Notes on the Notes – May 29, 2016

This week’s theme:  To Whom, or What, are We Building Altars?

This week’s scripture readings:

1 Kings 18: 20-39          Luke 7:11-17

This week’s music:

“Awaken the Dawn”

“Sing to the Lord with all of your heart
Sing of the glory that’s due to his name
Sing to the Lord with all of your soul
Join all of heaven and earth to proclaim

You are the Lord
The Saviour of all
God of creation we praise you
We sing the songs
That awaken the dawn
God of creation we praise you

Sing to the Lord with all of your mind
With understanding give thanks to the King
Sing to the Lord with all of your strength
Living your lives as a praise offering

You are the Lord
The Saviour of all
God of creation we praise you
We sing the songs
That awaken the dawn

God of creation we praise you

Our opening song encourages us to “awaken the dawn” by lifting our voices in praise to God.  Learn more about this song by Delirious? in an interview with the song-writers at Worship Together – New Song Cafe: https://youtu.be/tlPsqFnyNko

Hear the song at: https://youtu.be/YqlR_sRWWck

“How Great is our God”

“How does one describe something he’s never seen with the naked eye? Or, how would you paint a picture of an invisible person? Chris Tomlin doesn’t try to make it too complicated for us with his song “How Great Is Our God”, his way of answering someone who says ‘what’s God look like?’. What he says about this song’s development suggests that just maybe that’s the way God wants it. Just celebrate Him, and that’s enough. Almost sounds too easy, and that was kind of how Tomlin thought about it too, at first.  Tomlin recalls that the song’s development began with the chorus section ‘how great is our God…’ , and that that’s all he was able to come up with initially. He says he almost felt regret when he said to Him in effect ‘…this is all I have Lord, there’s no other words I can summon in the English language to describe how great you are.’ Evidently, Tomlin then offered some other words to go with the chorus, but he says the refrain became the focus of the song, after he took to heart some comments by friends. As a result, he says the song’s spotlight shone more brightly on the Holy One’s nature, versus what it was originally when Tomlin focused more on what we as Christians get from Him. Light, majesty, a creature that’s both lion and lamb, and a three-in-one concept none of us can honestly fathom…those are mysterious words that Tomlin uses to try to capture God’s visage. Think of a brilliant light hidden in a cloud. Still, the song’s simple yet potent declaration of God’s supremacy is the overriding message.”

“The splendor of the king
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father, Spirit, Son
Lion and the Lamb
Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God”

See Chris Tomlin singing the song:

“How Great Thou Art”  (VU #238)

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul…

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul…

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim, “My God, how great Thou art!”

Then sings my soul…”

A Praise Team and congregational favourite, the words of this hymn are an echo of the awe felt by the writer of Psalm 8.   The hymn How Great Thou Art travelled a long road before it ended up a favorite addition to English hymnals. The original version was a poem written by a Swedish pastor, Reverend Carl Boberg in 1886.   In 1933, English missionaries to the Ukraine, Reverend and Mrs. Stuart K. Hine heard the song for the first time, fell in love with it and sang it often throughout their missionary journeys. As they traveled the Carpathian Mountains, the couple was inspired by the incredible beauty to translate the first three verses of the song into English. When WWII broke out in 1939, the Hines returned to England carrying How Great Thou Art to its new home. After the war they wrote the fourth verse and arranged the original Swedish folk tune to be published in English hymnals. In the 1950s, the song was copyrighted and widely published in America, becoming more and more popular. When George Beverly Shea and the Billy Graham gospel choir, directed by Cliff Barrows, began to sing the song at virtually every crusade event, How Great Thou Art soon became one of the most recognized songs around the world. (source:  Share Faith website)

Here are just a few of the amazing variety of interpretations of this much-loved hymn:

Singer Song-writer Lauren Daigle:  https://youtu.be/8BL06fxHPVo

9-part accapella version by Sam Robson at: https://youtu.be/0HJYZj8PqEY

5000 voices at the Royal Albert Hall at: https://youtu.be/FfmCH56VsSg

Cool version with traditional, world and modern drums at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt8egypk_Lo

“There is none like you”

“There is none like You,
No one else can touch my heart like You do,
I can search for all eternity Lord
And find, there is none like You.

