Albums of the Year 2009

Just realised that this year was coming to an end, not just the decade. I know, that's pretty slow.

This year was a great one for top draw albums - in fact the top 4 of this list were on the long list for the decade list - though none quite made it in the end.... here goes

1. Bat for Lashes - Two Suns

This album blew me away. A real step on from 'Fur & Gold', employing Yeasayer to produce on a number of tracks was a master stroke. This album feels old (in a good way) whilst new (also in a good way) all at once. Its lyrical strength lies in its clear themes of duality and Jungian philosophy make for fascinating lyrics - even employing Song of Songs ch 3 to start the album... a truly great album.

2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

The last 3 years or so have seen Grizzly Bear's star rise and rise. To my mind they are the USA's best indie/alternative band. Clever atmospheric arrangements. Interesting rhythms. Beautiful Melodies. A band who know exactly what they're doing.

3. St. Vincent - Actor

One time member of 'The Polyphonic Spree' and 'Sufjan Stevens' live band - Annie Clark has stepped out of their shadows to make a couple of brilliant records. The first album 'Marry Me' has some glorious tunes - but as a whole this album takes it up a gear. Pop and Indie and Classical all blend together to create a brilliantly unique sound. She is the real deal and my top tip for future brilliantdom.

4. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park

Daniel Rossen from Grizzly Bear is onto a winner. He is in the best TWO indie bands in America. This album reminds me of the Beatles and the Beach Boys - yet sounds hardly anything like them - evoking the quality of those bands most heralded records yet still remaining purely individual. I probably listened to this record more than any other in 2009.

5. Fever Ray - Fever Ray

This album came with much hype - she is one half of 'The Knife'; one of the music press' darling artists. So I was ready for a brilliant yet perhaps awkward record. Which is what I got. You cannot mistake this album for anyone else and there are very few albums I listened to in 2009 of which that is true. Haunting and beautiful.

What did I miss? (I didn't miss 'Battle studies' before you mention it)

dg

Destiny will be Fulfilled

Playlist - December 1.0

Believe E.S.P by Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity

No One Does it Like You by Department of Eagles - In Ear Park

Ainsi la Nuit: IV Litanies 2 by Belcea Quartet - Debussy/Dutlleux/Ravel

Skttrbrain (Four Tet Remix) by Radiohead - Com Lag EP

Playground Love by Air - The Virgin Suicides Soundtrack

As Tears Roll By by Daniel Lanois - Shine

American Beauty by Thomas Newman - American Beauty Soundtrack

7/4 (Shoreline) by Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene

Devil's Pie by D'Angelo - Voodoo

The Rip by Portishead - Third

Spotify Playlist HERE

dg

My Albums of the Decade

I like making lists. But this one was very hard.

There are two factors I've taken into account when compiling this list; how 'good' I think the album is (songwriting, performance, production, creativity etc.) and how much I 'enjoyed' it. So some albums that are amazingly good (eg. Dear Science - TV on the Radio) wouldn't get a look in because I didn't fall in love with it. Whilst others like 'Parachutes' by Coldplay - which I enjoyed - did not make it because they aren't really that impressive or progressive at all. And because these records are impossible to rank I've put them in alphabetical order.... I tried doing just 10 - but I physically couldn't do it - so there's 20.... here goes:

Arcade Fire - Funeral

Probably the best debut of the decade

Beck - Sea Change

I love his beats but his songs and outstanding

Bjork - Vespertine

Beauty personified in album form

Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene

One of the most exciting bands around - an orchestral indie triumph

Burial - Untrue

If you grew up where I grew up you'd get this record. Believe the hype.

D’Angelo - Voodoo

The best soul record of the 00's. Hands down.

Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity

Angular art rock. Brilliant.

Elliot Smith - Figure 8

The greatest album from one of the greatest song writers of his generation. Sadly missed.

Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic

When rhythm trumps melody you know it is special.

Godspeed! You Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven

Epic. Coldplay should give up.

Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain

A flawless album. Unlike anything since.

Grizzly Bear - Yellow House

America's best indie band doing their thing.

Justice - †

Daft Punk must be gutted. Their sound times a thousand.

PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea

Even though it won the Mercury prize this album is awesome

Radiohead - Kid A

The best album of any decade

Radiohead - In Rainbows

They are the only band to make it twice because they are the best - by far.

Rufus Wainwright - Want One

A totally unique pop record. One of my favourites of all time.

Ryan Adams - Gold

If you want to know why he's so good - listen to 'Sylvia Plath'

Sufjan Stevens - Come on Feel the Illinoise

Intricate and clever. He is Indie's darling for a reason.

Thom Yorke - The Eraser

Itchy beats. Fidgety sounds. A tight record. Essential.

phew!

dg

Delirious?

