nine30, the blog...

nine30 recap for 3/21/10

2010-03-27T00:51:00.000-05:00

Hey again...for my second post of the night, here is the recap of nine30 worship for March 21.

We started with a sound bite from Matthew 24:9-14:

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

These words spoken by Jesus in the days immediately preceding his death on the cross, begin with this statement: ""Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me..."--which might as well be appended with the words, "just as I will be." The suffering of Jesus before he was put to death on the cross is a part of the passion story that we really don't like to think about or hear about. Yet, in many ways, it is an object lesson for the disciples--and us--in reference to the difficulty that results from a choice to follow Jesus. True, in this day and age, we are not likely to face our own crucifixion for our beliefs (as many of the disciples did)...however, there is no doubt that giving our lives to Christ comes at some cost, at least in the eyes of the world around us. But in Jesus' victory over the grave is a message for us, too...that our reward will be something far greater than anything of this earth. And that is the good news contained in the gospel of the Kindgom that will be preached in the whole world...and because of that good news, we can look evil and death in the eye and sing in its face (la la la la la), and ask that famous question..."O death, where is thy sting?"...

Our worship set reflected in many ways the power we have over evil because of the power of God on our side...

MARVELOUS LIGHT (charlie hall/flying into daybreak)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oA2ka7tnh8
LET GOD ARISE (chris tomlin/see the morning)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaLckqfvZHQ
THESE THOUSAND HILLS (third day/offerings)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUBKZWET1fk

We also learned a new song...to be exact, the unending song of the children of God as contained in our Communion liturgy. Lyrics are below, but unfortunately there is no recording of this song in existence as far as I know.

PC gave his message on the torture and humilation of a king...(listen)

And we closed with this song:

TRADING MY SORROWS (Darrell Evans)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXi5iq1zAl4, with a little help from O HAPPINESS (david crowder)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTcThVJhDuM

Here are the lyrics to all of the songs...

MARVELOUS LIGHT

Into marvelous light I'm running
Out of darkness, out of shame
By the cross You are the truth
You are the life, You are the way

I once was fatherless
A stranger with no hope
Your kindness wakened me
Wakened me from my sleep

Your love it beckons deeply
A call to come and die
By grace now I will come and
Take this life, take Your life

Sin has lost its power
Death has lost its sting
From the grave You've risen
Victoriously

Into marvelous light I'm running
Out of darkness, out of shame
By the cross You are the truth
You are the life, You are the way

My dead heart now is beating
My deepest stains now clean
Your breath fills up my lungs
Now I'm free, now I'm free

My dead heart now is beating
My deepest stains now clean
Your breath fills up my lungs
Now I'm free, now I'm free

Sin has lost its power
Death has lost its sting
From the grave You've risen
Victoriously

Into marvelous light I'm running
Out of darkness, out of shame
By the cross You are the truth
You are the life, You are the way

Lift my hands and spin around
See the light that I have found
O the marvelous light, the marvelous light

Lift my hands and spin around
See the light that I have found
O the marvelous light, the marvelous light

Sin has lost its power
Death has lost its sting
From the grave You've risen
Victoriously

Into marvelous light I'm running
Out of darkness, out of shame
By the cross You are the truth
You are the life, You are the way

Into marvelous light I'm running
Out of darkness, out of shame
By the cross You are the truth
You are the life, You are the way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oA2ka7tnh8

LET GOD ARISE

Hear the holy roar of God resound
Watch the waters part before us now
Come and see what He has done for us
Tell the world of His great love

Our God is the God who saves
Our God is the God who saves

Let God arise, let God arise
Our God reigns now and forever
He reigns now and forever

God arise, let God arise
Our God reigns now and forever
He reigns now and forever

His enemies will run for sure
And the church will stand, she will endure
He holds the keys of life, our Lord
Death has no strength, no final word

Our God is the God who saves
Our God is the God who saves

Let God arise, let God arise
Our God reigns now and forever
He reigns now and forever

God arise, let God arise
Our God reigns now and forever
He reigns now and forever

His enemies will run for sure
And the church will stand, she will endure
He holds the keys of life, our Lord
Death has no strength, no final word

Our God is the God who saves
Our God is the God who saves
Our God is the God who saves
Our God is the God who saves

Let God arise, let God arise
Our God reigns now and forever
He reigns now and forever

God arise, let God arise
Our God reigns now and forever
He reigns now and forever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaLckqfvZHQ

THESE THOUSAND HILLS

These thousand hills roll ever on
Footprints of a mighty God
They bring me to my knees in praise
Amazing love, Amazing Grace

Was on a hill my Savior died
A broken heart and bleeding side
Hill of the Skull, Mount Calvary
The blood He shed, He shed for me

When Heaven's hills at last I roam
Forever settled in my home
I'll join the saints around Your throne
Your kingdom, Lord, rolls ever on

La la la…

These thousand hills roll ever on
Ripples of a coming storm
The Morning Star precedes the dawn
These thousand hills roll ever on

La la la…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUBKZWET1fk

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are filled with
Your glory

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of power and might
Blessed is He who comes in
The name of the Lord

Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are filled with
Your glory

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of power and might
Blessed is He who comes in
The name of the Lord

Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest

TRADING MY SORROWS/O HAPPINESS

I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

We’re singin’ yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord, Amen

I'm pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

La la la…

O, happiness!
There’s grace
Enough for us
And the whole human race

O, happiness!
There’s grace
Enough for us
And the whole human race

I'm pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

La la la…

O, happiness!
There’s grace
Enough for us
And the whole human race

O, happiness!
There’s grace
Enough for us
And the whole human race

**BENEDICTION**

La la la…

O, happiness!
There’s grace
Enough for us
And the whole human race

O, happiness!
There’s grace
Enough for us
And the whole human race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXi5iq1zAl4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTcThVJhDuM

Looking forward to kicking off Holy Week at COFS with our Palm Sunday worship in, well, less than 36 hours from now...hope you can join us!

Peace,
-nick

nine30 recap for 3/7/10

2010-03-27T00:17:00.000-05:00

Hello all...

First of all, let me apologize for the tardiness of this post. I have this issue with "life getting in the way" sometimes, and it's just taken me this long to get back to posting. But, the good news is, after today it'll be caught up at least until Sunday. One of these days, I'll get into a routine.

Anyway, the material from March 7...

We started with a sound bite from Exodus 13, verses 17-18
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.

This was kind of a random sound bite...I was looking back through the Passover story for inspiration during the early Lenten season and stumbled on this verse. It's a short, random package, pretty much taken totally out of context...but what it shows us it that sometimes, God does things that we don't totally understand. Like in this story, God didn't take them on the short road out of Egypt. But there was a reason for that, and the story shows that God had Israel's best interests in mind even though it may not have seemed that way to them. This kind of thing happens in our lives all the time...the way that God works in us and through us doesn't always make sense to us, but it's all part of His plan to allow us to survive and succeed.

