tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304439182024-03-19T22:40:15.631+00:00Rants from Mr GantThoughts and reflections on my life with JesusRusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-42908206698705317832010-10-26T09:40:00.002+00:002010-10-26T09:50:59.103+00:00Tax CollectorI am in the process of writing a small group course for <a href="http://www.bigbible.org.uk">bigbible.org.uk</a> called "Meetings with Matt" - four sessions on fundamentals from Matthew's Gospel. I have spent the morning trying to get into the character of Matthew (or Levi as Mark and Luke refer to him).<br />I can relate to this guy. He once worked for the government - Matthew collected taxes from those traveling the highway between Damascus and the sea, I collected council tax from local residents who generally thought it was highway robbery! Matthew was despised by his fellow countrymen, I was despised by market traders, allotment holders, football clubs, visitors to the public parks and gardens, cemeteries, you name it, at some time or other, they had it in for me as the head of the council.<br />Like Matthew, when I met with an incredible teacher, who wanted me to learn from Him, I was amazed that someone like me, could be called to follow this Master, this Prophet. Before long, I realised that He was more, much more. A King, a Saviour, the Lord. And all I could do was, pack up the tax collecting and follow!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-61839772025616536792010-10-12T13:19:00.004+00:002010-10-12T13:34:46.283+00:00Back to Blogging!I can hardly believe it's been over three years since I have added anything to my blog. Well here goes as I attempt to write some occasionally interesting, rarely profound, but (hopefully) always positive ramblings on all sorts of topics.<br /><br />As a Christian, I hope my blogs will be honest as I reflect on life as someone who has, as an adult, chosen to become a follower of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Why would a young guy of thirty-something choose to even write the name of some (possibly) bearded, carpenter fella that lived 2,000+ years ago? How did this man have such a influence on human history? How come those that claim to follow Him have been some of the most amazing people to ever live and also some of the worst?<br /><br />How is it that our calendars were reset as a result of His birth? Why is the book that not only predicts His life, but then goes on to chart His birth, death, resurrection and the lives of His earliest followers, always the number one best selling book - (so consistent is it's position at the number one slot, that most lists no longer include it)?<br /><br />Why have so many dies for His cause? Why do people continue to suffer rather than recant their belief in what this man claimed was truth?<br /><br />What makes a pretty average guy living in the UK in 2010 choose to follow this man an His teachings?<br /><br />All interesting questions (at least I think so).<br /><br />Surely there must be something different about this guy?<br /><br />Stay tuned!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-79452761214997884242007-04-16T19:05:00.000+00:002007-04-16T19:33:06.951+00:00Capernwray in the Spring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmnHnXgT6sH3vhGBlZpnXFfnRHufCZVyO28tj7y9TpiWMh0owJ7b3z4O-WMLYs8CC_N_g6bRPrA107wrbdM7uisHi1ifO_RnSn4Ev2e6rVa5XHoYbDMO-sXj0sOPDhpNCCemiEw/s1600-h/Dougies+Party+027.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmnHnXgT6sH3vhGBlZpnXFfnRHufCZVyO28tj7y9TpiWMh0owJ7b3z4O-WMLYs8CC_N_g6bRPrA107wrbdM7uisHi1ifO_RnSn4Ev2e6rVa5XHoYbDMO-sXj0sOPDhpNCCemiEw/s320/Dougies+Party+027.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054108957092216866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pnp089V0DoVbp2le3k6Cejl296io350UZrdQ2ChF9I-1_94H1FgU4Yxq47kSTwvwjVjoz3ZrbzJBQd2S_CRH7M2vMSqf28dQ9vw0DPs_c1lPxKSkvLl0qgJkcbldHpallcJIBg/s1600-h/Dougies+Party+015.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pnp089V0DoVbp2le3k6Cejl296io350UZrdQ2ChF9I-1_94H1FgU4Yxq47kSTwvwjVjoz3ZrbzJBQd2S_CRH7M2vMSqf28dQ9vw0DPs_c1lPxKSkvLl0qgJkcbldHpallcJIBg/s320/Dougies+Party+015.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054108493235748882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRrVDiOWfKbraEfTd4RI6iSmwt2aQWroJrxCdi7kVqT7C7oeZ5qBFY2Mpnf6UtVcqRdA1n1DYJ0E4q6iQSsV97wi4TkEhoRAEccocZX7HacFxhg7JweJ8u1if4WjE8Cy8QEGZtA/s1600-h/Dougies+Party+013.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRrVDiOWfKbraEfTd4RI6iSmwt2aQWroJrxCdi7kVqT7C7oeZ5qBFY2Mpnf6UtVcqRdA1n1DYJ0E4q6iQSsV97wi4TkEhoRAEccocZX7HacFxhg7JweJ8u1if4WjE8Cy8QEGZtA/s320/Dougies+Party+013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054106723709222914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsqf53mIJr3DQRkjvdyd97OzhlJD34nGc5Nzp2WRRPp02FwImWDnr8dXQgPG8ET5VhXaCYBh3AMiJt505DunnjRSrbLVMcWZEcXyyqhQjrDnSuyGU8nYCQO0-BXB2NKBpi1IKlQ/s1600-h/Dougies+Party+005.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsqf53mIJr3DQRkjvdyd97OzhlJD34nGc5Nzp2WRRPp02FwImWDnr8dXQgPG8ET5VhXaCYBh3AMiJt505DunnjRSrbLVMcWZEcXyyqhQjrDnSuyGU8nYCQO0-BXB2NKBpi1IKlQ/s320/Dougies+Party+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054106259852754930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a9KGtqLj4Sn6dnK3mvC_1qQegXD-Y3gdIA2bTZwOMD9xuZgh4KsY8EwuLQUUfHqCSti0j5PlZjkAEiEn3yhemKtmC7rKrb1MV8OVqLIzCELz4906Ge4Al7Z9oaGaIV-weJQU2g/s1600-h/Dougies+Party+007.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a9KGtqLj4Sn6dnK3mvC_1qQegXD-Y3gdIA2bTZwOMD9xuZgh4KsY8EwuLQUUfHqCSti0j5PlZjkAEiEn3yhemKtmC7rKrb1MV8OVqLIzCELz4906Ge4Al7Z9oaGaIV-weJQU2g/s320/Dougies+Party+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054105692917071842" /></a><br /><br />With Roxy and Jo - I love these guys!<br /><br />I travelled up to Capernwray by train over this last weekend for Dougie's 40th Birthday party which was great fun. I think he was genuinely surprised because he was quiet, which for anyone who knows Dougie, is unusual!!