Time Out...... The unknown beckons

A lot has changed

2009-04-30T13:51:00.003+01:00

A lot has happened since my last blog post. The most notable of which is that I have been removed from the list of links on Brian's Blog.

But seriously, I have become a dad which is amazing. Here is our daughter Mollie as of a few weeks ago...

I think all parents think that their children are amazing, and rightly so, because they are. I am particularly enamored with her smile :)

Things continue to be exciting and eventful at Re:Hope. One of the things I have been thinking about recently is what it means to bless God. For when he blesses us we generally tend to understand it as him giving to us or helping us in some way. Clearly this doesn't seem to work in reverse. Here is something I found that a little known author called John Piper wrote on the subject....

"My thesis is that in the Scripture when God "blesses" men they are thereby helped and strengthened and made better off than they were before, but when men "bless" God he is not helped or strengthened or made better off. Rather (with C.A. Keller in THAT, I, 361) man's blessing God is an "expression of praising Thankfulness" (ein lobendes Danksagen), when the OT speaks of blessing God it does not "designate a pro cess that aims at the increase of God's strength" (THAT, I, 361). It is an "exclamation of gratitude and admiration" (THAT, I, 357).
This is not at all a strange semantic phenomenon. If God is the primal and inexhaustible "blesser," then he must be above all others in a "blessed" state—the fullness and source of all "blessing." If this is so, then a most nat ural burst of praise would be "You are blessed!" That this recognition and joyful exclamation of God's blessedness should then be described as "blessing God" is not unusual. Other analogies, though not exact, would be our expressions like: "I mag nify the Lord" or "Let us exalt his name." Both of these expressions properly recognize and give joyful expression to God's magnificence and his exalted status. They do not mean that we make God larger or higher. So to bless God means to recognize his great richness, strength, and gracious bounty and to express our gratitude and delight in seeing and experiencing it.
Here are some texts that have led me to these conclusions:

Deuteronomy 8:10 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

Here "bless" is virtually identical to "thank" or "gratefully recognize as the giver of blessing."

Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 145:10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you!

Psalm 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

Psalm 96:2-3 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

Here bless probably means: joyfully announce all these good things about God.

Psalm 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

This psalm begins and ends with "Bless the Lord, O my soul!" This probably means that the psalm is meant as the blessing. Therefore blessing God means heartily saying things like "God, you are very great!"

2 Chronicles 29:10 Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.”

This is a clear example of what one does when one blesses the Lord: he calls him blessed! The same thing is seen in comparing Gen. 24:27 and 48.

Ps. 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Ps. 145:1-2,21 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Ps. 113:1,2 Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!"

New Arrival Imminent

2008-08-04T14:07:00.003+01:00

OK, so Julie has reprimanded me for not blogging on this already, and for most of you who might read this blog, it's old news. But we're having a baby!

"Little Ash" as he/she is affectionately known is due around the 20th of October. This is a preview of what Little Ash might look like........

For Your Name

2008-06-18T14:44:00.003+01:00

Well, after muchos delay due to numerous non-musical set-backs, we have finally released an EP. Check it out by clicking on the picture below!

If you enjoy it, then tell all your friends!

Theory to Praxis

2008-03-31T11:50:00.003+01:00

I came across this quote from T.S.Elliot whilst reading The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch...

"The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyse his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief."

And as I read this quote and allowed it to sink through my defensive barriers of "I'm a pretty good Christian", it struck deep and convicted.

I have grown up - as I think most western, middle-class, Christians have - with a faith that is at least 80% intellectual, and that's a conservative estimate!

Another convicting moment was at our church retreat earlier this month, where we had to write down 30 names of people we know in Glasgow who are not believers in Jesus. I realised that I could not not even do that. It would be easy to point the finger at western Christianity, at Church, at my culture. But in all reality the fault lies with me, the responsibility lies squarely with me.

I'm not sure what I shall do with these two convictions, but this I DO know, I need to allow the Lordship of Jesus to permeate every aspect of my life. I need to adhere to the calling of Jesus revealed in the bible, not the diluted interpreted message that seeps through my religiousness.

