ALIVE Magazine - Dec '14/Jan '15 by Greta Yeoman

an online magazine for christian young adults in new zealand | december ‘14 - january ‘15 | issue two

ALIVE magazine

EDITOR GRETA YEOMAN deputy editor NICOLA FROUD THE ALIVE TEAM ANNA GREENWOOD EVONNE KEY CONTRIBUTing writers/photos KAZ YUNG TIM CAPILL ******* WANT TO WRITE FOR ALIVE? GOT A COMMENT, QUESTION, SUGGESTION? ANY IDEAS FOR STORIES OR FEATURES? CONTACT US AT ALIVEMAGAZINENZ@GMAIL.COM ******* ALIVE WILL BE RELEASED EVERY TWO MONTHS. DEADLINE FOR FEB/MARCH IS JAN 20. ******* IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVERTISING OR STORY IDEAS PLEASE GET IN TOUCH ASAP. THE DEADLINE IS FOR SUBMITTING FINISHED STORIES NOT CREATING IDEAS. ******* ALIVE MAGAZINE IS A FREE ONLINE MAGAZINE FOR CHRISTIAN YOUNG ADULTS IN NEW ZEALAND. WWW.ALIVENZ.WORDPRESS.COM ALIVEMAGAZINENZ@GMAIL.COM ************ COVER PHOTO OF THE SOORLEYS BY AEMON BEECH, BEECH & CO. (SUPPPLIED)

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contents.... Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Column ... page 4 Ten Books For Summer ... page 6 Rapture Ruckus .... page 10 Paper Cranes ... page 12 Summer of Fun ... page 16 The Soorleys ... page 18 Why I Prefer Non-Christian Music ... page 22 You Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Have To Agree With Everything ... page 24 ALIVE Columns ... page 26 New Year Resolutions ... page 28 Keen Beans ... page 30 A Return To Dignity .... page 32 Alternative Christmas Gifts ... page 38 The Spirit of Christmas ... page 42 Streaming Now ... page 46 Ben Abraham ... page 48 The Hobbit ... page 53 Off On Holiday .. page 54

We actually made it to issue two. Phew, I am glad about that. I was pretty stoked about the response from the first issue, however we need you people who read it to share it out so we can get it further off the ground. I’m excited about this issue, we’ve got a tonne of stuff in it, take a read! And flick an email to alivemagazinenz@gmail.com if you want a copy emailed to you so you can have it on your computer/print your own copy. We’ll try set-up an emailing system to send you very occasional notifications and attach the new magazines when they are released. Changing the topic entirely, I’ve been fighting my faith recently, sorting some major stuff out. Lots of relevalations, so I thought I’d share some thoughts with you, so I’ve written a couple of opinion pieces. I’ve always liked the idea of people being more honest about struggling with faith, because I am certain it happens to everyone, and it seriously doesn’t help other people’s faith if they can’t see anyone struggling like they do. Besides that, in this issue we have some interviews with fantastic musicians playing at Cloud Festival and Festival One who chatted to us. So have a good read of interviews with Rapture Ruckus, The Soorleys and Paper Cranes. So stoked to have you guys in the magazine! We’re also very aware it’s coming up to Christmas so our big feature, written by a couple of lovely ladies from the ALIVE team, is about the culture around Christmas. I also compiled a list of alternative ideas for Christmas gifts. Nicola explored the subject of New Years Resolutions and the ALIVE team have compiled some of our favourite books that we thought you might enjoy reading this summer (Evonne went “what 2!? I can’t narrow it down to 2!”). You may also notice wee thank-yous below some of the stories. If it’s required more than one direct email to one interviewee we are thanking the people who helped in the process of getting the story because there’s often so many people behind the scenes of getting one, and they don’t get acknowledged enough. Hope you are all well. Feel free to flick us a message anytime, we’d love to hear from you. A very Merry Christmas and hope you have a fantastic beginning to the new year, Greta Yeoman.

Hi, I’m Greta and the editor of this magazine. I’m an 18-year-old with a slight obsession with music, namely the Christchurch music scene. I am a songwriter/musician and also a film-maker/photographer. I studied journalism this year and have grand plans for this magazine. I like honesty about the struggle with faith and cannot stand cliched christian songs. My favourite band is The Eastern and blame a strange combination of Lydia Cole and the Christchurch earthquake for my musical tastes. I can’t wait to see what this crazy new year will bring as we wrap up 2014. SCARY!

WRITE TO US ANY RESPONSES YOU HAVE TO STORIES IN ALIVE AND WE CAN PUBLISH THEM IN THE “LETTERS” SECTION. START A CONVERSATION WITH OTHERS THROUGH THIS MAGAZINE FOR YOU! (OF COURSE YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITHOUT HAVING YOUR WORDS APPEAR IN PRINT - JUST LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT IT PUBLISHED OR NOT. EMAIL US AT ALIVEMAGAZINENZ@GMAIL.COM OR CONTACT US THROUGH FACEBOOK. 4

10 Books For Summer as compiled by alive staff and readers!

BLUE LIKE JAZZ - DON MILLER Chosen by Editor Greta Yeoman. My lovely cousins sent me this book earlier this year and I love it. It explores life as a Christian and what that means and the true struggles and questions of faith. It doesn’t gloss over or bypass ideas, it confronts them head on but does so in a humorous way. Don Miller’s vast array of friends who are Christians show that there is no one stereotype of who can be a Christian or one approach to a faith with God. SING YOU HOME - JODI PICOULT Chosen by Editor Greta Yeoman Sing You Home is one of my favourite books of all time. I guess it’s an interesting one to put on a list for a Christian magazine but at the same time I feel like it is a good place to be. In typical Jodi Picoult style she explores a range of issues but in the end it comes down to... what is your definition of love? If there was one book in the world I could recommend you read it would be this one. Approach it openly and be all right to be challenged. It may not change your views but at least it makes you think.

THE DA VINCI CODE - DAN BROWN Chosen by ALIVE Deputy Editor Nicola Froud. Read The da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – once I was into it, I was absorbed, and the film just wouldn’t have made sense without the story that the book provided.

MY SISTER’S KEEPER - JODI PICOULT Chosen by ALIVE Deputy Editor Nicola Froud Only because I can’t bear people not knowing how it differs from the film and how the story is really supposed to end. I have cried over fiction a total of three times, but this is a story that had to be put down until I’d washed my face.

PUSH: PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS - JURGEN MATTHESIUS Chosen by ALIVE Writer Anna Greenwood While fabulous, this is by no means a book you pick up for a light read. The truth within these pages lights a conviction and passion within you to pray and live life like you never have before. It contains an incredibly powerful message about what God wants for us and from us in our prayer and petition. Push was written with the aim of helping young people find motivation and discover God’s dreams for their life so that they can become the blessings they are meant to be. If you are a Christian young adult looking to grow closer to Jesus, you should totally get your hands on a copy of this book.

THE CHANCE - KAREN KINGSBURY Chosen by ALIVE Writer Anna Greenwood I have read every single one of Karen Kingsbury’s books and The Chance is undoubtedly one of the best. Two childhood friends are separated by circumstances outside of their control, and eleven years later, through a divine encounter; they come back into each other’s lives. In this beautiful story of love, loss, forgiveness and second chances, Karen emphasizes the truth that our Heavenly Father will never stop searching for us and giving us chance after chance through the power of His grace. THE SILMARILLION - JRR TOLKIEN Chosen by ALIVE writer Evonne Key I can’t not put the Silmarillion down here though, because it is my favourite book. I think it’s the fact that the two biggest aspects that Tolkien said influenced his work, not consciously or intentionally, but simply because they were such a big part of him, were his Christian Faith and his mother country, England. And it shows. When your faith is so ingrained into you that you can’t help but show it in your writing, it makes for a spectacular piece of writing. It’s far from an easy read, and far from perhaps most people’s tastes, but that doesn’t stop it being one of the most beautiful books I have had the pleasure in reading. THE QUANTUM THIEF - HANNU RAJANIEMI Chosen by ALIVE Writer Evonne Key Funnily enough the first hard sci-fi book I read, and I am happy to say I immensely enjoyed it. No, I can’t pronounce his last name either. Hannu is a Finnish author, who has a PhD in Mathematical Physics. And boy, does it show. It’s hard to describe what exactly this book is like or about as even the reader doesn’t even really know till part way through. A knowledge of computer science is not needed but might make things a bit easier… maybe. Nonetheless, if a Martian Sherlock, sassy sentient spaceships and thieves that play with fire, time, memory and goddesses sounds like your kind of thing, definitely give it a look. GUIDANCE AND THE VOICE OF GOD - PHILLIP JENSEN AND TONY PAYNE Chosen by ALIVE reader Tim Capill We asked one of ALIVE’s readers to contribute a couple of books so we have Tim Capill suggesting Guidance and the Voice of God’ by Philip Jensen and Tony Payne. This great little book is full of practical advice for Christians seeking to live in line with the will of God. How do I know what God wants me to do with my life? How can I make decisions which are in line with his will? If God still speaks, will I recognise his voice? This book explores how God guides us in our everyday life. It’s an easy read. So grab yourself a copy, slap on your sunnies, grab yourself a craft beer, get out in the sun and have a read! THE REASON FOR GOD – TIM KELLER Chosen by ALIVE reader Tim Capill Also suggested by Tim, is another Tim, Tim Keller’s “A Reason For God”. How could a loving God send people to hell? Why isn’t Christianity more inclusive? How scan one religion be right and all the others wrong? Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God? Tim Keller does an epic job of answering these questions and more, and shows that faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people with intellectual integrity. Get your brain on and get reading.

