Thanks For The Things That Last

As I’ve noted before I’ve just suffered for the umpteenth time the fact that me hard drive has been corrupted seeing the end of a lot of work over 2009 and usually bringing on a season of mourning and great sadness. It did cause considerable inconvenience over the time I was without it and I won’t pretend it didn’t hurt at the time. Yet unlike on previous occasions the feeling of loss wasn’t overwhelming and causing a sense of misery in me life.

Likewise as you may have noticed Liverpool have been doing poorly in the Premier League at a time when we were expecting them to be challengers for the title. Result after result has been disappointing as display after display has been less than good enough. I recall a time when these kind of results would cause considerable misery in my life and make my moods less than pleasant at the best of times. Yet unlike on those previous occasions the feeling of loss wasn’t overwhelming and causing a sense of misery in me life.

The nature of the move we’ve made has been quite traumatic and what it has involved has been really taxing emotionally, physically, relationally and spiritually. It would usually be my style to be thrust into an intense season of depression and inactivity where I feel rejected by those near and dear to me. That would usually bring about questioning and suspicion on anyone and everyone and a seeming inability to get on with my life. Yet unlike on previous occasions the feeling of loss wasn’t overwhelming and causing a sense of misery in me life.

You’ll probably notice a trend in recent events in the life of dmcd and there’s a good reason for that. This came to the fore of things recently. The wife and I were watching Gladiator yesterday. Now when I offered to watch that with her, she was concerned that I actually said Gladiators. Now let’s be clear, I’m not sure if you can two more opposing programme and media concepts as these two. I won’t try to look for similar things of great difference. On the one hand you have a moving tale of loss and retribution and on the other you have a tacky show of ‘athleticism’ with a catchphrase by one of it’s presenters that was ripped off from Red Dwarf.

In any case so we’re watching the movie starring Russell Crowe and enraptured with the story of a general of men who just wants to return to his home – his family, his wife, his precious son. Then because of political conspiracy and the insecurity of a power-hungry weak son, all that he holds dear is ripped away from him. We are left to wonder what can you live for when all you have is gone?

So what am I talking about? The extension of the question is, why invest in something that can be taken away from you so easily? How fragile is life? How temporary are the things around us – like the success of football teams, like hard-drives, like relationships? I’m not saying have a negligent approach to these issues. When it comes to relationships our whole time on this earth is to make the most of them and share those intangible qualities that make them so special. Herein, however, lies the point behind the different approach I’ve had to the above issues.

Those intangible qualities refer to the eternal characteristics of God – what makes a relationship worthwhile? Love. Unconditional, supportive, always faithful, always encouraging and in every sense a force that looks to see the positive and walk through the negative towards that positive. It’s not a tangible quality. It’s not something that is sold at this year’s sales before VAT rises. It’s not something that was being pushed that well when the recent season was being held. It’s not something that is popularised for what it is through the year, although it is often perverted and distorted to lure and entice mugs into their lair.

I’ve been able to cope a little bit better under these and other storms in life because I’m learning that the investment that matters most to me in life is the investment in life with Christ. The crucial elements of life worth living for are the eternal treasures to be found in the Kingdom of God as found in a relationship with Him through His Son by his Spirit with the promise that this will not be ripped away by the insecurities of man and the powers that be, but will last forever. When I invest in something like that, there’s just no way that I can lose, even if hard-drives, football teams and relationships go by the wayside.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd

Errr ... About That Hiatus

It’s been a while and there’s good reason for that too – the dreaded technological difficulties. I even have to use the wife’s one to put this together and anyone who knows about the wife’s cute little machine knows that it has to take something for this to be the case.

I hope to have my equipment working real soon.

As ever there’s been a lot going on with me and there are a number of big changes to announce ... in the near future.

