School of Rock were the last act at South Luton High School's Christmas Show and they wished us dedicated audience members (esp in the face of the string quartet - tuning!) a Merry Christmas, Slade style! It was great everyone was singing along and waving in time it was a brilliant outbreak of festive cheer.
But I don't think I will ever forget that night for the way God just continues to astound me. I have been singing with the community choir at school (although a cold kept me off stage last night, croaking was all I was up to) and they are a great group who we have been trying to teach three part harmony and some discipline.
Last week we took them to a local business to sing and they were a real credit to the school, a challenge to recent adverse publicity - well behaved, presentable, bright and enthusiastic. They raised £250 to pay for choir t shirts.
But last night something even more amazing happened. As they sang 'A King Was Born' and got to the bridge, singing about Jesus being Lord, people just started clapping, cheering and dancing and you could feel God's presence so strongly the hair all stood up on the back of my neck...I just burst into tears...there was such joy in that room and joy is not usually a word associated with South Luton.
It made me realise that I limit God, even though I don't think I do, or mean to. I would never have expected that show to be spiritual but it was in spades ... I wonder whether tomorrow's carol service at St Mary's will achieve the same?!
I read an advent blog, the blogger was asking among the hectic Christmas preparations what we were doing for God ... these two things made me think, when God came to earth in an unexpected way why was I surprised to find him in an unexpected place...and if Christmas is his time shouldn't I share some of it with him...
I had to write the closing blessing for tomorrow's service, this is what I came up with...
"Let us learn the messages of Christmas.
Whether we believe the events of that mysterious night, or see it as a story,
it has much to teach us, here in this place…
May we learn from the joy of the angels who sang, even when the world refused to hear.
From the wonder of the shepherds, which lead them to journey even though they were afraid.
From the belief of the kings, who searched until they found you, even though the world said you weren't coming.
And may we learn from the trust of Mary, brave enough to take a risk on you God.
From the love of Joseph, which was big enough to welcome your son into his life.
And from the peace of the Christ-child, come to show us who we are made to be.
From all of these thing may we learn".
May we!
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Scientific Proof!
Have just read Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Philosophy.
It is a great book, I know longer feel like a freak thanks to chapters like "How to go to church without getting angry" (although I disagree with his solution but more on that another blog maybe!). I said some huge "Amen's" to his thoughts along the way (obviously silently in my head!), I laughed a lot and was also hugely challenged about a load of stuff I profess to believe and 'give my life' to.
I also recently went to see Pride and Prejudice. Satisyingly, it managed to induce the right level of melancholy in me to ensure an angst-ridden-internal-monologue-on-the woes-of-love, all the way from Milton Keynes to home.
This, despite being a clunky film at best. Kiera Knightly managing to have far too much make-up on in a number of scene's. A colour spectrum ranging from near gothic black and white to almost disney like technicolour, leaving me wondering which genre I was supposed to be in...and a complete lack of Colin Firth, frankly!
So feeling that everyone was entitled to love against the odds and that the world was a beautiful, if tortured, place I was very amused to read chapter 13 of Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller writes...
"Here's a tip I've never used: I understand you can learn a great deal about girldom by reading Pride and Prejudice, and I own a copy but have never read it. I tried. It was given to me by a girl with a little note inside that read: What is in this book is the heart of a woman. I am sure the heart of a woman is pure and lovely but the first chapter of said heart is hopelessly boring. Nobody dies at all. I kept the book on my shelf because girls come into my room, sit on my couch and eye the books on the adjacent shelf. You have a copy of Pride and prejudice, they exclaim with a gentle sigh and smile. Yes, I say. Yes, I do."
I mentioned this to a male friend who said he does the same with Men are from Mars... Women are from Venus. Somewhat going against type, he also claimed to have read it! (Hmmn?!?)
Meanwhile, I saw a postcard in a shop at a London tube station that declared "Men are from earth, Women are from earth...get over it".
Maybe when it comes to matters of love, whatever kind, it is time to get a little less like the movies and a little more real.
It is a great book, I know longer feel like a freak thanks to chapters like "How to go to church without getting angry" (although I disagree with his solution but more on that another blog maybe!). I said some huge "Amen's" to his thoughts along the way (obviously silently in my head!), I laughed a lot and was also hugely challenged about a load of stuff I profess to believe and 'give my life' to.
I also recently went to see Pride and Prejudice. Satisyingly, it managed to induce the right level of melancholy in me to ensure an angst-ridden-internal-monologue-on-the woes-of-love, all the way from Milton Keynes to home.
This, despite being a clunky film at best. Kiera Knightly managing to have far too much make-up on in a number of scene's. A colour spectrum ranging from near gothic black and white to almost disney like technicolour, leaving me wondering which genre I was supposed to be in...and a complete lack of Colin Firth, frankly!
So feeling that everyone was entitled to love against the odds and that the world was a beautiful, if tortured, place I was very amused to read chapter 13 of Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller writes...