Tonight saw the last ever Delirious? gig in London at the Hammersmith Apollo. There will be many gushing tributes and a bucket load of hyperbole about what they have done as 'History Makers' - it can be difficult not to get too sentimental at such times - and in that regard I have no idea how one ministry contributes to the Kingdom of God in comparison to any other, but I can tell you some of the ways this incredible band have influenced me...

"Cutting Edge 3" - I had heard a lot of the songs from Cutting Edge 1 & 2, a number of them had quickly become church favourites - 'Lord You have my heart'; 'Thankyou for saving me'; the hoedown of the 'Happy song' - the songs were amazing but the recordings were a little too, well, happy-clappy-folky for a boy who was into Nirvana and Blur and the Stone Roses. But then came Cutting Edge 3. It is hard to imagine that there was a time when worship bands didn't sound like U2, but Martin Smith was the first to write these epic songs, with huge guitars and big themes. The scope of the record was hugely impressive; 'Did you feel the Mountains Tremble' is still the bench mark for epic worship songs and 'Oh Lead me' is achingly, spine tinglingly beautiful, whilst 'I'm not Ashamed' is as raw and unabashed and unafraid as any popular worship song since. On 6 track cassettes, self funded and produced, they pioneered it all.

"Live & in the Can" - I remember first seeing that cool looking can in the London branch of Wesley Owen, off Oxford Street behind Selfridges, and I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard it. That is how important this album was for me. It opened my eyes and ears to what could be done on a worship album. The riff driven 'Come Like You promise', the fragile intimacy of 'What a friend' the thundering desire of 'Obsession' - here were a band (their first album as 'Delirious?' in fact) utterly passionate and full of a revolutionary hunger - when you play this album you feel that change is imminent, the Kingdom is coming and God is with us. Alongside that year's Soul Survivor album (1996 - on which they featured) , 'Live & in the Can' represents all that is good (and now sadly lost) about live worship albums. You could feel the hunger, you could sense the Presence. There is no higher accolade than that.

"Draw Me Near" - I'm sure Martin can't even remember how it goes, but this is a song I wrote when I was 15 that he ended up singing on 'The People's Album' when I was 16. I was so delighted - and still am.

"Deeper" - When this hit the charts (even if it was only number 20) it felt like a landmark. Think about it - a song about going deeper into God, knowing Him more, loving Him deeper, was in the top 20. Remarkable.

"And the wonder of it all is that I'm living just to fall more in love with You"

"Glo" - They had two great stabs at infecting the charts (King of Fools & Mezzamorphis) which were packed full of great songs, some with explicit references to God, but largely had more ambiguous lyrics of searching and desire. I bought all the singles (including Deeper again as an EP) and was fully behind their chart assault. Then came 'Glo' and suddenly we all got a glimpse of what we were missing. 'God's Romance'; 'Investigate'; 'My Glorious'; 'What would I have done' and the brilliant 'Jesus Blood'. My head said 'Go for the Charts!' but my heart said 'I want more songs like these!' - This is a GREAT worship album - 'Audio Lessonover' didn't stand a chance.

"World Service" - By the time this album came around in 2003 the Americans had got very good at copying Delirious. (Well, we all had). Rather than churn out a worship album straight down the MOR route of Nashville they reminded everyone that not every song had to be mid-tempo or cliche ridden. The highlight of this album, 'Majesty' was probably their last great contribution to the wider church's song canon (apart from the 'Our God reigns' chorus - can 7 simple words ever have so much impact). A worship band once more - 'To God in Heaven/Be the Glory".

So thank you Martin, Stu, Tim, Jon and Stew (and lately Paul) for all you gave us. For all your songs meant and still mean to me. For writing from the depths and singing it with all your hearts.

I thank God for Delirious. I really do.

dg

Sponging off the State

Don't you just hate people that sponge off the state?

Who don't need to do a day's work because of our taxes...

Who spend our money on things they don't need...

Who have no intention of getting out of their state dependance...

Who produce generation after generation of people who do the same...

Whose kids get drunk...

Whose elders have careless racist attitudes...

Who swan around like they own the place...

Who expect to be respected yet do not offer the same respect to others...

Who live charmed, lazy lives...

So who is with me...? Down with the Royal Family!

dg

Playlist - November 2.0

I enjoyed doing last weeks playlist so much - and apparently some of you did as well... so here is another one of stuff I've listened to this week and enjoyed!

NOVEMBER 2.0

Black Rainbow by St. Vincent - Actor

First it Giveth by Queens of the Stone Age - Songs of the Deaf

Seven by Fever Ray - Fever Ray

Nature Boy by David Bowie & Massive Attack - Moulin Rouge Collectors Edition (!)

