My gracious Master, and my God
Assist me to proclaim
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.
I was really touched by this song/moment yesterday as we seemed to play with the congregation and the voices were so beautiful to hear... I imagine being joined with heaven declaring in unison Praise to our Master and our God. Awesome!
Monday, June 14
Thursday, March 25
Good Spirits Make Bad Practice Good...
So it's no secret that tonight's practice was nothing short of a train wreck. Maybe I'm being too hard...I suppose it was more of a wheel falling off the wagon, with the cart swaying a good deal, type of wreck.
In any case, it truly was difficult night.
However, I will say this...
As I was walking into my apt with Nicole, I said to her, "Man, tonight was rough." And her response was, "Really? You guys seemed like you were in good spirit." And I thought how true that was. Although it was a difficult night on many levels, everyone had a real positive spirit. Granted, I'm sure we were all frustrated, or perhaps confused, at one point or another. But we got through the night with smiles on our faces. And if you ask me, that's a win!
So I want to thank you guys for your positive spirits - which helped me on a personal level! A positive spirit is contagious and infectious - keep spreading it.
In any case, it truly was difficult night.
However, I will say this...
Good spirits make bad practice good. -- sounds a bit like the inside of a fortune cookie!
As I was walking into my apt with Nicole, I said to her, "Man, tonight was rough." And her response was, "Really? You guys seemed like you were in good spirit." And I thought how true that was. Although it was a difficult night on many levels, everyone had a real positive spirit. Granted, I'm sure we were all frustrated, or perhaps confused, at one point or another. But we got through the night with smiles on our faces. And if you ask me, that's a win!
So I want to thank you guys for your positive spirits - which helped me on a personal level! A positive spirit is contagious and infectious - keep spreading it.
Thursday, February 18
Hillsong!!
So I definitely realize that I am a bigger Hillsong United fan than most but I think its safe to say that one of their live concerts is an amazing worship experience. I've seen them in Sydney, Australia and also in NYC and each time I was blown away and left saying that I would definitely be back at any future shows.
So I was pretty excited to hear that they are coming back to the U.S. this coming April for a few dates. Unfortunately they won't be in New York but they are doing a show in Boston on April 13th. I spoke to Dan about making a little road trip, either driving up and back late that night or grabbing a cheap hotel and coming home the next day. I wanted to extend the invitation to the whole team and of course spouses, friends etc. The show is a Tuesday night at 7:00 so that may make it difficult with work but perhaps the advanced notice would make it possible to plan something out.
I am on an advanced sale list and will be able to order tickets on Feb 25th so you'd have until then to decide. Last concert they had the tickets were $50, a bit pricey but they do it to work against scalping.
Anyway let me know what you think. It's undoubtedly going to be a great night and would be a lot of fun for us to do together!
So I was pretty excited to hear that they are coming back to the U.S. this coming April for a few dates. Unfortunately they won't be in New York but they are doing a show in Boston on April 13th. I spoke to Dan about making a little road trip, either driving up and back late that night or grabbing a cheap hotel and coming home the next day. I wanted to extend the invitation to the whole team and of course spouses, friends etc. The show is a Tuesday night at 7:00 so that may make it difficult with work but perhaps the advanced notice would make it possible to plan something out.
I am on an advanced sale list and will be able to order tickets on Feb 25th so you'd have until then to decide. Last concert they had the tickets were $50, a bit pricey but they do it to work against scalping.
Anyway let me know what you think. It's undoubtedly going to be a great night and would be a lot of fun for us to do together!
Monday, February 15
Monday Morning Reflections
Feedback is the pathway to progress. If we want to move to the next level as a team/ministry, I think it would be incredibly valuable to give feedback in regards to the previous worship set. (And the sooner the better, as it's freshest in our minds.)
Sure - it's not entirely unbiased, considering the ones who are giving the feedback are the ones who were involved in the service. But even that, I think there's value in saying what worked for you, what didn't, what could've been done better, etc.
So here are just two questions I'd like for us to chew on:
I think having Sharon focus on singing harmony worked really well. I especially liked the vocal overlay in the chorus of "Be the Centre" That was sweet! I also think having Mike lead out on guitars for "Sweetly Broken" worked really well. It really freed me up to focus on dynamic changes & leading.
It's tough to point out what could have been done better, as I thought yesterday went pretty great. I guess one thing would be (and there's no way of me telling whether this was happening or not) - worshiping ourselves during the times we're not playing. For instance, most of the team wasn't playing during the opener, "Be the Centre," so I would hope that during that time, we would simply be worshiping along with the congregation. Because the truth is, believe it or not - we set the atmosphere/tone from the stage. If people see us worshiping, they'll feel freer to enter in themselves. If they see us disengaged, they will disengage. So while this isn't a direct area of needed improvement, it's something to certainly keep in the back of our minds.
So what are your thoughts?
Sure - it's not entirely unbiased, considering the ones who are giving the feedback are the ones who were involved in the service. But even that, I think there's value in saying what worked for you, what didn't, what could've been done better, etc.
So here are just two questions I'd like for us to chew on:
- What seemed to work well? OR What did you enjoy most about the set?
- What could have been done better?
I think having Sharon focus on singing harmony worked really well. I especially liked the vocal overlay in the chorus of "Be the Centre" That was sweet! I also think having Mike lead out on guitars for "Sweetly Broken" worked really well. It really freed me up to focus on dynamic changes & leading.
It's tough to point out what could have been done better, as I thought yesterday went pretty great. I guess one thing would be (and there's no way of me telling whether this was happening or not) - worshiping ourselves during the times we're not playing. For instance, most of the team wasn't playing during the opener, "Be the Centre," so I would hope that during that time, we would simply be worshiping along with the congregation. Because the truth is, believe it or not - we set the atmosphere/tone from the stage. If people see us worshiping, they'll feel freer to enter in themselves. If they see us disengaged, they will disengage. So while this isn't a direct area of needed improvement, it's something to certainly keep in the back of our minds.
So what are your thoughts?
Wednesday, February 10
Here Is Love
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_welsh_hymn_here_is_love
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/religion/sites/timeline/pages/religion_in_wales_13.shtmlAn interesting history about the birth of "Here Is Love" that became a "theme" hymn during the Welsh Revival in 1904. As far as I know Wales has not had a revival since this time.
Perhaps we can intercede in our worship that the Lord would pour out His Love again on Wales and that our lives will reflect a revival in our own hearts.
Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.
Wednesday, February 3
Tuesdays with Tozer
I recently read a book by Margaret Feinberg, 'The Organic God' (if you are member of your local library you can reserve this book through the Westchester library system). I went on her website today and she has just started a series 'Tuesdays with Tozer'. Yesterday's post was on worship so I thought I would post it.
Her blog is http://www.margaretfeinberg.blogspot.com
Her twitter is http://www.twitter.com/mafeinberg
As you discovered last week, we’re going to be celebrating Tuesdays With Tozer this spring. Tozer has a knack for stirring up the hunger to know God in my own heart and I hope he’ll do the same for you.
Her blog is http://www.margaretfeinberg.blogspot.com
Her twitter is http://www.twitter.com/mafeinberg
As you discovered last week, we’re going to be celebrating Tuesdays With Tozer this spring. Tozer has a knack for stirring up the hunger to know God in my own heart and I hope he’ll do the same for you.
“One of the most liberating declarations in the New Testament is this: ‘The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth’ (John 4:23, 24). Here the nature of worship is shown to be wholly spiritual. True religion is removed from diet and days, from garments and ceremonies, and placed where it belongs - in the union of the spirit of man with the Spirit of God.” -A.W. Tozer, Man: The Dwelling Place of God
As I reflect on these words I’m reminded just how hard it is to worship God in spirit. Worshipping God requires focus, energy, commitment, and discipline. It moves us into a place of humility and dependence where we are invited to embrace the goodness of God, His grace, His mercy, His love and in the process we love in spite of ourselves and find ourselves enthralled with Him. Lord, Help me to worship you in spirit and truth. Amen.
Spiritus Sanctus
A while back a spiritual mentor gave me this prayer/poem concerning the holy spirit. I have found that from time to time, this prayer has been a great way to spend time with God, whether by praying through it, meditating on it, or merely reading it. I hope it might bless some of you as well!
Spiritus Sanctus (originated as a Puritan prayer, I believe)
Spiritus Sanctus (originated as a Puritan prayer, I believe)
O Holy Spirit,
As the sun is full of light, the ocean full of water, Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of thee.
Vain are all divine purposes of love and the redemption wrought by Jesus except thou work within,
regenerating by thy power, giving my eyes to see Jesus, showing me the realities of the unseen world.
Give me thyself without measure, as an unimpaired fountain, as inexhaustible riches.
I bewail my coldness,
poverty, emptiness, imperfect vision, languid service, prayerless prayers, praiseless praises. Suffer me not to grieve or resist thee.
Come as power, to expel every rebel lust, to reign supreme and keep me thine;
Come as teacher, leading me into all truth, filling me with all understanding;
Come as love, that I may adore the Father, and love him as my all;
Come as joy, to dwell in me, move in me, animate me;
Come as light, illuminating the Scripture, molding me in its laws;
Come as sanctifier, body, soul and spirit wholly thine;
Come as helper, with strength to bless and keep, directing my every step;
Come as beautifier, bringing order out of confusion, loveliness out of chaos.
Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me, and make me redolent of thy fragrance.
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