Andy Wins!

The Andy Griffith Show wins Wynne Music's first poll for "TV's Best Show." Congrats, Andy!

(Parenthetically, I have never seen The Andy Griffith Show.)

You Were Always On My Mind

Do you ever have those weeks when there's something that stays on your mind consistently? I do. This week it's been the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Every time I turn around, there's been a reminder; a message from Pastor Jim, a song from the choir, a testimony from a video or CD, and then yesterday, a reference to one of the books that God used to influence my life most, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. If you've never read it, I encourage you to do so. If you have read it, I encourage you to read it again.

May God grip our hearts by the power of His Holy Spirit!

How Freedom Happened

Good Friday 2009 - Ending from buckheadchurch on Vimeo.

Freedom

I have never been on trial.
But I have been judged.

I have never been sentenced.
But I have been condemned.

I have never been incarcerated.

But I have been enslaved.

I have never been in chains.

But I have been bound.

Enslaved.

Trapped.

Without hope.

Before I knew I needed freedom, God provided it for me.

Before I knew I could have His freedom, God offered it to me.

Praise the Lord.

I AM FREE!

Multi-what?

"God gets less glory when every Christian talks, thinks, eats, and lives alike. That looks more like a dysfunctional cult than a real movement that brings glory to God. God gets glory when people who dress, eat, talk, and live differently join around the table for a meal with one heart. After they have an authentic encounter with God, people who would not normally be caught dead in a room together greet one another with a holy kiss and call one another brother and sister."

- Ed Stetzer & Thom Rainer

A Kairos Moment

I met John Caubble today. He grew up at Wynne Baptist and is preparing to serve the Lord overseas. He is currently on staff at FBC of Rogers, AR, where a former Wynne Baptist pastor and Minister of Music also serve. The church had a dedication service for their new campus this past Sunday. John said it was incredible and forwarded be the message from guest speaker, Bruce Wilkinson. I encourage you to watch it.


Dedication Day at FBC Rogers from Brian Dunaway on Vimeo.

Birth Day

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:1-8)

Thank the Lord for the new birth that is ours by the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For further reading on the new birth, check out John Piper's book, Finally Alive.

I Will Sing of My Redeemer

I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love for me;
On the cruel cross He suffered from the curse to set me free.

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me;
On the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story, how my lost estate to save;
In His boundless love and mercy, He the ransomed freely gave.

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me;
On the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.

I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant pow'r I'll tell,
How the victory He giveth over sin and death and hell.

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me;
On the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.

I will sing of my Redeemer, and His heav'nly love to me;
He from death to life hath bro't me, Son of God, with Him to be.

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me;
On the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.

- Philip Bliss (1838-1876)

Coming Soon

Here's the song we looked at during choir rehearsal this week.

GOD: Our Help - Part 2

GOD: Our Help

In 2 Chronicles the Bible says that Asa became king of Judah. In verse 2 of chapter 14 it says that King Asa "did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God" and "commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment." Under his leadership, Judah prospered. When Asa's army of 300,000 from Judah and 280,000 from Benjamin was facing the Ethiopian army numbering one million strong with 300 chariots, the king "cried to the Lord his God, 'O God, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.'" The Lord prevailed on their behalf and the Ethiopians were defeated. Years and years of prosperity and peace passed. But in the thirty-sixth year of King Asa's reign, in seeking protection from another enemy, the king made a covenant with another ruler. King Asa said to the king of Syria, "There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king  of Israel, that he may withdraw from me." But this displeased the Lord. Hanani came to King Asa and said to him, "Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him." From that time forward King Asa was troubled. Even when he became sick toward the end of his life "he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians."


The Lord God, He is our help. He is our refuge and strength. He is our deliverer. Trust Him. Call on Him. Depend on Him. Rely on Him. God can!


I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.


The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.


The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.


-Psalm 121

Leading Worship When You Feel Unworthy

Worship Leader Defined

Here's Bob Kauflin's definition of a worship leader, as described in Worship Matters...


A faithful worship leader
magnifies the greatness of God in Jesus Christ
through the power of the Holy Spirit
by skillfully combining God's Word with music,
thereby motivating the gathered church
to proclaim the gospel,
to cherish God's presence,
and to live for God's glory.

Worship Matters

I mentioned the book Worship Matters in choir rehearsal recently. Bob Kauflin's book will encourage, inspire and challenge you. Don't just take my word for it.


Matt Redman, musician and writer of the song Blessed Be Your Name, says...
"Bob loves God, values theology, and cares about people. This mix is found throughout this wonderful book. Worship Matters will inspire you as a worshiper and spur you on as a leader of worship."


Wayne Grudem, theologian, professor and writer of Systematic Theology and editor of The ESV Study Bible says...
"An outstanding book both for those who lead worship and also for every Christian who wants to worship God more fully. The book is biblical, practical, interesting, wise, and thorough in its treatment of the topic. The next time I teach on worship, I plan to make this the required text."

I See the Lord

We will lead the song I See the Lord on Sunday morning, September 12. The song was written by Chris Falson in 1993 and is based on Isaiah 6:1-7. I encourage you to read this passage of Scripture sometime during the coming week. And for further reading...

• Exodus 24:15-18
• Exodus 33:17-23
• Psalm 108:5-6
• 1 Kings 8:1-11
• John 1:14

We Will Declare His Name