BLUE RAIDERS - CEDAR HILL CHAMPIONS - May 25th, 2009

Behind the Praise - Sunday May 31, 2009

"Hallelujah, Your Love is Amazing"

Listen to Brian Doerkson tell about the writing of the song
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-219-YourLoveisAmazing-Doerksen.mp3

Listen to Brenton Brown tell about writing the song with Brian
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-316-YourLoveisAmazing-Brown.mp3

Prepare your heart for Sunday by singing along and reading some great sayings by children
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTaSVXMtoZs

"God of Wonders"

This song by Steve Hindalong has become a classic. Here is a description of how the song came about: When Marc played the chord progression and melody, it felt really big. I kind of got a chill-I got goose bumps on my arms. I just thought, 'This song needs to be big, with really vast language.' So 'God of wonders beyond our galaxy' was as big as I could think." Having attended an Episcopal church for the last few years, Hindalong has been introduced to a new inspiration for his songwriting. "The liturgy, the old words, is kind of new to me. I flipped through The Book of Common Prayer, and I remember 'Lord of all creation, water, earth and sky.' That became the first line of the song."

Lord of all creation Of water, earth and sky The heavens are your tabernacle Glory to the Lord on high God of wonders beyond our galaxy You are holy, holy The universe declares Your majesty You are holy, holy Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth But it isn't the vastness of the song that seems to really impact people, relates Hindalong. "People have sent me emails about the song and referred to the second verse. I think the real power of the song is there, when all of the sudden it gets intimate. It says 'When I stumble in the darkness, I will call Your name by night.' This God that is the God of not only our earth, but of all the worlds, that is so big-but when I'm afraid, when I'm alone, when I sin, when I'm in trouble, He comes close enough that I can call His name. It's the truth that's powerful, not the song. It is that particular truth that is so moving."

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

Click here for another version:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZL0cjcLBYY

"The Stand"

The following was written by Michael W. Smith about this worship song.Recently I was struck by the Biblical truth behind the song "The Stand," written by Joel Houston of Hillsong and recorded by Michael W. Smith on his album Stand. This truth is based on Paul's very encouraging words to the Romans in Chapter 5, verses 1-3 which are wonderful words to celebrate and "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" as we praise our Lord and Savior Jesus for coming to die for our sins as our perfect, blameless substitute for our sinful natures on whose grace we "stand with arms high and hearts abandoned in awe of the one who gave it all".Michael W. Smith says "Stand is a call to stand up for what you believe in." It's a call to stand in awe of the One who gave all and to stand outside of the walls of the church rubbing shoulders with the lost. Together, we stand as followers of Jesus sharing a powerful opportunity: To live as a child of God. We must live as though we believe we are loved," he says. "It's time we take a stand believing we are loved," Smith concludes. "And then, let's go. Let's go change the world."Joel Houston wrote this powerful worship song. Although the church his parents pastor is famous for its music ministry, Joel Houston didn’t intend for its youth group to make records. “The reason we first recorded a United album in 1999 was simply that there was an overflow of songs being written by the youth,” he says. Each week some 3,000 young people participate in United, the youth ministry of Hillsong Church based in Sydney, Australia. And while Houston, 26, provides creative oversight, he says all the youth help produce the live worship projects that are recorded annually during Hillsong’s Encounterfest youth conference. “Our desire is to ... see the younger guys in our team equipped and released into their gifting,” says Houston, son of Hillsong pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston. “We want the younger generation to be taking what we’re doing and make it seem tiny in comparison to what they are achieving for God in the years to come.” Even though the group leads worship in places such as Japan, England and Colombia, United’s priority is Sydney. “All we do is centered on building our local church and reaching the youth in our community,” Houston says. “This has always been our focus. And the incredible thing is, in the midst of this God has opened the door for us to have incredible influence by His grace across the earth.”

Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs worship ministry:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkGLbKV26zo

Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/pieerejean/music/ZwSNdWyM/joel-houston-hillsong-publishing-the-stand/

“In Christ Alone”

This song was written by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Townend and Getty both admit they are motivated by the idea of capturing biblical truth in songs and hymns that will not only cause people to express their worship in church, but will build them up in their Christian lives. “I’ve been amazed by the response to this song,” says Townend. “We’ve had some incredible e-mails about how people have been helped by the song through incredibly difficult circumstances.” One e-mail described how a U.S soldier serving in Iraq would pray through each verse of the song every day, and how the promises of God’s protection and grace helped to sustain him through the enormous pressures and dangers of life in a war zone.
Click here to read more about how the song was composed
www.crosswalk.com/1275127/

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

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

“Healer”

This is an article from the Hillsong church webpage about the Healer Story. Initially it seemed that Mike Guglielmucci wrote the song and then was healed, but after further investigation it came out that Mike had made up the story. It doesn’t minimize the message of the song or the healing power of the Lord.
Removal of a song from the album This Is Our GodOn August 20, 2008, Michael Guglielmucci, a former Planetshakers pastor who composed a number of songs for Hillsong, including “Healer” from the album This Is Our God - a song about his cancer struggle - admitted he had lied about ever having cancer in the first place. Representatives of churches with which Mr. Guglielmucci had affiliations told the press they were totally unaware of the situation. In an e-mail sent to Hillsong members, the church’s general manager George Aghajanian said the news was even a shock to Mr Guglielmucci’s own family and that the suspended pastor was seeking professional help. A statement is expected to be read at congregations affiliated with Australian Christian Churches on Sunday, August 24, 2008. The ACC promised that all money donated by listeners inspired by the song will be returned or donated to charity, and is currently auditing Mr. Guglielmucci’s bank accounts to determine the amount of funds raised. The track “Healer” was promptly removed from the tracklist of the album This Is Our God on Hillsong’s website where one can buy MP3 tracks , and there are plans to revoke CDs and DVDs that contain the song.

Click here to watch a news report on CNN about the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei7v2b2lEyQ&feature=related

Click here to hear Brian Houston share his thoughts on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1SsMbckSUo&feature=related

Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaB53_AS7Ug&feature=related

Click here to worship along with Israel Houghton:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnXO2FGrygM&feature=related

Offertory Sunday will be Ouida Tillery playing "Sinner saved by Grace"
Click here for an arrangement by the Vocal Gaither Band:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcMeUqPDypo

Behind the Praise - Sunday May 24, 20009

"Awesome God"

This popular worship song from the eighties was written by Rich Mullins. Surveying the music of Mullins, one is struck by man's personal passion. It doesn't come from out of the blue. "Like Thoreau, I love to suck the marrow out of the bones of life," Rich Mullins has said. "People want to know God's will for them. In one of his most explicit statements on the subject, Christ said, 'I come that you might have life and have it abundantly.' One day it won't make any difference how many albums I sold, but I will give account of my life to God. What I think He'll be most pleased with is to see that we truly lived, that we were the person He created us to be."
As a songwriter, Rich has admitted to a unique form of musical frugality. "My music comes straight from my head and as a result of collaboration in the studio," he once told Billboard magazine. "I think I use things like dulcimers, bagpipes, and mandolins in part because, as John Hartford said, 'Style is based in limitation.' I do most of my writing on the road, in a truck, and it's easier to play a lap dulcimer in a truck than a guitar."
Over all, of course, was Rich's deep commitment to Christ, which guides all of his life and career decisions. "The Christian faith is not about mere intellectual assent to a set of doctrines," he notes, "but about a daily walk with this person Jesus. It's about living in awareness of Christ risen, resurrected, and living in my life. Even though doctrine is important, wisdom in the Bible has more to do with character and the art of living. Christianity is about living out the will of God, and living abundantly."

Click here to listen online:
www.last.fm/music/Rich+Mullins/_/Awesome+God

Click here to worship along with Michael W. Smith:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=38V8jnN1Kpw

"Great Praise" Crossroads Youth Choir

Great Praise(Recorded by Stephen Hurd)Chorus:

It's a good time to give the Lord a praise
Everybody sing with voices raised
Hail to our King let all the people cry
Jubilantly let's lift our voices high

Aloud give God a great praise
Aloud praise the Lord today
For this is the day the Lord has made
Aloud give God a great praise
Aloud praise the Lord today
For this is the day the Lord has made

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh


Hallelujah let's raise Judah
Come on celebrate Give our God great praise

In a few short years, Stephen Hurd has become one of the frontline praise and worship leaders in the gospel music world. His songs such as “Undignified”, “Great Praise” and “Zion is Calling” have become staples in Sunday morning church services.



