After reading the blog that Stan posted yesterday it got me thinking about where we are trying to find Jesus. Not long ago I saw a movie named Henry Poole is Here, I would not recommend the movie to you unless you have 2 hours to kill that you will never get back. But the point of the movie is, a woman sees the face of Jesus in a water stain on the side of a house and the people of the neighborhood begin to bring offerings and worship the water stain as if it were actually Jesus, and the owner of the home insists it does not look like Jesus. Here is a quote from one of the actresses in the movie about her beliefs:
“I think there is a thirst in culture for some sort of spiritual sustenance and I think the movie kind of feeds that without preaching anything…I think the fact that it is the face of Jesus sort of suits the story and suits the street where the story is set. If it was in another country it would be the face of somebody else.”
Her comments are true there is a thirst for some sort of spiritual sustenance in culture today and so many times we seek that in a frying pan, or water stains, or through self help books, or other people, or even through spiritual/Christian camps. I’ve got news for you if you have crossed the line of salvation seek no more because the same power that conquered the grave lives inside of you. As humans we try to make it so difficult to get to close to Jesus, and there is only one thing that will get us there and that is total surrender of our lives to Him. Jesus is not in a water stain or a frying pan He wants to be in your life and in your heart but you have to let Him in by reading the Bible and being willing to surrender. Will you do that?
Mickey
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Yep, its about the food
Some people will tell you that the Good Lord can show up just about anywhere, and lately there seems to be no shortage of religious images seen on commonplace items.
A Texas man he saw this image in his frying pan while he was cooking breakfast for his mother. ( See More Images Of Frying Pan)
Remember the Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich? Well, now it's the Jesus frying pan.
Juan Pastrano, of Prairie Lea, Texas, said he was cooking his mother breakfast on Sunday when he looked close and saw what looks like the face of Jesus etched in his frying pan.
There's no word yet on if the family plans to sell the pan. But if they do, it could really bring in the bacon. A 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich with the image of the Virgin Mary recently sold on eBay for $28,000.
Want To Make your own check out the following link
http://www.jesuspan.com/
Enjoy!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Weekly Worship Blog
Hello everyone this week we are going to take a look at a song called From The Inside Out. This song was written by Joel Houston who is a pastor, worship leader, and pioneer in the country of Australia for a “little, small” church called Hillsong Church, maybe you have heard it.
This is one of my favorite worship songs because so many of us can relate to the lyrics of this song. From the opening line that says “A thousand times I failed, still your mercy remains”, we have all failed but yet God’s mercy remains and the only way to overcome those times when we fail is to be consumed from the inside out. Matthew 23:24-26 is about when Jesus was telling the Pharisees(church people) that they spend so much time cleaning the outside and the inside is filthy. How many of us are consumed from the inside out? Take time this week to clean the inside first and then the outside will also be clean. Give God control of your heart and soul and see what way He can radically change you.
Click HERE to see video of From The Inside Out
Also make sure you join us this Sunday as we continue the Marked series and we talk about being enslaved. I hope all you can come and bring someone with you. Until Sunday.
Mickey
Sunday’s Set List:
I Will Go-Starfield
Glory to God Forever-Fee
From The Inside Out-Hillsong
My Deliverer-Chris Tomlin
Hosanna-Hillsong
From The Inside Out Lyrics:
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
My heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
This is one of my favorite worship songs because so many of us can relate to the lyrics of this song. From the opening line that says “A thousand times I failed, still your mercy remains”, we have all failed but yet God’s mercy remains and the only way to overcome those times when we fail is to be consumed from the inside out. Matthew 23:24-26 is about when Jesus was telling the Pharisees(church people) that they spend so much time cleaning the outside and the inside is filthy. How many of us are consumed from the inside out? Take time this week to clean the inside first and then the outside will also be clean. Give God control of your heart and soul and see what way He can radically change you.
Click HERE to see video of From The Inside Out
Also make sure you join us this Sunday as we continue the Marked series and we talk about being enslaved. I hope all you can come and bring someone with you. Until Sunday.
