Yes Minister it's about Time

Doctor Who Artwork - Moments of Madness!

2010-04-27T17:26:00.000+01:00

Over the years I have painted many pictures and scenes from Doctor Who, some good, some bad, some terrible... here are a few to amuse you!

Doctor Who Artwork

2010-04-27T17:25:00.000+01:00

Doctors 9-11

2010-04-27T17:14:00.001+01:00

Doctors 7-8

2010-04-27T15:58:00.000+01:00

Doctors 4-6

2010-04-27T15:50:00.000+01:00

Doctors 1-3

2010-04-27T15:45:00.000+01:00

Lifehouse - Everything Dance

2009-10-19T18:05:00.009+01:00

Once in a while you see something that shakes you to the core. This video is one such thing. I am 52 years old and have been a Christian minister since 1987 and a Christian since 1975. I thought I understood the cross, and as an evangelist I have preached on it on many occasions and witnessed the wonder of many becoming Christians. I know Jesus died for me. I know that my sins are forgiven. I know that I have home reserved for me in heaven. I know that while I am not fully perfect yet God has begun a work in me that will last for eternity. I am saved, past tense, I am being saved, present tense, and I am being saved, future tense. I can discuss substitution, adoption, forgiveness, and on and on... I live it, I feel it, I experience what it is to be loved and rescued by an amazingly wonderful God.

But this video showed me something I had not seen before. God, in action.

If you haven't watched it yet then please do so now so I do not spoil it. The dance begins with God dancing with a teenage girl with all before her, he shows her the wonder of creation and the warmth of his love, she face the challenges and distractions of a boy friend, money, alcohol, body image, self harm and suicide, all the time God is trying to pull her back and she fights to get back to him and fails. But just as she gets to a finger tip distance she is pulled away and God intervenes. Getting between the crowd and the girl and he holds them back. This view of God is now seen to be Jesus as he holds back an angry crowd so she is free to pray, Jesus is beaten down and just when it seems he is defeated he stands up strong and wins and the girl's relationship with God is restored.

It was the fighting back of the crowd, a crowd made up of the girl's mistakes plus the world's temptations that are out to destroy that touched me. God is right now holding back the horrors of mine, yours and the world's mistakes so that I/we can have the true freedom to live and pray. God is right now holding it all back, this is no past tense action on the cross, but a living thing that is happening now as I write and you read. Now how amazing is that?

This is the best dance on the cross I have ever seen and I urge you buy the track from Lifehouse because this track is literally everything!

Best Documentary 2009

2009-10-19T17:54:00.004+01:00

Last year with help of Andrew Colmer I produced a DVD called "Respect: Make Mischief Night A Thing Of The Past!" I am delighted to say that on 14th October 2009 it won best documentary of the year at the IOV2009 Awards.

Real Radio and the St Stephen's Centre May 2009

2009-05-18T18:39:00.001+01:00

Please excuse this post but I have just had some exciting news and I can’t help but share it with you, the Centre attached to St Stephen’s, the church I work at, has reached the final of a local competition.

Real Radio (105.4 fm) and Foundation (a climate fund for the north west) have been running a competition looking for a community project that needs a new lease of life and out of the 150 centres looked at the St Stephen’s Centre, Gateacre has been chosen as one of the three finalists and the only one from Liverpool.

Voting for the overall winner began today and continues until 21st May (my birthday!!!) with winner to be announced on Friday 22nd May.

The judging panel were looking for projects that would benefit as many people in the community as possible, and of course it was also important that the projects were committed to a low carbon future. They say it was a tough process but they now have 3 finalists, so it’s over to you to vote for your favourite!

PLEASE, please, please will you go online and vote for us at:
http://promo.gmgradio.com/3327/ (or just click this link)

The winner will receive £16,000 worth of work.

The finalists are The Royal Oak Community Centre in Wythenshaw, Manchester; St Anthony’s Annexe in Fulwood, Preston and ourselves, St Stephen’s Parish Centre in Gateacre, Liverpool.

I know I am being cheeky but I can’t help asking!

Guerrilla Worship

2009-04-07T13:00:00.004+01:00

It was my privilege to be part of a team from the Liverpool Dream Network to capture on Saturday 4/4 (the week before Easter) at 4pm in the new Liverpool ONE shopping mall, Dream's first 'Guerrilla Worship' gathering. It was kind of a Dream worship 'flash mob'!

It began scattered among the shoppers. At the signal, worshippers all stopped and took off their shoes ... an ancient sign that you are on "holy ground". God lives in Liverpool One shopping malls as well as churches! They then made their way to the park at the centre of the mall where they sat together to form a cross ... and prayed silently for a few minutes. It was very special as Easter and the cross was remembered. Prayers were offered for the current economic situation ... for those who have lost jobs ... and for God's blessing on our city ... and prays for hope.

The event was professional videographed by my Phil Janvier Digital Video Productions' crew and friends. We used a high locked off camera in a new apartment on the 13th floor over looking the park, and the other cameras were operated by myself, Jay Erving, Beth Chan and Rob Sykes (a member of the Dream team). Richard White was the man with the umbrella.

Please enjoy this video it records a very special day of God's blessing on Liverpool!

The Empty Photograph price drop!

2008-11-25T12:49:00.004+01:00

The 2007 IOV award winning "The Empty Photograph" DVD has now been reduced to £9.99 plus p&p, further details are available from http://the-empty-photograph.blogspot.com/.

This award winning movie is available for resale, if you are interested then please contact me via this or the http://the-empty-photograph.blogspot.com/ blogsite.

The Empty Photograph was filmed entirely on location in Liverpool using a very talented local cast and crew. “Liverpool is a fantastic location to film in, it was a privilege to shoot in front of its historic waterfront and in its parks and gardens,” stated Phil, “the cast and crew where incredibly hard working and dedicated to the task in hand, I am particularly grateful as they all gave their time and talents freely to benefit the St Stephen’s Centre in its outreach to the local community. The movie is a conspiracy thriller involving all elements of the genre, including suspense, kidnap, espionage, gunfight and car chase!

Photograph (c) Alma Masters 17th October 2007
Speaking about the IOV award Phil commented, “I was absolutely delighted to be awarded a Highly Commended place in the IOV’s Best Short Film category especially against such extremely tough competition. To have the award presented by meteorologist and ITV weather presenter, Sian Lloyd, in an Oscar-style ceremony was fantastic. To see my movie trailer played in front of the industry’s best professionals knowing that The Empty Photograph was one of only five short-listed titles within the Short Film category – which is a significant achievement in itself, was humbling. I was delighted to be in such company knowing that the judges were not only looking for exceptional video production standards, but also originality and creative flair.”

You are my Rock! - CD lyrics

2008-11-13T18:57:00.006+01:00

You are my Rock!
7 New Songs of Worship based on the book of Psalms

1. Holy Spirit come to us*

Holy Spirit come to us
Holy Spirit come to us
Holy Spirit come to us we pray
Holy Spirit come to us
Holy Spirit come to us
Holy Spirit come to us we pray

Gathered in the name of Jesus
At the Father’s command
Waiting for the promised Spirit
We are standing on holy ground.

2. God of glory **

God of glory
God of grace
God of mercy fill this place
Love falls down on me now
Love falls down on me now
Undeserved love freely given
Undeserved love falling on me
I worship at your feet ‘cause
though I’m weak and heavy laden
here you are with me Lord
it’s here you chose to be Lord.

3. You are my rock *

You are my rock
you are my mountain
You are my hiding place
My Saviour, Lord and King
I’m astounded by the wonders that I’ve seen
and I’m amazed that you have made me your child

4. In the darkness you are there **

In the darkness you are there
In the darkness you are with me
A constant light through every danger
Guiding me when I can’t even see the way
or feel my way or sense my way
In the darkness you there
Hear my prayer
let me know your presence
Hear my prayer
I must approach your throne with reverence
To my Holy God, my loving Lord
The shinning light who guides me
In the darkness where I dwell you are there

5. The Lord is my light*

The LORD is my light and my salvation
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my Life
of whom shall I be afraid?

One thing I ask of the LORD,
may I dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe
he will hide me away
One thing I ask of the LORD,
may I dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe
he will hide me away
and set me high upon a rock
and set me high upon a rock.

I sacrifice with shouts of joy
I’ll sing and make music to the LORD.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart.

