The last few days have been hectic- with some notable ups and downs:
Good- the Willow Creek Leadership Summit in Bristol on Friday.
Very Good- Bill Hybels' interview with writer, film-maker and founder of Make Poverty History, Richard Curtis.
Good- the ensuing discussions with Chris, Steve and Kate, the other leaders from City Temple who travelled with me.
Very Good- going to watch Cardiff Blues v. Leinster with Bethan on Friday night. I love this Dad and Daughter time.
Very Bad- Cardiff's performance as they lost 19-30 and threw away a 17 game unbeaten home league record.
Good- travelling to Rachel and John's wedding on Saturday- they both used to work for Ignite.
Very Good- the speech by Peter James, Rachel's vicar, who gave her away and in the long-term absence of a father spoke highly of Rachel's mum. Peter and his wife also bought Rachel's wedding dress. The man of God modelled the fact that God is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows.
Good- seeing Maaike and Wouter, and baby Jolijne, from Holland.
Very Bad- listening to the last few minutes of the match on my transistor radio in the wedding reception as Fiji beat Wales in the rugby world cup.
Bad- long journey home late night Saturday.
Good- getting to know Vicky Blyth from Scripture Union Wales a little better as she travelled with Gill and I.
Very Good- Jay Fallon's sermon on Sunday morning about The Hidden Power of Greatness- servanthood! When boxers have had enough and can't go on they throw in the towel. As soon as we throw our towel in, and lose our servant attitude, the devil has us just where he wants us. If you want to be the first, then be the first to love, forgive, serve, show compassion, act mercifully, and thank the Lord for the towel of servanthood that you carry around.
Good- praying for Mel Price in the morning service. She's off with Elim International Missions to Mozambique where she'll be using her Occupational Therapy training and her passion for youth and children's ministry.
Good for him, bad for us- our son James flies to Dallas, Texas today to begin a new life in the USA. He's really excited and can't wait to settle back into Dallas life (he was there for 6 months last year), but we'll miss him. Gill will especially find it tough.
Very Bad-The England cricket team's abject performance in losing to Sri Lanka in the first one day international of the series.
Good-anticipating tonight's concert at St. David's Hall in Cardiff with Roger Hodgson, Supertramp's main writer and lead singer. Bring it on!