Had a day’s holiday to spend the afternoon with Hannah at school for a learn with a parent session on an environmental theme. We weeded, planted some flowers and painted a mini-beast and a flower on 2 tiles that will be treated and used to tile an external wall. A number of other dads there that was good to see.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Film: The Good Girl
Watched this with Rachael last week (recorded from TV). A less glamorous role for Jennifer Aniston than her usual performances.
Trailer:
Song: Sian Reeves, “Second Best (Not For Me)”
Sian Reeves, currently starring in the TV drama “Hope Springs”, performs the song "Second Best (Not For Me)" from "Cutting It" back in 2007.
TV: Hope Springs
Bill and Todd Hybels’ Willow Creek Father’s Day video clip
Via a Willow Creek e-letter received over the weekend.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Family Sunday
After church we went for a picnic in the Holmewood valley to see the new playground stuff. Went with Dave and Joseph, Ben (KF student), Ben, John and Grandma Jean.
Very warm afternoon.
From there went strawberry picking.
A very chilled day with no work tomorrow . . .
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Family Saturday
Up late, just in time for Rachael to take Isobel to ballet.
We all went to see Transformers 2 just after lunch and all enjoyed it.
Picked up my varifocal specs and reading all blurred from the off so will definitely take some getting used to.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson dies
I was never a huge MJ fan but do remember my sister playing “Off the Wall” (on vinyl) incessantly when we were growing up.
Farrah Fawcett dies
First of two celebrities to die on this day.
I did watch Charle’s Angels in the 70s but was always more of a Kate Jackson man.
Guardian obituary
Times obituary
Wikipedia entry
Charlie’s Angels trailer:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Life Group: Meeting Notes: Lord, Satan’s attacking my mind! My Shield! My Helmet! (Ephesians) #10 (part)
Only stayed for part of the meeting - had an issue with our ironing being left at church last night and it potentially having gone walkabout. A shame after the rush of work, National Media Museum for the Emerald International Conference (for work), Bradford Academy and then a quick chicken sandwich at McDonalds to get to the group.
Jon led the meeting with Joly, Tracey, Ben, Dave and Ronnie going through chapter
We were doing chapter 10 from the Kay Arthur book “Lord, is it Warfare?: Teach Me to Stand : a Devotional Study on Spiritual Victory”.
New Students Induction at Bradford Academy
Went with Rachael and Isaac to this session at Bradford Academy to get further and nearly final info on Isaac moving from primary to secondary school in September.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Leadership Skills Training: End of the 3 Year Programme: The Ultimate Purpose of Leadership: Fulfilling the Great Commission as a Leader
Unbelievably tonight saw the last of these John Maxwell Million Leader Mandate sessions that I led at church - 3 years on!
Theme of this session was one of the most overtly Christian sessions looking at “The Ultimate Purpose of Leadership: Fulfilling the Great Commission as a Leader”.
Now that I am in the swing of using the TV on the wall in the cafe and connecting the laptop to it I went out in a blaze of glory with videos etc.
Attendees included the 2 Kingdom Faith students who are with us for 5 weeks (Ben and Zoe), Ben, Hilary, Tracey, Mark, Margaret, John, Jon, Anthony and Dave.
Running Order:
- Intro: the main thrust of the meeting was to let people hear significant Christian leaders speak and to review the course
- Louie Giglio speaking about his calling as a pastor, many years after doing all sorts of other leadership roles and his desire to finish his life as a pastor of a local church; Catalyst podcast, 13:00 – 22:00
- Maxwell material from workbook: God and His plan for the people of the world; The people of the world
- Discussion in groups: How should this affect our priorities as a leader? What is your ministry doing to reach the unreached?
- Rick Warren’s prayer at Obama’s inauguration and why he accepted the invitation (the latter can be heard on this Catalyst podcast, 51:45 – 56:30
- Maxwell material from workbook: The Church is God’s instrument of Mission
- Discussion in groups: How are you equipping Christians in the Church to serve and fulfil the Great Commission?
- John Sentamu and his dog collar: video clip, 3:20 onwards
- Review of the course with Post-Its to answer the questions: What things did you enjoy most about this course? What would you do to improve this course? What have you learned during the course? What subjects do you want to explore in more detail? As this course ends, what should the church think of doing next, if anything, to equip you in your leadership?
- John Maxwell: video clip speaking about the 5 levels of leadership
- Open time of closing prayer
Attending the sessions in York was a great experience and being able to share that material in my local church was really positive.
