Things to Look Out For

So I better look to get this book then!

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd

Playing Out Of Position - Part Two

Reading, I love it. I was sitting down the other day in one of those neat straw made deals in a conservatory in Salford and for the best part of an hour or so I was just chilling and reading the Michael Foot biography. Kenneth O. Morgan (I wonder if he get upset if we miss that crucial O.) did a fantastic job on the book in making it engrossing reading, I hope I get round to doing a review of it when I’ve finished it.

So whilst I was on the throne recently and had an opportunity to read more about Foot it reminded me of a text I’d sent to a dear friend of mine. By the way as a small diversion, isn’t it a privilege to have dear friends, you know the sort to whom there is a connection and a repartee on a given subject. I love those kind of dear friends. I haven’t always had them and I thought my brother would be the only one at one stage, but God in His kindness allowed me to link with some others, really nice of Him.

Anyway, so I text this dear friend earlier before my stint on the throne and I said to the friend that Foot was the right man at the wrong place at the wrong time. In fact what I should have said was that Foot was a good man in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is no era in the 20^th Century or any stage of the Labour movement when that brother would have been the right leader. Sure things may have been worse if Healey or Shore had taken over in 1980, but seriously what kind of message are you sending in letting a scruffy, old, rhetorician anywhere near the keys to power?

As I reigned on the throne, however, I saw that point as the ideal way to get us back on where we were and the links between part one of this two part series. Quick recap – we can play players in their best positions and hope for the best, or we can have a system for which we select certain players at certain times even if it’s not playing the brother at his best position. We linked that with the current Liverpool malaise and the less we say about that the better.

So here’s the link. As you may recall back in April I made a Statement of Intent which was basically reiterating a phrase I’d come across at the beginning of 2009 – In my element for my season. Rooted in Psalm 1:3 this was all about a renewed commitment to being planted exactly where God wants me to be physically, socially, spiritually, vocationally, relationally, etc. etc. Making the statement is one thing, living up to it is another thing. Uncovering what that costs is an even more tricky thing when we consider it in greater detail. As I have discovered and continue to discover this can be a very costly business.

It’s costly, but it is worthwhile and here’s my contention on the issue. I’m sure some people are predestined to be misfits and malcontents – their role in the larger scheme of things is to make people uncomfortable by asking awkward questions in awkward ways and appear somewhat on the fringes of the mainstream. Thankfully God gives us biblical dudes who fit that bill like Elijah and John D. Baptist (is it the only biblically acceptable denomination? You decide. OK actually God does, but you can have a good guess, as a hint it doesn’t start with ‘y’).

This calling, though, is pretty specific though and you’ve got to be very well equipped emotionally, mentally and relationally to deal with the flack, rejection and abuse that comes with it. In a very real way you have to be designed for the task. That leads neatly into another underpinning scripture behind the desire not to see people play life out of position. Ephesians is a book in the bible worth serious study – when you’ve read it once, read it again and then one more time to even begin to comprehend what on earth Paul is saying and its vast implications. One little verse in there gets to the heart of what I’m all about with the playing in position deal.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

First thing that I notice about this is that it is not an individual call – it relates to a corporate call to be about the business for which we’ve been made. Implicit within this and to further explained later on in the letter if the corporate is going to be effective in getting on with its business, the individual parts need to be in their place functioning as they need to function. Or as Paul puts it

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15, 16 emphasis added)

Now for each part to be working properly and with the recognition that we’re different parts of the growing organism there is great importance on discovering what our place is. That discovery process is not superficial but gets to the core of who we are as defined by God not by personal experience, friends, family, denomination, etc. although these can contribute to the process.

The deal then is about going back to the Coach to discover what our best position is, because He would have the best idea of where we fit in the team. Everyone wants to play up front and hog the headlines, but thankfully the Coach knows best. He plays us in different positions, sure, but He knows that you’re a right back or a left winger or a tough tackling midfielder or a commanding defender or a creative maestro just behind the front two, or the goal-poacher.

