For this post, I want to introduce you to an exciting new worship community friendship of which I am a part, and am thrilled has come into existence: ION.

Over to you, Marc….

GUEST BLOGGER: MARC PUSCH, ION COORDINATOR

Thanks Dan!

Let me begin by saying that Dan has had a much bigger role in the formation of ION that he’s letting on. For a number of years he and I have been talking about the need for relationship and dialog to take place cross-denominationally, cross-geographically, cross-traditionally and cross-generationally. Much of what is forming in this new community is the result of Dan modeling and encouraging this dialog and relationship-building.

ION, or Inside Out Network, is the result of years working within a church movement but not having a meaningful connection to the broader Church. For the last number of years I’ve been the General Manager of Vineyard Music Canada.

For years the Vineyard has both modeled and imparted something to the Church in the area of worship - both in its expression of worship but also regarding the heart of worship. Not only did we experience profound intimate times with God during the worship set, we also understood that worship was far more than singing a few songs - it was a lifestyle to be pursued. I’m grateful for all that I’ve been able to learn and grow in as a result of my Vineyard experience.

What we’ve come to realize in recent years is that there are many who share this same experience. They faithfully serve their spheres of influence and give away from the riches they have been given. Whether they are part of a particular movement, denomination, ministry or label, they carry the same heart and passion we carry.

As I began to dialog with the ones I knew: Dan Wilt, Brian Doerksen, Andy Park, David Ruis, Kathryn Scott, Brenton Brown, and Vicky Beeching, we realized we all shared a desire to connect at a deeper level. Most are already connected to record labels yet there is something far bigger pulling us together: relational bond and a sense that we must model a kingdom heart and perspective in the things we’re doing.

As I introduced them to the idea that we could model a community that gave freedom to continue in the label relationships they had and at the same time allowed us to do things together - they all jumped on board. And the best part is that these influential voices in the Church are not doing this just for themselves - they are wrestling with how to best leave a legacy for the coming generations.

So what is ION exactly? Well I guess the best way to describe it is that ION gets to shine a spotlight on what different ones in the ION community are doing.

We shine a spotlight on Dan as he pursues his new worship Institute. We shine a spotlight on Andy Park’s new CD by giving him a place to promote it. We will shine a spotlight on David Ruis’ new album due out later this year. At the same time - and equally important - we will shine a spotlight on those who are faithfully serving their local churches by developing meaningful resources and events to encourage and equip.

So that’s it. ION in a nutshell! We just launched our website and though it’s a bit sparse right now, in the coming weeks we’ll be adding tons of new material to it. Check it out and let us know what kinds of things would be helpful to you as we build it.

Thanks for listening!

Marc

I’m interested to see what this faith/arts/community micro culture is all about.

I like what I see thus far.

Imago Dei Community

“Brothers and sisters, God is calling you to leave behind everything that stops you setting sail in the ocean of God’s love. You have heard the call of the Wild Goose, the untamable Spirit of God: be ready for him to lead you into wild, windy or well-worn places in the knowledge that he will make them places of wonder and welcome.

In stillness or storm, be always vigilant, waiting, sharing, praising, blessing, telling. Sail forth across the ocean of God’s world knowing both the frailty of your craft and the infinite riches of your God.”

From The First Voyage Of The Coracle
The Community Of Aidan and Hilda

We’re in the midst of a time right now in Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, at a retreat center called The Westwood Christian Centre. The building itself is an old Anglican parish church, redesigned into an absolutely breathtaking retreat center. Arched windows give way to bright spaces, and stained glass both aged and modern adorn entire walls and small doorways. I think I’ve found a haven of rest here inthe UK, and a place for some creative space if I can ever get back here.

FIRST MORNING (Tuesday):

Our meetings this week are with Vineyard Records UK, a Christian worship music group based in Hull, UK. We began our gathering (a staff of 7 plus Matt Frise and I) with a time of acoustic guitar/violin-led worship, using songs such as “All The Angels,” “Who Is Like Our God” and a medley of violin-based melodies. I shared a bit on the Ignatian concepts of consolation (with solace: moving in communication) and desolation (without solace: moving in isolation), and the power of a life lived out of a center that has found peace in God.

