Amazed & Confused

Tunes of 2008

I am a creature of habit. This is my summation from examining my most played list in iTunes.  Many of the big hitters of 2007 make a repeat appearance so maybe a resolution for 09 should be expanding my musical horizons.  Oh well, regardless these are the tunes that have made me go 'Mmmmm' this year...

Trouble by Ray LeMontagne

I love this album and has now risen to the heights of my affection alongside Shawn Colvin, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald and Michael Jackson.  If you haven't heard it then buy it now.  My favourite is the title track though every one is beautiful.

Little Voice by Sara Bareilles

I like it, I like it a lot.  Love her voice, love the optimism of the vibe and catchy melodies. She has now kinda been replaced by Sia's new in album in my playlist though...

Jump Around Presents - Hip Hop Classics

I'm a sucker for classic 80's and 90's HipHop.  It's probably up there in my play counts because it's my favourite genre for walking.  Noted favs include: Jump Around by House of Pain, Boom Shake the Room by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and You Can Do It by Ice Cube. These tracks are mostly responsible for my public dancing outbursts.

Version by Mark Ronson

I really loved this album and when I want a fun party vibe it's still my go to album.  Ok you could argue he's not really contributed much to it using such a fab band and all but I say he was bright enough to have the idea and make it into an album... like those people who paint a canvas all one colour and call it art...

Favourite Books of 2008

So the musing and listing begins... as the end of the year approaches I'm reflecting on the joys, adventures and highlights of 2008.  To kick off here are some of my favourite books of this year.  They weren't necessarily released this year, merely I only discovered and dove into them in the last twelve months.  So in no particular order...

Communicating for a Change by Andrew Stanley

I haven't done a lot of speaking this year as I didn't think I was very good at it and wanted to take a break to consider how I could improve and why I should speak.  This book was lent to me by the ever excellent (and one of the most consistently challenging speakers I've heard) Eloise Armstrong.  It definitely makes some great points and I'm gonna try out some of it's structure ideas in the new year :)

Sex God by Rob Bell

I read this and Velvet Elvis over the summer and enjoyed both. This in particular though was a surprisingly rounded look at our sexuality and what God's got to do with it.  It's a book I finished and immediately though... "Hmm, I'd like to read that again." 

The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis

Though I first read parts of the Chronicles of Narnia as a child I only dived into it's last installment this year. I absolutely loved it. I was moved to tears.  Read it.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Top of my totally enjoyable junk reading this year was Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series.  It was a surprisingly enjoyable even with all the slightly annoying angst and I did enjoy her take on Vampires (the Cullen brand of veggie vamps are a metaphor for abstinence). If you love romance, adventure and good teen fiction take a look.  If you hate Dawson's Creak, moaners and low brow entertainment look elsewhere.  Team Edward! 

Snapshots of Christmas

The massive and seriously tasty untraditional Christmas lunch.  Including proxy Christmas I think we officially had five different Crimbo lunches this year... marriage has perks!

One of my greatest joys this Christmas was hanging out with our gorgeous nephew Judah, he's walking and seems super close to talking.  He's just one lovely bundle of love...

Fumino joined us Christmas day for lunch at the Hardings and was treated to a traditional Christmas of copious amounts of food, the Queens speech, a communal nap and a classic film.  Only the best for our housemate...

Steve's many funny faces as he enjoys two of Christmas's pleasures... sparkers in his stocking and hats in our crackers.  It's the simpler pleasures of life :)

Twas the night before Christmas...

OK it's not night yet, it's actually early afternoon but I am loving the Christmas season. My spirits were nearly brought low by a nasty cough (not very useful when Steve and I have been singing at four Carol/Churchy things in as many days) but I have overcome and am now full of festive cheer.

I said Merry Christmas and goodbye to my two loveliest friends Melon (Helen) and Lottie (Charlotte) yesterday morning over croissants and as Melon (my standard of self control) suggested we open our presents there and then rather than tomorrow morning I am now the proud owner of a mini kitchen compost bin to compliment the new big one the Stewarts gave us a week ago and a lovely matching, hand made hat and pair of gloves in the photo above.  I am spoilt rotten not just by thoughtful eco-friendly gifts but by such wonderful friends with whom I've walked through so much.  For my gift to them I had two canvas prints made of our adventures together in the Czech Republic and Norway for 24-7 Prayer.  They are two very different and wonderful companions for my literal and metaphoric journies in life.

Steve is upstairs as I type wrapping my presents.  I'm such a big kid.  I can't wait to open them!  All his presents and the remaining gifts for our family and friends are now spilling out from beneath our tree and starting to encroach on the rest of the lounge.  The 'Monica' in me is starting to get itchy but it's only one more day until we have the delight of giving it all away :D

Later this afternoon the Revs Choir is leading our community in a candle lit Carol service with mulled wine and mince pies and later tonight, by the magic of video Skype, I'll be waving at my family and reading along with them 'The Night Before Christmas'.  It's traditional that I would be there with them, sitting on my younger brothers bed, passing our slightly fraying copy from person to person (how many years have we been doing this now?) but with the expansion of my family and the changing of my name I'm no longer there each year.  Tonight though we will have the next best thing.  Last year Lisa (incredibly thoughtfully) hunted down an immaculate copy of the out of print edition of the poem we've been reading since childhood.  So now we can read along with Mum, Dad, Lisa and Adam in the midlands :)  Depending on how late that is and how over excited I am we may then make our way, bundled up nice and warm, to Chichester Cathedral for Midnight mass. Carols, gifts, family and Jesus... I can't think of a better way to welcome Christmas. xc  

Pleasant Distractions

This video made me smile this afternoon.  My hubby's on You Tube, lots, thanks to playing keys at Soul Survivor.  I have to say this short phone vid perfectly illustrates why it was pretty disconcerting worshipping there.  I would be singing my little heart out to God, glance up to the screen to check the words and there would be a massive Steve plinky plonking on his keyboard and I'd get a bit distracted.  I'm glad I normally worship next to and not facing him or I might never concentrate!

Today is my last official working day before Christmas.  I won't be totally stopping as 24-7 Prayer Rooms will continue praying so I'm not surrendering the best job in the movement (other wise know as finding out what amazing things God's doing around the world) just 'cause it's the Holiday season.  I think it'll give me more to be grateful for as I celebrate how Jesus became human and moved into the neighbourhood.  I'm just ticking the last job on my to do list now and then I'm heading out to get my tickets to the films I'm planning to blitz in the next few days.  In the midst of the gift giving, eating, celebrating, reading, films and driving I think I might go back through all my prayer room correspondence to pick out the most encouraging things to share here and with the rest of the 24-7 Prayer movement... it would be a fantastic read.  Until then adue.  xc

Invigorating

I love being near the Thames.  It's invigorating to walk in the crisp winter sun and breath in the estuary air (it's not as bad as you'd think).  Today I made the conscious decision to walk an extra 500 metres in order to cross the bridge and get my takeaway tea somewhere sunnier.  I wonder if anyone's thought of sun as a marketing strategy?  If there were some way you could control the weather I bet it would make a huge impact on where people would go...

Holy, Holy, Holy sings the Revelation Church Choir

I have had so much fun the last few months as part of the Revelation Church Choir.  A bunch of 25 people from 16 to 50something have been gathering to sing four part harmonies and have a laugh.  There was such a range of backgrounds and experience from old time singers who've been Christians all their lives to first time choir members who've barely ever stepped into a church.  As we belted out our carols and gospel songs there was such a sense of joy and hope.  What a brilliant way to worship.  

