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Thursday, April 20, 2006
I've been to the Ernesto Neto installation at Malmö's Konsthall twice in the past fortnight. It's so much fun watching a bunch of rather serious looking Swedish people walk into the huge interior of this imaginary being and relax into playful, fun individuals. The link above will give you an impression of what it's like, but I'll post some photos when I get the chance.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Apologies to all my friends who study music and take the "rhythm" or "movement" class, but when I see you dance it reminds me of this...
Believe it or not, I woke this morning to the sound of a cockrel announcing that morning had broken (or at least was about to break). I looked at my phone, which read 05:48, and determined (for about half an hour) that I would go back to sleep. During that half hour (during which time the beloved cockrel never let up) I got to thinking that my parents would arrive in Malmö in a matter of hours. The excitement, coupled with the fact that there were things to be done in preparation, stole all hopes of returning to my slumber.
Monday, April 03, 2006
The Beastie Boys were guests on the Zane Lowe show on Radio 1 a few weeks ago when they were in Texas. While being interviewed they gave a heads up to a band called Measles Mumps Rubella, who have some pretty nice mp3s on their website. In the same vein as !!! but more punky.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
It's true that a watched pot never boils. At an average rate of 0.44mm per day it's going to be at least six months before my hair is this long.
Right now it's hard to tell what my new style will be, but I'm hoping for an afro like Dave.
Right now it's hard to tell what my new style will be, but I'm hoping for an afro like Dave.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Spring seems to be here. I've been finding myself overdressed as I venture out of our apartment building, which is such a nice feeling.
Mark was here for the weekend, which was a lot of fun. When people asked us what we had been up to the main thing we could think of was that we'd been eating a lot.
Yesterday I was getting really frustrated with one section of PHP code that I just couldn't get to the bottom of. So I turned off the computer, enjoyed a relaxing evening, then came back to it this morning and figured it out within 1 hour.
My Mum and Dad are visiting the week before Easter, which should be a lot of fun, especially with the weather apparently improving.
Mark was here for the weekend, which was a lot of fun. When people asked us what we had been up to the main thing we could think of was that we'd been eating a lot.
Yesterday I was getting really frustrated with one section of PHP code that I just couldn't get to the bottom of. So I turned off the computer, enjoyed a relaxing evening, then came back to it this morning and figured it out within 1 hour.
My Mum and Dad are visiting the week before Easter, which should be a lot of fun, especially with the weather apparently improving.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Levelling the playing field?
I was interested to read this morning that Isaac Hayes has quit Southpark because of it's insensitivity to "personal spiritual beliefs." It's interesting that he should make this comment now after working on the show, which consistently parodies world religions, since 1997.
The move was taken in response to an episode which openly mocked the Church of Scientology, to which Hayes belongs.
One thing that struck me in the midst of this debate, which seems to echo in some way the Danish Muhammad Incident, is that there may be a certain levelling going on. No longer is it merely the "religion of Christianity" that is ok to mock, but any religion. Though I'd be careful about criticising the religion of western liberalism (you know, the one that says that I (i.e. the individual) is God) because it has so many members and certainly the most powerful weapons at its disposal.
BTW. If you're really into sci-fi, believe that anything goes, and looking for a religion then I'd certainly recommend Scientology and it's rather fruity doctrines.
Read more on the Southpark story here...
I was interested to read this morning that Isaac Hayes has quit Southpark because of it's insensitivity to "personal spiritual beliefs." It's interesting that he should make this comment now after working on the show, which consistently parodies world religions, since 1997.
The move was taken in response to an episode which openly mocked the Church of Scientology, to which Hayes belongs.
One thing that struck me in the midst of this debate, which seems to echo in some way the Danish Muhammad Incident, is that there may be a certain levelling going on. No longer is it merely the "religion of Christianity" that is ok to mock, but any religion. Though I'd be careful about criticising the religion of western liberalism (you know, the one that says that I (i.e. the individual) is God) because it has so many members and certainly the most powerful weapons at its disposal.
BTW. If you're really into sci-fi, believe that anything goes, and looking for a religion then I'd certainly recommend Scientology and it's rather fruity doctrines.
Read more on the Southpark story here...
Friday, March 17, 2006
Now I know for sure that I'm not going to volunteer for medical testing, however lucratively it may pay. This week I've been pretty homesick - missing friends, family, former communities of faith, momentum and the Toucan Club. Last night's housegroup was such a blessing - I'm very encouraged to have such a good group of friends who are there for me even when I'm less than cheerful.
