Another small village

After lunch we split into three teams, two going visiting needy families, and three of us (Jess, Peter & I heading to Another small village, about 20 minutes away, to a small church where we were to conduct children's & youth meetings.

This church building is more purpose built that the one at Simpetru, and large enough to warrant two wood burning stoves.

The invitation that had been issued was different from our expectations, as they had invited 'youth' from 11-15 years.  So after a rapid team conference, we agreed that Jess & Peter would run some activities (see video) and I would teach something of the storyline from the gospels.

In the end we had about 26 'youth' from about 8 to 15, a great number from a small village. In 2010 there were no children at this church, so there has been some great work by the local leaders who were thoroughly supportive in our session today.  This group - typical of the village itself, had a mixture of Romanian, Hungarian and Gypsy children in place.

I had a great time delivering the teaching and controlling – at least some of the time – the children while speaking through Mircea's interpretation.  Not sure that it is my primary calling though!  But it took me back to the early days of BX when we called it 'Junior Walk'

Birthday BBQ

BBQ & Washing Machine both at work

Today's timetable eased a little as our hosts took time to plan a (surprise) lunchtime birthday BBQ for Gilbert, who celebrated a post retirement birthday a couple of days ago without telling any of us.  The weather - sunny, mid-teens temperature – was ideal, so half of us set out early for Simpetru, via the supermarket to pick up the supplies, while the others went shopping for some small gifts for Gilbert.

Used for ploughing & pulling cart

It was great to enjoy the home/smallholding and company of one of the church families as about a dozen of us joined together.

Many of the families keep a few animals, and here Florin, Rodi and their family keep 3 pigs, several rabbits, numerous chickens, bees, two dogs, and a horse.  As you can imagine, some are for eating, others valued for their productivity, and the dogs advise of any visitors.

 While the food was being prepared, Florin took me over to the village school to look at a board I may borrow when I'm teaching pastors next week.  In his schooldays there were 300 students; now only 16, with two teachers.  Most younger families have migrated to the cities or overseas in search of work.

Gilbert (& Jess)

Nelu, Rodi, Maria & Joan

 Gilbert was suitably surprised when he we sat down to eat and was informed that the occasion was in honour of him.

Simpetru

During much of the 1990s we led a small church with a  congregation of between 20 and 50.  One of my abiding memories are the two occasions when churches from some distance away sent teams to visit and work with us, each for a week.  The energy and enthusiasm they brought with them lifted us,  brought new opportunities for contact with other local people, and gave us a sense of shared load.

Simpetru village

As followers of Jesus Christ, much is made of the Greek word 'koinonia' found in the New Testament, and carrying the ideas of 'partnership, fellowship, belonging'.  I'm not sure that many of us (certainly not me) bring with  the energy levels of the teams that visited us 20 years ago, but it is a privilege to be able to partner with and serve these small churches and bring some experience and teaching, working alongside the pastors.

Simpetru, looking west

Our host, Mircea, started working with the people of Simpetru a number of years ago.  Yesterday Joan (our team leader) and Denise visited here and met some of the ladies to encourage, teach, and pray with them, and to work with some of the children.  (Sweets and snacks are well appreciated as there isn't a lot of money here).

Today Denise returned with Gilbert & I, Denise to take another children's meeting, Gilbert and I to speak to the adult congregation in the evening.

The building that now houses the Church

Mircea asked me to lead some teaching, so starting with the first 3 named individuals in the NT, I focused on lessons from the life of Abraham, particularly the message that getting right with God is unearned, but a credit from God for those who confidently trust him.

Last Sunday this room held over 100!

Because on Wednesday I'd mentioned the three kings of Israel, I then taught the 3 Chairs Principle.  There have been a number of 'explorers' visiting over the past few days – 9 tonight – so given the interest, Mircea is considering increasing the number of meetings we have here over the next couple of weeks.  As we were advised before we arrived, everything, especially the schedule, is flexible.  Watch this space.

Serious space management

Would you replumb your entire church heating system just to create more space for a special event? And then return it to the original a few days later?

