Worship music in Wales

I have just returned from a week in Builth Wells at New Wine Cymru. A Fantastic week with a real sense that God is at work in and through people in Wales. I spoke to lots of people who were talking about new things that they wanted to set up or accomplish for God in Wales, most noticeably, probably because of the people I work closest with, in Welsh worship Music.
My good mate and band pal Tim Bannister always reminds me that 'the great Welsh Hymns written over a century ago were the cutting edge songs of the time, lyrically and musically'. Lets fulfil our God given purpose of giving God the glory by using the creativity He has given us and make the Worship of God in Wales something that people will stand up and take notice of, because they realise it's been inspired by an Amazing God.

Time flies by!

The last time I posted was the 7th of May. Just over two weeks ago. It feels like alot of things have happened since then. To us, time makes a difference, we feel different, we have different thoughts due to our experiences. But God is outside of time and is the same in his characteristics as he was two weeks ago. He is still as Gracious, still as loving and still has the same plans for our lives.
Since the last post I have been involved in a concert at the Welsh parliment building with the llantrisant community band, played at a Catholic church with the Cynon Valley junior Brass band and have been to a wedding of two good friends of Carina and I. This weekend brings the Broken Chains festival... The biggest Christian Concert I've ever heard of in the Rhondda valleys! I'm praying that chains of unbelief, ungrace and sin will be broken this weekend.

I had a conversation this weekend with a park attendant in Grangetown. It was during the Ignite hope weekend that took place in South Wales over the last few days. We were putting on a funday for the community which meant that his day at work was a bit more interesting than usual. He was asking why we were doing what we were doing and I explained that we were a bunch of people from churches of different denominations that wanted to show that Christians actually get involved in communities and make a difference. They don't just stay inside four walls. This sprang into a conversation about his beliefs and therefore mine aswell.

His Father was a preacher and he had studied R.E at A level. He had come to the conclusion that Jesus was a good man and had good morals, even to the point of him reciting a scripture and saying that he tries to follow Jesus' moral standard. However he couldn't believe that Jesus was the Son of God.

My point of view, Jesus' moral standards were so high that in fact he lived a perfect life. An ordinary human being cannot live a perfect life, we need Grace. We can try all we like to live upto Jesus moral standards but we will fail. That's why we need Grace, and the only way we can recieve Grace is through Jesus being exactly who he says he was... God came to Earth to die for our Sin, to take our punishment to make us perfect. The very reason that Jesus could live a perfect Moral life is because He was God in human form. That takes faith to believe.

Faith is being sure of what you hope for

It's been a busy couple of weeks, something on every weekend and preperation for exams and concerts in school. Two weekends ago was an ignite event setting the scene for Ignite Hope that will be taking place next weekend. A weekend of social action by a group of 500 young people and adult Volunteers, across the Vale, the Valleys and Bridgend. The ignite worship band will be playing in the morning and evening meetings... 'Open up the doors and let the music play... songs that bring you hope!' I naturally think of the word hope meaning something that we would like to see happen, or could happen with a bit of luck. The Bible actually uses this word in a different way... Faith is being sure of what you hope for! Therefore hope is being certain of God's promises! I pray that there will be hope brought to lots of lives next weekend.
The weekends sandwiched in between have seen TBT (tim Bannister trio) play at a wedding (good fun, everyone was up and dancing), and this weekend, yesterday saw me play pedal timps for the first time live, with the Cynon Valley junior Brass band... was asked to do it about an hour before, only two notes in each song, so just about managed it, and today I am off to do a recording with Gruff Rees at Sonic one studios in Llangenech.