Tim Abbott

I am...

Just flagging up a great post by Phil from a few days ago looking at Jesus words, "I am the way, the truth and the life." He's uploaded the videos he used. My favourite is "I am the truth".
[If you're interested, there are several alternative versions on YouTube!]

Psalm Drummers in Colchester

Last  night was the first gathering of Psalm Drummers here in Colchester. It was organised by Dan and Michelle and attracted 43 drummers from all over the area.

Terl Bryant, the man behind Psalm Drummers, led the evening, getting everyone there involved in an improv piece of massed percussion. With over 30 djembi's and Dan on his floor tom the sound was awesome and Terl directed things through a series of different rhythms and dynamics to create what can only be described as worship. The evening included an overview of the role of drums in worship and the vision for Psalm Drummers and went into a time of percussion as intercession. Finally, Terl and his team prayed for Dan and Michelle as they carry this group forward and develop this remarkable ministry in the Colchester area.

As well as being a great evening, it was a bit of a "proud dad" moment for me seeing Dan in such a clear leadership role, following the calling that's on his life and inspiring so many others.

Sharing the good stuff - links for today

I'm not sure my mind is in the best shape for blogging deep thoughts at the moment (see below), but I have been stirred and challenged by a few other bloggers recently, so here's the good stuff.

I'm not "so in love" with you
A few days ago I appreciated this from Matt Stone, citing a post by John Stackhouse picking up on the ongoing debate about expressions of love in worship songs. John's contribution is helpful for it's linguistic, cultural and theological perspectives.

Christian by nature?
Alan Hirsch has a fascinating exploration of the idea that people are, by nature, Christian, drawing on the thoughts of Leo Tolstoy and CS Lewis. I think I'd have some reservations about this being entirely valid because of the inherently Christian cultures and worldviews that Tolstoy and Lewis grew up in. But I confess to wondering similar thoughts when chatting to young people about life issues and God and finding within them a resonance with the Christian world view and often a warmness towards the idea of Christianity.

(Not) getting things done
I've been struggling lately with too many things to do and too little clarity about how to get them done. A kind of motivational paralysis which seeks to rob me of any real progress on pretty much everything (including blogging). Like some kind of outside observer of my own condition I've been aware that as a result I feel tired, when I have done little that's tiring, and that the solution lies in working out the next small step for each project or activity and getting it done.
I've been aware of David Allen's Getting Things Done method but never quite got around to looking into it - the past has left me with a dim view of most personal organisation methods.
So I was surprised to read Fernando's post about how it has helped him to change his approach to, well, getting things done. He writes, "I’m finally starting to remember what “completion” feels like and that’s something I haven’t felt in a long time," which is all the encouragement I need to give this a serious look.

Not such a boyfriend after all

Getting beyond 'Jesus is my boyfriend' worship by Alan Hirsch links to a Premier TV clip of Matt Redman talking about the way he is rethinking worship songs.
The post has generated some interesting and thought provoking comments which are worth reading.

Links for 25 Apr 07

Three blog posts that have caught my eye over the last couple of days...

The God Delusion by Tom reflects thoughtfully on Richard Dawkins' assertion that God is a sadistic bully.

An outstanding multi-sensory worship idea rooted in Proverbs from Sarah, as practiced with her own youth home group.

An impassioned letter to a singing worshipper from Steve Taylor, honestly trying to understand the whole sung worship thing. (Plus some great comments)

The way of the cross

Over at Eden Blog Derek Spencer is running a series on the stations of the cross. Each day, in the run up to Easter, he's posting an image, a scriptural reflection and a prayer of response.

It may be lent, but there's still loads going on - too much perhaps. There's so much to do, so many words to be read. But Derek's series has grabbed my attention and offers a wonderful simplicity, beauty and much needed pause for spiritual breath on the road to Easter.

[pic: lifted from Eden Blog]

I see a people...

On Tuesday I had the privilege of attending the first meeting of 'advisors' to the Colchester Boiler Room Community. It was an opportunity to reflect together on the way this movement of prayerful people has grown and made an impact on our town over the last couple of years and to look forward.
We prayed at the end, aided unexpectedly by Dave's inspired impulse to produce a big bit of paper, some pens & pastels. We prayed, we were stilled by God's presence and as others spoke or drew their prayers I felt energised to write the following;

I see a people,
called by my name.
Now you see them,
now you don't.

You know them by their deeds,
I know them by their hearts.
Prayers in practice,
practiced in prayer.

I see a people,
called by my name.
Now you see them,
now you don't.

(... but I do.)

The world doesn't notice our prayers, but it does notice our actions.
God notices both, but is not fooled by the actions of an empty heart.

I suddenly felt awed and moved to tears by God's work behind the scenes in so many humble and probably unseen prayers, un-noticed by the very people who are blessed by the actions of so many to make God's love a tangible reality in our town.

Music in worship

For a while I've been pondering the role of music in worship, and particularly the whole band led style, though this post has taken a few days to sort out because it kept turning into an essay. I declare a direct interest in that I play in a worship band that I happen to think are very good (even when I'm not playing with them!) so I guess I'm part of the system. I also really appreciate and am helped by good band led times of worship and the occasional Delirious gig. But, as musician and as a congregation member, I'm sometimes both blessed and frustrated by the way we do music in worship. So here are a few thoughts to offer.

Music has always had a prominent place in Christian worship - it has the capacity to be uplifting, to proclaim the truths of scripture, to teach and to give people forms of words that they can take with them into their day. However, I think we need a little more wisdom and theological literacy in some of our current songwriting (see my post Jesus is my boyfriend about semi-erotic lyrics).

Music can sometimes overwhelm our worship - It's too easy to sing lots of songs when you can't think of anything else to do. The hymn prayer sandwich has morphed into the worship song, talk, worship song burger. After a while you begin to wonder if there's something missing from the menu. Too many worship songs in one go can often dilute the value of sung worship and I've been to too many gatherings where it's clear the congregation have logged off long before the worship band have finished their 'set'. (Hint: you can tell because people start sitting down or texting their mates). My appeal is for worship that includes the vital role of worship music but integrates it more creatively into other forms of artistic expression and congregational involvement.

But I also think music should have a higher place in worship - people today may not sing much (apart from in church, at football matches or at gigs), but they listen to more music than at any time in history, whether intentionally (e.g. iPods etc) or incidentally (background music). The act of singing a worship song can sometimes have the effect of insulating us from its meaning. So why does all music in church have to come with the expectation that everyone will join in and sing? (Some people hate singing anyway!) As long as there's a reasonable degree of proficiency, what's wrong with a worship band sometimes performing a song to a congregation as an aid to reflection or response? Or how about playing a song from a CD? I know many people, including young people, who have been touched more by the act of listening and reflecting on a song, and not always a Christian song, than belting out a rousing chorus.

Music is a gift from God, which means we should be able to harness it creatively in the service of worship to the gift giver. I just think there's more to music in worship than singing lots of songs. Now that 'worship leader' is synonymous with 'band leader' I wonder whether we're in danger of creating an unspoken assumption about what worship is. Thirty or so years ago people were struggling to break out of the stronghold that the organist & choir had in many churches. I hope we're not creating an equivalent for the next generation.

Maggi Dawn has written a bit about this too, and also references a thoughtful post by Chris Erdman.

UPDATE 14 Feb: I've just found Paul Walker's post, why has worship come to mean singing which comes with a great picture too!