Today we had one of our Ignite prayer mornings. Each month we get together as a team and pray for our ministry and other stuff.

Today was particularly good. Nigel spent time teaching our team on the good decisions he had made and some of the not so good. Truth to tell, there was not much in the bad decisions that I could not relate to!

As Christians we know that prayer should underpin all that we do. As I reflect on this thought, I think of all the decisions that I have taken for Ignite, myself and my family in my own strength (or should I say weakness?) without intercession, travailing or even an arrow prayer. I have been a Christian for a long time now. I know prayer is key. I know it's essential. So why is it that I/we often try to live our life without prayer? I try to pray as I go throughout my day. I try to pray at the beginning and the end of the day. Sometimes though I rush around and don't refer to God. Some days I am late up and do not have time to pray, some nights I fall asleep before I have prayed. How rubbish is that?

I paraphrase the apostle Paul when he says why is it I do not do what is good for me and I do what is not good for me?

I guess this is the battle between the flesh and the spirit.

When I was out on tour with Rebecca St James, our bus developed a major fault meaning we could not continue our journey. If this was not resolved we would miss our flight and therefore our next show. What could we do? Well I suggested we pray. What is the theology of praying for a bus? I am not sure but we were out of other options! So pray we did. 15 minutes after our last amen, the bus moved! I went to see what had happened. The bis driver had no idea. One minute the hydraulics were wrecked, the next minute they were repaired, surely this was God at work? I know that is my conclusion!!

Please God help me to be more vigilent, to be more disciplined to be more like you and less like me!

Amen.

So England are out of the world cup.

In 1966, the world cup final was on the first day of my holiday in Scarborough. I was 4 and I watched England win against Germany. Since then it has all been down hill!

I like football. I follow the fortunes of Leeds United, Cardiff City and England. Now for the confession...I like football but it is not an obsession! I have enjoyed the world cup and I am gutted England are out but no tears were shed.

Over the years there have been many footballing heroes. George Best, Paul Gasgoigne, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney to name but a few. Today as the match was being previewed every single player, commentator, summariser, ex-pro and fan all said Rooney was the player who would make the difference, he could turn the match in England's favour, it was only a matter of time until he scored a spectacular goal. What happened? After 62 minutes after been involved in a minor scuffle, Wayne Rooney stamped in a very delicate area belonging to a memeber of the Portugal team. The referee looked on and had no choice but to red card the 20 year old. Another flag bearer for the nation side lined.

The players I mentioned earlier all carried the hopes of a nation, or at least a club, and in a fit of temper, blew it, dashing the hopes of millions. So why do we continue to build up these men, giving them titles such as saviour or messiah? We seem to have a need for heroes but they will almost certainly let us down. It could be their temper, an ill-advised comment, a life style slip or simply because they were not the people we had assumed they were.

I am reminded, not only as a result of football, but also from very hard experiences in my own life, that Jesus is the only one who will never let us down. He is for us, He loves us and we can never disappoint him because he never had any illusions about us in the first place! There is no history or evidence that He has ever let us down and I know he never will.

So as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

I love fishing. Well let me be clear, I love catching fish. If you look at my photos you will see me with 2 of the 5 fish I caught on a recent trip to Norway. However, day to day my fishing experience is not quite so positive.

In May I decided to buy my son a sea fishing rod for his birthday. Obviously, there was no point in just getting one for him, I needed one as well. So since then I have been down to the local sea dock with my rod, hook and lug worm. Of course, despite rumours of record fish in the vicinity, I have returned without any food for dinner! Why is that? Could it be there are no fish there? I think not. In reality the issue is more complex. You see, I do not try hard enough. I do not go often enough, I do not practice, I have little understanding of the theory and I am not interested enough to study and learn. In other words the ony way I will catch a fish is if it jumps on my hook and stays there while, in my own incompetent style, I reel it in.

We are all called to be fishers of men (Mark 1:17). The comparisons are obvious. Do we try hard enough? Do we understand the culture of those we seek to reach? Do we know our message? Are we using the best techniques, do we challenge people often enough with the Good News?

As I stood on the dockside last night I was challenged by this. How effective am I as a fisher of men?

Until next time sports fans....Come on England!

Today I drove north to a residential centre near Coventry. It is quite a group of people. As well as the likes of Roy Crowne, Andy Hawthorne, Mark Pugh and Steve Clifford there is also Nigel and I! We have been talking about this great initiative called HOPE 08. Simply put it is an initiative to engage the whole church, in mission for a year. We are looking at how Ignite and the city of Cardiff can get involved.

When I think about being at a meeting like this it is quite interesting. Sometimes I think we should have a seat at the table and then I think what is someone realises the "Emperor has no clothes" In other words what are you doing here Gary?

I guess it is not who I am it is who my dad is....God! He is a pretty good avocate for me!

My mum called today and told me my Uncle Jack had died. What a guy! He and my aunt ran a small guest house in Scarborough when I was a boy. He had been on a mine sweeper in the second world war and had great stories. He also cooked the best english breakfast ever!! Last week he found out he had Leukhemia. As a child he was a hero to me. To be honest I have not seen him for years and I did not think about him that often but those memories are precious treasures. He was greatly loved and I will miss him.

So where did you get the title from, I hear you ask? Well it works on a number of levels. Firstly and most simply, sometimes I spend time on tour as European road manager for Rebecca St James. However, I think, that is too infrequent. Secondly, I spend a lot of my time in the car, ferrying my children, travelling to meetings, to golf, to visit friends, to go to church. etc etc. and these journeys give me lots of time to think, but that is too simple. In reality, it indicates a philosphy for life. I see myself on a journey. My commitment is to a life of discipleship, to following Jesus. I am on the road....Some days I do good, some days not so good. However in all things I want to live life, life in all its fullness (John 10:10). Join me, it's not the easiest route but it is one that promises more riches than gold!