Thursday, February 25, 2010

A Thousand Tiny Thoughts Shatter

At the weekend I went to the SCM conference (http://www.movement.org.uk) and was hit hard by a wave of challenge. As Coralie (http://coralfrog.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/to-care-is-not-enough/) writes, to care is not enough any more. This time I find myself in demands action as the most effective most startling form of witness, worship and praise

I've been searching, crawling and calling out to God for my vocation. Jealous in my own way of those called to serve like Tom, up the front in ordained ministry, and wanting to feel satisfied with life. I went to conference searching and listening loudly.

God was there yelling at me.

In the first talk from Michael Taylor, alongside being blinded by the science of theology, I hit upon the need to refine my own personal views of vocation. It's more than job title, or a place in society, its who I was created to be, and who I already am. Within the cycle of reflection and action I am striving to build the Kingdom of God.

Tamsin Omond's talk about her own journey from candidate for ordination to climate change activism was inspiring and defined for me the need to bring God's good new to the whole earth, not just it's people. In doing this we can help support the people who are getting screwed over by climate change. I'm not a stand on the rooftops and shout kind of person like Tamsin, but it did make me hurtfully aware of what I need to do to make a difference. Cue a week of looking for ways to save energy at home, to generate our own energy, avoid packaging, waste and unnecessary journeys.

I attended workshops on New Monasticism and Revolution in Society. The first helped validate the work of the Chaplaincy community and through up questions about how you manage being a community of faith and work in the real world to serve your wider community. A conversation with Simon/Yellow (http://darksidechaplaincy.blogspot.com) last night reinforced the need for this. There needs to be the core chaplaincy community of welcome and love, but that also needs to look outward and serve the university.

Chris Howson's workshop revolution and social action has stuck with me the most. (http://www.bradfordsoulspace.org/) It is not enough just to care any more. I spent the our feeling convicted by this man's spirit of love and action. His parish take in and care for refugees, barricade Total garages in support of Burmese students and are there living a live of real love for their community building God's kingdom right here and right now.

I'm not doing this. Not in a big enough way. So I'm going to change. Open my life to serve the needs of those around me and listen more closely for where God wants me to work. Let's see where this takes me.

A Thousand Tiny Thoughts Shatter

At the weekend I went to the SCM conference (http://www.movement.org.uk) and was hit hard by a wave of challenge. As Coralie (http://coralfrog.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/to-care-is-not-enough/) writes, to care is not enough any more. This time I find myself in demands action as the most effective most startling form of witness, worship and praise

I've been searching, crawling and calling out to God for my vocation. Jealous in my own way of those called to serve like Tom, up the front in ordained ministry, and wanting to feel satisfied with life. I went to conference searching and listening loudly.

God was there yelling at me.

In the first talk from Michael Taylor, alongside being blinded by the science of theology, I hit upon the need to refine my own personal views of vocation. It's more than job title, or a place in society, its who I was created to be, and who I already am. Within the cycle of reflection and action I am striving to build the Kingdom of God.

Tamsin Omond's talk about her own journey from candidate for ordination to climate change activism was inspiring and defined for me the need to bring God's good new to the whole earth, not just it's people. In doing this we can help support the people who are getting screwed over by climate change. I'm not a stand on the rooftops and shout kind of person like Tamsin, but it did make me hurtfully aware of what I need to do to make a difference. Cue a week of looking for ways to save energy at home, to generate our own energy, avoid packaging, waste and unnecessary journeys.

I attended workshops on New Monasticism and Revolution in Society. The first helped validate the work of the Chaplaincy community and through up questions about how you manage being a community of faith and work in the real world to serve your wider community. A conversation with Simon/Yellow (http://darksidechaplaincy.blogspot.com) last night reinforced the need for this. There needs to be the core chaplaincy community of welcome and love, but that also needs to look outward and serve the university.

Chris Howson's workshop revolution and social action has stuck with me the most. (http://www.bradfordsoulspace.org/) It is not enough just to care any more. I spent the our feeling convicted by this man's spirit of love and action. His parish take in and care for refugees, barricade Total garages in support of Burmese students and are there living a live of real love for their community building God's kingdom right here and right now.

I'm not doing this. Not in a big enough way. So I'm going to change. Open my life to serve the needs of those around me and listen more closely for where God wants me to work. Let's see where this takes me.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The SCM Conference 2010 - #SCM2010


The infamous SCM song:

Poisoning the Student Mind

The SCM has found its new vocation

Poisoning the Student Mind!

Its leaders by astute manipulation

Are poisoning the Student Mind!

And pious souls are sure that we will go

To toast our toes in the furnaces below

If we give heed to leaders that we know

Are poisoning the Student Mind!

Poisoning the Student Mind!

Poisoning the Student Mind!

Bad men, bold men, villains double-dyed

Neath their smiling countenances hide

Spiritual arsenic and moral cyanide

For poisoning the Student

poisoning the Student

Poisoning the Student Mind!

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

The SCM Conference 2010 - #SCM2010


The infamous SCM song:

Poisoning the Student Mind

The SCM has found its new vocation

Poisoning the Student Mind!

