Monday, December 6, 2010
That Moment
I love the times in worship where I get so focused on God that everything else disappears. Those moments rock me to my very core. It is just me and my creator, one on one; me and Dad spending some quality time together. Incredible!Have you experienced a moment like this? (if so please share!) A moment in worship where you go from just singing songs to truly Worshiping God? A moment where the entire world disappears and it is only you and Him?.
If not, you are missing out. Moments like this can change you, but it takes surrender. Are you willing to let go and say, "God, You are everything!"?
Remember: Perception determines Reception! So ask yourself, do I recognize God for who He is, and am I willing to truly surrender it all to Him? When you can say yes to both of these, get ready! He is going to rock your world, and I promise you will love every minute of it!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Re: The Worship Button...Great Read
Here is an awesome blog on worship from Mack @ Elevation Church.
The Worship Button
Last week, Pastor Steven shared with the staff some teachings on worship. It was super low key, with him just answering some common questions about biblical worship. One of the things that was brought up was the “worship button” – How there seem to be certain songs that no matter how dead the atmosphere is, or how unengaged the people are, once you hit that bridge or that chorus, hands get lifted in the air, people start shouting, and the Holy Spirit falls.
Although these times can be really powerful in worship, this isn’t the healthiest way for us to worship. It’s not healthy to stand in the presence of our Creator God, arms crossed, waiting for the worship leader to play our favorite song, then give everything we have. We are called to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise – ready to worship Him.
We need to mature. We can’t allow our worship to live in this infant stage, like a child waiting for his mother to feed him.
We have to find our own worship button – controlling it ourselves, not just allowing the atmosphere to control it for us. When you first come into worship, and there’s a song that you don’t particularly enjoy, spend that time speaking thanksgiving to God – remembering how good He is to you. Spend that time honoring Him and His grace in your life. Speak out loud the characteristics of God. We must make our worship a response to God, not a response to a song.
There is a “worship button” that can be pressed, but don’t allow the worship leader to be the only one to ever press it. Control it yourself.
-Mack
The Worship Button
Last week, Pastor Steven shared with the staff some teachings on worship. It was super low key, with him just answering some common questions about biblical worship. One of the things that was brought up was the “worship button” – How there seem to be certain songs that no matter how dead the atmosphere is, or how unengaged the people are, once you hit that bridge or that chorus, hands get lifted in the air, people start shouting, and the Holy Spirit falls.
Although these times can be really powerful in worship, this isn’t the healthiest way for us to worship. It’s not healthy to stand in the presence of our Creator God, arms crossed, waiting for the worship leader to play our favorite song, then give everything we have. We are called to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise – ready to worship Him.
We need to mature. We can’t allow our worship to live in this infant stage, like a child waiting for his mother to feed him.
We have to find our own worship button – controlling it ourselves, not just allowing the atmosphere to control it for us. When you first come into worship, and there’s a song that you don’t particularly enjoy, spend that time speaking thanksgiving to God – remembering how good He is to you. Spend that time honoring Him and His grace in your life. Speak out loud the characteristics of God. We must make our worship a response to God, not a response to a song.
There is a “worship button” that can be pressed, but don’t allow the worship leader to be the only one to ever press it. Control it yourself.
-Mack
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Just Another Day @ The Beach
Thought I would give you just a quick run through of the amazing day I had yesterday. We are on staff retreat @ one of my favorite places in the world, Fort Caswell. It is a beautiful retreat area located on 110 acres at one end of Oak Island, NC. I spent 2 summers of my life working as a member of the worship team here for the youth summer camps, and something about this place just feels like home. We are currently sharing the grounds with about 1600 NC Baptist Youth and leaders as they are here for summer camp. Yet somehow we have still been able to "get away"! Anyway back to the amazing day...
The day started with a conversation with one of my best friends. I got to video Chat with Travis for about an hour yesterday morning. It was so wonderful to talk to him. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting him, Travis and I went to college together, served in ministry together with AIM, and have been accountability partners for years. He is currently serving on the mission field. Our conversations are rarer than we would like but through the power of skype, we have been able to stay in touch! Please be in prayer for Travis, he has a few more months on the field and I know God is really going to use him.
