Sunday, March 2, 2014
:: Promoted & Protected ::
"When God promotes you He protects you. Some say, "greater levels greater devils" but I say greater angels protect the promoted."
Kris Vallatton
Saturday, March 1, 2014
:: Welcome Home Pt. 4 ::
"When I first came to church, I never thought that I would find people with the same interests as me, let alone people who were like me, but I found the opposite. This went against every preconception that I had about church. There were people of different races, different cultures & different backgrounds yet church was home to them all & I love that."
Benitho (Hillsong London)
:: "The White Album" (Project Remix) by Joel Houston ::
I love a good remix, I despise a bad one! But more than anything, I find captivating the concept of taking a song back to its original white space - the blank white page (or computer screen) and approaching it new. It's with that trepidation, and that creative challenge that we offer:
THE WHITE ALBUM [a remix project]
(Not to be confused or compared to the Liverpudlian masterpiece of 1968 of which we shamelessly pilfered the title)
But 50 years on, at the very least, the title serves as a tribute to the way The Beatles pioneered music and pushed the creative envelope, but even then, for all their "greatness", let it only attest to the fact that all creative genius, redeemed or otherwise is a gift given by He who is GREATNESS personified; the Origin of music; the true Author!
I believe music was created by God, for God; not just a particular style or genre, not just the sounds that are familiar to those who are well acquainted to the pews on Sunday, or the music in its entirety; the complete art form is inspired by the creative genius of our God. As humans, created in His image, we are allowed the privilege of participating in the sound, and I hold firmly to the opinion that ALL kinds of music, can and should be used for the glory of God!
This is what The White Album is all about! Taking the song, and looking at it again as a blank page. I think few things are more inspiring and challenging as the alluring white of an empty canvas! For the creative, it offers a world of possibility, and though this is not a project of "new" songs, it is new in that we have taken a collection of older songs through a renewal process; approached them from very different angles, taken them back to their purest form and dressed them up in new colours. We collaborated with friends and artists who brought their unique creative gift to the table and were able to shine a different light on things. The result is The White Album - stealing its title as a respectful ode to arguably one of the greatest albums by perhaps the greatest band of all time (and no, we certainly aren't comparing our little remix project to The Beatles), but we are however inspired by the way they, like many others artists over the years have pioneered the sound of music for generations, defining culture along the way. This is the power of music; its ability to change the atmosphere, break down walls, and define culture. As worshippers, this is what's it’s all about - seeing our present culture enfolded into the eternal culture of God’s Kingdom! He is after all, making all things NEW!
So as we embark on the journey of writing our next album of brand new songs, we wanted to renew the sound of some of our older songs that have defined the journey thus far. REMIXED! I don't think it's necessarily for everyone, I think some people will love it, others won't, and that's perfectly ok! Our prayer is that at least one or all of these remixed versions might in some way connect with someone new, or with someone different in a new way, that the power and gift of music might open their eyes, or lift their head long enough to see Jesus in fresh light. That's what it's always been about.
:: "Here's The Best Advice From A Single Guy Who Spent A Year Interviewing Couples" by Megan Willett ::
So he started a Kickstarter and used his life savings to tour the country and interview couples in happy, long-term relationships.
He then took to Reddit’s to share what he learned (just in time for Valentine’s Day), and to post podcasts of the couples’ journeys and advice.
“I’ve interviewed gay couples, straight couples, rich couples, poor couples, religious couples, atheist couples, couples who have been together for a short time, and couples who have been together for over 70 years,” he said in his Ask Me Anything. “I’ve even interviewed couples in arranged marriages and polygamous couples.”
He now hopes to make a documentary from the interviews, and has many of them already uploaded on his website, The Loveumentary. This is some of the best advice that he shared with Reddit:
On the key things that make a relationship successful:
“This was actually one of the most surprising things I learned on the journey.
