RIP Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong is the complete opposite of the dominant idea of fame today!! Human endeavour? US Politics? either way amazing!!

Some great Youtube Clips

I've found some new songs and a couple of impressive time lapse videos BUT I'm using them in the next 2 weeks and then I'll post here...

Beyonce at the UN

It's amazing what lots of money can do!!

The Battle within: Castrol Edge Rugby Championship

   The new rugby comp in the southern hemisphere that includes new team Argentina pales compared to the interest and the pages of newsprint generated by the Bledisloe Cup clashes within it that start on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium in Sydney (shouldn't they all be held in Brisbane?)
   It should be a great challenge... Next phase of the Wallabies 'development' and a the post Rugby World Cup retirements All Blacks!!
 
Please stop writing about:
-the work the forwards are doing
-the new immovable scrum
-Wallaby favoritism
-All Black nerves
-skills sessions about kick and catch etc etc

   I'm sick of it.... Let's see it in the game, shut up and deliver!!!
Media, please stop writing about it and team.... Time to play!!!
Kurtley Beale please stop kicking non tactical ball away
Scrum, stop going backwards...

Otherwise we'll see one close loss, one gutsy win and one thrashing at least...

Looking fwd to Pocock v McCaw, these miracle scrums, Barnes at 5/8th with a full strength line up....rain and storms go away....... Please be sunny all day!!
 Anything less and it'll be just another night out for the ABs.... 
If we can control ball and get on the front foot of course we can win... We just need to do it not talk about it as though we have done anything other than train together!

Very glad Brad Thorn et al won't be out there and I have a funny feeling that SBW with a settled future will be a huge danger in our 22m zone...

Usain Bolt wins 100m and 200m Sprint Double at London Olympics

Simply amazing!!!

"Blue Like Jazz" The Movie

   I've just ordered my DVD copy of the film based on Donald Miller's "Blue Like Jazz" [a region 1 from the US] and have the pdf discussion guide...
   It's likely there will be a viewing at 'ministry Unfiltered' at the CFM in a couple of weeks BUT I'm also planning one or more Newcastle/Hunter viewings... just need to check the dates with a few people to avoid clashes where possible... I ordered here through Atomic Movies!!

Combined Worship at Wesley East Maitland 29.7.12

We took the opportunity of the normal 5th Sunday practice of a combined happening, to gather a small team of young people and leaders to plan worship as they envisaged it! We met with about 3-4 weeks space BUT started with a BLANK SHEET...

'Givens', venue, who we would expect to attend and what they were used to or could cope with were noted, then people were asked to share:
What is worship?
What would make that meaningful or significant for you?
What would you like to see happen?
What themes do you sense emerging?

Of those ideas what will we do?
A theme of "Imagination.God.Life" emerged and the challenge of including:
Lego, computer games, Harry Potter, contemporary music, imagination, and a U2 song
[which could have been teased out further to include how those would reflect the gathered group but some clear themes emerged.

We wanted to include a video vox pop around:
What books, movies, stories inspire?
What is it about them?
How might they teach/reflect the nature of God?

We took the risk of inviting some musicians to set up so the band included violins, piano and vocal with others who may join in future [that was the hope]

Using Macbook Keynote [a much better alternative to Powerpoint]here's roughly what we did:

Pre worship music
[1] A single slide with 30sec 'A Hopeful Transmission' Coldplay to catch attention
[2] Announcements & Concerns
[3] A Call to Worship for [3] Voices
[added soon]
[4] Communal Song "Dreams & Visions"
[5] Greeting/Welcome/Words
[6] LEGO Prayer with brief words:
LEGO was used as a symbol of 'building blocks' oflfe and belief' but participants were invited to collaborate and build a symbol of this through discussion together, then bring those to a front table... some brilliantly simple symbols resulted.
[7] Movie Clip Collage 2min 40

[8] Communal Song "Faith, Hope & Love"
[9] Scripture reworked Hebrews 11:1+ and Luke 13: 18-21
[10] Reflection on 'Imagination.God.Life'
[11] Communal Song "God Version 1.0" including Offering
[12] Prayers for the World choosing from 80+ photos stuck on the side walls
[13] Communal Song "Here I am Lord"
[14] Spoken Sending Out
Followed by opportunity for all planners/participants to shake hands at the door

In my role I'm available to work with other groups and places to develop capacity to put together linear experiences like this, alt.worship or other styles etc through workshopping, discussions and curating across the UCA in the Hunter!!!

'Yurora' or NCYC 2014... the wheels are beginning to turn...

