Friday, September 02, 2005

1st Anniversary

So it was one year yesterday that I joined Luton Churches Education Trust, and what a year! Speaking to 1,000 people, organising art residentials, a commitment service, lessons on capital punishment and numerous assemblies, plus of course summer camp and getting gunged!!

We started the new term thinking about God with a simple communion service, time to focus on the one who brought us to this place and to remind ourselves why we do this work.

One challenge that came out through the worship, was to have this focus on God everyday. It might sound simple but it's so easy to try and manage on our own. Last year was good I had no choice, in at the deep end and I clung to God rather like a frightened child hangs onto a parent in a swimming pool but I have my water-wings now, in fact I can even go short distances without them, and to push the metaphor to death, I'm aware that this knowledge may lead me into dangerous waters!

We sang This Is My Desire as one of our songs which includes the lines ...

Lord, I give You my heart, I give You my soul
I live for You alone
Every breath that I take, every moment I'm awake
Have Your way in me.

I wish I was that disciplined. When I prayed last night about all that this year holds Psalm 145 seemed very appropriate ...

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

There is a much wider age mix at LCET this year which is really exciting and feels like it will make for a really dynamic and challenging environment and the words just reminded me of camp where God spoke to the kids in ways we could not have expected. I really want to 'commend' God but also to listen to what those I work with have to say about Him, I also need to meditate or focus on him 'every moment I'm awake'.

Lets hope I can rise to the challenge!