Behind the Praise - Sunday November 23, 2008

"My Desire"

This song was written by Kirk Franklin. Born out of wedlock to teenage parents who never married or lived together, he had sporadic contact with his parents while he was growing up. When he was three, Franklin's mother put him up for adoption at a Fort Worth church. His great- aunt Gertrude Franklin, who was then in her mid 60s, took him in and eventually adopted him, insisting that he get involved in her church and in its youth activities, especially the choir. Growing up in the church under his great-aunt's watchful eye gave Franklin the drive to excel in the choir. By the age of seven, his innate talent had earned him the opportunity to pursue a gospel music recording contract. His great-aunt expressly forbade this, citing Franklin's extremely young age. A mere four years later, Franklin had attained the rank of minister of music at the Mt. Rose Baptist Church. In this position, he was responsible for all of the music for all of the choral groups at the church.
While was growing up, the choir and its attendant lifestyle were still more of a sideline to Franklin than his life's vocation. Commenting on this to Morthland, Franklin said; "I was always a moody child. In the house, it was just me and an older woman. When I got around my peers, I just went buck wild, because I wanted to be a kid, you know?" Hedonism filled Franklin's days when he was not in church. His rebellious antics included fighting, hanging around with gang members, hanging out at pool halls, causing trouble at school, fighting, and smoking marijuana.
When he was 16, Franklin's friend, 17-year-old Eric Pounds, was killed when his parents' gun fell from the top of the closet and accidentally discharged. Devastated, Franklin sought solace from the church, reading the Bible, and getting more involved in music. The following year, Franklin's faith was tested again when he got his girlfriend pregnant. Franklin told Allison Samuels of Newsweek: "those two things changed my life and got me in touch with the Lord and the Lord's music." He added to Morthland that "what I had done {getting his girlfriend pregnant out of wedlock} was wrong, but God forgave me, so I was able to forgive myself." Franklin's girlfriend gave birth to a son named Kerrion. She raised him by herself until early 1996. It was then that Franklin decided to do for his son what was never done for him. "I didn't want my son raised like I was. I wanted him to know his father," he explained to Morthland.

Click here to learn more about Kirk Franklin:
www.kirkfranklin.com/

Click here to worship along with the Kirk Franklin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Exvd0MD7ok

Click here to purchase Kirk Franklins' "My Desire"


"Blessed Be Your Name"

This powerful worship song by Matt Redman has a phrase that is based on Job 13:15. The Message translates it like this
"So hold your tongue while I have my say, then I'll take whatever I have coming to me.Why do I go out on a limb like this and take my life in my hands?Because even if he killed me, I'd keep on hoping. I'd defend my innocence to the very end. Just wait, this is going to work out for the best—my salvation!"


Click here to hear the story behind the song by Matt Redman.
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-257-BlessedBeYourName-Redman.mp3

Click here to hear the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6xo5KogzaI

Click here to worship along with Tree63
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZH9T9XNVU&mode=related&search=

Click here to purchase "Blessed be Your Name"



"This is My Fathers' World"

These lyrics were written by Malt­bie D. Bab­cock around 1901. While a pas­tor in Lock­port, New York, Bab­cock liked to hike in an ar­ea called “the es­carp­ment,” an an­cient up­thrust ledge near Lock­port. It has a mar­vel­ous view of farms, or­chards, and Lake On­tar­io, about 15 miles dis­tant. It is said those walks in the woods in­spired these lyr­ics. The ti­tle re­calls an ex­press­ion Bab­cock used when start­ing a walk: “I’m go­ing out to see my Fa­ther’s world.”
This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thoughtOf rocks and trees, of skies and seas;His hand the wonders wrought.This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;He speaks to me everywhere.This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,And earth and Heav’n be one.

Click here for the different arrangements of the song:
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=this+is+my+fathers%27+world+&search_type=

Click here to purchase Fernado Ortega's arrangement:


"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

Click here to purchase "Thank You Lord"


"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 presenceAll 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

Click here to purchase "Here in your Presence"


"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 hymnsThis 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=
Click here to purchase "New Doxology"


"More of You"

Fred Hammond the Dove and Stellar award winner has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist (currently for Verity Records). He is a multiple time Grammy, Dove, and Stellar award winner and nominee as a performer and a producer.
Hammond gained notoriety while playing the bass guitars for the gospel group The Winans. By 1985 he was one of the six original members of the group Commissioned, participating in 10 of the group's 12 albums.
After his stint with Commissioned ended, he regained fame in the gospel community after selling millions of albums with his musical group Radical For Christ.

Click here to worship along with Fred:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbaTZi6I3Wc&feature=related

Click here to purchase "More of You" by Fred Hammond: