I think my daughter is destined for a career in showbusiness!
The child entertainer
April 4, 2010 in
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Communion
I came across the song “Communion” by Third Day a while ago when writing a talk as an assignment for college on the importance of Holy Communion. One line that particularly sticks out is “I won’t take for granted the sacrifice that set me free”.
This video makes it even more powerful, with the song set to images from The Passion.
Thoughts on Good Friday
By this time on the first Good Friday, Jesus was dead.
He had been betrayed by one of his closest friends, falsely accused, abandoned by another friend, denied justice by the authorities and executed to pacify an angry mob. For his disciples, it didn’t make any sense. They believed Jesus was the Messiah who was going to bring God’s rule on earth. They had great expectations, but their hopes had been dashed. It was now all over.
I imagine they were confused. Upset. Wondering if Jesus really was all they thought he was. Thinking he was just another false prophet. Perhaps angry they’d given up their lives to follow him for nothing.
Fast forward to 2010, and we know what happens in the next episode. We know that God’s plan wasn’t finished. But the disciples had to wait a couple of days to find out that God really was in control.
How often are we in that situation? Its so easy to focus on the immediate, thinking that its all over, and nothing good can possibly come from what’s happened. But the Easter story gives us hope in the midst of despair. We may have to wait longer than a couple of days to find out what happens next, but grief is not the ending.
Jesus dying on the cross didn’t make any sense. Riggwelter tweeted this morning that “Only in God’s economy could the events we mark today be called ‘good’. Thank God we’re in his economy then.”
As Augustine of Hippo said: “We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song!” Its only because we experience sadness that we appreciate joy. Its only because we despair that there is hope. Its only because of Jesus’ death that we can celebrate his resurrection.
Image from Christ We Share
Check the date
There have been a few news stories published today that have sounded a little bit out of the ordinary. And then I remembered the date! Here’s a few of the best.
- “Nazi” Bishop arrested in language confusion (h/t Steve Fouch)
- Labour’s election strategy: bring on no-nonsense hard man Gordon Brown
- EU to begin regulating Bibles
- Ferrets key to bridging the digital divide between cities and rural areas
And the BBC also has a feature of 10 stories that could be April Fools…but aren’t.
Have you been caught out by an April Fool?
Image credit: Incurable Hippie
Quality journalism?
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
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.
Shut off from reality
This morning, I travelled back from Norwich to London. There were some signal problems on the mainline, so I came back via Cambridge. I had a 1st class ticket (work-related travel!), and sat in this relatively spacious, comfortable area with just a couple of other people. The 1st class area had its own doors, so I was shut away from the rest of the train.
About half-way through the journey, the guard came through and commented about how heaving it was on the train. I’d been completely unaware of this, and had no idea what the rest of the train was like.
This made me think about how churches can seem like that 1st class compartment, shut off from the rest of the world. Its so easy for us to sit in our own comfortable surroundings, doors closed and completely ignorant to what’s going on outside of our own little bubble.
Image by gwaar