I HAVE MOVED

After many years on blogger I've moved my blog... for reasons too boring or vain to go into here....

you can find it on Tumblr:

pleasekeepmoving.tumblr.com

or as

davidgate.com

See you over there!!!

dg

Robyn - Hyper-Ballad

Playlist - September 1.0

Satisfied Mind by Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama - There Will Be A Light
Run into Flowers by M83 - Dead Cities, Red Sea & Lost Ghosts
Atlas by Battles - Mirrored
Our Love Goes Deeper Than This by Duke Special & Neil Hannon - Songs from the Deep Forest (ltd.ed.)
Edgar by Modeselektor - Happy Birthday!
The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence
Pretension/Repulsion (Four Tet remix) by Manic Street Preachers - Journal for Plague Lovers Remixes
Let Down by Pedro the Lion - Tour EP 2004
Lost and Found by Steve Mason - Lost and Found
Kanga Roo by Big Star - Keep an Eye on the Sky

Go on. Try it.

dg

Justice League

I've always been a sucker for superhero teams - Avengers; Titans; Runaways; JSA; Teen Titans and of course the Astonishing, Amazing & Uncanny X-Men. But my favourite is the Justice League of America. It is kind of like the Real Madrid of the DC Universe. More often than not each incarnation of the team has included the iconic 'Big Three' (Superman; Batman; Wonder Woman) combined with other classic DC characters (The Flash; Green Lantern; Green Arrow; Aquaman) and many others too.

They are a team of fantastic individuals. They are powerful beyond imagination - yet only together, with the whole greater than the sum of the parts - can they defeat various threats to the world (or universe) (or multi-verse).

In one of my favourite JLA stories is the Pinocchio-esque tale of 'Tornado's Path' by Brad Meltzer in which Batman, Superman and Wonder look at reforming the team after the Infinite Crisis event.

Batman, the shrewd tactician, is intent on forming a perfect team - every skill and power present, every threat covered, full of experience and ability. But in the end they end up with a team of heroes who 'happened' to be involved in the 'Tornado's Path' story. Which annoys Batman until he is reminded that is how the team originally formed - when a group of heroes happened to gather round a disaster.

The team isn't who Batman would pick. It has holes. It has inexperience. It has relational issues. But sometimes the best team is not the one you would pick; it is the one that is there.

In my life I have sent up many prayers for better drummers/guitarists/singers/sound engineers. And that isn't wrong (I don't think!) but if my only plan to go forward is to get in 'better people' then when 'better people' leave we are left short and without a plan B.

The lessons I need to learn are more to do with the valuing and releasing of who is here already rather than looking to acquire new talent from outside. Embracing the creativity of our teams is key to their development and our collective growth.

Perhaps God does has have others He wants to bring to our teams but we need to be careful that our prayers don't slip into the realms of telling God that the people and resources He has given us aren't good enough. He doesn't make mistakes. I need to believe that.

I love Paul's beautiful imagery of the 'Body of Christ' in 1 Corinthians 12:

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

It speaks of how our diversity is not just important or preferable - it is essential. It is God's perfect intention. Team is not optional - it is a necessity of the very design of the Church.

Before I pray for better people I need to seek to honour the people we already have. Sometimes the best team is the one that is there.

dg

Music Heals

Recently I’ve bought a lot of new music - something I tend to do before going on holiday, to go with a pile of books, comics and a pair of cheap flip-flops. As I was listening to all this new music I felt all the usual joys and fascinations that fresh new music brings, but I was also experiencing something else; a peace; a calming effect; a refreshment.

I was experiencing healing.

My heart and my soul were being restored. It was certainly spiritual. Yet the music was not ‘worship’ music nor was it ambient or chill or remotely meditative. It was beautiful and creative and inspiring however. And that was healing me in ways I didn’t even know I needed healing.

When David takes his lyre to Saul in 1 Samuel 16 his playing refreshes Saul and causes his spiritual torment to cease. No words, no voices or songs. Just notes, just music. The spiritual power held in music is beyond our understanding.

I cannot comprehend how an electronic beat created in another part of the world that some how finds itself as an mp3 on my phone can hold the power to heal me. But it does.

I do not know why the resonant frequencies of a guitar or drum or piano would have the ability to reach into my soul and breath life. But they do.

Of course not in all music do I find healing. But some music resonates with the depths of your soul - causing it to be still, restoring things to their intended nature. It is a wonderful mystery - and an incredible blessing to find music that can do such powerful work.

