Merry Christmas Everyone!

Yeh...so i realise that i post this on Boxing Day, but hey...the thought was there! I'm discovering that Christmas is starting to lose its appeal slightly. Although i had a moderately pleasant day yesterday, it was spent with my parents and my Grandad mainly cooking, eating, washing up and watching tv! Ah for the days of kiddy excitement (i guess this is what comes of gettin into your late 20's and having no family of your own to keep entertained!...awwww...poor, single Ruth i hear you cry...bring on the sympathy vote!!)

But what of the meaning of Christmas for me?? It's gotta be about promises. Jesus is a God promise - kept. A promise of salvation, of presence, of guidance...of all those things and more, revealed in the humility of a baby. I love it! I love the being almost forced into being sociable with people, an excuse to party hard, to make contact with those forgotten for the rest of the year!

Anyway...still on a plan to have shorter entries! So...Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

R xx

better blogger!

i've decided that not only do i need to increase my blogging frequency, but also i need to decrease the content! for those of you that don't know me personally, you've probably already gathered that i can talk for England! so...a quick blog...lets see if i can manage it!

carols at Christmas...why is it that we love singing them? Is it a reminiscence of childhood thing? Why, when non-churchgoing friends of mine went to a packed carol service, and my minister addressed the hoards saying "i hope you're all here for more than a good sing" they told me after that, well actually they were, and have never returned since?

and after all, what exactly does 'late in time behold him come' mean!?!? there you go...a random...and relatively short ponder for you!

R x

Music and Creation...
Don't you just love it when God just gives you great things for no real reason!?! Well...i'm just gettin all excited about my research at the moment, and it's just great! So thought I'd share a little!

Last week I hit a bit of a brick wall, asking all the typical researchers questions...like why on earth am I doing this to myself, is this really what God wants me to be doin, will it ever be over...and most importantly...am I really furthering the Kingdom of God by doin what I am?? Well i'm not sure I answered any of the questions, but my most recent reading has really given me a buzz about my writing, so have kinda forgotten those worries and now have regained a passion to want to answer my question...why is music so important to God?!

The text in question is a small 20 page booklet by Jeremy Begbie called Music in God's Purposes. This has been and I think will continue to be a great source of raw questioning for me over the next few years. Not so succinctly has anyone else addressed the issues of musicianship and Christian music in a way that I completely identify with! He asks the questions that I am asking (luckily without fully answering them either...so it leave me a little room to work!).

He writes: ‘In general, a glance at church history confirms that music has usually been seen as a vital component in worship. Is it not worth asking why this is so, and just how it is that music can glorify God?’ This is precisely the question I want to answer!

So how do I react to this? Well, Begbie has revealed a great truth that I guess I already knew. Music is about engaging with God's creation, it's about how we relate to God, the world and each other: it's about community. We well know, as was Calvin's concern about the manipulative ability of music. As with all things, this power in the wrong hands is a dangerous thing (without meaning to sound too much like a certain Tolkien novel!), but the raw beauty of music can be liberating, healing, exhilarating, it can bring us to an unspoken experience of God, and we can do the most high priestly of all things, it can bring great glory to God. Not only of course through 'Christian' music, but all music that is not clearly against God may be used to glorify him. (ooo...I may be hearing some fellow students cry...if it's black and white, it's art not porn! Maybe we could have the same debate with regards to music!)

However...yet again I fear that I've not talked about what I said I would the last time I blogged! I can't even remember what that was! Ah well...this feels very unfinished but as I need my bed I'm going to leave things on a very unanswered knife edge!
God bless you all

R x

I'm back!
Apologies to those who have been awaiting some more deep insights from my world (they are clearly few and far between!!) I had anticipated posting at least once a week...but realise it's been a good month or so now! However, I am back!

So...what to muse upon today!?! My reading has really been taking me everywhere, from Greek philosophy where I learned that Pythagoreans believed that Pythagoras could hear the "music" emitted from other planets to Scottish composer James MacMillan regarding music as sacrament. I've also been looking at a biblical foundation for my work.

