Buckets of Rain                      

Seems like ever since the hose pipe ban came into effect, it's rained every day. God must be having a laugh! He does seem to move in mysterious ways... just when you really really need something - boom! There it is, and you're soaked!

I was reminded last week of some of the disciplines that help us to soak ourselves with God, as follows -

Prayer - with confidence and trust in God

Reading the bible

Fasting

Having a spirit of thankgiving

Solitude - time alone to dream your dreams and be with God

Confession

Going to church

Sometimes I find some of these can feel like heavy going, but I've discovered that if I put some effort into another discipline, the others come back to me. Perhaps at times we need to exercise strategic retreat from some things and advance in other directions. Recently I found reading the bible had become hard going and felt somewhat of a disconnect in prayer. Then, on the back of having a great day I really felt like giving thanks and in my prayers just spent time thanking God for stuff in prayer and worship songs.

Since then my prayer and bible reading has been really uplifting and enjoyable again. The time of thanksgiving has, it seems, refilled my reservoirs of faith. And, as I look out of the window in solitude this morning, I can't help but notice that it's still raining. Halleluiah, praise the Lord!

Fishkeeping                      

                                                                                                         Thorichthys Meeki - the Firemouth cichlid 

A few years ago my wife Claire and I bought our two small boys a fishtank - or more precisely, a 60 litre "biOrb" which is a kind of funky spherical aquarium.  Small boys being what they are, it fell to me to actually maintain the tank and look after the fish.  As it turned out, I became more and more keen on fishkeeping (as the hobby is called) and we now have a smaller aquarium, a much bigger aquarium and an outdoor pond in addition to the biOrb.

Whilst I have to say I don't relish the tank-cleaning business, which I do every weekend, this is a small price to pay for the satisfaction of seeing the fish thriving.  I find watching the fish really relaxing and Claire and I sometimes refer to this as "watching Fish TV".

However, while looking at the fish is relaxing and feeding them and looking after their environment are very satisfying activities, the two most exciting things are the arrival of baby fish (a sure sign that all is well in the aquarium!) and the addition of newcomers purchased from our local aquatics emporia.  In other words, nurturing the existing fish is great, but nothing is so exciting as the arrival of new fish.

Now I'm sure there's a metaphor for church life in there somewhere....

Church Weekend Away      

Elsewhere on the church website you can find details of the church weekend away that is coming up on May 4th - 7th.  Having gone last year, I am really looking forward to this year's event, which promises to be even better than last time! With this in mind, if there is the slightest possibility of your coming, let me strongly recommend (OK, I'm telling you) you really should come along. Simply put, it's brilliant!!

This year, our over-arching objective as a church is to experience more of the presence of God, and if you are up for that then you do not want to miss out on the weekend away. Last time, away from the hustle and bustle of our regular daily life, there was so much more time and quiet space to walk and think and let your mind wander to God and our place in his world and in his plans.

The teaching was fantastic. Inspiring, moving, thought-provoking and challenging, it set the tone for all of us to open ourselves up to the power of God's holy spirit. I loved the music and it was great to have the chance to lead a bit of exercise to music at the beginning of a service (how many churches are brave enough to kick off a service by dancing around to Lady Gaga?!?).  The children's work was superb and our boys came back having had a great time with it.

Wellington Country Park itself was great fun too - again, lots of fun things for the kids to do and plenty of opportunities for walks around the various nature trails (bring your binoculars and birdwatching buddy!)

One of the best things though was the chance to get to know people from EBC that we didn't know beforehand.  It was such fun to have everyone chatting away, sharing meals, playing footy and having a drink or two in the evening. Truly, it felt like "Acts 2" church in action!

Camping was hugely enjoyable, with excellent shower and toilet facilites (not at all like I remember camping as a kid!) but if you really don't fancy camping, you can enjoy a full day and evening each day and then just zip off at night-time for your creature comforts! 

So for some really "in tents" fun, book now to avoid disappointment - see you there!!

Mending Fences       

A couple of years ago I spent a significant amount of time repairing and replacing all of the fences around our back garden.  I confess I'm not particularly great at DIY but since it would have cost a small fortune to have the job done professionally, I was prepared to have a go!  I spent a fair bit of time thinking and planning how to go about it and had numerous trips to buy wood, panelling, nails and some tools I needed.  It was a long and arduous job, especially as I discovered that the largest panels were not available to buy and had to be made from scratch.  That said, it was immensely satisfying in the end - and I found I had a few bonuses from it too.  Namely, I had a bunch of new tools that I could use again, I had enough left-over timber to build myself a "tub" pond for our patio, and I had a new set of skills!

