The Maze Fiasco

How long is this national stadium business going to lumber on for?

A multi-sport stadium as a symbol of "a shared future" is a complete joke. Are GAA/rugby/football supporters going to march arm-to-arm to every event at The Maze?

There's no point giving the impression that we all get on by building a stadium for three sporting codes that will never cross over at all.

In the meantime, segregated housing, "peace" walls, institutionalised sectarianism in the middle-classes, and downright racism all run riot in this "new" Northern Ireland.

The minister(s) responsible for dragging this on should concentrate on building a shared present rather than this community relations sham of a stadium. Witness the DUP wetting themselves over the Maze being a terrorist "shrine" as an example of our new government's inability to tackle the main issue that needs resolved in NI - actually living with each other.

Listen Poots et al give each sport some cash to improve their respective stadiums if they want (Windsor Park is an embarassment), and stop patronising us please.

On The Road - Jack Kerouac

I really should have read this book before now.

The music of Bob Dylan hasn't been off my ipod for a few years now, and Kerouac's stream of consciousness prose clearly had a big influence on Dylan's music.

Its one of those books that are so hyped and ubiquitous that surely it could only ever be slightly disappointing...?? (zeitgeist for the beat generation, quoted to death, much copied stylistically, blah blah blah)

But it was an engrossing read. The narrator Sal Paradise (loosely based on Kerouac himself) journeys from coast to coast across the USA following the free-spirited, fleet-footed, charismatic, selfish, irresponsible dreamer known as Dean Moriarty, in awe of him the whole way.

The two are difficult to warm to throughout due to their womanising, selfish manner - but their journeys are engrossingly described by Kerouac, the book has a real rhythm to it. I was reading the book while spending a few weeks doing bits and pieces of travelling across the USA, Ireland, Scotland and England which probably added to my enjoyment.

The heart of the book is the journey rather than the characters - their constant moving on signifying a restlessness and a yearning for something more, which I suspect is what Kerouac wanted to portray more than merely a character study of Sal or Dean. "Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together" is one of Sal's opening lines, and sets the tone for the optimistic searching that all the main characters are pre-occupied with.

Kerouac, a lapsed Catholic himself, allows Sal to show some signs of guilt and awareness of his own irresponsiblity and that of Dean's as the book goes on - and Sal eventually settles down into something close to domesticity by the end.

My main memory of the books is how it swings, especially when Dean takes centre stage. Sure, the language of how he "digs" everything is much-caricatured now - but the restless energy of the book is what I found so enjoyable.

My favourite line was when, during one of the many spontaneous parties, Sal described the atmosphere thus; "There was dancing but no music. Just dancing."
They were living life at such a rhythm that they didn't even music to get going, to revive them, to make them feel any more alive.

Highly recommended reading.

God TV reaches Afghanistan!

If like me you can't resist tuning in and getting annoyed at the car-crash TV known as the God Channel and TBN, you'll appreciate this tongue in cheek article below, from http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/

Greetings from your brothers and sisters in Christ here in Haizabad, Afghanistan, a small, impoverished village outside Kabul. Thank you for adopting us and lifting us up in your support with your prayers. We do not have complete freedom to worship since we are still captive to factions of Taliban, but that will change soon. This I have seen in the spirit world. Thank you for understanding that I can not use my real name in our correspondence, but ever since Trinity Broadcasting Network is now shown on TV here, I am known as "Jesse Duplantis," after the American televangelist.

Before TBN was available, I thought we had a firm foundation in the Holy Scripture, with a firm foundation of faith based on our Lord Jesus Christ. What fools we were being so blind! Watching TBN we are now learning much. We are awed at the revelations given to all the great teachers, especially those with daily prophetic visions. We are humbled that so many people in America have visions and revelations from God! No one in our village has had any revelations but I know that will change also once we actually have money to begin to tithe. I have no doubt now, knowing God's Spirit is still revealing today. Everyone on TBN says it is so.

We praise God for the Trinity Broadcasting Network ever since it made its appearance here. If I may explain. Our people once met for church every day in different houses to confuse the Taliban. Now we meet at my humble house, for it is the only house with both a roof and a television in the village. We spent an entire year's poppy harvest to buy the TV! The room is small, no more than ten people can sit around the television. But we are faithful! Always is at least five of us watching what God is revealing through TBN all the time or as long as the electric power stays on.

We are amazed at what we are learning from the great Bible teachers of TBN! Bro. Kenneth Copeland, what astonishing faith he teaches to be able to call things from the spirit realm to the physical. With our previous limited understanding of God's holy word, we would have never have believed such things. We still await many manifestations to make themselves occurring, as we do not let doubt enter. I originally in my ignorance found it hard to believe that we are little gods as Bro. Ken Copeland teaches, or can use the power of what we say to call into existence whatever we want. Before, we used to pray and make our requests known to God who already knew before our asking. Now, our declarations have been for what we want, not just for our needs. What a revelation! We are learning. Not only am I calling for a bigger church for hundreds of people, but am declaring my miracle for a car for me and my family, along with a $25 million mansion with indoor plumbing and food, just as he has. I'm believing for a thousand sheep and camels. I believe that my left deaf ear drum blown out from a rocket attack will be healed. Also, my son's feet will grow back. I do not doubt because Brother Benny Hinn, another of God's great administer of miracles, prayed for us as we reached towards the TV with our remaining hands and limbs.

