My Life of Worship

Perry Noble a pastor in South Carolina - says some things that I may not say or he says them in ways that I may not like, but he says what he believes God wants him to say. I think a lot of his words are for “shock value” and to be “controversial” but I love the heart of much that he says. I fear sometimes he only reacts to what the naysayers are saying about him or his church when he could maybe listen and see if their comments have value (I believe they often do)…But I love it when I get a tweet of Perry’s because I know that I will not need to wade through a lot of fluff to get to the heart of what he says - good or bad.

Anyway, My guess is that this is his backlash to people ripping him for something …. but there are great reminders here that I agree with 100%:

14 Things That Jesus Did Not Say…

We get things messed up from time to time…especially the words of Jesus…here is what He did NOT say…

#1 – “They will know you are my disciples by your theology, and the arrogance that accompanies it.”  (John 13:35)

#2 – “Dream really small dreams and make sure you never ask for anything big!”  (John 14:12-14, Psalm 2:8)

#3 – “If someone doesn’t believe just like you believe…make sure to do all you can to attack, criticize and beat them down as much as possible.”  (Mark 9:38-41)

#4 – “Be tolerant of everyone…I am one of the many ways to God.”  (John 14:6)

#5 – “Make sure you make the church about you…that you are served well…please, don’t do anything that might cause you any type of inconvenience.  My goal is for you to be happy!”  (Matthew 20:28, Luke 9:23-24)

#6 – “Please, whatever you do, DO NOT tell people the good news…keep it to yourself!  The reason I died on the cross is so that you could get into really small groups of people and talk about ‘deep things’ that aren’t going to help anyone when it comes to eternity.”  (Matthew 28:20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:48, John 20:21, Acts 1:8, Romans 10:14, Romans 10:17)

#7 – “Don’t EVER try anything new…don’t ever take a risk…don’t ever take a step of faith.  Be AVERAGE!”  (Isaiah 43:18-19, Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:6)

#8 – “You can follow me and it will not impact your money at all!”  (Matthew 6:19-24)

#9 – “Pray a prayer to get out of hell…and then live however you want.”  (John 14:15, John 14:21)

#10 – “You can do it without me!”  (John 15:5)

#11 – “I don’t expect you OR your church to be fruitful in any way.”  (John 15:4)

#12 – “Isolate yourself from the world!”  (John 17:15)

#13 – “Make sure there is a time when you question my word because it will one day be no longer relevant.”  (Luke 21:33)

#14 – “Stop crying out to me in desperation…can’t you see I’m busy.”  (Mark 10:46-52)

While sarcasim is not always well recieved, I think that many of these ideas are not ones we say we believe …. our churches and our lives show that we live like we believe them…….hmmmmmm

-b

For us to lead worship, or for anyone to truly worship in “Spirit and in Truth” We must walk in the Spirit and be truthful and honest. A great resource I was reminded of by Ed Stetzer has several lists of accountability questions that we should have someone asking us every week to make sure that we are not lying in our life or to ourselves.

Great questions, I encourage you to pick a set or focus from these grouping or make your own list. Then give someone permission to keep you accountable weekly.

-b

These lists are from Cultivating a Life for God (Church Smart Resources 1999 pp.125-131).

Typically, these questions are asked in groups of 2-3, are specific to men or women, meets regularly, and hold each other accountable.

John Wesley’s Small Group Questions:

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence?

4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work , or habits?

5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

6. Did the Bible live in me today?

7. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?

8. Am I enjoying prayer?

9. When did I last speak to someone about my faith?

10. Do I pray about the money I spend?

11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

12. Do I disobey God in anything?

13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?

16. How do I spend my spare time?

17. Am I proud?

18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?

19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I going to do about it?

20. Do I grumble and complain constantly?

21. Is Christ real to me?

Wesley’s Band Meeting Questions:

1. What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?2. What temptations have you met with?

3. How were you delivered?

4. What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?

5. Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?

