Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Behind the Praise - Sunday June 1, 2008

"Your Grace is Enough"

Click here to listen to how the song was written
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIgGHA27nG4

Click here to worship along
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtnE_e1LylY

"New Doxology"

This is a new arrangement of the traditional Doxology. The added verse was written by Thomas Miller worship pastor at Gateway church in Southlake, Texas.

Click here to listen to Thomas share about how he wrote the additional verses from the third person:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhN5sdKLDcQ

A doxology (from the Greek doxa, glory + logos, word or speaking) is a short hymn of praise to God in various Christian worship services, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns
This doxology has widespread use in English circles, in some Protestant traditions commonly referred to simply as "The Doxology" and in others as “The Common Doxology”, is:
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
This text, which was originally the seventh and final stanza of "Glory to thee, my God, this night", a hymn for evening worship written by Thomas Ken in about 1674, is usually sung to the tune Old 100th, but also to Duke Street by John Hatton, Lasst uns erfreuen, and The Eighth Tune by Thomas Tallis, among others.

Click here for a recording of the Gateway version:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_7VhWC4TAU

Click here to listen online:
www.rhapsody.com/gatewayworship

Click here to hear and see the Doxology
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHCGwJvKRBY&mode=related&search=

Click here to hear one of the most accomplished guitarist present a unique version
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBE6dfT87yo&mode=related&search=


"You are So Awesome"

Worship Choir with Soloist John Brewer
This dynamic song is from the group "Youthful Praise" click here to read more about J.J. Hairston and the ministry of "Youthful Praise", you can also scroll down on this website and listen to the song
www.gospelflava.com/articles/youthfulpraiseliveaudio.html

Click here to worship along with "Youthful Praise"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTg1mfo_81k

Click here to worship along with the New Life Inspirational Gospel choir
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxVFTPUwXjo

"Thank you Lord"
This song of thanksgiving was written by Paul Baloche & Don Moen.
We are commanded to give thanks:
Psalm 136:4-9 -
Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who placed the earth on the water. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights -- His faithful love endures forever. The sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever

Click here to learn more about Don Moen
www.jjonline.com/biographies/donMoen.php

Click here to learn more about Paul Baloches' testimony
www.christianmusic.com/paulbaloche/bio.html

Click here to worship along with Don Moen
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZwl_VJJ3xM

"Here in your Presence"
Jon Egan wrote this song after meditating on the presence of God. He said that as he leads worship for the youth, he sees what a few moments spent in the presence of the Lord can do for people.
Click here to listen to Jon Egan share how he wrote the song, scroll down to the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml

Found in Your hands, fullness of joy
Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your presence
All of my gains now fade away
Every crown no longer on display, here in Your presence
Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonders
The kings and their kingdom are standing amazed
Here in Your presence, we are undone Here in Your presence,
Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new
Here in Your presence, everything bows before You
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way


Click here to worship along with the New Life worship team:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFZyT2fEK3I

“Here I Am to Worship”

If songs are like children to their writers, then 25 year-old Englishman Tim Hughes carried "Here I Am To Worship" to full term, letting the reverent tune take perfect shape over a nine-month period. Back in 1999 while still in college, he first sat down to craft a musical response to his reading of Philippians 2:5, which says, "Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus." And from the start, he had the humility part mastered.
"I was playing around with my guitar when the verse just came out," he modestly recalls. "However, I couldn't get a chorus that I was happy with. The original one was embarrassingly bad!"
Thankfully, Tim recorded the verse into his Dictaphone, and months later during a quiet creative time, he patched it together with another strong melody idea and brought "Here I Am To Worship" to fruition.
"I'd been reading about the cross and thinking through Jesus' amazing sacrifice," Tim says of the lyrical theme. "Sometimes when God meets with us we don't quite know how to respond properly. It's often too much for us to take in. Hopefully in a small way the chorus captures that: 'Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely, worthy, wonderful.'"
Although the song had been completed, the writer was still not convinced of its potential. Leading worship at his Soul Survivor home church one day, Tim sang "Here I Am To Worship" for his fellow members and was duly advised by his pastor Mike Pilavachi to start using it more often. Since then, Hughes - who built his own chops leading Delirious and Matt Redman favorites - has seen the song take on a life of its own.
It must be a God thing.... People have seemed to really connect with it, and we've had some special times in worship using the song," he admits. "I remember one time at the end of a Worship Together conference in San Diego when we'd been performing the song. The band stopped, and then the congregation just kept singing the chorus for about 15 minutes."

