tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149862862024-03-21T23:21:29.070+00:00SkinnersBlogGrace & Truth. A way of thinking. A way of life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-65459403514535087732012-11-08T05:09:00.003+00:002012-11-08T05:09:51.414+00:00New LocationI have moved my blogging to a new site at <a href="http://www.timothycaho.com/">www.timothycaho.com</a>. You can find me there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-68192602867699897632010-03-31T10:45:00.002+01:002010-03-31T10:47:54.618+01:00Snow and Team RetreatOur team is on a joint retreat at Bassenfell Christian Centre in the Lake District of northwestern England. And what greeted us as we woke up on this 31st day of March? Snow! An early April fool's joke maybe, but nevertheless our family marks 16 years in England on the the 1st of April.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-30661391196678146612009-03-09T14:55:00.005+00:002009-03-09T15:06:46.209+00:00Sun and SandThe Indian Ocean off of Turtle Bay (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Watamu</span>, Kenya) is wonderful. I don't do hot and humidity very well, since I don't tan (I turn less white instead). We're going snorkeling tomorrow to see if we can see dolphins and little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fishies</span> on the coral. Maybe more pictures after that. I'm uploading photos from our time in Nairobi up to the following site. Have a look at my online storage site and look at these photos. Keep coming back as I'm adding photos during the week slowly because of the lack of speedy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">internet</span> connection.<a href="http://www.box.net/shared/0gh5ggkhb8"> http://www.box.net/shared/0gh5ggkhb8</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-78221173168142629382009-03-08T06:25:00.003+00:002009-03-08T06:32:58.710+00:00Breaking BreadI broke bread this morning. It wasn't breakfast. It was a meal of celebration. A meal of friendship. Teammates and colleagues from Thailand, Kenya, China, Ukraine, America, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mexico</span>, and England around a simple meal of some crackers and juice. A meal of remembrance. The writers of the New Testament sometimes call it 'communion' or '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">eucharist</span>' (meaning 'thanksgiving') or the 'Lord's Supper'. Both a solemn moment and a joyful moment it was. Jesus was with us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-75373898736724140492009-03-07T04:09:00.004+00:002009-03-07T04:35:59.769+00:00Kao La Tamaini and the Giraffe ProjectTuesday was a 10 hour affair with Japheth visiting three primary schools, one girls secondary boarding school, a few micro-enterprises, vocational training, and visiting the three largest slums of Mathare, Kibera, and Korogocho. Mathare, the largest, has over <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5tCNzpSRPDwD05OJYquti8nLg_HdmCLVEyiLC60Iej7xwIhyphenhyphenJ1xRTWTbmaWu7lKP17AqaUHHSAwSZ-5-WKQ7jf3GAjwVI8JB9VdlUiYt8fBrFKfZ_xVU63yRGLjjxQ-syr6paQ/s1600-h/CIMG2290.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5tCNzpSRPDwD05OJYquti8nLg_HdmCLVEyiLC60Iej7xwIhyphenhyphenJ1xRTWTbmaWu7lKP17AqaUHHSAwSZ-5-WKQ7jf3GAjwVI8JB9VdlUiYt8fBrFKfZ_xVU63yRGLjjxQ-syr6paQ/s320/CIMG2290.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310299414319291026" border="0" /></a>800,000 people in an area 1 mile wide by 3 miles long.<br /><br />At the moment, all I can say, is, 'What an eye-opener!' But wonderful work being done by locals who care for their community. 39 children in a classroom, elbow to elbow in a space some 15 x 20 feet. A mum/guardian caring for children and extended family, sleeping 8 to a bed and 16 in a tin covered shack with tin walls that's some 10 x 12 feet.<br /><br />My internet access is slow and I'm having trouble picking up e-mails and responding. The schedule is choc-a-bloc and we've been out in Niarobi all day (and again today, Saturday). I may have to wait to provide more update until we get to the Kenyan Coast.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-49292661459453760472009-03-03T17:01:00.006+00:002009-03-03T17:23:10.107+00:00Nairobi24 hours ago we made our way to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BHX</span> in Birmingham. While we waited in the departure lounge, who should we see but Roy from the<span style="font-weight: bold;">third</span>place catching a flight to Portugal! We hadn't seen him for several weeks, and it was a serendipitous visit. We also met Rob from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">GlobalScope</span> team (campus ministry at the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCW00QHP27RQQDypupP0DP5Rs7JveZPwNDikeG6tL8R8lQ-wf2MNk1owhyVFRftJP2EiAUoVuI1IEeTQnlaz4r-OzDcs6v-Om8k0sAztMoCR0EdYf1GFHe_WaanIdy0kuZvhYEg/s1600-h/CIMG2250.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCW00QHP27RQQDypupP0DP5Rs7JveZPwNDikeG6tL8R8lQ-wf2MNk1owhyVFRftJP2EiAUoVuI1IEeTQnlaz4r-OzDcs6v-Om8k0sAztMoCR0EdYf1GFHe_WaanIdy0kuZvhYEg/s320/CIMG2250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309010834720253906" border="0" /></a>University of Birmingham) who was on the same flight to Amsterdam.<br /><br />Once in Amsterdam we met up with Jonathan who would be on the same flight to Nairobi. He's team leader for the team in the Ukraine. We flew a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">KLM</span> plane run by Kenyan Airways, and while I was a bit nervous about the idea of a quality Kenyan airline (yes, I was prejudging), the service was great. Even though my armrest controls for the movies was on the blink, Tam and I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_AXjgCiwapWOhvC7-JuUjdUqE7NrLNlHEKc6Phtx28DG79XrbeczLWPJH6Yu15o-q2SZZivtj_kqCDLslXzsyJJasTE3XEiGTWTWlS8aBP2bseZ9AJT4mTv6YyJQJt6zA7oR-g/s1600-h/CIMG2252.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_AXjgCiwapWOhvC7-JuUjdUqE7NrLNlHEKc6Phtx28DG79XrbeczLWPJH6Yu15o-q2SZZivtj_kqCDLslXzsyJJasTE3XEiGTWTWlS8aBP2bseZ9AJT4mTv6YyJQJt6zA7oR-g/s320/CIMG2252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309010839673226338" border="0" /></a> managed to catch one movie by switching seats. The rest was less than that, with an overnight flight, as we backed up on a bulkhead and couldn't recline our seats. I did get to eat all of Tam's snacks though!<br /><br />The four of us were met by Ezekiel, our driver to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Brackenhurst</span>, and waited for the team leader from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">GlobalScope</span> team in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Salamanca</span>, Spain. And then the driving adventure began! Ezekiel pointed out the terminal where VIPs are welcomed into the country, including <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Barak</span> Obama back in 2006. He also showed us the road works going on from the airport into Nairobi, in anticipation of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Obama's</span> visit at some point in the future. We saw Obama posters on the back of cars and buses, some covered by the belching of thick diesel fumes like I've never seen! We almost disappeared down one pothole Ezekiel managed to miss after getting out of Nairobi, and then we followed that by playing 'chicken' with a immense lorry full of gravel that took evasive action to miss a pothole right into our path!<br /><br />Made contact after arrival with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Japeth</span>, at a school in Nairobi. While Tam's in her meeting with other team leaders from across the world, I'm going into the slum area of Nairobi where I'm representing a church from England who supports the school. I have no idea what it's going to be like, but I hope to have some stories and photos tomorrow!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-60089931286722242092008-07-26T05:54:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:36.240+00:00Alan Hirsch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvDfs6g2wc93HycJFSo4JiI39-_26mgDHM_J2xvxmEeILAS3I_lcyZJpRc25-M9uVUjlROxb7Me_tIwpZgFMU6gHkzLUJJSV14U0CZyERMrdwo62YEkm2TH0jAJhqZYJ5ulfc9w/s1600-h/hirsch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvDfs6g2wc93HycJFSo4JiI39-_26mgDHM_J2xvxmEeILAS3I_lcyZJpRc25-M9uVUjlROxb7Me_tIwpZgFMU6gHkzLUJJSV14U0CZyERMrdwo62YEkm2TH0jAJhqZYJ5ulfc9w/s200/hirsch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227213104110300354" border="0" /></a>Tam and I spent last weekend at the Together in Mission Summer School. Tam is working on an MA in Missional Leadership, while I'm a tutor (teacher) on several topics (Church Planting, Church Growth, Missions History, Mission & Empowerment) and was there to attend the Master Class with Alan Hirsch (<a href="http://www.theforgottenways.org/intro/">www.theforgottenways.org</a>).