Lots of great feedback from people in this last session.
Not sure what happens next at this point but people clearly have a hunger for more of the same re leadership. May be on to missional communities and getting on with it ? . . . .
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Music: DC Talk, “Jesus Freak”
Great song - “Jesus Freak” - by DC Talk. This live performance was recorded at the Manchester Arena and Rachael and i were both there.
And the video of the single:
Family Sunday
After All Age had our usual chilled afternoon. Had a very rapid snooze then took the girls to Lister Park.
Isaac got back around 6:45pm and stayed up a while. He had a great weekend away, loving the activities but not the waiting round in-between. He was also unhappy at not being able to see Transformers 2 straightaway. He stayed up with Rachael and I so he had a bit of a weekend with us.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Family Weekend without Isaac
Isaac was on an adventure residential weekend with school from Friday morning to Sunday evening in Wales. It was very quiet without him.
Went to Specsavers in the afternoon to get some new glasses after the eye test yesterday afternoon. I now need varifocals was the recommendation from that eye test. Another getting old sign. Lots of measurements and will take a while to get used to them apparently. Main reason for getting the eyes tested was that it was getting harder to read to the kids with small print and dim light.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
U2: drawing their fish in the sand
"We've found different ways of expressing it, and recognized the power of the media to manipulate such signs. Maybe we just have to sort of draw our fish in the sand. It's there for people who are interested. It shouldn't be there for people who aren't."
(Bono on faith, quoted in U2 at the End of the World)
A summary of Bible references in the songs of U2.
(Bono on faith, quoted in U2 at the End of the World)
A summary of Bible references in the songs of U2.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Book: “How (Not) to Speak of God”, Pete Rollins
The book is also a pre-conference book recommendation for the Rob Bell-hosted conference “Poets, Prophets, and Preachers”.
Publisher page
Author site
Jonny Baker post
Tall Skinny Kiwi post
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Church: Elders Meeting notes
This meeting concentrated on social action matters tackling issues in the Care Centre.
Words: agog
One of the project governance groups at work has the acronym of GOG so I looked up "agog".
adjective:
highly excited by eagerness, curiosity, anticipation, etc.
adverb:
in a state of eager desire; excitedly.
adjective:
highly excited by eagerness, curiosity, anticipation, etc.
adverb:
in a state of eager desire; excitedly.
Monday, June 15, 2009
How I fell in love with PowerPoint
Great article from Saturday’s Guardian by David Gaffney who is performing Destroy Powerpoint at this year’s Edinburgh Festival.
Film: Fugitive Pieces
The DVD was advertised in Saturday’s Guardian.
Wikipedia entries for the book and the film
Official film site
Obituary: Geoffrey Jarvis: Architect dedicated to the conservation of historic buildings in his native Scotland
Interesting person but was particularly taken with the reference to the Clan Donald Centre in Armadale on Skye.
Guardian Obituary
Guardian Obituary
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Interview with David Miliband, Foreign Secretary
I have a lot of time for this politician, talks a lot of sense. A future Labour PM?
Guardian interview following the European elections and the county council elections in which Labour were trounced.
Film: Reign of Fire
Watched this film this afternoon, recorded last week. Did seem familiar and we may even have the DVD!
Trailer:
U2: The Stadium Psalmists & Prophets
The transcript of a talk given by Mark Meynell (Senior Associate Minister, All Souls Church, Langham Place, London) at the recent European Leadership Forum.
Via
Via
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Song: “Exalt the Lord our God”
A classic Vineyard tune. Always reminds me of Bryn Haworth who did a storming version of this on a New Wine live album years ago.
Music: Linkin Park, “New Divide”
Linkin Park’s new single “New Divide” is taken from the new Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen film soundtrack.
LyricsWhy the Stone Roses are still adored
On May 2, 1989 — exactly 20 years tomorrow — a phenomenon was born that a few months later would be hailed across the music press as “Madchester”. That was the day of the release of the eponymously titled debut album by the Stone Roses, which, in 2006, topped NME’s poll of the greatest albums in history.Its cachet has only been enhanced by their split in 1996. Despite rumours they have no plans to re-form.
Times article
Times article
Hannah’s 6th Birthday Party
Hannah had a build-an-animal party at church (like the build-a-bear) with lots of different animals that she chose individually for the kids who came. Rachael got them off Ebay.
