Bring It On!

I've spent the past week being orientated for my new job as UCCF staff worker for Reading and Guildford. It was busy week, packed full of information which it will take a while for me to digest. It was also quite fun. All of the colleagues I met (new and not-so-new staff) are great. I also did some checking, and the three new staffworkers in the South East (Ben, Lisa and me) score a fun rating of 36/30. Good news.

Highlights included getting to know my fellow new staff and people who will be my colleagues for the next few years; Mike Reeves getting VERY excited about doctrine; studying the whole of 2 Peter; the hilarious collapsing camp-beds; getting excited about the theology of Santa Claus and peas (not together, that would be ridiculous); lots of lovely admin (OK, the admin wasn't a highlight, but it was good to have it all spelled out); the invention of an exciting new game - look out for Vegetaboule 2008 at Forum! And there were lots more...

But above all it was great to be reminded constantly what this is all about proclaiming the gospel on campus. I got a sobering reminder of this in a session on evangelism by my new team leader Nay, and Dave Bish, my predecessor in Reading and Guildford. There are apparently 21,000 students in R&G. And there are 190 Christian students involved in Christian Unions. That's a huge challenge, and a huge opportunity. If it was anything else, I think I'd give it up now. But this is the gospel. It's relevant to every single one of those 21,000 students. And it's not just a marketing exercise - it's world-changing news. And I'm really excited to be here to help the CUs take the gospel to those 21,000 students. Bring it on!

All Change

In the last few weeks there have been some pretty big changes going on. Today I officially start working for uccf:thechristianunions as their Reading and Guildford staffworker. As you'll note, Reading and Guildford are quite a way from Southend, so I have also had to move house. I now live in Reading!

I've been here less than a week. In fact, I've only been here for a few days, because I went on holiday to Derbyshire for a bit. But I'm already beginning to feel that I will be able to settle in Reading.

I've already seen God's provision in a big way as I moved. The house I'm in was literally the only option I found. When I came to look at it, I found out it's in a great location (near to the centre, near to the station, and in a cul-de-sac with a church on one corner and a pub on the other!). It's also owned by missionaries, which is quality - I'm supporting world mission by paying the rent!

I'm sure I'll have lots of things to say about Reading in the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned. But for now, I'm thanking God that I have a roof over my head (which is good - does it ever stop raining in Reading?!), and it's a pretty nice roof. With no pigeons (long story...).

Later today I'm off to rural Oxfordshire to be orientated (if that's even a word) in my new job. While I'm away, why not have a look at RUCU's new website. And so they don't feel left out, look at Surrey's too.

Amusing Theological Discussions #2

On The Wright Stuff this morning. Richard Bacon, Anne Diamond, Craig Revel Horwood and the woman off of 10 years younger, discussing something like "should religious myths be taught to children?" I especially liked Anne's comment: "Remember, the Bible was written a very, very long time ago." Thanks Anne.

[OK, so I didn't actually post Amusing Theological Discussions #1. But it was June Sarpong on the Andrew Marr show. I think there was lots of talk about knife crime, so they had a young-ish person on to look through the newspapers. I think she was a bit out of her depth when she started discussing the Lambeth conference. Thanks anyway June.]

MRTU: It's a Tragedy

There's definitely more to come on reaching non-readers with the gospel - I've found lots of resources which I'll be working my way through. But I thought I'd take a break to have a More Random Than Usual post...

I'm currently finishing my job. Technically I finished working for Ferndale Baptist Church yesterday, and am unemployed until I start my new job with UCCF on 18th August. Oddly my first day of freedom seems quite similar to yesterday - I'm still sitting at my desk doing odds and ends. I think I may be like Morgan Freeman in Shawshank Redemption, institutionalised and unable to function in the real world...

But it's been having a weird nostalgia-inducing effect on me (I was actually looking at my old school's website today quite randomly). And then I found this on youtube:



Why does no-one do it like this anymore? This was probably my favourite steps cover (even including Better The Devil You Know)! I miss cheesy pop with hideously complicated dance routines. And I miss Steps, (even though they ruined Christmas 2001 by splitting on Boxing Day). So, for your viewing and listening pleasure, here are some more classics...

(Specially selected so you can see the dance moves!)

5,6,7,8


Last Thing On My Mind


And, of course, Tragedy