Like most New Year’s Resolutions, they eventually fail.
Well, it took me until July to hit my failure. I wasn’t able to finish a book
for July, but I still wanted to make an entry for July. Though I didn’t finish
a book, July was still a month where I was challenged to grow spiritually.
July 31-August 3 I was able to attend Sovereign Grace’s “Worship
God East Conference” with my brother-in-law Joe. The theme of the conference
was “Called to Be Faithful.” I came away challenged and renewed in so many ways.
While there we attended five main sessions and four seminars on a wide variety
of topics – most of them about music.
While there I was reminded of the incredibleness of God and
how He showed His power, love, grace, and mercy through the sacrifice of His
Son Jesus Christ in my place for my sin. Yes, I certainly learned much from the
tremendous preaching from God’s Word, but I was challenged in each session
through worshipping with music. The opportunity to lift my voice and sing out
to God was incredibly refreshing. How wonderful that when we give of our
worship to God, He also freely and richly blesses us in return. After each
session of singing (most of the time singing more than 40-45 minutes!!!) I
always felt like we could be dismissed! The music was so theologically and
biblically full that this part of the service was a sermon in itself!
Practically, as Associate Pastor of Music, I was challenged
to return home and more closely examine the music I select for each service. Is
the music pointing our thoughts and affections towards God the Father and Jesus
Christ His Son? Is the music encouraging others and giving hope through Christ?
It is my prayer that the music sung at First Baptist Church would reflect those
truths.
I learned so many wonderful songs while there. It's hard to narrow it to my favorites. Here are two links to my top picks. "Shine into Our Night" and “Not in Me”. Praise the Lord that
salvation is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and nothing
to do with me!
http://thegospelcoalition.org/lukealbum/ (For this one you will have to scroll down to find "Not in Me" song #7. While there check out all the other great songs!)
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