Bloggin is fun, and sometimes the only thing you can do in a bored spot. Right now i'm sat at a station wiring the sweat from my brow after missioning it across london. Man - i'm never eating veal again, after bein trapped in a carriage with a hundred other people. Note to self: remain in cushy bristol life for a bit longer. matt
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Friday, November 25, 2005
Incarnation
Not the second hand automobile users magazine but the theological doctrine that binds the Christian faith together.
This facet of Jesus has been fascinating me recently � I been grasping the truth that the incarnation is and trying to get a song out of it.
Jesus is God � Man. What does this mean for Christians? What is the significance to us that Jesus, the Messiah was God and Man, equally and complementarily? What does this teach us about God that we should be expressing in worship? Two thoughts have really taken root in my head
1. Jesus being a man dignifies the human race. Being born of a woman gives a dignity to the species � Jesus was like us, as were and are. Its as if Jesus being incarnated was a sign that the human body isn�t evil and something to be escaped, but that it works with the spirit to give us wholeness as beings. As Dave M often says, we are creatures as well as Spirit. The human body is some thing Jesus took � and whatever else we think about Jesus, he was sinless. So we see a model of humanity that is bodily - not other earthly or nebulous. If he wasn�t fully human, the power of the cross is hugely reduced. I think of Hebrews, a high priest who was tempted as were, and able to sympathise with our weaknesses. If Jesus hadn�t struggled with His vocation as Messiah (see Gethsemane � asking if there was anyway the cup could have been taken form Him) then he couldn�t sympathise with human struggles.
2. That Jesus was a baby (helpless) and a human (limited and, as a race, with fundamental problems) demonstrates to us something of God�s greatness and humility. That God could stoop down to our level shows us that he could not be reduced, weakened or affected by the stooping. His descent proves his everlasting greatness. He is secure in his reign and glory � not needing to trumpet the descent from the rooftops, but coming in humility to poverty. God is not insecure. God�s doing fine today. He�s doing great today.
The working title for the song is "We worship at the manger: / where God displayed his greatness". I think what�s important with this piece is to not reduce the mystery down to manageable terms, but to present some ideas and give space to wonder at God.
Peace y�all
Matt
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Fw: Word
Hey all just tryin something new. Clog or blog? You decide . Just coming back from london where caught up with a few blasts from the past in matt pat and beth w. Lovely people all - drank too much (well, for me. This is not an objective measure) but Hey. Hope you're all well , web. Matt
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Simple encounter
In the sub culture where I dwell (ipods, gigs and tours , funky arty weird) there is a high value placed on creativity. The most damning accusation that can be levelled at a new band is that "they sound just like ..." - the new is what's important, and the new frequently doesn't last more than a year. Note the procession of one album bands recently.
As a lead worshipper and muso, I act like a cultural sponge. I often soak worldly values and then work them out in an implicit manner. I beleive recently that I've swung too far into looking for the new in worship, being disatisfied with my songs if they don't match my wordly song writers head and desire to be cool.
This morning God humbled me, but humbled me with His Love so as to re-assure me and build me up eventually. There are a few songs I dislike because they are a bit cheesey. My ipod scanned to one of these this morning - I would usually skip on, but something began to stir. Then these words
"Now I am forgiven, I have been set free, by the blood of Jesus I have been made clean. Now I know of His mercy, because he died for me, i have been redeemed"
I've been struggling with some stuff - me stuff and relationship stuff. Now I know of His mercy toward sinful little inadequate me.
"My grace is sufficient for you; My power is made perfect in weakness" 2 Cor 12
So this simple little ditty and simple chords ( I V IV V I if your that way inclined, which I am) reached me and allowed god to speak to me.
I had a simple encounter with a truly staggeringly awesome god through a simple song. Tears on my face even, as I stood by the BRI waiting to cross Park row with the rest of Bristol.
Striving for perfection is worthy, but there comes a point when we need to rest from these endeavours and allow the gracious God to meet us where we are.
Matt Crossman
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
The God of all comfort
Currently in the middle of reading through 2 Corinthians.
