The Burdens of a Blogger

Ok it's been a while... again, sorry about that... again.

I've discovered the world of blogging is a world where self discipline is needed. This is something I can lack at times and in certain things, such as blogging.

I don't like the pressure of having to blog regularly and having to think of new things to blog about. I feel I'm much more of a 'take it one day at a time' sort of guy but recognise this is often an excuse for the 'I'm lazy' sort of guy.

So in conclusion, I want to be free to blog when I feel I have something worth blogging about whilst at the same time I want to be self disciplined to search out things worth blogging about.

New Beginnings

Its finally begun.

Today I had my first day of real work post uni. Nothing much to say really because I didn't do a great deal and there's a certain amount I cant disclose because of the line of work I am doing.

For those of you unaware, I'm working in residential house for adult ex-offenders. My first week or two will mainly be reading up on policies and procedures so I know what do to in every circumstance.

The work is shift work involving one over night sleep a week. I've also realised this will be the first year of my life that I wont be home with my family for Christmas, which is a real shame for them... and I guess for me as well. Seriously though, I'm gutted. Gotta work a night shift on Christmas eve, then I get off Christmas day at 8am and am a free man till 1pm on Boxing Day when my next shift starts.

Still, I don't wanna complain. Having a job is great, the money is much needed, and the skills and experience will be invaluable for later in life. So I'm still giving thanks to God that I got this job so quickly (relatively speaking in this current economic climate).

Small Beginnings

Church planting is tough, especially being one of the first to arrive on the ground.

I haven’t written anything in quite a while and I guess in part it’s because I struggled to know what to write. The first few weeks here were fine but as time has worn on the reality of living in a new place where I don’t know anyone kicks in. I guess I’ve hit some low points over the last month and this past week has seen that again. The Kellett’s have been away on holiday which has left me to fend for myself. Although I did have some high points, such as; a great evening with some friends, and some great results from Arsenal this week, I think this was the first week I have let myself entertain the thought ‘If only I had stayed up in Manchester’.

I know however, the temptation to have stayed in Manchester would have only been the ‘comfortable’ decision. It would have been the easy option. I would have had a great job with my last placement, a whole host of friends, and would have lived in a buzzing city with lots going on. But I know it wouldn’t have been good for me. It’s not where God wanted me to be.

God is currently stretching me and growing me in ways that I just wouldn’t have had the opportunity too if I had stayed in Manchester. Stretching is always a painful experience but reaps huge benefits later on. A good friend of mine, in Manchester felt God say that I shouldn’t despise these days of small beginnings. I totally agree with him. It’s painful at times but I know God is building in me character and gifting that will bring increased fruit in the future.

He Shoots, He Scores!

BUZZING!!!! Today, the 5th of October 2009, Andrew Allen (that's me) received a call to say he had been offered his first ever proper job. I will be working in a residential setting for ex-offenders for an organisation that works right across the UK. I am eager to gain more experience in the criminal justice system as that is my particular area of interest.

Whats funny is that I'm feeling more apprehensive about actually starting the job then I was about the interview. In fact, I hardly felt nervous about the interview at all. I came out feeling fairly pleased with how I did but had no idea about the other candidates who went for the job. When I received the call later in the day, it felt a bit like when the X-factor judges on Sunday night told their six artist who was gonna go through to the final. The guy who called me started saying

"You have done well but... it's been a very hard decision... competition was very high... etc etc"

I was trying to work out which way he was about to turn and I could tell he was loving messing with me, before he told me I had the job. I was proper chuffed!! He gave me great feedback and for the rest of today my ears have been connected by my mouth stretching from one end of my face to the other. They are looking to get me started as soon as possible and I wouldn't be surprised if I was working by the end of the week.

This is such an answer to prayer, and TRUST ME we have been praying. When you start a church plant, everything is so vital. School places, jobs, houses, committed people all suddenly become so much more important then when you are a part of an established church as it can all make the difference between whether the church flies or fails. We have already seen so many answers to prayer, yet there are so many other things we are still waiting on God for in these early days. Watch this space.

Uninspired Thoughts

I realised its been a while since I've last updated my blog and I didn't want to let my fans down by leaving it any longer. However, I don't really feel overly inspired to write on a specific topic or theme so below I've just listed a load of random thoughts. Some are to do with Cheltenham others are obviously not.

• People from Cheltenham have funny accents! FACT. If a group of lads approached me and threatened to mug me but did so with a Cheltenham accent, I would struggle to take them seriously. They have a obvious west country twang, the sort of accent you think only belongs to a farmer or a hobbit. It's not that I don't like the accent, I just find it amusing.

• If Jesus supported a football team, who would He support? Well I think the answer is in the bible. It would obviously be Arsenal as they are the only team mentioned in the bible. Read it for yourself in Jeremiah 50:25 (NIV).

• The church plant is gathering pace. We now have 6 adults who are involved in the plant and are already living in Cheltenham. We have another 6 adults who live elsewhere but are looking to move into the area as soon as they can. On top of that there are another handful of people who have expressed interest and are looking into the possibility of moving to Cheltenham to join us. I think the plan is to have a group of 25-30 committed people for our launch team. By the term 'launch' I mean the public Sunday meeting. Although we have already started meeting together, its not in the same way that we would be meeting after the launch. Once that happens, we will look more like a 'normal' church. For those familiar with church, you might understand what I just said. For those not so familiar with church, does that make sense?

• Need to shout out to all my Nigerian friends who are celebrating 49 years today of Independence from the UK. Love you guys, but I love your cooking even more!

