We had a great time in Chelmsford visiting our friends and seeing Colchester again (the oldest town in England…apparently). After Colchester, Han left us to go to London to stay with her friends.
We went on to Birmingham to catch up with our other UK based Aussie friend Kirk and Tracee McAtear. They are pasturing a church and are doing amazing things. They are settling in really well and the people in the church seem to be really embracing them. They are going to do amazing things with and through that church.
We also attended Kidshaper UK conference. It was the 2nd one held here in the UK and it is already building momentum and establishing a great network of committed, called and anointed kids pastors and leaders. The guys from Australia preached up a storm and the UK based guys shared some amazing wisdom and revelation. God is about to bring revival to this country and kids will be at the forefront of His plan.
We are going to Kings Church today (the church Kirk and Tracee are pastoring) then having lunch with their kids team. It is going to be great to hang with them and ask them some questions.
We go to Oxford tonight and then on to London for the last few days of our trip. We will meet up with Han in London and show her the sights (as well as do some more shopping I presume).
Please send us some emails – we would love to hear about what is happening back home!
Got to go and get ready for church!
Bless ya!
b.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Traveling over the countryside, ask the Champness, ask the Champness, ask the Champness family!
Well we left the beautiful town of Bath and our humble but beautiful accommodation at the Bath Youth Hostel for a drive through the English countryside.
We went north to the Cotswold’s area of western England. We went through some quaint old towns that look untouched in the past few centuries. We drove through Nailsworth, Cirencester and eventually had a ‘cream tea’ in Stow-on-the-Wold.
We then drove to the east side of England to Chelmsford. We stayed here the last time we were in England (two years ago). We met up with our friends Matt and Skye and had a great conversation with Skye’s parents who lead a movement of churches. Chelmsford is a great town and we have enjoyed it. We also drove up to Colchester, which is the oldest town in England (dating back to about 46 AD). We visited the castle and enjoyed walking around the old church. Hannah then left us to go to London to spend with her friend.
Today we are driving to Birmingham to see our friends Kirk and Tracee McAtear and to also attend the Kidshaper UK conference. We will be in Birmingham for three nights before we head to Oxford for a night and then London. We are loving England.
Talk again soon.
Bless ya!
b.
We went north to the Cotswold’s area of western England. We went through some quaint old towns that look untouched in the past few centuries. We drove through Nailsworth, Cirencester and eventually had a ‘cream tea’ in Stow-on-the-Wold.
We then drove to the east side of England to Chelmsford. We stayed here the last time we were in England (two years ago). We met up with our friends Matt and Skye and had a great conversation with Skye’s parents who lead a movement of churches. Chelmsford is a great town and we have enjoyed it. We also drove up to Colchester, which is the oldest town in England (dating back to about 46 AD). We visited the castle and enjoyed walking around the old church. Hannah then left us to go to London to spend with her friend.
Today we are driving to Birmingham to see our friends Kirk and Tracee McAtear and to also attend the Kidshaper UK conference. We will be in Birmingham for three nights before we head to Oxford for a night and then London. We are loving England.
Talk again soon.
Bless ya!
b.
Monday, November 9, 2009
English Version of Nelson Bay and a Modern Old Church
Well we spent the weekend in Weston-super-Mare. This is a lovely seaside English town that is apparently an English ‘Tourist Mecca’. It is winter here, but during summer the population swells greatly.
We spent time driving along the ‘front’ (foreshore) and seeing the ‘beach’ and the waterside hotels and restaurants. It was …pretty in an English way. We had a great meal at a nice hotel.
We all stayed with some pastors from a local Anglican church and it is amazing that people that love and serve God are the same all over the world – they were very welcoming and warm in their hosting of us.
We went to the Anglican church in the morning. They have two services in the morning. The first service is a traditional service with all the robes, structured prayers and hymns and choir. There is something so very rich about this heritage and tradition. In the second service it is more ‘contemporary’ with full band and a lot more young people – the worship was lead by a 16 year old girl on an acoustic. At their night service that night (which we didn’t go to) they were baptizing 7 people that had become Christians the day before – they are using the Alpha course with great success. Seeing how people worship in different styles, brings greater revelation of God and His character – I am listening to Him and He is speaking.
We drove back to Bath in the afternoon via Bristol. The countryside is so pretty here. One of the problems with England is the rain, but the flipside of that is that the grass is such a brilliant green and healthy.
Anyway, today we are going to drive through the Cotswold’s and will end up in Chelmsford on the east side of the country at our friends Matt and Skye – it will be great to see some familiar faces
Bless ya!
b.
We spent time driving along the ‘front’ (foreshore) and seeing the ‘beach’ and the waterside hotels and restaurants. It was …pretty in an English way. We had a great meal at a nice hotel.
We all stayed with some pastors from a local Anglican church and it is amazing that people that love and serve God are the same all over the world – they were very welcoming and warm in their hosting of us.
