Hi to any of you who still read my blog. I realise I haven't been posting very much on here anymore, and I know I often apologise for this, but I will do so again - sorry ! A lot has happened over the last few months, far too much to catch up in one blog post. So, I won't even try.
What I will do, is to let you know about a series of gigs that Glyn and I are performing at over the next few weeks...one initial gig has seemingly multiplied into a Waterfront mini-tour ! If you are interested in knowing more, then you can see the full gig listing over at Glyn's website ! It's all very exciting and is getting very close now. Unfortunately the full band isn't able to make it this time, but we will be thinking of those who are unable to join us, we'll try to take a few pictures, and looking forward to Shrewsbury Folk Festival, later on in the summer, when pretty much the full complement will be present (no mean feat ! :)
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Happy 2010 !!!
So...a very belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!! Welcome to 2010 ! :-)
It's been a busy time, with lots going on. I'm really out of the habit of blogging, and never have anything to say anyway, but thought the dawn of a new year was probably an occasion to write at least something !
A friend of mine from Church in Guildford recently set us a challenge, and so I thought I would extend the challenge to all you out there...he suggested that it is a good time of year to have a think about what has been a) a blessing, b) life-changing and c) a challenge you can learn from, in the past year.
Mine would be:
a) that it has been a huge blessing moving into a new house with a friend from Surrey Uni/Church. After several years of effectively having been living on my own it's such a huge blessing to have someone to share the joys and trials of everyday life with and it has really caused me to feel so much more settled in Guildford.
b) starting to come to and get stuck into Eternity Church in Guildford has really been life changing in a lot of ways. Much as I still have a huge love for all my previous churches and friends there, it was important to me to get stuck into a good local church, and I have already learnt so much from being a part of Eternity.
c) Stuff at work has been very challenging, especially over the last few months with the intermediate report I had to write and viva I passed (yay!)
-Being involved with "Waterfront" over the past 2 years, but especially the last year, has also provided me with many moments of all of a, b and c !
So, what would your answers to the above questions be ?!
It's been a busy time, with lots going on. I'm really out of the habit of blogging, and never have anything to say anyway, but thought the dawn of a new year was probably an occasion to write at least something !
A friend of mine from Church in Guildford recently set us a challenge, and so I thought I would extend the challenge to all you out there...he suggested that it is a good time of year to have a think about what has been a) a blessing, b) life-changing and c) a challenge you can learn from, in the past year.
Mine would be:
a) that it has been a huge blessing moving into a new house with a friend from Surrey Uni/Church. After several years of effectively having been living on my own it's such a huge blessing to have someone to share the joys and trials of everyday life with and it has really caused me to feel so much more settled in Guildford.
b) starting to come to and get stuck into Eternity Church in Guildford has really been life changing in a lot of ways. Much as I still have a huge love for all my previous churches and friends there, it was important to me to get stuck into a good local church, and I have already learnt so much from being a part of Eternity.
c) Stuff at work has been very challenging, especially over the last few months with the intermediate report I had to write and viva I passed (yay!)
-Being involved with "Waterfront" over the past 2 years, but especially the last year, has also provided me with many moments of all of a, b and c !
So, what would your answers to the above questions be ?!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Waterfront Project update -shameless promotion
As some of you may know, I'm currently involved in a music project with some friends - Glyn Collinson and Ben Clayton , as well as a couple of others who have been known to join with us for sessions. Collectively the project is known as "The Waterfront Project", and recording of our album is currently underway.
We have a myspace (see link on the right) where you can listen to all our recorded tracks so far - bearing in mind that there aren't necessarily the finished versions yet. If you're on facebook, come and join us on the facebook group page ! We also now have some more space on Glyn's website thanks to an update he's done. He's promised to keep updating it more regularly from now on, uploading new tracks as we go along. There will also be regular news posts, from all of us not just Glyn, and there's space for you all to join in and comment. So come on over and let us know what you think ! Today for example, we have just uploaded a new recording (made last night) of our version of the Trad. song "The Blue Cockade".
Sunday, June 28, 2009
"The Life of Christ"
No, this isn't an account of the whole life of Christ as described in the New Testament, rather, I wanted to say that I had the most amazing day today ! We went to Wintershall in Surrey to see this open air play (entitled "The Life of Christ") which is described as: "The greatest story of all time, movingly recreated by a cast of over 200, authentic detail, outstanding quality, sound and music." It was running all this past week (and has been every year since 1999, although this is the first year I've ever heard of it !) and today was the last day.
It was amazing. It lasted all day (10 til just after 4), but I forgot that it was a play, and actually feel like I have spent the day sitting in Palestine watching the Biblical story unfold. It really brings it to life in a way that I find very hard to sense from just reading the narrative.
For one: I was really struck by the vibrancy of the community that Jesus lived in. For some reason, I've always pictured it more like just streets of dust/desert, (I guess cause it's such a foreign place to me, never ever having been to that area of the world - though I would like to go to Israel someday, if it ever stabilises a bit more). But here were streets of people running about, and showing emotions just like us, and dressed in the most amazing array of colours you have ever seen. Wonderful music at the wedding...basically, it just brought it home how Jesus was actually living with real people, at a real time in history, in a real place.
Second: I really felt a part of what was going on (which I think was part of their intention in putting this on). Especially when it came to the sermon on the mount and the feeding of the 5000 I really felt a part of the crowd that Jesus was speaking to; and like he was speaking directly to me in a way I've never experienced before. And, although I knew he wasn't actually Jesus, I still had this overwhelming desire for him to just look at me, and see me in the crowd. But, then that made me realise, that actually, Jesus does see me in the crowd; and in fact, amazingly (I can't get my head round this however much I try) he sees each one of us in the crowd, no matter who we are. Wow.
