The time is approaching. The inevitable is happening. Greenbelt is just five days away. I feel totally unprepared but totally in need of it.
Unprepared not only for the camp site (although the tent has been checked, and new gas, pots and pans procured) but unprepared for the experience. I guess that's one of the things that has always made Greenbelt unique for me. There is no way to prepare for the things you will experience, because you know that whatever happens you will be blown away.
I dare say that if the time comes when I know what to expect of Greenbelt, something will certainly have been lost.
This afternoon I watched a recording of the entire morning service from St Andrew's Soham, struck again by how crucial the local church can be at times of crisis, feeling deeply for the people there. It's not long since we in Liverpool faced the horrors Soham folk are now experiencing. James Bulger was taken from the shopping precinct where I and my colleagues bought our butties each day; he and his abductors walked past our office windows on that fateful journey while we were going about our routine tasks heedless of the drama unfolding outside. Imagine how we felt when we realised that.
Soham's clergy rightly focussed on the pastoral today - praying for the people in the darkness surrounding them, reminding them of all the love and prayerful support that people the world over were extending to them, encouraging them to support each other and look in hope to God.
But I couldn't help picking up on the vicar's repeated expression of disbelief that something so awful could happen "in a place like this". Sadly, it can, and does, happen in any place. The vicar read: 'It is what comes out of the heart that defiles a person', and that caused me to remember the phrase coined by Hannah Arendt, when reporting on the trial of war criminal Otto Adolf Eichmann, 'the banality of evil'. When she first set eyes on him she was struck by his ordinariness - he's "not even sinister," she said. "The deeds were monstrous, but the doer ... was quite ordinary, commonplace, and neither demonic nor monstrous."
It can happen in an ordinary place like Soham because people with evil intentions are unexceptional. I know that, because what comes out of my heart is often quite disturbing. It's only our being entangled with God's grace that teaches us restraint. The light that shines through this darkness, though, is that a community may respond to awful events by welling up with goodness, and it seems the people of Soham have done this today, in their solidarity and their prayerfulness.
He's a cheeky man, Martin Wroe. Today I relived the pleasure of his GB2000 conversation with Rowan Williams, the one in which Martin predicted that the next Archbishop of Canterbury would be a holy man, holy as indicated by the wearing of a large beard. Williams received this with generous good humour, as he did throughout an hour of quips from his irreverent interviewer.
Listening to this on in-car cassette, there were tears of joy in my eyes, literally and dangerously, in contraflow on the M62 as I relived the moment when Rowan was asked to justify theologically his admiration for the Simpsons: "Probably the best answer to that is 'Doh!'." The joy increased as I heard him mock himself and his position with comments about the 'interestingly-named' 'Primates meeting' - "social grooming, a competition for the position of dominant male". And my heart warmed at his passion for the church taking a proper position on the arms trade - describing the time a bishop told him a discussion on the subject in the Lords had been 'a good debate' Williams' response was to say that 'a good debate' was just not good enough - he's looking for "public anger" on the issue.
Thank God for Williams and Wroe today. The Williams who encouraged his GB audience to keep trying new ways of being church because the church's so-called 'timeless traditions' mainly originated between the 1890s and the 1950s; the Wroe who immediately jumped in by asking, "Is Graham Kendrick that old?" Anticipate with glee the opportunity to hear these two odd-God-bods again next weekend, by which time they may have revised their under-ten-words description of Christianity, which they were working on in 2000: Williams: "God's love and recreating power in Jesus are never exhausted"; Wroe: "We're all bastards but God loves us anyway - that's only eight."
I also cried with pride and joy when Everton came out today, for our one hundredth year in the top flight. That went deep; I think perhaps Williams and Wroe, though, go that little bit deeper.
.........have a good day and be beautiful for the next person you see
bhp
Met up with Dave today. He worked with me for 8 years and now it a Leader of a significant community and doing a great work. We meet up once a year for a catch up. He has been blessed like me by many Greenbelts and is ready for a feeding again. He is listening to old John Smith tapes as prep for the Festval. All that equips him to do a tough job. Kingdom stuff.