Like many churches, the Baptist Church at Sinpatru Simpetru is heated by a single wood burning stove in the main auditorium, which comfortably will hold 35.  Last Sunday they had there first baptism service in a very long time, and invited many of the village.  Expecting a larger than usual number, the space occupied by the heater was precious, so they moved it by hand to the room next door (the warmth permeated the wall), re-routing the flue.  So I discovered that the space in which I sat on Wednesday afternoon was today re-occupied by the stove, the temporary hole created for the flue on the other side of the wall had been filled in, and the heater was back to its rightful place.

Here's a picture of Florin, who did the work, with his close friend, back in its place of honour.  Tonight, the door had to be opened at regular intervals as the dangers of hyperthermia reducing the size of the congregation became all too real.

Last Sunday over 100 people crowded into this small church to witness the baptism.

Third culture

Yesterday four of our team accompanied Mircea about an hour west to support the local pastor at a small church in a gypsy community.  Peter & Jess (the younger members of our team) led a children’s activity session.  While this was happening, it was noticeable that a number of teenage girls were hovering on the edge but not joining in.  So Mircea (our host & mission organiser) asked me if I could speak to them.  It’s been a long while since I’ve spoken to a group of 12 teenage girls through an interpreter in a culture neither of us share…  Some of the time I spent asking them to teach me Romanian pronunciation.  It confirmed in my own mind that not a lot has changed in my linguistic ability since I dropped French a the age of 15.

After this a number of adult members of the congregation arrived and two of us were invited to speak to them.  In this part of the world it's quite normal for there to be two or three speakers in a church service so they do last longer than back home.  I spoke from Paul's letter to Philemon on a culture of forgiveness in an unforgiving world.

By the time we arrived back in Zalau (about 19:30) the lack of sleep at the beginning of the week, plus the multicultural shift – UK-Romania-Gypsy (they refer to themselves as Gypsy rather than Roma) plus adapting to speaking through an interpreter left me feeling a bit flat.  But I understand that that is normal for the first day or two, and I'm anticipating that it will become easier.

A little knowledge...

A good part of these two weeks in Romania is learning time for me.  Seeing what is going on, getting used to speaking through an interpreter, learning some of the culture.  The locals will proudly tell you that Transilvania, here in the north, is different from Bucharest, in the south.  (Is there any country without a north-south difference?)  Mind you, at the beginning of the week even one of my friends in Bucharest emailed me to say "Transilvania is one of the most beautiful areas in Romania with kind people and great food :) even better than Bucharest.  People are very welcoming and really enjoy having guests."

So in an effort to accelerate the learning, I picked up a guide book last weekend.  A little history, a little culture, a little language.  Who was it that said "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing?"  Here's hoping that I'm equipping myself to become too dangerous.

We stopped in Simpetru on our way to Zalau.  Pausing in the home of one of the church members, I became increasingly aware that initial success from my weight gain programme was to be observed in my eyelids.  The cool weather outside is more than compensated for in rural homes and churches by the presence of wood burning stove which generate a lot of warmth (most churches have the large stove in the main meeting room).  A cup of tea was quite reviving.

We then all spoke briefly at a meeting of the church congregation and about eleven other members of the community.  Those who know me best know that I don't do 'briefly', but Mircea, our organiser and the pastor of the church in Simpetru, had asked if I would speak for longer.  So I took a lesson from the teaching and life of King Solomon, about the need to deal with the weeds that crop up in our own lives and spoil our relationship with God. Solomon as King progressively didn't follow the rules for Kings of Israel (see Deuteronomy Chapter 17) and allowed the weeds to take over his own life.

From Proverbs Chapter 24 in the Bible (NIV)
30 I passed by the field of a sluggard,
    by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
    the ground was covered with nettles,
    and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it;
    I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man.

And of course, after that we returned to the same home for our second cooked meal - chicken, rice, cold meats, cheese, salads, cake & fruit.  And then we drove on to Zalau, our home for the the two weeks, and the welcoming apartment of Mircea and Maria.

