Song of the Week | MercyMe 'Back To You'

The lyrics in this song say so much more than I possibly could...

Songs of Praise

This October, Songs of Praise marks it's 50th Anniversary.


That is 50 years of fantastic viewing, celebrating the Lord, hymns, choirs, new music artists from the UK & beyond, all for one purpose. 


It is the longest running religious show in the world & to celebrate it's 50 years there will be three special programs this Autumn. Aled Jones, Sir Cliff Richard, Diane Louise Jordan & the Children's Choir will all be part of it & 7000 Songs of Praise viewers will be there when the shows culminate at London’s Alexandra Palace, with faith leaders, past presenters & celebrity interviews. 


Let's hope Songs of Praise it's 50 years old, it's 50 years young! Amen.

Song of the Week | Peter Furler 'Reach'

Peter Furler, otherwise known as the former frontman of the Newsboys, has embarked on a solo career since he parted ways with the Christian rockers. This is his first single, taken from his debut solo album 'On Fire' - which hits shelves this week! Apparently some are calling it his best ever work, check it out now.

Psalm 8

Just wanted to share with you one of the readings we had at church today. We didn't have The Message version like what I'm posting but I wanted to swap it out for this text...


God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name.

Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
and silence atheist babble.

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
Why take a second look our way?

Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods,
bright with Eden's dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us lords of sheep and cattle,
even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
whales singing in the ocean deeps.

God, brilliant Lord,
your name echoes around the world.

Song of the Week | Building 429 'One Foot'

My new favourite band, I wanted to share Building 429 with you once again.

After taking their title track for our song of the week a few weeks back I want you all to hear this song. It's so well written, the lyrics are perfect and discuss each one of our lives. Let me know what you think...

Souper

Whilst Amy's been at Youth group tonight I've started making some soup in our slow cooker. We picked up some lovely parsnips & other bits at the supermarket today and I'm giving parsnip soup a go.

Whilst I was making it I got thinking about how soup can be used as a metaphor for our relationship with Christ.

With soup, you need the ingredients, good ones, the soup will taste better that way. You need to chop them into pieces and then add some stock. Then give it some time in the slow cooker, before wizzing it all up, adding some cream, cooking it again and there you go. You might even add a few chives on the top for serving, that extra special bit.

Our relationship with God should be similar. The ingredients, you and he, both fantastic. Give him segments of you time, chop your day up, be with him, talk to him, listen & pray with him, use your gifts to praise him. You need to give the relationship plenty of time, loads of it, your entire life, every day. Mix it up in every section of your life, from the commute to work, to seeing friends at the pub, hobbies, weekends, dinners. 

The extra special bit is always there though. Your relationship with God is always extra special because it is your relationship with God. And it always tastes good!

It's super. I'll let you know how the parsnips soup goes!

Difficulties & Priorities

It's difficult to put your priorities in order sometimes. I was sat at my desk this morning, starring at the list of things I had to do and not knowing where to start. It's often quite confusing too.

Priorities change as we grow up, even depending on what day of the week it is. Monday through Friday during the day the focus is work. It's what provides (not totally provides because ultimately we know God will provide) but provides nevertheless for our house, paying our bills, putting food on the table and a roof over our heads. Weekends are for family and evenings are for relaxing or seeing friends. There is also a household to run, jobs to do, hobbies to keep up and of course, in this day and age, the internet to peruse.

This blog of mine, yes, what you are reading is a labour of love, but often gets put on the back burner as life gets in the way. This is often quite true in our relationship with our God. Sometimes live does get in the way, things happen and we forget to put that time into the relationship.

We should remember, we should definitely make that effort as it is the most important relationship you will ever have. I can't talk, i'm as bad as the next guy but hopefully you can take some sort of comfort in that. Hopefully you can think about your priorities as I am.

Life is hectic at the moment for me, but I will endeavor to post on a more regular basis. Make sure you are following over on twitter too. Keep safe and God bless :)

Song of the Week | Josh Wilson 'I Refuse'

38 weeks in the Christian Billboard charts, this is Josh Wilson's 'I Refuse'.


Quite simply there is a line which speaks to people with faith in our Lord everywhere.


This world needs God, but it's easier to stand and watch


We should not stand and watch. We should be shining lights. Be a shining light.

Sharing a song with you

Afternoon everyone


I wanted to share this song with you. You may well have heard it before but even though it's a song most well known for being in the hit Indie romance movie 'Once', it make me think of my faith and the love of the Lord so much.


Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You'll make it now