Apologies for the lack of posting here of late, with one thing and another things have been pretty busy recently. I’ll try and say something about that at some point.

For now, I just wanted to ask for you to spare a thought or a prayer for me tomorrow, if you can. Its kind of a big day. Thank you. Sorry to those of you who have no idea what I’m going on about! Normal service will (hopefully) be resumed shortly.

Well yes, apparently so. In the world of retail, as I was informed today, Christmas is upon us. While chatting with my manager this afternoon about preparations for the ‘Christmas season’, I enquired when this started. ‘Now!’ I was told. Hmm. Straight after the summer sales then. Obviously.

Anyway, during this chat, he was going through his plans for the next three months or so, which seemed to revolve around a large folder we’d been sent, with all the details of promotions/sales targets and other, um, fascinating information. Anyway, he was proudly showing me this folder, and explaining how this contained everything we needed to know, and we could all look at it any time we want to (aren’t we lucky?!). In an attempt to prove his point, he then turned to me and said ‘This is the bible of Christmas.’ I had to stop myself from laughing.

And here was I thinking the bible had one or two other things to say about this time of year…

Today was the official opening, viewing, tree-planting ceremony at the garden at Penlan Methodist Church which I designed, and have been involved with over the last few months. Its looking fab, compared with how it was before, which was basically rough ground with some cracked concrete. Now there’s a patio surrounded by raised beds, lovely planting, a pathway to the gate crossed by an arbour, complete with climbers.

And today lots and lots of people turned out to see it, and the other work that has been done in the grounds of the church, including Graham Carter, the president of conference for this year, and the Chairman of the District. I was a little excited, to put it mildly. We had a lovely morning, with singing from local school children, and a walk around the grounds including a blessing by Graham, and back inside for tea afterwards.

Various people spoke about the work that is being done in Penlan, and the importance it has for the local community as well as for the church. I was reminded again what an amazing place this is, in an area where the congregation is small and where life can be an uphill struggle for many people. This is a church which is very much within the local community, an integral part of it, and able to see that it can learn from the community as well as bringing something to it. These are the places where God’s will is done, where His Kingdom *has* come. Here, now. And that can only be celebrated.

Edit: and I managed to blog the photo!!! From guessing the code from the flikr coding! *smug* More photos on my flikr account, same name as this blog

A couple of weeks ago I applied for another job, and I’ve had an email today asking me to interview!!! The first interview I’ve had so far! This is also the job that is the most suitable I’ve found, being (reasonably) local, and not asking for a gazillion years of experience, but with a chance to gain some experience through the job. It also asked for a driving licence, and I saw the advert two days before my test, which I passed!

I’d just about given up hope, since it had been so long since the application deadline, but when I emailed on friday I was told they were still shortlisting. Even so, since then I’ve been trying not to get my hopes up too much. And tonight when I got back from work I had an email, which it took me an hour or so to pluck up the courage to open, saying I’d made it to the interview shortlist.

Now I have to do a bit of preparation, and not get my hopes up too much again. Meanwhile, keep your fingers crossed, and send a prayer or two in this direction.

I noticed this afternoon that it was two years yesterday that I started this blogging thing. Two whole years. Wow. How time flies.

I’ve spent the last half hour or so reading back over some of the stuff I’ve written. Brings back memories. Like looking back through a diary- reading your own thoughts, hopes, fears- transports you back in time in some way. Looking at it now, from the future, with hindsight, gives a completely different perpective. And knowing how it all ends. Well, at least some of it. There is some that I’ll have to wait and see still.

You never know, come next year…

There are many things to say, I heard, learnt, thought, talked lots this weekend. There are things which were/are resolved as a result, but also, as always, things which have generated more questions. I had a great time, catching up with lots of friends (some of whom I may only have seen the week before, but still…) and making new ones. Was a wonderful mix of prayer/worship, music, chatting, drinking tea/wine/beer (love the organic beer tent, apart from when they run out of beer) and laughing lots (at myself and others). And also some food for thought in a number of ways. Here’s to next year!

One thing which I heard and which struck home at the time has just come back to me. In a talk by Steve Stockman called ‘The word made flesh’. Due to recent technological advances and so on, we are used to everything being immediate. We can get in touch with people any time by email or mobile phone, we can get any TV channel we like, hear the news 24 hours a day, everything is available at the touch of a button. And we expect our own lives to be the same. We are so used to having what we want on tap, when we need it, that we forget that not everything works that way. In our lives, our work, our relationships; we want everything to be ok straight away, to sort itself out *now*, and this isn’t possible. Which leads to all kinds of problems. Some things, some of the most important things, take time. We have to allow ourselves this time, and not be frustrated by wanting it all now.