Amazed & Confused

Let's push things forward...

Two days and counting until the Push Community says a big hello to the world. The worship and song writing collective that Steve is at the hub of, has been preparing for this week for months.  My free time has been spent editting videos, writing blog posts and generally helping out as Steve works on website content and rehearses for Friday night's gig.  It's all looking pretty good and the first track they're releasing at the weekend sounds great.  I have little energy for any other writing so this blog may be a bit quiet for a few days.  I'll be back soon though.  

I may be a Creep, but at least I'm an animated Creep...

 

Wow - animated people jumping out of windows!  I love this music video.  (Er... that reads weird)  I came across the above during a creative sesson Scot and had to create the brief for the new 24-7 Prayer animation.  As we brainstormed drawing styles he dashed out of the room to grab a laptop and show me the above.  It's brilliant! 

If you like radiohead this video is a must play.  It's a little downbeat/morose for the mood of our little film but the drawing is stunning.  Anyone got any animators or videos that might help us in writing our brief?  We're making an animation called "Why Pray?"  We want it to feel young, fun, a little playful, international but able to pack a bit of a punch.  Our storyboard/naration is based on some brilliant ideas from Pete Greig and is shaping up nicely. Scot and I are meeting with an animator next Monday :)  

Steve Harding, Steve Harding - can people be homonyms?

Less than a month after reading a novel about a chance meeting of two guys with the same name, life is mimicing fiction in my inbox.  Today I got an email from my lovely brother in law Nick (above left) about a certain someone's upcoming birthday.  He sent it to his wife, to Steve (above right) and I, and as I finished reading it I noticed that my hubby had been very quick off the mark in responding.  This was his email...

"Hello Nick:

While I personally believe that everyone should have... [er I'm deleting this bit for present confidentiality reasons.]  I don't think I'm the Steve Harding you really wanted to reach.

I'm an American journalist, and I live in Washington D.C. That being said, does your branch of the Harding family have any ties to Loughborough in Leicestershire? My people left there in 1832 for the dubious charms of North America.

Cheers,
Steve Harding"

Amazing!  Who knew another Steve was just an email address typo away!  OK maybe that's not so unbelievable but it's very cool he took the time to email back.  As someone facinated by string theory and multiverse fiction I can't help wondering whether the two Steve's are anything alike.  I know they're not the same Steve from different dimensions but what if they'e American and British counterparts!  Facinating!  

Have you ever met someone with exactly the same name?  Were they anything like you?  Oooo now I want to have a Carla and Steve Hardings dinner party and invite our names sakes from all over the world.  All in the name of science of course... xc

AMAZING: New Muppets trailer parodies Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

via www.totalfilm.com

This is genius. Only the muppets could make this happen. I will see the film solely on this trailer that probably has nothing to do with the plot!

Book thirty: Bonhoeffer was a smart bloke

This lunchtime, as I sat under a weak sun munching on peanut butter and jam sandwiches, I finished the final passages of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, 'Life Together'. My conclusions are thus:

a. He's a pretty smart bloke
b. It's a beautifully Christo-centric look at life, community and growth
c. This sphere of thinking has greatly inflenced my sub-family within the Christian Church

Reading Bonheoffer's words brought into sharp focus the reasoning behind many values and aspirations I'm very familiar with.  (Not that we have perfectly attained them!)  It's a book I have imediately decided I want to share and re-read.  I love how he considers community life, and keeps it firmly focussed on living for Jesus and serving each other.  His words, though first published around 60 years ago, are incredibly relevant and challenging to the individualistic and self-gratifying culture we live in. 

I highly recommend reading this short but meaty text; it's written with a wonderful heart even if the translation and contextualisation of some of his ideas made me smile. I've ordered a copy of his other famous work 'The Cost of Discipleship' so it's likely he'll be making another appearance in my great reading challenge of 2011.  (Speaking of which, I'm slowly catching up with my target - hurrah!)

A matter of life and death

I find it an humbling and slightly frightening privilege/challenge to talk to people about God.  I've been speaking as part of the team at Revelation Church for some years now, but the opportunity and responsibility is never lost in me.  Particularly when I'm looking at such a profound and life altering passage like John chapter 11.  

Last Sunday I shared a few thoughts on the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and it felt like a week of thought, prayer, tears and conversation were reaching a head.  This was a challenging one...  I had to do some business of my own with God before even thinking about what from my study and prayer I'd share with the Revs family.  I think it was true to say I was a little apprehensivetalking about life, death, grief, pain, hope, heaven, paradox and what it means to follow Jesus here and now.  In case you missed it I blogged a little about it last week.

"I am, right here and now, the resurrection and the life...
Do you believe this?" Jesus

Obviously Jesus is pretty spectacular in this passage, but I've become a bit of fan of Thomas, and I don't mean the Tank Engine.  It was the small, blink-and-you'd-miss-it role this disciple played and his ongoing journey of doubt, joy and determination that challenged me most as I studied last week.  As I shared about his journey and the perspectives of Jesus, Martha and Lazarus, I was moved by the number of people who shared my reaction.

If you're interested in listening to where I got to in my reflections you can download a recording or listen online here.  A special thanks to those who prayed as I prepared.

Has prayer been feminized? My thoughts.

This morning I switched on my tweetdeck to read this post from the lovely Brian Heasley:

"Anyone else ever worry that prayer has become overly feminized http://brianheasley.blogspot.com/2011/09/feminized-prayer.html I posted some thoughts @247prayer"

Brian is a brilliant blogger, I've been reading his Curious in Ibiza musings for many a year and I love how he can take a topic and stir up a bit of debate.  The one he's hit on today is an interesting one and mirrors my thoughts from this past weekend particularly.

Fundamentally I agree with Brian's concern.  Within European circles there do seem to be a lot more chicks than blokes involved in leading and taking part in prayer.  (I don't think this is true in other continents but let's limit this to a close to home discussion.) I do lead the prayer team he mentions and he's right over the years we've had two (amazing) guys and seven women involved.  This is actually been something of a concern for us and though we've actually sought to include more men we've found that difficult.  It's not that there aren't many men with deep prayer lives, more often that their primary energy in serving and leading is channeled elsewhere.  For example the corresponding 24-7 Communities team is all male.  

Are women drawn to prayer and men drawn to community leadership?  Is the trend a gender or cultural bias?

I think there is an element of what you see is what you replicate. Though many streams of the church have embraced female leadership in the last century there seem to be more men that women leading in this context.  Could women be more involved in prayer because we've lacked male champions to point the way for their peers?

Now I am speaking in very broad generalisations because I actually know a lot of very prayerful men.  Ian Cole, Etienne Piek, Pete Grieg (the leader of 24-7 Prayer!) and Brian himself (to name four of many) have led the way in this area.  I think men can and do have deep personal prayer lives and many in my community meet regularly to pray with one or two other guys. But, as I said, in general and in my own community experience, corporate prayer does seem more regularly and eagerly engaged with by women than men.

Why?

Sorry Brian I don't think it has to do with women traditionally staying at home or men going to work and the time that potentially gives you. (All the home Mums I know are very busy women!) 

I think style has something to do with it.  As our church circles have moved more in creative and contemplative prayer we may arguably not have considered both genders in our approach.  I've generally found that extreme and active prayer times attract a more balanced cross-section of the genders, where as our regular prayer breakfast has a ratio of about 2-1, women to men. 

What do you guys think?  I take this issue very seriously as it's something I really want to see change.  Do you think there is an imbalance in the genders in prayer?  Do you have any inklings as to why? What could we do to make it more open for all? (Read Brian's original blog post here.)

Ten years since the towers fell

What can you write on a day like today?  What can you say about that day ten years ago when millions of people held their breath and watched in shock at an attack and a catastrophy unfold, live, before our eyes. Has the world changed since the 9th September 2001?  

My good friend Scot is writing a piece for 24-7 Prayer on what's happened since 9/11 and how the world has been impacted.  To help him collate his thoughts he sent me a many others three questions.  I wanted to mark this day somehow, but I wasn't sure how... so, here they are; my answers.  If you're able why not tell me yours in the comments...

1. The world is reminded almost daily that everything changed 10 years ago with the terrorist attack on America. What were you doing when you first saw the news broadcasts what was your response and what changed for you that day? 

I was in the 24-7 Prayer office in Chichester. We were just a small team then, unaware of how far this movement would spread. I was volunteering in my free time whilst studying at Chichester University. A friend walked into the office and told us the news. We were so shocked, it didn't feel real. I headed home and many of our friends gathered in our living room to watch the news.

