Buckets

Are we teaching young people that quitting is the way forward?

Anyone noticed the trend of blame we are seeing in our culture? The scapegoat has never been a more popular hate-figure than right now.

Recently many people have been forced out of their roles because they have made mistakes;

Silvio Berlesconi as Italian PM,
Dr Liam Fox as defence secretary,
Brodie Clark as head of the UK Border Force,
Andy Coulson as special advisor to David Cameron.

And in other (maybe less important!) roles;

Frankie Cocozza as an X-Factor contestant
Countless football managers who are directly blamed for the terrible performances of their teams.

And the news i am seeing today is that the world is calling for Sepp Blatters head. The world leader of football today seemed to dismiss racism in football and asked victims of racism to simply forget about it, shake hands with the oppressors and get on with it. A disgusting viewpoint.

Whilst i NEVER condone or accept illegality, corruption, racism or wrongdoing, I DO know that the people i have named are human beings, human beings who have made mistakes. But what are we teaching the young people growing up, in and amongst this name and shame culture?

That quitting is the way forward.

All of the people i have mentioned were forced from their roles, all made epic mistakes, with epic consequences and in some cases left a massive trail of destruction in their wake. And yet, there is no culture or attitude of righting those wrongs.

I have made many mistakes in my life, but was always taught to learn from them, make them right and avoid such pitfalls in the future! I am really worried that we are teaching this generation the opposite.

Book Review: Youth Ministry - A multi-faceted approach edited by Sally Nash

Having done a Youth Ministry degree through CYM (Centre for Youth Minsitry) I feel that I have studied, reflected and approached nearly every angle of Christian Youth Ministry. Over the last 9 years I have read many books, each with its own stamp and suggestions for good practice. Many of them have been useful, others have been generic and instantly forgettable, however Sally Nash’s new book jumps straight to the top of the pile entitled “essential reading to do my job well”.

Firstly, and maybe most importantly, this book is approachable. With short-fire chapters, space for your own reflection and challenging questions, I felt the author was almost encouraging me not to read it all in one go - but rather take in some information and mull it over in my mind. I really enjoyed that.

The book is titled a ‘multi-faceted approach’ which is exactly what it is. It explores the ever-changing and evolving face of a Youth Minister in an ever-changing and evolving culture. The chapters unpack different roles; a youth minister needs to be a ‘Politician of Integrity’, ‘Empowering Liberator’, ‘Boundary Marker’ and a ‘Flawed Hero’.

These ominous-sounding titles are broken down in each chapter, providing real-life examples of practitioners, who had either struggled with the role, or had succeeded. Either way I found the examples very helpful; often they came just after my mind began to wonder “how would i do that?!”

Essential reading for any Youth Minister, this book contains 12 bite-sized gems of knowledge from some of the most respected youth ministers, lecturers, counsellors, vicars, practitioners and most importantly followers of Jesus Christ.

This book is all about empowering and equipping people in Youth Ministry to do their jobs better. ”Youth Ministry” is thoroughly rooted in theological reflection and the bible is used throughout to back up points and encourage the reader along their spiritual journey. I am confident that all Youth Ministers will find this book to be challenging, but also a source of encouragement and inspiration.

Riots, The Naked and Famous and Fear….

Last month our country experienced a week of fear, uncertainty and shock. Last month our country descended into riots, seemingly led and largely populated by young people. It was a bad week for the UK, and it was a very bad week for young people. It seems that in the aftermath, instead of the governament talking about what can be done, how to improve relations in the cities, they have decided to bury it, Camerons response to the ‘issue’ is tough love…. harsh sentences aimed to teach a lesson. An answer? Its an attempt, a poor solution.

It seems to me that amid the recession, the government budget cuts and other big headlines, the young poeple of this country are being pushed aside. Funding cuts to schools, the price increases to further education, libraries being closed and other public services feeling the pinch; what is a young persons outlook on thier future in the UK? Pretty bleak i think. Were the riots really out of the blue? I think it was an inevitable outburst of frustration, a reaction to the fear young poeple are feeling.

