It’s a little weird to have a list like this, but Worship Leader magazine did an article on the “Top 20 Worship Songs of the last 20 years.” #1,2, and 3 respectively being “Mighty To Save”, “How Great Is Our God”, and “Shout To The Lord.”
What do you think of their list?
This Sunday’s text is found in Colossians 2:1-7:
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Here is Sunday’s song set list:
- Unrestrained
- Here I Am To Worship
- Lift Him Up
- Holy, Holy, Holy
- Revelation Song
- Forever
- Doxology
Sally Lloyd-Jones, the author of The Jesus Storybook Bible, recently wrote an interesting piece on teaching children what the Bible is really about. She sums it up by listing the reasons she wrote The Jesus Storybook Bible.
So children would know:
- The Bible isn’t mainly about me, and what I should be doing. It’s about God and what he has done.
- The Bible is most of all a story—-the story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.
- In spite of everything, no matter what, whatever it cost him—-God won’t ever stop loving his children . . . with a wonderful, Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.
- The Bible, in short, is a Story—-not a Rule Book—-and there is only one Hero in the Story.
I love the Jesus Storybook Bible (and so does my 10-year-old) and we would highly recommend getting the Book/CD set. It is well written and engaging Biblical storytelling from a highly gifted writer. The article listed above is a great reminder of the sacred trust we have in responsibly teaching the Bible to a new generation of hearers. Kudos to her for her transparency and grace.
As I am sure many of you are out celebrating Fat Tuesday tonight, I probably don’t need to remind you that Lent begins tomorrow. If you are trying to find a resource to journey through Lent, may I suggest the following:
- Meryl Herr’s Hope On Earth blog. You can visit the blog throughout Lent or you can subscribe to have the devotionals sent directly to your email. Be sure to check it out.
- Show Me The Way by Henri J. M. Nouwen
- The Scriptures, the Cross, and the Power of God by N.T. Wright
Last week, it was Laura Story. This week, another friend of Christ Community has found the spotlight…his name is Anthony Evans. Last night, Anthony was selected by Christina Aguilera to be one of the singers on her team on NBC’s “The Voice”. If you recall, Anthony came and did a concert at Christ Community around Christmas a little over a year ago. He is a ridiculously talented vocalist with a smooth tenor voice and a love for Jesus. Pray with me that Anthony will be a steadfast, winsome, loving witness for Jesus Christ on this very public platform and that he will do so with skillful hands and integrity of heart!
I have seen six of the nine films nominated for Best Picture at the 2012 Academy Awards. I have seen all the films experts are considering the “favorites” and, in reflection, I think my pick would have be Hugo. Based on Brian Selznick’s award-winning, imaginative New York Times best-seller, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Hugo is the adventure of an orphaned boy whose quest to unlock a secret left to him by his father will bring transformation to all those around him and reveal a new reality that becomes home.
In one of the most moving moments in the film, the main character, Hugo Cabret, looks out the clock window overlooking Paris and says this:
“Right after my father died, I would come up here a lot. I’d imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured, if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn’t be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason too.”
This film captures the four chapter story of the Gospel (Creation, Fall, Redemption, New Creation) in an intriguing, captivating way and the discussion of design/intent/purpose/calling is refreshing to see in an Oscar® nominated film. Go see this film!
The text for this week is Colossians 1:24-29:
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Here is Sunday’s song set list:
A good conversation on the return to hymns in the church and the sensitive “retuning” of old texts and tunes. With Mike Cosper, Isaac Wardell, and Kevin Twit.
Our friend, Laura Story (she’s led worship at Christ Community a couple of times) won the Grammy for Best Song (CCM) at the 54th annual GRAMMY® awards for her song, “Blessings”.
Congratulations, Laura!!