Dream Within A Dream

Playlist - August 2.0

Vicious World by Rufus Wainwright - Want One

1 Thing by Amerie - The Very Best of Amerie

Boys Keep Swinging by David Bowie - Lodger

Summer Mood by Best Coast - Crazy For You

Unforgettable by Nat King Cole - The Nat King Cole Story

Monkey by Low - The Great Destroyer

Tired of Waiting For You by The Kinks - Picture Book

Vessels by Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi

Fancy Clown by Madvillain & Viktor Vaughn - Madvillainy

He Lays In The Reins by Iron & Wine and Calexico - In the Reins

The Spotify Link

dg

Genuine Creative Thinking

Playlist - August 1.0

The Edge by David McCallum - Best of David McCallum

Sorrow by The National - High Violet

Sleep Now In The Fire by Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles

Chase the Tear by Portishead - Chase the Tear (Single)

Unravel by Bjork - Homogenic

Fool's Gold by Lhasa De Sela - Lhasa

Waves of Rye by Department of Eagles - In Ear Park

All Things To All Men by The Cinematic Orchestra feat. Roots Manuva - Everyday

Send It On by D'Angelo - Voodoo

First Time I Ever Saw Your Face by Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around

You Know You Want To

dg

Playlist - July 2.0

I Saw The Dead by Villagers - Becoming a Jackal

La Vie En Rose by Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong

Cannibal Resource by Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

The Sky Was Pink by Nathan Fake - Drowning in a Sea

Constellations by Darwin Deez - Darwin Deez

Baby It's You by The Shirelles - The Definitive Burt Bacharach

Dog Shelter by Burial - Untrue

Jet Song by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim - West Side Story OST

Revenge by Dangermouse, Sparklehorse & Flaming Lips - Dark Night of the Soul

Revelate (Live) by The Frames - Setlist

enjoythemhere

dg

Cyclops

Cyclops' power is in his eyes. He is capable of a devastating 'optic blast' - one of the most powerful weapons in the whole 'Marvel' universe - destroying sentinels and enemies.

Our eyes are also one of our greatest weapons; seeing things as they really are; knowing the true value of others; appreciating what we have. These things are power. Power to defeat lies and deception. Power to bring the Kingdom.

Jesus has this unusual concern that we become like children:

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Luke 18:16-17)

The way a child approaches the world is key to Kingdom living - trusting, creative, innocent, curious, teachable, grateful, joyful... the list could be endless. But so many of these traits are characteristic of children because of the way they see the world. They are not swamped with the politics and one-up-manship of adult life. They're not confined by traditions and the way things have always been done. Every gift is received gladly. Every day is full of learning. They do not believe they know it all. They are intrinsically trusting. They cannot help but create, discover, imagine and dream. More often than not, they see the value of people.

There is power in our eyes but only if we choose to have the eyes of a child.

dg

Playlist - July 1.0

Magnetic Warrior by Archie Bronson Outfit - Coconut

A Line in the Dirt by Eels - End Times

A Rumour in Africa by Errors - Come Down With Me

Plastic Palace People by Scott Walker - Scott 2

Me & Mr Jones by Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Celestica by Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II)

Son of Sam by Elliot Smith - Figure 8

Even When You're Sleeping by The Acorn - Glory Hope Mountain

With Every Heartbeat by Robyn - Robyn

Gloomy Sunday by Billie Holiday - All of Me

Listen! Here!

dg

Andy (or Whatever happened to the 'Revival Generation')

Andy grew up in a Christian home. His parents are baby boomers, born in the late Fifties and became Christians themselves during the house church movement. They brought their children up attending church and doing plenty of colouring in at Sunday school. During his early teens Andy Though at the beginning to experience some personal encounters with God at youth camps and youth weekends.

Then one summer, at the age of 15, he goes to Soul Survivor and has the best time of his life. God is real and He loves Andy. He experiences worship like he never imagined - lively, passionate, real. He meets God powerfully. He is filled with Holy Spirit. He is full of dreams and potential. He is on fire.

He comes back different. It’s not like coming back from a great summer camp or youth weekend. Andy is a new person - seeking God, believing in His power to change the world and believing his generation can transform the church. He grows in faith and seeks out more experiences of worshipping and encountering God and looks to serve the Church and make difference in the world. He learns about being ‘salt & light’ at school. Slowly but surely being a different kind of person around his school friends. Many even notice the changes - some are even drawn into church and they go to Soul Survivor and they become Christians too.