"Here's a tip I've never used: I understand you can learn a great deal about girldom by reading Pride and Prejudice, and I own a copy but have never read it. I tried. It was given to me by a girl with a little note inside that read: What is in this book is the heart of a woman. I am sure the heart of a woman is pure and lovely but the first chapter of said heart is hopelessly boring. Nobody dies at all. I kept the book on my shelf because girls come into my room, sit on my couch and eye the books on the adjacent shelf. You have a copy of Pride and prejudice, they exclaim with a gentle sigh and smile. Yes, I say. Yes, I do."
I mentioned this to a male friend who said he does the same with Men are from Mars... Women are from Venus. Somewhat going against type, he also claimed to have read it! (Hmmn?!?)
Meanwhile, I saw a postcard in a shop at a London tube station that declared "Men are from earth, Women are from earth...get over it".
Maybe when it comes to matters of love, whatever kind, it is time to get a little less like the movies and a little more real.
Friday, September 02, 2005
1st Anniversary
So it was one year yesterday that I joined Luton Churches Education Trust, and what a year! Speaking to 1,000 people, organising art residentials, a commitment service, lessons on capital punishment and numerous assemblies, plus of course summer camp and getting gunged!!
We started the new term thinking about God with a simple communion service, time to focus on the one who brought us to this place and to remind ourselves why we do this work.
One challenge that came out through the worship, was to have this focus on God everyday. It might sound simple but it's so easy to try and manage on our own. Last year was good I had no choice, in at the deep end and I clung to God rather like a frightened child hangs onto a parent in a swimming pool but I have my water-wings now, in fact I can even go short distances without them, and to push the metaphor to death, I'm aware that this knowledge may lead me into dangerous waters!
We sang This Is My Desire as one of our songs which includes the lines ...
Lord, I give You my heart, I give You my soul
I live for You alone
Every breath that I take, every moment I'm awake
Have Your way in me.
I wish I was that disciplined. When I prayed last night about all that this year holds Psalm 145 seemed very appropriate ...
One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
There is a much wider age mix at LCET this year which is really exciting and feels like it will make for a really dynamic and challenging environment and the words just reminded me of camp where God spoke to the kids in ways we could not have expected. I really want to 'commend' God but also to listen to what those I work with have to say about Him, I also need to meditate or focus on him 'every moment I'm awake'.
Lets hope I can rise to the challenge!
We started the new term thinking about God with a simple communion service, time to focus on the one who brought us to this place and to remind ourselves why we do this work.
One challenge that came out through the worship, was to have this focus on God everyday. It might sound simple but it's so easy to try and manage on our own. Last year was good I had no choice, in at the deep end and I clung to God rather like a frightened child hangs onto a parent in a swimming pool but I have my water-wings now, in fact I can even go short distances without them, and to push the metaphor to death, I'm aware that this knowledge may lead me into dangerous waters!
We sang This Is My Desire as one of our songs which includes the lines ...
Lord, I give You my heart, I give You my soul
I live for You alone
Every breath that I take, every moment I'm awake
Have Your way in me.
I wish I was that disciplined. When I prayed last night about all that this year holds Psalm 145 seemed very appropriate ...
One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
There is a much wider age mix at LCET this year which is really exciting and feels like it will make for a really dynamic and challenging environment and the words just reminded me of camp where God spoke to the kids in ways we could not have expected. I really want to 'commend' God but also to listen to what those I work with have to say about Him, I also need to meditate or focus on him 'every moment I'm awake'.
Lets hope I can rise to the challenge!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Left in the lurch by church.
I had a chat to a friend the other week who was musing on the fact that she couldn't bear hypocrisy in the church, how her experience had taught her that was what you got with church. But yet she wanted to know where not being part of a church left her and her faith. Unrecognised? But recognised by God?
Another friend had been forced to leave a job with a Christian organisation after they deemed him to not 'be in the right place with God', they didn't surround him with love, model 'being in the right place with God', disciple him to achieve his best for God and for them. They just judged him to be producing bad fruit and showed him the door.
He is the second friend treated like this by "Christianity", pronouncements made, contracts ended and lives, faiths left bewildered, hurt and angry.
I am blessed to be working for a Christian organisation that seeks to practice God's love,justice and mercy in all it does, it has become for me a church. I have tried to belong to our local village church as I have felt God calling me to be there but like my first friend I don't feel a part of it, I don't find God there and I don't know where it leaves my faith.
Don't get me wrong there are some lovely people there and great people of faith but they seem to be at the edges and joining seems to be a covert mission. The other day I took a friend round for a look at the church and a warden and congregation member were in there doing huge flower arrangements, I presumed for a wedding. They didn't say hello when we entered, I did. When I said "wow, what amazing flowers" they looked up with blank expressions and then carried on with their work, no sound uttered. I felt we were trespassing, I wondered if God feels the same way?!
Bono put it like this " Can you imagine how it feels to believe in Christ and be so uncomfortable with Christianity? The church is an empty, hollow building. The established church is the edifice of Christianity. It's as if the Spirit of God leaves a place, the only things that are left are the pillars of rules and regulations to keep it's roof on. And we are more and more claustrophobic around organised religion". So where does that leave us?
