Category: General

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Soaring Arrows and Loud Noises

At the weekend we managed to do something that I’ve wanted to do for a very long time – we went up the A15 towards Lincoln, sat in traffic for over an hour and walked for miles under the midday sun…

OK, so those particular bits weren’t part of my ambition but the end goal was well worth it.

The end goal was the annual Airshow at RAF Waddington. A huge collection of static aircraft to view and even climb in along with some of the most amazing aerobatic displays from WWII to the modern day.

The littlest Hartley was unfortunately ill due to the heat, but everyone still managed to have a great time.

When we arrived it was just in time to watch an outstanding display of agility from a Lynx and Apache helicopter followed by 30 minutes of the worlds best pilots showing just how to do it – I am, of course, talking about the one and only Red Arrows display team. Watching those pilots position their Hawks with such precision and control and seeing them carry out so many intricate moves makes me fit to bursting with pride over just what our RAF folks are capable of.

For those of you on Facebook, I have posted a small selection of the photos I took on the day – some of which I am rather proud of 🙂

It was a strange day in many ways as it was the first time I’ve been back on a base since my dad left the Air Force a fair few years ago and at times it got quite emotional – especially when we were sat in a hanger with brass bands playing – memories came flooding back and the atmosphere was so familiar, so comfortable.

I’d never want to go back to that lifestyle, and never regret escaping it – but there were very good times and very fond memories and it was an amazing day and well worth the visit.

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KingsGate goes National (and even Global!)

WOW!

That about sums it up!

If you’ve been watching my Facebook status updates, or go to/know people who go to KingsGate Community Church in Peterborough, you will be aware that this weekend just gone we had the BBC broadcast LIVE from the Church for one of their 3 annual services. They only broadcast live for Easter, Christmas and Pentecost – with the Pentecost service being this one.

It was a huge blessing, opportunity, opening and challenge for the Church and all involved – with months of organisation, rehearsal, jiggery-pokery and all sorts going on to ensure that it all went smoothly, professionally and still looked like the KingsGate we know and love. The main priority of it all though was to ensure that God was able to be glorified, praised, raised up and that homes would be impacted by the Holy Spirit through what Dave Smith preached, the worship team sang, the testimonies declared and more.

The weekend was crazy – busy didn’t seem to fully express what the weekend was like but it was all good fun. When the rehearsal took place the air tingled with anticipation and excitement as we fully took in what we were doing. When we went LIVE it was even more moving and amazing, I found myself welling up as I took it all in but managed to keep in control 😉

I was involved with the KingsGate Production Department looking after the sound and visuals within the childrens room that got featured during the second song (and you can see our eldest son a few times!!!) and it was such a thrill being involved in it all.

Of course we let loads of people know about it, and our daughter told all her friends etc – but nobody anticipated the response that we got.

BBC crew members were moved, some close to tears, by what they saw, heard and felt. Emails came in (and are still coming in) from people who were challenged, changed, touched and more in the UK. The Church has even had emails from Holland, Belgium, Germany and Spain as it turned out that the broadcast was also sent to the Armed Forces TV channel so was seen as far afield as the Falkland Islands!

Then there was probably the biggest surprise of all – Chris Moyles, Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ, actually talked for 6 1/2 minutes about the service. 7.7 Million listeners heard Chris saying that he watched the program and it was “the most fascinating thing I’ve seen for a long time” and “I’ve never seen anything like that it Britain” and “it was amazing” and “been to gigs with less atmosphere” and “this is unbelievable” and “very uplifting” and “I want to go”

The ripples from this are still being felt from this and it is so exciting to be a part of.

If you haven’t seen it – or want to watch it again – you can catch it on the BBC iPlayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kvgmt/Thats_the_Spirit!/

Update: It’s now no longer available on iPlayer but you can find it on YouTube by searching for KingsGate Community Church

Please check it out!

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More…

Brian Doerkson wrote this back in 1994… a simple song of declaration, desperation, adoration, worship, love and more

More than oxygen, I need Your love
More than life-giving food the hungry dream of
More than an eloquent word depends on the tongue
More than a passionate song needs to be sung

More than a word could ever say
More than a song could ever convey
I need You more than all of these things
Father, I need You more

More than magnet and steel are drawn to unite
More than poets love words to rhyme as they write
More than the comforting warmth of sun in the spring
More than the eagle loves wind under its wings

More than a blazing fire on a winter’s night
More than the tall evergreens reach for the light
More than the pounding waves long for the shore
More than these gifts You give, I love You more

Copyright © 1994 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing

It’s a tough time right now – there are a lot of things we/I am struggling with right now and it’s difficult to always find God or to feel His direction, will and purpose. Whilst playing the guitar this evening and having a bit of a personal worship session, this song sprung into my mind once more. I’ve not played it for years on end and not listened to, or sung, it for nearly as long and yet it entered my mind with such a resounding crash it was plain that God was dropping a (not-so-subtle) hint and it also echoed the cries of my soul right now.

On Sunday we had David Ring speak at Kingsgate. David is a mid-50s preacher from Nashville who also happens to have cerebal palsy. Not a minor variant that is barely noticable but a major, life-effecting, variant that has shaped his whole life. Look him up on YouTube, please, and catch some of what we experienced on Sunday. It was a humbling, heart-warming, challenging, encouraging, amazing and blessed testimony that he shared with us including the very simple, but life-challenging, line of “I have cerebal palsy – what’s your problem?”

I’ve tried to hold on to the inspiration that he gave to us – but unfortunately it’s not that easy for too many reasons to list here and so I’ve still found myself struggling a lot and feeling quite down and trapped. This song sums up for me what my heart is crying out now… More than a word could ever say, I need You MORE than all of these things…

Please pray for us at the moment. It’s a time that is proving testing and difficult but we know that God has it all under control – it’s just remembering that when I feel the darkness swamp my mind.

More than oxygen, I need Your love. More than life-giving food the hungry dream of….. Father, I need you MORE!

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Family Pride parts 2 & 3

OK – I know pride comes before a fall but I’m not proud of myself but of people within my family.

Last weekend Mrs H and I went to visit my family and on the Saturday evening we went to watch my cousin playing in a cafe/bar/restaurant with his band Sould. It was great going out for a nice evening and we also met up there with some other members of the Hartley clan for a chinwag and just a relaxing evening.

Continue reading “Family Pride parts 2 & 3”

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The top April Fools for 2009

Ahhh April Fools day – where would we be without your endless merriment and hilarity? Well, probably anytime after 12:00 I suppose.

Even so it’s always a laugh to see just who has come up with the best pranks each year and my 2 personal favourites this year have got to be the XBox 360 Alpine Legend game (link) and the Quallcom Convergence innovation (link)

You can see the videos for the two of these below – but don’t leave it there… visit the sites as there is soooooooo much more than just youtube clips 😉
Continue reading “The top April Fools for 2009”