#aliveatfestivalone Going to Festival One? Tag your photos on social media with #aliveatfestivalone and we will feature them in the Feb/March 2015 magazine!

FESTIVAL | SPECIAL

RAPTURE RUCKUS KIWI BAND RAPTURE RUCKUS LIVE 8000 MILES FROM AUCKLAND, BUT WILL RETURN HOME THIS SUMMER. ALIVE INTERVIEWED FRONTMAN BRAD DRING IN THE LEAD UP TO THEIR SLOT AT CLOUD FESTIVAL.

Rapture Ruckus are excited to be coming home to play at the debut of Cloud Festival in January 2015. Frontman Brad Dring says it feels great to be part of something new. “We are most excited about performing for our New Zealand family. We spend so much our time overseas touring, we get so amped when we know we’ve got a NZ show coming up and we want to make it as amazing as possible.” He is also looking forward to seeing many acts at Cloud including Andy Mineo, Tedashi, Soulglow, Newsboys, Leeland and The Ember Days. “Dude you have no idea, there are SO many killer acts at this festival. “All amazing artists and great friends, can’t wait to hang out with them at a show in our ‘hood for once.” The band signed with Parachute in 2004 after stunning the festival by becoming biggest selling debut act the event had seen, and now over ten years later he says their growth as well as performing to bigger crowds, creating better music and selling more records helps keep the “creative fire” burning. “But I think the thing that keeps us on the road and in the studio more than anything else is the conversations we have with fans at shows, the messages we receive via our Facebook and email.

“Hearing first hand how your music/art is affecting people in a positive way, being reminded that our songs are as important to someone as our favorite songs are to us, that’s enough to inspire me to keep working hard for another 10 years easy.” He thinks music is still the major influence in fashion and shaping pop culture, and now with social media, artists have a direct line to communicate with their fans. “Artists have the opportunity and the power to affect and shape the world view of their listeners. I think people need to remember that sometimes art is just that - art - and can be interpreted in many different ways. Like everything in life you need to use your filter to determine what you let influence and shape your beliefs and world view.” The band shifted 8000 miles away to Nashville, USA in early 2013 and within that time the kiwis have picked up nominations at the 2014 Dove Christian Music Awards for the Rap/Hip-Hop Song ‘Head Held High’ and album ‘Invader’. They didn’t take out either award but it adds another accolade to the list of achievements for the band. Brad says the greatest thing he will take away from his time doing Rapture Ruckus is the amazing friends they have made on their journeys. “We have met some amazing people and formed many incredible relationships with people from all over the world. And the best part is we’ve had our families along for the journey with us.” Rapture Ruckus play at Cloud Festival, QBE Stadium in Auckland, January 24 Jan. Tickets available from cloud-festival.co.nz and on sale now. Thanks to Brad Dring and Jono Scarlet for their help in the process of doing this story!

FESTIVAL | SPECIAL

paper cranes

Alive editor greta yeoman caught up with fraser browne from auckland-based folk band paper cranes ahead of their festival one slot.

The Paper Cranes are looking forward to playing at Festival One. One of the core duo of the folk band, Fraser Browne, said the festival, which debuts this summer, sounds quite fun. “It’s interesting to be part of something new.” He thought Festival One would be different from Parachute, the christian music festival, which had run for the previous 24 years

in the same location and timeframe. “When we were talking to them we had the same question.” He described it as “its own beast.” Paper Cranes is made up of Naomi and Fraser Browne, with other members joining them from time to time. “It started in 2012 as just Naomi and I.” “I guess we had started it as a duo and after recording we put together a band.”

The band name was inspired by Naomi’s background, as she grew up in Japan, so they began by writing “Japanese folk”. Fraser said they had wanted to just have the band name as the Japanese characters, (which translate to ‘paper cranes’), but they decided it would be a bit hard to find so added the English translation to the front. He said that he was looking forward to watching Switchfoot,

FESTIVAL | SPECIAL

Late Night Poets and Halfnoise at Festival One. “I’ve met Zac from Halfnoise before and he’s an awesome guy.” Fraser also said they would be changing up their set-list for the festival. “We’ve been writing quite a few songs over the last six months so we will probably play some of those. “It will probably be quite different from what people have heard before.” He said he really likes both gigs and festival slots. “Local gigs are great - really intimate. You sort of get to know people.” He said it was obviously “really fun” playing to a bigger crowd

“It will probably be quite different from what people have heard before.” too. “Festivals are always so much fun - a whole weekend with a bunch of friends.” Fraser has “quite a few” highlights from his time in Paper Cranes. “I really love being part of this band. “I really love the recording process - seeing the songs come to life. “I guess the highlights would be the few things we’ve released.” On the topic of releases, Paper Cranes are hoping release a debut album in early 2015 to follow

up their 2012 EP, “Oh, Love”. The album, The Road Home, is about travelling and everything that adventure brings: excitement and alienation, homesickness and new friendships, getting lost and re-finding yourself. And how you feel when you make your way home. The album is planned for release February 27, 2015. Fraser is looking forward to getting on the road again to tour the album. “I want to tour quite a few dates.” He also hopes for more recording in the future.

“We don’t want to alienate people with our music. We don’t want to exclude anyone who doesn’t have particular beliefs, but I guess at the same time we don’t want to alienate christians.” RELEASES

“I’ve already started writing some more songs - so you never know, there might be more to come.” He talked of their earthquake memorial songs released in February this year. “These songs were quite different from a lot of other material, we just recorded them for ourselves and for friends in Christchurch.” They were initially “more of a personal thing” but after friends in Christchurch kept asking when they were going to be properly recorded, they finally released Solid Ground (for Christchurch) and Love, Spread Your Wings (for Jap-

anese earthquake/tsunami) on Februrary 22. He said there was never any thought of pushing them for radio because they were so personal, they were trying to do something that was more of a gift for their friends in Christchurch. “I’m really gutted I haven’t been down there to play.” Fraser is also wary of the connotations of the title of being a “christian band”. “We don’t call ourselves a “christian band” as I think that’s got a range of issues with it - which I’m happy to talk about, though Naomi and I are christian.” We discussed this comment, and he suggested everyone has their own belief or background. “We don’t want to alienate people with our music. We don’t want to exclude anyone who doesn’t have particular beliefs, but I guess at the same time we don’t want to alienate christians. “Our music didn’t have a particular christian flavour or lyrical content, we just like to see it as music for whoever wants it. “No music has been baptised. “Music is for everyone.” MORE DETAILS Auckland-based band Paper Cranes play at Festival One at Mystery Creek, Hamilton over Auckland Anniversary weekend, January 2015. They are also planning on releasing their debut album early 2015, with EP ‘Oh, Love’ available online and in hard copy now.

All available from lovepapercranes.bandcamp.com

Oh, Love - Paper Cranes debut EP

Little Darling - single

Solid Ground & Love, Spread Your Wings - memorial songs

FESTIVAL | SPECIAL

summer of fun

Want some live music over summer? We compiled a list of some of the top music festivals around this fine country. Better book your tickets now and read carefully, many fall on the same weekend.

CLOUD FESTIVAL Cloud Festival is a one-day music christian festival at QBE Stadium in Auckland. Promoting itself as “unashamedly all about Jesus”, the event, debuting this summer, boasts a stellar line-up of acts worldwide. Acts include Hillsong Young & Free, newsboys, Rapture Ruckus, The Soorleys and Strahan. The festival is to be held on Saturday 24 January 2015, with tickets on sale now and selling fast. 26 artists, 1 day, 3 stages. Their website reads “Imagine thousands of people gathering with no agenda, no gimmicks, and no signups, but with one purpose: to get together and praise the Creator”. FESTIVAL ONE Replacing Parachute as the leading multi-day christian music festival in NZ, Festival One runs from January 24-26, 2015 at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton. The line-up includes Switchfoot, Gungor, Halfnoise, Guvna B, Auckland-based folk act Paper Cranes and many others. Priding itself on community the whole site plans to stop for lunch and dinner, so there’s no rushing to grab food and head to the next act. They describe the music as “Artists who love their craft, and who are passionate about their faith. Worship in many forms”.

