He gives more Grace!

Thought it was about time I got this updated! Looking back over the past few weeks it is a bit weird being at this side and knowing that God has brought us safe thus far - again! There were times I really struggled to see the light at the end off the tunnel, but as ever God has provided the strength and grace when required to get through :) I really don't know where to begin...

I will start with what was to be a great honour, but at the same time one of my biggest challenges. The last time Fenella and I were up in Buckie preaching, we spent a good part of the afternoon visiting with Ian and Avril Bowie. We did not know that this would be the last time we would see Ian this side of eternity. We knew that Ian had been fighting cancer for the past year, but we were not prepared for the phone call just over a week later letting us know that he had passed away. Over the course of the phone call I was asked if I would take the funeral service. I felt instantly humbled at the thought that the family considered me capable of honouring Ian's life in this way. I remember getting off the phone and feeling so overwhelmed. It wasn't until Fenella got home from work and we got a chance to talk that things began to sink in. I just couldn't get my head around the question, "How do you do justice to the giant of a man that was Ian Bowie?" By faith, I rested in the thought that, of course I would do whatever I could to help the family. I spent the following day with the family up in Cullen. The day reminded me of how good a father and husband Ian was and also how much I loved this family. Fenella came with me on the next visit :) Avril had invited a bunch of their closest friends for a meal and we spent the day getting to know the precious things about Ian and Avril's life with the people who who were there through the thick and thin of it. What a blessing! As if it were not clear enough, the beautiful picture of Ian and Avril's life together radiated in the stories and conversations and left me with no doubt that Ian truly lived! This was to form the basis of the sentiments I would begin the service with, "It's not the length, but the depth of a life that matters." We shared and focused on Ian a s a Husband and a Father and of his worthiness to claim both titles because he truly loved his family! One of Ian's close friends spoke of Ian's love for the sea and about what Ian's friendship meant to him. Alan also touched on Ian's faith and made this comment, "I was talking with Ian about the great hope that we have in Christ, when he corrected me and said, "Not hope, but ASSURANCE!" Alan certainly honoured Ian and the family with his words. Towards the close of the service I remember having this mixed emotion of knowing I had said enough, but at the same time feeling we had only scratched the surface and there was so much more that could be said. After the service all I wanted to do was find the arms of Fenella and be reassured. I pray that Ian and the family were honoured.

Let me shift to the other extreme! I must share our Friday night lesson from a couple of weeks ago. Donald and I came up with this idea that we would have some fun with the lesson, since the previous weeks had been a bit challenging. We split the group into four smaller groups and gave them a piece of paper and pen to document what they were about to witness. Donald and I then made an exit to transform ourselves into two VERY silly looking people. We made our entrance and were met with some very shocked and confused faces. We looked at each other from across the room and made it obvious to the kids that we liked the way we looked and thought everyone else was boring. We went around the room doing some silly stuff and than made our exit. When we returned to teach the point of our little" charade" everyone was still in shock. We asked everyone what they had written down regarding what they had witnessed. The statements were ranging from witnessing something "very weird and disturbing" to other groups detailing everything about our costume and antics. We then went on to share what we were doing. We wanted the group to get a handle on why there are 4 different accounts to the life of Jesus and why they are written in different ways. The other point we wanted to make was our desire for the group to stand out and be different in regard to their faith and that in God's eyes they are as obvious to Him as Donald and I were from the crowd in the room. I have to say that I love Donald's sense of fun and his desire to make this connection with the group. Donald had our little performance recorded and I am informed it is on You Tube, but for fear of my integrity being compromised I will not be making the link public :) Donald even titled his clip "B.A.D" Billy And Donald!

I wish you all could see the trouble I am having to pick out stuff to put in here! There are a bunch of stuff that I must rest in the fact that God knows :) I have to mention our journey so far with JR, Dashia, Gideon and Naomi Sheets. They are now pretty much settled into some kind or routine and have their body clocks adjusted to our time. This is now 4 weeks we have been "Getting to know each other" and we like what we see :) We have three months to get enough of a picture to see if we are the right church them and if they are the right family for us. I must qualify that statement by saying that it is obvious that JR and Daisha are a kingdom minded couple and that their focus over the past years has been to prepare for ministry, so their hearts are not in question. We need to know if they are excited about what God is doing here and what God could do if they were here and we need to know if we are excited about what God can do through them, for His church here (hope you can make sense of that). May God continue to make the picture clearer for all of us.

I am still spending much of my time during the day between ministering in the schools and spending time with our teens. These past days it has been so encouraging to see many of them get their sleeves rolled up and help up at the building with stuff for our campaign that starts on Friday :) I can't believe the time has gone so fast and our "Mission UK 2011" begins in three days time!!! We are going to have a Ball! We have pretty much got everything done, but a couple of loose ends to tie up. I was able to meet with David Emslie and Paddy Sullivan yesterday to reassure each other that we are good to go! Jordan Sutherland came with me for the day as we met David and Paddy in Dundee and then went down to Edinburgh to empty Amy's flat and take everything home. Jordan was great company and I am enjoying getting closer to my baby brother in Christ :)

I must quickly mention about the fact that we are growing and that we have visitors coming to church! Wendy (The Human Dynamo) Sutherland is fast growing on our affections and her lovely nature is leading others to come in contact with the church. We are enjoying getting to know Helen, Sam, Kirsty and Chloe! They are a magic bunch and have found the church through Wendy's involvement. Sam and Kirsty are teenagers who are coming to pretty much everything going!

God Bless!