Christmas& New Year Photo's ..

Christmas Photo Memories ...these Baubles are rather cute but then again so are the girls :-)

The usual Christmas morning stampede to the living room to find that Santa had been !!

Sarah very kindly bought me a walking stick for Christmas and it was presented to me at Church on Christmas morning .....need to stamp out ageism :-)
Off to Grannie & Gramps in Liverpool for the traditional Christmas Dinner

The Three Cherubs ....How Romantic ...double chins all round
Later on in the day we travelled over to the Wirral for Christmas supper...Presented Nana with a duck in memory of me dad ...we called him Albert.All showing signs of eating too many mince pies !!Later on Approx 11pm we arrived in Derby to spend a couple of days with Alli ,Matt & SammyNEW YEAR ......and the boys from Take That :-)

Dancing around the handbags !!Chubby bunnies Matt style What Can I say ...all the lads were in touch with their feminine side ...

New years bumper sticker

I found this very amusing ...saw this bumper sticker ..

"Diet ,exercise, die anyway!"

Confession Time ..The tale of the Cake tin and the isolation switch!

For those of you who know me you know that DIY and I do not make a good team. Today this was most embarrassingly illustrated ... Here goes the story .

On Sunday our central heating boiler packed in ( or so I thought ) . I fiddled and played but just couldn't get it to come back to life so I called out a handyman . Now handyman couldn't make it until today . So we froze for a good few days !!! just so happened that last night and today was one of the coldest this winter ..

All of us were glad when handyman arrived this morning . He promptly made his way to the kitchen to take a look at the sick boiler and like a trained professional he moved a couple of cake tins to one side revealing a strange switch on the wall that I had never noticed before and pressed it from the OFF position to the ON position . Sick boiler suddenly made a miraculous recovery and the heat once again flowed through the house..

As I said handyman was a trained professional ..I was glad to pay the £47 call out charge ....

My wife and one or two of the gentlemen in our church I know will never let me forget this sorry tale of ineptitude ...Just goes to show I cant be good at everything :-)

Happy new Year everyone ..Photo memories of Christmas

The flowers I bought my wife . I got into trouble over these in a nice sort of way . I had ordered them to be picked up on Christmas Eve and whilst I was doing that I asked Gill to go with Laura for a cup of coffee in the local cafe ( The Treacle mine) . Anyway to cut a long story short I also asked the florist to hand deliver them by making an announcement in the cafe out loud to everyone . "Mrs Whiteway .. I love you from Mr Whiteway "... Gill blushed ...the result I was hoping for . You see even old fogies like me can be romantic sometimes :-)

Britains got talent ...particularly the one on the right !!

Happy Christmas everyone

May the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts as we remember Him on this day ..

Been up early this morning :-( Laura came into our room at 2:56 am !!! she was quickly dispatched back to bed ...

Out and about at various homes over the next few days ...will take a few photo's to blog up later on in the week ..

Have a great day

Busy Busy Busy

The hectic pace goes on unabated with numerous speaking engagements at Schools and Carol services . Last Friday managed to take a little time out and visit the Bridge Chapel in Liverpool to watch the production of "The Promise" written by Les Stamper ..a very gifted man . It was great and you can pick up the pics from their web site .

Today I did an assembly over in West Felton and then this afternoon Phil& I along with a number of folk went along to sing Carols in a local residential home . Always eventful...when you preach at these venues you have to expect a little heckling ..like " Whats he saying " ...ooh its cold in here" and "where's me sherry & mince pies" ...I had them all today . All for His Glory :-)

For those who are grieving

Gill was reading the GirlsTalk blog yesterday and came across this posting . I am sure it will be a help to those whose hearts are hurting with grief this Christmas . Click here for the link

Christmas in the Schools

Phil & I have been busy this week ( and last week) in and out of schools doing assemblies geared to Christmas . It has been a joy to "bring glad tidings " as the Angels said .

Today we went to Adcote school one of our favourites . We always receive a warm welcome and today we were treated to coffee and mince pies afterwards . Sometimes this job is tough :-)

One thing I will say though is that the mince pies were very small ( as per last week ) . I am not happy with this new trend ...I will have to launch campaign to save the BIG mince pies !!

