Benediction

Okay, so I’ve essentially had the same song running through my head all day.  It’s the song we closed the services with this morning, Benediction (May the Peace).  It is of course a Getty hymn.  I think I’ve mentioned somewhere that since May, I’ve started listening to and adding to the services Keith and Kristyn Getty hymns.  If you don’t know who the Gettys are, you really ought to go out and buy one of their two cds, In Christ Alone or Awake the Dawn.  That, or do a search on Rhapsody.

Anyway, this particular hymn has this chorus:

And to Him be praise for His glorious reign;

From the depths of earth to the heights of heaven

We declare the name of the Lamb once slain—

Christ eternal, the King of Kings.

You really start to get a picture of what worship is here.  We look forward to when we are seated before the throne singing, worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive riches and honor and power and glory!  Beyond that, the Gettys have written for us a hymn celebrating the Kingdom and the King.  What is really interesting about this hymn though is that, the verses are a classic benediction, giving a blessing.  The verses are focused on the person receiving the blessing, yet the chorus reminds us that as we head out from church into our lives, our chief concern is that Christ receive all of the glory, honor and praise.

So, as you head out into the world this week, remember, your focus is on Christ, and may He be praised with our lives!

The Year Behind

I can’t believe that tomorrow is already 2010.  2009 seems to have just flown by so quickly that I’m not sure where it all went.  I thought I’d hit some of the high and low points of the year and maybe talk about what I learned.  I don’t know really, I’m kind of hoping this post will write itself.  I’m going to do as it comes to me.

As I look back on last year’s resolutions that happened to fall on the New Year, I missed every single point I had… Yep, just read through them, didn’t accomplish a single goal I had.  They were all good goals; I just don’t know where the time went.

At church, some of the biggies were the Worship Philosophy, the Easter Cantata, my first sermon, and the combined church picnic.  All went well, and overall, I really began to hit my stride at Grace this year.  That’s not to say I’m where I’d like to be with all aspects of my job, but looking back at 2009, we were able to accomplish a lot, and I pray Christ was exalted in all we did.

In my personal life, we lost Grandma this year.  Since I didn’t really know Grandpa, or any grandparents on my dad’s side, it was really tough to lose that generation.  We were able to spend the last couple of days with her, and then celebrate her life.  I never thought I’d witness a discussion mid-funeral about whether the Sywassinks were German or Dutch, but it turns out that all our lives we thought it was German, but it’s actually Dutch.

On the up side, we added to our family a couple of weeks ago.  Isaac Stanley was born on the 11th of December.  We’re trying to figure out this whole parenting thing, but it’s amazing how this little boy has touched and changed our lives.  Tomorrow’s the year ahead post will essentially write itself with looking ahead at year one of his life.

In a more random list, I didn’t read as much as I wanted this year, but did chew through some books.  The pastoral staff went to the BASICS pastor’s conference in May, and since then I’ve been a trifle obsessed with Getty music, but the church tolerates it well!  Jodie and I did get to go to the National Worship Leader’s Conference in July, and I can honestly say that I’m still grappling with some of the things that I learned there, and I look forward to returning again either this year or next.

As I alluded to earlier, I do have some regret about 2009.  There was just so much that I wanted to do that just didn’t get done.  I’m sure you have regrets as you look back too.  Below, I’ve posted a wonderful video from Igniter Media talking about regrets.  Despite that, I know that I’m on a journey pressing toward the goal, and sometimes I move along speedily, and sometimes God has to drag me a bit, but I know that my Lord is always with me and always bringing me along.  So, goodbye 2009.  I hope you had a blessed year, I know that I’ve been blessed far more than I ever deserve!

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2613815&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1