When asked what the most amazing thing was to ever happen to him, Hurd’s mind goes back to his sophomore year in college. His late mother and biggest cheerleader, was dying of a chronic lung disease. “When I was singing to my mother in the hospital bed and watched her body become relaxed from the overwhelming fear of not knowing her plight,” Hurd says. “That was amazing to me. I saw peace come upon her. I could tell you many many amazing moments like that but we don't have enough time.” One story he did find time to tell was how he joined Integrity Music. Hurd was a popular praise and worship leader in the Washington, D.C. area and had even recorded two custom CDs. He wasn’t actively seeking a record deal but a fan passed one of his CDs on to an A&R rep for Integrity Music. The man called Hurd to discuss a contract. “The first time they called, I couldn’t meet with them,” he says. “It was February and I was in the mountains on a retreat and my pastor John Jenkins wanted me to stay on sight. So, I thought I had lost the opportunity.” A year later, Jackie Patillo had become Integrity’s A&R rep and reached out to Hurd herself.

Click here to learn more about Stephen Hurds' ministry:
www.hurdthewordmusic.com/home.html


Click here to visit Stephens' myspace:
www.myspace.com/stephenhurd

Click here to listen to the song by Stephen Hurd:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpOlUYjdZDI

"Hosanna"

Brooke Gabrielle Fraser (born December 15th, 1983 in Wellington, New Zealand) is an award-winning New Zealand singer/songwriter. ~*Early life*~ Brooke is the eldest of the three children born to former All Black Bernie Fraser and his wife Lynda. Brooke grew up in Naenae, Lower Hutt and attended Dyer Street School then Naenae Intermediate and Naenae College. Brooke started taking piano lessons at age 7 - she continued to take these until she was 17. She started writing songs at age... she continued to take these until she was 17. She started writing songs at age 12 and taught herself the acoustic guitar at 16. Receiving some label interest when she was in Year 11 (age 15) Brooke decided it wasn't the right thing for her at the time; she decided she wanted to get an A bursary first - which she did. Despite turning these labels down she performed at the ''Parachute Festival'', a Christian music festival held annually, she has continued to do so each year since 2000. Brooke was a presenter on a cable TV show and began writing for the Christian magazine ''Soul Purpose'' at age 15 and was later made editor in 2002. She gave up her job as editor shortly after moving to Auckland (late 2002) in order to pursue her music career, in which she secured a record deal.

Click here to visit Brooke’s myspace:
www.myspace.com/brookefraser

Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7SMUf6QcyQ

"The Stand"

The following was written by Michael W. Smith about this worship song.

Recently I was struck by the Biblical truth behind the song "The Stand," written by Joel Houston of Hillsong and recorded by Michael W. Smith on his album Stand. This truth is based on Paul's very encouraging words to the Romans in Chapter 5, verses 1-3 which are wonderful words to celebrate and "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" as we praise our Lord and Savior Jesus for coming to die for our sins as our perfect, blameless substitute for our sinful natures on whose grace we "stand with arms high and hearts abandoned in awe of the one who gave it all".Michael W. Smith says "Stand is a call to stand up for what you believe in." It's a call to stand in awe of the One who gave all and to stand outside of the walls of the church rubbing shoulders with the lost. Together, we stand as followers of Jesus sharing a powerful opportunity: To live as a child of God. We must live as though we believe we are loved," he says. "It's time we take a stand believing we are loved," Smith concludes. "And then, let's go. Let's go change the world."


