Christmas Carols

Sunday 11 December we held our annual carols service. City of Peace church loses a number of it's members every year to annual holidays abroad around this time and so we take the opportunity to press out the last drops of wine that remain in the remnant before they depart for distant shores. Natalie spent the whole of Saturday decorating tables in Café Forever for the after service lunch, complete with edible golden fruit, while Andrew, our chef, prepared food. Then on Sunday at 8am I left for the Café to join Tom and Simon to haul the equipment across to St John's hall. I left most of it to them as I was focusing on sorting out the sound for the choir and musicians. We managed it all, just in time, and loads of people turned up! Most of the children got dressed up as shepherds, angels, wise men etc... The service went well and I think the talk I gave and the audio I arranged was good. It felt as if it worked really well. So nice to work together in such a group and to see how collectively things become special. Then we all trundled off back to the Café where we had an amazing meal, served by no less than Duncan, our director! The food was great; pumpkin soup, chicken pie and banoffee pudding. It was really a little bit like a heavenly banquette. The children all had too much cake and sweets and at about 2pm everyone began leaving -  I was exhausted!

Angels, Shepherds and a sheep! Beautiful Café

Christmas at ASDA

Saturday 3rd December the entire Café Forever team, Forever Young and City of Peace church, with the aid of wonderful locals including 'The Space', put on a magical Christmas market in the parking lot at ASDA. It was very well supported by local shoppers and enterprisers. At 7am Marlene had us all in the parking lot putting up Gazebo's and creating the space for the 11 am start. We only just made it in time! There was a santas grotto and a visit by peppa pig, carol's singing and a story telling tent as well as incredible homemade gifts and foods. The kitchen team from Café Forever laid on the hot food and I am so encouraged by everybodies enthusiasm and effort. It was a lot of fun, but not effortless, and we all finally got into our homes at about 9pm that evening. Next project - City of Peace Christmas Carols next weekend!  What a market! Pumpkin soup, Thai Chicken noodles,  Mulled alcohol free wine

What's the joke then? Story telling tent by 'The Space'

One last chance!

There's a friend I have been talking to for a number of years, just recently he received an eviction notice. The grounds against him are what one would call unsurmountable. I was going to post a page up about his situation but never did. It has been a very tense situation, and needless to say we expected the worst but hoped for the best. We have prayed with him on a number of occasions and he has slowly but surely been coming into a closer relationship with us, attending church and bible study. We are slowly seeing reforms in his attitude and character. Today he and I went to the local housing office to discuss his situation - the letter had said that court proceedings were underway. Well we walked away glad! As mad and as unbelieveable as it sounds, somehow the housing office was graceful. They said that this was his last chance. I hope that my friend will continue to behave correctly despite what the world throws at him. We are all praying that he will hold to the agreement. PLEASE join us in praying! It is really crucial! If he defaults, not only will he lose his accommodation, but we will lose our reputation at that specific housing office, making it really hard to assist anyone else who comes through us for help. It is a real opportunity for a great testimony.
As I was walking back I thought about how Jesus has often been misrepresented, people take his name in vain. What I mean is, people use the name 'Christian' but then they don't walk like Jesus did. I am not calling myself innocent of this, but I realise through my own implication, how much our actions actually affect the work of Jesus - for better or for worse! We are the keepers of his promises!

Some people make me want to dance!

Working at Café Forever I get to meet some really interesting people. Just the other day I met somebody who had  in his past been the 6 times British wresting champion; he had dropped in for a cup of tea before he coached the Cubit Town Children in an after school club. He was an interesting man and seemed to believe that an answer to the problems of so many youngsters was sport. He was fanatical about sport and said it was something that ran throughout his family. I tend to agree with him, I think the kids spend too much time playing TV games with fake virtual characters and never get to really experience the struggle of sport, but it's of course not the full solution. I was watching a TV show this evening, the 'Food Hospital' and it showed a man who had lost 3 stone from 34.5! Quite a big change, but how long will it last, that's the big question, it's the question I asked the wrestling coach too, he admitted he didn't have an answer. I believe that we need to motivate each other on future things - a world renewed, where mourning, dieing, crying and pain are no longer the order of existence. When death has been swallowed up there will be no sting and hence no power to make us selfish. 

Another new face has come by too, a local chap who today told me that he had no longer any desire for wealth, that he had achieved all the possessions he had coveted as a youth, in fact his biggest desire is for a good nights sleep. The book of ecclesiastes Chapter 5:12 "The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep." He is an interesting man, I enjoy chatting with him, he has come up with some ideas to market Café Forever better, says we don't do enough. I would disagree for the following reason: He says he has lived on the Island for 6 years and has always known about us but never felt the need to visit. Now he is urging his customers to come, but they have the same attitude.

Every now and again something unique happens, you meet some people who bring a smile to you, they make me want to dance. Nasima, Lima and Iqra came in with sewing machines and Lima made a Kamees on the spot without any pattern while Iqra and I played hide and seek with a toy tiger. Brilliant! here's a little video clip.