RHYTHM AND ALPS Rhythm and Alps is held in the Cardrona Valley on December 30-31 2014. Based down the south of the South Island R&A is R18 and runs until the early hours of January 1, 2015 (bringing in the New Year). The line-up features Bastille, kiwis Shapeshifter and Christchurch-based electronic act Doprah among many others.

ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL Laneway returns to Auckland’s Silo Park on Monday 26 January boasting a gorgeous line-up of acts. Angus & Julia Stone, Courtney Barnett, St Vincent, Belle and Sebastian and kiwi folk act Tiny Ruins are some of those performing on the day. The festival is strictly R18 and at $144.80 per ticket for the day, it’s one of the more pricier festivals however Laneways hosts festivals worldwide and is renowned for picking popular and up-and-coming acts. RHYTHM AND VINES Don’t worry we haven’t made a mistake. Rhythm and Alps and Rhythm and Vines are two separate festivals. Rhythm and Vines is to be held in Gisborne (North Island equivalent of Rhythm & Alps) from December 29 2014 to the early hours of January 1, 2015 (another New Years). The line-up includes Bastille, Holly Arrowsmith, P-Money, Yumi Zouma (kiwis currently taking over the world, they recently played support on Lorde’s NZ tour), and many others. Like its sister/brother festival entrance to R&V is R18, however there is also a R20 restriction to the onsite campground.

KAIKOURA SUMMERSOUNDS A couple of hours north of Christchurch is a growing festival with a great line-up of NZ acts and further abroad. Kaikoura will play host to the Summersounds festival January 17-18, 2015. Campers, who must be over 18 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, will be welcomed onto the site with a traditional powhiri. The music includes Kora, Tiki Taane, AHoriBuzz (frontman Aaron Tokona plays wicked guitar), The Nudge, Tali, Apollo Suite, One Waka and many others. THE WINERY TOUR 2015 The Winery Tour has been going since 2007, touring the country’s wineries with a great line-up of kiwi acts. The 2015 tour sees Dave Dobbyn & Don McGlashan headlining along with Anika Moa and Supergroove (who were recently inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame). The quartet of acts, who have written many kiwi classics, will take on nine wineries around the country on weekends. The tour runs from Sat 24 January at Mills Reef in Tauranga to wind-up at Waipara Hills just out of Christchurch on Saturday 28 February.

THE SOORLEYS

Everyone’s favourite family folk band are back this side of the Ditch this summer. ALIVE caught up with Beth Gleeson in the lead-up to The Soorleys’ slot at the debut of Cloud.

Aussie folk band The Soorleys aren’t your average act. Their family connection ties the band together. The four girls are sisters; Beth Gleeson, Shell (Michelle Johnson), Laura Robertson and Millie (Amelia Robertson).

Chris Gleeson (who Beth describes as “the bearded man”) is married to Beth and Sam Johnson (“the blonde beauty”, says Beth) is married to Shelley. Chris’ brother Nick Gleeson and the band’s adopted brother Matt Wilesmith are also in the band.

“It’s a crazy time when we travel in close proximity, as you can imagine.” Their family connection also extends to the band name, with Soorleys being the girls’ mother’s maiden name. “It’s of Irish descent. It’s a

“We can’t wait to play at Cloud. Seriously, we LOVE New Zealand. You guys have supported our tunes and we feel so welcome every time we visit.”

pretty rare surname over here and there’s actually only about six Soorleys left.” Beth says the fact that they are a family band, rather than the usual if bandmates being just mates, is something they have talked about a lot.

“It’s cool in one sense, because you tend to be brutally honest with each other, but it’s not so cool on the other-hand because you tend to be so brutally honest.” She said while they love each-other dearly and are best friends they also fight. Frequently. The family band began “officially in 2012”. “We did our first proper gig at Parachute Festival, actually. The folks were kind enough to let us nobodies in NZ.” Beth said they had such a good time they decided to keep playing together. Since then Parachute has taken them under their wing, managing the band and also supporting them through their Artist Development scheme. They even released their debut, self-titled EP at Parachute in 2014. Beth says they are beginning to record a new record around the time this goes to print. “[We are] so excited to be working with genius Kiwi producer again, the delightful Nic Manders.” She says though the EP unfortunately won’t be ready for Cloud they will definitely be playing a few of the tracks in their set at the festival. “We can’t wait to play at Cloud. Seriously, we LOVE New Zealand. You guys have supported our tunes and we feel so welcome every time we visit.” The Soorleys can’t wait to see some of their “faves” at Cloud, including Tigertown, Hillsong Young and Free, New Empire, Rapture Ruckus and Leeland. When asked how she finds the New Zealand music scene

compared to Australia’s Beth says they love to Kiwi scene. “It’s refreshing to find a bunch of people not concerned with what’s “trending” musically, but more what feels and sounds good from a live perspective.” “We love you kiwis.” Their connection with NZ runs deeper than just performing. Their song Home, which they have recently released a music video for, was written while in the country. “We wrote Home in this dodgy hostel in Auckland CBD.” Beth says they had been at Parachute are having a great but then they all got sick and tired and ready to go home. “The whole message of the song is that sometimes the best part about going somewhere is coming home.”

“It’s cool in one sense, because you tend to be brutally honest with each other, but it’s not so cool on the other-hand because you tend to be so brutally honest.” As for her three favourite things about this country? “The music scene, the DeJong family [who run Parachute Music] and Coffee Supreme (we love coffee!)” In terms of their approach songwriting as such a large band Beth says Sam does most of it, writing a lot of the hooks, and then Chris and Beth might also add ideas and lyrics. “We then take it to the whole band to arrange and ‘Soorlify’ the whole thing, as we like to call it.”

Beth says her favourite Soorleys song is Huck Finn, which they wrote about a young friend of the band who passed away a few years ago. “He was a bit of a creative adventurer. We called it Huck Finn because we felt it described him well; and we figure there’s no adventure like eternity.” As an upbeat-folk-song-writing, on-stage-dancing, multi-vocalist-singing act Beth says life with the band is never boring and there is always something happening. “The best thing about playing

“It’s refreshing to find a bunch of people not concerned with what’s “trending” musically, but more what feels and sounds good from a live perspective.”

with eight people is the energy on stage at a live show. It always feels good, always someone to vibe off.” And as for their plans for the coming year? Well they’ve got their second EP coming out, which they hope to tour in Australia and further abroad, and a visit to Nashville is also in the pipeline. “Big plans are ahead.” Thanks to Beth Gleeson, Laura Robertson and Mark de Jong for their help in the process of doing this story!

OPINION | SECTION

Why I prefer non-christian Music BY ALIVE EDITOR GRETA YEOMAN

I often question myself over my musical choices. Am I wrong for liking this music? No. Whoever said that ending a song on E Minor makes it “the Devil’s music”, I will laugh at you. Now, I have to point out before this goes any further, I do actually like Christian music. Strahan, Satellite and Parachute Band are some of my favourites. I just get a bit cynical about it. When the cliches are used over and over again, and you can learn short songs quickly so “you can forget about the lyrics and ‘just worship’”, the meaning has left the song. I was discussing the power of music with a friend of mine the other day. He said many people don’t understand the power of music, that it’s just another thing they absorb and use. I understand people loving ‘christian music’ (as much as I can’t stand that term, I feel like it is required to make this point). But I think there’s too much guilt

put on people for their musical choices; that you are a ‘bad Christian’ for not listening to worship music. I don’t believe this is the case at all. It is a stupid mindset, that the secular world is producing “bad” music. This is not the truth (besides if you listen to Top 40 pop music, but that’s just terrible either way). I think, actually, if you listened to the lyrics in many non-Christian songs, you would discover people share many similar beliefs minus sharing a faith. Non-Christians do actually believe in things such as faith, hope and love. I think we need to stop the guilt over our musical choices and just enjoy the music we like. In saying that, however, we need to remember that as music is a very powerful thing and that it DOES affect you. Listen to the music by people you feel share your beliefs and thoughts. That doesn’t necessarily mean your faith, just the things you think about. The hopes and dreams and truths you have. And don’t feel guilty. A new worship song filled with cliches and meaningful but meaningless lyrics will not always do better things for your head, heart and relationship with God. For example, my second favourite band is Luckless. Often just a solo project of atheist Ivy Rossiter, her nonfaith does not make her songs bad. Besides our beliefs about God, we do share many similarities, and I deeply connect with her music. Treat music much like your friends. You will not have all Christian friends, but you can still connect for other reasons than your faith with them, yes? Try that tactic with your music.

OPINION | SECTION

YOU DON’T HAVE TO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING BY ALIVE EDITOR GRETA YEOMAN

They say you should never mix politics and religion. But the analogy of a political party has helped me a lot in thinking things over with my faith recently. I struggled, feeling like a hypocrite, for “selective” belief. That because I didn’t agree with or believe particular sections of the Bible as literal, I was somehow less of a Christian, that as a Christian you need to believe every single part of the Bible to call yourself one. WRONG.