Third and just generally: it was amazing to get a big picture, as so often when I read the Bible, I don't have/make time to read a whole gospel, but only read a part; this gave us a picture of how all the different parts of Jesus' life fitted together.
There are many more things that struck me too, but it would take too long to go into all of them. All in all though, it was very very moving. I didn't really cry much as such, but was very deeply moved.
It was also very interesting to note the different reactions of the people in the crowd to what was going on; just as in the day of Jesus. Some were crying and clearly moved, others were chatting and more interested in finishing their lunches, some laughed, many applauded which I found odd - yes, ok, at the end of the day it was a play, and it was amazing, but the point is, that I wasn't watching the story, I was IN it. And to be suddenly jolted back out of that by people reminding you it was a play I found a bit unhelpful, and slightly missing the point (although I did join in with the standing ovation at the end, but that's different). So, the real question at the end of all of this, is, how would you have responded ? If you had been there in the real Biblical times, or even there today, what effect would Jesus' words and deeds and life have had on you ? It's a question worth pondering.
And from a practical point of view, I would also highly recommend anyone to go and see it - whether they are a Christian or not. I think it is the kind of thing that whoever you are, (and even however many times you've been to see it before) you would take something away from it. They've finished for this year now, but hopefully it will be back next year; so why not go along and find an answer to that question ? (Tho I would advise a sunhat, lots and lots of water, and a fold-up chair!) The same people also run "The Acts of the Apostles" in October, and "The Nativity" at Christmas time, which I would also be interested in now seeing (in particular "The Acts of the Apostles.)
p.s. If you're my friend on facebook and you want to know more about today, for a bit of a taste do go and have a look at my facebook photo album (just uploaded). I have something from the majority of the major scenes.
It was amazing. It lasted all day (10 til just after 4), but I forgot that it was a play, and actually feel like I have spent the day sitting in Palestine watching the Biblical story unfold. It really brings it to life in a way that I find very hard to sense from just reading the narrative.
For one: I was really struck by the vibrancy of the community that Jesus lived in. For some reason, I've always pictured it more like just streets of dust/desert, (I guess cause it's such a foreign place to me, never ever having been to that area of the world - though I would like to go to Israel someday, if it ever stabilises a bit more). But here were streets of people running about, and showing emotions just like us, and dressed in the most amazing array of colours you have ever seen. Wonderful music at the wedding...basically, it just brought it home how Jesus was actually living with real people, at a real time in history, in a real place.
Second: I really felt a part of what was going on (which I think was part of their intention in putting this on). Especially when it came to the sermon on the mount and the feeding of the 5000 I really felt a part of the crowd that Jesus was speaking to; and like he was speaking directly to me in a way I've never experienced before. And, although I knew he wasn't actually Jesus, I still had this overwhelming desire for him to just look at me, and see me in the crowd. But, then that made me realise, that actually, Jesus does see me in the crowd; and in fact, amazingly (I can't get my head round this however much I try) he sees each one of us in the crowd, no matter who we are. Wow.
Third and just generally: it was amazing to get a big picture, as so often when I read the Bible, I don't have/make time to read a whole gospel, but only read a part; this gave us a picture of how all the different parts of Jesus' life fitted together.
There are many more things that struck me too, but it would take too long to go into all of them. All in all though, it was very very moving. I didn't really cry much as such, but was very deeply moved.
It was also very interesting to note the different reactions of the people in the crowd to what was going on; just as in the day of Jesus. Some were crying and clearly moved, others were chatting and more interested in finishing their lunches, some laughed, many applauded which I found odd - yes, ok, at the end of the day it was a play, and it was amazing, but the point is, that I wasn't watching the story, I was IN it. And to be suddenly jolted back out of that by people reminding you it was a play I found a bit unhelpful, and slightly missing the point (although I did join in with the standing ovation at the end, but that's different). So, the real question at the end of all of this, is, how would you have responded ? If you had been there in the real Biblical times, or even there today, what effect would Jesus' words and deeds and life have had on you ? It's a question worth pondering.
And from a practical point of view, I would also highly recommend anyone to go and see it - whether they are a Christian or not. I think it is the kind of thing that whoever you are, (and even however many times you've been to see it before) you would take something away from it. They've finished for this year now, but hopefully it will be back next year; so why not go along and find an answer to that question ? (Tho I would advise a sunhat, lots and lots of water, and a fold-up chair!) The same people also run "The Acts of the Apostles" in October, and "The Nativity" at Christmas time, which I would also be interested in now seeing (in particular "The Acts of the Apostles.)
p.s. If you're my friend on facebook and you want to know more about today, for a bit of a taste do go and have a look at my facebook photo album (just uploaded). I have something from the majority of the major scenes.
Friday, May 29, 2009
We've been reviewed !!!
How cool is this...today Glyn sent me a link to a review he found that had been written about our performance at the Big Session Festival last Summer (June 08). Here it is ! The bit on us is under "Lee's Saturday sessions", about 1/3 of the way down the page. It's not too bad :-)
Apologies for not blogging recently; things are a bit manic at the moment with having been away a fair bit and having lots of work to now do. I currently have at least 2 posts in my mind that I want to write, one of which is a follow-up to the last post I wrote, but I think writing them will have to wait til at least next week, when I have enough time to spend writing them properly !
Apologies for not blogging recently; things are a bit manic at the moment with having been away a fair bit and having lots of work to now do. I currently have at least 2 posts in my mind that I want to write, one of which is a follow-up to the last post I wrote, but I think writing them will have to wait til at least next week, when I have enough time to spend writing them properly !
