Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Resource for 'Housedads'
I'm not actually a housedad, but do manage to spend more time at home than I would if I was on a 9-5, at least I have recently. So for all those dads out there, house- or not, I recommend DadsDinner.com. I haven't read it all yet, but I find it funny. [The management of Nodrog's Gruntlings accepts no responsibility for anyone who does not agree with me.] I particularly recommend 'Dear Dave' - no relation (I think. Much. Well as I said above I'm not a housedad. Look, just read it and laugh, ok? Or smile grimly if that's all you can manage - but remember that just looking after the wean for an hour on a Saturday afternoon may seem hard when you're going through it, but it's bound to get easier if you're doing it 24/7, right? Hmm...)
Survival or 'Thrival'?
Can't believe it's been over a month! This term was supposed to be an easier one... but I find that having more time allows more time for procrastination and plain time-wasting, as well as work expanding to fill the available (space-)time. Then of course I have tried to prioritise my family (still getting used to thinking of my wife and son under that heading instead of my mum and sisters!) - not always successfully - and there was a cold in there somewhere as well (or a series of 2 or 3 of them for spouse & sprog :-( )
Anyway, in the midst of 'end-of-term' stuff - despite lack of decent preparation, did quite well in my final Hebrew test of term, and think I've done an ok exam paper (2 hours) for Greek Text: Philippians. Now I just have to write a few thousand words about some children's songs, mostly before Friday, and I'll be fine!
But I've just been wondering - am I surviving this week (which also included a 'Personal Development Interview' as part of my C of S Ministry application) or thriving on it. I feel like I've 'survived' the two language modules rather than thrived (thriven?) as perhaps I did last term (at least in Greek - or that's how my revisionist memory records it...) but at the same time, I've been trying to depend utterly on God. I'm a long way off yet, but feel it ties in with Brother Lawrence's 'Practising the Presence of God', and have made some progress in small ways. What I wonder is, has this intention to depend on God, led to an actual 'thrival' in terms of my studies? I certainly seem to be a bit better at not being anxious in these last few weeks.
The proof of the pudding will probably be if I get this independent study work completed reasonably well. I also recently decided that perhaps I should embrace the fact that I work in what my placement supervisor calls an 'exponential' fashion - the graph of work against time shoots up as the deadline approaches! As long as I time things right, there isn't a problem!
Anyway, in the midst of 'end-of-term' stuff - despite lack of decent preparation, did quite well in my final Hebrew test of term, and think I've done an ok exam paper (2 hours) for Greek Text: Philippians. Now I just have to write a few thousand words about some children's songs, mostly before Friday, and I'll be fine!
But I've just been wondering - am I surviving this week (which also included a 'Personal Development Interview' as part of my C of S Ministry application) or thriving on it. I feel like I've 'survived' the two language modules rather than thrived (thriven?) as perhaps I did last term (at least in Greek - or that's how my revisionist memory records it...) but at the same time, I've been trying to depend utterly on God. I'm a long way off yet, but feel it ties in with Brother Lawrence's 'Practising the Presence of God', and have made some progress in small ways. What I wonder is, has this intention to depend on God, led to an actual 'thrival' in terms of my studies? I certainly seem to be a bit better at not being anxious in these last few weeks.
The proof of the pudding will probably be if I get this independent study work completed reasonably well. I also recently decided that perhaps I should embrace the fact that I work in what my placement supervisor calls an 'exponential' fashion - the graph of work against time shoots up as the deadline approaches! As long as I time things right, there isn't a problem!
Friday, February 02, 2007
BBC Anti-Progress?
OK so my post title is a bit exaggerated. I bookmarked this story a while ago but forgot to blog it until now. Still thought it was worth highlighting - it's so unusual to see anyone in mainstream media (he said, blatantly generalising) questioning the forward march of progress and especially technology - it's usually 'which gadget' not 'should we have gadgets' (I speak as a gadget fan myself...) Scroll down for some of the BBC readers' comments too - also refreshing (in some cases)>
This is part of my theory (not unique or even original, probably) that we are not postmodern entirely by a long chalk, yet - in the realms of science/technology, we are still modernist, seeking salvation from global warming, etc., by 'scientists' or by new technologies like energy-saving bulbs. (I got one. It went dud, for a while. I tried it again later, it worked, then died shortly afterwards. I know I can't base my decisions on one bulb, but it has decreased my inclination to try this method of saving the planet, at present.) TV adverts still sell on the basis of 'clinically shown to...' or just a picture of someone in a white lab-coat... I mean, what is going on? Is the appearance of authority all that's really needed? Just a stern voice ('Big Brother says come to the diary room') and we all follow because it's easier than thinking ourselves? (The oft-cited 'electric shock' experiment would be relevant here if I had a source).
Anyway, just thought I'd raise the point. Is progress always good?
This is part of my theory (not unique or even original, probably) that we are not postmodern entirely by a long chalk, yet - in the realms of science/technology, we are still modernist, seeking salvation from global warming, etc., by 'scientists' or by new technologies like energy-saving bulbs. (I got one. It went dud, for a while. I tried it again later, it worked, then died shortly afterwards. I know I can't base my decisions on one bulb, but it has decreased my inclination to try this method of saving the planet, at present.) TV adverts still sell on the basis of 'clinically shown to...' or just a picture of someone in a white lab-coat... I mean, what is going on? Is the appearance of authority all that's really needed? Just a stern voice ('Big Brother says come to the diary room') and we all follow because it's easier than thinking ourselves? (The oft-cited 'electric shock' experiment would be relevant here if I had a source).
Anyway, just thought I'd raise the point. Is progress always good?
Apologies
I don't know about you, but I'm kind of stuck in a Churchian(*) habit of saying sorry for anything, regardless of whether it's big or small, my fault or not, deliberate or accidental. Part of it may be British/Scottish cultural influence, especially when you apologise to someone who bumps into you! Anyway, check out this SmuloSpace blog entry about apologies.
It blows me away.
How can we as a church/faith and as (individual) faith communities get back to this kind of corporate movement, that will lead to a physical action/change in the world? As our college principal mentioned today, you may not be able to change the world, but you can change someone's world.
