October - A Month In Preview

A notable step for October is the start of themed months for the work I do at the YMCA. I’m actually hoping the theme itself will be of benefit to life beyond the YMCA but it’s a good base to start. The theme for October is Freedom and Slavery. It’s fitting for a number of reasons including the fact that as October is Black History Month the time can be used to find out a bit more about that particular experience with slavery and Britain’s role in that of course highlighting the abolition deal the bicentennial of which was celebrated earlier this year. The deal of the theme, however, is to see the issue on a wider scale.

For years now I’ve known only too well that freedom and slavery are not just physical, economic, ethnic and social concepts but psychological, spiritual, relational and emotional realities that are expressed only too clearly in every day life. I’m hoping through the month to explore some of the issues surrounding the topic and give some biblical insight on the issue at hand particularly celebrating the freedom available in Christ.

Part of this deal is the return of the Daily Thoughts that was buzzing around in August. I hope to be able to post at least those daily thoughts as entries here through the month. As with September 2006 I’m hoping to post enough entries to cover every day of the month in a bid to step up the discipline of writing which I seek to enjoy and develop.

In the meantime thank you for the continued support to this blog. Reading it, praying for me, all of that kind of jazz really is a big deal for me and for al the busyness and activity I want you to know it is hugely appreciated.

As you remember me in the upcoming month pray with me that whatever activity will actually bring forth productivity that welcomes in all the things of Christ that can make the difference in people’s lives. And as ever it’s all …

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

September - A Month In Review

So that was the September that was.

My sister Ruth turned 31. My father turned 74. My mate and mentor Hughie turned 45. Far too many birthdays in this month and just when I thought it was safe to get away from the birthdays October will see my brother turn 29 and my best friend at university turn the big 30. I’m sure there maybe other birthdays I’ve neglected to mention, but that’s enough to get my wallet groaning. (This is a figure of speech. I’ve not had a wallet since it was stolen a few months ago. I don’t miss it, but I’m sure another will be useful eventually.)

September has been a very interesting month. I got to see that best mate at university twice after not having seen him since my marital union to the beloved Authrine over four years ago (that be him pictured - oh he of Bury Abroad infamy). I started a special diet over the month for a set period of time to wean me off some of the unhealthy foods that’s too much of my diet. I took part in an interesting meeting of young people in Stoke-on-Trent from different churches who just wanted to do something different and together for the Kingdom. I got to say happy birthday to another friend in the capital city who turned the big 30. I got to play squash again for the first time in months.

The wife kicked off on her academic studies, going for a foundation degree in Youth and Community Services. Met the Regional Christian Spiritual Development Workers (CSD) and was inspired by the work done and the work we’re about to do. I met a guy who’s highly respected in YMCA circles and got to see him in operation which was most intriguing. There’s also scouting a football team that I am considering joining soon. Saw my son perform at the Royal Albert Hall (pictured) and whilst in the capital for the umpteenth time this month also met up with my brother and his wife for the first time in a while. Started a year long part-time training course on missions which I’m hoping will have huge positive repercussions for the work I do both at YMCA and COG.

I visited a dear friend and watched him preach and also shared ANOTHER birthday for a friend’s son who turned 1 year old. Attended another conference in the capital city and learnt a lot about church, also got to eat at a vegetarian restaurant for the first time in my life which was a great experience. Saw one of my fellow CSD’s spirituality workshop for the staff in Burton-on-Trent and I was suitably impressed to see what could be done in Stoke-on-Trent (hence the candle experience). I got excited further about web development through a visit to the guy who’s developed the YMCA’s web-site. I got to look after Deborah and Kev on my own as Authrine and Abigail spent some time in London attending a family member’s wedding. Finally September saw me complete the quarterly Saturday morning study we’ve been doing on Hebrews which marks the last time I’ll be regularly down as the teacher for 2007 with Hughie taking the next quarterly shift as I move to new projects.

It has been a packed month of activities and it doesn’t look like easing any as we go into October. What I am learning slowly but surely, however, is that activity is not necessarily the sign of productivity and some of the best times recently have been times where I can chill, reflect, engage with God in a still, silent, contemplative way and just learn to be and not so much of the do. That will remain the challenge in the time ahead and the coming responsibilities and requirements of me as things progress.