With the high wind we have had recently, one of our fence panels has started wobbling - but I hasten to add this is NOT due to my workmanship, since it is one of the few remaining original fenceposts that has become loose...  Anyway, I popped out this morning to brace it temporarily until I have time (and suitably calm weather) to fix it properly.

When I was doing the main job two years ago, I had plenty of time during all the sawing, hammering and lifting to let my mind wander and I got to thinking about... mending fences.  This may not seem like much of a wander, I'll grant you, but I since I was quite literally mending fences at the time it got me thinking about the phrase "mending fences" as we apply it to repairing relationships or making up after a falling out with someone.  As it happens, I had had just such a falling out with a very, very good friend a little while before this, so, naturally enough, I took it as a sign that I needed to mend fences with my friend too.

There are a few parallels between the two types of fence-mending that occurred to me...

1)  The fences won't mend themselves - the passage of time alone is not going to heal things, and in fact may allow things to deteriorate still further.

2)  The more damage there is, the longer it will take to fix.  Corollary - act sooner rather than later.

3)  Thinking it through before you act will save you a lot of wasted time and heartache.

4)  You need to invest in it - you might need to learn some stuff yourself along the way, you might need to face up to your own weaknesses and you might need some skills and tools you don't easily have to hand. Corollary - you have to really want the fence mended!

5)  It takes time - but the more care and attention you give it, the better it will be.  It may even be stronger than the old version!

6)  You have to go to the fence - the fence will never come to you.  Sometimes when we have a falling out, we can easily become entrenched in our position.  No-one wants to be the first one to crack and apologize or make up, so we stay stuck in the mud just like fences. I think the antidote to this is to reconsider things - far from being a weak thing to do, being the one to make the first move is actually a sign of strength.  So be big!  Knowing how hard it is to make the first move, be big and do both of you a favour.

7)  Maintenance.  I was reminded this morning of lexicographer Samuel Johnson's wise advice that "A man, sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair."  A little effort to check in, a little TLC, makes for strong fences and strong friendships that will weather the storms for years to come!

My friend and I are long since back on track and we have been able to look back on what was a really difficult time for both of us - and laugh.

Any fences you need to mend?

We are Where We Are       

“We are where we are.”  Huh?  What’s that supposed to mean?  This is a phrase I use all the time, and I find it really helpful.  The point is, there is no point moaning about what your circumstances are, no use in blaming people – including yourself – for those circumstances, no sense looking back and wishing things had worked out differently, in giving up or never even starting just because your starting point seems too far from where you want to get to.  Instead, we must accept that “We are where we are” – and get on with moving on.

Of course, it’s easy to say and not always so easy to do.  Please understand, I’m not saying you have to be happy about where you are, nor that you can’t mourn for better times that have passed or been taken away from you.  There are seasons and rhythms in life – times to enjoy and celebrate, times when we feel full of vim and vigour and times when it’s all we can do just to hold on, to endure.

When we’re poorly or grieving, or circumstances are making things impossible... these are times just to get through, to endure, to survive.  But in such times hold onto hope – and to the thought that when the season passes – as it surely will – you will be ready to move on.  Then is the time to say:  “OK, I’ve been in a jam.  Things have been bleak.  I’m nowhere near where I want to be and I wish things were different... but we are where we are.  Now I need to get up, dust myself down, and get moving one step at a time in the right direction.”  What, after all, is the alternative?

This, by the way, is a great attitude to have in all kinds of situations.  Whether it’s to do with your body shape, your relationships, things on your conscience, grief, illness, regret, challenges at work or when life bumps you up against one of those random tricky situations, remember – “We are where we are”.  Accept it.  Forget blame and accept it.  Then figure out what the best possible outcome is (given that, right now, we are where we are) and set about pursuing it.  Allow yourself to think and dream about the long term – sometimes things take time, and things that may seem – and be – impossible in the short term, may not seem so unrealistic if you look far enough ahead.

There’s a great line in Kipling’s famous poem “If”, that talks about watching the things you gave your life to broken, and stooping to build them up again with worn-out tools.  I love that line – it’s the best example of the “we are where we are” attitude that I know.  It also implies a dogged, workmanlike attitude – this is it, this is where I’m at – the circumstances aren’t great but hey, time to cowboy up and get on with steadily rebuilding.  The tools are worn out and frankly so am I, but no sense dwelling on it, it ain’t helpful.  Nope, there’s nothing to be done but crack on and get busy – I’ll get there in the end.

