I am about to prove the old adage that you should not try to blog on more than one thing at once.

The household has a new pup; we have become a three dog household. The youngster is called Samwise, and is a lurcher joining Frodo and Pippin. We are going to hold auditions for the fourth member, Merry soon.

He is all the things a pup should be: curious, perplexing, humorous and hard work.

Samwise has arrived just in time for me to try not to be busy during Lent (www.notbusy.co.uk).

The website is linked with Stephen Cherry’s new book: Beyond Busyness: Time Wisdom for Ministry. The thrust of the initiative is to encourage us to spend (at least) 15 minutes a day during the holy feast of Lent doing nothing. This will be difficult for me. I fill my life with activity; and often I fall into the trap of believing I am defined by what I do. (None of my hounds do this incidentally, says he, making a connection where there is not one)

I have spent the day with 10 members of my church congregation at the Growing Churches conference. The key note speaker was Bob Jackson, who apart from many things was the vicar of a neighbouring parish when I was growing up. I thought he was quite brilliant. I enjoyed the workshops and the conversations with church members. I hope we will put into practice some of the day. For me, it will be about creating a culture of invitation where people are unafraid to share the story of Jesus; comfortable that he is their saviour and lord.