Behind the Praise - Sunday Nov. 30, 2008

BLENDED SERVICE 9:30AM

“Holy, Holy, Holy”

Holy, Holy, Holy is a hymn written by Reginald Heber (1783-1826). Its lyrics speak specifically on the Trinity as stated in Christian theology. It was written specifically for the use on Trinity Sunday, which occurs eight weeks after Easter The tune used for this hymn, "Nicaea", was named after the Nicaean Council in 325. It was composed by John Bacchus Dykes in 1861 specifically for the lyrics. The composer wrote many tunes to hymns (over 300) and many are still in use today.

Click here to listen to the story behind the song: http://hymns.lifespringonline.com/?p=13

Click here to listen to the song: www.joyfulministry.com/holyholyt.htm

Click here to read more about the song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy,_Holy,_Holy

Click here to hear a vocal arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTuPeErzEWk&feature=related

Click here to listen to an organ arrangement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=una7Q2z0WME

Click here to listen to another organ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWCXI-b0O54

Click here for an acoustic guitar arrangement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFrhK1n_K9M

“How can I keep from Singing”

There is an endless song echoes in my soul I hear the music ring and though the storms may come I am holding on to the rock I cling How can I keep from singing Your praise How can I ever say enough How amazing is Your love How can I keep from shouting Your name I know I am loved by the King And 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


"Come Thou Long Expected Jesus"

Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns. Like most hymn­ists, his works were fre­quent­ly al­tered. In the pre­face to the 1779 Col­lection of Hymns for the Use of the Peo­ple called Meth­od­ists, his bro­ther John wrote:
I beg leave to men­tion a thought which has been long up­on my mind, and which I should long ago have in­sert­ed in the pub­lic pa­pers, had I not been un­will­ing to stir up a nest of horn­ets. Ma­ny gen­tle­men have done my bro­ther and me (though with­out nam­ing us) the hon­our to re­print ma­ny of our hymns. Now they are per­fect­ly wel­come to do so, pro­vid­ed they print them just as they are. But I de­sire they would not at­tempt to mend them, for they are real­ly not able. None of them is able to mend ei­ther the sense or the verse. There­fore, I must beg of them these two fa­vours: ei­ther to let them stand just as they are, to take things for bet­ter or worse, or to add the true read­ing in the mar­gin, or at the bot­tom of the page, that we may no long­er be ac­count­a­ble ei­ther for the non­sense or for the dog­ger­el of other men.
In addition to hymn writ­ing, Charles and John found­ed the move­ment which be­came the Meth­od­ist de­nom­in­a­tion.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee Israel’s Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Click here for an instrumental arrangement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg8OJf40LJE


“Breathe”

A friend's suicide had left her reeling, but out of Marie Barnett's desperate need for God came a worship classic sung around the world.

Marie Barnett didn't consider herself a worship songwriter, although she had led worship with her husband John for years and wrote her own compositions during her personal worship time. John was the writer, penning what Barnett terms "tons" of worship music through the years (including "Holy and Anointed One"). "He's the worship writer," she explains, adding "I never sat down and wrote thinking, This could be sung in a congregation. It was more between me and the Lord in my bedroom with the door locked."
But that all changed during a Sunday evening service at the Mission Viejo Vineyard in Southern California. The Barnetts were leading worship as they had done hundreds of times before, and words to what would become the worship song "Breathe" just spontaneously came out.
" We had been singing 'Isn't He' by John Wimber," Barnett recalls, "and my husband continued to play. I was so enthralled with Jesus at that moment, thinking I could never live, I could never even take a breath if I didn't have a word from Him every day. And so I heard those words-'this is the air I breathe, this is my daily bread'-and I started singing them."
Before she knew it, the congregation had joined her. Still, it wasn't as if Barnett left that night convinced she has a worship hit on her hands. There had been other spontaneous songs, but she soon realized "Breathe" was different. "People would come up to me at the grocery store and say, 'You know what we were singing on Sunday night? I've been singing it all week.'"
So they began to sing the song regularly in church and it continued to elicit a strong response, bringing many to tears. Barnett says even now she can hardly get through it. "I think the word 'desperate' digs deep into me," she says by way of explanation. "The longer I'm a Christian, the more desperate I am for God."
Not to mention Barnett was feeling particularly desperate around the time the words for "Breathe" came to her. A dance teacher by day, Barnett's boss of 10 years had recently taken his own life, leaving behind a note asking her to take over the dance studio. "He was very depressed and had just gone through a divorce and was on all kinds of weird medications and into New Age thinking," she recalls of the tragic incident. "He even came to church with me once right before he took his life and I was like, Well, what good did that do? In the end, the event left Barnett with questions for which there were no answers. And that desperation came out in her songwriting."
Shortly after being written, "Breathe" wound up on Vineyard's Touching the Father's Heart #25 and seemed to be on its way to finding a broader audience. But if there's one thing Barnett learned from watching her husband's songwriting career, it's that the timing isn't up to us.
"We recorded the song for Vineyard and then nothing happened," Barnett says. "Not that I thought anything about it because to me it was just a neat thing the Lord gave to our church." Five years later, worship leader Brian Doerksen was putting together Vineyard's Hungry and contacted Barnett about including "Breathe." Then came Michael W. Smith's version on his 2001 release, Worship.
Barnett was driving in her car when she first heard the track playing on the radio. "I just started bawling. I love that version because at the end when he's saying 'Cry out to Him' it's like 'Oh! People are worshipping Jesus! Yea!'"
Since writing "Breathe" Barnett regularly contributes songs to the worship time at Vineyard Community Church of Laguna Niguel, the California church plant where she and her husband lead worship today. And she continues to run the dance studio as her late boss wished. With more than 600 students and 20 classes to teach each week, Barnett says the business venture provides with her plenty of material for her songwriting. And to round out her schedule, she also teaches at worship conferences, going "wherever people invite me."

Click here to worship along with Michael W. Smith:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oad8ov10AjY

Click here for a moving video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwLgyMzzh0M


CONTEMPORARY SERVICE 11:00AM
"Open up the Gates"

“Open up the Gates”Planetshakers is more than a band name, it’s more than just a ministry and it’s far from an isolated experience. Planetshakers is a foundation shaking movement that’s sweeping Australia off its feet and it’s about to burst the bubble of American culture. The concept is simple: combine cutting edge speakers with topical relevance and worship woven music that reflects cultural relevance under the context of a super charged conference. Consider it comparable to the Hillsongs movement, but with an explosive, youth-oriented twist.“There’s something powerful that happens when you mesh a spoken word message with the energy and explosion of live music,” says Planetshakers’ founder and director Russell Evans in his thick accent and contagiously pleasant tone. “This generation is looking for energetic, raw passion and they’re attracted to anything they can perceive as real. Seeing the enthusiastic blend is attractive to people. That passion on stage, no matter if it’s speaking or singing, makes them hungry.”Planetshakers have been satisfying the appetites of the once spiritually bankrupt since 1997 when its first weekend conference was staged in front of 300 students at Paradise Community Church in Adelaide, South Australia. In the years that followed, the event ballooned at rapid rates, reaching 4,000 attendees by January 2000. Come this winter, Planetshakers pulled in 20,000 faithful in three major Australian cities: Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.“Other than God’s hand being over the ministers, I think the reason for the growth is because Planetshakers understands young people’s needs and are able to bring it beyond just a worship experience,” contends Evans after a moment of reflection on its evolution. “The goal is for people to have an encounter with God and the objective from there on out is to build local churches and ministries that young people can get plugged into. It all boils down to the fact that this is an instrument in raising up a new generation for the church.”

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

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

click here to worship along with the Planet Shakers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW1y9Lfz2OA

Click here to listen online: www.rhapsody.com/planetshakers/open-up-the-gates--2002-planet-shakers-ministries-international-inc/its-all-about-jesus

“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: http://www.christomlin.com/

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

“Consuming Fire”

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 Birmingham, later moving to High Wycombe as a teenager as his father was appointed vicar of St Andrew's Church, Hatters Lane. 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 Phoebe whom Mike Pilavachi is the godfather of.

Click here to visit Tim Hughes myspace:
www.myspace.com/timhughesmusic

Click here to worship along with Tim Hughes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-yRfVWBWM0

"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

THIRD SERVICE 6PM

"Here is our King"

This worship song was written by David Crowder in response the Tsunami on December 24, 2004. David and his wife were watching the images of devastation preparing to attend the Passion meeting in Nashville later that month. David was having trouble processing the level of devestation. He remembered telling his wife that 9-11 made more sense, as we are used to humanity doing something to each other. Historically we've done unkind things to each to each other and all we have to do is turn on the news. David knew how to process that devestation, but to be able to see such devestation unfold before his eyes was a new process for him. He struggeld with how to look at that and still say "God is Good". This song was David's response to God in the face of such a tragedy.From wherever spring arrives to heal the ground From wherever searching comes the look itself A trace of what we’re looking for So be quiet now and wait The ocean is growing the tide is coming in Here it is Here is our king, here is our love here is our God who’s come to bring us back to him He is the one, he is Jesus, Jesus

Click here to worship along with David Crowder: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Fl_nqGJc0

Click here to listen to David share about how the song came about: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aea5Mq4sSUA

"You never let Go"

This powerful new song by Matt Redman has been described as follows from Christianity Today:"You Never Let Go" begins with a quiet piano and moody atmospherics that mirror far-from-ebullient lyrics based on Psalm 23: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death/You're perfect love is casting out fear/And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life/I won't turn back, I know you are near…The chorus is a loud, exultant proclamation that God will never let go of us and in it Redman uses the minor-key construction to subtly (and maturely) declare that God's love is still valid, even in the midst of pain.

Click here to listen watch the video www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIAdgLR1ZGw

Click here to read more about Matt Redman on his myspace - you can play the song directly from his stand-alone player and can buy the song from his website http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=120781688

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Your perfect love is casting out fear And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life I won’t turn back I know You are near

And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let goThrough the calm and through the storm Oh no, You never let go In every high and every low Oh no, You never let go Lord, You never let go of me

"Watch over Me"

Here is Aaron's story behind the song:

I was wondering if the people of Israel felt butterflies of excitement in their stomachs when Moses said something to them like, “Pack your bags quickly, because after 430 years of slavery, I’m here to tell you that God has heard your prayers, and He’s giving us a land of our own. We’re leaving tonight!” God watched over His people as they journeyed through the desert to a place they couldn’t yet see. It’s easy to feel their pain as they hoped to be delivered from slavery in Egypt; while they searched their own hearts to discover if they really believed in this “God of their forefathers,” and whether or not He would truly deliver them. Jesus said, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” So, when your night seems long, when you walk through a dark valley in life, He will show the way before you. He will never leave you alone. He will watch over you. Believe that! -- AARON SHUST

“Watch Over Me” is Aaron’s current hit single and can be found on his most recent project, Whispered and Shouted (Brash). Visit Aaron’s artist page for more

I was lonely YOU came waltzing over to meAnd YOUR eyes they saw right through me And YOU heard each one of my cries for helpAnd YOU came to rescue meI was broken Every prayer that I had spokenReached YOUR ears and all my tears weren’t cried in vain YOU carried all my pain and put me back together again YOU watch over me in the darkest valleys YOU watch over me when the night seems long YOU help me to see the way before me YOU watch over me; You watch over me Always faithful To be leading, at this moment Interceding for YOUR children Though I’ve wandered astray from YOUR infinite waysYOU’VE never left me alone Take my frozen heart; awaken me Never once have YOU forsaken me Even though I walk through this shadow of death YOU will guide and defend me YOU’LL guard and protect meEven though I walk through this shadow of death YOU will lead me home

