Time Out
I am starting to discover some of the problems with ministry. I still love it and that is great however, there are times when I need moments of escapism. Those moments when I can just put work to the back of my mind and think about other things. I was talking about this with a colleague of mine recently and we both agreed. The problem is that even when you have been away on holiday the moment you arrive home work is there immediately waiting. Waiting in the piles of post, in the emails, in the telephone messages and wham no time to adjust, work immediately there.
I'm not talking about the God stuff, that would be silly I would hope and want like others that God would be with me wherever I am, no it's the church stuff and it is that which I need a break from. Not cause it's bad or I don't like it but just because if I don't it will consume me. Friday is my day off, I was going to come home from dropping B off at school and hang around at home. Inevitably that means checking email of which there are work related messages and before you know it, well you can guess the rest. So today conscious decision on the way home call and see a colleague (and friend) whose day off it is as well. Cup of coffee some quick lessons given to his dog on laying out a blog and then off to the shop at the City of Manchester Stadium.
I didn't buy anything but P made up for it, coming out with a full bag, we followed that with a coffee and a sticky bun and suddenly I forgotten everything I was meant to forget. A lovely morning! Now the only problem is what to do with the afternoon?
Labels: Football, Friends, Ministry, Stuff
She's Back
And she brought shiny things with her!
But mostly she's just back!
Labels: Friends, Holidays, Stuff
Passing Through
Just about to move house back soon honest! (Providing B* manage to reconnect my broadband)
Labels: Blog Stuff, Stuff
Listen Whilst You Legislate
Now then what I want to know is what songs would a
civil servant listen to on their Ipod!
Labels: Music, Stuff
Please Don't tell the Vet
Take three friends, one Saturday night in, an empty bottle of lager and a willing dog and you get this:
*
* Please note no animals were hurt in the making of this photo.
Labels: Stuff
Original Artwork
Some of you may know that we are going to be moving in a couple of months. So we thought new house, new start. We fancied getting some original artwork and saw this
It's the piece on the left we like, you'll notice it shows our favourite place in Manchester 'The Punjab' how can we possibly resist!
Labels: Stuff
Catching Up
Events of the past few weeks appear to have over taken me. I had meant to Blog about lots but sadly it seemed innapropriate but still here I am back again and trying to move on.
So lets start with Friday!
Friday went to London for a
Greenbelt training day. I had mixed feelins as I stood at Picadilly station at 7.15. Firstly, why am in Manchester waiting for a train and not at home with a coffee and secondly will it be worthwile. We had a similiar training day last year and it failed to hit the mark so I wondered was this just going to be a long day, long journey and all a waste of time.
I'm pleased to report back that it wasn't the day was most productive, investigating how we could improve our skills working with volunteers, the networking opportuities were also good and it was great to meet people new and old.
After the meeting we had time to kill before our train back so joined others in the pub for conversation and beer, both of which were good. A few us then wandered around the corner from Liverpool St Station and found this
noodle bar again good company and this time fanatastic food.
Back to Euston for the 19.35 train (which we all thought left at 19.45, good job we were early) and home, a long but satisfying day!
Labels: Friends, Greenbelt, Stuff
Happy Easter
Blog by bullet points:
K poorly
I'm shattered
Happy Easter
We are off to Scotland following church
Hooray
Labels: Holidays, Ministry, New Year, Stuff
Dreams
Friday we had friends from church round for a meal and K made her
famous ragu for them. In addition she made an extra one for
Liz, sadly however, due to problems at work she was unable to collect it until Saturday. So the weekend passed by, shared kebabs with K and Liz on Saturday, and then spent all day and evening at church (please don't do the one day a week joke it isn't funny). So Monday Karen calls Liz just to check the ragu went down ok. Now I'm sure Liz will share this herself and do a much better job than me. Whilst asleep Liz dreams that she has eaten the ragu for tea but seeing the size of the pancakes containing the ragu decides she can only manage one. So upon waking the next day she skips (metaphorically) down the stairs to look at the ragu in the fridge and then dream again about eating it for tea. Apparently it was then seeing the fridge empty that she realized she was dreaming and had in fact pigged out on both the previous night. After K had told me the story I went to the computer and realized that I had not turned to Monday on my F*rside calender, it revealed this:
So you see Liz you have to be so careful when it comes to over eating!
So thinking about dreams obviously caused me to dream. Now I need to tell you that I have a snake phobia. So that night I dream about a giant snake, only it has been crossed with a dog. The snake/dog is about 20 feet long and covered in fur it is white and tan in colour and has tiny little feet, yet still moves like a snake. Lo and behold when its tongue comes out of its mouth it is big and pink and dog like. We soon made friends, even I struggled to be scared, it was kind of cute. So off to bed now to see what I might dream about tonight, but hey anyone fancy interpreting Monday nights dream first.
Labels: Stuff
Fits and Starts
...........would be a good way to describe how I have blogged latley and in truth since I started. I have considered knocking all on the head on more than one occasion but still decide to come back. So I guess what I am trying to say is that you will have to live with my erratic behaviour.
Had a really busy day today so not going to write much but just leave you with some pics,some are from my birthday at the beginning of the month others just give a sample of the month that was.
