Bruce Cockburn - Small Source of Comfort

Bruce Cockburn is an artist that I discovered a few years ago ( 30 ish at Greenbelt festival), he played an acoustic solo set in a small venue. The tent/marquee was jam packed; we were there to witness the Canadian guitar plucking maestro delivering an intimate repertoire.

A few years ago (3 I think), I got to see him in Brussels, once again a small venue, but the high caliber of the artist remains the same. He was then accompanied by julie wolf on keyboards.

I was only a few metres from the stage, what a great concert.

Small Source of Comfort is Bruce's latest studio album released 5 years after the release of Life is Short. On the CD liner notes Bruce explains that he was going to do a noisy, electric album but because he has dwelled in urban areas in the last few years his latest offering turned out to be more folky and acoustic.

The sound is much more like his early albums. The songs are well crafted and the arrangements are well formed. It's produced by Colin Linden who also plays guitar and bass on some tracks. There are 5 instrumentals...the album is jazzy, folky with lots of finger picking...

the subject matter ranges from Afghanistan to a beautiful tribute to the virtues of women...a track which sees Richard Dixon come back as Rose...2 songs co-written and duetted by Canadian guitarist Annabelle Chvostek (she's got a great voice).

An album worth waiting for!

Thanks Bruce and please come back and tour Europe (Belgium/France).

ONE VOICE IN PALESTINE ?

I've taken a short break from blogging, mainly due to Easter holidays and loads of work.

But I was compelled to post this after seeing the heading "With Accord, Palestinians look to battle Occupation" on the front page of the International Herald Tribune (Thursday May 5).

At last there seems to be a glimmer of hope for unity between the two main Palestinian rival factions, Hamas and Fatah. This recent development of an accord and consequently a reconciliation should help this tattered Nation state to get the rightful recognition it deserves.

Palestine can now hopefully concentrate on a peace process, seeing the departure of Israeli occupation and getting to govern their own state (at last).

It's a fresh beginning...

May God bless our brothers and sisters in Palestine who seek peace and freedom.

ETERNAL PRUNING!

I'm reading Rob Bell's 'Love Wins' for the second time.

Rob has a great way of making complex ideas sound simple.

he's a great communicator using personal anecdotes and poetry.

I'd just like to comment on one of his interpretations. It's

found in Matthew 25 - when Jesus separates the sheep from the goats.

The goats are sent to 'Kolazo Aion' which is often translated Eternal

punishment. According to Rob this could also be translated as

'a time of pruning'. Rib points out that 'Alion' is a 'time', not necessarily

'forever'. The same hebrew word 'olam' is used when Jonah is in the belly

of the fish. This 'forever' lasted for a mere 3 days!

Therefore the Matt 25 passage could be interpreted as 'a time of pruning'...

now that's an interesting twist...

Rob reveals that throughout church history certain 'orthodox' christians

including Martin Luther and earlier church fathers (and mothers) such as

Gregory of Nyssa and Eusebius, that people will be given a 'second chance'

to turn and be reconciled to God....

Another one of Rob's observations is that the City of God in Revelation

(the last book in the Bible) - the gate of the city is 'open'..

is it open so that people can freely come and go?

I believe that fundamentally God is LOVE. He wants all people to be

saved and to come the knowledge of the truth...

Rob asks the question 'Will God get what he wants?'

Love gives freedom so it's down to us to choose...

BIRTHDAY SWIM IN SEA

yes i struck today - not so significant - that's next year (blimey!)...

had a great day - one of the hottest 19 of April's in history i should imagine (at least in the North of France.)

went to Malo plage (near Dunkerque) - went swimming in the sea - the first time ever on my b'day:-)

had a great day with family ...

VivreRevire

had a great SatMix evening on the theme 'vivre Revivre' Live Live Again'...

we used music (Pascal Touzet, Tim Hughes, Foo Fighters), video on crazy flowers growing and flowering to electronic music, testimony from Jackie of how God supported her through her treatment for cancer...

we reflected on those things that prevent us entering into Life...

we had the opportunity to place our 'concerns' at the foot of the tree of Life and symbolically enter into LIFE...

May we enter into LIFE!

SatMix Vivre Revivre

looking forward to our second SatMix - Vivre Revivre -

i'm excited about it, it's been fun (and demanding);

but as i'm working in an enthusiastic team it's a real pleasure.

WEEKEND LA SOMME

haven't been blogging for some time now...

very busy...

etc...

anyway a couple of weekends ago spent a great weekend at La Baie de la Somme.

we got away (jackie & I) yes just the 2 of us for our Wedding Anniversary. (25 years OMG; yes it's true, blimmey it makes me feel old(er):-(

We had a great time...