I watched Law Abiding Citizen this evening and it got me thinking about the problem with morality. What’s the problem, you may ask. Well the problem as I see it starts in the Garden where it all goes horribly wrong because that enticing tree with fruit good enough to eat was about knowing good and evil. Sounds awfully familiar to me. Since then, without God we’ve got an idea about what’s good and what’s evil because we’ve been doing a lot for both ever since. What’s happened as well is that we have constructs that have endeavoured to enforce good against evil. Constructs we’re respecting, but because its run by people – seriously flawed and open to corruption – then it is no surprise that even these constructs – and that won’t be the last time you read that word in a blog by me – are subject to the same flaws.

Where does that lead us? We can blindly trust the system, or we can cynically denounce it being surprised when it gets it right, or resign ourselves to this being life. Or ... there is another way and that way is ... going to be explored in some future posts.

In the meantime I was really convicted again about the importance of being compelled by the compassion of Christ. Not about right or wrong, or what the compassion of Christ compels you to do. Some may read compel and see it as a negative, but we’re all moved by forces external and internal and when a force like the love of God is moving us to do things that reflect His character, then that cannot be a bad thing.

Ho hum, here’s praying that things will work out for my tech equipment. In the meantime, don’t forget God loves you which in itself is an amazing thing when you consider how good and evil we can be.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Who Are You Not What Are You Good At

I finally got to watch The Wrestler recently. I saw a film that told a wonderful morality play along the lines of what happens when you invest your life into something at the cost of everything and you are defined by what you do rather than investing in who you are called to be as a character.

This is particularly poignant if we are particularly good at what we are doing – if it gets us acclaim, fame and that glimmer of glory that is like a whiff of something intoxicating, alluring and compulsively addictive. We are good at it, so we become one with it and no longer have the emotional or character skills to deal with life when we are no longer the best at what we do and there is nothing left to life for us.

Someone said that it was a film that dragged for her, but to me it travelled at a measured pace ticking all the journey marks of a good story – tell the basic areas of the character’s life, introduce the main character, let us know what the main theme of the brother’s life is, give us the crucial up and down points, lead us to the finish. It does this well, it takes us on an emotional rollercoaster but in no way at a stomach churning pace.

So I enjoyed watching the film and came away thanking God again that He has delivered us from any other preoccupation other than being His sons, so that I don’t find my identity in anything else than that – not what I do, or who knows me or how well I am known. I also left hoping others would likewise be set free from such a dangerous clinch on the world and the things of the world.

To be lonely is a very sad thing and there we don’t have true love that forgives, that puts relationships as a priority and that can allow us to find contentment in the simplicity of life and not be wracked by a need to be fulfilled by the temporary.

So I was reflecting on some of the lessons I learnt from The Wrestler and continued reading the book of the moment which is the autobiography of Eric Bristow I was walking home and as usual thinking. The Bristow book is definitely about a man who became obsessed with something he was good at to the cost of virtually everything else. Whilst taking all that in, I thought again about King David’s issue with Bathsheba (found in 2 Samuel 11 and 12).

There is a reading of the story that goes as follows. David took time off from doing what he’s always meant to be doing, i.e. leading the troops. Because he took that time off he was susceptible to being caught off guard and hence the whole mess and so the lesson to learn is to always be at our post doing what we’re meant to be doing so we don’t foul up as David did.

The problem with that reading is that it doesn’t actually address the fact that David’s actions with Bathsheba exposes the dark heart of what David is capable of to himself more than anyone. It exposes his spiritual bankruptcy and vulnerability to the many sins that plague a lot of men. To leave it down to the brother taking a break actually reinforces the sort of thinking that makes the Protestant Ethic such a popular thing for work-a-holics.

There is something to be said about being where you need to be, doing what need to be doing so as not to be caught out. In this case, however, there is more to it than that. It fits a better picture of our growing understanding of what the life of every faith-traveller reveals – after the initial encounter with God others follow like this that are not meant for someone’s elevation but again to bring the traveller to an appreciation of their utter dependency on God because of the deeper issues in life.