A Weight Gain Programme?

I've already got the impression that weight loss will not be an issue during this trip.  Half way to Zalau from Cluj-Napoca Airport yesterday we stopped at a restaurant for lunch at what turns out to be 3 cooked meals  day (plus snacks).  I had chicken Schnitzel and rice with mushrooms.  (Amazing how much hungrier sleep deprivation seems to make me.)

So, why Romania?

Yesterday I left home at 04:00 for the drive to Luton Airport and to meet up with a team of 5 others for a flight to Cluj Napoca in north west Romania, better know as Transilvania (that's the the local spelling).  We're working with the local Maranatha Mission, an informal network of pastors who have established church communities in the rural villages around Zalau.

So, why Romania?

16 months ago I was made redundant.  Apart from the initial shock and the nervousness associated with 'what's next', my wife and regarded this the first step in an answer to prayers we had been praying for the past couple of years.  Apart from the change in responsibilities that happened after the boys left home, there was a real desire to have more opportunity to use my training and experience and God-given gifts in teaching the Bible - a life transforming book.

So rather than looking for employment, I set up my own business and looked for clients.  Designed for greater flexibility, the first half of 2013 was a shaky start, but since the end of the summer work has been about as much as I can handle.

So, why Romania?
I recognise that I haven't answered the question yet.  In three further steps I felt a clear leading here in ways I didn't engineer.

1. On April 2nd I had a phone call from a colleague asking if I cold fly to Bucharest 5 days later to train some church leaders to deliver the Walk Through the Bible's New Testament seminar. I went, had a great time, and have been invited back.
2. A few weeks later in an after church conversation, I met Mike who had been part of this the team I'm now travelling with. He mentioned introducing me to some Romanian pastors who were visiting soon.  I expressed some interest, but didn't think much more of it at the time.
3. In June I had an email from Mike inviting me to that meeting later that week.  There I met Mircea and Dan, who quizzed me on what I did and had done - and told me more about Maranatha Mission.  Much to my surprise, they invited me to visit them as a key need they have is helping to provide Bible training for the (mainly) lay pastors.

So, eight months later, here I am in Zalau. Romania.

Afloat Again

Posted on the Devon Yawl Association Forum.
Why buy a Devon Dayboat?

My type of sailing

Since I sold my Solo in 1999 (my two sons were getting too large to sit in the bow) I've relied on friends and family for my sailing. Sailing on Thalassa has been a real treat, but she's was sold at the end of last season so that door has probably closed. I've enjoyed sailing on a couple of smaller family Westerlys and have crossed the channel and Lyme Bay with friends. But there is no doubt that I prefer the seamanship of handling boats in harbours to handling boats on long legs with the shore a distant haze on the horizon.

But what?

And I've hankered after something of my own - the simple pleasures of modifications to suit my own taste is something I miss from my previous period of ownership. (And it's so easy to forget the costs... Already the local chandlery is quids in.) But choosing a boat is a bit like choosing a car - always a compromise between performance and practicality, tempered by budget. A Wayfarer? An outstanding design, but too heavy to manhandle ashore short-handed (gone are the days when I could lift one on to a trolley by myself. A Wanderer- a bit small if taking friends. A bilge keel cruiser? Shortens the available time from a drying mooring. A Drascombe? I like the style, but when you've raced Enterprises & Solos, the lack of windward performance irks. And I live at the north-east end of Chichester Harbour, where the prevailing wind is South Westerly, so I'll let you guess which point of sail I need most.

So it was in the planning for a summer holiday near Falmouth that I spotted Mylor Boat Hire (see the Yawl Shop tab) and noticed the Devon Yawl on offer. Could I persuade my 21 year old son to join me for an afternoon in something so sedate? Well, I was paying, so he cheerfully accepted. After a friendly welcome and briefing from the staff, we took the boat for a half day, wind F 2-3.

