Boiler

Rachel and Cathy were practicing their ministry to radiators today!

Notice boards

And the one at the back



What do you think?

New notice boards

Here are the new ones at the front

Sun

Just walked into the sanctuary and saw this, quite beautiful and meaningful as the sun shines on the bible

Banks!!!

Conversation I have just had with (what I thought was) the bank:

Me: Hello, I have just tried to go online to register my phone (for insurance reasons) and it says my date of birth is wrong

Nice Lady on other end (NLOOE): Ah, that’s because it is registered with your wife

Me: Oh, that’s ok then, well as you can see it is a joint account so can I add my phone please

NLOOE: No

Me: Why not?

NLOOE: I would need to do a security check with you wife

Me: Can I do that, it is a joint account.

NLOOE: No, your wife would have to do it

Me: But it’s a joint account

NLOOE: Sorry sir, we are not the bank, just a company that insures the phones for the bank

Me: ok, but if I now know it’s in my wife’s name, can I just go online with her details and date of birth to do it

NLOOE: Yes!!!

My hope is that church never becomes this confusing or bureaucratic and that we can communicate far better to people who want to find out more and not just let doctrine, procedures and facelessness get in the way.

Kidzone

The new Tuesday evening kids club, is starting on Tuesday. Looks like it is going to be fun with lots of different zones for the kids to explore. With the new buildings open, look out for new things coming up!

An non-poetical ode (!) to Tara

I realise I have not blogged in a while, not because I have forgotten, but because I had something running around in my head that I was trying to make sense of. It was around the theme of tolerance and the many ways we use the word; promote it and demise it in the same instance (maybe some other time). All that came to an end this morning when I found out that my cousin had died, so please excuse me while I write a little cyber tribute that no-one may wish to read, yet may leave a permanent mark.
Tara never moaned, never complained, never outwardly craved another life or situation. She was born with spin bifida and was given less than a year to live. Tara spent the whole of her 40 years in a wheel-chair, throughout her life she was a medical miracle; a hole in her back that went through to the spine; numerous operations; loss of internal organs; amputation of a leg; blood poisoning; weekly dialysis and many more things that I either have forgotten, or did not know. As you can see Tara had more to cope with in life than others, yet she was the one who taught people how to live life. Nothing was ever out of bounds; her numerous trips to the nations cricket grounds; winning the dancing competition at Pontins on a family holiday (she could move in that wheelchair); retiring from her sports club because she won everything and it was getting boring; being friends with some very famous cricketers, and not being afraid to tell them what she thought; living in her own flat and watching lots of sports (if you could call watching Liverpool (her favourite team) sports!). Throughout her life she always was more concerned for others than she was for herself (I understand she was giving relationship counselling to one of the nurses towards the end!) and even in the final hours, her concern was for the family as she came to peace with what was about to happen. Families are funny, you don’t see each other as much as you should, and it is times like this that you regret it, but I suppose like good friends you always pick up where you left off and knew that in times of difficulty then the Penny’s; Parkman’s and Murphy’s would always be there. Sadly, there won’t be that opportunity with Tara, but I know the family will support each other. Today is a dark and sad day for those who knew and loved Tara we have lost someone special, and for those who never knew her, you missed someone special. She will live on though in the hearts and minds of those who loved her. Tara taught the world that nothing can get in the way of living. Will miss you x

Photos

Forgot to say I will post photos at some point of the new space.

Tomorrow

And so after some more hoovering, cleaning and sorting today, in just over 12 hours we will be celebrating the new rooms. I am just putting together a celebrationary communion for tomorrow, please come if you are able. A sober moment though, just thinking of all those who have helped dream and bring this to life over the last many many years that won't see it for one reason or another... thank you, truly thank you.

Getting ready

And so over the last few days a small team has been getting the refurbished rooms at church ready for the grand opening on Sunday. It's going to be an exciting long day, it seems like an age since we hoped for this day. I have been involved from the start of the works so have been privileged to see every step, every wall demolished and every new one built up. But I wonder what it will be like on Sunday for those who have not seen each step and will remember what they saw last time they were in those buildings and then walk into the new build. I just hope that Sunday will be a memorable day that marks an important step in the story of God working within and with Horfield Baptist.

