Songs We Sing (10.25.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of October 25, 2009, we sang:

Victory In Jesus
Written by Eugene M. Bartlett, 1939. I told everyone this morning that I have sung this song since I was a little kid and had no idea until the other day what the word 'ere' meant in the chorus ("O victory in Jesus/My Savior forever/He sought me and bought me/With His redeeming blood/He loved me ere I knew Him/And all my love is due Him/He plunged me to victory/Beneath the cleansing flood."). The word 'ere' simply means 'before.' It is awe-inspiring that He loved us even when we were His enemies and dead in our own sins.

We Are Called
Written by Daniel Ross, 2009. This song is taken from I Peter 2 (we often read I Peter 2:9-10 before we sing it). Once again, it is awe-inspiring to know that we are a "chosen people, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that we may declare the excellencies of Him who called us from darkness into His marvelous light." I hope you are encouraged by this song.

Blessed Be Your Name
Written by Beth Redman and Matt Redman, 2002. The main theme of this song is from Job 1. One of my favorite lines is that "my heart will choose to say 'blessed be Your name.'" As Job 1 says, "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." This song is available here for purchase. There are other good versions by other artists out there as well. Feel free to suggest your favorite in the comments.

I Need Thee Every Hour
Written by Annie S. Hawks (music by Robert Lowry), 1872. A young housewife wrote this in the 1870s. Awesome. The story behind the song (as found here - link will have an audio file playing so turn your volume down):
"One day as a young wife and mo­ther of 37 years of age, I was bu­sy with my reg­u­lar house­hold tasks. Sud­den­ly, I be­came so filled with the sense of near­ness to the Mast­er that, won­der­ing how one could live with­out Him, ei­ther in joy or pain, these words, “I Need Thee Ev­e­ry Hour,” were ush­ered in­to my mind, the thought at once tak­ing full pos­sess­ion of me."
After writ­ing the lyr­ics, Hawks gave them to her pas­tor, Ro­bert Low­ry, who add­ed the tune and re­frain. The hymn was first pub­lished at the Na­tion­al Bap­tist Sun­day School Con­ven­tion in Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio, in No­vem­ber 1872. Some years lat­er, af­ter the death of her hus­band, Hawks wrote:
"I did not un­der­stand at first why this hymn had touched the great throb­bing heart of hu­man­i­ty. It was not un­til long af­ter, when the sha­dow fell over my way, the sha­dow of a great loss, that I un­der­stood some­thing of the com­fort­ing pow­er in the words which I had been per­mit­ted to give out to others in my hour of sweet se­ren­i­ty and peace."

Enough
Written by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio, 2002. "You're my supply my breath of life/Still more awesome than I know/You're my reward worth living for/Still more awesome than I know/" You can buy this song here. As with nearly all Chris Tomlin songs, many, many people have done their own versions.

It Is Well With My Soul
Written by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873 (Music by Philip Bliss, 1876). This hymn has a great/horrific story behind it. If you've never read it, check it out at Wikipedia.

Southeast Christian Church Leadership Conference

Well I am a day late on the blog this week and I will try to have a follow up blog over the weekend to last week's message. Today and tomorrow I am enjoying the SECC Leadership Conference. This is always an inspiring and effective time for me to be re-charged and pick up some great church leadership ideas. I spent all of today in a preaching workshop with the preacher here. Those guys rock. Looking forward to a huge worship service tonight.

If you have never visited this campus it is something everyone should do at least once. God has really bless this place. Hope everyone has a good evening. See you Sunday.

Songs We Sing (10.18.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of October 18, 2009, we sang:

Beautiful One
Written by Tim Hughes, 2002. Hughes also made the song most popular so if you want to buy a version, I'd suggest his. I love the lyric "my soul, my soul MUST sing." Nothing on earth compares to who Jesus is.

Here Is Our King
Written by David Crowder, 2005. Available on the David Crowder Band album "A Collision." (You can download Narrow Path's rougher version here). "Here is our God who's come to bring us back to Him/He is the One, He is Jesus."

All My Tears
Written by Julie Miller, 1993. Her version is on her album "Orphans And Angels." Jars of Clay made it most popular on their album "Good Monsters." Emmylou Harris also has a version out there. This one was chosen for today because of the line "Gold and silver blind the eye/Temporary riches lie/Come and eat from Heaven's store/Come and drink and thirst no more." Fantastic song.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Written by Helen H. Lemmel, 1922. Ponder these lines of this old hymn ... "and the things of earth will grow strangely dim/In the light of His glory and grace."

