samUrban Hymns

Moved

2010-03-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

samUrban Hymns has moved to www.samurbanhymns.wordpress.com.

Wordpress does seem even in my currently limited experience quite considerably better.

One of the weirdest things I ever saw

2010-03-17T02:25:00.000-07:00

This is Mike. One day when I came home last night I entered his room to find him asleep (passed out may be more accurate). As he lay, draped on his bed and fully clothed, I questioned for the first time whether my friend was a vampire. I have ever after asked this.

He lay asleep with one eye open.

I stood in front of him. I used the flash of my camera right in his eye. I tried to talk to him. He did not stir, blink, motion any recognition. I believe that he could see me though.

This is to date one of the weirdest things I ever saw.

What I did with my Saturday

2010-03-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I amuse with writing. Here are three short things written on a slow starting Saturday.

This is the man

(A man and his) Beard

(A man and a) Table

Not to be taken to seriously.

God gives grace to the humble

2010-03-14T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the talk that I did at the below mentioned church gathering.

Bible section was 2 Kings 5:1-14. The first six minutes samples the music and gets my vocal pretty clearly. I left it because (a) I don't have the editing software (b) I think that it gives a bit of context.

This is the big idea if you want to save 40 odd minutes: God gives grace to those who humble themselves before him.

A gathering of the redeemed

2010-03-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

I was struck, in a book that I read by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, by the excellent normality of Church life. They are writing to a group of guys who basically think that the church needs at a fundamental level to change to fit the culture. It is very often hard to pin down what they are saying and it does come to a point where really, you have to ask whether these guys are actually changing what we should believe. After some reading around the subject these Emergents (as they call themselves) seem to be a group of guys who want to be a bit cooler than your average church goer. But they are not alone; there is plenty of literature on how to change to be a more relevant church.

The chapter I have in mind, describes them going to a small rural American church. Where the Emergent churches would seem to draw a generic sort of person (latte sippers, if you will), the chapter highlights the simple beauty of a gathering of people who are all very different, but united by their love for Jesus. They describe the simple service, humble coffee, standard conversation and normal working people in a refreshingly positive way. There are lots of people in the church who can fall into the trap of thinking it is about the coffee you serve, the music played, the welcome you receive and all that jazz.

Having, this morning, been with a small gathering of people to worship God together, I would echo Kevin and Ted’s sentiments. Our number was small, we had to sing unaccompanied, the speaker was a 22 year old novice, the coffee was instant; really in worldly terms there was not a huge amount going for us. Yet, that is not what church is about. God was praised in hearts and minds, the Bible was explained and we were all greatly encouraged in one another’s company.

Experiences like these really do challenge how you look at the church. Tim Chester and Steve Timmis in Total Church outlay two necessary principles for church. One is that we have the Gospel and the other is that we have a community context for it to be lived out in. I think that we often could hold more dearly to these simple principles and a little more loosely to all the paraphernalia that we are prone to getting caught up in.

Alice in Wonderland

2010-03-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

If you go to see a children’s film, expect to see a children’s film. Going into the film with the expectation that I wasn’t going to be on the edge of my seat, wondering how and what the resolution of Alice’s adventure would be I wasn’t I wasn’t surprised as I sat in non-suspense; indeed in complete apathy to the conclusion. I came away from the film feeling a little flat. There seemed to be element missing. I guess that is because it was a Disney kid’s film.

It was an excellent kid’s film. Alice goes back to wonderland this time as a teenager. It seems that as in Narnia times have gotten hard and there needs to be someone to rescue the enslaved people. (I am not going to but) it would not take long to list seventy or so similarities. I would rather Alice any day though. Tim Burton created a superb fantasy land. Both regal and barren. Colourful and subdued. The quality of a dream was captured in the impossibility of the acts, but more than that the ease with which Alice sauntered through the film. Things happened that would never be so. The locations swapped and blurred and delineations between actions were smudged. The characters were intriguing and layered with subtlety. I would be friends with Alice, seek council from the Hatter, attempt to marry the White Queen, and play golf with the White Queen. The mouse annoyed me (and I would like to think that Tim was forced by Disney to put it in). If I was ten I would have been enthralled. Being twenty-two I was vaguely entertained.