I trust that out identity will continually be tried by God so that all the dross is dealt with, in whatever season of life and we won’t be dependent on something we’re good at or something we desire of limited value. Rather our desire will again be determined by God telling us that we are His and He is ours.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

Seeking in Surrogates

I have no idea what it is this year about the movies. In the first quarter there were a few things that got my interest, but really since then the choice of films on offer has been somewhat substandard. Transformers 2 was alright, but GI Joe was disappointing. The Taking of Pelham 123 was actually a pretty decent film, but other than that the choice has been fairly poor and someone really must have thought that witchcraft and that kinda jazz sells. Whatever.

So of late I’ve been a bit bored with the fare and given the movies a wide berth which is disappointing. However lately there has been a film or two that has taken my interest and for the first time in weeks I’ve made it into a cinema. (Of course the discount I get as a student was also an inducement.)

I’ve never been the biggest fan of Bruce Willis. Not to say I hate the guy or dislike his movies, I’ve just not been taken with his material and don’t think of him as that much of a big deal. I acknowledge his skill though in playing certain roles well. He seems to choose stuff that doesn’t require too much of a stretch for his core abilities so when he does the part he can be as convincing as he needs to be. For example I was a fan of his work in Unbreakable.

So with all that on board I wasn’t going out to watch a Bruce Willis film when I heard about Surrogates I was looking forward to watching a film that happened to have Willis in it. I was so glad I did watch it because it turned out to be one of the better films of the year.

One thing that did ring true with one of the reviews was their comment that it was a bit like I, Robot. I was thinking how disappointing I, Robot was. In contrast I really enjoyed the film.

What I enjoyed about the film are the many questions it raised about identity, control, power, freedom and the role of technology in fulfilling our desires. I do love a film sets up those moral dilemmas and those are strewn throughout the film especially the premise for the climax.

One thing it also highlighted again was the following questions:

Who are we really?

Can we be anything we want to be?

What happens when the opportunity comes to do just that but at a cost?

What is more important, your ability to do what you want or your responsibility to others?

Who or what defines us?

Who has the right to rule over us?

What role does technology play in the development of who we are as humans?

What does freedom mean, in an age where it’s not always clear who is on the side of it and what its costs are?

It’s particularly appropriate as the month of October looms and we look at those issues through various means and all with the desire to get a Christocentric understanding of the topic in question.

I recommend you check the movie, although you won’t have to for answering these questions that you can begin exploring now.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

More Updates on DMCD

This is a change to your scheduled blog. The series on fasting is set to continue soon. I felt it would be good, though, to keep you updated. Now I know I’ve done that a bit recently, but it’s a personal blog ain’t it, so it’s good from time to time to get an update.

I am enjoying writing again more regularly, I do know that it takes discipline to church out stuff, and sometimes it doesn’t always taste as fresh as other things I’ve written, but that’s to be expected. I’ve never seen life as being on a permanent high and I guess when it comes to writing I cannot be expected to produce Pulitzer Prize winners. This just beats the lack of activity that dominated the previous quarter.

I’ve been messing with Movie Maker recently and may have something of worth to show for it in the coming weeks. Lately I’ve just been bombarded with loads of ideas and thoughts. I’ve been as diligent as I can in noting them and in the process of making some sense of it all to be able to be more fruitful and productive.

Church life is a bit less active at present and may continue to be that while for the time being. There will be an update on that as time progresses. Four fifths of the Dryden Family are in UK – this is a rare occurrence and worth noting! Mum is staying with David and Nicola whilst Ruth has also popped over with her only begotten son, Mattaniah – that’s exciting and challenging. The last time I saw my sister wasn’t the best of times for us and so I’m looking forward to one big ol’ family get together.

Whilst there be family things to look forward to, the recent season in terms of house sorting has been stressful and heavily time consuming sapping energy and will at times. Indeed part of the reason for this entry is to keep the Fast Series fresh and not suffer through feeling of tiredness. I hope that’s reflected in the next entry which I’ve gone to great extents to ensure works well.