It is happening. Not all at once. Certainly it’s not easily or simply. But it is happening. The world around him is changing. By the time Andy is 18 he is a fantastic example of a young Christian man. Still on fire, but more experienced and wiser, with a greater sense of calling. He does a gap year - six months working and serving the Church, five months in the developing world, cementing his passion for social justice and making a difference in the whole world. On his return to the UK he heads of to Soul Survivor again before he begins University in September - he sings his heart out, he sets his eyes on God, he is nervous about Uni but excited about what God will do.

The next three years are hard. University life is so contrary to the life he wants but he is not going live like a weird hermit or monk. He is here to be salt and light and he will try his damnedest to do just that. But it is harder here. A lot of the Christians he meets at Uni aren’t like him. Many have been living of their parents faith for their whole lives. They aren’t passionate about God in the same way - in fact after a term or two those ‘Christians’ don’t look much different to everyone else at Uni. The other type of Christian he meets are the opposite. They seem frightened of the Uni life - determined to be good and unwilling to have any of their beliefs and perceptions challenged. Andy finds little companionship amongst either of these people. The CU is dry - full of committees and theological disagreements. The local churches are fine - in fact they much like the church he grew up in, but he is not a ‘son’ of this church and is unable to make a difference here, especially as he is only there for half the year and the 10:30am family service is not that conducive to student life.

These years have been hard but he gets through them. He still loves God, he still believes in making a difference in the world and he is excited about life beyond Uni. He loves the city he studied in and looks to get a job and put some roots there. His degree was in design but is competing with hundreds of other designers so takes a job in a coffee shop. He continues to go to the same church with the family service. There are a handful of people his own age who kind of get this God thing so he can tolerate the stale worship and the dry preaching. A year later he is sick of his job and decides to quit do a further course in web design. Once he has qualified he stays in his job at the book store that he picked up to make ends meet, trying to do some freelance work for his friends in his spare time - he’d love to get his own business off the ground but it isn’t easy. Two years later he is sick of the book shop and has little hope of getting his business going. He had put aside a bit of money for his business and decides to spend of traveling for 9 months. He visits Thailand and Australia, Mexico, USA and Canada and finishes it off with a city tour of Europe. On his return he decides that now he is 28, he needs a career and so he gets an apprenticeship as an accountant. It’s not the creative life he had imagined but it is stable and makes him feel like a grown up - which very little else in his life does.

He no longer goes to church with any regularity. He no longer reads his Bible or prays with any conviction though he would still calls himself a Christian. He has had a few girlfriends, even has one now, but isn’t sure if he has ever been in love. He wants to get married and supposes that one day he will have kids. He likes the Nooma DVD’s and got into Velvet Elvis. He went Soul Survivor Momentum a year ago, which was cool, but it felt like a chunk of teenage nostalgia. He still has a couple of his favourite worship albums on his iPhone. He no longer designs anything. His heart is stirred when he reads articles about famine, sex trafficking and poverty. He gives to Tearfund but he no longer dreams about changing the world himself.
__________________________________________________________

This is the story as it stands now - and there is much the Church can learn about how it deals with, and invests in, teens and early twenties - but this is not the end of Andy’s story or the end of the story for the rest of his generation. They are still ‘saved’. They have already had a fair amount of experience in serving and leading and being involved in positive Church life. They still have a heart for social justice. But they are numb and apathetic to Church and discipleship. They require a church environment that is authentic and honest. Quality and accessibility matter to them: the quality and accessibility of preaching; the quality and relevance of the worship music; the way the church presents itself. But most of all they are numb and they want to experience God again. They want to feel the presence of God once more. They are full to brim with dormant dreams and unlocked potential. They could still be the generation that changes the world.

Long Time, No Blog

(Warning: I may be cruel about this man)

It's been a while - certainly the longest time I've gone without blogging for the 5 years I've been doing it here and on the now defunct dailyhealthscare (which Emilie deleted and where I learned that getting cross on a blog is perhaps the biggest cliche imaginable).

So what have you been doing I don't hear you ask but I've started this imaginary conversation so I'm going to carry it on?

