Obituary: Sir Bobby Robson

Former England manager Sir Bobby Robson has died at the age of 76, following a long battle with cancer.

Robson will be best remembered on the international stage for leading England to the 1990 World Cup semi-final.

At club level, he cut his managerial teeth at Fulham before establishing his credentials at Ipswich where he won the FA Cup and Uefa Cup in a 13-year stay.

Spells at PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona followed before he managed Newcastle United.
(from the BBC obituary)

Wikipedia entry
Guardian obituary

Sport: Jessica Ennis wins Britain's first ever heptathlon gold at the World Championships

BBC report (includes video of all the events)
Guardian report
Official site of Jessica Ennis

Song: “For An Angel (2009)”, Paul Van Dyk

“For An Angel (2009)” by Paul Van Dyk is my tune for the summer.

Wikipedia entry for the original version

Life Group: Meeting Notes: Lord, How Do I Take the Offense Against Satan? (Ephesians) #11

This was the last meeting of the series. I led the meeting through the final chapter. Good turnout with Lynsey, Tracey, Joly, Ben, Ronnie and Dave E. Jon and Maria were away this week.

We were doing chapter 11 from the Kay Arthur book “Lord, is it Warfare?: Teach Me to Stand : a Devotional Study on Spiritual Victory”.

Second half of the meeting was an extract of an Alistair Begg talk on “Guarding the Gospel” which included a profile of John Brown.

Open time of prayer to end including laying on of hands on Ben to “send” him to Turkey in September.

Church: Elders Meeting (Social Action)

This meeting dedicated to all things Care Centre. We had visitors from the Synod observing us as per last meeting.

Great to hear how Dave W is getting into influential positions on boards across Bradford.

England win the 2nd Ashes Test

BBC report

Listened to Test Match Special for lengthy periods over the weekend for the first time in years. Great broadcasting.

Tom Watson narrowly misses winning the British Open

It was won by fellow American Stewart Cink.

BBC article

Isaac’s 11th Birthday Party

Rushed off after All Age to wait for Isaac’s friends to go off to Pugneys Country Park in Wakefield. Isaac chose canoe-ing for his party after his recent outward bound residential. Weather not too good but a great party.

From Isaac's 11th Birthday Party (kayaking)

All Age Worship: Meeting Notes: Marks of a Disciple: #19: Maturity

The 19th in a series using as an ideas-prompt Mike Yaconnelli's book "Devotion".

Song: God Almighty

Slides:
- Let’s explore the theme
- You will be listening to . . . B.I.G., "Maturity" from the album "Mindscapes"
- We are continuing to look at the marks of a disciple - Today’s mark is maturity
- That’s a hard word to understand, what does it mean?
- maturity: complete in natural growth or development; fully developed in body or mind
- Here are a few examples of things that mature simply with the passing of time . . .
- acorns to oak trees
- lambs to sheep
- milk to mature cheddar
- grapes to wine
- water etc to Talisker whisky
- caterpillar to butterfly
- sunflower seeds to tall sunflowers
- how mature are you as a person?
- Just because you are old, does not mean that you are more mature than someone who is young
- Just because you are young, does not mean that you are less mature than someone who is old(er)
- “A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably.”
- How mature are you as a Christian?
- In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.
- You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
- But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
- A challenge
- If we are indeed to mature in Christ, it needs to be an intentional effort. 
- It won't happen automatically when we become a believer or after we are baptized.
- It will happen because we pursue following after Christ and allowing God's Holy Spirit to work in us.
- Maturity is a life long pursuit and should not be undertaken lightly.    
- Let us encourage one another to love and good works.
- Let’s open our hearts to what God wants to say to us on this mark of a disciple today

Sunflowers and Sharing: talked about how much the sunflower seeds that we gave out in the "immaturity" session had grown or not

Song: As for me and my house

Talk: Maturity as a person

Song: Righteousness, peace, joy and the Holy Ghost

Video clip from  Veggie Tales: Dave and the Giant Pickle

Songs: God loves me; Nothing but the blood

Bible reading: 1 Cor 13:8-12 (NIV and The Message)

Interviews with Bob and Lynsey: questions:

Talk: Maturity as a Christian

Song: Jesus, all for Jesus

Ben-ediction from Ben

Interview: James Purnell, former Labour cabinet member

Didn’t know much about James Purnell while he was in Government but seems to be an interesting character from this Guardian interview, and also interested to see reference to his new work with Demos.

Film: Kisses

Advertised in today’s Guardian.

Trailer:

Official site

Song: Jordin Sparks, “Battlefield”

Another great tune - Battlefield - from Jordin Sparks.

