Amazed & Confused

Proxy Christmas Festivities

Three things made me especially happy on Tuesday: having a husband who loves Proxy Christmas (25th Nov!), managing to cook a lovely Christmas dinner for 16 people with only one oven and having 16 said people join is to celebrate.  It was a almost a whole day affair with a splendid Christmas tree going up in the lounge, cookie decoration with little Annie and Grace, Japanese writing lessons with Fumino and copious amounts of vegetable chopping with the legend that is Craigus.  We had so many people joining us that we had to move the sofas and bring in another dining table, and still I was thinking of people I would have loved to fit in.  Hmm I wonder if next year I could stretch to 20?  

I cannot think of a better reason to celebrate than the uncreated, eternal and limitless God coming to hang out with us in human form on earth.  It's so easy to forget Jesus in the midst of all the shopping so we wanted to celebrate with food (happily following His example) and friends a month before the traditional anniversary.  I've found two decorations that depict the nativity (a gorgeous German candle/windmill thing and a bronze candle holder) and I am eagerly anticipating lighting our advent candle on Monday.

So to all my American friends out there celebrating thanks giving today, for different reasons I am joining you.  Today I am thankful for: God, Steve, my friends and food - in that order :)

Blast From My Photo Past

Today we are reveling in the invention that is the portable heater in 24-7 Prayer's new London Basement lair.  Our last few weeks here as a team have been decidedly chilly as we've opened boxes and discovered filing we might have been ignoring for the last few years.  As I nosed through one such pile sitting by my desk I found a stack of old photos amongst miscellaneous stationary.  My mouth fell open at the sight of my younger self dressed as a monk with a lip ring!  These photos were taken after one of my trips to Ibiza which means it was either 2001 or 2002, I was a weenie little fresh faced student.  Look how great my hair is!  Right that's it.  If I can find a way to use fake hair for the DeLoreans I'm cutting it all off again!  This particular photo escapade was an attempt to be organised and come up with some copyright free images for some of our first ever 24-7 Newsletters.  Bizarre to think how long ago that was and how far we've come.  iStock photos are much more convenient but how much fun would it be to run out and do a photo shoot each week for every article we write for the site.  It could be Be-Kind-Rewind style photo mock up madness!  xc

Why I Love Being in a Band

There's only so many things to talk about when you're waiting to play a gig.  Though Tunbridge Wells is beautiful there's only so much tea and coffee you can drink before Jim starts with his questions... "What's your most embarrassing moment ever?" This was his tamest offering.  Steve has told me none of his others are appropriate for public record.  After six hours the boys resorted to nicking my fake hair and making their eighties dreams a reality.  The above pictures are evidence of said stupidity.  Steve wants to declare a caption competition and kicks it off in the comments.  So ideas anyone?  With such excellent comedy fodder I expect great things... xc

Dolce Jesus Mio

The sun is streaming through the window this morning.  As I travel the track from Chichester to London I’ve watched the strong, bright, autumn sun burn the mist from the fields and light the faces of my fellow commuters.  Charlotte isn’t with me today, she’s home in bed not feeling her best (get well lovely – miss you) so I travel alone.  I am not good in the mornings.  Generally I am slow, clumsy and quite dim until about 10am.  My morning train journey is a pleasure.  Though it means I do have to leave my warm bed earlier than I’d prefer, it also gives me an hour and a half to open my mind and move up the gears.  This morning as I got on I plugged in my iPhone and listened to the Jesuit Pray As You Go Podcast.  The music this morning was absolutely beautiful… Dolce Jesus Mio… Sweet Jesus, have mercy on me… It started me thinking, as I listened to the reading from Luke I thought the most grateful people in the gospels are the people who know what Jesus saved them from. 

