Stories Behind the songs June 3, 2007

“There’s Never Been a Mountain” Worship Choir with Soloist Michael Dean.
Click here to worship along with this choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXA1qX1QcfE&mode=related&search=
“That’s Why We Praise Him”
This is a great song by Tommy Walker, interestingly enough Tommy Walker was a shy boy who didn't speak until he was four years-old. Over time God began to pour into Tommy a spirit of worship, he now leads worship on a regular basis and has led worship for the Promise Keepers movement for crowds of over 100,000.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmAPQqzYQ-g&mode=related&search=


“Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble”
click here for the story behind the song
http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-197-DidYouFeeltheMountainsTremble-Smith.mp3
Click here to listen to the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Q5vVa0q8Q

“Brethren We Have Met to Worship”
Click here to hear the melody and read the words
www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/r/brethren.htm


“Holy is the Lord”
click here to listen to the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X4CwGGJQMI

“Your Grace is Enough”
Click here to listen to how the song was written
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIgGHA27nG4


Sermon for Sunday
Dangers in the Desert
Jeremiah 2:6 (Exodus 14:3; Numbers 20:1-5; Deuteronomy 8:15; Isaiah 13:21; Lamentations 4:19)

Offertory Sunday will be Georgia Phinney playing the song "How Majestic is Your name/ Holy, Holy, Holy"
Trivia question: in the fourth verse of "Brethren We have met to worship" it refers to someone who trembles, what passage is this verse alluding to and who is it that trembled? email your answer to mark@firsthurst.com - first correct answer wins a $10.00 gift card.

BONUS material - you've got to go to this website and listen to Dennis Jernigans' song "PASSIONATE OBSESSION" go to the standalone player and click on the song - you'll not be disappointed
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=71462447

Sunday Church Visits - May 27, 2007

Sunday Ginger and I had the opportunity to visit two churches. Jordan's junior high ensemble was playing the offertory at the First United Methodist church of Hurst www.fumchurst.org. Upon entering the worship center I told Ginger, these people are very patriotic as I noticed alot of people wearing red. Well, I'm sure they are patriotic, but the red was in honor of Pentecost Sunday, symbolizing the fire of the the Holy Spirit.

They began the service with the hymn "O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing". (I thought it was a baptist hymn!). Then an invocation

God of wind, word, and fire, we bless your name this day for sending the light and strength of your Holy Spirit. We give you thanks for all the gifts, great and small, that you have poured out upon your children. Accept us to be living praise and witness to your love throughout all the earth. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

This was followed by a baritone solo "Lord, You are Here" written by Stan Pethel. Click here to learn more on Stan http://www.hopepublishing.com/html/main.isx?sub=27&search=188

I once commissioned Stan (a southern baptist) to compose a song for the choir at First Baptist Church of Pryor, Oklahoma.

Following the scripture reading there was a printed Congregational Call to Prayer,"Holy Spirit Come to Us". The bulletin indicated for the congregation to sing as directed. Well I didn't quite read the small print, so when the minister of music began to sing, I naturally began to sing along. Well Ginger informed me later that I was the only one singing with the minister of music the first time through. So you could say I sang a duet at the Methodist Church last Sunday.

The other hymns they sang included

"Breathe On me Breathe of God", "Doxology", "Gloria Patri", and "In Christ there is no East or West".

From there we traveled north to Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano. The praiseteam started the service with "God is great" a song from Hillsongs music. Click here to see the words

http://www.lyricsdownload.com/darlene-zschech-god-is-great-lyrics.html

Following that we were led by the "The Sounds of Liberty" an auditioned group from Liberty University http://www.liberty.edu/ministryteams/index.cfm?PID=1621

This was followed by a video tribute to Jerry Falwell, with an introduction by Jack Graham. The sermon was on revival, you can listen to the sermon here once it is posted http://www.prestonwood.org/services/media/

We enjoyed the service at Prestonwood.

I'd encourage you if you get a chance to check the church out. I missed not getting to see their 500 voice choir. A church that large can be a little overwhelming, and can leave you feeling a disconnected. I believe the key to the 'mega' church surviving in the future will be its ability to break the larger group down in to manageable smaller groups.

Stories Behind the Songs - May 27, 2007

SABBATICAL INFO:

Friends, as many of you know I'll be taking at month long sabbatical starting this Friday May 25th. During my absence John Brewer our worship associate will be leading the worship. We'll post stories for the songs this Sunday and next Sunday, then we'll take a break while I'm out. We'll start back with more info in July. Still check back on the blog as I'll be posting info during my time off.