The hypocrisy argument I've always said is a symptom of hypocrisy in our own lives. If 'we' are the church then 'we' bring hypocrisy in and only God changing us can change the church, and you have to be in it to win it, it's not right to sit outside and moan! But where does that leave you on a Sunday morning if you want to practice faith but you can't stand 90minutes of what feels like torture?! It leaves you being a consumer doesn't it , shopping around to find a church that fulfils all your criteria and church isn't about consuming, it's about worshiping. But does worship mean you try and hide who you are, your opinions, your irritations. Does it mean that God accepts rubbish church, so you should? I can't believe that either.
So I don't know what to believe. When a very good friend of mine lost faith recently it wasn't in church that it returned but out walking through fields, being close to God and his creation, feeling the wind of His spirit. But being out there on our own doesn't answer the call to be church with, and for, one another. Whatever it looks like religion needs to be organised to work, so I have no answers but on Sunday I may try to go to the village church for the first time this summer. I will look for God there because I know He is there, who knows I may even find some answers, for myself and for my friends.
Another friend had been forced to leave a job with a Christian organisation after they deemed him to not 'be in the right place with God', they didn't surround him with love, model 'being in the right place with God', disciple him to achieve his best for God and for them. They just judged him to be producing bad fruit and showed him the door.
He is the second friend treated like this by "Christianity", pronouncements made, contracts ended and lives, faiths left bewildered, hurt and angry.
I am blessed to be working for a Christian organisation that seeks to practice God's love,justice and mercy in all it does, it has become for me a church. I have tried to belong to our local village church as I have felt God calling me to be there but like my first friend I don't feel a part of it, I don't find God there and I don't know where it leaves my faith.
Don't get me wrong there are some lovely people there and great people of faith but they seem to be at the edges and joining seems to be a covert mission. The other day I took a friend round for a look at the church and a warden and congregation member were in there doing huge flower arrangements, I presumed for a wedding. They didn't say hello when we entered, I did. When I said "wow, what amazing flowers" they looked up with blank expressions and then carried on with their work, no sound uttered. I felt we were trespassing, I wondered if God feels the same way?!
Bono put it like this " Can you imagine how it feels to believe in Christ and be so uncomfortable with Christianity? The church is an empty, hollow building. The established church is the edifice of Christianity. It's as if the Spirit of God leaves a place, the only things that are left are the pillars of rules and regulations to keep it's roof on. And we are more and more claustrophobic around organised religion". So where does that leave us?
The hypocrisy argument I've always said is a symptom of hypocrisy in our own lives. If 'we' are the church then 'we' bring hypocrisy in and only God changing us can change the church, and you have to be in it to win it, it's not right to sit outside and moan! But where does that leave you on a Sunday morning if you want to practice faith but you can't stand 90minutes of what feels like torture?! It leaves you being a consumer doesn't it , shopping around to find a church that fulfils all your criteria and church isn't about consuming, it's about worshiping. But does worship mean you try and hide who you are, your opinions, your irritations. Does it mean that God accepts rubbish church, so you should? I can't believe that either.
So I don't know what to believe. When a very good friend of mine lost faith recently it wasn't in church that it returned but out walking through fields, being close to God and his creation, feeling the wind of His spirit. But being out there on our own doesn't answer the call to be church with, and for, one another. Whatever it looks like religion needs to be organised to work, so I have no answers but on Sunday I may try to go to the village church for the first time this summer. I will look for God there because I know He is there, who knows I may even find some answers, for myself and for my friends.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Very excited...
...to see, or hear, that BBC Radio 7 are playing On The Hour again, on tuesdays at 11pm. It's a bit late but this radio forerunner to The Day Today is classic. It's especially funny if you've worked on the wireless with a number of technical in-jokes ... still whether or not the digital signal will allow you to hear the subtleties (sp?) of bad tape editing who knows!? Digital, smigital, I'm largely disillusioned but if schedules are going to include shows like this then I'm coming round to the idea but ahh, remember the days of the chinagraph pencil, razor blade and sticky tape....
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Going to town
Went to see Guys and Dolls last night at the Piccadilly Theatre, it was great. Had us in stitches not least the collective intake of female breath as Ewan McGregor entered the stage!
It was a brilliant production, sets especially. It never ceases to amaze me how they come up with such stunning but seemingly simple ideas.
Jane Krakowski was great as Adelaide in the raunchiest Hotbox I've ever seen. Jenna Russell was, well, a bit lacklustre as Sarah Brown, didn't really compel any sympathy ... or any feeling at all! Ewan's accent was surprisingly good and held out except for a slight Scottish lilt that crept into a couple of the songs, which were tuneful but weak...I think the Sky Masterson of our school production did a better I've Never Been In Love Before!
It was great to see real character development not just carbon copies of the film. Nathan was more bumbling fool than I've seen before, with his "I wuv ooo" baby talk to a perceptive Adelaide who seemed well aware of her need for both self -improvement and a cottage with a picket fence! The supporting cast were incredible; brilliant dance, singing and superb orchestra ... those well known tunes illuminated and as thrilling as on a first hearing.
Some critics slated the Donmar for using McGregor as a magnet but if it fills seats and thrills audiences why not? Whatever he could or couldn't do with the role, the magical broadway tale and his sparkling eyes were a winning combination for this doll!
