« December 2007 | Main | February 2008 »
January 27, 2008
Not here
Apologies but there will be no blogging until Friday as I am in Austria on a 'now we are seven' adventure. Will blog on my return on Friday. Have a fab week.
Shalom
Posted by ian at 4:21 PM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2008
Making me laugh
via Marko
Posted by ian at 2:12 PM | Comments (1)
January 23, 2008
Need to know
CYM (Oxford) are doing a bit of research into Student Placements and helping both students and placement churches to be clearer about needs and expectations. I thought this would be useful fodder for the blog here. So:
As a student, what questions do you wish you had asked before committing to a placement? If you were writing a checklist that needed ticking, what would be the lists of essential components that a church needed to have in place for a successful placement.
Conversely, what should students know about working with a host church?
Posted by ian at 9:37 AM | Comments (12)
Now I know how JK Rowling feels
I have a big grin on my face today as I got a royalty cheque from the Grove booklet I co-authored with Ruth Hassall. We sold 850 books in 2007 (contrary to popular rumour my mother didn't buy anywhere near 200 copies) and my half of the royalties is the big fat cheque (below)! The Milky Bars are on me!
OOooops gotta go, my agent is on line 2 ;-)
Posted by ian at 12:22 AM | Comments (6)
January 22, 2008
A little bit of German
Long term readers of this blog know that I have been learning German for a LONG time! I've got beyond the "How are you and where is the train station?" phase but am a LONG way from being able to engage in philosophical and theological debate**
With the impending trip to Austria though I am working as hard as I can to improve. This consists of ALWAYS having "Deutsch Plus" playing in the car while driving and having random and confused conversations with our German house guest. I can even venture into the past and the future now (yay) although seperable verbs and I have a mutual dislike, mistrust and misunderstanding.
The problem is though that the better you become the more bewildering the mistakes you can make. Back in the day my linguistic howlers were simple and obvious like trying to ask someone if they were ill but actually asking if they were a cupboard, oh and due to some getting the words for wind and air mixed up and the words for a flat and an idea, I have with some authority stated that skiing in Scotland isn't great as there is too much air, and responded to many questions with, "I have no apartment!" Nowadays my mistakes are so complex I'm not sure where I have gone wrong, I only know from the laughter that my phrase has elicited that I may have not got it quite right!
I also have a problem in that I have never been able to find a German term for 'youthworker' so I have to make up a profession instead (suggestions welcome!). But I continue to learn ........ and when my german runs out I can always revert to sign language or a deftly delivered, "I'm sorry I have no apartment?"
**Although I could always just look thoughtful and ask, ja aber haben wir verstanden, die Frage? (yes BUT have we really understood the question?), that'd work for most discussions I think :-)
Posted by ian at 9:05 AM | Comments (6)
Schools work
Don't know how I've not picked this one up 'til now (doh!) but here it is, Schoolswork.co.uk ........... exactly what it says on the can! If you're involved in Christian schools work then I'd say it's a must BUT even if you're not it's great (check out the links page)
Note the story telling tour in June (dates below)
June 7th
Hosted by: SWYM, South West Youth Ministries.
Venue: Woodlands Christian Centre, Belgrave Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2AA.
June 14th
Hosted by: Pais Project.
Venue: thefaithworks; 210 Oldham Road, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 OHH.
June 28th
Hosted by: Nottingham YFC
Venue: Oasis Christian Centre, Derby Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 4LL.
July 5th
Hosted by: LICC, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
Venue: LICC, St Peter’s, Vere Street, London, W1G 0DQ.
Posted by ian at 8:27 AM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2008
Sports drink
I think this is quite a claim from a sports drink BUT it did make me laugh, ht to Miz
Sports drink Squirrel
Posted by ian at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
A Splurge of INFO
The next edition of Jam magazine is out! If you were hoping to go to the Soulnet retreat then *ding* thank you for playing BUT you missed the deadline. If you are thinking of coming to DEPTH then the deadline is fast approaching.
Today is another Go MAD day, get in touch with Andy for more details and to feed back stories. If you are in Buckinghamshire your teenagers still have until March to apply for funding that will make a difference to their communities and/or provide activities, e-mail for application pack.
