Thursday, May 10, 2007

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
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 evry 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.



"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

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