I used to practice daily confession, daily examination of my actions, regularly saying sorry to God and starting afresh.  “Search me Oh Lord…” and the following lines in Psalm 139 were some of the first verses of the Bible I learnt by heart.  I stopped this practice when my prayers took a bitter turn and rather than my confession ending in gratitude I would get caught by my own shame.  I haven’t stopped saying sorry.  I just stopped making a specific time for it.  As I listened to the song and reading on my podcast though I started to think that maybe I’ve turned a corner and it’s time to return to that practice.  Not because I want to feel bad, but because I want to know how good Jesus is.  I read something recently that’s feeding this thought – my memory is so poor I can’t remember which of the four books I’ve been reading it came from.  No matter, the essence of it was… without judgement we cannot be shown mercy… we don’t know we need rescue if we don’t recognise we’re in trouble…  Examination and confession breeds many things in me: gratitude, love, humility and maybe most importantly grace for other people’s mistakes.  Change is bursting forth in the colourful landscape outside my window; I hope my change is as beautiful… xc

My Feisty Fishy Friend

30 Days of Blessing - I don't know if this is a Chichester thing or widely done but right now Charlotte is about half way through 30 days of blessing to mark 30 years on this earth.  Each day someone who loves her volunteers to do something nice for her, send her a gift or spend some time with her.  She's had many wonderful surprises and has felt a little embarrassed at how much she's received.  Today was our turn to spoil our lovely friend and as we presented her with a card and a wind up toy fish she was very gallant and grateful at what seemed to be quite a let down of a treat.  What she discovered inside the card was that the fish was merely a symbol and we whisked her off to the local aquarium to buy beautiful and vibrantly colourful tropical fish for her tank at home.  They were so gorgeous I was even tempted to start my own watery family.  Steve as ever was the voice of reason and pointed to the HORRENDOUSLY expensive fish tanks.  Who new?

And the hits just keep on coming...

Oh my goodness!  I was in my younger years a bit of a Treky.  Nothing to rival my younger but far geekier brother but enough to be (insert overly keen adjective) excited.  Today's trailer has notched my eagerness rating to about 11!  JJ Abrams has gone where no man has gone before and I can't wait to join him...

From A Princess to a Queen

Last week's foray into the shoes of Princess Leia was so enjoyable I thought I'd move up the Royal food chain this weekend and try my hand at a younger Queen Elizabeth II.  Our gorgeous friend (and fabulous Church leader) Miss Eloise Armstrong through a party to celebrate a decade lived in our beautiful city.  Guests were encouraged to arrived dressed as anything related to the number ten sending imaginations running wild.  We had ten commandments, ten year old boys and girls, News at Ten anchors, Tennis stars, Ten Green Bottles and many more tenuous connections (see what I did there).  Steve and I arrived dressed as a rather rotund Tenor and our fair Queen on a Ten Pound Note. You can always rely on Ellie to throw the best bash in town and tonight was no exception (the mini burgers were awesome!).  I eagerly anticipate her most epic party of the year - her annual Christmas bash... xc 

The Half Blood Prince Approaches (Rather Slowly)

The film adaptation of one of my favourite books in the Harry Potter series is creeping towards us (would've been nearly here if not for the success of the Dark Knight... sigh).  Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is a fantastic chapter in the tail of the boy wizard and the trailer below promises that they may have captured the mood of the book brilliantly.  Is it too soon to be getting excited?

The Words I Read

Yesterday’s insecure cyber-burp in reaction to a top ten list got me thinking and researching.  It's turns out the list was made using a technorati rating which basically puts a value on your influence throughout the web based on how many other blog link back to yours.  I think the 24-7 community gives me an unfair advantage.  I have a bookmark folder of approximately twenty something blogs that I check in on about once a week almost all of them I've found through 24-7 Prayer's global connection.  Some of the authors I know well but live nowhere near.  Others intrigue me and I want to read their thoughts and know them better.  A few blogs in particular rose to mind as highlights in my surfing and I thought I’d share them with you.  In no particular order here are few blogs I love and revisit:

Let’s Put the Kettle On

Lisa Borden’s writing is beautiful and heart warming.  I defy you not to want to fly to Tanzania and chat with Lisa over a cup of tea after reading just one post.

Mr Ibiza

Brian Heasley is humourous, compassionate and thought provoking.  If you write Brian off as simply entertaining and passionate you’ll be brought up short by his wrestle with big questions and challenging experiences.

Toggie Tales

Phil Togwell is the most exploratory thinker I know. I like reading his thoughts on the latest thing he’s chewing on as much as I love reading about life with Megan, Poppy, Angel and Emma.

The Welsh Friar

I consider asking Dan if I can post nearly every one of his blog posts on the 24-7 international website.  My eagerness to promote writers from different nations often stops me but this is a compliment to Dan’s thoughts and clear writing style.

Is This Biblical?