<br /><br />Alan is originally from South Africa, but has spent most of his life in Australia, planting churches, leading a church planters and leadership training or<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXFFqUmCwVh7Flb3vws8xdwSPwleWHMme4v3TIGfM0TtdJ3kPdf8cSqcqaSN4iFgDlEz2p_FQ98jA__C1E4NIBXcnBGlqIhh82_CLKY1h8aXONPQTSqcuv-6CPeHl9DNaagRp-Q/s1600-h/TFW-cover.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXFFqUmCwVh7Flb3vws8xdwSPwleWHMme4v3TIGfM0TtdJ3kPdf8cSqcqaSN4iFgDlEz2p_FQ98jA__C1E4NIBXcnBGlqIhh82_CLKY1h8aXONPQTSqcuv-6CPeHl9DNaagRp-Q/s200/TFW-cover.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227212944608624210" border="0" /></a>ganization. He's written a couple of books, and has recently moved to America. He was one of the speakers at the National New Church Conference in April of this year. He's a deep thinker arising not from academia, but as a practitioner.<br /><br />I first met him several years ago when he was on a speaking tour in the UK with Michael Frost. I ran into him a couple of years ago while at a class at Fuller (he was teaching, but I was in another class), and we had a couple of meals together with another Aussie who was in<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5YQYkbr_l9Jeg_cA6dhlFHsorHp5xa1XEIgNWt25fLKwygAp8anFuRoNmv5jFfqpnl81DX6ku7pTCpLvoXBBNqLTZvSPO0bKDkCfrp2tW2eWz5O7UpbBI04mPThQJuMWYHe6mg/s1600-h/IMAG0270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5YQYkbr_l9Jeg_cA6dhlFHsorHp5xa1XEIgNWt25fLKwygAp8anFuRoNmv5jFfqpnl81DX6ku7pTCpLvoXBBNqLTZvSPO0bKDkCfrp2tW2eWz5O7UpbBI04mPThQJuMWYHe6mg/s320/IMAG0270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227212847558653986" border="0" /></a> the class I was attending. He also did a wonderful job on the Saturday morning explaining some of the finer points of rugby as we watched the tri-nations match between the Wallabees (Australia) and the Springboks (South Africa).<br /><br />In this Master Class, what was one thing he said that captured my attention? Especially as it applies to what we're doing in <a href="http://thethirdplacenetwork.blogspot.com/">the<span style="font-weight: bold;">third</span>place</a>? He brought me back to something about the church growth being seen in China. The dynamic there is not "how do we grow?" but 'how do we multiply?" Added to this is the view "every believer is a church planter, and every church is a church-planting church." Why is it the western church is conditioned to think so differently than this? Why can't I think this way?<br /><br />One other statement by Alan: "Christology determines mission which determines ecclessiology." That is, what one thinks of Jesus then defines what I perceive I ought to do in response to him, and that then shapes what the church looks like in any given culture. What we often do, is have a view of church that we attempt to impose upon other people and cultures; it is a western view and is a kind of ecclesiastical imperialism.<br /><br />Food for thought!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-51589031333497783322008-07-22T17:59:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:36.982+00:00Bits & BobsA few things that have happened since writing last....<br /><br />The 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> of July weekend had no fireworks, but I did play in an ice hockey tournament in Sheffield. We came 14<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> out of 15 teams with a 1 win, 3 losses, and 4 ties. Games were 15 <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF1OrIIdbNM2Rwsh1nRksmMW0e-eyr7Ha1CD0Zj4sAdYrjrOZR6eRraz8LiO_L-QP-lwZCcLT3Jwm1Y01bW4_qSkY71LRjNtsDTor2QKi9Hc3KO_Wp_wtIcpaKDBsznhbduFMDg/s1600-h/IMAG0247.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF1OrIIdbNM2Rwsh1nRksmMW0e-eyr7Ha1CD0Zj4sAdYrjrOZR6eRraz8LiO_L-QP-lwZCcLT3Jwm1Y01bW4_qSkY71LRjNtsDTor2QKi9Hc3KO_Wp_wtIcpaKDBsznhbduFMDg/s320/IMAG0247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225888027364056338" border="0" /></a>minutes running clock. We obviously didn't do as well as we hoped but we had a great time. Pictured are some of the lads that played. From the left back row John, 'H', <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Colum</span>, Roger, Chris, then Darren, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gaz</span>, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Maggit</span>, and Matt our goalie. We had two players, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Shornie</span> and Aaron go out with injuries. I felt and played better as the games progressed each day, and in the end had a great time. One funny story from the training session the week before the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">tournament</span>. John, the fellow on the left in the back, said to me, "I can't believe you're a (expletive deleted) vicar and you play ice hockey. You play it well and you're a (expletive deleted) vicar." Thank you John, for the compliment.<br /><br />The last weekend in <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkgJ_HqAUJaRcDgeISMXqFXxbXKF8p76tXxHLX3WD_xNh8tpq-3WHPlm2HXwPUO8K9iRuymX6wbhw-9ZEsFIhHs64tFqo4pGiZFrcOs9q1L3XpLYV4w8KHsrk9mY0mXkqJbCpew/s1600-h/CIMG1228.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkgJ_HqAUJaRcDgeISMXqFXxbXKF8p76tXxHLX3WD_xNh8tpq-3WHPlm2HXwPUO8K9iRuymX6wbhw-9ZEsFIhHs64tFqo4pGiZFrcOs9q1L3XpLYV4w8KHsrk9mY0mXkqJbCpew/s200/CIMG1228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225889525212381890" border="0" /></a>June was the delegate conference of the Fellowship of Churches of Christ. The conference was held in Leicester at a school where Lighthouse Church meets. Lighthouse joined the Fellowship last year, and this year the conference was followed by an ordination service for Richard. Richard (and Dan, pictured) was a printer who increasingly sensed a call to leadership in the local church. He was instrumental in Lighthouse joining our network of churches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNnsMs_xkymho3uS1GNrEWX0BE10294ruvET6novsyodbdJPPRcH4wl9jHDawbnjH5By0HfAoIxBkO7WZ47XdzfGmXLD0o2Udv4igZaly6pEY5CWtIV7ZrV8X8mtWGL2poPfGxA/s1600-h/CIMG1215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNnsMs_xkymho3uS1GNrEWX0BE10294ruvET6novsyodbdJPPRcH4wl9jHDawbnjH5By0HfAoIxBkO7WZ47XdzfGmXLD0o2Udv4igZaly6pEY5CWtIV7ZrV8X8mtWGL2poPfGxA/s400/CIMG1215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225890796486006818" border="0" /></a>The 3rd weekend in June we said farewell to Aaron, Diane, Reece, and Fin who will be stateside until their return to the UK in early April 2009. The going away party for them at Dickens Heath Village Church also marked <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">DHVC</span> being entirely on its own without outside leadership. Our church plant, conceived and birthed earlier this decade, has matured past infancy, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">toddlerhood</span> and adolescence, and is now a young but independent adult. It leave us full of mixed emotions as does considering our own adult children. God is good. It's not about us, it's about Jesus. We love Aaron and Diane and boys, and they have been great teammates to us in so many ways. We already feel a sense of loss that their next placement upon return to England won't likely be with us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-17194251738209317692008-06-14T16:03:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:38.176+00:00Family, Friends, & a Bobcat<b style=""><span style="">2008-06-14<br /></span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MAaOyxo6_PuqGZFwWKHxAFVHNRKF_bSCLSXHHPk4KTbcTXSEGi7Mk6izhWvSPI9IzyKZWJ7ivUB4BPyU3nqXpKvR3UfIbNxAkwm9W2UKgV7V6HDfx7Bm82qLjZJhuN9AtG1Ezg/s1600-h/CIMG1025+cropped+and+reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MAaOyxo6_PuqGZFwWKHxAFVHNRKF_bSCLSXHHPk4KTbcTXSEGi7Mk6izhWvSPI9IzyKZWJ7ivUB4BPyU3nqXpKvR3UfIbNxAkwm9W2UKgV7V6HDfx7Bm82qLjZJhuN9AtG1Ezg/s200/CIMG1025+cropped+and+reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211753406099700258" border="0" /></a><span style="">The Thursday drive from <st1:city st="on">Fullerton</st1:city> to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Mesa</st1:place></st1:city> was uneventful, but hot! The temps have</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySJ7ayZaBm_BI12fho_Zeyq5vahFQdtARj08GBZaeG5BdV8-WirpdeGvaAEiWCJlQJ5fDuQN91GFwAC5kjBDicmEkBdsZyCFE2dq7Zil9HO5SK5fP7waX02uae0rHRINrvKPCmQ/s1600-h/CIMG1005+cropped+and+reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySJ7ayZaBm_BI12fho_Zeyq5vahFQdtARj08GBZaeG5BdV8-WirpdeGvaAEiWCJlQJ5fDuQN91GFwAC5kjBDicmEkBdsZyCFE2dq7Zil9HO5SK5fP7waX02uae0rHRINrvKPCmQ/s200/CIMG1005+cropped+and+reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211753581482675490" border="0" /></a><span style=""> been over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, 107 yesterday. We arrived into <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Mesa</st1:place></st1:city> and went to s</span><span style="">ee Andrew at his workplace, and was treated immediately to his sense of humour.</span><span style=""> One</span><span style=""> of his workmates drew a sketch exhibiting his sarcastic wit, and it depicts Andrew</span><span style=""> precisely. It says “'Random big word.’ You probably don’t know what that word</span><span style=""> means!”</span><br /><br /><span style="">Our dinner evening with the small group was fun! Thank you, friends, for your</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwP9W5A6r5ttH9jcnqm9aqsTarf3uGruHholRdZLBl6qxNEMioREEBVaOY13rZcElVD7IFiHdSqExZG504PaDkvH2zI5rPuFeBo6DvUbr_ShgsDDDIiHt_7imgxS1axkxYE-uKRQ/s1600-h/CIMG1024+cropped+and+reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwP9W5A6r5ttH9jcnqm9aqsTarf3uGruHholRdZLBl6qxNEMioREEBVaOY13rZcElVD7IFiHdSqExZG504PaDkvH2zI5rPuFeBo6DvUbr_ShgsDDDIiHt_7imgxS1axkxYE-uKRQ/s200/CIMG1024+cropped+and+reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211753737708494546" border="0" /></a><span style=""> hospitality and</span><span style=""> generosity to us. One of the couples there were Ona and Ruth, whose daughter Rachel is a sweetie and good friends with Jess. Jess stayed w</span><span style="">ith them the first night, then joined us at Karen and Gary’s last night.</span><span style=""> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6tgDQOIcIBYaIcEIR-KB6yYLaqm5RpSltiUprFuTzLuojfYeztd9izh40aFV2aBCk3HNgbbpI6tdxHLEZZLSXKoiERlXYRskVCGVK2us23NWtt1bgLnxkPEREeTEwvFDCXBduA/s1600-h/CIMG1036+cropped+and+reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6tgDQOIcIBYaIcEIR-KB6yYLaqm5RpSltiUprFuTzLuojfYeztd9izh40aFV2aBCk3HNgbbpI6tdxHLEZZLSXKoiERlXYRskVCGVK2us23NWtt1bgLnxkPEREeTEwvFDCXBduA/s200/CIMG1036+cropped+and+reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211754411475662594" border="0" /></a><span style="">This morning, I had a treat. </span><span style="">As I was sitting at the </span><span style="">table, tapping away on the laptop finishing preparations for an presentation in the afternoon, a bobcat walked by an arm’s length away just outside the patio window! It walked through the back garden (English term ‘garden’, but actually desert flora and fauna), </span><span style="">jumped on a wall and walked along like any alley cat, then jumped into the neighbours front garden. Alas, I tried to talk a photo with my phone, but I hit the wrong button and missed it.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-58170762239133316662008-06-12T13:09:00.003+01:002008-12-10T02:02:38.587+00:00Symposium Wrap-up<b style=""><span style="">2008-06-12<br /></span></b><span style="">We’re up early this morning, getting ready to finish packing. We leave <st1:city st="on">Pasadena</st1:city> this morning to drive to <st1:city st="on">Fullerton</st1:city>, pick up Jessica, then make the almost 400 mile drive to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Mesa</st1:city></st1:place>. By 4.00pm this afternoon we should be stopping at Andrew’s workplace to meet him. We’re briefly meeting the owner (click <a href="http://www.groupimaging.com/">here</a> for the company) who’s helping us with some banners for <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Dickens</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Heath</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Village</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> and the<b style="">third</b>place. After that, we’re meeting a small group from Central Christian Church of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">East</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Valley </st1:placetype></st1:place><a href="http://my.cccev.com/">(</a><a href="http://my.cccev.com/">http://my.cccev.com</a><a href="http://my.cccev.com/">)</a> for dinner.</span><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">While my Fin</span><span style="">al Project Symposium is complete, the work is just beginning. My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">dea</span></span><span style=""><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">dline</span> for completing the 150 to 175 page final project is October 2010. This is where all the studying of the Doctor of Ministry (click <a href="http://www.fuller.edu/cll/dmin/">here</a>) comes together, and there are a number of intermediate deadlines to keep, the </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhrEslUyQZOZ2H-mzMc0J5l9Tuhhm5g9ktlJc9uagMs0ANiRccTVTBNm2E-Cu-AN7f1HsyAgbNxjr61o-PCQFv9fPPWhmZpW4VXcWk4mzWN16d4CQVA5MRZ0coljJSgz2DoqJVg/s1600-h/DMin+Paper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhrEslUyQZOZ2H-mzMc0J5l9Tuhhm5g9ktlJc9uagMs0ANiRccTVTBNm2E-Cu-AN7f1HsyAgbNxjr61o-PCQFv9fPPWhmZpW4VXcWk4mzWN16d4CQVA5MRZ0coljJSgz2DoqJVg/s200/DMin+Paper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210968258387718130" border="0" /></a><span style="">first being August 15 for submitting a draft final proposal for review, the next being 15 October for formal submission. While each class has had immediate personal application and in our church planting ministry in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the final project should have substantial application.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">I ha</span><span style=""><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ve</span> two topics in mind, and can’t yet settle on one or the other until I flesh them out further in the final project proposal format. Here’s what I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ve</span> come up with so far. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p></o:p>Possible Topic One: <i style="">A Strategy for Church Planter Assessment in the Fellowship of Churches of Christ in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>. </i>Thesis: The purpose of this ministry focus paper is to present an implementable plan for assessing potential church planters within the network of churches known as the Fellowship of Churches of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Possible Topic Two: <i style="">A Strategy for Planting a ‘<st1:placename st="on">Simple</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:placetype>’ Network in the West Midlands of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</i> Thesis: The purpose of this ministry focus paper is to present an implementable plan for planting a network of reproducing organic or home-based churches in the West Midlands of <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The first topic has to do with helping produce a more national strategy to support church planting by coming up with a range of assessment means that help potential church planters start planting churches. The second topic is more local, and has to do with establishing and growing the<b style="">third</b>place network.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-85501021876614064972008-06-11T06:45:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:38.745+00:00Sushi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzZoHiFVaRHBW0_4gXVYwGVXBEw3VapaSPqt17Qg9HWtniz_p-So0pa_PwhCeYQcbtB12o5Ls4ZdtQzk4yDSJ1pWqRcwRpc4o-YrmU3NUyt4KXm2Oia6BmwyTz-38yWfKb8GR2w/s1600-h/CIMG1000+cropped+%26+reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzZoHiFVaRHBW0_4gXVYwGVXBEw3VapaSPqt17Qg9HWtniz_p-So0pa_PwhCeYQcbtB12o5Ls4ZdtQzk4yDSJ1pWqRcwRpc4o-YrmU3NUyt4KXm2Oia6BmwyTz-38yWfKb8GR2w/s320/CIMG1000+cropped+%26+reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210501180177396498" border="0" /></a>I'm supposed to be writing my final project proposal, but an evening eating out with Jess and her friend Katie took priority. We went to my favourite eating place in Pasadena, A'Float Sushi. Well, maybe not my favourite place, but one I visit everytime we come here for one of my DMin classes. As for the Final Project Proposal, since I've been waking up at 2.00am every morning since coming to the States, I'll have a few hours to write before meeting with my small group for mutual encouragement and critiquing of what we've developed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-30324743697319214882008-06-10T14:58:00.003+01:002008-12-10T02:02:39.857+00:00Los Angeles<b style=""><span style="">2008-06-09</span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP5ZGPJ7mMb0R8dO0FLtF_ltPjgvVwv7sZAHGAecJt095uI9GhBbS1zZOhgL8v81v401YxLhAF9bcpD0hFLIpVk_iV_pVw0DveMUXWzSsDVVM-hrT3ak0ADi1bJ4SS_wea8MDjQ/s1600-h/IMAG0217+Cropped+%26+reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP5ZGPJ7mMb0R8dO0FLtF_ltPjgvVwv7sZAHGAecJt095uI9GhBbS1zZOhgL8v81v401YxLhAF9bcpD0hFLIpVk_iV_pVw0DveMUXWzSsDVVM-hrT3ak0ADi1bJ4SS_wea8MDjQ/s200/IMAG0217+Cropped+%26+reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210254120388017474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="">There is a reason we’re in LA apart from seeing Jess. Tim is</span><span style=""> attending a Final Project Symposium for his Doctor</span><span style=""> of Ministry (DMin) studies. This 2½ day course, led by Dr Peace, is designed to help</span><span style=""> Tim write a proposal for his Final</span><span style=""> Project. The proposal is a key piece in providing a focus for thought, research, and</span><span style=""> writing with specific ministry</span><span style=""> application in mind. While the final deadline is October 2010 (7 years from start to finish), staged deadlines of 15 August and 15 October of this year for approval of the proposal</span><span style=""> loom large. </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Dr Peace (click <a href="http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=1119">here</a> for a description of a book he's recently written and</span><span style=""> <a href="http://www.fuller.edu/provost/faculty/dbsearch/final_record.asp?id=67">here</a> for more info) is a delightful man, and has really set me at ease about the ‘doability’ of the proposal and the deadlines. Two new points of thinking about it gave me a feeling of relief. The first was that the final project proposal is a tool to progress my thought, research, and writing; that is, the finished product</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhTdx62tTYB96dvCIKJ5uUafvvbYeJ4eMf9LWE0LNxxJMZKpK809E3xs1ekBPg3y7WSOrrjd9p4rVOuexpZgTlqUM7-kbvu8zhY7i60WeltGIomlF-ZiIDS1l0Yj-m_mlSS25ag/s1600-h/IMAG0219.