So this weekend was eventful.
It all kicked off a bit later than usual...8-9pm on Saturday night after a 90 or so minute train journey to bournemouth all one my own to meet some of my high school friends.
Got to the travelodge and had a few beers...went into town had a few beers...had a dance to some d&b and got a taste of FUN.
I turned 17 again and went to a house party where there was booze, coke, sex and pills.
Then 2 meatwagons and 8 police cares turned up to turf 150 drunken, image concious, gotta have a good time before I die students onto the streets.
A good night to be had for all I must say.

So.

I must admit I've been a bit concerned about my spiritual welfare the last couple of weeks. I've spent alot of time on my own labelling tubes and being in a foul mood about it.
I was in a place where I had a negative spin on everything...then I bought a copy of Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer...seriously...that book is groundbreaking. In the couple of days that I;ve had it, I've gone through the first few chapters and it's like a switch has flipped and the circuit is flowing the other way.
It is so easy to dwell on the negative and condemning thoughts of the world. But the choice has to be made to dwell not on matters of flesh, but on matters of the Holy Spirit.
So this morning I choose to pray through the day...even when labelling the tubes on my own.
If you struggle with matters of the mind...read that book.

[disclaimer - I am making generalised statements in the following section so please read with a pinch of salt.]

www.myspace.com/broomstiky

www.myspace.com/towriteloveonherarms

There are causes that the British church is disconnected from...and needs to be dealing with rather than just hoping that they won;t happen anymore.
On the Stiky myspace page, have a look at the video for Constance. That will blow your mind.
Midsets and the dirty things of the world are ignored. Let us stand up and tackle them in a way that is credible.
The thing that I love about what these various Christian movements from the States is that they are unashamedly tackling the disgraceful in a way that I am sure Jesus would (...I mean...who am I to say how Jesus would deal with our world...but there are examples in xxxchurch, towriteloveonherarms and invisible children...all worthy causes). It;s approaching these situations on the terms of the porn addicts, the girls who are sold for sex...

For years commercial christianity has had a dare I say it high and mighty nose stuck up arrogance that ignored the prostitutes. After all aren;t there just some things that you don;t deal with? NO. Jesus did not come to the Earth, die, conquer death, sin and carry all my shame and sin and shit on the cross on his terms did he? He came to the world on the worlds terms. In the form of a baby without sin as the perfect example for humanity.

So let us go to the gutter on the gutters terms with jesus on our sleeves meeting the needs of the gutter. Whatever that may be. Talk to the guy who never speaks in class and be his friend. Make the effort to engage with the work collegues who seem to be struggling with the wtasks at hand...I can;t explain how important it is that this generation bucks the trend of sticking a proverbial Christian nose up at need. Let us open the doors of our churches and build the city of refuge.

God does not say to us 'when you get your act together, we can talk'.

Now...how do I go about capturing this in song and picture?...I want to tak some photos of some street running...like the insane stuff jumping from building to building...there is a vision forming in my head and I;m excited...photography is a way of carrying those visions out...I want to try and capture freedom on canvas and write the exact words that the picture tells.

Let me know what you think...

and if you want in on this crazy journey.