Beauty and art are related, but are different things. Beauty is an objective quality related to form, and not a subjective quality dependent on the beholder. True beauty is defined by God and by His original intentions of creation.
I had a rollar-coaster of a morning which usually means if I can hold it together it's going to be a great service. And except for a moment or two I did, and it was!
Every once and a while I arrange a real stinker. I had one today, it was still spiritual and worked well for the congregation, but it left me flat, it just wasn't what it could have been. It happens.
Thanks to the whole team for pulling together on a morning when we ran out of rehearsal time. You guys are the best!
The Plan
Hosanna [Paul Baloche] - G
Glory Laud and Honor [Hymn] - G Welcome Video
Unto The King [Tommy Walker] - E
Hosanna [Brooke Fraser] - E Litany Statement of Faith
We Fall Down [Chris Tomlin] - E Message
Glory In The Highest [Chris Tomlin] - G
Art is revelation. Art points to something. It is the artist's unique perspective on the world, which can reveal both good and evil, beauty and ugliness, grace and mercy, as well as injustice and sin.
What a sweet morning. We were once again blessed by an extraordinary moment of worship and praise. What a joy to be able to meet in His name each week.Thanks to our tech guys [Jack and Rick] for the time that was spent installing our new soundboard. Today was a joy because of your ministry.
Our message delivered by our guest, Dr. Margee Iddings, challenged us to allow ourselves to explore the kind of compassion that comes from sitting in Jesus' seat.
The Plan
Now Is The Time [Tommy Walker] - F Prayer of Focus
Pass It On [Tommy Walker] - G
Just To Be With You [Paul Baloche] - D
You Are My King [Billy Foote] - D Statement of Faith
I Love To Worship [Jonathan Butler] - G Message: John 12:1-8
Our God Saves [Paul Baloche] - D
Our guest speaker Dr. Margee Iddings led us through the story of Jesus in Lazarus' home... of Mary anointing His feet, of Martha being Martha... of Judas' complaint.. and challenged us to sit in Jesus' seat. She brought a life size art rendering which really added to the intensity of the message. Loved it!
Lead Me To The Cross [Brooke Fraser] - Em
I Love To Worship [Jonathan Butler] - G
We Need You Lord [Jonathan Butler] - G Message: John 12:1-8 Communion
Imagine That by Manuel Luz
From Chapter 2 "Art and Faith" Art is transcendent. Art takes us someplace, spiritually as well as emotionally, a window between this world and the next. And art requires inspiration. Ultimately, God is the ultimate source of inspiration for all art. However, it is up to us, through our free will, to respond to that inspiration - to either glorify the Source of inspitarion or glorify ourselves.
Prayer of Focus
I Am Free [Jon Egan] - C
Beautiful One [Tim Hughes] - G
Great Is Thy Faithfulness [Hymn] - D Statement of Faith
Healing Rain [Michael W. Smith] - C Message: Mark 1:40-45
How Great Thou Art [Hymn] - A
Art is an expression. It is a means by which we attempt to interpret or re-create the world God made. Art is also a discipline. It is something that must be developed and trained for in order to attain skill and competency.
What is your definition of art? Do you think it it congruent with the idea that God is the creator, the Artist God?
"Who decides what is excellent and what is mediocre?"
A guest speaker, a guest drummer, and dancin' in the aisles... but yet somehow it felt like just another beautiful worship and praise moment at our church. We are blessed to have so many of those services that you want to bottle up and save. And I guess in a way that's exactly what we do... we carry those God moments with us when we leave and then call upon them when they're needed.
The Plan
Now Is The Time [Tommy Walker] - F Prayer of Focus
Today Is The day [Paul Baloche] - C
I Am Yours [Jon Egan] - C Statement of Faith Communion
Remembrance [Matt Redman] - D
Revelation Song [Jenny Lee Riddle] - D Message: John 9:1-12
I Know Who I Am {Israel Houghton] - A
A number of people have approached me about the Heartsong service and why I don't recap it here... so here it is. I really like the quiet, reflective and personal feel of this service. It's quite a departure from Crossways on Sunday morning. As this journey continues I'll post whenever I can.
The Plan:
Lamb of God [Eddy Mann] - C Litany
Here I Am To Worship [Tim Hughes] - E Reading
Revelation Song [ Jenny Lee Riddle] - D Message: John 9:1-12 Statement of Faith Communion
Open The Eyes of My Heart [Paul Baloche] - E
Imagine That by Manuel Luz
From Chapter 1 "God the Artist" God is our Father [1 John 3:1-3]. And in the same way we put our children's crayon art on our fridge, God derives pleasure from us as His artist children. His pleasure stems from the act of our creativity as well as from the creation itself. In a sense, we glorify Him through the re-creation of art.
Have you ever hung art on your refrigerator door? Whose art was it? Why was it significant enough for you to hang it up? Was it simply because of its beauty, or was there some other reason?
"God takes what we create and hangs it up on his refrigerator door."
Imagine That by Manuel Luz 