He knows and once you know He knows and He lets you know then not only do you find out but on playing in that position you feel at your best. Each position requires discipline and an understanding of what the position demands, but these demands are not imprisoning and confining, indeed these are Garden of Eden opportunities where you can eat the fruit of any tree – you get to enjoy all the garden and then discover that it contributes to others also being released to do what they’re called to do. Before you know it, everyone is in their place, everyone functions out of love and joy in Christ rather than dictation or obligation. Then you’re pinging the ball around and playing the lovely football of life enjoying sharing and serving each other, setting each other up for goal scoring opportunities whilst covering for each other to prevent break-aways.

It’s a joy. It’s a delight. It’s a pleasure. It’s an honour. It is no longer mind-less routine or ritual. It is no longer drudgery or confusing hypocrisy as you kid yourself with the fake-it-till-you-make-it psychology. It is being in your best position and enjoying Christ in it. It is then having an impact on the lives of others by doing that.

I am convinced in my brief time on planet earth that far too many people … far too many Christians … far too many eager well-meaning followers of Christ are playing out of position. Far too many accept their circumstances, background, institutional and inhibitive or deceptive doctrinal demands from work, home and church without any consideration to where God actually has placed them to be as His workmanship.

I know only too well how soul-destroying it can be. I know only too well how real it seems at the time and how it appears to be all there is your life and it’s a status quo you can live with, when in actuality it takes the love of God to break through to help you move on with your life to be rooted and grounded in Him. I know only too well how miserable and unfulfilled and unfruitful this kind of living can be. So it’s no surprise that I have a desperate desire to see people awake to who they are in Christ and then join Him in the steps towards real freedom, real service, abundant living by fruitful serving by the character of Christ being formed in us.

It’s not a utopia that gives us our selfish gratifications, but it is a real godly Kingdom in which who we really are becomes further revealed in us as we give our lives completely to Him. That won’t necessarily help Liverpool win the Premier League, but it will certainly help followers of Christ to enjoy the Kingdom that we’ve been translated into.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

September Update

Do you think I enjoy these gaps? Really? I mean back in the day when I wasn’t so fussed about getting stuff done on the blog it wasn’t such an issue. Now, in the light of a good run in July and August I was all set for September to continue the trend. Yet with a number of pressing assignments and engagements I’ve not even had the opportunity to make as many notes as I’ve been used to making anyway.

With that in mind there have been a few thoughts brewing to blog about. There were some that I could have considered blogging about like – what is the difference between Christians and non-Christians in an age where the behaviour of both doesn’t differ that much? What would a church look like if people knew what it was to be submissive to each other? How has America affected the way we live?

I finished reading the Diana Ross biography on Friday and it made for fascinating reading. Today in fact I was all caught up her most memorable song of my lifetime; the Barry Gibb inspired Chain Reaction. I’m Coming Out has also been in my head for the majority of the day today. I know it’s been adopted by the non-heterosexual community to express their freedom of sexuality. I hear it in a completely different way where it is actually the emergence of the finished product from the cocoon state. From a theocentric perspective it is good to be in the position where after so many years of living within yourself you’re able to discover what you’re meant to be and flourish in expressing it.

Currently the books I’m working through are an analytical view on Hugh Hefner that I’ve had from the library for at least three months now and I haven’t got round to making my way through it, the Oona King diaries and of most interest to me is Stuart Murray’s Post-Christendom. What Murray proposes really has some serious implications for our perspective on life as Christians today. I am looking forward to making a more detailed review of the book on completing it.

Still, just a short one for today to let you know I miss you and I’m glad I’ve posted today.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

For A Certainty

Check the time. Yeah, odd isn’t it. Most of the blogging is done either first thing in the morning or near the last thing at night so what’s this lunchtime post. Well I had a thought that I was compelled to write down after reading again. So there.

One of the best and worst things to happen to me is being right.

