Keep Singing Of The Cross

A video that still resonates with me is this one by C J Mahaney where he talks about why we sing so many songs about the cross



When it comes to song writing I try to write with a view of looking at whichever topic through the lens of the cross. For this song I've attempted to write a celebration song, where we're declaring the glory of our God and what He's done for us. I've had the line "Keep singing of the cross" in my head for a bit and a riff for the intro has emerged. Now it's just the hard work grafting of trying think of fresh ways of saying the important truths of the gospel, and not settling for cliched lyrics. These lyrics I have are not certain but at least I have a song shape! For those in Reading maybe you might hear it at somepoint... (or perhaps on the RFC Cd!)...

Keep Singing Of The Cross

Verse 1:
The cross of Christ
God's love displayed
Our Father made a way
Our sin and shame,
By/His grace erased
For Jesus came to save
Yes Jesus came to save

Chorus:
Now we'll keep singing of the cross
For God so loved us
He sent His Son that we might live
Yes we'll keep singing of the cross
Where grace restored us
It's all we'll boast of evermore

Verse 2
...
...
...
The law fulfilled, sin's cursed removed
...
We're one man now in Christ

Bridge
...

Exciting times :)

Formatting seems to have gone a bit strange but woop woop

This is the original link - http://www.thisisannouncements.co.uk/7677632?s_source=clsw_tiwg_glec

Evermore

Phil Wickham's "Songs for Christmas", which is fast becoming my favourite Christmas album, contains what in my mind is a stunning song called "Evermore" It's based on an old hymn called "Of the Father's love begotten" and Phil Wickham added a chorus onto it (and probably tweaked some words but I haven't gone through the 2 and compared!). Most people would agree that carols at times fall on the weak side in terms of words and theology... "The little lord Jesus no crying He makes" one of the more famous strange lyrics...

Evermore though I think falls more on the "Hark the Herald" line with some brilliant lines to do with incarnation and condescension. The chorus  to me is just one of those you want to sing out loudly at the top of your voice. Verse 3 really stands out for me

He is found in human fashion
Death and sorrow here to know
That the race of Adam's children
Doomed by law to endless woe
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below
But forever rest in beauty
In the lights of Heaven's glow


I love the depth of lyrics and how the gospel rings out from it! The old hymn it was based on has some interesting words too - check it out here 

Do check it out and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.


Here are the full lyrics

Verse 1:
Of the Father's love begotten
'Ere the world began to be
He the source of all that has been
And all the future years will see

Chorus:
Evermore, evermore
He shall reign forevermore
Humble King, Sovereign Lord
He shall reign forevermore

Verse 2:
Oh that birth forever blessed
When the chosen virgin go
By the Holy Ghost conceiving
Bore the Savior of our world

Verse 3:
He is found in human fashion
Death and sorrow here to know
That the race of Adam's children
Doomed by law to endless wo
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below
But forever rest in beauty
In the lights of Heaven's glow

A Merry ipad/iphone christmas

sometimes you just have to sit back and smile at some fantastic creativity! Enjoy!

Forever Reign

We've played this song a couple of times now at church. I love how it has so much truth in it and helps fix our gaze on our Saviour (by saying "You are... You are...) rather than looking to ourselves. An immensely memorable tune and you'll be singing to yourself "Oh I'm running to your arms..." without realising it because it's so catchy! I hope you find it as stirring as I have

Lyrics are:

V1:
You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin

V2:
You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost it's sting

Chorus:
Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

V3:
You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Bridge:
My heart will sing
no other Name
Jesus, Jesus

copyright Jason Ingram & Reuben Morgan, Hillsong Publishing 2009

RFC Music resource website... (needs a better name)...

As part of my FP year I started up this little piece of web space, aimed to help better resource the music team at church. Have a look if it sounds like your cup of tea

the link is: http://rfcmusic.wordpress.com/

What if Worship was like an NBA game?

