I know that this is possibly a controversial subject, but I wanted to comment a bit more on what I was talking about in my post on the 21st November. After going to college last Wednesday and talking to some of my fellow students I was struck by how many of them had been thinking about this subject recently. It seems that it's something God is putting on lots of people's hearts, I for one can't stop thinking about it. But I'm not sure what God wants me to do about it. Hopefully he'll clear that up soon.
It also seems that it's not just us trainee youth workers that are considering it either. I was reading Steve Chalke's new book "Intelligent Church" (which is well worth a read people - very challenging!), and I came across this paragraph on the subject of incarnational church, and I was wondering what other people were thinking - comments please!

"If God is incarnational, and the church's task is to be part of God's mission, this principle must be ours too. An inclusive church will be a congregation open to all - a community for those displaced. It will be an environment in which the unloved and the unlovely find refuge and belonging. It will be a refuge to the homeless, a family to the forgotten, a friend to the lonely and a place where the outcasts of society can enjoy life in all its fullness. An inclusive church will not be made up only of people who have life sorted. Instead it will almost certainly include drug-users, alcoholics, people with mental health problems, the homeless, the unemployed, single mothers, ex-convicts, prostitutes and so on. It will be a church where the imperfect are perfectly welcome. It will strive to ensure that it is accessible to those who can't walk, or hear, or see, or speak. In short, it will be a home for those who need one"

Ok, so there have been no posts for a while, for which I apologise. I think all my creativity and brain power (the little that exists) has gone into my essays. I'm not sure that's a good thing - I may have gone crazy on my theological perspectives essay and argued that the second coming has already happened...hmm... That's what happens when you think about things too much and the marking criteria asks for original thought!

So there is only one essay left to do - my directed task for Competence 3 (which won't make any sense to those of you not on my course!). I am not looking forward to writing a work plan for the entire year - talk about forward planning! But once that's handed in on Friday I am home free for Christmas - yay!!

Youth Club last night was fantastic, just thought I'd mention it. In the de-brief at the end we were discussing how having an obvious presence of older staff (alongside the younger ones who are fantastic - obviously!) seems to have a noticeable effect on the young people and their mood/behaviour. Everyone seemed a lot calmer and better behaved last night. I'm not sure how that works - anyone got any ideas?!

It feels a bit weird that it's December already. I've bought most of my Christmas presents, but I'm not sure I'm in the right frame of mind for this holiday... Hopefully it'll come, I've got 3 Christmas parties to organise in 1 week for three different groups! If I don't get in the mood then that'll be torture! Ah well, I'm sure they'll be lots of fun!

Right - I have things to do now, and I don't seem to have anything interesting to say, so I'll stop boring you all with banality. Enjoy the weekend!