BBC came and did some shots in the YMCA today for about an hour. I remember the producer John when he filmed some stuff in the Rolling Magazine some years ago.He captured all the kissing games. "What are we missing? we are missing the kissing"....I used to shout. Those heady days ! They will have 5 crews at gb getting the festival.I would love the out-takes to see a non-telly flavour of our Festival.
And the day ended with me and Joan screaming at the tv as our team (St Helens Rugby League) thrashed Bradford Bulls.........what a wonderful day...................stay beautiful
pip@pipwilson.com
I sort of though there may be the odd reference to Elvis over the last few days, but as I can't spot one, thought I'd do one myself. Watched a programme about the Elvis Mafia, his "friends" who looked after his various whims. Interesting how everyone was overwhelmed with his generosity. Diamond rings, cars and even houses were not unusual gifts. It was a different story when talking about his drug fuelled life style. The only person to blame, apparently, was Elvis.
Of course, I wasn't there.
Another interesting "fact" was that the man who discovered his body (who is now a Christian) said that he was holding a book about Jesus when he found him. Is Elvis in Heaven? Now that would be something.
And now for something completely different. A joke I heard on the BBC mentioned with the current Roy Keane controversy.
Player to Referee: What would you do if I called you an idiot?
Referee: I'd send you off.
(Pause for thought)
Player: What would you do if I "thought" you were an idiot?
Referee: I suppose there would be nothing I could do about that.
(Pause for thought)
Player: Well, I think you’re an idiot!
The church hides itself too much; keeps its doors closed. I realised this a couple of weeks ago when the normally-shut doors of Holy Trinity were open one afternoon and at different times and for different reasons, people wandered in off the street, resulting in meaningful conversations that wouldn't otherwise have happened. So this week we deliberately set about opening for a while each day, putting inviting signs outside, welcoming passers-by. The response wasn't great but we'll keep doing it, so that word will get round that we're open. Eventually the visibility-factor of the place should increase; we'll become known as a place of welcome rather than that dark building hiding itself behind the gravestones on the short-cut to the park.
Visibility is easy on days like today. Wandering around the parish like a good traditional priest, stopping and chatting like it never seems possible to on dark winter days when the programme's so packed there's no time for God even in the C of E. Best bit for me so far today, a good half-hour outside my house with three local children who I'd never normally see to talk with. While I cleared the extensive weeds from the doorstep they set about removing the snails for me, a great help. Better still, maybe, to follow - a barbeque with colleagues this evening, usually a very enjoyable event. And I'm in the mood for walking there, two miles to St Clements' Toxteth, bottle in hand, smile in my eyes, visibly silly on a hot summer's night.
Tomorrow I head south for Greenbelt. Hence tonight has been spent frantically trying to get everything finished off, ready to leave.
Bags packed, boxes stacked, air-bed pump collected from friends, houseplants and garden watered, plums picked, emails sent, video set (last episode of 24!), fridge emptied, books selected, phone charged… what have I forgotten?
Ah yes… sleep.
Late night post - just wondering if anyone has read 'We've Got Blog' by Rebecca Blood. I've just ordered it from Amazon having spent a while on the Guardian weblog pages. I have to agree with them that Radhika's Journal is truly excellent; not least the current post about children and danger. Anyway - back to 'We've Got Blog' - I thought it could be a good discussion-starter at GB; I'll bring it with me to read while on the SOUL SPACE reception desk when it's quiet (ahemm...!)
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles
and misguided men.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
That just to prove it. I clock/click/kiss some daily inspiration from Vurch. Greenbelt will tap that spiritual power in a few days time .
Greenbelt saved mylife you know. As a Youth Worker doing an impossible job,for me, Greenbelt helped me to survive and work it out. Still-a-working it out.. When faced with tough kids and hard relationships and prayers that seem to be of no-avail all this Gospel stuff had to be culturally transposed into a tough context. The standard church speel did not meet me where I was/am. Greenbelt with it's radical edge helped me to think outside the box AND look in that box marked 'God'
No respose to the 5 Norwegians plea. Stink !