Well the blog took a real back seat as I was writing 2000 words of LOST recap & theory a week in the last few months of the series. (which you can read here if you are bored or addicted). Also much of what I used to post here - links, videos, music stuff etc. I now spew out onto twitter - if you are member you can follow me @davidgate or if you just want to read my inanities then you can read them - http://twitter.com/davidgate - all the cool kids are doing it, but despite that you should too - 'tis a good thing

With all that I had a moment where I've been thinking that blogging is perhaps 'sooooo 2005' - but I am going to carry on - with the intention of putting up largely church orientated stuff with some music bits and videos and that. So the same as before then? Yep. I thought we had finished the imaginary conversation a few paragraphs ago? So had I.

I know a lot more people read the blog than comment on it - that's what google analytics tells me anyway - and whenever I go somewhere new I always meet people who say "Oh I've read your blog, it's very.... (insert vague compliment with a hint of suspicion)". I know I don't always say nice things - but I think of it more of a discussion/thought provoker than absolute judgments. But I certainly aim not to say nasty-ish things about specific people (apart from John Mayer, Alex Ferguson, Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan). It's hard when on Myers-Briggs you are a highly expressed curmudgeon like I am. And even more so when you have the spiritual gifting of misanthropy. Glad to be back.

peace love & understanding

dg

Playlist - June 2.0

Cloud of Unknowing by Gorillaz (feat. Bobby Womak) - Plastic Beach

Herr Bar by Clark - Body Riddle

Zebra by Beach House - Teen Dream

Search and Destroy by Iggy Pop & The Stooges - The Life Aquatic OST

Actor Out Of Work by St. Vincent - Actor

Latin America by Holy F*** - Latin

Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger - Scooby Doo 2 OST (seriously)

Winter Dies by Midlake - The Courage of Others

The Book of Love by The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs

Tornado by Jonsi - Go

SPOTIFY LINKAGE

dg

(new post to read and that coming soon. promise.)

Playlist - June 1.0

Cellphone's Dead (Jamie Lidell Remix) by Beck - The Information

Cobwebs by Ryan Adams - Cardinology

Cry Me A River by Julie London - The 50's Collection

Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix

Camel by Flying Lotus - Los Angeles

Road To Perdition by Thomas Newman - Road to Perdition OST

It's In Our Hands (Soft Pink Truth Mix) by Bjork - It's In Our Hands

Repeaterbeater by Mew - No More Stories.....

Millionaire by Kelis & Andre 3000 - Tasty

Between The Bars by Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love

S.P.O.T.I.F.Y

dg

Playlist - May 2.0

Consoler of the Lonely by The Raconteurs - Consoler of the Lonely

Drop by Cornelius - Point

Quiet Dog by Mos Def - The Ecstatic

I Just Wasn't Made for These Times by The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

Whisper Pitch by Stereolab - Fab Four Suture

Sail to Nowhere by Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Down to Earth by Peter Gabriel - Wall-E OST

Brian Eno by MGMT - Congratulations

I Never Said I Was Deep by Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications

Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet by Gavin Bryars - The Sinking of the Titanic

Link Link Link

dg

Playlist - May 1.0

Encore by Jay-Z - The Black Album

This Guy's in Love with You by Jimmy Ruffin - Greatest Motown Hits

I Was Playing Drums by Efterklang - Magic Chairs

Standing Up by Paul Leonard Morgan & Steve Mason - Filmtales

We Used to Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River by Richmond Fontaine - We Used to Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River

The Last of the Melting Snow by The Leisure Society - The Sleeper

Vitamin C by Can - Ege Bamyasi

Blackberry Stone by Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

With My Own Two Hands by Ben Harper - Diamonds on the Inside

True Love Will Find You In The End by Daniel Johnston - Welcome to my World

And you can find it on the brand new SPOTIFY....

dg

Let England Shake

Stillness is the Move

When the child was just a child
It did not know what it was
Like a child it had no habits
No opinion about anything

Maybe I will get a job
Get a job as a waitress
Maybe waiting tables in a diner
In some remote city down the highway

After all that we've been through
I know we'll make it after the wait
The question is a truth
There is nothing we can't do
I'll see you along the way baby
The stillness is the move

On top of every mountain
There was a great longing
For another even higher mountain
In each city longing for a bigger city

After all that we've been through
I know that i will always love you
From now until forever baby
I can't imagine anything better

Isn't life under the sun just a crazy dream?
Isn't life just a mirage of the world before the world?
Why am I here and not over there?
Where did time begin?
Where does space end?

Where do you and I begin?

Recaps and Other Blog Posts

So you are thinking to yourself "David you have gotten mighty lazy regarding this blog recently". And you would be right. Kind of.

You know I like LOST yeah?