When I was younger, so much younger than today, I didn’t need anybody’s help in anyway. (Is that copyright infringement?) I was diving into reading and did so to accumulate knowledge that would come in handy for those moments when people are looking for that information and I supply it for them. There is also that quiz element where something is in dispute and my grasp on some tidbit that I picked up from some book somewhere allows me to emerge victorious.

It’s a root to pride. It can be a dangerous thing in terms of becoming aloof and somewhat smug and superior when approaching less informed people and trouncing them with the knowledge. Yet thankfully when used in humble means it can just support someone and reinforce or encourage them in a particular pursuit. There is just something good about being right.

It is exactly because I am not always right that I like finding out what it is to be right. Then in the larger context of life that’s where a relationship with God is so crucial because He allows me to pass that responsibility back to Him. After all, being omniscient as He is, He has a handle on what is right, what is to come, what shall be and so because He knows, I don’t have to worry about being in that position. Thus if anyone is in a position to be smug, it would be God. Rather than be smug, the holiness of God and His character of love allows me to see that it’s actually right for others to be built on what is right – which is God.

I was thinking about that supreme level of certainty when I read an area of the Ramsey biography by McKinstry. Now if the country can make a fuss over some blokes dressed in white beating their cousins from Down Under, I can imagine the jubilation that must have been felt when they actually beat the world at a sporting competition. What was even more profound was that Ramsey had said some years earlier that England would win it. McKinstry reveals that at the time Ramsey wasn’t so sure about it after he said it, but as the tournament drew close his belief in the outcome was overwhelming. This was to the extent that even in the pre-tournament training when his coaching staff expected to be off, he assured them that they would be with the team at the final when they won the thing.

Now that level of belief of certainty can be perceived as arrogance sometimes, but when you’re right and just quietly go out and prove it then people have nothing to say except – you’re right.

This isn’t the first time that we come across that level of certainty,

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Matthew 16:21)

So recently I’ve been saying that faith is focus, but what I read here as faith as certainty – not wishful, fingers crossed, pick a lucky charm and gamble for the best. There is that level of this is going to happen. Now when I read the context of the scripture and see how Peter gets a bit upset at what Jesus is talking about, I always wonder if Peter missed the last bit of what Jesus said – the bit about being raised on the third day. I mean in the larger scheme of things in terms of being a winner, how much bigger does it get than coming back from the dead. I mean you’ve been killed and you comeback from that – even death can’t keep you down. That’s big news.

Jesus is saying all this as a fact. As something that will happen. Not only does it state the air of certainty it also gives something to look forward to in the midst of the tricky stuff in between like the suffering, like the rejection, like the misunderstanding, like the sleepless nights, like the tears – when there’s a focus with a prize bigger than the stuff in between it makes it all worthwhile. To put it another way,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

There are tons of other scriptures that give us an assurance that in the same way that Jesus was able to endure because of the certainty of what He was to inherit, similarly there is the hope that we have if we hold out that we will inherit stuff that will make the suffering nothing in comparison. Faith then is in one who speaks and it happens for a certainty.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

Just Another Late Night Update

Blogging is a bit like talking to an old trusted friend. Who has nothing to say in return. Instead just takes on board what it says and keeps it carefully.

As you’d have read I love putting stuff on here and have been a bit more prolific of late, but in the last few days I haven’t been blogging and you can ask why’s that then Chris? Well go on then. There, and in answer to your question I’ve just been really busy of late. There’s someone staying with us at the moment who was pregnant and has given birth, so that took out Friday and yesterday was a really hectic day as well with hospitality and stuff. As well as that the wife has not been well and I’ve taken some time to look after her – time admittedly that could have been invested in writing, but apparently my wife is more important than blogging. (Shocking, I know, but that’s what the good book says).

Yesterday was actually a good example of what a busy day is all about. Lots of things to do, people to see, stuff to sort through and guests to entertain. By the end for the first time I can recall I actually went to bed and sleep before 10pm! That’s right before 10pm my bed saw me inhabiting it!

