BEHIND THE PRAISE - SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2008

BLENDED WORSHIP 9:30

“And Can it Be”
Not many hymns begin with a question as does this one. However, it is not an expression of doubt but of wonder and awe.
· How can it be that the shedding of Jesus’ blood 1900 years ago is relevant to me today?
· How was it possible for the Son of God to have died for me?
· Why should our Lord empty Himself of all His divine glory and become a man, in order to save “Adam’s helpless race?” There is considerable evidence that this hymn was written by Charles Wesley soon after his own conversion. Charles Wesley’s crisis experience occurred on May 20, 1738. He had been sick in body as well as in spirit. It seemed that God spoke to him through a vision. According to his Journal, this confrontation took place after reading the bible for some time.
Following is his account:
“At midnight I gave myself up to Christ: assured I was safe, sleeping or waking. I had continued experience of his power to overcome all temptation; and confessed, with joy and surprise, that he was able to do exceedingly abundantly for me, above what I can ask or think.”
And Can it Be, that I Should Gain
And can it be, that I should gain

An interest in the Savior’s blood`?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?

For me, who him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be

That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!

Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the first-born seraph tries

To sound the depths of love divine!

’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,

Let angel-minds inquire no more.
He left his Father’s throne above,

(So free, so infinite his grace!)
Emptied himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For, O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
No condemnation now I dread,

Jesus, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Click here to worship along:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp4ezV05v6k


Click here to sing along with a congregational recording:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_zMJ8MAGJo




“Mighty is the Power of the Cross”
This song was written by Chris Tomlin & Jesse Reeves. Chris was stirred by the phrase "What can take a dying man and bring him back to life again". Chris and Jesse were amazed by the mystery of the cross, as it is foolishness to those who are perishing.




What can take a dying man And raise him up to life again?

What can heal the wounded soul? What can make us white as snow?

What can fill the emptiness?What can mend our brokenness?

Brokenness?Chorus:Mighty, awesome, wonderful Is the Holy cross.

Where the Lamb lay down His lifeTo lift us from the fall.

Mighty is the power of the cross.



Click here to hear more about how this song on the cross was written:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gDVwQ_Oyhc


Click here for a moving visual portrayal of the cross:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkO-D0fatRQ&feature=related



“Amazing Grace”
John Newton wrote this hymn some time after converting to Christianity in the village of Kineton, in Warwickshire, England. The lyrics are based on his reflections on an Old Testament text he was preparing to preach on, adding his perspective about his own conversion while on his slave ship, the Greyhound, in 1748.
The melody most often used for this hymn was not original (nor was Newton a composer). As with other hymns of this period, the words were sung to a number of tunes before and after they first became linked to the now familiar variant of the tune "New Britain" of which the composer is unknown and is in William Walker's shape-note tunebook Southern Harmony, 1835.



Click here to view the many arrangements of Amazing Grace on youtube:

www.youtube.com/results?search_query=amazing+grace+&search_type=




“Come Just as You Are”
Come just as you are
hear the spirit call
come just as you are
come and see
come receive
come and live forever
life everlasting strength for today
taste the living water and never thirst again




For more on Crystal Lewis the composer click here
www.christianmusiclighthouse.com/main/biography/crystallewisbio/index.htm

Click here to listen to Crystal Lewis at a Harvest Crusade with Greg Laurie

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuxh3hW2at0


Click here to worship along with Crystal Lewis and read along in Spanish:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MqNV5NvtUQ&feature=related

CONTEMPORARY SERVICE 11:00

“Everyday”

Joel Timothy Houston (born September 19, 1979) is a song writer and worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He is employed as the producer of Hillsong's youth band, Hillsong United. He is the oldest son of Hillsong Church's pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston and grandson of Frank Houston. He has two siblings, a brother Benjamin and a sister, Laura.

Houston's first debut with the Hillsong United was in 2002. As part of Hillsong United music team, Houston has helped lead worship conferences in North America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. He has also contributed to the main Hillsong album recordings as well, which are led by worship pastor Darlene Zschech. Many of the songs he has written or co-written are sung in churches worldwide and have been translated into 32 languages, including Korean and German. His music has been featured on Hillsong albums that have quickly risen on both the Australian and American Christian music charts. In March 2007, Hillsong United's eighth album All of the Above debuted at #6 on the ARIA charts His song, "Everyday", is ranked number 49 on the CCLI top 100 songs.

Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs worship team:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RiDQmlC9uY

"Everlasting"
Brenton Brown wrote this song after both he and his wife had being diagnosed with Chronic fatigue syndrome



Great song by Brenton Brown, check him out here.

www.brentonbrownmusic.com/

Click here to listen to him share about how the song came about
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YePOcs88kqw

Click here to listen to Lincoln Brewsters' arrangement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM&mode=related&search=


Click here to listen to Brenton Brown & Paul Baloche
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bLWwnVBuF8


“To the Ends of the Earth”

Marty Sampson (b. May 31, 1979) is a Christian songwriter and a worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Originally featuring in the Youth Alive albums of the late 1990s, he was one of original Hillsong United worship leaders and has led worship on every United album to date. He plays guitar and occasionally piano. He was married in November of 2006 to Michelle.
Sampson was a former worship leader for Hillsong United together with Joel Houston (son of pastor Brian Houston). His last album with United in the 2007 United album All of the Above, could be his last album with Houston and the Hillsong United team.
Since his marriage with Michelle, Sampson has moved from Hillsong United to the Hillsong band and helps lead worship with Darlene Zschech and the rest of the team. He is now one of the main worship leaders in Hillsong Church along with Zschech and Reuben Morgan.
Sampson recently released a solo album entitled "Let Love Rule

Love unfailing Overtaking my heart

You take me in Finding peace again

Fear is lost in all You are And I would give the world to tell Your story

Cause I know that You've called me I know that You've called me

I've lost myself for good within Your promise I won't hide it I won't hide it

Click here to visit Marty Sampsons’ myspace:
www.myspace.com/martysampsonmusic

Click here to learn more about Martys’ ministry:
http://martysampson.net/


Click here to worship along:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0G5azgrTUo