<br />My fantastic friends Jo, Ian, Erynne, Melissa and Roxy took me out for dinner on Friday evening which was a great time. It was weird to be back at Capernwray in the Spring, because the place starts to look like it did when I first arrived there this time last year. WOW! What a lot has happened in a year. This time last year, jenny was just a face (all be it a beautiful one) across a crowded courtyard.<br /><br />My journey home was incredibly long - I had forgotten that they do all the engineering work on the railways on a Sunday. A journey that takes 4 hours by car, took me 9 and a half hours by train and bus. But I did have a really interesting converstaion with a young Christian couple on the bus, so that made it all the more worthwhile. God's plans are so exciting!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-41407256375412636942007-04-09T15:42:00.000+00:002007-04-09T15:51:58.933+00:00The Quirks of Gant<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMln9EYDiIGcv7FxTWbr12soOrc6Z12p1b_oKGoJSwaEYTFrGfVvPtQixKecMckW0ZA4Z3nBQ0h-C63t0PQt14nvZ50e08NzvXgBgW8BwneNB4pTDwmNERLjWpWotdKp7PaPJwkQ/s1600-h/26.03.07+037.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMln9EYDiIGcv7FxTWbr12soOrc6Z12p1b_oKGoJSwaEYTFrGfVvPtQixKecMckW0ZA4Z3nBQ0h-C63t0PQt14nvZ50e08NzvXgBgW8BwneNB4pTDwmNERLjWpWotdKp7PaPJwkQ/s320/26.03.07+037.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051455425623715058" /></a>OK so I was tagged by Jenny.<br /><br />Premise: blog a blog about six weird things about yourself. Then "tag" via inter web 6 other people to do the same thing. Don't forget to let them know on their own Bloggy McBlogs that they've been inter-tagged.<br /><br />End result: everyone gets to learn about your lovely little quirks. So here are the Quirks of Gant (there are many more, but these were the first that came to mind)!<br /><br /><br />1. I cannot stand using a telephone with a twisted cord. I have to hold it up in the air before I dial and let the receiver dangle and unwind its self. This also applies to the lance of the car pressure washers found at petrol stations.<br /><br />2. I always warm the tea pot with boiling water before I make the tea. However, I don’t think this is a quirk, this is the kind of stuff Britain built it’s empire on (mind you look what happened to the empire). Whilst we’re on tea, I would also have to say I do much prefer to drink tea out of a bone china cup and saucer rather than out of a mug.<br /><br />3. This is getting worse now – I am very, very particular about how a table is set for dinner. Ideally, the more silverware, china and crystal wine glasses are used, the better. Obviously a white table cloth is a must, as are proper cloth napkins.<br /><br />4. I absolutely abhor bad manners. However, I know that actually, I can be pretty arrogant at times.<br /><br />5. I like hot toast, cut into triangular slices and served straight from the toaster in a toast rack (preferably, but not essentially, silver). Slices of toast should never be laid on top of each other, as this causes them to sweat and subsequently get soggy. Soggy, cold toast, as served daily at Capernwray Hall Bible School, is to be avoided at all times!<br /><br />6. I have an unusually large collection of cuff links! The best/saddest pair being some shaped like steam engines (pictured - I can't believe I'm that bored I took a picture of my cuff links), although I do own a pink diamond pair, but I won those in a raffle, so I don’t own them out of choice – just bad luck!<br /><br />That's it - weird I know, but then we all suspected it. I choose to tag, Jo, Melissa and Becky.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-78252812142879737972007-04-08T12:54:00.000+00:002007-04-08T13:11:33.201+00:00OK, I know I am very sad!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLZ36nLSjDz90hFr-03NEuLTmZAwNPjdTMpo7xFOWvxwOSA18beWFRzyNLXKxXxRdLkoSUpSGeYkHXzsri7jjCtDRdooIYYoL5pXfhYgMidV7yoowdpQMI7KkR0FwJR1zdCMtIw/s1600-h/26.03.07+017.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLZ36nLSjDz90hFr-03NEuLTmZAwNPjdTMpo7xFOWvxwOSA18beWFRzyNLXKxXxRdLkoSUpSGeYkHXzsri7jjCtDRdooIYYoL5pXfhYgMidV7yoowdpQMI7KkR0FwJR1zdCMtIw/s320/26.03.07+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051040471653379298" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Just to confirm (as if confirmation were needed after the pictures of me gardening in my wellington boots), I am a fairly sad individual! Here is a picture of the steam engine that I own. She is an seven and a quarter inch gauge, 0-4-0 side tank engine (which probably means nothing to anyone). Yesterday we moved her out of her shed for the first time since the winter and moved her to the Little Orchard Railway for her annual boiler test. How exciting!! I guess the fact that I have posted three posts in less than a week shows you that I am a bit lonely! Jenny gets here in 14 days, 18 hours.<br /><br />Church was fantastic this morning. Duncan Banks (one of our Church Leaders) spoke and me and two others gave testimony. It went really well and the church was packed.<br /><br />Happy Easter - Praise our Lord Jesus Christ, he has risen and is alive.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"I am the living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!"</span><br />Revelation 1: 18Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-89745409969420391802007-04-05T19:14:00.000+00:002007-04-05T19:22:31.622+00:00Womens' Work!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6-qOQlfo-cmMjZq8FLWuWUxuu2hbS6kPlbTEVjTVCWXSrmJ3V_lQUNSCWd72qJeMC1kGkyXQ9X42nZdsVc13lZNmeboVIc_ayrU2njvBr4WDvwqv_MasI0wGeJKtHjaX5Hlw3w/s1600-h/Washing+Up.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6-qOQlfo-cmMjZq8FLWuWUxuu2hbS6kPlbTEVjTVCWXSrmJ3V_lQUNSCWd72qJeMC1kGkyXQ9X42nZdsVc13lZNmeboVIc_ayrU2njvBr4WDvwqv_MasI0wGeJKtHjaX5Hlw3w/s320/Washing+Up.