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/

Sermon - “The Invitation to the Wedding" Matthew 22:1-10

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Behind the Praise - Sunday May 25, 2008

"Friend of God"
Israel Houghton serves as one of the worship pastors for Lakewood Church in Houston. Here is a portion of his amazing story.
I really should have been one of those abortion statistics you read about. My mother became pregnant with me when she was 17. My mother's white and my biological father's black. Her family wasn't supportive of their relationship and gave her the choice to have a back-alley abortion or to be disowned. I'm here because of the decision she made-and because of her conversion shortly after that. So when I lead worship I'm crazy. I realize how fortunate I am to be called by God and to be protected, to be covered by him. I'm incredibly grateful.

I grew up in a fairly legalistic home. My parents loved God, and they did the very best they could with what they knew. They came from a very discipleship-oriented, fairly heavy-handed way of doing kingdom work. So I would have more easily said, "I am afraid of God" than "I am a friend of God." The view I had of God was dysfunctional, almost like he was looking for opportunities to punish me. That was more what I caught than what was taught. But the more I said "I am a friend of God," the more that old, condemning view was purged from my life. I gained a healing sense of God saying, "I want to know you."

Here is a devotional thought on the song
www.gospelflava.com/articles/songinword-friendofgod.html

Here is an interview with Israel that gives great insight into Israel’s walk with the Lord. www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/israel_houghton_041205.aspx

Click here to listen to the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty0SO7IvtXM

"I will Bless the Lord"
This song was written by Byron Cage:
Inspired by the singing of the late, Rev. Donald Vails and Thomas Whitfield, Cage began singing gospel music as a teenager. He also served as music director for the New Birth Church in Atlanta for a decade.

Musical career
Byron's credits include performing with Dottie Peoples and providing background vocals for BeBe Winans and Commissioned on their Will U B Ready? album in 1989. He has also worked with the GMWA National Mass Choir, Ebenezer A.M.E. Mass Choir CD, Full Gospel Baptist Mass Choir, and Bishop Dennis Leonard's Heritage Christian Center Mass Choir. Together with his nine-vocalist group, Purpose, which he formed in the mid-'90s, Cage has recorded 2 live albums of spirituals: Transparent in Your Presence, Dwell Among Us and his solo projects include An Invitation to Worship album, a self-titled LP recorded Live at New Birth Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia, and his upcoming release Live at the Apollo: The Proclamation.


Click here to worship along with Byron Cage:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzywqoC6hdk

"You are Good"


Click here to learn more about Israel Houghton's ministry.
www.profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=99989541

Israel leads a worship band called "New Breed" here's their website, you can listen to portions of the songs they sing including "You are Good"
www.newbreedmusic.com/

Click here to learn more about Israel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Houghton

Click here to worship along with Israel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAGZ8HmiWCM

Click here to see Israel singing "You are Good" in concert:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCpy1Bg255A&feature=related





"All My Life"

This is a powerful worship song by the Parachute Band John 8:36 says: 'So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed'. All My Life was written in response to the freedom found in Jesus. It's a simple song, but it's a simple message. Jesus is my freedom and my reason and I love Him with all my life.

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


"Believe" This song is by Kirk Franklin and will be sung by the ensemble Tetelestai.

Click here to listen to the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp3w-1qNOKU




"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.

