The Guardian – my newspaper of choice (only get a paper on Saturdays) – comes out for my party the Lib Dems.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Football: Liverpool 2 - 1 Atletico Madrid (agg 2 - 2) (Europa League)
Diego Forlan struck an extra-time away goal to end Liverpool's Europa League hopes and book Atletico Madrid's place in the final against Fulham on 12 May.
(BBC report)
Final stint in Birmingham
This was the 4th and final stint working in Birmingham on the current project.
Isaac has enjoyed seeing the hire cars and pool car that I have been given.
1st night was a solo trip back to Tumeric Jones where I went steady on the starter and had a korma (sounded great on the menu re cardamon and cinammon). Great meal again and the curry was very, very tasty.
Did a test of the new cassette to mp3 convertor in the hotel room. Disappointed that the 2nd side of the cassette sounded like it used to when a walkman’s batteries were fading. Rob the following day lent me a double USB connector and that cured it. Decided to get a full mains lead for the player when I get home.
Last night in Birmingham started in a pub with Rob and Paul followed by a Thai at Knowle Thai with Rob, Paul, Les and Dave. We mostly shared the food. Good meal.
On the way back to work to pick up the car, heard the final minutes of the Barcelona/Inter semi-final that Inter won over the 2 legs.
The trip back to Bradford was the worst of the 4, dull and grey, rained the whole way, misty, spray, loads of water on the road, took me 3 hours.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
John Lewis “She’s Always A Woman” advert
I have seen this a couple of times this week now. The song “She’s Always A Woman” was originally sung by Billy Joel, This version is by Fyfe Dangerfield of the Guillemots.
Info about the ad campaign
Guardian ad review
Daily Mail article
Monday, April 26, 2010
Cassette archives
Finally started on the road to getting rid of my cassette collection by buying the Ion Cassette Express USB that converts cassette tracks to mp3 on a PC.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Culture Club: Athlete’s “Black Swan” album
Only 4 of us for this one but very well received by Ben. Tracy and Mark. Good discussion too. One of the centrepieces of the study was watching clips from a documentary about the lead singer’s grandfather’s service at Arnhem in the Second World War.
Info on the session here.
Also see this piece to the Paras by John Pott which includes his testimony.
Football: Burnley 0 - 4 Liverpool (Premier League)
Steven Gerrard's second-half brace and further goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Ryan Babel relegated Burnley and kept Liverpool's top-four hopes alive.
(BBC report)
Chinese takeaway at church
Special service today celebrating Marion William’s 100th birthday earlier in the year. Ronnie interviewed her as the centrepiece of the service about her time in China. She was on the same missionary station as Eric Liddell. Inspiring testimony.
After the service, and to celebrate the Chinese connection, we had a Chinese meal picked up from a local Chinese takeaway. Great food and loads of it.
Saw my first ever Queen’s Birthday Card to someone who is 100.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday stuff
A wacky day with the family not being all together all day. Isaac was in Blackpool for a school trip for most of the day.
I went to the Men’s Breakfast at Bierley Bethel and spoke about the Athlete album and the lead singer’s grandfather’s testimony as a Christian in the Paras and serving in Arnhem and other campaigns.
Spent most of the rest of the day prep-ing for tomorrow night’s Culture Club.
Scary, scary Doctor Who – the girls weren’t happy.
Rachael and the girls went out for Brown Owl’s farewell party.
Football: Chesterfield 1 - 1 Bradford (League 2)
Chesterfield's play-off hopes suffered another setback as they failed to make their advantage count against 10-man Bradford City at home.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Football: Atletico Madrid 1 - 0 Liverpool (Europa League Semi Final)
Atletico Madrid will take a slender Europa League semi-final first-leg advantage to Anfield next week thanks to a ninth-minute strike from former Manchester United front man Diego Forlan.
(BBC report)
3rd stint in Birmingham
First night ate in the hotel, not great, but wanted to watch the Inter/Barcelona Champions League Semi Final – 3-1 to Inter. Second night went solo again to Pizza by Goli in Sutton Coldfield. Great, great food, very enjoyable. Hot avocado in bechamel and tomato, pizza calzone, ice cream, latte and Peroni.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Football: Liverpool 3 - 0 West Ham (Premier League)
Liverpool moved back into sixth place after an emphatic win over West Ham, who remain one place above the relegation zone.
(BBC match report)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Lunch with Mum and Dad
Mum and Dad stopped by on their way past from Barnsley and bought us lunch at The Three SInghs. Great food. First time I had eaten in there. Mum ordered a biryani and was shocked at how much there was! She needed some help.