2. What if anything has changed over the last 10 years with regard to Prayer movements and initiatives? have you seen or sensed an increase in prayer in the church nationally, in your region and around the world?

I don't know if it's connected but there has been such an acceleration in prayer across the globe in the last ten years. At the celebration for the Global Day of Prayer last year I was amazed by the number of movements that have sprung up throughout the last decade. God has called us to pray. It may look, sound and feel a little different from place to place, generation to generation, but there seems to be no doubt the heart is the same. We need him. The world needs him. We must pray.

3. Jesus said 'blessed are the peacemakers' looking forward to the months and years ahead what can we do to become bringers of peace to a world in conflict?

I think the key to peace is love, so the question I'm challenged to ask is "What does love look like?" Love is more than a word, an idea, a command, it's the pivot around which Jesus asks us to centre our lives. When faced with tragedy, with someone who's hurt us, with a need, or a thanks, or an opportunity, we can ask... What does loving prayer look like here? What does loving action look like now?

Book twenty nine: authority and submission

I fancied a little bible study this week so the twenty nineth book in my 52 in a year project was 'The Role and Ministry of Women' by Martin Scot.  I whipped through this short bible study in a couple of hours and found it an interesting read.  I particularly liked his thoughts on the nature of authority and submission.  Can anyone recommend any other good books or study on the topic?

Book twenty eight: Best fantasy I've read this year!

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson is one of the best books I have read this year!  A generous gift from a fellow fantasy enthusiast I whipped through this tale of intrigue, politics and allomancy at lightening speed.  Finally, a book to rush home for, a book to stay up way past my bed time and awake tired next the day for.  I absolutely loved the complexity of the characters, the suspense and the fullness of the world it's set in.  There was a great sense of reality and physicality, and I was genuinely surprised by the twists and turns of the plot.  Can't wait to read the next in the series.  

I will say no more because it was a truly original read and I'm going to be passing it around my fellow fantasy geeks to share the love.  If you like a thrilling tale of fantastical lands this is a must read.

Lunching with the lovely Togwells

There are few things more glorious than eating sherbert out of a vintage tea cup in a quirky cafe with great friends.  Yesterday afternoon the 24-7 team decamped to Drink, Shop, Do near Kings Cross to do just that (though technically I'm the only one who turned her tongue pink eating sherbert).

Our lunchtime celebrations were in honour of an amazing couple: Phil and Emma Togwell.  For the last five years Phil has led the 24-7 Prayer UK team.  He's done a splendid job sharing his time, wisdom and home with many.  However, this September heralds a change as Phil leaves behind his UK role to focus on a rather exciting new venture: Prayer Spaces in Schools.   

Yesterday we lunched, gave gifts and honoured Phil and Emma for all they've invested up this point. Even though we weren't saying goodbye, it seemed important to recognise the journey and sacrifice of the last decade.  Prayer Spaces in UK Schools are taking off and they couldn't be in safer hands.  I am particularly chuffed as this move in role means I get to work even more closely with Mr Togwell and look forward to benefitting from a lot of laughter, musing and book recommendations in the years to come... xc

It takes courage to have hope

Prepare yourself for a random stream of thought... Courage, hope, life and compassion are the themes rummaging around in my head this week.  On Sunday I'm speaking to my community, Revelation Church, on Jesus' words,

"I am the resurrection and the life." John 11:25.  

It's an incredible passage.  Jesus arrives to find that someone he loves (Lazarus) has died and in verse 35, the shortest verse in the Bible, it says that "Jesus wept."  Jesus... wept... Jesus who went on to raise Lazarus to life... who knew the future hope... who had the power... stopped and wept in present pain.

Pain and Joy. Loss and hope. Death and Life. 

We each live with these opposites everyday.  You don't have to look far to see the promise of life in a new born baby or a relationship reconciled.  You don't also have to look very far to see brokeness, injustice, depression, disconnection...  The kingdom of God is here; and it's fullness is yet to come...

People living with the eternal perspective of resurrection life have to be able to be comfortable with paradox.  How do we keep sight of Jesus, of the hope and life he offers?  How do we remain courageous hope-rs even in the face of apparent failure or death?  

I WANT COURAGEOUS HOPE!  

A hope that is rooted in something deep and stable, in someone loving and good.  A hope that will carry me through life and all it has to throw at me.  Everytime I'm knocked down I want to get back up and dare to believe that things will be better, that God is moving.  I want to pray with that hope, love with that hope, live like that hope and life and love is all that matters.  I want a heart like Jesus' that can be fully present in pain but with the courage to bring life through God... 

I think that I can't talk about resurection hope without talking about brokeness and pain.  Feels a bit heavy and I'm nervous.  Lots of praying and thinking and reading to do between now and Sunday but I guess I'll get there.  If my current thoughts are headed in the right direction then God will give me a way to express them...

Hmm this all reads very negative but it's actually really positive in my head.  What use is hope if it's not needed.  There is a lot of need.  How do we live as people praying, breathing, living, bringing ressurection life here and now?  Don't hold me to this stream of thought - I reserve the right to end up going in another direction with this passage on Sunday, but here and now, its provoking some interesting conversation... x

Meeting Mr Milo

Good news everyone (don't worry this isn't a Dr Farnsworth moment), my gorgeous little french born nephew has been repatriated into the UK!  Huzzah!  Yesterday Steve and I sped to West Hoathly to see Nick, Sarah and the lovely (and very little) Milo George Harding.  Our little soldier is doing very well though it's going to be a few months before all the new born clothes we bought for him will fit properly.  Despite being 9/10 weeks premature he's doing superbly - quite the little miracle.  

Sarah is a marvel - despite a rather frightening birth she is happy, relaxed and a very natural mother.  Milo is one lucky boy.  He is incredibly loved.  Looking at him I was amazed by how much he looked like a miniature version of his Father.  A great way to end the weekend and start the week. Thank you God for looking after Milo and bringing him to us safely (if a little early!)

A Passion for Pioneering - birthing the Push Community

 

I'm incredibly proud of my handsome husband at the moment.  At the end of this month the worship/songwriting collective he's been part of pulling together, will say a big hello to the world.  For years now Steve has longed to try something a little different in the sphere of music development.  In 2010 he found two friends who felt the same way and together they began Push. 

The Push Community is not terribly easy to describe because it doesn't fit neatly into previous industry categories.  At it's heart it's a community of Jesus followers who are particularly passionate about worship and creativity in song writing.  They're from different churches, different towns across the UK but they come together to create together and share what's working with the world.

Steve, Tom and Doug are committed to seeing each one be able to stay in their local community whilst being developed spiritually and musically.  They've already begun recording the songs that could be used nationwide and aim to help each song writer get their song out there without having to sign a record contract that locks them in beyond that song (often it can be for a number of albums or years.)

This very open approach to development and publishing could backfire I guess, but I love that there's only community and the value of growing together, rather than a piece of paper, that's going to keep everyone in this.

The first larger gathering of song writers was Sunday night. As they worship, prayed and shared the songs they were working on I was moved by the depth and passion in the room.  There will be some amazing sounds to fill our churches coming out in the next few months.

I've been supporting Steve and helping out where ever I can with writing (er blogs not songs... my songs would suck), editing a cool little video, and generally taking notes, offering social media advice, praying and making tea.  There's a real energy to this stage in their development.  Reminds of what it's like every time the 24-7 community takes a plunge off the deep end following God somewhere new.  There's something in me that lives for these times.

The boys are working on a website as a hub for those interested in connecting with the community and I'll let you know when their cyber home and their Twitter account, Facebook page and YouTube channel is up and running.  If you're in the south of England they're launching with a live event in Bognor Regis, in the church of the first worship leader they're publishing.  The lovely Sophia Jenkins is just 17 years old and has a beautiful heart and voice.  I'll be there, let me know if you will be too :)

When I grow up I want to be like Alana

One of the greatest blessings I have experienced being a part of the 24-7 family are the people I've met.  I have laughed, learned and walked through a lot with some incredible people from all over the world.  One such person, has just flown away from the UK, crossing that great atlantic pond to move back to the US...

I miss her already.

Alana - come back!

The title of this post is a bit of a jokey compliment... technically I am a grown up (apparently) and Alana and I are peers, but I guess I can't help but look up to this amazing woman.  She has challenged me to think, taught me a lot, recommended many amazing books, been very kind, and given me something to aspire to in my life long persuit in getting to know God.  I know I'm not alone.  For the last few years, Alana's been doing this as a friend and mentor to many young men and women.  The UK is a poorer place without her in it.  

