"CHANGE ME" - 2015 ICMC EAST THEME SONG

Hey Everyone !!

2015 has gotten off to an incredible start for us here in New Jersey ! I have made a resolution to take my guitar playing higher and so as a result I have been playing more and writing more and just getting inspired in general !!! One thing that has been really exciting is that this Summer from JULY 2ND - 5TH, the NYC Church of Christ is hosting the ICMC EAST !  We are thrilled to host the conference, which was given the theme "CHANGE THE WORLD"

I have to admit, the title has really grown on me.  At first I was not sure how I felt about it.  As Christians, in theory, we all want to see the world changed for Christ ! But honestly for me I can get overwhelmed at the sheer numbers and just trying to imagine what it would take in practice to convert 7 Billion people. Its pretty sobering when we realize what a small percentage there are who are truly holding to Jesus' teachings (John 8:31-32).  On the flip side of things I think it can be easy to cast grandiose visions of "Changing the world for Christ" but fall short in our personal lives.  The truth is, before we can "CHANGE THE WORLD" we have to change ourselves.  This thought led me to this theme song which is titled "CHANGE ME".  It is a vertical worship song asking God to change us from the inside so that we can, together with him, change the outside world - one person at a time !  I have posted the sheet music, lyrics, and a rough demo recording of the song below.  In the verses, I wanted to recount different miracles that Jesus did where he changed one thing into another completely different thing !! 

VERSE 1

Water into wine

Stormy seas made calm

Doubt into belief

Darkness into light

VERSE 2

Empty nets were filled

Blind received their sight

Empty stomachs fed

Dead brought back to life

I have always been amazed by the miracles of Jesus.  The culmination of these miracles was his power over the grave (Dead brought back to life).  Then in the pre-chorus everyone joins in four-part harmony to sing together:

PRECHORUS

You can change the world

Father, we believe !

You're the mighty God

The God of miracles

To me this is a statement about God.  He has the power to change the world.  He is the one who does miracles.  He has already changed the world and he can do it again and again. Then the chorus goes:

CHORUS

Change me

Make me like your Son

Change me

And we'll change the world together

One by one

God has done many miracles in both the OT and the NT.  If God could change blindness to vision, emptiness to fullness, doubt to belief, and death to life, then surely he can change us to be like Jesus !

This thought gives me hope & encouragement. Only when God changes us to be like Jesus can we change the world.  Only when we are working TOGETHER with the Holy Spirit and our brothers & sisters in Christ can we change the world - one person at a time !  We are really looking forward to the International Campus Ministry Conference here in NY & NJ ! Please keep the conference in your prayers !!

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

- 2 Corinthians 3:18

"CHANGE ME" ROUGH DEMO RECORDING

"CHANGE ME" SHEET MUSIC

"REMEMBER HYMN" WORSHIP ALBUM - RELEASING JUNE 1ST, 2014 !!!

It is my pleasure to announce that on SUNDAY, JUNE 1st at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, HOPE worldwide & The NYCCOC Worship Ministry will be releasing our very first WORSHIP ALBUM titled "REMEMBER HYMN". The album features 14 Tracks of Worship Music with some familiar songs such as "MEN WHO DREAM" (Teresa & Mackenzie Brown) & "CANAAN'S LAND" (Seri Murdock) as well as some new songs like "PRAISES HEARD AROUND THE WORLD" and MANY MORE !!! If you have every wished you had a quality, professional recording of the songs we sing at Church in our worship services, now it is finally available !!! AND the most exciting part about it is... ALL THE PROCEEDS GO TO HOPE worldwide !!! CD's are only $10, so buy a few extra for friends and family  Please watch this promo video to get a sneak peek of the album ...

