Pinball

It often feels like I collide with each day, buffetting around in a pinball machine of clatters and rattles. Lots of stuff happens. Sometimes you can recall milestone marks. Sometimes it's a blur.

This past week has been has been the usual chaos, but it's also been a week of my 40th birthday, our 15th wedding anniversary and the birth of our fourth child. The family continues to be the place where all the stuff you share on the road and among those seeking your words and ear is grounded.

If love and grace aint real there, I find it hard to talk about it else where. This week it is truly good to celebrate with those closest - who often pay the highest price - who love and give the most.

Zac's Place Benefit Gig

Join us for what will be a night of exceptional live acoustic music - watch this space for more artists added to the line up...in the meantime check out the myspace pages for music previews...

JESUS LOVES PORNSTARS.....

I'm pretty skeptical about obscure US based mission initiatives, but we'd had some corresponence via our myspace site about a Michigan based set up engaging in a mission initiative at porn festivals and others within that huge industry. Most of the complaints they get are from Christians - that sounds familiar!!!! I'll leave the text at that but include this youtube interview with Martin Bashir asking the questions and let you make your own mind up......

SAMMY HORNER'S VISIT

It was grerat to have Sammy around at Zac's for a few days this past week. The Sun night gig went well as did the impromtu one at Tues nights Tribal Gathering. Managed to squeeze in a radio interview for Swansea sound, for broadcast this Sunday morneing with Kev John's Heart & Soul Show and Sammy also managed to share a few song with some of the lads on 'A' wing in Swansea Jail.

Celtic music and traditions came with a breath of fresh air, accompanied with reminders or worship with the '5 stringed harp' - symbolizing that we can worship God with all of the senses we are given - which if like me you have a terrible singing voice - there's room for a whole range of creative expression.

I'll aim to put a live track up from the Sun night gig on our myspace page as soon as I can and also keep you posted when we have Sammy's new album 'Songs for the Sick and Tired' in stock. The advance copy I have listened to is great and will be an encouraging listen for many Zaccers.

Also managed to take a few new promo shots of Sammy at Zac's in a spare hour - here's another two of them....

The only reason I stick around is to see what happens next

There's a sign I've seen around that goes something like; 'I've been spat at, beat up, thrown up on, sworn at, abused & wrongly accused - infact, the only reason I stick around is to see what happens next.' It can be a bit like that at Zac's Place sometimes.



It's a been rough few weeks at the beginning of this new year for those making provision for the rough sleepers and street drinkers. A couple of isolated violent incidents make it difficult for everyone - the clients, the neighbours and the volunteers. One of the doors was smashed in in a different incident - probably an attempted opportunist break in.

Grace and forgiveness is a foundation of who we are. So is the protection of those others coming into Zac's. The hard facts of putting that into practice is not easy, especially when the voice of reason doesn't get much of a look in. The up shot is we either be walked all over, close the operation down at the expense of those who appreciate all the help that is given or we attempt to place those causing the problems on a ban for a set period of time. We've opted for the latter. How that will be received remains to be seen.

The reality is that the destructive pattern of behaviour fuelled by alcohol and drug abuse, brought on initially by a myriad of circumstances, has a very ugly face - finding the balence in a Jesus like response is often a struggle. No one more than he knows what it is to walk amid chaos into the middle ground of everyday life.

SAMMY HORNER Gig, Sun 11 Feb.

Celtic singer / songwriter Sammy Horner returns to Zac's on his solo tour, which has the working title of 'Songs for the Sick & Tired'! Sammy is an excellent performer on many levels - whether it be with his punked up celtic combo, 'The Electrics' or with his more reflective acoustic material. His wit and warmth make a great connection and I'm looking forward to having him around for a couple of days.

He's a friend, colleague and if he lived near Swansea would be a 'Zaclican' too! So put the word out - Sun 11 Feb from 7.30pm at the Zac's Place HQ in Swansea.



See Sammy's myspace pages at http://www.myspace.com/sammyhorner

It's Not Every Day You Meet The US President

Over thirty years ago I stood, with my parents, amid crowds of people spectating the commissioning of the humungous US Aircraft Carrier, 'Nimitz' at Norfolk Naval base Virginia. Making his way through the crowds was stand-in President, Gerald Ford who was filling the boots of a disgraced Nixon ousted the previous year in '74. Ford died this week. I didn't know much about him when he stopped and commented on my obvious out of place English accent and shook my hand. Reading some of the comments in the papers and in the obituaries there is a breath of fresh air with regard to that famous office.

