By Phil Laeger
As I write this, I’m listening to the near final mix of our live worship recording that took place in November of last year. I can’t wait to release the album and DVD. This project is—for me anyway—the culmination of the hopes and dreams and prayers and tears and frustrations and vexations and sweat and optimism and roadblocks and open doors of the past 10 years. Wow. Maybe I need to unpack that run-on sentence a little…
I have been so privileged to be part of music ministry in The Salvation Army over the past nearly 15 years. It has been a great journey and the groups I have played in and led have been given incredible leeway in a lot of ways. We’ve led worship at youth councils and conferences, camps, retreats, etc, etc. Some of those times have been life transforming for me. We have seen people give their life to Christ, people broken free of addiction, people transformed in a very real way by the power of God in worship. It has been humbling to be used by God in that way. We have had extended times of energetic praise and extended times of reverent and precious worship, dripping with the presence of God.
Read the rest of the article at: http://www.phillaeger.com/hope-glory-challenging-worship-perceptions-and-practices-in-salvation-army-gatherings/
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
StudyBass.com
Yes, for all you wonderful low-end boom providers. Today I bring you a website I came across just last week. A comprehensive step by step curriculum on how to play bass. I love it. Very detailed.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Passionately Listening
From worshiptogether.com
I’ve read of Beethoven that, when his hearing was lost, he sawed the legs off his piano and laid its body down on the floor; then, with his head pressed against the floorboards, he pounded on the keys in an effort to hear the notes. He continued to write his symphonies even when one of his greatest tools—his hearing—was taken from him. Passion and perseverance are an explosive combination.
I should pray with that kind of unquenchable desire, especially when it sounds like God is silent. Like Beethoven, I ought to press my ear to the floor; I ought to search for the sound of His footfalls. I am “...a deaf man with my ear to the ground, listening for what You say.”
I sort of love it that God dances with us like this. He weaves like the shuttle on a loom, coming close, pulling back, and irresistibly drawing all of us little threads into the tapestry created by His dynamic movement. By it we learn to ache for Him when He feels far off, and cherish Him when He draws near to us.
Even when God is whispering instead of shouting, He is relentless in His pursuit of the human heart.
I’ve read of Beethoven that, when his hearing was lost, he sawed the legs off his piano and laid its body down on the floor; then, with his head pressed against the floorboards, he pounded on the keys in an effort to hear the notes. He continued to write his symphonies even when one of his greatest tools—his hearing—was taken from him. Passion and perseverance are an explosive combination.
I should pray with that kind of unquenchable desire, especially when it sounds like God is silent. Like Beethoven, I ought to press my ear to the floor; I ought to search for the sound of His footfalls. I am “...a deaf man with my ear to the ground, listening for what You say.”I sort of love it that God dances with us like this. He weaves like the shuttle on a loom, coming close, pulling back, and irresistibly drawing all of us little threads into the tapestry created by His dynamic movement. By it we learn to ache for Him when He feels far off, and cherish Him when He draws near to us.
Even when God is whispering instead of shouting, He is relentless in His pursuit of the human heart.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Free Christmas Music!!!
Looking for some christmas music for your church services this winter? Follow the link to some FREE downloads. Audio, Lyrics and Lead Sheets!!!
10 Free Christmas Songs
10 Free Christmas Songs
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
What Is Worship? (a 15 minute Bible Study)
Article from Intouch.org
Releasing Our Preconceptions and Learning to Exalt the Lord
Psalm 96
One of the most controversial issues in the church today is worship. Sadly, the phrase “worship wars” is used to describe the conflict between various music and service styles. Maybe it’s time to open our minds, drop our preferences, and learn what the Lord says. In the Scriptures, the word worship means to bow oneself down in humble respect to a superior being.
The goal is to meet and exalt the Lord in such a way that we come away transformed. Like Abraham, we humble ourselves and honor God by believing Him, obeying His commands, and withholding nothing from Him (Gen. 22:1-18; Heb. 11:17-19).
The Old Testament gave very specific regulations for worship, but when Christ came, He changed the way we approach God (Heb. 9:1-15; 10:19-23).
Now Jesus tells us that the only way to worship the Lord is in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Since the Holy Spirit lives within each believer, our meeting place with God is no longer an external temple but the internal spirit of man (Phil. 3:3), and the sacrifice we offer is ourselves (Rom. 12:1-2).
Because the New Testament records only general guidelines for churches to follow (Acts 2:42), each culture and era has been allowed the freedom to determine the specific elements of their meetings. However, the spirit of our gatherings should match that described by Paul in Colossians 3:12-16.
Although detailed practices and methods are not prescribed for the church, Psalm 96 lists timeless ways to praise and exalt the Lord.
But sometimes we don’t glorify the Lord when we meet with Him. In Mark 7:6-13, Jesus warned that it is useless to honor God with our lips while our hearts are far from Him. If our attitudes are divisive, argumentative, or selfish, we have failed to worship the Lord (1 Cor. 11:17-22).