(*) I reckon a Churchian is someone who is an adherent of Churchianity, that well known parody of Christianity (**)
(**) Whether we should even refer to Christianity or use something like 'I am a Christ-follower' (or 'I try to be a Christ-follower') is a debate for another time, possibly.
It blows me away.
How can we as a church/faith and as (individual) faith communities get back to this kind of corporate movement, that will lead to a physical action/change in the world? As our college principal mentioned today, you may not be able to change the world, but you can change someone's world.
(*) I reckon a Churchian is someone who is an adherent of Churchianity, that well known parody of Christianity (**)
(**) Whether we should even refer to Christianity or use something like 'I am a Christ-follower' (or 'I try to be a Christ-follower') is a debate for another time, possibly.
Monday, January 22, 2007
New World Order
Am I the only one who finds reports of Gordon Brown's 'new world order' slightly sinister? See the BBC report and Nick Robinson's blog entry. I don't have a fully developed eschatology, as such, and take the scenarios portrayed by the Left Behind series and similar with a large pinch of salt, but it begins to make you wonder... how will things all end (if you're premillenial posttribulationist... if you're a pre-trib and a Christian then perhaps it's not quite so relevant!). I can't quite visualise Gordon Brown as the antichrist, but you never know...
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Lurkers, Memes and 10 things I'll never do
It seems that last week was 'De-lurking Week', or so a few bloggers have claimed (well, Brodie and John at least).
As I'm a generous soul (possibly - watch this space for the Deadly Sin post...), lurkers have extra time on this blog to post a comment and 'de-lurk'. I confess, blogger though I am, I lurk a lot - usually feeling pressed for time to write reasoned and thoughtful comments (or ones that are humourous enough) but here and now (probably until the end of January, if you like) there are no limits, just give me your name (assumed or real, your choice), and something about yourself if you want - location, blog, whatever. I note we've recently had a Hawaiian visitor so if you pop back, 'Aloha' and make yourself at home.
I'm still relatively new to the blogosphere, and learning my blogiquette, but I get the feeling that I have been very bad. Nick over at Learning to Walk tagged me with what I understand is called a Meme (do I sound like an oldster or what?) over a month ago, and I haven't yet responded. This particular meme is '10 things I'll never do'. My first response was that it was a waste of time/space and too much like these email chain letters you get, but given that my whole blog might fall under the first category, that's no excuse, and the second, well nothing's actually being sent so it's not using up bandwidth everywhere it goes, and furthermore no-one is telling you that terrible things will happen if you don't respond... so here goes (in no particular order):
1) Stop being a nit-picker
2) Use the word 'never' without questioning whether there might be any exceptions
3) Stop reading books, novels, magazines, cereal packets...
4) Stop loving my wife
5) Stop loving my son
6) Stop loving & following Jesus (imperfectly, in this phase of life)
7) Be entirely organised
8) Be a morning person
9) Stop enjoying science fiction
10) Be able to come up with 10 other bloggers who haven't already been tagged
In light of number 10, I may restrict my taggees to 5 (as the above-mentioned John has done here) but beyond that, if you're a lurker or other visitor, why not consider yourself tagged and either post your 10 things in a comment, or leave a comment to link back to your blog.
In the meantime I tag:
1) The Magic Porridge Pot who hasn't blogged for a while...
2) Brash by name... likewise may be offline or just lurking?
3) Looking for my Fig Tree - why is it all my blog-tacts have (temporarily?) stopped blogging? Was it something I posted?
4) New eyes - highly recommended blog of life in Rwanda
5) TJ's miscellaneous thoughts - a blog that I found highlighted on Blogger's front page (as with 4) and am starting to read and even interact with - it's good to expand your own blog-horizons!
As I'm a generous soul (possibly - watch this space for the Deadly Sin post...), lurkers have extra time on this blog to post a comment and 'de-lurk'. I confess, blogger though I am, I lurk a lot - usually feeling pressed for time to write reasoned and thoughtful comments (or ones that are humourous enough) but here and now (probably until the end of January, if you like) there are no limits, just give me your name (assumed or real, your choice), and something about yourself if you want - location, blog, whatever. I note we've recently had a Hawaiian visitor so if you pop back, 'Aloha' and make yourself at home.
I'm still relatively new to the blogosphere, and learning my blogiquette, but I get the feeling that I have been very bad. Nick over at Learning to Walk tagged me with what I understand is called a Meme (do I sound like an oldster or what?) over a month ago, and I haven't yet responded. This particular meme is '10 things I'll never do'. My first response was that it was a waste of time/space and too much like these email chain letters you get, but given that my whole blog might fall under the first category, that's no excuse, and the second, well nothing's actually being sent so it's not using up bandwidth everywhere it goes, and furthermore no-one is telling you that terrible things will happen if you don't respond... so here goes (in no particular order):
1) Stop being a nit-picker
2) Use the word 'never' without questioning whether there might be any exceptions
3) Stop reading books, novels, magazines, cereal packets...
4) Stop loving my wife
5) Stop loving my son
6) Stop loving & following Jesus (imperfectly, in this phase of life)
7) Be entirely organised
8) Be a morning person
9) Stop enjoying science fiction
10) Be able to come up with 10 other bloggers who haven't already been tagged
In light of number 10, I may restrict my taggees to 5 (as the above-mentioned John has done here) but beyond that, if you're a lurker or other visitor, why not consider yourself tagged and either post your 10 things in a comment, or leave a comment to link back to your blog.
In the meantime I tag:
1) The Magic Porridge Pot who hasn't blogged for a while...
2) Brash by name... likewise may be offline or just lurking?
3) Looking for my Fig Tree - why is it all my blog-tacts have (temporarily?) stopped blogging? Was it something I posted?
4) New eyes - highly recommended blog of life in Rwanda
5) TJ's miscellaneous thoughts - a blog that I found highlighted on Blogger's front page (as with 4) and am starting to read and even interact with - it's good to expand your own blog-horizons!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Weekend Away
Ma heid's burstin', as you might say. The three of us are not long back from Lendrick Muir, where the ICC weekend away was held.
