Mountain Biking to the highest point in the Black Forest

Today I put the new MTB through it's paces by (trying to) follow this route in the Black forest. With a total of 38 km and nearly 2000m uphill climbing, it was a challenging course with many very rewarding views. The weather was not as warm as it had been in recent weeks, so with the additional coolness that comes with the altitude, it was ideal. With 75% complete I treated myself to a bowl of spaghetti bolognese at one of the mountain restaurants.

Academy for World Mission (AWM Korntal)

As I have a lot more free time during my sabbatical I decided to take the opportunity to be a guest student at the AWM in Korntal, located on the outskirts of Stuttgart in Germany. In the photo is our class who took the 10-day MA course "Mission in Europa" with Dr. Klaus Wetzel. I thoroughly enjoyed the teaching, fellowship and the debates in class. Even though I was only auditing the course, I tried to get involved where I could. I even ended up translating German to English during the chapel services and I gave a 30 minute presentation in class on the historical and present day situation among the churches in Northern Ireland. As a result of this positive experience, my appetite for further study has definitely been whet.

10 things 'that jogger' might have wanted to say to you

Joggers see a lot of things that others remain oblivious to. From the wild animals on the trial that disappear into the undergrowth as we turn the corner, to the beautiful views that open out before us as we climb to the summit. We observe the change in colours, the sounds, the smells and feel the pockets of warm and cold air pressing on our bodies. 

We also observe your behaviour and how you react (or more often 'don't react') when you see us coming. Sometimes when I pass people I have conversations with them in my mind. So whether you are the dog walker I pass in Lurgan Park, Northern Ireland or the nordic walker I pass on one of the Black Forest trials in southern Germany, here are 10 things that I might have wanted to say to you (but didn't have the time, the energy or the will power to stop and say):

1. I have no pleasure in making you jump. I don't sneak up on you deliberately. My shoes are quiet (that's why they cost so much). I have tried every trick I can think of. I have shuffled my feet on the gravel, cleared my throat, whistled, exaggerated the noise of my breathing, even given you a wider than necessary berth... but if you are day-dreaming or have headphones in – (unless you wear one of those little rear-view mirrors on your cap peak) there's not much else I can do to stop you jumping. Sorry!
2. Please keep your dog on a lead. Your dog turned around to look at me long before you knew I was coming. He had lots of time to lock his sights on my legs and to plan his attack. I've lost track of how many times a dog has ran after me preparing to stick his teeth into my ever quicker moving Achilles tendons. I did hear you shouting "don't worry he won't bite!" But I'm sorry, I don't believe you?
3. There should be a world-wide ban on retractable dog leads. They may be practical for you, but for runners, they are a bit like a moving tripwire. It's really hard to time a jump successfully to clear it, especially when the light is fading and the legs are tired. 
4. Yes I did see you hesitate and yes I do know that you would have left it lying if you hadn't seen me coming. Dog owners with your poop-a-scoop bags – beware!
5. When five of you are walking side-by-side talking, it would be nice if you could make a little space so that I could get past without stopping or having to step into the 'dog fouling zone'.
6. When we are heading for each other on the same side of the path, I would really appreciate it if you would make the first move and give-way. I'm not saying that it is my right, but I am probably more tired than you are and I have a really good rhythm going that I don't want to break. That's all.
7. I did see you relieving yourself but I looked away and pretended not to. Next time you pick a spot thinking you have enough time before the next walker comes, go a bit further into the forest and remember, runners are faster.
8. How can you be so egoistic as to smoke a cigarette while watching a race? Can you not see that the wind is blowing your smoke across the course where people are running past and breathing in the air you have exhaled? In my book, this ranks away up among "the runners unforgivable sins". Put it out and have a bit of wit!
9. You put on far too much perfume before going out for your walk. I could smell you before I saw you. Why do you put so much on? BTW Sorry about the smell of my clothes. I do wash them but some of the odours are quite stubborn. 
10. Dear car driver, thank you so much for stopping to let me over at the pedestrian crossings. Did you know that if I have to wait, even for a relatively short time, my muscles start ceasing up. I don't know who you are but on behalf of all runners - thank you, you are amazing!

We don't know each other but the next time we make eye contact, I will try to greet you with a smile, (that is, unless I have just completed 20 km on a hot day, in which case, you will forgive me if I do not acknowledge you but simply stare at that moving spot which is fixed to the ground two meters ahead of me.) 
Who knows, maybe someday we will be able to chat for real. I'm sure you too have a list of things you always wanted to tell me.