It's been great learning more about Flash and catching up with the episodes of Lost that I've missed since being here.
Tonight we head to Johan's Church, where (apparently) the husband of Cardigan Nina Persson is showing a multimedia installation.
Har det bra!
Update: we didn't make it to the art installation but instead decided to bake sugar cake.
It's been great learning more about Flash and catching up with the episodes of Lost that I've missed since being here.
Tonight we head to Johan's Church, where (apparently) the husband of Cardigan Nina Persson is showing a multimedia installation.
Har det bra!
Update: we didn't make it to the art installation but instead decided to bake sugar cake.
Monday, March 13, 2006
The style of my last post reminded me of a discovery I made a few years ago while looking through some old school books. I found one of my first ever pieces of written work. It was an answer to the question "what music do you like?" and began something like this...
I like Cliff Richards because his music is fast and sometimes his music is slow.
There were more spelling mistakes, but the thing that caught my attention was the innocence of my musical appreciation. I didn't have many grammatical tools, didn't have a vocabulary with which to express what I heard, and (clearly) didn't have a well developed musical palette. None the less, each new musical discovery had a freshness about it. Whether it was fast or slow, loud or quiet, it was an adventure.
Disclaimer: this quote was written at the age of 4 or 5. The responsibility for my musical listening at that age was not my own and can therefore not be held against me. Pretty please?
I like Cliff Richards because his music is fast and sometimes his music is slow.
There were more spelling mistakes, but the thing that caught my attention was the innocence of my musical appreciation. I didn't have many grammatical tools, didn't have a vocabulary with which to express what I heard, and (clearly) didn't have a well developed musical palette. None the less, each new musical discovery had a freshness about it. Whether it was fast or slow, loud or quiet, it was an adventure.
Disclaimer: this quote was written at the age of 4 or 5. The responsibility for my musical listening at that age was not my own and can therefore not be held against me. Pretty please?
Monday, March 06, 2006
I've had Chris here since Tuesday. It's been a lot of fun hanging out, showing him Malmö, reminiscing on old times and catching up with recent events. My highlights so far (he doesn't leave til tomorrow, so there's plenty of time for more!) include:
A game of bike-tag that ended painfully on our way home from Elin's place (I now have a nice big scab on my knee).
SKA night at Metro. Dancing with Chris and Emma. Encouraging people to take the only clear route from the toilet to their seats (behind the bar) and watching them get caught (props to Jamez the Priest and Petter for their use of cunning. Points are awarded for avoidance of bar steward wrath and stylish navigation of the route in question).
Chris being told that his accent sounds like Anastasia!
A game of bike-tag that ended painfully on our way home from Elin's place (I now have a nice big scab on my knee).
SKA night at Metro. Dancing with Chris and Emma. Encouraging people to take the only clear route from the toilet to their seats (behind the bar) and watching them get caught (props to Jamez the Priest and Petter for their use of cunning. Points are awarded for avoidance of bar steward wrath and stylish navigation of the route in question).
Chris being told that his accent sounds like Anastasia!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Chris flies into Malmö this evening, which is very exciting. Out of all my friends I've probably known him the longest (at least 10 years), and, while we don't see each other all that often anymore, when we get together it feels like we just pick up where we left off.
I'm trying to get as much work done before he arrives as possible...
I'm trying to get as much work done before he arrives as possible...
Thursday, February 23, 2006
A simple question (part 2)
One thing that I know is that we all unexpectantly crave authenticity. We're so accustomed to the glossy sales pitch which, on closer inspection, is full of holes. We know marketing strategies, we know consumerism and we know that we can't trust people. But, if we're brave enough to admit it, we hope that authenticity exists and that if we look hard enough we might find it.
Then those of us who endeavour to follow Jesus look around and notice that people expect us to be judgemental, closed minded, hypocritical, out of touch. Sure, those same people, when looking at Jesus would say they see an authenticity and a hope that they wish were true, but those who claim to represent him don't echo the stories of that wonderful man.
We gather, we pray, we worship. We worry about being misunderstood. We worry about judging and try to figure out how not to do it. Our groups, whether we like it or not, need leading. The leaders need leading. We say we want to put character before gifting, that we don't choose someone just because they are good at something, but because their first goal is following Jesus and they are steadily ordering their lives around his.
