3 years to go... sport and self image!

Its three years till the London Olympics begin. The stadium is coming together, the trains are getting sorted out, we're on budget, we're on time. So lets start moaning about legacy.

The BBC have just thrown out the stats that people are not taking up sports like swimming and gymnastics, but they are taking up table tennis.

Can I throw out a thought: in my years of teaching/ young people's work I've noticed that young people don't like doing sports that mean they have to get their bodies out. There is something about school PE which makes this worse, the struggling into kit at the very moments when your body is least in control of itself. Its only natural then that people are less keen to take up the sports which mean you have to do that daily.

The way round it: I don't fully know. Better changing facilities in schools. Sportswear manufacturers making good kit for bigger people (thats a whole other point but I think thats important). Maybe assuring people that they are good, that a tiny bit of flab or hair or cellulite doesn't mean they can't do sports..

Gyms, exercise and prayer..

I went to the gym today. Not remarkable in itself, in fact before you get our hopes up none of what I am going to say is remarkable.

I did over an hour of proper exercise, which has made me feel really good. I very quickly forget that its when I exercise that I think more clearly and have more zip about me. It makes me want to eat better and be more alive and alert.

It normally doesn't make me want to pray (apart from that the pain might stop!)

But I have been doing 2000m ergos, and they have gotten me praying. Each little clause of the Lords Prayer gets 100 m. Thats not very long but it really makes you focus on what you are praying for.

So, inspired by finding some joy in exercise I have once again resolved that I am going to lose some weight. 28 pounds. Thats quite a lot for some folk but not for me, it will make me feel much healthier. I'd very much appreciate your prayers (if you are the praying type) as I go for this. Exercise is not too tricky once I get going, but it only means something if I also do something about what I eat. And I love my food.

I'll most likely blog more about how its going.. watch this space.

Drugs macro and micro..

I'm pottering my way through the West Wing (again)- mid way through series two and the plot has DEA agents kidnapped (and their rescuers killed) in I think Columbia. Bartlet calls his policy aides in mid way through the crisis and reels off some statistics about the war on drugs. He concludes with 'just say no doesn't work'.

Today I did a bit of intentional mooching. I walked through the estate where the under 4's are out playing unsupervised, where the guy with the hood on the bike moved pretty quick when he saw me coming. I popped in the doctors, when I asked what can one change would make it different; I was told.. 'get them all jobs, and get them off drugs'. Just a few minutes earlier I had been talking to a lady: she started taking drugs in the sixties and has shot all her faculties and veins to pieces. She showed me the scars as she told me about her boyfriend who died tragically again with drug induced psychosis as a contributory factor.

Drugs kills people. They kill hope, they kill all that helps us connect with the people and the world around them. The lady I spoke to has been clean for years now. But she still bears the scars.

I find myself reflecting again.. that this is now the time for me to really practice what I preach. I believe in a God of resurrection. A God who restores a naked raging guy from the caves and sets him free. A God who can beat addiction, who urges us to pray for daily bread as he loves to provide. The challenge is, will I embody all I believe about Him, to see change micro and macro. Just saying no will not work.

The Fridge Story

The first few days of settling into this new post have had the faint hum of a fridge behind them. Those of you who have followed and commented on facebook will have a vague idea of what has been going on. To fill in gaps and for those who don't know; here is the story.

When I moved in there was a fridge dumped just to the other side of a driveway by my house. I hoped the council were on the case but didn't chase them as I know authorities move slowly to do anything helpful on a housing estate.

All fine until Saturday, when I got home to find a note scrawled on the fridge (picture 1).


I came inside, part furious, part upset, part intrigued. I realised that my response needed to set out my stall about what I really believe about being here. Would I be vengeful? Would I run to authority? I chose what I hoped was a different way.. (pictures 2 and 3)




And then I waited. It was interesting because I posted these pics on facebook and the response form other folk was amazing. It was encouraging but at the end of the day all that mattered was the response here. So I was a bit disconcerted to find this note on Monday morning (and yes when I looked all the Coke had gone)!



Again my initial response was to feel a bit hurt, but I soon reasoned that the comment wasn't actually about me; the joys of taking on someone elses patch. But I figured that it was time to move the fridge. So I hired a vicar's son and we came down. As we lifted it a neighbour came round, he had phoned the council and arranged a pick up. He was lovely and rightly pointed out that this is a funny way for neighbours to communicate. We agreed that if the council ddin;t move it we would sort it out today.

But yesterday it went. And hopefully with it the background noise of disquiet, and the offence of a neighbour. I doubt I will ever know who the graffittier is, I'm not it matters. But I hope that I have set out somehow that I am here to serve, to bring some joy, to hopefully show something of the way of Jesus. I will make more mistakes, I will need neighbours to set me straight. But hopefully together we can see this place change.

Cheese over!

The ministry to which I am called...

The ministry to which I am called.

My first two posts in my new found ontological status (am I changed, I don’t know), were quite ranty I think. If I look back over my blogging thats really been my pattern, some stuff thats reflective, some thats topical, lots that ranty.

And that is a huge part of who I am.

One of the things that has been said to us all lots as we really prepare for ordination, is, it is you who is called, be yourself.

On retreat I reread the poetic ‘Irresistible Revolution’. Before my selection conference I read the book first time and put it in the post to a friend saying, whatever I do, don’t let me not live some of this. And so I read it again, praying Lord help me to live this in the established church.

Whilst on retreat, I heard that friend and prayerful co-conspirator Jo Norton had died. As a Salvation Army officer Jo’s life and work inspired me: prayer and care for the poor. Jo’s example will remain with me as I try and be me in this job. As if I needed more reminding, some of the first people I saw as I processed (!?!!) into the Cathedral, were uniformed Salvationists.

Finally (and for some strange reason I am writing this bit some 3 days later), my friend Jeff emailed me a bit out of the ordination service: another reminder of how to be me in this.. Not sure it all makes sense yet but....

“Deacons are called to work with the Bishop and the priests with whom they serve as heralds of Christ’s kingdom. They are to proclaim the gospel in word and deed, as agents of God’s purposes of love. They are to serve the community in which they are set, bringing to the Church the needs and hopes of all the people. They are to work with their fellow members in searching out the poor and weak, the sick and lonely and those who are oppressed and powerless, reaching into the forgotten corners of the world, that the love of God may be made visible.

Deacons share in the pastoral ministry of the Church and in leading God’s people in worship. They preach the word and bring the needs of the world before the Church in intercession. They accompany those searching for faith and bring them to baptism. They assist in administering the sacraments; they distribute communion and minister to the sick and housebound.

Deacons are to seek nourishment from the Scriptures; they are to study them with God’s people, that the whole Church may be equipped to live out the gospel in the world. They are to be faithful in prayer, expectant and watchful for the signs of God’s presence, as he reveals his kingdom among us.”