It was a brilliant production, sets especially. It never ceases to amaze me how they come up with such stunning but seemingly simple ideas.
Jane Krakowski was great as Adelaide in the raunchiest Hotbox I've ever seen. Jenna Russell was, well, a bit lacklustre as Sarah Brown, didn't really compel any sympathy ... or any feeling at all! Ewan's accent was surprisingly good and held out except for a slight Scottish lilt that crept into a couple of the songs, which were tuneful but weak...I think the Sky Masterson of our school production did a better I've Never Been In Love Before!
It was great to see real character development not just carbon copies of the film. Nathan was more bumbling fool than I've seen before, with his "I wuv ooo" baby talk to a perceptive Adelaide who seemed well aware of her need for both self -improvement and a cottage with a picket fence! The supporting cast were incredible; brilliant dance, singing and superb orchestra ... those well known tunes illuminated and as thrilling as on a first hearing.
Some critics slated the Donmar for using McGregor as a magnet but if it fills seats and thrills audiences why not? Whatever he could or couldn't do with the role, the magical broadway tale and his sparkling eyes were a winning combination for this doll!
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Surreal Summer So Far!
Wow, I'm exhausted in a totally and utterly brilliant way and we're only just 3 weeks into summer holidays. I'm hoping it's going to slow down from here on in though!
Face the Fish our summer camp was awesome, in truth I couldn't say I really enjoyed the experience, it was too hard work but it was incredible in everyway! I learnt so much about kids, God and me. Young people can be so profound and being able to give them the space to explore the spiritual side of life in a relevant way was such a privilage. The most bizarre point had to be sitting in a wheelie bin of gunge, lid closed, listening to the band play and thinking "boy, I did not expect to be HERE 18 months ago when I wondered where my life was going"! It has been a mindblowing year at LCET and I think I still have a long way to go to come to terms with all that's happened, I kind of feel like my soul is reeling - in a good way. My husband commented that I have become more confident, sure of my opinions and beliefs and more me, which has to be a good thing.
Straight after camp it was a dozy dash to Gloucestershire for a trip round the garden at Highgrove, Prince Charles' estate. It was amazing nothing like I expected (formal English, some cottage but very conservative - not sure why I thought this!?). A magical haven of bold (the black and white garden), fun planting (the stumpery) with stunning buildings from a treetop playhouse to his-and-hers oak temples to the sanctuary for one, with wonderful icons, a place to contemplate and be inspired like so much of the garden. There is incredible artwork paying homage to the likes of St George, Ted Hughes and one of the Prince's dogs. The whole place has a feeling of peace, of life, of beauty and, to me, the presence of God.
Serious amounts of washing later, I was off again for a weekend at the WI's Denman Collage, for a course entitled 'Singing can be even more fun'! It was part of my birthday present from Mum and we shared a charming room, had a great time and a chance to be really proud of each other - not that we aren't anyway! A group of 16, a real range of talent and ability, we did lots of harmony singing including Handel! And had to do solo singing in front of each other which was very scary ...especially as I didn't realise you had to bring music and songs you were familiar with, copies for the pianist etc and I had nothing. At these moments singing did not feel particularly fun as the tutors were no help at all. However, all was forgiven when I got a really good criticism of my singing and urged to do lots more whether solo/lessons/a choir or "whatever, just sing"! I've so wanted to sing since leaving school and even at church, though it was great to serve in the worship group, felt I was largely overlooked but just assumed I wasn't really that much cop. However, to hear what you've always wanted to hear can be strangely painful and now I need to figure out what to do with this knowledge. The course also exorcised some demons from school days when after every concert I was subjected to a criticism of what didn't work, what could have been better which would make the overly sensitive me cry all the way home in the back of the car. Mum was nothing but encouraging this weekend which was a relief!!
This week I plan to do nothing enjoy the sunshine, read and just be ... but who knows what might happen!
Face the Fish our summer camp was awesome, in truth I couldn't say I really enjoyed the experience, it was too hard work but it was incredible in everyway! I learnt so much about kids, God and me. Young people can be so profound and being able to give them the space to explore the spiritual side of life in a relevant way was such a privilage. The most bizarre point had to be sitting in a wheelie bin of gunge, lid closed, listening to the band play and thinking "boy, I did not expect to be HERE 18 months ago when I wondered where my life was going"! It has been a mindblowing year at LCET and I think I still have a long way to go to come to terms with all that's happened, I kind of feel like my soul is reeling - in a good way. My husband commented that I have become more confident, sure of my opinions and beliefs and more me, which has to be a good thing.
Straight after camp it was a dozy dash to Gloucestershire for a trip round the garden at Highgrove, Prince Charles' estate. It was amazing nothing like I expected (formal English, some cottage but very conservative - not sure why I thought this!?). A magical haven of bold (the black and white garden), fun planting (the stumpery) with stunning buildings from a treetop playhouse to his-and-hers oak temples to the sanctuary for one, with wonderful icons, a place to contemplate and be inspired like so much of the garden. There is incredible artwork paying homage to the likes of St George, Ted Hughes and one of the Prince's dogs. The whole place has a feeling of peace, of life, of beauty and, to me, the presence of God.