But treat your faith like a political party for a moment... If you’re over 18 and voted in the recent election, could you seriously answer me and say you liked and agreed with everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, the party you voted for stands for? Probably not right? And what if you treated your beliefs like a relationship/friendship. Do you always agree with every single statement your friend makes? Probably

not either. But that doesn’t mean you love them any less, or respect them any less. You’ll still talk to them. Still take advice from them. People interpret things differently. If you gave five people the same book to read, they’d all probably find different strong messages in the story. Next time you find yourself getting frustrated at someone’s beliefs, just remember they are their beliefs. I always treat sermons with cautions. Certainly,

sides. So instead, I prayed blessings. I prayed for peace and understanding amidst the confusion and chaos. I prayed for those of you who somehow (despite our honestly best efforts), felt betrayed. For all who were berated. That’s the thing about sides – it is so very hard to see the other when a massive gulf lay between. Both sides declaring “right-ness,” both sides stating a case but are we really listening to each other? So I prayed anger would subside; that Michael and I would lay down our desire for ammunition, and others would as well. I prayed for love. I prayed we would be one.

they make me think and question things (as they should) but I constantly say to myself ‘this is how they’ve interpreted the passage/ story/idea’. I’m a bit of cynic over out-of-context Bible verses. Tip to get around that? Read the whole passage around said verse to get more of a context. Work out what you believe from the idea, what your thoughts are on the topic. Gungor frontman Michael Gungor has come to strife recently

over blog he posted years ago. It recently came into the spotlight again, and he and wife Lisa endured plenty of criticism and backlash over revelations they do not see the story of creation as a literal event. People were up-in-arms, discrediting their thoughts, their interpretations. My favourite comment was a blog Lisa posted on their website a few days after the furor which read: “I realized God was not on my side…nor was He on “their” side. He was around and within all

I am all for working out our beliefs and theology, delving into the debate, I believe we move forward into truth when we do so. This is not about squelching the discussion. But I am not for hateful and sarcastic remarks…on either side. Berating people doesn’t help, it only hurts and loads another gun. Church history is jam packed with splits, new denominations, walls in and around and between. And it keeps happening. But unity doesn’t come by accident. It’s a choice we must eventually make. Unity isn’t us all believing the all the exact same dogma. It is loving each other over and above our differences.” Next time you hear an idea, consider it. What’s YOUR translation. Just because you believe something doesn’t mean the other person is wrong, it just means you don’t believe it the same way they do. And that’s fine. The things that cause divisions should not, it should be our belief in God and Jesus that can unite us. To quote JK Rowling, “we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided”.

25 Irrational (or maybe they are rational) Things I love about Travelling 1. Going to the middle of nowhere. 2. Like really- the middle of nowhere. 3. Being the only one on a bus. 4. Lying down on the backseat of the bus. 5. People looking at me funny for either: 6. Wearing bare feet (you can’t even wear bare feet- why do we say that?) 7. Or taking pictures in the middle of the street 8. Or for going to the middle of nowhere. 9. Making duvet nests on Hostel room floors. 10. Drinking wine when everyone else is drinking Guinness. 11. Getting Calzone for myself and carrying the box like a noob. 12. Walking along the tops of walls/bridge rails. 13. Bare feet on beaches. 14. Getting to pull the ‘I’m a Kiwi’ card. 15. Americans. Specifically Americans with cows, fish and chips and/or chips. 16. The look on people’s faces when I say I’m from New Zealand. 17. Having to explain I don’t like rugby- oh wait that’d get me murdered in NZ too, not just Ireland. Oops. 18. Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream. 19. Not knowing where I’m going next. 20. Abbeys and graveyards. Ruined or not. 21. Everyone apologising for the weather. 22. Church people are just dears. 23. The fact that I can’t stay out of bookshops even though I have no room or weight in my suitcase. 24. Having a waterproof pack. 25. The Shetland Island accent.

EVONNE KEY (ARROWTOWN) Evonne Key is a columnist and writer for ALIVE. She is currently travelling the world and describes herself as a “fruit freak, a name nerd, a wordsmith, a languagenut, a fangirl and sometimes an introvert. I have Obsessive Compulsive Daydreming Doodling Disorder and I can’t sit still to save myself unless it’s to play sleeping lions. I am writing a book which I can’t explain in one sentence very easily.” The photos below are from her travels.

what a year it has been

OPINION | SECTION

Although the student life in Wellington is winding down, the streets and shops are by no means quiet- it’s the kind of place that bustles 365 days of the year. While holding onto its identity as the city with weather that can never make up its mind, we’re enjoying blasts of sunshine between the rainy days, with gelato in the sun and walks along the waterfront with friends. Oriental Bay remains a prime Summer destination, and a few crazy cats are even braving the ocean water on those gorgeous days, though I have to say I’m content on the sidelines until it’s a bit warmer! As we’re coming into the final month of twenty-fourteen, it’s hard not to reflect on the year that has been. And what a whopper it was! One of my highlights of this year in Wellington has been getting involved in Breakfast Club through Arise Church. Every Tuesday morning, we meet out at Windley School in Cannons Creek and serve the kids there breakfast before school. It has been an absolute pleasure to see the kids there grow, become more confident, and even see many of them attending church with us. That is one thing that I will hugely miss as school is out over Summer, but I can’t wait to get back next year and hang out with the kids again. And so, my challenge for the readers of ALIVE, is to consider what it is you are most thankful for, and what your highlights have been from 2014. Be grateful in life, and you’ll consistently live in a place of joy. ANNA GREENWOOD (WELLINGTON) Hey! I’m Anna, and I’m a first year student at Victoria University of Wellington, majoring in International Relations. I attend Arise Church here in Wellington, I am passionate about people, and I’m blessed with an incredible family and beautiful friends. I love to spend time with the people I love, read, play netball, ride horses, travel, and get out in God’s creation. I believe that God has called us to something special, and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do through the young people of this nation.

TIME TO EXHALE

Auckland is lying low. It is as though we are on lockdown; those burdened by exams are tucked deep into their books, and those already on vacation it seems will not step out until the sun makes the first move. Those that are older still are growing quieter with the fatigue that a year of hard work brings, and those still working are head-down, as though it will make the Christmas season arrive more quickly. The whole city feels like it is holding its breath. There is a moment, between a jump and a splash, of bated tension tied up with anticipation of immersion in the water. There is a moment, between a song’s hook and drop of the bass, of pause and of wait. The fraction of time between the lighting of the firework and the outpouring of light and colour that follows, is both short, and endless - as time always is when we wait, - and the sliver of opportunity that exists between a final bid and the drop of a gavel is one that we may relate to – because of this sense, of possibility at the fingertips. My city, like a dormant volcano, is rumbling away with the sound that mundane duty emits, but in a moment, we will be prioritising other things. Every summer, the country is revived as we shrug off stress, academic standard and relentless meeting of goals. And soon, Auckland, with a mighty exhale, will, I think, forget for a time what a deadline feels like.

NICOLA FROUD (AUCKLAND)

Hey all, Nicola here! I’ve been set apart as the one Aucklander in the team so far. I’ve lived in the big smoke all my life, and it’s fabulous – $12 hourly carparks and all – but give me mountains any day! I’m a first-year student at Auckland Uni and it seems that I spend the rest of my time on public transport, but I also manage to squeeze in youth, music, reading, babysitting and rock-climbing, thank goodness. Nicola is also the deputy editor of ALIVE.

OPINION | SECTION

it’s a new year resolution

THE HISTORY OF NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS ARE FRAUGHT WITH UNACHIEVABLE GOALS, GOOD INTENTIONS AND FAILED PLANS. ALIVE’S DEPUTY EDITOR, NICOLA FROUD, LOOKED AT THE TRADITION AND SOME IDEAS YOU COULD ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH.