Well for the remaining duration of LOST I have been writing blog posts (or mini dissertations) for each episode... these recaps have taken up much of the time I'd usually write for this blog.... there are only 5 more episodes left (after tonight) so bigger blogging will return after then... i have some good posts brewing... but the end of the best TV show ever (FACT) only comes around once so I am enjoying that...

For those of you who want to read about LOST - it's links to George Whitfield and Doestoevsky then you can read my recaps here.... (where people in the comments tend to slam my sloppiness and grammar - it keeps me humble)

Episode 6.09 "Ab Aeterno"

Episode 6.10 "The Package"

Episode 6.11 "Happily Ever After"

Episode 6.12 "Everybody Loves Hugo"

Episode 6.13 "The Last Recruit"

Episode 6.14 "The Candidate"

Episode 6.15 "Across the Sea

The Finale Preview

Episode 6.17/18 "The End"

Playlist - April 1.0

Half Right by Heatmiser - Mic City Sons

Make Your Own Kind Of Music by Mama Cass - Best of Mamas & Papas

The Rat by The Walkmen - Bows + Arrows

The Needle & The Damage Done by Neil Young - Harvest

How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths - The Sound of the Smiths

Morning Passages by Philip Glass - The Hours OST

Silence by Portishead - Third

Inertiatic Esp by The Mars Volta - Deloused in the Crematorium

To Survive by Joan as Police Woman - To Survive

Angel Echoes by Fourtet - There is Love in You

You can listen to it on Spotify here - (there's a naughty word in the first song. apologies)

The Daily Mail

Playlist - March 2.0

A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke - Portrait of a Legend

Girl in the War by Josh Ritter - The Animal Years

Glass by Bat for Lashes - Two Suns

Departure by R.E.M - New Adventures in Hi-Fi

Breathe Something/Stellar Star by Flying Lotus - Los Angeles

Sweet Song by Blur - Think Tank

Ch-Check It Out by Beastie Boys - To the 5 Boroughs

Everyday by Buddy Holly - The Best of Buddy Holly

Ji Yeon by Michael Giacchino - Lost Season 4

Shelter by The xx - xx

Happy Easter - SPOTIFY

dg

Self Projection

Carrying on from the thoughts about Self Promotion - I have been thing a lot about Self Projection - particularly through the ADHD-satisfying social phenomena of Twitter & Facebook.

What do we say about ourselves on Twitter & Facebook? What are we trying to tell the world about ourselves? What image of ourselves are we trying to project?

First of all there is the Profile Pic/Avatar. If you are a worship leader or rock star in waiting (they are not always the same thing - really!) you will probably have a profile pic something a bit like this:

Earnest worship face? - CHECK

Big Stage visible? - CHECK

Taylor/Gibson/Avalon? - CHECK

Converse Trainers? - CHECK

"Hey world - I LEAD WORSHIP. (sometimes on a big stage where people take photos of me)"

The visual nature of digital communication allows us to present ourselves in whatever way we choose. And many worship leaders want to project an image of themselves on a stage behind a microphone. I find that interesting.

Then there is the nature of updates, these come in 3 basic categories:

1. Blatant Self Promotion - (my new album/conference/blog post/book/video)

2. Mentioning the day to day of successful worship ministry (band practices/choosing songs/song writing/conference anecdotes/stories from the studio) - complete with pics from the iPhone!

3. The Good Father/Husband routine - ("I am a successful worship leader but I also devote satisfactory time to my wife & kids") - HOLD the PRESS! 'Father loves kids' SHOCKER.

There is also a sickeningly strange new trend on Twitter for ReTweeting your compliments; basically every time someone compliments you on your song or album or whatever then republishing that compliment so everyone else can see it. Tempting though it might be - we should remember - "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."

So, what am I trying to tell people/friends/followers about myself in the images I present and the things of my life that I choose to highlight?

Is it my identity as a musician or a worship leader or even as a good father/husband?

Is it my intelligence, artistic taste or cultural significance?

Is it my importance to the wider Church?

I am just asking questions here, not throwing stones. Telling the world via the internet what your life is like (including the exciting cool bits) is part of our 21st century culture. And it isn't a sin. But if all we portray of our identity is simply a 'stage persona' then we are in danger. In danger of creating an image of ourselves we can't sustain. An image of success and importance. An image of identity based on our roles and giftings.

