Taming Windows 7, Part 1: Reinstating the Classic Taskbar, with Quicklaunch.

If the icons pinned to the task bar are not to your taste, don't worry, you can get back the old Windows 200/XP/Vista classic start menu, complete with quick-launch. Here's my step by step guide.

First, take a look at the finished result we will acheive. I've highlighted the quicklaunch area and a classic taskbar icon. This is what we will acheive.

1. Open your home folder (or in fact, any folder you like), and create a new folder called Quicklaunch. This will contain all the quicklaunch shortcuts.
2. Right click on the taskbar, and hover over toolbars, and select New Toolbar.
3. Browse to the place where you created you Quicklaunch folder, and select it. Then click Select Folder.
4. Right Click the taskbar again, but this time click Properties
5. Select Use Small Icons. Also, change the Taskbar Buttons selection to Combine When Taskbar is Full (or if you prefer, Never Combine). Click OK.
6. Once again, right click the taskbar, and this time deselect Lock the Taskbar. You should now be able to drag the quicklaunch area to the left part of the taskbar, left of the actual main taskbar area. Move to taste. Also, you can now drag the top of the taskbar down, so that it is the normal height. You can also right click on the Quicklaunch taskbar you created and change it to show icons only, and not show the title.
7. Next, right click on the applications pinned to the taskbar. Click Unpin this program from taskbar on each of them.
8. Next, Click the start menu, and find each program you would like to add to the Quicklaunch bar. Right-click-drag the icon to the start menu. Select the option to create a shortcut.
Finally, right click the task bar, and re-select Lock the taskbar. You should have a much saner, old-skool windows style.

Resetting "My Song Is Love Unknown" to "The Message"

A few years ago Coldplay were inspired by the hymn My Song Is Love Unknown" and used it as the basis for their song "The Message" on the album X&Y.

I have long loved the hymn, its poetry and its message, as well as its tune and harmony. However, there are many who do not love organ based hymns and a choral 4 part harmony setting. I think therefore it may be time to use the resource of Coldplay's song, reintroducing the lyrics to once again tell the message of My Saviour's Love to Me.

The new structure is a little different, so it's not a perfect fit, but this is how I am so far thinking it might work:

Verse 1

My song is love unknown,
My Saviour’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.

Verse 2

He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed-for Christ would know,
The longed-for Christ would know:

Chorus 1

O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend,
at my need His life did spend.

Verse 3

Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King,
Hosannas to their King:

Chorus 2

Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
A murderer they save,
The Prince of life they slay,
The Prince of life they slay.

Verse 4

Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
He gave the blind their sight,

Chorus 3

Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
His foes from thence might free.

Verse 5

Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King!
Never was grief like Thine.
Never love and grief like Thine.

Chorus 4

This still needs a bit of work to make it fit, but I'd like to use the following parts of the hymn:

This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

What may I say? Heav’n was His home;

Spending Time

It has recently been asked why I have spent some time with person X, when they don't put themselves out for me and never get birthday presents on time. This was contrasted with person Y who I could have spent time with instead who has apparently done more for me.

I think the quite simple explanation is that, I enjoy the company of X more than Y, despite what comparatively to each other they may have done for me. Should I spend more time on Y than I do? Probably, but this is tricky if that time will drag.

Perhaps the answer is to learn to enjoy time with Y more, or perhaps I should feel less guilty, or perhaps this is all just a red herring, distracting from me not spending enough time with Z.

An observation on healing

While the Charismatics are off to Lakeland, Florida to get "the anointing", the Catholics are still making their pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. In the gospels, the healing was all Centred around Jesus in Israel, and people still go there.

In contrast, at pentecost, "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit", and when Peter spoke he quoted the scripture "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.". Although the apostles started their work in Jerusalem, they were eventually scattered, and then God's work was done everywhere!

So, if we are filled with the spirit, wherever we are, surely God can work through us, giving whatever gift is required for his work, be that powerful preaching, boldness to stay firm and proclaim "Jesus is lord!" under persecution or even miraculous signs and healings. Why go "there" (Lakeland, Lourdes, Jerusalem) if God has work for us "here" (or perhaps even somewhere else).

Earthquake

Was that an earthquake I just felt that shook the house just now? Anyone else feel it? How often are we meant to get these things in Leamington?

Answers on a postcard, or alternatively a blog comment (or if you really want to be awkward, a facebook comment).

Merry Christmas

to all those who read my blog or facebook - Especially those who I have not managed to wish a Merry Christmas in some other way.

From Martin

Isaiah 7

Your views please...

Strictly Come Dancing

There is a new series coming soon, and I am expecting great things from rap superstar John Barnes.

PS. for those that don't know who John Barnes is, take a look below