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The love of the telling?

playing guitar on sofa

There are many concepts addressed in C. S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce that are extremely insightful, if not equally controversial. (Read the flannelgraph review here).

I admit to being only an amateur musician, focusing mostly on writing songs for use in congregational worship, but I find Lewis’ insight into the motivations of the ‘Christian’ artist deeply challenging.

“It was all a snare. Ink and catgut and paint were necessary down there [on earth], but they are also dangerous stimulants. Every poet and musician, but for Grace, is drawn away from love of the thing he tells, to love of the telling till, down in Deep Hell, they cannot be interested in God at all but only in what they say about Him. For it doesn’t stop… you know. They sink lower – become interested in their own personalities and then in nothing but their own reputations.”

I must ask myself… am I guilty of the same?   Being drawn away from loving the One I tell about, by the love of the telling?

5

Mary Poppins. Hide your children

I’ve never seen Mary Poppins in its entirety. Parts of it have always given me the creeps.

Perhaps it’s is because of the not so subtle (down right scary) imagery hidden throughout the movie. Don’t be deceived by it’s cute Disney musical facade with the ever so innocent Mary (fresh from singing in the Swiss alps).

Pure evil I say.

You doubt me? Watch the original trailer if you dare.

*Shudder*

7

Crochet rocks! (Thanks to Woo)

Yes, you did read the post title correctly. I, Burton… former mocker of crocheters worldwide have changed my ways. I have seen the light, and I owe it all to Woo!

This guy has actually succeeded in turning me from one who was embarrassed to be in the same car with my wife while she crocheted, to someone who not only is okay with crochet… but who now thinks crochet ROCKS!

Be sure to check out his blog, his work is very impressive, and he is absolutely hilarious!

PS – Howie… do you have the instructions for those awesome grenades?

Green ’round Grenades from WooWork on Vimeo.

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I’m okay with crochet

For those of you that follow the world’s most amazing wife’s blog, you will know that her new found love is (ahem) crochet.

At first I thought that my wife was having a crises of sorts. I mean crocheting? That’s what old-fashioned ladies carry in their 2-wheeled-shopping bags. Even the word ‘crochet’, if pronounced the way it looks is off-putting.

Nevertheless, for the last few weeks, my wife has been crocheting everywhere… in the car, in the bed, at the dog park, probably in the bathroom…

PaisleyJade’s womanly wiles have paid off and I have finally come around. I Burton, confess that I’m now okay with crochet. In fact, some (and I emphasise ‘some’) crochet is actually very cool. Still, most (and I emphasise ‘most’) crochet is atrocious.

The good…
The bad…

7

The Sound Of Music rocks!

I have a confession to make… I, Burton, think The Sound Of Music rocks!

…And that would make me cool (because we all know that anyone into retro stuff is rather hip). Another, even more shocking confession… We even own two copies of the DVD ( original and special anniversary edition).

I do believe a Sound Of Music revival is coming to the world… View clip below, be inspired, and spread the love.

6

I stole my own daughter

A funny thing happend to me while I was in the Spotlight store the other day. Spotlight (for you lucky people who have never been to one) is a huge craft and fabric shop that I’m certain was designed to teach husbands how to love their wives like Christ loved the Church.

I was enduring Spotlight with wife and my four kids, when my youngest daughter (4 months off 2 years old) decided to run around the store and disrupt the serene atmosphere. While Pasiley Jade was in ‘laa laa land’ caressing all the fabrics (why do women have to touch everything they see in shops?) I scooped up my runaway daughter and saved the day.

Then my adroable little daughter spoke, or rather screamed one word, over and over again.

HELP!

We still don’t know where she learned the word (perhaps from Kid’s Against Crime?), but all of a sudden there I was restraining my own daughter, looking like a childnapper. If Paisley Jade hadn’t come to my rescue, and validated that she was really my daughter… I don’t know what would have happened.

Goodtimes.

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I watched a chick flick

Firstly, to reassure some readers that I am not watching anything dodgy, let me define what a chick flick is. Trusty Wikipedia says:

‘Chick flick’ is slang for a film designed to appeal to a female target audience. The term was first used in the 1980s, a decade during which such chick flicks as Beaches were released. Although many types of films may be directed toward the female gender, ‘chick flick’ is typically used only in reference to films that are heavy with emotion or contain themes that are relationship-based.

Last night I watched a chick flick. The only other genuine chick flick I’ve ever seen is ‘Little Women’. Before I married Paisley Jade I took her to see it (guys do the most illogical things when they are in love). The Little Women experience pretty much put me off chick flicks for life. I mean, I am a guy… I like movies with explosions, not emotions.

Our typical date night DVDs have usually involved viewing more masculine movies (the most recent being ‘Rescue Dawn’), but I have become convicted. So, I took the plunge and Paisley Jade and I watched ‘Pride and Prejudice’. I have to say it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. Of course, it could have been much better… I’m sure they could have written an explosion or two into the screenplay.

So, if any of you can recommend any more good, clean and moral ‘chick flicks’ please leave a comment. I’m sure I can endure watching the odd one occasionaly (in between ‘real films’ that is ;-)

5

I gave a girl head injuries

Now that I have your attention with the dramatic post title…

Wesley Intermediate School, 1985, Form 2. There was a girl my my class called Sarah. One day after lunch (I remember it as though it were yesterday), she was about to sit down at her desk. I saw my window of opportunity and didn’t hesistate to make the most of it. Being completely oblivious to any consequences… I pulled the chair out from underneath her before she sat on it. I had imagined that Sarah would graciously fall on her behind, I’d be the class comedian, she would see the funny side, there would be laughs all round and good times would be had by all. Boy, I was so wrong. Before Sarah’s behind had a chance to even touch the ground, her head come down on the corner of the desk… hard.

Have you ever had one of those moments, when you would give almost anything to go back in time just a few seconds, and not do the stupid thing you just did? This was one of those times.

There were no laughs to be heard. Sarah was crying (at least she wasn’t unconscious). There were no good times being had by all. Everyone who was present at the time hurled abuse at me. I was not the class comedian… I was the class moron. Not quite what I had envisioned.

I gave a girl head injuries (well, maybe ‘head injuries’ is a bit over dramatic)… I humiliated a very nice girl and gave her a bad bruise and a massive bump on her head.

Sarah, I said it on the day, but I want to say it again… I’m sorry. I was such an idiot.

Guys, please don’t treat girls like this… ever.
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