had a great day at the iasym conference. there are so many good people involved in youth ministry round the world. if you are in youth ministry you should join and network with people as well as getting the youth ministry journal. i enjoyed all of the sessions – the papers are available on the web site at the moment – i thought this would just be for members but looks like you can download them without being logged in.

had an amusing cross cultural misunderstanding that worked in my favour when a friend from the US said to me ‘i have a book for you jonny’. i said ‘that’s kind – thanks’ and took the book. i then realised from the look on his face that he hadn’t meant to give me the book but was saying ‘ i have a book that you’re going to love’. so i apologised for my misunderstanding and gave it back. but he shrugged and insisted that i kept it after all… so thanks tim! the book is branded by katherine turpin. kenda was enthusing about it which i took to be a good sign.

on the subject of books and cds i have stripped off all the cds and books in my listening and reading lists on the right hand side and am adding only things i read or listen to new from 2007. so you can see the three books i now have on the go. i have tried to get hold of the gift before unsuccessfully but is has just got a uk release and jen gave me a copy for christmas. kester has a chapter inspired by that book in the complex christ. anyway i am half way through and it is fabulous – more about that on another occasion.  indeed more about all of them on another occasion. i noticed that jordon is attempting to review a book a week on his blog this year which sounds like a tall order – but i might try and follow suit though if so i’d better review one quick!

and am loving the amp fiddler album. like many musical discoveries these days i was put on to it by joel…