And so it was a few days back, I started my worship prep for Sunday 26 October. I go online to my go-to lectionary links with Vanderbilt University in the USA. I see Psalm 84:1-7. The psalm begins with 

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.

and in verse 10 exclaims:

For a day in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than live in the tents of wickedness.

Many a worship song – recent and traditional has taken up the psalmist’s words. Here’s one from Matt Redman …

I’m reminded of a few things:

• how the Hebrew people believed that the temple was THE place where the presence of God was experienced… and people for centuries would pilgrimage to the Jerusalem temple to experience that presence
• Our Holy Land trip just under 15 years ago, standing in an open paved Jerusalem quadrangle toward the Western (or “Wailing”) wall – the mostly holy of sites for the Jewish people – the remains of Solomon’s 2nd temple. Where in their eyes and hearts and sensing, God dwelt.

Now, as a Christian for almost 55 years, I too have know the presence of God in the “temples” of my time – city cathedrals, country churches, remote Iona Abbey.

But Christian belief says that God is not uniquely and only known in a formal worshipping place. I’ve known God’s presence while falling asleep in my early 20s under rain-soaked rainforested foliage on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. I’ve sensed God’s presence in the sacrificial love of my life partner Dale and close friends, in evocative poetry, music and visual art; in profound worship songs in which it seemed God was engaging intimately with me. In the squeal and smile of an infant child.

So, my musing for 26 October takes me in that general direction. 
I’m reminded how in the early 1980’s while attending a little country church at Lowood in the Brisbane valley, attending a weekly home group where – under the leadership of under David – we explored a spiritual classic: Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God.

Lawrence had profound experience of experiencing Gods presence in the everyday of life – in seemingly mundane tasks like washing the dishes.

I wanted to bring some of that into song. A few lyrical phrases (with accompanying musical sequence) emerged, as they always seem to. Phrases like:
– I love to be in your presence, God
– God, come dwell within me … within us

I especially resonated with that second one. So, as I tend to do these days, I went to AI, via chatgpt.com and asked for info as to why and how our Jewish friends find such importance in believing that God dwells particularly in the temple and within that space, they are blessed.

Well, little did I know what CHATGPT would almost ‘spew’ back at me. Yes, historical, religi0us and cultural info – which I appreciated. Then, sensing (go figure!) my Christian faith asked whether I’d like a short reflective song – lyrics and melody (& chords) with this in mind. I said, “Yes”. While I kept responding “Yes”, it kept offering me devotional options. Full hymn-like or contemporary-styled poems to put to song. Congregational spoken prayer responses. It went on and on. Some helpful offerings, I must say. Unfortunately, though, I couldn’t access the .musicxml song file ‘they’ sent me. So to these lyrics, I wrote my own, called: Come, Lord, Dwell Within Us.

Come, Lord, dwell with us
Come, Lord, dwell with us
Come, Lord, dwell with us
Make our hearts … Your home.

As. it turned out, when it came to the song, AI was helpful, but ultimately, the song very much comes from the Spirit’s work in me. Anyhow, here it is … a congregational sung prayer response, with Dale’s usual lovely reflective vocal.
Blessings, David

Goodness is stronger than evil
love is stronger than hate
Light is stronger than darkness
Life is stronger than death
Victory is stronger than Him who loves us

Those deep, amazing, insightful, hopeful words of affirmation come from the late Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu – one of the most significant opponents of the apartheid regime which scourged South Africa for so long late last century. A champion and inspiration in so many ways.

I remember coming across those words in the late 1990’s as I increasingly found myself of wider worship networks in the Uniting Church in Australia. The prayer is titled Victory Is Ours. It appears in An African Prayer Book by Desmond Tutu, first published in 1995.  We ended up offering them as a Word of Mission option in Uniting in Worship 2. I used them as recently as this past Sunday. They are words used worldwide and frequently. Like right now, please!

You see they speak into our times – our dark, fearful and troubled times – seemingly all over the world. You know where (plural absolutely) I mean.

Something prompted my recall of Tutu’s words a few days back. While I was aware that others eg Iona Community’s John Bell had beautifully set these words to music, I simply escape the 3/4 time and lilting tune that just “came” and came quickly. So thanks ultimately to Desmond Tutu and God who inspires us both, here’s my setting of Goodness Is Stronger Than Evil. Dale does a lovely vocal, as always.

I find myself saying or singing these words through every day. The world needs to know the reality of them so dearly
Peace, salaam, shalom
David

Without a doubt, Isaac Watts’ 18th century hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross would have to be one of the most loved and enduring worship songs of the Christian faith. I wonder if Watts, that English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician ever wondered what would become of it when it was released way back in 1707. I can’t recall a Good Friday service when I have not sung it. You may well be the same.

Watts was “a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. His works include “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, “Joy to the World”, and “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”. He is recognised as the “Godfather of English Hymnody”; many of his hymns remain in use today and have been translated into numerous languages” Enough from Wikipedia!