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhTdx62tTYB96dvCIKJ5uUafvvbYeJ4eMf9LWE0LNxxJMZKpK809E3xs1ekBPg3y7WSOrrjd9p4rVOuexpZgTlqUM7-kbvu8zhY7i60WeltGIomlF-ZiIDS1l0Yj-m_mlSS25ag/s200/IMAG0219.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210254127830669138" border="0" /></a><span style=""> isn’t hogtied to the proposal outline for the 125 to 175 page paper. Second, if I can think about the reading, reflection, and writing as a spiritual discipline that is integrated into my life over the next two years, it will go a long way to making steady progress and bringing it to completion.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span><b style=""><span style=""><o:p></o:p>2008-06-08</span></b><br /><span style="">Sunday afternoon and being reunited with Jessica was wonderful! We can see her growth and maturity i</span><span style="">n so many ways. She</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzulLh5LjJno2KyRpE2cklDxPMwApWYiZH7ZZahmxN_OvRTFOKZ_HGnI1LADjP20jAi-KzmioN3RiSi66IbDplxhHqDtQFyxndAXLYraxILOYcNEw6rpIFc9EfPh1z-VenT_T3kw/s1600-h/CIMG0998+cropped+%26+reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzulLh5LjJno2KyRpE2cklDxPMwApWYiZH7ZZahmxN_OvRTFOKZ_HGnI1LADjP20jAi-KzmioN3RiSi66IbDplxhHqDtQFyxndAXLYraxILOYcNEw6rpIFc9EfPh1z-VenT_T3kw/s200/CIMG0998+cropped+%26+reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210254105597329058" border="0" /></a><span style=""> finished </span><span style="">off the semester with top marks, working two part time jobs of 25 plus hours a week and </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn1Lp-XhhSJsSJY1lqKMPbvXjYQUyrPKsE1IlBxbxXUgQTqp-IHW4o5kM6v2IWk6LMH8wjrhHxCXEPXolIk_rQVZ_SLzww4wngaZc_cyYVI-pmogobCiHXAmquCq_jiZnhlTWUg/s1600-h/Jessica1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn1Lp-XhhSJsSJY1lqKMPbvXjYQUyrPKsE1IlBxbxXUgQTqp-IHW4o5kM6v2IWk6LMH8wjrhHxCXEPXolIk_rQVZ_SLzww4wngaZc_cyYVI-pmogobCiHXAmquCq_jiZnhlTWUg/s200/Jessica1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210318742300357234" border="0" /></a><span style="">carrying a 17 hour class load. She has a </span><span style="">variety </span><span style="">of friends (we had lunch with her and Crystal, Miki, </span><span style="">Danielle, and Cormack), and can navigate the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> freeways and traffic like an expert! She’s working full-time this summer in Investigations at Fullerton Police Dept as a police cadet, providing support to the detectives. Where did our little girl go?</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-48153073813794493252008-06-09T14:34:00.001+01:002008-12-10T02:02:40.510+00:00Early Morning Travel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54c2yZagmVbYeZuORHFo6imS3aic0Wksa3o1T99NqlX_VyGW8WWekpLFLzblA7okHX71QJnUl3OECLoMzSZXM4dWNV6BZbLDw9DpbsJ7PKf2ziH1H_8wzmYn2inpUYmw3KWxN-Q/s1600-h/CIMG0981+-+reduced+%26+Cropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54c2yZagmVbYeZuORHFo6imS3aic0Wksa3o1T99NqlX_VyGW8WWekpLFLzblA7okHX71QJnUl3OECLoMzSZXM4dWNV6BZbLDw9DpbsJ7PKf2ziH1H_8wzmYn2inpUYmw3KWxN-Q/s200/CIMG0981+-+reduced+%26+Cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209875161079596274" border="0" /></a><span style="">What were we thinking---getting up at 3.00am this morning to catch our morning flight out of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Eugene</st1:place></st1:city>? I guess booking with air miles didn’t leave us much choice, though it was originally scheduled for 8.00am departure instead of 6.00am. The flight changes are a reflection of the consolidation and shrinkage of the industry due to increased fuel costs. <o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsHHiWPWo1qHo5vKRFSJnWaQX6IqjEtVqbqu60ppi5Y7TyBpFeTUCrrER-Jvd-6Sn14CarhWeSwR5_SVgYYkS8vmhZTRv-oqEIHJZ6dFQnzA3SDPGKNuD939eo_QxhiyovRzdtg/s1600-h/CIMG0980+Cropped+and+Reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsHHiWPWo1qHo5vKRFSJnWaQX6IqjEtVqbqu60ppi5Y7TyBpFeTUCrrER-Jvd-6Sn14CarhWeSwR5_SVgYYkS8vmhZTRv-oqEIHJZ6dFQnzA3SDPGKNuD939eo_QxhiyovRzdtg/s200/CIMG0980+Cropped+and+Reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209875466716369362" border="0" /></a><span style="">We’ve had a great time the last couple of days. Tammy’s sister (Terry) and </span><span style="">husband (Rodney) came down from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Seattle</st1:place></st1:city> with Uncle Bud (Tam’s mum’s younger brother) on Friday afternoon. Sitting around the lounge and telling stories was wonderful! Saturday’s get together with Rick and Margie included a full telling of stories from University days, some of which are even true. Rick was part of our wedding party. Joyce also took part in our meals and memories as a family friend. Joyce made Tam’s dress, cake, and flower arrangement for our</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0plbho8hxQnJ8RUx_1IcUhkqMKRjeX-tCOZD6qaEzi5SGde4W5sweGuGUi1KWG5MnVz_Afh0cB_HZnW9jnV225nH0dDNwJN61LWZLJ8GhF5gz-5RIzjQ7YyKYVGj5UI9OmeAZg/s1600-h/CIMG0982+-+Cropped+%26+Reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0plbho8hxQnJ8RUx_1IcUhkqMKRjeX-tCOZD6qaEzi5SGde4W5sweGuGUi1KWG5MnVz_Afh0cB_HZnW9jnV225nH0dDNwJN61LWZLJ8GhF5gz-5RIzjQ7YyKYVGj5UI9OmeAZg/s200/CIMG0982+-+Cropped+%26+Reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209875701806172962" border="0" /></a><span style=""> wedding.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p></o:p>Speaking of which, we’ve finalised the travel details for Andrew and Jess, and we’re now beginning to plan a renewal of our wedding vows for our 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary later in the y</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dfabfh54n21A9-DZXwm3C6Ga9Nmqd82SS9uxrpmz8ax1WbG-h87hwTAj086fcGNUpgIc0vd9KroSgwb5lE2H22Trp8MNha9YFmtccYHTVW4qfbuLC03yHTAYs2mSyPwF3hsb-w/s1600-h/CIMG0979+Cropped+%26+Reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dfabfh54n21A9-DZXwm3C6Ga9Nmqd82SS9uxrpmz8ax1WbG-h87hwTAj086fcGNUpgIc0vd9KroSgwb5lE2H22Trp8MNha9YFmtccYHTVW4qfbuLC03yHTAYs2mSyPwF3hsb-w/s200/CIMG0979+Cropped+%26+Reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209875881766539954" border="0" /></a><span style="">ear. This will take place in England with our Dickens Heath Village Church and the<b style="">third</b>place family and friends, in December.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-43667306762553512872008-06-06T20:05:00.001+01:002008-12-10T02:02:40.905+00:00Birthday Greetings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oUaUDv-NtdN1SO5s2O1GiBvZM5-ZLwZWGyQ6PyEsGzN5yBXEhPpnxoItNKsdfmX7aG7QdL_0LRgNnprRrauZgflh39SgKi7ZXoOEq4NvfIjd5a800Kchya7lreROCeXOXUij1Q/s1600-h/CIMG0973+reduced+%26+cropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oUaUDv-NtdN1SO5s2O1GiBvZM5-ZLwZWGyQ6PyEsGzN5yBXEhPpnxoItNKsdfmX7aG7QdL_0LRgNnprRrauZgflh39SgKi7ZXoOEq4NvfIjd5a800Kchya7lreROCeXOXUij1Q/s200/CIMG0973+reduced+%26+cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208852613243735410" border="0" /></a>I've been overwhelmed by the number of facebook and e-mail notes I've had wishing me 'happy birthday.' Thanks to everyone who's sent me a note! It was a quiet day without anything special to note, which is quite OK with me. Both the kids remembered and phoned (well done Andrew and Jess!). Tam's still looking for a gift for me that's been on our american shopping list, but hasn't been able to locate it yet.<br /><br />Last Saturday, after the ice hockey game the Solihull Wolves played against the Coventry Chaos, H (yes, 'H' is what we call him;<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLcbHfCSEMV9sIqklCmEvXnUzqqH410m_Vss1ASnJJ6Fv9tXak31WqnvYoXauGBr9VJ69qrwqYFah3CHOfcuNDN6dPhzjwmV2ZaMfZFUBULIqC2Dq86ehrxxtT0ALAFI5o8Oxag/s1600-h/n798130612_3050838_457+cropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLcbHfCSEMV9sIqklCmEvXnUzqqH410m_Vss1ASnJJ6Fv9tXak31WqnvYoXauGBr9VJ69qrwqYFah3CHOfcuNDN6dPhzjwmV2ZaMfZFUBULIqC2Dq86ehrxxtT0ALAFI5o8Oxag/s200/n798130612_3050838_457+cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208852340790999826" border="0" /></a> don't chuckle, I'm called 'Ned' or 'Flanders' from the lads' belief that I resemble the character Ned Flanders from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Simpsons</span>!) had a special request. He wondered if I could find some peanut butter filled pretzels that he once enjoyed on a visit to America. Do you know, I have searched everywhere and can't find anything like this? America has everything but peanut butter filled pretzels! Maybe H will be happy with peanut butter filled cheeze crackers....