let my words be few

Here’s the recording of our arrangement of “Holy, Holy, Holy” that we did yesterday.  It’s a house mix so it’s not the greatest recording, but you’ll get the idea.

Holy, Holy, Holy

In just a few days, we celebrate Reformation Day.  On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to the door of the chapel in Wittenburg, Germany.  The Lord used this to further spread the truth of God’s Word into the world and revolutionize the landscape of Christianity.  So today on “Reformation Sunday,” we didn’t celebrate the man, Martin Luther, or the event that began the Protestant Reformation, but we celebrated the God of providence and His sovereign work throughout history.  

As an aside, we (meaning my family) also celebrate something on October 31.  My dad’s birthday is that day.  I think some other day is celebrated where people dress up in strange costumes and ask for candy, but we don’t know much about that with Reformation day and Big Daddy’s birthday.  haha.

Onto the setlist.  A few notes about this set of songs today.  We didn’t sing “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”  It’s a great song, but very difficult to pull of with a band.  It needs a big choir and loud brass.  Maybe next year.  Also, I was very excited about this set when I planned it earlier this week, but last night (Saturday) at rehearsal it seemed kind of flat and I didn’t know why.  I almost changed it up to make it “better,” whatever that means.  But I trusted in God’s guidance throughout the planning and trusted Him this morning and I’m very thankful for these songs.  It was a great day!  Finally, today was the first Sunday that all 4 of my kids and my wife were able to be in a service together.  I was very excited when they all walked in at the 10:15 service and sat on the second row.  For those that don’t know, our fourth child, Shepherd, was born on July 18 this year.  Our 4th under 4!  Right now their ages are 4, 3, 2, and 3 months.  All but the 3 month old sat through the entire service with Mommy and me.  I’m a very proud daddy.

1. Praise the Lord (Psalm 150) (Kauflin & Plank) - This is a great “Call to Worship” song.  It calls forth praise just as Psalm 150 does, but focuses our attention on the cross.  

2. Let Your Kingdom Come (Kauflin) - A new song for us from Sovereign Grace’s “Valley of Vision” cd.  It’s a cd based on the Puritan prayer book by the same name.  You should have a copy of this for your devotional time if you don’t already.  This song is from the prayer “God’s Cause.”  It was a great song for Reformation Sunday (or any Sunday for that matter) in thinking about the goodness of God throughout history and what He’s going to do in the future.

Let Your kingdom come
Let Your will be done
So that everyone might know Your name
Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth
Till Your sovereign work on earth is done
Let Your kingdom come

3. Holy is the Lord (Tomlin & Giglio) - It’s been a while since we had sung this one, and I honestly picked it because I was looking for an upbeat song in the key of G to transition to after “Let Your Kingdom Come.”  Not the most spiritual reason for choosing a song, but this song ended up being the song that lyrically tied the set together.  What a simple declaration of the greatness of God.  I was reminded again this morning of what a great melody this song has as the people of ECBC joyfully worshipped the Lord as they sang “Holy is the Lord, God Almighty, the earth is filled with His glory.”

4. Holy, Holy, Holy (Heber & Dykes) - We transitioned from G into D to this arrangement of this old hymn written in 1826.  As we rehearsed this last night I hated the arrangement I had put together.  I plugged in the chorus of “We Fall Down” after the second and last verse and it sort of felt like a let down.  However, thank God for Sunday mornings because when we ran through this at our sound check this morning, it was everything I had hoped it would be when it was in my head.  I just didn’t communicate it well last night.  I can’t wait to sing this one again.  I’ll check the recording of this and maybe post it this week if it’s alright.

Holy, holy, holy
Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy
There is none beside Thee
Perfect in power
In love and purity

We cry holy, holy, holy is the Lamb

5. Jesus, Thank You (Sczebel) - I loved the transition from “Holy, Holy, Holy” to this.  ”Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see” to 

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

6. Only True God (Baloche & Scott) - I’ve been very excited about songs about the Trinity as I mentioned last week, and I’ve been sort of sitting on this one for a while so that my wife could sing it with me.  Having 4 under 4 makes singing for 3 services after you’ve fed and dressed and loaded a crew into the minivan (which she does faithfully every Sunday) very difficult.  But we had high hopes that she would be able to do it this week.  Then she got a cold.  So, Leah filled in nicely for her and I got to sing the harmony which I really enjoy.  I’m looking forward to singing this one often, especially if my wife gets to sing it with me.

Beyond us God within us
Revealed yet we see in part
Transcendent but so near us
The Mystery dwelling within our hearts

Father, Spirit, Son
Only true God
Exalted, Three in One
Only true God, only true God

Majestic God above us
Enthroned yet You wash our feet
Humble but so holy
All of creation bows when You speak

God of all things
God within us
God Who saves us
You are God

I posting this, once again, with other’s setlists at FredMcKinnon.com.

