The danny-d-b Guide to... worship

yo people yet another 'Danny-d-b guide to .....' hopefully the last one was insightful and inspiring and now on to my next passion as a Christian- Worship.

Yes despite the fact I have no musical talent (Though someone did say I once sounded around 50% in tune, which is interesting) times of worship are some my Favorite times (must come second to a group of mates getting together for food, laughter and bible studies!), though I do have to sometime tell my self that worship isn't for me, its telling God he's awesome and amazing and............ (you get the idea I'm not noting down all the words that could be associated with God, I think the internet might die if that happened)

so anyway on with the Guide

1. Don't be scared to look for others for inspiration
One of the biggest encouragement to me was something Aaron said to me once after he had lead worship, He said something along the lines of "when leading worship there are 3-4 people I pick out to check that I'm leading o.k., for example Johnny (bowly), Sam (sharp), but now you have added your self to the list"- yes the CU president looking to me for inspiration, which was scary but also good, so don't be scared to look at others to inspire you, even my self I've got people (for anyone who would like to know, the most common ones I pick up on are Jamie M, Bex W,Joe B, Mark D (when he is arround!) and halyes but there are others) I like to know where they are when worship is on, so if I'm needing a bit of a boost. so don't be scared to either look over to them or just try and pick out there voices and just go with them

2. Don't be intimidated by others  
sometimes we can put ourselves thinking "I'm no good at singing, I can do this, I'll just stand here and let the musoes (spelling?) do it" If God didn't want you to sing, he wouldn't of given you a voice, in my opinion, and at the end of the day, its not how it sounds thats important but the heart behind it,  and God's got a great 'auto tuner' anyway so it doesn't matter. if it helps close your eyes and block out everyone but you and God (I know that sometimes it good to pick up others and be inspired by them, and sometime (and for some people) its better to block them all out) so give everything you have to offer to God- this doesn't mean you have to shout your head off and try to defen everyone else (maybe I should tell my self that) but just try to give everything that you have to God

3. Worship isn't just singing- its part of everyday life
I've seen so many Christians sing cos they think thats worship and then do nothing else, even worship in the sence of getting together and singing songs is more than singing songs, its about coming to God and laying everything you have in front of him and saying (to quote one of my favorite worship songs)

"And take my life, let it be everything, all of me
Here I am, use me for Your glory
In everything I say and do, let my life honor You
Here I am living for Your glory"

Thats what worship is, giving everything you have and saying to God "this is what you have given me, how can I glorify you through it"
So worship is so much more than singing- everything we do could taken as an act of worship, if we let it glorify God (so things that don't glorify God, isn't worship- so no claiming watching TV is worship!) But if you can paint, or draw, or sew (and something else crafty) use the skills to glorify God, if you can cook, then make a meal, invite everyone round for said meal, then afterwards break in to singing or a bible study or something like that. If you can write poetry or something like that, then write poetry, God has given you some way to praise him, cos that is out purpose in life, to Glorify him.

but what happens if you think your not creative at all (I used to think that my self, but your made in the image of a creative job, everyone has some creativity, you just need more inspiring than others) then glorify God in other ways  be that person to who gets stuck in and helps with stuff. I've developed a bit of a 'catchphrase' "I'm here to help" and then someone replied to me "no your here to glorify God", so I went away and thought about it, and wondered "Why can't helping other be glorifying God" and it my view it can be, Something as simple as stacking or unstacking chairs can be done to glorify God, if its done with the right heart. At the end of the day Jesus came to serve not to be served, and we should aspire to be like Jesus, so we should be ready to serve (more on that a future blog) so don't be scared to 'worship' in everyday life, go that extra mile for someone, smile at that person who looks like there having a long day, hold open the door for that person with there handful, ask the person serving you in the shop how's there day going (though maybe not if there are 10 people waiting) and if they ask why, say your making there life better and glorifying God

as every if there are questions comments or anything else please do let me know- its great to here if the blog is being usefull- if its not then I'll stop but if it is, be an encouragment to me please and tell me, so I can be encouraged and in turn encourage others back

and on that bomb show, keep on rocking!

