Soul Jam, our Gospel choir, are preparing for some items for our Easter services. I have asked them to prepare two U2 gospel songs…..one song about sacrifice, and another about heaven. Can you guess which songs?
Also, here is the graphic I have prepared, it also has some U2 lyrics on it…no prizes for guessing this song!
Angus Buchan said something on the weekend which resonated with me….he said that “he might be accused of emotionalism…..but what is wrong with being emotional?”
Who gave us emotions, and who tells us not to use them?
Certainly not the bible, nor the Judeo roots of our faith. Have you read the scriptures? Do you not read about the celebrations, the feasts, the passionate emotion charged worship of the priests, kings and prophets?
Think about those who tell us off for being too emotional, are they the sort of people we should emulate?
Consider these contrasts….
David…..Michal….
Jesus….Pharisees….
One issue though is that of let down, or as musicians might say, “monday morning blues’. But even this is recognised in the scriptures. We cannot be on a continual high, we need to have times of rest, solitude, silence, contemplation. But those are times to celebrate as well….celebrate the quietness…just as we celebrate the noise.
The noise of 2000 plus men chanting for more worship songs is something that resonates within me even today, three days after the event, as I sit in the quiet of my study.
Watching Rove tonight, the band ‘The Living End’ came on and sung this song.
Extraordinary lyrics….
Lyrics to Raise The Alarm :
Wo-oh! [x8]
I do not believe in God
That doesn’t mean I’m a lesser person
I still have a heart
And I know what it feels like to be broken
I may not believe in Jesus
But I do believe in sacrifice
Life does not always stand reason
No one ever gets a chance
‘Til they’re out of time
I’d rather risk my fate
Then lose my faith
The lovin’, the hatin’
The consenceapating
The chaos that comes
Raise The Alarm
We mean it
We’ll die
Consence Denied
The Chaos that comes
Raise The Alarm
I may not believe in regrets
But I believe in self assurance
Some things I’d rather forget
We see what we choose and
We choose what we see to believe
In the name of the father,
the son,
and the holy ghost
I’m not concerned with religion
After all that whats inside
That is Smoke
(etc…)
However I must note this incogruity on their website when they say this in relation to the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal,
“our thoughts and prayers…. etc”
(Link)
(note to self, control yourself when posting this…so many comments….)
I was speaking to Phil Baker recently and he told me that John Worsfold is the guest speaker at this weeks “Bloke”….it is a great event put on by Riverview Church.
The title of this months ‘Bloke”?….mmmmmmm well it is entitled, “when leadership goes wrong”…..BIG MMMMMMM….and another note to self….stop typing before you get all those Eagles fans upset!!!!
But…if you are a bloke, this event is great.
So said Angus….in his bellowing South African Accent….
There were so many highlights…here are the key points for me.
1. Hearing 2000 plus men sing….I mean farmers, electricians, tradies, and all the city blokes….Saturday night….you had to be there to know it. I have NEVER at any conference, including Hillsong, whatever….heard a crowd demand to sing more worship songs. unbelievable And the people doing this were blokes. All the nay sayers out there who reckon Aussie blokes wont sing…know squat. Yes it may go against our culture, but it is not against God’s culture. These blokes were men, tough strong blokes….and it was probably the most inspiring worship I have ever experienced.
2. Being involved. I worked my butt off for this conference, but with responsibility and work also comes privileges….it was fantastic to see hard work pay off as the blokes were crying, laughing, repenting…and many came to know Jesus for the first time.
3. Angus led a session just for Pastors. This was just incredible. What he said to me was perplexing, and I am still working through it…but it was quite different to what he said to others. After he had anointed me with oil and prayed for me, I sat down and just listed to what he said prophetically to other blokes, he has the supernatural gift of discernment and prophecy. Prophecy done as it should be, with real love and concern.
4. Cathing up with old mates, and some I have not seen for a while, and some new ones. Great!
What a great night….a few highlights…
hearing 2000 men sing…wow….resonance, bass, power….awesome.
Angus has not changed, challenging, direct, funny, nothing left unsaid…
Multi media went well…no mistakes, had to work quick as worship team made last second changed….they sounded great!
Camera was okay…slight delay annoying, but without a $2000 scaler, what do you do?
A great night…cant wait for tommorow…..
This is amazing…wow….I am not much into the whole financial news happening at the moment, but I know enough to know that we should have been listening to this guy a couple of years ago!
