Learning from little children

I have been away for the weekend on alpha. A great time was had and I have in particular found a 4 year old who loves me (aaaah) - not my own child, someone else's!!! There were twelve children on this weekend, some children I knew and some guests' children. All were under 4 except two.

Impromptu worship and prayer broke out really. Amongst the children. I hadn't planned it - and most interestingly of all the child who had never been to church really started it all off by asking if we could do a particular song which I had taught on Friday night. It talks of God being our shield and protector as we lie down to sleep. She and her sister were transfixed by this song.

Children, I believe, are in the heart of God. His heart for them hasn't changed. Even if and when they decide to walk away from him, he still loves them. I think that's why the kingdom of God belongs to "such as these" and that's why they recognise him for who he is. There is a respect for the things of God in little children. They simply love him back. As Judith Gundry-Volf said (hey! I know more of Miroslav's wife's work than I know of Miroslav himself! Sisters UNITE!):

“Children are not mere ignoramuses in terms of spiritual insight in the Gospel tradition. They know Jesus’ true identity. They praise Him as the Son of David (Matthew 21:14-16). They have this knowledge from God and not from themselves and because they do, they are living manifestos to the source of all true knowledge about Christ as from God.”

Still Small Voices

I am writing an essay.
Bored.
Lonely.
Fed up.
Feeling a compulsion to vacuum/wash clothes/iron/tidy/clean cooker/sew/sort through cupboards..........

However, got a story today for Still Small Voices. Please do read it here.

P45 Part 2...........

God speaks to us in lots of different ways.

Following on from the last post, I received a telephone call yesterday afternoon, Sunday (yes, a phone call on a SUNDAY afternoon) from these people to ask me if I would undertake a short-term assignment for them........

I asked for more time to think about it............(note of explanation: I can do this work alongside my church job)

Undertake a short term assignment? Phone calls outside office hours? Can I have more time to think about it? This is becoming more and more like 24 all the time!!

THAT hair clip

Taaaaaaaaaa-daaaaaaaaaaa!

Hee hee :-)

24

I, our office manager and our administrator are SERIOUSLY obsessed by 24.
I'm on Series 4.
Office Manager is on Series 5.
Cupcake, I mean, Martha, has seen Series 4 but needs to catch up with my series 3 (she likes to be different)

We're finding ways of bringing Jack-Bauer-speak into the daily routine of office life.
I am finding my imagination is running riot.
* I could ask J to patch me through the coordinates of the family I've to visit.
* She and I decided my hairclip contains a secret recording device to actually prove once and for all Who IS Responsible For Our Church Website.
* We could request satellite realignment and thermal imaging of the south side of the city to track down the Senior Pastor's whereabouts
* just as we see someone return to church after a long absence, they will be bundled into a car and driven away at high speed, with a Pastoral Leader in hot pursuit to win them back to the family of God (successfully of course) .......

How else could the Christian Church benefit from a Jack Bauer? :-)
There's something of the Quosh-Injustice -Let's -Take-Action about him! He's a subversive!

Hot Fuzz

Went to see Hot Fuzz on Friday. I strongly recommend it!! There are some scenes of murderous carnage but it is tongue-in-cheek, laugh-out-loud humour with the gloriously talented Simon Pegg.

It's also a "who's who" of British comedy - I lost count after about twelve well known comic actors.

Spent a day at the chalk-face again today (English classes). I do enjoy this. I've blogged on this before, but nothing beats the banter in a staff room. Weird thing is walking the corridors and being tapped on the shoulder by some teenagers who are part of the church - they are shocked to see me out of context and I am shocked at physical contact by a teenager in a school tie. Actually, for tie - read "hoody".

Last week was a hard one - I used to love having meetings in my job because I work alone so often and now I don't as much because at the end I am reminded of (a) all the things I have forgotten to do prior to the meeting (b) all the things I now have to do arising out of the meeting! I am convinced that my ability to retain information is receding fast.......

Guilty Mother

Re: last post - I am a guilty mum. Mr Personality Force Ten was being pretty testing again and then I find out............he has septic tonsils ..........so I have had enforced time indoors. Been good though. We probably all have fond memories of being tucked by our mums in a blankie on the couch in front of the TV. Getting the antibiotic down the throat is another matter.....

However, it meant I could not go to an anti-Trident public meeting. I was going to meet up with some education colleagues and have a light refreshment afterwards.....but hopefully we can reschedule this for the coming week.

Took my mum to the ballet tonight for her birthday!!! My first ever outing to see men in tights! I really wasn't that keen on going but to my surprise I did enjoy it. The orchestra were superb and I found the music really moving.

And another social weekend - planning to see The Good Shepherd.