Blake Goss

I know this CD has been out since March, but I’m loving it right now.  Starfield’s “I Will Go” is rockin’. The lyrics are amazing, guitar parts are unique, and great programming. I’ve been listening to this album non-stop this week and would highly recommend it. There are definitely some songs worth adding to your set list.

Worship Set 10.26.08

• Revolution- Freedom Live
• Everlasting God- Tomlin
• To Know Your Name- Hillsong United
• Reign In Us- Starfield
• All Because Of Jesus- Fee

You can check out my full “debt free” story at Pastor JR’s blog. Freedom is making it very easy for you to learn how to achieve financial freedom. You can check out all the details here. I can speak from experience and tell you that your whole life will be changed if you can get your financial life under control. It’s the way God intended it to be.

Worship Set 10.19.08

• Where Are You Going- Dave Matthews 
• Beautiful Jesus- Kristian Stanfill
• Confess & Believe- Freedom Live
• Beautiful One- Tim Hughes
• Our Victory- Freedom Live

You probably already know that Philippians is the book in the bible all about joy. This morning I was reading through Philippians hoping to walk away with an abundance of joy, but instead my heart was broken. Philippians 3 specifically talks about joy in believing. I think we all would share in the joy that we know Christ as our Savior and we will spend eternity with Him, but does our hearts break for those who don’t believe. Paul is describing his joy in pressing toward the prize of becoming more like Christ. Then you can sense the urgency in his writing when he says:

“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.”

I can almost see Paul writing with tears streaming down his face as he weeps because his heart truly breaks for that which breaks God’s heart. When you think about those who are far from God, does it break your heart to the point of tears? I’m praying that God would soften my heart to the point of truly breaking for what breaks His heart. I know this isn’t a warm and fuzzy blog entry, but if we ignore this truth because of it’s sadness then people will continue to live separated from God. Embrace Paul’s passion so that we may see those far from God experience life in Christ.

Next: Great Commission

• Broadcast- Steve Fee
• Let Me Sing- Todd Fields
• How Great Is Our God- Tomlin (tag “be lifted high)
• What About Now- Daughtry
• Revolution- FreedomLive

We just got back from an amazing few days at the Catalyst Conference. This conference was exactly what I needed. I would love to list all the great elements of the conference, but it would take forever. Overall, this conference challenged me to be a stronger leader and I’ve already been able to put changes in my life that have been noticeable to my wife. I feel so blessed that every week of my life I get to learn from literally the greatest leaders in the nation. I’m can’t wait to lead worship on sunday.

Oh and one more thing…..I got to meet Dave Ramsey and tell him my story and how thankful I was. He was pumped, which in return got me even more pumped to go even crazier on my total money makeover. Can’t wait for Debt Free Acworth. You literally can’t afford to miss it.

Yet another amazing day in the life of FreedomChurch as we kicked off our newest series called “Next.” It’s an awesome series coming off the heels of the Jesus series so we can tell our people what the “Next” steps are to take after salvation. Pastor JR’s message was sharing how the first step in obedience after salvation is baptism. We celebrated by seeing 24 people baptized yesterday. Don’t miss next sunday. This series has just begun.

Set List 10.5.08:

• You Lifted Me Out- Tomlin
• Happy Day- Tim Hughes
• The River- Good Charlotte
• From The Inside Out- Hillsong United (w/Agnus Dei chorus)
• Awesome Is The Lord Most High- Tomlin

Most worship leaders would agree that it is really hard on sunday mornings to get “lost” in worship because you are so focused on chords, lyrics, transitions, the band, and leading the church. I do believe that by focusing on all those things it is true sacrificial worship because you are offering yourself as a sacrifice (Rom. 12:1) to create a distraction free environment for the church to worship in.

In addition to the act of worship by leading your church, I still think is imperative for worship leaders to spend intimate time of worship alone with God when there is no audience. We all need worship experiences where we don’t have to focus on things like chords, lyrics, and transitions so we can get lost in worship. Like the story about Mary and Martha, it’s tempting to always be “doing” things for God and not just spend time at His feet. Take time out of the business of your life and spend uninterrupted alone time singing at the top of your lungs to our Savior. Turn on some Hillsong, shut the door, and fall on your face to worship Jesus with no distractions or pressure. Because of time like this you’ll be refreshed to even better lead your people on sunday mornings.