Moleskine on Wikipedia

Check out Moleskine on wikipedia - worth a wee read.

Last Alpha tomorrow night

Tomorrow night is the last in this session of Alpha and a life worth living... and I would like to extend my thanks to the team who all contributed to making it happen. To Alec and Andrea who brought us their thoughts on the Alpha subject matter... to B*L*O*C for leading us in thoughtful worship... and to Kenny & Sarah for making a life worth living happen.

We have a new formula to follow - run both courses concurrently... which I am delighted about. People want to be with people... share their stories... be in fellowship... and running to the two courses together has really worked and enabled everyone to connect.

Next on the list is kickstarting the home groups again... they kind of got left while we've been focusing on this. Most, but importantly not all, of the folk who attend the home groups joined us for a life worth living and its time to give back to those who weren't able to join us. Looking for ideas for a 12 week course, starting in Jan 07. Thinking John Ortberg... any ideas? Hoping to be fed for a wee while... Olly and I need to sit back for a while and rest... and am looking to encourage new blood into facilitation.

Anyway... thanks again to everyone involved and to all the folk who have joined us for one week or for them all who maybe hadn't done this God thing before... hope it has been of benefit... and I hope you continue to journey with us at Bellshill.

U*P*D*A*T*E

Another brilliant session of Alpha comes to an end. The feedback we received at the end was really encouraging - warm welcome... 10 week friendships that feel like a lifetime... openness and trust... Wow! Really encouraged by this. Don't feel the usual sense of exhaustion that we have felt before - feel elated and excited... hopeful for the future and glad to have represented my Lord and my faith in a relevant manner to people curious to know more. Real privilege!

Here's to the future. This is only the end of the start.

Technorati Tags: alpha, bellshill

Moleskine + flat pen

My bro from Texas, JD sent me a link to an article in Lifehacker which links to this post where the author, David Seah, talks about a funky wee flat pen that he testdrives with his moleskines to see if the pens worked in a keep-it-all-together-and-slip-it-into-my-back-pocket kind of way. Interesting.

The pens can be sourced here (i think) and make for an interesting question... what kind of pen do you prefer with your moleskine (or other generic notebook)???

Personally, I like a tiny wee four colour pen that my daughter, Dayna, introduced to me (ie I pinched hers) - its small: maybe 2 inches; has four colours and is cheap: 4 for £1 in In Store. I'm not a Mont Blanc kind of guy... although secretly I am... deep inside.

Thanks JD for the link... and we'll get you into moleskines sometime soon (I know I can't convert you to Mac... so I have to try something else Zuneboy!!!)

Technorati Tags: moleskine

Apologies to Roy

I offended by brother Roy back here when I referred to Courtney Hilton as a muppet - unfortunately I thought my bro was defending Ms Love. From off-blog correspondence it turns out he was offended with my use of the term muppet in a derogatory manner... afterall, how can I refer to Ms Love in the same breath as Jim Henson's wonderful creations.

I therefore would like to apologise to Roy and anyone else who was offended by my terminology. The Muppets rule!!!

Technorati Tags: muppets

The Nativity Story

Can't wait to see The Nativity Story when it is released on the 8th December.

My girls want to see the cash-in movie remake Santa Clause 3... but I'd rather they see the Nativity Story. Who knows, maybe my folks (who put the fun in Fundamentalist Christian) may be persuaded to join us for the screening.

From the trailer and the stills... and the site... it looks really well crafted. It has a The Passion of the Christ vibe off it... especially when you hear the soundtrack (which is fab and will be on the to get list)

Sure... its probably some cynical attempt to get the latest pound - the Christian pound - but I don't care. Christmas is about Christ's birth for me and mine... and that's all that matters!

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New tunes...

Got a chance to hear the new Bloc Party CD - A weekend in the city - and I have to say I love it!!! Very eclectic... with crazy depth in terms of sound and rhythm. It is a truly beautiful album and I can't wait for its release. Its a really positive progression from Silent Alarm - one that has caught my attention. Sweet. Thanks to the Soos for the opportunity.

