Shoutlouder

time for a fresh new look

// March 28th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Blogging

I’ve finally done one of those jobs I’ve been planning to do for ages… and that is update my blog and give it a complete makeover so I hope you like the look.

(I’m particularly liking the new WordPress upgrade that has made the whole back office running of a blog seem so much nicer and cleaner… but most of you will just be thinking “what a geek” right now!)

The last few weeks have seen some massive changes in our lives, not least being the move into the Leeds Megacentre which has been incredible. Such a huge enthusiasm and excitement buzzing around the place as people begin to get used to their new Sunday morning home.

But eventually there comes a time when just having something is not really the end result and 4 weeks-in it’s time for us to take stock and begin to engage in what this is really all about… reaching the lost in our world.

So I feel now’s the time for a new look… and a new outlook as we begin to pursue the incredible purposes of God in Leeds.

the perfect curry night out

// August 15th, 2008 // No Comments » // Book Review, Inspiration

So I’m feeling almost as happy as Team Sprint GB thanks to blogging friend Scott Rodgers who decided that my bribe to take him out on the ‘perfect curry night out in Leeds’ was worthy of the Gold Medal – or in his case a copy if ‘IT‘ which I will duly read and review for all of you who have no idea what I am talking about!

I love his comment on the blog though saying that he has ‘no idea what a perfect curry night out means’ so he’ll have to give it a try – which made me realise HOW FORTUNATE I am to live in the amazing Great Britain!

Our athletes right now are competing in probably their best games for as long as I can remember. There’s a sense of victory in the air that seems to be compelling the athletes on. I’ve found myself watching snippets of the olympics this week and seeing a country that seems to have lost its boring quiet optimism and graceful sportsmanship and instead got back a Lion’s roar – and it shows – we’ve started winning things!

I love the fact they were interviewing the Cycling guys this morning and it wasn’t “Well, let’s hope for the best…” instead it was “We can do this – we’ve never been better, never been more on form…”

It took us 7 days in the Athens Games to get our first Medal – after 7 days in Beijing we have EIGHT and we still have one of our best weekends for winning medals to come with more cycling, rowing and athletics to come.

Brits for years have been known as ‘plucky’ – the underdogs who seem to keep on coming back and trying and trying again. And yet our heritage is that we are a nation that conquered and led most of the known world.

I guess its time for the Lion to start roaring again.

You were never born to be ‘plucky’ – you were born to be a Kingdom builder, more than a conqueror – you were born a winner from the very first moment that you won the race to the egg!

Which randomly brings me back to the best curry night out in Leeds – because that’s something else we can be proud of. After all – the Brits invented curry – it’s true (in a way) – and if you’ve never been out late on a Friday night in the middle of leeds and took in a late night Tikka Makhani at my favourite Akbars Restaurant then you’ve missed out on something. You can guarantee that most of Team GB will be sitting around supping their energy drinks and chomping on a protein bar with dreams of Olympic glory interupted every now and then as their minds wander back to the first thing they’ll do when they get home to a much greater Great Britain… go out for a curry!