Meet the candidates

On Thursday night there's an event on at Majestic House (cnr Manchester/Lichfield) in which 7 MPs and candidates will be speaking about their parties and policies and all that stuff, in case anyone's interested. 7:30 Thursday, gold coin donation. Here's who will be there:

Lianne Dalziel (Labour)
Marc Alexander (United Future)
Muriel Newman (ACT)
Mony Ohia (Maori Party)
Bill English (National)
Ron Mark (NZ First)
Richard Lewis (Destiny)

Should be good. Not sure yet if I'll be able to make it but yeah.

Absolution

I was listening to the album 'Absolution' by Muse this afternoon. Every time I listen to music I notice different things, and what struck me this time was: do people really feel such morbid obsession and hatred for one another, or is it just in songs and movies? I dunno, it doesn't seem like real life to me. Maybe I just haven't talked to the right people.

Or maybe it's just that rock music lends itself to extremes of passion, even if they're unrealistic - which probably means manufacturing or exaggerating these feelings at times, or at any rate dwelling disproportionately on them. In fact, the kind of behaviour portrayed in these songs is so obviously stupid, that it almost seems like the lyrics must be satirical, at least in part.

I was talking to my brother once, a few years ago, about why he doesn't like Christian music. Basically his point was that he likes rock music, as in the style, when it is really excellent, and that you can only achieve excellence in such an emotional, over-the-top art form through associating it with over-the-top emotion. Good and healthy emotions just don't suit the style; they suit calm and balance and beauty. Not that you can't have balance and beauty in rock music - some of 'Absolution' is exquisite, musically; but you can't really have calm.

Tom felt that trying to fit Christian ideas into this genre requires an uber-enthusiasm that just comes across as cheesy. Either that or it ends up putting a skew on theology by focussing on excitement, where this is not really what it's about. Rock music is obsession, Tom thought, and you can't be obsessed with goodness; you can only be earnest, which is very different. Religion can be obsessive - hence a lot of rock music has religious elements (eg the title 'Absolution'); but religion is a distortion of faith.

I'm not trying to make any comment about whether this means we should or shouldn't listen to rock music - that conversation has been done to death on previous occasions. In fact I'm not sure where I wish to direct the discussion. So I'll just leave it at that.

Curious

I overslept this morning, because I was waiting to find out whether or not I was going on the missions trip to Mars with the rest of the team. Having gone the previous time, and having really enjoyed it - going up in the rocket and all, and feeling useful - I wasn't sure if they were expecting me to come along this time or not. I needed to find out urgently, because I hadn't packed yet, and they were about to leave; therefore I couldn't possibly move from where I was till I'd found out, in case I missed the message and let everyone down. Hence I didn't get up till 7:38, which was when I realised they weren't going to tell me.

:)

Thanks everyone who came to my 21st last night, both for your delightful presence and your delightful presents, which were so thoughtful and kind, and also for the kind words various people wrote in their cards. It was cool to have all my different groups of friends there together. My folks were glad to be able to put some faces to names at last.

I'm kicking myself, however, that, having not had time to prepare a speech in advance, I ended up not saying the half of what I wanted to about how grateful I am to all of you. It would have been the perfect opportunity to honour you all in the presence of my friends and family for all that you've done and been to me. If I had been able to phrase it correctly on the spot (not something I excel at) I would have said something like this:

Thanks to all my friends I've met through CU. Your friendship astounds and inspires me; you are an answer to years of prayer. My life hasn't been a hard one, but it so happened that at the time I met all of you, I was at a real low point. I was at my wits' end regarding my faith, and feeling very alone, and it was your friendship and support and willingness to discuss hard questions that helped me get back on track. I've learnt so much from you, both from the things we discuss and just observing the way you live. I really can't thank you enough, but I hope I can bless you in some way as you've blessed me. Yeah.

But anyway, yeah, thanks for a fun night :)