Click here to worship along
www.youtube.com/watch?v=onxhvivQYfI

Click here to worship along with a younger generation led by Kristian Stanfill:
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
www.myspace.com/kristianstanfill

WOW - here it is in Spanish
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRBtWP_buA



"Legacy"
This song will be sung by Lisa Warren one of our seniors. The song is by Nicole Nordeman.
Click here to learn more about Nicole:
www.nicholenordeman.com/

Click here to listen to Nicole sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0S0ep-QsNI

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Behind the Praise - May 18, 2008

“All Hail the Power of Jesus Name”
Some years ago, missionary E. P. Scott went to India. He set out to visit a remote mountain tribe which had never heard the name of Christ. As he neared their land, he was suddenly surrounded by a savage band of warriors, all pointing their spears straight at his heart. Expecting a quick death, the missionary pulled out his violin and began playing and singing in their native language the hymn "All hail the power of Jesus' name." He reached the stanza that reads:
Let every tribe and every tongue On this terrestrial ball
To him all majesty ascribe And crown him Lord of all...
The natives lowered their weapons and some were in tears. E. P. Scott spent the rest of his life ministering to these primitive people.
The hymn which so effectively moved this Indian tribe is often referred to as the "National Anthem of Christendom" and has been translated into almost every language where there are Christians. The author of the hymn, Edward Perronet was the descendent of a French Huguenot family which fled first to Switzerland and then to England to escape religious persecution. Perronet was a pastor who worked closely with John and Charles Wesley for many years in England's eighteenth- century revival.
At that time, Methodists were savagely persecuted. According to John Wesley's diary, Edward did not escape his share of abuse either. "Edward Perronet was thrown down and rolled in mud and mire" at Bolton, he wrote.
Edward was uneasy about preaching in front of John Wesley. Wesley urged him to do so several times. Finally, Wesley forced the issue. He announced that Brother Perronet would speak the following week. A week later, witty Edward mounted the pulpit and declared he would deliver the greatest sermon ever preached. He then read Christ's "Sermon on the Mount" and sat down!

Click here to worship along on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=itUNSwS4q9E

Click here to hear an acapella arrangement by Point of Grace:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKT0WZM5aI8

Click here to hear an organ arrangement of the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54CqTpLW9E

Click here to sing along with Avalon:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucF_C7rYe58


"Praise to the Lord"

The lyrics for this great hymn were written by Joachim Neander
Click here to learn more about this great composer who died at the young age of thirty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joachim_Neander

Click here to hear the story behind the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7qq_0UNREE

Click here to read the lyrics and sing along
www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/t/pttlta.htm

Click here to listen to the hymn played on tubular bells
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNy8UOvdyNM

Click here to hear a Finger style guitar arrangement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0aPO9k037k&mode=related&search=

Click here to hear a hear a solo violin arrangement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcOysumrQfc&mode=related&search=


"The Churches One Foundation"

In 1860, a volume entitled "Essays and Reviews" caused controversy in the Anglican Church. It questioned the historical accuracy of Scripture. A few years later this idea was furthered by John William Colenso (1814 -1883), the bishop of Natal in South Africa, who published The Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua Critically Examined (1862-63). This book denied that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, called Joshua a myth, called the books of Chronicles fictitious and disputed the accuracy of Christ’s statements about Moses.
The bishop of Cape Town, South Africa, Bishop Gray, supported by 40 other bishops deposed Colenso for his heresy. A battle ensued, as Colenso refused to submit. A court confirmed his deposition but Colenso appealed to a secular court, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and he was reinstated. This created a schism in the South African church that lasted until Colenso’s death.
During this time the Reverend Samuel John Stone, one of Bishop Gray’s supporters, was concerned about people saying the Apostles Creed in a perfunctory manner, saying the words without a clear understanding of what they were saying. He wrote a series of twelve hymns, each explaining a section of the creed and defending the fact of the inspiration of Scripture. "The Church’s One Foundation" explains the ninth article – "I believe in the Holy Catholic (Universal) church, the communion of the saints." This series of hymns was printed in Lyra Fidelium (Lyre of the Faithful) in 1866.
The controversy between Colenso and Gray is referenced in this hymn in stanza 3, "Though there be those that hate her, and false sons in her pale" and stanza 4, "With a scornful wonder, men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder by heresies distressed."
Originally this hymn had 7 stanzas. In 1868 this hymn was included in Hymns, Ancient and Modern with 5 stanzas, omitting the original third stanza and combining the second halves of the sixth and seventh stanzas as stanza 5. Most hymnals use that version. In 1885, three more stanzas were added to the original hymn, giving a total of 10 stanzas, to be used for an ecclesiastical processional hymn in the Salisbury Cathedral.