Serious amounts of washing later, I was off again for a weekend at the WI's Denman Collage, for a course entitled 'Singing can be even more fun'! It was part of my birthday present from Mum and we shared a charming room, had a great time and a chance to be really proud of each other - not that we aren't anyway! A group of 16, a real range of talent and ability, we did lots of harmony singing including Handel! And had to do solo singing in front of each other which was very scary ...especially as I didn't realise you had to bring music and songs you were familiar with, copies for the pianist etc and I had nothing. At these moments singing did not feel particularly fun as the tutors were no help at all. However, all was forgiven when I got a really good criticism of my singing and urged to do lots more whether solo/lessons/a choir or "whatever, just sing"! I've so wanted to sing since leaving school and even at church, though it was great to serve in the worship group, felt I was largely overlooked but just assumed I wasn't really that much cop. However, to hear what you've always wanted to hear can be strangely painful and now I need to figure out what to do with this knowledge. The course also exorcised some demons from school days when after every concert I was subjected to a criticism of what didn't work, what could have been better which would make the overly sensitive me cry all the way home in the back of the car. Mum was nothing but encouraging this weekend which was a relief!!
This week I plan to do nothing enjoy the sunshine, read and just be ... but who knows what might happen!
Thursday, July 14, 2005
London Bombings
There really is little you can say about the events of last thursday, to me it seemed no real surprise sadly, except the timing. Since 9/11 it has surely been a case of when not 'if' but 'when', yet it was something you hoped against hope would never happen.
I'm lucky, so far I have known no-one caught up in what happened but in situations like this your mind instantly goes to what could have been, there (at that tube station, on that bus) but for the grace of God.....it's the nearest we can get to empathy.
I heard the former Bishop of Southwark talking on Radio 2 and quoting Martin Luther King who said "Right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant". Obviously King's struggle was something else entirely but the words do seem to apply to this situation too, as people pulled together, carried on commuting, left flowers, held a silence, were united in what is good and what is true about life and it's value.
I cannot believe how amazing the police work has been, in less than a week they have so many details and the emergency services on the day were just incredible too. The religious leaders have been strong and timely in their comments and even the Prime Minister did a good job of balancing national tragedy with international tragedy and G8.... it does seem that right, temporarily defeated, IS stronger than evil triumphant. I pray it's so.
I'm lucky, so far I have known no-one caught up in what happened but in situations like this your mind instantly goes to what could have been, there (at that tube station, on that bus) but for the grace of God.....it's the nearest we can get to empathy.
I heard the former Bishop of Southwark talking on Radio 2 and quoting Martin Luther King who said "Right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant". Obviously King's struggle was something else entirely but the words do seem to apply to this situation too, as people pulled together, carried on commuting, left flowers, held a silence, were united in what is good and what is true about life and it's value.
I cannot believe how amazing the police work has been, in less than a week they have so many details and the emergency services on the day were just incredible too. The religious leaders have been strong and timely in their comments and even the Prime Minister did a good job of balancing national tragedy with international tragedy and G8.... it does seem that right, temporarily defeated, IS stronger than evil triumphant. I pray it's so.
Monday, July 04, 2005
\:- {
Can anyone tell me how toothpaste manufacturers can make it so that the stripes come out straight? Maclean's remineralising (I know!) has the thinest, single, green stripe in an otherwise white paste and it's really bugging me!
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Good Question!
I've got to buy the Jack Johnson album 'In Between Dreams', it's such a chilled out sound perfect for hot days but also because he sounds like a man with something to say.
The track 'Good People' is getting loads of airplay on Radio 2 and I think it would make a good worship trick (a la Jonny Baker) how about playing it over a montage of Big Brother, Celebrity Love Island and so on? Would seriously prompt some big questions about the state of our media, what we choose to consume as viewers etc.
Here are the lyrics...
You win it's your show now
So what's it going to be?
Because people will tune in
How many train wrecks do we need to see?
Before we lose touch
And we thought this was low
Well it's bad, getting worse….
Where'd all the good people go?
I've been changing channels and I don't see them on the tv shows
Where'd all the good people go?
We've got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that with a rattle a tat
Testing, one, two, man whatcha gonna do
Bad news misused, got too much to lose
Give me some truth now, who's side are we on
Whatever you say
Turn on the boob tube, I'm in the mood to obey
So lead me astray
And by the way now…
Where'd all the good people go?
I've been changing channels and I don't see them on the tv shows
Where'd all the good people go?
We've got heaps and heaps of what we sow
Sitting around feeling far away
So far away but I can feel the debris, can you feel it?
You interrupt me from a friendly conversation
To tell me how great it's all going to be
You might notice some hesitation
Because its important to you, it's not important to me
But way down by the edge of your reason
It's beginning to show and I really want to know is…
Where'd all the good people go?
I've been changing channels and I don't see them on the tv shows
Where'd all the good people go?
