Prayer Request...

Please pray for us as we are needing to make a decision about our van - whether to fix it or replace it. We really don't have the money to replace it, but we know a couple people who can maybe help. We just want God's will, and if he wants us to persevere with our van, then He will sustain it. So please pray for this. Thanks

On the funny side...
The latest thing to go out on the van is the driver-side power window. I have rigged it with a 2x4 to stay up. But yesterday I went to Starbucks to get a drink for Staish and whined when I realized I had to pull the 2x4 out to order, pay, and get her drink. Wawawa..... kind of humbling, but just rel funny. Maybe you had to be there.

something new...

Give Me Jesus

Though I may be in chains
May be confused, may be distressed
Though sicknesses seem to prevail
In spite of my prayers, in spite of my tears
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus

Though all my prayers seem to fall
Well short of reaching the glorious throne
Though aimlessly I seem to float
Through water uncharted and dangers below
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus

There’s nothing more, there’s nothing more
There’s nothing more, give me Jesus
Copyright 2007 Ancient Path Music

Prayer Request...

I ask you all to please pray for the next album. We need to start basic tracks this week, and we are still figuring out arrangements. But most importantly, we want the Lord alone to be glorified through this project. SO please pray for us.

The Need For Fellowship...

I have been sensing a growing disconnect or rift in the worship team. The only way to describe it is disunity. We do not seem to share the same mind. However, even more than philosophy or doctrine, which we are all so wonderfully and needfully instructed in by our pastor, I believe this is related to simply not fellowshipping together. We come in for sound check, often late, rehearse, then scurry about finishing final preparations for service, getting coffee, or getting kids to class. We flock to those we are comfortable with and segment off.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. - Acts 2:42

The Lord has been faithful, for His Name's sake, to place His anointing upon us during worship so that we present Him an offering of praise as one voice/instrument. Nevertheless, we lack the togetherness and cohesiveness of friendship, the genuine concern and respect for one another that comes from spending time together.

I pray that everyone will make it a priority to
1) be early for rehearsals and sound checks to allow for sharing and talking,
2) make the Worship Fellowships & BBQs mandatory events for yourself, and
3) commit to praying for each other.

This a heavy insight for me as well, as I have modeled this for you all. However, it should not be so. May we all endeavor to give our Great Savior our best, and we can not give Him our best divided. (Ephesians 5:9-21, Philippians 2:1-21, 1 John 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:9-13)

Spiritual Battle...

I received this and thought it was a good exhortation for all of us.

Well, the other night when we were playing, I had somekind of vision. It was awsome. I don't know what it was but let me tell you brother, I saw you wearing a really shiny armor. Sort of like the ones the romans used when they go to war. Well, as we were playing, I was really feeling the Holy Spirit in my heart. I closed my eyes and I saw that. Then I was feeling like God was telling me that you are leading all of us into a spiritual battle sort of speak.

What I mean is, all the musicians were at the very front of the army leading the entire church in to battle. At first, I didn't know what this meant. I prayed and asked the Lord to reveal to me what this vision was. You know how Pastor Jeff says not to let our emotions or flesh get in to things, so I asked God to please reveal to me if it was just emotions or if it was something He wanted me to see. Then I felt in my heart that what God was showing me, was that I needed to pray a lot for you. Why? because you are the prime target for the enemy in the battle. I realized as we led the entire church in worship, that the enemy knows that there is victory in worship. That you and us are his prime targets. That he would do what ever it took to take us out of the picture in what ever way the enemy knows. So I started praying for you brother. Another time I woke up at three AM and couldnt go back to sleep, so i started praying for you, Ralph, Charles, Paul, David, and all the other brothers and sisters in the worship team. It's hard to explain everything in writing.

brother, just remember, that we need to keep ourselves fortified with the shield of the Word in our Hearts and in prayer for one another. I know that this is what God was showing me and I hope that you gather inspiration and strength from these words. I know that the enemy will come to attack you and us in many ways but if we pray for one another, we will be protected by that Shield that you wore in my vision. Awsome heh!

Praise God Jason, When you feel down, or when you are being bombarded brother, just ask for prayer, we will uphold your arms "up high" in prayer so that we can win victory through our Worship of the Lord and bless the church more and more each time.

Sunday Night Set for 7/22

BLESSED BE YOUR NAME.....A
SHOUT TO THE LORD.....A
NONE WOULD COMPARE.....C
THE HOLINESS OF JESUS......D
THINK ABOUT HIS LOVE.....D
ALL WHO ARE THIRSTY.....D-E
YOU ARE MY KING......D

Conference Wrap-up

Give me Jesus was the theme. The messages were on The new Jerusalem & The Throne, What makes a ministry glorious, The role of the Worship Leader with the Senior Pastor, Openness to Receiving from the Lord, The Premminence of Christ (actually missed this one), and Intimacy with the Lord.

The worship teams all seemed to have this focus. There was really only one time I felt what was being done was inappropriate. I was really blessed by song selection and, for the most part, the intention to disappear.

The Lord brought me to tears through conviction and forgiveness. Micah 7:18-20:

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity

And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy.

He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham,

Which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old.

This passage was the last verse quoted at the conference, and it was also quoted by Pastor Jeff this past Sunday. I belief this is quite intentional by the Holy Spirit. Many of us have a real hard time letting go of things we have done even though we have repented. However, if we don't let go, we limit the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our lives to free us from our iniquity, to sanctify us, and set us apart for His purpose. It was truly a rich time.

Good Times

Ezra 3 & Haggai 2 - Ezra's Temple is greater than Solomon's temple because Jesus entered Ezra's temple. The worship ministry of one guy and a guitar is greater than that of a mega church if Jesus visits that ministry.

Worship Conference starts tomorrow

The conference starts tomorrow and we are leading worship at 1pm. There is definitely part of me that has wanted to lead worship at a worship conference. That concerns me a little...Why have I wanted to?

I think we have to repeatedly revisit our motives for being involved in worship ministry. Since worship is for Him alone, whether I am leading or joining in as one of the congregation, I am still singing to Him. And he likes it! It brings Him joy!

However, He will not share His glory. So if there is any part of me that wants to lead for "me," then Jesus will not be glorified in that.

Lord, help us to be only consumed with You. When we lead tomorrow, may we simply honor You. May we sing to You as though You are the only one in the room. As we seek to glorify You, may You work through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to minister to every heart there in a unique way, individually.

Redemption Song

Let the redeemed say, let the redeemed say
Let the redeemed say, "Praise the Lord!"

Let the redeemed cry, let the redeemed cry
Let the redeemed cry, "Praise the Lord!"

By Your blood I am one of them
By Your blood I am born again

My heart's bursting with a song
Of joy amazing, when I think of where I was
Before I heard the song of my redemption
Now I sing, "Holy, Holy is the Lord!"

Redemption song runs through my veins
To bring a peace to this life of pain
To bring a hope where none was found
To melt a way all my frozen ground
Redemption song brought me to Your throne
To seek Your face, seek You alone
My everything, my all in all
Is found when I worship You, my God
Copyright 2007 Ancient Path Music

First Entry

This is my first entry in the CCD Worship Blog. It is my desire that this will help facilitate the ministry by allowing me to post ideas and thoughts, what the Lord is doing in my life, as well as upcoming events and news. I want this to glorify God and no one else. As soon as it seems to not fulfill this purpose, then we will delete it. We don't want to waste any effort on vain things.