After a quick but wonderful breakfast (cooked by our production pastor Doug - with help from some of the ladies) we headed off to the gym for a little staff basketball. For those of you who have been to Caswell in the past, I have exciting news...the gym now has A/C!!! And because of this new addition, we were able to play for about 2 hours. It was awesome.
Then it was off to the beach for a little sun and fun. We hung out until the beach access was overrun by teenagers (no big deal because many in our group were sunburnt by then anyway...haha). We body surfed, played football and bocce, caught some rays and even took out a few ocean kayaks. For about an hour and a half, we had then entire beach to ourselves! It was a great way for our staff to relax and play together. I think God was looking out for us!!!
After a quick shower, it was time to kick back and relax around the house. We are staying in Lantana Lodge; a beautiful house located near the point of the island right along the Intercoastal Waterway. The house was the former home of the Fort commander, but also served as the base hospital for years. It is is a wonderful place to stay. Plenty of room for our group of 19 and far enough away from the students that it is quiet. Again, I think God was looking out for us!!!
After dinner is when the real fun began! Ray decided we should have a short staff worship and prayer time to close out the day; God had a different plan. Our 30 minutes of worship turned into about 3 hours of powerful praise and worship! I had been in Hatch Auditorium earlier in the evening for youth worship, and I know I am biased, but our small group of 19 was significantly louder than the 1600 students in Hatch. It was incredible! As we sang, Students, leaders and even camp staff members joined us. In fact, 4 camp staff members said they heard us from the other side of the camp and had to walk down and see what was going on. It was an amazing time. We had a chance to pray with youth leaders, staff members and youth during the night and We got to see God do some amazing things. I hope to post a video or two from last night so all of you can join in our worship time!
Thank You Lord for allowing us to have this time to refocus and unwind. Glory to God, Forever!
The day started with a conversation with one of my best friends. I got to video Chat with Travis for about an hour yesterday morning. It was so wonderful to talk to him. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting him, Travis and I went to college together, served in ministry together with AIM, and have been accountability partners for years. He is currently serving on the mission field. Our conversations are rarer than we would like but through the power of skype, we have been able to stay in touch! Please be in prayer for Travis, he has a few more months on the field and I know God is really going to use him.
After a quick but wonderful breakfast (cooked by our production pastor Doug - with help from some of the ladies) we headed off to the gym for a little staff basketball. For those of you who have been to Caswell in the past, I have exciting news...the gym now has A/C!!! And because of this new addition, we were able to play for about 2 hours. It was awesome.
Then it was off to the beach for a little sun and fun. We hung out until the beach access was overrun by teenagers (no big deal because many in our group were sunburnt by then anyway...haha). We body surfed, played football and bocce, caught some rays and even took out a few ocean kayaks. For about an hour and a half, we had then entire beach to ourselves! It was a great way for our staff to relax and play together. I think God was looking out for us!!!
After a quick shower, it was time to kick back and relax around the house. We are staying in Lantana Lodge; a beautiful house located near the point of the island right along the Intercoastal Waterway. The house was the former home of the Fort commander, but also served as the base hospital for years. It is is a wonderful place to stay. Plenty of room for our group of 19 and far enough away from the students that it is quiet. Again, I think God was looking out for us!!!
After dinner is when the real fun began! Ray decided we should have a short staff worship and prayer time to close out the day; God had a different plan. Our 30 minutes of worship turned into about 3 hours of powerful praise and worship! I had been in Hatch Auditorium earlier in the evening for youth worship, and I know I am biased, but our small group of 19 was significantly louder than the 1600 students in Hatch. It was incredible! As we sang, Students, leaders and even camp staff members joined us. In fact, 4 camp staff members said they heard us from the other side of the camp and had to walk down and see what was going on. It was an amazing time. We had a chance to pray with youth leaders, staff members and youth during the night and We got to see God do some amazing things. I hope to post a video or two from last night so all of you can join in our worship time!
