New Song: I Have A Hope

Pastor Todd's message this past week makes this song a "must-sing" for us, as we celebrate that for those of us who have put our faith in the death of Christ, and acknowledged his Lordship in our lives, our best days are yet to come!

The song it called "I Have a Hope" and it's by one of my worship leader heroes: Tommy Walker. It talks about all the biblical promises that assure us that "though trials may come; I have this hope!"

Here's a YouTube video with the lyrics for you to learn the song. Come ready to sing it triumphantly together!

John Piper: Don't Waste Your...Catalog?

I hope many of you are familiar with the ministry of John Piper. I hope that some of you have even read his book "Don't Waste Your Life." If you haven't read it, pick up a copy from Amazon; they have used copies from around $2.50.

I love the unique things that John Piper's ministry: Desiring God (named for another of his seminal works that you should definitely read at some point) does. Everything they do is so clearly motivated by the glory of God, and pretty much everything they do is, well, pretty cool.

They have recently released a new resource catalog that they have done something pretty spectacular with, which takes it way beyond the realm of the normal catalog that just ends up in the trash (or the recycling hopefully...)

Check out what they've done by clicking HERE.

Preparing For Worship: November 23rd, 2008

Thanksgiving is upon us!

2008 is rounding the corner to the home stretch, and for many of us I'm sure that it feels like we've been sprinting the whole way with no breaks.

Jess and I have certainly been running full speed throughout this year, but despite the exhausting pace, we are incredibly THANKFUL for everything that the Lord has brought into our path. Jess is finishing up her Master's degree in English online from National University, which is based in San Diego, AND which her school pays for! Three more months; keep her in your prayers!

I'm up to nearly full time at Crossroads, which is such a testament to God's faithfulness both to Crossroads, and to my family. I've continued tutoring after school to round out the last few hours, and the more I've done it, the more I've seen it as a valuable ministry. The danger of a career in the church is that it's easy for me to spend all of my time around Christians! Now I love spending time with all of you, but we're supposed to be sharing God's love IN THE WORLD, with the lost who need it the most! Needless to say, I'm very thankful for my church family, and the blessing it is to me both in providing me a job, and for the encouragement that you guys provide on an ongoing basis!

This is what's going on this Sunday, as we anticipate the Thanksgiving holiday.

We're going to open with "Your Grace Is Enough" which recounts different ways that God shows us his grace in scripture:
Great is your faithfulness o God! (Lam. 3:22-24)
You wrestle with the sinner's restless heart (Ps. 55)
You lead me by still waters into mercy (Ps. 23)
Great is your love and justice God! (Ps. 89:14)
You use the weak to lead the strong (1 Cor. 1:26-28)
You lead us in the song of heaven's victory (1 Cor. 15:50-56)

Pastor Todd will come and lead in prayer for the morning, and welcome any visitors that will be with us, giving us a few minutes to do the same.

We'll continue singing as we give thanks for the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and his work on the cross: "That's Why We Praise Him." Then we'll sing a 400 year old hymn that reminds us of God's sovereignty and providence in our lives: "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"
...he is thy health and salvation
...shelters thee under his wing, yes so gently sustaineth
...all thy longings have been granted in what he ordaineth
...[he] doth prosper thy work and defend thee
...his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee...

Then we'll share a time of public thanksgiving together, where we will encourage each other by sharing what we are thankful for in our lives. I'd encourage you to think of something you are thankful for, and share it with us so that we might give thanks with you, and glorify God with you. Remember, we need to be thankful not only for God's material provision and blessings, but also for the trials he allows in our lives that cause us to turn to him, and depend on him!

After this, we'll sing the new song I posted earlier this week called "Offering" as we respond to the time of thanksgiving. Take a look at the song, and get familiar with the words so that we can all sing it together easily! Also, watch the video where the songwriter, Paul Baloche, explains how the song came about; it's really inspiring and encouraging, as well as convicting.

Pastor Todd will then come and preach to us from Luke 17, where Jesus heals the lepers. Read the passage to prepare, and ask the Lord to open your eyes and heart as Todd teaches us, that it might change the way we live and give thanks.

We'll respond with the song "Overwhelmed" that takes a long, hard look at the truth of the gospel: that God Almighty bids us come to him, despite our wretched sinfulness, through the once-and-for all sacrifice of his son on the cross! It should be a great way to let the truth of the message sink into our hearts through the power of song.

That's what's going on; happy preparation!

New Song: Offering

Pastor Todd has asked me if we could sing this song together this coming weekend, as we think about Thanksgiving.

It's called "Offering" and it's by Paul Baloche.

First, check out this video of Paul explaining the process he undertook in writing it, and the motivation for the song. Then watch the second video which has the full song (it also includes an optional "Christmas verse" which I'm not planning on doing just yet).





Lyrics:
Verse 1: (Christmas verse)
Over the skies of Bethlehem
Appeared a star
While angels sang to lowly shepherds
Three wise men seeking truth
Travelled from afar
Hoping to find the Child from heaven
Falling on their knees they bowed
Before the humble Prince of Peace

Chorus:
I bring an offering
Of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves
The praises that I sing
Jesus may You receive
The honor that You're due
O Lord I bring an offering to You
I bring an offering to You

Verse 2:
The sun cannot compare
To the glory of Your love
There is no shadow in Your presence
No mortal man would dare
To stand before Your throne
Before the Holy One of heaven
It's only by Your blood
And it's only through Your mercy
Lord I come

Great Weekend! (11-16-2008)

We really had a great time this past weekend as special guests Keith Cooper and Daryl Delhousaye came and ministered to us through leading worship, speaking, and fellowship.

Keith Cooper blessed our worship team with a mini-workshop and rehearsal on Saturday night, and then lead us in worship on Sunday morning. What a gifted musician, and leader. His personality is contagious, and his zeal for the Lord is really inspiring.

Daryl Delhousaye blessed our people by preaching to us on Matthew 5:27-30 which is where Jesus talks about lust, and "plucking and chopping." He's a great preacher, and his authenticity and genuine character is encouraging through and through.

Keith came back and shared his amazing skill and giftedness on the guitar with us in a coffeehouse concert. Here are a few pictures:
Check out this video I took of Keith playing Tchaikovsky

Preparing For Worship: November 16th, 2008

Hey gang,

This weekend is going to be so much fun!! We don't really have any special name for it, but we're calling it celebration Sunday, because the two guys who will be here ministering to us will leave us rejoicing FOR SURE.

I've linked his site a few times here before, but Keith L. Cooper will be here to lead worship on Sunday morning, and to perform some of his amazing original tunes on Sunday night.

Dr. Daryl Delhousaye will be here to preach from God's word, outta Matthew 5:27-30.

You can listen to some of Dr. Delhousaye's teaching from Forest Home's family camp HERE.
(scroll down the page to Summer 2007)

So check out those guys' sites, and read this week's passage to prepare yourselves for some great participation.

Keith will be leading songs that I think most of us are familiar with, but here's the set list so you can practice in the shower or the car:
"Blessed Be Your Name"
"Enough"
"Take My Life and Let it Be" (Chris Tomlin's version; a little different than the one I've lead before so be sure to check this one out...)
"Come Thou Fount"
"When I Survey The Wondrous Cross"

So plan on joining us Sunday morning for our 9:00 or 10:30 services, and then again at 6:00 pm that night for some fantastic music and hanging out together (including scrumptious desserts and coffee!)

See you Sunday; happy preparation!

Keith Cooper This Weekend!

This weekend we will have Keith L. Cooper with us to lead us in worship Sunday morning, and also to bless us through his AMAZING talent on the guitar. Praise the Lord for this kind of gift, seriously!

Check out Keith's website and invite your friends and neighbors to this special Sunday!

Preparing For Worship: November 9th, 2008

What a momentous week for our country!

We have a new president-elect; the first African-American president-elect no less! We voted to amend California's constitution so that only marriage between a man and woman is recognized by the state. We also voted that under-age females should not have to notify a parent or guardian if they are going to have an abortion (although they DO have to have their consent to get a piercing or tattoo...go figure).

Whatever your political position or passions, we all bear the responsibility as Americans, and first and foremost, as Christians to respect and submit ourselves to the authority God has put in place over us for our good.

In politics there are plenty of opportunities to experience anger. The Prop 8 campaigns showed us a great deal of anger in the way many people protested and abused those who protested, and I know many were angered by the presidential outcome.

Jesus speaks directly to us in this regard in the sermon text this week from Matthew 5. Be sure to read the passage as you prepare for worship! Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin you may have in this area, and to open your heart and mind to the teaching we'll sit under this Sunday.

As for our worship singing, we'll start the service with a song from the Psalms: "Your Love Oh Lord" after which Pastor Todd will come and lead in prayer. We'll watch another video from the Union Rescue Mission, as we continue to prepare to go and minister there on December 19th.

Then we'll sing some more as we prepare to study the Word. "See What A Morning" is a wonderful reminder of the victory of Christ's death on the cross, and the glorious hope he established in his resurrection. "From The Inside Out" will act as a corporate prayer that God would consume us from within, as we give him control in our lives.

Pastor Todd will then come preach to us from the Sermon on the Mount.

We'll respond with "Change My Heart O God," that the truth of his word would really change and mold our hearts, and that it would not just go in one ear and out the other.

We'll close the service with "Jesus Paid It All" as we consider reconciling with our brother who may have a grudge against us, and remember that Jesus accomplished the ultimate reconciliation between sinful man and almighty God!

That's what's going on; happy preparation!

Cross Sunday Pictures!

I had a number of people who don't attend our church ask me what the "big surprise" I mentioned in last week's "Preparing For Worship" post, and so I thought I'd put up some of the pictures I took from our special "Cross Sunday."

Click on any of the images for a bigger version.

Fellowship Church: New Creation

So cool!

New Creation from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

A Prayer Guide for Election Day

Albert Mohler has posted a very helpful list of things that we should pray for as we head down the home stretch of this important election.

Please check it out by clicking HERE, and pray for our country today.