My Pressie from Sally (It was the bunny salt and pepper grinders not the breakfast)
My Pressie From Liz (You can change the slogan on the t shirt)
The Windermere centre (U.R.C training place where I went on a conference)
Millie the Mad Dog
The Lent Bible Study (Lunch With Luke)
Comic Relief Cakes
So that was the month that was!
Labels: Blog Stuff, Church, Lent, Ministry, Stuff
Out Of Order
Meant to blog this a while ago. The picture is of a phone box near to the Punjab. If you look closely you will see a sign saying temporarily out of order. There are two ironies to this picture:
1. Its been this way now for at least 6 Months.
2. And perhaps most importantly, look again and you will see there is just a wire and the phone has gone.
Now it may just be a technicality but I'd call that more than out of order!
Labels: Stuff
Back To Normal - For Now!
The last two days have just been kind of normal, no gigs just work stuff, college and family life. I have been reading the purpose diven life, mmmmm clashed with some of it and as soon as I get chance I will post my thoughts for each day so far. To be fair it has got me thinking in a good way I just struggle to agree with a lot of its theology.
Wednesday is back to gigging off to see The Feeling at the apollo, I might just of recovered by then!
Labels: Gigs, Lent, Stuff
The Day After!
Up
Church
Preach
Lent Study
Home
Tidy
Bath
Bed
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Labels: Stuff
Fading
Tonight was the last of three nights in a row gigging. It was also the smallest venue and the newest bands. I guess to be fair they had a hard act to follow from the previous two nights. Academy 3 is a compact venue but does have an advantage that the bar is inside the venue so you can queue and listen at the same time. Having forgotten my phone (Hence why I have pinched Liz's pics) the night did not start well,
Liz managed to upset some poor impoverished student at the bar who had't quite figured out how to get served and the band hadn't even started yet.
We had been looking forward to
Cherry Ghost, tipped as the next big thing. However, we were sadly dissapointed. They weren't really bad just, well really bland. The kind of thing you couldn't help feel that you had heard before but only better. Not unpleasent, not offensive and at £7 even worth the money but not about to set the musical world alight. We managed to laugh and joke our way through their set and it was good for the three of us to collectivley make the gig.
Polytechnic were much better, they had a bit off umph about them. The crowd seemed a bit more up for it as well. Good tunes and catchy lyrics and you did feel you were watching a band who could possibly be on the edge of something big. Like Liz, I too worry about the Keane tour, still I guess there is no such thing as bad publicity. However they do need to learn one lesson, remember not to act bigger than you are. They left the stage declaring 'that's all folks', rather expecting I think a large shout of encore. Sadly, by the time they came back on stage half the venue had already cleared, a lesson to be learnt I think.
By the time it had all finished the toll of the previous nights was beginning to tell. As we sat down to eat at the Punjab it was all I could do to stay awake. The past three nights had been great, good music, good company, good beer, good food all I needed now was a good sleep, go on
Jude what's your secret how do you do it?
Labels: Gigs, Stuff
For The Record
Joe Normal
17 % Nerd, 0% Geek, 8% Dork
For The Record:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored less than half in all three, earning you the title of: Joe Normal.
This is not to say that you don't have some Nerd, Geek or Dork inside of you--we all do, and you can see the percentages you have right above. This is just to say that none of those qualities stand out so much as to define you. Sure, you enjoy an episode of Star Trek now and again, and yeah, you kinda enjoyed a few classes back in the day. And, once in a while, you stumble while walking down the street even though there was nothing there to cause you to trip. But, for the most part, you look and act fairly typically, and aren't much of an outcast.
Labels: Stuff
Sometimes it's SAD To be Right
As if to illustrate my point, I came across
this news story this morning. So as I was saying its time to stand up and be counted. Forget your
politics, race, creed, colour or religion and lets focus on the
sanctity of human life! Then I saw
this and came back and edited my post, I think i'll go away and cry!
Labels: Faith, Stuff
Suggestions for Lent
Came across
this suggestion from the Methodist church. The idea is that in a stand against consumerism we all stop buying shoes for the period of lent. Now whilst for me that would neither be much of a problem or much of a sacrifice for
others of us I suspect the task may be a little harder. So what are you ditching for Lent and why. I'll come back to you when I've made my decision, so come on Liz I think you know what we are all challenging you with!
Labels: Faith, Lent, Stuff
These Mean Streets
*Warning Serious Post on its Way*
Many others of you cannot have failed, just like me, to have been shocked by recent events on the streets of London concerning the deaths of teenage boys. The levels of violence seen over recent weeks surely will have shocked even the hardest hearts. However, the sad thing is for London read Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, many of our major cities have experienced similar problems over recent months, years.
It will sadden at least one who reads this blog to know I’m not a huge David Cameron fan, however, I read a quote today that I could not help but agree with he says
“This goes beyond any one policy or any one government. I think what we need is to recognise our society is badly broken and we need to make some big changes, starting now." I find myself for once agreeing with his words if not perhaps all the sentiments I suspect that may lie behind them.
