Cutting Art, State of the Edge

rolymiller.com

2009-08-21T09:59:00.002+01:00

http://rolymiller.com/

That's where it's going to be happening from now on.

News, music, stories etc.

Dodgy Database!

2008-03-22T11:50:00.003Z

My site is down, I'm still play with it and having to work it hard.

It's nice to have friends like Joanne who feeds us then posts about how good it was! What a rock star *

Not only do I have to fix my site, I need to fix Paula's site too!

Working on my website.

2007-10-02T21:09:00.000+01:00

Finally I've gotten my server moved and a content management system installed. I'm tweaking the site and setting it up.
I've started to write content and I'm going to get some of my new music up there for you to listen to. I'll have to try and keep it up to date.
I'm going to blog there and have news etc, so I'll probably end up letting this blog fade away......

So, check it and sign up for some site feeds: RolyMiller.com

The Science of Sleep

2007-03-25T09:23:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, Paula and myself went to see 'The Science of Sleep', a charming film written and directed by the wonderfully talented Michel Gondry who also directed 'Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind'. He also directed the 'Around the World' video for Daft Punk as well as videos for Chemical Brother & Massive Attack.

If you don't get to see it in the cinema definitely try to get it out on DVD, it is like a little massage for the heart.

Coffee is my life....

2007-03-22T20:11:00.000Z

I did mean to post a pic of the La Marzocco, I'd love one at home but couldn't afford to turn it on for the electricity it uses to stay hot!

This is the store where I work....

Great store, great baristas, great customers.

Out with the old... in with the new...

2007-03-22T10:11:00.000Z

In the very cute little Starbucks store where I work there was a La Marzocco 4 group coffee machine that made great coffee with a little care and attention.

All the barista's are excellent and know how to coax a great shot of espresso out of the machine.

But, it is a lot of work and when we have a huge queue in the morning of thirsty office commuters it's tiring and slow. Thankfully for our RSI it's been replaced and we are really quick now.

Late St. Patrick's Day post...

2007-03-21T19:07:00.000Z

The photo is deliberately out of focus and not a result of the ingredients listed below:

Here are some of the perfect ingredients of for St. Patrick's Day.

A yummy pint of Guiness, the first of 2007.

Whre I get some of my work done.....

2007-03-14T18:05:00.000Z

London being London and rent being what it is. I only have a little bit of space in the corner of our main room that I call my studio! Well it's really just a writing & production zone. Probably the best description.

At the moment I am still working on a track for Greg at 3rock which is almost finished. (well the first one is finished but there that's only 1/3 on the same theme)

After that I'm going to make a stab at getting some tracks together for this my own CD. If you are in GVC then you'll get a chance to hear them before everyone else as I'll probably use then in Church or home group.

More on that note to follow, I'm sure.

Update.....pt.3 Paula stylin it....

2007-03-14T17:58:00.000Z

Here's P stylin' it in South Kensington with all the 'Chelsea Tractor' driving Yummy Mummy's

I know she's gonna love this pic, but hey she never reads this blog so I'm pretty safe.

(to be fair it was cold and raining)

Update.....pt.2

2007-03-14T17:54:00.000Z

If you are stuck for something to do whilst waiting to get into the the Kylie exhibition in the V&A, then head across the road to the Science Museum it was very good and we only go to see 1 floor. Don't go on the weekend unless you have to, cause it's full of kids, not a bad thing in it's self just you'; have to queue up for all the good stuff! Will defo head back there! Dad you'd love it.

Here's a pic of Babbage's Analytic Engine, one of the first mechanical computers, I'm thinking of upgrading, just not sure if I'll get it in carry on for my next gig!

Update.....pt.1

2007-03-14T17:46:00.000Z

I just remembered that didn't give away any more information.

We did head to see Kylie at the V&A and it was rather good. If are in the area it's worth a visit. There are free tickets available so either book them online (for a £2 booking fee) or pitch up early and get them. They seem to go quickly, they were all gone by lunch time on the Sunday we visited and we had to wait about for 2 hours for our time slot.

Ken & Val are in town

2007-03-04T08:36:00.000Z

We're having a hectic weekend with Paula's parents in town. Yesterday we hit the East London Food festival.