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050024995355716818" /></a><br />Some people say that washing up is womens' work, but of course I would strongly disagree. However, Becky and Ashley, my buddies from Capernwray who have been hanging around the Gant Household these last couple of days, are traditionalists who wanted to prove that, despite being women, they were quite at home in Marigold rubber gloves! They'll kill me when they see this, but they'll be in America by then, so it'll be too late. Huh ha!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-68243947980175258312007-04-05T19:05:00.000+00:002007-04-05T19:13:30.128+00:00The Big Three Oh!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTm70dEGKyTIBaYWwQDtChB99nCc5pTVNsjJO6IXjyPI0OdYjwtBRN4CVtEqOhjPKzZl11FL-jR11hCd7EdnlrYcyCuPk6SDBCJuWh1B9QBmhUgWsiCO_ooOZeyTm5AxZzryt_w/s1600-h/The+Boys.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTm70dEGKyTIBaYWwQDtChB99nCc5pTVNsjJO6IXjyPI0OdYjwtBRN4CVtEqOhjPKzZl11FL-jR11hCd7EdnlrYcyCuPk6SDBCJuWh1B9QBmhUgWsiCO_ooOZeyTm5AxZzryt_w/s320/The+Boys.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050023887254154434" /></a><br />I'm thirty! Help! Actually, I don't feel no different. My Birthday was great. I went out on Saturday night with Dale and Matt (pictured) in Chelmsford back to the old haunt of The Basement. Woke up early on Sunday and got back to Suffolk in time to take my group of lads at youth group. Then went to Sue's for what I thought was going to be a quite lunch, only to discover that she had planned a kids party for me. Lots of my favourite people, sandwiches (with the crusts cut off), jelly, ice cream, chocolate marshmallows, etc. And because the weather was lovely, we sat out on the lawn, ate, drunk Pimms and lemonade and played party games. Great fun.<br /><br />Then in the evening, Me, Mum, Dad, Alex and Vikki went out for a fantastic chinese meal. A brilliant day - I wished for Jenny when I blew the candles out on my cake!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-59155423526471555152007-03-27T06:58:00.000+00:002007-03-27T07:07:22.523+00:00Back to my Roots!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRgvsgocDI7ENc_tBiVz-CQpGaHzo1arDtg2LmGygd6zo6zcpHWmy3VQQSq9DrYK468_Chpu5NvriPzu95XMPzoBpTaMWxh3gC9qO6bslj8bj6jAMTMpP0c5fX4DUkkQOn45BTg/s1600-h/26.03.07+008.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRgvsgocDI7ENc_tBiVz-CQpGaHzo1arDtg2LmGygd6zo6zcpHWmy3VQQSq9DrYK468_Chpu5NvriPzu95XMPzoBpTaMWxh3gC9qO6bslj8bj6jAMTMpP0c5fX4DUkkQOn45BTg/s320/26.03.07+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046496952320746674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIgyg3q5P2avUHU1CVggvNRvhHpFYMVTuk-vOrlwHO_JtvVqupkD9-wpoJFgK6_5PsltEND1O07u7_I6mhMgRx8cnN8-h_e21iS8lATdyWCuceylUu09HdPYgEHWXmtCCfB-RCA/s1600-h/26.03.07+006.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIgyg3q5P2avUHU1CVggvNRvhHpFYMVTuk-vOrlwHO_JtvVqupkD9-wpoJFgK6_5PsltEND1O07u7_I6mhMgRx8cnN8-h_e21iS8lATdyWCuceylUu09HdPYgEHWXmtCCfB-RCA/s320/26.03.07+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046496488464278690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY37DdGhN7pZESkalP0NLK5Q0GvvZK9qYw120osVJO_TqZIQQsyxf0PuTmhOmyLWASzScnWwZIqhmTjGEplPUQ9AqxJLOTBxu-IHgKn6uoewumxgWYCU-0ri5RmZ52n8vbVnrpw/s1600-h/26.03.07+010.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY37DdGhN7pZESkalP0NLK5Q0GvvZK9qYw120osVJO_TqZIQQsyxf0PuTmhOmyLWASzScnWwZIqhmTjGEplPUQ9AqxJLOTBxu-IHgKn6uoewumxgWYCU-0ri5RmZ52n8vbVnrpw/s320/26.03.07+010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046495672420492434" /></a><br />15oC here in Suffolk in March, so I got out into Mum and Dad's garden and had a bit of a tidy up. I thought it looked so nice, I took a few pics!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-18080058702220537712007-03-26T17:39:00.000+00:002007-03-26T18:57:05.720+00:00Last Night at Capernwray!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwDShAhAqrq4pAJGAC1mVvKMYnFf-MdeNHINxlI7XuLeCOilF5wb154Ku0t6saFJnPKUwDi0LG3tEAvuJoRjUQfSgJ7Aaw0eDOCCx4yk6ezF0WhZPTAfGRBKCrH9Y4dL_rTIUTg/s1600-h/26.03.07+003.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwDShAhAqrq4pAJGAC1mVvKMYnFf-MdeNHINxlI7XuLeCOilF5wb154Ku0t6saFJnPKUwDi0LG3tEAvuJoRjUQfSgJ7Aaw0eDOCCx4yk6ezF0WhZPTAfGRBKCrH9Y4dL_rTIUTg/s320/26.03.07+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046291365121188994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk40YI-_Qn2rPvtyzbISxMsPJn3QfC1klg_Ydeo4L92n8pm5zgjdOJKWsqrwuYYzAoHT_YwI5JEDWE9H-5f-Ynf0CbAabowTwCjx4GFnLiTyEJQ0rllK2pXRDZAjP8gdCHhKNcrg/s1600-h/26.03.07+002.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk40YI-_Qn2rPvtyzbISxMsPJn3QfC1klg_Ydeo4L92n8pm5zgjdOJKWsqrwuYYzAoHT_YwI5JEDWE9H-5f-Ynf0CbAabowTwCjx4GFnLiTyEJQ0rllK2pXRDZAjP8gdCHhKNcrg/s320/26.03.07+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046291085948314738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3WW_XdWijSum14fPzCsFwaN7PB6GCDww4uSnaStxisOaCIj5PemvM746EnnuRq8gfYakLcT7tnTCo7PotovPhk8H7vqJcQnuvt1IzknBntij456dahhIVazQzhtNo9pwCMK0nA/s1600-h/26.03.07+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3WW_XdWijSum14fPzCsFwaN7PB6GCDww4uSnaStxisOaCIj5PemvM746EnnuRq8gfYakLcT7tnTCo7PotovPhk8H7vqJcQnuvt1IzknBntij456dahhIVazQzhtNo9pwCMK0nA/s320/26.03.07+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046290815365375074" /></a><br /><br />I can hardly believe my year at Capernwray Bible School has now come to an end. It has gone by so quickly. I have learnt so much. I would be lying if I said it had all been fantastic. There were some extremely challenging times, as I learnt more about God and more about Russell Gant, but there have also been some incredible moments and some incredible people. After all, it was at Capernwray I met my beautiful wife to be!! I also met amazing friends, like Ian and Jo, Nevin and all the Tea shop boys, Rach, Emily and Andrew, not to mention the brilliant Zimbabwe team and my prayer group. I love you all. Here are a few pictures of our last banquet together. From top to bottom, me and the crazy Austrians - Bernie and Christian, Ash, Me, Pete and Becky and finally Mike G. (Burnley boy) and I. Great guys who all mean the world to me.