I have lots of stuff I want to blog about - and might actually get to before it drifts out of my mind like sand in your hands.
Things like - family life and the changes that marriage and children bring, ministry in the future, attitudes to money, modernism and postmodernism, journeying spiritually, visiting Africa, holidaying with a small person, authenticity in faith and life, new ways of being/doing 'church', looking for right answers vs asking the right questions, venturing out of my almost exclusively Christian enclave, sin - including some of the famous 7.
There are more topics there than I expected, and others might come up as/if I blog more!
Overall, though, it has been a weekend that has excited me. I haven't felt quite like this possibly since first year, and my encounter with lots of different ideas and topics around theology. Thinking about it, some of my module choices have avoided the subjects likely to bring new ideas into my head and have instead been about techniques (sermon preparation, music) or factual learning (history, languages) - though I recognise that even in these subjects, there are opportunities for mental expansion if you look. One thing's for sure - I am reconfirmed in my desire to get the most out of ICC, particularly if this is my second last term here.
However, 'getting the most' should not be (or not just be) taking as many modules as I can and racking up (or attempting to!) the good grades - which has often been my approach till now. I need to be seeking to find and think the 'big ideas' and new ideas, and integrate them into my practice - not just to get better at a technically good sermon that includes clever references and Greek/Hebrew words, or improving my listening skills for pastoral care. The stuff I need to do could lead me broadly in the same direction as our two weekend speakers: Brodie from Queen's Park Baptist and Stuart from Mosaic, both of whom are ICC graduates who are now in church leadership positions (see also Santa Fe Trail on the sidebar under 'ICC related blogs').
It's a scary thought - I could be a church leader, part of a church leadership team. Of course, I've been on course for that (as far as I'm aware) for nearly 5 years - but really (hopefully) a lifetime/since the world began (depending on your theological flavour of predestination) from God's perspective - but as this weekend's journeying theme has highlighted, it's one thing to be on the road to somewhere, and another to actually arrive. Not least because 'arrival' is probably a bit of an illusion until we reach the heavenly city, and is rather the start of the next stage of the journey...
So it's been a weekend away from ICC, away from routine (though we hadn't really got back into one from Christmas/New Year), and away from studying (oh, Hebrew homework for tomorrow...) but in a sense, it's been a weekend back - back to God, back to the journey instead of the apparently attractive side routes, back to a way of doing holiday with family that suits all of us (in comparison to our trip to Carberry last year - more on that story later!), back to what it is all about - integrating the gospel in our lives and presenting that gospel through our lives.
I have lots of stuff I want to blog about - and might actually get to before it drifts out of my mind like sand in your hands.
Things like - family life and the changes that marriage and children bring, ministry in the future, attitudes to money, modernism and postmodernism, journeying spiritually, visiting Africa, holidaying with a small person, authenticity in faith and life, new ways of being/doing 'church', looking for right answers vs asking the right questions, venturing out of my almost exclusively Christian enclave, sin - including some of the famous 7.
There are more topics there than I expected, and others might come up as/if I blog more!
Overall, though, it has been a weekend that has excited me. I haven't felt quite like this possibly since first year, and my encounter with lots of different ideas and topics around theology. Thinking about it, some of my module choices have avoided the subjects likely to bring new ideas into my head and have instead been about techniques (sermon preparation, music) or factual learning (history, languages) - though I recognise that even in these subjects, there are opportunities for mental expansion if you look. One thing's for sure - I am reconfirmed in my desire to get the most out of ICC, particularly if this is my second last term here.
However, 'getting the most' should not be (or not just be) taking as many modules as I can and racking up (or attempting to!) the good grades - which has often been my approach till now. I need to be seeking to find and think the 'big ideas' and new ideas, and integrate them into my practice - not just to get better at a technically good sermon that includes clever references and Greek/Hebrew words, or improving my listening skills for pastoral care. The stuff I need to do could lead me broadly in the same direction as our two weekend speakers: Brodie from Queen's Park Baptist and Stuart from Mosaic, both of whom are ICC graduates who are now in church leadership positions (see also Santa Fe Trail on the sidebar under 'ICC related blogs').
It's a scary thought - I could be a church leader, part of a church leadership team. Of course, I've been on course for that (as far as I'm aware) for nearly 5 years - but really (hopefully) a lifetime/since the world began (depending on your theological flavour of predestination) from God's perspective - but as this weekend's journeying theme has highlighted, it's one thing to be on the road to somewhere, and another to actually arrive. Not least because 'arrival' is probably a bit of an illusion until we reach the heavenly city, and is rather the start of the next stage of the journey...
So it's been a weekend away from ICC, away from routine (though we hadn't really got back into one from Christmas/New Year), and away from studying (oh, Hebrew homework for tomorrow...) but in a sense, it's been a weekend back - back to God, back to the journey instead of the apparently attractive side routes, back to a way of doing holiday with family that suits all of us (in comparison to our trip to Carberry last year - more on that story later!), back to what it is all about - integrating the gospel in our lives and presenting that gospel through our lives.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Skype and stuff
Forgive me father for I have sinned... it has been some weeks since my last blog entry. But so much has gone on - we've covered probably 1000 miles, done the whole family/Christmas bit, put in lots of work tiling this bathroom (the completion date: possibly before the new Wembley) and even done some filing. There's still a war on paper in our house but I feel we've won a couple of skirmishes anyway. Now we're into the new term, I have Greek and Hebrew to keep up with, a possible new language to learn in a Bible Translation course and/or an independent study course to decide on relating to worship/music/childrens' ministry, and of course my placement which will now include further reading, preaching (next time is in less than two weeks), individual and organisational visits... Not forgetting being a husband and father.
So why on earth did I spend most of yesterday downloading and getting started with Skype? OK so it's really cool, easy to use and basically free. Ok so now at least one of Peter's aunties can see him on screen (although not last night because he was asleep by the time I got the video working!). Ok so I had a great (free) chat with a cousin in Norway! And ok, so the search facility in the 'phone directory' is really quite good. But apart from all that, what have the Romans ever done for us? Seriously, it did use up time better spent doing Hebrew (although I got it done on the train) - and seriously, I do like it as a piece of software. I still have to work on this arcane skill called time management...