Its leaders by astute manipulation

Are poisoning the Student Mind!

And pious souls are sure that we will go

To toast our toes in the furnaces below

If we give heed to leaders that we know

Are poisoning the Student Mind!

Poisoning the Student Mind!

Poisoning the Student Mind!

Bad men, bold men, villains double-dyed

Neath their smiling countenances hide

Spiritual arsenic and moral cyanide

For poisoning the Student

poisoning the Student

Poisoning the Student Mind!

formspring.me

What were you knitting on all those little needles?

I was knitting a baby hat and then moved on to booties for a friend who is expecting in the autumn.

Hello SCM conference person!

Ask me anything

Videos of Joy!

Videos of Joy!

[wpvideo RDwW0vED]

Videos of Joy!

Monday, February 15, 2010

formspring.me

What TV show makes you laugh the loudest?

I love Glee and anything with Russell Howard.

Ask me anything

formspring.me

Why isn't the moon made of cheese?

Because it would be very impractical for moon landings. You'd also get aliens trying to eat it, which would alter it's orbit and cause us havoc.

Ask me anything

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

So many beautiful things

So Tom and I now have a tradition of Sunday Lunch or Dinner with
friends. Here is some delicious roast beef:

Tom preparing to carve in a grown up fashion:

Andy and Marmers are told to look happy:

Then moody:

Whilst Lula looks away:

I experimented with candles:

I have also been working on some wedding things, including making my
garter, and one for a friend, researching flower arrangements, and my
headdress. I am please with the headdress as it incorporates some wax
petals that my gran and my mum both had in their headdresses.

The current plan for loosing weight for the wedding involves not
eating grains, beans or dairy, and lots of exercise. So far it is
working, with me having lost 5kg. It does mean Tom has to be inventive
with the cooking. Here's his carb free fajitas on the great platter
that my gran gave me. It used to be my great granny's:

and here's Tom enjoying them:

We have also been enjoying beautiful, large, ruby red pomegranate.

Last weekend I bought Tom some daffodils for Valentines Day. The
florist was so pleased with the idea of a girl buying flowers for a
chap, that she wrapped them up extra pretty:

and finally, I spent a fab weekend this weekend with my girls in
Windsor, catching up, shopping, gossiping and eating:



















Posted via email from Alex E Jones

So many beautiful things

So Tom and I now have a tradition of Sunday Lunch or Dinner with
friends. Here is some delicious roast beef:
Media_httpimgphotobuc_pkbpa

Tom preparing to carve in a grown up fashion:

Media_httpimgphotobuc_rxudp

Andy and Marmers are told to look happy:

Media_httpimgphotobuc_jytbf

Then moody:

Media_httpimgphotobuc_odkfw

Whilst Lula looks away:

Media_httpimgphotobuc_ddogi

I experimented with candles:

Media_httpimgphotobuc_kjdiv

Media_httpimgphotobuc_bqgcd

Media_httpimgphotobuc_iuhxo

Media_httpimgphotobuc_yoswi

I have also been working on some wedding things, including making my
garter, and one for a friend, researching flower arrangements, and my
headdress. I am please with the headdress as it incorporates some wax
petals that my gran and my mum both had in their headdresses.

Media_httpimgphotobuc_cthim

Media_httpimgphotobuc_iwsfu

Media_httpimgphotobuc_zhqic

Media_httpimgphotobuc_hzkpz

The current plan for loosing weight for the wedding involves not
eating grains, beans or dairy, and lots of exercise. So far it is
working, with me having lost 5kg. It does mean Tom has to be inventive
with the cooking. Here's his carb free fajitas on the great platter
that my gran gave me. It used to be my great granny's:

Media_httpimgphotobuc_azdpm

and here's Tom enjoying them:

Media_httpimgphotobuc_nhjaa

We have also been enjoying beautiful, large, ruby red pomegranate.

Media_httpimgphotobuc_jkbdp

Last weekend I bought Tom some daffodils for Valentines Day. The
florist was so pleased with the idea of a girl buying flowers for a
chap, that she wrapped them up extra pretty:

Media_httpimgphotobuc_qfgbe

and finally, I spent a fab weekend this weekend with my girls in
Windsor, catching up, shopping, gossiping and eating:

Media_httpimgphotobuc_bfubi

Media_httpimgphotobuc_meutc

Media_httpimgphotobuc_awxhd

Media_httpimgphotobuc_fculc

Media_httpimgphotobuc_scdxg

Media_httpimgphotobuc_fbudk

Media_httpimgphotobuc_vbjiv

Media_httpimgphotobuc_gvzdb

Media_httpimgphotobuc_pkvin

Media_httpimgphotobuc_aieef

Media_httpimgphotobuc_jqiho

Media_httpimgphotobuc_vhfgl

Media_httpimgphotobuc_dgdme

Media_httpimgphotobuc_fvvig

Media_httpimgphotobuc_idemf

Media_httpimgphotobuc_dkbjx

Media_httpimgphotobuc_gsfxj

Media_httpimgphotobuc_gsyle

Media_httpimgphotobuc_vfawe