TRACK LISTING:

1) MEN WHO DREAM

2) CANAAN'S LAND

3) INDESTRUCTIBLE

4) MY LORD, MY GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

5) HEAL MY SOUL

6) MY HEART REJOICES

7) HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

8) TO GOD BE THE GLORY

9) PRAISES HEARD AROUND THE WORLD

10) HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER

11) GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH

12) WHY DID MY SAVIOR COME TO EARTH? / HOLY FATHER

13) I FEEL THE SPIRIT

14) HOLY PERFECT ALWAYS FOREVER

This album is being released in support of the PERSONAL FITNESS CHALLENGE for HOPE worldwide. For more information about the PERSONAL FITNESS CHALLENGE, please visit their website: www.personalfitnesschallenge.org

Whether you're using this music as motivation during your morning workout or you are just jamming out in the car with friends, my hope and prayer is that this music will INSPIRE you and encourage you to remember God - Who He is, and what He has done, is doing and will do !  Please feel free to pick up multiple copies for friends, family, neighbors as well - anyone who you think would enjoy this album and be inspired to grow closer to God because of it !

***If you don't live in the NYC area and would like to pick up a copy of the album, hard copies & digital copies will be available online in the coming months***

Please join me in praying for this project to raise money for HOPE & to inspire disciples all over the world !!!

Much love,

Ross

LA MONTAÑA

I'm excited to share a new Spanish worship song I taught to the NJ Region of the NYC Church of Christ this morning !! It is called "La Montaña" by Salvador.  Singing this song today was a highlight of the worship service for me, mainly because it was great to finally teach a new spanish song & the whole church really got into it !!  Below is an MP3 of La Montaña from today's service.  To download the MP3, just right click and choose "Save Linked File As..."

La Montaña MP3

La Montaña Sheet Music

The lyrics along with the english translation are below:

Si tuvieras fe, como un grano de mostaza
(If you have faith like a mustard seed)
Eso lo dice el Señor
(This is what the Lord says)
Si tuvieras fe, como un grano de mostaza
(If you have faith like a mustard seed)
Eso lo dice el Señor
(This is what the Lord says)

Tu le dirías a la montaña
(You say to the mountain)
Mueve té! Mueve té!
(Move! Move!)
Tu le dirías a la montaña
(You say to the mountain)
Mueve té! Mueve té!
(Move! Move!)

Esa montaña se moverá
(That mountain will move)
Se moverá, se moverá
(Move, move)
Esa montaña se moverá
(That mountain will move)
Se moverá, se moverá
(Move, move)

This is a great song about faith, and reminds us that with Jesus, anything is possible !!

Matthew 17:14-20

¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.¹⁵ “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
¹⁷ “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” ¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faithas small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

HALLELUJAH (202) - CHRISTMAS VERSION

HALLELUJAH (CHRISTMAS VERSION) - MP3

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !!!

Every year when the holiday season rolls around, many people throughout the congregation & many of the singers on our worship team request that we do MORE Christmas songs.  So this year, we decided to start threading in Christmas songs ("Hark the Herald Angels Sing", "O Come All Ye Faithful", etc) much earlier in December, and we also sang a couple new versions of songs.

This one in particular really resounded with our church ! J Brian Craig, a Songwriter & Worship Leader in CA arranged this really cool version of "Hallelujah" (a very familiar song for us) but added in the theme from "The Carol of the Bells" and used the verses of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" ... It is so EPIC !!!  Here is the original post on J Brian Craig's website where you can find the Lyrics & Chords as well as a teaching recording that Brian made:

J BRIAN CRAIG.COM - HALLELUJAH (CHRISTMAS VERSION)

I hope you all have a great time with family & that you remember the most precious gift of all - Our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.

Ross

PS - I could't resist posting this.  Below you will find a link to listen to "THERE WAS A LITTLE BABY" as sung by our Kindergarten and 1st Graders for our Christmas service on Sunday !!!

THERE WAS A LITTLE BABY - MP3

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL MP3

VERSE 1

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

CHORUS
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul

VERSE 2 ***
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

VERSE 3
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

VERSE 4 ***
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul

VERSE 5 ***
But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

VERSE 6 
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul

This beautiful hymn is a favorite of our congregation ! The words are especially touching when you know the story behind the song.  Horatio G. Spafford and his wife Anna were Christians, activists in the abolitionist & temperance movements, and residents of Chicago in the mid-1800's.  Scarlet fever claimed the life of one of their 5 children early on (their only son, Horatio), and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 literally burned up much of the families assets.  In 1873, the Spafford's planned a trip to Europe to attend a revival meeting.  Horatio stayed behind for business reasons while Anna and their 4 girls went ahead; they were to meet in England.  Tragically, their ship was struck by another ship and Anna was the lone survivor of the shipwreck.  From England, Anna telegraphed Horatio this message: "Saved alone.  What shall I do...".  As he passed over the shipwreck site on his way to bring Anna home, Horatio wrote the words to this song.  In 1876 Philip P. Bliss set these words to music

In 1880, after re-settling in Chicago & having 3 more children, their second son also died.  In 1881 they decided to leave America and moved to Jerusalem, Israel to serve the poor and provide care for homeless children.

*** We traditionally only sing verses 1, 3 and 6, however I find verses 2, 4, and 5 to be equally beautiful !  Especially the second line of verse 5 "the sky, not the grave, is our goal!"

SOURCE: Horatio G. Spafford: The Story Behind the Hymn "It is Well with My Soul"

HEAL MY SOUL

HEAL MY SOUL MP3

VERSE 1

 E

Jesus you are

C#m

Able to

       A                  F#m      A  B

Bind up the brokenhearted people

CHORUS
A            E

Heal my soul
C#m        B

Make me whole
A         E

Fill my heart

                B        E

With your love again

VERSE 2

Jesus you can

Heal my heart and

Cure every disease and sickness

VERSE 3

Jesus you have

Taken all my

Guilt and sin upon your body

Hey all !

I wrote this song last week and it fit really well with today's sermon "Rx for the Soul" as a part of our SOUL WARS series.  Much of this song was inspired by my personal bible study.  I've been reading through the early part of Jesus' ministry in my chronological bible and it talks a lot about how he went around healing & curing diseases - for example, Matthew 9:35:

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, 

teaching in their synagogues, 

preaching the good news of the kingdom 

and healing every disease and sickness."

I've always loved Jesus' encounter in Matthew 8 with the man with leprosy who says to Jesus, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean" and Jesus' response of "I am willing".  After reading passages like this, I couldn't help but praise God for his power to heal us both on the outside and the inside.  I believe that God wants us to be healed emotionally & spiritually - whether from our past and the sin that we have committed and how it still can hurt us or people who have hurt us - whatever the case may be, I believe God wants us to be healed so that we can move on from the past and be free to enjoy "life to the full" in his loving arms.  The last verse of the song is especially meant to remind us that Jesus is the source of the healing that comes from God.  Only through Christ do we have healing and rehabilitation.  Isaiah 53:4-5 says:

"Surely he took up our infirmities

    and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,    

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,    

⁵ 

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,    

and by his wounds we are healed."

Its amazing to me how Christ's PHYSICAL wounds have brought us SPIRITUAL healing !!! Only the I AM, the Almighty, the Everlasting God could come up with such an amazing plan of salvation ! Praise Him !

A MIGHTY FORTRESS

A MIGHTY FORTRESS (MP3)

Words & Music by Martin Luther

A mighty fortress is our God

A bulwark never failing

Our helper, He, amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe

His craft and pow'r are great

And, armed with cruel hate

On earth is not his equal

Did we in our own strength confide

Our striving would be losing

Were not the right man on our side

The man of God's own choosing

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is HE !!!

Lord Sabaoth His name

From age to age the same

And He must win the battle

And tho' this world, with demons filled

Should threaten to undo us

We will not fear, for God hat willed

His truth to triumph through us

Let goods and kindred go

This mortal life also

The body they may kill

God's truth abideth still

His kingdom is forever !!!

Hey all !!!

This Sunday's worship service is titled "SOUL WARS" along with the Soul Wars theme that we are doing right now (so this is the "title message" if you will).  I'm really excited about the song lineup, especially this song "A MIGHTY FORTRESS" which was written by Martin Luther in 1529.  I made a recording of it for our worship ministry to listen to to help them get an idea of how this song sounds, but my bass is a little shaky so please give me some GRACE :-) It's just not possible to sing that low. I tried.

