As with the last few years, the X-Factor is tipped to win the race to be Christmas number one.

I’ve not followed the chart for years… and even when I did it didn’t really bother me if Mr Blobby beat Pondlife or whoever to number one.

This year there is a campaign to get Rage Against the Machine to number one with their well known song “Killing in the Name of”.

Here are couple of the issues with this campaign:

1. Both X Factor and RATM sell singles through Sony. So Sony win either way. Also, this will lead to more people buying the X Factor single anyway as many younger children will really want the winner (I’ve forgotten who it was) to get to number one. They’ve already voted in their millions for the programme.

2. Killing in the Name of has the well known refrain “F*** you I won’t do what you tell me”

What is the campaign doing? Telling people to do something.

Genius.

You really need to download this free E-book.

It is excellent.

Click HERE to go to his blog to download it

Had a great morning speaking at Emmanuel Chapel, Henbury. It’s a small chapel in a relatively poor estate in west Bristol (not far from Cribs Causeway). A pastorate from Woodlands Church have been involved in taking services and supporting the chapel for a few months. I arrived this morning to Bacon Butties, great coffee and a warm welcome.

The service was great – worship, really funny kids sketch and then me… I spoke on Daniel 1 – how we must engage with our community and culture, even if it is hostile.

I spoke to one older person at Emmanuel who does just that. She prays like crazy for her community. She spends time on Saturday evenings working with children and teenagers, some of whom are involved in drugs, alcohol and anti social behaviour. She loves her neighbours.

To engage… how we do it is the question

A few months ago, I was mulling over something that a good friend once said to me:

‘”We are only born with two fears (the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling). Every other fear is learned through experience. Faith is the process by which we unlearn these fears.”

I don’t like to think that there is much that I’m fearful of… but if I’m honest, there is. I thought about the way that certain fears and worries were able to affect the way I live… and decided that I needed to do something about it.

So… I thought of a list of some of the specific things that I fear/worry about and decided to face them as quickly as possible. Life is too short to let fear make my decisions…

Fear would make me chose comfort over challenge – I’d settle for 2nd best just so I was secure

Fear would require me to be someone that I’m not – I’d be willing to let my God-given personality hide away

Fear would cripple my ability to change – I’d not make tough choices that affect my character, and those nearest and dearest to me

Fear would suffocate love – I wouldn’t speak the truth in love in case I offended someone

But… True love casts out fear – the eternal security of knowing that you are deeply and unconditionally loved destroys the hold of fear. If God is for us then who can be against us?

If you’re sick of being fearful and are longing for change in your life then maybe you’d be up for praying this prayer with me…

God, I’ll do anything, go anywhere… just make it clear. Let your perfect love cast out all of my fear. Amen.

… to those who feel hurt that I called you a loser for playing Farmville on Facebook. My lovely wife tells me that it isn’t a nice thing to do.

Anyway…

However please sign up for Superbadger on Facebook and send those emails! To find it either click on the link I posted below or just search for “Superbadger” on Facebook.

If you are on Facebook you should be using Superbadger.  Run by Tearfund, it gives an easy way to “badger” different people via email about particular issues. It literally takes a minute to put your name at the bottom of an email and send it. I’ve had responses from government ministers, Tesco, Starbucks and more. It does get through, especially as most of the “badger” requests get done by a thousand or so people.

Imagine if that became 10,000. Or even 100,000. It wouldn’t be that difficult – please can you sign up to it and get others to do the same? If you’re on Twitter then follow Superbadger there as well.

Find the application here – SUPERBADGER

If you don’t do it and you play Farmville instead then you are a loser.

That’s not a joke.

So I’ve messed around with the blog for a while… I’ve changed the theme, colours, pictures and more.

And then simply came back to what it was.

I think that’s often a really good benefit of change. Making yourself try out some new things. Its fine if the old stuff works best.

Bob Jackson (well known CofE chap) makes this stark statement:

“Most churches need to make a choice between having a comfortable death and uncomfortable life”

He cites statistic after statistic showing that churches who won’t change decay and decline. Those that do change grow. I’m now part of a “context” based training group that looks to work out the theology of the classroom in the cut and thrust of the real world. Both churches are great places that long to have an impact on the city of Bristol and do so in very different ways. The leaders in both churches are up for being uncomfortable but alive.

