Solid Rock Star

It's not often I refer to other places to go on the web, and I seem to have done it a lot these last few posts. But you really should visit the new Craig Borlase blog. The link to his site is on the links panel below.

Once you are there, obviously take in how good his thoughts are, but you need to check out the post entitled 'Aversion Therapy' and watch the video of Bono's speech to the NAACP.

It's Bono at his best. Whatever your opinion of him, try to put it aside and just listen to his message- it's passionate, powerful and prophetic.

It'll certainly make you think and maybe even get you to your feet by the end of the speech.

Be warned: it's challenging stuff. If statements like 'love thy neighbour is not a piece of advice. It's a command' offend you, then best avoid it altogether. But seeing as you're reading my blog, I reckon you might at least be interested in checking out this clip.

Thanks to Craig for drawing my attention to the clip and for being consistently profound on your blog.

Spare Time?

Things you should check out online this weekend that will do you good:

Go to Delirious.co.uk and listen to the new album Kingdom Of Comfort in full. It will refresh your soul but also profundly move you. It may affect how you spend your weekend and maybe even the rest of your life. It really is that good. I'm biased I know, but go there, listen and decide for yourself. Then preorder a copy for when it comes out on 14th April and I'll promise not to tell anyone I told you how good it is.

Google search for a live video of Nizlopi performing the beautiful Last Night In Dakar. Again, it's music that will put sunshine into you on a weekend where it's forecast to show.

My favourite Youtube clip this week is an hilarious overdubbing of scenes from Star Wars with James Earl Jones quotes from other films like Field Of Dreams. It's completely pointless, yet, like so much of the content on Youtube, completely brilliant. This will make you smile. But, be warned, you'll get hooked into looking at the other Darth Vader comedy stuff on there and waste hours.

Get onto facebook and join the Superbadger application. Send emails to people in power and change the world using the web to get the ear of the people who can make stuff happen in the political arenas of the world.

The End Of All Things/Start Beginning

I commuted home from Basingstoke to Bristol for the last time yesterday evening.

As the sun streamed in the carriage and caused my face to reflect back at me in the window, I pondered on the journey of the last five years of employment.

I hoped that being applauded as I left the office was a sign that I had made some difference to the people who I worked with for so many days.

I was grateful for being able to hear. To enjoy the music that filled my ears from my Sony Walkman Mp3 player, to enjoy the kind words said to me by colleagues as I said my goodbye. I can hear such positives,but would I chose to truly listen to their words on days when the black dog rears his ugly head?

I wondered what the major factors in causing the additional lines and grey hairs that now litter my profile would be. The divorce? The youth work? The extra hours put in at the office? The travel?

I was grateful for my sight that has enabled me to read extensively on the long hours of travel. The eyes that were privileged to see beautiful sunrises and striking sunsets as the train carried me back to the West Country.

I smiled at the ongoing revelation that my life is soundtracked by the symphony of God's grace. Five years ago I took the job because I was at rock bottom and had to start from scratch. This time, I am starting not just a new job, but a new life as a husband once again.

Grace truly does outlive our regrets.

So now I stand outside my comfort zone again. As I listened to Nizlopi's new album Make It Happen, the lead single said it all:

We can start beginning.