It’s been a long, tough week. Mainly due to school. 99% due to school. School isn’t fun.

But in other, more enjoyable news, I am currently planning a study on the return of Jesus. And tomorrow we have a mortgage appointment, just to find out exactly what we should be able to borrow, once we actually find a house we want to buy… or can afford to buy…

You may have seen my tweet. Church was amazing tonight. A baptismal service, meaning that people were baptised. Several people, young, older, and two Afghans told us all how they came to know Jesus and what a difference he’s made in their lives. They were then baptised, symbolising their old life dying and a new life beginning in Jesus.

It was great to see so many people in church for an evening service – it’s usually packed out in the morning, but people seem to prefer to stay at home in the evening for some reason, I can never understand why. Maybe they have gardening to do or something. Speaking of which, our lawn (front and back) could probably do with a mow pretty soon…

In other news, I met a great guy named Aaron after church – the near-future-president of the university’s Christian Union. Aaron, if you’re reading this, which I presume you are doing now (clever, hey?), then, erm… BLOG! Wordpress is good ;)

In more other news, talking about my life-passion with Aaron, albeit briefly, has brought an unexpected fresh focus and sharpness of vision into my mind. Life. It is a changing, slowly but surely. God is faithful.

A blog post should never start with the word ’so’.

So, earlier this month I blogged this:

So I blog because I want to document the events, circumstances and thoughts that are at least somewhat relevant to my journey towards realising the full extent of how God is going to outwork that passion in my life.

And it seems like I not only start blog posts with ’so’ but I also start sentences with ’so’ (and and). The shame.

Getting back to the point, the passion that God is starting to outwork (or, that I’m starting to see the outworking of) is that of seeing/encouraging/discipling Christians, with the aim of them simply loving Jesus more.

And (there it is again) seeing as though I have decided this blog is semi-largely for the purpose of documenting the journey, I thought it was time for a little update.

Sometimes it seems like life is far removed from “God stuff.” Day-to-day teaching can tire me out and if I’m not careful can move my eyes from God and my passions and his lessons for me on to every day meaningless life things. However, what I am learning is that “every day meaningless life things” are part of what God actually uses to shape/prepare/teach his people on the way to taking them where he wants to take them.

In other news, if you skip back to September of last year, you will find an entry about my desire to start a preaching club. This has actually happened, and the second evening of the Preaching Course happened last Thursday. I am not leading it, obviously, as I cannot preach (well – which is why I wanted to have one start up!), but facilitating. It’s exciting, as there are a few of us that are coming along. We are about to start preaching through Colossians, taking it in turns to preach and then giving each other feedback.

I really want to grow in preaching. If any of you have any resources/ideas/similar passions, do comment.

Let’s consider this an extended About page.

I’ve been blogging for years. Probably since around 2001. I do not have much, even most, of my blogs available to you, or even to me, unfortunately. Some of it’s findable, but much of it is hidden in the mysterious depths of the Internet. Probably for the best.

So this is me, and this is why I am blogging:

I’m a Christian. Not brought up in a Christian household; I gave my life to Jesus at the age of 19, on the 29th of December, 1998. At that moment that Jesus became King of my life, he put something in my heart. I didn’t understand what it was at first, but now it’s very clear to me. It’s simple but profound. It’s the general but very specific calling of my life. My main passion is encouraging Christians to love Jesus more. That’s it. Over the years God has shown me how that breaks down practically and I’m at a stage now where I am happy to vocalise that passion that he’s given me.

This blog may not always reflect that passion, but hopefully the main thrust of at least 60% of the posts will have something to do with it. A couple of things are happening recently that really tie in with my God-given passion, and these will come to the surface over the next few weeks.

So I blog because I want to document the events, circumstances and thoughts that are at least somewhat relevant to my journey towards realising the full extent of how God is going to outwork that passion in my life. So far it’s taken over 10 years of learning and waiting. I cannot help but feeling there is much more learning and waiting to be done. But things are happening. It’s exciting.

I will blog it all. Thanks for reading – and if you are reading, please feel free to offer your wisdom and your own thoughts on what I write. And if not, I will still write. But it’s more fun if I get some kind of response, no?

The Dreaded Visitors were in school today and are in school again tomorrow. Monday (today) is a good day for me, however, as I have my PPA time in the morning and my NQT time in the afternoon. A day of no teaching. I spend my PPA time at home and usually have to go into school in the afternoon and attend the staff meeting. But seeing as though Her Majesty’s Lovely Inspectors were in school, there was no staff meeting. And seeing as though the roads are treacherous, especially in the town where my school is, I didn’t go in this afternoon.

So, it’s been a nice day. I’ve done some planning, had cups of tea, and will now do some more planning. I’m in school tomorrow, obviously, if the roads allow, and am teaching reception in the morning. I will more than likely be observed for a short amount of time, so I’d better make sure those are good lessons… and then it’s choir at lunch time, and then… Then… I’m legging it.

Welcome to Project Thursday. From here on I will be shooting and posting a self-portrait every Thursday. Today marks a week of 2010, which is why I have posted today. I figure a self-portrait per week is much more manageable than one per day.

So this Thursday was an interesting day. Firstly, school was open, which was surprising as many schools in the area were closed because of snow. And perhaps it is a good job school was open, because today was the day we got The Phonecall from OFSTED. They are coming in on Monday and Tuesday of next week, which in itself will be interesting as we are due yet more snow and the headteacher insists that school will be open nomatter what the weather brings. I am busy brushing up my planning right now (in between procrastinating). I have no idea what to expect from OFSTED’s visit. All I can do is my best, and hope that is good enough.

I wonder if Thursdays throughout the year will prove to be as eventful.