........and I need repair

What follows is probably one of the most honest blogs I’ve ever written;

On Saturday my wife and our friends Ben & Rachael got up at 3am (well I got up a 3.50am) and headed to Gatwick to go to Northern Ireland for the weekend. Ben and I had been asked to play Bass and Drums for Marjory Watson who was leading a weekend at Bangor Corps (it’s where my mum, dad and little brother Adam go to church). I left Bangor corps a year before leaving Ireland and it wasn’t an easy decision to leave. This weekend was a great time of restoration for me. The people were really lovely to us all and we had a great time sharing with them.

On the Sunday morning I was asked to give a word of testimony letting people know what I was doing and where I was in my life. I was very very nervous. I don’t often get very nervous before speaking but Sunday morning was one of those times. I got up to speak and all was well, a few jokes, some bits about me yada yada yada – then all of a sudden as I started to tell a story I began to get emotional – please note I’m not into getting emotional when speaking, it’s never happened before!! But as I stood there and looked out into the congregation and told my story I began to really choke up.

The story is this;

Whilst in Australia in August we arrived at our first conference, Russ was speaking in the youth venue and so sent me to the adult venue to get a feel for it and the whole conference in general. As I went into the venue I was ushered to the front to sit with the other guests (I’m more a middle right kind of man – not front row) and anyway the evening began and there I was, didn’t know anyone or any of the songs they were singing, completely jet-lagged and miles from home. Anyway this guy called greg got up to welcome everyone (he’s a legend!!) and he invites us to stand and place our hands in front of us and close our eyes. I was really not up for this!!!! Tired, homesick Matt was not up for any hands out, eye-closing (unless it was some sort of charismatic sleep movement – but I doubted it).

Anyway I did as suggested (mainly due to the large number of cameras pointed into the congregation) and stood there with hands out and eyes closed. Greg asked us tell God who we were and where we were at;

I laughed inside and said to God – “I’m Matt White, I’m in Sydney Australia and I miss my wife, family and friends and feel miles away from anyone who loves me”.

In that moment as I stood there, jet-lagged and hands out I heard a voice whisper in my ear;

“I know who you are, I know where you are, I’m here and I love you”

At that moment the band began to play and we were invited to sing ‘Indescribable’.

“Indescribable, Uncontainable,
You put the starts in the sky and you know them by name
You are amazing God”.

As I shared my story on Sunday the magnitude of that moment overwhelmed me again as I stood in a place that has had so much to do with my spiritual formation in so many ways.

Someone commented afterwards that in all the years of knowing me (24 and a half) she had seen more of God in Matt White (she actually said Matthew because that’s what I’m called in Ireland) than she’d ever seen before.

I’m going through a bit of a breakdown at the moment (not in any sort of mental illness way) but I’m being broken down in lots of ways that are challenging me, inspiring me, frustrating me and making me do all sorts of things I never thought would happen. This is a great time in my life and I’m really excited by it.

I’m not sure if Matt L knew me when he wrote ‘Take Broken Me’ but he summed up my life right now better (and in fewer words) than I’ve managed;

“I’m broken down and I need repair
But I’m freewheeling, feels like I’m almost there
These are the strangest days I’ve ever lived
And the best is yet to come”

I am and I do
I am and it does
They really are
Always!!

.......so it wasn't that bad

So it'd be safe to say that for the last week I've been feeling let down by TV (see last 2 posts) but then I turned onto BBC 1 this evening and watched Jam & Jerusalem.

My faith is restored in my licence fee, it was worth every penny of it!!!!

If you missed it you really should try and catch it next week.

It's written by Saunders & French (when did that change from French & Saunders??) and the cast list is a who's who of British comedy - awesome!!!!

Where do we go from here??

Having a good week thanks,

Spent Sunday speaking at East Midlands Youth Councils in Nottingham. It was a great day and the young people were really reponsive. Big thanks to Andrew (their new DYO). Had a great time with the electralyte boys especially the drive home with Trading Places passing the time and drowning out the constant beeping of the tow bar indicator!!!!

Monday was house group and we had 4 new people there which was great.

Tuesday was painting time, me, christina, glyn & matt L painted glyn's new room in deep red and ivory (very nice!!)

And today I was in the office and then came back to the house with matt L to do some work here

Heading back to Ireland this weekend to play drums for Marjory Watson.

Anyway.......been watching some TV recently and I was wondering - When Did It Get Rubbish??

Some examples;

Jade's PA - A show in which Jade Goody searches to find a new personal assistant to help her manage her hectic schedule of reality shows and conversations with her ghost writer. However when Jade finishes the show and realises she's managed to make all the recording sessions without a PA could the winner be suddenly unemployed........oh well I hear they're already signed up for the next series of 'Trust me I'm a holiday rep'

Scare tactics - An American show in which members of the public sign up to have their friends and relatives frightened. I've seen this only once but in this episode of the light-hearted entertainment programme I witnessed a teenage girl be convinced that an escaped prisoner was in her house and about to attack her and a young man led to believe his to work colleagues had been shot by government officials and he was next.

I dread to think what's next!!!!

How quickly do you deliver??

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/the-brick/index.html

This foam brick is for throwing at the TV when you're frustrated by what's on it!!

I'm watching Children In Need..........the Northern Irish One!!!!

The very next day......well.....week

Do you ever have an experience where something is so random that you begin to doubt that it's really happening??

As way of example I present this anecdote;

Last week whilst in central London I was walking through Bank station when I heard a busker in the distance. As I got closer I recognised it was a clarinet (you see mum all those uni fees were worthwhile!!). This in itself was not that random - however as I got closer I only vaguely recognised the tune being played.

A few moments later I began to be convinced that the tune was "Last Christmas" by Wham. Now at this point it's important to remember it was the 1st November!!

And so I became convinced that I wasn't hearing this in reality and was in fact suffering some sort of George Michael 80's pop ballad daydream and even afer I boarded the train I was convinced I'd made the whole thing up.

In fact right now as I type this I'm still unconvinced this really happened........so forget my first question;

Was anyone else in London last week and did you happen to hear anyone busking Christmas Ballads on a slightly out of tune clarinet??..........and if so..........did he know "Faiytale of New York" (not Lullaby as I orignally thought) by that fella from the pogues (I'm hoping to convince Chelmsford Songsters to sing it this year?!?!)

apologies to BT......well not really

So BT came through and we are now up and running online (I think they read my blog and then did it to prove me wrong - one surefire way of getting something done is to claim someone can't do it...........just me then!?!?) So after a lot of aggro from our solicitors we got moved and I can now get some pictures of our new house on here. It's amazing to be closer to work and church and friends and......well everything really!! This is our living and dining room













Our kitchen
















Christina's newest hobby