6. Take me to the rock that is higher than I*

Take me to the rock that is higher than I
(higher than I)
Take me to the rock that is higher than I
(higher than I)
Take me to the rock that is my hiding place
my place of shelter
Take me to the rock that is my hiding place
my one foundation
Take me to the rock , O Lord,
……………Take me to the rock

You are my God you are my refuge
When storms abound you are my haven
When-the-tide is pulling me so far away,
You walk beside me,
(walk beside me)
You walk beside me,
(walk beside me)

7. Our God is a rock ***

Our God is great
Our God is strong
Our God’s a rock
Powerful and mighty,
loving and holy...
Our God is great
Our God is strong
Our God’s a rock
Powerful and mighty,
loving and Holy One

Just and true our God is a rock,
our God’s a rock
Faithful One our God is a rock,
our God’s a rock
Saviour friend our God is a rock,
our God’s a rock
Almighty God
our God is a rock, our God’s a rock

Jacob’s Ladder:
Ian Driver - Keyboard and Vocals
Heather Dykins - VocalsHelen Green - Drums, Percussion and Vocals
Alan Henderson - Drums and Percussion
Derek Hinton - Bass and Vocals
Phil Janvier - Guitar and Vocals
Paula Jones - Sax, Flute and Vocals

All songs written by * Phil Janvier, ** Ian Driver and *** Phil Janvier & Derek Hinton

Recorded by Phil Janvier with additional assistance by Jay Erving at St Stephen's Church, Gateacre, October and November 2008 Photograph and Duplicating Assistant - Beth Chan
Produced and published by Phil Janvier Digital Video Productions

You are my Rock! CD © Phil Janvier5th November 2008
Song Copyright © * Phil Janvier, ** Ian Driver and *** Phil Janvier & Derek Hinton 5th November 2008
Originally produced for “On Eagles’ Wings” - 16th November 2008
Recommended Retail Price: £5

Jacob's Ladder began playing together in 1990 and have continued playing music since then, musical styles have varied with the years but always the the band has tried to bridge the gap between secular and religious music, by playing contempary worship material, classic rock/jazz/pop cover versions and writting and performing our own material.

On Eagles' Wings - Special 16th November 2008

2008-11-04T09:15:00.003+01:00

On Eagles' Wings returns for a one of new music special on the 16th November 2008 at St Stephen's Parish Church, Jacob's Ladder are producing a 7 track CD which they are giving away free to everyone who comes to the event. Put it in your diary, pray for us and even better come and support us the night!

Respect: Make Mischief Night A Thing of the Past!

2008-11-03T18:48:00.003+01:00

This year I was asked to produce a DVD video to be released in the South Liverpool senior schools, following the tragic death of Daniel Baxendale last year on 30th October - the night referred to as 'mischief night' - Daniel's family and friends wanted to do something to try and prevent what happened to Daniel from happening again.

I was asked by the Reverend Andrew Colmer, the Vicar of the All Souls Church on Mather Avenue near to where Daniel was killed and incidentially my home sending church, to put this together, so with Andrew's help we filmed Inspector Ian Mason from Merseyside Police, Megan, one of Daniel's friends and his mother Dianne, I produced this video, warning of the dangers and consequences of a bit of fun on mischief night. The message is to 'lay mischief night to rest' - out of respect not only for the loss suffered by the Baxendale family, but also for those who have been victims of damage and anti-social behaviour in previous years.

At the point of writing this the video has been watched 636 times on YouTube, originally placed on by Merseyside Police via their own website (not quite what I was expecting!), and another 113 times on linked websites. We produced nearly 400 DVDs and following the Police involvement seen at nearly every school in Liverpool and viewed by thousands of children and teenagers. I was grateful to Steven Abrams for commercially duplicating the DVD at short notice while I was away on holiday. I am also grateful to Calumet and Holden's for lending me the green screen equipment I needed for this project.

I am told that the statistics for Liverpool showed a massive decrease of incidents on Mischief Night, so it looks if the DVD and other actions have made a significant difference this year!

Finally I am so grateful for the support I have received from Andrew Lancel, a cast member of "The Bill", in the making of this project, he was truly amazing and a charming guy!

Copies of the DVD can be obtained by contacting me direct.

God bless, Phil

Sorry I have been busy

2008-06-10T17:22:00.002+01:00

This year has certainly flown by, building work and new opportunities have taken their toll, so I apologise that I haven't posted for a while. Preproduction is continuing on "The Arrow that Flies" and I took the opportunity to film stock footage of HMS Ark Royal when she visited Liverpool this weekend.

The Empty Photograph has now been reduced to £9.99 (post free to the UK mainland), so it's well work a look if you haven't seen it yet.

Please watch this space there is more to come!

The Empty Photograph is now available to buy online

2008-02-10T20:21:00.002+01:00

Due to recent demand the DVD of "The Empty Photograph" is now available for purchasing online using the PayPal system. The DVD is priced at £11.99 plus postage and packaging (only £1.50 for sales within the United Kingdom). If you would like a copy please post a comment to this blog or email me on phil.janvier@virgin.net and I will arrange an invoice to be emailed to you.

The Arrow That Flies

2008-01-30T13:51:00.000+01:00

Following on from the award winning release of "The Empty Photograph" movie and DVD, a new film is going into early stage scripting and potential preproduction, "The Arrow That Flies" hopefully will be another conspiracy thriller!

The excitement of independent film production is amazing, if all goes well, the script, storyboard, locations and budget will finished in time for filming next January. Please pray for us as we begin this process that we get everything necessary ready, that funding falls into place and that we honour God in the process.

The Empty Photograph now released

2007-11-12T17:40:00.002+01:00

Cover Design (c) Phil Janvier - November 2007

The Empty Photograph had its world premier on Saturday 10th November 2007 and has now finally gone on sale. The DVD cost £11.99 plus £2.50 post and pakaging and purchases can be made by PayPal. If you would like a copy please comment on this blog or email.

Further details of the film will be posted on http://the-empty-photograph.blogspot.com/ please free to leave your comments.

The Empty Photograph Press Release

2007-11-05T22:08:00.000+01:00

The Empty Photograph – Standard Press ReleaseRelease Date: 5th November 2007

World premier of the award winning local independent film production “The Empty Photograph.”

The Revd Phil Janvier (50), Rector of St Stephen’s Parish Church, Gateacre and North West of England area representative for the Institute of Videography (IOV), is proud to announce the world premier of his award winning independent film, The Empty Photograph at 8pm on Saturday 10th November 2007 at The Millennium Centre, Belle Vale Road, Gateacre.

The Empty Photograph was filmed entirely on location in Liverpool using a very talented local cast and crew. “Liverpool is a fantastic location to film in, it was a privilege to shoot in front of its historic waterfront and in its parks and gardens,” stated Phil, “the cast and crew where incredibly hard working and dedicated to the task in hand, I am particularly grateful as they all gave their time and talents freely to benefit the St Stephen’s Centre in its outreach to the local community. The movie is a conspiracy thriller involving all elements of the genre, including suspense, kidnap, espionage, gunfight and car chase!

Speaking about the IOV award Phil commented, “I was absolutely delighted to be awarded a Highly Commended place in the IOV’s Best Short Film category especially against such extremely tough competition. To have the award presented by meteorologist and ITV weather presenter, Sian Lloyd, in an Oscar-style ceremony was fantastic. To see my movie trailer played in front of the industry’s best professionals knowing that The Empty Photograph was one of only five short-listed titles within the Short Film category – which is a significant achievement in itself, was humbling. I was delighted to be in such company knowing that the judges were not only looking for exceptional video production standards, but also originality and creative flair.”

Finally Phil said, “We do hope that the world premier is a great success on Saturday 10th November, as we hope, as a result to get a 100 people to sell 10 copies of the movie DVDs each , priced £11.99, if we can do that then we will raise a minimum of £10,000 for the St Stephen’s Centre.”

Admission is by ticket: Adults £3, Children (aged 5-7) £2, Family (of four) £8.

ENDS

Further details

The Empty Photograph Summary
What if everything you believed to be true... every moment, every memory... every kiss... was a lie? Alice does not like what she sees in the looking glass. Is she suffering from delusions or is she really being tormented by the loss of her husband Peter? Alice is convinced he has been kidnapped but everyone else thinks she is going mad until she meets her mysterious bodyguard. Together they embark on a journey that raises more questions than it answers and that takes them deep into a world of espionage, power and corruption, where even the police may not be what they seem.
Link
The Empty Photograph - Trailer
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zio3hwtzmuo

The Institute of Videography and The IOV Awards see www.iov.com
The IOV Awards were sponsored by Sony, JVC, Vinten, Grass Valley, Towergate Camerasure and Calumet – and are only open to current IOV members.

