It's like living in a funfair...

... without the fun!

No strangers to the hustle, bustle and hyper-activity of urban life, last night was something else!

On top of the nightly scooter races, incessant traffic and constant chit-chat (generally loud mobile conversations held, for some reason, directly outside our bedroom window?!), our evening 'mood-music' was set by another raucous party, a lower-than-usual hovering Police helicopter (these things really are loud!) and a film crew pitching up to shoot some low-udget Gansta film (the 'director' was not a quiet man!).

Life in Stratford is rarely dull and never quiet!

Dangerous reading...

I've just started reading Ewan McGregor's account of his 20,000 mile motorcycled journey around the world 'Long Way Round'. It's dangerous because Lisa is convinced that it is not the kind of book I should be reading. Apparently I don't need any encouragement to 'fly-off and travel the world'!

Admittedly I have already chatted with friends about similar 'epic' journeys that could be journeyed, while my brother and I have started talking about a US road trip. But then, what's so good about the prospect of the open-road, unknown adventures and the realisation of dreams?!

I guess it depeneds how you're wired.

Who agreed to this?!

One of the hottest weeks of the year and we're doing a kids club! Hot, sweaty and tiring events at the best of times, but all the more so when it's in the 30Cs! Still the heat didn't seem to deter or dampen the spirits of the 40-50 kids who turned up.

Like much of what we do here it's a partnership, this time with a local church we've developed links with, and it's just good to share the load and to work together. I'm sure there's something biblical in that?!

Proper Officers!

At the risk of upsetting many of our friends who slog it out every Sunday, today we were in danger of being 'proper Officers'... because we were doing the meeting at Poplar. 'Oh, the stress and strain of it all?!'

I'm sure if every congregation was as warm, friendly and encouraging as Poplar was this morning there would be a lot less 'slogging' in the Army. We really had a great time together. Which was nice as we weren't quite sure how everyone would be feeling or reacting post-Cotterills?!

Early in the morning...

...while it was still dark (actually at this time of year its perfectly light, but its still really early!), he arose and prepared his sermon while running to Tower Bridge.

Urged on by the austere finger-wagging effigy of William Booth and his neighbouring bust, I can confirm that E15 to the 'tower' and back again constitutes a run of 10 miles and that 1hr 17min and 1 sec is long enough to put together/finalise some thoughts for preaching. Actually I should probably wait until I've shared these 'thoughts' before claiming anything!

This time last year!

Another hot, sticky Saturday in July can mean only one thing - Commissioning! This time last year it was us being 'done in' and with Lisa 7 and a half months pregnant, its fair to say it wasn't the most comfortable of days. As such I think much of it flew by as we 'just got through it', but this afternoon it was good to witness the whole thing from a slightly more pleasant vantage point!

For us it was interesting to look back over the last twelve months and to consider what we and God had been up to - I guess many of our hopes and dreams are slowly being realised. Stratford is such a good 'fit' for us. But I couldn't help wondering how many of our friends, for whom the last twelve months has been anything but 'easy' or satisfying, were feeling.

It seems a shame that 2006 was the last commissioning to be held at the Wembley Conference Centre, it's a good venue with lots of personal memories (going back to the 1990 UK Youth Band Championships - them were the days!). But thing I won't miss is their dodgy air conditioning!

Wise words for foolish times

As bombs continue to fall on the Lebanon, civilians conitnue to die and the international community impotently watches on I read these words from Ben Elton's latest novel 'The First Casualty'...

'Brutality, it is clear, has a cumlative effect on the people who perpetrate it and on those who witness it, it numbs the sense to decency, until in the end it is diufficult to remember what decency was.'

As Martin Luther King once said 'injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.'

We can kid ourselves that this isn't true, but not for long. Given that Jesus taught us to treat others how we ourselves would want to be treated, if you lived in Lebanon what would you want to happen? (not everyone can escape on to a Navy ship)

BTW: Ben Elton's books are always worth a read.

Use your imagination...