A video that might hopefully make you smile

Animations

We're big fans of Sovereign Grace music at RFC. While looking through Bob Kauflin's blog I came across these gems. I love how the animation can help lyrics spring to life and as Bob K puts it "Good art has a way of pointing our eyes to what matters most." I hope these clips stir you as they did me

The Gospel Song - Sovereign Grace



Lyrics:
Holy God in love became
Perfect man to bear my blame
On the cross he took my sin
By his death I live again.


The Prodigal - Sovereign Grace



Lyrics:
You held out Your arms, I walked away
Insolent I spurned Your face
Squandering the gifts You gave to me
Holding close forbidden things
Destitute a rebel still, a fool in all my pride
The world I once enjoyed is death to me
No joy, no hope, no life

Where now are the friends, that I had bought
Gone with every penny lost
What hope could there be for such as I
Sold out to a world of lies
Oh, to see Your face again, it seems so distant now
Could it be that You would take me back
A servant in Your house

You held out Your arms, I see them still
You never left, You never will
Running to embrace me, now I know
Your cords of love will always hold
Mercy’s robe, a ring of grace
Such favor undeserved
You sing over me and celebrate
The rebel now Your child

These last two are by Casting Crowns and Starfield respectively with a more theme of encouragement to those struggling.

Tracking Theological Trajectories

In July I attended my first ever large scale Newfrontiers conference - Together on a Mission. Since I'm doing FP next year I know that it won't be my last. The various seminars and meetings I attended were brilliant but I missed out on the excellent series called "Tracking Theological Trajectories" that the Leadership part of TOAM (I was on mobilise). I love theology and believe that it's essential for worship leaders to be seeking to be theologically sound especially when writing songs and choosing song lists.

The "Tracking Theological Trajectories" covered 3 books - Tim Keller's Reason for God (need to read), Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis (need to re-read) and N T Wright's Surprised by Hope (need to finish reading!). The 3 books are extremely popular, especially in my age category and so it was very interesting seeing what the Newfrontiers theology big wigs had to say about them. On my gap year I was positively recommended Velvet Elvis and Surprised by Hope by the church I was attending, and my housemate is a big fan of Keller. I've worked my way through the talks on Bell and Wright, and listening about the one on Keller.

It's been challenging listening to the talks as it's made me rethink what I thought about some of what I've read (esp Bell's Velvet Elvis). Perhaps it's due to me maturing in my faith but I would have to agree with a fair bit of the criticism aimed at Bell. It has been a bit of a journey for me as when I was about 18, the people I was with only talked about how amazing they thought Bell and Velvet Elvis/Nooma/anything he touched was, and so the new shift as I've spent time with a more conservative/less liberal (?) crowd which seems to have an almost entirely negative view of him. As always I'm quite against people simply criticising someone's work if they haven't even had the time to read the book (which is why I can't comment on what they said about Tim Keller), but being given a very different perspective on the books by people who have got to grips with the books has certainly been stimulating.

The talks have also been great at being balanced and not attempting to simply point out what is wrong, which I think is brilliant. I'm hoping that next year they run something similar on some other books. If you're a big fan of the 3 authors/books or enjoy theology/debates definitely check them out. I've managed to get through them on my way to work so I'm sure others can do the same.

You can find the talks on the link below -
http://www.newfrontierstogether.org/Groups/131508/Newfrontiers/Resources/Talks_and_Preaches/Select_Event/Leadership_International_10/Training_Tracks.aspx

The wait is almost over (for the new EPL season to start...)

In a week and a bit the football season shall return and there shall be a big smile on my face. The World cup in my mind was a disappointment on many levels, and so the beginning of the new season can't come quick enough. Once again I'm brimming with optimism for my beloved Arsenal despite a lack of stand out signings or that fact that as always we're being written off as challengers before the first ball has been kicked.