Here's Ken the proud Oyster Card user at the bus stop yesterday before our whistle stop tour.

Today Val is heading to a day of lectures at the College of Naturopathic Medicine and the rest of us are heading to the V&A to see the exhibition of Kylie's Clothes.

Go on the Irish....

2007-02-24T21:04:00.000Z

What a great game of Rugby this evening.

I also had my Macbook pointing at the TV sending a video feed to the Teenstreet program meetings in Houston! The wonders....

My only regret is that I wasn't in the pub shouting abuse at the TV and any passing England supporters!

Next year...

Dad's Photography

2007-02-24T08:20:00.000Z

Check this out, my Dad has been getting busy now that he's retired. Photography has always been a passion of his and now he has more time (& spare cash) to devote to it.

Looks like it's paying off! I currently have this set as my background on my MacBook but I would love to see it on a large scale printed on a canvas up on the wall of our apartment.

Like it? Want to see more..... check out the beetle.

3 rock 'Tide'

2007-02-24T00:02:00.000Z

Also in the diary for this weekend is working on music for the next installment of the 3rock film DVDs.

Check out the pics from the video shoot, looks cold.

Also check the last 3rock DVD 'escalate'

Teenstreet program meetings... in Houston...

2007-02-23T23:53:00.000Z

By the wonders on modern technology I'm at the Teenstreet 07 program meetings in Houston, this weekend, while still sitting on the couch in my apartment in London beside Paula who's watching TV. If you check out the MacBookPro on Deb's lap I'm on video chat on Skype watching the proceedings.

New Church

2007-02-18T19:14:00.000Z

Thankfully it's been a very short journey for us in terms of finding a church to go to here in London.

We thought it might have taken us ages since there are so many but I'm glad to report that wasn't the case.

It was a God thing that brought us there, so that's good... but that's quite a long story. Too long for my head space to try and type up right now.

http://www.greenwichvineyard.org.uk/

GVC is where you will find us on Sunday mornings. Great people, great venue, great vision & passion..... I'm sure there will be more stories to come.

as promised long ago....

2007-02-18T10:03:00.000Z

Ages ago I said that I was writing an article for our friends over at yo-ho.net

I did and here's the link to it...

Yo-ho article

Tino Sehgal in the ICA

2007-02-18T09:17:00.000Z

Tino Sehgal link at the ICA.

One of the reasons I wanted to resurrect the blog was the think and process all the different and crazy things we've seen and experienced here in London.

Yesterday we cycled into town for petit dejeuner in Le Pain Quotidien (oh my goodness it's good food). P had to visit Regent street to change something she bought and then she brought me to the Institute of Contemporary Arts on the Mall. I didn't get much information on what it was we were visiting and if you have a look at the link you can see it is suitably vague.

We got there, paid our money and were ushered into a large gallery which had about 15 kids running around playing, so I asked the attendant was it through here.... "No, that's it" was the response. After a minute or two of standing awkwardly up against the wall one of the boys in his blue school jumper came over and explained the rules of the game they were playing. There was nothing for it but to join in .

First up it was a chasing game that left you standing on the spot you were caught with your arms out until you 'freed' someone passing under your arms.

This was pretty hectic partly because I was wearing my cycling shoes with a metal cleat on the bottom so I didn't have much traction.

The second game was much more my style 'sleeping lions' and it was who could stay lying on the ground with out moving for the longest.

After that ended and before 'bulldogs' kicked off we had a quick word with one of the attendants, before we left, who explained that the vision for the work was to see allow kids to play without any objects. There were mixed school groups rotating every 45 minutes between playing and art exploration in the upper gallery, which we couldn't visit.

It was an interesting experience but Paula's question when we left said a lot about what I was thinking: 'Was it art?'

Wow... it's been a while

2007-02-18T09:13:00.000Z

In fact it has been way too long even for apologies. So in my best attempt here's some excuses.

I tried to move my blog to our homepage but it got hacked in August.

We upped sticks and left Swansea for the bright lights of London in September and we've been doing our best to settle in here.

John Ryan was round here for a beer last Sunday night with Will McGarry and he was wondering what ever happened to the blog...... John, this one's for you.

More to come

love ya,

come drink beer/coffee/wine with us in London

Just back from Germany...