Got some nice pics on our website of all our internationals who are working with us at the ymca and will be evident at geebee. See:- www.romfordymca.org kiss 'International' kiss ' b-b-q 2002' and there they are .
Interviewed Christina from ymca of New York about 9/11. I will post it soon on the web-site (which has just gone PHP for the tech people......note ....it has been BHP for some time !!) She is a 4 year old Opera singer student and Volunteer. Wow do I want her to luurve Greenbelt. She will be able to see the POLISH drama/theatre group which will be performing IN NEW YORK ON 9/11. The world will see them then. You can see them on Saturday week and be ready for stinking drama !
Said goodbye to Eve today.She has been a cleaner at the ymca for 14 years and I love her. She got a massive cutlery set from the staff collection andthere was a gathering in the y's Diner for her AND a big fat cake ( my Suger Buster diet hit a weakspot today !)People like Eve make us tick. They not only keep the place clean but know everyone and speaks to everone of them too. No-one can go to the Gym without a warm hello. Christina said that was one of the differences in the nyc ymca and Romford ymca. It makes my soul to hear that.
Bed time........................yesh tesh sponyowee..............my bit of Polish to you.........
bhp
pip@pipwilson.com
Those bloggers deep into Greenbelt preparation 24/7, please forgive me:
today in about two hours I did most of my pre-festival work!! That involved
taking the wad of wristbands for the SOUL SPACE team which arrived from
Naomi today, popping them into jiffy bags, and nipping down to Penny Lane
Post Office to send them off.
SOUL SPACE is intense and challenging when it's up and running but at this
stage it's simply about making arrangements for meeting up. We turn the
Panoramic Restaurant into perhaps Greenbelt's only specifically quiet area,
with a prayer corner with cushions, candles, icons and incense, bookstalls
with spirituality titles for people to browse, and on the lower level, at
tables with an expansive view, we hold our half-hour conversations where a
steady stream of festival-goers take up the invitation to have someone hear
what they are going through, often about their prayer life, or God-life, or
a decision they face.
People wander in and out at all hours of the day and night just to see
what's up there, often just to gaze out across the festival (and at night,
watch the town lights and the star lit sky). Do visit us this year.
As the Festival draws closer, more e-mails get sent as final preparations continue. Such good souls as Gavin Hall, Nicky McGinty and Oliver Carruthers, in the Gb Office, have all been in contact. I'm helping Gavin run seminar tent 2, better known as the SMACKER venue over the Greenbelt weekend, and we're expecting some good stuff in there - including daily morning worship led by Andy Flannagan, and the Holy Joe's experience each night. Do come along, it'll be great to see you there!
As we consider risk assessments, safety, mics, OHPs and other stuff related to the venue, two singles are interesting me just now. Narcotic Thrust appear to have some interesting lyrics with, ' Safe From Harm ', and Pip recently mentioned N.E.R.D.'s, ' Rock Star ', on the Blog. Well, I recently received a surprise pressie from someone, and that was it - thank you...you know who you are!
...I sat down, early morning, to do my late night usual reflective blog .That was last night. I did it. You didn't get it. I lost the stinker after I had poured my soul into the keyboard and felt so sad and tired. So only me and the maker got that blog!!
It had been the funeral. Sad but good if you know what I mean? There can be bad funerals and good ones. This was good... 41... ex cop, ex CID, ex husband, ex Father, ex-George Best (you know what I mean) but, as the young man said who spoke at the service... he died at Peace with God.
And Santos came to see me. See www.romfordymca.org go to 'pearls of wilson' and click 'santos' for a pic and the poem he wrote from prison about his Mother who died. He told me that his little baby aged three weeks had died. He leaned in my face all the time as he told me. All the so sad details. So sad. So beautiful. So open. So much faith despite a real tough existance and hellish background. Bless him you prayers.
