Songs We Sing (09.27.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of September 27, 2009, we sang:

Your Grace Is Enough
Written by Matt Maher, 2003. This song was made most popular by Chris Tomlin on his "Arriving" album. "Your grace is enough/Heaven reaching down to us."

O, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
Written by Charles Wesley, 1739. Music by Music: Carl Gläser, 1828. (Additional words by David Crowder, Jack Parker, 2007). "His blood can make the foulest clean/His blood availed for me. So come on and sing out/Let our anthem grow loud/There is one great love/Jesus!" This modern version is available on David Crowder Band's 2007 album "Remedy."

Here Is Love
Hymn written by Robert S. Lowry, William Edwards and William Rees, 1876. Arrangement by Ex Nihilo and Narrow Path. You guys know this one by now, hopefully. We'll give it a week off and then come back with it the second week of October.

Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
Written by Robert Robinson, 1758. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this song. Fantastic hymn.

Keep Me (Psalm 35)
Written by Daniel Ross, 2009. Written as a prayer of request from the words of Psalm 35. Often, though we know God is in control, we ask Him to free us from the oppression of our enemies. Like our lives, this song is both a prayer for understanding as well as a statement of our ultimate hope in God's deliverance.

Happy Day
Written by Ben Cantelon, Tim Hughes, 2006. "Oh happy day, happy day/You washed my sin away!" That needs several exclamation points. This song is found on Tim Hughes' 2006 album "Holding Nothing Back." (It has also been done recently by several other artists, such as Fee on their album "We Shine.")

Songs We Sing (09.20.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of September 20, 2009, we sang:

Image of the Invisible
Written by Kurt Neighbors and Daniel Ross. Words taken from book of Colossians. This is a song helping us understand who Jesus really is (king over ALL).

Nothing But The Blood
Written by Robert Lowry, 1876. I like this line "Nothing can for sin atone/Nothing but the blood of Jesus/Naught of good that I have done/Nothing but the blood of Jesus." Arrangement by Narrow Path.

Here Is Love
Hymn written by Robert S. Lowry, William Edwards and William Rees. From 1876. Arrangement by Ex Nihilo and Narrow Path. "Heaven's peace and perfect justice, kissed a guilty world in love."

How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Written by Stuart Townend, 1995. This is written in hymn style so it's often mistaken for a hymn. It was, in fact, written in 1995. Great lyrics. Arrangement by Red Letter and Narrow Path.

Restore
Written by Kurt Neighbors and Daniel Ross. Written as a prayer for restoration, cleansing and thanksgiving (You are with us though we push You away).

You Lifted Me Out
Written by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Louie Giglio, Matt Gilder and Matt Redman. This song appears on Chris Tomlin's album "Hello Love." Theme taken from Psalm 40. The bridge to this song is very powerful to me "Lost is where You found me/Shattered and frail but You love me still/Trouble may surround me my heart may fail/But You never will/You never will." I love the words "my heart may fail." In our society, we too often think our hearts will not lie to us. Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. That's why we must lean on the One who will NEVER fail.

S.O.S. Springfield Trip

We all had a great time. The weather was beautiful! We learned alot about President Lincoln's life and were inspired by his character. A big "thank you" to Lois Mason for being our 'fearless leader' and putting this trip together for us.

Songs We Sing (09.13.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of September 13, 2009, we sang:

Foreverandever, Etc.
Original Artist & written by: David Crowder Band. From their excellent album "A Collision." The DCB does a great job of this one live (complete with key-tar).

Beautiful One
Written by Tim Hughes. I love the line "my soul, my soul MUST sing." this is really a song about how nothing in this life can compare with the beauty and majesty of God.

Here Is Love
Hymn written by Robert S. Lowry, William Edwards and William Rees. From 1876. Arrangement by Ex Nihilo and Narrow Path. I love the line "Heaven's peace and perfect justice/Kissed a guilty world in love."

