Headin' for the hills

Harp in My Heart

2007-05-23T22:44:00.001+01:00

We've Arrived

2007-05-09T18:48:00.000+01:00

Well after an exciting and sometimes traumatic month since my last post...we are now living in Colchester. The house in Scotland was finally sold off today after delays and confusion. We've been in our new house for about 2 weeks and we finally have a phone line and net access. The multiple journeys with all of our stuff clocked up in total 2000+ miles in driving and flying, returning vans etc, but it was worth it. I'll try and update regularly as to what's happening with the Colchester Vineyard and our new life here. Those that do, keep praying for us as we get settled.

Colchester Visit

2007-03-23T18:48:00.000Z

We are down visiting Colchester this weekend, to start having a look for somewhere to live and get to meet some people. Last night we had the two housegroups combined so that we could introduce ourselves and get to know everyone. Great bunch (I have to say that as I know a few of them read this ;) ). No seriously, they are a great bunch and Deb and I are very excited at this new chapter. We were able to have proper look around Colchester too which gave us a really good feel for the town. Still lots to do and some things need to happen in order for the move to happen, so those of you that pray, please continue too.

It's Movin' Fast

2007-03-16T22:42:00.000Z

Well, we put the house on the market last Monday, had a viewing the following Wednesday, an offer on the Thursday and now the legal bit is just about done. So assuming that everything gets signed and sealed then we are due to move to Colchester at the end of April. It's happening rather sooner and smoother than we thought but, no point in delaying. All we need now are a new house to rent and a job each... But hey, we've done this before, nothing like a new adventure!

Like Change in His Pocket

2007-03-10T18:34:00.000Z

As I was out this afternoon I felt the Lord remind me of something that John Wimber said a while ago. He said that we as workers in the Kingdom were pretty much like change in God's pocket. He could spend us on whatever He liked. Then it struck me that God can easily use us for a while in one context, then in a flash pull us out of that at a moments notice and "spend" us somewhere else. If you look at life and ministry like that, it makes a lot of sense, and actuallly gives you more security. Exciting stuff this ministry business!

Headin' for the Coast

2007-02-25T19:03:00.000Z

The title of this Blog will change soon as we've got a big move ahead of us. We are moving to Colchester in Essex to take the reigns at the Colchester Vineyard. The current pastors, our friends Sam and Andy Vincett, are leaving to pastor the Southend Vineyard in place of the Barbers who are off to Leicester. Anyway, more details soon but those of you that know how, please pray hard, fast etc, as we'll need it. The priorities are House, Jobs and income.

Here we go, the next chapter......

To Hull and Back!

2007-02-19T21:36:00.000Z

I just arrived back from a weekend hanging out with the folks from Hull Vineyard. I spent Saturday night at a retreat centre in North Yorkshire at their "reaching your potential" conference. Then Sunday it was down to Hull itself to check out the monthly evening worship service. Today we did a bunch of video footage at the Vineyard Records UK offices for the Songteach web site. I demonstrated a few songs, and went over various guitar techniques. Had a great time and they are all very hospitable and a great bunch to hang out with. After a 4 and a half hour drive this evening though, it's great to be back with the family at home.

Abba Father

2007-02-13T14:03:00.000Z

My 7 month old son can't of course speak yet, but he has been making word like sounds. He's learning how to use his voice. The one word that keeps coming from his lips is "abba". Now I'm not going to claim that this has some super spiritual significance, as it's probably just the easiest sound to make. However the Lord reminded me this morning that to cry "Abba" is our default setting. If it were possible to reboot humans to pre-fall times this is what would come out of their mouths first. Actually, even post-fall this is the supressed cry of our hearts. We are made for relationship with uor heavenly Father.

Trent Vineyard

2007-02-12T13:12:00.000Z

As I'm in a "youtube" mood still, I thought I'd post up a video of the guys from Trent Vineyard in Nottingham. This is a great song and they're good guys. This is a very honest heartfelt, worship song...the kind I like!

Powerful Stuff

2007-02-09T18:58:00.000Z

I never cease to be inspired by the "Seeger Sessiosn" album. I was watching this today on DVD and the goosebumps hit me. Enjoy....

Never rest on your laurels

2007-02-09T08:10:00.000Z

Funny how things turn out. Things have changed completely in the last few months. It's been a journey and a half and we're not where we throught we'd be. But very glad we are. Never get comfortable or think you've got it worked out. Likewise never despair and think that there is no hope as God has a habit of changing things in an instant, and then you go....ah, that's why that happened. God is good, and he keeps you on your toes!

Passion & Soul

2007-02-06T21:57:00.000Z

What I'd give to write, or even hear, worship songs with this much soul. I'm sure they are out there. This is the late great Billy Preston, enjoy.

Update

2007-02-02T23:08:00.000Z

I'm flying down to the south of England tomorrow to check out some options and meet a few people. Things are changing for us fast, I'll keep you updated!

Things are looking up

2007-01-21T16:11:00.000Z

I managed to get the cooker working this morning. There are some lights that don't work, but hey...it cooks stuff and I didn't die when I turned it on. Here's some other good stuff that happened today.

Got some great presents for my birthday (really tomorrow), including:

"My Name is Earl" boxset, the laughter has returned to the house!

Starbucks coffee bean grinder and some beans to grind......now I can have great coffee in my living room.

Feeling pretty great just now (might be the coffee and birthday cake), and looking forward to the snow.

