living and active in our communities and would indeed be much missed.

Only this week I have been out and about in the parish doing some street work. Every year we have our Church fete. We use it as an opportunity to do outreach to the community. We have been leafleting and collecting. Visiting every house. The community really support the Church and although we have a dwindling worshipping community we still have a faith community within our village. The Church here and in all of Scotland would miss the Church. The BBC should follow up this program and try and answer the question. Visit some rural areas, some city projects and talk to the communities and Parishes.

Ranting over on a lighter note. I am looking forward to seeing my Romanian friends over the weekend and next week. The Choir are in Troon on Sunday and Bellsbank on Wednesday.

Til Next time.

Belfast

2010-08-12T11:04:00.003+01:00

Yesterday we had a flying visit to Belfast. Up early for the ferry from Stranraer.Iain and Jessica had never been across to Northern Ireland before and I think they really enjoyed the day. The girls went shopping and Iain and I had a guided tour from Gary It was good to catch up and see Belfast away from the shops. Thanks Gary for taking time to show us the sights.

So today only two days holidays left. Where has the time gone. Still not finished a book!! It's been great to spend undivided time with the family.
Until Next time.

2010-08-09T09:47:00.002+01:00

As I am on holiday, it's difficult to worship in my home Church. Work and worship get confused. So I decided to go visiting yesterday. I went to a local church of Scotland in another part of Ayrshire. I feel a bit like the mystery worshiper. For a long time now I have read the website ship of fools it gives accounts of worship services and the accounts of people visiting these Churches. Sometimes they are harsh and other times humorous. I think sometimes we need a stranger to come into our service and tell us what it's like. Yesterday if i had been the mystery worshiper I would have had a field day. We came into the Church and four elders where talking, they were meant to be handing out order of services. We had to help our selves. We went into the sanctuary and sat on someone seat and were told so. People talked through the whole service, hymns, prayers,sermon, offering,benediction. The minister was on holiday and a reader was taking the service. He was really good. Preaching from Luke 12:35-48. I thought a really apt passage.
You Must Be Ready
35(BJ) "Stay dressed for action[f] and(BK) keep your lamps burning, 36and be like men who are(BL) waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and(BM) knocks. 37(BN) Blessed are those servants[g] whom the master finds(BO) awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you,(BP) he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39(BQ) But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour(BR) the thief was coming, he[h] would not have left his house to be broken into. 40You also must be(BS) ready, for(BT) the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

41Peter said, "Lord,(BU) are you telling this parable for us or for all?" 42And the Lord said, "Who then is(BV) the faithful and(BW) wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43(BX) Blessed is that servant[i] whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44Truly, I say to you,(BY) he will set him over all his possessions. 45But if that servant says to himself, 'My master(BZ) is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and(CA) get drunk, 46the master of that servant will come(CB) on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47(CC) And that servant who(CD) knew his master’s will but(CE) did not get ready(CF) or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48(CG) But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating,(CH) will receive a light beating.(CI) Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Sometimes our Churches, and I speak of my own here also, are so comfortable with the people we have in them. Even if like the one yesterday when the congregation is small. We have our own wee club. This is not how it is meant to be.

I have been reflecting on this and how a young person would feel. They experience a culture that they are trying to understand. They are trying to fit in to our experience of Church. It doesn't have to be this way. It needs to change. We need to welcome those who seek after God. We don't own God in our buildings and in our wee club. Much more for me to think on. I know there are Churches that are very welcoming and that many people have good experiences of Church. So I think I'll do some more visiting when I can and use the experience to reflect and help the young people I work with.

Til Next time.

catch up

2010-08-07T17:53:00.004+01:00

Well It's been an eventful few weeks. I am just back from a weeks holidays down on the Galloway coast at Glen Luce. It's been great to get away and spend time with family and not be distracted to go into the office and work. To spend whole days doing nothing much planned and just going exploring. Iain had his first driving lesson and it was so much fun. It made me think back to when I was a wee bit younger than him, I would be about eleven when my dad let me have my first driving lesson, in a forty tonnes lorry. So skills are still being passed on to the next generation. Only not in the lorry this time, maybe next. I still have another week off and plan to read and relax at home but we will see. Schools still have one week's holidays too, so maybe a few more days exploring will be done. I'm thinking of going to Belfast for the day, we were going to go last week but ran out of days.