NCYC - Yurora 2014 Promo from UCA Assembly on Vimeo.

London Olympics Opening Ceremony Rumours

*SPECULATIVE SPOILERS ALERT!!!!!
Daniel Craig, Sheep and Sir Paul McCartney may be locked in to Danny Boyle's extravaganza... but what else can we expect...

David Beckham
Mary Poppins
Voldermort
Cricket
The Industrial Revolution
Armed Forces
The Rolling Stones
Not sure about a 7 months pregnant Adele
The Spice Girls
Red Buses
National Health Nurses
London Cabs
It seems Coldplay are in for the Paralympic Closing...

Who will light the cauldron? And where is it if as is claimed it's not part of the red art tower...
Steve Redgrave, Daly Thompson or Roger Bannister...???

Oh well, Saturday morning Oz time I guess!!

'They Became What They Beheld'

Hat Tip: Tristan and Rah

This clip is a clear reminder and inspiration around creativity, theology and engagement that would be a great intro to a workshop about communicating faith, curating worship, discipleship, running youth Camps etc.... as well as a personal reminder about what I'm creating/doing and hoping not to 'sell'

Australian Olympic Uniforms 2012

   Who cares really, but in about 4 days I will be consumed by the endeavours of the athletes at the London Olympics... I love sport!!

   I will have chuckled at the naysayers and about the event being 4,000 security staff short, the rain etc. I will be exasperated by the Nine Network commentators and the aussie obsession with swimming. I will be driven crazy by the advertising and be grateful for t-box and Foxtel IQ so I can record and fast fwd footage...

   But with this many days to go it's time to talk Oz uniforms [although I know UK friends will be obsessing over beating Oz to the Top 5 in the medal tally and we will be sick of hearing about PBs]. Adidas and others have the gig... and this time athletes got a say...

   I like the official uniform and don't mind that they look like lawn bowlers... it's a classic old style with name lined faded green blazers and off white clothes... the Dunlop volleys are great!! the casual polos could have actually benefitted from the three greem stripes on the plain canary yellow shirts but otherwise the traditional colours are good!!
Now comes the Opening Ceremony but watch out for athletes 'on the juice' and 'The Spice Girls' et al in the Closing Ceremony!!

Qantas and Daniel Johns

   The weekend newspapers all featured the story of the roll out of QANTAS new music/Olympic advertising, put together by Daniel Johns and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, in search of a grand international sound.
   Daniel's creativity is boundless for a vegan hippy who could be bumped into outside Merewether's 'Prince of Wales Hotel', mid winter, barefoot and wearing a tea cosy, late evening, walking his small dog as we left various rugby victory parties on
a Saturday night. Oh yeah and of course onstage with 'Silverchair' for some stunning live shows!!

IDEAS only in Need of Collaborators

THINKING ALOUD!!
- Monthly Cafe Space Faith Community of Young Adults built around music/discussion
- Local version of 'Live at the Chapel' because we have plenty of talented musos
- U2 360 Live [in LA] on the big screen
[both raising funds for social justice action]
- Using a local UCA with no existing PM worship for a monthly regional worship
[day and time negotiable, maybe schedule 3 to see how it goes]
probably including a focus on 1. discipleship and 2. social justice action individually or in groups
Not sure which are 'pet' projects or must have collaborators to 'fly'...

Nadia Bolz Weber for Denver's 'House for All Saints & Sinners'

Tim Hart Solo Album "Milling the Wind"

  "Milling the Wind"is the solo album from Boy & Bear's Tim Hart [due out August 17th...]
The single "A Number of Us"sounds like an interesting 'story' and is also proving more accessible to me than Angus Stone's latest effort in search of a tune!!

Youth Group Programs: What do you want to do?

"What do you want to do?"
   As anyone knows, that's usually the completely wrong question to ask a group of High School kids who will answer anywhere from "dunno" to seeing the latest horror or MA15+ action flick to Laser Tag or  a raft of other expensive options none of them have the budget for... but the hope is to create 'ownership' of the program on their part and/or the opportunity to express affinities and connections.
   There is a simple alternative that might help [especially with groups of 10 - 50 punters] with groups of any size...
   Develop a series of categories or sub categories with options and set a number of activities from each with votes collated and a final draft program produced. This is a chance to set a limit on expensive choices but they re still choices, sports, craft, computers, team and group building, no or low equipment activity and a balance between 'in house' and away options etc... you can also have the group use the famous 'yes' voting to half each list plus one and a list of preferences will emerge.
   In the current context it's harder than ever to rely on loyalty and belonging as reasons everyone in the group will front up most nights... part time work, just not liking some choices and plenty of accessible alternative options create a 'culture of better offer' and render the RSVP a quaint historical artifact in most Youth Activities...

