Arsenal survived a Barcelona masterclass to stage a stirring recovery from two goals down and keep their Champions League hopes alive at the Emirates.
A scary first half hour display from Barcelona when Arsenal hardly got the ball.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Working out of Birmingham
Monday
Up at 5:30am for the first of what turned out to be 4 stints of 3 days working with a supplier in Birmingham system testing an IT solution they are delivering to us.
Solo Chinese meal locally on my first night
Tuesday
A number of the guys came out for a drink at The Duke pub and then a meal at Turmeric Jones.
Wednesday
Travelled back to Bradford, Taking around 2.5 hours typically.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Culture Club: Man Dancin’ (Film)
Only 4 of us for this one but very well received by Mark, Hilary and Lynsey. Good discussion too. A passion play features in and amongst this gospel allegory.
Info on the session here.
Football: Liverpool 3 - 0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Fernando Torres scored twice as Liverpool swept aside Sunderland to maintain hopes of a top-four finish.
Zac’s Dedication Service
Zac, Tracey and Joly’s son was dedicated this morning. Great cakes after the service – lemon curd tarts as well!
 |
| From Zac's Dedication |
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Football: Bradford 3 - 3 Dag & Red (League Two)
Isaac was at this thriller of a game.
Bradford scored two late own goals to gift play-off chasing Dagenham a draw in a dramatic game at Valley Parade.
Men’s Breakfast
Isaac and I went to Gateway for this Men’s Breakfast for the churches on Holmewood and Bierley. Good breakfast, company and discussion.
Warren led on the subject of being the men that God wants us to be not the men that society shapes us to be.
I mentioned a few things including
- the input and discussion reminded me of the song “The Battle Belongs To The Lord”, including great quiet and rowdy versions
- the Fabio Capello book, previously blogged about here, in which I read about Fabio’s priest in Italy also being the priest of Enzo Bearzot who was the Italian coach when they won the World Cup in 1982, 44 years after previously winning it (the same time since England last won the World Cup
- RT Kendall quote about narrowing the time between sinning and confession from years to seconds and on to stopping yourself before you do sin
- RT Kendall quote about if the Holy Spirit left churches 90-95% of the things would carry on as if nothing happened
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Software: TypingMaster Pro
This software is recommended by David Allen of Getting Things Done fame, as per the following text about this software:
Purpose: Improve your efficiency with faster typing
Learning to type as fluently and easily as you speak is one of the greatest productivity opportunities for anyone interested in improving their productivity.
David Allen believes that if you are not typing at least 60 words per minute, you are not performing at your productive best. TypingMaster for Windows is one of the best tools we've found for mastering this key workflow skill.
Guardian series: Citizen Ethics
Some thought-provoking content in the Guardian’s series “Citizen Ethics”.
Bankers' bonuses, MPs' expenses – the recent financial and political crises suggest a failure of ethics. "Citizen ethics in a time of crisis" is a project by the Guardian, in association with the Citizen Ethics Network, designed to instigate debate about who deserves what, how politics can help humanity flourish and what we mean by a good life. We asked prominent thinkers to explore key questions – read the full pamphet here, and join the debate on the individual articles we have reproduced for this series on Comment is free.
James Purnell's departure from parliament will be a blow for politics
Previously blogged about this politician when he resigned from the Cabinet, he went on to stand down as an MP last month.
James Purnell's decision to leave parliament at the next election is a blow for politics, a blow for Labour and a blow for his friend David Miliband's chances of ever leading his party. It suggests a sagging of hope and ambition inside a political movement that, whatever happens on polling day, will need people with ideas after it. Mr Purnell was one of those people; a popular culture secretary, a reforming welfare secretary and a clear thinker on the backbenches. Many Labour members will have disagreed with him – the prime minister and the schools secretary certainly did – but diversity of thought matters to political parties. Labour is becoming narrower and less interesting.
Guardian article
Of particular interest are his comments about training to become a community organiser with London Citizens (see Guardian article).
Smith Wigglesworth
We had a brief chat about Smith Wigglesworth in a recent life group. A potential subject for the group to look at.
