The Longing

Hi Dear Friends ..

Here's a little bit of newsy news from the world of insideout...

'The Story' takes shape.

We have had some opportunities to minister in different churches, particularly in the new context of 'the Story' package. This is an hour concert style multimedia event, through which we try to unpack this idea of God's overarching story and how we fit into it. It has been exciting to see it form and keep on organically forming as we sense God's leading and evaluate the best way this tool can serve and encourage churches. We had a fantastic morning at Warrandyte Community Church a couple of weeks ago to which we also took a band made up of some members of our church worship team. It has been so fun to work with these guys and we are hoping to keep working with them. We are going to have quite a few more of these as we begin to tour.

'The Tour' (for want of a better word ;).

We have been in the process (in all of our spare time- lol) of setting up a few different local and ministry opportunities to keep us busy till the end of the year. It looks like we will be coming to Adelaide in October, Canberra in November and Hobart in December so stay tuned to the website for all of those details..

Insideout on Praise Charts-

As mentioned in our last mailout, Praise Charts, which is an online worship music resource hub has featured 2 of our songs in their Song Quest program. You can still go online and rate them if you like ;) -

http://www.praisecharts.com/live/categories/Song-Quest/

Insideout on You Tube

Yes we have finally entered the 21st century and put some stuff on You Tube. Here are some links that help get a picture of what we are about and what we are doing

Insideout Worship (our mission statement I guess):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ4am5tBsak

The Story Tour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAIvwVMagJw

Who Will Stand? (for an example of the multimedia we use in concert):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6F0taeDT8Q

Just to finish....

I don't know about you, but I feel like I am constantly experiencing what I call 'the longing'...

This is a deep longing, a kind of great restlessness that keeps us always longing for more. More of God, more of life, more love, more depth, more richness, more of HIS kingdom evidenced in my own life and the life of the world around me.

What is it about 'the longing'?

Is it because we are in effect dual citizens of a spiritual, heavenly realm and a very now earthly realm?

Is it some kind of matrix like concept, that indeed the reality we experience is in fact, not full reality?

Is it the thing, the very thing, that tells us we are not of this world, that keeps us moving forward, unsettled with things the way they are?

This is characteristic of those who belong to him. Those whose hearts His spirit has placed a seal upon.

'The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less' 2 Cor 5: 5 (TMT)

I sit, as maybe you do in the tension of it, the often frustration, the wrestling, the often deep belly burning of it- I am challenged and encouraged- perhaps this is for us all..

Live in the longing

Live out of the longing...

Let is stir our hearts towards greater things...

Things that taste of heaven, Things that bring the reality of heaven here on earth.

'...those who hope in me will not be disappointed..'' Isaiah 49: 23..

Blessings

Daniel and Jess

(p.s. This is going on facebook :

(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Insideout/25120556911)

and Myspace (www.myspace.com/insideoutlife)....feel free to add comments, thoughts etc)

Song Quest

Hi all.

So it HAS been a long time since our last chat..

We have been busy busy settling into a new role at our church into which we have been pouring lots of creativity and energy  which has been really great, and important..

So what's happening with INSIDEOUT?

We have really been taking this time to seek God for HIS way forward for us and HIS timing with this ministry. Even though at times it seems like our work with our local church can so easily become the focus of our week, we really feel that there is a kind of synergy with our role at church and the wider ministry we are involved in and have seen God really moving and developing the worship life of our community which is so exciting..

We have a few new songs on the boil and have had the chance to lead worship for a few different events and churches. We have also had the chance to connect with other churches and worship pastors in Melbourne and establish some great networks which is a real blessing.

*Some exciting news*- which YOU may be able to be a part of - is that one of our songs has been published on the Praise Charts Website (an online worship resource) through Song Quest. It is up at the moment and people can review and rate the song. If it rates well and receives positive feedback, there is a possibility of Praise Charts publishing and distributing the song through their network.  

If you would like to help us get our songs out there- go to:

www.praisecharts.com/live  

If you scroll down you will see 'New Day' by us. Click on Full Story and you can rate it. In the next coming weeks, 'Who will Stand?' will be featured on there also..

This is really exciting for us, as we would love for people to be singing the songs. 

HAVING SAID THAT ....

We are looking into touring in the latter part of the year- Sept, Oct, Nov.  We will be touring a Worship/Multimedia concert style,  event called 'The Story', similar to our launch last year. So if you would like us to come to/back to your church please drop us a line.

'THE STORY' - is also now available on CD Baby for friends overseas and Itunes..

Just go to our  'Shop' page for links.

Here are a few closing thoughts that have been rolling around-

 'Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me ..I am the vine; You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing' John 15: 4-5

These verses are so challenging- But so important. They draw us back to a place of intimacy, not only in our worship, but in our own devotional lives with God.  It is so easy to slip into the routine of life that it is easy to keep functioning in our own strength and competency. This passage reminds us that nothing of significance can ever happen without HIM and the empowerment of HIS Spirit. What a challenge to us- To be living out of the overflow of his love and presence in our lives.  

A key passage for the life of a worshipper- Abide in HIM..

Blessings

Jess and Daniel Hammond