And the great danger is that we would believe our own bullshit and let what we project of ourselves become what we think of ourselves. And the problem with that is it isn't even half as good as the truth:

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;"

dg

Playlist - March 1.0

Put On Your Sunday Clothes by Michael Crawford & Barbara Streisand - Hello, Dolly!

Stillness is the Move by Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

A New Career In A New Town by David Bowie - Low

Arc of Time by Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

Fredag by Dungen - 4

Multiply by Jamie Lidell - Multiply

Siam Giunti... D'amor Sull'ali Rosee by Leontyne Price - Il Trovatore

Dr Baker by The Beta Band - The 3 EP's

Don't Stop the Music by Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad

Cochise by Audioslave - Audioslave

Did you say SPOTIFY LINK? Okay must have misheard you.

dg

God Will Raise You Up (So Relax)

"God will raise me up."*

Easy to understand, but it can be much harder to believe.

I hope I'm not the only person who has an internal dialogue in my head about where I am, where I could be, where I perhaps 'should' be and, of course where God wants me to be. All in relation to the measure of my influence, responsibility and progress.

Nope? Just me.

And time and again I want to help God out. Hurry things on a bit. Just to give Him a little hand making my influence larger and my responsibility greater and my progress faster. He is quite busy after all.

So it's east for me to end up shrouding self promotion in more appealing ways: 'We are blessing/resourcing/equipping/encouraging the church' - rather than 'flogging our latest song/CD/book/ministry'

But the more I think about what will really bless, resource, equip and encourage our churches, I have one conclusion: More of Him, more of the Spirit.

Books, CD's, Songs and ministries help. But only if they are full of Him and only if they point undeniably towards Him.

So when we feel like giving God a little hand raising up our products, efforts and ministries we can maybe think twice.... because....

The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. (1 Thess 5:24)

If I am called, really called, to lead worship for the thousands and write songs for the millions then 'He will do it'. It doesn't matter what I facebook or tweet or blog. It doesn't matter what marketing strategy I put in place. It doesn't matter what network I foster.

He is faithful and He will do it.

And He will do it in his timing.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

Check out Kim Walker-Smith from Jesus Culture talking about Self Promotion, amongst other things:

I'm with her on this. I've never asked to lead worship at anything. I've never sent an unsolicited demo of my songs to anyone. And yet I've still managed to lead worship at some cool stuff and had a bunch of my songs published and used.

So the first question is this:

'What do I most want?'

Is what I want whatever God has for me, no matter how it ends up looking (all of which will be good, and fulfilling and utterly satisfying)? Or is what I want influence, responsibility, fame, success, money, status, recognition or a whole manner of other temporary and fleeting satisfactions?

And if I can answer yes to the former, the second question is this:

'Can I wait for it?'

Can I stick out the months and years of not having what I want yet, or even deserve, because God's timing is perfect? I know I can. But I have to choose it. Again and again.

God will raise me up, of that I can be certain, so I can just... relax and enjoy the ride.

dg

*This is a follow up to a post from November - 'Self promotion - Good, Bad or Ugly?' . Which if you read that may help you understand this post a bit better.

Thom Yorke - Give Up The Ghost

Playlist - February 2.0

Saturday Come Slow by Massive Attack (feat. Damon Albarn) - Heligoland

Ambling Amp by Yeasayer - ODD BLOOD

We Own The Sky by M83 - Saturdays = Youth

Hundreds of Sparrows by Sparklehorse - Good Morning Spider

My City of Ruins by Bruce Springsteen - The Rising

STEPPER a.k.a Work by Skeletons - Money

Knives Out by Waajeed (feat. Monica Blaire) - Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads

Norway by Beach House - Teen Dream

Hypnotize by System Of A Down - Hypnotize

Commuter Love by The Divine Comedy - Fin de siecle

SPOTIFY LINK? YOU BETCHA!

dg

Playlist - February 1.0

Les Lumieres Pt.2 by Bell Orchestre - Recording a Tape the Colours of Light

I Told Her On Alderaan by Neon Neon - Stainless Style

Oil by Jonny Greenwood - There Will Be Blood OST

Bandits by Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther

You're All I Need To Get By by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Greatest Hits

Rachel's Song by Vangelis - Blade Runner OST

All the King's Men by Wild Beasts - Two Dancers

Gravel Pit by Wu-Tang Clan - Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan

Mistaken for Strangers by The National - Boxer

Where The Wild Roses Grow by Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue - Murder Ballads

SPOTIFY THIS BAD_BOY HERE

dg

7 Things... Part Seven: Write in Seasons

I am glad that I've never experienced the frustrating experience of 'writer's block'. I know many people who have - going weeks, months and even years without being able to write any songs. In fact it is the opposite for me, I simply don't have the time to write all the things I'd like to write.