Smith Wigglesworth, often referred to as ‘the Apostle of Faith,’ was one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal revival that occurred a century ago.
Without human refinement and education he was able to tap into the infinite resources of God to bring divine grace to multitudes.
Thousands came to Christian faith in his meetings, hundreds were healed of serious illnesses and diseases as supernatural signs followed his ministry.
A deep intimacy with his heavenly Father and an unquestioning faith in God’s Word brought spectacular results and provided an example for all true believers of the Gospel.
Web site
WIkipedia entry
Book: “Chaotics: the business of managing and marketing in the age of turbulence”, Philip Kotler, John A. Caslione
Mentioned by one of the directors at work in a recent presentation.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Marks and Spencer Ad: “”Got To Be Real”
The latest ad from Marks and Spencer includes yet another new tune on me – “Got To Be Real” by Cheryl Lyn.
Who are the bookarmy?
What is bookarmy?
Bookarmy is a social networking website for every sort of reader. Whether you’re a bookaholic or someone who picks up a book only once a year while relaxing on holiday, bookarmy is the place to discuss and review books, build reading lists, get the best book recommendations, and where you and your friends, family or classmates can read books together.
What makes bookarmy different from other book sites is that here you can make direct contact with authors; see what star rating they have given books, browse their reading lists, ask them questions about their own writing, and recommend titles to them.
Starbucks legend delivers recovery by thinking smaller
Howard Schultz, who turned the coffee chain into a global giant, has restored its fortunes by halting aggressive expansion and redesigning stores for local communities
Guardian article
Book: Benefit Realisation Management: A Practical Guide to Achieving Benefits Through Change
This is a book that is being used at work for benefits management thinking and implementation.
Why we're in the grip of medieval mania
As a new book about the middle ages tops the literary charts, Philip Hensher asks why we are so obsessed with medieval England.
Telegraph article
Stumbled over this via its reference to Ken Follett’s 11th and 14 century novels.
Former colleague becomes MD of IFIS
Richard was my mentor last year during a training and development programme for line managers.
The Edge on the future of the guitar
A Telegraph article from the start of the year about The Edge and the documentary “It Might Get Loud”.
Messi getting better and better
Lots of people raving about Messi’s recent performances. The latest one being this hat trick.
Barcelona's talisman is so sensationally good at the moment that comparisons with football's greatest players are wholly justified
Guardian article
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Football: Bradford 0 - 0 Notts County
Second-placed Notts County extended their unbeaten run to nine matches after a goalless draw with Bradford.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday Lunch
After church, the family went for lunch with Lynsey at EBCC. Harrisons (plus Richard and girlfriend) and the Egans as well as the Ellises were also there. Very chilled. Also watched the Man U/ Liverpool game. Lazy rest of the day. Glad I did all the chores yesterday.
Football: Man Utd 2 - 1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Watched this game off and on with Anthony at EBCC in between lunch courses and then most of the second half.
Manchester United came from behind to beat Liverpool at Old Trafford to return to the Premier League summit.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Quiet-ish Day
Isaac stayed over with a friend last night until 4pm today. Rachael was out with the girls for ballet and ju-jitsu grading followed by going to see Alice in Wonderland at Imax with her Mum and the kids.
In between all of that, I finished “Wedlock” for the Cover to Cover book club ready for my first time going at Vicars in Saltaire in the afternoon.
Followed by some Asda and M&S shopping and then quiet rest of the day.
Rainy day all day.
Football: Hereford 2 - 0 Bradford (League Two)
Hereford ended a run of four straight home defeats with victory over Bradford in an entertaining contest.
Cover to Cover Book Club: “Wedlock”
Went to the Cover to Cover Book Club for the first time this afternoon at Vicars Cafe in Saltaire, led by Jane.
Good discussion on “Wedlock: How Georgian Britain's Worst Husband Met His Match” but a mixed reception to the book. Main complaint was that it was heavy on facts and lots of the characters were “plastic”! For me, it was a page turner and I wanted to see how the story ended. An amazing story given that it was a true one (about Mary Eleanor Bowes).