It was a surprise to me too, so it was no surprise that this morning I woke up astonishingly early – like just after 5am. It was no time to be up and about blogging or stuff, especially next to me wife. So I managed to make the most of the time texting people and enjoying good company (sure she was asleep, but sometimes that’s the best time to catch her).

Later on I get to go to a party – voluntarily – thankfully I get a good few games of pool in and some fancy grub as well before engaging in a wonderful walk and talk with a precious friend. Hence blogging this so late on. So you may be a bit confuddled at the reference to yesterday as Saturday and not Sunday when you check the date of this post, but when you look at the time like Hercule Poirot you will deduce that the day today was more Sunday than a Monday that has barely just begun.

Lots of stuff going on in general with me life, mostly good at present, but all busy and keeping me occupied. In all that I am still endeavouring to remain focussed on Christ. The reading is trucking along at a good rate as well. I hope to post some reviews especially on the Richard Foster book that I’ve just completed on Streams of Living Waters. I even got something from a Roy of the Rovers special covering the 1980’s which I read in one sitting (or lying-down as I was in the bath at the time). Just started a biography of Sir Alf Ramsey by Leo McKinstry. Fascinating reading so far and I hope to share some of the finding with you over time.

Keep on praying for dmcd with the family and work and other transitions and the like it can be easy to be distracted, but I love Jesus and more importantly am aware that He loves me and has called me to Himself to get His business done. So I want to be getting on with that. Hope to slap on another blog before the end of Monday to maintain a good rate of blogging until then keep on experiencing the shalom offered in relationship with the God of Shalom.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

What's DMCD Reading At The Moment?

I don’t usually blog on the Sabbath unless it’s on the topic of the Sabbath. I usually keep this time for family. Here I am though with my family enjoying life and embracing the rest as well as hopefully getting something good to eat eventually when Authrine has completed the sorting of Abigail’s hair. It is taking a while. I am hungry, but the Lord is feeding by the word.

This is not a long blog entry, just to update you on what I’m reading presently. Over 2009 there have been outstanding books in each quarter. In the first quarter saw the dominance of the brilliant The Call by Os Guinness. Not sure if I did a proper book review, but whatever you do, wherever you go – get this book. Brilliant I tell you. Then in the second quarter of the year I read Gordon MacDonald’s Ordering Your Private World which greatly assisted in the … errr … ordering … of my … ahhh … private … ermm … world. Truly though, this book really highlighted some issues that were so long neglected that it was the much needed wake up call and supportive tome to the Call.

So as you can imagine I was looking forward to the third quarter of the year to see which book would be the spiritual breakthrough. Funnily enough I had got the book towards the end of the second quarter in the year from the Beacon House of Prayer based in the northern part of the city. BHOP is a tremendous resource for the work I do at the YMCA and they have a fairly decent resource library. I’ve been meaning to give Richard Foster a chance ever since I started his book on the Freedom of Simplicity. I’ve wanted to read his book on Celebration of Discipline for years now, but never got round to it. So it was quite the surprise to get his book Streams of Living Water.

At first I didn’t pay it too much attention as I was completing the reading of some other books. Eventually I picked it up and gave it a bash and found it to be gripping reading. It is not one of those books that you cannot put down. It is one of those books that you cannot finish reading a section of because a thought will arrest you and leave you contemplating it for quite some time.

It really is quite something to be reading about such a generous approach to the different traditions that has influenced Christianity in its 2000 plus year history. I recognise just how much I’ve had a narrow opinion on faith and never really embraced the deeper historical aspects of what makes it such a rich and vibrant faith. It’s not about ecumenicalism as far as I’m concerned, but it is about appreciating yet again that when Jesus returns He will rightly ask if we were prayerful, holy, evangelistic, peace-makers through social justice, Spirit-filled and incarnational. Our tendency to be selective amongst these has meant we’ve missed out on so much faith in Christ has to offer. I hope to give a more detailed book review on completion on the book.

