JD, an iPod, a bathroom, a vocal warm-up... what else do you need...?

It was a Tuesday night a few weeks ago.  I was on a stage, sweating, singing, pray-thinking. About Jesus, my inadequacy, the art He makes out of my junk, the people in front of me and the art He wants to make out of their junk: the usual.

I looked up and noticed something I hadn’t noticed until that point… Probably because I had my eyes closed for most of the time… (the metaphors are kicking in).

Our resident lighting ‘artiste’ - “3rd  Grade” we call him - is a talented man.  I thought he must be pulling out the big guns and doing something extra spesh…  from the back of the building streaming toward me and over my head were hundreds of shafts of light, pulsing from a single point and fanning out toward a destination somewhere behind me.

It's 2009 and finally I am holding a finished, printed, real-life copy of our new project, dual title and all; a CROSS // the EARTH : TEAR DOWN THE WALLS.  it has no cover.

And already we’re receiving the letters. "i didn't receive the booklet", "did the recession bite your production budget?", "how am i supposed to open it?" etc....

and i have to laugh.. cause in my mind i thought it was obvious.. i thought it was genius.. no cover... a wall adorned with bill posters representing the EARTH... four triangles (representing four worship nights) revealing a CROSS.. As if to say the message of Christ is written across all things.. And all of this displayed without a cover; representing transparency; the walls removed; no reason to hide; just as we are; but by the grace of God.. and for added effect we'd put a paper sticker that you literally have to 'tear' to get into the album... But obviously not so obvious..  And apparently less than close to genius.. cause here i am spelling it out for everyone...

The clock on the microwave in our room flashes the all consuming reminder that we're no longer down-under... 3:45...3:45...3:46... After to two back-to-back flights of considerable length, I wake red-eyed, but full of life... You see jet-lag is a funny thing... On one hand you hate it knowing that the forthcoming day will bring with it a full load, as well as it's fair share of energy-zapping moments, and that you have definitely NOT caught enough Zzzzz's to fill the quota... But on the other hand, no-one's up yet, and you can't help but feel that the world is your oyster...

My wife is still in a time-change induced coma, so there's only one thing to do... Grab the camera and document the first few moments of the second-leg of our North America tour and spiritually, mentally and physically prepare for all that next two (and a bit) weeks will bring... Stretch, gym, eat, pray, read and admire creation... This morning's sky alone was worth waking up for...

Soo... I understand many of you who (if any of you) are looking at this blog may also be interested in something that exists to better the very thing we are all about bettering... See ‘UNITED’ is not actually ‘what we do’... It’s an extention of ‘what we do’... And ‘what we do’ is actually the same as what a lot of you do. Which is; Serve in our local church.  Being such, we have a little place set up that exists to assist others through sharing what we are learning and a little of who and what is inspiring us..... It’s humble beginnings, but it is something.... Our goal as with most of what we are doing is to make it better so we can all get better at building what God’s called us to build... So feel free to check it out... Leave a comment or ask a question.......

So I’m sittin in the airport lounge in abu dhabi. 15 hours or so from the sweetness of home. Plane delayed. Man snoring loud + public next to me. Been awake for too long. Listening to the fruits of the week’s labour. Actually that’s a gross understatement. More like the fruits of the collective labour of MANY over the last 6 months or more. (I just started and ended a sentence with the word ‘more’ - how novel). Anyway. Just spent 7 days on the flip-side of the planet. I participated in ‘colour’ london. Hugged my mum (whom I hadn’t seen for 4 weeks – mother’s day LOVE on that note). Royal Albert Hall. Amazing. Church at HS london. Amazing. Spent the best part of the week where england meets wales. Messing with sounds and talking about the injustices of european football. (for anyone who saw chelsea v barcelona). My primary reason for journeying half way round the world was to mix our new LIVE church album (faith+hope+love).  Sam gibson once again administered audio surgery. Many hours spent in the bat-cave. Listening. Tweaking. Listening. Tweaking. Etc. attended a surprise party for iris. Didn’t know anyone (including iris) but loved the people we met from ‘freedom church’ in hereford. Was inspired by their raw passion to see God move in their town. Seeing The local church in action is a beautiful thing. Ate thai food. Cruised the may-fair (which was a rather odd experience). Finished mix. Happy with combination of sounds. Drove through the early hours back to london. Caught up and got dreaming with the hillsong london crew. Lost my voice at the innauguaral hillsong london unders vs overs football match. (unders got up 4-2). Caught up briefly with old friends. Raced to airport. Scratched onto my flight. And here I am... Listening to a song called “Yahweh”.  In the United Arab Emirates. Wishing I was at home in church which is taking place as I type... The man next to me just kicked his snoring up 4db I reckon... God bless him..

ABU DHABI.

I’m convinced.
The cross is written across everything.
Fighting for our attention.
Disturbing us from the temporary.
Revealing what is eternal.
The unshakeable kingdom;

Faith.
Hope.
Love.

Is our Faith in circumstance. Or God’s word.
Is our Hope in the here and now. Or in the Cross.
Is our Love for consumption. Or for others.

The cross.
Written across all things.
Calling us toward the one thing.
Once you’ve seen it.
You’ll see it in everything.
And everything will change.
Love.

+jth

So I’m currently on the flip-side of the planet from home.. But my sister sent me this little vid of some of the happenings around the office, and I thought this little piece of cupid-initiative was too genius to not share with the world...

Brief set up; The HU communications crew, (obviously hard at work) decide to conference call ‘Caitlin’ from the youth dept & ‘Jack’ from the back dock (and then strategically disconnect themselves) so our two unsuspecting friends are left both under the impression that the other one made the initial call. This is what happened.... And at the time of posting they were still unaware that it was a blatant hook up prank at their expense... GOLDEN!
jth.