So back home and it feels good to be back. I love holidays but like to be back home. Next trip is to Romania on the 10th October with the Lazers. Not long really. They are really looking forward to it and planning is going well. We have the choir here in Dalmellington on the 1st September. So if you are near come and say hello.
So back to holidays.
Til Next time.

Team building and film project

2010-07-20T11:06:00.004+01:00

It's been a strange week. Summer means that we don't work weekends and the weekdays get busy when you have two jobs to fit into five days. Last week saw the start of the Ark film project. It's going well and Scottish summertime has interupted the filming a wee bit. I would like to say it's a film with a happy ending but it's not. There are some really heavy themes running through it, Gangs,knives, teen pregnacy. Some good lessons for the young people to research. So I get to play myself as part of the street team sometime this week. So will keep you posted.

Why call of duty? I hear you ask. Well we had an Ark team building day paintballing on Sunday. We took Church to the paintball field. It was a good day, even if I really don't like agression and war. We all have some really impressive bruises to show for it and are a bit sore. It's amazing how yo get into the games and it gets really serious towards the end. I have even been playing Call of Duty on the ps3 since coming back. Just for work purposes of course.

So back to a busy week and then one week until a two week break. Call of duty on PS3 network anyone!!

2010-07-12T14:53:00.004+01:00

The summer months are months of planning and admin for me this year. I would like to say that I enjoy doing this but I don't. I like to be working with young people and delivering the youth work I have planned. So I am working from home as usual but during school holiday this can get a wee bit distracting. I am getting grumpy today due to distractions and the fact that I really don't want to be preparing for another meeting tonight!! I came across these as I was surfing this morning. I really like the meetings one. Sometimes I think that all the meetings I go to are an excuse for some of the participants to have a blether. I would rather have a meeting that involved text or email. That leads me on to Stewart's blog.

Stewart is highlighting the fact that we are always available. While this is a good thing working for the Church and being there for young people.It is difficult to know when you are working and when it is your time off. Especially when you live in your parish. So back to youth work training for me. Only check and answer emails when I am working. Only answer the phone when I am working and block off time for me in my diary. It shouldn't be that difficult, should it??

Til next time.

Shrek Forever After - Trailer [HQ]

2010-07-09T11:13:00.000+01:00

It's been a strange week but good and productive. It's school holidays and I am working different days and this week had Wednesday off. I went to see Shrek forever after with Iain and Jessica. As usual I took notes and I look forward to doing some talks on it. Some good stuff, don't want to spoil it but will blog later on my talks. Toy story 3 also comes out soon, so loads of stuff for talks this year. You have all been warned in advance.

Til Next time,

Graduation 2010

2010-07-04T09:05:00.004+01:00

It was a great day yesterday. Here are some pictures of the Youth work students who graduated from my class yesterday. Thanks Laura and Graeme for the pictures. It was a day to be proud and give thanks to God that we all made it. The only thing that spoilt it for me was I had to rush away and head back to Ayr for work. But a great day.

Where has this year gone.

2010-07-03T10:35:00.003+01:00

It's graduation today and for many of my classmates it marks four years of working really hard. Sometimes like me they thought this day would never come. It has, so enjoy it, you all deserve it. The road ahead is exciting and God has great plans for you all. I look forward to seeing what they are.

Introduced and set apart!!

2010-06-28T11:09:00.002+01:00

It was a great day yesterday, I was introduced and set apart as the youth and children's worker. I had two services and it was great to see family and friends there to witness this achievement in which they have all helped me to get to. Some of my family have never heard me do any speaking in public and I think it was a bit of a shock to some of them!! One of my cousins told mu mum that I was a different person. I love this and it's testimony to the work the God has done in my life.

