For: The Essentials Green Online Worship Values Course with Dan Wilt

Why should we expect God to move within a service? Why should we lead worship with an expectation of the Kingdom coming? I think the short answer to these questions is that if we don’t expect it, we won’t recognize it when it comes or we will be unprepared to receive it.

Now I want to say a quick word about what Kingdom expectation is. The kingdom is the time when Christ rules the earth and following that when the war with the dragon is over. That is an event in the future at the end of the world. But God doesn’t make us just wait till then. He gives us small tastes of what it will be like when that time comes. This can be experienced when we help the poor; when we serve each other; and when we are passionately worshiping the King.

The second part of Kingdom expectation is the word “expectation.” I love how Dan Wilt defines it: Hope in action (1). This means that we hope something will happen and so we prepare for it to happen.

So what does this look like in a service? For starters it means that we are flexible to what God’s doing in the service. This might mean changing a few songs in the middle of the service or completely throwing out the set list. It means that we pray for God to move and then watch closely to see if there is any evidence that he is.  These are just a few way that we can bring kingdom expectation into our services. By doing these things I hope that we will be able to recognize it and be completely prepared for it.

Though the cherry trees don’t blossom
and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
and the cattle barns empty,
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail,
I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
I feel like I’m king of the mountain!
Habakku 3:17-19 (The Message)

Irrefutable Proof that Jesus Christ is NOT Michael the archangel.

First turn to the book of Revelation. 1:9. John is exiled on the island of Patmos and was then caught up by the Spirit and heard a voice commanding him to write down events he is about to witness on a scroll. As soon as John turns around he describes this man

-          One like the son of man
-          Wearing a robe to his feet
-          Golden belt on his waist
-          Hair white as snow-white wool
-          Eyes like fire
-          Shined like furnished brass
-          Voice was like the sound of a trumpet and rushing waters

He then calls himself

-The first and last
- the living one who was dead and no alive forever
- who holds the keys of death
- Amen, the faithful and true witness
- the holy one, the true one, who holds the key of David
- Son of God
- The Spirit

Upon this John fell on his feet as if he was dead and this man told him not to be afraid. It’s very obvious to see that this man is actually Jesus. We can all agree on that.

Now turn to Daniel (8:15). We see Daniel having a vision and suddenly encountered Gabriel who is telling him what his visions means.

Later on, Gabriel returns back to Daniel in Daniel 9:21 to further his understanding. However, by this time, Daniel is already familiar with his name and knows who Gabriel is by saying

“While I was praying, the man Gabriel, who I had already seen in the vision, came close to me at the hour of the evening sacrifice, flying swiftly”

Later on in Daniel 9:5, Daniel encounters another being in his vision. Daniel describes this being as:

-clothed in linen
-wore a belt of gold
-face shining like lightning
-eyes like torches
-arms and feet like bronze
- voice like a multitude.

Looks familiar? It’s clear that Daniel is seeing Jesus, the same form that John in Revelation was seeing.

Moving on, Daniel, upon his encounter, falls to the ground without strength, and then a hand brings him up. So, who’s hand was it? Some people will say that the vision was of Jesus, BUT the hand that brought him up was Gabriel’s or another angel’s hand. However that is incorrect in any contextual level. If it was Gabriel’s hand, Daniel would say so since he is already familiar with Gabriel by this time. If it was someone else, Daniel would at least say there were more beings present there but he didn’t.

Daniel also calls this man “lord” with Daniel being his “servant” (Daniel 10:17). We know that angels are NEVER called Lords and we are NEVER their servants. That is blasphemy. If Daniel was saying that because he was overwhelmed, the angel would at least have corrected him as seen in Revelation 22:8-9, Revelation 19:10. Angels know better to be worshiped and would never accept worship and take God’s glory.

Once again, it is easy to see that this man that Daniel is seeing is Jesus, and it was his hand that pulled him up, and it was him alone talking to Daniel without anyone else present.

This is important because that man (Jesus) says the following:

“I have come to answer your prayers. But the angel prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for twenty-one says, and then, seeing that I had held out there, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me against the prince of Persia…”(Daniel 12:13)

“..I am going back to fight with the prince of Persia, and, as soon as I have left the prince of Greece will appear: I have no ally on my side to help and support me, except Michael, your prince. However I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth…”

“..Michael shall appear, Michael the great captain, who stands guard over your fellow country-men; and there will be a time of distress such as has never been since they became a nation till that moment..”

