DESTINY MUSIC NEWSLETTER - SongLover.com - OCTOBER 2000


CONTENTS:

MELODY'S LESSON OF LOVE
By Janine Freeman
HELD IN THE CRADLE OF GOD'S ARMS
Words and Music by Ray Agnew
YOUR LOVE GOES ON
By Kevin Price
FOR ME
By Ward
SWEET TEARS
By Josef S. Klus
THE CHURCH CALLED THE RISEN SON
Lyrics by Judy Welden
WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN?
Eight-year-old authors unknown
SATELLITE SOUL LIVE WORSHIP
OF ART AND WORSHIP
By Tim Suttle, Lead Singer for Satellite Soul



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MELODY'S LESSON OF LOVE
By Janine Freeman
(c) 2000 Janine Freeman, all rights reserved
janine_freeman@peter.biola.edu


Once there was a young sapling named Melody
she grew strong and tall on the rim of the valley

Her world was full of birds and bloom
but her heart still felt empty sometimes at noon

All would be quiet and mostly asleep
napping and dreaming the animals would be

There stood lonely Melody waiting and hoping for evening to come
for this brought a new and different kind of sun

Animals began to wake from their slumber
then scurry about finding food and shelter

Melody didn't realize she provided all of this
for she was busy feeling lonesome and awfully unmissed

Melody cried, "Why do you hurry why don't you stay,
why won't you talk with me
why won't you play?"

The animals replied in a confused but calm manner
"What is wrong with you Melody, what is the matter?"

Again she cried, "I wait all through the day and all through the night,
watching and protecting my needles pointing to the light,
I whisper if you listen right before it rains
and the moss on my trunk helps you find your way.
Can't you stay, please stay and play?"

The animals began to sigh in relief
giggling amongst themselves, "That's no kind of grief."

Around they gathered this little tree
and began to sing her a sweet, sweet melody.

Just then the wind joined with her nightly ride
whipping and galloping along their side

All together a symphony began
Using Melody's needles like fingers on a hand

"Don't you see?" They began to sing
"You provide life here with all you bring.
The squirrels find food in the pinecones you drop,
the birds build their homes in your branches way on top.
In the cool evening breeze you sing so sweet,
we forget our troubles for a while and sleep.
Your seeds of new life begin to grow
and some of us find warmth when it begins to snow.
Melody, oh Melody never forget
playing is good but better yet....
your kindness, your love, your great sacrifice
will always be remembered and always...
thanked twice.



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HELD IN THE CRADLE OF GOD'S ARMS
Words and Music by Ray Agnew
(c) 2000 Ray Agnew, all rights reserved
SongLover.com
ray.agnew@songlover.com


Old Joe lived next door to us
He was my grandpa's oldest friend
He would sit for hours
Talkin' to an empty chair
And it made me just a little scared of him

'Til he said, "Son, I never learned to pray
So I talk to God in this way
I invite him to sit there
Next to me in this old chair
And we meet here each and every day."

When old Joe died, we found him on his porch
His head rested on the arm of that old chair
And we knew there and then
Joe was with his Friend
He was held in the cradle of God's arms

CHORUS:

Held in the cradle of God's arms
Sheltered from harm in His embrace
Old Joe opened his heart and he shared in His grace
Held in the cradle of God's arms

As I watch my babies sleep
And listen of the drizzle of the rain
I whisper to the Dark
The joys and sorrows in my heart
And it eases away all of the days pain

You see I have finally learned
To talk to God you need not wait a turn
His love is so rare
Just think of old Joe's chair
And He'll hold you in the cradle of His arms

CHORUS

Held in the cradle of God's arms
Sheltered from harm in His embrace
Open your heart and you share in His grace
Held in the cradle of God's arms



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YOUR LOVE GOES ON
By Kevin Price
(c) 2000 Kevin Price, all rights reserved
PPrikev@cs.com


Father here I am just and ordinary man
Hardened by a cold and lonely world
But somehow you understand
And love me how I am
Till the end

And Father I can see the change your love has made in me
Your Holy Spirit fills my aching need
And even though I may fall short
Of all my expectation
I follow you

For your love never ends
It just goes on and on
No it never ever ends
It just goes on
And if I've ever needed you
You were always there for me
Father come take your child away

Father can you see me when I lay awake at night
Can you hear me when I'm calling out your name
Praying Father I just can't take it
Don't think I can make it through another day

And Father even though my foolish pride gets in the way
And the world can sometime bring me to my knees
You're always there to pick me up
And show me you still love me
Even though I've failed.

