Meeting old friends

This weekend was a time of meeting up with friends we haven't seen for a while. They are missionaries in France and God has allowed us to work together over the past few years. Some of you will know Wayne and Wendy and their work in St Etienne. It was great to remind ourselves of what we found together and what in each other makes the friendship important.

It brought excitement to us all, especially my daughter who was thrilled to meet them again. We planned a meal for other mutual friends so invited Wayne and Wendy to join us. Nine for dinner, my wife excelled herself. It was good to catch up and enjoy the witty banter that always occurs whenever Wayne and I get together.

I remember a few years ago joining Friends Reunited. Its a social network on the Internet that allows you add details about yourself, your school, workplace etc. As other people list their details you discover people you haven't seen for years. It was this that fired my curiosity to seek out my best friend from school, Stephen. We were really close for most of Grammar school until he left and I continued into Sixth Form. I eventually tracked him down and rang him. It was almost thirty years since I had spoken to him. A little while later I was on a business trip and stayed in the area where he lived. We arranged to meet in a local pub for a drink and to catch up. I remember being really excited and full of expectation. The person who greeted me was not what I expected, I was still thinking in terms of a thirty year old image of him. In walked someone in his late forties, balding and much heavier than the stick insect he used to be. It was at that point that I realised I too had changed. Grey hair, also no longer wafer thin as I was in those days, and a lifetime of events that had resulted in who I am now. As we talked, things like familiar mannerisms and expressions brought recollections of what it was like back then. It was a great time of catching up but I quickly realised that that was all it was going to be, a past schoolboy friendship. We send Christmas cards and that's about it.

I learned that Godly friendships have a divine purpose to them. They run to a divine drumbeat. Sometimes there is intensity and at other times they are just keeping time. These kind of friendships are led by God in their direction and even after many months apart you can pick up where you left off without missing a beat. That's what it was like with Wayne and Wendy.

Jesus wants us to enter into friendship with Him but there is a price. True friendship costs. It can be inconvenient as well as pleasant. True friendship is serving the other and seeking their best. Out of that heart true friends bring precious wounds at times but it is worth it.

Safe Pair Of Hands

When I was at school I played for the 1st 11 football team in various positions but for a while I was goalkeeper. I was deemed to have a safe pair of hands. It is an unenviable position. You are many times the last line of defence and if you had a bad day it was likely the team lost. A lot of responsibility.

I read an article about the singer Britney Spears, not that I am a fan but I feel compassion for her. She has messed up quite a bit in life. I can empathise with that. Her mess is public. I read today that they have extended the control that her father James has over her affairs. He is the safe pair of hands the judge has entrusted things to. She no longer has control of her finances or career until the judge says so. It seems that most things Britney has touched she has lost control of, even her children. Today I noticed she won three awards at the MTV ceremony in Los Angeles. In true American style she thanked, "God first and foremost for just blessing me like this". She had done well and praised God for it. That is a good sentiment. I sighed inside as I said a silent prayer for her, 'if only you had put God in control of your life, He is a safe pair of hands.'

I have discovered the safe hands of God many times. I usually find that when things have gone badly its because I chose to take back control of the life I surrendered to him at the age of 10. Like Paul says in Romans 7:19, "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice". He goes on to say that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

I am learning to reject that condemnation that comes whenever I sin. Its not God's voice. The Holy Spirit convinces me that I have sinned but also inspired me to go back to the Father trusting in the work of Christ. Jesus deserves the right to take my life in His hands. He stretched them out willingly, allowing them to be pierced so that I could be set free from sin. The true gospel is not asking Jesus into your heart, that's not a scriptural concept. The true gospel is the complete surrender of my life into the control of God - my safe pair of hands.

Surrendering your will, decision-making and control of your life goes against everything in us that is flesh. To truly die to self and take up our cross is painful and will cost us everything BUT its the only safe way to live.

Deuteronomy 33:27 is a great verse that tells us of our security: "The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you and will say, 'Destroy'"

He is not just a place to go when we need comfort or protection. Its a place to live in. There is a place of rest and here it is. In His safe hands we can rest. He will dispel those things that seek to attack us and proclaim their destruction. Its not easy to just rest in God. We are not taught to rest these days but to wrestle. God wrestles on our behalf.

Thank you God for being my 'safe pair of hands'.

Laying it down

Long time no posts. Just after my last one I was in South Africa for three weeks in lions enclosures and riding on elephants (no joke). Since then I have been organising gatherings and helping with a conference in Scotland. In the middle of all that I have had a bad ankle which left me unable to drive or walk for a month. Painful and frustrating, there is only so much Loose Women a man can take. Being laid up has its advantages. At first the pain was bad but later after that was controlled it gives you time to meditate and think about where you are going and what you are doing. I have learned that suffering is part of God's economy. It is something that eventually you learn to embrace.