The ALTON TOWERS day for 2008 is May 10th and the line up of bands includes Delirious, Sanctus Real and RPM Live.
An encouraging campaign from Suffolk Police that aims to promote communication not stereotyping of young people!
And finally: When the Lambeth conference decides to appoint a cartoonist is residence, you have to be encouraged eh (even more so when it's the Dave). Fab!
Posted by ian at 7:47 AM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2008
Retreat
I'm on a retreat at the moment which does, I guess, beg the question: Have I advanced far enough to justify a retreat?
Posted by ian at 7:56 AM | Comments (1)
January 16, 2008
Vertigo 9
The next Vertigo is on Feb 9th and you can get flyers for the event by clicking here. The event after this will be an Oxford based Social Action day on July 12th.
Also, let me know if you'd like to join the team, the more the merrier
Posted by ian at 10:01 PM | Comments (0)
Gearing up for lent
Just an idea if you are gearing up for lent ..... or in fact, gearing down. Tear Fund have a Carbon Fast organised with a series of 40 daily challenges.
Posted by ian at 2:53 PM | Comments (1)
Time for coffee
Caffeine is my shepherd; I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures:
It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz:
It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,
I will fear nothing
For thou art with me; thy cream and thy sugar they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of The Starbucks:
Thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over.
Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the House of Mocha forever.
Posted by ian at 11:05 AM | Comments (4)
January 15, 2008
Changes to Gift-Aid giving
I think quite a few people are aware of changes to Gift Aid in the UK as from April 1st but recently I've come across quite a few churches and organisations who are not, hence this blog post.
In actual fact 'Gift Aid' is not changing but the rate of income tax is going down from 22% to 20% and hence the money re-claimed from gift-aided donations will go down. It's not a huge decrease but it will make a significant difference.
Where Charities were claiming back 28p for every gift-aided donation, they will now only get 25p.
So a Church/Charity that receives £50,000 in gift-aided donations would previously have been able to claim an additional £14,000. From April 1st this figure will now be (by my calculations) £12,500, a drop of £1,500
For Churches that employ youth workers/ministers this change could be significant and needs some pre-planning.
Posted by ian at 1:46 PM | Comments (0)
The Future of Christian Youth work tour
News from Nigel, (and I quote)
*The Future of Christian Youth Work* - *The Future: on tour*
The consultation event held in December about the future of Christian youth work was really well received and so we have decided to take the idea on the road. In March we will be spending a few days going around the country to look at some of the issues relating to the ‘Future of Christian youth work’.
All *events run 7.30 till 9.30 and are free *– donations welcomed.
We would be delighted if you could join us to share your views and insights and to meet up with other local youth workers for some networking conversations. (venues and dates in continue reading)
*London** - **10 March 2008** *
The Bridge Community Venue,
208 Maybank Road,
South Woodford
E18 1ET
Directions at http://www.thebridgechurch.org.uk/church-woodford/about.htm
* *
*Bath** - **11 March 2008** *
Hay Hill Baptist Church
Fountain Buildings
Paragon
Bath
BA1 5DU
Directions at http://www.hayhill.org/howtofindus.asp
* *
*Newcastle** - **12 March 2008** *
Church House,
St. John's Terrace,
Percy Main,
North Shields
NE29 6HS
Directions at http://www.multimap.com/maps/?&hloc=GB|NE296HS
* *
*Birmingham** - **13 March 2008** *
Chelmsley wood Baptist Church,
Hedingham Grove,
Chelmsley Wood,
B37 7TR
Posted by ian at 11:18 AM | Comments (2)
January 14, 2008
JaaaaaNNNNuauuauryrryryyyyy
I was thinking about a time when I was at a big swimming pool complex (you know the ones where there are so many flumes, waves, sprays, jets, showers and the like that you can't actually swim). Specifically I was thinking about the flumes and then, one in particular. It had a name that should have been enough to warn me (you know something like 'Vortex' or 'Plughole' or 'Organ donor') but it looked OK. I launched myself into the tube and thoroughly enjoyed the first couple of seconds of water washed incline. However after turning the first corner it pitched down at the kind of angle normally associated with free-fall parachuting and, had the breath not been sucked from me would have ellicited a scream that could have been heard several counties away.
