- BECCA MUSIC INC.
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- BECCA MUSIC INC.
Issue 15 | 2014 JESUS CHRIST FRANCIS CHAN A CRAZY KIND OF LOVE ABOVE ALL, THROUGHOUT ALL Salvation is found in no one else, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. ACTS 4:12 E S T E R LY N WEAVING WORSHIP INTO A WOUNDED WORLD ISRAEL HOUGHTON AND NEW BREED N o M ista k es A ll R emade VICTORY WORSHIP ON RA D ICA L LOVE F E S T I V A L iss u e N O OTH ER N A M E FRANCIS CHAN A CRAZY KIND OF LOVE there’s not this desperate cry like, ‘God, I feel like I walk into service and I feel it’s so dead. God, I got to have your power, I got to have your presence, and maybe I substituted that for just going through the service over another weekend. “How many times do we have services and events where we quote Him, will say things about Him, but is He really behind it? Is He the one really moving through a person and saying these things or are we just standing up here representing Him and we’re harmless, we’ll quote Him, we’ll say good things but is He the power behind it?” This desire to have complete and utter reliance on God extends to Chan’s personal life as well. DOWNSIZING FOR LOVE Y ou might have watched a video or seen a quote of his unapologetically straightforward preaching. You might have read one of his best-selling books “Crazy Love”, “Forgotten God”, and “Multiply”. You might even have seen a video of him speaking at a major conference somewhere across the globe. But do you really understand what’s being said by this man called Francis Chan? Behind the success and acclaim, beyond the name recognized by churches worldwide, is someone who continuously directs people to the only one who is trulu worthy of fame—Jesus Christ. With every book and every sermon talking about God, Chan is highly aware of drawing people’s attention away from himself and Heavenward. His very lifestyle and demeanor reflects that of a man who is completely and utterly humbled before the incomparable presence of God, that he would do what seems like the craziest acts out of love for Him. ABANDONMENT OF SELF Four years ago, Chan had reached the peak of his “career” as a pastor of a 4,000-member megachurch in California. He was a recognized and sought-after speaker at major conferences, had written two best-sellers and launched a DVD teaching series. Then he dropped everything and left for Asia to avoid the fame he was experiencing. “Even in my own church I heard the words, ‘Francis Chan’ more than I heard the words, ‘Holy Spirit’,” Chan said in an interview with CNN.com. He became concerned that people were coming to service because of his popularity as a pastor and author. Led by the Holy Spirit, this conviction prompted him to do what would be unthinkable for many pastors, but speaks of his integrity as a servant of God. With a reputation held against God’s standards instead of the world’s, Chan isn’t afraid to call others out when he sees that something is wrong. In the middle of his speaking engagement at Southern Baptist Church’s two-day Pastors’ Conference last June, Chan cut prayers short. He expressed his concern over the pastors having no true desire to go deeper in their relationship with Christ, saying, “I’m seeing a lot of ritual, a lot of faithfulness over the years but I’m concerned that Despite his success as a pastor, speaker and best-selling author, Chan gives away 90% of his income, doesn’t accept a salary from his church, and has donated most of his book royalties, which total more than $2,000,000, to various charities. Much of his donations go to organizations that rescue victims of human trafficking, and raise awareness of the issue. It isn’t easy for Chan either—he has a big family composed of his wife Lisa and four children living in a modest neighborhood. And even their simple, tight living quarters is offered up as a shelter for those in need. They have had as many as seven houseguests finding shelter under their roof. This kind of lifestyle is Chan’s way of reacting to God’s love for them, and their love for other people. His desire to give as much as he could began in 2002. Back then, the Chan family lived comfortably in a middle-class lifestyle. A visit to Uganda that year had Chan encountering severe poverty and hopelessness. The image of starving children roaming the streets haunted him. He talked it over with his wife and made a decision to find the cheapest way to live, offering up their possessions and future income to reach out to people in their community and beyond. R E V E A L I N G PA I N F U L TRUTHS Chan is a man whose convictions are struggled with, prayed about, and followed through. And what’s more, he shares these convictions in his sermons and books with so much honesty, that it’s often painful to hear these Bible-based truths revealed. “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” Concerned about your career and worldly successes? Chan writes, “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” Still have those little sins you’re unwilling to let go of? Chan writes, “Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.” Always asking why God lets things happen? Chan writes, “Can you worship a God who isn’t obligated to explain His actions to you? Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation?” Afraid to completely devote yourself to following God’s will? Chan writes, “He wants all or nothing. The thought of a person calling himself a ‘Christian’ without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd.” And these quotes are all just from his first book, “Crazy Love”. But though Chan often points out issues that need to be addressed, he always begins and ends with a simple concept: God is love. Crazy, relentless, allpowerful love. As Chan points out in his book, God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts—it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, you will never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything. “He wants all or nothing.” Chan isn’t the one you should be looking at, but he can be an example of someone so completely, passionately in love with God, that he lives a crazy kind of life just to bring glory to His name. Sources: Chan, Francis. Crazy Love. Samuel, Stephanie. “Francis Chan to So. Baptist Pastors: Where’s Your Desire for Christ?” Christian Post. “Crazy Passion” Christianity Today. Ridgeway, Michael. “Love as a Lifestyle” Thriving Family. G R O W I N G I N FA I T H R e s o u r c e s CRAZY LOVE FORGOTTEN GOD It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you’ve verbalized it yet or not, we all know something’s wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts—it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything. In the name of the Father, the Son, and ... the Holy Spirit. We pray in the name of all three, but how often do we live with an awareness of only the first two? As Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit—the Helper—so that we could be true and living witnesses for Christ. Unfortunately, today’s church has admired the gift but neglected to open it. Breakthrough author Francis Chan rips away paper and bows to get at the true source of the church’s power—the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we’ve ignored the Spirit for far too long, and we are reaping the disastrous results. Thorough scriptural support and compelling narrative form Chan’s invitation to stop and remember the One we’ve forgotten, the Spirit of the living God. YOU AND ME FOREVER Marriage is great, but it’s not forever. It’s until death do us part. Then come eternal rewards or regrets depending on how we spent our lives. In his latest book, Francis Chan joins together with his wife Lisa to address the question many couples wonder at the altar: “How do I have a healthy marriage?” Setting aside typical topics on marriage, Francis and Lisa dive into Scripture to understand what it means to have a relationship that satisfies the deepest parts of our souls. Jesus was right. We have it all backwards. The way to have a great marriage is by not focusing on marriage. Whether you are single, dating or married, You and Me Forever will help you discover the adventure that you were made for, and learn how to thrive in it. Basic Series 7-Film Collection The BASIC Collection is the complete 7-film series produced by Flannel, featuring Francis Chan. The BASIC short film series, through Chan’s teaching, challenges us to reclaim the simple, full, and beautiful journey of the church that is described in Scripture. In these films, Chan asks the questions many are wondering about: What is church? Who is it for? Is it broken? Can it be better? “If I only had this as my guide . . . if all I had was the Bible . . . and I was to read this book and start a ‘church,’ what would it look like?” asks Francis Chan in the BASIC series. “Would it look like the thing we have built here and all refer to as church? Or would it look radically different?” The BASIC Collection features seven reflection guides, bonus features, and all seven films, including: Fear God, Follow Jesus, Holy Spirit, Fellowship, Teaching, Prayer, and Communion. O T H E R T I T L E S BY F R A N C I S C H A N : Erasing Hell Multiply Stop Erasing Hell Workbook Remembering the Forgotten God Workbook Living Crazy Love Workbook NO OT H E R JESUS CHRIST ABOVE ALL, THROUGHOUT ALL NAME He is named as the #1 most significant figure in all of history according to TIME Magazine. Thousands have rejected him and even thousands more worship him. Whether you believe in him or have doubts about him, JESUS CHRIST has made a name all throughout the times of humanity. Almost everyone has heard of him and know about his story. There arises much mystery and controversy regarding who he actually is and what makes him significant to us. This is the pursuit of the TRUTH about JESUS CHRIST on why Acts 4:12 boldly declares “Salvation is ARIANISM (4th century) found in no one else, Docetic, which comes from the Greek word meaning “to appear” claimed that Jesus was not really human for there is no other but only appeared to be so—only being a spiritual being. name under heaven ADOPTIONISM given to mankind by (2nd-3rd century) Claims on Jesus as not God but merely a man which we must be being to whom special graces had been given and who achieved a kind of divine saved.” status at his baptism —an adopted son of God instead of the only begotten Son. THE ATTACK ON JESUS’ IDENTITY on h i s f u l l d i v i n