Student Team Weekend

After several weeks planning, the student team weekend in beautiful Ohrid has come and gone already. From the moment we started it was clear to me that God was with us. Things went smoothly, plans worked out, we all got on well together. We worshipped God together, prayed, listened to God for each other and had teaching brought to us by Andy who had travelled from Marburg in Germany just to be with us for the weekend. A good time.

Cell and New Life

Despite initial protestations from me, we had Cell Group at a different venue this evening. And someone became a Christian! Definitely worth it when God does that!

Bitola

I felt a bit run down. Sashe the pastor said "Go away!" - he meant for a few days in another place, not as an insult! So I went to Bitola in the south of Macedonia. I was told about a place where I could stay - in the house as part of a church. Bitola is a nice place and I got some rest and re-focus.

The Heavy Load

I had been organising a weekend away for the student work team, but things weren't working. First the accommodation I wanted turned out to be unavailable. Then the speaker contacted me to say he'd delayed in getting his plane ticket and now it had increased out of his price range. Hmmm.

So I got together with another one of the team and we prayed together. I asked God to do one of three things:
1. Make the organisation smooth
2. Tell us clearly to continue even though it stays hard to organise
3. Tell us clearly not to try and continue at this time.

Instead, God showed one thing. It was too heavy for me to carry. Yep! That was actually simple and yet deep.
The next day, Joska returned from Croatia and offered to help with the organisation! Then I checked to see if I could find a cheaper flight, and yes I did! So it's started going smoothly now.

Price of Integrity

A friend emailed me this. Don't know if it's true, but it gives an insight into the importance of integrity:

Several years ago, a new preacher moved to Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet."

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."

The driver with a smile replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking lately about going to worship somewhere. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday"

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."

Skating

Went skating. Got a suntan. And it's only just April.