Move On Up/Plans:

So here is a plan for me for the short term - keep working hard & trying to convince Pearson that I'm a necessary member of the team, rather than 'just a temp'.

My actions so far have been to firstly write an observational document & then begin to look at creating some statistical fact to back my observations.

So far so good.

But what will a more long-term contract mean in reality?

Well I did start to explore (mostly when going for the KBC youthworker job) about the idea of moving out of my current abode & out into somewhere new. To do this requires money (naturally) & stability.

If (& at the moment it is still a BIG if...IF) I do manage to get a more permanent contract, rather than temporary, there exists the possibility of getting a small house, still in Kidlington, which I could move into after Christmas. The great thing about that is that it's 2 bedroom, so a house-mate would be in the order - so checked with my good friend Hobbit, who thought it could be great!

So the potential exists to (finally) move out & get some independence & have a good deal of fun (& Pro Evo) in the process.

What's going on?

So some people might well be wondering why I'm not perusing my calling to youthwork?

Why, after giving up this tech-support job once before, going to University to study Youth & Community Work with Applied Theology at the Centre for Youth Ministry, would you stop looking for youthwork jobs?

So am I done with youth ministry?

Well here's some thought's that I'm wrestling with.

1) Amount of effort put into seeking Ministry. After attending many interviews (at least a dozen) & even volunteering for a few months, flying to America & back & all the while not earning anything & being supported by family & to get no positive response was deeply frustrating.

2) The feedback from the interviews. The feedback that I received from the interviews I went to have ranged from not being Christian enough, not being passionate enough & questions over where I stand with God. Also not having the 'right' experience, with the suggestion of volunteering for a few years before reapplying for ministry jobs. How does that help someone who has 8 years real-world experience & 7 years youthwork experience? Or is it a case of being too immature?

3) A very challenging summer. This summer has been exceptionally difficult for me personally, as well as my girlfriend & her family. I'm not going to divulge what happened in the Blog-sphere, but it dragged me to the darkest I've felt since I was an angry teenager. Not positive at all & leads me to question what to do about where I served & whether I will continue to do so.

So am I done with youth ministry?

In short I don't know. In the short term, I'm not practicing youthwork at all & the one place I was practicing might not be in place next year. I'm trying not to retreat into a shell, but things are not stable yet.

Musical Interlude:

OK there has apparently been a lack of my musical thoughts for far too long so expect some reviews of Silversun Pickups: Swoon, Muse: The Resistance, (Adam) Freeland: COPE/COPE Remixed, Deadmou5: Random Album Title, Evil 9: They Live, plus some Friendly Fire, Late of the Pier & some thoughts on some very random Foo Fighters B-Sides.

I've mostly been posting about Life & Ministry & I think it might be good to break it up a bit.

Which reminds me - expect some gaming reviews to!

...we continue