These days I don’t bother with resolutions – each year it is simply to Pray More – I’m pretty shocking Drink More Water – I drink hardly anything Get More Sleep – I was born nocturnal Start Running – As though that’s going to really happen Meet Deadlines Early To prove my point, I’m writing this a day before submission, and to give my dog more full-attention – and less half-attention, or absent-minded attention. And so begins the year, heavily timetabled and all things scheduled properly around each other, me, running (!) in the mornings and forcing water down my throat. Give it a week, and I soon settle back to what is comfortable – doing things at the last minute and drinking juice instead! These resolutions are pretty standard and mundane I’m sure – but interesting, that for someone who loves achieving goals, these have long proven so impossible. We tell ourselves we can only enjoy organisation, - and there is merit in it, but I encourage each to live how works best for them. We could all use goals to improve our spiritual, mental and physical health, but there is also a space for acknowledging the way we

“We could all use goals to improve our spiritual, mental and physical health, but there is also a space for acknowledging the way we were made.”

were made – reserved or outspoken, tidy or messy, linguistic or artistic – and living in a manner fit for each of our purposes. That encompasses closeness with God, in order to fulfil that purpose, and I guess that goes to say that praying more will always be a good resolution to make. I guess I’ll prioritise Him in the New Year.in order to fulfil that purpose, and I guess that goes to say that praying more will always be a good resolution to make. I guess I’ll prioritise Him in the New Year. Actually, I guess I should start before 2014 slips away.

gently shake the wolrd, with fair trade

KEEN BEANS Each and every day, many of us wake up to a morning ritual, if not fall into a morning or arvo tea pattern (or any other time) of pouring a caffeine-filled cuppa of ‘black gold’ into a cup to feed our ‘deprived’ bodies. Or if you’re like me, you potentially spend far too much time & money at a local café. Coffee is said to have been discovered in Ethiopia, where travellers or farmers noticed the effects on the birds/goats as they chomped on some coffee berry goodness (depending on which legend you want to believe). And today Ethiopia continues to be a key producer of coffee world-

wide, with its well known Harar, Yirgacheffe and Sidamo varieties being one of its key exports. In the beautiful lands of Aotearoa New Zealand, it can be easy to dismiss where things come from, and that there are many ‘hands’ involved in getting things such as coffee (or tea, or chocolate) to us, in such a globalised world. But where things originate is something we as consumers need to remember. Now I’m not saying you need to know & understand each and every part of the process, but you, as a consumer, who is inadvertently voting each and every time you spend your precious dollar, has a

“As they say ‘life is too short to be drinking bad coffee.’ I think that’s as true of the quality of the product as much as the process of getting the coffee itself.” responsibility to the life that you are choosing. For yourself and therefore those who produced the product. Fair Trade (two words) speaks

of the wider movement – like ‘Love,’ this international movement is interpreted in different ways in different cultures & contexts, and has a distinct set of values around it (these can be found via feeding “Fair Trade Principles” into our trusty friend Google). Most people, when they hear ‘Fair Trade’ probably think

“But I have to consider: what is one moment in my lifetime to ask a question (& perhaps discomfort), versus someone elses life?” about ‘Fairtrade’ (yes that space makes all the difference) and the “ying-yang man” commonly found on various products such as tea, coffee and chocolate. Or perhaps you’ve seen it on cotton, sports balls and other items. This logo is ‘Fairtrade Certified’ – which is more like the Heart Foundation Tick, a logo which represents the producer, and that the product meets a set of criteria that ensures fair payment, an environmental responsibility, and a few other values of the Fair Trade Principles. When you are out and about, in a café or shopping centre it can be pretty tricky to know whether or not you’re being ethical. As they say ‘life is too short to be drinking bad coffee.’ I think that’s as true of the quality of the product as much as the process of getting the coffee itself. Fair Trade as a whole, encourages much about the ways in which we are called to live as followers of Christ, as Jesus teaches us through the gospels - to support

the most disadvantaged, provide fair payment and good working conditions, good relationship and partnership, treat people equally and with respect, empower & equip, environmental sustainability, etc. Key kingdom values. Whether it be Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, Direct

and doing the ‘right’ thing as a consumer becomes more part of everyday life. So find out about your coffee, or hot beverage of choice when you are doing the grocery shop, or in a café. Ask questions, be curious enough to discover the story behind the product. Don’t be afraid to be in some hard spaces,

Places to check out: Dunedin: The Good Earth Cafe Christchurch: Addington Coffee Co-op, Switch Espresso (New Brighton), Underground Coffee Company Wellington: Peoples, Lamason, The Hangar Hamilton: Milk & Honey Cafe Auckland: Kokako, Wolfe & Federal, General: Trade Aid, Fairtrade (FLO), World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO), Conscious Consumers

Trade, Ethical Trade, ‘cool’, ‘awesome’ or whatever, labels are hard enough as it is and although I give merit to the various labels I always try to purchase through a lense of the Fair Trade Principles, which get me to wrestle with: “Where did that product come from?” “Do the retailers know anything about the producers, and care about them?” “Are they caring for the people and the environment in the best way possible?” Sure enough this takes a bit of effort and energy, and if you’re like me, you may occasionally dabble in the comforts of conflict-avoidance as you don’t like to be that ‘difficult customer.’ But I have to consider: what is one moment in my lifetime to ask a question (& perhaps discomfort), versus someone elses life? And although it may take some time to do the research – the decision of where to go for that ethical cuppa gets easier,

because sometimes that is exactly what our faith calls us into. Use each moment, and every cuppa, as Gandhi said “In a gentle way, you can shake the world” all for the better.

KAREN “KAZ” YUNG IS A FAIRTRADE ENTHUSIAST AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CHANGE-MAKER. KAZ LIVES IN WELLINGTON AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE PREVIOUS ISSUE OF ALIVE, WRITING FOR THE SOCIAL JUSTICE FEATURE.

A RETURN TO

DIGNITY Watoto co-founder Marilyn Skinner was in NZ recently to promote her book Return To Dignity. Greta Yeoman caught up via phone with the woman at the forefront of social change in Uganda.

“Uganda’s greatest resource is women waiting to be empowered.”

Marilyn Skinner’s voice portrays her passion for the people of Uganda. She and husband Gary founded Watoto Child Care Ministries 20 years ago, in response to the overwhelming number of orphaned children and vulnerable women in Uganda due to war and disease. Marilyn said they had originally headed to Uganda to set-up a church in the city of Kampala (which is now thriving) but when AIDS hit the African nation they set up Watoto in response. Out of that has come Project Gulu, a programme helping former child

soldiers, and Living Hope, a project to restore the dignity of vulnerable Ugandan women. “Uganda’s greatest resource is women waiting to be empowered.” Living Hope has seen 4000 women in its five-year existence, with 3000 having graduated from the project so far. Many of the women were girls abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the 90’s, who were horrifically abused or made into child soliders. Marilyn said Living Hope has taught women to read and write,

care for themselves and build a life for themselves and their families. She said empowering and equipping women is critical to the development of Africa. “Africa is starved for development.” She said women in the western world, and especially in New Zealand, have amazing freedom. “You can tend to think the whole world lives like that.” She reiterated however that women all around the world are oppressed, especially in Uganda. “The greatest challenge of Africa’s future is their treatment of women.”

So she set up Living Hope and from that has now released a book, Return to Dignity, detailing eight stories of women who have come through the project. “I believe everybody’s story is a gift to the world.” She wanted the stories to be told, but the women have no voice for themselves. So she wrote the book for them and people around the world. “[I wrote the book] to encourage other people around the world to not lose hope when circumstances come into your life that you can’t figure out.” Some of the women in the book were former child soldiers or have had husbands die from AIDS and their villages, instead of supporting them, threw them out. But through Watoto and Living Hope they can find a hopeful life again, in knowing God and their own purpose and dreams in life. She said one of her favourite stories was of Prossy, a former child soldier who was abducted at 9 years old and given as a sex slave to an LRA leader.

Marilyn’s book Return to Dignity tells that at only 10 years Prossy was repeatedly raped, sometimes all night long, by a 50-year-old lieutenant Acam Kwe. The book reads, “and deep inside her, in a place that was not physical, a place that could not be touched or caressed, she was torn and changed forever. A seed was planted, and as it grew it became a memory of violence and violation. She had become to herself, nothing. And so she embraced bitterness and hatred.” After repeated abuse Acam Kwe’s wives were furious at the way he abused her so went to complain, to find Acam already laying a complaint that Prossy was disrespecting him and refusing to become his wife. The commanders used her as an example calling the entire rebel camp together and selecting five boys from the gathered crowd to gather 200 sticks. They then made them lie down and bet each boy with a stick until it broke. The commanders then instructed to do the same to Prossy with every stick left. After enduring a whole night of

repeated rape her battered body couldn’t take it any longer. She passed out. The commanders had a theory that the abuse would make her stronger as a soldier. Eventually she was taught to use a gun and killed to defend herself against an enemy soldier. She was also sent to abduct other children. Prossy escaped the LRA at age 18, after nine years in captivity, and was rescued by the Sudanese army. She found herself as a single mother and angry, ashamed but desperate, she turned up at Watoto Church where Living Hope were offering assistance. 10,000 women turned up to Watoto and the staff at Living Hope realised the need for supporting LRA escapees, women with HIV and single mothers was far greater than they had realised. They could only able to help 1000 in the first intake but Prossy was seen as one of the most vunerable so she was one of the first into the programme. Prossy now manages at the Living Hope Centre and recently fulfilled her biggest goal.

