FreeGraceMusic

posted by: Johnny Coggin

If you're interested in hearing some of our more recent music (including "Unto the Lamb" from Easter), I've set up a new site for you: http://graceevan.bandcamp.com/

You can listen to songs and download them for free if you like.

You can also subscribe via RSS (at the bottom of the page) to automatically receive updates as new songs are added. (If you don't know what RSS is and how you can benefit from it, go here: http://bit.ly/cMyrrU - it's simple, really!)

You can even listen from your iPhone or iPad!

So go check out the new site, listen to the three new tracks (by Beth Bittner & Choir, Lindsay Tilson, and Jim Umlauf), and subscribe so you won't miss out on more great music as it's added!

Hope this will serve you all well... And please, let me know what you think! I'd love your feedback.

(below is a little preview of Beth & the choir from Easter Sunday! Email and RSS subscribers may have to open this article in your browser to view the preview)

Easter Music & A Word About Worship

Posted by: Johnny Coggin

Grace Family,

Your response to yesterday's music has been overwhelming. I'll just repeat the song lyric in response: "All praise unto the Lamb who sits on the throne!" That being said, many many thanks to our awesome (all volunteer) choir, orchestra, and rhythm band, who pulled off a very difficult piece. And to Beth, who sings to the Lord with passion and conviction every time. And perhaps especially to Jim Umlauf and the worship zone elders, who plan and guide our worship services so faithfully and wisely, week in and week out, always seeking to better lead us to worship together, both in spirit and in truth. I'm unworthy to serve with such men.

Now, about the recording... Here's the deal: If the recording turns out decent, we'll make it available as soon as possible. But no promises, since we never know how a LIVE recording will end up sounding (and I'd prefer not to release something not good).

In the meantime, you can legally download the (very awesome) Prestonwood arrangement of "Unto the Lamb" that we did yesterday, right from iTunes. Here's a link.

Let me add a word of encouragement to you all, mainly regarding some comments made on Facebook yesterday: If you find yourself stirred to worship God through clapping, shouting, lifting hands, standing, bowing, or kneeling (among other things), and you are stirred as a response to truth about God (who he is, and what he does/has done), you probably shouldn't hold back. These are biblically appropriate expressions of worship, and honor God. They even edify others, I believe. Now, they can be misused, yes. And our emotions can surely be stirred by music without any regard for the content being sung or the One to whom we're singing. But that doesn't mean our emotions and outward expressions should be avoided. Worship is a heart issue, first and foremost. And a genuine heart response of worship to "the Lamb who sits on the throne" can be (and perhaps should be) expressed outwardly sometimes in the congregation. On a personal note, I still struggle here. I often hold back from lifting my hands or clapping, when my heart is leaping for joy in response to a particular truth in a song. But sanctification is gradual, right? Maybe I'm getting there... and hey, maybe we're slowly getting there together.

Thanks again for all the encouragement, and let's press in to worship God even more deeply and truly this week.

When You Don't Feel Like Singing

By: Johnny Coggin

Someone recently asked worship pastor Bob Kauflin this question:

So often I come in on a Sunday morning and I don’t feel like singing. How would you encourage someone in my place?

How would you answer? Here's his helpful reply:

When I don’t feel like singing it’s usually because I haven’t been thinking much about who God is and what He’s done for us in Christ. Some situation, relationship, or event seems more important to me than the fact that Jesus came into the world to save rebellious sinners and reconcile them to God, and that I’m one of them. How can I not want to sing about that!

So the first thing I’d do is confess my distraction to God. I can tell him that I haven’t been loving him with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then I’d receive his full and complete forgiveness through Christ. God doesn’t hold my sin against me. Jesus bore it on the cross. Then, I’d start to think about the words I’m singing and direct my thoughts towards the greatness and goodness of God. If for some reason the lyrics aren’t helping me, I’ll start rehearsing the basic truths of the gospel and the promises of God. Before too long, my perspective changes and I feel like singing again.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

By: Will Savell

I was studying today and ran across a great illustration having to do with worship, which is the essence of our life in Christ. I thought I would pass it along.

