For those who don't know, the title of this blog posting is the opening line of a popular song of yesteryear.  However, I'm not taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane.  It's just a way of telling you that in the morning I'm off to Spain with three good mates of mine.  We're part of a group called THINK that meets monthly to do just that  -  to  think about some of the big issues of Christian faith and practice.

It's a really stimulating group to which we feel very strongly committed.  So, in order to try to discern a little more clearly what God might be saying to us about the future, we've decided to take three days away to think and pray together.  OK, I admit it.  We've chosen Madrid because it's a great city, because the airfares are cheap, because the food is good, and because we'd like to take a look at the famous Bernabeau Stadium  -  home of Real Madrid.  So I'll own up straight away and confess that we might do more prayer and feasting than prayer and fasting!

But that's OK.  Of course, it's important that in all things we remember that we are stewards of the good things God has given us.  It's important that we remember our responsibility to those who are less well off than we are.  It's important to remember that giving is more important than getting.  But it's also important to take time to pray in an atmosphere of celebration. 

I take my cue from Jesus on that.  The Pharisees accused him of being a wine-bibber.  They complained because he seemed to find a lot more fun in life than John the Baptist.  He wasn't their idea of a spiritual leader.  How wrong they were!  And how wonderfully right he was.  He loved two things above everything else  -  people and parties!  Check out the gospels if you think I'm exaggerating that.

So this week four people are going to pray together in a party atmosphere in Madrid.  And I for one hope more than anything else that we constantly sense the presence of a fifth Person  -  the one who makes every party complete.

And just one thing more, for the benefit of all my Salvation Army mates.  I'll be partying with water and soft drinks.  I'm as tee-total as ever!

If you have been, thanks for reading this.