Second article for The Press

This week my article on joy and humour was published in the 'Good Living' supplement of The Press in Christchurch. I include it in full here until I can find a hyperlink reference to it...

Lighten Up!
Mart the Rev

Christians aren’t always known for their senses of humour. Maybe this comes about from our feeling as if we are a minority who need to make some noise. Maybe it comes from our thinking that we are society’s only moral guardians. Maybe it comes from our thinking that we need to defend God all the time. I’ve noticed that the default position for many followers of Jesus seems to be one of inflexible seriousness. I don’t really know where this idea comes from – maybe some people think that Jesus calls them to be responsible for the faith rather than to simply live it. There’s a U2 line that goes: “Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady” (from the 2008 song Breathe) – I have a feeling that Bono, like me, is trying to encourage followers of Jesus to lighten up.
While there is a serious side to life and following the way of Jesus (and be certain, there will be swags of others who will rattle on about this stuff!), I want to suggest that the posture of Jesus was one of unencumbered playful freedom, and that it would do us all a world of good if our perspectives of him factored this in a lot more! Jesus calls his followers to enjoy life in all its fullness, so let’s make sure that we don’t miss the joy and therefore the life.
I have a collection of artistic images of Jesus ranging from Jesus the revolutionary, to Jesus in agony on the cross. One of the more unusual images I have is of Jesus with his head tilted back roaring with laughter. Why should such an image be so surprising? When you think about it, wasn’t Jesus was a bit of a comedian? Can you picture Jesus smiling with a twinkle in his eye as he confounded his critics by telling stories full of the exuberant abundance of God’s grace? Can you see him chuckling as he told Nicodemus the Pharisee that he must be re-born if he is to get the idea of God’s kingdom, and Nicodemus misinterpreted him by asking: “How can anyone who has grown up re-enter their mother’s womb?” What a picture the Pharisee conjured up! Surely Jesus burst out laughing!
And look at the parables Jesus told, they are full of zany characters in crazy situations who act in exactly the opposite way that we would expect: a shepherd abandons the flock to hunt out one lost lamb and then throws a party; a father gives to his son half of his wealth and then welcomes the penniless boy back with arms wide open and a five-course banquet; a hated foreigner turns out to be the good neighbour; and the tax collector (a crook) rather than the faithful worshipper turns out to be the one who teaches us to not look down our noses.
With Jesus everything is turned on its head: the last become first, the least are made welcome, the lost are found, and the little ones are set up as the best ones to teach us faith.

As Garrison Keillor once said: “God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny.” Maybe we need to lighten up a little!

my bog blog

I'm trying to change the world (well, one aspect of the world of public toilets anyway) and have started a boggie-blog.... see it live at http://martin-boggieblog.blogspot.com/

Caloundra and environs pics

Just back from a happy two weeks on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia

Here are a few pics - mostly of interesting rocks and wrecks!

Oliver today (13 months)

article for The Press

recently I wrote an article for the local newspaper on 'What's right with the Church'
www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/3584017/whats-right-with-thechurch
It was good to have the opportunity to offer something that celebrates those who find themselves in the middle of the extremes for whom their practical expression of faith is valuable and valued

Mart 49 music compilation

Here’s the last year’s favourite music that fits on a cd (there were a number of others reluctantly dumped off the list!) – it is not necessarily new music, but songs I have enjoyed the most at different times during the year. Here is the list in order of what sounds good on a compilation rather than order of preference:

#1 I’ll go crazy if I don’t go crazy tonight – U2 Artificial Horizon 2010. I dislike the original track of this song from No Line On The Horizon, it seems like the track out of place in the album – an echo of past styles – so when I secured Artificial Horizon I was well-pleased to hear this upbeat dance track live mix – the little surprise on the U2 360 tour.

#2 Beyond here lies nothing – Bob Dylan Together Through Life 2009. Dylan’s new album is a mixed bag but in this opening track he is at his lively crusty best.

#3 Little Favours – KT Tunstall Drastic Fantastic 2007. While KT could name her albums better, I enjoy the uncomplicated rawness of her songs – she is especially good to watch live (well on DVDs if the truth be known). Her being part of Neil Finn’s Seven World’s Collide project was what put me on to her).