We went to the Anglican church in the morning. They have two services in the morning. The first service is a traditional service with all the robes, structured prayers and hymns and choir. There is something so very rich about this heritage and tradition. In the second service it is more ‘contemporary’ with full band and a lot more young people – the worship was lead by a 16 year old girl on an acoustic. At their night service that night (which we didn’t go to) they were baptizing 7 people that had become Christians the day before – they are using the Alpha course with great success. Seeing how people worship in different styles, brings greater revelation of God and His character – I am listening to Him and He is speaking.
We drove back to Bath in the afternoon via Bristol. The countryside is so pretty here. One of the problems with England is the rain, but the flipside of that is that the grass is such a brilliant green and healthy.
Anyway, today we are going to drive through the Cotswold’s and will end up in Chelmsford on the east side of the country at our friends Matt and Skye – it will be great to see some familiar faces
Bless ya!
b.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The…Longest…Night…Of…My…Life!!! and we loved every minute of it!
Well, we (Ali, Hannah and myself) flew to London on Thursday. We left Sydney at 5:30, had a quick stopover in Bangkok and then on to London to land at 5:30 on Friday morning. In all we had about 20 hours of night time and it was great. We have no trouble sleeping on planes. It is so relaxing to have time to read, sleep, talk and write and there are no interruptions except for people wanting to give you food – what more could you want?
After going through customs we got our hire car and drove to Bath. Half way down the M4 motorway, we decided to take a detour and drive through the countryside. This was a good tip from my brother Rodney and his wife Tracey, It took longer to get to Bath, but it was worth it. England has beautiful countryside and amazing quaint little towns. We love the history of this place.
We got to Bath and did some exploring and saw the incredible Roman Baths. These natural hot springs that 2000 years ago the Romans found and built a temple at. They were very advanced with their buildings, aqua ducts and even had worked out how to have heated floors. We saw some great architecture in the town and were amazed by the way they are maintaining their history and culture and still progressing and modern. We stayed at a Youth Hostel that night - it is a 16th Century Spanish mansion.
Today we drive to Weston-Super-Mare to see an English seaside town that even has a beach! This will be fun.
Keep in touch!
Bless ya!
b.
After going through customs we got our hire car and drove to Bath. Half way down the M4 motorway, we decided to take a detour and drive through the countryside. This was a good tip from my brother Rodney and his wife Tracey, It took longer to get to Bath, but it was worth it. England has beautiful countryside and amazing quaint little towns. We love the history of this place.
We got to Bath and did some exploring and saw the incredible Roman Baths. These natural hot springs that 2000 years ago the Romans found and built a temple at. They were very advanced with their buildings, aqua ducts and even had worked out how to have heated floors. We saw some great architecture in the town and were amazed by the way they are maintaining their history and culture and still progressing and modern. We stayed at a Youth Hostel that night - it is a 16th Century Spanish mansion.
Today we drive to Weston-Super-Mare to see an English seaside town that even has a beach! This will be fun.
Keep in touch!
Bless ya!
b.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Beginning is the End is the Beginning...
Well, I am entering a new stage of life. I am going on an adventure with God. An adventure of Faith, radical obedience and whole hearted commitment.
I have been following God for 17 years now, but there are signposts and markers along the way. I feel that I have just past another marker and thus begin the next leg of my journey.
I don't quite know where this journey will go, end up or lead to, but I know that I am committed to it. I know that it MAY include a physical journey to other places, but I know it WILL include an emotional journey, further spiritual enlightenment and greater social responsibility.
I am going to enjoy it. I need to enjoy it. I need to change. I need to let God continue to make me more like Him and closer to who He has created me to be. I need to become more aware of what it is to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8 – Justice, Mercy & Spirituality).
So pray for me, pray for those I meet on the journey that they will give me wisdom for my travel bag and that I can shine a light. If I get a bit lost or lazy, please feel free to prod me. I no longer want to ‘kick against the goads’.
See you on the path!
Bless ya!
b.
I have been following God for 17 years now, but there are signposts and markers along the way. I feel that I have just past another marker and thus begin the next leg of my journey.
I don't quite know where this journey will go, end up or lead to, but I know that I am committed to it. I know that it MAY include a physical journey to other places, but I know it WILL include an emotional journey, further spiritual enlightenment and greater social responsibility.
I am going to enjoy it. I need to enjoy it. I need to change. I need to let God continue to make me more like Him and closer to who He has created me to be. I need to become more aware of what it is to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8 – Justice, Mercy & Spirituality).
So pray for me, pray for those I meet on the journey that they will give me wisdom for my travel bag and that I can shine a light. If I get a bit lost or lazy, please feel free to prod me. I no longer want to ‘kick against the goads’.
See you on the path!
Bless ya!
b.
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