Using the passage from Phillipians where Paul speaks of his life in “forward motion,” pressing on toward the knowledge of God irrepressibly, against unbeatable odds, we reflected on a life lived from a satisfied center. A life lived in consolation finds a substantial center from which to live, offer consolation in the world all around as it slowly swirls outward. In contrast, a life lived in desolation finds a vacuum of peace at its center, from which it lives, offering only desolation and further isolation as it quickly swirls inward.

In other words, living in a continual state of desolation in our walk with God, ourselves and others is like a vacuum; we continually cave in on ourselves. A life lived in a continual state of consolation moves outward, is happily generous and warms other hearts to faith (Petersen).

With three candles lit, representing God’s devotion to us, and ours to Him in response, we reflected on these arenas of peace, and evaluated where we are on the consolation/desolation spectrum in relation to God, ourselves and each other. We then moved into a time of prayer ministry, while Matt prayed with his violin around us, using melodies Celtic, Scottish, Irish, Welsch and English.

It’s been a beautiful time, and Matt and I had a chance to take a long walk across vibrant green fields (while the others discussed budgets!), in an area that just may have one of the top 5 views I’ve ever seen in a landscape. I do wish my beautiful wife and children were here to enjoy this with me, but I take it as a gift nonetheless. After a quick rest, we head out to a local pub for dinner and a night of connection.

SECOND MORNING (Wednesday):

We spent the morning devotional time reflecting on the passage in Acts. 3 where a man is continually seated at “A Gate Called Beautiful,” awaiting alms and living in desperation. We reflected on the call to create beautiful spaces, be they by the media of music (in this case) and the songs of worship, or via other means. Everytime we gather at A Gate Called Beautiful, we have an opportunity to step through a portal to encounter God in His fullness; believer and unbeliever alike.

It was a powerful time. We spoke of a life lived with “flywheel momentum,” born out of a soul living in a growing state of consolation (see above) and the spiritual rigor it requires to continue to follow Jesus over the long haul. Eugene Peterson called this “a long obedience in the same direction.” We’ve now returned to Hull, and are preparing to head to Yorkshire tomorrow, then to Bristol for a What Is Worship? event at the Vineyard there. Matt is out tonight cleaning unwanted graffiti (as opposed to “wanted” graffiti) off of Hull street walls and doors.

It’s been a rich mid-week time. Thanks for your continued prayers, and for my wife and kids making it all work at home.

We just finished a fantastic weekend doing a What Is Worship? event in Edinburgh, Scotland. We had a beautiful crew of Scots, gathered from approximately 15 churches, including the Church Of Scotland, Baptist, Vineyard, independent and Episcopal churches. Some others came from Norway, and a beautiful worship team of nine from a new Vineyard Church in Heidelberg, Germany came to join us (we had lunch together with them at an Edinburgh pub, and talked about everything from tightening background vocals to the character of worship team members).

It was a rich and fun time, and full of laughter – the Germans understood my English better than they understood the Scots! Of course, I cheewww my words when I speak….

My favorite part of these weekends is the interaction; especially when we start plumbing the depths in larger and smaller groups of the different passions and “soul languages” represented in the room, and begin explore how they are encountering grounds of worship for us – and primary arenas of calling that God has never meant us to shut down in the name of “sacrificial discipleship.”

So many came alive to their passions in a fresh and living way, sometimes with tears of joy, and began to see the imago Dei shimmering within themselves, as we continued to embrace the reality that we are broken BeautyBearers in this world. In honor of the traditions of Celtic spirituality, we kept three candles burning at the front during all the teaching times, reminding us of the creative love of the Father, the healing gift of the Son, and the everpresence of the Holy Spirit.

