NEXT 2011 part 1

Yesterday afternoon I finally arrived back home after being gone six days! It was such a wonderful time, spent with two of my favorite people, worshiping and learning about God!:)

Instead of driving down with people from our church, we decided to fly.
(Instead of a 10 hour drive, it only took 1 hr and 45min!:) This was my 1st time flying and I was SO nervous that we weren't going to make it! I'm really positive, I know. ;) Even thought I would never want to fly again, you have a beautiful view of God's creation!!

 In the air! :)

Once we arrived in Orlando, we tracked down out logdge, found our driver and headed to the Shingle Creek!

 The front view of Shingle Creek

 The view from our hotel room!

 I'm really excited about NEXT!:)

After we arrived we checked in at NEXT and then decided since we had 3 hours to go swimming. After changing into our swim suits and walking outside to the pool area, we found out that they had 3 pools! 1 family pool, 1 old peoples pool and 1 quite pool (which really should have been named the LOUD pool!;)  We ended up in the quite pool, where Joshua Harris and his son where swimming.

The quite pool:)

At around 6:15 we headed down to wait for the doors to open. The doors always open 30min from starting time and people line up a whole hour before it's scheduled to start. When they open the doors open go crazy and run for the front seats! The 1st night I got squashed by some guy when the doors opened. ;(

(Just a side note, there were between 2,000-3,000 people at NEXT.)

Rebekah and I caught Joshua Harris walking by while we were waiting and decided to get a picture!:)

 People waiting for the doors to open!:) 

More people waiting for the doors to open!:)

Rebekah and I waiting

After they opened the doors, people finding their seats.

 Worship!:)

After an hour of worship they have an hour of preaching. We had a wonderful group of preachers:
Jeff Purswell, Scott Oliphint, D.A. Carson, R.C. Sproul, and Kevin DeYoung. After the preaching which would end around 10:00, we would have a concert. We heard from, Reilly, Shane & Shane, and Generation Letters. I really enjoyed Shane&Shane and Generation Letters. Reilly was a little too loud and  crazy for me, but they had an amazing violinist!;)
When we got to our hotel room to finally get some sleep, I pulled back the sheets to get in bed and there were black sticky stains! GROSS! We called the front desk and soon I had clean sheets and could finally get some sleep.:) 

Abigail and I on Sunday morning!:)

Eating breakfast outside in the wonderful sunshine!

Once again waiting inline and waiting for the doors to open.

Sunday afternoon Abigail and I went swimming once again. I did not have a lot of fun this time. People just sat in the pool and worked on there tan and I wanted to swim!

After we went swimming we got dressed and once again waited for the doors to open!:)

One of the concerts from NEXT

It's getting late, so I will post part two tomorrow. :)

Books Read In 2010

Total books read this year -60, but I forgot to write down a few ;(
Favorite Subject of this year- anything to do about the Amish lifestyle
Most books read in one month - 13

My 15 favorite books from 2010 
(All titles are linked)


Fiction
The Princess - Lori Wick
The Rescue - Lori Wick
Mr. Darcy's Diary - Amanda Grange 

An Amish Gathering(3 stories) - Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Barbara Cameron


Christian
Worship Matters - Bob Kauflin
Doing things right in the matter of the heart - John Ensor
 Passion and Purity - Elizabeth Elliot
Womanly Dominion - Mark Chanski
Worldliness - C.J. Mahaney
Power of a Praying Wife - Stormie Omartian
Dug Down Deep - Joshua Harris
What is the Gospel - Greg Gilbert
Fearlessly Feminine - Jani Ortlund

Biographys
I am a soldier too - Rick Bragg
If God should Choose - Kristen Stagg


What were your favorite books from this year? Any book you would recommend? 


Check out my favorite books from 2009, here. :)

Is listening to secular music wrong?