Blessed Assurance
Hymn written by Fanny Jane Crosby in 1873.

Whole World In His Hands
Written by Tim Hughes. Made most popular by Matt Redman on the album "Passion: How Great Is Our God, Live from Passion '05."

Here Is Our King
Original Artist & written by David Crowder Band. From the album "A Collision." (Must've been "A Collision" Sunday). I love the idea of God being rescuer and bringing "us back to Him."

One Last Plug for 'Vintage Jesus'

I know I've been hyping this pretty hard for a few weeks but I want to give it one more push. The class "Vintage Jesus" begins this Sunday night at 6 p.m. at CCJ. It is an excellent class that I can not urge you enough to take. This is not to make the other classes sound any less valuable but I know this class will (if committed to) aid you tremendously in getting a firm foundation for your faith. Jesus is the reason we gather each week at CCJ. If you don't have a firm foundation in Jesus, your (faith) house is shaky.

Men: Lead your families spiritually. If you want a better understanding of who this Jesus is, this class will do that. I know it's football season and it's nice outside but take the time. Bring your friends.

Here are the topics:
1) Is Jesus the Only God?
2) How Human Was Jesus?
3) How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?
4) Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?
5) Why Did Jesus' Mom Need to Be a Virgin?
6) What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
7) Did Jesus Rise from Death?
8) Where Is Jesus Today?
9) Why Should We Worship Jesus?
10) What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
11) What Difference Has Jesus Made in History?
12) What Will Jesus Do upon His Return?

Vintage Jesus class

Who's signed up for the class?
Raise your hand!

ME! ME! ME!

Anyone else? I'd like to know who my classmates are? :-)

Songs We Sing (09.06.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of September 6, 2009, we sang:

God's Gonna Cut You Down
This is actually an old blues standard (sometimes called "Run On" or "Run On For A Long Time"). It has been done by everyone from Johnny Cash ('American V: A Hundred Highways' album), Elvis Presley ('The Elvis Presley Collection: Gospel') and Moby ('Play') to The Blind Boys of Alabama ('Spirit of the Century'). Great song to kick off a sermon called "Noah: Picture of God's Wrath." Sometimes we need warning songs as well as songs of praise.

Let God Arise
Artist: Chris Tomlin. From his 'See The Morning' album. "Death has no sting, no final word. Our God is a God who saves!"

Blessed Be Your Name
Written by Matt & Beth Redman. A bunch of people have re-done this but Matt Redman was the original artist. "You give and take away. Still my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name."

Give Us Clean Hands
Written by Charlie Hall. Great song of repentance and prayer. this has also been done by a bunch of folks.

Thy Mercy
Written by Isaac Watts & John Stocker. This is an old, old hymn sometimes called "Thy Mercy My God Is The Theme Of My Song." Caedmon's Call has probably the most popular version on their "In The Company of Angels" worship album. The lyrics are fantastic.

All Bow Down
Artist: Chris Tomlin. From his 'Arriving' album.

Songs We Sing (08.30.2009)

I thought I'd try a new feature (hopefully, a regular feature) here on the blog.

We occasionally get asked what this song was or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter. If you'd like to purchase the original, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of August 30, 2009, we sang:

In The Sweet By And By
Traditional hymn. Depending on your preference you can find this song recorded slow or fast - the way we play it. Dolly Parton has a nice, slow version out there.

The Hand That Holds The World
Artist: Starfield

All My Tears
Written by Julie Miller. The most famous recorded version is by Jars of Clay. Emmylou Harris has also recorded the song.

As The Deer
Written by Martin Nystrom. Recorded by a million different artists. This was a very popular worship song back when "contemporary" worship music started to take hold in churches in the 1980s.

You Never Let Go
Artist: Matt Redman

This Is Our God
Original song for CCJ. Written by Kurt Neighbors & Daniel Ross. No recorded version exists yet.

House of Hope Opening in Feb