Apart from the realisation that I need to be able to read some Hebrew (I'm discovering that this isn't the easiest thing in the world!) I've been interested in looking up the words for song and singing in the Old Testament and understanding the broad concepts of these Hebraic words that are so often just translated as 'song' or 'sing'. This has become in some ways a bit of a disappointing task unfortunately, due to a few realisations.

Firstly, that even something we might call a song may not incorporate any music! It seems that 'song' can equate to 'poem' too, which may not be a surprise to some, but has meant that there must be some care in assuming that song equates music.

Secondly, as it turns out, a word often translated as 'sing' in particular in KJV actually just means to raise a great noise, or to shout. I'm yet to decide whether or not this has a great impact on the importance of singing in the Old Testament though! There are still plenty of occurences specifically of singing. I'm hoping that there will also be some good merit in looking into the employment of the Levites by King David to be tabernacle musicians in Chronicles.

I find it wonderful that there were a group of people who seemed to be set apart for the musical worship of Yahweh. Not only were this group musicians, but they were the best musicians. Chronicles records not that Keneniah is appointed because of his connections, but rather...Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it. Surely there is a lesson in that for us! But I think I may have previously broached this argument! But, this does point me to the centrality not only of music, but of singing in our worship.

One of my main concerns is that congregationally sung worship seems to be disappearing from new expressions of church. Fresh expressions/emerging church whatever you wish to call it, seems to be scared of congregational singing as they see it as alien to culture. As much as I recognise the point and issue with this, I can't escape from the fact that sung worship is clearly Biblical, and not just in the Old Testament! Colossians 3:16 admonishes us, as with several times in the New Testament, to sing hymns of praise to God. The disciples sang, the creatures of heaven sing...and so should we!

God doesn't care whether we can or cannot sing...those are the restrictions that the world has put on music, not God! Honestly...I don't believe God has a tuning system!

Anyway...I hope that makes up for the recent silence! I realise I've dropped a possible bombshell with the last statement...as always...i'll suggest that this may be a topic for another entry (that i'll probably forget about!!)

Blessings
R x

Why music?

Now i'm not asking why, theologically we make music in a general sense, as that may be simply explained by the fact that we are made in the image of God, and because He is creative, therefore we are too. Music is a creative gift given to us by our creative Father. So the first question I'm asking really is, why music in particular? Why is music so important to God, why has it been so integral to the worship of God's people, seemingly from the beginning of time? The first mention of music in scripture is in Genesis 4:21 where there is mention of Jubal, 'the father of all who play the flute and harp'. And then, in Genesis 15 we read the first song, that of the Moses and the freed Israelites. They sing their praises to God, recounting His faithfulness to them in their escape from Egypt.

The Psalms tell us repeatedly, (5 times in 5 different psalms) to sing a new song to God, even Isaiah picks up this phrase about singing a new song. Now, although dancing is described and maybe even encouraged, there is no other creative gift that we are told to use in such abundance as making music. Music is used in so many different ways throughout the Bible; to praise God, to soothe Saul, there was music as the Lord spoke to Elisha...and loads more that I can't even think on at the moment! So why is it that music has accompanied God's people, God's work? Why is it that we have concentrated on music as opposed to art or another creative gift? Is it just better than having silence maybe?

Maybe is it simply that we sing God's praises as something that is communally creative? Is there a freedom in that sense, that singing is simply that creative thing that we can all join in with, as opposed to just watching, or feeling inadequate to join in anything else. After all we can get lost in a crowd of singing, in theory it's something we can all do, whether we claim it's in tune or not! But is there something more divine about the use of music? Is there something more to music than meets the ear???

Hmm....think that's going to be my next entry! Is there more to music than meets the ear?!? Let me know what you think!

R x

Starting to come together!

So, i've started to get some ideas together for my research at last! Am still quite scared that I'm not intelligent enough to undertake research, but...with God's help etc etc!

