Did God make you?

 For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

 

Something to make you smile ….. 

 

A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again. Finally, she spoke up, “Grandpa, did God make you?”
“Yes, sweetheart” he answered, “God made me a long time ago.”
“Oh,” she paused, “Grandpa, did God make me too?”
“Yes, indeed, darling”, he said, “God made you just a little while ago.”
Feeling their respective faces again, she observed, “God’s getting better at it, isn’t he?”

 

Creative Project – Are We Ready

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

NB – Chord sheet and recording links located at the bottom of this post

Although I’ve played the guitar for over 15 years, it’s only in the past 2 years I entered into the world of song writing.  I’d describe myself as an infant out of nursery with much to learn.  My experience to date is that songs take a long time to develop regardless if they are for your personal use or for a church setting.  I’m sure you’ve all heard the expression ‘5% inspiration, 95% perspiration’ – it’s true!

For my creative project, I played around with a few ideas and in the end opted to develop a song I originally wrote a year or so ago which was deemed work in progress.  Although happy with the melody, I decided to look over all the lyrics in a fresh way based on what I’d learnt over the past few weeks on the essentials blue course as well as feedback I’d received from my church community.

The theme of the song is based around the title ‘Are we ready’ and picks up ‘The Nature Of The Human Being’.  More specifically that we as humans are image bearers reflecting Gods nature; as community builders expressing the heart of God; and as ‘Salvific’ story tellers sharing the good news that God is putting to right all that is wrong in this world.

Verse 1 makes us reflect on our walk with God, challenging us into action knowing we are not alone.  God dwells in and through us and by drawing on His strength (chorus), we can step out in faith and reflect God through our every day actions.  Verse 2 allows us to stand up and be counted.  We all have a role to play and by making ourselves available to share our story and experiences of our loving God, we will see heaven and earth interlocking and overlapping in our communities (Tags 1&2).

As you will see, the song is written using ‘we’ references but I did work through the idea of including ‘I’ references.  The idea of singing the song as individuals (Am I ready) to begin with and then ending the song as a community (Yes we’re ready) fitted well with the theme but I felt the song lost flow when adding this to the mix.  I’d welcome any thoughts on this.

Whilst writing this song, reference was made to the following passages: 

1 Peter 4 (New Living Translation) 

 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

 

Psalm 18 (New Living Translation)

1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

 3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

 

The chord sheet is attached and I’ve also recorded a very ‘rough’ mp3 version of the song that you can download.  I’m happy to receive any constructive feedback – the good, the bad and the ugly!

 

Are We Ready (chord sheet)

Are We Ready (MP3)

 

Blessings

Gary

 

Mischievous boys

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

 

Something to make you smile in a busy creative week ….. 

 

Two little boys aged 8 and 10 were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble. If any mischief occurred in their town, the two boys were usually involved.

The boys’ mother heard that a visiting preacher had been successful in disciplining children, so asked if he would speak with her boys.

The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually. So the mother sent the 8 year old in first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon.

The preacher, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, “Do you know where God is, son?”

The boy was somewhat overawed and his mouth dropped open. He made no response, just sat there wide-eyed. So, the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, “Where is God?!” Again, the boy could not quite get out an answer.

The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger at the boy and bellowed, “Where is God?!”

The boy screamed and bolted from the room. He ran home and rushed into his wardrobe, slamming the door behind him.

When his older brother found him in there, he asked, “What happened?”

The younger brother, trembling and gasping for breath, replied, “We are in BIG trouble this time. GOD is missing, and they think we did it!!”

 

God’s email…

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

 

I thought this would make you smile….. 

One day God was looking down at earth and saw all of the rascally behaviour that was going on. So he called one of his angels and sent the angel to earth for a time.

When the angel returned, he told God, ‘Yes, it is bad on earth: 95% are misbehaving and only 5% are not.”

God thought for a moment and said, ‘Maybe I had better send down a second angel to get another opinion.’ So God called a second angel and sent him to earth for a time.

When this angel returned, he went to God and said, ‘Yes, it’s true. The earth is in decline: 95% are misbehaving, but 5% are being good.’

God was not pleased. So he decided to email the 5% who were good, because he wanted to encourage them, give them a little something to help them keep going.

Do you know what the email said?

*

*

*

*

No? Well, I was just wondering, because I didn’t get one either.

 

My Christian Worldview

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

 

This has been a very tough week trying to to juggle work, family and the essentials course.  After some long days (and into the night) at the office, I somehow managed to pull my thoughts together on my ‘Christian Worldview’.  It’s certainly been a worthwhile exercise to do and a challenge to keep it to short with so much material we’ve digested lately.

Over the coming weeks and months I will no doubt tweak it with the intention of making it better (in my opinion) – the current version is as follows ….. 

