PRESSING ON!

Snippet

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop 

your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to 

surrender, that is strength. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Scripture

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one 

thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching 

forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal 

for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore 

let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything 

you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 

Philippians 3:13-15 NKJV

Song

The Afters We Won't Give Up

http://youtu.be/Y2ddmincSys

Everywhere, everyday

All we hear is, all we hear is

Wait, it's not your time

Just get back in line

And they can try to knock us down

We've got our feet nailed to the ground

If you want to count us out, go ahead

But it's not over yet

We won't back down

We've gotta take our best shot

Give it all we got now

We won't back down

They say we'll never make it

But we're gonna take it all the way

We won't give up, we won't give up

We won't give up, we won't give up

With the clock running down

We're gonna leave our fears and failures all behind

This is our time

We'll reach till we touch the sky

We won't back down

We've gotta take our best shot

Give it all we got now

We won't back down

They say we'll never make it

But we're gonna take it all the way

We won't give up, we won't give up

We won't give up, we won't give up

We won't give up, we won't give up

We won't give up, we won't give up

We won't hold back and we won't slow down the pace

We wont let go and we won't call off the chase

We won't back down

We've gotta take our best shot

Give it all we got now

We won't back down

They say we'll never make it

But we're gonna take it all the way

We won't give up, we won't give up

We won't give up! We won't give up!

We won't give up, we won't give up

We won't give up! We won't give up!

We won't give up, we won't give up

They say we'll never make it

But we're gonna take it all the way

We won't give up!

Sentence Prayer

Lord God,

When you give to us your servants any great matter to do. 

Grant us ale to know that it is not the beginning,

but the continuing of it, until it is thoroughly finished

which yields true glory.  Amen   (A New Zealand Prayer Book pg 111)

JEALOUS GOD

Snippet

Proud defiance of God always brings disaster  

(Johnathan Cahn Harbinger pg 62  Expository Sermon 9, judgment and grace,” Isaiah 9:9-10:34 clifton hill press)

Scripture

The first time God spoke to Hosea he said:

“Find a whore and marry her.

    

Make this whore the mother of your children.

And here’s why: This whole country

    

has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, God.” 

Hosea 1:2 TMS

Song

 HOSEA BLUES SEAN MICHAEL

http://youtu.be/vLh99tbJOmc

My baby girl ain’t nothin’ but a fiery ho'

Wanderin’ places she never should go



Opens her legs to them mens so she won’t be po’



What she don’t know, is dem mens could never save her soul



My baby girl ain’t nothin’ but a cheatin’ mess

Unfaithfulness pourin’ out from her breasts.

Everytime my baby walk out that door

A pain sets in and it won’t let go

She keeps runnin’ away from the one who loves her the most.

Well I’m a jealous God (3x)

 I won’t share you with no one



Desperate times, they call fo’ them drastic measures

Well I’m so tired of you fillin’ your womb with them sinful 

pleasures

I’m about to show you girl, just what I will do

I’m about to show you girl just how much I love you

And if you’re not careful it just might kill you,

It might kill me too.

Well I’m a jealous God (3x)

I won’t share you with no one

I’ll do whatever it takes baby (3x) to have you back in my arms

Sentence Prayer

Father;

Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.

The time has come for the judgement to begin;  It is 

Beginning with God’s own household.  Amen  

(A New Zealand Prayer Book Pg 133)

DREAMS

Snippet

This is what separates artists from ordinary people: the belief, 

deep in our hearts, that if we build our castles well enough, 

somehow the ocean won't wash them away. I think this is a 

wonderful kind of person to be.” ― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: 

Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Scripture

‘In the last days,’ God says,

    ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

    Your young men will see visions,

    and your old men will dream dreams.

In those days I will pour out my Spirit

    even on my servants—men and women alike—

    

and they will prophesy.

And I will cause wonders in the heavens above

    and signs on the earth below—

    blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

The sun will become dark,

    and the moon will turn blood red

    before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord

    will be saved.’  Acts 2:17-21 NLT

Song

While We're Young 1 GIRL NATION

http://youtu.be/6Ym1j8qoKPo

We've all heard people talking about all 

the things that they regret

And what they would change to do it again

We know our story's just starting, so much is unwritten

We're gonna go right when the world goes left

Cause we don't wanna waste even one of these days

We're gonna save ourselves the heartache

We're not looking back on what we wish we'd done

We're gonna risk it all for one thing

And we're jesus while we're young, while we're young

There's gonna be some up times, there's gonna be 

some real steep climbs

So its here and now that we decide if we're gonna be 

ready for the days when life hits Hits hard

We're gonna know for sure now who we are

Cause we don't wanna waste even one of these days

We're gonna save ourselves the heartache

We're not looking back on what we wish we'd done

We're gonna risk it all for one thing

And live for Jesus while we're young, while we're young

We know who we are, a chosen generation

We know who we are, this our declaration

Cause we don't wanna waste even one of these days

We're gonna save ourselves the heartache

We're not looking back on what we wish we'd done

We're gonna risk it all for one thing

And live for Jesus while we're young

We're gonna save ourself he heartache

We're not looking back on what we wish we'd done

We're gonna risk it all for one thing

And live for Jesus while we're young, while we're young

Sentence Prayer

Lord, give us the imagination to dream and catch glimpses of the 

life you intend for us to live.  Show us how our individual lives are 

entwined with those around us, and help us to live so truly 

together that we embody your good news in this world.  