After crossing the harbour, we headed upstream toward Truro. Impressed with the general responsiveness, one big plus was that even in the fickle and variable wind on the way up to King Harry Ferry she maintained some way against the ebb tide. Tim, who would rather be sailing a Buzz or a Dart, was impressed with the performance. I quite enjoyed the comfort - boom higher than I remember on my Solo, and the stability and stiffness is impressive. The furling genoa gives the luxury of a small cruiser, the mizzen the opportunity to play with rig balance (and in a tidal harbour is a great tool for rigging head to wind.)

So first day back home I had some time free and found myself browsing. But it was my brother (the Westerly owner) who pointed out a Devon Dayboat available for £2250. I had to admit, I wasn't drawn to her by the appearance of the Cuddy. (There again, I drive a Citroen Picasso for practical reasons, not for appearance.) But it was that cuddy that gave it added appeal. It provides a bit of shelter on a long day out. It adds to the space, because what is under the foredeck of the yawl is much more accessible in the Dayboat. And I can envisage grandchildren (none yet, but maybe a few years hence) enjoying the protection that it affords.

So I paid a visit to Newton Ferrers. Cwch has been well cared for, stored under cover each winter. I've seen plenty of old dinghies with spider webbed gel coat all over the place. Not so this boat, despite her 35+ years. Built with real strength. Encouraged by my non-sailing but supportive wife, two weeks later Cwch (pronounced 'cook', I've been informed by a Welsh friend) DD16 - and a small tender - was mine and on a borrowed trailer leaving the Yealm, her home for the last 25 years, and heading for Sussex.

So, a few weeks on...

Delighted with the purchase. Sailing singlehanded or with friends, with some very old sails, she handles well in winds F1-5, although I imagine that a replacing the original Hurley spars and forking out for new suit of sails (not this year) will make her seem like a new boat. I've added a topping lift for ease of shorthanded rigging, found the slab reefing easy to use singlehanded, can use Mizzen and Genoa on the short trips from mooring to hard, and have been strengthening my lower back hauling up the centreplate. Definitely needs a new rudder - as other articles on this web site point out, the old metal rudder blade stalls fairly early. A winter project. The friends I've taken out with me range from novice to old salt (sorry, Tom) and we've all enjoyed ourselves. And I haven't used the outboard yet - but that's another story.

Across to Dell Quay to pick up the crew.

What have I got?

So for just over 10% of the cost of a second hand Hawk, for my money I've got:

• One of the first boats to float on the rising tide from the inexpensive mooring at my end of the harbour
• A dayboat with a sturdy dinghy feel
• Something to sail away
• Room for friends
• Projects for several winters to come
• A boat for the next twenty years?
• Membership of an active Class Association (tradition is that selling owners pay the first year's membership. Thanks, Tim & Rosie!)
• Something to race in the occasional regatta

Have boat, will travel

And when I've bought a trailer, a resource to spend more time exploring some other harbours of the UK.

Same Again?

Equipped with this experience, if faced with the same choice again, that's why I'd buy a Devon Dayboat.

Hung Parliament?

A queue at the polling station. In one of the safest Tory seats in the country, I don't expect my vote to swing the election.  But too many people around the world don't get the chance to vote, so I think it both a privilege and a responsibility to participate.

Don't think I've ever had such a long wait to vote. Is that a sign of high turnout? Bumped into our former/future(?) MP while there. He was wearing a moderate sized blue rosette: see the rules.

Interesting how the parties use words. Notice how the Lib-Dems refer to a House of Commons with no overall majority as a 'Balanced' Parliament, while Labour and Conservative parties refer to a 'Hung' Parliament. Of course, after the revelations of the past couple of years, 'hung' also refers to what many voters would rather see happen to the politicians, not the parliament!

The Making of a Leader

For couple of years a borrowed biography has sat on my bedside bookshelf.  I was lent it soon after my (much) better half started working for a new organisation, as the history of it was tied up in the founder.  But having briefly opened it, I decided to search out and read volume one prior to attacking the enticing second volume.  I'll confess that the searching was a bit passive, but when I saw it on sale at the bookshop in our January sale I purchased the copy and started reading.

