Let Songs Arise

I just released my first CD entitled, "Let Songs Arise". It includes 5 original songs that I wrote. I really hope you enjoy the CD. A lot of you have been asking when it will be available on itunes. I will make a post when it becomes avaialble. It should be available in about a month!

Thanks to everyone for all your support!

Beautiful Jesus?

I have been debating my brother who is also a fellow worship leader on the over usage of romantic imagery in today's contemporary worship music. I Love God, but I am cautious to say "I am in love with God." Sometimes it urks me when others use the phrase "personal intimate relationship with Jesus". To you and I who are being saved, it is a wonderful phrase. To someone outside the church we must exsercise caution that we don't communicate connotations that are not intended. Good communication always includes two elements. 1. Correct message and 2. Cultural awareness. If we combine these two elements in our worship song writting we will have a far more greater chance of reaching more men in our Churches, who happen to be the least likely guest at your church service this weekend. If we can reach the men, we can reach the whole families.

So for Venue, my job is to create an environment that is Christ centered, God exalting, and Culurally Relevant. Non of these are an option, but rather a necessity for a solid, distraction free worship service.

I found a video from one song writer I really respect. You may know him. you sing his songs. Listen to what he has to say on the matter:

New Sounds From Switchfoot

gotta love it....

Leeland - Love is on the move

this band is really solid. I love the way they write....

What is our world coming to?

When God Ran

This song was very inspiring growing up. I can remember in high school delivering papers with tears in my eyes listening to Phillips Craig and Dean sing. What an amazing thought based off the prodical son storey.... that the God of this universe would run after me.

Got the New Hillsong?

Guess what I am doing right now?
Yes... listening to the brand new Hillsong CD by UNITED!
It is entitled, "Tear down the Walls".
If you haven't already done so... go buy this CD.

Or, if you attend Venue, we will be selling it in the Cafe!

Enjoy!

so far, I love:

You Hold Me Now
Soon

Free ColdPlay Album

Yeah, I know.... I couldn't believe it either. Until I downloaded this absolutely free album that ColdPlay is giving away free to all their fans. I know.... so cool!
I love these guys from the U.K.!

Go to this link and enjoy... FREE COLDPLAY ALBUM

Your Welcome!

New HILLSONG!

Some of you are wondering about the special we did this weekend:

You Hold Me Now (Hillsong UNITED)

This is a brand new song off their not yet released CD!
Go buy it at itunes!

It's so good!

p.s. THE NEW ANTICIPATED ALBUM IS RELEASED MAY 26th. Every Worship Leader Across America is pumped!!!!!!!! You should be too!

How I Feel Today

Psalm 103
A psalm of David. A man known by God as a man after God's own heart. What a perspecitve David gives us that everything in life good is from the Lord. Our worship is a response to the glory of God... yes even the Glory that God has revealed to us personally. This Psalm flooded my soul today as I remembered the goodness of the Lord in my life. Enjoy the memoirs of David as his soul cries out with these words...

1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

Love Story (Taylor Swift) meets Viva La Vida

For the next 8 minutes, I want you to push play, and continue what you are doing here on the World Wide Web. This is beautiful! These guys took 2 songs I love and made this amazing arrangement! Enjoy!

Rooster

Everyone needs a Rooster. It is the Rooster that unveils who we really are...
Here is my Rooster:

All of my sins were future when Christ died for me. It is with this certainty that allows me to confess boldly and publically before God and His family, it is with certainty of his unfailing love that I humbly confess I am nothing like my Savior but so much like Judas. My money is my God. I am like Peter ashamed at times for being a Christian.

You say, "Why are you doing this to yourself, Jonathan?". I am confessing. The bible says to confess your sins to one another. In doing so we expose ourselves that we might be humble, we remember we are not perfect but He is, and we encourage each other in our weaknesses because it is in our weaknesses that we are so much alike.


I read early this morning that even one of Jesus very own disciples denied Jesus, "Peter replied, Man, I don't know what you're talking about!". Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter... Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken" (Luke 22:60-61). I alway thought Peter denied Jesus when Jesus wasn't in his presence. This morning I realized that Peter denied Jesus with him standing right there. Can you imagine what Peter felt like when Scripture says, "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter". What kind of look do you think Jesus gave? Was it the evil eye? Was it eyes of disapointment? Or was it eyes of forgiveness?

If the Lord looked straight at me today... what would I feel? Would I lie and tell him that I love him with "all" my heart, all my money, all my time, all my affections, all my desires. Or would I confess that which he already knows, and already died for. I hope to God I would confess that though I want to love him, I at times am ashamed..., though I want to follow him at times I don't... though at times I think I am strong, mostly all the time I am weak.

So, let the Rooster crow...

I confess:

I love talking about you as long as I'm with my Christian friends.
I like to talk about being on mission but I never intend to change anything about the way I live.
I don't talk about you to strangers.
I pray to you like a man rubbing a lamp hoping for good wishes to come his way.
I struggle praying for others because I don't know how much it helps, and because it profits me little.
If I tell people I am praying for them it is not for their encouragement as much as it is for mine.
I worship you not because you are worthy, but because I need to feel good.
I compare myself to other Christians and measure myself accordingly rather than accepting my gift being called Your son.
I love sermons only because I agree with the truth of what is in them, but I rarely listen to a sermon to be challenged to change.


Jesus,

These are only a sample of the multitude of sins in my life. Thank you for bold reflections on sin, and even bolder reflections on your mercy, grace and love. It is with the Psalms that I say, "Surely goodness, and love will follow me all the days of my life". Thankyou that in all of these things you have already forgiven me. I, like Peter have denied you even in the midst of your presence. I am an imposter, a hypocrite and deserve such titles. Yet, you choose to call me Son. For this I am humbled and will ask today that somehow today you will give me the grace to change this cold heart into a well of courage and compassion to be a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to you. Thankyou for knowing my heart, and the wickedness thereof, and loving me still. It is the loving me "still" that I find so sweet.

Thankyou,
Jonathan

Please... just do something!

"We Are On Mission. So how many more Beth Moore Bible Studies do we need to do? I'm just saying, can we run some of the plays instead of just studying them. I mean how much are you going to study until you just play. - Matt Chandler

I just listened to his Easter 2009 sermon and now I am pumped!
Listen here: Easter at the Village Church

Grandpa Core

On April 1st, 2009 my Grandpa went home to be with his Lord. Though we miss him we mourn as people with hope in the resurrection of our bodies. My belief has been tested this week. Do I really believe that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord? As we watched the casket close, and my eyes glanced one last time at the man who has been as a father figure to me, I must say without the hope which comes by way of the cross and resurrection of Jesus, I could not get through this. I don't know how the unbeliever does this. I guess they surround themselves with fantasy as a buffer from reality and truth and say things like, "He's in a better place". I am so thankful for the Gospel which clarifies with crystal clarity that for those who know Jesus, for those whom Jesus knows, there is an everlasting rest in store from the moment we breath our last till forever comes.

My grandpa was a humble, un-assuming, gracious, loving man. He was married to his bride for over 66 years. His integrity in business, his faithfulness in marriage, and his love for his family will be remembered forever. Memories of Grandpa for me are manifestations of God's grace calling me to live like he did; with integrity, faithfulness, and love all the days of my life.

I had the privilege of giving the eulogy along with my brother. It was so comforting to know we didn't have to make up stories of grandpa, or paint a picture of him as something he wasn't. What a gift he gave us. The ability to be able to tell the truth about him at his own funeral. He was truly my hero and best friend. My prayer is that I will become half the man he was, and live my life in simple contentment, with love for my family, respect for all, and work hard all the days of my life for the joy of all those around me.

Philippians 4:4-9 is a description of my Grandpa and was read aloud at his funeral.
I encourage you to go now and take a moment and reflect on these words.

As for Grandpa, he enjoys his reward, not that he attained it, but that it was given to him as a gift: The gift of an eternal resurrected mortal body created for pleasure, consumed in God's presence, never again tempted by evil, experiencing full health, and happy beyond measure. To this end we all live and die that we might join him and countless other Saints in the glories of heaven that even now our hearts and minds can not comprehend. To God be the glory, great things he has done for us!

