Thursday, August 28, 2008

HOMEGOING

This morning at just a few minutes before 8:00 (EST) my Dad went home to be with the Lord.

Thanks to all of you who have prayed, believed and encouraged us during this time.

Pastor Kenneth Roy Goins
November 17, 1942 - August 28, 2008

A few days ago I posted this epitaph. I think it accurately describes the life of my Dad.

He Knew God.
He Loved God.
He Walked With God.
He Believed God.
He Lived and Died
For The Glory of God.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

TOUGH WEEK...

There's no other way to put it... This week has been a really, really tough week... Take that back, it's been a tough ten days...

Relationally I feel shot...
Spiritually I feel drained...
Emotionally I'm pretty wasted...
Physically, I'm just plain tired...

Those words aren't intended to invoke your pity. Just an attempt to be honest and vulnerable.

Ever had a week like that?

It all started with the acute awareness that I had to make a "tough call" regarding a person that I truly love... Not because they were bad or immoral, but because "intuitively" I knew it was the right call to make.

This is never easy for a "senior leader." Especially a leader who genuinely loves people... But after a couple of decades in the leadership arena I've learned that to ignore the "intuitive" side of leadership usually ends up costing you "big time" in the end...

The week continued with setbacks and challenges related to the "build out" at the future worship site of a2... While we've experienced God's grace and divine intervention in some amazing ways as it relates to the build out, it seems that every week brings with it a new set of challenges and setbacks... At this point, "parking" is the big hurdle we're attempting to jump... How big of a hurdle? Really big. "Deal breaker" big. Please pray for God's leadership and guidance. Throughout this entire process our entire objective has been that God's will be accomplished.

On the heels of this deadly combination, blew in a whirlwind of additional challenges... There are too many to list... Physical challenges. Financial challenges. You get the picture...

But add to all of this the pain of watching your Dad's health quickly deteriorate right before your eyes, well; it's been a tough ten days...

At this point, I'm in Watts Bar, Tennessee at the home of my Dad and Mom. Dad is now under Hospice care. According to Hospice, without God's intervention he only has a matter of days...

I'm sitting next to him now. His breathing is labored. His body is so week. His eyes are closed.

Occasionally, he will have a moment of awareness... Yesterday morning he looked me right in the eyes and with a sense of clarity asked, "What are you thinking about?"

I told him... "I'm thinking about how much I love you... About what a great Dad you are... About what an incredible man you are... About all of the life lessons you've not only taught, but demonstrated by the way you live your life... That's what I'm thinking about..."

He looked at me and simply said, "Yeah..." Then he closed his eyes and drifted back into this ongoing sleep...

I arrived in TN on Saturday with the intention of speaking for my Dad's church on Sunday and heading back to BHM for the second service of a2 Church. Upon arriving at Dad and Mom's house, it was apparent that I needed to stay...

As I indicated, Hospice has been called in. They provide some assistance But the strongest person inside the four walls of this house is the 5'4" brown haired woman that has stood by Dad's side for more than 44 years... Her name? Mom. Connie Sharon Fuller Goins.

Right now, my Dad is so weak... But in his weakness, she is amazingly strong... She nurtures, clothes and changes this once strong man. She does it with the tender care that a mother would lavish on a newborn, only she is caring for her husband.

I think, "This is love. This is loyalty. This is faithfulness. This is the stuff the movies never show."

I ask God, "Why? How long?"

So far there haven't been any answers, but there is a sense that God is here. That God is present. That God sees what's going and has a purpose even in the middle of this kind of pain...

I hope for a miracle and pray for Dad's recovery... Mostly, I long for his healing... In whatever form God chooses to accomplish it...

I long for things to be "set right." Deep down I know this isn't the way things are supposed to be... I think I understand a little more about what Paul meant when he wrote, "creation groans for its redemption." I am "groaning." I long for God to set this whole thing right.

Somehow Paul's description of death as an "enemy" makes more sense than ever...

1 Corinthians 15:25-26 (NIV), For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

My heart cries out for this. For "the last enemy to be destroyed." For things to be "set right."