The vague chapter topics (at the moment) are something along these lines!

• Music in nature (music of the spheres / Shakespeare)
• Music as communication – works both ways
• God’s music – biblical, creator / composer God
• Man’s music, faithful performer / faithful interpreter (music and sex - don't sing about God anymore, so sing about sex - replacing one ecstasy experience with another????)
• Universality of music - why is it that music is always linked to spirituality, around the world?
  

These may not make a lot of sense at the moment, I'm not sure that I even know what they mean, but I intend to find out!! I had a long debate with Pete (supervisor) yesterday about whether God sings! The only biblical reference we could find was Zeph 3:17..."He will rejoice over you with singing". However, on closer inspection, the Hebrew doesn't necessarily translate as singing, ah well! So if anyone has any ideas about the concept of God singing, or even making music, please let me know! At the moment, the sentence I'm clinging to, to prove or disprove is...
"If God created music is He merely the composer – we are the performers/interpreters – therefore we are the distorters or faithful conveyers of the message?"
It seems that God has created the ability for His creation to sing, or make music, and therefore, all creative ability stems from Him, therefore, is it justifiable to claim just this, that God is the composer, and that anything we 'compose' is merely an interpreter of that which He has already written!?!?

Hazy I know, please let me know what you think guys, and if you know any Christian musicians, especially writers / composers, please send them a link to this, I'd love to hear their opinion on this!

R x

SOME PREACHERS SHOULD READ THEIR BIBLES!

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world...

I went to my first Soul Survivor a couple of weeks ago, and I've got to say, it was amazing. It's such a blessing to be in the middle of a crowd of 10,500 young people (I did feel a little old!) who are all worshipping, it's a blessing and a privilege to be amongst this! The worship was stunning and engaging, although did take a little to get into the swing of things, having been worshipping in small Methodist churches for the previous few weeks!

The ministry times were superbly handled, allowing for a freedom for people to worship and be ministered to, whilst dealing with manifestations of the Spirit in a way that would reduce the 'scary' factor for young people in particular who may not have experienced the huge variety of physical, emotional and vocal responses to the Spirit. People are strongly encouraged to pray for those around them, whilst supported by a large, trained prayer team. Anyway, enough of the praises, I have but one small issue!

The final night brought with it a pastor of a church in London, with a strong prophetic and healing ministry. The guy came on stage in a beige coloured suit, with open collared shirt and rather good tan, which, I'm slightly ashamed to say made me concerned due to the steroetype of US TV evangelist! Luckily, he redeemed himself with a strong Brummie accent! What he said was great, and I had no problems with the content, I just again, became concerned when slightly over enthusiastic he would randomly slip into an american accent! I couldn't help but think that this, coupled with the general look, this guy felt that he had to fit into a model that we so often cringe at! Now there is no doubt that God moved that evening, and people were healed and people came to know Jesus as their saviour, and was amazing and phenomenal, but my overriding memories unfotunately will be of this pastor who really needed to immerse himself in the opening words of Romans 12:2!

Please tell me if you have had good experiences of ministers with prophetic and healing ministries, those who've been able to break away from this stereotype! I'd love to be reassured that it is possible!!