I borrowed the Curious George soundtrack from the library and have been blasting it tonight. The girls put it on... and absolutely love it. I share their enthusiasm for it. Its beautifully crafted and wonderfully upbeat. The songs are so positive and inspirational... something I want my girls to enjoy.

Check them out!

Technorati Tags: music

Friends...

The Soos drove through to the 'Well on Wednesday night to hang out... collect his headphones... and seek my advice on iPods. I have the gift of healing iPods (I don't... I just know how to reset them) and healed his 4th gen 60gb. I couldn't heal his 5th gen 80gb and am worried about mine. For some reason the Soos' 80gb doesn't work with his powerbook... but does with his Intel Mac Mini. Strange.

Yesterday, I hooked up with my good mate, Jon G, and had a blether (no business). Jon had a fab time on honeymoon and spent time in Orlando, Alabama, Tampa Bay... and even spent thanksgiving with American friends. He is also experienced in the ways of the women as Cousin Boyd said after his honeymoon... and is loving the whole being married thing. Brother... its a good thing!

Lastly, I love this woman! I am grateful for having Olly in my life and can't wait to hear the final mix of her song on the latest Bellshill Salvation Army Band CD. Its a Christmas CD and Olly's choice of song - The Martin's Heaven's Child is a blessing to hear.

Thank you all for being in my life!

Welcome to the 'hood

Big welcome to the ol' nanolog neighbourhood to Jody who blogs here :: The Free Radical and here :: The Genesis Blog

She left a comment on the retaurant or cookery show post that got me thinking...

This is an issue we're dealing with at church, too. Because of time constraints and people having to live their lives after church on Sunday, there isn't a lot of opportunity to process the message or connect with others. Our pastor let me start a blog for this purpose- to allow people in our community to process and then write what touched them most, or just to praise God.

The frustrating thing is that a lot of people aren't participating. They either don't want to or are too intimidated and so they don't contribute. I'm not the only one who is frustrated by this, so i appealed to everyone through the blog to at least share what God is showing them or WHY they don't participate in discussions. It helped but I think there are just some people who don't want to experience a faith community outside their comfort zone. Something to pray about.

Here's the question for my homeboys and girls in the 'hood: how do you get people to participate in all this new-fangled Church 2.0 stuff?

oh and you probably got where I spotted the SBSP clip. Nice!

U*P*D*A*T*E
Wow... this must be the quickest update ever... Bill (welcome to you too!!!) left a comment that adds to the debate...

The Church is not (or should not be) just a cooking show. Watch this and then it ends. It might feel like that when the service ends. But what should be happening is the people get to take those recipes home and try them. See if they work for them. This may not be the instant gratification that was desired by the author, but it's still valid. Ideally, everyone would be getting together in small groups, or maybe in Sunday School classes, to discuss these recipes. To talk about how it works. Unfortunately, many churches have bailed on the class idea but it's an important part. It is where community is built. That might be in a small group on Wed in someone's house, it might be on Sunday morning at the church. But it is definately needed.

Validates the importance of Home Groups and hangin' out talkin' Jesus. Thanks.

While we are on the subject, my man Roy left this question...

all I would want to know is, where would the espresso be in this church of yours?

Hmm... any thoughts?

Technorati Tags: church, blog

For my girls...

For my girls... love you!

Moleskine Hacks

My name is Thomas and I am a Moleskine-aholic!!!

I have my original lined notebook... and a reporters squared that I use landscape as a travel journal (going to expand to Glasgow) and a cahier for work. Obsessive nature... glad I haven't tried crack... or Rim's blackberry!

Anyway... here's some cool wiki if you are addicted like me:

Hacks
Mo' Hacks
43 folders' Moleskine wiki

Enjoy

Technorati Tags: moleskine