As a part of the worship ministry in our Church, I screen the songs that we sing, musically and theologically. Planetshakers have a good selection of songs in their albums. Same goes to Israel Houghton, who has a great voice singing praise to the Lord. And I just love it when God’s children gives out their best to worship and praise Him.

And… they’re coming here in the Philippines to have a worship concert! Planetshakers and Israel Houghton & New Breed will have a back to back worship concert this coming April 21, 2012 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. And I really hope I would be able to come to that worship concert.

For more information, visit BMI’s website here.

I played the recordings to her, and of course, she said it was good.

Just for fun, I will be posting one of the recordings I made. The song is Lord Most High, words and music by Don Harris and Garry Sadler, produced by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music.

Why am I posting this? First, just for fun – with a little bit seriousness as I want to learn how to sing (I feel I am a bad singer). Second, I want to test out the plugin I am using for podcasting (Blubrry PowerPress). I am currently using it on our Church’s website for the online archive of our Sunday messages (I have a preaching in there, but it’s in our local language – Filipino).

So here it is. It’s up to you if you will listen to it or not .

Hearing that irritating static? As I’ve said, I used the mic of my cheap webcam for the recording.

[powerpress]

Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

FEBC had ministered to thousands of people via the Good News. FEBC’s programs contain devotions, messages, prayers, music, tips for living (household, work, family, parenting, school, etc.), music. Their programs are very holistic, funny, serious, informative, challenging, inspiring, uplifting and filled with the Word of God. I myself was one of the person who was encouraged and blessed by God through this station.

FEBC is a non-commercial company. It’s finances comes from donations and missionaries. They faced many difficulties. Sometimes they were on the merge of completely “signing off” due to financial concerns. But the Lord sustained them for 60 years now. God sustained them because many people learned about Christ through their stations. Many people were encouraged back to faith because of the messages brought to the airwaves.

“Christ to the world by radio” – this their slogan, and indeed, Christ is brought to many people were reached by the Gospel through this station.

God bless them and more power.

Soli Deo Gloria..

I want to thank God for the success of this seminar. I pray that what we learned can be applied properly to improve and develop our Sunday School Organization.

Soli Deo Gloria…

When I came in to that Church, Service starts at 10 in the morning. After few months, we have decided to move it at an earlier time (8 in the morning) so we could conduct Sunday school for adults after the service. Sad to say, members doesn’t want to go to church that early, so they came to church around 9 a.m., and later on 10 am. So, our pastor announced that the adult Sunday school shall be 9:30 and Service begins at 10.

Last Easter Sunday, we had our “Sunrise Service” at 5 in the morning. Almost everyone is in the church by 5:20. During the service, our pastor mentioned that he thinks it would be nice if we move our schedule in an earlier time. After the service, some members talked about moving the schedule at an earlier time because of the following reason:

• It feels more relaxed if we go to church at an earlier time
• It is summer (Philippines, tropical country) and it is hot (I mean HOT) at noon time, so if we could go home at an earlier time, we the sun isn’t that “high” yet.
• You can do your “things” that you want to do (cook, go to mall, chat with peers, etc) longer after the service.

Even I, myself, agreed with these. As you can see, the reasons are materialistic and for personal gain.

There was no formal announcement made. We had a Friday Worship last week, and they said (I’m at work that time) that they all agreed to move the service at 8am. And they said that everyone was informed regarding the change.

It was Saturday evening when we were discussing this matter with some of the people involved with this. And I was arguing to them that we couldn’t just change the schedule right away since there is no formal announcement for the congregation. But they insisted that everyone was informed and they have already talked about it.

Sunday came, our pastor was invited in another church. So I am the one in charge. We came at the church around 7:30am. It is already 8:15 and there are only 10 (more or less) people in the room (our regular attendee, 25 – 30). We started at 8:15. After some praise and worship songs, prayers, readings, and hymns, I was called by our “emcee” for the message. My message is from Psalms 40:3 (The reason why we worship and what should happen when we worship).

In my message, I can’t help but to mention what happened. I asked the church who should be the one adjusting with the schedule, is it God or us? We adjust the schedule for “our own convenience”.

Maybe we already forgot, Jesus left all the comforts of heaven. Lived with us humans, suffered and died on the cross, all because of us. He left ALL THE COMFORTS OF HEAVEN JUST TO SUFFER AND DIE ON EARTH for our sins. And here we are, going to church in our most convenient time. We go to a church as long as the place is comfortable for us. We listen to preaching as long as we like the preacher and the message (but don’t listen if the message hurts us). We go to church because of so many reasons that is self centered.

Sighs…

We finished at around 9:30am. We were already packing up things when one family came. They said they were never informed that the schedule had changed (what they know is 9:30 for Sunday school, 10 for the service). So we told them what happened. Just as we were about to close the Church entrance, another family came, and we told them the same thing. And right after we placed in the security locks (my pastor’s away, so no one is in the pastoral house), another family came. Another family was going to the church when they meet one of our members going home. He told them about the new schedule.

Well, at least now, everyone is informed.

Arson or Spontaneous Combustion.