Hi!

I was struck today by a revelation of sorts into sheer power of the human mind. It all began on my way to work. There I was merrily cycling down a bit of a hill (a hill which I often enjoy cycling down) and I then turned off onto a road on the left only to suddenly find my bike going sideways across the road on a nice patch of black ice. At this point my conscious mind thought "Oh pants. I'm going to end up on my bum and it's going to hurt" whilst my unconscious/subconscious (delete as appropriate, I don't know which one it is) kicked in and my foot was suddenly, without any thought, on the floor keeping me balanced and also hopping backwards to keep up with the bike! I eventually stopped sliding after what seemed like a long time but was, in reality, a second at the most. I somehow managed to stay on the bike. How does that work? In a fraction of a second my mind had figured out what was going on, that I needed to put my foot down, where my foot needed to be put, and then had managed put my foot there in time to stop me falling! It did this a few times as I hopped backwards! What is this immense thing that God has put into my head?! It truly astounded me today. How can anyone doubt the existence of a designer when such an incredible thing as the brain, unique to each individual, exists in every animal!? God is truly awesome. I know I take my brain for granted sometimes. Do you?

Anyway. After that little rant. I think it has been two or three weeks since I last wrote, those weeks have been fun filled and exciting (you'll be very glad to hear!)

So, the last time I wrote was just before the Youthwork Conference in Southport I believe. I said I would write a blog the next week about it..sorry about that! The conference was excellent though! I went with Andi and Becky from CROSS and we met up with some people from Leeds Faith in Schools who Andi and Becky know (and I do now as well!). We took over nearly an entire B&B! It was good. The conference itself had 4 main sessions and then other seminars and teaching sessions offering practical as well as spiritual teaching (for example, there were sessions on keeping on fire for God and also on how we could use technology, eg mobile phones and social networking, to connect with young people). The weekend was quite "full on" if you know what I mean by that. There weren't many breaks or times to go off alone although the talks were entirely optional. There was a lot going on and I found it tiring but challenging and definitely worth going!
An amazing thing I would like to mention happened on the Saturday evening. The CROSS project and Leeds Faith in Schools people went out for an indian at a restaurant just down the road. I wasn't with them to begin with but joined them later. I felt I needed to spend some time in prayer so I went and did that and then had some chips and went to join them then. I got there just as they were finishing eating and had some of Andi's chicken korma which she couldn't finish. It was yummy! Anyway, the waiter came around then and asked if we would like some drinks on the house (apparently this is normal when a lot of food and drinks are bought..) so I got a free drink! I enjoyed it very much! Some ladies who had joined us then had to go so they went and paid for their food and left (after they had brought us back the after dinner mints). We sat chatting for a bit and then someone asked for the bill and the waiter said, "It's already been paid."...We were a bit confused by this but he explained that the two ladies who had left (who we had only met that weekend) had paid the lot. There were about 14 of us and it must have cost about £120-130 so we were sat there in stunned silence. Someone rang them and they said they wanted to bless us with it and it was no problem. So the whole meal was paid for. What could lead these ladies, who we barely knew, to pay? The only conclusion appeared to be that they knew God. They had experienced God's amazing generosity in Jesus and had wanted to pass some of that on to us. The question is, why is it such a surprise when a Christian is generous?  Surely, if we are wanting to be like Jesus (who has given us quite a bit!) then it should be normal...? This week we're looking at St. Nicholas in the lunchtime groups and how he gave to the poor without anyone knowing it was him...When we give, what are our motives? To look good or please God? To satisfy our egos or to give God glory? Just a few thoughts. It was a truly humbling experience to see such generosity (even though I hadn't got anything at the indian!) and I think the whole idea of Jesus giving His life can become so normal and off-hand (and by that I mean it can be so easy to say "Jesus died for you" without thinking) when actually, when you think about it, it's an absolutely MASSIVE thing for God, as Jesus, to become human to die to take all our sins on His shoulders. How awesome is our God?!

Wow, I'm doing some good rants tonight! I shall try to be a bit more brief in the rest of the blog. The weeks have been good. I have done my first assemblies and some lessons. The assemblies being on different seasons and times in our lives, and the lessons being about worship and we have done one about community.


The weekend of the 28/29/30 November (last weekend), Miriam came to visit which was brilliant! It was also the CROSS project fundraising winter fair on saturday so Miriam was helping in the kitchen washing up and taking orders of food..I felt a bit bad putting her in that position but I think and hope she enjoyed herself a bit! It was just really nice to see her again though and to introduce her to my friends in Wakefield and show her a bit of where I am! It was a really fun weekend!

Ongoing things throughout the past few weeks have been preparation for the christmas lessons. As you might have gathered from my brief diary, things have been getting a bit busy recently. These next few weeks are going to be utter madness, rushing from school to school doing lessons and assemblies and groups all over the place! I mentioned the stockings we are going to give out in the christmas lessons in my last blog, but we are now up to about 400 on those I think thanks to some outside help! I have also been busy making a Christmas Family Fortunes game on powerpoint. It's not quite as good as actual Family Fortunes but I think it's pretty good though I say so myself! We'll see what the kids in school think of it when we use it in the lesson on Thursday (which, for those of you who don't know, happens to be my birthday. Just a gentle reminder to send me lots of expensive presents).

I have been very aware of God's protection of me in the last few weeks. There have been a few close calls (potential accidents on the road) which I won't go into detail on but I just want to publicly thank God for his protection of me (and also Becky).

Anyway. I think I should stop rambling now. I think I've said all I needed/wanted to say so I'll shut up before I think of anything else!

I hope all is well in Oswestry and Cornerstone! I'm looking forward to seeing videos of Dad's beard being chopped off this weekend! Thanks again for all your help and support. I have no doubt that without it I would be finding this a lot harder than I am! You're all amazing!

God Bless

Jim

Hey Jim me boy - life sounds as full as ever. God is indeed quite amazing.
Watch out - snow's coming as well as the black ice! (We could hardly walk down Park drive today because of the ice). Wrap up warm and ride carefully
Have a good day on Thursday
with love x

What a stunning Blog entry, Jim! Wonderful to hear how God has protected and helped you in amazing ways.
I've long been in awe of how our brains react so quickly to crisis situations - whether on a bike or slippery path! I've had the same experience!

I hope tonight's/tomorrow's snow does not leave you stranded, but you might even be lucky enough to have a school close!! (The number of times I wished for THAT in the past!)

Birthday wishes are obviously in order for Thursday so I expect you'll be celebrating with some home-made chocolate brownies!!

Best wishes and see you soon!

What a busy schedule over these past weeks! It is good to know how you are experiencing Gods protection & provision in the different situations you are working in at present. Keep up the good work even if it is rather tiring at times! Do have a good birthday tomorrow. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy it with some cake as well. Also give my regards to Edinburgh when you visit it next weekend but do take plenty of warm clothes as the east wind there can be very nippy! Best wishes

Hi Jim just read your blog. Your Mum was right about Park Drive ice I fell just outside the manse, my arm is still sore. Glad u idnt come off your bike.