He never did get elected in '77, some would say it was because he 'pardoned' Nixon, (or maybe it was a dodgy trade off?). But this action won praise from his former chief of staff Dick Cheney as he commented; (Ford) "was almost alone in understanding that there can be no healing without pardon."

In an age when votes are bought with short term goals and ego's fuelled with wars that aren't our own, oh to have politicians remembered for marks of healing and for forgiveness.

Russell Grant On Acid?

As expected it's been a busy few weeks both on the road and at Zac's Place. The combination of heartaches and celebrations of the previous week went well and further emphasize the the diversity of ministry to the margins.

The recent series at Zac's on tues nights looking at the 'main players' in the Christmas narrative have endorsed this emphasis too. Particularly with reference to the Shepherds and the Magi. The Shepherds genericly were wholly untrustworthy - you will have bought your sacrificial lamb from them but nothing else. Their evidence wasn't even admissable in court. The Magi, (and it doesn't say how many there were), were a mixture of Russell Grant and Patrick Moore possibly on camels, (maybe acid?) - but more importantly they were foreigners - they were gentiles. So there we have it. All encompassing from day one. Closely followed by a massacre and then seeking asylum in Egypt as a refugee.

What does this mean for us today? Well it should mean Good News to ALL - regardless of status, colour, postion, orientation or religion. We'll keep doing our bit for the revolution - in the meantime we'll be serving up dinner Christmas Day and Boxing Day at Zac's for the local rough sleepers, ..... untrustworthies, ...... mystics

Nadolig Llawen

Loving Connections

Although I'm based at Zac's HQ for many activities and duties during a typical week, it's always good to be away on the road. Yesterday saw a 350 mile round trip to continue involvement in a huge charity motorcycle ride that I helped found 21 years ago in Reading with one of my closest mates, Ben. Despite the absolute deluge of a ride back down the M4 last night, it was good to see well in excess of 1000 bikes take part in the run and around 1500 people bringing gifts to a Barnardo's centre for distribution throughout the south of England. It also brings opportunity to catch up with many mates from back home and also to bring a short Christmas message to the assembled crowd. http://www.readingtoyrun.org will explain more

This coming week will be as diverse as ever with the addition of a wedding in Reading on Sat, a funeral of a 21 year old lad in Swansea who died six weeks ago next Tues followed by the Christmas Tribal Gathering at Zac's in the evening. Many people, different circumstances - I pray for wisdom and the ability with God's help to always make a sincere and loving connection.

ZAC'S PLACE ON MY SPACE...

You can now find us on myspace....
Check out http://www.myspace.com/zacsplacemusic
Expect to see a few music clips in the near future from live performers at Zac's and maybe some radio exerpts from myself and John Smith, plus all the usual video clips and expanding list of my space friends.

Don't forget the stuff on YouTube as well - see the menu bar to the right..

BIG ISSUE HEALTH DAY AT ZAC'S

It was great last Friday to host a 'Health Day' at Zac's HQ. An initiative of The Big Issue, it attracted about a dozen agencies working among the homeless and associated groups and many of the client s themselves. Clients were able to get advice from medical professionals and staff from the different agencies were able to interact. A Welsh Assembly member was in attendance to meet us and staff from the Big Issue, Swansea Drugs Project, WGCADA, CDAT, Community Mental Health Team and many others. At a time when the homeless and addicted in Swansea City Centre are receiving unhelpful and in some cases unreasonable press, this was a genuine and real example of what can be done and indeed what is being done. As a footnote, it great to be able to see several of the breakfast regulars making a big effort in clearing up many of their accumalated empty cans from the neighbourhood on the same day.

There should be some coverage of the day in a future Big Issue and also expect to see a full interview with myself at some point too.

Piss Heads .... and Pissed Off

Once again the topic of drug use and abuse is high on the agenda of news media and talk show radio phone ins. Should heroin be handed out by GP's on prescription, should all drugs be legalised, should prisoners be allowed to claim compensation for having to go through unsupported cold turkey on arrival in jail, should the prison chaplain caught on camera smoking crack keep his job? These and a myriad of other questions all from just the past few days.