11.30

It's not yet 11.30 and I have already discussed heaven; free will and circumcision... I do love the Wednesday morning N:counter group :)

Powerpoint

So, what people saw this morning was a PowerPoint that went wrong. What thy did bot see was the 2 hours yesterday trying to put it together; 45 mins this morning realising that the sound file and movie file had not transferred across and then having to download them again and trying to get them working on a pc without Internet. So did it detract from the service, maybe. Did it detract my concentration, slightly. Did it detract from God working... I don't think so

Tweet

You can follow me on revtimp on twitter

Letting go

Yesterday I was really struck with this idea of letting go. Sometimes in life we have to let go of things, whether that be an idea, a hope, a child leaving home, a realisation that your plans be not be where you expected. I think half the battle is actually being able to let go of things and not wanting to hang on to them. Maybe it is time I let go of dreaming of playing for Man Utd in goal. But sometimes in life the inability to let go of things can cause pain, heartache, hurt and damage. Jesus calls us to leave these things with Him, which if we are honest is easier said then done. So what do you need to let go of today to allow something else to flourish and grow?

Faith and Science 2

After my blog the other day about faith and science complementing each other, I now read that Stephen Hawking is about to publish a book in which he backtracks on his previous stance that 'there is room for a creator in the big bang theory'. I believe his new comments say that there is no need for a creator because the laws of the universe could have created the Big Bang, my question would still be 'who set in place the laws of the universe?'. So once again a top scientist dismisses faith and the need for God, I wonder when we are going to start to see both science and faith truly complementing one another and seeing that there is both room and need for each to exist.

Red sea

I am not a scientist and am not a scholar, however I love it when faith and science come together. The following article is about scientists who have concluded that the parting of the red sea is possible due to strong winds. This is great, it does means that some people may have to understand this as a miracle of timing rather than a miracle of creation being altered (there's alot in that last sentence!), a biblical and scientific answer to an account that has troubled some people over many years.

BBC Red Sea Article

Never thought of that!

I was talking to someone today and we got onto the exciting subject of fire policies. It was mentioned how parents would feel if they had to be evacuated in a different direction from their children, which may be the case. I then thought about my baby and if my initial response would be to go in a different direction or whether I would want to go and get him? I hope I never find out, I know what my head and logic says, however would my heart win? Like I say, I hope I never find out the answer

Website

Have just done a bit of re-ordering on the church website. What do you think? Any suggestions?

www.horfieldbaptist.net

Fear

For some reason, been thinking about fear and how it can hold us back, even with the words of Jesus that promise nothing can harm, still it can cripple.
I have experienced fear in many different ways over these last few weeks, and although it has not stopped me doing anything, my enthusiasm, my desire and my confidence has been affected. So I suppose that once again as I venture out from the church office, I hold my fear and trust in God alongside each other and see how God interacts.

Pope

Firstly can the media please realise that the pope is the leader of 'the catholic church' not 'the church'! Anyway... I read an article written by the general secretary of the Baptist Union about the popes visit. I have to say that he spoke alot of sense, like him I was brought up with a quiet suspicion of the catholic church, however over time and meeting Catholics I have come to realise their desire to be followers of Christ, however I do still have some problem with their theology and doctrine. I hope the popes visit does encourage people to think deeper of faith, but let's remind people that Catholicism is one expression of faith along with other legitimate and valid expressions.... like baptist!

The letter the general secretary wrote can be downloaded here http://www.baptist.org.uk/resources/resource_downloads/615.html

N:counter

Good N:counter this morning. We talked about Genesis 3, morality, humanity maturing and how God shows His love through us when people suffer. Alot for one hour this morning, it would be good if you could join us if you are free.

Day of prayer

I thought I would show a photo of how the front of church is set up,




The theme is camping up the mountain, thinking about looking back at what we have achieved and then looking on to what we have yet to accomplish.

The first person today said that in climbing up a mountain there is great danger, but also great beauty. Together we briefly looked at how that fitted with our church... I will leave you to make your own decisions in that.

Hello

ok... I know it's been a while. Maybe a bit like that thing you keep putting off and after a while it becomes a bit embarrasing because it seems it has been too long... sorry.
I was down at church at 7.30am this morning to start our day of prayer. Someone has just turned up and made great use of the space already, sitting in the tent that is on stage. I hope today brings some positive outlook for where we are going together, the journey that we are on.
So here is to a long, but prayerful and positive day.

