http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/ The Life of Pete en-us Copyright 2008 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:20:24 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Hmm, like Carla, it seems that the word 'time' is too much of a highlight on my blog.  And of course this post is emphasising that!  Check out Wordle though, its a great web app... ]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/08/time.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/08/time.html Life life Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:20:24 +0000 So, there I am, sitting on the sofa catching up on a few emails, when Shirls calls and says "can you see the sun?"

It turns out this isn't a trick question, and minutes later I'm dashing around the house trying to find something I can look through to look at our latest partial eclipse.  It turns out that my viewing glasses from the last total eclipse have disappeared into piles of stuff so deep that it'll take me until the next millennium to find them, so I end up improvising with several layers of film negatives (kids, don't try this at home!).

I even managed to get a (very amateur) shot with the camera...

...perhaps I should be better prepared next time  ;)
]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/08/kids-dont-try-this-at-home.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/08/kids-dont-try-this-at-home.html Life life Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:33:03 +0000 I'm sat in the 24-7 office in London listening to one of my favourite bands, Idaho.  How's this for great lyrics:
"When you get in your car, you always seem to drive some place."
From there I got thinking about The Cure:
"Let me take your hands I'm shaking like milk".
Hooray for wonderful music.  Brightens up my life on an otherwise dreary day  :-)
]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/favourite-lyrics.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/favourite-lyrics.html Life life Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:29:31 +0000 I'm trying to get into a bit of a better rhythm of prayer at the moment, and I've not been too successful thus far.  Tonight was a beautiful step forward though, as I prayed looking out over the churning waters of the Thames, just south of St Paul's in London.

I ended up working a little too late in the City Boiler Room, and the wonderful Claire Brocklehurst invited me to eat with the group that she and George lead at the CBR on Monday evenings. As I was packing down, I really felt a pull to go down to the Millennium Bridge and watch the sun go down, and as I checked the time of the sunset I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had just enough time to walk down to the river.  The view didn't disappoint, and I had a great time talking with the creator of the universe too.

Not a bad start to the week...
]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/loving-the-long-evenings-alrea.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/loving-the-long-evenings-alrea.html Life life Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:38:26 +0000 And here's the evidence.  One smiley Shirley with a shiny medal.  Check out the pictures from the day in the gallery.
]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/and-the-piccies.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/and-the-piccies.html Life Supporters life supporters Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:50:23 +0000
The great news it that she completed it!  4hrs 47mins is not her best marathon time, but its not bad at all given she was fighting off a cold!  Cramp at 18 miles was thankfully dispatched by some very helpful St Johns Ambulance volunteers, and hailstones at 22 miles didn't stop her striding out towards the finishing line.

Well done Shirls!  Watch this space for some piccies soon.


And just in case you haven't sponsored her yet  ;-)  www.curve.org.uk/shirley]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/she-made-it.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/she-made-it.html Life Supporters life supporters Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:12:59 +0000 Our church had a really inspiring time recently, with the Maundy Thursday service I helped to prepare.  Several of us from the Greyfriars and New Hope congregations helped to put together our communion service, including the creative prayer time that was at its centre.  As we considered the events of the Last Supper and Gethsemane, we focussed on what it means to serve and to be served, and on the ways in which Jesus fulfilled the signs that are remembered during the passover meal.

]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/maundy-thurday-meditation.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/04/maundy-thurday-meditation.html Life Supporters life supporters Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:45:57 +0000
"You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed."

My prayer life really does need to be better!
]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/03/some-wisdom.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/03/some-wisdom.html Life Supporters life supporters Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:07:41 +0000 This one made me laugh out loud when Amo sent it through a short while ago, so I thought I'd share...

]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/03/brainstorm.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/03/brainstorm.html Life life Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:13:33 +0000 24-7 UK Tour.  We'll be gathering friends in Gateshead, before heading to similar dates in Edinburgh on Saturday, and Bristol on Monday.  Quite some travelling.

I'd really appreciate it if you could remember the team in prayer, and ask God that we might be a great encouragement to those we're visiting.  Also for safety in travel as we traverse the length of the nation!

On a more personal note, I'm heading up north early to spend a couple of days retreat at the Northumbria Community.  Please pray that I would have a great time of restoration and inspiration as I seek Gods direction for the weeks, months and years ahead.

Thanks!   :-)#
]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/02/on-tour.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/02/on-tour.html Supporters supporters Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:01:59 +0000 Shirley decided yesterday that I needed more flowers in my life, so I ended up with these tulips.  In return I cooked a rather nice meal of scallops followed by duck.  Winners all round really! ]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/02/valentine-flowers.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/02/valentine-flowers.html Life life Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:48:09 +0000
Anyway, I was recently encouraged by a post that Carla wrote for the International 24-7 Prayer website.  Testimonies like these are (I think!) why God hijacked me out of my career to go and work for a small, shambolic charity.

Enjoy...

Prayer room quotes 2007
]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/02/why-i-do-what-i-do.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/02/why-i-do-what-i-do.html Supporters supporters Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:17:32 +0000 When I first saw these a few years ago I thought they were great.  It looks like the author has been busy, and there are all sorts of new demotivators to lighten your day.  Love it! ]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/01/demotivators.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/01/demotivators.html Life life Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:19:55 +0000 I don't know if I've mentioned it here before, but I've recently felt God calling me to start praying again down at the Abbey ruins here in Reading.  So, right near the spot where we opened the Reading Boiler Room back in 2001, I've been lifting the people of my town to God, in prayer.

At first sight yesterday was not the day to be out in the open praying.  Rain was pouring out of the sky as rapidly as it could, but as Shirley and I stood praying, we were party to a magnificent rainbow.

I'd been reading Noah's story in Genesis that morning, and as we prayed, it was wonderful to be reminded of God's covenant with all living things.  We thanked Him, and prayed He would look on the people of Reading with a merciful heart.]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/01/the-sign.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/01/the-sign.html Boiler Room Life Supporters boiler room life supporters Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:47:12 +0000 Shirls and I popped up to London at the weekend to check out Tate Britain's Millais Exhibition.  I was amazed!  Millais is my favourite artist, and I was expecting to see a few new pictures, thinking that I had seen most, if not all of the ones I really wanted to see.

But as we wandered from room to room, I marvelled at as yet undiscoved masterpeices (to me at least) such as Glen Birnam and Esther, as well as staring for as long as I was able at old favourites Ophelia, Mariana and Christ in the House of His Parents.

Truly stunning.  But as you might see from the banner at the top of the page, you need to hurry if you'd like to follow in our footsteps - the exhibition closes a week Sunday!

]]> http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/01/millais.html http://www.curve.org.uk/blog/2008/01/millais.html Life life Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:25:37 +0000