Despite having been around and in the company of many people with addictions and lifestyles revolving around substance abuse, I have never been a user myself, (have never fealt the need or the urge despite plenty of opportunity), and I realise this leaves me open to missing part of the issue. I have though, seen friends die - some rapidly, some painfully slowly, I have seen highly skilled craftsmen and academics lose the plot and placid caring individuals behave like monsters as a result of their chemical explorations. All of this and much more would indicate to me that whatever the substance, the addiction and usage these are possibly merely symptoms of much deeper issues.

For me this whole issue leaves more questions than answers. Questions like; How come is it in a 'civilized' western society with a generation that is more entertained than ever we discover real 'men' can't party without several lines of coke? If we're so clever and much more sorted than other third world regions, then why are our family structures so fragmented, victims of abuse are forced to run away to the the streets and shoot heroin to block out the pain and the unwanted, unencouraged child grows into a recluse with a chronic alcohol addiction?


The problems of drug abuse will only be really be dealt with when the deeper issues are not swept under the carpet. Unfortunately those issues are social issues - people, relationships, both personal and corporate responsibilities - shaping families, maintaining communities, providing safe space, disciplined environments, enforced boundaries, treating people as just that - people.

Having read this weeks paragraph of shite in the local freebie paper, relating to the prescence of rough sleepers and addicts in Swansea City centre and immediate areas around St. Helens Road which includes Zac's Place, I can only conclude that a large number of 'upstanding citizens' are unbelievably narrow minded and well, just plain selfish.

I'm not wanting to make excuses for loutish behaviour or the irresponsible disposal of syringes or shitting in doorways, because there aren't any, but I do find it rather bizarre that a local trader can be reported about 'throwing hot water and disinfectant over some tramps sprawled outside his shop one morning'. If I did the same over a politician, or someone who insists on parking their car on the pavement across the Zac's main doors or any number of dozy drivers that try and run me off the road, I'd end up in court. Just because someone has no home and no vote should not mean they have no voice. Please excuse me if I seem a little irrate about the double standards. Also reported was a local club owner making similar complaints, worrying about his £500,000 investment. Poor fella, I can only assume that his night club won't be contributing to any behaviour that resembles drunken, breast flashing, butt bearing, vomitting, 'come on then if you think your hard enough - when I've finished m'kebab', binge drinkers that's more than likely to see one of the windows in our place smashed over this festive period.

Leading up to last Christmas I was out on our regular Thursday night soup run. There was at the time being enforced the 'move the beggars away from Wind Street' thing - (it will have been called something flashy like 'operation not on my doorstep'). I was sat in the gutter with one of the local characters - who's tale of how he ended up in the predicament he is in, is a genuine love story tragedy. We chatted as I poured him some soup and shared some food. As he placed his bottle of white lightening on the path to recieve the soup, he stared at a doorway opposite and shook his head slowly. Through his matted beard he muttered almost with tears in his eyes - 'it's a shame isn't it'. As I looked I saw a young woman all dressed up for the night - hair, make up and Wind Street party dress; there she was, sprawled in a doorway with vomit running down her floral pattern dress and naked thighs. That week the local paper had also run a story about how winos, addicts and beggars were making the town look untidy.

And now for something completely different . . . .

Finland is a beautiful country. The Fins are nutters though. Here my friend Timo demonstrates why - the post sauna dip in the lake.

No One Gets Left Behind

Just got back from our regular Tuesday Night 'Tribal Gathering' at Zac's Place. In the course of discussions and bible study I was reminded of a recent conversation with a guy I know in a bike club and his son. His 11 year old son describes the motorcycle club as like a family - and a family is when 'NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND'......mmm bit like church then, or maybe not ...... that may well depend....

If I Have To Explain....

I am often both challenged and encouraged by the fact that much of Jesus' recorded ministry was'on the road' - it wasn't a three year 'mission' in religious buildings. It was an epic adventure with a bunch of misfits going loads of places they shouldn't of (according to some) and meeting a vast array of characters in various states of disrepair and illrepute.