ASDA redevelopment

ASDA parking lot from the Café office

Over the past few years there has been much discussion regarding the redevelopment of the ASDA site which Café Forever backs onto. The developers have visited Café Forever to show us what the changes will look like - it's still a bit of a rough idea, but it is getting nearer to a final design I think. The whole current ASDA building will be replaced with a new one where the picture is. The parking will be underground and above the ASDA will be some residential units, a number of which will be social housing so as to fit in with Government regulations. There will also be quite a number of big name shops like NEXT or H&M in the development as well as provision for small start up businesses. We all really like the plans, it will put some sort of a community centre right on our back door! We are interested in it and hope that we will be able to join in with the development if some miraculous financial provision is made for us. We often talk about the rebuilding of the café in dreamlike ways and envision a much bigger place - somewhere our church can grow, our children can be safe, we can hold kids clubs for more than 10 kids. Space on the island is at a premium. The Isle of Dogs population is expanding at a rate of about 1500 per year! and has been doing so for the past 4 years. That increase is projected to continue for the next 3 years. We are a very small team on the Isle of Dogs, on an average day about 4 or 5 of us in or around the café.  We need to be able to reach this population, but what we constantly find is that we are too few - the harvest is plentiful! We have begun serving food again this year and the sales are increasing (more sales = more visitors = more gospel opportunities) but it is a long way from making any sort of profit - not that that is our intention, but it would be nice to be somewhat self-sustaining; at least to cover our outgoings! Please think about how you can support our work, maybe not financially, but what about prayer or personally volunteering? 

Surprising!

Mr Justice Muhammed Momtaz Uddin Ahmed

On monday evening we had an interesting visit - the visit of Mr Justice Muhammed Mamataz Uddin Ahmed  - a high ranking official from Bangladesh! A friend of ours organised for him to come to Café Forever as part of the London Language Club which celebrates international mother language day every year. This all sounds like a mouthful I know - just try and say it! Your mouth will be full! But when you get under the surface of the big title you find that it is celebrating the day in which Bengali people were allowed to have their own language apart from Urdu - the language of Pakistan, and began the course for the people of Bangladesh to gain independence. The division came because children learn to speak the language that their mother speaks at home and this should be the language that the nation speaks. Mr Justice Muhammed Mamataz Uddin Ahmed was a freedom fighter in the war for independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Bangladesh

We ate a fantastic curry together and heard about the struggle for independence. I chatted with another gentleman who had come to visit he was a lawyer, in fact the place was full of lawyers! I spoke about the fact that in the Torah we learn a story about how God confused the languages of men when they tried to build a tower up to the heavens to reach him (babel). I said that here in Café Forever we have an example of that situation being reversed - that different cultures and languages are being shared and understood through the grace of Jesus.

Do you like the occasional flutter?

Had a chat with a regular visitor on Friday for about an hour. One of the things that we discussed was gambling. He said he liked the 'occasional flutter', which I gathered was a little more regular than he was actually admitting to. He said that he didn't see why that was going to condemn him. I said that in effect he is worshipping or trusting in the 'God of luck'. He is giving his money in the hope it will grow to 'chance'. I have been a follower of Jesus (often a very hard to recognize one) for 11 years now. Before I began this journey I had no concern other than myself, and that was very apparent. I used my income to buy drinks and drugs for friends - to keep them. I used drink and drugs to make life interesting. I had the occasional flutter too. Though I had a massive income - I worked at Sky News - I never had anything to show for it at the end of the month. 11 Years of this journey I am married, have two beautiful children, a safe, strong community of friends who truly, regularly, lay down their lives for others and a house which I have not paid for. Things are not perfect but I can genuinely see improvements happening in my life and in the life of others. I explained this to the gentleman. I also explained that when you invest in the 'God of luck' you are in effect turning away from the living God. He can bring the increase. Any turning away is walking into death itself - it is walking towards the thing that you most hate, it is walking towards the bits about you that you don't like. God is really loving. He doesn't stop us from walking away, but he implores us to turn back - regularly, through grace. 

Peace be upon you - a nice way to make friends!

Pie & Mash - Andrew is a star!

Last week I met a new chap in the café, he has recently moved onto the Isle of Dogs. We had an extended chat about the reasons for and against the existence of God. He says that he was raised in a Catholic family and went to the church but has doubts about God's existence and finds the arguments of atheists and humanists very convincing. I tried to point out that the experience of God is in getting out of the boat and not sitting on the sidelines, that somebody who really wants to examine the existence of God actually needs to try out his promises, I gave him a copy of 'The Reason For God' by Tim Keller. He came in again today and said that he hasn't read very much of it yet. I hope that he will read it and not just humour me. Another couple of men visited last week for the first time. They both are from Pakistan and are recent arrivals in England. I have quickly developed a nice friendship with them, the opener "Salaam Alekum", which was greeted with a huge smile and the question "are you a Muslim?", to which I answered, "No, Christian, but all the same, may peace be upon you". Today they came in again and we played a game of checkers (which I lost) much to their joy. Later in the afternoon Z came and played a game of chess with me. It is her second game - I have been teaching her (blind leading the blind I fear). I really enjoy this kind of work.