Gb
R x

So much to write...so little energy!!
Wow...there's loads of stuff I want to blog about so going to have to do it a little bit at a time! So lets start with...The Miracles of Jesus!
This series with Rageh Omaar I'm finding intriguing at the moment! I'm not sure if i'm enjoying it yet though! There seem to be so many issues that as a Theology student i'd like to take issue with, some of the reactions that Jesus has to people and events, even how some of the events are portrayed I find questionable. Let me explain. One of the first things to hit me in the initial episode was the way in which the crowds were portrayed to be hassling, quite violently, for Jesus to feed them, whereas I, and other Christians I've spoken to, agree that Jesus did the feeding of the 5000 miracle as an act of compassion, not because He was pressured into it. Again, I and a friend questioned the thought that Jesus might collapse after raising someone from the dead, from the sheer physical, spiritual and emotional drain of it all.
Now despite the obvious brilliance that, well, at least they are discussing this stuff on relatively primetime TV, and on the whole, not doing too bad a job of it, something that I had been thinking about in the course of my research came to light here. It struck me that really, the things I found most at fault here were those that made me think, "I never imagined it to be quite like that!" I, as many, have been brought up with very traditional sunday school teaching, never really having to think about the nature of Jesus for myself, as i've always been told what it is! So now I would question, to what extent have my experiences and teaching, built up a concept of how I think things would have happened? Yes, maybe most of those are based on good historically based research, but we are creative and imaginative human beings, has my imagination made up for what my brain did not know or learn!?!

Our esteemed Principal at Cliff, Martyn Atkins, in his lectures on Preaching uses the term palimpsest. This is simply where a manuscript or artwork has been written on more than once, therefore the original is obscured, as preachers we must work through the layers of our own perceptions, our congregations perceptions, even history's perceptions, to get down to what the original scripture is trying to tell us. Maybe the same has happened here? My perceptions of how Jesus would look, act and react to situations are to some extent the result of palimpsest, and hence I have this reaction when I see something that doesn't necessarily sit right with me!

Well, the series has yet to finish, and it will be interesting to see the conclusion Rageh Omaar reaches, including considering his upbringing as a Muslim...we shall see!

R x

WICKED...SO GOOD!

I have fallen in love with this musical! Wicked is a stunning prequel to the Wizard of Oz, concentrating on the story of the witches. Due to hit the West End in September it comes straight from a very successful run on Broadway.

Composer Stephen Schwartz although a name you may not immediately recognise, has an impressive production list behind him, Godspell, Prince of Egypt, Children of Eden, and lyricist for Pocohontas and Berstein's Mass. There is no doubt whatsoever that this musical is phenomenal, with highly original, passionate and intelligent writing. Having listened to the soundtrack repeatedly, buying the music and singing and playing through it, I am truly convinced that this will be huge in this country and take its place alongside the classic greats of musical theatre. I will be doing my utmost to go and see this show, and hopefully before Christmas in order to see Idina Menzel (the lead in the Broadway production and the voice on the official recording) and so would most definitely heartily encourage others to do so! However, as enthusiastic I may be about the music and production of this stunner, there is something more that intrigues me about this show and its storyline.

Basically, (and not wanting to give too much away, you can find a full synopsis here) this story centres on the captivating, surprising tale of how a misunderstood, green girl named Elphaba becomes 'wicked' but her unlikely friend, Glinda, becomes 'good'. Evangelistically, this show is rich with themes and topics that are begging to be explored. There are issues of self image and social ostracism that run through the plot, but there is so much more than this. As Elphaba sings the song No Good Deed she uses the phrase, "no good deed goes unpunished", as everything she does for the good of others seems to backfire, adding to the public despising of her. Surely there are so many people who have turned their back on 'doing the right thing' for fear that things may turn sour, that they will be unappreciated. There is such a witch hunt mentality, The March of Witch Hunters reminds me so much of the scene of the crowds turning on Jesus.

On his own website Stephen Schwartz says this: "I am on record as saying I do not discuss my own religious background or views. This is because I don't want people's reactions to my shows to be filtered through anything but their own personal beliefs and philosophies. I don't want audiences to react based even partly on the extent to which their own beliefs and backgrounds correspond to my own. This is a long-winded way of saying that I think the work speaks for itself, and the fact that each person brings his or her own point-of-view to it is precisely my goal."

I truly believe that God works through such talented people as this in bringing new ways through which we can explore the realities of society and then relate them to our own faith. The stunning music will simply ensure that many more people will see and talk about this show, and maybe Christians will snap up these opportunities to open conversations, to utilise this wonderful music and lyrics in the sharing of the gospel.

Hmmm...there's s much more I want to say about this show, but think I'm going to have to see it first!

