The Final Countdown

After quickly developing a potato chip addiction after moving to Britain, thanks to conveniently placed stashes of Salt & Vinegar delights in just about every petrol station in the country, something had to happen. Now after a gruelling year of proving myself stronger than the salty sensations, I'm happy to say that I'm just about to come to the end of a one year potato crisp fast (RESPECT!), and yes, I must say I am indeed counting the days. Walkers, you will be mine...oh yes, you will be mine.

www.walkers-crisps.co.uk

A New Ad from Mac's Christmas Series...

I couldn't help myself!

Logos for Mac

Can't wait to get my hands on this...

Heart Support

This is an interesting site I stumbled across the other day.

www.heartsupport.com

Rising Again

The RISE guys have recently announced that they're currently in the process of re-thinking, re-wiring and re-launching the label, branching beyond the printed tee and odd accessory to become a high-end, premium streetwear label and a fashionable force to be reckoned with a la RISE 2.0

With a new site to go with the upcoming new collections, not only will wearing RISE gear be a more pleasurable experience than ever, but online purchasing will be quicker and simpler too.

Get you gear and meet the RISE Family at www.rise-worldwide.com

45 Days

The band DemonHunter have recently released a documentary film called 45 Days, which premiered at Mars Hill Church in late November. The footage is amazing, and the band have chosen not to use any of their own music for the soundtrack, even though the documentary is about them...hmm...sound weird? ...well, it's weird in a refreshingly good way.

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the band, but this project looks amazing from start to finish. With amazing footage, great content and a suprising musical score, the trailer had me asking for more. Preview it below, or check it out at www.45daysfilm.com

Junk Pride

I first heard about the Junky Car Club about a year ago listening to a podcast interview with founder Mike Foster. Being someone who never really went down the gotta-be-into-sports-and-flash-cars-cause-I'm-a-guy-and-that's-what-we-do route, and having been the proud owner of a number of junky old cars myself, the word kinship immediately sprang to mind. Only the difference here is that loads of the junksters who are part of this odd movement actually ARE into cars, and that's the whole point!

The club was established in the spring of 2006 when Mike decided to sell his fully loaded Infiniti G35 sports car to drive a junky 1993 Toyota Camry. The decision was an act of rebellion against consumerism and came out of a desire to give more to worthy causes. Mike made the switch, and then began to enlist his friends and associates to join him in this experiment of driving with less and giving more. Excited and enthusiastic about driving junky cars, these guys aren't embarassed, ashamed or self-concious about their beaters...instead they practice JUNK PRIDE.

While consumeristic culture promotes the new and the shiny, the Junky Car Club exalts the ugly and the dented, and they've made a conscoius choice not to care less about the brands and the latest models, letting their lives and self-worth be defined by what they do, and not what they drive.

Next time I get myself a car, it might well be a junkster...

www.junkycarclub.com

The New Face(s) of the American Church

The American church is currently undergoing some major renovation work thanks to a new wave of innovative Christian leaders and spokesmen. Dedicated to reclaiming the dignity of the Christian faith, redeeming the reputation of the righteous, and giving the world something more to look at than twisted televangelism and perverted prosperity preaching, these fresh-thinking Christians are changing the face of the church.

Here's just 5 of the names that keep popping up all over the place at the moment, and although they have different viewpoints on a whole heap of theological and cultural issues, these guys are not only a breath of fresh air, but some of the key players helping shape what's become known as the emerging church.

Name: Rob Bell
Age: 38
Family: Wife & kids
Books: Velvet Jesus, Sex God, Jesus Wants to Save Christians
Ministries: Mars Hill Bible Church (not to be confused with Mars Hill Church!)
Links: Nooma, Mars Hill Bible Church



Name: Cameron Strang
Age: 32
Family: Wife
Books: RELEVANT Magazine, RELEVANT Books, Neue Quarterly
Ministries: RELEVANT Magazine, Neue





Name: Jay Alabamy Haizlip
Age: 44
Family: Wife & kids
TV show: The Uprising (from Steelroots)
Ministries: The Sanctuary Church, The Uprising is Here





Name: Mark Driscoll
Age: 38
Family: Wife & kids
Books: Vintage Jesus, Death By Love, Vintage Church etc.
Ministries: Mars Hill Church, The Resurgance, Acts 29 Network





Name: Shane Claiborne
Age: ?
Family: Intentionally Single
Books: The Irresistable Revolution, Jesus for President etc.
Ministries: The Simple Way, Another World is Possible

Hey Ho Oslo!

I had the privilege of visiting a snowy Oslo for a couple of days this week for some meetings with New Generation leaders from Scandinavia, and managed to squeeze in some JD ribs at TGI Friday's and a quick pit-stop at my favourite Oslo store, Stress, on Karl Johan Gate. Here's a few pics of some of the latest from Adidas and Vans...not least a swanky bench with built in mag holder.

Spread the Word with NGUK

The New Generation Bible Project is growing by the day, with new orders coming in from all over the UK, and now fresh new NTs being printed and shipped to Russia, Switzerland, Germany and Romania. With earlier versions already available in Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian and English, the number of Bibles distributed by young NGers across the world in the last few years is right around the 200 000 mark. Not bad, but still it's just the beginning. Join the move at www.newgeneration.co.uk

Poke Your Eyes Out with Blindin!

Check out this fresh new Midlands-based company providing everything from web, print, branding and clothing to advertising, photography, music, video and all things IT. Not only are these guys simultaneously creative and technical, but they're even friendly! All this topped off with claims that they're so good you'll be poking your eyes out. Find out for yourself at www.blindin.com