So from here we know that Jesus was being helped by Michael, the great captain and one of many chief princes. How can Jesus be Michael at the same time while being helped by Michael?

Also if Jesus was Michael, then Jesus would be one of many chief princes saying there are other co-equals with him. We know that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus cannot be those things if he is “one of many”. Jesus and Michael are not the same.

Era la noche del Sábado 7 de Noviembre de 2009 donde una multitud
de Jóvenes se concentraban en nuestro auditorio
para vivir una noche única e inolvidable.

Una vez mas nuestro corazón comenzó a latir para dar comienzo a
LB FUSION FEST´09

Los lásers hicieron su aparición con un despliegue impresionante
en sincro con pantalla gigante y sonido profesional.

El grupo “LA ZARZA” hizo su show presentación.

LB BAND presentó su primer trabajo discográfico “ELEVAME”.
Todos juntos nos fusionamos en adoración
y pudimos sentir que la Presencia de Dios estaba entre nosotros.

El pastor Gastón Ieraci nos dió la bienvenida, se hicieron sorteos y regalos
y  dió una charla acerca de cómo podemos afrontar nuestros Imposibles.

Dance Group “AGAPE” hizo su presentación.

Adoramos con LB BAND temas de Hillsong como
“The Time has come” “Salvation is here” “Take it all” y “Run” entre otros.

Y cerrando esta noche DJ EMMANUEL TRIGUERO
hizo su presentación con su set en vivo.
www.djemmanueltriguero.com.ar

Preparate porque ya se viene…
LB FEST EXPERIENCE 2010

Si queres formar parte de nosotros te esperamos!!
Recordá que todos los sábados nos juntamos en Beauchef 832
a partir de las 19 hs. con diversas actividades.

Mas info: http://www.encontraturumbo.com

Si querés contactarte con LB BAND ó recibir material discográfico:
lbband@encontraturumbo.com

Ingresá a nuestra página exclusiva en FACEBOOK!!
Haz click aquí:

Descargá nuestros Ringtones gratis para tu celular!!

Mirá en exclusiva el Backstage Oficial de LB BAND

Auspiciaron LB FUSION FEST´09:

]]> http://prairiechapel.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/advent-prayer-devtion-and-worship/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:57:21 +0000 John Meunier http://prairiechapel.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/advent-prayer-devtion-and-worship/

The United Methodist Church has a series of resources to help you in your journey through advent.

Click on this link to be taken to the UMC web site.

FEASTING ON THE WORD

God’s Word is a must for the Christian life. His Word is life to our soul. His Word is our roadmap to Heaven. His Word brings comfort and peace. A good way to start the New Year is in the Word. His Words are true. They will never fail. We can depend on God’s Holy Word.

         For some years now I have read through the Bible twice every year. If you picture the Bible to be a mighty tree and every word a little branch, I have shaken every one of these branches because I wanted to know what it was and what it meant … Martin Luther

Feed My Soul

Strength for our fainting soul

Strength to make us whole

Peace to our lives each day

A roadmap to lead the way

Love and joy and Heaven too

A lifeline to get us through

Worries and fears dissipates

Fellowship Divine I anticipate

From the throne room of grace’

Till one day we see Thy face

-Brenda A.

Join the Adventure.  The Season of Advent begins on Sunday 29 November and ends on Christmas Eve.  It can be a busy time…  cards to write and post, presents to buy and wrap, food to prepare and eat, trees to decorate and lights to fix!  In the midst of the busy-ness may there be space for relaxation, restoration and refreshment.  At Dalgety Parish Church every weekday during advent the Church will be open for “Adventurous Space” a short time each morning from 9.30 – 9.50am.  There will be quiet music, things to read, images, quotes, lots of different things to help us ponder and reflect…  no formal worship…  different options and possibilities with which you can engage – or use the space and peace for your own prayers, contemplation and silence.  As we journey through Advent, daily symbols will be placed on the ‘Jesse Tree’.  All are welcome to drop in, and out!  And if you can’t get along to Dalgety Church, a daily blog post will appear here… so all can share in Adventurous Space.  Comments and interaction are welcome as we journey together.

December 6 and 13, 10AM:
Regular Services (Second and Third of Advent)

December 16, 7:30 PM:
If you find Advent to be a difficult time, if you have a hard time waiting for Christmas, or if you just can’t get enough of preparing for Christ’s coming in anticipation, please, join us for Advent Vespers!

December 20, 1PM:
Pastor Paul Sartison is coming to administer Holy Communion to us. This will also be a healing service in which personal prayer and a sign of healing are offered to all.

December 24, 7PM:
On a long winter evening we gather to proclaim the coming of the light: Amid our broken world we proclaim that Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace is born among us so that we may be bearers of divine light to all the world. Please, come to our Candlelight Service!

December 27, 10AM:
Regular Service (First Sunday of Christmas)

Wie vielfältig die Anbetungsmusikstile gegenwärtig sind, davon kann man sich in zahlreichen Videoportalen ein gutes Bild machen. Hier einmal ein paar kuriose (und teilweise traurige) Beispiele auf Youtube:

1. “Wolgadeutsche Familienandacht”

2. “Blazing Fire” oder Kinder in Ekstase

3. Händel-Revival: Lauter, schneller, weiter..

4. Händel nooch lauter, schneller weiter…

5. Afrikanischer Anbetungstanz

6. schließlich der gute alte Posaunenchor…

Der Hörer mag nach seinen Vorlieben entscheiden…

According to our local Church of Christ on-air TV personalities, we should be taking the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week (Sunday).  If we don’t do this, we are being disobedient, and sinning.

I’d be curious if Johnny Robertson, Shawn Paden or James Oldfield would like to substantiate this doctrine, and give arguments in support of this?

Also, I understand that Johnny, Shawn and James teach that we must use grape juice. What is the Scriptural justification for this argument?

You know without a few forms of doing church like weekly communion only on Sunday the cofC is no different than the next church denomination next door.

Just a question for people who like to use Acts 20:7 as their so called authority this idea. In Acts 2:42 it says that they met and “broke bread” just like it says in Acts 20:7, but here it says it was done in houses and everyday, not just on the first day of the week. So by what thinking or whose authority do we determine that Acts 20:7 was prescribed pattern instead of 2:42?

The real sin comes not in what days we are or aren’t suppose to take the Lord Supper, but rather using a flawed inconsistent hermeneutic or thinking to tell everyone else that they are sinning and in danger of loosing their salvation because they take the Lord Supper on Saturday or Tuesday.

By the way, in Acts 20 it states that Paul went up and ate after he healed the boy who fell out of the window of the house where he was preaching and that it was after midnight; uh the next day! So if this was the pattern for every Sunday ‘only on Sunday’ Paul was in violation of his own rule!

Maybe the story of Paul’s journey to Troas here in Acts 20 is to show that when preachers have sermons that are too long then people fall asleep and kill themselves

“One view of Jesus as he is,
Will strike all sin for ever dead.”

William Cowper, “Hatred of Sin,” Olney Hymns, Book 3 (Hymn 64).

It is Black Friday, the official start to the holiday season of commercialism. There are still some of us that are not out there in the frenzied madness that can effectively kill the true spirit of Christmas. Instead of the frenzied rush for sales why not adopt a troop of soldiers or donate food or time to a shelter? You will most definately end up with a bigger gift… that feeling is worth a million words!

It’s been a few weeks, but here’s a catch-up post.

My 95 year-old Granny died on November 11, after a few months of deteriorating health. She was a small, but strong woman, who had lived a full life. She had a quiet faith that was demonstrated in the way she lived her life. She left a huge legacy of family behind, which is a testimony in itself.

I found myself on Thursday 12 trying to work out flight times and connections which would enable me to get to Orkney in time for the funeral service. I managed a Thursday evening flight out of Sudbury which got me to Kirkwall airport on Friday evening via Toronto, Amsterdam and Edinburgh.

It was a worthwhile trip and I would’ve regretted not going. Granny was the last of that generation, so it’s probably the last family get-together of that magnitude. I met relatives I haven’t seen for a long time, relatives who were too young to remember me and others who have been born since I emigrated to Canada 15 years ago. Although it wasn’t under the best of circumstances, it was good to catch up with lots of family and friends.

I was also able to spend some time with my sister and her family in Airdrie, and my parents, too, before heading back to Elliot Lake. On the Thursday I was able to arrange to meet Thomas Mathie, aka the Headphonaught, for coffee. It was a pleasure to finally meet Thomas. I love reading his stuff as it’s always a challenge. He truly shows God’s love in action in the way he lives his life. Check out his blog and you’ll see what I mean. His photography is amazing as well. He is also one of the founders of the Something Beautiful podcast, which is always worth a listen. I came away feeling that I’ve known him forever and I look forward to connecting with him again in the future.

