I've always found Graham Kendrick's song below inspiring. Maybe we've got too comfortable, too cosy, and have lost sight of mission in our churches. Jesus told His followers to GO and be good news in our communities. Isn't it interesting that the word GO is in God, Gospel, Good News? Could it be time to march forth in new and creative ways to communicate Good News?    We'll walk the land With hearts on fire
And every step will be a prayer Hope is rising New day dawning Sound of singing Fills the air   Two thousand years And still the flame Is burning bright Across the land Hearts are waiting Longing, aching For awakening once again.        

The final words of a prayer by vicar Eric Delve 'I want to be your man' have remained with me this week. They reminded me of King David being a man after God's heart, warts 'n'all, faults 'n' all. They also reminded me of the Rolling Stones classic 'I wanna be your man' addressed to some girl. I couldn't help but sing it rephrased to God. After a great mens' day out in Southampton with Eric Delve sharing his passion for Christ, I have certainly been stirred to reaffirm my declaration to God : 'I want to be your man'. The song by the Stones is interesting, in that it was written by Lennon & McCartney. That the Beatles would give one of their songs to their big rivals of the Sixties is a wonder. Maybe there is a challenge there for men not to hold on to things. True Christianity reflects God's giving away of Himself. On this day my Dad would have been 85. He died just over five years ago after a long struggle with cancer. He was a hero to me for a number of reasons: He took me to my first football match. He passed on to me his interest in photography. He took on the Christian faith in later life that I witnessed to him. He humbled himself and apologised to me after we had had a big fall-out and accepted my apologies when I failed in some way or other. He died the death of a hero for me because he never complained about the suffering he endured. That's my father. My Father in heaven draws a response of greater thanks as He gave us His Son who died an agonising death on the cross to give us life and life eternal. Yes, God, I wanna be your man.  

With one of the worst puns to go with a picture ever seen, I greet you with a 'Happy New Year'. So, what is going to make it happy one : A new Audi? At the moment you'll be likely to have to leave it at the side of a road stuck in the snow. I'm told this is the worst snow in Southampton for decades. When I see snow I'm always reminded of God's appeal to people in Isaiah 1: 'Come now let us reason together, though your sins are as scarlet (sic maybe a bloody mess) they shall be as white as snow.' I want to be clean and live a life that is clear before a holy God: Short accounts of where I miss the mark forgiven and cleansed. In the New Testament it says that 'God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us'. New year, new you? Come to God to be forgiven and washed as white as snow...

So this is Christmas, what have you done? Have you posted all your Christmas cards yet? You can't blame the post if you haven't mailed them yet! Have you bought all those presents? Have you got your shopping in? Have you got the turkey? Have you done a 'Delia' and sorted out out your Christmas fayre fit for a king? Have you prepared the Christmas pudding? Have you baked the minced pies? Have you got a light? No, not for the fags, you've given them up! No, a light for Christmas. Before you think this is all sentimental twee, think on: When you look up into a midwinter night sky you see lights. Loads of lights : stars, planets, the moon in an awesome display of creation. Jesus - the Son - said he is the Light of the World. A light to your way. A light into your life. And if you let Him in He will lighten your load too. Not just all the stuff around Christmas (and maybe we should live simply in order to simply live), but the other stuff too : The inner stuff...our spirit. Jesus wants to be the spark to a flame in our lives. Will He find room in the 'in' of your life this Christmas and through into a new year?