Amen (Common Prayer a Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals 2010 Zondervan pg 430)

ENCOUNTER

Snippet

The most important encounter in personal ministry is not peoples 

encounter with us.  But their encounter with Him.  We are simply 

called to set up that encounter.  Paul David Tripp (Building 

Bridges Not walls Jeff Rosenau NavPress Colorado Springs 

Colorado 2003 pg 23)

Scripture

On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, 

which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing 

away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says 

he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until 

now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and 

there is no cause for stumbling in him. 1 John 2:8-10

Song

They Like Me KJ-52/ Lucre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfES42vdfno

 [Intro: Lecrae (KJ-52)]

Aiyo KJ people are waiting for us to do something

(That's true)

Let's talk about the elephant in the room though man

(Let's do it!)

[Hook: Lecrae]

They like me forget about the color I might be

It's likely they just like me

We different but the same we covered by the blood of the King

[Verse 1: Lecrae]

I don’t do black music I don’t do white music

I do fight music unified in Christ music

Let's get right to it hear the music write to it

From the context of a black kid fighting through it

Some folks said it was worldly it was too good

Some folks was scared of it it was too hood

So I took it to the places who would embrace it

And sometimes believe it or not it was white faces

Am I a sellout assimilating what’s in my head

No I am Cyclops homie cause all I see is red

People covered in the blood are my Fam

And we don’t just relate we all related through the Lamb

My family tree is a lower case t (a Cross)

And we are all the same cause you need him like me

We different but the same and it’s likely

They just like me that’s probably why they like me

[Hook: Lecrae]

They like me forget about the color I might be

It's likely they just like me

We different but the same we covered by the blood of the King

They like me they like me they like me

They say we shouldn’t get along cause our different skin tones

But I promise you they oh so wrong oh so wrong

They like me

[Verse 2: KJ-52]

I got blue eyes light skin and some black curls

Grew up the white kid in a black world

When ya live and ya different well the facts hurt

Moved to the burbs and I don’t fit in that’s worse

I’m just a nerd getting chased home on my bike

After school fight lay in my bed cry at night

Hate the fact that my status read poor and white

And all the rappers I idolize tell me that I’m never right

Now my skin is light and I ain't fitting in

I’m on the outside of hip hop screaming let me in

I’m hooked up with sin hate the very skin I’m in

Cause every time I rhyme they like "look it's Eminem"

Looking back again I’s in the worst place

All I had was beastie boys and third bass

I’m the dude who always come down in 3rd place

Until I heard the story of Your Life and Your Grace

[Hook: Lecrae]

They like me, forget about the color I might be

It's likely they just like me

We different but the same we covered by the blood of the King

They like me, they like me, they like me

They say we shouldn’t get along cause our different skin tones

But I promise you they oh so wrong oh so wrong

They like me

[Verse 3: KJ-52]

So on the weekend started seeking looking for the meaning

Heard a pastor preaching couldn’t believe just what I’m seeing

Walked into a church of white blacks and Puerto Ricans

Without a single reason they loved on this little heathen

And with never speaking they just showed me simply

That Jesus is the only one to make me sin free

And beauty is the only thing that’s ever skin deep

I was lonely but a new family is what you give me

So really if we claim now to love the Son

Why we got to segregate Sunday 10-1?

So much to overcome now from what’s been done

But if starts with me (then what?) then I’ll be the one (Okay)

Now ya better run I’m stepping on ya toes

Got ya out ya comfort zone now ya out the boat

If we're a family then let’s grow now and make a home

Let them know you’re my brother no matter what the tone

[Hook: Lecrae]

They like me, forget about the color I might be

It's likely they just like me

We different but the same we covered by the blood of the King

They like me, they like me, they like me

They say we shouldn’t get along cause our different skin tones

But I promise you they oh so wrong oh so wrong

They like me

Sentence Prayer

Jesus

Each day remind me to let no debt go unpaid

Except the debt that bankrupts me

The debt to love each person as if

They were you.  Amen

WORLD SERIES

Snippet

Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines 

Satchel Page

Scripture

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue 

righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to 

which you were called when you made your good confession in 

the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11,12

Song

Say Hey the Treniers

http://youtu.be/UduDreaZq6c

He runs the bases like a choo-choo train

Swings around second like an aeroplane

His cap flies off when he passes third

And he heads home like an eagle bird.

Say hey, say who?

Say Willie

Say hey, say who?

Swinging at the plate

Say hey, say who?

Say Willie

That Giants kid is great

Sentence Prayer

A Baseball Player’s Prayer

God grant me wisdom, to tell a strike from a ball, 

to know where to throw and never to fall.