Anyway January has suddenly turned a corner on me in much the same way, I was sliding through the month at a balanced pace and then whoosh, it's REALLY REALLY sped up. Being this busy is not my favourite way of being and I have to be very careful that I don't embrace my preferred modality of procrastination.
There is good stuff hapenning as part of the high speed January flume experience though so I can't complain.
The blog came up trumps and I had an offer of accomodation before my trip and an answer to my lonely hearts ad.
I'm seeing the ABC* next week along with my fellow Diocesan Youth Bods, oh and the conference I am on next week includes an excursion to the 'Curry Mile' in Manchester. Also the new computer arrived and I am a BIG SCREEN Vista user, very cool and Vista is not that bad, in fact it's pretty decent (but don't think about having less than 2 gig of Ram dya hear!). I have also been thoroughly heartened today by reading about Steve's ministry among purchasers of new mops!
Shalom
* ABC = Archbishop of Canterbury (who I have met before and respect ENORMOUSLY)
Posted by ian at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2008
Youth group moments
I was at a community youth group last night and one of the challenges was for the guys was to be making and cooking a pudding during the evening (Recipe, ingredients and help already on hand). They duly and chaotically produced a 'Pineapple Upside down pudding!' ......... the only oddity being that they decided that no-one likes pineapple so they produced Pineappple Upside down pudding without the Pineapple. Very tasty and made me laugh. And all this I should add to a constant karaoke session that consisted mainly of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' again and again :-)
Posted by ian at 8:39 AM | Comments (3)
January 10, 2008
Tessellation for the congregation
A few years ago there was a rather brilliant book entiled "101 things to do during a dull sermon!' If it's still available you should get a copy as I consider it to be a spiritual classic. The video below probably won't fit into the 'to do in the sermon slot' especially as I think the activity would need to be directed from the pulpit. It did however make me laugh and this in itself is a good thing and (in a sermon stylee), maybe this will be your experience too!
Posted by ian at 1:03 PM | Comments (4)
January 9, 2008
Sport on Sunday
I have received a question from a Mrs Trellis of North Wales (Ok, the question is genuine but not the name) and it runs exactly like this .....
"I would be interested to know how Youthblog readers approach the perennial problem for parents of children wanting to play sport on a Sunday morning when their parents perhaps feel they should be going to church. In my case my eldest son (who is 10 in March – yr 5) would like to play rugby. However Rugby is not played at his school and all junior rugby is played on a Sunday morning. Hence the dilemma.This also applies to junior football leagues and other sports.Some parents i know approach this problem by alternating between church and the sport. I would be interested to know what other readers think"
I'm not sure whether you see yourself as 'Youthblog readers' as it sounds a bit serious? However switching to theological and reflective mode ..... and considering what you say to parents and young people, lets have some pithy, short but thoughtful answers. I know there will be a whole RANGE of opinions on this one so please don 't get into either attack or defence, just lay out a considered piece of advice please! (no bonus points for using words like 'contextualise' or ecclesiologically')
(PS I REALLY like the idea of a 'Problem Page' on Youthblog, do e-mail questions whether silly, e.g, should all male youthworkers have goaties? or serious ones, e.g, the above)
Posted by ian at 3:00 PM | Comments (13)
Christians Together on Climate Change
On the 16th February in Reading is an event by the above name. It looks like a really good day with a great range of people involved and some key speakers, workshop leaders. I'm hoping to be there.
I'm flagging it up for two reasons:
a) You might like to go/take a group to the whole or part of the day
b) There is real scope for a group(s) to be involved in the market place area putting on some interaction, campaigning fun type stuff (ideas available).
Contact me and/or Download file
Posted by ian at 10:03 AM | Comments (0)
January 8, 2008
I'm looking for a woman?
Slightly scatty but enthusiastic youthworker (40) with GSOH seeks female youthworker for a fun weekend in Bournemouth!
The above is true but it's 'cos I'm running the youth work for a Church weekend away in Bournemouth. The weekend is happening in a hotel near the beach from the 8th-10th Feb and although my whole family are going I do need a female youth worker to co-host the programme with me.
If you think this might be fun then give me a shout!