The danny-d-b Guide to... being a small grouper

(NB- small groups is just the term I'm using as its probably the term the most people are familiar with- as its what we call them in CU- however the information can be applied to any bible study based groups, small groups/cell groups/life groups/harvest groups/home groups e.c.t, (sorry if I forgot some I'm not perfect) though all small groups are different they still have that kind of core of getting together for fellowship and to study God's word)

I've pretty much been involved with small groups in one sense or another since I've become a Christian. Upon returning to secondary school after being saved over the summer, my new group of friends invited me to join their cell group, 6 months later, I was asked to join the leadership team which I was involved with for around a year and a half before stepping down as a leader (though I still attended) to concentrate on my A-levels to my 'youth' life group in my church before coming to univisity, and one of the first things that got me excited about CU was the fact there was small groups!! The entire idea of a group of friend getting together to hang out, study the bible, eat some food and have a time of fun and fellowship, just sums up what I love about being a Christian, and is something that I feel (and I hope other agree and I'm not just deluded) I'm both Gifted and Passionate about.

Small groups are a huge part of my life, and I owe so much to the people I've been involved with them in, to The cell group in hadfield (a part of Glossop) to giving me the first chance to lead, to Hannah and Gabriel who were the storhs small group leaders when I was there, and were an encouragement, inspirational and taught me so much (if i could be half the small group leaders that were I'd be happy) , to Heather and Katie, who have been 2 of the greatest people I've had the honor of leading along side, and I couldn't (or couldn't of been) the small group leader I've become with out them! and some of the funnest/most vivid memories have been small group related (weather it was bex W shouting "BIBLE, DAN" out of a room after I some how mannaged to forget my huge TNIV study bible, to  the pub after my first committee anouncement when I relised I was just a fresher and I had the role to lead some of the people I looked up to, respected, and in some ways 'feared' in my entire time at CU, introducing my self as heather, the very first town small group I lead, to me snoozing for an entire hour and missing the 2nd slobs after I took over to Andrea running around silently screaming after there was a spider down her top in the middle of a slobs prayer session, to my 'meant to live ring tone going off during prayer (which has Bex W in stitches to this day supposedly) to me calling Heather "my ex" and many other things which take to long to mension but I've enjoyed and have all been part of the small group experance- but anyway less on the introduction (yes all that was just the intro) and on with the blog

first point- small group leaders are probibly not biblical experts, and the members don't have to be!

Well I hope not at least, cos if thats the case I need to step down, cos I'm certainly not. This isn't to say that you could be a small group leader and not know the basics, but you don't need to be able to name all the old testerment kings, there wives and how each of the 12 disciples died and the ability to explain predestination in 20 seconds.  In fact in the 5 small groups I've been involved in, one 1 set leaders (to my knollage) had been to bible collage or anything similar (considering he was also the associate minister in my church back home). so definatly thats not needed. but thats one of the things I love about small groups, no matter if your a new Christian or someone who knows the bible back to front and can recite all the books in it backwards and forwards, everyone has a view on what the bible is saying (hopefully) which leads nicely on to my next point

The more you put in to small groups- the more you get out!

Well thats my experienced at least, the more you input the better, yes I'm sure there are times when you can just come in and listen to what people have to say, but the best bit of small groups in my opinion is the fact that everyone can get involved. no other part of Christian life really gives you as much chance to say what you think, what your struggling with, what you think of that bit of passage, what you need prayer for. no other part of Christian life in my opinion allows, or in someways demands so much involvement (the people who tend to coast in small groups tend to be people who don't get as much out of them) as the group is so small its a great way especially for new or nervous Christians to get involved, hopefully with out the fear of being rebuked and hopefully can be an encouraging and benifical to the people involved.