So why on earth did I spend most of yesterday downloading and getting started with Skype? OK so it's really cool, easy to use and basically free. Ok so now at least one of Peter's aunties can see him on screen (although not last night because he was asleep by the time I got the video working!). Ok so I had a great (free) chat with a cousin in Norway! And ok, so the search facility in the 'phone directory' is really quite good. But apart from all that, what have the Romans ever done for us? Seriously, it did use up time better spent doing Hebrew (although I got it done on the train) - and seriously, I do like it as a piece of software. I still have to work on this arcane skill called time management...
Monday, December 11, 2006
Calm after the storm
I am just about recovering from an intensive week. It was my own fault entirely, of course, but as usual I left all my work to the last minute, revising in double-quick time for Christology (Wednesday) and Greek (Friday) exams as well as trying to write a coherent New Testament exegesis on Romans 8:1-17 in time for 4pm Friday. And there's not any room for manouevre on that deadline (except once when I was *very* blessed/fortunate to survive handing in at 4.05pm... but that's another story). As it happened I actually handed in about 3.35pm - an odd experience!
I can only attribute my managing to actually write stuff for the full time of the exams and to the amount of words required in the exegesis to:
THE GRACE OF GOD
and within that comes
The support of my wife
The prayers of my wife, my family and friends. Special mentions to Nick, Sarah and doubtless many others at my churches (home and placement) who are faithful prayer warriors.
Note that I am writing this before getting my results (tomorrow) so who knows how I'll feel then! :)
Sleep was something I ran very short of, so have caught up a bit this weekend. I am struggling to find things to do (well, not really - there's loads of stuff I haven't done around the house because of studying that I should have been doing over the last few weeks) and it just feels a bit strange. Still, more time to spend with the boy (will be 10 months old this Sunday!!!!) and with Cath, who has had stress from several directions recently.
One of my time-wasting activities is the BBC News website, especially the Magazine. While staying up late to write some exegetical words on Thursday night/Friday morning, I watched the Shuttle not launching (then promptly missed the actual launch two nights later through catching up on my sleep!) and submitted a sarky letter to the Magazine letters page - it got published! Of course, the news item that it links to was being updated through the night and therefore the quote in my letter no longer exists in the article to be laughed at, so either people will think that I'm very odd (likely in any case) or I can take credit for improvements in the prose of some journalist. As if to compensate, they added a 'deliberate mistake' in the punctuation of my letter so that it doesn't make complete sense (transposed a space and a quotation mark) but I can live with that.
It made me wonder how often I've actually got published on the BBC - back in the day when I spent hours (lunch hours of course) on the internet when I was working for a living, I used to submit to the site quite a lot. The BBC search facility is not always up to scratch, but I found quite a few references against "Dave Slater" and "David Slater" that were definitely me, a few that may not have been, and some that surely were not. It's quite disturbing to read a news item about someone with your name who was murdered.
What a depressing thought to end on. I'm actually quite chirpy at the moment. Three weeks of holiday ahead does that for a person!
I can only attribute my managing to actually write stuff for the full time of the exams and to the amount of words required in the exegesis to:
THE GRACE OF GOD
and within that comes
The support of my wife
The prayers of my wife, my family and friends. Special mentions to Nick, Sarah and doubtless many others at my churches (home and placement) who are faithful prayer warriors.
Note that I am writing this before getting my results (tomorrow) so who knows how I'll feel then! :)
Sleep was something I ran very short of, so have caught up a bit this weekend. I am struggling to find things to do (well, not really - there's loads of stuff I haven't done around the house because of studying that I should have been doing over the last few weeks) and it just feels a bit strange. Still, more time to spend with the boy (will be 10 months old this Sunday!!!!) and with Cath, who has had stress from several directions recently.
One of my time-wasting activities is the BBC News website, especially the Magazine. While staying up late to write some exegetical words on Thursday night/Friday morning, I watched the Shuttle not launching (then promptly missed the actual launch two nights later through catching up on my sleep!) and submitted a sarky letter to the Magazine letters page - it got published! Of course, the news item that it links to was being updated through the night and therefore the quote in my letter no longer exists in the article to be laughed at, so either people will think that I'm very odd (likely in any case) or I can take credit for improvements in the prose of some journalist. As if to compensate, they added a 'deliberate mistake' in the punctuation of my letter so that it doesn't make complete sense (transposed a space and a quotation mark) but I can live with that.
It made me wonder how often I've actually got published on the BBC - back in the day when I spent hours (lunch hours of course) on the internet when I was working for a living, I used to submit to the site quite a lot. The BBC search facility is not always up to scratch, but I found quite a few references against "Dave Slater" and "David Slater" that were definitely me, a few that may not have been, and some that surely were not. It's quite disturbing to read a news item about someone with your name who was murdered.
What a depressing thought to end on. I'm actually quite chirpy at the moment. Three weeks of holiday ahead does that for a person!
Friday, November 24, 2006
Testing, testing
I usually avoid tests and quizzes, ever since an unpleasant experience with a so-called "Purity Test" during my first taste of higher eduction. But browsing this former ICCer's blog, I found a 'What's your theological worldview?' quiz which sounded intriguing.
My results:
I know that the test results are only as good as the quality of the questions set and the accuracy of my answers, but this took me a little by surprise. My father-in-law (a Methodist Lay Preacher) would probably approve, but I know of late I have tended to describe myself, slightly ironically, as a wishy-washy liberal – if only because ICC has shaken up so much of my theological thinking (especially the bits I hadn't thought much about before). Once an evangelical, always an evangelical? I've barely ever been in a Methodist church or chapel, could probably count the occasions on the fingers of one hand. I'm surprised to see Reformed Evangelical so far down the list, except that I still don't know if I'm Calvinist or not (but God does! *grin*). Once I would have been relieved to see that the 'Liberal' ones were the lowest scores, but now, I'm not so sure. Catholic above Reformed Evangelical? And what on earth is neo-orthodox? Or Emergent/Postmodern? I don't like the idea of being even 46% 'Fundamentalist', whatever that may mean (it's certainly not what it meant in the 1930s, as I understand the story) Anyway, I suppose it's something to ponder...
