Long Journey

Grace tonight

Off to grace tonight, they are doing a service on hospitality. I will see how posting from the iPhone works as the service progresses

War Machine

HT to Asbo Jesus

When Christ rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, he had a statement to make.

You see the Jews had this tradition, the one reserved for their leaders. The one that said what was really going on. Before newspapers, and television, before mobile phones and the internet, there wasn’t an easy way to communicate what was going on. So parades and ritual acts helped send a clear message to the mob. It stopped the rumors and let the people know what was really going on.

So when Jesus rode into the city on the back of a young donkey, what message did he send out loud and clear?

The people laying down the palm leaves, well they were celebrating the arrival of a great general. One to lead the people in war, to bring victory, to push the occupying Roman soldiers out of their land. For these people, Jesus should be riding a stallion, not a small poor man’s donkey.

But Jesus WAS on that donkey, he told the people that he was a peaceful man, and a man of peace. The crowd still went wild, but over the next week perhaps that message sank in. Jesus was not the warrior, he was not there to free Jerusalem and Israel from Roman rule.

On the Sunday the people rejoiced, a few days later they bayed for his blood.

Jesus came to do what needed to be done, but not how the people wanted it to be done. He came to bring peace; peace to a conflict that spanned all of time. He didn’t conform his message to the will of the people, or wrap it up to make it popular. He simply did what needed to be done. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t painless, and in the end it wasn’t popular.

Today, we know the truth, we know the message of Jesus. Today that message is not popular, the people don’t hear what they want to hear in the message of Christ, and no longer line the streets to cheer him on.

Will be like Christ, and keep the message simple and clear? Or will we try to make it more acceptable to the people that hear it, try to meet the will of people? What did Jesus do?

Oh Dear, what a shame

Its such a shame that those poor little lambs (the French) couldn’t cope with the opening pressure of the world cup!

“We were fragile and we couldn’t cope with the pressure,” he said. “Players didn’t shoulder that pressure - they were jittery on the field.” -Bernard Laporte

Yes France lost 17 - 12 against Argentina. Such a shame, what a loss...

Today will be England’s chance to gain, what should be, an easy win. Come on boys, heads up high and CRUSH the US!!

Then Wales’ get their chance tomorrow against the Canadians. Come on Boyos made the valleys proud.

As you may have noticed the Rugby World Cup started yesterday. Oh Joy, oh rapture…..

Welcome to "JJ" Probert

Great News,

Andy and Phil have had their second son.

"JJ entered the world at 11.40am on Monday 3 September, after a speedy

labour. To our great surprise, nay shock, he weighed a very healthy

10lbs 4oz. Everyone is doing really well and Matthew and Jonathan are

getting along brilliantly."

Congratulations to all, and hope that sleep is still at hand.

From this to that

So the venue is running, like clockwork. Well clockwork with a loose cog or two, but its running.

The vibe of the venue is great. Coming to the end of the Saturday, and I've only taken a couple of hours out of the venue.

From this:

To this:

The team is shaping up well, and all are having fun.

Set up at last

The venue is now rigged, at last! Just waiting for the H&S review and the capacity to be sent. All has gone well, and the venue looks great. I will submit a photo of the 1st service tonight, but it looks good.

Greenbelt is getting upto speed, but if you haven't made it so far make the effort. It is well worth it!

Waiting

Well, I am sitting here waiting for the team to arrive, the venue is open and the stage as ever has legs on it. We don't want legs, time to get the leatherman out and remove them!

This is what the venue looks like now, oh how things will change in the next few hours.

Its a bit like the sublime to the silly here, the Wifi signal down at my tent is full on and speedy. Here in the venue it is clawing its way to find a single bar and find that elusive connection! I'm sure that will change as the real site Wifi is set up.

Come on Down

Its 7AM on Thursday morning, the sky is blue, and its GREENBELT! I'm typing this from my tent, WIFI in the campsite!

Setting up new forms cafe today, and the tech gear will arrive throughout the day. If you are coming to GB, pop in and say Hi!

Singapore this week

I am in Singapore this week for Work. And after a long flight I can't sleep!

Here to look at the regional projects that are underway, and to build closer working ties with our chaps over here.

The BA flight was full, but at least they had the new VOD movie system, so I watched:

1) Blades of Glory - Funny(ish), but good at 10;30 PM
2) 300 - not really appropriate for an airline cabin, extreme violence and some nudity. Funny how you can feel awkward in public, but would be fine seeing this stuff at home or in the cinema. Maybe some kind of challenge there to think about?
3) TMNT - Turtle Power, fun at some awful time in the morning.

Then 1 hour sleep! Why oh why can't I learn to sleep on a plane?

Then

4) Waitress - VERY VERY Good. See this if you can. Very moving film. http://waitressmovie.net/
5) Hotfuzz- enough said, and the bottom of the barrel!

So having watched more films in 12 hours than in the last month and having been up for at least 24 hours, I can't sleep!

Staying in the Copthorne Millennium Hotel in Singapore, see nice room with a "sea" view of the container port!

Holiday and now an update

Well its been sometime since I've updated the blog. Been busy busy busy.

So to celebrate having some spare time, see the nice image from recent hols....