Martyn Layzell

Aldates New Live worship Album Out NOW!

2006-12-04T11:06:00.000Z

OUT THIS WEEK IS THE EXCITING NEW ALBUM from St Aldates, a vibrant anglican church at the heart of Oxford.

'STAND IN AWE' LIVE WORSHIP ALBUM

Our new live worship album, featuring Martyn Layzell and a team of lead worshippers from St Aldates, is released on Sunday 3 December 2006.

Stand in Awe captures passionate and intimate worship flowing from a vibrant Anglican church for all nations at the heart of Oxford. In a city where martyrs have given their lives for the sake of the gospel of Christ, members of St Aldates join the eternal song of heaven with abandonment in praise and a united heart cry of intercession. We hope and pray that this album with be a celebration for the saved, comfort for the broken-hearted and a source of refreshment and inspiration for those seeking His presence in this generation.

The album is available to buy from the Welcome Area on Sundays or Parish Centre reception during weekday office hours at a special introductory price of £10 (RRP: £12.99). It can also be purchased online from St Andrew's Bookshop. http://www.standrewsbookshop.co.uk/product/30874.htm
www.staldates.org.uk

Track listing:

01 Hosanna

02 Praise awaits You

03 Dancing generation

04 Holy is the Lord

05 Everlasting God

06 Arise

07 Speak to this heart

08 Name above all names

09 See His love

10 Turn my face again

11 Join the song

12 Be glorified

13 I stand in awe

To purchase this new recording visit www. www.staldates.org.uk

We become like what we worship

2006-10-18T11:21:00.000Z

Hi,

Sorry it's taken some time to put anything new on this site! Here's an article and some thoughts from Don Williams.

Worship money, become a greedy person. Worship sex, become a lustful person. Worship power, become a corrupt person. Worship Jesus, become a Christ-like person. We become like what we worship. But what does it mean to worship?

The verb “worship” in Hebrew means to surrender, to fall down in submission – the way we would humble ourselves before a mighty king. (Psalm 95:6) Paul says that worship is the offering of our bodies as a sacrifice (Romans 12:1). This worship goes on in all of our lives. While we may fail to understand it, worship is the spiritual part of our surrender, submission and attachment to many things. The worship of money or sex or power or people results in addictive and compulsive behaviours. The staggering truth is that we are all lured into worshipping something or someone other than the living God. This is idolatry, pure and simple. It steals our humanity and addicts us.

The Bible teaches that we not only dishonour God with our idols, but we also lose our true humanity. Psalm 115:4-8: “…their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men…. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”; Jeremiah 2:5b: “They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.”

In New Tasks for a Renewed Church, Tom Wright analyses idolatry. First, idols are all a perversion of the good. For example, sex is good, under God’s design and plan. As an idol, it is degraded, and enslaves us. Second, idols enhance us. When we worship them, we feel “ten feet tall.” Third, idols demand sacrifice. Fourth, we create an ideology to justify our idols. Sexual obsession becomes the “sexual revolution,” the conquest of damaging, Victorian repression. Fifth, idols enslave us. They demand our lives. No wonder Paul teaches that behind the dumb idols lurk demons. (I Corinthians 10:19-20) They want to hold us in the kingdom of darkness.

The Bible carries on a continual battle with idolatry. The first commandment is: You shall have no other gods before me. The second is: No idols or graven images. (Exodus 20:3-4) God alone is worthy of our worship. In this, he gives us back our true selves.

If we become what we worship, the road out of idolatry is to renounce our idols and turn to the living God. This begins with a personal, public surrender. In psychological language, we must “detach.” This only can come by God’s gracious intervention. Moral conviction will not do it. Only brokenness at the centre of our being will do it. Only cutting through our shame and guilt will do it. This is God’s gift to us. Ask him for it. This begins our true worship of the true God.

Paul writes in Romans 12:1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” God’s mercy in Romans 1-11 is the gospel of his free grace and justification ["not guilty"] given to us in the death of his Son and sealed in our hearts by his Spirit. By this mercy, then, we come to worship. We bring the sacrifice of our bodies. They are acceptable to God, through the perfect, sinless body of his Son.

Now we ask the Spirit of God to fill the “hole in the soul” with himself. We begin to worship God alone – to love him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. We fall down before him as King. We offer him our gifts: our shouts of joy, our songs of praise, our tithes and offerings. Worship becomes witness, as we confess all that Jesus has done for us. Next, we bring our petitions, listen for his voice, and trust him to answer our prayers. Worship results in obedience, the joyful living out of his will for us.

This worship will change us into Christ-likeness. Rather than being conformed to this world and our idolatrous addictions, he will conform us to himself (Romans 12:2). He will birth in us the character and gifts of the Spirit. We will find our home in his family and carry the ministry of Jesus to our friends, telling them about the radical change he is making in us and the radical freedom we enjoy.

Worship drugs, become a depressed or burned out person. Worship work, become a restless, frantic person. Worship people, become a selfish, dependent person. Worship Jesus, become a Christ-like person.

We become like what we worship. We are either like the idols or like the living God. We must make our choice. Paul tells the Thessalonians: “…you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (I Thessalonians 1:9-10) There is really no option.

Don is married to Kathryn Anne Williams and they live in La Jolla California. He has been the Senior Pastor at the Coast Vineyard, San Diego since 1988, has multiple theological degrees and is the author of many books.

Worship Leaders Retreat

2006-09-06T07:57:00.000Z

National Fuel for the Fire events at St Aldates, Oxford

WORSHIP LEADERS' RETREAT
1-4 October 2006, St Aldates

Spend three days away in the beautiful city of Oxford investing in and developing your worship leading skills. Combining biblical teaching with informal discussion and social times together, this space is designed for 12 successful applicants to get away and be refreshed and equipped for ministry.

Hosted by me and input from guests, Tim Hughes and Rev Simon Ponsonby (Pastor of theology, Oxford), we will explore themes in worship, as well as practical issues in leading a band, stepping into the spontaneous and song writing. We’ll also be spending plenty of time simply hanging out, eating together and ministering to each other.

We are looking for people currently worship leading in their local church and whose pastor/vicar supports their involvement in the retreat and is committed to their ongoing development. The cost of the retreat is £125, which includes all teaching materials, meals and hosted accommodation.

Applications should be received by Friday 15th September 2006.

Call 01865 254 800 for your copy of the brochure/booking form and for more details.

Www.staldates.org.uk

TURN MY FACE

2006-07-09T20:04:00.000Z

www.martynlayzell.com

"Stand in awe" One day Worship conference

2006-06-02T01:28:00.000Z

It would be great to see you at the next Fuel for the Fire worship conference...

STAND IN AWE
The second Fuel for the Fire one day worship conference for worshippers and leaders.

Saturday 10th June 2006

St Aldates, Oxford, UK £10 10am start
Hosted by Martyn Layzell & The St Aldates team
With Guests: Nathan & Lou Fellingham

For more information & bookings visit: www.staldates.org.uk

TRACKING DAY 4

2006-06-02T00:59:00.000Z

Well we've just finished tracking drums and bass... And this is the colour of the sky I've been missing outside! Thought you might want to take a look at my world for the last few days.

Meet Mike Busbee (Producer), Aaron Sterling (Drums) and Jonathan Ahrens (bass) and of course the beatles...

living in a box

2006-05-31T03:29:00.000Z

It's breaking my heart seeing the California sun and not tasting it! Studios tend to be dark and dingy - this is no exception! Let me out!!

Album Tracking Day 2

2006-05-30T16:32:00.000Z

Another day of pre production looms large on todays horizon...

Album Tracking

2006-05-30T03:42:00.000Z

Yesterday (Sunday) I flew into LA to start tracking on the new album with producer Mike Busbee. Pasadena, LA is not Oxford in terms of history and culture but the weather certainly lifts the soul. Today has been a good day of pre production for bass and drum tracking which starts on Wednesday.

WORSHIP IN SMALL GROUPS

2006-04-12T17:20:00.000Z

You know the deal... ten people crammed into a living room with hardly enough room to swing a cat let alone a Takemine! The night seems to be going well; the tea is flowing, the chocolate hobnobs have all been consumed, the conversation is just heating up and suddenly someone reaches for their guitar. Almost instinctively the room has filled with terror.

Everyone starts rubbing their throat as if there's no way their going to sing with such a sore one! Coughing has now replaced conversation and the kitchen suddenly becomes a hive of servant activity. Without realizing it the small group has shrunk to tone deaf Tina and Wayne the West Life wannabe.

