Archive for the ‘ministry’ Category

JESUS: More Than Enough

Mar 8

Posted by matt in Praise the Lord, ministry | No Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the concept of Jesus being “more than enough.” I know Tomlin’s popular “Enough” which talks about God being more than enough for us…but I’ve still been thinking about the concept. Definitely one of those “I know it’s true, but it’s such a crazy big concept, I want to sit inside it for a bit” moments.

I was drawn to John 6 – The Feeding of the 5,000 and how the disciples started with no food to feed all these people. Then a kid shows up with a few little buns and fish scraps and the disciples are thinking that could barely feed them let alone everybody else…but. Jesus says, it will be enough and then starts getting the food passed out.

How many times in our lives do we do that to ourselves? Look at the time to complete a task…”No way that’s enough.” Or maybe the strength to climb the big mountain in front of us “Don’t have enough.” Well, first reaction is usually right, at this is no different. You don’t have enough time, strength, money or whatever else it is you need. You think if Peter was like, “Okay everybody, I got some food here, everyone just take a small nibble as pass it along” hoping that at least he could feed a few dozen people and explain the shortage when the time came..?

Nope.

They were all like, “It’s not enough Jesus!” And what did Jesus say…It’s MORE than enough.

I’m not saying to leave late to work or go look for huge mountains to climb…but what I am saying is this. WHATEVER your facing. Lost keys, Lost job, Lost joy…He’s MORE than enough.

Popularity: 63% [?]

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Marriage & Men – Mark Driscoll

Aug 2

Posted by matt in Praise the Lord, life lessons, ministry | 3 Comments

Watched THIS sermon by Mark Driscoll on Marriage & Men…was profoundly impacted. Every man needs to watch this this with an open heart and mind!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Posted in Praise the Lord, life lessons, ministry | 3 Comments »

Public Service Announcement

Jul 28

Posted by matt in Album Review, Music, friends, just for fun, ministry | No Comments

hoperisingBack in Februray, I heard Fee’s “Glory to God Forever” for the first time. I IMMEDIATELY introduced it to Harvest Bible Chapel York Region.

1 Week ago, the single was released in the U.S
Today (because Canadian Itunes SUCKS) it was released in Canada.

My buddy Travis from iMinistries saw on Twitter that I was griping last week about not getting to download it, so being the RockStar that he is, he gifted me a copy of it from U.S Itunes.

Let me tell you…this song is UNBELIEVABLE. It points us to God…It gives us a glimpse of heavenly worship…but most importantly…it draws people to a place of self-less, Christ-focused WORSHIP!

If you haven’t already…buy it. Can’t wait for the full Album “Hope Rising” in the fall!

Popularity: 33% [?]

Posted in Album Review, Music, friends, just for fun, ministry | No Comments »

Why We Love to Hate

Jun 15

Posted by matt in Hands on Education, Praise the Lord, are you kidding me?, life lessons, ministry | No Comments

39817884_6989d161a2It’s really unfortunate…but isn’t it true. Admit it…don’t admit it…doesn’t matter to me.

We love to hate.

No one rants ON AND ON about what they love. Even look at my blog, your friends blog, your favorite speakers blog…controversy and disagreement is what turns the wheels.

Now I’m sure your already on the “disagreement and controversy are not bad…” and I agree. BUT. How often to we go a little to far? How often does a disagreement (theologically, politically, etc.) go from “agree to disagree” to “you’re an idiot…”

As I sit back and look at this a little more, we all know that the culture sets the trends for the market. MEANING: The reason why all of these dumb Reality T.V Shows exist…is because (secretly or not) we all watch them. The reason why McDonald’s is changing their menu to Green-friendly…healthy choices is because that’s what the market wants.

So when I look at the kind of hate-driven crap that’s on T.V (and this is coming from a guy that watches it) I need to ask myself…is it becoming more common on T.V because we simply LOVE TO HATE?