Our amazing host, Greig, donated his candles to this worthy cause, and then fed us like royalty at his beautiful home. We laughed deep into the night after sessions with him, and were welcomed into the world of Haggis when our defenses were down. Graeme Campbell, the worship leader at the Vineyard there, was an amazing organizer of the event worship, and continues to be a dear friend. So many others, including David and Liz Hart made our time unforgettable.

In our times of ministry, good friend, photographer, wise guide, design fiend and travelling companion Matt Frise played soaring, touching violin melodies up close to individuals as we prayed for them. Truly transforming moments will mark the memory of our time there. The Edinburgh Vineyard, who hosted the event with Vineyard Records UK, was an incredible host.

I’m putting together a new media site this trip that will have pictures and a new DanWilt.com podcast coming soon. Right now, we have just arrived in Hull, UK, and have a day of rest coming up tomorrow. Days of speaking, leading worship, and praying later, we’re looking forward to a breather.

Again, if you pray for us and these events as you read the post, we are grateful.

I love this quote I saw on Heidi Turner’s blog, from Hildevert of Lavardin, who wrote it sometime around 1125 (as quoted in Madeleine L’Engels book, Meet The Austins):

“God is over all things, under all things; outside all;
within, but not enclosed; without but not excluded;
above, but not raised up; below, but now depressed;
wholly above, presiding; wholly without, embracing;
wholly within, filling.”

This from Madeleine’s book, Walking On Water:

“An artist is a nourisher and a creator who knows that during the
act of creation there is a collaboration. We do not create alone.”
Madeline L’Engle, Author of Walking On Water

In evangelical Christian streams, the Chuck Smith’s, Sr. and Jr., and respected fellows. The front page of the L.A. Times, according to Don William’s, is filled with the following story.

Here is an interesting experience they are having – the younger Smith is embracing more Catholic and Orthodox ideas in his more ambiguous postmodern journey, and his father is moving the other way.

I exert no concrete opinion here; I just felt its a telling sign of the times for what is a poweful response to the frailties and fluctuations of faith in Jesus in our generation (at least in North American protestantism).

Key Quote From Theologian Don Williams (Note: the whole context is more reflective than prescriptive): “…This absence of the freedom and operative gifts of the Spirit clearly created a vacuum in his son’s heart and turned him “eastward” to Orthodox spirituality and “westward” to Roman Catholic mysticism. When we surrender the adventure of living in the Spirit and seek to domesticate him, if we don’t pay a price, our children will. Understanding eastern and western spirituality may be helpful to us, but spiritual disciplines must never become a substitute for the dynamic of the Spirit’s power and presence in our communities and our ministries.”

Kingdomrain.net - FIRST RESPONSE: Father, Son and Holy Rift

This morning, the students in FY100 06 are viewing the new What Is Worship? DVD released by Vineyard Music, and that forms the basis for the What Is Worship? events we’ve been up to in Europe.

So, here is the question for InResponse for this week:

In what ways did the themes of this DVD re-shape your vision of what worship is?

How did you feel about the discussion on the “sacred/secular” concept vs. the “One World” view?

“All that is, is sacred.” Thomas Merton

I head to Edinburgh, Scotland along with pal Matt Frise, this Wednesday for 12 days. I’m leading What Is Worship? conferences in Edinburgh, Scotland and in Bristol, UK, as well as a retreat for the staff of Vineyard Records UK.

My prayer is that I can get in a bit of songwriting time as well; I’m deeply moved by old architecture and green, rocky landscapes, so hopefully some works of worship will flow from the venture.

Your prayers would be appreciated for us and my family, even now as you read this post, and for Chris Whitelock (Vineyard Records UK), Graeme Campbell (Edinburgh worship leader) and Matt Turrigiano (Bristol worship leader) as they pull elements together and serve their communities.

Here is a site for Edinburgh, and for Bristol.

I’m intriqued…

Astronomers find distant, fluffy planet - Yahoo! News

This post, below, is continuing to generate some great feedback, and we need more. Interest is high, and I’ve chatted with Bose about the need in contemporary church band settings to try this puppy out.