I sincerely hope and pray that October will be a really great month for me and all those I love. Of course with October comes the kick into the final quarter of the year where the clocks go backwards/forwards (delete as applicable I forget at the moment). That should make things all the more fun as Autumn turns inexorably towards winter.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Rubi-con and Dancing Mackerel

The other day I was out with a friend and while we were walking I noticed this advert. Now I’m not in the business of advertising products and I’m glad this ain’t the BBC or I’m sure I’d be censured for bringing this up. Anyway I took a careful look at what the key line states and thought to myself – what on earth does it mean 63% more people prefer? Prefer this to what? More people than what?

As I considered this sleight of hand in marketing – remember the percentage looks appealing, that’s quite some statistic – I got rather annoyed that there was no reference to anything else. What makes it all the more tragic was that actually I rather enjoy the brand’s mango drink – quality stuff. Yet this advert sucks. It’s such a sneaky little manipulative piece of advertising that I thought of some alternative marketing, i.e. ‘89% more people prefer Da Man CD’s blog’ or perchance ‘97% more people prefer baked beans’. You cannot sue me for that can you – my source could be anyone I choose it to be!!

Yet the moral of the story that I consoled myself with is back to the thing of truth and integrity. Some sucker’s going to read that advert and actually let it slip into their sub-conscious and fall for their cunning trap. My heart’s desire is that I’m not duplicitous in my language and deceptively manipulative – and believe me being a man who loves words the challenge is to remain transparent and honest in my use of them. The prayer is that through this the sort of life I invite people to live with me is one of wholeness birthed out of reality not fable or fabrication.

I’ve been meaning to post this picture up for over two weeks now. I’ll explain more about my friend Charles in a future entry. For the time being suffice to say on visiting him we chose to have a bite to eat here of all places. Quality stuff! What a name to call your establishment. It was just too good an opportunity to miss – so I didn’t! Thanks for that memory Charles. I hope to share more pleasant memories of my time with a dear friend like Charles soon.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Beauty and the Gospel

This man is Pip Wilson. He’s a hombre highly regard in YMCA circles and has been doing training to people on the edge for ages. He is of the belief that he is beautiful and so are you. He’ll go as far as to say so on a stage. Which is cool.

To enter into theological debate or not to enter theological debate that is the question. At the time I chose not to enter cos I knock about with a group of people who are kinda anti-doctrine, or who have been hurt by the heavy handed doctrine police who legislate the length of skirts to deem them as holy or not. I can appreciate that in the ‘just love them into the kingdom’ perspective there’s not too much time for thinking through why we do what we do cos we’re too busy doing. Fair enough. By that I mean it’s all cool with that approach if that floats your boat. Though I reckon there’s a small leak in said boat that eventually will sink it. That’s just a personal opinion though.

Here LIVE ON THIS BLOG I can do the theological debate! I am aware from a political philosophy perspective that classically there have been two roots for political ideology. One is that man is basically scum of the earth and what are required are laws and regulations to keep him from running wild. A bit of a generalisation but I never promised a sophisticated debate – do the course for that … oh but really read the books when you’re doing it not like others who rely on generalisations. The second classical position which underpins the liberal movement is that people are actually basically good people who require minimal regulation to protect their freedoms and rights to express their goodness. Yeah, shoot me down on the generalisations if you want, but when it comes down to it that’s what they’re all about.

Obviously there are problems with both positions. With the pessimistic approach if we’re so bad and need regulation how can we trust those who are regulating us if they themselves are subject to the same depravity? On the optimistic approach how do we reconcile this beauty image with the varying levels of inhumanity committed by humanity from debilitating behaviours like gossip, hypocrisy and malice to alleged larger atrocities like rape, exploitation and murder?

Guess what? I know this is going to surprise you but I actually believe the Bible has something to say about this! (Yeah, shocker n it?) From what I read the biblical account of humanity is one that is created to reflect God and so is capable of glorious pieces of beauty. The nub of the issue is however that disobedience to the requirements of God means that man is fatally flawed. There’s a bit that says that all has sinned and fallen short of the glory then there are various parts of the bible that points out that man is actually deserving of the anger of God because of this failure to meet His requirements.

So however many ‘good deeds’ we do it still doesn’t match up to the purity, holiness and perfection of the Creator. So by our standards some of us might be doing real well – what great works and teachings Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Buddha, Nelson Mandela, Florence Nightingale, Martin Luther King et. al. did – yet in the sight of the Creator it’s a whole heap more than deeds and on His perfect scales we’re all found wanting. Not only that but there is nothing we can do to resolve the situation – pop psychology, consumer driven techniques, meditation, yoga, etc. etc. Indeed the whole deal is that we go through life endeavouring to medicate for the problem and fall back on the chestnut phrases ‘well, nobody’s perfect’.