The questions of hindsight

How different would history be if hindsight was given to everyone?
Would the disciples be less prone to error and more in the wonder of the moment?
Would more people have followed Jesus, and would the cross even have happened?
Would the persecuted church still be persecuted?

How different would life be if we had a certain amount of hindsight?
Would this election campaign be worth fighting if we knew who would win?
What would we go back and change or do differently with our life?
Would we opt in or opt out to the NHS national compute system (something that was on Radio 2 yesterday)?

And would I really want to know the exact date and time my child is to be born?... well at the moment, yes, yes I would!

Football and Mission

I hope you would excuse me as I blog about something in my life that I really enjoy and try not to mention too often as I am aware it can be a real annoyance for some people... and that is football. The following clip of a football report from one of last weeks games, I think speaks prophetically into several areas of Christianity in the following way:
1) How as Christians we can be fully involved in life, yet blissfully unaware of what is going on.
2) How it is our responsibility to be telling people about what is happening in God's world, yet like this reporter we seem quite unaware
3) How sometimes it takes other people to tell us what is happening before we act or even lead the way or even understand what we have seen.

See what you think!

I think that we need to take the lead though and be on our toes in God's mission, otherwise we could end up looking as useless and embarrassed as the reporter (although I do think Chris Kamara is quite funny!)

Politics and Faith

Two potentially controversial subjects.
I was driving home today (through the many road works that now appear) and caught the tail end of a political debate from the 3 major parties to do with trying to get the economy back to a fit state. I started to realise how my parents, family, social status, have all directed my political views. All that I was hearing was being heard through the tinted glasses (or appropriate hearing metaphor) of how my family would respond. The kind of family I grew up in and the place I am in life makes me wonder with all this conditioning, do I have a democratic vote? I am my own person, but part of me is what has made me, me and that includes the impact my family has had on me.
And so to faith, what impact do our parents, family and social status have on our faith? Are we too conditioned in this part of life. I could give you all the answers to why the baptist Church is where I find a deep connection to my spirituality, but I have to also recognise that I was brought up in a Baptist Church by the family and that all I see is through those eyes. I am not saying this is a bad thing, but I think we need to recognise it.
Similarly in faith, people who grow up in a Muslim country are way more likely to become a Muslim than any other faith (this is a sweeping statement, not a thought out essay with evidence), so what does this mean for faith?
And in what way does our social status affect the kind of church we go to, the people we speak to?
We all have free choice, but maybe sometimes it is good to look at the influences that go into making us be the free thinkers we are.

Photo

Hello All, the week after Easter is usually a bit quiet (although on Radio 2's thought for the day we were told that this is still easter time!) So I have taken the time to set up a photo's page on the website. Hopefully it will be up in by 2.30pm. Have a look and maybe we can start adding lots of different photo's that show a wide range of what happens at Horfield.

Easter

Happy Easter everyone.
May the last week and all the pain and sorrow be brought to an understanding in the Resurrection that we celebrated today.

Hopelessness

Easter Saturday is a funny day, because nothing really happens. There is no event to remember, no services (usually) and not that big a difference from any normal Saturday. However, today I was left wondering about the Hopelessness of this day, all the other days seem to have hope. Easter week, Jesus was still with His disciples, Good Friday, hope that death would be avoided and even if it got to the cross, hope that if He really was the son of God then He will save Himself. Easter Sunday, full of hope, but today, there was no hope, He was dead, there was nothing anyone could do. He was gone...
Maybe the normality is intentional, life goes on, death had happened, back to how things used to be...
Good Friday is a sad day, but maybe the barrenness of Saturday is as dark and as emotional.
Maybe today is Hopeless Saturday.

Good Friday

"Do they know it's Christmas time" a famous song by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, one that if played now would probably seem out of place. I know the song speaks into the poverty of the third world, against the commercialism of the seasonal time and not necessarily into the deeper meaning of Christmas. However, I have been struck to ask the question "Do they know it's Easter time?", as I drove back and forth from church and then down to pick up my mum, I wondered how many people actually realised that today remembers one of the most pivotal moments in humanities history. People going about their day, celebrating, not the sacrificial love, but the fact that schools are out and the long weekend begins. "Do they know it's Easter time?"