Yes, this has been a tough ten days... But somehow I know that pain, loss, challenges, setbacks, relational strains, sickness and even death will not have the final say in this struggle... I know that for the forty-three years of my life, my Dad has placed his trust in Jesus Christ; and that regardless of what transpires over the next ten days, two weeks, two months or two years, ultimately my risen Savior will write the final words in this story.

So, what do you do when life throws ten days, two weeks, two months or two years of hardship and pain at you?

Me? What do I do?

I'm leaning on the support of friends and family.

I'm re-focusing on the redemption that Christ has promised.

I'm believing that because Christ has risen that whatever occurs with my Dad doesn't have to be the end of the story.

I'm leaning on grace and trusting that God's grace really is sufficient...

How about you?

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

NEVER GONNA BE AS GOOD AS...

Recently read this excellent post by Craig Groeshel over at Swerve from Life Church.tv. It really helped me put things into perspective...

Here's Craig's post...


Who I’ll Never Be

I’ll never be as a great a leader as Bill Hybels.
I’ll never be as deep as John Piper.
I’ll never be as smart as Mark Driscoll.
I’ll never be as creative as Ed Young.
I’ll never be as passionate as Steven Furtick.
I’ll never be as funny as Perry Noble.
I’ll never write like Erwin McManus.
I’ll never preach on one point as amazingly as Andy Stanley.
I’ll never have as big of arms as Bishop Eddie Long.
I’ll never be as Purpose Driven as Rick Warren.
I’ll never be as positive as Joel Osteen.

Thankfully, I’m not called by God to be any of those people!

And neither are you!

Although I can’t be them, God has created me with the ability to:

* Cast a compelling vision and move people radically toward Christ.
* Recognize talent and gifts in people most overlook.
* Reach people for Christ who are far from God.

What are the top three gifts/talents/abilities God has given you?


A great question to think about and journal on... So, what about it? What is it that God has gifted and "called" you to do that is unique to the way He wired you up?

Monday, August 25, 2008

WHAT KIND OF LEGACY WILL I LEAVE?

Rob Wegner is the Pastor of Life Mission at Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana. Currently, Granger is doing a series titled FEAR: What's Gripping You. This past weekend Rob talked about the "Fear of Death."

Somewhat poignant, especially considering what's going on in the life of my Dad. Part of Webner's message included this pre-recorded video segment that I found especially meaningful.

Take a look at the video segment HERE. Pretty profound stuff.

It's my prayer that when it's my time to meet God, my tomb stone could read the same as Del Fehsenfeld, Jr. I love these words...

He Knew God.
He Loved God.
He Walked With God.
He Believed God.
He Lived and Died
For The Glory of God.


What a legacy to leave behind!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

A WOMAN WITH A STORY

This morning my annual journey through the Bible brought me face to face with this incredible story... It's a story most of us are familiar with, but it speaks volumes to where we're at with the launch of a2.

Jesus had just finished an amazing encounter with a lady we've come to call, "the woman at the well." Two thousand years later, she still remains nameless...

But this is a woman with a story... A story that probably includes pain, sin, misspent passion, lust, loneliness, failure, and more pain... While the events surrounding her life, and while her "drug of choice" might be somewhat different than mine, her story is a lot like my story and a lot like yours...

She was desperate for grace, and she found it in the eyes of Jesus.

All of a sudden Jesus' "one on one conversation" with this woman was interrupted by the disciples. They've been out on a reconnaissance mission, looking for food.

John 4:27- (NLT), Just then his disciples arrived. They were astonished to find him talking to a woman, but none of them asked him why he was doing it or what they had been discussing.

The initial response of the disciples as they walked upon Jesus engaged in a conversation with a woman was not, "Hi. My name is Pete. This is Andrew. That's John."

Their initial response was astonishment. Embarrassment. Judgment. Condemnation.

I know... I know... I know it was against the traditional mores of polite Jewish society for a rabbi to speak with a woman, much less a woman with this kind of reputation. But couldn't they have at least treated this woman with a little dignity? Couldn't they at least extend a little kindness?

No. They were "astonished."

John 4:28 (NLT), The woman left her water jar beside the well...

What's just as amazing as the way Jesus' disciples respond to this woman, was the way this woman responded to them. "The woman left her jar beside the well..."

QUESTION: Why was this woman comfortable around Jesus, but the moment his disciples showed up, why did she feel the need to "get out of dodge"?