As I pounded my way around the motorways of the southern counties last weekend on the bike, in the now falling autumnal temperatures, I pondered these things as I mentally prepared to meet various members of the biking, tattooing and 'celebrity gangster' community in two cities for two ceremonies. One wedding blessing, one 'christening'.

Each proved a special point of connection with old friends and new contacts, each too providing precious moments of sacred space to speak of God's care and compassion for each one present. But then of course others might say, 'how dare you enter such seedy environmemnts' - to which I shall reply 'if I have to explain, you won't understand'. JC should still be on the road among the margins, I'll continue to be available....

LIVE AT ZAC'S PLACE

Just a short note amid the usual chaos to highlight this coming Tues night's, (31 Oct), 'LIVE AT ZAC'S' event. It features live acoustic music from two of south Wales' well respected songwriters and performers, PHIL JAMES and JULIA HARRIS. You can check out their respective sites at http://www.philjames.info (nice pics by the way Phil....) and http://www.juliaharris.net.



Doors open at about 7.30 aiming to get the show going at 8pm. We'll also be unveiling the 'Hunger and Thirst' painting officially and hearing from the artist......

Video Footage

Am finally getting around to re-editing some of the stuff I recorded with HTV Wales a few years back ... here's a snippet of work in progress.

EXTREME-LY BUSY

Today's been a fairly typically hectic day of extremes. Started out walking down to Zac's HQ in the rain to open up and help with the daily breakfast provision for Swansea'a rough sleepers and importantly to reassure Brian I would be taking him to rehab later. An interview with a government official followed as part of supplying a character reference for a friend. Then it was a short walk around the corner to pick up the hire car and on to the Big Issue office to pick up Brian and his solitary plastic bag of possessions. We make the 300 mile round trip to drive him to Birmingham, to what will hopefully be at least a 12 month residential rehabilitaion programme for a multitude of addictions - he's begining to start 'rattling' in the passenger seat as cold turkey becomes imminent as does the struggle of not bumbing into his kids for a long time. Six hours later I arrive back at Zac's Place to oversea the Coffee Bar drop in where about 25 folk are fed (plus one ferret also), a broken foot injury is assessed and the order of service of a funeral earlier that day is passed around the regulars - i am grateful for a good turnout of volunteers and enough cover for some else to do the soup run so I can get home to see the kids before they go to bed. Nothing particulary outrageous or groundshaking about today, so why mention it?

Like many millions around the world, earlier last week I caught the glimpses of the croc man, Steve Irwin's memorial service on the news. The tribute his 8 year old daughter, Bindi, read had a big impact on me, but not the way you might think. I was impressed with how she has grasped what her Daddy was about - what inspired him, what motivated him, total comittment to the preservation and protection of wildlife. It left me thinking about the kind of impression my own kids have of me and what I do. Do they see someone who's just extremely busy and causing a stir? Or do they see someone who's desire is to follow Jesus to the extreme, and wants to change the world?

TIME MAGAZINE HERE WE COME....?

Many years ago the comments from the guy who became a mentor and friend to me, John Smith, had a huge impact on my appreciation of the arts. The arts, he said, were the 'nerve ends of a culture'. Music, poetry, theatre, film, sculpture, fine art, storytelling .... were oh so absent in my church experience of early years. How I've remedied that these days!!

It's been great to commission several artists to work on 8 pieces of work based on the 'Beatitudes' of Christ in Matthew's Gospel. This week we took delivery of Anthony Jones' contribution of an oil based work on 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (justice), for they will be filled'....

Have a ponder, think Nestle, think corporate faceless America shafting the poor. Me thinks this will cause a pleasant stir, along with the other completed pieces going to be exhibited away from our venue, at Greenbelt Festival this weekend.

On The Box

A bit of regional TV coming up this time - This Thursday evening, 17 August, 11.35pm, ITV 1 Wales, 'My Way' - a more biograhical interview with obvious references to Zac's Place and God's Squad. Filmed back in Feb at Zac's HQ when I was full of a cold! (Filmed by the same producer we did the 5 programme series with HTV a few years back.... It also features a few snippets from that series - clips from Rowan Williams, Stewart Henderson, Rick Elias and Ben Castle).

This pic taken at the filming, for those not familiar with the venue, is in the lounge at Zac's, (where breakfast is served each morning to rough sleepers and we have smaller regular gatherings). This space also serves as our God's Squad club room.