"Sweet Hour of Prayer"

The Handbell ministry will present an arrangement of this hymn.

William Walford wrote the words:

During my re­si­dence at Coles­hill, War­wick­shire, Eng­land, I be­came ac­quaint­ed with W. W. Wal­ford, the blind preach­er, a man of ob­scure birth and con­nect­ions and no ed­u­ca­tion, but of strong mind and most re­ten­tive mem­o­ry. In the pul­pit he ne­ver failed to se­lect a less­on well adapt­ed to his sub­ject, giv­ing chap­ter and verse with un­err­ing pre­ci­sion and scarce­ly ev­er mis­plac­ing a word in his re­pe­ti­tion of the Psalms, ev­ery part of the New Tes­ta­ment, the pro­phe­cies, and some of the his­to­ries, so as to have the rep­u­ta­tion of “know­ing the whole Bi­ble by heart.” He ac­tu­al­ly sat in the chim­ney cor­ner, em­ploy­ing his mind in com­pos­ing a ser­mon or two for Sab­bath de­liv­ery, and his hands in cut­ting, shap­ing and po­lish­ing bones for shoe horns and other lit­tle use­ful im­ple­ments. At in­ter­vals he at­tempt­ed po­e­try. On one oc­ca­sion, pay­ing him a vi­sit, he re­peat­ed two or three piec­es which he had co­mposed, and hav­ing no friend at home to commit them to paper, he had laid them up in the store­house within. “How will this do?” asked he, as he re­peat­ed the fol­low­ing lines, with a com­pla­cent smile touched with some light lines of fear lest he sub­ject him­self to cri­ti­cism. I ra­pid­ly co­pied the lines with my pen­cil, as he ut­tered them, and sent them for in­ser­tion in the Ob­serv­er, if you should think them worthy of pre­ser­va­tion.

“Lord, Reign in Me”
Click here to listen to the song by Brenton Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcXnugDRy-U&mode=related&search= Here is Brentons' myspace site
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=74875704
Here is the Brentons' website
http://www.brentonbrownmusic.com/


“Draw Me Close”
Click here to read a story about Kelly Carpenter and how he wrote the song http://www.integritymusic.com/worship/story/0203.html
Click here to read an interesting dialogue between Bob Kauflin & Chuck Colson on the merits of this song and how some people have rejected this song. It is an interesting read, and should lead all of us to examine the intent of the songs we sing. Are we really engaged with the message and lyrics or are we just going through the motions?
http://worshipmatters.blogs.com/bobkauflin/2006/04/qa_friday_enter.html

"Give Me Jesus" worship choir
This song is one of our choirs' favorites. We first sang it at the one year anniversary of 911. The song is an arrangement of an old spiritual. There are several arrangements.

Our arrangement is patterned after Fernando Ortega Click here to sing along with Fernado
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKy_NxB398&mode=related&search=
Click here for an arrangement of the song by Jeremy Camp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dca0P7w9ZQ
Click here for even another recording and an excellent guitar solo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE-10IKfMxQ&mode=related&search=

“Victory in Jesus”
This is one of those standard hymns for baptist churches. The song was written by southern baptist Eugene Bartlett. Eugene's son Gene Bartlett was the Director of Church music for the state of Oklahoma for 25 years. I had the opportunity to attend "Uncle Gene's" funeral in Oklahoma City. At the funeral the grandson of the composer led the congregation in singing this great hymn. I'll never forget that moment, watching Eugene's grandson lead the congregation in this great song.

Eugene Monroe Bartlett Senior was born on Christmas Eve of 1885. He wrote the words to this hymn -- his last song -- in 1939. Mr. Bartlett was well known as a gospel singer, writer, teacher, editor, and publisher. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1979.The words from this well-known and cherished hymn remind us that we can experience victory in Jesus every day of our lives.

I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins;

And won the victory.


O victory in Jesus,My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,

Of His cleansing power revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,

And somehow Jesus came and brought To me the victory.

I heard about a mansion

He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold

Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,

And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there

The song of victory.

