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New recording of See Jesus Stripped of Majesty (Amazing Love)
Spring Harvest has released their 2019 version of Newsongs for the Church and it includes a new recording of the song I co-wrote with Colin Webster and Phil Moore, “See Jesus Stripped of Majesty (Amazing Love)”. Here’s a preview with a link to full song on Spotify.
A lead sheet sheet is available here.
You can also see Colin and Phil playing the song at the Keswick Convention here.
Made primarily for blessing
For those of you who appreciated chapter 3 of my book Enjoying God (“In every pleasure we can enjoy the Father’s generosity”), here’s a little bonus for you. It’s a quote from Gilead by Marilynne Robinson,
[It] reminded me of something I saw early one morning a few years again, as I was walking up to the church. There was a young couple strolling along half a block ahead of me. The sun had come up brilliantly after a heavy rain, and the trees were glistening and very wet. On some impulse, plain exuberance I suppose, the fellow jumped up and caught hold of a branch, and a storm of luminous water came pouring down on the two of them, and they laughed and took off running, the girl sweeping water off her hair and her dress as if she were a little bit disgusted, but she wasn’t. It was a beautiful thing to see, like something from a myth. I don’t know why I thought of that now, except perhaps because it is easy to believe in such moments that water was made primarily for blessing, and only secondarily for growing vegetables or doing the wash. I wish I had paid more attention to it. My list of regrets may seem unusual, but who can know that they are, really. This is an interesting planet. It deserves all the attention you can give it.
(Marilynne Robinson, Gilead, London: Virago, 2005, 31-32.)
Northallerton
If you contacted me recently about Northallerton then can you get in touch again. The email address you gave in the online form is being returned with the following message: “the address couldn’t be found or is unable to receive email”. This means I have no way of getting in touch with you to reply. So could you please send an alternative email address that I can use? Thanks.
New song based on Galatians 5-6: ‘Come Holy Spirit, guide the way’
Here’s a new song I’ve written with Rob Spink which is based on Galatians 5-6. We wanted to write something on the fruit of the Spirit which didn’t feel too much like a list and, even more importantly, set the fruit in their wider context.
Here’s the lead sheet in F# (which is the key Rob wrote it in) and here’s the lead sheet in F (the key musical mortals like me can play it in).
Come Holy Spirit, guide the way,
and lead us to the Son, we pray.
With Christ we have been crucified,
no longer slaves to sin and pride.
From selfishness we’ve been set free
to humbly serve each other’s needs.2. Come Holy Spirit, grow in us,
the fruit of love and joy and peace,
May we be gentle, kind and true,
reflecting Christ in all we do.
And grant us grace and self-control;
restore our lives and make us whole.3. Come Holy Spirit, light a fire,
in every heart breathe new desires.
Expose temptation’s empty lies,
may Jesus’ beauty fill our eyes.
And may we walk in step with you,
O Spirit, come, our love renew.4. Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts,
your life and power to us impart.
Our only boast is Jesus Christ,
his all-sufficient sacrifice.
May worldly honour fade and dim,
eclipsed by holy love for him.
CCLI Number: 7118918
New song based on Psalm 147: ‘How good it is to sing God’s praise’
Here’s another new song I’ve written with Rob Spink. This one is based on Psalm 147. It’s a slightly quirky tune that perfectly matches the quirky words of the Psalm – yet still easy to play and sing!
Here’s a lead sheet in C and here’s a lead sheet in D.
How good it is to sing God’s praise,
how pleasant to recount his ways,
his faithful love through endless days.
Hallelujah.2. The greatness of our God proclaim,
who calls upon each star by name
his mighty power is unrestrained.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu, hallelujah.3. At his command each rain drop falls;
he feeds the ravens when they call:
his boundless love is felt by all.
Hallelujah.4. He scatters snow and hail like ash,
and none can stand his icy blast.
Yet at his word they do not last.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu, hallelujah.5. The broken-hearted in distress,
and souls weighed down by weariness
shall find in him eternal rest.
Hallelujah.6. Let’s sing to God with grateful praise,
with music come, your voices raise:
he is our King, the Lord who saves.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu, hallelujah.CCLI Number: 7118920
New song based on Psalm 30: ‘I called to you’
Here’s the first of three new songs I’ve written with Rob Spink (I’ll post the others in the coming days). This one is based on Psalm 30.
The lead sheet is available here. No demo as yet, I’m afraid.
I called to you; you heard my cry,
your mercy did not pass me by,
but to my rescue came.
You lifted me out of the depths,
you healed my soul, restored my steps,
I praise your holy name.Your wrath against me, Lord, has gone,
nailed to the cross of Christ your Son –
his blood has set me free.
Now pardon comes to take its place,
my life secure in your embrace
for all eternity,
for all eternity.2. You’ve set me free from death’s domain,
and made my feet secure again,
and I will sing your praise.
The dead lie silent in the grave,
but I will take the life you gave
and sing through endless days.Though I may weep throughout the night.
yet joy returns with dawning light,
I raise my voice in song.
Your anger, Lord, was moment’ry,
your favour lasts eternally
through Jesus Christ your Son,
through Jesus Christ your Son.
CCLI Number: 7118919
Everyday Mission for the Whole Church
Here’s the video of the annual John Stott London Lecture which I delivered last November. It’s base don themes that Steve Timmis and I develop our book in Everyday Church.
North Yorkshire: the best place to live and the best place to plant
Last week I posted an opportunity to partner with Grace Church to church plant in North Yorkshire. It turns out all three locations we have in mind for potential plants are among the top five best places to live in the UK according to a survey was published this week – one in Richmondshire and two in Hambleton! Of course, we want people who are willing to make sacrifices for the gospel. But I thought you might just like to know … North Yorkshire is officially a great place to live.
Do you have a vision for church planting in North Yorkshire?
Grace Church Boroughbridge is looking for a planter or trainee planter to work long-term with us to plant in rural North Yorkshire. We have some seed funding, but you would need to raise some of your own support or work part-time. Click here for a prospectus outlining the need, the vision and the opportunity in one of the least unevangelised counties of England.
