Name Change

I was inspired to rename this blog.

Something light and fancy free – these angry birds I see

The Angry Birds Movie

Released May 20, 2016

There is no doubt that The Angry Birds Movie, this avian animated comedy, was aimed at the pockets of family audiences, and in that vein, one should have asked if this was worthy of family audiences. In my view, it is not—there are better family films about. Angry Birds does not come into the same league as Up or The Wilderness Family. Angry Birds is raucous entertainment tame enough for younglings who’d soak it up, but should families see it? It depends if you like your family entertainment more on the edge or more on the gentler side. Angry Birds is for the former.

Powerful no more?

A poem can be cut back, cut out, edited, straining for more in the rhythms and meter, but loses its power and effect, I guess. – Pete’s Quotes

Writing things

I don’t like everything that everyone writes, I try not to accentuate that work, it may even be the fourth third out of balance and out of whack. It may even be good. I wouldn’t like to, but it is not a perfect art. – Pete’s Quotes

Writing habitat

Writing as a regular habit is something that might not be achieved always. But a good habit. – Pete’s Quotes

I got this one because someone in the vicinity is a Deanna Durbin aficionado

Can’t Help Singing

Released December 29, 1944

Its comedy is dated by now—the old nicking off with someone’s trunk on the false pretence that the man nicking it is a fun loving good old boy—just does not hold stick these days but refreshing all the same for the innocence of another time.

This was a suitable film I saw in a reference book and was free to view on legit sites

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

First released in Los Angeles, United States, November 20, 1972

Later released in London, England, December 4, 1972

(Source IMDB)

This adaptation of the famous tale has Alice emerging from her reverie which brings a revitalization of life as she steps back into the real world. Alice daydreamed an underworld of talking animals and fantastic surroundings. The young Alice is quite taken, and the friendly critters would not do any harm. A series of adventures take place as Alice moves from one to another with sweet-natured abandon then awakens somehow refreshed and restored.

Taking The Opportunity

An opportunity is a pain, as it takes one out of their comfort, but although it’s easy for me to say, a pain was worth the effort to come to terms with.  – Pete’s Quotes

Ben Hur Revitalized

Timeless ‘Ben Hur’ now on DVD set

2005. The three-hour-plus multiple Oscar-winning movie Ben Hur on two discs plus the 1925 silent version and a diskette of bonus material, is on sale in New Zealand – a must-have for fans of that timeless movie.

I should watch this movie and I did, something that promised a Christian flick

6 Below

Released October 13, 2017

6 Below is the true story of Eric LeMarque’s ordeal in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Western United States. This movie is based on LeMarque’s book relaying his experience on the mountain ranges, written with Davin Seay, called Crystal Clear.

Me and my computer

On the writing front, me and my computer have submitted two devotionals to a place when my devotions have been accepted before. Several other devotions were rejected at other times, some accepted at other times. I think the latest ones are strong and I have more confidence to submit to them because of last week’s preliminary acceptance of another one I did a month ago.  But only submit when the material comes together well.

The existential rub of a manuscript

How do you know it is classic science fiction horror—I don’t mean science fiction or horror individually—but science fiction horror per-se? You can only know you it did its upmost best, published or unpublished.

Online writing update

On the online writing front, I have made it of boot camp at Hub Pages and now have ten featured articles there, mostly longer format film reviews. The reviews are of Apocalypse Now, A.I., The Black Hole, Arrival, Amadeus, Birdman of Alcatraz, and Annie. Also got some promising news on the online devotional front in that a devotional is being seriously considered for publication on a website. Some say it is only one devotion, but that is a negative viewpoint. Others say that to even get into some places in the arts is an achievement.

Scrap. Otherwise known as copyright.

Bard and bird in a scrap,

Fighting for rhymes, it just isn’t right

“May I use your song?” said the bard in a devious tone.

“Your rhymes are not as good as mine, eh,” said the bird. “But I’ve got copyright.”

“Your rhymes for scrap paper, I need them so.”

“No, you don’t, I’ll sing alone.”

Forlorn

The bard and bird, forlorn

Nothing at all before the dawn

“Will you write”, said the bird.

The bard replied, “Not at all, even if I tried.”

“How about you try,” said the bird.

“And you set out the food for the bird.”

Bard forlorn

Bard forlorn, no poems to write at all

writers block before the dawn

Bird forlorn

The bird forlorn, no pears to eat on the lawn

taken away before dawn

Once hated, now voted in

It’s just that an oldie that was a goodie may not be a goodie anymore, cinematically speaking and otherwise. That’s how it goes. Many critics ‘hated’ A.I. but then again, twenty years later, it was voted a top film. Get the picture?

Here

I’m not afraid to tell where I am being published at the moment and I hope you will visit, for your sake of course.

Here. (Not a dodgy spam link)

Am thinking about the writer’s life

It is eye opening to know where one’s head was at just looking at old writings. The articles did have their merits and touches which surprised me. They sounded actually good!

Why does one get an impression that the past sounds worse than the present when it isn’t so?

Boot camp

This week I’ve been in boot camp. No, it’s one of those boot camps. But it’s writing boot camp at Hub Pages.

I’d darn better say good things about Hub Pages. Their writing boot camp forced me to go further with my articles by expanding them out into their acceptable word length of 700–1,250 words and for the article to be featured, you must pass the quality assessment process which is an incentive to do a better job. Boot camp improved my works that were already at a longish length.

I have found a theme with the articles I am publishing there, and the theme is the outstanding films of any year reviewed. I go with films that motivate me in some way, so I write at length and in depth about them.

I would like to know how their statistics work so will investigate further.

He spoke about editing

There seemed to be no unifying idea, but I’m feeling better about how I wrote some of those that are now published. They work. Even the rejected stuff – said the writer.

Expressing the inexpressible

Why does the word enumeration sound like money? Probably because enumeration sounds like renumeration. Is there is a real connection?

When “spontaneous combustion” does or does not work

Whenever I post something about my writing in difference to general things about the writer’s life, I try to also produce some thought about writing. So, I attempt to do that again here, with my latest writing movements.

Preparing devotional books in my mind’s eye

I have enough devotions for the equivalent of a book’s worth of devotions, one month’s worth, but with the second book, another month’s worth, there is still some editing and additional writing to be done. I am writing and editing at this stage. I am thinking of publishing though.

On the home front

In terms of writing this week, there is action on the home front, after a period of mostly exploring reviewing and referencing and researching films.

Promised much but failed to deliver in huge doses. This was just last year.

Can’t Buy a Thrill

Released November 1972.

Written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The vocals are by Fagen, Becker, David Palmer, and Jim Hodder. Donald Fagen also played piano, electric piano and the plastic organ, Walker Becker played electric bass guitar, and Jim Hodder played drums and percussion, with Jeff Baxter (guitar) and Danny Dais (guitar). Gary Katz produced the album. Can’t Buy a Thrill boast the most interesting lyrics and perspectives of 1972.

Children reviewing films

Can a child review entertainment? We were asked to review Gandhi. Gandhi is a “mature” film, but the kids wanted to watch E.T. and The Dark Crystal. But could we have reviewed those fantasy films let alone Gandhi and reviewed them effectively? It can be done, by some.

This one was first on my list to see, one which I saw and quietly accepted

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Released January 14, 1944.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is at a basic level a story of revenge. Yet we see plenty of classical style action, adventure, love, and honour. It is a romantic style film. Based on the Arabian Nights tale, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves was released on January 14, 1944, which puts it among the Golden Era of Hollywood filmmaking. I would like to see a Christian film with the same premise, where an Arabian Tales paced-epic is transported to a Christian-based romantic adventure.

Update: devotional writing

Eventually got around to writing a devotional this week, and am thinking about how to publish the devotions I have, as one publisher cannot work with me due to their way of doing things (i.e. delivery of renumeration), so have thought of self-publishing e-books. But I will check out traditional publishers first to see if there are any others that are suitable.

The lives of others

It occurred to me as I heard the cricket say he was about to write his memoirs, in the animated film Pinocchio, that I also had been writing my memoirs in something I had been writing and mulling over.

Ten minutes

It’s the holidays so one shouldn’t be talking about working, but I am finding ten minutes writing in periods every day does wonders as works can get done that way.

Update on this blog

As I have said some time before, I have been posting my older articles and reviews at blogger, but I am also thinking to continue republish my old and new articles and reviews, here. I will also be continuing to post various notes on writing, life, fragments, etc., and poetry, etc.

Remaining

Remaining, still there, still present, surviving this is the meaning of “extant” an adjective describing that something still exists. The extant manuscript: it’s a favourite word in literary things.

The outlook is better

How does one respond to recent events such as the last three years? One mustn’t blame. It was his fault or someone’s fault. But if one survived and can see an opportunity in the mess, then one comes out with a better outlook and attitude than without. Adversity can make one see life anew. If one finds trouble, one adjusts their temperament to survive. One does not give up but can turn over with a view to stay alive and live. One can even think about how they relate to the Creator: what is my relationship with the Creator of the world like? How can I draw closer to God during adversity?

It’s quite easy really

A Christian perspective is quite easy really when it comes to it. Sure, one can think of theological and sociological things to bring up, while the ordinary, everyday filmgoer bites into an ice cream, and popcorn flows all over the place, but a Christian perspective is just this: it is reacting or responding to a film as someone who is a Christian. It is just reacting to the material and if faith is important to a Christian then there is a reaction or response that kind of way.

A nice place to post

This week I have been starting to post my pieces of writing through blogger as the other place was not technically working for me. Another place, Substack, requires a lot of work to get subscriptions to your blog, so I find blogger just a lovely place to post my older and newer work and get an audience where there are no hassles. Here’s my latest piece, here.

New post

You have access to my reinvented film review of 2 Fast 2 Furious here. I am pleased to share this; do have a visit. @vocal_creators

New venture

My experience at Vocal has been good thus far though there are some teething problems which are being sorted but nothing major as in major. I found my first article, before I submitted to the editors, prompted me to write to a certain word count and I found this good as it enabled me to try a little harder, think a little harder, and improve the article overall. If they accept the piece, I will be submitting more, until there comes a point that I should stop writing there for some reason, but for now, all is good.

Not the ‘literary types’

I am pleased to introduce FRAGMENTS OF WRITING, a new category…

Feeling right

I spent a few spare hours of writing a couple of interesting posts (if I must say) on my new ventures with Medium and Substack, but my initial feeling was to not start out with it. To leave it be and not do it. The initial feeling was confirmed when the response to my posts and marketing of them were minimal. It’s not encouraging going ahead. Yet I forced myself to think harder about what other kinds of material I could produce so this material may come to fruition someplace else or closer to home base.

On new posts

This blog has been various shapes and forms of which I think it has been a matter of experimenting with shape and form and content until coming to something satisfactory or a composite of all those. I trust that Talking Writing or peteswritingnotes.com is this, which brings back my notes on the writing life more to the forefront as well as keeping with positing old articles, etc, and new pieces when possible.

My aim, in the long-term, is to produce e-books (or some variation thereof) of articles and reviews, the kind of things I have been posting here for the last six months as well as include the material that did not get published here.

So, I am pleased to present Talking Writing…And Posting Writings which I trust is more in the form I find manageable. It means I can write freely about the writing life and publish writings when I like. A lot easier to produce and in turn brings more variety.

It stood proud: the obelisk

To not confuse “obelisk” with “Obelix”, the word “obelisk” is a stone pillar of some sort.  Obelix is a character. This kind of stone pillar narrows towards the end or gets narrower towards the end. It is tapering towards the end. Tapering simply means to get narrower.

Time is a friend

Time is on the writer’s side. But what kind of writer?

Tell it like it is

This word reminds me of the character Obelix from the comic book series Asterix.

A reluctant read back in the day, but appreciated for what it’s worth

The Tower Treasure

By Franklin W. Dixon

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

Released 1927

The first Hardy Boys mystery The Tower Treasure was in the words of your grandfather or great grandfather, who read the book when it came out all those years ago (almost one hundred years!), an “exciting page turner”.

Something in the music does not compute, an art form or fragrant licentiousness

1999

Released October 27, 1982.

The album that put American musician Prince on the map in popular culture came on the heels of the singles 1999 and Little Red Corvette. And it was an album of funky rhythms.

Genesis chapter one: God and creation

MEDITATION. I heard someone say where is God in today’s world which has gone to custard? If God was the creator, has he left us now? Is God an absent landlord?

Looking at how God created the world according to Genesis chapter one, shows God made an investment in creating the world like a caring father makes an investment in attending to his sons and daughters. Why would God change?

Providing the surname, only

Some people need no introduction.

The non-musician might do

Listening post for October 15-October 22. 1972. 1982. 1992. 2002. 2012. October 14-20, 2022. Good music which I feel I don’t have the patience for and instinctive music which compromises my principles and becomes suffocating.

Saying it without having to explain

There can be a difference between writing a review and giving a view. A review stays within the parameters of review: explain your reasons for accepting or rejecting a piece. But a view can state the view without necessarily having to explain things in detail.

Although there are two kinds of views: one which can be explained and the other is like being asked a question about what you thought and answering without explaining why. You just say it. So, I intend to write more of that kind, where it is like someone asks me, what I thought, and I say it. These are typically short.

Support for church initiative to instill values into council planning

Recovering “village values”

2003. Pictured above: The Hutt City Council. A community charter initiated by local churches and adopted by Hutt City Council aims to support Lower Hutt as a safe and connected community, what Lower Hutt Mayor John Terris calls an effort to recover “village values”.

Some moments to write about

My listening post session for September 30-October 6. 1972. 1982. 1992. 2002. 2012. 2022.

It may have looked good this week in ’72, at best. But nothing to write home about. Billy Preston put out an album in 1982, his last for Motown, and his back story makes for interesting reading. R.E.M looking strong with another album, but not up my ally. Life Goes On, for Le Ann Rimes in 2002; the song felt quite visceral, not the rest of the album though. What did you say? 2022 music? It must have escaped me.

Life again

Agony in a maelstrom behind the storm a week of pain from the well rising up It’s life again Beyond the walls that I had built in vain there was a vision of a place so light and cool with healing that I succumbed to its allure It’s life again Love subsided the pain.

Children from India inspire Kiwis to lend a helping hand

Compassionate response to unemployment

2001. While watching a slide presentation of underprivileged children from India at a house group meeting, Ken and Wendy Fraser were impressed that God wanted them to help unemployed people in the Hutt Valley (in New Zealand).

Penalising approach not welcomed

Backing for beneficiaries

2005. A church agency representing the views of the national representatives of four mainline churches (in New Zealand) is concerned that a government bill at select committee stage will unduly penalise domestic purposes beneficiaries who do not establish paternity of their children.

The echo

Time makes such amends

For what’s missing in time

Just when life seemed hopeless

Along came time to soften wandering through the pages

 

Maladjusted by my unravelling

Depth and meaning were the challenge to my soul, but

Time had a way of healing,

For relief from superficialness.

I found soothing in an echo from time

The breeze blew toward me,

A grace I was assigned

Misaligned, I was, but saved despite the swirl of agony

In a moment of time

The forecast wasn’t as grim

My music listening session that covers a week of releases September 22-September 29. 1972. 1982. 1992. 2002. 2012. 2022.

The verdict: What do you do when even the classics don’t speak? Catch Bull at Four, remember it? Why does Christian music from 2002 sound two note? 2012 just sounds a little bit fuller. Just commercial enough to satisfy the intended audience? Costs less to make? The oldies are just sounding above mediocre with their new releases. Two picks this week.

“They were coming because they wished to meet with other people”

Loaves & Fishes only community meal

2001. The Community Outreach Mission for the Salvation Army Crossroads Community Church in Lower Hutt (in New Zealand) runs the only regular community meal in the city.

Showing now

I think I have finally done it, in that I have produced a satisfactory entertainment blog, streamlined to select movies and music, and sounding better than the two I have been posting from the last couple of weeks. You may like to visit this here: The Video Review Shop

A quiet week overall

August 29th—September 5, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012, 2022. My session at the listening post produced music that is almost acceptable then you listen to the second track on the album and it’s all downhill from there. Yes, there were one or two stand out tracks and on another one something like noise.

YungBlud seems to have the release of the week in 2022. This self-titled album sounds good but it’s something I would pass on not only for the lyrics I have reservations on, but the sound just did not resonate with me personally. Christian music is sounding quiet this week in 2022.

Humans and creatures exist side by side

Genesis 1:20-31: God created the creatures of the sea and the earth, and then God created human beings in God’s likeness.

Bringing out the old draft in a real genre

Writing the picture book manuscript

2022. March 28 was Children’s Picture Book Day. This brings back memories and inspiration. I must bring out that picture book manuscript I wrote all those years ago…

Another week of songs

August 21st—August 28^th, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012. The session opened with Neil Diamond’s Heartlight which was a beautiful way to begin the session, but the next song on the album fell short in my estimation.

How to transform free verse meter by meter

The method of writing metered poetry may start quite from scratch. One forces the words to fit the meter as one drafts the poem. I have found another way that may work for me.

A quiet week

Album releases for the week of Aug 13^th – Aug 20^th 

For the years 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012.

And Aug 12th – Aug 17th, 2022.

Dates will be more consistent overall next time.

The week’s findings: Christian contemporary music (CCM) with that beat sound should not be discouraged if the content and music work together to help someone

Pilots are on an adventure, but is there more to it?

LIFE. I’ve been reflecting on pilots this week. Some pilots are quite lonely people I assume. They may not be either. But they are on an adventure.

Praise

Taking the sheen off the praise

When what was delivered was good,

I got to get away,

Get back to the place where I am understood.

Many years ago, an utterance of certainty,

Which I forsook,

Could they be so right,

When the praise is so good,

And delivers in ways that are wonderous.

I lift my soul and hand go up, the arms raise

Wonderful release,

No more the exercise of pain,

Inflicted by something unseen,

The shine comes back,

And I’m found again.

Extraordinary figures of speech

Jesus’ lesson of the fig tree may be better understood as a figure of speech that teaches us something rather than give an ordinary description of life.

A vow of poverty to write

Do you give enough? I feel I don’t whenever I read the passage in the gospel of Matthew about the rich young man as if I am rich, which I am not.

Saint Francis of Assisi took the passage literally and lived a life of poverty. Isn’t the writer’s life the same? A vow of poverty to write. Not that I am in that boat at all…

One or two in the mist

Had a flurry of writing over the Easter period and beyond for some devotions I was trying to get through and published. Those ones were safely rejected I think all of them, but I am not counting, so I have an idea there is one or two that are on their list to publish at some stage. Wait for the cheque in the post. The rejections when they come don’t hurt as much as they used to. I am not counting.

Following the leader

In the Bible, in the gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 16 verses 24-28, a follower of Jesus Christ is challenged to live life in such a way that when he is judged by God, he will enter into life, rather than spiritual death.

Cafe church: the way of the future?

Envisaging and innovating the future Church

2002. Wellington Pastor Anthony Walton views writing books, including his latest, Future Church: Church by Design, as a leadership tool for producing vision, “casting a direction the church needs to head down”.

This writer knows his grammar

Just adding the word may have provided accuracy when one could have missed it out. But is it true?

With you

Born of a woman every day;

We are never alone in this world.

The family of humans

Reborn every day.

A life giving word

As crude as the priest put it,

The answer he gave made sense,

Although I questioned the expression,

The answer resounded in spirit

I knew he was right.

I knew its truth.

I, myself, did.

The woman he was talking to listened

Wondering if this is the answer to

The dilemma in her life

(Her fatal suffering)

Albeit God was with her and

God was in the solitary voice –

Even when it’s not the prevailing wisdom.

The water flowed tranquilly,

To rescue her on hearing.

If she took it.

Beautiful churches with “great acoustics, cool pulpits and loads of leadlight”

Church used for acoustic concerts

2004. New Zealand recording artist Bic Runga is on her one-month Acoustic Church Tour playing at 10 churches on a 16 date tour.

Bic Runga is a 26-year-old singer songwriter, signed to Columbia Records in New Zealand, and with two albums to her credit, Drive and Beautiful Collision.

Hall extension intends to make room for all

More kids trigger expansion

2006. Knox Presbyterian Church in Lower Hutt (New Zealand) is undertaking the extension and renovation of its Grimes Hall at a cost of nearly $750,000.

Writing in anger

A reviewer assumed a screenwriter/director was driven by anger to make a work, but being driven by this emotion seems a stretch too far. How does one manage that emotion while working with it? Wouldn’t anger get out of control and interfere with the person doing the work, effectively disabling the person from thinking straight?

I guess anger in writing can smolder underneath, under layers one has built up to protect oneself from exposing the driving, motivating force behind a work or works.

The problem with writing in anger is that anger may be seen in how one treats the subject they are irritated about. An exaggerated treatment may reveal a bias towards a certain institution, but it isn’t the way it is. This is when things become unfair.

I think it is best to avoid those writings that are driven by the emotion of anger. There are other emotions to write with, and these can be negative ones. For me at least, anger is detrimental to getting on doing the work properly.

In the end one may be misrepresenting something or some group entirely and perhaps regret doing so afterwards.

The mirror

Like Ibsen, he knew that to create is to judge oneself

From the article “Film Autobiography” by Oswell Blakeston (Film Review 1973-74)

One word says it

As I am progressing my sentence, and stuck for the right word, I try and use two words. Why use two words when I could use one? Two words tries to expand on the meaning in my mind — but it sounds clumsy and awkward. It just does not flow well. One word may say it much better. Just got to find the right word. That’s where words with similar meanings come in (synonyms), since one of those words may just say it better than two.  I google for a synonym and  I find the right word that replaces the two words that just did not sound right.

Bittersweet to hunger

Kind of nice, but bitter

The taste of convenance

Easy.

Homemade.

Over there, not.

Nowhere to find.

In the place I call home.

Kind of nice, but bitter,

Going cold, always sour.

My Sweet,

You never complain,

Alternatives, what?

I wouldn’t change a thing!

Except if it was mud cake in the face.

I am glad you are here

You will not go

For this is bitter to a hungry man,

And it tastes good.

 

When will thou arrive?

 

By Peter Veugelaers.

Strait through

A straight line I go alone

Steps along the way

The spring is infectious

Buoying me every day

Veering not to the left or right and not by design,

The course I am is full and sublime.

 

Remember me? Shouted a boy by other means a man

Are you still who you are,

Or have you gone lame?

I was who I was, I said.

And that is all I said.

 

Wanting to probe some more,

I anticipated a shock,

A meeting of no mere reunion,

A rude interruption.

 

I kept on going

Not fearing what lies ahead.

A bit maimed and bruised,

But I must cruise

Just get me to the other side.

Even if I die, alive.

 

A straight line I go alone

Steps along the way

The spring is infectious

Buoying me every day

Veering not to the left or right and not by design,

The course I am is full and sublime.

 

Feeling today

I better write this

While it is not compelling me, but

Impelling me to.

While not knowing why,

I have an idea,

What it’s about.

The day only comes once a year,

The smell of it, I know.

What it’s about I don’t.

So, what does today mean, to me?

A rather lonely sojourn?

While everyone’s in the know?

Why should I bother?

But I do. The day is another beautiful day

Isn’t this why we are free to celebrate,

Because it is another beautiful day?

Unhinged, unfettered.

Unleased with light.

Since that day many years ago.

 

Alive

The rain is about to fall.

So, they told us.

But it didn’t come.

They all breathed a sigh of relief,

So, did I.

I enjoyed the sun, while it was there,

On a day,

Of heaven spent joys.

The rain might have fell,

But was kept back for more,

More of you, the sun,

Love of the rays flowed through

My heart rejoiced, for the sight,

Not blinding,

But alive,

And death did not gnaw.

That day passed into

The day long

A miracle at the end

She saw everything all white

And not a drop of negativity passed through her mind

As she saw the eternal light

And passed into eternity.

We

Weatherboards, straight across—

A roof, four walls.

I see.

Over there, I see you.

Close and near.

Not in that house they built.

You are to me,

A person.

Not etched in a wall

In the pew

The one who gave or did not

You are not a plaque.

But you are you

And I do

See you.

That’s all I see.

Writing the picture book manuscript

March 28 is Children’s Picture Book Day. This brings back memories and inspiration. I must bring out that picture book manuscript I wrote all those years ago…

As it was on the schedule…

It’s been thirteen years since I first started devising and writing a tale and this week I revisited the story again, didn’t feel like to, but since it was on my schedule, I thought I should get to this.

Looking up

I looked up.

peace overcame the dreary sky.

the clouds left behind,

a ray of light broke through

Shining bright over the heads of us

as I looked from the window,

inside the room.

I was watching the change,

I was looking up.

I remembered God,

the Father’s light shines on the

righteous and unrighteous alike.

He remembered me,

Just then.

He can send the rain,

For now, the light he sends.

Ways

The plan is this.

That it goes to plan.

What is the plan?

No pain in the game that’s lived in this life to get to where I need to be,

The need is great, no doubt I feel it strong,

Needy me, needy me,

Needing to get there,

Abide by the plan,

On hand,

Focused and dry,

No doubt in my mind

Got to do it do it do it

There is no turning back

Going forward, on track

Cannot stop, got to go,

Get in that place,

Where I want to go,

All obstacles I will put asunder

Until my life has got to where it wants

Then will I be?

Will I be settled within?

Calm and collected?

There will always be room for the break –

Into something new,

Jump right in.

I’ll stop what I do.

And go that way, the way

For it’s as fresh as new.

Help me see

You think you know it all. I got to help you, son.

The other guy is coming with a message you better here,

It will help you, I’m sure, son.

You are missing a few brains of that I have no doubt.

A bit dumb around the corners:

You sprouted wings like cauliflowers and cabbages on the sides of your brain.

But I am here, to help,

Unless some other together guy would get at you first:

The head guy. Amateur.

Bar the humble guy.

Who asked you,

Help me see.

For you see better than me.

Annual appeal and rebranding church website

“Together we can help Kiwis in need”

2004. The Salvation Army’s theme this year is “together we can help Kiwis in need” elaborated in a breakfast presentation with a series of short messages about the work of The Army and their annual appeal. One hundred and twenty years serving New Zealanders was celebrated at Booth House in Wellington, April 16, which also looked forward to Salvation Army Week, to kick off on April 28 until May 4.

The giver

God loves us more than we can love God

God gives more to us than we could give to God

God forgives us more than we can forgive

All God asks is, have a bit of faith in me.

New look

Church face-lift goes with new market image

2005. Move over the religious services column in Saturday night’s newspaper. Advertise in a movie theatre, or the local rag. That’s what a brethren church did to re-invent itself in the eyes of the community.