Toes by Errors - It's not Something but it is Like Whatever

Time of the Season (mono) by The Zombies - The Original Studio Recordings

Je t'aime by Staff Benda Bilili - Tres Tres Fort

Black & Blue by Miike Snow - Miike Snow

Some Velvet Morning by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood - Nancy & Lee

Chemtrails by Beck - Modern Guilt

EnJOY!

dg

2012

At last! I've been looking forward to the end of the world for ages!

November Playlist

In a (hopefully, if I remember) new feature I'm going to post some Spotify playlists of stuff I've been listening to recently to share the love.... the great thing about Spotify is that it makes it darn easy to find and share new music. Hoo-blooming-ray!

Click on the link below to go straight there....

2000007 by Modeselektor & TTC - Happy Birthday!

The Dancing by Remember Remember - Remember Remember

I'm All Over It by Jamie Cullum - The Pursuit

When David Heard by Oxford Camerata & Thomas Weelkes - Weelkes: Anthems

Gila by Beach House - Devotion

Innocence by Bjork (Alva Noto Remix) - Voltaic

Gloomy Sunday by Billie Holiday - Blue Billie

Easier by Grizzly Bear - Yellow House

Gold Digger by Kanye West & Jamie Foxx - Late Registration

Clowns by Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree

November 2009

hope you enjoy it....

dg

Self Promotion: Good, Bad or Ugly?

I've done it. Many times. Advertised and publicised things I'm doing or records I've made or talks I've given etc....

But I know one thing:

I have always felt like an idiot doing it - I've never been comfortable with any aspect of it. Whether that is a personality thing or that I have a sense of it being 'wrong' or 'disobedient' in anyway, I'm not sure. I don't know.

So I've either not done it at all or done it a way I don't like or done it in a way that undermines itself with overly depreciative tones

Though it seems now to be a normal part of having a 21st Century ministry - websites, facebook fan pages, MySpace, street teams, publicity, tours etc. etc. etc.

Whatever I've not been able to reconcile, a lot of other people seem totally OK with.

I know I'm an idealist - I'd greatly prefer others to lift me up; advocates who will believe in me and what I do - and for word of mouth to do any 'promotional' work that needs doing.

And because I see everyone else running ahead and promoting their stuff left, right and centre, I often feel a little left behind - because what I'm doing is not packaged and presented and publicised in the very intentional way others are doing it - my stuff certainly doesn't reach everyone it could - but does it reach everyone that it 'should'? That is the question I cannot answer.

I don't think my problem is a lack of confidence or self confidence, in fact if anything the opposite is the problem - it is more likely pride than an absence of self belief. (I pretty much believe my songs to be as good as anyone else's - no existential angst here!).

Also my problem isn't that I am so very humble that I don't promote myself - I guess true humility wouldn't think about it all, and certainly wouldn't be writing this blog post.

My problem is that I don't like promoting myself, not one bit.

In thinking and wrestling this I've found two verses that have really helped

He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3:30)

and

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

So I want your help and thoughts. Self promotion, do you think it is:

Good - a normal, natural thing. Highlighting the good things God has given us and offering them up to the wider Church in order that it may be blessed.

Bad - an unnatural, ungodly approach. Full of pride, self interest and ultimately harmful for the Church and an unhealthy distraction - even as far as creating idols of people and their gifts.

Ugly - there is nothing 'wrong' with it but it is a little tasteless and crass.

all your comments are greatly appreciated - I'd love to have a good discussion on this issue...

dg

Twitter....

Hey blog readers!

One of the things I used to do a lot on this blog was to highlight articles I've read or other interesting, inspiring and time wasting stuff I've found on the web..... most of that stuff I now direct to Twitter.....

Now I can understand your hesitance at joining Twitter - there are many people who spend all day telling you what meals they're eating and what their cats doing and what the weather is like and that is about as interesting and revealing as watching one of those Piers Morgan interviews that come on after X-Factor.....

What Twitter is great for is the sharing of info/articles/inspiring stuff and seems to be a little more light hearted than the weightiness that a blog implies - plus it is a quicker, easier format than doing a whole blog post just to highlight something i read on the Guardian website - which keeps this blog more for proper posts, videos, images and lyrics......

sign up here http://twitter.com

follow me here http://twitter.com/davidgate

i will do the decent thing and follow you too - until you start tweeting about your cats then i will unfollow you.

sweet

dg

Destiny Found

The Sun (We Love It)

Thirsty Love

Something's brewing in this gloomy sky
And I could use a lift
What with all this humid weather
Something's got to give
Then the thunder breaks the silence
Like a blessing from above
As the rain falls on our thirsty love
Thirsty love

Something's moving in the wounded eyes
And now I feel a chill
Rising through this moody silence
When you say I love you still
Composure now collapsing
'Neath the weight of all our sighs
As the tears fall from our thirsty eyes
Thirsty eyes

There must be a reason
For the dreams that come and go
Maybe something bigger is pulling on the strings
For all we know
And the thunder breaks the silence
Like a blessing from above
As the rain falls on our thirsty love
Thirsty love.