ANOTHER QUESTION: Two thousand years later, why is it that many of the "unchurched" in our neighborhoods and community feel the same way about the church?

Ouch!

Now, the next phrase in the story is going to let us in on the fact that she feels urgent about the mission of sharing the encounter she has just had with Jesus with her friends. But couldn't it be that part of the reason the woman left so quickly is because she liked being around Jesus a whole more than she liked being around his disciples?

Just asking...

John 4:28 (NLT), The woman left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone, 29 "Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?" 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat. 32 "No," he said, "I have food you don't know about."

33 "Who brought it to him?" the disciples asked each other.

34 Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, 'One person plants and someone else harvests.' And it's true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and you will gather the harvest."


Wow!

This morning I was struck by the fact that right on the heels of modeling the kind of lifestyle interactions and love for other people that Jesus wants his followers to have with the people they rub shoulders with, he also used that encounter as a platform to say, "There's a huge harvest out there... Nothing less than eternity is at stake... You're an important part of something God has been up to for quite a while... Don't blow this moment... Be an agent of God... People matter to the Father."

Even more challenging... Right on the heels of reminding his disciples about the fact that people really matter to the heart of God, the unnamed woman that had just experienced a personal encounter with Jesus personally brings an entire block out to meet Him... Once again, modeling the truth Jesus had just presented... People matter to God...

Here's the way the story closes:

John 4:39-41 (NLT), Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!" 40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay at their village. So he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many of them to hear his message and believe.

Remember this: You've never locked eyes with a person that doesn't matter deeply to the heart of God... Regardless of their lifestyle, they have a name and they have a story... A story that's probably filled with some of the same kind of pain, loneliness, rejection, sin, lusts, failures, hurts and woundedness that your story contains...

Will you be like Jesus? Will you love unconditionally, even while you ask penetrating questions that provoke an honest assessment of life?

Or will we be like the disciples, "They were astonished..."

Don't know about you, but I've got some work to do on this one...

DECISION MAKING 101

In 1989 or 1990 I was introduced to the ministry of Bill Hybels. In fact, me and Janet had the opportunity to spend a week a Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. That week transformed my life. It fundamentally altered the way I view ministry.

Over the years, I've listened to Hybels teach numerous times, attended Willow Creek Seminars, read books, etc. I've come to believe that Bill Hybels may be one of the most gifted, insightful leaders of our time. Period.

In the opening lecture at Willow's 2008 Leaderhip Summit Hybels talked about "The High Drama of Decision Making."

Here are some excerpts, thanks to Dave Ferguson.


The High Drama of Decision Making
Bill Hybels

The biggest part of leadership is making decisions. Many of us get to participate in life-saving decisions on a regular basis. How a leader makes decisions is critical. There is a clear path for making decisions by asking these questions:

QUESTION #1: "What does the Bible say about this decision?" The authority of God's word has the first say about any decision we make big or small.

QUESTION #2: "What would smart advisers tell me about this decision?" There are people that God has intentionally put around you to help you make critical decisions. There are things they know that you do not know...rely on them!

QUESTION #3: "What have you learned from the pain of past decisions?" Leaders should be adding to their learnings year after year. Journaling is a discipline that allows you to chronicle the positive and painful decisions of the past and empowers you to repeat them or not repeat them.

QUESTION #4: "Is the Spirit of God prompting me?" Romans 8:6 says, "The mind of sinful man's death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." When you are in step with the Spirit it will bring life and peace.


So, what decisions are you faced with today? Have you processed that decision through the grid of these four questions? If so, are you ready and willing to take action?

Some important stuff to think about.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

OFF TO A SOLID START

Yesterday I crashed...

After working basically 18 hour days throughout the week to get ready for the launch of a2, traveling to TN on the weekend to help out with my Dad, speaking in weekend services for my Dad's church on Saturday PM and Sunday AM, traveling back to BHM in time to speak Sunday PM at a2...yesterday I crashed...

I took a mid afternoon nap... Got up, did a little work, went back to bed...

Then this morning I was WIDE AWAKE at 3:45... I got up... Opened up God's Word and this is where my annual trek through God's Word had me...

Zechariah 4:6-7, "This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by might nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel's way; it will flatten out before him! Then Zerubbabel will set the final stone of the Temple in place, and the people will shout: 'May God bless it! May God bless it!'"

