BLENDED WORSHIP - 9:30am
“All Hail the Power of Jesus Name”
Some years ago, missionary E. P. Scott went to India. He set out to visit a remote mountain tribe which had never heard the name of Christ. As he neared their land, he was suddenly surrounded by a savage band of warriors, all pointing their spears straight at his heart. Expecting a quick death, the missionary pulled out his violin and began playing and singing in their native language the hymn "All hail the power of Jesus' name." He reached the stanza that reads:
Let every tribe and every tongue
On this terrestrial ball
To him all majesty ascribe
And crown him Lord of all...
The natives lowered their weapons and some were in tears. E. P. Scott spent the rest of his life ministering to these primitive people.The hymn which so effectively moved this Indian tribe is often referred to as the "National Anthem of Christendom" and has been translated into almost every language where there are Christians. The author of the hymn, Edward Perronet was the descendent of a French Huguenot family which fled first to Switzerland and then to England to escape religious persecution. Perronet was a pastor who worked closely with John and Charles Wesley for many years in England's eighteenth- century revival. At that time, Methodists were savagely persecuted. According to John Wesley's diary, Edward did not escape his share of abuse either. "Edward Perronet was thrown down and rolled in mud and mire" at Bolton, he wrote.
Edward was uneasy about preaching in front of John Wesley. Wesley urged him to do so several times. Finally, Wesley forced the issue. He announced that Brother Perronet would speak the following week. A week later, witty Edward mounted the pulpit and declared he would deliver the greatest sermon ever preached. He then read Christ's "Sermon on the Mount" and sat down!
Click here to worship along on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=itUNSwS4q9E
Click here to hear an acapella arrangement by Point of Grace:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKT0WZM5aI8
Click here to hear an organ arrangement of the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54CqTpLW9E
Click here to sing along with Avalon:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucF_C7rYe58
“Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble”
Martin Smith is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter of the English Christian rock and worship band Delirious? He is generally considered to be one of the foremost songwriters in modern Christian worship music. Some of the most recognized songs by Delirious? include "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever”, "History Maker", "My Glorious", "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble", "Shout To The North", "Deeper", "Majesty (Here I Am)", and "What A Friend I've Found".
In 1995, Martin was involved in a near-fatal car accident, and during the weeks of his recovery, he decided to become a full-time musician. He wrote the 'King Of Fools' song 'August 30th' based on this experience.
Click here for the story behind the song
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-197-DidYouFeeltheMountainsTremble-Smith.mp3
Click here to listen to the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Q5vVa0q8Q
Click here to sing along:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICRukDH7eKo
Click here to watch Martin Smith:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO_bKR2Wzhk&feature=related
"Come Thou Almighty King"
This familiar hymn is often used as a call to worship. It appeared anonymously in England in about 1757 to commemorate Trinity Sunday. It has been attributed by some to Charles Wesley since it first appeared in a pamphlet published by John Wesley. The first three verses each emphasize one of members of the Godhead. The fourth stanza is a grand affirmation of the mysterious doctrine of the Trinity, that God is one yet three and ever worthy of our love and adoration.
Click here for an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYphS-GmrA0
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiwGgJ1Qa4g
"Give us Clean hands"
Charlie Hall wrote this song as a prayer for his generation in 1994. He said he wanted to be a part of the generation that was sold out to seeking God with their whole hearts. When he wrote the song he sensed his generation huddling and praying this prayer, "Oh God let us be the generation that seeks your face Oh, God of Jacob." The song is based on Psalm 24:3-63 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?Who may stand in his holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Click here to listen to how Charlie Hall wrote this song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hkQS8A8FiY
Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl5zSB3A-Z8
CONTEMPORARY SERVICE 11:00
"Here is our King"
Here is some background on the song written by David Crowder:
''What you are looking for is what is looking.' - St. Francis of Assisi I wrote this song after watching television for two days straight. The day after Christmas, December 26th, 2004, my eyes were fixed to this thing blinking at me from the dark wooden armoire in our living room. I, along with the rest of the world, watched as the most powerful earthquake in 40 years erupted under the Indian Ocean near Sumatra causing giant, deadly waves to crash ashore in nearly a dozen countries, killing tens of thousands. The death toll would eventually settle somewhere near 200,000. This is tremendously hard to take in. Close to 200,000 people, walking around, going about their business, stepping into eternity all together in a matter of hours. We watched story after story unfold knowing that each would end in either rescue or demise and our hearts broke. Our hearts broke and it is still tremendously hard to take in. It is a difficult thing to observe so vivid and complete, the depth of our fall. I mean we know things aren’t right, we know that things aren’t as they were intended. But here is this thing that comes from the middle of the sea to bring upon us devastation and to take from us our fathers and our mothers and to pull from our hands our children and our friends and our minds cannot fit this in. It is the depth of our fall upon us. Even the ground under our feet is not right. The air we breathe is not right. Here though, the hope I have found in Christ miraculously expands. I believe that we are part of a bigger story unfolding. I believe that the rescue of creation has been coming toward us for a long time. I believe that sure, there was a moment that I was found by this rescue and that I am rescued continually, but the even greater thing, the thing that expands in my chest in this moment is that there is more coming! He is coming to set things right. He is coming to set things straight. He is coming and this is tremendously hard to take in, but our hearts swell and this tide of hope grows and after all of this, after this brokenness, after these tears, after this fury, after this tearing that is life...finally, finally...we will lift up our heads...finally...and the clouds will break...and finally...he who is all light and healing... Finally... Finally... Majesty. Here.
''Since the writing of this song I have received a number of emails requesting explanation for the verses of this song. Don’t you just love the English language? The complete thought of the first verse is found in the chorus and therefore the whole could read, “here is our king from wherever spring arrives.” In other words, our king comes to us from the same place springtime does. Whatever the source of spring and newness. He comes from the same place that put this thing in our chests that makes it necessary for us to search for him and the fact that we are compelled to search for him gives a hint as to the goodness of him who we search for. The second verse when read one way is a simple redemption metaphor for spring or newness or surrender. Roses fold up at night and open in the light of morning with the sunrise. When one considers that Christ was also referred to as “the rose of Sharon” it takes on a different redemptive metaphor. The main thing I hoped to do with this songs was redeem the images of this massive wave that we saw. There is the biggest wave ever headed for us. It is coming from the place of love and springtime and it is terrifying.' - David Crowder
Written by David Crowder ©2005 worshiptogether.com Songs / sixsteps Music (ASCAP) Admin by EMI CMG Publishing
Click here to listen to David share about how the song came about:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aea5Mq4sSUA
Click here to worship along with David:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w7t9DyGkqg
Click here to listen to the song online:
www.last.fm/music/David+Crowder+Band/+videos/+1-gImM9CUWXrE
Click here to visit Davids' myspace:
www.myspace.com/davidcrowderband
"Everlasting"
Brenton Brown wrote this song after both he and his wife had being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Brown described their illness in the following excerpt from Christianity today.
Brown: It's called fibromyalgia, a form of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. What defines it are the symptoms, the most obvious ones [being] fatigue. You feel jet-lagged most of the time. There are other symptoms like nausea, muscle pain, muscle aches. There's no known cure. Basically it was just like waking up one day and finding out that I had someone else's body. Very strange. I wasn't thinking as clearly. And over the last three years we've basically had to relearn how to live life with our new bodies. It's been a challenge.
Chronic Fatigue is a little bit like having mono[nucleosis]. You feel very fatigued, very drained. And no matter how much you sleep, you're still going to feel tired. You can never shake off that tired feeling. I just kept going for six months. And then my pastor, the board of our church and the group of doctors that I was seeing all decided, "This is not working. You're not going to be able to force your way through this."
Brenton Brown, born in South Africa, is a Christian songwriter and worship leader. He left South Africa for Oxford, England in his early twenties on a Rhodes Scholarship. While studying politics, philosophy and theology he joined the Vineyard music (UK), serving as worship pastor at the Oxford Vineyard, UK, and eventually as coordinator of the Vineyard (UK) Worship Development Team. His songs, Lord Reign in me, All who are thirsty, Humble King, Hallelujah [Your love is amazing] and Holy were recorded on the popular Vineyard UK projects during this time. He has since left the UK and now lives in Malibu, California with his wife, Jude. Brenton is an artist on the worship label Survivor and in 2006 released his first solo album, Everlasting God with Survivor in the UK and rest of the world, and with Sparrow in the United States and Canada.
Check out Brenton’s ministry here:
www.brentonbrownmusic.com/
Click here to listen to him share about how the song came about
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YePOcs88kqw
Click here to listen to Lincoln Brewsters' arrangement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM&mode=related&search=
Click here to listen to Brenton Brown & Paul Baloche
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bLWwnVBuF8
"Give us Clean hands"
Charlie Hall wrote this song as a prayer for his generation in 1994. He said he wanted to be a part of the generation that was sold out to seeking God with their whole hearts. When he wrote the song he sensed his generation huddling and praying this prayer, "Oh God let us be the generation that seeks your face Oh, God of Jacob." The song is based on Psalm 24:3-63 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?Who may stand in his holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Click here to listen to how Charlie Hall wrote this song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hkQS8A8FiY
Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl5zSB3A-Z8
"More than Life"
Reuben Morgan wrote this worship song. Reuben Morgan is the worship pastor and one of the many worship leaders, songwriters at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He is well known for such songs as "Eagles Wings", "Hear Our Praises", "I Give You My Heart", "My Redeemer Lives" and "Touching Heaven, Changing Earth".
Here is a list of questions asked of Reuben Morgan in an interview and his answers.
Reuben when did you first pick up the guitar?
I started getting lessons from a friend at age 7… And then I can remember so clearly getting my first guitar not too long after that. I worked washing my parents' cars until I had enough money to pay for it!
What are your key musical influences?
I have a musical pallet for such a wide range of styles. Perhaps it was my parents' influence or where I studied. I would say that I have been influenced from Miles Davis to Dire Straits to Bach… the list goes on!
As a pastor at Hillsong Church, what kind of things does your week entail?
My first priority is our church; so week-to-week I lead worship and spend time with people. Apart from that, my time has been freed up to mostly write. I'm not the sort of person who can write on the go so I really value the space and time just to make it all work.
What is the heart of worship?
I would say that Knowing God is the heart of worship—intimacy with Him.
What motivates you to keep going?
I am definitely motivated by my family—my wife Sarah and our son Jones and then all of our incredible family—they are such a blessing! My motivation for doing everything I do though is a desire to see everybody everywhere inspired to worship our God.
Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs worship ministry:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbeIEpr4kGg
Click here to worship along with Reuben Morgan:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYiviL-5n2M
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Behind the Praise - Sunday July 13, 2008
BLENDED SERVICE 9:30am
“Let there be Praise”
This popular song was written by Mel & Dick Tunney. There is a time for everything, and a season for every purpose under heaven . . . a time to plant and a time to uproot . . . a time to search . . . a time to speak . . . a time to build up . . . “ Ecclesiastes 3 (selected).
The wisdom of Solomon is not based in vague generalities, but in specifics that have defined the more than two decades of music ministry of Dick & Mel Tunney. God provides cycles of life, each with its particular work to do within His Kingdom. Their story is well-documented – Dick & Mel met traveling in the Christian group TRUTH in the late 1970s and after 18 months of touring, Dick was invited to be part of The Imperials as pianist in 1980. In December of that year, the couple wed as Dick continued touring with the Nashville-based group. It wasn’t long until Mel was a sought-after studio singer, where her path intersected with Bonnie Keen and Marty McCall, the 3 of whom formed the original First Call. As 1986 arrived, Dick was hired as musical director for Sandi Patty, and First Call was brought on as the back-up group and guest artist for the tour. Two new members of the family, Whitney and Kelsey, were born in 1986 and 1987 respectively, and as the decade came to a close, the young family chose a life with less travel and more time at home, as Dick and Mel each stepped away from Sandi and First Call. Songwriting and work in the recording studio sustained the couple through a fruitful time that brought the Tunneys 10 Dove Awards (with an additional 9 nominations), 3 Grammy nominations and one Grammy Award for “How Excellent Is Thy Name”, recorded by Larnelle Harris and co-written with former Imperial Paul Smith. The call to encourage, challenge, and stretch believers in local churches through a concert ministry took Dick and Mel to over 400 churches during the decade of the ‘90s.