The Crowds

Father,

On the brink of a new service launch this weekend. I must confess the angst to believe the lie that my faithfulness and obedince to Christ somehow works itself in large amounts of people coming to our Church. It is too easy to find myself in light of the fullness of our sanctuary rather than the fullness of everything that I already have in Christ. The on going pursuit of a filled Sanctuary has been not for your glory, though I have said this, but soley for my own regard which has led to my own demise. It has brought me greed for more, but not for You, for more people to serve me. My desires have not always been for the crowds to meet with you, as much as they have been to serve me and make me feel like I am doing a good job. Forgive me God for my passion for filled seats as a means to satisfy the emptiness I feel inside. The emptiness of never feeling good enough, smart enough, effective enough. In you I believe, now help me to know the fullness of joy in the now, a place where you are. And when Satan tempts me to measure my worth in chairs filled may your Spirit gently remind me that I am already Yours. Forgive me in the moments my title veils the broken child I am. Forgive me for disclosing my brokeness to Your body, one of the means by which you make us whole. Help me to see the Pastorate as Your way for me to become holy and sanctifed, a pleasing sacrifice for You and Your bride. May I never peddle Your holy Church for personal gain, but rather serve her in sickness and in health, full or empty, forsaking all others, till death brings us You. And when my eyes scale the chairs may I see only You.

In Your beautiful Name I Pray, Amen.

What preaching has become!

Have you ever wondered what it is about the billboard sign the newest coolest chuch down the street has just put up that just erks you.... You can't describe the feeling because you get what they are trying to do, but at the same time you just feel wierd about it... if you've ever sat through a sermon and felt like everything the Pastor is saying is true and not false but yet it lacks power.... if you've ever preached a sermon and you wondered why your cute pithy points haven't brought change.... listen to this:



Matt Chandler just hit the nail on the head! Let go Preachers. Back to the text. The Word of God is sufficient and does not need your zenny statements to "cuteinize" it.

Riddle Raddled U2

All I can say is Jeremy Riddle's second album rocks. Check out even the front art work of his new album. They say don't judge a book buy it's cover. That may be true but for CD's this album cover describes the beauty you will hear inside as well.
Enjoy!

As far as U2... I can't stand their new single they just put out. Give me Coldplay any day of the week over U2. What do you think?

Church Music Director On AMERICAL IDOL

VIDEO

Just found this out. Check out our next Americal Idol!
He's a Christian. He's actually a music director at his church in Wisonsin!

Sweet eh?

The Law of God? Over or Continued?

Before you throw out the Law of God and think it is so O.T. and therefore not relevant.
Comprehend this. Those who followed the Law LOVED it. We often think that the Law
is heavy and binding. Go and talk to any Orthodox Jew today and they will tell you that
they love the Law. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Law. What this means both for a Jew
and You and I is that Jesus lived out the Law's demands perfectly. Did he do this begrudgingly?
I don't think so. This also means that Jesus didn't come to do away with the Law but to see it
reach it's end and purpose. The Law not only is a school master to lead us to Joyful living, it
also reveals for us our shortcomings. Jesus fulfills the Law on our behalf, not that we may live
like pagans but to live under the Laws of God so the freedom that comes by obedience to them
might be for our benefit and the glory of God.

For more reading on the Jewish perspective of God's Law.
Read PSALM 119. It has 176 verses, written in a Hebrew Acrostic Poem,
whereby in every verse "LAW" is mentioned.

After reading ask: "Do I avoid the Law" or "Do I embrace it"

Don't Watch This Video

Some things in my life just fade away in light of things like this...
I hate this video, but it is to me a picture of our planet.
It is the ticking of the clock that is continuely resounding but only
heard when one is quite enough to listen.

Watch if you dare...



My response:

Will I always be a consumer?
Will I ever give until it hurts?
Is God proud of my singing on Sunday morning?
Does God love my debates about minor doctrinal issues?
I bet God probably doesn't love me more?
What if these were my younger brothers?
What if they are?
I'm sure God will use someone else?
I'm sure this is an old video and this doesn't happen anymore?

Go ahead and post the questions that come to your mind after viewing this. The proper response is not guilt but gratitude and compassion.

p.s. Sorry to bother your busy life . . .