SIM DENDY

Summer Reading

2011-09-09T15:16:00.004Z

Well, I guess thats the summer finished and the kids are back to school...

I try and change rhythm in the Summer and do more reading and dreaming as well as spending time with my beautiful family. A number of people have asked me about the books that I have been reading and what I would recommend and so I thought I would list them here:

Pour Your Heart Into it by Howard Schulz
Onward by Howard Schulz
Love is an Orientation by Andrew Marin
Unmerited Favour by Joseph Prince

What did I learn? That there are loads of books out there worth a read and I havent got time to read them all!

Seriously though, the Starbucks books were fascinating not just the telling of a great story of how a worldwide phenomona began but more importantly the second book where Schultz takes back on the ceo position and tries to help the company re-discover their original purpose. It's a great read for any church leader trying to remember why they do it and getting lost churches back on track.

Love is an Orientation is an eye opening book written by a straight christian guy who decides to connect with the gay community to understand them and their needs and to try and find new ways for the church to engage with this valuable people group that is so often overlooked. I havent finished it completely yet but already its got me asking loads of questions!

Unmerited Favour will mess with your head if you struggle with prosperity gospel type literature, but it is worth pursuing. Prince, who is well known for his preaching on Grace, points out that Gods gift to us of his only son Jesus to take our place was the ultimate in showing us his unmerited favour (a term he suggests is another way to describe Grace which has become too common a term). Enjoying God's favour, without trying to fully understand it, is something I have been trying to do since returning from Bethel Church in Redding, California back in June. This book has taken it to a whole new level. Gods favour IS turned towards me and it always has been, I just need to accept and enjoy it and not try too hard to understand and reject it.

I would definitely recommend any of these books to fellow readers if you are willing to be stretched and challenged, if not then read a John Grisham novel (I read one of those on holiday as well!).

My last book on my pile that I didn't get round to reading is Rob Bells Love Wins, unfortunately my wife Lottie got there first and isn't giving it back!

WHAT IF...

2011-06-22T16:32:00.003Z

Been thinking a lot this last couple of weeks about the phrase "What If..."

It is a phrase that seems to be used by risk averse and cautious people: "What if you try something for the first time and you fail?" or "What if you apply for that job and you don't get it?".

But I felt God prompt me with "What if you stop HOPING my promises come true and you start BELIEVING that when I say it will happen it is guaranteed!" - If that became my reality how would I live differently?

So many people in the Bible could have given their excuses about why they couldn't do something. Noah could have said "What if it doesn't rain?" or Daniel could have said "What if the lions eat me for breakfast?" but they didn't and they were obedient to Gods calling on their lives.

Some did ask the What If question: Gideon said "What if I am the wrong person to lead the army of Israel?" and Moses said "What if Pharaoh doesn't let the people go?" but they still were obedient (eventually after a lot of prodding!) to Gods calling on their lives.

There is nothing wrong with asking the What If question but dont let it stop you from following Gods direction and the promises he has made to you, after all 2 Peter 1 tells us to "make every effort to respond to Gods promises."

Apparently the disappointment of DOING something is only felt for a short time, but the regret of NOT DOING something can last a life time.

What If I try something I have never done before and it DOES work out?

...and even if it doesn't - SO WHAT!

Its an Adventure!

2011-06-08T20:07:00.006Z

We are presently teaching a series at church entitled "Adventures in Faith, Favour & Courage" where I have often encouraged people to take a step of Faith like the Heroes of Faith in Hebrews 11 which often requires a risk.

For example I have looked at Adventures in Giving with Cain & Abel and then at the character of Abraham and being Adventurous in Obedience! (Click here for the various Podcasts and Notes)

But a number of people have asked me - what if we are encouraging people to simply take risks without any divine direction? Who is responsible if someone in the church decides to jack in their job and go for something else and it doesn't work out? Good Question.

John Wimber once said Faith is spelt R.I.S.K. but conversely that doesn't mean that all risks taken are steps of faith!

I have tried to use the word 'adventure' rather than 'risk' as this is probably more accurate to what I believe God is calling us to be - Adventurous! Jesus said he came to give us 'life in all its abundance', but still pastorally I would not want anyone to simply take risks without praying it through carefully or taking wise counsel...

Frustratingly the flip side to the discussion is that sometimes people are called to take a step of faith and because they share it with someone who is naturally more cautious they are encouraged not to press on with what they had believed they should do - this is a tough one!

Is the church meant to be a place of safety for the saved or a training centre for mission to those who are lost? (totally recommend Mark Battersons book "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day", which tackles some of this...)

that is why our Churches need to have strong communities so that when our people step out and take a risk and it goes wrong we are there to support them, if it goes right we celebrate their success and even if they choose to take a safer option and regret their lack of adventure in future years we love them regardless... (Maybe the parable of the talents is helpful here?)

not sure I can answer the valid concerns raised, but personally I am keen to develop an exciting, adventurous Church that is up for the challenge of changing our world...

and that might require a risk or two...

Leading together?

2009-07-13T08:19:00.005Z

The last few weeks have been busy trying to ensure everything is ready for the Autumn term before we 'break' for the summer. We have a lot of staff changes coming up which has meant a load of interviews for me to do (thanks Elaine for organising all the detail!). The good news we have some great people joining to replace all the great people leaving the team (all for good reasons - honest!).

Carolyn Chart will be taking on the role of part time paid Childrens Worker from mid-August to continue developing our rapidly growing childrens work at Central Hall. We now have up to 80 children on a Sunday morning which has almost doubled in the last few months. Carolyn comes with loads of experience and will help us ensure that the recent growth will be sustainable in the future.

It has also been announced in the last couple of weeks that Lottie and I will be officially taking responsibility for the morning congregation based at Central Hall as part of the New Community network of churches that is developing here in Southampton. It is a very exciting and daunting season for Lottie and myself as we start to put into place our various teams to take the church forward into the future.

One of our biggest conversations has been about Lotties role. I want her to be part of the leadership team as she adds so much to who I am. Lottie is concerned that she will be seen as just being part of the team because she is my wife. People have made comments about not 'seeing' Lotties contribution (which generally means they have not seen Lottie preach or lead a meeting). What people dont realise is that everything I have ever done has always been discussed through with Lottie, we are meant to one after all. So is it better to recognise her contribution or hide her away knowing that secretly she is providing leadership through me!

The way I see it is like this. If I was left in charge of our home things would be very different. I would probably be more efficient, the house would probably be cleaner, more organised, the walls would be painted magnolia and the place would be minimal and sterile - more like a doctors waiting room than a home. Lottie brings the heart to our home, she makes it unique and welcoming. Whenever we get visitors to our home they comment on how lovely it is and how welcome they feel - none of that is to do with me, it is all Lottie - she is the homemaker.

In the same way when we work together, Lottie brings the heart to the work that we do. If the church was left to me it may become all boxed up, organised and managed - efficient but without heart (bit German maybe?). Lottie ensures that I dont go to the extremes of my character she brings the balance. I need her and the church needs her to lead with me - she may never be 'seen' (although I think she will one day) but her input is invaluable.

Leading together as a married couple maybe a challenge to some but I know (and my true friends know!) that I am a much better leader and person with Lottie than without.

Any thoughts anyone?

It shouldn't happen to a Pastor?

2009-06-22T10:40:00.003Z

I have just got off the phone from an irate man from Eastleigh wanting to speak to someone at the church about a pastoral matter. The phone call gets put through to me eventually and I endeavour to placate the very upset individual! "The music is too loud!" he says, having heard this complaint regularly, I start to apologise with the standard line that I use. Most Sundays there is someone who thinks the music is too loud and it is never the sound engineer or the drummer... I wonder if people ever complained about the volume of the pipe organ when it was first introduced into the local parish church? Still it is a part of modern church leadership that you can have the dead being raised, people overcoming addictions and new people discovering the way of Christ but somebody will ALWAYS complain about something unnecessary and mundane. It normally tends to be the ones who have been in the church for decades and feel they have the right to vent their frustrations about the change that has been imposed by all these new people that have recently joined the church.

So I am used to complaints, some I take in my stride and make all the right noises to encourage the complainant that I am listening and taking them seriously, but there are some that seem very personal about my style or my approach or my lack of this, that or the other and I always take them personally (funny that!) - my friend Jim says "you're a wee bit sensitive, Sim!" which always offends me!! :o)

So, I am on the phone to this guy upset about the volume being too loud trying to placate him with my normal grunts of encouragement when he says "and it was 3 O'Clock in the afternoon!" - what? oh, he's not talking about our Church worship band after all he is talking about his neighbour! He just wanted someone to talk to, to complain to, to have his say and for some reason went through the yellow pages and rang me at Central Hall. A strange phone call to start the week off, but if someone in desperation sees the church as a place of refuge and a place to be listened to then I am all up for helping out the needy for surely that is what Matthew 25 tells us.

So if you need help and you want someone to rant to about the stuff that life throws at you give me a call the confessional is open!!!

This week I am in a bunch of meetings with our Church Fun Day on Saturday in Victoria Country Park for a BBQ and games for about 300 people, then speaking on Sunday morning. Great day yesterday morning with an awesome response to the offering - God is good...

Dedication's what you need...

2009-06-15T09:57:00.002Z

Yesterday we had our fourth child Jemimah dedicated at Central Hall. It was a perfect day! We had both sides of the family including Lottie's Nan who is 90 and and my Granny who is 93 - amazing! Theo did a great job of leading through the service and friends and family swarmed forward to pray for my beautiful little girl. Friends from our last Church, Arun Community Church had taken time out to come and join us and Rich Hubbard spoke on Faith it was a great time of celebration with the wider church family.

Then it was back to our house for a BBQ with over 50 people crowding our recently re-modelled garden - weather was perfect and the new half price BBQ from Asda passed the test and everyone was fed plenty. We still have loads of salad and pasta in the fridge!

But the thing was on Saturday night I was starting to get concerned that we were making too much effort on the food and tidying the house and garden that we were forgetting the real reason for the day of thanking God for the life of Jemimah. But as I reflected I realised I was just getting a bit religious and not recognising that hosting a party for my daughter, having friends and family all mixed and eating together is very important. The prayers of thanks need to go with the celebrations and so often we put one in a 'spiritual' box and one in a 'worldly' box.

I know God can cope with the complexities, I sometimes wonder if I can? I know that God is as interested in the church service as the party, food and conversation but sometimes I revert to a religious mindset... fortunately I have great friends and family who keep my thinking straight!

Thanks to all those who made the effort to come to Southampton for the day much appreciated...

This week I have several meetings, finalising budget for September, looking through applications for childrens worker post, preparing for speaking on Sunday looking at Values through a Father eyes (its Fathers Day in the UK) and trying to finish my final assignment.