So the hard work starts. I've had a mixed response yesterday. One man told me that I had a thankless job and all young people are evil. To people saying that young people only need a chance and wishing me God's blessing in my work.

I shared with the congregation the new moto from Doon Academy.

" To love is to risk not being loved in return
To hope is to risk again
To try is to risk failure
but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing."
I went on to use the verse from Corinthians 13:13. Contrasting this moto with this verse. That how our faith and hope and love from God can make all the risks we take in this life to be part of God's plan for us and that we need to pass this on to this generation.

God changes lives when we least expect. He walks the road before us. Sometimes he carries us, sometimes walks us by the hand and other time walks beside us. But he never leaves us.

Today I am having a day off. The first for a few weeks. Don't tell my line managers!! I am going to catch up on some reading and blogs.

So til next time.

This week

2010-06-24T08:55:00.004+01:00

It's been a busy week already and it's only Thursday!! This week I have been out and about on the streets of Patna, with the community outreach team.There have been some positive responses to our presence and consultation on the new drop in seems positive also. Tuesday was Alton Towers day for Doon Academy we were up at the crack of dawn and after a long but exciting day back really late. Wednesday saw the usual madness of work at the Ark and then rushing back for our family service. We had an amazing time of worship and games. I was even involved in changing nappies and sewing!!It's just so encouraging to see the work that God is doing in our community among young mums and families. There is so much we can do in our outreach to the Parish.

Today I'm at primary school, twice in the one day. There is an open day in the morning and then it's prize giving in the afternoon. My niece is getting her class prize. So i get to see it first hand this year.

Friday sees another mad busy day. End of term primary service. The the academy prize giving. My nephew is getting the prize for first year. So another exciting achievement for him. It's a good job it's pay week. All these prizes will cost me money.
It will be a busy weekend also as it's the Ark fun day on Saturday. We have 100 harley davidson motorbikes, husky dogs, bouncy castles and loads of other stuff. Should be a good day.

Sunday is my introduction service at Church. As I don't get ordained i get introduced. So it's a bit strange being introduced in the Church that I have gone to all my life but it's another marker to celebrate I suppose.

So back to the madness.
Til Next time.

Casting Crowns - Voice of truth

2010-06-16T19:26:00.000+01:00

I'm just back from the PPW conference in St Andrews. Where all parish and presbytery workers and deacons meet once a year. Being my first conference I had a buddy, my line manager. It was great. She knows everyone and when you mention who you work for there is great response. We have had a time of renewal and the theme was "We Can". The leading speaker and minister used Bob the Builder as an illustration and even the tweenies for worship. A step too far, even for me. But I was reminded of our calling, that God is still the same God,working and active in our communities. I was reminded of this song. It has inspired me since I first heard it and again during this conference when it was played.

So back to work.

Updates

2010-06-05T09:34:00.003+01:00

It's been a busy few weeks. But the biggest news is that we have been awarded funding from the minerals trust to go to Romania. God is good. The minerals trust was set up in our valley when all the mines closed. When the hope and future of our communities was at it's darkest time. It is really fitting I think that we have received funding from this trust. Following from my last post and what I have been thinking about over the last few months. This group of young people I feel are being given a life changing opportunity. They will have the chance to experience another culture, experience young people who live in conditions more disadvantaged than themselves and be able to see faith in action.

So we continue to fundraise and prepare for our trip.
It's a busy week this coming week. I have loads to do at Church. I am being given the chance to go out into the parish with the council outreach workers for three weeks. I will be able to see where the young people hang out and get a chance to make contact and consult them on what they would like me to start up after summer. I am really excited by this. I also have meetings and end of year services to prepare and deliver this week and next. Things are moving and it's encouraging. I am also attending the parish workers conference in St Andrews on the 15,16,17 June. So a chance to head east again and have a catch up. It's been too long.

