I was going to write something here about how wedding planning is going, about what I’m thinking and stuff but I couldn’t bring myself to do it as it is so hard to articulate my thoughts. Instead then I’m going to ask for some help…

 20th February is the date set for what is supposed to be the biggest day of my life, it the day which western society has already set the mould for. But those of you who know me, indeed those who read this, know that I’m not a societal norm guy. At the moment, especially after a little chat with the Vicar who will possibly be leading us in our vows, I’ve got a battle on in my head about weddings – about what a wedding really is, about the role of tradition and church politics, about legal marriage and religious marriage and the difference, about the role of family and friends and the role of me and Sam, about who does this and says that and ultimately about does any of it matter?

So this is my plea, for those of you who read this – Can we pull together some thoughts or discussion on weddings and marriage? What would you do, in reality or hypothetically? Would you do anything? What’s essential, what’s important, and what is the ‘trimmings’? Any and all thoughts welcome, if not needed…

Saturday the 7^th of November saw piece of waste land behind some local shops become alive with food, drink and fire.  Local people, most of whom have houses which back onto the land, all came together to mix, chat, eat, drink, and keep warm.

This may not sound like an amazing feat; many people would have hosted their own gatherings over the weekend, but it seemed to me that there was an amazing sense of community amongst these neighbours and friends, some whom had been around for years, and others who were new and meeting people for the first time. It was a nice break from going to a massive local authority organised night, where you get lost in the crowd and can’t feel the heat of the fire cos its so far away…

The whole day brought people together, from the setting up and building of the (pretty massive) bonfire to the baking and preparing of food. The day has its heart in the local people; one described it as her ‘favourite night of the year’.

There is something magic (for lack of a better word) about fire. It brings people together, and it has been at the centre of cultures and communities for centuries. All we shared in common that night was the fire, it was our source of light and heat and it brought everyone together. Nothing else mattered.

I think we need to re-claim our sense of community within the places we live. This event, run by local people for local people, was a great example.

I along with 8million others and a studio audience of 1000 watched BNP party leader, Nick Griffin, on Question Time – or as it has been said ‘The Nick Griffin Show’. Personally, it was less the Nick Griffin Show and a lot more like he was in the stocks.

I’m going to try and keep this short. I am not siding with BNP politics but I couldn’t help feel sorry for Mr Griffin. In the last week he has been hot topic amongst the media and has been rapidly become one of the most, if not the most, hated man in Britain. He has been deemed a devil and a rat and is often caricatured as Hitler (lets just remember that Hitler, one of the most hated men of all time, was a mass-murder). Again I’m not agreeing with his politics but I feel that the BNP’s ‘campaign of hate’ should not be met, addressed or overcome by hate – and this seems precisely the way politics, the media and society at large are dealing with it.

On Question Time, Nick Griffin was ‘jeered and ridiculed’ (Daily Mail headline), he was constantly talked about as if he wasn’t in the room, was laughed at and shouted at by the audience, one of which, who was offered to voice his opinion, did nothing more than lay into Mr Griffin. He was often cut off and people seemed little interested in listening to him, instead they were quick to ‘read between the lines’ and cut him off.

I can understand that people are angry toward him but is it right to fight fire we fire? Do we have the right to lynch those who lynched our ancestors, friends and family? Can hate be overcome by more hate?

“If you want rid of griffin and his sad brood ballots are not the answer bullets are” say one on the facebook group ‘1,000,000 united against the BNP.

The message of yesterdays Question Time for me was clear, we will not tolerate racial prejudice and discrimination, but we will happy persecute and alienate those with differing ideologies. Is this fair in a land of democracy and freedom of speak?

Dehumanized: Is Nick Griffin nothing more than a sewer rat?

