fw-blog

Watching the devestating news today of the deaths in the southern USA due to Hurricane Katrina, and of the hundreds killed in a stampede in Baghdad, it’s hard to imagine the impact on the families and loved ones of those who have died. We get so used to the loss of life being reported daily in the news that sometimes it only really gets our attention when the scale of the numbers is sufficiently large. Today certainly stands out in that respect.

Life is fragile, and can end in the blink of an eye. For all the advances of the technological age, there is no escaping the fact that nothing has changed since the Psalmist wrote that the “life of everybody is like the wind” (Psalm 39)

The hedonists would say that life is short, so live for the moment and for pleasure. The Christian should answer that life is short, so live for eternity…

On holiday in Tuscany recently, we were puzzled by some fast small flying creatures that appeared at dusk and swooped around the veranda where we would sit out at night. At first we thought they were swallows or some other kind of small bird, but Sue suspected they were in fact bats, and decided to sit out and try to catch them on camera. I told her she had no chance - they were so fast and infrequent that we could scarcely see them by eye, and I was convinced she would never manage to photograph one with our cheap digital camera.

As usual Sue was right - both that they were bats, and that she could catch one on film. The bats were not the only creatures to liven up the holiday

Continue Reading “Bats and cats”

We were thrilled to hear recently that Ella Havell from Smile Puppet Minsitry won a gold medal at the International Festival of Christian Puppetry and Ventriloquism in the USA, in a routine featuring our song I will lift up the name of the Lord.

Ella and her husband John began the puppet ministry just a few years ago when Ella was part of the team that Sue & I led for the children’s work, Popcorn, at the annual Ichthus Bible Week, Revive. She picked up a puppet to give it a go, and hasn’t looked back since! You never know what may happen in the most unlikely of ways…

We’re just back from a really enjoyable break in Italy - Rome, Tuscany and Florence. Back in time for our eldest daughter Beckie’s A-level results - she got 4 A’s and is off to University this September to study Mathematics so is busy moving right now to student accomodation. Where do the years go?!

The younger 2 are off to Soul Survivor tomorrow, and then back in time for Sophie’s GCSE results next week.

Have a good weekend.

Ever since the first Harry Potter book, “The Philosopher’s Stone” appeared and sharply divided opinion among Christians, the subsequent books in the series have ignited further ongoing debate.

I was initially very unsure whether to read the first book or not.

Continue Reading “Thoughts on Harry Potter”

Two words immediately sprang to mind on the first listen to this great new live worship recording from Chris & Jennie Orange and Band – passionate and sincere. From the opening track, “We draw near” it is clear that the worship leaders and band have a desire and hunger to worship, matched by an enthusiastic congregation who gathered over two evenings, May 2005, in south London, to make the recording.

Continue Reading “Album review “Emmanuel”, by Chris & Jennie Orange and Band”

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come, your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For the kingdom, the power and the glory
Are yours, now and forever, Amen

Music - Dave Bankhead and Mike Burn
© 1998 Daybreak Music

Story behind the song
There have been countless settings of the Lord’s Prayer throughout the ages

Continue Reading “Story behind the song - “The Lord’s Prayer””

Let praise break out

Let praise break out and let worship flow
God’s name be praised and his glory known (x2)

Build up build up the highway
Raise a banner for the nations
Righteousness, righteousness and praise
Shall spring up before all nations
See your Saviour comes, see your Saviour comes
So let praise break out and let worship flow

Mike Burn
© 1993 Chasah Music

Story behind the song
Based on scriptures from Isaiah 62:10-12, which talk about preparing a highway for the Saviour to come

Continue Reading “Story behind the song - “Let praise break out””

If we were to keep quiet

If we were to keep quiet
the rocks they would cry out
If we were to stay silent
Then the stones would surely shout
But now we’ve seen the Lord of lords
We won’t keep quiet any more
Because Jesus is coming soon

Once he came to die upon a cross
Now he reigns, alive for evermore,
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest heaven
Jesus is coming soon

Mike Burn
© 1993 Chasah Music

Story behind the song
There’s a huge, dramatic rock face on the edge of the Pyrynees mountain range in the South of France

Continue Reading “Story behind the song - “If we were to keep quiet””

Jesus, thank you for the cross

Jesus, thank you for the cross
Holding nothing back, you did all your father asked
I’ll never know just how it felt
As you died, lifted high
I know It hurt I know the pain
Was more than words could ever say
You had a choice, you chose to die
Your sacrifice has saved my life
What can I say?

Oh Jesus, you gave your life for me
So precious the blood you shed
You made a way to heaven by dying in my place
Jesus, thank you for the cross

Mike Burn
© 1996 Daybreak Music

Story behind the song
Two motivating factors behind this song:

Continue Reading “Story behind the song - “Jesus, thank you for the cross””