Just for Fun - Can You Smell Something Fishy...?

Thia is the first in an occasional series 'Just for Fun' - for those familiar with Veggietales, its almost my homage to 'Silly Songs with Larry' - Silliness with David if you like. Hope you enjoy this trip into the depths of my mind.

Yesterday evening I was sat in the car parked by some sand dunes at the south end of Blackpool eating fish 'n' chips. As I looked down at the polystyrene tray in my lap I tried to lighten the mood with a silly pun - "It reminds me of that worship song - 'Our Cod is a great big Cod'". It wasn't really even that humorous (and it wasn't even cod - it was haddock!), but unfortunately the way my mind works, I spent most of the journey home writing my own version for my new title - so, just for fun, instead of a deep and meaningful Blog, I thought I'd share it with you... Here we go...

My Cod is a great big Cod
My Cod is a great big Cod
My Cod is a great big Cod
And it always comes with chips!

They wrap it up in paper and I take to the car
I know that it will stay real hot,
'Cause I'm not going far.
 And I soak it in vinegar, & sprinkle on some salt.
I know that fish will taste real good, as it go's down my throat!
(repeat chorus)

Once I'd finished my little ditty, I started think about other fishy worship songs and cam up with this list (the only rule is each fish can only be used once) - my apologies in advance for bad puns and to the original song writers.

There's a Plaice Where the Streets Shine.
Trout to the Lord
Shark the Herald Angels Sing
Praise Him on the Trumpet, The Psaltery & Carp
Mary's Koi Child
Prawn, in the Night, Mary's Child
Hake My Life & Let it Be
Praise my Sole the King of Heaven
Eel  our Nation
Thy Word is a Lamprey to my Feet
Coley is the Lord God Almighty

I'm sure there are others - can you think of any?

Music Has Charms to Soothe the Savage Beast...

After typing the above title, I've learned that its actually a misquote and should be 'Music Hath Charms to Soothe the Savage Breast...'. Written in 1697 by William Congreve its one of those phrases that has passed down through the ages and is still used in modern society. But whilst music may have charms to soothe the savage beast (or breast) it is also very capable of awakening the beast (or at least make it start growling).

Over the past twenty years or so I've attended and been a member of the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church and currently attend a Church of England Church, I've been a church council member, a Deacon and am now on the PCC. Whilst each different church has its own differences I've found that they also have many things in common - one of which is that in each Church I've been a member of (just had a though -perhaps its me!), there has been arguments and heated discussions over the music.

Earlier this year we had a series of services and sermons on the theme of worship that culminated in our church weekend away at Sneaton Castle in Whitby. During the weekend we took part in worship and joined in various teaching sessions and seminars on what worship is, what we should bring to it/how we should approach it etc. Music in itself wasn't given its own session, but mentioned in some of the teaching and seminars.

Music is always something I have loved and enjoyed. I play Guitar in the church worship group and 'sing' so it was nice to be able to get some of my views out in the open. Those who know me will also know I can at times be a little sarcastic and cynical and that some things I say should be taken with a small pinch of salt.

Following the church weekend, I've had Facebook correspondence and brief conversations with Pete Stoodley, our mission priest (who has unfortunately announced his resignation recently) regarding music within the Church and my views/comments that made me think.

The two comments that Pete brought up that I made during the sessions were 'Everything we play sounds the same' and, when asked what we going to do different next Sunday 'Try and be enthusiastic no matter what we're asked to play'.

I'm not the best musician in the world and I'm fully aware of my limitations (although I am trying to improve myself), but I've always said that whatever we're asked to play I will play to the best of my ability. But if I'm not really enjoying what I'm playing and singing, am I really giving it my best, or just going through the motions? Make sure you're in tune and time, get it finished and out the way - move on to the next song.

The Bible tells us that we are to '‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ (Luke 10:27) I think we can also add on 'with all your talent'. If God has given us a talent we should use it to its fullest.

Music does have an important role in churches, and not just as a part of worship. After the welcome at the door, the first impression and newcomer gets is the music as the congregation join in with the first hymn/song, if this is bad, what does it say about how we are using are God-given talents and how much we really love and want to praise him? Leading worship is not a performance as such, but we do need to be the best we can. Similarly we do need to think about the songs we pick and play - there's another saying - 'familiarity breeds contempt'. If everything we do sounds the same, then it all starts to blur together and can lose meaning. Whilst we want churches to be welcoming places, if I was coming back to church after a number of years, or coming for the first time, I wouldn't expect them to still be doing the same songs I sang when I was at school or last came to church.

There are no easy answers and you'll never please everyone. I've seen churches split themselves apart over what music they should use and its not the way the church is called to be.

Music maybe can soothe the savage beast - It'd be nice if it could also unite a congregation in worship.

Welcome to my World!

Hello! So here we are, my first post on my first blog - starting tweeting and blogging in the same week, whatever next! 

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be writing, so thought I'd start with the traditional 'all about me' post so here goes, (don't expect it to be too long!).

Who am I? My name is David Slaney, I'm over 30 and live in Bingley in God's own country, West Yorkshire.

I'm a mortgage broker during the week, I'm also a Husband, brother, son, uncle, grandchild, cousin, godparent, friend, Bradford City supporter (for my sins), worship leader, PCC member, Christian, musician(?), local explorer, occasional steward & frustrated screenwriter (honest!).

But is this who I am? I've seen and read other peoples explanations of who they are with a similar list, but when viewing it as a list, I realised, this isn't who I am, more what I am. The descriptions above are titles put upon me in different circumstances and situations - sometimes I only one of these things, sometimes more than one.But whether I'm being a mortgage broker or a worship leader I'm the same person underneath, which doesn't help explain who I am.

So, who am I? The honest answer is that I'm not always sure all I try to be is the best person I can be (but don't always get it right), maybe as I fill this blog with my ramblings we can discover some things about who I (and may be you) are. Let's journey together.

I hope to write about many things, one of the verses from one of my favourite songs says

'I remember this much

There is nothing

You shouldn't speak of

If you got something to say

And there is no one

To be scared of

Just get them out of the way'

This is going to be my inspiration (one of them anyway) If there is something I want to speak about I will.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts and hearing yours - welcome to my world!