Click here to learn more about Aaron Shust: www.aaronshust.com/index.html

Click here to listen to "Watch over Me" www.youtube.com/watch?v=u52_5VuwKVI

"It is Well"

Click here to read the story of how the song was written along with the rest of the story http://exchristian.net/exchristian/2003/09/it-is-well-with-my-soul.php

Click here to watch the Gaither video version with David Phelps www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPFVijGcLtI

Click here for a video detailing the story behind the song
www.bluefishtv.com/ProductDetails.aspx?cid=1005&id=1498

Click here for more background information: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_With_My_Soul

To listen to the song click here: www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/i/itiswell.htm

"I've Had Questions"

Tim Hughes is a British-based Christian music artist, worship leader, and songwriter. Widely respected in Christian music circles, Tim is renowned for his Dove Award-winning modern worship anthem: ”Here I Am To Worship”.Tim & his wife Rachel have been involved with Soul Survivor events around the world as well as the Soul Survivor Watford church for many years.Tim now heads up the worship at Holy Trinity Brompton, having previously been Worship Pastor at Soul Survivor Watford (a post now held by Ben Cantelon) and is passionate about resourcing musicians and worship leaders.

I've had questions, without answers I've known sorrow, i have known pain but theres one thing, that i'll cling toyou are faithful, Jesus your true when hope is lost, I'll call you saviour when pain surrounds, I'll call you healer when silence falls, you'll be the song within my heart in the lone hour, of my sorrow through the darkest night of my soul you surround me, and sustain me my defender, forever more when hope is lost, i'll call you saviour when pain surrounds, I'll call you healer when silence falls, you'll be the song within my heart

I will praise you, I will praise you when the tears fall, still I will sing to you I will praise you, Jesus praise you Through the suffereing still I will sing when hope is lost, I'll call you saviour when pain surrounds, I'll call you healer when silence falls, you'll be the song within my heart

I've had questions, without answers I've known sorrow, I have known pain but theres one thing, that I'll cling to you are faithful, Jesus your true when hope is lost, I'll call you saviour when pain surrounds, I'll call you healer when silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart I will praise you, I will praise you when the tears fall, Still i will sing to youi will praise you, Jesus praise you through the suffereing still i will sing

Click here to learn more about Tim Hughes: www.timhughesmusic.com/

Click here to worship along with Tim Hughes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty37eb_NaVk

Behind the Praise - Sunday November 23, 2008

BLENDED SERVICE 9:30 AM

"Before the Rocks Cry Out"

Rebecca Peck is a three-time BMI Award winning, Dove Award nominated songwriter who began her professional writing career 18 years ago in Painesville, Ohio. Since her first cuts in 1990, she has been blessed with hundreds of cuts, five #1 songs to her and several Top 10 songs. She has performed at the GMA writer showcase as well as other industry writer events and has been a keynote speaker for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). Rebecca was recently honored at the SGN Awards for Songwriter of the Year and is a recipient of the Evelyn Cole Peters Award for Music awarded in Washington D.C. In September 2004, Rebecca had 6 songs simultaneously in the Top 40 on the Singing News Magazine chart. In addition to Rebecca's love of many different forms of recorded Christian music, she has a special affinity for choral print church music. The 2004 Dove Award winning choral collection, "High Praises", featured 3 of Rebecca's songs. She has 3 songs in Word Music's all-time best selling Christmas choral collection, "Christmas is Jesus", which was nominated for a Dove Award, as well as a song in the Dove award nominated choral collection, "Simply Worship." Rebecca has 4 songs in the Max Lucado/Tom Fettke musical "One Incredible Moment" and two songs in the Max Lucado/Tom Fettke musical "Known By The Scars". Her song "Seek First His Kingdom" was chosen as the 2003-2004 theme song for the Southern Baptist Convention. Rebecca thoroughly enjoys assisting her husband, Tom, in the publishing management of Peck Music Group.
Though music is a great love in Rebecca's life, her first love is God and then her family. She prays that this is evident in her music and that, above all, God is honored through her legacy in song.

"Come Ye Thankful People Come"

The words for the Thanksgiving hymn, "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come," were written by Dr. Henry Alford (1810-1871), a noted hymnologist and Greek scholar, and published in 1844, Alford, the son of the Rector of Aston Sandford, was the picture of a 19th century Anglican churchman-- educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, took Holy Orders in 1833, vicar of Wymeswold, Leicestershire for 18 years, and Dean of Canterbury in 1857. The St. George's, Windsor tune for "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" was originally composed by Sir George J. Elvey (1816-1893) in Thorne's "A Selection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes" (1858) for the hymn, "Hark, the Song of Jubilee." Elvey's tune was subsequently set to Alford's words in "Hymns Ancient and Modern" (1861). Elvey was the organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor from 1835 to 1882. What diversity, that the Separatist Pilgrims and their later counterparts from the Church of England should combine on both sides of the Atlantic to give to us a Christian appreciation of the celebration of Thanksgiving!

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;

all is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.

God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;

come to God's own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home

Click here for an organ arrangement of the song:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFGpUB68BKE&feature=related

Click here for another arrangement:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k43ysxLzc0&feature=related

Click here to purchase the song:

"Not To Us"

One of the premier songwriters of today, Chris Tomlin is shaping the language of worship for generations present and future. And yet his gifts are rooted in one central truth, that God is the center of everything.Even as a small town Texan boy pounding out new tunes with his rag-tag garage band, Chris Tomlin had been blessed with a passion for purpose. He wanted to be more than just another guy with a song. As he grew, he became even more aware of the fact that everything-what we do, who we are-exists only for God's glory. Tomlin's sophomore studio project, NOT TO US, is an organic, edgy pop blend of his most compelling lyrics to date, the longest and most rewarding mile in his passionate pursuit of real life. NOT TO US is not just another worship album; it's a soundtrack for all of life. "God is a mystery beyond our comprehension," says Tomlin, whose most recent work includes WoW Worship and Passion: Our Love is Loud. "We can't figure God out. He won't be boxed in. He's bigger than all our questions and bigger than our answers. And when our lives become aligned with Him, we see life in a different light, hearts are restored and people are healed."

