Friday 4 January 2013

From Donny with Love




It's been a while since I posted a prayer update for our family. We had intended to write one much earlier, but in the end it was Christmas Eve when I finally completed it. The title of the post is the working title for the new prayer letter, any suggestions are welcome!

The first few months in Doncaster have been busy (not for all the reasons we initially expected) but really good, as you will see if you read the linked document below.
We have been blessed to get to know some wonderful people already and we feel well loved. We hope that as we continue to build relationships that God will continue to use them as a means of grace to us and also from us.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us, we hope you find this latest update helpful and encouraging.

Prayer Update Dec 2012


Wednesday 2 January 2013

Album Review: For the Glory - The OC Supertones




When I heard the OC Supertones were back together and releasing a brand new album I was a bit like a giddy schoolgirl headed to watch her favourite boy band in concert and I turn 30 this year!
I love the OC Supertones!
This blog address is the title if one of their songs on their debut album (see first ever post)!

Their music is so much fun but also packed full of great lyrics. So, as I listened to For The Glory for the first time I was expectant.

The album bursts into life with some retro ska tunes before hitting track 4 which is much more like chilled out reggae. It's classic Supertones and I just couldn't help but dance around to it, just ask my wife! More ska follows and the album rounds of with a slower song called 'The Wise and The Fool' which collects ideas from Scripture about wisdom and foolishness. The conclusion for Mojo is that he and his family with serve the Lord echoing Joshua as he addresses the people of Israel.

The brass is sharp and packs a real punch over the crunching guitars, booming bass and driving drums and it's all topped off with Mojo's distinctive vocal sound.

It's a very good comeback album after 7 years away. My only surprise, after reading the website blog post about wanting to have another crack at it and do it better this time, was that there were less theological treatises and apologetic juggernauts in the lyrics. There's nothing quite up to the heights of the wonderful "Kids in universities drowning in an ocean of apostate philosophy....." bridge in 'Grounded'.
But, on the other hand, what is massively clear is that this album has been made to glorify God. Take the title track as an example. The chorus boldly declares; "This is for the glory of God, this is for the Risen King, who conquered death and hell, it's the story that we must tell, this is for the glory."
There is a lot about the warmth of the love of God melting a cold heart, which is wonderful, and the security of the love of God being certain, paraphrased from the end of Romans 8 in 'Hey, Hey, Hey'.There is a call for the outcast and weak to come and find living water, to come to the King.
'Pretty Little Lie' indicates that Mojo had lost his focus at times in the past but that this time, whatever the outcome of this comeback, the band are resting in Jesus.

I get the feeling, the more I listen to the album, that they really enjoyed making it and I really hope this is the beginning of a great new chapter in the OC Supertones' career, inspiring a new generation of fans as well as 'for the people' like me ''cos they want some more', and not just a one off album.
But, even if that is the case, I think they have accomplished what they set out to do, bring glory to God by making great music. Go and buy it!!!






Tuesday 1 January 2013

Looking ahead



As I saw the New Year in with friends and family from Calvary back in Sunderland I was encouraged but also massively challenged.
As a few people shared their reflections on the goodness of the Lord in 2012 and also the delight with which they looked forward to 2013 and beyond. The themes of the sovereignty of God, and the gift of slavation in the gospel were prominent, but the thing that really struck me was the joy and delight which shone out as one person in particular shared how, even though they love their life, they can not wait for Jesus to come back and that they want to be ready for it. That got me thinking:

Do I long for, and eagerly await, the return of the Lord Jesus above anything else?
And, does that affect the way I live and the urgency with which I seek to share the goodness of the gospel?

In all honesty, that focus has been lacking. I stand rebuked yet forgiven by the grace of God in Christ.
So my prayer for this year is that I live in the light of the second coming, that I delight in Jesus more and more and seek to encourage others to grow their joy and faith in Him too.

Happy new year to you all. May you know the amazing love of the Triune God in 2013.