Six Things - Ken Campbell

Ken Campbell is an American and an Anglophile with a Scottish heritage who moved to the UK when he was 13, growing up and studying in the south east of England.
Now based in Stansted, Essex with his wife, two children and pet dogs he spends his working hours developing medicines for a pharmaceutical company.
Two of his great passions are cycling and playing the guitar in a variety bands (and outfits!).
 
One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for Cycling.  One of the things I enjoy most in life is getting out into some quiet country lanes on my bike.  I rediscovered this pleasure a few years ago.  I say "rediscovered" as I had forgotten that in my youth I used to really enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bike.  Then, having not done any cycling at all for around 20 years and inspired by a friend's cycling tales, I started going out regularly with some buddies who were keen cyclists. As well as the typical local 'blasts' around home, we've had some truly amazing adventures cycling through France, Belgium and various bits of the South and East of the UK.  Great exercise, great comraderie and a great way to see the world.  I'm really glad that I made that rediscovery of something that I had enjoyed in my younger years.   One thing about yourself that often obstructs me Oh, there's lots!  However, they tend to produce the same result - INACTION.  Unfortunately it has taken quite a while to see it with clarity.  When I hit 40, it triggered a few years of real reflection.  To use a sporting analogy I felt like I was in the dressing room at 'half time' and I was reflecting on the first half 'performance' and thinking about what I need to do to get back out onto the field and play a good second half!  I realised in those reflections that there were a number of tendancies in me (procrastination, laziness, disorganisation, fear of doing something in case it is 'wrong', fear of failure, fear of what other people will think, etc.) that had prevented me doing things I should have done or stopped me making more of the opportunities that have been afforded me.  The challenge now: play the best second half I can in view of this knowledge!   One thing I've learned the hard way Generally, heated argument isn't helpful!  I have found the hard way that I am not very good at it and in the end what you gain in 'winning' the argument is usually more than offset by what you lose in the process.   One thing that gets under my skin A lack of integrity in individuals or organisations.  It wrecks trust and creates an 'image' that is not real.   One thing I'd love to change Well, it would be easy to say some very obvious and noble things about things like global conflicts, injustice and poverty and I would love to see those things change for the better.  However, everything ultimately comes down to the individual; so what I would love to change is to see every individual treating each other in the way they would wish to be treated.  If that was everyone's default option, wouldn't that potentially go a long way to resolving some of those bigger issues?   One thing I hope for One of my favourite quotes from the Lord of the Rings is this one: Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

That's one thing I hope for: whatever happens in the rest of my life, that I make good decisions about how to use the time that I've been given to me.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people
in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts. 

Six Things - Julia Dennison

Julia Denisson is a wife, mother, crafter and serial volunteer. She has two amazing children and a fabulous husband. Living in the village of Garelochhead on the west coast of Scotland where when the sun shines it is beautiful and when it doesn’t shine it’s still amazing.

Most days when the children head off to school Julia heads down to Centre 81, a community and residential centre where she cleans, cooks, or runs a computer basics class. Once a fortnight she cooks for a well attended over 60’s lunch club. Julia also helps out at the weekly church coffee morning, bringing along the popular chilli and cheese scones.
Chairing the school PTA and helping organize fundraising and "fun"-raising events. If Julia has any time left after all that she tries to do a little crafting or sewing. Check out Julia's crafty stuff at www.juliadart.blogspot.com/ and www.spanglefish.com/jdart

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for A cup of tea.   One thing about yourself that often obstructs me My inability to focus on one thing at a time, always jumping from one idea to the next and not always finishing the last. I have numerous unfinished sewing projects, craft projects that I haven’t quite gotten round to and many more ideas floating around my head.   One thing I've learned the hard way Seam rippers should be used with care, and shouldn’t be used when tired or frustrated!   One thing that gets under my skin That it’s always the same few people who volunteer to help even when they have the busiest lives.   One thing I'd love to change Patience.  With faster internet, faster travel, instant messaging, we want things now, not in 5 minutes. We need to learn/re-learn that some things take time and that some things are worth waiting for.   One thing I hope for That my children will grow up happy, healthy and patient.  

Six Things - Carrie Mann

Carrie Mann is a one woman encouragement machine!
Always impeccably (if not glamorously) dressed and with more matching reading glasses than you can shake a stick at!