Click here to worship along with Sandi Patti:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEige7eIe1o
“How can I keep from Singing”
There is an endless song echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring and though the storms may come
I am holding on to the rock I cling
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
Chris Tomlin joined Ed Cash and Matt Redman to write this song. The song is on the album "See the Morning". This song anchors the theme of hope found on the album. "How Can I Keep From Singing," is a rendition of the 1860 hymn by Robert Lowry. "How Can I Keep From Singing?" is listed in some hymnals by the opening line "My Life Flows On". The original composition has now entered into the public domain. The song is frequently cited incorrectly as a traditional Quaker hymn.
Chris reworked the original text and crafted a song that could be sung to God during the difficult times.
Click here to listen to Chris share how he wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lTZySpbpo
Click here to worship along with Chris:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQI5wxtH6OY&feature=related
“Wonderful Grace of Jesus”
"Wonderful Grace of Jesus"—the very title proclaims from the outset and at the beginning of each stanza that this hymn by Haldor Lillenas is a hymn of grace. First introduced in 1918, this song has become a favorite across denominational lines in the Church today. Its upbeat, bouncy meter and somewhat unusual refrain, which splits into two parts, with the melody alternating between the bass/tenor and alto/soprano parts, endear the tune to many. However, as is often the case, the strong doctrinal message carried by the words of the hymn are often obscured in the enthusiasm for the music. In fact, the author himself, in his autobiography, cautions against distorting the words of the hymn by performing it at too rapid a tempo.
Haldor Lillenas was born in Norway in 1855, but his family emigrated to America when he was a young child.2 He was trained at Deets Pacific Bible College in Los Angeles, and became a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene. He received his musical training through personal study and correspondence courses. Eventually, Lillenas would obtain more renown through his musical endeavors than through his pastoral ministry. In 1925, while pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene in Indianapolis, he founded the Lillenas Publishing Company, which was later purchased by the Nazarene Publishing House, and became its music division. Over his lifetime Lillenas wrote more than 4,000 hymn texts and tunes, many of which are still in use today both by the Nazarene and by other denominations.
While at first glance "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" may seem to be simply a general song of praise to God for His grace, several of its phrases make it clear that the author understands not just the term but the substance of the grace of God. In the first stanza and the chorus, the surpassing nature of God’s grace is set forth with the phrases "greater than all my sin" and "Broader than the scope of my transgressions, greater far than all my sin and shame" (Rom 5:20). It is grace, Lillenas proclaims, that takes away the burden of sin and liberates the captive soul.
In the second stanza, Lillenas demonstrates his understanding of the extent of God’s grace. Not covering just a favored few, the grace of God reaches to "all the lost." People may choose to reject grace, but God extends the offer of salvation freely to all (Titus 2:11). Also in this stanza, and again in the chorus, the sufficiency of grace is described. Lillenas says he has been "saved to the uttermost" by an "all-sufficient grace." Lillenas’s view of salvation by grace is not one of meeting God halfway, with both parties contributing to the transaction (Titus 3:5; Eph 2:8). His words here indicate an understanding that when Christ completed His work on the cross, salvation was finished (John 19:30), leaving nothing for man to do but accept the gift of grace and be completely saved.
The third stanza touches on another hallmark of the doctrine of grace—that regardless of the magnitude of one’s sin, God’s grace is available and is sufficient for salvation even to "the most defiled." This is reminiscent of Fanny Crosby’s words in "To God be the Glory"3 when she wrote "The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives."
The words of this third stanza may strike some as inconsistent with Lillenas’s Nazarene theology. While members of GES generally recognize that ultimate sanctification will occur only in the presence of the Lord in Heaven, Nazarene theology teaches a doctrine of "entire sanctification," in which the believer can and should obtain complete sanctification in this life.4 Connected to this doctrine is the Nazarene teaching that apostasy in the life of a believer can result in the loss of salvation. Thus, for the Nazarene, there is no true doctrine of eternal security, as promulgated by GES. This makes Lillenas’s words in the third stanza even more interesting, when he writes "Purchasing peace and heaven for all eternity," and even in the second stanza where he tells us that we have been "saved to the uttermost" (italics added). While these words may have meant something quite different to Lillenas, they seem equally applicable to our understanding of God’s grace in salvation, sanctification, and security.
"Wonderful Grace of Jesus" combines doctrinal truth with a buoyant melody and serves as a good vehicle for teaching the doctrine of grace. It touches on the availability, sufficiency, and efficacy of the salvation offered by grace through faith in Christ, and so carries an appropriate message for believer and unbeliever alike. Though we should be aware that Lillenas’s own theology may not line up completely with that of most GES readers , his words do carry the Gospel of grace, making this hymn worthy of the category "Hymn of Grace."
Click here for an arrangement by the Cathedrals:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKS5MgytW54
Click here for an orchestral arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiI45LwEgak
“Glorious is thy Name”
This powerful hymn of faith was written by Baylus Benjamin McKinney 1886-1952. BB was a singer, song-writer, teacher and music editor. McKinney wrote the words and music to 149 hymns and gospel songs. His most famous are "The Nail Scarred Hand" (1924), "Let Others See Jesus in You" (1924), "Satisfied with Jesus" (1926), "Speak to My Heart" (1927), "'Neath the Old Olive Trees" (1934), "Breathe on Me" (1937), and "Wherever He Leads I'll Go" (1937).
“Let there be Praise”
This popular song was written by Mel & Dick Tunney. There is a time for everything, and a season for every purpose under heaven . . . a time to plant and a time to uproot . . . a time to search . . . a time to speak . . . a time to build up . . . “ Ecclesiastes 3 (selected).
The wisdom of Solomon is not based in vague generalities, but in specifics that have defined the more than two decades of music ministry of Dick & Mel Tunney. God provides cycles of life, each with its particular work to do within His Kingdom. Their story is well-documented – Dick & Mel met traveling in the Christian group TRUTH in the late 1970s and after 18 months of touring, Dick was invited to be part of The Imperials as pianist in 1980. In December of that year, the couple wed as Dick continued touring with the Nashville-based group. It wasn’t long until Mel was a sought-after studio singer, where her path intersected with Bonnie Keen and Marty McCall, the 3 of whom formed the original First Call. As 1986 arrived, Dick was hired as musical director for Sandi Patty, and First Call was brought on as the back-up group and guest artist for the tour. Two new members of the family, Whitney and Kelsey, were born in 1986 and 1987 respectively, and as the decade came to a close, the young family chose a life with less travel and more time at home, as Dick and Mel each stepped away from Sandi and First Call. Songwriting and work in the recording studio sustained the couple through a fruitful time that brought the Tunneys 10 Dove Awards (with an additional 9 nominations), 3 Grammy nominations and one Grammy Award for “How Excellent Is Thy Name”, recorded by Larnelle Harris and co-written with former Imperial Paul Smith. The call to encourage, challenge, and stretch believers in local churches through a concert ministry took Dick and Mel to over 400 churches during the decade of the ‘90s.
Click here to worship along with Sandi Patti:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEige7eIe1o
“How can I keep from Singing”
There is an endless song echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring and though the storms may come
I am holding on to the rock I cling
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
Chris Tomlin joined Ed Cash and Matt Redman to write this song. The song is on the album "See the Morning". This song anchors the theme of hope found on the album. "How Can I Keep From Singing," is a rendition of the 1860 hymn by Robert Lowry. "How Can I Keep From Singing?" is listed in some hymnals by the opening line "My Life Flows On". The original composition has now entered into the public domain. The song is frequently cited incorrectly as a traditional Quaker hymn.
Chris reworked the original text and crafted a song that could be sung to God during the difficult times.
Click here to listen to Chris share how he wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lTZySpbpo
Click here to worship along with Chris:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQI5wxtH6OY&feature=related
“Wonderful Grace of Jesus”
"Wonderful Grace of Jesus"—the very title proclaims from the outset and at the beginning of each stanza that this hymn by Haldor Lillenas is a hymn of grace. First introduced in 1918, this song has become a favorite across denominational lines in the Church today. Its upbeat, bouncy meter and somewhat unusual refrain, which splits into two parts, with the melody alternating between the bass/tenor and alto/soprano parts, endear the tune to many. However, as is often the case, the strong doctrinal message carried by the words of the hymn are often obscured in the enthusiasm for the music. In fact, the author himself, in his autobiography, cautions against distorting the words of the hymn by performing it at too rapid a tempo.
Haldor Lillenas was born in Norway in 1855, but his family emigrated to America when he was a young child.2 He was trained at Deets Pacific Bible College in Los Angeles, and became a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene. He received his musical training through personal study and correspondence courses. Eventually, Lillenas would obtain more renown through his musical endeavors than through his pastoral ministry. In 1925, while pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene in Indianapolis, he founded the Lillenas Publishing Company, which was later purchased by the Nazarene Publishing House, and became its music division. Over his lifetime Lillenas wrote more than 4,000 hymn texts and tunes, many of which are still in use today both by the Nazarene and by other denominations.
While at first glance "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" may seem to be simply a general song of praise to God for His grace, several of its phrases make it clear that the author understands not just the term but the substance of the grace of God. In the first stanza and the chorus, the surpassing nature of God’s grace is set forth with the phrases "greater than all my sin" and "Broader than the scope of my transgressions, greater far than all my sin and shame" (Rom 5:20). It is grace, Lillenas proclaims, that takes away the burden of sin and liberates the captive soul.
In the second stanza, Lillenas demonstrates his understanding of the extent of God’s grace. Not covering just a favored few, the grace of God reaches to "all the lost." People may choose to reject grace, but God extends the offer of salvation freely to all (Titus 2:11). Also in this stanza, and again in the chorus, the sufficiency of grace is described. Lillenas says he has been "saved to the uttermost" by an "all-sufficient grace." Lillenas’s view of salvation by grace is not one of meeting God halfway, with both parties contributing to the transaction (Titus 3:5; Eph 2:8). His words here indicate an understanding that when Christ completed His work on the cross, salvation was finished (John 19:30), leaving nothing for man to do but accept the gift of grace and be completely saved.
The third stanza touches on another hallmark of the doctrine of grace—that regardless of the magnitude of one’s sin, God’s grace is available and is sufficient for salvation even to "the most defiled." This is reminiscent of Fanny Crosby’s words in "To God be the Glory"3 when she wrote "The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives."
The words of this third stanza may strike some as inconsistent with Lillenas’s Nazarene theology. While members of GES generally recognize that ultimate sanctification will occur only in the presence of the Lord in Heaven, Nazarene theology teaches a doctrine of "entire sanctification," in which the believer can and should obtain complete sanctification in this life.4 Connected to this doctrine is the Nazarene teaching that apostasy in the life of a believer can result in the loss of salvation. Thus, for the Nazarene, there is no true doctrine of eternal security, as promulgated by GES. This makes Lillenas’s words in the third stanza even more interesting, when he writes "Purchasing peace and heaven for all eternity," and even in the second stanza where he tells us that we have been "saved to the uttermost" (italics added). While these words may have meant something quite different to Lillenas, they seem equally applicable to our understanding of God’s grace in salvation, sanctification, and security.
