laughing… October 25, 2009
Posted by rickhill in Thoughts.Tags: funny quote, joke
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He who laughs last didn’t get it.
blending in… October 23, 2009
Posted by rickhill in Thoughts.Tags: blending in, karl power, manchester united team photo
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been preparing to do a seminar at MAD tomorrow and have been reminded about a fella called karl power. has anyone ever heard of him?
karl power is a major prankster, who has managed to appear, uninvited at several major sporting events over the last decade. formula one, wimbledon, rugby, cricket, and most famously of all, managing to get himself into the manchester united team photo before a champions leage match a few years ago. see below!!
perhaps i love karl power so much because i tried to be a bit of a prankster at school. but also because there is so much of celebrity culture that frustrates me and is inaccessible to the man on the street.
but on a slightly deeper note, how many times do we try to blend in to our surroundings by trying to be someone were not? instead of letting our true identity, thoughts and character shine through, so often we are tempted to just go with the flow, join the crowd and compromise who we really are.
in finishing, i’ll throw up a couple more snaps of mr power. in cricket and tennis gear. the first, coming on as a batsman in a test match beween england and south africa, and the second, making it on to Wimbledon’s Centre Court just before a Tim Henman match!! incredible…
just some words… October 19, 2009
Posted by rickhill in Thoughts.Tags: church
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long night.
deep community.
many conversations.
growing friendships.
tired.
head full of questions.
doubts shared.
frustrations aired.
yet a time of positivity.
feel like i learned.
and have been challenged.
bogged down in debate.
yet finding truth in the simplicity.
many questions.
lacking answers.
yet feeling like i can contribute to progress.
but no voice to speak it.
well, maybe i have a voice.
but no platform to share it.
much journeying needed.
not sure i have the energy for the battle.
or the appetite for sacrifice.
although i hunger for more.
will expand soon.
home.
bed.
peace.
beautiful disaster October 14, 2009
Posted by rickhill in random.Tags: beautiful disaster, kelly clarkson
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wondering if there’s something wrong with me these days.
fed up with the same old music in my car on the long journeys, i decided to steal some of my wifes cds. one of the perks of marriage. anyway, so i stick on kelly clarkson’s cd and within 2 spins i’m fully loving it. 2 weeks later its still in my car.
that’s okay on its own but i’m already a fan of leona. that’s 2 female pop stars who won reality talent competitions. i guess i’m just wanting to check that this is normal?!!
for those who are cynical, here is the standout song from the album in my opinion. a phenomenal track called ‘beautiful disaster’. love the contrasting imagery in the title and the song.
have a listen here…
things i’m loving right now… October 13, 2009
Posted by rickhill in random.Tags: keane, marks and spencer, pulse, sky plus, things i love, x factor
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in no particular order…
:: circuit training
:: being back in schools
:: pulse: church youth
:: sarah’s cooking
:: stand up comedy
:: keane (band not football manager)
:: lucy from x factor (vocally!!!!)
:: new opportunities
:: marks and spencers chicken
:: porridge
:: sky sports
:: deepening friendships
:: fiddling with my wedding ring
:: pausing live tv
:: yoghurts
:: talking to sarah when she’s falling asleep and laughing at her sleepy responses
:: monday lie ins after a weekend away
:: hosting friends
new music October 7, 2009
Posted by rickhill in random.Tags: church music, dave crowder band, kelly clarkson, matt redman, worship music, you alone can rescue
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think i’ve been thirsting for some music on the scene for a fair while. have been enjoying the eclectic beauty of phil wickham and kelly clarkson bizarrely, which perhaps highlight the lack of fresh inspiration!!
bought the new album from dave crowder band called ‘church music’ the other day. i immediately loved the title straight away because it sounds like anything but what we hear in our churches currently! the use of synths is very clever, though perhaps swaying on slightly overbearing at times. i need to hear it more but songs like ’shadows’ and ‘we are loved’ stand out straight away.
i love this bands creativity, not just musically, but especially lyrically. there is such a need to be communicating truth in a new way. in a fresh language. and these guys do it, though never in a simplistic way.
however, i’m somewhat surprised to be saying that its a new song from matt redman that is blowing me away the most. perhaps we could accuse him of being middle of the road when it comes to worship music, however i’ve always felt that he has had his finger on the pulse when it comes to leading people in worship.
