Testimony part 3

Throughout the pages of this blog I have written posts concerning my relationship with the church. the blog started in the days of my Pastorate in Ogmore-by-Sea and has ended up with us now in Looe in Cornwall. How that all works out is by God's gracious guiding hand.

We had a wonderful time in South Wales and have many great friends from those days but there came a time when we began to feel unsettled in the knowledge that God was moving us on. Jo & Jim our daughter and son-in-law were called to pastor Grace Community Church in Morval, Looe at the same time as circumstances were leading us where we did not know.

Some members of Grace Community Church were involved in a very attractive Christian resource centre right on the sea front in Looe. they were looking for a resource manager and we were immediately drawn to The Rusty Bucket Christian Resource Centre. You will find  many postings concerning the work there on this site, it was a great opportunity but sadly due to issues well documented throughout this blog it did not work out for us. I eventually resigned after 6 months hard labour within the charity. 

This left us somewhat confused as too what God was doing through the whole experience.

I found myself for the first time in my life unemployed and unsure of what the future might bring for us. Upon my return from the most difficult meeting with representatives of the trustees of the RB Pam asked how I felt. the honest answer was ecstatic and exited. 

BUT

How were we to make ends meet? The answer to that is "God is good." We have some lovely friends amongst the trustees of the RB but in all honesty the way that employees and volunteers were treated was a poor witness to Jesus and as such I have had to spend many heart searching hours in dealing with issues. There are many hurting Christians that have sought counsel from their own experience.

That is now behind us and we wish the new RB venture no ill.

We however were put in touch with a church in Callington called the Mustard Seed Evangelical Church. they were on the verge of splitting due to heavy handed leadership but we were immediately drawn to them and them to us. Over the last year they have become our spiritual family. they have appointed me to be pastor and we truly love each other. They do not replace Ogmore but they are the next phase of our experience and we are so pleased that God has worked it out this way.

the upshot of all of this is that we are so grateful to God for the past, both the good and the bad. We thank the faithful members and our friends in both Coventry and south Wales for your love and prayers. Thank you for the experience of serving jesus alongside you!

We also thank Grace Community Church for their patience and love over the last 2 years. And we are grateful to the RB for being the vehicle for bringing us here. We do hope that your new venture will be God honouring and as such blessed by Him. A special thanks to Ralph and Clare who we count as very special friends and I am so sorry for any hurt that I may have caused you both as I dealt with a situation that was painful to both you and I.

The Mustard Seed?

That is the next phase of what God is doing through this now aging old boy that some are pleased to call pastor. Please pray that we will always only glorify Him who holds our future in His hands.

It seems fitting at this point to change the name of the blog to callington Calling.

Looe Music?????? Festival

It is now 1:15 Saturday morning and the festival has been on the go approximately 9 hours. I first experienced the festival 2 years ago and was pleasantly surprised at the atmosphere and the excellent way in which it was organised. Last year I was away and so this is my second experience.

The two experiences could not be different.  Leading up to the start the townspeople of looe have had to put up with arrogant organisers who have no problem in driving their trucks and vehicles down one way streets the wrong way, the police and traffic wardens ignoring people parking in ridiculous places sometimes two abreast opposite the  entrance to the Quay car park. People who legitimately have to drive through the town have been attacked and told by pedestrians that they have no right to be there. Some residents have gone away because they cannot cope with the noise and mess that the festival brings. 

I am not naturally a moaner But!

This weekend has become a monster.

There is a pretence made that the festival gives a boost to the local traders. Ask the folk in the "bucket and spade"  shops about that. The only businesses that are boosted are the cafe's and pubs and even they are somewhat compromised by the vast array of outside caterers who have gained pole position and have squeezed our faithful businesses into the background. They may well do better but at what cost. The mobile food joints are peddling their overpriced and underwhelming wares and swanning off with the so-called boost for Looe.

I suppose the council will rake off a tidy sum as will the Quay and Harbour people, the rest of us are simply compromised and all in the name of music. anybody that knows me recognises that I love a vast variety of music. The Huckleberry Fins (above) as on other occasions opened the festival and I have to say well done to them. I loved your rendition of Breathe! This was followed by some run of the mill band and later on the Proclaimers who in my estimation are good for 2-3 songs and then you have heard it all. A couple of hours of that caused me to turn on our television, only the second time in 12 months! The Rugby settled my nerve and cause me to reflect.

Does it really matter that the beach is almost inaccessible?

Does it really matter that I cannot walk along the banjo Pier as is my custom?

Does it really matter that I have had to put up with some kind of "Umpah band" playing what is best described as a cacophony of discord less that 30 feet from my very sleepy head?

Does it really matter that revellers are now entering into the Admiral Boscarn and will be kicked out onto the streets in an hours time with a belly full of ethanol and whatever else was available? 

Does it really matter that at 1:30 am there are people outside of my window shouting expletives and arguing at levels that make your ears bleed?

Does it really matter that the road to home is closed from 6:00 -12:00 midnight, locking me either in or out?

Does it really matter that I have to work on Sunday and cannot return home until after midnight and that I am going away before 7:00 the next morning?

Does it really matter that I am now getting out of this madness tomorrow and having to pay for bed and breakfast because the council, the harbour commission, the love Looers, the singers in the rock and roll bands and all and sundry are exercising their rights to hold this festival on my very doorstep?

Of course it does not matter because who am I and the other residents of this little town? Our rights are not taken into account. We really do not matter in the grand scheme of things!

I am so grateful that somebody loves Looe but what about the residents. Do they love the people or just the coffers that come in?

I will tell you that Jesus loves you and He also loves the festival goers and organisers. Instead of the chaos of discord He brings peace to hearts and souls of all who will call on His name and in this:

My Rant is Over.