Behind the Praise - Sunday March 30, 2008

BLENDED WORSHIP 9:30 am

"Trading My Sorrows"
Here is a short description of how this popular song came about:This song was birthed out of a prayer and worship service at Open Bible Fellowship in Tulsa, Okla. It was an ordinary night. The room was filled with voices lifting up the name of Lord and worshiping Him. Toward the end of the service people began to step forward for prayer. Darrell watched as one by one, people came - their hearts heavy, some weeping and some still dealing with deep sorrows. Kneeling before the Lord, they allowed their deepest pains to be exposed and their lives to be healed.As he watched, the Lord began to speak to his heart about his own internal condition. Evans had been holding onto personal shame that was consuming him. His gaze once again moved to the people bowing before the Lord. The worship continued and Darrell in agreement with the Lord said two words, "Yes, Lord." He kept singing. The words of what would become 'Trading My Sorrows' simply came to him as he recounted all that he was experiencing. People were coming forward heavy hearted but leaving with their burdens lifted. It was one of those rare times when the Spirit decides to speak succinctly, and the result is part of the Church's musical history.At that very moment "Trading My Sorrows" was written, nearly word for word. It is an expression of the miraculous love and grace of the Lord being poured out onto a people full of sorrow and pain: "I'm trading my sorrows/I'm trading my shame/I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord." The words flowed not only from what he could see God doing in the lives of the people, but also from what he knew God was doing in his own life.Evans felt the mood of the room change from the tenderness of the moment to a joyful celebration, for the Lord had made this exchange possible - a literal trade of mourning for dancing. People laid down their emptiness, guilt, pain, and sorrows and in exchange, received joy and love from the Lord.

Click here to hear the Women of Faiths' version:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GglZPS7dWho

Click here to listen to Darrell Evans songs on his standalone player:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=36203670

"Blessed Be Your Name"
This powerful worship song by Matt Redman has a phrase that is based on Job 13:15. The Message translates it like this
"So hold your tongue while I have my say, then I'll take whatever I have coming to me.Why do I go out on a limb like this and take my life in my hands?Because even if he killed me, I'd keep on hoping. I'd defend my innocence to the very end. Just wait, this is going to work out for the best—my salvation!"
Click here to hear the story behind the song by Matt Redman.
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-257-BlessedBeYourName-Redman.mp3

Click here to hear the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6xo5KogzaI

Click here to worship along with Tree63
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZH9T9XNVU&mode=related&search=


"I Surrender All"
This powerful hymn was written by Judson W. Van DeVenter in 1896. He wrote the following in his journal:
The song was writ­ten while I was con­duct­ing a meet­ing at East Pal­es­tine, Ohio, in the home of George Seb­ring (found­er of the Seb­ring Camp­meet­ing Bi­ble Con­fer­ence in Seb­ring, Ohio, and lat­er de­vel­op­er of the town of Seb­ring, Flor­i­da). For some time, I had strug­gled be­tween de­vel­op­ing my tal­ents in the field of art and go­ing into full-time evan­gel­is­tic work. At last the pi­vot­al hour of my life came, and I sur­ren­dered all. A new day was ushered in­to my life. I became an evang­el­ist and dis­cov­ered down deep in my soul a tal­ent hi­ther­to un­known to me. God had hid­den a song in my heart, and touch­ing a ten­der chord, He caused me to sing "I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all"

Click here to hear Ce Ce Winan sing this hymn:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjsz6fRnsDc

Click here to hear the Isaacs sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOq7p3RTm5w

Click here to watch a very moving liturgical dance to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-VnQShgRYs

Win­field S. Weed­en wrote the music. In 1896 Weeden pub­lished a num­ber of books of re­li­gious mu­sic, but this song must have been one of his fa­vo­rites: its ti­tle was on his tomb­stone.


Contemporary Service 11:00

"You are Good"

Nearly Disposed - Israels' Testimony
My mother became pregnant at the age of 17 in Waterloo, Iowa. You can imagine how this is shaping up. She was given the choice of a back-alley abortion or being disowned by her family. Thank God she chose the latter. Ultimately, she was disowned, abandoned by my biological father, and ended up in San Diego, California. Picture this. It was 1971 and my mother was 8 months pregnant, all alone, thousands of miles from home, and forced to enter reality unprepared. Pretty bleak. One day while walking down the street, a lady pulled up in her Volkswagen Bug, got out, and respectfully yet boldly, began to share the Gospel with her. Words of life and hope began to overtake the words of rejection and abandonment she had grown accustomed to. There on a street corner, she ended up on her knees and cried out to God-committing her life to Jesus Christ. The lady gave her a bible and that's how I got my name. My mother started reading at page one and well, you know-you have a bible, my name's on every page!
I'm often asked by skeptics or the stoic, why I'm as passionate about worshiping God as I am. The answer is simple for me. In this age of disposable relationships, I could have easily become a statistic and at best, a distant memory of a youthful mistake. Instead, a Sovereign God rescued my mother and me and gave us hope, a future, and a testimony of the providence of God. The very least I can do is enter into His gates with fresh thanksgiving, His courts with a passionate praise, and eventually bow before His throne in intimate worship. As far as leading worship goes (which is my passion and calling), I now realize that there have been demands put on me from every part of my experience since day one - culturally, emotionally, musically, and more. So things tend to sound cross-cultural, cross- denominational, and cross-generational. I like to call it, "The Sound of New Breed Worship." I tend to lead from an internal platform founded in Psalm 124:2, "If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side"....where in the world would I be? In an age of disposable relationships, maybe we should be asking ourselves that question a lot more often. I am confident that we would worship with far more conviction, intensity, and overwhelmed gratitude if we did. It is my delight to encourage you today.
Israel
Click here to learn more about Israel Houghton's ministry.
www.profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=99989541

