In 1972, the first Scripture and Song book was published. It began, or marked the beginning of the movement broadly called, 'contemporary worship music.'That was 41 years ago. I've been working on a wee theory. Back in 1972, a musical and liturgical revolution occurred. That much is clear. The folk music that people were listening too on the radio began to be used as a vehicle for their songs of praise, confession and intercession in...
Read MoreRead MoreA couple of weekends ago, I led the music at a weekend long conference led by Jackie Pullinger in Tauranga. If you haven't heard of Jackie, like I hadn't, she has spent the last 47 years working with the drug addicts and prostitutes in Hong Kong, helping them to live the life of a beloved child of God. It's a powerful story. She wrote a book called, 'Chasing the Dragon' if you want to learn...
Read MoreRead MoreThis one has been a while coming.So things can go wrong in our lives. Often its easy to remember whoever it was that made things go wrong. At night, when the lights are out, we go over what they had said, what they did, and how they had conspired to ruin our lives. We keep taking out these grievances to examine them, that they almost become precious to us. And yes, I know what I'm...
Read MoreRead MoreWe've just enjoyed our 4th straight weekend at home. Its almost felt normal. We're about to plunge back into our 'weekend home, weekend away' rhythm again.Not that staying at home is all easy! In the last week we had a day long conference in Mangitangi and a weekend long conference with Jackie Pullinger in Tauranga where I led worship. Intense, life-giving times!The weekend of the 30th of June I'm playing at Papakura East Presbyterian Church...
Read MoreRead MoreSo something's happening. I've written 3 songs this week, after a hiatus of a couple of months. But every one of them has been melodically born, that is, I get a tune stuck in my head and then have to work a concept to fit. This is unfamiliar territory for me. I like to work out where I'm going, and then sing about it. Somewhat fittingly this latest song is about the Holy Spirit, which...
Read MoreRead MoreSo I've been musing on Luke 15 again. Since I first posted this reflection, I've written this song to go with it. Now you can listen and read at the same time! Multi-sensory theology - bliss.I am all for youWe are all familiar with the story of the lost sheep, and the shepherd who leaves behind the 99 to go and rescue it. Jesus is not all that shy about calling himself 'the Good Shepherd',...
Read MoreRead MoreFor sometime now, Ness, Sam and I have taken Saturday as our family Sabbath. Today as part of it, we went for a walk down Tuapiro (a little harbour side settlement 5 minutes from our place) to collect some pine cones and read the Bible together. This was our pulpit. Not a bad spot. Perhaps a little reminiscent of St Francis preaching to the birds!The reading was this week's gospel passage, Luke 7:1-10 - the story...
Read MoreRead MoreIf you're new to the idea of 'Embodied worship' - you can read some background on it here.This is the story of how I used it for the first time with a group of unsuspecting workshop participants at the South Island Ministry conference.So I began writing pieces of music that were sparse lyrically, but still rooted in the classical liturgy, which is itself, inspired by the big-story of God's salvation. First we are called by...
Read MoreRead MoreSo while I was down south, I led a workshop at the South Island Ministry Conference, held at East Taieri Presbyterian Church. The conference has become a bit of an institution now, in a really good way, and this year I got to lead a seminar entitled, 'Where is music going in worship?'It was a dangerous title. It was also given to me, because I didn't come up with one before they had to send...
Read MoreRead MoreSo, as I lay awake last night wondering if the NZ cricketers could dig themselves out of this present hole (this morning told me they couldn't) I figured I'd like to mark the remaining few days of NZ Music month with something nice.March was an incredibly creative month for me. I wrote a bunch of songs, recorded them and some others that had lain dormant for too long. I've been getting better at demoing songs...
Read MoreRead MoreI played at the combined Church's service here in Katikati last night. It was in the Anglican Church, and I asked if we could have it in their old sanctuary, because its such a beautiful space. Brendan the Vicar told me that in recent times both Bic Runga and one of the original members of Split Enz had played in there. Katikati has been home for us for the last 4 four and a half...
Read MoreRead MoreIf you've heard me speak anytime in the last couple of months, no doubt you heard me banging on about Lazarus and his sister Mary, and her recklessly inappropriate gift to Jesus. You can read about it in John 12 if you want. I have stayed with this passage because every time I have made to move on, it has said something new to captivate and capture my attention.For a long time I have been...
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