We got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that with a rattle a tat
Testing one, two man whatcha gonna do
Bad news misused give me some truth
You got too much to lose
Whose side are we on today, anyway
Okay, whatever you say
Wrong and resolute but in the mood to obey
Station to station desensitizing the nation
Going, going, gone
Nice work Jack!
The track 'Good People' is getting loads of airplay on Radio 2 and I think it would make a good worship trick (a la Jonny Baker) how about playing it over a montage of Big Brother, Celebrity Love Island and so on? Would seriously prompt some big questions about the state of our media, what we choose to consume as viewers etc.
Here are the lyrics...
You win it's your show now
So what's it going to be?
Because people will tune in
How many train wrecks do we need to see?
Before we lose touch
And we thought this was low
Well it's bad, getting worse….
Where'd all the good people go?
I've been changing channels and I don't see them on the tv shows
Where'd all the good people go?
We've got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that with a rattle a tat
Testing, one, two, man whatcha gonna do
Bad news misused, got too much to lose
Give me some truth now, who's side are we on
Whatever you say
Turn on the boob tube, I'm in the mood to obey
So lead me astray
And by the way now…
Where'd all the good people go?
I've been changing channels and I don't see them on the tv shows
Where'd all the good people go?
We've got heaps and heaps of what we sow
Sitting around feeling far away
So far away but I can feel the debris, can you feel it?
You interrupt me from a friendly conversation
To tell me how great it's all going to be
You might notice some hesitation
Because its important to you, it's not important to me
But way down by the edge of your reason
It's beginning to show and I really want to know is…
Where'd all the good people go?
I've been changing channels and I don't see them on the tv shows
Where'd all the good people go?
We got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that with a rattle a tat
Testing one, two man whatcha gonna do
Bad news misused give me some truth
You got too much to lose
Whose side are we on today, anyway
Okay, whatever you say
Wrong and resolute but in the mood to obey
Station to station desensitizing the nation
Going, going, gone
Nice work Jack!
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Mothing
My parents have a new hobby, now that I am 30 I can cope with this and am extremely grateful it was not one they developed during my teens (it was bad enough having a dad AND step dad who were into morris dancing!) as the complete lack of any street-cred would have been mortifying.
They are now into mothing, that is placing a light box in the garden, switching it on at night and seeing what is there come morning (hard core mothers stay up all night cataloguing as the moths fly in! Something to aim at folks!). This all started on a recent trip to watch the moth-ers in action in Chaddesley woods which was fascinating but rather geeky, now the parents have borrowed a box and are contemplating a purchase.
Geeky it may be but like it's similarly unhip cousin bird watching, it is utterly compelling, astounding and absorbing. Overnight on saturday there were more than 20 different types visiting the box and if you thought moths were the unattractive dull brown, annoyingly fluttery, less interesting and somewhat more stupid (with their death wish like attraction to flames and lights) relative of butterflies then you have to think again. There are more than 3,000 types and the colours and markings are spectacular, the most stunning of our haul (on first impression) were the elephant hawk moths - lime green and fuscia pink!
I spent a considerable amount of time scanning the books to try and find one particularly distinctive but elusive fellow, it's like a bug (no pun intended) you have to be able to name the things, you can't let them go till you do! I was chatting to someone recently about how we humans HAVE to describe things and we were questioning whether meaning and understanding comes after naming or vice versa. We were talking specifically about the realms of management speak and how definitions are used to control politics, policies and people but the same thoughts apply elsewhere in life. He wondered if God giving Adam and Eve the right to catalogue all animals in Eden might have had something to do with it, metaphor or not ?! At any rate I discovered the 'little brown job' was called The Flame, and thus all moths were named and released.
The whole experience left me with a renewed sense of the ridiculous generosity of God's creation - these are incredibly detailed creatures, so numerous, brilliantly designed and yet they come out when most people are asleep, they go largely unnoticed.
God lavishes beauty into every possible area of life ... if only we take the time to see it.
They are now into mothing, that is placing a light box in the garden, switching it on at night and seeing what is there come morning (hard core mothers stay up all night cataloguing as the moths fly in! Something to aim at folks!). This all started on a recent trip to watch the moth-ers in action in Chaddesley woods which was fascinating but rather geeky, now the parents have borrowed a box and are contemplating a purchase.
Geeky it may be but like it's similarly unhip cousin bird watching, it is utterly compelling, astounding and absorbing. Overnight on saturday there were more than 20 different types visiting the box and if you thought moths were the unattractive dull brown, annoyingly fluttery, less interesting and somewhat more stupid (with their death wish like attraction to flames and lights) relative of butterflies then you have to think again. There are more than 3,000 types and the colours and markings are spectacular, the most stunning of our haul (on first impression) were the elephant hawk moths - lime green and fuscia pink!
I spent a considerable amount of time scanning the books to try and find one particularly distinctive but elusive fellow, it's like a bug (no pun intended) you have to be able to name the things, you can't let them go till you do! I was chatting to someone recently about how we humans HAVE to describe things and we were questioning whether meaning and understanding comes after naming or vice versa. We were talking specifically about the realms of management speak and how definitions are used to control politics, policies and people but the same thoughts apply elsewhere in life. He wondered if God giving Adam and Eve the right to catalogue all animals in Eden might have had something to do with it, metaphor or not ?! At any rate I discovered the 'little brown job' was called The Flame, and thus all moths were named and released.