She had a dream of telling her story to people in English. Marilyn said she recently achieved her dream by speaking at the 30th anniversary of Watoto Church in Uganda. “She has truly returned to dignity.” The future holds a lot for Watoto and their connected projects. Marilyn and Gary began Watoto in 1994, now 20 years on their plans for helping the wartorn and disease-worn nation continue. “We’re going to be focusing more on women and children. We want to start to build schools for these women’s children.” She said that God has a special place in his heart for widows

“Faith is not seeing things the way they are but the way they could be.” and orphans. According to UN Aids 2014 Fact Sheet there were around 23-26 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa last year. 58% of these people living with HIV are women. The 2009 Fact Sheet said there were over 14 million children orphaned by HIV/ AIDS in Africa. Marilyn’s husband and Watoto co-founder, Gary, quotes on their website that he was reminded of a verse from the book of James when a visit to an AIDS widow, who had lost her husband and seven children to the disease, led them to begin Watoto. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and

faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27 NIV.)” Marilyn also talked of out-sourcing employment from western nations,

commenting that much of it is sent to India or China, “why not Uganda?” “[We are] wanting to step up some employment opportunities.” Watoto’s mission is to rescue, raise

“She has truly returned to dignity.” and rebuild. Their website reads their purpose is to “rescue an individual, raise each one as a leader in their chosen sphere of life, so they in turn will rebuild their nation.” Watoto, in its 20 years, has helped many widows and orphaned children from HIV/AIDS, set up Project Gulu to rescue child soldiers, sent choirs of children around the world singing songs of worship to crowds of hundreds and alongside artists such as Chris Tomlin, set up Living Hope and now they have Marilyn’s book Return To Dignity. So how did they narrow down the stories of over 3000 women that have been through Living Hope to choose 8 for the book? “I know the ladies because I’m there on ground.” Her daughter is also a journalist and helped her decide on the stories. She said working at Watoto with such a need can become “overwhelming” and “discouraging” but she focuses on the people she is able to help. “I learned that you can’t help everyone but I’m going to help everyone I can the best I can.” She described working at Watoto like faith. “Faith is not seeing things the way they are but the way they could be.” “He picks up the poor out of the dirt...” she says, quoting Psalm 113:7. “I literally see that verse come to life.” Thanks to Marilyn, Rachael, Patricia, Mary and Caitlin (all from Watoto) who helped in the process of writing this story.

alternative

CHRISTMAS gifts

CHRISTMAS | SPECIAL

gift for life Gift For Life is a fabulous idea for an alternative Christmas gift. Run by TEAR Fund there are also other similar ideas from World Vision and others. Gift For Life offer a number of differently priced gifts but instead of the gift actually going to you, it gives chickens or goats to people around the world, helps people out of trafficking or puts in wells for people. Because really, we don’t need a lot of the things we get for Christmas do we? How about giving your family and friends a gift for life, they start from $5 and whoever you give it to gets a card telling of the gift they’ve given to help someone in the Third World.

photo: http://www.giftforlife.co.nz/

second-hand

Second-hand gifts are always a good option for presents. Never feel like you’re short-changing people on present purchases by not buying new. There are heaps of fantastic purchases on TradeMe and Ebay and also second-hand clothing stores are also fantastic options too. You could also go up a level and make things out of second items. That’s always special. Just don’t hand a gift onto someone they gave to you years ago, otherwise it could end up a bit of a funny situation. The thing with buying second hand is you may get better gifts for a price you can actually afford to buy them at which is pretty cool.

experiences Experiences are a great option for Christmas gifts. Whether it’s a ticket to a gig or music festival, going away on holiday somewhere special or a particular activity, it’s always a really cool idea that you can work to the things that people love doing! Just do a bit of research and find some good places and prices to undertake the particular experience and boom! Just make sure you don’t send someone sky-diving if they’re scared of heights. But doing experiences are a great idea because it lets someone do something they’ve always wanted to do or see a band they’ve only dreamed of watching live.

CHRISTMAS | SPECIAL

food Food is always a good option for a present if you can’t think of what else to get someone. People will always appreciate chocolate (boxes of Favourites are likely a well-known shaped Christmas gift). Make someone their favourite type of cake or some yummy Christmas bikkies. (Just make sure people aren’t allergic to anything in them - but there are heaps of glutin-free recipes around the place).

music

plants

As much as I suggest plants my family will laugh at me (editor Greta) including them on this list. I am well known for having accidentally killed all the plants I have ever “cared” for - I even killed cactuses. However, if you have friends or family members who aren’t prone to killing plants then this is a great Christmas present. Depending where you are around the country, there are a range of potted plants and seeds you could get someone. It’s pretty awesome eating your own beans or tomatoes or even chillies (my sister has a chilli plant she keeps inside).

There’s a little website called www.noisetrade.com. It offers completely free legally free music for download, which is pretty awesome. Sending someone the gift of some music they like would be pretty cool. Noisetrade has a range of musos but they also have a special section for worship music, which is pretty awesome. They also have some e-books for free download, so check out noisetrade now and send some friends some new legally free music this Christmas. Alternatively CDs and iTunes vouchers are also always well recieved.

CHRISTMAS | SPECIAL

the spirit of christmas whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with christmas culture?

CHRISTMAS SEEMS TO COME AROUND SOONER EACH YEAR WITH DECORATIONS APPEARING IN MID-NOVEMBER AND SOMETIMES EVEN OCTOBER. ALIVE SENT DEPUTY EDITOR NICOLA FROUD AND WRITER EVONNE KEY TO LOOK A BIT MORE AT CHRISTMAS AND THE CULTURE AROUND IT. I ask, “What is Auckland up to, playing carols in the mall and pulling out the tinsel … in November?” It riles a few people and confuses most others – but I hardly think there is complaint to be made about a secular country spending more and more time each year gearing toward a celebration of Jesus’ birth. Though they may not know the meaning, or instead, not know the significance of the meaning, how interesting that the name of Christ permeates every lamppost banner, every shop display, and every Farmers ad. It is easy to scold the people of this world for missing the point of Christmas, but we don’t scold a small child for whom the presents are nearly everything, and it’s okay that a three year old’s

“I hardly think there is complaint to be made about a secular country spending more and more time each year gearing toward a celebration of Jesus’ birth.” Christmas revolves around what they are getting and not giving. Like a child, the world tends to focus too narrowly at Christmas time upon the tangible things and the expensive things. But I can’t fault the world for making Christmas about the one thing they’ve been taught it’s about, - can you? God also doesn’t judge people for not having heard the Word, focusing more on the response once it has been heard. Our little wee secular country is not familiar with the significance of the nativity, the joy of the gift that is Jesus, or the necessity of His first coming – so I hardly think our country can be expected to uphold Christian values that are not its own. I don’t adhere to values forced upon me, either. And while I may not condemn, it’s natural that as Christians we struggle to condone the way the world lives. It would jar with us, to condone

CHRISTMAS | SPECIAL anything that belittles Christ and the value of His living on Earth. A child may not be at fault for ignorance, but it’s still something that needs correcting, and that is where we get Christian reminders of Jesus being the Reason for the Season emblazoned in all places. It is truth! But it is also harder to care when you are a non-Christian told it is so - each and every year - to the point of cliché. I would love for our country to discover Christ in a new way, and a fresh way – we all would. Even as Christians, I think the gospel can easily get a little stale if we continually process it in the same way and are unable to extract any new meaning from it. … Imagine if the Israelites had listened more! Listened to the Kings, the Judges and the Prophets … recognised who the baby in the manger was. Jesus

“It is truth! But it is also harder to care when you are a non-Christian told it is so - each and every year - to the point of cliché.” was God’s best idea saved for last, on how to reach us – it is humbling, and it is relieving. If it seems like Jesus is not present in the commercial side of Christmas, it is because by the very nature of what we make it, an inescapable bombardment of push and shove, sale and rush, Jesus cannot be. That is not His nature at all. He is choice, a gentleman, never pushy, never yelling over the still louder shouts of shops and all things commercial. If we’re struggling to hear Him, … we who know Him can’t miss Him for long: His name is signed on every

banner that proclaims the arrival of Christmas. So is Christmas just a date? A celebration confined to the date or something one can celebrate at any time of the month or even year? Everybody has different family traditions, especially when it comes to Christmas. Even different countries celebrate it differently. The obvious difference in this regard depends on what hemisphere you happen to live in. One difference Evonne has noticed in while currently travelling in Europe compared to New Zealand is over here they start Christmas as soon as Halloween finishes. That is- the first of November. Now I don’t know about where you live, but if you play Christmas Carols before December the first in NZ, people will look at you funny. And then family traditions come in. It’s different for everyone. Some people get the tree Dec 1st. Some people, like my family, don’t get the tree till the weekend before Christmas, and in latter years are typically so unorganised most of our Christmas shopping happens in the last four days. Some people celebrate on Boxing Day and do all their shopping in the sales, which is a bit sad when you think about it, that cheap deals are the sole focus of many. Even so, each has a way of celebrating Christmas. And it seems

that the tradition of Christmas is not restricted by season or even day. While travelling in Europe I’ve found ots of people are weirded out by the fact that in New Zealand, it’s summer at Christmas time. To be fair places like Florida don’t really get a winter and therefore their Christmas is warm also, but down under I guess the stereotypical Christmas is the beach and the barbie. In Europe- if you don’t get white Christmas, it’s still going to be colder for the most part. But wherever you are in the world there seems to be one universal tradition. Family. Having the whole family in one place, celebrating,