Click here for an organ arrangement of the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sevx8cvqs5M&feature=related



We'll be singing the words to the tune of "Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus"
Click here for this song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r11Gmdq__-8



"We will Dance"

David Ruis is a great song writer. He wrote songs like "Sweet Mercies", "You're worthy of my praise", "We will Dance", and "Let your Glory Fall".Here is a portion of Davids' testimony:I was raised in a very conservative religous household and trained classically musically. My musical journey took me through boys' choirs and classical piano and very little more in the church than the classic "hymn sandwich" every Sunday. My theological journey took me through cessasionsim, suits and ties and very little awareness - let alone understanding or application - of what I now know as "worship".That all began to shift as a young church planter with an encounter with the Lord as the result of colliding with the Vineyard movement of churches in February of 1987. The proverbial paradigm shift propelled me into an intimacy with God that I never even dreamed was possible - a roller coaster of a ride through the gifts of the Holy Spirit and power encounters - to an awareness of the kingdom of God, power that is anchored in compassion and community that has the poor and marginalized at its center.
Click here for the lyrics:
www.worship.co.za/solo/renew12.asp

Learn more about David Ruis here:
www.davidruis.com/

Click here to worship along with song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfIBQRT7UVY



"Let the Church Rise"


Jonathan Stockstill is the worship leader for Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, La. Also a songwriter, he has written or co-written over 50 songs for the body of Christ. Stockstill has played the piano and guitar for over 20 years. Born in 1981, he started at 4 years old and eventually received formal training in classical and jazz piano. Son of Bethany's current pastor Larry Stockstill and grandson of church founder Roy Stockstill, Jonathan has attended Bethany his entire life.
Jonathan has a heart to train and equip worship leaders and further believes this is the generation that will usher in the return of Jesus. His music emphasizes both the necessity for holiness before God but also the urgency of speaking out for Jesus. He and his wife Angie have been married since February 2005 and together they are a fresh voice for God's kingdom.



Click here for Jonathon Stockstill's myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=282501685


Click here to worship along on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=32VJeiDwhJE



“Agnus Dei”

Michael Whitaker Smith has become one of the most enduringly popular artists on the Christian Contemporary Music front and is also finding considerable success as a mainstream artist. He was born in Kenova, West Virginia, the son of an oil refinery worker and a caterer. He became a devout Christian at age ten and spent his teens hanging around with a solid support group of fellow believers who frequently gathered to play and make music. After high school, that support group split up, and Smith turned to alcohol, drugs and wild times. He scraped through a couple semesters of college and began honing his songwriting skills. In 1978, a songwriting company expressed interest in his songwriting, and he moved to Nashville, where he played with local bands, including Rose. He was still heavily into drugs and continued using until October 1979, when he suffered a sort of emotional mental breakdown that culminated in recommitting to Christ. The next day he auditioned for a new CCM group, Higher Ground, as a keyboardist. While touring with them, Smith cleaned up his act.