At around 4 AM this morning God reminded me that even though a healthy work ethic is important... Even though work is a gift from God... Even though those of us blessed with physical strength should employ it in a way that brings glory to God, when it comes down to it - "It's not by my might. It's not by my power. But it's by God's Spirit. And when God's in the arrangements even huge mountains are nothing but molehills."

Wow! That was worth the 3:50 AM divine alarm...

Then I read these words:

Zechariah 4:10 (NLT), Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin...

Sunday night a2 got off to a solid start. It wasn't tiny... It wasn't huge... It was solid...

This morning I smiled when I read these words, "The Lord rejoices to see the work begin."

What a thought... After a lot work, sweat, prayer and tears... Just to think that Sunday night God might have been smiling as He watched this tiny work begin...

Again, that's worth a 3:50 meeting.

So, here's to whatever lies ahead... Here's to the future... Here's to an adventure with God that He rejoices to see... Here's to not depending upon my strength, power, charisma or work ethic to make it happen... Here's to partnering with God in the adventure of a life time...

We're off to a solid start...

Monday, August 18, 2008

CREATIVITY AND THE CHURCH

Think Christian posted a fascinating talk by Sir Ken Robinson on Creativity in Education. So much of what Robinson says resonates with me and some of the ways that even the church stifles creativity. You can check out the 20 minute video clip HERE.

The story about Gillian Lynne is one that parents, leaders and educators need to take to heart.

I believe God is the author of creativity and that the Holy Spirit longs to inspire amazingly creative gifts in the lives of men, women, boys and girls. One of my big prayers is that a2 Church will be a church that celebrates creativity and the arts... That we'll create a culture that inspires people to honor God with their unique giftedness - whatever that may be...

Check out Robinson's entire talk and tell me what you think... How can the church recapture a passion for creativity and the arts? How can you champion the gifts of your children in a way that inspires them to lean into their giftedness?

While this discussion doesn't always demand top shelf priority in our thinking, it is something for those of us who long to glorify God with the arts, inspire our children to be all that God has created them to be, and unleash the gift of creativity in the church to think about...

a2 OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES!








Last night a2 Church officially launched. Wow!

Here's a USA Today re-cap of what went down...

* We had a promising kickoff attendance...

101 Adults in the Worship Center
11 Children's Ministry Adult Volunteers
36 Children
_______
148 Total Attendance

We doubled the number of children over our attendance at the Preview Service. That's exciting.

We also had 20 more adults than we had at the Preview Service

Yeah, God! Thanks to all of you who came out and worshiped with us. It was great to see so many friends...

* The Guest Services Team blew me away!

We had greeters stationed at the drive, all entrance ways and the Children's Ministry area. Thanks to all of you who were involved. You helped to make a2 warm and inviting to everyone who took the time to check things out. Thanks!

Special thanks to Jeremy Self of Free Chapel for his leadership in this area.

* Bill Robbins and the a2 Kids team did a great job.

The ultimate compliment came when my eight year old daughter saw me immediately after the service... She came running up to me and said, "Dad, church was fun!"

I love it. That's music to a parents ears... I also know that she learned some things about God... Thanks to the eleven volunteers who made this happen.

By the way, with a growing Children's Ministry like this, we're going to need additional volunteers. You can email Bill at invernesbill@mac.com or brobbins@a2church.org for more information.

* The House Band and Worship Team did a great job!

I'm really proud of my wife, Janet and the prayer, heart, energy and effort she poured into this evening. I love her heart for worship and her love for people.

Everyone involved in the Band and Worship Team worked really hard throughout the week and led us in a meaningful time of worship.

It was awesome to have Antwane, Bobbi Jo and their beautiful little girl, Olivia visiting from the ATL. Twane absolutely slaughtered the bass...

I believe every week we'll continue to see God bring together the musicians and singers He has designed to lead us in corporately worshiping our GREAT GOD. It will take a little time for the band and team to "gel," but I think we're off to a great start.

* Cool Introduction Video.

Thanks to Stephen Burton who edited one of my favorite commercials - the new Nike Courage commercial. Stephen put an "a2" spin on a commercial that inspires me to believe that maybe there's more to life than just winning... Maybe sometimes you just need to go for it, even if you fail... Because, after all, "I got soul..."

