Tuesday, November 05, 2024
Hey there Mr. Blue!
Jeff Lynne (E.L.O.) talked about writing "Mr. Blue Sky" after locking himself away in a Swiss chalet and attempting to write ELO's follow-up to A New World Record: "It was dark and misty for 2 weeks, and I didn't come up with a thing. Suddenly the sun shone and it was, 'Wow, look at those beautiful Alps.' I wrote Mr. Blue Sky and 13 other songs in the next two weeks."
So here it is, fresh from 1977, a kinder time when Jimmy Carter was president and everyone wore big flares, big hair, big beards and big pop-rock, Mr Blue Sky, the official psychedelic video!
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
The Hill We Climb.
The poem was written to call for "unity and collaboration and togetherness" among the American people and emphasise the opportunity that the future holds.
Monday, October 28, 2024
One Thing Remains
[Verse 1]
Higher than the mountains that I face
And it's stronger than the power of the grave
Constant in the trial and the change
This one thing remains
[Chorus]
And Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
And Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
And Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
[Verse 2]
And on and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I'll never, ever, have to be afraid
'Cause this one thing remains
This one thing remains
[Chorus]
And Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
And Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
And Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love, Your love
[Bridge]
And in death, and in life
I'm confident and covered by
The power of Your great love
My debt is paid
There's nothing that can separate
My heart from Your great love
[Chorus]
'Cause Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love
[Verse 2]
And on and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I'll never, ever, have to be afraid
'Cause this one thing remains
This one thing, it remains, remains
[Chorus]
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love
[Bridge]
And in death, and in life
I'm confident and covered by
The power of Your great love
My debt is paid
There's nothing that can separate
My heart from Your great love
[Instrumental]
Thursday, October 24, 2024
How does the Holy Spirit guide and change us?
be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth...” (John 14:15-17)
As Christians we celebrate that the Holy Spirit actively guides and grows us! Whilst our faith is grounded in the Word of God, it is never just a dry set of moral principles, it is a relationship and a conversation as we travel the road – the highway sections well lit and paved and the unpaved dirt sections winding through the valleys of deepest shadow.
Sometimes it is through the darker paths that insight and growth comes!
My mum used to tell the story (from the 1950s) of how as a single, young, nurse, she found herself alone and confused working as a nanny in Iraq for the Japanese ambassador’s little boy! She had thought this was God’s leading, but now it felt as if she had been abandoned in a literally ‘god-forsaken’ desert. She tells the story:
“... After a long lonely Christmas time in a Shinto household in a Moslem country – I longed for some Christian fellowship. I asked God that if there were any Christians in that town, would He let me find them. Instead, God answered my prayer by sending me a violent unbearable toothache. On top of everything else, what should I do?
I told the Embassy Chauffeur to drive me to a dentist. “Which one?” he asked. Any dentist! We drove around until we found one in Rashid Street. While I waited for my treatment, I looked out of the window. Right opposite I saw the sign “British & Foreign Bible Society.” My toothache almost disappeared! After seeing the dentist I went straight over and enquired about where these Christians met, and if I could attend.
They welcomed me and took me to the Mission Centre called ‘Dar Kalimat Allah’- Arabic for ‘House of the Word of God’.
This community became like a home for me. I spent my days off – mostly Sundays - there helping with Sunday School and other mission work. Mini a Christian lady from Belfast, and her Syrian husband Kareem, became my best friends. [They were like the Pastors of the church]. Mini became my mentor and lifelong older sister while I attended the meetings and helped them. And, that is how I met my husband! – all through a toothache!
I wonder, what are your stories of ‘toothaches’? How have you found the Holy Spirit in the desert places? Truly, as the Proverb says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” (Prov 3:5-6)
Often we miss the ‘ways’ of the Holy Spirit because we are not attending. We notice the spectacular break-throughs or the exhilarating experiences, but the everyday activities and the mundane routines slip past without attention. As for the difficult things, the frustrations, and the painful ‘toothaches’ of life, well they are rarely reflected on too deeply.
One of the practices we have been sharing in our new faith community, Haven, is the ancient practice of the Examen. It’s the discipline of pausing and sitting quietly for a while each day and reflecting on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern the Spirit’s direction for us.
In what ways can we build in time for reflection and listening to the voice of the Spirit?
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Monday, October 07, 2024
Haven week:1 Let us know if you're joining us!
Hey everyone!
SMS: 0418 38 24 49 | Email: HERE | Martin's Blog: HERE
Check Facebook page for any changes to schedule: Haven - Mernda HERE