Police Matters

I have just returned home after spending all day in a police car between Cardiff and Leatherhead in Surrey. It was all good fun for a very good cause. We were planning the National Police Memorial Service planned for Cardiff in September. I'll remember getting there and back!

Being part of the process is a huge privilege and its a thrill to work with such professional colleagues.

House

I got really tired today and came home at a reasonable time to do nothing except watch House. I very much enjoyed doing Wedi 7 on S4C last night doing an interview for the All Wales Convention. The trip to Llanelli was well worth it.

My diary looks very full for the Eisteddfod in Bala next week. I have so many things to do between now and then and tonight I feel almost 54 years old. I'm beginning to feel my age...

But, tomorrow is a new day.

Seimon Dewi Edwards Cycle to Geneva

Hi everyone. My son Seimon is about to start a long cycle ride from Cardiff to Geneva in aid of the British Heart Foundation.


If anyone out there wishes to sponsor him this is the link to his Just Giving Page details.

White Van Man

Last night I drove my hired white van to the Royal Welsh in Builth and had lots of fun with some good friends filling it up. I am now back in Cilfynydd abour to go to the dentist and then Bala to unload all my stuff. Tonight I hope to stay in Ruthin and be back in Cardiff tomorow with an empty van.

I'll be spending long hours on the road listening to my "Boss" CD>

Migrants

It was good today to be back with my colleagues in Cardiff. I also had a meeting in county Hall with some old friends in the migration and refugee world. It was good to touch base again.

I am deeply troubled about the growing and irrational fear of foreigners in the UK and throughout Europe.

I also thought much more about The Shack. I may read parts of the book again. I rarely do that.

On the Way Back

The last couple of days in Lyon were hard work with very long hours. Some crucial resolutions were passed and can be seen on the Conference of European Churches website.

I had a lot of fun last night with some Methodists and Baptists who helped things along with a rendition of "Bread of Heaven" and good company afterwards.

I'm on my way home I'm pleased to say.

Well Done Wales

Many thanks to my good friend Cathy Owens for mentioning me in her Amnesty International Blog this week concerning asylum seekers and health care.

It's great to be at a major European Church Conference which is so focused on migration issues during the week that the Welsh Assembly Government announced that failed asylum seekers in Wales, who have been told they cannot stay in Britain, can now have access to free NHS care.

A change in regulations was confirmed by the Assembly Government in June, and came in to force last Wednesday.

Well done Wales for being one of the pioneering countries of Europe. I'll make sure that Christians in Lyon hear the news.

Twitter

I am now a 'twitter' virgin. Boy, do I have a lot to learn.

I'm enjoying the Conference of European Churches' 13th Assembly in Lyon. It was really hot yesterday when we did 'hope'. Today's the second day of the Assembly and it's much better to do 'vision' when it's cooler.

I'm missing the gym back home but I have had a go at jogging in the fantastic park in Lyon this morning. They have wild animals roaming free. I have never jogged with deer before. I'll bring proper footwear next time though.

The Shack

I'm in Lyon for the 13th Conference of European Churches Assembly focusing on 'Called to One Hope in Christ'. The flight over was choppy but not quite as choppy as one rugby international flight over Dublin with Ryanair. I won't bore you with the story.

Late on Thursday night I enjoyed the company and the blessing of some new friends at Churches Together in Britain and Ireland Stewardship Conference in Newport. I was told that I really should read The Shack by Wm Paul Young. I duly obeyed and got a copy from WH Smith in Bristol Airport.

Normally, I prefer reports to other sorts of books. Reports provide me with information and detail. To be honest, I struggle with other sorts of books. Not this one however!

Between Bristol and Lyon, I had read half a book and not found the need to retain all the details. For tired, worn out or just very hurt Christians, The Shack is a must read book. Honestly, go and buy it now and read it straight away. It may very well change the way in which you see God.

Many,many thanks to Wm Paul Young and to my new friends who told me to read a book. I should also add that non-Christians will also enjoy this read.

Wierd Faith Day and Torchwood

I had to go back to work to do two things today. I had promised to send a report to a colleague about what Cytun does with inter-faith things. That, I thought, required underlining Christian witness. I enjoyed that and prayed about it a lot.

Nothing matters more to me than my faith in Christ and witnessing to that faith. Sometimes though, doing church things gets me down. So much seems to have so little to do with Christ.

Then, I went to Community House, Eton Road Newport in the afternoon. The place was teaming with people from all sorts of faiths - just being community. It was just great and such a blessing and an encouragement. Well done everyone there for your fantastic work. That, I thought required underlining the brilliant inter-faith work Churches do. I prayed about that a lot too.

Some days, I wonder what God is trying to tell me. Sometimes, the dividing line between despairing of the church and celebrating it is so thin.

I felt sad last night after watching the last episode of (made in Wales) Torchwood. It was brilliant but so, so sad. Captain Jack had to sacrifice his grandson to save the world's children. What a choice?

Then I thought about church again. God gave his only son to atone for it. If God loves it that much, then so should I perhaps.

Legislative Competence Orders

Today I received a special piece of Welsh history. While visiting Westminster I got a copy of the Welsh Affairs Committee's report Proposed National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Welsh Language) Order 2009. The report was published today.

There is some work still to do, but this document, agreed unanimously by the Welsh Affairs Committee will pave the way for the National Assembly, for the first time ever, to promulgate primary legislation in the context of the Welsh Language.

I will guard my copy well and thank those who signed it for me. It's greatly appreciated.

Giving Blood

This morning I gave blood for the fiftieth time. In terms of giving blood, I am now a golden boy. The Blood Transfusion Service, after asking me all those questions about who I had sex with recently, gave me an assurance that their Fifty Pack was on the way to me.

All of this gave me a great sense of achievement and I'm quite determined now to give my life-long target of 75. I wonder how all those poor people who are walking around with my blood in them are feeling. I hope they are all OK.

My sense of joy was made complete by the Lions victory over the South Africans.

Thrashed

Tonight we were thrashed playing football against some English speaking guys. We were all over the place. I scored though and got a good cross in. I didn't do much else though.

Work was long and hot all day but I had some really good conversations with some new friends.

Tost and Toast

This morning I met a new colleague. He is deaf and was accompanied by a Welsh speaker who signed for him. It was an honour to be with them both and huge fun.

A very Welsh joke about being 'tost' (ill) and being 'toast' (toast) was conveyed with great style. I thank God for people with such fantastic communication skills and to be in the company of someone who could listen so well without hearing was a great joy.