Self Love: The happiest couples always consisted of two (sometimes more) emotionally healthy and independently happy individuals. These people practiced self-love. They treated themselves with the same type of care that they treated their partner… or at least they tried to.
Emotionally healthy people know how to forgive, they are able to acknowledge their part in any disagreement or conflict and take responsibility for it. They are self-aware enough to be assertive, to pull their weight, and to give love when it’s most difficult.
Commitment: After that emotional health came an unquestioning level of commitment. The happiest couples knew that if shit got real, their significant other wasn’t going to walk out on them. They knew that even if things got hard – no, especially if things got hard — they were better off together. The sum of the parts is greater than the whole.
Trust: Happy couples trust each other… and they have earned each others’ trust. They don’t worry about the other person trying to undermine them or sabotage them, because they’ve proven over and over again that they are each other’s biggest advocate. That trust is built through actions, not words. It’s day after day after day of fidelity, service, emotional security, reliability.
Establish that foundation, and you’re in good shape.
Intentionality: This is the icing on the cake. There’s a difference between the couple who drives through the rainstorm and the couple who pulls their car to the side of the road to make out in the rain. (Yes, that’s a true story.) There’s a difference between the couple who kisses for 10 seconds or longer when they say goodbye to each other rather than just giving each other a peck… or nothing at all. There’s a difference between the couples who encourage each other to pursue their personal goals at the expense of their own discomfort or inconvenience… even if it means their partner has to stage kiss another woman.
The couples who try on a daily basis to experience some sort of meaningful connection, or create a fun memory are the couples who shattered my perception of what was possible in a loving relationship.”
On the best advice he was given:
“One woman in Georgia gave some pretty amazing advice. She and and her husband have been married for over 60 years, and after being asked what her best relationship advice would be, she paused and said…
‘Don’t be afraid to be the one who loves the most.’”
On the best way to solve disagreements:
“Resolving disagreements was one of the topics that came up the most.
Here’s what I learned:
Don’t Fight To Win: A huge number of couples talked about how they didn’t fight against each other. I mean, if you’re in love, you should be playing for the same team. Your goal should be to resolve the issue, not to emerge victorious over the love of your life… and let’s be honest, you just feel guilty when you win anyway.
Seek to Understand: If you’re having a hard time playing on the same team, stop fighting and instead try to understand why your partner is upset. Typically what’s being talked about isn’t the real issue. People are inherently bad at being vulnerable, especially in threatening situations. Be willing to ask sincere questions. Let the answers sink in. If she is complaining that you’re spending too much time at work, maybe the real issue is that she misses you, and wants to feel connected with you. Rather than arguing about how you’re providing for the family, and she needs to respect how hard you work, try to listen to what she’s really saying. Then hold her. Come home early one day, and surprise her with a date, or some special one-on-one time. Reassure her that she, and your relationship, are a priority for you. If you don’t want that same issue to arise again, keep investing in the solution.
Just Be Nice To Each Other Seriously. Don’t be a jerk. Don’t call names. Don’t take jabs. Don’t try to hurt the other person. Argue naked if it helps… but just be kind and civil and respectful. It will prevent so many bad things from happening.”
And his favourite quote from all the interviews:
“At the end of Ty’s life, I want him to be able to say, ‘Terri was the greatest earthly blessing in my life — the best thing that ever happened to me — and that I’m a better man because of how she loved me.’ And that’s the goal that I live with every day. That’s how I want to love this man.”
“Resolving disagreements was one of the topics that came up the most.
Here’s what I learned:
Don’t Fight To Win: A huge number of couples talked about how they didn’t fight against each other. I mean, if you’re in love, you should be playing for the same team. Your goal should be to resolve the issue, not to emerge victorious over the love of your life… and let’s be honest, you just feel guilty when you win anyway.
