Not The Nine O'Clock News

I have just been glancing at the Christmas double issue of the Radio Times, and see that there is a 30th anniversary programme on. In my opinion this was one of the best satire shows ever made. The clip below is my favourite of their songs, and is called I Believe. It may look dated now, but still had me in stitches....enjoy

Hurt

Originally recorded by Nine Inch Nails, the version below is by Johnny Cash. This was posted on the Rock Refuge forum, and I found it very moving, just watch the emotion in his face in the video. His wife died soon after this was recorded, and he died broken hearted not that much later.

I think we all share his emotions at times, I know I do. I feel that things disappear, family and friends, and circumstances change. Sometimes I wish that I did not hurt the way I do, about things I can not change, or had no influence over at the time either. I believe that God does heal the hurt, but for me at least it is taking time. We need to be ready to let God heal, and to hand over the hurt totally, not clinging on to bits of it.

"Hurt"

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

[Chorus:]
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here

[Chorus:]
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

Blessed be Your Name

This is an amazing song of worship and praise. It is very easy to sing in one sense, but very hard to mean the words at times. When things are going well, God is great. When we are struggling, it is not so easy to say God you are wonderful! He is though, God is great all the time, and sometimes I need to be reminded of that. Even when things feel crap to me, I'm a lot better off than a heck of a lot of other people. So thank you for everything God!

Blessed be Your Name by Matt Redman

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Tranquillity Base

I'm a firm believer that we all have a place on this earth which could be called our tranquillity base. For some it is just a place to feel at ease and escape from the rat race. For others it may be a place where for whatever reason they feel more connected to god. For lets face it, it is God who provides us with the tranquillity if only we let Him.

For me, the place where I more often than not, feel the most at ease, is on the top of Panorama Hill just outside Barmouth. It is not the tallest hill there by any means, but has this great view up the Mawddach Estuary one way with the slopes of southern Snowdonia going up each side, including the peak of Cader Idris. The other way is a sweeping view of the estuary mouth into Cardigan Bay, and the sands of Fairbourne.

I don't know why but for the last twenty years this place has held special memories for me. Sometimes of walks with the family, but more often of times of solitude. I have sat up there for a couple of hours once, and not seen another person, with just the sound of the birds and the wind for company. It is times like this, that I often feel close to, and hear from God.

Using my tranquillity base and the river analogy, God is the river. The river is deep, and it touches my life like the river touches the sand, ie God washes all over me. When I need to loose the frown on my face, I need to go back to my boat on the river, ie back into the presence of God. In reality, although having a tranquillity base is good, we can encounter the life giving water of God wherever we are, whenever we cry out to Him for it.

The words below are from the Styx song Boat On The River. The clip is taken from a concert in Budokan in 1982. A rarity in that Tommy Shaw has short hair. Also features the late great John Panozzo on percussion.

Take me down to my boat on the river
I need to go down, I need to come down
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out any more
Time stands still as I gaze In her waters
She eases me down, touching me gently
With the waters that flow past my boat on the river
So I won't cry out anymore

Oh the river is deep
The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out anymore

Oh the river is wide
The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore

Goal A Long Time Coming

Last Saturday was a momentous day, my first open play goal, rather than penalty, since I left school. That was 30 years ago before you ask. To be fair, I was only on the pitch due to injuries, but hey, you still have to take the chances. Below is the match report as written by David Gate, that appears on our bit of the League's page on the F.A.Full Time website. I know I shouldn't really be bigging this up, but 30 years is a long wait, at that rate the next one will be when I'm 77!

Unbeaten Trinity welcomed Diamonds to Newlands for a windswept encounter and found themselves trailing midway through the first half to a long ball that the back four let bounce before the Diamonds attacker found a lob finish to take the lead. Trinity restored the parity 10 minutes later with Ian Britten converting a penalty after being brought down in the box after a long spell of Trinity possession and chances.

At the break Trinity were forced into two half time changes after the brave Andy Walsh had received a volley to the head in the first half and was clearly concussed and had to be taken to hospital by the goal scorer Ian Britten.