Alana I pray good things as you re-settle in your near-Boston home.  I know our friendship will not end here (skype call with mango smoothies soon!)  Our paths will cross in one nation or another but in the mean time I've lost my coffee break philosopher... and I'm sad... I guess I'll have to settle with new conversations and adventures via blogs, twitter and the like, but Alana, please hurry up and write your books!  I'm still expecting you to challenge me no matter what country you're living in xxx

Why do I watch Top Model?

 

If there is one programme Steve can't stand it's the Top Model franchise.  I suspect he doesn't like being in the room when it's on.  I'm pretty sure he's thinking, 'how can my reasonably intellegent wife watch this?'  I don't like to get into too much, because he lets me watch it and part of me knows he's right...

Why do I watch Top Model?

There's a part of me that knows - I LOVE the photography.  I'm constantly amazed at rediculous looking shoots can produce the most interesting and beautiful stills.  However, I'm not sure sitting through the other 45 minutes of the show is worth it.  What does it say about beauty?  On one hand it's 'be individual' - on the other the modelling industry is entirely about scrutinising appearance (hats off to anyone with a thick enough skin and strong enough self image to endure it).  Also Top Model suffers from the same blight that most reality TV shows do...

Forced conflict...

Sigh.  I was once part of a documentary.  The people who made it were lovely, good people, but even with such a positive experience I was surprised how much action and dialogue was manipulated to tell the story they're were interested in, rather than necessarily what happened.  It was an eye opener into the world of 'reality' TV and documentaries.  I guess wouldn't be surprised to discover they're all scripted and cast like dramas.  

I gave up on Big Brother years ago because I became bored with the shock tactics and editing. I've abandoned almost all reality programming but there are two I still love... America's/Britains Next Top Model and The X Factor/American Idol.  (Ok technically they're four shows but I consider them two.)

I don't want to lose all sense of fun and shallow in my life but as I sipped my soup and caught an ANTM episode this lunchtime I couldn't help wondering... is it really worth watching?  What actually happens?  If you paired it down to the part I'm interested it in would be about 15 minutes long!

So time to confess - are you a reality TV adict?  What do you watch and why?  No judgement, I'm genuinely curious.  If there is very little reality what is the draw?  Are they the 21st Century equivalent of a soap opera or is it something more insiduous? 

Prepare yourself for a very shallow blog post...

This year I honestly thought my curly hair was a thing of the past... but good hair times have come again :)  

Oh yes.  I'm blogging about hair.  

I'll never forget the fateful swimming trip at university when to my horror I realised I couldn't dry my unruly sort of wavy hair and had to scrunch and hope for the best.  What emerged were curls.  CURLS!  Who knew.  I was 18 or 19 before I discovered my hair was curly.  From that moment on I never looked back.  

Most of the time I have what is known as an S curl.  My hair is so hyper wavy that as it grows longer is forms S curls and large loose cork screws (oh yes there are catagories of curls - google it).  For a few short, sun damaged years I had full on corkscrews (left) and had to go looking for a hair dresser who knew how to cut curly hair - it's not as straight forward as you think.  My curls are generally loose and can revert to my teenage triangle head, nightmare if cut bluntly, but never fear, Tracy was here and for the last decade my hair has been in her hands.   

2011 however, the year I turned 30, I thought my curls were going bye bye. Before Christmas I cut my hair super short and started using curling irons (I call them my magic curling wand).  Maybe it was the length, maybe it was the heat damage but the natural curl started to fall out of my hair.  I think I was more sad about that than leaving my 20s.  

A few weeks ago however I decided I was growing my hair longer after a fake hair/dress up day and Tracy came round to trim and shape it ready to let it grow.  From that moment on it's like her skill and my hair follicles have rewarded me!  I'm curly again!  

I know it's shallow to have written over 300 words about this but if gratitude in the small is the secret to contentment then I am a happy girl. (Er woman.  I'm 30 I guess I'm not a girl anymore.)

If you're a curly one I know you'll understand this splurge, if you're not consider it a glimpse into another world.   If anyone needs a good hair dresser Tracy is amazing - oh and I have discount vouchers for anyone who wants to give her a try.  Superficial moment over.  Must get down to serious stuff now :)

Great Scot it's Saturday!

Another Saturday, another DeLoreans gig. The crazy summer season starts to wind up through September, Steve and I will begin to reclaim a few Saturdays a month; but, that's not today, today is a performance day!  This morning has been full of song words, set lists, and costumes.  We've just finished wolfing down lunch watching Back to the Future 3 (the perfect DeLorean warm up!) and soon we'll be packing lugging gear and packing our van.  I'm not sure whether tonight I'm going to wear my hawaiian halterneck (above) or a sparkly little mini dress.  Guess I'll see how high the stage is.  

I have to say that being the lead singer of The Deloreans (Chichester's premiere covers band according to The Observer - check us out) is a pleasure.  The boys are lovely, singing is a blast and I get paid to have fun at parties... got to be one of the best jobs ever.  Definitely in my top two.  Better stop typing and start warming up.  Whatever you're up to this fine Saturday I hope you're having fun :)

I believe that children aren't our future...

I've had children on my mind today for two reasons...

(Noooo... neither reason is that I'm pregnant.  Just thought I'd get that in there before I start squeals and victory dances across the UK...)

The first reason for my thought theme is that Steve and I have a gorgeous and miraculous new nephew called Milo George Harding (pictured above)!  Rushing into the world a little early (32 weeks while Mummy and Daddy were in France on Holiday!) Milo made his debut at around 3lb and is putting on weight and strength an impressive speed.  The nurses at the French hospital that Milo is currently chilling at call him their little champion as they can't believe how well he's doing.  Dad (Nick), Mum (Sarah) and Milo hope to be back in the UK in early September and I can't wait to meet him.  He looks so cuddly.   Must get him a present; hmmm... a toy frog? A stripy top? Do they make baby berets? (Ok I'm going to stop as I'm wading into the realms of light racism :)

The second reason for dwelling on children is the title of this blog.  I've had that classic song,

"I believe the children are our future..."

on mental repeat and I've decided I totally disagree with it.  Children aren't our future. They're our present.  Present is all we have.  I was thinking on this and the rising worldwide phenomena of children in prayer.  My musings led to this little post on the 24-7 Prayer Blog.  I mean every word...

"The most powerful intercessor I think I've ever seen pray, was 13 years old."  

Food for thought.

Book twenty seven: friendship, love and truth

It's official; John Green has become one of my favourite authors.

“Will Grayson, Will Grayson” (written in collaboration with David Levithan) is the third book of his I’ve read, and like the previous two I absolutely loved it. Green has the ability to write characters that jump off the page and feel truly authentic in all their flawed glory. 

His latest literary offering has an interesting premise. Will Grayson, Will Grayson explores how a chance meeting drastically alters the life path of two people with the same name. Their journey explores love, relationship, friendship, depression, sexuality, truth and how we form and evolve our self-image. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea as there is strong language and sexual references, but it made me laugh out loud and cry in public.

Seriously.
I’m not joking. 
Weeping.
On a busy train.

The characters and relationships at the centre of this story felt so real I was celebrating and mourning with them page after page. I recommend this book if you’re interesting in a coming of age tale of teens exploring their identity and coming to terms with their sexuality in the modern world.  I have now pre-ordered my signed copy of his next book "The Fault in our Stars" and can't wait to hear it thud through our letter box.

Book twenty six: The Art of Prayer - Believe the Hype

There is only so many times you can hear a book praised to the high heavens before you feel you ought to give it a read. That’s pretty much what brought me to Timothy Jones’s book, “The Art of Prayer”.  Friends with great taste have raved about his contribution to the sea of literature on talking to God, and I have to say, they weren’t wrong.

It definitely floats to the top.
It’s brilliant.

Though my reading of “The Art of Prayer” has undoubtedly suffered from being put down and picked up over a busy few months, the value in these pages has not been lost on me. In grounded and demystifying language, Jones explores the highs, lows, beauty and challenge of prayer without once making it sound boring. This is quite a feat! I have been reminded of things I’ve forgotten, taught things I never knew, and brought through a rich tradition of prayer from a very personal perspective.

If you find prayer difficult or just fancy a refresher I highly recommend this read. It’s a good foundation and a very easy book to engage with. It definitely improved the quality of my conversation with God.

Book twenty three - twenty five: total froth

In a failed effort to keep reading during my book-a-week-in-2011 funk, I filled July with books that wouldn't tax a 12 year old.  They were uneventful and less than thrilling, merely filler in a year of challenge and adventure. Therefore I decided that rather than boring you (and myself) by posting about them individually, I would kill three birds with one post as I catch up on my pet project. Here goes... 

