Questions I'm often asked
What inspired you to make the Inspiring Calm CD?
My love of God's wonderful Creation and my desire to seek out quiet places away from the crowds where I could walk, watch and listen to the birds, enjoy the sunlight streaming through the trees and just share things with God as I'm out enjoying Creation.
A key verse that inspiried me as I was thinking about producing the CD was Mark 6:31 where Jesus invited his busy and probably stressed disciples to 'Come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest'. I thought quite a lot about that verse and how difficult it seemed in practice to take up that invitation of Jesus' as we lead such busy lives - so I had the idea of creating a kind of 'virtual retreat' in the form of the Inspiring Calm CD so that even if we are busy we can perhaps put the CD on in the background whilst doing the daily chores or play it in the car whilst on the way somewhere.
I also have a strong desire to speak helpful and encouraging words to people that will be a lasting help to them, so that combined with my love of God's Creation inspired me to produce the CD. I wanted the CD to partly be a celebration of what God has given us in the natural world (hence the birdsong, streams, ocean waves and wind swaying the grass that you hear on the CD).
After a Prayer Meeting at our Church I was just chatting to a friend, we were just talking about our jobs and everyday things when I mentioned 'I think what I'd really like to do is produce CD's of Bible Readings to background music and birdsong, ocean waves etc'
My friend simply replied saying 'That sounds like a great idea!' It was just an 'ordinary' comment but God seemed to use that moment as a catalyst to spur me on to produce the Inspiring Calm CD. From that moment on, despite having very little free time I felt compelled to do something each day, however small that would bring closer the goal of a finished CD. A determination grew in my heart that this wouldn't just be a pipe-dream, but that with God's help the CD would actually be completed.
Are you going to produce any new CD's?
With God's help yes. I have started work on another CD which will focus on the Psalms along with some encouraging Reflections. However, I have to fit working on the new CD around my full-time day job at IVP Books and my family life. This means that although I have started work it is a slow process so sadly I wouldn't expect a new CD before sometime in 2009. However as each new track is completed I will ptobably make it available as a download via the Inspiring Calm website so that people don't have to wait till the new CD is published.
I would love to be able to make producing new Bible Reflection CD's my main job as I feel a strong calling to produce more Christian CD's. I believe that when the time is right God will open the doors to make this possible but in the meantime I try and be patient and faithful in my current employment at Inter-Varsity Press.
If you feel able to promote the Inspiring Calm CD and website within your own church or sphere of influence I would really appreciate that as it would help speed the day when I can make producing these audio CD's my main occupation.
What drew you to a meditative approach on the CD?
I think I probably naturally have a quiet reflective nature and like to think about things before I speak. Whilst being outdoors and enjoying God's Creation communing with Him seems natural and restoring. I don't consciously think 'Hey - I'm meditating here! - I just get on with sharing my thoughts with God, observing Creation around me and try to draw close to Him, praying that I'll be alert to what He might want to share with me.
I find that if I've not managed to get out for a quiet prayer walk (or cycle) for awhile I tend to get a bit restless and long to seek out that quiet place to try and restore perspective in my life. In my full-time job in the centre of a large city I'm fortunate enough to be quite close to a small park, so at lunch-times I can usually manage to escape for 10 minutes or so for a quick walk round the park, have a bit of a prayer and watch the birds/flowers in the park and come back to work for the afternoon session hopefully with a little more peace and perspective and ready to face the day to day work challenges etc.
Delivery Costs?- Postage & Packing is FREE to any location in the world although you are welcome to make the optional donation in the shopping cart that will help the ministry of Inspiring Calm to continue.
Can I use your CD's during our Church Services as part of the worship?
Absolutely, I would delighted for you to make use of the Inspiring Calm CD in that way and there is no need to especially ask for my permission, although I would be delighted to hear any feedback on the CD from your Church Service.
If you are making use of the CD in that way I would really appreciate it if you could mention the Inspiring Calm CD and the website http://www.inspiringcalm.com/ so that people who are interested can find out how to get hold of a copy should they want to.
Is the CD suitable for Small Group use?
Yes, many Church Home Groups/Prayer Groups are finding the Inspiring Calm CD to be a useful Resource.
Me and my wife used to lead a church 'Small Home Group'. It met weekly and the Home Group night always seemed to come round so quickly with us feeling that we had so little time to prepare. It was always useful if there was a 'ready-made CD' that we could put on that would enhance our prayer or worship time so when I produced the Inspiring Calm CD I also had in mind something that could be used in Small Group settings (eg Prayer/Meditation groups, housegroups etc as well as for individual use). There are ten tracks on the CD so there is the option to play whichever track/s are most suited to your particular meeting.
Click Here to Buy the Inspiring Calm CD or download MP3 files of individual tracks