Recently I was thinking about being in a fertile place to produce and excited about what that continues to look like even as clarity comes in for life. It just reiterates what the recent statement of intent is for the season.

Life with the wife is fairly good at present overall – that’s a good thing for which I give God thanks. It feels as if we’re stronger than we’ve ever been as husband and wife, but that too is scheduled to be tested to the max with the impending changes on the horizon, thus there’s an understanding for her eagerness to get the house sorted asap. Deborah is doing great at present waiting for her holidays. She’s had life on her own of late as her sister, Abigail, has been living with my mum, her uncle and aunt and her brand new cousin Joshua.

A lot going on as ever – one particular highlight is reconnecting with a teacher from my Junior school days and seeing what it’s like to relate to her all these years later following her significant influence on my life. I am so looking forward to sharing more on that in the near future. That goes to show again how relationships remain the key to good living.

Today I watched Ice Age 3 – apparently it’s not as good as 1 or 2 but having not watched them I can’t make the comparison. Funnily enough recently I also watched Transformers 2 having not watched the first one yet and the review was apparently it is better than the first one but again having not watched it I cannot make the comparison. Makes it all rather interesting should I ever get round to watching the prequels what my reaction will be.

Hopefully I’ll be posting reviews of these films on AF in the not too distant future subject of course to time allowances. You can also look a review of the recent viewing of West Side Story at the Regent Theatre which I was able to watch. Look out for the reviews on the NSYMCA Faith page under the new Gospel Connections section which is scheduled to be up in the next week or so.

As you can see from just this foretaste, I’m being kept busy and there are more significant changes in the pipeline personally, vocationally and for the family. I am just in the process of getting some important priorities clearly established and focussing on those so as not to be a sucker for distractions. I sent this text to some friends lately: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Jesus knew that many would come to Him claiming to have done good stuff in His name but his response was to call them workers of iniquity. So focussing on Christ and living in response to what He says is crucial. Enjoy your life in Christ today. It was as much a message to myself on focus as it was to those who I sent it to. It summarises the theme of what I’m all about at present. Keep dmcd in your prayers, please!

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

Late Night Movie Tip And Other Stuff

No you won’t recall because you haven’t read the review yet, but when you do read the review, you’ll discover that one of the prayer points we want people to hold is for Slumdog Millionaire to win the Oscar for Best Film. That reminds me to get that entry up and running which I hope to get done before the next weekend. In any case, this is a good omen as they say for the big prize in two weeks time or so.

Trust me that review is coming soon as is the book review on The Call and Tim Chester’s book. On that by the way, the reason I’ve taken it off the list is not because I don’t rate it anymore, but it’s just easier for me to have one book recommended highly at this time and that would be Guinness’ effort as will be clear when you read the review. Just to keep you informed I have just finished Michael Parkinson’s autobiography ‘Parky’. Not sure if it’s worth a full blown review like I’ll give the other two books. I read it because as an interviewer and a journalist Parky’s done some of the stuff I aspire to do – i.e. write, interview, do radio shows, look at media business opportunities, do documentaries. He has some fascinating insights to share on his experiences in the businesses. He gets to tell us about himself in what he has to say about the people and events that have surrounded him. He does come across as a bit cantankerous as though he hankers for good ol’ days that were old but not necessarily that good. For all that if you have an interest in the guy it’s a good read. Other than that not really one you’d want to spend time with.

Having completed that in fairly good time (maybe took a week, perhaps 10 days) I’ve moved onto reading Bobby Charlton’s autobiography covering his England years. What’s drawn me to it is this is the guy who still holds the record for most goals scored for England and is hugely feted as this country’s best footballer. Part of the World Cup winning side in 1966 his story would be interesting to see the journey he and his country took in claiming that most prestigious of titles. I’m into reading about winners and what made them winners to see if there’s anything I can pick up. That’s why I read the Bible so much. Reading what I have has been illuminative already with Charlton heavily affected by the 1958 Munich air disaster that claimed the lives of some of his close friends and colleagues and which he survived. It more than clouds the early parts of the book, but through that he also exalts the power of a team when it is all functioning together as it should. My kind of statement again about being in the right place at the right time doing the right thing to function right and thus contribute to the whole machine functioning well. If it works for my physical body I have no reason to doubt its effectiveness in groups, churches, workplaces and other organisations.