Back from Holiday

2009-06-08T09:08:00.003Z

Just got back from an excellent family holiday in France. We spent three days in Paris by ourselves visiting the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe as well as getting the kids portraits drawn at Sacre Coeur (something Lottie and I did on our last visit 12 years ago before kids!). It was a brilliant family time with simple things like just getting around the City of Paris on the Metro with 4 kids and a buggy was great fun.

Then it was off to Brittany to join up with the rest of my family: Mum and Dad, four brother, one sister, three sisters in law, one brother in law, one brothers girlfriend, five nieces and three nephews - 26 of us in all (I think!). We hired five Gites on the same site with shared swimming pool and play area and we all had a great time. The kids loved playing with their cousins with Floella every morning up and dressed at some ridiculous hour asking to go and play. We managed to keep them in most mornings until 8 am...

Then during the day it was beaches, parks, rock climbing, eating ice creams, drinking coffee, great photo opportunities, sun cream, hats, sand in your shoes and all the normal stuff of holidays and then back in the evening for a BBQ. We all took turns cooking each night - which meant we only had to cook one night each - perfect...

Anyway we are back home now, rested and relaxed and I am more desperate than ever to get on with doing a great job leading my wonderful, beautiful family and serving the church and helping it to connect the world with Jesus. I pray for his presence to impact our church meetings and our every day lives so that the Power of God becomes a reality and not just a phrase.

This week I am giving a lot of thought to the future leadership team of New Community Central as well as preparing budgets for September and developing the teaching programme for our morning congregation. On Sunday we will be dedicating our fourth child Jemimah to God with family and friends for a BBQ at ours afterwards - it will be a great day I am sure...

You following?

2009-05-05T08:14:00.005Z

Over the weekend I have had dozens of people joining my Twitter group and following me. I am not sure if it is due to some kind of marketing scam (i.e. if I tweet about coffee I get a Coffee Company following me or I mentioned Hospital yesterday and got some Healthcare person following me!) or whether the UK is starting to get hold of Twitter which has been around for quite a while especially in the States, but...

...one of the most basic principles of Leadership is that you need followers. Someone once said if you think you are a Leader and you turn around and no one is following then you are not leading you are just taking a hike!

Since the age of 13 I have known that I have been called to lead people and specifically to lead the Church. The problem is being English we don't like to talk about our ambitions and leadership is always seen as such a lofty ambition. I don't like to make loud statements about the things that are so personal and important to me, I would rather carry them in my heart and see what happens (doesn't sound much like a leader to me!). At the age of 16 the Church I attended had a split and people scattered, my Dad was the Church Pastor - I didn't want to be a Church Leader any more, I had seen too much. Then over the next decade God kept prompting me to take up my gifting of Leadership and not to hide it - easier said then done. I thought of every excuse and allowed other people to push the gifting down in me rather than let it rise up as God intended. Eventually I did start to take on Leadership responsibility but always with a reluctant obedience.

Although I carry a Leadership role within the Church here in Southampton I am always hesitant to declare myself as a Leader and prefer just to be seen as part of the staff team in case I was misunderstood as trying to be something I was not. Ironically I was trying to be something I was not and God was on my case...

Last week at two separate Leadership meetings I was called out and prayed for specifically around this area of Leadership with the challenge to break off any old words that may have discouraged me and to step into the role that God has for me. So this week I am determined to start stepping into Gods plan for me, to take on the role and responsibility of leadership and lead well. I can't believe how hard this is to write on a blog, I am double checking every word in case people criticize and ask where is the humble leader who serves others? But at the end of the day I need to respond to Gods words on my life and not what other people may think or say - easier blogged than done!

Anyway enough said I need to get on with leading, anyone up for following?

Seeing is Believing?

2009-04-29T08:20:00.006Z

Last week we were fortunate enough to have Bill Johnson and Randy Clarke speaking at the Global Awakening Conference at Central Hall. Held over four days it was sold out with 800 delegates every day coming from all over Europe.

Over the four days there were hundreds of healings and some excellent teaching...

But in some eighteen sessions of teaching it was only two things that really grabbed me over the time that they were with us. Firstly it was good to see Central Hall full. I am completely believing that we will see Central Hall full again for our Sunday services. What was a City Centred Church of 500 people meeting at Central Hall has become a Network of Church Communities all around the city and region with almost 1000 people meeting in eight different gatherings.

God has been good and New Community is flourishing but Central Hall can seat 800 easily and on a Sunday morning we have around 220 - 240 attendees with 70-80 of those being under 11. I would love to see the building full once more and people queuing up to get in!

I was able to see a glimpse of the possibility last week. People were queuing from 8am to get the best seats for the 9am start, the building was full and God's Spirit was at work. Wouldn't that be great on a Sunday morning. I put myself in the middle of the Main Auditorium and looked at all the people and asked God to let it happen.

I already believed it, but now I've seen it...

The other thing I picked up was about our theology or understanding versus our expectation. Biblically we believe in healing but we don't expect it to happen every time we meet someone in need and we pray. That has to change. We need to increase our faith to see what we know is possible become a reality. I want physical healing to become a standard part of our Church Community, that as people go about their normal business that God's Spirit will invade their lives and healings will happen in our city on a regular basis.

I don't want to chase the manifestation of God (I get a little annoyed by those that do!), I want to chase God himself and as I worship him, put him in his rightful place, get my life working to his rhythm then there will be an outpouring of his Spirit at every level of our society.

So, I have seen the possibilities, and like Thomas, now I believe it more than ever...

Seeing may not be believing, in and of itself, but it helps!

Building Fun...

2009-04-20T08:26:00.003Z

Over the Easter Break some of my friends have gone to Cornwall, a team from the church went to South Africa to work in an orphanage and some of my friends spent 2 weeks touring around Scotland. A time to relax, take stock, breathe...

yeh, that would have been nice but instead I woke up on Easter Saturday and decided to build a new bedroom! What? Mad! I know!!

Lottie and I had been talking for a while about how we could increase our house size to match the increase in our family. We only had three bedrooms and four kids with the boys getting bigger and needing their own space. We had discussed building extensions and all sorts for thousands of pounds onto the mortgage (gulp!) but then came to the conclusion that we could probably get a similar result by splitting our pretty large bedroom into two. So I woke up on Easter Saturday and got on with it!

To be honest in the main it was easier than I thought, the stud walls and plasterboard took just over a day, but plastering the joins, cutting the coving at the right angle and hanging the door - not so easy! The door is still not right, but if you lift the handle and open it quickly it is fine, don't what all the fuss is about... So on Saturday night just gone, 1 week after starting the project Zak and Levi were tucked up in their own rooms and we had been downgraded to their old room.

But when I go to woke them up yesterday morning for Church, where do I find them? In bed together - because they were missing each other!! Maybe they will ask me to knock the wall down again!

Still a good job done and for less than £300 we have a four bedroom house instead of a 3 bed, I should be on one of those DIY shows that Lottie loves to watch.

Anyway back to normality today with kids back to school (found the uniforms, but not the PE kit or one of their lunch boxes!! might have plastered it into the new wall...), Central Coffee is open again and another busy week ahead.

Moorlands College tomorrow and Wednesday for the last Study Break of the year and then we have a huge conference at Central Hall with Randy Clarke and Bill Johnson. 4 days with 800 people packed into the building - it is going to be fun! Strategy day with Links International on Saturday and then Baptisms on Sunday morning. Really looking forward to the baptisms as it is the first that we have had on a Sunday morning for some time. Hope you have a great week, follow me on twitter for regular updates...

Good Morning, Guten Morgen, Bon Matin...

2009-04-06T20:58:00.005Z

Yesterday at Church two seperate people came up to me, concerned that I was working too hard and that I should take a day off. Fortunately I had already planned to take today as a day off with the family as the kids are off school for Easter Holidays - and so I was able to appease them quickly! So apologies for the late blog for those who have been in touch exasperated by my slackness - I'm taking a day off alright!!!!!!! :o)

This morning I took my regular run out into Manor Country Park and then as I was enjoying it so much I pushed it a bit further and managed just under 5 miles. For the first part of the run I met a number of dog walkers in the park, mainly aged 50+, of which all greeted me and said "Good Morning!". At first I was surprised by the friendliness of the early morning walkers but soon got into the swing of smiling and greeting people that I came across. Until that it is I ran past a young girl on a bike, said "Good Morning!" and she looked at me as if I had come from another planet (I was pretty sweaty by this point, but still...) then I saw a teenage lad hiking into the woods and tried again, this time I was completely blanked!!

What a weird lot we are! Lottie is reading a book at the moment called "Watching the English", a book that explains our unique habits and the unsaid protocols of todays British culture. Foreigners have no chance to work out our nuances, we dont even know we have them, but they are there! you know "Habits, what habit?" or "We don't have an accent you do!" kind of thing. But as you read the book it points out hundreds of subtle behaviours of the everyday Briton - most of them not good - funny but also a little cringeworthy...

Last night we took the family up to Hillsong London at the invitation of a friend of mine to see how they do things which was some experience. Apart from arriving late due to a two hour traffic jam on Hammersmith Flyover and getting fined for parking in a residents bay on a Sunday, it was an awesome experience and the kids loved it!

But the thing that really got me, besides the incredible production of the worship service was the welcome that we recieved. When we realised we were going to be late I got a phone call from Lea, part of the 1200 strong voluntary team to see if we were ok. When we eventually arrived we had people opening doors,helping with buggies, offering support and generally making us feel incredibly welcome. It was the same through out the time with them, we took our kids to the kids programme and the team there learnt their names and included them and made them feel really special - brilliant. At the end of the night, my friend who had been involved in presenting the packed evening service for over 2500 people, came and found me and my family and insisted on walking us back to where we had parked our car (now with extra ticket on window!) - a great example and proves that it can be done, we can be friendly if we want to be, just need to break some of cultural barriers that we use as excuses!

On the way home, Levi announced that it had been the best day of his life! Some statement considering we had spent over 6 hours of it in the car. I feel challenged once again to ensure that when I meet people they know that their day has been that much better because of the way I spoke to them, treated them and cared for them - whoever they might be (Matt 25).

This week I am cramming all my work into Tuesday and Wednesday, taking Thursday off again and then hosting a Good Friday evening event and our joint Easter Sunday Service (more info at www.newcommunity.org.uk). Its Holy Week - a time to remember and a time to rejoice...

Getting the Balance right

2009-03-31T07:57:00.004Z

Ok, so I know its Tuesday and I missed my Monday blogspot which has wrecked my weekly routine. The purpose of the Monday morning blog was to reflect on the previous few days and prepare myself for the week ahead, before the week took over me! Yesterday it didnt happen and it became one of those days that ran away with itself. I ended up working late until 2am on my latest assignment that has to be in tomorrow and then up at 6.30am for my morning workout - don't email me to say thats crazy - I know!

