What goes in, must come out.....

Hello to you

This is one of those self indulgent posts (surely that's what blogging is about hey?) where I tell you a load of stuff I think is cool and I try and convince you to have a look/listen at some of it. Which you should. 

You SO should.

Music

Deerhoof - I saw them support Radiohead in 2006 and have looked out for them ever since - their album 'Friend Opportunity' is excellent - be warned - very, very quirky and angular. I love it.

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood - Seriously. This is awesome.

I really like the new Ryan Adams & The Cardinals album 'Cardinology' - but then you knew that didn't you?

I've been listening to the new U2 album 'No Line on the Horizon' on Spotify (which is great a way to listen to music). It's alright -  first track is great, last 4 tracks are good too - the middle of the record, tracks 2-7, ranges from U2 pastiche to Rolling Stones pastiche and back to U2 pastiche. If you love U2 you should buy it - as you probably would anyway - if you are not so devoted to them, maybe only download the tracks you like..... 5 years is along time for a so-so record. That's two in a row boys.

Also worth checking out - The Raconteurs' 'Consolers of the Lonely' and TVontheRadio's 'Dear Science' and anything by 'The National'.

TV

Well, Season 5 of Lost is possibly the best thing ever yeah 

The Wire which I mentioned here is truly incredible. I can't even begin to tell you how much quality there was on that show.

Two words. Sky Arts. B.R.I.L.L.I.A.N.T

Films

Not seen anything really good in ages - stopped doing lovefilm (we're broke)

Though I am very excited about Watchmen

Slumdog Millionaire is almost at a level of ubiquity that will permanently put me off watching it - which is probably my loss....

Books

There are about a billion great books in the world that none of us could possibly have the time to read but here are a few I've read this year - all amazing...

The Stand - Stephen King

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon

Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Voonegut

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

The Little Prince - french dude

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce (great, but I didn't really understand it)

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman - Haruki Murakami

hope you find something to love and enjoy as much as I have.....

dg

Good News for a Change

Global Corporation in helping the poor shocker!

fairplay

dg

Are you gonna miss him?

taken from: www.thesmokehammer.com

Numpties #6

The Three Stooges

Why I keep going on about the same stuff

It is a question many of you have asked me - why do I keep going on about the 'modern worship' thing and all the palaver; tours, awards, industry nonsense....

I know I am bit like a broken record.

I know that it can come across as judgemental/pious/self-righteous

I know that it does not really fit with the whole 'unity' thing

I know all of this.

And it does trouble me - as much as I wrestle with God about anything, it is with this stuff....

Yet this is why I keep saying and writing this stuff:

18 months ago I was in a meeting at a big conference, maybe 4 or 5 thousand people there, and it was in the middle of the worship. I wasn't really 'enjoying' the worship, but I was still singing and worshipping (what else can we do?). And it was then I had a strange experience. I was in my heart to some degree saying 'Lord you are worthy, but I can't see you here in the worship in this meeting - where are you?'

As I prayed this I felt the presence of God. Heavy upon me. Everyone else was still shouting, singing and dancing. I found myself on my knees, in awe. It's a good place to be.

Then I felt the Lord begin to speak to me - 'David, speak - you know what to say'.

Now I knew the things I needed to say (and some things I needed to do), but I didn't want to say them. I felt a bit like Jonah; running and hoping a fish would eat me up. I asked God to get someone else to do it. Someone nicer. Someone people like. Someone famous.

But He said 'no'.

I felt unworthy in every way, I still do. And I still I am.

He also told me not to shave for 3 months which meant I looked like this:

And I began to learn that we can only do what he asks us to do.... and sometimes we might not want to do it.....

Jeremiah 1 says this:

"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them."

I don't want to hurt anyone. But I will not be silent.

I don't want to discourage anyone. But I will not be silent.

I don't want to condemn anyone. But I will not be silent.

I don't want to pure scorn on anyone. But I will not be silent.

I don't want to pull down anyone's ministry. But I will not be silent.

And I will keep going 'til He says otherwise.

dg

PS. if you don't know what I'm going on about try these for starters:

Cross Rhythms Article

The Dark Secrets of Stolen Praise

A Similar Voice

The Fat and Bloated Kings of Tiny Little Kingdoms

Part 1 - What I am for - Trinity Church Cheltenham

U2 - Pump it Up?

sounds a bit like.....

House of Cards

"You are at the heart of what's wrong with this country"

Noel Edmonds, Keith Chegwin, ranting rabble rousing, big foam fingers....

Is it an episode of Brass Eye?

nope.

mental.

dg

Numpties #5

Tom & George

The Shape of Things to Come

Set Lists
Gigs
Album Launch
Tours
Auto Tune
Click Tracks
Press Releases
Booking Agents
Artist Managers
Tour Riders
Merchandise
Photo Shoots
Record Deals
Tie in Book
Tie in DVD
Tie in Songbook
Mechanical Licence
Printing Licence
Royalty Collection
Street Teams
Radio Edits
Corporate Worship
Resources
Marketing Strategies
CCLI Charts
Dove Awards
Grammy Awards

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance…… Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Revelation 2:2,4&5

Riches are Meaningless

Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.

As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them?

The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
permits him no sleep.

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,

or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when he has a son
there is nothing left for him.

Naked a man comes from his mother's womb,
and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
that he can carry in his hand.

This too is a grievous evil:
As a man comes, so he departs,
and what does he gain,
since he toils for the wind?

All his days he eats in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Wastin' Time

A day is long, many hours to fill
But it's alright if we let a few minutes spill
Where's the crime in wasting time with you?

Don't have to run when the pistol's fired
It's alright if we let the meter expire
Where's the crime in wasting time with you?

People love to talk about
Big things they're gonna do
Or they've been through it all
We can just remove ourselves
We don't have to prove ourselves
Worthy of their approval

"You're only young once"
Well that's one point of view
And it's alright if we've nothing better to do
Where's the crime in wasting time
Where's the crime in wasting time
Where's the crime in wasting time with you?

Numpties #4

The sexless singing weirdos of High School Musical