Also coming up is the reason why The Gospel in 3-D is the web-site of the moment. All that to come hopefully before week is over, giving me plenty to do and keeping me off the streets, which is a good thing for the pleasant citizens of Stoke-on-Trent. Keep praying for muggins so that I’ll be faithful to that which I’ve been called to do only for …

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
dmcd

New Month - New Things

So January’s over and it has been an interesting way to start 2009. No doubt that the centre of attention was the community launch and dedication service for the new COG Training and Conference Centre. It’s taken up a lot of time and energy and now that it’s out of the way and over with I want to focus on other projects and plans. Especially to do with making the most of this writing gig.

I am pleased that there have been so many posts in January particularly here and other on Among Friends. Sure a large contingent has been YouTube posts, but along with the launch of some other small writing initiatives in the forthcoming days, weeks and months that should change. I’m too ashamed of having YouTube posts on this one especially as I’m committed to writing as much as I can explain the point behind the posts. I love writing, though, and I’m a big fan of being able to connect what I’m reading and seeing with the writing stuff that I’m putting together. So having spent January bogged down with whatever I was bogged down with, although there’s no let up in activity I do hope to be able to spend more time this month setting stuff up for the busy spring season ahead.

February is such a funny month, especially now there’s no leap-year bonus day. It’s here and over with before you know it. The highlight of the month, obviously, is the mid-month love-fest that our dear Roman friends introduced to the cultural scheme of things. I’ve never bought into it myself despite apparently being a married man. So I don’t intend to start now. Sure we can do the talk about love over the month as it’s an opportune time, but really I am not into all that love-hearts business. Having said that the missus has worked herself close to a frazzle … again … so I hope there’ll be an opportunity to get some time away together that may happen to coincide with a certain time of the month.

There are a lot of decent movies either out at the moment or about to come out over the coming months and so I hope to be able to watch them and review them here as well. On Saturday night I managed to watch Slumdog Millionaire and I’ll be posting a review on that either tonight or realistically tomorrow. I’m also hoping to check out Frost/Nixon very soon and then I’ll be checking out The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I like reading, I like movies, I like writing, so it makes sense that I enjoy my life by making the most of these opportunities not only for my sake but also to share with others, like readers of the blog.

There’s also the continuing football season which sees Liverpool return to European football with the small matter of playing Euro giants Real Madrid to make any progress in the Champions League. Now following last month’s infamous Rafa Rant, you’d think I would be overjoyed at Liverpool’s 2-0 win today against Chelsea. I’m sure you would think I would be thrilled to bits that we have been able to do the double over the nearest threat to Old Trafford over the last three seasons. You would think that and you would be horribly wrong. That result actually makes it easier for United to retain the title and here’s the thinking. Our inability to win games has already given Man United the onus. They have a game in hand which on winning will take them five points clear and trust me, they’ll win the game in hand. Hey, even in the unlikely event that they drop two or hilariously three points they have the advantage and the experience to see this home. If Chelsea were the nearest competitors I would say there was hope. As it is the hopes of the rest of the league now fall on us to do what we haven’t even sniffed at since 1990. I have little hope that we can do it because it’s not about beating Man Utd and Chelsea, it’s about beating Stoke City, Hull City, Wigan, Everton, Portsmouth, Blackburn and Bolton Wanderers. It’s then about beating other teams as well and by doing so then and only then do we have a hope. I remain to be convinced that we are capable of going on such a run. I was reflecting however on how things are turning at the club and Rafa’s ongoing petition for more control. I am not thrilled by his approach, but I do understand his desire for control and when it’s given then he can take total responsibility for the club’s development. So if we succeed it’s down to him and if we don’t then we also know what that will mean. Come on though, Robbie Keane not good enough to be in the first team squad? Win or no win that kind of decision does no one any favours neither in the long run will it contribute to us winning further games. As I understand we beat a team with 10 men. Would we have beaten them with 11? So that will be something to endure for months ahead.

