Catalyst of hope

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.

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......

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.

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

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

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

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

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.