<br /><br />I'm now back home in Suffolk and trying to concentrate on finishing my sermon for Alex and Vikki's wedding, before trying to get some work. Jenny gets back in April...Hooorayyy!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-805376705297639112007-03-21T15:06:00.000+00:002007-03-21T15:33:47.002+00:00Back from Zimbabwe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD8m6Wl7Ky1Aley7cNPjZPcYfTFQyiv6bm1Gjs43TUniGvbkDHarc8wADkZ7FnAWkuYst7APbi7NdTqVyw2xWI1OfaesY7xH_9fgPphIapDW-INJ1QUwkl1vNy1hXU_AycqExgw/s1600-h/DSC02849.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD8m6Wl7Ky1Aley7cNPjZPcYfTFQyiv6bm1Gjs43TUniGvbkDHarc8wADkZ7FnAWkuYst7APbi7NdTqVyw2xWI1OfaesY7xH_9fgPphIapDW-INJ1QUwkl1vNy1hXU_AycqExgw/s320/DSC02849.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044395970283660370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DlMIwUdSsBG0jNVpswRf6-L41kq3Mio7gknUH5lKvCj83Zcc2AJL39zvYEqd2QPhWJoDP7Ap5NMaqC1ZOmlXQLhEuYocg_AsFSzZ1aaS0uV_9n_5sgv0DBtpuvII8PQeDCxhEQ/s1600-h/RSCN2125.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DlMIwUdSsBG0jNVpswRf6-L41kq3Mio7gknUH5lKvCj83Zcc2AJL39zvYEqd2QPhWJoDP7Ap5NMaqC1ZOmlXQLhEuYocg_AsFSzZ1aaS0uV_9n_5sgv0DBtpuvII8PQeDCxhEQ/s320/RSCN2125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044395583736603714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQR9jYUFY0zSa2N-k29IPvEv8WRjUEtOWDJUPoA4rTXEcXBNRbAED67nnCjy6QmMtNlnlytYgeiu7ZMniK5528dvSAGVEA-qPnoGG5eu92ko6E91khYMJ-u9xUR6hPlaHLYUfQ0g/s1600-h/IMG_1169.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQR9jYUFY0zSa2N-k29IPvEv8WRjUEtOWDJUPoA4rTXEcXBNRbAED67nnCjy6QmMtNlnlytYgeiu7ZMniK5528dvSAGVEA-qPnoGG5eu92ko6E91khYMJ-u9xUR6hPlaHLYUfQ0g/s320/IMG_1169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044395463477519410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5dH8oFOd0VD6SRAqPStqNgxAbZMfGMXJJva-Bi24Hq7pau95Wl9o2q7kileGXMdVrMhQ8qYETnOKMd-qJ3LqmjxsSxfLmlbldvW7D9spJzXiDtJcp48sTubEKWiOsPrtHkvwKw/s1600-h/IMG_1068.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5dH8oFOd0VD6SRAqPStqNgxAbZMfGMXJJva-Bi24Hq7pau95Wl9o2q7kileGXMdVrMhQ8qYETnOKMd-qJ3LqmjxsSxfLmlbldvW7D9spJzXiDtJcp48sTubEKWiOsPrtHkvwKw/s320/IMG_1068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044395231549285410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fsD2REUuQFlbnUPL6WTrJH79fZZcuMV-F03ZLAkvPX1UfFfDgHzfaML-mOWp2PMdzxXCsLdo85MD_tEFsZeeWxPU6rVmm2InhWlrIXsYoTscNiVnhUJ9x9Gl3ER3T2Go7nGAXQ/s1600-h/IMG_0519.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fsD2REUuQFlbnUPL6WTrJH79fZZcuMV-F03ZLAkvPX1UfFfDgHzfaML-mOWp2PMdzxXCsLdo85MD_tEFsZeeWxPU6rVmm2InhWlrIXsYoTscNiVnhUJ9x9Gl3ER3T2Go7nGAXQ/s320/IMG_0519.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044394995326084114" /></a><br /><br />Well here's a very small selection of pictures from the 1500 or so that were taken during our fantastic trip to Zimbabwe. The twelve of us really were so blessed by the people we met and the way God used us. We estimate that we spoke to in the region of 2,500 - 3,000 children, young people and adults in schools, on the football field and in churches. Of those, I would say that some 250 accepted prayed an honest prayer in their hearts to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.<br /><br />I had many new experiences, some great, some not so great. In the "great" column goes, sleeping under an incredible star filled sky, having four young people become Christian at the end of one of my talks, bathing and washing our clothes in a warm river. In the "not so great" column goes eating mouse, eating goat intestines and getting used to a culture which is always on time (give or take a bit - like an hour or even two).<br /><br />We bonded so well as a team and my life has been enriched and enhanced by the people I spent time with. God used the skills and gifts that he has given each of us to do amazing things.<br /><br />Zimbabwe is a country in desperate need of our prayers, as you will no doubt have seen in the news lately, it is subject to an evil and brutal dictatorship which is crippling an otherwise resource rich nation. But the people of Zimbabwe, as I am sure is the case in many African nations, have a faith which puts ours in the west, to shame. Against great hardships, they pray and give to others in a very humbling way.<br /><br />This is how I felt on leaving the UK - <em>"I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power..."<br /><br />But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."</em><br /><br />Again and again we all felt we could not do what God was asking of us, such as taking a seminar on purity with 50 twenty year old, out of work, young men, or taking a 4 hour church service, or leading a youth cell group in the dark and rain, with an interpreter and 5 minutes notice to prepare, but again and again we saw that we couldn't, but God can. We were given so much energy and enthusiasm despite the char-roasted mouse diet.<br /><br />Thank you so much for your prayers. God blessed us richly.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-66859185573480393462007-02-24T10:43:00.000+00:002007-02-24T10:52:13.389+00:00Zimbabwe!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3NNlRqKEAsvd_I9uJGzU0B9iP8pDHvKr1VyPovreuTVRFRwg-S8G2FeonsI5WoZGQBpRZoka6eVzCaDf-I7Fsg9-_X5ARLYx_gurQeX2MYfCl72nB5ZMFstQciSm3fUlQ2BOUg/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3NNlRqKEAsvd_I9uJGzU0B9iP8pDHvKr1VyPovreuTVRFRwg-S8G2FeonsI5WoZGQBpRZoka6eVzCaDf-I7Fsg9-_X5ARLYx_gurQeX2MYfCl72nB5ZMFstQciSm3fUlQ2BOUg/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035051060592141474" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYRtqxPYRRpwpbve_CBHupR0EMgnzSfT4fZ-03tGp4YyRWBzyyoglJJ636laABt4YeK5Jfp3XacQw7Uc5e1XcY97whYRgtRL2k3oxA7NNzDXjVSNzrer3QWOM_4RrHmMXAZihRg/s1600-h/Victoria-Falls.