Lyrics:
the cross before me the world behind
no turning backraise the banner highi
t's not for me it's all for YOUlet the heavens shake and split the sky
let the people clap their hands and cry
it's not for usit's all for YOU
not to us but to YOUR name be the glory
not to us but to YOUR name be the glory

Click here to listen to Chris share more about how he wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zt9K5rLHVk

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

Click here to purchase "Not to Us"

"We Gather Together"

This hymn was originally transformed into a hymn from a folksong began on about January 1, 1597. That was the date of the Battle of Turnhout, in which Prince Maurice of Orange defeated the Spanish occupiers of a town in what is now the Netherlands. It appears likely that Dutch Protestants--who were forbidden from practicing their religion under the Catholic King Philip II of Spain--celebrated the victory by borrowing the familiar folk melody and giving it new words. Hence "Wilt heden nu treden" or, loosely translated, "We gather together"--a phrase that itself connoted a heretofore forbidden act: Dutch Protestants joining together in worship. Its first appearance in print was in a 1626 collection of Dutch patriotic songs, "Nederlandtsch Gedencklanck."

Click here to read more:

www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110007583

Click here to listen to the song:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFWH_RAQ3og

Click here for a celtic arrangement:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0JVqR8KnF4&feature=related

Click here to purchase the song:

CONTEMPORARY SERVICE 11:00 AM

“Point of Difference”

This songs from the Hillsongs worship was written by Joel Houston. Joel 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. He is the oldest son of the church's senior pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston and grandson of the church's founder Frank Houston. He has two siblings, a brother Benjamin and a sister, Laura.
Lyrics:
Our hearts are burning the fire that won't burn out

In the midst of a world that's grown cold you are all we have now

The earth resounding the anthem of your renown as we lift up our eyes

And look to your glory call us out let the world see you are God and this hope is ours

Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs worship ministry:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohyE2vxwoxM

Click here to purchase "Point of Difference"

“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:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrGbVmfOw1A

Here are the lyrics:

Great is Your faithfulnessGreat 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 graceYou never change

You never fail, O God You were, You are You will always be

Click here to purchase "Unchanging"

"Wonderful Maker"

You spread out the skies over empty space
Said "let there be light "Into a dark and formless world Your light was born
You spread out Your arms over empty hearts
Said "let there be light"into a dark and hopeless world
Your Son was bornyYou made the world and saw that it was good
You sent Your only son for You are good
What a wonderful Maker What a wonderful Savior
How majestic Your whispers And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other And the heart of a Father
How majestic Your whispers What a wonderful God
No eye has fully seen, how beautiful the crossAnd we have only heard
The faintest whispers of how great You are

Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPT-8zrWWJk

Click here to purchase "Wonderful Maker"


"Oh the Glory of it All"

This worship song by David Crowder is a play on the word glory. David said even as believers we struggle with defining glory.

At the start he was there, he was there
In the end, he’ll be there, he’ll be there
And After all our hands have wrought He forgives
Oh the Glory of it all is: he came here For the rescue of us all
that we may livefor the glory of it all for the glory of it all

Click here to listen to David share about how he wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r_XWX00lH8

Click here to worship along with David at a Passion event:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg-1yM6insA&feature=related

Click here to purchase "The Glory of it All"


THIRD SERVICE 6PM

"Make a Joyful Noise"

Click here to listen to David share how he wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP62nTXZ8Ow

Click here to purchase the song:


“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:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrGbVmfOw1A

Here are the lyrics:
Great is Your faithfulnessGreat 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 graceYou never change
You never fail, O God You were, You are You will always be

Click here to purchase "Unchanging"


"Our God Reigns"

Tomlin's undeniable energy is charismatic and contagious. Avoiding the trappings of public performance, Chris stands beside the people he serves, raising his voice to God with them so that they share God's presence together.
Born and raised in East Texas, Chris Tomlin grew up on a steady diet of country music, learning his guitar chops by playing along with Willie Nelson records. Not that you would ever guess it from listening to the gentle smoothness of his vocals. In fact, the ten songs on The Noise We Make tend to have a lot more in common with the evocative arrangements and stylings of bands like U2 than they do with any of their more country cousins.

Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G7AKpKayac

Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/nimrod/music/j8efzqJ-/chris_tomlin_our_god_reigns/

Click here to purchase "Our God Reigns"


"Only You"

"We perceive music as a means of empathizing with one another and enunciating something common among us in our experiences of life and faith. Our band's latest musical offering is for us the next available step in this journey; musically, lyrically, and thematically it is the sound of one foot coming down firmly in the present while the other simultaneously rises, exiting the space previously occupied, throwing our weight in a forward direction of momentum and consequence toward whatever lies ahead." —David Crowder

Click here to sing along with David Crowder:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPs-2hn5ZOg

Click here to listen online: www.last.fm/music/David+Crowder+Band/_/Only+You

Click here to purchase "Only You"

"Facedown"

A gifted songwriter, Matt's songs have become mainstays in today's worship repertoire and have impacted audiences across the world. Six of Matt's songs, including "Heart of Worship," "Better Is One Day," "Let My Words Be Few" and "Once Again" are among CCLI's Top 500, and have appeared on numerous worship recordings.
"Songwriting doesn't feel like work to me," Matt says. "It feels like the most natural way of responding to God. It's almost like it's a part of my devotions. Every song involves a Bible study and a time of pouring out my heart to God. It's like a little spiritual barometer for me because if I'm not receiving any fresh revelation from God in terms of having a healthy relationship with him, then I find that I don't write songs."