Other brothers and sisters here are believing for their own miracles and have given all that they have—two chickens—to Bro. Hinn. So far we have received a prayer cloth which, alas, our grandfather in his hunger tried to eat. He said it tasted like chicken. But he was a big jokester in his youth. The church associate pastor has been fasting for ten days for his own private airplane and a healing for his eyes. One deaconess wants her hair pink like her hero, Jan Crouch, but short like Joyce Meyers—when the burns from the napalm heal. She believes, as Paula White, that God wants her to have everything—which raises some question by some of the men. It is hard in accepting, but they too are learning to believe, especially for miracles that their wives can look like Victoria Osteen. Many in our village have spoken the Word of Faith, so miracles will soon abound. We are in need of miracles, of course, because of our lack of faith. It is not God's fault that Osama bin Laden moves freely through our village, conscripting the few remaining men who have not already been maimed by landmines—it is our lack of faith! It is not Jan Crouch's fault we are dying of starvation—it is our lack of faith!

I now believe God wants me to start a television network, I know it's not in the physical world yet, but is coming. I do not doubt and Bro. Paul Crouch believes with me, he said so in his letter after I sent him our last five afghanis. It will be returned back 10, 20, maybe 100% because of my faithfulness to his ministry. I am hoping he will send a tasty prayer cloth as well because it is still many months to the next poppy harvest and we are hungry here in the real world, though filled to bursting in the spirit realm!

Christ's blessings to you all,
Pastor Jesse

Faith Beyond The Church

I was struck by the title of this article on the Christian Aid website (and then the content)- about what it really means to live the Christian faith outside of the comfy confines of church and into the firing line (literally).

Taking faith beyond the church - beyond "church" perspectives on an over-theologised conflict - and engaging with the world around us for the sake of all of God's people.

You can read it here

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/stoppoverty/conflict/stories/faith_beyond_church.aspx

Transformers is brilliant

Just back from a preview showing in Movieland Cinema Newtownards.

Wow its some show. the special effects are breathtaking, it moves at a breakneck pace, and it doesn't take itself too seriously.

Transformers fans will notice a lot of in-jokes as well - like the new Bumblebee slamming into an old yellow VW beetle at the used car lot (he was a VW beetle in the original story).

Optimus Prime was awesome - the film was everything I expected it to be and more.

I'd welcome some comments from other TF fans who've come across this blog!

The music of Christopher Gaston

My friend Chris Gaston writes songs.
They're really really good.

Listen to them at www.myspace.com/gastonssongs

Mido - Spurs are laughing all the way to the bank!!

Not included expressly in my profile (I say that I support average football teams) is that I'm a huge Spurs fan.

Boy we did a great bit of business today selling Mido to Birmingham for £6m.

I liked him but he only seemed to play well when he had a target to aim for (eg. a new contract). With Bent coming to Spurs he was going to be even further down the pecking order too.

Good luck to him, and the best of luck to Steve Bruce for taking on a player who's had more clubs in his short career than Spurs have central midfielders (and that's a lot - sort it out Martin Jol!).

Transformers - I'm sucked in!

I'm giving in to the marketing men here - I'll be seeing Transformers this weekend and I don't care!

Yes I fit the film's other target demographic besides primary school kids, of a nostalgic twentysomething seeking to relive his youth. So I've downloaded the wallpaper to my desktop in work, ordered the computer game with free t-shirt, and booked my tickets to the preview showings on Saturday night.

The toys, comic strip and original cartoons were a massive part of my life. Optimus Prime was probably a role model in my childhood without me ever realising it.

My dad took me to see the original animated Transformers: the Movie at the Curzon one afternoon when I was about six. I'll be returning the favour by taking big Eddie to see this one.

I bow to corporate marketing this time, it's too hard to be cynical - after all Megatron must be stopped!

Expect a few more blogs on this one.

New Crowded House album!!

I never thought it would happen - probably the most melodically gifted band since the fab four have reformed and released a blinder of comeback album.

It's easy to be cynical. Neil Finn's solo career hasn't exactly set the cash tills ringing for Parlophone - and resurrecting the band moniker may well have just saved his record deal. But who cares when the songs are this good!

NeilFinn's songs always take a while to seep into the consciousness, making repeated listenings even more rewarding. The album kicks off with "Nobody Wants To" - a real spine tingler of an opener. Uplifting but filled with yearning at the same time - a trick that Finn constantly pulls off with ease. The other songs are beginning to grow on me! If it was on vinyl I'd have worn it out already.

This has been a year of comeback tours - The Police, Happy Mondays, James, Genesis, Dodgy(!), and the Verve to name a few. But few have actually released any new material - seemingly content to release repackaged greatest hits albums. CH have definitely bucked the trend with Time On Earth.

They're playing the Waterfront Hall in November - what a night that's going to be!