Grace...

About time I put some comments up on here! Where to begin??? Let's start out with an overview and see where things go from there. Although it has been August since my last post the reason for my inactivity has been too much activity! Thankfully in the past few weeks I have been able to look through new eyes with a different set of priorities and, God willing, the outcome will mean more beneficial ministry. There were times over the past months I have been such a control freak and without it being my intention, I was not giving God much room to bring about His will. My mind would constantly be thinking and anxious about many things - mainly older teens. I felt like I was responsible for the well-being of their souls, needless to say this was a burden I could not bear! God has been teaching me over the past weeks that my best efforts no matter how noble mean little if they are not married to the Spirit and leaving room for His will. Since the summer we have seen a group of older teens stop coming to church and this has been a hard lesson. It brings home the realities of things out-with my control - the realities of an individuals choice, the pull of this World, the need to understand God's timing and not knowing when the seeds of faith will produce Life. As I am typing this and I have the time to think clearly about the past events, I am thankful to God for the clarity and insight this affords me.

Although my opening comments are a bit on the melancholy side, I am still in awe of what God continues to bring about in His church! Over the same period we have seen growth in other areas and reason to be excited about the coming years ahead. Both our Wednesday night and Friday night classes have seen significant growth. Friday night is where the journey begins again! We may have lost a few for a time, but we have gained much more! I must take a couple of sentences to mention the influence and encouragement that Dylan Sutherland has been to me. Dylan is 15 and in the past couple of months has been responsible for around 6 or 7 of his friends finding their way to Friday nights at church! Dylan has always been an extraordinary young man and it is my joy to have him in our group at this time. Just last week he lost his mum pretty suddenly. I am thankful to be able to be there for him and because of his interest in God over the years it helps. Please, when you have a moment, share a prayer for Dylan and his family - Brian (dad), Shantelle (sister), Angelo, Troy and Vernon (brothers).

I must express my penned up excitement for the beginning of a new chapter in our Church's journey.  JR, Daisha, Gideon and Naomi Sheets, God willing, will be here in March 2013! The best things in life are seldom easy to come by and the story being unfolded with JR and Daisha is no exception. We have much to be thankful for in light of their coming to work with us. God's timing is proving once again to be right! Yes, it would have been lovely to have had them here six months ago, but that would have meant we would have been all the poorer for it. We have been blessed to come to know and appreciate the Fairfax Church of Christ in Virginia. JR and the family are spending time with them in preparation for their move over here next year. Fairfax are hugely involved in this partnership and only God knows what this relationship will produce in the coming years as we deepen our relationships. We have already begun working towards a campaign in July 2013. Fairfax will be sending a group of 23 to work with us. This will be a first for us in the sense that the group are primarily teens with 5 adults. We are hopeful that the connections  that have already begun via Facebook, will bring both groups together and cause relationship in light of the Kingdom. Again, we ask that you pray with us in light of the good work that God has begun, but more importantly what He will bring to fruition :)  These comments do not do justice to what's in our hearts as we dream of what God has in store.

I mentioned at the beginning that sometimes God re-arranges our priorities in order to bring us into closer relationship with Him. One of our top priorities these past months has become Fenella's mum and dad -  Jack and Alexa. They have had quite a time of illness and much of it has left them housebound. With Fenella being their only child, the joy of caring for them fall primarily with us. Fenella takes care of all the more serious stuff and I am the message boy :) I make sure they have what they need when they need it. I have got to know the routine and what to bring on the said day. Even though they are family and it is what we do, it is still nice to have this avenue to do good deeds. I am growing to appreciate what God is teaching me through Jack and Alexa. They are so thankful for any help given - it humbles me. Alexa is slowly getting stronger and is able to get out and about more. She has been able to be at church these past couple of weeks and true to form is able to encourage everyone simply because she is there and brings her gentle spirit and warm smiles. Jack is showing signs of improving, but has still a distance to go. His blood is still being monitored closely due to blood clots in his lungs and while on the blood thinning medication he must wait till Feb/March next year to have a small surgery to repair some damage. However, God willing, this will give him the ability to enjoy more freedom in the not too distant future. Your prayers would be lovely  :)

In this section I will not be specific with those involved, but I will be on the impact it has had on my life. In a word it is "GRACE." I don't think there is a time in my life where I have learned or appreciated the beauty and power that is contained within the concept of grace. This term has led me to spend time with many who are struggling with sin and got themselves tangled up in it's consequences.In the process I am learning that it is impossible to minister without Grace. Yes, we can council and inspire, but in order for love to be the motive, we must be seasoned by grace. It is a joy to witness the evidence of God's grace beginning to defeat the ravages of sin - Thank God for His Church!

We have been involved in a bunch of activities with the youth since the summer. One of the highlights was the Aberdeen Youth Weekend. We took a big group through and enjoyed the weekend together. We had a couple of "growing" times with some of the group. I have come to learn that these times are necessary and in fact have led to healing most of the time. It was good to catch up with some good friends and getting to mingle in that atmosphere is one of my favourite things to do :)  It was my joy to stand in for Richard Harp, who was down to preach on the Sunday morning. Richard was taken to hospital pretty suddenly and spent some time on his back very ill just before the weekend. Thankfully, he has recovered now :)

A couple of weekends ago it was my time to travel up to Buckie and preach there. It turned out to be a cracking day, thanks to Jordan coming for the day with me. The journey there and back passed so quickly as we talked and shared. We were able to encourage the church and in the afternoon I took Jordan to visit a dear friend up in Cullen - Avril Bowie and Calum her son. It was so good to visit and talk! Off course, we nipped in for some ice cream while we were there in Cullen. The day was long, but it was such a blessing.

We have done some stuff with our young adults on Sunday nights - mostly going out to places of interest where we can enjoy the company. We have explored castles, walked around Bullers O' Buchan, done Aden Park a couple of times, Bowling, Movies and chilled out at McDonald's.

December will be a busy month! Our family will share in Holly and Hannah's 12th birthday, Amy's 21st, my 45th and Fenella's birthday at the end of the month. It will be our 23rd anniversary on the 1st and then there's Christmas to top things off! We have pretty much got the youth group outings and carol singing dates sorted. The schools are in till the 21st, so when the 22nd comes around we will breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy time with the family at home - bliss!

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might."

Holly and Hannah's first day at Academy (High School)

Beth getting settled in her Glasgow halls

Bowling night out - Ethian, Jordan, Donald, Megan and C.J.

Fun - ducking for apples :)

Chalk and Cheese!