The CCJ Blog

Even More Steel

2009-12-17T17:05:00.002-05:00

Food for Thought

2009-12-16T12:57:00.001-05:00

I know some will disagree with me and probably some who will get mad at me but I really think Christians often time get caught up in the wrong battles. I love what a pastor in Portland named Rick McKinley said in an article forwarded to me. He said, "Christians get all bent out of shape over the fact that someone didn't say 'Merry Christmas' when I walked into the store. But why are we expecting the store to tell our story? That's just ridiculous."

I could not agree more. I realize there is a cultural war going on and there are times when the church and Christians should stand up for what’s right. Saying we are only here to win people to Jesus sounds good but Jesus stood for things and we should as well. We are to be salt and light Christians. But making a huge deal over the secular word not saying Merry Christmas is not the battle we need to worry about. After all, while Christmas (December 25) is not wrong and can be used to point people to Jesus it is a manmade holiday not a biblical thing.

McKinley goes on to talk about how the Christian battle should be to encourage believers to stop making it about shopping, going into debt and getting overly caught up in the consumerism part of Christmas. He supports a movement that focuses on something called Advent Conspiracy which would make an interesting discussion in a different post sometime in the future.

Songs We Sing (12.13.2009)

2009-12-13T15:30:00.003-05:00

Church of Steel (Day 2)

2009-12-11T17:44:00.002-05:00

This is a thing of beauty. :-)

Look, Up In The Sky ...

2009-12-10T16:49:00.004-05:00

Look what started going up today. It's like it's actually happening or something.

;-)

I Celebrate The Day

2009-12-10T16:15:00.002-05:00

We are singing this song at the end of the sermon "The Story of Christmas: The Promise of Jesus" this Sunday at CCJ. It's unfamiliar to most, I would guess, so this is a bit of a primer for you. Great words to this song.

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

Songs We Sing (12.06.2009)

2009-12-06T15:37:00.003-05:00

No Fear

2009-12-04T21:25:00.002-05:00

I find all kinds of good stuff at my friend Jared's blog. He has a great one today about us often having the spirit of fear.

A snippet:
What are we afraid of now?

- That liberals will take God out of America. (As if that was possible.)

- That Democrats will pass bad laws.

- That stores will say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

There's a lot more, and most of them are of the culture war variety. Politics and social concerns. You may think these are all valid issues, and some of them are, but the way they grip the evangelical's attention and the way they drive him and her into anxiety, preoccupation, anger, obsession are all evidences of the spirit of fear.

The difference maker is this: Is God sovereign or not? Is Jesus risen and now sitting on the throne or not? If so: Relax.

Go read the whole thing here.

Random Thoughts

2009-12-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

--- Boy them Saints are good

---- Boy them Browns are bad

---- As Jeremy Patton says, “The game is not over until the Colts are ahead”

---- Am I the only one who thinks if no crimes were committed that Tiger Wood’s family life is none of my business?

---- I can’t believe its December already

---- Happy Birthday to Kyley Wood

---- I am excited for a family trip Friday and Saturday

That’s all

Songs We Sing (11.29.2009)

2009-11-29T16:11:00.003-05:00

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 November 29, 2009, we sang:

I Saw The Light
Written by Hank Williams Sr. (with additional verses by David Crowder, 2005). From Wikipedia: "I Saw the Light" is a 1948 Gospel song written and first performed by Hank Williams, not to be confused with the hit song by Todd Rundgren or the #1 country hit by Wynonna Judd. With poetic lyrics, such as "I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin/I wouldn't let my dear Savior in," the song was written about Williams' religious convictions despite his alcoholic vices. Though the song was not a commercial success upon its first release, it has become one of the songs most closely tied to Williams' career. Since its release, the song has been covered by numerous artists, including Crystal Gayle for her album "Someday" (1995), Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Acuff (1948), Bobby Bare (1966), Merle Haggard (1971), Etta James (2001), Bill Monroe (1958), Jerry Reed, Willie Nelson (1979), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1972), Earl Scruggs (1972), Hank Williams, Jr. (1969), The The (1995), Johnny Cash (In a Columbo episode), and David Crowder Band (2005)".
The David Crowder version is on their album "A Collision."