However unfit you feel you are, however despondent you feel about your circumstances, however far from your dreams you feel - even if it feels that you are in freefall, there is still hope to hold onto.  You are where you are... but in truth the distance between where you are and where you want to be is  just a series of single steps.  And the great thing is, the moment you take that first step, you are already winning because you are progressing towards your dream!  You are no longer where you were, but heading towards a wonderful destination in the only way possible, which is one single step at a time. In taking that first step, you are suddenly, immediately on a wonderful journey from here... to there!

Angelo Dundee 

I was sorry to read of the passing of Angelo Dundee this week - the legendary trainer who looked after such great boxers as Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman and one of my great heroes, Muhammad Ali.

Angelo (torn from us at the tender age of 90) had the great gift of bringing out the best in his fighters.  It's often said in sports that once the match has started, the coach is helpless - they have done their work in the preparation, but once the contest begins, their charges are on their own.  Angelo Dundee, however, had an uncanny knack of influencing events from the corner, sometimes almost talking his fighters into winning.

That said, even as great a coach as Angelo Dundee couldn't do it all for his guys - they had to go out there and put into practice all that they had learned, with courage and tenacity.

Ultimately, we are all responsible for the way we "fight the good fight" of our lives. It certainly helps if we have great guidance from our corner - that's one of the reasons I'm so glad to be part of EBC. We have great people in our corner, guiding us, rooting for us, encouraging us through our ups and downs. However, once we step through the ropes - or out into the World - how we conduct ourselves is our own responsibility.

T&T 2011!                         

I'm sitting at home a little tired but very happy after 3 days of festive fun with around 100 of our older friends at our Turkey & Tinsel event. 

Thanks to a host of angelic elves, who gave so generously of their time and energy, everyone had a fantastic time together - and we may even have inspired the daughter of one of our guests to start a Holiday at Home ministry at her own church further south!

I myself had a wonderful time (aside from being thoroughly pounced upon by the Ugly Sisters at the panto - thanks for that, Rob!) as Turkey and Tinsel is such a pleasure to be involved in.  Seeing all those older folks laughing their heads off, singing with great gusto, and boogying away to Britney and Jessie J songs during our exercise sessions is a great buzz - best part of my job by miles!

It has been an amazing year for our church and I feel a great sense of excitement about the year ahead.  What's God got in store next?!?

Happy New Year to you all!

Energize!                         

The other day I caught a little bit of "Star Trek" on TV - the original series, I mean, rather than any of the later versions (Honestly, Captain Kirk and his crew would wipe the floor with them and still be back on the Enterprise in time for tea and scones.)

The thing I like about the original Star Trek is that it was such a great team.  Kirk, Spock, Bones and Scotty in particular (OK OK, Uhura too) were such a great crew because although each of them had their strengths and weaknesses, they brought out the best in one another and each one was trusted to do the particular thing that they were great at.

Uhura - the cool-headed expert in communications.

Scotty - the brilliant engineer who could improvise under immense pressure.

Bones - the passionate, cantankerous doctor who embodied the crew's morality.

Spock - the unflappable, implacable face of logical pragmatism under all circumstances.

Kirk - the maverick man-of-action and born leader who always backed himself to win.

A characteristic they all shared was that they totally trusted each other - even when facing certain death on some alien planet, they knew that each was brilliant at what they did and that they'd somehow find a way to pull through together.

Time and again, Uhura would decode the vital transmission, Scotty would fix the warp-drive or beam them all up just in time, Bones would find an antidote to the weird virus, Spock would calculate the exact moment to slingshot round the sun, and Kirk would smooth-talk, outwit or beat up the alien commander just as the circumstances required.

They were much much more than the sum of their parts and they energized each other - sometimes (through the transporter system) quite literally!  In fact, if anyone on the crew hadn't been the energizing, encouraging type, Kirk would probably have beamed them off the ship!

In one episode, Kirk and Bones are looking at the main viewing screen watching the millions of stars as they rushed past.  Kirk, in reflective mood, looks out and says something like, "You know Bones, somewhere out there someone is saying the three most beautiful words in the universe."  Bones glances at his friend and raises a quizzical eyebrow.  Still looking out at the stars, Kirk continues with the answer, "Please.  Help me."

I love to think that the Starship EBC is on the same kind of mission, responding to the same desperate needs, with the same kind of trusting, energising team of great characters.  What part will you play?

Fonzie, O.B.E.!                         

I was delighted to read yesterday that Henry Winkler has been awarded an honorary O.B.E. for his work with dyslexic children in Britain.