Chips return to the menu!

I have spent a lot of time this week designing vouchers and advertisements for marketing purposes. My shoulder is very sore at the moment - about 2 months ago I tore the muscles in it and lately it is getting worse. I have also spent a lot of time going to and from the doctor and the physio. The pain does make conversation difficult as I battle to concentrate. Today I had a steroid injection in an attempt to remove the inflamation. The doctor said it could take between 3 weeks and a year before I get better! OUCH!

Getting to know the Isle of Dogs

The school holidays are now over and there's a lot that has happened. We had some new visitors come into the Café - many who get diverted from St John's park where Marlene, Carol, Tom and the volunteers were working. The volunteers are a wonderful addition to the ministry - being young and quite a bit more attractive than us they present a face of the church that shows it is not only for boring old fuddy duddies like us, but that young people also find Jesus interesting and desirable. This I think brings hope to the youth - awareness that they will not be all alone in the church. These young people also bring freshness and newness with them and their eagerness to read the bible and maintain their relationship with God inspires those who meet them - myself included.
In the Café we had regular visits from some children who wanted to play pool or fussball. We have a shabby old pool table that we get out of the back room and lay ontop of a big table and it forms a pool table for the children to learn on. If it were a grand table we'd be less comfortable with them learning on it, so it's not a bad thing it's a little dishevelled. We had daily visits by the same children. Some were really open to learn how to hold a cue, how to aim the ball and where to leave the white ball. During one visit a little girl came up to me, she was 8 years old. She had left some money lying on the table. I said to her she must be careful of her money. She said that she took it off her dad last night in the pub who was drunk. Can you believe it! She said she took £40 off him and she lost half of it somewhere and the other ten she had spent. I was absolutely astonished. How does this little girl ever become something more than her parents? God pour out your spirit please!
One other thing that really bothers me is the victim mentality of so many people! One fellow I know who has a very dirty, untidy apartment complained that somebody was targeting him. I asked how he knew that, he said that they had pushed a cockroach through his letter box! Can you believe it! The lie that he has told himself! All of his problems are because somebody else is picking on him! Natalie said that perhaps it was God who put the cockroach through the letter box. This is probably the truest answer - though it is quite amusing. The book of Haggai tells us that God will actually bring about such things as these in order that we are drawn into a relationship with Him. Please pray for the end of victim mentalities - that people will take responsibility for their circumstances - that they will learn to fear God.
Ramadan came to an end right at the end of the school holidays. Muslims will celebrate with Eid al Fitur. It is a celebration where they put on new clothes and eat nice food together. A bit like their version of Christmas. They had spent about 30 days fasting during the day - and this during the school holidays. On the first day of the new moon they celebrate Eid and some of the youngsters came and did a rap at the Café.

Apologetics - Yaweh

I have a friend living near the Café who is a Jehovah's witness. He is a very encouraging man and I love chatting to him. He is very fired up about God. We got to talking about Jesus. He is very adamant that Jesus is God's son and agrees that Jesus is special. The Jehovahs Witnesses have a very similar set of scriptures to ours and so it is good to get them to look for the truth in their own texts. In lectures Alan Black showed us a scripture that is very useful for talking to Jehovah's witnesses.

In Phillipians 2

  ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

 ⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
   by taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
   he humbled himself
   by becoming obedient to death—
      even death on a cross!

 ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
   and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

See Jehovah's witnesses have the utmost respect for the name Jehovah - the (Hebrew jhw - jaweh). This is the name of God. Here in this text you will see that Jesus is in very nature God(v6) has equality with God (v6) and he gets the name that is above every other name(v9). It is an interesting text. I chatted with him about this. I didn't really understand his response and I don't think he was making much sense, but hopefully this will encourage him to look deeper into the text. I also reminded him that in the gospel (injeel) Jesus' name is Emmanuel which means God with us. I also told him that God said his name was 'I am' when he instructed the prophet Moses (or Musa) in the book of Exodus. 'I am' is a very strong statement - it talks of a living God, it talks of a God of the present. Please pray for my friend A_ and also think about how you can use texts in your bible to encourage other Jehovah's Witnesses to reject their teaching that Jesus is not God.