The past week has been very bizarre indeed…lots of exciting things have happened…

First up, this time last week I was about to fall of my bike, slam my head between my glasses and the floor, and go to A&E to be glued. My head still hurts a little and I think I have a black eye. It was alright really, looked worse than it is and it gave me some new cuts to pick, which was fun. The downside was that my glasses got run over – but again there is a slight funny side to that (and rather the glasses than me)

Then on Saturday Sam and I took a trip to Wolverhampton, where we met. We went to the pub/restaurant where we had our first date, the park where we first kissed and I proposed. I’ll save you all the details – those who want to know can ask. We did it all on public transport too – who ever said that cars where what boys needed to pick up woman, it’s clearly all about the bus…A very liberating day, one I will never forget and, if I don’t say so myself, panned out rather well…

Yesterday, I had an interview in a local secondary school for a Learning Support Assistant role. I really liked the school, and came away from the interview really wanting the job – usually in these things I’ve very indifferent. I spent the rest of the day in limbo, knowing I would be told later in the day if I got it, but knowing they had interview 4 or more others, all likely candidates. I couldn’t be bothered to fill out more applications as my heart wasn’t in it. Plus I was sharing the good news of Saturday, so was inundated with messages. Got a call at almost half 5 to offer me the job – Boom!! Just after the news that my sister had got her dream job at her local school too…dare I say it, but an answer to prayer…?

Throughout the week prospects have been moving forward on a potential house for Jo and Gary and family – one which may have to be ‘house sit’ for a few months. House buying is a long and slow mission but things are coming together very nicely…

So all in all, thumbs up

Having just moved up here I have little access to the internet, in fact I’m in the local Library now. The Library is good but it’s not the same as having your own computer…

I’ve been badgered to write something about my summer travels which I will do, but first I want to explain why I’ve ended up here.

“Urban Expression is an urban mission agency that recruits, equips, deploys and networks self-financing teams pioneering creative and relevant expressions of the Christian church in under-churched areas of the inner city”

That is taken direct from the urban expression website and it sums things up nicely, although you may have to think about it. I have in effect joined such a ‘team’. But to call us a team and to define ‘what we do’ and all those kinds of things perhaps detracts from what we’re about. Essentially, we live in an area, we share a sense of community with each other and we’ll listen to the local community around us and see how we can contribute in anyway. We are not here to set up services, but merely to serve (to coin an expression I’ve recently read). We are not doing anything special, but doing what I believe following Jesus seriously leads us to do, wherever we live. We are here as a group of people who share a hope in common, and we will attempted to see God in the ordinary and follow where he leads us -attempted being the optimum word…

So life at the moment for me is about finding a job, preferably local. Familiarizing myself with the area. Establishing routine and meeting new people. Then to get a place of my own.

On a more practical note: job hunting is a mission and apparently I’m living in the area hardest hit by unemployment, especially for the 18-25s, which I sit nicely in the middle of. For those of you who are praying types please bear it in mind, for others feel free to hope really hard for me…

And so some thoughts about my travels: it is perhaps clear from what I’m doing with Urban Expression that I like to be grounded. I like to be in a certain location, understand why I am there and focus why I am there, etc. I like to be in the world, it is where I find purpose and where I see God at work. On the road it is a different story – you are constantly moving, you cannot build real, meaningful relationships and your only real purpose is to travel more.

I hope I’m not belittling my travelling experience. I enjoyed it and had an amazing time. I learnt great things and met some amazing people. I wouldn’t have not done it, never. But the person who asked me to write something wanted this perspective and as he stated himself on the trip that I don’t need to remove myself from society to offer a critique, whereas he does. On the road I felt very much disengaged from society and so I found it hard to have purpose and meaning, I was simply traveling, and it was all for me, no one else was really involved.

I’d be interested to know if any of that really makes sense (I’m starting to think it is fairly obvious) and what people think about the whole Urban Expression thingy…also in unrelated news I fell off my bike Tuesday and had a visit to A&E, so I’m getting to know the local hospitals…

This is the first post of my new life, a life in Shard End Birmingham. This is to kick start everything of.