 I agree that we lack some squad depth but I don't see us as miles off the rapidly ageing Chelsea team, an Man Utd team that in my mind may struggle (over reliance on Rooney? Ferdinand permanently injured? etc..) and Liverpool... well enough said. Though I agree Man City have improved vastly, their new signings aren't much of an improvement over their current squad (David Silva aside, he is world class), I don't see them overtaking us. Spurs well we'll see... I'm not sure they have the experience (or a manager experienced enough) to be able to sustain a title challenge/europe/various less important cups to be quite there yet (see Everton's ill fated attempted at Champions league in 2005/6 as a potential outcome for Spurs).

So then what of Arsenal? We lack a solid keeper, yes... We've lost a number of centre backs, yes... and our captain is being courted by everyone from Barcelona + their dog. Perhaps it's not the ideal situation for preparation for a new season, but then again we don't have the power to stop this ridiculous Spanish media farce unfortunately so we'll just have to live with it. I once held Barcelona in high regard, seeing them as like a second team, but this summer has meant any respect I had for the club has been left in the gutter along with their dignity as they show how to be the prime example of a class-less club.

Anyways rant over... we've added a solid big centre forward who should hopefully fill the void that Emmanuel  "delusions of grandeur" Adebayor left. We still need to add some more centre backs still due to the various departures of Sol Campbell, Senderos, Gallas and the bald headed one. New boy  Laurent Koscielny could turn out to be another Vermaelen but we'll wait and see. The only other new transfer rumour is that perhaps we're going to sign some 29yr old centre back from Montpellier... sounds and smells like Wenger so probably will happen.

I hope to see a new keeper added as well as a quality centre back/s. If possible another defensive midfielder could help ensure that if Song get's injured that we're covered though Frimpong has looked like he has potential in preseason. Whether this will happen is unlikely but i'll wait on the edge of my seat hoping on the last day of the transfer window.

On our day we can dismantle almost any team and we're consistently unlucky with injuries in my mind. If Van Persie can stay fit he's can reach the calibre of Torres/Rooney/Drogba, if Cesc stays and has the same desire as last season then he'll challenge for the title of best midfielder in the Premiership. The rising star of Wilshere could potentially breakout this season in the same way Ramsey was last season and could be a new weapon. There's definitely potential in the team. My heart tells me we can take the title but my head might point towards the many bitter disappointments of recent years.

 Below are 2 previews about Arsenal and I'm sure many more will come out soon

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/aug/02/premier-league-preview-arsenal

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/424927-a-realistic-preview-of-arsenals-season-transfers

Welcome back (proper) football, I've missed you and wait expectantly for the classic highs and lows, sublime goals, ridiculous fouls, as well as everything in between!


(some highlights of last season... I have no idea what the music sounds like as I don't have the sound on so apologies if it's poor...)

Reasons not to write songs for your church

An amusing post about reasons why perhaps I should hang up my guitar... my neighbour would be happy...

http://youngglory.blogspot.com/2010/06/top-10-reasons-not-to-write-songs-for.html

To The Cross we gaze/Yes Jesus Loves Us (working title)

So I've been working on this song for about 3+months. I've tried to really step up my game in terms of content and hopefully am making progress with it. As you may notice the chorus is inspired by the classic song "Yes Jesus loves me" and hopefully it fits the rest of the song. The last line of the chorus has been a struggle and I'm still trying to think of something that has a real hook to it. For all the times of frustration and feeling like I'm hitting a brick wall, I absolutely love writing songs and I like how the song is taking form. This blog has no real reason to it, I'm just sharing my journey! Maybe this song may be heard soon by those who are RFCers... For my limited readership, if you have any ideas or thoughts I'm always happy for comments

TO THE CROSS WE GAZE

Verse 1:

To the cross we gaze in wonder

All our stains washed by His blood

Crushed and broken, bruised and beaten

By His stripes we have been healed 

The cross before us, sin behind us

Mercy poured incessantly

Love we don’t deserve has found us

Grace now overwhelms our souls

Chorus:

