Messages

Supergrass. York. This year. The single, best gig I have ever been to. Such a fantastic atmosphere and some of the classics tunes of the past ten years.

Billy Bragg. Liverpool. 2001. Heh, it felt like I was the only person who actually wanted to be there but it was ace.

Moody Blues. Liverpool. Last year. Don't ask ...

I am greatly looking forward to this, particularly after my usual board activities were cut short by the capitalist running-dog lackies that I work for

Zarjaz!

Well I should really throw in my tuppence worth...

It will be interesting to see the outcome of the Anglican conference, if only to find out how Williams (a man I respect greatly) is gonna keep the church together, if at all.

It's a difficult debate. On the one hand I have the Bible, which says men should not sleep with one another. On the other hand I refuse to condemn someone because, whether you choose to practice or not, you cannot choose to be NOT homosexual when you are. God told me to love my neighbours. So I try to.

One of my best friends is a practising bi-sexual.

So what do I do?

Well, I do the only thing I can. I pray. I think about it. I ask God for guidance. I do not just stake out my camp and refuse to listen to any other viewpoint (which many fundamentalists are guilty of).

I cannot condemn a man who is practically a brother to me. I know, and have told God (but he knows already), that he is a good man in his heart. He is kind, generous and loving. So what do I do? I treat him as I would treat anyone else. I want to see him in a stable and loving relationship, because that's what the bible says is and I have found to be the secret to being happy.

But I will not blindly follow the word of the Bible, because I cannot agree with it all. You can tell me I'm not a proper Christian and, fair enough, you're entitled to that opinion. But I try to be the best Christian I can be - and that's the best I can aspire to. "Judge not lest you be judged yourself" is not just an instruction, it's a warning. No human being can ever be a true, 100% Christian - simply because they are human. Even Jesus himself felt fear, jealousy, anger, sorrow. When he sat in the garden before his crucifixion, he begged God to get someone else to do his job. But the message is, trying is never in vain.

Getting back to the point, I hope that all minds at this conference are open - because that's what Jesus told us to do. I believe he told us to THINK FOR OURSELVES. He regularly contradicted the Pharasees (sp) who were always willing to lay down the law on what was and wasn't allowed. He told us that it's good to question, to doubt, to discuss. He wanted us to talk about our problems, to work them out together. He knew that human beings were flawed - because he'd become one - and knew that sometimes it's good to talk and sometimes it's good to listen. I can't quote you scripture like Dud or Oddboy, I just know how I've developed as a Christian.

My favourite disciple is Thomas.

When Jesus appeared to the 12 after his crucifixion, Thomas was the only one who stood up and refused to blindly believe. I refuse to blindly believe. But I pray. I pray and think about what makes me a Christian and what I have to do to fulfill the role God has for me in life.

Growing up as a Methodist, for me Christianity is all about doubt. It's all about questioning yourself, others and God. It's when someone refuses to listen that you have to worry. Debate is great, but argument never gets us anywhere. I never pretend that Christians, or I, have all the answers. It doesn't.

I just believe in the two greatest commandments: "Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, body and soul, and love thy neighbour as thyself. There are no other commandments greater than these."


Oh dear, none of this makes sense ... End of rambling ...

Ghostlight, eh?

Dr Who fan are ye?

[ANYTHING!!!!!!]

Though if you listen very very hard, you can actually hear someone say 'But you are really spoiling us'.

Trying to be ironic is possibly worse than anything ....

ANYTHING!!!!!!

The contents of my sock drawer.

Failing that, probably the works of John Wyndham

longmanshort blatantly ignores gary ...

Hey Pete,

Just dawned on me - sorry I didn't give ye a call when I was down in London the other weekend. Got dragged out by my sister and brother-in-law for a night out in Watford instead ...

Soz, but hopefully catch up with ye at Wintercon!

:o)

"And it was written semi-randomly anyway (by casting the I=Ching)"

Aha! NOW it makes sense!!!!!!!!!!!

Potential spoilers
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Okay, just finished the above-named Philip K Dick book and must say I enjoyed it immensely.

However ...

I am at a loss as to the ending of the book. It's all excellently written and I was thoroughly enjoying it but then it just ... stopped. I fear I've missed something vital and not 'got' the ending, but even for a PKD novel it seems to have a remarkably obtuse ending. I see a lot of themes spread throughout the book, but none of them seem to be central enough to be THE theme. This doesn't normally happen when I read a book and I've 'got' even the most confusing conclusions in some pretty complex books, but this left me flumuxed ...

I am, undoubtedly, missing the point ...

Can anyone shed any light on this great, though confusing, book?

Cheers

LMS

www.iwantoneofthose.com

Got my housemate a singing hamster and it not only turned up on time but also had all the post office staff curious ...

Not too expensive either ...

Happy shopping :o)

I for one always enjoyed Cloeby's stuff, particularly his Dredd (one set in a school springs to mind...) but his recent Megazine story left me cold.

Good to see him back though. During the Fr1day period I think his and Chris Weston's stuff was some of the most striking and dynamic the comic had ...

Hear, hear!

Certainly a massive step in quality above that sh*te three-parter that appeared a while ago - even someone like meself who nows nowt about Crowley was illuminating. Nice artwork too!

Why Tharg does not request more from the Wilkinson work machine is beyond me!

NB: Of course, I'm not just saying this because the (vastly inferior) artwork I owe him is horrendously late or anything ...

about the simpsons (not related to the comic at all)...and a tape loop and what happens ....nothin squared..

I recall replying...

but no the message board is so unbelievably 'IN" crowd it i ask myself why i should bother

where is this 'in' crowd ... can I join it ...?

worst day wednesday

tuesday

worst date 17th of july

December 25

worst bllod type Ab negative

O positive

worst bank Barclays

HSBC/Midland

worst religion satanists

Scientologists

worst clothing polo necks

Y-fronts

worst drink milk and petrol

fish milkshake (think about it, the froth, THE FROTH!)

worst thread ever ythis one

heh, you ain't seen nowt!

worst writer pat mills/ garth ennis

gotta agree with your first choice there, though surely Michael Fleischer deserves a mention ... ?

worst comedy show perfect strangers

Two Pints of Larger and a Packet of Crisps (I even knew the girl who wrote it!)

worst film freee jack

mission to mars

worst thing to experience int eh morning...not being able to find the floor

no hot water for shower

later

no, now!

Damn, I was going to use that one ...