Tony & Thierry

Ecclesiastes 3 says that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. This chapter also says that ‘everything God does will endure forever. ‘

Last night I met with some young people in North Street to let them know that my ‘season’ as Youth Pastor there was coming to an end and that a ‘new season’ is in store for them and for me. This was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. I have no doubt that God’s timing is perfect and I have been so aware of His hand guiding me over these last few months, as I look back I have great hope and comfort in the fact that the things God has done will endure forever.

I also know that God is always at work and does not need me but has chosen me to join Him in the work He is doing. His work will continue and His Kingdom will come. It has been an unbelievable privilege to serve God in my home town and congregation, something I will always be grateful to God for and reflect upon. He is a faithful God who keeps His promises and a loving God who loves us unconditionally. “God did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers…” (Deut 7:7-8)

Being a Christian is about becoming a new creation and therefore change in the Christian life is inevitable, we don’t always like it but the change God brings about is always for our good.

Tony Blair and Thierry Henry also say goodbye this summer but I’m not replacing either of them! I’m going to Carnmoney Presbyterian in September to be their Youth Associate and am looking forward to a new season with a new team under the same God.

Cosmetic Surgery or Heart Surgery?

This week while I was re-reading some of Mark Driscoll’s book ‘Radical Reformission’ I came across this statement and it really resonated with me.
“Our heart is a rock band, and culture is a loudspeaker, and if we don’t like the music, spending lots of money to fund organisations to “fix” the speakers won’t change the tune.”
As a Christian youth worker I know the temptation to become obsessed with how individuals behave and to become preoccupied with what young people do rather than who they are. The prophet Jeremiah said that our hearts are deceitful above all things and David prays to God in the Psalms asking for a new/clean heart to be created within him and asking God to search his heart to see if there is any offensive way within him. I think Driscoll has reminded me and rebuked me to help me realise that I need to stress less about outward behaviour (which is only a symptom of the real problem) and focus more on matters of the heart. A determination to change our ways or behaviour is only really cosmetic surgery that changes outward appearance and leaves us internally in the same condition, while a new heart transforms our minds and makes us new creations and gives us new life. So I guess what I am trying to say is something that Rachael has been telling me for ages, I don’t need a new sound system I need a new music collection!

Inside Out

I bought a book last week called ‘Posers, Fakers and Wannabes” by Brennan Manning (not the turkey guy or the Mancunian comedian) but a Christian author who is brutally honest about how he has played at being a Christian and said the right things in Christian company. I am only one chapter into it and I completely identify with so much of what has been said. In August we will run our annual mission week and the theme is ‘Inside Out’. I hope that all of those who get involved will be changed by God from the Inside Out and that He will help us to pay attention to the life we live behind the scenes. I really want this to be a significant time for me and the young people I lead. Jesus called the Pharisees white washed tombs because they looked beautiful on the outside but on the inside they were full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. He tells His followers that the pure in heart will see God and maybe I don’t see God as much as I should because my heart isn’t as pure as it should be. I don’t want to be a poser, faker or wannabe! I want to be real and you know what? I think the people around us want us to be real too..

Me, My Life & I

Rather than making a significant dent in the work that is waiting for me or doing anything else productive I have just spent the last 10 minutes setting up this blog. I have nothing of any real interest to post right now but in the hope that life becomes a little more interesting I thought I would have a go at this blogging thing to see how it goes.. Irregular updates may follow!