So last week I finished reading the first volume of Timothy Dudley-Smith's biography of John Stott CBE.  Entitled John Stott - The Making of a Leader it tracks the childhood, studies and first 25 years of his London based leadership, with a taster of the global influence that was to come over the next 3 decades.

I find many biographies fascinating for their historical element as much as the lives that are portrayed.  This one no less so.  It covered elements of 20th century history with which I was less familiar.  It introduced me to the background of someone I first heard speak in the 1970s, but with whose speaking and books I have become more familiar in the past 20 years.  I have a recording of his last public speaking engagement (July 2007) and have read extracts from his last and recently published book, The Radical Disciple (also available from our Bookshop (see above).

But surely from biographies of great people there must also be lessons to learn.  My current reflections are:

• the the strategic investment that 'Bash' chose to make in the lives of young leaders reaped rewards beyond measure
• John Stott has great natural gifts but excercised great disipline to make the most of them
• the decisions he made in young adulthood involved great personal cost
• As the 'job' grew, regular reviews and a supportive team enabled him to focus on the strategic

I think that there's a great deal more than that.  But these lessons have tended to stick as they are currently 'scratch' in areas I'm thinking about.

Waders for the men

During January 1994 heavy and prolonged rain on the south downs caused the River Lavant, which for much of the year trickles through Chichester, to become a torrent that could no longer pass in the culvert under the city centre.  Diversion of the river led to the the main coast road, the A27 being flooded.  The army was called in and in short order constructed a Bailey bridge over a flooded roundabout and restored east-west traffic.  The Army Benevolent Fund was the beneficiary as grateful motorists passing slowly over the temporary structure willingly filled collection buckets held by the bridge builders.

An article appeared in the Independent

John Adair in one of his books mentions one young officer at Sandhurst on whose annual report was written “Smith is not a born leader yet.”  What are the qualities the army was looking to inculcate within their officer ranks?  Seven years later I was delivering some training at an engineering company in the Midlands.  One of the delegates was a Project Manager who I discovered had been the Major in charge of the company of Royal Engineers building the A27 bridge.  As we reminisced I discovered that a number - but insufficent number - of pairs of waders had been obtained for the troops who were standing in thigh deep running water as they worked on the bridge.  "So the officers got the waders" I quipped.  Only to be corrected in a way that left me in no doubt that the officers put their men first.  Good leadership?

I was reading a blog which raised the variance between leader and manager.  It provoked me to thought as to how I balance the mix of roles that I have.  My job title includes the word 'manager' and certainly that's part of what I do.  But if it's all I do, then opportunities might be missed, strategic vision parked in a safe place, and business growth will only happen if its thrown in our direction.  On the other hand, I'm not a Richard Branson...

As a trainer by instinct and profession I love imparting information. Sometimes the skill or knowledge transfer requires me to behave as I'm not. I might make a consious decision to be more dramatic than I naturally am. On occasion I convince myself we're going to have a succesful outcome to a course when my instinct tells me otherwise. (Believe me, it can make a real difference to the outcome for the students.)


A few years ago in a discussion over Belbin's Team Roles Theory an experienced management consultant suggested to me that it was possible to train yourself to overcome one's natural roles to fill almost every role within a team, slotting in whereever there were vacancies.  He had reached a point of filling all but one team role as required.  So on the 'not a born leader yet' principle, is it possible that not only we can be become better leaders, but we can discipline ourselves to behave as a leader, projecting ourself into a necessary role and (perhaps by using other characteristics as well) provide the vision that others catch and and join in realising.

So what changes do I need to make to produce that result...?

Published!

Does another career beckon? I've had a photograph published in the Times Newspaper.
View the article here

It was all a bit of a rush.  I had a phone call about midday Friday 15th from the Manager of our bookshop saying that the Times had interviewed us for an article in the Saturday edition, but needed some photos by 13:00. As I'd been the one taking photos I rapidly went through what I had, made a couple of edits, and emailed the best of them to the newspaper. I had a very pleasant reply shortly afterwards.