Anyone else interested in this new Bose sound system, or has used it and can open our eyes – is it really too good to be true?

Small, portable, great sound with a new paradigm for live music?

They’ll send a rep to your area to try it (Test Driving A Bose), and Musician’s Friend sells them, too.

Bose has done their homework, but it’s such a new paradigm. Live band pics are here. Here are their FAQs, and their trouble-shooting page is worth looking through to see what others are dealing with.

Original Post:

“I admit, I’m tired of hauling and setting up gear as a musician. Twenty years ago, I might not have said this. Now, even for smaller events that need some amplification, you take whatever is available, and often that is a larger system that you just turn down low.

I’d love some feedback on it.”

Has anyone used the Korg TR88 board, and digs it?

The Korg Trinity is too much board, as may be the LE, but the price is right on this one. We need one for the Institute, and I’m needing to get a solid, weighted-key board (love to know how it feels - the keyboard) with plenty of sounds for live bands.

Issue is, I live in little St. Stephen’s (a musician’s haven, but with one small music store!), and I have to drive 1.5 hours to get close enough to try one. I’d get by with a little help from my friends….

These posts (that start with FY100) on my blog pertain directly to the students in the 06 course FY100: Leadership In Contemporary Worship Practice at St. Stephen’s University. From anywhere you are in the world, feel free to jump in and join our class conversation.

We have a fantastic class (our first session was rich and honest), and are going to have a very worldview-shaping, passion raising, hidden treasure time together.

There are approximately 11 students (including our 3 Institute One Year Diploma students), and we began our work worshiping together, analyzing the worship set/experience, getting to know each other, and reviewing the FY100 Syllabus.

Our first InResponse question, to be posted by the students by next Wednesday on this post, is:

“What did you love and hate, find helpful and unhelpful, about your own worship experiences through your faith journey to date?”

Answers will be posted by Wednesday. Click “Comment” below, and dive in. We welcome others outside of the class to answer the question as well, and to join our conversation. It will only enrich us and our class.

Dear friend Melissa, now in Toronto and with Roan and baby Benjamin David Sparhawk Bateman. Her style and heart, captured in the thick strength of her poetic voice, have always made a mark.

Enjoy.

www.myspace.com/ivypallas

P.S. Roan’s MySpace Art is here.

I was playing with my little guy on the trampoline, after a rousing game of football toss.

We “double bounce,” which means that when I come down on the tramp, he uses the momentum of my weight coming up to bounce on a tighter tramp – coupled with its upward force from my bounce.

The result? He shoots straight up, far higher than he could on his own!

I said, “Ben, I want to double-bounce you in life.” He said, “Huh?” I said, “You know, I want my work of bouncing to join your work of bouncing, and to launch you higher than I’ve ever gone.”

He said, “I get it, Dad. Maybe I’ll live past 100 ’cause you double-bounced me!” “Maybe, Ben,” I said. “But I expect the bigger bounce will be in the way you touch the world, change the world and stun the world with the love of God.”

“Yep,” he said. “I’ll do that.”

Right now I’m in Oakville, Ontario with Craig Douglas and the worship leadership crew of The Meeting House around the region. They are a church of a few thousand that is “church for those who don’t like church,” and blend a movement away from religious systems with emerging and ancient ideas of living faith in the world. They’re connected with the Brethren In Christ community, which Anita and I were connected with for years.

We’re having a retreat exploring some rich issues of the heart for worship leaders. Craig and his wife have a beautiful family, and its been fantastic to reconnect with my good friend, and senior pastor of The Meeting House, Tim Day. (Some of you may know of the teaching pastor, Bruxey Cavey).

Anyway, we head out now, so your prayers as you read this post would be so appreciated.

We’re doing some teaching, interaction, prayer ministry and song sharing, along with some delving into the heart, ancient ways, worship worldview and creative instinct.