Mickey
Sunday’s Set List:
I Will Go-Starfield
Glory to God Forever-Fee
From The Inside Out-Hillsong
My Deliverer-Chris Tomlin
Hosanna-Hillsong
From The Inside Out Lyrics:
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
My heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Weekly Worship Blog
Another newer song that we introduced last week was Alive and Running from Kristian Stanfill. This is the 1st track on Kristian’s new CD Attention go get it if you don’t have it, it is an awesome worship CD, and he is from ATL.
This song comes from the Great Commission which is found in Matthew 28:16-20. The title of this song says it all, that we are alive and running to the world to bring salvation to every part of this world. Christ died not just so we could go to heaven when we die, if that were the case when we accepted Christ we would leave this earth and go to heaven. He died so we could live a life pleasing to Him and do His will. I blogged about it a couple of week ago that living in God’s will is not always easy, but to be alive and running to the world you have to be willing to go across the street before you can go around the world. Click HERE to see video of Alive and Running
This Sunday we are continuing our Marked series and we will be talking on Galatians 3 and the title of the sermon is No Pain, No Gain. It’s going to be another incredible Sunday so make sure you are here and you bring a friend
Sunday’s Set List:
Alive and Running-Kristian Stanfill
Everlasting God-Brenton Brown (Lincoln Brewster version)
How Can I Keep From Singing-Chris Tomlin
Fire Fall Down-Hillsong
Alive and Running Lyrics:
Salvation came to us
Now we are free forever
Made alive by the Savior's touch
Now death can't hold us under
Right here, right now, come bring Him adoration Rise up, sing out, this song of joy and freedom
We have seen the Son
Jesus, risen One
His light came down to us
Now we're alive and running to the world
Beauty revealed to us
Our eyes are wide with wonder
Caught by the brightness of
The glory of the Father
Our eyes, have not seen, something so captivating We'll go, where You lead, to the ends of the earth proclaiming
There is none shining brighter
Than the Son of the Father
Who has come to bring freedom
To the heart of man
You shine brighter than the brightest light that the world could show
This song comes from the Great Commission which is found in Matthew 28:16-20. The title of this song says it all, that we are alive and running to the world to bring salvation to every part of this world. Christ died not just so we could go to heaven when we die, if that were the case when we accepted Christ we would leave this earth and go to heaven. He died so we could live a life pleasing to Him and do His will. I blogged about it a couple of week ago that living in God’s will is not always easy, but to be alive and running to the world you have to be willing to go across the street before you can go around the world. Click HERE to see video of Alive and Running
This Sunday we are continuing our Marked series and we will be talking on Galatians 3 and the title of the sermon is No Pain, No Gain. It’s going to be another incredible Sunday so make sure you are here and you bring a friend
Sunday’s Set List:
Alive and Running-Kristian Stanfill
Everlasting God-Brenton Brown (Lincoln Brewster version)
How Can I Keep From Singing-Chris Tomlin
Fire Fall Down-Hillsong
Alive and Running Lyrics:
Salvation came to us
Now we are free forever
Made alive by the Savior's touch
Now death can't hold us under
Right here, right now, come bring Him adoration Rise up, sing out, this song of joy and freedom
We have seen the Son
Jesus, risen One
His light came down to us
Now we're alive and running to the world
Beauty revealed to us
Our eyes are wide with wonder
Caught by the brightness of
The glory of the Father
Our eyes, have not seen, something so captivating We'll go, where You lead, to the ends of the earth proclaiming
There is none shining brighter
Than the Son of the Father
Who has come to bring freedom
To the heart of man
You shine brighter than the brightest light that the world could show
Monday, August 10, 2009
Weekly Worship Blog
Worship Blog 8-9
Your Love
Welcome to this week’s edition of the weekly worship blog. We will look at a song by Chrystina Lloree Fincher called Your Love. This past Sunday was the 3rd time we have sung this song and I really think it hit home this week. Celeste did an absolutely phenomenal job in both services singing this song.
This song is about the greatness of God’s love. We all know John 3:16 that God loved us so much to send His Son for us and it’s by His blood that our “deepest stains are clean”. There is no more shame because Christ has bought our sin when he died on the cross. He did all this just because He loved us. So it is by His love that everything in our life has been made new. Thank God for Jesus.