“So is Christmas- just a date? A celebration confined to the date or something one can celebrate at any time of the month or even year? ” something, anything, each other, together, enjoying a meal together, is a tradition of Christmas itself. One that seems to be international. So we have so far two parts to this traditional celebration we call Christmas. The day, or the events

surrounding Christmas, and the people who make it special. But we are in fact missing one important part of Christmas. One part that perhaps many do not see as important, or if they do they see it covered in a pagan festival, or money and sparkly lights. And yet now we encounter one of those topics that has been talked about so often if we talk about it one more time will anybody really listen? Christ-mas, everyone. Make it about Christ. About our saviour. Ingrained in your other traditions, or solely and wholly about him, on Christmas day or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters is your relationship with Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

STREAMING NOW..... FEATURED VIDEO The featured video is “Community Service Mannequins by Jono and Ben”. (http://youtu.be/RObbPP_Pqh0) The video shows the guys dressing up in morph suits to look like mannequins and then scaring people. I know it will have been online for a while when you read this, but I think it’s fantastic.

in our ears

Brutual Romantic Brooke Fraser nz-born songwriter brooke fraser has taken a leap from her previously acoustic-style songs into pop, techno territory on her fourth album. brutual romantic signals the change for the songwriter, who has classified her first three albums as a trilogy. the first single off the new record, kings and queens, fraser sings “We’ve got a long to go but we got the energy. It took a little while to find reality. We’ve come a long way you know, living inside a dream Waking to find that we are kings and queens.”

When Christmas Comes Kim Walker-Smith kim walker-smith of jesus culture has released her debut christmas album “when christmas comes”. i felt it was necessary to include one christmas album on this issue’s featured albums list. according to an article on hallels. com the 17-track album features many wellknown christmas carols and also includes one original, Tell me the story, written by anthony skinner. the collection of songs include “it’s beginning to look a lot like christmas” and “rudoplh the red-nosed reindeer”.

Up In Smoke Great North

The Territory The Eastern

this album was actually released in may but i just finally got around to purchasing a copy so i thought i would feature it here. the album talks of frontman hayden donnell’s struggle with a fading faith and confronts the often hidden truth of the battle of believing in god. not many albums enter this bracket, they are either aetheistic or worship albums, and that’s why i love it, because it confronts a topic many say they will happily talk about, but in reality do not. one of the best albums of the year.

with a bit of an interesting album cover, christchurch-based band the eastern’s latest album the territory is the band’s fourth album in six years. though they don’t believe in god (i’m pretty sure), they sing and believe in hope and faith and love. this comes through in the territory, songs of hope and stories of people around them, injustices of the world and a whole lotta love. the 15 songs on the album run for no less than 3 minutes each, with many over the 4-minute. This is worth the $20 in hard copy or $17.99 from itunes.

through our eyes

The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies

Paddington

Night At The Museum: Secret of the Tomb

the final chapter of jrr tolkien’s the hobbit hits the big screen in nz on Dec 11. the peter jackson-directed film trilogy comes to an end as bilbo baggins and his dwarven friends continue their quest to reclaim the dwarven kingdom. this film signals the end of the series of films from middle-earth. jackson previously directed the lord of the rings trilogy and then took over directing the hobbit films (which he split from the one book into 3 films). there are no more middle-earth based films to come so with a sad farewell we will leave the shire behind us.

in his red hat and blue coat, paddington bear is a bit of an icon ‘round the world. in his first ever adventure on the big screen the beloved bear travels to london in search of a home. the cast includes the voices of Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Nicole Kidman, including Colin Firth as the voice of Paddington. The film blurb reads “Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he begins to realise that city life is not quite as he imagined - until he meets the kindly Brown family.” But then paddington catches the eye of a museum taxidermist.”

returning to cinemas for the third time, the popular night at the museum series sees larry sent from new york to london for a whole new adventure in museum security. the film is due for release on boxing day. the cast returns from the previous films it seems, including Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan and the late Robin Williams. night at the museum: secret of the tomb will hopefully live up the two previous films or else “dumb-dumb better run run”.

FEATURED APP My friend keeps recommending this app, so I thought I’d share the DVO app with you. It costs a little bit for a subscription but you get beautifully designed bible verses (that you can download as screensavers for your phone) and they accompany daily devotionals. For iPhone’s you do need iOS 7 to get it (so my phone can’t). http://dvo.me/

FROM ONLINE.... If you want to get over a problem, stop talking about it. Your mind affects your mouth, and your mouth affects your mind. - Got Jesus? All those people uninterested in U2 are now mad at U2. As far as we are concerned, it’s an improvement. - Bono Giving up hope on life is like drowning yourself to keep from getting wet. Life is a war, don’t stop fighting. - Lecrae Great things never came from comfort zones

featured social media

This issue’s featured social media account belongs to Avalanche City musician Dave Baxter (http://instagram.com/avalanchecity). His cool photos include #daisytuesday, where he features cute photos of his rabbit Daisy (such as the photo on the left). Dave’s instagram also features photos from his many travels and adventures as a touring folk musician.

- Dale Partridge

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Interested in writing for ALIVE? Contact Greta at alivemagazinenz@gmail.com

BEN

ABRAHAM Across the Tasman hides an Australian secret, in the music of Ben Abraham. The Melbourne-based musician has just released his debut album Sirens, last month, and it features some well-known names. He said the album has proven to be a significant spiritual milestone for his life. “On the one hand I’ve assembled a collection of songs I wrote in my early 20s, but on the other hand I feel more like I’ve just finished a thesis on self-discovery and understanding why I play music.” “For me Sirens is a musical roadmap for the journey I have been on to discover who I am as an artist.” The 13-track album includes guests appearances from Sara Bareilles and Goyte. Ben mentioned working with the ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ songwriter as one of his musical highlights. “The guy’s a genius and he helped me record the vocals for the song Speak.” He also said getting to tour with Sara Bareilles earlier this year was pretty special. “We wrote a song together for my album called ‘This Is On Me’ and she invited me

on during her set to sing it with her. Having her on my album is also a highlight for me - she has a once-in-a-generation voice and I’m so stoked to call her my friend.” The record also features contributions from Gossling, Aussie electronic producer Tim Shiel and, “some of Melbourne’s most talented singer/songwriters”, John Flanagan, Ryan Meeking and Ebony Hare. “It kinda took a village.” Ben has performed at Parachute, including playing at the final festival earlier this year, and he describes New Zealanders as “total legends”. “You guys have such a creative and inspiring music scene - and I love that music seems to have more of a cultural place in your lives. I really don’t know a lot about the scene there but it’s clear that music is such a strong part of your national identity.” As for some of his favourite kiwi acts, he really loves Auckland-based Lydia Cole. “I think she has a very special gift as a songwriter and singer - her voice is so evocative and delicate. I also love that she’s a talented visual artist. That resonates with me because I’m really fascinated by the idea of artists

being multidisciplinary.” He described Luke Thompson as “a world class act” who is also a good friend. “So I’m completely biased.” “Phil Van Der Wel’s EP, O Canada, is gorgeous and Ben Tolich [Mali Mali] has this song called Swims Alone that is a knockout.” Back to his own music, Ben said there were a lot of meanings behind the name of the album, Sirens. “In mythology, sirens were sweet singing maidens who would lure sailors to wreck their ships on rocks. That metaphor is pretty appropriate for my life during the production process and even going as far back as the days when I first started writing these songs.” He said as a creative person there are so many sounds that can distract you from hearing the sound of your own voice. “I feel like I have constantly had to battle those distractions in these early stages of forging my artistic identity.” Ben said even as a young adult, the noise coming at you telling you who you are, who you are not, what you

should do, who you should become - it’s overwhelming. “The voices that open my album represent these sirens and by the last track, when that melodic motif is revisited, the voices are put in their rightful place and ultimately resolved. “For me as a person of faith, it has been about taking the voices and the longing and directing it toward God in the form of a prayer - that’s the only way to make sense of the noise.” He said one of the hardest things about making the album was getting the vocals right. “I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my own singing and I have impossibly high standards for myself.” He did around seven different studio sessions, including two days in Nashville just trying to get the sound of Songbird right. “Even now I think I could have sung it better...but I’d still be recording it today if I didn’t force myself to just step away.” Ben reckons his favourite song he has written would be Songbird, which he wrote for a friend who grew up singing but then became so shy about their voice they would hide their talent. “The song also represents a shift for me where I was finally writing like a true artist rather than just a kid with a guitar who sang introspective songs that read like entries in a diary. I was using my music as a vehicle for another person and I finally had something to say.” “I think Songbird is the moment I crossed over into really feeling like I was a songwriter.”

“FOR ME AS A PERSON OF FAITH, IT HAS BEEN ABOUT TAKING THE VOICES AND THE LONGING AND DIRECTING IT TOWARD GOD IN THE FORM OF A PRAYER.”

