"It's business, It's business time ,

You know when I'm down to my socks it's time for business,

That's why they're called business socks ..."

Flight of the Conchords, 'Business Time', 2007

A lot of the travel I do for work is to attend, or perform, audits of our facilities (or our suppliers), to make sure they are complying with regulatory and customer requirements. I’m writing this on a flight from Darwin to Sydney, back from one such audit which wasn’t completely disastrous but probably didn’t go as well as we anticipated or wanted – the site will most likely be graded ‘B’ as opposed to ‘A’. I’m hoping this isn’t a direct reflection of my current engagement to the company I work for or the role I perform, and I was sure to let the guys at the site know that I didn’t think the result was so bad and that there was nothing wrong with the change in status.


I can understand the disappointment though. Wherever we can be graded we want to get the best grade we can – it’s like being back at school again. We all want to be A grade at everything, at work or with our family and friends or even as Christians. If we don’t think we’re up to scratch we often stop trying altogether. I’m so glad that regardless of how our hearts trick us into feeling this way, that God’s kingdom doesn’t operate this way. It has been a hard lesson I have learnt in my short Christian life and continue to learn as I work out how it looks each and every day. Why is there always so much to learn as a Christian ...

Ben Folds ... the idol

"You know there's something in the Bible about forgiveness and love

And more importantly 'bout not throwing stones and what your house is made of ..."

Ben Folds, 'Brainwashed', 2008

I’m not sure how many people actually read this blog. I have a feeling that no-one does, and that I’m writing this for my amusement only. However, if I’m wrong, then whoever is reading this will have worked out by now that I really like Ben Folds. I have been a fan since my teenage years. It seems that whatever I want to write about has a Ben Folds song that speaks directly about it ... or sometimes I hear a song of his and it makes me think, and then I write in my blog. The fact that he is also an incredible musician, pounding that piano like his life depended on it, is just as satisfying.

I have seen Ben Folds in concert three times now, the last time being just a week ago. I took the whole day off work just to revel in the excitement an event like this brings, and he delivered. I screamed lots, sung along to every song (which included some wicked chair dancing), participated wholeheartedly when requested. Some people might say I momentarily served at the altar of this idol/hero with my money and time and adoration; I don’t want to look at it that way. And yet, I can’t help wondering ... there are several things that make Ben Folds who he is that I don’t want to emulate, like the proficient swearing (which you will remember I am trying, valiantly, to stop) and what seems like an inability to value the institution of marriage (he has had four wives now). But then you could say the same about Reel Big Fish, or Cat Stevens, or the Beatles, or any other human who sings awesome music and has flaws or an convoluted personal history. How far should we go as Christians to immerse ourselves in its culture whilst we are here on earth? Does enjoying one of God’s good creations, music, have anything to do with not glorifying Him with our entire being?

Maybe I’m finally turning into one of those people I always thought I wasn’t – someone who thought too much about anything.