Sep/091
Church this morning
Ok, I know I haven’t blogged in a while. To be honest, not much has happened over my summer so theres nothing to rant about really (well thats what this blog is for isn’t it?). But yeah, I’m back at uni soon, GPIGs back, work is going back to part time at the end of next week and life gets on being as hectic as I know, so I’m sure that I’ll have lots more to rant about for my reader to read.
My beautiful amazing girlfriend is leaving me soon to go to uni. Were staying together which is really cool:) I’m going to try and get there when I can, but with so much going on at home its going to be difficult. I hope to get there at least once a month though:) Because it’s Ciaras last weekend at church this week, Nath insisted that I spend the time in the congregation instead of following my carefully planned rota (which of course strategically takes into account peoples holidays, when people have work, when they have had to much, when they need rest etc, which ends up being me and Nath rotating on jobs on a weekly basis, with the exception of Jonny, Amee, Becky and Pam being thrown into the equation from time to time).
From the congregation I had a different perspective of church to be honest and I’m not sure how much of it I like. There are different parts to the service each one was different. Ok, from the congregation I get less distractions, but I’d rather minister at church than sit there doing nothing.
Praise and Worship
Ok, (Pam will know what I’m talking about on this one!), the bit that really annoys me, is between songs, which is that strange groan/moan/noise that people make; combined with people trying to sing different parts of the song which really don’t fit in with the music. I mean if I was God, I’m not sure what there is to like about a bunch of people making some strange noise and calling it praise. I spoke to Jonny about this at the end of the service and he (basically) said to me that it allows people to go away with the spirit and just praise God. I spend a bit of the time praying, Ok, but then the rest I wait patiently for the next song. But really, if you want to sing something, do it, if not, move on! Really all I think I want to know is what is it for and why do we make these strange noises.
Communion
This is pretty much the same wherever you are in the church. Generally at the back you can be a little distracted and you wait a bit longer, otherwise theres not much to comment on really. But the question did come up with Ciara and Becky this morning, that if were allowed to replace Wine with Ribena, then can we replace the bread with something else? Say sweets? crisps? cake? Something that will fill me up a bit more during the service? Have I missed the point here? I think so.
Preach
Its getting too long! It wasn’t too bad today as it was split up with a DVD clip, but especially mid series, its not on going over 30 mins, so please avoid it. I switch off after 20 anyway, and at the back its just painful when you have to listen out on every word to ensure that the recording is good and that your getting the slides up on time. Its tiring. The series isn’t too bad we’ve had worse… (OTC, Sermon on the Mount) so Faith is a nice breath of fresh air (is that how it goes).
Tech
Really, its not going to happen one person does all again. It just doesn’t work. Why doesn’t the guitarist play keys and drums at the same time? Because your concentrating on one thing (and its physically impossible, I think). So 2 people on desk every week now:) Theres two people there as theres two separate jobs that need doing and one person cant put 100% into both jobs. Thats my problem though.
Anyway there a couple of observations that I made in church this morning. I’m sure I’ll keep you updated as more things crop into my mine.
C ya all,
Luke
P.s, I’m going to do a bit of Christianity is Confusing here:
Dear Lord, please help me to understand the strange things we do in church. Amen
Jul/092
Sleep
OK, first of all, I apologies to all that have to come into contact with me over the next 24 hours. I apologies in advance for being a moody bastard.
Its 1amish, I’m knackered, I’ve not been sleeping well recently and the last thing I want to do right now is go to sleep (that might change based on other factors however). 8 hours (average) sleep a night I think, basically is a waste of time. We only get 24 hours in a day, 8 are spent on sleep, that one third of the day is spent with our eyes closed doing nothing at all. Thats 2.3 days a week spent just sleeping. Thats about 122 days a year just spent asleep (based on sleeping 8 hours a day, again).
Personally, I think this is a complete waste of time. Think of the whole number of other things we could be doing in this time. Think of everything else you wish you could do in the meantime which we normally say “we havn’t got time for” We wouldn’t necessarily have to have weekends from work, cause we’re just awake all the time. Obviously we’d want to not work hard sometimes. But take tiredness and cba’s and laziness out of the world and see what you left with?
Doe’s anyone know why we have to sleep. I mean why did God choose to make our bodies that they need rest. What’s the scientific reason for needing to sleep.
So what it comes to is me not wanting to go to bed at night because I think its a waste of time. The reasons why I will go to bed shortly is because: a. I have to have sleep, b. I’m bored, c. I need a task thats not going to wake the house up, d. 24 hour Tesco is useless.
Anyway, point made.
Night reader(s)
Jul/090
House Group… again
Seems all that I ever think/rant/moan about to friends. I dont particuarly like the system, but I guess its good for you from time to time. Last nights was different from most others; maybe it was because Jonny was leading it, maybe it was because there were some relativly new people there, maybe because there wasnt any hyper girls. I don’t know!
It was different in that what we did discuss I actually thought about, even when I did switch off it was only for a very short time, and then I engaged in it again. It was slightly challenging and did question about how much time I do spend on God and in “quiet time” if you like (I hate that term).
I’m glad I went to be honest and I wonder how other house groups will be in the future with different people there. My overall opinion which has built up over a couple of years hasn’t changed however.
Anyway, lunch break over. Might explain some more later.