Examples: [not necessarily described this way on the whiteboard or voting sheets]

+$10 Laser Tag   Bowling   Movies   All U Can Eat   Live Concert
[Vote yes for up to three, 2 to be chosen]

Social Action   Fundraiser   Guest Speaker   Simulation game   Slave Auction   Exposure Visit
[Vote yes for up to three, 2 to be chosen]

In House   Board Games   Master Chef   Amazing Race   Team Games   Indoor Sport   'Build a' Night
DVD   Go Kart Build   Theatre Sports   Nintendo Wii    
[Vote yes for up to six, 5 to be chosen]

Leaves one Food Night, a worship planning or the actual planning night or one 'Life and Faith' Night where the whole night has a discipleship focus vs the struggle to do a 10min talk consistently... The 2, 2 and 5 most popular should easily emerge or be discussed from one 'yes' voting and then you can space them according to known calendar events, time of year, spreading the cost evenly etc...

   The same could be done with a list of themes, questions or issues for doing 'faith practices', discussions or input on with the group...
Peer Pressure, self esteem, who is Jesus? God Questions, Bullying, Sexuality, identity, design and hold a worship, plan for annual camp etc...

SoD 2012 Sleep, Reconciliation, Recreation and Great film clips!!

I went to the 'School of Discipleship' over the weekend despite having been unwell with a respiratory infection for the week... I knew it would restrict my experience but I would get more sleep than at home at the same time... It was good on the whole!!

I have not been before because it clashed with Winter Camp which has come to and end after nearly 20 years of Camp and it's precursor WAC!!
    I was disappointed not to spend enough time chatting with other Novocastrians but did resolve some things, get annoyed by some things, enjoyed the... space, affirmed some things and enjoyed seeing people empowered, challenged and stretched...
    I knew I was still underpower when I had no energy to muster an act for the 'Songfest/Vision/Storytelling' Night!! Not even the 'Frog' joke...
Some tweaking would refresh SoD and it's impact, including rewidening it's promotion next time.       There seemed to be a missing 'variety' of punters from recent past events and I wonder if networkers passed on details beyond their tertiary sphere. Sometimes families and a range of the various attenders can be 'busy' all in one year and back again the next year... who knows... It was a very anglo event too... to do otherwise begins with organisational colaborations and shared leadership.

    In the big picture it's another of those spaces that confirms what's possible if we reordered priority, resourcing and focus with those under 30!! For me that reinvention is not just about one cohort but recognises it's connections with younger people as well and shares a passion for context, mission and discipleship 'with' young people!! Bringing that about involves talking to those who can change things and being 'in' processes that bring it about...
    There's a myth that the main SoD crowd want 'heady academic Bible Study'... that's true for a core. For the most part I think SoDs greater strength is that they actually value it's affirmation of questioning, desire to mesh life and belief and to be able to think, not just be told... it's a subtle but significant difference!!
    Anyhow, I am reminded of who/what my ministry and mission point to... am affirmed by the use of liturgy, visuals and music so creatively and go back to my corner of the world without having to worry about those bigger questions except as I can join God's action where I am...

"I HATE WINTER!!!"

OK so it's about my 7th week of feeling less than 100% although for a change it's my first set of antibiotics!! A bit of travel in the last 2 weeks caught up and I'm resting at home but geez... it's time to feel better... weekend in jeopardy still at this stage!!
Little blogging break in order I feel!!

Where the Hell is Matt Harding? Now

Thanks Andy Crouch for highlighting Matt Harding's new clip and the article that takes a great angle on what's different about the 2012 version!! Read the article here
Regular readers [both of you] will remember the original posted here several times... agenuine glimpse of how the world could be with Matt's unique dance all over the world. His new clip is great and could also double as a great contrasting image of imposing culture or learning from culture yourself in a mission context... or it's just another great clip from Matt Harding whose story and clips are all here

