The great Alligator hunt of 1976

John Mark with a 5 1/2 foot gator.

Some of the Longhorn players with little Al.
John Mark and his World Series championship teammates made a visit one afternoon in Beaumont to Alligator Island. Alligator Island is the largest gator breeding farm in Texas. The farm offers guided tours, including a visit with Big Al, the largest living alligator in captivity. They didn't get to hold Big Al, but probably one of his grandsons. I'm putting a picture of Big Al below. My brother Charles and I once killed a four foot gator on our lake in Florida. Each year the legend of the kill has grown. I was probably twelve and Charles was probably nine. We were paddling a canoe when one of Charles' friends stabbed the gator with a three prong gig. (To this day we're not sure of where Charles' friend is serving time). We were fortunate that the prong went through the head and served to clamp the mouth shut. The little, I mean ten foot gator kicked and splashed for a good hour before he gave up the ghost. This was around 1976, during the time when there were stiff fines for killing gators. We cut off the tail and buried little Al, I mean big Al in the brush near a drain. We had plans on eating the tail as we had been told it had been declared a delicacy by restaurants in the area. The next day Big Al floated to the top and out into the lake. There was a four foot, I mean ten foot tail-less gator. Rumors abounded of a bigger gator that had also heard the reports of the restaurants. Fortunate for us we were never caught, but again Charles and I were just paddling the canoe.

BIG AL

Stories behind the songs - Sunday July 22, 2007

This Sundays theme is "Battling the Enemy"
read the scripture for Sunday by clicking here:
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20samuel%2017%20&version=31
* you can actually listen to the whole passage by clicking on the sound button.

"When I Don't Know what to Do"
We'll begin with this song by Tommy Walker, interestingly enough Tommy was four years old before he spoke a word.
www.tommywalker.net/bio.php
Click here to listen to the song - look under new worship songs
www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php
Here are the lyrics

When I don’t know what to do

I’ll lift my hands

When I don’t know what to say

I’ll speak Your praise

When I don’t know where to go

I’ll run to Your throne

When I don’t know what to think

I’ll stand on Your truth

When I don’t know what to do

"I will Boast"
Read more about Paul Baloches' ministry here www.leadworship.com/paul/about.html

This song is based on the verse Jeremiah 9:24

"Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

The Apostle Paul, writes this in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31:"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written(in Jeremiah 9:24): "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."


"The Lord is My Strength"
This song was written by Dennis Jernigan. It is a song of proclamation song, a battle song declaring the power of the Lord. You can listen to the song here
www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php
You can learn more about Dennis' amazing journey here -
www.dennisjernigan.com/about.htm
You can also listen to some great songs by Dennis on his myspace page
http://www.myspace.com/dennisjernigan - the song "Passionate Obession" is an unforgetable song

"Give Thanks to the Lord"
This song was written by Jon Essen, Stew & Karin Essens' son. The song is a great reminder of all that we have to be thankful for.

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is the reigning King

Thanks to the Lord the ruler of everything

Thanks to the Lord for He is the reigning King

Thanks to the Lord the Ruler of everything

Verse two

"Lift your eyes, fix your gaze on the One who took our shame

Lift your heart to the Lord He is holy and adored

Jesus is all that we need, His power and presence bring peace.

"You are my All in All"
This song also by Dennis Jernigan says it all, prepare for Sunday by singing through this classic www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC617kE1maU

"Adonia"
Marissa Sasmita will share this song by Avalon. Marissa is an incredible 17 year old with a special God given voice. At 17, she is only 3 ft 11 in tall. She was born with metaphyseal dysphasia and that she can even walk is a miracle. She says “God gave some people legs but gave me my voice” It has been exactly one year since her sister Ayu, was born with only a slight chance for life. She will be one year old this Sunday July 22nd. She now weighs 12 ½ pounds (a long way from 1 ¼ pounds at birth) with no known health problems. Her family considers this a miracle of God, and an example of answered prayer by many believers. The response of our First Hurst family was overwhelming, especially following Jeff’s appeal for prayer from the pulpit last year.