Last Thursday I went for my first Training Session with Glynn at LA Fitness in Fareham who has offered to give personal training - it was like entering another world. I know he is South African but it is like he speaks a different language! He had me all measured up and then made me do some random excercises and asked if had ever had a knee injury as I was compensating the way I moved - amazing I damaged my left knee ligaments 20 years ago and didnt think it was a problem any more. He also pointed out a number of other areas where I was out of balance and explained how my stance was all wrong and how I could rectify it. It was weird but fascinating and although he wanted to see me twice a week I wimped out and went for once a week to start with - more on this to follow I am sure...

On Sunday we had Jack Groblewski from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania come and speak in the morning meeting which was superb. He spoke on Mission as I had never heard it preached with the concept that Mission meant Honour. That our job was to bring honour to people, to elevate the to the rightful place that God had for them. That when God sent his Son as a gift to us he was showing the value he placed on us and that we should also be giving the gift of Jesus to others and helping them realise that God has made them to be royalty. Brilliant angle and brings a whole new approach to working in the community. We are not doing to just be good, we are not doing to make ourselves feel better or force people to know Jesus, we are elevating people to the rightful place by giving them something so precious that realise how much they are valued - brilliant. (see www.newcommunity.org.uk for podcast download if interested).

So onwards to this week, looking pretty hectic and out most nights. Second edition of the Church magazine to be drafted, Final session of Exploring Christianity, Levi has a hospital visit, New Community Health has had some bad news on its bid for some new work so meeting on Friday to work through and I need to tidy up my assignment today to be posted! oh, and I am meeting with a young couple who want to get married - first wedding for me to officiate in Southampton.

Life is crazy and I still haven't got my work life balance sorted but I am aware of this and working on it. I am 'conciously incompetent' which is better than being 'unconciously incompetent' and I am striving to be 'conciously competent'! Who knows one day I may even be 'unconciously competent' at getting my life all balanced up but I guess I will never know!

Time to get Fit?

2009-03-23T09:11:00.002Z

Last Tuesday I had an eye opening day. At lunchtime a colleague kindly rubbed my belly and asked me if I was putting on weight, I laughed it off and thanked them for their ministry of encouragement. That afternoon a church member popped into the office and laughing heartily rubbed my belly and asked the same question! I laughed along but this time a little more nervously - and more importantly why did everyone think it was ok to touch my belly? If I was under 16 I would have reported them!

Anyway convinced that it was all in their heads and I was super fit and fine - I went home to ask my always supportive and encouraging wife what she thought of these ridiculous claims. Her words to me were "I wasn't going to say anything, but..." - OKAY STOP!!! maybe I needed to do something about it...

Next morning I went for a 30 minute run which almost finished me off, especially as we live on a hill and the last bit was a killer! Friday I did 45 minutes and started to enjoy the run, but Saturday everything ached. On Sunday a member of the Church came to see me after the service and said that they were a Personal Trainer and they wanted to "sow into my life" so could they offer me some one to one training?

hmmm, maybe God is saying something??

Recently God has been speaking to me about getting Spiritually Fit. I study for my preaching and study academically for my theology course but where was my personal development time? Leaders are great at leading others, but the biggest struggle is leading yourself. So many Leaders fail and damage the trust others hold in them because of failing to lead themselves, somehow they exclude themselves from the standards they set for others.

I used to make the excuse to God that I had four kids and a busy life doing good things and working for Him and that my time was always His time. But that's not true - my time is my time and I need to make a commitment to use my time effectively for Him, not just assume it to be so.

So for just over a week I have been getting up an hour earlier and using the time to get myself prepared for the day before the day takes care of me. Part of the reason for blogging again has been to reflect on my week ahead but reflection is becoming a daily exercise. The stakes are getting higher and I believe that God is preparing me and challenging me for all that is ahead.

Watch this space as the Super Fit (spiritually and physically!) Sim appears...

maybe I should do before and after shots? :o)

Values of Leadership

2009-03-16T08:58:00.003Z

As part of my study at Moorlands Bible College I am working on an assignment looking at a modern day leader. For my 4500 word essay I have chosen to look at Richard Branson which in itself has been a real eye opener, but maybe I will blog about that another time! I wanted to find some way of looking at Branson and how he works and trying to find some way of appraising his Leadership skills and values.

For this I came across the book "The Leadership Challenge" by Kouzes & Posner, which is apparently one of THE top books on leadership and highly reccomended. The authors have been studying thousands of leaders since 1987 and have one of the most comprehensive databases of leadership questionairres over more than two decades.

They have come up with Five Key Practices of a great leader which basically states that all successful leaders should: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable others to Act and Encourage the Heart. Each of the practices have two commitments which break things down further but you get the picture. I have read loads of books on leadership over the years and they all have their 17 laws, 7 steps, 24 values or something similar that makes all a bit too organised and boxed up for my liking. But what Kouzes and Posner have done is approached it from the other side and interviewed over 75,000 people across many countries since 1987 and asked the question "What do you look for in a leader?".

The answers were vast but the top four values were consistent every time they ran the survey in 1987, 1995, 2002 and 2007. First place was always HONESTY and then FORWARD-LOOKING followed by INSPIRING and COMPETENT.

People want their leaders to be Honest and Trustworthy, worthy of their trust. When leaders let their constituents down by not doing what they said they would there is a breaking of trust and this affects the leaders credibility.

A CHALENGE!! Am I consistent as a leader in those four values? Do I do what I say I will? Always? Am I always honest with people, my family and myself? Do I hold true to the vision that God has given me or am I persuaded by people and by circumstances? Do I inspire because I am inspired or because I am trying to manipulate a result and am I as at leading as I should be? How can I improve?

This is not just about Leaders of Nations, City Mayors, Headteachers, Church Leaders but about being a Great Father and Quality Husband - leading in every sphere of influence...

Anyway these are the kind of thoughts that are running through my head at the moment, bit preachy and Jerry Macguire-esque but hey - gotta be honest!! :o)

Heading into Childrens & Youth Workers meeting to complete the conversation on Generational Vision we started a couple of weeks ago, planning for a Business Leaders event this afternoon and then being interviewed by Rank Foundation for possible funding of a Youth Worker position within one of our Congregations - key week. Follow the updates on Twitter.

The Art of the Long Meal

2009-03-09T10:03:00.002Z

Yesterday Billy spoke on the importance of eating together as a way of creating and building community. For the Jewish home the table is the centre of worship, the place where they celebrate and remember what God has done. Jesus often did miracles around food and ate with people symbolising his acceptance of those perceived to be outcasts of society.

A couple of years ago I spoke about Jesus and his disciples having breakfast on the beach - I remember the talk well as I cooked bacon sandwiches while people listened (and enjoyed the smell!). For me the Last Supper is often remembered as a a very important meal (and it is and was) but we have turned what was a meal with friends into a tokenistic sip of blackcurrant juice and a cracker.

If given the choice between eating the Last Supper with Jesus (and Judas!) or having breakfast on a beach with the boys and the risen Lord Jesus, I think I would go for the latter every time.

Apparently most homes in the UK do NOT have a table that the family can eat round and if they do then I guess a lot don't use them. We had 11 for lunch yesterday (not including Jemimah) and we didn't really finish eating until around 5 and then started making tea! A great time with great friends.

Life is busy and I want to make good use of the time God has given me and so often skip lunch to get more done - but I am challenged this week to spend more time with friends and family over food...

Lunch anyone?

Learning to Breathe

2009-03-02T09:18:00.002Z

Yesterday I spoke at both our morning and evening congregations as part of our series of Learning, Loving and Living. I looked at the season of Lent and the art of breathing - how to stop, pause and reflect before moving on. Its not about meditating or locking yourself away it is just about building in a process, creating routine so we can 'live life to the full' and learn the 'unforced rhythms of grace'. Hopefully talk and study notes will be available at www.newcommunity.org.uk/central when Sam our technical man puts them up.

Last week I went to the Pioneer Conference in Letchworth to support Billy & Caroline Kennedy as they took responsibility of leading the network of around 90 churches in the UK from Gerald Coates who founded the movement some 30+ years ago. It was a great occasion with many recognisable faces from New Churches around the UK being there on the Thursday night to show their appreciation for Gerald and then the Friday morning was spent welcoming Billy and Caroline into the leadership of Pioneer.

There is a very clear shift taking place in the UK Church scene at the moment with Steve Clifford taking responsibility for the Evangelical Alliance and a desire for Churches to connect with their community by working in partnership across streams, denominations and networks.

A New Day? The next few years will be interesting to watch...

I am spending most of today with our Youth Worker and Childrens Co-Ordinator to look at the long term strategy of our work amongst the under 18's. The big question I am asking is that if a child is born into our community and benefits from our love, care and input for 18 years what will we be producing? We often just cope to get from week to week, but we need to start thinking generationally and long term change not just short term fix.

Will write more next week in the mean time for regular updates on the world of Sim Dendy follow me on twitter - www.twitter.com/simdendy

Sim the Blogger is back?

2009-02-23T09:43:00.002Z

Having not blogged for over 6 months, I am now considering a return! Life has got busy and I have got loads of excuses why I have not blogged.

We had a fourth child in September (Jemimah Anne Promise) and I started my MA in Theology and Christian Leadership as well as taking on responsibility for the morning congregation here at Central Hall. Three weeks ago Lotties Dad suddenly died and we have been busy arranging funerals and sorting his stuff out.

I have also got sucked into the world of Facebook and even more recently Twitter, the world has gone communication mad, just not sure what we are communicating.

I guess I am so aware of how busy life can be (and when you have 4 kids under 10 it is mega crazy but sooooooo much fun) and I amtrying to find ways to manage my time and be more effective. I have piles of books to read, some for my course (reading up on Richard Branson at the moment for a Leadership module), some for pleasure, some for personal spiritual development and some to keep up to speed with Church and Leadership around the world.

So my plan is to blog once a week on a Monday morning - you are welcome to tune in, but to be honest it will be for my benefit as much as yours. I want to reflect on my week before I launch headfirst into it.

This week I have a bunch of one on one meetings with Small Group Leaders and some key staff members as well as the dreaded budget meeting on Wednesday. On Thursday I am off to Letchworth for the Pioneer Conference to say "Goodbye Gerald Coates" and "Hello Billy and Caroline" who will be taking on the leadership. Friday my son Zak is 10 and so I need to be back to have a family meal and make sure he has his present of a PINK Nintendo DS.

oh on Sunday I am speaking at the start of a new teaching series on the Cross and so need to find some time to prep that - Church is going great, maybe I will blog that another time.

