Jesus

Christmas Carols. TwentyThirteen edition.

I once wrote about how I don’t really get Christmas Carols.

You might be happy to know that as I have grown (slightly) older I have also become less grinch like. Even relishing the yearly opportunity that Christmas provides to go hunting for new versions of timeless classics.

Here is what I’m listening to this year.

North Point Christmas

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Picks: Do you hear, He Has Come for Us (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) & Angels We Have Heard On High.

North Point Christmas: Let There Be Light

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Picks: Hallelujah, Unto Us & I Heard The Bells.

Evan Wickham: Christmas Music Vol. 1

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Picks: Angels We Have Heard on High, End of Exile & Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!

Josh Gilligan: Christmas EP

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Picks: O Holy Night.

Do you know of anything else that I should be listening to?

Through the Bible, through the year with John Stott. (via @davemiers) #BibleStott

Kirsty and I are joining a bunch of peeps who are starting this bible reading plan this week. Wanna join us? This post was stolen (borrowed) from my mate Dave.

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I’ve been doing the same bible reading plan for the last 4 years. It’s time to mix it up a bit! So starting on September 1 I am beginning a 12-month reading plan written by John Stott. John Stott, who died at the age of 90 in 2011, is one of my favourite authors. I appreciate his clear, compelling and Christ-centred writing. His commentaries in the Bible Speaks Today series have been a particular help in preaching. The new reading plan is from a book Through the Bible, Through the Year with ‘Daily Reflections from Genesis to Revelation.’ Stott is the legend flossin the blue tracksuit and bird-watching binoculars in the pic below.

Key features

  • Read through an overview of the story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation
  • Each day has a short bible reading with a short devotional comment from Stott
  • Each day has a suggestion for further reading in the Bible
  • September until Christmas, read the Old Testament story from the creation until the coming of Christ
  • January through April, read the story of Jesus in the Gospels
  • May through August, read the story of Acts through Revelation

Get the reading plan

Keen to join in?

Doing physical exercise is often easier when you do it in a group. Likewise with spiritual exercise. A number of people have already indicated they’re keen. If you want to join in, let me know in the comments below. If you’re not sure, perhaps you could do the first two weeks for free and then make a decision.

#BibleStott

If you use Twitter, Facebook or Instagram – use the #BibleStott hashtag when sharing Bible verses or reflections of what you’re learning.

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Being Christian and God’s Law

Law

This week at church we finished up a two week series with John Woodhouse, on ‘The Christian and God’s Law’. These two talks were outstanding, have a listen if you want.

Being Christian and God’s Law: Part 1 // Matthew 5:17-20

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

 

Being Christian and God’s Law: Part 2 // Romans 6:15-23

15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

MUSIC // TONY ANDERSON

Music

Over the last couple of years I have worked in a number of roles where I have had to make the odd video. Often these are just in house creations that will never, because of their nature, see the internet. Regardless of this, I like to think that the quality of our visual communication should be of an achievable quality. A big part of this quality will always be down to using the right video equipment, but it also comes down to the kind of music you choose for your video.

Music has always been a difficulty in the projects I have done. That is, till now.

Recently I discovered a guy called Tony Anderson. Tony lives in the USA. Tony is a Christian. Tony is a fantastic sound designer.

Last week I used one of his songs for a video on a congregation at my church. That video will see the internet on Friday. He was very gracious and let me use it without having to pay him for licensing. He has an immense talent, and he wants to use his gifts to serve Jesus’ church. I give thanks for people like him.

Anyway, thanks to sound cloud, you can listen to a bunch of his tracks below. Go on. Just listen!

Filming people // Cyril.

Recently I filmed some interviews at church. They are for a bigger video, but this is a little snapshot (Audio hasn’t been mastered).

I introduce my 93yr old friend Cyril.
He has been following Jesus for over 50 years.
He loves coming to Cammeray @ 5:30.
He was also very nervous while being filmed.

Canon 500D // Final Cut Pro X