Here are some links to Marissa singing
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhfow5cx_5M
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TlBjyJLDks www.youtube.com/user/gultekdi

"O Worship the King"
This great hymn was written by Sir Robert Grant. Who would later become the Governor or Bombay. He wrote a hymn which is considered one of the greatest in the English language. Reading William Kethe's translation of Psalm 104 in a 1561 psalm book prompted Robert to write his own version of the psalm, familiar to millions of church-goers.

O Worship the King all glorious above!

O gratefully sing his power and his love,

Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of days,

Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

Read more about this hymn writer here:
http://chi.gospelcom.net/DAILYF/2003/07/daily-07-09-2003.shtml

Mid-Cities Longhorns - Win WORLD SERIES

The Mid-Cities Longhorns won the National USSSA 11 under AA World Series title in Beaumont, Texas this last weekend. After dropping the second game in the tournament, the Longhorns played their way back through the losers bracket to make it to the title game. The Longhorns would have to beat the undefeated West Brazos Sox twice to capture the title. They handled them easy in the first game, forcing the final determining game. In the championship game the Longhorns found themselves down 6-0 in the top of the fourth inning, rumors abounded that the fat lady was tuning up, but these cardiac kids who had no quit in them mounted a thrilling come back scoring 6 runs in the top of the fourth. Holding the number one team in the nation scoreless the rest of the game, the Longhorns finished the task adding 4 more runs to capture the title 10-6. When you see both teams offer up a prayer at the beginning of the game, does it make you wonder which team God is pulling for? I keep reminding myself that youth sports is really about character development and learning the lessons of life. Baseball is one of those sports where each kids accomplishments or errors are exposed. In football, basketball or soccer a kid can be in the game and somewhat go unnoticed, but in baseball there is always the potential that you might make a costly error that is highlighted for all to see. So it makes us more proned to pray. Since I can't always make the Sunday games as some are on Sunday morning when I'm leading worship, John Mark and I have an agreement.
The team always prays before the game, but I try and make a point to call him and pray on the phone when possible. I can always listen to the sermon online! If for some reason I can't John Mark will walk to where ever he's playing during the first inning and take his hat off as a reminder that win or loose we'll give God the glory. I think the movie "Facing the Giants" reminded us all to praise him in defeat as well as victory. I was blessed Saturday during the last game I'd get to watch when as the home team we had come back to carry a 6-5 lead into the top of the 6th and final inning. All we needed were 3 outs to put us playing on Sunday. You can tell by the picture that John Mark isn't the biggest kid, he's probably the smallest. He enjoys pitching, playing second, some third, and has been an asset in the outfield throughout the season We knew if we made it to Sunday we'd need our big pitchers to compete with the last two teams. I was curious as to whether we'd stay with the same kid or who would we go to. John Mark had been having a decent game playing left field. As the team took the field for the top of the 6th I saw him walking toward the infield. I thought he might be going to second or third, but was surprised when he walked to the mound and started warming up. For this tournament, I'd been sitting on the back row with my father-in-law Virgil. Ginger (a former cheerleader) had been sitting on the front row leading cheer after cheer. From six rows up I noticed Ginger had stopped the cheering and buried her head in her hands, she'd gone to praying. There is something about your kid pitching that makes you a little more nervous than if he's playing left field. Sure they might hit it out there, but you're a little more relaxed. I turned to Virgil who looked like he needed a cigarette or something stronger. I found out later that when the coach told John Mark to go to the mound to finish it out, he said ok. After he threw his last warm-up pitch he did something he'd never done before. As the team was throwing it around the horn, he knelt down to pray. I asked him later what did you pray and he said, "I just needed the Lord to help me and I was a little nervous." The cry throughout the crowd was "keep it low", I don't know if any of the opposing team players had hit a home run, but it was our greatest fear. First batter 2 pitches and a long fly to left field, left field parent sits up takes notice, left fielder catches the ball for out one. Second batter 1 pitch fly to right field, right field parent gasps, right fielder back peddles to warning track and snags it for the second out. Third batter, big hitter, crowd unusually quiet. First pitch ball, parent of pitcher, are we losing our groove? Light cheering as ball is thrown back to pitcher, crowd quiets, batter (big batter) steps in for the pitch.


