For the last 2 Monday evenings, Lesley and I have attended Marriage Preparation courses at our church. This is of course slightly unusual as we have been married for almost a month! It was just a timing thing in the respect that there was no course running before we got married.

Each evening consists of a meal, romantically presented on tables for 2 and then DVD teaching from Nicky and Sila Lee of Holy Trinity Brompton. The topics are excellent and we have enjoyed the work that you do in pairs as part of the evening.

Life should be a journey into life long learning so it makes sense to study for the most important earthly partnership that you will ever make.

Sometimes a song has a particular resonance. On the recent Bill Gaither homecoming shows that we have done in Belfast, I heard a song that was, I thought, amazing. The tune is Finlandia by Sibelius but the word are by Gloria Gaither. The lyrics are:

I then shall live as one who’s been forgiven;
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child, and I am not afraid.
So greatly pardoned, Ill forgive another;
The law of love I gladly will obey.
I then shall live as one who’s learned compassion;
I’ve been so loved that I'll risk loving, too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I dare to see another’s point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.

Your kingdom come around and through and in me,
Your pow’r and glory, let them shine through me.
Your Hallowed Name O may I bear with honor,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor,
And may You feed a hungry world through me.

I watched the match in a dressing room in Glasgow surrounded by a room of Irish people. What fun! Wales won the match 16-12 to win the Triple Crown. (This means they beat England, Scotland and Ireland) So now only France to beat to win the Grand Slam. Come on Wales!

So in my earlier blog, I said the Gaither Homecoming was not my sort of music. Well the show stated tonight at 7.30pm. Interval is not until 10.00pm and the show is likely to finish about 11.30pm! The artists walked on stage and the crowd went absolutely mad. There is around 3,000 people in the Kings Hall including one lady from my home church!

I have to be honest and say I am probably never going to be a big buyer of the Gaither product but I have to say this is an incredible show. It is so entertaining and the vocals are extraordinarily good. There is every emotion contained within the 4 hours but all of it is Jesus focussed. The Gaither vocal band are quality and the Ernie Haas and the signature sound were simply stunning. I
So maybe I am becoming a fan!

Arriving in Belfast from an early morning flight, I attempt to check into my hotel but find that my room is not ready. So adjourning to the bar, I sit, drink coffee, read the paper and eaves drop on a bunch of Welsh boys over here for the 6 nations match tomorrow.

I am here to work on the Gaither Homecoming show that I am doing wit my mate Trevor King. Truth to tell it's not my sort of music but after organising the Gaither London Homecoming, I know that they are very good at what they do. In that occasion, I was introduced on numerous occasions to the man himself, Bill Gaither. On each occasion the person would say "this is gary Smith from Big Ideas" and he would say "Big Ideas, we could sure do with some of them" The first time it was mildly amusing, every other time it was an indication that he had forgotten we had previously met!

So it was with a feeling of trepidation that I stood up an introduced myself to him as he crossed the lobby of the hotel. Obviously I did not expect him to recognise me and therefore I was not disappointed! I was surprised when he joined me and for the next 90 minutes he shared stories, not about Christian music and business but about God and grace. It was an honour and a privilege to share with a 74 year old man of God who is happy not to have all the answers but just loves Jesus. Whatever else happens in the next few days, I can say it was worth the trip for the time we shared over a coffee.

Again, I feel humbled and blessed!

As I have frequently said on this site. I love the church. I am with Bill Hybels when I says the local church in the hope for the world. I feel blessed as I love my church. So that the concept goes beyond a spiritual requirement as I experience in the reality of my life. The local church is not perfect. How could it be as I am part of it? However, I am not complacent about being a part of a community where seeing people coming to faith is the norm, there is profound, excellent preaching and the worship is at turns intimate and joyful. I guess the thing that defines a Sunday to me is that I know that I will encounter God. Hallelujah.

