West London Alliance Church

The Blog of Pastor Mike Wilkins

In The Long Run

"The long run" referred to in the title of this blog is, in the first place, the many years Mike Wilkins served as West London's solo pastor, and then its Senior Pastor, since he and his wife Deb moved to London (and this church) in 1984.

In these past few years (beginning November 2011,) Mike's various health challenges, particularly a serious and ongoing case of cancer, has added another layer to the "long run" metaphor, and lots to blog about. Mike is currently on an extended Sick Leave, but generally worships with the church family on Sunday mornings.

With the publication of a book he wrote in 2016 entitled "Glory in the Face" (now available electronically and in paperback from Amazon.ca, and other online venders), Mike has just launched a new website, which will serve as a sort of scrapbook for readers of the book, with relevant background photos, for example, of That Last Final Solo Canoe Trip in May, 2011, as well as additional information about the book, and--coming soon--a new set of blog posts, mostly about the peace of God and the joy of the Lord and the face of Christ and the strength to face anything. You'll find the new website now at www.gloryintheface.com.

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  • Feb21Tue

    The house next door

    February 21, 2017 by Mike Wilkins

    Years ago now, I heard of a man—perhaps a fictitious man—who lived in the same house from his infancy until the day he turned 85 years old. So his neighbors were surprised to see a “For Sale” sign on his front yard and asked him about his plans. He told them that he had just bought the house next door, and was going to move into it as soon as he found a buyer for his present home.

    “You’re moving?” some of them exclaimed. 

    “Yes, I am,” he replied. “It’s the gypsy in me!”

    In something of the same way, after blogging on the WLA church website since it took on its present form in 2009, I am closing “In the Long Run” and moving next door. Since November, 2011, my blog has served the church family, and others who have come across it online, as an update and a chronicle of the story my life has been telling since I became—and have remained—a significantly sick person. Those posts will remain on the WLA site in the hope that they will continue to be helpful to people with similar or parallel stories.

    Meanwhile, I am launching a website called “Glory in the Face,” which some of you will know is the title of the book I wrote last summer. This new website will serve as a scrapbook for people who have read my book, with photos of “The Final Solo Canoe Trip,” “The Author and his Family,” and three other related photo albums, an introduction to my personal story for those who might be interested, and reviews of the book itself. It will also provide a way to email me questions, especially questions concerning the book’s big topics: strength for adversity, the peace of God that guards the hearts and minds of those who trust him, and the joy to be found in knowing the presence of the Lord. 

    As of today, you’ll find the new website at www.gloryintheface.com.