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

Flowers & Donations

People have been asking about flowers for the funeral . Allison , Paul's wife, has requested that instead of flowers , money be donated to the Treetops Trust . An organisation that was an enormous help to the family during the last few days of Paul's life .

Collection plates will be at the Woodlands Church during the thanksgiving service on Monday for this purpose .

Funeral Arrangements ....Paul

For those of you who are planning on attending Paul's funeral then the details are as follows ...

On Monday 5th November ....

First of all there will be a service of committal at Markeaton Crematorium ( click here for address and directions). This will begin at 2:40pm .

Secondly following on from this there will be a service of thanksgiving at Woodlands Evangelical Church Allestree ( click Here for Address). This service is scheduled to start at @3:40pm and will be followed by tea/coffee and some cake ( my mate , like myself , loved cake ! )

If you want any further details then please email me ...my address can be found by clicking profiles in the right hand column of this blog .

I'll see you again mate :-)

My best mate went to be with the Lord today . I will miss him .It hurts .

Had one of those dreaded calls..

Yesterday we had a call from Dads hospice advising us to come in as Dad was very unwell. We feared the worst . However upon arrival he had picked up and was sat up in bed eating his spare ribs and mashed potato :-)

I was glad to be able to have an hour with my dad on my own . Told him that I loved him .

We were meant to be going over to see Paul today but we have just had another phone call to say that Paul is also very unwell ...we await the next call ...

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

Had a break ....SHOPPING !!!

When you have three teenage daughters and you ask them.. "What would you like to do this afternoon girls " the answer invariably will be .."Oh lets go to the shops dad" . Not "Oh lets go for a walk" or "lets go to the park and play football" or "lets go and do something remotely interesting" ...No SHOPPING .

Now don't get the wrong idea , sometimes I like to shop but these girls of mine LOVE to shop . Poor things , they are victims you know , as I keep on reminding them , victims of our shallow must have the latest thing culture . And they agree , "Yes Dad we know we are victims and one day we will get over it but in the meantime lend me 20 quid for this nice pair of boots Ive seen !!"

Cant win ...so I rolled over and did the dad thing yesterday afternoon ..on a bright note though we did treat ourselves to dinner at " Frankie And Benny's" ..so the day didn't finish up too bad :-)

Lot's of miles ...

Doing lots of travelling at the moment between Derby , Wem & Liverpool . The car, poor thing ,doesn't know whats hit it !!

The girls ( Anna , Katie & Laura) went to a concert in Wrexham on Friday with the church , "Lou Fellingham and Phatfish ". They thought it was superb and would recommend you go an download some of their music .

Sunday was a bit of a rush ..preaching in the morning at Wem and then Hospital visits in Liverpool ... I fell asleep at Gill's mums house whilst Lewis Hamilton was losing the Brazillian Grand Prix !! I must have been tired :-)

Dreading the phone call

Sometimes you can become a little perplexed by the situations and the challenges that this life presents you with .One of those challenges is death and how to deal with it . Or as in the circumstances that myself and friends and family now find themselves in , how to deal with the impending death of people you love .This is every bit as challenging as the event itself ...
Jesus though , has a solution for every problem ...we just need to trust Him a little more ...

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1Peter 5:7

Good news ...Bad news

The good news yesterday was that Paul ( my best mate) was fit enough to go home from hospital . The bad news is that my Dad who is also suffering from cancer was taken in to the Marie Curie Hospice in Liverpool .

Dad has suffered with his lungs for many years having contracted emphsema about 20 years ago and now in recent months this has developed into cancer .

Amidst his suffering my dad always manages to crack a few jokes . I really admire his sense of humour even though his days are pretty dark at the moment . If you get a chance pray for my dad . He needs to fully comprehend in his heart that The Lord Can be his Shepherd and that he can lead him through the valley of the shadow of death if only he would let him .

Please pray ...thanks

Sleeplessness....

Gill & I went without sleep last night because we were at the hospital bedside of a friend we love dearly . Our friend is feeling a bit better today but I am suffering because I have had no sleep.

It's an interesting phenomena sleep , our bodies built in self replenishment system and when we don't get any boy do we feel it ... Or maybe it's just me and the fact that I am getting older and need much much more beauty sleep than I used to ...

Anyway must go ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzz

Return of the Old Scouter..

Yesterday I was privileged to lead and preach at my old Sea Scouts annual re-affirmation of promises service , held in my old scout headquarters.

It was a great occasion and the nostalgia was almost overwhelming . David Hope my troop leader over 30 years ago is still troop leader . Both he and Brenda his sister between them have clocked up nearly 80 years service to the cause of Scouting . Wonderful dedication and stickability .

I was glad to give a little of what Iam able to do back to the Scout Movement . It was a good night and I was allowed the opportunity to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ .

Many thanks to all involved and I look forward to seeing you all again .

Happiness / Joy whats all that about

Listen & Watch this .... From Mark Driscoll ...From Here

Indifference ...To Jesus Christ

... Are you indifferent to Jesus Christ ..... maybe it's time you started to be bothered ..

Answering The Big Questions ...

I started another eight week course tonight . Lots of folk turned up all with faith related questions .... Great stuff . It always amazes me how each of these courses turn out to be different mainly because of the different personalities that turn up .I am looking forward to the debates that we will inevitably have over the coming weeks . If you live in or around Wem and are over 18 then you are more than welcome to join us ...click here for more details

Last weekend...

The Whiteway clan were all over the place last weekend .... Anna was in Liverpool with Ben , Katie was at a camp reunion . Laura & I were on our YPF weekend and Gill was pounding the roads of Newcastle taking part in the great North Run .

The YPf Camp was brilliant at Cefyn Lea....our guest speaker Lazlo ( from Romania ..in case your wondering about the name ) was superb and all were challenged and encouraged .

Gill managed a time of 2hrs and 32 minutes which is brilliant considering it was her first half marathon. She also managed to raise over £5oo for a cancer support charity . In total four of our

folk from Church competed :- Gill, Helen , Sarah and Richard ( dressed as a duck ..which does suit his personality :-) ) Well done to them all .