malcolm chamberlain

I saw U2 at Sheffield Don Valley Stadium last Thursday and they were great (as always!) This is the 5th time I've seen them and I don't recall seeing the band look so relaxed and obviously enjoying themselves. The music was tight, the set and visuals jaw-dropping, and the birthday celebrations for show designer (and former Greenbelt mainstage link-man) Willie Williams was a nice extra touch. Thirty years in the business and they've still got it - best band in the world?... You bet!

Labels: popular culture

Chris Moyles and his breakfast team talk about an experience they had of 'lively' Christian worship. Stay with it until the end - it's a fascinating insight to perceptions of the church...



hat tip... Church Times Blog

Labels: church, popular culture

I'm just listening to my 'advance order' copy of the new U2 album, that arrived this morning and I have to say that so far (8 tracks in) it's great! OK, so anyone who knows me knows that I'm an unashamed U2 fan (why should I be ashamed about it?!!), but this really is a great album!

Q magazine gave it a full 5 stars (but then they love U2 too!); NME gave 7 out of 10, despite a pretty critical review (maybe U2 are not 'alternative' enough for NME). The only negative review I've seen to date is from Time magazine... but then what do they know about music?!!

Labels: popular culture

Mark's in the news again!! This is a pretty interesting article from the BBC, looking at how the church in Telford is engaging (or not) with what it calls the 'spiritual-but-not religious brigade'. It features 'Safe Space' and even a quote from 'emerging church guru' Ian Mobsby (is that a title that he's been officially given?!)

Read the article and then go to Mark's blog to read his reflections on it...

Labels: emerging church, popular culture, religion, spirituality

'This' is great!

Labels: fun, popular culture

Jonny has posted some really helpful and challenging posts about worship, arising out of a symposium he was involved in at London School of Theology. He makes some pertinent points (and echoes those of others) about fully contextualised worship grown "in the soil of your local culture". Read his posts here, here and here.

Labels: alternative worship, church, musings, popular culture, worship

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Letter From God To Man (released 28 July 2008)

I love this track! I'm not usually into hip-hop but I have to say that this is a really clever song, and the way that Radiohead's Planet Telex is sampled is pretty cool too. The track can be downloaded from iTunes - well worth the 79p price!

The lyrics are inspired (though I'm not sure about the 'survival of the fittest' bit)! You can read them in full 'here' - this is one of my favourite verses, which kind of shows the general tone...

So I’m writing to apologize for all the horrors committed in my name,
Although that was never what I intended, I feel I should take my share of the blame.
All the good I tried to do was corrupted when all the religion got into full swing,
What I thought were quite clear messages were taken to unusual extremes.
My teachings taken out of context to meet the agendas of others,
Interpretations taken to many different ways and hidden meanings discovered

I don't know where Dan Le Sac or Scroobius Pip are coming from with regard to faith, but their lyrics seem to suggest that God is not at fault for the bad in the world but voluntarily takes responsibility for it. Seems to be a pretty orthodox understanding of the cross to me!

I found the below video on YouTube too which sets the song to some powerful images (flash required)...

Labels: art, popular culture, religion

Had a great time last night at the Liverpool Nativity. As with the Manchester Passion, I was impressed by the creative way in which the story of Jesus was communicated afresh to a (post) modern audience. I haven't yet had a chance to watch the TV broadcast but, from being there, I certainly felt that this was another excellent piece of mission and gospel proclamation. I particularly liked the way that the nativity story was narrated alongside a powerful social comment regarding 'outcasts' of our contemporary society (asylum seekers and the homeless most notably) and felt that this was a good contextualising of the Christmas good news message.

Although the main stage stuff was carefully stage managed (with cues on the screen and a lengthy 'rehearsal' beforehand) there were several points during the production and, in particular the crowd singing, where I felt a real sense of worship being offered. There was something sacred in those moments of people singing along to popular songs whilst reinterpreting them around the central message of the Incarnation. It brought a new meaning and significance to some well loved songs! It also felt as though I was standing in a crowd of people who were, in some way, caught up in the stuff of God - many of whom, I'm sure, would not identify themselves as being 'Christian' or religious. Maybe, as Kester posts 'here', the rich Christian heritage in our culture is not that deep below the surface after all (even Richard Dawkins seems happy to identify with this!).

So what if there were a few duff notes hit by one or two of the singers (it was very cold after all!) - the power of the production lay in the ancient story re-framed for the 21st century.

(the photo is of the star above the main stage - taken on a camera phone hence quality!!)

Labels: mission, popular culture

I was given a copy of Heima by Sigur Ros for my birthday - it's an exquisite (a word I don't use very often) film of a band on tour through their homeland. The music is perfectly accompanied by well shot footage of the Icelandic countryside and it's all artistically crafted together - as you'd expect from Sigur Ros. Ok, it's not easy to describe this without sounding slightly pretentious but if you get hold of a copy, you'll see why!

If you manage to get hold of the special edition with a 116 page bound photobook it's a real treat! It seems that even though some places are already selling these for over £50 (e.g. play.com), HMV still have some in stock at the proper price 'here'... definitely my recommendation of the month!!

Labels: popular culture

Yesterday was my birthday and I went with my wife to see Kaiser Chiefs supported by The Pigeon Detectives. It was an amazing gig - The Pigeon Detectives were excellent given that this was perhaps their biggest gig to date (or so the bad said). I don't think I've enjoyed a support act so much since I saw Coldplay support Muse about 7 years ago... they're definitely a band to look out for. I was looking forward to seeing Kaiser Chiefs but I have to say they were even better than I expected. They are definitely a live band - loads of energy and tight musically without taking themselves too seriously. If you get a chance to catch them on this tour... go for it!!

Labels: popular culture

After the success of the Manchester Passion in 2006, it's our turn to host a modern musical retelling of part of the Jesus story. A three stage live Nativity play will take place on the streets of Liverpool on the 16th December, to be screened on BBC Three. The play will star Geoffrey Hughes, Cathy Tyson and Jennifer Ellison, and, following the example of Manchester's Passion, will include music from Liverpool's rich heritage such as The La's, The Zutons and (surprise surprise) The Beatles. It should be well worth going to, if you're in Liverpool, or watching on the TV in the warmth of your home if not!

For more info see the BBC's press release 'here'

Labels: mission, news, popular culture

Today's the day... Radiohead's seventh studio album, In Rainbows, is released as a download with the groundbreaking (maybe even record industry breaking) 'you name the price'! I downloaded my copy this morning (but I'm not telling how much I paid!) and on first listening it's pretty good. Check out NME and Wikipedia for more info...

Labels: popular culture

Another great year in Greenbelt's rich history, certainly helped along the way by the fantastic weather! A scorching August Bank Holiday weekend in an otherwise pretty dreadful summer - makes you wonder if God is a Greenbelter! The two things I was directly involved in (see 'here') seemed to go well, with several good conversations and positive comments arising from each - Richard has posted 'here' about Dream's unintentional flouting of health and safety! (thanks Laura for your encouragement there too!) The photo to the left is of one of the stations from the service (click on it to enlarge).

So, given that I'm much too modest to highlight these things any further, here are my 5 Greenbelt highlights for this year (in no particular order)...

1. Billy Bragg - still an inspirational and witty singer-songwriter who put in a great performance headlining Main Stage on Friday, not to mention his informative seminar on British identity and the discussions surrounding a Bill of Rights/written constitution. He'd still get my vote any day!
2. The Organic Beer Tent - great organic real ale including 'Absolution' brewed especially for the festival! The venue was not just about the beer though - over the last couple of years it's become the Greenbelt hub where you arrange to meet people for a beer and chat. So this makes the list both for the beer and for the conversations had there.
3. Ikon - always able to provoke and inspire, and this year was no exception. I went with someone who has never been to an Ikon service before and at the end she turned to me and said "well, I didn't understand a word of that!" - I think Pete and co would be proud! Seriously, it was a great event (worship or performance art? - whatever!) and I found the piece 'where does your faith lie' particularly challenging (in a good way!) During the service there was opportunity for people to edit the creed - see the final version 'here'.
   
4. New Forms Cafe - another top networking venue serving several varieties of fresh coffee. It was home to most of the emerging and alt worship services as well as some hidden gems such as Pete Rollins discussing the 5 films he'd most like to see with God!
5. Coldcut (pictured - taken on phone camera!) - not necessarily my first choice of music style but you couldn't help but be drawn in by what these VJs do on stage! A great set mixing beats and images ranging from 80s classics to present day. Before Sunday night I hadn't heard 'Pump up the Volume' by MARRS for years - oh the memories...! Steve Collins raves about the gig (no pun intended) with a link to video clips of it 'here'.

So that's my Greenbelt 07 - though there was lots more to 'write home about' (as they say) besides. If you were there, why not add your highlights to the comments...

Labels: Dream, Greenbelt, musings, popular culture

This is one of the most gripping and disturbing rock videos I've seen, but it begs the question (as Jonny asked 'here')... what would you do if you only had three minutes to live?

you can download a Quicktime version (33mb) of the video 'here' - great discussion starter!!
In case you're wondering, it's by UNKLE.

hat tip... Jonny Baker

Labels: art, popular culture

If you're not a fan of U2's music, then stick with this anyway (or skip ahead to 4:44) to hear Bono's inspirational words...