I have been reflecting on this fear, and as always, listening to new music. I have particularly reflected on a stunning record called ‘Passive me aggressive you’ by New Zealand based band The Naked and Famous. The diverse record holds heavy influenes from Radioheads ‘Hail to the Thief’ MGMT’s ‘Oracular Spectacular’ and aussie rockers The Temper Trap debut album; ‘Conditions.’ Its an impressive debut album from this years great collection of records, and although sounds like an upbeat record, the lyrics hold deep, reflective and dark undertones.

Joint Lead singer Alisa Xayalith told NME magazine that a big part of her inspiration was young poeple and youthful spirit She said she “wrote lyrics that inspired dreaming and youthful exuberance” Their stand out track ‘Young Blood’ is like an anthem for the Skins generation:

We’re only young and naive still

We require certain skills

The mood it changes like the wind

Hard to control when it begins

I think that perfectly sums up teenage exuberance, constant changing emotions and a lot of inevitable confusion as someone goes through the complicated teenage years. And the song goes on to reflect on the difficulties of growing up in a westernised culture:

Can’t help myself but count the flaws

Claw my way out through these walls

One temporary escape

Feel it start to permeate

I’ve been working with young people for almost 10 years and one of the biggest challenges they (and I) face is fear. Fear of disappointing people, fear of the future, fear of relationships, success, money, popularity. Young people are put under so much pressure to do well - not thier best as it should be - but to succeed, mostly at the cost of themselves and their precious teenage years. This song is a foot-tapper, but i think it perfcetly captures the fear that young pelple have as they grow up. I hear adults say “I wish i was 18 again” all the time - but reflecting on my teenage years - i’m not sure i would!

Another stand out track on the record is ‘Punching in the Dark’ (recently used as the theme tune for reality show Made in Chelsea)

Again another foot tapping, walking song but again another track with darker lyrics. Alissa sings:

All the lights go down as I crawl into the spaces

If I died on the screens

Life tearing at the seams

Way-yay-yay-yay-yay

I don’t ever wanna be here

Like punching in a dream breathing life into the nightmare

If it falls apart I would surely wake it

Bright lights turn me clean

This is worse than it seems

Its a song all about fear. The fear of growing up, taking responsibility, facing the future and feeling alone. Like Punching in a dream (a pointless act) - maybe facing a world where a young persons destiny is seemingly out of their own control.

I think that this record reflects the current mood of the young people in our country. Looking to university, jobs, money etc…. it all seems a bit bleak. We need to be building up our young people, not dishing out wasteful ‘tough love’. How about just Love?! What if the government concentrated on funding youth opportunities, youth projects, youth workers and education? What if we told the youth that we loved them, and that God loves them. What if we painted a less bleak picture of the future, not by just throwing money at things, but by empowering young people to change the future.

I think we need to sit up as a nation and take some responsibility. Albums like this one are showing the cracks and the chasm that lies between adults and young people. We need to bridge that gap or the riots we saw in August won’t be a one off event.

nprfreshair:

From NPR Music: Bon Iver: Live in Concert at the 9:30 Club (stream or download the show).

Bon Iver; a reflection on Spring and memories…

Justin Vernon has become a cult hero since his debut album ‘For Emma, Forever ago’ hit dizzying heights back in 2007. His Zeppelin-esque absence from interviews mixed with badly drawn boy beard-hat combo and a general minimalist folk dress sense make him a fascinating character. Not convinced? Did I mention he wrote the whole album on his own in a secluded log cabin in the woods of Wisconsin after his girl dumped him and his band broke up?…….. Interested now?! Thought so.

Justin became a wanted man, taking time from touring the record to collaborate with various superstars like Kanye West. Whilst the fan base waited anxiously for a follow up.

Bon Iver released their self titled second record last week and it is for want of a better word, exquisite. If their first album was written in a winter, this is spring. The music still has the recognisable falsetto instrument that is his voice constant throughout the record, but the sound has expanded, Vernon has asked his talented friends to add more drums, guitar and bass but also French horn, trumpet, saxophone and synth creating at times an almost 80’s feel. That might sound awful, but trust me it really isn’t.