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-5595382523357835542008-06-05T02:38:00.001+01:002008-12-10T02:02:41.550+00:00The America Trip Begins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpp_kMq1jjsrZ8Nn4wp376p46B7a364IZY6qZBuZNAnZrRpwObG3fWejR54RYmZu47ImxtBPMI5wqIuwuMb_X9Zh22dTsS9Lhpe3DbMkX7NQhox61Mkvf3sBcIZOxmlz9zU6Zr1g/s1600-h/CIMG0967+-+Reduced+%26+Cropped..jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpp_kMq1jjsrZ8Nn4wp376p46B7a364IZY6qZBuZNAnZrRpwObG3fWejR54RYmZu47ImxtBPMI5wqIuwuMb_X9Zh22dTsS9Lhpe3DbMkX7NQhox61Mkvf3sBcIZOxmlz9zU6Zr1g/s200/CIMG0967+-+Reduced+%26+Cropped..jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208208254236022322" border="0" /></a><b style=""><span style="">2008-06-04<o:p></o:p></span></b><span style=""><br />Mail awaited us upon our arrival in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> at Tammy’s mum’s. Notable was the Christmas gift we purchased for Tam’s mum. Jess hand carried it back to the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> after her Christmas holiday with us, then mailed it to Tam’s</span><span style=""> mum over 5 months ago. Thinking it was for us, she simply set it aside. We enjoyed watching her open the digital photo frame, then watch the several hundred photos cycle through that we had loaded on it. A birthday card also awaited me from my parents. Funny how such a card can sum up a person, and both Tam and I enjoyed a lengthy chuckle as a result.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtdp1dPnZpwROgB5xhb_zuOE8ZZzL5rmRe-TzWJHrwmxfs_mJMRwKFgOAP06VC-Vce0UJr1eyxElpvQDVUsUdrbSuBUb7_ICxAcHzcdo40gaS78EkT6Jm-DactdcfImZm2DOWVQ/s1600-h/CIMG0971+-+Reduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtdp1dPnZpwROgB5xhb_zuOE8ZZzL5rmRe-TzWJHrwmxfs_mJMRwKFgOAP06VC-Vce0UJr1eyxElpvQDVUsUdrbSuBUb7_ICxAcHzcdo40gaS78EkT6Jm-DactdcfImZm2DOWVQ/s320/CIMG0971+-+Reduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208207770299340866" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="">2008-06-03, evening<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><span style="">“We forgot to take photos!” That’s what I said to myself when I realized we had left an evening hosted by our friends Greg and Elvie for friends and supporters without visual reminders of our time together. While I lamented my lapse of memory for pics, I nevertheless gratefully</span><span style=""> praised God for the precious dozen present who represented significant input into our Christian formation. Greg took me under his wing some 25 years ago to co-teach a course on God’s incarnational mission to grasp people with his love for them. Along with his then wife, Arlene, they loved and encouraged early on as we prepared to move to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Several days before we moved to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>, we spent an evening with Greg and Arlene, Arlene’s last before being murdered the next morning. Some years later, after Greg married Elvie, we receive their mutual care and support.</span><span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Most of those present dated back to our days at University Street Christian Church in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Eugene</st1:place></st1:city>. Besides Greg and Elvie, there was Don and Dorothy, keen supporters of cross-cultural ministries such as ours. Paul and Jan, who influenced Tam long before she met Tim. Two of their children were in the youth group we led for a couple of years. One of them, Steve, died in a car accident on the day Tim was ordained at University Street (21 years ago almost to the day), and the events of that day still shape our view of ministry and service to others no matter what the circumstances. Ron and Jacqui (another daughter of Paul and Jan) were in attendance, long-time translators of the Bible in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I still remember meeting Ron at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Northwest</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Christian</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">College</st1:placename></st1:place> and seeing in him a kindred spirit of love for Jesus. Mayretta, Ron’s mum, who came to <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">University Street</st1:address></st1:street> our last year there before we moved to <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:state>. Dick, director of the Restoration Campus Ministry, a locally supported ministry to students at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Oregon</st1:placename></st1:place>, who baptised and married us in May and December 1983. Joanne, whose son was in our youth group, and had a riotous sense of humor. Oh, last, but not least, Bruce and Sally, with</span><span style=""> whom 11 of us (including Andrew and me) enjoyed a week of salmon fishing in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Alaska</st1:place></st1:state> in August 2006.<span style="color:red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Alas, no pictures, but burned in our hearts are images of these special friends who have loved us, believed in us, encouraged us, and modeled a love for Jesus that still spurs us on after all these years. Our hearts overflow with love and gratitude for you!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="">2008-06-03, morning<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><span style="">After getting a lift to LHR (Heathrow airport) by Richard, we spent the next 20 hours occupying chairs either in airports or on aircraft. Tam and I arrived at her mum's in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Eugene</st1:place></st1:city>, late in the evening. It was a long day of travel from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and it was wonderful to get here. I managed to get a meal in me, then retired to the settee to turn on the ice hockey game, which went into 3 overtimes before going to bed at what was the equivalent of </span><span style="">5.00am. A catnap or two in 24 hours isn't much, but while Tim did manage 8 hours sleep, Tam only got three. I'm feeling kind of tired now, and wouldn't be surprised to nod off while Tam and her mum are out shopping.<o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="">2008-06-01<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><span style="">After being with <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Dickens</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Heath</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Village</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> in the morning, we made our way to Leatherhead (inside the M25, SW of London) for a wonderful evening with our friends Richard, Marian, Laurence and Rosie. Tam and I were so excited to see them! Richard and Marian became part of DHVC in the early days after we had publicly launched the church plant, and Tim baptized Marian not long afterwards. Marian became Tam’s prayer and accountability partner, and it was a sad day when they moved to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city> with Richard’s employment. The last</span><span style=""> time we had talked to them was July of 2007 when we phoned them while driving past the St Louis arch---a city they had lived in for a couple of years with a previous job. It was amazing to see how the kids had grown in the 18 months since we had last got together. We rejoiced to see them. What we didn’t know, while we had been stateside, was that they were instrumental in hosting a home group that morphed into a church plant that recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. Well done Richard and Marian, and thank you for your example and faithfulness as apprentices to Jesus.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZH_8Es7RFKZARQxzc6RwTErod5o8BrVNTFmlC1CQ_Mlk0XFvl_0B6Nck0w7cuYqDo85o_9syDntOmbqWJ6tmAB-3j8AHJfrGaO9hYQgsM06u8PYzCYLklmDXYxdD0QMhwnOFwg/s1600-h/CIMG0966+-+Reduced+%26+Cropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZH_8Es7RFKZARQxzc6RwTErod5o8BrVNTFmlC1CQ_Mlk0XFvl_0B6Nck0w7cuYqDo85o_9syDntOmbqWJ6tmAB-3j8AHJfrGaO9hYQgsM06u8PYzCYLklmDXYxdD0QMhwnOFwg/s400/CIMG0966+-+Reduced+%26+Cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208208427174993986" border="0" /></a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-37349129381993577402008-05-24T20:28:00.001+01:002008-12-10T02:02:41.811+00:00Friends & Food & Faith<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKaYxrNtyeBLtTZNPbXLiZ7sdoQvN8i_H5bahLpggDVF7V3BtUrb3OqnrTpvUvzVW_rGK7PVoFS5s8Ku52kbYmRhz7DJPHN5v2rTkzH6CBEGVLgaDuI60_dSdbaZAiy3_yYDURw/s1600-h/IMAG0208.