Driving home from the U2 concert this morning I turned to my wife Fran and said, “I love the way this sermon is coming together! It just seems so right… that church happens in this way.” I had just received an email from Tim in Edmonton passing on 12 of his concert photos for use [...]
A parallel church universe
Last night I had a beautifully unsettling dream about being in a parallel universe. Before that I was at a packed downtown Knox United church where I’d just witnessed a hundred (mostly) young people gathered near the stage. Whole hearted choral singing was filling that hallowed hall. The resonance was deeply moving. We were all there for Canadian singer Dan Mangan’s concert http://www.danmanganmusic.com/site/music/ (yeah, the [...]
Jesus at The Arcade Fire concert
“This concert experience was totally different because of what we did at church this morning,” said Kailey, a fellow New Hoper who sat (stood dancing) beside me at the Arcade Fire explosion last night. She’s right. It was… for me too. I must have seen twenty of the the same people who were in church that morning, that [...]
Preaching Arcade Fire
This is what makes me cry. On a day when nothing seems to be moving fast with either the book or my level of sermon inspiration, I make this Arcade Fire/Biblical text connection. In a new song called ‘City with no Children’ I hear, ”I feel like I’ve been living in a city with no children in it, [...]
Handel’s Messiah in the news
I just read a review of a recent performance of Messiah in Ottawa. All it talked about was the quality of the soloists, choir, and orchestra. I couldn’t help but think, “Really, is that all?…” After preaching on this oratorio over the past month, and being deeply moved by how the music elucidates and enlivens [...]
laughing at God
This Sunday I’ll be preac My Ex Girlfriend Dumped Me Is Already 3 Months In A Honeymoon Stage hing on Regina Spektor’s hit song, “Laughing with…” It’s a poignant commentary on God and faith. Here’s the link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rov3pV9PsRI What do you think God is saying through this artist’s musings? The following comments are owned [...]
Coldplay and Viva la Vida
Ok, next Sunday my sermon text (among others) is gonna be Coldplay’s, Viva la Vida. The question I’m bringing to the text is this, “What might the Holy Spirit be saying to us through this song?” What truths might God be speaking/singing here? I’d like some help searching out the answers. If you want be [...]
Recent Comments