The whole experience left me with a renewed sense of the ridiculous generosity of God's creation - these are incredibly detailed creatures, so numerous, brilliantly designed and yet they come out when most people are asleep, they go largely unnoticed.
God lavishes beauty into every possible area of life ... if only we take the time to see it.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Light for Life
The sky does it simply, naturally
day by day by day
the sun does it joyfully
like someone in love
like a runner on the starting line
the sky, the sun
they just can't help themselves
no loud voices, no grand speeches
but everyone sees,
and is happy with them.
Make us like that, Lord
so that our faith is not in our words
but in our lives
not in what we say
but in who we are
passing on your love
like an infectious laugh:
not worried, not threatening,
just shining,
like the sun,
like a starry night,
like a lamp on a stand,
light for life -
your light for our lives.
day by day by day
the sun does it joyfully
like someone in love
like a runner on the starting line
the sky, the sun
they just can't help themselves
no loud voices, no grand speeches
but everyone sees,
and is happy with them.
Make us like that, Lord
so that our faith is not in our words
but in our lives
not in what we say
but in who we are
passing on your love
like an infectious laugh:
not worried, not threatening,
just shining,
like the sun,
like a starry night,
like a lamp on a stand,
light for life -
your light for our lives.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Thank you for the music
Gingerkidjoe, his Mrs and I have got a good thing going ... at least me and the Mrs think so. He happened to mention she liked female singer song-writers and since I have a collection of such I bundled them up and duly sent them home with him. After few weeks they were returned along with some from Jess's collection and we're now on the third leg of this venture.
It's great all the benefits of buying several new CD's, without any of the cost, and if you don't like one you're not gutted and left wishing you'd picked the other one instead - you just hand it back!
It has made me realise that I should really be using my local library for weekly joy of such kind, especially as to have one here in the village is a bonus of the use it or lose it variety.
It has also confirmed my belief that the world is a very small planet and whatever industry you are in it's incestuous (sp?)
to a degree. For instance, Jess lent me Elliot Smith, a rootsy, heartfelt, West coast tinged album, then Joe informed me he was no longer with us. Then the new Ben Folds CD comes out (also heard by kind permission of sellersboy, such a bastion of good taste, musically at any rate, not sure about the one man mission to rival 'Supersize Me', only kidding!) and his thanks go to none other than the said Mr Smith ... the fabric of life is tightly woven I guess.
It also sadly unravels. Elliot Smith's death reminded me of Jeff Buckley and how many more like him for whom suffering won the battle over art. A strange oxymoron that creativity can be so destructive.
Cheers for the flickr tips too gkj!
It's great all the benefits of buying several new CD's, without any of the cost, and if you don't like one you're not gutted and left wishing you'd picked the other one instead - you just hand it back!
It has made me realise that I should really be using my local library for weekly joy of such kind, especially as to have one here in the village is a bonus of the use it or lose it variety.
It has also confirmed my belief that the world is a very small planet and whatever industry you are in it's incestuous (sp?)
to a degree. For instance, Jess lent me Elliot Smith, a rootsy, heartfelt, West coast tinged album, then Joe informed me he was no longer with us. Then the new Ben Folds CD comes out (also heard by kind permission of sellersboy, such a bastion of good taste, musically at any rate, not sure about the one man mission to rival 'Supersize Me', only kidding!) and his thanks go to none other than the said Mr Smith ... the fabric of life is tightly woven I guess.
It also sadly unravels. Elliot Smith's death reminded me of Jeff Buckley and how many more like him for whom suffering won the battle over art. A strange oxymoron that creativity can be so destructive.
Cheers for the flickr tips too gkj!
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Blot on the landscape
I am angry. Near my house they are building a huge new housing estate on a greenfield countryside site. Nimby-ish? No, it is not that the houses are being built that has annoyed me, although it is heartbreaking to witness the brown scar cutting through once verdant fields. But it is the fact that row upon row of homes are going up over night without as much as a park, community centre, parade of shops or place of worship in sight...and I have been scouring for them.
John Prescott says we need new homes and if we do, then we do but the Deputy Prime Minister [shudder] also said, when talking about an innovative development in Greenwich, that all new developments would be environmentally and socially responsible. I think he may have gotten carried away. This massive new building plan doesn't seem to fit that ideal, this is part of the governments 'housing market regeneration' and in striving to complete it 's aims it's not just building on greenfield sites. It's also knocking down out dated properties and rebuilding them, one such, in Liverpool, includes Ringo Starr's boyhood home.
It seems madness that all the empty properties you see in our towns and cities can't be put to good use but we all know they cost more to renovate then build, right? Wrong! At least according to Jeff Howell in last weekend's Telegraph, and he makes a number of interesting points on the matter (listen up Mr P). He says the plans for Liverpool are "justified on the basis that, in the long term [new homes] will save energy - or CO2 emissions to use current jargon. Quite how knocking down thousands of existing homes and building thousands of new ones is going to save energy is beyond the comprehension not just of Ringo and Prince Charles but of most of us in the construction industry too".
