BabuLife

Worship Confessional: 4/27/08

Tim was back in the saddle Sunday.  Those are some HUGE shoes to fill in the pulpit.  Thank you so much to all who have sent encouraging words, grabbed me between services and sent notes about the message from last week.  I appreciate your words and have been extremely humbled to hear how God used last week to impact your prayer lives.  Thank you.

This week's music. Click to purchase on iTunes:

• Lord Most High by Dave Leubben (not on iTunes)
• Let it Rise as recorded by Big Daddy Weave
• Jesus Paid it All as recorded on the Passion CD "Everything Glorious"
• Mighty to Save by Hillsong United
• Center by Charlie Hall

This was the first week we've ever played Center.  I like this song and chose it based on the content and theme of the message this week as Christ being our atonement.  The message was on the Altar found in the Tabernacle and how it pictures how Christ is our sacrifice and atonement for sin.  The lyric to Center:

Oh Christ, be the center of our lives,
Be the place we fix our eyes
You're the center of the universe everything was made in You Jesus

There's no possible way we can enter into the presence of God without the atonement of Jesus Christ.  He's truly the center of everything and truly holds everything together.  Great song great message.  Give a listen to the message here.

See you next week!
-Babu

Web Bonus - Indiana Jones Altar of Incense

As promised, here are some further notes from the message Sunday that I either didn't get to or I ended up having to axe due to time.

I loved this topic.  The illustration of the Golden Altar of Incense being Christ as our intercessor along with the incense itself picturing the prayer of saints is awesome.  The text was Exodus 30:1-10, 34-38.  Here are some additional thoughts:

• The Gold used to create the actual altar represents divinity. A picture of Christ Himself. (Exo 30:3)
• The acachia wood used to create the the altar as well represents the earthen part of Christ. He was completely divine...yet completely flesh. (Exo 30:1)
• The horns made with pure gold = the power of Christ (Exo 30:3).  Horns represent power and since the altar pictures Jesus Christ doctrinally (that is foreshadowing the nature of who He is) and the horns were covered by sacrificial blood by Aaron the priest once a year for the covering of the sins of Israel.  You can see the parallels. Christ shed His blood for the covering of our sins. Pretty cool picture there if you dive deeper.
• If the above is correct...then the golden altar itself is a picture of Jesus Christ, then that means He is our intercessor continually praying on our behalf as well. Jesus prayed for and interceded on behalf of His disciples and followers before the crucifixion. (John 14:13-14) This would mean since the prayers of the saints - the incense (Rev 8:3)is burned on the altar, our prayer life and ability to pray to God Himself is thru Jesus Christ...nothing/nobody else.
• We talked briefly about how the incense was to be set apart for the strict purpose of perpetually burning before the Lord on the golden altar. If you did, you were cut off from your people.  Check out this passage that I didn't have any time to spend in on Sunday.  Here's a specific story of what happened to a group of people in the Old Testament who did just that. (Num 16:31-40)

I enjoyed Sunday and appreciate greatly the opportunity to teach this important topic.  It was extremely refreshing for me to be reminded of the importance of having a real, genuine, fervent and consistent prayer life with God.

Worship Confessional: 4/13/08

Third week of our "Indy Jones & the Tabernacle of You" series. This week's message focused on the lamp stand and how it relates to our relationship with Jesus Christ as our light.  Awesome message.  Check it out here.  Tim blows me away each week with his teaching on what could seemingly be boring studies of ancient artifacts and making them relevant to our lives today.

Great music during worship yesterday.  Great job to Addie and Mindy on "No Sweeter Name"...which is a beautiful tune.  Here's our worship list from Sunday.  Don't forget, you can purchase the songs on iTunes by clicking the titles.

• Holy is the Lord (G) by Chris Tomlin
• No Sweeter Name (G) by Kari Jobe
• I Stand Amazed (G) Passion
• You Are Holy (G) Michael W. Smith version
• Enough (G) by Chris Tomlin

Next week Michael Foley leads while I get the opportunity to teach about the incense used in the tabernacle.  Should be fun!