Song: Melanie Fiona, “Give It To Me Right”

Stumbled over “Give It To Me Right” by Melanie Fiona last week.

Hannah and Isaac at Jujitsu Grading

Rachael found these pics of the kids on the T&A web site.

Hannah got her white and Isaac got his purple belt.

Family Saturday

Rachael took Hannah and Isaac for their jujitsu grading for the first part of the day. I took Isobel to ballet and she came with me to pick up the new glasses. Thankfully, this 2nd attempt worked great so it was a prescription issue from the first eye test at a different opticians. Good customer service from Specsaver to change the 1st 2 pairs when it was no fault of their own as well as giving me an eye test to check the prescription free of charge. The glasses worked first time – I can see clearly now to coin a phrase!

Met up all together at Morrisons Mayo.

Lazy rest of the day.

Watched “Enchanted” on DVD over tea,

Golf: Askernish course on South Uist

I had heard about the Askernish course on South Uist some time ago. Good to read this article from the Observer Sports Monthly about its history (first created by Old Tom Morris) and restoration.

10 most shocking moments from Mad Men

Other videos

Blackberry Loves U2

Blackberry site

Tim Berners-Lee's keynote speech at 'Web at 20' event

BBC’s Digital Revolution site

Culture Club: Sigur Ros’ “Heima”

This latest session of the Culture Club looked at this film (details here). Attended by Eryl, Sue, Ann, Carmen, Ben, Mark and Isaac. Good discussion (even heated in parts!).

Brother Andrew at 80

Interview from an Open Doors magazine marking Brother Andrew’s 80th birthday.

On Brother Andrew's 80th birthday he was asked what lessons he had
learned from his life of following Jesus. His answer? "I am still
learning not to be afraid of failure”.

“We are so afraid of failure that we never do anything - and that is our biggest failure. Are we willing, out of love for Jesus,to do things the world considers stupid? People identify with people like Peter, who walked on the water and then sank. He got wet! But because he was prepared to walk on the water and fail, God used him on the Day of Pentecost – and thousands responded.

"The greatest problem in Christianity today is our lack of information. It's there, but do we want to get to know it? If we knew the need we would do something about it. Everyone in their heart would be compassionate and want to do something if they knew
that their contribution would make a difference.

“If we have the guts to get the information, our mindset changes,
because God says “'You can do something about it!” We forget about
our own comfort zone, step out into their world; then we discover that our little contribution, that we make in fear and trembling, will make a difference in their lives.

“If we only read the newspaper we will be discouraged. We are only scared because we read too much newspaper and too little Bible!

“Live a life that will make other people jealous; speak the word that brings healing and love and compassion. Then it doesn't matter what mistakes you make. It only helps you to get up again and be strong and go on.

“Age is no barrier, borders barely exist. There's no reason to fear anything in the world today.”

Brother Andrew took the opportunity of speaking at New Wine last month to emphasise the urgency of reaching out to the Muslim
World with the love of Christ. “The world of Islam is not a threat, it is a challenge. But if we do not take the opportunity it will become a threat ... I do not call them terrorists. I see them as people who need Jesus.”

Interview video

Song: Regina Spektor, “Laughing With”

Danielle blog posted this video of “Laughing With” by Regina Spektor.

Lyric

A Short Film about Julie Fowlis

Great Gaelic singer . .  .

Mixed Day

Did a bit of shopping at Tesco with Isaac getting stuff for my Delia Thai Chicken recipe.

Spent a bit of time with the family at the Disabled Christian Fellowship fun day at church.

Had my eye retest and the result thankfully was that the prescription from the other optician was wrong by some margin so Specsavers are redoing the 2 pairs of spec free of charge.

Did the Delia recipe to rapturous applause from the crowd.

We watched, or rather the girls did, Ella Enchanted on DVD. Trailer:

Film: Because of Winn-Dixie

Watched this with the family over a Chinese tonight. Enjoyed by all.

Trailer:

Wikipedia entry

Church: Elders Meeting Notes

Good meeting attended by two reps from synod observing the meeting and in one extended slot asking us questions about the current state of the church and including a time slot at the end of the meeting without Mark.

Nike: Love Fifteen re Roger Federer

All Age Worship planning

We hosted lunch for the Egans and Ben prior to doing the next All Age Worship planning - next mark of a disciple is maturity.

Rachael was poorly so missed church but made lunch and left us to it for the planning.

Churches: St Gregory of Nyssa, an Episcopal church in San Francisco

Face to faith
At St Gregory's church there is no difference between being spiritually fed and literally fed, says Jane Shaw

Great article in yesterday’s Guardian of the Church in action.