Reference: John Wesley’s Class Meetings: a Model for Making Disciples, by D. Michael Henderson, Evangel Publishing House, 1997, pp. 118-9
Chuck Swindoll’s Pastoral Accountability Questions:

In his book, The Body, Chuck Colson lists the questions used by Chuck Swindoll.

1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?

3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?

4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?

5. Have you given priority time to your family?

6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?

7. Have you just lied to me?

Neil Cole:

1. What is the condition of your soul?

2. What sin do you need to confess?

3. What have you held back from God that you need to surrender?

4. Is there anything that has dampened your zeal for Christ?

5. Who have you talked with about Christ this week?

HT: Journey

The questions I use are from these cards from Church Multiplication Associates. I keep one in my Bible.

The ten questions are as follows:

1. Have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?2. Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material or allowed your mind to entertain inappropriate thoughts about someone who is not your spouse this week?

3. Have you lacked any integrity in your financial dealings this week, or coveted something that does not belong to you?

4. Have you been honoring, understanding and generous in your important relationships this past week?

5. Have you damaged another person by your words, either behind their back or face-to-face?

6. Have you given in to an addictive behavior this week? Explain.

7. Have you continued to remain angry toward another?

8. Have you secretly wished for another’s misfortune so that you might excel?

9. Did you finish your reading this week and hear from the Lord? What are you going to do about it?

10. Have you been completely honest with me?

Sorry, I have been leading our “Raising a Modern Day Knight Class, prepping for Upward Flag Football, getting back into the “Kids in school routine” and all the regular parts of being a pastor at Life - so I have allowed my self to get behind. -a and not posted here on the blog for a couple of weeks. Now that my confession is done here is the song list for this week.

Week 4 of “It’s a New Day” Message series.
9:00
Choir will sing the first Song (First Sunday of the Month)
“Blessed Be Your Name” - Matt Redman
“Enough” - Chris Tomlin
“Indescribable” - Laura Story

10:30
“I Believe in You” - Joel Engle
“The Solid Rock” - Hymn
“You Are My King” - Billy Foote

Looking Forward to another great weekend at Life.

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-b

When I do marriage counseling it is very normal the bride to have every detail planned out, they know what they have dreamed about for years and years.  Many of those romantic ideas have been in bouncing around their heads since the first fairy tale ended - “Happily Ever After”. They have spent a lot of time thinking about how prince charming will act, what he will say and how he will provide for them, and protect them. The prince is expected to plan, prepare and sacrifice anything for the princess. That is the sense of
fulfillment and completion we have when we are connected to our creator. In that personal, daily, intimate relationship with our God is where we belong.

“The bride finding what she’s always waited for … when we find ourselves that day, In You”

That sense of being made complete that a bride and groom experience is the completion of us that is made we are “In Him”.

-b

If you subscribe to the blog you get emailed the night I post here so you do not need to keep checking back

I put my hope in You
I lay my life in palm of your hand
For I’m constantly drawn to You Lord
In ways I cannot comprehend

It’s the Creator calling the created
The Maker beckoning the made
The bride finding what she’s always waited for
When we find ourselves that day

[CHORUS:]
In You where the hungry feat at the table
The blind frozen by colors in view
The lame will dance, They’ll dance for they are able
And the weary find rest
Oh the weary find rest in You

It’s no secret that we don’t belong here
Those set apart by the grace of You
And we look for the day when we go to a place
Where the old becomes brand new

[CHORUS:]
In You where the hungry feat at the table
The blind frozen by colors in view
The lame will dance, They’ll dance for they are able
And the weary find rest
Oh the weary find rest in You

It is really rare for me that a song just expresses so clearly what I feel - but this song does:

“Empty hand, but alive in Your hands”

What a picture of us and the empowering of God. We have empty hands - we bring nothing to the table, no help, no benefit no advantage - yet we are made alive, we are awakened when we find ourselves in the palm of God’s will relying on his provisions and his power alone.