Weather was great so the food was eaten in the church garden. No need for organised games as the kids just played in the garden.
Glorious weather and a great atmosphere.
Paperless classroom becoming a reality
They have weighed down satchels, been hurled across classrooms and defaced with lewd graffiti by schoolchildren across the ages. But the humble textbook looks to be going the way of the Walkman – in California at least.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced that pupils will soon only be learning from digital texts, and experts in the UK said yesterday the paperless classroom is becoming a reality here too.
Guardian article
Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced that pupils will soon only be learning from digital texts, and experts in the UK said yesterday the paperless classroom is becoming a reality here too.
Guardian article
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tosh: definition and Toshiba ad
Was reminded of this ad when a work colleague (Chris) used the word “tosh” yesterday.
tosh: foolish nonsense
Interview with Dave Ramsey on fear and the (US) economy
Used an audio version of this Ken Coleman interview with Dave Ramsey from the Catalyst Conference 2008 in a recent Elders meeting.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Life Group: Meeting Notes: Lord, Teach Me About the Breastplate and the Shoes: (Ephesians) #9
Maria led the meeting with Tracey, Ben, Joly and Dave E.
Did chapter 9 from the Kay Arthur book “Lord, is it Warfare?: Teach Me to Stand : a Devotional Study on Spiritual Victory”.
Ben played a new song he wrote this week.
I played a clip from Alistair Begg on the Ascension.
Open prayer time.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Film: Fish Tank
Saw this advertised in a recent Guardian.
Clip from film
Guardian review
Much praise for the newcomer, Katie Jarvis (Times article).
Robert Murray M'Cheyne’s Bible Reading Plan
I remember this Bible reading plan by Robert Murray M'Cheyne being recommended by RT Kendall years ago:
The New Year is a good time for resolutions. One of the best resolutions would be to read the Bible through in a year and pray more. My mentor Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones introduced me to a Bible reading plan devised by Robert Murray M’Cheyne 32 years ago. Until then I had no plan, I am ashamed to say. I have also been surprised how many church leaders do not read their Bibles. A recent survey showed the average church leader spends not an hour a day (which should be the minimum) but only four minutes a day in quiet time.
Started reading through the plan tonight.
Church Meeting: Notes
I played the Pete Grieg 24-7 video that I saw over the weekend.
Main agenda item was discussion over Sunday mornings and what we thought of the services and how we look after the kids. Lots of good stuff and a good attitude.
Spring Harvest 2009: Big Start Theme Tune: Walk With Me
Great song, great fitting in with the theme of the week . . .
Monday, June 08, 2009
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Culture Club: The Squid and the Whale
This latest session of the Culture Club looked at this film (details here). Attended by Eryl, Sue, Anthony, Eryl, Stevie, Carmen, Mark and John. Good discussion and a well-rated film.
Lengthy day at Church
Had lunch at church as part of our special “Back to Church” Sunday.
Home for a couple of hours before going back for the next Culture Club session.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
All Age Worship planning
Running out of time before the next event so we planned this one at the Egans with Anthony on a Saturday night followed by a BBQ (mainly indoors, was cold!). Planning went OK on the theme of “independent” as the next mark of a disciple.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Film: Jab We Met
Recorded this a while ago and watched it this evening. We watch Bollywood films mainly for the dancing for Isobel.
Trailer:
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Book: “Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith”, Shane Hipps
Shane Hipps is one of the speakers at the Catalyst Conference 2009.
Interview with Rob Bell about the book:
Rob Bell Interviews Shane Hipps About Technology from Deadly Viper on Vimeo.
The book is also a pre-conference book recommendation for the Rob Bell-hosted conference “Poets, Prophets, and Preachers”.Film: Hancock
Ben has been raving about this film and suggesting it as a candidate for Culture Club.
Trailer:
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Life Group: Meeting Notes: Lord, How Do I Put on the Armour: (Ephesians) #8
Jon led the meeting with Tracey, Ben and Dave E.
Did chapter 8 from the Kay Arthur book “Lord, is it Warfare?: Teach Me to Stand : a Devotional Study on Spiritual Victory”
Open prayer time.
Song: Simple Minds, “Rockets”
The new single from Simple Minds that used to be one of my top 3 fave bands in the 80s.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Church: Elders Meeting
Majority of meeting spent looking at children’s work on a Sunday morning as well as scoring Sunday services (normal and All Age).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
