Advent

Last Sunday began the season of Advent (which is celebrated by the Church during the four weeks prior to Christmas).

The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means "arrival" or "coming".

During this time, the Church focuses on waiting on the Lord and preparing ones' hearts for Christ. We remember those who waited for Jesus' arrival 2000 years ago and we're encouraged to prepare our hearts and wait upon the Lord during this season.

This year (as they've done for several years), the folks at All Saints Church in Chapel Hill/Durham, NC have created a helpful Advent Devotional.

This free booklet contains daily scripture reading, prayers and thoughts for reflection. I pray that you find it a helpful resource during this time of spiritual reflection and preparation.

Here's the link:http://www.allsaints-chd.org/assets/AdventDevotional2010Online.pdf

-d.

November Lectionary Reading

Here's the Lectionary readings for Novemeber.

http://www.allsaints-chd.org/assets/LCNovember2010.pdf

Blessings,
-d.

October Lectionary Reading Schedule

Here is a link to the lectionary readings for October...

http://www.cechome.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/october-bookmark-2010.pdf

Blessings,

-d.

Some old Vineyard worship songs....

This afternoon I recorded some old Vineyard worship songs.

Click here for a link to the lyrics.

Here's a link to the music.

I first heard these songs on my first visit to the Cincinnati Vineyard in August of 1987. The church met in the cafeteria of Scarlet Oaks Vocational school and after singing for forty minutes or so, visitors were asked to raise their hands and ushers distributed a cassette tape of worship music.

In today's recording I've tried to include the songs that were on the "Welcome Tape" that I received in 1987.

There are a couple of things that are of interest about these songs...

The first thing is their simplicity. Many of the songs simply say "I love you Lord" or repeat the words Hosanna, Alleluia, or Hallelujah.

(The word Hosanna can be translated as "We praise you" while Alleluia/Hallelujah can be translated as "Praise the Lord".)

The second thing of interest is that in addition to using many popular worship songs of that period, there are a number of songs that were written by musicians in the worship band...including Dave Workman, Kelly Wiseman and Jim Hitchcock. (A few years later, the worship band did a live recording of their own songs called "Homegrown Hosanna").

A final note of interest about these songs is their ability to instruct. I'm convinced that God used these songs to help me learn more about Him...especially His incredible grace and mercy...and to help me respond back to Him in worship. I found these songs so helpful that I literally wore out my "Welcome Tape" by playing it so much on the cassette player in my small red Chevette.

There were others who liked the "Welcome Tape" as well. When I visited my first small group sponsored by the Vineyard Cincinnati in North College Hill, the leader played the entire "Welcome Tape" for the group to sing along to (we even had to pause to flip the cassette tape to play the second side). Later, in a small group in Oxford (that was led John and Pam Bertram) we sang many of these same songs while John led us on his acoustic guitar.

Shortly after I received my "Welcome Tape" I gave a bunch of the "Welcome Tapes" to friends, figuring that they would like it as much as I did. Interestingly, nine years later I was talking to a friend in Michigan and she told me, "Do you remember that tape you gave me a long time ago? I still get it out and play it when I need to focus my thoughts on the Lord."

One big difference, as you'll hear, is that I've recorded these songs in my home office with just my own vocals and guitar - the songs on the "Welcome Tape" were recorded with a full band and with several great singers...so feel free to add your own harmony as you sing along.

So, for my friend Kevin (who celebrated his birthday this week) and for my friends at the Cincinnati Vineyard who are celebrating their 25th anniversary tomorrow...here are some worship songs from 1987.

Enjoy,

-DS

Something to Contemplate

This week I'm reading Eugene Peterson's "The Contemplative Pastor".

If I only had one word to describe the book I would say: WOW. This book is soooo good...I'll post a few quotes from the book this week.

Thanks to Fr. Joe Boysel in Hudson, Ohio for recommending this great book.

-DS

It is finished....almost

Received confirmation today that I've finished all of my coursework at Reformed Theological Seminary.

I have found the classes quite helpful in learning more about Christian theology, apologetics and Church history.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, the school posts many of their lectures free of charge at iTunes U. Let me know if you have any issues accessing the lectures, they are quite helpful.

Next up for me...writing my thesis.

Thanks all for your prayers and support. Special thanks to John Arns for proctoring my exams and Malcom McLellan for serving as a mentor for my classes.

-d.

The Land Between

This week I've been reading a great book called "The Land Between: Finding God in Difficult Transitions" by Jeff Manion.

I highly recommend this book if you are dealing with difficulty, discouragement, grief or loss.

Rev. Manion vividly retells the indirect journey of the Hebrew people who went from Egypt to the Promised Land...enduring a generation in the Sinai desert, which he calls "the Land Between."

There are many things that I like about this book...including his inclusion of a U2 song and the funniest paraphrase I've read in quite awhile (of what God says to Elijah):

"Dude, you could use some lunch. You must be so tired and discouraged." (pg. 75)

Through his retelling of the Exodus account (and several other Biblical accounts of difficulty and despair), Rev. Manion explores how God will uses these times in "the Land Between" to teach us more about Himself and transform our lives.

Again, a highly recommended book...

-d.