[Video] iTouch and iWorship

Archive - July, 2010

[QOTW] Wesley on Worship

July 29, 2010 in QOTW, Worship with 0 Comments

Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.

- Charles Wesley
http://blog.worshiptogether.com/worshiptogether/2010/03/wesley-on-worship.html

Worshiping Together: 7/25/10

July 27, 2010 in Sunday Setlist with 0 Comments

This week we continued with our summer series of Blockbuster Message. We are nearing the end of this series, and it has been a great series with many positive benefits.

Our senior pastor was back after a time of being away, and we focused on the reality of evil in the world today. Our movie example was the recent Sherlock Holmes moves as we tackled the message that evil is just an illusion. The Bible paints a very different picture – that evil is very much real and something to be aware of. But we also took time to remember that our victory as Christians is found fully in Christ who has already won the victory.

Click through to find out how we celebrated and remembered together. Continue Reading…

[QOTW] Our Never Fading Identity

July 22, 2010 in QOTW with 0 Comments

We are defined by our relationship with [God]! In a world that beckons people to define themselves by false and fading identities based on looks, intelligence, wealth, power, or success, this is good news! Unlike worldly definitions of identity, our identity and inheritance in Christ never fades (1 Peter 1:3-4).

- Michael R. Emlet, CrossTalk (Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2009), 75.

Worshiping in the Hard Times

July 21, 2010 in Ponderings, Worship with 0 Comments

It’s easy to worship God when things are going well. At those times, it is easy to celebrate God’s goodness and rejoice in His greatness. The challenge of worship comes when things in our life aren’t going so well. It’s in those moments that we need to remember that even though our circumstances have changed, God hasn’t.

This is something my wife, Beck (who blogs here), has been learning and experiencing over the past year. This month in our church’s newsletter, I asked her to share some of what she has been learning about worship in the hard times.

“My husband has allowed me to share with you this week about the journey of worshiping in the dark places of our lives. I imagine all of us at one time or another has struggled to worship God in the midst of pain, disappointment, sorrow. Maybe that’s you this week. I understand; I’ve felt the choking burn of tears hovering near the surface and the nagging pull of fear. I’ve struggled with some health concerns in the last year and the doctors don’t have answers. Recently I was talking to Jesus about the concerns and fears in my life; asking for His provision, teaching, empowering. In that moment I heard Him so sweetly say, worship Me. And I did. Romans 11:33-12:2 gives us the reason why He deserves worship at all times.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

“As I obeyed and worshiped Him I poured out my heart, my worship, my trust, my need, my love as an act of faith and adoration. I felt like the woman in Luke 7, anointing Jesus feet with perfume, weeping and kissing those precious feet that came in search of me. And I knew that it was the Son who had drawn me to worship and the Spirit that had ignited the desire and ability to worship and the Father that had provided EVERYTHING I needed to worship Him in the first place. I am completely aware that even worship is something I can’t give Him on my own. And as I worshiped He gave to me; peace, joy, rest, His very presence.”

[QOTW] God is near you when you pray

July 15, 2010 in QOTW with 0 Comments

“God is near at hand when you do approach Him in prayer. Oh, comforting truth! A God at hand to hear the softest breath of prayer–to listen to every confession of sin–to every cry of need–to every utterance of sorrow–to every wail of woe–to every appeal for counsel, strength, and support. Arise, O my soul! and give yourself to prayer; for God is near at hand to hear and answer you.”

- Octavius Winslow

Worshiping Together: 7/11/10

July 13, 2010 in Sunday Setlist with 1 Comment

We’re continuing in our “Blockbuster Messages” series. After the craziness of the previous weekend (July 3/4 – July 4th is a BIG deal in our community and everything going on presented some challenges), it was good to be back to a more relatively normal Sunday schedule.

This past week, our senior pastor began his annual vacation/study leave weeks that he takes each July. That means that I got to speak this past week, and our youth pastor will do so next week.

We didn’t focus on the message from a particular movie this week, but instead took some time to teach about how we live as Christ-followers without being impacted by the messages of the world. We wanted to help people understand how to process and filter the messages on their own since there won’t always be someone standing up to explain how the message of a movie/show either conflicts or lines up with Scripture. It was a good midpoint to take in the series. Continue Reading…

[Video] Music Is Fun!

July 12, 2010 in Creative Stuff, Media with 0 Comments

I like music. That’s probably a good thing since a huge part of my work deals with music. I like good music. I like music that is well done. I like music.

I especially appreciate music when it is obvious that the person/people playing it are really enjoying what they are doing.

I came across the following video on one of the many blogs I read. We’ve all seen actors and professional artists having fun while doing music – sometimes for real and sometimes for the show. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen the amount of enjoyment and creativity going into a musical performance like is being done by this 26-year old conductor and the Venezuelan teens he is leading. The video is a bit long, but it’s worth it. The first piece is good, but the second piece is amazing.

Be inspired.

Do you enjoy what you do as you serve Christ, whether it’s music or something else?

(via worshipvj.com)