I have been really struck with the reality of Paul's life and situation. Too often we see him with historical hindsight as a giant of faith, a semi-human hero of the Christian life for whom life was never a struggle and nothing evry slipped from his grasp.
Well, the reality of this man is quite different. And, in turn, the reality of living for and in Jesus is also quite different from the glorious procession of blessing that some advocate. Paul's claim to know the comfort of god is not an abstract concept. It comes from the deep struggle of a heart longing to serve god, and facing trouble and hardship on all sides, yet finding solace and hope in the presence of his father.
The first chapter begins with Paul reporting un explained troubles in Asia. there is specualtion thjat this may have something to do with the troubles he experienced in Ephesus as documented in Acts, but we aren't sure. What we are sure of is that this situation drove Paul to his lowest ebb, his long night of the soul. It says that he felt the sentence of death within him :
"We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life."
But this is not how it stayed:
"But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers."
If we pretend never to face any troubles, we cannot really find that peace that passess all understanding. Keep your front erected and never let God into the dark places - and they'll stay dark. Only that which is un-confessed cannot be forgiven.
Comfort is not trite, the spiritual equiavlent of a stroke and tea & sympathy. Comfort reaches you where you are, re-orientates you, and gives you renewed hope and vision for the future. It doesn't let you wallow, but refreshes you , lifts you to have another go.
peace Y'all
Matt Crossman
Thursday, September 01, 2005
His story
It all started with a relatively simple prayer. Having revisited some of the teaching from Soul in the City 2004 that i manifestly failed to live out, i began to pray each day as i walk the the three miles to work , "God, take my tiny spec of a breath of a life and merge it into what you're doing today, into your eternal story"
Its only been a week but most days now I get stopped by people in need - it started last thursday when I was driving my car down to the garage to get a new windscreen. Its about 8 am and it is throwing down with rain - seriously crazy weather. Im trying to get out of my tight little road when a car grinds to a halt round the corner - now im late and very pushed for time but I can't not help this woman trying to push AND steer her car into a safe position in the pouring rain - especially when I have such a massive corporate umbrella right next to me. So I jump out and help the best I can, and she's really grateful.
Last tuesday I got stopped in the street for directions and was able to help on my walk to work. this morning I was able to direct a desperate looking young couple to the emergency dental hospital when they stopped me in the street.
So i guess my blog related thought is this: that God is just waiting for us to step into his stuff, to accept His invitation to be set free to serve Him. I'm going to keep praying this prayer and see what happens - maybe i'll get to meet some of these people again someday, and be able to do a little to show them that some people in this world consider serving others not to be menial but to be the most worthy and fitting response to all that they've received.
Peace y'all
Matt
Matt Crossman
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Extravagance & costliness
Since returning from worthy farm alot has been spinning round my head. The elemental venue is such an amazing place, primariliy becuase of the huge amount of effort people put into to creating this haven in the mud.
I think of the moronic cow quiz team spending months getting ready for one night only - or Andy and Henrik producing a full on TV programme every night - or Greg and Claire organising everything, or all the team staying on their days off from work to stay up all night taking it all down only to collapse in a heap nursing wounds and scrapes and dreaming .
It doesn't make sense - on a cost benefit analysis it doesnt add up. Why do people do such things?
For me the key is extravagant worship - the whole venue is done for the glory of another, every effot and strain to show poeple what a redeemed, renewed and fulfilled community can acheive ....
So elemental team - thanks for breaking the alabaster jar all over glastonbury!
Matt
Matt Crossman
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Glastonbury
another year on the elemental venue has left me tired and aching, but bursting with ideas. It is so amazing to be around creative people for a week. Every year the team gets bigger and more diverse - this year we had more live artists, some Hip Hop MCs and garf artists in addition ot the guys who have been doing healing, dream interpretation and nature based stuff for many years.
Nowhere else on the site has such a mix of poeple. I already miss some members of the team, but get the feel that a community is developing, and that some of you lovely poeple will be part of my real non glastonbury life.
so thanks!
Matt Crossman
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