Poured Out

Peter is speaking at the GO conference tonight (8:30 Holland time) during quite a climactic session in the week’s programme. He woke up in the night feeling very sick and after speaking this morning, went back to bed for 5 hours. He’s not sure but he thinks he might’ve eaten something dodgy but his stomach is not right. I know he would appreciate prayer for strength and a clear mind as he speaks tonight and for God to work powerfully in people’s hearts.

Tomorrow morning I’m off to Holland for four days.  The new recruits conference is already in full swing, and I will be jumping into the mix on Saturday morning.  I have a session and a workshop on the Bible on Saturday, then the Sunday morning meeting on the uniqueness of Christ, probably some involvement in Mission Possible on Monday, then two sessions on Grace and Integrity on Tuesday.  I return on Wednesday.

Please pray for the sessions to all go well, for interactions to be strategic, for the travel to work out without too much hassle, and for Melanie with the children at home, of course.  Thanks!

We made it home, despite a couple of small dramas en route.  It was a great week in France enjoyed by all.  It wasn’t a week in the pool (as previous years), but despite the weather we all enjoyed the fellowship with other workers and the times together.  John Lennox was speaking and gave a lot (he needs to sleep now, I’m sure!)

We drove up to Calais on Friday, had dinner with my sister and family (on holiday near there).  We planned to spend Saturday with them until our afternoon ferry, but Daniel wasn’t well so they had to cancel.  So we headed for the ferry early, managed to get one three hours earlier and headed to Caterham to pick up some books from a friend.  The car was developing a rattle, so I called a good friend who had a look and a listen.  Apparently the front of the prop shaft/pulley system has come loose.  He checked the internal workings and we decided it was probably ok to press on and come home.  We made it ok.  Now to find a trustworthy mechanic in this new area!

And . . . today we finally get a full Sunday at Ladyfield!

I just received this update from Peter Maiden, head of OM:

We are very encouraged by the number of people joining us through our August GO conference. The number at present stands at 267, though this can change a little in the final days before the conference begins. This would be the largest number joining us since 1997. We often ask you to ‘pray for labourers’, so please join us in thanking God for answered prayer.

With OM Ships requiring less people from this conference than usual, this means a much larger number going to various OM Fields, and interestingly this is particularly within Europe. Please pray for the conference beginning on 24th August, for safety in travel to the conference and then the teams and for integration into those teams on arrival.

I’ll be involved in the conference a little bit over the middle weekend.  Please pray for these sessions to be significant as God chooses to work through them.  Thank you.

We are very encouraged by the number of people joining us through our August GO conference. The number at present stands at 267, though this can change a little in the final days before the conference begins. This would be the largest number joining us since 1997. We often ask you to 'pray for labourers', so please join us in thanking God for answered prayer.

With OM Ships requiring less people from this conference than usual, this means a much larger number going to various OM Fields, and interestingly this is particularly within Europe. Please pray for the conference beginning on 24th August, for safety in travel to the conference and then the teams and for integration into those teams on arrival.

Just a quick update as we emerge from under boxes.  The move went extremely well.  After five days of unpacking we are getting close to having a presentable house at last.  Thanks for praying for us.  More to come, but it’s breakfast time now.

So after an 8-hour drive (roadworks), I got home to a plethora of smiles and hugs yesterday.  I had a great week in Keswick.  It was my first time at the convention and I am a real fan of the whole concept.  I really appreciate how they don’t have pre-registration or charges, just an indication of costs for the sake of the collections.  I really appreciated hearing some excellent preaching, including multiple references to ministry in Wiltshire – the morning Bible readings were by Paul Mallard who used to be at Ladyfield in Chippenham.

Speaking of which, we move in 48 hours.  Today I need to get stuff down from the loft, disassemble the play structure, get a few other things organised, then I am up in St Albans for a preaching seminar tonight.  Tomorrow morning the packers come in and pack and load.  Meanwhile I am preaching at Oakhall.  Monday morning we head off to Chippenham.  I’ll be taking Mariah and Joel early, as I need to meet  the agent at 9:30.  The little people will head off to my parent’s house (that is, my parents will take them there), then they’ll return later in the day, hopefully to a house filled with our things ready to unpack.

Please pray for the move to go well.  We aren’t particularly stressed about everything, but we know we need God to superintend the move – for the travel to be safe, for things to be done at the right time, for the removal company to do a good job, for everything to make it without damage, for the emotions leaving this home after more than four years, etc.  Thanks for praying for us in what should, by human expectations, be a manic weekend.  We hope it will be a blessed time as a family.

The three girls are enjoying a day in London today with a good OM friend. Melanie (and Joel) will spend the day with Melanie’s good friend Michelle. I will spend the day with the Bible on CD as I drive 333 miles on perhaps the busiest day of the summer. I’m off to Keswick for the first time. Although the timing is not good (we move two days after I get back), I have been looking forward to this for a while. I will be helping to lead and speak in the K2 stream – young adults track run during week 2. This involves three morning speaking sessions, helping to lead and present the evening sessions, and leading a small group every afternoon. I make the return trek on Friday.

Please pray for the time at Keswick to be fruitful, and for us not to overlook anything as we pull details together for the move. Please also pray for us all with the emotions of leaving so many good friends here. We are really looking forward to getting to Chippenham, but not to saying goodbye at this end – we’ve been very blessed here.

Last night we enjoyed a very special time with about 25 friends from the Getting More course at Oakhall. We’ve enjoyed 4 years of Bible study together and it has been a real blessing to me to be part of a group of people hungry for God’s Word. Several key group members were missing, but nonetheless we enjoyed a great meal and time of fellowship. The thank you card and gift voucher are very much appreciated, but the memories and the friendships will remain an ongoing blessing. Leaving those folks is one of the hardest things about moving church. Thank you to everyone involved last night and over the last four years. Thank you for letting me be part of the group!

The weekend went really well.  It was a blessing to be with friends in Bishop’s Stortford, and it was great to get home last night too.  I was amused to hear about my Dad in a church in the summer heat of Italy yesterday – he was the only man in a shirt, but no jacket.  One elderly brother asked if he’d left it in the car.  “No, in England.”  Nice.

This week I have to finish preparing for Keswick next week, as well as whatever preparations I need to make for our move two days after I get back. Meanwhile, I have posted a weekly discussion post on the Cor Deo blog.  It is concerned with missions and whether it is possible to love “the lost.”  Here’s the link to the article -just click here

I always seem to write a post at the beginning of the weekend.  Not sure what original title to use.  We’ve been clearing out in anticipation of our move (2 weeks from Monday).  I won’t let Melanie near my books, but she’s done a great job of reducing the inventory of toys and children’s clothes.  Tonight we have friends coming over, then tomorrow we are long overdue for dates with the little Meads (i.e. they are needing some one-on-one attention – parental code for something relating to lack of structure due to being out of school season!)

Tomorrow evening I will be up in Bishop’s Stortford to lead a theology study group.  I was delighted to discover the chapter they have read is on Church Government.  That should be a fun discussion, then on Sunday I preach twice there.  Please pray for this to go well, and for us to stay sane as we approach the move.  I’ve said several times our goal is to move by faith rather than by stress.  Not exactly moving to Canaan, but it is west of the starting point.

On Wednesday I took Ron over to Chippenham to look around, check out what’s available to rent in the town for accommodation possibilities and see the church.  It was great to spend some time with friends there and he thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the future home town of Cor Deo.  Thanks for praying for us.  Our prayer letter and new prayer card should be coming to you in the last couple of days (UK) and in the next few days (US).  Please let us know if you didn’t get it and would like it – just send an email with your address and we’ll make sure it is on the way!