Press Contact Details
http://philjanvier.blogspot.com

A Driver's Dream Experience!

2007-09-19T16:58:00.000+01:00

For my 50th birthday this was arranged! Three laps around the track in an Aston Martin
and a very yellow Lambo!

The Empty Photograph - IOV Awards 2007 Nomination

2007-09-06T12:13:00.000+01:00

After months of hard work the final version of The Empty Photograph has been produced and was finsihed in time to enter into the Institute of Videographies 2007 Awards in the Best Short Film category. All traces of my name had to be removed from the IOV version so that judges could see all the entries fairly. I am delighted to be able to say that the The Empty Photograph has been short-listed for an award. This is fantastic news, I believe, for everyone involved in its production and I am very grateful for all the time and committment given by cast and crew.

The Empty Photograph is due for general release at the end of September beginning of October 2007 and details of how to purchase a copy will outlined in this blog nearer that time. A trailer for the film is included in this blog below.

The IOV web site posted the following announcement (edited for this blog):

The initial stage of judging the 2007 IOV Awards has now been completed. Please find below the short-listed entries - in no particular order.

2007 IOV Awards Short-listed entries The day proceeding their recent meeting, the IOV Executive committee and its admin team, sat through all entries and selected the five short-listed videos in each category of the 2007 IOV Awards. In no particular order, the short-listed winners are: -

Short Film

Quentin Budworth of Mediaworking - 'Show and Spell'

Nik Farrimond of Seal Films - 'Inner State'

Alan Rae of Raetech Productions - 'Blue in Blue'

Phil Janvier - 'The Empty Photograph'

Sam Spence of Media Addict - 'The Deal'

Each short listed winner will now go on for second-stage judging - where they will be sorted in order. The final order will not be revealed until the awards ceremony on 17th October at Wroxall Abbey (tickets available from Janet Fenton on 01253 884100 /07909 530181 or by email janet.fenton@iov.co.uk (£55 per person or £495 for a table of 10).

The top three positions will receive one of the coveted IOV trophies, whilst the remaining two entries will also win a short-listed trophy. All winners will benefit from standard press releases - plus publicity photos with our celebrity presenter, Sian Lloyd.

Full details are available at http://www.iov.co.uk/showarticle.pl?id=36890.

The Empty Photograph - Trailer

2007-08-06T16:03:00.003+01:00

Thanks to YouTube I have been able to add the trailer of The Empty Photograph to this blog. I would love to read your comments about the trailer so please feel free to make comment.

The Empty Photograph stars Sophie Roberts and Peter Morris and it is due for release at the end of September.

The Empty Photograph - Finally Finished

2007-08-05T21:03:00.000+01:00

Photographs (c) Phil Janvier July 2007

Well filming and the majority of the posr production has been completed and "The Empty Photograph" is finished, save for a few tweeks here and there. It has taken 7 months to film but finally it is finished. I hope to have a link to the trailer as soon as I can master uploadinging it. Thank you to everyone who has prayed and helped with this project.

50 years old! A Movie a Gig and old friends.

2007-05-23T09:50:00.000+01:00

A friend of mine has just contacted me from the states, it doesn't seem days since we last met, although it has been a few years but Rick Bartlett is now Dean of Students at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno (www.mbseminary.edu) and I'm thinking "he's too young" then I realised when I was 50 this week, time is flying by. So Rick, Karen, Grace and Toby may God bless you and your family (and I so miss you)!

Wow 50, once I thought that was ancient now I think its great, honestly life has got better as I have got older, as each year goes by something new arrives that makes it feel great to be alive. Yeah, well my body does get stiff after lugging my bands touring gear around, and yeah I have got tinitus all the time, but my sons are now 15 and 12, the movie I am making, "The Empty Photograph" is in the final days of shooting (both on camera and literally with hand guns) and post production is going well. Some of it looks and sounds great other bits need some work but hey it won't be long before a new "Indie" film hits the screen.

On Eagles' Wings is going well and we've had all ready over 350 people from all over Liverpool and the North West taking part in this season's On Eagles' Wings fresh expression of Christian worship event. If you can make it I would like to invite you to be part of this next event. The next On Eagles' Wings evening will be quieter than the last three and will include an extended time for prayers for healing, hence the title "On Healing Wings". It has been our intention to push the boundaries in this series and to make each evening distinctively different from the one before, in this process it has been great to make some new friends and it has been a privilege to have as our guests, Roundabout Releases, probably the oldest Christian sketch drama company in Liverpool and Rachael Wright, an incredibly gifted singer songwriter, once again they shall be joining St Stephen's Church and Jacob's Ladder, a band that has been leading worship, youth, evangelistic events and good old fashioned dance music (ideal for pub and club events) since 1990, in hosting this event.

This is the last OEW of this series, the next series will begin on the 20th November and will go into 2008. We would love to see you on June 12th.

Should you like to book Jacob's Ladder, Roundabout or Rachael Wright for a special event then please feel free to email me and will you let have the contact information.

I also would love to thank Larry and Monica in Canada for the birthday card and the Neil Young CD, that was so kind of you, and we really miss you and, as you pointed out, there are now cheap flights from Liverpool to Hamilton (£99 last time we checked) so we would love to drop in and see you!

Tonight Liverpool play AC Milan in the European Champions League, the toughest trophy in European Football, as Liverpool Fan I will be glued to the screen and my prayers and best wishes go to the team, and may we come back with the Cup for the 6th time! I am so nervous about it...

One of my sons asked me which of the two of them I loved the most, I remember saying that it isn't a question of having a 100% of love and one of you gets 46% and the other 54%, with each new person you get a fresh 100% of love, so I love you 100% son and I love your brother 100% too. One thing I have noticed as I get older is that you make more and more friends and when you love them, not only do they become family but you have a fresh 100% just for them. Getting older means that you get richer ever day, and I'm not talking about money. I value my old friends Rick and Karen and Larry and Monica who are a long way away because their friendship gives me life, life in all its fullness, if that is true of my earthly friends how much so is it in my love of Jesus.

May God bless you all, so watch out for the release of "The Empty Photograph" and "COME ON LIVERPOOL, LET'S MAKE IT 6!"

On Eagles' Wings 2

2007-01-16T13:50:00.000+01:00

It is my priviledge to be hosting, along with St Stephen's and Jacob's Ladder, the second "On Eagle's Wings" this time it is going to feature "Roundabout o8" from Roundabout Releases. For me this is a journey back in time for I believe a large chunk of who I am now was formed in the 9 years I spent with Roundabout in my late teens and early twenties, the cut and thrust of sketch drama was a challenge, working with Parchment in joint concerts, and also with Keith Rycroft and Rynard was amazing to me at the time and that impact has never left me, that no doubt explains why I am making an independant film "The Empty Photograph", it's just drama in different format. So thank you Roundabout for all the concerts, tours, Greenbelts, Crossfires etc and sticking an innocent in front of audiances and giving me a passion for performance art that has never left me.

So now the plug!

"Our next "On Eagles’ Wings" is on 30th January 2007 and you are most welcome!

Our first event in November last year had nearly a 100 attending and was, from the feedback I have received, greatly appreciated. There were lessons to learn and I hope that we have learnt some of them and that this next event will be even better, it certainly will be different as we are privileged to have Roundabout Releases with us sharing their vision for Roundabout 08 an exciting Christian arts challenge for Liverpool's year as the capital of European culture.

Once again we will attempt to provide an experimental worship event for adults seeking to go deeper in their relationship of God and continue to combine this with exciting possibilities of “Fresh Expressions” in worship, “On Eagles’ Wings”, is based on Isaiah 40:31.

Therefore, I would like to invite you, your friends and family and any from your congregations to the second event on Tuesday 30th January 2007 at St Stephen’s, Gateacre, at 8pm, the event will contain drama, praise and worship music and opportunities to reflect or soak in God’s presence; and once again the event will use a variety of media including the use of light and dark and drama! Finally, it is our intention to film part of this event to be used as part of the promotional DVD for Roundabout 08, the cameras will not detract from the worship aspect of this event."

Hope to see you then!

The Empty Photograph

2006-11-27T19:50:00.000+01:00

The Empty Photograph (c) Phil Janvier October 2006
A film written and produced by Phil Janvier
All rights Reserved October 2006
Tonight is an exciting night as it is the first read through for this new production, 19 months in the writing, storyboarding and in assembling the cast and the crew. Please pray for us that this film honours God and fulfills its full potential. It is a thriller witha twist! Watch this space for more details!