Today, on the hottest ever July day (UK speaking - before Mr Bradbury interjects?!) I got to stand where Seb Coe and The Queen have stood before me - at the top of Holden Point - and I was given the chance to use my imagination. I just hope that the much talked-about 'lasting legacy' is not only lasting, but lasting for local people rather than for those flooding in to share in the Olympic milk and honey.

2006...













2012...

Three strikes!

What are the chances?! This morning we had to go into a number of different schools to do three assemblies. Having prepared, gone in, and... set up(!) we were told that they'd been cancelled - all of them!

If we'd been playing for the Texas Rangers we'd have been struck out! 0 and 3!




















I guess there's always next term!

Big up Chelmsford Yoof!

Many thanks to our mates from Chelmsford who came, slogged, and saw the Army - Stratford-style! Your support and encouragement are much appreciated.

The week that was

A friend recently suggested that when it comes to holidays there are often two underlying motives.

1. is to get away (pure and simple)
2. is to rest

I'm sure that for most, holidays are a mix of both. With our week in Wales we certainly achieved number one, but there was perhaps precious little of number two! For this was our first 'holiday' with a very mobile 10 month son! Which was nice (obviously!), but it wasn't too 'rest-full'! Ah well, only another 20 or so years to go?!











That said, we can't wait to go back!

Let the good times roll!

We're off on holiday! It's been a while coming, but we're heading to a cottage somewhere in Wales, North Wales. I reckon it's going to take three and a half days to get there, we've been told that mobiles don't work (at least you'll know why I'm not posting - Keeley!), the cooker's not too hot, there is no TV and the 1-in-4 slope upon which the cottage nestles makes it nigh on impossible to drive to the place. Still the view looks wonderful, it's cheap and its a chance to relax, read and run - knees willing!

Like faithful friends...

..the phrases flow:

'You do such good work'

'I'll just get rid of my pennines'

'I only ever give to you lot'

The venue may change, the people may differ, but it seems that the response to the opportunity to financially support the work of The Salvation Army is incredibly consistent.

Yesterday as I stood outside a local Tesco it was the usual mix of people -some keen to see us, others uncomfortably shuffling by, some happy to stand and chat, while others chose the 'drop-and-run' technique. I was called 'sweetie' (which was nice!), was asked directions 6 times, worried a number of drivers who had parked illegally and I saw a bicycle that doesn't need brakes to stop! All in all it was an intriguing couple of hours.

I can't say I'm convinced yet by supermarket collecting, while people did give it did seem to be meagre. Personally speaking I can't remember the last time I had cash in a supermarket, while the elderly that seemed to bus in for the 'messages' (as we Scots say!) would perhaps be on a tight budget. It did seem that people were more inclined to give their money to Mr Tesco rather than one of Booth's Boys. Mind you with 1 in 8 pounds spent in the UK going to Tesco maybe we should be getting into retail?!

Still, I haven't heard any figures yet and I think we did better than the two energy salesmen who were trying to flog their wares! They should try wearing caps!

Nice and 'simple'

The book I'm ploughing through at the moment is well worth a read. Written by the Bishop of Durham ('don't you know'!), thankfully it is by the pen of Tom Wright (for those who appreciate an easier read!) rather than his more meaty N.T. Wright books (aimed at those who don't mind chewing cardboard!).

Anyway - Simply Christianity is going doing well. Acknowledging that for many people the very word 'church' is itself a turn-off with overtones of 'large, dark buildings, pompous religious pronouncements, false solemnity and rank hypocrisy' (they obviously haven't been to 'croquet church' in Shandy Park), the Bish concentrates on four very contemporary themes, namely the quest for justice, the thirst for spirituality, the desire for relationship and an appreciation of beauty.

But as he writes he challenges the negative view of 'church' and attempts to reclaim a healthy perspective by pointing out that for many 'church'...

'... is a place of welcome and laughter, of healing and hope, of friends and family and justice and new life. It's where the homeless drop in for a bowl of soup, and the elderly for womeone to chat to. It's where one group is working to help drug addicts, and another to campaign for global justice. It's where you'll find people learning to pray, coming to faith, struggling with temptation, finding new purpose and a new power to carry it out. it's where people bring their own small faith and discover that when they get together with others to worship the true God, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. No church is like this all the time. But a remarkable number of churches are partly like that for quite a lot of the time.'

