Archive for the 'I've Got Thoughts' CategoryPage 2 of 3

Walking and Youth Work

Published
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Dave
on April 4, 2008
in I've Done Youth Work and I've Got Thoughts
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Littlehampton Beach

Last Tuesday, April 2, I had some time between dropping Rosie off for work and getting to Wickbourne to setup for Dr. Meric , who had come to speak about the environment, and can be heard if you’re interested on both the “Arun Community Church: Special Events” and also, with permission, here on “AllTheseThingsIveDone.com“. Anyway, I’ve gone off on one.

I chose to sit on the beach for a little while and then to drive to Littlehampton’s swimming centre and walk back to the East Beach Cafe. It was great just being out in the Spring Sun. I slowly wandered between the two taking some pictures and just enjoying the lighter evening.

On the way back I saw a few of the young people from Ignite and to my surprise they recognised me. A say to my surprise as I’m not one of the popular leaders. I’m not like Nick and Jim who constantly amuse the boys. And I’m not like Jon who has enough charisma for two people (probably Americans at that!). Nor am I really like Rosie who will talk with the girls for hours about there problems.

All I do is turn up every week and plod along, occaisionally sharing my passions in the “God Slot”. Maybe this is it: Young People of today want consistency, to know that the same leaders that turned up last week will turn up this week, and next week.

AllTheseThingsIveDone.com - Soft Launch

Published
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Dave
on March 30, 2008
in I've Got An Anncounement and I've Got Thoughts
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As you have probably realised your feed is now coming up with this odd new domain allthesethingsivedone.com I’ve transferred everything over to this without causing any interference to my readers, and hopefully over time I’ll get some new ones.

The site is split into two areas. The first is here, the blog. Here you’ll find my thoughts and journals. It may be tech related or it may be something deeper. The second is the Media Cast. I hesitate to call it a podcast or vodcast as it’s probably both plus more.

What you may be wondering is why the name. I’d love to give you a really deep, theological reason, but no matter how hard I try I can’t. In truth I was in the bath and “All These Things I’ve Done” by The Killers came into my mine and I thought it was just a really great name for a blog. It was only after I got out that I looked at the lyrics;

Over and out, last call for sin. While everyone’s lost, the battle is won with all these things I’ve done.

So, here it is. I have no plan and no expectations. Let the ride begin.

Thinking ’bout what we say

Published
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Dave
on March 24, 2008
in I've Got Thoughts
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I’ve been thinking a bit about words recently. Our words can encourage someone or they can put someone down. A hundred words can say nothing, the words that aren’t said can say everything.

As a youth leader my words can have some significance. We live in a word where the media define how young people should look and act. All young people have to pick there way through this highly sexualised and image conscious culture.

How can my words do anything? Well I believe it’s all relational. A quick text to someone, or sitting down and just chatting can cheer them up and put things in perspective.

I found it on eBay

Published
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Dave
on March 17, 2008
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eBay Logo

This isn’t, as you’d expect, me boasting about my latest bargin on eBay. If truth be known I try and stay as far away from the place as possible! No, this is my thoughts on this news story.

For those of you who are too lazy, or time is that precious, to read the original news story let me explain very briefly. A 44-year old ex-pat currently living in Perth, Australia, has decided to put something up for sale on eBay. Nothing unusual on that, except what this man is selling is his life.

Yep, you read that correctly. He’s put his entire life up for sale. His house, car, possessions. They’re all pretty standard but how about this also included are a two week trial at his job and his friends. Whilst responses on his website have generally been positive I find it just a little odd.

BBC Radio 1 picked up the story as part of their “Newsbeat” story, which is how come I heard about it, and provided a little more details. It seems he emigrated to Australia six years ago with his then wife. The relationship failed and they divorced and now he’s desperate to move on.

I accept that relationships do end, even if, as a Christian I don’t necessarily agree with it. And certainly it must be distressing to have a relationship end thousands of miles from your natural support network and where you call “Home”.

We all find our friends annoying at times when they do X or don’t do Y, but even if I were to move away I certainly wouldn’t sell there details off as part of an auction. I believe that people naturally form there own social networks.

I’m sure that everyone will agree we all have bad days at work. And, if you’re Mr. Bobweasel, or occasionally me, that work follows you home after you officially finish. There are times I switch my phone to silent (not even vibrate) put it in it’s case and leave it.

Don’t get me wrong here I’m not to critisize, nor to judge. Just to voice my own opinion. I find some of his ideas a little strange and I’d love to understand them fully, to sit down and talk about it. If you want to find out a little more, or even to bid, head on over to http://www.alife4sale.com.

Thinking

Published
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Dave
on March 3, 2008
in I've Got Thoughts
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  Lincoln Cathedral

Sometimes to move forward, you have look back. That’s my thought for the day. Why? Well, I’ve been listening to a lot of old music, especially hymns. The same songs that I took so much pleasure in putting down when I was both younger (in age, and in terms of my faith) I now find peace and comfort in.

These songs are so powerful. They reflect the writers struggles with their own personal faith.

Two of my favourites are “Calvary”, which was written by William R Newell somewhen between 1868 and 1956, and “Take my life and let it be” which was written in 1874 by Frances R. Havergal.

The further I go deeper with God I realise that we can’t forget our forefathers. The pioneers who paved the way for the 21st century Church.

I’ll leave you with the second verse of “Take my life”.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King, Take my lips, and let them be filled from messages from Thee, Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

That’s Fowl

Published
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Dave
on January 12, 2008
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Little ChickLast night TV chef Jamie Oliver presented a TV program about the UK’s Chicken buying habits. It had been produced to show both a selected studio audience and the wider public exactly where our Eggs and Chicken come from.