Click here for a clip from one of the homecoming concerts, Cynthia Clawson, Mike Allen & Joy Gardner singing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPv_S3RpIF4&mode=related&search=
Click here to sing along
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA_GPPSgRuQ&mode=related&search=
Click here to hear a great organ solo on "Victory in Jesus"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_b3sYB8Uo&mode=related&search=
Click here for a great country version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaFo3ZW_MTQ&mode=related&search=


"RESCUE"
Click here to listen to the story behind the song: http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-232-Rescue-Anderson.mp3
Click here to listen to the song on Jared's myspace. http://myspace.com/jaredandersonmusic

Trivia question: The Battle Hymn of the Republic was written on the banks of what River? email your answer to mark@firsthurst.com

“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 power
Till all the ransomed church of God

be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.

"Jesus Paid it All"

I received this email from Alex Nefong in England who wrote the song:

Sure man... I have an old hymnal that I frequently play through sometimes during my private times alone with the Lord. I was playing through that song one day in Jan of 05 and I just started praying and singing out the phrase O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead. It was as simple as that. Just a prayer that came right out of my heart. Thanks for asking Mark.

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

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

You can listen to "Jesus Paid it All" by clicking here www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php
Click here to worship along
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onxhvivQYfI
Click here to worship along with a younger generation led by Kristian Stanfill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-OOjfaBGnA&mode=related&search=
You can go here to Kristians' myspace and click on the song just to listen
http://www.myspace.com/kristianstanfill
WOW - here it is in Spanish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRBtWP_buA

SERMON
Escape From Judgement (Hebrews 2:3; 9:27-28; 1 Thess. 5:2-3)

Offertory "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by the Handbell ministry.
Words by Julia W. Howe 1861. This hymn was born dur­ing the Amer­i­can ci­vil war, when Howe vis­it­ed a Un­ion Ar­my camp on the Po­to­mac Riv­er near Wash­ing­ton, D. C. She heard the sol­diers sing­ing the song “John Brown’s Body,” and was tak­en with the strong march­ing beat. She wrote the words the next day:

"I awoke in the grey of the morn­ing, and as I lay wait­ing for dawn, the long lines of the de­sired po­em be­gan to en­twine them­selves in my mind, and I said to my­self, “I must get up and write these vers­es, lest I fall asleep and for­get them!” So I sprang out of bed and in the dim­ness found an old stump of a pen, which I re­mem­bered us­ing the day be­fore. I scrawled the vers­es al­most with­out look­ing at the p­aper."

The hymn ap­peared in the At­lant­ic Month­ly in 1862. It was sung at the fun­er­als of Brit­ish states­man Win­ston Church­ill, Amer­i­can sen­at­or Ro­bert Ken­ne­dy, and Am­er­i­can pre­si­dents Ron­ald Rea­gan and Ri­chard Nix­on.
Music: John Brown’s Bo­dy, poss­i­bly by John Will­iam Steffe
John Brown was an Amer­i­can abo­li­tion­ist who led a short lived in­­sur­­rect­­ion to free the slaves.

Abba's Child

This is one of my favorite stories from Brennan Manning, it is well worth the read.

Abba’s Child

Once I related the story of an old man dying of cancer. The old man’s daughter had asked the local priest to come and pray with her father. When the priest arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. “I guess you were expecting me,” he said. “No, who are you?” “I’m the new associate at your parish,” the priest replied. “When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.” “Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bedridden man. “Would you mind closing the door?” Puzzled, the priest shut the door. “I’ve never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man, “but all my life I have never known how to pray. At the Sunday Mass I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head. Finally I said to him one day in sheer frustration, ‘I get nothing out of your homilies on prayer’. “ ‘Here,’ says my pastor reaching into the bottom drawer of his desk. ‘Read this book by Hans Urs von Balthasar. He’s a Swiss theologian. It’s the best book on contemplative prayer in the twentieth century.’
“Well, Father,” says the man, “I took the book home and tried to read it. But in the first three pages I had to look up twelve words in the dictionary. I gave the book back to my pastor, thanked him and under my breath whispered ‘for nothin’.’ “I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” he continued, “until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, ‘Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here’s what I suggest. Sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because He promised, ‘I’ll be with you all days.’ Then just speak to Him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now.’ “So, Padre, I tried it and I’ve liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.”

The priest was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the rectory. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the priest that her daddy had died that afternoon. “Did he seem to die in peace?” he asked. “Yes, when I left the house around two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corney jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store and hour later I found him dead. But there was something strange, Father. In fact beyond strange, kinda weird. Apparently just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside his bed.”