Really, this is a lot like the whole passion story too. We don't always understand why Jesus had to suffer the way he did, and we wonder why he had to go through all of that in order for God to save us. But God sent Jesus on our behalf, and made the plan for Jesus with our best interests in mind. For that, He deserves all the praise and glory.

And so we gave it to Him with this worship set:

GLORIFIED (jared anderson)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H667w4HdcVQ
NOT TO US (gcc/chris tomlin)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m0LowihOXY
EVERYONE (PRAISES) (desperation band)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbmvMY1E-jM

We followed this up with special music by the nine30 band, accompanied by a slide show of images focusing on Jesus being arrested and dragged in front of the Sanhedrin...all by himself because all of the disciples ran. No one would take the place of this man...

THIS MAN (jeremy camp)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df9mFYO02f4

This was immediately followed by PC's message (listen).

Communion music was "At the Foot of the Cross," by Katherine Scott -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk7_SBxYSZs

We finished up with a worship classic by Matt Redman:
HEART OF WORSHIP--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1X_ev2OILA

Here are all of the lyrics to the songs:

GLORIFIED

Praise belongs to You
Let every kingdom bow
Let every ocean roar
Let every heart adore You now

Praise belongs to You
What can I do but sing
The greatest joys I’ve found
Is to lay a crown before my King
Before my King

I’ve come to worship
I’ve come to lift up Your name
For You deserve this
Life laid down like the one that You gave

I have but one voice
One heart and one sacrifice
So won’t you take this
Life laid down and be glorified
Be glorified

Praise belongs to You
Let songs of children rise
You silence all your foes
You set Your glory in the skies

Praise belongs to you
Creation’s calling now
For the king to be revealed
O king of heaven come down
King of heaven come down

I’ve come to worship
I’ve come to lift up Your name
For You deserve this
Life laid down like the one that You gave

I have but one voice
One heart and one sacrifice
So won’t you take this
Life laid down and be glorified
Be glorified

I’ve come to worship
I’ve come to lift up Your name
For You deserve this
Life laid down like the one that You gave

I have but one voice
One heart and one sacrifice
So won’t you take this
Life laid down and be glorified
Be glorified

Be glorified
Be glorified

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H667w4HdcVQ

NOT TO US

Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory

The cross before me, the world behind
No turning back, raise the banner high
It’s not for me, it’s all for You

Let the heavens shake & split the sky
Let the people clap their hands & cry
It’s not for us, it’s all for You

Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory

Our hearts unfold before Your throne
The only place for those who know
It’s not for us, it’s all for You

Send Your holy fire on this offering
Let our worship burn for the world to see
It’s not for us, it’s all for You

Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory

The earth is shaking
The mountains shouting
It’s all for You

The waves are crashing
The sun is raging
It’s all for you

The universe is spinning and singing
It’s all for You

Your children dancing, dancing, dancing
It’s all for You, it’s all for You

Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise

Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor

Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory

Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your name be the glory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m0LowihOXY

EVERYONE (PRAISES)

Praises to the One who saves us
Through His blood He gave us
Life and now we come
Everyone

Praises to the One who saves us
Through His blood He gave us
Life and now we come
Everyone

Great in splendor
Lord of everything
Worthy is Your name

Never changing
Ever reigning King
Worthy is Your name

All creation rises up
To declare Your wonders
As people everywhere sing

Praises to the One who saves us
Through His blood He gave us
Life and now we come
Everyone

Praises to the One who saves us
Through His blood He gave us
Life and now we come
Everyone

More than able
Always faithful Friend
Worthy is Your name

Bright and burning
You're returning again
Worthy is Your name

All creation rises up
To declare Your wonders
As people everywhere sing

Praises to the One who saves us
Through His blood He gave us
Life and now we come
Everyone

Praises to the One who saves us
Through His blood He gave us
Life and now we come
Everyone

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Praises to the One who saves us
Through His blood He gave us
Life and now we come
Everyone

Praises to the One who saves us
Through His blood He gave us
Life and now we come
Everyone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbmvMY1E-jM

***PC PRAYER, LEAD INTO “THIS MAN”***

THIS MAN (nine30 band ONLY)

In only a moment truth was seen
Revealed this mystery
The crown that showed no dignity, He wore

And the king was placed
For all the world to show disgrace
But only beauty flowed from this place

Would you take the place of this Man
Would you take the nails from His hands
Would you take the place of this Man
Would you take the nails from His hands

He held the weight of impurity
The father would not see
The reasons had finally come to be to show
The depth of His grace
Flowed with every sin erased
He knew that this was why He came

Would you take the place of this Man
Would you take the nails from His hands
Would you take the place of this Man
Would you take the nails from His hands

And we just don’t know
The blood and water flowed
And in it all He showed
Just how much He cared

And the veil was torn
So we could have this open door
And all these things have finally been complete

Would you take the place of this Man
Would you take the nails from His hands
Would you take the place of this Man
Would you take the nails from His hands

From His hands
From His hands
From His hands
From His hands

Would you take the place of this Man
Would you take the nails from His hands
Would you take the place of this Man
Would you take the nails from His hands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df9mFYO02f4

HEART OF WORSHIP

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come

Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required

You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you
All about you, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When its all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve

Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath

I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required

You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you
All about you, Jesus

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When its all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you
All about you, Jesus

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When its all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus

I’ve come to worship
I’ve come to lift up Your name
For You deserve this
Life laid down like the one that You gave

I have but one voice
One heart and one sacrifice
So won’t you take this
Life laid down and be glorified
Be glorified

I’ve come to worship
I’ve come to lift up Your name
For You deserve this
Life laid down like the one that You gave

I have but one voice
One heart and one sacrifice
So won’t you take this
Life laid down and be glorified
Be glorified
***BENEDICTION***

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1X_ev2OILA

Blessings until the next post, which should come out in about an hour!

Peace,
-nick

nine30 recap for 2/28/10

2010-03-04T08:57:00.002-06:00

hey all...

I've gotten a little backed up with this thing lately...I do apologize, but I will also tell you that I'm very prone to doing that. I'm definitely not a "Type A personality," super-organized or structured person (in fact, I'm pretty much the exact opposite) but I'm also a creature of routine and habit, and my life lately just is not conducive to routine. So things get pushed off...none of them should, but they do, and that's about all I can say. So hopefully next week I'll post a little sooner, and I'll also go back and get the recap in for 2/21.

With that, here's what we did last Sunday...and let me say, the Spirit was powerfully present in a way that could not be denied...

Our sound bite was an ancient prayer, or an ancient song of victory, recorded in Psalm 118. There isn't a whole lot of interpretation for me to do with this...just read it as if you were praying it, and see how many places it takes you...