For your love never ends
It just goes on and on
No it never ever ends
It just goes on
And if I've ever needed you
You were always there for me
Father come take your child away

And if I've ever needed you
You were always there for me
Father come take your child away



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FOR ME
By Ward
(c) 2000, all rights reserved
ward@provisionconsulting.com


Storms blow, Lightning flashes
Fears grow, thunder crashes
Tears flow, dreams to ashes
You bore it all for me

Feeling small, fears close in
Fearful call, regrets begin
Afraid of all, no way to win
You bore it all for me

BRIDGE:
You bore it all for me
When you died on Calvary
Looking back now I can clearly see...

Piercing nails, Blood flows
Darkened veils, Wind blows
Body fails, Love knows
You bore it all for me

Crown of thorns, Mercy shown
Curse is borne, Forgiveness known
Curtain torn, Redemption won
(because)You bore it all for me



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SWEET TEARS
By Josef S. Klus
(c) 2000 Josef S. Klus, all rights reserved
JosefKlus@Integrity.com


Let me cry myself to sleep, tonight.
Those sweet tears.
Not the ones strained through my anxiety.
Nor those trembling with fear,
accusing with doubt.
Not the ones convulsed in hysteria, and hopeless.
Nor those void of reason or logic,
when I crumble in a heap on the kitchen floor.
Tonight in bed, oh, let me cry those sweet, sweet tears!
The peaceful ones, too good to be true,
that know You are back.



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THE CHURCH CALLED THE RISEN SON
(Sing to the tune of "House of the Risin' Sun)
Lyrics by Judy Welden
(c) 2000 Songrite Creations Productions, all rights reserved


There is a church outside of town
It's called the RISEN SON
The builder had great plans but died
Before the inside was done

Brother Ben carved God's commandments
In marble on ten walls
Was centered on a wooded lot
Far from shopping malls

Now this strategy using ten walls
Formed a definite decagon
The most unusual church around
Though Ben's gone, it lives on

[Instrumental]

The lovely stained glass skylight
Shows the Savior with a smile
His arms are reaching heavenward
Rising from the golden tile

Oh, I love to go inside that church
Even though it's not complete
I find such peace and solace there
As I pray, standing 'neath His feet

Perhaps this church called the RISEN SON
In the Father's eyes is done
No pulpit or pews are needed there
To pray to Him, one on one

Oh, how I love to worship Him there
In the Church Called the Risen Son



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WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN?
Eight-year-old authors unknown


A group of professional people posed this question to a group of four
through eight-year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were
broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.


"Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the
way."

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her
toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when
his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know
that your name is safe in their mouth."

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and
they go out and smell each other."

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries
without making them give you any of theirs."

"Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don't yell at
them because you know it would hurt their feelings."

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before
giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing,
you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and daddy are
like that. They look gross when they kiss."

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening
presents and listen."

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you
hate."

"Love is hugging. Love is kissing. Love is saying no."

"When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they
won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do
they still love you, they love you even more."

"There are two kinds of love: Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds
of them."

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends
even after they know each other so well."

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the
people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one
doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me
to sleep at night."

"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."

"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is
handsomer than Denzel Washington."

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all
day."

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes
and has to go out and buy new ones."

"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me
because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."

"Love cards like Valentine's cards say stuff on them that we'd like to say
ourselves, but we wouldn't be caught dead saying."

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars
come out of you."

"Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's
gross."

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean
it, you should say it a lot.



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SATELLITE SOUL LIVE WORSHIP
Satellite Soul
New release: "Satellite Soul Live Worship"
Available in stores Sept. 26

Satellite Soul Live Worship is a great new album from one of the best live
bands in Christian Music. Satellite Soul's third release caps off close to
five hundred shows in four years of touring all over America. During that
time the band has developed a loyal following and a reputation for being a
great live band and an effective ministry organization. Satellite Soul's
newest project is a live recording from one particular concert at the New
Earth Coffeehouse in Kansas City, MO. They rolled taped and played for a
couple of hours, recording new versions of old worship songs and many
original songs that are now catching on all over the country. Satellite Soul
Live Worship will be available in stores September 26th.