My results:
 | You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavily by John Wesley and the Methodists.
What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com |
I know that the test results are only as good as the quality of the questions set and the accuracy of my answers, but this took me a little by surprise. My father-in-law (a Methodist Lay Preacher) would probably approve, but I know of late I have tended to describe myself, slightly ironically, as a wishy-washy liberal – if only because ICC has shaken up so much of my theological thinking (especially the bits I hadn't thought much about before). Once an evangelical, always an evangelical? I've barely ever been in a Methodist church or chapel, could probably count the occasions on the fingers of one hand. I'm surprised to see Reformed Evangelical so far down the list, except that I still don't know if I'm Calvinist or not (but God does! *grin*). Once I would have been relieved to see that the 'Liberal' ones were the lowest scores, but now, I'm not so sure. Catholic above Reformed Evangelical? And what on earth is neo-orthodox? Or Emergent/Postmodern? I don't like the idea of being even 46% 'Fundamentalist', whatever that may mean (it's certainly not what it meant in the 1930s, as I understand the story) Anyway, I suppose it's something to ponder...
Thursday, November 16, 2006
WMD
I was just browsing BBC News website, as I tend to do (quite a lot in fact) and came across a blog post about the launch of Al Jazeera English, (AJE), a new international news channel. This in itself is interesting (if we ever reconnect our Sky box I might tune in to see it, if it's free-to-air), but it was a comment that a reader posted that grabbed my attention.
Peter in comment #35 suggests that the BBC stood up to the UK govt over the WMD issue and turned out to be right. Since when? The Iraq Survey Group found the remains of dozens of chemical weapons, as predicted by the pre-war intelligence, and said so in their report (Vol 3, Annex F). The BBC, and pretty much everyone else as well, still refuses to report this, due to a misunderstanding over terminology. The net result is that many people are convinced that NOTHING at all was found in Iraq and that the pre-war intelligence was totally false. This naturally leads some people, including the 7/7 bombers, into various conspiracies - that the intelligence was cooked and that there was another motive for the war - which need to be resisted.
One wonders whether the 7/7 bombings would have gone ahead if the BBC and other media had reported accurately on the findings of the ISG (and on the 9/11 commission - which only ruled out one particular link between Saddam and OBL not all links).
Now this is just someone's opinion, they could post anything (and believe me, on the BBC site many people do...) but is this true? I don't have time just now to go looking for web versions of the ISG report or the 9/11 commission... so I am at the mercy of media reporting, accurate or otherwise, but does this sound familiar to anyone else? Is this accurate, did anyone hear it? (Even if true, I still tend to think that the sooner Blair and Bush are out of office, the better, but that's partly down to my conviction that no one person or party should be in power too long. Maybe because I grew up during the Thatcher era!)
Stock clichés like newspapers being the 'first draft' of history, and history being written by the winners (or those with the loudest voices?) spring to mind...
Peter in comment #35 suggests that the BBC stood up to the UK govt over the WMD issue and turned out to be right. Since when? The Iraq Survey Group found the remains of dozens of chemical weapons, as predicted by the pre-war intelligence, and said so in their report (Vol 3, Annex F). The BBC, and pretty much everyone else as well, still refuses to report this, due to a misunderstanding over terminology. The net result is that many people are convinced that NOTHING at all was found in Iraq and that the pre-war intelligence was totally false. This naturally leads some people, including the 7/7 bombers, into various conspiracies - that the intelligence was cooked and that there was another motive for the war - which need to be resisted.
One wonders whether the 7/7 bombings would have gone ahead if the BBC and other media had reported accurately on the findings of the ISG (and on the 9/11 commission - which only ruled out one particular link between Saddam and OBL not all links).
Now this is just someone's opinion, they could post anything (and believe me, on the BBC site many people do...) but is this true? I don't have time just now to go looking for web versions of the ISG report or the 9/11 commission... so I am at the mercy of media reporting, accurate or otherwise, but does this sound familiar to anyone else? Is this accurate, did anyone hear it? (Even if true, I still tend to think that the sooner Blair and Bush are out of office, the better, but that's partly down to my conviction that no one person or party should be in power too long. Maybe because I grew up during the Thatcher era!)
Stock clichés like newspapers being the 'first draft' of history, and history being written by the winners (or those with the loudest voices?) spring to mind...
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Photo
Just getting a photo into my profile, hopefully. Someone told me yesterday I scrubbed up well - you wouldn't know it, would you?
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Survival
Hello South America! And to all other visitors! Please continue to make yourselves at home!
I survived that week. And then came another one. I had my 31st birthday, a 170/180ish mile drive (and back again 2 days later), a difficult situation, Hebrew homework and another sermon (for Remembrance Sunday!). I survived that one too. Yet, not me (as someone might once have said) but Christ in me.
The blog is a strange creature - on the one hand (to me) it's about journalling, exploring - recording feelings and reactions to events; therefore you record these events, to some degree. On the other hand, it's a public forum - ok so not as many people may read my blog as Nick Robinson's for example, but they could. So I feel discretion is the better part of valour regarding the 'difficult situation' mentioned above.
I really want to write about it, but it's not mine to write about. It has stunned and saddened me, it has made me (as usual) want to try to help fix it, while I recognise that I probably can't, given that I'm not God and not omnicompetent. (Fortunately. One of my lecturers has recently pointed out that much of evangelical prayer consists of apologising for not being God!) I just pray that all parties concerned will indeed survive, that long-term positive(s) will come from the apparently negative, and that I can say and do the right things at the right times (and refrain from the wrong ones) to provide what support I can.
Survival has to do with future as well as past. The second (shorter!) 'half' of term has begun, and with it the majority of the work (at least for a last-minuter like myself. Sensible folk will be well on their way through most of the assignments and exam preparation. I am not.) All I can do is 'Trust in the Lord with all [my] heart, and .. not rely on [my] own understanding [, a]cknowledge him in all [my] ways, and he will make [my] paths straight.' (Proverbs 3: 5-6) Easier said than done.