• On a not so positive note, its World Vegetarian Day. Lets go out and celebrate by eating some meat. Even better, we could go and have a joint celebration with the Nigerians and they could cook us some goat.

• Cheltenham does have poor and working class people!! Although I was told this even before I left Manchester, I didn't really believe it. There I was thinking that Cheltenham is just made up of rich and middle class folk. When I arrived I got given the tour of the town and was shown the 'poorer' neighbourhoods but still thought they didn't look that bad. Today as I walked round one of these areas, I was pleased to see that some of these streets and houses weren't that dissimilar to Salford or Croydon.

• I have a job interview on Monday with an organisation that works with ex-offenders in a residential setting, supporting them in rehabilitation in to the 'real world'. I'll blog about it after the interview but for those of you who pray, can you give the big man a shout for me. I don't want this job if its not the one He has for me and am open to do something else if He's got something better up His sleeve later on.

• If you ain't done already, check the Godfirst Church website (www.godfirst.org.uk). Howard's blogging on there so you can read some of his thoughts as well.
  

I've Got 99 Problems But My House Aint One!

I thought its about time I gave a more of an 'event focused' blog than just my thoughts. The weekend just gone was my final weekend in Manchester and it was a good'en.

Friday night I went with a group of friends to the dogs (grey hound races for those unfamiliar with the terminology). I had a lot of fun and even won a couple of races. I was most pleased with the £1 I bet on a dog with an outside chance. He ended up winning and I got myself a sweet £13 back in return.

Saturday I spent with my brother who had come up from London and my mates from uni. We had tickets to the Coldplay concert in Old Trafford cricket ground. It was amazing. Do you know what really topped it off as a great gig? The fact they were supported by none other then Jay-Z. JIGGA WHAT! It was made even more humorous by the group of guys next to us who were off their faces shouting random comments out to Jay-Z whilst everyone else was quiet e.g "Jigga, sponsor me!!"

Sunday was my final Sunday as a member of Hope Church. It didn't really kick in or feel like it until that afternoon as I said bye to one close friend after another. I held myself together though like a big boy. Then came the drive down late on Sunday evening. It took just over 2 hours with most of that time spent reminiscing over the years I spent in Salford, the many people I had met, the opportunities I gained, and the experiences I racked up. These memories will certainly be with me for life. Uni is such a transforming time for anyone, and for many it changes them for life. I certainly felt that during my 3 years, God was developing me into the man He has called me to be. Yeah, He's still got His work cut out, but these 3 years have definitely had their positive effect.

So what did I arrive to?

Well, I'm living with the Kellett family. Most of you reading this who are from Manchester will already be familiar with them, for those of you who don't, let me introduce you. Howard and Naomi Kellett planted and have led Hope Church in Manchester for the last 8 or so years (which I have been a part of whilst at uni). They are total legends. I met them back in May 2005 where they led a team of people (of which I was a part of) for two weeks to support the work of a church in Romania. A year after meeting them, I joined them up in Salford to be a part of their church. To my shock back in May this year, they informed me they would be moving on. I was gutted and had no idea they were considering anything of the sort. To cut a long story short, about a month later I felt God open up doors for me to go with them. They just cant seem to get rid of me!

Also in the family are their three kids; Zach (13), Jotham (12), and Damaris (10). I've never had younger siblings, so this is a new environment for me. They are constant source of fun, energy and entertainment around the house, most of which they blatantly get from their parents. Talking about the house, it is PHAT!!! It's soooo nice. It's a rented vicarage (how ironic) on the outskirts of Cheltenham. I say outskirts, its only 10mins into the town centre by car.


If I could sum up Cheltenham in one word it would be 'nice'. Everything is 'nice'. I heard my first house alarm go off last night, which got me very excited as I thought there might be a burglary. However I heard no police siren. I don't think I've heard one since I've got here. Weird, all my life I've fallen asleep to the sound of sirens and now... nothing! In the words of my Arabian friend, Aladdin - It's a whole new world!

Home Is Where The Heart Is.

Where is home?

I grew up in London for 21 years, so in one sense that will always be my home.

I lived in Salford for 3 years and that was definitely where my heart was. I loved Salford, loved the people, loved the city life and definitely considered that to be home.

I now live in Cheltenham, which technically speaking is my new home and although I've only been here 3 days, I can feel my attachment to it growing as I meet people, walk the streets and live out my life here.

So where is my home?

What if I was to say it's actually none of the above...

I was reminded this morning when reading 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, verses 1-10 (2 Cor 5:1-10) where my real home is.

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (vs 1)

My home isn't here on this earth at all. I'm only passing through. I doubt I'll be living much older than 90 years max, but really - whats that when compared with the length of eternity. It's like one drop in the ocean. The challenges, the pain, the death, the fears, none of it will last. In 2 Corinthians chapter 4 it says:

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (vs17-18)

I want my time here in Cheltenham to be lived out as one who is living for the things that are unseen because that which is unseen is for eternity.

I want a job and a career but I really don't want that to control me and what I do. Everything I do, I so want it to be for the glory of God. Jesus said:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:19-21)

Why is it so much easier to say this, then to live it out?

I'm just grateful that God is so patient with me. Seriously, though! He could have given up on me along time ago and He would have had every right to but cos of His ridiculous love for me and His awesome character that is so full of grace, He is willing to put up with me and work with me to see me changed day by day into His likeness. What a nutter! But I love Him for it.

So if the saying is true - Home is where the heart is, I'm gonna keep my heart on the eternal treasures awaiting me for the day when Jesus calls me home.