We must believe that Jesus is indeed alive and really worth dying for, and if that is true, we MUST live like it. It is only through living a life FULLY under the Lordship of Jesus that we can ever expect to see our nation changed. To see awakening and revival.

We must. We must. We must.

Pike and Burgers

2008-03-14T21:29:00.002Z

Three men have had a dream this winter...... to catch a Pike on the fly.

We have been infamous in our failure to catch any fish this winter (tiny little ones not included mike). Anyway, today the weather forecast looked great, it's Pike breeding month and I just KNEW it would be our day. We stayed up last night psyching each other up and tying little monstrosoties onto very large hooks.

Driving up to loch Lomond this morning everything looked great, not much wind, sunshine, nothing good on TV, everything was perfect.

Once kitted up we headed down to the loch to find the bay we wanted to fish flooded. Not to be dismayed we waded out into the bay. I selected a fly, clipped it onto my line and had a couple of tentative casts. Just getting into the rhythm of things, I was shaping up for another cast when I heard a frantic cry of "Andy...... Andy!!!!" behind me. I turn to see wade, his rod bending into what I thought at first was weed, but no, a tail fin appears and a splash. I couldn't believe it, less than 5 minutes into our fishing! Now, this was no whopper, but it was a fish! A tiddler by Pike standards we were both a bit nervous about landing this thing, Pike are known for their sharp teeth. Anyway, here's a picture of Wade and his quarry... Enjoy

Amazing Prayer Answer!

2008-01-16T12:33:00.000Z

I am part of the intercession team at re:hope. We give out cards every week and people fill in prayer requests and we, well.......... pray.

This monday I shared with the team about a patient of mine whom I see every wednesday. She is very ill with end-stage lung disease from smoking. Anyway, before Christmas I got into a chat with her about my faith, it was really tough, she asked a lot of tough questions. I saw her again, for the first time after Christmas, last week and she referred back to that conversation saying "your prayers didn't work..." because she was feeling quite ill. Now I have NO recollection of having promised to pray for her, but was taken aback by what she said. So this week, on Monday, we prayed.

It was the most powerful prayer time I had been in for a while, I sensed the spirit moving powerfully, and staggered a couple of times, going all jelly-legged at the weight of God's presence in the room. I prayed a prayer asking God to do a miraculous thing by making this lady well at THAT MOMENT so that when I spoke to her today, I could tell her it was God. Now this was a big prayer for me, things like this don't seem to happen, even when I ask for them, but this time I really BELIEVED God would do it, it was an amazing prayer time.

This morning at my clinic she was the last patient (as always) which means we have time to chat. I asked her how she was feeling, "much better" she says. I then ask her when she started to feel better - she replies that it was around the beginning of the week. Monday? I ask. Yes, she says, monday I just felt much better, it must be the medicine, she says. I then explain the prayer I prayed on monday and how I believe God answered that prayer and made her feel better. She was astonished and she agreed to read Marks Gospel and tell me what she thinks.

I am BLOWN away, this has never happened to me before, I don't know who was more astonished, my patient or me! It is true, God still moves in MIRACULOUS ways and he hears the prayers of His people!

Amen

Freakin' Rad! (possibly the best week ever)

2008-01-15T10:07:00.000Z

Last week was the best week of 2008 so far (not bad eh?). In fact, it probably beats every week in 2007 as well.

On Sunday 6th January, in our already freezing church, with the temps in the minuses, our jet heater broke...... Pants.

Our boiler system has been broken since we moved in - and the estimated repair costs were between £15,000 and £30,000. Then Brian states from the front of church that we WILL have heat by the following Sunday..... Oh boy. We need to pray! Anyway.... a miracle happened that week and Brian has told the story really well on his blog, read it here. Here is a picture to tantalize you!

That my friends is Glorious, our wonderful boiler that is providing heat for our church, the temperature at our last service in the main sanctuary was 21 deg C! Freakin' Rad!

Did I mention it has been cold recently? Well all that cold combined with some Scottish wet-ness resulted in a whole heap of snow falling on our beloved mountains. So on my day off on Friday, Wade and Stephen and I went up to Glencoe to do some skiing, and this is what greeted us there (click on the pictures below to see bigger versions.... you really gotta click the bottom one!)