The Outreach work at the Ark is getting really busy. We are engaging up to 50 young people a night and pray for some of these young people and the situations they get themselves into. That they would see a bright future and not a dark one. On a brighter note we are involved in Frenzy next Saturday 12 June. The Ark are doing the main stage and we will also have a stand, so if you are going to Frenzy stop by and say hello.

So back to work.
Til Next time.

Faith,Hope and Love

2010-05-23T10:14:00.002+01:00

It's been a good week. The sun has shone and all is well.
This week has seen the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland start. This is the time when all Church law is reviewed and amended and all committees report on the work of the Church. It's an important year for the Church in Scotland this year. It's 450 years since the reformation. So there has been a big focus on this at the Assembly. Friday is the day when all the commissioners celebrate the Lord's Supper together and this year the reformation communion service was used. The moderator spoke from

1 Corinthians 13
Love
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
This is a passage I have been thinking and studying all week. I have been thinking about how this would all come together for a youth talk I am doing. The young people I work with don't have much to put their faith in. They have been let down so many times. They don't have much hope as it's been taken from them so many times but the amazing thing is that they still have love. The search for love is always there. Love always remains.

The weather here in Ayrshire has been more like the Mediterranean these past few days. Work on the streets has been busy and we have made some positive contacts and great stories of some amazing young people. It's been a privilege to be invited into the lives of these young people and to be seen as part of their group. We pray for continued contact with these young people and hope to develop this further.

So as I get ready to start another week, I still reflect on Faith,Hope and Love. I think of all the times this week when I have seen in action all these three things. I see faith how faith in God through this country has left us a legacy to build on but we need to reach the young people of this generation in a new way.It's 450 years since the reformation and maybe we need to a new reformation. I have seen hope in the smallest of glimpses but it's still hope. I have seen love in many forms but love still remains and can be built on.

Til Next Time.

Funding

2010-05-13T21:56:00.001+01:00

Well we have just found out that we will not be getting any funding from thw trust we applied for. So back to the drawing board. We know we will get to Romania, so we seek funding in other places. Can't say we are not disappointed but we will keep on fundraising.

Old age

2010-05-11T08:20:00.003+01:00

Well today I feel old. My nephew is a teenager, it seems like yesterday he has born. He is so excited about becoming a teenager. He has big dreams and ambitions. He knows that God has a plan and purpose for his life. So today we give thanks to God for him. I got a phone call at seven thirty this morning. I am up early usually but that was just a wee bit early. He has a new phone and was desperate to give me his number. I will get no peace until I go and visit, so today I will change my work pattern and work later.

Work wise things are going well. The outreach at the Ark is progressing and we are engaging loads of young people as the weather is better and the nights are clearer. We have had a fairly positive response to our presence on the streets and are seeing some young people on a regular basis.

Church work is gaining momentum and with all Church work there could be so much I could do. I just need to keep and eye on the hours I am doing. It's exciting. There are may challenges also and working in your own Parish can at times be difficult but at the same time advantageous.

Tomorrow is d day for our funding for our mission trip to Romania. The trust meets and we will then see if we need to further fund raise or if our trip is all paid. So there is much praying going on and trusting in God.

So I am away to give my presents and eat cake. Before another meeting. This week is just full of meetings. Sometimes I feel that I could do so much more if I didn't need to attend them but I need to explain my work and work with other people, it's just part of the job I need to get on with, in order to do the job I love.

Til Next time.

Apealing to my geekiness

2010-05-05T10:03:00.003+01:00

I found this the other day and it really took me back to electronics and a typical call out. It seems things have always been the same. Hope you laugh as much as me.

Til next time.

The LORD bless you and keep you.

2010-04-30T16:00:00.002+01:00

It's been an busy and eventful week. Things are progressing well in my Church work and we are making contact with loads of young people out on the streets. The weather is getting better and warmer, the nights lighter and young people are heading down to the beach. So exciting times ahead.

Yesterday I was doing my usual Bible reading and I was reading from Numbers 6. I really stuggle if I am honest with the book of Numbers. Lists in the Bible are difficult for me to focus on. But I was struck for the first time by this passage, especially the last five verses. I have sung this blessing for all my life and only yesterday did I pay attention to it in scripture.