Gb

R x

MY FIRST TRAVELS AND MAYBE EVEN FIRST REAL CONSIDERATIONS!

Why is it that when you need to do a lot of travelling and you have no air con, the weather is steaming, and at the point when you can have a nice lie down in the garden, the thunder arrives?! Ah well, such is life!

I had a lovely meeting and chat with Rev Brian Hoare yesterday. For those that don't recognise the name, he's Methodist minister, ex-President of Methodist Conference and hymn writer, amongst many other things of course! We discussed my many ideas for my research, and agrees that there was just so much to look at it's incredible.

One of the main issues we raised was that of the extent to which someone can be saved through music. We agreed that as much as we can understand a person gaining an experience of God, and even be brought to a knowledge of God through music, surely, it is not possible to understand the full revelation of the gospel through this. For this to happen there must be greater explanation, this therefore must incorporate lyrics and/or some form of talk. Still this leaves me wondering as to whether the possible spiritual response had during an instrumental, or completely secular concert would lead anyone to a faith in the God that we as Christians believe to be single and true, or would this simply raise an awareness of the spiritual world, unguided, possibly a dangerous and easily misfooted path.

So I guess the question therefore is, musically, what part does music play in the salvation process? Is it merely an aid, or can it really have a greater impact on bringing people into the presence of God? When people hear Handel's Messiah and are made aware of an experience of God, is it because the words of scripture are just so powerful, or the music is so emotive that it moves us to contemplate God, or is it truly a combination of the two?

Hmmm...well...my thoughts are beginning to muddle due to tiredness, but please, comment and let me know what you feel on this topic. I'd be especially interested to hear from anyone who is themselves a musician, and also those for whom music has played a key part in their faith journey (any style and genre, I'm not picky!)

Bless you in your musings,
R x

ON BECOMING A LOCAL PREACHER...

I've been told several times this evening that I have now joined the great tradition of preachers...existent for thousands of years...which is all very nice...but don't know that it means much to me yet!


It's been an emotional evening, granted, I cried profusely whilst giving testimony, which I am most mortified at (professionalist streak coming through again!), unfortunately therefore, so did my parents and several of the congregation! Was all way too emotional, but hey...I said what I felt God wanted me to say, who am I to argue!

It almost felt a little trite to me to do the whole... "being a Christian isn't about having an easy life"...spiel...but rather what I wanted to say, and think I did say, was being a Christian doesn't mean we don't really mess up sometimes, and it also doesn't mean that we deal with things and move on, often they stay with us, and we just have to keep giving them over to Him, because they are always going to be an issue for us, whether we like it or not, they are our perceptions of Paul's 'thorn in the flesh'.


A most wonderful and beautiful friend of mine came to see me after the service this evening. She's 7 years younger than me, but we are such good friends! She told me how much she'd always looked up to me from being a young teenager. Part of me thought that maybe I'd let her down by not being the good role-model, but I honestly believe that she respects me more now becuase I am honest with her about my failings. She has seen my not so great nature, and yet still sees what God is doing in me. And my oh my, it's clear that God is doing in her life, and it truly is beautiful!

So, as much as I hardly remember the vows I made, I will remember that God will use our inadequacies as potently as He uses are successes.

R x

MAYC actually rocks!!!

I've just got back from Breakout weekend, (national Methodist youth event for those outside the small fortress that is Methodism!!!) I, with a few others, took a group from our circuit, who were, can i say...all absolute gems!!! and to be honest, apart from me agreeing with them that the green and yellow and the oggies, although MAYC heritage are a little too dated and are as good a cheesy Christian stereotype as you'd find on Neighbours, the event, titled 'Passion' went really well! I was loosely involved in the prayer stuff that was happening, but got to go really as a punter for the 1st time in about 6 years!

The young people we took seemed to really enjoy themselves, and I hope got a lot out of it. It's really difficult to tell as i'm not there all the time, but we leadery types managed to have a good heads together about what we can feasably do for the lot that we took, as we are by far the only ones under the age of 40 who are willing and able to do anything with them!