Keep me always in the base line, running straight 

and true and I'll look for your sign,

to stretch one into two.

God give me vision, to see every pitch,

so if a player needs help, then I will see which.

Let me always hustle, so I'll be at my best and 

take pride in myself, in sports and the rest.

God be my strength, when I throw the ball when 

I'm far from home plate, or against a wall.

So I never miss a base, please guide my feet, 

bring me home safely, so my job is complete.

When I help younger players, let me always give praise, 

so they'll see you in me,

in all of my ways.

God please guide our coach, to be fair and smart,

to teach us to be good, let it come from his heart.

Let me take a loss, just as well as a win, to do any less,

is surely a sin.

As long as I can play,

let me make my parents proud, as proud as I am,

when they yell MY name out loud.

However my games end, let me always have fun 

and if Heaven has All Stars, I want to be one.

When my games here are over and my seasons are 

done, let me play on your team. just like your Son.

Amen.

HURRICANE

Snippet

“In each age men of genius undertake the ascent. From below, 

the world follows them with their eyes. These men go up the 

mountain, enter the clouds, disappear, reappear, People watch 

them, mark them. They walk by the side of precipices. They 

daringly pursue their road. See them aloft, see them in the 

distance; they are but black specks. On they go. The road is 

uneven, its difficulties constant. At each step a wall, at each step 

a trap. As they rise the cold increases. They must make their 

ladder, cut the ice and walk on it., hewing the steps in haste. A 

storm is raging. Nevertheless they go forward in their madness. 

The air becomes difficult to breath. The abyss yawns below them. 

Some fall. Others stop and retrace their steps; there is a sad 

weariness. The bold ones continue. They are eyed by the eagles; 

the lightning plays about them: the hurricane is furious. No 

matter, they persevere.” Victor Hugo 

Scripture

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm Job 40:6

Song

Hurricane Natalie Grant

http://youtu.be/ttKnLwwHlig

You're spinning out of control again

Your life feels like a sinking ship

You're wondering how it came to this

Is it too late?

Is it too far?

For Him to reach you

And come to where you are

Step out on the edge

Don't be afraid of it

And when you feel the rain

Call His name

He'll find you in the hurricane

You're in the wreckage underneath

Your hope is buried somewhere deep

You're wondering how long it will keep?

It's never too late

Never too far

For you to reach out

And take a hold of love

Step out on the edge

Don't be afraid of it

And when you feel the rain

Call His name

He'll find you in the hurricane

Don't back down from the fight

He'll shelter you tonight

Just hold on for the change

Call His name

He'll find you in the hurricane

There's a place, there's a place you can run

When you fall, and it's all come undone

You'll be safe in the raging storm

So just let go

'Cause you are held in His arms

Step out on the edge

Don't be afraid of it

And when you feel the rain

Call His name

He'll find you in the hurricane

Ooo ooo...

And when you feel the rain

Call His name

He'll find you in a hurricane

Sentence Prayer

Father:

This is the day you have made, teach us to find Joy 

In your 86,400 second Gift

Whether pleasant or unpleasant 

Each day may we find one thing to be thankful for!

Amen

ONE THING

Snippet

Happiness is a place between too little and too much  

Finish Proverb Snippet

Scripture

I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived 

your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had 

no opportunity to show it.[h] 11 Not that I am referring to being 

in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 

12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have 

plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of 

being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being 

in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 

14 In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. 

Philippians 4:10-14

Song

One thing Rich Mullins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM-84FX_-c8

Everybody I know says they need just one thing 

And what they really mean is that they

need just one thing more 

And everybody seems to think 

They've got it coming 

Well I know that I don't deserve You 

Still I want to love and serve You 

More and more 

You're my one thing

Save me from those things 

That might distract me 

Please take them away and purify my heart 

I don't want to lose the eternal for 

The things that are passing 

'Cause what will I have when the world is gone 

If it isn't for the love that goes on and on with

CHORUS: 

My one thing, You're my one thing 

And the pure in heart shall see God 

You're my one thing 

You're my one thing 

And the pure in heart shall see God

Who have I in Heaven but You Jesus 

And what better could I hope 

To find down here on earth 

I could cross the most distant reaches 

Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time 

'Cause I'm certain already, I'm sure 

I'd find You're

CHORUS

Every night and every day 

You hold on tight 

Or you drift away 

And you're left to live 

With the choices you make 

Oh Lord please give me the strength 

To watch and work and love and sing and pray

'Cause who have I in Heaven but You Jesus? 

And what better could I hope 

To find down here on earth? 

Well I could cross the most distant reaches 

Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time 

'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find

You're my one thing (one thing) 

You're my one thing (one thing) 

And the pure in heart shall see God

Sentence Prayer

Lord, help us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to 

be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Give us a new 

imagination to that we might live in ways that do not compute to 

the logic of materialism and militarism.  Make un into holy 

nonconformists so that we might see the kingdoms of this world 

transformed into your glorious kingdom.  Amen  (Common Prayer 

a  Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals 2010 Zondervan pg 421)