BOSH - What's going on?
Well. 2010 was the year we lost Grant and Matt, after six years of being a part of our band. That was hard. During those years we became very close, and we were friends before they were in the band! Now they've gone, it feels quite different.
Steve Coates joined the band, bringing his great talent to compliment James, Mike and myself. David Evans, our longtime collaborator, also plays for us when he can, but as an unofficial member.
Mike is at Uni in Bath, doing very well at his commercial music course, and gaining much respect with his new band, Jackhatch. So, we don't gig as much as we used to. But, that's ok. James, Steve and I are working on a new project called Chaos Curb with a few other people. Jackhatch and Chaos Curb have become our musical priorities for now - and the foreseeable future.
Excitingly, we are doing a one off show at Locks Heath near Southampton in March, and this will see a happy reunion with Matt - who happened to be in UK when Steve couldn't make the gig!
However, we can say that BOSH will rise again properly in the summer. In May we are playing at Grace Festivals (Sunday 1st May) in Street, Somerset. Then we are going to be releasing a new album called 'Fruit Tree'. There will be at least four new BOSH songs on it, as well as songs from good friends of ours - [dweeb], Tom Whitman, Adam Oxborrow and Steve Leach. We are going to tour the album in July, hitting Dorchester, Bournemouth, Salisbury, Lyme Regis, Exeter and Hook. Then we're heading to Slovakia to play at Camp Fest, and then doing some UK festivals.
We will be doing a huge free show in September, maybe two of them. So, plenty of BOSH action to come.
News on our promotional single for Fruit Tree, 'Calling' which is a collab with [dweeb] soon.
Cheers then!
Dave
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Friday, 30 July 2010
TOUCH SOMEBODY
Why bubbles?
Well, why not?
The bubble storm idea was born playing in a friends garden with my two-year-old, and her friends. There's something so beautifully unpredictable about the way the fly about after you have breathed them to life. A bit like us then?
God breathes life in to us, and we take flight, living life, until one-day, probably without much warning, our life here ends. So, there's one reason why bubbles are symbolic to us.
Another is that they represent freedom. God's life for us is not a series of set-piece actions that God makes us do to please him. We are free, born of Spirit and Water, to fly on the currents of the Holy Spirit. Sure, we need scripture and prayer and fellowship to maintain a level of safety as we fly, but we are more free than we realise in God's grace.
As we breathe in God's presence and Word, we breathe out his love and that is another picture for using bubbles. When we get together (as church) we form something wonderful and beautiful, and are able to make quite a scene! This is the ultimate meaning of what happened that sunny day in July 2010 in Bournemouth Square.
We hope you too will be inspired to breathe out love and touch somebody with you life.
Well, why not?
The bubble storm idea was born playing in a friends garden with my two-year-old, and her friends. There's something so beautifully unpredictable about the way the fly about after you have breathed them to life. A bit like us then?
God breathes life in to us, and we take flight, living life, until one-day, probably without much warning, our life here ends. So, there's one reason why bubbles are symbolic to us.
Another is that they represent freedom. God's life for us is not a series of set-piece actions that God makes us do to please him. We are free, born of Spirit and Water, to fly on the currents of the Holy Spirit. Sure, we need scripture and prayer and fellowship to maintain a level of safety as we fly, but we are more free than we realise in God's grace.
As we breathe in God's presence and Word, we breathe out his love and that is another picture for using bubbles. When we get together (as church) we form something wonderful and beautiful, and are able to make quite a scene! This is the ultimate meaning of what happened that sunny day in July 2010 in Bournemouth Square.
We hope you too will be inspired to breathe out love and touch somebody with you life.
BOSH: Touch Somebody - official music video from Dave Griffiths on Vimeo.
Monday, 21 June 2010
PRAYER FOR THE FATHERS HEART
This is my prayer
This is what I want
I want to be a Father.
I want to be a good Dad.
I want to have room in my heart for all the people you give me.
I have been wrapped up in myself.
I have been concerned for things that don't concern me.
I have been wasting time and energy on things that waste me.
Father God, I believe in you. I sense your heart for me. I get impressions of your thoughts for me. And they are unconditional in their loving intent for me.
I see that the greatest blessing is to be a blessing. The greatest thing in life is to give my heart to the people you give me. You have my heart, and you're giving it away.
I pray first for my own wife and children. That I may honour them and put them above myself. Help me to serve them joyfully. Help me be patient and understanding. Help me work hard.
God I need you to tenderise my heart. I need you ween me off the sour milk I drink of the world. I want your living water. I want to encounter the love-force that can change everything. I give you permission to ruin me for anything else. I want the purity of Jesus life in me.
Make me someone who can give and give and give. Bless and bless and bless. A father who knows how to build up his kids. Help me be like you are with me. So patient and gentle. So encouraging and genuine. You never trick me. You never patronise me. You give me security and peace unlike anything the world has to offer.
Lord, open the floodgates of my heart to pour out your perfect love. May my life be a song that is in tune with yours. Give me your eyes to see things how you see them. I surrender to you, perfect Father.
This is what I want
I want to be a Father.
I want to be a good Dad.
I want to have room in my heart for all the people you give me.
I have been wrapped up in myself.
I have been concerned for things that don't concern me.
I have been wasting time and energy on things that waste me.
Father God, I believe in you. I sense your heart for me. I get impressions of your thoughts for me. And they are unconditional in their loving intent for me.
I see that the greatest blessing is to be a blessing. The greatest thing in life is to give my heart to the people you give me. You have my heart, and you're giving it away.
I pray first for my own wife and children. That I may honour them and put them above myself. Help me to serve them joyfully. Help me be patient and understanding. Help me work hard.
God I need you to tenderise my heart. I need you ween me off the sour milk I drink of the world. I want your living water. I want to encounter the love-force that can change everything. I give you permission to ruin me for anything else. I want the purity of Jesus life in me.
Make me someone who can give and give and give. Bless and bless and bless. A father who knows how to build up his kids. Help me be like you are with me. So patient and gentle. So encouraging and genuine. You never trick me. You never patronise me. You give me security and peace unlike anything the world has to offer.
Lord, open the floodgates of my heart to pour out your perfect love. May my life be a song that is in tune with yours. Give me your eyes to see things how you see them. I surrender to you, perfect Father.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
HAIRCUTS
I won't name any names, but I have met a lot of people who are in bands or who are musicians who have really silly haircuts. In an effort to be 'relevant' or 'arty' they have these so called trendy 'do's. Even in the Christian scene, there seems to be this really nauseating need to play image games to the point where people just look like they are trying too hard.
I have been pondering on these things, wondering where the line is. Obviously, I am in a band, and we have discussed our 'image'. What is ok with God? How much should we change our appearance to appeal to certain people? How much should we mirror what the mainstream music industry does?
As I was reading Isaiah recently, the words of Chapter one verses 11 to 14 grabbed me...
Isaiah 1:11-14 (New International Version)
11 "The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?" says the LORD.
"I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
I felt that this is relating to how God can feel about our conduct in doing music, even when it's supposed to be a ministry. He doesn't want us to do as everyone else does, offering superficial and tired sacrifices; going through the motions on a well trodden path. I don't want to offer God more of what he has too much of. I don't want to just follow the rhetoric of what everyone else does, however tempting it is to be part of the throng and conform. I don't want to bring a meaningless offering. I feel conviction about how my attitude has sometimes been. I have sometimes worried that we don't have funky looking videos, cohesive clothing or interesting hair. In verse 14 God talks of 'your appointed feasts'. WE appointed these indulgences. They are not heaven-sent. God says they are even 'a burden to me'.
Later on, in Chapter 3, Isaiah talks more specifically about outward image.
Isaiah 3:16-24 (New International Version)
16 The LORD says,
"The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
tripping along with mincing steps,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the LORD will make their scalps bald."
18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, 19 the earrings and bracelets and veils, 20 the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings and nose rings, 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses 23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.
24 Instead of fragrance there will be a stench;
instead of a sash, a rope;
instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding.
Ok, let's be clear. My intention here is NOT to make this about women. Let's take it that this applies to all who put too much emphasis on the outward. Here, there is reference to all these accessories that the women (people) of the city of God (Zion) have indulged in. God is fed up with all the trinkets and shiny stuff. The last line really hit me hard. 'Instead of beauty, branding'. We live in a culture of branding, image and the outward appearance. Of course, here Isaiah is talking about cattle-branding, which disfigures the flesh and causes pain to the unfortunate soul being branded. And this is 'instead of beauty'.
What I feel so stirred to pray through and process is my hearts response to all the alluring trappings of conforming to the western world's value system, based on the skin-deep (or clothes deep!). I feel God tugging on my heart to push these things further and further down my priority list for the band. I am trained in graphic design and love visually stimulating artwork and clothing, but when this is more important to me than real heart connection to God and his values, this is bad news. I fear that so often we try and get the visual aspect of music and our image right more than chasing our calling in Christ.
Isaiah goes on to promise what the Lord offers instead...
Isaiah 4:4-6 (New International Version)
4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.
From this I get the impression that as the Lord leads us in his way, he will give us an OBVIOUS new image that cannot be hidden. Like smoke in the day and fire at night. When the Lord gives us his image, it will be striking and unforgettable. Let us use the 'spirit of judgement' and the 'spirit of fire', to judge our hearts to see where we've gone wrong, and then purge it from us for greater cleansing. Then his image will burn brightly in those who let him do this, or 'assemble there'.
Lord, I don't want to offend you my placing my energy, time and money in looking good. I don't want branding Father, I want beauty, your beauty. I want to offer you something truly of me, the individual you made me to be, and not some knock-off cloned effort. I will surrender to your will, and chase after your anointing and your Holy Spirit power. I want to see lives changed, and not because I have wicked hair cut, but because you are in me, and I in you. I shall let you judge my heart on this matter, so that you may cleanse me and that I may burn day and night with your image, your glory, who is Jesus Christ. Amen.
I have been pondering on these things, wondering where the line is. Obviously, I am in a band, and we have discussed our 'image'. What is ok with God? How much should we change our appearance to appeal to certain people? How much should we mirror what the mainstream music industry does?
As I was reading Isaiah recently, the words of Chapter one verses 11 to 14 grabbed me...
Isaiah 1:11-14 (New International Version)
11 "The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?" says the LORD.
"I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
I felt that this is relating to how God can feel about our conduct in doing music, even when it's supposed to be a ministry. He doesn't want us to do as everyone else does, offering superficial and tired sacrifices; going through the motions on a well trodden path. I don't want to offer God more of what he has too much of. I don't want to just follow the rhetoric of what everyone else does, however tempting it is to be part of the throng and conform. I don't want to bring a meaningless offering. I feel conviction about how my attitude has sometimes been. I have sometimes worried that we don't have funky looking videos, cohesive clothing or interesting hair. In verse 14 God talks of 'your appointed feasts'. WE appointed these indulgences. They are not heaven-sent. God says they are even 'a burden to me'.
Later on, in Chapter 3, Isaiah talks more specifically about outward image.
Isaiah 3:16-24 (New International Version)
16 The LORD says,
"The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
tripping along with mincing steps,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the LORD will make their scalps bald."
18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, 19 the earrings and bracelets and veils, 20 the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings and nose rings, 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses 23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.
24 Instead of fragrance there will be a stench;
instead of a sash, a rope;
instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding.
Ok, let's be clear. My intention here is NOT to make this about women. Let's take it that this applies to all who put too much emphasis on the outward. Here, there is reference to all these accessories that the women (people) of the city of God (Zion) have indulged in. God is fed up with all the trinkets and shiny stuff. The last line really hit me hard. 'Instead of beauty, branding'. We live in a culture of branding, image and the outward appearance. Of course, here Isaiah is talking about cattle-branding, which disfigures the flesh and causes pain to the unfortunate soul being branded. And this is 'instead of beauty'.
What I feel so stirred to pray through and process is my hearts response to all the alluring trappings of conforming to the western world's value system, based on the skin-deep (or clothes deep!). I feel God tugging on my heart to push these things further and further down my priority list for the band. I am trained in graphic design and love visually stimulating artwork and clothing, but when this is more important to me than real heart connection to God and his values, this is bad news. I fear that so often we try and get the visual aspect of music and our image right more than chasing our calling in Christ.
Isaiah goes on to promise what the Lord offers instead...
Isaiah 4:4-6 (New International Version)
4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.