SELECTED Q & A FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH LEAD MAN -
TIM SUTTLE 6/6/00

1. How is this particular Praise & Worship project unique?

Our project has a definite coffeehouse vibe. It's very acoustic,
laid back and real. This record doesn't put on any airs, we're
not trying to impress you with how well we play these worship
songs, we were trying to lead people into worship as they sat
before us at a concert. We just recorded it so you could listen
in on a few hundred people letting the world fade away, coming
humbly before God to sing him songs.

2. What do you think about the revival of Praise & Worship music?

I think that it basically means that the powers that be in Christian
music have discovered that they can make a lot of money off of
worship music. That, point blank, is why you see a revival of
worship music on the shelves of bookstores. Now, as far as the
everyday person goes, the "worship movement" only means that
they've awakened to the idea that their bodies are designed for
worship. That's why they buy it.

3. How has Praise & Worship music impacted your lives and careers?

I think that worship is a very personal thing. If you've never
experience true worship on your own, it's very doubtful that
you'll experience it in a large group. If you need big music,
drums, lights, etc. to conjure up a "worshipful atmosphere" you
aren't worshipping, you are practicing magic. We try to be private
worshipers who worship corporately as well.

4. What is your definition of Praise & Worship music?

I love the story of the girl with the bad reputation who interrupted
one of Jesus' lunch dates with all of the pretty people of the time. How
she got into that house with her alabaster jar is a big question,
but she did nonetheless. While everyone else grumbled about
her being there, she knelt at the feet of Jesus and broke open
her jar. She spilled it onto his feet and anointed his head
with it. Then she hugged onto him and cried about the way she
lived her life. The Bible says her tears mixed with the perfume
and washed his feet. Then she let down her hair (a scandal of
it's own) and wiped his feet clean. That's how we think worship
should be. Broken open, poured out, clinging to the feet of
Jesus weeping about the way we are.

5. Will you briefly talk about the importance of Praise & Worship music in
the Christian society?

Humans were designed to commune with God and worship is a part
of that. but the important thing is that you become a person
who worships alone with god, just the two of you. That's what
we hope this record can help to accomplish in the lives of those
who listen.


OF ART AND WORSHIP
By Tim Suttle, Lead Singer for Satellite Soul
(c) 2000 Tim Suttle, all rights reserved


Remember when Al Gore claimed he'd created the internet? It rang so untrue
that even the his biggest supporters had to cry foul. No one likes it when
those not responsible take the credit for a great thing. And so it is in
the Christian music industry with the subject of worship music. Artist and
label exec's alike act as though they've brought worship into the
mainstream, all they while God cries foul.

Could it be that the "worship movement" that is happening in Christian music
circles is based in commerce? Think about it, do you really know the
Christian music label of today to take a big financial hit for ministry's
sake? If you really think they would, you are not living in the same
reality as the rest of us. They call it a worship movement because they
need a name for the fact that the powers that be figured out they can make a
lot of money by selling worship music. As a result they've begun to focus
on worship music with new energy. Calling it a movement just makes it sound
like a God thing.

THE REAL MOVEMENT

The desire to worship lies at the very heart of what it means to be human.
But that desire doesn't originate from within us, it originates from God
himself. It's not a man thing, but it has been a God thing for a few
thousand years. The simple truth is that our bodies are designed for
worship and they have been from the start. To claim that any man started a
new movement is to take the credit away from God, he made our bodies and our
souls to worship him. This is his gig not ours.

What can be described as a movement of God is the awakening of his people to
the pleasure of worshipping Him. Worshipping through song is not a new
concept, and using pop music to Glorify God isn't either. But the subtle
changes over the last twenty years have begun to shift the music of the
church toward the music of the culture. What that means is that more and
more people are beginning to mix their worship with their music and the
result is a massive awakening to the fact that worshipping God is what we
were designed for as humans. What did the writers of the Westminster
Confession of Faith claim was the duty of man? They said it was to "Glorify
God and enjoy him forever." That's what worship should be glorifying and
enjoying our God. The fact that we now associate worship with music doesn't
change the fact that worship isn't a musical genre. We are meant to worship
him and the soul of man longs for that contact in whatever form it may take
on, musical or not.


