Our un_lock course has know come to an end.But what a great journey it has been over these last 7 weeks .We finished up the course last night but will meet next week and have a curry together.

It was great to hear peoples stories of how God has been at work in there lives it was great to see and hear those stories un-locked .What was even better was how people began to have a realisation of just how much God is at work in there lives .I'm amazed at some of the stories I heard and encouraged that God is indeed at work in the lives of everyday people.Normal working class people who have encountered God and who are finding ways to express that and the confidence to share it with others.I feel both inspired and blessed to have been part of the journey.

A few of the folk on the course have now started to come along to our gatherings on a Sunday.What is so exciting about that is the fact that we never asked them to come they just came along to find out a bit more about us and they seem to like us.

One of the challenges that came out of the course was how people with low income are limited in the ways they can fulfill there dreams.the low income reduces there ability to make choices.A few folk expressed a desire to go along to college or even university so that they could follow the dreams they had when they were younger.This shows how the power of the empire is still at work in the lives of the working class.One grandmother simply wanted her grandson to be able to join a football club but could not afford to but the boots he needs.There is a great challenge to those of us in the kingdom to be creative in the way we help people fulfil there dreams and the dreams they have for there families.

Talking with a friend last night about the value of friends who listen.In the broken world we live in the effects on the life's of many people mean that they have very few people who they can count on to listen to.

This global world has had the effect of scattering and shattering families .During my childhood my whole family lived within a few miles of each other and in most cases a few hundred yards.This gave me real sense of security knowing that there was always somebody there to look after you and listen to you.In today's world families are split up for all different reasons ranging from social to economic.Families break up leaving single mums and dads,people move around looking for work and the result is that we have too many people suffering from loneliness.

I think that the church needs to create space to listen to people and there stories.To value who they are and not just what they do.It seems that when people know they are being listened to by others that can be trusted God arrives .The church needs to be part of the answer in redressing the balance between global and local.

If you are a single mum with a few kids and you family is scattered or broken who will you go to to talk with and be listened to?Who will value what you have to say?Who will listen?

Look at what happened when Jesus listened to the stories of those with no voice.

Not sure what happened last night except to say there was alot of grace around.Our wee gang that meet on a Monday night was opened up by Gods grace and the stories about God at work in ordinary peoples life's were just mental.
I felt like God just gave us the chance to share life in an extraordinary way.It was like we reached a new level with each other and I was blown away with some of the stories of Gods goodness .Stories of people responding to his promptings in there families .Of his provision for those who fall on him and of changed life's.

I left feeling like I had just spent a few hours with Jesus.I left feeling so encouraged that Jesus is among us the working class people of Glasgow.Go on Jesus!!!

Its been a while since I came across the religious spirit that can get me so angry I want to burst.I have tried to avoid it at all costs and avoid being around whenever it raises its voice.
But there are times when it cannot be avoided and this means confronting it .Confrontations are never easy but when its someone full of religion it is especially difficult in my experience.Our recent attempt to create a safe place by using the un lock material has come under fire from this religious attitude.Having small groups is never easy they can always be hijacked by someone with and agenda and that's what has happened to us.

So now its time to confront!!to challenge in love the voice that condemn and judges others .To challenge the voice that wants to tell everybody how to fix there problems.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water you find another shark swimming around waiting to strike fear and death.