With two of Trinity's influential players leaving the match they were replaced with the Colossus that is Tim Isles and Martin 'Torres' Lovegrove (AKA Granddad). The changes didn't appear to hinder Trinity and they grabbed the lead half way through the second half with a good move turned in by the unfortunate defender who was sliding in to win the ball and inadvertently turned it into his own net. Diamonds however kept trying to find a way through and managed just that with lone striker Aaron Hart taking his opportunity well. Minutes later Trinity had a chance to restore the lead after the ref gave a soft penalty for handball which Gatesy stepped up to take, striking it too close to the keeper who got down well for a strong save.

That disappoint did not deter them however and after a series of chances managed to get the goal; Jay Barrett putting the ball into the box for 'One Touch' Granddad to turn the ball in with a deft finish with the outside of his boot. Trinity thought they were going to hold on to the win but it was not to be; one final long ball fell nicely for Aaron Hart to take his chance and finish well earning a draw for his team and whilst leaving Trinity, still unbeaten, ruing their missed chances.

Lest We Forget.....

With all that is going on in our busy lives, it is often easy to forget the sacrifices made on our behalf by men and women defending our liberty. Whilst the following clip is initially centred on the first world war, it is equally apt to present day conflicts. It also makes reference to the fact that those in the first world war thought that they were fighting the war to end all wars, and that we as humans are still making a complete mess of things.

But the past is just the same - and war's a bloody game...
Have you forgotten yet?...
Look down, and swear by the slain of the war that you'll never forget..
Siegfried Sassoon March 1919

The following clip is The Green Fields Of France performed by The Fureys.

Take The Long Way Home

This song by Supertramp has been buzzing round my head for a few weeks now. I know that there is no obvious connection between Christianity and the lyrics, but the title and some of the words are hitting at me from a different direction.

There are times when I feel that I am taking the long way home. Home in this instance referring to being in the presence of God. I know where home is, and I know the way to get there. So why do I so often wonder off in totally the wrong direction? I know that when I am at home, that things will feel safer and better. I am not saying that being in a living relationship with God is a cure for suffering and hardship, it's a long way from that. What I am saying though, is that being in the presence of God, and living life His way, is a whole lot easier than trying to do it my way.

The song sort of refers to this in the first verse. Lines about how when things are going well, and when you are popular, life seems to be no effort and all your own achievements. It is when we think like this we are taking the long way home.

When we take family and friends for granted, and assume that they will fall into whatever our plans are, we are taking the long way home.

When we get seduced by the city lights and all that they entail, we are taking the long way home.

When we are acting out our lives, by pretending to be different people in different situations, we are taking the long way home.

When it is all over and we have ignored what God has wanted us to do, we haven't taken the long way home, we have taken the wrong way home, and will not be where we want to be.

I have often been challenged by God by the words of secular songs, and this has really got me thinking. I want to be home, and not be taking the long way there. I hope to see you there.

Take The Long Way Home

So you think you're a Romeo
playing a part in a picture-show
Take the long way home
Take the long way home

Cos you're the joke of the neighborhood
Why should you care if you're feeling good
Take the long way home
Take the long way home

But there are times that you feel you're part of the scenery
all the greenery is comin' down, boy
And then your wife seems to think you're part of the
furniture oh, it's peculiar, she used to be so nice.

When lonely days turn to lonely nights
you take a trip to the city lights
And take the long way home
Take the long way home

You never see what you want to see
Forever playing to the gallery
You take the long way home
Take the long way home

And when you're up on the stage, it's so unbelievable,
unforgettable, how they adore you,
But then your wife seems to think you're losing your sanity,
oh, calamity, is there no way out?

Does it feel that you life's become a catastrophe?
Oh, it has to be for you to grow, boy.
When you look through the years and see what you could
have been oh, what might have been,
if you'd had more time.

So, when the day comes to settle down,
Who's to blame if you're not around?
You took the long way home
You took the long way home...........

The clip below is Roger Hodgson, who wrote the song and co-founded the band, performing it in Montreal in 2006.