:: laughing : dreaming : watching : waiting ::

A huge season of my life has just drawn to a close as I step away from leadership of the Worship Ireland ministry. I don’t like to be too sentimental but it’s been an amazing 3 and a half of years that I’ve been taking some time to reflect on! Didn’t ever really envisage myself typing this email. I’ve a heavy heart as I do. But also a real contentment that God’s plans are the best to follow! 

To be honest, we adopted the name ‘Worship Ireland’ as a complete accident. It began in text messages sent between friends because we didn’t “this worship thing around Ireland” took up too many characters. Before we knew it, the name had gone onto publicity done for a 2 week ministry tour of Ireland we were planning. And the name was then put on the label of some CD’s we recorded for outreach purposes soon after because the licensing company wanted some sort of name for the project. And it stuck from there…kinda as an accident, but the concept of God awakening people in our land to worship Him seemed to sum up what we were about!

But for me, the term Worship Ireland represents so much. It represents many encounters with God. I’m reminded of seeing countless lives impacted and changed for Jesus. It speaks to me of the privilege of leading worship in over 100 churches, venues and events around Ireland. Many special friends. Scores of fun moments. Thousands of miles travelled.

If anyone had told me that over 50,000 of those “There must be more” CD’s would be provided for, produced and distributed around the nation then I would never have sung on it. I hated hearing my voice and knew that I didn’t have a great voice, but just followed where God seemed to be leading at the time, unaware of what He would do with our humble efforts. I mean, we didn’t even bother practising that much for that recording!!

I just remember that we set out to support churches across Ireland who had a heart to reach out in their area, but were struggling for resources to do so. As we went to places like Letterkenny, Donegal and Mayo, we would always seek ways of involving the locals in your outreach. And not just involving them, but passing responsibility back over to them so that one day soon you won’t be needed…

And I guess that time has now arrived with me. And while I feel like I leave a piece of my heart behind it’s tremendously freeing in another as I get to focus on what God has called me to do in this next wee while.

One season over. Another chapter beginning. But my heart remains the same. To play a small part in supporting, encouraging, inspiring and building up the church of Jesus Christ around this nation, in whatever way I can. Speaking. Leading worship. Spending time with people. Praying. Leading. Going.

What a privilege!

was away camping part of this weekend with my BB and we took them to church on the sunday morning.  we do this every year.  i suppose part of the outreach of bringing them into church so its not so alien for them all.  we also have a church service or 2 for them to attend throughout the year.

but on sunday i was thinking to myself that sometimes these services have a harmful effect on these kids.  alienating them further.  creating a false picture of what a relationship with Jesus looks like.  boring them.  turning them off church…and maybe even Jesus. many of the kids hated it, and won’t be rushing back to church in a while.

its got me thinking about how we can better present Jesus in these corporate ways.  and how can we make church more accessible for those who have no time for Jesus?  should we even bother gathering loadsa people together at one time to tell them this great news, or should the message be shared in a much more personal way?  meaningful relationships.  trusted words.  suited to the context.

i’ve no answers yet but the cogs are in motion regarding this one.  perhaps Paul shared my frustrations…

“I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.”
1 Corinthians 11:17b

thanks for your comments to my last post.  still feeling much the same in some ways but taking this week very easy.  played golf & snooker, had lunch and went to the gym with some of my mates today which was really nice to do.  tomorrow i’m going to sleep for a while in the morning and then take a bit of time reading my bible.  i’ve missed that recently.  often a couple of quick chapters isn’t enough for me.  God speaks to me loads when i read the bible so i’m looking forward to hearing His voice in that way.

I don’t usually sleep in the afternoons. Nor is it normal for me to hate the sight of my email system or blog account. It’s not often that I crash to bed before midnight without the desire to pick up my Bible.

But that’s my story this week.

I’m reading emails and bebo comments but can’t summon the energy to reply to them. I’m enjoying being with Sarah but can’t seem to really share with her how I’m feeling. It’s easy for me to be with a crowd of people but I struggle to engage with anything meaningful.

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall” Isaiah 40:30

It feels like there is more going on that just being sleepy in the mornings but I guess I’m just clinging to the promise that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

I’m involved this week in a huge project called Spark 07 in Ballymena. It’s really exciting to see over 150 young people from the Ballymena area come together for the purpose of serving God and serving people in this community.

I would really encourage you to pray for this week as 19 teams of young people will work across 7 areas of Ballymena. Every morning they will gather to worship and hear God’s word together. Then in the afternoons the teams will be out doing various practical projects to serve people in the communities, while there will be several different events each evening.

We had our training day and commissioning event yesterday, and to be honest it was a bit of a dream for me to see God’s people from over 50 churches come together for this. Our tag line is “Uniting / Loving / Being” and those 3 words help sum up what Spark 07 will be all about!

PS – You can check out the Spark 07 prayer blog at www.spark07.wordpress.com to guide you in your praying!

I’m reminding myself this week that Jesus walked a hard road in life. He was often lonely, frustrated, misunderstood and abused. And then an even harder road leading towards death.

I’ll never experience all that He went through, but at times recently life’s felt a wee bit tough. It would have been easier to sit by a beach on the Meditarannean for 2 weeks. But I’m not here for an easy ride and so am prepared for the times of struggle, doubt, frustration and misunderstanding. And in those times I’ll look to my Saviour who endured it all, trusting that He will lead me to quiet waters to restore my soul!

It’s that time aside that I need so desperately and that I’m craving more and more every day. And it’s the first thing I often let slip when pressure kicks in.

So in the run up to the kickoff of a pretty huge initiative called Spark 07 (www.spark07.com) over these next 2 days, with things to organise, emails to send and people to speak to, I determine to fix my eyes on Jesus and seek out that quiet spot with Him!

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” ” Mark 6:31