The one thing that can be said of Bon Iver is that the music is easier to interpret than the lyrics are. Vernon admittedly fits words to songs rather than having any profound meaning. However the album does seem to have an over all theme to it. Nearly all the tracks are curiously named after real places (Minnesota WI, Perth, Wash) and after some study, also reflect the lead singers memories.

In Michicant he reflects on childhood: “I was unafraid, I was a boy, I was a tender age” and in ‘Minnesota WI’ reinforces these childhood memories in reflecting back to a time when he maybe felt invincible: “never gonna break never gonna break”. But it is in ‘Holocene’ where these memories begin to get interesting “Someway, baby, it’s part of me, apart from me. you’re laying waste to Halloween” concluding in a poignant and sweeping chorus “And at once I knew, I was not magnificent” this is maybe Vernon displaying all of his insecurities in the face of his massive success, his self esteem still low from his past memories maybe? The record at times sounds like he is running away, but the record closer heralds a triumphant return in an 80’s drenched synth masterpiece with hints of (dare I say it) fun and joy?!

I reflected heavily on these themes. How much of our past do we run away from? Vernon has written his past down for all to see, and for all time. Would I have the same courage to reflect on where I have come from and what that means for me?

Jacob is a great example in scripture of a man who runs from his past. Cheating his brother and father for the first borne blessing, running from his brother Esau’s grudge, and generally not facing up to his mistakes. Jacob is a man who sought after success, popularity and Gods favour, but ultimately (after literally wrestling with God) realises that he was not Magnificent, but a man who needed to be reconnected with his father in heaven.

Justin Vernon is someone who comes across as a man who is not running from his past, full of bad and good memories. But someone who has embraced them, someone who has accepted that they have made them into the man he is today. And I have a lot of respect for that. We shouldn’t run away or hide. Our past is who we are.

But it is not something to dwell on, because our future is very secure. In Jacobs story, God blesses him, giving him a new name, a new start, and immediately Jacob embraces his past and looks to the future.

Know that God has blessed all of us, whether we like it or not. The cross is our blessing and it grants us a new start. And it is Magnificent.

Fleet Foxes, Post modernity and an incredible new album….

I am a big Fleet Foxes fan. Their first self titled record was a massive breath of fresh air back in 2008 and I’ve been anticipating their new record ever since.

‘Helplessness Blues’ was released last month and, after my first listen, fell in love with it. It’s a folk album full of groove and some truly brilliant lyric writing. Some of which has really gotten me excited.

I want to look at three tracks in particular; ‘Montezuma’, ‘Helplessness Blues’ and ‘Grown Ocean’. These songs seem to ask big questions about fame, materialism, purpose, creation and heaven.

Montezuma

The first track called ‘Montezuma’ seems to be a very brave and honest opening to an album, a track reflecting on what ‘he used to be’ - on how maybe fame and fortune were passing, frivolous times and that now he is older he feels he is changing.

So now I am older than my mother and father

when they had their daughter

now what does that say about me

Oh how could I dream of such a selfless and true love

could I wash my hands of

just looking out for me

Oh man what I used to be

Oh man oh my oh me

Oh man what I used to be

Oh man oh my oh me

In dearth or in excess

both the slave and the empress

will return to the dirt I guess, naked as when they came

I wonder if I’ll see any faces above me

or just cracks in the ceiling

nobody else to blame

Oh man what I used to be

Oh man oh my oh me

Oh man that I used to be

Oh man oh my oh me

Gold teeth and gold jewellery

every piece of your dowry

throw them into the tomb with me

bury them with my name

I love the honesty of this song - especially at the start of a record. This is a songwriter who is still discovering what the meaning of his life is.

In dearth or in excess

both the slave and the empress

will return to the dirt I guess, naked as when they came

The whole ‘materialistic’ meaningless theme continues into track two called ‘Bedouin Dress’ he sings:

If to borrow is to take and not return

I have borrowed all my lonesome life

And I can’t, no I can’t get through

The borrower’s debt is the only regret of my youth

And believe me it’s not easy when I look back

Everything I took got soon returned

Just to be adding it’s free again

All of the sirens are driving me over the stern

Is this a man truly reflecting on his beliefs, his life, and his purpose? It makes for an exciting start to an album!

