half term this week so family time…sat here in the garden with sunshine writing this…this is the life !! Yesterday went canoeing with Mark on the canal and now have ‘the bug’ to buy a canoe !!

So what did David Merrow’s book challenge me with ?

i) that there are different men ‘types’…some represented in the church and others not (e.g how many local team football players are in your local church ?) 

ii) that  many church buildings are very ‘feminine’ with the use of flowers and banners (how long before cushions appear ?!!!!)

iii) that men are more likely to respond to the CHALLENGE of the gospel rather than the COMFORT of the gospel

…and lots more !!!!

Next week was going to be my walking week on the Pilgrims way which was abandoned. So instead I am going to walk the Isle of Wight Coastal Path alone…solitude is good for you,they say !

After all the excitement of the last few weeks, this last week has been relatively quiet (thus, no photo this week !) So Fleet Town FC finished off the season with another trophy last Wednesday …that’s FOUR this year.

I visited the Christian Resources Exhibition twice last week and it is amazing what companies were exhibiting that they thought the church needed ! Went to a seminar by Dave Hopwood,writer of ‘The Bloke’s Bible’, who got me thinking about the fact we often refer to the Bible as our ‘manual for life’ but how many men read manuals for anything ?!!

Yesterday I had the sad news that my long walk along the Pilgrim Way has been cancelled due to my walking partners back being in agony. Now looking for an alternative BUT it does mean that I am around that week during my daughters busiest exam week.. HELP !!!!!

I’m currently into lots of reading and in particular David Merrow’s ”Why men hate going to church’ out of which I hope to produce a questionnaire to men in the church to not only see if the book is correct in its claims but also to see how we can make the church more appealing for men. Seems to me that the Christian gospel as we read it in the Bible is OK for men…lots of action and ‘doing’….. it’s just what the church has made the faith which put’s men off !  e.g ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’ . Discuss !!

History has been made. My very first motorcycle ride on the back of a good friends BMW (see pic). Now I’ve got the ‘bug’ and want to do it again so any church members who have a bike, I’m interested ! I was told I was a good pillion rider but there is a knack to it. When going round a corner you have to do the same as the driver, whereas the natural reaction is to counter-balance and lean the other way. Now there’s a sermon about leaning God’s way to keep your balance rather than going your own way and potentially falling off !

Attended the Northern Christian Men’s Convention on Saturday where it was good a) to worship and be with about 700 men…and b) for me not to be the youngest !  It just struck me what a tremendous potential there is for the gospel if we can make it more relevent and appealing for men

Oh yes…a sadness in my life (I’m not mentioning certain events over the last week with a certain North London Team) Last night I attended my last Fleet Town FC match for this season. What am i going to do without football to go to ? Ah well,we won two more cups in the space of a week…and possibly one more this Wednesday

Thought for this week – So long as I know Jesus, I have a future

What a week !

My nerves just stood up to Fleet Town FC historically winning the Hampshire Cup on Thursday night…. scoring the only goal in the second minute of added time. Just as Kathryn and I were saying a certain player had been anonymous for the second half and should be substituted, he pops up and scores the winner. So what do I know about football ?!!!

This last weekend Mark and I have been on a ‘Dads and Lads’ weekend (see above pic!) at Lee Abbey. A wonderful place (though don’t trust a sat nav to get there!) and a great weekend including bushcraft,archery, climbing and zip wiring. The picture gives evidence of my being able to cook…though it could be a restricted diet !

This morning I’ve started a book called ‘Spadework’ by Carl Beech who looks at 52 men of the Bible. Today looking at Adam and whether men ’sulk’…..now that should provoke comments !

Thought for this week…. manly love is more than providing for your children

The rest of this week holds a good walk for training in preparation for donig the Pilgrims Way later this month and attending the Northern Christian Vision for Men conference in Manchester…more of that next week.