Tuesday, January 31, 2006

15 MINUTES!!

That's how long it took me to do my tax return online yesterday (it was due today). Thankfully I'd been employed for most of that year by the Inland revenue, so it was easy, but I enjoy feeling smug.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Quote for the Day

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. -- Mark Twain

Friday, January 27, 2006

This is proper music! - one more vid

I want to be this authentic when I grow up

Shut up 'n' play Yer Geetar!

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

The Makeover Continues

Been a good weekend for input and growth. Friday I had some time with Jesse Duley (check out the link at the side) which opened up some new doors guitar wise for me. As a die hard blues rocker, I'm keen to look at new ways of approaching guitar playing and musicality. Often it's really useful just to hang with someone who has a different perspective in order to expand your own.

On Saturday i was invited to a church planting forum in Glasgow with Michael Gatlin, the senior pastor of Duluth Vineyard in the USA. Again, I took tons of useful stuff from that, which will come in handy with this thing that we're doing around here. Michael then came and spoke to our worship leaders on Sunday night. I love that he really explained the Vineyard values and calling in a such a real and un - hyped way, it's good to keep hearing that stuff.

The best bit of the weekend was that Sunday was my birthday (33), always a good day!

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Gettin ' the Gig

I'm making an ok living by teaching guitar, and enjoying the flexibility I've got. However we got some major changes coming, and I won't be able to teach from home in about 6 months time (unless we get a bigger house). I know that the Lord will provide, but my wife's salary is a big chunk of our income and that will decrease too next year. So, time to use some imagination, and what God has given me to work out some new business and teaching ideas.

On that note, I've just been making multiple copies of my demo so I can get some gigs. It's been a while since I did them regularly (except leading worship of course). I'm praying for the right musicians, the right venues and that somehow I'll get paid. It's either that or working in a bank, so those of you with an intercessory gift...you know what do.

I Wish All CEOs Were Like This


I recently had the opportunity to exchange my Gibson DC for a mint condish Rickenbacker 650A (a guitar that I never could afford new) in a straight swap. Of course I jumped at the chance. God is good!! Rickys aren't for everybody, this one has a large chunky neck, and a wide fretboard radius. There are the mini humbuckers, and its....turquoise. Well, the Gibson was yellow, so cosmetics can't be that important. Anyway, I did a fair bit of research on this guitar as it's been discontinued for a few years. Naturally I browsed Rickenbacker's web site and their forum. What surprised me was that the CEO of Rickenbacker John Hall regularly posts there. In fact I asked a question about this particular guitar and he was the first to reply. Now this guy runs one of the top guitar companies in the world, and he runs it in a very principled and and top notch way, but he spends a big portion of his day communicating with his customers over the net. he seems down to earth, knowledgable and passionate about what he does.

It just goes to show that you can achieve excellence and be relational at the same time. I have no excuse to say to people that I don't have time for them when a CEO of a high flying company puts such a high priority on it. If I don't have time, it's usually because I've just watched too much TV. Jesus' ministry had this running through it. He put people first, every time, no excuses. We can often get caught up with other things (church included) that we forget just why we're doing this in the first place....people!

Thursday, January 12, 2006

My Name is Earl


I was up late last night watching the last two episodes of Lost and happened upon a great new comedy called. "My Name is Earl". I haven't laughed so much in ages or so hard. My favourite quote, (in a southern drawl) " Don't run , 'a know where yo mamma parks your house!".

Caution: I have a very sick and dark sense of humour, so some of you might not share my enthusiasm for such a show. But it was so well written I was really impressed.

My new resolution: I'm going to laugh more, it didn't hurt and I'd quite like to do it again.. :D

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Brand New Start

I like this time of year because of the opportunity it gives to start over. The Christmas holidays did us a lot of good, we had a great rest and now I'm ready to go again. Lots of things to work on this year, I guess resolutions, but also things I really need to do.......watch this space.