A friend once told me about the 5 T's; trouble, temptation, trials, tests and tribulation. They are all different and have differing impacts no us. Sadly one strand of the Church sees suffering as 'lack of faith' and yet Jesus suffered much even unjustly. All of these things can be a distraction and something that can take your life out of alignment from God's plan. I am learning that even in the worst of times I can have a rejoicing spirit and discover the truth of the joy of the Lord as my strength. It doesn't mean that's easy but then no-one said it would be.

I have laid down my life for Christ and the sake of the gospel. It may seem a noble thing but Jesus said this is what we would have to do if we are to follow Him. At the conference I attended in Scotland someone testified that they had seen a vision of a cobbled bridge and their face was on one of the stones. At first they were upset and didn't want to be walked over but then they realised the vision was about laying your life down for Christ and His kingdom. The Lord spoke to me through that picture. I realised that the stone had no say in where it was placed, it surrenders to the will of the bridge builder. If a stone is prominent and protrudes then it is a danger to those walking over it. People stumble over protruding stones. If you lay your life down then maybe you will not be prominent but you will be significant. Each stone is significant to the strength of the bridge.

Jesus said in John 12 verses 24 to 26

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

The grain needs to become obscure before it can produce a harvest. This is true kingdom gospel. Not easy, contains some moments of suffering but its an eternal perspective that we need to have. We live forever.

Paul says that the small amount we suffer in this life is not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us.

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.

Friendship

I am so fortunate to have many special friends. We attended a baptism last evening and I was reminded how many people support and care for us as a family. This is a precious thing. Friends are people you can count on to bring comfort, laughter, joy and sometimes correction into your life.

I remember the first 'best' friend I made. It was a school pal called Stephen Dagnall. I was never one for many friends but he was one who was special. I am afraid our alliance started as smoking colleagues behind the chemistry labs, not the best way. His dad managed a public house in a village about five or six miles away and I used to visit quite a bit at weekends and holidays using my bike as a means of transport. I remember the long steep hill which going was a pain but coming back was a delight. This friendship opened me up to many joyful experiences - hay making, learning the process of pasteurising milk and the joys of wondering across fields just enjoying good company. He left school a year before I did and so the friendship ended. I tracked him down a few years ago and we met up almost thirty years since we left school. It was enough to meet the once and now we exchange Christmas cards. The friendship was for a time and that time passed.

Friends come in different types. I suppose my current best friend and forever best friend is my wife. She is stable, solid, always there for me and gives me the grace and love I need to do what I do. The friendship grew out of the attraction and chemistry of falling in love with her and is far more precious now than ever before.

My oldest friend who I still count as a friend is Anita who now lives in Holland. We don't see each other for years but the shared memories and knowledge of each other means that we can easily pick up where we left off. It still needs the occasional e-mail or phone call to remind each other but it will always be there.

I was never one for many friends but as I have grown older I have accumulated a lot more. Perhaps its easier to make friends and sustain friendships as you grow older. I have 54 friends who support the work I do in prayer. That is very special and a great privilege. Too many to mention by name.

I know that my greatest friend is my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The bible tells me that He is one who is closer than a brother and that is so true. I am constantly telling Him I love Him. I find myself doing that many times a day. Something inside me just wants to reach out to Him and express my love and gratitude for all He does and is doing in me and around me and for my family and friends.

A good friend is hard to find and I now have so many. I thank God for friendship.

New glasses

I have been moaning for about two years that I could not see to read with my varifocals and for the most part to read I took them off. Over the past few months I have been repeatedly saying that I needed to get my eyes tested. I know all of these things because eventually Mrs P told me to 'put up or shut up'. In other words she was tired of my moans and wanted me to do something about it.

What did I do then? I shut up about it. It had been five years since my last eye test and I confess to being a bit embarrassed about it. I had ignored all the reminders thinking that my eyes weren't that bad.

Last week I dropped my car off with my mechanic mate for its MOT. It mean that I had to find something to do for a few hours in Tamworth. I asked him to drop me off at the shopping complex that houses all the IT related shops and also Asda. I thought at least I can get a cup of tea and window shop.

As I was walking around I decided to go and get a cuppa in Asda Café. Noticing the Opticians in there I decided that if they could fit me in then I would have an eye test. They could and so I did.

In the five years since my last test a lot of the technology had changed. That impressed me, I love technology. Three different machines as well! After the test I was told that my eyesight had changed quite a lot in five years and I would need new lenses. I decided to have varifocals again. I also discovered that I could now have plastic lenses that were also react to light. No more changing specs when the sun comes out or remembering the sun specs are in the car when I am on the plane to Cape Town. Amazingly the new glasses were ready in two working days and were half the price of the last ones.

