I have been frequently stumbling across seemingly 'random' bands' lately. And by 'random', I mean unintentionally discovering bands via the internet who I had no previous knowledge of. Sometimes it's a bit like finding treasure in a haystack. (yes I'm aware that's a garbled metaphor) :)
The first I've decided to feature, in what looks to be a regular blog sub-genre, is this Australian band called The Rapids.
The Rapids.
This song 'The Phillip, The Hawk' has a pretty mellow indie flavour, unsurprisingly as they do label themselves as an Indie band. It has an interesting, spoken-type lyrical moment with repetitive lyrics that seem well thought out in terms of their placement within the song. It actually really aids the song, making it more memorable. For those of you that have heard of the band Switchfoot, there does seem to be a similar vibe vocally between Jamie Timony (vocalist of The Rapids) and Jon Foreman. And, according to my ears, they seem to wear a sprinkling of David Bowie.
The drumming in this track sounds really clean, and surprisingly isn't boring. And maybe it's just me, but i'm sure I heard some tambourine feature here! Very impressed by the creativity in that choice- this band definitely wins hipster points just for that!
Lyrically I found that there was an element of adventure coupled with frustration. I'm intrigued by whoever 'Phillip' is. Is he the hawk? Is he a personification of something? I'm so confused, but so curious! Here's a snippet of some of the lyrics:
"I swing through trees and fire escapes.."
"Buttoning down a shirt and staring in the mirror,
flying in circles and not getting any younger"
Having only just heard them today, I would like to look more into their lyrics. (I'm a big lyricist and poetry lover!) I would also like to know how long they've been writing together, because I feel like a lot of the songs i've heard of theirs have great potential musically. Whilst not a totally sold-out indie chick, I do appreciate nearly all genres of music, so, whilst part of me did want there to be a mash-up-dubstep-remix-hard-rock build, I still think (as a musician) this song at least has been well thought out.
As the progression of time goes forward, here's some news: my friend wrote a cool review on my album (Thanks Flo!) You should check out her blog, she's a great writer :)
<--my friend Flo. Such a legend! :)
I've recorded some new songs which have some backing vocals to them...
'Deeper In' (my first experiment adding harmonies to a track)
'A Song for Penny' (trying to stick pennies on walls, if anything, reminds me of persistence even in impossible situations)
'Bay of Possibility' (I wrote this looking at my map of the world, particularly the oceans)
I also bought a partially pink, partially purple ukelele (apparently pronounced oo-keh-le-le rather than you-keh-le-le). I've named him 'Purkle'. Or maybe he's a she? I've not really decided. If the instrument were a cello she would obviously be a lady, but this one is a little ambiguous.
Baby Purkle says Aloha. Obviously he's Hawaiainaian....how do you spell that word?
So, I've released a new album. It's my first proper one, so please be gentle! That said, I quite like the track 'Buried Treasure', mainly because it's the kind of song where I can just let loose with my voice and do all of that Christina Aguilera wiggly stuff! :)
Fivefold Ministries. Initially thoughts on this phrase through guesswork would be that these are 5 types of ministries. 5 types of ways to minister to people?
I was reading a book by Danny Silk called the 'Culture of Honor'. Yes, it is by an American, but I would implore you not to make any unnecessary assumptions based on their culture! I say this because i've met a few people who have been quite anti-American for some reason. As for me, I think we can learn things from other cultures and I appreciate the enthusiasm that American culture seems to have. Tangent! Anyway, I was reading this book and came to a section that was talking about the 'fivefold ministries'.
I had heard this mentioned a few days before at a wedding and didn't think much of it, as i just hadn't really heard the phrase much as i recall. The church family that i'm currently part of is part of a group of churches that talk a lot about 'apostolic spheres' and so there was an element of familiarity in the term relating to apostles. But apart from that i'm not sure i was familiar with 'fivefold ministries'.
The chapter in 'Culture of Honor' included this verse from the historical document written by a guy called Paul to the church at Ephesus. It reads as follows:
Ephesians 4 verse 11 "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers."
I was particularly struck by how Danny went into and explained the different roles people in leadership of churches have. It was interesting to explore and think about what a diverse team encompassing all these roles would look like and how it would affect a church family.
Today it has got me thinking about diversity. I have heard much teaching on how important diversity is and how imperative it is to spend quality time with people who are not like me. Whilst i believe this is true in the sense that I must be loving all people and stepping out of my comfort zone, i don't think that diversity in and of itself is something to be pursued. I mean, I believe that diversity is a a byproduct of radical love, rather than a pursuit in and of itself. If I am loving like Jesus, then the outworking of that will not just be me loving people who i like, who are interested in the same things as me etc. But that divine overflow of knowing Gods love and thus being able to love everyone as God does will have a natural diverse nature. I believe our first focus should be God, as Jesus is recorded saying "love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. Love your neighbour as yourself."
Anyways, I highly recommend this book. Culture of Honor, by Danny Silk. Buy it, borrow it, read it. It may change how you think about dealing with confrontation, conflict, leadership and Americans. ;) Jokes aside, I think this is a great book for any person; spiritual, religious or not at all. It does have some church stuff in there, but it's way more to it than that and I reckon it could impact you, whoever you are.
{The same sun shines on us all,we can bask in it, we can feel it's prescence. If we could touch it we would die. If we look at it straight on, it could blind us. Because of the sun, things continue to grow and it awakens nature with each new day. Just as the sun does this, so there are parallels with God. Or rather, God is the truest 'sun' and the sun is but a creative shadow of the One who made it. God keeps me going through His son Jesus.}
In some christian circles there is a term known as 'soaking'. Check out this website that has a lighthearted duck called Phil that will talk you through the basics! Phil the Super Soaker
'Soaking Music' has a meditative flavour, and some christians feel a bit uncomfortable with this because it seems like it's New Age or Paganistic.
What I understand/experience soaking to be, is resting in God. I find that in this culture I feel the pressure to be so busy doing so much stuff, that I find it hard to stop. I've discovered soaking, resting, chilling with my heavenly Father to be neccesary for my sanity! It is, as it were, pretty much like what is known in the wider christian world as 'quiet time'. 'Quiet Time' being a time set aside for stopping and praying, reading the bible, listening to what God has to say and remembering afresh what Jesus has done for us. Soaking, as I comprehend it, is essentially the same thing, with perhaps more of an emphasis on receiving from God rather than talking at Him, if that makes sense! So often we can bring requests and shopping lists to God and just don't turn our listening ears on. It depends where you're at I suppose, on whether it's helpful for you or not. It may not be for everyone, but I certainly find it helpful.
I believe it's about balance too.
For example, if I'm listening to alot of theologically wordy worship songs, that's great, but sometimes it feels like i'm not really connecting with God but hearing a sung sermon. Surely praise should be singing to God rather than just about Him? On the other hand, if all the songs I hear are songs that don't have any mention of Jesus or any theological truth, even if they're creative and sound nice, then that can be very unhelpful too!
So, it's important to be biblical in song, but it's good to be creative. I mean, in the bible it says 'Sing to the LORD a new song' and 'Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted.'
This verse from the first book to the Corinthians, addressing the subject of tongues, aptly describes what I mean by a balance of the theological and creative/spiritual. [1 Cor 14v15] "What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will also sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also"
In 2006, I was with a well known baptist church from Cardiff on a weekend away up in Cefn Lea- a beautiful place up in the welsh hills. This particular time, the surrounding area was covered with snow and it was very slippery to walk around due to the icy cover! I even wrote a poem at that time because the sky was so clear and the stars were shining brightly, perfect for creative inspiration!