 

As Christians, we believe God is the creator of heaven and earth, who as King reigns over the Universe, and made us in His image (the imago Dei) as co-creators to be good stewards of every living thing on earth.  ‘Reflecting God’s glory into His good world, and then gathering up the praises of creation to offer to God in articulate speech, human beings take their place as the lead worshippers of the created order.’ [1] 

All was well within creation until sin entered our world in the Garden of Eden.  From this point in history humanity chose to separate itself from God, who in turn cried out ‘Adam (humankind), where are you?’ [2].  God loved His creation so much he intentionally pursued us, making covenants with His people to restore the broken relationship, but time and time again humanity turned away. 

Finally, God decided to step into our world and through His son, Jesus Christ, fulfilled a rescue plan for everyone demonstrating the loving heart of God.  Jesus sacrificed himself on the Cross and through his resurrection took all the sins from humanity.  `Jesus exploded into the life of the world, not as a teacher of timeless truths, nor as a great moral example, but as the one through whose life, death, and resurrection God’s rescue operation was put into effect, and the cosmos turned its great corner at last.’ [3]

Jesus announced the Kingdom of God was within the reach of every living being – heaven and earth not separated but overlapping and interlocking.  Jesus sent us his Spirit completing the Triune God and we are called to ‘tell the story of an age to come, of a present and future move of God that is righting all that is wrong in this world’.  [4]

By living in the Spirit, we can build community, expressing love and forgiveness, seeking justice, caring for the poor and broken hearted as reflected in the life of Jesus.  ‘Through the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God is expressed through His church, in signs, wonders and the expressing of the good news of the Kingdom.’  [5]

At the fullness of time, creation will once again be fully restored and be put to right.  Judgment will take place and we will eternally live in the presence of God when earth and heaven will be one.  ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life’.  [6]

 

[1] Dan Wilt, Essentials Worship Theology – The Nature of Human Beings, p26

[2] Genesis 3:19, New Living Translation Bible

[3] N.T. Wright, Simply Christian, p140

[4] Dan Wilt, Essentials Worship Theology – The Nature of Human Beings, p34

[5] Dan Wilt, Essentials Worship Theology – The Nature of God, p17

[6] John 3:16, New Living Translation Bible

 

What Does It Mean To Be A Human Being?

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

This week we were asked to define what it means to be human.  Something I found very challenging to put into words since we are very complex!!

Here are my thoughts…

1. What does it mean to be a creative being? 
We are made in the ‘imago Dei’, the image of God, so it’s in our very nature to be creative (Sub-creators) whether we realize it our not. This can be expressed in many forms, not just in ‘arts’, which immediately come to our minds (e.g. music, dance) but also in all other vocations (e.g. teaching, the study of performance analytics, understanding quantum physics). The list is endless but in all our creativity, we make use of something that has already been created and is typically overlooked at the time.

‘In the beginning, Genesis tells us that God created…God makes something out of nothing whereas humans make something out of something’. [1]

2. What does it mean to be a relational being? 
Similar to being creative, it’s in our nature to have some form of relationship with other human beings. However, we see all too often, relationships shattered impacting family units and communities. ‘We are made for each other. Yet making

relationships work, let alone making them flourish, is often remarkably difficult’ [2]
The Trinity gives us a model on how relationships and community should live with one another and lies at the very heart of God’s own being. We must reflect this in all aspects of our life bearing in mind that our actions will at times speak louder than words.

3. What does it mean to be a just being?
The term ‘just’ means there is some kind of responsibility placed upon us. This is clearly set out in Genesis whereby we are tasked to care for the earth and all that has been created. However, since the Fall of humankind, we failed and history shows how tragically we can get it wrong. 

Thankfully, God didn’t abandon us and through Jesus, He set about righting all the wrongs in this world. Everyone wants to see justice, and now we have a perfect role model, Jesus, who gives us hope and shows us how to live in harmony with God, with each other, with ourselves and with creation.

‘But all people know, in cooler moments, that this strange thing we call justice, this longing for things to be put right, remains one of the great human goal’s and dreams. Christians believe that this is so because all humans have heard, deep within themselves, the echo of a voice which calls us to live like that. And they believe that in Jesus that voice became human and did what had to be done to bring it about.’ [3]

4. What does it mean to be a spiritual being?
We all have a story to tell, unique to us, but there is a common thread that ties our stories all together: Gods pursuit for our heart. I can look back at my life and clearly see times when God intervened without my knowledge, guiding me to where I am today. God’s love is unfailing and His promises are true so it’s important we share our experiences. People are never satisfied with a life without Jesus, and are continually searching. So by sharing our stories, we can give a glimpse of heaven and earth interlocking through the relationship we have with Jesus.

‘Our job as human beings is not to save… Rather, our primary mission is to tell the story of salvation, from original creation, to fall from relationship, to restoration through cross and resurrection, to complete and universal new creation.’ [4]

[1] Dan Wilt, Essentials Worship Theology – The Nature of Human Beings, p28
[2] N.T. Wright, Simply Christian, p30
[3] N.T. Wright, Simply Christian, p15
[4] Dan Wilt, Essentials Worship Theology – The Nature of Human Beings, p32

 

The Cross Towers

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

A friend sent me this image a few weeks ago.  I pray the true meaning of ‘The Cross’ will one day be clear to everyone on earth.  See you there?