Joel Houston wrote this powerful worship song. Although the church his parents pastor is famous for its music ministry, Joel Houston didn’t intend for its youth group to make records. “The reason we first recorded a United album in 1999 was simply that there was an overflow of songs being written by the youth,” he says. Each week some 3,000 young people participate in United, the youth ministry of Hillsong Church based in Sydney, Australia. And while Houston, 26, provides creative oversight, he says all the youth help produce the live worship projects that are recorded annually during Hillsong’s Encounterfest youth conference. “Our desire is to ... see the younger guys in our team equipped and released into their gifting,” says Houston, son of Hillsong pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston. “We want the younger generation to be taking what we’re doing and make it seem tiny in comparison to what they are achieving for God in the years to come.” Even though the group leads worship in places such as Japan, England and Colombia, United’s priority is Sydney. “All we do is centered on building our local church and reaching the youth in our community,” Houston says. “This has always been our focus. And the incredible thing is, in the midst of this God has opened the door for us to have incredible influence by His grace across the earth.”



Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs worship ministry:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkGLbKV26zo


Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/pieerejean/music/ZwSNdWyM/joel-houston-hillsong-publishing-the-stand/

"Jesus Paid it All"

The following is from Alex Nifong who wrote the additional chorus:

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. 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

"New Season"

It's a new season It's a new season It's a new day It's a new day Oh Fresh anointing Fresh anointing Is flowing my way Is flowing my way It's a season of power And prosperity And prosperity It's a new season

In the last decade, acclaimed music minister Martha Munizzi has risen to the upper reaches of the Christian and gospel music spheres, becoming an in-demand worship leader, songwriter, and speaker across the United States and beyond.

Since the 2002 release of her first independent effort, Say the Name, Munizzi has expanded her ministry reach thanks to an unflinching commitment to cross-generational, multiethnic praise and worship music—a calling that began when she was 8 years old in her family’s traveling music ministry.

Munizzi, a Pastor’s daughter, was born in Lakeland, Florida, and since an early age she was involved in day-to-day ministry alongside her parents, her twin sister Mary, and her older sister Marvelyne.

Though chiefly southern gospel in style at the time, the music Munizzi and her family were making was instrumental in planting in her a desire to reach audiences with more than just a
song or a musical performance.

In the brink of adolescence, at the age of 12, Munizzi and her sisters came off the road and went to Orlando,FL, where her parents decided to settle so that their children could attend public school just like everyone else.

Munizzi got her first taste of musical and ministry autonomy when, at 16, she and her sisters formed the group Testament, a praise ensemble that in time created enough of a buzz to book its own concerts at various church events and conferences across Florida.

It was during her stint in Testament that Munizzi, then Martha Stallings, met her husband Dan, a bassist and keyboardist with the group, whom she married in 1987. It was Dan who introduced the fledgling worship leader to black gospel music from the likes of Andraé Crouch and Fred Hammond. Those singers’ ability to mix soulful arrangements with worshipful lyrics revolutionized the way Munizzi viewed her own artistry.

Click here to learn more about Martha: www.marthamunizzi.com/Martha%20Munizzi%20-%20BIO.html

Click here to worship along with Martha Munizzi www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDOjLz5V-GU

Behind the Praise - Sunday May 17, 2009

“Hosanna”

Brooke Gabrielle Fraser (born December 15th, 1983 in Wellington, New Zealand) is an award-winning New Zealand singer/songwriter. ~*Early life*~ Brooke is the eldest of the three children born to former All Black Bernie Fraser and his wife Lynda. Brooke grew up in Naenae, Lower Hutt and attended Dyer Street School then Naenae Intermediate and Naenae College. Brooke started taking piano lessons at age 7 - she continued to take these until she was 17. She started writing songs at age... she continued to take these until she was 17. She started writing songs at age 12 and taught herself the acoustic guitar at 16. Receiving some label interest when she was in Year 11 (age 15) Brooke decided it wasn't the right thing for her at the time; she decided she wanted to get an A bursary first - which she did. Despite turning these labels down she performed at the ''Parachute Festival'', a Christian music festival held annually, she has continued to do so each year since 2000. Brooke was a presenter on a cable TV show and began writing for the Christian magazine ''Soul Purpose'' at age 15 and was later made editor in 2002. She gave up her job as editor shortly after moving to Auckland (late 2002) in order to pursue her music career, in which she secured a record deal.