Shows like; Entertainment Tonight, TMZ, Inside Edition are all driven by finding people’s flaws and mistakes and raking them over national (sometimes International) television.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen an episode of TMZ when Harvey stands up there with his lame thermos mug telling his staff that he’s really impressed with the conduct of some young-gun celebrity.

As Christians, it is so easy to look at culture and be like “What is this world coming too?”

As Christians, we VERY quickly grab our blame-game stick and point it right in the face of the “church across town” or the preacher with just a little to much charisma for our liking…

We LOVE to see others stumble. Very few would verbalize that, but it’s true! Over-zealous Joe Worship-Leader drops his guitar…we’re glad he was “humbled.” High-flying Business Exec gets caught in a fraud scandal…”I knew he was up to no good!” Or how about a close friend gets promoted above you and then gets laid off a few months later…”Sucks to be him!”

All of these are internalized thoughts that we would NEVER say…(Luke 12:34…Acts 1:24…James 5:8)

I write this blog primarily for myself. I need to Rejoice in the successes of others and pray for them when they stumble and fall. Lord give me the faith to trust, the will to follow through and the grace to offer others, just as you have done for me!

Amen.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Posted in Hands on Education, Praise the Lord, are you kidding me?, life lessons, ministry | No Comments »

Hillsong United – Tear Down the Walls ALBUM REVIEW

Jun 14

Posted by matt in Album Review, Music, Praise the Lord, Very Cool!, life lessons, ministry | 3 Comments

0000768465127I have learned my lesson.
I have spoken too quickly before and had to retract my opinions.

Hillsong’s albums simply TAKE TIME TO LOVE.

So when Hillsong United came out with their latest album “Tear Down the Walls” I knew what to expect…

To date…after listening to each album after its release, I was left wanting more…always thinking that they could’ve done better.

SO. Rather than writing a post about their album 2 weeks ago when it came out that would’ve been summed up in the word “meh…” I waited.

As I write this post I’m sitting in my home office listening to “You Hold Me Now” (Track 9) and am FLOORED by not only the musicality of it (multiple layers of “out of the park” melodies) but more importantly the depth of the lyrics.

I am now into the digesting portion of listening (yes there is a graph I have developed for listening to HIllsong records).

I am really liking the title track “Tearing Down the Walls” as well.

The album itself is very reminiscent of early Hillsong while sticking with the ColdPlay-Rock they broke out in their last album.

All this to say. Hillsong United have done it again. They’ve written a bunch of songs for the church AND for my own personal worship time.

They are songs that reach deep into the hearts of worshipers and cling to both the truth that we WANT to sing and the spirit that HELPS us sing to the God we desire to PRAISE.

Hillsong United’s “Tear Down the Walls”

Pick it up!

P.S. LOVED the re-take of “Your Name is High”

::Woah Woah Woah::

Popularity: 32% [?]

Posted in Album Review, Music, Praise the Lord, Very Cool!, life lessons, ministry | 3 Comments »

Mac Geeks Unite

Jun 8

Posted by matt in Hands on Education, Praise the Lord, are you kidding me?, friends, life lessons, ministry, tech-stuff | No Comments

Picture 4Thus far, I have never seen 1 online event that is as widely followed as today’s big Apple Meeting.  Here’s a picture I snapped on my twitter to demonstrate how Apple owned the day…
Below is a snapshot of what the “pre-chat” on Apple Insider dot com looked like.

Pretty brutal in terms of what people get excited for.  Check out the bottom one…the guy “couldn’t sleep” the night before. Joking or not, it’s pretty sad when people idolize technology like this.  But here’s the thing…I’m just as bad!  Am I stoked about the new “copy/paste” feature on the new operating system (OS)…YES!  I was convicted today via Apple.  I had a sweet chat with my buddy @CaptainCool about tech stuff, ministry and everything in between. It is refreshing to talk about tech stuff in the context of our faith (i.e how can I use technology as a resource to spread the gospel), BUT the bridge between resource and idol is not large.Picture 2
I get excited about technology sometimes…

I need to get JUST as excited about stuff that matters! At the end of my life…no iphone app, new car or cool tie will be there, just me and my Saviour…I need something more to say than…”my itunes library was SUPER up-to-date and I had great hair…”

16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
19they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance. Psalm 37:16-19

Popularity: 11% [?]