Other books on the go include the Kenny Dalglish autobiography of over 10 years ago. I’m still reading a number of football biographies (Paul McGrath, Sir Alf Ramsey and a Brian Clough tribute to name but three) as well as one on Eric Bristow who played darts don’t you know. There are a number of recommended books that I have yet to tackle and as I do so, I endeavour to keep you posted.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

Blog Notes and Reader Reflections

Here are some things I’ve noted from what I’ve seen around the web today.

In the season of leadership it’s refreshing to see this particular approach in the classic I don’t want to tell you something that I am going to tell you so I am going to tell you.

This is a good message for those who take bible reading lightly. I am obviously in complete agreement to the findings.

Tim Chester finds the time to lead a church, lead a family, blog regularly and write another book. So you see what I’m aiming for, eh? Well at least in terms of writing a book … and blogging regularly.

So we’re looking to be a church in the city, but what about the church of the city. Of course I’m talking more than a single denomination or expression dominating things. I’m talking about engaging with the conversation that Alan talks about here with the trans-congregational church. Along with the multi-cultural community of grace this is a pursuit worth going on in as much as it can be explored.

The Simple Pastor has an interesting web-site because he’s managed to get it to do quite a lot of things for a blogger account. He also asks the intriguing question of the blogs followed with something like Google Reader. So it’s worth making a record of what I read:

6 News feeds – five are from BBC News
29 Missional Feeds – some overlap between them (i.e. Driscoll, Mars Hill and Resurgence)
13 Media Feeds
54 Gospel Feeds
42 Football Feeds – including some overlap like Sky Sports and BBC Football
24 Church Feeds

Giving a total of 168 feeds. Reminds me of the episodes of how many hours of television we watch in a week. I obviously skim over most of the blog entries, but tend to make a note and link to outstanding entries.

Being still relatively new to it I’m not on top of the blog sorting yet. When I was younger so much younger than today and didn’t need anybody’s help in anyway it turned out that I could do with quite a bit of help actually. Our English class did an exercise where we all calculated how many hours of television was viewed in a week. Various answers came from the friends around me – 12, 7, 6, 5, one person obviously didn’t have a television and then there was the spectacular 20 hours. Mug that I was and a sad one at that (in hindsight) I had noting better to do with my time and so having calculated it on a number of occasions it came up the same answer. I watched 36 hours of television a week. Unsurprisingly I’m not so much of a big fan of television these days and have got it under control to a large degree. Obviously this is because of the advent of the Internet, laptop and Google Reader which now takes up a considerable part of my time. I’m currently subscribed to 168 feeds ranging from topics like media, gospel, football, church, news and mission.

For all that, what prevents me from being glued to the laptop catching up on the latest from Mark Driscoll, Marvel Comics, John Piper, Liverpool Football Club, Dave Bish, Dr. Who, Adrian Warnock, BBC News, Prodigal Jon and The Simple Pastor, et. al. is that I have a wife who needs a husband, children who need a father, a church that needs a brother, an employer who needs an employee and a Saviour that calls me to follow Him. So there are good checks and balances in place to let me know when I get over the top and is always willing to bring me back to some of the other valuable investments in my life. Living life to the full for me includes catching up on why Liverpool won’t win the league and how amazing the love and grace of the Father is to me online. It also includes sharing this life to the full with others in the flesh and sharing some of the findings online with human touch relationships. It’s by no means a perfect balance as yet, but I sometimes reflect on how pointless it would be to have godly men positively influencing me to follow Christ only to idolise a gift given to benefit the process of following Christ. So I try to keep a good measure on things – but that’s the whole reason why I endeavour to seek God’s wisdom to give me a good balance in life.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
dmcd

Late Night Movie Tip And Other Stuff

No you won’t recall because you haven’t read the review yet, but when you do read the review, you’ll discover that one of the prayer points we want people to hold is for Slumdog Millionaire to win the Oscar for Best Film. That reminds me to get that entry up and running which I hope to get done before the next weekend. In any case, this is a good omen as they say for the big prize in two weeks time or so.

