Writer's Block.

Urgh.

Songwriting in a church context is definitely rewarding. The feeling of hearing our church singing a song that I've either written, or had a hand in writing is one of the most rewarding feelings I've ever known - In fact, the point that I was probably most close to God in all of 2009 was at a conference we led in Albania, singing a song I helped write called "Jesus Reigns". It was almost as if God had rewarded the hours of pouring over and reworking that song by transcending both language barriers and cultural differences, as everyone in the room worshipped passionately in the knowledge of who God is. I am so grateful that people could worship to that song with such exuberance! That's what it's all about.

Songwriting in a church context, however, is definitely not easy. Looking at some of the lyrics I take most comfort from in times of worship, you'd think it would be an easy thing to do:

"Thank you,

Thank you for the cross,

For the cross"

"You are my strength,

Strength like no other,

Strength like no other,

Reaches to me"

"Jesus, be glorified in the earth,

Be glorified in the earth,

Jesus your name be glorified"

It amazes how such simplicity can be so profound. Yet it's so difficult to achieve. Musicians don't 'do' simple. It's almost as if we're programmed to try and make things as difficult as possible and consequently, we have to train ourselves to keep things simple. I remember my old music teacher always saying "KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid" and it always stuck with me; only I never fully understood how difficult that really is.

Today, my head and my heart aren't matching up. I've spent the last week researching pick-up replacements for my new Fender Strat, experimenting with pedal board set-ups and amp settings to get the best settings for our ministry times - do I harmonize an octave up with the whammy pedal or pitch shift the whole thing? Do I sacrifice the amazing clean tones of my single coils for humbuckers to get a better distorted sound? Dotted eighth note delay or crotchets? Digital or analogue?

This is all stuff I need to work through, but is it any wonder I've got writer's block? I'm putting my focus in the wrong place. I'm not writing songs about material possessions, I'm writing songs about the Creator of the universe. It really isn't a complicated truth. I don't seem to be coming up with any ideas, but maybe if I clear my head and focus on "the one thing" (in the words of Joel Houston), I can smash through this brick wall complete with a simple, yet catchy, lyrically interesting but theologically accurate, musically inspired yet easy to play worship song at the end of it. After all, I can manage simple. After all, it took three of us to write the follow lyrics:

"Jesus reigns, Jesus reigns,

Jesus reigns forever"

Yep. Can definitely manage simple...

The Beginning

So...this is the beginning.

My blogging experience is minimal; I blogged a little for Ethos last year but, as passionate as I am about what Ethos is doing, it is no longer the sole focus of my role as Musical Director at Kerith Community Church, and it became apparent that a lot of what I wanted to talk about was being left at the wayside. I'm hoping that this blog will be an outlet to broadcast the passion I have for what I'm doing, as well as any other things I feel is necessary!

Simon Benham, the Senior Pastor at Kerith Community Church talked excellently about having big dreams last week in our Sunday meetings. According to a 'Strengthfinder' test I took when I first joined the staff at Kerith in 2008, my primary strength is that I'm futuristic - so naturally this spoke to me. This blog is intended for those that know me so, with that said, my intention is to express my current ambitions (which, depending on circumstances are subject to change!):

Ethos

Ethos had an amazing year last year. As well as releasing our first CD in July, highlights included leading conferences in Butlins, Lithuania and Albania and playing on the main stage of Abundant Life's 'Rocknations' conference. I want that to be just the beginning. My ambition is to coordinate a team that writes songs that people worship to all over the world, and sees people saved regularly - ultimately, to be a band that people look to when learning about leading worship and a source of inspiration for everyone that we encounter.

Kerith Worship Academy

I am currently trialling the level 1 guitar course for Kerith Worship Academy. The intention behind the fledgling academy is not only to train musicians, but to train worshippers. In September 2010, Kerith Community Church will officially open the Kerith Worship Academy, aimed initially at children between the ages of around 8 to 11, with courses in guitar, drums, keyboard and vocals. It has taken me nearly a year to get to this point, but I am incredibly excited about it. My ambition is to run an academy for all ages in multiple locations teaching many different streams at varying levels. I think it's something that, if done well and given enough time, can be of national significance.

Revolution:

Revolution is the 11-16s worship band. The team has made some real steps forward in the last year. Thanks to the commitment and support of its members, we're rapidly learning how to run a worship team for young teens, where the focus is more on learning to worship whilst improving musicianship rather than the high pressure that accompanies the responsibility of playing regularly. Once the Kerith Worship Academy grows, my vision for Revolution is that one day we have enough members to have multiple bands, perhaps practicing at multiple rooms at the same time. It would be so exciting if we had too many members for one band! Revolution are also the future of the Kerith Worship Team, so it would be great to look back in quite a few years time and see newer members of Ethos having been through both the Kerith Worship Academy and Revolution!

I'm fully aware that these are some of the biggest of big dreams, and I make no apology for that. I'm also fully aware that I will never achieve these things on my own. Yes, I need the support and help of the people around me, but more importantly, these things can only be achieved with God. With faith in God, all things are possible.

The Bible says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1). I'm sure of what I hope for...in that respect, I've definitely got the first part right. I just need to work on the second part. I am passionate about God, but is anyone truly certain of him? In a year and a half, I've come a long way towards finding my certainty in Him, but I've got a long, almost unfathomable way to go.

I'm willing to devote my life to trying to get there.