On Eagle's Wings

2006-11-09T10:54:00.000+01:00

Poster based on a painting (c) Phil Janvier November 2006
On Tuesday the 14th November 2006 we are starting a new worship event based at St Stephen's Gateacre called "On Eagle's Wings", it is our hope to explore some adult themes in a context of Christian worship and exploration.

It has been pointed out to me that there has been a variety experimental worship events focused on young people but very few for adults seeking to go deeper in their relationship of God. This need combined with the exciting possibilities of “Fresh Expressions” in worship have been the driving force behind this new series of events, “On Eagles’ Wings”, based on Isaiah 40:31. Should this first event develop further it would be our intention to run up to three or four a year. Therefore, on Tuesday 14th November 2006 at St Stephen’s, Gateacre, Belle Vale Road, Gateacre, Liverpool, L25 2PQ (we will have our first event, the event will have an emphasis on “Reconciliation” both towards God and each other. The event will contain praise and worship music and opportunities to reflect or soak in God’s presence; the event will use a variety of media including the use of light and dark and a Dalek!

Encouragingly there has been some interest in the first On Eagle's Wings on the theme of Reconciliation. Therefore, some follow up event dates have been provisionally arranged looking like this:

30th January 2007 - Live drama etc from Roundabout Releases and featuring "Roundabout 2008" (www.roundabout08.co.uk) a new Christian Arts initiative to celebrate our Christian faith in Liverpool as it becomes the capital of culture for 2008, the night will also have praise and worship music led by Jacob's Ladder.

27th March 07

12th June 07

20th November 07

I would appreciate it if you would pray for this first event where ever you are in the world. If you would like to be on the email information list just let me know!

Phil

The Clive Ireland Award 2006

2006-10-31T14:13:00.000+01:00

(c) Chris Waterlow (2006) Thanks Chris!
I realise that I haven't posted anything on my blog for months, what with summer holidays and the manic return to work, you see silly season for me is the months of September and October, but if I'm honest that's an excuse I just got out of the habit. So here's my first blog of the autumn.

An amazing thing happened to me on the 18th October I was sitting with Jane, my wife, and my friends at the anual Institute of Videography Awards dinner which is a feature of the IOV show. So there I was sipping my third glass of red wine comfy in the knowledge that I had not come anywhere in the awards as neither of my two entries had reached the last five, so I sat, watched, clapped and cheered for all the winners, well earned too (see www.iov.co.uk for a list of the winners) when Ron, last years winner of the Clive Ireland award and an Executive member, left to announce this years winner. I sat back to enjoy this very special moment for one of my collegues.

Ron began: "Having found myself on the receiving end of the skulduggery that my fellow exec Members got up to last year when I myself was awarded the Clive, it feels good to have been party to this years scheming and planning, and of course to get to be the person who will hopefully cause one or two of you in this room tonight to think, it might be you.

As in previous years in the run up to the awards, members are encouraged to nominate people from the industry who, in their opinion, deserves to win the Clive.

I can tell you this year that several people were nominated a mixture of those belonging to the IOV along with other industry professionals.

So here’s the first clue, tonight’s winner is in fact an IOV Member; the second clue is that the winner is also an Area Rep, so that narrows it down to around 18 people.

It would be fair to say that he enjoys staying up late with the boys having a few drinks, especially on occasions such as tonight, so that narrows it down – to around 18 people."

I smiled at this point because I too am an Area Rep for the IOV.

"Have you guessed who it is yet? I’m sure there’s a few in the room who could easily fit the bill. I suppose it’s time in fairness to those, who think it may be them, to put them out of their misery.

Tonight’s winner of the Clive Ireland Award 2006 is …. Pause, undoubtedly deserving of this accolade, but let’s keep him guessing just a little longer.

He’s been a professional photographer; he’s done hundreds of weddings, a role at which he Excel’s."

There was something in the way that Ron said this that sounded odd, he said "done hundreds of weddings" not filmed hundreds of weddings. I mused for a moment and a wild thought crossed my mind "I'm a church minister and I have done a lot of weddings and only filmed a few, I always said I wouldn't do them, but I do now.

"In one of the nominations for this person the member wrote this, Quote, ‘Since becoming Area Rep he has given 100% and more, organising excellent programmes for area meeting’s, taking part in many of the presentations and has written some excellent understandable articles for Focus. He is obviously a person who asks, ‘what can I do for the IOV’ rather than, ‘what can the IOV do for me’ unquote.

So there’s another clue he writes articles for Focus Magazine."

O help I write a monthly article on sound "Audio Files" for the Focus Magazine, a cold gulp of air entered my lungs and my heart went to my toes, a novel experience I can tell you!

"Some may say he’s poacher turned gamekeeper – or could it be the other way round for someone who finds himself comfortable on either side of the camera lens.

The final clue is that he is a huge Doctor Who fan, obsessed with the world of sci-fi.

Those that know him will have heard of, or seen the replica life size Tardis he built himself which commands pole position outside his front door along with the Dalek and six foot six tall Cyberman that guard his study. I’m sure by now even if you haven’t guessed he will have.

The Clive Ireland Award 2006 goes to Reverend Phil Janvier IOV Area 3 Rep."

I tried to stand up but Ron montioned me to sit down again.

"Just before you come to the stage Phil to collect this deserved award, I’d like to share a little more with members and guests here tonight.

From day one of becoming Area rep Phil you’ve thrown yourself wholeheartedly into everything that you’ve become involved with, often volunteering yourself to help take the pressure off others. You support the IOV with a passion, and every task you take on you’re not satisfied unless it’s honed to precision.

It’s true to say in your daytime job, that of a Church of England minister, you are a great evangelist, exactly the same can be said in your capacity as IOV Member and Rep, you never stop selling it to those you meet. Long may you continue.

Ladies and Gentlemen it gives me great pleasure to be able to present the ‘Clive’ to Phil Janvier."

I was "gobsmacked" it was me, surely not, it's a mistake, everyone was standing and clapping, so I had to walk to the stage and the beautiful, Debbie Greenwood (http://www.qvcuk.com/debbiegreenwood.html), presented me with "The Clive".

All I can say is wow and thank you.

What is normal?

2006-05-30T16:06:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier - 30th May 2006
"I just can't wait for things to get back to normal!" Hah, I would have vast savings if I had paid myself a pound for everytime I thought that. It's like the photograph above, am I looking up at the sky or looking down at the clouds? I am on the ground or am I in a plane (and if you are interested to know which post me a comment and I will let you know). Sometimes I long for things to settle down and run smoothly but they never do, so the conclusion I must reach is that life is in constant movement so get used to it!

Study Leave Report (2003) - only a bit late!

2006-05-15T13:35:00.000+01:00

In 2003 the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group presented me with a Bursary Award towards the costs of a sabbatical study project. My original aims where to improve and develop my skills in the immensely practical areas of sound and vision with the hope of passing the Institute of Videography’s (http://www.iov.co.uk/) Master Membership qualification.

Having raised the necessary funding to finance my study leave my first task was to ascertain what my core competencies were with regard to the Institute of Videography qualifications.

My passion for photography dates back to my late teens when I worked as a semi-professional photographer in the night clubs of Liverpool and for a variety of local newspapers, this passion began to transfer to videography in 1990. At that time I was a Team Vicar in Toxteth and I wanted to create a video that would introduce new people to the life at St Gabriel’s and answer some simple questions about the Christian faith and the practicalities of local worship and witness. To further this aim I arranged to attend a videography-training course with First Take in their studio next to the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King. In those days video editing was all based on a tape-to-tape system and was very expensive, still after the training we recorded a video called Dragged in Screaming and it was used over a four five year period. When I left St Gabriel’s to move to my present post I had the privilege of having my move to St Stephen’s filmed by the BBC’s Everyman unit for a new television series based on the life of a vicar. The Diocese of Liverpool gave me permission to do this and the Rt Revd David Sheppard, the then Bishop of Liverpool, recommended that I attend a video and media training course, which I was delighted to do. Sadly after twenty-nine hours of filming the series was abandoned due to a change in policy at the BBC but whole experience was invaluable. As a consequence of a gift of a £1000 from the BBC I was able to obtain for the first time a computer PC non-linear editing system with which I was able to video and edit at the Rectory. Shortly before my study leave began I was to film and produce a training video for the Diocese of Liverpool which when released was called The Diocese of Liverpool: Renewal and Regeneration. It was this piece of work that I submitted to the Institute of Videography for assessment. On its return it had received a mark of sixty out of a possible hundred, as the pass mark was seventy; it had not reached the required standard. In fact some of the comments on the piece made me smile! “The video was uninspiring almost to the point of dullness.” The target had been set and I had challenge to meet.