I realise that my 'make do' attitude wasn't very clever. I had put off something that was painless, (apart from the price) and made a vast improvement to my enjoyment of life. I can now read with my glasses on (once I get used to not having to do it without them). I was also glad that in the five years new technology made the process quicker and more efficient and that the advances actually saved the cost of a second pair of specs.

I have begun to realise that there are also times when I 'make do' with God. I allow what I have grown used make me stop progressing into new things. He has moved on but I have stood still. To God nothing is new but to me lots of things are new because I have not walked in them yet. Once I have seen something then surely I should not ignore it but walk in it.

What stops us moving on into new things? I was proud and didn't want to admit my stubbornness. There are times when I know God has revealed something to me but the fear of what others would think if I said holds me back. I remember when I was first taught about the gift of tongues I rejected it because the church tradition I was in had said it was not of God. When I embraced it I had to declare the teaching I had received, albeit sincerely, was wrong. I had to move on.

I am learning that it is better to obey God than man. It will cost but in the end it reveals new spiritual technology and adds to your faith. God is looking for those who not only believe His word but walk in its revelation. I am learning to do that more and more.

Identity Theft

A couple of summers ago my wife and I were holidaying in France. We hadn't heard from home for a few days so we decided to text our son and check if all was well. The reply indicated all was fine but he had a question, 'Did you order another GPS because one has arrived?'

I realised something was wrong so called Ben to find out what was going on. I then discovered to my horror that someone had stolen my details and was ordering items to be delivered whilst they thought we were on holiday. In total nearly a £1000 worth of things had been ordered.

I had to call my bank from France on my mobile phone and after a lengthy process managed to convince them that I was not the one ordering the items. I discovered that the thieves had probably got my details from someone working at an online company I had used who was passing them on. The scam was to order the goods when they thought I was on holiday and then pick them up from the parcel depot where they would have gone to if I didn't sign for them.

I was angry not just because of the cost and inconvenience but because someone was trying to pretend to be me. It was my identity they were stealing.

None of us like to be mis-represented. I used to become very agitated at work if anything I had said or done were mis-represented to others. I was reprimanded once for calling someone a liar in a Senior Management meeting. They were lying but it wasn't the done thing to say that.

As a Christian I am God's representative. I represent Him to my family, friends and even the strangers I meet. Being Jesus to others is what I am called to do. He lives in me by His Spirit and I am His witness to those around me. It should be that if people want to know what Jesus is like then something of what I am in Him should be seen. The Apostle Paul said to one church that they were God's letter to be read by all men.

I have learned not to feel condemned but just to accept that. I am so many things in Christ that I must just accept and walk in. I am the righteousness of God, I am a new creation, I am more than a conqueror. I have not done anything to deserve any of this but I accept that this is what God says I am since Christ is my Lord. Its a Kingdom of God thing. This is the exchange that took place when I repented of sin and made Christ my Lord.

My identity is now in Him. I am hidden in Christ. I no longer live but Christ lives in me and even the life I now live in the flesh I live to the glory of God. Even if I mis-represent God then there is an advocate who speaks on my behalf named Jesus. All I need to do is confess my sin and He is faithful and just to forgive it.

Its not arrogant to say what God says I am. If I deny it then its inaccurate and I can't claim the benefits of sonship that are mine. I have stopped struggling with who I can't be and have received who I am. For those that are led by the Spirit are sons of God. Accept it and see what happens.

Fitting In and Fitting Together

This week we have a full house. As well as the four of us in the family we have three guests. Seven people in a semi-detached house even with four bedrooms is tight. To add to the equation we ordered a new bed and carpets for two of our rooms that were supposed to arrive in time for our guests but we still await both.

Two of our guests are from South Africa, one from France on an exchange visit with Jenny. It is interesting to watch the communication take place between English, Afrikaan and French.

How do you make things work in this situation? As well as coping with guests the normal busyness of daily routine has to go on. Doing the school run, shopping for the extras, sight-seeing, chauffeur duties etc. I think it works well if all concerned just try to fit in. Just one person working against that would cause disruption.

Another thing has also happened which is more precious. Not only have guests fitted in but somehow we have fitted together. My kids suddenly have gained the wisdom of two extra parents, we have gained extra sisters, relationships have formed. There has been a deposit into our lives because of this visit. We have been added to and enhanced and will change.

It reminds me of the wonder of God in forming His body, the church. One has a psalm, one a hymn, one a tongue etc. Church is not just fitting in but fitting together. Its the linking of hearts and minds led and influenced by His Spirit. Dr André Pelser named His book about the body of Christ, 'The Genius of God'. God has no plan B. His intention is to use the genius of His body to show Christ in the world. How we fit together tells the world what Jesus is really like. He is reforming His church to look like Jesus.

My Mate Bob

This week I had to have my car serviced. I have a friend called Bob who has his own car repair business who has been 'doing my cars' for years. So off I went to drop off my Ford estate for a few hours in exchange for his 'courtesy car', an old Maestro van.