In the middle and through all of that there remains my commitment to endeavouring to follow Jesus. I have started the Michael Parkinson autobiography ‘Parkie’ and its prologue looks at a turning point for Parkinson that led for him to get to where he was. As I read it I was again reminded of the episode of Peter’s restoration to the ministry by Jesus in John 21. There are turning points in life that sets us up for the rest of our journey. I know it’s a big deal to make the most of our ‘free will’ and in today’s society choice is God, but one of the things I realise is that when certain decisions are made a certain path is almost decreed for you – there is no choice, especially when you have been chosen. Jesus’ remark to Peter near the end of the chapter is a singular calling point for me. It’s not about what other people do, it’s not about other people’s agenda it’s simply about following Jesus. I am excited about the things that have already happened this year and what is about to happen, but as I realised at a key turning point in my life back in 2006, it doesn’t mean a thing unless my only desire is Him and to follow Him. I hope the journey will be worth while tracking for you as faith and life combine to produce further episodes in the weird and wonderful world of ur man cd.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd

Spot Of Late Night Blogging Before Bed Methinks

So here I be at the end of a very eventful day just sorting out what I’ll blog and what I won’t. Now this does not constitute the very best of CD Notes today, but a good flavour of the kind of stuff that’s been in me head especially over the last few hours.

The awards season has started! What a surprise for the top movie at the People’s Choice awards. I loved watching Hugh Laurie’s bit and Robin Williams just doesn’t appear to change that much with age, which is cool for me. Queen Latifah? What’s up with that?

I enjoy reading about people and politics – I’m fully out of the closet I love politics!! So reading about what the Conservatives would need to win and how things will change who has been the rebels actually made for good reading. Isn’t it wonderful when statistics can be used for your own agenda – man bless statistics!

Message to Linda McCartney Food Products: I just want the record to state clearly that I am a Linda McCartney food fan. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before. Just in case it hasn’t been reiterated recently I just want to state once more that since my turn to non-meat eating the products that have come from the brand named after the famous animal rights campaigner has sustained and fulfilled me in ways that most other foods just cannot reach. Thank you so much to the company for their quality product. Now encourage Sainsbury’s to sell your delicious country pies at a more reasonable price. Thanks.

That should do it for another day’s blogging. Nothing too heavy for the time being, maybe warm up especially once certain significant events are consigned to the annals of history. Might not hear from me tomorrow as it promises to be a very busy day, but who knows should God spare our lives to see the last day of the week I might post something. Liverpool play Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium and my dear friend Ray Feeney – an ardent City supporter you may recall – will be chief guest at my crib all being well to watch the match live on the telly. I’d love to blog on that experience as two dear brothers in the Lord enjoy each other’s company and not engage in hostilities over such trivial matters as a game of football. As long as Liverpool win of course.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd

Catching Up With All Those Thoughts

So you would have thought with having a two week break that I could make some time to catch up on some more regular blogging and letting you people genuinely know what is up with the gentleman whose initials are third and fourth in the alphabet. Oh but no, there’s always something that crops up as a reason why I can’t blog. So the reason why I haven’t been regularly blogging is because for about a month or so up to last Friday I really had no net connection as the router went all funny. So that was a pain in the neck. Now your argument is I could have blogged from work – done it before, probably do it again no problems right? Wrong. It’s not that straightforward – of late the domicile bliss of being in the room that I share with the wife sans wife and being able to just chill with the laptop on my … lap (that really is ingenious) multi-tasking as ever and just reeling the thoughts that come to me or having the chance to share that which has come to me. On the multi-tasking front for example I am listening and watching a random mix of tunes from my Xsecular file and at this minute it’s Seven Days by Sting. As well as that there are 10 net windows open with various links that I’ll get round to noting and the ever helpful Google Reader from which I’ll glean what nuggets to make a note of. There’s some catching up to do – to the region of 491 entries to wade through – but that’s the beauty of having this time doing something I enjoy. As well as those there is also the Word document on which I put down whatever notes I’ve made during the day. Of late these have been rather filled as I’ve had the chance to put down the copious web links and some notes that have been cropping up as well. The beautiful thing about the notes is that I’ll start on a stream of thought or a correspondence I want to do and I’ll stop it halfway through a sentence and leave it there for days at a time as I pursue something else and complete that as well. It’s good fun, really.