SMOKE AND MIRRORS

The lights go down and the crowd roars. The smoke machine has filled the
room and the superstars make their way to the stage...the music starts, the
intelligent lights chase around, the crowd roars...it's worship time! It's
worship time?

Now I'm not going to suggest that it's not possible to worship God at a
concert with loud music and great lights. No way, sometimes it's an amazing
thing to come together with thousands of people and just give it up to the
big guy. When that happens and it's based in reality, that can be a very
productive thing. But what happens if it's not based in reality? Is it
still pleasing to God? Worship lead by a moron is still worship isn't it?
But still, does that make it ok? The answer lies in the heart of the
worshipper.

In the modern evangelical Christian world, we are in danger of becoming
"serial eventists"; people hooked on the thrill and emotion of a live
worship experience. Celebrating our faith with a few worship songs that are
rocking tunes is praise. It's proclamation and that's good. But that
experiential sort of emotional catharsis is not to be mistaken for
worshipping God. It's certainly praise, but praise and worship aren't the
same thing. Worship should be sober and broken, like the woman breaking the
jar on Jesus' feet. It should be broken and pored out, clinging to the feet
of Jesus, weeping about the way we are. It should be poured out from a
heart that has confessed and stands before God with nothing to offer except
humble adoration.

But in most circles it's not. It's just a fluffy feel good emotional high
brought on by good art. Rich Mullins called the conjured prayer the
"practice of magic." It's empty with little or no spiritual significance in
the long haul. At one time Rich wouldn't even lead worship unless he could
do only slow songs because he thought the fast ones were just spiritual
cheerleading and he didn't have the stomach for it. "I got a lot out of
that worship time" is a phrase I hear a lot. My comment is always who
cares? Worship isn't about what we get out of it, what did God get out of
it? What are we to do when the worship leader possesses no musical talent
and the band stinks? It's then that we find people leaving thinking to
themselves "I didn't get anything out of that worship tonight." That is the
error, the music is irrelevant to the worship. Music is just the conduit.


How does one keep from this sort of shallow worship? One way to guard
against it is to become a private worshipper. Worship is and should be a
violently personal thing. For me to lead it well I need to attempt to
forget about the presence of other people around me. I find that is only
possible if I'm getting good private time to sing and worship God. Many
people never think to worship in song when they are by themselves but true
worship begins there. Without authentic private worship, there is little
likelihood of authentic worship corporately. One can pretend like they are
a good Christian and live like hell behind closed doors. The same thing
happens with worship as well. But a private worshipper can naturally open
themselves to vertical worship in any circumstance.

Another good way to guard against shallow worship is to make sure that those
who lead our worship teams are not only gifted musicians but gifted leaders
with the right hearts for worship. Not hearts for worship given by man, or
commerce but by God.

I believe that the bible teaches that worship is obedience, but not worship
leading. Bill Hybels, leader of one of the largest churches in America says
"Leadership is a spiritual gift - some people have it and some people
don't." I believe that worship leading follows this principle as well.
Just because you are a Christian and are a good player or singer, doesn't
mean you should lead worship.

For that matter, just because you are signed to a Christian label doesn't
mean you should lead worship. And just because lots of people perceive it
to be the new cool thing to do... that's a terrible reason to lead worship.
Don't pick worship leaders because they are cute, have nice legs, look good
on stage, fit the mold, have good smiles, good voices, or a cool Taylor
guitar. Worship Leadership is a spiritual gift. If you don't have it,
don't try to exercise it. We are all part of one body and the body has many
parts, but we've elevated the worship leading part to this level that is
fairly unhealthy.

The gifted worship leaders are the ones who get out of the way - ones you
hardly notice at all. When you are lead in worship by a gifted, and I mean
spiritually gifted, called, passionate worship leader, the music quickly
fades away and you are ushered into the presence of the one you are to
worship. All the money, marketing and label support in the world can't help
you fake that.

The arts and music in particular are very powerful forces. When unleashed
from a good heart, a heart concerned more about ministry than money, more
about truth than status, more about service than fame, more about people
than things...then and only then is music a powerful worship tool.



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Except where otherwise noted, (c) copyright 1999-2001 Destiny Music, Inc. All rights reserved.