If you want quality surroundings and coffee while you wait RJ Bartle Motors is not the place for you. If you want a quality mechanic who is as honest as they come and an hours chat when you drop your car off and when you pick it up then Bob is your man.

As I drove back home in the courtesy van I reminded myself of how we met and how instrumental this ordinary man of God was in bringing me back into the fold.

I had been out of the 'ministry' for a couple of years and Mrs P and I were not attending church. We had many issues and felt hurt and rejected so we didn't go. We were okay with that but in reality if we had stayed in that routine we would have missed much.

I was out of work and we had no money. Ben, our eldest, was a baby and I had an old Ford Cortina that we could just about afford. One day the engine kept cutting out. My father-in-law advised me that he knew a mechanic who happened to be a Christian and who we could trust to do an honest job. That was Bob. He had a garage not far from home and so I managed to get there and within a couple of minutes he diagnosed and fixed the problem. Can't even remember if he charged us.

Not long after I got a job and changed my car for a VW Camper. I had always wanted one. It turned out to be the biggest drain on my finances. Always in for repair. Bob was the one who benefited from this. We began to develop a friendship, Bob is a talker.

One January through a Christian friend at work we were invited to a concert held in a school hall. We drove freezing cold in our camper quite a distance out of Birmingham where we live. The concert began and who should be one of the lead singers but Bob. His seven month pregnant wife was one of the other singers. We got talking at the end and found out that they attending a little Baptist Church not far from where we lived.

Over the next months my camper spent more time with Bob than me and so my visits to see him increased. Eventually he found me another car when I finally gave in and sacrificed the dream for reality (and solvency). Then one day he asked me bluntly why I didn't attend church and why didn't I go to his that Sunday. I did and my wife and I spent three years there before moving to another Baptist Church which we attended for thirteen years.

That little church brought great healing to us. God used it to restore us and we gained great friendships that will never end. There is lots more to the story but time limits what I can write.

Thank God for His ordinary people who take faith seriously and live the gospel not just preach it. Thank God for the Bob's of this world who are naturally supernatural.

School Days in France

I am just about to return from France after spending a week with my friends the Hadleys who live in Sorbiers near St Etienne.

Yesterday I went with Wayne to his school, St Paul's, to take part in an English Conversation lesson. I did this a year back and recognised some of the faces of the pupils. The lesson took the same format with me being asked questions about myself, my name, age, where I have been etc.

Last time this happened I was with my wife and another friend, an older lady from the church we attended. A question I was asked was, 'Is this your daughter?' pointing to my wife! There were puzzled expressions when I said it was my wife. The next question was, 'Is this your mother?', pointing to the older lady! It grew worse as we were then asked our ages etc. They couldn't quite get their head around the fact that I was married to someone so young. It caused great hilarity for Wayne and the team visiting France with us.

This time the questions were kinder. Age and name came up but nothing embarrassing. I really enjoyed my time with the class. They were really nice kids and I already have added one of them, Camille, as a friend on Facebook.

I find its much more interesting to visit France and stay with a family. You see the people and country in a different way. I love France and have a growing love for the French. I have found a welcome in this town and enjoy the experiences of being here.

So its off to the airport in Lyon and back to my home country but part of me is in France and I hope to come back again and again and again. My prayer is that this country will find God's blessing and the love and joy that I have found in serving Jesus.

New Operating System

I have finally come to realise that soon I need to buy a new laptop for my business. Normally I would be excited and in part I am but I know this time it will mean I have to get to know a new operating system, the dreaded Vista.

It is so different from what I have grown used to but because I sell PC's and repair and fix them I need to bite the bullet. I know I will get frustrated because they have renamed familiar tasks and some of the ways of working will seem long-winded. Its par for the course.

I then realised that coping with change is not something that I have just found difficult as I get older, I have never relished the process of change. What is it about change that is challenging? For me it is having to become vulnerable. I like the unfamiliar that change brings but the vulnerability is the thing that gets to me.

I remember when Windows XP replaced Windows 98. I was an expert in 98. I didn't want to become a novice again. Now I am quite knowledgeable on a PC with XP installed so I don't want to move into Vista.

In the Bible there were similar experts in Jesus time. They were experts in the law of the Old Testament. They could quote it, tell you how to apply it and in some cases how to get round it. In one example the law says that on the Sabbath you can't travel more than a mile from your gatepost so they made the gateposts portable and put them in the cart with them.

Jesus came a long with a new operating system. It was all about humility and grace, love and meekness and faith in God justifying a person for eternity. It threatened the whole way of life for the law experts. They were sincere in their beliefs but Jesus said the effect of this on people was like carrying a heavy yoke on your back.

This challenge of new things didn't end with Jesus. The Apostle Paul began to reveal new things as well. Things like, no circumcision, priesthood for all and everyone being Spirit-filled believers.