Meeting up with Michael Kotsch

In autumn 1999, Claudia and I graduated from Brake Bible College and 5 weeks later, we were married by our year teacher, Michael Kotsch. Last week he was in the area for some teaching and it was great to have a chance to catch up with him. Thanks to Anja and Martin (left in photo) for inviting us all over for coffee. They also got married around the same time as us and there were many more couples from our class who weren't too far behind us.

EMA 2013 Pastors Conference

The Scottish-Northern Irish contingent outside Buckingham Palace.

"Faithful - living and preaching in an alien world" was the theme of this years' Evangelical Ministers Assembly which was held for the first time in the Barbican in the centre of London. The teaching was refreshing and bold and as you can see, so was the 'craic'. On the final evening, in a moment of madness, 9 baptist preachers decided to hire some bicycles and to pedal around and see some of the sights of London.
Audio from the main sessions can be downloaded here for free.

 

Today is my 40th birthday!

Thanks to you all for your kind wishes and for all who contributed towards my dream present.

I praise God for every day that He gives to live for His glory.

 

 

My wife's roses (scarman's himalayan musk) in full bloom

The roses are planted in our flowerbeds but they now cover the wall of the farm building next door.
A joy for us and all who pass by!

Trail running on Cannock Chase in England

Pentecost

Today is Pentecost Sunday, and across Europe many are taking a few days off for their pre-summer break (German: Pfingstferien). During this annual celebration in the church calendar, we remember how God gave the Holy Spirit to the Church. No longer (as in the OT) does He only rest on certain individuals for a certain period of time for a specific task. Today He indwells (at the point of conversion) everyone who is a true follower of Jesus Christ. How easy in day-to-day life do we forget this amazing reality that should cause us to reflect on everything we say, think and do – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)

 
Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
© 2006 Thankyou Music  

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4, ESV) 
Click here for the lyrics and the story behind the song

CEF European Conference 2013

Changes were being made right up until arrival day. People dropped out and people turned up that we hadn't expected :) Even before the conference started we were reminded that there was a spiritual battle going on. Several people cancelled at the last minute or were hindered due to illnesses, sudden bereavements, accidents, a twisted foot, refused visa, broken down vehicle, missed plane... then during the conference a vomiting and diarrhoea bug with associated high temperatures went around so that 2 children and an adult ended up in hospital. An early morning phone call from a concerned worker alerted me to an internal drain pipe which came loose during heavy rain and flooded the main foyer (thankfully none of the nearby translation equipment was damaged). Of course, most people knew nothing about any of these things and so they were able to fully enjoy the conference.

In the end, 350 people (plus day guests) from 39 countries were challenged and encouraged by the excellent messages from the book of Hebrews through pastor and author Robert J. Morgan. The seminars from Robert Lugar on issues of identity and balancing marriage with ministry, were particularly practical and appropriate for our workers. Each evening session was concluded with a "heart2heart" message from Reese Kauffman (International President of CEF). Interspersed throughout the main meetings were short reports from the various departments of training, equipping, supporting and member care. Linda Corry and her band representing workers from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Switzerland, Romania and Ireland, led the times of praise. A nice touch this year was that each evening had a focus on one of our four European regions. This was complemented by people wearing national dress and sometimes even providing us all with things to try from their country.

For the second time, I had the responsibility of organising this conference – something I enjoyed a lot. It was very exhausting, but the Lord gave the strength and the ability to think and react quickly as each new situation arose. One week before the conference I was facing an impossible task of fitting 370 registered persons into Schönblick guest house. Some rooms in nearby hotels had been reserved. However in the end everyone had a bed in the centre, and I even had one spare room which right until the end of the conference remained unused.

My thanks goes out to all involved in different ways: sound, lights, power-point, video, interpretation equipment, praise-band, leading meetings, interpreting (8 languages simultaneously), crèche, children's programme, info-point, literature sales, transport, finances, gift purchasing, room allocation... as well as the wonderful staff at Schönblick in housekeeping, catering, administration and maintenance. Thanks also to all who prayed, sent an email or said an encouraging word.
Thanks most of all to God, without Whom we can do nothing.

The 2013 CEF European Conference in Schönblick, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany.

www.cefeuropeanconference.com