Small groups can be a stepping stone to bigger things


With out small groups I couldn't of done half the stuff I'd done in CU which in turn I'm stepping up hopefully to Church level. With out the worship we did as part of the small group when I was a new Christian I don't think I'd of developed the confidence to worship as loudly and as passionately as I do, without small groups and the disciplining I've revised thought that, I don't think I could be a disciple, a encourage and a mentor to others, without the chance to pray out in a small group I don't think I could of ever been able to pray out at CU meetings. small groups have given me a chance to lead and has allowed me to 'learn on the job' and to lead while still having that person over me to go to when things don't go to plan and has allowed me to be involved with people and enabling them.

small groups are a great time to try out gifts and skills, that develop as part of Christian life, and the more comfortable you are in using the gifts you have the stronger they become and the more confidant in using them you are.

Small groups work best when working as a team 


As I said above I couldn't of lead with any of the small groups I've lead with out the people I lead with, weather it was part of a team of 4 at the cell group in hadfield,  weather it was turning to heather when I needed a someone to help a discussion along when it either had come to a halt, or had got side tracked, or weather it was just helping Katie encourage the Ashenhurst bunch and channel there enthusiasm (and plus KG is awesome at organizing stuff something I fail at!) which allows me to bring my own strengths to the small group, my experience, my biblical knollage (though I'm learning just as much as everyone else!) and my pastoral skills, and my passion and enthusiasm, and ability to get 'stuck in and do the job needing doing' (but enough of me 'being big headed').

If small groups don't work together, then they just don't work, I'm not saying you have to agree on everything, but if your not going the same direction then they don't work, and I've heard stories in my time as a leader of bad stuff happening in a cell group (and in my group at home almost saw the group split over something tiny and insignificant). with small groups being (for lack of a better word) so small, every person is needed to bring the gifts they have, especialy on evangelistic nights, and when everyone doesn't pitch in and get involved they tend to be the ones that don't work.


so I hope this is usefull to people, gives an insite in to what small groups mean to me and hopefully inspire you to get more involved with small groups- at the end of the day every person in the small group is needed, and I'm no more imporant than any other member of the small group- a good small group leader just makes sure a discussion stays on track and gives the other members the chance to have their say, and encourages them to do that, so get involved- and if you have any questions or comments or pointers please do say

so on that bomb show keep on rocking
God bless
Dan Brown

The danny-d-b Guide to...

I've been thinking abour writing a series of blogs in a kind of 'how to do this' style- on various parts of Christian life, things like bible studies (e.g. small groups/life groups/ harvest groups/ cell groups e.c.t) worship (being 'good' at worship doesn't mean good at singing) and possibly a few others havn't quiet quite got a full list yet but I wanted to put a few things out before I started writing them

1. if its not included in the list doesn't mean its not important. I don't think I'm not going to do a blog on evendulisam for example- not because I don't think its important, its just that there are much better people (for example if you need advice on Evandulisam- speak to people like Iona/Laura/Joe/Jamie than me at it who can give much better advice- if you feel like you can do it then feel free to be inspired by my example (if my example in inspiring- some people have said it is, and if people arn't getting something positive out of my blogs then please tell me, there not here to make me feel big headed, there here to inspire/inform/excite!

2. I'm not the font of all knollage on these subjects, I'm not 'Mr small groups' or anything (as much as sometimes I occationaly think so, then I hear something awesome from town/storths which shows how amazing Ryan/Dave/Josh are (not that the girls arn't amazing- cos they are but calling them Mr would be instesting))

3. less of a point and more of encouragement- please feel free to comment on my blogs below- its been great for people to come talk to me about them and to say its a good read, its an encouragement to me (which is always needed what ever mood I'm in) and then I can carry on from there, however a comment to me might incourage others as well, or if you have a question about them- feel free to comment and try and get back to you ASAP (obviously if its persoanl might be better talking to me)  also if you have a point I've missed, not only does it help other people, it also helps me! so please do so

so please keep reading folks and if you feel inspired start your own- I mean at the moment I'm following 4/5 great blogs which are compleatly diffrent (Josh if you read you need to update yours more there hilarious!) Joe you always get something out deeply, Rosie's  blogs seem to be covering pretty much anything (I promise Rosie when I get some free time after my exams I will read more of them!) Jolita's blogs are a a real encouragement to read, especially if times seem hard of how dispight whats going on God is always good and I must of read 4-5 times though recently!) Dave's vlogs although something I'm going to catch up on seem to be something different and new and fresh and give a great incite in to someone who is passionate about music and worship

so on that bomb show keep on rocking and I hope to be posting the first guide soon
God bless
Dan

How offen can we get dragged in to an effect of getting warn out and warn down- how often can something that only weeks before we were jumping around being happy to do, the next your stuggling to even work out how to move on

This happened to me last week

most people will prob say one of the big things is my love for all things food related, after all if i'm not eating I'm thinking about food either in a science or a genraly eating sence, 9/10 and even took up the 'offical' title (Aaron 'hired me' after houseparty last year) to be CU foody (don't wory Katie has now taken over that roll- blame Matt H)

However last week I was sat arround trying to get motivated to do anything, even my some of my most favorate area's of my degree (e.g. things like the digestive system which I normally find intresting and amazed by how complated it is, and yet how it all fits together and works so well 90% of time) just seemed to be failing to inspire me

However this wasn't just in my uni life- this was effecting my walk with God as well, even reading my bible seemed more of a chore than a blessing (and this is from a guy who runs a small group week in week out) everything seemed to be same old things

however one week on things have changed hopefully for the better, I'm seemingly back to my normal happy self

so whats changed this week

First of all I've changed my revision  plans completely- Rather than locking myself away from hours on end I've desided to spend more time either in the front room of my house- or the FC, I was worried I'd be getting distracted and not working- however all I was doing in my room was getting lonely, depressed and rather than working spending hours on various gaming sights rather than working

secondly I've got back in to Church- there had been occations where I'd not go cos I though my time would be better spent working- however I'd spend prob more time trying to chear myself up on things that were doing nothing for either my uni work or my Christian walk, and in some cases- determental to this. However I went to the morning service at community- something that I'd not done in what seemed like months, and for the first time ever I've felt that worship was actually meaning something- That at last I'd found something to be inspired about

so offen we can look to earthly things to inspire us, in my case I'd look to food, and well it wasn't doing it Job- Why, beacuse its something earthly and flawed, and as much as I love food and amazed at how complex the human body's digestive system is, I was failing to see the fact that our Father, the Creator of the universe and the stars spent the time to make sure that our digestive system would work

For example the acid in our stomachs is strong enough to digest metal- and can deal with the huge amount microrgansiams that enter our bodys from food (considering food is foreign, that fact that we don't get food poisoning more often is amazing in my view). however even more amazing than that (well to me at least) is the fact the the stumuch produces huge amounds of bile and other checmicals that make sure if doesn't digest its self)

but the most important thing is our God made that, He took the time out of making sure that stars and moons are doing what they do- to make sure that we could digest the foods we eat, that we could survive life on earth

(anyway off biology and on to something that normal people might get!)

So if we shouldn't be looking to earthly things to inspire us, what should we be looking to

Well as hard as it can be if we find it a chore- look to the bible- however if reading it alone is a chore, ask someone to read with you, there are plenty of people I'm sure who are happy to sit down and go through a passge with you- there should be people in your church who will do it, if not I'm sure various small group leaders and other people in the CU are happy to sit down with you and just read though something

However don't push on alone if its not working- trying to read the bible when stressed most offen than not ends up with you throwing it accross the room if your find a bit you don't understand (and your less likely to understand becuase your stressed and your mind is thinking about other things then your not going to be thinking right. so look at a new way of looking at it, as said study with someone else, get some study notes, or even listen to people talking about certan passages online

