distinctly askew

"Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people and kindle in us the fire of your love. All who..."

Mon, 21 May 2012 08:14:20 +0100

“

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people and kindle in us the fire of your love.

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God and fellow-heirs with Christ.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people.

Renew the face of your creation, Lord, pouring on us the gifts of your Spirit,

and kindle in us the fire of your love.

For the creation waits with eager longing for the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people and kindle in us the fire of your love.

”

- Great prayer, part of the liturgy for todays morning prayer: http://daily.commonworship.com/daily.cgi?today_mp=1

Loved Phil Wickham’s first singalong album. Vol. 2 is...

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:01:41 +0100

Loved Phil Wickham’s first singalong album. Vol. 2 is available now and is just as good. It is connected to child sponsorship charity compassion who you should also check out.

The Welcome Wagon make lovely, simple songs about God and people...

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:50:53 +0100

The Welcome Wagon make lovely, simple songs about God and people and they’re brilliant! You can get a free EP of theirs from NoiseTrade now, and a couple more mp3s plus info on their new album at Asthmatic Kitty

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in..."

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:46:41 +0100

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say, ‘Friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from the other person’s eye.”

- Luke 6:41-42 TNIV. From todays CofE daily readings.

I’m till rubbish at practicing this one!

Later in the chapter Jesus says that those who don’t put his words into action will find their house has collapsed. I know its a depressing thought for a Tuesday morning. But perhaps that’s a warning we Christians - with our disputes, arguments and petitions - should really listen to!

Oh… Did I just do it again?

This is brilliant! Streetlights is a project to record the...

Wed, 02 May 2012 11:08:00 +0100

This is brilliant! Streetlights is a project to record the whole bible with MCs (a lot from the excellent Humble Beast label). They’re not rapping but reading straight from the New Living Translation over some tasty beats.

I think it sounds really, really good and is great for listening to big chunks of the bible or to mix up worship or devotion time on your own or in small groups. Vol 1 is called Divine DNA and Covers Gen 1 - 6 and the whole of John’s Gospel.

There’s also a sampler of various selections which has been out for a while.

It’s all available for free, but if you want to donate to help them complete the whole project you can.

If you like the beats, you can get similar stuff from Courtland Urbano and See Saw Kids.

Junk shop Jesus.

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:11:15 +0100

Junk shop Jesus.

Missional Communities

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:32:00 +0100

Missional Communities:

Helen and I have been recently took over running the Missional Communities UK blog. I say we, actually its H who really does the running.

We’ve got a range if people, who are involved in medium sized commutues engaged in mission in a number of different situations, sharing their stories, challenges and passion. I’ve just written a couple of posts there on prayer.

If you are interested in church plants, fresh expressions or just ways to connect Jesus and 21st century life then go take a look.

Love this video from 24-7.

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:23:29 +0100

Love this video from 24-7.

Towards Green mixtape

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:51:06 +0100

guardianmusic:

A really lovely 30-minute mixtape of recent live performances, rehearsal sessions and field recordings by Buzzin’ Fly’s Spanish left-field guitarist/electronic artist Towards Green. It’s available to download for free too. CS

Listened to this a few times today. Love it!

algordontv: Connected, but alone? How technology is ruining...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:22:58 +0100

algordontv:

Connected, but alone? How technology is ruining your life…

Very thought provoking video.

Ordinary and Spectacular

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:27:31 +0100

I’ve been thinking about the different stories about Jesus’ resurrection in the days since Easter. One thing that has struck me again is how many times food is involved. Jesus cooks fish, breaks bread and eats with his friends when he comes to see them. What that all about?

I think one of the things that the foody bits in these stories are pointing too is ordinariness. There is something very normal and fleshed out about cooking, sitting down and eating. People need to do it, and often people really enjoy doing it.

The normality of eating is about the only ordinary thing about all these stories. Isn’t that the whole thing about the resurrection? It’s not normal, it’s the start of something totally new. Its completely outrageous and “oh my goodness I can’t believe it” surprising. God is all of those things too; He’s spectacular, amazing, outrageous and terrifying. But the Christian story suggests that in some ways he also makes himself normal and ordinary.

At the end of one of these stories, in Luke 24, Jesus tells his followers to stay put in Jerusalem until he has sent them “what the Father has promised…power from on high”. This connects the story with happens next, the story of Acts and all the great things the early church did with the power of the Holy Spirit.

In many ways its the Holy Spirit who carries on Jesus work of mixing outrageous God-ness and ordinaryness today. Its the Spirit who does remarkable miracles from time to time, but also meets normal people in the every day, ordinary miracles of life.

As we finish up our chocolate eggs (we got a lot in our house) and think about all that’s going on in this new season, I’m praying I would experience that same mix of extra-ordinary and ordinary in my life, and help those around me to experience it too. I’m asking God to let his spectacular power come into the everyday, normal and straightforward things I do from day to day; the tasks I have to do, the people I meet, the things that occupy my life. Maybe you’d like to ask God to do the same thing for you.

Good words from Brotips

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:41:44 +0100

Good words from Brotips

Grateful

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:45:04 +0100

From time to time I hear or read things by older church leaders about how out of touch their college was and how little training about discipleship, leadership or mission they got.

As I bash out another essay for my college, and also think about a project I’ve got to get finished off, I’m very grateful to be studying at a place that seems to take discipleship, leadership and mission so seriously.

I’m also encouraged by the stories from friends studying elsewhere that maybe maybe things are getting better elsewhere too.

first new stuff in 4 years. Hurrah!

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:00:06 +0100

first new stuff in 4 years. Hurrah!

Video

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:09:37 +0000

It's easy

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:14:25 +0000

It is easy to build a faith, of sorts, out of assorted props.

From tasks achieved and roles performed.
From people pleased and ideas shared.
From goods, books, ideas, experiences, humans all consumed.
It’s easy to build a faith of sorts.

But such a faith, is no faith at all. It is a house of straw, a building on sand.

And the storms and winds of life will blow…

Prayer

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:46:50 +0000

God of slow shaping and sudden, shocking change.

Keep me awake to you presence and activity. Keep me from falling asleep!

Lead me in Your way so that I might learn to love fearlessly, to work fruitfully, to follow closely.

May I be surprised, in those moments of rest, to look and see how close we’ve grown, and how far you’ve brought me.

Amen.

curiositycounts: Surf photographer Mickey Smith’s short film,...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:39:01 +0000

curiositycounts:

Surf photographer Mickey Smith’s short film, Dark Side of the Lens. Absolutely hypnotizing.

(via)

Love this video! What would you wax lyrical about like this? What’s your passion?

nialler9: Scuba remix of Bombay Bicycle Club’s ‘How Can You...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:10:10 +0000

nialler9:

Scuba remix of Bombay Bicycle Club’s ‘How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep’

Love a good indie remix

Ash Wednesday

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:49:34 +0000

Dust and ashes are my friends,
The tools of repentance and rest.
They help me turn away from
the distractions and put down
The needful things.
All those anxieties,
Those plans, and dreams.

They are the tools I might use as I sneak away
With the One who calls my name.
I go with Him to encounter Love
In the hope that I might be changed
Dust and ashes are my friends,
The tools of repentence and rest.