questions

I've just begun to notice a disturbing trend. Bit bit bit I'm moving down the school!

I started the year with the Primary 5s. And then there was a session with the Primary 4s. Today I was in with the Primary 3s. I think it's called 'regressing' - or something like that!

And the younger they get, the harder the questions they throw!

I was in, as I say, with the Primary 3s today. Another sort of loosely structured 'Questiontime' with me as the panel of five. Which doesn't leave a lot of room to hide!

First question up (in cricketing-speak, I think it's called a 'loosener'), first question up was a cracker - Is God a Christian or a Moslem? Some loosener! More like a full-blown 'yorker'! I felt like doing a runner there and then! If that was just an easy one to warm me up and get me in the mood, well ... I mean, how much harder were they going to get?!

Thankfully not much.

Though the questions were pretty probing. In fact it crossed my mind that this is what appraisals must be like! And probably the Inquisition!

What do you do with your time when there aren't any services on? Do you like your work? How often do you pray? That sort of thing. I mean, nothing too personal!

Do I like my work? Of course I do. And I told them exactly why.

What does it feel like being a Christian? Just great, I said. Exciting and fun. Full of adventure and full of surprises. And just being with Jesus, all of the time, it's got to be great.

How often do I pray? I never stop. I told them what prayer is and how it's just like you would want to chat non-stop with someone who's your friend.

Who do I work with? Well, loads of different people every day. But most of all, I said, I work alongside Jesus all the time. And try to do the sort of things that Jesus did.

Like going into the school and tossing around the questions children have!

I was ready for a coffee, I have to say, by the time I was finally done. But they seemed to enjoy my being there.

Doing the sort of things that Jesus did. And therefore does as well. That remains the challenge for me day by day. And always that means people.

In among the people. At the school, in their homes, wherever they may be.

I can't be with them all. I realise that. But I can be with some. I don't have any 'targets' that I set or anything like that. That's not the way that Jesus treated people one small bit. I simply try and listen to his voice and hear what he is saying and then go where he directs.

And at the end of the day, after both an afternoon and evening on those lines, it was back to the questions again.

I'd called on one of the Fellowship Groups which is leading the service on Sunday night. We chatted it through and got things clear. And then I simply said it's always good to listen to the question Jesus asked - what do you want me to do?

I try and face that question in relation to each service and each message I prepare. What do I want him to do?

And for Sunday night, not least, I think perhaps above all else I want him so to work through all that's said and done, that each one there will see the very glory of almighty God.

A big ask! But he's a big God and he likes to do the big thing.

Roll on Sunday!