I rose early again this morning and with a great act of discipline did a liitle over 1 hour of physical exercise. This daily onslaught is beginning to hurt! After a quick breakfast, I headed to Innsbruck to be a tourist and do a little bit of shopping

It is a truly beautiful city and I enjoyed the time I spent there. One of the tourist Highlights is to see the medievel buliding that has a golden roof. I was so fortunate that as I passed a young people were emerging to begin married life together.
On my return to Oberhofen, I hard so beautiful singing and was suprised when I saw that it was coming from outside the church. I briefly joined the crowd to listen to this lively melody until I realised it was a funeral. How lovely though that the service was so cleary a ceebration.

A few days ago, Christoph asked whether during my devotions I sang to the Lord. I had to admit I did not. For although I thought God would be forgiving of my croaking, I was not so forgiving! However, the next day, I had spent some quality time with God and I looked on my hard disk and found an amazing song, performed by a duo that we were fortunate to work with a few years ago, Aaron Jeoffrey.
The song never fails to highight the glory and charcter of God for me and as I listened to it, it moved me into a time of worship, and yes I sang! (obviously, it was horrible but God and I enjoyed it!)

Here are the lyrics:

In Genesis, He's the breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our High Priest
Numbers, The fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Moses' voice
In Joshua, He is salvation's choice
Judges, law giver
In Ruth, the kinsmen-redeemer
First and second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He's sovereign

He's the alpha and omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
and when time is no more
He is, HE IS!

Words by Jeoffrey Benward & Jeff Silvey
©1994 Star Song
(All rights reserved.)

I am writing this during what has been another great day. I have been reading a lot and reflecting on how it should affect the way I manage my life and co-lead Ignite. I am finding the whole process exciting and challenging!

I committed to Christoph that I would try to learn at least one word in Austrian every day today it was schwarzer Kaffee. It means black coffee and not only did I learn it but I put it into practice visiting rhe local restaurant and ordering it for myself!

Another afternoon, another mountain to climb! Today we picked up A friend of Christoph called Hans and headed up to a lake. It menat climbing lots of steps throught the forest.
Suprisingly, I appreciated this as I am appreciating the chance to get my heart rate so I am burning fat!

When we arrived at the lake, Christoph read from the bible the story of the calling of the first disciples which Jesus did from the shore of a lake. This lake was however, a little different from Galilee as it was frozen over with ice!

I challenged Christoph to stand on it, which he did but as can be seen from the picture he did not have the faith to remove his hand from the ladder, and who could blame him?

It reminded me of a sermon illustration I had heard and indeed preached. It centres around faith. Faith is subjective and as such requires an object. Now it would not matter how much faith Christoph had in the ice, if it was very thin it would not hold his weight. So often we put our faith into things that have little substance. However, it does not matter how tentatively we put our in God. As he is as solid as a rock, he will withstand the weight. He is our only firm foundation.

Tonight we are joining Winni and his family for food and wine......This sabbatical just get better and better!

In his seminal book, Developing The Leader Within You, John Maxwell says "Leadership is influence". I believe this. In fact Nigel and I have felt it so important that we have ensured that it has been a key lesson that we have taught in the Ignite Leadership Academy. Earlier, this month I also began a talk on "Leading with a different mindset" at a conference arranged by a friend of ours, James Galloway.
Judging by the response the assembled audience this rang true for the young people attending.

Today, I have started to reread this book and in God's inimitable way, he has illustrated this as truth. Tonight I went out for dinner with Christoph and the local Burgermeister (mayor).
The mayor is a great man of God and immediately, people recognise him and engage him in conversation. Very quickly the conversation will turn to a problem they have that only he can help them with. With pleasure he avails himself to solve their issues. There is no doubt that he has influence. However, influence in and of its self is not necessarily a good thing. It is subjective and its value is only revealed when it is partnered with an object. Adolf Hitler was influential but this was clearly not a positive thing. How will you use your influence to effect change something relatively insignificant or to advance the Kingdom of God? This is not only a question I ask of you but one that is at the top of my agenda during this retreat period.

Christoph and I walked up a local mountain today. A number of years ago, the Mayor had offered him a present for being an effective parish priest. Given this offer, I wonder what I would have chosen? A holiday perhaps, an ipod maybe. Christoph, typically, could not think of anything. Then he decided that he would like a number of pieces of art depicting visitations of God to be placed in a wood on the mountainside so that people walking there would think about God and his desire to visit with them.

It was a good time. We looked at the art and discussed what we thought it told us about the nature of Christ. Other discussions included the difference between catholicism and pentecostalism, the pareto principle, celibacy, the nature of prayer, defining character and much much more. We were only out for a couple of hours but as usual on our return my legs and my brain hurt! All that to say, I wouldn't swap this experience for the world!

Today has been another great day.

Last night, Christoph and I joined Gudren and Alex for a typical tyrolian meal. I ate deer which was not only delicious but also very good for my diet (high protein, low fat and carbs!). It was a time of fine food and great conversation!

This morning began with more bible study and continuing to read Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels. I am so much enjoying this time of extended study. Later Christoph and I headed off to Innsbruck, we picked up his friend Winny and we headed for the mountains. Ascending to 2,500 metres I am grateful we did not walk but used a cable car! Although warm in the valley at the mountian summit it was around -10 degrees including the very evident wind chill factor. The views were amazing. God's creation surrounded us.

