Preparing For Worship: September 27, 2009

It sometimes baffles me how quickly a week passes, and another corporate gathering is on the horizon. It seems like I just finish putting my guitar away, or posting Todd's sermon on the Crossroads website, before I'm picking all new songs for the next Sunday, checking and editing all the chord charts for each one, trying out new arrangements, and rehearsing with the worship team.

It's a draining cycle, and sometimes on Mondays I can't even imagine how I'll work up enough momentum for the next week to match the excitement and energy of the worship gathering we shared the day before.

The book of Psalms tells us that God is enthroned on, or dwells in, the praises of Israel. Other translations say that he inhabits their praise. This means that when the people of God worship, and lift their praise to the Creator, that his Spirit is manifested in their outpouring. This is truly something so supernatural and amazing, and something I'm blessed to witness through all of you each week! I get to watch a transformation that occurs between when I choose, arrange, and rehearse a group of songs, and when a choir of sanctified voices declares the majesty of God and the power of the gospel in a Sunday service!

That transformation is what drives and excites me each week as I plan our services. I want to thank each of your for your part in the process. God's Spirit is fully present in those of us who have given our lives to the Lord, but it's also present in a unique way over the whole of his people who gather each week at Crossroads, and at churches all over the valley, and across the world.

So this week, we have a great morning to look forward to!

We start off with a call to worship with "Open The Eyes of My Heart" and "Stir In Me." It's when the Lord opens the eyes of our hearts to his glory and majesty, that he then stirs in us fire and passion for that glory and majesty to be displayed both in our own lives, and in the proclamation of the gospel!

We have a few minutes to hear and see a report from our Ministry Assistant, Rachel Roleder, as she's freshly returned from six weeks teaching in India. She'll recap a little bit, and show us some pictures from her time.

One of our Elders, Darren Utley, will come up next and take care of a few items of business, including our upcoming Giving Sunday (to help cover some of the costs of moving into our North Campus), and our Elder Affirmation regarding the calling of Wayne Dell and Tom Halstead to join our Elder board.

We'll sing a few more songs: "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" and "Forever (The Nails in Your Hands)" as we prepare for Pastor Todd's sermon from Ephesians 1:7-10. CLICK HERE to read the text and prepare your hearts as we dive into a theologically rich passage that's packed with the theme of Sovereign Grace.

We'll respond with "How Great is Our God" as we mull over the weight of God's wisdom and grace in his plan of redemption.

Should be a really cool morning, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with all of you!

PS.

Be sure to check out some of the videos I've linked to the song titles; there are some really cool arrangements!

-The video for "Open the Eyes..." is from a worship service at a Calvary Chapel in Budapest!! It's amazing to me that we're singing the same song, worshiping the same God as believers on the other side of the world!

-The video for "Stir in Me" is an awesome medley with "It Is Well" and the vibe is really mellow and dark. Very cool!

-"Nothing But The Blood" is performed by an artist I really like named Phil Wickham. He's got such a great voice.

-"Forever (Nails)" is from an album by Everybodyduck, which was a worship band that used to lead at Hume Lake during the years I attended in high school. Good memories! Also, if you use Twitter, I'd recommend following Darin Mcwatters. He was the lead singer for Everybodyduck, and he's a really funny guy. He is a good "Tweeter."

-"How Great" is a cool version of the song that's really upbeat and energetic!

Pictures from Crossroads Third Anniversary Celebration!

I uploaded a bunch of pictures that I had my friend Peter take during our Third Anniversary Celebration a couple Sundays ago.

Just CLICK HERE!

Preparing For Worship: September 20, 2009

This is going to be a fun Sunday!

First, let me just revel in how great is was this past Sunday to celebrate three years of God's faithfulness at Crossroads! I've been along for almost two of those years now, and it has been the most amazing experience. In-N-Out is practically a spiritual experience for me anyway, and to eat a Double-Double right after church in our worship center is truly following the apostle Paul's exhortation to "whether you eat or drink, do everything to the glory of God."