In 1981, he signed to Meadowgreen Music as a staff writer, where over the next few years he provided gospel hits for such artists as Sandi Patti, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant. He began touring as a keyboardist with Grant in 1982 and the following year, after releasing his first album, The Michael W. Smith Project, became her opening act. His debut album garnered him a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance.Agnus Dei is a Latin term meaning Lamb of God, and was originally used to refer to Jesus Christ in his role of the perfect sacrificial offering that atones for the sins of humanity in Christian theology, harkening back to ancient Jewish Temple sacrifices.

Click here to worship along with Michael W. Smith and a fantastic boy’s choir:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTWFYRA2j74&feature=related

Click here to worship along with Third Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbKXJ1Jm_jg

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Behind the Praise - Sunday May 11, 2008

"Mighty To Save"
This is another song from the Hillsong music ministry in Sydney Australia. This song is by Reuben Morgan & Ben Fielding. This song has a great re-occuring text. "OUR GOD IS MIGHT TO SAVE". This is taken from the passage in Zephaniah 3:1717 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

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

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

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

"My Life is in Your Hands"

Kirk Franklins' Bio:
Franklin's road to the top, though quick, was far from smooth. Abandoned by his mother and never having known his father, Franklin was reared by his Aunt Gertrude, a deeply religious woman who raised him as a strict Baptist. When he was four, she paid for his piano lessons by collecting aluminum cans. The lessons were money well-spent, for Franklin was a natural musician who could sight read and play by ear with equal facility. At age 11, he was leading the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir near Dallas. Despite, or because of his church background, Franklin began rebelling in his teens and getting into trouble until one of his friends was accidentally shot and killed at age 15. Realizing that he had chosen a bad road, Franklin returned to the fold and began composing songs, recording and conducting. Since 1991, he has been backed up by his 17-member choir, the Family, a group comprising friends and associates from his younger days (interestingly, one member of the Family, Jon Drummond, made it to the semi-finals heat of the 100-meter sprint at the 1996 Olympics). Support from his pastor, his wife Tammy, whom he married in early 1996, and the two children they brought to the marriage help keep Franklin close to his religious core, and he returned in 1998 with Nu Nation Project. Kirk Franklin

This is one of our choirs favorites click here to sing along
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spg71EBj8U0

Click here for another recording:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mUZI8qIkwE

"We will Dance"
David Ruis is a great song writer. He wrote songs like "Sweet Mercies", "You're worthy of my praise", "We will Dance", and "Let your Glory Fall".
Here is a portion of Davids' testimony:
I was raised in a very conservative religous household and trained classically musically. My musical journey took me through boys' choirs and classical piano and very little more in the church than the classic "hymn sandwich" every Sunday. My theological journey took me through cessasionsim, suits and ties and very little awareness - let alone understanding or application - of what I now know as "worship".That all began to shift as a young church planter with an encounter with the Lord as the result of colliding with the Vineyard movement of churches in February of 1987. The proverbial paradigm shift propelled me into an intimacy with God that I never even dreamed was possible - a roller coaster of a ride through the gifts of the Holy Spirit and power encounters - to an awareness of the kingdom of God, power that is anchored in compassion and community that has the poor and marginalized at its center.

Click here for the lyrics:
www.worship.co.za/solo/renew12.asp

Learn more about David Ruis here:
www.davidruis.com/

Click here to worship along with song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfIBQRT7UVY

"Give us Clean hands"
Charlie Hall wrote this song as a prayer for his generation in 1994. He said he wanted to be a part of the generation that was sold out to seeking God with their whole hearts. When he wrote the song he sensed his generation huddling and praying this prayer, "Oh God let us be the generation that seeks your face Oh, God of Jacob."

The song is based on Psalm 24:3-6
3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

Click here to listen to how Charlie Hall wrote this song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hkQS8A8FiY

Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl5zSB3A-Z8

“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=

Sunday, May 4, 2008

BEHIND THE PRAISE - Sunday May 4, 2008

SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE - 2


Sunday we'll record our second Worship CD -
listed below are the songs we'll be singing. This Cd will include seven
Worship Choir songs as well as six congregational songs.