"Wonderful Grace of Jesus" combines doctrinal truth with a buoyant melody and serves as a good vehicle for teaching the doctrine of grace. It touches on the availability, sufficiency, and efficacy of the salvation offered by grace through faith in Christ, and so carries an appropriate message for believer and unbeliever alike. Though we should be aware that Lillenas’s own theology may not line up completely with that of most GES readers , his words do carry the Gospel of grace, making this hymn worthy of the category "Hymn of Grace."
Click here for an arrangement by the Cathedrals:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKS5MgytW54
Click here for an orchestral arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiI45LwEgak
“Glorious is thy Name”
This powerful hymn of faith was written by Baylus Benjamin McKinney 1886-1952. BB was a singer, song-writer, teacher and music editor. McKinney wrote the words and music to 149 hymns and gospel songs. His most famous are "The Nail Scarred Hand" (1924), "Let Others See Jesus in You" (1924), "Satisfied with Jesus" (1926), "Speak to My Heart" (1927), "'Neath the Old Olive Trees" (1934), "Breathe on Me" (1937), and "Wherever He Leads I'll Go" (1937).
Click here to hear an arrangement of the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8455LlhCnIM
"Embrace the Cross"
I am crucified with Christ therefore I no longer live Jesus Christ now lives in me Embrace the cross where Jesus suffered Though it will cost All you claim as yours Your sacrifice will seem small beside the treasure Eternity can't measure what Jesus holds in store John G. Elliott began training as a classical musician at age eight.Beginning at age 12, he performed yearly in solo piano recitals. At 18, hewon an all-state competition, and at age 20 was a finalist in internationalcompetition at Carnegie Hall. He then moved to Los Angeles to studyprivately with Aube Tzerko and continue preparation for furthercompetitions, including one in Moscow.After a brief period of study, an over-extension resulted in John losinguse of two fingers on his right hand. Forced to give up as a pianist, heenrolled in seminary and earned a Master of Arts in New Testamentstudies, and served as a campus minister at Purdue University from1980-83.It was during this period that the Lord began to reveal that it wasnecessary for John to undergo a "crucifixion" to his own ambitions andmotives. The Lord would then begin a work to resurrect John to Hismusic, His message and His way of ministry. The song "Embrace TheCross" was born out of this time when John learned to die to himself andhis own dreams.Beginning to write songs and produce recordings in 1982 led him toNashville, TN in 1983. Upon arrival, the Lord quickly confirmed His callupon John, as two of his songs were recorded by Pat Boone. John wasthen hired as an assistant producer and worked with various artists inthe Christian music industry. He also served several years as worshipleader for Belmont Church in Nashville, under the direction of Don Finto.It was at this time that the Lord healed John’s hand and completelyrestored the ability to play piano. John has worked with the following artists.
Ricky Skaggs Steve Green Pat Boone Truth First Call Jesse Dixon Billy & Sarah Gaines
He has co-written songs with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Bill andGloria Gaither, Kim Hall, Paul Overstreet, Bruce Carroll, and SteveCamp.John wrote and had the privilege of recording the title song, "GodCame Near," for Here To Him Music's Christmas album with author andspeaker Max Lucado. That recording was nominated in 1999 for a DoveAward for Praise & Worship Album of the Year. John also appeared onthe ABC television special honoring the life and ministry of Dr. BillyGraham.The Gospel Music Association and ASCAP have asked John tospeak and chair panels on songwriting.Steinway Piano added John in 2004 to their international roster ofendorsed artists.But John believes his primary calling is in the area of worship andministry, where he leads worship and teaches seminars. In this pursuit,he has ministered around the world, including Russia, Yugoslavia,Czech Republic, western Europe, Singapore, Africa and Israel. Hehelped lead Albania's first post-communist evangelistic meetings in1991. On occasion, he has had the privilege of co-ministering with hisfriend Steve Green in Latin America and Spain.John wants to be obedient to the call God has given—to minister topeople for Christ. John believes that, if he remains faithful to lift up theLord through his music, in his message and in his life, he will havefulfilled that call.John, his wife now live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Click here to listen to the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-6Jl8CYaHo&feature=related
CONTEMPORARY SERVICE 11:00am
“Let there be Praise”
This popular song was written by Mel & Dick Tunney. There is a time for everything, and a season for every purpose under heaven . . . a time to plant and a time to uproot . . . a time to search . . . a time to speak . . . a time to build up . . . “ Ecclesiastes 3 (selected).The wisdom of Solomon is not based in vague generalities, but in specifics that have defined the more than two decades of music ministry of Dick & Mel Tunney. God provides cycles of life, each with its particular work to do within His Kingdom. Their story is well-documented – Dick & Mel met traveling in the Christian group TRUTH in the late 1970s and after 18 months of touring, Dick was invited to be part of The Imperials as pianist in 1980. In December of that year, the couple wed as Dick continued touring with the Nashville-based group. It wasn’t long until Mel was a sought-after studio singer, where her path intersected with Bonnie Keen and Marty McCall, the 3 of whom formed the original First Call. As 1986 arrived, Dick was hired as musical director for Sandi Patty, and First Call was brought on as the back-up group and guest artist for the tour. Two new members of the family, Whitney and Kelsey, were born in 1986 and 1987 respectively, and as the decade came to a close, the young family chose a life with less travel and more time at home, as Dick and Mel each stepped away from Sandi and First Call. Songwriting and work in the recording studio sustained the couple through a fruitful time that brought the Tunneys 10 Dove Awards (with an additional 9 nominations), 3 Grammy nominations and one Grammy Award for “How Excellent Is Thy Name”, recorded by Larnelle Harris and co-written with former Imperial Paul Smith. The call to encourage, challenge, and stretch believers in local churches through a concert ministry took Dick and Mel to over 400 churches during the decade of the ‘90s.
Click here to worship along with Sandi Patti:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEige7eIe1o
"Blessed Be Your Name"
This powerful worship song by Matt Redman has a phrase that is based on Job 13:15. The Message translates it like this
"So hold your tongue while I have my say, then I'll take whatever I have coming to me.Why do I go out on a limb like this and take my life in my hands?Because even if he killed me, I'd keep on hoping. I'd defend my innocence to the very end. Just wait, this is going to work out for the best—my salvation!"
Click here to hear the story behind the song by Matt Redman. www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-257-BlessedBeYourName-Redman.mp3
Click here to hear the song www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6xo5KogzaI
Click here to worship along with Tree63 www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZH9T9XNVU&mode=related&search=
“How can I keep from Singing”
There is an endless song echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring and though the storms may come
I am holding on to the rock I cling
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
Chris Tomlin joined Ed Cash and Matt Redman to write this song. The song is on the album "See the Morning". This song anchors the theme of hope found on the album. "How Can I Keep From Singing," is a rendition of the 1860 hymn by Robert Lowry. "How Can I Keep From Singing?" is listed in some hymnals by the opening line "My Life Flows On". The original composition has now entered into the public domain. The song is frequently cited incorrectly as a traditional Quaker hymn.
Chris reworked the original text and crafted a song that could be sung to God during the difficult times.
Click here to listen to Chris share how he wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lTZySpbpo
Click here to worship along with Chris:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQI5wxtH6OY&feature=related
"Amazing Grace" (My Chains Are Gone)
Click here to hear Chris Tomlin share about how he wrote the alternate chorus:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_4lIik9D8
here is more information on how the song came about. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IliVc9JqW0I
Click here to watch the music video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXV6HJxUebg&mode=related&search=
Click here to watch the music video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_4lIik9D8
More information on how the song came about.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IliVc9JqW0I
Click here to watch the music video www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXV6HJxUebg&mode=related&search=
“Here I Am to Worship”
If songs are like children to their writers, then 25 year-old Englishman Tim Hughes carried "Here I Am To Worship" to full term, letting the reverent tune take perfect shape over a nine-month period. Back in 1999 while still in college, he first sat down to craft a musical response to his reading of Philippians 2:5, which says, "Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus." And from the start, he had the humility part mastered.
"I was playing around with my guitar when the verse just came out," he modestly recalls. "However, I couldn't get a chorus that I was happy with. The original one was embarrassingly bad!"
Thankfully, Tim recorded the verse into his Dictaphone, and months later during a quiet creative time, he patched it together with another strong melody idea and brought "Here I Am To Worship" to fruition.
"I'd been reading about the cross and thinking through Jesus' amazing sacrifice," Tim says of the lyrical theme. "Sometimes when God meets with us we don't quite know how to respond properly. It's often too much for us to take in. Hopefully in a small way the chorus captures that: 'Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely, worthy, wonderful.'"
Although the song had been completed, the writer was still not convinced of its potential. Leading worship at his Soul Survivor home church one day, Tim sang "Here I Am To Worship" for his fellow members and was duly advised by his pastor Mike Pilavachi to start using it more often. Since then, Hughes - who built his own chops leading Delirious and Matt Redman favorites - has seen the song take on a life of its own.
It must be a God thing.... People have seemed to really connect with it, and we've had some special times in worship using the song," he admits. "I remember one time at the end of a Worship Together conference in San Diego when we'd been performing the song. The band stopped, and then the congregation just kept singing the chorus for about 15 minutes."
Click here to listen to the story behind the song by Tim Hughes. www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-196-HereIAmtoWorship-Hughes.mp3
Click here to worship along with Darlene Zschech in Australia leading the song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2d10n1Cpcc&mode=related&search=
Click here to read more about the composer Tim Hughes www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/worship/1227531/
"Embrace the Cross"
I am crucified with Christ therefore I no longer live Jesus Christ now lives in me
Embrace the cross where Jesus suffered Though it will cost All you claim as yours Your sacrifice will seem small beside the treasure Eternity can't measure what Jesus holds in store
John G. Elliott began training as a classical musician at age eight.Beginning at age 12, he performed yearly in solo piano recitals. At 18, hewon an all-state competition, and at age 20 was a finalist in internationalcompetition at Carnegie Hall. He then moved to Los Angeles to studyprivately with Aube Tzerko and continue preparation for furthercompetitions, including one in Moscow.After a brief period of study, an over-extension resulted in John losinguse of two fingers on his right hand. Forced to give up as a pianist, heenrolled in seminary and earned a Master of Arts in New Testamentstudies, and served as a campus minister at Purdue University from1980-83.It was during this period that the Lord began to reveal that it wasnecessary for John to undergo a "crucifixion" to his own ambitions andmotives. The Lord would then begin a work to resurrect John to Hismusic, His message and His way of ministry. The song "Embrace TheCross" was born out of this time when John learned to die to himself andhis own dreams.Beginning to write songs and produce recordings in 1982 led him toNashville, TN in 1983. Upon arrival, the Lord quickly confirmed His callupon John, as two of his songs were recorded by Pat Boone. John wasthen hired as an assistant producer and worked with various artists inthe Christian music industry. He also served several years as worshipleader for Belmont Church in Nashville, under the direction of Don Finto.It was at this time that the Lord healed John’s hand and completelyrestored the ability to play piano.
John has worked with the following artists.