I survived that week. And then came another one. I had my 31st birthday, a 170/180ish mile drive (and back again 2 days later), a difficult situation, Hebrew homework and another sermon (for Remembrance Sunday!). I survived that one too. Yet, not me (as someone might once have said) but Christ in me.
The blog is a strange creature - on the one hand (to me) it's about journalling, exploring - recording feelings and reactions to events; therefore you record these events, to some degree. On the other hand, it's a public forum - ok so not as many people may read my blog as Nick Robinson's for example, but they could. So I feel discretion is the better part of valour regarding the 'difficult situation' mentioned above.
I really want to write about it, but it's not mine to write about. It has stunned and saddened me, it has made me (as usual) want to try to help fix it, while I recognise that I probably can't, given that I'm not God and not omnicompetent. (Fortunately. One of my lecturers has recently pointed out that much of evangelical prayer consists of apologising for not being God!) I just pray that all parties concerned will indeed survive, that long-term positive(s) will come from the apparently negative, and that I can say and do the right things at the right times (and refrain from the wrong ones) to provide what support I can.
Survival has to do with future as well as past. The second (shorter!) 'half' of term has begun, and with it the majority of the work (at least for a last-minuter like myself. Sensible folk will be well on their way through most of the assignments and exam preparation. I am not.) All I can do is 'Trust in the Lord with all [my] heart, and .. not rely on [my] own understanding [, a]cknowledge him in all [my] ways, and he will make [my] paths straight.' (Proverbs 3: 5-6) Easier said than done.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Struggle
OK so now it's been over a month since my last entry. And if I keep mentioning how long it is since my last entry, this will end up sounding like a transcript from a confessional (Forgive me Father...) but as my only image of that is from TV it's probably inaccurate anyway.
I did at least manage to add the funky ClustrMap in the meantime, and surprisingly enough I have had visitors from 2 other continents! My self-deprecating tendency is to say 'surprisingly I've had visitors at all' but I suppose at least a few people want to know what a Gruntling looks like, and perhaps even how to cook one...
I'm struggling just now - with enthusiasm or rather the lack of. Although literally I suppose I believe that I am still en-theos-ed i.e. still 'in God', my get up and go has got up and went. My sister from NZ was really wise tonight on the teflon - she reminded me that just because we aren't getting direction to do something, the fact that God isn't directing us to stop doing it is often all we need.
I'm also struggling because as usual, I'm trying to do too much - in this case, be a husband, a dad, earn a bit of cash, prepare for a presentation on Monday, write an assignment by Monday, prepare a short sermon for Sunday... Not by might, by power, or by my strength, but only through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.
I did at least manage to add the funky ClustrMap in the meantime, and surprisingly enough I have had visitors from 2 other continents! My self-deprecating tendency is to say 'surprisingly I've had visitors at all' but I suppose at least a few people want to know what a Gruntling looks like, and perhaps even how to cook one...
I'm struggling just now - with enthusiasm or rather the lack of. Although literally I suppose I believe that I am still en-theos-ed i.e. still 'in God', my get up and go has got up and went. My sister from NZ was really wise tonight on the teflon - she reminded me that just because we aren't getting direction to do something, the fact that God isn't directing us to stop doing it is often all we need.
I'm also struggling because as usual, I'm trying to do too much - in this case, be a husband, a dad, earn a bit of cash, prepare for a presentation on Monday, write an assignment by Monday, prepare a short sermon for Sunday... Not by might, by power, or by my strength, but only through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Unchained?
"And time... goes by... so slowly..."
YEAH RIGHT!
Who wrote that track anyway? I remember getting a copy on vinyl as a ?16th birthday prezzie (along with another record... think it may have been Crowded House, not sure...) - ah, vinyl. A gent of my acquaintance says that his daughter asks him 'what are these black CDs you've got?'!.
Hmm, time for some internet searching I think. Is there a music equivalent to imdb?
*after a bit* I thought I'd found it - Gracenote, but it doesn't seem to list release dates of singles etc, more a track listing service. *dives back into Google*
*later* nor is it Online Music Database. Where am I going wrong? Do I need to find some obsessive Righteous brothers fan's fansite with exhaustive discography?
*later again* I've found All music (ok, so it was the first result on google but how often is the first result the one you want? Or is my usage of search terms not very good?) Evidently the single was (re)released 90/91 although it did seem to be a mainly US site but 91 would tie in with my 16th birthday (an exciting affair with non-alcoholic wine. How cool I thought it. History doesn't record my friends' opinions of the party or the wine but at least I mustered a few people to come...) Now I need to find a list of other chart hits for that period. In the meantime, it turns out that Alex North and Hy Zaret composed, Phil Spector was the guy behind this and most of their other successful songs, and there were so many other people who performed this track that the site kept giving me an error (at least I assume that's why I got an error. Probably something more mundane.)
The trouble is that although this site has a good search facility (as far as I can tell) it will give you US hits not UK ones and I've a feeling that this other single was from a UK band, who may not have been known in the US. Aha, the title has just come to me - "I need a little time" - I think that's the one anyway. OK so they may be Irish rather than UK but I had the right side of the Atlantic... some more searching needed to jog a late-night memory.
*back*
Of course, the Beautiful South! How could I forget... and I was right, they are British. (Readers may be amazed at my lack of knowledge of fairly basic music info, but I can't keep everything in my head at once, you know - and there's a lot about tiling just now, soon to be displaced by theology and New testament Greek, again. I rarely score highly on PopMaster and don't usually bother to count, but I did once get 18 points!) So my blathering about this site not showing UK hits/bands was way off target. It does seem to suggest a 1990 rather than 1991 release, so perhaps it was my 15th birthday...
Of course, these weren't my first singles. Not by a long shot. Well, a long shot if you're using a very short ruler. My first ever single (another gift, I think), bizarrely, was Adam Ant (or was it still Adam and the Ants?) with Plastic Surgery/Deutscher Girls. Memory fails to establish if this was a double-A or which was A and which B but I'm not doing much more music searching just now.
Anyone who reads this, let me know your first single (and indeed your recommended music search site - there must be one that is as good for music as imdb for movies - or else let me know if there's a better site than imdb for movies).
