Word & Life Church, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Yesterday I arrived in Johannesburg with Delirious and the team for their South African tour; Johannesburg Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, and Hatfield Pretoria in six days! So why am I, Headteacher of Summerlea School, here?

Without going into detail, a series of circumstances, coincidences and the determination of Tim Jupp resulted in my school supporting a charity called "HOPEHIV"and in particular a project working with street kids in Durban.

So I am here to take Summerlea schools message of support out to Durban and return with a stronger more "real" link for the children in Rustington.

Day one was long and after an overnight flight Tim and I met up with some friends in Jo-burg and went to visit "The Carl Sithole centre" a community project and school in Soweto. The Salvation Army runs this centre almost exclusively for Aids orphans. What we saw there was extraordinary commitment and success in the face of massive difficulties, a fantastic tribute to unwavering determination and belief. Ironically it represents a perfect example of community learning striven for by many schools back in the UK. Our journey back through Soweto was a moving and sobering experience reminding us all of the absolute poverty for some and the shear enormity of the problems.

The evening brought another "first" for me in the shape of Delirious' Johannesburg show. Not having seen the band before I was looking forward to it, and it was great! The audience confirmed this from the first song with their dancing, singing and complete involvement. The band gave the five thousand five hundred people there a brilliant evening holding them almost silent sometimes with sensitive music and lyrics and really blasting them at other times. The thing that remains most in my mind is the way the band engaged almost personally with so many people, thanks for a great first day.

Fredag 25. November spilte Delirious? på Levende Ord i Bergen. Det var den beste konserten vi noen gang har vært på. Det er som om disse gutta fyller hele rommet når de spiller. De er skikkelig proffe, samtidig som de er avslappet og trygge.
 
Martin leste fra Bibelen og snakket om at Gud ville blåse liv i alle menighetene i Bergen, slik at han kan få fullført sin plan med vår by!
           
Vi vil takke Delirious? for at de ville komme til Bergen! Dere gjorde virkelig inntrykk på oss. Konserten var enorm, og vi som fikk prate med dere før og etter konserten merket at dere virkelig er gode folk som er oppriktig glad i Jesus!
Vi har sjelden møtt noen med en slik ydmyk og hjelpsom innstilling, og vi håper veldig sterkt at vi kan jobbe sammen med Delirious? senere.
 
 
Vennlig hilsen oss på Levende Ord i Bergen.
 
Må Herren rikelig velsigne dere! Vi ber om at alt Gud har lagt i hjertene deres skal fullføres

Rain Down - (Stu G Telecaster) Right, everything seems to be going ok...the crowd seem up for it tonight...they are sweating profusely already... it's very loud from up here...well done Mr Butcher...need to tune up Martins Les Paul

Feel It Coming On - (Stu G Tele - Martin LP) Martin has his Les Paul for awhile now...haven't heard this one much...quite a few golden oldies in there tonight...what's up with Stu G

Take Me Away - (Stu G Tele - Martin LP) There is definitely something going on with Stu G's guitar...doesn't look like it's hindering him too much...I'll try and catch his eye and see if he needs me...the other boys seem ok

Glorious - (Stu G Tele   - Martin LP) Need to start getting Stu G's Les Paul and the acoustic in tune now...then I can take a closer look at the Telecaster...this is an rubbish change coming up,...I had better put the acoustic on a small stand so it is easy to get to...oops I dropped it...got to flipping re-tune it now...this is cutting it fine...ok, Stu G first

With You - (Stu LP - Martin Ac   CAPO 5) Well that's a new one...there is a bit of an old string stuck in the tele's bridge...I will have to try and get that out without having to replace the string...his is fiddly...got it...now tune up the 135...everyone seems ok on stage still

Miracle Maker (Stu G 135) Oops, was away with the fairies then and totally forgot about Stu G's change...hope I didn't knock it out of tune in the rush...quick tune up on the acoustic...wow God is really here tonight...this is such a powerful song

Majesty (Stu G   135 -   Martin Ac) It's nice to be doing a gig back in the UK...this is a cool venue as well...but it is so flipping hot in here...time to tune up the Les Paul

(Inst) (Stu G LP - Martin Ac) Ah...I can rest a bit now...I wonder if I know anyone out there

History Maker (Stu G LP) That was the last time he uses the acoustic I think...I could put it away now...I'll keep it out in case he busts a string...I think I might have a little sit down.........just have a quick check on the boys...Stew seems to be looking at me...but I can't really see...Oh dear...something's up...I'll go over...his china cymbal stand has collapsed...a quick tighten and away we go