It was an incredible day, the whole mountain was covered in powder snow which was all untouched. The first few runs of the morning were fresh tracks and seriously, if heaven is anything like this then I will be a happy man.

Last week was good, God blessed the church by showing that He continues to provide for His people against all odds. We were blessed with seeing the wonder of His creation first hand and enjoying it. It's weeks like this that just leave me lost in wonder.

All glory to God on high

Think I'm gonna have to change my blog...

2007-12-03T15:39:00.000Z

The title of my blog needs to change I think, because this is no longer "time out"... although the future is always unknown so maybe that, at least, is still beckoning.

If you have read this post already, you may realise that it has changed a little. I re-read it and, well, here is the new post.

We had retreat last month, and it was amazing. I love retreats. It was a crazy week running up to the retreat, and when we got there a lot of folk were a little tired. To be honest I had no idea how I was going to be able to do most of the worship for the weekend. I felt tired and drained, and in no place to lead worship. God had other ideas thank goodness! During all the main sessions God was moving powerfully, and it was a testament to His greatness, that He moved in our (my) weaknesses.

It has seemed to me that God has often moved at the most unexpected times over the last year. For example, last week I prayed (whilst in a pretty low place) for heating at our church, and I asked for it within 1 week. 1 week to the day heaters had been installed! I prayed on Sunday morning (After sleeping in and feeling upset and again... tired) that God would bring more people to our church, to advance His kingdom in the west end. That same morning a bunch of new people came, one of which I chatted to and she had decided after one service, that God was telling her that re:hope was her church. God answers prayer, next time I doubt it, remind me of this post.

Anyway, if you read the previous post that was here, I'm sorry, I rattled it out at lunch time and wasn't thinking so straight.

P.S. I am currently listening to and loving Full attention by Jeremy Riddle, I was introduced to his music by Paul Killingsworth when he led worship for us at Re:Hope.

Until Next time!

Academia

2007-09-12T13:33:00.000+01:00

I was browsing blog articles today, looking for an audio file or a podcast of a particular speaker, and I stumbled onto the blog of this guy. He had a link to an MP3 I was looking for, which was nice, so in return I decided to have a quick read of his blog...

It was a discussion on sin, and more precisely, does God forgive sin? Or does He forgive the sinner? I was halfway through the discussion, mildly interested, when I hit a wall. My wall was "Who cares?". The irrelevance of this argument started to annoy me. Irrelevant because - we know that God forgives and that we have forgiveness through Christ and the work He did on the cross and by His ressurection. If I was sharing the gospel with someone and they asked me "does God forgive my sin?" I wouldn't say "Well no, He forgives you OF your sin, but Your sin must be punished" - this is confusing and irrelevant.

Big picture - In my experience, especially when I was a student and now to a lesser degree in the "real world", Christians are more worried about whether or not their ideas and thinking are right than just getting out into the world and BEING Jesus where they are at. We are called to be immitators of Christ - to go and make diciples of all nations - not to sit around in coffee shops arguing over more peripheral issues.

I want to make it absolutely clear that I include myself in the above catagory of over-thinkers and under-doers. I get so frustrated with myself for being all high-ideals and little action. I also believe that our theology is always in transition, as we read God's word and He reveals to us it's meaning we have to regularly change our view to be more like His. This is a good thing, theology is a good thing, let's try and be more balance people of both good, evolving, revelationary theology and doers of God's commands and His work.

Rant over.

Sticking to the facts

2007-08-26T00:07:00.000+01:00

Ok, this is shameful...... I have tried to update this blog so many times but I never know what to say. I'm going to stick to some factual - keep you up to date - information without too much hear/heart ramblings.

Julie has just started a new job in EM (Accident and Emergency in old speak) which has been taking its toll. Her shift pattern until she finishes this job in December is decidedly anti-social. But it's not for long and is good experience. She is generally enjoying her job and is growing in confidence daily.