Carrie loves children, and even has five of her own with grandchildren being added now too! She enjoys dancing, singing and acting, and has enjoyed singing "Oom Pa Pa" to much aplomb. Carrie loves spending time with people and making people laugh. She tries to spend time cooking for the whole family (all 13 of them) usually a Sunday roast as she believes "a family that eats together stays together".


One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for
A cup of tea. I really can't function without one in the mornings. White and sweet!!

One thing about yourself that often obstructs you
Doubting my ability. I do have to remind myself that God does not make mistakes when designing people and I am exactly the person He intended me to be.

One thing I've learned the hard way
Gossip will always find you out, by that I mean people will find out if you have been gossipping, not a nice place to be.

One thing that gets under my skin
Poor time keeping. My Father bought me up to always be early, and so when people turn up late I find it irritating.

One thing I'd love to change
People making judgements on others. We should try to be accepting of others as we don't know what has gone before.

One thing I hope for
A cottage over looking the sea, it makes me feel peaceful and very relaxed.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people
in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - The Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson

Alan was born in Edinburgh, grew up in East London and Kent, and studied at St John's College Cambridge and then Balliol College Oxford. He was ordained Deacon (1979), Priest (1980), and Bishop (2003). Married to Lucy, a violin teacher, they have five children.

Not your average clergyman Alan served in a parish which had a Crematorium and visiting several thousand families to listen to their stories of relatives and friends who had died was an education not many of us recieve. He has worked as a chaplain at Reading Prison, and led courses in Applied Ethics and History for Reading University, developed a supervision model for ministry. Alan hasn't worked exclusivly in the church world, in the mid nineties he undertook  commercial design work producing airwaybills, contact lens containers and packaging products.

A member of many ministries and organisations that promote social responsibility and equality, education, arts, and mission.  He speaks various languages badly, having learnt from his Hungarian mother the value of understanding other peoples’ conversations rather more than they think you can.

Alan has been involved in writing on websites and his own blog since 2007 and I came into contact with Alan through his role as a judge of the Christian New Media Awards.

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for
The buzz of people interacting around visions and ideas, especially friends

One thing about yourself that often obstructs you
A lack of focus pulling together all the strands of life in a way that adds up

One thing I've learned the hard way
To write concisely, not in a St Paul "stream of consciousness" mode.

One thing that gets under my skin
Inequality in all its forms. It gets way up my nose when people suggest God colludes with partiality, or the way things have always been, or that faith is some kind of get out of jail free card for injustice or discrimination.

One thing I'd love to change
(personally) My inability to play jazz piano
(in England) The stuckness in Education - I'd love to see all able to access an education that brings out their God-given creativity and giftedness and enables them to flourish spiritually, mentally, physically, artistically and socially as well as academically. Bit of a tall order, I realise...

One thing I hope for
To see the church become a more open, accepting, and loving network of local disciples - less hierarchically fixated, top-down, anxious and fearful,

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people
in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - Michelle King

Michelle King was born in Bishop's Stortford and has lived in this area for most of her life. With husband David, she has two lovely children, both teenagers who are the light of her life.

She has been a musician as long as she can remember and has studied extensively. She enjoys spending precious time with family and friends, songwriting, cooking, reading, dancing, singing and playing the oboe. Two years ago as a result of a dream she discovered she could write songs and in December 2011, won the SaintFM Christmas songwriting competition with her song It's Christmastime. She has written a number of other songs which she sells to raise money for charities close to her heart - see her website The Music of Michelle King.

Alongside writing songs Michelle teaches music at the Christian School Takeley, helps lead a youth group, speaks for Mission Aviation Fellowship and is a director in her husband's company.

"If I recorded parts of my life in a book, you may think them unbelievable."


One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for
Following my first songwriting dream, I have been known to receive other song ideas that I have to get out of bed for, to write down before I forget them. Sometimes a tune will come into my head at night if I can’t sleep, and I can’t get back to sleep until I know they have been written down. My family have at times heard me practicing chord progressions on the guitar in the dead of night (they are very understanding and patient people!), but I would never play the oboe at night because it’s not known as the quietest instrument ever invented!

