The Christmas Blog

How did you spend Christmas day?

Mine began with me waking up at 10am hearing my mum talking to my brother about how she didn't know how she was going to get the house tidy enough to celebrate this year, then she went out and I realised the time and that for the first time ever she hadn't woken me up to ask if I wanted to go to church, which meant that (again for the first time ever) I didn't get to church on Christmas day.

I went downstairs and decided to start tidying the front room and to cut a long story short, when my mum got home we carried on tidying the living room, my brother done the kitchen and my sister the backroom. By 3pm the 3 rooms were tidy and we all felt we had earned our presents and so went into the undecorated living room (again this is the first year that not a single decoration had gone up) and gave out our gifts. We all had agreed that we would not go over the top this year (another first) however we all seemed to really like the small pile of gifts that we received. Mine included 2 DVDs, a mini helicopter, a small table hockey game, a calender thing and 3 yearly bible study things.

My mum then went into the kitchen to put the potatoes etc into the oven (turkey had already been cooked) and by 5pm(ish) dinner was ready and we all went into the dining room and ate our traditional massive Christmas dinner.

After eating 1 and a half roast dinners (we have a family tradition of eating the plateful we had then the "children" refill their plates and see who is last to give up - this year, again for the first time, I was first to quit) We watched Dr who (Kylie was sexy but should stick to singing) and TV etc and that was that.

I wont bored you with boxing day but to be honest it was probably identical without the presents, the tidying or Dr who - which i guess actually suggests it was a day with a huge roast dinner and lots of TV!

Looking back I realise that I probably enjoyed this Christmas more than most as, although we did have a few moments of the traditional arguments etc:-

• for the first time in a long time, me my mum, sister and brother worked together to achieve something - even if it was just a tidy house and felt like a family.
• Without the tree and tinsel up we didn't have the distractions around us.
• Because we all only spent a little we valued our gifts much more than we usually do, as well as the sentiments behind giving and receiving them.
• By not going to church I realised that I had missed it, whereas when I go I just ignore it.

Even the cleaning bit of the day has made me realise something, surely cleaning is central to the Christmas story. The birth of Jesus is an amazing story which was the beginning of the most amazing story in the world and to put it simply - the reason for it all is so that we clean up our lives and have God at the centre and everything else in the correct draws. So maybe cleaning the house is the perfect way of celebrating Christmas! (note to mum - if your reading this DO NOT remind me of this next Christmas as whilst its nice in theory I don't want to do it every year - note to other readers - IGNORE that note to my mum I'm going to make sure cleaning is central to Christmas in my future),

In truth maybe this Christmas I have a true message for you, which I feel I have been reminded of :-

• Give and receive presents, but value them so that you remember the thoughts behind them even when you cant remember what you gave or were given
• Remember the reason for the season - every day not just once a year!
• Use Christmas and the new year as a time to clean your soul and get your life with God sorted.

Finally, and most importantly - Whoever your family are, whether 1 2 or 3 parents etc, value them - they will mess up and they will hurt you but they will always be your family and they are a gift from God, even if it don't feel like it when they are with you!

Your my family - IL update you on my move etc when I get the chance.

Merry Christmas and Have a happy New Year

Why church should be like a party....

In Nossies blog I discovered that my view of church should be like a party which i expressed in my last blog is one which some disagree with and so I am posting the comment I made in her blog here to explain my views and gather yours.

The reason I believe church should be like a party is that the majority of church goers (in theory but sadly maybe not in practice) are those who know the good news that Jesus brought us and many have responded to that good news!

the Biblical church was and is a gathering of christ followers. It involves worship, teachings, encouragement and more.

SURELY A GATHERING OF PEOPLE WHOM HAVE HEARD AND RESPONDED TO THE GOOD NEWS WOULD WANT TO BE CELEBRATING AND SO CHURCH SHOULD BE A PARTY (i didnt mean to shout there but my comp stuck on caps and when i re-read what I wrote I decided to keep it in capitals)

does this infer or make people believe life will be easy? not in my view! infact I believe a joyful, celebrating church says - life may not go according to my plan but im celebrating that I know there is more to life than this etc etc.

it really depends how you define party does it not? a wake after someone dies is a party, a bday party is a party, a farewell do is a party. Partys come in many sizes and with many styles and so should church. My point is church should be something attractive to people because it is Gods church and God is something people should want in their lives!

does this mean we are not called to be different? no - but thats sort of the point too isnt it? society is full of depression, sadness and lack of love or joy - so if the church is truely called to be different then it should be full of happiness, excitement, love and joy - which in my book makes a pretty good party!

A total update in a long awaited blog

The reason I have not blogged for so long is because so much is going on in my life that every time I try to write something i dont know where to start or where to end and so i end up giving up. However the other day I bit someones head off for asking me a simple basic question about my "move and job" because i was fed up of talking about it so I decided I must write it all down so that when asked the questions i can just say "read my blog!" so here goes....

Job information

Last time I wrote I had just had an interview in liverpool, well it went well and they invited me back for a 2nd one during which they informed me that they were definitly offering me the job. I was extremely excited and pleased but used my wisdom to ask for time to pray and concider it.

the next day I asked about the small matter of money and was disapointed to discover that I was being offered a salary which was about £3000 less per year than I am currently on and so wasnt so sure.

I seeked advice from many wise people, some online and some real life/none net friends. Everyone agreed on one thing, that God provides and that if before money became an issue I felt it was right to do then its probably still the right thing to do. So I accepted.

I then had the problem that my current job required 3 months notice and my new job wanted be ASAP. My bosses said I could move earlier as long as something was sorted so that the cube did not suffer. An interim youth worker has now been apointed and so I start my new job on the 2nd January 2008 and will be meeting my current boss tomorow to arrange when I am leaving here.

the job is basicaly (according to my job description) "This is a new post created to engage and befriend young people who frequent the streets of the area and enable them to access purposeful activity in Liverpool Lighthouse and other locations in the area." and as its really hard to say what I will actually be doing I will just leave it as that.

Prayer wise I am very nervous as I havent done detached youth work for a while and am throwing myself into the deep end working with young people who really need help and God. It could be the biggest challenge of my life so far.

Search for a home and "The church"

This weekend I went up to Liverpool to visit the church and experience a sunday service and also to find a home to rent. Well the first bit was easy enough.

The church service was amazing, the friendliness of the people was outstanding with people speaking to me and welcoming me etc etc even before they knew who I was. The service itself was 2 hours long (which for me sounds scarey) and yet the time flew by. I used to have a saying that "church should always be like a party because if thats what heavens like then the church should be like heaven!" and this service really felt like a party. The worship music was a mixture of everything, with people being free to worship how they feel comfortable - I have a pet peave about "happy clappy" churches whos services make you feel guilty if you dont put your hands in the air or speak in tongues etc etc but as I worshipped I really felt God telling me this is my new home and in many other ways I felt challenged like never before in the sermon andwas almost (but i didnt) brought to tears when they spoke so passionatly about the work they do abroad and locally - with no wish for anyone to be praised except for God.

The house hunting was less enjoyable. I found places to look at and yet could not look at them due to staff shortages and other reasons, which meant I actually ended up looking at houses that were not really what I wanted - and trust me when I say if you see a studio apartment for £60 a week its probably not worth even looking at! I guess Il have to go up again soon as time is short and if I dont have anywhere to move to I may be in trouble.

Please pray for God to open a door and find me somewhere to live, and that I fall in love with the house in the same way that I instantly fell in love with my current house.

The Cube

Everyone now knows that I am leaving, and it has been strange as it had led me to see how much of a relationship I actually have with the young people and it has been very moving to hear how many of them say they will really miss me etc. Im sad to be leaving as its not a finished project and the young people are great, but it is the right time, Gods time, and me leaving has resulted in some major decisions in the life of the project (mainly about its future) which I believe will enable for Gods work to be done even more in the towns young peoples lives, so I guess once again I have been reminded how time is Gods not Mans.

I still dont know when my last date is but it will be before 19th December.

Please pray for the work as I try to bring my role to an end and also pray that the new begining for both the cube and its young people goes well.

Christmas

As I dont know where I will be living or when Im moving Christmas planning is proving hard. I am hoping I will go to my mums for a few days but at the back of my mind I have a fear I will end up in an empty home in Liverpool on my own - but its in Gods hands really isnt it!

I am aiming to have a bash on new years eve as a sort of house warming/new years party so if you are free you are invited, just ask for the address (when I have one) and let me know your coming.

Please pray that this party happens, and is well attended and that Christmas goes well (and that I find time and money to get presents!)

Social life

I recently went to London for the day with my mum to see "Avenue Q" a great musical which is slightly ruder than usual but is hilarious - something my mum agreed with - which did suprise me as I thought it may be too rude for her. Go see it if you can - its great!

This weekend I stayed at a friends from uni in Liverpool and it was great to look back at old times. I also managed to get a ticket at the very last minute (2 minutes before kick off) for Liverpool Vs Bolton and what a match 4-0 to Liverpool. I will upload videos as soon as i find the wires.

I must admit socially I feel extremely positive about my future social life as I know a few people in liverpool and surounding areas and also have nothing but nice things to say about the many people I have met and spoken to when I have been visiting. Everything is making me believe that for the first time since university I will have a life away from work and away from the computer!

Please pray all the above comes true!

The internet

I have been neglecting you all, and I am truely sorry. To be honest life is so busy with all of the above I have found myself just wanting to chill without being asked questions about life, without having to chat etc, Im sorry if this sounds harsh as I do see you all as friends but I just needed a break from something and chatting on line was about the only thing I could take a break from.

So thats life, thats why Ive not been online/or have been "hidden" and havent updated my blog. Please pray for all the above and please do ask about things if you want to, and dont take it personaly if I ask you not to ask as sometimes im tired of talking about it.

Remember I love you all, and so does God, and if theres one thing Ive learnt/remembered through all this is that God has a time and sometimes that time isnt when we expect it. This means admiting we dont have total control, which is the hardest thing to do - but when we do it Gods time is revealed and his plan fulfilled.

i think thats everything. Bye for now!