I don't know if something like this has been or indeed is your experience of worship in a small group. But it doesn't have to be. Perhaps leading worship in a small group fills you with dread. Perhaps your small group expression of worship is one of enthusiasm, creativity and sensitivity. Great.

Although we can't do much as worship leaders and singers about the ability of our fellow small group members, we can do a lot to teach them about the value of worshipping in a small group environment and leading them in such a way that minimizes any embarrassment. Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them."

One of the biggest temptations we face when we are leading worship in a small group is to try and replicate what we see on a Sunday or at a large conference. It's important that we get our motives and values right when we come to lead people in this way. This is not our chance to show off our talent or how well we can play the latest songs. Small group worship is not merely a stepping-stone to leading worship in the grander place of church on a Sunday. Our role is to lead people nearer to Jesus. Remember He should increase and we should decrease (John 3:30.

Obviously, the dynamic of a small group is very different to that of a larger congregation. For example, pumping out 'Lord of the Dance' alone on your 6 string may not have quite the same drive amongst 5 of you as when there are 5000 dancing passionately along to a fully amplified band on the last night of a conference. We can get it into our heads that these larger contexts for worship can be the only useful expression. Anything less is a flop.

However, nowhere in this verse in Matthew do I see anything about large conferences, Power Point word projection, Fender amps, band arrangements or radio microphones. The one and only factor is that Jesus' name is glorified and that can be done when there is a few or a few thousand people. As the phrase goes size doesn't matter and small groups hold advantages all of their own.

The first question we should ask ourselves as worship leaders before we get onto some more practical stuff is what value does the group place on worship?
If the group you're in just sees worship as a bunch of songs before the 'real' stuff begins, then it might be good to sensitively do some teaching about the biblical value of worship.

Do people understand that they can engage with God in worship?
Do they have a heart for worship?
Do they live lives of worship or is it a bit of a duty when it's time for 'church' or 'home group'?

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:26 "When you come together, everyone has a hymn (song), or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church." How can you redefine 'EVERYONE'? You see worship is everyone's own responsibility. Once people see beyond the songs through a heart of worship, a place of personal encounter with the Living God can replace the sniggers of singing love songs to the ceiling.

When leading worship in a small group, it's important to think before you begin.
It's amazing how we can trade common sense for so-called inspiration when choosing our set lists. Ask yourself some questions:

What has God been saying to the group recently?
What is the group thinking or concentrating on?
How can I reflect these things in this time of worship?
What does God want to say to the group?

Think about Theme:
It's often good to think around a general theme. This doesn't mean that every song has to express that theme, but the main thrust of the set should draw people's attention to that particular focus point. It may be that one song is particularly appropriate or fresh which you can build your set around or towards.

This can also prevent you just choosing your top ten favorites or songs you can play that just fit together musically!

For example if the group was looking at the subject of the Cross-, you could use songs such as 'Jesus Christ' (Once Again) or 'You led me to the cross'. When you have thought a bit about a theme and what songs could express this through their lyrics and feel, you can think about stringing the songs together.

When worshipping, we want to allow people to focus on Jesus.

With this in mind, it's best to keep any other distractions to a minimum. Try and create a seamless flow of worship using some songs that are in the same key or require the same capo position. E.g. 'Open the eyes of my heart' and 'Salvation'. Try and work hard at memorizing chords and lyrics. This will help you focus on God and leading the people rather than the barre chord that is looming.

If however you have to use song sheets or a song book, think about photocopying and reducing them in size onto one A4 sheet of music or mark the relevant pages. The flow of worship can really be broken if you have to fumble with pages after every song. It's also a good idea to take the phone off the hook, switch off all mobile phones in the room and remove the cat!

Think about who is in your group:
What is the vocal ability/range of the group? Don't exhaust a non-vocal group with song after song after song or with songs that require an excessively high or low range. People are more self conscious in a smaller group setting, so try and transpose some songs that are too high into a lower key such as 'He is the Lord' from (G) to (E).

What is the distribution of males and females?
Especially in a small group try not to do too many songs with male - female repeats such as 'I will worship'. This can be embarrassing if there is only one girl who doesn't even like singing. People also start to struggle if you do too many songs with a lot of words e.g. 'Come On All Us Singers', or new songs that they have not heard much.