The choir had it's debut last Sunday as part of our Christmas Extravaganza.  The Warehouse was packed with people coming to partake in the mulled wine and the seasonal celebration.  Everything was done so beautifully: from the trees, to the readings, to the funny/important/poignant prayers of our young people.  Dan didn't flinch from the reason for the season and invited two recent members of our Alpha course to come and share their testimonies... I shed a tear.  In the last year both have been a part of the homeless population of Chichester and with the help of Big Love (a recent Revs initiative) and the Alpha course they're off the streets and building new lives for themselves.  There was supposed to be a third guy giving his testimony but he couldn't be there because he'd just been invited by his family to come meet them for the first time in years. How beautiful is that!  Jesus has brought such hope and reconciliation to their lives...

As a little taster of the praise and worship from the meeting the lovely Dan Armstrong commandeered my camera and took a little snap shot for us all to enjoy.  Take a look at Steve's fabulous Christmas jumper! Download Holy Holy Holy, Revelation Choir, Christmas08

A Year in the Life of Judah Alleway

Judah Alleway is my gorgeous little nephew who graduated to the grand old age of one yesterday.  He is an absolutely scrumptious bundle of love whom I am extremely fond of.  Steve and I in true Aunt-and-Uncle-who-have-no-kids-of-their-own style bought him the noisiest present we could find and I enjoyed the particular delight of bathing him before bed after a day full of sugar, partying and presents.  He was incredibly well behaved for quite a tired little man and a real pleasure to hang out with.  Because the Alleway branch of the family live in the far away land of Essex we seize any opportunity to see them.  At this age Judah is growing at lightening speed and is looking less and less like a baby by the day.  He's nearly walking!  I'm sure I'll look back at these photos in amazement in no time at all... xc

24-7 Christmas Lunch

I love the people I work with.  They're very different, with diverse but interweaving stories that brought them to be sitting around the Christmas lunch table yesterday afternoon.  We gathered by the Thames to toast Jesus, eat good food, pull crackers and generally take a moment out of all the work of 24-7 Prayer to be together and laugh.  Togger's wrote a lovely thing in his blog about it...

"Sometime during the meal, Carla called down from the other end of the table to suggest we 'raise a toast'. I fumbled around a bit, not really knowing what to say... not really knowing how to express the sobriety I felt in that moment amongst all the fun and laughter and affectionate teasing. I opted, safely, for 'Jesus', to which we all raised our glasses and agreed.

Had I a little bit more courage in that moment, I would have ignored the teasing and said something about my love and respect and gratitude for everyone around that table... I would have looked at each of those friends, one at a time, and said "I love you". And I would have said something about how deeply grateful I am for many of the wider 24-7prayer family, in the UK and so many beyond these shores. Maybe I would have said something about this extraordinary journey we've all become swept up into as well."

I thoroughly agree Mr Togwell.  Jesus has gathered us and Jesus leads us forward.  Here's to the coming year and all the opportunities to celebrate that are coming our way.  As a bit of fun during the meal I went round the table and asked everyone what they wanted for Christmas so if you're bursting to know what Wardy really wants, or how to make Lottie happy this Christmas take a look at this... Download All I Want For Christmas

Elf Yourself

This is the funniest/disturbing thing I have ever seen... are you ready to dance with the christmas elves?

Ok now I might be getting a little carried away but I couldn't resist making one of the 24-7 International Team.  Pete Greig makes a great elf!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Weddings and Baby Showers

Last weekend was full of social gatherings, family, friends and big celebrations.  Saturday was the lovely Anna Hughes's Baby Shower.  I've never been to one before but the gifts, games and advice flying around the room were fantastic.  I have to confess it made me very broody, even when the Mums of the room starting terrifying us all with their scars and mishaps.  I'm looking forward to being a Mum so much, we're not trying imminently (i.e. the next year) but it's not too long now 'til we might start bringing another Harding into the world.  I wonder which nose they'll have?

Sunday was an early exit from Church to celebrate the Wedding of an old friend - Jel Muir.  I met Jel when I was 16 years old and became fast friends when I moved to Chi a few years later.  Jel is joining the Furlong family and has gained a beautiful wife Jo and and a gorgeous son Jack.  It was amazing to see such an old friend making an important step in his life.