The first two months of my study leave where dedicated to achieving two targets, firstly, attending video skills training, be that camera work or digital editing, to that end I attended a variety of courses; I studied video editing with Planet PC, Planet Enterprises Ltd in Birkenshaw West Yorkshire, I attended two residential courses with the Institute of Videography approved training courses Video Skills based at The Swan Hotel, Coleshaw, Warwickshire, in which I studied camera craft, Sound and Lighting. These latter courses were an eye opener and they allowed me see the world in a whole new way. Secondly, to prepare, script, storyboard and finally film a corporate video for a model railway manufacturer Dapol, in Llangollen, North Wales.

The training courses all were excellent and in many ways you cannot improve on the hands on approach. Then it was time to put the training into practice. There then followed a recce trip to Dapol and Llangollen that involved interviewing all of the senior members of staff, negotiating with the Llangollen Police, Llangollen Horse Drawn Boats, Llangollen Railway and the Curator of Plas Newydd. A sound and lighting report was prepared as was a final storyboard and then filming was underway. As always the case shooting a corporate video of this type a production crew had to be assembled, in this case I was able to assemble a team from the young people at St Stephen’s, Church. The crew worked well and as well as assisting me they all gained valuable experience from working in the commercial world. One highlight of the production was my presenter arriving in Llangollen in a vintage diesel train, in order to gain valuable shots the staff and crew at the Llangollen railway arranged for the train to reverse out of the station and back around a corner and then re-enter, all in order that I can film the presenter climbing out of the train at the station. Finally, all the interviews were recorded, all the local footage gained and it was “a wrap”.

The editing of the Dapol footage now had to wait, as I had to move to London to attend a four-week course at the School of Live Audio Engineering based at the Scala club by King’s Cross Station. The Scala is a venue for a wide variety of contemporary sounds through the week and an ideal venue for such a course. The course advertises itself as “the most comprehensive live sound course available. Live bands perform for the students throughout the course, with tutors closely monitoring and assessing areas of development. Theory is effectively converted into ample practice with tremendous care and attention, fine-tuning crucial perceptive and evaluative skills in sound and bringing students up to an advanced stage of signal level command, where they will become highly capable of setting the equalization of instruments, speakers and sound systems. Being live sound, students will become skilled in both front of house mixing (mixing speakers directed to the audience) and monitor mixing (mixing on-stage speakers used by bands to monitor their sound), using state of the art equipment. This course offers the best preparation for a successful career as a live sound engineer or related field.” This course exceeded all my expectations and has given me a firm foundation in the audio domain. It is a fact that in many areas of videography that sound has been not treated with same respect as image quality, this course has helped me to understand sound in its many facets and this has had a positive impact in my understanding and practice of video production. The end of the Live Audio Engineering course marked the end of the work part of my study leave and my wife, Jane, the family and I, the went on holiday for a well earned break!

On return from holiday, and back in parish life, I managed to edit the Dapol footage and complete their corporate video. The video Dapol – History In The Making was presented to the Institute of Videography assessment panel and received a mark of seventy-one out of a possible 100, as a result on the 2nd September 2003 I was awarded a Master Membership. I now have the privilege of being able to place M.M.Inst.V. after my name and use the Institute of Videography logo on any of my productions or promotional literature. I forwarded a copy of the final video to Dapol and George Smith, the managing director of Dapol wrote in an email the following, “ITS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME – Many congratulations and with that type of quality production it was inevitable that you would receive the qualification so richly deserved.”

Finally, in the years that have followed I have used my video skills in a variety of settings and I am available to the church, diocese and community, time permitting, to take on any type of video project. One consequence of my membership of the Institute of Videography is that I have become the IOV’s North West of England Area (03) Representative and it is my privilege to serve my local members in this capacity. Also I have just started to write for Focus Magazine, the official publication of the Institute of Videography, a series of articles called Sound Advice based on my experience and the information gained while on study leave. I am very grateful for the funding provided by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Bursary Award for without it my study leave might not have developed as successfully as it did.

The Revd. Phil Janvier M.M.Inst.V.

Hard Work, Graft and Preperation

2006-02-20T16:06:00.000+01:00

Photographs (c) Phil Janvier February 2006
These are not the normal pictures that you would use to illustrate two weeks of outreach and mission, but for me they capture some of the essense of the preperation involved. Our Crossing the Bridge Mission had two aims, one; to share the good news of Jesus to the people of our area and two; to enable church people to meet local meeting and to begin to earn the right to speak.

The Centre you see in the pictures was returned to us by the Liverpool City Council as their lease ended in a terrible state, and I could go on and on about the local authority taking a local church for a ride but I will restrain myself... just, so we had to redecorate a massive centre in just two weeks using as many volunteers as we could get. So we all cried "Hurray" to see corporation purple vanish...

Anyway back to the point, the hard work put into a building and then followed by two weeks of positive community action and Christian outreach has made an impact. Suddenly, people who saw us as two headed monsters now see us as friends and the bridge is starting to be crossed. Hard work, graft and outreach go hand in hand.

To God be the glory!

Eyes wide open

2006-01-12T18:07:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier - December 2005

With my eyes closed I stare at the sun,
shutters down I am blinded.
I look away and open my eyes
and sun remains in my eyes.
With my eyes open I look at the Son,
Shutters rise and I see everything,
I close my eyes and slip away
and the Son remains in my eyes.

For some reason I posted this on the uprising blog, well worth a vist: http://theuprising.typepad.com/

Don't let fear or failure hold you back!

2006-01-12T17:16:00.000+01:00

Photographs (c) Phil Janvier - December 2005
I was preaching/speaking last Sunday night and I based my talk on something I heard Luis Palau speak on back 1979 at the very first Spring Harvest, that is "Dream big dreams. Prayer big prayers. Then get on and do it!" I linked it with Paul's vision of heaven, his thorn in the flesh and his bold statement in 2 Corthinthians 12 vs 7-10 particularly that "when I am weak, then I am strong." The crunch was don't let fear stop you dreaming, praying or getting on with life, don't let your or someone elses failure stop you either. Great, fine, went down well, it had to, it was real and it was true... but, and yes there has to be a but, this week my frailty is almost overwhelming. Headaches at work, home and, oh yes, in my head, does that make God any the less great and powerful, no, but it makes each day a heavy step.

Now I am not looking for pity or piety for that matter, because some of it is my own fault, well most of it actually, but I am looking for understanding. For example, I have some friends whose friendship went all wrong, it got quite messy and to be honest I was stuck in the middle. It came to a choice and I chose to speak the truth and it meant that I had to side with the friend who told the truth and to be honest I would do the same again, but, here's that word again, I missed my other friend. So I prayed for reconciliation on and off for the following year or so. WARNING: Prayer is a dangerous thing, because God does hear and he does answer in his time and in his way. Bang I turn up for something, surrounded by my church friends and bang I'm in it as my old friend is there also. No escape, nowhere to run, just heapings of humble pie to eat and, gulp, I ate it, did it and laid one step on a path to reconciliation, this last year has seen a few helpful pebbles thrown onto that path but there is still a long way to go. But, see I've used it again, I understand why it all happened and because God was in it and "when I am weak, then I am strong."

Back to this week and "Understanding", well it goes like this our church mission starts on 29th January and finishes on 12th February. Enough said I now know why.

Finally, where does it leave me today? With a prayer I heard recently, "LORD, here am I, what a mess!"

Happy New Year

Doctor Who: Christmas Invasion

2006-01-03T14:44:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Alma Masters 24 December 2005
Christmas Eve the Doctor misses BBC1 and lands in Gateacre.
A blond girl poked her head out of the TARDIS, "Excuse me mate but the TARDIS has gone a bit off course, which way is London?"
The young man smiled at Rose, "It's that way!"
"Thanks have a great Christmas!"
"And you..."
"Doctor don't touch that you're not well..."
The young man gave a thumbs up to Rose as she leapt back into the TARDIS. The TARDIS crashed into the house, rebounded off the church and dematerialised.
"See you tomorrow," the young man said... and he did and it was brilliant!
Welcome back Doctor.

Make Spiritual Poverty History!

