“There is a Fountain”
This is one of the first hymns William Cowper wrote after his first attack of temporary madness. Cowper had been promised a post as Clerk of the Journal to the House of Lords, but was dismayed upon learning he would have to undergo a public examination in the House before beginning his duties. The following article from the North American Review, January, 1834, describes his dilemma, and how God prevented him from destroying himself:As the time drew nigh, his agony became more and more intense; he hoped and believed that madness would come to relieve him; he attempted also to make up his mind to commit suicide, though his conscience bore stern testimony against it; he could not by any argument persuade himself that it was right, but this desperation prevailed, and he procured from an apothecary the means of self-destruction. On the day before his public appearance was to be made, he happened to notice a letter in the newspaper, which to his disordered mind seemed like a malignant libel on himself. He immediately threw down the paper and rushed into the fields, determined to die in a ditch, but the thought struck him that he might escape from the country. With the same violence he proceeded to make hasty preparations for his flight; but while he was engaged in packing his portmanteau his mind changed, and he threw himself into a coach, ordering the man to drive to the Tower wharf, intending to throw himself into the river, and not reflecting that it would be impossible to accomplish his purpose in that public spot. On approaching the water, he found a porter seated upon some goods: he then returned to the coach and was conveyed to his lodgings at the Temple. On the way he attempted to drink the laudanum, but as often as he raised it, a convulsive agitation of his frame prevented it from reaching his lips; and thus, regretting the loss of the opportunity, but unable to avail himself of it, he arrived, half dead with anguish, at his apartment. He then shut the doors and threw himself upon the bed with the laudanum near him, trying to lash himself up to the deed; but a voice within seemed constantly to forbid it, and as often as he extended his hand to the poison, his fingers were contracted and held back by spasms.At this time one of the inmates of the place came in, but he concealed his agitation, and as soon as he was left alone, a change came over him, and so detestable did the deed appear, that he threw away the laudanum and dashed the vial to pieces. The rest of the day was spent in heavy insensibility, and at night he slept as usual; but on waking at three in the morning, he took his penknife and lay with his weight upon it, the point toward his heart. It was broken and would not penetrate. At day break he arose, and passing a strong garter around his neck, fastened it to the frame of his bed: this gave way with his weight, but on securing it to the door, he was more successful, and remained suspended till he had lost all consciousness of existence. After a time the garter broke and he fell to the floor, so that his life was saved.; but the conflict had been greater than his reason could endure. He felt for himself a contempt not to be expressed or imagined; whenever he went into the street, it seemed as if every eye flashed upon him with indignation and scorn; he felt as if he had offended God so deeply that his guilt could never be forgiven, and his whole heart was filled with tumultuous pangs of despair. Madness was not far off, or rather madness was already come. After recovering, Cowper came to realize how God can erase the stain of any sin.
There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;And sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.The dying thief rejoiced to see
that fountain in his day;And there have I, though vile as he,
washed all my sins away.Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
shall never lose its powerTill all the ransomed church of God
be saved, to sin no more.E’er since, by faith, I saw the streamThy flowing wounds supply,Redeeming love has been my theme,and shall be till I die.
Click here to worship along with the Gaither homecoming singers:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH7MH7n3j28
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=roArM2ldIZ0&feature=related
“Jesus, Lover of My Soul”
If you’ve ever heard Paul’s songs or been in a context where Paul has lead worship, then you won’t have failed to notice the consuming passion to know God that characterizes his songwriting. This song alone stands out as one of Paul’s fine contributions to the kingdom. Reminding us that everything should center around the Lord.
His international profile continues to grow. This last year has seen Paul travel to Canada, South Africa, Holland, Germany, Scotland and Northern Ireland and more recently, invitations have opened up for Paul to travel to Brazil, the States, Portugal, Germany and Holland again this year.
Although he travels a lot, Paul and his family are very committed to Church of Christ The King, their home church in Brighton (UK), where he regularly leads the 1,000 strong congregation in worship alongside Dave Fellingham, Stuart Townend, Matt Redman, Phatfish and Kate Simmonds.
Click here to visit Paul’s myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=73404442
Click here to worship along:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZdMOx_HY
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWBeOfoESt4
“Who Can Satisfy”
Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He is native to Oklahoma, and headquarters a music-based ministry from there. Formerly a homosexual, Jernigan now lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma with his wife of nearly 24 years and their nine children.
A primary source of inspiration for Jernigan's message and music is an experience he describes as his "deliverance from homosexuality", which he states to have begun during a 2nd Chapter of Acts concert in 1981 at Oklahoma Baptist University. Jernigan has stated that he believes his prior identification as homosexual was related to a childhood perception that he had been rejected by his father. He claims that both perceptions were erroneous:
As a boy I needed a role model to show me the way to manhood. But because I felt rejected by the main man in my life I, in turn, rejected him and began to yearn for intimacy with a man in perverse ways. Because of this wrong thinking I came to believe I was homosexual. It must have begun early in my life because I remember having those feelings for the same gender at a very early age.
It was then [during a critical moment at the 2nd Chapter of Acts concert] that I lost the need to be accepted or loved by others because I realized Jesus would love me and accept me no matter what, even when I was rejected by others! It was also at this same time that those sexually perverse thoughts and desires were changed...and He began to replace them with holy and pure thoughts about what sexual love was all about.
You may know the music of Dennis Jernigan rather than the mention of his name. Songs like: "You Are My All in All", "Great is the Lord Almighty", and "Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus", as well as hundreds of others are sung literally all over the world. Dennis believes worship is all about relationship rather than performance...and he believes he is called to help people get honest with themselves and with God simply because he has found in his own life that honesty and truth have set him free. He has an incredible testimony that he shares very openly with his audiences.
To read more about Dennis visit his website at www.dennisjernigan.com/.
Dennis and his wife Melinda, along with eight of their nine children make their home in Muskogee, Oklahoma where they serve Christ through the local body of believers known as New Community Church.
Click here to listen to the song “Who Can Satisfy” by the Lee University Singers:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNMw73XAtaA&feature=related
Click here to hear the Hebraic Christian worship team:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUGjaCtxwKQ&feature=related
Click here to listen to Dennis share about his favorite scripture: www.revver.com/video/516239/dennis-jernigan-shares-about-his-favorite-bible-verses/
CONTEMPORARY 11:00
“O Praise Him”
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.This song was written while David and his band were flying back from Atlanta to Waco. It was the sound of wind on a plane that stirred his soul to a phrase “All this for the King”. David took a pencil and a piece of paper and wrote the following lyrics:Turn your ear To Heaven and hear The noise inside The sound of angels awe The sound of angels songs And all this for a King We could join and sing 'All for Christ our King!' How constant How divine This song of ours will riseOh, how constant How divine This love of ours will rise Will rise... CHORUS: Oh praise Him! Oh praise Him! He is Holy! He is Holy!
Click here to listen to David share how the song came about:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2fbX4dRLO0&feature=related
Click here to worship along with David Crowder:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2qfCynlTVg
“How can I keep from Singing”
There is an endless song echoes in my soulI hear the music ring and though the storms may comeI am holding on to the rock I clingHow can I keep from singing Your praiseHow can I ever say enoughHow amazing is Your loveHow can I keep from shouting Your nameI know I am loved by the KingAnd it makes my heart want to sing Chris Tomlin joined Ed Cash and Matt Redman to write this song. The song is on the album "See the Morning". This song anchors the theme of hope found on the album. "How Can I Keep From Singing," is a rendition of the 1860 hymn by Robert Lowry. "How Can I Keep From Singing?" is listed in some hymnals by the opening line "My Life Flows On". The original composition has now entered into the public domain. The song is frequently cited incorrectly as a traditional Quaker hymn. Chris reworked the original text and crafted a song that could be sung to God during the difficult times.
Click here to listen to Chris share how he wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lTZySpbpo
Click here to worship along with Chris:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQI5wxtH6OY&feature=related
“Only You”
David Crowder wrote the song based upon a conversation he had with a friend. His friend was talking about how you can be eating dinner with a large group, but if your spouse is in the group you can catch her eye at the same time you are with other and there can be a moment when even in a crowd you are caught up together in that moment. There is a non-spoken language that happens. David thought to himself, what a picture of corporate worship. We can look at each other, but yet we can disappear alone with our maker. David said those thoughts spilled out and he wrote the song.
Click here to hear David share how he wrote the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-234-OnlyYou-Crowder.mp3
Click here to worship along with David Crowder
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPs-2hn5ZOg
"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.
THIRD 6PM
"One Way"
This song was written by Joel Houston and Jonathan Douglass. Houston is a musician and songwriter, best known as the key worship leader and producer of Sydney based worship band Hillsong United, the worship band of Hillsong Church's youth group, also known as Hillsong United. In 2008 he became the Creative Director at Hillsong Church.
Houston began playing piano at a young age, at the suggestion of his parents. As he was not interested in piano, he soon diverted his efforts to playing guitar instead.
Jonathan Douglass' first experience of what he describes as God's tangible presence was at a Christian youth camp. At 12, he was actually too young to attend the camp but tagged along with his older brother and sister anyway . One night while the band was playing, he felt something he is almost unable to put into words, I just remember lifting my hands, not really knowing what I was doing and singing these words that had a meaning I didn't really understand. I developed a longing for God's presence without knowing much about it.
The most powerful songs come from a personal relationship with God and are filled with meaningful scripture, JD says. Three years ago, JD wrote One Way, a song inspired by a personal search, I questioned what I was doing and why I was doing it. He was still going to church, reading the Bible and praying but he felt like he had lost the reason for it all. I sat down one night after hanging out with God and the verses just came out back to back within a couple of minutes, he says, Things about God, how He's always there, how He never changes and how I'll never live for anyone but Him.
Click here to learn more about Jonathon Douglass:
www.jonathondouglass.com/
Click here to worship along with the Hillsong worship team:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPuUIUWE8h8
Click here to listen online:
www.last.fm/music/Hillsong+United/_/One+Way
"Thy Mercy, My God"
Click here to learn more about Sandra McCracken:
www.sandramccracken.com/
Click here to worship listen to Sandra McCracken: www.last.fm/music/Sandra+McCracken/_/Thy+Mercy,+My+God
Click here to visit Sandra's myspace:www.myspace.com/sandramccracken
1. 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.
2. Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;Sin would reduce me to utter despair;But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,And He that first made me still keeps me alive.
3. Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.
4. Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divineSeals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divineSeals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
"My Jesus, my Lifeline"
Tim Hughes (born July 23, 1978) is a Christian worship leader and songwriter with Survivor Records, who is currently Director of Worship at Holy Trinity Brompton, an Anglican church in central London and heads up Worship Central, a new worship training resource. The son of an Anglican vicar, he grew up in High Wycombe, later moving to Birmingham as a teenager as his father was appointed vicar of St John's Church, Harborne. In 1997, aged only 19, Hughes was asked by Mike Pilavachi to lead worship at the Soul Survivor festivals. He also studied History at Sheffield University, graduating in 2000.
Prior to his current post, Hughes worked at Soul Survivor Watford Church, where he was Worship Pastor (the current Worship Pastor is Ben Cantelon). He moved to Holy Trinity Brompton in 2005 and, with Associate Director of Worship Al Gordon, has set up the Worship Central project. He is married to Rachel and in October they had a daughter, Phoebe; Mike Pilavachi is her godfather.
When Matt Redman left Soul Survivor Tim became the Worship Pastor. He moved on to Holy Trinity Brompton 2 years ago, where he started up Worship Central with Al Gordon. Tim is also one of the members of Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith from Delirious?
Click here to learn more about Tim Hughes:
www.timhughesmusic.com/
Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqwYGB6y8iM
Click here to listen to the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM8xBr5DQ4k
"Beauty of Your Peace"
Tim Hughes wrote the following about how he wrote the song:
I love the old hymns. So much poetry and theology contained within such haunting melodies. A while back I was reading through an old hymnbook when I came across these words from the hymn 'Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.'Take from our souls the strain and stressAnd let our ordered lives confessThe beauty of Your peaceWe live busy lives. Everything is fast paced. We get hugely frustrated if we have to wait for anything. On top of this we live under enormous amounts of stress. It seems that whenever I ask someone how he or she is doing the response is - 'Life is very hectic and busy at the moment.' Busy jobs, demanding hours and high expectations placed upon us are leaving many struggling to cope with life. In the UK, like many other nations around the world, depression is soaring. The number of prescriptions for anti-depressants has risen from 12 million in 1991 to 24 million a decade later. Many of us aren't coping. However in the midst of the turmoil, there's a voice that can still the raging storm.
Click here to learn more about Tim Hughes:
www.timhughesmusic.com/
Click here to worship along with Tim Hughes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRJEBC-rCtc
Click here to listen online: www.last.fm/music/Tim+Hughes/_/Beauty+of+Your+Peace
"In the Secret"
This song was written by Andy Park. There is an interesting page on Andy's website where he interviewed his eight children. Andy was a part of the Vineyard worship movement, the answers from his children give great insight into this man of worship
www.andypark.ca/family_july03.shtml
Click here to worship along with Andy Park:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyV2WyRe-T8
Click here to listen to Andy share about how the song was written:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml
Click here for the arrangement by Sonic Flood:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4lpZuTUcOc
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