PLEASE KEEP MOVING

I HAVE MOVED

2010-09-20T12:28:00.002+01:00

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

2010-09-07T15:36:00.002+01:00

Playlist - September 1.0

2010-09-06T16:51:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-31T13:03:00.005+01:00

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

2010-08-27T13:10:00.003+01:00

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

2010-08-25T11:30:00.004+01:00

Playlist - August 2.0

2010-08-20T17:11:00.002+01:00

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

Genuine Creative Thinking

2010-08-20T11:10:00.002+01:00

Playlist - August 1.0

2010-08-13T11:26:00.002+01:00

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

Playlist - July 2.0

2010-07-28T14:46:00.002+01:00

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

Cyclops

2010-07-28T13:32:00.002+01:00

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.

Playlist - July 1.0

2010-07-13T16:22:00.002+01:00

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!

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

2010-07-06T11:33:00.002+01:00

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

2010-07-03T11:17:00.003+01:00

(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

Playlist - June 2.0

2010-06-29T17:02:00.003+01:00

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

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

Playlist - June 1.0

2010-06-20T21:52:00.004+01:00

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

Playlist - May 2.0

2010-05-22T12:30:00.003+01:00

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

Playlist - May 1.0

2010-05-10T21:17:00.004+01:00

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....

Let England Shake

2010-04-20T16:51:00.002+01:00

Stillness is the Move

2010-04-20T16:34:00.002+01:00

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

2010-04-16T17:25:00.009+01:00

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

2010-04-16T17:17:00.004+01:00

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

2010-04-10T15:46:00.002+01:00

Playlist - March 2.0

2010-03-24T13:51:00.004Z

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

Self Projection

2010-03-24T12:20:00.003Z

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;"

Playlist - March 1.0

2010-03-10T12:09:00.002Z

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.

God Will Raise You Up (So Relax)

2010-03-09T11:45:00.000Z

"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.

*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

2010-02-26T11:34:00.000Z

Playlist - February 2.0

2010-02-22T19:31:00.002Z

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!

Playlist - February 1.0

2010-02-08T10:34:00.003Z

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

7 Things... Part Seven: Write in Seasons

2010-02-05T09:32:00.002Z

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

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

2010-02-04T13:38:00.003Z

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

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

2010-02-03T10:30:00.004Z

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.

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

2010-02-02T11:28:00.004Z

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.

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

2010-01-29T14:35:00.004Z

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.

7 Things... Part Two: Consult a Theologian

2010-01-28T14:42:00.003Z

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

Playlist - January 2.0

2010-01-27T16:21:00.003Z

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

7 Things... Part One: Journalling

2010-01-27T16:04:00.003Z

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)

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

2010-01-27T15:54:00.003Z

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!

Playlist - January 1.0

2010-01-12T16:25:00.004Z

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

Oh Lord, You're Beautiful

2010-01-05T22:45:00.001Z

Albums of the Year 2009

2009-12-16T13:27:00.003Z

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)

Destiny will be Fulfilled

2009-12-12T15:35:00.000Z

Playlist - December 1.0

2009-12-10T11:16:00.004Z

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

Unto Us

2009-12-08T22:25:00.002Z

This is 'Unto Us' - a Christmas themed song written and recorded tonight at my kitchen table - with a cold, on Garageband - but no more excuses - hope you enjoy it!

FileDropper Free File Hosting

Unto_us.mp3

Capo 3

A Asus
For a world ruled by fear
E F#m
For a world with so many tears
D A/C#
For a world in darkness shrouded
C#m F#m
A light has come

A Asus
And for every seeking heart
E F#m
And for every shattered life
D A/C#
And for every broken person
C#m F#m
A light has come

A Asus
Unto us a child is born
D Bm
Unto us a Son is given
Esus F#m
Unto us a miracle
Esus E Dmaj7 E Dmaj7 E
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

A Asus
In a town called Bethlehem
E F#m
In the dirt behind an inn
D A/C#
Was born Emmanuel
C#m F#m
The light has come

My Albums of the Decade

2009-12-04T17:34:00.016Z

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!

Delirious?

2009-11-29T22:25:00.008Z

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.

Sponging off the State

2009-11-28T20:42:00.003Z

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!

Playlist - November 2.0

2009-11-27T11:41:00.003Z

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!

2012

2009-11-23T16:39:00.001Z

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

November Playlist

2009-11-20T15:32:00.002Z

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....

Self Promotion: Good, Bad or Ugly?

2009-11-19T14:14:00.003Z

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...

Twitter....

2009-11-17T10:17:00.002Z

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......