Ricky Skaggs Steve Green Pat Boone Truth First Call Jesse Dixon Billy & Sarah Gaines
He has co-written songs with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Bill andGloria Gaither, Kim Hall, Paul Overstreet, Bruce Carroll, and SteveCamp.John wrote and had the privilege of recording the title song, "GodCame Near," for Here To Him Music's Christmas album with author andspeaker Max Lucado. That recording was nominated in 1999 for a DoveAward for Praise & Worship Album of the Year. John also appeared onthe ABC television special honoring the life and ministry of Dr. BillyGraham.The Gospel Music Association and ASCAP have asked John tospeak and chair panels on songwriting.Steinway Piano added John in 2004 to their international roster ofendorsed artists.But John believes his primary calling is in the area of worship andministry, where he leads worship and teaches seminars. In this pursuit,he has ministered around the world, including Russia, Yugoslavia,Czech Republic, western Europe, Singapore, Africa and Israel. Hehelped lead Albania's first post-communist evangelistic meetings in1991. On occasion, he has had the privilege of co-ministering with hisfriend Steve Green in Latin America and Spain.John wants to be obedient to the call God has given—to minister topeople for Christ. John believes that, if he remains faithful to lift up theLord through his music, in his message and in his life, he will havefulfilled that call.John, his wife now live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
Click here to listen to the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-6Jl8CYaHo&feature=related
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Behind the Praise - Sunday July 6, 2008
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BLENDED WORSHIP 9:30am “God of our Fathers"
Daniel C. Roberts, the 35 year-old rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, a small rural church in Brandon, Vermont, wanted a new hymn for his congregation to celebrate the American Centennial in 1876. He wrote "God of Our Fathers" and his congregation sang it to the tune RUSSIAN HYMN. In 1892, he anonymously sent the hymn to the General Convention for consideration by the commission formed to revise the Episcopal hymnal. If approved, he promised to send his name. The commission approved it, printing it anonymously in its report. Rev. Dr. Tucker, who was the editor of the Hymnal, and George W. Warren, an organist in New York city, were commissioned to choose a hymn for the celebration of the centennial of the United States Constitution. They chose this text and Warren wrote a new tune for it, NATIONAL HYMN, including the trumpet fanfare at the beginning of the hymn.It was first published in Tucker’s Hymnal, 1892, with this tune, then in 1894 in the Tucker and Rosseau’s Hymnal Revised and Enlarged. These lyrics were also set to the hymn tune PRO PATRIA in Charles Hutchins’ The Church Hymnal. But NATIONAL HYMN prevailed and it is the tune to which "God of Our Fathers" is always sung today.
Click here for the various arrangements:
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=god+of+our+fathers+&search_type=&aq=f
"Give us Clean hands"
Charlie Hall wrote this song as a prayer for his generation in 1994. He said he wanted to be a part of the generation that was sold out to seeking God with their whole hearts. When he wrote the song he sensed his generation huddling and praying this prayer, "Oh God let us be the generation that seeks your face Oh, God of Jacob." The song is based on Psalm 24:3-63 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?Who may stand in his holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Click here to listen to how Charlie Hall wrote this song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hkQS8A8FiY
Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl5zSB3A-Z8
"America the Beautiful"
Pike's Peak is an American beauty spot, about 10 miles west of Colorado Springs, in the state of Colorado. It is actually a 14,000 ft mountain, with a road up to the summit, although many people choose to climb to the top and look out across the "spacious skies", and "purple mountain majesties".Katherine Lee Bates did just that back in 1893, and the view she saw inspired her to write the words to America the Beautiful.She was born in 1859, the daughter of a Pastor, and she graduated from Wellesley College, in Massachusetts. Later she returned to teach at the college, and became head of the English department.By 1893 she had written a number of books, including her research into the history of American literature. But the work that she is best known for is the poem that became the country's second most popular patriotic song.She had been on an extended holiday in 1893 when she visited Pike's Peak, in Colorado. After she returned to her room that night, she remarked to friends that countries such as England had failed because, while they may have been "great", they had not been "good" ... she went on "unless we are willing to crown our greatness with goodness, and our bounty with brotherhood, our beloved America may go the same way."The poem itself remained unpublished until it appeared two years later in the Congregationalist Newspaper, and after that it went through a number of revisions before eventually being published by he Boston Evening Transcript in 1904.It was originally never intended to be sung, but its metre fitted a number of tunes around at the time. The one that it is most closely associated with is a tune called Materna, written by Samuel Augustus Ward in 1882. originally for a hymn, O Mother Dear, Jerusalem.
Click here for the various arrangements of the song:
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=american+the+beautiful+&search_type=&aq=f
Contemporary Service 11:00
“Everyday”
Joel Timothy Houston (born September 19, 1979) is a song writer and worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He is employed as the producer of Hillsong's youth band, Hillsong United. He is the oldest son of Hillsong Church's pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston and grandson of Frank Houston. He has two siblings, a brother Benjamin and a sister, Laura. Houston's first debut with the Hillsong United was in 2002. As part of Hillsong United music team, Houston has helped lead worship conferences in North America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. He has also contributed to the main Hillsong album recordings as well, which are led by worship pastor Darlene Zschech. Many of the songs he has written or co-written are sung in churches worldwide and have been translated into 32 languages, including Korean and German. His music has been featured on Hillsong albums that have quickly risen on both the Australian and American Christian music charts. In March 2007, Hillsong United's eighth album All of the Above debuted at #6 on the ARIA charts His song, "Everyday", is ranked number 49 on the CCLI top 100 songs.
Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs worship team:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RiDQmlC9uY
“Holy is the Lord”
Chris Tomlin wrote this song after meditating on Isaiah 6. He was intrigued by the passage where the angels called to one another. The phrase “Holy is the Lord and the earth is filled with his glory” kept ringing in his mind. He met up with Louie Giglio who had been meditating on the passage in Nehemiah where after Israel rebuilt the wall they built a wooden tower and opened the word of the lord. When this happened the people stood and lifted their hands then also bowed down. Louie was struck by the picture in his mind and wrote the following phrase in his journal:
“It’s rising up all around, it’s the anthem of the Lord’s renown”
Click here to listen to Chris & Louie Giglio talk about how the song came about:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv6hSdbfo2E
Click here to worship and sing-along
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSKN5PX_3a0&feature=related
Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X4CwGGJQMI
“Enough”
This worship song is by Chris Tomlin. Chris is instrumental in shaping the language for this present body of worshippers. Chris wrote this song along with Louie Giglio. Louie gave Chris a note right before one of their passion tours. The note simply said:
God is enough, He is really more than enough.
Chris took the rough words and crafted the song around that one phrase. Chris showed up in Louie’s kitchen played it for Louie and it was then that Louie realized that the song was really birthed out of the heart of God.
Click here to hear the story in Louie & Chris’ words on New Song Café:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaLNjeTEeE4
Click here to worship along with Chris:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHEm-b4IRYk&feature=related
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Behind the Praise - Sunday June 29, 2008
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BLENDED WORSHIP 9:30am
"How can I keep from Singing"
Click here to listen to Chris Tomlin share about how he wrote the song:
Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman wrote this song as an adaptation of the old hymn "How can I keep from Singing" written by Robert Lowry in 1860 . The song is listed in some hymnals by the opening line "My Life Flows On". The original composition has now entered into the public domain. The song is frequently cited incorrectly as a traditional Quaker hymn.
Here is the original hymn that inspired this modern hymn:
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation:
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?
Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
Click here to listen online:
“And Can it Be”
Not many hymns begin with a question as does this one. However, it is not an expression of doubt but of wonder and awe. · How can it be that the shedding of Jesus’ blood 1900 years ago is relevant to me today? · How was it possible for the Son of God to have died for me? · Why should our Lord empty Himself of all His divine glory and become a man, in order to save “Adam’s helpless race?” There is considerable evidence that this hymn was written by Charles Wesley soon after his own conversion. Charles Wesley’s crisis experience occurred on May 20, 1738. He had been sick in body as well as in spirit. It seemed that God spoke to him through a vision. According to his Journal, this confrontation took place after reading the bible for some time. Following is his account:
“At midnight I gave myself up to Christ: assured I was safe, sleeping or waking. I had continued experience of his power to overcome all temptation; and confessed, with joy and surprise, that he was able to do exceedingly abundantly for me, above what I can ask or think.”
And can it be, that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood`?
An interest in the Savior’s blood`?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who him to death pursued?
For me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design? In vain the first-born seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel-minds inquire no more.
He left his Father’s throne above,
(So free, so infinite his grace!)
Emptied himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race: ’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
(So free, so infinite his grace!)
Emptied himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race: ’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;I feel the Savior in my heart.
No condemnation now I dread,
Jesus, and all in him, is mine! Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Jesus, and all in him, is mine! Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Click here for the many arrangements available:
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=and+can+it+be+that+i+should+gain&search_type=&aq=1&oq=and+can+it+be
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=and+can+it+be+that+i+should+gain&search_type=&aq=1&oq=and+can+it+be
"Close to Thee"
This hymns' lyrics were written by Fanny Crosby, Songs of Grace and Glory, 1874: She wrote the following on how the song came about.
"Toward the close of a day in the year 1874 I was sitting in my room thinking of the nearness of God through Christ as the constant companion of my pilgrim journey, when my heart burst out with the words."
Frances Jane "Fanny" Crosby (1820-1915) was an American hymn writer and poetess, who wrote over 8,000 hymns during her life. One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, "I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you." She replied quickly, "Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?" "Why?" asked the surprised clergyman. "Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"
Click here to listen to an arrangement of this hymn:
Click here to listen to another arrangement:
CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP 11:00am
“All to You”
This worship song was written by Lincoln Brewster. Brewster has been musically inclined since his early childhood in Homer, Alaska. At the age of one, his mother, Cheryl, noticed how well he could keep rhythm on a drum set his grandfather had given him. At the age of five, his mother introduced him to the mandolin. Quickly mastering the instrument, he began playing for cruise ship tourists alongside his mother in Homer, Alaska.
By the age of 12, Brewster had a band called Lincoln and the Missing Links, which included his mother on bass and vocals. In his late teens, he moved with his family to California where he joined the high school jazz band (playing guitar and drums) and marching band (playing snare drum).
Due to connections gained in Los Angeles, he had recording contract offers by 19. Feeling emptiness in his life, Brewster attended church services with his high school sweetheart and Christian, Laura. He recalls feeling God drawing him close after attending a drama ministry performance with Laura.
"I was afraid to lay down a lot of things in my life," Lincoln said. "One night, I laid all my cards on the table. I asked the Lord to come into my life, all by myself. It was the best night of sleep I'd ever had. I was very peaceful.
Click here to listen to the song online: http://play.rhapsody.com/lincolnbrewster/letthepraisesringthebestoflincolnbrewster/alltoyou?didAutoplayBounce=true
This worship song was written by Lincoln Brewster. Brewster has been musically inclined since his early childhood in Homer, Alaska. At the age of one, his mother, Cheryl, noticed how well he could keep rhythm on a drum set his grandfather had given him. At the age of five, his mother introduced him to the mandolin. Quickly mastering the instrument, he began playing for cruise ship tourists alongside his mother in Homer, Alaska.
By the age of 12, Brewster had a band called Lincoln and the Missing Links, which included his mother on bass and vocals. In his late teens, he moved with his family to California where he joined the high school jazz band (playing guitar and drums) and marching band (playing snare drum).
Due to connections gained in Los Angeles, he had recording contract offers by 19. Feeling emptiness in his life, Brewster attended church services with his high school sweetheart and Christian, Laura. He recalls feeling God drawing him close after attending a drama ministry performance with Laura.
"I was afraid to lay down a lot of things in my life," Lincoln said. "One night, I laid all my cards on the table. I asked the Lord to come into my life, all by myself. It was the best night of sleep I'd ever had. I was very peaceful.