2006-06-06T11:30:00.000+01:00

Check out the news on rolandandpaula.com there is info about our recent trip to a Festival in Germany. Also a link to a video...

AWOL

2006-03-31T15:04:00.000+01:00

I don't know what the story is but we can sort out swapping our phone line over to the new house but we can't swap the Broadband over, high tech eh?

What am I to do?

It might be a little while before I'm back on line but you can still get me on email.

See you all back online soon, I hope!

Moving house

2006-03-31T13:24:00.000+01:00

Ouch, Paula and myself just had all the fun of moving house! Oh the joys!

Thankfully our friend Peyton had dropped his wife Andrea off to travel to the States and had some time to help us with the move. He was amazing and wasn't prepared to quit until it was all in, even though he had to be up at 4 a.m. to get Andrea on the road to the airport.

We had to contend with the 68 steps up to out front door on the house that we were leaving but that made the moving in a doddle. Right in the middle of moving all the stuff we had, what was meant to be, a quick pit-stop but we got on to the subject of church and gifts. It was dark and raining by the time we got back to moving any more gear but it was great to chat, the pizza was good, Paula's homemade spicy veg soup was great and the conversation was stimulating.

Paula is amazing at packing up stuff and getting on with it all. Our transition this time has been frustrated in the fact that I have been on the road so much recently and we couldn't get a good run at it to get organised. Paula none the less got down to it and made it all happen. I have an amazing wife.

I had a solid nights sleep even though we didn't quit till nearly midnight and I had to be on a train to London first thing in the morning.

Now we have to get on with the settling-in process. It's no fun living in a maze of boxes for too long, although we have plenty of room in the new place so it might be possible to just locate them all in one room and we can lock the door and ignore it! Which reminds me of what a terrible procrastinator I am! Which leads me nicely on to the fact that I'll have a room to myself as a studio, sweet, so I'd better get on and make some tunes.

Better go finish cleaning the Oven!!! Again Big thanks to Peyton for the help, you rock, brother!!

State of the Edge in Seattle

2006-03-06T14:21:00.000Z

WOW,

I've just woken up in Seattle, it rocks. Starbucks central. I was just in one and it's 5.30 am nice and early, a great destination for a jog!

Went to see the Sonics beat Utah Jazz last night.

It is going to be coffee, coffee, coffee all week. I'm hoping to learn loads more! It has already been an education being in Seattle, it is the city of coffee.

Off to grab a shower and head to SBUX HQ.

Love ya all.

Roly

It's coming.... (so's Christmas)

2006-03-02T22:25:00.000Z

I've been asked to write some articles for Young Hope (www.yo-ho.net) so I'm doing some mental processing for that right now.

I was running up and down to Cardiff & our local Boarders for training over the Jan/Feb, so I've been pretty wrecked and haven't had very much head space to get anything down on paper.

I have had to prioritise other (more important) stuff up till now this year so... I'm getting started again at the moment.

Seattle this weekend to visit coffee heaven, Starbucks HQ, the first store in Pike Place and the roasting plant. To me it's like a visit to Willy Wonka's. So as I'm excited as Charlie and Grandpa Joe rolled into one! The down side is that P's not coming.

Off to Birmingham for more training when I'm back from Seattle and on to Dublin for a Young Hope Vision meeting.

On the road I am going to try and keep my thought processes going so that I'll be ready to blurt it all out on return to my little Powerbook.

Well into the New Year

2006-01-21T19:13:00.000Z

It's been a while.

Plenty on the go.

I'm training to be a store manager in Cardiff this week so I'm away.

All the same I am processing and I have stuff in my head to get down in writing.

It's all brewing up and will come out at some stage.

Until then keep coming back

Ciao

Roly

Busy weekend ahead....

2005-10-27T07:09:00.000+01:00

Hey

I've got some more on the subject of pilgrims in the pipeline. It will be done soon, it's taking up head space so I need to get it out and free my mind from it.

Off to London for the day for media training with work, that should be interesting.

Tomorrow I fly back to Dublin to play at Anois which I'm really looking forward to that as Greg has asked me to lead worship DJ-style.

At the moment I am sitting in my studio trying to get prepared and finishing up some tracks for a DVD project. It's only just gone 7 am, but hey the early bird and all that....