Jane brought a clipping about stag parties that include a visit to the concentration camps. Another good discussion followed including how children get to learn about the two world wars, slavery etc.
I mentioned the Primo Levi books that i had read recently (see this blog post). The books in question were “If This is a Man” and “The Truce” that I bought as a 2-bound-in-1.
We shared what we were currently reading. I briefly mentioned the Fabio Capello biography that I bought recently.
I also mentioned The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. A novel about cathedral building that I first heard about via the Oprah Book Club. The book is now being made into a TV mini series for broadcast later this year.
On the subject of cathedral building, Jane mentioned the novel Sarum about the building of Salisbury Cathedral.
After a review of a suggested next-book-to-study list, we agreed on Me & Orson Welles by Robert Kaplow.
We ended with a discussion on classic books and reading a classic book after the next one. It will be interesting to see what gets picked. I was reminded of a book that I stumbled over a few years ago - Invitation to the Classics: A Guide to Books You've Always Wanted to Read. See the table of contents for the books that it covers.
A good afternoon. I plan to join them again. Great coffee and cake too . . .
Friday, March 19, 2010
Sport Relief
Watched a lot of the programming this evening. James Cordern sports personality of the year slot was great.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Football: Liverpool 3 - 0 Lille (agg 3 - 1) (Europa League)
Watched this game with Isaac, another nail-biter late on until the 3rd goal was scored.
Fernando Torres scored twice to help Liverpool keep their season alive by reaching the Europa League quarter-finals with a battling win over Lille.
Ways into Small Missional Community
A series of articles from Ian Adams aimed at offering insights to help people form new community-projects.
Emerald’s Charity of the Year: Barnardo’s
Barnardo’s is this year’s charity of the year at Emerald. I remember this being a charity that my home church when I was growing up (Loughborough Baptist Church) used to support each Christmas with a card appeal.
As one of the UK's leading children's charities, Barnardo's works directly with over 100,000 children, young people and their families every year. We run 415 vital projects across the UK, including counselling for children who have been abused, fostering and adoption services, vocational training and disability inclusion groups.
Every Barnardo's project is different but each believes in the potential in every child and young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through.
Moodle: course management system
Moodle is a software package for producing Internet-based courses and web sites. It is a global development project designed to support a social constructionist framework of education.
Publishing: The AACSB Impact of Research Resource Center
A work-related web site
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business is an association of educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations devoted to the advancement of higher education in management education. It is also the premier accrediting agency of collegiate business schools and accounting programs worldwide.
What is 'Information Architecture'?
Telling people at parties that you are an 'Information Architect' generally leads to blank looks all round. Here is a brief overview of "the art and science of organising websites".
Guardian blog post
Software: Task Freak
This open source software is being used by our software development teams at work.
Task Freak: a simple but efficient web based task manager written in PHP
Book: “The Data Asset: How smart companies govern their data for business success”, Tony Fisher
Data management might not be your ideal bedtime reading, but this gripping and humorous book will keep you from turning off the light
Via this Information World Review review
A New Page: Can the Kindle really improve on the book?
I read this New Yorker article in the Guardian a while ago. A good summary of the pros and cons of reading books in print and electronically.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Life Group: Meeting Notes: Go Fish #4
4th in Andy Stanley’s recent series titled “Go Fish” at the Barrows.
Summary of content:
What’s the relationship between building the church and being a fisher of men? Fishing was never intended to be a solo mission. The church was meant to partner with us in the fishing process.
One of the better discussions in the series. Attended by Ben, Tracey. Jo, and I.
A World Without Email
Stumbled over Luis Suarez in an IWR piece last year. He is seeking to operate without email.
His blog is tiled elsua.net: A Knowledge Management Blog Thinking Outside the Inbox
Obituary: Oral Roberts, US evangelist
US evangelist who built a business empire and and founded a university through broadcasting the gospel of prosperity
Guardian obituary
Not a fan but always interesting to see how the secular press reports on Christian/church leaders.
Radio: History of the World in 100 Objects
A History of the World is a partnership between the BBC and the British Museum that focuses on world history, involving collaborations between teams across the BBC, and schools, museums and audiences across the UK. The project focuses on the things we have made, from flint to mobile phone.