2005-12-13T17:26:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier December 2005
I look at the counter on this blog page and I'm often left thinking, who are the thousands of people behind those hits? Then I realised that most of them are spiders belonginging to search engines. What must it be like for God having all those prayers coming in at a countless rate? Recently I have had to have an hearing aid fitted to help battle some hearing loss and the constant whistle of tinnitus, but I have found it really difficult to adjust and at one point I was completlely overwhelmed by sound and for a moment I was disorientated, lost and confused, I had to pull the wretched thing out my ear to get the world at the right angle. Thank God he is not like that. He doesn't throw us away because we are too much for him. That is amazing!

On a different note we have just finished a 24/7 prayer week here, particularly focusing on Mission, we are due to have one starting on the 29th January through to the 12th February, and I was left reflecting for a moment on the thought, "Let's make spiritual poverty history!" Too often we are left feeling as if we ought to apologise for being certain that "Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and the only way to Father". This Christmas I feel a radical moment coming over me and I don't care if I am not being PC, Jesus is the only way to solve spiritual poverty, and we need more of the Spirit of Jesus (as the Holy Spirit is called in the book of Acts), more, more and even more. This Christmas Day I will be 30 years old as a Christian and I want others to share the riches that come from a truth faith in a very real God. So let's all "MAKE SPIRITUAL POVERTY HISTORY!"

God bless, Phil

Where did he go?

2005-11-23T10:57:00.000+01:00

Wow it seems months sine I last left a post... it has, oh dear. Life has been crazy the Autumn program at church takes off, plans and actions needed for our mission in February 2006, loads of videography to do, a program for our local group to set up and run, and then both my PCs in the same week for different reasons go down and have to be reformated, aghhhhhhhhh. Only lost all my photographs (should have backed them up), still I do have a few saved, lost a wedding and a pop video, aghhhhhhhhhhh (too big to back up, no that's an exscuse it was only 320 Gbs of data).

So here I am again feeling a bit like the cyberman in the above picture, yes the one in bits and needing reassembly. Last week was a very challenging week so I am going to attached a report I wrote for our Local Area Group of the Institute of Videography, it reflects some of my insights into last week, funny enough it was Remembrance Sunday the Sunday before this meeting.

Meeting Report for the Wednesday 19th October 2005 North West Local Group

It was our pleasure to welcome Tony Lloyd a freelance writer and director to our meeting. Tony spoke on the tricky subject of the “Camera Person – Director Relationship.” From the outset Tony made us very quickly aware that he was obsessed with the final image but not just from the technical side, he was interested in “shot design” and what the image is going to be” with an emphasis on the Director being responsible for framing and composition.

Just as we were beginning to sit back comfortably Tony threw a question at the local members, “Would you have a problem relinquishing control of the camera to a Director?” All but one member admitted they would struggle to give up directorial control over their work. Tony continued by asking, “Can we work together?” As a consequence of a short discussion it became clear that many were worried that the end product may suffer if control is relinquished, but Tony turned this argument on its head by highlighting that worry is a good thing, a good worry keeps you tight and in the end it’s all about trust. Trust that you controlling the camera will deliver the goods and your trust in the Director that they have done all the right preparation and homework. The Director must be prepared by asking such questions as, who, what, where, when and why. How will that be captured visually? What is the scene about? What needs to be storyboarded? What lighting and what mood? Tony warned us that lack of preparation locks you off from good ideas; you cannot listen to good ideas if you are only just holding on. Directors who have prepared seldom become control freaks who do not listen to appropriate suggestions, preparation instils confidence and confidence encourages collaboration, collaboration produces liberation and therefore a better end product.

If the meeting had ended there I would have been satisfied but Tony then illustrated some of his comments by showing three DVDs, the first an advert to be shown on Taxi TV for Littlewoods, for budget reasons this piece was recorded using a Sony PD150, the second was a short film that I believe was called, “90 second minute.” This was a hard-nosed, violent, thought provoking ten-minute movie revealing the devastating impact on innocent villagers a news reporter and cameraman make in a war zone. Tony analysed this for us in terms of pacing, tracking, cinematography, lighting and in the care and direction of the actors. The final piece won an award in New York last year as best documentary. This production followed Arek a survivor of Holocaust in Poland during the last war, as he traced his life by revisiting his childhood home villages and his eventual journey to the death camps where he lost eighty-one members of his family. Tony discussed both the technical difficulties of filming in Poland, sometimes at night at 20 below freezing, and the emotional difficulties of taking Arek back physically and in his memories to his childhood homes and revisiting the scenes of ultimate human horror.

They say that good drama and television should not leave you unaffected, apart from a thought provoking evening that helped me understand more about the role of a Director in relationship to the camera person, I also lost sleep because of the content of Tony’s work and it reminded me that some of what we do is to capture history for future generations, and how vital our role is not letting people forget our times terrible mistakes or our joyous celebrations.

Thank you to Tony Lloyd for an excellent evenings presentation!

I hope you find this blog interesting and thanks for looking me up.

God bless, Phil

"The Doctor's TARDIS lands" - A Doctor Who Short Story with the Doctor, a Police Box, Bad Wolf, and a Blue Box...

2005-09-30T08:34:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier

As the gentle calm of evening sets over suburban Gateacre a violent creaking and groaning slips into the night. A blue box fades into being as dust clouds move in hidden winds and silence descends. Out of the Rectory window a child looks out amazed at the 1950's Police Box standing outside the garage with words Bad Wolf showing through a recent covering of paint. The child hides.

The word "Fantastic!" drifts out of the opening blue door. A blond girl sticks her head out into the fresh evening air and then slips back inside leaving the door slightly open, her voice reverberated in way impossible for the size of the box, "Doctor, all I said was I wanted a cup of tea and a bag of fish and chips."

"I know that's why I am so fantastic!"

"What's so fantastic about landing here?"

"Rose, Rose... I have just guided the TARDIS through all space and time to this one moment. I have taken into consideration the expansion rate of the universe, vortext drift, the spin of the earth, I have dodged Daleks, Cybermen and power hungry alien politicians to bring you here, to this one moment in space and time..."

"Ok, ok, I'll ask why here and now, oh and where are we?"

"Liverpool in the year 2005, but importantly for you and me Morrisons is still open to..."

"Buy tea bags, and the bag of chips..."

"Fish and chips..."

"Fish and chips."

"Mr Wongs in Lee Park, he always freshly cooks the fish."

"Doctor, you amaze me..."

"I amaze myself sometimes, but..."

"You only get the best, fresh fish and chips in the North West of England."

"What about Manchester?"

"Never been there!"

Rose stepped out of the Police Box quickly followed by a tall man in a leather jacket. Rose looked at the house and the TARDIS blocking the garage, "Won't they think it strange to see a Police Box just standing here?"

The Doctor smiled, "Humans never see anything strange, if they can't explain it they ignore it."

"Doctor..."

"An old friend lives here and everyone already thinks he's slightly mad, trust me no one will notice."

Rose took the Doctor by the hand, "And is there anywhere to dance around here?"

The Doctor laughed, "Not today."

The couple laughing together strolled off arm in arm up the drive. "I suppose I will have to pay again," the girl said as she swung the man around by his arm.

"I'm a fantastic, wonderful, amazing alien who saves planets from evil..."

The girl's response was lost as they turned the corner and disappeared into the twilight of the evening.

Short story "The Doctor's TARDIS lands" written by Phil Janvier
(c) Phil janvier - 30th September 2005
TARDIS prop built by Phil Janvier

The Cyborg Wars: Harvest of Souls

2005-09-28T22:03:00.000+01:00

Cover art (c) Phil Janvier

A few years ago along with some friends I produced an audio play lasting about an hour called "The Cyborg Wars: Harvest of Souls", amazingly the project broke even on expenses, well just, but it was great fun. A few days ago I found a review of it the Doctor Who Appreciation Society's magazine Celestial Toyroom and I had forgotten how well it had been received. I have a box with about 10 copies left in it and I'll happily sell them to anyone who is interested, £7.99 including postage and packaging. If anyone wants one and would care to contact me I can arrange payment via PayPal if that would help.

Follow me

2005-09-27T11:40:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house..." (Matthew 9:9-10a NIV)

Sometimes when Jesus says "follow me" I get scared about the consequences such obedience may entail, but Jesus when he called Matthew to follow him took him home!

Lord when I doubt, please forgive me

when I am full of fear, love me

when I am unsure of the way, lead me home.

Some more TARDIS Police Box Photographs

2005-09-24T22:57:00.000+01:00

I realise that this subject will appear boring to some, but to members of the TARDIS Builders' Guild I hope you find the following interesting!