Book twenty three: The Undomestic Goddess

Utter drivel.  Exactly what I was looking for though it would have been nice if it was a little less predictable.  Also - does anyone really not know how to make toast?!

Book tweny four: Ultravoilet

Actually this little novel surprised me.  A rather unique and interesting concept for a science fiction / teen drama around perception, mental illness and obviously the love of a good alien!  I quiet enjoyed this one.  Maybe I'm being harsh lumping it into the drivel category...

Book twenty five: The Red Pyramid

I picked up this Rick Roirdan novel hoping it was as good as his Percy Jackson series.  Sadly, though it wasn't without it's charms, the Egyptian mythology reboot did not match the world of Greek gods engaging in western culture.  Splitting the perspective of the book between a brother and sister lead was a little jarring and this story felt younger than his others.  I may or may not continue the series.  We'll see how hard it is to find something more appealing.

To get back on track to achieve my goal I need to pick up six books in the next month or so.  Any suggestions of short and engaging reads to help my total? 

Being present: an evolving liturgy

This August my buzz word is 'presence'.  It's been on my mind.  I forget about it for a few days, maybe even a week, then something I read, pray or hear sparks the thread of 'present' thought back to life... Usually when such words and ideas persist like this it's a good idea for me to pay attention; I'm may be about to learn something.

It's amazing how a word evolves in our understanding and association.  For years of my life, to be present was to be in attendance at school,

"Carla Trundle"
"Present Miss"

It's also true that those seven little letters have represented gifts given and received.  In the last decade however the word presence has become inextricably linked in my mind with God and prayer.  It's not a new idea, (in fact it's as ancient as Eden) but I know it's key to greater quality in my relationship with Jesus...

We all have our little mantras, personal and informal liturgies that pepper our prayer lives.  A recent but persistent addition to my prayer vocabulary has been,

"Lord, make your presence felt."  

I've prayed it over my own life as well as over people, places and situations.  I quite deliberately used this line to replace my prayer of "Come, Lord," for no other reason than it struck me that He's already here; He's already everywhere. It's not His presence we're lacking, but an awareness of it.  

This idea grew.  I thought about it... then prayed it... then thought about it some more. Now I'm realising that my prayer mantra may be evolving again... I still want God to make His presence known, but I'm wondering if in most circumstances I'm approaching presence from the wrong direction.  A few weeks ago I found myself scribbling this prayer in my journal...

"Help me to live present to you."

I stared at those words... then I went over and over them in pen until they jumped out amid a page of scribbled prayers.  It felt like a break through, an epiphany.  Something I've always known but needed to recognise.  I thought back to the times in my 20s when God has felt distant and for most of them I realised that it wasn't His presence but mine that was the challenge...

Today I'm thinking about distraction, and wakefulness, and awareness.  How do I remain in attendance to God?  How do I give myself as a gift to the gift maker?

I guess it's what Brother Lawrence was getting at all those years ago, but I had to rearrange His sentence, His sentiment, the title of His writings to really get what he did.  Anyone got any ideas or tried any similar prayer experiments?  How do we remain present to God?

Being present: an evolving liturgy

This August my buzz word is 'presence'.  It's been on my mind.  I forget about it for a few days, maybe even a week, then something I read, pray or hear sparks the thread of 'present' thought back to life... Usually when such words and ideas persist like this it's a good idea for me to pay attention; I may be about to learn something...

It's amazing how a word evolves in our understanding and association.  For years of my life, to be present was to be in attendance at school,

"Carla Trundle"
"Present Miss"

It's also true that those seven little letters have represented gifts given and received.  In the last decade however the word presence has become inextricably linked in my mind with God and prayer.  It's not a new idea, (in fact it's as ancient as Eden) but I know it's key to greater quality in my relationship with Jesus...

We all have our little mantras, personal and informal liturgies that pepper our prayer lives.  A recent but persistent addition to my prayer vocabulary has been,

"Lord, make your presence felt."  

I've prayed it over my own life as well as over people, places and situations.  I quite deliberately used this line to replace my prayer of "Come, Lord." For no other reason than it struck me that He's already here; He's already everywhere. It's not His presence we're lacking, but an awareness of it.  

This idea grew.  I thought about it... then prayed it... then thought about it some more. Now I'm realising that my prayer mantra may be evolving again... I still want God to make His presence known, but I'm wondering if in most circumstances I'm approaching presence from the wrong direction.  A few weeks ago I found myself scribbling this prayer in my journal...

"Help me to live present to you."

I stared at those words... then I went over and over them in pen until they jumped out amid a page of scribbled prayers.  It felt like a break through, an epiphany.  Something I've always known but needed to recognise.  I thought back to the times in my 20s when God has felt distant and for most of them I realised that it wasn't His presence but mine that was the challenge...

Today I'm thinking about distraction, and wakefulness, and awareness.  How do I remain in attendance to God?  How do I give myself as a gift to the gift maker?

I guess it's what Brother Lawrence was getting at all those years ago, but I had to rearrange His sentence, His sentiment, the title of His writings to really get what he did.  Anyone got any ideas or tried any similar prayer experiments?  How do we remain present to God?

Suggestions please: things to do before I'm 30!

OK, I may have left this one a little late but today, with just 3 days left before I turn 30, I began to wonder if there are things I should do before I'm no longer 20something. 30 doesn't freak me out (feel like I'm catching up with most of my mates) but I have loved my 20s and fancy doing something to commemorate such a brilliant ten years.  My only challenge is I've lived a rather full decade... I have travelled extensively, fallen in love, eaten well, had many adventures and become the lead singer of a band!  What's left? I'm struggling to come up with anything achievable.

So, your suggestions are very welcome.  I have 3 days and I want a few new things to commemorate the end of one decade and the beginning of the next.  I have a three criteria:

1. They must be legal
2. They must be achievable (flights abroad are out)
3. They must be affordable

I promise to provide photographic eveidence if I take on your suggestion/challenge.  Let the fun begin!

Super 8: Genius or Nostalgia?

There are certain films that have a higher status in my affections than they truly deserve.  Films that transcend their script, the actors, the cinematography and score to take on a life, an ascociation, that wraps them a warm and fuzzy glow.  Tales like The Goonies, Flight of the Navigater, Batteries Not Included, Space Camp, E.T. (I could go on) are firmly in this exclusive club of well loved adventures and many of them still feature in my DVD collection.  Watching them is more than just revisiting a tale, or laughing at the changes in fashion/acting/special affects; it's a trip down memory lane to a youth that I may have only lived in my memory.

Truthfully they each have a few things in common.  They are most definitely young at heart even when the protagonists are not young in age.  There is an optomism and hope to them that treads dangerously close to denial.  They explore everyday themes we can relate to in the context of fantastical adventures: family, change, friendship, self worth and community, to name just a few.  And, I always believe I could be right there with them; every one of these films has invaded my dreams.

Could I be adding to a film to the list?

As the lights came up at the end of our recent viewing of the new J J Abrams and Steven Spielberg film Super 8... all themes, and 'golden glow' indicaters were present and accounted for.  Did we just witness a modern classic in the making, or was Super 8 simply a derivative period drama?

Caught between the inocence of childhood and the great abiss of adulthood, five friends spend a summer making their own horror film.  As their project is derailed they soon realise they've been caught up in a real life terror, threatening their town.

All Spielberg and Abrams conventions are present and accounted for (daddy issues, optomism, innocence and growth - lens flare, mysterious beast, fantastical adventure and everyman leads), it's truly amazing to see two such distinct film making voices, harmonise so effectively.  This duet is by all accounts very successful.  Super 8 is a film with heart. I find this unsurprising as I am a fan of both directers/producers.  I grew up on a diet of Spielberg and will see anything he makes (or produces) and fell in love with Abrams imagination from Felicity, Alias and Lost onward.  So this pairing, it's fair to say, have a headstart in my estimation.

Super 8 is an elegant film.  The casting is fantastic (teenagers that actually look the age they're playing!), a near perfect script (there was one line towards the end where I shook my head), the pace is swift but not at the cost of establishing character, and the terror is very real.  What surprised me most was how genuinely scared I was watching it.  This isn't quite a kids film.  

Good friend, and decade long cinema buddy, Craig came to take my hubby out for breakfast this morning.  Our conversation, as it often does, turned to film.  "So, what did you think of Super 8?"  Together we debated whether the film is a classic in it's own standing, or whether it stands on the shoulders of those titans of cinema it references so playfully. It's a question worth asking.  There's no denying that the film intends a not to the greats, I'm sure it's a deliberate decision, but I wonder if that should detract from it's effectiveness?  No story exists in a vacume, and plenty have tried and made lesser films with as many homages.   