The challenges still continue. I am seeing that the new challenge is for the church. Is God bringing new things that we are seeing as a threat to our way of doing things? I think He is. After all its His Church He can do what He wants with it can't He?

Eventually the thing that I was expert at will become obsolete. Windows 98 is a fading glory, XP will follow in the same way. Vista is the new thing and if that's were the work is I have to adapt. I won't get much work as an expert on Windows 98! I have to name the old as obsolete and embrace the new.

Maybe spiritually this is what is holding some of us back. Has God moved on and we are clinging to old operating systems.

Not fit for the task

This week I returned home from working away and discovered the next morning that the shower was faulty. It was no longer fit for the purpose it was made for. I was hoping for a rest yesterday, I had only slept in my own bed three times in the previous three weeks, but the shower needed replacing.

I managed to find a bargain and presumed that if I bought one almost identical that I could fit it without too many problems. I duly ordered one and decided to have a go with the help of my son Ben.

I was brought up not being shown anything about DIY and it always makes me feel inadequate when I have to do any. The theory seems easy but application leaves me at a loss. When I lived in my first house after being married I was hopeless. What made it embarrassing was that it was the church manse and as such a public arena. Most of the older men in the church were skilled workers and this made it worse. I was hopeless and only one of these guys, Mr Wills, took the time to get alongside and do jobs with me. There were some funny moments and not so funny moments. In truth looking back I can probably laugh at them all now. The familiar cry during those times was, 'What have you done now?' This was the beginning of my 'DIY' history and like the shower I often feel 'unfit for the task' when I attempt any. Some of us are just not built that way.

Ben and I took our time and began the job after lunch. All went well, we managed to get the old shower off and started to fix the new one to the wall. I then realised that although the water and electricity supplies would be fine I needed to drill new holes through the tiles to screw the unit to the wall. I have done this before so I knew to put tape on the wall to stop the drill bit from slipping but I couldn't remember which drill bit I used. I came to a full stop, realised that I needed to buy a special bit or risk messing things up. Off to Wickes and hey presto the right tool made it easy and the shower was up and running in no time. I could feel a certain amount of pride at completing the job.

I was reminded of how important it is to have the right tools and for things to be fit for purpose otherwise they are useless. Spiritually there was a lesson in this for me. I need to be reminded that if God chose me for a reason He must think I am 'fit for purpose'. The Bible says that we are 'called according to His purpose'. I know that when I have messed up its because I have done things outside of that call, I wasn't made to do them and therefore couldn't do them well.

Often I don't feel fit for His purpose. I sometimes feel that maybe God has got it wrong or that I am doing things that I can't really do and one day the whole thing is going to blow up in my face. I then realise that all I have to be is His tool. A great tool can be right for the task but in the wrong hands its useless. All I have to do is keep submitting and obeying and He will continue using me. I am not great, in fact I wouldn't cross the road to see me but if God speaks and acts through me that's something different.

I am only a great tool as long as He uses me.

Crazy Solutions

Our 'just out of warranty' tumble dryer suddenly stopped working earlier this year. What with being away for the summer and no longer having the obligation towards a lodger we just left it. I recently started to see washing on airers which really annoys me so I thought I'd look to repair the dryer.

I decided that all a tumble dryer really is is a hair dryer, so I should be able to fix it if I had the right parts. So I looked on the internet and found several sites that provide spare parts. In my searching I discovered a fix for my problem (the dryer one not my personal one). The fixer wanted £1 and in return he would send me an e-mail with the fix. I thought its only £1 and his reviews on E-bay seemed good. I sent the £1 and a while later got an e-mail back. It told me to take the back off the dryer, take this thing called a capacitor out and throw it against a hard surface. I thought I'd been done but decided what the heck I'll do it. It worked! Saved me a fortune.

I just watched a DVD of a sermon by my friend André Pelser called, 'The Man Born Blind'. It tells the story of Jesus healing this man in John 9. André acts out the event and it is very funny, first time I recall seeing someone trying to make clay balls out of sand and spit in church. Then as I thought about it I thought of lots of things Jesus did that if we had been there would have sounded crazy. He once spat into someone's mouth to heal them, he took two fishes and five loaves and fed 5,000 men and many other things.

I suppose to those who haven't experienced it faith seems a crazy notion, putting your trust in someone you can't see and have never met in the flesh. Yet my life has been lived by having faith in this Father God, trusting His son Jesus and relying on His Holy Spirit. In fact I have gone a long way and done a lot of things because of this. I have seen lives turn around and bodies healed and people set free from all manner of things. Best of all it didn't even cost me a £1, it was all totally free.

AM or PM ?

A couple of times a year I have to have a blood test, its to ensure that some possible side effects of medication I am taking aren't occurring.