Trust me that review is coming soon as is the book review on The Call and Tim Chester’s book. On that by the way, the reason I’ve taken it off the list is not because I don’t rate it anymore, but it’s just easier for me to have one book recommended highly at this time and that would be Guinness’ effort as will be clear when you read the review. Just to keep you informed I have just finished Michael Parkinson’s autobiography ‘Parky’. Not sure if it’s worth a full blown review like I’ll give the other two books. I read it because as an interviewer and a journalist Parky’s done some of the stuff I aspire to do – i.e. write, interview, do radio shows, look at media business opportunities, do documentaries. He has some fascinating insights to share on his experiences in the businesses. He gets to tell us about himself in what he has to say about the people and events that have surrounded him. He does come across as a bit cantankerous as though he hankers for good ol’ days that were old but not necessarily that good. For all that if you have an interest in the guy it’s a good read. Other than that not really one you’d want to spend time with.

Having completed that in fairly good time (maybe took a week, perhaps 10 days) I’ve moved onto reading Bobby Charlton’s autobiography covering his England years. What’s drawn me to it is this is the guy who still holds the record for most goals scored for England and is hugely feted as this country’s best footballer. Part of the World Cup winning side in 1966 his story would be interesting to see the journey he and his country took in claiming that most prestigious of titles. I’m into reading about winners and what made them winners to see if there’s anything I can pick up. That’s why I read the Bible so much. Reading what I have has been illuminative already with Charlton heavily affected by the 1958 Munich air disaster that claimed the lives of some of his close friends and colleagues and which he survived. It more than clouds the early parts of the book, but through that he also exalts the power of a team when it is all functioning together as it should. My kind of statement again about being in the right place at the right time doing the right thing to function right and thus contribute to the whole machine functioning well. If it works for my physical body I have no reason to doubt its effectiveness in groups, churches, workplaces and other organisations.

Also coming up is the reason why The Gospel in 3-D is the web-site of the moment. All that to come hopefully before week is over, giving me plenty to do and keeping me off the streets, which is a good thing for the pleasant citizens of Stoke-on-Trent. Keep praying for muggins so that I’ll be faithful to that which I’ve been called to do only for …

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
dmcd

New Month - New Things

So January’s over and it has been an interesting way to start 2009. No doubt that the centre of attention was the community launch and dedication service for the new COG Training and Conference Centre. It’s taken up a lot of time and energy and now that it’s out of the way and over with I want to focus on other projects and plans. Especially to do with making the most of this writing gig.

I am pleased that there have been so many posts in January particularly here and other on Among Friends. Sure a large contingent has been YouTube posts, but along with the launch of some other small writing initiatives in the forthcoming days, weeks and months that should change. I’m too ashamed of having YouTube posts on this one especially as I’m committed to writing as much as I can explain the point behind the posts. I love writing, though, and I’m a big fan of being able to connect what I’m reading and seeing with the writing stuff that I’m putting together. So having spent January bogged down with whatever I was bogged down with, although there’s no let up in activity I do hope to be able to spend more time this month setting stuff up for the busy spring season ahead.

February is such a funny month, especially now there’s no leap-year bonus day. It’s here and over with before you know it. The highlight of the month, obviously, is the mid-month love-fest that our dear Roman friends introduced to the cultural scheme of things. I’ve never bought into it myself despite apparently being a married man. So I don’t intend to start now. Sure we can do the talk about love over the month as it’s an opportune time, but really I am not into all that love-hearts business. Having said that the missus has worked herself close to a frazzle … again … so I hope there’ll be an opportunity to get some time away together that may happen to coincide with a certain time of the month.