2. look to Christian friends and family.
So offen we can think that the things we are stuggling with, are things no one else stuggels with. its sometimes hard to look at other Christians and think that we are the only people who stuggle with that, as someone once said to me, your can't have a testomony with out a test, and its rare for christians to go an entire life time with out feeling Dry and almost as if God is ignoring them, some times even it can go from a time where someone is realy up for God, and then fall away- this isn't God abanading the person, but a lession in learning that we are human beings and thus arn't strong enough to survive with out other people- I reading someones facebook status and it said this "depression isn't a sigh on weekness, its a sign that the person has been strong for too long" it says in the bible that is is not good for man to be alone- by this God didn't mean if your single your bad, but that if you try and be a Christian on your own, your fine for a while, but when you trip up and go the wrong way, you tend to find there is no one around to pick you up, and if you feel that you can't turn to God, and there arn't other christians you can't turn to, then you tend to do a 180 and start going the wrong way, and short of being eaten by a 'big fish' it can be hard to get back on the path to God alone. so try opening up to someone, there are plenty of people who are happy to listen and to talk and to pray for you, (and if your too scare to ask someone, please feel free to come talk to me, who ever you are, I'm always happy to put time aside for you, well I should be)

3. Get back in to Church
The church is the body of Christ, as Christians we are supposed to be in the body, which means in a church. so offen we can get scared of people asking us how we are and if there is anything up, and worrying what they will think of us if we mess up. However thats us thinking that we are inferiour to everyone else, when we aren't- we are all parts of the body, and we are on a level with anyone else, and I'm sure there are just as many people who look up to you as there is that you look up to and its a running circle- the people you look up to, they were once in the possition that you where, looking up to someone else, just in the same way a few years down the line, people will be looking up to you. So get back in to church and find someone to open up to, rather than looking at awe at someone cos there a 'super chrisitian' talk to them, ask them to help you, I'm sure many church leaders/student workers/ex-students/older students you can talk to

4. Do something fresh and new
as said in one of my earlyer blogs, doing the same thing over and over again can get repetative and stagnanent- Christian life is like a river- if your not moving forwards you tend to be either going backwords or stagnating, neither are good places to be, and lead to problems- push in to God and push in to Church and Cu life- risk answering that question in small groups, risk going to a prayer meeting an saying something, risk going and talking to a speacker after a church servace or CU meeting and asking that question you had, Risk asking someone to pray for you about something

and on that bomb show keep on rocking!

Love?!?

(NB-this isn't to say Joe's blog is wrong- this is just a diffrent way of looking at love- in fact Joe's blog is awesome- I instruct you to go read it now, and while your at it read Rosie's too, and while your doing that load up Dave's youtube Vlog, )

So this is a blog on love, now just because I'm not Mr Romatic doesn't mean I don't know about love (after all romance is just an aspect of love) so lets look at the love,  first from the bible, secondly from a great christian auther called Shane Claiborne from a book "the irresisitible reverloution" which I'd love to lend to people its a great book for people wanting more on how to be 'a chrisitian lover'  (more on that later)

First of all- what is love

if you would like to find your bible and turn to 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (note if you can't be botherd finding your bible, God invented Bible gateway for a reason, for the even less bother I'll copy and paste what the NIV says)

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

In short to love someone is to want whats best for them- This applys to all forms of love, Love for your family, love for God, love for your girlfriend/boyfriend/lets not get in to it, love for your mates, love for non chrisitians and any other love type there is (other than maybe possetions- I as much as I love food, I don't think eating it is whats best for the food!)

Now love isn't wanting whats best for them short term- after all we could go round buying everyone ice cream, if that was love, and yep everyone would love you to begin with, but then people might start wondering if you were trying to pay them to like you, other people would just get fat off the ice cream and start blaming you and your bank mannager will prob be angry at you for blowing your lifes savivings so you can give that one person you met for 3 seconds while visiting a relative some ben and jerrys.