Andy Freeman is blogging again!  Hurrah!  Andy is one of the most interesting, passionate and political people I know and I welcome his rants and raves back to the Internet.

I think I’d like to explore a little wider than this circle so if you have a must read URL, pop it in the comments.

Five Reasons Why I'm An Impostor

I realised to my terror this morning that someone has put this blog in a list of Top Ten UK Female Christian bloggers.  Thank you Andrew 'Tall Skinny Kiwi' Jones for letting me know.  This news strikes terror into my heart and I'm not totally sure why.  I'm bemused.  How does someone I don't know know where to find me in cyber-space?  OK I guess with 24-7 that's not so hard - it's awfully kind of him to hunt me down... I took a look at all the other very noble, intelligent and impressive ladies on the list (including one of my regular reads Miss Jude Smith)and couldn't help wondering 'How on earth did this make it on???'  Compared to the other entrants I am a total impostor.  Here are my reasons why:

1.  My Blog is not pink (ref - TSK's post hehe). 

2.  I happen to be a woman (I am pleased about that) but it's not a particular consideration of my blog just a tacit part

3.  I am a Christian and my faith and growing relationship with Jesus is central to my life but not necessarily or overtly my blog.  I talk about God because I talk about my life, He's in every part.  But I don't (often) ponder doctrine, my theology or even the state of the church.  These conversations are more effective for me with my hubby or with my two best friends who chew over these things over tea and biscuits each week.  

4.  I don't know very much so say very little.

5.  Sometimes I am happily shallow.

Part of me wonders how many UK Female Christian Bloggers there are out there?  When I thought about it most of the chic blogs I read hail from other nations.  Oh well.  It's all a laugh anyway... xc

Big Change for 24-7

Last week I hinted towards a big change for 24-7 Prayer International and UK that was both sad and full of hope for new opportunities.  That change is... the loss of the basement that hosts the City of London Boiler Room and the UK and International Offices :(  An incredibly generous Christian Business man gave us the space to host a prayer room, meeting rooms, all our merchandise and resources, our offices, an art room and a dreamed of future Boiler Room community in the heart of the City.  That (at times damp, mouse infested, though greatly loved) basement held great significance for us as we discovered it was also the site of Wesley's foundry and he probably preached right where we meet (though the building was probably quite different).  Our base on the corner of Worship and Tabernacle street seemed eerily fitting for an international prayer movement concerned about the poor.  Did something go wrong?  Did we not seize some opportunity we could have?  I don't know but I can't help wondering...

Practically we're not leaving because we did anything bad.  There's a very practical business reason why the part of the company that owns that particular building is closing down and all within her are shipping out.  The generosity of our good friend within the company is continuing as they immediately offered us many alternatives to make our new home and that's where my curiosity and hope is peaked.  Where might we end up?  Which location around London could we choose?  Who will we meet when we get there?  Where will be working, laughing and praying next?  I guess I might find out on Wednesday when I pop back up to London to help pack up the moving vans.  As I packed up boxes on Monday I walked into the art room and was stopped in my tracks by the years of painted prayers that had built up in there.  I had to nip back and get my camera to snap some shots before I started to strip the room.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do...

A Few Days Ago In A Pub Not So Far Away...

Friday night was absolutely fantastic!  They Vestry pub in Chichester was packed with heroes like Shera Princess of Power, Julius Ceaser, Batman and Robin, Wolverine and Jean Grey, Desperate House Wives, Starsky and Hutch and even Captain Kirk beamed in from Birmingham.  The costumes people adorned themselves with for Charlotte’s 30^th Birthday celebration were outlandish and gorgeous.  The DeLoreans played to a packed room full of colour, noise and dancing.  The Vestry is often our best crowd.

To my relief my voice held up pretty well and our new 80s-90s medley (I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Heaven is a Place on Earth – Baywatch Theme Song) went down pretty well.  I absolutely LOVED dressing up as princes Leia and in fact the whole band looked pretty spiffing in our themed costume.  Charlotte Wowed the crowd with her fabulous Shera costume and then embarked on 30 days of blessing where friends and family are queueing up to spoil her in the following 30 days of her 30th year.  Happy Birthday Beautiful Lottie!  An album full of fabulous photos will follow... xc

Siblings, Singing and Star Wars

My oh my how time flies.  The two photos above were probably taken nearly twenty years apart: haven't we grown.  I sat down at my screen to blog about my busy but fun weekend ahead and wanted to start the post with a different photo entirely.  As I searched my hard drive for photos of Lisa, Adam and I, I found these.  I look exactly the same!  The same face on a child's body.  Lisa looks like a more unkempt version of her current stylish self (minus the big teeth) and Adam's looks almost entirely different after growing in stubble and height.  