 

 

How is your community?

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

This week we studied four theological ideas and were asked to select one we believe has the most importance for worship leadership over the next 10 to 20 years.  I opted for ‘God as Trinity (the God who relates)’. 

Everyday we encounter people going about their own business, living out life as best they can (or know) and are not really interested in anyone, or anything else outside their path.  This is a broad generalisation but there is a sense the word ‘community’ doesn’t seem to register in people’s minds, whereas it lies at “the very heart of God’s own being, the love which passes continually between Father, Son and Spirit” [1].

Our worship and lives should show this harmony and to do this we need to “address songs, prayers and words directly to the Father, directly to the Son and directly to the Holy Spirit”. [2]  This is challenging, I can’t think of many songs that are directed to ‘God the Spirit’.  Let me know if you have any examples?

By having a better understanding of ‘God as Trinity’ we can share how “each Person of the Trinity has a distinct role in the Story of God, as well as in the lives of Christian communities and individuals” [3].  This itself can impact the people we encounter – not just through worship but when we find ways to minister to those in need when we’re going about own business.

How is your community?

 

[1] N.T. Wright, Simply Christian, p139

[2] Dan Wilt. Essentials In Worship Theology (Online Course Text for Essentials Blue. The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St Stephen’s University) p5

[3] Ibid p17

 

Heaven is closer than you think?

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

As a child growing up in the church I thought the “Kingdom of God” related only to “heaven” and was simply “The place where God’s people will be with him, in blissful happiness, after they die.” [1]. Over the years, my understanding has been corrected and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading Simply Christian to re-confirm and deepen my knowledge. As Wright describes, “Heaven and earth are not coterminous. Nor are they separated by a great gulf. Instead, they overlap and interlock in a number of ways.” [2]

This reminded me of a DVD entitled ‘Stories of the Vineyard, Back To Our Roots told by Carol Wimber’ which recounts the history of a group of people who dared to believe that not only was God their King, he also desired to partner with them in expanding His Kingdom.  A great DVD to watch which includes John Wimber teaching footage.  Here is how John Wimber described the Kingdom of God:

“The Kingdom of God is with us, the Kingdom of God is within us, the Kingdom of God is upon us, the Kingdom of God is here in this present evil age and yet, it is at a time yet to come. The Kingdom has not been fulfilled, it’s not completed but with the first coming of Jesus we have its introduction and with the second coming of Jesus we’ll have its culmination and so we live in between the times.” [3]

What struck me the most in the book this week was how the early church had to make sense of the Trinity, the significance of the cross and Jesus’ resurrection forming the very foundations of Christianity which today stand up to world view scrutiny.  I love the phrases “he would be the place where heaven and earth met, as he hung suspended between the two.” [4] and “life after ‘life after death.’” [5].  

The disciples and the early church, filled by the Spirit, took bold steps to declare ‘Jesus is Lord’, they didn’t always get it right, but like them we have a job to do.

 

[1] N.T. Wright, Simply Christian, p59

[2] Ibid p63

[3] Stories of the Vineyard DVD, Back To Our Roots told by Carol Wimber

[4] N.T. Wright, Simply Christian, p110

[5] Ibid p115

 

Have you heard the echoes?

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt

 

Each day this past week I’ve found myself dwelling on the topics raised.  Especially the ideas expressed by NT Wright outlining his four “echoes of a voice” which give evidence of God’s existence: the longing for justice, the quest for spirituality, the hunger for relationships, and the delight in beauty.  [1]  

Of the four echoes, it was the last one that resonated with me the most.  I can look back at experiences in my life when I’ve been blown away by how amazing and creative our God is, be it from watching the sunrise from Mount Sinai, experiencing the power of Niagara Falls, and the best by far, witnessing the birth of my son.  How can anyone say there is no God?

Traveling to work this week, I intentionally spent time looking and listening out for echoes and very quickly found them.  The frozen ice that covered the landscape one day but was gone the next; the kitchen staff who were busy preparing wonderful dishes for people to enjoy; the elated father who shares the news of his new born child with colleagues, to name a few.  God was involved in creating all of these and so much more.  God’s existence is everywhere and can be seen by everyone.   A lot of life in this world goes unseen but all we need to do is open our eyes bearing in mind ‘The beauty of the natural world is, at best, the echo of a voice, not the voice itself’.  [2]

Our days can easily be filled with so many endless tasks.  However, I want to live a life that can clearly hear all four echoes and declare “Yes, I have heard the echoes and recognise the voice behind them”.

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way.  Genesis 1:31 New Living Translation

[1] N.T. Wright, Simply Christian (Grand Rapis: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997) introduction

[2] N.T. Wright, Simply Christian (Grand Rapis: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997)