Mike’s bike……

Mike’s Bike at Keilder Water

What a joy to ride Mike’s bike around Keilder Water yesterday. Its a 26 mile track which is a little harder than it looks. I stopped at the point in the photo and had a few moments thinking of Mike and how he enjoyed Keilder Water as a small child when we would bring the caravan for a week. What a privilege for me to now use his mountain bike and enjoy an awesome few hours out by myself enjoying the countryside.It makes me realise that whilst God’s people are buried, God’s work carries on. One person put it this way, “God buries His Workman but His work carries on”. Mike and I so enjoyed our rides in the hills and I know he would be so happy that I use his bike and continue to get out.At the end of that ride I had lost another 3.2lbs bringing the total to 23.2lbs in 10 weeks. Another 57 to go in 26 weeks. So I am right on target!

When do you learn to sail in a storm?

Whilst walking along Derwent Water with my brother and his wife, I said, “That wind must be at least a force 3″. There were white caps coming up and it was blowing a gale. They both said “no, that has to be a force 6″. Although I have been at sea for many years, I have never had to navigate, that has always been the captains job. In reality I know very little about navigation. Chris and Sal have not only sailed but studied and taken exams, in other words they would be prepared for a storm at sea.

We all sail through life, but are we prepared for a storm in life? Would we survive or would it consume us? How do we prepare for a “storm of life”? In all honesty I don’t know how to come up with an answer. What I experienced when my storm hit was based on relationship. I have for years built a relationship with Father God, family and some good friends. As Chris and Sal had invested in studying and learning about the sea, wind, boats, safety etc, I had invested in friendship with God and man. When the storm hit, I knew where to turn, I would say it was not my doing that got me through the storm, but those relationships. I wonder what others would say from their experience.

Mysterious? ……tickets on sale now!

 Saturday, 08 September 2012, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Times: Finish times are a guide only

Tickets: £5 plus a booking fee.

Starring Stephen Baldwin, Dan & Suzie Potter, WriteWay, The McGhie Family and The Knights

An international show based on the true story of a local boy’s journey of hope and the mystery of his unexplained death. It’s simple, it’s compelling… and it’s about you! Join us for an exciting night of entertainment featuring international artists and up-&-coming performers. Expect the unexpected!! It’s an evening you won’t want to miss!!

Bought to you by the Michael Knight Trust. www.michaelknighttrust.com

Stephen Baldwin: After starring in the double-Oscar winning film, “The Unusual Suspects”. Stephen Baldwin has since starred in many films; appeared on various TV shows such as: I’m a Celebrity… Get Me out of Here! (2009), and Celebrity Big Brother (2010); released his biography; and currently hosts a popular USA radio show. http://www.stephenbaldwin.com/ 

Dan & Suzie Potter: International illusionists, comedians, & theatre performers. Based in America, the Potters have preformed to thousands of people in over 60 countries. http://duzie.com/DUZIE.com/HOME.html 

WriteWay: For years the London based WriteWay boys only knew violence and crime. Until they each radically flipped their lives around. This international group has taken Rap, R&B, HipHop, and Indie to another level! In 2011 their life story, “One Way”, was released as a short film and screened in various VUE cinemas across the UK. http://writeway-music.com

The McGhie Family: London based Gospel singers.

The Knights: An ordinary Carlisle family inspired by their son and brother to create the “Michael Knight Trust” and to share a simple story with you. www.michaelknighttrust.com 

To book a ticket, go to http://www.thesandscentre.co.uk/search.html?ordering=0&searchphrase=all&searchword=mysterious  

 

King David used the words “Rock, Fortress and Deliverer”, what words would I use?

King David lived a life that had seen much violence, pain, fear, treachery from family, fear for his life from those he thought loved him. He wrote many poems and penned for us his thoughts towards God. He says in 2 Samuel 22 :2 “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer”. Over many years this had been his experience.

What are the 3 words I would use to say after 52 years to express who God is and has been to me? He is my……The more I sit and think about it, why reinvent the wheel! He is my Rock, that says it all, I move and shift, He does not. He is my fortress….wow the amount of times I have run to Him for help and know that He is there to protect me, even from my own emotion and self destruct! He is my deliverer….from a life without Christ and from eternal separation, from despair, anger and pain.

I wonder what 3 words you would use?

“I can go to him but he cannot return to me”

I was struck this morning by the words of King David when his servants asked him why he fasted when his son was sick but ate when he was dead. David said, “I can go to him but he cannot return to me”.

Life is about relationship. Last night I enjoyed a meal with Akila and Laura at a posh restaurant here in Carlisle which is very trendy with the young people. The girls are with me here in Carlisle, in a few months Laura is heading to South Africa for 6 months. Whilst they are not only alive but also in my neighbourhood, I want to keep creating great memories with them. Yes I can go and visit Mike at the grave side but he cannot return to me. I dont want dead relationships but I have to be proactive to keep them alive, even when the person is alive. But two people being alive is not sufficient for a great

Tottergill Sun Set

relationship, its what you do together, how much effort you put in that takes a relationship to another level.