More TARDIS photographs

2005-09-20T00:01:00.000+01:00

The TARDIS returns

2005-09-19T19:09:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
Not quite finished but getting very near the TARDIS has returned from the Pathfinder Venture camp. Question: Where do you store a blue box 9'x4'x4'?

What a week!

2005-09-18T23:33:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
This week the Gateacre Team Minstry celebrated its 30th year of ministry, and the celebration service today was great, but what a week the last 7 days was. As well as the usual service planning, autmn preperations, church council meeting, exciting plans for our Mission 2006, band practice, additional video editing for a friend, some guys working on the church knocked a gatepost over. The above photograph shows it as I discovered it on Thursday night. The walls did come tumbling down!

It has made me realise again that the devil likes to spoil and it didn't stop at the gatepost we've had a few struggles with relationships that seemed to have destroyed more than we would like. It seems at times that our best is not good enough... but are we beaten? No, not a chance, are we burnt out? No, but I am tired. Are we going to give in? No!

So here I am Sunday night, almost asleep on the computer, but I want to say, "Thank you Lord that you are worthy of our worship, thank you Lord that you never let us down, thank you Lord that life in you is the most exciting roller-coaster ride we can ever have, thank you Lord that when we need to walk on the water we can! Please help us to fix our eyes on you."

Eyes left!

2005-08-02T12:43:00.000+01:00

Well I finished the TARDIS for the Pathfinder Venture camp and it is now on a stage in Bakewell, what a busy six weeks that was! I will post a finished picture when it returns to Liverpool, in the mean time it's amazing what will sit on your car if you stop even for moment!

The TARDIS moves on in time and is near completion

2005-07-24T14:51:00.000+01:00

The latest pictures... the dealine for completion is this week...

The TARDIS with its roof on

2005-07-13T15:25:00.000+01:00

Slowly the build develops!

The TARDIS

2005-07-12T10:48:00.000+01:00

The TARDIS, grews nearer to completion!

TARDIS doors

2005-06-20T22:49:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier June 2005
Why is it that when you are busy interesting opportunities knock at your door, yes I am a Doctor Who fan and yes I have built a Radio Times version of a Dalek which stands outside my study. Thanks to the new series visiting friend's children are not asking me "what is it?" instead they touch it nervously and hide when it yells "Exterminate" at them, but building a Police Box, a TARDIS? When I was asked by one of my young leaders could they borrow the Dalek for a CYFA Venture holiday I said sure, when they said the theme was "Time Travel" I said you need a TARDIS. Too late it was out... I had caught the bug, I downloaded plans from the internet and started the build, with some hard work from friends I had every bit of cut scrap wood I could lay my hands on and in the above picture you can see it's on its way. Now one daft item you can take on but I have also decided to enter a competition to produce a three minute thriller, so I have planned the script, arranged the cast and technical crew and that too is on its way. O yes then there's work and of course this would be a busy period but strangely enough I am enjoying myself, I feel refreshed and raring to go. Isn't life odd!

More Liverpool FC Homecoming Photographs

2005-05-28T18:02:00.000+01:00

If you would like to see more Liverpool FC homecoming photographs please follow the link below.
http://freespace.virgin.net/philjanvier.home
I hope you enjoy them!

Liverpool FC The Homecoming Picture 6

2005-05-26T20:11:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier

Liverpool FC The Homecoming Picture 5

2005-05-26T20:10:00.001+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier

Liverpool FC The Homecoming Picture 4

2005-05-26T20:10:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier

Liverpool FC The Homecoming Picture 3

2005-05-26T20:09:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier

Liverpool FC The Homecoming Picture 1

2005-05-26T20:06:00.001+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier

Liverpool FC The Homecoming Picture 2

2005-05-26T20:06:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier

Liverpool FC Champion League Winners 2005

2005-05-26T16:38:00.000+01:00

Last night as I watched the Champions League Cup Final I went through all the emotions football can bring you. It started with great expectations, but with the reality check of knowing that we were the underdogs, but there always was hope. I remember praying Lord, I know it's unfair to ask you to let Liverpool win but I know that there will be AC Milan fans doing the same, so I'm passionately asking you anyway! Well the 1st minute brought frustration, we can come back from one goal down, but by half time it was despair, three nil. My greatest fear was that we would be thrashed in the same way that Aresnal beat Everton, the possibility of such a humiliation was nearly overwhelming.

The Liverpool came with hearts full of fire, wow what a difference that made, the trouble was I could see Liverpool getting two goals. then Gerrard scored, Smicer, then we had the penalty. My heart was in my mouth, O No he missed... O Yes he's scored! Whoop, Whoop, Yes, Yes, Yes, general screaming and shouting. I jumped up so quick that I fell over with the blood rush! Three all. I danced round the room punching the air, no mild mannered clegyman here!

Then it was tension again, 3-3, then the final whistle and extra time, more tension, then penalties; miss -hurray, score - hurray, saved - hurray, score - hurray, score - boo, saved - boo, score - boo, score - hrray, saved - hurray.... We won, tears and laughter, disbelief and wonder, we did it, they did it.

Thank you Lord

St Stephen's Parish Church

2005-05-17T11:41:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
St Stephen's Parish Church has just started its own blog which can be found at http://ststephensgateacre.blogspot.com/ and is well worth a look.

UFO picture enlarged

2005-05-16T10:34:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
This is this the photograph below blown up.

UFO sighting? Probably not!

2005-05-16T10:24:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
I took this photograph out of the kitchen window at night using a 15" shutter speed, I have not played with the image at all. I was just taking pictures of the night sky using street lights, sadly that amuses me, what has really caught my attention are the lights at the top of the picture. Now I am not saying it is a UFO but I am saying I have no idea what it is. The white dot to the lower right of it is a star but what the other is I have no idea. Any suggestions?

The only way is up

2005-05-11T18:28:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
All lined up and ready to go! Lord point me in the direction you want me to go...

Opening the floodgates of Heaven

2005-05-11T16:50:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
A few years ago I broke my wrist very badly, now I can set of metal detectors if I get too close, a consequence of which is that when I play my 12 string guitar my wrist aches. So having left it in its case for 12 months I thought I would part exchange it for a new 6 string acoustic guitar. It cost £699 new so I was a little disappointed when it was valued by a few places at between £150-£200. Ouch! But what do I do? Do I keep hold of it and not use it? That's a waste. So today I took the plunge and sold it in part exchange. I still think it was worth more than I got but a gift unused is worth nothing. I had my second guitar, a Fender El Rio 6 string acoustic valued, it's not worth very much at all, but I use it, so I'm keeping it, it's valuable to me. It has made me realise that God is a very generous God and he opens the floodgates of heaven "with every spiritual blessing" and sometimes I leave his gifts in their case in the cupboard, and what a waste that is. Every drop of God's floodgated gifts is valuable, a source of life, hope, love, compassion, generosity, care and vision. If you have been given gifts by God use them and don't hide them away!

Going down in a blaze of glory

2005-05-08T21:46:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
Yesterday was a long day for me it started with a Deanery Conference on shared ministry, and the speaker was excellent, and ended with a performance by the band I'm in. At our level of gigging and performing, as we don't charge, we are the roadies, the set up crew, but we do have a great friend as our audio engineer, performers, take down crew and finally, roadies again. I know that some people regularly do 15 hour days but I don't! Today as a minister I was tired and certainly not firing on all cylinders. So tonight I was playing guitar in worship and I had to lead into "This is the air I breath" and could I pitch the first note? No. After making a fool of myself I came clean to everyone at admitted the problem, they had noticed... but we started with the chorus and it came flooding back. Sometimes we offer our best for the Lord and it's not good enough, but I am going to go down trying in a blaze of glory rather than give up! I would rather be a fool for Christ and make the effort than sit back and be comfortable.

Faulty Broadband

2005-05-04T17:51:00.002+01:00

In a week when Liverpool get through to final of the Champion's League, the BBC return Doctor Who with the most amazing Dalek, someone I care about gets what can only be called a miraculous healing my modem is down. I've borrowed a modem so that I can shout about it, and I live in hope that my replacement modem arrives soon, but it is frustrating when you cannot shout "YEAH!" for all to hear. It has made me realise just how I've become used to being able to communicate quickly and efficiently. Therefore, today my heart goes out to all those who through oppression, disease, poverty or frustration cannot get anyone to listen to them. For myself I just want to say, "Thank you, Lord for your generosity!"

Sometimes things do not go the way you plan!

