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.

This is Sunday’s sermon, based on Luke 24: 13-35, looks at the encounter between two of Jesus’ followers and a stranger they meet on the way to Emmaus.

The story about the monastery comes from alt.spirit at metro.m3: Alternative Urban Spirituality which is well worth getting your hands on!

Let me know what you think!  Please!!!

I’ve posted the text for this sermon about Mary of Bethany and Judas before but I’ve never recorded it until now.

I often feel that Holy Week is one of the most overlooked parts of the Christian year.  That’s all the more strange because it is at the very heart of our faith.  Today is the day when we remember that Jesus gathered  with his closest friends in an upper room to celebrate the Feast of the Passover.  During the meal Jesus broke bread and shared a cup of wine and in doing so gave the church the sacrament of communion.  Remember me.  Sad that in Holy Week, of all times, we forget.

I’m proud to be a co-host of the Something Beautiful Podcast.

For those of you who don’t know about the podcast our intrepid gang (Thomas, Jonathan and I) interview people who have a story to tell.  Mostly these are people of faith.  Many of them are people who have had interesting experiences of church and of life.  Stories are amazing, mostly because they aren’t opinion but rather a lived experience.

This week we share the first part of Thomas’ conversation with Adele Sakler (aka existential punk).  Adele grew up in a typical Protestant Christian family but in high school and college began to struggle with the issues between her faith and her attraction to other women.  She’s now come to peace with the fact that she’s gay and a follower of The Way and she’s become a bold voice about her faith, her homosexuality as well as her Chronic Lyme Disease.

From her blog:

My name is Adele and “i am thomas, doubter. i am judas, betrayer. i am nicodemus, reluctant in the night. i am st. john of the cross, soul darkened by love. i am a christian. i am not.” i am also “lost, wicked, and depraved but redeemed by the grace and beauty of God.”

i am a traveler who currently resides in Richmond, VA with my partner and love of my life, Katryna, and our two dawgs, Lady Dalmation, and Mushu, our Tibetan Spaniel. i am currently going through long-term treatment for Chronic Lyme Disease, other tick borne diseases, and heavy metal toxicity.

We realize that, like many of our guests, you may not agree with Adele’s theology — she realizes that as well — but we invite you to take the time to listen to Adele’s story and hear her story for yourself.  Take the time to hear her story and view it and her as an entire package, not just shunning her for what you may not agree with.  Then we welcome your thoughts and comments.  Drop us an e-mail or phone call and let us know what you think.

As an aside, Adele turns 40 today (april 2) – so look for her on Twitter and wish her a great one!

This is a sermon preached on Sunday 8 March on Mark 8: 31-38 (Lent 2B).  As always, I’d be glad to hear your thoughts.