Small groups can be a great place to learn new songs and they can help keep things fresh, but remember the members are people not guinea pigs! Perhaps give people a sheet of the new song's words and let them know when you are going to use it. Try and also use simple songs such as 'I am yours' (Pure Like You), 'Hey Lord', or chorus sections that people know better than the whole song. For example 'Praise the Lord Oh My Soul' from 'The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate', or 'We sing of all you've done' from 'Thank You for the Blood' transposed to (A) from (C). This can help freshen things up and reduce the one song after another routine.

Think about repetition:
If you are repeating a line or a chorus, ask yourself the question why? Repetition can be a great tool to emphasise a line or pull the groups focus towards a specific aspect of God, but don't repeat sections just for the sake of it or because you can't remember how the next song goes. This can be a real temptation.

Keep asking God what he's doing and what to do next. Don't just stay on a two chord round because it's easier than thinking of what song to do next or how to get out of (G) and into (B). If in doubt stop and collect yourself before starting again.

Think about flexibility:
It may be that you have prepared your set list and when you arrive the dynamics of the group are different to what you were expecting. Perhaps you got some stuff wrong and the evening is actually on a completely different theme to what you thought. Try and stay flexible. This is where learning songs off by heart or in different keys can really come in useful and will give you an ability to mould to unexpected situations.

Musicianship or not!
In general it is always best to underplay and to certainly play within yourself. Don't try and replicate strong riffs alone such as in 'The Cross has said it all' or 'Don't let my love grow cold'. If it is quite a large group with enough space you could ask someone to play guitar alongside you or to play some percussion to add some flavour or colour. Above all practice so that your playing becomes as unobtrusive as possible.

If there are chords you know you struggle to get, practice them until they become smooth. Also be careful with instrumental sections. As a rule it's best to stick to a simple arrangement but if you feel led to lead a time of singing in tongues or 'free' worship, always try and come back to something that the group is familiar with.

But I don't play guitar:
Although guitar led worship is the most common, there are other ways of leading worship in a small group setting. Here are a few ideas to which I'm sure you could add many more:

A cappella worship
Keyboard
Tape of songs recorded from CD's/set a playlist on your iPod
Dance
Act out a part of scripture
Have a time of testimony, giving thanks to God Meditate on a psalm
Re-write a psalm in modern language
Use artistic material to express your praise to God.
Say out the names that describe Jesus
Silent Reflection on who God is
Use percussion as a means for intercession
Make a melody for the Lord's Prayer

A few last words on a cappella worship:If embarking on this style, it's important that the leader has a good sense of rhythm and timing. Percussion can work well to aid this or perhaps even clapping. This lets everyone know when to come in and when to stop singing.

Try not to use songs that don't have much of a melody or songs with long gaps between lines such as 'Oh Lead Me'. It's also good if the leader can extend notes at the end of a line to reduce the length of silence before the next line begins. As the leader, always lead using the melody line. If the melody is out of your range, try and transpose the song into a more manageable key. With this in mind it can be good to practice vocal key changes in case someone starts a song either too high or too low.

Any questions? Leave a comment! Thanks!

CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY

2006-04-05T09:21:00.000Z

My Virgin Atlantic flights are booked, and I'm off to Los Angeles to start recording my next studio album with Survivor Records in May.

Between changing nappies, bathing my boys, cycling to-and-from work, endless staff meetings and cups of coffee at the Parish Centre and quality time with the Mrs, I've managed to squeeze in a bit of time to write songs over the last 18 months - so there's quite a few new ones.

It will be a busy 5 days and I'll be lucky to see anything outside of the studio, let alone an In n Out burger joint, but I'm sure we'll get some 'Animal Style' picked up and brought over to feast on.

I'll keep you posted with progress - if not while I'm there - certainly when I get back... 10lb heavier! And let you know when the album's due out - let's hope my new bulging belly won't be counted as carry on luggage!

DOING ANYTHING THIS EASTER?

2006-04-05T08:56:00.000Z

Just to let you know that I'll be on 'day release' from St Aldates and worship leading at the following events this Easter and Summer.

Spring Harvest, Skegness, Week 4 which is 18-24 April 2006. It's my first time at Spring Harvest, with my friend Tim Hughes at Week 3 in Minehead.
www.springharvest.org

Momentum, Soul Survivor for students and 20-somethings, 19-23 August 2006, down at Shepton Mallet, Somerset - it'll be great to see the old crew again. http://www.soulsurvivor.com

Be great to see you at either of them!

"LOST IN WONDER"

2006-04-03T09:29:00.000Z

Prior to a trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2002, to be involved in a Soul Survivor conference, Mike Pilavachi and I had decided to extend our time in Malaysia to include a three day break in Penang, an island situated about 4 hours drive North of Kuala Lumpar.

The main reason for doing this was for me to spend time writing songs for my forthcoming album and for Mike to continue work on his new book.

I would however be lying if I said that the sunshine and beach were not also very appealing reasons for going!

The first morning at the hotel, whilst Mike swam in the pool (slacker!), I did my usual thing of sitting down with my guitar and wondering where on earth to start when writing a new song.

After sitting quietly for a while and being very tempted to join Mike, I decided instead to flick through my lyrics book to see if I could get any inspiration.

I find keeping a lyrics book is a great way to combat writer’s block. Basically just write down anything that you find striking or inspiring. A line from a film, a dream, a song whatever, even if it seems unimportant, you never know when it might come in handy.

After a few seconds, I stumbled across this line, which I had written down some months before: 'You chose the cross with every breath, the perfect life, the perfect death'.

To be honest, I can’t even remember how that line came to me. I think it was in a worship time whilst I was in the congregation, but it didn't seem particularly fresh - just something in my mind that struck me as interesting so I wrote it down.

As I started reading over that line and thinking on it, I just started singing it out on my guitar. I didn't really have a great revelation for the melody. I guess it just flowed out as I played it over and over. The chords I happened to be playing at the time seemed to fit with what I was singing. It also seemed a nice idea to repeat the line 'You chose the cross', which obviously began to determine what sort of song it was going to be, but also triggered my thoughts to Max Lucado’s book called 'He Chose the Nails'.

Sometimes, that's the way it works. A line or a phrase leads you further to other sources of inspiration and so on. This was a helpful resource to stimulate ideas and a fresh outlook on an old theme.

The second part of the first verse was also inspired by a line that I had written down from an old hymn; 'For us you wore a crown of thorns; A crown of life for us securing' I really liked the double use of the word crown and the imagery of his crown of thorns being symbolic of the crown of life that his death and resurrection would purchase for us.

Another line I had written in my writing book (in fact on the same page) was 'Lost in wonder, love and praise'.
I had heard this phrase used years ago at the church I grew up in and I think it might even have been in an old song, but I thought it might be a cool theme for a celebration song at some point, so I had jotted it down.

Again, as I began to worship using this phrase as a response to what Jesus has done through the cross, I just started singing the complete chorus melody progression.

To be honest 90% of the chorus just flowed out in one go and just took a bit of time to finalise the two last lyrical statements; 'I am forgiven’, ‘I am restored'.

That was about as far as I got in that sitting. The pool was way too tempting! The only hard thing was making sure I remembered the melody until I got back to England as I didn’t have any way of recording it with me!

When I got home and assessed what I had so far it became clear that although I had a good starting framework, the song was far from being complete. I have tried to learn, that this is when the hard work begins.

The inspiration is over and the perspiration starts. The temptation can be to stop crafting the song too early and settle for a good song when you could be onto a great song!

Frustratingly, I knew I needed another verse and a pre-chorus that would really set the chorus up. Without a form of pre chorus, it felt like there was not enough tension building into the chorus.

In the hope of getting some further inspiration for a second verse and pre chorus, I started reading the gospel accounts once again of the time running up to Jesus' death and resurrection.

The revelation of Jesus actually choosing the cross and the fact that he could have decided against it, given his fully human limitations, led me specifically to his time of emotional agony in the garden of Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:38‘Then he said to them, 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me'.

Luke's account even describes Jesus as sweating drops of blood in his terrible anguish. (Luke 22:44)

Yet in the midst of his overwhelming pain, Jesus' heart was to do the will of the Father who had sent him.
Matthew 26:39'Going a little further, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not my will, but as you will.'

What amazing obedience! Even to death on a cross!

As I pondered on these verses, I really felt like I wanted to tell this amazing part of the passion story as part of the song. Hence the pre chorus’:

'And though your soul was overwhelmed with pain, obedient to death you overcame'; 'The sorrow that surrounded you was mine, yet not my will but yours be done you cried'.

Honestly, I was pretty shocked when these lines flowed out.

They felt like real gifts from God that expressed exactly what I wanted to say but staying true to the text using half rhyme.

I also really wanted to have a reference in the song not only to Jesus' death, but also to his glorious and victorious resurrection from the dead. After playing with a few ideas for the direction of the second verse, this seemed like a good direction for the song to go in.

Other ideas that I had were lines such as:
You drank the cup of suffering, Your Father's will you chose for me You chose the cross
But in the end I settled on what is now the second verse.

Finally, after using the song a few times in worship, I decided to repeat the line at the end of the chorus, ‘Because of Jesus’ and that turned into quite a nice spontaneous refrain for the song which I now use most times when I'm leading with this song:
Because of Jesus Because of Jesus I am forgiven I am restored

"PRAISE YOU" THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL?

2006-03-31T11:31:00.000Z

'Praise You' for lots of reasons was one of those songs that actually took me nearly two years to fully craft and complete. I remember that the theme, the melody and the lyrics to the verses and pre - chorus actually came very quickly whilst I was worshipping alone one time.

The opening line 'You gave your only son' kept ringing round in my head and pointed me obviously to John 3:16.

This was one of those verses I could always recite growing up as a Christian and had seen a lot on T-shirts in church book shops, but had never really gone deep into me.

Reading it afresh seemed to inspire a whole new revelation of what God had done for me. It was like God was truly 'reminding me of His grace' in a whole new way. The more I pondered on this verse, the more I really wanted to write something that simply captured the essence of the gospel in a nutshell.

Something that told the enduring story of his love and what he had done for me plain and simple - that God the Father so loved the world and that meant me too, that he gave his one and only beloved son that we might not perish but have eternal life. Ultimately this act of saving grace climaxes at the cross - Jesus' death and His resurrection. It is something that I could never earn or deserve but which he pours upon me as a free gift. He took my place in his mercy so that I might go free!

The chorus of this song however was not so fast in coming. I had an alternative chorus for a long time that I was never really satisfied with both lyrically and melodically.It was too wordy and the tune did not capture the simplicity I was seeking. I desperately wanted to find a chorus section that was easy to sing, rousing and expressed the only thing that we can do after understanding how much he has done for us. Praise Him.

After leaving the song for about a year and a half or so, I came back to it again and was really inspired by the lyrics of the verses I had already written. Just as I took some more time on it the new opening chorus line and melody flowed out - 'Praise you Jesus I praise you, I lift my hands and sing.'

That seemed the most right response to such love. Simply to praise him. I also liked the imagery of an embrace to symbolise our intimate relationship with the Father through the cross. I used 'Embrace you, I will embrace you' to finally tweak the chorus lyrics and adjust my original idea to adopt this picture of friendship through the blood he shed for us.

What's the big idea!?

2006-03-24T21:15:00.000Z

Leonard Cohen, a famous composer and poet once said, “If I knew where all the good songs were, I’d go there more often!” As with most things in life these days we’re often looking for a quick fix solution with a cheap price tag. In the realm of song writing this will just never happen. Unfortunately good songs cannot be bought on ebay. They have to be born in a place of revelation, overflow and real life. The biggest thing I have learnt over the last couple of years in the area of song writing is that one must carve out time and space for creativity. For most of us, and perhaps all of us this doesn’t come without a cost.

Recently I heard someone describing songwriters as architects‚. As writers we need to have a big idea‚ or a theme‚ that is worth working on. Often however we try and skip this architectural/planning stage and plunge straight in to building. If this was the method for structural buildings, most constructions would be lopsided, unfinished and without foundations. This is often the case for most of our songs! Strive to be a craftsman not a DIY enthusiast. Think before you start. What has God been saying to you recently? What has struck you from His word? What is he doing in your own life? What is God saying to your church? Have someone in mind when you’re writing a song. Who will want to sing it when it is finished? What type of structure of song will best marry melody with lyrics? Don’t just steam in with a bulldozer (or a plectrum). Sometimes it can even be helpful to leave your instrument aside to save you going down the same chord rat runs‚ and rhythms.

The structure of a song is very important and is the skeleton that holds the different parts of the music together. It gives the song shape and order. Most modern songs are constructed on simple variations of a verse followed by a chorus, followed by another verse, followed by another chorus and so on. For example,
Intro 1Verse 1Chorus 2 Verse 2Chorus 2Middle 8 3Verse 3Chorus 3Chorus 4Ending
An example of this would be “Beautiful One”.
One of the useful things about this song structure is that you get a natural sense of light and shade between verses and choruses. Verses tend to be quieter than choruses, which are often quite musically intense. This can be a great structure for anthems or high praise.

Other songs such as “Lost in Wonder” might incorporate a pre chorus into this progression acting like a gun that fires off the chorus. Sometimes this can set up‚ the chorus and help us ‘lift off’ giving us more time to build tension and reinforce the theme of the verses:

“And though your soul was overwhelmed with pain,
Obedient to death you overcame
I‚m lost in wonder”
or
“The sorrow that surrounded you was mine,
Yet not my will but yours be done you cried
I’m lost in wonder

Some songs have no distinct choruses or verses at all.

For example, 'Come now is the time to worship' by Brian Doerkson which follows a quite different structure, consisting of two musically distinct sections:

A section:
Come now is the time to worship
Come now is the time to give your heart
Come just as you are to worship
Come just as you are before your God

B section:
One day every tongue will confess you are God
One day every knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
Who gladly choose you now

Other examples of songs with this structure might be “Salvation spring up from the ground” by Charlie Hall or “I lift you high (You must increase)” by Matt Redman

An unstructured song will be messy, difficult to listen to and impossible to remember, so try listening to one of your favourite songs, mapping out its structure and using it as the skeleton for a new song.

Returning to the issue of “Big Ideas” or themes it’s important that we put ourselves in a good position to get inspiration. What comes in must go out and this flow is characteristic of life. A stagnant body of water has no flow, but a river with an inlet and an outlet breads life and vitality. Once we get that seed of original inspiration it’s important that we chase it with our craft. Like a jeweller, we have to set up the theme (diamond) on an appropriate and equally precious setting (band). These components have a distinctive function but both contribute to the overall finish of the song. A Diamond set on paper clip twisted round your finger is not quite the same as a perfectly made platinum ring!

When writing your own songs, make sure that your verses draw the listener into your song, define who is talking, where the situation or story is taking place and give some idea of where you are going with your song. Making sure that you stay true to your original idea is very important. Often the strongest songs have one universal theme that grows with every line climaxing in the chorus.

"WITH ALL MY HEART"

2006-03-24T10:49:00.000Z

I began writing this song when I was on holiday with my wife in South Africa in 2001. At that time, I really wanted to write something that was simple and yet passionate in it's content. I was inspired by the thought that worshipping God is about everything we are and everything we do. Not only the songs we sing, but the lives we live; Our relationships, our finances, our leisure time etc.

Ultimately, he requires that we love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. The book of Deuteronomy is just one example in the bible where we are directed to serve Him with all that we are.

Deuteronomy 10:12 'And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?'

Before I recorded this song on the album, I just had the first verse and it felt like it needed a second verse to complete the song. This was added later along with the bridge, which musically was the contribution of Mike Busbee who produced 'Lost in Wonder'. Again lyrically, I wanted the bridge to express the theme of everyone and everything being called to worship the one true God; ‘all of creation, every nation and every heart’ passionately coming together in a celebration of who he is.

THE SYNERGY OF COMPONENTS: How worship is like a latte

2006-03-22T19:02:00.000Z

I was in Starbucks yesterday with one of my dearest friends, when it struck me, probably for the first time, just how much milk Starbucks must get through in making their drinks. As I said to my friend, "Starbucks are mostly milk," to which he agreed.

This is a lot like worship. Coffee is made up of a shot of delicious, bitter-sweet espresso drawn from beans cultivated, harvested, dried, shipped and roasted, ground and extracted with water. So the songs of our heart emerge through the trials and tribulations of our own mountain peak/valley experiences throughout the seasons.

As a latte is stretched with milk, so our lives are full of bland, whiteness: disciplines, admin, dull thoughts. Yet occassionally our lives our capped with foam - the heady, light, fluffy feelings of ectasy, joy, what my colleagues refer to as a 'destiny moment', often topped off with the chocolate sprinkles of fame and a photo shoot.

Yet, it's the milk that most instructed me: common garden milk binds the two experiences together - the espresso depths and the frothy heights. Without it we'd have a macchiato: which for £2.45 wouldn't last as long or be as enjoyable as a regular latte. But all three together are a beautiful trinitarian synergy.

Let us not despite the bland in life - it's the canvass on which all our colours are best expressed.

I must remember to thank my friend for joining me on that Starbucks visit - he's such a good bloke.

Fuel for the Fire

2006-03-09T10:01:00.000Z

Fuel for the fire is a resource centre for worship

Coming up...

National Fuel for the Fire Events

FUEL FOR THE FIRE 2006: STAND IN AWE

Saturday 10 June 2006, St Aldates

This summer, join myself and a host of guests at St Aldates, Oxford, for a one day exploration of worship, teaching and ministry. This one day conference fuses stacks of time in worship, with practical, biblical and inspirational teaching on why we worship, band dynamics, song writing and more.

devotions

2006-03-08T19:53:00.001Z

Devotional time or 'quiet time' is a term that often we don't like to be reminded of. It can at times be much more interesting or tempting to check email, write your blog, get up to date with the admin or basically do anything rather than 'being still and knowing that He is God'. This is most definatley a discipline that I have lost a bit of touch with since having children, but through God's grace He keeps nudging me to draw near to Him. As is usual for us Christians we can often want a short cut or a quick fix. Tonight as I was washing up (yes I do do that sometimes!) I realised that I had put a pan in to soak. No great revelation to many I'm sure but the difference between getting that puppy clean before and after a good old soak was unbeleivable. Once it had had a chance to marinade in the washing up liquid, one wipe and it was clean.

We as dirty, unclean vessels need to be soaked, bathed in His presence. Not wanting to belittle God to be like dishwater (perhaps more like Mr Muscle)but only as we wait on Him can He change us. The process is a lot more painful and drawn out if we try and acheive it in our own strength.

The Power of Song

2006-03-05T19:20:00.000Z

Worship is a lifestyle. Without any shadow of a doubt, our worship in song has to extend to the whole of our lives. As Paul encourages us in Romans 12:1 we are to “offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – that is to be our spiritual act of worship”. Similarly we are instructed in Ephesians to “live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). ‘True fasting’ is our directed goal in Isaiah 58 and in Amos God tells us to “do away with the noise of our songs and let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream”! (Amos 5:23-24). Clearly God is serious about his people living out lives of worship.

But in the recent rise and re-focus on lifestyle over the ‘mere singing of songs’, I have been lured back into God’s word to discover why singing and the gift of song are so important in God’s heart and for the worshipping community. Why does the psalmist on more than one occasion encourage us to sing to the Lord a new song or to come before him with joyful songs? Why do Moses and Miriam choose to use the gift of song to thank God after crossing the Red Sea? Why does Mary burst into song after the angel Gabriel had visited her at the start of Luke’s gospel? And why does Revelation paint a picture of thousands of angelic voices joining in worship? Ultimately why is God so bothered about singing?

More on www.staldates.org.uk

"Welcome to my life"

2006-03-01T17:55:00.000Z

Yesterday Today & Forever

2006-02-24T00:05:00.000Z

Just wanted to recommend Vicky Beeching's new album released on Survivor and Six step records. Great production, great songs and a really great resource for local church worship. Several of the songs have been re recorded and given a new lease of life. Enjoy!

Have we worshipped?

2006-02-19T23:30:00.000Z

OK, so we've got the band, we've got the songlist and the congregation; the songs have started and the Holy Spirit is present, but have we worshipped? I hope so. But have we?

Often I wonder whether we are held back in our hope of engagement that may never happen uless we let ourselves fall into God. Some would say its about time, space, dynamics of the room, sounds etc: but does it, in the end, just come down to choice and attitude?

"I won't give to the Lord that which costs me nothing." This is something that has stuck in my throat recently like swallowing a bolied sweet. Often I wonder if my worship is on my terms rather than a sacrifice pleasing to Him. The sacrifices of the original covenant had to cost something and needed to smell nice. It was a messy and smally business. So have we worshipped when we come together with our small song offerings and sounds? I think the question is did it cost me something? Do I feel laid bare by the Holy Spirit? Do I wonder what is inside or am I thinking about the style of, and choice of, songs. Am I giving myself, pouring my self out with no desire of personal gain in the hope that I may become more Christ like?