On Sunday it will be great to see visitors from our community that come to share Easter Day with us, however, I am reminded of a comment that someone once made: "Coming to Church just on Easter Sunday (it was in reference to Christmas day, but I am sure for this reason we can alter that) is like watching 1/52nd of a film and thinking you get the whole film"

Maund(a)y Thursday

You may ask why the A is in brackets, well truth be told, I did not know it was not there until quite recently. Anyway, as we get ever closer to Good Friday for me the mood changes and the undertones of the week start to become more apparent. Here is the reflection I wrote for tonights service at church (my punctuation is bad... I know!)

Vulnerable, not a word that we necessarily would associate with Jesus; our accounts are full of wisdom of teaching of miracle of rising above the powers that try to trap him, of love, of kindness, of an authority that speaks deeper than words. But here, in this garden as tears fall, vulnerable is probably a good word.

The road had led him to this point, all that had gone before would be realised in the journey ahead. All that prophets had foretold, all that was planned before time, all that those who were close by wanted to prevent, was coming; was close.

It is almost as if the darkness was marching around, triumphantly. Calling on all its powers to engulf this moment; seeing an opportunity, a possibility of extinguishing the eternal light. Wherever Jesus turned there was darkness;

His friends, the ones he loved, the ones that he also had prepared for this moment, were asleep. Even at this critical moment, their tiredness had won and caused pain.

In the distance, soldiers’ came, he knew why, he knew that one of His friends led them. He knew that their destination was the spot where he was standing. It is ironic that so many see their destination in faith as Jesus, and yet at this moment, Jesus being the destination brought darkness.

He knew that running would bring its own darkness.

Darkness surrounded Him in anticipation of His next move, assuming that any move would cause Darkness itself to triumph.

Jesus was prepared, but was his disciples?

They had followed, given their own opinion on things, watched, listened and yet… it always seemed to take a while for the penny to drop.

They seemed to struggle to see the deeper message in things, rather than just the surface story.

There was no doubt they loved Him, but did they love him enough to let Him go and fulfil what had been prophesied from years ago?

Would they be prepared to watch Jesus suffer, to continue to the journey to humanities wholeness?

Would they be prepared to trust, even in the pain, even in the uncertainty, even in what seemed like a terrible thing? Trust that God held them close, even in this most darkest of moments?

And I suppose it asks the question of us? Do we know that even in the most darkest of moments in our life, God loves us, holds us and draws alongside us?

We that follow, like the disciples, may never get the answers, may never quite understand, may never feel we are prepared enough to go through whatever it is we are going through.

But the promise of God is that even in our most darkest and most difficult of moments, when all around seems to swamp us. He is there, walking alongside and shining His light in our lives.

When we are vulnerable, God holds us and keeps us and never lets us go.

'Displays of the Cross' Day 3

After tomorrow the journey through lent picks up pace. We start to associate the days far more closely with the well known Easter Story, and so today requires that intake of breath before we set off. Over the next few days, we may be changed, we may challenged by the cross, inspired by the resurrection or feel pain by the Last Supper. The question is 'are we ready?' Have we been preparing ourselves to truly immerse ourselves into Easter as an event rather than a re-telling of an old familiar story?

Displays of the Cross Day 2

Firstly, I am glad you have managed to find me on the new address. I hope it will still be the same rambling, erratic blog that it always has been.

I type below the reflection I wrote and shared with the assembled crowd this evening at the 'Displays of the cross event' at church.

A cross is such a simple structure.

In essence it is two separate things, placed at a 90° angel from each other.

A technique that has helped us build from the earliest dwellings to the most modern of buildings.

Think about it, everywhere we are, a cross is so close by.

Even in the building we are now, think, look around at the different places you see the cross. In the window frames, in the balcony.

Think about your journey here this evening, how many crosses did you see? How many did you walk past unknowingly?

This structure is so important to societies architecture and buildings, so vital at holding everything together

Such a simple structure.

Such a simple structure.

That holds so much for Christians

In essence two separate bits of rough wood, placed at a 90° angel from each other.

A sign that has been held dear for many people, from the earliest Christians to us right here, right now, and for those who are yet to see.

Think about it, everywhere we are, the cross is close by.

Even in our lives, the journey to the cross, the suffering at the cross, the power at the cross, all live with us.

Think about your life, where have you felt the cross close by, was it when you suffered? Was it when you felt loved? Was it when there seemed no-where else to turn?

How many times have we gone through life with the effect of the cross unknowingly guiding and shaping us?

