I watched two films this weekend; Spellbound and The Last Samurai.
The formed was pretty funny, I recommend it have a laugh at American culture and what these poor kids have to go through.
The Last Samurai is fantastic, it really echoes in me of our own battles against progress. Progress seen as the God of the industrial revolution, and still very much a God today. Now we further bow down to money and material wealth, the samurai remind me of other monastic people, who know how to find peace in a corrupt world. If only we could also learn to say no to all the many distractions that surround us. I really struggle with the idea of living simply, I have so much, I am a hoarder, although I have recently thrown a lot of stuff out: or more accurately given it to oxfam.
The samurai are focused people who live in discipline, duty and honour, qualities I would like to be known be, qualities hard to find in today's world, but then you don't see them because the spotlight isn't on them. I hope I might learn to honour God and fight against my own consumerism in the same way the samurai do.
I may have more to say on this.....
Ben and Helen's cat is really cool, he's not only cute and stylishly grey, he's very playful but also affectionate.
Speak soon.....

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Sewing is brilliant, yesterday i made a STRAIGHT JACKET (i didn't mean to write that in capitals, it just happened) with my sister (my older one that is not the 3 year old). I've been reading 'salam pax the Baghdad Blog' (thanks to benaskew.blogspot.com) which has inspired me; it's too easy to be too serious about life, we need things that remind us that it's supposed to be a laugh. Salam Pax has got the balance well which is why his blog probably got so popular. Plus that fact that his awareness of the media coverage and tongue in cheek reviews are hilarious and yet cutting to the reality. (I think his blog is called where_is_raed?.blogspot.com, but I could be wrong).
Why did we make a straight jacket you may ask? My sister is a video artist in her third year at Wimbledon school of art, she does some weird things, always thought provoking, I think she'll go far. I believe in using the accident, it's what makes art, the jacket has very long arms which go back to an earlier piece (see the auction, a painting of this is on sale, Claire Blundell Jones) it's all about need, needy people, recognising the vulnerable, and for her, becoming vulnerable.
One of my favorite musical artists is Matthew Herbert (magicandaccicent.co.uk) he has a rule for making music and using the accident:
5. The inclusion, development, propagation, existence, replication, acknowledgement, rights, patterns and beauty of what are commonly known as accidents, is encouraged. Furthermore, they have equal rights within the composition as deliberate, conscious, or premeditated compositional actions or decisions.
This is called the manifesto of mistakes (part of the PERSONAL CONTRACT FOR THE COMPOSITION OF MUSIC or PCCOM)

Hope you enjoyed reading, Tim

We had Heidi Baker talk at St Thom's last night, quite crazy, she leads about 500 churches in mozambique. She spoke about the intimacy of God, dieing to ourselves etc.
After she called forward those who are called to be missionaries. As I am now part of the mission order I felt I should go forward, it was an amazing time. I really felt the presence of God, overwelming peace. My body was so rested in His presence it took me quite a while to breathe normally.
I have felt that God is drawing me into him over the last few days, to just be like a son in the heavenly fathers arms. More Lord.
If only I would be more like Jesus that is my heart and that's what this is all about. I hope my faith will increase and I'll see more of God's power released in others lives.
Praise God

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I'm going through a time at the moment where I am humbled by how useless I am at being holy, at being a leader and at relationships. I think it's God's way of calling me back to him, both in terms of sin and pruning back after a time of fruitfulness, and extreme business (busy-ness).
I'm so driven to God in need of him, knowing his grace is the only thing that has sustained me over this last few months. One of the biggest blessings for me at this time is listening to Tim Hughs song:

I've had questions without answers,
I've known sorrow I have known pain,
but there's one thing that I'll cling to;
you are faithful, Jesus you're true

(Chorus)
When hope is lost I'll call you saviour
When pain surrounds I'll call you healer
When darkness falls you'll be the song within my heart.

In the lone hour of my sorrow,
through the darkest night of my soul,
you surround me and sustain me
my defender forever more

I will praise you
when the tears fall still I will sing to you
I will Praise you
through the suffering still I sing; (Chorus)

Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of me.... Actually I hope it's not about me so much as life, god, relationship and Art