Married life is so great. Every day I wake up totally amazed that we're married and with more and more love for Julie, what a gift. I love her so much. We also have a great bunch of married couples around us at the moment spurring us on and keeping us accountable. It seems bizzare looking back now but I remember praying with Julie last summer to find more young couples that we "clicked" with for friendship and accountability, cause this time last year, in Glasgow we had none! God provides - shouldn't be so surprising really.

Being on staff at church is still a challenging and fun place to be. I love it. Not that it doesn't come without difficulties, but it's such a loving environment that I get to learn and make mistakes and still be great friends with the folks I work with. We're just about to hit a pretty busy time in september, with all the students coming back, planning for possibly going to two services on a sunday, expanding worship team, possibly recording later this autumn. Lots to do!

Ok, well maybe this post will get me back into the blogging way, we'll see. If you read my blog, please comment me, I have no idea who reads this stuff, maybe I'll write better stuff if I know people read it! Until next time.....

God Answers Prayer

2007-05-09T17:06:00.000+01:00

So it's been a few weeks since my last post and just wanted to say than you to anyone who prayed for our building. That meeting (the one mentioned in my last post) was kinda funny. So the people that own the building wanted a LOT of money for it (they have since come down with the asking price and we're hoping they will come down further). We said 'not for that price, but hey, in the meantime can we rent it from you?' they (eventually) said yes and WE MOVED IN this monday just gone. We have the whole building for PENNIES a month and we have it 24/7 which is awesome. God has really answered are prayers and we are praying that we will be able to buy the building in autumn. Please pray for this.

On a more personal note, God has really REALLY been working on me recently. Man has it been painful. I have been reminded of both my shortcomings and my calling all at once and they pull me in opposite directions. When I think that I'm not doing a great job, or some aspect of my character is called to account by God, it makes me feel like I shouldn't be doing this, like I should cut and run. Added to that a mild pull back to medicine - because at least there I felt useful/skilled - and it really makes me question this "calling" to ministry.

That being said, the more I stick around here and the more I learn, the more sure I am that I am in the right place. I have found, in the people of re:hope, both friendship, leadership and encouragement that all push me onto grasping hold of this calling and accepting that, even though there is LOTS of room for improvement, it IS what I am called to.

So I have felt torn apart by all this and continue to work on listening to God. Someone said recently that when I can accept this as a CALLING and not just something I'm doing, then it becomes more about obedience in following that anything else, and that I can handle.

Julie continues to be amazing and support her. The more we walk together the more I utterly love her. I thank God for her a LOT.

That's all for now, thanks for reading.

PLEASE PRAY

2007-03-29T17:22:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post.

If you are reading this and you don't read Brian's blog, then listen up.

Our church is trying to obtain a building, and there is a specific building that we would like. The new owners of this building have arranged a meeting with the trustees of our church tomorrow, the 30th of March and they would like to sell it............... for much more than we can afford!

Please please pray REALLY HARD. If it's God will we should have the building then I'm sure He will obtain it for us!
Thanks

Community

2007-03-26T14:48:00.000+01:00

Community.

I have to be honest, I didn't really get what the big deal was regarding community until recently. A few things have got me thinking about it....

1.) My sister and bro-in-law decided to buy a house with another couple and move in together, to have community in their home. I didn't really get it, but it sounded cool. And it is.

2.) I am part of a church which has 3 principles around which we gravitate..
Commune, Community and Mission. Being incorporated into this group of folk has been awesome, if challenging at times.

I know that my brother in law read blue like jazz (Donald miller) a while back and I now wonder whether this was something that spurred them onto living in community. Here is what he has to say on the issue...

"Rick told me a little later, I should be living in community. He said I should have people bugging me and getting under my skin because without people I could not grow - I could not grow in God and I could not grow as a human. We are born into families, he said, and we are needy at first as children because God wants us together, living among one another, not hiding ourselves under logs like fungus. You are not a fungus, he told me, you are human, and you need other people in your life in order to be healthy"

His initial thoughts on community also mirrored mine.......