Too true

from nothingiswritten

If only the problem were consumerism....

It is the commonly held wisdom that one of the central problems with today's church is that Christians too often approach church as a 'consumer'; the people don't come to give, but simply to be entertained.

I can see how that would fit. Rampant consumerism is one of the less desirable traits of our wider culture. Yet as I watch the gatherings of consumers at football grounds, U2 concerts and the audiences of X-Factor what I see is dramatically different to what I witness at gatherings of Christians:

Shared communal enthusiasm
Passionate exuberance.
A freedom of inhibition
Willingness to self express
And of course, excitement verging on (and frequently achieving) hysteria.

When the consumers meet to consume this is what we see. When the Christians meet to consume... this is what we don't see. Not usually anyway.

In fact, I don't even agree that consumption is wrong in church:

"Taste and see that the Lord is good"

"Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."

"Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

"...so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones"

We like to call 'consumption' other things when we meet together; empowerment; receiving; blessing; anointing; impartation..... you know the type of thing, words that make us feel virtuous.

The problem is not consumption or consumers.

The problem is a lack of consumption.

And a lack of giving.

In fact, it is a lack of engagement in general, perhaps best described as 'apathy'.

I really wouldn't mind if the problem in our church was consumption. People who receive and receive and receive at least get half of what its about - they just need to give more. The people who stand there with their hands in their pockets with their mouths shut wearing the expression of a droopy haddock are not even half the way there.

Oh how I would love to see our church with a consumption problem - receiving and enjoying and engaging - if it were only that then at least we would have some passion to work with, some shared experiences, some willingness to engage.

Alas, the consumer is not the millstone around the neck of the 21st Century church, it is the apathetic, the disinterested and the passive.

When what is 'consumed' is God (rather than a good show and a clever preach) then that 'consumption' compels the 'consumer' to give, to share and to love.

I for one intend to consume as much as I can.

dg

Blackest Night

St. Vincent - Marrow

Tabloid Hypocrisy

It's hardly surprising, but well worth being reminded of..... who really fuels the BNP support....

http://enemiesofreason.blogspot.com/2009/10/hmm-remember-this.html

dg

Nick Griffin on Question time (an Alt. Version)

What I think about when I worship.....

I wish I could write here that when I worship all that I think about is God. That my only considerations are of Him and who He is. I wish I could say that when I worship God I am relieved of all thoughts of myself. I wish I could tell you that, but I can't.

Certainly that is what I try to do. To only think of God. To become so enraptured in the divine that my sense of self vanishes. I have been taught that is the right thing to do, and I think it is. To try, that is. But I feel like a failure and a fraud. Rather than becoming fixated on the transcendent nature of God I find that when I see Him, when I love Him, when I worship Him, I often end up thinking about me; my life; my heart; my worth and many other facets of my existence.

I can't help it.

As soon as I realise that I've drifted into thinking about me again, I quickly repent like an eager Catholic to a priest, and try to do better by concentrating really, really very hard on God. This includes scrunching my eyes shut so tight that it begins to hurt - repeating my mantra "I become less, You become more, I become less, You become more, I become less, You become more"

Then if I'm lucky, the worship will finish quite soon and I can relax my face muscles and feel the relief of being able to think of myself again without the guilt wringing thoughts that I am a self-centred, narcissistic, pride filled, fraud of a worshipper.

God must be pleased. But I probably should do better next time.

So I've been wondering:

Why is it that I can't manage to worship the way I 'should'?

Why are my heart and mind so easily turned?

Am I so filled with rampant ego and pride that my worship is doomed to failure?

And in chewing this over I've realised:

God loves me. And that is the truth.

God gave His Son for me. And that is the truth.

God made me in His image. And that is the truth.

God wants to reveal Himself to me. And that is the truth.

God has a plan for me. And that is the truth.

God knew me before I knew myself. And that is the truth.

God is living in me. And that is the truth.

God is speaking to me. And that is the truth.

God is lifting me up. And that is the truth.

God is transforming me to be more like Him. And that is the truth.

God welcomes me as a friend. And that is the truth.

God cherishes me as a son. And that is the truth.

Humility is not the absence of self. It is to view yourself modestly. Appropriately. And it is impossible to see God and not see His love. His love for me, for you, for all the world.

In the middle of our worship He will speak to us; He will convict us; He will comfort us; He will delight in us.

