May this lyric be our prayer as we strive to bring hope in word and deed to our hope-less world:

“Upon injustice we will tell of our God – the hope of all hearts”

5 years ago, what was the biggest dream of your heart?
5 years ago I was playing in a Heavy Metal band, and all I wanted to do was become a rock star and tour the world.

Is that the current dream for Dan Ford?
Most definitely not. The current dream is live a life worth of the calling I have received, as someone redeemed by Christ’s death and resurrection, and tell others the Good News!

Why did you form the band ‘Dan Ford & the Goods’?
Initially I formed the band because I had a bunch of songs that were centered around God, and I wanted to play them with other Christians. But as I grew in knowledge of God and of our reason for being here, I realised that in everything we do we should be making the most of the situation to spread the gospel. So Dan Ford and The Goods became a platform for ministry. If the band ever ventures away from that then it’ll be time to call it quits.

Do you think Christians should pursue a career in music?

Hmm.. That’s a hard one. It’s something I’ve had to think about a lot. There is definitely a huge opportunity for muso’s to share the gospel with HEAPS of people. If you’re playing sold out gigs every night then you could possibly be bringing the message to hundreds of different people every week.

I think it depends on the individuals and their outlook on music. If music is your main ministry and there’s no other form of ministry you could be doing more effectively, then yeah you have grounds to pursue it as a career. If you’re not using music for ministry, then don’t pursue it.

A big problem is that if it becomes your career then it could possibly drag you away from church quite a lot. That’s definitely something to consider…

Have you ever thought that writing congregational worship music would be a better use of your time and talent?
Worship is definitely the most important type of music. At first I couldn’t write congregational music. It was too hard for me. I found I had to limit myself and simplify phrases to make it easier for a congregation to sing. But I have written a couple of songs now. I wish I had the talent to write congregational music more, lucky for me there’s some really talented people at my church who spit ‘em out like no tomorrow! But having said that I believe there needs to be more music which appeals to secular audiences, with lyrics that challenge people and create opportunities for the gospel to be explained. Both sides of Christian music are needed.

Check out some new music.

For a limited time… you can download free Hymns Page CXVI Album.

The guys who have put this album together want people to experience the theologically rich hymns that have lead us to so strongly pursue music as a way of spreading the gospel. They want to see hymns be sung and known again.

The slightly odd thing about this is that Page CXVI is an anonymous project and so as much as we may all like to know they won’t be able to answer any questions about who we are or provide band photos.

Click the link below and the album is sitting there waiting for you and anyone else who wants to download it. Feel free to re-blog this, email the link, or tweet about this while the album is still free.

The promotion runs from April 27th to May 4th.

The new hymns album will be available for a pre-order or instant digital download as well.

Audrey Assad has a beautiful voice. This song evokes in your heart a tone of reflection of our Christmas exceptions… Jesus came as a humble little baby, dependent, fleshly, weak and vulnerable… yet was God, clothed with all righteousness and power.

Could’ve come like a mighty storm
With all the strength of a hurricane

….You came like the winter snow
You were quiet

How does making music make you feel?
I think music helps you to use your imagination… like guided day dreaming? It can express many things and equally help you feel the things inside you that resonate with what is being played.

Why do you think humanity creates music?
Music is not bound by words, even music with words. The music can add meaning and context to the words, but I think a composer is not bound by words alone to express what feelings are inside, and what beauty, pain, passion, excitement, anger, etc. they see or find outside themselves. I think as human beings we have a need to express ourselves, and to share experience. I think there is also an element of escapism when listening to or playing music. It helps us forget about the ordinary and go to another place.

What do you see as the role of artists and creatives in our society?
I think the work that artists and creative people do helps us to think differently, to look at things in a different way, and to experience things differently. I hope that artists will continue to challenge and provoke us in these ways. I remember the conductor and educator Richard Gill saying to a group of kids at a schools concert something like “I don’t care if you don’t like a piece of music… what I care about is that you have an opinion”. Art requires the audience to participate with their brains. It is the reaction is good. Sometimes it take something shocking to force us to think.

And how about the role of the artist in the Christian community?
I think God gives you gifts, so use them. I don’t think everyone will be able to use all of their gifts and talents in church… that would be funny. You wouldn’t expect a surgeon to do surgery in church, even if it is amazing. I think it is amazing to have so many different kinds of people coming together under God’s teaching to praise and glorify him, and learn and grow in relationship with him and his people. And then to see all of them go out to their different jobs, families, friends and live changed lives that glorify God and point to Jesus.

I am a violinist, but at my church in Sydney I play the drums in the band… playing the drums certainly isn’t my vocation, but it is something I can do to serve people at church and it was something that was wanted and maybe needed. However I find it much more important to care for people, by listening to them, welcoming and befriending them, seeing them outside church things etc. I just want people not to neglect what needs to be done in church, and that isn’t always the thing you are the best at, maybe just competent at… or you are becoming competent at with God’s help.

How does the gospel inform your vocation as an musician?
I love playing music and if I get to do that as a job that is fantastic! I have to consider if that is the best way I can serve God. For now I think it is through music. I think that God puts you in certain places to witness about Jesus in that place. That will probably mean in most settings that colleagues and friends have to see that your life is different, that you care for people, or maybe other things that help them to trust you, before you get to tell them that Jesus loves them and they need saving, and that he is offering that because he died on the cross for them. This is all important work.

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Thomas is a husband to Lizzie and is currently pursuing opportunities with his violin in Berlin, Germany

BEAUTIFUL by Phil Wickham

I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful

The Welcome Wagon have released an album of modest folk music. Their songs are beautiful melodic takes on a vast history of hymns and songs of traditions, with lyrics that express a simple desire to know their Creator and express their faith through a beautifully modern and quirky sound.

With no musical background and after becoming Christians, this husband and wife duet set out to learn instruments so they could enjoy singing hymns with their family. You get a sense of this intimacy in the album, with its simplicity, the complimentary voices singing about their shared faith.

Their sweet and unassuming sound has been influenced and helped along by Sufjan Stevens, who produced and arranged the album.

It is a refreshing album helpful for quite reflection or perfect accompanying your Saturday coffee, toast and newspaper reading in the sunroom.

Without a Shepherd rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

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