Here's a chance to meet the people behind the songs. These are a few images from our rehearsals before the album release.The joy of having Sophie play cello is offset a touch by the manner in which we have to travel! Thanks to my last remnants of chivalry, I insisted on having the 'big fat butt' end. In reality, she beat me in a 'best of 7' series of paper, scissors rock.This was the first...
Read MoreRead MoreThis morning, like many, I have watched the tragedy unfold in Boston. As one friend put it, what should have been a day for jubilation has descended into cruelty and violence. Reading the comments on internet news sites demanding vengeance tells me this is only the beginning of something, and not the beginning our God would wish for his people.At the same time I have been putting the finishing touches on a new song, drawn...
Read MoreRead MoreIf you're looking for a reflective song to use this Easter, try this one. Its my first effort at a song about the cross. If you've read any of my recent posts, you'll know this has been a while coming. I've made it available for download if you want to make use of it during the Easter season....
Read MoreRead MoreWhy did Jesus have to die? Why couldn't God just forgive?Part threeJesus had to die to show us the truth of where our version of life was heading, and what it was doing to ourselves, to one another and to God. God couldn't 'just forgive' us because forgiveness requires an acknowledgement of the wrong and the damage that has been done to the victim. And here we see that God is the victim (Ps 51:4).Jesus...
Read MoreRead MoreWhy did Jesus have to die? Why couldn't God have just forgiven humanity?Part twoI think the answer has something to do with the fact that sin costs, and that love costs even more. Early on in Genesis Adam and Eve are told that to eat from the forbidden tree means that 'on that day you will surely die'. From Romans, every good evangelical knows what the wages of sin are; death. But rather...
Read MoreRead MoreWhy did Jesus have to die? Why couldn't God just forgive?Part OneI must confess, this is a question I have struggled with for most of the last ten years. Its actually a little awkward to admit, but if you look at my albums (which you can here and here) you won’t find a single song about the cross there. I mean it crops up in songs like 'One Voice', 'May we grow' and 'Break the...
Read MoreRead More[caption id="attachment_449" align="alignnone" width="300"] Tessa and Zoe, not just clever songwriters.[/caption]WeBelong-ZoAndTessaFinal.mp3This year at Going Further we were lucky enough to receive teaching from Darryl Tempero on spiritual practices. So many of us were greatly encouraged and inspired by what Darryl shared with us, and as he had to leave before camp finished, we wanted to come up with a way of thanking him for his input at Going Further. Darryl had also been encouraging those...
Read MoreRead MoreThe following is a post from worship leader, liturgist, song writer and one half of the wonderful Blackthorn Project, Tim Thornton. It struck me and I wanted it to strike you. You can find more of their stuff at http://www.theblackthornproject.com/ (like awesome albums that you can get for next to nothing, or just nothing). These guys are a treasure. Enjoy.Sudden Loss of VeneerLet me make a confession. In a certain way, I love when things...
Read MoreRead MoreLate last year I let you guys know that I was leaving parish ministry at St Paul's in Katikati in the hope of making space for this amorphous music ministry that seems to be springing up beneath our feet.Well so far so good. Since the beginning of this year, I've had the opportunity to minister in Rotorua with St John's in the City; in Auckland with The Upper Room; in Dunedin with B@tch and in...
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