Tonight James Ghini (you yani personne ebooku) took me out for a curry. Yes he is a beautful human person. He has been living with us at the ymca for three years when he escaped the horrors of Kosovo. He could speak no english. Had no money, passport, hope. Now he is a man of deep Christian faith, a member of our Board of Management - my employer and a volunteer 'making' the ymca a more beautiful kingdom place. His dream is to start a ymca in his own land and live and learn. He still cannot leave the country with us on a project in September. He has been waiting for a year for the results of his immigration interview. Bless him... if you can spare a heaven directed plea.
Still not put much prep into geebee, even though the ymca is humming in anticpation. We will have about 40 there to catch the vision and input, like you, to the unique community!!!
I am up on Thursday and, leaving all behind, begin to journey down the enchanting, exciting Greenbelt yellow brick road. Even though I am involved... I know NOT the depths and delights which the festival brings.
Can anyone pick up 5 young Norwegian humans from Stanstead on Friday at 12.30pm and take to gb?
01708 766211 or pip@pipwilson.com
'du are et vokkart manaska'... which is Norwegian for
bhp
Watched the Canadian film 'The Grace of God' last night. It is an odd little
thing; basically the story of a man coming to terms with his sexuality, a
weave of homely anecdotes and cameos. Grace does seem to permeate it,
quietly. The best bit for me came at the end, the culmination of the
narrator's reflections on his relationship with his father. A misty shot of
a small boy playing beneath some wooden steps, follows the narrative, which
goes:
When I was about five I was playing in the back yard.
And my father was painting the stairs leading into the house.
And my mother called me in for lunch.
And I go to the bottom of the stairs,
And my father says that we can't step on them.
And I am baffled. I mean - how are we ever going to get into the house?
I mean - this is a major crisis.
And he says, well, you know, close your eyes and I'll show you.
So I closed my eyes and he picked me up -
And he LIFTED me over the stairs, into the kitchen.
And I just turned and for a moment
My father had become God.
Most mornings I will pray to God, to give me opportunities to witness to His Son. When you pray, God does answer - which can be scary, because it means that I then have to speak up when they arise, sometimes in unenviable situations!
This week I prayed specifically that, still new to my job I would witness to five people at least, that I havn't witnessed to before. I entered the large Office Block and one of the temps on my floor had forgotten his work pass, and so I signed him in at reception. Going up in the lift and still talking, the conversation moved very nicely on to me replying to a question with, " the Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival ", and we carried on.... I'd sort of, witnessed before I'd even reached my desk.
Other opportunities have duly cropped up since, and yesterday my letter was printed in our latest Union magazine. Mine was a response to the interest shown in the new Christian Union posters that I designed and have been put up all around the place. More than fifty posters went up strategically in three lots, featuring a fashionable bright-orange design that gradually, teasingly revealed our CU details and the legend, " ...Jesus loves you more than you will know ", to much comment from collegues.
The magazine has a circulation of 1,140, so even if only half of them read my letter, and they will, my witness this week will be somewhere closer to 500!!! Amen!!!
After 21 years of Greenbelt as it should be experienced, that is to say, by sleeping on one of the following…blow up bed…camp bed…foam mat…tent floor…phone box (I kid you not)…this year the family will be experiencing the cheat of Greenbelt cheats, a caravan (although actually a hotel would probably the best cheat – it doesn’t count as there are none on site). How will this luxury affect my Greenbelt experience? I can’t wait to find out.
By the power of friendsreunited.co.uk I have recently got in touch with Rebecca, an old friend who was a fellow Greenbelter. I only mention this cause I promised I’d give her a mention. Come on Rebecca…GREENBELT NEEDS YOU…or should that be…YOU NEED GREENBELT!!!!
Today I tried to help a couple contemplating marriage find a way through various churchy barriers, wielded a pickaxe to try to get through some concrete in the graveyard ahead of tomorrow's burial, began to think about Sunday's sermon, mucked about with my new website and made plans to meet friends at Greenbelt. I also completed a questionnaire about my membership of the Iona Community, for someone researching a dissertation in social anthropology, with a focus on the "Iona experience".
