It's been two weeks since I broke up for the summer. So far, it's been great. Lots of time with the family and lots of things done. I'm reading, I'm getting on with my Bible Plan and I'm praying more.

It's strange considering that things outside my control aren't going well. I'm nervous about later in the summer and my mother in law has been ill and that's stopped us visiting. God has totally used us though in unexpected ways. I never cease to be amazed at what He does and with what.

I'm preaching next week and this time I feel ready. I know what I'm preaching on and I think it's a wonderful passage with lots to teach me and those who are listening  (hopefully).

As happy as I am with everything though I feel a great weight. The world is getting worse. Dreadful things are happening and I don't know what to feel about it. Men and women and children are desperately trying to escape war and torture and dying in the sea. Bombs are going off and now those scenes in Nice.

I know God is the answer. He is Love and what the world needs is Love. All I can do is say the simple prayer 'Come Lord Jesus'. I know it's enough ...

What a truly blessed time it was on Sunday. I know I wrote about the nerves I was feeling with communion but it went wonderfully. I looked online and found a bretheren site that had a few things about Communion. It helped a lot. Before we shared the bread and the wine, I reminded the congregation that communion should be a symbol for us. It is a symbol of joy. Look at the church in Acts 2. Their church was full of joy and it was loved by the people. It is also a symbol of our unity. In John 17 Jesus prays for the unity of the church. As we were sharing the bread and wine, millions of others across the world would be as well. More would do so later in the day. What better sign of unity is there? Finally, it is a symbol of the hope we have to come. No matter what the world gets like, we know where the ultimate victory lies. It lies on the table with the bread and the wine ...

I remember a little while ago being in a meeting with some of the other leaders at church. I had missed something that had gone on the previous Sunday. Someone was agitated about what had been said regarding communion. Jokingly, I said 'well as long as there's no transubstantiation; that's a deal breaker!'The shocked look I got! Turns out I am not the only one who doesn't believe this! (I am joking by the way, I don't know anyone in the church who does). I was thinking today though about communion (see previous post) and got thinking about what it is I do believe. I am sure that millions have words have been written on this topic. I am not going to waste many more. The bread and wine are symbols. They represent Christ's sacrifice. They are part of a shared experience that can be done anywhere it is needed. I don't have to be a priest, I don't need special training, I simply need bread and wine and some time with Scripture. Do this in remembrance of me and that's what I intend to do ... I found this lovely picture on Instagram.

This baby is off to church to to be communion bread tomorrow! #communionbread #homemadesourdough #sourdough #blessedbread

A photo posted by Emily Reynolds (@emily_s_reynolds) on Jul 31, 2015 at 9:43pm PDT

Had a message from the pastor this afternoon. He needs someone to lead communion on Sunday and he asked if my wife or I would do it. So I am leading it. thing is, despite me not being an Anglican and despite even then having misgivings about the whole 'only a priest can do communion' thing, I am really nervous! Why? I know that Communion is special but is it something that I need to be special for? I well remember in my studies at A Level discussing the differences between Protestant believers and Catholic believers and reading about 'hoc est corpus meum'. This was before I was a Christian and I knew that communion must be something special. When I came to Christ though I realised how very special and how very normal it is. It is a commemoration of the most wonderful thing ever done. It is also a simple thing. A shared meal, some bread and some wine with people we love and with a God who loves us. I need to pray about this (obviously) and hope that I can take the most mundane things and make people realise just how very special those little pieces of bread and those small sips of wine are.

Well, it is going well. Day 150 in a row of reading Scripture. I cannot be sure but I am fairly certain that this is a record for me. Keeping a tally of the books I have finished is actually getting difficult now but I will have a go. Genesis. Exodus. Leviticus. Numbers. Deuteronomy. Joshua. Judges. Ruth. Job. Matthew. Mark. Luke. All of these have been done with the Bible app I am using. Acts. Romans. 1 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians. Galatians. Ephesians. Philippians. Colossians. 1 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians. 1 Timothy. 2 Timothy. Titus. Philemon. 1 Peter. 2 Peter. 1 John. 2 John. 3 John. Jude. All of these have been 'extras'done because I need to read more of God's word. I make that 32 books out of 66. Not bad for 150 days. I pray it continues.

I have been sticking with my bible reading. Not missed a day all year. I had taken a little hiatus in my extra readings from the New Testament. however, for the last few days I have been reading through 1 and 2 Peter and what a couple of letters they are. Powerful testimony from Peter but also full of hope and joy.

1 Peter 4 and 5 today. Beautiful words #smallbutmighty

A photo posted by Derrick Roberts (@aberchristian) on May 12, 2016 at 7:51am PDT

Time for an early morning bit of Bible study before starting my day. 2 Peter is a great book. #smallbutmighty Time to move on to the epistles of John

A photo posted by Derrick Roberts (@aberchristian) on May 13, 2016 at 12:19am PDT

Now I am moving on to the letters of John. Hoping to have them finished in the next couple of days. If that is the case then it'll leave me John's gospel to finish then James, Jude, Hebrews and Revelation to read through.

Starting 1,2 & 3 John. That'll leave me Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation left to read

A photo posted by Derrick Roberts (@aberchristian) on May 13, 2016 at 2:30am PDT

Last Sunday we had to move to a new space. Well, we didn't have to we had decided that we would try somewhere new. Our church is absolutely chock-a-block. Every week we are finding it difficult to have enough space for everyone to be comfortable. Particularly the children. There are a good number of small kids at church and they're often cramped into a space at the back of the room which is, of course, not best for them and distracting for others.

So, we tried the library in town. I hadn't thought that we would do much there. I thought that it wouldn't really be suitable. Once more I was proved wrong by God. The space was excellent. The space we had for the kids was brilliant. Worship went well (and sounded really good outside apparently, alerting people to the fact that there was a church in the centre of town!) and everyone seemed very happy.

We are back in the church this week but I really hope that the Library works out long term.

We were prayed for as well. The leadership team I mean. I guess the term many are using is Elder. I am not sure about that as a term and I don't think I will use it myself but it is a terrifying privilege. Thankfully the ladies on the leadership team have been studying 1 Timothy in their Thursday Bible Study and my lovely wife has helped me so much to think about the role and life of an elder.