Sunday was a great day we saw 6 people accept Christ and others want to learn more about starting a relationship with Christ. As you worship this week remember that Galatians 1 says that salvation is not anything that man has made up or gotten from any other person, but salvation comes from God. I love having the privilege of seeing God working in people’s lives, and seeing people surrender to Him. This is awesome, Thank You GOD! I can’t wait until next week
Sunday’s Set List:
Alive and Running-Kristian Stanfill
Salvation is Here-Hillsong
Your Love-Chrystina L. Fincher
All Because of Jesus-Steve Fee
Revelation Song-Gateway Worship Version
Mickey
Click HERE to watch video of Celeste Singing Your Love
Your Love Lyrics:
Your love is unfailing
Your mercy pours over me
Your grace is never ending
Your glory revealed in all I see
And I will lift you up
I’m singing all my days
Of Your Love
Your Love
Your Love
It’s your love that rescued me
Your love has set me free
By the blood my deepest stains are clean
There’s no more shame
You’ve given me the only thing I ever need
My chains are gone I am free
You are You are the great I am
I’ll never be the same again
You are your are the great I am
I’ll never be the same
Your Love
Welcome to this week’s edition of the weekly worship blog. We will look at a song by Chrystina Lloree Fincher called Your Love. This past Sunday was the 3rd time we have sung this song and I really think it hit home this week. Celeste did an absolutely phenomenal job in both services singing this song.
This song is about the greatness of God’s love. We all know John 3:16 that God loved us so much to send His Son for us and it’s by His blood that our “deepest stains are clean”. There is no more shame because Christ has bought our sin when he died on the cross. He did all this just because He loved us. So it is by His love that everything in our life has been made new. Thank God for Jesus.
Sunday was a great day we saw 6 people accept Christ and others want to learn more about starting a relationship with Christ. As you worship this week remember that Galatians 1 says that salvation is not anything that man has made up or gotten from any other person, but salvation comes from God. I love having the privilege of seeing God working in people’s lives, and seeing people surrender to Him. This is awesome, Thank You GOD! I can’t wait until next week
Sunday’s Set List:
Alive and Running-Kristian Stanfill
Salvation is Here-Hillsong
Your Love-Chrystina L. Fincher
All Because of Jesus-Steve Fee
Revelation Song-Gateway Worship Version
Mickey
Click HERE to watch video of Celeste Singing Your Love
Your Love Lyrics:
Your love is unfailing
Your mercy pours over me
Your grace is never ending
Your glory revealed in all I see
And I will lift you up
I’m singing all my days
Of Your Love
Your Love
Your Love
It’s your love that rescued me
Your love has set me free
By the blood my deepest stains are clean
There’s no more shame
You’ve given me the only thing I ever need
My chains are gone I am free
You are You are the great I am
I’ll never be the same again
You are your are the great I am
I’ll never be the same
Monday, August 3, 2009
Weekly Worship Blog
I’m starting something new called the weekly worship arts blog. Here is how it is going to work. I’ll take one song that we did the past Sunday and basically write a blog around the theme of that song. Hopefully this will give you a little more in depth meaning of some of the songs we sing on Sunday morning.
This week we will look at a new song that we did Sunday called I Will Go by the band Starfield. The verse reference for this song is Is. 6:8. Which was when Isaiah was talking to God and God wanted to know if anyone was willing to go and tell the nations about Him, and Isaiah said “Here am I, Send Me.” As we finished our short series about serving and doing what is necessary to go and reach the community this song was a perfect fit for the message this past Sunday.
The lyrics to this song stick out as a depiction of humility in the cry that “I want to live for you go where you lead me, I want to follow You” , those words mean we must completely surrender our lives to the Lord. I am learning in my time as a worship pastor that is a dangerous prayer. Most times we are willing to do what the Lord wants as long as it lines up with our plan. If God was calling you to move across the country to serve Him would you go. How about if God was calling you to go across the street to serve a neighbor would you or could you go. Living in God’s will and completely surrendered to Him is not always the easy path. After all Jesus lived in the will of God and He ended up getting crucified.
Are you willing to go? Go where the Lord leads, I’m not saying it will be easy, but I can guarantee it will be rewarding.