You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)
Written by Marc Imboden, Tammi Rhoton, 1994. When CCJ really sings, there is little more beautiful than us singing this song together (to me, anyway). I love the female and male voices mixing together singing different words but worshipping the same God.

Mighty To Save
Written by Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan, 2006. You can buy Hillsong's version here. As usual, we have amped up the song a bit and done it in our own way. This, however, is the original version.

Whole World In His Hands
Written by Tim Hughes, 2004. I love, love, love this song. It's such a great song of hope and inspiration to know that even though we will walk through fire, He has us and we will not be burned. We're not promised that there won't be fire, just that He will be there with us and take us through it. Matt Redman made this song popular. You can buy his version here.

You Never Let Go
Written by Matt Redman, Beth Redman, 2005. See "Whole World ..." Same thing. :-) You can buy Redman's version here.

We Are Called
Written by Daniel Ross, 2008. Read I Peter 2:9-10, then go back and read all of I Peter to get the proper context of why Peter was writing this and to who he was writing it. That's what I based this song on. By the way, we are in the infancy of recording an album of our originals (this one included) and a few public domain hymns. Hopefully, we will have it out in 2010 sometime (no promises though).
:-)

Songs We Sing (11.22.2009)

2009-11-22T15:26:00.002-05:00

Podcast Back Up

2009-11-17T09:58:00.003-05:00

If you get the podcast through iTunes, you may or may not know that it was down for two days.

Thanks to Mark Messmore, things are rolling again.

Everybody thank Mark for his genius.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Returns

2009-11-16T09:55:00.002-05:00

It's back.

The Good:
----- The weekend of worship and the staff/elders overnighter.
------ The Colts being Darth Vader again .... and it being somewhat his fault.
------ My family.
------ The weather and how it has helped the construction stuff.
----- And the number one good is that God loves me even though I can be a idiot.

The Bad:
------ Sinus infections that will not go away.
------ People who have to hear me gripe about above sinus infections

The Ugly:
----- The Cowboys on Sunday
----- The Colts Offense for most of Sunday
----- People being hurt and sick

Podcast Problems

2009-11-15T22:17:00.003-05:00

Just a quick notice to let you know that if you subscribe to the CCJ Podcast through iTunes, you are probably having a problem downloading this week's (or previous week's - if you haven't downloaded them already) podcast. You can, however, download the audio through our Media page or download it here directly (see link below).

11/15/09: Beautiful Mind (Series: The Life You Were Meant To Live (mp3)

I make no promises, but hopefully the issue will be resolved soon.

Songs We Sing (11.15.2009)

2009-11-15T15:39:00.002-05:00

Not Going Quietly

2009-11-13T10:20:00.003-05:00

This is a post from my friend Jared at The Gospel-Driven Church blog. Go read it.

Below is the post almost completely re-printed (but, seriously, go read his blog. It's great):
Titus 2:11-15:
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you."

The gospel of God's grace in Jesus is an amazing trainer. It humbles us as it emboldens us. It drives us to our knees in awe while it empowers us to stand and walk. It takes away the burden of meritocratic discipleship while it moves us to a life of good works.

It calls us to deny ourselves as it gives us the authority of being ambassadors for the kingdom.

"Let no one disregard you," Paul says to Titus. This is similar to his admonition to Timothy to not let anyone look down on his youthfulness. But it is less specific and more emphatic: don't be disregarded.

Are you living as if the kingdom of God is a force to be reckoned with?

Jesus did not get betrayed and arrested and tortured and crucified because he taught peace, love, and good vibes. Anybody can ignore a hippie. But a guy who claims to be the Son of God? A guy who heals people and pronounces God's forgiveness and walks into the temple and acts like he owns the place? And then announces its destruction? That's somebody you have to deal with. You can't disregard him.

Pervaiz Masih clearly got this.
On October 20, two suicide bombers launched near simultaneous attacks on both the men's and women's side of the campus.

Afsheen Zafar, 20, is in mourning. Three of her classmates, girls she describes as "shining stars," were killed on that terrible day.

Still, she says the carnage could have been much worse if not for the actions of a lowly janitor, who was also killed.

"If he didn't stop the suicide attacker, there could have been great, great destruction," Zafar says.

"He's now a legend to us," says another 20-year-old student named Sumaya Ahsan. "Because he saved our lives, our friends' lives."