Catch you on the flip side.

R.

Pioneers & Pilgrims - Personal Edition

2005-10-10T05:32:00.000+01:00

Again it's been a while......

...... I've been processing.

I have been trying to figure out what's going on!

The big job in London fell through, for now, it's been put on hold, but I was also told that even though I got further than anyone else in the interview process, I wasn't being recommended to continue forward, at least not right now.

It leaves me wondering why we had the bright lights of London dangled before our eyes. I have to be honest and say that we were really excited by the prospect of leaving provincial Swansea and heading to the big smoke. It has been a little earthquake that has rocked our world and left us checking our foundations. Paula and I have had to go back and examine our motives to want to move: growth, significance, ambition, more money. It was all coming together for a while and then BANG it all started to unravel, we were left chasing the ends trying to pick it back up and put it back together. Eventually we had to decide to drop our dream of moving to London when the weight of wisdom started to show us that it wasn't what God had in store for us at least right now.

Paula and myself were ready to move on but I do not just think that is a function of us being here in Swansea. I think that I am wired to be a pilgrim, a traveller, a pioneer on a journey of adventure and discovery and I am thankful to God that I am married to a fellow adventurer so when we see a new direction on our horizon I think we instinctively start to look and move in that direction. I guess that sometimes we jerk towards new directions out of reaction of being stuck in a rut of going in one direction for too long not always stopping and waiting for divine confirmation of a new direction. I love Jeremiah 6:16

This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'

Here we have 2 problems right in front of us:

1. Discerning the ancient paths
&
2. Being obedient to walking in them

I would like to think that I'm great at discerning & amazing at being obedient, but I'm terrible at waiting for the answer and anxious to get going & keep going, no matter which direction, even if it's the wrong one & especially if it's a new direction.

Is it any wonder that I have been down so many one way streets only to butt my head against God's plan for my life, only to have to face up to my wrong turns, my disobedience and u-turn back to the same sign post I failed to spot, discern or willfully disobeyed last time.

I think I may be addicted to movement or change as I often quote but I don't know who said it, 'Change, it's the only constant we know". Perhaps we've become so comfortable with change, as a constant, that it has become the post-modern version of settled. So here's a free slogan from rolystshirtslogans.com "CHANGE IS THE NEW SETTLED" (I'm not sure how many of those shirts I'll sell).

Always wanting the new car~job~ipod~friend~house~clothes~tattoo~church~laptop~phone~piercing as the one I have has just been made obsolete by the newer~slicker~faster~smaller~smarter~better~cheaper model that just came out on Tuesday. This is part of how we have been wired in the current culture, conditioned by marketing, advertising and the media. How else can we have a consumer society? If we stop consuming, if we decided that enough is enough and stop purchasing, stop giving in to our material desires, the western world would pretty quickly grind to a halt.

Is that the answer? Rebellion against the culture, isn't that part of the call of Christ to be counter culture when cultures values collide with God's values? That is not exactly what I am driving at here. The heart of the pilgrim is God given and blessed (Psalm 84) so it's the advertising agencies that are subverting our desire to pioneer and using it for the benefit of their clients profit margins.

So what do we do? Well for a start we have to be discerning, back to that word again and walk in the good way. We have to realise that the desire for the new doesn't always equate to you getting the latest, greatest ............ (fill in the blanks yourself with your own favorite consumer passion).

Journeying isn't all about physically moving. I think this may have been the trap that P & myself fell into about London, we feel more and more like we are ready for the next move and we were prepared to 'move' in the physical when perhaps God was unsettling us so that we were prepared to 'move' in the spiritual or perhaps God wants to move on our mindset, to break the boxes that we put about every different compartment in our lives. After some discernment I think the little earthquakes were sent to shake us up and move us on both the mental and spiritual levels.

As ever I'm interested in seeing where this journey will lead us to? Mentally, physically & spiritually, of course.

Full of Beans

2005-09-06T00:07:00.000+01:00

Occasionally I get a chance to do some media stuff in work. There have been 3 times I've been asked to represent Starbucks to the media & host a coffee tasting to help expand people perceptions about coffee.