Unfortunately, since coming back I’ve been under the weather and am barely able to talk just now. I managed to get through Sunday alright. At our gathering we had a discussion around love and used this video. On Sunday night our Hope Band led worship at the local Anglican Church, which was quite enjoyable. Some pics here.

Cameron is sick  now as well and Pamela and Emily are away to North Bay for the weekend for a swimming meet. I don’t think I’ll make it to our gathering this Sunday, so I’ve arrange for our drummer, Jeff, to step in and lead. Our first kettle goes out today, so it seems that Christmas thing is just around the corner. I think that’s all for now.

This song will go down as one of my favorites of the year. Right up there with 40 More Falls and a few others. That’s ok to say, isn’t it? I mean, I’m not saying it’s a good song. I’m just saying I think it’s one of my not-so-bad ones. Let’s try again: This song isn’t nearly as crappy as most of the songs I’ve written this year. It sits on the “less-crappy list” right up there with 40 More Falls and a few others.

There. That’s better.

The song surprised me. It became more than I thought it would. I’ve wanted to write a song like this for a while – a song about the depravity of man – about the general brokenness of our souls – about how we’re all messed up in some way. All of us. Undeniably. It’s darker than I thought it would be, but dark enough to get the point across. Maybe this is an Ash Wednesday song. Maybe.

If I had time, I’d bring in a few other elements of sound to amp the pre-bridge section. Maybe I’ll put that on the to-do list for 2010.

Love to hear your thoughts:

(And if any of you are wondering: No, I haven’t finished a single song this week. I’ve been fighting a head cold that has left me stranded on the couch watching an entire season of Survivor. And I think that’s ok. My mind is resting, and I expect to bury these last 5 very soon. VERY soon.)

A fundamental shift has taken place in music over the last half-century, Christine Longhurst writes, in a viewpoint piece in the Nov. 16 Canadian Mennonite. 

Longhurst explains that music is made of three main elements: melody, harmony, and rhythm, and that western music throughout its history has seen a shift from one to the other of these. Now it seems, it’s rhythm’s turn. And it’s “not just a passing fad,” she says. Those who have grown up in the new musical environment — well, they feel at home in it. And, in terms of the church and its worship, “the increased focus on rhythm has changed the very nature of congregational singing in many churches.”

Longhurst goes on to say that this changes melodies, and makes congregational singing more dependent on instrumental accompaniment.

I found Longhurst’s analysis helpful — clarifying for me, in fact, what may be the underlying issue in the “worship wars” of so many churches, though, as she also says in her article, we often talk about contemporary worship music and its differences with earlier music in other terms. And I agree with her, that  if rhythm-based styles are the “soul music” of our culture, “adding some rhythm-based songs ” to our worship is “both an opportunity and an obligation.”

In our congregation, it’s not so such much “adding” as accepting the pretty much wholesale shift. I’ve noticed that pleas to include “hymns” usually result in rhythming-up some of the hymns of yesterday or selecting the upbeat, lighter, and sometimes sillier ones of the past, whose texts may be as vacuous as the texts of contemporary music ocasionally are. Which really has the effect of undercutting the argument.

Canadian Mennonite editor Dick Benner’s comments on Longhurst’s piece in his Nov. 16 editorial come out very much at the place I’m at: sadness over the loss of the voice, or better said, voices — in harmony — but recognizing a shift has taken place and definitely determined to keep open to that. (To be a nonresistant older person, in other words! And if I get really lonesome for the sound of the trained singing voice, I can always put on our record — a.k.a. a really big CD — of Peter Koslowsky singing German hymns, or some of the choir albums we own, which are gorgeous soul music for me.)

by Jessica Bryan

The FRC called for President Obama to discuss the persecution of Christians in India with the Indian Prime Minister who visited this week and attended the State Dinner.  The group also reported on findings from a recent GSS survey arguing that the survey “shows that adults who attend religious services at least weekly are more likely to believe in the importance of having their own children than those who worship less frequently.”

I think there might be some people out there who learned how to worship from this video. Funny stuff.

p.thad

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On the second Saturday in November I stood atop Winslow Hill and imagined myself as an autumn leaf, vulnerable, light as a feather, about to be blown away into yonder.  With hurricane force winds blasting in from the sea, the whole of Bowleaze Cove was a bubbling mass of white water.  As I tried to photograph the scene, with just a fraction of zoom lens protruding, my camera bucked and weaved like a rebellious stallion while the wind and the rain took its revenge on me.