Posted by ian at 1:47 PM | Comments (3)
More than Sunday
I've had the privilige recently of being in conversation with a Church in Marlow and working with them as they look at how they serve their community and engage with young people. They've been talking about their work and their focus about Church being more than Sunday.
They've now set this up as their web site and I'm really excited to see how their mission and community develops.
Posted by ian at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)
Summer Camps
Take 'em away, send em away, encourage 'em to get involved in leadership and get involved yerself. Summer camps: more fun than being tickled in a laughing gas factory while watching old Basil Brush Clips and more rewarding than inventing a combined cure for the common cold, spots and baldness.
Urban Saints Summer programme plus Scripture Union Summer programme plus CYFA Summer programme plus Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage August 4th - 8th Soul Survivor 25th-29th July: A (Stafford) Greenbelt 22nd - 25th Aug (Cheltenham)
11th-15th Aug: B (Somerset)
16th-20th Aug: C (Somerset)
Posted by ian at 9:07 AM | Comments (0)
January 7, 2008
Now we are seven
The age of seven is a rite of passage in our household. It wasn't intended to be, it just kind of worked out that way.
When my eldest was seven I happened to get two free flights to Austria and thought it would be fun to take him sledging. The first he knew about it was when I woke him up at five o'clock in the morning and asked him if he'd like to go to school or maybe he'd prefer to fly to the mountains for some snow and sledging. He signed enthusiastically that an adventure would be fun. We had such a laugh even though the travel was really tough. He couldn't walk much at that stage and I vividly remember carrying him in his special needs buggy (while I was wearing a huge rucksack) up and down the staircases at Austrian railway stations. The whole trip turned out to be a really special time though and I have very fond memories of our adventure.
Returning home, my daughter who was four at the time informed me that she was looking forward to being seven and going on a aeroplane adventure with me. This she didn't forget and we went to Germany (her request) to visit a good friend of ours. Again it was a glorious and treasured adventure. (My daughter knew where she was going BUT in keeping with the newly formed tradition didn't know when we were going until I woke her up early one morning).
Anyway, my youngest boy is seven and although he briefly mentioned the "seven year old adventure" on his birthday last year, seems to have forgotten all about it. However I have managed to get a couple of flights to Austria for the end of the month and we'll be heading out for two days full-on-max-fun-laughter-filled sledging. I'm really looking forward to seeing his face when the time comes to wake him up and tell him.
In the meantime if you know him, don't tell him please, oh and if there is a Youthblog reader who lives within 40 miles of so of Stanstead and could offer us a floor to crash on the night before the flight, that would be FAB!
Posted by ian at 3:50 PM | Comments (3)
One Click from Danger
This looks like a useful programme on the BBC tonight, One Click from Danger.
"Panorama returns with an investigation into how paedophiles are using the internet, and social networking sites in particular, as a means of grooming unsuspecting youngsters for sex"
Panorama: One Click from Danger, Monday 7 January 2008, BBC One 8.30pm.
CAPTAIN'S LOG SUPPLEMENTAL: Please ignore the annoyingly symbiotic mutual back scratching approach of linking back to someone who linked to me BUT Richard has a good write up of the programme with some added reflections and links!
Posted by ian at 10:04 AM | Comments (3)
Conferences and Reteats UK
I've been having a trawl around to try and find what's out there for the next year in terms of retreats and conferences for Christian youthwork and can find surprisingly little? (especially given the number of Church and Para Church employed youth workers). If you can add to the list then please do so. Also, anybody in the know as to whether there will be a Matrix conference in 2009?
|
Date |
Details |
|
|
21st - 24th Jan |
The MESSAGE (The Good Book Company)for Children and Youth Leaders |
High Leigh, Hoddesdon |
|
1st - 4th Feb |
Soulnet Youth Leader retreat |
Centre Parc, Elveden Forest |
|
26th - 27th Feb | DEPTH. Retreat for employed youth and/or children's ministers | Windmill Farm, Oxfordshire |
|
November 2008 |
DEEPEN aka Youthwork the Conference |
Eastbourne and Southport |
Captains Log Supplemental:
Youth Ministry Weekend London School of Theology Northwood Date: 11-13 April Time: Friday 7.30pm (preceded by dinner at 6pm) - Sunday 4.30pm Speakers: Team from Scripture Union led by Sharon Prior Cost: Weekend with full board and accommodation £160.00 Classes and main meals £107.50 Saturday only 9am-4pm (inc lunch) £35.00 contact: Doreen Rosser
Youth Alpha Conference 21-22 February’s Hoy Trinity Church, Brompton “Youth Alpha Conference will include a separate learning track for youth leaders who’ve attended the event in previous years. The event - designed for teenagers and youth leaders who want to see young people reached with the good news of Jesus Christ - now features a 'deeper' stream for those who've already received the basic Youth Alpha training.
NB, If you want to go to SOUL NET then you must be booked in by 20th Jan, oh and info for DEPTH retreat can be found here: Download file
Posted by ian at 8:16 AM | Comments (2)
January 4, 2008
Phone and Broadband
Check out Plus.Net
I worked out recently that we were paying quite a bit of money to BT but I wasn't quite sure why it was so expensive when we only have the line for broadband and the odd phone call. We have been with force9 (now Plus.net) for a couple of years for the broadband now and found them to be excellent. I decided to give them a go therefore in supplying the phone line as well and ditching BT. This has been absolutely BRILLIANT, we now pay 24.99 a month and get broadband, phone line and all evening and weekend calls to landlines FREE. (I had worried that this might mean that other phone calls might be more expensive but this hasn't proved to be the case, in fact I think they are cheaper than BT). You also keep your own number and there is no change in sound quality.
I'd probably tell you this anyway 'cos I've been really impressed BUT there is an added incentive at the moment in that if you sign-up before the end of January I get a referral bonus :-)
If you'd like me to tell you more about Plus.net then give me a shout and if you do sign up, PLEASE e-mail me for my home e-mail address so I get some referral money, thanks!
Posted by ian at 11:07 AM | Comments (7)
January 3, 2008
Nature at it's strangest
I know some people have criticized this game but here is the evidence that it merely re-creates a natural scenario that forms parts of the natural wildlife world and interaction!
Apparently no polar bear that hits below 300m attracts a mate thus preserving the strongest baseball genes within the bear populus.
Posted by ian at 1:36 PM | Comments (4)
January 2, 2008
JRF study on young people and Cannabis
Well worth a read, read the summary here.
"The researchers conclude that cannabis supply among the young people was social rather than commercial, and not linked to more overtly criminal drug markets. However, cannabis use was embedded in their social world. Change in the drug's legal status may have little impact"
Posted by ian at 1:03 PM | Comments (4)
2008 eh?
2008 eh? Without wishing to sound like an old fart (but doing so nevertheless), can you believe it's 8 years since the millennium and that we are now seriously well established dwellers in the 21st Century. Weird?
I had a great Christmas and New Year, it was a mellow time with family and friends full of laughter, food, silliness, rest, serendipity and the like; in fact shed loads of Shalom, fab!
I read this quote over the holidays, "The universe is made of stories, not atoms* " and really like it both personally and for it's resonance with youth work practice. Anyway it got me thinking about the stories that made up Christmas and New Year and how so many of these stories are part of bigger and older stories ...... and in fact how few of these stories actually stand alone as bloggable events. Great moments and stories from the last two weeks include though:
+ Playing indoor Curling with friends
+ Discovering a new and very mellowly-quaffable red wine
+ A duel between a radio-controlled rat and a radio controlled Aston Martin**
+ A late night stroll with three teenagers (one of whom was my son)
+ Our annual family viewing of "Muppet Christmas Carol"
+ Two full-on Turkey Christmas dinners with our families
+ A mellow New Years eve all age feast including a game of pass-the-parcel with forfeits.
+ A mad dance/sing Christmas freak out with my children
+ Being with friends where humour is fuelled by 20 or more years of shared experience
Anyway, I hope you'll forgive this self indulgent musing :-) I do however wish you a New year where the stories matter more than the atoms .... and where we write great new stories across the parchment of the 21st Century
* Muriel Rukeyser
** The Astom Martin technically won but had the centres of gravity been equally low I reckon it would have been a different story!
Posted by ian at 12:10 PM | Comments (0)
New Years Resolution?
or, the Lion Chasers Manifesto by Mark Batterson
"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away"
Posted by ian at 8:27 AM | Comments (2)