Anyways ... I learned some really cool new stuff when reading through and researching the lyrics of this song.  I always thought that the word "BULWARK" was really weird and honestly I didn't know what it meant (It kinda reminded me of the word Narwhal, like from "Elf" so every time I sang this song I thought of a Nordic Whale) ... BUT ... I looked it up and here's the definition:

So ... A bulwark is a WALL !!!  Kind of like a castle wall / wall of protection. I especially like definition #2 that talks about "a protection against external danger".  It's amazing to think and reflect upon how God protects us from SO MUCH external danger and really guards us from so much whether it is sin or the consequences it brings - I love thinking about God as our protector !!! To me, verse 1 really outlines the spiritual battle - that God is our protector and Satan is our enemy. Verse 2 acknowledges that only through Christ can we conquer ! And Verse 3 details the convictions we have as Christians, despite the demons and the forces of evil.  This is especially convicting as I am studying out the works of early Christians right now such as Clement, Mark Felix, and Justin Martyr and this was totally their conviction - They were willing to give up ALL material goods, friends & family, even their life ... for Christ ! Hope this song encourages you !

PS - I also posted the REMIX below :)

A MGHTY FORTRESS REMIX

LOSE MY SOUL

LOSE MY SOUL MP3

Today we kicked off our 6-week SOUL WARS series !!! The song service was inspiring, particularly a special performance that we did of TobyMac's "LOSE MY SOUL".  It was really cool because, although it was a performance song, the whole congregation helped out singing the chorus with us:

"I don't wanna gain the whole world and lose my soul"

It was also very fun to rap on this song :) hope you enjoy it !!! You can also check out the original version on youtube below:

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"

- Jesus

Mark 8:36

WE'VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH

We sang a traditional Gospel song this past Sunday called "We've Come This Far By Faith" to close out our service - and it has been stuck in my head all day today !!! Seri Murdock helped to lead the song & taught it to all of the part singers in our morning rehearsal before the service started and I have to say that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SONG !!!  Singing this song definitely makes me excited to explore more traditional gospel music and introduce it to our congregation :)  After looking up this song online I think there are additional lyrics, but we sang the chorus and the main verse so that's a start ;) Hope you enjoy it as much as I do !!!

"For we live by faith, not by sight"

- 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

LISTEN BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW:

WE'VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH

WE'VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH

Albert A. Goodson

We've come this far by faith

Leaning on the Lord

Trusting in his holy word

He never failed me yet

Woah, Woah, Woah

Can't turn around

We've come this far by faith

SET A FIRE

Hey all !!!

Its been a while since my last post - It was a crazy summer and a last couple months - in a good way !!! :) Today we learned a new song in the NJ Region of the NYC Church called "Set A Fire" by United Pursuit (a worship band out of Knoxville TN).  We have been singing another one of their songs called "Nothing I Hold Onto" for a while but I didn't make the connection that it was the same band until I looked this song up online after my friend Damon emailed me a link to a youtube video of "Set A Fire" suggesting that I teach it at our Sunday worship service.  Our NJ region Fall Theme is SOUL WARS ...

...and there is a great line in this song that goes "set a fire down in my soul that I can't contain, that I can't control" ... So when I checked this song out, I LOVED IT !!! for many reasons.   Its a really accessible and easy to learn worship song, which seems simple at first and yet is so deep and passionate.  Here are the lyrics:

SET A FIRE

Lyrics by Will Reagan & United Pursuit

"There's no place that I'd rather be

There's no place that I'd rather be

There's no place that I'd rather be

Than here in your love

Here in your love

So set a fire down in my soul

That I can't contain

That I can't control

I want more of you God

I want more of you God"

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO LISTEN TO THE RECORDING:

SET A FIRE

TO DOWNLOAD MP3:
RIGHT CLICK THE LINK ABOVE AND SELECT "DOWNLOAD LINKED FILE"

I hope this song encourages you as much as it has encouraged me !!! Much love !!!