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Seeking and finding
So...I've been feeling a little under the weather the past few days. On the outside I look fine, and have been going to work as usual, but on the inside my stomach is churning about, and is somewhat uncomfortable. I've also been feeling really really tired for no apparent reason today, with a slight headache. All this combined, meant that I have spent a large proportion of time today not really being able to concentrate on what I should be doing, and hence procrastinating (although, I did do a few useful things too).
In the course of my procrastination, I discovered this blog, via a link from a friend's blog. I think it's excellent - very very funny (I kept getting odd looks at work when I kept bursting out laughing; Christians do the strangest things sometimes - which you don't realise until someone points it out!), but also very very thought provoking too.
I was especially provoked to thought by this post. Have a read, but I was especially struck by this:
"In a way there are many films, songs, books, and images that point our imaginations to God even though the artist may not have intended this. To those who are seeking after Christ and his kingdom, they see glimpses of it all the time in the most peculiar places."
There are a number of points I could make from this:
1)I identify with this completely and think it is very true. When I was little (and in some senses I still do this now, but slightly differently) I used to listen to pop songs and immediately relate all the lyrics to my own circumstances. I guess this isn't unusual, for someone who doesn't consider themselves wonderfully good with words to use prewritten words to try to fit them to her own life and use them to express how she feels ! But anyway, this meant that a lot of songs I would relate to how I saw God and what I wanted to say to Him. I saw God everywhere.
I still do. As people who know me well will tell you, I have a tendency to think about things very deeply (although I'm not always able to express this well in words). I can go and see a film, and will come out not necessarily thinking about how amazing the story was, but often thinking about what it taught me about God and who He is, and my identity in Him ! I can also go into a gig - be it a university concert (as last Friday), or a folk club, or anything else - and come out feeling like it has given me as much to think about and has made me feel much the same way as when I come out of church on a Sunday.
Why is this ? Now, it could be because God is bigger than just being God of church! He doesn't just speak to me when I'm sitting down on a Sunday morning, but He is a God who loves me and wants a relationship with me, and wants to relate to me in every aspect of my life i.e. He can 'speak' to me through other mediums as well as sermons (!) and He in fact chooses to speak to me through things I relate well to - like music and nature. (For those of you who aren't quite sure what I mean about God 'speaking', I'm sorry to use 'Christian Jargon'. But I think me trying to get my head around what I actually mean by using that would probably take up a whole nother blog post in itself ! Suffice for now to say that I'm not necessarily referring to speaking with an audible voice per se - although, that isn't impossible.)
It could also be because if God has created all things - including us, who He has given the ability to be creative - then surely all things will therefore point back to Him, and speak to us of His nature ?
2) The fact that I identify with this encourages me; it means that although I often feel like I fail to be pursuing God's Kingdom (again, another whole blog post! :) as much as I should be/want to, by this definition I must still therefore to some extent be pursuing Him, even when I know that there is more !
3) This is going to be a more long-winded point.
I went to a lecture tonight at the University, which was entitled:"Right hand, left hand: Asymmetry in brains, bodies, atoms and cultures." It was really really interesting - I learnt a lot of new things, like for example the fact that our bodies are asymmetric and about 1 in 10,000 people have their bodies wired around the other way from most other people, so with their heart on the right instead of the left etc. It's called Situs Inversus ! Basically, it was an astounding story that he was piecing together, about how inherently more complex things are asymmetric. For example, the majority of humans are right-handed (although most other animals are about 50/50 right and left), but that this asymmetry only arises because of underlying other asymmetries etc... all the way down to atoms in our bodies and the laws of physics ! But I was sitting next to a friend, and she said to me (I can't remember how it came up exactly) something along the lines of that people see what they want to see; like if someone is obsessed with the number 13 they will see it everywhere.
Are we endanger of being accused of this as Christians ? That the only reason we see God everywhere is because we are looking for Him ?! I know that in "science and God" debates I have often heard the point that there are many scientists who see God in the complexity of things, but there are also many scientists who are atheists as they believe that science alone explains things without a need for God - both groups are accused of seeing what they want to see, when in fact, science IN ITSELF can neither prove or disprove God.
But then, on the other hand, take these Bible verses:
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt 6:32-34
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:6-8
It says that when we seek, we will find. Implying that when we don't seek we don't find ? Hmmm...this would lead me nicely into an analogy that I like using sometimes...but that will have to wait for another blog post, as I really do need to go and get some sleep !
Questions, questions, and no easy answers. It's often the way, I start blogging thinking that I know what I'm going to write, but finding that it gets more confusing as I go along and process stuff ! Apologies for my incoherent ramblings.
But ultimately, however all of this stuff works out, it is encouraging and I know that the God of the Bible is, as I said in point 1, a HUGE God; He has made us creative people (in His image in fact, as He is the ultimate creator!) And I do definitely believe that He isn't limited to drawing us to Himself through only sermons at church or "Christian Music".
I shall end, as is fairly frequent on this blog I know, with some song lyrics; the opening two lines of a Steven Curtis Chapman Song:
"I found You in the most unlikely way.
But really it was You who found me"
- from the song "Remembering You" by SCC
In the course of my procrastination, I discovered this blog, via a link from a friend's blog. I think it's excellent - very very funny (I kept getting odd looks at work when I kept bursting out laughing; Christians do the strangest things sometimes - which you don't realise until someone points it out!), but also very very thought provoking too.
I was especially provoked to thought by this post. Have a read, but I was especially struck by this:
"In a way there are many films, songs, books, and images that point our imaginations to God even though the artist may not have intended this. To those who are seeking after Christ and his kingdom, they see glimpses of it all the time in the most peculiar places."