I heard someone say that 'photography is very hard to make a living from.' I've no illusions of grandeur. It remains a hobby.

But I have found some great quotes about photography here

On being a hoarder

I'll confess to being a bit of a hoarder - especially when it comes to books and papers.  This characteristic has pros and cons (although only fellow hoarders will agree with the pros).

But inevitably the need for some clear flat space (the floor, the desk) brings me to the point of clearing out.  In recent years while not wholeheartedly endorsing the principle, I have moved closer to the idea that if I haven't used/opened/looked at something for a decade, I'm unlikely to ever do so, so dispose of it.

So it was in this spirit that I did some serious clearing out after Christmas, but not without some associated emotion.  Take, for example, a set of teaching transparencies for use with an overhead projector.  I know we moved to PowerPoint ten years ago and I haven't used them since.  I acknowledge that all the notes I had so carefully written on the frames surrounding the slides I have used so many times that they are committed to memory.  I know that it is unlikely I will ever use an overhead projector again (thankfully).  But still there was the emotional tugging of history.  The people who attended some of those early seminars, the places I went, the lives that were helped...

Which led me to thinking about what God has to say on the subject.  I'm not talking about 'treasures on earth' but more of the balance between past and future.  Paul writes of 'Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead... [Philippians 3:13, NIV].  But in balance we know too that God 'will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.' [Hebrews 6:10, NIV]. And the Bible frequently tells God's followers to use a tangible item as a memory jogger to recall his goodness in the past.  So I've thrown out the slides, and a whole host of other stuff, but kept a handful of other items so that when I do look at them - this year, next year or in a decade's time, I might be reminded of God's work in various ways.

New Year's Day Tradition

For several years our Homegroup has met for a New Year's Day walk around East Head and BBQ brunch at West Wittering car park.  (If you've done it for a second year it must be a tradition, and three years or more, a firmly established tradition.)

This year conicided with a spring tide High Water on the back of the 13th full moon of 2009.  I wondered if the 'Hinge' - the piece of land joining Wittering to East Head - might be flooded, but although we couldn't enjoy all of the normal coastal path on the east side of East Head, we had no trouble getting on to the spit.

The walk seems to go more quickly each year.  Perhaps it's something to do with the children getting older and walking more quickly.  It was cold, but nowhere near as bitter as last year.  We had sunshine this year, and the wind was much lighter.  Quite a number (but not from our group) were enjoying a swim in the sea.  Brrrrrrr.

Once back at the fairly crowded car park, warm mulled wine was followed by sausages & bacon rolls, with onions, tea, coffee, choclate biscuits, and toasted marshmallows.  By the time we'd got through all of that the heat was disappearing, we were getting progressively more cold, and it was time to head home to warm and soporific houses.

The Real Reason for Participating?

St Olav

Blogging time this week as been directed at establishing a new web site for our new bookstore.  The chain that ran a Christian bookstore in town had got into difficulties and was closed down by the charity commission in August.    Some people in the city formed a new trust to open and run an independent Christian Bookstore and resource centre, and I agreed to become a trustee.

The bookstore is in an old church building - the oldest building in the city - and has been let to us at a peppercorn rent by the diocese.  We've got a cross section of trustees from churches in the area, and are looking to provide a range of literature to suit a variety of styles.

Yesterday we opened and had a good day of sales - a promising start.  There is quite a bit of excitment that there is a shop back in town!

Now the 'website', which is another  blog, needs some redesigning to make it in to a proper website.  A new adventure for my (limited) technical skills...

http://www.stolavchristianbookshop.org/

Just for the sunrise

This is the sun rising over Inner Froward Point and the Mew Stone as we left Dartmouth (UK) on Deo Volente, a Nicholson 476, 26 June 2008.  We'd been 'stuck' in Dartmouth for 3 days (a most beautiful harbour in which to sojourn) because of strong winds, and identified a 5 hour weather window to make a short hop down to Salcombe.  The forecast was correct - by 11 am the wind was rising and we settled down in Salcombe for 3 more very windy days...

