I don’t read a newspaper that often now, but I have to admit to once being a Daily Mail reader in the folly of youth. I have since repented and seen the error of my ways. Which is why this video made me smile!
h/t Phil Ritchie
Archive - March, 2010
Will History Maker make history?
Following in the footsteps of the campaign to make Rage Against the Machine Christmas number one, today marks the start of the week-long campaign to get a Christian song to the top spot on Easter Sunday. The chosen track is the well known Delirious anthem “History Maker”, two versions of which (live and studio) have been especially released.
The question is will it work? Various calculations on the Facebook group suggest it might. At the very least there’s a good chance of getting into the Top 10, and all profits will be donated to the CompassionArt project, raising money for a very good cause, irrespective of chart position.
Delirious have of course ventured into the charts before (I remember making a special trip to Our Price back in the mid 90s to buy White Ribbon Day) yet despite a handful of singles reaching Top 40 positions, Radio 1 still refused to add them to their playlist. Delirious’ tongue-in-cheek response was to call an album “Audio Lessonover” (an anagram of “Radio One Loves Us”.) Dave Walker reminisces about other Christian ventures into mainstream charts.
The biggest advantage this time round though is the rise of social media. Not only did Facebook make it easy to start a fan-led, grass roots initiative, it also helped add momentum by letting followers track how many thousands of people were supporting the campaign. Downloadable music also takes the effort out of buying the track. Clicking a few buttons on the computer make impulse buys much easier, rather than having to remember to stop off at a music shop somewhere.
My biggest question is what impact will this initiative have longer term? Are people likely to become Christians as a result of an (albeit fantastic) song getting into the Charts? Without wanting to limit God in anyway, that’s probably unlikely. Is it going to give Christians an opportunity to talk to friends, and engage people in discussion? Yes, definitely. Those conversations could be about why Easter is so important to Christians, what are the lyrics about, or why is it so unusual to have Christian music in the charts?
There’s also the possibility for a relatively little-known band to have a high new entry into the charts with very little marketing, and that’s something that is bound to be of interest to media gurus irrespective of their religious or musical persuasions! And that could be a little bit of history in the making.
Impending arrival
I shocked myself this morning realising how long ago since I last blogged. Not quite sure why I’ve been silent. I guess its just that I’ve not had a great deal to say!
Well, this last week, Esther had her 12 week ultrasound scan. So in case you haven’t heard the news yet, there will be a new addition to the Cook clan arriving in late August/early September!
We were surprised at how much the technology has developed in the 4 years since Kaity was born. We were in with the sonographer for a good 90 minutes, whilst she checked absolutely everything you could think of checking on a 12-week old fetus. I think what amazed me the most was when baby turned, and you could see the spine and vertebrae.
I thought of Psalm 139:
you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Sermon: Psalm 73
Sunday 7 January - 6:30pm service
Psalm 73
Introduction & Background
Before we look at the text of the Psalm itself, I wanted to explore a little bit of the background of this Psalm.
Who was Asaph?
Along with Heman and Ethan, he was one of 3 men David put in charge of music. (1 Chron 6). Their job, as we’re told in 1 Chron was to “minister with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting…they performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.” These three guys were the first appointed worship leaders. If you like, they were the Redman, Hughes & Layzell of their day!
We can assume that part of their job description, like a lot of worship leaders today, was song writing, and Asaph is credited as having written a number of Psalms, particularly Psalm 50, then 73 through to 83.