PSALM 118 (NLT)

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

2 Let all Israel repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”
3 Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”
4 Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”

5 In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
7 Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

10 Though hostile nations surrounded me,
I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
11 Yes, they surrounded and attacked me,
but I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
12 They swarmed around me like bees;
they blazed against me like a crackling fire.
But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
13 My enemies did their best to kill me,
but the Lord rescued me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.
15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
16 The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
17 I will not die; instead, I will live
to tell what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not let me die.

19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
and I will go in and thank the Lord.
20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
and the godly enter there.
21 I thank you for answering my prayer
and giving me victory!

22 The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
24 This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, Lord, please save us.
Please, Lord, please give us success.
26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, shining upon us.
Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

The prayer was followed by my cover of the David Crowder cover of the Flyleaf song, "All Around Me," (listen) with this passage on screen:

…he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me”…he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will”…

Lyrics to the song are posted below.

Immediately following the song was a clip from "The Passion of the Christ" with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane...if I can figure out a way to post it here, I will, but in the meantime, the clip is pretty much all of chapter 3 on the Passion DVD...if you have a copy, check it out. I think it's a great image when we think about the humanity of Jesus and the subject matter that we looked into this week.

Following the clip was our worship set:

PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM (Casting Crowns/Lifesong, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2rLXr3cEU
EASTERN HYMN (David Crowder/Church Music), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw8EZrvv6l8
THY MERCY (Caedmon's Call/In the Company of Angels), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rl4FF6h7V8

"Thy Mercy" is in my top five list of worship songs...it's just a beautiful, simple recast of a hymn that dates back to the mid-1700s. The album that it comes from, "In the Company of Angels" by Caedmon's Call, is probably the one album that, more than any other, showed me what modern worship could sound like. It's a great, great disc, and one I would highly recommend if you have ten bucks to spend. There is also an "In the Company of Angels, Part II," but I don't think it has quite the same impact as the first one. If you're looking at the cover, you want the tan one, not the blue one.

We used this passage from Psalm 116 for meditation during "Thy Mercy":

Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.
For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

PC's message focused on Jesus' prayer at Gethsemane...what does it mean for us? Find out here.

Following the message was one final song:

READY NOW (Desperation Band/Who You Are), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYTUwcFH62Y

Here are the lyrics to all those songs:

ALL AROUND ME

My hands are searching for You
My arms are outstretched towards You
I feel You on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for You

This fire rising through my being
Burning, I'm not used to seeing You

I'm alive
I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

My hands float up above me
And You whisper You love me
And I begin to fade
Into our secret place

The music makes me sway
The angels singing say we are alone with You
I am alone and they are too with You

I'm alive
I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

And so I cry
The light is white
And I see You

Take my hand, I give it to you
Now you own me, all I am
You said You would never leave me
I believe You, I believe

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM

I was sure by now
God, You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day

But once again
I say amen
And it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I'm with You”

And as Your mercy falls
I’ll raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I will praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am

Every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
And raised me up again

My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I'm with You”

And as Your mercy falls
I’ll raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I will praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am

Every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from
My help come from the Lord
The Maker of heaven and earth

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from
My help come from the Lord
The Maker of heaven and earth

I will praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am

Every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

EASTERN HYMN

Glory, glory, glory
God is near to each one of us
Holy, holy, holy
God is near to each one of us

Glory, glory, glory
God is near to each one of us
Holy, holy, holy
God is near to each one of us

Bring us love
You who are love
Bring us peace
You who are peace

We need love
O divine love
We need your peace
Your merciful peace

Bring us love
O divine love
Bring us peace
You who are peace

Glory, glory, glory
God is near to each one of us
Holy, holy, holy
God is near to each one of us

Bring us love
You who are love
Bring us peace
You who are peace

We need love
O divine love
We need your peace
Your merciful peace

Bring us love
O divine love
Bring us peace
You who are peace

Glory, glory, glory
God is near to each one of us
Holy, holy, holy
God is near to each one of us

O grant us reprieve from the fighting
So we just rest our head on the shoulder of the One
In His arms we're forever grateful for the contact
O so blessed for a moment's rest
Weeping knowing we have been touched
Weeping knowing we have been touched
O we have been touched

Bring us love
You who are love
Bring us peace
You who are peace

We need love
O divine love
We need your peace
Your merciful peace

Glory, glory, glory
God is near to each one of us
Holy, holy, holy
God is near to each one of us

Glory, glory, glory
God is near to each one of us
Holy, holy, holy
God is near to each one of us

THY MERCY

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song
The joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast

Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here
Sin would reduce me to utter despair
But through Thy free goodness my spirits revived
And He that first made me so keeps me alive

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart
Which wonders to feel it's heartless depart
Dissolved by Thy goodness I fall to the ground
And weep for the praise of the mercy I've found
Hallelujah!

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son
All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine

All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine
Hallelujah!

READY NOW

Come like You promised You would
I want to surrender for good
I know that I need You
And I don’t want to keep living life alone

So take my heart
And make it new
And make it true
And make it like You

Take my hands
I lift them high
They’re Yours, not mine, to do
Do what You will, do what You will
Do what You will

I feel like a blind man in Your sight
I know that I’m wicked in Your eyes
So wash me and make me shine like Your Son
I want to tell everyone that You’re the only One

So take my heart
And make it new
And make it true
And make it like You

Take my hands
I lift them high
They’re Yours, not mine, to do
Do what You will, do what You will
Do what You will

Do what You will, do what You will
Do what You will

I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, do what you will
I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, do what You will

I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, do what you will
I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, do what You will

So take my heart
And make it new
And make it true
And make it like You

Take my hands
I lift them high
They’re Yours, not mine, to do
Do what You will, do what You will
Do what You will

Do what You will, do what You will
Do what You will

I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, do what you will
I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, do what You will

I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, do what you will
I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, do what You will

This week, or at least what's left of this week, keep the focus on those last few words of Jesus' prayer in the garden...no matter what we're facing..."not my will, but Your will..."

God bless, and see you Sunday if not sooner!

peace,
-nick

March 2010 Outlook, the Online Version

2010-02-18T00:19:00.000-06:00

In case you don't ordinarily pick up or read the Flame (our monthly newsletter at COFS), I've decided to publish my monthly contribution, "Outlook," here at nine30, the blog as well...so here you go...

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
-Matthew 5:29

Ouch. That’s a tough one, isn’t it? I mean, just think of the thoughts that have crossed your mind, the things you have done, the ways you have fallen short of the Christian ideal over the last, oh, say two months. Anybody need a sharp rock?

Well, I do. The past two months have been fairly stressful ones for me—as of today (February 15), I started my second new job in that time span. I’m very, very blessed, as I know of a lot of people who have been searching a lot longer than I did and continue to come up empty-handed. I believe that God has me in the place He wants me now, and the process was definitely interesting…but that’s a story for another month.