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYRtqxPYRRpwpbve_CBHupR0EMgnzSfT4fZ-03tGp4YyRWBzyyoglJJ636laABt4YeK5Jfp3XacQw7Uc5e1XcY97whYRgtRL2k3oxA7NNzDXjVSNzrer3QWOM_4RrHmMXAZihRg/s320/Victoria-Falls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035049604598228114" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well the time has come and I'm off to Zimbabwe for two weeks to share the good news of Jesus Christ. The team will fly out of Manchester (via London) to Harare on Tuesday 27th February. Thank you so much for your support so far. Thank you also for your prayers. Please continue to pray whilst we are in Zimbabwe as the situation out there is "unstable" to say the least. But we have an all powerful God who we trust will pave the way for us to serve him.<br /><br />Below are some prayer points. Thank you and God bless.<br /><br />Russ<br /><br />1. "That whenever we open our mouths, words maybe given us so that we<br />will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel." Eph. 6:19<br /><br />2. For team unity<br /><br />3. That we would be an encouragement to Tendai (the Pastor), the<br />Churches, and the schools that we will be working with.<br /><br />4. For wisdom in dealing with the unexpected.<br /><br />5. That the logistic details of travelling and housing in Zim would be<br />simple.<br /><br />6. For safety and good health.<br /><br />7. "That whatever happens, we would conduct ourselves in a manner worthy<br />of the Gospel of Christ." Phil. 1:27<br /><br />8. That I would cope with soccer schools! Not one of my spiritual gifts!!!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-14627588516016119232007-01-27T10:40:00.000+00:002007-01-27T10:52:31.829+00:00Late January - and the Great Beard Experiment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oH49thMDVCLZVk8g-qCmzRQRF_kufIcIJP1keYhMvm4TD-UUlvP2s0SYlFf0imqDEI1tO_45Yp75UJmOcucnQVT302NYNoNtmx1zF4NOAtlVNq74bDOU3UgBmFagjyd2orjZJQ/s1600-h/100_1569.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oH49thMDVCLZVk8g-qCmzRQRF_kufIcIJP1keYhMvm4TD-UUlvP2s0SYlFf0imqDEI1tO_45Yp75UJmOcucnQVT302NYNoNtmx1zF4NOAtlVNq74bDOU3UgBmFagjyd2orjZJQ/s320/100_1569.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024659987956790786" /></a><br />I had a beard for most of January, so here is a picture just to prove it!<br /><br />Well as you will see, in order to keep up with my stylish fiancee, I have redesigned by blogsite (actually clicked the mouse a few times and it was all done for me!)<br /><br />January is proving tough! Jenny is thousands of miles away, I have spent a week in bed with a nasty infection, the weather has been pretty rotten here at Capernwray and Jenny is thousands of miles away...did I mention that?!<br /><br />Lectures are still really interesting and time with fellow students is a learning process too.<br /><br />We have a date booked for the wedding which will be in Canada on Saturday 1st September this year. Jenny has chosen a dress, so things are moving along quickly with life. Jenny also has a new job which she has now started. God is good.<br /><br />I am now starting to investigate what I might do after I leave Capernwray and have 2 churches to contact with the posibility of internships - working with experience church leaders to gain 'on the job' experience. I have also applied to various colleges including Cornhill and Spurgeons with a view to further studies. Please pray that God would open up doors for Jenny and I to serve him.<br /><br />The Zimbabwe trip is rapidly approaching and the team are taking various services here in the UK over the next few weeks to gain experience.<br /><br />All prayers gratefully accepted!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1167859848192450542007-01-03T21:21:00.000+00:002007-01-03T21:31:28.646+00:00Announcing an Engagement!!!!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/6504/3265/1600/287227/Engagement%20-%20Hands.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/6504/3265/320/192426/Engagement%20-%20Hands.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/6504/3265/1600/923239/Engagement%20-%20Russ%20%26%20Jen%201.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/6504/3265/320/147364/Engagement%20-%20Russ%20%26%20Jen%201.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Happy New Year. And the big announcement is...that on New Year's day, I asked Jenny to marry me. We went for an evening walk through the woods in the snow whilst here in Canada and I bent down to turn my trousers up, which were getting snow on them. I got up on one knee and looked into Jenny's beautiful brown eyes and asked her if she would spend the rest of her life with me as my wife. Before my knee froze, she said, "what did my Dad say?" and when I said he had given me his blessing she said "yes". We hugged for a long time and then prayed together in the coll night air.<br /><br />We bought the ring a day later and now the most amazing girl in the world is going to be my wife!!! I am so happy and I keep crying unexpectedly. God has blessed us richly.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1163603772781418022006-11-15T15:03:00.000+00:002006-11-15T15:16:12.833+00:00"The Name's Bond...James Bond - Your Mission...Zimbabwe!"<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/007.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/007.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We recently had a costume party here at Capernwray and I didn't put my usual thought and effort into my outfit. Hence, at the last moment I had to go for the dinner suit and slicked back hair look. I even had to borrow the gun...from a cowgirl! You will have guessed by now who I'm supposed to be...that's right, the tax man! Do note however, that I cut off my sideboards, the first time since I was about 19! I felt naked without them - luckily they're back now!<br /><br />It was great fun and everyone had a fantastic time and (apart from me) put so much effort into their costumes.<br /><br />As you may know, I have the chance to go to Zimbabwe in February with a team from Capernwray. I am very keen to go to a totally new culture and have the opportunity to share the gospel, but the cost is £1,000. I am therefore trying to do some pretty quick fundraising.