Later that day I went to worship once again at the awesome reality of Chesil Beach in a force 10 when the waves provide the thunder and the spray the lightning.  Behind me the valley was brimming with rain and hunkering down for the worst storm of the year.

Three days later and I’m strolling due south across the centre of the valley.  The dogs are hunting and quartering in front of me.  On my left the deep shadows are playing games in amongst the strip lynchets.  On my right a wondrous and idyllic tableau is formed by the White Horse and a field full of sheep.  Underfoot is sticky and soggy as the rainwater drains down from the hill.  Ahead of me the A353 snakes across the lip of the valley and I wonder when the next motorcyclist will be severely injured up there.  It happens on a fortnightly basis and what does the Highway Authority do?  Absolutely nothing of course.  Dorset County Council sits on its fat, collective, complacent backside while young people are grotesquely mutilated on dangerous roads.  It is nothing short of blatant, inexcusable negligence.

So while the valley is a cure for many of the stresses and strains of everyday life, it is not apart from them.  In fact, I make a plea to all driving south down the A353 to look left towards the sea.  Paradise Valley is far too distracting.

Up on the hill, the yellow gorse flowers are back and I’m marvelling again at the hardiness of the sheep.  When Capone, Carla and I go up there for an hour and a half we come back and spend the rest of the day in heated shelter.  Recently, we’ve had as long a spell of consistently high winds as I can remember.  I hate to think what it must be like for those sheep at 3 o’clock in the morning!

In an hurrah to the height of the pheasant season, this morning Carla demonstrated the superiority of her nose and hunting skills.

We climbed up and over the hump that sits on the northern shoulder of White Horse Hill.  Coming down the far side is a favourite place for deer but Carla hunted high and low to no avail.

Out into the main field where the stubbl;e is thick from the last crop of barley and suddenly she’s put up a hen pheasant, fluttering back up to the hump.  Then there are three breaking from cover, another back up the hump and two curling round towards me.  The third is rising, screaming, soaring as I swing right through it and see a clear 20 feet of lead before I pull the trigger.

Another is up quartering me from right to left, accelerating and rising, actually beneath me due to the lie of the land but tumbled cleanly out of the air as another pair break right and the last one falls to my second barrel.  Carla looks bright, fulfilled and chuffed to bits.

Of course no dogs, birds or people were injured in the making of this film that plays only on the ultimate high definition, widescreen inside your head.  Everything except the birds and the dog were imaginary!

The old song announces our presence, “standing in the need of prayer.”

Today, on the contrary, Lord God, we invite and recognize Your presence, as we stand in the need not of prayer, which is from us, but of divine atonement, which is from You.

You were so gracious, so benevolent, in having all Your fullness dwell in Your only Son, and through Him to reconcile to Yourself all things, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  We were alienated from Your holiness and are, in and of ourselves.  We are Your enemies because of our evil behavior and our naturally fleshly mindset.  But You have put our sin far away—“as far as the east is from the west.”  You have reconciled us by making the Messiah to be sin, so that we could be presented holy in Your sight, without blemish and free from accusation

I pause now for each person here to ponder the need for forgiveness, great and small.

We stand in the need of forgiveness, and oh, how You provide it – from the secret sins to the obvious ones.

All praise to You, Mighty and Forgiving God, because in Your great mercy You have given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This is of Your doing, not ours.  We acknowledge our sin, and we revel, gratefully, in Your forgiveness.

Give us grace, all-providing, sufficient God, for us to continue in faith, walking in light, knowing of the spiritual blessings You provide.

It’s true that we stand in need, Father God—in need of what You can and do give through Jesus Christ.  And we will try more to be Your undeserving, thanks-filled people in a way that pleases You.  Amen.

God delivers us right on time.  We can be in the thick of some real mess, but God does it right on time.  Our best efforts can’t do it.  It is up to God.  He delivers us when He wants to.  He delivers us exactly how He wants to.  We don’t have to worry about whether god is on our side.  He delivers just in time, just the way He wants to, and with just enough to keep us holding on.

The Lord is called strength, a strong tower, a fortess, a stronghold, and even a very present help.  What have you called Him lately? Has He been your best defense? Identify who and what He is to you.  Is He your Redeemer and the Rock of your Salvation? Is He still closer than a brother? Call Him by how you have known Him.