(This post is part of the Sunday Setlist blog carnival…)
Boatloads of stuff happening in yesterday’s service. (deacon/elder ordination, missions project report, the dreaded announcements…)
We had to cut the music part short to fit it all in, but I don’t think we suffered for it. Very good service, and the songs we DID use fit perfectly and were very meaningful.
Our worship set -
We Welcome You (Paul & Anna Joseph) - Our pastor has asked us to use this song as a “call to worship” at every one of our services during this current series from Habakkuk. I really should post an mp3 so those curious can hear it. What’s stopping me? I make LOUSY demos.
All The Earth (Wayne Huirua, Andrew Ulugia, Jack Hayford) - Older song from Parachute Band, great lyrics about creation praising God.
God Of This City (Bluetree…I don’t feel like typing all the writers names. Sorry.) - First time for this song with our folks. We did it after our local missions project report. Obviously a lot of folks have heard this on radio, because they sang it strong and well.
After the sermon:
Agnus Dei (Michael W. Smith) - Just once through the verse and chorus, going right into…
Everlasting God (Brenton Brown, Ken Riley) - Didn’t have a guitar today, so I had to play that Chris Tomlin intro figure on piano. It loses something in the translation. However, instead of doing the figure at the end as well, we just let the C chord ring, and I went right into the piano intro of…
Indescribable (Laura Story) - We haven’t done this song in over a year, but everyone jumped right back into it. Anna is not comfortable with the singability of it…it doesn’t really bother me.
One more Sunday for us, and then we get TWO Sundays off. I’m excited…
How was your worship service?
Click this link to go to a website where you can watch a slideshow. Enjoy!
I admit it. I watched “Jon & Kate Plus 8″.
I thought the kids were adorable. (One of the twins is a reincarnation of Sarah at that age). I thought Kate was too hard on Jon.
But the thing that made me want to watch? They were making it. Against the odds, in the midst of unimaginable stress, they were making it. I honestly think that’s why most people watched it. If they can do it, then I can probably handle my life. They’re making it.
And now they’re not.
I wonder if they realize that the ratings for the show are going to dry up…that the book sales are going to plummet…that speaking engagements are going to be cancelled.
And I wonder if they realize that’s a good thing.
I don’t speak out of self-righteousness, judgement, or I-told-you-so satisfaction.
I destroyed my marriage. I speak out of experience.
We had friends…Christian friends, mind you…that told Anna to divorce me. That told her she was a fool if she stayed with me.
She stayed. We’re still together.
This would be a really cool point to say “…and our marriage is better than ever.” But it’s not. We still struggle. We are still healing.
But we’re together. And we will be until death parts us. Just like we promised.
So my prayer for the Gosselins? That they stay together. Yes, papers have been filed. Yes, their lives are spilled all over the checkout stands. But they made a covenant vow before God. God does miracles. God hates divorce. And no one is too far gone.
I hope you’ll pray for them too.
Tags: Gosselins, Jon & Kate Plus 8, TV
(This post is part of the Sunday Setlist blog carnival…)
My apologies to those of you that actually read these posts. It’s been over a month since I’ve done a Sunday Setlist. I have good excuses, though. Weddings, stuff like that…
Our worship set:
All Because Of Jesus (Steve Fee) - First time for our congregation on this song. Went over great. I like how much energy it has.
Because Of Your Love (Paul Baloche / Brenton Brown) - Can I get a “yeah yeah” from the congregation? Yep, looks like we can!
We Welcome You (Paul & Anna Joseph) - An original…honestly I’ve always considered this one of our weaker songs, but the more we do it, the more I like it. A call to worship song, emphasizing the Trinity. The first verse welcomes God, the second Jesus, and the third the Spirit, and each verse highlights the characteristics of each member of the Trinity.
Fairest Lord Jesus / My Only Crown (Public Domain / Paul Baloche) - Awesome hymn arrangement.
Jesus Messiah (Chris Tomlin / Daniel Carson / Jesse Reeves / Ed Cash) - Only the second or third time for this one. Yep, it’s a good one.
For communion -
You Gave Your Life Away (Paul Baloche / Kathryn Scott)
By His Wounds (Mac Powell)
How was your Sunday?
One of the classic complaints about the CCM genre has been its derivative nature. Many new Christian artists would be presented as the “Christian alternative” to artist XYZ, with production values and musical style liberally borrowed from the established secular artist - only the lyrics were changed.
Thankfully, in recent years we’ve seen artists striving to set the standards instead of follow them. Lanae’ Hale’s debut “Back And Forth” falls into that welcome category.
Lanae’s voice is current, yet fresh. Reminiscent of other artists, but not to the point that it sounds like someone doing an impression. Her music has already been featured on MTV’s The Hills, and on the iTunes store as a Discovery Download. Her songwriting comes from a depth not usually seen in one 25 years old – a depth certainly attained from her life struggles (which Lanae’ is very transparent about…you can read her bio here at her webpage).
Lyrically, Lanae’ approaches familiar subjects, from redemption and salvation (“Back And Forth”, “Here’s My Heart”) to songs of love lost and found (“Headed Home”, “Let’s Grow Old Together”). And within the familiar, there are refreshing lyrical twists to keep the listener engaged (“…thermic swells work to expose / All the hidden parts within my soul” - “Burning Heartbeats”) There’s also a great take on the “girl power” anthem (“Here’s To The Girls”) that is sure to touch the hearts of those who struggle with pain and rejection.
Producers Allen Salmon (MuteMath, Sanctus Real) and Mark Hammond (Nichole Nordeman, Cindy Morgan) have wrapped Lanae’s songs in nicely creative musical packaging. Her song to her husband, “Let’s Grow Old Together’ is a happy shuffle, accented with whimsical use of a tympani. The album’s title track starts with a retro flutey organ before it kicks into a rock groove. Thankfully, the producers knew when to step back as well, spotlighting Lanae’s vocal and guitar work on “Break My Fall”.
Overall, “Back And Forth” is a great introduction to an artist that we’ll hopefully be listening to for a long time.
Here’s a shaky hand-held Flip Video of me and Hannah being goofy. Not sure if anyone else took a better copy…I need to find out
By the way, we DID do a real dance after this.
Tonight’s the rehearsal, tomorrow’s the big day!
I probably won’t be blogging for a few more days, but you can follow the wedding fun on Twitter by clicking the logo to the right…see you in a few days!
David T. Joseph, U.S. Air Force