At the heart of the project is the BBC Radio 4 series A History of the World in 100 objects. 100 programmes, written and narrated by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, and focusing on 100 objects from the British Museum’s collection.
Guardian interview with Neil MacGregor
BBC site
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Elders Meeting: Youth and Children’s Work
A meeting in the church stream of meetings. Adam facilitated and went through most of the work that the church and care centre does with the youngsters including churched and unchurched. Very encouraging to hear all the good things we are doing. Still issues to sort though.
Book: What Would Google Do
What's the question every business should be asking itself? According to Jeff Jarvis, it's WHAT WOULD GOOGLE DO? If you're not thinking or acting like Google -- the fastest-growing company in the history of the world -- then you're not going to survive, let alone prosper, in the Internet age. An indispensable manual for survival and success that asks the most important question today's leaders, in any industry, can ask themselves: What would Google do?
(from the Amazon UK product page)
Dilbert on note taking at meetings
I spend a lot of my work time documenting decisions and actions from meeting. This Dilbert cartoon was a little too close to home for meeting inside and outside of work.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Football: Liverpool 4 - 1 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Liverpool thumped struggling Portsmouth to stay in touch with the teams chasing fourth place in the Premier League.
BBC match report
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Mother’s Day Meal
I cooked the NIgella ham and trimmings again. We invited the Egans and Jean round. Rachael did a raspberry cheesecake and lots of other baking for a sweet selection. Enjoyed by all.
A reminder of Robin Cook’s resignation speech from March 2003
Finally got round to blogging about this Times piece from the end of November about the Iraq Enquiry. At the time, I found and played the speech on You Tube – powerful stuff.
From the You Tube description of the following 2 videos:
Cook's resignation speech in the House of Commons, received with an unprecedented standing ovation by fellow MPs, was described by the BBC's Andrew Marr as "without doubt one of the most effective, brilliant, resignation speeches in modern British politics." Most unusually for the British parliament, Cook's speech was met with growing applause from all sides of the House (beginning with Labour and Liberal Democrat critics of the war), and from the public gallery. According to the Economist's obituary, that was the only speech ever to receive a standing ovation in the history of the House.
Obituary: Richard Todd, actor
Actor best known for his role in the classic second world war film The Dam Busters
Guardian obituary
Games: About Time
About Time board games are addictive - testing your general knowledge, lateral thinking and poker-style cunning while taking you on a journey through time.
Film: Departures
Advertised in The Guardian at the end of 2009.
Director Yojiro Takita and writer Kundo Koyama examine the rituals surrounding death in Japan with this tale of an out-of-work cellist who accepts a job as a 'Nokanashi' or 'encoffineer' (the Japanese equivalent of an undertaker) in order to provide for himself and his young wife. Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is a talented musician, but when his orchestra is abruptly disbanded, he suddenly finds himself without a source of steady income. Making the decision to move back to his small hometown, Daigo answers a classified ad for a company called 'Departures', mistakenly assuming that he will be working for a travel agency. Upon discovering that he will actually be preparing the bodies of the recently deceased for their trip to the afterlife, Daigo accepts the position as gatekeeper between life and death and gradually gains a greater appreciation for life. But while Daigo's wife and friends universally despise his new line of work, he takes a great amount of pride in the fact that he is helping to ensure that the dead receive a proper send-off from this state of being. This thought-provoking look at life and death was Japan's submission for the Oscars in 2008.
(from Amazon UK’s product page)
Book: “Dubai: The Story of the World's Fastest City”, Jim Krane
Over the last fifty years, the city of Dubai has leapfrogged from almost nothing to become a Las Vegas on steroids, a vision of the future: Dubai: The World's Fastest City is the first book to tell its story.
Book: “Samuel Johnson”, Peter Martin
A Jeremy Paxman best read of 2009.