There's such a sense of life moving on at the moment.  My community are getting pregnant, married, engaged (hopefully in reverse order), gaining qualifications, finding callings, getting pets, paying mortgages... It's such a change to the scruffy bunch that prayed in the first prayer room nine years ago.  Some things have changed, lots of maturing and we're nearly convincing grown ups now...  We may look a little less radical but there's a depth and commitment I see now.  Rather than changing our lives after every sermon and being an enthusiastic, chaotic, beautiful bunch people, many are finding one message, one call, one cause and literally spending themselves to see it happen.  I cannot believe how many missionaries, initiatives, social businesses, ministries, youth/social workers and charities have come out of such a small bunch of people. It makes me immensely happy to be part of such a challenging lot.  xc

All the naughty children who don't go to confession...

I just watched this from Phil always-wise-and-interesting Togwell's blog.  I love it!  The accent!  The observations on what makes a bad man!  The embellishments on motivation!  It's beautiful.  I recommend that you hit play, it's not long.

This morning my advent reading was about the men who built their houses on rock and sand and the affects of a storm on their homes.  The writer then commented, "The decoration [of a house] is what shows; the heart of the house is invisible... Advent is a time for checking below the surface, examining the foundation of our belief system."  I'm reading the right guide because this is exactly what I want to do this month.  I'm conducting a Christmas clean of my heart, habits and motivations and cultivating new holy habits to keep me close...  xc 

Air Guitar for Advent

I got a bit confused about Advent yesterday.  I thought it was about Christmas, a good friend tells me it's about when Jesus will return and then Wikipedia cleared the whole thing up by letting me know it's about both!  Hurrah!  I'm loving my advent word-for-the-day style readings, my lovely advent candle we're burning at dinner each night as well as the indulgent and shallow chocolate advent calendar.  

For many years I've wanted to do more to prepare to celebrate Christmas and have made various attempts with little satisfaction.  This year however, I'm in the zone and I am thoroughly enjoying it!  At last night's Cathedral Carol Service one smart dude in a dress quoted another bloke "Jesus stepped into the darkness of our world to bring the light of His life."  I like that...  I really enjoy walking at night, something that disturbs my husband and friends and I have to be very sensible and stick to main roads.  I feel a real energy walking when then, not because of the darkness, but because how bright all the lights look, I move from one to the other and enjoy their twinkle and glow.  This statement reminded me of that feeling... I feel like I'm considering the season afresh whilst jumping into the feasting.

Today in the London Office we're listening to the infamous Markus Lagel's Heavey Metal Christmas Compilation.  Got to love the German taste in music.  We got so riled up we had a communal air guitar moment on the office furniture.  I love working here.  I love who I work with... xc

Short but Sweet

If you're yet to have the pleasure can I introduce you to the 24-7 Shorts.  Five mini documentaries that introduce the cyber-world to slices of life within the 24-7 Prayer movement.  Until now they've only been accessible to Rewind (24-7's E-Newsletter) recipients but now they're out there, open wide for everyone to enjoy.

Sometimes I struggle to define 24-7 to people who ask me what I do.  How do you summarise so much Holy, colourful, crazy, fun mess in a sound bite?   I fail, miserably, every time.  The phrase "but it's also like..." gets repeated ad nausium as I give example after example of the places prayer takes you.  The Shorts are my life saver.  Want to know why I spend all my life sitting behind a computer encouraging people all round the world to pray?  Click here, meet some of my friends and find out why... xc

A Slosh Dunk

Yesterday, on the first Sunday of advent, the Revelation community baptised two of our teenagers and one of our students.  Hundreds of people piled into our slightly chilly converted warehouse to cheer and encourage the dunkees.  It felt like the perfect launch to the 'waiting for Jesus' period of advent.  What better way to start looking at how Jesus entered humanities story as a helpless child than to celebrate how he's entered the lives of three people in our Church.  They're at the beginning of a great adventure... xc