Well, a few days back, I was prepping the music Dale and I will lead at a forthcoming Walk to Emmaus weekend at Brookfield, Brisbane, Australia. During the weekend’s strong emphasis on God’s grace through Jesus Christ, there’s plenty of singing about that – seemed important that we sing When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. My braincells started turning over … why don’t we split the four verses between the traditional tune: Rockingham and the tune: O Waly, Waly, commonly the tune of the English folk song: The Water is Wide.

And then … and then … unlike both of these tunes, both in major keys, a simple folky, minor-key setting “just came”. Thanks God. Dale and I will probably find a spot for it during the Emmaus weekend. Dale’s just recorded a superb vocal – right there in her sweet-spot vocal register. Oh, I’m really happy with my backing, mix and arrangement too. See what you think.
Peace, salaam, shalom
David

score

A week or so back, I wrote a somewhat-anthemic worship praise song called Jesus, Only Jesus. I’ve really only started writing praise songs in the last few years. Not exactly sure why. Perhaps some kick-back on the lyrics of some (and I stress “some”) of the praise songs sung in churches. I’m also aware, that with some exceptions, those songwriters in Australia and other/s with whom I seem to be “in sync” and “in theological common ground” tend not to write praise songs either.

However, a couple of things led me to writing this one;
1. As per my previous blogpost, I harken back to those Sunshine Coast children’s camp, when we as leaders were tasked by the late mentor of mine, Rev Bob Warrick, with reflecting on how we’d explain Jesus to a primary school kid – especially one with little or no church/faith background, and that’s without well-tested (though true) cliches.

2. Then, Dale and I recently watched an excellent two-part documentary : And So It Goes, on the life of one of my all-time fave singers, Billy Joel. Dale and I were thrilled to be able to see BJ and band just three years ago at Madison Square Garden, NYC. I’ve even got the T-shirt to prove it!!

One songwriting journey BJ shared was to do with his writing the 1989 mega-hit We Didn’t Start the Fire – a succession of one-line descriptions of major newsworthy events from the previous 50 years.

So … the idea came to me … write a song where most lines in the verses captured something of Jesus’ ministry, culminating in the events of that first Easter and the promise of the Holy Spirit; the chorus offering the “punchline”. Aspects of the divine yet human Jesus Christ I’d want to relay in conversation. Personally. Me! So Jesus, Only Jesus was born. It’s a song I’m very proud of. I can see lots of uses for it.

Who’s the one who stills the waters?
Who’s the one who feeds the hungry? 
Who’s the one who helps the hopeless?
Jesus, only Jesus
Who’s the one, brings grace, forgiveness?
Who’s the one, God’s son, all goodness?
Who’s the one who births the kingdom?
Jesus, only Jesus

Jesus, only Jesus
Saviour, Christ, my Lord

My way, my truth
My love, my life
Only Jesus 
Only Jesus

Who’s the one, embraced the children?
Who’s the one who serves as servant?
Who’s the one who’s calling, sending?

Jesus, only Jesus
Who’s the one who died to save us?
Who’s the one who rose to glory?
Who’s the one frees by the Spirit?
Jesus, only Jesus

Jesus, only Jesus …

David MacGregor
© 2025 Willow Publishing

I blogged just days ago of the impact that Bob had on my life, faith and particularly ministry journey through my 10-year ride through the Uniting Church’s holiday camping movement with children, particularly at its Alexandra Park Conference Centre on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast – initially as a group leader and sooner-rather-than-later as a camp Co-Director. Being a schoolteacher back then, I was blesses to have been free during the school holidays.It’s not overstating it to say that in many ways, being Camp David was the making of me. It was the making of so many!

Of course Dale comes into the picture about five years into the camping/ministry journey. We’re still on that life and ministry journey, thanks be to God. Here I am on Bob’s shoulders ca. 1976 on that Alex. Headlands beach, having just shepherd 100 kids across an even-then busy esplanade.

I’ll be forever grateful that in much deeper ways, I was able to be carried and learn on Bob’s shoulders. He taught me and countless others down the years, so much. Not just in words, but through being a living, authentic example of Christian discipleship.

Bob would always conclude his letters (think pre-PC/Mac) with the sign-off of shalom. It’s the Hebrew word narrowly for peace, but way more broadly, denoting wholeness, harmony, well-being. While like all of us, Bob “had his moments”, he lived shalom. The arabic of shalom is the similar salaam.

Dale and I were invited to sing and share at Bob’s service today. An honour. I scoured the titles of hundreds of my songs – songs written over almost 50 years. None quite suited the occasion. So, as is my want, I wrote one and presented it this afternoon. It’s called peace, salaam, shalom. It’s in honour of Bob Warrick. Bob.
Shalom,
David

score. lyrics