I owe my Iona experience to Greenbelt, where in the mid-1980s I first encountered the Community's rootsy worship. And then in 1992 I went on the first Greenbelt 'pilgrimage' to Iona, instantly loved the beauty of the place and was deeply moved by the 'integrated' worship and vision, because it brought together many strands in my life previously disassociated - spirituality and justice, work and worship etc - and so creatively.
Over the subsequent decade I committed myself to the Community's 'rule' - of prayer and bible study, accounting to other members for my use of time, money and action for justice and peace, and meeting together regularly. It's a source of strength for me, at times a struggle, and at other times - you guessed it - yet another kiss of life.
OK, back by popular demand (I so wish I was kidding about that, but I actually have had requests – weird!).
Apart from the extra porta-loos we provide each year there are 25 gents WCs and 76 ladies WCs at the racecourse.
The Event Safety Guide states that for a festival our size there should be provided:
15 Gents WCs and 75 Female WCs (more than 6 hours duration).
25 is a number greater than 15 and 76 is a number greater than 75 (just). This too is all good.
Oh and I think they mean if the festival is longer than 6 hours rather than the average toilet visit…
As I wandered the aisles of the camping shop this lunchtime I started to wonder if all the stuff was going to fit in and on the car.
Since I returned to Gb in 2000 after paternity leave (12 years) I started in a borrowed two man tent with just my son and no cooking equipment.
Now this year I will be coming with a palatial four man tent for the two kids as well as a three man jobbie for yours truly, a two man tent for a GB speaker, a coffee table for the Pulse Venue as well as 5 Gazebos for GB forum purposes. I will also have a table and chairs for eating etc, parasol, inflatable lilos, wind break inflatable armchair couple of other chairs and stove and gas. And that is without the clothing etc. thought this camping lark was supposed to be simple! I wonder if there is any software that tells one how to pack everything in the car?
In 2000 I didn't cook at all, breakfasted at Mackie D's, and ate in the village most times, even complained and took stuff back to the japanese noodle stall... that was not tempura!
last year I cooked only breakfast and the kids enjoyed pot noodle most evenings. This year I am determined to cook much more and avoid the GB village comestibles as much as possible. As a food lover most of it is not very good and very pricey, but hey even I get tempted occasionally.
Must away to produce some more posters for the Pulse Venue and other things.
Blessings and shalom
Roger
Only 4 more working days to go till I arrive Tuesday early AM
I wonder if there is a
A brief weekend!
FRIDAY and I helped out as usual at Bar 'n' Bus, the Christian Drop-In Centre in Southend...full team of vols, over 50 teenagers, able to go out on the Seafront and hand out invites to the gig that we were hosting, with the group Taste, that night. Lots of prayer-walking and eventually got talking to an old drunk and to a biker from their cafe, almost next to us.
SATURDAY and visited three elderly people...no response from one...which gave me more time to spend with the other two, one of whom lives in a Home and eventually, following the monsoon that morning, I was able to take her out in the glorious sunshine in a wheelchair. Ruth doesn't get out much, so she enjoyed stopping outside the nearby Methodist Church and looking at the Noticeboard ; going past the park - a stray football came bouncing our way, and I had great pleasure in volleying it back! ( easily pleased... ) before looking up at the Tower Blocks and counting the number of floors there were - trees and council flats become fascinating when you're housebound ; and stopping outside the newsagents' whilst I bought her an Ice-cream. Then it was back in time for her tea!
SUNDAY and our old Minister came back to preach both morning and evening...and where I welcomed Ashley and Richard. See my previous but one Blog. Lots of other stuff too!
Hi all.
Thought I would add a steward's voice to this Blog thing!
Starting to prepare for this year's festival. Must try to find time to buy a new tent at some point in the next week or so, or things might get a bit cold. Also find other important things like torch, MUG, yellow jacket etc!
Getting excited now about being back in Cheltenham once again with the fantastic bunch of people that are the Stewards..... only 8 days to go, and counting!!!!!!!!!