-Babu

Worship Confessional: 4/6/08

This is a quick one this week everyone. 

Great day!  Third week in a row with Lynnora on violin.  She plays that "Glory of it All" solo wonderfully!  Great job to the team this week.

Here's the worship set list:

• How Can I Keep From Singing? (Bb) by Chris Tomlin - I love this song. It'd been awhile since we have played this one.  I'm especially fond of the bridge " I can sing in the troubled times...sing when I win...I will sing with the angels and the saints around the throne"...Just awesome.
• Salvation is Here (B) by Hillsong United - I've been hearing from people in the church that this is their fave to sing right now.
• Glorious (D) by Chris Tomlin - It's been awhile for this one too.  I've often thought about lowering the key on this one as it might be a little high for the men folk.  However, they seem to do ok singing it an octive lower.  Great song.
• Hosanna (E) by Hillsong United - One of my current faves.  We rolled this out on Palm Sunday.  I love the bridge on this song.  "Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen show me how to love like You have loved me..."
• The Glory of it All (B) by David Crowder - THIS is my current fave above all.  I love singing this, and love playing it.  I play my other guitar on this one since I tuned everything down a half step to get that ringing sound in the key of B while playing it in the C chord structure. Great lyrics and sound on this tune.

Quick notes about Sunday:

1. Jason Henderson - Gave a brief story about how God has been working in his life through reading the Bible daily.  Seriously...Jason did AWESOME.  I think he could be a preacher some day.   Thanks Jason for sharing your story!
2. Sam Albertson - Did you see that new guitar?  I have no idea what kind it is...so Sam...drop a comment and let me know what that's called.  It's dangerous. I need to snap a photo and post it here.
3. Scott Stanley - Utility man jumped on the guitar again.  Thanks dude!!! Great job!
4. Sequencing  - Chris did some of this on "The Glory of it All" which was great.  Playing to that keeps the band a little more precise.  Great job to Thunderfoot for keeping us there.
5. Week 2 of Indy - Tim had a great message on three important ways to read scripture. Looking thru the glasses of "Historical", "Doctrinal", and "Personal" applications.  If you've never heard this taught...you need to listen here.
6. Sickness - Once again, one of my daughters was sick in the night.  I was feeling it during first service worship.  A little dizzy while up there, but praise God we finished up without a hurl! :)
7. Video Doog - Came through again with a brand new bump for the series.  Awesome job!
8. Marie - Thanks for running for the pancakes that we ended up not using.  Grace staff...feel free to have frozen pancakes in the freezer!

Worship Confessional: 3/30/08

Week 1 of our series on the Tabernacle called "Indiana Jones and the Tabernacle of You". This is going to be a fun series.  Tim ran out in full Indy garb cracking his nifty little whip (by the way...I'll let you know if he actually does use this new tool in our staff meetings).  Today's subject was The Ark: Revealing Christ as Your Lord.  Give it a listen here. Great job once again to Video Doog for putting together the video clips from the Raiders film.  It may seem easy, but it's not.  Doog rocks!

I'll be honest...today, I was NOT feeling well during the worship.  We've got a sick kidlet and I think I might have gotten a touch of the stomach stuff.  It must have showed because someone said I didn't seem myself.  Oh well...hopefully it wasn't much of a distraction during the music.

Lynnora played with us again today on the violin.  Beautifully done.  This past Thursday was a "make-shift" rehearsal in that our electric guitarist and violinist were absent at rehearsals.  We didn't really have a full rehearsal until 7:30 this morning (in reality we started at about 7:50a.m. which left us about 30 mins rehearsal time).  We also had to reset the stage since there was a wedding on Saturday.  We elected to get rid of the center scrim this week and use the curtains as a backdrop with some colored lights pointed at them.  This allowed Thunderfoot Jon the drummer to come out of the light and actually be seen a little better.  I forgot to mention this to our lighting team who work from pre-programmed lighting for individual songs...threw them this curve ball which was not smart on my part. Keith made it happen and all seemed to go well.

Great job to Jenny who had to go it alone as the lonely female vocalist today.  Addie was supposed to sing as well however with the sicko kid one of us had to stay home.  Addie was missed. :(

The team did great and the church seemed to respond very well to the songs this morning.  Blessed Be Your Name and God of Wonders were fun to play.  These are some oldies that the church loves.   If you're doing a series on the tabernacle, what better song than God of Wonders to close out the service?

Here's the worship set list.  Don't forget you can purchase on iTunes if you click the titles.

• Not to Us by Chris Tomlin
• Come Thou Fount - David Crowder Band arrangement
• Son of God by Starfield
• Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman
• God of Wonders by Mac Powell of Third Day and Caedmon's Call

IGNITE is Wednesday!  I forgot to have Tim announce it!  Don't forget to come!!!!

Worship Confessional: 3/23/08

What a day!  Easter services were packed out this morning.  A little over 1,500 people walked through the doors of Grace Church today.  I can't tell you how many folks received Christ this morning but seeing those hands raised at the close of the message leading into "The Glory of it All" by David Crowder.  "Everything will change, things will never be the same..." awesome.

The band put a TON of effort into the music these past two weeks.  Learning three songs and rehearsing for two Saturdays in a row in addition to our typical Thursday rehearsals paid off.  They did a great job.  Thanks to the lighting dudes (Scott and Todd) for making the red highlights happen on the door frames.  Thanks to Steve Jones for making the frames!

With a lamb (yes a real one), three door frames, fake hyssop, and some fake blood, a machete and one lead Pastor's son...we had a lot of items to take care of.  Great job to the stage crew for making each one of those things happen (Addie and Jason thank you!!!!).  To Video Doog...excellent job on the video transition.  You just can't make a simple video like I ask! :)  Lynnora and Chris did great putting together that little Amazing Grace pre-service tune.  And to the Marie for helping coordinate the traditional Easter buffet backstage...thank you! 

Check out Tim's message on the Passover as it relates to the crucifixion here.

Here's the worship set-list.  Don't forget you can click the title if you'd like to purchase on iTunes:

• Amazing Grace (instrumental - violin & keys)
• Hosanna by Hillsong United
• Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin
• Jesus Paid it All, Kristian Stanfill version
• Mighty to Save by Hillsong
• The Glory of it All by David Crowder Band

This was an awesome week for Grace.  Praying now for all those folks who made the pilgrimage to church for Easter.  I pray it's only the beginning of a new/renewed journey with the Lord.

Great job team!

Worship Confessional: 3/16/08

This was the final message in our 24 series.  Tim closed it out telling the story of Jesus' final hours leading up to the cross.  What a great way to lead into Easter.  Check it out here.  It was awesome to see two folks get baptized this week during services.  Congrats to Cecilia for making that HUGE step!  It was awesome!!!

This week we rolled out the Hillsong United tune "Hosanna" at the close of service. I LOVE this song!  Gina knocked this out of the park.  Special thanks this week to our WST utility man Scott Stanley for stepping away from the audio board to play bass in Jimmy Luv's place.

We've been doing something different these past couple of weeks.  Five minutes before the service starts we've been playing a song as sort of a "pre-service" tune.  We've had some pretty packed service schedules so rather than electing to cut a song we've moved one to this slot.  We moved a regularly scheduled song "Wonderful Cross" to the middle of the message and did it acoustically.  I thought it'd be cool to add a tune and drop it before the actual service time.  I think people enjoyed it.  Maybe we'll keep doing it even if our services aren't packed.

Here's the worship set-list.  Don't forget to click the titles to purchase on iTunes:

• Enough by Chris Tomlin (This was our pre-service song)
• Filled With Your Glory by Starfield
• Awesome is the Lord Most High by Chris Tomlin
• Here is Our King by David Crowder Band
• Wonderful Cross
• Hosanna by Hillsong United

Next week we're playing a couple of new tunes.  Check out David Crowder's "Glory of it All" and "Jesus Paid it All" Kristian Stanfill's version.  Gracers can click the titles and buy them on iTunes and start listening before Easter. 