Pitcher, calm cool and collective pitches ball,

parent of pitcher thinks to himself that seems a little high,

parent of batter - my son will tie the game,

coach - that seems a little high,

pitcher - the pitch i wanted to pitch, thank you Lord

batter - I'm going to swing

concession stand attendant, that will be six twenty five

mother of pitcher with eyes closed, what's happening

batter hits the ball - grounder to short

fans - slowly stand and point to short stop

short stop - I'm going to get the jumbo dog after this game

short stop - picks up the ball,

first basemen - i think I'm going to get the cherry apple snow cone

short stop - throws the ball

first basemen - or will I get the pinacolade snow cone

first basemen - catches the ball -

GAME OVER - Longhorns headed to games on Sunday

Pitcher - thank you Lord.






(I realize some people have a problem playing on Sunday mornings, and Ginger and I struggled early on with this, but we felt the experiences John Mark was getting on the team were invaluable. I've stressed that I must put God before John Mark, but not the church so Sunday mornings is really about God and if John Mark can honor the Lord on Sundays on a baseball field then we're fine with that)

Stories behind the songs Sunday July 15, 2007

We'll begin Sunday with a new song by Tommy Walker.
"When I Don't know what to do"
Click here to learn more about Tommy Walker
www.tommywalker.net/bio.php
Click here to listen to the song - look under new worship songs www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php
Here are the lyrics

When I don’t know what to do
I’ll lift my hands
When I don’t know what to say
I’ll speak Your praise
When I don’t know where to go
I’ll run to Your throne
When I don’t know what to think
I’ll stand on Your truth
When I don’t know what to do

"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
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTaSVXMtoZs

"Your Grace is Enough" Click here to listen to how the song was written www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIgGHA27nG4

"My Life is in Your Hands" This is one of our choirs favorites click here to sing along www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spg71EBj8U0

"Send the Light" This song was written by Charles H. Gabriel. Click here to learn more about his life http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Gabriel Click here to read through the words www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/e/sendlite.htm
"Softly and Tenderly" I came across this podcast on the life of Will L. Thompson the composer of this great hymn. The podcast runs for about three minutes and has a recording of the song at the end, it is well worth the listen like some podcasts you have to listen to a commercial at the beginning http://hymns.lifespringonline.com/?p=24
At this point in the service we'll observe the Lord's supper. During the passing of the bread we'll watch "The Hall Closet" you can preview the video here http://www.sermonspice.com/search?fpage=1&q=the%20hall%20closet During the passing of the cup we'll sing the song "He Knows My Name" This song is also by Tommy Walker, here is a great video of the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXsiWoyjw60
"Everlasting" This is a song by Brenton Brown, check him out here. www.brentonbrownmusic.com/
You can listen to "Everlasting" here: www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php
The message Sunday is entitled "A Desert Dweller"
Matthew 3:1-6, 11:7-11

Offertory Sunday is will be shared by Karin Essen "Guide me O Thy Great Jehovah" what a great text click here to read the words. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/u/guideme.htm

RUN THE RACE! Don't hold back!

Here is a great clip by Ray Vander Laan entitled "Run" - a must see

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cizsb_GE_zc&mode=related&search=

Stories Behind the songs - Sunday July 8, 2007

We'll begin worship with the song by Billy James Foote
"Sing to the King"
I visited with Billy about this song during my sabbatical, he said the song is based upon the hymn by Charles S. Horne. Here are the original words penned in 1910. Notice the similarity between the Horne's words and Billy's adaptation of the song.