This structure is so important to us as Christians, so vital at holding everything together.

Such a simple structure

Displays of the Cross

Today was our first day of the displays. Around the church are different crosses that the congregation have either made or brought to the display. It has been amazing to see so many crosses, each with their own story behind them and each one meaning something different to those who brought it. So I suppose it asks the question, what cross would you have brought and why? For each of us this season has different meanings and we each experience different things, that is the beauty of God.

Team Gathering

So what did we do at our team gathering today? Study bible passages? Talk about deep theological issues that are controversial? Plan the next few weeks? No... we sang Children's songs....and what a great morning it was. We started to think about how we introduce more songs that children (and adults) can relate to well. We went through alot of songs, discarded some, laughed at others, worried about the writers of one or two and then made some actions. I look forward to how these are going to enrich our worship on a Sunday morning together. I hope you do too!
On another note, I am 160 pages through my book for NAM studies (Newly Accredited Minister) it is called Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham So far, I think I would describe it with this metaphor "a good sermon that tries to make too many points with too much evidence and you are left wondering what the sermon was about tin the first place" it may change, or I may just not be intelligent enough to get it, but I plod on...

One year on...

It was a year ago last Sunday hat we started our first all age learning. This is an opportunity for the congregation to choose different ways of understanding the bible passage we explore on that day. We have had craft options, reflection options, sermon options, drama options and some more as well. I really enjoy these sundays as people seem to get so much out of them, we only do them once every other month. It is just amazing that it is a year already since we started them and how important I believe they are.

I think Church should be like Apple

My mobile phone broke a couple of days ago, and I went into a phone store (which shall remain nameless) to get a cheap PAYG phone to tie me over until my contract ran out. I was greeted by the employee (who I worked out was the manager) and was made to feel like a nuisance, as he was more bothered by the customers being served by one of his employees, I left rather unsatisfied. I then went into the new Apple store at Cribbs, some may think it too clinical. But the moment you walk in you realise you are somewhere pleasant, somewhere relaxing, somewhere where people know what they are on about, and if they don't they will be honest. Somewhere where quality abounds and where everything is tangible, hands on and clear. Church sometimes sadly can be too much like the first shop I went into, I think Church should be like Apple.

Tyndale Room

Plese enter it into the history books that myself and Mr Shrimpton (John) were the first people from the church to stand upon the new Tyndale Floor, oh the joy and pride that was abounding.

Ministers Letter

Forgot to put it on before, so here it is with grammatical errors and all..
Minister’s Letter – February

What a January it was! The snow fell and at first it was lovely and beautiful, but then we started to realise the difficulties that it brought with transport, keeping warm and keeping safe as well as the meetings that were cancelled here at Horfield. There were a number of us who took part in a performance of Joseph along with Tyndale Baptist Church, and a number more that came to watch, it was a great time and real fun, but weather conditions made it a bit more interesting to get there. However, this month will probably be remembered for one of the worst natural disasters in history, and the events that happen on the other side of the world do affect us because in our papers, on our T.V. radio and computers we see and hear of people who are like you and me that have been affected beyond anything we could ever imagine. We will each respond in different ways, some with prayer, others with financial or other gifts and some will go out there to help, how though do we respond to God? When we meet together we sing and speak of God who is Lord over all creation and who loves each one of us and holds us in his hands, yet where was God for the people of Haiti? I wish I or someone else could give a simple answer, but sadly there isn’t one. Maybe we can look at events in our own lives where things have been hard and we have struggled, have we known God in these times, have we felt His love close to us in these desperate times? I look back at the hard times in my life and know that I felt God particularly close by (like He always is, but sometimes I seem less aware of it) and that the events are part of creation, part of life, even though I wish they could be different. I hope that our prayer is that God can be known in Haiti, that His love can be shown in the rescuers; His peace can be shown in the way that society is rebuilt and His hope will appear from despair. Despite all our moans and concerns the snow has now gone and we have resumed normality; the people of Haiti will be living with this for a long time and their difficulties won’t go away with bright sunshine, or warmer climates, let’s hope that our memories and prayers for those in Haiti won’t disappear as the media starts to moves out.
Here at Horfield I pray that we also know God’s love, peace and hope as together we journey and cope with what life throws at us. We may not have all the answers to why what happens happens, but what we do have is what God offers to us, God’s self as well as one another. Together, whatever may come, I pray we will rely on God and one another.
Tim