Click here to worship along with Matt Redman: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M0wLfh-a0A

Click here to listen online: www.last.fm/music/Matt+Redman/_/Facedown

Click here to purchase "Facedown"

Behind the Praise - Sunday November 16,2008

BLENDED 9:30AM

“Made Me Glad”
By Hillsong worship leader Miriam Webster

I will bless the Lord forever.
I will trust him at all times.
He has delivered me from all fear.
He has set my feet upon a rock.
I will not be moved and I’ll say of the Lord,

You are my shield, my strength, my portion,
deliverer, my shelter, strong tower,
my very present help in time of need.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
There’s none I desire beside you.
You have made me glad and I’ll say of the Lord,© 2001 Miriam Webster/Hillsong Publishing

Miriam Webster is an Australian gospel singer-songwriter. Her career began at the age of 15, when she won the interstate music awards. She has since toured Australia, New Zealand and the United States, and released several albums, of which the first is Never Alone. She has been serving with the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia since 1996 and featuring on numerous Hillsong Music praise-and-worship albums since 1997.

Click here to worship along with the Hillsong worship team:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCmBTV08ylc


Click here to purchase "Made me Glad"


"It is Well"

Click here to read the story of how the song was written along with the rest of the story http://exchristian.net/exchristian/2003/09/it-is-well-with-my-soul.php

Click here to watch the Gaither video version with David Phelps
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPFVijGcLtI

Click here for a video detailing the story behind the song
www.bluefishtv.com/ProductDetails.aspx?cid=1005&id=1498

Click here for more background information:
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_With_My_Soul

To listen to the song click here:
www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/i/itiswell.htm

Click here to purchase "It is Well"


"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=

Click here to purchase "Blessed be Your Name"



"Near to the Heart of God"

Cleland B. McAfee, in 1901, was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, Illinois. One day, to his shock and horror, he received the news that diphtheria had just claimed the lives of his two beloved nieces. To comfort his own soul and the hearts of the suffering family, Cleland wrote a hymn. On the day of the double funeral, he sang the hymn for the first time, with choking voice, outside the quarantined house of his brother, Howard. He wanted to be there for his hurting brother. A fellow pastor would carry the hymn out west to Berkeley, California. Eventually, Pastor McAfee would retire back east in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Cleland McAfee accomplished many great things in his lifetime, but he is remembered most for writing a simple message in the form of a song that reminds us that when bad things happen to good people, the best place to be is Near to the Heart of God.

Click here to listen to the hymn:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8d4NkNI5zY

Click here to listen online and read more about the composer:
www.invitationtochrist.org/near_to_the_heart_of_god.htm

Click here to purchase "Near to the Heart of God"


“In Christ Alone”

This song was written by Keith Getty & Stuart TownendTownend and Getty both admit they are motivated by the idea of capturing biblical truth in songs and hymns that will not only cause people to express their worship in church, but will build them up in their Christian lives. “I’ve been amazed by the response to this song,” says Townend. “We’ve had some incredible e-mails about how people have been helped by the song through incredibly difficult circumstances.” One e-mail described how a U.S soldier serving in Iraq would pray through each verse of the song every day, and how the promises of God’s protection and grace helped to sustain him through the enormous pressures and dangers of life in a war zone.

Click here to read more about how the song was composed
www.crosswalk.com/1275127/

Click here to worship along with the Newsboys
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8welVgKX8Qo

Click here to worship along with Natalie Grant
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA9WbEn-Nj8&feature=related

In Christ AloneBy Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory, Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Click here to purchase "In Christ Alone"

CONTEMPORARY 11:00AM

"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

Click here to purchase "O Praise Him"


"Everything Glorious"

After the tragic lost of their pastor in Waco, David Crowder was preparing for a Passion tour. His understanding of grace was challenged by the loss of his friend and mentor. This song was birthed as David began to understand the sovereignty of a loving God. That in the midst of tragedy God was making all things glorious.

Click here to listen to David share his story:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKgM_fv_4EI

Click here to read more about the tragedy:
www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=4112

Click here to worship along with David:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsxNPM4P0w4

The day is brighter here with You
The night is lighter than its hue
Would lead me to believe
Which leads me to believe
(chorus)

You make everything gloriousYou make everything glorious
You make everything gloriousAnd I am Yours
My eyes are small but they have seenthe beauty of enormous things
Which leads me to believethere's light enough to see thatFrom glory to glory

You are glorious You are gloriousFrom glory to gloryYou are glorious.
You are gloriousWhich leads me to believewhy I can believe that

Click here to purchase "Everything Glorious"


"More than Life"

Reuben Morgan wrote this worship song. Reuben Morgan is the worship pastor and one of the many worship leaders, songwriters at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He is well known for such songs as "Eagles Wings", "Hear Our Praises", "I Give You My Heart", "My Redeemer Lives" and "Touching Heaven, Changing Earth".

Here is a list of questions asked of Reuben Morgan in an interview and his answers.

Reuben when did you first pick up the guitar?
I started getting lessons from a friend at age 7… And then I can remember so clearly getting my first guitar not too long after that. I worked washing my parents' cars until I had enough money to pay for it!

What are your key musical influences?
I have a musical pallet for such a wide range of styles. Perhaps it was my parents' influence or where I studied. I would say that I have been influenced from Miles Davis to Dire Straits to Bach… the list goes on!

As a pastor at Hillsong Church, what kind of things does your week entail?
My first priority is our church; so week-to-week I lead worship and spend time with people. Apart from that, my time has been freed up to mostly write. I'm not the sort of person who can write on the go so I really value the space and time just to make it all work.

What is the heart of worship?
I would say that Knowing God is the heart of worship—intimacy with Him.
What motivates you to keep going?
I am definitely motivated by my family—my wife Sarah and our son Jones and then all of our incredible family—they are such a blessing! My motivation for doing everything I do though is a desire to see everybody everywhere inspired to worship our God.

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

Click here to worship along with Reuben Morgan:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYiviL-5n2M

Click here to purchase "More than Life"


"My Savior, My God"

Aaron Shust was reading through an old hymnal and thought that the verses to this hymn would make a great worship song. The hymn was "I am not Skilled to understand". Aaron wrote the original chorus while sitting at a red light on the way home from a rehearsal.The hymn “I Am Not Skilled To Understand” was written by Dorothy Greenwell (1821-1882). Sometimes known as “Dora,” Ms. Greenwell lived in the rectory in Northumberland, England in 1848. She wrote poems and hymns. “I Am Not Skilled to Understand” was published in 1873, in the hymnal Songs of Sal­va­tion.

Click here to learn more about how Aaron wrote the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-308-MySaviorMyGod-Shust.mp3

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 to worship along with Aaron Shust
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg

Click here to purchase "My Savior, My God"



THIRD SERVICE 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

Click here to purchase "One Way"


"Grace"





“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=

Click here to purchase Leann Rimes version of "Amazing Grace"


"Thy Mercy, My God"

Click here to learn more about Sandra McCracken:
www.sandramccracken.com/

Click here to visit Sandra's myspace:
www.myspace.com/sandramccracken

Click here to listen online:
www.last.fm/music/Sandra+McCracken/_/Thy+Mercy,+My+God

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 affection and bound my soul fast
Without they sweet mercy I could not live here sin would reduce me to utter despare
but through thy free goodness my spirits revived and he that first made me so keeps me alive
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart which wonders to feel it's heartless depart
dissolved by thy goodness I fall to the ground
and weep for the praise of the mercy I've found
Great father of mercies,thy goodness I own and the covenant love of thy crucified
so all praise to the spirit whose whisper divineseals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine

Click here to purchase "Thy Mercy, My God"


“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

Click here to purchase "Remedy"

Behind the Praise - Sunday November 9,2008

BLENDED 9:30AM

“God is Great”

This song was written by Marty Sampson one of the Hillsong worship leaders from Australia. When asked about the modern worship movement Marty commented recently “I think young people are getting more and more passionate about their relationships with God and His kingdom. They desire to see God moving in their lives and in the lives of those around them.” 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.

When it comes to penning songs, Marty is sometimes a little unorthodox in his approach. For example he explains the inspiration behind "God is Great." "The story is that me and Joel Houston, another guy in our youth group, were cruising along in his car, with a tape recorder. And we were just talking about music and singing, and we decided we needed to write a new song for the youth. We were near my house, and we were singing as loud as we could! Joel started doing this beat box, and then I just started singing, 'God is great, and His praise, fills the earth, fills the heavens!' We both turned around, looked at each other, and said, 'Whoa! That's awesome!' So I put on the tape player and recorded it, and it went from there."


Click here to worship along with Marty:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfZOUVD46TI&feature=related

Click here to learn more about Marty’s ministry:
www.myspace.com/martysampsonmusic

Click here to check out Marty:
http://www.martysampson.net/

Click here to purchase “God is Great”


“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

Charles Wesley was suffering a bout of pleurisy in May, 1738, while he and his brother were studying under the Moravian scholar Peter Böhler in London. At the time, Wesley was plagued by extreme doubts about his faith. Taken to bed with the sickness on May 21 Wesley was attended by a group of Christians who offered him testimony and basic care, and he was deeply affected by this. He read from his Bible and found himself deeply affected by the words, and at peace with God. Shortly his strength began to return. He wrote of this experience in his journal and counted it as a renewal of his faith; when his brother John had a similar experience on the 24th, the two men met and sang a hymn Wesley had written in praise of his renewal.
One year from the experience, Wesley was taken with the urge to write another hymn, this one in commemoration of his renewal of faith. This hymn took the form of an 18-stanza poem, beginning with the opening lines 'Glory to God, and praise, and love,/Be ever, ever given and was published in 1740 and entitled 'For the anniversary day of one's conversion'. The seventh verse, which begins, 'O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing', and which now is invariably the first verse of a shorter hymn recalls the words of Peter Bohler who said, 'Had I a thousand tongues I would praise Him with them all.' The hymn was placed first in John Wesley's A Collection of Hymns for the People Called Methodists published in 1780. It appeared first in every (Wesleyan) Methodist hymnal from that time until the publication of Hymns and Psalms in 1983

Click here to hear an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mHDcIGXBtw

Click here for a contemporary arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1LwDBVpg_E

Click here for an acoustic guitar arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U8AuFL1qN0&feature=related

Click here to purchase an orchestral arrangement of “O For a Thousand Tongues to sing”


"Mystery"

Paradox. It is not an easily definable concept. It is suffering mingled with joy; sorrow clasping hands with celebration; brokenness enveloped by unity. It is a bright sadness. It is a concept that is frequently embraced by those contemporary psalmists who march boldly on the cutting edge of change while holding tenaciously to the secure tether of tradition. Though it is the preferred weapon of warriors of worship, for Charlie Hall the paradox of pain and praise is neither a recent phenomenon nor a carefully orchestrated career choice. It is a compulsion driven by a hunger and thirst for the presence of God."The human condition may be frail, but God is bursting with life," Charlie insists. "There is a massive sunrise full of dreams and hopes right beside the obscenity of the cross, and those two things don't have to be exclusive. There was a time when I felt so human that I didn't feel like I could belong to God. I didn't feel like His greatness and my difficulties could fit together. Then He began to show me that my brokenness and messiness fit perfectly with what He came here to do. I was the perfect candidate for mercy and grace and life and hope. In my broken state, He is the Bright inside my Sadness."

Click here to worship along with Charlie Hall:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A69Hj3ISMSo&feature=related

Click here to listen online:
www.last.fm/music/Charlie+Hall/_/Mystery

Click here for Charlie Hall "Scenes from a little church"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk33IQJ8B0k&feature=related

Click here to purchase Charlie Hall’s “Mystery”


“How can I keep from Singing”

There is an endless song echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring and though the storms may come
I am holding on to the rock I cling
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And 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

Click here to purchase "How Can I keep from Singing"


"The King is Coming"

The résumé of Bill Gaither is not a quick read. There was the founding of his first group, the Bill Gaither Trio, in 1956, while Bill was a college student. There was his first job as a high school English teacher in 1959. There was marriage to teaching colleague, and eventually his songwriting partner, Gloria Sickal, in 1962. And there were the years of juggling teaching,writing, singing, recording and publishing, before the music demanded the couple’s full-time attention in 1967.
Then begins the longest page of the résumé: the publishing of more than 600 songs including hymnal standards such as “Because He Lives,” “The King Is Coming,” “Something Beautiful,” “He Touched Me,” “It Is Finished,” “There’s Something About That Name” and “Let’s Just Praise The Lord”; recording of more than 40 albums; winning of five Grammy Awards and more than a dozen Grammy nominations plus more than two dozen Dove Awards and nominations and numerous other industry awards; earning the title of Gospel Music Association’s “Songwriter of the Year” eight times; and producing the first inspirational album to achieve gold status,Alleluia: A Praise Gathering for Believers. In end-of-the-millennium honors, Bill and Gloria received the surprise of their lives when ASCAP named them Christian Songwriters of the Century for their music’s impact on American culture in the 20th century. Meanwhile, “He Touched Me” was listed by the Indianapolis Star as one of the Top 10 Songs of the Century written by a Hoosier.
And then another page: the producing of scores of videos that document the musical homecomings of the legends of southern gospel; recognition of gold, platinum or multi-platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America on 78 of the videos; the placing of a dozen videos at number 1 on Billboard magazine’s video sales charts; and a following of 75 million viewers who watch The Gaither Gospel Hour and the Gaither Family Music Hour on PAX-TV, PBS, TBN, FamilyNet, Daystar,Vision, Crossroads, GMTN and the Inspirational Network.

Click here for a recording "The King is coming"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO-zaEidTeU

Click here to purchase the Statler Brothers arrangement of "The King is coming"



CONTEMPORARY 11:00AM

"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=

Click here to purchase Matt Redmans' “Blessed be Your Name”


"God of Wonders"
This song by Steve Hindalong has become a classic. Here is a description of how the song came about: When Marc played the chord progression and melody, it felt really big. I kind of got a chill-I got goose bumps on my arms. I just thought, 'This song needs to be big, with really vast language.' So 'God of wonders beyond our galaxy' was as big as I could think." Having attended an Episcopal church for the last few years, Hindalong has been introduced to a new inspiration for his songwriting. "The liturgy, the old words, is kind of new to me. I flipped through The Book of Common Prayer, and I remember 'Lord of all creation, water, earth and sky.' That became the first line of the song." Lord of all creation Of water, earth and sky The heavens are your tabernacle Glory to the Lord on high God of wonders beyond our galaxy You are holy, holy The universe declares Your majesty You are holy, holy Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth But it isn't the vastness of the song that seems to really impact people, relates Hindalong. "People have sent me emails about the song and referred to the second verse. I think the real power of the song is there, when all of the sudden it gets intimate. It says 'When I stumble in the darkness, I will call Your name by night.' This God that is the God of not only our earth, but of all the worlds, that is so big-but when I'm afraid, when I'm alone, when I sin, when I'm in trouble, He comes close enough that I can call His name. It's the truth that's powerful, not the song. It is that particular truth that is so moving."

Click here to worship along with Third Day & Caedmans' call
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CBNE25rtnE

Click here to worship along with Shane & Shane
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B9Bbnu7pLM

Click here to purchase Caedmans’ Calls’ version:


"My Savior, My God"
Aaron Shust was reading through an old hymnal and thought that the verses to this hymn would make a great worship song. The hymn was "I am not Skilled to understand". Aaron wrote the original chorus while sitting at a red light on the way home from a rehearsal.The hymn “I Am Not Skilled To Understand” was written by Dorothy Greenwell (1821-1882). Sometimes known as “Dora,” Ms. Greenwell lived in the rectory in Northumberland, England in 1848. She wrote poems and hymns. “I Am Not Skilled to Understand” was published in 1873, in the hymnal Songs of Sal­va­tion.

Click here to learn more about how Aaron wrote the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-308-MySaviorMyGod-Shust.mp3

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 to worship along with Aaron Shust
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg

Click here to purchase Aaron Shusts’ “My Savior, My God”



“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

Click here to purchase “To the ends of the Earth”


THIRD SERVICE 6:00PM

"Great and Mighty"

This song was written by the group Caedmon's call. The band's unusual name was inspired by Cædmon, an Anglo-Saxon cowherd who lived during the 7th century. Legend has it that Caedmon was afraid to sing in public due to a lack of musical talent, and shied away from occasions where he had to sing. After leaving a feast one night because he was too embarrassed to sing, he lay down in the pasture with the cattle to sleep. An angel appeared to him in a dream, calling him to sing. After refusing, he eventually decided to sing and when he did, he sang beautiful verses that had never been heard before, based on the story of creation and using the style of pre-Christian, Anglo-Saxon poetry. Many songwriters tried in vain to write songs as good as or better than Caedmon's, but could not because Caedmon's songs came from God. Founding band members Cliff, Danielle, and Aaron decided on the name "Caedmon's Call" after all three heard this story during the same week and thought it was fitting.

Click here to listen to Caedman Calls' version:
www.rhapsody.com/caedmonscall/greatandmighty

Click here to purchase Caedman Calls' version of "Great and Mighty"


"Everlasting God"

Brenton Brown wrote this song after both he and his wife had being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Brown described their illness in the following excerpt from Christianity today. Brown: It's called fibromyalgia, a form of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. What defines it are the symptoms, the most obvious ones [being] fatigue. You feel jet-lagged most of the time. There are other symptoms like nausea, muscle pain, muscle aches. There's no known cure. Basically it was just like waking up one day and finding out that I had someone else's body. Very strange. I wasn't thinking as clearly. And over the last three years we've basically had to relearn how to live life with our new bodies. It's been a challenge. Chronic Fatigue is a little bit like having mono[nucleosis]. You feel very fatigued, very drained. And no matter how much you sleep, you're still going to feel tired. You can never shake off that tired feeling. I just kept going for six months. And then my pastor, the board of our church and the group of doctors that I was seeing all decided, "This is not working. You're not going to be able to force your way through this." Brenton Brown, born in South Africa, is a Christian songwriter and worship leader. He left South Africa for Oxford, England in his early twenties on a Rhodes Scholarship. While studying politics, philosophy and theology he joined the Vineyard music (UK), serving as worship pastor at the Oxford Vineyard, UK, and eventually as coordinator of the Vineyard (UK) Worship Development Team. His songs, Lord Reign in me, All who are thirsty, Humble King, Hallelujah [Your love is amazing] and Holy were recorded on the popular Vineyard UK projects during this time. He has since left the UK and now lives in Malibu, California with his wife, Jude. Brenton is an artist on the worship label Survivor and in 2006 released his first solo album, Everlasting God with Survivor in the UK and rest of the world, and with Sparrow in the United States and Canada.

Check out Brenton’s ministry 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

Click here to purchase Brenton Browns' version of "Everlasting God"


"Beautiful"

In a world where swagger usually triumphs over substance, it’s refreshing when a young singer/songwriter arrives on the scene with something to say. With the multi-faceted sound of a much older soul and shimmering melodies that match the intensity of his heartfelt lyrics, 21-year-old Phil Wickham’s self-titled debut can’t help but stand out in a crowd of cookie-cutter pop and angst-fueled rock. And it’s his personal journey of faith expressed in the songs that really makes the difference.Even though singer/songwriter Phil Wickham grew up in a devout Christian home, there came a point early in his life when he knew his faith needed to become his own. He no longer wanted to coast on his parents’ coattails or go to church simply because that’s what he was supposed to do. He wanted something real, that personal friendship with Jesus. And that crucial realization, combined with moving to a new city while he was in junior high, paved the way for Phil to pick up a guitar and start writing songs about his growing faith.While difficult at times, the transition from Orange County to San Diego proved to be fruitful. “It was a good time of reflecting, writing songs and playing guitar.” And once he picked up that guitar, it wasn’t long before his junior high youth pastor took notice and asked him if he wanted to lead worship.

Click here to visit Phil Wickhams' myspace:
www.myspace.com/philwickham

Click here to learn more about Phil Wickham:
http://philwickham.com/

Click here to worship along with Phil Wickham:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-U8x6Ejus4&feature=related

Click here to listen online:
www.last.fm/music/Phil+Wickham/_/Beautiful

Click here to purchase Phils' version of "Beautiful":



"The Beauty of Your Peace"

This worship song was penned by Tim Hughes. Tim Hughes has become one of the most well-known lead worshippers of his generation in the space of just a few years. Tim's first solo project 'Here I am to Worship' was produced by Dwayne Larring and Jason Halbert of SonicFlood. One of our most popular albums.
This album won the Inspirational Song of the Year category at the Dove Awards in Nashville 2003. Tim was also nominated for Songwriter of the Year.
Hughes, author of the worship anthem, Here I Am To Worship, has taken his place as one of today's premier voices to worship leaders and songwriters. Tim Hughes' passion is to see worship leaders 'keep it real' as they walk out their journey of discipleship before God and man.
From the UK, Tim stresses the importance of writing biblically sound worship music, and candidly addresses issues of accountability in the worship leader's life. Practical and inspiring, Tim calls us to fall forward as worshipers, toward the throne of God.

Your voice has stilled the raging storms The wind and waves bow down before
Your still small voice brings hope to all Who wait on You, we'll wait for You
To lead us to the place where You'll restore our souls And all our earthly strivings come to cease Take from our souls the strain and stress And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Your peace
The beauty of Your peace
Bright skies will soon be overhead We'll enter in to Heaven's rest
There'll be no death, there'll be no pain The things of old will pass away
You'll lead us to the place where You'll restore our souls
And all our earthly strivings come to cease

Click here to worship along with Tim:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRJEBC-rCtc

Click here to purchase "The Beauty of your Peace"


"Still"

… the challenge of the Church is to keep worship accessible to all people - Rueben MorganRueben wrote the song "Still" as a reminder to "be still and know that I am God". Reuben has a passion to see the church and the world inspired to worship God. A worship pastor on the Hillsong church leadership team, Reuben works alongside
Darlene Zschech to create an atmosphere of praise and worship that draws
people into God’s presence and helps soften hearts to Jesus’ salvation message.
Reuben is an integral leader of the Hillsong church worship team, teaching often
at the Worship and Creative Arts program. Leading worship on a weekly basis at
Hillsong church, Reuben was the youth Music Pastor who helped to establish
‘Hillsong United’- currently one of the most sought after youth praise and worship
bands having appeared at Creation, Edmonton and Soul Survivor in 2003. He
was one of the major producers on four of the United albums including Everyday,
Best Friend, King Of Majesty and To The Ends Of The Earth. With a congregation
of over 15,000 people, Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia is potentially the
nations largest local church with a TV program that reaches over 125 different
countries across the globe.

Click here to read more about Rueben
www.christianity.ca/entertainment/music/2005/10.000.html

Click here to worship along with the Hillsong version
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk8horRi3_E

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

Click here to purchase "Still"