Questions for Reflection
1. Where is your focus during church—on yourself, others, your preferences, or the Lord? What hinders you from concentrating on God? What do you need to surrender to Him?
2. Private, personal worship shapes your mind, emotions, and will—and prepares you to give God genuine honor through corporate expression. How can you exalt the Lord each day with your thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions?
Releasing Our Preconceptions and Learning to Exalt the Lord
Psalm 96
One of the most controversial issues in the church today is worship. Sadly, the phrase “worship wars” is used to describe the conflict between various music and service styles. Maybe it’s time to open our minds, drop our preferences, and learn what the Lord says. In the Scriptures, the word worship means to bow oneself down in humble respect to a superior being.
The goal is to meet and exalt the Lord in such a way that we come away transformed. Like Abraham, we humble ourselves and honor God by believing Him, obeying His commands, and withholding nothing from Him (Gen. 22:1-18; Heb. 11:17-19).
The Old Testament gave very specific regulations for worship, but when Christ came, He changed the way we approach God (Heb. 9:1-15; 10:19-23).
Now Jesus tells us that the only way to worship the Lord is in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Since the Holy Spirit lives within each believer, our meeting place with God is no longer an external temple but the internal spirit of man (Phil. 3:3), and the sacrifice we offer is ourselves (Rom. 12:1-2).
Because the New Testament records only general guidelines for churches to follow (Acts 2:42), each culture and era has been allowed the freedom to determine the specific elements of their meetings. However, the spirit of our gatherings should match that described by Paul in Colossians 3:12-16.
Although detailed practices and methods are not prescribed for the church, Psalm 96 lists timeless ways to praise and exalt the Lord.
But sometimes we don’t glorify the Lord when we meet with Him. In Mark 7:6-13, Jesus warned that it is useless to honor God with our lips while our hearts are far from Him. If our attitudes are divisive, argumentative, or selfish, we have failed to worship the Lord (1 Cor. 11:17-22).
Questions for Reflection
1. Where is your focus during church—on yourself, others, your preferences, or the Lord? What hinders you from concentrating on God? What do you need to surrender to Him?
2. Private, personal worship shapes your mind, emotions, and will—and prepares you to give God genuine honor through corporate expression. How can you exalt the Lord each day with your thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Love Extravagantly
“…we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Camp Redwood Glen :: February 18-20, 2011
Check out the following link for details and registration:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What time will the event begin and end?
Registration begins Friday, February 18th 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. The first meeting begins on Friday at 7:00 p.m. The last meeting will be the Sunday morning meeting, followed by lunch.
Should I bring my own bedding?
Yes. Linen will not be provided unless you have special housing needs.
What will the weather be like?
February in Northern California can be a little chilly. Bring some warm clothes. Check the weather forcast here as you approach the weekend.
Who should attend?
Worship leaders, artists, worship participants, soldiers, officers, or anyone interested in worship, and over 18 years of age.
Who are the guests?
Main Speaker: Bart Tarman, a former chaplain of Westmont College, Young Life staff member, and associate pastor, is an ordained Presbyterian minister who holds a master’s of divinity degree. For the past six years, he’s worked with members of the U.S. House and Senate prayer groups to encourage friendships in Jesus around the world. He and his wife of 38 years, Linda, help serve as a liaison on behalf of these groups to Latin American nations. Bart has been associated with the National Prayer Breakfast for more than 30 years.
Drama: Lacey Theatre Company was founded in 2004 by award winning British author of the word on the street, Rob Lacey. Rob, together with a group of actors, sought a fresh approach to theatre and storytelling with the Bible as their inspiration. Touring around churches, schools, prisons and conferences we tell old, sacred stories in a new, everyday way.
We do act, we do sing, we do that humming warm up thing, we do story, we do wit, we do poems, we do riddim wid it, we do workshop, we do teach, we do the big speech, we do inreach, upreach, outreach, we do most things, we do not preach…
Dance: Alicia Hood has spent the last 10 years as a staff Choreographer for the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. She has had the pleasure of choreographing portions of a number of Parades and shows locally at the Disneyland Resort. Some of her current work can be seen in Fantasmic!, Drawn to the Magic, A Christmas Fantasy, and Mickey’s Halloween Costume Party. Alicia has also served as Assistant Choreographer for such performances as Disney’s Electrical Parade, Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams, Lights, Camera, Chaos, and Goofy’s Beach Party Bash. In addition to being classically trained in ballet, tap, and jazz, she has gained experience in Web, Trampoline, and Bungee as well as elementary Stunt work to create movement for the various needs within the Resort.