There are a number of points I could make from this:
1)I identify with this completely and think it is very true. When I was little (and in some senses I still do this now, but slightly differently) I used to listen to pop songs and immediately relate all the lyrics to my own circumstances. I guess this isn't unusual, for someone who doesn't consider themselves wonderfully good with words to use prewritten words to try to fit them to her own life and use them to express how she feels ! But anyway, this meant that a lot of songs I would relate to how I saw God and what I wanted to say to Him. I saw God everywhere.
I still do. As people who know me well will tell you, I have a tendency to think about things very deeply (although I'm not always able to express this well in words). I can go and see a film, and will come out not necessarily thinking about how amazing the story was, but often thinking about what it taught me about God and who He is, and my identity in Him ! I can also go into a gig - be it a university concert (as last Friday), or a folk club, or anything else - and come out feeling like it has given me as much to think about and has made me feel much the same way as when I come out of church on a Sunday.
Why is this ? Now, it could be because God is bigger than just being God of church! He doesn't just speak to me when I'm sitting down on a Sunday morning, but He is a God who loves me and wants a relationship with me, and wants to relate to me in every aspect of my life i.e. He can 'speak' to me through other mediums as well as sermons (!) and He in fact chooses to speak to me through things I relate well to - like music and nature. (For those of you who aren't quite sure what I mean about God 'speaking', I'm sorry to use 'Christian Jargon'. But I think me trying to get my head around what I actually mean by using that would probably take up a whole nother blog post in itself ! Suffice for now to say that I'm not necessarily referring to speaking with an audible voice per se - although, that isn't impossible.)
It could also be because if God has created all things - including us, who He has given the ability to be creative - then surely all things will therefore point back to Him, and speak to us of His nature ?
2) The fact that I identify with this encourages me; it means that although I often feel like I fail to be pursuing God's Kingdom (again, another whole blog post! :) as much as I should be/want to, by this definition I must still therefore to some extent be pursuing Him, even when I know that there is more !
3) This is going to be a more long-winded point.
I went to a lecture tonight at the University, which was entitled:"Right hand, left hand: Asymmetry in brains, bodies, atoms and cultures." It was really really interesting - I learnt a lot of new things, like for example the fact that our bodies are asymmetric and about 1 in 10,000 people have their bodies wired around the other way from most other people, so with their heart on the right instead of the left etc. It's called Situs Inversus ! Basically, it was an astounding story that he was piecing together, about how inherently more complex things are asymmetric. For example, the majority of humans are right-handed (although most other animals are about 50/50 right and left), but that this asymmetry only arises because of underlying other asymmetries etc... all the way down to atoms in our bodies and the laws of physics ! But I was sitting next to a friend, and she said to me (I can't remember how it came up exactly) something along the lines of that people see what they want to see; like if someone is obsessed with the number 13 they will see it everywhere.
Are we endanger of being accused of this as Christians ? That the only reason we see God everywhere is because we are looking for Him ?! I know that in "science and God" debates I have often heard the point that there are many scientists who see God in the complexity of things, but there are also many scientists who are atheists as they believe that science alone explains things without a need for God - both groups are accused of seeing what they want to see, when in fact, science IN ITSELF can neither prove or disprove God.
But then, on the other hand, take these Bible verses:
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt 6:32-34
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:6-8
It says that when we seek, we will find. Implying that when we don't seek we don't find ? Hmmm...this would lead me nicely into an analogy that I like using sometimes...but that will have to wait for another blog post, as I really do need to go and get some sleep !
Questions, questions, and no easy answers. It's often the way, I start blogging thinking that I know what I'm going to write, but finding that it gets more confusing as I go along and process stuff ! Apologies for my incoherent ramblings.
But ultimately, however all of this stuff works out, it is encouraging and I know that the God of the Bible is, as I said in point 1, a HUGE God; He has made us creative people (in His image in fact, as He is the ultimate creator!) And I do definitely believe that He isn't limited to drawing us to Himself through only sermons at church or "Christian Music".
I shall end, as is fairly frequent on this blog I know, with some song lyrics; the opening two lines of a Steven Curtis Chapman Song:
"I found You in the most unlikely way.
But really it was You who found me"
- from the song "Remembering You" by SCC
Monday, May 11, 2009
Isn't God amazing...continued...
"So what can I say?
What can I do?
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You
So I’ll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
So I’ll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours"
- from "The Stand", Hillsong
What can I do?
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You
So I’ll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
So I’ll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours"
- from "The Stand", Hillsong
Friday, May 08, 2009
Isn't God amazing ?!!!!!
Isn't our God so amazing !
I am so amazed at how He continues to love me, even when I'm so rubbish, and how even when I've been being really bad at spending time with Him He still takes the time to tell me He loves me, in so many ways.
I am amazed at how He has blessed me, and continues to bless me SO much ! : I am amazed everytime at work when my supervisors tell me that they're pleased with my progress so far (when myself I get so frustrated with knowing that I want to do and be so much more !); I am amazed to have found this place where I am actually happy in what I'm doing (even if there is always far too much to do ;) I am amazed at how many amazing friends I have who I care for and who continue to care for me (even when they get to know me!); I am amazed at how amazing my family is. I am amazed at how God has given me this huge love of music and the accompanying ability to be able to play some music, and I am amazed at how He has led me to friends with whom I can share this love and with whom I can have such a wonderful time playing it !