One thing about yourself that often obstructs you
It would have to be my own self-doubt as I can sometimes try and close doors that have been opened for me. Every time I have attempted to do this though the door opens wide again and opportunities come my way, so I continue on my path. A friend said to me that when it’s time for a door to close it will close. I think they are right and I should have more faith in what is happening right now in my life, and to pray for guidance and understanding every step of the way.

One thing I've learned the hard way
My toughest lessons have been in love. I’ve learned the hard way that to really love, one has to be prepared to let go and allow freedom. Love isn’t possession, it doesn’t own. It gives without expecting back and it never ends.

One thing that gets under my skin
I would have to say that it is laziness. Those who are not prepared to contribute or even worse, expect people to do their work for them.

One thing I'd love to change
About myself: It would be to become less of a perfectionist at times, in terms of being way too hard on myself. High expectations etc.

About the world: I would like to see even more of a global desire to end poverty, so that no one has to go without the basic necessities of life. No child for instance should have to suffer war, injustice, disease and malnutrition. The world’s problems are simply not of their making. Many people are trying to make a difference, and on a world-wide scale that’s not easy.

One thing I hope for
My personal hope is that I continue to allow doors to stay open, to believe in myself, and remain doing everything for Him and to His glory.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people
in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Happy New Year - better late than never!

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Happy New Year readers! I sincerely hope 2012 is a year like no other for you - not like 2011, 2010, or 2009, 2008 and so on.

It's been awhile since I posted to the blog and there are a variety of reasons summed up in the word, life - the busyness, struggles, challenges etc. - as my favourite opening line of a book goes, "Life is difficult."*

However, I return to blog again for another year and although I have not been writing ideas have been bubbling up in my mind. So what can you expect from me in the near future? My first post will be tomorrow - written a couple of months ago and feel it's right for now - followed by my 2012 book list, reviewing/revisiting my top and least viewed posts, more leadership views, further posts on my experiences and tips for administration, and some ideas that are forming on belief & unbelief and the temptation of fads. I am also hoping to have some guest posts!

One area of my blog is missing from the above list, did you notice it?

Six things, the micro interviews with interesting people that have been very popular. I did nine of these in 201, but who will I ask in 2012? Well I have some ideas but I want to put that question out to all my readers as well, who would you like to see answer my six questions? Please do comment below, email me or message me on facebook or twitter. I will definitely approach the most popular people who you want to hear from.

So onwards into 2012, I look forward to journeying with you.

* The Road Less Travelled by M Scot Peck

Six Things - Dan Smith

Dan Smith grew up in southern Missouri and started making music in his school band in grade 5. Dan is now the front man of Listener, who with Chris Nelson are bringing talk music to the world. Dan and Chris have been making music together since 2007, on the road and all over the world. They have put out two albums so far, Return to Struggleville & Wooden Heart.

I came across Listener at Greenbelt this year and have got well and truly hooked on their music.

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for
The promise of a new day. I'm not a morning person in any way, but I like to just put on my positive hat about the day and it's possibilities and just get after it....happy to have another chance at trying.

One thing about yourself that often obstructs you
My love of trying please everyone.

One thing I've learned the hard way
To not wait for someone else to dictate a path for me, and that it's important to take self inventory and help others.

One thing that gets under my skin
When I hold a door for someone and they touch the door handle.

One thing I'd love to change
The idea that we are owed anything in this world simply for living in it. I think we have too much technology and comfort and ease. I'm not against it all though, I guess such is the nature of man.

One thing I hope for
Peace in this life in what I'm doing, and peace for others in their minds and hearts.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people
in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - Melanie Crane

Melanie Crane enjoys all the simple pleasures in life such as eating out, watching movies, taking long baths, visiting zoos, going to the beach, singing, reading, baking, and much more. Part of the dynamic duo that is Stuart & Melanie Crane, she lives in Birmingham along with their cute little son Levi.
Having worked for Clarks & the Church she knows all about souls - leather, man-made or god-made! She moved from Bishop's Stortford with her family and a bunch of other wonderful folk to start Real Life Church.
Oh and today is her birthday, Happy Birthday Melanie.

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for
His name is Levi Matthew Crane and he is our 20 month old son. In the mornings he calls out: Mummy come and some mornings I am so tired but there is something in me that just can't wait to get his warm scruffy haired cuddle. The cuddle is usually followed by a strong demand for milk so the moment is over pretty quickly but totally worth getting out of bed for!

One thing about yourself that often obstructs you
Just one thing! Let me think... I think out loud which sometimes means that what comes out of my mouth first is total rubbish and merely mussing but everyone gets to hear it and react to it.

One thing I've learned the hard way
Forgiveness really does set you free.

One thing that gets under my skin
Again just one thing! Being ignored in a shop by people who are paid to look out for me and look after me and ultimately take my money to pay their wages. Rant over!

One thing I'd love to change
One thing about myself - Processing everything out loud. One thing about the world around me - injustice. That some get to eat and some starve. I hate that.

One thing I hope for
That both my gorgeous children (Melanie is pregnant - Ed) will grow up knowing they are loved by the God who made them and that this knowledge will totally transform their lives.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people

in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - Stuart Crane

Stuart currently resides in the fabulous city of Birmingham along with his beautiful wife Melanie and his amazing son Levi. During the day Stuart splits his time between leading Real Life Church and being a primary school teacher.  In his few spare moments he be found either reading a good book, attending a Karate class or watching American Football, the greatest game on God's earth!

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for
My wife's breakfast muffins and pancakes.

One thing about yourself that often obstructs you
Procrastination, I am currently studying for a PhD in it.

One thing I've learned the hard way
When you have made a mistake just admit it....quickly.

One thing that gets under my skin
We live by the absolutely massive Sutton Park (around 2200 acres!) and it is a fab place to take walk, share a picnics, ride a bike, fly a kite etc and one that really bugs me about is dog owners who do not clear up their dog's poop!

One thing I'd love to change
Time zones!  So I can watch the American Football at a decent hour.

One thing I hope for
To cross the finish line at the end of my life and hear the words "Well done good and faithful servant".

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people

in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - Bethany Richard

Bethany grew up in Kent before completing a degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge.  After graduating four years ago she moved to Bishops Stortford to complete a year of voluntary work with the Community Church.  She liked it so much that she stayed and has been working in the town ever since, in various part-time jobs involving children and young people - teaching at the Christian School in Takeley, privately tutoring, and becoming her alter ego 'Brainy Bethany' at Mad Science after-school clubs and holiday camps.  In September she will be starting a Secondary PGCE course in Chemistry, back at Cambridge.  Her favourite things are reading children's fantasy novels, baking cakes, singing, making jewellery, watching period dramas and sci-fi movies and climbing mountains.

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for

The chance to create something, whether it's music, craft, a cake or even just a clean and tidy house!

One thing about yourself that often obstructs you

My indecisiveness.  I often find it hard to know what I want, let alone how to go about getting it.

One thing I've learned the hard way

If I go out in the sun I will get sunburnt.  Every year I forget this simple truth!

One thing that gets under my skin

People who are rude - it's just not necessary.

One thing I'd love to change

The price of petrol!

One thing I hope for

To see my dreams fulfilled in the way that most honours God.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people

in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - Mike French

Mike was born in Cornwall in 1967, and spent his childhood there and in Forres in Scotland with a few early years in Singapore. He is married with three “wonderful kids” and currently lives in Luton in the UK.

The owner and senior editor of The View From Here literary magazine, he also enjoys painting, watching Formula 1, eating Ben & Jerry's icecream and listening to Noah and the Whale.  His second novel, Blue Friday is now completed and he is starting work on his third novel. For the last ten years Mike has been a “home dad” after giving up his job in optical engineering to look after the kids full time – much of his first novel, The Ascent of Isaac Steward was written during their afternoon naps!

Mike blogs here : http://mikefrenchuk.com/
And twitters here : https://twitter.com/MikeFrench1

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for
The sound of post coming through the letterbox. You never know – sure it’s just bills but one day it could be that Knighthood. Although these days the post arrives about eleven – so the chances of still being in bed then are zero.

One thing about yourself that often obstructs you
I have trouble with door handles, slippery things. Means sometimes all it needs is a closed door to obstruct me.  Apart from that my tendency to be a perfectionist which sometimes is a strength sometimes bogs me down.

One thing I've learned the hard way
That God rarely just opens those pesky doors – when I finished my novel for example I thought getting a contract would surely soon follow. Ha! I’m older and wiser now and learnt to jimmy the handle by sticking a screwdriver behind it. God apparently approves.

One thing that gets under my skin
People that just walk out in front of the car. Is it wrong to want to run them over?

One thing I'd love to change
Toy packaging. You know all those annoying plastic ties holding them in like strait jackets.

One thing I hope for
To get to the end of my days without being completely knackered.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people

in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - Matthew Squirrell

Matthew Squirrell is about to get married, to the lovely Esther Barfoot, this Saturday in fact!

Matthew is a Director of property recruitment firm Dove & Hawk. In his spare time he is part of the Community Church youth team and is also to be found treading the boards in the Newport Amateur Theatrical Society. Matthew directed their last pantomime "Babes in the Wood" to critical acclaim (oh no he didn't, oh yes he did!).

One thing worth getting out of bed for

My friends. They do life with me and they are great company and so much fun. My best friends know EVERYTHING about me. It's a good thing.

One thing about myself that that often obstructs me

My enthusiasm to do too many things can some times be an issue. On more than one occasion I have made myself ill by doing way too much. The problem is that I get most of my energy when I'm around others and I love spending time with others; it just means that all of a sudden I can come to a halt.

One thing I've learned the hard way

Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy. Lying means you have to remember what you lied about, and often you find yourself trapped in your own web of lies. Always tell the truth even when it hurts, is something I've learnt the hard way.

One things that gets under my skin

Gossip! I don't like it. I suppose it's because I've seen the damage it can do. Over the past couple of years I've tried my hardest to stop doing it and asking others to stop it when I'm around. If you're not part of the problem or not part of the solution you don't need to talk about it!

One thing I'd love to change

People's view of church! Have you ever seen the Mr Bean sketch of him in church falling asleep? Hilarious episode, but at the same time that's actually what people think about God & Church; that he/it's boring, sleepy, weak and out dated. I hope to change the worldly view of our powerful, active, loving God and his church by living my life his way and stepping out in obedience!

One thing I hope for

My family, friends and work colleagues to meet Jesus & get saved! It's a big part of my prayer list! 

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people,

in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - Sarah Garwood

Sarah Garwood is 48 – eek don’t tell anyone – ooh, I just did. Despite her obvious quirks she is an out and out Christian with nothing much in her heart except Jesus, Jesus and more of, yes you guessed it, Jesus. Sarah lives with her 13 year old son Sam who loves chocolate, friends, climbing and archery (in that order!).

Sarah (who also loves chocolate and friends and watching Sam do the climbing and archery) has been on a divergent career journey, which began in pursuit of an equity card and has established itself in consultancy and assessment with a little B&B on the side. On this epic journey, she had a good few years in the leadership of Holiday Bible Week, which was both hugely growing and humbling, crafted through our purposeful God. Her heart now would be to use these combining experiences to work with Christian organisations and get them free and moving to be the hands and feet God calls them to be.

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for

These gloriously sunny days and the promise of a 2011 sun tan!

One thing about yourself that often obstructs you

My unwilling feet when they don’t go in the direction they ought!

One thing I've learned the hard way

You can’t go over, under or round life’s trials and you definitely go nowhere if you stand still – so you’ve got to go through them.  How hard can it be to walk through treacle, a hailstorm, a shower of arrows or maybe all three at the same time?  I’ve only got one answer to that ‘Ouch!’  (Yes, I’m afraid the ‘Ouch’ always comes before the ‘Aaarrr’)

One thing that gets under my skin

Hopefully melanin for that sun tan rather than one of the arrows!

One thing I'd love to change

Places with someone in Bermuda – anyone out there up for it?  (Anything for my feet to extract themselves from the treacle.)

One thing I hope for

The coming of the Kingdom when the Son will always shine and there’ll be no more trials for anyone to wade through!

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people,

in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - Nic Lines

Nic is 27 years old and has been married to Amy for three years.  They are expecting their first child in November this year and live in Bishops Stortford with their cat Rosie!  Nic started working for Bishops Stortford Community Church in the role of Youth Leader in September 2009 after six years working for Hertfordshire Constabulary as a Police Constable.  He became a Christian in 2003 after completing an Alpha course at the Church he now works for.

Nic is an active person and loves playing and watching sport especially football, golf, squash and running.  He is a big Tottenham Hotspur fan and loves socialising in the local pub with a cold beer watching a game with his mates.

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for
My personal devotion time in the morning - which is most definitely the best time of my day.  I am an early bird and love getting up before Amy when the house is quiet and the sun is just rising.  Although this doesn't happen every morning (!) I love pouring myself a cup of tea and spending some time praying, reading my Bible and studying some books before the day gets going.  I always find that this morning routine leaves me ready for the day and I really miss it when I oversleep (which happens more often than not!) or lazily fail to get up on time!  I certainly feel built up having spent time with my heavenly Father and committing my day to Him.

One thing about yourself that often obstructs me
My fear of what people think of me!  I can often shy away from voicing my opinion, talking to people or putting myself in the lime light (especially with people I don't know) because I'm worried how I will come across and what people will think of me!

One thing I've learned the hard way
That life is tough. I've had a better life than most (especially when you look internationally) but I've still walked through some rough times.  Although I believe that there is a compassionate, loving, faithful and merciful God who walks through the difficult times with us but that doesn't mean that our lives are void of suffering.

One thing that gets under my skin
Injustice.  I think this is what was the motivation behind me joining the police force and also my passion for the church but in every area of my life (from a wrong decision on the football pitch to current affairs) I hate to see injustice.  I especially hate it when people are marginlised...I hate seeing old people abused and lonely, I hate seeing children bullied at school, I hate seeing adults on their own and outcasted and I hate seeing the weak taken advantage of by the physically strong.

One thing I'd love to change
The world's view of the church.  Over the years I think the church has had a huge amount of negative press and is sometimes viewed as stuffy, perverted, boring and old fashioned. I would love to change (in whatever small way I can) perceptions like these because I actually believe the church is the hope of the world. I think when the church functions as Jesus wants it to there's nothing quite like it!

One thing I hope for
A healthy baby come November (which is when Amy is due) and that we as a family would do everything we possibly could (i.e. have no regrets) to fulfill all that God has for us (Ephesians 2:10) therefore Honouring His name.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people,

in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things - Paul Burrell

Paul Burrell’s love of writing music began by bashing out ideas on a rusty old piano to his grandmother. Songwriting became his favoured means of expression in his teens and, to this day, is still his main focus. He has won the ‘Opportunity Knocks’ North West of England Final and the BBC ‘That’s Life’ Royal Wedding Song Competition.

His current post as Assistant Headteacher and Director of Music at Presdales School allows him a day per week to write music for the pupils there and for the wider community. In January 2009 he wrote the Hip Hop single ‘Back with You’ which was released by Presdales featuring the rapper ‘Tukka’ in aid of the Charity ‘Street Child Africa’. In 2010 he composed ‘The Winner’s Dream’ sung by 3000 Hertfordshire school children at The Royal Albert Hall to celebrate London 2012.

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for
A full English (or Irish!) breakfast. Seriously - to be able to read a chapter from the Bible in the morning is the thing that fires my life. It encourages me or challenges me. When I am genuinely open to what God is saying, I know I am on the right lines.

One thing about myself that often obstructs me
When I know what is the right thing to do but my temperament and pride get the better of me and I choose the wrong option.

One thing I've learned the hard way
That it is sometimes better to wait and think than to rush in and do the wrong thing.

One thing that gets under my skin
People who say they will do something and decide at the last minute they will not do it. Also, Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson complaining at almost everybody and everything when they lose.

One thing I'd love to change
That people become as honest with their faults as they are with their apparent spirituality. This would help us all to go forward in humility, grace and truth.

One thing I hope for
To be able to use the gifts God has given me in a way which honours Him and in genuine partnership with Him.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people,

in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

Six Things

Later this week I will post the first of what I hope to be a regular feature of this blog - Six Things.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people, in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.
• One thing that’s always worth getting out of bed for
• One thing about myself that often obstructs me
• One thing I’ve learned the hard way
• One thing that gets under my skin
• One thing I’d love to change
• One thing I hope for

I hope that you enjoy getting these little insights into people's lives and that they will amuse, encourage and sometimes inspire you.

Credit: Often you will hear a phrase alone the lines of "Six things you didn't know about...", I got this idea from a regular feature on http://www.thatelusiveclarity.com/ website - it is an excellent site why not go check it out.