Seek to Understand: If you’re having a hard time playing on the same team, stop fighting and instead try to understand why your partner is upset. Typically what’s being talked about isn’t the real issue. People are inherently bad at being vulnerable, especially in threatening situations. Be willing to ask sincere questions. Let the answers sink in. If she is complaining that you’re spending too much time at work, maybe the real issue is that she misses you, and wants to feel connected with you. Rather than arguing about how you’re providing for the family, and she needs to respect how hard you work, try to listen to what she’s really saying. Then hold her. Come home early one day, and surprise her with a date, or some special one-on-one time. Reassure her that she, and your relationship, are a priority for you. If you don’t want that same issue to arise again, keep investing in the solution.
Just Be Nice To Each Other Seriously. Don’t be a jerk. Don’t call names. Don’t take jabs. Don’t try to hurt the other person. Argue naked if it helps… but just be kind and civil and respectful. It will prevent so many bad things from happening.”
And his favourite quote from all the interviews:
“At the end of Ty’s life, I want him to be able to say, ‘Terri was the greatest earthly blessing in my life — the best thing that ever happened to me — and that I’m a better man because of how she loved me.’ And that’s the goal that I live with every day. That’s how I want to love this man.”
:: Someday we'll know ::
everything in life, happens for a purpose.
we may not see it now, but it does not mean we will never see it. xxx
we may not see it now, but it does not mean we will never see it. xxx
:: "Every step is an arrival" by Steven Furtick ::
I was recently reading a book and came across a quote that grabbed me:
Every step is an arrival.
What the author meant is that it’s great to have goals. Aspirations. But the problem is that we can be so consumed with the end game, that we forget that every step we take is not just a means to a distant end. It’s the arrival at an end in itself. Even if a temporary one.
For example, if you’re an addict, the end goal is to be free of your addiction. And it should be. But every step you take on the way to that goal is itself an arrival at a desirable destination. And that’s because it’s a step further away from where you don’t want to be – engrossed in your addiction.
Or in your walk with God, you’re not going to become C.S. Lewis overnight. Or Spurgeon. Or Piper. Or anyone else you look up to. And that’s because neither did they. Discipleship takes time. There’s never going to be a point where you’re not on the road to becoming more Christlike. But even in the slow process of becoming, every step you take towards Christ is a step away from what you were without Him.
I wonder if the reason so many people give up on their goals and aspirations is that in their lust to arrive at the end, they’re blind to the fact that they’re no longer at the beginning. And when they don’t get to the end quickly, they conclude it’s a fool’s errand. Or at least a task they’re not qualified to complete.
These people miss the truth we must grasp if we don’t want to give up:
What the author meant is that it’s great to have goals. Aspirations. But the problem is that we can be so consumed with the end game, that we forget that every step we take is not just a means to a distant end. It’s the arrival at an end in itself. Even if a temporary one.
For example, if you’re an addict, the end goal is to be free of your addiction. And it should be. But every step you take on the way to that goal is itself an arrival at a desirable destination. And that’s because it’s a step further away from where you don’t want to be – engrossed in your addiction.
Or in your walk with God, you’re not going to become C.S. Lewis overnight. Or Spurgeon. Or Piper. Or anyone else you look up to. And that’s because neither did they. Discipleship takes time. There’s never going to be a point where you’re not on the road to becoming more Christlike. But even in the slow process of becoming, every step you take towards Christ is a step away from what you were without Him.
I wonder if the reason so many people give up on their goals and aspirations is that in their lust to arrive at the end, they’re blind to the fact that they’re no longer at the beginning. And when they don’t get to the end quickly, they conclude it’s a fool’s errand. Or at least a task they’re not qualified to complete.
These people miss the truth we must grasp if we don’t want to give up:
Every step you take is a victory. A chance for celebration. A small goal that must be achieved before you can ever think about getting to the larger one.
Every step is an arrival.
Every step is an arrival.
:: Faith, the most powerful force ::
"You don’t have to be bigger, stronger or tougher to overcome your obstacles. When you live with faith, you have the most powerful force on your side."
Joel Osteen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)