I'm never the most eloquent of people, (or at least, I never feel it!); and words can never express how amazing He is anyway. Yet, I know in my heart that although there is still so much more to learn, to discover, to become, on this journey, there is also already SO much to be thankful for right here and now. He is at the heart of it all, and He is amazing :-)
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" James 1:17
"The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
"But the harder I try the more clearly can I feel
The depth of our fall and the weight of it all
And so this might could be the most impossible thing
Your grandness in me making me clean
Glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
You are holy, holy, holy
All heaven cries “Holy, holy God”
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to be holy, holy God
So here I am, all of me
Finally everything
Wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly Yours
I am wholly Yours
I am full of earth and dirt and You"
- from "Wholly Yours" by David Crowder
I am so amazed at how He continues to love me, even when I'm so rubbish, and how even when I've been being really bad at spending time with Him He still takes the time to tell me He loves me, in so many ways.
I am amazed at how He has blessed me, and continues to bless me SO much ! : I am amazed everytime at work when my supervisors tell me that they're pleased with my progress so far (when myself I get so frustrated with knowing that I want to do and be so much more !); I am amazed to have found this place where I am actually happy in what I'm doing (even if there is always far too much to do ;) I am amazed at how many amazing friends I have who I care for and who continue to care for me (even when they get to know me!); I am amazed at how amazing my family is. I am amazed at how God has given me this huge love of music and the accompanying ability to be able to play some music, and I am amazed at how He has led me to friends with whom I can share this love and with whom I can have such a wonderful time playing it !
I'm never the most eloquent of people, (or at least, I never feel it!); and words can never express how amazing He is anyway. Yet, I know in my heart that although there is still so much more to learn, to discover, to become, on this journey, there is also already SO much to be thankful for right here and now. He is at the heart of it all, and He is amazing :-)
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" James 1:17
"The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
"But the harder I try the more clearly can I feel
The depth of our fall and the weight of it all
And so this might could be the most impossible thing
Your grandness in me making me clean
Glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
You are holy, holy, holy
All heaven cries “Holy, holy God”
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to be holy, holy God
So here I am, all of me
Finally everything
Wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly Yours
I am wholly Yours
I am full of earth and dirt and You"
- from "Wholly Yours" by David Crowder
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Another year older !
So, today I am another year older ! I've been having a really great birthday so far, having spent time with family this weekend, and played lots of music yesterday, and I will be celebrating with friends tomorrow evening! But most importantly, for me every birthday is a time when I celebrate again how amazing God is ! I wonder at the fact that He's taken care of me and loved me for thus many years, even when I wasn't aware of it or when I forget, and that He's going to continue to walk beside me and love me into the future. I've recently gotten Vicky Beeching's latest album, "Painting the Invisible", and listening to it the last song on the album really sums up how I feel today (and have been feeling in the run up to my birthday). I quote the lyrics for you below (the song is originally entitled "Twenty-Six summers", but when I play it on guitar I change the lyrics slightly...)
"I don't know what the future holds
Or what lies beyond my horizon
The years ahead are just out of sight
Well, I think sometimes that You hide them
So that I'll walk by faith not sight
So I'll take Your hand, holding tight
Through twenty-four summers
And twenty-four winters
I've laughed in the springtime
I've cried in the rain
Though I've questioned the meaning
Of some of life's seasons
It's true that they've left me holding on
Tighter to You
My one desire for the road ahead
Is that we would walk it together
Friend and King, You're my everything
May I stay by Your side forever
For when my heart's afraid, You're near
Whispering to my soul, 'don't fear'
Through twenty-four summers
And twenty-four winters
I've laughed in the springtime
I've cried in the rain
Though I've questioned the meaning
Of some of life's seasons
It's true that they've left me holding on
Tighter to You
And I will trust in You alone
For You're the hand leading me home
Leading me home.
I've spent twenty-four summers
And twenty-four winters with You
Through all of the seasons
And my search for reasons
You've carried me through
These twenty-four summers
And twenty-four winters
I've laughed in the springtime
I've cried in the rain
Though I've questioned the meaning
Of some of life's seasons
It's true that they've left me holding on
Tighter to You
I will keep holding on to You"
- Twenty-Six Summers
off the album "Painting the Invisible" by Vicky Beeching
(slight lyrics changes in italics mine)
"I don't know what the future holds
Or what lies beyond my horizon
The years ahead are just out of sight
Well, I think sometimes that You hide them
So that I'll walk by faith not sight
So I'll take Your hand, holding tight
Through twenty-four summers
And twenty-four winters
I've laughed in the springtime
I've cried in the rain
Though I've questioned the meaning
Of some of life's seasons
It's true that they've left me holding on
Tighter to You
My one desire for the road ahead
Is that we would walk it together
Friend and King, You're my everything
May I stay by Your side forever
For when my heart's afraid, You're near
Whispering to my soul, 'don't fear'
Through twenty-four summers
And twenty-four winters
I've laughed in the springtime
I've cried in the rain
Though I've questioned the meaning
Of some of life's seasons
It's true that they've left me holding on
Tighter to You
And I will trust in You alone
For You're the hand leading me home
Leading me home.
I've spent twenty-four summers
And twenty-four winters with You
Through all of the seasons
And my search for reasons
You've carried me through
These twenty-four summers
And twenty-four winters
I've laughed in the springtime
I've cried in the rain
Though I've questioned the meaning
Of some of life's seasons
It's true that they've left me holding on
Tighter to You
I will keep holding on to You"
- Twenty-Six Summers
off the album "Painting the Invisible" by Vicky Beeching
(slight lyrics changes in italics mine)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
"GraphJam"
Failblog, that I mentionned a couple of posts ago, has a number of 'sister sites', which recently I've been amusing myself by checking. I especially like a site called GraphJam, most of them on there are really well done. I saw this chart on it today and I think it's genius (other than their slight spelling mistake)...so true, lol...do go check out some of the others on the site...