St Gregory of Nyssa’s web site
Sara Miles web site

Interview: Andrew Adonis, UK Transport Minister

'I sense a mood of optimism and real excitement'
The six years he spent in a children's home shaped his education policy. It may also explain why the transport minister Andrew Adonis is still brimming with enthusiasm for his new job, despite the collapse of National Express

Interesting interview with Andrew Adonis from yesterday’s Guardian re his life story, his Christian faith and his political life.

Guardian profile (from October 2005)

Lunch with Mum and Dad

Mum and Dad have now moved from Loughborough to near Philippa in York (last week) and came over to see us for lunch and spent time with us in the afternoon. Very civilised meal and great round table at the Harvesters near White Rose. Love the salad bar - the mango salad dressing is ace.

Wrong eye test prescription

Took the varifocals back to Specsavers (long sight good but reading was dire close too and on projected screens at work as well as laptop/PC) and it turns out that the specs were made as per prescription (eye test was done elsewhere) but they are going to do me an eye test free of charge to check the new prescription. Let’s hope that is the answer!

Murray loses in Wimbledon semi-final

Britain's long wait for a men's finalist at Wimbledon goes on after Andy Murray lost a nail-biting semi-final against Andy Roddick.

BBC report

Film: Coco before Chanel

Reviewed by Damaris in the July/August 2009 issue of IDEA Magazine:

COCO BEFORE CHANEL (PG) is a fascinating look at the life of the fashion icon (superbly played by Audrey Tautou), from her orphaned
childhood through her emergence as the first major female designer. Beautifully shot, the film tends to wallow in her misery, as she's crushed by a system that discriminates against both women and the poor. But there are complex relationships along the way, and her tenacious resilience is deeply inspiring (31 Jul).

Trailer:

Wikipedia entry
Official site

Film: Skin

Reviewed by Damaris in the July/August 2009 issue of IDEA Magazine:

SKIN (12) is based on a true story from Apartheid-era South Africa about an Afrikaaner couple (Sam Neill and Alice Krige) whose daughter looks more black than white. The film grapples honestly and openly with potent racial and political issues, but never becomes a polemic, because it keeps the story rooted in the characters and relationships. This makes it powerfully moving. And as the woman at the centre of the story, Sophie Okonedo is simply wonderful (24 Jul)

Trailer:

Wikipedia entry

Film: Frozen River

Reviewed by Damaris in the July/August 2009 issue of IDEA Magazine:

FROZEN RIVER (15) stars the remarkable Melissa Leo in her Oscar-nominated performance as a woman struggling to cope after her
husband leaves her. In desperation, she reluctantly befriends a sparky Mohawk girl (Misty Upham) who offers quick cash for illegally transporting immigrants across the frozen Canadian border. This gripping film makes us understand the risks this woman feels forced to take to protect her two sons (17 Jul).

Trailer:

Wikipedia entry
Official site

Film: Moon

Reviewed by Damaris in the July/August 2009 issue of IDEA Magazine:

MOON (15) is a subtle sci-fi thriller that echoes such classics as 2001, Silent Running and Salaris as it tells the offbeat near-future story of a lonely man (Sam Rockwell) serving a three-year solo stint on a lunar mining station. And just as his term is finishing, he meets himself in the station. What follows is a provocative exploration of what makes us human, beautifully played and written as one man's perplexing existential crisis. The result is riveting and haunting (17 Jul).

Trailer:

Wikipedia entry
Official site

Film: The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Reviewed by Damaris in the July/August 2009 issue of IDEA Magazine:

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE (15) takes a female approach to
the same themes examined in American Beauty: namely, a sense of
suburban dislocation, like life has gone the wrong way. Robin Wright
is excellent in the title role as a wife and mother who feels as if she's sleepwalking through life now that her kids have left the nest. As she examines decisions she made in her youth, the film quietly builds to a resonant emotional climax (10 Jul).

Trailer:

Wikipedia entry
Official site

Film: Fahrenheit 451

Finally saw this film, recorded on TV, over 2 sessions. First heard it mentioned by Gerard Kelly in a Spring Harvest Big Top Bible Reading.

Trailer:

Film: Sunshine Cleaning

Reviewed by Damaris in the July/August 2009 issue of IDEA Magazine:

SUNSHINE CLEANING (15) stars Amy Adams as a single mother who has never managed to achieve any level of self-confidence. Her
troubled sister (the terrific Emily Blunt) joins her to start a company that cleans up grisly crime scenes. This lets the filmmakers indulge in some pretty gruesome black comedy as they tell a quirky and remarkably heart-warming story about a woman trying to break bad habits and do something meaningful with her life (26 Jun).

Trailer:

Wikipedia entry
Official site