I am a Coffee Master for my store and for our district and part of my role is to help educate my partners & our customers about coffee, from the origins, to processing & all the range of tastes of high quality coffee. It's not totally about Starbucks & more about helping others on a coffee journey to discover more about the highly prized black beans.

Here is a link to the latest article: Birmingham Sunday Mercury

Thanks to Andrea & Rachel from Cohn & Wolfe, Claire Barry from marketing in Starbucks, Andrew Reynolds, Coffee Education Manager and of course Zoe Chamberlain for writing such a cool article.

My job rocks.

Another shot at it...

2005-08-25T21:23:00.000+01:00

Oh Yeah, I did hear about that interview I went for.....

I'm going to London in the morning for the second round interview. It's getting serious now.

Tons of stuff is going on at the moment. We are starting to see some interesting prospects here in Swansea for the first time in the year since we have been here. From church planting to youth work, I guess it will be interesting even if we stay.

On the back on Teenstreet I have been getting asked to help out with some music on 2 DVD projects, one for the Teenstreet DVD and another for my friend Greg over at 3Rock. So I guess I'll be busy in the evenings! But I'm all about that.

I've also gotten some invites to DJ, 2 in Dublin and a tentative invite to Brazil (which I really doubt I can make). So there's plenty on the horizon before Christmas.

What's God saying through all this, well, I'm getting tons out of Hebrews 11. Eoghan and I were chatting and he launched into it the other day (thanks mate) and I have been reading 'The Barbarian Way' by Erwin Raphael McManus & just got t0 the bit about faith.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. (v1+2)

Wow.

How can anything that we do compare to the list of the lives and actions of those faith giants. Or put it another way.... how can we attempt to live a comfortable, settled, civilized life and still call ourselves followers of Christ in the midst of the challenges from the lives of the giants of faith? Isn't Christ's call 'GO' meant to call us to live on the edge of the world between here and now and the eternal? Mentally, physically, emotionally, geographically, spiritually on the cusp of the biggest wave of our lives?

I have been watching loads of surf videos and been finding out more about big wave surfing. It looks terrifying but I know that if i was to start surfing, I wouldn't be satisfied until I tried big wave surfing, even if the consequences were drowning & being dashed on the rocks?

Would you aspire to being towed into a 65 foot wave at 35 miles per hour?

When I read Hebrews 11 I feel the same challenge as seeing some crazy surfer doing the seemingly impossible feet of surfing a massive wave that would destroy whole buildings.
I want my life to have significance beyond comfort & mediocrity, risking all I have for one ride on the biggest wave that God has in store for us.

I'm off surfing........

Waiting to hear

2005-08-17T05:31:00.000+01:00

I was invited to an interview of which I'm waiting to hear back from. It was only the first of a possible 3 interview and I'm trying to to get excited but it would be a good thing on many levels.

It would mean us relocating to London, which would rock. Even in the current uncertain climate, London seems like a good place to be.

Where ever is the centre of God's will is a good place to be so if that's London then I guess that's where we will be.

Still waiting.....

2005-08-16T09:49:00.000+01:00

...... Patience is a virtue.

I know why, 'cause waiting wrecks your head.

But sometimes we have no choice, we are just placed on the waiting list and it is an opportunity to develop ourselves or allow ourselves to be developed, whether we like it or not.

If you are still waiting, chill, kick back, open your self up to the what ever it is God wants to do with you, in you and through you in the waiting room.

Be still & know....

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Psalm 46:10 (The Message)

Catalyst for Change

2005-08-15T09:30:00.000+01:00

That's has been the words that God has been speaking to me over the past little while and I saw it in full effect at Teenstreet. Check out the Face2Face interview with me the picture is sweet (Thanks Ruth for making time for the interview).

Like I said in my last entry we got to change some of the culture of Teenstreet and push some new boundaries which was amazing, but it wasn't done just out of a desire or a need to be radical but out of a place of prayer discernment waiting to see how God has been planning to use Paula & me.

It has been a hard year here in Swansea because we have had to be patient and wait on God. There has been no rushing into things, we've been having a tough time finding church. (But we found 7:22 online and it has helped recently.)

If it's not happening for you right away it might be that you have to be patient and wait a little longer. I know that's hard to hear when you are passionate and itching to change the world, but sometimes the biggest changes in the world have to happen inside you before you can have any chance of making them happen outside of you.