I didn’t handle that stress exceptionally well. I mean, I think I put a pretty positive spin on things, for the most part, and I did my best to enjoy myself over the holidays. But I also, deep down, had a lot of doubt, a lot of negativity, and that tended to come out as a lack of patience with just about everything. And there were some old habits—old habits die hard, you know—that I thought I had beaten until they managed to resurface once or twice for old times’ sake. Which doesn’t seem so bad, except that I tend to have a personality that lends itself to addiction. I tend to fixate on things, and when those things are negative, that one little slip requires a lot of work to keep it from repeating itself.

But here’s the thing: God has continued to bless me through all of that. See, because, here’s shocker number one for you: God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. For this little ray of hope, I always like to go back to Deuteronomy 5:29, when God said to Moses, “Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.” Before you were even created, God had a pretty good idea that you would screw something up at some point. As Paul says in Romans 3:23, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Nope, God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. What I think he does expect of us is the kind of intense, critical, self-evaluation that Jesus talks about in Matthew 5:29. It’s part of the attitude of repentance that is so essential to the process of becoming conformed to Christ in everything we do. When we fall victim to temptation and sin, we have to take the painful step of looking back and trying to figure out why we did what we did and what we can do to avoid it in the future.

This is what Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season are all about: that process of realizing our flaws and shortcomings and making a conscious effort to deal with them. As you choose that Lenten discipline (which is something I encourage even though it’s not generally a Methodist practice), stop for a minute, look back, and think it through. Don’t just think of some token item that you can do without for 40 days. Focus on the things that cause you to sin, and do what you can to cut them out of your life. I’m not saying you need to give up your right eye, but…well, you get the point.

By the way, you can also do this by adding something…personally, I tend to get in trouble when I have too much free time on my hands (my kids have helped me more than they’ll ever know in this respect). So for me, this Lent, it’s going to be a return to at least a chapter of Bible reading a day. It’s about redirecting my energy to something more Christlike.

So dig down deep, and then enjoy the challenge of Lent and the transformative effect it can have on your life. As for me, I’m going to go make a list of the 40 shortest chapters in the Bible…just kidding…

peace,
-nick

Super Double Bonus Edition, Part II...the 2/14/10 recap

2010-02-18T00:13:00.000-06:00

On Valentine's Day, love was in the air as the theme for the day was "Diversely United." I did the sermon, so what I would have said for the sound bite was kind of wrapped up in that message. Which was this:

In John 17:20-24, Jesus personally prays for you. Yeah, that's right, he prays for you. He prays for all the believers yet to come, and in doing so, he prays for you. And look at what he prays for:

I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

On a day that we celebrate the opening of the Olympics (marred as they were by the luge tragedy) and talk about being diversely united, the thing that strikes me about that prayer is that Jesus specifically prays for a unified body of believers (read: a unified church) above all other things. He doesn't pray, "may they have easy lives." He doesn't pray, "may they become rich beyond their wildest dreams." He doesn't pray, "may they not be persecuted as I have been persecuted" or "may none of them be left behind, even if they don't accept me"...no, he prays for unity in the body of Christ. I think that's important, because it means, above all else, that we need to truly be one in the body. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, there should be no divisions in the body of Christ. We, as Christians, must present a united front, put our petty differences aside, and let the truth be known for what it is. My recurring theme for the sermon was, "the truth is the truth, no matter how you package it"...I think that is what this prayer is all about.

We started out with this call to worship...a touch of formality in our generally informal service, because, again, the truth is the truth no matter how you package it...

Leader: Jesus has made a promise to us: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

People: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Leader: Jesus has made a promise to us: “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

People: O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy your consolations.

Leader: Jesus has made a promise to us: “Do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

People: I lift my eyes up to the hills; from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Leader: Jesus has made a promise to us: “"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

People: Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord.

Leader: Come now, and give glory to God, who made these promises to us through his only Son, Jesus Christ, and who kept them through the presence of His Holy Spirit which we celebrate today. Let us stand and join in a song of praise.

Our worship set for the morning:

LORD OF ALL (Hillsong London/Jesus Is) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zypSFvqbzhE
**NOTE: from time to time, I will point out worship albums that I think are particularly powerful and worth getting...maybe you can build your own collection. "Jesus Is" by Hillsong London is one of those. It has shaped a lot of what I do as a worship leader. I think it's a must-have.
EVERLASTING GOD (I believe this is the Lincoln Brewster version) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM
SOUND OF YOUR NAME (Above the Golden State) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX-QdvKiASI
ONLY YOU (David Crowder/Illuminate) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Owi3uMP3A0
SING HIS LOVE (Caedmon's Call/In The Company of Angels II) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMCSrYNv-zQ

I'm not sure that the podcast made it to the web yet from Sunday, but you can check for it here...

And finally, here are the lyrics for all of the music:

LORD OF ALL

Shout praises to the holy One
God makes us strong, we'll see His will be done
From the highest place He came to save us

We stand in the power of His name
Salvation's work in our lives proclaim
Living from the kingdom of hope within us.

Shine Your light, be that city of light

We're gonna shout out loud
Its time to let it out
It's your life in me for all to see

'Cause our God reigns always
‘Til the end of days
We're gonna stand strong, stand tall
'Cause Jesus Christ is Lord of all

God colors flowing through my life
I'm not the same now my heart desires
To see the whole world come to know You

I'll shine my light, be that city of light

We're gonna shout out loud
Its time to let it out
It's your life in me for all to see

'Cause our God reigns always
‘Til the end of days
We're gonna stand strong, stand tall
'Cause Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Shout, shout we're gonna let it out
Shout, shout we're gonna let it out
Shout, shout we're gonna shout Jesus is Lord

Shout, shout we're gonna let it out
Shout, shout we're gonna let it out
Shout, shout we're gonna shout Jesus is Lord

Shout, shout we're gonna let it out
Shout, shout we're gonna let it out
Shout, shout we're gonna shout Jesus is Lord

Shine Your light, be that city of light

We're gonna shout out loud
Its time to let it out
It's your life in me for all to see

'Cause our God reigns always
‘Til the end of days
We're gonna stand strong, stand tall
'Cause Jesus Christ is Lord of all

He’s the Lord of all
He’s the Lord of all
He’s the Lord of all the earth

'Cause our God reigns always
‘Til the end of days
We're gonna stand strong, stand tall
'Cause Jesus Christ is Lord of all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zypSFvqbzhE

EVERLASTING GOD

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God
You reign forever
Our hope
Our strong deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God
You reign forever
Our hope
Our strong deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Our God
You reign forever
Our hope
Our strong deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM

SOUND OF YOUR NAME

I tried and tried
A thousand times I tried to get to you
But I could never move

I had to lie
To fall behind and blame it all on you
‘Cause I still hate to lose

O, O, O
O, O, O

Towers fall and kingdoms crumble
The mountains bow and the earth will tremble
At the sound of Your name
At the sound of Your name

Strong man falls to him who humbles
Plans he made, were bound to stumble
Only You remain, only You remain

O, O, O

I cried and cried,
A thousand tears I cried because of You
I lost my one excuse

And I had to die, along with
Everything inside of me removed
But now I live with you

O, O, O

Towers fall and kingdoms crumble
The mountains bow and the earth will tremble
At the sound of Your name
At the sound of Your name

Strong man falls to him who humbles
Plans he made, were bound to stumble
Only You remain, only You remain

Some men can reach the sky
If he built his own device
Still he'd fall away from you

He's underneath your eyes
As he plans his own demise
What's dear to him is not to you

O, O, O
O, O, O

His kingdom fell and his heart was trouble
I feel the same, I feel the same

Strong man falls to him who humbles
He demands a man who won't stumble
And that's why He came
And that's why He came

Towers fall and kingdoms crumble
The mountains bow and the earth will tremble
At the sound of Your name
At the sound of Your name

Strong man falls to him who humbles
Plans he made, were bound to stumble
Only You remain, only You remain
Only You remain, only You remain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX-QdvKiASI

ONLY YOU

Take my heart, I lay it down
At the feet of You who's crowned
And take my life, I'm letting go
I lift it up, to You who's throned

And I will
Worship
You, Lord
Only You, Lord

And I will
Bow down
Before You
Only You, Lord

Take my fret, take my fear
All I have I'm leaving here
Be all my hopes, be all my dreams
Be all my delights, be my everything

And I will
Worship
You, Lord
Only You, Lord

And I will
Bow down
Before You
Only You, Lord

And it's just You and me here now
Only You and me here now
And it's just You and me here now
Only You and me here now

And it's just You and me here now
Only You and me here now
And it's just You and me here now
Only You and me here now

And I will
Worship
You, Lord
Only You, Lord

And I will
Bow down
Before You
Only You, Lord

And I will
Worship
You, Lord
Only You, Lord

And I will
Bow down
Before You
Only You, Lord

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Owi3uMP3A0

SING HIS LOVE

Father, long before creation
Thou hast chosen us in love
And that love so deep, so moving
Draws us close to Christ above

Still it keeps us, still it keeps us
Firmly fixed in Christ alone

And the world will sing His love
Yes the world will sing His love
And we'll all join hands
Every woman, every man
And sing His love

Tho' the world may change its fashion
Yet our God is ever the same
His compassion and His cov'nant
Through all ages will remain

God's own children
God's own children
Must forever praise His name

And the world will sing His love
Yes the world will sing His love
And we'll all join hands
Every woman, every man
And sing His love
We’ll sing His love

God so loved us
God so loved us
That His only Son He gave

God's compassion is my story
It is my boasting all the day
Mercy free and never failing
Moves my will, directs my way

And the world will sing His love
Yes the world will sing His love
And we'll all join hands
Every woman, every man
And sing His love
We’ll sing His love

And the world will sing His love
Yes the world will sing His love
And we'll all join hands
Every woman, every man
And sing His love
We’ll sing His love

***BENEDICTION***

And the world will sing His love
Yes the world will sing His love
And we'll all join hands
Every woman, every man
And sing His love
We’ll sing His love

And the world will sing His love
Yes the world will sing His love
And we'll all join hands
Every woman, every man
And sing His love
We’ll sing His love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMCSrYNv-zQ

Have a blessed rest of the week...Emily is doing the worship planning this week, and I'm excited both to have a week off from that part, and to see and hear what the Spirit brings to her to give to us on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing you then!

peace,
-nick

Super Double Bonus Edition, Part I...the 2/7/10 recap...

2010-02-17T23:51:00.000-06:00

Hey all...sorry for being away for so long--unfortunately, this is what happens to me when I promise to do things on a regular basis. Unfortunately, my life doesn't always lend itself to that, especially not lately. But I'm trying.

February 7 was Super Bowl Sunday...so, like I said that morning, it means that we as worship leaders really needed to be on our game. I am a huge sports nut, so the buildup to the big game was really affecting my planning...I thought about doing something about the saints for the sound bite...you know, St. Mark, St. Paul, St. Peter, etc...but that didn't seem like it would work. And every other Biblical reference I could think of seemed to lead back to football somehow. As I struggled to break free, I was drawn to Matthew 6:24..."No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." I needed something to help me focus on the task at hand, so I came up with this...well, mantra for lack of a better word...God's Our Creator, Our Lord To Serve.

Which, of course, if you put it in acronym form, spells out GO COLTS...so there's your joke of the day...too bad it didn't help them on the field.

Once we got past that and into the business of worshipping, we started off with Psalm 8 (my exact words were, leave the worship to someone who knows what they're doing):

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

From there, we embarked on a bit of a journey...our theme for the day was "diversely beautiful," so in our worship set we looked at a few different styles from around the world. First, a typical American praise song:

GOD OF WONDERS (Third Day/Caedmon's Call) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1GULTY8frM

Then, we tried a little bit to experience an African style of worship, which is very focused toward calling on the Holy Spirit and generally centers around a simple chorus that is repeated over and over and over...songs that are written not to end. For this, we used a David Crowder tune:

RAIN DOWN (David Crowder/Remedy) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5QEULlm7Hc

After that, we talked a bit about typically Latin American or Hispanic worship and its emphasis on liberation theolgy, with its strong portrayal of God as the savior of the world, the one who frees us from oppression. To help with this imagery, we borrowed the Hail Mary, both in Spanish, which reads like this:

Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo, bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén

and in English, which reads like this:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

And, we sang a similarly-themed prayer by Hillsong:

CAME TO MY RESCUE (Hillsong United/United We Stand) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAMbEPZfWCY

From there, we returned to the typically American style of worship, praising God for all of His magnificent wonders:

YOUR GLORY ENDURES FOREVER (Charlie Hall/Flying Into Daybreak). Unfortunately, there is no Youtube link for this song; you'll have to pick it up on iTunes or something. When you go get it, go ahead and grab the whole "Flying Into Daybreak" album...it's well worth the ten bucks.

Finally, we closed out the morning with the obligatory song for any diversity-themed worship service:

HE REIGNS (Newsboys) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8R9ZPT2T-I

Check out PC's sermon podcast for Diversely Beautiful here.