<br /><br />We would be working mostly with children and young people alongside the Bishop and Minister from Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.<br /><br />I would very much appreciate your prayers, that this would be a trip that God wants me to pursue.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1163275993278313922006-11-11T19:50:00.001+00:002006-11-13T16:22:20.500+00:00Picnic on the Beach...IN NOVEMBER!!!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/Russ%20%26%20Jenny.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/Russ%20%26%20Jenny.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I can't believe that it's November already. It doesn't seem like five minutes ago it was July. Well I'm a quarter of the way through the winter term here at Capernwray. I'm still really enjoying being here but I feel like it's taking me much longer to get to know people than it did in Spring School, but good friendships are worth taking your time over!<br /><br />Last weekend was travel weekend and I went up to Morpeth to see Jenny. Would you believe we had a picnic on the beach even though it is November. As you can see from the picture, we were well dressed up, but the sun was shinning.<br /><br />I spent last night (Friday) walking around Kendal in the pouring rain putting cards through doors, inviting people to a new church which is being started in the town. I guess we delivered about 300 cards so I pray that their service this Sunday will have a few extra people who are seeking the Lord.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1160144528287475842006-10-06T14:13:00.000+00:002006-10-06T14:24:15.543+00:00Canada, Suffolk and back to CapernwrayWell, I'm going to cheat a bit here. Since Jenny has already published lots of the best pictures from our two weeks together, I will just refer you to her Blogsite to look at the pictures - www.jennymosher.blogspot.com<br /><br />We had an amazing time together in Canada and it was great to meet Gord and Glenda as well as catching up with Steven and meeting Phil. I will post some pictures as soon as I get five minutes.<br /><br />We flew back into Gatwick on 24th September and after a terrible experience at customs when I really thought for a few minutes that they weren't going to let Jenny back into the UK we dashed back to Suffolk in time for Church. Jenny did very well at meeting loads of friends from church, despite the fact that we had slept for over 24 hours. She was her usual lovely self.<br /><br />I felt the trip to Suffolk was a bit rushed and I know Mum and Dad wished we'd all had more time together but they really enjoyed meeting Jenny and are looking forward to her coming back soon.<br /><br />I am now back at Capernwray and trying to settle back into bible school. I am trying to get fit and have been running (well walking quickly really - combined with lots of sweating and huffing and puffing!!) I am determined to be able to run with Jenny, but maybe not 12 miles! Thanks for your continued prayers and support.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1157444961450648822006-09-05T08:18:00.000+00:002006-09-05T08:29:21.483+00:00Off to Canada!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/1019330.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/1019330.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />God is amazing! Jenny still can't get a visa, but God provides funds for me to fly out to Canada to see her and her family instead. So I will now fly out to Ottawa from Gatwick on Thursday 14th September and spend just over a week with the Mosher Clan. I'm really excited. I will come back to the UK on 23rd September. I have instructions to take Cadburys chocolate and Ringtons tea!<br /><br />The last week here at Capernwray is going well. It is very different to other weeks, as the guests pretty-much do their own thing. Most of them are more mature (aka zimmer wielding), so things like the climbing wall, mountain bikes and volleyball are out and bridge competitions and snoozing are the order of the day! I have the opportunity to listen to more lectures and I am also helping to redecorate a small office which will be used by my friends Ian and Jo (who I met in spring school) who are returning as RAs (Resident Assistants) and will work closely with the students.<br /><br />I am really looking forward to seeing all the MCF/242 guys at Sizewell Hall at the weekend, so be there or be....well, you know, like a circle...but with corners!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1157274979870888922006-09-03T08:58:00.000+00:002006-09-03T09:16:20.303+00:00End of a Capernwray Summer<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/DSC04955.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/DSC04955.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />It's now the last week of the summer here at Capernwray and I will be quite glad to finish. The summer has been a fantastic experience, but I am exhausted and could do with a break before the start of winter bible school starts. I will be returning home on Friday 8th September and will then be heading over the Sizewell Hall for our Church weekend.<br /><br />Jenny has had great problems getting a new visa which is very difficult for us both. We had hoped that she would be coming back to the UK in the next few weeks and she would then have been able to meet the family (both Gants and MCF family). She has so far been refused a new visa and we were both pretty upset at this. However, we see that God is at work and through a very kind gift, it now looks like I will be able to fly out to Canada over the next few weeks to see Jenny which is just great. It is possible that if she gets a visa in the mean time, she may come back to the UK with me.<br /><br />This week is Summer Studies. Most of the guests this week are of more mature years and there is a large party of American women. They descended on me at breakfast and it was a bit like eating with the Golden Girls. They kept asking me to say words in my quaint little o' English accent!!