There is none like You.
No one else can touch my heart like You do,
I can search for all eternity Lord
And find, there is none like You.

Your mercy flows like a river wide,
And healing comes from Your hand.
Suffering children are safe in Your arms,
There is none like You.

There is none like You.
No one else can touch my heart like You do,
I can search for all eternity Lord
And find, there is none like You.

I can search for all eternity Lord,
There is none like You.”

This song was written by Lenny LeBlanc.  LeBlanc, (born June 17, 1951 in Leominster, Massachusetts) is an American musician and songwriter. In 1955 his family moved south to Daytona Beach, Florida. LeBlanc spent his summers on the beach surfing until he met some teens that played guitars. He later landed a job washing dishes to pay for his first bass guitar. During the next three years of school Lenny played at dances and local clubs around Daytona, developing his vocal talents as well. He graduated from high school in 1969 and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1970. He has currently resided in Florence, Alabama since 1973. Former band member and good friend Pete Carr had become a very successful producer and studio guitarist in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He encouraged Lenny to join him there. After a few months Lenny began playing bass as well as singing background vocals with artists like Hank Williams Jr., Crystal Gayle, Etta James, Shenandoah, Ricky Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, The Supremes, Joan Baez, Amy Grant and Roy Orbison.  His voice and his compositions are featured on dozens of classic worship recordings for Maranatha and Integrity.

Hear the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnhUh2tt97Q

“I love you Lord”

“I love you, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
Oh, my soul rejoice

Take joy, my King
In what You hear
Let it be a sweet
Sweet sound in Your ear.”

As the pioneers of contemporary Christian music, Petra (which means “rock” in Greek) paved the way for countless artists, helping to create a whole new genre of rock music along the way.  In the beginning, four Bible school students in the 1970s had a desire to share their faith in a language they knew best: rock and roll. Much to their surprise, not everyone in the church was as excited about the idea as they were. Petra fought to gain acceptance and recognition in a church culture that at the time believed rock music to be off-limits.
In the 80s “Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out” came as a result of discussions with youth pastors, and the response was overwhelming. It became Petra’s first gold album, and with its translation into a Spanish version, songs like “I Love The Lord” reached new audiences around the globe.

Hear the band at: https://youtu.be/x1IDrMj9CBQ

“There is No One Like Jesus”

“O there is no one like my Jesus….

Forever and ever it will be! Sing halleluia!

I’ve walked around and there’s none like Him.

I’ve searched around and there’s none like Him….”

This is a traditional East African Song that was arranged by Joseph M. Martin in 2015.

See an organic version of this song in Swahili in an office in Tanzania at:  https://youtu.be/ohL6SO0OIP4

“There is Joy in the Lord”

“There is joy in the Lord,
There is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
There’s a fountain that flows like a river from heaven
Abounding in love to my soul

All blessing and honor are his
All glory and power are His
Let all wisdom and strength
Be the Lord’s in this place
Let all glory be given to Him

There is joy in the Lord, there is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
There’s a fountain I know every time I am near it
My heart overflows to the Lord.”

This contemporary Christian song was released in 2006 by Cheri Keaggy.

Sing along with the video below:

“Step by Step”

“Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days.”

This contemporary praise chorus was written in 1991 by Beaker -a pseudonym for David Strasser, a Christian songwriter and musician well known for his collaborations with artist Rich Mullins.  When Beaker was in the seventh grade, his youth pastor introduced him to his friend Rich Mullins, and the two soon became collaborators. Beaker co-wrote, performed, and toured with Mullins for several years.  In the mid-90s, Beaker dropped out of the spotlight to focus on family life.   Rich Mullins incorporated “Step by Step” into his song “Sometimes by Step.”  In 2002, “Step by Step” was recorded by Michael W. Smith and retains its popularity to this day.

To see Michael W. Smith performing his version of the song (Step by Step/Forever We Will Sing) in concert click below: