My lesser known, but you should definitely have a listen artist of the week – The Michael Gungor Band

Ok so I was having a bit of a listen to these guys during the week when I got a link from Michael Rossback’s MySpace page (who is a fantastic pretty unknown talent on this side of the atlantic, have a listen to ‘to find you’ on www.michaelrossback.com). I really like the Gungor band’s sound and thought provoking lyrics, Michael and Lisa Gungor are joined by Brad Waller, Brad Nyght and Rossback himself on their debut ‘full length’ album Ancient Skies, it really is worth a listen and you can do so on their MySpace at www.michaelgungor.com.

Album of the week - Monday 16th March - The Weepies 'Hideaway'

I have had this album for a little while now, but only really started to listen to it properly over the last few weeks. I loved their first offering 'Say i am you' and this album is possibly a step forward again. The acoustic rock/folk duo have voices that mix so well together, and their songwriting skills are quite quirky and melodic to the max.

Deb Tallan has the strangest voice in the world oscillating between slightly weird and beautiful, which manages to keep a touch of originality to the overall sound, take a listen to the second song (orbiting) on the album, and you will understand what i mean. All in all a great sound, and very enjoyable album. Visit www.theweepies.com and click on discography to have a little listen for yourself.

Young people and being spiritual.

So last week during one of our youth groups we asked our young people a few questions and got them to answer those questions using paints on Canvas. One of the questions was 'When i say God, what is it that instantly comes into your head'? Above are some of the answers, these guys are between the ages of 13-15, and dont really bother much with church, but these pictures tell me these young people do bother with thoughts, questions and opinions about the Divine.

Album of the week - Friday 6th March

Its album of the week time, and clearly it has to be an offering from an Irish band.

Monday wasn’t a great day for the bank balance, although I must congratulate Morrison’s on providing me with U2’s ‘No line on the horizon’ for six English pounds, winner. This however is not where my musical journey ended as I also visited Fopp and purchased Bell X1’s ‘Blue lights on the runway’, this as it happens, wasn’t as reasonably priced as my earlier acquisition, however after buying both albums I am now left with an interesting question - which one is better?

So heres the deal, I'm not sure whether this is whimping out by not actually answering the question but I feel I have to be honest. ‘Blue lights on the runway’ has been that good that ‘No line on the horizon’ hasn’t really made it into the cd player, therefore my album of the week must come from Bell X1.

Each song is so original and different from the next, yet there is a thread that travels throughout the entire album holding it together as one piece. The vocals are very distinctive, with very tight harmonies and some extremely intelligent and thought provoking lyrics. The title track or indeed the song that inspires the title of the album is awesome and has this guitar lick in the chorus that sounds as if it has been inspired by a few hours of listening to Paul Simons ‘Diamonds on the soles of her shoes’, complimenting the alternative sound to the rest of the song almost as well as butter does toast.

What I really like about this album is that there are a few tracks that are instantly amazing and grab you there and then but there are also a few tracks that are like your favourite pair of shoes, you pretty much don’t start to appreciate them until they are well walked in.

If you haven’t got this album then I suggest you go and buy it. If you haven’t got any Bell X1 albums, make your weekend much better by getting your hands on ‘Music in mouth’ and ‘Flock’ as well.

The biblical basis for whys and how’s when working with young people

Our tag-line or mission statement, what is it that we look towards to remind us what we should be doing. What is our focus in all aspects of youth ministry within the church? If everything else is forgotten what do we need to remember to bring us back on track. This is what I have come up with.

“We must make every effort to be ambassadors for God and His love, being committed to making a difference in the lives of the young people within our community.”

Based on the greatest commandment found in Matthew 22:37-39, we must not only show Gods love, but be ambassadors for it! The word ambassador, isn’t just used because it sounds good, but I have used it because of the connotations it brings. An ambassador is ‘an authorized messenger or representative, sent by one sovereign or state to another’. It brings with it the idea, of being sent with an important message, which, for us, is the love of God. The word love used by Matthew in this instance is taken form the Greek word ‘agaphesis’, which means an un-conditional love, a love that is self-sacrificial. These two things alone are absolutely huge, and if we grasp this idea of caring for our young people unconditionally, putting them first in a way that is self-sacrificial, indeed modelling the relationship that Jesus himself modelled in His incarnation, we will create an environment that will make a difference in the lives of the young people we come into contact with.

More to follow........