Tonight and tomorrow both my sister and brother are descending upon Chichester to celebrate my best friend Charlotte's 30th Birthday.  The DeLoreans are providing the entertainment and all are coming in fancy dress so it should be a blast.  I only wish I had more time to hang out and didn't have to rush off to another gig Saturday morning.  I'm very fortunate to not only love but really like my sister and brother, now we're grown ups spanning the midlands, London and the south coast, the time I get to spend with them is precious.  Oh well I'm just going to have to make the most of it whilst I have them... xc

There is Hope

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by kindness, for an optimist I'm taken aback by the hope I feel today.  Two things have brightened my mind, the first a tap on the shoulder from a stranger in a busy London train station.  I was wrestling with putting my headphones in my ears whilst simultaneously straightening my coat and fishing my ticket out of my pocket, when said stranger handed my the ten pound note I had just dropped.  I was so stunned I just looked at him and asked, 'Is that mine?'  Without a word he just put it in my hand and walked on.  This may be unfair but in Chichester I wouldn't have been surprised, but there's something about the increased numbers and anonymity of London!  Maybe I'm too hard on the place... 'one big slice of humble pie with cream on the side at table five'.  Then as I arrived to greet old friends at the UK and International Office I was filled with hope by the news of the who will become the new President of the United States of America.  I won't embarrass myself by revealing my ignorance on the politics of the US, or fool myself into thinking that I am particularly well informed but as I watched Barack Obama's victory speech on the BBC I got goose bumps.  Yes there can be change.  Change.  Change was a foot for us in 24-7 too today in quite a practical though massive way.  I don't think I can say anything more about that yet though.  So, for many reasons small and large today I toasted with Wardy and Andrea to hope and kindness.  Long may it last... xc

731 Days Later AKA Our Second Wedding Anniversary

731 days... that doesn't sound like a very long time... I feel like that number should be larger... In a good way, it's not like the time has dragged... it's just two years sounds like it should be more than 731 days...

Today is our second Wedding Anniversary.  Two years to the day since Pete and Samie Greig married me to my best friend in front of all of our family and loved ones.  It was an incredible day, an amazing celebration only bested by the reality of the two years following it.  Man, that actually sounds disgustingly saccharine, and believe me I don't write that with the impression that every moment has been perfect and blissfully happy since.  I write it because through richer and poorer (getting less poorer - score), in sickness and in health (good health though often tired) and for better or for worse (better, we've been blessed with a lot of better) we're still here making each other laugh.  Well in fairness Steve mostly makes me laugh... I'm just a blessing...  

Today we're taking the day off for a private celebration so I shall write no more and get back to it.  I will however leave you with one last thing.  If you didn't know us so weren't there to join us then this video record shows the whole of the festivities as super light speed: from the decoration of our converted factory to the exit of the Bride and Groom.  Enjoy! Download wedding_fast.m4v xc 

Tip Tap Typing Away

You may have noticed over the last few weeks that my creative writing juices (ew that  sounds gross) have started flowing again (gag).  This year I've found writing very draining and have poured the little energy I had for it into articles for the 24-7 Prayer website.  However a couple of weeks ago a switch flipped and the desire to write returned.  What changed?  A great reduction in work and stress.  Like all creative expressions a little pressure can motivate a lot of pressure stifles. 

Jonah Bailey, the fantastic guy who holds the 24-7 web content together, was very kind to let me have a break from writing even those articles while I recovered from my most enjoyable but draining month of the year.  I couldn't let him hold down the fort on his own much longer though so last Friday my first two contributions for a month or so went live.  The first is an observation on how prayer has been spreading in both quantity and depth and what that might mean across the globe... and the second is about a rather interesting and negative piece of feedback one of our books received on Amazon recently.  I love Pete and the international team.  They teach me a lot about humility and grace.  Have a read of the article and join in the conversation they've invited about whether 24-7 Prayer expresses creative spirituality or paganism.  Ooo er... xc