Ross

THE ROAD - NYC CHURCH OF CHRIST CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP SERVICE

Yesterday, on June 10th, 2012, The New York City Church of Christ held a congregational worship service at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan -  IT WAS SO INSPIRING !!! There were over 3,500+ people in attendance from all over New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to PRAISE GOD & WORSHIP HIM !!!

Our theme for the service was "THE ROAD" based on MATTHEW 7:13-14:

"Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Our opening set of worship songs started with the question "Which way do I go?" as we ask God, SHOW ME THE WAY, a song which ends focusing us on Jesus' statement that "I am the way" and that now because of that new way we have through Christ we are able to show others the way !!! Once we know the way, we realize "WOW !!! God's love endures FOREVER and that it is by his GRACE that we are able to journey along the narrow road.  And even as we are WALKING ON THE HEAVEN ROAD, Jesus says he will walk that road WITH us as our FRIEND !!! I am so amazed that I am a FRIEND OF GOD and that he calls me friend !!! Truly I need his friendship as I walk the narrow road, the road that leads to life !!!  Here was our opening worship:

SHOW ME THE WAY

FOREVER

WALKING ON THE HEAVEN ROAD

FRIEND OF GOD

As we continued in our service we switched to a cappella singing as we took communion and remembered Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.  I loved how in JESUS IS LORD it talks about how it is a privilege to CARRY everything to God in prayer - this made me think of us carrying our prayers along the road to present them before our God !!!  I also loved singing about how I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME and how I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS ! When I was choosing these songs I thought about how we need to both DESIRE and WILL for God to walk with us in our life ... it takes heart and effort to walk in the footsteps of Christ.

JESUS IS LORD

I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME

I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

In the spirit of MATTHEW 5-7 / The Sermon on the Mount, I thought it fitting to sing about the Kingdom - SEEK YE FIRST and IN THE KINGDOM both embody to me the heart of a follower of Christ - I love the lyrics of In the Kingdom where the song leader sings out the question: "Are you walking on the road that will lead to heaven?" and the congregation responds "Walking, Singing, Yes I Am !!!"

SEEK YE FIRST

IN THE KINGDOM

Finally, after a POWERFUL sermon by Sam Powell, we praised God, singing LEAD ME TO THE ROCK, asking him to lead us in the higher way - to lead us on that road that leads to the place where he is so that one day we can spend eternity with him !!! AMEN !!!

LEAD ME TO THE ROCK

It was an inspiring worship service - I hope these thoughts and these recordings help you as you journey along your road, as you walk with the Lord in the way everlasting - the road that leads to life

Ross

"ALIENS" - NE CAMPUS MINISTRY RETREAT SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

This morning we had an AMAZING time of worship at the FALL 2011 NORTHEAST CAMPUS MINISTRY RETREAT in STAMFORD, CT ! Here are a couple MP3s from our worship service.  I was especially inspired by the energy of the congregation on these two songs, "Forever" and "Men Who Dream" ...

There is one point in "Forever" about 3/4s of the way through the song where the band drops out completely and you hear the whole church sing "His love endures forever" and it just always gives me goosebumps !!! I love hearing the church sing and praise and honor God !!! Truly His love endures forever, amen.

But for some reason I feel like "Men Who Dream" was particularly impacting on a personal level this weekend.  I have heard this song - and loved it - many times growing up, however I don't think it has ever connected me to God the way that it did this weekend.  Lately I have been studying out the books of Isaiah, Ezra, Esther, and Nehemiah in my chronological bible for my quiet times.  In the book of Ezra, after years of captivity, the Israelites were allowed to return to Jerusalem - to their home ! They were finally able to rebuild the temple of the Lord, and after a little bit of drama and a few regal correspondences, they end up not only getting PERMISSION but also getting FUNDING from the Babylonian government to rebuild the temple !!! When you read these books, you feel the passion of these people - Nehemiah, Esther, Mordecai, Ezra, Isaiah - to see the promised restoration...