For now lets see if I get past one posting and whether I can keep up my plan to blog on Monday mornings - maybe I will see you next week?

A FATHER IS FOR LIFE NOT JUST CONCEPTION

2008-06-10T08:26:00.004Z

You may have seen on the news that Fathers 4 Justice are back doing what they do best - dressing up in lycra and putting a smile on our faces.

The only bizarre thing this time is that the slogan they unveiled of the side of Harriet Harmon's house was the slogan I came up with last December (see 12 Dec 07 Post). It was that blog article that connected me with Matt O'Connor founder of Fathers 4 Justice who, after a number of coffees and chats, came and spoke at our church one Sunday.

The stunt has been all over the news and the internet but one of the best articles I read said

"For the protest, F4J unveiled the best slogan I have seen in years: “A Father Is For Life, Not Just Conception“. If that does not say it all, I don’t know what does."

To make matters worse, the local city council had asked if they could use my slogan as a bumper sticker to promote fatherhood as it is Father's Day on Sunday. They were about to print them yesterday but due to the potential connection with F4J they decided to pull the project at the last minute!

Oh Well, IT'S ONLY A SLOGAN!!!

EASTER SUNDAY BALLOON LAUNCH

2008-03-28T23:00:00.003Z

Awesome time on Easter Sunday morning. With around 450 of us at Central Hall we celebrated Easter together and then as part of the Hope 08 initiative we wrote our prayers for the city on tags and then attached them to balloons for a massive balloon launch.

By itself this would be pretty spectacular, but across the city a further 26 churches joined together and around 3000 balloons were released with prayers for the city at exactly 11.30am.

The timing had to be exact because nearby Southampton Airport were holding back planes until we had completed the launch. Just as well they were holding them back as quite a number landed on the airport runway (oops!) and had to be cleared away and others were seen hanging off St Mary's Stadium but most of the 3000 balloons made it a little further afield!!

Apart from the weather (which was pretty wet!), the balloon launch seemed a huge success all round the city - see more pictures here.

The only bizarre thing to this excellent story is how it came about:

I am sure that I saw it advertised on the Hope 08 website as a national initiative that all churches around the country would be doing on Easter Sunday. So, thinking this was the case I stood in front of a large number of church leaders across Southampton and sold it to them as that! Unfortunately when we had the list of 27 churches complete we contacted Hope 08 to let them know so they could add information to what was happening across the country. They were pretty impressed with what we were doing and thought it was a great idea, but no other churches were taking part across the country and they had never heard of the idea!!! OOOOPS!

Still it was a great idea (wherever it came from) and an opportunity to pray for the city together as churches. We also got a couple of photos on national news and some pretty good coverage in the local papers...

GOING BACK

2008-03-21T20:31:00.003Z

Over the last 2 weeks I have been back to two different places that I used to live before moving to Southampton. Two weeks ago I spoke at a Spurgeons Conference at Wickbourne Centre in Littlehampton talking about developing the relationship between local Churches and local Government Agencies and then last week I preached at The Life Church in Maidstone.

Bizarrely I moved to Maidstone when I was 11, Littlehampton at 22 and Southampton at 33!!

Going back is a strange mix of emotions. It's great to see friends and catch up on all that's been happening, but it was sad to see things that had changed and not always for the better (don't get me wrong there are loads of great things happening as well...). To hear various stories of damaged relationships and to see things that once were great not have the life and energy that once existed is hard to understand.

I know that we have to move on and life is a journey and we shouldn't look back, but naively I thought that when God had his hand on something that it would go from strength to strength and the only way is up!!! I know that I am one of those annoyingly positive people who thinks anything is possible and that you can do anything you want (whether you should is another matter!) but seeing how something is now that used be so different plays with your head...

I want to develop great church and do something today that isn't just great for a season but provides foundations that provide a platform for future generations to do even greater things - as a preacher once said " are you willing to plant an acorn today that will provide the shade of an oak tree that you will never benefit from?"

I guess looking over your shoulder is good to do from time to time as long as it doesn't have a negative effect on what God has put in front of you...

THE KING OF ALL ICEBREAKERS?

2008-03-12T16:45:00.005Z

I've seen it all now... Yesterday we had a "staff retreat" at Central Hall where we talked about the vision and the strategy of New Community and where we were heading. I found it very useful time and very well facilitated. But...

...the highlight of the day had to be when we were asked, as both an icebreaker and a meditation, to write a psalm line by line as a team - a bit like spiritual consequences. You know, you write a line pass on the paper and the next person adds their line. I guess I was a little tired and not quite as prepared as King David to write a psalm so when the guy next to me writes: "I dived into the sea of tranquility", I wrote "and then realised I had forgotten my towel" next line that came along was: "I washed my face with tears of joy", so again I wrote "and I still had no towel" it didn't get any better when I received: "I shouted into the depths of despair", and lacking any spiritual insight I wrote: "and all I got was an echo, echo, echo..." and lastly:
"I faced the long and winding road ahead of me", I couldn't help but add "so I turned on my GPS for guidance".

I know, I know - immature but funny. One day I'll grow up!

Don't you just love icebreakers and group work? I wonder what God thinks?

BLOGGING IS DANGEROUS!!!

2008-03-06T21:13:00.005Z

Ok, ok, I know it's been a long time...

but I have an excuse - honest!

you see I've discovered that blogging is dangerous. I know I thought it was a safe way to spend some free time in the safety of your home but it's not - it can get you into trouble...

I thought only my Mum read my blogs (Hi Mum!) but apparently the whole world can access your random thoughts for the day. After my last blog which mentioned the leader of Fathers 4 Justice I get an email from him within 2 hours of posting wanting to get together over coffee! Crazy!

I then got a further email from a local church leader who was concerned about a post I had written last September about a city centre church leaders meeting I had attended (don't look for it I already changed it!). So I guess I got a little nervous about writing my little blog in case I upset someone again...

and I've been pretty busy...

so to keep you updated here are a few things that I could have (maybe should have) blogged about:

Flo turned three, Zak turned nine (how did that happen!), Lottie is pregnant with number four (and pretty sick with it), New Coffee Shop "Central Coffee" is now open at Central Hall and looks amazing, Lottie and I have started to take responsibility for the Sunday morning meetings at New Community, Loads of meetings with load of great people, bought a new chair from ebay, rolled out a community audit across the church network, engaged 27 churches in balloon release on Easter Sunday, ran a mens weekend at Dalesdown for 65 men aged 16 to 61 and I've taken up golf again as essential stress release...

Hopefully I will blog again before Christmas! Thanks for reading...

EVERY FATHER MATTERS

2007-12-12T13:05:00.000Z

Just got out of a morning consultation event looking at Fathering needs in the city. Around 80 people were there, including senior practitioners and many fathers from a wide variety of backgrounds.

I had been asked to facilitate some group work and lead different groups through the question of Education and Fathering and whether there is more that schools can do communicate with fathers (especially Non-Resident Father which is a new politically correct term I picked up!) and encourage fathers to get alongside their children in their education. It was very interesting.

The speaker who introduced the event claimed that research proved that children who had a father figure (the male role model might not be the biological father but a Grandfather, Stepfather or Uncle) involved in their upbringing were more likely to be 'successful' in life, i.e. have a stable job and a positive effect on society (pay taxes!).

As a Christian I have always believed that family was God's plan and that the fathers role was very important but it was surprising to hear that this was being suggested by a secular speaker. As I circulated the different groups asking questions I found many fathers who wanted to care for their children and be involved but feeling isolated and excluded by the state. Surely if fathering is proven as such an important role, why is it not encouraged more? If I believe fathering is so important what am I going to do to promote and encourage it? What about fathers that abuse children and have a negative effect upon their childhood and upbringing?

Lots of questions which is great to get me thinking...

A friend of mine is related to Matt O'Conner who is a key leader of Fathers 4 Justice and has just written his biography about his fight for the rights of fathers. I have been asked if I would meet with him in the New Year to chat about his work and what the role of the church should or could be. I haven't read the book but apparently it is like Gordon Ramsey with tourettes (!) and he expresses throughout the book his feeling that the church has let him and other fathers down - should be an interesting meeting!!!

Anyway let me know your thoughts, mine is:

"A father is for life, not just for conception!"

should make good bumper stickers...

CHRISTMAS IS HERE

2007-12-08T22:04:00.000Z

Today I went up to the loft and got down all the Christmas bits: Decorations, Stockings, Tinsel and the fake Christmas Tree we bought after Christmas the year before last as I found they reduce the price on Christmas stuff from midnight on the 24th!

It was a real family time with Lottie, myself and all the children involved, making decorations, dressing the tree, scattering tinsel - well, for about 10 minutes!!!

Then Lottie and I cleared up the mess of the tree that was a bit lopsided and the random baubles all round the house and tried to make it look a bit more pretty while the kids watched telly!

Christmas - It's a time for families - eh?

CENTRAL Coffee Shop UPDATE

2007-11-26T11:02:00.000Z

Here are some photos of the coffee shop development at Central Hall as well as a concept image of the potential exterior signage, although this might be a little bit tooooo much - it looks great!

BALLET EXPERIENCE

2007-11-19T21:21:00.001Z

Took Lottie to the ballet at the Mayflower Theatre at the weekend as part of her birthday celebrations. We saw the English National Ballet perform the classic ballet Swan Lake.

I was quite pleased with myself, Lottie had wanted to got to the ballet for years and we had got great seats right in the centre. In fact Lottie was SO impressed with the seats she thought we must have someone else's - and...

... she was right! doh!

Just as the performance was about to start a well dressed couple wondered if we might have their seats (you know that horrible feeling that drains through you as you realise you have made a mistake...), well they were right and I was wrong we were meant to be up in the balcony not the dress circle!!!! By the time we got up the stairs to the balcony the performance started and we had to sit and wait for the first interval at the very back until we could get to our correct seats.

The show was amazing (even if you couldn't see their faces!) with a 45 piece live orchestra and incredible dancers. By the end of Act 2 I didn't have a clue what it was about. They really could do with a script or some lyrics! I had to look up a synopsis of the story during the interval to work out what was actually going on!

Definitely recommend it as an incredible feast of creativity, but read what its about before you go and check and then double check you have the right seats!!

Thanks Ali & Mark for the having the kids for the night - you guys are amazing...

CENTRAL COFFEE SHOP

2007-11-01T08:10:00.000Z

Building work has at last begun on the new coffee shop at Central Hall. As with most projects it has taken a long time to get started but now it is moving hopefully I will be able to keep the momentum going so we can open in January.

