Behind the Praise - Sunday October 3, 2010

“Love the Lord Your God”

Lincoln Brewster
This powerful worship song was written by Lincoln Brewster while his church was going through the study “40 days of purpose”. He was asked to write some songs based upon the scriptures that coincide with each study. The first passage Mark 12:28-30 dealt with worship.

(NIV, Mark 12:28-30)
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

Click here to worship along with Lincoln Brewster
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV7qTD_X0Rk&feature=related

Click here to listen to Lincoln share about how the song came about:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-358-LovetheLord-Brewster.mp3

Click here to sing through the lyrics
www.christian-lyrics.net/artist/lincoln-brewster/track/love-the-lord-lyrics.html

Click here to read more about Lincolns’ ministry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Brewster

"Unstoppable"
worship choir & orchestra

"I Will Follow"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx_04LdPV_Q

"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

"Your Love O Lord"

Johnny Mac Powell (born December 25 1972), originally from Montgomery, Alabama, is an American singer-songwriter and producer who formed the Christian rock band Third Day with guitarist Mark Lee. Powell won the 2001 Gospel Music Association award for "Male Vocalist of the Year". Background After his family moved from Alabama to Georgia, Powell attended McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, where he met Lee and became involved in a band known as "Nuclear Hoedown". This experience resulted in further collaboration when he began writing songs about his faith, formed a Christian band, called Third Day, and eventually landed a record deal with Gray Dot Records. Powell lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Aimee and their three children Scout, Cash, and Camie Love.

Click here to visit Third Days' website:
http://www.thirdday.com/

Click here to visit their myspace:
http://www.thirdday.com/

Click here to worship along with Third Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mP4LhdE4vc

"My Jesus, I love Thee"

Sixteen year old William Featherston of Montreal, Canada wrote this simple but profound hymn in 1862, not long after he was converted to Christ. William wrote no other hymns that we know of and his brief life ended just before his twenty-seventh birthday. Here is a story about the influence of this song:
A Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Michigan once related the following incident to a large audience in one of the Rev. E. P. Hammond’s meetings in St. Louis. “A young, talented and tender-hearted actress was passing along the street of a large city. Seeing a pale, sick girl lying upon a couch just within the half-open door of a beautiful dwelling, she entered, with the thought that by her vivacity and pleasant conversation she might cheer the young invalid. The sick girl was a devoted Christian, and her words, her patience, her submission and heaven-lit countenance, so demonstrated the spirit of her religion that the actress was led to give some earnest thought to the claims of Christianity, and was thoroughly converted, and became a true follower of Christ. She told her father, the leader of the theater troupe, of her conversion, and of her desire to abandon the stage, stating that she could not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress. Her father was astonished beyond measure, and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined, if she persisted in her resolution. Loving her father dearly, she was shaken somewhat in her purpose, and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe, and a general favorite. Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear. The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter, and that their living was not to be lost. The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled. The curtain rose, and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude. But an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face. Amid the breathless silence of the audience, she repeated:

‘My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.’

This was all. Through Christ she had conquered and, leaving the audience in tears, she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again. Through her influence her father was converted, and through their united evangelistic labors many were led to God.”

Worship along with Crystal Lewis by clicking here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgjkl_Nv1Yg&feature=related

Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYfBZnMve_E

Offertory - Clay Dyer - preview of MANCHURCH - October 23rd
www.youtube.com/watch?v=glrU4JKV1SI

Behind the Praise - Sunday September 26, 2010

"Awake, My Soul"

click here to listen to the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-wYZLd_FIk

"Love Lifted Me"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th_L2IA94Gg

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 strid¬ng up and down humming a bar or two and Howard E. playing it and jotting it down.”

“You are For me”

Click here to visit Kari Jobe’s website:
www.karijobe.com

Click here to hear Kari share about how she wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB4phSOaheM&feature=PlayList&p=E7841C140C8806D7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7

Click here to listen to Kari Jobe sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdfKTTeGj2U&feature=fvw

Click here to purchase “You are for me”


"Lead me to the Cross"

Savior I come Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill Where Your blood was spilled For my ransom
Everything I once held dear I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down Rid me of myself
I belong to You Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I Tempted and trialed
You are The word became flesh
Bore my sin and death Now you're risen
To your heart To your heart
Lead me to your heart Lead me to your heart

Brooke Fraser was born in New Zealand. She is on of the main key worshippers of Sydney Australia's Hillsong Church and is married to on of Hillsong United's songwritters Scott Ligertwood. She has appeared on many live worship albums. She is a born again Christian. She was born to former 'All Black' Bernie Fraser and Lynda Fraser and is the oldest out of 3 children