Yes Jesus loves us

Yes Jesus loves us

Yes Jesus loves us

*possible line* - By grace we have been saved/Hallelujah for the cross/Hallelujah we are saved…

Verse 2:

Father’s love shines through the Saviour/ Father turns His face in sorrow

Son of God died once for all

In the grave His body lay there

But the grave would not prevail

Up He rose, in glorious splendour

Spirit raised Him from the dead

It is finished, He has conquered

Death O where now is Your sting

Verse 3:

Rugged cross we boldly cling to

Boast of only Jesus Christ

Heaven beckons for we’re ransomed

We are His and He is ours

One day we will see our Saviour

Face to face, He’ll call our names

But for now His work, our mission

Tell the lost of saving grace

Graduation Fail

So my blog is descending into simply a blog of videos I come across and less to do with deep thoughts but oh well! In the spirit of my graduation at 5pm today, I thought I would share this... hopefully this won't happen today! Can't believe I'm graduating but still at least I've got here in the end

Worship Leading Horror Moment

Perhaps my favourite video worship horror moment...



and my previous fave

A brief sidestep...

A brief detour away from the topic of healing

One of my fave bands at the moment - Rend Collective Experiment, (whose album is great and worth checking out on the old spotify) have done the quite impressive feat of performing Chris Tomlin's track "How Great is Our God" by simply using iphone instrument applications.. for those who are thinking it's going to be a bit rubbish I hope you are suitably impressed by just how good a sound the band manage to get...



Kingsway released this quote about the video

"Gimmicky? Well, here’s the weird thing: it isn’t. Once you get over the initial smiles that arise from the first shots, you see more clearly what’s going on: this is not about the phones, but it’s all about the worship. Unlocked, unchained and using whatever tools there are at hand to reflect back to God a little of his greatness."

Healing: pt 2 Yahweh Your Healer

Andrew Wilson's book Incomparable is a brilliant book. For anyone who doesn't have a copy... go buy it now... essentially it's lots of different chapters that explore God, his character, his nature and his attributes.


As I'm investigating what it means to call God - Healer, I reread the chapter he's written on it. I'm quoting a fair chunk of the chapter (selected bits) so all copyrights are Andrew Wilson!
The anchoring verse he uses at the start is in Exodus


Exodus 15:26
He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

"In the verse above, we read that one of God's names is 'Yahweh-your-healer- (Yahweh-rophe). When God reveals His name, as we have seen, we need to take notice, because it is a revelation of His character. Healing is not something God did once and may or may not do now. It is part of who He is."

Wilson later goes on to look at the story of the Israelites and how despite all the miracles they've seen they are once again grumbling and doubting Him. God uses the event to reveal a new name to them, as they did not see God as a healer. 

He ends with this bit

"Of course, we know that God doesn't always heal like this (previous shared a testimony of someone being healed by God), for various reasons. Just one of those reasons, as the opening quotation makes clear, is a lack of obedience in faith. But this is not always the case, and whether or not He chooses to heal at a given moment, He is always Yahweh-your-healer, because it's His name, it's who He is . It was His name when the Israelites came out of Egypt, it still is today, and it always will be."

It's always challenging to read about healing. I've heard of various people being told they aren't being healed by God because they lack faith. Now as Wilson says one reason may be that people lack faith and therefore they aren't healed (Mark 6:1-6) but it is not the only reason and therefore telling people that they aren't being healed because of a lack of faith is the wrong thing to say I feel. I guess in all things if He heals, or if He doesn't, it is His will as Almighty God, we just should never doubt that He is Yahweh-your-healer and this will not change as He never changes.

Relating song: Healer (Hillsong) - a great song, shame about the whole controversy of its writer. The biblical truths of the song remain and it's brilliant to be reminded that "nothing is impossible for You... You hold my world in Your hands" 

Healing: pt 1?

