Adam Baker Music

Coffee Break http://www.coffeebreakfrench.com/

One of our favoured language tools! The free podcasts are very good, and they are helping us a lot as we learn french

Check it out for free

I recently discovered Fiverr.com, its really cool I have used it for some things but I am also offering some things to for 5 dollars. See Hi,

Check out my new Gig on Fiverr.com: http://fiverr.com/adambakermusic/teach-you-one-of-my-recipes-via-skype?utm_medium=s_ms&utm_source=el_at&utm_term=na

and there are more…

I had a great gig on Friday in Le Citron, a really lovely concert, great sound, lighting and a great audience.

I borrowed Estelle Mey’s band for the song “New Day” to finish the night, a very good experience, nice wee band I had!

I also enjoyed seeing a  bit of the city with some friends pre-concert, post concert and busking the enxt day! All in all I had a great time. Some pictures should follow soon.

The BBC article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22294205 challenged me and raised some questions in my mind. Please read through it, it has a lot of thought provoking comments and challenging points. It made me think of “Christian” volunteering and “Mission” work. As someone moving towards living in Senegal and working amongst street children this article offered many important questions. Like what will my attitude be…will I serve or learn to serve?

The challenging point

We must stop volunteering abroad from becoming about us fulfilling our dreams of being heroes

could apply not only to “Christian” compassionate projects but even “mission” contexts. Many Christians are motivated towards the kind of volunteering the article speaks of and maybe we need to ask why? Is it because they are really fulfilling some selfish desire…or perhaps it is to feel better about their wealth and their blood diamond fashion accessories. Or for those “sharing the gospel” does it become more about them and their gospel rather than The Gospel? I found this article challenging on these levels. What should motivate or drive Christians working oversea’s. 

In the article the writer finishes saying,

We can encourage young people to move from serving, to learning how to serve. It’s a small change in vocabulary, but it can have a big impact on our futures.

I hope that this is my motivation or at least in part. I am motivated by the fact that when I read the Bible I see that God’s heart is for justice, the poor and the oppressed. As Christians I feel it is right to respond to the social needs of the oppressed for the sake of justice. not purely out of pity but out of the conviction that no person should be exploited, poor, abused. And also that we ought to live for changing the systems, the people involved and standing with the oppressed. Moving from serving to learning how to serve…transitioning to come alongside the poor and learn from them. To really share Jesus and not to talk about Him as we know or understand Him to be. It’s very relational. It’s probably going to be harder. 

I think for many who are so motivated by “sharing the gospel” and their version of the gospel they miss the learning bit. So convinced that their version is where it’s at they can only preach and not learn. It reinforces the”white man” is better attitude and that because the white man says it then it has more authority just because of it’s white origin. And it’s difficult for some evangelicals to let go of traditions of evangelism, and ideas of the gospel because its become so much part of their spirituality and their life. But maybe stepping back and asking…what attitudes are we communicating in our work? What messages are we sending? 

Is there a more relational, natural, organic and authentic way to share life and faith with other people?

And for the poor…what do they really need? How can we be with them not over and above “serving”.

When do we move from selfish desires to convert people, or help people to growing together and learning together?

Tonight I am out with some french folks, speaking some english and helping them in exchange for some french chat after! The English gang (the group’s name) are a cool bunch of people and sharing language learning in this way is lots of fun!

Le Vendredi Soir! I will be playing with Estelle Mey in the Citron, Old town of Lyon 21h. its gona be an awesome night. I hope you might come along and say hello

Recently we were leading some seminars at Go 2013 about working with Children in Crisis.

We shared the STOP model (Phylis Kilbourn) a way of thinking and approaching intervention into trauma.

It proposes that children affected by trauma experience loss and the losses need to be restored. 

Structure - children who have experienced trauma need to have structures replaced and restored. External structures can provide, safe, predictable and trustworthy boundaries. This can bring much healing and security.

Talking and time - children ened to be able to share their experience and be listened to. Children need time to heal, to forgive and grieve. 

Organized Play - Children need to play, to learn and create. Play can help children process, think and communicate.

Parental Care - children need the love and care of someone who will love them unconditionally.

This is a very brief summary of the model to find out more read “Healing the Children of War: Phylis Kilbourn” or come to the training course at Bulstrode this September. You can email contact@adambakermusic.co.uk to find out more about the course led by Roy Bishop.