Posted in Hands on Education, Praise the Lord, are you kidding me?, friends, life lessons, ministry, tech-stuff | No Comments »

Weekend Review

Mar 30

Posted by matt in Music, Praise the Lord, Weekend Review, friends, fun times, ministry | 1 Comment

weekend-review-header4GREAT day @ Harvest York Region this past Sunday.

A friend of mine Jake McKee came with me to play electric. I knew that we had a great set going in, and the people responded during the time of worship. It is always such a great moment when a truth-filled son is sung by people that WANT to be there! Here’s how it all went down…

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Holy, Holy, God Almighty – C
Beautiful Jesus – A
Glory to God – B
Jesus Paid It All – B

ANNOUNCEMENTS/OFFERING
Jesus, You Are Worthy – D

MESSAGE
Karl Whittingstall – Acts 12 “God’s Power”

RESPONSE
Mighty to Save – A

As per usual, this is part of Fred McKinnon’s deal-eo

Popularity: 13% [?]

Posted in Music, Praise the Lord, Weekend Review, friends, fun times, ministry | 1 Comment »

Weekend Review

Mar 9

Posted by matt in Weekend Review, fun times, hailey, ministry | 2 Comments

weekend-review-header2This weekend was the Elder Commissioning service @ York Region. It was great to be back for a Sunday, especially for such a huge event in the churches history. Here’s how the whole service went down…

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Not to Us – A
Nothing But the Blood – A
Your Name – B

ANNOUNCEMENTS/OFFERING
Shout to the Lord – B

MESSAGE
Psalm 139 – “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands”

It is Well – B

ELDER COMMISSIONING

RESPONSE
The Stand – A

This is a part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Set Lists

Popularity: 5% [?]

Posted in Weekend Review, fun times, hailey, ministry | 2 Comments »

Big Weekend

Mar 6

Posted by matt in Praise the Lord, RandR, family, friends, fun times, hailey, life lessons, ministry | No Comments

weekend_smThis weekend is a big one. An exciting one. A relaxing one. I will meet some new people, play some songs and praise the Lord.

This Sunday the York Region Elders are being commissioned. I am going back to lead worship as my first time not on staff but as a ‘guest’…that will be interesting.

Hailey and I are going down to Markham tomorrow and staying in a hotel overnight. This will be a great little ‘getaway’ and will also limit the drive in the morning (yahoo!).

All that said. I am looking forward to the weekend, and am expectant for the Lord to do big things!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Posted in Praise the Lord, RandR, family, friends, fun times, hailey, life lessons, ministry | No Comments »

Weekend Done

Mar 1

Posted by matt in RandR, Weekend Review, family, friends, fun times, hailey, just for fun, ministry | 2 Comments

This weekend Hailey I and went to London, Ontario for visit family.

We had a great time with her brother and my grandparents. This morning we went to Harvest London. I have some great friends on staff there. I always feel at home when I go there, and often leave feeling like I could easily call it my home church (and would if it wasn’t 2 hours away). After church we hit an all-you-can-eat sushi joint with Hailey’s family and my brother.

This morning Steve Toombs (the worship guy @ Harvest London) did a good job leading and focusing the people on coming before the Lord in a time of song.

Here is how some highlights…

Opening/Call to Worship

Our God Saves
Come Thou Fount (alternate arrangement)
Happy Day
Everthing (Hughes)

Message (Joshua 3)

Everlasting God

It is always great being a part of the congregation. This is something that I’m not overly familiar with (because in past I am usually leading), but definately something that I will get used to as I move away from my role @ Harvest York Region, and back into the congregation @ Harvest Oakville.

This is part of Fred’s thang @ Sunday Set Lists.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Posted in RandR, Weekend Review, family, friends, fun times, hailey, just for fun, ministry | 2 Comments »

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