I recall feeling very emotional at the time and lay down in a snowy field, alone in the dark, looking up at the numerous stars. I was suffering intensely with depression at the time and, specifically on this holiday, I remember having a massive crush on this guy who (it seemed) just didn't notice my existance! I wondered around outside that night, ambling through a big snowy field from my chalet up towards the main building, I stopped. I raised my head and stared at the stars for a very long time. (my neck hurt!) My cloak didn't do much to prevent the cold, but I stubbornly stayed anyway, even lying down in the snow (crazy lozi!). I'll be honest, I was having a right old pity party- it spiralling from thinking how this guy doesn't even see me and then I started thinking that nobody sees me, nobody cares. Blah blah blah. PITY PARTIES ARE NOT A GOOD IDEA! :)
As a student, especcially a 1st year fresher, I was feeling intensely lonely. I didn't have friends that I had a long history with, sure I had friends, but I still felt this raw ache of isolation in my heart. I believe God was walking with me in that time, and still is, even if I couldn't see it in the moment.
I don't remember much from this weekend, except 3 things: the snow, the stars and this song, Calon Lân...
My first encounter with this beautiful song was on one of the evenings in the main building at Cefn Lea. A girl called Cath Woolridge sang this song in welsh, and I felt very strongly that the words had some meaning to me, that maybe God wanted to speak to me prophetically through the words. So then, i found out what the words meant...
I'd not ask a life that's easy
gold and pearls so little mean.
Rather seek a heart that's joyful,
heart that's honest, heart that's clean.
Heart that's clean and filled with virtue,
fairer far than lilies white.
Only pure hearts praise God truly,
praise Him all the day and night.
Pure heart.
Dawn and sunset, still i'm searching,
rising on a wing of song.
Give me Lord, through Christ my Saviour
that clean heart for which i long.
Heart that's clean and filled with virtue,
fairer far than lilies white.
Only pure hearts praise God truly,
praise Him all the day and night.
Pure heart.
(Here's a nicer version of the song by Only Boys Aloud:-)
After reading these words(or even before), I felt that God had placed a prayer in my heart and, at the end of that year, the Holy Spirit of the LORD came upon me in Cathays and healed me from depression. He spoke to me very clearly and it was from that point really that I can say that I took 'this God stuff' seriously. He has done so many amazing things for me, Jesus is very good.
So, it has been a lovely reminder, hearing this song on national tv lately. There's something special about welsh male voice choirs singing hymns...
It is good to remember things that God has said and done. I have been finding it helpful (and sometimes amusing) to record down dreams that i've had at night (or whenever i've been asleep!). At times the dreams that I have seem like cheese dreams. You know the kind I mean: the crazy, psychedelic dreams where all kinds of wacky, confusing things happen that make no sense. And all coz I've been eating stilton sarnies too late at night :P But then come the occasions where I encounter very vivid dreams that are pregnant with meaning- sometimes nothing more than a helpful insight into what I really am actually thinking, and what is really on my heart. However, there are the dreams that are definitely more than that.
Just for the record, I have been dreaming about London, Albania, Eastern Europe, Rome, Berlin, Israel, California, Wales, Africa/Asia, Morroco, Greece, Guernsey, France...and on recollection, 90% if my dreams involve being on stage in some capacity.
A cool dream I will share with you is this one that I had between 29th/30th November 2011. This is what I wrote that day:"I had a dream that seemed random- 2 black birds that I thought were crows fell out of my window. I think they died. I thought they were demons and that the dream was about the Holy Spirit of God protecting me from them..." I thought they died because they looked kind of squashed. The reason why this is so cool, is that after dreaming this the night before, that day (Wednesday) I went to Youth Club. And at Youth Club they have a corkboard in the backhall where things are posted up every so often. I saw a piece of paper with 2 blackbirds on the corkboard, looking EXACTLY like how I saw them in my dream, kind of squashed. On the bit of paper they were on, there was a bible verse-
[Phillipians 4v19] "And my God will meet ALL your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus"