Israel leads a worship band called "New Breed" here's their website, you can listen to portions of the songs they sing including "You are Good"
www.newbreedmusic.com/

Click here to learn more about Israel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Houghton

Click here to worship along with Israel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAGZ8HmiWCM

Click here to see Israel singing "You are Good" in concert:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCpy1Bg255A&feature=related

“Holy is the Lord”
Chris Tomlin wrote this song after meditating on Isaiah 6. He was intrigued by the passage where the angels called to one another. The phrase “Holy is the Lord and the earth is filled with his glory” kept ringing in his mind. He met up with Louie Giglio who had been meditating on the passage in Nehemiah where after Israel rebuilt the wall they built a wooden tower and opened the word of the lord. When this happened the people stood and lifted their hands then also bowed down. Louie was struck by the picture in his mind and wrote the following phrase in his journal:

“It’s rising up all around, it’s the anthem of the Lord’s renown”

Click here to listen to Chris & Louie Giglio talk about how the song came about:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv6hSdbfo2E

Click here to worship and sing-along
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSKN5PX_3a0&feature=related

Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X4CwGGJQMI

"Jesus Paid it All"
The following is a personal note from Alex Nefong in England who wrote the song:
I have an old hymnal that I frequently play through sometimes during my private times alone with the Lord. I was playing through that song one day in Jan of 05 and I just started praying and singing out the phrase O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead. It was as simple as that. Just a prayer that came right out of my heart.

This is a new arrangement of the old hymn, based on the recording from the Passion album "Everything glorious". It adds a new line "O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead". Check out the composer of the tag on his website www.alexnifong.com/

Here’s a story about the song:The words were written by Elvina M. Hall and the music by John T. Grape on New Year’s night, 1886, some missionaries were holding open-air services in order to attract passers-by to a near-by mission, where meetings were to be held later. "All to Christ I owe" was sung, and after a gentleman had given a short address he hastened away to the mission. He soon heard footsteps close behind him and a young woman caught up with him and said: "I heard you addressing the open-air meeting just now; do you think, sir, that Jesus could save a sinner like me?"The gentleman replied that there was no doubt about that, if she was anxious to be saved. She told him that she was a servant girl, and had left her place that morning after a disagreement with her mistress. As she had been wandering about the streets in the dark, wondering where she was to spend the night, the sweet melodies of this hymn had attracted her, and she drew near and listened attentively. As the different verses were being sung, she felt that the words surely had something to do with her. Through the whole service she seemed to hear what met her oppressed soul’s need at that moment. God’s Spirit had showed her what a poor, sinful and wretched creature she was, and had led her to ask what she must do. On hearing her experience, the gentleman took her back to the mission and left her with the ladies in charge. The young, wayward woman was brought to Christ that night. A situation was secured for her in a minister’s family. There she became ill and had to be taken to a hospital. She rapidly failed and it became evident that she would not be long on earth. One day the gentleman whom she had met on New Year’s night was visiting her in the ward. After quoting a few suitable verses of Scripture, he repeated her favorite hymn, "All to Christ I owe"…and she seemed overwhelmed with the thought of coming to glory…Two hours afterward she passed away.

Click here to worship along
www.youtube.com/watch?v=onxhvivQYfI

Click here to worship along with a younger generation led by Kristian Stanfill:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-OOjfaBGnA&mode=related&search=

You can go here to Kristians' myspace and click on the song just to listen
www.myspace.com/kristianstanfill

WOW - here it is in Spanish
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRBtWP_buA


“Draw me Close to You”

Kelly caught "the worship bug," as he calls it, about 12 years ago while attending a worship conference at his California Vineyard church. He was on the worship team and was able to spend some time with Canadian worship leaders Andy Park and Brian Doerksen. A couple of years after the conference, he started leading worship, as well as writing worship songs.
One of those songs was "Draw Me Close."
As it happened, Kelly had just finished a church service in late January 1994, but his heart was not quite in it. "My heart was heavy that day because I had come to the realization that I had put my ministry in front of my relationship with the Lord. So I literally cried out to Him, "I lay it all down again to hear You say that I'm Your friend." Within 20 minutes, he says, "the song just spilled out."
"This song has always been intensely personal for me," Kelly adds, "and continues to bring me back to my knees, that my relationship with God should come first before the call, the vision, and the ministry that He has given me."
At first, he didn't actually use the song at his church because it was such a personal song. "I cried when I wrote it," he explained. "Still, I actually thought it was a really different song, like something Barry Manilow would write." Worship leader Andy Park was the first to hear the tune, oddly enough, while he was busy replacing the kitchen floor in his house. "He had it playing on a boom box," Kelly says, "and when he heard the line, 'I lay it all down again,' he broke down."
Park then asked him to play on a live record in July of 1994, and asked if he would lead on the original recording of the tune. Over the next couple of years, Kelly was invited to do a lot of conferences, where he would be asked to present his song. But because it was so personal, he rarely did it.
The years following these were filled with struggle and disappointment for Kelly "We've gone through some tough times in the last five years. Times when I felt God was calling me to full-time ministry. Honestly, it's been very difficult figuring out my faith and my walk with God. During these years, 'Draw Me Close' became much more to me than an 'I'm in ministry' kind of song. It became much deeper for me. Life, and all the stuff we wind up going through makes it really hard to keep the Lord at the center. God ends up using pain and brokenness to draw us to Him. The song became very germane and poignant to those moments--a 'come home again' kind of song."
Kelly says brokenness, as he's come to understand it, is a universal experience throughout life. "The song connects with anyone who is going through brokenness." He continues, even years down the road to hear from people who've been impacted by the song.
Over the past few years, a couple of high profile Christian music artists have recorded his song. The Katinas recorded his song for Rocketown Records' Exodus project, taking the song to number one on Christian radio charts. Michael W. Smith recorded "Draw Me Close" on his Worship project, which sold over a million copies in just about a year. It's also on Smith's Worship live video and DVD.
Kelly, a soft-spoken man, is in awe of what's happened, yet at the same time he doesn't follow the charts or keep tabs on where the song is being played or how wide reaching the impact of the song has gone. "I don't even think it's important to know the hugeness of what has happened. I see it as only a gift from God to me...and it's turned into the gift that keeps on giving. People in ministry like to know that what they're doing is making a difference."
He also said he doesn't revel in the uniqueness of the song, choosing to look at this song's success in the larger context. "I've written 75-80 worship songs, probably had about a dozen published, and this is the one that has done well. It's really a bit of a phenomenon, if you ask me."

