Not much to report since the last blupdate - much of the same, really, excepting the balloon ride. Temperatures are steadly increasing - mid to high 30's now during the day but still pleasantly cool in the evening. Not for long though.
Our home cell leader has just called to say we're baptising 2 of our members on the beach tonight - Brad (the pilot) and Carol (she of the gay lumberjack champagne). Should be good and a blessing all round.
April fool's day came and went without yours truly getting ip to any mischief. Not much fun really but that's Dubai. Not like 2 years ago, when I swapped the ladies & gents signs around on the toilet doors at work. Caught a couple of people that day & got away with it too!
It now begins to look like my company may renege on its promise to transfer me to the UK. Not sure where that leaves us - stuck in Dubai it would seem. Strangely enough, the day after this began to become apparent, my boss popped his head in the door and asked if I would consider moving to Bahrain to set up our property management business there. Curve ball, and if its from God, both J & I are going to need to hear from him loudly and quickly. I'm going there next week on business so I'll have a look around.
Don't know if I can go through the tortuous process of moving to another Arab country.
I continue following up positions in the UK but again, nothing has arisen yet and it looks like I would have to actually be there to find a job. I don't want to resign and move over there without a job, so its all up to God. I just wish he'd move loudly and directly - like an excellent offer from the UK or even better, the US.
I've decided one thing this time. I'm not going to follow the money. Last time, I chose this job out of 2 options because it offered more in the UK. Now it looks like I should have chosen the other one, where I would have been happier and they were more lokely to have kept their word. Yet another lesson.
Dubai lessons are now:
- Trust in God an God alone because man will a ways let you down and only God is trustworthy
- Ley God go ahead ans prepare the way - I don't have to push myself into situations because He knows everybody and has all the connections
- Don't follow the money
- Hope
The last one is interesting. I'm currently reading a book by Ted Dekker called The Slumber of Christianity. His theory is that we have lost our focus on heaven and thus our hope in heaven. If we have a long term hope in enernal bliss, then all earthely matters will seem trivial and we will have the vision, will and desire to continue the race until the bliss at the end. I haven't got to the part about how y0u awaken your hope yet but when I do, I'll let you know. This morning's chapter brought imagination into the picture - if you can imagine itm your heart can desore it and if the eyes of your heart are open, you'll see with your heart the pleasures of heaven, without the need to actually visit there like Paul did. Interesting stuff.
If anyone is still reading this blog, please email me and let me know. If no-one does, I'm gonna quit.
Have a great week.
Blessings
Stu