Deep down we trust that we can be different, we can be authentic and we can follow Jesus. Our communities are open, they say "come as you are," just as Jesus did. We long that our lives would begin to resemble that of Christ and hope that our faith is something beyond the cerebral.
But how do we juggle the tension that exists between desiring an authentic spirituality and knowing that along the way we will fall short of our own aspirations? How do we model this authentic spirituality to those around us? How do we handle our responsibility as leaders of leaders to appoint people whose lives reflect Jesus but with an awareness that even we fall short?
How do we shape an ethics that is non-judgemental, but which affirms the possibility of change and expects it?
One thing that I know is that we all unexpectantly crave authenticity. We're so accustomed to the glossy sales pitch which, on closer inspection, is full of holes. We know marketing strategies, we know consumerism and we know that we can't trust people. But, if we're brave enough to admit it, we hope that authenticity exists and that if we look hard enough we might find it.
Then those of us who endeavour to follow Jesus look around and notice that people expect us to be judgemental, closed minded, hypocritical, out of touch. Sure, those same people, when looking at Jesus would say they see an authenticity and a hope that they wish were true, but those who claim to represent him don't echo the stories of that wonderful man.
We gather, we pray, we worship. We worry about being misunderstood. We worry about judging and try to figure out how not to do it. Our groups, whether we like it or not, need leading. The leaders need leading. We say we want to put character before gifting, that we don't choose someone just because they are good at something, but because their first goal is following Jesus and they are steadily ordering their lives around his.
Deep down we trust that we can be different, we can be authentic and we can follow Jesus. Our communities are open, they say "come as you are," just as Jesus did. We long that our lives would begin to resemble that of Christ and hope that our faith is something beyond the cerebral.
But how do we juggle the tension that exists between desiring an authentic spirituality and knowing that along the way we will fall short of our own aspirations? How do we model this authentic spirituality to those around us? How do we handle our responsibility as leaders of leaders to appoint people whose lives reflect Jesus but with an awareness that even we fall short?
How do we shape an ethics that is non-judgemental, but which affirms the possibility of change and expects it?
Monday, February 20, 2006
A simple question (part 1)
I've been pondering a fairly interesting question that, I think, really deserves some focus of theological energies. It involves the tension that exists between being a people 'in the world, but not of it,' along with concepts like inclusivity and exclusivity.
I'm part of a community of faith. We are a people who have decided that we want to follow Jesus. We are a people for whom the call to be apprentices comes before all the other things that pull on our lives. At least that's the target we've got our sights on. In choosing to follow Jesus I choose to no longer follow myself.
We have all been raised by a culture which screams individualism. A culture whose only true God is ones self. My only framework for life involves following myself. My worldview is that of seeing me as the centre of the cosmos. The world does revolve around me. I can form a set of beliefs which are most convenient to me. I can have a McDonald's (or Subway) brand of spirituality, where I take what I like and leave behind what I don't. God is only real if he affirms the infantile urges that I've been trained to succumb to.
Then I'm invited into a way of life which is all about community. A way of life which states that the best leaders are the best servants. I'm struck by how different this is, how much love is on offer and how my imagination is captured by this life beyond my own. But I've been taught that it's only hypocrites who claim to follow higher values. Humans cannot change, cannot be anything other than selfish, not deep down...
I've been pondering a fairly interesting question that, I think, really deserves some focus of theological energies. It involves the tension that exists between being a people 'in the world, but not of it,' along with concepts like inclusivity and exclusivity.
I'm part of a community of faith. We are a people who have decided that we want to follow Jesus. We are a people for whom the call to be apprentices comes before all the other things that pull on our lives. At least that's the target we've got our sights on. In choosing to follow Jesus I choose to no longer follow myself.
We have all been raised by a culture which screams individualism. A culture whose only true God is ones self. My only framework for life involves following myself. My worldview is that of seeing me as the centre of the cosmos. The world does revolve around me. I can form a set of beliefs which are most convenient to me. I can have a McDonald's (or Subway) brand of spirituality, where I take what I like and leave behind what I don't. God is only real if he affirms the infantile urges that I've been trained to succumb to.
Then I'm invited into a way of life which is all about community. A way of life which states that the best leaders are the best servants. I'm struck by how different this is, how much love is on offer and how my imagination is captured by this life beyond my own. But I've been taught that it's only hypocrites who claim to follow higher values. Humans cannot change, cannot be anything other than selfish, not deep down...
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