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