What does it mean to have “vision”?
In the last two weeks I have talked to a couple of people who I believe have a very clear vision for their lives. One is a church leader, and one is a self-employed therapist.
The church leader wants to grow one of the biggest churches in Birmingham, if not the biggest. He specifically aims for “big church”, believing that they can achieve a great deal. This is from a church which did not exist fifteen years ago. He wants to be in the same league as other large churches like Kensington Temple and the like.
The therapist friend is inundated with work, and wondering how he can get others to do what he does. Possibly become a franchiser?
Now I do not feel driven to that extent. I want to please God, I want to do what is right, but I am averse to being that driven.
This does not deny vision, however: it’s possible to have smaller-scale vision I guess. So what should my response be to all this?
Pet Sounds was shown on BBC FOUR the other day. Have just watched it while feeding Eleanor.
This is a great concept. Recreate your great album with a crack band of musicians who can more than ably stand in for Mike Love and the sessioneers (Glen Campell!) who made it all those years ago. Arthur Lee has done it with Forever Changes, of course, following Wilson’s lead.
In thirty or forty years time, what will be the nostalgia trip then? Moby recreates Play with a bunch of young whippersnappers? Seems unlikely.
Brian WIlson is obviously damaged goods, but he still has the voice to carry these songs off. Hearing Good Vibrations performed live sends a shiver down the spine and brings a tear to the eye.
The guy introducing the band made the point that Pet Sounds was Brian’s tenth album – and he was only 23 when he made it. So often, bands today do not get chance to mature like that.
There is nothing like great music to inspire me to worship God, be it “Christian” or not. I always feel refreshed and more alive after listening to a good album, and Pet Sounds does that trick every time.
Guardian Unlimited Film | Features | Indiana Jones rides again
A magnificent tale of almost British=style obsession: the boys who became men whilst attempting their own remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
I have only two questions: when will the movie of the story be made, and when will the completed remake itself be out in cinemas or DVD?
Rodeohead is a superb medley of Radiohead songs in a bluegrass stylee.
The last verse of Paranoid Android as a CB radio exchange has to be heard to be believed…
In an attempt to up the traffic to my blog, I’ve tried registering it with Daypop, Blogdex and Popdex. Let’s see how it goes, and whether anyone else thinks this is worth looking at!
Eleanor gets into the spirit of Football Day at nursery… 
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Arts | Cheat’s guide to Joyce’s Ulysses
BBC News Online’s summary of the impenetrable book, on Bloomsday, with what appears to be a comment at the bottom from Stephen Fry!
I have to say, it does sound tedious…
Guardian Unlimited | Online | RFID: I’ve got you under my skin
A Spanish night is offering its VIP visitors an RFID chip implant which guarantees entry and can be used to pay for drinks.
One patron says:
“If the government offered this as a choice, saying you can put your ID card, your social security card and your credit card away and just have this, I’d sign immediately,” he says. “I wouldn’t have to carry around my wallet. If I need to go to hospital, even if I’m unconscious, they could just scan and get my records.”
The Bible says:
“He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:16 & 17
We had a meal at a Lebanese restaurant on Saturday night to celebrate the dedication. Y & S invited people they knew, and we had an excellent meal with them.
Sunday was the big day though: going to ICF for the final part of the dedication. Dale introduced the whole thing, and Lucy told our story once more. Steve introduced us & I spoke about what we meant by dedication and having godparents, especially this idea of supporting us to be “good enough” parents. We know we won’t be perfect, but we hope we will be “good enough” to teach Eleanor well and point her to Jesus.
Dale then exhorted us to be the kind of parents we want to be, to bring Eleanor up well and point her to Jesus so she will choose Him herself.
Steve then prayed for us, and then we prayed to commend Eleanor. A very special time, with lots of positive feedback afterwards from people about the story Lucy told. Wonderful stuff, being able to talk about what Jesus has done in our lives.
Then back to Y & S’s house, with a takeaway. This means a chicken and roast potatoes & goodness only knows what other trimmings from a shop – fantastic idea, and great food as ever.
At 3:30 we said our farewells to the family. We were sad to be going, and yet we will see them in a few weeks when they come over to the UK.
Succeeded in losing one of our tickets when we got out of the taxi, but found it soon enough thankfully. The flight was uneventful, apart from a spectacular nappy which we had to deal with at Heathrow before collecting luggage! Arrived safely in Oxford and flopped into bed at half midnight – boy!
A great holiday, too.
Off to Paphos and the bird park. Very good actually, lots of interesting birds, well signposted, good facilities. They even had baby changing, even though they were in the ladies’. A & A got the chance to hold chicks, and L was nibbled on the toes by a pig!
Very startling how few people there were around. How is this going to pay its way with so few there on a summer Saturday? Perhaps Cypriots prefer the beach, and it’s not yet peak time for tourists.
All this will, of course, make a lot more sense with pictures. They will have to follow next week.
