DRIVE ON

Well its been a LONG time since my last post..I am going to remedy that soon. But first I want to show how flexible I am when it comes to being in the driving seat. My recent trip to the USA provided me with some great cars to drive...and here they are.
Guess which one I loved the best????

THANKU BERROW

Just returned from an incredibly enthusiastic crowd who gathered at a 13th Century Anglican Church in Berrow, Somerset. As part of their church celebrations, they invited me with my band to provide an evening of songs and worship. It was wonderful. They listened, sang, laughed and reflected on thoughts of life and God. Thanku to all who came...and made it a memorable evening. They even requested 'Carry The Fire' - a song I haven't sung for well over 10 years..it was very moving as they joined in and seemed to know the tune better than me!!
They were amazed we said yes to a tiny place called Berrow...but I have noticed the appreciation from places that are not saturated with events and concerts to be overwhelmingly wonderful! They really value the visit!

On a different note, the journey home reinforced my dislike of motorway services...after paying a ridiculous amount of money for a hot chocolate...only to be given a cup of hot...still wondering where the chocolate went!

Moving onto the letter N

Well..the time in Geneva and Glasgow went really well. Lots of live music/worship and lots of rehearsing with different musicians...kept me on my toes!! I did the whole trip on Easyjet...and I must confess...the whole system seems to turn people of ALL ages into EASYYOBS...pushing, shoving, queueing....what is it about human beings??? We even gather around the luggage carousal when our luggage isn't coming..blocking everyone else's view!!! I kept wondering how we have all gotten so IMPATIENT.

Today I am off to Nottingham to lead worship at 2 events plus a radio interview, alongside a friend called Liz Babbs, who will provide reflective meditations...

Just heard Annie Lennox is about 2 bring out a new CD...about time!!! She is a very thoughtful lady!!! I like that.

Where Did The Sun Go?

Just returned from leading worship at the Spring Harvest site in France. Beautiful location, great beaches, and a very nice campsite. Had a great team to work alongside...met some good people, helpful teaching, inspiring meetings...wonderful table tennis games......but the only thing missing was the SUN?

Most days we had rain...lots of it....plus it was quite cold! I remember being here last September, the weather was amazing...and so the difference was quite hard to adjust to.

Anyhow...we made the most of it...still went out and explored, spent time reading, eating french pastries..and my friend Steph took these pictures of my fight with the umbrella during a heavy downpour on top of the dunes!!

Presence

Had a great time in Fort Wayne, Indiana, teaching a module called 'Creativity, Worship and PostModernity' as part of a contemporary worship course called Presence. The course consisted of 4 separate modules and attracted about 50 students each time.

My title sounds pretty heavyweight, but I loved researching and adding to my understanding about creative / immersive worship expressions and relevant cultural indicators affecting and challenging us today and for the future. We spent a good amount of time constructing a worship experience which was multi sensory and communal. I think it opened the eyes of the students to a wider understanding of corporate worship and areas of creativity and contemplation.

Then I came back to the Uk to teach on a YWAM School of Worship about songwriting. That was fun too...and the students ended up writing some pretty good songs! They were all better than the UK Eurovison song contest entry!!

Day 9/10/11

We have travelled hundreds of kilometres these past few days. From Warsaw we headed up to Gdansk to the seaside, and played in Sopot which is renowned for its very long pier! Yes you learnt it here first!!

Warsaw on Sunday was busy! I didn't know, but the city is divided in 2 by a river and so we played in the east which is called Praga in a small chapel of a BIG church! It was great. The ambience cool (in the best sense of the word) and the people very, very warm and touched by the concert. I was given flowers!! We packed down amazingly quickly and sped over to the west to set up and play in another church! This was the least attended concert, maybe due to the saturation of big cities or the organisation...but those that came enjoyed it!

Then to Gdansk, to play in a large church in Sopot. Again an amazing building with stained glass windows that added to the evening aura. About 300 attended and it was a great night. Many young people came and joined in with enthusiasm especially the songs that have travelled, like 'Open The Eyes' and 'I Could Sing Of Your Love'. Some shared afterwards that they have been feeling far away from God, but tonight really spoke to them and helped them. We have also had many emails giving positive feedback from varous concerts on the tour.

So. Onwards to Kielce today, for 2 more concerts for teenagers. The first one at 9am in the morning! Who organised that?????

The climate here in Poland is changing...economically, spiritually...and I will write my thoughts later tomorrow. So tune in...

Day 6/7/8

A little bit of time to write before heading to Warsaw. Had a good time in PUSZCZA MARIANSKA...2 concerts for school students and an evening concert. A small village, so it feels good to input into a location not saturated with visiting singers, especially english ones! Then onto GORA KALWARI ( and yes I can pronounce both places perfectly!). The small church, (which houses the founding Bishop in the crypt) was a great venue, atmospheric and great for our lights and video screen. The church seemed pretty packed and the people receptive.

I have noticed an increasing number of young people at these events...which is exciting. Now onto Warsaw. for a concert pre-mass, and then post-mass in another venue! So this is really the mass and monastry tour!!! Will post some pictures later.

Day 3/4/5

Back in Czeschohowa, which is where I am based for this tour and waiting to drive to a place near Warsaw. Have had a day free and went to see 'Miss Potter' - a great and charming movie - and had 2 concerts in a school for English - and today I am working on an article and driving to Puszcza Marianska! Pronounce that!!
Tomorrow I am setting up in a culture centre with concerts for schools during the day, and an open concert in the evening!
There is a lot of interest from the young people, who are very open to 'english' people - the Poles are apparently the 3rd largest minority in the UK!

DAY 2 - NOWA SOL

Concerts en masse...in fact, concerts after Mass.
Had a great evening concert in a large church last night. Many were there, young and old. Usually we set up before mass, then move everything out of their way for evening mass, and then we hurry like mad to set it all up again as people watch in silence!! Always a little embarassing, but even more so for me yesterday, as I tripped very athletically off stage after getting caught up in some of my leads...I managed very daintily to NOT fall over as people watched in hushed tones. Realising the drama of the situation, I simply bowed and said thankyou, to a still silent audience! Good start eh?
This morning I gave 3 consecutive 45 minute concerts to teenagers, as schools sent them over to my place (the church)...It was a great morning...what opportunity to sing and speak about life and God to about 1500 teenagers! Even though Poland is a Catholic country, a lot is changing, and perhaps with each generation the reality of Jesus is diminishing...and distance and rejection to church is increasing..
And...here's a picture of me with a Capuchin Monk...they hosted the concerts....(I'm the one on the left!!!) We spent the night in the Monastry...don't think they usually have many girls stay over...It was a really interesting time...and the concerts were very well received...
and I learnt that the cappuchino connection is in the colour of the habits only...

Poland 2007 Day 1

This is the first day of a 13 day tour in Poland...and my 8th time visiting this country. The weather is great, the schedule is busy! Today we travel to the west of Poland to Nowa Sol (New Salt)..named as such because of the salt mines..and I perform a concert in a church run by Capuchin Monks. They are a reformed order of Franciscan monks...and practice austerity, simplicity, poverty and a contemplative lifestyle!!

So I will be staying overnight in a very old monastry and am preparing myself for....simplicity!! Rumour has it that the Capuchin monks invented capucchino! I am holding onto that thought and hoping!!! Then tomorrow, I do a concert for a local school...in Nowa Sol.

Always many adventures, so I will keep u updated. Maybe a few pictures too...But it's an interesting country to visit, especially as it finds its feet in the EU and faces the usual consumer and societal trends and challenges amidst a changing catholic culture.

ON UK GROUND

Back home now in the UK after a great trip to Oz. The final week in Canberra was interesting and incredibly busy. The picture shows some of the colourful characters I was working with.......The city of Canberra was built to function as the capital and a way to stop Sydney and Melbourne squabbling over the title. It feels a very sterile and functional place, with such a different atmosphere to other cities, such as Melbourne. Our conference was simply to gather christians from all walks of church and pray and see what God is saying over this strategic place. It was good to go there and make some valuable connections.

There seems a lot of talk and diagnostic meditation over the issue of the template of church in Australia at the moment, especially amongst some of the people I am connecting with. Many questions about church system and structures and a huge desire to see the life of Christ flood out and not be contained by the structure.....A friend of mine David Orton is making some waves, especially after writing his book 'Snakes In The Temple' which " casts a biblical vision of an awesome future for the church and speaks to the hindrances to that future". Looks like my next book to read.......

OFF 2 CANBERRA

It's been great here in Melbourne. I have been inputting into some churches through worship and teaching plus enjoying the pre summer sunshine and a dog called Xena!!! Many here are talking about new ways of 'doing' church and deconstructing the system in order to find and live out the reality of following Christ. I was involved in a forum of 20 influential people from different states here in Australia wrestling with new thoughts of repainting and reworking church. Interesting and thought provoking!
Tomorrow I go to Canberra to lead worship in a conference that lasts for 3 days. The capital city lacks character and feels quite sterile and the churches seem dissasociated from one another..so this should be an adventure!! More to follow..........

YES, I ORDERED FISH

I am endeavouring to break new ground! First of all I embraced the open seas during August and September and sailed in Samos and France, and now I am confronting another area of resistance whilst here in Australia, I have actually ordered and eaten fish!!!
I thought this country would be a good place to break my fishphobia, which is well known around the world by friends and organisers of events I have attended!! So in a great restaurant yesterday, I asked for a fish that was white, without bones and with a light flavour!! What a task. And they cooked up such a fish and I ate it!!! And...I actually enjoyed it!!! So a brand new world is opening up to me! Bring on the Omega 3's .......

THE OTHER SIDE

Writing this from Melbourne, Australia. I have been here for 5 days so far and it's a great country. Always liked it! This is my 8th or 9th trip to this far away land and I am here for 3 weeks in Melbourne and Canberra leading worship at conferences, taking creative workshops, speaking at churches and catching up with friends over food and drink!!! Always a good place for that!!

So far I have been leading worship at a conference held in the heart of melbourne town in a 10th storey building overlooking the river..a great view...and a stimulating conference. Tomorrow I take part in Leadershift..a network group of influencers and leaders around this area. So, I am keeping busy whilst fighting off jetlag, swopping marmite for vegemite and enjoying the sun!!G'day.

THIS IS AFRICA!!!

Back in the UK after an amazing few weeks. 16 days in Uganda leading worship and speaking at a youth conference and then 1 week leading worship in France at Spring Harvest.
I will write more about Uganda shortly...but it was quite an adventure! The people are rich in beauty and courage and the youth at the conference were hungry for God! The Christians we met place so much value on gathering and praying and worshipping!! And the children were glowingly cute and lovely!! The challenges they all face are many! 2 things we take for granted - water and power - are unpredictable and polluted and the need for education and training is overwhelming! But it was an amzing trip, and I can still smell the chipati's at the market!
The french week was a God send...especially after 16 days of washing in bowls of water and wondering when the power would return!! Not to mention the chaotic time structures of the meetings!! But the Spring harvest houseparty was a delight and the weather and the beaches were incredible!! I even went canoeing...extending my water skills after samos!!
I will post pictures soon of the Uganda trip!

SAIL ON

My week in Samos as a ministry leader for Mastersun reminded me that you are never too old to face your fears!!

I am not a water baby and being so close to the sea has never really enthralled me into freestyle swimming and underwater snorkelling. However, after a lot of encouragement and hot weather, I ventured onto a catermaran and a small yacht. (On separate ocassions of course!)

The yacht was a particular challenge as it required me to 'ready about' and 'leo' - sailing lingo for important manoeveres! Not only did we go too near Turkey requiring a rescue boat to come and herd us back, but we also had spinnaker issues! But I live to tell the tale, and some of me enjoyed the experience. I had a great crew!!!!

As you can see by the picture, my presence on the catermaran was too dangerous for Sam the waterfront man....I got on, he jumped off!!!

BERLIN SHOUTS

Last Saturday, the Olympic Stadium in Berlin opened its gates to approximately 22,000 people from over 30 nations. Centre stage was not given to the sport of football or the music of rock n roll, but to the Global God who scored the greatest victory through Jesus Christ! Thousands gathered there to worship and pray and make their voices heard within a city that was already crowded with worshippers of a different kind who were simultaneously celebrating at the famous Love Parade.

But what a different sound filled the air above the olympic-ringed temple. Worship leaders, musicians and pastors - known and unknown, german and english, american and hungarian, korean and brazillian - played their part as the programme rolled on throughout the day. They may have been leading the songs which became the prayers of the people; their faces may have been the focus of eyes on the huge video screens, they may have been the industry saints of the contemporary church...but all of that found its rightful place within a much larger symphony.

It was the sound of the people, the street saints of God, encircling the stadium with the passionate notes of salvation that made the ground shake with the promise of Who is to come!

Saturday July 15th 2006 was not really about Saturday July 15th 2006. Most of the faces and features will fade away. But it was a timely moment for people from all over the world to proclaim the ageless message of a Saviour who truly is the only way.

It was great to be a part of it.

COAST LINE

Spent a few days in Aberystwyth with a YWAM DTS speaking about Worship. Had a good time with the hills and the sea and the students and the rain!! Then I drove down to Cardiff to spend some time shaking ideas around with Care For The Family. This has sent my mind reeling into hyperspace wondering about young adults and the issues and challenges they face. Also, how old or young are 'young adults'? Is there another name we can call them? What's the most effective way of communicating with and to them? Answers on a postcard please. ( How very retro )

POLISH ROAD TRIP

Being here in POLAND is certainly testing my Vanaphobia (fear of long hours in vans). Already we have covered a lot of miles and my observation has always been that the roads here are incredibly bumpy and the drivers are all fast, overtaking monsters!! (Exagerrate..me??) Still, it all helps with my fear of flying. Whenvr I am on a plane about to panic I simply remember how scared I have felt on the Polish roads and suddenly being 39,000 feet up in the air pales into insignificance!!
This is my 5th year visiting Poland and playing concerts in large cathedrals, churches, schools and town halls. It is always interesting being here, partly because of the history and link between the culture and the Catholic religion - it's very different from being in the UK. So tomorrow I visit Plock to sing to a Catholic seminary ( training school for priests) and then onto perform a concert in the evening!! So more bumpy roads, speedy cars and yet another opportunity to triumph over my vanaphobic tendancies!