I don't know about you, but I like that, I'd sign up to that description and I'm pretty sure others would too - given the choice. I'm fortunate to have experienced church like this and remain convinced that its the kind of church (what Bill Hybels calls the 'hope for the world') that we here in Stratford are called to be. If you do to, and you fancy a challenge - in the words of Danny Wallace, come and join us.

Every cloud has one!

The morning after England's ignominious exit from the World Cup I overheard two of our elderly neighbours chatting. For the purposes of 'blogland' and the reinforcement of unhelpful stereotypes the conversation took place between Ethel and Mabel:

Ethel: 'Did you see it last night?'

Mabel: 'Yeh, it wasn't too good, was it.'

Ethel: 'No, but we did lose the boy Beckham and that lad... whats his name... Rooney.'

Mabel: 'Yeh, but we won the war.'

So there we have it, every cloud has one, and for despondent England fans everywhere it would appear that the silver lining is some long since fought and 'won' war!

(N.B. this conversation ironically took place on the 90th anniversary of the bloodiest day, of the bloodiest battle in the bloodiest war we've ever fought and 'won'.)

Here goes - knees willing!

Accompanied by Snow Patrol, Franz Ferdinand and The Zutons I started training for my next marathon - Cardiff (some time in October I think?!). And it was an early morning of firsts...

My first day training in East London.
My first day training in the middle of a heatwave!
My first day training with a young son awaiting my return.

Who needs an alarm for these early morning runs!

Open air ministry alive and well in the East End!

Nevermind cell church, cafe church, or even table church, today we experienced 'croquet church'.

Along with friends from Stepney we took to Shandy Park and were church in the open air. Having looked at Scripture, prayed and eaten together we followed the recent example set by the Deputy Prime Minister and enjoyed the quintessential sport of croquet!

It's fair to say that as the local Mosque emptied we drew some inquisitve glances (we were even joined by a young lad as his Burkha clad younger sisters sought the relief of the shade).

As Graham Tomlin writes 'unless there is something about church, or Christians, or Christian faith that intrigues, provokes or entices, then all the evangelism in the world will fall on deaf ears. If churches cannot convey a sense of ‘reality’ then all our ‘truth’ will count for nothing. Unless someone wants to hear, there’s no point in shouting louder. Churches need to become provocative, arresting places which make the searcher, the casual visitor, want to come back for more.'

If you want to be provocative, you might want to try croquet church?!

How depressing is hope?!

In the book of Proverbs we learn that ‘hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.’ Proverbs 13:12


I don’t mind admitting (sorry Mr Laird!) to feeling sick during England’s against Portugal. It would seem that along with death and taxes football fans can also count on England exiting major tournaments at the quarter-final stage, often on penalties and usually against Mr Scolari’s boys. However ominously predictable, I can’t help myself – I’m an ‘optimist’ and it makes me sick!

This (along with the fact that we struggle to defend, score goals and beat other teams!) is why Scotland don’t bother with tournaments?!

Still as one hope is dashed another springs forth in the shape of the Scottish ‘tree of life’ that is Mr Andrew Murray!

Such is the depressing lot of a sporting optimist!

My week with Mr Peterson

This week as we 'retreated' with colleagues amidst the beauty of Ashburnham Place we were reminded (courtesy of Eugene Peterson) of Jesus' words...

'Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.' Matthew 11:28-30 The Message

Nevermind the 'unforced rhythms of grace' (which incidentally is one of my favourite phrases from the Message), with the absence of blaring sirens and amber night-time glow we learned the rhythms of rural life - which was rather nice!

Then yesterday, as we shared a beautiful day with Rachel and Ben at their wedding we were reminded of God's own proscribed rhythm of relationships:

'So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.' Colossians 3:12-17 The Message

Undoubtedly easier to say (or write) than to do, I can't help thinking that learning to be 'content with second-place' is the key to healthy relationships that last and enrich.

Then again, as a Scotsman second-place would be great!