Acquiescence

Since so many have taken the time
To badger me with such original rhyme
It seems only fair to respond just the same
As I finally now play along with your game
The pressure to say something new or profound
Or witty or funny or future renowned
Has kept me from blogging for fear of rebuff
I don't want to give you a load of old guff
But badger you will, and badger you did,
There's no use resisting - Heaven forbid!
So since it is clear this campaign will persist
'Spose I'd better give you my 7 things list!

7 things to do before I die
1 Finish the race (often feels like I might not make it)
2 Lead someone personally to Christ (preferably family)
3 Learn a language
4 Get a play on Radio 4
5 Go to Iceland (the country, not the frozen food superstore)
6 Make some money making music
7 Learn how to Love People Well

7 things I can't do
1 Remember directions
2 Enjoy small talk
3 Burp on demand (if ONLY!)
4 Any sport of any description
5 Get up on time
6 Do make up
7 Read somewhere where there are people to look at

7 things I say most often
1 Lord, help me
2 How does FE fit into this?
3 I LOVE....
4 I'm not very good at...
5 What is your top 5...
6 Oops!
7 Lush

7 books I love
1 31 Songs - Nick Hornby
2 High Fidelity - Nick Hornby
3 White Teeth - Zadie Smith
4 Search for Intimacy - Elaine Storkey
5 Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers
6 When We Were Very Young - A A Milne
7 She Bop - Lucy O'Brien

7 films I can watch over and over again
1 Dirty Dancing
2 Pretty Woman
3 West Side Story
4 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
5 Fight Club
6 The Sound of Music
7 Grease

7 songs I love
ONLY 7?!!! OK, 7 which spring to mind...
1 The Right Place – Eddi Reader : Such beautiful, sublime optimism – in the words, the voice and even the structure of the song itself. Great to sing as a Christian “5 or 10 lifetimes ago, there lived a girl that you don’t know, who walked about and answered to my name. Oh, but let’s not talk of strangers now, of where and when, or why and how, I’ve turned around and I’m looking at a NEW DAY. I’ve been in the wrong place, long enough to know, I’m in the right place now.”
2 Set the Tone – Nate James : It’s that bass-line, my WORD! How can you just sit there! Those off-beat snares and trumpets! It’s just so slinky!
3 Hard to Get – Rich Mullins : I’m forever indebted to Kath for introducing me to Christian music I can relate to, ie someone singing about the fact that this is really HARD, and it doesn’t make SENSE, and why are You so SILENT, and how can You possibly LOVE me? Also does not conform to the usual Christian song formula of bland + bland = bland.
4 Blame it on the Boogie – Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five : I just can’t, I just can’t, I just can’t control my feet.
5 B-Line – Lamb : Sounds like a coiled spring that keeps on escaping and then being wound up again, and consequently makes me feel exactly like that when I listen to it. Impossible to listen to below full volume. Impossible not to dance to it even though it’s impossible to dance to.
6 Vogue – Madonna : never before has a single held chord been so loaded with anticipation as the beginning of that single. Such a perfectly crafted pop song which also manages to sound cool and enduring. Secretly want to buy the video so I can learn the dance.
7 Heal Over – KT Tunstall : I hate the bag for writing a much better version of my song ‘Hush, Hey’, but also love her for writing something so beautiful for a struggling friend. Want to sing it to anyone who ever cries near me, but fear my singing would make it worse.