Fast forward a few thousand years and its amazing how we can still relate to this passage.  Many things have happened in our church in the last 10 years.  We have seen great things and some not so great things.  But sometimes, like how Nehemiah felt about Jerusalem, it breaks my heart to see where the church IS at compared to where it WAS at - to what I have seen that it can be: the zeal, passion, fire, and love.  It has been hard seeing what the church has gone through in the last 7-8 years knowing what the church CAN and SHOULD be.  And AMEN! we know Romans 8:28 says that in "ALL things God works for the the good of those who love him", and that there were much needed changes that had to take place ... but just like the remnant in Babylon longed to see the glory of the temple restored, there are some of us who long like Nehemiah to see the wall rebuilt ... who long like Paul to see the Gospel spread ... to see the kingdom advanced ...

And what was exciting to me was to worship this morning in a room of somewhere in the range of 500 campus students who have this same desire ... To be used by God to see great things happen once again and to see the wall rebuilt ...

"Captives came

Back into Zion

From their freedom

Came a scheme

While the city

It lay in ruin

We believe

They had a dream ..."

Let us never stop dreaming for God ! Amen.

LISTEN BELOW:

FOREVER

MEN WHO DREAM

(NOTE: To download MP3, right click link and select "Download Linked File")

"ALIENS" - 2011 NORTHEAST CAMPUS MINISTRIES RETREAT

I'm currently up here in Stamford, CT helping lead the worship for the NORTHEAST CAMPUS MINISTRIES FALL RETREAT - "ALIENS" (check out the flyer below !!!).  Last night we opened the retreat with a time of worship, and then we got to hear Marty Wilkinson from the San Antonio TX church preach the word !!! IT WAS AWESOME !!!

It has really been a blast so far, but the most enjoyable and inspiring part for me has definitely been the worship ... last night we were able to sing and worship our AWESOME GOD !!! IT WAS INCREDIBLE ... The energy was electric and the singing was heartfelt ... it was truly a time of worship and praise !!! Below are some of the songs that we sang as well as a special song that I did with Alicia Gerald from the Harlem campus ministry.  I hope these songs encourage you as much as they encourage me !!! I will definitely be jamming out to them on my iPod for a while :-)  

LISTEN BELOW:

REJOICE IN THE LAW OF THE LORD

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART

HOLY HOLY HOLY

HUMBLE YOURSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

I NEED YOUR LOVE

MY LORD MY GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

PRAISES HEARD AROUND THE WORLD

"ALIENS" - FEAT. ALICIA GERALD

(NOTE: To download MP3, right click link and select "Download Linked File")

ENTRUSTED

This past summer, the NYC Church held a campus ministry & teen ministry internship with the theme "ENTRUSTED" based on 1 & 2 Timothy and specifically 2 Timothy 2:2:

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses ENTRUST to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others"

 It is so important as disciples that we remember the magnitude of what we have been entrusted with and that we guard the gospel, just as Paul urged Timothy to do so many years ago !  Here is the theme song from that internship, "ENTRUSTED" !  As I was writing it, I was also thinking about 2 Peter 1:3:

"His divine power has given us EVERYTHING WE NEED for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness"

Not only has God entrusted us with salvation, he has given us EVERYTHING WE NEED !!! Sometimes as disciples we feel like we are unprepared and ill-equipped - that we don't have enough.  However the scriptures make it clear that God has give us exactly what we need ... in fact, he has given us the means to be THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED (2 Timothy 3:16-17) !!! Anyways ... heres the song :)

ENTRUSTED

VERSE 1:

Father God I know that you are gracious

Father God I know you’re full of patience

Father God I know you’re full of mercy

Father God I know you’re full of love

Father God I know that you have called me

In a world as dark as night

Father God I know that you have sent me

To be the salt, to be the light

CHORUS:

You have given me everything I need

You’ve entrusted me with eternity

Lord, your salvation

Is for every nation

Give me the courage to speak

VERSE 2:

Father God I know that you are mighty

Father God I know that you are holy

Father God I know that you are awesome

Father God I know that you are strong

Father God I know that you have called me

In a world as dark as night

Father God I know that you have sent me

To be the salt, to be the light

CHORUS

VERSE 3:

Father God I know that you are faithful

Father God I know that you are noble

Father God I know that you are perfect

Father God I know that you are great !