Further reflection A. at the end of the film the Red Queen who is a murderous tyrant – even murdering her own husband – was banished to the outside of the kingdom. There she was to be shackled to her equally evil partner; they exit the film shrieking at each other, seemingly unhappy at their fatThe analogy is not perfect but this goes someway to describing Hell. A place of abandonment to those who deserve it (the crime: ignorance to the creator God). Here and now we experience all that is good because of God kindly giving them to us. Our ignorance is that we don’t attribute or thank God for kindness. Hell is a place for those who ignore and show disdain toward God. A place where those who never gave thanks to God for his kindness, having his kindness removed from them. The difference between the White Queen and God is that he provides a rescue for all God ignorers regardless of their degree of evil – He does this through Jesus.

Further reflection B. It occurred to me as the film closed that I would, in many ways, rather be in this all together more fantastic and colourful world, over the one we inhabit. A world where there aren’t bad things, where there seems no impossibility and everything carries some buzz of excitement in it. This is generally why I like films, I think – a limited form of escapism. Yet as I do dwell on this I think about what the Bible calls heaven. A place where there is perfect colour, perfect creativity, complete happiness and none of the difficult experiences of the now. I think that the fact that fantasy films, book and philosophy exist, is testament that deep inside there is a desire for more than we have on Earth. The Bible calls this heaven and I am really excited to see what the most creative, fantastical, brilliant, and imaginative mind that there is has in store.

What I listened to this week

2010-03-12T07:47:00.001-08:00

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

My plan of late has been to get involved with around three new or infrequently listened to albums a week. This album hijacked all plans. Originally bought for me (at my request) by my parents for Christmas, I had only given this limited air time on my Walkman. Listened to it en route to Mondays 0721 from North Sheen; average. Then on the walk to Costa again; better. I was intrigued. By Thursday I had visited close to double digits all the way through. Belisimo. Can't get enough of.

Understated. Fitted the urban surroundings of central London, but in my mind it created a strangely contorted world. I wouldn't have been surprised if one of the tall buildings I walked past tipped it's hat to me, or if a hole opened in the road and winked at me. I am sure that people where friendlier toward me. Each person that walked past me seemed interesting and different; I thought perhaps in different circumstances we might get on well. Good stuff. The video for Two Weeks captures something of the sentiment (as I suppose one would expect).

A word I seem to commonly mis-type

2010-03-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

Not particularly significant to anyone I guess but, my most commonly mis-typed word

phone

It usually comes out as phine. That at least has been my observation.

Freezing cold callers

2010-03-12T07:01:00.000-08:00

Much of my recent humour comes from Seinfeld. This blog is even in part named after the shows substantial theme. When necessary I am one of those guys who needs to immediately re watch a moment in time to exhaust it of it's excellency; a habit picked up from my Dad I think. This was a rewind moment.

I haven't got a phone line or enough bottle but, when these two factors come to pass I will do this.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2010-03-12T06:59:00.000-08:00

Curious indeed. Succinct thought: pretty weird, quite entertaining, mildly thought provoking, went on a little bit.

I watched the film as a compromise with my house. Susan (EQ) brought a selection, I wanted to watch Son of Rambo, no-one else did and so I caved. My reflection on this part of the evening was that it is good to do things you don't want to do, sometimes you learn things you wouldn't have; this is often though a dangerous move, leading to 90 odd minutes of boredom and irritation. That was not the case last night though.

Quick sketch: basically a boy is born as an old man because some other guy made a clock that turned backwards (because his son died in the war). The old young guy grows into and young old guy. There is a girl who grows up into a woman. Her and Benjamin are in love. It is all a bit complicated because of the whole age thing. They do meet in the middle for a bit and have a good time, but ends...

Thought provoking point concerned the issue of fate, chance, inevitability, causation (not really sure what you would call it). Why do things happen? There is an excellent scene where someone gets run over. Takes loads of little things that happened in the build up to the event and asks whether one variable had changed would it have happened? Quite an awesome thought. Why does anything happen as it happens? Is it really a combination of random occurrences (which in themselves randomly were defined by other randomly defined events and so on) which define what happens?

I don't think that is what the film was saying. To me it seemed to be saying that inter weaved in all these events was a unifying theme which brought these occurrences (and the variables behind them) to pass. Lots of the characters sentiments seemed to suggest a resignment to fate; that is, I think, the inevitable which must come to pass. One inevitable is death, another seemed to be love. Somehow these inevitables weave their way through life meshing it together and causing. Maybe.

There where a number of comments made on the value of life; particularly the unwanted creature Benjamin. The doctor says at his birth, 'some creatures just weren't born to live.' Yet the kind woman who finds him, sees the value of life even in this child. There really is something in that.

What did I think the film told me to do with my life? I think that it said there are certain things that are going to happen; they are in the hands of a force higher than we people and so make the most of what you have, accept your circumstance because, before you know it you will be six feet underground. Of the things we should do relationships are the most important (and perhaps experiences too).

