Who will you support???

The European Championships are upon us next week and England, as if we needed reminding are not going to be there! So who will you support!

My selection are the Netherlands! One of reasons why is that I went to see them at Euro '96 against the Swiss. The dutch fans were brilliant! A blanket of orange covered Villa Park and they never stopped singing and chanting for there team. Not only that I remember These two old dutch guys next to Mark and I who hugged us when the dutch scored.

The only good thing is that I can watch the games without getting nervous, disappointed or delirious about England performances and no Meta-Tarsal's in sight!!!

Come on the dutch!

Matt

Weak and irrelevant leaders wanted!

"I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self." (In the name of Jesus by Henri J.M Nouwen,1987:17)

Having read this in light of being commissioned as an Officer (minister) in the Salvation Army, i was challenged by what it meant and more importantly, what it looked like. We are told the church needs to be relevant, up to date and connected with it's community. We are taught that leadership involves having tools for the tasks presented before us. What on earth is Nouwen getting at.

Actually, I think it is quite simple. We need skills, tools, passions and knowledge but not at the expense of knowing Jesus. His weakness is the source of our strength, His (seeming) irrelevance gives us authority in this world. Jesus must come first in all we do. "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).

I repeat my call (for myself as much as anyone else); "Weak and irrelevant leaders wanted!"

I'll take the Job!

Matt

A time to run!

Well, I've done it. I have entered the ballot for the London Marathon for 2009.
I have always wanted to do it but never got round to it (probably never plucked up the courage to do it) but hopefully next year I will.
I have even planned some running routes and downloaded a training schedule. But I need to now find the motivation to go out running to prepare for the 26 miles ahead. It won't just happen, I need to put some effort in to finish - alive.

I update my blog with my progress.

Matt