Epping forest

Today Natalie and I took some friends to Epping forest to walk about and exercise one very boisterous dog. I have only been once before and didn't remember it being so beautiful. There's been a lot of rain this summer and the forest was quite wet which is probably the reason why it was teeming with tiny frogs. The dog got some excellent exercise and we all had a really nice walk. Natalie made some coffee before we left the house as well as some banana bread which provided some form of picnic. It is really a nice way to 'hang out' with our contacts. It is difficult if you live in the city to get away from it at times and it can be quite smothering - this kind of break is good for the soul. It is nice to have a dog to walk too, a point of focus for us so that we don't need to get too deep into our personal problems. I hope that such a short break away will give us an opportunity to remember the beauty of God's creation which is often hidden by the ugliness of man's concrete jungle creation.

Iftar

Iftar is an evening meal that follows the days fasting during Ramadan. As far as I can understand they are family gatherings, a shared breaking of the fast together. It happens at evening time straight after sunset. An old friend from the Café, he hasn't visited in quite a while, came in yesterday. He lives nearby with his family and has invited me to join him for Iftar one night. It is a great opportunity to experience something like this, and I hope to have a reciprocal event in the café thereafter. Ramadan is considered by Muslims as the holiest month of the year - the year they believe the prophet Mohammed received his revelation from Allah. It is supposed to be a time of reflection and repentance - a self-submitted desert time. Ramadan is believed to be a time of worship - they fast for the sake of God.
The chap that came to church last Sunday met up with me twice the following Tuesday. We had some really interesting conversations and I got to learn some of his family history. He said his father died when he was only one year old and that he doesn't think it affected him much. I think that whatever kind of parenting we had affects us massively, but I know I often underestimated it's significance. He said that he found the sermon interesting yet he couldn't follow it too well since he believed the account of Abraham was an allegory and not fiction. He did like hearing when I said to give God the wrong kind of offering is like giving a bunch of flowers to the parent of a child you have killed in a car accident - an insult. It is so nice to get into some deep conversations with these friends.  

At last!

Yesterday I gave a sermon on Abraham's sacrifice of his son (Genesis22)- did you notice it was never 'near' sacrifice - it was all the way! And he came BACK from the DEAD! Anyway here's the big news! One of my friends came to the service - for the first time in 5 years I have known him! Very exciting. I just hope that the topic was suitable. We have been reading through Abrahams life as a topical study and it's been very interesting. Yesterdays one was difficult since the story is so well known - it's one of those one's where you have to remind everyone about what's written there. Granted there are many who don't know the story and so there's always the joy of finding other peoples insight. We normally have a Q&A&comments session after the sermon but we didn't this time which is a bit disappointing since so much of the text can be elaborated on. Please pray for D_ that he comes again and that what he's heard hits home!

Who do you know?

It's interesting to note the number of people who come into Cafe Forever, and indeed those we meet in daily life, who want to tell us about their importance. One gentleman has told me that he flew spitfire planes, has won marathons around the world, and coached Paula Radcliffe. Whatever the topic of the day in the news, he's been involved somehow! I have often searched the internet to verify it and there's nothing. It's so difficult to talk to him since there's nobody to talk to, just a set of stories. Another lady I have known for a while came in yesterday and the news of the UK phone hacking tribunal was going on. She told me that she was a great reporter in her home country and when she retired in UK she was offered a role on the truth commission. It may be true, I don't know how to verify it. She said she was 'so glad justice was being done', and she was very proud to be a part of the committee. But she is very vocal about her position in society and in truth, and when it comes to mentioning it, she tosses her hair and puffs her self up. She said she has never lied, she wasn't brought up that way. I told her that everyone lies and sins. She said she doesn't believe that. I asked her if she had ever told somebody she liked them when she didn't - 'Ah, now that's diplomacy' she told me. I reckon that is lie number 2. She said that she believes that we will be re-incarnated if we mess up in this life, A second, third, fourth chance - perhaps on another planet, to get things right.

Hannah trying on my shoes.

My daughter spends a lot of her time playing games, sometimes it's difficult to know when she is acting she is sad, acting angry or otherwise. It is something that I hope she grows out of. I want to have a relationship with my daughter, not some fantasy that she has. When she is happy, I want to know it; and when she is sad. It becomes really difficult to have a relationship with people who are involved in a fantasy, or those who have an inflated opinion of themselves; you can never talk on the level.

Often I find myself wishing I was something else, perhaps even fantasizing. I wish I had a job that brought in more money, or I wish I had my own home, I often dislike working at Café Forever. I'll talk about people I know who worked with me at Sky news as if through knowing them I am something special and someday I might go back. That is when I become useless; If I pursue it; it is difficult for others to be my friend. I present myself as something 'better' than what I am. It is through the fall that we have a need to 'cover up' - to hide our weaknesses, just like Adam and Eve.God has a vision for us, and a purpose. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We don't need to be anything other than what God has ordained for us. It is through the second Adam that we can be restored; if only we would come into relationship with the second Adam. Do you name drop? Have you ever name dropped 'Jesus'. Please pray for our 'difficult' friends.