The janitor's name was Pervaiz Masih. According to eyewitness accounts, the attacker approached disguised in women's clothing. He shot the guard on duty, and then approached the cafeteria, which was packed with hundreds of female students.

Masih intercepted the bomber in the doorway, however, and the bomber self-detonated right outside the crowded hall, spraying many of his explosive vest's arsenal of ball bearings out into the parking lot instead of into the cafeteria.

"The sweeper who was cleaning up here saw someone outside and went towards him," said Nasreen Siddique, a cafeteria worker who was wounded in the head, leg and arm by the blast. "[Masih] told him that he could not come inside because there were girls inside. And then they started arguing. And then we heard a loud blast and all the glass broke."

"Between 300 to 400 girls were sitting in there," said Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik, the rector of the university. "[Pervez Masih] rose above the barriers of caste, creed and sectarian terrorism. Despite being a Christian, he sacrificed his life to save the Muslim girls."

Masih was a member of Pakistan's Christian minority, traditionally one of the poorest communities in the country.

No, not "despite" being a Christian did he save Muslim girls. Because he's a Christian he saved Muslim girls.

Church in the West, we are living lives of disregard and consequently having little impact. Despite our big buildings and our big budgets and our big publishing empires and our big voting blocks and our big events and our big numbers, we are living in such a way to be disregarded.

We cannot afford to go quietly. Exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Songs We Sing (11.08.2009)

2009-11-08T15:28:00.002-05:00

Songs We Sing (11.01.2009)

2009-11-01T16:07:00.003-05:00

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 November 1, 2009, we sang:

At The Cross
Words by Issac Watts, 1707. Chorus by Ralph Hudson in 1885. This song is also known as "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?" without the "at the cross, at the cross" chorus. You know how we sometimes sing an old hymn with a new chorus? There's nothing new under the sun, as this is a good example. There are some great lyrics to this song. I used to think the line "Would He devote that sacred head/For such a worm as I?" was a bit harsh but, as I've grown, I realize that I have nothing to offer God that is good and that, in the full light of His glory, I am no more than a worm. HOWEVER, there is "Amazing pity/Grace unknown/And love beyond degree ... at the cross."

All Bow Down
Written by Chris Tomlin & Ed Cash, 2004. This is from Chris Tomlin's "Arriving" album (if you're looking to buy it). Our version is stylistically a bit more funky (I like it better, but that's just me). When we did this one at The Burner last Sunday night, there was some loud singing that warmed my heart. We got to the line "You are coming again, like a thiief in the night/You are coming again, with a shout from the sky." The kids (and adults) really let loose on the "shout from the sky part." It was awesome. :-)

Nothing But The Blood
Written by Robert Lowry, 1876. Man, this guy really was a prolific songwriter back in the late 1800s, wasn't he (go look at previous "songs We Sing" posts to see what I'm talking about)? This song has fantastic words that help remind us that it is not of our doing, but God's that we are saved - ONLY through the blood of Jesus.

Here I Am To Worship
Written by Tim Hughes, 2000. You can buy the mp3 here, if you want it. This one is a modern classic, so to speak. This takes us to a place of pondering just how much Jesus gave up for us. That requires our worship.

How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Written by Stuart Townend, 1995. This is written in hymn-style so many think it is an old song but it's fairly new, in reality. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the lyrics to this song. I've not found a version that is quite like ours so, I'll give you an old YouTube video of us doing it in 2007. For whatever reason, this video has been downloaded from our web site about 70-100 times each month and has been viewed on YouTube nearly 14,000 times. The video from the ccjasper.com site has been embeded in some South Korean web site and has been heavily viewed in China and other Asian nations over the past two years. God uses the weak in His ways, doesn't He?

Image of the Invisible
Written by Daniel Ross & Kurt Neighbors, 2008. We wrote this one back in late 2008 when CCJ was working through the book of Colossians. I was trying to hammer home the point that Jesus is the supreme ruler over everything. This will be available in a recorded form ... someday.

Songs We Sing (10.25.2009)

2009-10-25T15:06:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-23T18:23:00.002-04:00

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)

2009-10-18T14:52:00.002-04:00

I Love the Church

2009-10-15T13:12:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-13T16:21:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-11T23:35:00.002-04:00

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)

2009-10-11T15:12:00.002-04:00

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.