The problems we are seeing today across our cities are much bigger than individual governments or policies. I wonder how much it has to do with the nature of a keep itself to itself society. I know that often fear (and with good justification) prevents us from becoming involved, however, there becomes a stage when we need to stick our heads above the parapet and say enough is enough.
For those of us with faith are we not indeed called to this way of life. When Jesus calls us to follow him, it is a call not into a comfortable existence but rather to costly discipleship. It is not as many would have us believe all about raising our hands in the air in constant worship. Rather we are called to roll our sleeves up and get stuck in. These problems are not ones we simply can throw money at or send a couple of youth workers out in a gesture of mission. These problems exist across our society and require us to become involved with our neighbours.
I spent two years working with and worshipping with the people of Moss Side. Moss Side, Manchester famous for its own drug and gun culture, yet strangely they are not my lasting memories of the place. The lasting memories I have are of the people and their struggle to let the world know that there is life behind the headlines. That beyond the newspaper stories and human tragedy is a community struggling to live alongside one another.
Within the churches there are people who daily witness to the kingdom of God, who live that costly discipleship not afraid to engage with those around them both young and old in the hope that they can witness to another way of life. When I went to minister among them I wonder what contribution I made but have no doubt about the impact they had on me. This is not a community that is unaware of its problems or a community that is afraid of facing reality. It is however, a community sick and tired of the rhetoric and empty words delivered by politicians (now matter if for once they are right or well meant).
The problem is the very society these politicians now create, a society that we also have to blame ourselves for. A society of increasing personal wealth and greed, a society where individual status means value. A society where power equates to having a voice, a platform, a medium in which to be heard and therefore to have an opportunity to change your circumstances.
Working in the prison has brought me into contact with members of ‘The
Gooch’ and ‘The
Doddington’ two of Moss Sides infamous drug gangs; they have all shared the same characteristics. Just below the
façade of bravado and strength lurks the fear of a small child. When a Twenty Seven year old gang member (he had done well to make it to such a grand old age) was asked “how do you live every day looking over your shoulder wondering if it will be your last” he broke down in tears and replied “you just gotta be tough”.
Have you, is this the society we have created, where kids from the age of nine or younger need to be tough and carry guns in order to be heard. I hope those of us who hear the call of God in our lives and indeed those who don’t have the courage to stand up to the way of costly discipleship and enable glimpses of how the kingdom of God could just look. When Jesus was asked what should be done to receive eternal life he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ Is this not what lies at the heart of the Christian gospel, at the heart of the Good News we are called to proclaim and live?
I want to finish this post with the story of Patsy
Mckie. Patsy
Mckie lives in nearby
Hulme. She is a member of New Testament Church of God and chair of an organisation called Mothers Against Violence. One day in 1999 her son Dorrie left home to play basketball as usual, however he never returned. Dorrie died after having been shot three times in the chest. Whilst it would appear that he was not involved in a gang, he had through association (he lived in the area and had friends) become mixed up with the drug culture that exists in this part of South Manchester.
Patsy told me, “The Church needs to become involved with the community. Too often we become hung up about places, but it is the people that matter”.
Her belief is that the church needs to be involved in bringing about social change not just spiritual change. “In Matthew 25 Jesus tells us that when he was hungry we fed him, naked and we clothed him - the church has a responsibility to feed and cloth the young people of our community.”
Patsy continued by saying, “The Church needs to pray, support and educate these young people”. She finished by telling the story of a young man who, when asked “Why do you carry a gun?” answered, “People don’t listen to me, when I carry a gun everyone listens”.
*Post Script*
By the time I had finished writing this post and came to link the Cameron quote it had been moved, to be replaced by more news worthy stories like Celebrity
BB's Danielle having got back with Teddy
Sheringham, need I say more about our society and our media!
Labels: Church, Faith, Ministry, Stuff
Joining the Band Wagon
Seeing how many of my friends (
Liz,
Sally,
Merlin) are using this forum to whinge about call centres et al. I thought i might as well join in. Partly this is due to the fact that having read Liz's blog I remembered to do something about it.
Last November we changed power suppliers away from one based north of the border. I received two statements from them. One relating to electricity said we owed them £13.01 the one relating to Gas said they owed us £103.26. I rang up to see if such a large organisation could manage the mammoth task of taking the smaller amount from the big amount and pay us the difference. Hooray without having to argue the logic they to agreed this was the thing to do and promised to send me the difference in the form of a cheque.
So I waited
.
.
.
.
.
.
and waited
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
and waited
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
and today read Liz's blog and decided to wait no longer and call them.
Me: Give me my money!
Them: Oh sorry sir, our mistake
Me: Uhhhhh arn't we meant to argue about this, you transfer me into recorded message hell only to find myself spat out on another continent.
Them: Errrrr (sounding confused) no if I could just have your wife's first name as it would appear we don't have it and that may be why the cheque would not print as the account is in her name.
Me: Errrrr yes its Karen.
Them: You should receive the cheque in the next few days, thank you for calling.
So you see I wish I could regale a tale of anger frustration and incompetency, but actually they were quite good. So remind me why did I change companies, oh yes that was it they were flamin expensive!
Labels: Stuff
