redemption stories is a collection of stories.

There are words, pictures and verse, but all of them tell a story — a redemption story.

We received input from Adele Sakler, Ben & Joy Thomas, Laura Bridge, Jason Duke, Adam Howie, Christine McIntosh, Trent Yaconelli, Emma Boyd, Angus S. Mathie, Paula Spur, Avril Cutler, Emma Boyd and Rob Griggs-Taylor.

This e-book is definitely worth the read.

And the best part – it’s free.

This week on the Something Beautiful Podcast I speak with my good friend Gerry Hanan.

Gerry grew up in Ireland where his dad owned a toy shop and he went to the same school as U2.  That wasn’t enough adventure for him though so he now lives with his wife and kids in Austin, Texas, where the weather is better.   He spends his time shooting fashion and beauty photographs, walking his dog and having adventures in prayer.

His story is well worth a listen.

Photo by Thomas Mathie

The Something Beautiful podcast gets all reflective for Advent.

We’ve roped in our better halves to bring you words crafted by a variety of  talented people, including Jonny Baker and Roddy Hamilton, and music from So Elated, Adeline and others.  We’ve borrowed it all and arranged it in a neatly wrapped giftbox for you.

We encourage you to stop, to listen and to wait, pondering Advent and what is to come.

My co-hosts on the Something Beautiful Podcast, Jonathan and Thomas, asked Avril and I to share some reflections on our recent trip to the Holy Land for this week’s episode of the podcast.  So, if you want to hear more about what we were up to and our thoughts on our trip then listen here.

Every once in a while the Something Beautiful Podcast takes a break from talk and gets all musical.

This time it was my turn to curate an hour of music (all of it found online and licensed under creative commons) for your enjoyment.  For those of you who didn’t know, I used to be a DJ.  I played in bars and clubs in the early 90s.  I hung up my headphones a while ago but I have to say this was an altogether more challenging task…

So, what can you expect?  A summery collection of electronica for the most part.  I think it’s a great addition to any MP3 player for those long sunny days of summer…

Enjoy.  And let us know what you think!

The new episode of the Something Beautiful Podcast features an interview with Lawrence Moore, director of the URC’s Windermere Centre and author of Disclosing New Worlds, a fabulous lectionary blog.  It’s his story of his journey from Zimbabwe  where he served as a police officer in special branch through the civil war to a realisation of what he’d been involved in and a changed life and understanding of who God is.  Well worth a listen!

Last week’s sermon focused on John 15: 9-17 and used some material from the excellent OneKirk worship material and from the equally excellent Lawrence Moore’s blog, Disclosing New Worlds.  As always, youth thoughts and comments are wel,comed.