From this I get the impression that as the Lord leads us in his way, he will give us an OBVIOUS new image that cannot be hidden. Like smoke in the day and fire at night. When the Lord gives us his image, it will be striking and unforgettable. Let us use the 'spirit of judgement' and the 'spirit of fire', to judge our hearts to see where we've gone wrong, and then purge it from us for greater cleansing. Then his image will burn brightly in those who let him do this, or 'assemble there'.
Lord, I don't want to offend you my placing my energy, time and money in looking good. I don't want branding Father, I want beauty, your beauty. I want to offer you something truly of me, the individual you made me to be, and not some knock-off cloned effort. I will surrender to your will, and chase after your anointing and your Holy Spirit power. I want to see lives changed, and not because I have wicked hair cut, but because you are in me, and I in you. I shall let you judge my heart on this matter, so that you may cleanse me and that I may burn day and night with your image, your glory, who is Jesus Christ. Amen.
Monday, 15 March 2010
THE GOODEST OF GOOD NIGHTS OUT
What is a good night out? How do we quantify good? The English tongue has a deliciously rich vocabulary but we tend to come back to words like 'good' an awful lot. Good. Goooooooood.
Last night we headlined at a benefit concert for the Haiti Hospital appeal in Yeovil. It was one of those nights where everything clicks. The sound, lights, other artists (all friends from the Nth - click here), the audience, and most importantly - the reason. The reason for the event was GOOD. All involved came away from Yeovil feeling like they were part of something that makes a difference in this world.
We do have a luxury in this Western society of being able to have a lot of fun in the name of a good cause. It's not something we should take for granted. Thank you Lord that we live in a stable and safe place, free from the terror of earthquakes and the like.
Isaiah 58 verses 6 to 12 talk about the kind of worship that God really wants. The prophet Isaiah is speaking to a nation in exile who had forgotten that they were a nation liberated from slavery in Egypt. Now they had really lost the plot of what pleases God; justice and mercy. Here is Isaiah calling out what really matters to God, and what will happen when that call is answered. It rings true for the church today, and moves me every time I read it...
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Check out the promises of God that follow the 'if's' in this passage, they are pretty stunning. When we respond to God's heart for justice, a blessing follows. But it's an IF.
When the good folk of Yeovil gathered last night, they gave, and responded. Now, God is being glorified as compassion s poured out. You have money in your pocket. What are you going to spend it on? Is there anything more amazing than using it to change someone's life and respond to the call of God for justice?
May we learn how much of a blessing it is to be able to bless. I pray the spirit of God show you the thrill of the adventure of justice. And, may we have many more truly GOOD nights like last night.
NB. You can still give to the Haiti Hospital Appeal. http://www.haitihospitalappeal.org/donate.html
Last night we headlined at a benefit concert for the Haiti Hospital appeal in Yeovil. It was one of those nights where everything clicks. The sound, lights, other artists (all friends from the Nth - click here), the audience, and most importantly - the reason. The reason for the event was GOOD. All involved came away from Yeovil feeling like they were part of something that makes a difference in this world.
We do have a luxury in this Western society of being able to have a lot of fun in the name of a good cause. It's not something we should take for granted. Thank you Lord that we live in a stable and safe place, free from the terror of earthquakes and the like.
Isaiah 58 verses 6 to 12 talk about the kind of worship that God really wants. The prophet Isaiah is speaking to a nation in exile who had forgotten that they were a nation liberated from slavery in Egypt. Now they had really lost the plot of what pleases God; justice and mercy. Here is Isaiah calling out what really matters to God, and what will happen when that call is answered. It rings true for the church today, and moves me every time I read it...
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Check out the promises of God that follow the 'if's' in this passage, they are pretty stunning. When we respond to God's heart for justice, a blessing follows. But it's an IF.
When the good folk of Yeovil gathered last night, they gave, and responded. Now, God is being glorified as compassion s poured out. You have money in your pocket. What are you going to spend it on? Is there anything more amazing than using it to change someone's life and respond to the call of God for justice?
May we learn how much of a blessing it is to be able to bless. I pray the spirit of God show you the thrill of the adventure of justice. And, may we have many more truly GOOD nights like last night.
NB. You can still give to the Haiti Hospital Appeal. http://www.haitihospitalappeal.org/donate.html
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