Word Wednesday .::173

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

Galatians 5:16-18 NIV

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.


Will power is an illusion when it comes to battling sin. Don't trust yourself to deny yourself. Trust the Holy Spirit at all times.

What's your Word?

BIG NEWS

Gobble, Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's my son in his school's play this week. He dances like his Dad.

Word Wednesday .::172

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

II Corinthians 10:17-18 NIV

¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

When you see and understand God more and more, you will boast about yourself less & less.

What's your Word?

Book Review - Lucky

Lucky by Glenn Packiam

Luck is such an interesting, multifaceted word. We use it by attributing someone's success to chance. We also use it in an envious way. We express jealousy over someone else' good fortune by saying, "They are so lucky." In Glenn Packiam's new book, Lucky, he explores my latter explanation of this interesting word into a spiritual realm.
This book is a great, thought-provoking exploration of the be-attitudes. He points out that the greek origin of the word "blessed" is "makarios", which is actually a secular term that Jesus used to express the idea of "happy or fortunate". I loved the thought process that Glenn exudes about the word "blessed". It's definitely a word that gets inserted way too quickly into conversations.
The heart and message of the book is to help us understand that as sons and daughters of God, we are blessed or fortunate or....lucky. Glenn says, "Jesus meant for His sermon to be viewed as the way to live as the people of God, not the way to become the people of God."
This is a challenging read that will inspire you to see the Kingdom of God come through your life, so as to worship our Lord and also to be a blessing to others. He goes on to say, "Carrying hope to the hopeless, being a blessing to all peoples is our original design, a design now restored to us in Christ."
I loved this book as much as Glenn's last one, called Second Hand Jesus. It's challenging, thought-provoking and educational.

Click here to get it today. You won't be sorry...you'll be lucky.

Word Wednesday .::171

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

II Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV

¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

This was so encouraging to me & it should be to all of us. In order to experience this, we need to un-fix our eyes off of things that are not eternal & fix them on what is "unseen & eternal".

What's your Word?

Album Review - Hymns & Sacred Songs

Hymns & Sacred Songs by Leigh Nash

So...all I needed to hear was the name Leigh Nash. Anyone that knows that name, will probably be intrigued by her new album & will most likely be pleased with it.

On her newest release from Kingsway Music, she has done a project that just makes sense. Hymns & Sacred Songs is a beautiful marriage between Leigh's voice and some very rich songs.

It's a very universal album. I think this will speak to all kinds of people in all kinds of walks. The track that stuck with me first was her version of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". I absolutely loved the arrangement, recording, and the melody change. Great stuff!

I was pleasantly surprised to hear the song "Power of the Cross", which is a Getty's song. I really hope to see this song gain some more traction because of this recording. It's just an awesome song.

If you're a Sixpence None the Richer fan, this is a no brainer. Get it and enjoy it!

Click here for Itunes to purchase "Hymns & Sacred Songs" today.

Sunday Setlist 11.13.11

Setlist with itunes links:
All Because of Jesus
You Alone Can Rescue
Give us Clean Hands


Flow Sheet from Planning Center

Also part of Sunday Setlist.

Word Wednesday .::170

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

I Corinthians 3:7 NIV

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

We have our part to play, when it comes to ministry & life, but we get in trouble when we start believing that our part is the most important part. God is the source and power to all of His work and purpose. We are simply privileged to be able to be used by Him, when He sees fit.

What's your Word?

20 years ago today...

...I was, ironically, yet typically playing basketball in our church gym. I was in Junior High and my youth pastor walked in the gym & said, "Magic Johnson has aids." I thought he was kidding. I didn't believe him for a while. I don't think I really, truly believed it until I watched the press conference. As a die-hard Celtics/Larry Bird fan, I had a huge connection to Magic. He was our ultimate rival. It was devastating. It's cool that 20 years later he's still with us. He really brought a lot of awareness to the subject. The video below is from a documentary about Larry & Magic. It's probably the most impacting moment on the film when Magic shares how Larry was there for him, when most of his "friends" turned their backs on him.

Sunday Setlist 11.06.11

Setlist with itunes links:
Our God Saves
God is Able
Jesus Paid it All
How He Loves


Flow Sheet from Planning Center

Also part of Sunday Setlist.

Tebowing

I'm not a huge Tim Tebow fan, but I definitely admire his character. He's been consistent, and that means a lot.

What's your thoughts on the whole Tebowing craze?

"Heal Me" on CCLITV

One of my new songs, "Heal Me" is on CCLITV. You can click here and go check it out. It's a video from one of our worship services at Bethany. Let me know what you think of the new tune.

Word Wednesday .::169

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

Romans 8:24 NIV

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?"

We definitely put way too much hope in what is seen, instead of what isn't seen.

What's your Word?

Album Review - Economy

Economy by John Mark McMillan

WHOOOA....Economy is.....WHOOOA.

To be honest, I was a little nervous about this project, because The Medicine was soooo good. Sophomore albums, to me, are the ones that tell us if this artist is the real deal. It seems to be easy to release a first major label album, because you already have the best songs. The question is, can they bring more to the table in the next couple of years?

I really believe that John Mark McMillan is the real deal. He's certainly brought some more to the table on his new album, Economy. The sign of a good song is if it grows on you. There's a lot of that on this album. It didn't initially hit me the first time through listening to it, but the more I listened, the more I loved. Great writing!

The first song that hit me was "Love You Swore". All I could think of was "Secret Garden" by Bruce Springstein, which is an incredible compliment. As far as corporate worship, "Who is This" has probably the best chance to make it into some church services. The other stand outs were "Our Hearts Bleed", "Sheet of Night", and "Daylight"......which brings me to my first critique. I really didn't prefer how the album started. I would've like to have heard "Daylight" right out of the gate.

My only other critique is.....WHOOOOA.....there was a lot of.....WHOOOOA on this album. Don't get me wrong....I catch myself singing everyone of the WHOOOOA, but it may have been a little overkill, in my humble opinion.

I think the best thing I can say is, if you liked his first album, The Medicine, you'll love Economy. A truly solid Christian album that doesn't sound like Christian radio.

Great job Integrity and John Mark!

Click here for Itunes to purchase "Economy" today.