That is the mystery of this ontological circle. That as I ponder in awe who He is, I begin to understand who I am. And from there I look to Him again in wonder and mystery. That He would love me.

This is humility - to know God's love and to bow before it. To take the crown He gives us and lay it down. And when He puts it back on our heads we are humbled again and compelled to lay it down at His feet once more.

When I worship I realise that He loves me.

And that is the truth.

dg

Literally, the Best Website in Existence

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/

it is beautiful. very, very beautiful.

this website is now a daily stop on the web browsing rounds.

bookmark it

dg

Hate

Apple and Christians

'Christians don't just like Apple, they love Apple and need it to operate. On the surface, you would ask yourself how Christians could love a multibillion-dollar company with manufacturing plants in China and mass production, and that contributes to global pollution through the manufacture of consumer electronic devices.

The simple answer: Apple products tell the world you are creative and unique. They are an exclusive product line only used by every Christian college student, designer, writer, English teacher and hipster on the planet. It is important that Christians are reminded of their creativity. Remember, you need a Mac to creatively check email, creatively check websites, and creatively watch DVDs on planes.

Apple products also come with stickers. Some people put them on their computers, some people put them on windows, but to take this to the pinnacle of Christendom, you need to put the Apple sticker in the rear window of your Prius, Jetta, BMW, Subaru 4WD station wagon or Audi.

You then need to drive to a local coffeeshop (Starbucks will do at a pinch) and set up your Apple for the world to see. Thankfully, the Apple logo on the back will light up. So even in a dark place, people can see how unique and creative you (and the five other people next to you doing the exact same thing) truly are.'

taken from stuffwhitepeoplelike.com with the words 'white people' replaced by 'christians'. It works the same.

dg

A Rat's Nest

clicks on the phone.
I cannot help you.
caught by own worm.
caught in a rat's nest.
eat own young.
chew through wires
sewn up in stitches, stitches.
deny all knowledge.
paragraph 5.
subsection b.
the comittee is content. content.
to live in a rat's nest.
rat's nest

If I thought for one minute you could do this, I'd vote for you...

'I see a country where more children grow up with security and love because family life comes first. I see a country where you choose the most important things in life - the school your child goes to and the healthcare you get. I see a country where communities govern themselves - organising local services, independent of Whitehall, a great handing back of power to people. I see a country with entrepreneurs everywhere, bringing their ideas to life - and life to our great towns and cities. I see a country where it’s not just about the quantity of money, but the quality of life - where we lead the world in saving our planet. I see a country where you’re not so afraid to walk home alone, where you’re safe in the knowledge that right and wrong is restored to law and order. I see a country where the poorest children go to the best schools not the worst, where birth is never a barrier.'

... but I don't. So I won't. Sorry Dave. Good rhetoric though.

Capitalism: A Love Story

I am very much looking forward to seeing this film.... have a read of this.

Fahrenheit 9/11 remains the only film i've ever cried in... though I did have a moment during Finding Nemo but managed to hold it in. Bowling for Columbine and Sicko are also passionate and thought provoking films; revealing Michael Moore's compassion and care for America's underprivileged. They are also hilarious.

Can't wait.

dg

Four Tet & Steve Reid

Jazz at the Bookstore

Leadbelly's in the background
Being drowned out by the grind
He's singing about "Rock Island Line"
Nobody seems to pay him any mind

Bestsellers and bookshelves
Full of self-help printed word
Some faint elegance is heard
Now was that Ellington or Bird?

And has it really come to this?
Can ignorance be bliss?
I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop
Jazz at the bookstore
And blues in the coffee shop
Jazz at the bookstore
And blues in the coffee shop

There's a man standing at the crossroads
With a dark roast in his hand
Livin' in white yuppy hand
Over by the milk and sugar stand

And have i really come to this
Cup of caffeinated bliss?

So we browse around
All over town
Sipping coffees that we can't pronounce
And meanwhile in the blues cemetery
All the coffins commence to bounce

Leadbelly's in the cold ground
Rolling over in his grave
The hard road where so many slaved
Is now so smooth and paved

And has it really come to this?

Can ignorance be bliss?
I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop
Jazz at the bookstore

And blues in the coffee shop

Hang on to your Ego

I know so many people who think they can do it alone
They isolate their heads and stay in their safety zones

Now what can you tell them
And what can you say that won't make them defensive

Hang on to your ego
Hang on, but I know that you're gonna lose the fight

They come on like they're peaceful
But inside they're so uptight
They trip through the day
And waste all their thoughts at night

Now how can I say it
And how can I come on
When I know I'm guilty

Hang on to your ego
Hang on, but I know that you're gonna lose the fight

Now how can I say it
And how can I come on
When I know I'm guilty

So hang on to your ego
Hang on, but I know that you're gonna lose the fight

Mediocrity, Excellence and the Heart Behind It All.