Yet there is someone who has done something about. Seeing as though the Creator has a vested interest in the pinnacle of creation He Himself made a way for reconciliation for the breach to be fixed and for that which we were created for to be actualised to the maximum. The tricky bit though is that we’re not preset to think that way and live in a society that promotes everything other than that setting. I mean after all where’s the attraction in giving up self-focus for God-focus? Giving up everything to find ourselves in the one who created us for His glory – that just doesn’t fit anyone’s agenda when left to themselves.

Ho hum, He’s done His bit and given us a way to experience lifelong and indeed eternal beauty for what it really is rather than pale shadows. Sometimes in my view the blanket statement of being beautiful doesn’t really strike to the source of that beauty. Nor does it reflect how marred the beauty is not due to a readjustment in our thinking through positive exercises and knocking about with positive people but the acknowledgement and total surrender to the true Source of Beauty, Holiness and Truth.

To me that’s why Jesus is so central to living and all this positive jazz is not out in the ether that we recognise in ourselves as something pleasant to us, but embodied in perfection in the character of Christ. Now you don’t have to buy it. You don’t have to believe it. No one’s forcing you and indeed you’re in good company because even the blokes who were following Him for the best of His ministry were a bit baffled by it and only began to get it when He left. Yet in checking what’s been said about Him and what He says about Himself there’s not the option of thinking that this guy is just a regular good dude with nice teaching or good works like the hombres mentioned above. There’s more to it that that and in my humble faith this is something worth selling everything to invest everything into it because He alone is worth it.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Rainbow Intro

You don't forget your roots homey!

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Books and Darts

Read a really interesting article by Tim Challies on reading. Reminded me of some things I can take into consideration when looking at the books issue. I want to take this advice on board and find a time to get more books!

Oh and as well as that you may remember my little celebration of reaching the awesome 180 blog entries with a tribute to Bullseye and Tony Green. Well I was in our local pub recently and usually I just go in, have a few J20’s, a packet of nuts and good chat with some friends. Recently I noticed that they not only have a dartboard but TWO dartboards AND one of which has an electronic scoreboard next to it! My mate knows the owner – top lass she is as well – and she plays darts and may teach me to play, although seeing her play I’m not sure if Stevie Wonder maybe a better teacher. More importantly on Wednesday nights they have competitions and they’re apparently the best pub in their league. What a great way to build relationships, get in the culture of the community and learn one of the games that has taught me more about theology than a lot of Bible studies I’ve had in my time. Bear that in mind when you pray for da man cd to be successful in these exploits!

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

The Test: Football or Christ?

Wow. After certain issues cropped up today, to watch this clip really shook me to my core.

Absolutely fundamental to me. Thought I'd share it with you.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

CJ Mahaney - Testimony

This guy is one of those that I really admire and enjoy listeing to. Hopefully his testimony maybe of interest to you.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Songs from Yesterday

Back in the day this would be a Thank God For … article, but I can’t be bothered tonight. Tonight is the Sabbath evening and I’ve got back from a prayer meeting that was excellent, exhilarating and ultimately exhausting. I have to confess sometimes in my tiredness I can be somewhat irritable, so it took everything in me to listen to Kevaughn go on about some peace initiative. I endeavoured to hear as patiently as possible to yet another noble commendable effort by some bloke to bring peace into the world. Don’t want to be too cynical because as a peacemaker I genuinely hope to see the world experience peace wherever it can. It’s just that when that peace is sought with no reference to God through Jesus Christ then I always know how it ends up – but don’t take my word for it, go check what God says peace is and compare it to life – wherever – and you’ll get where I’m coming from.

Anyhow, so I’m there listening to my son and responding as honestly, succinctly but sensitively as I can not to make out that what he’s saying was a complete waste of my listening time. It was then that I remembered a song by the dude who’s the inspiration of this blog. In the track called ‘The End’ Brother Gibson – for he indeed claims Jesus as his Lord and Saviour – highlights the futility of man’s plans when the script is more or less set and culminates in the real Prince of Peace returning to usher in the end and eternal peace.