The Priestly Blessing

22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:

24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’
27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
This passage is sung in The Church of Scotland at baptism. I really love the words of this, they speak so strongly of God blessing his children. Young people I work with really need to feel this sense of peace and belonging. I have been challenged and inspried this weeek, with old familiar words. Sometimes I think we look far from tradition and in the search for new and radical ways of being Church and reaching folk we miss what worked in the past and can be taken with us as we move forward. Don't get me wrong there are things we can leave behind and new and radical ways are needed but change for change sake is not always good.

So i'm off to work, another night in the sun along the beach. What and who we will find is always different, always new but we bring with us a God who is the same, Yesterday, Today and Forever.

Til Next time.

Going back to school

2010-04-28T08:28:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I had a meeting at my old school, in my official capacity as Youth worker for the Church.It was a strange and pleasant experience. Lets say it has been a long time since I attended Doon. The head teacher and I felt really old when he asked me when was the last time I was in school. He has been there for twenty seven years and has made real progress there. We talked about what I had been doing and how things have changed. The real reason for my visit is that the school wants contact with the Church. These are exciting times ahead and there are great possibilities. Doors are opening and the opportunity to be involved where young people are is really encouraging and exciting for me. So will blog more when we confirm my role and what I will be involved with.
Til Next time.

God's voice

2010-04-25T17:46:00.002+01:00

It's been a busy and eventful weekend. I stayed awake from 9am Friday to 9am Saturday. The night went really well and we had some amazing conversations and a great laugh. It's been good to get all the team together and get to know some folk that we didn't know. I don't know the amount raised but having seen some of the sheets I know that we can now pay our flights. Another step in the right direction. Which leads me on to hearing and listening to God.

I have said before on here that we have a time of devotions before starting every night at the Ark. We take turns as to who leads. My line manager was speaking from 1 Samuel 3,where God calls Samuel.
1 Samuel 3
The LORD Calls Samuel
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple [a] of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

11 And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, [b] and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.' "

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son."
Samuel answered, "Here I am."

17 "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."

19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
This passage always really speaks to me. Last night though I want to share an amusing and relevant story tied to this passage. It amuses me anyway. We wear radios while out on the streets. We always have them on while in our time of devotions. They are always silent, as the other team members only put theirs on after devotion and team brief. We were getting to the part in the story where God speaks to Samuel and there is a voice on the radio. The same thing happened as the passage was being read. God speaks to Samuel and a voice comes on the radio. It got me thinking. Do I really listen for God's voice? Do I spend enough time listening and not talking to God? The voice on the radio came from a boat off the coast of Ayr but how do I react when God speaks to me.

So an amusing story with some serious reflection for me. God speaks to us through all sorts of people and places and situations. So this week I need to be more tuned in to God and listen for his voice in all situations.

Mission trip update

2010-04-23T09:39:00.003+01:00

Well our trip is progressing and is all booked. We head off to Romania on the 10Th October with 14 young people and 6 adults. Another group from a neighbouring parish are joining us. It's all systems go. I will be starting a blog for the young people to write the thoughts and feelings and aspirations about the trip, before we go, while there and when we come back. It will be an interesting read I am sure.

So tonight we are having a sponsored stay awake in the Church. I must be mad to agree to do another stay awake, especially when I will come straight from the Ark. So a long day-s ahead for me. Today is mad anyway what with trailblazers and The Ark, so a stay awake is no problem to add to the madness. It's a great time to get to know young people and just hang out with them. There are no agendas, no structure. It's the kind of youth work I love.

I have been reflecting on God's promises to all generations for a while now. In my daily Bible study I am reading from Leviticus, Psalms,Ecclesiastes and Titus. Yesterday I read Psalm 33 and was struck by the words of it.
Psalm 33 (Today's New International Version)

Psalm 33
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.

5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars [a];
he puts the deep into storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.