I've often wished I'd been blessed with an extraordinary talent.... the voice of an angel or a Mozart-like musical precociousness or an irresistible charisma.... Sadly that is not my portion. I can sing a bit and play a bit and I hope I am not totally devoid of personality, but my 29 years have so far revealed that I was not born with exceptional talent.

(and yes, I know that I am made in the Image of God and I am exceptional and unique etc.... this is not a post born out of insecurity, rest assured, so don't leave "but David you are wonderful"comments. This I already know.)

But I have been pondering a lot recently on the nature of excellence, particularly in the context of worship. Although I may never be the best, do I settle for not doing my best?

Am I comfortable with my mediocrity?

Well, no actually, I'm not.

It is dangerous ground to start talking about standards in worship because there is only one standard that ultimately counts - the heart of worship behind our songs and words and music. But recently I have been moved by the 'excellent' nature of Old Testament worship - it was always the best.

The best cows. The best doves. The best grain. The Temple made from the finest wood, purest gold and perfectly crafted stone.

Yet with that I know, as every good worship leader should, 1 Samuel 16:7 like a mantra.

Heart. Heart. Heart - it is what the Lord wants more than anything else from us.

Ring fence that thought now. For what I'm about to say may seem contradictory to that - bear with me.

God still wants our best. Actually, I think God still demands our best.

I heard a new worship song recently that was featured somewhere and as I listened to it I was underwhelmed by its mediocrity. Bland tune. Bland chords. Bland lyrics. It was the kind of song that would be good only if it was the first song you ever wrote.

I have no doubt that the heart behind it was sincere. None at all. And I have no doubt that in what really matters, the issue of heart, God was satisfied with this song. But in every other way it was utterly unsatisfying. And although those 'standards' are not the most important thing, the central thing, they equally, are not nothing.

But we want to encourage, don't we? And we don't want to criticise, do we? So we say "Yes that's a great song, well done". There is another name for this kind of encouragement: Lying.

If we say all is good and nothing is great then we kill all achievement. I think some in the church would have it this way. And so we hear mediocre song after mediocre song and we sing bland lyric after bland lyric and we read boring book after boring book. All in the security that what matters is heart so every other consideration is pointless at best and devious or idolatrous at worst.

Wesley Owen is full of good intentions and bad songs and boring books.

So we forget about doing our best. We forget about working hard to be a good writer before we publish a book. We forget about learning more than 5 chords before we promote a song. So we call the mediocre songs good and the good songs great and nobody ends up making anything that's really very good anymore. We kill all drive to improve, to progress, to evolve. We forget about all standards of excellence and achievement and merit because all God wants is our hearts. Right?

No. I don't think so.

We need to do our best because of hearts for Him, not in spite of them. We do our best because of who He is. So we don't say "that's a great song" when it isn't. We don't have to shoot it down in flames either, but we are able to encourage the person without lying about the achievement. Much in the same way that we love people but don't affirm their sin. It just take a little pastoral nous, that's all - and the Holy Spirit is great at that sort of thing.

God wants our hearts, firstly and utterly. But let us never forget that He also wants our very best.

Comments and discussion, as always, are greatly received...

dg

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

A Change is Gonna' Come

I was born by the river in a little tent
And just like that river I've been running ever since
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cos I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

And then I go to see my brother
And I ask him to help me please
And he just winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees

There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

Mystique

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Our lives today are so disparate. We have families. Work colleagues. Old school friends. Church friends. Those we meet in the school playground when we drop of our kids. We have those we know from the gym or the club or the pub.

And to each of those groups we may present ourselves a different person. One that is clever or funny or holy. Often our work colleagues would not recognise the person we are at home and that person isn't half as good or holy as the person we are on a sunday.

A different person for a different place.

Mystique is a villain from the X-Men series. She is a 'shape shifter'; she can change her form to appear like anyone else. She is an expert at covert work and being a double or even a triple agent. But no-one knows the real Mystique; Raven Darkhölme. Not even her children - with whom she has troubled relationships to say the least.

God describes himself to Moses as "I AM". God always is who God always is. It is impossible for Him to be inconsistent or self-contradictory. He is not a capricious God.

Part of becoming more like Him is to become more consistent. More reliable. More dependable. It is one of the reasons Jesus implores His disciples to "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'" in Matthew 5. The world can only work on the basis of trust. If we do not trust each other we cannot function. If we are untrustworthy then we will find it hard, or even impossible, to build anything substantial. A man's word is still his bond - even if our society seeks to replace such things with legally binding contracts.

Will I be a shape shifter; changing who I am to meet my needs and get my own way?

Or will I be a rock; consistent, reliable and authentic?

"But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation." James 5:12

dg

Monuments

"Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor."