Worship Confessional: 3/9/08

Congratulations to those who arrived on time this morning with Daylight Saving kicking off.  Especially the first service people...you all deserve a pat on the back...consider yourselves patted.  This week we had a couple of things happening...communion and a youth testimony about the upcoming High School Student Life at the Beach camp.   I have to say hearing from both Jonathan and Meredith was impressive.  They did a great job sharing how God impacted them at previous Student Life camps.  Great job guys!

This morning at 5:30 a.m. I received a text message from our bass player (Jimmy Luv).  He had some health issues come up and couldn't play today.  Hope you're better Jimmy Luv!  Thanks to our WST utility man, Scott, for jumping in on bass.  Here's the worship set list:

• Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicki Beeching
• No Sweeter Name by Kari Jobe
• Shine by Matt Redman
• Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin
• Everlasting God by Brenton Brown

Next week we're looking to roll out another new tune in "Hosanna" by Hillsong United.  Check it out here on iTunes Gracers if you want to get a jump start on learning it.

Worship Confessional: 3/2/08

Week 3 of our series "24".  This was a knock out message on one of the last things Jesus did before the crucifixion.  He spent time with his disciples teaching them, discipling if you will.  The challenge laid before our church was this..."Who are you influencing in your walk?  Are you spending time teaching others?". Be sure to check out Tim's notes from yesterday. Listen here.

It felt good being back in the saddle leading today.  I enjoy the breaks and need them for rejuvenation, but it felt really nice after two weeks to be back behind the mic.  We played a new tune by Kari Jobe called "No Sweeter Name" led by Jenny.  She did AWESOME!  This was her first week with the team and she handled everything with ease.  Harmonies, leading...she did a great job this week and I'm looking forward to seeing her grow with the team.

Here's our worship set-list this week.

• Let it Rise (Big Daddy Weave version)
• Salvation is Here by Hillsong United
• You Are Holy (Prince of Peace) as recorded by Michael W. Smith
• I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) as recorded by Chris Tomlin
• No Sweeter Name by Kari Jobe

We added an extra 100 chairs to the services and things seem to be going well.  More seating for folks means less people feeling like there's no place for them to sit.

IGNITE THIS WEDNESDAY 7 - 8P.M.!!!

Worship Confessional: 2/24/08

Another week for me playing guitar with no leading!  Thanks to Mike Foley for stepping up and helping lead worship this weekend.  Mike has an awesome voice but even more than that an incredible heart for God and people.  It shows in his worship leading.  I think my fave was "King of Glory".  Mike OWNED that one!  He used to lead worship at a local church here in town and this was one of the tunes they played regularly.  Mike and his wife Shana have been attending Grace for almost a year.  Check out Mike's blog to learn more about him and his family here.

This was week 2 of our "24" series about the final hours in the life of Jesus Christ. Tim unpacked the story of how Jesus took time to serve his disciples in his final hours by washing their feet.  A call went out to our church body to consider using their gifts and hearts to serve in ministering to others.  We had a TON of folks offer to step up during our upcoming Easter services and Egg Hunt.  During the message, Tim illustrated the act of washing feet by actually doing that on stage.  Whose feet were involved?  Mine.  Why were my feet involved?  Because our youth/ministry pastor wasn't available.  Did it feel strange to have about 700 people watch my Pastor clean my feet?  Absolutely. By the way...that was pottering soil on my feet.  I'm still picking it out from under my toenails three days later.  Anyone need some pottering soil?  :)  Give a listen to the message here.

We also had 6-7 baptisms in the services.  I got to see Jenny O. get baptized.  She's currently going through our Foundations Discipleship class on Wednesday nights.  I loved hearing her story of how she'd drifted from God and recently began attending church which ignited her fire and love for the Lord.  Not only that...but her daughter was baptized along with her.  Way to go Jenny O.!!!!  Also seeing Tim baptize his oldest son was awesome.  A lot of choked up folks in the room...led of course by Tim.

And to the songlist...don't forget you can purchase in iTunes by clicking the titles:

• Let God Arise (B)
• Holy is the Lord (G)
• Son of God (G)
• Everything Glorious (C)
• King of Glory (G)