Helplessness Blues

Helplessness Blues is the lead single from the album, and it contains so many fascinating theological themes.

I was raised up believing

I was somehow unique

Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes

Unique in each way you can see

And now after some thinking

I’d say I’d rather be

A functioning cog in some great machinery

Serving something beyond me

But I don’t, I don’t know what that will be

I’ll get back to you someday soon you will see

What’s my name, what’s my station

Oh just tell me what I should do

I don’t need to be kind to the armies of night

That would do such injustice to you

Or bow down and be grateful

And say “Sure take all that you see”

To the men who move only in dimly-lit halls

And determine my future for me

And I don’t, I don’t know who to believe

I’ll get back to you someday soon you will see

If I know only one thing

It’s that every thing that I see

Of the world outside is so inconceivable

Often I barely can speak

Yeah I’m tongue tied and dizzy

And I can’t keep it to myself

What good is it to sing helplessness blues?

Why should I wait for anyone else?

And I know, I know you will keep me on the shelf

I’ll come back to you someday soon myself

For me this song screams ‘conversion experience’. I remember when a friend of mine became a follower of Jesus in a big tent at a Christian festival. I remember that the only way he could explain this experience was that ‘everything was different now’ the way he looked at trees, at people, and at himself had changed.

And I think that the first two verses of this song are all about that:

I was raised up believing

I was somehow unique

Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes

Unique in each way you can see

And now after some thinking

I’d say I’d rather be

A functioning cog in some great machinery

Serving something beyond me

A modern day change from atheism to believing and following God could be put into simpler terms, going from a post-modern way of thinking i.e. thinking about yourself first and rejecting a ‘bigger story’ (meta-narrative) for your life and instead thinking about others, seeing yourself as part of something a bit bigger than yours truly. Robin Pecknold is doing just that – going from a ‘unique snowflake’ to a ‘cog in some great machinery’.

And that is what Jesus calls us to isn’t it? To look at our world through the creators eyes, to treat each other as if they were our brothers and sisters. Jesus calls us to be in relationship with, not just each other, but also with the creator God. This song has challenged me to reflect on what it means for me to be ‘a functioning cog’ in the story that God has invited me to be a part of. What is my role? How can I do my fathers will? Where and how can I be most effective?

Pecknold has never said that he is a Christian or particularly spiritually minded, this verse may speak volumes:

If I know only one thing

It’s that every thing that I see

Of the world outside is so inconceivable

Often I barely can speak

Often for me, simply looking at creation reminds me of how awesome God is. He also reflects on creation in the last but one track called ‘Blue spotted tail’:

Why in the night sky are the lights on?

Why is the earth moving round the sun?

Floating in the vacuum with no purpose, not a one

Why in the night sky are the lights on?

Grown Ocean

But it’s in the last song on the album ‘Grown Ocean’ where these themes and questions seem to come to a conclusion. Here are the lyrics:

In that dream I’m as old as the mountains

Still is starlight reflected in fountains

Children grown on the edge of the ocean

Kept like jewellery kept with devotion

In that dream moving slow through the morning

You would come to me then without answers

Lick my wounds and remove my demands for now

Eucalyptus and orange trees are blooming

In that dream there’s no darkness alluded

In that dream moving slow through the morning time

In that dream I could hardly contain it

All my life I will wait to attain it

There, there, there

I know someday the smoke will all burn off

All these voices I’ll someday have turned off

I will see you someday when I’ve woken

I’ll be so happy just to have spoken

I’ll have so much to tell you about it

In that dream I could hardly contain it

All my life I will wait to attain it

There, there, there

Wide-eyed walker, don’t betray me

I will wake one day, don’t delay me

Wide-eyed leaver, always going

It’s a great song and a brilliant way to end a record. A folk song at heart but with an addictively simple beat and groove; with those classic staple Fleet Foxes harmonies, it has to be one of the best songs they have ever written. And I find the lyrics in this song fascinating.

