Defining Worship

I expect that this will not be the only post I write on this subject because “worship” is one of those words which we all understand in some way or another, but find extremely difficult to pin down. Depending on the context, its meaning expands and contracts. Also, a lot our understanding will also be […]

Converge 2012: Knit Together

It’s been amazing how God has led me here. About 7 years ago, I met Pastor Yoy Alberastine in a cafe to talk about worship and the city. We must have sat there for about 4 hours just dreaming about what it would be like if worship leaders across the city connected together. The spiritual […]

Blessings Reel – February 2012

I’m a few days late, but reflecting on the month that’s passed, I am amazed by the goodness of God in our lives. As I have said, this year is the year of Unceasing Fruitfulness. And like the Tree of Life in the book of Revelations which bears twelve different types of fruit, we can […]

Finally Home!

Psalm 92:12-15 (AMP) says this: The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in grace] they shall […]

Church of Perth Highlights

As you know, we have spent 7 months “shopping” for a new church. It’s actually a long time to be “homeless”; in a way, we felt like Abraham, setting out from the familiar places into unknown territory. Until 7 months ago, we had never really visited churches except for when we were overseas. Having now […]

Church (S)hopping

“Church hopping” is a phenomenon, particularly prevalent in the early Charismatic movement, when Christians would move from church to church, conference to conference, to chase down the best teachers and the most, well, charismatic speakers. As a result, many Christians became dislocated; whilst they heard great teaching, there was no space for them to apply […]

Coincidences

I love the story Dennis Bennett tells in his book Nine O’Clock in the Morning. As he was beginning to come to grips with this whole “being filled with the Spirit” thing, he goes on a picnic with his wife. Here’s the rest of the story (pp 127-128): “Well, we didn’t pick a very good day […]

Epochal Song 5: Ancient of Days (Jamie Harvill and Gary Sadler)

Today, I’m continuing the series on Epochal Songs of the Praise and Worship Movement. At number 5 is “Ancient of Days” which in my view, was the high watermark for musical excellence. Hosanna Music had been slowly building up its musical prowess before deftly unleashing some of the best, world-class Christian worship musicians onto the […]

9 O’Clock in the Morning

I am reading Dennis Bennett’s book Nine O’Clock in the Morning at the moment. I first came across the name of Dennis Bennett in 2006 when I was researching the “Charismatic Century”. He was known as one of the pioneers of the “third wave” or the “Charismatic renewal”. Even though Bennett documents his own personal journey […]

Wineskins, Patches and Paradigm Shifts

I think Christianity has been one of the most enduring faiths because of its ability to reinvent itself within the parameters of its core tenets and beliefs. It is a revolutionary faith. One of the things I love doing is to look at paradigm shifts in the church, particularly in the context of worship. Certainly, […]