Prior to moving into Choreography, Alicia enjoyed a successful performing career which included touring the United States and abroad in Japan with different dance and entertainment companies, including Disney, Diavolo, and Buena Vista. She also appeared in numerous Corporate industrials, Musical Theatre productions, music videos, and several summer intensives with the American Ballet Theatre Company. She worships with The Salvation Army Praiseworks in Anaheim, California with husband Mark Hood.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Authenticity 24/7
By Major Warren Dabis
Isn’t Facebook great? Most of us would say “Yes,” however too many of us bear our souls online! Hmmmm…perhaps it may be a good thing depending on the way you look at it!
Authenticity 24/7. Not long ago, my wife took to task a Salvationist young person who used inappropriate language in a posting and it was not a good witness. The young person wrote back and said his posting had nothing to do with The Salvation Army, it was his Facebook, he was his own person and his decision and he did not need a sermon. Quite an uproar of discussion in my circles with several young people asking me: “Is that person authentic?” I answered, “Absolutely!” Where upon the young people were taken back by my answer! Let me explain!
I do believe that young person was authentic because it was very obvious with his posting that he was authentic: to the worldliness he found himself in! He felt his worldliness had nothing to do with his witness or testimony. As a matter of fact, he was witnessing and testifying to the pull that the world and Satan exerts on us!
Speaking of Facebook, let me share with you another posting that caught my eye. This person gives a definition of integrity. "INTEGRITY - It's not what you do when other people are watching; it's what you do when they're not." It is an excellent quote, however, even more excellent when we live up to it! Which is what authenticity is all about!
Authenticity: Being WHOSE we are and in this context being the “true” worshipers we are in Christ. Being authentic 24/7; not only when we are leading worship, or a Bible Study or when we are at WYI and WMI or at Youth Councils or at TWAR or WBC. Not playing the game of Christianity when we need to at the Corps or DHQ or where people see us, but being that Christian true worshiper 24/7. David, in the midst of the desert, was praising his God when he wrote: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night” Psalm 63:6. Yes, we as “true” worshipers need to be authentic 24/7, even when we sleep or should be sleeping!
Let me close with this question to worshipers and lead worshipers: How can you expect to lead your people in corporate worship of the one true God, when you do not worship Him in your personal worship? Amos says, “Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps” Amos 5:22-23. We may give Him our talents, skills, abilities, and we can make great music, but are we truly authentic 24/7 in our worship of Him?
May we be authentic in our worship as the older praise chorus challenges us:
I Love You Lord
I love You Lord and I lift my voice
To worship You, O my soul rejoice
Take joy my King in what You hear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound In Your ear
CCLI Song No. 25266
© 1978, 1980 House Of Mercy Music (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)
Laurie Klein
For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com
CLI License No. 581793
Isn’t Facebook great? Most of us would say “Yes,” however too many of us bear our souls online! Hmmmm…perhaps it may be a good thing depending on the way you look at it!
Authenticity 24/7. Not long ago, my wife took to task a Salvationist young person who used inappropriate language in a posting and it was not a good witness. The young person wrote back and said his posting had nothing to do with The Salvation Army, it was his Facebook, he was his own person and his decision and he did not need a sermon. Quite an uproar of discussion in my circles with several young people asking me: “Is that person authentic?” I answered, “Absolutely!” Where upon the young people were taken back by my answer! Let me explain!
I do believe that young person was authentic because it was very obvious with his posting that he was authentic: to the worldliness he found himself in! He felt his worldliness had nothing to do with his witness or testimony. As a matter of fact, he was witnessing and testifying to the pull that the world and Satan exerts on us!
Speaking of Facebook, let me share with you another posting that caught my eye. This person gives a definition of integrity. "INTEGRITY - It's not what you do when other people are watching; it's what you do when they're not." It is an excellent quote, however, even more excellent when we live up to it! Which is what authenticity is all about!
Authenticity: Being WHOSE we are and in this context being the “true” worshipers we are in Christ. Being authentic 24/7; not only when we are leading worship, or a Bible Study or when we are at WYI and WMI or at Youth Councils or at TWAR or WBC. Not playing the game of Christianity when we need to at the Corps or DHQ or where people see us, but being that Christian true worshiper 24/7. David, in the midst of the desert, was praising his God when he wrote: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night” Psalm 63:6. Yes, we as “true” worshipers need to be authentic 24/7, even when we sleep or should be sleeping!
Let me close with this question to worshipers and lead worshipers: How can you expect to lead your people in corporate worship of the one true God, when you do not worship Him in your personal worship? Amos says, “Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps” Amos 5:22-23. We may give Him our talents, skills, abilities, and we can make great music, but are we truly authentic 24/7 in our worship of Him?
May we be authentic in our worship as the older praise chorus challenges us:
I Love You Lord
I love You Lord and I lift my voice
To worship You, O my soul rejoice
Take joy my King in what You hear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound In Your ear
CCLI Song No. 25266
© 1978, 1980 House Of Mercy Music (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)
Laurie Klein
For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com
CLI License No. 581793
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