It seems to be a song about heaven, about a place where Pecknold aims to be when he dies. Where children are ‘kept like jewellery with devotion’ and where he is ‘moving slowly through the morning’ – serene and relaxing metaphors. Pecknold talks of someone who will lick his wounds and a place that has no darkness.

And it has a chorus that is brimming with hope. This ‘dream’ sees Pecknold wanting more and more, he is going to live his life trying to attain it.

This last song reminds me of the last book of the bible – Revelation. A book all about a dream that John has about the end of time. Where he sees heaven, and God and, like Pecknold, has ‘so much to tell you about it’ as he is singing the song it sounds like he will explode unless he tells us all about it.

And I reflect that this is how I should be living my life. I believe in Jesus Christ, in his ministry, his death and resurrection, and I want to live my life telling everybody I meet all about it. But I don’t do this as often as I should. I’m going to try and change that.

So there are my reflections on one of the best albums of the year so far…. what do you think?

Ben

This made me laugh HARD this morning….

Elbow, ASBO’s and The Parable of the lost son….

I believe that ‘Nature herself has imprinted the very idea of God’ (Cisero) and that is one of the reasons why i love music. I love buying a new record, putting it on my iPod and listening to it for hours. I love pouring over the lyrics, reading up about the writer of the song, their history, their influences, why they wrote what they wrote, it totally fascinates me.

And Elbow have written 5 of the best records money can buy. They are not just musically brilliant, the lyrics, themes and motives behind their songs make every listen more interesting.

Elbow have recently been through some massive success, their fourth album ‘The Seldom seen Kid’ quite deservedly won the Mercury prize, the result of which pushed them out of the underground into the bright spot-light and a massive arena tour this month (and of course a much-coveted appearance of one of their songs on Match of the Day).

Guy Garvey - lead singer and unofficial poet laureate of a generation - said that the pressure of writing another stadium-filler type record was immense, and so went back to his roots for inspiration. A situation that a certain Arcade Fire found themselves in not so recently. Guy went back to his childhood for this record, back to where he grew up. And what a record it is.

Build A Rocket Boys! is a great mix of traditional Elbow material and their new found stadium success, and it is filled with ideas, beautiful lyrics, powerful choruses, choirs, strings and heart-warming themes. And there are two tracks in particular that I’ll be using in my ministry as a Youth Minister.

‘Lippy Kids’

Lippy kids on the corner again
Lippy kids on the corner begin settling like crows
Though I never perfected the simian stroll
The cigarette scent, it was everything then

Do they know those days are golden?
Build a rocket boys!
Build a rocket boys!

One long June I came down from the trees
And curbstone cool
You were freshly painted angel walking on walls
Stealing booze and hour long hungry kisses

Nobody knew me at home anymore
Build a rocket boys!
Build a rocket boys!
Build a rocket boys!

I recently saw Elbow live, and he introduced every song with a story or some background. This song is about Young People. He explained that one day he noticed a gang of youths hanging out outside of his house. His immediate gut feeling was that they were up to something; ‘Lippy kids on the corner begin settling like crows’ and that he needed to protect his family. He quickly realized that they were just kids, hanging out, with nothing better to do, probably bored out of their brains. And he realized that the ASBO society we are growing up in is encouraging chasm the size of wales between young and old.

I see this song as a message to the older listeners of Elbow. How do you view young people? Are your views being distorted by an ASBO culture? You were young once! Remember that? ‘Do they know those days are golden?’ How can we help to stop this growing disassociation between young and old? How can we change peoples views of young people from ‘Lippy crows’ to ‘freshly painted angels?’