Now it's just getting silly

2007-01-18T19:32:00.000Z

For those of you that read the posts about the things that have going wrong, we're not out of it yet.......last night the cooker blew up! I kid you not. I was cooking Thai green curry and whilst I was doing something else in the kitchen I heard a loud bang, saw a little smoke and the lights went off on the cooker. Now I'm just laughing, it's getting silly. I'm going to wrap my guitars in bubblewrap, just in case they are next on the hit list. ;)

Anyway there are a bunch of good folks praying for us, and when I have a better idea of what God has in store for us I'll keep you posted.

For those of you that feel like failures

2007-01-13T09:54:00.000Z

This is a great quote that was sent to me.

"its not the critic that counts not the man/woman who points out how the strong man/woman stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better, the credit belongs to the man/woman in the arena whos face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly... who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends him/herself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at worse if he/she fails at least fails while dareing greatly. so that his/her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who never have known neither victory or defeat." - teddy roosevelt

Don't listen to the critics, they tend not to take risks or be pioneers. My advice, as someone who has failed spectacularly and often, is....feel the fear and do it anyway. Being sucessful in God's eyes is having the courage and faith to just go for what you think HE is calling YOU to.

Danny Daniels

2007-01-09T23:18:00.000Z

This is just a quick request for those prayers amongst you to pray for my old friend and hero in the faith Danny Daniels. Danny's wife Cher has been ill, so please pray for a swift recovery. They are a fantastic couple who continue to serve, teach and minister above and beyond.

Check out Danny's site here

I'm feeling got at ..Part 2

2007-01-07T07:26:00.000Z

Just to follow on from the "Born Under a Bad Sign" thread below, the mishaps continue. Last night we went to a dinner in Edinburgh with other guys from church, the meal was good as was the company. 5 miles from home on the the motorway I heard a clunk and noticed sparks flying out the back of the car. My wife was driving, so she pulled over and I got out to see that the exhaust had fallen of. You can imagine my muttering as I stood by the side of the road on a rainy January night looking at my broken car.
Well we got some assistance about 40 minutes later and got home. Can't wait to see what today brings ;)

Climbing on the Rollercoaster

2007-01-05T09:03:00.000Z

Phew...survived to 2007, had a great trip down south (will update later).

Just strapping myself in for the year ahead...here we go!

Born Under a Bad Sign??

2006-12-26T19:10:00.000Z

I'm not a believer in luck, being a Christian. But I did wonder today. And the title comes from a very cool old Albert King song. So far this month:

Handed over the worship to focus on planting a satelitte church...then all the doors slammed on that, so now we don't know where to go or what to do and I'm not leading worship just now.
Debbie chipped her front tooth and needed to get it refilled
The shower broke
Car failed it's MOT ( annual legal road test) and needed major, expensive, work done
Lost my keys

..and just so far today.

Settled down for a Boxing Day glass of red wine with my wife this afternoon. Didn't get to taste it as I knocked it all over my khaki trousers and our new rug. Grumpily I went upstairs to change, telling myself that this wasn't going to get me down and we'd start afresh with a positive outlook. On the the way back down the stairs my foot connected with a dog toy, I flew into the air, dropped most of the way downstairs before landing on my butt, smacking my wrists on the stairs. Then, I slid down on my side and arrived at the bottom........nothing broken but very sore. Two hours later I'm in the kitchen making enchiladas. I walk through to the living room and as I set them down, the hot dish starts to slide off the board I'm carrying it on. In a flash I grab the dish to stop it hitting the floor and remember it's been in the oven and contains molten cheese. Needless to say I burn my fingers as I capture dinner.

We're driving to Merseyside tomorrow and Southend on Thursday. We'll need all the prayers you got, can't afford anymore accidents or mishaps......

Had a great Christmas day though... :D

Things I have learned

2006-12-15T23:16:00.001Z

Never forget where you came from,
Never forget who you are
Never forget Who made you.
Never forget what shaped you,

Never compromise on your heart,
Never compromise to fear
Never compromise on the Promises...

Just a few thoughts...

On a lighter note

2006-12-09T19:04:00.001Z

Of Mice and Men

2006-12-08T07:47:00.000Z

Well, we had some big plans and a big vision. We started a couple of fires which have continued to burn. We've taken a tentative step or two and set the pioneering balll rolling. But, alas, the doors for us have slammed firmly shut. Things aren't as we thought they would be, yet to be honest I saw it coming. What we were dreaming of was not, it seems, what others had in their plans, and after all we'd been through since we came here I couldn't compromise on what was in my heart and not be true to who God made me.....so we laid it down for the greater good.

After 5 years of fighting darkness, struggling with life, dreaming and more recently flag planting, a season of our lives closes and a new one begins. We stand with our leaders, but agreed to disagree on what we were to do and how to do it. That said, we trust their judgement and wisdom, and are grateful that we were allowed to pour out what was in our hearts and say some difficult things to each other in a spirit of love and mutual respect.

Change is never easy, but I'm used to it, although now I have a family to think of. Please get your praying heads on and get in touch if you know us and have something for us. Strange feeling being in limbo, but the world is our oyster.........anyone need a worship leader ?......, also willing to make tea, carry gear and put chairs out. ;)

How to lead a Vineyard Housegroup

2006-11-30T18:59:00.001Z

This is great

New Recording of an Older Song

2006-11-24T08:39:00.000Z

This is a song I wrote back in Southend in around 1998. I used it a lot at the time. Yesterday I recorded a new version. I'm still mixing and tweaking but here's a rough mix.

Being With You