Meeting your neighbour

Ley Street Centre

Last night I went to Ley street centre where Imtiaz Khan from the London City Mission is working. It was a great evening. When I arrived the meal was still being eaten and so I was able to sample the delicious curry cooked by Abdul Aziz's wife - really wonderful. I sat at the table of the two guest speakers who would later talk about the perspective and instruction to family given by the Quran and the Bible. I heard that the Muslim man was a Islamic psychotherapist, and the Christian was a pastor at St Helens. There did not seem a whole lot of differences between the two faiths from the presentation, there were points when question time came, from the public, that were somewhat difficult to take and in most cases both debaters would argue to look at the context in which the text was written. One of the sticking points was the prophet Mohammed's relationship with Aisha - the fact that she was so young when he married her. The argument that was given was that in those days such a thing was not uncommon and that Mary was very young when she married Joseph. The defence was that why because society deems it sick, is it sick? I would argue that a child has no way of making an informed decision about who they want to marry, but then from the Muslim worldview, marriage is arranged. There was an earlier statement that forced marriage was not permissible within Islam - one could then argue where freedom of choice is removed in parent child relations. Later one Muslim woman suggested that some scholars say Aisha may have been between 16 and 19 years. I did not think that questioning was helpful for building relations since it is easy to bring up our differences, but we look for the things we share in common when we are trying to make friends. Imtiaz did an excellent job of hosting and chairing the event. I will certainly try to go again, it is the sort of meeting that really inspires deep thought and apologetic thinking and a great place to enter into relationship and discussion with Muslim people.

The harvest is plentiful but...

Saturday evening in ASDA - rows of short fuses!

There's so many people who we are in contact with who need REAL friends. It is such a big requirement - they need somebody to come and visit them in the evening, when there's the temptation to have a drink - it's a daily requirement. Without GOOD friends (and you know what I mean by good) they become influenced for evil - to neglect or hurt their children; their neighbour; their environment. I know of many such cases that need a real friend, but friendships take time to develop, and they are a heavy burden on families. Our church has a small core group most of whom are families. The singles among us work incredibly hard at loving their neighbour - going the extra mile in the evening or on a weekend - tensions run high. But how does a father of two young children go to a contact in the evening when his wife has come home from work tired and now has to deal with, bath, the children? These contacts, as I say, need friends who can come 3 out of 5 days in a week, to help them as they cook dinner, to chat to them about seemingly unimportant things, to be a friend, to laugh, to cry, to share in life. The city is a difficult place to live, the concrete jungle - this island has so many competing forces, so many wicked spirits. Please PRAY - pray to the Lord of the harvest. 

Truth about drugs

This video requires some discretion from parents due to the language etc so please be warned!... I don't know if you were ever able to see this documentary, but it's up there as one of the most enlightening I have seen. Ben's struggle with his addiction to Heroin. His parents seem to have an experience nobody wants to go through - so much sadness. Ben: 'Please Lord, please, forgive me for all my sins'.

The world turned upside down

The show at Mile End Park was an absolute winner! I took along some friends and we were all blown away. Sadly my camera's battery ran out so I could only get a short clip, though I am sure if you go to youtube you will be able to see more. It was a production looking at the results of the impact of global warming and environmental changes. So often I think the church has ignored the climate problem - we know that Jesus is the solution - but we don't look at the wound. The effects of high carbon consumption are often debated and so I am unsure of what is truth and what is lie, but one thing is for sure, I rarely find Christians showing as much respect and love for the planet as many of the 'greenies'. The earth is God's creation and according to scripture it also needs to be redeemed by Jesus. When we go and talk to people who are in trouble with lives falling apart we hope that they reach out to him to bring healing - since he will heal the core of their being, bringing about a right response to ALL of creation. But so often I think we (and I include myself here) ignore the way we treat the planet. According to a large percentage of scientists at least, the way we behave in London may affect the flooding in monsoon in Bangladesh and drought in Africa. We need to learn to love globally.

London is FUN!

mad taylors For the past month I have been looking forward to the Greenwich festival which takes place over the next two weeks. We first experienced it in 2009 when we saw some really weird musicians playing at the Cutty Sark site followed by some really interesting play performed on water on the Isle of Dogs. It is a regular event and we love it. Today we saw some acrobats hanging from ropes at the Royal Naval College, some mad as hatter taylors, some human sized meerkats and the wonderful play Iron Man at St Alfege park. Here are some pics as well as a clip from Iron Man. So many of these performers would be called disabled - but their performance makes the spectator feeling as if perhaps they aren't making the most of their life. Very inspiring and very encouraging - perhaps a little glimpse of restoration in heaven -  If you haven't been - don't miss out! All the events are free. Tonight I am going to see some aerial theatre in Mile End park - see http://www.festival.org/

Disabled?     Meerkats

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A brief History of Isle of Dogs