9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.

13 From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all humankind;

14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth—

15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.

17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.

18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
God's promises to David are the same to this generation. They just need to have it explained and lived out among them.
Til Next time.

General Assembly 2010

2010-04-16T09:52:00.004+01:00

It's been a busy week and a bit differnt to usual. The schools are still on holiday in Scotland, so our Wednesday cafe at the Ark is closed.We were in doing some admin yesterday. Work at the Church still continues. As with all new jobs meetings and planning are at the forefront of the work at present. It interesting working at a Church where you know everybody and a Church where you know only a few people at the same time.
Yesterday I got a letter inviting me to be introduced to the Moderator of The Church of Scotland, at the General Assembly this year and also have lunch at the garden party before hand. All newly appointed members who work for The Ministries Council are invited. I don't know if I can make it,as I would need to be back in Ayr for 6PM. It would be great if I could.
So back to work and it's a great day here. That will mean loads of young people out and about tonight at the beach. We are starting to meet more and more young people at the weekend now. We know that things will get busy soon.
Til Next time.

Holidays

2010-04-12T13:54:00.008+01:00

Well normal service resumes today. I am back at work after a week's holidays to Southport with the family. It was a great week and we had good weather and loads of fun. As with any holiday I have loads to catch up on. The inbox has over 800 emails and google reader over 1000 items. So as I start back and get into working mode again, It's good to rest but for me it's better to be busy. Read some books and caught up on some films, will blog later. Some good clips for work in some of the films I watched.

Til Next time.

First week and Holy Week

2010-03-29T10:01:00.002+01:00

Well this week is officially my first week in my Church job. Today being Monday and a ministers day off I'm starting my job with what my line manager calls a 'thinking day'. What a good idea. To have a day and just think and reflect. In this busy world it would be good just to set aside a day just once in a while just to do this. I am not going to pretend that I will sit and think all day. Anyone who has followed the blog will know that I struggle to fit in all I need to do. An extra day off is a bonus.I have been thinking though and I need to take more time to just spend listening and thinking and being with God. There has been too much rushing around, planning and anticipating. It's time to give thanks to God for his faithfulness and today I will take time to reflect on this.

As with all Church appointments there are formal procedures to be followed. As I don't get ordained, as only ministers of word and scarament get ordained in The Church of Scotland I will have a service of introduction. This is being planned at present. I have been asked to give my favourite hymns and songs for the service. It's difficult. I have so many that mean so much to me. What to have and what to leave out. It could be a long service!! What would you choose?

So a busy week ahead. Holy week and my first offical week in post. I love Holy week. I get to attend Church more than once a week. It reminds me that God calls us to follow him all week and not just on a Sunday. That we serve him all day every day.
So as I think and reflect today and get ready to start work and begin Holy week I reflect on the words of Scripture that I have read this morning:
Proverbs 16

1The plans of the heart belong to man,
but(A) the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2(B) All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the LORD(C) weighs the spirit.
3(D) Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established.
4(E) The LORD has made everything for its purpose,
even(F) the wicked for the day of trouble.
5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is(G) an abomination to the LORD;
(H) be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6By(I) steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by(J) the fear of the LORD one(K) turns away from evil.
Til Next time.

Knowledge and wisdom

2010-03-19T11:57:00.000Z

The blog has been a bit neglected over the past three weeks. Much has been happening and I can finally blog about it. I offically start my job as Children and youth worker for The Church of Scotland in Dalmellington and Patna Waterside parishes on the 26 April. It is exciting and scary at the same time. Working in the Church you have grown up in is different to starting a new job. I know all the people, I know the young people but there are still many challenges to be faced.

