The mighty Mills

Hey, the mighty Paul Mills, who produced our album Greater Things (available in our online store now folks, check it out, also on iTunes!) is over to visit this week. It's so good to get some time with him. I've never met anyone so humble - he's even more humble than ME!! Seriously - I didn't think that was possible after I won my humility award.

Really looking forward to this Sunday, we're going to be recording the Sunday service, almost as a test of what can be achieved in church. Can't wait to see what happens, I have a feeling God is cooking something special up.

Anyway, onwards to bed. Mia is crying a river, hopefully she'll sleep... all the fun of fatherhood :)

Dirty hands and a clean heart

This phrase has been on mind lately. I've been thinking a lot about people who aren't yet involved in a relationship with God. Looking from the outside in, it must be easy to feel inadequate, and until you've righted yourself sufficiently, you can't darken the door of church.

Actually, I'd love it if church started becoming the complete opposite of this. I'd love it if church started being more proactive, people getting their hands dirty. I'd love to have more opportunity to get my hands dirty. Still not sure what that looks like, if you know, do tell.

The song God of this City was written in a bar in Pattaya, Thailand. We went there as part of a missions trip to Thailand. Our expectations were none, we hadn't done this sort of thing before - I'd personally never been to Asia before that time. Did we have some 'heart' for Thailand prior to the trip? Not particularly! Sorry, no offence Thailand! We just hadn't experienced it.

The truth is, when you worship in a place, you start to see God's heart for a place. One of the most revelationary moments of my life to date has been playing a worship set in a strip club and hearing God say "I'm the God of this city". These people are oppressed and exploited, they're sold and forced to do the most derogatory acts - and in the midst of them God says 'I love these people'.

We look with our eyes and we see the wrong, but when we look beyond the situation and we see the true beauty and value in someone's existence, we see what God loves without condition. The things I've seen, I've been helpless to change - that's the truth, I am totally powerless to change anything by my own strength. In spite of all this - God, give me the opportunity to be part of the change, to resound your voice that says 'I love you, without clause or condition'. To renounce condemnation of the world and say that despite the dirt, despite your history, there is a new way - there is a banquet and you are invited.

That's my God.

Orchestra shots

Thought some photos always make a blog look good to start off with, here's some shots by Josh Galbraith of the Christmas Special, New Irish Orchestra & choir gig at CFC Strandtown...

New blogs

Oook, here's them, blog!? Here's me, aye alright then.

The other boys are setting theirs up now so that's going to be interesting, whereas this post...is not. But the next one will be better.