<br /><br />Anyway, hope to see you all soon and tell you all my other news.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1154446601517527492006-08-01T15:14:00.002+00:002006-08-01T15:36:41.520+00:00International Youth Week 3 & I'm Very Tired!!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/100_0732.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/100_0732.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Well it's Tuesday morning and this is the last of three International Youth Weeks here at Capernwray. Each week has been very different, with a huge variety of guests and three different, but equally challenging speakers. The opportunity to lead meetings, share my testimony and present my own thoughts on God's word as well as sharing what I feel God has placed on my heart, has been really exciting.<br /><br />Today we should be on a coach trip to Bowness-on-Windermere, but it's been lashing down with rain, so we are stranded at the house. We have pressed into service lots of tried and tested games and actually had some great fun.<br /><br />Last night was Celidh (Kay-lee) dancing, but again it was too wet to do this in the courtyard, so we did it in the sports hall. Very good fun, but extremely hot, sweaty and resulting in many blisters!<br /><br />Last week I spent my day off looking at railways again and therefore this picture is just for you Dad (you're the only one who will be remotely intererested, but I think it's a good picture! It was taken at Haworth station on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway - setting of "The Railway Children" novel).<br /><br />On Saturday Ian, Jo, Erynne (who are on the guest team with me) and I went out for lunch. Ian is a local, and knew a good pub, so we went to The Railway Inn, which is right next to Ribble Head viaduct on the Settle to Carlise Railway. Another good place to watch trains. OK no more about trains.<br /><br />Jenny and I are reading through the book of Job togther and emailing our thoughts and comments back and forth across the Atlantic, which is great and proving really useful.<br /><br />I am hoping that I will be home on Friday 8th September, but should then go straight up to Sizewell for the MCF church weekend. I am also really hoping that Jenny will be coming back from Canada sometime around then, so maybe some of you will get to meet this amazing young lady.<br /><br />Please pray for the young people here this week. Many of them are Christians, but also lots do not yet know the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Please pray that God will speak to them in ways that they cannot fail to here this week. Please pray for us as a team. We are all functioning on limited sleep and sometimes putting on a smile can be difficult, but we are enjoying the challenge and learning a lot from each other and from the young people.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1153577171245160802006-07-22T14:00:00.000+00:002006-07-22T14:12:37.980+00:00Some Pictures from Family Week 1<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/100_0701.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/100_0701.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Ian, me and our two new mates - Federico & Davide (from Rome)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/100_0697.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/100_0697.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Guest Team!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1153252243854573282006-07-18T19:32:00.000+00:002006-07-18T19:50:43.866+00:00Tuesday - A Day of Rest<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/100_0702.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/100_0702.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Tuesday is my day off. So I drove up to Ravenglass and had a ride on the Ravengalss and Eskdale Railway - may be dull to some, but very interesting if you happen to like steam engines! I did mention in the Monday morning service that I like trains and I have been constantly mocked since! But the railway was very interesting. I then took the back roads through some spectacular countryside to Ambleside and sat and had a drink at the pier cafe and watched the boats and read a bit of "Everyone's Normal Until You Get to Know Them" which I am really enjoying.<br /><br />All the young people have been on a coach trip today so Capernwray was very quiet when I got back. I called Jenny who has now arrived safely back in Ottawa and despite all the delays, has been given a free return ticket to the UK, so financing the return trip is now not an issue. God knows what he's doing.<br /><br />I am learning a lot from this week's speaker who is a guy called Andy Feron who, like me studied at Capernwray, but is now working in a church in Northern Ireland. I have had a good chance to get to know him and his wife Rhodda and find out how God has worked in their lives.<br /><br />I still have a stinker of a cold, in fact I think it's man flu - which as us men know can be fatal if the correct amount of TLC is not administered! Please pray that someone will give me some TLC and not just tell me to stop winging!!<br /><br />Bye for now.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1153059778904020682006-07-16T14:10:00.000+00:002006-07-16T14:22:58.920+00:00Teenager, Teenagers, Everywhere!Well it's Sunday 16th July and Capernwray Hall was invaded by around 80 teenagers from 14-20years yesterday (most of them from Northern Ireland). They seem a great bunch and are enjoying the freedom that the grounds of Capernwray offer and the glorious summer sunshine we have here at the moment.