1 Samuel 15:12

These Are My Twisted Words

These are my twisted words
When I feel you still walking
I know I should not look down
But I’m so sick of just talking

When are you coming back?
I just can’t handle it
When are you coming back?
I just can’t handle it

When are you coming back?
I just can’t stand it
I just can’t handle it

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Harry Patch (In Memory Of)

I am the only one that got through
The others died where ever they fell
It was an ambush
They came up from all sides
Give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
I've seen devils coming up from the ground
I've seen hell upon this earth
The next will be chemical but they will never learn

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Remembering the Dead

Bjork - Unravel

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My Little Empire

My little empire
Has risen and it's set
My little empire
Is as good as it can get
My little empire
Is coming around
My little empire
It don't make a sound

My royalty it does not exist
It is extinct for the eye to see
My ideology it is dead and gone
Almost forgotten for the eye to see

My little empire
I'm sick of being sick
My little empire
I'm tired of being tired
My little empire
I'm bored of being bored
My little empire
I'm happy being sad

All of my sins are attempts to fill the voids
All of my voids they are filled with sin
All of my demons they are kept within
And all my violence it does not exist

My little empire
I'm happy being sad

The Rise and Fall of the TV Journalist

Superman

I always enjoyed the Superman stories/films/tv shows etc. but I never really loved them... I never really connected with the character.... The most powerful man on the planet who was also a total puritan hero... and he was too, well, 'American' for me to truly love.... i'd rather of had a dark and conflicted Batman any day.... and there are too many Jesus/Messiah ideas floating around the character for him to be engaging.

Recently though I've read a few stories where Superman has relied on his friends (the Alan Moore stories - 'Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow' and 'What do you get the man who has everything?', a Superman/Batman story by Jeph Loeb and various Justice League stories). 

And I've been surprised by how my view of Superman has changed....  he has a weakness other than 'Kryptonite'! - He wants to save everyone... and he wants to do it himself. 

Superman usually relates to Hercules in Greek Mythology - but in the stories I've been reading recently he has more of an air of Atlas - the man who is carrying the world upon his shoulders. He has the power to rescue everyone so he feels like he must rescue everyone. But not even Superman can do it all himself; he has greater success when he relies on and uses his friends - both those who are superheroes and those who are not.

In the book of Numbers we hear Moses cry out to the Lord because he is exhausted from leading the people

"Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? ....I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me." (Numbers 11:11&14)

We may find ourselves in similar situations - that burden maybe leadership in church or the workplace or even in the family - where the weight of the responsibility is totally crushing. And in that place we so often pray one of two things: either 'Lord, give me more strength' or 'Take the burden from me'.

They are not necessarily the wrong prayers - more strength is always good and even Jesus prayed 'take this cup away from me'. But there is a third option.

And the Lord chose this third way to deal with Moses' problem

"Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take off the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone." (Numbers 11:16-17)

He could have given him more strength or he could have taken the burden off of him completely... but he chose a third way... he sent others to share it. Often this is not our first choice of dealing with burdens - we either want to escape or we want to play Superman and rescue everyone ourselves. 

No-one can do it all on their own, not even Superman.

Will I try and be a Superman or will I let the Batmans, Wonder Womans, Green Lanterns and Robins help me take the strain?

dg

Sonnet 20 - William Shakespeare

A woman's face with Nature's own hand painted
Hast thou, the master-mistress of my passion;
A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted
With shifting change, as is false women's fashion;
An eye more bright than theirs, less false in rolling,
Gilding the object whereupon it gazeth;
A man in hue, all 'hues' in his controlling,
Much steals men's eyes and women's souls amazeth.
And for a woman wert thou first created;
Till Nature, as she wrought thee, fell a-doting,
And by addition me of thee defeated,
By adding one thing to my purpose nothing.
But since she prick'd thee out for women's pleasure,
Mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure.

The Only Comprehensible Reason to Endure 'Moulin Rouge'

LOST Q&A

Well there were quite a lot of questions and not so many answers... but they were hardly going to spell it our for us a year early...

Emilie and I won tickets to this 'LOST' Q&A with the Creators/Writers/Exec-Producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof... who are heroes of mine if you are regular readers.... and Director/Exec-Producer Jack Bender....





So what insights into season 6 can i pass on.... Jack's purpose will be revealed sooner rather than later... The Smoke Monster will be a character in the last season.... everyone will be together again like in season 1 (in a circular way)..... someone had a copy of the Half Blood Prince there to be signed and Damon wrote that "Locke is VERY much like Snape".... (good guy looking bad? - on a secret mission?)

They showed a whole bunch of the best loved clips on the big cinema screen. Made me realise that LOST is better than most films.

I loved it.