If you are yet to work it out, I cast my vote on the side of genius. Five stars for Super 8.  If I am taken in by a feeling of nostalgia, then I say hats off to Abrams and Speilberg, there's a certain kind of skill in that too.  I am curious about how someone younger who hasn't grown up with the stories of my youth will take to it though.  If you were ignorant of the sub-genre it flows from, would you still walk away with that fuzzy glow?

Seen the movie. What do you think?

Externally processing/praying

Sometimes I don't realise I've learned a thing until I start writing about it.  That may sound a little odd but go with me.  I had this article to write for 24-7 Prayer the last couple of weeks and if I'm honest the challenge totally daunted me: 800 words on 'How to Pray for Your Nation'.  Yikes!  I was very tempted to delegate to a wiser member of my prayer team, but a niggling voice in the back of my head told me I should give it a go... I may surprise myself...  

After a prolonged period of writers block, last week's riots here in the UK prompted a torrent of ideas.  As I actually prayed for England I had one of those 'oh yeah!' moments as I examined my own prayers.  I guess I've learned a lot from God and my friends in this global prayer movement, much without consciously realising it.  As I sat down to condense and refine the experience and lessons I had to share, it flowed relatively easy from heart, to mind, to fingers, to keyboard.  Check out my finished article here.

Readers block

The inevitable happened... I hit June and my ability to read dried up.  Ok so I can still interpret the squiggles and shapes into words and literally read... but I have lost all ability to concentrate for longer than 10 minutes on a book.  (It's been a slog to keep reading my Bible!)  Why of why can I not sustain anything regular for more than six months?  It's like my brain revolts and demands a change. 

Audiobooks and music have filled the time I previously spent cracking spines and pouring over pages. As you may have guessed, my book a week in 2011 project is slightly scuppered at present.  I got behind on posting about each title, then used up my buffer during a busy period and have now crumbled beneath the pressure of catching up.

Doh!

I have a cunning plan though.  I'm going to start actually taking lunch breaks on working days and sit in the lovely sunshine and push through my block.  I must!  If I don't read, I don't write. (Blog posting has dried up at approximately the same time my reading did.)

I'm not making myself start again for the sake of fulfilling a goal, but rather because reading (and writing for that matter) are two of the few activities that bring me to complete halt.  I cannot multi-task whilst doing either (believe me I've tried).  I cannot even have other sounds around when I'm focussing so off goes my music/podcast/conversation and on switches my creative mind.  When I turn my attention to words I am utterly faithful... I cannot divide my attention...

I guess it's not surprising then that I've found prayer and study harder for the last month as well.  Stillness is essential to awareness for me, and it's harder to achieve when I'm out of practice.  So I am resuming my reading for enjoyment, for inspiration, for rest, and for you God.  One helps the other I think... stream of consciousness over. 

London's burning...

 

In 2011 many have taken to the streets.  Across nations like Egypt, Lybia and Tunisia people have protested for change, for freedom, for political belief.  The dust is yet to settle in North Africa and the Middle East, which makes the events of the last few nights here in London seem a mockery of their struggle.  

What does it say about the soul of Britain that tonight some fight not for freedom or justice, but for Plasma TVs & cans of Red Bull?

I've sat in tears and prayer watching the breaking news on the BBC, the damage, the looting and the attacks on Police Officers and the emergency services have seemed utterly senseless.  I've ranted, I've prayed, I've felt ashamed... do we have it so easy, that we are utterly blind to what we have?  How can so many people feel entitled to take things that don't belong to them?  How can they put so many lives at risk with fire and glass?

I've read the twitter streams, watched the Facebook chatter and seen many different reactions to the London riots. Disbelief, anger, fear, solidarity and attempts to rationalise why this is happening.  Some have posed political reasons, criticising the government for the riots.  Others have talked of the parents role in the young people's actions and the effect of unemplyment.  To be honest, I mostly see our worst flaws hideously magnified as a society.  Consumerism gone mad.  A sense of entitlement, no matter what the cost to others.  Could this be the mirror we all need to readjust our cultural compass?

I've been deeply moved by the clean up efforts happening across London today.  The affected areas have been swamped by people volunteering to clear the streets.  My lovely friend Pete Greig made the above video on how we can pray from one such site.  Several other friends have written blogs about praying for London (check out Alana's and Theresa's particularly). I loved reading Andy Freeman's thoughts today... as alway's my wise friend brings the grace filled perspective considering the issue from another angle.  Well worth a look. 

So... this evening we hold our breath.  Every gaol cell in London is full, over 550 people have already been arrested and 16000 police officers are taking to the streets.  Please Lord let it end tonight. xx

You say it best, when you say nothing at all...

It's challenges like this that make me wish I was the slightest bit creative in the drawing, filming or animating department.  I can think of a few different ways to approach the above challenge but totally lack the ability to follow through!  Oh well, you can't be good at everything... cough... 

"What's the vision? The vision is Jesus."

Expressing the diversity, passion and direction of the 24-7 Prayer movement is never an easy task.  What do you do when someone doesn't have time to listen to you wax lyrical for a few hours or read Red Moon Rising?  I've found a few succinct ways to express parts of the movement (a prayer room, or a project) but all I've really discovered is that 24-7 Prayer is the name we've given to holy, colourful mess :)  Trying to sum it up is like trying to build a sandcastle with dry sand.  You can give a rough impression but it's near impossible to bring definition.

Makes the above an interesting challenge!  I definitely think there should be some people up to the task.  No words is a great equaliser of language and education.  How to express the vision of 24-7 Prayer without using any words!?!

If you fancy turning your hand to a creative submission then you could join me and many other lovely people in Frankfurt for Aufstehen (or if you can't make Aufstehen I think you can keep you ticket for a future gathering :)  So who's entering?

Never too old for fancy dress or fake hair

Yes, that is me dressed not as a goth, or an 80s pop star but as the infamous Bellatrix Lestrange from the Harry Potter series. To mark the last instalment of this epic series in film Adam, Lisa and I (aka the Trundle siblings) dressed as Harry, Luna and Bellatrix respectively to watch the film that ends many years of reading, watching and geeking out...

Is it healthly for an almost 30 year old to dress up as a character in a (sort of) kids book and trapes around in public?  I think so.  Why should the fun stop just because you have to also be responsible and do things like pay a mortgage?

Sunday's fancy dress expedition was actually my second viewing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and I must say it didn't disappoint.  I am long passed hoping that they capture every little nuance of the books and have accepted that film is simply a different genre.  What makes a successful book and a successful film are two quite different things.  Having said that I think they made a really good stab at capturing the complexity of the final book.  Though I know virtually by heart every twist and turn of the story I found myself surprised, thrilled, tearful and caught up in the suspence.  Kudos Mr Yates.

I've now seen it in 2D and 3D and my ambivalence to the bespectacled and expensive medium grows.  It is to the credit of the film makers that my stinking funny glasses induced headache didn't ruin the film... Sigh... I guess 3D won't be leaving us any time soon... I'm becoming less inclined by the viewing to fork out for it though.  Hmm... better sign off before I start ranting!

Re-imagining Sudan (spread the word!)

My lovely friend, Mr Andy Freeman, has thrown out a particularly brilliant challenge to the 24-7 movement this week. This Saturday I'll be joining him in scrawling on my hand and praying for the nation of Sudan...

"Imagine a country divided north from south." Writes Andy. "A country which has a southern oil rich area, but a northern area focused on political power. Imagine a nation who’s leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court. A nation which has within it’s border’s one of the world’s most infamous conflict areas in it’s north. A nation split by different religions. A nation which plays host to many different militia’s each intent on using violence to gain their aims. If you can imagine all that, you’re probably imagining the nation of Sudan."

Andy's come up with some brilliant and understandable prayer suggestions, so find out more about how we're praying this weekend and spread the word.  I dream of walking down the street and noticing dozens of hands with prayerful scrawlings on.   Tweet, Facebook, blog, let's bless a nation in an historic moment of change.  Wake up Saturday, grab your marker pen, add your 'Amen!' and upload a photo of your hand to 24-7 Prayer's Facebook group :)

 

My screen saver just led me in worship...

I had a bit of an issue focussing in my prayer time this morning.  I'd made the school girl error of leaving my laptop open in front of me as I attempted to focus my mind on God.  The ping of an email arriving, or the number alert on my to do list kept tempting me to abandon peace and silence and dive into the hubbub of the day. In a moment of determination/frustration I flicked on my screen saver and was stunned by the image that filled my screen...