Since reading the book Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin, I've struggled with the above question. I have a habit of listening to music, that's not bad, but is fluff. Kinda like reading a fluff book, you don't get a lot or anything out of it. A couple months ago, I decided to only listen to *strong Christian* and classical music. I only lasted a couple weeks until I fell back into listening to secular music. Now, the secular music I was listening too, was not the best music, but it did not involve, language and so on. It was just fluff music. ;)

*I said strong Christian music, cause there are lots of bands out there that say their Christian, but there music does not really have anything to do about God. A little like Britt Nicole's song  Headphones.(Video.)I did not see anything bad about the song, but it's not like one of Chris Tomlin's songs. There is something so powerful with all of Chris Tomlin's music, that other bands lack. Kinda, like Pure NRG, they are Christians but how does dancing on stage singing footloose glorify God? God gives us talent so that we can give back by glorifying Him.*

I think what you listen too and sing, really matters! You might not think it bothers you and it's just music it won't influence me. But you are wrong.  Everything you read, listen too, and watch will influence you, it's just a matter of time before you notice. If you even notice at all.

"Every time we open out mouths, we're leading others. Not just when we're in front of people, but all the time. We're counseling them. Communicating what's important and what's not. Letting others know whose words matter more - ours or God's. God wants our speech to be sound, gracious, truthful and edifying, no matter where we are or whom we're with." ~Worship Matters

 From reading the above, I would say going around singing, songs like "Whiskey Lullaby" or "I told you so" aren't going to be showing to others I love God and He is my king! Do we want God's words flowing from our lips or the world's?~Worship Matters

" Too often we can be tempted to choose songs because of the music rather than the theological content. We need to realize that when words are combined with music we can be deceived. Music can make shallow lyrics sounds deep. A great rhythm section can make drivel sound profound and make you want to sing it again." ~ Worship Matters

"It's a source of profound encouragement to realize God gave us music to deepen and develop our relationship with him. The Father sings, the Son sings, and the Spirit sings. How can we keep from singing?"


I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. - Psalm 34:1

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises ... Psalm 57:7.

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations ... Psalm 57:9.

O my strength, I will sing praises to You; for God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness ... Psalm 59:17

So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may pay my vows day by day ... Psalm 61:8.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You ... Psalm 63:3.

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips ... Psalm 63:5

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord, Selah ... Psalm 68:32.
.
I will also praise You with a harp, even Your truth, O my God; to You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; and my soul, which You have redeemed ... Psalm 71:22-23.

So what do you think?What are your views on/about secular music?

*In saying it's wrong I'm not saying it's a sin. Unless you are cursing or are singing  songs that say sin (immoral things there is no God. so on.)  are OK.  It's just saying fluff Christian music  it's not really God honoring.*

Sunday Songs

Since I have nothing else to post. ;) 

The song list for the month of August for my Church: 
All songs are linked to recordings. 

August 1

Grace Unmeasured 

Amazing Love  

Jesus, Lover of my soul
O the deep deep love of Jesus
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God 

For the Lord is good

August 8
 out of  the Depths 
Take my life and let it be 

Speak O Lord
Grace Unmeasured
I will Praise Him Still
I Have A Shelter

August 15
Blessed be your Name
In Christ Alone
How great is our God
All I have is Christ -

How Can I keep from singing
Out of the Depths

August 22
Jesus Thank you

My Lips will praise you 

You are Holy
Give Thanks 

Sing For Joy 

Be unto your name

August 29
Come Christians Join to sing
Come People of the Risen King

The Church's one Foundation

 Speak O Lord

O Church Arise

How firm a foundation

The Sterling Family

The Sterling family

We have a family in our Church (Trinity Baptist Church.) that the husband and wife sing and write songs together! They write their songs from scripture passages and put them word-for-word, to music! Anyway, I LOVE their music and the idea that it's all scripture! It's so easy for me and my family to memorize something if it's too music. So, I'm hoping that listening to their music will help me memorize scripture better!:) 

Here is the link to their music and here is the link to their blog.

Before the Throne of God Above

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

NEXT - Part 3

Here is the last post from NEXT!:)

At the start of our trip, 7:00 in the morning.