There are a lot of decent movies either out at the moment or about to come out over the coming months and so I hope to be able to watch them and review them here as well. On Saturday night I managed to watch Slumdog Millionaire and I’ll be posting a review on that either tonight or realistically tomorrow. I’m also hoping to check out Frost/Nixon very soon and then I’ll be checking out The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I like reading, I like movies, I like writing, so it makes sense that I enjoy my life by making the most of these opportunities not only for my sake but also to share with others, like readers of the blog.

There’s also the continuing football season which sees Liverpool return to European football with the small matter of playing Euro giants Real Madrid to make any progress in the Champions League. Now following last month’s infamous Rafa Rant, you’d think I would be overjoyed at Liverpool’s 2-0 win today against Chelsea. I’m sure you would think I would be thrilled to bits that we have been able to do the double over the nearest threat to Old Trafford over the last three seasons. You would think that and you would be horribly wrong. That result actually makes it easier for United to retain the title and here’s the thinking. Our inability to win games has already given Man United the onus. They have a game in hand which on winning will take them five points clear and trust me, they’ll win the game in hand. Hey, even in the unlikely event that they drop two or hilariously three points they have the advantage and the experience to see this home. If Chelsea were the nearest competitors I would say there was hope. As it is the hopes of the rest of the league now fall on us to do what we haven’t even sniffed at since 1990. I have little hope that we can do it because it’s not about beating Man Utd and Chelsea, it’s about beating Stoke City, Hull City, Wigan, Everton, Portsmouth, Blackburn and Bolton Wanderers. It’s then about beating other teams as well and by doing so then and only then do we have a hope. I remain to be convinced that we are capable of going on such a run. I was reflecting however on how things are turning at the club and Rafa’s ongoing petition for more control. I am not thrilled by his approach, but I do understand his desire for control and when it’s given then he can take total responsibility for the club’s development. So if we succeed it’s down to him and if we don’t then we also know what that will mean. Come on though, Robbie Keane not good enough to be in the first team squad? Win or no win that kind of decision does no one any favours neither in the long run will it contribute to us winning further games. As I understand we beat a team with 10 men. Would we have beaten them with 11? So that will be something to endure for months ahead.

In the middle and through all of that there remains my commitment to endeavouring to follow Jesus. I have started the Michael Parkinson autobiography ‘Parkie’ and its prologue looks at a turning point for Parkinson that led for him to get to where he was. As I read it I was again reminded of the episode of Peter’s restoration to the ministry by Jesus in John 21. There are turning points in life that sets us up for the rest of our journey. I know it’s a big deal to make the most of our ‘free will’ and in today’s society choice is God, but one of the things I realise is that when certain decisions are made a certain path is almost decreed for you – there is no choice, especially when you have been chosen. Jesus’ remark to Peter near the end of the chapter is a singular calling point for me. It’s not about what other people do, it’s not about other people’s agenda it’s simply about following Jesus. I am excited about the things that have already happened this year and what is about to happen, but as I realised at a key turning point in my life back in 2006, it doesn’t mean a thing unless my only desire is Him and to follow Him. I hope the journey will be worth while tracking for you as faith and life combine to produce further episodes in the weird and wonderful world of ur man cd.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd

Books and Darts

Read a really interesting article by Tim Challies on reading. Reminded me of some things I can take into consideration when looking at the books issue. I want to take this advice on board and find a time to get more books!

Oh and as well as that you may remember my little celebration of reaching the awesome 180 blog entries with a tribute to Bullseye and Tony Green. Well I was in our local pub recently and usually I just go in, have a few J20’s, a packet of nuts and good chat with some friends. Recently I noticed that they not only have a dartboard but TWO dartboards AND one of which has an electronic scoreboard next to it! My mate knows the owner – top lass she is as well – and she plays darts and may teach me to play, although seeing her play I’m not sure if Stevie Wonder maybe a better teacher. More importantly on Wednesday nights they have competitions and they’re apparently the best pub in their league. What a great way to build relationships, get in the culture of the community and learn one of the games that has taught me more about theology than a lot of Bible studies I’ve had in my time. Bear that in mind when you pray for da man cd to be successful in these exploits!

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd