Tutor Group Meeting

Now I really have started. Yesterday I attended the first tutor group meeting, shame there were only 3 out of the 4 of us, plus the tutor. Apart from the journey - its 50 minutes away, and starts at 19:30, so its a challenge even when I work from home!
Anyway enough of the moans - it was a good evening, we got a much better idea of what's going to happen, and some insight into the how as well. The group is mainly people from the CCS course, which is even better - like starting a new task with old friends. We started with a bible study, lead by the tutor, which was interesting, and a slightly different approach than I'm used to.
I also came away with my first task - I'm doing the first bible study at the next tutor group. That will be good, as I have a target, and some work to do.

For now its back to preparing the Alpha talk for next week - the subject is "How does God guide?"

Funeral

Its always sad to lose someone, but this was a young man, just turned 30. He was what we would conventionally call disabled, and required extra care and support throughout his life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Why do I note this here? Well, its mainly because there's so much talk about Christians not having anything different to offer. Sometimes that's true. Sometimes its because we are so steeped in Christianity that everyone is always benefiting from the Christian world view - and the practice that results. That's true even when most people don't know it!

If you want difference, if you want to hear love demonstrated, then listen to the story of his life, the way he affected those in a close relationship with him. They describe how he brought them closer to Jesus. Hear about his legacy, the good work that will help others, that has already been done because of him, and will go on, because somethings are (rightly) unstoppable. We talk about celebrating someone's life, here I think we succeeded.

Proud Father Time

OK so its time to get carried away with the pictures. We now have some scanned pictures of Karens Graduation day, here's a sample. Click on the picture to see the others.

Practice

Just to see if I can embed pictures, if its working, a click on the pic should give a bigger version.



This is all of us preparing to leave Tanzania in 2002. The whole story is here.

Holiday - day 4: Were-Rabbits and Persians

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Forget the Madagasca Penguins, the short film that started the show - they were OK, but the main feature was excellent. Be prepared to laugh out loud. Its a typical horror story, written to be acceptable to young children. There's all the usual things that you find in a W&G story, but put you film memory into gear and see how many gags you can spot. The characters may have finger print outlines on their faces once or twice, by this type of production is just a thousand times better than animation, no matter how good that may be.

Go and see it, buy the DVD (for me please!). This is in the same league as Chicken Run, or is it better - we'll just have to wait and see.

That was last thing Monday, got back too late Monday night, and was too tired to write then.

Forgotten Empire - The World of Ancient Persia
I remember the problems the Jews had under Darius (Da RIus not Dar ius), and how Cyrus let them all go home again. Before the Romans, before the Greeks, here was the biggest empire the world had seen. The Medes and the Persians got together an conquered 3,000 sq miles, from India to Greece, and everything inbetween. They had a sophisticated form of government, devolved to local rulers (satraps), with regular check-ups from the King. Their communications links based on roads and fast horses allowed the King to keep up with what was happening in his empire. Their bureaucracy is written in 3 languages, and their coinage differs from one end of the empire to the other. Look at the skills of the craftsmen, imported from wherever they were to work in the great palaces. The samples we have equal or better anything I've seen from Greece or Rome, and they are hundreds of years earlier.

Destroyed by the Greeks, in the shape of Alexander the Great, they recovered enough to retain some of their empire, and defeated 3 roman Emporers.

If you go to see this, (and why wouldn't you?) get the audio guide, it adds to the overall experience.

That was today, after the exhibition I wandered round the British Museum, had a look at the Rosetta stone, but didn't find Ginger (the mummified Egyptian body). There is so much to see, and I came back having not done the rest of the museum real justice, but trying to keep the exhibition in my mind.

Comments to "Started"

1) Yes, of course, how could I have a party without inviting my family - more interestingly is where it will be - and then it might be me asking can you come

2) Hmm, if we grow more like Jesus, then our sense of humour must change too. Yes, I suppose you must be right. I'd never really thought about that.

Holiday - Day 1

So for the first day of my holiday, I've completed the tasks I set myself! This is a major result considering the interruptions that I've had. So the first part of the Advent notes is almost complete, and the general approach is approved - this is good news. I've updated the web site for links to news letters - all manual still, but I've found some interesting scripts on the way!
The plans for the rest of the week though may not be quite so good. Lets see how it goes. Having stubbed my toe really badly on Saturday, walking in shoes is a pain - literally. That's the left side - the right side is suffering a twisted knee, and walking down stairs is also painful. How did I do it, I don't know, but I was vacuuming the lounge, squatting, rather than bending, and click! There it was done.
Hopefully we're off to see the Were-Rabbit in an hour, so depending on the time we get back, I may write a quick review.

Lost!

No not the TV program, although I've heard its really good. I'm sitting here fiddling with my blogger template, and adding "Atomic Kitten" to my music favourites - mainly to wind the children up! What I'm really doing is missing ShakenUp!, who were out bowling tonight. What I should be doing is preparing for Sunday as tomorrow we will be busy in the grandparents garden, preparing for the builder - so be it.

Started!

Saturday, So we have finally started. It's been a long wait from the end of CCS, through selection until now. Last Saturday was kick-off day, and we have picked up six books. They are relatively slim, not the doorstops we had to look at when I tried this last time, 12 or 13 years ago. So we're off, but what to do? Well, that has to wait for the opening tutor group meeting, which is currently scheduled for next Monday, but not confirmed yet. I'm still impatient and want to get going, but before then I have other things to think about. Preparing the talk for Alpha, "How does God guide?", is going to keep me occupied, as is preparing the notes for Advent for the preachers.  

Sunday, What an early start, I was tired all day. It was worth it to see Räikkönen pass Fisichella on the last lap to take the race and save his team 4 points. Well worth a whole day of tiredness. The afternoon was uncle Albert's 90th, and a good time was had by all. Now I've met the relatives on my father-in-law's side of the family again, worked out who they all are, and somehow invited them to my 50th party (considering we weren't drunk, how DID that happen?). Still, I had a good time playing with Jude, who, like all tiny boys, just loves pretending to be on a fairground ride. Also met Mark's grandad at this event, and had a nice little chat about our youth worker. It's a small world.  

Tuesday As both the girls would say "God is good". I've been praying for help with the reader training and the problems I have with evening meetings. Just how am I going to find a couple of hours of peace and quiet to study, prepare, write, re-write, or just reflect? Not easy when there are evening meetings 3 out of 5 days. Never mind, there are discussions about possible reorganization at work, and I'm in line for a UK based role, if it happens. Sounds like an answer to prayer - not the one I was expecting, certainly, but it delivers what's required.  

Things to look forward to Next week I'm on holiday. No great plans, just a rest, and some catching up. Hopefully I'll get to see Forgotten Empire: The World Of Ancient Persia and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.