Celebration for Hope....

Last night Anna received some great news . On Wednesday this week she had been interviewed for a place at Hope University in Liverpool to do primary School Education . She was amongst 2000 applicants with only 220 places on the course . Last night she found out she had done it ...so out came the PINK bottle of bucks Fizz to celebrate ... Now she only has the small matter of passing her "A" levels to worry about :-(

Tiny Mince pies ...

Tuesday night at the Hawkstone was great . Ninety folk gathered to partake in a traditional Christmas Dinner followed by coffee and very small mince pies !! . Les ( the Great ) Stamper made a wonderful after dinner speaker . The good news of Christmas was clearly proclaimed .

I must admit though , when I got home I ate a proper mince pie ..or two ;-)

Where are you heading ?

Phil sent me this today ...thought I would share it with the two or three that read this blog :-)

Did an assembly this morning at this Private School. Great place very Harry Potterish in its setting .

Tonight we have the Great Les Stamper ( from this Church ) coming to speak at our Christmas meal at this venue . I say Great because he reads this blog ;-) . Looking forward to it and the opportunities it will present for the Gospel ...Photo's to follow

Men Breakfasting ..

Some of the men from our church and the church at Prees got together this morning for breakfast and discussion . The Topic .." The Role of Men in the church" . I led the discussion that revolved around the biblical truth that men should lead by example ... we discussed 3 H's

The Hitchhiker .... do we attend or do we belong to the church

The Holy Man .... Are we seen as men who are striving to be Christlike .

The Handy Man .... do we get stuck in ..

Good discussion .... Good Food ...Thanks to all those who made the effort to come along ...you are the Belongers :-)

For those who want to understand more about the roles of men & women within the church then can I recommend this website for further reading & reflection.

Tears and Laughter Part II

Yesterday turned out to be the sequel to last week . Festive shopping this time and lunch at Pizza Express.This was no quick bite to eat though ...When Gill & Alli get going the conversation flows , so three hours later we were back amongst the shoppers !! Sammy ,Matt & the great Tommy ( the Fingers) Mac, joined us for tea later on . Good day , good company , shame about the bank balance :-)

They were a little camera shy this week !!!

Mother of all Stomach Bugs!!

The last couple of days have not been pleasant . Whilst preaching on Sunday morning I was feeling a little off colour and by the end of the afternoon I was decidedly sick . So for the last two days I have spent my time between bed and the en-suite!!

On the plus side I have lost 6Lbs in weight ...but this particular weight loss programme does not come highly recommended;-)

Family feasts...

This afternoon we were over in Stoke meeting with some of Gill's family for a meal .It is good to catch up with folk that you only get together with occasionally throughout the year .

This evening we dined over at my sisters , mum was staying the night . We all settled down to watch a DVD "Nanny McFee" .Great film .

"Riding with Biblical Giants".... on the Road

For the last three Fridays Wem Baptist Church Schools Team have been staging "Riding with Biblical Giants" mornings for 350 children from 9 local primary schools .

It is aimed at supporting schools with their relgious education curriculum . We cover things like Christian worship , Bible history and Christian ordinances . It also gives us a great opportunity for the Gospel . The kids love it and I think the teachers enjoy the morning off !!

Today we had the roadshow , hosted by Baschurch Primary School . Phil was David and I quite naturally was Goliath ...pity he had to win the fight :-)

Tears and Laughter

Yesterday on my day off ,Gill & I nipped over to Alli in Derby. Guess where we ended up ..Yes at the shops . Being surrounded by women most of the time, inevitably results in frequent trips to the shopping centres ...This one was new to me as it was in Derby and as shopping centres go I have to say it was OK . Made more pleasant by stops at Nando's and Starbucks .

In all honestly and I do struggle to admit this,the afternoon with Gill& Alli was quite therapeutic for us all .Tears and Laughter is how best to describe it .

Today started early . Phil & I on a Thursday meet early ( 7am) to play squash , have a coffee and then spend some time in prayer . He always beats me ...but there is a day coming :-)

Slowly Back into the Groove ...