Mission's Flame
Written by Matt Redman, 2004. I first heard this on the album "Passion: How Great Is Our God." This song conveys the power with which we are to care about the glory of God's name on the earth. I love it. "Let worship be the fuel for mission's flame/We're going with a passion for Your name/We're going for we care about Your praise/Send us out."

The Heart of Worship
Written by Matt Redman, 1999. This song always means a lot to me, particularly today as I've been wrestling with some things in my own life and in the life of CCJ. There is a fantastic story behind the writing of this song. Please take a second to read it all.
The song dates back to the late 1990s, born from a period of apathy within Matt (Redman)’s home church, Soul Survivor, in Watford, England.
Read the rest of the story >>>

I Love the Church

Many people love to criticize the church (meaning churches in general). Many books' and blogs' entire premises are based upon that effort. Now, I am very convinced there is plenty of things to improve in the American Church but I still believe that the church is a great place. I love the church because:
-- It is God’s chosen source to preach Jesus Christ, who is the salvation of the World.
-- God is building His church and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.
-- Much of the church is becoming more missional minded.
-- It is still the most effective way of making disciples for Christ.
-- It is the best way to carry out the “one another” aspects of ministry from the Bible.
-- The church ministering in Christ's name really does make a difference in this world.
There are a lot of great ministries and para-church groups in this world but as Craig Groeschel says, “nothing replaces the power of what God wants to do through the local church.”

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Help Wanted: Mission Work Days

WHAT: Work days to replace the roof at the Red Quarry Christian Church in French Lick.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, November 6 & 7 (rain dates are Nov. 13 & 14)

MORE INFO: Sign-up sheets for both days are on the table in the lobby/fellowship hall or you can contact Randy Berg at 482-5374 for more information. Red Quarry was pivotal and essential in the formation of CCJ in the early days and this is a great way to give back to them.

Please Pray for Luke

Little baby Luke Popp will be having surgery tomorrow in Chicago. This is a huge and risky surgery but something that needs to be done. Please pray for him and the entire family.

Songs We Sing (10.11.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of October 11, 2009, we sang:

Glory To His Name
Written by Elisha Albright Hoffman and John Hart Stockton, 1878. This song is also known as "Down At The Cross." We do several "boom-chuck-a" songs. This is my favorite. You can download our version here. "Come to this fountain so rich and sweet/Cast thy poor soul at the Savior’s feet/Plunge in today, and be made complete/Glory to His Name!"

The Glory Of Your Name
Written by Christy Nockels, Nathan Nockels, 2004. We did this one today primarily because of these lines: "And there is nothing in this world/That could take the place of You/That could take the place of You/My Jesus/And there is nothing in this life/That could take the place of one life/And one love/One pow'r to save us all/One hope/And one truth/And one glory in it all/One glory in it all." If you've never heard Christy Nockels sing, you should check her out. This song is available on the compilation album "Passion: How Great Is Our God." Get the song here at Amazon's mp3 Store.

Here Is Love
Written by Robert S. Lowry, William Edwards and William Rees, 1876. Do you know this one yet? Today concluded the introduction of this new/really old song to CCJ. I'm really digging this one. "Who His love will not remember?/Who can cease to sing His praise?"

Holy, Holy, Holy
Words written by Reginald Heber (1826) and music by John B. Dykes (1861). A great song proclaiming the glory and just plain bigness/holiness/grandeur, etc. of our God.

Raise Up The Crown (All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name)
Words written by Edward Perronet (somewhere between 1779 and 1786) and music written by Oliver Holden (1793). Additional chorus written by Chris Tomlin, 2004. "Ye chosen seed of Israel's race/Ye ransomed from the fall/Hail Him who saves you by His grace/And crown Him Lord of all." How great is that?!?! Chris Tomlin's version is available on the album "Passion: Hymns, Ancient and Modern." (Single mp3 available at Amazon's mp3 store here).

This Is Our God
Written by Kurt Neighbors and Daniel Ross, 2009. An original song for CCJ taken from Isaiah 25. Go read it. That's what the song is about. Song not yet recorded.