So at Reading Family Church we will soon be having our Front Edge healing meeting (23 May). It's going to be a brilliant Sunday and though I know some people's views on healing differ, I'm a firm believer that Jesus healed, that He heals today and will continue to heal in the future. During our band practice last week, one of the guys shared this passage

Mark 1:40-45

A man with leprosy came to him (Jesus) and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

It's challenging to read passages like this and then think to myself what am I believing or expecting to see on the 23rd May... colds being removed? pain being healed... (this still brings glory to God) or that blind people will see, that crippled people will walk, people being cured of illnesses they have suffered for years from. Jesus clearly healed these sicknesses as recorded in the Bible and none was too big or small for Him, He healed all who came to Him and put their trust in Him. 

I'm trying to read up on various bits to do with healing (e.g. http://www.worshipcentral.org/blog/guest/lex-buckley/healing-in-worship) and thinking of songs that will help stir up faith (on the same website there's an interesting song called "Spirit Break Out" though I'm not too hot on the rap in the middle http://www.worshipcentral.org/song/spirit-break-out). I'm also attempting atm to write a song that I hope might try to get to grips with the topic with the working title of "Jesus You're My Healer" as there are few songs that talk about healing...

Anyways I may share my continued thoughts about it as I try to keep pressing on with it, we'll see how it goes...

Cat, Dog, Horse???

Perhaps an alternative to the current oligopoly in the pet market... a miniature horse... I wonder what it's like a guarding a house...

"The only surface that a gecko cannot stick to is Teflon."

In my spare time I sing in a little group called "Gecko Collective"... we played at a small acoustic cafe thing last weekend which was good fun! Check us out below and maybe you'll see us at an event sometime soon


Gecko Collective - This is your life/Dare you to move from Gecko Collective on Vimeo.


Gecko Collective - Golden Touch from Gecko Collective on Vimeo.



Gecko Collective - Feeling Good from Gecko Collective on Vimeo.


Gecko Collective - Ms Jackson from Gecko Collective on Vimeo.

Exams...

It would seem that the exam period has descended on all of studentdom and therefore blogging (as well as most other vaguely interesting things) have to take the back foot... I only have 4 so not long now! 13 May is not far away and then it shall be happy days :) I shall still blog sporadically though (so actually nothing is really changing!)

a standing cat will have to do for now...

Pera... pera... no.. pera darling pera... peru? oh yeah pera pera...

A brilliant little video.. I find it hilarious but maybe you won't... oh well I'm still giggling now!

"Critics worldwide swoon over my original line of corduroy evening wear"

Was listening to a sermon and the preacher mentioned this famous personal statement. You may have heard it before, but I'm sure you'll still be amused by it! The guy who wrote it Hugh Gallagher apparently wrote it for an essay competition...

"I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I have been known to remodel train stations on my lunch breaks, making them more efficient in the area of heat retention. I translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees, I write award-winning operas, I manage time efficiently. Occasionally, I tread water for three days in a row.

I woo women with my sensuous and godlike trombone playing, I can pilot bicycles up severe inclines with unflagging speed, and I cook thirty-minute brownies in twenty minutes. I am an expert in stucco, a veteran in love, and an outlaw in Peru.

Using only a hoe and a large glass of water, I once single-handedly defended a small village in the Amazon Basin from a horde of ferocious army ants. I play bluegrass cello, I was scouted by Juventus, I am the subject of numerous documentaries. When I'm bored, I build large suspension bridges in my shed. I enjoy urban hang gliding. On Wednesdays, after school, I repair electrical appliances free of charge.

I am an abstract artist, a concrete analyst, and a ruthless bookie. Critics worldwide swoon over my original line of corduroy evening wear. I don't perspire. I am a private citizen, yet I receive fan mail. Last summer I toured Burkino Faso with a traveling centrifugal-force demonstration. I bat 400. My deft floral arrangements have earned me fame in international botany circles. Children trust me.