My response is this. I think that there is a God who sustains the world. He is the one behind what happens in it; nothing is beyond his control. There is nothing random. unlike the film, the causing element is personal and knowable. Death in not natural; people should not die and God did not create us to live only for 80 odd years. He created us to live forever. This being the case the Bible says people have one of two destinations after death which are decided by a choice (our responsibility) as to whether we know the personal cause and sustainer of the universe; His name is God and we come to relationship with him through Jesus. Destination A at death eternity with God (because of relationship with Him before death; Destination B at death, eternity without God in Hell (because of ignorance toward Him before death). Some things are outside of our control, others are firmly within our grasp.

You cannot be serious

2010-03-10T03:20:00.000-08:00

I knew this well worn phrase, but I had never seen the context of the words. No wonder they have gone down in history.

2010-03-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

Some things make you feel like a real man. My gratitude is extended to A. Barrie for a reminder of this particular incident.

The bike needed to get from our (trainees) possession into Isabelle's (former trainee) possession. Now as I contemplated how this iron frame bike might get from A to B there were really two options but complicated factors. Option one - push the bike; the complication here is twofold. Firstly the bikes tyres were severely deflated (hence option one not being the more obvious riding). The deflated tyres would simply have been pushed out of the frames and led to their being ground by the hardened Kew road system. Second complication is that the bike is an off pink. No man should be seen pushing a pink bike.

Indeed the colour of the bike is a major issue in its transportation. And so I concluded that I could only really plum for option two: carry the (did I mention) iron frame bike for one mile to destination B. Being pure man (as increasingly co-oberated by the beard) I carried the bike; wearing the lock as a kind of victorious medallion.

Alice in where?

2010-03-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

I have been looking forward to this film for ages. I think that Tim Burton is a genius. And yet after watching this trailer I have found my enthusiasm wane. It has been a while since I read Alice's story but, I am pretty sure it is not about a war between Alice and the Queen of hearts. It looked like a lot of generic trailers with a battle between good and evil; my assumption is that it ends with Alice and her army winning and setting Wonderland free? (From my extrapolations) it sounds more like 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'.

It does look aesthetically pleasing and I imagine that the Hatter is very cool.

Currently (and it should be said I am an open minded kind of guy) I will not be going to spend £9 at Richmond Odeon on this. Shame.

The science of sleep

2010-03-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

This video gives a bit of a taste for (what I currently consider) the greatest film I have ever watched.

Stephane is this guy who basically spends his entire life mixing the dreams and reality. Most of the film you are captured by this vision which you cannot really be sure is happening or not. It captures those little moments of magic which your imagination constantly creates yet stay locked in your mind. As well as the appearingly random nature of dreams.

And yet the reality of the world outside of the quasi world which Stephane creates is difficult. His situation is one which presents death, heartbreak and monotony. How he deals with it is intriguing and the dream commentary is insightful. The love story between Stephane and Stephanie is charming and wonderful; it captures the elements of a love story; joy, angst, despair et al in an innovative way.

Beard encouragement

2010-03-05T05:59:00.001-08:00

My parents arrived at ten o'clock last night. As followers and friends alike will be aware I am in the process of creating a beard. An earlier post revealed my disheartened Wednesday outlook after seeing the new FCUK campaign. Yet my Father gave kind and gracious encouragement that is spurring me on into week four of the adventure. He kindly likened my beard to (a) Captain Ahab's (left) and (b) a disciples. Onward I shall go.

Comments have generally been decent regarding my endeavour. I have found it encouraging that it is referred to as the 'beard'. One from Luke (age 8) likened me to Obi-wan Kenobi. The previous week I had been mocked and derided by M. Nelson and it is my belief that is what wobbled my confidence earlier this week. Whilst on the subject of Nelson here are my thoughts on what he would deem his own beard creating ability; he has no ability or skills in this department, his facial hair is but a mocking whisper to his over sized facial hair ego. He talks the talk but, growth wise he is an infant and a toddler.

Loituma

2010-03-05T05:48:00.000-08:00

This has for a number of years blown my mind. A beautiful blend of finely interwoven song. It gives meaning to toe tapping. In the construction of this post I have just taken the experiance to a new level; a lot of the best discoveries are incidental. Simply open the Youtube tab with the video on numerous times at slight delays.

Three albums I have been listening to this week

2010-03-05T05:47:00.000-08:00

Grandaddy - Under the Western Freeway

I found this to be most enjoyable as I walked to catch the 0721 on Tuesday morning. The light was creeping into its place and the street lights were fading into insignificance. To me the music and its dreamlike theme seemed very appropriate. Has become a favourite almost instantly.

Belle and Sebastian - If your feeling sinister

I have been listening to lots of Belle and Sebastian of late. Mainly grazing the Arab Boy's pasture. I think I had listened to this album before but, not in it's entirely or with any kind of effort. A delight. I think the thing I like most are the characters that they invent and the stories that they tell. Kind of feel like I have made some new friends (perhaps my saying that is an indication that I should try and find some real ones).

My Chemical Romance - Three cheers for sweet revenge

Sometimes you just have to try things. It was £4. Yeah it was rash, stupid, a waste of my time, it funded the production of more rubbish; and yet I am not sure that I regret it. This album is awful. And yet I found some kind of half pulsed satisfaction in revisiting the angst of my teenage years. One particular moment which made me smile was listening to 'I'm not ok' on the 1702 to N. Sheen with my Conversed feet on the opposite seat. There was a girl stood a few metres away (a bit younger) who clearly was feeling the same micro rebellious sentiment that I was. Sad I know.

An intact bull

2010-03-03T06:50:00.000-08:00

When I think of my beard, this is what I think of. I am not sure that I am really there yet, indeed I feel disheartened in many ways.

The film I watched on Thursday (500 Days of Summer)

2010-02-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

Susan was over the other night and brought a selection of films with her. I left the room to take a call and when I returned '500 days of summer' had been chosen by the four person panel. I am in no ways a snob about films and open mindedly watched the film.

My conclusion is this. It is a film that advertises itself as something that it isn't. It tries to be like Amalie or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind but, in a watered down, easier to get kind of way. I found myself asking why it did some of things that it did, when if it had not done them it might have been alright.

Two good things. 'Summer' is a good lass (the kind you might consider a small crush on but know you would never date because it would be just to much hassle). Second, the film does not end with the obvious happy ending (although the ending is still crap but, for different reasons).

Three things that made it rubbish. The guy (don't recall his name) was rubbish; a poor man's Hugh Grant. There was a voice over; I am not sure whether it was supposed to be tongue in cheek or was there exclusively to wind me up; either way, rubbish. Third, I ended the film slouched on the floor hiding from the screen as the guy at the end horrendously chatted up a different girl. Why couldn't it just be left open or he was not successful. Boring, cringy and desperately sad.

As the credits rolled I wondered what it was saying about happiness. The main characters happiness was founded upon the relationship that he was having or wishing for with Summer. When this doesn't happen he is destroyed. He had made his life to be founded upon it. Towards the end as he gets over her I thought maybe this would say the happiness wasn't about women or success but, rather something more profound. It didn't say that and in fact really said nothing about happiness or love.

The most disappointing thing was that the four others present gave the film between 7 and 9 out of 10. As Mike would say, 'simply another proof that people should not be given choice.'

My Chemical Romance

2010-02-28T09:07:00.000-08:00

I am impressed by the cleverness of this video. It plays on all the emotions that everyone has felt at various times in life. Even the person at the pinnacle of social standing has felt something contained here, even if for the briefest of moments. I have always thought that MCR and bands created in this vain have a way of bringing people who feel disaffected and uniting them; forming a community of sorts.

I suppose that all people who are into music find themselves identifying themselves by what they listen to. Perhaps this video and the themes that it hits on make the point clearer.

Yesterday I saw 'Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge' for £4 and bought it. I am listening to it now. It is not very good; yet as has always been the case I feel strangely warmed by listening to it. Let me be clear, I don't like it, yet at the same time I can't help but like it. Maybe it is part of my quarter life crisis.

Remissions from the kitchen of my life

2010-02-28T01:06:00.000-08:00

Of an average morning I have a habit of listening to loud music whilst in the kitchen. The supply is from Andrew 'the Barrister' Barries iPod and so limited in its appeal. And yet I find myself (daily) sucked into the vortex of my musical past. Today's offering reminded me of one and a half people from my history.

(a) James. I have a friend called Alex; James (the band) brought this fine and upstanding fellow to mind as it was he who introduced me to them. I never really took his recommendation seriously but for two songs. The one about sitting down and the one about 'her' being a star; both of which I listened to this morning.

To me, Alex has become an almost legendary figure. One who's epic proportions seem vaguely mythical. A man of standing and loft; I hear today he stands two feet above mere mortals. A man constructed exclusively of rubber; every bone, sinew and limb. A man of grandeur, the kind of man who would dare carry a change purse and use it! A man of valor who would fight even the smallest of battles for the sweet scent of victory. A man intellect; yes limited as we all, but a man of intellect non-the-less. In many ways, I am reminded of the BFG as I consider, with reverence, this great man. This is my memoir and ode to Alex Hamilton.

(b) James Blunt. We together with Gwylim (sp?) (the 'half' who will have a memoir of his own) shared moments. As I sang to myself this morning, I could but shed a tear as I remembered watching, from an elevated space, men, women and children cry to the melodic farewell tones of 'Goodbye'. Emotional.

26 pence and a pint of larger

2010-02-28T00:46:00.000-08:00

In the past 24 hours I have had two excellent things happen to me.

(1) Last night I was at the pub with two esteemed men from Devon and found that my previously made decision that I like a regular larger (that is, larger that does not contain lime; 'anti-regularger' if you will please) was correct. I had a Kronenbourg on Wednesday evening and thought, 'this tastes alright'. And what are the chances? I had it again last night; concluded the same. It is actually alright. Excellent

(2) This morning whilst I was pottering around my kitchen I noticed a glistening in the corner of my eye. I stooped to behold. There before my very eyes was a collection of coins in the lip of the washing machine. 26 pence. This consisted of one 20p, one penny and a 5p. How did it get there? I don't know. I have suspicisions but no evidence as yet. So here I am now 26 pence and slightly the richer. Excellent.

The Friday 'blog' surprise

2010-02-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

blog

I have just typed this into the 'new post' section of Blogger. I am surprised that the spell checker does not recognise the word 'blog'.

Ironically (I think) the definition of irony has always been something I have struggled to pin down and understand, but I think this is an example.

The (secret) power of whistling

2010-02-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

I have thought for some time about the power of whistling. It all started one Tuesday evening in my local Sainsburys. I noticed after I had partaken in some casual whistling (the Great Escape theme I believe) that people who I had never met where joining me and making it their own. A later experiment in Switzerland proved the power of the whistle. This is confirmable by the Taylors and has been commented on by Mr S. Pryor. I am in the process of conducting more objective and scientific testings, with the view to writing a paper on the subject.

This song is enjoyable in the mean time and conveys some of my thinking.

What I can see over the top of my laptop series (1)

2010-02-26T07:17:00.000-08:00

This is, I think, the first series that I will do:

What I can see over the top of my laptop series

Today I am sat on front desk duty because it is Friday. This is some of what I can see today.

a. A former copier paper box, upturned and used as a container for next months Calvin reading group.

b. A set of instructions for manning the desk. Including, 'Transferring Calls', 'Sermon Purchase Request', and 'Media Team'.

c. A collection of semi wilting flowers. They are in a glass beaker, two thirds filled with water. The flowers have green stems, white heads which fade to purple or yellow at their extremities. I think they brighten the place up.

d. An English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible. It is red and leather bound, with gold etched writing. It is published by Crossway. Some have coined this version of the Bible the 'Extremely Sound Version'. It seems a good translation to me.

What I listened to this morning as I walked into work

2010-02-26T07:07:00.000-08:00

I have only ever listened to one Smiths album in its entirety. The one pictured right.

I have heard it said that there are two camps when it comes to The Smiths. The 'they are good' camp and the 'they are bad' camp. I don't know if it is true and would hate to be so black and white about the subject. Yet seeing as I have some experience of this album I will say what I think.

I think that it is good. I think that the bits with guitar are nice and they sound different yet, complementary to the man who is singing. I think some of the things that the man (and sometimes the woman who helps him out) sings are interesting and cleverly poetic.

I guess if I was to be monochrome on the situation, I would put myself in the 'they are good' camp. Certainly when I was walking through suburbia (particularly past the rugby ground) I was enjoying them.

Stick to the Status Quo

2010-02-26T06:20:00.001-08:00

Too much grey?

2010-02-26T05:55:00.000-08:00

The question that I asked myself this morning, three minutes after leaving my house this morning was, am I wearing too much grey? This was was posed upon the realisation that my overcoat, the last edition to the ensemble, was only a couple of shades away from the grey of my trousers (chosen two hours previously).

The various car reflections that I checked myself in suggested all was well. Yet, (and this may be me over analysing things) I think a couple of people looked me up and down with scowling glances. Thus removing my self assured confidence. Upon arriving at DSC I asked my amigo, Todd, whether he felt there was room for improvement. He assured me it was ok and, indeed, may actually work quite well.

So, there we have it. Was I wearing too much grey this morning? The answers seems to be (according to my fashion icon American friend): No.