"I didn't know what to think about the idea of living in community at first. I had lived on my own for about 6 years, and the idea of moving in with a bunch of slobs didn't appeal to me. Living in community sounded so, um, odd. Cults do that sort of thing, you know. First you live in community, and then you drink punch and die"

Community is a buzz-word in our church. At first I was like, whatever, community, yawn. Now I need it, it helps me to remain healthy, it keeps me accountable, and prevents people in our church from being alone. Obviously we need to do that bit better, but it's a start. I love my community.

Wrestling with God

2007-03-20T18:03:00.000Z

This morning I was sitting in a coffee shop, reading my bible, listening to music, normal morning routine. Then something happened to upset my happy medium of introspection.....

A lady walked in and sat down, acting rather ruffled. I unfortunately have a bad habit of people watching and so, well, watched for a little while.

As soon as she sat down she pulled out her mobile phone and started making phone calls. It was quite early and the coffee shop was still quiet, so it was very difficult not to over hear "They found something in my liver..... on the ultrasound scan". I kept on listening as she made numerous calls, obviously upset by this news.

This is where my "normal" morning became slightly less normal.

"Go over and offer to pray for her" I hear a voice inside me saying
"Is that You God?" I ask.

No answer.

Gnawing feeling that I really SHOULD go over and offer to pray for this lady.

Over the next 20 minutes or so a battle ensues inside me, surely God wasn't asking me, in public, to go over and actually PRAY for this woman? Getting very frustrated at my lack of courage, man I am wimp when it comes to stuff like this, I pack up my things and head to the toilet to prepare myself for the conversation.......... and this is how it went.

"Hi, my name's Andy, I'm sorry to bother you and I don't normally do this, but I was sitting behind you over there and I felt God was asking me to pray for you" I said.

Pause.

"Are you a madman?" the lady replies

"I don't think so" I said (knowing perfectly well that if I WERE insane I would probably have no insight into the fact) "But I happen to work for a local church and couldn't help overhearing you, and I just feel that God was prompting me to pray for you, maybe if you could tell me your first name and I'll pray for you over the next week or so"

By this point I had chickened out of praying for her on the spot.

"Oh, I am a christian as well, that's very kind of you, maybe you could pray for my work and that I would be physically well"

At that I quickly got her first name and practically ran out of the coffee shop.

It's odd how DIFFICULT it can be to do things that are not "normal", for fear of being a weirdo or out of place. God has really been convicting me over the last little while about my desire to blend in, to be a "cool" Christian. Instead he calls us to a life where we are to "conform no longer to the pattern of this world" - something which is so much easier to say than to do.

Please keep me accountable to pray for this lady, Suzy is her name. I hope God will heal her and bring her to a relationship with Jesus.

Peace

ever get that heavy feeling?

2007-03-13T15:56:00.000Z

ever get that heavy feeling when you can't figure out if you're being attacked, convicted or you've just drunk too much caffeine?

well I have it, and the worst thing is that it could be due to numerous issues.

One thing I've been thinking about recently is the youth band that I'm involved with. Not long ago I kind of made the decision that I was probably not going to carry on with it, and since then I felt SOOOO heavy about it. Basically, I suck at it. In an attempt to engage with them I seem to regress back into the self-centered teenager that I THOUGHT I had left behind sometime during my early university years. I get obsessed with bragging about the stuff I've done or got or whatever, in an attempt to "connect" with the young people I'm working with. I also lack patience with them, and time to commit to making real friendships with them. I just feel like I'm failing at the whole thing and so I reckon "Hey, this is clearly not my gift, I tried it, but now I gotta get out". Problem is there is no one to take over so.............. Am I feeling heavy cause I'm supposed to carry on? Or heavy cause I just wanna offload a burden that I am not carrying well? Or it has nothing to do with this and I'm just feeling guilty?

Along with this I am feeling more and more convinced that I live my life in a bubble of Christianity and, even more disturbing, churchianity. It's time to step out of the comfort zone and head into the real world, where the gospel is needed, where there are people who don't know Jesus, or any love at all, and really need Him.

Anyway, I'm really praying God will give me some guidance on these issues.

I hate the heavy feeling, but often God seems to speak to me out of these times. And stuff happens.

Peace.