The plan is to create a new entrance to Central Hall off the pavement with a ramp to allow easy access for wheelchairs and buggy's. The coffee shop, which we are planning to call CENTRAL, will become the main day entrance into the fantastic newly refurbished facility with plans to provide a number of services to the local community.

When Central Hall was opened in 1925 it declared that it was a centre for the community of Southampton. They regularly opened up the building as a cinema for the dockyard children, a rickets health clinic and a poor lawyer. Unfortunately the church numbers dwindled and the premises were sold to Hampshire Education Authority to be used for lectures and exams. Fortunately in 1989 New Community Church bought the property and mentioned to the local newspaper that Central Hall would become a 7 day a week church. Well almost 20 years later on God's purposes and plans are becoming a reality and I am so pleased just to be part of what he is doing here in Southampton.

Watch this space and I will try and keep you updated as the building work progresses...

LOTTIE TURNS 30

2007-10-30T21:17:00.000Z

Yesterday Lottie turned 30 years old! Can't believe it really - Lottie and I have been together since she was 15, so we have known each other half of her life - crazy!!

It was a great day, the kids had an inset day off school and so I took the kids to the park while Lottie went shopping to Primarni and then we all went out for a family pub lunch followed by a walk in the New Forest.

In the evening Lottie and I went out for a fancy meal at Carey's Manor Restaurant which was amazing. The roasted Sea Bass was incredible (and so was the bill!), definitely recommend it for a special night out.

Most importantly I want to say my wife is the most amazing woman I know. She is always so supportive of me and the work in the church and community that God has called me to do. She has willingly moved away from family and friends and the safety of all that she knew to move to Southampton. Thanks Lot - here's to the next 30!

PLANES, TRAINS AND BRITISH PEOPLE

2007-10-24T15:55:00.000Z

Went flying with my friend Theo the other week - amazing! Managed to fly over the Severn Bridge and back in an afternoon. Although it was a bit of a murky day, it was an incredible experience with some awesome views. Thanks Theo...

The next day I went to London by train for a conference and spent two hours jammed against dozens of strangers, two hours there and two hours back - and not one person spoke to me! What's that about?

How is it that I can spend 4 hours in a plane enjoying a great experience with a good friend wearing headphones and shouting at each other but have more of a connection with him than the same amount of time pressed against dozens of my fellow countrymen and not even get eye contact! What a weird people we are...

KINGDOM COFFEE?

2007-10-03T09:57:00.000Z

Here's a dilemma for you. On Monday I visited Kingdom Coffee in Reading - a christian coffee company that promotes fair trade coffee and actively support overseas needs through the purchasing and sale of the coffee. In many ways a very similar ethos to what we did in Littlehampton with Refresh Coffee Shop and Links International.

Here's the snag although it is a great christian company and the coffee was very good - I'm a little unsure of the title Kingdom Coffee or the religious logo. It's not that I am ashamed of my faith, I just want to promote a christianity that is relevant and does not put people off before they come through the doors (which many churches do).

Central Hall is very intimidating as a building and we need to pull all the stops out to make it accessible to all, having a coffee shop called Kingdom Coffee would not (in my opinion) be a good starting point. I also am very keen to work with the local community to create this coffee shop and we have an excellent coffee supplier right around the corner who I would like to use.

Kingdom Coffee supplied me with a range of top quality coffee mugs and cups which are on display in my office all embossed with the green and gold foil logo. The range of comments I have received have gone from "that is the best thing ever" to "you are kidding me!".

So here is the dilemma - Do I work with and support the christian company or develop relationship with the local supplier? Answers on a postcard please..

p.s. if you haven't filled in your standing order for £20 a month for 6 months get it in quick! (10 free coffees for all who sign up...) Building work starts Monday 15th October

LEADING THE WAY

2007-09-27T21:16:00.000Z

Today we have hosted a morning conference for the accountancy firm Ernst & Young in Central Hall. Interestingly in the afternoon they went out in teams taking part in a number of community projects such as litter picking and washing the cars of a rival accountancy firm!

At the same time we had a team from IBM, Southampton redecorating and clearing one of our Life Centres, Aster House as part of their programme of giving staff the opportunity to give back to the community. Around 20 people spent the day painting over the graffiti, clearing the garden, filling a skip with enough rubbish for two and generally tidying up - excellent!

I did my bit and painted one of the storerooms in tasty magnolia, which was better than the bright green that was on the walls already! It's great that all these companies realise the benefits to both their employees, the community and their company - it's a challenge to us in the church to keep us sharp and stay involved.

Community Projects are great but we as a church can offer more than just a re-paint...

RETAIL CHAPLAINCY

2007-09-26T22:26:00.000Z

Day of cross city church meetings today. Lunchtime was with Southampton Churches Network at Highfield Church which was for all church leaders across the city. It was an excellent time of getting to know people and hearing what was happening around the city. We also had a guest speaker from the World Prayer Centre, Birmingham who was excellent in encouraging us in our times of prayer and intimacy as well as promoting the Hope 08 national campaign. Locally in Southampton we are putting a number of events together throughout the year, starting in December with a Miracle Street event.

Anyway I was interested in one item on the agenda about some potential funding for setting up Street Pastors in Southampton which is a programme happening in a number of city's around the country. Unfortunately the guy who was presenting this item couldn't make it as he was retiring from his church position! We also had a guy in from IBEX Southcoast who came to talk about retail chaplaincy at West Quay. It was fascinating how many superstores and shopping centres around the country have chaplains (or even teams at places like Blue Water). West Quay has over 18 million shopping visitors from all round the county of Hampshire and beyond, what an opportunity for someone with the permission of the shopping centre to get involved in so many needy lives. The presentation took 20 minutes, which was very thought provoking.

Anyone want to become a retail chaplain for 22 million people?

John and Rachel

2007-09-15T20:55:00.000Z

Went back to Rustington today for the wedding of our friends John & Rachel. Lottie and I used to babysit for Rachel and her sisters when we were first going out!

It was great to go back and see friends and family again, the service was great and real (Rach lost her Dad John only a few years ago and he was missed greatly). Delirious led the worship with the Arun Community Church choir who were excellent (nice bass line Al!)

It's great seeing people getting married in a culture that says it is no longer relevant, many of Rachel's friends from her recent fashion course were at the wedding (pretty obvious which ones they were!) - I wondered what they made of the service?

Thank you Jo (Rach's mum) for inviting us to such a great day and making us feel part of your family - God bless you Rach and John as you set up home and start life together...

It was good to go home and even harder to leave, but we know God has meant for us to be here in Southampton even if on some days it is not as easy as others.

MOVING IN - AT LAST!!!

2007-09-10T21:12:00.000Z

Today we moved into Sunflower Cottage in Hedge End after much waiting and messing around. The whole process was like walking on ice, never knowing when something may happen. Even this morning when we were preparing to move out of our borrowed accommodation (thanks Dave & Katie) we got a phone call from our solicitor saying some important paperwork hadn't been signed! When I phoned back with fax numbers I was then told that the keys were at the Estate Agents and that we could pick them up! What happened to the important papers that must be signed??

Oh well - Lottie, Flo and I (the boys were at school) went to pick up the keys very excited about getting into our new home.

Unfortunately when we arrived at Foord Road with keys in hand at around 11am the road was full of trucks, one ours and two the previous owners - aaaargh!! There was nothing we could do but wait... and wait... until 3pm!! Crazy - and then we had to go and get the boys from school.

Still it was great to get in to our new house and start setting up home. We are only the third owners of the property since it was built in 1900 so people obviously stay here a long time!

It's a lovely house with an amazing garden and we can't wait to start making it our own. Just one question - who invented woodchip wallpaper? It's everywhere...

UPDATE

2007-09-05T16:51:00.001Z

Ok, just so everyone can keep up to date with all that is happening in the Dendy house this is our last week:

Monday 27th - I went to my last ever fire call after 101/2 years. Young Lad squashed in car at 1am after drinking since 3 in the afternoon. Apparently he had an argument with girlfriend and so stole her car and smashed it opposite Oystercatcher on A259. Good job for my last one - one lucky boy, just severe bruising he will be back on his feet soon but the car won't be!

Tuesday 28th - Removal Company turned up at 8am and emptied our house and put all our worldly goods into storage. I then had to go to Fire Station and hand in my alerter (oh, it felt weird and great all at the same time) and my uniform (I think Lottie wanted me to keep it...). The whole family then slept overnight on airbeds in an empty house!

Wednesday 29th - Cleaned the house from top to bottom, left some embarrassing decorating disasters behind and said teary goodbyes to friends who had gathered. We then drove to a campsite where we set up our newly purchased Trailer Tent in Netley. The tent was excellent, not like real camping we had proper beds, gas stove, fridge and electrical hookup (I was even able to hoover out the car - to the surprise of our neighbours!!!).

Thursday 30th - went shopping for school uniform in the worlds biggest Tesco's all for around £1.50 for 15 polo shirts! Then we visited Billy & Caroline (Senior Leader of New Community - best behaviour) and tried to encourage the children not to break anything and say please and thank you! It was great Billy's parents were there and everyone made us feel welcome.

Friday 31st - Went to Manor Farm Country Park which is a short walk from our new house - it is an incredible place for walks, bike rides and picnics. We are looking forward to taking all our friends there.

Saturday 1st - packed up tent and moved into a temporary house in Bitterne, Southampton - we don't even know the young couple, Dave & Katie who lent us the house incredible people! We were offered 3 or 4 houses to borrow from different people in the church - amazing! We then went to a BBQ at a friends house and introduced to more lovely people.

Sunday 2nd - First proper Sunday at New Community Church, 2 services with children going out to another venue in the morning. Very different to Arun Community Church but a real warm and kind welcome.

Monday 3rd - This was a ridiculous day! Levi had his 6th birthday, the boys started at their new school, Kings Copse in Hedge End and I started my new job at Central Hall followed by a family meal with one of Levi's friends at KFC. Ice cream, junk food & Kids!!

Kind of a crazy season we are in but soon it will be a distant memory. We move into our new house on Monday 10th September and discover how much stuff got damaged in storage!

Thanks for reading this far and joining us for the journey...

PERSEVERANCE

2007-08-23T14:35:00.000Z

A couple of weeks ago I spoke at Central Hall on "Becoming a People of Perseverance" (you can listen to it here). The main point was that God calls us to be people of faith, persistence and perseverance and not necessarily successful. We have a responsibility to be a faithful servant with what God has given us and not to 'become the best and beat the rest'. As always when you speak on a topic within days God was allowing me the opportunity to practise that which I preached!

The last two weeks of finalising details on our house move has become very stressful. We have had FOUR surveys on our property for damp, a tree inspection, an electrics inspection, woodworm inspection and two roof inspections! Our buyers then wanted money off the original asking price and then to cap it all the people whose house we are buying couldn't move out of the house in Hedge End until 25th Sept!!!! Aargh!