Sing we the King Who is coming to reign,

Glory to Jesus, the Lamb that was slain.

Life and salvation His empire shall bring,

Joy to the nations when Jesus is King.
Refrain
Come let us sing, praise to our King,

Jesus our King, Jesus our King,

This is our song, who to Jesus belong:

Glory to Jesus, to Jesus our King.

Learn more about Billy's ministry here

http://www.billyfoote.com/

"All My Life" 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.

"Keep on making a Way"

This song was written by Carol Cymbala, choir director for the Brooklyn Tabernacle. This song was written as a message of testimony of how God always provides a way.

"We're Marching to Zion"

Isaac Watts wrote this song because of the controversy between singing of Psalms and the singing of hymns, the church decided to sing Psalms at the beginning of their service and then after the preaching, they would sing hymns. Many people who were still against the hymns would get up and leave the service at this time. Isaac Watts wrote the hymn to refute this practice of people walking out during the hymn singing. Just reads the words especially stanza two.

Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God,

But children of the heavenly King,

but children of the heavenly King,

May speak their joys abroad,

may speak their joys abroad.

Click here to hear the song

www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh733.sht

"God will make a Way"

Don Moen wrote this song after recieving word of a death in the family. Click here to read the inspiring story. The song is based on Isaiah 43:19 'Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.’

www.integritymusic.com/worship/story/0701.html

Oh God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way.....He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness

He'll lead me And rivers in the desert will I see

Heaven and earth will fade

But His Word will still remain

And He will do something new today

"In the Secret"

This song was written by Andy Park. I found this 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

"The Solid Rock"

One morn­ing it came into my mind as I went to la­bour, to write an hymn on the ‘Gra­cious Ex­per­i­ence of a Christ­ian.’ As I went up Hol­born I had the chor­us,
‘On Christ the solid Rock I stand,All other ground is sinking sand.’
In the day I had four first vers­es com­plete, and wrote them off. On the Sab­bath fol­low­ing I met bro­ther King as I came out of Lisle Street Meet­ing…who in­formed me that his wife was ve­ry ill, and asked me to call and see her. I had an ear­ly tea, and called af­ter­wards. He said that it was his usu­al custom to sing a hymn, read a por­tion, and en­gage in pray­er, be­fore he went to meet­ing. He looked for his hymn-book but could find it no­where. I said, ‘I have some vers­es in my pock­et; if he liked, we would sing them.’ We did, and his wife en­joyed them so much, that af­ter ser­vice he asked me, as a fa­vour, to leave a co­py of them for his wife. I went home, and by the fire­side com­posed the last two vers­es, wrote the whole off, and took them to sis­ter King…As these vers­es so met the dy­ing wo­man’s case, my at­ten­tion to them was the more ar­rest­ed, and I had a thou­sand print­ed for dis­tr­ibu­tion. I sent one to the Spir­it­u­al Mag­a­zine, with­out my ini­tials, which ap­peared some time af­ter this. Bro­ther Rees, of Crown Street, So­ho, brought out an edi­tion of hymns [1836], and this hymn was in it. Da­vid Den­ham in­tro­duced it [1837] with Rees’ name, and others af­ter…Your in­sert­ing this brief out­line may in fu­ture shield me from the charge of stealth, and be a vin­di­ca­tion of truth­ful­ness in my con­nect­ion with the Church of God.
Edward MoteLet­ter to the Gos­pel Herald

Offertory Sunday will be Tara Campbell singing "My Chains Are Gone". Tara is the grand-daughter of Bill & Patsy Campbell.

St. Louis - A Brighter Day Choir tour

I just returned from St. Louis where our Crossroads youth choir spent the week ministering in the inner-city. If you have time we have a video diary of the trip located here
http://www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_crossroads.php