We got to Maryland around 12:00.
The right view from our hotel window

If you walked into the room and the curtains were open, this is what you first saw:

We had a wonderful view!:) 

William with a hamburger phone:)

Abigail and I

There are crazy people in Maryland!;)

Walking up Federal Hill

;)

the view from the hill

Nick and I

:D

Abigail and I

Abby, John Paul, Samuel, and me

Abby, Jenn and me

Maryland is SO pretty at night!!!:)

Who knew there were deer on the streets of Baltimore!;)

 Our whole group!!:)

NEXT - part 2

Here are a few pictures from NEXT. I am waiting for more, from my brother and will post those once I get them. :)

Two of the best Ninjas!!:)

(Taken from www.thisisnext.org)

My community group leader.

(Taken from www.thisisnext.org)

   Worship @ NEXT:

(Taken from www.thisisnext.org)

 

 (Taken from www.thisisnext.org)

(Taken from www.thisisnext.org)

Rebekah and people from our group

(Taken from www.thisisnext.org)

on the way up

 on the way home.

Yes, we are crazy!=)

NEXT - Worship

 If you have not read my 1st post about NEXT, then scroll down and read it. ;)

Worship was AMAZING at NEXT! Hearing 2500 people sing All I have is Christ, is something I will never forget and can't really explain what is meant to me other then saying, I woke up in them morning excited about worship and I went to bed at night excited about waking up and going to worship! :) 


I thought I would share the songs we sang...I would highly recommend looking them up and listening to them! I have heard that they are not going to come out with a 2010 live worship CD, but put all the videos on Youtube.

FRIDAY PM - NA BAND
Holy Moment (Redman)
Greater Than We Can Imagine (Mark Altrogge) CHART
How Great is Your Faithfulness (Redman/Myrin)
Saving One (Starfield)
Completely Done (Baird/Baird/Gunderlock) CHART
All I Have is Christ (Jordan Kauflin) CHART
The Saving One (Starfield)
In Christ Alone (Getty/Townend)
SATURDAY AM - ZELOS
Be Praised (Michael Gungor)
My Hope is Built (Shane & Shane)
The Name Above All Names (Judah Groveman) CHART
The Saving One
Before the Throne of God Above (Bancroft/Cook) CHART
SATURDAY AFTERNOON - ACOUSTIC BAND
For the Cross (Redman)
Thank You for the Cross (Brenton Brown)
I Hear the Words of Love (Bonar/Gauntlett/Kauflin) CHART LEAD SHEET
The Prodigal (Baird/Baird) CHART
Jesus Paid it All (Trad./Stanfill)
SATURDAY PM - ZELOS + STRINGS
His Name is Jesus (Trad./Groveman) CHART
How Great is Your Faithfulness
How Firm A Foundation (Trad.) CHART
Mighty to Save (Morgan/Fielding)
By This We Know Love (Judah Groveman) CHART
Speak, O Lord (Getty/Townend)
O Great God (B. Kauflin) CHART
Refiner’s Fire (Doerksen)

SUNDAY AM - GENERATION LETTER
Across the Great Divide (Mark Altrogge) CHART
King of Peace (Generation Letter/Cook) CHART
Jesus Messiah (Tomlin/Cash/Reeves/Carson)
Grace Unmeasured (B. Kauflin) CHART
Only Jesus (Doug Plank) CHART
Be Thou My Vision (Trad.)
SUNDAY PM - NA BAND + CHOIR
Greater Than We Can Imagine
The Father’s Love (Joel Sczebel) CHART
How Great Thou Art (Trad.) CHART
Here is Love (Trad./Redman)
Revelation Song (Jennie Riddle)
All I Have is Christ
O Church Arise (Getty Townend)
Revelation Song
MONDAY AM - NA BAND
Come Thou Fount (Trad./Alt. Kauflin) CHART
God Over All (Devon Kauflin) CHART
King of Peace
How Great is Your Faithfulness
Completely Done
How Great Thou Art