One for the road...

Why you really don't want to buy that new shiny iPhone...

Ok hands up who wants that new iPhone, more to the point who has run out and bagged themselves in a frenzy of funky touchy-feely screen hysteria??

Well in case you have managed to resist so far The Times gives 25 great reasons why you and I really should avoid that shiny baby...

My fave is reason #12 it's going to be popular with terrorists if apple's offical ad is anything to go by...

Running the race...

As I've been pounding the pavements of south London I've had a lot of time to reflect on the metaphor of running the race used in the bible to describe the life of faith.  I've been riffing on the metaphor and at the sake of overkill, in no particular order, here are a few things that jogged my thoughts...

1. Running books, websites, blogs, dreams, DVDs (chariots of fire!), watching races, stories from friends etc are often helpful but are no substitute for actually getting out and running myself.
2. Some preparation is required like appropriate shoes and stretching but it don't need to be flash or overdone
3. Questions without sensible answers are a given e.g. why am i running? what's wrong with walking?
4. if the finish line is the finish line it doesn't matter how fast you're going when you get there just that you get there then collapse
5. Know the things that motivate you and use them to motivate you, whether it's making it to the next lamp post or that divine cold beer awaiting in the fridge when you finally make it home
6. Running is not glamourous when your body is trying to blow heat out of all your orifacs, your stomach is cramping, your nose is running, you need a crap and your knees are aching.  once the run is over all these pain recedes and become highs for obtatcles overcome
7. Know your limits and pace yourself - run a little further each time if you can if not then don't beat yourself up.
8. Expect and accept that it is not a straightline to greatness and glory, some days each step will be like slow death, other times i'll feel i could go on forever.  Often i feel like i've plateaued or even going backwards, my times slowing and feeling more tired.
9. Rest is good between runs
10. Mix up the training - distance is good for endurance but sprint is good for speed - maybe short term missions, intensive discipleship, retreats etc do the same sort of tghing in  the life of faith
11. Have people who cheer you on and know what it is like to run as well, share those stories and spur each other on.  Train solo, find a pace buddy, run in a group, mix it up.
12. Run even when you feel you can't be bothered, are too tired, it's raining outside - keep in the groove even if its only to drag yourself round for a mile, maybe at the end of that mile you'll push on for 2
13. Don't forget to look back and see how far you've come every once in awhile - regard each mile run as the base from which you'll be able to run another one.

So what do you think..?

Climate humour to challenge us..?

From the Independent newspaper:

"A picture may paint a thousand words, but a cartoon provokes, protests and entertains – all at once. It is this that makes cartoonists so valuable and influential in times of crisis. Today, that crisis is climate change, and clever imagery can give new impetus to our struggle to combat global warming. The organisers of Earthworks 2008, a global cartoon competition, believe that art and humour are simple ways to get the environmental message across.

"We set up the competition to give cartoonists around the world a platform on which to express themselves," says John Renard, one of the Earthworks organisers. "We hoped that the competition would stimulate cartoonists to use their pens and wit to help combat environmental devastation and give new impetus to our desperate fight to stop global warming," he says. "After all, humour is often a valuable key in the struggle to win hearts and minds."

The other entries can be seen here

Whilst I have often used humour as a shield I have been most changed in myself by learning to not take myself seriously.  To laugh at me and not be afraid to be laughed at. 

Will humour challenge us when it comes to climate change? And will it change us?