Open Arms

You’re a law unto yourself
And we don’t suffer dreamers
But neither should you walk the earth alone

So with finger rolls and folding chairs
And a volley of streamers
We can be there for tweaks and repairs
Should you come back home

We got open arms for broken hearts
Like yours my boy, come home again

Tables are for pounding here
And when we’ve got you surrounded
The man you are will know the boy you were

And you’re not the man who fell to earth
You’re the man of La Mancha
And we’ve love enough to light the street
‘Cause everybody’s here

We got open arms for broken hearts
Like yours my boy, come home again
We got open arms for broken hearts
Like yours my boy, come home again

Everyone’s here
Everyone’s here
The moon is out looking for trouble
And everyone’s here

I love this track. It was an unofficial theme for this years comic-relief, quite fitting i think. But how much does this song echo a story told by Jesus? Luke 15: 11-32 is the story of the lost son, a story of redemption, forgiveness and love.

I look at the lyrics of this song and think of the father in the bible story singing it, a man who has seen one of his sons disappear, squandering his share of the inheritance ‘You’re a law unto yourself’; whilst his other son has stayed home, working and obeying the will of his dad.

At one point this ‘son’ is described as ‘not the man who fell to earth, you’re the man of La Mancha’ La Mancha is a region in Spain - and the name means the dry land or wilderness.

This son was created by God to be a perfect creation, to live and work with God, to have a relationship with him. But humanity today is in ‘La Mancha’ we are wandering alone in the wilderness, apart from God, apart from our father.

But there is redemption, there is a way back. In the bible story the son comes home and the father greets him in a way he never expected;

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15: 20)

Our God throws his arms wide open for us.

He is ALWAYS looking for us. And the invitation is always there. Are you a person of La Mancha or a person who is wrapped up in the arms of God?

I could write a conclusion, but Guy Garvey writes better than me;

We got open arms for broken hearts
Like yours my boy, come home again

Apple Win

Apple is paying close attention to all iPad 2 returns during the first few weeks to make sure there are no major production defects. This policy has indirectly led to a free iPad 2 to one customer and an amusing story that we thought was entertaining enough to share.

The story comes by way of an individual close to Apple:

[Apple’s] focus this week has been to troubleshoot all the iPad 2s that customers are returning to the stores. One iPad came back with a post it note on it that said “Wife said no.” It was escalated as something funny, and two of the VPs got wind of it. They sent the guy an iPad 2 with a note on it that said “Apple said yes.”

We’re guessing a free iPad satisfied any objection the customer’s wife might have had.

Last week I was at Arrow (a church leadership programme) and a visiting preacher shared a part of narrative from a Narnia book ‘Prince Caspian’ I reflected on it quite heavily during that day and I want to share it with all of you….

May this be our image of God, for it is beautiful, intimate and love;

Lucy looked very hard at the trees of the glade “Why, I do believe they’re moving” she said to herself. “they’re walking about” She got up, her heart beating wildly, and walked towards them. There was certainly a noise in the glade, a noise such as trees make in a high wind, though there was no wind tonight. Yet it was not exactly an ordinary tree noise either. Lucy felt there was a tune in it, but she could not catch the tune any more than she had been able to catch the words when the trees had so nearly talked to her the night before. But there was, at least, a lilt; she felt her own feet wanting to dance as she got nearer. And now there was no doubt that the trees were really moving - moving in and out through one another as if in a complicated country dance. She was almost among them now…..

She went fearlessly in among them, dancing herself as she leaped this way and that to avoid being run into by these huge partners. But she was only half interested in them. She wanted to get beyond them to something else; it was from beyond them that the dear voice called. She soon got through them, a circle of grass, smooth as a lawn, met her eyes, with dark trees dancing all around it. And then - oh joy! For he was there: the huge lion, shining white in the moonlight, with his huge black shadow underneath him. But for the movement of his tail he might have been a stone lion, but Lucy never thought of that. She never stopped to think whether he was a friendly lion or not. She rushed to him. She felt her heart would burst if she lost a moment. And the next thing she knew was that she was kissing him and putting her arms as far round his neck as she could and burying her face in the beautiful rich silkiness of his mane. “Aslan, Aslan. Dear Aslan,” sobbed Lucy. “At last.” The great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half sitting and half lying between his front paws. He bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath came all round her. She gazed up into the large wise face. “Welcome child,” he said. “Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.” “That is because you are older, little one,” answered he. “Not because you are?” “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”