A bit wilder this week...

So, from a relatively calm summer, the past week has been a busy one. Started last Sunday with a visit to the "big house"...which was very different to my expectations. Anyone out for a stroll at Antrim loughshore on Wednesday would have seen 3 canoes making their way down the river and then back up again. We did try to paddle upstream, but as is the way in Northern Ireland, we encountered a large group of muppets who started hurling abuse...and I was worried that our non-reaction to that would tempt them to hurl something more physical. And yet you know that really - they'd love to have go! It was a fantastic night for a little paddle, and we even managed to rescue two footballs, 3 life rings, and a teenage boy after he tumbled out of his canoe...brilliant night. Yesterday however, was the ultimate wild...a group from the firm took a trip to Shane's Castle, and spent the day trying to hit each other with little balls of paint - fired at about 210 mph from what are called "markers" but look remarkably like "guns". Brilliant day's craic...if you're looking for something wild, check out Escarmouche. The picture of me below says it all!

Yeah, I know - guns and all that...but it was great - the adrenalin was pumping. And on the worship side, today was the first of me playing and Alan L. preaching since his sabatical... church is good. Worship this morning was great. Sermon was nail on the head stuff.

Ah well - back to work tomorrow for another fun filled week...and we'll all compare bruises - those paintballs hurt a bit!

Has anybody seen the sun?

So it has been a few months since the last typings... but my lovely wife has found a creative passion for blogs, and has inspired me to write a little bit more! As I type, said wife has just shouted "I see the sun", because the past few days have seemed more like December than the end of July. Holiday time means I haven't been leading worship for a few weeks - although that's a bit of a welcome break. The guy who shares this role with me had a little debate with a circular saw several montsh ago...and the saw won. It's hard to play guitar when your finger tip is healing. But I've had my fair share of sermons as well...and another this Sunday - and it's in a different church.
So what's been on my mind this while is "community". Been reading John Ortberg's book - "everybody's normal until you get to know them" which has been a challenging read. Felt obliged to share a little of his thoughts with the congregation last week - and I think it'll be the same tomorrow...big reflections on the story of the paralysed man - whose friends cared for, carried, and lowered him...without the friends, the story doesn't happen. The man never gets to be in front of Jesus, never gets forgive, never gets healed. So have friends and be a friend!

So sermoning this week, leading worship next week, and an interesting experience awaits tomorrow afternoon, for me and my guitar will be leading somewhere a bit different.

And what else on the horizon - who knows - great ideas for days out don't seem as appealing when it's chucking it down outside. But the north coast calls, as do those sweeping down to the sea mournes. And a bit more kayaking called for as well...spent a pleasant evening at shaw's bridge for the first in a very long time...and I didn't get wet! So the confidence is up now - let's get paddling.