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKaYxrNtyeBLtTZNPbXLiZ7sdoQvN8i_H5bahLpggDVF7V3BtUrb3OqnrTpvUvzVW_rGK7PVoFS5s8Ku52kbYmRhz7DJPHN5v2rTkzH6CBEGVLgaDuI60_dSdbaZAiy3_yYDURw/s320/IMAG0208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204037612687457554" border="0" /></a>Anton and Sarah are wonderful friends. We've known them, along with their daughters Laura and Amy, a couple of years before the public launch of Dickens Heath Village Church. Anton is a sound and video expert, great at puns, and has named all the important bits of kit used for worship services (Daphne the Desk, for instance); he records and puts all the messages from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DHVC</span> on the church web site. Sarah has the gift of hospitality, hence our visit and meal with them tonight.<br /><br />I was really encouraged by our conversation, for two reasons. First, we talked about how important it is to not just discern God's voice in our circumstances, but have a posture of obedience just as Jesus did, who said 'I obey my Father so the world will know I love Him' (John 14.31, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">CEV</span>). Second, the crucial role of exercising trust in this obedience, learning to overcome our fears with a confidence that abandoning myself to God is the safest and most secure thing one can do.<br /><br />As Tam and made our way home, so that I could make a bid on an eBay auction (and win, YES!), I reflected on a verse from the New Testament book of Hebrews. I used to narrowly think of this verse as simply applying to entering a relationship with the Father, but actually, it describes the ongoing <span style="font-style: italic;">Kingdom of God</span> living one experiences in this relationship. 'Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because those who come to God must believe that He exists, and is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">rewarder</span> of those who diligently seek him' (Hebrews 11.6, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">NIV</span>).<br /><br />Thanks Sarah and Anton, for loving us, and showing us an example of loving God that we can follow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-12359935893762997612008-05-24T16:17:00.003+01:002008-12-10T02:02:42.443+00:00A Brief Visit to Prague<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKo2_ZxSI55_F5hgbY3eOzJajjB8nJ-IqDJjpZMFV2b8jeOjCKpXtiQI2RMgPhZWORmFGMiTD4daTVjZurocPMHmLedzx1xHMw1ztcDZP2WNDVttWvUgyM3cX3iAmLAogLuKFbw/s1600-h/IMG_5245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKo2_ZxSI55_F5hgbY3eOzJajjB8nJ-IqDJjpZMFV2b8jeOjCKpXtiQI2RMgPhZWORmFGMiTD4daTVjZurocPMHmLedzx1xHMw1ztcDZP2WNDVttWvUgyM3cX3iAmLAogLuKFbw/s400/IMG_5245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203966251805834482" border="0" /></a><br />A couple of weeks ago we managed a three day getaway to Prag<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeNm4o63sHSNgrhTE9m6Zm7p-Hodw7dmjI_nRFltrtr2MmI7zToke7XxD4HO_l8Qph4AVroSpvtoruc22MJPvpgboMO8PiVsWD8jcZmPZeKaSawuxxF7WqewevoOvawMfucXTHQ/s1600-h/CIMG0921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeNm4o63sHSNgrhTE9m6Zm7p-Hodw7dmjI_nRFltrtr2MmI7zToke7XxD4HO_l8Qph4AVroSpvtoruc22MJPvpgboMO8PiVsWD8jcZmPZeKaSawuxxF7WqewevoOvawMfucXTHQ/s320/CIMG0921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203966715662302466" border="0" /></a>ue. A couple from one of our supporting churches gifted us with some funds for use as we deemed fit. Tam did some digging around, and found some discount tickets. We traveled with our teammates Aaron and Diane.<br /><br />The weather was delightful, and the architecture and history was wonderful. We walked miles and miles. A couple of highlights include explaining to our walking tour guide the Pentecost stained glass window ("I've never heard such a thing" she said) and being sobered by the box of tefillim (Phylacteries) in the Spanish Synagogue collected before Jewish residents were shipped off to camps and executed. Of 83,000 Jews in the region, 77,000 were killed, and their names are inscribed on a wall of another synagogue close by.<br /><br />Our trip was another reminder of the kindness and generosity we receive that we do not deserve. We are grateful for the love so many show toward us!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-58404551938373745782008-04-09T11:14:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:42.802+00:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Launch of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Third Place</span><br />Six of us gathered on a Friday night at the beginning of March to 'soft' launch The Third Place home-based church. You can read more about it at <a href="http://thethirdplacenetwork.blogspot.com/">http://thethirdplacenetwork.blogspot.com/.</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Launch of The River</span><br />Along with Dan and Amy, we travelled to Gillingham in Kent to assist in the Easter Sunday launch of The River <a href="http://www.the-river.org.uk/">( http://www.the-river.org.uk/)</a>, led by Rob and Vicky who have vision and passion and dozen-strong team.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nathan Arrives</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDW8MCeAwm2QgiLJisS7gW3bo7fJXWI19vxlRYFJU8GbZJ_VN-tKA1dV3JXi5SNzpQBra1rcBOVRvu40FH45tdS-97Ps8kgizM5Nx85UBmUWACgHylAmsLbzVvFeh8drNzrGbi5Q/s1600-h/IMAG0098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDW8MCeAwm2QgiLJisS7gW3bo7fJXWI19vxlRYFJU8GbZJ_VN-tKA1dV3JXi5SNzpQBra1rcBOVRvu40FH45tdS-97Ps8kgizM5Nx85UBmUWACgHylAmsLbzVvFeh8drNzrGbi5Q/s200/IMAG0098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187191971066691554" border="0" /></a><br />Late last autumn a team of four arrived to begin Canvas, a new campus ministry to University Students here in Birmingham. Nathan, from one of our supporting churches in Virginia, arrived in March to join the team. Welcome Nathan!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">National Leaders Day</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb7B-UD9pd1G-71XlQgr_k27lO90hGt5eKPQjS50uOHqNo4QeJ-9z2KtKRkWVcX5jUADuuA4EXH4Wnqstfw_upgVp03rcn566gIBB7fKyoI1zHhRkEc5bSixUk4qN7a5nWe4yqg/s1600-h/CIMG0646.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb7B-UD9pd1G-71XlQgr_k27lO90hGt5eKPQjS50uOHqNo4QeJ-9z2KtKRkWVcX5jUADuuA4EXH4Wnqstfw_upgVp03rcn566gIBB7fKyoI1zHhRkEc5bSixUk4qN7a5nWe4yqg/s320/CIMG0646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187190953159442386" border="0" /></a><br />On 1 March Trinity Lane Church in Hinckley hosted over 50 leaders from the Fellowship. The day was called by the National Leadership Team of the FCC to reflect on where we've been as a network of churches, and where we're going. The sharing from churches was inspiring; the diversity of what churches are doing in difficult and challenging circumstances to live out Kingdom of God values and be missional was awesome. Feedback from the day was very positive and we're planning for a follow-up in the autumn.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-55808400980695548862008-01-31T18:47:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:02:43.143+00:00Back in the UK<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyra1UJPAKDx8q_KxOQtCDginMn126L0pDocw89NU9HjkOYRc7C9atbVH_-LTHR4aSVJc1aVUhzDLQXjntIdAiPY9C6KvoXkFtH4kvM-KHfE7d08rV8u2w00FL6ImhByBHrqlWw/s1600-h/DSC06212+reduced.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyra1UJPAKDx8q_KxOQtCDginMn126L0pDocw89NU9HjkOYRc7C9atbVH_-LTHR4aSVJc1aVUhzDLQXjntIdAiPY9C6KvoXkFtH4kvM-KHfE7d08rV8u2w00FL6ImhByBHrqlWw/s320/DSC06212+reduced.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161716219605654514" border="0" /></a>OK, 'back in the UK' is a bit stale. We've been back since the 11th of October! But back we are, and delighted to say so. After some time of rest and recovery from furlough (it took me almost a month before I really wanted to talk to people -- I was 'peopled out' from all our speaking engagements), some painting and decorating of the upstairs bedrooms, reconnecting with many people, it was suddenly Christmas and the kids had arrived.<br /><br />Andrew and Jess were here for 2 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively, and we had a great time. Their departure was sad, but signaled time to dig into some new projects. Our time prior to Christmas was essential for regaining a sense of the big picture of our work and ministry here, but now we're settling into new responsibilities and routines. In the days ahead I will tell you more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-44095451015355746632007-09-15T13:27:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:43.486+00:00Counting Down<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2HNzTibLtT85SDvY2a5dBPXANZZtY2GDnuB_BeoNmqdq5PzPtV8wyq5212rOtfbqqrbBGgVh6xhqpsBLT3UIIl8Gatg7r8AmDZCi1JToTm3rOSBw64pGB2CupepqcnKUoWQYpQ/s1600-h/P7280236.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110408764166790562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2HNzTibLtT85SDvY2a5dBPXANZZtY2GDnuB_BeoNmqdq5PzPtV8wyq5212rOtfbqqrbBGgVh6xhqpsBLT3UIIl8Gatg7r8AmDZCi1JToTm3rOSBw64pGB2CupepqcnKUoWQYpQ/s320/P7280236.JPG" border="0" /></a>Our return date to England draws ever closer. We've been settled into the Stafford, Virginia area for just over a week. Tim has a trip next week to Colorado for a church planters leaders retreat. Tam has a trip to Indianapolis the first week in October. And then just a few days later we're back in England!<br /><div></div><br /><div>What are we missing about England these days? Tam mentions our cats, our bed, and our furniture. Tim starts salivating, when asked, over thoughts of a Lamb Tikka Massala on the evening of our return. But both of us agree that some sense of routine and a return to our friends, where we can live out our call to help people walk in God’s ways, keeps us counting the days. <br /></div><br /><div>Where have we been recently? We did enjoy a brief trip to NYC at the end of July. Yes, food was involved, as you can see from the photo of Tim and Ruth enjoying some Malaysian fare. In the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgMc2CEBNfjHJJFCFaxsloopmDDvS3IUTja2MHD5nb4kx0xr0s6bBJAxU4_ugjNH2RLWH1U_a0OO1DUzSDGD2-YMBJE55YGql7_XDfbfFIeUoZcScDEc-jrm4nnEb_MUWuQjEAg/s1600-h/IMG_0008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110409464246459826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgMc2CEBNfjHJJFCFaxsloopmDDvS3IUTja2MHD5nb4kx0xr0s6bBJAxU4_ugjNH2RLWH1U_a0OO1DUzSDGD2-YMBJE55YGql7_XDfbfFIeUoZcScDEc-jrm4nnEb_MUWuQjEAg/s320/IMG_0008.jpg" border="0" /></a>middle of August, we were back in Newport News, Virginia for a conference, and saw our friend Teressa -- she's an amazing woman who along with her husband Donnie supports our ministry in England by selling her paintings. At the end of August, after leaving Peggy's 126 acre farm in Salem, Virginia we headed for Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. Our weekend in the Howard area was fantastic, and then we spent a couple of days in Kingston, NH with friends Doug and Sandi from our Oregon days some 22 years ago. Yes, Sandi, your cinnamon rolls are still the best in the world!</div><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-11132581909523963872007-07-12T01:50:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:43.731+00:00Road Weary<div>After 52 weeks stateside, we're now getting a bit road weary. The first week in July was our hardest week of travel, with a trip to Kansas and Nebraska from Virginia. We can now say we have logged about 31,245 miles by car (that's 600 miles per week), while having entered and exited 29 states. Fifty-four beds will have comforted our increasingly weary bodies, but only 1 pillow (we take our pillow with us where ever we travel!).<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5CogcRW5k_p997AsvSzypA0yUfRO9p5en9UXmYML1X58FnkIgN9eE2iZP7-2_WuzRUJf6C4mBhzCQV-n7xCLZ_-hkfhz8T_kTVhE4M_s9jRdNrbvlmA-J9yO0mIdWpoWYblXbg/s1600-h/Picture1.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086109624863609714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5CogcRW5k_p997AsvSzypA0yUfRO9p5en9UXmYML1X58FnkIgN9eE2iZP7-2_WuzRUJf6C4mBhzCQV-n7xCLZ_-hkfhz8T_kTVhE4M_s9jRdNrbvlmA-J9yO0mIdWpoWYblXbg/s320/Picture1.gif" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The good news is that our return to the UK is booked! We'll be counting down the 13 weeks remaining until our return to our own bed, our own stuff, our church family and many friends who we long to see and with whom we long to share how God has provided beyond what we could ask or imagine. But not yet.... We have a few more miles to go and more friends to see and more ministry assignments to complete. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqP7Epr-7TUx66pv4XCy1L_awaQHSsmUUfH8E3SkcqaUF20qzNzy2yZCjYlEs5uVWNy3p5Pux9mWsOPX5EpM8upGNdyE6yEVm4vONYLXqbzecRVSSMa3Egs9kQhdFqB0kYAGY9dw/s1600-h/Chambers+2007-06+-+CIMG0359+reduced+02.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086110183209358226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqP7Epr-7TUx66pv4XCy1L_awaQHSsmUUfH8E3SkcqaUF20qzNzy2yZCjYlEs5uVWNy3p5Pux9mWsOPX5EpM8upGNdyE6yEVm4vONYLXqbzecRVSSMa3Egs9kQhdFqB0kYAGY9dw/s320/Chambers+2007-06+-+CIMG0359+reduced+02.gif" border="0" /></a>One of our recent highlights was a 16 mile bicycle ride down the Virginia Creeper Trail with our long-time friends Ann and Paul. That's the longest we've biked in years, but fortunately it was all down hill. We rented bicycles from a company that took us to the top of Whitetop Mountain, and coasted most of the time. We even had a stop for lunch half-way down! </div><div><br />We're now in Salem, staying with our dear friend Peggy on her 126 acre farm. Yes, it is an absolutely delightful area. Like Abingdon, it's on the edge of the Appalachian Trail. The gentle mountains and ridges are full of wildlife. On the drive into Peggy's land, we saw a young two or three month old fawn. Within an hour of arrival, we watched wild turkeys cross a field. On the way out the next morning, we saw another yearling deer and rabbits. Tim is thrilled because there is grass to mow, and wood to cut with the chainsaw and split for the winter. </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-41413095673500750402007-05-19T15:32:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:44.284+00:00I can still remember Bob Hope specials where he would sing "Thanks for the memories..." On occasion, I’ll start to sing that tune or Barbara Streisand’s "Memories, like the corners of my mind, misty water-colored memories of the way we were." Inevitably, I’ll forget the words apart from the first two or three, and Tammy will beg me to give it up. Then she’ll go on to sing the correct lyrics in a much better manner than I can. Admittedly, Tam's voice is more pleasant than mine, but my version of the lyrics are funny...at least to me.<br /><br />Anyway, I’ve felt for a long time that family holidays are important bec<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzaFsmEK0CEf9fBE8w2Ji28sKyoKgybR_9MRHqtf0kkxvzfxH9DJlaEgtyGR3lAmyoOgDN2xcc4pCBVoClC2PaPv-_Li7p0kCI_kcJLjpfSPJd0OaTH-DRlAgJ7abvn0kC-5Lbw/s1600-h/Aho+Family+CIMG0290+-+reduced+and+cropped.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066280519797065074" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzaFsmEK0CEf9fBE8w2Ji28sKyoKgybR_9MRHqtf0kkxvzfxH9DJlaEgtyGR3lAmyoOgDN2xcc4pCBVoClC2PaPv-_Li7p0kCI_kcJLjpfSPJd0OaTH-DRlAgJ7abvn0kC-5Lbw/s320/Aho+Family+CIMG0290+-+reduced+and+cropped.jpg" border="0" /></a>ause they build important memories together and contribute to family bonding — even if the holiday doesn’t turn out as planned. A decade ago we had a great holiday to Scotland and the Isle of Skye; when we tried to repeat it the following year our car broke down in a campsite we had already visited, and it rained continuously on our too-small tent making it miserable for all of us.<br /><br />We still talk about it, just as we talk about visiting Longleat House and Safari Park during our first summer in England 13 years ago. When we repeated that visit a dozen years later, just before leaving the UK for our current stateside assignment, we remembered the first visit while making new memories to remember....such as Andrew screaming "Giraffes" and finally getting his skateboard, albeit in miniature. I’m chuckling and thankful even now for such memories and the family bonding we experienced.<br /><br />And so it was in Orlando last month when we met the kids there for a family holiday together. Whether it was the four of us crammed together (joined by Phill from England for one night) in a small hotel room with copious complaints of my snoring (replaced by Phill’s sonorous sounds for one night), or taking a group photograph around a bowl of fruit for our friend Vicki in Arizona, we built memories. And we bonded. And we were family. Together. And that too is a gift from God.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq5_Dw8lJMD8z5ZvZ-T2Y23o_0gl0JjxsgjRMOW8uQesGXiHMCRmsrzB7PfKl2nuqiAvoyS4wo5-oW3dhszb-NxPH7xWFFvyaQJIGmCgZmYzQOZk1XMqOtGS-oaKWf7mP9QPrHQ/s1600-h/u+street+youth+1984+cropped.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066280914934056322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq5_Dw8lJMD8z5ZvZ-T2Y23o_0gl0JjxsgjRMOW8uQesGXiHMCRmsrzB7PfKl2nuqiAvoyS4wo5-oW3dhszb-NxPH7xWFFvyaQJIGmCgZmYzQOZk1XMqOtGS-oaKWf7mP9QPrHQ/s320/u+street+youth+1984+cropped.jpg" border="0" /></a>Photographs bring pleasant memories too. I mentioned in an earlier blog seeing our friend Julie in Dallas, for the first time in 24 years, who was in our youth group in our home church in Eugene. She managed to dig up a photograph from some aged archive and shared it with us. I couldn’t dig all the names up from my memory banks, but some of the youth sure imprinted their mark on me. And maybe we did for them too.<br /><br />Such is our hope, and our thanks, for the memories.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-90630305876806063682007-04-09T23:48:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:44.365+00:00A Day Off<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBTo4zxg-rULhx0Ja5I9k1cEVixIHBKVVh-DjPMqyRjLCocSZUTykBd01Aw4l0PuB54Q0Yd0Hj3Ahm4cAJdGKTJVNqvKmp8yx3XBL7VBp5xIoXL0QVhKG39aiHBQsfflavv-r9w/s1600-h/CIMG0273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051569590748432738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBTo4zxg-rULhx0Ja5I9k1cEVixIHBKVVh-DjPMqyRjLCocSZUTykBd01Aw4l0PuB54Q0Yd0Hj3Ahm4cAJdGKTJVNqvKmp8yx3XBL7VBp5xIoXL0QVhKG39aiHBQsfflavv-r9w/s320/CIMG0273.JPG" border="0" /></a> How unusual these days, a day off! I managed to convince Tammy that since we were in an area of ports and navy bases, that a trip to the middle of Norfolk and the USS Wisconsin battleship. It was awesome to go on board. You get on free of charge, and there are volunteers all over the deck to tell you about the ship if you're willing to ask a question. You get on by entering through the Nauticus (<a href="http://www.nauticus.org/">http://www.nauticus.org/</a>), a building which houses a museum and cafe and so. <div><br /><div>The USS Wisconsin was worth seeing, as was the museum. You can find out more at these two sites:</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.usswisconsin.org/">http://www.usswisconsin.org/</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wisconsin_(BB-64">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wisconsin_(BB-64</a>)</li></ul><p>But if you decide to eat in the cafe there, expect chaos because ordering and paying are separate, and you might have to float a loan to pay for the meal because it was overpriced.</p><p>Awesome piece of military equipment, still in the reserve fleet, so no going inside. </p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-64114091193050270852007-03-28T20:28:00.000+01:002008-12-10T02:02:44.541+00:00Safe & Sound"Safe & Sound" aptly describes our arrival into Newport News last week. We arrived on 22 March with no problems en route from Mesa, Arizona. It was a long way, but ever so enjoyable because of the several dozen old friends we saw along the way.<br /><br />There were so many highlights! Julie, from our youth group in Oregon, who we hadn't seen for 24 years. Dan, who graduated from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">NCC</span> in Eugene with me in 1986, our first visit together in 20 years. Then there was Julie, whose family are friends of ours from University Street Christian Church days in Oregon, 22 years plus since our last seeing one another. And there was Mark, a classmate from high school we stopped and had coffee with in Birmingham, Alabama.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUalpS-Nv-5wZ9zfCx2df4FmlTuVoCkiw1sYPdlUKJbDMKjCGSe8y0GrYOiFPJRblx6oxHQyKo5Zg_gs1hAgaGHJgM2xFs-OfeoAWfbu8tTH-VChFCs1DO9MfN3NKfDx93WrgsA/s1600-h/crawfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047065562634251250" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUalpS-Nv-5wZ9zfCx2df4FmlTuVoCkiw1sYPdlUKJbDMKjCGSe8y0GrYOiFPJRblx6oxHQyKo5Zg_gs1hAgaGHJgM2xFs-OfeoAWfbu8tTH-VChFCs1DO9MfN3NKfDx93WrgsA/s320/crawfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Too many stories to tell, so I'll tell you about one of our favourite food experiences. At least, one of Tim's favourites!<br /><br />Prior to giving us a tour of New Orleans, the devastation, and the wonderful work being done by Journey Christian Church (<a href="http://www.journeyneworleans.com/">http://www.journeyneworleans.com/</a>) and Building Better Communities to help rebuild New Orleans (it will take a long time, 175,000 homes were destroyed, 300,000 people displaced or made homeless), Nathan Hawkins took us to a local seafood restaurant. There, Nathan and Tim devoured a pound of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cajun</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">crawfish</span> and a pound of boiled shrimp together. Tam declined and ate another Louisiana delicacy of red beans and rice. For more on the unique history of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">cajun living</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cajun</span> cooking, see <a href="http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~jmeaux/cajun.html">http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~jmeaux/cajun.html</a>, from which I borrowed this photo.<br /><br />Newport News is the locus of military bases, NASA, beaches, and the early history of the New World. In fact, April marks the 400<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> anniversary of the landing of those first 3 ships, and the founding of Jamestown. For lots more info, check out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Peninsula">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Peninsula</a>.<br /><br />Anyway, we're here for another few weeks. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Northside</span> Christian Church has generously provided <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">accommodation</span> for us that has a lounge, bedroom with a king-sized bed that's so big ("How big is it?") I have to use the cell-phone to ring Tammy to see if she's gone to bed at the same time I have. It's so big ("How big is it?"), that I have to use a GPS system to locate her for our last cuddle of the day. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">accommodation</span> also includes entry into the gym next door, so we're back to swimming (Tammy) and aerobic work and weights (Tim).<br /><br />Maybe I can work off a few of those 15 pounds I've gained since we've been stateside. Where are those <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">cajun</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">crawfish</span>, maybe I'll lift a few of those....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14986286.post-70700365917625778482007-03-03T00:26:00.000+00:002008-12-10T02:02:44.882+00:00Another Departure, More Goodbyes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqcm1N-NiadOJ3cFuUMHV608tGS4qZ_jEUyBGiBebJnZh8SnhQCB1lgss7BAaFUbcFL__JxYUjr0xf2RGRlk-4JeW3wGiLWvROBl2tz97f18Swwd_2ZGGan7LSsYHpXQDZmuG8g/s1600-h/CIMG0226.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037494612697604210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqcm1N-NiadOJ3cFuUMHV608tGS4qZ_jEUyBGiBebJnZh8SnhQCB1lgss7BAaFUbcFL__JxYUjr0xf2RGRlk-4JeW3wGiLWvROBl2tz97f18Swwd_2ZGGan7LSsYHpXQDZmuG8g/s320/CIMG0226.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>With less than 36 hours before departing Mesa for 6 months of highly nomadic life, I find myself reflecting on departures and goodbyes. Yesterday, Tam and I met with Neil, a friend and leader in the church here. We debriefed the previous 6 months of life and ministry we've experienced.<br /><br />It seems the nature of what we do involves loads of 'so good to see you again' and 'farewell.' It's bittersweet. We celebrate the embrace of friends old and new, then grieve the loss which distance brings to these relationships. It's one thing that makes me believe in heaven---the eternity of Kingdom living and the everlasting family meal we who are children of the King will enjoy. How could the relationships which have been forged not enrich us into eternity? </div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Anyway, we embark on the next stage of our stateside journey before we can return to England. This Sunday our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Olds</span> Silhouette van will be loaded up with all that can carry, and we'll make our way initially to Atlanta, Georgia for speaking appointments. En route we will see a couple of friends we've not seen in over 20 years! Again, we'll say 'great to see you' and then 'may God bless you and protect you until we meet again.' In Houston, we hope to see a cousin I've only ever met once. In Birmingham, and then in Atlanta, we'll see two families who lived in England and were part of the life of Dickens Heath Village Church. In northern Georgia, we're preparing to see a friend who was in our youth group in Oregon, and whom we've also not seen in at least 21 years. Along the way, we'll be in several churches, renewing old friendships and making new ones.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037493285552709730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GDOeFKe7Nl1MAiMp8ss4-Vi1vLjDAMtHXaxn7SdCxQr6coW5Jg5t-1h8mpV5H2CUR5f849RM-xFBfqrmuUuygYSq-AU_yICmoAXqJeJtncHPymT3dxjnJrl3H3QB4n-QeeSs_Q/s400/Mesa+to+Atlanta.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Does this make me sad? Yes. No. Not a chance. I think you know what I mean. My life continues to be enriched by the influence and treasure these people are to me, and even more surprising to me, the influence and treasure I am to them. Chances are, if you're reading this, you're one of them. Thanks for letting me love you, and thanks even more for loving me.</p><p>Until the next time I see you, an old Celtic blessing for you: </p><blockquote><p>May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. </p></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0