Anyway, so the wife finally sorted out the net business and got me back online from home on Friday and after giving God thanks and praise and extending a rather perky peck on the cheek for the wife finally completing her deed I’ve sought to make up for lost time. So here are some of the notes I’ve been making with links and the such like that has been rolling in the mind of the da man cd in the interim period from the last entry til now.

From 15-07-08

· The bigger picture goes to the question do Christians need to monitor their intake on television, radio, internet, etc.? I’m reminded of the proverb to guard the heart with all diligence as out of it flow the issues of life. Earlier on today, I was only too aware of how vulnerable I am to attack in going back to some stuff that I haven’t touched in months. I was only too conscious of the fact that I could take little bits and bobs to satisfy the flesh whilst building a desire for it again. In the intervening months I’ve had such a good time loving Christ and desiring to be sold out for Him, that I’m too aware of how precious that is to me and how dependent I am on Christ to maintain that, even in the light of the challenging marital circumstances. I want to be so awash with godly stuff that when the buzzers go off in me head then I’m able to take the hints and follow the Saviour into the proper thing.

· I am convinced by David Tennant’s portrayal of the Doctor – he does a good job and I’ve never seen him do a cropper. While thanks may go to writers and directors, et. al. the brother still has to come through with the performances and this he does to a really good degree.

From 17-07-08

· John Piper has not joined a gang – brilliant stuff!

· I look at the word source. I refer to it in my understanding of the role of a man. Back to the whole bit about us being here to look after the garden ensuring that the fruit it is to be producing comes through and enjoying what is produced. I then link it with the concept of fatherhood and look at the word and its meaning. When I look at how the dad is the source of the family from which everyone gets their name and identity I then connect to how we know we’re God’s children because our behaviour suggests we’re linked to the source. It makes me chuckle thinking that the Dryden Family is a production of Chris Dryden. If Authrine is unfruitful, if Abigail is rebellious, if Deborah is unruly then we can turn and look at the production values and who the producer was. Likewise the Executive Producer expects the production team to run on values in line with that which was set out at the beginning.

From 18-07-08

· God is Roman Abrahamovic and we are managers of Chelsea – he is the owner, we are the managers. He has brought us to look after his club and ensure that it fulfils its promise of winning trophies and producing good football. It’s his club but we manage it and have the resources at our disposal to put together the team that produces the necessary output to meet the overall targets.

From 19-07-08

· Recalling something I heard from the Josh Harris sermon as part of NA2008, I am intrigued at the whole concept of reformation to see that there’s something about taking God’s Word seriously and also there’s something in the inevitability of God fulfilling what His Word says. In the same way as a believer we live in the light of knowing God and seeking by His Spirit to have a spiritual reformation that will get rid of everything unpleasant to God.

From 24-07-08

· This is why I love spending time searching the web and getting involved in such stuff as to get my mind engaged in spiritual stuff that has implications on my social and cultural engagement. For example after touching on the subject of race and manhood over the weekend, here’s a fascinating blog entry on racism, the gospel and politics. This in itself refers to another fascinating blog entry on voting for Obama. In the light of the article you’d get the impression there’s implicit value in taking part in the political process of voting, but I’ve not had the argument made clear to me beyond reasonable doubt and yet the more we consider things, the more implicit is that the issue is worth defending on gospel grounds.