I first came across Jon Gibson in 2000 – hence the reference to songs of yesterday. I had moved to Stoke-on-Trent in the hope of getting some work in Christian Broadcast Media and my dear friend and mentor Hughie (who turns 45 tomorrow – too many birthdays in September and August were my opinion required) worked for UCB/Cross Rhythms. So I stayed on the grounds helping a brilliant man of God – Dr. Victor Pearce – with his ministry in a voluntary administrative capacity. One of the perks meant I could browse through the not inconsiderable record collection of Cross Rhythms. As I heard a particular track my ears perked up to the tune – melody structure, chord structure and vocals. Sure there were some hints of Stevie Wonder but still distinct enough for me to enjoy for himself. Jon Gibson is the only person I know to actually get me feeling favourable to the sentiments of Christmas with his song ‘Christmas Song’. Other than that my doctrinal position on the pagan festival remains as it is. This song, though, really brought out the family feel of the time in a style that I found infectious and every now and then – almost always nowhere near the season in question – I sing the song with lungs bursting forth about the joys of everybody singing a Christmas Song. Since then I’ve come across several other songs from this guy that is just awesome. I wish I had all of his albums – not because everything he does is music gold, far from it, some of the stuff is absolute pop contemporary Christian dross – but when he strikes gold it more than dispels any of the less noble efforts.

The one track that will always remain in my mind was one that I was used for the one and only video I’ve put together on Windows Movie Maker and posted onto me DailyMotion account. You can check the track with the video. Obviously the quality is not to the highest standards, but hopefully you’ll stick with it and taste some of this guy’s quality. The track itself ‘You’ve Gotta Love Somebody’ helps me root everything I do in the fact that sooner or later for all the doctrine I imbibe and worship songs I enjoy singing there’s got to come a time when I actually express God’s love for someone who needs it – maybe in a word, perhaps in a gift, sometimes with a meal, often in a laugh, occasionally by listening, now and then by sharing my life. Whichever way it is this song reminds me of that sentiment and it’s got to be among my favourite pieces that Mr. Gibson has produced thus far in his career.

For whatever reason he never made it as a big artist for long – although he did have his time in the sun for a brief season. Credit to him, though, he’s evidently gone to do things his way, which is fair enough and he’s still about doing this and that. It’s definitely worth checking his web-site out and his MySpace page has some decent full tracks of the kind of work he does.

So if you’re feeling generous and you want to know what will really make my day, beyond a shadow of doubt it would be purchasing a Best Of … compilation of Jon’s best tracks as a tribute to those great songs of yesterday. Now that’s what I call a great way to enjoy the day (or night) of rest.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Songs from my Father

I actually love writing.

Unlike the painter/artist who finds their delight with a canvas or piece of paper and crayons, paint brushes or whatever, I get my thrills from expressing my thoughts on paper in the written word. When I think about it on a roll there are so many thoughts actually worth writing that I could happily spend half my time in waking hours just doing that. Of course there’s more to life than writing, so I’ll have to discipline myself in this fashion. Perhaps the real gig is to discipline myself to write regularly in a format that can be published.

Anyhow. Today’s blog entry (or tonight for this is being typed after 11pm) is another tribute for my father. What do I mean another? Read this and get back to me. After you’ve checked that then you can go on to check a tribute to me sister who turns 31 today.

My family is one that’s heavily influenced by music. All five members of the immediate family enjoy nothing better than a good sing-song now and then. David is undoubtedly the most gifted singer of us all. Mum is undoubtedly the most passionate singer of us all. Ruth is undoubtedly the most disciplined singer of us all. I am undoubtedly the most likely person to write about us singing. That leaves our father.

There’s something whimsical about remembering my dad singing and just humming a tune as he goes about daily routine activities. Not interested in the telly, he’d go to his room and hum a tune, or more accurately relate the tune to the timeless lyrics of ‘dee dah dah, dee, dah, dah, dah, dum, dah, dah, dah, dah, dee, dah’ which of course are applicable to any song in one combination or another. Tonight whilst taking the time to look after the children then treat myself to an awesome dinner I recalled a song my dad used to hum/dah, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. I went to the effort of researching the song and on actually reading the lyrics (not my dad’s dum-dah-dee version) I was blown away by just how awesome the song is.

All these years my dad had sown the praise of God into the psyche of his son so that years after leaving the home I still remember clearly the song and can go back and find out why the Lord is worthy my praise – king of creation; my health and salvation; shelters me; sustains me; grants the real needs of my life; created me; enables me to work; loves me; helps me overcome life’s issues from without and within; stills the storms of life; persists even when things look to be going wrong.

