24

Just finished Season 5. Watched the last three discs today...that's twelve episodes in a row, a new record for me. My head is fried. Anyway if I ever got to meet Keifer I would give him a big hug and thank him for the 120 hours on excitement he has brought into my life. Looking forward to Season 6 starting on Sky in three weeks. Should be just as awesome as the last five. Thanks to Glen for lending me the box set, it shall be returned within 36 hours of borrowing, how's that for a return service.

Christmas Carols

On Friday night Dromore Youth for Christ had their first ever Carol Service. When Cheryl and I planned it we thought it would be cool to combine tradition and contemporary, so we based the service on the nine carols and lessons but mixed in new worship songs with ancient carols, chucked in some drama and kids for good measure and we ended up having an amazing night. Around 200 people from the town came along and we raised almost £800 into the bargain. God is good. Just wanted to thank all the guys who worked so hard in the run up to the event and on the day. The Worship Band Sebomai, the Base Crew and the Base Kids. You were all amazing.

Tagged

Thanks to Pete Martin for tagging me and making me give you some useless information about myself...so here goes, 5 things you probably don't know about me

1. I used to be a really fit, athletic rugby player who played Ulster Schools Rugby, captained my school 1st XV and even got paid to play at Instonians RFC. I retired from serious rugby to play with my true colours and currently play for Grosvenor Rugby Club
2. I became a Christian in Crossroads Church in Dundonald when I was 17
3. I love watching TV and my favourite shows are CSI, The Unit, E-ring and 24
4. I am shy
5. I love deep sea fishing but don't get to do it much due to the lack of deep sea in Dromore.

Food tasting

I woke up with a class verse on my heart this morning...

Psalm 34:8 says

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Lovely thought, seems as though it is ok to take God slowly, feel your way, see what you think, if you sample him, you will probably want the whole thing. You will see that he is good.

A lot like me sometimes

Two goats, frisking gayly on the rocky steeps of a mountain valley, chanced to meet, one on each side of a deep chasm through which poured a mighty mountain torrent. The trunk of a fallen tree formed the only means of crossing the chasm, and on this not even two squirrels could have passed each other in safety. The narrow path would have made the bravest tremble. Not so our Goats. Their pride would not permit either to stand aside for the other.
One set her foot on the log. The other did likewise. In the middle they met horn to horn. Neither would give way, and so they both fell, to be swept away by the roaring torrent below.

Waking up

Man I am finding it hard to get out of bed these mornings. Rebecca and I must hit the snooze button like five times. It seems that every time we hit snooze the harder it is to actually get out of bed. The mornings are cold, dark, damp and I guess most people are struggling to get into their lives and jobs at this time of year. I know I am. I have been trying to find a remedy, because I don't want the winter months to just happen, God is still with us and for us and in us and so each day has potential. I have tried practical things, going to bed earlier, having my quiet time in the morning. I have tried crazy things like cold showers and loud music in my cd alarm clock. None of it is working. I need some new idea. Does anyone have any inspiration on how to get up early in these winter mornings and be excited about the day ahead? I would love some help on this one.

Just home from Drop In

I decided not to go to rugby tonight but to head along to The Base and do a bit at Drop In. It was just like the old days when Andy and I would run our that ministry. The place was bunged with kids, playing pool, playstation and table tennis, eating toast and chips and making lots of noise. It was amazing. New kids that I had never seen, old ones that have been around forever. It was cool to watch the ministry team tonight. Many of them have become Christians through drop in and are now there reaching out to kids who were just like them. I was in the kitchen tonight chatting to one girl who was making toast for the kids and it was just like God was doing a voice over in my head saying check this out Steve, six months ago she was lost, without me, and now she is my child and she is serving me and my children. That I guess has become my heart, reaching young people, training them, releasing them, watching them, coaching them. Tonight I was thanking God for reminding me of what He can do through relationships.

Beloved

God you are bigger

God you are bigger than every fear that comes to cripple me
You are bigger than everything that comes against me
You are bigger than all the worries that threaten to crush me
You are bigger than every dream that comes to distract me
You are bigger than every temptation that tries to pull me down
You are bigger than my failings, bigger than my successes, bigger than me.

No wonder David could say "The eternal God is my refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms"

I love you God for being so big, especially when I recognise how small I am

Stressed out

Tonight I finally realised just how stressed out I have got. I flipped the lid over the silliest thing. I cracked up, screamed at myself, freaked out and ended up in the shower trying to calm down. After five minutes alone with God is the shower I found myself laughing at just how stupid I am. I have been so busy ignoring the big things in my life that the little things have been filling up the gaps and now they have no where to go. The result...the freak out. I guess it's time to address some of those big things that are the real cause of my stress that are really getting me down. Tonight I am praising God for drawing close to me in brokenness and for also giving me the most amazing, patient, caring wife who just always knows the right way to react to me, knows the right things to say and has the ability to see what is really going on with me even when I don't know myself.

I love Friday afternoons

It's Friday afternoon and I am all alone in my office. It is bliss. Heading to City Church tonight to hear Pete Greig. I am really looking forward to hearing stories of God and faith. I could do with a dose of faith myself.

It's been a weird week. I spent four days on retreat with my staff and yesterday and today I have been flat out looking at fundraising...not so exciting. I am looking forward to Christmas. It's only three weeks. It's gonna be great to get some quality time with Rebecca and to eat lots of quality food.

Gonna spend time working on my distant learning course this afternoon. I am just thre assignments away from completing my Cert in Christian Ministry and Mission but the next two assignments are on Social Involvement and Pastoral Care both of which I know nothing about!