Sorry.....

The road goes ever on and on.....

2005-08-15T09:02:00.000+01:00

It's been way too long.

Summer has been great. Busy too.

I am just back from DJing at OM's Teen street in Munster in Germany, you can check out some amazing photos at the website. It was an amazing time hanging with Josh & Debbie (and everyone else). God was powerfully using us all in the lives of everyone there.

I got to lead worship on the last day which was amazingly gracious of the leadership since this was the first time they had a DJ at all & then they let him loose leading worship. God was in it & touching all invoolved. (Special thanks to Christian for translating & watching my back & the dance team for praying & reading in their own languages.) There are pics in the live section for day 6 afternoon, if you are interested.

I ended up playing 17 times in 1 week & gave 2 DJ workshops too. It was busy.

It's also been really busy since I've been back. I was in London on Wednesday for an interview in Starbucks HQ & raced back to close our store. Then on Friday I had more madness as I had to go to Birmingham to meet some press and do coffee tastings & then rush back to close our store again. (Thanks Helen!) So I was wiped by the time Sunday came and I had a day off.

More news on the interview as it arrives.

Bye 4 now, going to make coffee.

R xox

Catalyst of hope

2005-02-23T09:35:00.000Z

It started to snow last night just when Paula and I were pulling up at home after she had collected me from work. Stepping out of the car there was a visual treat of the puffed up flakes of the first fall hanging in the air deadening all the normal sounds. Some kids were poking their heads out windows and one girls was standing just outside her front door holding her hand up trying to catch a snow flake.

First thing this morning I pulled back the curtain to see if the snow had stuck, there was a small dusting on the roofs of the houses and enough to freeze up the car windscreens all the way up the street but there was no signs of any left on the ground. As my hope of enough snow to make at least 1 snowball faded I realised that it was a glorious morning. The sun was up strong in an ultra-clear, pale blue sky. It's warmth was melting the remaining ice on the cars and paths making it safe for our neighborhood to get on with our morning without deicer.

The white of the snow did not last long but in that tiny moment when Paula and I stood at our front door with a little hope that it would snow all night, it reminded me that sometimes all we need is the smallest glimmer of hope, the tiniest light in the dark will do to kill the darkness and lift our spirits.

I am going to go to work and try to be a catalyst of hope for my colleagues, our customers and anyone else who is close enough to interact with.

If you want more on the subject of hope check out the mp3 of Erwin Raphael McManus' talk over at mosaic.org.

Me little head is lifted out of it.

2005-02-17T12:23:00.000Z

My head is now being fried by Brian Mc Laren's book 'A new kind of Christian', powerful stuff (thanks Mum). It describes a discussion between two friends about the state of the Church (& Christianity in general) and the move including associated difficulties from being modern to being post-modern or pre-something. It's quite personal in it's scope but I do think that we have to start with each one of us changing before we can effectively affect change in church or society. If you can get your hands on it have a read of it.

I'm trying to read the bible through my post-modern eyes and I'll let you know about that over time (it's all change that has been affected by McLaren's books).

I have just passed my Core 2 assessment in Starbucks and I unofficially got my hands on the Store Coffee Master's black apron! I never thought the green one went with my hair. In fact I've just worked the last 7 days straight (I've turned into such a fader since I have retired from IT). Today I am making the most of it and I am sitting in front of my Powerbook, coffee in hand and as soon as I post this I will get on with making some music.

Hopefully I will get some links to some of my own produced music for yis all to have a listen to.

The New Year a great time to......

2005-01-15T11:01:00.000Z

I haven't been busy blogging recently but I have been writing quite a bit.

It is my hope for 2005 to use my blog as a place to publish my writing, to help me in the process of developing my style and to give me a place to have others read it and comment.

I'll get back real soon when I've nailed my thoughts on my new years resolutions.

Later

Roly

It's Christmas time & there's no need to be afriad.

2004-12-22T05:57:00.000Z

But he said to them, “It is I; don't be afraid.” - John 6:20 (New International Version)

It is true that because Jesus came into the world, we have nothing to fear for. Again and again, one of the consistent messages in the bible is do not be afraid. In fact it's a message that God speaks to his people because of his love, his power, his majesty 356 times in the bible that's once a day for a whole year. So, what ever you are facing right now in this scary & crazy mixed up world, don't be afraid.