Father God I know that you have called me

In a world as dark as night

Father God I know that you have sent me

To be the salt, to be the light

CHORDS

VERSE

F, C, Bb, F, C

CHORUS:

F, Dm, Bb, C

F, Dm, Bb, C

Dm, Bb, Dm, Bb

Dm, Bb, C

ENTRUSTED

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"REMEMBER HYMN" - WELCOME !!!

My name is Ross Lippencott and I am a Youth & Family Minister as well as a Worship Leader with the NJ Region of the New York City Church of Christ.  

THE GOAL of this blog is to provide worship leaders, singers, and musicians with resources to take back to their respective ministries and use to help encourage our brothers and sisters and worship our GREAT and AWESOME God through song !!!

AT FIRST I wanted to simply post songs, lyrics, chords, MP3's, videos, etc. ... However after thinking about it more I have decided that I would like to use this blog as a creative outlet to get some of my thoughts down - an outlet to document this journey that I have set out on... I can only imagine how fun it will be 10 years from now to look back and read some of these posts and to see what I was thinking at the time and to remember what I was learning ... Over the last 6 years I have gone from hating Christian music to loving Christian music and from making fun of Christian lyrics to writing Christian songs.  Before I made Jesus Lord, Christianity was corny - especially those contemporary Christian songs. When Christian songs came on the radio I would change the station ... So I guess my point in saying all that is that in the last 6 years ... well ... a lot has changed.  I have changed.  And 6 years from now I hope I will have changed some more :) And through this blog hopefully I will have some documentation of my journey...

If there's one thing I have learned, it is that WORSHIP is not just something we do on Sunday mornings when we come to church - WORSHIP is  a MINDSET and a LIFESTYLE.  As a Christian, my goal is to worship God in everything that I do ... its not just about the songs that I sing or the music I play ... It is about who I am, and who God is - My relationship with Him.  And that is why I want this blog to be more than just me posting music...

I was trying to think of a good name for the blog (very tough thing to do) and I was praying and meditating on what name would really communicate the message of my blog and what I am all about and I thought about how God constantly calls us in his word to remember him and not to forget his law and the amazing things he has done ... and so I came up with "REMEMBER HYMN":

REMEMBER: To recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory

HYMN: A song or ode in praise or honor of God

Besides the fact that it is a play on words, I love the idea of this being a blog that helps me as well as others to remember Him through song !  This is really why we sing in the first place - Is so that we can remember Him - who he is and how much he loves us and cares for us !!! It is my hope and prayer that this blog helps me and many others to remember Him !

So... Hey ! Welcome to my blog.... "REMEMBER HYMN" !!!
- Ross

"Do this in remembrance of me"

- 1 CORINTHIANS 11:24

JAVITS BAND REHEARSAL - STANDING ON THE PROMISES

Working on a version of "Standing On The Promises" for our next NYCCOC Congregational "JAVITS" worship service (November 20, 2011) ... here's what we came up with after jamming out for a bit in a Manhattan rehearsal space ... The goal was to take the traditional version of "Standing" (which is incredible and inspiring) and then to go in to an upbeat / funky / soulful version that the whole church can get in to !!!

MY LORD MY GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

Chorus:

My Lord, My God keeps his promises

Verse 1:

My Lord, My God

He promised me

A room up in heaven

He gave me the key

My Lord, My God

He promised me

A life to the full

By setting me free

Verse 2:

My Lord, My God

He promised me

A life free from worry

For eternity

My Lord, My God

He promised me

Though I once was blind

He helped me to see

Bridge:

He promised forgiveness and grace

He promised that I'd see his face

Chords:

Verse: 

Am, Dm, G, Am

Am, Dm, E

Chorus: 

Am, Dm, G, Am

Am, Dm, E, Am

Bridge: 

A, F, C, G

A, F, E

MY LORD MY GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

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