Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

Archives for September 2008

I Want To Be Rich…

“‘And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:19-21).

Lord, I feel the draw each and every day to coast, relax and simply enjoy the pleasures of this world. Without your help, I will live only to make myself happy. Teach me what it means to be rich toward You. May all my goals bow down before this defining vision.

Songwriting Thought

Christ came:

“to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).

What if our songs were so drenched in passion for Christ, exalted Biblical visions of Christ, and so magnified Christ that they helped accomplish this verse in people’s lives?

The Power of a Focused Life

As I travel through life, I’m realizing more and more how important it is to be focused. Without vision and discipline, life is a frustrated conglomeration of events. You begin to settle for the lesser things in life. You live below what you are capable of. You may become too dependent on leisure if there is not a focus that is governing your everyday life.

As a focused person, you begin to key in on what is most important to you, aiming your life towards a goal. This type of living makes your life more productive and fulfilling. Especially as a Christian, you shouldn’t get quite as discouraged by momentary setbacks because you know God is fighting for you and trials are what they are – momentary. I think we all need to ask these questions:

  • What am I most passionate about?
  • What are the gifts God has given me?
  • Who do I want to reach?

Allow yourself to dream big dreams. Live a life that is focused for the glory of God.

Delirious "Investigate" Live

If you have not heard, Delirious is calling it quits. Read the farewell article here. I will miss their music. As a tribute, I am posting the most amazing Delirious performance I know of. You really do need to watch this. The guitar solo is liberating.

Wide Awake Study Guide: Chapter 1

DREAM – The Artist

•    What were your childhood dreams or fantasies? What would the world look like if they became a reality?

•    Dreams must be aligned with talent. What are your unique talents?

“God is not going to invest himself in a dream fueled by greed, arrogance, self-indulgence, and self-centeredness. Your passions fuel your dreams. God doesn’t say ‘yes’ to everything we ask because our dreams need to be fueled by the right things.”

•    Where are your dreams coming from? Who or what is informing your dreams? Erwin says God gives God-sized dreams to people with God-shaped hearts (21).

•    Have you ever courageously pursued a dream?

•    Have you ever been discouraged on the path of pursuing your dream because of opposition, trials, and
difficulty? Tell us about your experience. Have you viewed these difficulties as God’s process for you?

•    Are there lies you’ve believed that you need to face head-on in order to pursue your dream? Have you been so discouraged along the journey that you’ve given up?