How about in our individual lives… are we willing to “comfortably die” or experience life with all the discomfort and challenge that it brings?

Final quote from Bob Jackson… think it can apply to both our church communities and our own lives:

“We do not advocate change for the sake of change; we see change as the condition for survival”

I’ve been listening to a really interesting and challenging talk by Patrick Dixon (check out www.globalchange.com on the Delicious links). His title was “Doubling your productivity” or something like it…

He is an exceptional entrepreneur and works with a varied portfolio that includes church leaders, business leaders and politicians around the world. He began the charity ACET which looks to tackle the AIDS crisis internationally.

I’m still processing so much of what he says in his talk but it got me asking several questions… it might seem terribly introspective, but I am the only person that I can change for the better (with God’s help) so I want to give it a go. Below are the 10 questions that I’m thinking through at the moment… which one strikes you as the most important?

1. What roles and responsibilities do I currently have?

2. What gifts/talents/skills/passions do I have?

3. Where and when am I most effective in ministry?

4. Where and when do I come alive?

5. Are there new opportunities to take advantage of?

6. Does anything need to drop?

7. What are the distractions/habits/attitudes that need addressing?

8. How am I serving those who are less advantaged than me?

9. Who are the people that I should be investing in?

10. What do I want to be remembered for in 5 years time?

“If the gospels are any indication, Jesus Christ showed scant regard for modern management wisdom. He was not looking for managers, but for learners and leaders – disciples and apostles.”

“I have been seized by the power of a great affection”

I took a whole load of books on holiday with me… I usually devour lots and so went prepared. This summer I read one book and it took me three weeks (admittedly the “Surviving Disaster” shows on cable were appealing). I read the Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. This is a book that I tried to read on holiday once before – I picked up my friend John’s copy and it fell apart. So I gave up. I’ve recommended this book to others. I’ve even nodded in agreement when others have talked about it.

Well I’ve read it now.

If you want to truly encounter grace…

So should you.

This was the headline in the Independent for an article written after a visit to New Wine Christian Festival last week.

Link is HERE

I always find it a bit strange to read this kind of an article but it really does give some great insights into how we are viewed by many.

Reading some of the reader comments at the bottom of the page is fun too… any thoughts??

Found this really interesting blog post from Alan Mann on “Camp Quest” (see previous post). Thought I’d put up a bit of it along with a link and welcome any thoughts…

Here’s the direct link

And a sample of the article. It articulates my thoughts much better than I can (thanks Alan!). He has an interesting take on the accusation made by the Times that Dawkins is “grooming the atheists of the future”.

Responding to one headline:“Dawkins sets up kids’ camp to groom atheists” Those organising the camp would like to make it known that, ‘Richard Dawkins is not setting up Camp Quest UK. The word “groom” is misleading, offensive and inaccurate.‘

Of course, Dawkins would never suggest that those of a religious bent would be found ‘grooming’ children, or stoop so low as to cause offence, mislead people about religion, or say anything inaccurate about Christianity – but he might write this: ‘we should work to free the children of the world from the religions which, with parental approval, damage minds too young to understand what is happening to them . . . Priestly groping of child bodies is disgusting. But it may be less harmful in the long run than priestly subversion of child minds.’

The organisers of Camp Quest are right to be frustrated and annoyed about being misrepresented – Welcome to the world of your own making!

I’ve been thinking a bit about the whole atheism thing… interested by the summer camp that is taking place near Bath for a chosen few (24) young people.

The Times comments here

Radio 5 had their morning debate on the old chestnut “would the world be a better place without religion”

I thought that I’d offer a few thoughts over the next few days on my perspective on atheism v faith etc. I probably won’t do the whole “creation v evolution” thing though… because I don’t think it exists.

I endorse this signpost completely.

I’ll keep this rant short and sweet.

GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE LANE UNLESS YOU ARE OVERTAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those in the middle lane who need more explaination – see THIS WEBSITE

Haven’t blogged since last Thursday about my church placement so thought that I should go through the last few days.