Over the last year I have realised that when people criticise the church, I get defensive. Interestingly it is always people who are part of it and often people who have first hand experience of the benefit of being part of this body. Perhaps they became Christians there, had visits in the hospital from the pastoral team or have had their gifts encouraged by the leadership. Never the less they have felt a need to criticise. The purpose of this blog is not to berate them. For all I know they may have very good reason to feel the way that they do. Rather it is to reflect on why it hurts me! I am not part of the core leadership team, I am not on staff and of course I do not earn my living from the local church. True, some of the pastoral team I count as close and trusted friends but I have come to realise that the hurt is more fundamental than that and actually more significant.

I think in recent years God has being teaching me what it is to be part of the body (Romans 12: 4-8). I have come to believe that the criticism of the church is akin to the criticism of my own body! No one likes to be called ugly, old or worthless. Indeed none of us likes to be called fat (even if we are carrying an extra few pounds!). If we loved someone and we thought that extra weight was risking their health or even spoiling their generally beautiful asthetic lines, we should want to deal with them in a way that is gentle, cajoling and encouraging. Therefore, if we see a problem with the church perhaps this is the way to approach it.
However, the criticism that causes the biggest pain is not highlighting a problem, it is just moaning. This is akin to someone just sticking a blade in the body. It cannot serve a useful purpose, it is just painful and damaging and it just hurts like hell.

What do you think?

IgniteHope was launched to the press yesterday. The event took place at the Welsh Assembly Building in Cardiff Bay. I was humbled to hear many kind words spoken about the project from people such as Assembly Member, Jenny Randerson, Mal Pope and Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council Councillor Judith Woodman (pictured)

The keynote address was given by Chief Constable Barbara Wilding.

The press release read as follows

Chief Constable Sits Down With Hoodies
One of South Wales' largest events for youth volunteers was launched today at the National Assembly for Wales.

Barbara Wilding, Chief Constable of South Wales Police spoke of the need to counter inter-generational suspicion on the streets of Wales. She also welcomed the news that this project will now extend to the Bridgend area, commenting that "Bridgend is a community that needs an arm putting around it."

IgniteHope 08 will mobilize 500 and young people 200 adults between 2-5 May 2008. They will work on community projects throughout South East Wales and it is estimated that these young people will give 7,500 hours of their time in supporting these local projects.

Gary Smith, Chief Executive of Ignite Hope 08 said: "Young people's failures are regularly trumpeted in the media, but this event gives us the chance to redress the balance. Half a thousand teenagers doing good deeds for free is a great story and we hope that the public will get behind this inspiring venture".

The range of projects include community litter picking, deleting unwanted graffiti and providing gardening services to the elderly and the infirm.

IgniteHope 08 is a partnership involving over 100 churches, local authorities and police forces. These include the South Wales Police Authority, Cardiff County Council, Vale of Glamorgan County Council, Churches Together in Newport and Evangelical Alliance Wales.

Jenny Randerson, AM for Cardiff Central said: I fully support this initiative which will benefit so many members of our community, both beneficiaries and benefactors. It will help underline the tenet that there is equal joy in both giving and receiving."

This project is part of the Hope 08 initiative, involving thousands of UK churches forming partnerships with other organizations in demonstrating the good news of the Christian message.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams said: "Hope 08 is a really remarkable vision. I thank God for the inspiration that has driven it."

Over the last few years I have got to know the band Third Day through all the work that we have done with them on Europe and the fact that my buddy Nigel is their road pastor. We were sad to hear that their long time guitarist, Brad Avery has left the band.

The official press release reads as follows:

<strong>Third Day and Brad Avery have made the very difficult decision to part ways.

He has been an important part of Third Day for the last 13 years as we've traveled the world together and performed over 1,000 concerts. We will miss him as a band member but he will always remain our brother and our friend. Brad is a wonderful person, gifted songwriter and talented musician. We trust that God has amazing plans for his future.

Already there are comments on our unoffical website www.thirdday.co.uk

The shock announcement comes shortly after a USO tour of Iraq and immediately before the bands spring tour

Err...that's it!

Err that's it!