Heart Head Hands

Last weekend we held a conference at our church for worship leaders/teams etc. 

We had a great day but the real highlights of the day were the two talks Alan Scott, from the Causeway Vineyard, gave in the morning... these are the best talks I've heard on worship for a long time.

You can download them from our website for free here: www.trinitycheltenham.com

If you are a member of Trinity or enjoy what you hear from the HHH day then check out the following day's talk from last Sunday morning - amazing stuff....

Hope you enjoy them

dg

You Go To My Head

You go to my head and you linger like a haunting refrain
And I find you spinning 'round in my brain
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne
You go to my head like a sip of sparkling Burgundy brew
And I find the very mention of you
Like the kicker in a julep or two

The thrill of the thought that you might give a thought to my plea
Cast a spell over me
Still I say to myself get a hold of yourself
Can't you see that it never can be

You go to my head with a smile that makes my temperature rise
Like a summer with a thousand Julys
You intoxicate my soul with your eyes
Though I'm certain that this heart of mine
Hasn't a ghost of a chance in this crazy romance
You go to my head
You go to my head

Billie Jean

Justice

Real Love

All my little plans and schemes
Lost like some forgotten dreams
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you

Just like little girls and boys
Playing with their little toys
Seems like all they really were doing
Was waiting for love

Don't need to be alone
No need to be alone

It's real love
It's real, yes it's real yes it's real love
It's real

From this moment on I know
Exactly where my life will go
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for love

Thought I'd been in love before,
But in my heart I wanted more
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you

Don't need to be afraid
No need to be afraid

It's real love
Yes it's real, yes it's real love
It's real.

Laughing With

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls
After some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
when it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane
Starts to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love hand in hand
with someone else and they hope that they’re mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door
And they say “We’ve got some bad new, sir,”
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
When the crazies say he hates us
and they get so red in the head
You think that they’re about to choke
God can be funny
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha, ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
when they’ve lost all they got
And they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize
that the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
When the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head
you think that they’re about to choke
God can be funny
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one’s laughing at God in a hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor
We’re all “laughing with God”

Bat For Lashes - on KCRW

From the awesome 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' show...

The Incredible Hulk

Anger. 

It is often called 'the red mist'. For Bruce Banner it is more green than red. His muscles bulge, his face snarls, his clothes rip. He becomes the Incredible Hulk.

It seems to me there are a lot of Bruce Banners walking around today - if you make a mistake whilst driving you're likely to be met be a torrent of swearing and digit flicking - if you glance at someone a little too long you might get a 'whatchyoolookin'at?' - if you're a waitress or shop assistant barely a day goes by when you don't feel the self righteous indignation of a customer that hasn't got exactly what they wanted.

A degree of respect and politeness has dissipated from our society and it has been replaced with a bubbling anger that rests just beneath the surface of many people. It only takes an insignificant incident for the blood to boil, the eyes to redden and the bulging green muscles of the Hulk to burst forth.

In the long history of the Incredible Hulk when he becomes the Hulk out of anger alone he causes as much damage and as he does good. He is a super hero only when he can reign the anger in and focus on what needs to be done. When he simply reacts in a rage  he leaves devastation - which is why he is always pursued by the police and the army. He can only ever 'save the day' when he can get his head straight and uses his incredible strength for good.

Proverbs has a few things to say about anger:

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (29:11)

For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. (30:33)

It is so easy to respond to injustice, stupidity, cruelty, selfishness, greed and all types of evil with anger. It is easy. Natural. Anyone can do that.

It is much harder to treat those things - and their perpetrators  - with love and self-control. Much harder. 

"Ah... but Jesus got angry - clearing the temple" I hear you say. 

Maybe.

Without doubt Jesus' actions resemble actions of anger - turning over tables and driving people out. Though the gospels never suggest that Jesus' motivation was anger, even a righteous anger. Also I think we would have to say that Jesus' actions were planned - it is not like He hadn't been to the Temple hundreds of times before without going crazy. 

Why was it that day did He chose to make a stand? - because it was a prophetic sign of his wider mission - the coming Kingdom clearing away a tainted and misguided religiosity. It certainly wasn't an unplanned, unintended rage that we are constantly guilty of giving in to.

Jesus said this about anger:

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment (Matt 5:22)

Anger often belies our own deeper problems - insecurity, unforgiveness, selfishness. It is a symptom of our own sense of displacement or isolation or feeling that we are peripheral characters in the theater of life. 

In Paul's famous explanation of love in 1 Corinthians 13 he states that love "...is not easily angered". And that is key - to be loving, we need to do not that which is easy, but that which is hard, making sure our reactions do not subvert our intentions.

... saying all that, the Hulk makes anger look pretty cool. Where did I leave my gamma ray machine?

dg