GodBlog

New Church

I really should mention that I have deftly switched churches since I started writing this occasional blog.

The reason is simple, I needed to find a church at which I could worship with my wife (TL), and the one I was attending wasn't working out for us as a couple, although I liked a lot about it myself.

I am happy now, on both counts. The new church is a wonderful place for me and for us as a couple. It's called County Church, Wansbeck - and is, of course, in the delightful rurality of Northumberland. We were pointed there by my esteemed friend, Tim Sokell - and I am so glad he did.

I've left this post for long enough to be sure that the honeymoon effect is not too strong, and so when I say that I am bowled over by the strength and sincerity of the love shown in the church, I really mean it. Here, I feel, are people living the life and not just going through the motions of christianity. It's like a breath of fresh air.

The worship is relaxed and open. The teaching is great and I have a lot of respect for the leaders. I have never been in a church before that so closely matches my own vision of how church can and should be. It is profoundly humbling and at the same time massively challenging. I find myself wanting to take a full part in the church and I was delighted to be welcomed, along with TL, into membership this Sunday.

This is also the first time in a long time that I have been part of a local church. For one reason or another I have often driven 25 niles or more to church. It's rather nice to have a church that is just a short drive away, and this adds to our ability to be involved on all levels.

I am under no illusions, there will certainly be hard times, but I feel with so many hearts most definitely in the right place, the chance for success in adversity is so much greater.

I'd better stop now, before this looks too much like an "I'm alright, jack" sort of posting. I'll get back to soul-searching pretty soon. You'll see.

Explore Faith Dot Org

I happened across this site, pretty much by random.

Unusually for an American site, the views are balanced and open in their perspective. I actually felt like the people writing them were living in the real world. In so many ways (apart from the design) this is the kind of site I would like to be a part of.

I'd be interested to know whether you react in the same way I do to it.

Here we go...

I don't really want to fill my personal blog full of God-Talk, for a few very good reasons:

1) I really do not want anyone to think I am stuffing religion in their face.

2) I'd rather write here for people that are genuinely interested.

3) I see this as too big a subject to be contained within a general blog.

4) I'd be delighted if this generated discussion, and I don't want it to take-over my personal blog.

So GODBLOG exists in its own right. I will post here only when I have something which I think is worth saying, so please don't expect any sort of regularity.

I do not intend to preach here, but I will be sharing ideas and concepts that are flying around in my head. Often their will be more questions than answers, but maybe that's as it should be.

Please join in, it helps a lot.