However, the first single I bought was Take On Me by A-ha, and some night when I'm feeling more like embarrassing myself (or embarrassing myself even more) I'll relate a tale of me, a primary school disco and unreturned love (or at least attraction...)
The point of referencing those lyrics at the start of this posting was to say, actually time has gone quite fast since my last posting, I'm blaming it on the boy and on my work, tiling a bathroom. A slightly more experienced friend/tiler came and basically said 'it's a big job - I'd have thought twice before taking it on'... which was a bit of a downer! However he more than offset that by coming to help me with some tricky bits of tiling and even lending me his tile saw!
I think I'll sign off here, I need some sleep before doing more sawing tomorrow and also want to check on my sleeping family.
Toodle-pip!
YEAH RIGHT!
Who wrote that track anyway? I remember getting a copy on vinyl as a ?16th birthday prezzie (along with another record... think it may have been Crowded House, not sure...) - ah, vinyl. A gent of my acquaintance says that his daughter asks him 'what are these black CDs you've got?'!.
Hmm, time for some internet searching I think. Is there a music equivalent to imdb?
*after a bit* I thought I'd found it - Gracenote, but it doesn't seem to list release dates of singles etc, more a track listing service. *dives back into Google*
*later* nor is it Online Music Database. Where am I going wrong? Do I need to find some obsessive Righteous brothers fan's fansite with exhaustive discography?
*later again* I've found All music (ok, so it was the first result on google but how often is the first result the one you want? Or is my usage of search terms not very good?) Evidently the single was (re)released 90/91 although it did seem to be a mainly US site but 91 would tie in with my 16th birthday (an exciting affair with non-alcoholic wine. How cool I thought it. History doesn't record my friends' opinions of the party or the wine but at least I mustered a few people to come...) Now I need to find a list of other chart hits for that period. In the meantime, it turns out that Alex North and Hy Zaret composed, Phil Spector was the guy behind this and most of their other successful songs, and there were so many other people who performed this track that the site kept giving me an error (at least I assume that's why I got an error. Probably something more mundane.)
The trouble is that although this site has a good search facility (as far as I can tell) it will give you US hits not UK ones and I've a feeling that this other single was from a UK band, who may not have been known in the US. Aha, the title has just come to me - "I need a little time" - I think that's the one anyway. OK so they may be Irish rather than UK but I had the right side of the Atlantic... some more searching needed to jog a late-night memory.
*back*
Of course, the Beautiful South! How could I forget... and I was right, they are British. (Readers may be amazed at my lack of knowledge of fairly basic music info, but I can't keep everything in my head at once, you know - and there's a lot about tiling just now, soon to be displaced by theology and New testament Greek, again. I rarely score highly on PopMaster and don't usually bother to count, but I did once get 18 points!) So my blathering about this site not showing UK hits/bands was way off target. It does seem to suggest a 1990 rather than 1991 release, so perhaps it was my 15th birthday...
Of course, these weren't my first singles. Not by a long shot. Well, a long shot if you're using a very short ruler. My first ever single (another gift, I think), bizarrely, was Adam Ant (or was it still Adam and the Ants?) with Plastic Surgery/Deutscher Girls. Memory fails to establish if this was a double-A or which was A and which B but I'm not doing much more music searching just now.
Anyone who reads this, let me know your first single (and indeed your recommended music search site - there must be one that is as good for music as imdb for movies - or else let me know if there's a better site than imdb for movies).
However, the first single I bought was Take On Me by A-ha, and some night when I'm feeling more like embarrassing myself (or embarrassing myself even more) I'll relate a tale of me, a primary school disco and unreturned love (or at least attraction...)
The point of referencing those lyrics at the start of this posting was to say, actually time has gone quite fast since my last posting, I'm blaming it on the boy and on my work, tiling a bathroom. A slightly more experienced friend/tiler came and basically said 'it's a big job - I'd have thought twice before taking it on'... which was a bit of a downer! However he more than offset that by coming to help me with some tricky bits of tiling and even lending me his tile saw!
I think I'll sign off here, I need some sleep before doing more sawing tomorrow and also want to check on my sleeping family.
Toodle-pip!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
When is a baptism not a baptism?
Honestly, you turn around and suddenly half a month's gone by!
To be fair to myself, things have been a bit busy, what with my son's baptism and all.
Does anyone draw a distinction between Baptism (of infants) and Christening? We've preferred to say 'Baptism' (though doubtless some Baptists might object on theological grounds) but the term most familiar to those of our family without church connections is Christening - and probably to those with church connections too! It seems to me to be odd to say 'we are Christ-en-ing this baby' i.e. we are making him like Christ, although that's probably what the doctrine of baptism says, among other things. (That's the trouble with me - I'm a theology student whose worst subject is doctrine. Well, second worst, after History of Christianity. Come to think of it, I'm not much cop on Mission Studies either. I'm a Biblical Studies/Practical Theology guy really.) It seems clearer to say, this is his baptism, and ok there is something to be done later on (confirmation, or as our minister described it, 'plumbing yourself back in' to church/Christ) but this is the event to point at in later life.
Personally I struggled as a teenage Christian to connect with my initial Christian experience and baptism, hence why I went through an adult baptism (in the North Sea!) but I've come back to accept and agree with infant baptism. In order that our son doesn't experience this disconnect, we had the service videoed, and we have many things (like baptism certificate, letter from minister, letter from godmother...) to show him later in life to say "look, this is what happened on a sunny August Sunday". We can only pray that he will grow up in the faith, but if I'm a major influence on that, I feel very inadequate to help him.
Next family event is this weekend, granny's birthday (it seems that later in life you only have big celebrations every 10 years - why should that be, when every year's birthday was an exciting event as a child?) so expect another gap before I post again. Hopefully will be able to do some research/family interviews to fill in genealogical info on our family tree...
To be fair to myself, things have been a bit busy, what with my son's baptism and all.