I tell you this now, because yesterday we exchanged contracts and we will be moving out of our home of the last 8 years next Wednesday 29th August and moving into our new home, Sunflower Cottage on 10th September. All our stuff will be going into storage and some kind friends at New Community have offered to put us up (or put up with us) for the interim period. Which means we will be in Southampton for the start of school and the start of my new job (just) and although everything is not totally buttoned down things are starting to take shape.

Moving is not for wimps, it should be registered as an extreme sport...

Thank you God.

OUT OF MY DEPTH

2007-08-17T09:18:00.000Z

Last night a friend offered me the chance to go sailing out of Itchenor Harbour, near Chichester. I used to sail small dinghies when I was younger and thought it would be a fun evening out.

On arrival at the very exclusive Itchenor Sailing Club I realised I was entering another world. Everyone had all the right clothing, expensive cars and talked with Eton accents. I was also one of the youngest there by a few decades! I then discovered it wasn't just sailing, but racing and I would be on a crew with Gayle (who had just spent the week at Cowes and won something) and my friend Caroline who used to sail dinghies for England and now is on the committee for the club.

As soon as we got on the boat (26' Sunbeam, 80 years old and been in Gayle's family since birth) I realised that this racing was taken very seriously indeed. We may have just been racing for a bottle of wine, but we had stopwatches at the ready and practising manoeuvres and I realised that the only use I would be was as some kind of ballast...

Still it was a good night out and we ended up winning the race (although I think it had little to do with me). Picture above is of the boat that came in second place.

We then all trooped to the members dining room for Cottage Pie and Bread and Butter pudding followed by speeches (honest!). When you made a speech you had to stand up and then at the end everyone would "guffaw" with delight - whatever you said. We were presented with a bottle of wine from Alan Stannah (yes that's right the Stannah Stairlift guy - apparently only worth £118m - Alan not the bottle!!!!).

Lovely people, but...

NEW FOREST

2007-08-12T11:25:00.000Z

Just got back from a family holiday at Shorefield Country Park in the New Forest. It was a last minute surprise as we hadn't planned anything due to the up and coming move, but generous friends of ours offered their Posh Lodge on the Friday and we left on the Saturday!

We had a lovely break enjoying the wonderful villages of Lymington, Lyndhurst and Beaulieu. The weather was amazing and so we spent time at New Milton beach and at the outdoor pool on the site where the Lodge was based.

The highlight of each day was probably the evening entertainment with Cyril and Cybil the Squirrels which included Magic Shows, Disco, family games and our boys favourite - BINGO!!! Every day they couldn't wait to be there for "eyes down" at 7.30 prompt...

It was great to get away, a well needed break and time to be together as a family - thank you Leigh and Amanda for your generosity...

LOOK A LIKE?

2007-08-04T09:27:00.000Z

Levi has just started wearing glasses - Mr Tickle glasses to be precise, which he is over the moon about! Last weekend he dressed up as Woody from Toy Story - but to be honest he looks more like the Milky Bar Kid.

What do you think?

NEW FRIENDS

2007-08-03T09:53:00.000Z

Having finished work on Thursday it was straight off to Scotland for the weekend to join the new Team that I will be working with at New Community Church in Southampton. Apart from it taking most of the day to fly up and sort out hire cars arriving at 9pm (could have just driven!) it was so good to be back at my friend Jim's house in Killin. The house has been transformed over the last 6 months since I last saw it with 10 bedrooms completed as well as new kitchen and new chef Stuart installed. Lottie, Flo and I stayed in Fingal which completely overlooks the Loch Tay for an amazing view. The weekend was designed to bring the new leadership team together and to discuss how things could look in September. Jim lead us through 2 days of teaching about how we all function differently and helping us work together - it was excellent.

It was so good to have Lottie involved as part of the team, Billy and Caroline made us both feel very welcome. There were many highlights including late nights in "the snug" with a 15 year old malt, singing songs around the bonfire with Ken, enjoying the unbelievable views over the Loch or picking strawberries with Flo.

Jim is such a great facilitator we had some very helpful and thought provoking discussions (and dialogue!), but most importantly we felt welcome and part of something which is very exciting, that God so obviously has his hand on.

This week we are back home and although I have been described in our local newspaper as an "inspirational community leader", I feel more grounded than ever before and excited by what God has stored up - in the mean time I have some packing to do.

You can never have enough cardboard boxes...

GOOD FRIENDS AND GOODBYES

2007-07-27T09:33:00.000Z

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted anything. Although I finished work last Thursday it has been non-stop since. Last week there was a whole bunch of leaving meals - Monday lunch was the formal one with the Church Leaders at the Oystercatcher (not good food!), Tuesday lunch was at the new over-designed seaside Cafe fondly known locally as "The Turd" (although Steak Sandwich was excellent), Wednesday evening was my highlight with all the staff that I work with at Wickbourne, Sure Start and the Church. We had a buffet at the local Indian Monsoon which was superb. At the end of the meal a number of staff made speeches and provided me with certificates for different achievements I had made (some serious and some humorous!). Sally & Wendy from the kitchen wrote a poem and Sonia had 3 pages that had me on the verge of tears! Around 25 of the team turned up and it was a great night - what a privilege to be part of such a great group of people. Thursday was my last day and Sure Start had laid on a surprise buffet and Sally had made a goodbye cake (with Fire Engine).

What an incredible week - it has been so good to work with so many amazing people, they will be missed...

AND LASTLY...

2007-07-19T15:21:00.000Z

This week has been a real "lasts". Last Friday was the last Connect Group (a small cell group/post alpha kind of thing) - they bought me an intriguing cake, some socks and one of those really annoying cards that sings to you every time you open it!

Sunday was our last ever morning at Arun Community Church which was really special. They put up some photos on the screen of Lottie and I over the last 11+ years and read out all the different things we had been involved with and then people spontaneously stood up and gave a standing ovation. I must confess I had a few tears in the eyes and declined to say anything (which is difficult for me!) as no words could really sum how much Lottie and I care for our friends and family at ACC and how much we will miss being with them...

Monday it was my last Sure Start AGM which was an incredible line up of people sharing how the Centre had transformed their lives in some way. If it was in a church it would have been testimony night. The church and God hardly got a mention but I am sure he smiled when the teenage parents got up and danced their hearts out, when the Mum who had suffered post natal depression talked about the caring staff who helped her through it and when the Nursery children sang their songs at the tops of their voices. But the highlight for me was when the Creche Manager (not a christian) told the story of "The Three Little Pigs" and brought a moral to the story of building our lives on good foundations. Now where have I heard that before?

Today is the last day my boys go to Rustington Community Primary School (the same school Lottie went to - some of the teachers are the same!) it is also my last day as Chair of Governors as I have now resigned officially.

Today was also the last Launch Pad Breakfast Club of the year with a well deserved summer break coming up for the staff. This was a project I started working on at the beginning of 2006 with my friends Rosie and Jon and it is brilliant to see it up and running and completing its first year. The children who attend are referred for different reasons and come with all kinds of home lives and backgrounds - but watching them this morning celebrating together on the bouncy castle followed by party food (!) you would not have realised how much transformation has taken place...

But the end of a chapter in a good book leaves you excited and impatient for the next chapter and I guess that is where I am at the moment. Sad to be leaving so many good friends behind but excited by what God has in front of us...

LABYRINTHITUS!!!

2007-07-13T17:35:00.000Z

I know - I didn't know what it was either until this week.

It has nothing to with Labyrinth the Movie (thanks Jon and Joe for your helpful and caring emails!), I have not turned into a David Bowie lookalike or spend the day searching for my brother before he becomes a Goblin!

Apparently it is something to do with crystals that settle in your middle ear which affects your balance. You know when you go on the roundabout at the children's play park and then you get off and try and walk - it's like that, only all the time.

Trying to walk in a straight line takes a lot of effort! The Doctor has given me a prescription which sounded really grand but turned out to be travel sickness pills and suggested I do some weird laying on bed while turning my head exercises (don't picture it!)

So it's been a kind of strange week. Just finished my last Connect Group at Wickbourne Centre tonight and we have our last Sunday at Arun Community Church this Sunday. Lottie has been at the church all her life (I have only completed a mere 11 1/2 years) so it will be a difficult morning - please pray...

Southampton is coming together with a visit last Wednesday to the boy's new school Kings Copse and the new house - they loved them both and can't wait to move!

I will try and give more detail next week (sorry I haven't blogged for a while - I have got sucked into the world of Facebook).

WHY DOES ANYONE MOVE HOUSE?

2007-07-04T18:50:00.001Z

Apparently moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do (next to changing job) and we are doing both!

The last house in West End sadly did not work out and so we have changed tack and explored the village of Hedge End. We found a lovely semi detached house built around 1900 with an incredible south facing garden on Sunday. Today we put an offer in and (after a little haggling) had it accepted - hurrah!

The local primary school has space for both Levi and Zak and so things are starting to come together - Thank you God..

On a completely different note we heard yesterday that the school bid in Southampton has been completed and the partnership that New Community Church are involved with have been successful in taking on the running of BOTH new Academies - wow!!! Exciting stuff - not sure exactly what it will mean for myself and the church but it is definitely an excellent time to get involved and I am looking forward to seeing how the future will pan out. More on this to follow...

NEW HOUSE (possibly...)

2007-06-24T20:20:00.000Z

We have had an offer accepted on a lovely 1920's cottage in the village of West End just outside Southampton. It has been quite a stressful week with Estate Agents telling us different stories on different days. They keep making promises and then pretty much never deliver!

If they say "I will ring you in 10 minutes" you would like to think that you wouldn't have to ring them over an hour later to chase!!!! Aaaaaaaargh!!!

I am reading the Little Red Book of Wisdom by Mark DeMoss at the moment - excellent, great reading and very practical advice. Need a bit of wisdom right now...

Please pray as we try and sort out this move, getting to know new people and get our kids into the right schools, etc.

I am also now on Facebook - not sure how it works, but I seem to have gathered 24 friends in only a couple of days - so it can't be all bad. Join in the fun via the link and come and find me!

MOVING ON...

2007-06-12T08:14:00.000Z

Ok, the rumours are true - the Dendy's are moving! From 1st September I will be starting a new job working for New Community Church in Southampton as their Project Development Manager. It's a big move for us as Lottie has lived in Rustington all her life (I have been here for the last 11 years while we have been married) and we thought we would be here for the rest of our lives - but it looks like God has other plans!

My work at Arun Community Church and Wickbourne Centre finishes here at the end of July with the month of August as an opportunity to have some family time as well as (hopefully) moving house and discovering Southampton.