I want to try things so big and impactful that if God is not orchestrating the events, or the plan then I surely fail. I hate playing it safe in what I can do on my own - I want to trust God for the larger kingdom impact! I want to be made”alive in His hands”.

-b
Majesty

Here I am
Humbled by Your majesty
Covered by Your grace so free
Here I am
Knowing I’m a sinful man
Covered by the blood of the Lamb

Now I’ve found the greatest love of all is mine
Since You laid down Your life
The greatest sacrifice
Majesty majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty-handed but alive in Your hands

Here I am
Humbled by the love that You give
Forgiven so that I can forgive
Here I stand
Knowing that I’m Your desire
Sanctified by glory and fire

Now I’ve found the greatest love of all is mine
Since You laid down Your life
The greatest sacrifice
Majesty majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty-handed but alive in Your hands

Majesty majesty
Forever I am changed by Your love
In the presence of Your majesty majesty

Dr Ron Herrod will be with us this Sunday - from RHEMA institute

9:00 Am

“Not to Us” -Chris Tomlin

“Majesty” - Delirious

“Indescribable” - Laura Story

“In You” - Mercy Me

Solo - “Motions” Greg Ottaway

10:30 Am

“Forever” - Chris Tomlin

“In Christ Alone” - Geoff Moore

“I Believe in You” - Joel Engle

Solo: “Something More - Amy Owens

9:00 AM
“Salvation is Here” - Christian Stanfill
“Happy Day” - Steve Fee
“It is Well” (Modern) - Jason Ingram
“Glory in the Highest” - Chris Tomlin

10:30
“Days of Elijah” - Robin Mark
“Victory in Jesus” - Hymn
“Here I am to Worship” - Paul Baloche

This will be my only post of the week. Been out of town in WV with my 89 year old grandparents, now I am playing catch up. I will be back up on 7/20/09.

9:00 AM

“Praise Your Name” - Todd Fields

“Everlasting God” - Lincoln Brewster

“You are God alone” - Billy Foote

“Hail to the King” - Shannon Wexelberg

10:30 AM

“Open the eyes of My Heart” - Paul Baloche

“The Wonderful Cross” - Chris Tomlin

“More Precious Than Silver” -Joel Engle

6:00 PM

“Friend of God” - Matt Redman

“Offering” - Paul Baloche

“Breathe” - Passion

I love how some songs work dynamics. Some of my favorite songs build dynamics with music, some with lyrics and the most moving songs do both. For example, “Revelation Song” when  sung by Gateway has a building dynamic that’s intensity nearly blows the roof off after verse 3, however when PCD sing it - they excel at tight vocals and the dynamics for Revelation song is sadly very missing for me … Tomlin’s song “Jesus Messiah” has awesome dynamics with both the music and the lyric’s.

The doctrine that  sung in the first  verse is formatable:

“He became sin who knew no sin” —-That Holy God would allow my sin on His ‘beloved”,’ His one and only Son. A sinless Savior left a sinless place to be surrounded by sin in a sin filled world, then took my sin upon Himself on the cross and His Father had to turn His back on Him because “He became sin”.

“That we might become His righteousness” —- Paul said it so well in the fifth chapter of Romans:

For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly.  For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.  But God proves  His own love for us  in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!  Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood,  we will be saved through Him from wrath.  For if, while we were enemies,  we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how] much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

“He humbled Himself, and carried the cross”  —- The writer of Hebrews says it well ….Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up (Heb 12:1-3)

I am reminded of the shame He humbly endured for me - the Creator humilitated by His creation, the Savior shamed by His needy  people. Here is a great account of  “His shame” - The death of Christ.

Our only response must be (in the words of Tomlin) “love so amazing, LOVE SO AMAZING!!!! - Jesus Messiah

(built so well with the lyrics and the music)

-b