Sat – At a diocese event in Chippenham learning a new piece of choral music… reminded me of my days as a choirboy. If I’m honest, it was a bit too full on for me – sometimes wondered whether our object of worship was God or the music… shouldn’t be so judgemental really.

Had a lovely walk along the Bristol Avon fish-spotting as well.

Sun – I attended every service at St Peters beginning at 8am for their early morning communion. I rapped, read and served the bread at the family communion at 945am. In the evening I led evening prayer… all about God’s OUTRAGEOUS grace. We looked at the passage in Mark 7 where the “sinful” woman annointed Jesus with perfume. Really good evening.

Mon – Visited a couple of people who are members of St Peters, including a 95yr old lady who has an MBE and has been on “This is your life” for her work in Bangladesh. That was a good afternoon! In the evening I went to a group studying the prophets.

Tues – Morning consisted of morning prayer (as per every day), an “accountability group” which works to ensure that things get done at St Peters. Then I went on  a visit. I attended a funeral in the afternoon, and in the evening went along to the pre baptism preparation being done with two families.

Weds – Day off and FISHING!!!

I’m really enjoying the challenge of being part of life at St Peters… really starting to build some relationships.

But I’ve got to leave on Sunday for another place.

Funny how God seems to do that sometimes…

Ok, so I’m ticking the box of every “what a vicar does” stereotype – toddlers and Mothers Union (which by the way is one of the most formidable Christian Organisations in the world today – especially in Africa – doing more to combat poverty and injustice than most are). The group I went to today was a nice social tea and cake (proper nice cakes and biscuits) and a chance to chat with some of the ladies there.

I had some great conversations with some great people. I have made the decision to throw myself into everything and not shy away from anything that made me feel uncomfortable. I have to confess that I didn’t feel comfortable when I arrived, but by the time I left I did…

The home made Rocky Road was awesome!

Both of the above were central today at my church placement. But not together.

Went to the “Teddy Praise” this morning… lots of little children with action songs, butterflies, prit-stick and shiny stickers. Lots of people, both church and non church people. Really enjoyed it and took part in the action songs. I made the 2 year olds look like professional dancers.

This evening I went along to a small group who were looking at the theology of U2’s latest album “No Line on the Horizon”. I had a great evening – firstly because there were nice ales on offer but also because Mark (the vicar) had put together a great session together on three of the songs on the album. Plenty of fantastic stuff to chew over, with lots of lively discussion, great music and God speaking…

“The Kingdom of God is like a banquet…”

European election results coming in

Not long left me thinks

Another hero…

I vaguely remember the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 – the image of the student being run over by a tank is still vivid in my mind.

Earlier today on Radio 5 I heard Simon Mayo interview Kate Adie about Tiananmen Square and what actually happened there. She was brought in to the situation in China late on after all the other BBC journalists had gone home either sick or ill. She saw first hand some horrific incidents – see her programme on BBC iPlayer (from BBC2 tonight).

Why is she “super Kate”?

She stayed on in China after Tiananmen Square had disappeared from our screens. She wanted to ensure that the thousands of innocents killed by a repressive Chinese government hadn’t died in vain. She risked her life (a man right next to her during the incidents was shot and died), and took on what she saw as a regime flexing its muscles against its people.

Everyone loves someone who takes on the bully…

Politicians are taking a proper kicking at the moment… some would say for a good reason. Regardless, it is currently fashionable to hate politician.

It is easier for us to blame them rather than ask ourselves if we might do the same in their position (or maybe we are doing what they did)… anyway I digress.

There are many exceptions – there are plenty of good politicians in all parties (don’t ask me to name them though!!) but there is one that at this time seems to stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Vince Cable.

This is the man who predicted the “credit crunch” (how I hate that term) and for years has asked sensbile and insightful questions about what the government was doing to deal with our mounting debt etc.

I admire his humility and lack of “I told you so” when anyone else would have laid it on thick. I trust his genuine prudence and apparent lack of spin.

I for one think that having him as Chancellor wouldn’t be a bad thing…