Some people have said to me things like "you're moving for the money" or "for a bigger church". I guess people don't always know what to say and try and make light of things. Truth is we are moving because God has opened a door and other ones have closed - one thing I am learning to do is "Trust in God with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding".

God knows his plan for our lives, which is incredibly comforting as I haven't got a clue anymore and I thought I had it all lined up - oh well...

Watch this space and we will try and keep you up to date with all the changes.

I hope you enjoy the picture, yes Graham Butt is an estate agent in our local area - if you like funny signs then check out this link here. You can see more details on our present house on rightmove.co.uk - a website we spend most evenings trawling through at the moment!

VISTA COMMUNITY

2007-06-05T20:12:00.000Z

Just got back from a 2 day conference for UK Church Leaders entitled Vista Community. Based at The Oast Houses in Kent, which is a christian conference centre with a difference - the difference being great food, sauna, swimming pool and tennis court! Definitely reccomend the venue it is excellent.

Anyway Vista Community is nothing to do with Microsoft, it is just a bunch of friends who connect together through various friendships and want to spend time networking with each other and learning together.

Co-ordinated by Billy Kennedy amongst others we had an excellent time eating, drinking and chatting together with a couple of sessions to get us all thinking.

Roger Ellis ran a session on Monday evening looking at the history of the New Church movement since the 60's and asking the question of what next? It got me thinking about about church and the value I place on meeting together, which is really important - but how could and should it look in the future? Is there anything wrong in structure? To be a New Church do we have to be weird to ensure we are distinctive or can we just be brave enough to allow God's Spirit to work through us and see what direction he takes us in. Anyway, some food for thought!

Then we had the honour of the Bishop of Maidstone, Graham Cray this morning looking at the whole issue of Ministry (work?) / Life balance and how it is so important to "attend to ourselves". We talked about character and some practical tips on how to keep developing our character through long obedience and yielding ourselves to Christ. He also talked about having monthly quiet days and 3 month sabbaticals - sounds good to me!

It was great to be with friends and meet new ones, be challenged in our thinking and all in a great location with great food and a bottle of wine or two - God is good!

CAMPING IN THE RAIN

2007-05-28T11:07:00.000Z

I don't know what you got up to during the bank holiday weekend but the Dendy family along with 3 other families from Arun Community Church decided, camping was a good way to spend our holiday time. Friday night was great, sitting round in the open air, drinking red wine and Jon Shanks' Sainsbury's Special Bitter (not very special - but cheap apparently!). The children stayed up and the world was great.

Saturday we woke up to the unique sound of Simon Croucher snoring even though he was 4 tents away and then it was cooked breakfast time. To be fair we did pretty well considering we were using four separate gas stoves. We had eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, bacon, sausages and half a can of last nights "special" bitter (ok - we actually had Nescafe Half-Caf Coffee which tastes similar!). Then we all piled into cars and headed of to Moors Valley Country Park. If you have never been and you have children under 11 you should go. If you have children over 11 or you are just a big kid then you should also go and try out Go-Ape.

Anyway Saturday night came along and we tried the eating outside altogether thing, but the rain had other ideas. The rain didn't stop until around 9am the next morning, by which time the Crouchers were washed out and had to abandon tent! The rest of us then packed up tents as fast as we could to avoid further downpours and headed home a little wetter than when we arrived.

Oh well - I've decided camping is great if it's dry and sunny.

MY FRIEND NICK

2007-05-23T11:39:00.001Z

I received some sad news yesterday, one of my school friends Nick Flaherty died in a motorbike accident in Scotland. He was the tallest guy in the year, which was great because we played rugby together for many years and he was the guy you wanted on your team. He played second row and I played number 8, so if you know your rugby you know how close we had to be! He was always full of life and desperate to fly planes, but was unable to because of eyesight requirements, but bizarrely was allowed to fly helicopters - so he did! His parents Roger and Peggy-Anne were like second parents to me in my late teens and early adulthood. I was always round their house chatting about life's challenges. Nick was never a heart on your sleeve evangelist, but he had a faith that was as solid as he was, you know like a brick out-house kind of thing. I hadn't seen Nick for a few years but his untimely death, brings home the fragility of life and how important it is to live it to the full while you can. I'm gutted for the loss of an amazing guy, for those left behind: his wife Katie and their 2 small boys - but I am glad he lived his life to full, followed his dream and got to fly!

Below is the full BBC press release:

Family says crash biker a 'hero'
A motorcyclist killed in an Aberdeenshire crash was a former search and rescue helicopter pilot whose family described him as a "hero".

Married father-of-two Nick Flaherty, 33, died after colliding with parked vehicles at Whitecairns, near his home, on Saturday.

He had been heading to his work at Bond Offshore when the accident happened.
Relatives said in a statement: "Nick was a larger than life character who lived his life to the full."
Mr Flaherty was married to Katie and they had two young sons, Harry, six, and four-year-old Finn.
He had risen up the ranks at Bond to become chief pilot last year, and had also been involved in several search and rescue missions.

'Greatest love' The family statement said: "Nick set off for work on his motor bike on Saturday morning and was tragically involved in a fatal accident not far from his home.
"Katie, the boys and Nick's mum and dad would like to thank family, friends, colleagues and strangers for the love and support that they have given at this sad time.
"They would particularly like to thank the emergency services and those at the scene of the accident, for caring for Nick."
They added: "Nick and his family have been attending Balmedie Church and Nick had a simple faith in Jesus and the family take great comfort in the assurance that he is safe in heaven.
"His greatest love was Katie and his boys. He will always be loved and remembered by those who knew him. "

Wooden Computer

2007-05-20T18:41:00.000Z

My kids have got access to the internet, interactive sky TV and a playstation 2. So what did they want to do on a Sunday afternoon? That's right make a computer out of wood! Which is probably as much use as my dead laptop at the mo...

And then they made a film out of it - this is the result:

HIDE AND SEEK

2007-05-01T20:22:00.000Z

Ever wondered what mature firefighters get up to on their weekly drill nights? How do they practise becoming better at rescuing and caring for the local community? What does Sim actually do every Monday night between the hours of 7pm and 9pm?

Well last night, we played Hide and Seek - yep that's right Hide and Seek! How does it work? Well one fire engine goes and hides on a road in the local area and then radios clues to the other fire engine? It sounds like fun and frolics, but honestly we were practising local topography and radio communication technique - honest!

The highlight was probably when it was our turn to do the seeking we were given the clue "Undercover Agent" and so we went to Hide Gardens, second clue was "Brown and Furry" which convinced us that it was Penfold Lane after Dangermouse's sidekick Penfold. We were still arguing over whether Penfold was a hamster or not when we realised that Penfold Lane was too small to fit a Fire Engine down it so we had to ask for a third clue - "digs holes in the garden"! Aha, The Mole it was! We found them and then it was our turn...

It's amazing how much fun can be had with 10 grown men, 2 fire engines and playground the size of Littlehampton!!!! Next week - British Bulldog :o)

MOZILLA FIREFOX RULES!

2007-04-20T18:06:00.000Z

Everyone who surfs the net knows that Mozilla Firefox is the best browser available on the web. If you haven't tried it then download it via this link. But things got even better this week when I discovered that you can dress your firefox browser up by importing different themes by just clicking tools > add ons. The best one for me by far was... wait for it... BIBLEFOX!!!!

Yes, your browser could become a spiritual home with enough christian symbols to impress the pope (in fact I think he might use it as his theme!) - go on try it you know you want to...

And for the really geeky amongst you? Well what about downloading Minimo the Firefox browser for your pda, sad but very effective - it even has tabs!!!!!!

Anyway, thats enough I need to go home - have a good weekend everyone!

DOG ON THE BLOG?

2007-04-11T19:26:00.000Z

Anyone lost a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? This morning my son, Zak declared he would like a pet and so asked if he could buy a fish and call it Herbert. Fine by me, they make little mess and only live for a couple of years and then you can flush them down the toilet! So I was a little surprised around 2pm this afternoon to get a phone call to announce that they had found a stray dog and brought it home - hmmm...

When I got home, I made out that I wasn't impressed (although it is very cute and placid) and took the dog for a walk around the local area knocking on doors trying to find the owner. Unfortunately I couldn't find the owner much to the delight of my children. Levi was pleased as he had prayed that I wouldn't be successful!

My friend Mike who is a local vet popped round and checked the dog out for a microchip, but no luck - so we have an extra visitor in the Dendy house tonight.

Oh well, tomorrow the DOGPOUND!!!!!

AMY'S PHOTO MAGIC

2007-04-07T20:39:00.000Z

Okay, so my niece Amy came with our family to Spring Harvest and took a lot of pictures of the family and the team - nice work Amy!

I'M BACK!

2007-04-07T19:29:00.000Z

Sorry for the lack of posts in recent weeks, I have been busy - honest! I have just got back from Spring Harvest in Minehead as part of the team responsible for the 11-14's.

This is our third year being involved in Spring Harvest Youthwork and although it is tiring work, it is very rewarding. Quite a number from Arun Community Church made up the team, which was excellently led as always by Jon Jolly (I have to say that as he reads my blogs - but it is true all the same...). My role was grandly entitled "Bible Teacher", which meant I had to come up with a presentation each day based on this years theme of "One People".

To be honest I loved the theme - it's a great opportunity to speak to 400 - 500 young people for almost a week on what it means to be church together. We took on the line from the Nicean Creed that states we should be "one, holy, catholic, apostolic people", looking at one key word each day. We had some fun trying to explain what it meant to be catholic and trying not to confuse anyone that Spring Harvest was becoming part of the Roman Catholic Church (to be honest the young people had no problems with this, but some of the leaders did! One leader actually said to me that the Catholic Church is completely wrong and was under the impression that the Pope was the beast!!! I thought that theory had been and gone - doh!)

I guess my favourite part of the week was seeing the young people engage in worship in all sorts of different ways. On the last day we had some of them singing, some playing instruments and some signing (no, it's not a spelling error!), some handing out communion bread and wine (don't worry it was just blackcurrant squash) and even one lad giving a short talk as part of the teaching!

Although I was starting to feel a little old for youth work (most of the team were under 20), it was a great event to be part of as always. Great to use the gifts God has given, great to work with such an excellent team and most of all my children loved it!