· Right or wrong I’ve tended to associate Pyromaniacs with articles against something usually someone on the emerging side or maybe a prosperity gospel proponent. So it was refreshing and illuminating to have that stereotype shattered by this article on my kinda subject – discipleship.

· Combining two themes – politics and Pyromaniacs, here’s something they have to say about what the church can say to government. That has implications for the church’s missional portfolio and what we say in our communities.

· I wonder why the cinema industry persists in spacing opening dates for their films when the technology is there to allow us to know what is in a film even before it’s released in its first country. Why not just release it everywhere at the same time?

From 26-07-08

· So getting back to basics with the family is a challenge anyway. To make it even more challenging here’s some advice on saving the family from being distracted to death.

From 27-07-08

· Moving metaphors – good stuff to remind me of who God is.

From 28-07-08

· Good critique on the Jesus invitation and deeper reflection on where He is

· As I explore the gospel further articles like this by Tim Keller are highly instructive

· As an example of how useful Google Reader has been, I never gave much notice to the Gospel Driven Church, but this article on what their church is all about and how it does what it does was a fascinating insight into how church is done. As well as that the motivating driver for the pastor of the church and writer of the blog resonates deeply with my own desire in my context. Here’s where his church is at as well.

From 29-07-08

· I wonder how many churches would take this position and pay the cost of faithfulness to God?

· This is a good entry that has good practical implications on how I can do life better if I learn to anticipate things, ask the right questions and work towards the right answers to those questions.

· I love posts like this that remind us of the real reason for meeting and what should result from it.

· This is a powerful article on the differences and similarities in what is faced in the United States of America and the Union of South Africa. It makes me consider what would be the key issues to address for the church and community context in which I live.

· I was reading a comment about why churches won’t become multi-cultural and the point was that it’s not about classism or racism but it’s because there is a mutual understanding that different cultures worship in different ways. That is a very dangerous comment to make. The deal of multi-cultural church is not to withstand the forces of prejudice and discrimination, it is to show the world how the gospel does cultural blending and brings a body of people committed to the sovereignty of God as expressed in a Kingdom culture that supersedes all other culture and sub-culture. This does not negate the value of the cultures in which we live, but it does say wherever cultural norms and values clash with kingdom values – and every non-kingdom culture by definition has elements that clash with kingdom culture – then these most bow down, submit and be removed in favour of kingdom culture. One blatantly apparent way in which various cultural norms contradict kingdom culture is in this separatist perspective on communal worship that says because I’m not comfortable worshipping in your cultural way I’ll leave you to it and I’ll do my thing over here and perhaps we can meet up every now and then. That doesn’t promote body-building at all. How can true gospel community arise in these circumstances? How can I ever benefit from the gifts you have to offer if the structure never affords me to spend quality time with you in that context? There again is the tricky issue of working out gospel community and kingdom culture in the light of the various pressures to conform and withdraw from each other for ‘perfectly reasonable’ premises which threaten the very real unity of the body.

From today

So if you thought this was a long post you need to understand that these are just selections from the stuff I’ve been noting over the two weeks. Just goes to prove how good it would be to get into a funk and rhythm of blogging so it doesn’t all pile up and then I have one of these heavy download sessions. Let’s hope and I’ll act on the hope that the change will come for everyone’s good!

Something I’m hoping to blog on soon and preferably before the end of the week is my take on The Dark Knight. Now if you’ve seen me Facebook profile then you’ll already know what some of my initial feedback was on it, but its worth a blog in itself so look out for that. As well as that whilst in holiday mode and hoping to escape tomorrow and Friday to catch up on some other stuff there should be more blog activity on this blog and the others that are up and running including the debut entry for the Daily Thoughts blog.

That should do for you for now. In the meantime have yourself a good ol’ time wherever you are and know that no matter how bad things may appear the bigger reality is not that things could be worse but that things are going to get better for it’s not a issue of cup half full or half empty, but followers of The Man will know it’s about having cups overflowing and with goodness and mercy pursuing us.

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Shalom
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