....just back from a pint in the pub,a few txt msgs to my beautiful daughters in Majorca on the train home and before that a GREENBELT BOARD MEETING.The last before the big Feast..Hey hey !!!
Believe me the programme and the printed one looks fantabulasio......plain words won't fit the feel. hey hey.
Well today I met the funder prospect!Just want a two year salary and the add-on costs. We need it and the people we work with are despirate for a lover human.The unconditional type. Many of the others have let them down with a bump and a hurt in multiplication.
The geezer was slow but got there. Was impressed and.....you know what got him? It was the vibe.The climate. That thing you cannot see but you can feel it and almost cut it with a knife. Bless him and bless us I hope with the dosh !!
Just got an eMail from a Greenbelter in Norway called Torgrim. A U2 friend. A YMCA friend. A Greenbelt friend. He is a TV producer in Norway and his misis is a news presenter. He is on board for a big ymca Festival in Prague 2003 see www.2003.eay.org he will do the vids/zootv thing and I will do the Late Show and there will be 8000 there. Planners and organizers will be ar geebee as we are model........slight difference will be that all I say will be translated into Russian !!
I am off to bed....in about an hour. Funeral tomorrow. Busy times....always. Trying to stay whole....or on the journey in that direction
You are..............ti prekashy chelovek.....which is Russian for............
bhp
Not sure what I am doing here cos I got this invite to Blog , so here goes:
Gb for me goes back more than 25 years but recently just 3.
I will be working in the Pulse Venue so of course there will be lots of prep work beforehand
Today I received a T shirt proto type .. its great just fits a Teddy bear that resides above our bed.
Slowly getting all the necessary bits and bobs together for the campsite... flagpole, marquis roaring log fire ( joking) and also laminatining various posters
for the site, mainly to advertise the PULSE ( agencies venue) and my own agency. but also various comedic ( supposedly)
items.. homer J simpson est moi!!
Has anyone ever sat down and written out the necessary stuff required for GB? Take the Sunday AM service... what do we need for that?
If we bring too little what will folk think? too much and we are showing off.. for me I always bring for me and as many others as are in the party plus one or two... I over prepare, who cares what folk think, I know Jesus worried little on that front.
Last year's communion was great, not many folk availed themselves of the alfalfa salad that some guy had brought, but there was more than enough for all, ginger biscuits bread, wine and dried apricots and boy did I enjoy playing percussion on the 3 ft tall ashtray. Definately looking forward to it again... must remember to bring the yellow tambourine this time.
Tomorrow is another day so thats it I need a reservoir of sleep to deal with the deprivations of the coming bank holiday... the prep starts now.
Blessings and shalom
Roger
A day for rooting down and strengthening. That means revisiting old,
familar, favourite people and places. They included Liverpool Central
Library, one of the city's spectacular Edwardian monoliths, today busy with
a summertime mix of visitors.
Then, onto Liverpool's Cathedral of Football - Goodison Park, of course.
Gentle pre-season buzz around the ground and in the club shop, anticipating
the new kit and snapping up end-of-line bargains. I got a tshirt for £6; no
doubt I'll be wearing it on GB Saturday (to shake hands with Sunderland
fans).
And finally, to my parents' for a bite to eat and a little time on the
seafront promenade at the bottom of their road. Very clear view over the
Irish Sea to the Snowdonia hills today. I grew up here, and remain
fascinated by this scene as it changes through the seasons, as so many other
people are. I wrote a poem about it once; it remains a favourite:
And they have all walked by the genius sea:
Old men and bad men
Travellers and typists
Middle-aged women with varicose legs
And they have understood the tides of eternity:
Grubby boys and big boys
Plimsoll-clad runners
Flaxen-haired girls with love on their minds
And they have been anointed by the damp salt wind:
Vicars and sailors
Paupers and prisoners
Singers and salesmen with stories to tell
And they have all praised the glittering horizon:
Communists and cripples
Lunatics and lovely girls
Busty young wives with wombsfull of life
Old soldiers, young cousins,
Divorcees with dogs:
The tides of eternity have all called out to them
And they have all walked by the genius sea.