To the desperate eyes and reaching hands
To the suffering and the lean
To the ones the world has cast aside
Where you want me I will be
I will go, I will go
I will go, Lord send me
To the world, To the lost
To the poor and hungry
Take everything I am
I'm clay within your hands
I will go, I will go, send me
Let me not be blind with privilege
Give me eyes to see the pain
Let the blessing You've poured out on me
Not be spent on me in vain
Let this life be used for change
I wanna live for you
Go where you lead me
I wanna follow you
Sunday Set List
I Will Go-Starfied
Tell the World-Hillsong
Marvelous Light-Charlie Hall
Beautiful the Blood-Stave Fee
Amazing Grace(My Chains are Gone)-Tomlin Version
To check out the video of this song from Sunday click here
Mickey
This week we will look at a new song that we did Sunday called I Will Go by the band Starfield. The verse reference for this song is Is. 6:8. Which was when Isaiah was talking to God and God wanted to know if anyone was willing to go and tell the nations about Him, and Isaiah said “Here am I, Send Me.” As we finished our short series about serving and doing what is necessary to go and reach the community this song was a perfect fit for the message this past Sunday.
The lyrics to this song stick out as a depiction of humility in the cry that “I want to live for you go where you lead me, I want to follow You” , those words mean we must completely surrender our lives to the Lord. I am learning in my time as a worship pastor that is a dangerous prayer. Most times we are willing to do what the Lord wants as long as it lines up with our plan. If God was calling you to move across the country to serve Him would you go. How about if God was calling you to go across the street to serve a neighbor would you or could you go. Living in God’s will and completely surrendered to Him is not always the easy path. After all Jesus lived in the will of God and He ended up getting crucified.
Are you willing to go? Go where the Lord leads, I’m not saying it will be easy, but I can guarantee it will be rewarding.
To the desperate eyes and reaching hands
To the suffering and the lean
To the ones the world has cast aside
Where you want me I will be
I will go, I will go
I will go, Lord send me
To the world, To the lost
To the poor and hungry
Take everything I am
I'm clay within your hands
I will go, I will go, send me
Let me not be blind with privilege
Give me eyes to see the pain
Let the blessing You've poured out on me
Not be spent on me in vain
Let this life be used for change
I wanna live for you
Go where you lead me
I wanna follow you
Sunday Set List
I Will Go-Starfied
Tell the World-Hillsong
Marvelous Light-Charlie Hall
Beautiful the Blood-Stave Fee
Amazing Grace(My Chains are Gone)-Tomlin Version
To check out the video of this song from Sunday click here
Mickey
Monday, July 20, 2009
Jesus Christ is the King of Leon
It’s a breezy yet warm Sunday morning.
Jesus is heading to church, and for some reason, this morning, He thought He’d change it up a bit..
He’s got his iPhone in his pocket and is listening to the Kings Of Leon.
That album is heavenly, admit it.
This morning, without anyone knowing, He used and moved us. Literally.
To us in Habersham, White, Stephens, and Banks Counties our churches are spread between miles, trees, Walmart, mountains, cultures, and agendas. Churches on every corner. All going for it on Sunday mornings. Sincerely going for it. I drive by 11 on the way to Fellowship Church from Clarkesville.
This morning however, it’s different. But the same.
See this morning, Jesus has moved all our churches in these 4 counties off the ground, and landed them centrally in a field off 365 . This happened during the 11 o’clock service once everyone had come inside. No one knows.
I know what your thinking. How?
I don’t know. He’s Jesus for Christ’s sake. Literally.
He can do whatever He wants.
And also because He’s Jesus, He has allowed every worship leader in Habersham to start the service off with the exact same song. They thought it was their idea.
So Jesus walks around the corner to see this field. Filled with all these churches. Right next to each other. It looks like Wisteria Lane on crack. Big churches next to little churches. Shiny churches next to dirty churches. He’s smiling because He knows what everyone inside those building does not. We are singing the same song to Him at the same time. But we have no idea because our walls are in the way.
While He’s strolling down the sidewalk a mom comes running out the doors of First Presbyterian Church of the Clarkesville. The song that is playing in her church has moved her to tears and she needed some air. As she wipes her eyes, and she sees her surroundings, she quickly runs back in.
Jesus knows time is short so He starts counting.