Click here to visit Brooke’s myspace:
www.myspace.com/brookefraser

Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7SMUf6QcyQ

"Blessed Be The Lord"

Blessed be the Lord,who reigns forever, reigns forever.
Blessed be the Lord,who reigns forevermore.

Verse: I will lift my voice in praises,I will lift my voice in song.
I will lift Him for His mercy,praise Him, praise Him.Chorus

Tenors: Hallelujah...All: the Lord is worthy.Tenors: Hallelujah...All: bless His name.Tenors: Hallelujah...All: the Lord is worthy;Lift those hands,clap those hands.

"Since Jesus came into My Heart"

The lyrics were written in 1914 by Ru­fus H. Mc­Dan­i­el af­ter the death of his son. (The music was written by Charles H. Gabriel that same year.) McDaniel was born Jan­u­a­ry 29, 1850 in Brown Coun­ty, Ohio and died Feb­ru­a­ry 13, 1940 in Day­ton, Ohio. He was ed­u­cat­ed at Park­er’s Acad­e­my in Clare­mont Coun­ty, Ohio. He re­ceived a preach­ing li­cense at age 19 and was or­dained a min­is­ter of the Christ­ian Church in 1873. After serv­ing at var­i­ous lo­ca­tions in Ohio, in­clud­ing Ham­ers­ville, Hig­gins­port, Cen­ter­burg, Su­gar Creek, and Cin­cin­na­ti, he re­tired in Dayton. He wrote more than one hun­dred hymns dur­ing his life.
The hymn I’ve selected this week is one he apparently wrote after the death of his son. The lyrics are not that form of deep faith or quiet resolve that one might associate with a hymn written at such an occasion. Perhaps the chronology was mere coincidence rather than a reflection of faith in the midst of grave times.
In fact, the lyrics of the song almost reflect a kind of denial of situations around, proclaiming happiness for salvation. In my mind, it doesn’t proclaim happiness “in spite of” but almost ignoring situations, to the point where the happiness can scarce be believed as rooted in reality. Sort of that old “Christians don’t feel sorrow” kind of thinking that accompanies the shallow sentiment that Christians know only happiness and sunny skies once they just accept Jesus. Not suggesting this shallow idealism is the case with McDaniel of course; he wrote almost 100 years ago and it’s difficult to know just what all occupied his mind at the time.
In any event, I recall singing this one standing amid the rows of light-coloured pews in the church of my youth. Not what I’d call an outstanding hymn, but one that reminds me of those days in my youth nonetheless.

Click here to sing along:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ysnIZWoDc

Click here to sing along:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlUkrQar-sw&feature=related

"I will Stand"

Glenn Packiam wrote the following on how he wrote this powerful worship song:I was sitting in my office late on a Friday afternoon, about to leave to get ready for theMILL, our college and 20-somethings service. In my hands was a picture from the sonogram of our first child, a girl. The picture made all the emotions I had felt when I sat in the ultrasound appointment, watching and listening to her beating heart, come rushing back. The pregnancy had been full of some scary moments, so to be at this point was overwhelming. I went over to the office next door where there was a keyboard and began to sing. "I will stand and worship You for everything You are to me I will lift my voice in praise for all the wonders You display I will stand, I will stand and worship You." Not long later, the song was finished, with the exception of few phrases I kept tweaking. Through salvation we see God's love demonstrated and His goodness revealed. That is reason enough to praise. But God keeps drawing us with tender mercies, calling us into relationship with Him. The only response to that kind of grace and love is to worship--not to attempt a repayment, not to prove that we deserve it--simply to worship. As we started to do the song at our church, I watched as people responded to God with a firm, unshakable decision to worship. "I Will Stand" is a declaration to God, a choice to worship no matter what, because it is the only response to God's great love and grace.