I can hurl tennis rackets at small moving objects with deadly accuracy. I once read Paradise Lost, Moby Dick, and David Copperfield in one day and still had time to refurbish an entire dining room that evening. I know the exact location of every food item in the supermarket. I chant Latin whilst working casually as a freelance ambassador. I perform short operas in the street to raise money for injured stunt dolphins, and regularly powerlift garden furniture for an entire afternoon.

I have performed several covert operations for the CIA. I sleep once a week; when I do sleep, I sleep in a chair. While on holiday in Canada, I successfully negotiated with a group of terrorists who had seized a small bakery. The laws of physics do not apply to me.

I balance, I weave, I dodge, I frolic, and my bills are all paid. On weekends, to let off steam, I participate in full-contact origami. Years ago I discovered the meaning of life but forgot to write it down. I have made extraordinary four course meals using only a pot noodle and a small spoon.

I breed prize winning clams. I have won bullfights in San Juan, cliff-diving competitions in Sri Lanka, and spelling awards at the Kremlin. I have played Hamlet, I have performed open-heart surgery, and I have spoken to Elvis.

But… I have not yet been to university."

Wrestling with God

Genesis 32:24-31


So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

So about 2 weeks ago I had the privilege of getting to attend Reading Fam's worship leaders meeting. Was a brilliant time in which those of us who lead and those who would like to lead met up, chatted about why we do what we do, were challenged in areas but also was a great time of encouragement. Towards the end Liz said that she planned for that we should pray for one another individually and practice stepping out in terms of hearing for God. To be honest alarm bells went off in my head, as i've never thought of myself as a particularly  strong prayer (an area to improve in) but also that I had said i wanted to step out in prophecy so I knew that now was the time!

Anyway so we got individuals to stand in the middle and we gathered and prayed for them. Some amazing words came out and people seemed really stirred and encouraged. As it came for my turn, I wondered what it would be... God delights in my songwriting?... God will bless me with even greater skill  (HA! i make myself laugh) with my guitar? etc... no God intended to challenge me deeply -> that I should be striving to "wrestle with God", that I need to push myself to grow a spiritually broader shoulders were 2 that stood out and this is so that I might become the man God intends me to be. The idea of wrestling with God is a terrifying one but I take refuge and delight in the passage from Genesis. Not only did Jacob do it, but he was blessed because of it.

So I decided to accept what God is saying, let Him humble me and choose to delight in Him. It's quite clear that I've gotten myself into a mindset where I think that I read the bible enough, or that I spend enough time with Him (which clearly isn't true) and so I've probably gotten very relaxed in my ways. The way I would usually spend my free time at the moment during this holiday would be to play some fifa (or some other game of sort), browse various football sites, listen to music or watch a film. I've decided to put the hunt for new music (that seems to be a constant one) on a bit of a hold and choose to listen to podcasts/sermons on my way to work as well as trying to read more and focusing on songwriting. I'm attempting to wrestle and take delight in my Saviour in my spare time and hopefully I won't be limping afterwards like Jacob... hopefully....

The One In Whom I Trust

I wrote a song not too long ago called "The One In Whom I Trust" it's based on Psalm 91. I wrote it while reflecting on how amazing it is to have a God who is completely faithful and trustworthy and knowing that there is nothing that is impossible for Him be it a massive life problem or a healing simple cold. Surprisingly I haven't fitted in a ridiculous amount of syllables per line so hopefully I'm getting better at writing songs. Its brilliant thinking of how it was just a thought back in September and now seeing people singing it corporately to glorify God like last Sunday. Took me quite awhile to get it finished but I'm really happy with how it sounds now.