* Scripture Reading

It was great to have Micah and Karie Andrews read to us our text for last evening. I love these guys and their hearts for God.

* Teaching

I poured a boat load of time and study into last evening's message, but walked away feeling that it was "okay." Not great. Not terrible. Just "okay."

The one thing I'm convinced of is that we taught God's Word. The cool thing about teaching God's Word is that even when you do just an "okay" job doing it, God will not allow His word to "return to Him void. It will accomplish the purpose for which He has sent it."

Here's to God's power to anoint the teaching of His Word. You can click here for the notes from last night's message.

By the way, CD's are available of both the Preview Service and the Launch Service.

* Once again, those present responded generously in their tithes and offerings... Thanks so much for your partnership in ministry. You guys blow me away.

* Finally, after the service, more than 40 "a2-ers" invaded Jason's Deli on Highway 280. At least half were kids... It got wild. Real wild! But it was also a blast. I love hanging out with the people God is bringing to a2.


I believe God is "up to something." And I really believe that if we can take the three simple actions steps I shared at the conclusion of last evening's message, we'll see God do something really special with a2.

1. Obey and wait.


This one is so hard for me... But this week, I need to spend some time in prayer and contemplation. I desperately need to hear from God.

Let's partner together in spending time with the Father this week. It can change everything.

2. Be Filled With The Holy Spirit.

The only way I can love my family and lead this church is through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The only way a2 will be the kind of church God wants it to be is as we consistently make ourselves available to God for Him to "fill us with His Spirit."

3. Ask God To Make Us Dangerous.

We don't need another "safe" church or any more "safe" Christians in BHM. We need churches and believers who are DANGEROUS!

Let's be that kind of church!

Well, the adventure continues next week.

a2 Worship
Sunday, August 24, 5:30
Inverness Vineyard Church
4733 Valleydale Road

a2 LAUNCH SERVICE EXTENDED MESSAGE NOTES













HIGH VOLTAGE: DANGEROUS
Dangerous Church – Part 2
August 17, 2008 • Chris Goins

The book of Acts records the story of the church from its explosive beginning on the Day of Pentecost to the imprisonment in Rome of its greatest missionary, Paul the Apostle.

It covers a time period of about 30 years, but in those thirty short years the church literally exploded from a small, rag tag group of believers gathered in Jerusalem to thousands of believers scattered throughout the entire Roman Empire.

The book is written to a guy named Theophilus which means “loved by God” or “lover of God.” It’s also written to people like you and me who are “loved by God” and “lovers of God…”


Acts 1:1-2 (ESV), In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.


At the incarnation, Jesus didn’t set aside his divinity, but He set aside the “RIGHT” to His divinity, and He added to His divinity, His humanity. Philippians 2 describes this beautifully.

Philippians 2:7-8 (NLT), [Even] Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.

The QUESTION then becomes: if Jesus didn’t always lean into His divinity… If Jesus didn’t always lean into His divine attributes and kick into “God mode,” how did Jesus LIVE HIS LIFE and do His ministry? How did He do it?

By the power of the Holy Spirit…

That’s what Luke is getting at in Acts 1:2.

It’s what Luke is getting at when he describes the baptism of Jesus and the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus in the form of a dove (Luke 3:22)…

Peter describes the same reality in Acts 10:38.

Acts 10:38 (NIV), …how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.


Acts 1:3 (ESV), He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.


Acts 1:4-6 (ESV), And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.



Acts 1:8 (ESV), But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

This is the key verse in the book of Acts.


Some Tendencies We Must Guard Against:

• The tendency to focus on the WRONG PERSON.

We tend to focus on the person and work of the Holy Spirit instead of focusing on the person and work of Jesus Christ. But it’s important to remember that it’s always the objective of the Holy Spirit to lift up, glorify and point people to…Jesus.

It’s ALL about Jesus. It’s ONLY about Jesus! It’s ALWAYS about Jesus!

• The tendency to focus on the WRONG EVENT.

The church I grew up in spent a great deal of time focusing on the Day of Pentecost, almost to the expense of focusing on the work of the cross and the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection. It was almost like those events were somehow “pre-cursers” to the main event, which in our minds, was Pentecost.