One…
Two…
C’mon, get to the chorus…
Then, at the same time, with the snap of His fingers, every church building disappears. All the sound systems and instruments are gone. Poof.
For one moment, all the Christians in all the churches in Habersham are passionately worshipping God together, singing the same melody.
A lady walking into Babyland General. is knocked over by the power of the noise.
Windows at the courthouse in Clarkesville are broken from the rush of sound.
The homeless man in Banks Crossing. is awaken from his sleep by the wind that rushed over him.
In fact, even up in Batesville, Ted Turner heard this sound and was moved.
The sound was even heard as far as Athens, GA
The largest sound this area ever heard was produced. Over 2 million people heard the name of Jesus at the same time. Not because we were individually trying with all our might to reach the lost, but because we were doing what we were created to do. Worship Christ. Together.
Back in the field the panic from this experiment Jesus tried was quickly replaced by volume. Only seconds earlier, if you were standing 1 foot from this field you could not hear a thing.
Suddenly the sound produced was as thick as a sonic boom.
And it just got louder.
Northeast Georgia is listening.
News vans pulled up. CNN even shows up and was breaking the story. The noise was heard.
Jesus smiled, put His earbuds back in, and hits play.
I’ve been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Painted faces, building places I cant reach
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Oh to dream
*this is an exert from a blog by Carlos Whittaker but changed to fit our area
Jesus is heading to church, and for some reason, this morning, He thought He’d change it up a bit..
He’s got his iPhone in his pocket and is listening to the Kings Of Leon.
That album is heavenly, admit it.
This morning, without anyone knowing, He used and moved us. Literally.
To us in Habersham, White, Stephens, and Banks Counties our churches are spread between miles, trees, Walmart, mountains, cultures, and agendas. Churches on every corner. All going for it on Sunday mornings. Sincerely going for it. I drive by 11 on the way to Fellowship Church from Clarkesville.
This morning however, it’s different. But the same.
See this morning, Jesus has moved all our churches in these 4 counties off the ground, and landed them centrally in a field off 365 . This happened during the 11 o’clock service once everyone had come inside. No one knows.
I know what your thinking. How?
I don’t know. He’s Jesus for Christ’s sake. Literally.
He can do whatever He wants.
And also because He’s Jesus, He has allowed every worship leader in Habersham to start the service off with the exact same song. They thought it was their idea.
So Jesus walks around the corner to see this field. Filled with all these churches. Right next to each other. It looks like Wisteria Lane on crack. Big churches next to little churches. Shiny churches next to dirty churches. He’s smiling because He knows what everyone inside those building does not. We are singing the same song to Him at the same time. But we have no idea because our walls are in the way.
While He’s strolling down the sidewalk a mom comes running out the doors of First Presbyterian Church of the Clarkesville. The song that is playing in her church has moved her to tears and she needed some air. As she wipes her eyes, and she sees her surroundings, she quickly runs back in.
Jesus knows time is short so He starts counting.
One…
Two…
C’mon, get to the chorus…
Then, at the same time, with the snap of His fingers, every church building disappears. All the sound systems and instruments are gone. Poof.
For one moment, all the Christians in all the churches in Habersham are passionately worshipping God together, singing the same melody.
A lady walking into Babyland General. is knocked over by the power of the noise.
Windows at the courthouse in Clarkesville are broken from the rush of sound.
The homeless man in Banks Crossing. is awaken from his sleep by the wind that rushed over him.
In fact, even up in Batesville, Ted Turner heard this sound and was moved.
The sound was even heard as far as Athens, GA
The largest sound this area ever heard was produced. Over 2 million people heard the name of Jesus at the same time. Not because we were individually trying with all our might to reach the lost, but because we were doing what we were created to do. Worship Christ. Together.
Back in the field the panic from this experiment Jesus tried was quickly replaced by volume. Only seconds earlier, if you were standing 1 foot from this field you could not hear a thing.
Suddenly the sound produced was as thick as a sonic boom.
And it just got louder.
Northeast Georgia is listening.
News vans pulled up. CNN even shows up and was breaking the story. The noise was heard.
Jesus smiled, put His earbuds back in, and hits play.
I’ve been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Painted faces, building places I cant reach
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Oh to dream
*this is an exert from a blog by Carlos Whittaker but changed to fit our area
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