Well its been a while and so much has changed it's hard to know where to start.
First thing I guess would be to say that Odette and I are now back in Covenant with the Jesus Fellowship, Praise The Lord!!!
We had thought that was going to be with one of the Sheffield houses, but for reasons I won't go into on here, God had seemingly pointed us in the direction of a different household, namely Kings in Warwickshire.
Steve, Dave and the rest of the saints at Kings have been amazing this past six months and to be honest it's a little bit like coming home again, after all we did live in Rugby for two years. I do have to say one thing though - without the love and support of Andrzej, Sharron and the rest of Chosen Pearl we would not have made it to the place we now stand. I pray only blessings upon all of the Sheffield saints and if God points us that way in the years to come I know we will be able to serve them and love them with a clean heart.
So here I am, after all those years away from the Lord, and the church, sat looking at my Jesus Army jacket.. WOW!!!
Noel had a favorite saying back in the ninties when ever someone would come to him with this problem or that problem.. .'brother so and so has just ..... blah blah...'... Noel would sigh and then quietly reply, "Grace bro, grace is ever the way...' Apparently this would leave many a leader exasperated at not being given a clear direction as to what to do with brother so and so.. but then they had their answer.. GRACE!
Without grace I wouldn't be here today. Grace from those in the fellowship that I let down over the years when they placed their trust and hopes in me. Grace from those outside of the fellowship or on the edges that were looking to me to help them find the truth (only God knows how many that is...) and finally grace from God Himself.
When I ranted and raved about Him and to Him about so many little things that looking back really were very little indeed. All these things came between me and my God, me and my people.
With Grace comes love. Love is patient, it is kind, and for some one like me, it really does not keep a record of wrongs. It forgives all things, endures all things... and love never gives up on someone.
On Teusday the 31st September 2010 I remade my vows of covenant with a bunch of folks who God Himself ordained me to be with. I did not do this lightly, I have had over twelve months to think about this and I know that this time things will be different.
The devil isn't going to screw with my head this time telling me I am not worthy of a jacket or what it stands for.
I am loved, I am apreciated, I am a part of the body of Christ known as the Jesus Army - Jesus Fellowship, and nothing satan whispers to me can changed that.
Jesus Christ is Lord!
As part of the re-shuffle going on around Preston and Blackpool Odette and myself are now what we call Style 4 to a household in Sheffeild called Chosen Pearl.
Style 4 basically just means we are part of a household that is quite some distance from where we live and because of this we would not be expected in any way to make any more meeting than we felt we could.
Having said all that, we really are feeling out if it, a long way away from the central church and we desperately needed some fellowship.. so on Thursday 15th of April we set off for Sheffield.
I won't bore you all with long stories of what we got up to.. but one thing I do want to do is go on record as to how thankful we were to Andrzej, Sharron and all the rest of the Chosen Pearl household for looking after us all so wonderfully.
So what do I remember the most from this weekend..???
Sitting in the living room and watching my wife getting along with SIX other sisters as if she just belonged.. that's not something I have seen before...
Seeing Kimberley, Kerenza and Charlotte sit by the side of Charis and Naomi on the Sunday morning and then stand up to worship.. again.. my youngest two haven't always wanted to do this.
Of being out with Scott, Andy, Liz and Heidi on the streets of Sheffield Friday night doing a BBQ! "Lord Jesus, the young lady we met who said she wanted to get back to going to church.. BLESS HER LORD, bring her into Your Kingdom. Let the Glass collecting brother be touched by the love of Jesus and let him want to know more about your church.. In Jesus Name.."
Going walking with my shepherd, Andrzej and sharing our hearts with one another, I know I can work with this man, he has a heart for the things of God.
Meeting again old friends, Geoff, Miriam, Mike, Gladys, Jonno and strengthening new friendships with Shawn and Ann along with Adrian and his family.
This was the first of many weekends we will spend there, but already my family want to know when were are moving over to Sheffield. If you are reading this and your are a person of prayer, please say one for us all. I only want to walk in the direction God wants me to go.. is Sheffield that direction.. I don't know.. I need God to speak.