Does anyone draw a distinction between Baptism (of infants) and Christening? We've preferred to say 'Baptism' (though doubtless some Baptists might object on theological grounds) but the term most familiar to those of our family without church connections is Christening - and probably to those with church connections too! It seems to me to be odd to say 'we are Christ-en-ing this baby' i.e. we are making him like Christ, although that's probably what the doctrine of baptism says, among other things. (That's the trouble with me - I'm a theology student whose worst subject is doctrine. Well, second worst, after History of Christianity. Come to think of it, I'm not much cop on Mission Studies either. I'm a Biblical Studies/Practical Theology guy really.) It seems clearer to say, this is his baptism, and ok there is something to be done later on (confirmation, or as our minister described it, 'plumbing yourself back in' to church/Christ) but this is the event to point at in later life.
Personally I struggled as a teenage Christian to connect with my initial Christian experience and baptism, hence why I went through an adult baptism (in the North Sea!) but I've come back to accept and agree with infant baptism. In order that our son doesn't experience this disconnect, we had the service videoed, and we have many things (like baptism certificate, letter from minister, letter from godmother...) to show him later in life to say "look, this is what happened on a sunny August Sunday". We can only pray that he will grow up in the faith, but if I'm a major influence on that, I feel very inadequate to help him.
Next family event is this weekend, granny's birthday (it seems that later in life you only have big celebrations every 10 years - why should that be, when every year's birthday was an exciting event as a child?) so expect another gap before I post again. Hopefully will be able to do some research/family interviews to fill in genealogical info on our family tree...
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
...here we are again
Goodness, a couple of days without posting. My enthusiasm obviously has waned, as predicted. I started with 2 or 3 posts per day, I think - and that was only last week. Although to be fair, one can blog or one can do other things - I've had some time doing other things (including reading other blogs...)
I'm taking a couple of days off work - not because I couldn't use the money, but more that after one's sixth shower having been de- and re-sealed with silicon (and various other bits of maintenance) things can get a little, well, boring is too strong a word but there are certainly few surprises left! Besides, there are lots of useful DIY and maintenance jobs at home that I can deliberately not do, rather than just not do because I'm not here!
To be fair on myself, I did have an argument with a rather prickly hedge out behind our house on Sunday, and while the hedge is now looking a smaller version of its former self, I didn't come off unscathed. Savlon is a wonderful thing!
Monday saw the first meeting of the new session for me - of a church-related nature. When Peter was born, I tried to give up a lot of things but have either been drawn back in or just not said no to some things. Already my diary's looking like it will fill up very quickly between now and Christmas (doubtless afterwards too, but shops don't seem to stock 2007 refills yet), and that's without my new placement, which will start about October, D.V.
This is to be a schizophrenic placement - on the one hand it will stand as my 3rd year ICC placement (two reports on me by my supervisor plus one placement report by me) but on the other it will also serve as my (second) Assessment placement for acceptance as a Candidate for the ministry by the CofS. I'm approaching it with mixed feelings and questions - why should it be necessary; what do I need to do differently this time; I'll enjoy it; I'll not enjoy it; how will I relate to yet another group of new people in a Christian community; what if I don't get through? However, if I am being called to the ministry (something I currently feel the need to be re-convinced about), then this seems to be the right thing to do at present. Watch this space - I have an initial meeting with my supervisor (the minister of the church where I will be placed) towards the end of this month.
I'm taking a couple of days off work - not because I couldn't use the money, but more that after one's sixth shower having been de- and re-sealed with silicon (and various other bits of maintenance) things can get a little, well, boring is too strong a word but there are certainly few surprises left! Besides, there are lots of useful DIY and maintenance jobs at home that I can deliberately not do, rather than just not do because I'm not here!
To be fair on myself, I did have an argument with a rather prickly hedge out behind our house on Sunday, and while the hedge is now looking a smaller version of its former self, I didn't come off unscathed. Savlon is a wonderful thing!
Monday saw the first meeting of the new session for me - of a church-related nature. When Peter was born, I tried to give up a lot of things but have either been drawn back in or just not said no to some things. Already my diary's looking like it will fill up very quickly between now and Christmas (doubtless afterwards too, but shops don't seem to stock 2007 refills yet), and that's without my new placement, which will start about October, D.V.
This is to be a schizophrenic placement - on the one hand it will stand as my 3rd year ICC placement (two reports on me by my supervisor plus one placement report by me) but on the other it will also serve as my (second) Assessment placement for acceptance as a Candidate for the ministry by the CofS. I'm approaching it with mixed feelings and questions - why should it be necessary; what do I need to do differently this time; I'll enjoy it; I'll not enjoy it; how will I relate to yet another group of new people in a Christian community; what if I don't get through? However, if I am being called to the ministry (something I currently feel the need to be re-convinced about), then this seems to be the right thing to do at present. Watch this space - I have an initial meeting with my supervisor (the minister of the church where I will be placed) towards the end of this month.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Anon?
I suspect I'm being a little paranoid about anonymity - although there are current concerns about identity theft and identity fraud (once again I've been listening to Radio 2), my overcautiousness is probably excessive. And letting people guess who I am seems really childish!
So if you're interested, my profile has now been updated a little more.
So if you're interested, my profile has now been updated a little more.
Flea time?
Ah, the weekend... a time to relax, kick back, enjoy unparalleled family time...
Or, pile down to the vet's before it shuts to buy anti flea treatment for your cat and house, and continually catch things vibrating off the kitchen worksurface because the washing machine is on doing multiple loads. Anyone know if it's easy to attach a washing machine to a floor? Bearing in mind some of the kitchen floorboards are a bit wobbly anyway.
I must stop spending so much time blogging and reading others' blogs!
Or, pile down to the vet's before it shuts to buy anti flea treatment for your cat and house, and continually catch things vibrating off the kitchen worksurface because the washing machine is on doing multiple loads. Anyone know if it's easy to attach a washing machine to a floor? Bearing in mind some of the kitchen floorboards are a bit wobbly anyway.
I must stop spending so much time blogging and reading others' blogs!
Nodrog's NaNo
You can now follow my progress here. Judging by the fact that I blogged over 500 words just in preparation, and have blogged over 3,500 words on Gruntlings since I started the other night, I can at least churn out the words - the difficulty, as before, being willing to press on and write when I just want to go back and polish; or rather to write it right first time.
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