The isle of dogs is very close to Canary Wharf - London's new financial centre, the London residence of Citi Bank, HSBC, Lloyds etc... The docks used to be inhabited by dock workers, ship builders and passing slaves. Some of the people living on the Isle of Dogs actually worked here when it was a functioning dock, in the not too distant past. With the development of containerised shipping and improvement of sea-ports ships stopped venturing up the Thames into the area and now all that remains of the past life are mostly decorative. I took a walk around the area yesterday to distribute some marketing materials. In the harbour was a 'Tall Ship' from the US coast guard which can be seen in the distance in the image. There are3 cranes that seem to be marching up the docks to give a message to the banks - 'hard work will do it!' - they I think are mere decoration. A lot of the visitors to Cafe Forever are ex-dock workers. One old guy, Danny, grew up on the estate. He remembers jumping over the fence to bunk school and go hunting rabbits with his dog. He said that this street used to be lined with trees, and there were no apartments, it was all houses with gardens. He comes along to chat quite often but he is quite unmoved by the good news of Jesus salvation. At the end of the road, next to the last remaining tree - which Danny says he remembers as a tiny sapling is Cafe Forever and I think it looks quite attractive now; we are trying really hard to get people to visit us - putting out many signs and green umbrella's hoping to give people an idea that we are open and worth a look. Please pray for our business too.

Redecoration and Kitchen staff

Over the past 3 months quite a lot has happened at Cafe Forever. In April we hired Andrew Dimon to restart the kitchen service and in May Esther Christensen. Having worked with them for a short while I can say that I am so excited now for the future of Cafe Forever. They are both so enthusiastic and professional. Esther has taken the role of Catering Manager.

Marlene and Andrew painting

During my time in the hospital Tom took to refurnishing the interior of the cafe with some new couches (the old one's had tears in them and looked awful) and removing the divider screen and replacing it with some nice foliage. Then in the last week of May we redecorated the café in chocolates, fudges and golds - including some very smart lampshades- it now looks spiffing! Esther and Andrew decided that we should have some tea pots for our tea service and I battle to remember to serve it this way, though it also looks really nice. In terms of our income I'd say we are taking double what we did previously (which really isn't saying too much since we were taking in very little) and I hope that this will quadruple as we regain our past and find new customers.

Cheese and Tomato toastie

As for the visitors - on a regular basis I still meet up with D_ and just recently we took his dog to be neutered in the hope that this will calm her down somewhat - she is a big dog and very strong and D_ is not exactly a 'strapping young lad'. He is off the wagon again and it is evident by the return of paranoia; real and imagined and occurrences of chaos that begin to raise themselves in his life. When I talk chaos it is in the major extremes I am talking. He often reads strange books and I believe these have a huge effect on his behaviour. He has also begun borrowing a lot of money. It is something to be considered when next you carry out your priestly duty.

Regularly I meet up with B_and A_, they came around for a visit the other night and we had a meal together. They are such wonderful companions and we had an excellent discussion about love and relationships - I hope that these will in some way inspire them to faith.

T_ came in yesterday for the first time in about 2 weeks. Previously he had brought in some rhubarb from his allotment which Andrew turned into a very successful rhubarb cake. He has just come out of hospital having some form of muscular pains which the doctors said were kidney problems. He has found some alcohol somewhere (not his) and drunk it and thinks this is responsible, possibly filled with some sort of cleaning fluid or something. He said he felt very near death at times. He said that he was ready to go since there was nobody left really to live for but that he questioned where he was going and was unsure of his salvation. We had a good chat. I really love seeing this man - he is such a sweet and beautiful friend.

Further the food Andrew is producing is exceptional and I have no doubt that soon we will see visitors returning. We need prayer for all of the above. Please support us.

weekend away 2011

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There is a group of people on the Isle of Dogs who are forming a community that is interested in growth. They call themselves 'City of Peace' which is translated as 'Jerusalem' in Hebrew. They are hoping that one day London will become such a city. This is their weekend away together - a short vacation in the forest as a group, getting to know one another and build strong friendships and learn from each other. I am fortunate to be involved. This, as last year, exceeded all of my expectations.

A horrible experience

On Sunday after church I went to play touch rugby on Millwall with some of the men I met in the cafe on Friday. It was really nice to run a bit again, but I was aware of how unfit I have become. I played for an hour and a half and then made some excuses to leave. Then we as a family went to Wagamama for mothers day. When we got home things started to go wrong. For about 10 years I have been getting these funny feelings after strenuous exercise - something which some years ago quack in Harrow prescribed me heart burn pills. Well it was so extreme on this occasion that I called an ambulance. I got ECG'd and the medics rushed me to Royal London Hospital. While I was being checked out I flatlined for 20 seconds. The decision was made to send me to Barts Cardiac unit. I was so scared. I cannot tell you how awful were those 20 seconds, or the hours that followed. It has happened before, but ignorance is bliss - I guess seeing the ECG give a flatline while it is connected to you makes the reality more awful. I blacked out. The following morning, after a gruelling night in Barts I was operated on. It is a really strange course of events. I cannot say how grateful I am to the NHS staff that looked after me. From the ambulance crew to the Surgeons at Barts - the treatment was without fault, and with incredible dignity and consideration. I am so grateful for the staff of Royal London and their concern and quick thinking. I also have an increased gratitude for today, for my family and friends.