Off I trot to the Doctor's a couple of weeks ago and she tells me its time for one of the blood tests. In preparation for the test I have to fast and am given a slip of paper with instructions on that tell me what I am to do..

"Please do not eat or drink anything except water after 12.00pm the night before the test."

I think about this and wonder whether 12.00pm means midnight or midday. Obviously I need to get this right so I decide to be sure and I will fast from midday. My appointment is 9am the next day so it means missing a couple of meals.

Next day I keep the appointment at the surgery and a blood sample, (three vials full actually) is taken. I then ask the phlebotomist what time should I have fasted from. "Midnight" is her reply.

It didn't bother me but did make me wonder if 12pm is midday, as I thought or midnight as they thought so I did some research.

It turns out that it depends where you live. Officially in the UK we observe the standard 12 noon or 12 midnight statements. In the US it is 12pm noon and 12am midnight, but not always! Confused, yes I am too. The article I read said, 'the terms AM and PM are used in the UK but will no consistent meaning'. Tell me about it!

I often find that we can say the same thing but have different meanings behind it. I missed a couple of meals because of it. Not a big deal but maybe in other circumstances it could have cost me a lot more. There is a requirement to be accurate.

I find many people interpret the Bible in different ways and end up using the same words but meaning different things too. How do you avoid that? I heard a phrase whilst ministering in South Africa, 'Aim though the cross'. Does what you have to say stand that test? Does it fit in with the redemptive work of Christ and all that He stood for. I find a lot of our differences in the faith come because we lose the focus of the cross. We then major on minors, things that aren't in the long run going to matter. Behind the act of the cross was love. This shone out of Jesus is what He did and said to people. Sure He came to fulfil things but He also came to get rid of the unnecessary things that created a religious spirit towards God.

The cross speaks of relationship, its about restoring a right relationship with the Father. What do we major on? Are we causing confusion because although the words seem right they don't really aim through the cross and have no love behind them? Jesus said, my yoke is easy and my burden is light'. It should be easy to follow Him not confusing.

Territorial

I am currently having a battle with next door's cat. He likes to dominate our garden and as even been known to try and take over the house if we leave the windows open too much.

He wasn't the first cat in the area. A neighbour's cat two doors away used to be the only one and it was his turf. Then 'Ginger' arrived, colour not necessarily name, and war broke out. We would be lying in bed and hear the screeches and wails as they argued about territory.

My latest beef with Ginger is to do with our garden fence. He took to using our fence as a scratching post, problem was he did it so often he wore through the top panel spar and the panel fell apart. The rest of the fence was also ropey and so we replaced the lot with feather board. I thought this would be safe, nothing to balance on and so the scratching days were over. Wrong! I caught him standing on top of the gate and having a go at the feather boards from there. It took several shouts before he moved.

From what I have read of cat psyche this is just the beginning of the battle, the opening salvo. After all to Ginger this is his territory and he has fought to prove that.

As I mused on this dilemma I realised that the problem only arises because of my territorial attitude. That's why the fence is there isn't it. When the old one was removed we were without a fence for a few weeks and I felt so vulnerable. Mind you the old fence was so rickety it provided no real protection anyway. I think the new one if you give it a good push wouldn't be much better. (apologies to my father-in-law for all of his efforts)

So how to defend my fence? Hosepipe, bucket of water, loud shouting, recording of Rottweiler? I need help here. Suggestions welcome.

Are we nearly there yet?

I am sure that many of you who have children, or maybe remember your own childhood, can identify with the phrase that entitles this posting. One of my children in particular used it many times. We would often be travelling on holiday from the Midlands to Holland or France and sure enough somewhere along the way this would be said.

As children the journey isn't important, its the arrival. They don't know the significance of knowing how to get there. They can't gauge the length or time it will take. They just see the beach or camp site swimming pool in their minds and want to experience them.

As adults you realise the need to know roughly where you are going, you plan the ferries, look at maps and plan routes. You are not only interested with the destiny but the steps along the way.

I am currently writing an article and the phrase, 'milestones aren't destinations' came into my mind. As a preacher I thought there may be a sermon in this so started the meditate on it. I realise that many of us miss the milestones or in our eagerness to arrive at a destination see the milestones as our final stop.

Milestones are reminders that we are on our way, they help to chart the progress we've made. They can be resting places but they are not meant to be places where we take up residence.

They can also remind us of events along the way, maybe a glory moment or a spiritual high. Yet how many of those milestones are remembered because they are where we overcome issues, or went through suffering that produced something new in us. We like to linger around the good and forget the difficult times on the journey but they are equally important, if only to tell us not to go that way again.

We had a recent milestone event that was very painful. We were not expecting it. It was something we hadn't planned for yet it turned out to be a a time of discovering the reality of God in deep pain and despair. I don't want the pain back but I do want to remember the lesson.