Five more things that Jesus never said :
1. Thunderbolts and lightening, very very frightening... -God.
2. Seeing Is Believing.
3. Do as I say, not as I do.
4. You must be bored again.
5. Don't worry, 'bout a t'ing/ ' Cos every little t'ing's/ Gonna be alright...
( can we expect something similar from Messrs. Joseph and Robinson at Greenbelt again, this year? )
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had some “proper” bad news from people I know connected with Greenbelt. It’s not the place to relate this info but it has made me realise (even more) how dear I hold those relationships. Once a year, but how empty life could be without them.
People often say Greenbelt is like their Church or their family.
True.
On a lighter note, for the first time in seventeen or eighteen years the home for the festival opening night, pant shaking, boogieing and retro self-indulgence that is known as the Blues Jam will be on the Bandstand not in STAGE 2. As some of the STAGE 2 crew will be playing I will need to have a crafty swap round on the rotas to make sure I can make it. It may not be fashionable but the kids still love it and somehow Greenbelt wouldn’t be the same without my first song of the festival being All Right Now!
Previously I said my newly designed website wasn't online yet. Well, it is
now, surprisingly soon after getting back from church (having foregone lunch
to get it there: a sign of temporary madness perhaps). I've called it John Davies - notes from a small curate. It's a modest thing. No comparison to Pip's. You
may like to look at it sometime and share your thoughts.
Meanwhile back in the physical world, I will eat now, I promise. And also
bake a loaf because at tonight's healing service I'll be inviting people to
reflect on 'I am the bread of life'. Baking bake a loaf should get me in the
mood, and also give me something to share around during the service. An
afternoon of yeastiness. Yum.
We have two big Metal signs in the entrance of the YMCA.Good quality,fits mission,image of one is of a young disabled man called Richard who died two years ago and his parents agreed we could display the postive picture of him there forever. On the other side is a picture like the other,about 5 foot sq, with the image of a black young woman. Tonight four young humans,who God loves,stopped their car on the busy main road and sprayed all over her face. "DEC SNIF" I guess it is National Front, if anyone can advise me.? Not so long ago the same sign had NF scratched all over her face. When I first came here my car was spray painted with big NF letters. My-o-my. How sad the souls of such people. For many years of my life,no all forty years nearly, I have worked with young humans with behaviour that leaves a taste in my mouth and between my lips and in my prayers. And I still hate it. Yet I believe in loving the sinner and not the sin
Was the Chapel at the YMCA tonight.About 20 of us at 8pm. Lots ,most, are simply 'unchurched' to say the least. Here they come sitting in a circle and giving me the respect to listen a little and talk a lot. If you missed my last blog--one person had died since I last did the group and one has been stabbed,this week.
We did some fantastic sharing. One young man shared straight away that his aunt had died of cancer on Tuesday of this week.. Others sharing real feelings in the context of the theme 'know yourself'. The faith thing being about maturing in wholeness while,at the same time,God loving us 100% That led to 'love yourself' and taking note that God does that very thing. The prayer requests were fantasticly real.We do not need TV soaps.
Bless these beautiful humans who are,so many, going throught tough,meaningless,great steps of insecurity to security,searching,emotionally deprived times................bless bless bless and Lord have mercy on us all.
Got a prospective funder tomorrow a.m. I would much rather spend time with the group. Wish-- wish he had been here tonight.
Got the final pre-festival gb board also Monday night.
Got a busy day also through the day.
I didn't use this quote tonight in chapel....but it has been stuck on my computor for a long time and SO you get it!
"The desire of the soul to unite with the conciousness and forge an indivisible and creative personality is the most powerful urge within us.On this level,the urge toward wholeness and the urge to find God are identical"
I will introduce you to some of the folk at Greenbelt.
" te ce pracrasin chovek"........to you, which is Bulgarian for..................
bhp