And, here are the lyrics for all of those songs:

GOD OF WONDERS

Lord of all creation
Of water earth and sky
The heavens are your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are Holy, Holy
The universe declares your majesty
You are Holy, Holy
Lord of Heaven and Earth
Lord of Heaven and Earth

Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
And when I stumble in the darkness
I will call your name by night

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are Holy, Holy
The universe declares your majesty
You are Holy, Holy
Lord of Heaven and Earth
Lord of Heaven and Earth

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth

***BREAK/GREETING***

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are Holy, Holy
The universe declares your majesty
You are Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are Holy, Holy
The universe declares your majesty
You are Holy, Holy
Lord of Heaven and Earth
Lord of Heaven and Earth

Lord of Heaven and Earth
Lord of Heaven and Earth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1GULTY8frM

RAIN DOWN

Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your grace and cover us
Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your peace

Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your grace and cover us
Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your peace

Holy, Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy is the Lord

Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your grace and cover us
Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your peace

Holy, Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy is the Lord

Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your grace and cover us
Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your peace

Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your grace and cover us
Rain down your love on us, rain down your love
And rain down your peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5QEULlm7Hc

CAME TO MY RESCUE

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord, all I am is Yours

My whole life I place in Your hands
God of mercy, humbled I bow down
In your presence at Your throne

I called, You answered
And You came to my rescue and I,
I wanna be where You are

My whole life I place in Your hands
God of mercy, humbled I bow down
In your presence at Your throne

I called, You answered
And You came to my rescue and I,
I wanna be where You are

I called, You answered
And You came to my rescue and I,
I wanna be where You are

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high

I called, You answered
And You came to my rescue and I,
I wanna be where You are

I called, You answered
And You came to my rescue and I,
I wanna be where You are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAMbEPZfWCY

YOUR GLORY ENDURES FOREVER

You ride on wings of wind
You are beginning and the end
Mountains melting in Your flame
Creation pulsing out Your name

You are forever
You are forever

Your glory endures forever
Your beauty outshines the heavens
And we will declare Your wonder
Your splendor, Your majesty

Earth rotating in Your hand
Galaxies in Your command
You make and sustain the breath of man
Your deeds go on forever

You are forever
You are forever

Your glory endures forever
Your beauty outshines the heavens
And we will declare Your wonder
Your splendor, Your majesty

Your glory endures forever
Your beauty outshines the heavens
And we will declare Your wonder
Your splendor, Your majesty

You are forever
You are forever
You are forever
You are forever

Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise

Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise
Glory and honor and praise

HE REIGNS

It’s the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It’s the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain

The song of Asian believers
Filled with God’s holy fire
It's every tribe, every tongue every nation.
A love song born of a grateful choir

It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

Let it rise above the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground

Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples,
None rings truer than this

It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they’ve just heard
Cause all the powers of darkness
Can’t drown out a single word

When all God’s children sing out
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

All God’s children sing out
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

All God’s people singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

All God’s people singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

**BENEDICTION**

All God’s people singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

All God’s people singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

All God’s children singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
He reigns!

All God’s children singing
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
He reigns!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8R9ZPT2T-I

Blessings to you until the next post comes in about half an hour!

peace,
-nick

nine30 recap for 1/31/10

2010-02-02T13:18:00.006-06:00

hey all...

You know, in the world of the worship leader, it's a rarity where you have a week where there is absolutely nothing that you say or do that doesn't somehow touch somebody in some way that you didn't anticipate. It's just kind of the way the Holy Spirit works...it works within me as I plan, and somehow it manages to translate into someone saying, "How did you know I needed to hear that this week?" I don't give any credit to myself for this; it's a God-given ability that is, like I said, completely at the mercy of the Holy Spirit. But that's how most weeks are.

In worship on Sunday (yes, that's right...I'm typing my "Sunday night ritual" on Tuesday...if you didn't know me well enough before, you know me now...), I got the feeling that a lot of people were touched in a pretty significant way. I hope that, if you're reading this today, you were there to experience it on Sunday. If you weren't, though, I would urge you to download the sermon, listen to the music where it goes in the order of worship, and spend some time letting the Spirit reach out to you. You'll be glad you did. My prayer for you is that God is every bit as present with you as you read as He was with us as we worshipped last Sunday.

Our sound bite came from Psalm 57, specifically verses 1-5. I like the way the NLT says it:
1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me.
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.
4 I am surrounded by fierce lions
who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
and whose tongues cut like swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!
May your glory shine over all the earth.

This is the way life is, isn't it? We try to be good people and good Christians, we have faith, and we expect to be able to rely on those things to bring us some measure of success and, well, freedom from worry. But the world is far from perfect, and most days, it seems intent on taking away our optimism, our joy, and sometimes even our basic ability to function. Case in point: according to the NLT, this is a psalm written by David, widely renowned as a man after God's own heart, at a time when he was being hunted down by King Saul and hiding in a cave in order to keep from getting killed.

Here's what I love most about this passage. Look at verses 4 and 5, and read them together. In verse 4, it seems to have gotten pretty bad for you. You're like Daniel, lying in the middle of a den full of hungry lions that, just in case you manage to get past the teeth and claws, can cut you into pieces with their tongues. Yeah, that's bad. But in the middle of that, right there with all the lions closing in, you get this beautiful song of praise: "Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth."

That verse, those two lines, are repeated two or three more times throughout the Psalm. Over and over, David praises God in the midst of his anxiety, in fear of his life, with really nowhere else to go (remember, he's backed into a cave, so if someone finds him, there's a decent chance he's cornered).
There's a lesson for us there, and I think it's this...that no matter what life throws at us, we can still praise God. Because when you opened your eyes this morning and took that first breath (yeah, that breath...the one that you might have wished would have come an hour or two later...the one that might have immediately preceded a string of curses hurled at the alarm clock...the one that might even have been contaminated by the morning breath of the four-year-old who somehow found his way into your bed and was blowing in your face every time he breathed out...you know, that breath), when you took that breath, you were blessed with life. God gave you the opportunity to live, and live for Him and with Him, so that you might get that gift, all wrapped up and brand-new, every morning of every day for the rest of eternity. That life is so powerful that it can defeat even death itself (O death, where is thy sting?). And there it is, just for you, and you didn't even have to ask. In fact, you couldn't have asked, because you were asleep. Well, unless you prayed the night before but...look, the bottom line is that you've got a lot going for you with this life, no matter how ugly it might look at times...so no matter what the world has to throw at you, praise God for the chance to experience it.

THE WHOLE EARTH (Desperation Band/From the Rooftops), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zskrWjXH7m4
PROMISES(New Life Worship/My Savior Lives), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niyY2jZ_2K8
CARRIED TO THE TABLE (Leeland/Sound of Melodies), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy9CGymYvuA

**insert PC's message here**

MORE WONDERFUL (Aaron Shust/Anything Worth Saying), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI-sEja1BbE
AMAZING LOVE (Newsboys/Adoration), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNousF-YMHo
MY HOPE IS YOU (Third Day/Conspiracy No. 5), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHUQORTsYCM

And, here are the song lyrics in order...