Week ending 1 April

On Sunday I led the worship service at City of Peace, Tom spoke on Proverbs relating to work - we each have a purpose and a gifting and we must look for it. After the service about 15 of us headed off for a short cycle ride around the area. One of the Boys, Ed, came off his bike quite badly and got some bad grazes and fractured his finger. We had lunch together at Thames barrier park and Hannah had a great time playing on the park equipment.
On Monday Tom and I had planned to install a projector and screen at Cafe Forever - we have had to set-up and pull down the church service every weekend and it is getting tedious. We didn't complete the task due to various factors, one being the installation of fibre optic broadband at Cafe Forever. The engineer got the equipment installed but only one computer would get onto the network. I had to make a call to get our engineers in.
On Tuesday I spent most of the day with the engineer as he tried to sort out our computers - I find I learn a lot doing this and i now understand a bit more how the system is connected. In the afternoon D_came in - he said that he would like to end his life. All the staff have been chatting to him for at least 4 years and he often gets very depressed. He has a very depressing situation for sure, but I challenged him on what his hope is. He was uncomfortable and so I asked if he would rather we had this conversation at his house. He agreed and we will meet up later in the week.
Wednesday morning Tom and I looked again at installing a permanent video projection screen at the Cafe, and we think we have a solution. All going to plan we will install it on Monday. In the morning in the Cafe we have Island music - a singing and music group for mum's and their children. It is always very popular and today was no exception, Natalie brought Hannah and Lisa along. It is a real treat to be able to see so much of my children and my wife. The school is closed today for industrial action and so there's very little business coming through the cafe.
Thursday I met up with John Marc Hobbins, my mentor. It was good to chat with him. Then in the afternoon I met up with D_ as planned earlier in the week. There were no opportunities for religious dialogue, but I did chat with him about his dog and the possibility of getting her neutered, he can't afford it since he's on benefit. I told him I would look for funding.

Friday morning I take assembly at the local school and today we looked at the temptation of Jesus in the desert through objects. I get a lot of help from http://www.barnabasinschools.org.uk website. During the day we were quite busy in the Cafe - I quite enjoy doing the dishes and running the food side of things. I got that number for D_ when he came in and gave a call to Tower Hamlets fund for neutering. We couldn't get hold of them. In the evening I met with K_ and his daughter, they are regular visitors. He introduced me to 'sly and the family stone' - I dig it!

Week ending 25 march

This week has been an improvement on last week. I have had some decent conversations with friends and enjoyed myself a lot more. I met up twice with K_ who believes that the Libyan thing is a big set up by the world powers. He says that Libya until the recent UN action had one of the best standards of living in the world, I have yet to check the validity of this statement. I got the idea that he believes the theory that the 'rebels' are terrorists trying to de-stabilize Libya and have succeeded in getting UN approval. We chatted also about justice and grace, how the 2 are impossible apart; you can't have grace without justice and vice-versa. In a bible reading on Tuesday I was reminded how Amos frustrated his audience by first getting them to seek justice for the atrocities carried out by their neighbours and then how he turned the tables on them to include Judah and Israel too. I have tried to seek ways to use this tactic on particularly judgemental people this week, to help them see their need for grace. On Thursday we talked some more and I invited him to join our church weekend away and I was able to hand him a 'Jesus storybook bible'. I also had an interesting conversation with Anne who is working with us about what she does and church models and a nice talk with H_ about investment. I told him that I like to eat my desert first since life is unpredictable.

Greenwich Park

Jubilee park - Canary Wharf

During the week D_ visited too, in the beginning of the week he was very agitated and not getting any sleep, making conversation very difficult. His dog pulls him around the place and he finds it very difficult to control her. She is often the topic of conversation. He is an intelligent man and thinks deeply about things but often his frustration gets the better of him. Friday when he came in he was calmer and happier - he'd had a good day in Greenwich park and he explained how sad he was with the Canary Wharf development and it's corporate coldness in comparison with the beauty of Victorian Greenwich park - how corporations, iPads and mobile phones have made us colder and less open to appreciate the world around us. I think I agree with him.

Self-Control

The first week back in London was some good, some bad - hey, in the words of my friend Ben Bell 'It's not heaven'. For a start I would like to be on permanent holiday! Heaven is supposed to be like that innit? During the week I had to catch up on various bits of paper work, I also find it very hard to get back into the swing of things. By Friday I am feeling a bit more normal and I give my second assembly in a series on 'the servant Jesus', focusing particularly on him washing the disciples feet. I get the children in the school to name the people in their community who serve them and compare the kind of things that a servant does with a leader and it becomes somewhat apparent that they are very similar people. Anne, a female Bishop from Berlin is working with us for 3 weeks and she joins me. Friday is quite an enjoyable day, although I have still to see any of my regular friends. I have bumped into them outside of the cafe during the week.
Saturday we went to Leeds Castle, which I recommend. I have been about 5 times now and it never fails to impress me, they have falconry and other birds on display, a huge wooden castle for the kids, massive parklands - a wonderful day out for all.

