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Thank you for
dropping in on my page and may you find God's blessing in all you do.
If you have any problems with the web site or want more information,
then I am the person you will probably deal with first.
My role is
simply to serve God and serve both church and community, and this is
one of the ways I do that. |
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God gives us
all some skills and talents that are for the benefit of others. Not
only that but we each receive spiritual gifts from God, and these are
given to build up the whole church, not just our little bit.
Many people
have found great fulfillment in their personal and individual walks
with God. There is great freedom in serving God and His people (and
by that I don't just mean the ones who go to church - it includes
everyone). Somehow, God has planted within each of us the seeds of
ministry and as we let them take root and grow we find increasing
fulfillment and wholeness in our lives.
For me and many
others, God has brought us a sense of belonging, purpose and release
in the work He has called us to do. Some of this work is routine and
falls into the boring but safe and necessary category. Other parts
are challenging, risky and demanding. It is all God's work and,
however great or poor it may seem, it is important and has its place.
There is no such thing as a greater or lesser gift when it comes to
serving. Even the greatest chef needs a clean plate to serve his
creations on. We are all a necessary part of a team.
For me, no two
days are the same. There is always an element of routine but each day
is different. I am always aware that I am far from perfect and do
make mistakes. That helps me keep my feet firmly planted on the
ground and effectively stops me from being judgmental about others. I
am also aware of God's loving presence and His willingness to forgive
when I make a mess of things or find myself rebelling (the 'but I
wanted to - - - -' syndrome). God is always there for us, patiently
leading, encouraging, supporting, challenging, picking us up when we
fall and shaping us.
It isn't easy
walking with God nor is it easy nurturing the seeds of faith, love
and ministry (God's work through our willingness to serve) that was
planted in each of us. There is much about the world we live in that
distracts us. What I know is that God loves both you and me with the
same love He showed through Christ. Just as Christ had a purpose when
he walked on this earth 2000 years ago, we have to discover our
purpose, use the gifts, talents and skills we have each been given,
and learn to respond to God's great love for us. It is only in this
journey of discovery and exploration that we will find a true and
fulfilling wholeness.
Our role as
members of On Call is help you in this journey.
I wish you
every blessing.
+Ian
Rt.Rev. Ian Walton
Just as a foot
note, it isn't often possible to change big things for the better but
every one can make a small difference to a small number of people
some of the time. That is the beginning of changing things for the better.
I was recently
invited to speak at a meeting of the local branch of the Parkinson's
Disease Society and re-discovered an old principle, when you step out
of your comfort zone and give a little time, you receive back many
fold more times than was invested.
If you would
like to start making a difference, why not support one of your local
groups? It doesn't have to be Parkinson's but you will find a welcome there.
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Parkinson's is
a progressive neurological condition affecting movements such as
walking, talking, and writing. It is named after Dr James Parkinson
(1755-1824), the London doctor who first identified Parkinson's as a
specific condition.
Parkinson's
occurs as result of a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain
known as the substantia nigra. These cells are responsible for
producing a chemical known as dopamine, which allows messages to be
sent to the parts of the brain that co-ordinate movement. With the
depletion of dopamine-producing cells, these parts of the brain are
unable to function normally.
Generally, in
the UK:
- one in 500
people, around 120,000 individuals have Parkinson's
- about 10,000
people in the UK are diagnosed each year
- symptoms
first appear, on average, when a patient is older than 50
- one in 20 of
those diagnosed each year will be aged under 40 years
-
statistically, men are slightly more likely to develop Parkinson's
than women
At present
there is no cure for Parkinson's but researchers and scientists are
steadily making advances in understanding the condition, its causes,
and how best to treat it.
"Pedal
for Parkinson's" to find a cure:
+Ian personally
supports the work of his local
branch of the Parkinson's
Disease Society.
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