<br /><br />I myself am feeling low. After lots of delays at Glasgow airport (including an overnight stay), my friend Jenny has now retruned to Canada with her Brother Steven. I'm going to miss her tremendously. She is a great person and one with an amazing faith. We have become very close and prayig together by email just won't be the same. Hopefully she will be returning to the UK in September time and then I'd love all my friends to meet her.<br /><br />I am writing this whilst I should really be preparing to lead tomorrow's meeting with the young people. If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to leave a comment ASAP!!<br /><br />I have a very sore throat today (big "arrrrh" for poor old Russell)!<br /><br />The speaker this week is a guy called Andy Feron who is brilliant. Yesterday he was speaking on letting Jesus into every room of your life, not just the front hallway! This morning he was speaking from 1 Samuel 2: 35 which really spoke to me. It says - "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always."<br /><br />What more can we do than that which is according to our Father's heart and mind.<br /><br />Please pray as I lead the meeting tomorrow at 11:30am. God bless.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1152459877102490772006-07-09T15:30:00.000+00:002006-07-09T15:48:19.266+00:00Start of Family Week Two<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/100_0690.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/100_0690.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Hi All. Its Sunday and our next group of families arrived yesterday. We have gone from having 10 children in our group last week to 37 this week!! God is so great to give us just a small number of children to "practise" on last week and they were such and angelic bunch. As you will see from the picture, face painting seemed to be the highligh of the week! This week looks like it might be much more challenging! We have some children with some very specific needs and many young lads who just want to play football!<br /><br />We have taken the families on a walk this afternoon, it rained very hard indeed!<br /><br />The stories that I am teaching the children are: Nebuchadezzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego this morning, Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem tomorrow, Tuesday is my day off. On Wednesday I am teaching the story of Joshua marching around the walls of Jericho and Queen Esther on Thursday, with Friday being a review of the weeks teaching and Saturdays being change over day. I am teaching dressed as a Pirate which adds an interesting dimension as does the fact that I seem to have adopted a West Country accent!!<br /><br />I have to say that I found week one quite a struggle, but I feel that I am settling into the routine now and starting to enjoy myself as well as feeling like the teaching is proving beneficial to the children. Please continue to pray for these children.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1152097683123969322006-07-05T10:50:00.000+00:002006-07-09T15:28:12.556+00:00Back to Capernwray<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/100_0693.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/100_0693.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Well Hello. First an explanation. This site is no longer girlie pink, because I had some technical assitance to change it to a much more manly green (thanks Jenny).<br /><br />Well I'm back at Capernwray working on the staff looking after the guests who are stying here on Christian holidays. My journey back was great, but I did arrive pretty late on Sunday morning (about 12:45am). I just collapsed into bed and went straight to sleep. I was awoken the next morning by my new room mate Tim - another Irishman. He's huge and looks like a cross between Antonio Banderas and Jaws from the James Bond films (in a good way!!).<br /><br />We've got straight into the teaching and I am teaching children from 5 to 11 years every morning. I have to dress as a pirate (called Russ the Repulsive - how apt) and I have been kidding myself that I look like Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Carribean (in fact I think I look more like Captain Pugwash!!).<br /><br />The work is great fun. The weather has been baking hot. I had a day off yesterday (Tuesday) and travelled up to Morpeth to see my friend Jenny. We went out with her brother Steven and their friends Steve and Heather and went to visit Lindisfarne which was beautiful (they make Mead there which we had a free sample of...Mmmmm).<br /><br />I really feel that God has given me this opportunity to share His word with others so that a) the children we teach come to know more about Jesus, and b) so that I can more fully understand the scriptures. In teaching others, I am sure I am starting to remember the Bible better.<br /><br />So that's about it so far for week one. I'll try to add regular updates to this site, as well as photos so you can keep abreast of what I'm doing. MCF's cheque for £810 in support of my winter school studies here, arrived this morning, so that's the deposit (and then) some paid off! Great. I feel well supported.<br /><br />Thank yor for your continued prayers.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30443918.post-1151596162400369322006-06-29T15:45:00.000+00:002006-07-06T13:35:28.873+00:00Well Hello There!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/1600/Paris%20015.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6504/3265/320/Paris%20015.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Well with inspiration from my good Canadian friend Jenny, I have decided to set up my own Blog. This is a website that all of you that know me (and those that don't) can keep up to date with what I'm up to. Sometimes it will be exciting, most times not, but you will be able to post your own comments so if it gets too dull, you can let me know!<br /><br />OH NO! I've just realised I've set this thing up and I've got a pink background. I can't work out how to change it!! Oh well at least it matches my pink T-shirt.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074216890068428842noreply@blogger.com0