I once got into a particularly pointless correspondence with the Royal Mail about why they were happy to issue sets of stamps to commemorate snooker-players or guinea-pig enthusiasts but wouldn't do something similar to mark great British intellectuals. It was a trick question: we don't really do "intellectual", unless it has the word "wanker" attached. Well, this year the Mail came up with a collection of "Eminent Britons". Inevitably three of them were sportsmen, but at least Samuel Johnson got his place in the sun. The bigger, more permanent, testament to the great man was Samuel Johnson, by Peter Martin (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £25), a highly compassionate piece of work which not only enjoys his wit but explains his manic energy and shares his anxieties.
(from this Guardian Christmas Books 2009 piece)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Football: Bradford 2 - 1 Aldershot (League Two)
Bradford avenged their 1-0 defeat at Aldershot 11 days ago to record their second successive home win under new manager Peter Taylor.
BBC match report
In Search of Fennel
For the Mother’s Day meal tomorrow, took me 4 shops to get a fennel for the recipe. Finally got some at M&S after 2 assistants there said they didn’t have any. Just glad I got some!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Football: Lille 1 - 0 Liverpool (Europa League)
Liverpool face an uphill task to progress from the last 16 of the Europa League after Eden Hazard's goal gave a lively Lille side a first-leg lead.
BBC match report
Only realised this was on 5 with 5 minutes to go (early kick off)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Book: Seth Godin, “Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?”
Heard Seth Godin speaking about his current book on this recent Catalyst podcast.
From the Penguin .com site:
"The only way to get what you're worth is to stand out, to exert emotional labour, to be seen as indispensable, and to produce interactions that organizations and people care deeply about."
In bestsellers such as Purple Cow and Tribes, Seth Godin taught readers how to make remarkable products and spread powerful ideas. But this book is different. It's about you - your choices, your future, and your potential to make a huge difference in whatever field you choose.
There used to be two teams in every workplace: management and labour. Now there's a third team, the linchpins. These people invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of chaos. They figure out what to do when there's no rule book. They delight and challenge their customers and peers. They love their work, pour their best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art.
Linchpins are the essential building blocks of great organizations. Like the small piece of hardware that keeps a wheel from falling off its axle, they may not be famous but they're indispensable. And in today's world, they get the best jobs and the most freedom.
Have you ever found a shortcut that others missed? Seen a new way to resolve a conflict? Made a connection with someone others couldn't reach? Even once? Then you have what it takes to become indispensable, by overcoming the resistance that holds people back.
Linchpin will show you how to join the likes of...
*Keith Johnson, who scours flea markets across the country to fill Anthropologie stores with unique pieces.
*Marissa Mayer, who keeps Google focused on the things that really matter.
*Jason Zimdars, a graphic designer who got his dream job at 37signals without a résumé.
*David, who works at Dean and Deluca coffeeshop in New York. He sees every customer interaction as a chance to give a gift and is cherished in return.
As Godin writes, "Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been bullied enough or frightened enough to hold it back. It's time to stop complying with the system and draw your own map. You have brilliance in you, your contribution is essential, and the art you create is precious. Only you can do it, and you must."
Amazon.com book page
Amazon.com author page
Wikipedia entry
Seth’s blog
Wikipedia entry for linchpin
Riddles for linchpins from Seth Godin on Vimeo.
Jacqueline Novogratz on how to recognize a linchpin from Seth Godin on Vimeo.
Sunny Bates on Linchpins, Passion and Fear from Seth Godin on Vimeo.
Linchpin: GaryVee from Seth Godin on Vimeo.
Football: Port Vale 2 - 1 Bradford (League Two)
Rob Taylor's dipping volley clinched a deserved victory for Port Vale over inconsistent Bradford.
BBC match report
Football: Man Utd 4 - 0 AC Milan (agg 7 - 2) (Champions League)
Man Utd made Milan look very ordinary in this match. Staggering the lack of tracking back by the Milan forward line. 2 great Rooney goals. Watched it with Isaac.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Book: “Wedlock”, Wendy Moore
Reading this as a potential attendee at the Cover to Cover reading club at Vicars later this month.