Click here to listen to the song online: http://play.rhapsody.com/lincolnbrewster/letthepraisesringthebestoflincolnbrewster/alltoyou?didAutoplayBounce=true
Click here to read more about Lincoln:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Brewster
Click here to play Lincolns’ songs on his myspace – the songs are available on his standalone player, you can also listen to “Everlasting” and “Let the Praises Ring”
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=83285546
Click here to listen to Lincoln share about his journey and how a 70 year-old woman encouraged him during a time of worship;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJPh1asdTsw
"How can I keep from Singing"
Click here to listen to Chris Tomlin share about how he wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lTZySpbpo
Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman wrote this song as an adaptation of the old hymn "How can I keep from Singing" written by Robert Lowry in 1860 . The song is listed in some hymnals by the opening line "My Life Flows On". The original composition has now entered into the public domain. The song is frequently cited incorrectly as a traditional Quaker hymn.
Here is the original hymn that inspired this modern hymn:
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation:
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?
Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GPpx9oINsI
Click here to listen online:
http://play.rhapsody.com/christomlin/seethemorning/howcanikeepfromsingingseethemorningalbumversion?didAutoplayBounce=true
Click here to listen to Chris Tomlin share about how he wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lTZySpbpo
Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman wrote this song as an adaptation of the old hymn "How can I keep from Singing" written by Robert Lowry in 1860 . The song is listed in some hymnals by the opening line "My Life Flows On". The original composition has now entered into the public domain. The song is frequently cited incorrectly as a traditional Quaker hymn.
Here is the original hymn that inspired this modern hymn:
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation:
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?
Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GPpx9oINsI
Click here to listen online:
http://play.rhapsody.com/christomlin/seethemorning/howcanikeepfromsingingseethemorningalbumversion?didAutoplayBounce=true
"Jesus Paid it All"
The following is from Alex Nifong who wrote the additional chorus:
I have an old hymnal that I frequently play through sometimes during my private times alone with the Lord. I was playing through that song one day in Jan of 05 and I just started praying and singing out the phrase O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead. It was as simple as that. Just a prayer that came right out of my heart.
This is a new arrangement of the old hymn, based on the recording from the Passion album "Everything glorious". It adds a new line "O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead". Check out the composer of the tag on his website www.alexnifong.com/
Here’s a story about the song:The words were written by Elvina M. Hall and the music by John T. Grape on New Year’s night, 1886, some missionaries were holding open-air services in order to attract passers-by to a near-by mission, where meetings were to be held later. "All to Christ I owe" was sung, and after a gentleman had given a short address he hastened away to the mission. He soon heard footsteps close behind him and a young woman caught up with him and said: "I heard you addressing the open-air meeting just now; do you think, sir, that Jesus could save a sinner like me?"The gentleman replied that there was no doubt about that, if she was anxious to be saved. She told him that she was a servant girl, and had left her place that morning after a disagreement with her mistress. As she had been wandering about the streets in the dark, wondering where she was to spend the night, the sweet melodies of this hymn had attracted her, and she drew near and listened attentively. As the different verses were being sung, she felt that the words surely had something to do with her. Through the whole service she seemed to hear what met her oppressed soul’s need at that moment. God’s Spirit had showed her what a poor, sinful and wretched creature she was, and had led her to ask what she must do. On hearing her experience, the gentleman took her back to the mission and left her with the ladies in charge. The young, wayward woman was brought to Christ that night. A situation was secured for her in a minister’s family. There she became ill and had to be taken to a hospital. She rapidly failed and it became evident that she would not be long on earth. One day the gentleman whom she had met on New Year’s night was visiting her in the ward. After quoting a few suitable verses of Scripture, he repeated her favorite hymn, "All to Christ I owe"…and she seemed overwhelmed with the thought of coming to glory…Two hours afterward she passed away.
Click here to worship along
Click here to worship along with a younger generation led by Kristian Stanfill:
You can go here to Kristians' myspace and click on the song just to listen
WOW - here it is in Spanish
"Hungry"
This song was written by Kathryn Scott while living in Glasgow. Kathryn found her self desperate for the Lord and this song became her personal cry for revival.
Click here to listen to Kathryn share her story:
Hungry I come to You For I know You satisfy
I am empty but I know Your love does not run dry
So I wait for You So I wait for You I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me Jesus You're all This heart is living for
Broken I run to You For Your arms are open wide
I am weary but I know Your touch Restores my life
Click here for Kathryns' myspace:
Here is Kathryns' bio:
Kathryn (Rainey) Scott was born into a very musical family with a passion for ministry. During her early childhood, her father Roy and singer/songwriter mom Mildred worked in a recording studio when the family wasn’t travelling across the UK with an evangelism group.
It was during those early years that Kathryn made a decision to follow Jesus. And, by age 9, she had begun writing songs with the encouragement of her mom.
At 19, she entered Elim Bible College (now Regent’s Theological College) in England, where she studied theology and met her future husband, Alan. The couple married after college and together began to seek God’s plan for their lives, believing they were called to plant a church but not sure of how to go about it. They began the journey by becoming assistant pastors at Alan’s home church, South West Glasgow Vineyard. At that time, Kathryn met award-winning artist and songwriter Brian Doerksen and began working with him to hone her own skills as a worship leader and songwriter. Soon after, she penned the songs Child of God and Hungry, which were eventually recorded by Vineyard Music.
Two years later, Alan and Kathryn departed for Northern Ireland to plant a church of their own. A year later, Causeway Coast Vineyard began meeting in a local pub when the couple could find no other available venues. Within a few years, the church grew to a congregation of over 400 adults and 100 children.
And, as the church grew, so did Kathryn’s reputation as a songwriter. She signed with Integrity Music and released her critically-acclaimed solo debut Satisfy in 2003. The CD included the popular songs At The Foot Of The Cross, Search Me, Know Me and the evergreen Hungry among others. She also continued writing with Doerksen and artist Paul Baloche, contributing songs and guest vocals to their recent Integrity CDs.
In mid-December of ‘07, Kathryn will release I Belong, a studio recording produced by Brent Milligan. The CD features co-writes with Baloche and Doerksen and with her first writing partner and coach, her mom.
Kathryn and Alan are busier than ever at Causeway and as parents to their young daughters Sophie and Emily Joy.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Behind the Praise - Sunday June 22, 2008
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BLENDED WORSHIP 9:30am
“A Mighty Fortress is our God”
(German, Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott) is the best known of Martin Luther's hymns. Luther wrote the words and composed the melody sometime between 1527-1529.[ It has been translated into English at least seventy times and also into many other languages.The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 46.The most popular English version, "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing," was translated by Frederick H. Hedge in 1853. Another popular English version by Thomas Carlyle begins "A safe stronghold our God is still."
Click here to read more about this great hymn:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mighty_Fortress_Is_Our_God
Click here to worship along with Steve Green:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRJHKzU_t1M
Click here to listen to an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E54lZUnMucc&feature=related
"Friend of God"
Israel Houghton serves as one of the worship pastors for Lakewood Church in Houston. Here is a portion of his amazing story.
I really should have been one of those abortion statistics you read about. My mother became pregnant with me when she was 17. My mother's white and my biological father's black. Her family wasn't supportive of their relationship and gave her the choice to have a back-alley abortion or to be disowned. I'm here because of the decision she made-and because of her conversion shortly after that. So when I lead worship I'm crazy. I realize how fortunate I am to be called by God and to be protected, to be covered by him. I'm incredibly grateful.
I grew up in a fairly legalistic home. My parents loved God, and they did the very best they could with what they knew. They came from a very discipleship-oriented, fairly heavy-handed way of doing kingdom work. So I would have more easily said, "I am afraid of God" than "I am a friend of God." The view I had of God was dysfunctional, almost like he was looking for opportunities to punish me. That was more what I caught than what was taught. But the more I said "I am a friend of God," the more that old, condemning view was purged from my life. I gained a healing sense of God saying, "I want to know you."
Here is a devotional thought on the song
www.gospelflava.com/articles/songinword-friendofgod.html
(German, Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott) is the best known of Martin Luther's hymns. Luther wrote the words and composed the melody sometime between 1527-1529.[ It has been translated into English at least seventy times and also into many other languages.The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 46.The most popular English version, "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing," was translated by Frederick H. Hedge in 1853. Another popular English version by Thomas Carlyle begins "A safe stronghold our God is still."
Click here to read more about this great hymn:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mighty_Fortress_Is_Our_God
Click here to worship along with Steve Green:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRJHKzU_t1M
Click here to listen to an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E54lZUnMucc&feature=related
"Friend of God"
Israel Houghton serves as one of the worship pastors for Lakewood Church in Houston. Here is a portion of his amazing story.
I really should have been one of those abortion statistics you read about. My mother became pregnant with me when she was 17. My mother's white and my biological father's black. Her family wasn't supportive of their relationship and gave her the choice to have a back-alley abortion or to be disowned. I'm here because of the decision she made-and because of her conversion shortly after that. So when I lead worship I'm crazy. I realize how fortunate I am to be called by God and to be protected, to be covered by him. I'm incredibly grateful.
I grew up in a fairly legalistic home. My parents loved God, and they did the very best they could with what they knew. They came from a very discipleship-oriented, fairly heavy-handed way of doing kingdom work. So I would have more easily said, "I am afraid of God" than "I am a friend of God." The view I had of God was dysfunctional, almost like he was looking for opportunities to punish me. That was more what I caught than what was taught. But the more I said "I am a friend of God," the more that old, condemning view was purged from my life. I gained a healing sense of God saying, "I want to know you."
Here is a devotional thought on the song
www.gospelflava.com/articles/songinword-friendofgod.html
Here is an interview with Israel that gives great insight into Israel’s walk with the Lord. www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/israel_houghton_041205.aspx
Click here to listen to the song
"Living for Jesus"
The author of this hymn is Thomas Obadiah Chisholm. He was born in Franklin, Kentucky, on July 29, 1866. He was a schoolteacher and an editor of a weekly newspaper. He was converted at the age of 27. In 1903, Chisholm was a pastor at the Methodist church in Scottsville, Kentucky. When his health began to fail, he moved his family to Winona Lake, Indiana, and became an insurance salesman. In 1916, he moved to Vineland, New Jersey. He always loved writing, and wrote over 1,200 poems, of which 800 got published.
The author of this hymn is Thomas Obadiah Chisholm. He was born in Franklin, Kentucky, on July 29, 1866. He was a schoolteacher and an editor of a weekly newspaper. He was converted at the age of 27. In 1903, Chisholm was a pastor at the Methodist church in Scottsville, Kentucky. When his health began to fail, he moved his family to Winona Lake, Indiana, and became an insurance salesman. In 1916, he moved to Vineland, New Jersey. He always loved writing, and wrote over 1,200 poems, of which 800 got published.
"Living for Jesus" was written in 1917, Mr. Lowden wrote Mr. Chisholm asking him to write a poem to a piece of music and suggested the title and the type of refrain he felt it should have. Mr. Chisholm replied saying that he did not have the slightest Idea as to the method used in writing words to music. Mr. Lowden wrote that God had led him to select Mr. Chisholm, and believed that God would somehow enable him to write the hymn. Within a couple of weeks Mr. Chisholm had the words to it finished. The result has been translated into more than 15 languages. Mr. Chisholm died February 29, 1960, in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. The composer of this hymn is Carl Harold Lowden. He was born October 12, 1883, in Burlington, New Jersey. At the age of 12, he sold his first song to a publishing company, where he was later employed. Mr. Lowden taught music for several years at the Bible Institute of Pennsylvania. He was also a minister of music for the Linden Baptist Church in Camden, New Jersey, for 28 years. For another 12 years, Lowden was music editor for the Evangelical and Reformed Church Board. He died February 27, 1963, at Collingswood New Jersey.