All Age Worship: Meeting Notes: Marks of a Disciple: #25: Seeking
The 25th in a series using as an ideas-prompt Mike Yaconnelli's book "Devotion".
Video clip from The Scarlet Pimpernel:
Song: God You Are My God (including the monks from Ampleforth Abbey)
Taste test (Coke v Pepsi Max) – Dave W beat Isaac. Introduced with this music from The New Seekers:
Self-running slides whilst The Who’s “The Seeker” (from 1970) was playing:
- Today’s mark of a disciple is “Seeking”
- What does the word “seek” bring to mind?
- photo of The New Seekers
- Hide and seek
- Where’s Wally?
- Searching for something
- still from U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m looking For video
- Definition: seek: to go in search or quest of; to try to find or discover by searching or questioning
- What does it mean for disciples to be seekers?
- Seekers are not satisfied with secondhand experience
- They want to see, touch, taste and know with all their senses what they are looking for
- Seekers do not give up easily
- Seekers are persistent, unrelenting, fearless and focussed
- Seekers settle for nothing less than the real thing
- Seekers seek with their whole selves
- Matthew 7:7: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
- Proverbs 8:17: I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
- The pursuit of truth
- Wise men still seek him (Matthew 2:12)
- The truth is out there
- Psalm 63:!: O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
- True seekers find
Songs: Seekers and Dreamers; Seek Ye First
Art exercise: drawing a Cretan Labyrinth:
Song: Jesus, Be The Centre
Video clip from Jesus of Nazareth (baptism of Jesus by John)
Bible verses quiz
Bible Reading John 1:35-42 (NIV and The Message)
Songs: Lord You Have My Heart; I’ve Found Jesus
Talk
Song: Be Thou My Vision
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Football: Bradford 2 - 1 Barnet (League Two)
Isaac was at this game.
Substitute Michael Flynn scored a late winner for Bradford as they staged a dramatic comeback to thwart Barnet.
Cover to Cover Book Club: “Me & Orson Welles”
Went to my 2nd book cub meeting at Vicars Cafe in Shipley. 5 of us this time and no leader as Jane was poorly. Good discussion of the book. Favourable reviews especially as it was a lighter read than the last book. We had a discussion about what to read next. We had said last time that we would do a classic. We went through The Big Read list of 100 books from the BBC back in 2003 and we all agreed on Cold Comfort Farm.
Book: “Me & Orson Welles”, Robert Kaplow
Read this book by Robert Kaplow - “a romantic coming-of-age story set in 1937 around the founding of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre”- for the Cover to Cover book club. An enjoyable, light read. Very thespian! Film looks worth a watch too.
Friday, April 16, 2010
TV: Ashes to Ashes (Series 3)
Finally caught up with the first 3 episodes of this new series. Great series, great 80s music.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
A new bathroom
Rachael started decorating the bathroom on the Monday and when I came back from Birmingham it was all done. An astounding job with the kids and Helen helping. Included taking the polystyrene tiles down from the ceiling.
2nd stint in Birmingham
2 meals out while working in Birmingham for 3 days. First night was a solo trip to Turmeric Jones – great meal including a curry made with almonds and honey, so rich I could not finish it! 2nd night with the supplier colleagues with a pub followed by a meal at Café Tamarinds – a restaurant that Gordon Ramsay had been to when he was working at the NEC. Not ideal working away this week or any week but particularly this week as the kids were on school hols for their 2nd week as was Rachael.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Football: Bradford 2 - 0 Morecambe (League Two)
Another game for Isaac, his first evening match as it was school half term.
Morecambe's play-off hopes were dented as their four-match unbeaten run came to an end following second-half goals from Zesh Rehman and Adam Bolder.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Book: “The Me I Want To Be: Becoming God’s Best Version Of You”, John Ortberg
One of my Spring Harvest 2010 book purchases.
A big fan of John Ortberg’s writing and always take a look at books of his that I see.
The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg will help you discover spiritual vitality like never before as you learn to “live in the flow of the spirit.”
But if God has a perfect vision for your life, why does spiritual growth seem so difficult?
John Ortberg has some intriguing answers to that question, and he has organized his thoughts and God's words into a straightforward and timely guide for living your best life in The Me I Want to Be.
