Another day, another snowman

Our best snowman yet! This one was bigger than Michael.

Return of the Snowman

IT'S A BOY!

Andrew Joel Hamer-Hodges. Born this morning at 5.06am. 7lb 4. Labour was quick and uncomplicated. Mother and baby are home and doing very well. Praise God for his goodness.

This proud dad may not be blogging much this week! 

Anthony & Lucy's Wedding Photos

I have had a number of Google hits from people looking for photos of my brother's wedding in Edinburgh. I'm happy to use my Google rating to point people in the right direction:

• Anthony and Lucy's online wedding photo gallery


• Dominic Ibbotson professional photos of the day


• My own snaps

Congratulations Dave and Sarah

From Dave & Sarah

I love a good wedding, and this one was great! There is something very special about a wedding when the Bride and Groom not only have a deep love for each other, but also a deeper love for the Lord; when there is a real sense of his presence during the worship, and spontaneous responses of joy and celebration from the congregation at the making of a covenant before God.

Congratulations Dave and Sarah! (Auntie Sarah and Uncle 'Tar Dave as they are known round ours) Every blessing on your life together.

It was also a pleasure for us to offer hospitality to Simon, one of the groomsmen, and Carole, his wife, over the weekend. Simon did an excellent job, both as master-of-ceremonies and as worship leader. It was a pleasure to serve such servants of God with our home, to get to know them better, and hear about the wonderful things the Lord is doing in Huddersfield. May God provide you with a building that meets your needs abundantly - enough, and to spare!

...oh yes, while we are on weddings, I've not forgotten that I promised a picture of Michael and me in our kilts, at my brother's excellent wedding last week. If you would like to see it, click here.

That's ma boy!

 

Wonderfully Made

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Ps 139:13-14 ESV)

I believe in miracles. Our God is a God who still intervenes in this world with clarity of voice and supernatural power. But I was deeply moved last week by a very "natural" miracle.

Jacqueline and I went for a scan to see our unborn baby. As the nurse pointed out all the tiny bones in its spine, the chambers of its tiny heart, and its other bones and organs, and after each close up said, "That's all fine," my heart swelled with praise to God. What a miracle! Who else but God could make something so tiny and so perfect?

We truly are fearfully and wonderfully made! Each human life is a walking miracle!

Et tu, Michael?

  

Back Home

 

Home again. We had a wonderful holiday. Beautiful sunshine, relaxing days, great food. Nevertheless, it's great to be home.

What was stirring me while I was away? Well despite the relaxation of mind and body, quite a few things actually: "The Scriptures and the Power of God", Numbers 11 (again! :-)) "Drawn by your anointing or driven by your craving", and some thoughts in response to reading "The Da Vinci Code."

I'll share my thoughts on these subjects over the following days... hopefully without digging myself into a hole! ;-) 

Playing with Picasa

  

Class from the past

Jacqueline met up with an old friend today. She dug out an old photo album so she could show Michael who they would be meeting. It was left on the dinner table tonight and flicking through I found some classics! Here's the good ol' class of '97. Recognise anyone?

Congratulations Ranald and Christine

What a fantastic weekend! We were in Scotland. Saw old friends and made new ones. Witnessed two wonderful people and servants of God enter into a lifetime covenant of love together. And danced the night away at the Ceilidh afterwards!

Congratulations Ranald and Christine, may your marriage be abundantly blessed.

Let it snow

We wish you a Merry Christmas...

My last day of work today before the holidays: Woohoo! Not sure how much I will get to blog between now and the new year, and if my site-traffic is anything to go by, not sure how many of you will be checking anyway! So let me take this opportunity, on behalf of Jacqueline, Michael and myself, to wish you all a wonderful Christmas, and a healthy, prosperous, fruitful and abundantly blessed New Year!

2006 is going to be a good 'un. I can feel it already!

Snow is falling...

Holiday Snap

The Best Man is Back!

This is me with my good friend Lee Callaghan. He was my Best Man at our wedding back in 1999. Almost immediately afterwards he drifted away from God, and we lost touch. He went through a very rough patch and over the last 6 years, although we live in the same town we have hardly spoken.

The good news is a week ago he phoned me up to say he is back on track. He has given up smoking, and drinking, his emotional highs-and-lows are under control, and best of all he is full of the Holy Spirit and zeal for the Lord, and attending Church regularly.

I spent the evening with him yesterday, and really enjoyed myself. He is such a refreshing man to be with. There is not a pretentious bone in his body - what you see is what you get. He is open and honest and says what he feels. When he is full of God it is totally infectious!