Now I'm by no means a youth worker, I can talk to them, but when it comes down to anything more than that I'd rather that someone who had a specific passion and gift for that age group was hired...but in the mean time...we'll do our best! But what struck me more than anything...was that we were in accomodation with at least 3 or 4 other groups, most of which had leaders in their late 40's at the youngest. Now don't shoot me for being ageist...but these leaders had no control over these guys, we ended up being the disciplinarians for those not even in our group....lads lying across hallways in sleeping bags so that the girls couldn't get to the toilet and the like! And those leaders were more bothered about the fact that they'd been woken up, rather than the welfare of the youths they had brought.

It just struck home to me the extent to which we have to put our youth 1st, in particular in that context. If we don't nurture, teach, discipline, guide and love them, then how will they ever understand the concept of God's nuturing, teaching, disciplining and guiding love???
I know that I am always the 'bad cop' when it comes to disciplining, but I found this weekend that that doesn't have to mean that they hate me!! I always assumed it would, but reasoned discipline seems more to provoke an understanding by those young people that sometimes it's good that they are challenged and that their ideas aren't always complete, and ultimately, I found that we developed more of a mutual respect.

I also spent the weekend telling everyone about my research...so here's hoping and praying that the money issue begins to get resolved!!

Bless u all,
R x

Hi people,
completely unrelated blog entry... but... how frustrating is it when you get to your late twenties and realise that you've never really done anything exciting!!?? I'm a fairly predictable person for the most part, i hate it, but i'm predictable! I have the opportunity to go to Hong Kong to see a good friend who works with Jackie Pullinger, experience the worship and rehabilitation community there and be in a place where God works miracles all the time and they are not covered up, hidden or just not talked about but are shared and rejoiced in... and instead of worrying about the cost...i just want to go. I just received a tax rebate for roughly the amount that the flight would be. I have no job (though not for want of trying!), nothing to keep me here, except...as my dear mother keeps reminding me, once that money's gone, I have nothing more to live off! Nothing to pay my phone bill, my car insurance, my petrol...life was so much easier when I had a wage!!!!

This is probably the first time I've ever worried about money, I've always known that God will provide, but now I just think that it's about time that I stopped letting Him do all the hard work and began to do some for myself. And I guess that if God wants me to go to Hong Kong...then I will get there somehow...if not...well then I'll just have to lump it!!

So if anyone has any great ideas about where I can get about £600 for my trip to Hong Kong, and then the next £7000 to pay for my MPhil...please let me know!!!

A financially frustrated Ruth xXx

Had an interesting thought provoked by a wonderful friend of mine (you know the sort that you sort of wonder how on earth they got so intuitive...especially when they're at least 4 years your junior!!). I played and sang at an open mic night at college this evening, was very informal, and maybe only 20 people there, but I just did 'Summertime'...nothing too special about that. But...as this friend witnessed...I felt so much more relaxed and comfortable doing this than I seem to when playing worship songs.

Maybe there is something in this, maybe it's reading too much into things, but tonight I could close my eyes and sing and play...and it really didn't matter what happened, I was in my own little world. Now to me, really that's how I'd love my worship to be, in my own little world, with only me and God, but as I wrote last night, it just doesn't happen that way it seems!

Said friend pointed out that this was interesting! I honestly feel that I can worship God as well...if not better by singing something I know and love so well and being able to explore that using the gifts that God has given me, in a style that I truly love. Why does worship have to include words about God? Surely worship is as much about appreciating what he has given...and I think that as much as I play, I know that I would not be able to do so if it were not for my Father's generosity in His abundant blessings to me, therefore, all my music making is worship, as it is all for His glory.

I just wish I was a better pianist!