This book will show how God's perfect vision for you starts with a powerful promise. All those who trust in God "will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
Ortberg urges you to recognize your brokenness, understand that God is the project manager, and follow His directions. The author first helps gauge your spiritual health and measure the gap between where you are now and where God intends you to be. Then he provides detailed tasks and exercises to help you live in the flow of the Spirit, circumventing real-world barriers—pain and sorrow, temptations, self-doubt, sin—to flourish even in a dark and broken world.
As you start living in the flow, you will feel:
- a deeper connection with God
- a growing sense of joy
- an honest recognition of your brokenness
- less fear, more trust
- a growing sense of being “rooted in love”
- a deeper sense of purpose
God invites you to join Him in crafting an abundant and joy-filled life. The Me I Want to Be shows you how to graciously accept His invitation.
Book web site
Author’s Wikipedia entry
One church’s take on this material (video, audio and pdf)
Book: “Practising Resurrection: The Church Being Jesus’ Hands, Feet and Heart”, Cris Rogers
One of my Spring Harvest 2010 book purchases.
Does God bring resurrection, or is God resurrection? Does Jesus bring life, or is Jesus life, in its rawest form?
Jesus’ death was never about sin management but about the whole created order being restored and redeemed. Jesus died 2,000 years ago, but still today he invites us to join him in this mass resurrection project which involves following him to our death so that we might be resurrected in him. The church was never intended to be a group of people meeting to worship, but a living community of people all dying to themselves so that Jesus would be alive in them, and that they would then bring life to others Practising Resurrection looks at how the resurrection of Christ is played out in the world everyday. It is an encouragement and a hope that there is a redeeming power at work in the world today.
Promo videos from the author:
Book: “Eat This Book: The Art of Spiritual Reading”, Eugene Peterson
One of my Spring Harvest 2010 book purchases.
This one of several by Eugene Peterson, author of The Message, caught my eye.
Continuing Peterson's major evaluation of contemporary Christian spirituality, EAT THIS BOOK focuses on spiritual reading.
Taking its title from the angel's instruction to John in the Book of Revelation: 'Take it and eat it; it will be bitter in your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.', EAT THIS BOOK discusses the challenges and benefits of how we engage with Scripture today.
As with other books in the series, EAT THIS BOOK is written for both academic and serious lay audiences. Challenging but rewarding, it combines first-rate scholarship with illustrations drawn from raw human experience.
Google Books entry (includes book extracts)
Publisher’s book page
Book: “Intimate With The Ultimate”, Gerard and Chrissie Kelly
One of my Spring Harvest 2010 book purchases.
I heard about this book a long time ago but saw it while at the event. A big fan of the Kellys and their ministry.
How can we learn to pray in the way Jesus did? By walking, working and watching with him.
“The education that is being offered is apprenticeship Jesus is inviting his followers into a contract of lifelong learning, to keep pace with him and find out what it is to connect with our Creator.”
Prayer is essential for every Christian: it can also become as natural as breathing, and this book will challenge and encourage all Christians, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey.
With added exercises and poems and written in the Kellys’ usual lyrical style, this is an excellent book.
Book: “The Best Idea In The World: How Putting Relationships First Transforms Everything”, Mark Greene
One of my Spring Harvest 2010 book purchases.
Picked this book up, that I had previously seen reviewed some weeks ago, as Mark was one of the speakers at Spring Harvest this year. Heard him speak a few times. Great, insightful speaker.
One idea can change everything. Just as one new lens can make the whole world look different. In this compelling and liberating book, Mark Greene explores the dynamic difference that a fresh look at JesusÆ familiar instruction can make to almost any decision we makeùin any area of life ùfrom buying a microwave to choosing a job, from church to chat-rooms, from parenting to politics, from where we put the TV to where we live. Full of humour, insight, down-to-earth stories and up-to-date research, Mark explores how putting relationships first in our thinking and living is not only a liberating basis for our personal lives but a robust and dynamic foundation for our society and our global community.
Book: “Different Eyes: The Art of Living Beautifully”, Steve Chalke and Alan Mann
One of my Spring Harvest 2010 book purchases.
This was the theme book for this year's Spring Harvest event and supplements a shorter learning guide that contained much of the basic learning material from this year’s theme.
How should those who follow Jesus live distinctively in a time of uncertainty? How shoud the church respond to the moral dilemmas of our everyday lives? In 'Different Eyes', Steve Chalke and Alan Mann examine the underlying motivation for Christian morality and provide an insightful guide to navigating the most challenging ethical dilemmas of our modern world in a way that is faithful to the story of God's work in Jesus.
Spring Harvest 2010: Summary
Tuesday 6 April – Day 1
Day started with Rachael at the Kia garage to get the rear seats out of the new car. Even the garage struggled to get them out – very stiff!
