Billy Stewart Sings 'Summertime'

I'm on holidays this week and have discovered the music of Billy Stewart. I'm listening to his version of 'Summertime'.

He made this arrangement of Summertime when he was only 29 - (fantastic achievement!) - then died in a car accident only a few years later. What a loss. You can find his music on iTunes if you are interested.

Coincidentally, being 35, I have been aware of my own mortality in the last year. I was thinking - if I was to live out an Australian average male age, I would have maybe 45 years or so left to live...although I like to think of it as being half way to heaven (if not way more than half, only God knows that one) now.

Being a bit slow on the uptake, being much more aware of my mortality has been truly, marvellously liberating.

Paul, when he was commenting on those who preached the gospel out of false motives in Philippians, could say 'What does it matter? the important thing is the gospel is preached'.

It feels kind of like that. Time is short. Petty things become clearer. Forgiveness seems to come easier with a 'forward to heaven' perspective. Seeing what is important and decision making becomes sharper and much more fun!

This may seem like a morbid post, but actually it's a post about Christian freedom!

Incidentally, have you noticed how hard it is to find the definitive 80s music collection??

A Trip to the Barber

...Samuel Barber, that is.

I have taken to listening to music again after a (very) sustained absence. Music adds colour and vitality to our lives, yes?

Recently I bought some music I last heard when I was 16. I saw then a film called Casualties of War. Throughout this harrowing movie was a beautiful piece of classical music by Samuel Barber - his Adagio for Strings, Op. 11. I now have it again - click to listen to a sample of it here (it's track 11).

Freedom Unlocked

Christ is true freedom unlocked.

I've been reading through 2 Timothy, 1 Peter and started 1 Corinthians (which is our church's new series for this term). This impression is with me from an overall 'survey' reading of each letter (without going into the detail yet!).

These thoughts come to mind - resolve to persevere in Christ from a discovery of the truth in Him; an underlying contentedness, assurance and peace from that same truth; acceptance of what is happening and about to happen because of the truth; and an other-centredness from God - a further resolve to bring other people to the truth of Christ.

There is an unlocking of true freedom in Paul's life and Peter's. Everything is clear now in their purpose and lives. There is an underlying calmness and strength in their letters to Christians.

Hope I'm not being too fuzzy and vague here...I guess impressions can be like that!