The song is based upon Psalms 73:28, 84:2, 16:2, 16:11, 42:1-2, 63:1, 73:25

Click here to worship along with Michael W. Smith:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG9-PJFcK8&feature=related

Behind the Praise - Easter Sunday March 23, 2008

BLENDED WORSHIP 9:30am

"Christ Arose"

Robert Lowry is credited with the beautiful hymn, “Christ Arose.” Lowry based his verses on a passage in the Bible that tells of Christ’s resurrection. Luke 24:6 says, "He is not here, but is risen." As a pastor and church musician, Lowry served in churches in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In 1862, while having his daily devotion, the words to “Christ Arose” came to him during the Easter season. As a lifelong musician, he had an organ in his home, so he also wrote the score as well.

Lowry once was quoted about his talents as a musician and song-writer, “My brain is sort of a spinning machine, for there is music running through it all the time.” He was also considered by many to be a Bible scholar and an excellent preacher. Later in his life, Lowry became the music editor for the Biglow Publishing Company. “Christ Arose” remains an inspirational favorite among Christians worldwide.


Click here for an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EntwJTZAICs


Click here for a handbell arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEe6ksbLPlE


“Christ the Lord is Risen today”

The first Wesleyan Chapel in London, England, was a deserted iron foundry. It became known as the Foundry Meeting House. This hymn was written by Charles Wesley for the first service in this chapel in 1739, just one year after Charles's dramatic Aldersgate conversion experience. The hymn was first published in the Foundry's Collection-which contained "hymns set to music as they are commonly sung at the Foundry." The book had approximately fifty humns with an additional Psalm Supplement. This hymn was originally entitled "Hymn for Easter Day" and consisted of eleven four-line stanzas.
The popularity of this hymn is due in part to the fine tune with which it has been wedded for many years. The composer of the music has never been identified. The tune first appeared anonymously in the Lyra Davidica humnal, published in London in 1708. The joyous "alleluia" at the end of each line was not written by Wesley but was added by some editor to make the text fit the tune. "Hallelujah" or "alleluia" is from the ancient Hebrew worship service and was a common expression of praise in the early Christian Church. Jerome, an important leader of the early church who translated the Bible into the Latin language and died c. 420 A. D., wrote that in his day the very ceilings of houses of worship were often shaken with the reverberating "Hallelujahs" when believers sang their praises to God.
Charles Wesley is also the author of "Jesus, Lover of My Soul", "O for a Thousand Tongues", "A Charge to Keep I Have", "Depth of Mercy", and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".


Click here to sing along on the hymn:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ND-wlh-cU

Click here to worship along with Steve Green:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFIaqn0EG3E

Click here to hear an acoustic guitar arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFFhBHpVucY



“Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble”

Martin Smith is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter of the English Christian rock and worship band Delirious? He is generally considered to be one of the foremost songwriters in modern Christian worship music. Some of the most recognized songs by Delirious? include "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever”, "History Maker", "My Glorious", "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble", "Shout To The North", "Deeper", "Majesty (Here I Am)", and "What A Friend I've Found".

In 1995, Martin was involved in a near-fatal car accident, and during the weeks of his recovery, he decided to become a full-time musician. He wrote the 'King Of Fools' song 'August 30th' based on this experience.

Click here for the story behind the song
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-197-DidYouFeeltheMountainsTremble-Smith.mp3

Click here to listen to the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Q5vVa0q8Q

Click here to sing along:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICRukDH7eKo

Click here to watch Martin Smith:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO_bKR2Wzhk&feature=related

CONTEMPORARY SERVICE 11:00

"Open up the Gates"

This worship song is by the group Planetshakers: Living by the core Planetshakers mandate "to empower a generation to win a generation", the Planetshakers Band are passionate and anointed. United by the vision set by Senior Pastors Russell & Sam Evans, they travel internationally, bringing God's breakthrough anointing to conferences and churches worldwide. Dedicated to the cause of Christ, it is their desire to see this planet impacted by the power God. Team members include worship leaders Henry Seeley, Sam Evans, Rudy Nikkerud and Matt Garner, drummer Mike Webber, guitarist and keyboard player Jonathon Hunt.

Click here to learn more about the Planetshakers: www.planetshakers.com/

Click here to worship along with Planetshakers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW1y9Lfz2OA

We come into this Holy place To bring a sacrifice of praise Bow down before you and seek your face We sing of the mighty things you've done Cry out to you"let your will be done" Tell all the World you're the Holy One Hear the shouts of praise As they're rising up to you Come and fill this place As we bring glory to your name Open up the gates and let the King of glory in Fill this house with praises as we Lift our hands and worship you Open up the doors and let your Glory fill the earth King of heaven we dance before your throne King of heaven come and Take your place Dwell among us as we Seek your face

"My Redeemer Lives"
This great worship song was written by Rueben Morgan. When asked about the modern worship movement Rueben responded:
The Church world-wide is getting a revelation that there is a new song to sing. It's bringing the Church together, bringing unity among denominations, life, and relevance to churches. People are turning their hearts to God, their focus is being renewed, and they are realizing that we were created to worship God.
Click here to read more about Rueben
www.integritymusic.com/worship/worart/0402.html