THE WHOLE EARTH

The whole earth is full of Your glory
The whole earth is full of Your glory

And You reign victorious
You reign victorious over all

The whole earth is full of Your glory
The whole earth is full of Your glory

And You reign victorious
You reign victorious over all

For great is the Lord and worthy of praise
Lift up your voice and lift up His name
The heavens declare our God is the King
We join in the song that the angels sing

The whole earth is full of Your glory
The whole earth is full of Your glory

And You reign victorious
You reign victorious over all

The nations will praise You forever
The nations will praise You forever

For You reign victorious
You reign victorious over all

For great is the Lord and worthy of praise
Lift up your voice and lift up His name
The heavens declare our God is the King
We join in the song that the angels sing

The whole earth is full of Your glory
The whole earth is full of Your glory

For great is the Lord and worthy of praise
Lift up your voice and lift up His name
The heavens declare our God is the King
We join in the song that the angels sing

For great is the Lord and worthy of praise
Lift up your voice and lift up His name
The heavens declare our God is the King
We join in the song that the angels sing

The whole earth is full of Your glory
The whole earth is full of Your glory
The whole earth is full of Your glory
The whole earth is full of Your glory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zskrWjXH7m4

PROMISES
All of Your promises won’t let go of me
All of Your promises won’t let go of me

I’ve surrendered my life to Your ways
I have learned what it means to obey
Jesus, my heart has been changed by You

I am walking the path You have made
I am seeking the truth everyday
Jesus, my heart has been changed by You

I couldn’t walk away if I tried
'Cause Your love is better than life

Now the sun’s shining bright and it just won’t set
Cause Your love is alive and it lights my step
My heart is amazed everyday to the next
Your joy overtakes and I can’t forget about it

O…I can’t forget about it
O…I can’t forget about it

I’ve surrendered my life to Your ways
I have learned what it means to obey
Jesus, my heart has been changed by You

I am walking the path You have made
I am seeking the truth everyday
Jesus, my heart has been changed by You

I couldn’t walk away if I tried
'Cause Your love is better than life

Now the sun’s shining bright and it just won’t set
Cause Your love is alive and it lights my step
My heart is amazed everyday to the next
Your joy overtakes and I can’t forget about it

O…I can’t forget about it
O…I can’t forget about it

All of Your promises won’t let go of me
All of Your promises won’t let go of me
All of Your promises won’t let go of me
All of Your promises won’t let go of me

Now the sun’s shining bright and it just won’t set
Cause Your love is alive and it lights my step
My heart is amazed everyday to the next
Your joy overtakes and I can’t forget about it

O…I can’t forget about it
O…I can’t forget about it

All of Your promises won’t let go of me
All of Your promises won’t let go of me
All of Your promises won’t let go of me
All of Your promises won’t let go of me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niyY2jZ_2K8

CARRIED TO THE TABLE

wounded and forsaken,
I was shattered by the fall
broken and forgotten,
feeling lost and all alone
summoned by the King,
into the masters courts
lifted by the Savior,
and cradled in his arms

I was carried to the table,
seated where I don’t belong
carried to the table,
swept away by his love

and I don’t see my brokenness anymore
when I’m seated at the table of the Lord
I’m carried to the table,
the table of the Lord

fighting thoughts of fear,
wondering why he called my name
am I good enough to share this cup,
this world has left me lame
even in my weakness
the Savior called my name
in his holy presence
I am healed and unashamed

as I’m carried to the table,
seated where I don’t belong
carried to the table,
swept away by his love

and I don’t see my brokenness anymore
when I’m seated at the table of the Lord
I’m carried to the table,
the table of the Lord

I’m carried to the table,
seated where I don’t belong
I’m carried to the table,
swept away by his love

and I don’t see my brokenness anymore
when I’m seated at the table of the Lord
I’m carried to the table,
the table of the Lord

he carried me!
you carried me my love, you carried me
you carried me my God, you carried me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy9CGymYvuA

MORE WONDERFUL

God of unending grace,
I come to You on my face
I need to hear You speak to me,
won't You make me new right now

God of omnipotent power
visit us in this hour
And may we leave here changed
Because we've met with You God

You've been more wonderful to me
than I could have ever imagined
You've shown more love
than I could show in a thousand years

Although it seems at times
that it all means nothing to me
You gotta know that I love You
You gotta know that I need You

God of wisdom and love
settled down from above
Give us all a taste of what
the Holy Spirit can do

Time and time again we've betrayed
but our debt’s already been paid
And all that leaves me wanting is
to live for You God

You've been more wonderful to me
than I could have ever imagined
You've shown more love
than I could show in a thousand years

Although it seems at times
that it all means nothing to me
You gotta know that I love You
You gotta know that I need You

When the world crashes down around me
I know You'll be there
to pull me out from the rubble

When the enemy surrounds
and I call on Your name
You'll be there
to deliver me from my troubled soul

You've been more wonderful to me
than I could have ever imagined
You've shown more love
than I could show in a thousand years

Although it seems at times
that it all means nothing to me
You gotta know that I love You
You gotta know that I need You

You gotta know that I love You
You gotta know that I need You
You’re more wonderful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI-sEja1BbE

AMAZING LOVE

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be?
That You my King would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
And it's my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be?
That You my King would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
And it's my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You

Amazing love, how can it be?
That You my King would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
And it's my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You

Jesus You are my King
Jesus You are my King
Jesus You are my King
Jesus You are my King

Amazing love, how can it be?
That You my King would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
And it's my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You

Amazing love, how can it be?
That You my King would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
And it's my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You

In all I do, I honor You
In all I do, I honor You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNousF-YMHo

MY HOPE IS YOU

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
In you, O God, I place my trust
Do not let me, be put to shame
Nor let my enemies triumph over me

My hope is in You
Show me your ways
Guide me in truth
In all my days
My hope is you

I am, O Lord, filled with Your love
You are, O God, my salvation
O, guide my life, and rescue me
My broken spirit shouts, my mended heart cries out

My hope is in You
Show me your ways
Guide me in truth
In all my days
My hope is you

My hope is in You
Show me your ways
Guide me in truth
In all my days
My hope is you

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
In you, O God, I place my trust
Do not let me, be put to shame
Nor let my enemies triumph over me

My hope is in You
Show me your ways
Guide me in truth
In all my days
My hope is you

My hope is in You
Show me your ways
Guide me in truth
In all my days
My hope is you

**BENEDICTION**

My hope is in You
Show me your ways
Guide me in truth
In all my days
My hope is you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHUQORTsYCM

Blessings to you this week, and see you on Sunday!

peace,
-nick

nine30 recap for 1/24/10

2010-01-28T00:07:00.001-06:00

Hey all...welcome to the nine30 blog.

It was suggested to me last week that some or all of us might get a little more out of our nine30 worship if we had things like song lyrics and Scripture readings to reflect on throughout the week. So here, in all its glory, is my attempt to give it to you. What I can promise is that every week you'll have a copy of all the song lyrics, free links to as many recordings of the songs as I can find, Scripture references, and a recap of the Sound Bite. What you may also get, from time to time, is my two cents on, well, something. Because every now and then I get a chance to throw in my two cents.

So without further ado, I give you...nine30, the blog.

This was our set list for nine30 on Jan. 24, 2010 (SONG TITLE (artist/album)):

CENTER (Charlie Hall/Flying Into Daybreak), listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE3HKym0tRE
LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH (Matt Redman), listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKyHcplqi2Y
NOT TO US (Chris Tomlin/Not To Us), listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m0LowihOXY
FIRE FALL DOWN (Hillsong United/United We Stand), listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZpPIKmiMuo
TRADING MY SORROWS (Darrell Evans), listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXi5iq1zAl4 with O HAPPINESS (David Crowder/Church Music), listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTcThVJhDuM

We started out with a sound bite from Psalm 37:5, "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act." This comes from Psalm 37, which in the English Standard Version of the Bible is titled, "He Will Not Forsake His Saints." The thing to take away for us is this...it's a very simple thing: focus on God, focus on His ways, make Him the center, and He will act. Notice that there are no words, no conditions, nothing at all between "trust in Him" and "He will act." It's an if-then relationship...He has promised us that He will act, and in fact He has acted by sending us His son, Jesus Christ, who is our salvation. If we trust in Him, He will act. Period. End of story. If we commit our ways to the Lord, as Wesley would say, we begin to walk along the path to sanctification, or becoming saint-like. And, as the Psalm reminds us, God will not forsake His saints. In keeping with this, we need to make this our constant prayer..."O Christ, be the center of our lives...be the place we fix our eyes...be the center of our lives..."

We gave ultimate praise to God through the words of Psalm 150: "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!" We also heard the message of hope contained in Isaiah 58:9-14, and were reminded of the extent of God's grace as described in 1 Peter 4:12-14.

And, finally, here are the song lyrics in their entirety as they were sequenced in this service:

CENTER

Christ be the center of our lives

Be the place we fix our eyes

Be the center of our lives

Christ be the center of our lives

Be the place we fix our eyes

Be the center of our lives

Christ be the center of our lives

Be the place we fix our eyes

Be the center of our lives

You're the center of the universe

Everything was made in You, Jesus

Breath of every living thing

Everyone was made for you

You hold everything together

You hold everything together

Christ be the center of our lives

Be the place we fix our eyes

Be the center of our lives

Christ be the center of our lives

Be the place we fix our eyes

Be the center of our lives

You're the center of the universe

Everything was made in You, Jesus

Breath of every living thing

Everyone was made for you

You hold everything together

You hold everything together

You hold everything together

You hold everything together

Christ be the center of our lives

Be the place we fix our eyes

Be the center of our lives

Christ be the center of our lives

Be the place we fix our eyes

Be the center of our lives

We lift our eyes to heaven

We wrap our lives around your life

We lift our eyes to heaven, to You

We lift our eyes to heaven

We wrap our lives around your life

We lift our eyes to heaven, to You

We lift our eyes to heaven

We wrap our lives around your life

We lift our eyes to heaven, to You

LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

Praise you in the morning, praise you in the evening

Praise you when I’m young and when I’m old

Praise you when I’m laughing, praise you when I’m grieving

Praise you every season of the soul

If we could see how much you’re worth

Your power, Your might, Your endless love

Then surely we would never cease to praise

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

Praise you in the heavens, joining with the angels

Praising you forever and a day

Praise you on the earth now, joining with creation

Calling all the nations to your praise

If we could see how much you’re worth

Your power Your might, Your endless love

Then surely we would never cease to praise

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

Let everything that, everything that

Everything that has breath praise the Lord

NOT TO US

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

The cross before me the world behind

No turning back, raise the banner high

It’s not for me, it’s all for you

Let the heavens shake & split the sky,

Let the people clap their hands & cry

It’s not for us, it’s all for you

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Our hearts unfold before your throne

The only place for those who know

It’s not for us, it’s all for you

Send your holy fire on this offering

Let our worship burn for the world to see

It’s not for us, it’s all for you

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

The earth is shaking, the mountains shouting

It’s all for you

The waves are crashing, the sun is raging

It’s all for you

The universe is spinning and singing

It’s all for you

Your children dancing, dancing, dancing

It’s all for you, it’s all for you

Glory and honor and praise

Glory and honor and praise

Glory and honor and praise

Glory and honor and praise

Glory and honor and praise

Glory and honor and praise

Glory and honor and praise

Glory and honor

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

Not to us, but to your name be the glory

NICK READING – Isiah 58:9-12, 14

FIRE FALL DOWN

And I know that You’re alive

You came to fix my broken life

And I sing to glorify

Your holy Name

Jesus Christ

And I know that You’re alive

You came to fix my broken life

And I sing to glorify

Your holy Name

Jesus Christ

You’ve changed it all

You broke down the wall

When I spoke and confessed

In You I’m blessed

Now I walk in the light

In victorious sight of You

I’ll never be the same, no

I’ll never be the same

‘Cause I know that You’re alive

You came to fix my broken life

And I sing to glorify

Your holy Name

Jesus Christ

And I know that You’re alive

You came to fix my broken life

And I sing to glorify

Your holy Name

Jesus Christ

Your fire, fall down

Fire, fall down

On us we pray

Your fire fall down

Fire fall down

On us we pray

Show me Your heart

Show me Your way

Show me Your glory

Show me Your heart

Show me Your way

Show me Your glory

Your fire fall down

Fire fall down

On us we pray

Your fire fall down

Fire fall down

On us we pray

‘Cause I know that You’re alive

You came to fix my broken life

And I sing to glorify

Your holy Name

Jesus Christ

And I know that You’re alive

You came to fix my broken life

And I sing to glorify

Your holy Name

Jesus Christ

TRADING MY SORROWS/O HAPPINESS

**NICK—teaching moment…congregation learns a new chorus!

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

I'm trading my sorrow

I'm trading my shame

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness

I'm trading my pain

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

We’re singin’ yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord, Amen

I'm pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed

I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure

And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning

I'm trading my sorrow

I'm trading my shame

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness

I'm trading my pain

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

La la la…

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

I'm pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed

I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure

And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning

I'm trading my sorrow

I'm trading my shame

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness

I'm trading my pain

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

La la la…

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

**BENEDICTION**

La la la…

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

O, happiness!

There’s grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

Peace to you this week, and I look forward to seeing you on the 31st, if not sooner!