From the Mind of MandoRon

Now that I’ve finished my requisite Sunday afternoon nap, I figure it’s time to share about this morning’s services at GracePoint Church.  Today was week 2 of the “Elevate” series. 

We tried something a little different and started by inviting everyone to shout out Psalm 95:1-7 as sort of a call to worship.  It seemed to work okay.

I should have known that it wasn’t going to be the smoothest of days by the way the week went.  Despite a late band member, soundcheck went pretty well.  But first service was pretty rough.  We didn’t end the first song together, and didn’t start the second song together.  I broke a string in the middle of Mystery, which unnerved me for the rest of the songs in the worship set.  (I was able to replace the string during the sermon.)  The mic stand with the drum overhead mic’s fell on top of Denny during a song…  The list goes on and on. 

Second service went much smoother overall.  Although we apparently launched into the first song before Denny was ready on drums…  And, I broke two more strings!  Let me tell you that breaking two strings on a four-string electric mandolin doesn’t leave you much to work with tone-wise.  I went ahead and replaced the only unbroken string during the sermon, just in case…

We were planning on debuting There Will Be a Day by Jeremy Camp during the offering, but found out Saturday that there was going to be a video instead.  We’ll save it for another day, I guess.

The Setlist:

• Elevation by U2 (walk-in)
• Psalm 95:1-7 reading
• Mystery by Living Anthem
• Jesus Loves Me by Molly Williams
• Sing My Love by Sarah McMillan
• Hungry by Kathryn Scott (prayer time)
• Elevation (exit)

Elevation really has nothing to with the “Elevate” theme other than the title, but it makes a great walk-in song.  We usually throw in a big break after the bridge like we’ve ended the song… just for fun, you  know.

Psalm 95:1-7 (from The Message)

Come, let’s shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!’

Let’s march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!

And why? Because God is the best, High King over all the gods.

In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns, in the other hand grasps the high mountains.

He made Ocean—he owns it! His hands sculpted Earth!

So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us!

Oh yes, he’s our God, and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.

Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks.

Mystery was introduced last week.  I really like this song, except when I break a string playing it.  FYI - You can download this song for free at Living Anthem’s myspace page.

Jesus Loves Me was also introduced last week.  Everyone seemed to get into the song this morning.  I really like the slowdown on the bridge, although it feels a little long to me.  Jeff ripped another awesome guitar solo this week.  Amy nailed the vocals, as always.  And Christina even showed us she had some skill on keys when Amy stepped out from behind the keys to lead the song…  Who knew?

Sing My Love shows up fairly regularly.  Denny threw in some Rush licks on drums behind the guitar solo.  Good stuff! 

Hungry was toned down just a little (Denny laid off the tom fills; Jeff laid off the distortion) since we were playing this during a special time of prayer after the message.

I think that’s it.  A special “welcome back” goes out to Carlos on bass.  You may have seen him around town, gigging with Second Nature.  It’s been 6+ months since he’s played with us, but he’s back in the rotation now.  Another scary talented musician…

The band: 2 female vocals, 1 male vocal, electric mandolin, electric guitar, bass, drums, keys.

Be sure to check out Fred’s Sunday Setlist Blog Carnival for more Sunday Setlists from churches around the globe. 

Have an awesome week!

Two odd things happened on the way to work this morning…

First, I was stopped behind several cars at a stop sign.  The car in front of me suddenly shifted into reverse and started backing up.  She almost hit me…

Second, I saw my long-lost twin.  I was looking in the rearview mirror (as the aforementioned driver should have done) and noticed that the guy behind me looked exactly like me.  Shaved head.  Chin beard.  Goofy grin.  I think he may have had an earring though…

I’ve been told a few times that people know someone who looks just like me.  But I’ve never seen anyone that looked just like me before.

Freaky!!!

(My smart alec wife, who has a twin sister, popped off that it happens to her all the time.)

Psalm 95:1-7

Come, let’s shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!’

Let’s march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!

And why? Because God is the best, High King over all the gods.

In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns, in the other hand grasps the high mountains.

He made Ocean—he owns it! His hands sculpted Earth!

So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us!

Oh yes, he’s our God, and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.

Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks.

Today kicked off the Elevate series at GracePoint, and it marked our return to Maize South HS for services.  I think I forgot to mention last week that we were moving again.  Northwest HS decided not to renew our contract, and Maize South wanted us back.  It was nice to feel the A/C working again…  Today felt a little like a homecoming because it’s been nearly six months since our last service there.

We started things off with a little misdirection this morning.  Gil came in from the lobby wearing a suit, working the crowd, and doing his best lounge singer impression while singing “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble.  At the end of the first verse, the curtains opened up revealing some very brightly lit 3-foot-high letters that spelled out E-L-E-V-A-T-E and the band as they launched into We Shine.  As a side note, the ELEVATE letters were made from the old CINEMAS WEST sign…

• We Shine by Fee
• Mystery by Living Anthem
• Jesus Loves Me by Molly Williams
• Dreams by The Cranberries (offering)
• Become Who You Are by Mainstay (exit)

We Shine is one we’ve been using for a while.  It was a late change to the setlist to go with the light-up ELEVATE letters.  Fun song!

Mystery was a new song this week.  I came across this one as a free download a few months ago, and sent it to a few people to listen to.  Awesome worship song!  A little difficult to clap along with though, as I discovered this morning…  It was actually supposed to show up last week, but we had to make some cuts due to baptisms.  Ed shot this video during Mystery. 

[edit: there is a link to a free download of Mystery on Living Anthem's myspace page.]

Jesus Loves Me was another new one for GP.  Amy did an awesome job on the vocals, and Jeff ripped a great guitar solo.  The song is a little tricky due to all of the words, but a cool song nonetheless.

Dreams is one we’ve used a few times.  It fit very well with Bryson’s sermon about daring to dream, and Amy does such an awesome job singing it.  Another video that Ed shot backstage during Dreams.

Become Who You Are has been around awhile too.  Carmen always blows the roof off the place when she sings it.  Such incredible passion when she sings.

That about wraps things up.  “Better is One Day” was on the setlist to be used during a time of prayer after the message, but was cut in both service due to time.  Seems to be a lot of cut songs lately…  For more Sunday Setlists, be sure to check out Fred’s Sunday Setlist extravaganza.

The Band: 2 female vocals, 1 male vocals, keyboards, bass guitar, 2 electric guitars, and drums.

Please take a moment to leave a comment with your thoughts on this morning.  I’m particularly interested in what you thought of Mystery and Jesus Loves Me.

I thought maybe I’d get my preach on today.

Today at lunch, I was reading through Philippians 2.  Lots of awesome stuff in there.

One of the things that really hit me hard was the second half of verse 12, and also verse 13.

“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” - Philippians 2:12b-13, NLT

A question popped into my mind:  Am I living out my salvation?  The Bible is very clear that we are not saved through works, but by God’s grace alone (Ephesians 2:9). 

However… we are called to do good works, not in order to earn our salvation, but as evidence of our salvation.  We are called to bear fruit.  (John 15:8)

But verse 13 is the really cool part.  God is going to give us the desire and the power that we need.  We don’t have to do it on our own.

Thoughts?