Now is the Time (Stu G LP) This one is much better now it's speeded up a bit

Bliss (Stu G LP) Bliss is a rocking song...everyone is going mental...my word do I need a wee...and there's still 4 songs to go...I hate having to stay on the stage sometimes...I wish I could just skulk off...time to tune up the Tele

Paint the Town Red (Stu G Tele) Old Hutchy boy has done a good job on this one...those lights look wicked

Every little Thing (Stu G Tele - Martin Rhodes) This is a beauty...the crowd are in fine voice tonight...Rhodes sounds a bit dodgy...I hope that fix I did on it during sound-check holds up alright...need to get both Les Pauls ready...I hope I will have time to change them both...oh yeah martin usually does that little slow bit...that should give me time to change Stu G first

God in Heaven (Stu G LP - Martin LP)Not long now...then the toilet is mine...oops...I think Stew needs me again...his China seems ok...his tambourine is in the way...quickly get that off...right...what shall I pack up first...hang on...martin is standing on the crowd again...Ians not around either...man I hate catching him when he does this...here is a reason they call me "petit Dave"

I Was Blind (Stu G LP - Martin LP) That's it... good show that one...now just pack down and home to my wife!

 

Here I am, on the plane home after a week of shows on the West coast of America. Another plastic meal, consumed from a plastic try with plastic utensils, man, who came up with the idea to replace solid objects with disposable items that are of no great beauty? Thankfully not all that surrounds is fake, the joy and pain of living, breathing, playing music that
moves people and presents the reality of the unseen is a pleasure to be part of.

Today's show was a little different as it was a free gig that the Church had put on to encourage their people to bring a friend along to, no production frills, just the music and the voices of hundreds of people, this is what reality is, the simple opportunity's that we have to present 'a new way of living' to our friend's!

I can't wait to get back home to the girls, once again life on the road is a paradox, you want to play and do what you live to do, but you miss the small incidental things of life like the bedtime story with your kids, a kiss goodnight and making sandwiches for school the next morning.

Anyway, must go there is more plastic on it's way around...

All that remains to be said is... "Stay Classy San Diego"

What I saw tonight was something I have not seen in a Christian "gig" in a long time maybe ever. I saw a group of English guy's get up there and play the songs that they have played before but tonight GOD showed up because they gave HIM place to do so. After the song Miracle Maker Marty started playing this simple yet familiar tune on his acoustic guitar then the other guys joined in and then you began to hear the Father speak.

Not through words of a preacher but through divinely inspired tunes and rhythms. What He was saying was, well you would have to ask the people who were there. One thing is for sure. We were all humbled by the King as he came into the room. Some began to cry. Others fell to there knees. While others, (like myself) just stood in awe of His Majesty.

Well done boys. Fling wide the gates.

And don't forget VOTE FOR JOYCE!

The Epistle of Hutch the Apostle of Light, to.....You

Grace, mercy and peace to all who read this and were actually in attendance at the mighty Riverside Church in California - delirium it was and Delirious they were. Exhort yourselves, all three thousand
of you who's self control in the worship department was blameless and insubordinate to a man. But know this, in the last hours of the night delirious and hilarious times did come, new songs, alongside loved
prisoners of our hearts likened with names as "My Glorious" walked the holy and loud road with names as "Paint the Town Red" and "Miracle Maker". Your servant and my father's beloved son writes this
with a gladdened faith and lit up lighting desk. I thank God, making good mention of Jupitus, John the Bassist, Martin the Lesser, Garrard the Great and Smithius. These brothers in arms travelled many
a mile to make it back to their very beloved Californius, preaching nothing lesser than the doctrine of rockus and rollius, holding the mystery of faith with a pure conscience. That we may lead a quiet and
reverent evening was not what our men in christ had in mind, with wrath, wah-wah's, and sustanus pedallicus the divine disciples sang with songs of exceedingly great and precious redemption.

I am writing to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that there is so much untapped wonder in the brothers that they find it a joyus thing to play their electric lyres and penny whistles not only in the warm and lovely Riversidicus, but also in all the places the Lord has put on their hearts over the coming millenia. And this very night Gregory Lauricus stood on the same platform as he bade many delights of the joy of knowing the Lord himself. These things I write to you that you may not sin, beware lest you fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the thought that you may otherwise have previous engagements whence these dedicated disciples come to your home town in the coming months and year to share with you the edificating joy of musical worship. Just ask our brothers and sisters in Riversidium who dedicated their Wednesday evening to make perfect their weakness as they jumped and sang all the way to heaven on earth. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be one of mind, live in peace, and in our dear brother's case Littlehampton. Grace be with you. Amen.