Author’s book page
Guardian book review
Wikipedia entry for Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne
Elders Meeting
A one agenda item pastoral care-related meeting covering both church and care centre.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Football: Wigan 1 - 0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League suffered a major setback as struggling Wigan punished an insipid display by Rafa Benitez's side.
BBC match report
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Sunday
An unexpected invitation for lunch at Ann and Dave’s after church. Glorious day. Straight after lunch, took the kids to Lister Park for a walk round and play.
Exhibition: Painting History: Delaroche and Lady Jane Grey (National Gallery)
The monumental Execution of Lady Jane Grey, Delaroche’s most famous painting, is arguably the best example of this new genre. Depicting the moment before the execution of the young queen in 1554, after a reign of just nine days, it is poignant in subject matter and uncanny in its intense realism.
Official site
Wikipedia entries for Lady Jane Grey, Paul Delaroche and the painting
Lego Album Covers
Some great covers here, including “The Joshua Tree”, one of my top 10 albums of all time.
The Big Month of Music
Stamps with album covers as the design, including Coldplay, New Order, Oasis and Blur.
Win £1000 of iTunes gift cards every day in March when you buy any Classic Album Covers stamps. Once you're entered, your name will be placed into all remaining draws.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Saturday
Went shopping with Isaac to Tesco.
Rachael and the girls stayed over at Jean’s for her first night out of hospital. Isaac and i had a boys night in with Isaac falling asleep towards the end of Match of the Day.
Football: Rotherham 1 - 2 Bradford (League Two)
James Hanson snatched a dramatic winner in the fifth minute of injury-time to hand Bradford a win which leaves United four points away from the top three.
BBC match report
Book: “Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors”, Elizabeth M. Collingham
The author was quoted in the Guardian article in my previous post.
See this Google Books entry for the fulltext.
Indian superchef Sanjeev Kapoor plans 24-hour TV cooking channel
Recipe includes celebrities and reality-style contests – but some warn of 'food colonialism'
I love Indian food so this Guardian article was of interest.
Wikipedia entry for Sanjeev Kapoor
Official web site
Film: The Blind Side
Saw a trailer for this film last Saturday. Looks like my kind of film.
Based on the true story of a homeless teen who grows to become a star athlete after being welcomed into the home of a caring family and offered a second chance at life
Bible Reading Plans
Stumbled over this Bible Reading Plans site – You Version - earlier this year. It keeps track of where you are in the plan and what you need to read next etc.
A plan that is recommended by Alistair Begg is the M'Cheyne One Year Reading Plan.
Friday, March 05, 2010
Music: Athlete, “Black Swan”
Reviewed by Damaris in the March/April 2010 issue of IDEA Magazine:
In the opening songs of its CD,English indie band Athlete reveals the thrills and joys of love as well as the disappointmen! of broken relationships. Tracks like The Unknown inspire hope in the
dependability of love, but in The Awkward Goodbye we see its
fragility. The final track, Rubik's Cube, expresses a longing to
make sense of these events, and the album's final line is quietly
hopeful: "I know I will figure it out." The events of life haven't
lived up to expectations, and where else is there to look but
in love?
Book: “Tooth and Claw”, TC Boyle
Reviewed by Damaris in the March/April 2010 issue of IDEA Magazine:
In this collection of 14 stories, Boyle pits man against nature, revealing his characters to be always on the verge of animalistic behaviour. But while the author may hold a nihilistic worldview,
he writes with revealing empathy. In Chicxulub a young couple believes their daughter has died, only to discover it's a case of mistaken identity. The father is left wondering, in the absence of
God, what allows us to accept that man is finite. But readers may find themselves asking if these events are actually the work of a creator God.
Book: “Sum: Forty Tales From The Afterlives”, David Eagleman
Reviewed by Damaris in the March/April 2010 issue of IDEA Magazine:
This slim, offbeat, ingenious book deals with an enormous topic. It is a collection of 40 stories about the afterlife or lack thereof. There is no coherent argument running through them; rather they are a jumble of mind-stretching possibilities, which Eagleman insists are all equally improbable. The various tales cleverly challenge both
atheist and religious ideas, though they primarily target traditional Christian ones, brilliantly expressing some of the common objections to Christian faith. It's a book that makes us think hard about what we believe and why.