The swirling gas of Jupiter in all it's oranges and yellows gave way to a beautiful image of the sun reflecting off the surface of the earth, gave way to a breathtaking nebula... The words of Psalm 8 ran through my mind...

"When I consider the heavens the work of your fingers, 
the moon and stars, which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?"

Suddenly it took no effort at all to think about who God is, what he's done and the pleasure I have in talking with Him.  It seemed a divine fluke that my random screen saver chose such appropriate images this morning.  If I could thank a computer programme I would. xc

Amazing women

I am very fortunate.  I am very blessed.  I have an abundance of inspiring and compassionate women who make my life a joy.  As I end my evening in silence and thought I've realised how grateful I am for each and every one of them.  The beautiful Kimberley Maurice (very, very soon to be Newey!) has just left after an evening of Wedding preparations and conversation.  I enjoy how we comfortably segway from the deeply personal and intimate, to the superficial and shallow :)  She is a new and beautiful friend in my life that I wasn't expecting to find.  Thank you Craigus for finding such an amazing girl to marry and bringing her into our world.  

Yesterday, I caught up with my beautiful and ever blossoming friend (friend seems so weak a word) Helen.  We've walked together for over ten years now and I trust her implicitly.  She teaches me so much :)  Tomorrow, Helen and I meet our cymbrogi Charlotte for a special trip, just the three of us. It's been a while since we've had time just the three of us I cannot wait... 

Helen, Charlotte and Kimberley... Mum and Lisa... Susanna, Daria, Wendy, Sheena and Lyndall... Alana and Theresa... so many amazing women.  Each uniquely beautiful.  Each one teaches me something different :)  I love being a lass.

A new day

Today is a new day.  I'm sitting on my own at the Guildford Boiler Room , cup of tea and chocolate bar to hand.  This morning is the first in a new rhythm of working; goodbye regular days in London, hello three days a week in Guildford.  The sun just broke through the clouds and illuminated my fingers flying across the keyboard.  I think this will be a nice place to work.  

This morning I have an inbox full of emails, some new stories from a brilliant group who've caught the 24-7 bug in Whyalla, Australia, a great video of 24-7 Prayer Room that I'll pop up below and a few blog posts to write of 24-7prayer.com.  Better get to it.

24-7 Prayer Room @ AIW 2011 fd from Bill Cahusac on Vimeo.

 

Guess what I did yesterday...

Oh yes!  That's a real DeLorean.  It IS kitted out like Back to the Future car.  No, sadly, I didn't get to drive it at 88mph.  Shame.  

The DeLoreans took a step toward updating our band photos yesterday with the very lovely Mr Peter Ward and our friend Brian's DeLorean.  It was a lot of fun.  You cannot stand next to that car and not feel like a kid.

The above photo was taken in 2007 shortly after the band began - look how young we are!  Everyone seems to have more hair for some bizarre reason.  We're awfully shaggy.  We realised that apart from one or two gigs where a great photographer shared snaps with us we were seriously lacking on the decent, recent photos of the band front.  In a weekend with two gigs we squeezed in a wee shoot.  I'll make sure a selection of what was taken makes it way onto the blog :)

Why pray?

Why do we pray? Do you know? What do we gain from talking to God? Wouldn’t it be brilliant if there were one catchy sentence that could answer this question in such a compelling and irrefutable way? These are the thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head at the moment. As I think about the next prayer breakfast for my church community, as I brainstorm ideas for a film about prayer, and as I email the organisers of 24-7 Prayer Rooms around the world, this question won’t quit; why do we pray? Truth is; it’s not that I can’t answer the question… It’s more that my answers are too numerous…

We pray because conversation is the heartbeat of relationship…

How else am I going to get a glimpse of the unfathomable God I love? The bible plants the seed of understanding, the Holy Spirit waters and tends to it, but it’s prayer – that continual connection to life’s source – that deepens the roots and brings growth. Prayer is the place where we find out if our faith is real or just a nice idea. It’s the bold 'Hello' that invites a response from our maker…

“I felt like God was stroking my hair”  From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Australia

In prayer room after prayer room around this world it’s testimonies like the above that have moved me most. Real, personal, heart to heart encounters with an interested God. It’s the moment we realise that He really is here, now. It’s a moment of forgiveness, an answer to a question, the assurance that we’re worth something, worth Jesus. These are precious interactions that have the potential to change the very direction of our lives. It’s the intimate stuff relationships are built upon. Why do I pray? I pray because I need to get to know Him, I need to get to know me…

“I’ve been in here for 13 hours. I had to chat about some stuff with my Dad.” From a 24-7 Prayer Room in the UK

We pray because He wants us…

“We have no reason why we are here - we just knew we had to come”  From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Australia

Do you know what fascinates me time and again? That the place of prayer isn’t just life giving for Jesus followers, but it’s attractive to those who don’t know him yet…

“We had 4 teenagers become Christians a few days ago - they came down to the prayer room and the team asked if they wanted to feel the presence of God and we prayed over them and they felt God's presence and said yes to beginning the journey with him!” From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Iceland

From Australia to Iceland ordinary people are stumbling into God’s presence and being invited into the conversation of a lifetime. Could we be praying in order to make space for others to start?

We pray because we need Him…

As I check the news today, I’m reading of war crimes, of shootings near schools, of murder and more. You don’t have to look far to find broken places and broken people; most of the time they’re right on our doorstep. It’s overwhelming, my feeble 'your kingdom come, your will be done', seems insufficient in the face of such pain. But… I have to start somewhere. I’ll repeat those words until my heart finds more…

'Guatemala is a turbulent and violent country...The BBC news recently listed it as being 3rd in the world for murder rates (for a country not at war)… I began asking [God] how could a nation be changed and I felt that he spoke just 2 words...unity and prayer.' From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Guatemala

Each week, contact people praying 24-7 I pause and ask, 'Lord, teach us how to pray'. I pray for everyone, praying with me, in many languages and nations. I ask God for three things:

1. ‘Take us deeper…’ I don’t us to pray 24-7 for the sake of quantity; I want each hour to strengthen the bond between the Father and His children. 
2.  ‘Take us further…’ send us from these prayer-soaked places to be the answer to prayer in our community. 
3. ‘Make your presence felt…’ 

“I SAW an angel in our prayer room!” From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Australia

I still don’t have a definitive answer to my question… maybe that’s because there isn’t just one reason why we should pray… Maybe our lives are supposed to be spent discovering one after another, after another. This however I do know; when you see a spark, a sign of life – pour some paraffin on it and start a fire. When someone is healed, when someone gives their life to Jesus, when lives are changed by an holy encounter my prayer is ‘more Lord, get out the paraffin!’ Will you join me? Why not make a choice now? How will you pray? How will you call your church to prayer? Take the next step, here’s how 24-7 Prayer can help…

Post a prayer or request now on our online Prayer wall
Host a 24-7 Prayer Room at your church, workplace or school
Join us in praying the Lord’s Prayer at Midday
Follow @247PrayNow4 on twitter to receive Prayer Alerts for the world

Celebrating my new specs...

I love my new specs.  It's such a relief to find a pair that I actually like wearing (and not because they make me look like one of the two Ronnies).  I got excited about them I thought I'd  buy them a friend...

Ah world, seeing your many colours and facets in crisp focus is a beautiful thing.  Gone are the headaches, the squinting and the gaffa holding my old broken pair together.  Here is the ease of glasses that don't fall off when I lean forward.  Such luxury!  So... do they make me look smart? Er the specs not the sunglasses... 

The Power of Speech & Cyber-stalking friends :)

I was going to blog today about the recording of the talk I gave last Sunday in Revs when it occurred to me… I wonder who else from 24-7 is speaking regularly to a community that get's podcasted or posted.  I did a little investigating, subscribed to a few podcasts and finished with a smile on my face as I anticipate some interesting listening in the weeks ahead.  If you're part of 24-7 Prayer and interested in what I found; then read on...

The 24-7 shop offers downloadable talks from all our major 24-7 Prayer gatherings. I'm usually present to hear them all but it's handy to get my hands on the ones that have really impacted me. They only get updated as we gather though (usually once a year) so more up to date teaching is best found on iTunes.

Pete Greig at Spring Harvest and Holy Trinity Brompton

Pete is one of my favourite teachers and communicators.  I find him constantly inspiring whether he's preaching or writing.  Last month Pete spoke at the largest Christian conference in Europe.  An Easter event called Spring Harvest that attracts 35,000 people of all ages over a number of weeks and locations.  Today I found Pete's talk on "A God Breathed World" available here.  Download and have a listen.
If you're interested in hearing more from Pete he also preaches ever few months at Holy Trinity Brompton in London.  You can subscribe to their podcast of weekly teaching here.