Milestones also remind us that many have also journeyed the way we are going. They remind us that someone had to pioneer and discover the route we are treading. Maybe they were the first to chart the path. They're mapping of their journey meant we can travel with greater knowledge and safety.

I think as we gain experience the road we travel in some ways is less daunting. It should be that our faith in the map as we follow it grows as it proves itself to be accurate. Our faith in what we have given given for direction increases.

We can have patience with the childhood cry of, 'are we there yet?' because not that long ago it was our cry. I realised that I could comfort my children because if only in part I know the journey ahead. I could give them indication of what to expect on the journey. I also realised that God sees the whole because He has journeyed ahead of me and planned out every detail. I just need to trust the map and not be surprised if the milestones aren't always easy times on the way.

Be reconciled

I agreed to attend a meeting in a small village outside of Alloa in Scotland on Thursday so decided to make some plans to travel up via my daughters near Wigan.

I hadn't see them all since May due to my being away in South Africa and France for most of the time since. When I went with Mrs P in May my new grandson was only a few weeks old and Eloise was two the next day. I played hide and seek and exhausted myself trying to get under the bed.

I noticed a subtle change this time. Eloise is still sweet and lovely but there is an edge of defiance and a wanting to hurt that has crept in. Several times I had to firmly say no to her attempts to pinch and scratch. I began to think about this and asked myself what was happening.

I realised that what I was seeing was human nature and the development of things that the Bible calls sin. Not that Eloise is a great sinner but the nature of man is to rebel against God and this can be seen in the way a two year starts to show this. It fascinated me that without anyone showing her these things are happening naturally.

What has God done about this. He has sent the solution and remedy in His own Son Jesus. A verse in the bible in 2 Corinthians 5:18 tells us God is reconciling us to Himself through Jesus Christ and giving us the ministry of reconciliation.

I am guilty of sometimes looking at today's parenting skills and complaining but I realise that what we see in society today is more than unruliness. Malachi, ends the Old Testament by saying that there needs to be a turning of hearts, from fathers to sons and sons to fathers. He calls them the sons of disobedience. He then says 'lest I strike the land with a curse'. Is this what we are seeing around us a curse in the generation that we live in?

God's answer is reconciliation. First towards Him as our Father, learning to respond in the security of His love to His correction; then to each other to turn our hearts to one another for those kind of relationships that bring the same love and correction. Maybe we should be looking for these kinds of relationships in life.

Family and friends

Mrs P and I decided for various reasons we needed a few days away. So we planned a little trip to Yorkshire during the half-term break. We hitched up our folding camper and set out for a small village called Roecliffe, about 20 miles from York. We left early Sunday and decided to deliver a birthday present for my granddaughter on the way. The present was a slide that took up half the estate car. This meant I could also introduce Mrs P to my new grandson, Harry. I am discovering grandchildren are exhausting. We could only be there for a couple of hours but I don't remember being allowed to sit down for more than a minute. Eloise thought that hide and seek would be a good game to play with granddad. Have you ever tried hiding under a bed at 51? These were the types of games I played with my kids when they were young along with balloon football (proper football was banned indoors after I broke the glass door to the dining room), sardines, and wrestling. I really enjoyed being with Eloise and it was good to see Harry again.

We arrived on site early afternoon. It had rained all the way to Yorkshire but as we started to set up the rain stopped long enough for us to set up dry and put the kettle on. The site was very nice, good clean facilities. Only one problem, it was next to a small industrial estate. Five AM next day and every day of our short stay lorries started their engines and seemed to park by our pitch to check their goods. Mrs P was not amused.

Monday morning we spent time praying and reading the scriptures. We have learned over the past few years the preciousness of our times together with God. We don't make a big fuss about it and we try not to feel condemned if it doesn't happen every day but it is a special privilege for a couple to know God together. We have been amazed at God's goodness to us this past year. We reflected on how He has been leading us and some of the decisions we have taken which He has confirmed in so many ways. We wrote down things that we felt He had led us to do and will be sharing that with our prayer partners sometime soon.

Monday afternoon we went into York. It is one of my favourite places. I love history, it was something I was always good at and it fascinated me. I first went to York when I lived in Yorkshire in the mid-seventies and it has never lost its charm. The rain held off and we were able to window shop and have coffee and toasted tea cakes. Whilst in York we received a call from a couple of dear friends inviting us to a meal in Halifax that evening so we accepted and went back to site to change and relax before meeting them.

Mrs P dozed and I went for a stroll and had an idea. Our son Ben might want feeding up and Leeds is on the way to Halifax. I called him and in true student fashion he accepted. I thought this would be a nice surprise for Mrs P so didn't tell her. I thought she might get suspicious when she saw the route I took but she didn't. As we drove down the Otley road into Headingley she decided she might ring him. I managed to dissuade her. Not even turning into his road on the off chance we might see him gave her a clue. She saw him walking towards us and for her this was a great coincidence. Only when I said 'hop in then' did she realise what we had schemed between us. She really enjoyed the surprise.