Copied from "Abba's Child" pg 124 & 125

Stories behind the songs - Sunday May 20, 2007

"YOUR NAME"

We'll begin with the song "Your Name" led by soloist John Brewer and the worship choir. The song is by composer Travis Cottrell. Travis is the worship leader for the "Living Proof" conferences with teacher Beth Moore. Click here for an in depth article on Travis' ministry.

www.integritymusic.com/worship/artist/0105.html

Here's an insightful quote by Travis on worship:
When asked what kind of a musical legacy he would like to leave the church, Travis Cottrell expressed “I would hope that I would be remembered as someone who has a passion for Jesus, passion that supersedes any kind of musical style,” he says, ardently. “I would hope to make a mark – small as it may be – that shows that we can’t define our expressions of worship generationally. Part of what’s going on in the church and in our disagreements about worship, is that we all want to worship like we grew up worshipping. We want it to sound pleasing to us. To me that’s not what worship is about. Worship is not a sound, it’s a lifestyle, it’s our heart. If I could change someone’s perspective on what worship is, that’s exactly what I set out to do.

"BLESSED BE YOUR NAME"

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=

"TRADING MY SORROWS"

This song is by Darrell Evans. Darrell lives in Haltom City.

Click here to hear the story behind the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-177-TradingMySorrows-Evans.mp3

You can listen to the song on Darrell's myspace
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=36203670

"FRIEND OF GOD"
This is a great song by Israel Houghton click here to hear the story behind the song.

http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-229-FriendofGod-Israel.mp3

Click here to listen to the song on Israels' myspace.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=99989541

"RESCUE"

We'll learn a new song "Rescue" by Jared Anderson.
Click here to listen to the story behind the song:
http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-232-Rescue-Anderson.mp3

Click here to listen to the song on Jared's myspace.
http://myspace.com/jaredandersonmusic

Following a time of prayer over our graduates, Chad Carpenter a high school senior will lead us in worship.

"HERE I AM TO WORSHIP"

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

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

Click here to read more about the composer Tim Hughes
www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/worship/1227531/

"HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD"

Click here to listen to the story behind the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-302-HowGreatisOurGod-Tomlin.mp3
Click here to listen to Chris share about how the song came about.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpfKli_4LQ0&mode=related&search=

Click here to worship along with Darlene Zschech

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIiBYMAs8Qo&mode=related&search=

Trivia question this week: One of the first songs that Travis Cottrell wrote called "It's only Thunder" was recorded by what christian artist.

Chris on the song:

Another simple song that started from the thought of God's greatness and presence. My hope is that it is simple enough to sing, yet profound enough to cause the heart and soul to stand in wonder. I've already been overwhelmed from the response I've seen from this song.

Sermon topic this Sunday is

"Escape From Purposelessness"

John 10:39-42

Offertory Sunday will be "Homeward Bound" shared by Rachel Brown, Chad Carpenter, and Aaron Lagrone.

I received an email from my niece Candis who spent the month of January touring France. She sent these pictures of the friends she toured with, a view of the countryside and St. Francis Cathedral. Amazing I was reading about St. Francis, Candis was experiencing St. Francis.
CANDIS ROCKS! She would be the one with her mouth open the widest!












View of the Cathedral
Candis' comments:
I went to Assisi while in Italy over January! Thanks to Rick James, I did a walking tour of Assisi which ended at the cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. That cathedral was one of the biggest we went to in all of Italy. One of the many cathedrals in Assisi, had the prayer of St. Francis posted at an alter...the very spot, supposedly, where he prayed the prayer and gave his life to Christ. Assisi was a beautiful place, just as St. Francis was a beautiful servant of Christ. Candis Garner
THE CATHEDRAL

Great short story

You have to take time to watch this short story.

http://www.stservicemovie.com/

Thoughts on St. Francis of Assisi

I was reading recently about St. Francis of Assisi and found this information and paragraph from Brennan Manning inspiring. He sounds like a guy I would have loved spending some time with. St. Francis was born at Assisi in 1182. After a care free youth, he turned his back on inherited wealth and committed himself to God. Like many early saints, he lived a very simple life of poverty, and in so doing, gained a reputation of being the friend of animals. He established the rule of St Francis, which exists today as the Order of St. Francis, or the Franciscans. He died in 1226, aged 44. Contemporaries of Francis of Assisi called him le jon gleur de Dieu - the clown of God. At the first mass meeting of Franciscans, with three thousand brothers in attendance, Francis gently instructed the birds to stop chirping so that the friars might hear his sermon. They obeyed instantly. He tamed a wolf who was eating people in the village of Gubbio and extracted a promise from the locals to provide food each night for the carnivore. He picked up two stray pieces of wood, pretending that one was a bow and the other a fiddle, and sang love songs to God in French. He composed a canticle praising God for Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Fire, Sister Water, and even Sister Death. He often stood on his head to see the world upside down, reminding his neighbors and himself that life on planet earth hangs precariously on the strings of God's loving kindness.
Ruthless Trust Pg 70 Brennan Manning

THE PRAYER OF St. FRANCIS of ASSISI

Lord, make me an

Instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much

Seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are

Born to eternal life.

Stories behind the songs - Sunday May 13, 2007

As we prepare for worship this Sunday, start by asking yourself these questions.

Am I seeing God anew in the Word through discovery and meditation so I am compelled to draw near to Him?
Am I being sincere?
Is my heart fixed on Him and undivided?
Am I fully assured that only faith in Christ can bring me to God’s throne?
Am I coming humbly, realizing I can draw near only because of what Christ has done for me?
Is there any sin in my life I haven’t dealt with?

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
We'll begin Sunday with a short video tribute to Moms, following that we'll move into worship with the song

"Sing to the King"

The song was written by Billy James Foote. Billy is a member of the Alamo City Christian Fellowship. Billy started leading worship in 1990, right out of college. Back then Christiandom didn't demand bands. They were satisfied with simplicity. Billy played his guitar and led worship by himself until several years later. He added a drummer (Joe McArthur) first and then a bass player (Shawn Skeen) and then Cindy joined in with vocals in 2001. Sometime around the year 2000 Billy began having vocal trouble which turned out to be a neurological condition called hyper-disphonia. There's really no cure for this condition. So Cindy began singing more of the lead vocals over time. Though Cindy sings most of the songs, Billy is still the person giving direction to the worship time and, of course, he writes most of the songs the band plays. Billy began song writing in the late 1990's. He's written several well known songs including:
"Break Our Hearts", "Goodness and Mercy", "You Are My King (Amazing Love)", "Sing to the King", "I Have a River", "Die the Death", "You Are God Alone (not a god)", "You Are Welcome Here" and "Welcome to the Cross".

Learn more about Billy's ministry on his myspace website & ministry website:
http://www.myspace.com/billyfooteband
http://www.billyfoote.com/

"Gentle Shepherd"

Worship Choir anthem, Oboe - Lauren Graham
The worship choir will share a new arrangement of this classic by Bill Gaither. The song is based on the scripture, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."John 10:11
Jesus used many metaphors to explain his identity. One of the most beautiful is that of the sheep and the shepherd.

Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need You to help us find our way Gentle Shepherd come and feed us, for we need Your strength from day to day There's no other we can turn to who can help us face another day Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need you to help us find our way

"You are My All in All"

Many of you will remember our joint concert with area churches up at First Baptist Church of Grapevine.. The evening of praise was led by Dennis Jernigan. Dennis has written many of the worship songs we sing including "Who can Satisfy", "We will worship the Lamb of Glory", "I belong to Jesus", "When the night is Falling" and "You are my all in all".

Here are some links that will share more about Dennis' ministry.

Click here for an article about Dennis

http://www.okbu.edu/news/view_article.php?id=1127

Click here for Dennis' website
http://www.dennisjernigan.com/

Click here to hear Dennis ministering in Brazil * must see
http://mickey.tv/r/Video.aspx?v=B_O6TUAMWIw&key=Dennis+Jernigan

"Whiter than Snow"

Click here see the lyrics and listen to the song

http://www.tagnet.org/digitalhymnal/en/dh318.html
This hymn text was written by a Christian layman. James Nicholson emigrated to America around the age of 25. He spent the early part of his life as a clerk in the post office of Philadelphia, yet he was active in the work of the Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Church. The hymn was first published in a pamphlet titled "Joyful Songs" in 1872. The hymn's popularity greatly increased with its inclusion in the well-know GOSPEL HYMNS series published by Sankey and Bliss. Around 1871, he moved to Washington DC and worked as a clerk in the Post Office Department.

Click here to listen to the song and see the lyrics:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/i/whiterts.htm

Here is one of the verses we'll sing Sunday, I love the imagery of Jesus applying his blood and extracting our stain.

Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,

Apply Thine own blood and extract ev’ry stain;

To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

"Everything to me "

Charla West and Christie Taylor will share this song after the ministry of prayer. The song is by the group Avalon click here to learn more about the group http://www.avalonlive.com/
Listen to the song and follow along with the words -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x7LpTizSOc&mode=related&search=

"Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)"
New Song Cafe - story behind the song "Amazing Grace" * must see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_4lIik9D8

More information on how the song came about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IliVc9JqW0I

Click here to watch the music video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXV6HJxUebg&mode=related&search=

"The Sermon Topic - Escape From Delusional Living"

Amos 2:14-16 (Jeremiah 46:6; Psalm 33:16-22)

Trivia Question today - What verse of "Amazing Grace" was actually written 100 years later. Hint check out Chris Tomlin on youtube.

Email the answer to mark@firsthurst.com

"He's not on His Knees Yet"

The offertory Sunday will be Lisa Speir singing accompanied by the dance ministry.

Here are the lyrics:

He doesn't know his worth

Wears the saddest smile on earth

But he denies it

Love is reaching out to him

But he won't let it in

He defies it He defies it

He's not ready

He's not on his knees yet

He's too strong to be weak

Show him mercy

He's not on his knees yet

Let him break please make him better

Put the pieces back together

He thinks that he's alone I have walked the road he's

I know he's searching Looking everywhere but up

He can't fill his empty cup

So he keeps hurting

He keeps hurting Help him please,

He's not on his knees yet

Great song writers, part one - Lenny Leblanc

Here is a picture I had made at one of the Integrity Worship conferences in Ft. Worth with Lenny Leblanc. Lenny is a great song writer who lives in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. My brother Eddy served as the Campus minister at the University of North Alabama and would have Lenny over to lead worship periodically. Eddy said Lenny "the person" is the same guy as Lenny "the artist". I think that says a lot. I was re-reading Brennan Manning's book "Abba's Child". His second chapter is simply called "The Impostor", this section convicted me concerning how I treat others.

One lonely night in the Colorado Rockies, I heard this message: "Brennan, you bring your full presence and attention to certain members of the community but offer a diminished presence to others. Those who have stature, wealth, and charisma, those you find interesting or charming or pretty or famous command your undivided attention, but people you consider plain or dowdy, those of less rank performing menial tasks, the unsung and uncelebrated are not treated with the same regard. This is not a minor matter to me, Brennan. The way you are with others every day, regardless of their status, is the real test of faith." Brennan Manning "Abba's Child" pg 38

Two of my favorite songs he wrote are

1) "Above All"

In 1991, years after Paul and Lenny had become well-known Christian songwriters and worship leaders, Lenny invited Paul to his Alabama home to collaborate on a project. Paul sang Lenny an unfinished song that he had started. The lyric began, Above all powers, above all kings/Above all nations and all created things, and went on to extol more of God's greatness. It was powerful, but Paul wasn't happy with any of the choruses he had written for it. Early the next morning, Lenny slipped into his studio to play around with the tune. Instead of expanding on Paul's verses with more majestic phrases, God gave him a chorus that touched on the paradoxical nature of Christ's life: Crucified, and laid behind a stone/You lived to die, rejected and alone.

2) "There is none like You" - I couldn't find a story behind this song, I guess the lyrics speak for themselves.

There is none like You No one else can touch my heart like You do I could search for all eternity long And find there is none like You Your mercy flows like a river wide And healing comes from Your hands Suffering children are safe in Your arms There is none like You

Stories behind the songs - Sunday May 6, 2007

Chris Tomlin Isaac Watts

We'll begin our worship with the great hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross". The original song was written by Isaac Watts, the new chorus was written by Chris Tomlin. Isaac was born in 1674 and Chris was born in 1972. Even though they are separated by three hundred years, there is no separation between their passion and commitment to leading God's people in worship. WOW! The past meets the present.

Click here to hear Chris Tomlin talk about how this new arrangement came about. http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-306-TheWonderfulCross-Tomlin.mp3

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

You can listen to more of Chris Tomlins' music on his myspace website.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=94631118

Isaac Watts (July 17, 1674 – November 25, 1748) is recognized as the "Father of English Hymnody", as he was the first prolific and popular English hymnwriter, credited with some 750 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in active use today and have been translated into many languages.

Click here to read more about Isaac Watts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Watts

This is an interesting read on Isaac Watts.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/w/a/t/watts_i.htm

Isaac is best known for his emphasizing the role of music in worship, where the congregation actually began to sing with the choir. Watts became the congregation's pastor in 1702. Just five feet tall, he was an unprepossessing figure in the pulpit. Health problems continued to plague him, and an assistant had to be appointed to fill in for him after a severe bout with illness in 1703. Despite these problems, Watts was a powerful preacher. The Mark Lane congregation outgrew its quarters and twice had to move to larger facilities, and Watts' sermons began to be collected and printed. Part of his success was due to his emphasis on the role of music in worship. A minister, he felt, should not only write sermons but should seek to involve his congregation in worship through music.

"In Christ Alone" by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

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

Click here to listen to the song
http://www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php

"I’m Amazed" - Worship choir anthem - we'll have a special guest soloist Cederick Johnson, former roommate of John Brewer.

Carol Cymbala says she wrote the song after speaking to a group of choir directors and sharing with them the story of a homeless man who came to hear the choir sing on Easter Sunday and ended up turning his life around. From that came the fitting lyrics, "I’m amazed that you love me, I’m amazed how you care."

Here are the lyrics

No one knew how alone I was feeling,

And the emptiness I tried so hard to hide

Though I laughed and said my life was fine without You,

I was covering up the secret tears I cried

Then one day someone told me of Your mercy

And the love You showed on a hill called Calvary

There you died and purchased my redemption

When you broke sin’s power and set my spirit free

I’m amazed that you love me

I’m amazed how you care

Through your precious blood,

I’ve found pardon And my sins are washed,

They’re all washed away All my sins are washed away

It’s true there have been days when I’ve failed You Lord,

you know the many times I’ve gone astray

But I’ve learned that Your love is stronger than my weakness

And your ear is open every time I pray.

No one else has ever cared for me like You, Lord

Other friends could never be as close to me

I’m not afraid to face the problems of tomorrow

Knowing You are everything I’ll ever need

Carol Cymbala Copyright 2005 Carol Joy Music/ASCAP

"Your Grace is Enough" By Matt Maher -

This song was popularized by Chris Tomlin, here is a clip on youtube of Chris and Matt talking about the song meaning along with a performance of the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIgGHA27nG4&mode=related&search=

Click here to listen to the song.
http://www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php

Click here to learn more about Matt Maher the composer.
http://www.mattmahermusic.com/

"Grace Greater than our Sins"
Sometimes the argument is advanced that since God's grace covers all our sings, then we are free to live as we please. God's grace does provide for our freedom, but it is meant to free us from a slavery to our selfish, sinful nature in order that we might pursue "every good work" - to become all that God intends us to be.
Julia Johnston was for many years involved in the work of Sunday schools at the First Presbyterian Church of Peoria, Illinois, and as a writer of lesson materials for primary age children for the David C. Cook Publishing Company. She also wrote approximately 500 hymn texts. The composer of this hymn, Daniel B. Towner, was for many years the director of the music department at Mood Bible Institute. "Grace Greater than Our Sin" first appeared in Towner's compilation, Hymns Tried and True, 1911.

After the ministry of prayer
John Brewer and Cederick Johnson will sing the song "Everything" by Lifehouse.

Click here to listen to the song

http://www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php

Click here to learn more about how this group was formed.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2001/006/22.28.html

Here is the bands website.
http://www.lifehousemusic.com/

Here is some more information on the group.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifehouse_(band)

"Revelation Song"
I was at an Integrity music conference listening to Paul Baloche take some Q&A after a large group session. There were about 15 people standing around when I noticed the name tag on the lady beside me. Her name was Jennie Riddle, I turned and asked her "Your name sounds familiar, how do I know your name?" She said, "Well I did write the song "Revelation Song". Since then I've run into her at the Lamar Boschman worship pastor luncheons. She is housewife in from McKinney, Texas who simply heard what I would call a song from the "other side". You can listen to "Revelation song" on Jennie's myspace, the recording is by Karen Wheaton. Today's' trivia question is two fold "How tall was Isaac Watts and where is his tomb?" Email the correct answer to mark@firsthurst.com - first correct answer receives a $10.00 Blockbuster Video card.

Here is Jennie's myspace:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=92675621

Jeff's Sermon Sunday

"Escape From Temptation in a Sinful Culture"
2 Peter 1:3-4 (Genesis 7:7; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13) 2 Timothy 2:26

Offertory this Sunday will include a preview of "Operation Back to School 2007"