This one made me chuckle... having arrived home at midnight last night, I gave myself permission not to get into to church before 9 a.m. today, i.e. a late start... and the theme was: lateness!

I'M NOT GOING OUT TODAY!

That's okay. This is a principle for living, not a one-time challenge. Make a point of being punctual the next time you're heading out by going through your calendar for a few minutes. Set alarms on your phone if you have to, to make sure you’re on time!

TRY THIS

The bare minimum is to arrive when you say you will. Could you be there a few minutes earlier, though?

THE EXTRA MILE

If you're super-organised, arrive early, and bring the person/people you're meeting a treat or their favourite coffee. Doesn't have to be fancy, but it might just make their day.

OK, so one of the thing that REALLY stresses me out is the fear of being late.  I am that person who knows that the meeting starts at, say 9 a.m. and it will take me ten mintues to get there, but I might get delayed, so I'd better add on five minutes, and then because I am due to leave the house at 8:45 I put on my coat ay 8:35 (after all it takes all of thirty seconds) and am out of the door by 8:36, arrive at 8:43 because I've hurtled along the road and then... and then wait for the person who will always arrive "fashionably late".

I've learned over the years that people fall into one of two groups, and it seems just to be the way they are made... some are always early, some are always late.  Why late people don't ever seem stressed as they arrive after things have begun puzzles me, because the rare times I'm late I am always mortified... but then there will be things they find stressful of which I am oblivious.

I have one meeting today, scheduled to take place in in a coffee house... with someone who will be on time... so stress free all round!!

I know that this is posted a day late... I was away on Baptist Union business yesterday with little or no access to internet most of the time, so apologies to anyone who felt cheated not getting the challenges from me!!  The theme was basically about holding our possessions more lightly - being less concerned with acquiring and clinging to "stuff":

FIRST STEPS

Pray about the stuff you’ve got and think about why it’s important to you. Ask God to show you anything in your life that you’re clinging onto too tightly, and to help you use it for others.

TAKE IT FURTHER

Give away one of your favourite things. It could be anything: a scarf, book, DVD, your favourite penguin bobble hat... Give it to someone you know will really appreciate it or need it.

I'VE GOT AN HOUR

Make an inventory in your journal of all the stuff/things you have in your life. Can you live with less? Would you maybe even find freedom in it? Filling up some bags for your local charity shop is a great way to start living more lightly.

The  middle one is for me the biggest challenge - what one item that I really value could I give to someone else who would really value it?  The thing is, mostly the possessions I value have no instrinsic worth and would mean nothing to anyone else.  But, it is challenging me to have a think at what I could usefully give away that just sits on shevles or in cupbaords and never gets used...  or what I could maybe sell and give the money to a good cause...  oh, and in case you're wondering the kitties are going nowhere!!