Behind the Praise - Sunday June 8, 2008

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY - JUNE 8, 2008 -

We'll be led in worship by our high school worship band in both services with these songs:

"My Savior, My God"

Aaron Shust wrote this song while inspired by the words of the old hymn "I am not skilled to understand" written by Dorothy Greenwell in the collection Songs of Salvation in 1873

I am not skilled to understandWhat God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know at His right handIs One Who is my Savior!
I take Him at His word indeed;“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need Of Him to be my Savior!
That He should leave His place on high And come for sinful man to die,

Click here to hear more about how Aaron wrote the song in his own words:
http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml

Click here to visit Aaron's myspace:
www.myspace.com/aaronshust

Click here to worship along with Aaron;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb2FK77vJCE

Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg

"Mighty to Save"

This is another song from the Hillsong music ministry in Sydney Australia. This song is by Reuben Morgan & Ben Fielding. This song has a great re-occuring text. "OUR GOD IS MIGHT TO SAVE". This is taken from the passage in Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Click here to read more about Reuben Morgan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuben_Morgan

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

Click here to worship along with the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR8rlTIU8_Y


"My Desire"

This song is by Jeremy Camp. Jeremy has a unique brand of rock and progressive pop, his music was born out of a heart that's been broken and a faith that's been tested. Yet, despite all this 24-year-old has walked through or maybe because of it he's compelled to praise the God who has proven Himself faithful through it all and has a passion for telling others about Him through music.
Camp's journey began when he left his home in Lafayette, Indiana, bound for Bible college in Southern California. He wasn't sure what God had planned for him, but he knew he wanted to be ready. As he soaked up all the biblical knowledge he could and pondered a career in ministry Jeremy filled his downtime strumming a guitar, a skill he picked up from his musically inclined father. One day, as he was playing in the dorm kitchen, the school's worship leader overheard him and encouraged him to get involved in the music ministry opportunities available on campus.
It wasn't long before Camp was leading worship at the school and all over Southern California. One of those gigs would even lead him to his future wife. He was playing for a small Bible study group in the San Diego when he noticed her. They spent the next 4 months getting to know each other. So it came as quite a shock when, after four months of dating, Melissa suggested they break up. While his personal life wasn't going exactly the way he had hoped, his ministry was thriving. And then Jeremy received a call that would change his life forever. He was summoned to the hospital to see Melissa, then 20, who had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Despite her upbeat attitude, Jeremy left the hospital confused and upset at seeing someone he cared about in pain. Once in his car he found himself making a strange promise. "I drove away saying, 'God if You want me to marry Melissa, knowing she could die from this cancer, then I will. If she tells me she loves me, I'll marry her.' It seemed like a fairly safe bet. They had never spoken those words to each while they were dating, why would she say them now?
Five Months later the young couple married in front of a thousand well wishers. Unfortunately, their happiness was short lived. During their honeymoon, Melissa started having stomach problems and when they returned the doctor delivered the news they dreaded. She had mere months to live. On Feb. 5, 2001, Melissa went to be with the Lord.
Melissa's life and death changed Jeremy's perspective on the music he makes. "Watching Melissa go to Heaven made me realize what's important." "Music is not my life. Christ is my life. The only thing that really matters is what we do for Jesus on this Earth, and as a result of what I've been through, I express even more the goodness of God and how faithful He is." They say the best songs come from personal experience and newcomer Jeremy Camp's music certainly comes from a very personal place.

Click here to read Jeremy's blog:
http://jeremycamp.typepad.com/jeremy/

Click here to learn more about Jeremy's ministry:
www.jeremycamp.com/in_index.html

Click here to worship along with Jeremy Camp:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiQaRn0k88w

"More than Life"

This popular worship song was written by Rueben Morgan. Morgan share the following on worship:

"I think the challenge of the Church is to keep worship accessible to all people not to exclude people through style and presentation. I think that's a huge challenge for the Church and especially in our day when there is so much variety and people can be so specialised."

Morgan views his role as a solo artist to be merely an extension of the Hillsong ministry. When you talk to this humble and ever grateful man you become aware that for Morgan this isn't about building a solo career, it is about continuing his ministry as he remains a member of the Hillsong staff. He'd started with Hillsong as youth pastor where he helped to establish Hillsong United which, of course, are today one of the most widely popular youth praise bands in the international Church. Reuben helped produce four of the United albums, 'Everyday', 'Best Friend', 'King Of Majesty' and 'To The Ends Of The Earth'.

"I think what everybody needs to keep at the core is worship can't be exclusive. It can't shut people out and not include people. I think that's a challenge. It can't be elitist. It can't be exclusive."

The Aussie troubadour believes that more than any other time in our history a greater acceptance for diversity in worship styles exists. He says worship now appears to be at the core of the music being created. While concert goers still wish to be entertained they are also looking for individuals to lead them in worship. Morgan notes,

"People are really hungry and inspired for worship. As far as where it is going, God is doing what he has always been doing and that is building the Church. I think that worship will spring forth from that (as well as) teaching, healing and salvation. People have been reminded to get their eyes on God. I think at the core God is passionate about his Church. True worship comes out of revelation of God. I need God to break through to my world before I can respond back to him."

Click here to visit Reuben's myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=31536387

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

"One Way"

This worship song was written by Joel Houston. Houston (born September, 1979) is the Hillsong United Creative Oversight/Producer at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He is the son of pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston and grandson of Frank Houston. He is one of three children. He has a brother named Benjamin and a sister named Laura. As part of the Hillsong United music team, he has not only participated in the creation of the albums (being a main leader and songwriter), but has produced them as well. As part of United, he has helped lead worship conferences all over the world, visiting North America, South America, Africa and Europe.

Click here to visit Joel's myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=39566875

Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs ministry:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvm8UT3j4Uo