Author: Jonnyfun.E

Now retired, and enjoying making music and writing. Living in Gloucester, historically an important port on the river Severn, and situated with The Forest of Dean and the Brecon Beacons to the west, and the beautiful Cotswolds to the east.
Uncategorized

What Do You want Most ?

Jonnyfun.ELeave a comment
This was the question that God spoke to Solomon in a dream.  (1 Kings 3).  It was early in Solomon’s reign, and he answered well. Wisdom.  The wisdom to listen, and to know who to listen to. (Unlike Eve in the Garden of Eden, who listened to the serpent, and then Adam who listened to Eve)

When Jesus asks Blind Bartimaeus the same question in the Gospel, Bartimaeus could have asked for some loose change, that would have been a good answer.  But he didn’t. He asked for his sight.  He was healed.

I remember back in 1984, I had a job interview.  I was a secondary school maths teacher, and having taught for 7 years, was looking for promotion.  The job was 200 miles away from where we lived in Kent, in North Yorkshire.  A different world. 

At the interview I was asked what quality I felt that I needed more than anything else for the post – second in the maths department.

My answer was ‘wisdom.’  I hadn’t thought about it, and it wasn’t a question I was expecting.  But that was the answer that came out of my mouth.  When I thought about afterwards, it did seem like an unusual answer.  I could have given so many other ‘good’ answers, but ‘wisdom’ was the answer I gave.  I got the job.

It’s a good question to ask oneself from time to time.  What do I want most ?  The answer will likely vary, depending on what’s going on at the time.

Acknowledgment for this post: 1 & 2 Kings for everyone, by John Goldingay in the ‘Old Testament for everyone’ series.









Uncategorized

Open Churches again ?

Jonnyfun.ELeave a comment
There’a a verse in the psalms that says this … “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

It’s a verse that is quoted several times in the New Testament – for example by Jesus in Matthew 21. 

Jesus has just told a parable – a story that shows the way that religious leaders often miss what God is doing.  Jesus himself is the cornerstone, yet he is being rejected.  The very people who should be  most attentive to God don’t see it.  In Jesus’ case of course, this led to his death. 

If human nature is the same now as it was then, my guess is that religious leaders are still in danger of not seeing the big picture.

As churches, we are now in danger of being obsessed by the return to our church buildings.  It is starting to consume much of our thinking and energy.

One of the main things that the gospels show us is that God is not limited to buildings.  The Jews thought that the temple was THE place to meet with God.  Jesus showed them that God is out and about in the world, as he went around teaching and healing in homes and on hillsides.

This current situation is one to be treasured for giving us the opportunity to be a people that are not bound by buildings.  Let’s focus on ways to find God in everyday life.  To listen to what the wind of the Holy Spirit is saying to the church.

Grace and peace.
Uncategorized

Tell it Like it is

Jonnyfun.ELeave a comment
I’m reading the first book of Kings in the Old Testament.

John Goldingay, my Old Testament teacher years ago, has written a little book to help us understand the Old Testament.  He prefers to call it the First Testament, because calling it old seems to relegate to the discard pile.

I read some words in the introduction that made me think of the current debate about statues of those who were involved in the salve trade.

John Goldingay writes this: “First and Secong Kings tell the story of Israel’s life from Solomon to the exile in such a fashion as to acknowledge the ways in which both nations (Israel and Judah) failed to follow after Yahweh, their God.  They invite the people who read the story to acknowledge that the story is true – not merely in the sense that the historical facts are correct, but in the sense that they accept responsibility for their wrongdoing over the generations. In effect the story is a kind of confession; it says, ‘Yes, this is the way we have lived as a people.’  The only possibility for a future for them is thus to face facts and to acknowledge these facts to God.  There is no way that they can undo those facts, or compel God to forgive them and give them a new start.  All they can do is to cast themselves on God’s mercy.”

The statues that are under debate were originally there to celebrate the lives of men (mostly men …) who had done great things.

We now see how those men were flawed, and the systems that they served were the cause of great injustices.  So, in a sense we have to rewrite history, or at least to retell those events of the past in the light of what we now hold dear.

And, now, in the present, for myself as a privileged white man, to confess to my shortcomings in not doing more to address racism.  We need to confess the things we have not done and said – our inaction, as well as explicitly racist words and actions.

Somehow, through all the tools that are available to us, we must do what the writers of those Old Testament books did – to say ‘Yes, this is the way we have lived as a people.’  There is no way that we can undo those facts, or compel black people to forgive us and give us a new start. All we can do is to cast ourselves on their mercy.”

Back in 2009, I wrote about an inititiative in the USA – ‘Come to the Table’  a project where the descendants of slave owners and the descendents of slaves come to the table and talk and listen about their past. 

The reaction of some people to history is to say ‘Get over it’.  But it is not as simple as that.  Even if the events are way in the past, there may still be unmet needs that, if not addressed, will prevent us all from moving on.


Uncategorized

What’s In a Name ?

Jonnyfun.ELeave a comment
I noticed a couple of weeks ago that it was the day the church remembers a saint called Wynfrith.  He was originally from Crediton in Devon, but spent a lot of his adult life in continental Europe as an evanglist and teacher.  By then he had a new name – Boniface, and it is by that name he is more generally known.

This reminds me of a retired vicar we knew when we lived in Beverley.  All his adult life until retirement he had been known as Grenville, but he had another (middle ?) name of James.  He decided that to mark the start of a new phase of his life, he would now be known as James. 

James is a version of the biblical name Jacob.  Jacob also had a name change at a crucial point in his life.  It was the night that he had struggled with an unknown man by the brook Jabbok, and he is given the new name of Israel.

After wrestling all night,  The man said, “Let me go; it’s daybreak.”  Jacob said, “I’m not letting you go ’til you bless me.” The man said, “What’s your name?” He answered, “Jacob.”  The man said, “But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it’s Israel (God-Wrestler); you’ve wrestled with God and you’ve come through.” 

Jacob asked, “And what’s your name?”  The man said, “Why do you want to know my name?” And then, right then and there, he blessed him.  Jacob named the place Peniel (God’s Face) because, he said, “I saw God face-to-face and lived to tell the story!”  (From Genesis chapter 32)

So, back to Wynfrith.  I would have stuck with that name rather than Boniface because it means ‘Friend of Peace.’

In fact, if I ever change my name, it will be to Wynfrith, and I will ask to be known as Wyn.

Wyn Evans, that sounds fine to my ears.

Grace and Peace.


Songwriting

DADGAD Is Just Too Wonderful

Jonnyfun.ELeave a comment

So what is DADGAD … it’s a guitar tuning that I’ve been working with almost to the exclusion of anything else for about a year. I’m trying to get better at the craft of songwriting, and my mantra is something to do with – the more songs you write, the more likely it is that you’ll eventually write a good one.

I found that with this tuning, I can come up with melodies that I would never have thought of with the regular EADGBE tuning.

So what about lyrics ? I have always thought that this my weak point, but a year ago I went to a songwriting workshop led by Boo Hewerdine, and facilitated by a great musician and community activist – George Moorey. With the teaching we had that day, I was inspired, and I’ve written about 8 songs over the last year. That may not sound lie much, but for me it’s amazing.

Most of my songs are story based, drawn from books, movies and people I’ve met. For example, one was about a fishing disaster in the early 20th century in Cornwall. I researched it from newspaper accounts, and used direct quotes to help with the song. I got really stuck a few months ago, actually right at the beginning of lockdown, and had no inspiration, but I had a starting line – ‘It’s been 39 days, since I saw the sun.’ (A reference to Noah’s Ark). Throughout January and February, it seemd like it had been raining every day, so that gave me the first line.

But that was all I had. I happened to have just started a thriller by Stephen Booth (which I never finished, by the way), and I just opened it at random and looked for interesting phrases. Somehow, I managed to put some of the phrases together into the song. I’m not entirely sure what it’s about, but it all seemed to work.

39 days

It’s been 39 days, since I saw the sun
grey clouds, the winds been blowin
the dogs are getting restless, they feel it in the air
You can’t see it yet, but you know it’s coming

Praying that the waters don’t get too high
fearing the worst as we see them rise
Looking outside and the sky is black
wondering if the sun will ever come back

I’m lying in the kitchen, face down on the floor
gravity’s got me, it’s pulling me down
I hear a voice laughing, smell the cigarette smoke
I can’t see it yet, but I know it’s coming

Praying that the waters don’t get too high …

She didn’t look up when he walked in the room
the old ‘duck and roll’ when he tried to kiss her
she said she was tired just couldn’t go on
He can’t see it yet, but he knows it’s coming

Praying that the waters don’t get too high …

It’s crouching at the door, this crown of thorns.
We can’t see it yet, but we know it’s coming

Praying that the waters don’t get too high …

Uncategorized

Regrettable, Shortsighted and Plain Wrong

Jonnyfun.ELeave a comment
This is the decision taken on Tuesday this week (16.6.20) to mege the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
I was so incensed by this decision that I started a petition on the government website.  I’m not convinced that I have worded it in the best possible way to attract signatures, and it looks like it is being raised in the House of Commons anyway.
Even if it is debated, a petition could indicate the strength of feeling for this issue.  It takes a couple of weeks apparently for petitions to go through the system before they appear on the government website.  If the government still haven’t backtracked on the decision, please look for and sign the petition here.
Thanks
Uncategorized

Song for Today #15

Jonnyfun.ELeave a comment
 

Such a great lyric, and timeless.  Folk song written by Hamilton Camp, but this version by Quicksilver Messenger Service gives it the full on rock treatment with fantastic guitar work by John Cippolina

Turn around, go back down, back the way you came
Can’t you see that flash of fire ten times brighter than the day
And behold a mighty city broken in the dust again
Oh God, pride of man broken in the dust again

Turn around, go back down, back the way you came
Babylon is laid to waste, Egypt’s buried in her shame
Their mighty men are all beaten down their kings are fallen in the way
Oh God, pride of man broken in the dust again

Turn around, go back down, back the way you came
Terror is on every side, lo our leaders are dismayed
All those who place their faith in fire, in fire their fate shall be repaid
Oh God, pride of man broken in the dust again

Turn around, go back down back the way you came
And shout a warning unto the nation that the sword of God is raised
On Babylon that mighty city, rich in treasures, wide in fame
Oh God, pride of man broken in the dust again

The meek shall cause your tower to fall and make of you a pyre of flame
Oh, you who dwell on many waters rich in treasure, wide in fame
You bow unto your god of gold your pride of might shall be your shame
For only God can lead his people back unto the earth again
Oh God, pride of man broken in the dust again

Your holy mountain be restored
Have, mercy on the people
The people, Lord.

Uncategorized

Song for Today #14

Jonnyfun.ELeave a comment
This song was performed yesterday at the Black Lives Matter event in Gloucester Park

So many people have recorded this – Here’s Labi Siffre

The higher you build your barriers
The taller I become
The farther you take my rights away
The faster I will run
You can deny me
You can decide to turn your face away
No matter, cos there’s….

Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho’ you’re doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

The more you refuse to hear my voice
The louder I will sing
You hide behind walls of Jericho
Your lies will come tumbling
Deny my place in time
You squander wealth that’s mine
My light will shine so brightly
It will blind you
Cos there’s……

Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho’ you’re doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

Brothers and sisters
When they insist we’re just not good enough
When we know better
Just look ’em in the eyes and say
I’m gonna do it anyway [x4]

Something inside so strong
And I know that I can make it
Tho’ you’re doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

Brothers and sisters
When they insist we’re just not enough
When we know better
Just look ’em in the eyes and say
I’m gonna do it anyway [x4]

Because there’s something inside so strong
And I know that I can make it
Tho’ you’re doing me, so wrong
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong



Uncategorized

Black Lives Matter in Gloucester

Jonnyfun.ELeave a comment


Yesterday there was an event in Gloucester Park for the Black Lives Matter movement.

It was deeply moving.  About 300 (?) people gathered, with respect for the need for social distancing as we listened to a number of people talking about the need for change.  The BAME community is still grossly under represented on councils, and over represented when you look at statistics for poverty, housing and stop and search.

There was a call to action, as well as a recognition of lives lost.  We were asked to kneel for the 8 minutes 46 seconds that the Minneapolis policeman had his knee on George Floyd’s neck. 

There was complete silence for the whole time we were kneeling.  I have never experienced being amongst hundreds of other people in silence for that length of time.

When I saw the name of the man who was responsible for George Floyd’s death, I was shocked.  Derek Chauvin !

This link is inescapable – Chauvin – Chauvinism.  The most common use I have come across is male chauvinism, but it has a much wider meaning.  The term chauvinism possibly has its origins in a frenchman Nicolas Chauvin.  Whatever the source, it came to be connected with extreme patriotism and nationalism. 

Think about the racism that is all around us, which for many is based on a historical belief in white superiority, and in white dominance.

Sadly, one of the features of chauvinism is the way that it blinds people to their faults.  I pray that we may all be open to self examination, to see the faults that lie within our hearts, and to work for change.

Grace and peace.