2008 ... An Empty Canvas ...

Well, that's it then ... goodbye 2007 - the good, the bad and the ugly! We will never pass that way again and all we have is memories in our hearts, computers and USB flash drives! For me, the end of a year is really a time of contemplation. Problem is that many of the things I contemplated on and made some sort of plan about this year are still the same things as last year! The wheel goes around ... (until this time next year??)

I went with Lydia and Josiah to a sift play area today whilst Mary and Catherine Young went shopping. I played with Josiah in the play area but Lydia wanted to go to the art studio. I watched her through the window as she painted a beautiful painting, made a pair of binoculars and a thank you card to her family! She loves arts & crafts and I think she is pretty gifted in that area.

Got me thinking about my own life. I guess in every one of us there are things - some natural and some spiritual - that we would love to do. In fact, we sorta think that 'some day' we will actually start to do something towards achieving our plans or dreams. That's me. There are so many things I am delighted with in my life and I wouldn't change - Mary, my two lovely children, our loving and supportive families back home, what God is doing at Sefton, who God has made me, the way I think etc. I love being me but there are some things about me that i know I have not scheduled into my life. And if I don't start to do things soon I guess I never will and will have some regrets. For example, here are four areas:

* Painting. Yup, wee Lydia made me think today. I loved art and I loved painting as a teenager. But life overtakes you and these 'luxuries' take a back seat. But I would love to paint again. I know I would. Actually, three years ago John Partington stayed with us for a week (always dangerous) and he was the same as me. Dave Gilpin challenged him to start painting .. and he did! So John challenged me by saying that he thought I should start! Guess what? John and I searched everywhere for paints and canvases in Manila .. and found nothing. He went home and the moment was gone .....

* Writing. I would love to write more. At school English was my best subject. Even at the age of 10 I was writing descriptive essays that even now, I cannot believe i wrote. My dad started writing a number of years ago and has written many articles that have been published in books and magazines. I know that within me, there are some things that are ready to be written. I don't say that with any sense of pride; I know who I am and the way God has wired me up. I think I am going to start another blog alongside this one that will allow me not just to write about Sefton, but a place where I can begin to write from my heart.

* Songs. Again, I know that there are songs that God has placed within me that will glorify the Lord and lift people up. I know it. I used to lead worship and loved it so much. But I have not led worship since 2003! Incredible. Maybe I made a mistake, I don't know. I felt God was saying, "Step back, train young people to do what you are doing." And I did. Cornerstone and Sefton have some great worship leaders now. But maybe, just maybe, the Lord didn't want me to step back ... but step aside. Maybe I was meant to train them and then minister with them. Anyway, there is a longing deep within my heart to start again in terms of leading worship and writing songs. Pray for me (and my poor fingers!) as I pick up my guitar again.

* Ministry. I guess 2007 has been an interesting year in terms of ministry. Basically, i have worked myself out of a job! Two years ago i was Senior pastor of a new church; now I am pastoring pastors of 6 churches! My role has completely changed. I really felt that we should hand the Leadership of Cornerstone Santiago to Pastor Marlou and he is doing a fantastic work. He is running with the vision and training the people for acts of service. My role is much more of bringing direction, vision and encouragement to this tremendous group of leaders.

Same in the Bible School. We have set up the curriculum, brought in the teachers, set up the Leadership structures and policies, developed the course spiritually as well as academically, got the Bible School into APEO and APTA organisations and generally set everything up. We have appointed a co-director to work with me - Pastor Angel Guillermo. Things have been difficult with the death of Pastor Abe and there are many things we are working through as far as a new dean is concerned. But I feel that 2008 will be a year where the Filipinos can rise up and take ownership and responsibility of the Bible School. This September SBTC will be 10 years old ...

So how about me? I have been really seeking the Lord as to how he wants me to minister. As a Pastor? Evangelist? Mentor? Prophetic? Leading worship? I know that where I am at the moment in terms of ministry is a passing phase. I have had to adapt to the challenges of Cornerstone, SBTC and a new British Team arriving in 2007 to work with us at Sefton. All these areas will change and settle .. but i am asking the Lord, "What do you want me to do? What ares of ministry do you want me to focus on? How do you want to change and develop me? Mmmmm.... interesting!
I have been quite saddened by the news of the death of Phil O'Donnell, the Motherwell captain. He was 35, fit as a fiddle, could run from end to end of a football pitch time and time again in one game ... and suddenly ... he collapses with a heart attack. Unbelievable. It has made me think a lot about certain things in my own life. I want to be like Phil in one aspect ... to be known as a good family man.

In fact, I am writing this blog from a hotel in Manila where me, Mary, Lydia & Josiah are starting a family holiday together. We will be away from Sefton Village for two whole weeks and we plan to just spend time together as a family, have fun and do a bit of travelling. On Saturday we will go to Hong Kong for 4 nights and then we will go to Singapore for 5 nights. The main aim of going to Singapore is to attend a conference hosted by Cornerstone Singapore where the main speaker is Heidi Baker. We went last year and it was incredible. Mary, in particular was so challenged by Heidi's life and ministry and so we decided to return again this year.

In the last 3 years there have been three or four budget airlines that have started up around S-E Asia and so now you can fly to other nearby nations for next to nothing! We are so grateful to the Lord because there have been a few friends who have sponsored/given us gifts for us to have this vacation. You know who you are and we are so thankful for your kindness and encouragement.

I end this extremely long blog (well, I don't know when I will be able to write another one) with a few funny quotes from a funny but challenging book by a Filipino Christian businessman called Francis Kong. The book is called "The early Bird Catches the Worm. But the Second Mouse Gets the Cheese." Here are some quotes about growing older:

* I started out with nothing ... I still have most of it.
* I finally got my head together ... now my body is falling apart!
* Funny, I don't remember being absent minded.
* All reports are now in; Life is officially unfair.
* If all is not lost, where is it?
* It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
* It was all so different before everything changed.
* Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
* It's not the pace of life that concerns me ... it's the sudden stop at the end!
* It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
* If God wanted me to touch my toes he would have put them on my knees!
* It's not hard to meet expenses ... they're everywhere!

To summarise ...

* Be like Paul ... Forget what is past, Live in the now, plan for the future.
* Make 2008 a year where you are determined to at least make a start on the things you know you should. I have shared some of mine; you know some of yours.
* Don't dwell on mistakes, live in guilt or walk with regret. Deal with issues now and your life will change. Short term pruning is painful but the long term rewards are beautiful.
* Life is always changing. Don't stay the same. Ask God for what He wants you to do, where he wants you to go and what He wants to change in you.
* Prioritise your family. Take care of them and love them. Plan that vacation!
* Life can be short. Prepare well.


Selah ...