For those of you who don't remember the '70's TV show "Happy Days", Henry Winkler played a character called Arthur Fonzarelli - "The Fonz" or "Fonzie" for short.

"Happy Days" was a warmhearted American comedy-drama, letting us in on the lives of a middle class family in 1950's Milwaukee.  The Cunningham family was pretty ordinary - honest,  hardworking parents Marilyn and Howard, raising their kids Richie and Joanie, while those two teenagers were finding out about growing up with their friends and hanging out at Arnold's diner.  Invariably the kids would get into some kind of trouble, which is when The Fonz would step in and sort things out.

Fonzie, you see, was a high-school dropout who had become a motor mechanic and rented a room with the Cunninghams - but he was also a Harley-riding, super-cool tough-guy with a heart of gold.

Henry Winkler was maybe a little small to play such a tough guy, and no-one in real-life is as cool as The Fonz!  But how touching to find out that the heart of gold was really there all along.

When I was growing up, I loved "Happy Days" - it was my favourite TV programme by miles.  And The Fonz was my hero - posters and everything!  So I really smiled when I read about his work with dyslexic kids and his O.B.E.  Good old Fonzie. Still a hero after all these years - how cool is that?!? 

an American Adventure! 

What a fantastic week we have had at EBC's second summer Holiday at Home!  After last year's World Cruise, this time we have had a week-long tour of the good ol' U.S.A.  With around 60 older folk plus helpers onboard, we started each day with a rousing rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" before getting stuck into quizzes, bingo (or "Yee-ha!" as we called it), arts & crafts, Mastermind and singalongs.  Not to mention lots and lots of delicious food and drink!

So many enjoyable moments it's hard to recall them all, but I'll pick out a few personal highlights.  Singing the theme tune to "Rawhide" with Don, while his good lady Steph ("The Rev") literally cracked the whip around us was hilarious.  I loved how everyone belted out "Country Roads" and "Is This the Way to Amarillo?" with gusto, and had great fun putting our various celebrity contestants under the spotlight in Mastermind.  Congratulations to the Rev for retaining her title there, but honourable mention to Peter Roe for getting 10/10 on his specialist subject... Thomas the Tank Engine!!  I also found Rob's (specialist subject American Songbirds) sudden realisation that he knew all he needed to know about Flamingos and Alecia Beth Moore priceless:  "Ummm.... er....  Flamingos....? Who? Er....   Songbirds?... Flamingos.....  OH!! Pink!!  They're both Pink!!") Well done there, Billy-Bob!

As ever, Carole & Val and their team in the saloon kept the victuals on theme and on time all week long, treating us to such various delights as "Empire Steak" followed by Apple Pie & Ice Cream (New York) right through to Fish, Chips & Mushy Peas (Back to Blighty), via Caribbean Chicken and Rum 'n' Raisin (Pirates of the Caribbean).

Fay and Eileen once again worked tirelessly in getting everything ready for the event and keeping us on track with all we needed - not to mention making sure everyone who wanted to come actually found their way onto the list!

Wednesday was a brilliant day in that we had a double event for the first time.  While Billy-Bob and Sallyann led a coachload of seasoned Holiday-at-Homers off on a day out to Eastbourne (dressed as Americans, of course) we made full use of the Americanized church hall to welcome in a whole new set of first-time holidaymakers from our contacts around Bracknell's various residential homes and Bracknell Forest Voluntary Action.  Fifty or so people, many of whom have never experienced EBC in any way before - and all laughing their way through a great day of fun together.  How cool is that?

 Huge, heartfelt thanks to all the team who helped out and made it possible.  It was amazing to be a part of such a fantastic "crew", all resplendent in their uniform tee-shirts and caps or hats, and making sure everyone had such a great time.  Kicking everything off on Monday morning is a slightly edgy moment, as one wonders "will everyone get into the spirit of this thing or will it fall flat?"  Thankfully it took about one minute - and one deafening shout of "YEE-HA!!" - to confirm that reticence was not going to be an issue!!  Keeping up the energy levels (and the dodgy accent) is made a whole lot easier when you've got such a brilliant, supportive team around you, and room full of fully-bought-in holidaymakers whooping it up every day.

As always, I get a huge kick out of seeing a room full of seniors, plus crew, doing "Five Minute Fitness" to music - and with morning and afternoon sessions every day, there was no shortage of examples - I raise my glass to you all, you nutcases!! 

Here's to next year, and another great adventure - YEEEEE-HAAAA!!!