If I don't get to speak to you all personally, have a very Happy & Blessed Christmas.

The Jesus Creed by Brian McLaren

2004-12-13T14:25:00.000Z

I have just started hearing a lot about Brian McLaren and I'd love to read some of his books, I guess it will have to wait until after Christmas at this stage. I found this on Brian's website (anewkindofchristian.com) and I have to share it:

We have confidence in Jesus Who healed the sick, the blind, and the paralyzed. And even raised the dead. He cast out evil powers and Confronted corrupt leaders. He cleansed the temple. He favored the poor. He turned water into wine, Walked on water, calmed storms. He died for the sins of the world, Rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father, Sent the Holy Spirit. We have confidence in Jesus Who taught in word and example, Sign and wonder. He preached parables of the kingdom of God On hillsides, from boats, in the temple, in homes, At banquets and parties, along the road, on beaches, in towns, By day and by night. He taught the way of love for God and neighbor, For stranger and enemy, for outcast and alien. We have confidence in Jesus, Who called disciples, led them, Gave them new names and new purpose And sent them out to preach good news. He washed their feet as a servant. He walked with them, ate with them, Called them friends, Rebuked them, encouraged them, Promised to leave and then return, And promised to be with them always. He taught them to pray. He rose early to pray, stole away to desolate places, Fasted and faced agonizing temptations, Wept in a garden, And prayed, “Not my will but your will be done.” He rejoiced, he sang, he feasted, he wept. We have confidence in Jesus, So we follow him, learn his ways, Seek to obey his teaching and live by his example. We walk with him, walk in him, abide in him, As a branch in a vine. We have not seen him, but we love him. His words are to us words of life eternal, And to know him is to know the true and living God. We do not see him now, but we have confidence in Jesus.

Amen.

The touble is the head can't rule the heart

2004-12-12T20:34:00.000Z

big-heart ~painting by Paula McGurdy

No matter how true we know something to be, there is still a head-heart leap of faith & understanding that needs to happen before we can totally grasp it. When you head is in control it's all world based and it is very hard to take a leap of faith or step out side the well publicised boundaries of socially dictated normality. No matter how many times we say that we do not conform to any of the peer pressure and petty crowd bullying there is something about being told something again and again that leaves a certain amount of rational fear on any mind.

It is our relation ship with God that helps us to speed up the process of moving from head knowledge to heart felt. Look around, for some people out there it never happens. I don't say that lightly as I find it pretty scary that those guys and girls will never know the amazing freedom of following your hearts deepest longings, in-spite of what your head is telling you, and living out the consequences.

Morpheus not Neo

2004-12-06T09:19:00.000Z

I am interested in how we can live out our faith and prompt others to consider the truth that has set us free in the midst of a pluralistic post-modern society that considers all truth relative and experience is king.

I am a huge fan of the film the Matrix and I used to think that I was more like Neo, or at least wanted to be, who finds out something that was always gnawing at his mind, more and more though I consider myself like Morpheus searching out the seeking souls to free them from the tyranny of the Matrix.

Only when a life is exposed to the true reality of God's amazing grace does it become a red pill - blue pill moment.

Last Guinness in Dublin

2004-11-01T20:05:00.000Z

Dublin Airport - The Bailey

Humm.... It's been a long time since I sat down and enjoyed a pint of Guinness. I'm not prepared to drink Guinness in the UK. There's loads of cheap beer to drink when I'm, so why bother.

Ireland are playing footie this evening. Not that I'm really interested. I'm just starting to realise how little I'm missing the TV. I hope that P feels the same. I'm glad that I'm not being dictated to about so much crap that the media defines as culture and the like. I hope that I can feel the same tomorrow and Wednesday when P is in London. I'm sure that I can I have quite a lot to catch up on interms of music and writing that I haven't been doing over the past month when I've been looking for a car for us!

I'm debating what to do about a keyboard. I think I'm going to head to bristol on Wednesday and have a look in DV and see what they have to offer. I could really do with one at the moment but I can also survive, I guess, I'll just be triggerless for samples but I'll manage. I'll have to write it all before hand but I guess I can do that.