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

Destiny Found

2009-11-15T14:19:00.003Z

The Sun (We Love It)

2009-11-10T12:34:00.002Z

Thirsty Love

2009-11-10T10:11:00.000Z

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

2009-11-09T10:32:00.003Z

from nothingiswritten

If only the problem were consumerism....

2009-11-09T10:23:00.003Z

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.

Blackest Night

2009-11-06T13:52:00.004Z

St. Vincent - Marrow

2009-10-27T16:03:00.000Z

Tabloid Hypocrisy

2009-10-25T10:35:00.003Z

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

Nick Griffin on Question time (an Alt. Version)

2009-10-23T15:54:00.001+01:00

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

2009-10-21T16:03:00.007+01:00

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.

Literally, the Best Website in Existence

2009-10-20T22:23:00.003+01:00

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/

it is beautiful. very, very beautiful.

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

bookmark it

Hate

2009-10-20T22:16:00.005+01:00

Apple and Christians

2009-10-15T13:28:00.003+01:00

'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.

A Rat's Nest

2009-10-14T13:17:00.002+01:00

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...

2009-10-14T10:21:00.003+01:00

'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

2009-10-12T10:59:00.003+01:00

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.

Four Tet & Steve Reid

2009-10-02T12:59:00.001+01:00

Jazz at the Bookstore

2009-10-02T12:52:00.001+01:00

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

2009-09-23T16:06:00.002+01:00

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.

2009-09-14T10:11:00.005+01:00

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...

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

2009-09-08T12:49:00.000+01:00

A Change is Gonna' Come

2009-08-21T12:19:00.000+01:00

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

2009-08-19T13:20:00.007+01:00

"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

Monuments

2009-08-17T11:03:00.002+01:00

"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

2009-08-14T12:04:00.001+01:00

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

Download for free here

Harry Patch (In Memory Of)

2009-08-09T14:33:00.002+01:00

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

Listen here

Buy here

Remembering the Dead

2009-07-27T10:07:00.002+01:00

Bjork - Unravel

2009-07-22T14:18:00.001+01:00

Spare Phone?

2009-07-22T11:29:00.003+01:00

My Little Empire

2009-07-17T15:20:00.001+01:00

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

2009-07-17T11:43:00.000+01:00

Superman

2009-07-15T12:13:00.004+01:00

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?

Sonnet 20 - William Shakespeare

2009-07-13T21:56:00.002+01:00

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'

2009-07-13T18:15:00.000+01:00

LOST Q&A

2009-07-04T21:32:00.006+01:00

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

2009-07-02T12:57:00.002+01:00

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

You Go To My Head

2009-07-01T12:14:00.000+01:00

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

2009-06-26T13:13:00.000+01:00

Justice

2009-06-19T14:17:00.008+01:00

Real Love

2009-06-18T13:46:00.001+01:00

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

2009-06-18T13:43:00.000+01:00

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

2009-06-16T14:17:00.001+01:00

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

The Incredible Hulk

2009-06-12T11:23:00.011+01:00

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?

A Little Piece of Canaan

2009-06-10T12:34:00.004+01:00

I am realistic.

I am aware that I will not ever be the most well known or ‘successful’ worship leader in the world. And I’m fine with that. Actually, that kind of ministry looks like more hassle than it’s worth - I’m sure it’s a constant mind field of mixed motivations and potential compromises. And I'm not sure I’m global-worship-leader-role-model material anyway.

Good luck to ‘em. Or God bless them. Or both.

Although I can easily resign from that position of international celebrity, how willing am I to surrender every single last bit of recognition?

That’s does not come quite so easily.

Maybe I’d be satisfied with just being known in this country, or this region, or this network, or that conference or just from the front of my church - as long as I’m known and appreciated somewhere then I can satisfy that part of my heart that longs for the attention of man.

When Moses divided up the Promised Land, Canaan, between the 12 tribes of Israel he gave nothing to the Levites. They were allotted no territory at all. They did not get a little piece of Canaan, but they were entrusted with something much greater:

“At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today. That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as the LORD your God told them” (Deuteronomy 10:8-9)

My inheritance is the LORD.

It is not the recognition of my church, or network or denomination or country. It is not the congratulations of my fellow man. It is not people’s appreciative gaze, nor their encouraging words.

My inheritance is the LORD.

My privilege is not a little piece of Canaan. My privilege is ‘to stand before the Lord and to pronounce blessings in his name’. My privilege is to sing for the glory of God.

And my inheritance is the LORD

What else could I need? What else could satisfy the truest and deepest longings of my heart? What else will sustain me through all my years and into eternity?

Absolutely nothing.

Almost makes the whole awful thing worthwhile

2009-06-05T22:17:00.001+01:00

Apparently....

2009-06-04T12:59:00.004+01:00

Fever Ray - 'When I Grow Up'

2009-06-03T12:47:00.001+01:00