2005-04-25T15:52:00.000+01:00

How we deal with "let downs" is important. Right now I feel cross but, and aren't there always buts, it's my response that counts. Do I get angry? I want to. Do I tell someone to "stuff it"? I want to. Do I back off and say, "Ok you won't play ball with me so I won't play ball with you?" I want to. Do I want to cry, "That's not fair?" I want to. Am I going to sulk? Maybe! Will I let them get me down? Probably. Will I fight it? Absolutely. Will I do my homework? Dead right. Will they win? Not if I can help it! Am I stubborn? Nodding my head, "Oh, Yes!"

Clouds

2005-04-21T18:31:00.000+01:00

Photograph (C) Phil Janvier
There are some days when the clouds are dark and threatening
and you look up and just smile.
God makes promises he keeps!

Oops!

2005-04-20T17:05:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
Sometimes things go wrong, in this case a gale force overnight wind and "Oops! Shame about the fence!" Thankfully, nobody was hurt. But it has made me think, we seem to live in a time when if something goes wrong we look for someone to blame. You can't watch satellite TV without being overwhelmed with adverts for that special company that can get you money because of an accident, too be honest I've even had a successful claim after an accident. Accidents happens, things go wrong, cameras break down, we fail to deliver whatever it is we promised, moral lapses occur, etc. The issue is not that these things happen, and please God don't let me fall, but what we do about it when they do. Ruthless honesty, deal with it right away, if you've let someone down then tell them as soon as possible. Cover-ups get us nowhere, most people understand that "things happen" what they don't like is being conned! So in business or life, best case, don't let things go wrong, if they do, confess them and manage them quickly!

Going round in circles

2005-04-18T16:02:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
Sometimes I think we work too hard at going round in circles, getting nowhere, seeing no one, becoming absorbed by the job in hand, then I lift my head and see a work of beauty. The ins and outs, the obstacles and sudden moments of success suddenly have meaning and that work is complete and the next task is at hand and we start again.

The Road goes ever on and on

2005-04-17T20:51:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow if I can.

Pursuing it with weary feet,

Until it joins some larger way,

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

(The Fellowship of the Ring, from "Three is Company")

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door," he used to say. "You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to. Do you realize that this is the very path that goes through Mirkwood, and that if you let it, it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even to worse places?" (The Fellowship of the Ring, from "Three is Company")

Moving Forward

2005-04-16T20:16:00.000+01:00

I heard a friend quote someone as saying that we spend our lives like an oarsman (or is that person?), we sit facing the direction we have come from, struggling to move forward in a direction that we can not see. How true and yet how deceiving, the past does lie behind us, all our struggles, all our misdirection and deliberate journeys off course are there for us to see, but the future is not an unknown territory that we must fear, frightened that our miss strokes of the past will dictate our future course. We as Christians face the future with hope, we know where we are going, we know who we travel with, we are not tossed about on the winds or whims of time. But, and it is a big but, we travel forward only with the big picture in mind, death, disease, disaster, politics, employment, our life partner (s) etc make life complicated. So should we be frightened of the future? Not at all, live the moment, take the risk, kiss the girl, yes make that choice remembering God's commandments, the power of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of scripture, but make a choice, be brave, be bold, take a risk in people and live life to the full!

Joshua 1:7 :Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (NIV)

Hello I'm the Doctor and this Rose, nice to meet you Lord!

2005-04-14T16:50:00.000+01:00

Ok it's not real but you have to admit it would be great to be able to go back in time, Mary receives gold, frankinscense and chanel No19, to witness the cross, no forget that one I couldn't watch The Passion, witness the resurrection, eat fish and chips with the disciples

Saturday Night is Doctor Who Night - Yeah!!

2005-04-13T21:53:00.000+01:00

Aliens of London - Saturday is coming!

The God of Cleansing Fire

2005-04-13T19:20:00.000+01:00

Photograph (c) Phil Janvier
The fire of the Spirit of God can be an overwhelming experience, but the Spirit of God is not an unknowable force of destruction, He is a God of cleansing fire, beauty and discipline. In His presence we can not help be awe struck at the might, power and authority of God Himself. What is amazing is this God of fire knows us by name and loves us!

Crafty Curate's Animation

2005-04-13T10:12:00.000+01:00

I was impressed with the latest animation from Pilgrim's Progress!

Don't ask me why. Sometimes they fly past. Sometimes they drag. I'm talking about journeys home on the M6, late at night. Sometimes, if I'm weary, and longing to get home, the road seems to go on and on.

This animation is for those days that the journey seems long ... Daddy, are we there yet? (Flash 6; 105K)

Wow!

2005-04-11T13:35:00.000+01:00

As the Apollo 8 spacecraft came around the moon, Jim Lovell, looked out at the Earth rising above the surface of the moon, as he was out on a limb and one of the first three human beings to see that sight, a blue and white planet glowing in the darkness of space, he felt he understood his place in God's universe and breaking NASA's rules he broadcast these words of scripture "What is man that you are mindful of him, or the Son of Man that you care." Knowing who we are and who God is may make us feel small but that God knows us by name and loves us. Wow!

A reminder!

2005-04-07T16:11:00.000+01:00

I was reading John Coles New Wine letter this afternoon and two things struck me, so I thought I'd ramble on the subject. John writes:

The Missing Generation Younger Leaders
In contrast we have been hearing for some time that the 20s are the missing generation in many churches in the UK. I am increasingly convinced that unless we invest in and capture the imagination and energy of this generation we will struggle to change the church and the nation.

How right John is, most churches are frightened to give responsibility to those in their twenties, we insult them with, you can hand out the books, or you can make the tea! One of the most powerful events in our church life was started by the young people, 24/7 prayer. The church is open for prayer day and night, their prayer opened my eyes, challenged my expectations and made me want more!

Leading with Integrity
The second thing that I was struck by in the history of the Vineyard is the fact that many of their leaders fell away morally. In many ways this is a natural consequence of raising younger leaders. Unless the development of character goes hand in hand with the development of gifting, and especially anointing in the power of the Spirit, then moral collapse can easily follow. Visibility, responsibility, and authority have a way of finding out weaknesses in our character as rain has of seeping through porous rock.

Again how right John is, when he states "Unless the development of character goes hand in hand with the development of gifting, and especially anointing in the power of the Spirit, then moral collapse can easily follow. " I remember the temptations of my twenties and thirties, I am now forty-seven, and I by the grace of God I survived those turbulent years that stretched character and gifting to the limit.

It begs the question now as I see that risk, character and gifting go hand in hand, have I turned into a boring middle-aged man?

Garbage in equals garbage out

2005-04-06T15:08:00.000+01:00

This is really just a ramble but sound engineers have an expression "Garbage in equals garbage out" and I think it's true of life. What am I feeding on today? What are you feeding on?

The Crafty Curate and I

2005-04-05T13:56:00.000+01:00

The Crafty Curate and I, this is my revenge for his bad influence in getting me to start a blogg. This was taken on the day Richard was ordained priest!

So you worked with an Angel!

2005-04-05T13:36:00.000+01:00

Now I know that the man with me is not from Doctor Who and if you watch Angel and Buffy you'll know that he's really a baddy, but Anglican Rector meets Vampire is worth a comment!

Some people have too much time on their hands!

2005-04-05T09:48:00.000+01:00

OK I'll be honest and admit that I have only started this blogg because of the bad influence of my curate (see http://craftycurate.blogs.com/) but having had a good look at his blogg I am left asking myself "Does he have too much time on his hands?" Well if you follow the link to his blogg you may well agree, it's stuffed full of digital art and motion graphics and thoughtful comment, so the question is "Is it a waste of time?" sadly, I think not, oh yes I could give him more to do but that would only make him busy but that would not make him "fruitful and effective". We are all human beings, yes even those of us ordained in Christian ministry, we all need to vent, express ourselves, push back the comfort zones and even, sometimes, get out into the real world and earn the right to speak. Richard's blogg is a life line, and outlet for his creativity and as far as I am concerned as his boss a necessary part of his life. So where does that leave my blogg? A passing fad, an excuse to ramble, an outlet for my creativity, who knows? Time will tell, it always does in the end!

Now for the Doctor Who fans out there how many references are there to Doctor Who in this posting?

Phil

Who is this man?

2005-04-04T22:34:00.000+01:00

Who is that man?

Only the beginning

2005-04-04T22:15:00.000+01:00

Well I've fallen for the blog, I'm not sure how interesting this is going to be but it's a start. Doctor Who's back on the TV and I believe in a God who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, so let's see what happens!