Click here to learn more about Brooke Fraser:
www.brookefraser.com

Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/people/riK9nJK/music/Mj1XCeWj/hillsong_united_lead_me_to_the_cross/

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

“I Stand Amazed in the Presence"

This hymn was written by Charles Gabriel. Growing up on an Io¬wa farm, Ga¬bri¬el taught him¬self to play the fam¬i¬ly’s reed or¬gan. He be¬gan teach¬ing in sing¬ing schools by age 16, and became well known as a teacher and composer. He served as music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, San Francisco, California (1890-2), then moved to Chicago, Illinois. In 1912 he began working with Homer Rodeheaver’s publishing company. His edited some 43 song books, 7 men’s chorus books, 19 anthem collections, and 23 cantatas.

I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene
And I wonder how He could love me, A sinner condemned, unclean.

How marvelous, how wonderful And my song shall ever be.
How marvelous, how wonderful Is my Savior's love for me.

For me it was in the garden He prayed, "Not my will, but thine"
He had no tears for His own griefs, But sweat drops of blood for mine.

He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv'ry, And suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see,
'Twill be my joy thro' the ages, To sing of His love for me.

Click here for an arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjCoX4tRoT8

Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkFOtaO8B9c&feature=related

Behind the Praise - Sunday September 19, 2010

"Hosanna"

Paul Baloche wrote this with Brenton Brown to be sung on Palm Sunday. Contemplating that sense of expectancy led Paul to start with the phrase “Praise is rising”. Paul said there is that same sense of expectancy when God’s people gather to worship that was felt along the road in Jerusalem when the people crowded the streets to get a glimpse of Jesus.
Ever wonder what Hosanna really means? Hosanna is Hebrew for "Save now" from Psalm 118. It is an intensified imperative, a cry, addressed to God, particularly used in the Feast of Tabernacles, when prayers for rain were offered. In the New Testament the crowd shouted it when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It is used as an exclamation in Christian worship.

Click here to listen to Paul share how he wrote the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml

Click here to worship along with Paul Baloche
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TIg2QOzPpg

or here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BZoDH2H1Ls

"How Can I Thank you Enough"

worship choir & Deborah Reavis
Click here for a sampling of the song:
http://www.heartofthecity.org/sounds/howcanithankyouenough.mp3

"Our God"

Click here to listen to this song by Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlA5IDnpGhc

"In the Secret"

This song was written by Andy Park. There is an interesting page on Andy's website where he interviewed his eight children. Andy was a part of the Vineyard worship movement, the answers from his children give great insight into this man of worship
www.andypark.ca/family_july03.shtml

Click here to worship along with Andy Park:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyV2WyRe-T8

Click here to listen to Andy share about how the song was written:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml

Click here for the arrangement by Sonic Flood:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4lpZuTUcOc

"What a Friend We have in Jesus"

More than a century ago, on the streets of Port Hope, Ontario, a man could be seen walking along carrying a saw and a sawhorse. One day a rich man from across the street saw him and said to a friend, "He looks like a sober man. I think I'll hire him to cut wood for me." "That's Joseph Scriven," the friend replied. "He wouldn't cut wood for you. He only cuts wood for those who don't have enough to pay." And that sums up the philosophy of Joseph Medlicott Scriven, a devoted member of the Plymouth Brethren Church, who took the Sermon on the Mount literally.Scriven was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1819. He fell for a lovely young woman, but on the eve of their wedding she accidentally drowned.Scriven never recovered from the shock. The Irishman began to wander, hoping to forget his sorrow. At age 25, he finally settled in Canada.His faith led him to do menial tasks for poor widows and the sick. He often worked for no wages and was regarded by the people of the community as a kind man, albeit a bit odd.He later fell in love again and planned to marry a wonderful Canadian woman. But again, tragedy struck. His fiance died after contracting pneumonia.In 1855, a friend visited an ill Scriven and discovered a poem that he had written for his ailing mother in faraway Ireland. Scriven didn't have the money to visit her, but he sent her the poem as an encouragement. He called it "Pray Without Ceasing." When the friend inquired about the poem's origins, Scriven reportedly answered, "The Lord and I did it between us."Scriven never intended for the poem to be published, but it made its rounds, and was set to music in 1868 by musician Charles Converse, who titled it "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." It has since become one of our greatest hymns.Scriven died in 1886 (ironically, in an accidental drowning). In his memory, the town of Port Hope erected a monument with this inscription from Scriven's famous song: In His arms He'll take and shield thee. Thou wilt find a solace there.

Click here for the various arrangements of "What a Friend"
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=what+a+friend+we+have+in+jesus+&search_type=&aq=f

Click here to listen online: www.last.fm/music/James+Morrison/_/What+A+Friend+We+Have+In+Jesus

“Forever Reign”

Hillsongs music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3EGgISYMc

Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

"Sweet Mercies"

This is a powerful song by David Ruis, click here to hear his story behind the song
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-238-SweetMercies-Ruis.mp3

Click here to learn more about David's ministry
http://www.davidruis.com/

Click here for the lyrics
www.mixed-up.com/lyrics/worship/sweet-mercies

"Who am I"

Offertory - By Brandon Barton

Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU_rTX23V7Q

Behind the Praise - Sunday September 12, 2010

"In the Sanctuary"

This song of praise was written by Kurt Carr. Singer, songwriter, producer and musician Kurt Carr is one of the most celebrated talents of our time. Kurt is a stellar, and dove award winner that has been responsible for some of the most well-known Gospel songs, including 'The Presence of The Lord', 'In the Sanctuary, For Every Mountain, and God Blocked It, to name just a few. At the age of 13, Kurt was inspired by gospel greats such as Walter Hawkins, James Cleveland, and Andrae Crouch. Carr attended the University of Connecticut in his hometown of Hartford, CT, graduating with a degree in fine arts and a newfound appreciation of classical music. He was mentored by the classically trained gospel legend Richard Smallwood, who broadened the young student's horizons to include elements of different musical styles in his compositions and whom Carr still highly respects. In 1986, Carr joined with Reverend James Cleveland and his ensemble, acting as pianist and musical director until the reverend's death in 1991. He formed the Kurt Carr Singers in the early ‘90s, releasing several albums such as: 'Serious About It', 'No One Else', 'Awesome Wonder' which went gold selling over 500,000 units, and 'One Church' which won him a Dove award and was nominated for a Grammy award. He is back again with his incomparable singers with his latest double CD, 'Just The Beginning' which contains the hot new single 'Peace and Favor.'

Click here to learn more about Kurt Carr:
www.myspace.com/kurtcarrgospel

Click here to worship along with Kurt Carr:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY88RiXfzU8

"Psalm 24"

Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch#!videos=qqUl0h8RYcg&v=oTZHLzvWZsc

"All the Earth will sing Your Praises"

Paul Baloche says that this song was his attempt to write a song that would cover the story of Jesus from the cradle to the empty grave, a song that would encompass the gospel. Click here to hear Paul talk about the song.

www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-312-AlltheEarthWillSing-Baloche.mp3

Click here to worship along with Paul
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8rY7dwwqYs

COMMUNION

During communion we'll be meditating on the Nicene Creed:

click here to learn more about this creed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicene_Creed

Check out the song “Forever Reign” by Hillsongs music, we’ll use this song during communion - www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3EGgISYMc


Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

"Take my Life and Let it Be"

Frances R. Havergal wrote the following about how he wrote the song: I went for a lit¬tle vi¬sit of five days (to Are¬ley House). There were ten per¬sons in the house, some un¬con¬vert¬ed and long prayed for, some con¬vert¬ed, but not re¬joic¬ing Christ¬ians. He gave me the pra¬yer, “Lord, give me all in this house!” And He just did. Be¬fore I left the house ev¬ery one had got a bless¬ing. The last night of my vis¬it af¬ter I had re¬tired, the gov¬ern¬ess asked me to go to the two daugh¬ters. They were cry¬ing, then and there both of them trust¬ed and re¬joiced; it was near¬ly mid¬night. I was too hap¬py to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and re¬new¬al of my own con¬se¬cra¬tion; and these lit¬tle coup¬lets formed them¬selves, and chimed in my heart one af¬ter ano¬ther till they fin¬ished with “Ever, On¬ly, ALL for Thee!”

Click here to hear a newer version of the hymn
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEzbwcMG9Gc

Click here for a great arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU9Pi4g_3No

"Crawl"
Check out the song “Crawl/ carry me through” by Superchick, which reminds us of Jesus faithfulness to carry us - www.youtube.com/watch?v=waXo-x1IHio

Offertory will be a tribute to those who lost their lives on 9/11

Behind the Praise - Sunday September 5, 2010

"Everlasting God"

Brenton Brown wrote this song after both he and his wife had being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Brown described their illness in the following excerpt from Christianity today.

Brown: It's called fibromyalgia, a form of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. What defines it are the symptoms, the most obvious ones [being] fatigue. You feel jet-lagged most of the time. There are other symptoms like nausea, muscle pain, muscle aches. There's no known cure. Basically it was just like waking up one day and finding out that I had someone else's body. Very strange. I wasn't thinking as clearly. And over the last three years we've basically had to relearn how to live life with our new bodies. It's been a challenge.
Chronic Fatigue is a little bit like having mono[nucleosis]. You feel very fatigued, very drained. And no matter how much you sleep, you're still going to feel tired. You can never shake off that tired feeling. I just kept going for six months. And then my pastor, the board of our church and the group of doctors that I was seeing all decided, "This is not working. You're not going to be able to force your way through this."
Brenton Brown, born in South Africa, is a Christian songwriter and worship leader. He left South Africa for Oxford, England in his early twenties on a Rhodes Scholarship. While studying politics, philosophy and theology he joined the Vineyard music (UK), serving as worship pastor at the Oxford Vineyard, UK, and eventually as coordinator of the Vineyard (UK) Worship Development Team. His songs, Lord Reign in me, All who are thirsty, Humble King, Hallelujah [Your love is amazing] and Holy were recorded on the popular Vineyard UK projects during this time. He has since left the UK and now lives in Malibu, California with his wife, Jude. Brenton is an artist on the worship label Survivor and in 2006 released his first solo album, Everlasting God with Survivor in the UK and rest of the world, and with Sparrow in the United States and Canada.

Check out Brenton’s ministry here:
www.myspace.com/brentonbrownmusic

Click here to listen to him share about how the song came about
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YePOcs88kqw

Click here to listen to Lincoln Brewsters' arrangement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM&mode=related&search=

Click here to listen to Brenton Brown & Paul Baloche
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bLWwnVBuF8

"You are My All in All"

This powerful worship song was written by Dennis Jernigan. Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He is native to Oklahoma, and headquarters a music-based ministry from there. Self-avowedly ex-gay, Jernigan now lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma with his wife and their nine children. Jernigan has been married to his wife for more than twenty five years.
A primary source of inspiration for Jernigan's message and music is an experience he describes as his "deliverance from homosexuality". Jernigan states that this began during a 2nd Chapter of Acts concert in Norman Oklahoma.Jernigan believes his prior identification as homosexual was related to an erroneous childhood perception that he had been rejected by his father.
As a boy I needed a role model to show me the way to manhood. But because I felt rejected by the main man in my life I, in turn, rejected him and began to yearn for intimacy with a man in perverse ways. Because of this wrong thinking I came to believe I was homosexual. It must have begun early in my life because I remember having those feelings for the same gender at a very early age.
It was then [during a critical moment at the 2nd Chapter of Acts concert] that I lost the need to be accepted or loved by others because I realized Jesus would love me and accept me no matter what, even when I was rejected by others! It was also at this same time that those sexually perverse thoughts and desires were changed...and He began to replace them with holy and pure thoughts about what sexual love was all about.
Following the experience at the concert, Jernigan developed a ministry based on his personal experience, which he shares at churches and other locations around the world.
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 to listen to Dennis share about the song; http://shareyourstorynow.org/2007/09/19/dennis-jernigan-jesus-worth-every-struggle/

Click here for an article about Dennis
www.okbu.edu/news/view_article.php?id=1127

Click here for Dennis' website
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

Click here to hear Dennis’ share about his daughters’ traffic accident and her amazing story:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K2KX9yy2v4

Click here for an arrangement of the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC617kE1maU&feature=related

"When the Night is Falling"

This song is based on Zephaniah 3:17
"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 listen to Dennis' songs on his Myspace standalone player:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=71462447

Click here to read more about Dennis Jernigans' ministry:
www.dennisjernigan.com/

Click here for a new song "It's gonna be alright" by Dennis.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=26797070

Click here to hear Dennis talk about healing from a farm accident:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA7o-E-ewgU

Click here to listen to Dennis Jernigan singing his song:
http://wordmusicnow.com/Song.asp?SongID=305

"Here in Your Presence"

Click here to listen to the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq8P5i9U7-g

"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
www.christianmusic.com/chrisrice/bio.html

Click here to worship along with the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=39XD1ImxGWw&mode=related&search=

Click here to listen to worship along with song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_4g8_e16dc&mode=related&search=