Luke
Jul/091
Oasis
Went to go and see Oasis Tuesday night. They were absolutly flippin awesome!
Theres not a lot else I can say about it really. There was a good mix of new music which sounds good and old classics which got the whole Ricoh going.
Wasn’t anything overly special about the actual production, there was some good camera work/effects though.
Just wanted to share this with the world!
Jul/090
Coundon Court School Concert
On Tuesday I went to my old schools Summer Concert. To start off with I think it was an excellent concert. The students that played there are very talented. I would love to play an instrument, I tried guitar once and badly failed, but yeah!
Few things that annoyed me:
Lighting It was bad, sorry, it was. I mean, whats with lighting up the back of someones head, it really does work. If their lighting bar had been positioned correctly, they would have a good coverage of the floor as well as the stage, since the floor seems to be used at most productions. Secondly, some of the lighting has been there longer than I have been a student there, and I left Coundon Court two years ago, make an investment! Thirdly, the colour changing on the “band” in the corner looked really bad, do something about it. Fourthly, the glitter ball looked weird just because of the shadow it created, it missed like half of it out. Thats all for now, but seriously do some investment!
Sound One of the musicians or teachers making adjustments in the “band area” just doesn’t cut it for a concert. Use the skills of the students that can do sound and get them the right side of the speakers and do a proper mix! Mic people up! Half of the time I couldn’t hear the person presenting, she was too quiet. A bit of support would have helped loads, especially for people who’s hearing is worse than mine. Next, mic up or get an input from the instruments, even if its just the lead ones. I know it might be easier said than done, but with a stage hand its really not hard. When the two guys were doing their guitar thing (BTECH I think), I couldn’t hear them. Position the speakers correctly, what’s the point in them both being at the right of the room? Sounds completely out of place when there playing a backing track to the person thats on stage..
Stage Setup There’s an absolutely huge stage which is used for probably 10% of the concert. Every thing else seemed to be floor level, or on one height of movable staging (if you get me). This is rubbish for those that are sitting at floor level that are expected to see through peoples head. Move the band from the corner, onto stage, make full use of the stage for the orchestra, and if you need to do a scene change, at least you have curtains.
Credit OK, some teachers move on, it seemed half of the time the teachers/staff were the centre of attention. The attention needs to be back on the students really, it their concert. Give them full credit at the end, get them involved in the organization and the ones that have shown exception reward them instead of giving flowers or whatever to one teacher that has decided to make a slight career change.
Overall I thought it was a good concert. I’ve got some friends who were in it, and they performed very well. Sorry for the rant, mostly technical stuff but since I was sitting with David, who only half cared and Ciara who didn’t care, I had to release it somewhere!
Luke
Jul/094
Combined House Group
OK,
At my church, we have house groups. Most churches I know of have them, or something similar at least, where a small number of people meet in someones house (kinda why there called house groups) and discuss a particular topic between them.
At our church, we have, once a month, (last Wednesday of the month, or the first one if the first Wednesday is before the first Sunday, basically the Wednesday before the Sunday Evening Service), which is called combined house group. First, the name, its not a house group its in no ones house, and its not a house group because its a prayer meeting.
Anyway, every time its on, I have a moan to particular people about it, try and find excuses not to go and usually I end up going. I like meeting with God in church (yeah the church building), but it feels different than at home. But at these meetings it often gets away from how I like to pray. I like to have time quietly, with God with other people fine, but I like to pray my personal prayer without having to listen to other peoples.
Secondly it annoys me that we have to get into groups of people most of the time, and annoys me more that its always people that aren’t our friends, because its “cheating”. I know what a lot of my friends are going through, so if I’m told to pray in a group, it would make sense that I knew them well and knew a lot of their thoughts and what there going through. I was lucky enough to end up with David in the end, so I prayed with him, choosing my words carefully, but asked God to help him with decisions that him and Katie have to make and to bless them with things coming up in the future.
What’s also annoying about groups is that were meeting together in church because were praying together as a church. I know I’m contradicting myself, because I don’t want to be there, but if I am, why am I lumbered with people I don’t want to pray with.
Next, it creeps people out! I know of young people that have been to this meeting before and been creeped out with the praying. When have they been taught about laying hands on people, speaking in tongues etc?
Next, I don’t like the song we seem to sing all the time. It gets boring, plus why am I expected to know the words?
I go cause I have to, I’d rather just go to house group. This isn’t aimed at the one this week, its annoyances that have built up over the last x number of “Combined House Groups”. The simple solution would be to have a prayer meeting once a month for people that care about going, and the week that we would have the meeting, we have house group as normal where we discuss the previous Sundays “word”.
Thanks for listening to me rant about stupid little things. Apologies to those that I have directly or indirectly named, that didnt want to be named. Let me know and I’ll take you out if it causes a problem.
Luke
Jul/093
OK, try two…..
Hi,
Second attempt really at making a blog. Reasons for doing this really is cause sometimes I have a lot of different things in my head I want to get out. They might be a. because I cant be bothered to write the same thing to everyone, b. I want to get it into the air and no one I’m talking to at that time would be even slightly interested, or c. I feel I want to share those thoughts with the world!
Going to put things on here that I find interesting, technically wise, IT wise, christian wise, friends wise, uni wise and things I find funny!
Don’t know what else to say here, but I’ll write my about me soon anyway.
Luke