tim played this song at small group this week and it struck me straight away. here it is below. it’s called ‘you alone can rescue’
parallels… October 6, 2009
Posted by rickhill in Thoughts.Tags: moses, joshua, exodus, parallels, slavery, promised land, jordan river, red sea
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as i’ve been reading the story of moses, the israelites and joshua, i’ve been beginning to notice more and more parallels between it and the new testament. especially between the character of moses and the character of jesus.
it was desi maxwell who first alerted to me to these potential parallels in some of his lectures at bible college. some further reading helped me explore this. and then some teaching from glenn jordan led me further down that road in january.
but today as a staff we were exploring the story of Joshua 3…where God’s chosen people cross the Jordan river into the promised land. an amazing miracle in itself and so much to teach us about God’s character….but i was suddenly struck by more parallels.
in some ways its a throw back to the famous Red Sea miracles for the nation of Israel, but this time instead of leaving slavery, they are entering a new land that has been promised for many, many years. after years of mediocrity, stumbling, faltering and wandering, God’s chosen people enter a brand new land that seems so perfect and which they have been yearning for and looking forward to for such a long time.
and as i read these events, i’m struck that i too have been rescued from the slavery of my mess ups and human failings. and i’m reminded that in the times of my aimless meanders through life and my constant stuttering as i try to follow God’s leading, that a promised land awaits me too in the future. one that is perfect. one that i long for. one that doesn’t compare to the present. and one that i will enter miraculously, not through my greatness, but all down to the goodness of God.
rescued from slavery.
led through years of wilderness.
invited into a promised land that will never fade.
caption comp October 5, 2009
Posted by rickhill in Thoughts.Tags: caption competition, heavy loads
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some interaction required with this post. want some feedback.
what comes into your mind when you look at this photo? what do you see? what strikes you? any insights?!
new blog!! October 5, 2009
Posted by rickhill in random.Tags: God, muckamore presbyterian, one big story of the bible, pulse, story, young people
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so there’s a brand new blog on the scene. it’s the early beginnings of the web presence for our amazing youth community at church called pulse. the shoots of something small yet significant have been springing up over the past year and this is just a small extension of that.
we don’t want to create an online youth ministry but we decided to use a fresh medium to inspire and inform our young people. the blog is created and updated by my good friend paddy, who is contributing to our youth community from his student base in england. his first main post is really inspiring.
our theme this year in ‘pulse’ is all about ‘STORY’. what elements does every good story contain? beginnings….some conflict, romance, a hero, a climax, a resolution are just a few. and so we will explore these themes and ask the question ‘if God had a story, what would it look like?’
we are excited as leaders about exploring God’s one big story, as well as taking time to listen to each others stories along the way. hopefully this blog will contribute to that.
snapshot of honeymoon… October 2, 2009
Posted by rickhill in random.Tags: citifield, ground zero, honeymoon photos, new york, new york mets, san diego, Seaworld
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haven’t really mentioned on my blog much about getting married yet! won’t bore you all with wedding photos (that’s what’s facebook is for!) but thought i’d give a wee snapshot of our trip to the States for our honeymoon.
we were in New York and San Diego and had such a memorable time. 2 very contrasting places. 1 big, busy and full. the other beautiful, scenic and relaxing.
here’s a glimpse of it…
the amazingly lit up times square on night 1
at the top of the Rockefeller Centre with an amazing view of New York. Empire State Building behind…
sport had to be included. went to the baseball!
pondering the meaning of life at ground zero. felt eerie.
horse driven carriage ride through central park. beautiful place in the midst of a bustling city.
beating a local chess player in Central Park!
of course we had to go to the apple store!! i needed to check the ashes cricket score…sarah wanted to see wedding photos!!
americans know how to eat. another huge breakfast at our hotel on Mission Bay in San Diego.
the warm pacific ocean, the beautiful pacific beach 1 minutes walk from our hotel, and the day my white body took an absolute pasting from the sun!
us on a wee cruise across the bay one evening
where reality struck. at the amazing SeaWorld in San Diego.
not even time to show the Statue of Liberty, jet skiing in the bay at San Diego or the 100 screen ESPN Sports Bar!! trip of a lifetime, but the company made it as we just enjoyed being together and leaving the stresses and strains of organising weddings, buying houses and furnishing homes behind. a much needed break and one we’ll never forget!