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: SUMMARY

day 01 your favourite song ‘The Dead Heart’ Midnight Oil
day 02 your least favourite song ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ Billy Ray Sirus
day 03 a song that makes you happy ‘I Know What You Need’ Shane Nicholson
day 04 a song that makes you sad ‘Better Be Home Soon’ Crowded House
day 05 a song that reminds you of someone ‘Khe San’ Cold Chisel
day 06 a song that reminds you of somewhere ‘King & Country’ Seth Lakeman
day 07 a song that reminds you of a certain event ‘When Love Comes to Town’ U2
day 08 a song that you know all the words to ‘Dreamworld’ Midnight Oil
day 09 a song that you can dance to ‘Stayin’ Alive’ The Bee Gees
day 10 a song that makes you fall asleep ‘McArthur Park’ Donna Summer
day 11 a song from your favourite band ‘Walk On’ U2
day 12 a song from a band you hate ‘Sacred Trickster’ Sonic Youth
day 13 a song that is a guilty pleasure ‘If I Can’t Have You’ Kim Wilde
day 14 a song that no one would expect you to love ‘Speak Now’ Taylor Swift
day 15 a song that describes you ‘Outdoor Type’ The Lemonheads
day 16 a song that you used to love but now hate ‘Living Thing’ ELO
day 17 a song that you hear often on the radio ‘Rabbit Song’ Boy & Bear
day 18 a song that you wish you heard on the radio ‘Four Chords’ Axis of Awesome
day 19 a song from your favourite album ‘Beds are Burning’ Midnight Oil
day 20 a song that you listen to when you’re angry “These Days” Dave Grohl
day 21 a song that you listen to when you’re happy ‘Burn Your Name’ Powderfinger
day 22 a song that you listen to when you’re sad ‘Sometimes’ Alex Lloyd
day 23 a song that you want to play at your wedding ‘One Country’ Midnight Oil
day 24 a song that you want to play at your funeral
‘Melancholy & the Infinite Sadness’ Smashing Pumpkins
day 25 a song that makes you laugh
‘Hey Christina’ The Pigs ‘All of the Dreamers’ Powderfinger
‘The EBay Song’ Weird Al Jankovic
day 26 a song that you can play on an instrument ‘Light Today’ Eddie Vedder
day 27 a song that you wish you could play ‘World Upon Your Shoulders’ Silverchair
day 28 a song that makes you feel guilty ‘400 Miles from Darwin’ The Whitlams
day 29 a song from your childhood ‘Let It Be’ The Beatles
day 30 your favourite song at this time last year ‘Rolling in the Deep’ Adele

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: DAY 30 A song that was my favourite this time last year? "Rolling in the Deep" Adele

It was a pretty disengaging time 2/3rds of the way through June last year... I didn't have a role for this year, we couldn't do much new or anything long term... our little Team was rolling up the rug and this song could be played very loud!!!
She has a fine Welsh voice, seems unfazed by worldwide fame from what I've seen/read and think she was great to speak up about her body shape and image in the face of ignorant comment from a so called fashion 'expert'!!
Either way this album persists in the charts... I think it'll still be featured at the London Olympics in TV coverage along with Coldplay and others...
There's a depth and gravel for such a young voice and it's not over produced... she has handled throat issues well and is willing to walk away for a year or two if it all gets too crazy!!
Adele's music looks great danced to in contemporary form and is great for reflection and backing spiritual practice...

AND that is IT!!!! Summary file tomorrow!!

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: DAY 29 A song from my childhood? "Let It Be" The Beatles

Gotta have this band in any list of thirty songs I think. In truth we are talking early 1970s and the dominant Band of that any many years since... was it the invention of the passenger jet airliner that allowed them to be the big supergroup? e.g. ability to jump on a plane and head to the US [and beyond]quickly...
These songs were on TV, radio...on vinyl LPs and 45s and so on. I chose it because I recall watching 'The Beatles' cartoon in childhood [Saturday mornings I think] where they got into all kinds of adventures and played songs in each episode, had great accents, peppy cartoon selves and it was fun to watch... This clip has a sense of tension about it, with Yoko on the scene, scruffy and tired looking players and hints of little or no collaboration on these tracks?

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: DAY 28 A song that makes you feel guilty? "400 Miles from Darwin"

This is perhaps somewhere near my answer for Day 28... Whether I should have been more aware at a younger age, been more active on the issue and certainly in recent years I had hoped to get some partnership trips going through Uniting World [and will at some stage]... very pleased to hear of others partnerships and awareness of the sad history of occupation in Timor Leste [East Timor]... inspirational people alongside their leaders...
I'm also a fan of Tim Freedman and his many guises. Writing as he says 'about stuff that matters that others don't often write about'... couldn't find a clip so I put one together... might have to 'Ken Burns' it when I have more time!!

