Chinese Proverb

Sometimes it feels like a long walk to get to where you are going and you can feel rather small in the middle of everything.


I heard a "chinese proverb" last night at a dinner which I have not heard for some time.

"Man who run behind car - get exhausted.

Man who run in front of car - get tired"

I think actual Chinese proverbs have considerably more wisdom than this. But there have been times this term when we have been both tyred and exhausted. The challenges of ministry in these islands are significant and the ongoing adjustments of life continue to absorb energy. Thanks to all who have nagged me to get blogging again.

I am on record as saying that lack of blogging is usually a sign that I am struggling and that creative energy is low. That and the less you do it, the more you have to say and the more daunting it seems. So I am going to just do it!

The good thing after a slog is that you do at least get a moment to enjoy the view.

So stand by for some reflections on the term and some family news updates.

We have faced financial struggles, personnel issues, disunity, opposition and discouragement as a team. But looking back on the term our experience resonates with 2 Corinthians 4.

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.


This picture does not quite work as an illustration. The glasses are ordinary but we drunk the lassis that was inside! (a Dennis Fountain speciality).


We are still together and still going on and continue to be thankful for all who support us here in different ways.