#aliveatcloud Going to Cloud Festival? Tag your photos on social media with #aliveatcloud and we will feature them in the Feb/March 2015 magazine!

In world, it means the final link in the Middle Earth train. To join the Hobbit trilogy with the Rings trilogy, to bind up all the facts and loose ends into a smooth transition. For Tolkien’s world is vast and complicated, entire histories written from start to finish. To enter that and at least not try and remedy any loose ends that would be a bit insensitive in my opinion. And so they are going to have to do some fast tying up of loose ends in battle scenes for it to come to some form of accuracy, if not with the books, then at least with the Rings movies. Out of world, it means an end to the grand world of Tolkien on screen, and for the franchise over all. Probably. I can’t predict the future, but song lyrics and titles generally speak in volumes. I haven’t listened to The Last Goodbye yet, I’m planning on waiting till the movie. Partly because I know the radios will overplay it and it will lose some of its charm and impact. But mostly because I’ve always associated the end song of any movie, but particularly Into the West in The Return of the King, with the end of the movie, the end of the WE GOT OUR RESIDENT LORD OF THE RINGS FAN EVONNE KEY visual experience, the end of the TO WRITE ABOUT THE UPCOMING FINALE OF THE HOBBIT. soundtrack, and the end of the story. To listen to it now, would Originally titled ‘There and Back In world, it means the final battle, upset that order. And now I’ve Again’, after the secondary title of or battles, for Bilbo and his friends. heard on the vast expanses of the The Hobbit book, by J. R. R. TolkIt means character development, internet that The Last Goodbye, ien, The Battle of the Five Armies and character death. It means lots is like a tribute. Not only to fans, is Peter Jackson’s third instalment of things in book and out of book. or Peter Jackson, but a tribute in his Hobbit extravaganza and the It means triumph and victory over farewell song to Tolkien himlast instalment in his Middle Earth the dragon only to have the goblins self; the last goodbye for the last journey. come. It means, for book readers, Tolkien movie. Will it be the last This movie has a lot swinging on hopefully a few favourite scenes Tolkien movie? Who knows? But it. The success of the Hobbit movie come to life, and a few plot holes it will be the end of a journey, in general, and it as a trilogy will remedied. For non- book readers, or many journeys really, jourmost likely be judged on this last and all movie goers, it means con- neys that we have travelled, with epic probably-three-hour sitting. clusion from the last cliff hanger, Peter Jackson for over fourteen Not only that, but in world and and it means questions answered, years. Fourteen years. That’s a out of world it is the end of several hopes renewed or sullied depend- long time. So strap yourselves adventures, the last stage in many ing on which characters you swing in, ladies and gentleman, for the a journey. towards. Battle of a Lifetime (I hope).

the hobbit: the battle of five armies

off on holiday SUMMER IS UPON US

ummer is upon us and with those long sunny days and warm evenings there are plenty of wicked things to do and places to go. So weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve compiled a list of some places that people love to visit and things others love to do, so you can get some ideas for your summer travels! Whether as a day trip, weekend adventure or evening activity there are plenty of things to do in this fine country, so try some new places and activities during this sunny season.

Photo: hhttp://www.tineke.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/totaranui.jpg

Wellington

Golden Bay At the north-west corner of the South Island lies Golden Bay. Passing through Takaka on the way to Totaranui, Pohara and other popular beaches and camping sites, the town has a vibrant arts and culture community according to their website, http://www.goldenbaynz.co.nz. Within Golden Bay is the Abel Tasman National Park which offers stunning beaches and winding roads to get there.

“At the north-west corner of the South Island lies Golden Bay.”

Dunedin

“The Otago Peninsula is home to penguins, fur seals and many other wildlife.” Photo: http://judith-cullen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/dunedin.jpeg

Head down south to Dunners this summer. Dunedin is the wildlife capital, according to their official website: http:// www.dunedinnz.com. The Otago Peninsula is home to penguins, fur seals and many other wildlife. Dunedin is home of the Cadbury Chocolate Factory and Otago University. The Otago Rail Trail is a great cycle trip that begins an hour away from Dunedin and take a trip to the popular St Clair beach.

Photo: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Wellington_at_dawn.jpg

Visit the capital city of this country over summer. With plenty cafes and tours of Weta Workshop you could also visit Parliament and take a look around Te Papa. With ferry connections to the South Island and cheap flights in and out of the city, it makes a great weekend getaway. Find out more info on the official Wellington website, http://www.wellingtonnz.com/

Ice-cream

Photo: http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/6300000/Ice-Cream-Cone-Wallpaper-ice-cream-6333735-1024-768.jpg

I asked some people what their favourite summer activities were and one friend said it was getting ice-cream at a shop in Sumner, Christchurch. There are plenty of ice-cream shops around the place, and with more gelato places popping up around the country, there’s heaps of variety around the place. A New Zealand Herald article from February named Giapo in Queen Street the best ice cream shop in Auckland. The $8 cones are apparently worth every cent.

“A New Zealand Herald article from February named Giapo in Queen Street the best ice cream shop in Auckland.”

Photo: http://www.mouthsofmums.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/walking_45_minutes_625x430.jpg

Walking

hat activities do your friends enjoy doing? Make a list between a group of you of activities you enjoy but barely anyone else in your group of mates have tried. Pull a couple out of a hat and take them on over a day or weekend or evening. Try a new sport or activity. Learn some new creative arts. is available for purchase from November 14,

There are a range of fantastic walks around the country, stretching from a couple of hours to full on tramps. The Godley Head walk just out of Christchurch was suggested by one friend, but ask some friends or have a search around for good day walks in your area or places you are visiting.

“Make a list between a group of you of activities you enjoy but barely anyone else in your group of mates have tried.” 57

Nelson Nelson is promoted as the sunniest area in NZ. The town north of the South Island is a popular holiday spot, close by to wonderful beaches and holiday locations. Nelson is close to the Abel Tasman National Park, home to Totaranui and Pohara Top 10 Holiday Park. Find more information at http://www.nelsonnz.com

Photo: http://loganwolfram.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/roadtrip.jpg

Go Tramping Ever heard of the Great Walks? They are some of New Zealand’s best tramping tracks around the country, and they are heaps of fun to do. They range from just a couple of days to longer tramps, all throughout NZ’s stunning back country. (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/great-walks/) There are 9 great walks, most of them in the South Island but also include the North Island with a “Whanganui Journey” and the Tongariro Northern Circuit. Huts range from different prices per night but most often there is a much cheaper price available for tenting. Cross national parks on the Routeburn, wander the sunny Abel Tasman on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track or head far far south to the Rakiura Track which is all the way down by Bluff. Pack your pack, tie up your tramping boots and figure out your list of tramping meals and take a hike this summer.

Photo: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Nelson_New_Zealand.jpg

“Pack your pack, tie up your tramping boots and figure out your list of tramping meals and take a hike this summer.”

Road-trip! Nothing like a road-trip for you and a bunch of mates. Pack up the car, pick your best CDs and travel this fine country by road. Share the journey by giving different people driving times each day. Whether you’ve got a place you’re heading to, such as a festival or holiday spot or just feeling like driving the country, figure out your journey before you begin and hit the road.

Photo: http://www.desktopwallpapers4.me/nature/stars-in-the-sky-15773/

o things differently this summer. Family gathering for Christmas? Change the normal place you have it. Holiday to a different spot. You could play pin the tail on the donkey but use a New Zealand map and then roadtrip to the place it lands on. If you go to the beach all summer, go walking in the hills instead. If you head north for summer usually, head south. Check out the website www. noisetrade.com and download some legally free music. Swap 5 CDs with a friend for a week and discover some new music (and then go buy your own copies yourself). Learn a new sport. Head to your local library and hunt out 3 new books by authors you have never read before (one way to do this is to list your three favourite authors and then find books next to theirs on the shelves). Be a tourist for a day and hunt out some tourist attractions around your town. Learn some new summer recipes and have some friends around for dinner. Find a friend that owns a projector and screen a movie outside somewhere around your house. eFlags. However, she’s done the

“You could play pin the tail on the donkey but use a New Zealand map and then roadtrip to the place it lands on.”

Go Stargazing A friend said her favourite thing to do was to go star-gazing. The only issue with summer is though it is nice and warm, the long days are long and you’ll need to have a bit of a late night to watch the stars. But why not go drive up a nearby hill or to the middle of nowhere and watch the night come in. The St John Observatory down at Tekapo in the South Island offers stunning star-gazing so if you feel like getting further away from the nearby empty spaces, head south (or north if you live in Otago) and visit the Observatory. Or else just get away from the city lights and watch the stars from the empty hills or countryside.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be the change that you wish to see in the world.â&#x20AC;? - Mahatma Gandhi

next issue out february 2015. in the meantime keep an eye out on www.alivenz.wordpress.com for new stories and updates