The Message in a Bottle
This new live album written by people from The Message proclaims one thing: Jesus is the only one who can save.
As I listened to the first track I sensed this may just be another energetic yet generic praise and worship album. What I actually discovered throughout The Message in a bottle was that I was being taken on a journey.
The first spoken word track leads into four great songs offering praise and worship to God, with two lively songs developing into two slower songs for an opportunity to reflect. The next spoken track ‘How can I not go?’ is raw, poetic, thought-provoking and starts into a series of songs in which we ask how can we journey deeper with God and bring light to this world? This section also includes ‘Kingdom song’, a personal favourite because it’s reminiscent of the acoustic pop-punk offerings of my own youth. The next spoken track ‘The message is Jesus’ is from Andy Hawthorne himself, and reveals his passion for both The Message and ‘the message’ alike. The final four tracks are an acknowledgment of Jesus, his sacrifice and our subsequent desire to journey with him.
This album has been put together very cleverly, is performed by a talented group of musicians and sung by a variety of vocalists, keeping it fresh and different throughout.
Listening to this album encouraged me to ask questions about my own work and personal practices, and ultimately it’s reminded me that there is an amazing message to share throughout the world: ‘Jesus is the only one who can save’.
Jack Webster is children’s and youth outreach worker at Lakeside Community Church.
Just Show Up
Kara Tippetts died of cancer in March 2015 and is known by many for her blog at mundanefaithfulness.com. Here, Tippets and her close friend Buteyn alternate in telling their stories of life together in the shadow of Tippet’s illness.
This book is based on the truth of suffering and friendship lived out and not just a bullet point instruction manual. However, there are bountiful practical demonstrations of how to be there for someone in times of crisis that go a step beyond our genuine, but often unfulfilled offers to help. Each chapter ends with questions to encourage reflection.
Although both authors are American, it’s a sad reality of modern British life too that we need a book like this to remind us to ‘just show up’ – something that often sits uncomfortably with us. It’s a call to get over our fear of invading the Englishman’s castle and to live purposefully by intentionally nurturing community.
Just show up is a valuable book if you’re journeying with anyone who is suffering or if you crave to live ‘in a village and not on an island’ as Tippetts reflects. It’s a moving insight into how following God’s lead to look outside ourselves creates beautiful and raw relationships that reveal his grace and goodness in the midst of pain. If you’re itching to support others but don’t know where to start, read this book!
Laura Swan transcribes interviews for Premier Youthwork and wants to help change the world when she can find a babysitter!
SECOND CHANCE
Would you take a pill that would guarantee you a gold medal even if you knew it would kill you in five years? Billy Graham starts Second chance with this question which was posed to 198 athletes (rather alarmingly, more than half said they would) – these athletes want that gold medal more than life itself. There’s no doubt that winning gold will bring happiness and accomplishment, at least for a while, however, to gain worldly success but to lose your life is a massive sacrifice to give for something which is not eternal.
This short DVD follows the stories of three people, from very different walks of life, all of whom experienced challenges and successes which ultimately led them to discovering God. It explores the search for meaning in life, but looking in the wrong places. Many of us have worked with young people who are left disappointed by the temporary fix that status, materialism and success are able to give. The entire DVD is underpinned by Jesus’ message that giving up our lives to follow him results in us gaining more than we can imagine, including a life full of love, acceptance and peace. The film is interspersed with clips of Billy Graham delivering a powerful gospel message which adds drama and passion.
It is an overtly evangelistic resource – at the end there is the opportunity to pray a prayer of response. I would suggest that the length and issues addressed in the DVD (marital break-up and eating disorders) lends itself better to older young people. Perhaps it could be used well as an opener into a discussion around materialism and what constitutes a full life by the world’s standards.
Matt Williamson is a youth and children’s leader at St Mary’s church in Saffron Walden.
