Mark Tiddy
Website of Mark Tiddy | Musician, Christian, Youth Worker

 Regular readers of my blog will know that a desire to see the church change and to see more young people through the doors are things that I’m passionate about.

A few months ago myself and Lee Kirkby (Youth Minister at Beverley Minster) were having a bit of the grumble about church…if I’m honest even though I’ve made it through youth groups, I’ve trained as a youth worker (and explored theology at university) and I work for a church I still often find church irrelevant…alongside this the lack of 20′s and 30′s in our church is frustrating when I know there are some people of that age range in our village.

The outcome of this grumble with Lee was that we both went away and thought ‘hang on…we should really do something about this rather that just moaning’ and so we have!

Next Saturday from 10am until 1pm at Beverley Minster we’re running the East Riding Youth Summit. An event aimed at getting young people aged 15-25 and church leaders (Ministers, PCC Members etc.) together, joined by the Bishop of Hull to spend some time discussing how the church needs to change to welcome in more young people and what both church leaders and young people can do to influence that.

As a follow-up we’re going to write up everything that’s said into a report format and send it to the young people and to their churches’ PCC’s as a way of saying ‘there were young people from your church at this event and this is what they think about bringing more young people into the church’.

Personally I’m really excited about this event and think it can have a big impact…if you’re in the East Riding come along!

Finally…

I know I don’t usually use this blog for work stuff but this seems to combine work and personal passions…also if you’re interested you can click here to hear me talking about the Youth Summit and young people in the church on BBC Radio Humberside this morning.

On Monday whilst I was doing the first session of my Oasis Esteem training in London they showed this video, I’ve seen it before but it is simply amazing and so inspiring so thought I’d share it! Enjoy!

Today I awoke to the sad news that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had passed away. Steve, who had been battling with cancer for years stepped down as Apple CEO in August handing over to Tim Cook. This is what the Apple website says about Steve’s passing:

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and a inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple”

Steve Jobs co-founded Apple in 1979 and the company eventually released the first home Mac controlled by a mouse. In 1985 Steve parted company with Apple and went on to buy Pixar and take it to where it is today (eventually selling to Disney).

In 1997 Steve returned to the, then failing, Apple and in the last 14 years has been the visionary behind the company launching the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad amongst other products over the last 14 years all of which have been hugely successful.

Steve’s unique approach to keeping new products quiet and then launching with big media events causes hundreds of rumours to circulate around the web in anticipation of the next Apple product update. On top of that his attention to detail has led to Apple products being unlike any other.

When I brought my Macbook 3 and a half years ago it was unlike any computer I’d ever purchased…even the packaging was exciting and there is something really special about my Macbook because it’s fantastically designed and the user interface is exactly what I want to work with.

Likewise there is no other touchscreen phone on the market that works quite as slickly as the iPhone.

Steve Job’s charismatic approach to technology has made getting excited about technology something cool and not just for geeks. His product design has led to millions of people enjoying their technology. Steve Jobs has truly left his mark on our modern world.

I’m going to finish this blog with a piece of wisdom from Steve Job’s 2005 speech at Stanford University and few tributes from some famous people/bands that I’ve seen this morning.

“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love.” – Steve Jobs

“Woke to the news of Steve Jobs’s death. He changed the world. I knew him a little and admired him entirely. Love to Apple and his family.” – Stephen Fry

“Dear Steve Jobs, thanks for believing in our little band enough to put one of our songs in your first iTunes commercials. Tell me one other company of this size that would actually have the balls to use a song that includes a series of “F-Bombs” in their add campaign? Not to mention a song that blatantly talks sh*t about the radio. You were a true innovator and a hacker at heart. Hell, you were buddies with The Woz and Captain Crunch! That in itself is pretty badass. Thanks for showing that it pays to break the rules and fight for what you believe. You have made a fan for life. RIP.” - The Ataris

“R.I.P. Steve Jobs (1955-2011). Thanks for giving me the tools to build my career homie. Much love and respect, you will be missed.” - MC Lars