So basically, I have been here a few days now. Settling in and finding my way around, looking for a job and all that. Nothing to amazing…

Just to say, I will post some thoughts of my travels over the summer shortly, as requested…I will also post shortly more about the ‘origins’ (if you like) about our so called community. In the mean time, there is some info at http://www.urbanexpression.org.uk/

Also, i’ve opened a Twitter accound for those of you who are into that. To me though I am treating it as my own personal random thought bank – i.e. rather than text myself to remind my of my musings I’ll text Twitter. You can see at http://twitter.com/ThoughtsAndCrap

Finally, check out ‘whats this all about’ for a little intro to how this might be working…

So my three years at loughborough University have drawn to a close with a crazy last push and then the maddest week and bit of my life ever…tonight however I am leaving the country – flying to turkey with two friends and three bikes and then we’ll some how make our way back…

As for the blog, I guess it’ll be a little quite as we won’t go out our way to find internet cafes and stuff.

It should be interesting though, a pilgrimage if you will.

Anyways, I’ll let you know how it goes when i’m back…

My time at loughborough university has finished!! I imagine this is the last ever faith article…

Article 10

The Balance of Life

Families prosper, societies develop, civilisations grow…

Divorces happen, morality degrades, wars take place…

One might think of diverse complex causes for these phenomena but the fundamental reason is very simple. When things are in their natural balance, happiness prevails; when this balance is disturbed, destruction overcomes.
It is really intriguing to find and attain this balance in our daily lives. For example, balance in the rights of women and that of men. Balance between the pitiable derelict parents in old houses and those doing forced marriages of their daughters. Balance between the total seclusion of women and her vulgar display for fashion’s sake. Balance between luxurious palaces of Queens and Sheikhs and the marquee of an ascetic. Balance between extreme thriftiness and debt mounting consumerism. Balance between obesity causing appetite and the calorie conscious diet. Balance between the virgin lives of priests and the pleasure filled lives of playboys. It is this balance which needs maintaining. The exact location of the middle point, however, is phenomenally difficult. But there is an easy way as well. Follow the code of life given by the one who has created all of us. Follow one God.

Loughborough Student’s Union Islamic Society

Arcticle 8 – Jewish Society

Give a little, Get back so much more…

Jewish people have always been made fun of for being a little bit stingy with their money, so you may find it ironic that charity (Tzedekah) is a huge part of Jewish life, but not in the conventional way of simply giving to others. The word Tzedekah has two meanings: charity and justice. Although its main idea is to be generous, it is also about being righteous; it is our job as human beings to do the right thing and give to those less fortunate and who are in need. This may be by giving a few pounds, or buy getting involved with opportunities like RAG at university. According to Judaism, it is our chance to say thanks to God, but also to enjoy helping out others.
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The Talmud (Jewish Law) says that Tzedekah is equal to all the commandments combined. It is obvious to us that we should not steal, so it should be just as obvious to us to give the needy.
Judaism suggests that we give up 10% of our income to charity, either finically or with the time we give.
As students it is important for us to give what we can too. There many things you can get involved in, including RAG which gives us the perfect opportunity to make the world a better place, whilst having the time of your life.
Loughborough RAG current total is £295, 972 and with your help it can increase.

Article 9 –Hindu Society

HOLI!

Holi is a religious festival in the Hindu calendar celebrated on the 11th March. It is a day of fun, colours and rituals for young and old alike.

It is celebrated to recognise the depth of devotion by a young boy called Prahlad to Lord Vishnu (God). His father, on the other hand, was a powerful and vicious demon king who thought of himself as an equal to God and thus kept attempting to kill Prahlad due to his devotion for Lord Vishnu. Bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that the young Prahlad had when the demoness Holika, sister to his father, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, escaped without any injuries. An avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, Narsinha (half man, half lion) defeated the king.

Holi is celebrated by throwing coloured powder and water on each other signifying the colours of love, which fill our life with joy and happiness and also breaking the barriers between us to bring social togetherness.

NHSF Loughborough celebrated the festival which was enjoyed by many who had a fantastic time getting themselves coloured!

This is genius…