The One In Whom I Trust

Verse 1:
I will dwell in the shelter of the most high
I will rest in the shadow of my Saviour
He will be my portion
Ever present help in need

Verse 2:
I will sing of my refuge and my fortress
I will call on the source of my salvation
He has never failed me
He will not forsake my soul

Chorus:
I will say of my God
You are more than enough for me
The One in whom I trust
I will say of my God

You are more than enough for me

The One in whom I trust

Verse 3:

Though the darkness seeks to overwhelm me

On this rock I will stand and not be shaken

Jesus He is stronger

All my faith is found in Him

Bridge:

Love was crucified to save

Hope conquered the grave

Nothing is impossible for You

copyright Josh John 2009 Reading Family Church

Passion 2010: Awakening

So I'm a big fan of Passion (which is a student movement in America). It's a yearly event and a few well known worship leaders are present so therefore there are often a few new songs floating around. This year is no different and strangely yahoo are letting you listen to the whole album for free before it's been release over here in the UK. So check it out while you can (i think it's til the end of this week) the link is below. One of my faves so far is "Our God"

http://new.music.yahoo.com/programs/earlyedition/#

How He Loves

[the clip in the background is from the film "The Passion of The Christ" please do not watch if you are faint hearted, please watch if you need to be stirred again about just how much we are loved by God]


Love is one of those words that are banded around fairly liberally. From the throw away "oh I love [add random name]" about someone you barely know but maybe makes you laugh or does something amusing, to people's passionate 'love' for their football team (I'm speaking about myself here too), it seems our society has managed to devalue what is one the greatest things we can do as human beings... 


But we are reminded that we have a God that loves us, unconditionally, jealously, passionately, eternally and the list can go on and on. In Romans Paul shows us that the Father loved us so much that He gave his only son Jesus, so that nothing could separate us from Him, not even death itself.


Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 



A song that has been stuck in my head for some time is the song by John Mark McMillan called "How He Loves". I prefer David Crowder's version (though that's of little real significance). The story of how the song was written is below.
"He [John Mark] had a youth minister he was close to and he’d been praying and praying for there to be a movement among the youth that he was leading. One morning, when they were meeting to pray he said, “I’d give my life for this if that’s what it takes to see a movement among these youth. Do whatever you need to do God.” That evening John Mark’s friend, Steven the youth pastor, died in a car wreck, and John Mark wrote the song in memory of his friend."

I love the song because it does not conform to standard lyrics or imagery but yet the simple chorus that seems pierce my heart right to it's core. It reminds me of the scene in Good Will Hunting when Matt Damon's character is repeatedly told that it was not his fault he was abused.
It's what we need to hear again and again, He loves us, Jesus loves us and that will never change.

The lyrics of the song are below and I hope your heart melts in your chest just as mine did and all those things of the earth seem to become so insignificant when you think, meditate, about just How much He loves you, me, us all...

How He loves by John Mark McMillan


Verse 1:
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

Pre Chorus:
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Chorus:
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves.

Verse 2:
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way

Simply Amazing

This is simply amazing! I love it! It always is stirring when media is used really effectively to help point towards how awesome God is, and this shows you just how it's done... it misses a bit off the beginning and end but still, credit to the person for being able to hold the camera steady for that long...

"An All New World Awaits"

So last night went to watch Avatar... I'm not going to do any big spiel on like reading into the storyline etc.. just to say it's a great film, nothing potentially ground breaking about the story line but I can almost guarantee that you'll enjoy it. As my co-viewers rightly notice it's probably the future of cinema as it seems to have set a new mark for 3D films and we'll probably in the future say to our children "... I remember when I saw Avatar for the first time and it was the first time that 3D filming really worked.." who knows where film has to go now.. smello-vision?... edible-vision?
Anyways if you haven't seen it, it's worth watching...

Worship Central Acoustic Album

Haven't blogged in ages so what few followers of my blog I presume have fallen away but anyways..

Here's a brilliant little free album

http://www.worshipcentral.org/news/free-acoustic-album-download-now

I love the acoustic version of "On Christ the Solid Rock", and I always appreciate fresh arrangements... check it out