Adam Cox and the Kansas City Boiler Room Crew

If you were at Magnify in Scotland last year you will have had the pleasure of hearing Adam Cox, one of the leaders of the Kansas City Boiler Room.  Adam has such a passion for God's word and an amazing way of making it come alive to his listeners.  You can hear Adam and other leaders like Wendy Adams and David Blackwell teach through several different podcasts put out by the Boiler Room.  Listen to their weekly gatherings here and check out the wealth of teaching available through their website.

Little old me

Finally, I also teach from time to time and shared on Sunday with my home community of Revelation Church in Chichester, England.  The Red Moon Rising readers among you will recognise that name as one of the birth places of the 24-7 Prayer movement.  I am still a part of this community and spoke on Sunday about the power of speech from the book of Proverbs.  If you're interested in hearing more you can download it for free here.

That's all for now but I'll post a little update with more suggestions for downloads in the coming months, so if you've found these helpful, keep your eyes open for more.

Book Twenty Two: Lost in Translation

It is often with some trepidation that I open the cover of a book recommended by a friend.  Particularly if it's one I know is greatly loved.  Good books are like good companions, you can get awfully attached to them.  What if I didn't appreciate what this companion could be?  What if we didn't get on?  Conversely,  if I have an affinity with the person making the recommendation there is much potential that a treat is in store... these thoughts and more were passing through my mind as I opened Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett.  One of my lovely friend Alana Wiens' favourite novels.

Alana is an intelligent, compassionate and interesting woman with whom I have passed many an hour talking about life, the universe and everything.  So when she blogged about the book she's read more than once I was intrigued... Bel Canto did not disappoint!

To describe this book would be to mislead you.  It is surprising, interesting, touching, enchanting, intriguing and thought provoking. It is about love, fear, politics, youth, talent, culture, music, beauty, language, translation, power and much, much more.  I absolutely loved it.  Like the characters it creates, I did not want the story to end... but end it must.  If you're in the mood for something original and interesting I highly recommend it to you.  I won't tell you anything about the plot as it will give you totally the wrong idea about the genre and style of writing.  I suggest you go in blind and enjoy the tale...

From the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks

My bank holiday Monday is being spent in blissful silence... ah... peace... All weekend I've been mulling over, and dipping my toes into the talk prep I'm currently immersed in.  Today I finally dove in head first and I'm enjoying marinading in the word of God.  

This Wednesday I'm in Canterbury speaking to young people about prayer and next Sunday I'm sharing with Revelation Church my thoughts on the power of speech from the book of Proverbs.  For the first talk I'm drawing inspiration from my current Bible reading and the amazing life and love of King David, for my second... well... the words of Jesus haunt me on this topic...

"From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34

If there were possibly some way to itemise all the ways I've messed up in my life and to analyse the cause, I would estimate that the majority of my trouble starts with my big mouth.  I do not generally think before I speak.  Most of the time I think as I speak.  Sometimes, to my shame, I think after (often to disastrous results).  I've had to get good and fast at apologising.  

A couple of years back when I took a break from speaking to study more, one of the greatest challenges I felt was the need to tame my tongue.  It's been a journey of exercising self control.  Sometimes I do well, other times... well sorry is a common word for me.  Jesus' words have probably been the biggest help.  When I've stopped to understand the motivation behind a hasty, unkind, anger-filled or 'foolish' tirade, it's been easier to avoid repeating the occurrence.  Learning to bite my tongue (not as easy as it sounds) has been key.   Being willing to swallow my opinion when it's unhelpful, unneeded or unasked for has been a big step forward too.  

Looking through this book of wisdom and what it has to say on the topic has been an excellent refresher.  Lots to mull over before Sunday.  

Book Twenty One: Does Love Win?

Every now and then a book will come a long that strikes a nerve.  It stokes the fires of debate and it provokes many to ask large questions and seek important answers.  Rob Bell's latest book Love Wins (the 21st in my year long challenge) is most certainly the latest in this long line of nerve hitting, hot potatoes. Here's the thing though... if you're reading this post because you're interested in my stance on the nature of heaven, hell, God's love, holiness and Jesus Christ, then I'm going to disappoint you.  I will not  be donning a jersey and picking a side today...

Nope... today I want to talk about something else... I want to talk about love, anger, argument and debate... that and the perils of the internet.

If you're a Christian and partake in the blogosphere, or the world of Twitter, it's likely you've come across the hurricane of opinion this book has stirred up.  At first I was taken aback by the strength of feeling, the certainty of opinion, the metaphorical lines being drawn in the sand.  I'm all for debate, but there have been some who've brought a level of... well... something that most certainly does not resemble familial love to the table.  Now, in some ways I can get it.  On both extremes of the spectrum being discussed there are people who deeply love God and feel that the subjects addressed are vitally important.  It makes sense that the book could anger or upset people... my problem with it is that in those moments, when all we can see is red... let's all step away from the internet.

There's something very easy about venting online.  I think it's easy to be unkind, blunt even when you're not looking someone in the eye or personalising your opinion to real life situations.  As I read through page after page there were some gems of restraint and thoughtful contemplation, but much that made me deeply sad.  

“A new command I give you: Love one another..." John 13:34

The title of the book seemed ironic.  Whatever it's alluding to, love was not the hall mark of how we've spoken to each other as a community...

So... if you want to know what I think of this book I'm afraid you won't find it online.  I have read it.  I have discussed it.  I've already planned further reading about aspects I want to explore further.  Make me a cup of tea and I'll share my reactions as I look into your eyes.  Offer me a biscuit and I'll talk you though my incomplete, but current thoughts on our future hope.  But not here, not now... It's hard to talk humbly to a computer screen.  It's difficult to remember the art of speaking and listening when your typing. Issues of life and death, are too important, too close to many hearts, to be handled by my clumsy blogging.  So face to face it is.  Shall I pop the kettle on?

Book Twenty: Mother is a dirty word

Designer babies, genetic predestination and a life of hedonism... I'm not sure I've read anything more chilling than Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.  The perfect companion to my earlier read of George Orwell's 1984, BNW extrapolated 20th/21st century Western Society's desire for instant gratification to a terrifying conclusion.  Huxley deftly and intelligently paints a world where humans are not born but factory made, where 'Mother' is a dirty word and free will has been almost systematically eradicated, no brain washed, nay scoured out of humanity from our mental processes to our very DNA.  The result, a near content and productive society, a world at peace... but peace at a high price.

Though I was initially wowed/terrified by the first half of this book I have to say it did not hold such intense interest as it progressed.  The story arcs of characters I'd connected with drifted into uncertainty, while a central character I was only half interested in closed out the tale.  That aside, I'm glad I read it.  I can see why 1984 and BNW are hailed as the God Fathers of much modern Science Fiction and particularly dystopian imaginings.  Most dystopian films and stories in recent years borrow heavily from one or the other. Though one explores an extreme manifestation of something that resembles socialism, and the other capitalism, I think both are relevant and challenging to the state of the world today.  What do we value?  What are we pursuing?  What price will we pay for it?  Who will hold the power in the societies to come and what role with faith, belief, religion play?  What struck me about both futures was the lack (and at times aggressive annihilation) of the spirit and faith in God.  Whether humanity is squashed under the weight of fear, paranoia and oppression, or numbed by the sensory overload of having every whim satisfied, both worlds seem grim, hopeless and without real life... Terrifying... Thought provoking...

Find the truth...

It's been the best part of a decade since I stopped dancing.  Not since my degree ended have I pushed myself in movement, stretched my limbs, strengthened my frame and sought to conquer not just the technicality of a movement but it's impetus.  Since I graduated the closest I come to those enjoyable years is dancing in the dark (no pun intended) across the laminated floor of my living room on a quiet night.  There's a sense/a kind of peace and connection I find in movement that I don't think I've found anywhere else.  I am not a great dancer, I once aspired to be... not for long though.  When I danced, I did not dance for prowess, I danced for sensation; expression.  It was more than enough. It didn't matter that I would never be technically good enough to pursue it professionally.

Tonight I feel elated and sad.  I've been cast back, remembering when dance absorbed my days; the satisfaction I felt at doing my best, the  challenge of pushing myself.  The joy.  This surprising introspection has been provoked by a woman, a company, a film and a pair of 3D glasses...

Tonight I saw Pina.

Pina Baucsh was a German choreographer and in my limited foray into the world of contemporary dance, she was one of my favourites.  Bausch had an incredible ability to move people, her work was amazingly truthful and surprisingly humourous (just when you least expected it).  Her company, Wuppertal Tanztheatre, are one of the most breathtaking I've seen live.  Though her work would probably be confusing and very strange to someone who wasn't familiar with the world of physical theatre, I doubt anyone could help but be mesmerised.  I myself was so taken I based my dissertation around her creative process and performance style.  I am not the first, and will certainly not be the last...

Wim Wenders film will see to that.

Pina, is a documentary.  It is a piece of art.  It is some of the most exquisite dance film I have seen.  It is a record of work.  It is a remembrance of a friend, choreographer, seeker of truth.  Quite simply, it's stunning.  Here in Chichester there was just one showing, on one night of this unique film, and I can't believe I considered not going!  Thank God I didn't go with that impulse.  Though it would probably be good on DVD, I think it was greatly enhanced on the large screen and in 3D.  (A thing I've been scornful of recently)  The 3D was so intelligently used it enhanced the experience to give you feel of an almost live experience.  In some ways it was better than live.  I feel like I just saw The Rite of Spring and Cafe Muller in an entirely new way. 

If you are at all interested in art or film or dance, I highly recommend this film.  I'll finish now and go back to my thoughts...

And that's a wrap...

As I emerge from a week of travel I realise I have neglected my blog for the first time in 2011.  It's not good for me.  My head gets overly full with things I want to write about... Books I've finished... People I've hung out with... The chicks hatched in our lean too... My trip to the USA... An amazing Easter weekend... and so much more.  I know it's inevitable that I will fail to capture it all retrospectively but this week I'll blog daily to try and capture at least those moments freshest in my mind.

Today I want to chat about the end of an amazing journey through lent.  The podcast you're probably all sick of me mentioning called 24-7 Prayer Spaces.

This idea was born over a year ago.  For ages many of us involved in the prayer, mission and justice movement have wanted to repeat the podcast put out a few years back to unite us in prayer across the globe.  The challenge was finding the time and resource to make it happen.  The series has been dreamed about in many different guises until just after Christmas we finally realised we were able to make it happen.  Alana, Scot and I holed up in our little London office with tea and chocolate, prayed together and then covered the walls in paper as we started brain storming the possible topics and verses we could pray through.  It's been an amazing journey to see those scrawls become a reality.

I thought that the podcast would be an encouragement and tool for maybe a couple of hundred people around the globe.  The response however on our first week of release was overwhelming.  People have participated in their THOUSANDS!! 

That was a little scary at first... 

Our simple, scruffy little videos have been used by individuals, churches, networks, young people, old people, youth groups, families around the dinner table and many more.  The feedback we received moved me to tears (er... not cause it was mean) because it was amazing to see that God had used them to really speak to and meet with people.  What more could you ask for?

Scot and I are starting to plan our next Prayer Spaces season (probably for Advent this year!) and ways in which we could involve more 24-7ers from across the globe.  Watch this space and the 24-7 Blog for more.

To finish off the season Scot and I recorded the video below for Easter Monday.  Our closing thoughts and prayers are wrapped up beautifully by a little special something that the lovely Georgina and fabulous Ella put together.  

Oh yes... it's the outtakes!

 

I highly recommend watching them, it's laugh out loud material. (Skip to middle to get to the good stuff.) Someone commented on twitter and I have to agree that there's a lot of me in there.  What, did no-one else try to read their bible upside down, or nearly fall down a bank, or say "Mary went to the kill country"? Ok maybe that last one was unique.  Anyway, enjoy! If you watched any of the Prayer Spaces season I'd love to hear from you.  What did you think?  Got any feedback?

Journey's end, journal closed...

Thoughts, questions, prayers and pleas... rants, raves, epiphanies and ideas... doodles, notes, names and more... Since August last year one book has held all of these things.  

My mind, my heart, poured out through a fountain pen into the companion that rarely leaves my side.  As I say goodbye to one journal, and add the pens strokes that stain the pages of my new journey mate,  I feel simultaneously elated and at a loss.  The bulging dog eared pages of retiring book have talked me through much.  I don't feel ready to leave it behind.  

Yet...

I am always excited about the potential of the blank page. What next?

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your journals after you die?  I've gone back and forth on the idea of having them buried/cremated/whatever with me... they're so intimate, my life laid bare... To whose hands would I entrust them other than Steve's?

What you seed is what you get...

The Revelation church community is in the midst of a season of teaching that explores the metaphors Jesus and the New Testament writers use to explore the life, hope and mystery of what God has to say.  Last week the fabulous Will Moore took us through an excellent examination of God's word as light (you can download it here, well worth the effort).  Yesterday I shared for 30 minutes on the culmination of weeks of mulling, meditating, memorising, discussing and refining my thoughts on God's word as seed.

I really enjoyed preparing this talk, mainly because discovering the beauty and life to be had through the Bible has been a slow and edifying journey that's marked my last five years.  There is so much to discover, so much to learn, so much to be challenged by, so much to wrestle with, so much to enjoy.  After years of reading I still firmly believe I am barely scraping the surface.  Looking at the Bible as a seed to be planted, tended and harvested resonated with my experience and hope.  I mused over how to prepare the soil of my heart, how to plant the seed by reading the word in many different ways, how I've learned to water the ground with prayer, and then the most challenging part of all... waiting on God to do His stuff... to bring growth, life, a crop to be enjoyed.  

The whole process was a great opportunity to reflect.  If you interested in what I ended up sharing you can download it here.   

Book seventeen & eighteen: hunger ends

Last week I unashamedly dove into part two and three of The Hunger Games trilogy (Catching Fire and Mockingjay) and as they're essentially two parts of one story I thought one blog would suffice.  My conclusion on this thrilling teen series is:

The first book's the best, but it's worth reading until the end.  

As I followed Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Haymitch and others through opposing political orders, rebellion, war, madness and grief, the trilogy kept me hooked though did not entirely sate my appetite.  I was interested in Cinna's back story, I wanted to explore more of the cultures and landscapes of the districts, I was keen to explore the history of this distopian North America with it's hunger and brutality.  Sadly these things were touched on and breezed over.  I can't help wondering what The Hunger Games could have been in the hands of someone like Mr Stephen King; a master of worlds, subtext and little regard for brevity.  

Don't get me wrong they weren't bad.  They were good... The story just captured my imagination in a way that I wanted it to go deeper and further.  The first book I'd give four stars in five the following two I'd give three.  Now to thumb through the pages of a book written by a good friend...  Approaching God by Lisa Borden :)

How to get a Guinness Moustache - A Picture Story

The last morning I spent in Dublin last week, Mum and Dad took us to the Guinness factory.  Despite most of my Grandfather's family having worked in this famous brewery I had never actually been.  As we walked through presentations and exhibitions debating the best Guinness advert (got to be the 'tick follows tock' horses in the wave one!) it was a peaceful way to end a difficult trip.  We were all together, laughing, talking and walking in the heart of the city of our birth.  (Well my brother's a little Brit but we don't talk about that ;)

As we made our way up to the Gravity Bar that looks out over the city the iPhones were whipped out and the photo addicted Trundle family snapped away.  At the end of my working day I realised I'd yet to got through my snaps and as I played with my new iPhoto update I laughed my way through the following series of photos...

Mum explains that the best photo to be taken with a pint of Guinness is the classic creamy tache!

So we sip...

Mum wins, I fail...

So I give it a good dunk... You can't say I don't commit...

oh dear...

I guess there is still much my Mother can teach me :)

Saying goodbye...

During my commute back from work on Monday afternoon I received a call from my Dad to tell me that Aunty Marie had left us... Pictured above with my Mum, Marie was an amazing woman loved very much by me and all our family.  Though her passing was not unexpected (she's had a long battle with cancer) I guess no one really believed she would ever leave us. She was so incredibly strong, full of life and love.  I am very grateful for her... for the years she had... this week I flew to Dublin with the rest of my family and  together we said goodbye... It was good.  It was deeply sad.  That's about all I'm gonna say about it here...

Today I'm back in Chi, pretty exhausted and starting to get my head around all the things I dropped or postponed when I took off.  As I started downloading emails I took a look at today's PrayerSpaces podcast for lent and was surprised to see myself.  Though I only filmed these thoughts and prayers a few weeks ago, I never seem to recall exactly what I said.  As I hit play to remind myself I was moved afresh by the passage I was given; Jesus calling out to the Father in intense sorrow... there is something beautiful about the Bible... some days it'll hit you on one level the next it moves you in a completely different way...