Categories
Observations

It’s Church, Jim, But Not As We Know It.

So, why couldn’t I come up with a blog post on virtual church as cross-cultural ministry? My problem was that I wasn’t thinking deeply enough. There are lessons to be applied from cross-cultural work, but the bottom line is that online/virtual church is, in many ways, not an authentic gathering of believers.

Categories
Observations

A White Zulu, Cricket and the Church

Some thoughts about the church inspired by a great musician and a wonderful (if lucky) cricket team.

Categories
Observations

Where Is The Anger?

Where are the Christian artists writing to condemn injustice?

Categories
Observations Reviews

Seen Live: Silvina Moreno

Short report on a great set by Argentinian singer-songwriter, Silvina Moreno.

Categories
Observations

Jasper Carrot: Stand Up and Rock

Jasper Carrot and the Bev Bevan band on tour. A superb evening of good humour, nostalgia and great sixties and seventies music. Not to be missed if you remember Funky Moped.

Categories
Observations

Perfect Pop Songs

I spend a lot of time listening to music on shuffle. You know the sort of thing, where your iPod (other generic music playing devices are available) plays some Duke Ellington, followed by a Bach Cantata, then a Slade song from 1972. Every now and then, a song from the charts will turn up which […]

Categories
Reviews

Caught Live: Peatbog Faeries

There are some people who don’t like Scottish folk music, I know that is hard to believe, but it is true. Even more strange, there are some who don’t like the idea of Scottish folk music coupled to a driving bass section and amazing electronic keyboards. Such people are just wrong! Last night was the […]

Categories
Reviews

Caught Live: Peatbog Faeries

There are some people who don’t like Scottish folk music, I know that is hard to believe, but it is true. Even more strange, there are some who don’t like the idea of Scottish folk music coupled to a driving bass section and amazing electronic keyboards. Such people are just wrong! Last night was the […]

Categories
Language and Society

Land and Identity

The British press has been full of stories about immigration, recently. Depending on the newspaper you read, you may have discovered that immigrants threaten the social fabric of the UK or that they bring nothing but economic and cultural benefits. However, you would have struggled to find much about the way in which moving from […]

Categories
Observations

Capercaille at the Queen Elizabeth Hall

There are some people who don’t think that Karen Matheson is the greatest female singer in the world; they aren’t bad people, they just haven’t heard her yet. But Capercaille are not simply a backing band for their wonderful vocalist. Indeed, last night at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Ms Matheson often sat quietly at the […]