People skied and snow boarded and at leat 1 man I talked to ran up to 1,500 metres in a sweatshirt and shorts. Originally from Coventry, a place not known for its rough terrain, he was able to do this in 50 minutes! In addition he was at least 10 years older than me!

All around the top of the mountain, one could see barriers. They are to protect those below from the effects of an avalanche. Simply they were secured into the mountain to stop and disperse the huge snowfalls that are an inevitable part of life in this region. As I looked at this I reflected on some of the things I had been thinking about earlier. So many of the problems that we have in our Christian walk might be avoided if we had effective covering in the form of accountability. I can think of big mistakes I could have made but for sensible and sensitive advice from people whose judgement I trust. The converse is also true, mistakes I have made when I have acted as a lone ranger or ignored wise counsel. This accountability not only stops us from damaging our own life but also having a negative effect on those who look up to us.

Well now I must go. The cable car, whilst easier than walking, has meant I must do some real exercise!

It is twilight in the beautiful village of Oberhofen. Already I feel like I have had a very productive day with so much done and still time left to do more!

One of the things I like to do when I am staying with people is check out their books! Well of course just about every book in this 250 year old house is in Austrian or German. However, on the bookshelf in my room I did find a book that contains some of the writings of Cardinal John Henry Newman. This Oxford scholar was a priest in the Anglican church by the time he was 24 and later in his life converted to catholicism. A theologian and intellectual, he wrote the famous hymn, Lead Kindly Light

In one of his meditations he says:

It is the saying of the holy men that, if we wish to be perfect, we have nothing more to do than perform the ordinary duties of the day well. A short road to perfection not because easy, but because pertinent and intelligible. There are no short ways to perfection, but there are sure ones.

…do not lie in bed beyond the due time of rising; give your first thoughts to God;
(pray) devoutly; eat and drink to God’s glory; keep out bad thoughts; make your evening meditation well; examine yourself daily, go to bed in good time, and you are already perfect. (conference of 27 Sept 1865)

Interesting? What do you think?

I am also enjoying the book by Bill Hybels Courageous Leadership Increasingly I have been reflecting on the opportunities that God has given me to be a leader. Whilst it is a gift of the spirit. It needs to be exercised. Additionally, in its practical application, there is so much that I need to learn. Much of this does not come naturally, it is like a lot of things on the Christian journey, it is a matter of application and discipline. However as disciples, we must be committed to life long learning. We must also be resolved to the fact that as we learn more we become aware of how much we do not know. This should not be a cause of anguish but of worship that God made it so!

Some things are easier here. There are few distractions. No TV, no office environment, only 2 calls from the UK etc. It is easier to focus on prayer, reading the bible and extended study. I also spent some time working out this morning. How much easier that was looking out of a window onto a mountain! Indeed exercise and worship seemed to naturally sit together. I can honestly say I do not think that that has ever happened before!

This afternoon Father Christoph and I went walking in the mountains. We went up a trail at quite a pace ensuring that for the 2nd time today my heart beat was really racing. As we approached the snowline (about 1000 metres), it did indeed start snowing.
Christoph, a man born in the mountains then turned off the trail and headed into the woods. We went on trails that it looked like only deer had tread before. It was then that God simultaneously showed me a number of things and brought some real lessons to life. At this point I had to admit that I had not been this way before. Oh yes I had walked, I had followed trails and I had hiked on mountains but this walk, trail and mountain were all new to me. What I needed was a leader. Christoph was that man. He knew these mountains, he knew the best way to go and as a result he was the best guide to lead me. The example became richer due to the pace he selected. He was slow enough that I could always see him BUT if I wanted to keep pace with him I had to work. Now trust me, I am no expert on exercise but I know that in order to burn fat, you need to increase your heart rate. So although I was on an unfamiliar journey, it was clear that the pace was not going to be solely determined by my inability but also by the leaders ability. Often as Christians we are carrying things that are not healthy for us. Sometimes by working out with those who have great experience of God it encourages to lay down or to burn off some of that unhealthy baggage.

So what had began as an opportunity to get some fresh air, to exercise and to have fellowship became a piece of living praxis. When theory and practice come together. I love it when a plan comes together!

The legend that is Christoph Haider!

It was decided by the trustees of Big Ideas that after 10 years I would be entitled to a sabbatical. Well 11.5 years later, it's started! Leaving South Wales at 5.00am the is morning, Lesley gave me a lift to Heathrow so I could fly to the Austrian Tyrol.

I am staying in the lovely village of Oberhofen with a priest who is a great man of God and in many ways a giant of the faith, Father Christoph Haider. Collecting me at the airport we were straight into challenging theological and political issues as well as just catching up as friends. I will be here for a week and during my time I intend to read the bible, books on leadership, walk lots, exercise quite a bit, pray even more and try not to eat much (Weight update, I have lost about 18 pounds!).
This is a wonderful place to relax, to quote Willy Russell "the air is so clean you could get drunk just by breathing! I find the hospitality here almost over whelming. They cannot do enough for you but are happy to give me space to be on my own with God. The local mayor had heard I was coming so came and had dinner with us. Truth to tell when Father Christoph comes to Cardiff I am not sure I can return the favour!

Please keep checking back and I will keep you updated on how life is here in the mountains