Kathy and I are looking after a friends farm that has 9 holiday cottages, hence Kathy not with us last night. The farm is up on the Peninnes overlooking the whole of the Solway, and we watch every evening the sun going down and bringing Kath a G&T!. We also enjoy the spectacular vistas in the morning. My regular activity is to make an awesome breakfast so we can sit and enjoy the moment together.

So whats my point! I want to enjoy the moment whilst “He can return to me and I can go to him”

Breakfast at Tottergill

Tell your story – Premier radio this coming Saturday 8pm Men at Work

Premier Radio

“I should of said that”, ” I shouldn’t of said that”……So often when we have to speak in public, in an asemby at school, a church or like me today on radio we wish we had either said or not said anything. Well you can listen for yourself this Saturday from 8-9pm on Premier Radio, on the web if you like on Nick Battles show, Men at Work me telling my story.

Watch and Listen

I listened to a wise African man, Phineas Dube some years ago tell how these days he likes to sit in his native Zimbabwe and watch the animals. Phineas is a man with Phd’s, worked for the BBC in the UK and in human terms been very successful in life. I never forget how he said “He has never seen a Lion and an Elephant wanting to have sex together, so why do two men want to have sex!”, or “How come a dog and bitch can lie together in the sun without having to have sex all the time, but young people today cannot seem to keep their hands off each other”!

We live in a very fast pace life that really does not take the time to watch and listen. Its not just seeing, but observing. The process of analysing or contemplating on what I am seeing. As a Jesus follower I like to look and see what God is doing. We are moving forward with “The Event” on September 8th where we want to tell Mike’s story, others stories and His Story. As we as a family discuss this amongst ourselves and with others, there seems to be some key elements coming together. Its as I step back and watch as well as listen that I start to see what I believe God is doing. My Bible tells me I only see in part so that’s a little frustrating!

Do we give or does He take?

When Job had lost all his possessions and his family He said  “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1v21

Hannah had been unable to have children for many years and would cry out to God to give her a child. In the temple when she is pleading with God, Eli says in the end to her  ”Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” and Hannah falls pregnant with Samuel. At a young age she gives this treasures child back to God by serving in the temple with Eli. God gave to Hannah and she gave back.

Both Job and Hannah had a choice to make and I believe we do and its one of the heart, its not whether a loved one is taken or a loved one is given, but do we give that child to God in our hearts whether that child is alive or dies? Do we recognise that we did not give life, He did. Can I trust God to give to Him a child that is rebellious against God? Are the things we hold dear ours to grip onto or do we release them for God to do what He wants with them? May be nothing happens on the physical, but have I in my heart released to Him before I may have to?

And then I ask the other question, does He take or is the taking just a part of this sinful world I live in? Why when my boy dies at 18 do I say “He took Him” (which I believe he did!), but why when my 93 year old grandmother died, I said “what a wonderful long life”, it was the natural order.

I dont know, but I do know I need to give to Him in my heart all those things I hold close, even though they may not be taken or given on a physical level.

“He is not there, He is risen”

As tradition, we rose early for a Sunday sunrise service at the cemetery. We like to go and visit the place where we buried Mike, which is only 50 yards from where Christians gather for this service. I find less and less comfort in visiting Mike. As the emotion lessens and logic replaces, like the ladies went to visit Jesus at the tomb and found the angel that said, “He is not here, He is risen”. We don’t need to visit the place where we buried Mike, we carry him in our hearts and memories. We think and talk about him often and all the good times we had. I started to ponder on whether I think of all the good times and memories I have had with God! Our friends Todd, Karen and Austin have been around for the past week and we have created some awesome memories visiting places of beauty, castles and pubs in the south-west of Scotland. Jesus is not dead, He is alive, He is present, I experience a vibrant and  real relationship with Him. The dynamic of living in the present can be a tension of not looking back. It’s very important for me to look back and remember all the good times I have had with God, those awesome spiritual memories. Do I put as much effort into creating those I do with friends in the Sth of Scotland!

MKT Event

We as a family have felt for a while that we would like to have a significant event here in Carlisle where we can “tell the story”. God has given us a beautiful story of a boy who in reality was unknown but on the other hand was known, he was insignificant but in fact he was very significant. That is true for all of us and we want to share that story to reveal His Story. We want young people of Mike’s age to discover they are significant, they are known and there is a loving God who is longing to reveal Himself to them.

So we have booked the largest venue here in Carlisle that seats 1200 and is where concerts, shows etc take place. The Michael Knight Trust (MKT) event will take place on Saturday September 8th. We as a family are playing with ideas for a title and any suggestions would be welcome. So far we have, Illuminate, Illumi-knight and some variations around that theme.

The evening will have local musicians, a rap group from London, a Gospel group from London, International Entertainers from the USA, multi media  and we are still working on an actor whose brother is very well-known.

Who would have thought that an unknown boy in Carlisle who did not wake up in bed one Saturday morning, would be the impetus for a large evangelistic event! “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains a single seed, but if it does die it bears much fruit”! You are bearing much fruit Mike!