Last word goes to some letters of encouragement I received from some of the young people:

"Dear Sim, don't stop preaching you are doing a great job. Thank you for your enthusiasm for the Lord and I encourage you to start preaching in full seminars. Your biggest fan, Sam"

"Sim, thank you for all the talks you have done over the past few days. The words were really encouraging and touched me and probably most people. Thank you for your kindness and being strong for talking to so many people, Luv you and keep going, Charis"

YOUTH ALPHA

2007-03-14T22:37:00.000Z

What a night! Tonight we had 30 people pile round our house as part of the church youth groups Alpha course. We looked at the topic of the Bible, is it relevant today and how should we read it. We looked at the top 20 Best Selling Books of all Time and discover that the Bible was the number one bestseller at almost 6 billion sales, with number two a mere 900 million! Almost all the books in the top 10 (apart from Agatha Christies "And then there were none") were spiritual books, showing that we all have a desire to find out more about spiritual things. All of J K Rowlings books were in the top 20 with sales of over 50 million for each book - Wow!

After discussing the bible we broke into small groups to answer some questions and that is where I discovered the random mind of young people. We started off with questions on the Bible and ended up discussing whether elephants could swim or not! I have got no idea how we even got to that point - I think it was something to do with Noahs Ark, but not too sure.

Oh, well. It seems the Bible is alive and well and keeping the world talking even if it is random!!!

DELETE

2007-03-11T22:40:00.000Z

Ok, so my video of Rich got a lot of interest from all around the globe and he takes back his comment that "no one reads blogs", in return I have deleted the incriminating video (although I still have a copy...)

You know when they say "hit any key to delete"?

Found it!!!!!

Being Uncle Sim!

2007-03-04T00:02:00.000Z

The most common question on a Monday morning is "What did you do over the weekend?". For most people it will be something like - watched a movie, saw some friends, visited family, bought a puppy, etc. Which is fine, normal in fact! This weekend my niece, Amy asked me to video her and her friends for a school drama project. So, the whole family got involved including Lottie and all the children and I had the job of being the camera man. As you can imagine it took a lot longer than expected and we ended up with a 30 minute video! Below I have attached a clip of my brother in law, Rich showing us his acting ability for your amusement - I am sure he won't mind as he reckons no one reads blogs!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZAK!

2007-02-27T20:42:00.000Z

Today I have become a father of an 8 year old! My oldest boy Zak celebrated his 8th birthday today. The day he was born only seems like yesterday, the song at the time was Tender by Blur with the chorus "Oh my baby, oh my baby" - seemed very appropriate at the time...

I remember leaving the hospital back in 1999 convinced that someone was going to stop us and ask what we thought we were doing with such a new born baby. I remember putting my first born in his car seat for the first time and driving all the way home at under 10 miles, petrified about the sudden weight of responsibility we had taken on!

Yesterday we had a great family day at Spectrum in Guildford to celebrate as it was a school inset day. Check out the videos below, especially Levi's celebration of his bowling spare! Zak you are fantastic, Happy Birthday Son...

and Levi gets the last say:

HERE'S A THOUGHT...

2007-02-22T11:36:00.000Z

Question: How often are you busy working and never think about what you have done or achieved? Often I get home and my wife Lottie says to me "What did you do today?" and I have no idea!

Last September I started a Degree in Community Development with Sussex University. Part of my course is all about keeping a reflective journal to keep track of my learning journey (I wonder if this blog could be submitted?) and enable me to think about how and what I am learning. Which is great, but why don't we do that in other parts of our life, especially work. Probably because we're too busy - that's why! Doing what? Don't know - but my diary is full - WHAT!?

I am presently reading 360 degree Leadership by John Maxwell which gives examples of exemplary leaders who spend 10 minutes at the beginning and end of each day to plan and then reflect which is probably why they are top leaders! The idea is good but have I got the time???

James 1 talks about the man that looks in the mirror, goes away and then forgets what he has seen. I know that can be true for me, which is why I have to look three times in the mirror - honestly not vain just forgetful!!!

I spoke to my staff team on Monday about this and we all recognised that we are too busy doing to even consider reflecting on what we do. Surely reflecting on our busy lives is important - if we want to make a difference to those around us.

Or as Edith Wharton said:

"There are ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

MEET MY BRUV

2007-02-17T14:20:00.000Z

My brother Dan came to visit this week and so I thought I should introduce him to you. He lives on a luxury yacht (only £25 million!) in Italy working as a personal Chef (tough for some - eh!). In the past he has worked for people like Gordon Ramsey at the Aubergine in Chelsea as well as cooking meals for the very rich and famous all around the world. Just now he has been given a month off to travel to Japan for some cooking lessons, all paid for by his present employer! So he decided it was an opportunity to visit various members of the family.

First stop was my sister Liz in Hourtin Plage on the south west coast of France. She has just had a baby boy called Samson on 13th February while Dan was visiting, so he was able to offer babysitting service for Liz & Leon's older boy Rosh. Thinking he would have some respite he travelled to see us on the 15th but then realised with 3 children Uncle Dan would be even busier! So after cooking an incredible fish pie and playing Monopoly non stop for two days he has moved onto Bournemouth to visit our parents. Next is a brief stay with my brother Mark and his family (who conveniently live near Heathrow) before flying out to see his Italian girlfriend Mara in the States before travelling onto Japan for a spot of Home Economics - Japanese style!

I've just read this through and realised that I have become my Dad writing his Christmas Newsletter - HELP!!!! Anyway thanks Dan for coming to stay - we loved having you.

STORYTELLING

2007-02-11T21:32:00.000Z

Yesterday I took part in a training day for Spring Harvest. A team of around 30 or so of us will be having the pleasure of looking after 500 young people aged 11-14 in the wonderful world that is Butlins, Minehead. My job for the week is grandly entitled "Bible Teacher", which means what? That I am suitably trained and able to teach young people what the Bible is all about? I think not - I have been trying to teach the Bible to young and old since the age of 13 and I sometimes feel like I know less, not more than when I started...

I am realising that the Bible doesn't actually give all the answers (shock, horror!). It tells the story of the people of Israel, some poetry and excellent writing, the birth, life and death of Jesus and some letters that talk what happened in the 100 years or so after that original, amazing, life changing Easter Sunday.

What the Bible does is give us a context, a background, some difficult verses that people, much cleverer than me, have argued over for 2000 years and LOTS of stories. Jesus told lots of stories and although we think we know the meanings to most of those - look again and you might find something new. Jesus often told the story to the crowds and then gave the meaning to his followers - think about it. Jesus told stories to the masses and never told them what to do with those stories, he never explained the detail, he never made an altar call and he never asked you to sign up for a monthly Standing Order with Gift Aid..

So the challenge is can we tell stories and resist from giving all our oh-so-clever answers or are we happy just to tell the stories?

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

2007-01-29T17:07:00.000Z

I spoke at our Youth Event last night on "What makes a Worshipper?". It's a good question - one that has been discussed for centuries. I'd like to say I had the answer on it, maybe not but I have a contribution to the discussion. My angle went like this: God is not a distant idol that we worship (Isaiah 57), he lives in us(1 Corinthians 3). If God lives in us - how can we worship him? By being, by living(John 10), by doing. Simple things make God happy. When we treat others with respect we worship him, when we are hard working we worship him, when we sit down, eat with friends, laugh and have fun we worship him.

Singing songs are a great way to verbalise our love for Jesus, but at one level singing at a church service is just playacting. But as we declare truth, so it becomes part of us and real within us (John 8). So I challenge you to declare the truth about who God is even if you don't feel like it and see what happens...

SNOW ON SNOW ON SNOW...

2007-01-24T17:00:00.000Z

Hey! We had snow and managed to make a snowman before it all melted. Now all we have is a lump of ice with a sad looking Hat and Scarf lying on the grass next to it - is that something deep and spiritual or what?

SCOTLAND - Home of the brave (and my friend Jim!)

2007-01-09T17:21:00.000Z

Just spent the weekend in the highlands of Scotland near the village of Killin in the unique company of my friend Jim McNeish. Jim has just bought himself a 16 bedroom hotel with the most incredible views over the loch. Have a look at his company site www.cantle.net for more details on the work that he does. I managed to cram a weeks worth of activity into a weekend and spent the evenings in front of the open fire in the "snug", nattering chatting like a couple of old women! Jim used to live in Arundel and attended Arun Community Church while he worked for the Body Shop some 7 years ago. He now works as a life coach for some of the most senior business leaders in the UK as well as other parts of the world. Jim is a great friend as well as someone who helps me see lifes issues in a different light. Or in his words "actively disturbing the everyday thinking to create new thought processes".

Jim often has friends to stay and loves to entertain with great food, walks around the incredible countryside and chats by the fire. Everyone who stays overnight has to fill in a guestbook describing "What was fun?" and "What did you learn?". So what did I learn? I learnt that I am one of lifes "fixers", I try and make things right and have a high sense of fairness. Which is great, but I also learnt that you can't always fix everything and sometimes situations and people are unable to be fixed! Sounds kind of heavy, but it's not - it's fun learning how people tick especially ourselves!

Finally some travelling advice: Scotland is lovely, go visit if you can - but if you fly make sure you only carry liquids less than 100ml in your hand luggage. I lost half my wash bag to the very polite man at Gatwick Airport security!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2007-01-01T21:00:00.000Z

I hope you have had a great break, ready to face the New Year with a smile and a purpose. Apart from Lottie being unable to sleep all last night with earache, it has been a great time of just being together as a family.

Above are my amazing children enjoying their trampoline on Christmas Day morning. They were out there most mornings in their pyjamas (not sure what the neighbours thought!?!).

New Year celebrations were chilled and relaxed. It was great to spend time with friends (nice Christmas jumper Stuart), playing fussball, eating and drinking and of course watching Jools Holland. Thank you to our great friends Andy & Pippa (who only live round the corner!) for letting us stay for the night. Tomorrow it's back to normality, reality and work. The New Year brings with it a freshness and an opportunity to start again.

2007 for me and my family is looking exciting, full of change, full of opportunities and full of promise. Today is the start of that process and journey and although, probably like most of you, I prefer the event to the process and the destination to the journey I am keen this year to enjoy the everyday challenges, large and small. After all that is life!

Introductions

2006-12-28T20:17:00.000Z

Having never written a blog (or read many either) I am not sure how you start but I thought I would give it a go. I have been thinking about it for a while, but figured with Christmas done and New Year almost with us it was a good time to start. So, if you are reading this I hope you have had a great Christmas (my wife Lottie has been ill since Boxing Day...) and that you have incredible plans for your New Year celebrations - we are staying overnight with friends of ours who only live round the corner (I know, kinda crazy but cool at the same time, it's a fine line). So now for a little bit about me. My name is Sim, 32 married to Lottie with 3 children - Zak, Levi and Flo. I work for Arun Community Church as a community worker managing Wickbourne Centre. I love the work that I do and especially the people I meet, but I guess some of that will come out as we go along.

Here are the latest pictures of my tribe:

Me and Lottie

Zak (7), Levi (5), Floella (22 mths)

as you can see we have a great family likeness! Anyway hopefully this will be enough to get things started. Let the blogging begin...