Film: The Farewell Affair
Reviewed by Damaris in the March/April 2010 issue of IDEA Magazine:
This momentous true-life spy thriller is told with a personal touch as
it focuses tightly on the two men who brought about the end of the
Cold War. Emir Kusturica and Guillaume Canet are excellent as Sergei and Pierre,a Russian spy and a French civil servant who end up working together to transmit secrets from Moscow to Paris and Washington during the Mitterrand-Reagan years.The film centres on
the two men and the difficult moral choices they must make, clearly
showing that their children's future motivates them to engage in such dangerous activity.
Film: Lion’s Den
Reviewed by Damaris in the March/April 2010 issue of IDEA Magazine:
From Argentina, this harrowing drama is infused with hope as it follows the pregnant young Julia to prison, where she's placed in a maternal cellblock and will be allowed to raise her child for its
first four years.After forming a makeshift family with another inmate, her mother decides that the baby would be better off
outside. But Julia doesn't want to let her son go. Earthy and raw, the film beautifully catches the spirit of this young woman who desperately yearns to control her own destiny. And along the way, the film grapples with issues of justice and compassion.
Film: Capitalism: A Love Story
Reviewed by Damaris in the March/April 2010 issue of IDEA Magazine:
Film polemicist Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 9/11) is back with a lacerating examination of our money hungry culture, which reveres a free-market, capitalist economy at the expense of the world's
poor, including our own neighbours. Moore assembles this in his entertaining style while pulling no punches. Yes, it's one-sided and
pushy,and very America-centred, but we can't deny that biblical values of social justice and human dignity are being trampled every day by an elitist system that undermines true democracy. What does it say to the world when evangelicals defend such an apparently unjust system?
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Football: England 3-1 Egypt (Friendly)
Peter Crouch maintained his prolific England goal scoring record as they came from behind to beat Egypt at Wembley.
Book: “Fabio Capello: The Man, the Dream, the Inside Story”, Mark Ryan
Picked this book up at a bargain bookshop while at the GEAR Conference recently.
Some great customer reviews on the Amazon UK page.
Wikipedia entry
Book: “A Million Miles In A Thousand Years”, Donald Miller
Picked this book up at the Wesley Owen shop at the GEAR Conference recently.
First heard of Donald Miller via a Mars Hill talk (mp3) he delivered in 2007. He is an author of a number of books. In that talk, he explained what makes a good story and compares that to the story of our lives. As input to the talk, he used some of the content that is covered in screenwriting courses delivered by Robert McKee whose "graduates" have gone on to win countless Oscars, Emmys etc.
Sample content
Author’s blog
Book web site
Amazon US
Wikipedia entry
Book: “Deep”, Frog & Amy Orr-Ewing
Picked this book up at the Wesley Owen shop at the GEAR Conference recently.
The call of Deep Church is not just for theologians and church leaders; it is also about each individual Christian experiencing and knowing that Jesus rescues from the depths and changes them deeply.
In this book Frog and Amy Orr-Ewing explore the concept of Deep Church in a 21st-century context. They argue that a missionary congregation needs to be deeply evangelical and evangelistic, deeply reliant on the power of the Holy Spirit, deeply engaged with its surrounding culture and community, deeply realistic about its limitations and temptations, and deeply convinced of its faith, in the face of all other worldviews and alternatives.
Deep Church is about restoring the heart of the Christian faith within a rapidly changing and demanding culture, without lurching from one new methodology to another, rescuing today's church from unnecessary disillusionment, and wholeheartedly embracing Christ and his Kingdom.
Bradford: UNESCO City of Film
Bradford was announced as the world's first official UNESCO City of Film in June 2009. Our aim is now to use this fabulous film status to focus Bradford on film, and to help the film world focus on Bradford.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Football: Aldershot 1 - 0 Bradford (League 2)
Anthony Charles scored in the second half to help Aldershot beat Bradford and keep alive their play-off hopes.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Jean in hospital
A week of Grandma Jean being in hospital for an op. Op was Tuesday and she was home on Saturday.
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