Stay Optimistic

Sometimes I blog cos there is something I really want to explore and blogging helps me deal with things. Sometimes I blog cos I'm doing something on a theme and trying to keep it up to date. Today I'm blogging cos I have some time and my current knitting project is out of my reach!

I've blogged before about clothing, and how linked to power and decisions it is. I got in trouble in the past week or so about clothing. I made a comment that was taken badly, and along with that, the general stress of church work and my passport being missing I've had a bit of a down week. I'm generally a bouncy person – it annoys boyfriend as I recover from arguments or upsets much quicker than he does, so it's always tricky when I can't shift out of a down couple of days. This weekend however has really cheered me up.

Firstly an old colleague came to visit, which meant I got late night chats and hugs at bed time.

Then we went to Youth Work Summit, an amazing day which has given me loads to reflect on, I caught up with old friends, and even made a new one who does a similar job to me locally – and we've agreed to meet up for coffee. By lunch time I was in a much better mood and that meant I got to engage much better with the worship later in the day.

Then this morning I was preaching. I wrote a brand new sermon last night, picking up on some of the things I'd heard during the day, and things I'd be pondering for a few weeks, and had a fab time this morning worshiping, questioning, praying, quizzing, and generally having fun in a pulpit (well lecturn but you know). After that the two preachers who were assessing my service said nice things, my words are much clearer and people engaged well with the whole service.

A few weeks ago now I was walking from my house to that of my parents and half way up the last bit of hill is this bench. I love positive graffiti. At that moment it gave me a real lift as, as you may know I'm not a fan of walking – or any exercise really. It's now the background of my work laptop.

I just want to say thanks to those of you who have helped to cheer me up, checked when my odd sock playing had dropped, sent me chocolate through the post, and to my Mum who was here to help when I found my passport – my leopard was looking after it. (I do realise I'm 25 and still have cuddly toys, that's ok!) Thank you my lovely friends who have all contributed to helping me stay optimistic. Let's see what the next week has in store.  

more coats and shoes - dressed for life

I started this blog on Thursday and was just going to write about it being Christian Aid week, but got distracted from blogging by Question Time Bingo, which was very fun and so have returned to it today and want to bring something of this morning's service in too.

This week has been very busy! Not as busy as it was meant to be as I missed Youth Work Summit yesterday as I needed a day to rest and stop being so ill – I’m a pathetic ill person but don’t worry I’m not going to blog about that again.

I drove over 500 miles in just over 24 hours Tuesday / Wednesday.

Did more job hunting stuff

Did my job – though that did mean I bumped into my favourite 2 year old for a kiss and a cuddle.

And did my Christian Aid week delivering and collecting.

Last year was the first time I'd been a collector for this brill charity, and I was really looking forward to it, getting to meet my neighbours. This year was just as fun, people knew when I knocked on their door what I was after which made things easier and only had one person challenge me on what Christian Aid do with the money – his plan was to (please excuse my English) “shoot the bloody dictators” to ensure the money got to the people who needed it.

I don’t have a tv in my bedroom. For this reason cos I’ve been feeling a bit ill and grumpy I’ve spent a lot of time this week in bed rather than in my living room, and therefore I’ve been listening to music rather than watching tv in the background. One of my favourite singers at the moment is Paul Bell and I have 2 of his cds – yeah I’m rather old school when it comes to music. One song that I’ve been reflecting on and I thought of during today’s service is ‘Same Planet, Different World’ I encourage you to listen to it here. Its like the #middleclasswoes on twitter.

Sometimes life feels like it’s just a bit much. We all go through different things, how can I really complain when there are people starving in Africa, or being burnt in acid baths for being witches.

The service today went on to talk about shoes. Someone before the service commented to their neighbour that someone had left their shoes in the middle of the front, something similar happened to me when I’d hung 3 coats on the pulpit, it all became clear later. In job hunting many people have come out with Christian Clichés about doors and in God’s time, and I thank you for trying, but I don’t need your pretty clichés (posh, pretty shoes that are not good when the going gets tough) – I need your time, and support and hugs (practical trainers). On my notice board I have a postcard that someone gave me a couple of years ago and they didn’t write anything but drew a heart and their name, and that means more to me. I was prophesied over at Soul Survior last summer and one of the people said they saw a picture of coats and how we have different coats for different times and seasons, ones that fit us and the situation we are in at that time. I know I'm in a time where I'm working out which coat I need next.

The line repeated by one preacher today (we had a rather ace double act and it was so great for lay and ordained people working together in harmony) was from the John 17 passage – Jesus prays ‘I am not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them.’

That's what I needed to hear today. Being a Christian isn’t about being wrapped up in bubble wrap, but about running the race, going for it. The example used was that of an egg and spoon race around the church, with people helping out by opening doors. God gives us the people to help out along the way.

My final thought ish – and I am about to stop promise cos I’ve just got onto page 2 of my word file, comes from Adrian Plass, he was given the phrase ‘Nothing is wasted.’ God uses everything we go through, the rubbish he turns into manure so we can grow further and better. He said he had to pass it on as he isn’t given anything from God for him to keep – now that is wisdom.

I’ve also recently been reflecting on the Covenant prayer a lot recently. In January when I said it everything I was doing was for God, working, looking after a homeless friend, local preaching. And now I’m job hunting, with the possibility of being jobless and having to move back in with my parents. And yeah it does worry me, but I don’t want a get me out of here card, I know that God will protect me, and use what happens to me, to further the work He does in me.

So again I pray the prayer of covenant.

‘I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you,
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you,
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.'

Youth Work Summit 2011/2012

Hello!

I've got a few posts in my drafts folder - feel a bit like services that I'm working over in my head but today I want to talk about an event I went to in October last year, and a bit about the next one!

So Youth Work Summit is an event like no other I've been to. It was described today as One big name, lots of little quality. The key note in 2011 was awesomes and even ended with us all disco dancing!!

This is my tweet from the day - "incredible day: laughed, nearly cried, worshiped, danced and caught up with friends, was challenged and inspired! just booked 2012"

Each speaker gets a maximum of 15 minutes to talk, one after another - its full on, but you don't have to make a decision about what to see and they are all brilliant, and if a topic doesn't float your boat then you can snooze for 10 mins till the next one, I didn't have this issue they were all brilliant and there was free starbucks coffee!

After the event I was sent an email asking if I would join a team of youth workers that the organisers run ideas past and see what we think. Today was the second webchat of that group and I now have a few more details I can share with you about the event in May in London.

Hot off the press!
Starbucks are providing free coffee again!!!
Patrick Regan, Harry Baker, Miriam Swaffield and Guvna B are all on the speaking line up
Mark Oestreicher is coming over this year and is going to do an early day!

Its sounding very exciting and is for all youth workers, youth leaders, interns, volunteers and staff.

So what are you waiting for if you buy a ticket to the 2012 Summit by Sunday 12th February and you'll get the Mark Yaconelli's Ignatian Retreat audio recording for free!!


See you there?