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sailor Girl
For those of you who still read this, I just wanted to let you know that our latest recording "Sailor Girl" has now gone up on our myspace. Do have a listen and let us know what you think. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I do ! I've been very impatient over the last couple of days to hear how the final mix sounded, but I think it was worth the wait :-)
I love this song. In folk music there are lots of 'broken token' songs, where the song is about a girl sitting on the shore whose husband/boyfriend/lover has gone off to the sea/join the navy etc. So, with the navy now striving for equality, Glyn thought he'd write an equivalent song from a man's point of view, where a wife/girlfriend/lover had gone off to the sea. However this song, unlike many traditional broken token songs, does have a happy ending.
The song itself has evolved so much since Glyn and I first played it together. This particular version came together a couple of weekends ago, and now somehow I've ended up singing lead vocals (!) It does feel strange hearing myself sing lead for one of Glyn's songs, but on the other hand, it does allow him freedom to do some of the harmonies he's so good at doing !
So yes, anyway, I hope you enjoy ! A redone version of Lonely Mountain will also be appearing at some point, and then we have to wait for the next chance we get to do some more recording. I think "Your Father's Son" is next on the list for recording properly, but then that could easily change before the next session. We just have too many songs we want to record ! :-)
I love this song. In folk music there are lots of 'broken token' songs, where the song is about a girl sitting on the shore whose husband/boyfriend/lover has gone off to the sea/join the navy etc. So, with the navy now striving for equality, Glyn thought he'd write an equivalent song from a man's point of view, where a wife/girlfriend/lover had gone off to the sea. However this song, unlike many traditional broken token songs, does have a happy ending.
The song itself has evolved so much since Glyn and I first played it together. This particular version came together a couple of weekends ago, and now somehow I've ended up singing lead vocals (!) It does feel strange hearing myself sing lead for one of Glyn's songs, but on the other hand, it does allow him freedom to do some of the harmonies he's so good at doing !
So yes, anyway, I hope you enjoy ! A redone version of Lonely Mountain will also be appearing at some point, and then we have to wait for the next chance we get to do some more recording. I think "Your Father's Son" is next on the list for recording properly, but then that could easily change before the next session. We just have too many songs we want to record ! :-)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Music recording
As those of you who have been following my recent frequent changes of facebook status know, we (i.e. The Waterfront Project) are continuing to record tracks for the album and this week has been no exception. This past weekend we had an epic weekend of jamming, rehearsing, going to a session, and some recording. Then later in the week we had an intense evening of recording (probably the latest we've stayed up playing music as yet since the start of The Waterfront Project !)
Music recording can be soooo frustrating though ! I'm not done a lot of multi-track recording before, and as a consequence I underestimate the amount of time it takes to do things and the number of takes you have to do to record each part ! It's so different recording each part separately as opposed to playing live - I'm used to singing and playing guitar together, not having to concentrate on each one separately ! One feels there is an added level of pressure too, when you know you're playing/singing into a microphone and being recorded ! (Or at least, so i feel anyway). It takes so many takes to get each part right - as a musician, you know exactly how you want each part to go, yet so often you can have a take that is perfect apart from a couple of notes (meaning you have to rerecord, whereupon usually you get those notes correct this time, but some other ones seem to go wrong somehow!) Still, having said all of that, I think we got some good work done this week. Glyn is always very patient with me and is very good at trying to get me more relaxed and encouraging me that I can actually do it ! :-) It is fun too of course, as I love playing this music. And despite all the hard work, I feel very priviliged still to be involved, and wouldn't want to have it any other way. So yes, keep watching this space...
Music recording can be soooo frustrating though ! I'm not done a lot of multi-track recording before, and as a consequence I underestimate the amount of time it takes to do things and the number of takes you have to do to record each part ! It's so different recording each part separately as opposed to playing live - I'm used to singing and playing guitar together, not having to concentrate on each one separately ! One feels there is an added level of pressure too, when you know you're playing/singing into a microphone and being recorded ! (Or at least, so i feel anyway). It takes so many takes to get each part right - as a musician, you know exactly how you want each part to go, yet so often you can have a take that is perfect apart from a couple of notes (meaning you have to rerecord, whereupon usually you get those notes correct this time, but some other ones seem to go wrong somehow!) Still, having said all of that, I think we got some good work done this week. Glyn is always very patient with me and is very good at trying to get me more relaxed and encouraging me that I can actually do it ! :-) It is fun too of course, as I love playing this music. And despite all the hard work, I feel very priviliged still to be involved, and wouldn't want to have it any other way. So yes, keep watching this space...
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Extreme Shepherding
I think this is genius:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090408/video/vod-extreme-shepherding-become-you-tube-f1a0497.html
"Extreme shepherding has become a huge hit on You Tube as Welsh farmers find a new way of keeping themselves amused."
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090408/video/vod-extreme-shepherding-become-you-tube-f1a0497.html
"Extreme shepherding has become a huge hit on You Tube as Welsh farmers find a new way of keeping themselves amused."
Monday, March 30, 2009
Fail blog
I came across this hilarious website today, and thought I'd share it with you all; it's called: Fail blog. Prepare to laugh lots til your sides and cheek muscles ache - some are funnier than others, but even if some are photoshopped I still think they're amazingly funny ! Below are a selection of my favourites so far, complete with the post headings (which aren't embedded but I think are what often makes the pictures funny). Enjoy ! :-D
Bargin fail:
see more pwn and owned pictures
Lazy worker fail:
see more pwn and owned pictures
Fair-game fail
see more pwn and owned pictures
Badger, badger, badger...
Please close gate:
see more pwn and owned pictures
UN fail
see more pwn and owned pictures
Parachute fail - Jesus Saves
see more pwn and owned pictures
Bargin fail:
see more pwn and owned pictures
Lazy worker fail:
see more pwn and owned pictures
Fair-game fail
see more pwn and owned pictures
Badger, badger, badger...