... the address that these words are taken from is posted in full 'here' - I know it's a bit old now, but it's still one of the most powerful, most biblical addresses on poverty and justice I've ever heard, so it's well worth watching again.

Also, if you've got an hour to spare (I haven't!) YouTube also has an interview of Bono by Bill Hybels which was aired at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit last summer. It's been posted in several parts beginning 'here' with Bill Hybels' introduction about Bono. It also features the video posted above. I haven't yet had the chance to watch it in its entirety, so can't comment on it, but thought it was worth posting the link anyway!


hat tip... Beth at 'U2 Sermons' blog

Labels: justice, politics, popular culture, spirituality

A friend of mine has just directed me to Jamendo, a source of free music downloads from unsigned artists operating under the Creative Commons licence. Some good stuff is on there - check out Finland's Project Divinity for starters...

Labels: art, popular culture

I've just finished reading James K A Smith's Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church, and would say that it's essential reading for anyone who is engaged in the emerging church 'conversation' or is concerned about being missional in the culture(s) of postmodernity. Smith takes a fresh look at what he refers to as the 'bumper sticker' quotes of Derrida ("There is nothing outside the text"), Lyotard ("incredulity towards metanarratives") and Foucault ("power is knowledge"), arguing that by pulling these popular quotes out of the context from which they originate (the original texts of the respective writers) we have largely misunderstood the authors' intentions. As such, these insights, and those of postmodernism as a whole, far from being opposed to Christian theology, may act as timely catalysts for the Church to rediscover in practise what it means to be the church.

Smith resists popular calls for the Church to be 'relevant' and non-confessional, seeing such trends as merely extensions of the modernist world view. Instead, he argues that in order to be fully post-modern we must reclaim pre-modern practices and insights (especially those of Augustine and Aquinas) and take up the invitation, given by postmodernism, to articulate a robust confessional theology (the unapologetic telling of our 'story'). Further, he envisions a postmodern church that is rooted in history and tradition, and which fully affirms the physical body, temporal space and place, and the community, all of which have been sidelined or neglected by modernity (and, consequently, the evangelical church). At the heart of all of this, he argues, is the centrality of the Incarnation.

Smith writes in a pacey and thoroughly accessible style, drawing on the stories of recent movies to illustrate the points being made by postmodern philosophers. He is clearly sympathetic of the emerging church, but also raises a useful critique asking if even the emerging church is still unwittingly too tied to modernity. As you might expect of such a book, there is no shortage of quotable passages, but here's one illustrating how incarnation shapes ecclesiology, which has certain resonances with current trends in alternative worship and the emerging church...

"The story of God-become-flesh is best rendered by the poetry and painting of affective worship rather than the narrowly cognitive didacticism of Power-Pointed "messages." Properly postmodern worship resists such reductionism by reclaiming the holistic, full-orbed materiality of liturgical worship that activates all the senses: hearing (not just "messages" but the poetry of the preached Word), sight (with a renewed appreciation for the visual arts, iconicity, and the architectural space of worship), touch (in communal engagement, but also toughing the bread that is Christ's body), taste (the body and blood), and even smell (of wine in the cup of the new covenant but also the fragrance of worship in candles and incense). God's taking on a human body also takes up our bodies into worship and participation in the divine." (p140)

Labels: emerging church, popular culture, post-modernity, spirituality, theology, worship

If you're a fan of movies, you'll love 'this' - cartoon bunnies re-enacting some of the greatest movies in 30 seconds! From Star Wars to Pulp Fiction... it's all 'here'!!

hat tip... John Birch

Labels: fun, popular culture

Yeh yeh, I know I've been going on about it a bit over the last week or so, what with the abandoned concert and all, but I have to state here that Kylie puts on an amazing show! For pure entertainment value alone, last night was one of the best night's out I've had in a very long time! Kylie came on stage to rapturous applause at about ten past 8 and finally finished up at well past 11pm, after the usual encores and a couple of extra treats for the tour's final night! Even allowing for the 25 minute interval, that's over two and a half hours of top-rate performance, complete with revolving stages, breathtaking laser and light shows, large screen projections and the expected outrageous costumes. Value for money, especially given the fact that we'd already had an hour or so ten days before! As the t-shirts specially designed for last night wittily stated: "... it was a show and a half"!

I can stop my fixation now and get on with normal life...!

Labels: popular culture

'This' put a spring in my step last night!!

P.S. I will get back to proper blogging at some point honest... this hasn't turned into an unofficial Kylie blog!

Labels: popular culture