Keep me in your prayers for next week. I’m off to boot camp on Sunday for 6 days to study and take a Sun Java programming exam.
::UPDATE::
I got the exam! It was an absolute nightmare for a week - studying from 8.30am to after midnight every night. I’m pretty tired now, but glad I passed. I had friends and family praying for me and it was very much appreciated. Did you know God was a java programmer?
John at The Pulp has posted a great snippet from a Bono interview.
Mark spent some more time on the track to try and improve on it. Which mix is better? Still no update on the actual footage for the video.
Previous version: [audio http://www.alvance.co.uk/mp3/Indescribable.mp3]
New version: [audio http://www.alvance.co.uk/mp3/Indescribable1.mp3]
There are quite a few online worship planning sites popping up lately. What benefits do these tools deliver? Does the whole team need to be computer users for these tools to be effective?
Are there any other tools online (or otherwise) that you as worship leaders could not do without? I use a small program called songsheet generator - mainly for the transpose features. It is not a tool I couldn’t live without, but it’s still useful to have.
Brendan spoke this morning. He commented briefly on the lyrics of a “How deep the Father’s love for us”.
In the song there is a line “It was my sin that held Him there…”. Brendan argued that this line is incorrect, that our sin did not hold Jesus there, but it was His love for us.
When he ran this past me a few days ago I wasn’t really sure there was a difference. However, thinking about it on the way home today, there is.
To suggest that there is no difference means that God did not have a choice. It suggests that God had to die for our sins because there was no other way - but there was.
God could have scrapped the whole lot of us. He could have started again from scratch, but He gave us another chance. Out of love, He gave us another chance.
It will not stop me singing this song, but it’s an interesting view on it all the same. What do you think?
This Sunday our church is taking part (with many other churches) in Amazing Grace Sunday.
| For All You’ve Done (My Saviour, Redeemer) | E |
| Glory (Great is the Lord God Almighty) | E |
| Here is Love | G |
| For Who You Are | G |
| *Your Grace Is Enough | G |
| Amazing Grace | G |
(* time permitting)
:: Update ::
This morning went very well. It was a lot more organized than usual. “Your Grace Is Enough” was excellent. People seemed to pick it up straight away (first time play today). I left out “Here Is Love”.
We spent Thursday afternoon recording the audio for the video. We may need to record it again in a lower key, as it strains my voice a little. Also, Mark would rather use the backing track without pre-recorded backing vocals because he would find it easier to mix with my voice.
We did attempt to get some video footage early evening, but it was too dark for the camera to pick up anything.
So, what exactly did we achieve?
In fairness, it wasn’t a total waste of time. I got a good feel for the track, and next time I’ll be able to do a better vocal (perhaps even with a better microphone!). Also, I spent a number of hours chatting with my wee brother, which is rare occurrence these days.
Here’s what we recorded on Thursday…
[audio http://www.alvance.co.uk/mp3/Indescribable.mp3]
In housegroup we are currently using a study guide titled “Surrending Your Life For God’s Pleasure” from Zondervan. It contains six sessions on worship. I’m finding it an excellent resource. Tonight, the session was about surrendering your future. I thought the following passage from the book was very well written.
Hope is about the future. Hope is wanting and believing in something you don’t have yet. And in that space between wanting and having, between the present and the future, lies a gap that you can fill with one of three things: despair, fear or faith.
- Despair is the decision to quit hoping, to quit wanting anything because disappointment has broken your heart.
- Fear seeps in when you want something but lack confidence in God’s faithfulness.
- Faith upholds you when you want, and even when you ache while you don’t have what you want. It helps you stay focused on God’s trustworthiness.
Is there something you have hoped for and have now given up? Is there something you hope for but are not sure that God will come through for you? What fills your void between wanting and having?
After mentioning my old songs in a previous post I thought I’d make this video. I wrote the following song on the 9th May 1994. It’s called Strength and is basically a prayer to God that He will continue to give me strength to keep following Him.
It was around the time I was leaving home to go to university. I was going to be on my own for the first time. I would not have the accountability I had as I was growing up.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7QC8gV-0IA]
Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7QC8gV-0IA
Strength
Music and Lyrics by Alastair Vance (9th May 1994)
Verse 1
In the midst of my troubles, You are there
On the highest mountain peaks, You are there
You’re always watching me
Lord give me strength to carry on
Verse 2
Help me walk the straight and narrow, give me strength
To help me keep my eyes on You, give me strength
I only want to seek Your face
Lord give me strength to carry on
Chorus
Give me strength to carry on
Through the rough times, keep me strong
Lord Jesus, give me strength to carry on
Verse 3
From the dawning of the day, You are there
To the setting of the sun, You are there
You’ll never leave my side
Lord give me strength to carry on
Bridge
Lord, I adore You
You’ve done everything for me
When I cry, You wipe the tears
And hold me in Your loving arms
God, You know me, more than anyone, You know me.
When I need You, You’re there for me.
You have endless patience and always want what is best for me.
You are interested in every aspect of my life.
You love me no matter what.
I was made to worship You.
Help me to worship You in new ways!
Lord, develop my creativity.
Give me new songs that glorify Your name.
Give me new songs that bring You praise.
Lord, I want to know You more.
I want a deeper understanding of who You are.
You have a purpose for each one of us.
Reveal more of Your plan for my life.
Help me step fully into Your will.
Amen.