Graphic from the start it left no one under any illusions exactly what some of these birds are put through in order to provide the value Eggs or the two Chickens for £5. However will it change peoples opinions?

Well, I can only speak for me but it certainly shook me.

Choices

Published
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Dave
on December 2, 2007
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For once, it’s a sensible post. This week I was asked to give the talk at the Ignite small group that I co-lead with Jim Fenlon. Now if you know me you’ll know that talking, or preaching, really isn’t one of my gifts! However, I really want to give my best on this. So here are the notes from the talk. The theme? Choices.

Introduction: Link to previous study on Bruce Almighty and the choices he made to do good for others rather than being selfish

Question: What choices do we make every day?

Video Clip - Heroes: Episode: 0.07%. Showing Noah Bennett, Matt Parkman and Ted Sprague escaping from “The Company”. To highlight the choices that Matt and Ted make in helping Noah.

Discussion: What choices did they make?

Thought: Where in the Bible did people have to make Choices. Examples from Genesis 3 and Matthew

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8

Question: What choices does God want us to make?

  1. -Worship (Isaiah 66:3)

  2. -Respect/Obey (Proverbs 1:7)

  3. -Humble (Romans 16:27, Proverbs 3:5-8)

  4. Love (Matthew 22:37-39, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Firework Worship

Published
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Dave
on November 16, 2007
in I've Got A Fresh Expression and I've Got Thoughts
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Firework Display

Earlier this week I decided that instead of watching mindless TV before going to sleep, I’d sit and read some more of a book that I started back in the summer. It, unsurprisingly, is another travel book; This one documents the journey of the “Kumars at 42” star Sanjeev Bhaskar round 21st century India. This is, perhaps, not the most comfortable read as there are many references to how the British empire essentially just left India at a whim to fend for itself with no real help.

However in the 60 years that India has been in existence it’s carved out a little niche for itself and for the most part things are on the up. But I digress. In amongst the descriptions of opulent living and abject poverty was one of Hinduism. I found this very interesting because I firmly believe that as Christians we should know and understand and be challenged by other faiths.

As I read on some thoughts really struck me. Particularly regarding worship. At certain times of the year they worship using Fireworks. This, somewhat mind blowing, idea challenged me and really got me thinking. How amazing would it be if we, as Christians, did the same thing? Turn the secular November 5 into a time of year when we let a whole load of fireworks of in praise of God. My reasons behind this? Well, just like fireworks He breaks out of the darkness to offer people hope and a life of enchantment.

Peterborough Community Church Visit

Published
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Dave
on October 19, 2007
in I've Done Travel and I've Got Thoughts
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Peterborough Community Church - Main Hall

On Wednesday several of us headed up the A1 (A road that two of us know only too well as it also leads to Lincoln and Skegness) to visit Peterborough Community Church in order to look at their new Kingsgate building that has been open just over a year.

The Church was founded in 1989 with 9 of them in a front room. Today each Sunday attracts something in the region of 1200 people. This makes it about three times bigger than Arun currently is.

From the point of view of my Job, it was good to share ideas with both Peterborough’s technical director and the others who came. I could list plenty of things that I’d love to take back to Arun. By that I don’t mean the entire £750k sound/light/computer/AV rig!

Actually it was some of the numbers that impressed me. The Church saved and raised approximately £3 million towards the building. This left them requiring a mortgage of £4.2 million. A build cost of about £7 million to get to the end of phase one, a further £3 million is needed to complete phase two. Once the Church start repaying the capital (as opposed to just the interest) on the mortgage their repayments will be around £35k a month.

Was the trip worth it? Well, I think so. I’ve got some things to think about and some things that the Church leadership want me to think about. So from that alone it was worth it.

Music Industry in Meltdown?

Published
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Dave
on October 13, 2007
in I've Got Thoughts
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Radiohead - In Rainbows

This is, perhaps, an odd post from someone who hopes one day to earn money from the music industry. However various recent things have got me thinking;

Firstly, Prince (and now Ray Davies) opted to release his new album via a national newspaper. This seriously annoyed all the traditional retail outlets who, all of a sudden, decided that they needed to stock the said paper. Then electro-rockers (Gosh! That sounds bad, but I can’t think of a better classification) Radiohead announced that there new album would be available as a download at no fixed cost. As they put it “it’s up to you.”

I don’t, in principle, have a problem with either of these. If it costs £100k to make an album and a newspaper offers to buy it outright for £250k in order to distribute it to 1.5 million readers you’re £150k up! That’s probably a good deal for all. I firmly believe that the internet is part of the music industries future so Radiohead’s move doesn’t really surprise me. What has, along with many people, is the choice of format and bit rate. The MP3 format has been around for a while now and in that time hasn’t really improved any so choosing MP3 has seemed a little odd.

It works kinda like this the AAC format (introduced by Apple) is more efficient than the older (but “standard” MP3. A 128kb/s AAC file is equivalent to a 160kb/s MP3 file. In the interests of fairness I believe that Microsoft’s WMA file is similarly efficient. Radiohead’s decision to opt for the MP3 format at 160kb/s means that a lot of people loose out on quality. Personally I use the AAC format at 256kb/s so it’s no comparison for me. The band were further criticized for announcing this after people had ordered. I chose to pay nothing for the album, not because I’m mean but for big releases (such as this) I’d rather have a physical product complete with art work.

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