There is a story told of a concert pianist by the name of Paderewski, who was doing a concert and had not come out yet to begin. A young boy slipped away from his mother and went up to the stage where this concert grand piano was and started playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." The crowd was pretty upset. What mother would bring a child to this very formal, highbrow event and then to let him slip away and go up and ruin the evening by playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"? Well, this great concert pianist comes out from behind the curtain and motions to the crowd. He comes up and puts his arms around the little boy and says, "Keep playing," and plays this grand and beautiful counter-melody to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," to the standing ovation of the crowd. And I am sure when the crowd went home, they didn't talk about the other songs that the pianist played that night.

Most of us think that our approach to worship is like the concert pianist. Well, I have news for us. Our worship is like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Now, play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" with all your might, with as much excellence as you can, but recognize that the only reason that the equivalent of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in our praise to God is acceptable to the Father is because of our older Brother. Jesus comes and wraps His arms around us and plays the grand and beautiful melody and counter-melody that perfects it and enriches it and makes it pleasing to our Father's ears.

“Content to Fill a Little Space, If Thou Be Glorified”

By: Jim Umlauf

A missionary named John Elliot came to Massachusetts in 1631 and pastored for many years serving the Algonquin Indians. During that time, he labored to translate the Bible into Algonquin. This proved to be an arduous task, and not just because he had to master their tongue. Elliot had to invent a system of Algonquin grammar, and teach the Indians to read their own language. Imagine the painstaking labor! He said of his years of service, “Prayer and pains through faith in Jesus Christ will do anything.”

Now imagine this: not a person currently on earth can read that Bible translation, because no one remains who can read or speak the Algonquin language of that day.

Was it a waste?

Well, not only do we learn a lesson about the importance of Scripture, and not only was the Great Commission obediently carried out, and not only did men and women come to faith as a result, but we can learn a lesson about what it is to “fill a little space.”

The question is: Is there such a thing as a “little space”?

The title of this brief post is actually a line from a song we occasionally sing at Grace, usually on Wednesday nights, called “Father, I Know That All My Life.” Here are a few more lines:

In service which thy will appoints, there are no bonds for me;
My inmost heart is taught the truth that makes thy children free:
A life of self-renouncing love is one of liberty.

Take heart as you serve the King of kings. As quiet and unseen as it can often be, John Elliot – and certainly the Lord Christ – would say, “It’s worth it.”

Satan and Sunday Morning

By: Elaine Savell

As a mother to two young children, I know how hard it can be to get out the door in the mornings. But have you ever noticed how it’s extra hard on Sunday mornings? Every other day of the week we have to be at school, work, practices, games, and meetings, and we’re usually right on time. Even though I have an extra hour on Sunday morning, I get so discouraged getting my family out the door!

This tends to be the time when I wake up late, the kids fight over everything, my clothes don’t fit and I can’t find my keys. We rush out the door angry at each other and speed off to church, ruining the rest of the day. I was so tired of this constant routine, and have talked to many others who share this same Sunday morning charade. I started wondering if I wasn’t prioritizing the Sabbath like I should. I know that people make time for what’s important to them, so is church really that important to me?

I actually love going to church on Sunday and look forward to it all week long. A time to fellowship with other believers, rejoice in song, petition in prayer, and study God’s word…what could be better? So why are Sunday mornings so hard?

I would like to propose that there is something more going on than just my priorities being out of whack. I believe that Satan uses Sunday mornings as a time of frustration and fighting in order to stifle our hearts and minds before we enter God’s house. Our adversary would like nothing more than for us to be distracted when we come together as the church.

In realizing this, I knew I needed to do more than just hope the next Sunday goes smoother. I started looking for ways to create a special Sunday morning routine. Even bathing, picking out clothes, ironing, and setting my alarm clock earlier the night before could help. I even say a prayer that morning to keep my heart quiet and patient with my kids and to watch my temper. I want my family to know the Sabbath as a calm and restful time focused on God, to rejuvenate our souls before the stresses of the world come back on Monday morning. And with the world getting crazier every day, we as Christians need a true day of rest now more than ever.