On my only 'lie in' day I was up earlier than usual. I had to be at church for 7.45 for the 30 minute drive to Woodhatch Farm, Tawney Common. 5 men from Christ Church were going to the men's breakfast run by the Nationwide Christian Trust at Mulberry House. There are about 65 men there and no women or children. The speaker for today is Neil Harvey. On arrival I am directed to a car parking space. The driver of the car in front is a friend from years ago, who I haven't seen in ages. We have a lot of catching up to do. There is plenty of time to talk before the morning gets started.
About 9 o'clock breakfast is served. A traditional English breakfast, and I'm really hungry now, having succeeded in my first 'breakfast only Friday'. I have started these in Lent, but that is really just a means of getting started. The purpose is to loose weight, but after Friday I'm sure I'll have other things to report on later. Anyway, the full English is served - Bacon, scrambled egg, sausage, tomato, backed beans, hash browns. I'd been OK with the tea, coffee and orange juice, but the smell of bacon makes me really hungry. I eat the lot, none of my careful removal of fat and avoidance of sausages. It is my first sausage since my cholesterol shock 5 year ago.
There is good chat over breakfast about food, the redefinition of marriage and other assorted topics. After that we worship (3 songs only - nothing else) and then it's the main event.
The room is quiet as Neil starts his story. Some jokes about Wales to get us in the mood are followed by the real story. A boy born to young parents, who split up, brought up by grand parents, never fitting in anywhere and turning to a life of crime. It's a classic story. This one is different though. This one has smatterings of Sunday School and contact with Christians. This one has the power of God. I will not ruin the story for you, in case you get the chance to hear him. Ultimately he becomes a pastor, the details of that are in the link above. It shows God's redemptive power. It shows we can all be saved.
There is little talk about the story on the way home. The drama of it will take time to sink in. Time was a major element of Neil's story. Without time to spend with God there is no hope of building the relationship and trust required to follow Jesus properly.
About 9 o'clock breakfast is served. A traditional English breakfast, and I'm really hungry now, having succeeded in my first 'breakfast only Friday'. I have started these in Lent, but that is really just a means of getting started. The purpose is to loose weight, but after Friday I'm sure I'll have other things to report on later. Anyway, the full English is served - Bacon, scrambled egg, sausage, tomato, backed beans, hash browns. I'd been OK with the tea, coffee and orange juice, but the smell of bacon makes me really hungry. I eat the lot, none of my careful removal of fat and avoidance of sausages. It is my first sausage since my cholesterol shock 5 year ago.
There is good chat over breakfast about food, the redefinition of marriage and other assorted topics. After that we worship (3 songs only - nothing else) and then it's the main event.
The room is quiet as Neil starts his story. Some jokes about Wales to get us in the mood are followed by the real story. A boy born to young parents, who split up, brought up by grand parents, never fitting in anywhere and turning to a life of crime. It's a classic story. This one is different though. This one has smatterings of Sunday School and contact with Christians. This one has the power of God. I will not ruin the story for you, in case you get the chance to hear him. Ultimately he becomes a pastor, the details of that are in the link above. It shows God's redemptive power. It shows we can all be saved.
There is little talk about the story on the way home. The drama of it will take time to sink in. Time was a major element of Neil's story. Without time to spend with God there is no hope of building the relationship and trust required to follow Jesus properly.
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