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