#4 Loveblind – The Church Sometime Anywhere 1994. The Church have become a firm favourite in the last month or two – choosing two songs for this compilation over others has been a real challenge. My brother Dave has sent different songs over from Melbourne over the years but it has taken me a while to catch on. I love the completeness of this song – an interesting story and lovely music to bring it to life.

#5 Moment of Surrender – U2 No Line On The Horizon 2009. This is the second successive year this song has made the list. I rate it among U2’s best two or three songs – sublimely simple.

#6 Up to you now – Ben Harper & Relentless 7 White Lies For Dark Times 2009. The musicianship of this whole album is quite stunning – the Relentless 7 guys can really play – the guitarist, bassist and drummer are each individually brilliant yet bring it all together to make it a whole.

#7 Little suitcase – Luluc Dear Hamlyn 2008. Dave also sent over with these gentle soulful songs from this folk duo from Melbourne, Zoe Randell and Steve Hassett.

#8 I and I – Bob Dylan Infidels. I first heard this album in the year it was released but didn’t realise its value until recently. I would rate Infidels as my favourite Dylan album.

#9 Blessed one – Steve Kilbey Dabble 2001. It was this song from The Church leader that got me back into their music.

#10 Could you be loved – Bob Marley Uprising 1980. A little bit retro here! I got a copy of the CD after having had the LP when it was first released.

#11 Forever man – Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood Live From Madison Square Garden 2009. What a song, what a concert!

#12 In my secret life – Leonard Cohen Live In London 2009. There is a lot warmth, grace and humility of Cohen’s concert, as well as great musicianship – it was hard to choose a track for this compilation.

#13 Black silk ribbon – Bic Runga & KT Tunstall in the 7 Worlds Collide CD The Sun Came Out 2009. This was my introduction to KT and a nice blend of voices with NZ’s Bic Runga. Interestingly both artists have a part-Chinese heritage.

#14 Cortez the killer – The Church A Box Of Birds 1999. The original Neil Young & Crazy Horse song made it on last year’s list – here is a cover version that is arguably an equal, which is a big ask. The mood set by the band with the excellent guitar work and vocal power is a real delight – it is a long track and my pick for the best track on this compilation.

Oliver makes 1

Anne and I managed to grab an hour with Oli on his birthday - 20 May... cute little chappie!

Oliver & Sam last week

I managed to capture a special warmth between my son Sam and his son Oli

Summer reading

I read four books over the holidays - here they are ranked in order from absolutely brilliant to a good read. (I will add them as time permits.)

#1 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Set in 1940's Germany, Zusak introduces some memorable and delightful characters, Liesel, Rudy, Max, Hans and others who live in desperate times with honour and hope and quite a few references to pigs. Zusak's way with words - minimal - makes its own statement in the context and invites the reader to savour each word. It was necessary to read slowly to savour the experience for as long as possible - I didn't want the experience of reading this book to end.

I talked to a woman camping at Anauru Bay (north of Gisborne) who felt that this book was not good holiday reading. Thematically I can understand why a story narrated by Death might seem a bit morbid in the summer sun, but the images of light and the ability to live hopefully in the lives of these people was anything but morbid despite the tragic circumstances. I found it to be deeply moving and among the best things that happened on my holiday!

Tasman Bay on the way north

Oh yes, on our way north Anne and I had five very pleasant nights at Little Kaiterteri when I conducted the wedding of Anna & Andrew. Early one morning I headed around the hillside walkway and captured these images... Kaiterteri Beach, Nelson

Trig Station at Little Kaiterteri overlooking Tasman Bay

Pohutukawa in flower

The view from our apartment of Little Kaiterteri, Tasman Bay
& the distant Marlborough Sounds

East Cape 4

Looking back towards East Cape

Father & Son on Tokomaru Bay wharf

Man on horse in Tolaga Bay

East Cape 3

We camped for two nights at Te Araroa Bay near the East Cape

At 6am on the day we left the light was magnificent

stream meets ocean at dawn

anne contemplates

marram grass seed (like tumbleweed)

east cape travels

These are pictures of the Raukokore Church and environs. The church is a quite magnificent landmark on a beautiful bay on the Bay of Plenty side of the Pacific Coast Highway.