So this Sunday I'll be joined by not just my brother, who often fills in on any instrument I need him to play, but also my dad! This will be the very first time that all three of us have played together!

We've got a great morning to look forward to in worship singing, fellowship, and preaching.

We'll start with "Indescribable"(the version in the video is sung by the original author, Laura Story) and "Hallelujah (Your Love Makes Me Sing)" as the Call to Worship set. Then Pastor Todd will come and pray, welcome visitors, and dismiss everyone to a cheerful greeting!

We'll continue singing with "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" which is a classic old hymn, but one we've not done at Crossroads yet, so if it's fuzzy in your memory, be sure to click the song title and reacquaint yourself with the tune and the words. We'll head towards the sermon with the song "Be Unto Your Name" which reminds us of our place before almighty God, and the submission and respect we show his Word as we sit under its teaching.

Todd is preaching from Ephesians 1 as we enter our second week of study in Ephesians, which we're calling "Sovereign Grace." Sovereign Grace is also the awesome ministry of CJ Mahaney and my worship leading hero: Bob Kauflin. If you've got some free time, check out their ministry, and their great music by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to read the first chapter of Ephesians and let it soak in so you'll be familiar with the terrain Todd will be walking us through.

After the sermon, we get to respond with our hearts and minds in song with "Grace Unmeasured" (a Sovereign Grace song!) which we've done a few times in the past, but one you may not be as familiar with, so definitely click the song title and check that one out again (scroll a little down the page that opens to see the lyrics).

We'll finish with "The Power of the Cross" and meditate on the cost of the grace we've been shown in Christ.

That's what's going on! See you Sunday!

Crossroads Worship Band: Worship @ Crossroads

Our new worship CD is here! We handed it out at our third anniversary celebration this past Sunday, but don't worry if you didn't get one; we have plenty and they're free!

If you'd like one, please leave me a comment with a way to contact you and I'll drop one in the mail for you!

Thanks!

Preparing For Worship: September 6, 2009

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. -1 Peter 2:9

How stinkin' true that is! And how often we take it for granted. The people of God of which those things are true, is gathering as one to lift up the name of their Redeemer and God. They're gathering to sing songs of praise, to offer him their gifts of service and resources, and to build up and equip those that they worship with.

We're going to sing a song right out of that verse to start the service: "Marvelous Light." The idea that we were once lost in darkness, dead in our sin, may be a new idea to some. It might be new because they are exactly IN that position! Let God's people (remember, that's YOU) pray that some might come to that knowledge, and be rescued out of that darkness into God's marvelous light even this week!!

Pastor Todd will do his pastorly welcome and prayer, and all that good stuff, and we'll jump right back into singing as we proclaim the gospel through the song "Perfect Savior."

Tell me if this happens to you guys also:

You remember the great truth and power of the gospel in your life, and you remind yourself of the joy of salvation, and of living life to serve God, and then a half-a-second later you practically forget about it; whether you stumble over some sin you struggle with, or take your trust off Christ to worry about something in life, or whatever it may be. This is constantly happening in my life, and I am quick to let doubt in to my mind and wonder if the work of the cross is really complete in my life; if there's some way that my sin is causing it to falter.

That's why I chose to do our newest song: "Completely Done" right after our song about the gospel, to INSTANTLY remind us of the power and truth of what we've just finished singing, and that it IS completely done in our lives if we've put our faith in Christ's sacrificial death on the cross. That's IT. Nothing more, nothing less.

Pastor Todd will preach from the book of Philippians this week as we gear up to launch in to our next study in the book of Ephesians. He's calling his sermon "Build-A-Christian" and he's preaching from Philippians 2:19-30 so CLICK HERE to read the text and be prepared to track with him.

Since it's the first Sunday of the month, we'll celebrate communion together, and sing "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" to help us remember and meditate on that dreadful night that Christ took all of our sin onto himself so we could be free.

We'll finish the service with the victory cry: "Jesus Paid It All" and try to infuse the gospel into every part of our being as we go out into the world as ambassadors for Christ.

That's the scoop, now go get ready. See you Sunday!

Preparing For Worship: August 30, 2009

Greetings again my friends!

Well the big piano is gone, and my cellist, Meghan, is back in Kansas City this week. I'm thankful for her giftedness and heart, and I really enjoyed playing with her.

Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on last week, and said that they really enjoyed the piano/cello combo. I'm glad it was a blessing!

This week we're back to the old band and I'll be back behind a guitar where I feel much more comfortable!

We're gonna start with the hymn "Crown Him With Many Crowns" as we set our priority of worship on exalting the name of Jesus. We'll follow that up with a song that declares God's worth through our need for him; that we are "Hungry" for him, broken in need of his comfort, weary in need of rest in him, and empty in need of his love to fill us!

Pastor Todd will lead a time of prayer and welcome. There will be a short reminder about our FPU Preview which will take place during both services, and also our upcoming Sunday Seminar series.

We'll continue in song with "I Have a Hope" which explores the great joy and hope we have through our Redeemer, and all the joy that lies in serving him with our lives. We'll go to "Psalm 62" next and remind our hearts that the hope we just sang about lies ONLY in God, and that no matter what the cost or trial, we will delight in him alone.

Pastor Todd will then come and finish up Joshua's farewell speech to the Israelites in Joshua 24. CLICK HERE to read Joshua's address, and prepare your own hearts to hear the commands and truths of the Word when Pastor Todd preaches it on Sunday.

We'll respond with the songs "Give Us Clean Hands" which is a prayer for God's help, through his Word, and through his Spirit, to guide us, convict us, and sanctify us for his glory and purposes. Then we'll finish our time together with "Blessed Be Your Name" as we commit to live in the principles Joshua spells out for the people: choosing to bless God's name in every situation we face, and daily striving to honor him with our lives.

That's what's going on, so prepare well, and we'll see you Sunday!

PS. Even if you know the songs this week; check out the video link I posted to "Blessed Be Your Name;" it's a really powerful, real-life application of the truth of the song. Really moving. Just click on any of the song titles to view videos or hear audio of the song to help you prepare for singing!

How Loud is Too Loud?

I love to go see live music performances in small venues. I love being up close to the performer and watching and enjoying the music they make. Much of the time, that music is being pumped through a sound system. Much of the time that sound is coming towards my ears at really loud levels.

I'll be honest, I love it when it's loud enough that I feel the kick drum and the bass guitar in my stomach. At the same time, I know that prolonged exposure to excessively loud volumes can damage my hearing. That's why I ALWAYS take ear plugs (or ear filters to be precise) to EVERY concert I attend. They reduce the overall volume, and filter out the louder and more harmful frequencies.

People have different pain thresholds as far as volume is concerned. The problem in churches is that for some people the music (or preaching for that matter) is too loud and can be painful sometimes, while for others, the volumes are too soft to communicate the full energy of the worship band, or Pastor Todd when he really gets going!

While much of that spectrum relies on personal preference and hearing levels, there are some basic guidelines that we try to follow; we don't just guess!

CLICK HERE to check out a helpful and informative link that talks about sound pressure levels, decibels, and hearing safety.

Hopefully this gives you a sense of all the little details that go into making church happen, and helps you be better prepared. I want to be clear that I would NEVER be offended if any of you with lower pain thresholds brought ear plugs with you to the worship service. We try to be safe with our volumes, but also keep it up enough to accurately communicate the energy and natural sounds of our instruments and voices.

CLICK HERE if you're interested in buying a set of ear filters that will protect your hearing the same way ear plugs will, but that don't give quite as "muffled" a sound. These are the same ones I use when I attend concerts; they really preserve the sound while protecting your hearing.