Click here to listen to Rueben Morgan share how he wrote the song
www.theheartofworship.com/stories/Story-323-MyRedeemerLives-Morgan.mp3

Click here to worship along with Rueben
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm11e3HbT2s

Click here to listen to an mp3 of the song
www.esnips.com/doc/33a6e213-9daa-421c-a01e-4f131150dba1/hillsong,-reuben-morgan---my-redeemer-lives

“Christ the Lord is Risen today”
The first Wesleyan Chapel in London, England, was a deserted iron foundry. It became known as the Foundry Meeting House. This hymn was written by Charles Wesley for the first service in this chapel in 1739, just one year after Charles's dramatic Aldersgate conversion experience. The hymn was first published in the Foundry's Collection-which contained "hymns set to music as they are commonly sung at the Foundry." The book had approximately fifty humns with an additional Psalm Supplement. This hymn was originally entitled "Hymn for Easter Day" and consisted of eleven four-line stanzas.
The popularity of this hymn is due in part to the fine tune with which it has been wedded for many years. The composer of the music has never been identified. The tune first appeared anonymously in the Lyra Davidica humnal, published in London in 1708. The joyous "alleluia" at the end of each line was not written by Wesley but was added by some editor to make the text fit the tune. "Hallelujah" or "alleluia" is from the ancient Hebrew worship service and was a common expression of praise in the early Christian Church. Jerome, an important leader of the early church who translated the Bible into the Latin language and died c. 420 A. D., wrote that in his day the very ceilings of houses of worship were often shaken with the reverberating "Hallelujahs" when believers sang their praises to God.
Charles Wesley is also the author of "Jesus, Lover of My Soul", "O for a Thousand Tongues", "A Charge to Keep I Have", "Depth of Mercy", and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".
Click here to sing along on the hymn: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ND-wlh-cU
Click here to worship along with Steve Green: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFIaqn0EG3E
Click here to hear an acoustic guitar arrangement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFFhBHpVucY

"Surrender"
This worship song was written by Marc James. Marc has been involved in music for many years, as a front man of hard rocking trio Verra Cruz, a song writer and session guitarist, and has performed in many different countries and settings. Before setting up his own label full circle records in 2005 (fullcirclerecords.co.uk), Marc released most of his songs through vineyard music. He features on the well known 'Hungry' album and wrote the popular worship song 'Surrender' which, after being featured on the 'Surrender' album went on to be sung and played all over the world. Marc has been the vocalist on many Vineyard albums since, most notably 'Holy' and 'Beautiful' and more recently 'Winds of worship' live from Nottingham.

Click here to worship along with Marc James: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0nmTY88p-Q&feature=related

Click here for Marc James' myspace, you can play the song on his standalone player: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=52418918

Behind the Praise - Palm Sunday March 16, 2008

JOIN US THIS PALM SUNDAY AS WE CELEBRATE PASSION WEEK.
“Forever”

This worship song is based upon the passage in Psalm 136 “His love endures forever”. It took four years for Chris to finally finish the song after working on the song off and on.

Click here to listen to Chris tell about how he wrote the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-263-Forever-Tomlin.mp3

Click here to learn more about Chris Tomlin:
www.christomlin.com/index2.html

Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOZVFHqKg1k




“Joyful, Joyful”

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY…

This hymn is generally considered by hymnologist to be one of the most joyous expressions of hymn lyrics in the English language. Its author, Henry van Dyke, was recognized as one of the ablest Presbyterian preachers and leading liturgy figures in the United States. He also served as professor of literature at Princeton University from 1900-1923. He also served as a Navy chaplain during World War I. Van Dyke wrote this hymn while stay­ing at the home of Har­ry A. Gar­field at Wil­liams Col­lege, Mass­a­chu­setts. It was first pub­lished in the Pres­by­ter­i­an Hymn­al in 1911. It al­so ap­peared in the Po­ems of Hen­ry van Dyke, 1911. He stated his purpose in writing it as follows:

These vers­es are sim­ple ex­press­ions of com­mon Christ­ian feel­ings and de­sires in this pre­sent time—hymns of to­day that may be sung to­ge­ther by peo­ple who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of sci­ence will de­stroy re­li­gion, or any re­vo­lu­tion on earth over­throw the king­dom of hea­ven. There­fore this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope.

The tune for the hymn is “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven for more information on Beethoven go here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven

Click here to listen to a piano arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl8VKu-t3yE

Click here to hear a hammered dulcimer version:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VGhhxzP364

Click here to listen to a contemporary arrangement of the song popularized in the movie “Sister Act”.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDxHgF66lvA&feature=related

Click here to hear it played by a street vendor on wine glasses:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlk59xdM_YY&feature=related

Click here for an orchestral arrangement of the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wod-MudLNPA&feature=related




"All Glory Laud and Honor"



"All Glory, Laud and Honor" is based on verses written in the early Middle Ages. The Latin original, "Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, rex Christe redemptor" was 78 lines long. It was written as a processional hymn. In the Middle Ages, it was the custom for the clergy and choir to process within the church as well as in the church square and town.
St. Theodulph of Orleans wrote "All Glory, Laud and Honor" while he was in prison, under suspicion of plotting against Emperor Louis I. Legend has it that King Louis passed the prison during the Palm Sunday procession while Theodulph sang this hymn from his window, which so delighted the king that he was immediately liberated. However, the unfortunate truth is that he probably remained imprisoned until his death in 821, possibly of poisoning.



Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW92jUO73wg

Click here to listen to an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEMR0SVdv2Q

Click here to read the lyrics:
www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a108.html

"Glorify Thy Name"

Here is a personal note from Donna Adkins about how she wrote the song: I wrote "Glorify Thy Name" in 1975, and the scripture I was reading was the 17th chapter of John, where Jesus is praying.....I was struck with the reality that Jesus was praying, not only for His disciples, but also for all those who would follow -- that meant He was praying for me!

I went to the piano and just wrote the simple melody. I was also aware at that time of the Trinity, and that's why I wrote all 3 verses.

I could tell you many stories of this special song and how God has used it, and I truly know it was just one of those "gifts from God".

Thanks for your interest. God bless you, and
Keep a song in your heart! Donna Adkins

Click here to worship along: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1JiIxU-F7o&feature=related

Click here for an organ arrangement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cQhhH6Wcmk&feature=related

"You alone"

This worship song was written by David Crowder. When David Crowder was attending Baylor University in Waco, Texas in the mid 90's, he learned that more than half of the 14,000 students enrolled in the college were not attending church. This was very disturbing to Crowder, and after many conversations with a friend of his, they decided to start a church that was college friendly. Thus, University Baptist Church was born. That was 1996. Today, almost a decade later, nearly 1,000 people, most of which are college students, are attending the church. Although David Crowder's music ministry has grown significantly since then, he can still be found leading worship there on many Sundays.
Crowder deeply wanted to find a way to connect these college students to the heart of God, so he began writing songs that he hoped the students at his school could relate to. A band began to form, and a few years and some new members later, the current lineup came into being and they all commited themselves completely to the ministry.
When David first started writing music, he mainly focused on lyrics that discussed the difficult things he was going through. At that time there were not many congregational worship songs that did that so he struck a chord with many people. Today, David says that he writes many of his songs while riding in the car in the country with his wife. Even though his audience has changed, though, David always writes his songs with his University Baptist Church congregation in mind.

Click here to worship along David Crowder www.youtube.com/watch?v=URHVJcOSJ3c

CONTEMPORARY SERVICE 11:00 am

“All to You”

This worship song was written by Lincoln Brewster. Brewster has been musically inclined since his early childhood in Homer, Alaska. At the age of one, his mother, Cheryl, noticed how well he could keep rhythm on a drum set his grandfather had given him. At the age of five, his mother introduced him to the mandolin. Quickly mastering the instrument, he began playing for cruise ship tourists alongside his mother in Homer, Alaska.
By the age of 12, Brewster had a band called Lincoln and the Missing Links, which included his mother on bass and vocals. In his late teens, he moved with his family to California where he joined the high school jazz band (playing guitar and drums) and marching band (playing snare drum).
Due to connections gained in Los Angeles, he had recording contract offers by 19. Feeling emptiness in his life, Brewster attended church services with his high school sweetheart and Christian, Laura. He recalls feeling God drawing him close after attending a drama ministry performance with Laura.
"I was afraid to lay down a lot of things in my life," Lincoln said. "One night, I laid all my cards on the table. I asked the Lord to come into my life, all by myself. It was the best night of sleep I'd ever had. I was very peaceful.

Click here to listen to the song online: http://play.rhapsody.com/lincolnbrewster/letthepraisesringthebestoflincolnbrewster/alltoyou?didAutoplayBounce=true
Click here to read more about Lincoln:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Brewster

Click here to play Lincolns’ songs on his myspace – the songs are available on his standalone player, you can also listen to “Everlasting” and “Let the Praises Ring”
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=83285546

Click here to listen to Lincoln share about his journey and how a 70 year-old woman encouraged him during a time of worship;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJPh1asdTsw

"Beautiful One"

Tim wrote this song based upon Isaiah 53: Click here to listen to Tim Hughes share how he wrote the song www.youtube.com/watchv=LJj6fiJ2aW8&mode=related&search= Click here to worship along with Jeremy Camp www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdFcBk9CBU Click here to worship along with Tim Hughes www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMyVZW0zY14&mode=related&search= Click here to learn more about Tim www.timhughesmusic.com/

"Remedy" This song is by David Crowder. As you might guess from the title and the medical cross on the cover, Remedy focuses on God's constant presence as the answer to our hurts while challenging listeners to be the balm needed in the lives of others. Indeed, the Texas band's 2007club tour is part worship experience, part rallying cry to inspire change in local communities. At the same time, one could view this album as the band's personal healing in response to the tragic death of their friend and pastor Kyle Lake shortly after the release of A Collision.

Here is Davids' answer to what is worship? This is actually a really difficult question because language is such a fluid thing. A word like “worship” changes and evolves and provokes different meanings for different community sets. Over the last few decades, at least within Christian culture, the word has become synonymous with “music within a congregational context.” You say the word “worship” and a person immediately pictures in his head people singing in a room with lyrics projected on a screen. Words and the objects they signify are very difficult to separate. I’ll show you what I mean. Okay, in your head, say the word, “eight”—and try to not picture the number eight. It’s nearly impossible. So, once a word begins to signify something, it is hard to separate it from the thing it is signifying. For me, I tend to not trust moments of congregational singing as an indicator of where our true affections lie. It is a very simple thing to get caught up in the beauty of music and song erupting in a room full of people. So I rarely trust that moment. I think a better indicator of worship may be the way we interact with the world around us. Click here to watch the David Crowder band on tour: www.youtube.com/profile?user=davidcrowderband

Click here to learn more about The David Crowder band: www.davidcrowderband.com/

Click here to visit Davids' myspace: www.myspace.com/davidcrowderband

Click here to worship along with a powerful video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3UWiJCZAz8

Click here for a live performance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGIth9d_LXE&feature=related

Here we are Here we are The broken and used Mistreated, abused Here we are Here You are Here You are The beautiful one Who came like a Son Here You are So we lift up our voices We open our hands To cling to the love That we can’t comprehend

"More Than Life" This song was written by Reuben Morgan:

click here to read more about Reuben Morgan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuben_Morgan Morgan on men worshipping: People are more passionate than ever, Morgan observes. I think God's stirring the church. For the most part, churches are singing the same songs no matter where you go, which is pretty incredible. Even in countries that don't speak English, they're still singing the same songs. As a strong male leader, Morgan is particularly interested in seeing the men of the church take more risks in their outward expressions of faith. I think a really good model for men and worship is David, Morgan says. Men can be a little more reserved when it comes to expressing their feelings and really being passionate. But I think there's health in a guy really learning how to do that in the right way. I think the Bible is clear on what are appropriate ways to express our love for God passionately. My personal feeling is that lifting our hands, shouting and all of that is a way of connecting with God. They're expressions, and they can be healthy in our growth.

Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs worship team: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbeIEpr4kGg

Stand by everything You said Stand by the promises we made Let go of everything I’ve done I'll run into Your open arms And all i know

I love You more than life I love You more than life

Fall back on everything You've done Fall back on everlasting arms When all the world is swept away You are all the things I need You're the air I breathe

I love You more than life I love You more than life

How can it beYou were the one on the cross that died for me? Lifted for all our shame? How can it beThe scars in Your hands are for me? You are the king of all

Worship Songs for March 9

Here's some insight regarding our songs for this week. Please take a look and let me know what you think.

And remember, set your clocks FORWARD an hour Saturday night--Daylight Savings Time is already here!

Blessings,

Bill


“Be Glorified”

HOW MONO LAUNCHED AN INCREDIBLE CAREER

This worship song was written by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio in 1999. Chris received his first guitar from his father, Connie, at the age of eleven after contracting a case of mono. Then, Tomlin wrote his first worship song at age fourteen. He entered college planning to study medicine, but he stated that he felt God's calling to something else and did not pursue that career.

In the mid-1990's Tomlin spent time leading worship at the Dawson McAllister Youth Conferences, as well as at various camps around the state of Texas.

Following college, at Texas A&M University Tomlin continued to play and write songs, and in 1997, Louie Giglio asked if he would be interested in working with the Passion Conferences. Tomlin agreed, and he has played a key role ever since. His first nationally released solo project, entitled The Noise We Make, was released in 2001, which saw the emergence of songs "Forever" (his most famous song other than "How Great Is Our God"), "Be Glorified", and "Kindness", all of which made the top 200 in the CCLI 2005 top 500 worship songs.

According to Christian Copyright Licensing International's list of the top 25 worship songs in the United States as of August 2007, Tomlin held 5 spots with songs he has either written or co-written with other songwriters: "How Great Is Our God" (#1), "Forever" (#5), "Holy Is the Lord" (#7), "We Fall Down" (#12),and "Indescribable" (#22).

On why his album which includes this song was entitled “Arriving”, Chris said.
“I feel as though we’re like this landing strip in the desert for our great, incredible God to arrive on; a way for Him to come into people’s lives,” Tomlin says of the album’s metaphorical moniker inspired in part by Isaiah 40.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ ministry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Tomlin#Biography

Click here to visit Chris’ website:
www.christomlin.com

Click here to visit Chris’ myspace:
www.myspace.com/christomlin

Click here to worship along with the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3SM73aB5Sc



“Here I Am to Worship”

Tim Hughes, a citizen of England, grew up in a small town just outside London. "Since my dad was a pastor, I grew up in church," he says. "I always kind of believed in God, but when I was 11 years old, I went to a conference and had the opportunity to observe people who were very passionate about singing. It dawned on me that they weren't singing about someone or something, but they were singing to Someone. That really challenged me. I gave my life to Christ and my relationship with God changed from 'knowing' Him in my head to 'knowing' Him in my heart."
Tim wrote "Here I Am to Worship" while a student at Sheffield University, where he worked with a young-adult ministry called Soul Survivor.
"During that time I had been thinking and meditating on the cross," he says. "I began to concentrate on Philippians 2 —about Christ's humility and how He became obedient to the point of death on a cross. I was challenged with the wonder of His sacrifice for us."
It was then that the initial inspiration for the song came. The verses flowed freely. But when Tim tried to write a chorus that would be an appropriate response to the verses, he felt stuck.
About six months later, as he sat in his room worshiping, he thought of the verses again and decided to finish the song. "I began to ask, How are we going to respond to Christ's great sacrifice on the cross? Do we bow down? Do we scream out? Sometimes we don't know how to respond, even though we desperately want to." The answer finally came to him in words that spoke matter-of-factly about the act of worship itself: "Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that You're my God."
It took him six months before he felt comfortable using the song in a public setting. But it caught on immediately.

Click here to read more about Tim:
www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/worship/1227531/

Click here to listen to the story behind the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-196-HereIAmtoWorship-Hughes.mp3

Click here to worship along with Darlene Zschech in Australia:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2d10n1Cpcc&mode=related&search=



“Lord, Most High”

This song was written by Gary Sadler & Don Harris. This song proclaims the sovereignty of Christ.

Song Lyrics

From the ends of the earth
From the depths of the sea
From the heights of the heavens
Your Name we raise

From the hearts of the weak
From the shouts of the strong
From the lips of all people
This song we raise

Throughout the endless ages
You will be crowned with praises
Lord Most High
Exalted in every nation
Sovereign of all creation
Lord Most High
Be magnified

* Here are some added verses by Rick Lindholtz in 2005
From the heights of your throne,
To a manger of hay,
Bringing hope to your people,
We sing Your praise,

From your life-giving hands
To your death on a cross
To your tomb that lays empty
Your song we raise, Lord…© Rick Lindholtz, 2005


Click here to learn more about Gary Sadler:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=29507952

Don Harris has been a writer and producer for Integrity Music for more than 15 years. He has played bass on many live and studio worship recordings. He has played with Don Moen, Paul Baloche, Israel Houghton, Kim Hill, Lenny Leblanc, Marty Nystrom, and many others. Don plays both electric and acoustic bass and is part of the worship team at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

Click here to worship along on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDFTXntlm8I&feature=related



"I Surrender All"

This powerful hymn was written by Judson W. Van DeVenter in 1896. He wrote the following in his journal:
The song was written while I was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, in the home of George Sebring (founder of the Sebring Campmeeting Bible Conference in Sebring, Ohio, and later developer of the town of Sebring, Florida). For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing "I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all"

Click here to hear Ce Ce Winan sing this hymn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjsz6fRnsDc

Click here to hear the Isaacs sing the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOq7p3RTm5w

Click here to watch a very moving liturgical dance to the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-VnQShgRYs

Winfield S. Weeden wrote the music. In 1896 Weeden published a number of books of religious music, but this song must have been one of his favorites: its title was on his tombstone.


“All to You”

This worship song was written by Lincoln Brewster. Brewster has been musically inclined since his early childhood in Homer, Alaska. At the age of one, his mother, Cheryl, noticed how well he could keep rhythm on a drum set his grandfather had given him. At the age of five, his mother introduced him to the mandolin. Quickly mastering the instrument, he began playing for cruise ship tourists alongside his mother in Homer, Alaska.
By the age of 12, Brewster had a band called Lincoln and the Missing Links, which included his mother on bass and vocals. In his late teens, he moved with his family to California where he joined the high school jazz band (playing guitar and drums) and marching band (playing snare drum).
Due to connections gained in Los Angeles, he had recording contract offers by 19. Feeling emptiness in his life, Brewster attended church services with his high school sweetheart and Christian, Laura. He recalls feeling God drawing him close after attending a drama ministry performance with Laura.
"I was afraid to lay down a lot of things in my life," Lincoln said. "One night, I laid all my cards on the table. I asked the Lord to come into my life, all by myself. It was the best night of sleep I'd ever had. I was very peaceful.

Click here to listen to the song online: http://play.rhapsody.com/lincolnbrewster/letthepraisesringthebestoflincolnbrewster/alltoyou?didAutoplayBounce=true

Click here to read more about Lincoln:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Brewster

Click here to play Lincolns’ songs on his myspace – the songs are available on his standalone player, you can also listen to “Everlasting” and “Let the Praises Ring”
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=83285546

Click here to listen to Lincoln share about his journey and how a 70 year-old woman encouraged him during a time of worship;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJPh1asdTsw


“Unchanging”

Chris Tomlin wrote this song about how our Lord never changes. Our response to His faithfulness and sovereignty is worship.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ ministry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Tomlin#Biography

Click here to visit Chris’ website:
www.christomlin.com

Click here to visit Chris’ myspace:
www.myspace.com/christomlin

Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLhB99vnkp8

Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrGbVmfOw1A

Here are the lyrics:

Great is Your faithfulness
Great is Your faithfulness
You never change
You never fail, O God

True are Your promises
True are Your promises
You never change
You never fail, O God

So we raise up holy hands
To praise the Holy One
Who was and is and is to come

Wide is Your love and grace
Wide is Your love and grace
You never change
You never fail, O God

You were, You are
You will always be


“Here I Am to Worship”

Tim Hughes, a citizen of England, grew up in a small town just outside London. "Since my dad was a pastor, I grew up in church," he says. "I always kind of believed in God, but when I was 11 years old, I went to a conference and had the opportunity to observe people who were very passionate about singing. It dawned on me that they weren't singing about someone or something, but they were singing to Someone. That really challenged me. I gave my life to Christ and my relationship with God changed from 'knowing' Him in my head to 'knowing' Him in my heart."
Tim wrote "Here I Am to Worship" while a student at Sheffield University, where he worked with a young-adult ministry called Soul Survivor.
"During that time I had been thinking and meditating on the cross," he says. "I began to concentrate on Philippians 2 —about Christ's humility and how He became obedient to the point of death on a cross. I was challenged with the wonder of His sacrifice for us."
It was then that the initial inspiration for the song came. The verses flowed freely. But when Tim tried to write a chorus that would be an appropriate response to the verses, he felt stuck.
About six months later, as he sat in his room worshiping, he thought of the verses again and decided to finish the song. "I began to ask, how are we going to respond to Christ's great sacrifice on the cross? Do we bow down? Do we scream out? Sometimes we don't know how to respond, even though we desperately want to." The answer finally came to him in words that spoke matter-of-factly about the act of worship itself: "Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that You're my God."
It took him six months before he felt comfortable using the song in a public setting. But it caught on immediately.

Click here to read more about Tim:
www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/worship/1227531/

Click here to listen to the story behind the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-196-HereIAmtoWorship-Hughes.mp3



"My Jesus, I love Thee"

Sixteen year old William Featherston of Montreal, Canada wrote this simple but profound hymn in 1862, not long after he was converted to Christ. William wrote no other hymns that we know of and his brief life ended just before his twenty-seventh birthday. Here is a story about the influence of this song:
A Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Michigan once related the following incident to a large audience in one of the Rev. E. P. Hammond’s meetings in St. Louis. “A young, talented and tender-hearted actress was passing along the street of a large city. Seeing a pale, sick girl lying upon a couch just within the half-open door of a beautiful dwelling, she entered, with the thought that by her vivacity and pleasant conversation she might cheer the young invalid. The sick girl was a devoted Christian, and her words, her patience, her submission and heaven-lit countenance, so demonstrated the spirit of her religion that the actress was led to give some earnest thought to the claims of Christianity, and was thoroughly converted, and became a true follower of Christ. She told her father, the leader of the theater troupe, of her conversion, and of her desire to abandon the stage, stating that she could not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress. Her father was astonished beyond measure, and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined, if she persisted in her resolution. Loving her father dearly, she was shaken somewhat in her purpose, and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe, and a general favorite. Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear. The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter, and that their living was not to be lost. The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled. The curtain rose, and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude. But an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face. Amid the breathless silence of the audience, she repeated:
‘My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.’
This was all. Through Christ she had conquered and, leaving the audience in tears, she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again. Through her influence her father was converted, and through their united evangelistic labors many were led to God.”

Worship along with Avalon by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at67q_staZ8

Worship along with Paul Baloche by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENJB2rZ-VE8

Worship along with an acoustic guitar version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvzq0-Qe2TI