Re:Treat

2007-03-08T16:18:00.000Z

Got rebuked the other day for not blogging about re:treat - our church re:treat this last weekend.

It was good.

It was really very good.

Considering it was the church's first attempt at a retreat there are a number of good things that need to be highlighted:

1.) the food was REALLY good
2.) the teaching was spot on.... challenged and convicted (but not TOO much :)
3.) Great banter, good games, fantastic community building

I lost to Tim at cowtrader but managed to whoop is butt at ping-pong, which made the fact that he was continuously nipple-crippling me slightly easier to bear ("you cause me great paid Irishman but I take solace in ping-pong)

Very good and I heartily recommend it whenever the next one arises.

Check out the video HERE

Peace.

2007-02-15T11:00:00.000Z

Well it has been a LONG time since my last post and things have changed. There has been a lot of change in the last 6 months since I stopped full-time medical work. Basically, after a lot of thought and prayer - Julie and I moved church in September 2006. We are now very much at home at our new church (www.rehope.co.uk) and I am pretty much working for them full time as a "worship pastor" although this is a title that i am very much growing into/learning on the job and I am still trying to figure out what it really means! Not that that's a bad thing, it's just that it could mean so much and it's about focusing and defining the role. I am absolutely loving my new job and everyday is a new adventure, God is so good and is continually revealing himself afresh to both Julie and I at this time.

Julie moved departments to surgery in december and i think it's fair to say that she isn't enjoying it as much as medicine. For one thing the mornings are much earlier, and because it's not something she wants to do long-term, I think she struggles for motivation and job satisfaction. All the same she continues to be a source of inspiration and moderation in my life ans I love her to bits.

I am also doing some medical work, I do an anti-coagulation clinic on wednesday morning and one saturday a month I do a shift in a local emergency department (this is apparently the new name for A&E). I enjoy this work more because I am out of the system and feel less cynical about medicine in general than I did before!

I shall try and post more often. If you want to come and visit us or our church then please do so. If you want to get in touch please email me at: andyashworth[at]doctors[dot]org[dot]uk

Good news and Bad

2006-11-06T13:53:00.000Z

The posts on this blog now seem to happen about once a month - sorry bout that, it's not intentional! It is probably indicative of how busy life has become - i.e a little busier than when I started the blog.

Life is changing and it is good. God is good and that is all that matters.

I'll get back to the good stuff in a moment. Yesterday, my Grandad (Harry) died. He developed a pneumonia about 3 weeks ago, had to be ventilated and has been in ITU ever since. He was very ill throughout his time in ITU, despite regaining consciouness, and passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon. It's really sad, and I cried, but he's with the Father now and that makes me happy.

Things in my life have been really interesting the last few weeks. Julie and I have moved churches (not an easy decision) and within a short period of time Julie and I have settled in to a new church where I now lead worship regularly, which is awesome. Check out the website at www.rehope.co.uk

I have also been asked to co-ordinate/produce/lead a youth worship band for a church on the south side of glasgow (about 10 miles from where I live). We had our first meeting on friday - it was good but it's going to take a lot of effort. Please pray for that and for the guys involved.

Julie is doing well at work, she is universally liked and she is really clever which is a good combo! I think she's an awesome doctor.

Peace out.

Decisions Decisions

2006-10-04T15:43:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since my last post, things have acutally been quite busy since then! (Surprisingly). We were on holiday in the Lake District which was awesome, and we also went to bradford for 1 day before heading over to Belfast. Very enjoyable holiday all round really! Julie is currently working back shifts (so I don't see her much) and I'm doing some A+E shifts as well at the moment, which I generally quite like - keeps my hand in at least. Having a lot of difficulty trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life at the moment - I'm not totally convinced that a career in medicine is for me - but that leaves me in the awkward position of not having the foggiest what I should be doing!

Music continues - slow slow slow (also hindered by zero practice over our holiday!) but I do still seem to be improving. Learning new things most weeks and trying to teach my muscles where to put my fingers in quick succession! All good.

Better go and do some house work. This Blog is becoming decidedly boring at the moment. I'll try and find something more interesting to post before I write next.