"The Presence of the Lord is Here"
The worship Choir with guest soloist Cedrick Johnson will minister this song.


Click here to hear Bryon Cages' rendition.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpfNvZbNfUg&mode=related&search=


Here is an arrangement by the Saddleback worship team


"My Savior Lives"


This is a new song by Jon Egan & Glenn Packiam of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Co. When asked about writing songs for the church in an interview Jon shared the following.Those songs were written out of innocence just to equip our own church. I think that probably is the reason for the success. The heart of these songs, the heart of us as worshippers or worship leaders, has always been to help our people in our spheres of influence. The fact that it's equipped the Church beyond our church is overwhelming, wonderful, and humbling. Jared: We weren't really following anyone into it; we were just excited about what God was doing. We started to try our own songs at times other than Sunday morning. We just put it out there to see if it would live. It began that way, and it crept into the culture of Sunday morning.



Click here to listen to the song:

Click here to worship with the New Life church:





"Love Lifted Me"
Matthew 14: 30-33 (NASB) But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”




Rowe and Smith wrote this song in Saug­a­tuck, Con­nec­ti­cut. Ac­cord­ing to Rowe’s daugh­ter:“How­ard E. Smith was a lit­tle man whose hands were so knot­ted with arth­ri­tis that you would won­der how he could use them at all, much less play the pi­a­no…I can see them now, my fa­ther strid­ing up and down hum­ming a bar or two and How­ard E. play­ing it and jot­ting it down.”
Click here to listen to the song:
"Thou, O Lord"
This is one of our Choirs' favorite anthems, based upon the Psalm 3
Psalm 3 A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

1 LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." 3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high.4 I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.7 Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

Click here to hear the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir minister the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y284YvkYrZo

Click here to hear the Lee University Campus choir minister the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0yOfnwPNd4
"Revelation Song"
Jennie Riddle wrote this powerful worship song: She is housewife from McKinney, Texas who simply heard what some would call a song from the "other side". She said it was between cooking spaghetti and changing one of the kids’ diapers.

You can listen to "Revelation song" on Jennie's myspace, the recording is by Kari Jobe.
www.myspace.com/jennieriddlemusic

You can listen to more of Jennie Riddles music here:
www.isound.com/jennie_riddle

This song is sweeping the country and literally being sung around the world.
Click here to listen to the song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FObjd5wrgZ8

If you’ve been blessed by the song, send Jennie an encouraging note here –
jennie@jennieriddle.com
"Lord, You're Holy"
This song is by Karen Wheaton. Born Karen Harris, she grew up in a Pentecostal family, the younger of two daughters, in Hamilton, Alabama where she was active in church music from an early age. In the late 1970s Karen toured with Thurlow Spurr's Festival of Praise, a pioneering Christian touring choir and band. In the early 1980s Karen traveled with her own band, which included her first husband and former Nashville keyboard player, DeWayne Wheaton. Karen and DeWayne later joined Jimmy Swaggart Ministries with Karen as one of the ministry's featured soloists and DeWayne sharing in keyboard responsibilities. Several of Karen's early gospel albums identify her as either "Karen Harris" or "Karen Harris Wheaton".Wheaton, though involved in ministry in a variety of ways including her youth group, Chosen, is probably most noted outside of the Pentecostal Church for efforts to record and promote a vanishing form of gospel music, namely the Mississippi Delta sound that is fused with blues, urban contemporary gospel, and bluegrass gospel influences. She is also known for including the type of dramatic, gospel songs of the genre made popular by Sandy Rios, Kathy Sullivan, the Rev. Sharon Daughtery, and others prior to the advent of Contemporary Christian music in the late 1970s.Wheaton's album Remembering (1993) was an effort to bring together negelected Pentecostal songs such as ''I'm Feelin' Mighty Fine with new songs in the same spirit. Her 1998 album, My Alabaster Box'' also features a number of old standards alongside dramatic new songs such as the title cut. Wheaton has never written music of her own though she often arranges the vocals of her songs and is very involved in the engineering and production of her recordings. Wheaton's voice is a strong, dramatic alto.Wheaton is considered an interesting and important fixture on the contemporary theological scene in the American south as she represents the long-standing Pentecostal tradition of women having strong roles within the clergy and also as she continues the convention of "singing preachers" who incorporate aspects of sermonizing into actual songs. In many ways, Wheaton a rare breed to continue traditions of conventional southern revival-style preaching in her music. Wheaton's live version of "For Every Mountain", from her album Church is a prime example of this genre.Wheaton currently lives in Hamilton, Alabama with her daughters and aside from touring and recording her music, runs The Ramp and its associated youth outreach programs.
Click here to listen an arrangement of the song:
Go here to listen to the choir arrangement, scroll down to new worship songs:
"Everlasting"
Brenton Brown wrote this song after both he and his wife had being diagnosed with Chronic fatigue syndrome
Great song by Brenton Brown, check him out here.