Considering all of this I can see why my dad hummed this tune all those years ago. Having experienced the reality of these different aspects in my life along this 14 year journey with God so far I can now sing the song with real personal investment. So thank God for my dad, who celebrated his 74th birthday last Saturday. As a beneficiary of his legacy, I only hope I can live such a life that my children will likewise be able to look back in years to come and remember their father devoted this Lord worthy of praise because He is the Almighty, the King of Creation.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Da Nu Man CD (kinda)

I don't hate my image, as in the photo you see at the side when you access the blog, but I have for a while considered a change. My friend recently took this photo of me and it was just right. I don't know how to change the photo from the image that it's on at the moment, but when I do I'll change it. A change will do me good!

My other mate Hughie (I don't only have two, but I'm sure the others don't want to be associated cos of the humour ... 'what humour?' I hear you ask, 'exactly' comes the ever so helpful reply) noted that it's great getting to look up me nostrils. That's just the kind of friend he is, though.

Annie, I still like the photo!

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

da man cd

Intransigence and Tony Green

Intransigent. What a word. Apparently it means refusal to budge or as the wordnet.princeton dudes put it adamant: impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason;

I was thinking about that word and its relation to God. I live in a society that wants things its own way. We want to watch our own kind of programmes whenever we want them; we want to consume whatever we want, whenever we want; it may not be possible all the time but we’re moving in that direction with every passing day.

Unsurprisingly we want to worship a god in that kind of way as well. I’ve heard on a number of occasions recently people saying ‘I don’t want to worship a god like that’ in relation to different aspects of His character. The response to that in some areas has been to appeal to a god who fits our comfortable views of ‘loving and good’ god. I had the thought that it was almost like after we’ve crafted god in our favourable image like John Travolta to Olivia Newton-John we sing you’re the god that I want. (Ooh, ooh, ooooooh, honey.)

Yet there is something about the nature of God that is intransigent – as in that’s just the way He is. You can plea, persuade, cajole, reason all you want and it does absolutely nothing – He’s God and that’s just the way it is. That’s not to say I know everything about Him – hey that’s part of the point of the journey in getting to know Him. That’s not even to say that I necessarily like every aspect of that which I learn about Him. At the end of the day, that’s just the way He is. He is not subject to my whims and ideals. He is not pandering to my views and thoughts on what He would and would not do. The whole point is for me to change my ideals, thoughts, views and whims to be conformed into who He actually is – whether I like it or not. Then the deal will be that when I realise just who He is not only will I get to like it, I’ll get to love Him for it.

Either way though – He being the absolute ideal of perfection and me not I think it’s fair that I don’t make any demands on how He must be. That’s just a thought.

For His Name Sake
Shalom
da man cd

ps. Apparently this is blog entry number … 180 – so I dedicate this one to the one and only Tony Green – undoubtedly one of the most influential personalities ever … on Bullseye. And I loved Bullseye. I may not like the updated version that much, but at least Tony Green’s still on it. As well as that Bullseye is undoubtedly (sloppy writing I know to repeat an adjective in the same paragraph with no sense of emphasis or irony, but I’m allowed a sloppy paragraph every now and then) one of the most effective quiz shows with which to define the whole concept of sin. So thanks Jim Bowen, thanks Bully, but most of all thank you Tony ‘And Bully’s Special Prize’ Green. For those unfamiliar with the gospel according to Bully check this website to read all about it.

That Human Race Issue

So I subscribe to the bi-monthly 9Marks Newsletter and find it a stimulating read. I’d be interested to see if there’s an equivalent from the UK perspective as with due respect to the current magazines available it’s fair to say there’s not anything similar to church life from the British perspective.

It would be particularly interesting to see such an outlet addressing the issue that this bi-month’s edition of the newsletter looks at – race. Whenever I consider the issue I’m always thinking of things like our culture versus Kingdom culture – as expressed through the values that are laid out in scripture to do with what Christian ‘new man’ living is all about.

I’m not convinced that church from my perspective has begun to grapple with that especially in the light of contending with the type of multi-cultural society Britain is in a lot of areas. One of the dreams of my life is to be part of a truly multi-cultural church – reflecting the community not just with token gestures or quota filling occupants but a genuine community of believers from different backgrounds – social, ethnic, generational, economic and cultural. Getting there is part of the challenge of the gospel and I’m not necessarily going as far as to say it is a fundamental aspect of biblical mandate for the church. Yet I do believe it’s important, especially viewed in the light of Peter’s realisation on the roof-top and the make-up of the radical Antioch church as well as Paul’s comments and the underlying commitment to agape love which transcends cultural and ethnic barriers.

I’d love to know what the response would be to the questions asked in the Pastors’ forum from a British perspective

Is there a race problem in the British church? Are whites missing it? Why? What implications does this have for the church’s proclamation of the gospel?

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd