INTERN FAREWELL

Heading up to the North Coast for the final intern retreat of the year- it has been a great year with the 15 students on our course, i have loved getting to know them and will miss them next year. no blogging till friday so have a good week.

I AM ONE

Last night our youth ministry [VERSION 2.1] celebrated it's first seasion as we move in a new direction, we changed things around, have done stuff ppl told us we wouldn't be able to do and have seen God move and bless among our young people and leaders. we had awards, party games and of course birthday cake and karaoke!

thanks to everyone who has made this year happen - we have written our first chapter, now lets get crackin' on the second

BEBO

So last night i took the plunge and started looking into BEBO, after a conversation at the weekend with one of my leaders, where we talked about youth ministry's response to the phenomania that is MYSPACE & BEBO.

Gosh it is just one big network of connected young people on the local BEBO site. i definetly have not got my head round it and need to fast, how do you educate young people to be responsible for what they post, how they post, what challenges and opportunities does it bring to the church? I would love to hear how others are working through/responding to this?

life was so much easier when SMS was around! bring back the good old days eh?

ENVY

So it started on saturday down at Mega Life Concert, (which was great btw) and will continue at Summer Madness (the biggest youth event in Ireland), the round of conversations with different youth leaders/pastors/general youth groupies. i find at things like these two kinds of youth leaders, those i can be myself with and have a laugh, chat and be honest with, and those whose insecurities bring out the worse in me! after a good number of years i have learnt to recognise it in myself and others, when ppl start talking about their programs when you have not asked them to, when they tell you about the numbers they have coming to their programs, when they ask you the killer question 'how many you got?' - they are all signs of an underlining issue of competition, lack of belief in what they are doing, insecurity, envy and lack of peace.

came across this cracker proverb (14:30) -'a heart at peace gives life to the body but envy rots the bones'

so this year at Summer Madness, i don't want to get all competitive and defensive when i hear what God is doing in other places, i want to practice and pursue a heart of peace, if you hear me getting into conversation that is going down the envy/competition road reel me back in! Kingdom means cheering each other on

to dave L, pete J, steve P, keith N and the loads of others on saturday who were real - cheers, it was good hanging out

BBQ SAUCES

Here is my favourite BBQ seasoning at the minute, a zesty little number from TESCO, Mustard and Maple Syrup Glaze with Whiskey, perfect for salads and chicken

WATER SLIDE CITY

just back from a great day at aqua park down in the algarve with our friends mark and jude loney who pastor a church in Milfontes. i spoke at their church on sunday morning which was great - no missed translations that i know of and then in the afternoon found my true calling by taking a womens mtg with two over 60's! all good fun!

ciao