Click here to listen to him share about how the song came about

Click here to listen to Lincoln Brewsters' arrangement

Click here to listen to Brenton Brown & Paul Baloche
"Untitled Hymn"
This song by Chris Rice was on his recording "Run the earth and watch the sky". What a great name for a recording.
Click here to learn more about Chris
Click here to worship along with the song
Click here to listen to worship along with song
"No More Night"
Click here for the song sung by David Phelps and narrated by Joni Erickson Tada
Click here for an arrangement by David Phelps:
Walt Harrah is a noted song writer, session singer and record producer.His songs include Think About His Love (Integrity Music), In The Lord Alone (Maranatha Music), and No More Night (Word). He has been a session singer for 20 years, appearing on dozens of film soundtracks from "King Kong" to "Amistad," and numerous television programs, including the Oscars and the Tonight Show. He served as producer and singer with the vocal group Haven, a regular contributor to Haven Ministries radio programming. He has appeared on numerous recordings for Integrity Music, Maranatha Music, Word and other Christian recording companies. He received a bachelor of church music from the University of Southern California and a masters of divinity from Fuller Seminary. He serves as worship minister at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, California.
"My Wordless Prayer"
My words lie still and lifeless as dust upon the sand,
I can no longer voice one request or demand,
My cup of tears is empty, I can no loner cry,
My lips have fallen silent, my prayer is but a sigh.
Spirit come and rest Your ear upon my heart,
O come and hear my wordless prayer,
my silent plea and take them far away from me.
Take them from this heart of mine to the Father’s heart divine,
Speak in tones unknown to man that God may hear and understand.
My voice is weak from calling to You both night and day.
How long will You be silent? Why do You turn away?
Spirit, come and rest Your ear upon my heart;
Come and hear my wordless prayer,
my silent plea and take them far away from me.
Take them from this heart of mine to the Father’s heart divine.
Speak in tones unknown to man that God may hear and under stand.
Here is an mp3 of the song the choir will share this Sunday.
Here is a link to some background information on Craig Courtney the composer.
“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
Click here to worship along with the Newsboys
Click here to worship along with Natalie Gran
"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
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.
Click here to worship along
Click here to worship along with a younger generation led by Kristian Stanfill:
You can go here to Kristians' myspace and click on the song just to listen
WOW - here it is in Spanish
"Something Happens"
The worship choir with Jennifer Reynolds will share this powerful song.
Meditate on the lyrics
Jesus Something special Supernatural about your name
Jesus Something happens when I mention your name
Demons have to flee when I say Jesus (Jesus)
Sickness has to heal when I say Jesus (Jesus)
Every knee shall bow beforeand every tongue proclaim
With worthy praise that matchless name of Jesus
When I call upon Your name the very atmosphere will have to change
We'll be transformed We'll never be the same By the power of Your Holy name
Worship along Kurt Carr
Worship along with the Marcus Pointe worship choir