Click here to read the words and play a traditional arrangement of the song:
www.scriptureandmusic.com/Music/Text_Files/Living_For_Jesus.html
"My Jesus, I love Thee"
Sixteen year old William Featherston of Montreal, Canada wrote this simple but profound hymn in 1862, not long after he was converted to Christ. William wrote no other hymns that we know of and his brief life ended just before his twenty-seventh birthday. Here is a story about the influence of this song:
"My Jesus, I love Thee"
Sixteen year old William Featherston of Montreal, Canada wrote this simple but profound hymn in 1862, not long after he was converted to Christ. William wrote no other hymns that we know of and his brief life ended just before his twenty-seventh birthday. Here is a story about the influence of this song:
A Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Michigan once related the following incident to a large audience in one of the Rev. E. P. Hammond’s meetings in St. Louis. “A young, talented and tender-hearted actress was passing along the street of a large city. Seeing a pale, sick girl lying upon a couch just within the half-open door of a beautiful dwelling, she entered, with the thought that by her vivacity and pleasant conversation she might cheer the young invalid. The sick girl was a devoted Christian, and her words, her patience, her submission and heaven-lit countenance, so demonstrated the spirit of her religion that the actress was led to give some earnest thought to the claims of Christianity, and was thoroughly converted, and became a true follower of Christ. She told her father, the leader of the theater troupe, of her conversion, and of her desire to abandon the stage, stating that she could not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress. Her father was astonished beyond measure, and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined, if she persisted in her resolution. Loving her father dearly, she was shaken somewhat in her purpose, and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe, and a general favorite. Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear. The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter, and that their living was not to be lost. The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled. The curtain rose, and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude. But an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face. Amid the breathless silence of the audience, she repeated:
‘My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
’This was all. Through Christ she had conquered and, leaving the audience in tears, she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again. Through her influence her father was converted, and through their united evangelistic labors many were led to God.”
Worship along with Avalon by clicking here:
Worship along with Avalon by clicking here:
"You are Good"
Nearly Disposed - Israels' Testimony
My mother became pregnant at the age of 17 in Waterloo, Iowa. You can imagine how this is shaping up. She was given the choice of a back-alley abortion or being disowned by her family. Thank God she chose the latter. Ultimately, she was disowned, abandoned by my biological father, and ended up in San Diego, California. Picture this. It was 1971 and my mother was 8 months pregnant, all alone, thousands of miles from home, and forced to enter reality unprepared. Pretty bleak. One day while walking down the street, a lady pulled up in her Volkswagen Bug, got out, and respectfully yet boldly, began to share the Gospel with her. Words of life and hope began to overtake the words of rejection and abandonment she had grown accustomed to. There on a street corner, she ended up on her knees and cried out to God-committing her life to Jesus Christ. The lady gave her a bible and that's how I got my name. My mother started reading at page one and well, you know-you have a bible, my name's on every page!
I'm often asked by skeptics or the stoic, why I'm as passionate about worshiping God as I am. The answer is simple for me. In this age of disposable relationships, I could have easily become a statistic and at best, a distant memory of a youthful mistake. Instead, a Sovereign God rescued my mother and me and gave us hope, a future, and a testimony of the providence of God. The very least I can do is enter into His gates with fresh thanksgiving, His courts with a passionate praise, and eventually bow before His throne in intimate worship. As far as leading worship goes (which is my passion and calling), I now realize that there have been demands put on me from every part of my experience since day one - culturally, emotionally, musically, and more. So things tend to sound cross-cultural, cross- denominational, and cross-generational. I like to call it, "The Sound of New Breed Worship." I tend to lead from an internal platform founded in Psalm 124:2, "If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side"....where in the world would I be? In an age of disposable relationships, maybe we should be asking ourselves that question a lot more often. I am confident that we would worship with far more conviction, intensity, and overwhelmed gratitude if we did. It is my delight to encourage you today.
Israel
Click here to learn more about Israel Houghton's ministry.
Nearly Disposed - Israels' Testimony
My mother became pregnant at the age of 17 in Waterloo, Iowa. You can imagine how this is shaping up. She was given the choice of a back-alley abortion or being disowned by her family. Thank God she chose the latter. Ultimately, she was disowned, abandoned by my biological father, and ended up in San Diego, California. Picture this. It was 1971 and my mother was 8 months pregnant, all alone, thousands of miles from home, and forced to enter reality unprepared. Pretty bleak. One day while walking down the street, a lady pulled up in her Volkswagen Bug, got out, and respectfully yet boldly, began to share the Gospel with her. Words of life and hope began to overtake the words of rejection and abandonment she had grown accustomed to. There on a street corner, she ended up on her knees and cried out to God-committing her life to Jesus Christ. The lady gave her a bible and that's how I got my name. My mother started reading at page one and well, you know-you have a bible, my name's on every page!
I'm often asked by skeptics or the stoic, why I'm as passionate about worshiping God as I am. The answer is simple for me. In this age of disposable relationships, I could have easily become a statistic and at best, a distant memory of a youthful mistake. Instead, a Sovereign God rescued my mother and me and gave us hope, a future, and a testimony of the providence of God. The very least I can do is enter into His gates with fresh thanksgiving, His courts with a passionate praise, and eventually bow before His throne in intimate worship. As far as leading worship goes (which is my passion and calling), I now realize that there have been demands put on me from every part of my experience since day one - culturally, emotionally, musically, and more. So things tend to sound cross-cultural, cross- denominational, and cross-generational. I like to call it, "The Sound of New Breed Worship." I tend to lead from an internal platform founded in Psalm 124:2, "If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side"....where in the world would I be? In an age of disposable relationships, maybe we should be asking ourselves that question a lot more often. I am confident that we would worship with far more conviction, intensity, and overwhelmed gratitude if we did. It is my delight to encourage you today.
Israel
Click here to learn more about Israel Houghton's ministry.
Israel leads a worship band called "New Breed" here's their website, you can listen to portions of the songs they sing including "You are Good"
Click here to learn more about Israel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Houghton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Houghton
Click here to worship along with Israel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAGZ8HmiWCM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAGZ8HmiWCM
Click here to see Israel singing "You are Good" in concert:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCpy1Bg255A&feature=related
"Beautiful One"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCpy1Bg255A&feature=related
"Beautiful One"
Tim wrote this song based upon Isaiah 53:
Wonderful so wonderful is your unfailing love Your cross is spoken mercy over me
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart can fully knowHow glorious, how beautiful you are
Beautiful one I love Beautiful one I adore
Beautiful one my soul must sing
Powerful so powerful your glory fills the skies Your mighty works displayed for all to see
The beauty of your majesty awakes my heart to sing
How marvelous, how wonderful you are
You opened my eyes to your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
‘Cause nothing on earth is as beautiful as you
Click here to listen to Tim Hughes share how he wrote the song
Click here to worship along with Jeremy Camp
Click here to worship along with Tim Hughes
Click here to learn more about Tim
This worship song by David Crowder is a play on the word glory. David said even as believers we struggle with defining glory.
At the start he was there, he was there
In the end,he’ll be there, he’ll be there
And After all our hands have wrought
He forgives Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
For the rescue of us allthat we may live for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all
Click here to listen to David share about how he wrote the song:
Click here to worship along with David at a Passion event:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg-1yM6insA&feature=related
“Agnus Dei”
Michael Whitaker Smith has become one of the most enduringly popular artists on the Christian Contemporary Music front and is also finding considerable success as a mainstream artist. He was born in Kenova, West Virginia, the son of an oil refinery worker and a caterer. He became a devout Christian at age ten and spent his teens hanging around with a solid support group of fellow believers who frequently gathered to play and make music. After high school, that support group split up, and Smith turned to alcohol, drugs and wild times. He scraped through a couple semesters of college and began honing his songwriting skills. In 1978, a songwriting company expressed interest in his songwriting, and he moved to Nashville, where he played with local bands, including Rose. He was still heavily into drugs and continued using until October 1979, when he suffered a sort of emotional mental breakdown that culminated in recommitting to Christ. The next day he auditioned for a new CCM group, Higher Ground, as a keyboardist. While touring with them, Smith cleaned up his act. In 1981, he signed to Meadowgreen Music as a staff writer, where over the next few years he provided gospel hits for such artists as Sandi Patti, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant. He began touring as a keyboardist with Grant in 1982 and the following year, after releasing his first album, The Michael W. Smith Project, became her opening act. His debut album garnered him a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance.Agnus Dei is a Latin term meaning Lamb of God, and was originally used to refer to Jesus Christ in his role of the perfect sacrificial offering that atones for the sins of humanity in Christian theology, harkening back to ancient Jewish Temple sacrifices.
Click here to worship along with Michael W. Smith and a fantastic boy’s choir:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTWFYRA2j74&feature=related
Click here to worship along with Third Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbKXJ1Jm_jg
“Agnus Dei”
Michael Whitaker Smith has become one of the most enduringly popular artists on the Christian Contemporary Music front and is also finding considerable success as a mainstream artist. He was born in Kenova, West Virginia, the son of an oil refinery worker and a caterer. He became a devout Christian at age ten and spent his teens hanging around with a solid support group of fellow believers who frequently gathered to play and make music. After high school, that support group split up, and Smith turned to alcohol, drugs and wild times. He scraped through a couple semesters of college and began honing his songwriting skills. In 1978, a songwriting company expressed interest in his songwriting, and he moved to Nashville, where he played with local bands, including Rose. He was still heavily into drugs and continued using until October 1979, when he suffered a sort of emotional mental breakdown that culminated in recommitting to Christ. The next day he auditioned for a new CCM group, Higher Ground, as a keyboardist. While touring with them, Smith cleaned up his act. In 1981, he signed to Meadowgreen Music as a staff writer, where over the next few years he provided gospel hits for such artists as Sandi Patti, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant. He began touring as a keyboardist with Grant in 1982 and the following year, after releasing his first album, The Michael W. Smith Project, became her opening act. His debut album garnered him a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance.Agnus Dei is a Latin term meaning Lamb of God, and was originally used to refer to Jesus Christ in his role of the perfect sacrificial offering that atones for the sins of humanity in Christian theology, harkening back to ancient Jewish Temple sacrifices.
Click here to worship along with Michael W. Smith and a fantastic boy’s choir:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTWFYRA2j74&feature=related
Click here to worship along with Third Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbKXJ1Jm_jg
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Behind the Praise - Sunday June 15, 2008
BLENDED SERVICE 9:30am
“God is Great”
This song was written by Marty Sampson one of the Hillsong worship leaders from Australia. When asked about the modern worship movement Marty commented recently “I think young people are getting more and more passionate about their relationships with God and His kingdom. They desire to see God moving in their lives and in the lives of those around them.” Marty Sampson (b. May 31, 1979) is a Christian songwriter and a worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Originally featuring in the Youth Alive albums of the late 1990s, he was one of original Hillsong United worship leaders and has led worship on every United album to date. He plays guitar and occasionally piano.
When it comes to penning songs, Marty is sometimes a little unorthodox in his approach. For example he explains the inspiration behind "God is Great." "The story is that me and Joel Houston, another guy in our youth group, were cruising along in his car, with a tape recorder. And we were just talking about music and singing, and we decided we needed to write a new song for the youth. We were near my house, and we were singing as loud as we could! Joel started doing this beat box, and then I just started singing, 'God is great, and His praise, fills the earth, fills the heavens!' We both turned around, looked at each other, and said, 'Whoa! That's awesome!' So I put on the tape player and recorded it, and it went from there."
Click here to worship along with Marty:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfZOUVD46TI&feature=related
Click here to learn more about Marty’s ministry:
www.myspace.com/martysampsonmusic
Click here to check out Marty:
www.martysampson.net
“Come Christians Join to Sing”
Come Christians, Join to Sing" began as a Sunday school song for children. Originally entitled, "Come, Children, Join to Sing," the hymn's name was changed when its author realized everyone loved to sing his hymn. The hymn was written in 1843 and first appeared in a Scottish hymnbook for children entitled Sacred Melodies for Sabbath Schools and families.