Another lonely weekend

2006-09-02T08:19:00.000+01:00

Ok, so the title is slightly dramatic. Julie is working again this weekend, and this time it's nasty ward cover which means she'll be busy and tired. Praying that she'll have strength and wisdom to get through and out the other side in one piece!

Things are progressing slowly from my point of view. Guitar is coming along slowly, so much to learn! My guitar teacher is being incredibly thourough which is good, but slow! Been asked to be involved in a youth worship night on the south side of Glasgow later this month, which I'm excited about. Songs are coming slowly as well, finished a song last week and have others that are kinda half-written and some chord-progressions without words as yet.

Just been thinking over the last few days, what is my vision? I have many ideas, some of which are totally pie-in-the-sky, others may come to fruition. There are a few hard decisions coming up soon like, do I apply for jobs in February, it seems a long time away but I need to start looking now if I want one. Lots of small decisions that have larger undercurrents!

Married life is still awesome, even if Julie is a bit tired at the moment. Next weekend we're on holiday for two weeks which we are REALLY looking forward to, spending the first week in the lake district and some time in Northern Ireland as well.

Long post, thanks for reading.

True Dat.

2006-08-28T20:22:00.000+01:00

So, decided I won't go a week between posts, three days seems like a very decent amount of time. Julie and I were in London this weekend, I love London, always buzzing and full of life, so big, so many thigs to do! I think I romanticise the idea of being a "londoner"but nethertheless, I still want to be one. We just hung out and chatted with Ruth and John and had coffee outside St Pauls Cathedral - so trendy. Not. (not that it wasn't cool, just that I'm not trendy)

Today was good, julie takes away my internet cable during the day now (I asked her to) and it makes them (the days, that is!) much more productive! Finished a new song, praise God, and did some practice and some general housework. Feels like I've acheived something. Might be working two night shifts next week in the A&E where I used to work which would be fun.

Question - is St Pauls cathedral Catholic or Protestant (traditionally)? We had a discussion about that but none of us really knew the answer, we just like to argue. Please leave a comment if you know.

2006-08-25T14:47:00.000+01:00

Not posted for a while, and it seems that some people are crazy enough to even read this stuff! Not much has really happened since I last posted. Julie is finding work better and slightly easier and is getting home most nights pre-6pm which is nice! I did a shift in A&E in stirling on wednesday, was actually quite nice to do a bit of work, get my mind in medical mode for a little while!

Things quiet on a guitar front, not written any new songs, feeling a little dry. Progress slow and practice has been hindered this week by the need to do other things.

Julie and I are going to London this weekend to visit Ruth and John, we love them. Should be fun and will be nice to get away from glasgow for a few days. I don't know whether to ask people to pray for things on a blog, but if you read and you would like to, then please pray for a little more medical work for myself and also for some wisdom on whether or not to do a module at ICC this coming term.

First Job Offer

2006-08-14T13:38:00.000+01:00

Work really starts in earnest this week, on both fronts!

Been practicing guitar this am, still got another 2hrs to do this avo - progress slow but steady, fingers hurting!

Medacs (locum agency) have been in contact with job offers, couldn't do most of them cause they're over weekends or I'm away on holiday (going to lake district with julie in september) but potentially got a shift in Perth Royal Infirmary next week doing medical receiving (yuk!) from 2pm to 10pm. Bit of a blow really, I was hoping for A+E shifts not general medicine! Having said that, august and sept are said to always be very dry months from a locum point of view and any work is welcome at the moment! Especially mid-week one-day shifts, exactly what I need. Here's hoping I get the job.

Julie's settling into her new job well, crazy first week aside. She seems to be enjoying her ward, getting on well with the other staff (including the nurses) and has just survived her first weekend on-call which was hectic but bearable. I'm hoping that she'll get out and socialise a bit this week so that her life isn't just work, eat, watch an episode of scrubs with me then go to bed.

Anyway, long post so I'll leave it there.

A new space

2006-08-12T12:08:00.000+01:00

I think this is a better place to have this blog than bebo! Please see http://andy-ash.bebo.com for the first two posts of this blog.

Peace