Revelation Song

In the Book of Revelation, the Fourth and Fifth Chapters, we are given a glimpse by the Apostle John into the throne room of heaven. There, gathered around the throne, millions of beings sing out a song to the glory of God.

The words of that song echo in verse 8 of Chapter Four - "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come."

Can you imagine millions of voices lifted in the same chorus to God?

Jennie Lee Riddle of Gateway Church can. She's written a new worship song simply entitled "Revelation Song" which includes these powerful words from the fourth chapter of Revelation.

Do yourself a favor and listen to it. While doing that, close your eyes and imagine yourself in the throne room of heaven singing with millions of beings around the throne of God.

It's bone chilling.

Who Moved?

Josh ran off to play with his friends yesterday.

That in and of itself, happens all the time, but Cara and I have attached a rule to it. Josh needs to tell us where he's going so that if we need him, we know where to look.

Yesterday, Josh forgot to tell us that he was going to his friends house and when we went to look for him, we had no idea where he was.

It's kind of like how Mary and Joseph felt in Luke 2. Let's pick it up with verse 41:

"Now [Jesus's] parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances and when they did not find him they returned to Jerusalem searching for him. After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions."

So after reading this passage today, I can totally identify with Mary and Joseph. I had no idea where Josh was, but we found him after about 5 minutes. It took Mary and Joseph three days to find Jesus.

But here's the question I want to ask: Who moved?

You see, Mary and Jospeh thought that they were in lockstep with Jesus. they thought that they were walking side-by-side with them because he was supposed to be in their group, but the entire journey from Jerusalem, they were actually walking away from Jesus.

How many times do we walk away from Jesus, thinking He's with us?

Who moved?

Guest Blogger - Steven Furtick

Holy smokes. I read Steven Furtick's Blog this morning and resonated with every word of it. ACC, this is how your worship team feels about our worship leading here. Do me a favor and read through this post. It's absolutely worth your time.

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One of the core things we’re known for here at Elevation is placing a disproportionate value on providing worship experiences that boldly celebrate Jesus and attract people far from God.

Integral to this aspect of our identity is the desire and push for excellence in everything we do. There is absolutely no room for mediocre work. We’ll can a worship element we spent dozens of hours planning and implementing if it doesn’t meet our standards. We want to produce the best videos, play the best songs with the best musicians, and proclaim the gospel of Jesus to the best of our abilities.

But there is a danger in this and it’s something I recently communicated to our staff during one of our times of worship together. It’s one thing to worship with passion and excellence when the room is full and all eyes are on us. The real test of worship comes when your auditorium is empty and the only people remaining are the staff who now have no responsibilities but to stand before God and still give Him everything they’ve got.

In these moments, if we dial down our intensity and offer mediocre worship, we reveal the true motivation of our hearts. Our excellence really hasn’t been about worship. It’s been about performance. We’ve tried to engage a crowd instead of leading the crowd to join us in engaging God.

Pastors, worship leaders, producers, any and everybody involved in leading worship experiences, we can’t operate with excellence simply because people are watching. We have to do it because God is watching and is worthy of our best.

And this truth applies to every Christian. Colossians 3:23 insists that “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

The consistent and passionate giving of your best efforts in whatever you do is the best gift of worship you have to give to God every day of your life. Especially when there are absolutely no eyes on you besides the One you are worshipping.

http://www.stevenfurtick.com/uncategorized/the-real-test-of-worship/

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I couldn't have said things any better.

100th POST

Yes, yes, yes. We have finally made it to the 100th post on this blog.

I have been wondering what to post about for this one because I wanted to make it special, and as my nephew, Ethan Michael Morrissey was born at 8:39am this morning, I cannot think of a more special thing to use for this 100th post.

Here are a few things I am praying for my nephew as he comes into this troubled world:

1. That above everything else he would always put God first in his life.
2. That God would raise up a wife for him that absolutely lives out #1.
3. That he would love his family and put them #2 behind God.
4. That he would be brutally honest in all things.
5. That he would love others as Jesus loves him.

Welcome to the world Ethan. I cannot wait to meet you.