No love is wanting whats best for them over all, both long and short term- take an example (sorry Boys, first example that popped in to my head, I'm sure you could replace this with something a little less girly- I'm sure you could replace going out with football or something), a friend is going for a night out, and asks you what you think- and they don't look nice at all 

If you were 'loving' them short term you would say they look lovely and there is nothing wrong at them at all, They smile and feel happy, then turn up at the party and either get laughed at for looking stupid, or get talked about behind there back 

If you where loving them long term you would prob tell them that they looked horrible and should never ever go out like that again. You have saved them from getting laughed at, but you also blew up there self confidance 

so you be truthfull but in a way thats helps them both long and short term (e.g. something along the lines of, your hair needs sorting out, come one I'll come help you with it) 

anyway- So love is wanting whats best for the people you love, But who should you love you ask, luckly thats in the bible (and something thats prob going to get put on my gravestone if I say it anymore) 

if you want to fish out your bibles again and turn to Mark 12:30-31

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

there are actually 3 groups of people you need to love, lets look at each in term (note for the passage to work, you need to apply all 3 at the same time, if one is missing, they all tend to be)

Love your..... self 
O.k. this one is slightly derived but its still important, You need to love your self,
Now loving your self isn't being arrogent, but your not going to be in a possiton to love anyone, if your hating your self and can't think anything possibive in life your not going to be able to do much
so how do we want whats for ourselfs

First of all Get in Gods word- God Loves us, and the bible is a love letter from him if we relises How God loves us, we can love ourselfs for the same reasons. obviously this isn't getting to the point where we get arrogent and start boasting left right and center (cos that isn't loving others)  but relising God works though each of us, beacuse he loves us dispite our sin and human failings, and we can rejoice

Love your neighbour
Right so lets start applying this to others, First of all your neighborer is everyone you interact with, That friend of yours you laugh and joke with- thats your neighbor, that Non-Christian course mate- thats your neighbor, that person you walk past everyday but never talk to, Thats your neighbor

So how do we love them, Well obviously telling them that jesus loves tham and wants to be in a relationship with them, but there is more to love than just evangelism  (I can't currently find the quote but when I do I'll post it)

anyway to bring Shane Claiborne in to and what love is I'll give you a brief rundown of who he is and what he does. He's an american Christian who has spends his life helping out the homeless and the helpless in america- He doesn't do this by sending money or cloaths or something like that, but he lives with them and activly involves himself in there troubles (if you have spair time and feel you have a calling to help the poor- or if you don't and just want to know more about the book, I have a copy of it and am happy to lend it to all) but there is a line in there (I hope so at least, or my memories failing) where he says he doesn't want to be known as a evendulisit or anything like that, But he wants to be known as a lover,  and thats something that has inspired me, because whats the point of evendulising to someone who is hungry- yep there saved, but if they die of manultrtion while your sat there getting fat, because you stoped when they got saved, are you a murder?

Loveing God
Well God wants to have a relationship with us, thats what we are here to do, to be in relationship and gloryfy him, and thats not just what we do in our public lives, or our 'church' lives (or 'CU' lives) but what we do every second of everyday. we need to make sure that God is the one we turn to in times of need, and God we prase in times of rejoying- for with out him we wouldn't even be here

So to sum up, love is doing what is best for a person, and if you don't know, put your self in that possiton and work out whats best for them that way. Now you may say well my love for my girlfirend/boyfrend is diffrent to my love for my mate

You still love your mates, and as an extension of that want whats best for them, its just what might be best form them might not be best for your girlfriend/boyfriend (kissing your best mate on the lips is prob not a good idea especialy if the girl friends/boyfriend is in the same room- then kissing your girlfrind/boyfriend full on is prob not good in front of a room of mates- unless you like the joky cat calls (or you have diffrent mates to mine!)

So my advice to you is this- Aspire to be lovers, not the soppy romantic fools to everyone, but to want whats best for the people around you, including yourself and God, be more than just an evangelist or a prayerer, or a worshiper or any other

BE A LOVER

its a biblical commandment to love!

so on that bomb show Good morning