I have been looking at Proverbs this past week in my Bible readings. This past few weeks in Church and in devotions I have been thinking a lot about wisdom and knowledge. I have seen how it is useful to be trained in youth work and to have studied the Bible and theology. That working with young people it has been helpful to put this training into practice. Youth work though is a job where most of the time you have to think on your feet and I suppose that is where wisdom comes in. I have come to realise though that knowledge and wisdom are only part of what God requires of us, and it is how we use this knowledge and wisdom. God asks us to be humble and to use our knowledge wisely. Sometimes it is difficult to avoid sounding as though we know it all, when that is far from the truth. So I have been reflecting on this scripture:

Proverbs 3

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
       but keep my commands in your heart,     ² for they will prolong your life many years
       and bring you peace and prosperity.
    ³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
       bind them around your neck,
       write them on the tablet of your heart.
    ⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
       in the sight of God and humankind.
    ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;
    ⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
       and he will make your paths straight. ^[a]
    ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
       fear the LORD and shun evil.
I have seen that I can do nothing if God is not in what I do. That all knowledge and wisdom come from God. That his plan is the straight path. So as I get ready to start work and serve in my Parish I reflect on this and hopefully put it into practice.
Til next time.

There is hope!!

2010-02-27T09:14:00.000Z

This week has been mad. I have been in four schools with Thebandwithnoname and the Ark team. The band have been great and young people have really enjoyed the week in schools. The questions we recieved were really challenging and it encourages me that young people are thinking about God and where they came from. For me though to see the gospel being openly preached and not to quote the band to ' Bible bash' was amazing. More opportunies like this are needed for young people. For young people to see that Jesus is still relevant to them and not just older people gives them hope and a future.

Last night's gig was amazing. The Ark was packed out with young people and the atmosphere was so exciting. I took my nephew along, he's a big fan of the band. He got to meet the guys before and after the gig. Although before the gig I have never seen him so quite. He was a wee bit star struck.!! He like many young people his age get a hard time from their friends because of their faith. He is struggling a bit at the moment, so last night was just what he needed. He was so excited on the way home. Our home Church has no young people attend worship. He has never seen so many young Christians in the one place. All the Ark volunteers are young Christians and I think it has helped him to see that he is not on his own.

So all food for thought as I wait to start my new job. It should be very soon and then i'll hit the ground running. This week has just felt like God is breaking through in Ayr and that we are seeing hope for the young people of Ayr. Now that the seeds have been planted, those who are in positions to help water and grow these need to move and be ready to help these young people. Encourage them and keep them moving forward.

So as I get ready for another night, out and about on the streets. Whatever and whoever we meet tonight it's good to be out serving and bringing hope to the young people.

Til Next time.

The Rantings of a rural Youth Worker

First week back

Kindle

New year new possibilities

Resolutions

2011 blog review

I never want to see any more Chocolate!!

Another year

The start of Christmas madness

This thing they call work

Advent

updates

Prayer request

Some Romanian firsts

Romania Reflections 2011

Day 3

Day 3

Day 2 Romania

And I'm off

Will you come and follow me

Catch up

Galatians 6

Bear One Another’s Burdens

Final Warning and Benediction

Old familiar things again!!

Psalm 40

My Help and My Deliverer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Here we go again!!

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

A Psalm for(A) giving thanks.

Another turn on the road

Don't follow me i'm lost!!

Hope

Some breakdowns and techie stuff

Gods behaving badly

Getting stuck in the boat again!!

Time to reach for the hankies!

Memory Lane

Leonard Cohen/ Anthem live

The Challenge to remain positve

2 Peter 1

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

A time for action.

We're still here!!

Sabbath Rest

Old familiar things

Catch up

Happy St Patrick's day

Come follow me

Divine Appointments

Thorns in the Straw

Dreams and changes

Young people and faith

The power of story

Faith and Deeds

Going Green

The times are a changing

Joshua 4

No matter what this week brings I have reasurrance in this:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

First week back

2010 on the blog

Christmas and Hogmanay

Christmas and the life of a youth worker

Where have the years gone??

I'm still here

Loss

1980's

Romanian reflections

What an amazing God week

its finally happening

Time is flying by

a new addition

Work!!

Five weeks!!

Days off

Reflecting on the Church

Belfast

catch up

A Psalm for^(A) giving thanks.