Yesterday, 26 August, saw the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mother Teresa.
This one tiny lady answered the call of God to travel to a strange land and there founded the Missionaries of Charity of Kolkata.
At the time of her death, in 1997, the Missioaries of Charity were operating in 123 countries. Mother Teresa herself worked tirelessly for over 45 years, ministering to the poor, the sick, the orphaned and the dying.
Throughout her life she had her supporters and her critics, but she carried on working to the end, resolutely fulfiling her mission.
Looking at what was accomplished for the good of humanity and for the Glory of God, by the work of this one woman is very humbling. It also reminds me that God works through every one of us and can do great things if we are open and obedient to his Will in our lives.
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no-one ever come to you without leaving happier" Mother Teresa

It seems so long since I have posted anything here.
The Conference was very interesting. Portsmouth was very hot!
Much has happened since my return. A great deal of time was spent with Circuit and Church farewells to the Superintendent Minister, on his retirement.
Yesterday I was preaching at Harrowby Lane. My "Trial Service". Fortunately I had an excellent assessment and live to preach another day!
I was particularly aware of the extraordinarily diverse gifts of so many of the congregation at HL. From singing, acting, playing instruments to listening skills, hospitality and welcoming skills - the list goes on!
Thank God for the blessings God pours down on us!

I am making final preparations for the trip to Portsmouth tomorrow, where I will be a representative of the Nottingham and Derby District of the Methodist Church, at the Methodist Conference 2010.
Looking at the agenda, there will be several very important debates. It will be good to be involved.
Hoping to meet some old friends in Portsmouth - including someone I knew at university and who I have not seen for over 25 years.
I pray for guidance for all the representatives, that they will make decisions in line with God's will, for the future of the Methodist Church in the UK.

I have just returned from a few days in Rome. June 2 was the Italian national Day and a public holiday. The Festa della Repubblica was celebrated in Rome with a huge procession of military and state might, ending with a fly past of military jets, swooping above the Colisseum and towards the Victor Emmanuel Monument. I watched the procession live on TV as the crowds along the way are always too dense to see anything much - especially for a short person!
I also visited theBasilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva, with important Dominican links and site of the body of St Catherine of Siena. (the head being in Siena.) I was pleased to pray in the quiet of the Basilica and remember St Catherine's words "All the way to heaven, is heaven."

After a few days of uncertainty, the UK has a new Prime Minister in David Cameron. The Conservatives have formed a coalition with the Lib Dems.
A key word in David's first speech as PM was "difficult". There will be "difficult" days ahead and "difficult" decisions to make.
We are "fishing from the other side of the boat" and doing things differently, butweall must pull together to ensure success.
This may not be the government many of us wanted or expected, but we have a duty now to work to ensure some form of stability and economic growth in this country.

Election Day in the UK has finally arrived. I know we have a fairly short time of campaigning, but a much longer campaign would still not have helped my thinking and decision-making.
This has been the most difficult choice I can remember in my voting history! I don't think that any of the three main parties tick my boxes.
I just pray that, whoever wins, Christians in the UK become more involved in the government and leadership and realise how incredibly important it is to engage with the political.

Yesterday I went to hospital to have a couple of cysts removed. One, on my face was quite large and required 3 stitches after the cyst was removed.
I had been given local anaesthetic so it was not painful, but the surgeon asked the nurse to get me some painkillers to bring home with me.
After a ten minute wait the nurse re-appeared with a small foil pack of 6 paracetamol tablets and said "They were none in the pharmacy, so Ibrought you these from my handbag". A kind gesture on her part, but what sort of hospital has no painkillers?
My friend's teenage daughter is due to have her baby any day now. I hope the hospital can find her painkillers for the birth - a couple of paracetamol from the nurse in charge is not going to help much there!