Thank You Lord for allowing us to have this time to refocus and unwind. Glory to God, Forever!
Great blog by Jon Allen. Really sums up what God did last night. Still in awe of an amazing God moment!!!! Glory to God, Forever!
http://jonallen-hrcc.blogspot.com/2010/06/worship-breakout.html
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A Weekend To Remember
It was an amazing weekend for the High Rock family. A weekend I wont soon forget. When I finally got home late Sunday night, I just laid in bed thinking. I was in awe of what God did. I was humbled by the fact that He allowed me to be a part of it. And I was so pumped up that I think I could have made an appearance on American Gladiators!
The weekend started with an amazing time with friends on Friday night. A dinner at Casa Grande that lasted 3 1/2 hours because we just decided to sit and talk. Saturday was highlighted by an amazing night of worship @ HRCC West; followed by another 3 hour meal with friends.
I woke up Sunday morning so excited about what was happening. The message this week was on Lust and the struggles we (men and women) have with it. I know lives were changed, marriages were healed and victories were won. It was evidenced by the response of people as they worshiped a Mighty God! As we sang Hillsong's "The Stand" I looked out to see a sea of hands lifted in worship to Our God. Tears started rolling down my face as I watched High Rockers crying out to their Savior; telling Him that all they are is His! It was amazing! It was a God moment!
But the excitement didn't stop there! I left the west campus following the 11:00am service and headed to High Rock Lake for a Baptism Celebration...and let me tell you, it was a PARTY!!! We had lunch on the lake and when all was said and done, we baptized 49 people! (50 if you count me...HRCC tradition is that the new guy on staff gets dunked...Thanks Jon!)
I left the lake and headed back to the west campus for Ignite West (West Campus Youth Service) and was blown away by the number of students who came and the excitement in the room. During the service, one of the youth accepted Christ as his Savior!!!!!! Yet another God Thing!
When I got to staff meeting this morning, I found out that our Kannapolis Campus baptized another 7 on Sunday night, bringing the weekend total to 56!!!!!!!!! All I can say is Thank God!
So in honor of all of the High Rockers who took that next step in their walk, I have decided to upload a live video of one of my favorite Needtobreathe songs "Washed By The Water". I hope you enjoy it!
The weekend started with an amazing time with friends on Friday night. A dinner at Casa Grande that lasted 3 1/2 hours because we just decided to sit and talk. Saturday was highlighted by an amazing night of worship @ HRCC West; followed by another 3 hour meal with friends.
I woke up Sunday morning so excited about what was happening. The message this week was on Lust and the struggles we (men and women) have with it. I know lives were changed, marriages were healed and victories were won. It was evidenced by the response of people as they worshiped a Mighty God! As we sang Hillsong's "The Stand" I looked out to see a sea of hands lifted in worship to Our God. Tears started rolling down my face as I watched High Rockers crying out to their Savior; telling Him that all they are is His! It was amazing! It was a God moment!
But the excitement didn't stop there! I left the west campus following the 11:00am service and headed to High Rock Lake for a Baptism Celebration...and let me tell you, it was a PARTY!!! We had lunch on the lake and when all was said and done, we baptized 49 people! (50 if you count me...HRCC tradition is that the new guy on staff gets dunked...Thanks Jon!)
I left the lake and headed back to the west campus for Ignite West (West Campus Youth Service) and was blown away by the number of students who came and the excitement in the room. During the service, one of the youth accepted Christ as his Savior!!!!!! Yet another God Thing!
When I got to staff meeting this morning, I found out that our Kannapolis Campus baptized another 7 on Sunday night, bringing the weekend total to 56!!!!!!!!! All I can say is Thank God!
So in honor of all of the High Rockers who took that next step in their walk, I have decided to upload a live video of one of my favorite Needtobreathe songs "Washed By The Water". I hope you enjoy it!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Bless Your Name
Great New Song from North Point! Can't wait to sing it with all my High Rock family!
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