[Additional reading: Romans 5] - Glenn Packiam

Click here for a sampling of the song:
https://secure.praisecharts.com/index.php?module=shopping&action=search&sort=2&author=Glenn%20Packiam&start=0&t=16

“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 tongueOn 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 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

Behind the Praise - Sunday May 10,2009

“You never let Go"

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

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

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

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back I know You are nearAnd I will fear no evil
For my God is with me And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?

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



"Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King"

This arrangement is by Thomas Miller, Worship Pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. I had the opportunity to visit with Thomas during my sabbatical, he said the added chorus came to him on a Saturday morning watching college football. He was singing through the order for that evenings service and wanted to have some kind of transition to the next song and the following simple chorus came to him.
"Come Thou fount, come Thou King, Come Thou precious Prince of Peace;
Hear Your bride, to you we sing, come Thou fount of our blessing."

The original hymn was composed by the 18th century Methodist pastor and hymnist Robert Robinson. The hymn is set to an American folk tune known as Nettleton, by attribution to the evangelist Asahel Nettleton who composed it early in the nineteenth century. Robinson penned the words at age the of 22 in the year 1757.

Click here for a version of the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_OLyPhHHWk

If you like more of a traditional arrangement check out this choir arrangement here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUhU0HgTq94&mode=related&search=


"The More I seek You"

This worship song was written by Zach Neese, here’s a little background information on Zach.

Education: I got my B.A. in English from UT Austin (after trying art, advertising, pre-med and astronomy), then became Secondary Ed certified.Previous Lines of Work: I mostly worked as a teacher of one stripe or other before entering fulltime ministry. I also worked with emotionally disabled kids and was an Autism Therapist. I served as a Youth and Worship Pastor for five years before becoming the Director of the Christ for the Nations Institute (CFNI) School of Worship. Since then, I have primarily been leading worship and training worship leaders.One of the Things I Find Most Fascinating: The cross never ceases to amaze me.Best Thing Someone Said to You: “You make me love Jesus more.”Life Motto: He who knows, knows that he knows not.People I’d Like to Meet: After you meet Jesus, everyone else is pretty unimpressive. I guess I wouldn’t mind picking David’s brain, Moses’, or Jesus’ parents (Mary and Joseph). I have two sons in heaven that I am looking forward to meeting very much.Most People Don’t Know This About Me: My grandmother was a synchronized swimming coach. I was too young to know that it wasn’t a cool guy pursuit, so now I’m the only man I know who can do a Flamingo Bent Knee.

Zach Neese likes to place himself in the middle of a biblical story and see if a song comes forth. This song came out of Johns’ emotion at the Last Supper.

Click here to visit Zachs’ myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/zachneese

Click here to read more about Zach Neese who wrote this powerful worship song
http://www.gatewaypeople.com/churchinfo/index.php?action=staffbiodetails&sid=180

Click here to worship along with Kari Jobe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3GijrnfStk



"I will Stand"

Glenn Packiam wrote the following on how he wrote this powerful worship song:I was sitting in my office late on a Friday afternoon, about to leave to get ready for theMILL, our college and 20-somethings service. In my hands was a picture from the sonogram of our first child, a girl. The picture made all the emotions I had felt when I sat in the ultrasound appointment, watching and listening to her beating heart, come rushing back. The pregnancy had been full of some scary moments, so to be at this point was overwhelming. I went over to the office next door where there was a keyboard and began to sing. "I will stand and worship You for everything You are to me I will lift my voice in praise for all the wonders You display I will stand, I will stand and worship You." Not long later, the song was finished, with the exception of few phrases I kept tweaking. Through salvation we see God's love demonstrated and His goodness revealed. That is reason enough to praise. But God keeps drawing us with tender mercies, calling us into relationship with Him. The only response to that kind of grace and love is to worship--not to attempt a repayment, not to prove that we deserve it--simply to worship. As we started to do the song at our church, I watched as people responded to God with a firm, unshakable decision to worship. "I Will Stand" is a declaration to God, a choice to worship no matter what, because it is the only response to God's great love and grace. [Additional reading: Romans 5] - Glenn Packiam

Click here for a sampling of the song:
https://secure.praisecharts.com/index.php?module=shopping&action=search&sort=2&author=Glenn%20Packiam&start=0&t=16