Usual trip down in the car but this time the kids watched a DVD in the car.
Ethan came with us this year which was great for Isaac.
Lunch at the Half Moon Inn with Barbara and Michael who came to see us. Also with Ann, David, Joseph and Lynsey.
Got the key for the chalet very easily/quickly. We were very close to the Big Top and the Skyline so a great location.
Rachael took Hannah to the All Age celebration each night, the boys went to their sessions and I went to one of the evening celebrations usually with Ann and Dave.
Evening celebrations in the Big Top were hosted by Steve Chalke and Ruth Dearnley with the Saltmine Theatre Company taking part and worship led by Trent.
First evening celebration had Krish Kandiah preaching.
Tended to finish the evenings in the Skyline with large lattes and a look at the bookshop.
Wednesday 7 April – Day 2
Rachael and i went to the Culture Zone each morning led by Mark Greene from LICC. These were great and some of the best main seminars I have been to that cover the theme of the event.
This year’s theme was on ethics, helping Christians think more about developing Christ-like ethics.
What are ethics?
Most people regard ethics as thinking about difficult and ambiguous moral quandaries – "Should I lie to protect a friend?""Must we always tell a dying person they are dying?""‘Do we have to tell the whole truth all the time, however brutal?""‘Can I ever compromise my values to achieve a good goal?"
Ethical frameworks go unnoticed, but they surround us
In fact, ethics are bigger and broader than these questions. Our ethics provide a cultural framework – an under-pinning value system – in which we live our whole lives. Ethics are like the air we breathe. Although for the most part they go unnoticed, our lives and communities depend on them.
Whether we like it or not, we’re all doing ethics all the time with questions such as, “Was it right to grass someone up over the murder of Archie Mitchell?” “Is it right to be so explicit about cancer sufferers in Corrie?” The internet is full of sites where people debate soap opera story lines – and we do the same in real life.
Christian ethics are distinctive
But Christian ethics are distinctive ethics. They are not just anyone’s ethics. They are ‘uncommon’ rather than ‘common’ sense. Indeed, if Christian ethics are not distinctive, then Jesus is relegated to nothing more than a ‘personal’ and ‘private’ motivator, encouraging us to ideals that are shared by all. We do not follow a set of universal moral or ethical principals – we follow Jesus. And in following Jesus we live distinctively, and therefore beautifully.
I gave the Bible Readings (Steve Chalke was the preacher) a miss this year in favour of the Mark Greene sessions and the Leadership Masterclasses led by Fran Beckett and Philip Jinadu. Again these were great with the 2 speakers not always agreeing which is a good thing as it made you think.
In the afternoons we had 2 sessions at Funsplash, 1 session at the fair and 1 session on the beach.
Evening celebration in the Big Top with Fran Beckett preaching.
Thursday 8 April – Day 3
Evening celebration in the Big Top with Steve Chalke preaching.
Friday 9 April – Day 4
Alternative evening celebration with the Northumbria Community and Mark Greene was the preacher. Great celtic worship and a great word.
Saturday 10 April – Day 5
Evening celebration in the Big Top with Steve Chalke preaching.
Sunday 11 April – Day 6
Final morning. Isobel and Joseph went to their session. The rest of the family and Ethan finished off the week at the All Age Communion celebration.
Arrived at The Half Moon Inn for lunch with Ann and Dave. All sat at one long table for the customary end of holiday lunch.
Some great material covered during the week. Mark Greene definitely the highlight. Rachael was asked to say some things in his final slot.
Footnote to the week: checked the dates for 2011 when we got home and neither of the 2 Skegness weeks are fully in the Bradford school holidays so we either make the long trek to Minehead or miss our first Spring Harvest for 23 years. Not good and a real shame.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Football: Burton Albion 1 - 1 Bradford (League Two)
Shaun Harrad struck late on to salvage a point for Burton after they had fallen behind to Luke Oliver's second-half opener for Bradford.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Football: Liverpool 4 - 1 Benfica (agg 5 - 3) (Europa League)
Didn’t get to see this match with Isaac as there was no Channel Five on the TVs in the Butlins chalets.
Fernando Torres scored twice to help Liverpool overpower Benfica at Anfield and set up an Europa League semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Football: Bradford 1 - 2 Macclesfield (League Two)
I went with Isaac to this match. Not great but good to be with Isaac watching the live footy.
Ben Wright scored the winner as Macclesfield condemned Bradford to their second successive Easter defeat.
Film: How to Train Your Dragon
We all went to see this film at Showcase in 3D, An OK film but not amazing.
Music: U2 360 Tour on DVD
The DVD is out in June.
Another time lapse video of setting the stage up.
Still a fave from the tour and the last album – Magnificent.
Book: U2: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song
One of 2 books given to me by the ladies on the team at work for my birthday. U2 remain my fave band so a great choice/.
Book: Coast and Beyond
One of 2 books given to me by the ladies on the team at work for my birthday. Looks to be a good read.
And a sample from one of the TV episodes:
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Easter Day
Usual 6am dawn service at Pit Hill with the churches of Holmewood and Bierley. Warren led and a good turnout.
Breakfast at church with bacon/sausage sandwiches, cereal etc.
Prep-ed the running order and song words for the next All Age Worship meeting.
Easter Day service at church. Sam preached, always good to hear him preach.
Lunch at the Egans including the Easter egg hunt.
Tried to get Dave’s Wii working with his TV but unsuccessfully.
Football: Birmingham 1 - 1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Liverpool's hopes of securing fourth spot and Champions League qualification suffered a big blow after a lacklustre draw at Birmingham.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
TV: Doctor Who
New series started tonight with the new Doctor. All the makings of a great series and must-watch TV.
Football: Bournemouth 1 - 0 Bradford (League Two)
Brett Pitman hit his 22nd goal of the season to keep Bournemouth on course for automatic promotion to League One.
Football: Man Utd 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Watched this game at EBCC with Isaac. Many thought this would be the title decider. An OK game.
Chelsea regained control of the title race as victory at Old Trafford saw them leapfrog Manchester United at the Premier League summit.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Football: Benfica 2 - 1 Liverpool (Champions League)
Benfica's Oscar Cardozo scored twice as 10-man Liverpool lost a lively first leg of the Europa League quarter-final.
Good Friday
First day of the Easter holiday. Lazy day. The usual few days wait before we go off to Spring Harvest.
We all went to the joint Holmewood and Bierley churches Good Friday service at Bierley Bethel. Warren led, Gordon Dey preached including references to the holocaust. I was very tired after the first week in Birmingham. Glad to be on holidays.
Book: “Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives”, Nicholas A. Christakis, James H. Fowler
Mentioned by Ed Miliband in a recent Guardian interview.
Renowned scientists Christakis and Fowler present compelling evidence for our profound influence on one another's tastes, health, wealth, happiness, beliefs, even weight, as they explain how social networks form and how they operate.
Christian martyr: Oscar Romero
Reminded of this archbishop from El Savador by this Guardian article.
Romero, a beacon of hope for the poor
Oscar Romero died 30 years ago. Yet he can still teach us much about good Christian values
Interview: Ed Miliband: Energy Secretary and writer of the Labour manifesto
Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has been charged with writing the manifesto Labour hopes will lead the party to election victory. Which doesn't leave a lot of time for the other things in life ...
TV: Flash Forward – catch up
Flash Forward has been back for a couple of weeks but here is a starter kit from the first set of episodes.
Natalie Vodianova: Supermodel Philanthropist
Interesting story from The Observer.
Why it's playtime for Natalia Vodianova
She looks like the girl who has it all, but supermodel Natalia Vodianova is still haunted by the poverty of her early life. Now she plans to build 500 playgrounds in her native Russia
Political party communication
Labour's election publicity: all the boldness of a muesli advert
Message 'shows the lack of originality in political communications'
I read this Guardian article with interest.
Film: Motherhood
Read this Guardian article about the film Motherhood starring Uma Thurman.
Over its opening weekend, no more than a dozen people went to see Motherhood, a semi-autobiographical account of stressed-out Manhattan parenting written and directed by Katherine Dieckmann. The film made just £88 on the weekend of Friday 5 March. On its debut Sunday, box office takings were £9, meaning one person bought a ticket.
Delia and Heston now endorsing Waitrose
Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal are now appearing on Waitrose ads and other Waitrose recipes etc.
Telegraph article including the 1st ad
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Kylie supports breast cancer campaign
The singer Kylie Minogue has joined actor Sienna Miller and model Claudia Schiffer in being captured by celebrity photographer Mario Testino wearing nothing but a broad grin and a silk sheet printed with the target logo of the fashion industry's campaign against breast cancer.
(from this Guardian article)
Team Lunch
Took the ladies out for lunch at Vicars to celebrate my birthday. No electricity so were not able to have hot food apart from soup. Hopefully, we can go another time when the full menu is available.
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