Juggling

I am now back after a weeks holiday, ministers conference and recovering from a very busy Sunday. There seems to be a lot on and I am aware that there are a lot of pastoral issues that I need to help people with, I think one of the roles of being minister is being able to juggle all the different aspects of church life. Tomorrow starts the new day-time N:Counter, 10am at the church. I am really looking forward to this and hope it will be a good time, it is a chance to expand on what we did on Sunday, let’s see how it goes…

Ministers Letter

Have just written the letter for the February edition of Towers and Town (the church magazine) was a hard one to write and feel quite exhausted now, it can really take it out of you... will post it on here when the magazine is out.

What you say really matters...

At the moment the church is in the middle of changing its broadband provider, there was a message on the church answerphone this morning from our outgoing provider saying "We can confirm the cancellation, thank you for choosing (the company)". It did make me smile as we obviously had not chosen the company as we were leaving, I think I knew what he meant, but sometimes, really… think what you are saying.

Hard Work

So when you are with the deacons at the beginning of the service and we all pray that God will speak to people in many diifferent ways, what I didn't bank on was God speaking through a DVD that did not work and through a whistling sound that after 10 minutes of people at the back trying to work out what was causing it, was found to be the organ (all this while the service was on). So I will be careful and more specific when I next pray "God speak to people in whatever way they need to hear", I may even give a list of ways I think would be more appropriate!

Joseph (Night 3)

What a great audience, they clapped and sang along at the end, was great fun doing Joseph, am going to miss it, but time to turn attention to other things now. Annual Report needs colating soon as well as a new members directory, lots of ideas buzzing around that need grounding as well.

Joseph (Night 2)

Was a good evening and quite a crowd in the audience. Was slightly more nervous though as I knew quite a few people and in the first half found it hard to hit a note cleanly! Last night tonight and I parked in the multi storey, so no problems getting out... talking of problems though, Sunday morning could be fun as the weather may cause disruption to people getting there and people who are involved getting there, its going to be fun, trying to fill in all the gaps :)

Joseph (Night 1)

It went well, although the Clarinetist and I were laughing at the bits we missed (not that anyone would know). The biggest nightmare was trying to get out the sloped parking space, thanks to those who helped push me out to get back on my way (and I did then in turn help others get out) may try the multi storey car park tonight! Arounf 180 people are coming tonight...depending on weather of course

Joseph, Snow and Books

This week I am playing the Trumpet for the musical Joseph, being done at one of the local churches. Got to say that I am really impressed with it, the cast are good, costumes good and the stage is great. Been an interesting week for me though, I had forgotten how much I love being in something like this and it got me thinking. I suppose music was one of the things that I ‘sacrificed’ when I believed God had called me into ministry, I had opportunities to set up a business and teach electronic organ with a local music chain, opportunities to think about doing things professionally and getting known in the area, studying music at a higher level. I suppose there is a bit of sadness there, I think I am half ok on the Trumpet and am capable of playing the Joseph music (might want to revise that after the performances!), with relatively little problems and this is after not playing regularly for about 6 years (about once or twice a year!). It does make me think how good I could have been if I had continued to practice hours a day and pushed myself a little bit more. However all that is in context of me believing that God called me to this ministry, and that within it my musical abilities have been used. And I have had time to think about this as I have been trapped in the house thanks to the snow! Which I hope will not disrupt the first performance of Joseph tonight, although the sun is coming out now. Just finished reading a book on worship by Chris Ellis called ‘Approaching God’, really good book and very useful, have written a book review on it for my continued study for being a newly accredited minister. Now about to read ‘Jesus and the Eyewitnesses’ by Richard Bauckham, this is not my choice, but the college’s as I still need to do some studying! It is daunting to look at as it is over 500 pages, big book, small print and needs to be read by May….here goes….

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone. So the 2010 is here, as we celebrated we wondered (as we do every year) where the last year has gone, so much has happened. What will we be looking back on in the turn to 2011 with the memories of 2010. I hope it will be exciting and that we will look back with creating space finished or near an end; a deeper sense of God's love and growth in the fellowship. So much we have to go through to get there though, hard work, pain and joy but I hope we will look back and see it was worth it all. So here's to 2010 I hope it brings joy, peace and a greater sense of how special you all are and how much God loves you.