Please close gate:
see more pwn and owned pictures
UN fail
see more pwn and owned pictures
Parachute fail - Jesus Saves
see more pwn and owned pictures
Thursday, March 26, 2009
"Great is Your glory"
I've never really listened to much of the more recent stuff by Vicky Beeching, but from here on I might be keeping an eye out a little more...we sang this song "Great is Your glory" (see YouTube video below) at the last CU of term tonight. I liked it from the moment I heard it, and the more I listen to it the more I like it. I hope it blesses you too as you listen to it !
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
"Living Without Religion", a ramblers humble opinion.
I take the title from a series of short articles that I read today during my procrastination break (that is, a short break from work during which I procrastinated, not, a break from procrastination !) and which got me thinking: "The late Nicolas Walter gave five radio talks in the "Words of Faith" series on the BBC World Service in 1996. Each programme took up one theme, relating humanism to: Living, Thinking, Feeling, Science, Weeping and Laughter
The transcripts are reproduced here."
It's worth a read, as it's definitely thought provoking. I don't know if I'm going to be able to explain this really well, but basically what comes across to me most, is that this guy appears not to quite grasp what Christianity is all about. In the transcripts he talks about "living well", about love, and emotions, and thinking, and about the complexity and potential of human beings. All good things really by my book. In fact, I would probably go so far to say that I agree with most of the things that he says ! Using Christianity as an example of a 'religion' where one has faith in a 'supernatural being', I would say that a lot of people have this image of Christianity being outdated (now that we can explain everything using science of course - which as a scientist I beg to differ with anyway), about following a set of moral rules and guidelines, having an irrational belief in a supernatural God who one leans on as a crutch when one can't cope with life, and as a way out of thinking rationally about the world. This is so far from the truth !!! I would call myself a Christian, although very very far from being a perfect one, but I would say that to me my faith is: very relevant, about far more than just moral guidelines, about having a very rational belief in a God who loves me with an everlasting love that is deep and outworked and a God who promises He will walk beside me through all of life's difficult circumstances, and allows me to think about things in this world very deeply. This contradiction between widely held perception and what I have experienced to be true in my life shouldn't surprise me really, considering what it says in Corinthians (Message version): "The Message that points to Christ on the cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on it's head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots." 1 Cor 18-19
A good example of this can be found in the following: I looked up humanist on Wikipedia, to get a better understanding of what they actually believe, and this quote particularly struck me: "The focus is on doing good and living well in the here and now, and leaving the world a better place for those who come after." Do they therefore think that Christians don't also want to do this ? Ultimately, we all live out our lives on the same earth, and don't most of us want to have a good influence on the world around us ? I suppose the crucial difference is whether we rely on ourselves, and striving to fulfil our innate potential in our own strength to carry out this goal, or whether we look to God, discovering the talents and potential He has given each of us, whilst also looking to His strength and seeking to play out our part in His good plan.
Going back to the humanist transcripts I quoted at the beginning of this, two other quotes in particular struck me, which I shall leave you with...
1) "But science is always on the move. We have tasted the fruit of the tree of knowledge, our eyes are opened, and there is no going back."
- for someone seeking to live life without religion, he sure quotes from the Bible a lot !
2) "Favourite children's stories end happily ever after, but great adult novels hardly ever end happily. Just as our rational minds tell us that the world is not a perfect place, so our emotional minds want the imperfect world to be reflected in our art."
- I disagree with this statement entirely. Just because our experience on earth tells us that things do not always have "happy endings" should we therefore bring our art, and the things we meditate on and fill our minds with down to the level of our experience ? This relates somewhat to a recent post on the Woodies Worship Leaders blog . At those times where I see, hear of or experience those things which bring pain, hardship, confusion, my heart cries out within me that there must be more than this. That there is surely hope to be found despite the pain; there is joy despite the sorrow and mourning, there can be clarity in the midst of confusion...and that this doesn't just refer to the new heaven and new earth of which the book of Revelation speaks, where "He will wipe every tear from their eyes" and "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4) but can also be partially true in the here and now, as, because of Jesus, we seek to more and more live out our lives now as God intended.
This has been a slightly more weighty post that any I have written recently. Apologies for any incoherent ramblings - it's late and I'm getting more and more tired, but I just wanted to try to pen some of this down before the busyness of tomorrow makes me forget it all ! A true rambling from one who is good at rambling :-)
The transcripts are reproduced here."
It's worth a read, as it's definitely thought provoking. I don't know if I'm going to be able to explain this really well, but basically what comes across to me most, is that this guy appears not to quite grasp what Christianity is all about. In the transcripts he talks about "living well", about love, and emotions, and thinking, and about the complexity and potential of human beings. All good things really by my book. In fact, I would probably go so far to say that I agree with most of the things that he says ! Using Christianity as an example of a 'religion' where one has faith in a 'supernatural being', I would say that a lot of people have this image of Christianity being outdated (now that we can explain everything using science of course - which as a scientist I beg to differ with anyway), about following a set of moral rules and guidelines, having an irrational belief in a supernatural God who one leans on as a crutch when one can't cope with life, and as a way out of thinking rationally about the world. This is so far from the truth !!! I would call myself a Christian, although very very far from being a perfect one, but I would say that to me my faith is: very relevant, about far more than just moral guidelines, about having a very rational belief in a God who loves me with an everlasting love that is deep and outworked and a God who promises He will walk beside me through all of life's difficult circumstances, and allows me to think about things in this world very deeply. This contradiction between widely held perception and what I have experienced to be true in my life shouldn't surprise me really, considering what it says in Corinthians (Message version): "The Message that points to Christ on the cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on it's head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots." 1 Cor 18-19
The things he says, to me mix up things that I believe to be true about the world, while missing out some of the crucial bits (all the bits where God's involved) at the same time - a most dangerous combination.
