thank God!

"Thank God!"

Most times when people speak like that, they don't really mean it too literally. I mean, they're grateful, all right, but the 'God' bit's more a turn of phrase than a testimony of faith.

The guy on the phone today, though, plainly meant it.

He's the contact we had for a group called John 3:7 who were looking for somewhere to stay next week.

They're coming across to do some street-evangelism through the festival and their accommodation had fallen through. Metaphorically speaking.

So they'd asked around and the request had dropped through our Inbox.

We called them. We've got good halls with all the facilities a group like that would require. Kithcens, toilets, separate sleeping areas, a shower. All that a group like that could need.

So, as I say, we called them. And that's when we got the response with which I began.

"Thank God!"

The guy meant it. The only other option they had was some place away in Harthill.

Which is half-way through to Glasgow for those unfamiliar with the geography of these parts. Not exactly convenient for street evangelism in Edinburgh.

I wanted to say "Thank God!" myself.

I'd been chatting today with different folk and the concerns I was airing were all along these lines. About how easy it is to forget, or lose sight of, the purpose of all that we do.

We see our halls as a resource for making the Lord known. So what these folk are doing is just exactly what we're really always on about ourselves. Except sometimes we get so pre-occupied with running the place and keeping the whole thing going we forget that important fact.

So when this came up it was just like a sign. A timely confirmation from the Lord that this is what he means that we should be.

A people spreading good news. A people through whom new life is being conveyed.