This is a little long, so bear with me. I just know I have to share it before I can move on to the rest of my work today. About 22 years ago, I remember hearing music by a particular songwriter that hit me like no other music had ever done before. I clearly remember the day I heard “I Surrender” for the first time, and wondering, “Who is this person, writing these words that are straight from my heart?” It was one of those landmark moments that sear themselves into your memory forever. There have been many songs since then that have left their mark, and there were many before, but nothing has ever eclipsed that first awareness of this man’s music. “I Surrender” still has the power to make me cry every time I hear it. A couple of years after that first impact, my path crossed with this songwriter, although we never actually met. For about three years, we were a part of the same huge church when my little congregation was more or less absorbed into the church he was such an integral part of. After that, life happened for both of us--as life has a way of doing--and our crossed paths became uncrossed. He left that church, and then we left in 2002. Yet, for all those years, even when Geoff was not in the public arena, I knew that the man who wrote those songs was someone with a heart for Jesus, and the gift of communicating that love in a way that resonated with others. Over two decades have flowed by since that first impact. Can you imagine what an incredible privilege I felt it was to have that same man, Geoff Bullock, minister over this last weekend at our little church in western Sydney. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a little hard to get out the door to any event these days, but I was incredibly blessed to be able to attend every one of the four sessions with Geoff (even the men’s breakfast, which was an unexpected bonus). What can I say? I’ve been chewing on Geoff’s ministry since Friday night, with more being added on Saturday and Sunday. His music was gentle and beautiful. All the “me focus” has been removed, and every song now reflects a maturity in Christ that is challenging in itself. As he led our congregation around Communion on Sunday, he played a song which I believe is probably his most beautiful to date, and when he finished the service with “The Power of Your Love”, I was in tears. However, as beautiful and moving as the music was, that wasn’t what left the greatest impression. Do you remember that song by Roberta Flack, “Killing Me Softly with His Song”? That was sort of how I felt after a weekend of ministry with Geoff, but more through his words and his message, than through his songs. With humility, grace and love, Geoff challenged us in a way that left me rethinking pretty much everything. I thought I had a good grasp on grace; I thought I had separated myself from all the religiousness and works; I think I thought wrong. Geoff spoke of the humanness of Christ in a way that held me captivated. I have not been so absorbed by a speaker for as long as I can remember. There have been good speakers, but none where I was leaning forward, at times, hanging on to what he was going to say next. Grace, love, grace, love, and then more grace and love. He painted Jesus in a way that brought him off the pages of the Bible and let us see Him in reality, and for today. Yes, it definitely did feel a little like Geoff was killing me softly through his song and his words, but in a good way. Killing that last bit of me that resists grace and forgiveness for all. Killing that last vestige of trying to earn my salvation. Killing that last little bit of religiousness; self-righteousness. There is a breath of fresh air flowing into the church, away from all the hype and bright lights. It’s bringing a desire to be real in our faith and relevant. All I can say is, thank God for Geoff Bullock, who is going where he is led and being faithful to the simplicity and reality of the Christ who came for all of us. I sincerely recommend Geoffs ministry to any church, here and overseas. He is a challenging breath of fresh air (and as Ive said before, being a breath of fresh air doesnt necessarily mean saying nice things and being encouraging. Its breathing life-giving truth into a dry, parched world, with a heart of grace and love.) ( Jan, I thought of you multiple times over the weekend. You would have had my cotton socks blessed off you!)
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 02:05:10 +0000
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