I feel bad to admit that there are times of late that I feel like I shouldn't be helping lead a course... I should be working late on my exhibition (it's called Nature Collected; it's about the history, motivations and ethics of batural history collecting; it's touring the South West and it opens on the 7th July... HELP)!

The last time my table co-leader was away for a sesion of Alpha I was really nervous before I arrived at Church. "I can't steer a group through the pitfalls of complex theological questions! I'm not experienced enough! I can't quote scripture and I can't explain the trinity coherently! Why did I get myself into this!!!"

Of course none of this mattered... God only requires that we use the gifts that we have, we can do no more. We had a great time on our table and my guests ministered to each other and to me. We are brothers and sisiters in Christ; we need not fear but simply trust in Him.

Over these past (un-blogged) months I have helped lead a small group; first through the Alpha course and now through a course called Discipleship Explored. I have been humbled and amazed at what God has done.
 

Inspired by Wayne's revelation that he's an admirer of Seamus Heaney's poetry (http://www.aboutlife.com/waynem/ 2006_a_review) I thought I'd share my bookish explorations of the last year (you might like them too):

An interest in the mechanisms by which life has developed on Earth is coincidental, rather than central, to my faith. Though I do believe in natural theology, that we can become more familiar with the character of God both through scripture and nature, I do not suggest that nature is God or visa versa. That said pressure groups promoting the theory of intelligent design and creationism are not doing the Christian faith any favours.

Louis Aggasiz