BrianIngraham.com | ASPIRE

After way too many experiences of humiliation and failure over the past 4 months I have finally passed my driving test. One of the things about being an alien is that even the most little of things, like a drivers license, or opening a bank account seem to be so much harder.

I am not going to say, “I deserved to pass,” I still can’t believe I did. All I do want to say is a special thank you to all of you who through taunting and laughing helped to produce added humility in this heart of mine.

Also, a special “shout out” to Andy Ashworth for the long hours of patient instruction and the use of your car– “Above and Beyond, Bro.”

I also want to thank the optimistic faith of my father who wrote this card over 6 months ago in anticipation of me, one day, passing the British driving test.

PS. Those who are wanting to phone us, we continue to be without a home phone line and may be for a couple weeks yet. It is like we are real missionaries now:-)

Almost 50 people, including children, converged in two shifts for a time of remembering Jesus’ fulfillment of the Jewish Passover at our home last evening. A powerful evening. Leah did a brilliant job both coordinating the meal as well as massively rewriting our Seder service. Here are a few pictures of a fun and full evening.

“Blessed are you O Lord our God, King of the Universe…”

Sorry about the terrible picture, but the retreat went great. We had lots of fun and great worship led by Andy and the Re:Band. I am always surprised by how fantastic retreats are. Leah and Mike did a great job putting the weekend together, it is great to be surrounded by such high quality people.

As for the messages, Stephen Irwin describes them HERE on his blog. I am not sure how effective the messages were yet. The messages geared towards us becoming us a missionary people. I guess I wont know how effective the speaking was until I see how people apply the things we talked about.

Thank you to all who prayed, I really needed it. And thank you to Mark Jones who somehow got his hands on Mountain Dew and blessed me with a can for breakfast each morning:-)

This weekend I am speaking at out church retreat.  I would really appreciate prayer both as I continue to prepare and for a significant weekend for our church.

Thank you to all those who pray…

These past few weeks of ‘silence’ have been some of the most challenging and personally enlightening days of Re:Hope. Times of tragedy and challenge can be profound in revealing what we are actually made of.

2 weeks ago, 25-year-old Chris Gaston died suddenly in his sleep without warning instantly stunning his family, our church, and all who knew him. The family invited me to travel to Northern Ireland to preach about Jesus to what turned out to be just under 600 people- half of whom didn’t believe in Jesus. (the memorial service in Northern Ireland can be listened to in it’s entirety HERE- I start talking around the 16:30 mark.)

Two days later, our church did a combination memorial service and church service for Chris hosting many from the Glasgow School of Art who came to remember Chris (the message can be listened to HERE.)

This season has revealed that we are a church who cares, who really do love one another. This season has revealed hidden pastoral gifts amongst the people of our church as they choose to pursue one another and listen and cry and sit with one another. This season has revealed our urgency as messengers of essential and good news.

As a church we grieve with Tony (Chris’ brother) and his family. In life Chris was loved and gracious… Not a day goes by I am not thinking about Chris and his family…

May our father of compassion, the one who is close to the broken-hearted be close to you.

I care…