A good example of this can be found in the following: I looked up humanist on Wikipedia, to get a better understanding of what they actually believe, and this quote particularly struck me: "The focus is on doing good and living well in the here and now, and leaving the world a better place for those who come after." Do they therefore think that Christians don't also want to do this ? Ultimately, we all live out our lives on the same earth, and don't most of us want to have a good influence on the world around us ? I suppose the crucial difference is whether we rely on ourselves, and striving to fulfil our innate potential in our own strength to carry out this goal, or whether we look to God, discovering the talents and potential He has given each of us, whilst also looking to His strength and seeking to play out our part in His good plan.
Going back to the humanist transcripts I quoted at the beginning of this, two other quotes in particular struck me, which I shall leave you with...
1) "But science is always on the move. We have tasted the fruit of the tree of knowledge, our eyes are opened, and there is no going back."
- for someone seeking to live life without religion, he sure quotes from the Bible a lot !
2) "Favourite children's stories end happily ever after, but great adult novels hardly ever end happily. Just as our rational minds tell us that the world is not a perfect place, so our emotional minds want the imperfect world to be reflected in our art."
- I disagree with this statement entirely. Just because our experience on earth tells us that things do not always have "happy endings" should we therefore bring our art, and the things we meditate on and fill our minds with down to the level of our experience ? This relates somewhat to a recent post on the Woodies Worship Leaders blog . At those times where I see, hear of or experience those things which bring pain, hardship, confusion, my heart cries out within me that there must be more than this. That there is surely hope to be found despite the pain; there is joy despite the sorrow and mourning, there can be clarity in the midst of confusion...and that this doesn't just refer to the new heaven and new earth of which the book of Revelation speaks, where "He will wipe every tear from their eyes" and "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4) but can also be partially true in the here and now, as, because of Jesus, we seek to more and more live out our lives now as God intended.
This has been a slightly more weighty post that any I have written recently. Apologies for any incoherent ramblings - it's late and I'm getting more and more tired, but I just wanted to try to pen some of this down before the busyness of tomorrow makes me forget it all ! A true rambling from one who is good at rambling :-)
Monday, February 09, 2009
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Saturday, January 24, 2009
Novel advertising strategy
Saw an advertising poster today, near the computer games section of a music store I was in, which made me chuckle. Thought I'd share the amusement...(I so wish I'd plucked up the courage to take a photo!)...
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.........for I have 3 lives left."
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.........for I have 3 lives left."
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Nothing is as it seems
"For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing." Romans 7
I've just recently (last night) finished reading the book "Three" by Ted Dekker. It's one of his earlier books (2003) but I hadn't read it before. I'm very glad I did. People have mixed opinions about Dekker, but I think he's a genius. He writes fiction, of the thriller/suspense type. Fast paced stories with, as the reviewers say, "unexpected plot twists" - I never saw the plot twist of 'Three' coming at all ! (What's going to be interesting now, is rereading it, knowing what I know now!) He makes you think about life in a new and deeper way. I won't give too much away, as it would spoil the story, but I would very highly recommend Three, if you like thriller-type stories and haven't read it yet. You might even discover a new author that you like - I recommend starting with some of his earlier books, like 'Three',, 'Blink', 'the martrys song series'. Below I've written out what's on the back of the "Three"; it doesn't really do it justice, but then it's hard to do it justice without giving something away !
Just read it for yourselves. :-)
"Enter a world where nothing is what it seems. Where your closest friend could be your greatest enemy.
Kevin Parson is alone in his car when his cell phone rings. A man calling himself Slater offers a deadly ultimatum: You have exactly three minutes to confess your sin to the world. Refuse, and the car you're driving will blow sky high. Then the phone goes dead.
Kevin panics. Who would make such a demand? What sin? Yet not sure what else to do, Kevin swerves ino a parking lot and runs from his car, just in case.
Precisely three minutes later, a massive explosion sets his world on a collision course with madness. And that's only the first move in this deadly game.
From the #1 best-selling fiction author comes a powerful story of good, evil and all that lies between."
I've just recently (last night) finished reading the book "Three" by Ted Dekker. It's one of his earlier books (2003) but I hadn't read it before. I'm very glad I did. People have mixed opinions about Dekker, but I think he's a genius. He writes fiction, of the thriller/suspense type. Fast paced stories with, as the reviewers say, "unexpected plot twists" - I never saw the plot twist of 'Three' coming at all ! (What's going to be interesting now, is rereading it, knowing what I know now!) He makes you think about life in a new and deeper way. I won't give too much away, as it would spoil the story, but I would very highly recommend Three, if you like thriller-type stories and haven't read it yet. You might even discover a new author that you like - I recommend starting with some of his earlier books, like 'Three',, 'Blink', 'the martrys song series'. Below I've written out what's on the back of the "Three"; it doesn't really do it justice, but then it's hard to do it justice without giving something away !
Just read it for yourselves. :-)
"Enter a world where nothing is what it seems. Where your closest friend could be your greatest enemy.
Kevin Parson is alone in his car when his cell phone rings. A man calling himself Slater offers a deadly ultimatum: You have exactly three minutes to confess your sin to the world. Refuse, and the car you're driving will blow sky high. Then the phone goes dead.
Kevin panics. Who would make such a demand? What sin? Yet not sure what else to do, Kevin swerves ino a parking lot and runs from his car, just in case.
Precisely three minutes later, a massive explosion sets his world on a collision course with madness. And that's only the first move in this deadly game.
From the #1 best-selling fiction author comes a powerful story of good, evil and all that lies between."
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