Ruth x

As my lovely Supervisor has given me a heads up on his blog, I think it's only fitting for me to do the same for him! Pete Phillips is the New Testament Tutor and Dean of students at Cliff College, I also teach two of his kids for music theory. Just waiting for the results of a grade 5 theory exam at the moment in fact! I'm not sure who's more nervous, me or him, as it's the first time i've ever entered a pupil for ABRSM exams under my own name rather than a music centre!

I led worship this evening at the final celebration of the college year. It really taught me a lot about how lonely a place it can be to be in that kind of leadership role. The challenges of worship leading have been something that has been on my mind a great deal over the past year as I have done more and more of this. I find it difficult to comprehend a time when I haven't played in worship, although really, before I arrived at Cliff College I hardly ever played in my home church as we have an extremely talented organist/pianist, and several others to boot who fill in when he's not around!

As a musician, I'm sure that others of you will agree that there is such an element of professionalism, ruled by perfectionism, that this often becomes a barrier to worship. I have felt this greatly this year and have taken time out in order to concentrate on what my worship is about. I struggle greatly with listening to poor quality bands and worship leading, but have had to come to terms with the fact that worship is less about whether the notes are right, and all about whether our hearts are right. For me, I find that no matter how much I try, I find I am always distracted somehow when playing. Sometimes that is simply by the most beautiful sight in the world...people praising God! However, I believe that God will work in and through me, despite what I say, play, sing or do. In my preparation, I put everything into God's hands, even if it doesn't feel like that when i'm onstage!

This evening has left me very physically, emotionally and spiritually drained. Other circumstances have of course aided this, not least that I had been on the go since 7am, and my organising brain has not stopped all day, and unfortunately, unless I expressely have someone who is capable of calming me down, then I usually get myself into a terrible fluster to the point of wanting to sit down and just cry! But, yet again, I received lovely compliments on the manner in which I led the worship. Again, something with which I struggle...I'd hate it if noone ever told me, but I struggle to receive praise, especially when I can see that things weren't by any means perfect and could have been much better tonight!

The loneliness of the worship leader is trying for someone, for whom company and support is vital. But we play for an audience of one, and I too often forget His pleasure in me using the gifts He so generously chose for me at the conception of time. This sort of leads me on to many other thoughts about music and God. I still can't get to grips with why God invented music, and why it has been such a key feature in Jewish and subsequently Christian worship? Is it for His pleasure or ours, or both? For if it is solely for His pleasure and purposes, does he delight as much in the music performed so beautifully by an atheist virtuoso as much as He delights in the worship song badly picked out on by the piano by the Christian, desperate to be able to play music to honour and worship God.

Some more thoughts...maybe the Holy Spirit is allowed more freedom to move in a tired brain!!

blessings to all, always,

Ruth x

So, back from mission in Dagenham. I've met some wonderful people and seen that there are still struggling churches that haven't given up yet, and are still willing to make a change despite their average age being well in a pensionable bracket!

So some more thoughts on God and music. Something that has intrigued me... when Bach and some other contemporaries wrote their music, the headed each piece 'AMDG' - Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam...'to the greater glory of God'. What impact does that now have on the contemporary performer and audience? If such a devoted spirituality can write such beautiful music, is there an element of the spiritual in the response of those performing and listening, even in the most secular of settings?

This also raises the question of an audiences' response to what they hear. Is it all to easy to confuse a spiritual repsonse with an emotional one, or to what extent is there a crossover?

I'll let you ponder!

Welcome to my blog...this is merely the beginning, so please excuse the lack of anything much interesting to read, but please return in a couple of weeks to see what I've been up to and maybe had a few musings on my research area for next year's MPhil!


Am off now to Dagenham on mission with Cliff College (where I currently study and will be continuing with an MPhil course in September!)

Please feel free to leave any initial thoughts on the subject of music, theology and evangelism. I'm musing on the nature of music at the moment, what did God create it for...and how does God see music? We treat it as a great gift from our Father so how can we utilise it (in most if not all genres) to speak to others about the nature of Him.

God bless you in your thinking and experiences x