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: DAY 27 A song you wish you could play? "World Upon Your Shoulders" Silverchair

Silverchair were a band made up of very young Newcastle lads who were talented musicians that happened to attend Newcastle High School. Theirs is a great story... following the influences from their dads record collections they were exposed to an array of classic rock.
From sets at Jewells Tavern to Battle of the Bands and hooking up with manager John Watson, they went from the 12 yr old songwriters unkindly known as 'Nirvana in Pyjamas'to a mature world famous band...
In the end Daniel John's desire to break out and try a variety of musical styles led to their 'hybernation'...
Meeting them at Launceston Airport having seen them live the night before I still laugh about them being so excited to meet someone who played for the same Rugby Clu as their legend school mates... Wandereres Rugby Club... using Chris Joanou's dads laundry for our jerseys... Science Laundry at Merewether!!
We also won tix to their secret Luna Park gig with 300 others for what was an amazing concert so early in their fame!!
This song is exquisite in it's detail and musicianship... love Ben Gillies drumming!!

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: day 26 A song you can play on an instrument?

Since I can't play any instrument beyond Year 7 recorder [Farewell Aunty Jack and God Save the Queen] or comb and paper... I am left to choose one I'd love to be able to play... I have always wished I was a drummer but I think ukelele is 'more' likely and this would be a very cool achievement!!

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: DAY 25 A song that makes you laugh?

I'm cheating but I can't split three songs...they all make me laugh!!
The first by 'The Pigs' is a 'tribute' to an ex I guess...
The second is 'All of the Dreamers' by Powderfinger...
I love their music but from the very first time I heard this song I laughed at the lines about coming 'down to the barrio, to get a feel for the people's scenario'... are you kidding me!!

And lastly the oh so apt ode to EBay by Wierd Al Yankovic...
If you're an EBay regular you get it...

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE DAY 24: A song you'd play at your Funeral? 'Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness'

Not only would I not actually play this at my Funeral because I'd be dead, but also because try as I have [a little bit] I cannot play a musical instrument [nothing beyond Year 7 Recorder or paper and comb anyhow] BUT I love music so much that I marvel at and revel in great creativity...
Yes there are Oils and U2 tracks for part of the service, but at an appropriate reflective time or for the walking out I would include this piece of music demo'd in this file by Billy Corgan. Sarah McLachlan would also get a look in somewhere or 'Sound of White' by Missy Higgins.
I'm caught up now so later I will post a song that make me laugh...

Try as I might I have yet to include a few bands in my 30 Days or at least not enough of them:

ZZ Top
Mary Chapin Carpenter
The Indigo Girls
Sleepy Jackson
Elton John
Alice Cooper
10,000 Maniacs
The Dugites
John Butler
Crowded House and so it goes on...

"Brave" Featurette

Tee up a special holiday youth group outing to see 'Brave' then adjourn somewhere for food shared and help build group away from the pressure of a Friday Night!!
It's true sometimes kids need financial help to participate [and others seek it and then spend the whole film texting their mates on their prepaid mobile phone just to annoy you!!] BUT make a choice about what you're doing and why and follow up accordinagly with subsidy, work for subsidy or other creative possibilities...

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: DAY TWENTY THREE A song you'd like to play at your wedding? "One Country" Midnight Oil

Not would like to... did... pre data projectors on a large box TV perched on top of the piano!!
The song was chosen as part of the worship theme about community and connections...

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: DAY TWENTY TWO A song you listen to when you're sad? "Sometimes" Alex Lloyd

   I love Alex Lloyd's music... it's so honest and it's simple but emotional. I don't know how to articulate that you just know he's from Balmain [well Roselle] [can you help with that Nic?].
   He does interesting things with most of his film clips and he has music for many occasions. The songs sneak up on you!!
   The other reason I like Alex Lloyd is also hard to explain because it's probably an 'in' joke... is it just me or the members of my household who understand the idea of "a fat man in a thin man's body?" Over the years Alex Lloyd has appeared 'solid' or carrying a bit of weight and then next single he's trimmed down and lean... but secretly I know he'd rather be eating all the pies!! It's like the lead singer of 'Eskimo Joe'... who moving on from the 'Cardigan Song' got a hair style, lost heaps of weight etc etc... but of course it's all about the music!! Clear as mud... well, the quintessential example might just be Warney!! or perhaps only us 'big fellas' understand... especially those of us who only have to look at a block of chocolate and we put on 5kgs... let alone vacuuming them down at the sound of silver foil crumpling.... ok ok... There are other great versions of this track but this one is from 'Dancing with the Stars'... only spoilt by Daryl's intro and outro...
It can either lift your mood or tell you it's ok to be sad sometimes... that might be for good reason!!