It’s critical that we understand that the cross – the substitutionary, sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, and his subsequent resurrection from the dead – those were the MAIN EVENTS. Pentecost was simply part of the aftermath of what went down at the cross and what was secured through Jesus’ victorious resurrection!

• The tendency to focus on the WRONG PERSON as the DEFINITION of what it means to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led…

The best definition of what it truly means to be Spirit-led and Spirit-filled is JESUS… No one and nothing else! Jesus is the supreme example of what a human life can look like when fully lived under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit…

• The tendency to forget that the purpose of the Holy Spirit is to empower us to accomplish the MISSION of JESUS.


The person and power of the Holy Spirit wasn’t given to make us feel good or look better or have a great and wonderful life … The Holy Spirit was given to empower us to accomplish the MISSION of JESUS…


(See Acts 1:9-11)


When Everything Changes… When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed… When You’re In Way Over Your Head… Three Actions That Always Make A Difference:

1. OBEY and WAIT.

Acts 1:12-13a, 14 (NLT), The apostles were at the Mount of Olives when this happened, so they walked the half mile back to Jerusalem. 13 Then they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying…
14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.



2. Be FILLED With The HOLY SPIRIT.


3. Ask God To Make You Really DANGEROUS.

Acts 1:8 (ESV), But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

THE HARD WAY

Dave Ferguson is the Lead Pastor and Spiritual Entrepreneur with Community Christian Church and the NewThing Network, a church planting network based out of Chicago. He's also the author of The Big Idea: Focus The Message, Multiply The Impact. He's also a blogging maniac.

Here is an incredible post from Dave titled 5 Leadership Lessons It Took A Long Time To Learn.

Read this now. This is great stuff. Especially for those of us involved in church planting...

What are some mistakes you had to learn the hard way?

Monday, August 11, 2008

MUSIC THAT MOVES ME

I was a traveling itinerant speaker when I first heard a recording by Darlene Zschech and Hillsong. That cassette included the song, "Shout to the Lord." Now, a modern classic.

Over the years, Darlene and the guys and gals at Hillsong have continued to write and record worship music that has had an incredible impact on the church of Jesus - the world over.

Two years ago I stood in a large church in Indonesia and heard more than 3,000 Indonesians (many of whom did not speak English) passionately singing the words to several of Hillsong's worship songs. Amazing.

Well last Tuesday I picked up Hillsong's newest worship release: "This Is Our God." It's been in constant rotation on my CD player, I-pod and DVD player since.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best praise and worship CD's to date.

While the CD is great, if you really want to experience a little bit of what this evening must have been like, pick up the DVD. PICK IT UP! DO IT!

Highlights include:

"Healer"

I can guarantee you that you'll be hearing this song over the next few months in churches around the around.

More than two years ago, Michael Guglimucci of Planet Shakers, was given 6 months to lives due to a battle with terminal cancer.

Words can't describe the emotion I experienced when Michael walks onto the stage with oxygen tank in hand, and reads from Isaiah 53 and then begins to sing, "I believe you're my healer..." The first time I watched this I came unglued...

"You'll Come"

Brooke Fraser is one of the most gifted singers and songwriters of this generation. This girl can write! This girl can sing!

Towards the end of the evening Brooke sings "You'll Come." The lyrics and melody of this song are absolutely beautiful. The first time I heard Brooke sing it, I was blown away...

Closing of the DVD
The CD / DVD closes with Joel Houston singing "With Everything." By the way, this guy is amazing...

On the DVD an unnamed man walks out on the stage and reads from the book of Revelation. He exhorts the crowd and then simply says, "Good night."

The band starts to leave the stage... The large center screen turns white with one word displayed: JESUS.

Even on the DVD it's obvious something is up... The people were not ready to leave. With very little accompaniment, they break out into spontaneous praise to God.

After my wife Janet watched the DVD, she said, "Chris, you've got to watch this..."

Once again, I was deeply touched.

I can't remember watching a praise and worship DVD that has moved me so deeply.

If you've not picked up the CD or the DVD and you can spare 20 bucks, pick up the DVD. Set your receiver to Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Turn off your cell phone, blackberry and background noise. Turn on the DVD and get ready to "have church."