BeachcomberFX

Category: Sunday@thePub

  • Mosquitoes!

    Mosquitoes!

    Hi folks, I hope you are well, this week we are meeting at the Crescent Club, meeting in the front bar overlooking the seafront at 8.00pm, I hope you can join us.

    This week I want to talk about mosquitoes! If you have ever been abroad, and as you walk along, you notice a fella with big blotches on their legs and as you look at them you realise theyare mosquito bites… well I am that man! They like my blood… it’s one of the things I hate most about being abroad! Will I get eaten alive? 

    This week you may have seen the news story related to a genetically modified fungus that kills 99% of malaria carrying mosquitoes… Check the story out here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48464510 This story struck me first of all because of my loathing of mosquitoes! Secondly, because it could be a game changer in the fight against the 400,000 malaria deaths due to these blood suckers! 

    But then it had me asking other questions: 

    What happens if this fungus gets clever and starts killing other species down the food chain?

    What about the whole GM thing? medical science, crops, designer babies etc. 

    What about the question of medalling with nature? 

    So we have lots of ethics questions here… If you could GM anything away, what would it be?! Where do we draw the line? Who draws the line? Where does God fit into all this? 

    Peace, Rob

  • Change…

    Change…

    Hi folks, hope you have had a good week. This week we are meeting in the upstairs room of the Crescent Club in Cullercoats, starting at 8.00pm.

    Over the last few weeks I have been pondering on my journey of faith over the years. I am now in a place beyond recognition from where I once was. I won’t bore you with the story, some of you have already heard parts of it. But what I’m finding interesting, and also complicated, is that while my view of faith has changed, what hasn’t changed (as significantly) is the institutions I find myself in. There are though what I believe to be “God stirrings” and it will be interesting to see where we end up.

    In a book I have been reading I came across this quote by architect ‘Buckminster Fuller’ (mad name I know!):

    “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

    I have been sitting on these words for a while and I’m wondering how significant they are… this could be applied to a few pressing issues at the moment, our political confusion, the church… you could probably think of other situations.

    So!
    What’s the funniest name you’ve heard?

    Do you like the new mini or the old mini?

    Tape, CD, MP3 or Vinyl?

    Do you agree with the quote?

    What issues, situations or institutions should we stop trying to fight against?

    Does someone still need to fight against them or should they just be left?

    If God was birthing something new, something different, what would it look like?

    Peace, Rob

  • Questions!

    Questions!

    Hi folks, I trust you are ok, this week we are meeting at the Kittiwake, 8.00pm, it would be lovely to see you if you are able to come and join us. 

    This week I want to ask you a question… ‘What are your big questions?

    These can be as varied as you want… but please do consider throwing some faith, ethical, political, social, and church related topics as well! 

    The purpose of this is to get an idea from those who meet physically with us, and those who observe on line and take part that way – It would be great to glean from you, what the key issues are.

    My hope is that we can intersperse these with other themes and ideas.

    Peace, Rob 

  • Words…

    Words…

    Hi folks, i hope you are ok… this week we are meeting at The Crescent Club at 8.00pm,Meeting in the upside room overlooking the sea.

    We are keeping it light this sunday night, have a look at Thursday d-church image… which of the words strikes you the most? What other word or phrase would you want to add… How do these words relate to your experience of your own faith, spirituality?

    Peace, Rob

  • Easter and Extinction Rebellion

    Easter and Extinction Rebellion

    Hi folks, I hope you are all well, this week we are meeting at Hugos in Tynemouth, at 8.00pm, it would be great to see you if you are able to join us.

    Over the last week or so I have been struck by the protests in London by Extinction Rebellion. I have been in conversation with a mate on Facebook about it, he is an Anglican vicar. He is concerned about non-violent direct action or civil disobedience, and thinks it does nothing to promote the cause, he also suggested that the church should stay clear of it…

    For me though… I have a different view… and not least because I believe that followers of Jesus should give a stuff about the planet and get involved where we can. But also because it has biblical precedent. When you look at Jesus he often uses non-violent direct action to challenge the way the world was. Healing on the sabbath, touching lepers, eating with sinners and challenging oppressive religious practices were all forms of non-violent direct action and that’s before we even get to Easter. Holy week and the resurrection of Jesus challenged the narrative of the time and began to forge a new way to be and to live… throughout history we have seen other forms of nonviolent direct action that helped change the narrative (apartheid, civil rights movement, etc) of course these were linked with a political will, but that political will was sometimes brought to light through the direct action.

    So, for me, I want to support the action… especially in light of Easter. Riding in on a donkey, turning over tables, giving one’s life for others were all acts of civil disobedience. The resurrection was the ultimate challenge to the powers and authorities of the world, the ultimate act of non-violent direct action.

    Some questions:

    What do you think of Extinction Rebellion?

    Does direct action actually help?

    Is the easter story a form of direct action?

    So what should we do?

    Peace, Rob

  • HALLELUJAH!

    Hi folks, I hope you folks are good! This week we are meeting at Hugos in Tynemouth, at 8.00pm. We hope to see you there.  The following is based around some resources I came across. 

    When we look at the bible we see that it is full of stories of flawed, weird, wonderful and desperate people, all trying to get through life the best they can. Some cling on to God, others struggle and are hounded by regret, heartache and desire… It sounds a lot like us! All of these themes are found in many songs that we listen to. Leonard Cohen wrote a great song, called Hallelujah. Why not check out the live version above… 

    Hallelujah directly references 2 Samuel 11 in the second verse and uses a range of other biblical imagery, including a reference to Judges 16, when Samson allows his hair to be cut. Cohen does not see these moments of profound weakness or moral failing as a means of cutting ourselves off from the divine. Instead he imagines them as moments where even in the midst of despair – we can glimpse God. 

    These lines are from Cohen’s song:

    “And it’s not a cry that you hear at night / It’s not somebody who’s seen the light / It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah” 

    Leonard Cohen

    So some questions… 

    When and where do you listen to music? 

    What is your experience of praying and listening to music at the same time? 

    How do you feel about a “cold” and “broken” Hallelujah? 

    Have you ever found yourself saying a cold and broken Hallelujah? 

    What do you think Cohen is getting at here? 

    Peace

  • WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT…

    WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT…

    Hi folks,

    I hope you are ok… some of us are away this weekend, but for those who are still around, we will be meeting at the Crescent Club from 8.00pm. 

    As part of our weekend away, we will be looking at the topic… what I believe about… we will be thinking about issues around belief… what does it mean for us to believe today? have we become more about right beliefs that we have missed what Jesus was getting at… Why not ponder on that…  We will also be thinking about what I believe about social media… What does it mean to be authentically you in the online space? Is it possible? What do you like about social media? where are its problems… We hope to see those that can make it on Sunday night.  

    Peace

  • Photo

    Photo

    Hi folks,

    I hope you have had a good week. This week we are meeting at the Dog and Rabbit, meeting at 8.o0. I hope you can make it.

    This weeks reflection comes after the Sony World Photography shortlist was announced. 

    There are some stunning pictures on here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-47130038why not take a look… 

    Which of these images inspires you? 

    Which of these images makes you want to ask more questions… 

    Peace

  • IDEAS

    IDEAS

    Hi folks,

    I trust you are well, this week we are meeting at the Crescent Club at 8.00pm, meeting in the upstairs front bar. You would be very welcome to join us if you are able.

    Over the years we have covered a number of topics and subjects, from the environment, to politics, war, justice, community, and of course issues around the Christian faith. In the midst of the topics there has been a sense of wanting to try and grow a sense of community, either live or online.

    This week I want to hear from you… what are the themes you would love to discuss? What ways could we develop themes, and explore issues. I wonder to, if you had a crystal ball what kind of themes, issues we could be facing in the future? I also wonder what kind of God questions are you asking? 

    Why not come along on Sunday night and share what you think… 

    Peace

  • MUSIC

    MUSIC

    Hi folks,

    this week we are meeting at the Kittiwake, it would be great to see you if you are around, meeting from 8.00pm.

    Have you ever played in a band?
    If you could play in any band which one would it be?
    What’s the most important part of a band?
    If you haven’t watched the video, please do, now!

    Ok, if you weren’t moved by that, please check your pulse, you may be dead.

    The power of music to inspire and move never ceases to amaze me. However that’s not necessarily the point I want to take from the video. Getting 4 or 5 people together to play, in time, agreeing on the song and enjoying themselves can be a minor miracle, never mind 1000. Look at their faces, just look at their faces, so much joy. Driven by one song and rocking it. What can we learn from this for the church? Are we driven by one song? Do we like the song that is playing?

    Musical differences have been the downfall off many bands, you all have to be focused in the same direction. You have to listen to each other. The lead singer and guitarists may think they are the legends but if they don’t listen to the rhythm section, everyone suffers. How do we put the band back together, how do we rock the world?