Sacredise

John van de Laar and I met a long time ago when I was beginning my spiritual search. He and his wife, Debbie, offered their home and wisdom at a time when I was asking some difficult questions about my future.

In my travels I drifted away from them and was reunited many years later. Now we are colleagues and each of us is working on the fringes of the church where the Spirit of God seems to blow most tempestuously – it’s an exciting place to be with a handful of intrepid sailors!

John has written an excellent book called “Food for the Road” and a CD of his compositions, both of which you can order from his new website. Have a look at the website while you’re at it. If you are anything like me, it’s easier to digest ideas in bite size chunks and you can subscribe to John’s regular newsletter from the site – it’s well worth it.

The Sacredise website and ezine offer resources and inspiration for worship and spirituality. If you need something to help you create a worship event or if you are looking for an interesting perspective on spirituality and issues of the day, I highly recommend John’s work.

I personally have admired John’s work because he integrates the art of worship and personal devotion with the critical thinking required of someone who takes the Gospel of Jesus seriously. That is not an easy task. I, like many, tend to be better at using the Gospel to reflect on the world around me, but not very creative when it comes to integrating that into worship or my own spirituality. Other’s seem very diligent and conscientious about creative worship and/or personal piety, but lack the edge when it comes to the interface at the church’s threshold. John is one of the few people whose example I look to help me find the balance.

Oh, and he’s a really good musician and worship leader. If you can get him to lead a worship seminar or take a service at your church, you’ll be blown away. I have enjoyed watching him weave some of the complex contradictions and cultural diversity of this continent into an exciting blend that grows one beyond the bounds of the conventional. That’s Gospel stuff anyway you look at it!

So check out Sacredise…