So as I was thinking about why my ability to write remains constant and is not particularly seasonal (it is only seasonal is so much that I may have 'seasons' with more time devote to it - rather than ever being unable to write a song) - and here are a few things which I think help me 'keep the tap dripping' in regards to writing songs:

A lot of Scripture & a lot of prayer: the more I read the Bible and the more I pray the more songs I have to sing. And that really is as simple as it sounds...

Devour what inspires you: I listen to a lot of new music; I read a lot of books; I read a lot of comics; I watch TV and Film that inspires me - when you cram all that creativity in often it wants to get out again!

Write for writing's sake: When I was co-writing once in the middle of writing the song the other person was getting a little frustrated that I wasn't bothered that the song wouldn't be that easy to sing in church - they said "It's not a painting to hang on my wall". I've since thought about it and I now think I should have replied "No, it hangs on Jesus' wall". I write because I like it. I write because I want to. Whether or not I choose to sing them at church, is frankly, up to me.

Invest: Time & money. We all wish we had more of them. There will always be more important things to spend it on. Always more noble ways of using your resources. But I find value in creativity; value in being inspired; value in wasting time writing songs. It's a different kind of stewardship.

hope all these posts have helped

dg

7 Things... Part Six: Making songs 'Unique'

Again, I certainly value the idea of being yourself as a song writer. But sometimes you can think that what that means is to be completely individual and idiosyncratic.

Now this a temptation I can fall for... especially in a bid to escape the 'narrowness' of modern worship. I love diversity and personal expression and I'm committed to local expressions of worship. But one thing has been nagging at me recently...

If you do things your own way then you have to do it on your own. And not only is that hard to do, it also isn't always totally satisfying.

And there can be real joy in collaboration. Finding common ground with others is a liberating and precious experience.

Sometimes, in a bid to sound like no-one else, I can ignore the parts of my writing which sit near by what others are doing. I can seek so hard to avoid familiarity and find a unique, even idiosyncratic place that I can forsake the message in the music. Expressing individuality rather than expressing the very thing my heart wants to say.

For example, so many modern worship songs overuse terms like "Holy" "Glory" and "Worthy". Then out of a desire to avoid their potential for cliche, and to remain unique, I can dismiss their use altogether. Though actually what my heart often wants to say is precisely that: "You are Holy, God"

I neither want to be obsessed with making my songs 'Universal' (to please everyone) or 'Unique' (asserting my individuality). I just want to articulate accurately what my heart wants to say. No matter how universal or unique that may be.

“Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.” C.S.Lewis

dg

7 Things... Part Five: Making songs 'Universal'

Now I genuinely like the 'Universal & Unique' rule to writing worship songs (usually attributed to Brian Doerksen) - it speaks of connecting with many people whilst still being yourself... but in recent years the value of songs being 'Universal' has been taken a little too literally.

I have commented many times on what I call 'McWorship' - the phenomena of being able to step into a church in London, Seattle, Cape Town, Phuket, Sydney, Rio or Basingstoke and here the sames songs sung in virtually identical ways - as if all our churches were CCM franchises.

So I have begun to value a song's ability to be local far above its capacity to be universal.

I am now concerned more with whether or not my song will connect with my church and its relevance to what God is doing amongst us. Whether or not the song relates to churches in Melbourne or Mississippi seems like a pretty irrelevant question.

Unless of course you want to be a globally successful worship song writer. And apparently a lot of people do.

dg

7 Things... Part Four: Working Hard on Songs

You get an idea for a song and then you work, work, work until it is perfect, right?

Not for me.

The 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration rule has never worked for me. If anything I'd reverse those percentages around... I find that when I 'work' at a song, trying very hard to make it better, where I end up is a place where I need inspiration to improve it; inspiration to finish it; inspiration to enjoy it.

Many times I've spent hours working hard at my songs only to end up with something I can't stand the sound of. And how do you know when a song you don't like is finished? Is it when you REALLY hate it? It makes no sense.

This is how I work now: I only work on songs I am enjoying and feeling inspired by; I only do it for as long as I am enjoying it and feeling inspired by it; when I hit a creative brick wall I will try something else instead, safe in the knowledge that my song will still be there if I want to work on it again.