Leeds Castle

Sunday I gave a talk in church concerning 'self-control'. I was asked to look particularly at it in light of Proverbs. The phrase doesn't really seem to occur in the book, but it becomes apparent that 'self-control' is a product of righteousness, rather than a means to it. It contravenes all I have ever been taught - God makes me self-controlled; I can't get it before I meet God, like some sort of reward. If we want to be self-controlled we need to find out what God says about our SELF and continue to do so.

Japan's Chernobyl

Did you know that 'Chernobyl' is the Ukrainian word for 'wormwood'? Not interesting huh? What about this prophecy from the bible, Revelations 8: 8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water-- 11 the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. 

Back in London

We arrived back in London on Thursday 9th March - we had a decent trip both directions with Swiss air, the pilots even allowed Hannah into the cockpit before take off!, we were collected by Tom from London City Airport. Merely being collected by a friend after a long journey is remarkable! You are tired and just want to get home, and somebody has taken the time to get there for you. We were so worn out from the travels we slept almost all of that Thursday, juggling duties in childcare. I was so glad to be allowed the time to recuperate. I visited the cafe for a brief period and somebody has put up 2 new blackboards with prices on - it looks great.
Friday Tom and I went into HQ on our bikes, the ride in is so pleasant and the weather is getting warmer. We interviewed 2 people for the post of Catering Supervisor at Cafe Forever, they were needless to say wonderful people - watch this space! On Saturday I went and bought a child cycle seat for Hannah and all four of us went out for a short ride, but it was a little cold for the girls. Sad to see 'Mudchute kitchen' on 'Mudchute farm' still closed - it used to have a huge turnover of customers.
On sunday Tom preached on Proverbs relating to anger. We are all very angry at ourselves! Turning that anger around positively brings redemption - can you imagine how badly things would've worked out if Jesus was angry when he was crucified! This morning Tom and I fetched a washing machine for Sandra and delivered it to her door. She and her son are church regulars. Later I have taken my car that has dodgy brakes in for repairs to a place called Duo Motors - we'll see whether they are any good.

Another African farm

Out the kitchen window

Hanlie and girls

For our first three days in the Cape we visited our friends living in Wellington. We hired a small car without airconditioning at the airport and headed to Wellington. We soon regretted the decision about aircon since the temperature in Wellington is very high - one day we hit 39degC! The extreme heat knocked the girls out each time we got in the car. On one day we went and used the public pool which was very well maintained and used - at least 100 people were there. Hanlie and Charlie live as tenants on an organic farm called 'bloublommetjieskloof' and Hanlie's boyfriend Morné visited with us. Morné soon became a great friend of Hannah and Lisa, as did Charlie, the two of them providing shoulders to ride on and interesting natural facts. Although it was hot, the visit to Wellington was definitely a highlight of the trip, not just because of the beauty, but also the opportunity to catch up with such wonderful friends. Hanlie works at some sort of orphanage with hundreds of children - HAM or House of Andrew Murray taking it's name from the great 1860 revivalist. I chatted with Hanlie about their marketing, I am looking more into marketing and how others do it to see if there's some way in which I can help. We ended our visit to our Wellington friends by swimming with them on 'The Strand' beach. 

Morné and Hannah

Charlie and Hannah

Secunda

A lot happens in a week on holiday in Africa. Hannah began calling the children on the farm 'my children'! I have managed to get them mto perform 'sleeping bunnies' together with Hannah and they gave us a little gum-boot dancing show. The facilities here are fairly good, but a lot of prayer is needed for Natalie's mum who cannot do all the work on her own, for the children to get the right kind of supervision, comfort and attention. One day a strike took place by the transport union. The children came back from school early. One little girl, Phamela (7), told us that the strikers wanted to burn all the buses and that they had had stones thrown at them. Then one young chap, Patrick, about 15, told me that the bus driver had hit one of the children in the face with a fanbelt and cut his face badly. The same driver often attacks Patrick too. I said that the next time it happens he must try to record it on a mobile phone and go to the police station, he said that nobody has a phone with a camera. We have so many small previliges in the UK, like a legal system that (while being a little weak) still seems to be adhered by society. There's so much corruption here and with it so much fear and finger pointing. Inevitably it ends up becoming racial. I pray for Jesus to come to South Africa. The children here seem to be coping quite well, and they get together every evening and have fellowship. They also learn a little bit of farming and do the daily milking of the cow, Hannah also got the chance to milk a cow with the help of her 'Oupa'. We moved on from Secunda to Parys for the weekend and stayed at Oom Lukas' holiday home.

'My children' - Hannah

Siyabonga milks a cow