We arrived at the Chinese restaurant on time and were soon met by Philip and Ruth. I have known them for thirty-two years. Ruth was a young person in the church I led and Philip was her unsaved boyfriend. It was two years of coaxing and befriending before he made his decision to follow Christ. It was a powerful conversion one Sunday evening in November 1977. He is now a leader in that church and is a great personal witness to many. We had a great evening of food and fellowship and ended up talking to the owner for quite a while at the end. Philip managed to get him to agree to come to the church in return for the 35 person booking he had given him for a few weeks time. We dropped Ben off agreeing to pick up his things on the Wednesday on our way home to Birmingham. Leeds terms seem very short for him!

Tuesday we spent more time with the Lord. This time we looked at where God is leading us. For me it was the USA for two weeks, then Mrs P, Jenny and me are in South Africa. What's after that? We are sure about some things but other things demand more thought and prayer and taking things a step at a time.

Tuesday afternoon we decided to go for a walk before meeting up with a new friend in Thirsk who we first met in Honfleur, France. We were not far from a place we had been to about ten years ago, Sutton Bank. This hill is very steep. You can drive up it but it is so dangerous you are not allowed to tow anything up there. It is a 1 in 4 or 25% gradient and is very meandering. Once you get to the top there is a nature park centre with a café, shop and exhibitions. Several walks leave from the centre and we decided to do the one that goes along the top of the bank and gives you fantastic view towards the Pennines and across the Vale of York. The sun shone, we saw many different species of birds and enjoyed beautiful views of Yorkshire before heading back to the car.

We drove from there to see our friend Gina. Gina is a terrific spiritual warrior with great insight and anointing. Gina is also almost blind. She has some peripheral vision but not much else. She prepared a great tea for us. We enjoyed good conversation that led naturally into a time of prayer and ministry to each other. I am so blessed in times like these. It should be the most natural thing for us Christians to simply pray and bless each other in this way.

Wednesday morning the sun shone and we packed everything away, hitched up the camper and headed for Leeds and Ben to pick up crates and boxes. It didn't take long to fill the car with his things. Good job he wasn't coming back with us, there was no room!

Arrived back to Brum in the rain, emptied the car and treated ourselves to fish and chips.

Family and friends - a blessed few days.

Know what I mean 'Arry

I promised some photos of my new grandson, Harry Taylor. He was born on April 10th in the early hours after a bit of a scare. Alison, my daughter went into the details but I will save you the gore. Dad Darren was brilliant and all are well.



Today I enjoyed a great time sitting out in the garden with my daughter, son-in-law and two lovely grandchildren. I can't wait to watch them grow.



Thank you Jesus

It always happens when I am in France

After a great few days in St Etienne Mrs P and I travelled to Honfleur in Normandy. We stayed with friends who run a guest house. The main reason for going was to meet up with Prophet Barbara Smith from Scotland.

On the Tuesday I was told a message had just been left on my mobile. It was my son-in-law telling me to call him. I rang to find out that my daughter had given birth to her second child and my second grandchild, a boy they called Harry.It was a complicated birth and Harry was born three weeks early after an emergency caesarian but mother and baby are well.

My first grandchild, Eloise was also born when I was in France! I am now not allowed to travel abroad within the last month of any of my children's pregnancies, just in case. Do you think there is a reason my grandchildren choose to be born when I am out of the country?

Off to see them tomorrow so hope to post some pictures soon.

Past times

I spent yesterday in West Yorkshire with some friends who I have known for thirty plus years. Ruth and Philip were young people in the church I pastored as a young man. He was the first person brought to Christ in my ministry there and as a couple they were the first couple I married. They are very special people with a lovely serving spirit.

I lost contact with them for a long time. I left the ministry with a lot of pain and so the contact with them was not kept up. Three years ago at the wedding of my eldest daughter I met them again and the friendship was reborn.

We spent most of the day chewing the fat over church issues and spoke of many happy memories of times when despite us rather than because of us God showed up and did some special things. We were young and some of the things we did I would think twice about now but there was something about raw faith and a daring attitude that seemed to bring about things.

We spoke of people I had baptised who I never remember baptising, healings and changed lives. It was good to remember.

We can't have those times again but 'now is the day of salvation'. It reminded me that thirty years have gone by and what have I done that counts. My wife sent me an Anniversary card recently to celebrate out twentieth wedding anniversary. On the card she put, 'Here's to the next 20'. As I thought about that I felt as if I had been allowed to pause and take stock, catch my breath, and I am now at the point of taking my journey on. I enjoyed the nostalgia and looking back but with Paul I realise I now need to 'press on'. There's a race to finish and a prize at the end with I hope a 'well done' as a reward.