North Island sojourn

Anne and I had 3 wonderful weeks up north this summer - first to Nelson for a wedding then over Cooks Strait to Taupo, Waihi Beach and then around remote East Cape. I snapped quite a few pictures around the Cape - mostly in black & white. I'll load the ones I liked the most on over the next few weeks.

Oliver looking over the couch

shingle day

A friend who works in the commercial side of the road building industry made it possible for us to get the stones for the glasshouse... we are very grateful.

The condition was that we had to pick it up this week as he is tied up for a while after that.

No problem... two trips in a hired tandem trailor (able to hold about a tonne of shingle) to the pit did the job. One pile is larger stones, and one pile is smaller ones... the reasons will emerge as the project gets underway.

The stones are stored until needed - I think there is a surplus but there is a hen house to build so the design for that might be altered to use the materials on hand.

the coolest wee dude in our lives (so far!)

Oliver showing very good taste

Look at this wee cute guy chewing on an extremely tasteful CD!

glasshouse 2

Sam and I had a dig around for an hour today, clearing the site for the glasshouse and shifting the potatoes (carefully!) so that they wouldn't be where the building will take place.

The slight slope will make it challenging with the foundations with something like a 40cm drop to contend with. I have an idea of how to do it, so we will see...

I had some useful conversations with staff at Bunnings - a great chap in the paint department gave me pointers on the importance of getting the foundations and framing right to cover for freak winds - he has made his own glasshouse (but not using river stones!), and a chap in the buildings supplies department was helpful on the quantities of wood etc for the foundations - especially the spacing. Consequently on Saturday I purchased 7 metres of 100x100 timber (H4 grade) and some pre-mix concrete which we worked out would cost about the same as buying cement and driving to some place to purchase the builder's mix to make the concrete. We also purchased some boxing timber and the first roll of wire for the sides of the house (more on that another time). One of the problems with having timber for underground faoundation is rotting. While the H4 treatment is the answer, when wood is cut up as I will be cutting much of it into 60cm lengths, the untreated cut surface is exposed. I have had to purchase a fungicide spray to put on these surfaces. Buying tanalised timber for the foundations and framework goes against the grain somewhat - I would love to not be able to use any nasty stuff that takes away the clean-green thing I am trying to so with this project. But the cost of using other materials - macrocarpa for example is prohibitive. The concession is that no plants will be planted in anything having contact with these materials... as far as I can make out I will be able to keep these poisons out of the food chain.

I'm keeping an inventory of expenses and will publish that as time goes by.

The windows attached to the fence are part of the plan. They are stored against the fence until needed. I now have three large windows (like the one pictured) for the sides and a door with attached frame - half of these were gifted, including one frame with double-glazed glass in it - this will be used on the shady south-west facing side of the house. The windows pictured were gifted by Glenn & Anthea Livingstone from just up the road. As a gesture of thanks for the windows Anne and I will be making a donation to the Samoan folk at St Paul's Trinity Pacific in the city to help with people affected by the recent tsunami. Nancy and Allan Morgan contributed the double-glazed window and we will give them a plant voucher for their new garden in thanks. These donations will appear on the inventory as costs - I'm a great believer in honouring people's generosity as a way of encouraging people to be generous - sometimes paying it forward and sometimes paying it back in kind.

Next step: surveying, the holes dug, boxing and foundations placed.

I also scored some sheets of iron for the henhouse (next project) - I was driving past a skip full of old iron off a house roof and asked the guys of the stuff could be salvaged. I managed to find four good pieces that would fit in my vehicle. Sam and I went back for more a little while later with the trailor, but the skip had been picked up. What a waste!

Mart's glasshouse

I am about to start on the glasshouse I have designed, trying to use as many recycled products as possible to keep the costs down and save the world. I am not sure about the saving the world bit, but I think it will feel better eating tomatoes and lettuces from the glasshouse knowing that the place they grow in was made with as many re-used products as possible. Here's the site...