The Worship Artist

Grace Community Chapel

Beautiful One :: Hughes, Tim

Nothing But the Blood :: Redman, Matt

Open the Eyes of My Heart :: Baloche, Paul

Cannot Say Enough :: Millard, Bart | Bryson, Jim | Scheuchzer, Mike | Cochran, Nathan | Shaffer, Robby

Choose Life :: Batstone, Bill | Wiggins, Steve

StoneBridge Community Church

Famous One :: Tomlin, Chris \ Reeves, Jesse

You Amaze Me :: Duvall, James | Neale, Michael

Everlasting God :: Brown, Brenton | Riley, Ken

Marvelous Light :: Hall, Charlie

Beautiful One :: Hughes, Tim

Sense I’ve been alive, I’ve noticed that Christians have had an “us & them” mentality. We don’t listen to their music… watch their movies… read their literature… observe their theatre. Most of this is based off of the verses that convey the thought (like John 17:15-18) of being in the world but not of it. I am convinced that this misinterpretation is simply a copout created by lazy religious Pharisees who would rather live in the fantasies of their mind than address the reality of truth. Is it any wonder that the next generation (the Millennial generation) is the largest generation sense the boomers, yet is the most unchurched generation?

Is it possible that man is created in the image of God, but has a sinful nature–therefore we are all in the same boat? Just some of us know the secret to getting out. Is it possible that we can see music, movies, literature, and theatre and not view it as “their culture” but “our culture.” Perhaps the reason why Christianity is seen as irrelevant by outsiders is that it is out of touch with reality. Whether we like it or not, it is our culture, and we are a part of it. Even if we want to close our eyes and pretend like everything is perfect in our little world, the gruesome fact is that we are a part of a corrupt culture. But seclusion does not bring about change. Actually, could it be that our culture is so corrupt because Christians have failed to be a functioning body of our culture and community?

Here’s what we did this weekend. At both churches we sang 1 less song than usual to have a time of reflection. This was before the song “Give Us Clean Hands.” The premise of the reflection was this: Sunday mornings are typically stressful for most families. We are trying to get ready to go to church, and when we get there we haven’t had a chance to reflect on God, let alone come with hearts ready to worship. We took a few minutes to just pause, pray individually, and make sure that each of us were prepared to worship. The purpose of that moment seemed to be effective. I heard (by word of mouth) that several people felt like that moment was especially important for them because their life has been extra busy lately. Definitely God ordained.

Grace Community Chapel

Band is still taking a break, so week we had a Cello, Djembe, Acoustic Guitar, and two vocals (male/female).

Indescribable – Story, Laura

Give Us Clean Hands – Hall, Charlie

I Give You My Heart – Morgan, Reuben

True Love – Wickham, Philip

StoneBridge Community Church

O Worship the King – Tomlin, Chris

He Is Exalted – Paris, Twila

Give Us Clean Hands – Hall, Charlie

I Will Not Forget You – Pasley, Ben | Pasley, Robin

Here’s what we did this weekend:

Grace Community Chapel

Mighty To Save – Fielding, Ben | Morgan, Reuben

I Will Not Forget You – Pasley, Ben | Pasley, Robin

How Great Is Our God – Tomlin, Chris \ Cash, Ed \ Reeves, Jesse

Still – Morgan, Reuben

StoneBridge Community Church

Blessed Be Your Name – Redman, Beth \ Redman, Matt

All Over The World – Smith, Martin | Redman, Matt

Mighty To Save – Fielding, Ben | Morgan, Reuben

“is there a problem when we are so devoted to an icon that it becomes a “distraction” when we cannot see it?”

We had a recent situation at our church where a group of people in our church could not see the cross during a special event. They felt like it was a distraction to them because they could not see it. This concerned me greatly because I feel that we (and this is possibly true in most churches) are so stuck on the symbol of the cross that we’re walking a fine line between remembering what was done on the cross and idol worship. Do not misunderstand. I love the cross as a symbol because of what Christ did for us… however, is there a problem when we are so devoted to an icon that it becomes a “distraction” when we cannot see it?

Here’s what we did this weekend:

Grace Community Chapel

Alive Forever Amen – Moffitt, David | Smith, Sue C. | Cottrell, Travis

Surrender – Dave Lubben

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – John Wyeth & Robert Robinson

Communion Song – Chris Sligh (used with Communion)

StoneBridge Community Church

Days of Elijah – Robin Mark

Giving It All To You – Gungor, Lisa | Gungor, Michael

Communion Song – Chris Sligh (used with Communion)

Jesus Paid It All – Alex Nifong & Elvina M. Hall