The words "alleluia" and "amen" are found in each stanza, drawing on rich biblical language. "Alleluia", the Latin equivalent of Hallelujah, is found in many of the Psalms and means "Praise the Lord." "Amen," of course, ends many prayers, and it simply means "truth," "assuredly," or "so be it."
Combining the praise of "Alleluia" with the jubilant assertion of "Amen" this hymn resounds with praise for Christ our King. Calling on Christians to sing praise both now and forevermore, it's a fitting hymn for children and adults alike.
Click here to worship along with Bob Kaufman in a contemporary setting of the hymn: www.youtube.com/watch?v=scIXblXpQN4
Click here to listen to an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k6bkt4nkVs
Click here for a traditional arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_AO21YwTug
“The Heart of Worship”
Matt Redman says the story behind “The Heart of Worship” in particular is a personal reminder that, “I’m just a little songwriter—and a pretty foolish one at that!”
The song dates back to the late 1990s, born from a period of apathy within Matt’s home church, Soul Survivor, in Watford, England. Despite the country’s overall contribution to the current worship revival, Redman’s congregation was struggling to find meaning in its musical outpouring at the time. “There was a dynamic missing, so the pastor did a pretty brave thing,” he recalls. “He decided to get rid of the sound system and band for a season, and we gathered together with just our voices. His point was that we’d lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.”Reminding his church family to be producers in worship, not just consumers, the pastor, Mike Pilavachi, asked, “When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”Matt says the question initially led to some embarrassing silence, but eventually people broke into a cappella songs and heartfelt prayers, encountering God in a fresh way.
“Before long, we reintroduced the musicians and sound system, as we’d gained a new perspective that worship is all about Jesus, and He commands a response in the depths of our souls no matter what the circumstance and setting. ‘The Heart of Worship’ simply describes what occurred.”
When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come /
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart… /
I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus
Redman remembers writing the song quickly in his bedroom soon after the church’s journey together, with no grand intentions, by any means, for it to become an international anthem. He viewed the words simply as his personal, subjective response to what he was learning about worship.
But when Matt shared “The Heart of Worship” with Pilavachi, the pastor suggested making a few small adjustments to the lyrics so any member of the church could relate to it as well.Amazed by how God has since taken the song around the world for His purposes, the songwriter smiles in regard to his own lack of foresight. “It nearly didn’t go any further than my bedroom. But I love that…”
Click here to worship along with Matt:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgs79jgEyPw
Click here to hear Matt share about the story behind the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml
Click here to listen on Rhapsody online:
www.rhapsody.com/mattredman/theheartofworship
“I have Decided to Follow Jesus”
This songs composer is unknown. The tune is a Hindustani melody. This folk song originated among the Garo Indians, one of the hill tribes in India. The Garo tribe lives in an area that is now the state of Meghalaya, but was until 1970 the state of Assam. The northern part of Meghalaya borders on the Himalayan Mountain range. The earliest appearance of the hymn in the United States seems to have been in Choice Light and Life, a 1950 publication of the Free Methodist Church (Winona Lake, Ind.), compiled by LeRoy M. Lowell. Other publications have followed. The tune was named ASSAM in Christian Praise (Nashville, 1964), for the province of India where the Garos lived.
Click here for a guitar arrangement and a blue grass arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv6gOET62ws
Click here for a traditional arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=55eESzdyPoY&feature=related
Click here for an arrangement with Bill Gaither and the homecoming friends:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISsp2QVTQLQ&feature=related
CONTEMPORARY 11:00
“Open up the Gates”
Planetshakers is more than a band name, it’s more than just a ministry and it’s far from an isolated experience. Planetshakers is a foundation shaking movement that’s sweeping Australia off its feet and it’s about to burst the bubble of American culture. The concept is simple: combine cutting edge speakers with topical relevance and worship woven music that reflects cultural relevance under the context of a super charged conference. Consider it comparable to the Hillsongs movement, but with an explosive, youth-oriented twist.
“There’s something powerful that happens when you mesh a spoken word message with the energy and explosion of live music,” says Planetshakers’ founder and director Russell Evans in his thick accent and contagiously pleasant tone. “This generation is looking for energetic, raw passion and they’re attracted to anything they can perceive as real. Seeing the enthusiastic blend is attractive to people. That passion on stage, no matter if it’s speaking or singing, makes them hungry.”
Planetshakers have been satisfying the appetites of the once spiritually bankrupt since 1997 when its first weekend conference was staged in front of 300 students at Paradise Community Church in Adelaide, South Australia. In the years that followed, the event ballooned at rapid rates, reaching 4,000 attendees by January 2000. Come this winter, Planetshakers pulled in 20,000 faithful in three major Australian cities: Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.
“Other than God’s hand being over the ministers, I think the reason for the growth is because Planetshakers understands young people’s needs and are able to bring it beyond just a worship experience,” contends Evans after a moment of reflection on its evolution. “The goal is for people to have an encounter with God and the objective from there on out is to build local churches and ministries that young people can get plugged into. It all boils down to the fact that this is an instrument in raising up a new generation for the church.”
Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/people/1gedK/music/0oLABVBy/planetshakers_open_up_the_gates/
We come into this Holy placeTo bring a sacrifice of praise
Bow down before You and seek Your face
We sing of the mighty things You've done
Cry out to You"Let Your will be done"
Tell all the world You're the Holy One
Hear the shouts of praise As they're rising up to You
Come and fill this placeAs we bring glory to Your name
Chorus:
Open up the gates and let theKing of glory in
Fill this house with praises as we Lift our hands and worship You
Open up the doors and let YourGlory fill the earth
King of heaven we dance before Your throne
“Indescribable”
On June 14, 2007, Tomlin's recording of the song "Indescribable" was used as the official wake-up call for Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester on Space Shuttle mission STS-117. What an incredible
This song is all about how great our God is. The artist of this song is Chris Tomlin and originally written by Laura Story. Laura Story holds the CCLI copyright of this song.
Like the twists and turns of a mountain road, Laura Story’s life has held its share of unexpected moments – some exhilarating, some terrifying, and some simply beautiful to behold. Leaning solely on her faith in the sovereignty of God, Story has learned that no matter what comes around the next bend it’s going to be an incredible view.
Once an aspiring symphony conductor, Story didn’t even know she could sing – much less write songs – until she was in her early twenties. Today, Story is not only a gifted vocalist and worship leader but also the composer of one of the most beloved worship songs of our generation – “Indescribable”. The song has topped the charts and been recorded by multiple artists.
Click here to worship along with Chris:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PTvr755V8s
Click here for a moving DVD with the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmTxZAl7ceU
“Remedy"
This song is by David Crowder. As you might guess from the title and the medical cross on the cover, Remedy focuses on God's constant presence as the answer to our hurts while challenging listeners to be the balm needed in the lives of others. Indeed, the Texas band's 2007club tour is part worship experience, part rallying cry to inspire change in local communities. At the same time, one could view this album as the band's personal healing in response to the tragic death of their friend and pastor Kyle Lake shortly after the release of A Collision.
Here is Davids' answer to what is worship? This is actually a really difficult question because language is such a fluid thing. A word like “worship” changes and evolves and provokes different meanings for different community sets. Over the last few decades, at least within Christian culture, the word has become synonymous with “music within a congregational context.” You say the word “worship” and a person immediately pictures in his head people singing in a room with lyrics projected on a screen. Words and the objects they signify are very difficult to separate. I’ll show you what I mean. Okay, in your head, say the word, “eight”—and try to not picture the number eight. It’s nearly impossible. So, once a word begins to signify something, it is hard to separate it from the thing it is signifying. For me, I tend to not trust moments of congregational singing as an indicator of where our true affections lie. It is a very simple thing to get caught up in the beauty of music and song erupting in a room full of people. So I rarely trust that moment. I think a better indicator of worship may be the way we interact with the world around us.
Click here to watch the David Crowder band on tour:
www.youtube.com/profile?user=davidcrowderband
Click here to learn more about The David Crowder band:
www.davidcrowderband.com/
Click here to visit Davids' myspace:
www.myspace.com/davidcrowderband
Click here to worship along with a powerful video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3UWiJCZAz8
Click here for a live performance:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGIth9d_LXE&feature=related
Here we are Here we are The broken and used Mistreated, abused
Here we are Here You are Here You are
The beautiful one Who came like a Son Here You are
So we lift up our voices We open our hands
To cling to the love That we can’t comprehend
“Surrender”
Here is the story behind the song “Surrender” by Marc James in his own words.
As with a lot of songs, "Surrender" was written at a low point in my life, It was around Christmas time and, due to my past history I was having a miserable time, feeling very lonely and a bit of a failure. I wrote the verse chords and the first two lines and thought to myself, "hmm, that sound a bit like a Brian Adams song"! A month or so later I was invited to play guitar with a worship band called "100 Hours" in Hawaii for a week. My friend Tre, the singer, gave me some money and looked me in the eye and said "I believe in you, and I think that God will provide the rest of the flight money". This blew me away. I had been feeling really worn out from my job as a schools worker, and the time away was amazing. I felt really cared for and had an amazing time of coming close to God and surrendering myself to Him, and His will for my life. I wrote the song at the end of that time in Hawaii. So it started in a very desperate place and ended in a more hopeful place. I find the song quite a challenging one to sing; to choose to serve God and lay everything down is not always easy, and I know that a lot of the time I'm not really living in that, but I know that the song has helped me to come to that place, and I know that it has helped other people come to that place as well which is a cool thing. It is also something I could not have seen happening as I sat writing at my kitchen table feeling hopeless!!
Click here to visit Marc James’ myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=52418918
Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/people/QIFUo7/music/2aPHrm2t/marc_james_surrender/
Click here to worship along with Marc James:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6arR-K_5Q1c
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IORMvbM_x8
“God is Great”
This song was written by Marty Sampson one of the Hillsong worship leaders from Australia. When asked about the modern worship movement Marty commented recently “I think young people are getting more and more passionate about their relationships with God and His kingdom. They desire to see God moving in their lives and in the lives of those around them.” Marty Sampson (b. May 31, 1979) is a Christian songwriter and a worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Originally featuring in the Youth Alive albums of the late 1990s, he was one of original Hillsong United worship leaders and has led worship on every United album to date. He plays guitar and occasionally piano.
When it comes to penning songs, Marty is sometimes a little unorthodox in his approach. For example he explains the inspiration behind "God is Great." "The story is that me and Joel Houston, another guy in our youth group, were cruising along in his car, with a tape recorder. And we were just talking about music and singing, and we decided we needed to write a new song for the youth. We were near my house, and we were singing as loud as we could! Joel started doing this beat box, and then I just started singing, 'God is great, and His praise, fills the earth, fills the heavens!' We both turned around, looked at each other, and said, 'Whoa! That's awesome!' So I put on the tape player and recorded it, and it went from there."
Click here to worship along with Marty:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfZOUVD46TI&feature=related
Click here to learn more about Marty’s ministry:
www.myspace.com/martysampsonmusic
Click here to check out Marty:
www.martysampson.net
“Come Christians Join to Sing”
Come Christians, Join to Sing" began as a Sunday school song for children. Originally entitled, "Come, Children, Join to Sing," the hymn's name was changed when its author realized everyone loved to sing his hymn. The hymn was written in 1843 and first appeared in a Scottish hymnbook for children entitled Sacred Melodies for Sabbath Schools and families.
The words "alleluia" and "amen" are found in each stanza, drawing on rich biblical language. "Alleluia", the Latin equivalent of Hallelujah, is found in many of the Psalms and means "Praise the Lord." "Amen," of course, ends many prayers, and it simply means "truth," "assuredly," or "so be it."
Combining the praise of "Alleluia" with the jubilant assertion of "Amen" this hymn resounds with praise for Christ our King. Calling on Christians to sing praise both now and forevermore, it's a fitting hymn for children and adults alike.
Click here to worship along with Bob Kaufman in a contemporary setting of the hymn: www.youtube.com/watch?v=scIXblXpQN4
Click here to listen to an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k6bkt4nkVs
Click here for a traditional arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_AO21YwTug
“The Heart of Worship”
Matt Redman says the story behind “The Heart of Worship” in particular is a personal reminder that, “I’m just a little songwriter—and a pretty foolish one at that!”
The song dates back to the late 1990s, born from a period of apathy within Matt’s home church, Soul Survivor, in Watford, England. Despite the country’s overall contribution to the current worship revival, Redman’s congregation was struggling to find meaning in its musical outpouring at the time. “There was a dynamic missing, so the pastor did a pretty brave thing,” he recalls. “He decided to get rid of the sound system and band for a season, and we gathered together with just our voices. His point was that we’d lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.”Reminding his church family to be producers in worship, not just consumers, the pastor, Mike Pilavachi, asked, “When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”Matt says the question initially led to some embarrassing silence, but eventually people broke into a cappella songs and heartfelt prayers, encountering God in a fresh way.
“Before long, we reintroduced the musicians and sound system, as we’d gained a new perspective that worship is all about Jesus, and He commands a response in the depths of our souls no matter what the circumstance and setting. ‘The Heart of Worship’ simply describes what occurred.”
When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come /
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart… /
I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus
Redman remembers writing the song quickly in his bedroom soon after the church’s journey together, with no grand intentions, by any means, for it to become an international anthem. He viewed the words simply as his personal, subjective response to what he was learning about worship.
But when Matt shared “The Heart of Worship” with Pilavachi, the pastor suggested making a few small adjustments to the lyrics so any member of the church could relate to it as well.Amazed by how God has since taken the song around the world for His purposes, the songwriter smiles in regard to his own lack of foresight. “It nearly didn’t go any further than my bedroom. But I love that…”
Click here to worship along with Matt:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgs79jgEyPw
Click here to hear Matt share about the story behind the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml
Click here to listen on Rhapsody online:
www.rhapsody.com/mattredman/theheartofworship
“I have Decided to Follow Jesus”
This songs composer is unknown. The tune is a Hindustani melody. This folk song originated among the Garo Indians, one of the hill tribes in India. The Garo tribe lives in an area that is now the state of Meghalaya, but was until 1970 the state of Assam. The northern part of Meghalaya borders on the Himalayan Mountain range. The earliest appearance of the hymn in the United States seems to have been in Choice Light and Life, a 1950 publication of the Free Methodist Church (Winona Lake, Ind.), compiled by LeRoy M. Lowell. Other publications have followed. The tune was named ASSAM in Christian Praise (Nashville, 1964), for the province of India where the Garos lived.
Click here for a guitar arrangement and a blue grass arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv6gOET62ws
Click here for a traditional arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=55eESzdyPoY&feature=related
Click here for an arrangement with Bill Gaither and the homecoming friends:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISsp2QVTQLQ&feature=related
CONTEMPORARY 11:00
“Open up the Gates”
Planetshakers is more than a band name, it’s more than just a ministry and it’s far from an isolated experience. Planetshakers is a foundation shaking movement that’s sweeping Australia off its feet and it’s about to burst the bubble of American culture. The concept is simple: combine cutting edge speakers with topical relevance and worship woven music that reflects cultural relevance under the context of a super charged conference. Consider it comparable to the Hillsongs movement, but with an explosive, youth-oriented twist.
“There’s something powerful that happens when you mesh a spoken word message with the energy and explosion of live music,” says Planetshakers’ founder and director Russell Evans in his thick accent and contagiously pleasant tone. “This generation is looking for energetic, raw passion and they’re attracted to anything they can perceive as real. Seeing the enthusiastic blend is attractive to people. That passion on stage, no matter if it’s speaking or singing, makes them hungry.”
Planetshakers have been satisfying the appetites of the once spiritually bankrupt since 1997 when its first weekend conference was staged in front of 300 students at Paradise Community Church in Adelaide, South Australia. In the years that followed, the event ballooned at rapid rates, reaching 4,000 attendees by January 2000. Come this winter, Planetshakers pulled in 20,000 faithful in three major Australian cities: Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.
“Other than God’s hand being over the ministers, I think the reason for the growth is because Planetshakers understands young people’s needs and are able to bring it beyond just a worship experience,” contends Evans after a moment of reflection on its evolution. “The goal is for people to have an encounter with God and the objective from there on out is to build local churches and ministries that young people can get plugged into. It all boils down to the fact that this is an instrument in raising up a new generation for the church.”
Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/people/1gedK/music/0oLABVBy/planetshakers_open_up_the_gates/
We come into this Holy placeTo bring a sacrifice of praise
Bow down before You and seek Your face
We sing of the mighty things You've done
Cry out to You"Let Your will be done"
Tell all the world You're the Holy One
Hear the shouts of praise As they're rising up to You
Come and fill this placeAs we bring glory to Your name
Chorus:
Open up the gates and let theKing of glory in
Fill this house with praises as we Lift our hands and worship You
Open up the doors and let YourGlory fill the earth
King of heaven we dance before Your throne
“Indescribable”
On June 14, 2007, Tomlin's recording of the song "Indescribable" was used as the official wake-up call for Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester on Space Shuttle mission STS-117. What an incredible
This song is all about how great our God is. The artist of this song is Chris Tomlin and originally written by Laura Story. Laura Story holds the CCLI copyright of this song.
Like the twists and turns of a mountain road, Laura Story’s life has held its share of unexpected moments – some exhilarating, some terrifying, and some simply beautiful to behold. Leaning solely on her faith in the sovereignty of God, Story has learned that no matter what comes around the next bend it’s going to be an incredible view.
Once an aspiring symphony conductor, Story didn’t even know she could sing – much less write songs – until she was in her early twenties. Today, Story is not only a gifted vocalist and worship leader but also the composer of one of the most beloved worship songs of our generation – “Indescribable”. The song has topped the charts and been recorded by multiple artists.
Click here to worship along with Chris:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PTvr755V8s
Click here for a moving DVD with the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmTxZAl7ceU
“Remedy"
This song is by David Crowder. As you might guess from the title and the medical cross on the cover, Remedy focuses on God's constant presence as the answer to our hurts while challenging listeners to be the balm needed in the lives of others. Indeed, the Texas band's 2007club tour is part worship experience, part rallying cry to inspire change in local communities. At the same time, one could view this album as the band's personal healing in response to the tragic death of their friend and pastor Kyle Lake shortly after the release of A Collision.
Here is Davids' answer to what is worship? This is actually a really difficult question because language is such a fluid thing. A word like “worship” changes and evolves and provokes different meanings for different community sets. Over the last few decades, at least within Christian culture, the word has become synonymous with “music within a congregational context.” You say the word “worship” and a person immediately pictures in his head people singing in a room with lyrics projected on a screen. Words and the objects they signify are very difficult to separate. I’ll show you what I mean. Okay, in your head, say the word, “eight”—and try to not picture the number eight. It’s nearly impossible. So, once a word begins to signify something, it is hard to separate it from the thing it is signifying. For me, I tend to not trust moments of congregational singing as an indicator of where our true affections lie. It is a very simple thing to get caught up in the beauty of music and song erupting in a room full of people. So I rarely trust that moment. I think a better indicator of worship may be the way we interact with the world around us.
Click here to watch the David Crowder band on tour:
www.youtube.com/profile?user=davidcrowderband
Click here to learn more about The David Crowder band:
www.davidcrowderband.com/
Click here to visit Davids' myspace:
www.myspace.com/davidcrowderband
Click here to worship along with a powerful video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3UWiJCZAz8
Click here for a live performance:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGIth9d_LXE&feature=related
Here we are Here we are The broken and used Mistreated, abused
Here we are Here You are Here You are
The beautiful one Who came like a Son Here You are
So we lift up our voices We open our hands
To cling to the love That we can’t comprehend
“Surrender”
Here is the story behind the song “Surrender” by Marc James in his own words.
As with a lot of songs, "Surrender" was written at a low point in my life, It was around Christmas time and, due to my past history I was having a miserable time, feeling very lonely and a bit of a failure. I wrote the verse chords and the first two lines and thought to myself, "hmm, that sound a bit like a Brian Adams song"! A month or so later I was invited to play guitar with a worship band called "100 Hours" in Hawaii for a week. My friend Tre, the singer, gave me some money and looked me in the eye and said "I believe in you, and I think that God will provide the rest of the flight money". This blew me away. I had been feeling really worn out from my job as a schools worker, and the time away was amazing. I felt really cared for and had an amazing time of coming close to God and surrendering myself to Him, and His will for my life. I wrote the song at the end of that time in Hawaii. So it started in a very desperate place and ended in a more hopeful place. I find the song quite a challenging one to sing; to choose to serve God and lay everything down is not always easy, and I know that a lot of the time I'm not really living in that, but I know that the song has helped me to come to that place, and I know that it has helped other people come to that place as well which is a cool thing. It is also something I could not have seen happening as I sat writing at my kitchen table feeling hopeless!!
Click here to visit Marc James’ myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=52418918
Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/people/QIFUo7/music/2aPHrm2t/marc_james_surrender/
Click here to worship along with Marc James:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6arR-K_5Q1c
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IORMvbM_x8
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Behind the Praise - Sunday June 8, 2008
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY - JUNE 8, 2008 -
We'll be led in worship by our high school worship band in both services with these songs:
"My Savior, My God"
Aaron Shust wrote this song while inspired by the words of the old hymn "I am not skilled to understand" written by Dorothy Greenwell in the collection Songs of Salvation in 1873
I am not skilled to understandWhat God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know at His right handIs One Who is my Savior!
I take Him at His word indeed;“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need Of Him to be my Savior!
That He should leave His place on high And come for sinful man to die,
Click here to hear more about how Aaron wrote the song in his own words:
http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml
Click here to visit Aaron's myspace:
www.myspace.com/aaronshust
Click here to worship along with Aaron;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb2FK77vJCE
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg
"Mighty to Save"
This is another song from the Hillsong music ministry in Sydney Australia. This song is by Reuben Morgan & Ben Fielding. This song has a great re-occuring text. "OUR GOD IS MIGHT TO SAVE". This is taken from the passage in Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Click here to read more about Reuben Morgan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuben_Morgan
Click here to worship along with the so
We'll be led in worship by our high school worship band in both services with these songs:
"My Savior, My God"
Aaron Shust wrote this song while inspired by the words of the old hymn "I am not skilled to understand" written by Dorothy Greenwell in the collection Songs of Salvation in 1873
I am not skilled to understandWhat God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know at His right handIs One Who is my Savior!
I take Him at His word indeed;“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need Of Him to be my Savior!
That He should leave His place on high And come for sinful man to die,
Click here to hear more about how Aaron wrote the song in his own words:
http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml
Click here to visit Aaron's myspace:
www.myspace.com/aaronshust
Click here to worship along with Aaron;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb2FK77vJCE
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg
"Mighty to Save"
This is another song from the Hillsong music ministry in Sydney Australia. This song is by Reuben Morgan & Ben Fielding. This song has a great re-occuring text. "OUR GOD IS MIGHT TO SAVE". This is taken from the passage in Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Click here to read more about Reuben Morgan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuben_Morgan
Click here to worship along with the so