Of course there are moments where perseverance and effort is required to get a breakthrough in a song you want to finish. But if that is your predominate experience of writing you will be good at problem solving not song writing. Do a Sudoku instead.

Song writing should always be a delight before it is a discipline.

dg

7 Things... Part Three: Write for my Church

When finishing a song or choosing which of my songs to use I definitely think a lot about my church; where it's at; what it can cope with; what would be helpful...

But when I'm writing, when I'm creating the song, I don't write for my church. I write for my King.

That sounds very holy of me, doesn't it? But I'm not trying to get a semantical one-up against other song writers, I've just noticed that other writers can be so consumed with trying to write what will work for their church that they can lose sight of what will bless their God.

And all good worship songs, and I mean ALL of them, are written to worship Him. Getting it to work at church...? That comes later.

dg

7 Things... Part Two: Consult a Theologian

If journalling is the first rule then this is heralded as perhaps the most important.

Give your songs to a 'Theologian' to critique.

I've never done that. Not once. Not even for a line. And I think I've managed to avoid serious heresy and half truth.

In fact I've always preferred the approach of becoming a theologian, rather than 'consulting' one. I've preferred to do the reading myself; forming an orthodox theology, with a solid Christology at its centre. And that is without being a natural academic myself- I never much enjoyed academic study (I don't even have a degree!) - but when it comes to personal theological development I've always tried to take the initiative.

Which is why I've never felt the need to get a Theologian to tidy up my songs - I try to write songs that don't need tidying!

And that is what I encourage other writers to do - read; study; do a course; become a good theologian

dg

Playlist - January 2.0

A Rat's Nest by Thom Yorke - Analyse Single (B Side)

Hey, Johnny Park! by Foo Fighters - The Colour & The Shape

String Quartet No. 8 in C minor Op.110: I Largo by The Brodsky Quartet - Shostakovich: String Quartet No.8

I Love Paris by Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Sings the Cole Porter Songbook

Waters of Nazareth by Justice - †

Kick, Push by Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor

New Terrain by Mew - No More Stories.......

Hush Now by Maia Hirasawa - GBGVSSTHLM

Some Of Your Lovin' by Dusty Sprinfield - Greatest Hits

We're No Here by Mogwai - Mr. Beast

Spotify Link Right Here

dg

7 Things... Part One: Journalling

KEEP A JOURNAL!

Rule number one of being a Worship Song Writer.

Keeping a journal or diary can have many benefits... if you are that way inclined. Recording your thoughts and prayers (and answers to prayers) is something many people enjoy and some even find it invaluable.

I've never really gotten into it. At my house there are a number of nice books with notebooks which have the first and second pages (perhaps third, if you're lucky) with journal entries but then just blank pages. I guess then I just forgot, or didn't have anything to say or couldn't be bothered.

So I've never done journalling well. What I have done though, is song writing.

Rather than record my ideas in a book I naturally try to write songs out of those experiences and ideas that inspire me - even if the song does not end up being a 'congregational' one... perhaps this is one of the reasons why I apparently write 'a lot' - in a conversation about how frequently I write another writer was astounded to find out I wrote (conservatively) 'a couple of month'... I've never thought that was a lot!

One of the reasons my journals stayed empty is that it all ended up in songs... so if you want to write more songs maybe try journalling less and song writing more... what's the worst that can happen? (cue Dr.Pepper music)

dg

7 Things Worship Song Writers Do That I Don't (& Why)

I am starting a new mini-series: '7 Things Worship Song Writers Do That I Don't (& Why)'

After talking to a lot of writers over last couple of years and really thinking about how I write songs I've noticed that I do things a little differently - not necessarily better, but different. Mostly they are things you are told to do in song writing seminars that I don't do... for various reasons...

Hopefully this will be helpful to other writers or want-to-be-writers...

Here goes!

dg

Playlist - January 1.0

Dayvan Cowboy by Boards of Canada - In The Air

A Shot in the Arm by Wilco - Summerteeth

Wonderful/Song for Children by Rufus Wainwright - War Child - Heroes Vol 1.

Altibzz by Autechre - Quaristice

Galang by M.I.A. - Arular

2/1 by Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music for Airports

Only Shallow by My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

Strange Fruit by Nina Simone - Classic Nina Simone

Country Darkness by Elvis Costello - The Delivery Man

Black & Gold by Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro

SPOTIFY link!

enjoy

dg

Oh Lord, You're Beautiful