You, Me and Mike Moore

I have been watching and reading several interviews with Michael Moore about his latest documentary “Capitalism: A Love Story”. I have not seen the movie and I probably won’t. I totally disagree with his principles which I have read on the movie and I have some resentment about his distortion of facts. But this blog is not about his or anyone else’s political beliefs. My blog today is about the one part of Moore’s thoughts that I agree with. As Christians we have a responsibility to be generous. I read a preacher blog the other day that said this and I agree.

-------If you live in America, you are rich. If you're living in poverty in America, you are wealthy on the global scale, and that's what God sees. If you live in America, you are rich.
-------If you live in America, whether you realize it or not, one of your greatest temptations is wanting to be rich, loving money, and putting your hope in wealth.
-------In the Old Testament we're told to give a bare minimum of 10% of our income. In the New Testament we're commanded to give generously. There's no way that God views less than 10% as generous.

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:7-10)

Songs We Sing (10.04.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of October 4, 2009, we sang:



Shall We Gather At The River?
Written by Robert Lowry, 1864. I'm starting to realize that Robert Lowry (pictured left) was the Chris Tomlin (pictured below) of the mid-1800s (well, Chris Tomlin is probably the Robert Lowry of today, but I digress ...). Part of this hymn was sung in the Academy Award winning movie, "Trip to Bountiful" (1985). It was also sung at the funeral of American Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. Lowry said this of the song:
"One afternoon in July, 1864, when I was pastor at Hanson Place Baptist Church, Brooklyn, the weather was oppressively hot, and I was lying on a lounge in a state of physical exhaustion…My imagination began to take itself wings. Visions of the future passed before me with startling vividness. The imagery of the apocalypse took the form of a tableau. Brightest of all were the throne, the heavenly river, and the gathering of the saints…I began to wonder why the hymn writers had said so much about the “river of death” and so little about the “pure water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb.” As I mused, the words began to construct themselves. They came first as a question of Christian in quiry, “Shall we gather?” Then they broke in chorus, “Yes, we’ll gather.” On this question and answer the hymn developed itself. The music came with the hymn."

Mighty To Save
Written by Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, 2006. Originally recorded by Hillsong (appears on a few albums including "Mighty To Save" and "Hillsong Ultimate Worship Collection Volume II"). I love the emphasis on Jesus rising and conquering the grave. BECAUSE of that, we can "Shine y(our) light, let the whole world see/We're singing/For the glory of the risen King, Jesus."

Shout to the North
Written by Martin Smith, 1995. Originally recorded by Delirious? Appears on their album "Cutting Edge." A great song of unity and admonition to the church.



How Great Is Our God
Written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash and Jesse Reeves, 2004. Appears on the Chris Tomlin album "Arriving." This is what you would call a "modern classic." It is consistently the most sung song in churches across the U.S. and the world each year since its release.

God Of this City
Written by Aaron Boyd, Andrew McCann, Ian Jordan, Peter Comfort, Peter Kernaghan and Richard Bleakley, 2006. Originally written and recorded by Bluetree on the album "God Of This City" (this is the version we play). This was also made popular by Chris Tomlin on his album "Hello Love." This is a personal opinion, but I think Tomlin's version is much more watered-down (much more pop) than Bluetree's and I would recommend Bluetree's version if you are going to buy it.

Awesome Is The Lord Most High
Written by Cary Pierce, Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and Jon Abel, 2006. From the Chris Tomlin album "See The Morning." I appreciate how many of you do what the chorus says we are doing.
;-)

God Wants You

As I looked at the CCJ blog I see that as far as posting goes it is becoming less and less active. So I decided I was going to try to do a weekly post of the theological nature. Thus today begins something I hope to do every Thursday.

The elders of CCJ are currently doing a Bible study on the book of 1 Timothy. It is a great book for church leadership. A couple of verses in particular in chapter 1 stands out to me as I am reading. “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 1:3-4). That is awesome to think about. God really wants all men to be saved and find out the truth. That is His desire and passion.

Just imagine if you are a parent, losing a child or having a child kidnapped or maybe a child that ran away. Can you imagine how desperate and passionate you are to get them back? Would it ever be far from your mind? No way! It is never far from God’s mind either. He desires all people to come to Him. He desires it so much that He sent His One Son Jesus to pay the price to make it possible for us to be saved.

What does that say about how God feels about us and how He feels about the lost? Every time I read Luke 15 it reminds me of it more and more.