Eastenders

It's 3.22 a.m in the early hours of Monday morning and I can't sleep! What makes someone sit at their computer, tapping away when they could be curled up in bed? the answer is Eastenders.

No! Not the Pat Butcher and Phil Mitchell variety, but the Poplar Salvation Army variety, and variety is the operative word.

You see, today Kevin and I lead our last Sunday at Poplar whilst on summer placement there and I just can't get the last twelve weeks out of my head. It's been an amazing summer, full of amazing people in a place where every day is different.

Highlights? The day at Clacton-on-Sea, listening to the stories of incredible lives at luncheon club, the banter at the cafe, experiencing nigerian hospitality, the children's holiday club, getting to know theParadise Zone gang, seeing new lives committed to God within the Salvation Army...

I'm looking forward to being back at College and will be quite glad if I never see the number 15 bus again, but I know that tomorrow, as I complete my final day on placement, I am going to feel quite empty.

So to all at Poplar, thank you for letting me be a part of your lives for these few weeks. We were thanked today for our ministry to you, but you taught us so much more. Thank you Christine, Bram, Laura, Gordon and Kate for your care and patience with us.

Poplar will always have a special place in our memories.

In His Hands

Sometimes life htis you unexpectedly between the eyes and Wednesday evening was one of those occasions.

I received a telephone call to tell me that a friend had died suddenly. She was young, beautiful, intelligent but had a drink problem which cast a shadow over much of her life. We don't yet know all the circumstances surrounding her death, but all I could feel was a sense of sadness at the waste of such a lovely person. Her dependence on alcohol robbed her of everything and yet I know she loved God even though every day was a struggle for her.

At the same time, I received a message to tell me that another friend had died from cancer. This time it was a much older friend who, even in her painful last moments, knew that the time had come for her to meet Jesus in heaven. Her faith in life and death has taught me so much and I know that her funeral will be a celebration of a life lived for God.

So, two very sad deaths in very different circumstances. Its made me realise how important it is to make sure that every moment on earth counts for something. It's not for me to judge who goes to heaven and who doesn't but I like to think that they are both safe with Jesus now, that their physical and emotional suffering is now over.

Rest in peace.

All Good Things ...

All good things must come to an end, and so I am back in London, holiday over! On the last day of my holiday, I sat on the beach in the beautiful sunshine andthe scene around me took my breath away. I think it was because I knew I was about to return home and I just wanted to capture my surroundings and keep them in my mind forever.

The photograph above is the scene I saw from my deckchair.

This evening I came across this Jewish prayer and it took me right back to that memory on the beach ...

If my lips could sing as many songs as there are
waves in the sea:
If my tongue could sing as many hymns as there are ocean billows:
If my mouth filled the whole firmament with praise:
If my face shone like the sun and moon together:
If my hands were to hover in the sky like powerful eagles and my feet ran across mountains as swiftly as the deer;
All that would not be enough to pay you fitting tribute, O Lord my God.