It was a joy to be back amongst the fellowship at Wem on Sunday . We are privileged to part of the family at Wem . It is a very warm ,loving fellowship . Phil had obviously been taking his preaching pills on Sunday morning . An uplifting sermon on the second coming . Check it out on the web site .

In the evening we had a baptismal service . Linda one of my ABQers who became a Christian this year . It was heart warming to hear her testimony . I preached at the service on Thomas ...if you have 25 Min's check it out ..again on the website .

Yesterday I did an assembly at a school that we have just started to go into . I love the school . The girls ( its an all girls school) are extremely well behaved and the staff always give you a warm welcome . If Icould afford it Iwould definitely send my little cherubs there .

Today I nipped over to Liverpool to dispose of Dad's clothes . Not a nice task . Very sad and very final :-(

All online ..

Well ..it's official Wem Baptist has made it into the 21st century . We now have online sermons. Check it out for yourself . I would recommend the scouser not the cockney :-)

Click this link ..and listen from your computer or download to your mp3.

Christian Unity ...

Sometimes when you meet with other Christians it can feel a little like the way the table is set in this picture . People wrongly look for opportunities to have a go and shoot you down.

It shouldn't be that way .

I am glad to say that the eldership meetings here at Wem Baptist are as far removed from this picture as they could be . It is a privilege to sit around the table ( as we did today for four hours this morning) and discuss heavenly matters related to God's earthly church in complete harmony ...they are always a joy to attend and long may it continue that way .

Birthday Boy

Yesterday we celebrated my birthday with an Iceland buffet ( we were impressed with this years adverts on the telly..so we tried it out )

Those present were Jane & Nick , Grannie & Gramps, Nana , Ben & Naomi and all of us Whiteways . It was a nice night although tinged with sadness.

The kids enjoyed melting the marshmallows and one or two other things !!

Back at work today preparing a sermon for Sunday night ...Onwards and upwards .

Life goes on ....

When you lose someone one of your initial reactions is to try and push the pause button on life . You find it hard to live a normal life . The reality though is that life does go on and so it should .All according to God's perfect plan .

We all travelled over to Derby yesterday and went with Alli and the kids to Church . Ant Adams preached a sermon that was spot on for Alli and she was truly uplifted by what she heard . Ant in his sermon said that there are no accidents with God and it certainly wasn't an accident that Alli heard that sermon yesterday .

Today I am off to Liverpool to sort out Dad's mobility car ...It has to go back . something that mum is not looking forward to ... but life does go on and all of us have to make the most of the days we have been given .Just like laura who took the seeds of what was dead ( the sunflower ) ready to plant again for next years crop . The cycle of life on God's earth goes on .

Two funerals ..two goodbye's

This last week has been the hardest week of my life and the lives of so many who loved either Paul or Dad or both . A week that in many ways is difficult to come to terms with because you half expect Paul to ring or Dad to ring and when you go to there respective homes you half expect them to be there . But they aren't and they never will be anymore and that's the hard part .

Many thanks to all of you who have sent cards and emails . Thank you for your love and support . It does mean a lot to us all .

Me Dad ...

Tomorrow at the Springwood Crematorium we will be remembering dad and giving thanks for his life . I miss him .

Pops

Albert Whiteway
1st January 1931 - 4th November 2007

Ephesians 2:13
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”

Sadness & Hope

On Monday we committed my mates body to the elements , remembering him and giving thanks for his life .

It was a sad day , but also a day filled with hope . Jesus Christ is that hope and this good news was proclaimed loud and clear .

200 plus people turned out. An indication of the impact that Paul had had on so many people .

He was a good mate ..the best... and as I said in my tribute..

" He was a man who will forever live in our memories and in our hearts . A man we will never forget."

Please remember Alli in prayer as she comes to terms with the loss of the love of her life. And Matthew & Samantha as they grieve .

When sorrows like sea billows roll ..

My Dad passed away today ... He was an ordinary man who dedicated his life to his family and friends ..I'll miss him ,particularly his sense of humour .

Some photo memories of my mate

Good memories ....that will never be forgotten