I was away last week leading worship for Medical Campus Outreach (MCO), hence the absence of a setlist.  I love MCO and the opportunity to be around these medical professionals and students.  It was a great weekend to be with them despite the rain every day.  

Even after a great weekend, it’s always good to come home.  Sunday morning was one of those days I’m so thankful for our home here at ECBC.  I love singing with the people there and am blessed to be able to lead in song.  So, here’s what we sang yesterday.

1. How Can I Keep From Singing (Tomlin, Cash, Redman) - It was one of those mornings I’m so thankful that we were starting off worship with this song.  We all have much to be grateful for no matter our life situation.

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You’ll see me through
And sing the songs You give

How can I keep from singing your praise

2. I Stand Amazed (Gabriel) - This old hymn is a standard one for us though we usually do a country rock arrangement of it.  I tried to change it up a little bit this week and slow it down to give it more of a ballad feel, but we just can’t help being a little bit country.  We sang this right before doing baptism in each of our services.  There were 11 people baptized yesterday.  God is good.

He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them His very own
He bore the burden to Calvary
And suffered and died alone

How marvelous, how wonderful!

3. To God Be The Glory (Crosby, arrangement Matt Boswell) - I love this arrangement by Matt Boswell.  It’s on his “Vintage” cd which is fabulous.  This was our response and celebration for the baptisms.  It’s a great summary of the Gospel and calls forth praise.

O perfect redemption the purchase of blood
To every believer the promise of God
The vilest offender who truly believes
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!

4. Jesus Messiah (Tomlin, Carson, Reeves, Cash) - This song is a simple declaration of what Christ has done for us.  It’s our pastor’s new favorite song.  I love to watch him sing this.  If you could sum up what we hear each and every week in the sermons he preaches, it would be this song.  

He became sin who knew no sin
That we might become His righteousness
He humbled Himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing love so amazing

Jesus Messiah, Name above all names

5. Your Name (Baloche) - I remember the first time I heard this song on Paul Baloche’s “A Greater Song” cd and knew it would be one we sing often.  We’ve been doing it for a while and I realized on the retreat last week when we sang it there that we hadn’t done it on a Sunday morning in a while.  It fit the theme for this week very well, so I was very glad to do this one again.  I let the piano take the lead on the first verse and chorus and I didn’t play a single note the whole time.  It was nice to focus on the words and not have to worry about my fingers if only briefly.

As morning dawns and evening fades
You inspire songs of praise
That rise from earth to touch Your heart
And glorify Your Name

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name let the nations sing it louder
‘Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name

6. Praise the Father, Praise the Son (Tomlin, Cash) - This is one of Tomlin’s best in my opinion.  Great melody, great words, and the bridge is powerful.  We introduced this one yesterday.  I love songs about the Trinity and this song calls forth praise for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We had experience baptism together in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit.  We had prayed in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit.  And then we sang in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. 

O sov’reign God O matchless King
The saints adore the angels sing
And fall before the throne of grace
To You belongs the highest praise

These sufferings this passing tide
Under Your wings I will abide
And ev’ry enemy shall flee
You are my hope and victory

Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit
Three in One
Clothed in power and in grace
The name above all other names

To the valley for my soul
Thy great descent has made me whole
Your word my heart has welcomed home
Now peace like water ever flows

Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever

Here’s a fun little story about me singing this song yesterday.  I have always been told my voice is similar to Darius Rucker from Hootie and Mac Powell of Third Day, so it’s more of a low, gruff voice.  So, with Chris Tomlin’s songs, I usually take them down a step or two for congregational singing and for my own (manly) voice.  Well, I only took this one down a half step which means it tops out at an F# on the bridge and it stays pretty high throughout.  I told the band that they had to play with all the energy they could muster to help me hang on those notes.  They did and I was able to hit the notes really well.  So, after one of the services a lady came up and said how much she liked the song.  But to top it off she added, “And on that high part at the end, you sounded like Bon Jovi.”  Awesome!

I posting this, once again, with other’s setlists at FredMcKinnon.com.

Oh what a day! Have you ever had that day? That day where nothing happens the way you had hoped? And not one of those days where nothing happens the way you hoped and it was all better and good, but one of those days where it just kept getting worse? That was my day today. I was very excited about each aspect of the worship service today and particularly the music because it was somewhat different that what we normally do. However, all of the missed words, technical glitches, bad playing, bad attitudes at the bad playing, slow computers (PC’s are evil), mic stands that slice your hand before you play, and everything else that went wrong have a way of making you feel like poo.

But here’s the beautiful thing, God’s truth was proclaimed today. We have been dealing with spiritual warfare as a church the past 3 weeks and today we began looking at what it means to “put on the gospel armor” from Ephesians 6. Today was the belt of truth. Now, I’m not saying that all the junk that happened this morning was an attack from the enemy (some of it was stupidity, like my own with the whole mic stand slicing my hand), but I’m not NOT saying that it wasn’t an attack from the enemy. So, even through our struggles and distractions we sang God’s truth. Here are the songs we sang and why we sang them.

1. Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus (Words: George Duffield Jr., Music: George Webb, 1858) - This is not your typical worship song, and not really even your typical hymn. I say that because it is a song that is to be sung to each other. It’s not sung to God which most of our songs are. And it’s not really about who God is or what God does. It’s about our Christian walk and we are to sing it to each other to call forth action and encourage each other to not be ashamed of what we believe. Colossians 3:16 tells us to teach and admonish one another in our singing. I needed this verse to be sung to me today:

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.

2. Fairest (Words: German Jesuits, 17th century, Translation: Joseph Seiss, 1873, Music: Crusader’s Hymn, 1842, Chorus and Arrangement: Glen Packiam, 2004 - New Life Worship) - I love this hymn. I love to sing this song. When we think about truth, we must understand that truth is a person and that person is Jesus Christ.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.

3. The Power of the Cross (Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, 2005) - Truth’s greatest expression was shown in the death and the resurrection of Christ. It’s at the cross where we truly see who we are and how great our need for a savior is. It’s also at the cross where we see truly how great a Savior we have.

Oh to see my name written in the wounds
For through Your suff’ring I am free
Death is crushed to death life is mine to live
Won through Your selfless love

This the pow’r of the cross
Son of God slain for us
What a life what a cost
We stand forgiven at the cross

4. There is a Redeemer (Melody Green, 1982) - A simple song of thanksgiving for the profound truth we had been singing about. We began and ended this song by singing the chorus a cappella. It was one of the bright spots today.

Thank You O my Father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
Till the work on earth is done

5. Blessed is the One (Psalm 32) (Doug Plank, 2008) - This is from Sovereign Grace Music’s Psalms cd. I cannot recommend this cd highly enough. This is the closing track from the cd and it’s beautiful and powerful. It’s a wonderful thing to know the truth that our sins have been overcome by the blood of the Lamb, our great Savior Jesus Christ.

Blessed is the one
Whose sins are overcome
Whom God has sheltered deep within His grace
Blessed is the one
Who trusts in God the Son
His steadfast love the sinner’s hiding place

Jesus, Your blood covers all my sin
Jesus, Your love draws my heart to sing
What a Savior, Jesus

6. O Church Arise (Stuart Townend and Keith Getty) - Another song to be sung to one another. Read the lyrics and be encouraged.

O church arise and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle cry is Love
Reaching out to those in darkness

Our call to war to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valour
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure
And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations

Come see the cross where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet
For the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from the grave
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him

So Spirit come put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory

I’m posting this Sunday’s setlist in collaboration with other worship leaders at FredMcKinnon.com.

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

1. Happy Day - We worship on Sunday’s as believers because of the fact that Christ defeated death when He rose victoriously on that first Easter morning.  This song shouts that truth.  It was a wonderful way to begin a day of worship in the midst of a series on spiritual warfare by focusing on “the greatest day in history/death is beaten/You have rescued me.”

2. How Great is Our God - It’s been a while since we’ve sung this one, but it’s always a joy to hear this anthem sung by God’s people at ECBC.  This is one song where I can always hear the congregation even with my in-ear monitors in.  I guess it’s because they know that the “Name above all names (is) worthy of all praise.”

3. Blessed Be Your Name - At this point I lead in a time of prayers for those struggling with sickness.  It’s rare that I lead in a time of prayer as specific as this, but I felt that God wanted me to pray for those who were frustrated and discouraged in their illness.  Sickness can often be a way the enemy uses to get our attention off of where it needs to be, which is on the Cross of Jesus.  So, we prayed the words of Job, then sang them.  ”Though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be Your Name.”

4. My Jesus, I Love Thee - I love this text.  It was written by William Featherstone when he was only 16.  Verse 3 was particularly moving today as we had just prayed and sang about the Lord giving and taking away, and in each service I caught the eye of someone I knew was dealing with a difficult sickness or disease.  I knew then why the Lord had lead me to pray that way, and it was with great pleasure that I watched as each of those people sang, “I’ll praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.”

5. The Lord Is (Psalm 23) - The text of Psalm 23 has been a comfort to people for years as they’ve dealt with sickness and death. I appreciate how Pat Sczebel and Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Music showed in their setting of this song how Christ is our great Shepherd.  Christ healed our greatest disease when He took our sins on the cross and “gave (His) own life for (our) ransom so (we) could rejoice at His side.”

6. Nothing Without You - I chose this song to sing today because of the encouragement it was to me a few years back when I was in the hospital for a week with what the doctors think was meningitis.  I was on my back for a whole week not knowing what was going on with my body.  We had a 9 month old with baby number 2 on the way and the doctors were throwing out some really scary words trying to figure out what was going on.  I remember listening to this song over and over and over, and understanding in a profound way the truth of the words.  

Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs, is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see, that I have nothing without You.

I’m posting this Sunday’s setlist in collaboration with other worship leaders at FredMcKinnon.com