All The Bright Lights

March 15, 2011 in Music, Worship with 0 Comments

All the Bright Lights ///

I ran across this album via @johnmarkmc and @elevation_wrshp…

Phenomenal band, phenomenal music. This is not your grandma’s worship album. You’ll just have to listen yourself and make your own opinions.

So here is a couple of songs courtesy of youtube…

Continue Reading…

Do Worship Songs Have To Be Sing-able?

March 13, 2011 in Church, Worship with 17 Comments

I want to raise a question and seek some honest answers….

Do Worship Songs Have To Be Sing-able?

I have heard this discussed a few times, at worship conferences and in regular conversations with some worship pals, but is this true?

Do we sell our people short with the super catchy worship songs? With simple melodies, water-downed lyrics, and catchy hooks?

Are we out to please our folks? Do we shy away from more musically challenging and deeply lyrically written songs for a lighter rehearsal or work load?

Or could we stretch and teach our people that worship happens outside of the best Chris Tomlin song? That worship is not confined to always knowing the lyrics and the melody in the appropriate singing range. Can we teach them that maybe some of the best ‘worship’ songs are ones without a repeating chorus? Continue Reading…

Worship Recap 03.13.11

March 13, 2011 in Church, Sunday Setlists, Worship with 0 Comments

Worship Recap  03.13.11   ///

The Have’s and Have Not’s…

This was the topic at hand as we dove into chapter 5 of the book of Nehemiah. We looked at how the rich were abusing the poor.  Lending money to their country men in exchange for interest and even as far as selling their sons and daughters as slave just to put food on the table.

This just wasn’t right and Nehemiah took some time to ‘ponder’ the situation and then addressed those in the wrong. It’s about right and wrong my friends.

So, how are we treating each other? How are we caring for each other? And I’m not just talking about those were close to… i.e. family/friends. But our actual neighbors and people we share our communities with?

Here was our setlist and flow… Continue Reading…

Thursday Things

March 10, 2011 in Creativity, Inspiration, Life with 6 Comments

My Thursday Things…   ///

Here are a few of things that I am either reading, have read, am learning, listening to, or find helpful or creative. Take them for what there worth…

  • My church, First Christian, is a part of Compassion’s Church to Church (C2C) program where we partner with another church overseas. Our pastor just got back last week and has some incredible stories and vision for what this next chapter of ministry will look like. Stay tuned…
  • It appears that there is a ‘bug’ going around and many folks are getting sick. My family and I were no exceptions. So try to stay healthy and pray for those who are under the weather.
  • ‘Sooner or later, we run on into love, and love informs and reforms and transforms.’ – Harold M. Best I thought these were profound words of wisdom and worship.
  • My wife and I are signed up for Family Life’s ‘A Weekend to Remember‘. It’s a weekend marriage get-a-way that teaches you how to have a better marriage. I have only heard great things about this! If you’re married you should consider going. It’s free for pastor’s and if you go here you can get registration for half off! Continue Reading…

Ground Shaking Worship

March 8, 2011 in Church, Worship with 2 Comments

Could our worship actually be so powerful that it could shake the ground?  ///

With the exception of a few subs and a powerful crossover is there anything else that actually shakes our places of worship? Maybe on an emotional level we’re moved. Maybe on a rhythmic side we’re moved. But have you ever been around a group of worshipers that as a result of their worship, the ground actually shook?

Wouldn’t that be an incredible thing? Don’t think that this is possible?

Well, check out 1 Samuel 4:5,

“When the ark of the lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.”

Now maybe this is a bit of a stretch but my initial reaction to reading this passage was… wow… that’s cool! What if that happened when we got together as the church to worship. Wouldn’t that be sweet?! Continue Reading…

Worship Recap 03.06.11

March 6, 2011 in Church, Sunday Setlists, Worship with 0 Comments

Worship Recap   03.06.11   ///

Fear. Enemies. Building. Defending. These were the main themes we hit on today with the major theme of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us.

We continued our series ‘World Changers – A Study of Nehemiah’ by looking at chapter 4 and how Nehemiah and the Israelites dealt with their enemies, fear, the work, and the sword.

Our pastor touched on his recent trip to our sister church in Lima, Peru and how the work of God was going on globally and how in turn our work here, where we live continues too!

Here was our flow… Continue Reading…

Leading Your Family – Prayer

March 4, 2011 in Life with 2 Comments

Leading Your Families – Prayer  ///

Leading our families spiritually is a challenging task. And if you never had that modeled for you it can be a difficult task to not only start, but to thrive at.

So as I navigate the best way that I can lead my family, I thought I would share with you some real simple and practical ways to lead your family. This will hopefully not only help you, but me as well.

You know there really isn’t a crazy equation of formula that you have to master nor is there any right way, but one of the simplest ways we can lead our families is simply be praying with them and for them! And there are a couple of ways to do this…

  • Praying For Them – This is by far the easiest, simplest, and most convenient thing you can do. Try praying for them in the morning with your coffee and make that a reminder. Or pray for them in the shower. I know that sounds really strange but sometimes its the only time we get to ourselves. You could use your lunch time, say 5 minutes, to pray for your family. Or you could pray for them right before you go to bed. Whenever you decide to do this, make it a priority and do it.
  • Praying With Them – This takes a little more work and discipline. There has to be a set time… bedtime, morning, etc.
  1. Praying With Your Spouse – This should be a fairly simple and easy thing to do but I have found that we become vulnerable to each other and that is a scary place to be. But nonetheless, forget the awkwardness and pick a time to spend in prayer with your spouse and make it a priority. You will find that eventually walls will be broken down, hearts will be open, and your relationship will be strengthened.
  2. Praying With Your Kids – Saying grace at the dinner table doesn’t count! We have found that for us the best time to do this is at bed time. We make it a part of the routine of reading a bible story followed by prayer. Encourage your kids to pray even if they ramble on or pray for silly things like toys. Your teaching them the importance of prayer.

You can start to lead your families by getting on your knees. Don’t be lame or full of excuses why you can’t do this. This may be one of the most important things you can do! You can do this!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. – James 5:16

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. – 1 Thessalonians 1:2

 

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