This is not so much a review, as a recommendation.

I recently ordered a copy of a brand new album by Chris Haines, entitled But God. From the moment I started listening I was repeatedly surprised by just how good this album is. The music is outstanding, the lyrics deeply scriptural, the overall impact uplifting and edifying.

This was all the more surprising because Chris is a friend, and I had no idea he was this good. We went to school together, and I recall the days of chastising him for his language (now thoroughly sanctified). I also remember this slightly chubby child strumming away at his electric guitar in music classes, little knowing his skills would develop to this extent.

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O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honours of Thy name.

This morning as I sat at the piano for a short devotional time I picked up the hymn book and on turning a few pages in was once again drawn to read the following words of John Wesley as he lays out his Directions on Singing.

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Reformed guys tend to argue that the baptism in the Spirit is equivalent to the work of the Spirit in us called ‘regeneration’, or the ‘new birth’. From this they deduce that all believers in Jesus (those who are genuinely born again) have already been baptised in the Spirit.

Depending on their particular degree of conservatism, they may argue for fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit as something experiential and known to you, the recipient, (check out some ‘Third Wave’ Reformed Charismatics like Wayne Grudem and Sam Storms). Or, they may simply not expect any felt experience of the Spirit whatsoever in the Christian life. You get it all at conversion. No doubt there are many nuanced positions somewhere in between.

Following on from a previous post about Authentic Worship, I recently watched this really helpful video short featuring Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Ministries talking about and encouraging the use of our bodies in our worship as we respond to Christ.

How would you personally respond to the question that Bob posed to Mark Dever and then further extends to you?

Really wanted to expand the reach of this great, encouraging testimony that was shared at our recent baptism service. May it stir your love for God and passion to share the gospel!

My name’s XXXX. I’ve been coming here for about 3 months after completing the Alpha Course, and this is my testimony: I thought I was happy before… I had dreams, most of which changed on a daily basis. CEO; Club-Owner… I remember one of my mates back at uni saying I should become a WWF wrestler once. It didn’t stick!

No matter where I was going in my life, or what was the top of my list for that day, God never featured. I believed there was something out there, but was never sure what, and it didn’t bother me. I had heard the name of Jesus, but he wasn’t a part of my life.

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