The trip was enlivened as we were motoring into a west-south-westerly breeze and a good swell about 200 metres off the cliffs of Prawle Point when our engine died.  (We later found out that it was a fuel blockage in the tank.)  Even now, looking back, I'm impressed with just how quickly we unfurled the sails.  A lee shore is a great motivator! 

We entered Salcombe under sail (not normally encouraged) and used the tender, a 10' RIB alongside, as the driving force to round smartly upwind and drop the anchor just off the beach at Mill Bay.  The Salcombe harbour staff couldn't have been more helpful, and later towed us to a mooring protected from the increasing wind.

No greater joy

This weekend our youngest turned 21.  About 50 friends and family came together for a celebration and some very nice things were said about him (being his father I can objectively say that they were all true!)

More years ago I than I care to remember I wrote a study on the words of an ancient writer, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.*"  Like the author, I've experienced the same many times with a number of 'children' - people who I've been privileged to assist in a spiritual birth & growth process, and who years later continue on that same journey. 

But in this situation, one's flesh and blood, there is added poignancy.  Like his older brother, when he was very young we had a service of dedication for him.  The dedication was ours, not his.  We thanked God for his arrival, and acknowledged that not only had God given him to us, but that we gave him back to God, committing ourselves to bring him up by example and teaching to follow God so that he might in time make his own informed choice to follow Jesus.  Well, despite my frequent mistakes and inconsistent parenting skills, by God's good grace he (like his older brother) did make that decision and continues to make Jesus a priority in his lifestyle choices and example.

As a parent one is influenced by all kinds of wishes for one's children.  Among them are happiness, health, wealth etc, etc.  But I remind myself that that which really matters is that they walk in the truth.  And I'm thankful to God for an amazing wife, Christian friends and a great church who have all lived out love and forgiveness, and taught our sons why the decision to follow Jesus is the key decision to make.

* The Bible, 3 John verse 4

Scott of the Antarctic

The Scott Polar Research Institue in Cambridge is publishing day by day the diary of Captain Scott during his tragic expedition to the South Pole.  They are doing it in the form of a blog - something we're familiar with - to help readers capture the spirit of the expedition, and the difficulties they went through.

You'll find it here: Scott's diary. As one old enought to be brought up with him on the list of 'British heroes' I confess to knowing relatively little about the expedition.  It's interesting reading - respect to them for their dedication to the cause through difficult circumstances, but also slightly morbid because we know what the result is going to be come March next year.  These are real people, not fictional characters.

What's in a name?

Last year I spent a week sailing with friends.  Well, that was the intention.  Thanks to the weather we only managed two short and one long (12 hour) trip.  The forecast as we set off from Lymington on the Saturday afternoon was for south westerly gales all day Sunday. So rather than heading out into Lyme Bay and thence to Devon, we settled for crossing Christchurch Bay and anchoring in Studland Bay, sheltered from the prevailing and forecast winds by the hills and cliffs of the Isle of Purbeck.

All day Sunday we rode to the wind and rain.  We ate, read, slept and relaxed, protected from the worst effect of the weather because we were in the lee of the land.  Only once the wind had dropped did we venture out, catching a favourable tide at 2:00am on Monday and arriving in Dartmouth mid afternoon.  (The picture shows Old Harry, the rock at the south eastern end of the bay.)

In conditions beyond your capability it's great to be sheltered in the lee of something bigger and more robust than you.  Thirty eight years ago I came to realise that facing the storms of life required something bigger than me.  So I chose to place my trust in a man from Nazareth, sent from heaven 2000 years ago with the express purpose of dying.  This death was not to be a normal death, but an undeserved and substitutionary 'in my place' death the Roman way, crucified on a wooden cross.

This decision continue to be a life changer for me.  It demands a radical commitment to following the teaching and model of Jesus.  It has delivered forgiveness from God and an ongoing confidence that life is not just about the here and now, but has the guarantee of forever with him in a place dominated by his awesome presence.

So I've placed my life in the shelter  - or lee -of the cross of Jesus.  And coincidentally, the blog name is also a wordplay on my name.