He goes on to question the calculations made by the Office of the DPM who are responsible for this policy. He says "their calculations clearly ignor the energy used to demolish the existing properties, and the environmental impact of dumping the waste in landfill sites. Their belief also requires a certain blind faith in the energy saving properties of new houses which, like all government figures these days, are subject to 'targets' ".
So the march of these 'energy efficient' new homes goes on across the south east and northward, forgetting that there is a difference in quality between the respective old and new builds - solid brick walls, sturdy timber floors and partitions, hard to find in today's constructions. It seems ironic that whilst ranks of 'Barrett Boxes' encourage people to remain isolated, they probably get to know more about the lives of their neighbours, thanks to the paper thin walls, than if they met on the street, or heaven forbid, in the community centre!
And so much for the government's drive for 'respect'. Isn't the best way to form a more integrated and respectful society to increase opportunities for people to meet, generations to mix, to learn about each other and foster understanding and a sense of community? Perhaps the plans should go back to the drawing board.
And while we're on the subject of joined up thinking, the reason the cost of regeneration puts it outside the realms of possibility? Mr Howell explains "New building is unfairly favoured over refurbishment by the anomaly of VAT, which is zero for new houses but levied at the usual 17.5% on repairs to old ones". That makes sense - when profit over-rides building a sustainable country, I guess. Not to mention as Jeff Howell concludes that " The factor that the government figures ignor above all, however, is a social one. Victorian streets are what give character and history to most British towns and cities. You can't put a price on that".
Amen, rant over.
John Prescott says we need new homes and if we do, then we do but the Deputy Prime Minister [shudder] also said, when talking about an innovative development in Greenwich, that all new developments would be environmentally and socially responsible. I think he may have gotten carried away. This massive new building plan doesn't seem to fit that ideal, this is part of the governments 'housing market regeneration' and in striving to complete it 's aims it's not just building on greenfield sites. It's also knocking down out dated properties and rebuilding them, one such, in Liverpool, includes Ringo Starr's boyhood home.
It seems madness that all the empty properties you see in our towns and cities can't be put to good use but we all know they cost more to renovate then build, right? Wrong! At least according to Jeff Howell in last weekend's Telegraph, and he makes a number of interesting points on the matter (listen up Mr P). He says the plans for Liverpool are "justified on the basis that, in the long term [new homes] will save energy - or CO2 emissions to use current jargon. Quite how knocking down thousands of existing homes and building thousands of new ones is going to save energy is beyond the comprehension not just of Ringo and Prince Charles but of most of us in the construction industry too".
He goes on to question the calculations made by the Office of the DPM who are responsible for this policy. He says "their calculations clearly ignor the energy used to demolish the existing properties, and the environmental impact of dumping the waste in landfill sites. Their belief also requires a certain blind faith in the energy saving properties of new houses which, like all government figures these days, are subject to 'targets' ".
So the march of these 'energy efficient' new homes goes on across the south east and northward, forgetting that there is a difference in quality between the respective old and new builds - solid brick walls, sturdy timber floors and partitions, hard to find in today's constructions. It seems ironic that whilst ranks of 'Barrett Boxes' encourage people to remain isolated, they probably get to know more about the lives of their neighbours, thanks to the paper thin walls, than if they met on the street, or heaven forbid, in the community centre!
And so much for the government's drive for 'respect'. Isn't the best way to form a more integrated and respectful society to increase opportunities for people to meet, generations to mix, to learn about each other and foster understanding and a sense of community? Perhaps the plans should go back to the drawing board.
And while we're on the subject of joined up thinking, the reason the cost of regeneration puts it outside the realms of possibility? Mr Howell explains "New building is unfairly favoured over refurbishment by the anomaly of VAT, which is zero for new houses but levied at the usual 17.5% on repairs to old ones". That makes sense - when profit over-rides building a sustainable country, I guess. Not to mention as Jeff Howell concludes that " The factor that the government figures ignor above all, however, is a social one. Victorian streets are what give character and history to most British towns and cities. You can't put a price on that".
Amen, rant over.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Definitely a grower!
Had this cd as a belated birthday present and it was totally unexpected (not the present, the sound!). I had asked for an album by the David Crowder Band having heard a guitar driven, slightly indie effort in a London shop about two years ago and never got around to purchasing it. This, however, is not that! Remixes by different producers that left me unsure as to whether it was a fond return to 'old school' dance or another Christian record missing the cutting edge. I am now loving it but not convinced the teens I know would feel the same!
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Why Little Flower?
The Little Flower is the name of a faith community in Brian McLaren's latest book 'The Last Word and the Word After That' (a long overdue, fantastic and frightening read). It has resonances for me as a Schools Worker in Luton although the challenges I face from my community may not be as tough as those in the fictional Camden community. I also like it because of the emergent connection (I don't know much about the emerging church but I like what I know, and want to know more!) and it sums up the need to grow... to know myself more, to know God more. I recognise that like our plant friends, we don't always get the right 'nutrients' to do that and I hope to seek them out and share them here.
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