i t y an d f u l l h u man i t y GNOSTICISM (1st - 2nd century) Claimed that salvation was not a way by which human beings could be reconciled with God; it was through knowledge (gnostic, meaning “to know”) of one’s divine identity—an awakening that held that matter is evil and hostile to the human spirit drawing a distinction from the spirit a b r i e f v i e w o f some anc i ent f a l se realm. b e l i e f s t w i st i n g the tr u th a b o u t the HERESIES name an d p erson o f j es u s C H R I S T What’s in a name? It always represents someone or something. Today, people would see it as mainly a title to refer to a subject; something by which someone is called or addressed. For most people, a name is merely made up of letters put together to signify one word; for others, it is just an utterance of different syllables to combine into a sound and the rest see it as a word that is put in place with other words to create some sort of meaning. Still, for some people, it represents something more: a story unfolding with different parts coming together. It is said that a name is the sum of all that you are including what you’ve done, where you’ve been, how you’re living, and where you’re headed. What’s in your name? Do you know the meaning of your name? Looking deeper, do you know the purpose behind your name? When we look at the rich history of our times from ages past up until the present, there have been many names that have touched us in varied ways. These names have left us a mark, told us a story, imprinted us with a persona, garnered us a legacy, and even names that have been the source of our very identity. Whether it be your very own hero, an example you look up to, or a role model you would like to become, these names are the ones we place our trust in. When we think of hope, we try to see it in them. When we look forward to a future, we yearn to have it through them. When we are searching for purpose, we tend to gravitate towards them. Even when we strive to understand the meaning behind our lives, we ask them for it. We ultimately place our trust for salvation in these names. Personalities. Monuments. Ideologies. Institutions. Rules. Philosophies. Religions. Rituals. Beliefs. Heroes. Models. Cultures. Foes. Examples. Knowledge. Icons. Idols. Promises. On another perspective, it’s in our own names that we sometimes try to earn these things. We say we are going to “make a name” for ourselves in the hopes of somehow creating our own story, leaving our own mark in history, or just simply be known for our personality. Striving for self-wroth and value, we build up our own names and try to create a good reputation for ourselves. But what is the end of all these things? Will it really matter 20, 50, or even 100 years from now how we’ve tried to define our own lives through our names or the names of others? DOCETISM Docetic, which comes from the Greek word meaning “to appear” claimed that Jesus was not really human but only appeared to be so— only being a spiritual being. “In the beginning, God…” is what you will read in the very first chapter of the very first book of the Bible. This is enough to start an exclamation in the word of God, with the very first subject that is in itself, the name of God. This declarative proclamation of God’s name proves to us that He alone is the beginning and end of all things, the alpha and the omega, in which everything is created, sustained, maintained, and brought to completion. From the get-go, it was always about Him in every way and the ultimate design and destiny of all created beings was to worship the Great Name of this Great God. The opposite has happened throughout the story of creation, our world, and our existence—you will see it looking through scripture in the old testament and the new testament. Created beings including humans and fallen angles, have chosen to worship names of another either to worship themselves, the names of others, or even their own name. In this effort, these beings conceived of false beliefs and false truths to make sense out of their existence. Some have tried to be “like God” (to be His equal) as seen in the fall of Lucifer (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28). Similarly, the choice of the first humans, Adam and Eve, to be “like God” with the temptation of the serpent led to their disobedience of God’s command for their own good and resulted to the curse of humanity in sin and death (Genesis 3:1-24). All the way through the History of Israel, many propagators of false religions and cults have emerged to lead the people of God away from Him. The godly Judges, true Prophets, down to the righteous Kings from the Lord spoke against such false practices, combated pagan influences, and tirelessly bashed the false gods that the people were worshiping. Even throughout much of the time during Jesus’ earthly ministry and even after He ascended, there was already a proliferation of fake followers (Romans 16:18; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15), false prophets (Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1), twisted messages (Romans 16:17; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Timothy 4:3) and even counterfeit miracles (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). At the time of the first church, the Apostles were already battling heresies and false beliefs that led to the worship of man instead of worshiping the one true God. Here is a quick view of some of the falsities that were plaguing the early church and even throughout church history. Is there a name in which HOPE is found? Is there a name where the FUTURE is formed? MARCIONISM Is there a name where PURPOSE is sought? The heretical and cliched belief that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New, with the former being wrathful and the latter being good. The result was a creation of a personal canon apart from the Bible and selected scriptures based on this belief system (excluded the entire OT and included only Luke’s Gospel and a number of selected epistles of Paul). A name in which meaning is brought? A name by which salvation is given? CHRIST JESUS MONTANISM We’ve seen all the names come and go: from all of the A heretical movement that professed belief in a new “Church people who have tried to make a name for themselves-of the Spirit”. The Montanists believed they enjoyed the direct either for the propagation of good or evil. Over the test of time inspiration of the Holy Spirit with the view that their and through the filter of eternity, all of these names have fallen short prophecies carried the authority of the gospels and of apostolic teaching. This claim meant to provide any sense of meaning or significance. All of these names, including that their fanatically rigorous views YOURS will fall short. concerning morality superseded the authentic revelation of Try as you might to save your very life, nothing you do will ever suffice. We try to ascribe our Christ that had been lives to these names as they attempt to give us the “best life now” but none of these have ever handed down in the Church. succeeded, proven, or tried. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one“ (Romans 3:10) MODALISM A form of Trinitarian heresy of the second and third centuries, Modalism held that there is only one Person in God, who manifests himself in various ways, or modes. Not until HE came, God’s ONLY SON. He was sent so that many of us who were once at a loss can be won. It is only Christ Jesus who lived perfectly far above beyond any person in history. He lived a sinless life and paved the way for us to discover the truth, love, and mercy in the God the Father. He is 100% God and 100% Man, and he bore our wickedness on the cross. He said, for all those who lose their lives, eternal life they will gain No Other Name is the way, THE truth, and THE life For you He endured the struggles, trials, and the pain There is no other who paves the way A LOVE SO TRUE that will always remain His is the only NAME that can SAVE No Other Name touches billions of lives every generation No Other Name whose blood has cleansed us and brought redemption No Other Name is a gracious gift and a controversial scandal No Other Name who lived and died, so that we may live in eternity To be one with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the Trinity No Other Name whose fame is holy and divine The KING of ALL, who sacrificed ALL The Name that is above every name At the very sound, that every knee shall bow Eternal, the name that will forever remain SALVATION IS FOUND IN NO OTHER NAME. THE BEREAN call References: http://www.churchhistory101.com/century2-p5.php http://www.thebereancall.org/content/ancient-future-heresies-0 http://www.febc.edu.sg/assets/pdfs/studyresource/heresies.pdf http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/Ancient%20Church%20History.council%20of%20 chalcedon.pdf http://cgi.org/heresies-ancient-and-modern/ http://www.examiner.com/article/on-ancient-heresies-their-modern-counterparts http://tamedcynic.org/top-ten-heresies-and-remedies-for-them-10-again/ http://ideas.time.com/2013/12/10/whos-biggest-the-100-most-significant-figures-in-history/ Watch it on Share Jesus online. Ever tried to describe Jesus to someone? The breadth and depth of His character surpass all human understanding. As God in the flesh, Jesus was someone this Earth had never seen before. http://www.yesheis.com/en/v/thats-my-king Most Christians today are ignorant of these false teachings and counterfeit gospels. Our culture provides that we have “accepting views” on those who would disagree with us but the truth remains to be found. Some of these heresies are still in existence even today but are just packaged in a better and more enticing manner. Its all the same lies but they go by another name. If one is not wary of what is currently being spread in our circles, one can easily succumb to false teachings and even follow false “christs”. “ H e r e sy therefore, is a p t ly r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e d e l i b e r at e denial of revealed truth coupled w i t h t h e a c c e p ta n c e o f e r r o r . ” Lets be like the Berean believers who “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed” (Acts 17:11b-12a). God’s word is already accessible to us and we need only to examine the scriptures to see whether what a speaker, preacher, or teacher is saying is actually true and in accordance to the word of God found in the Bible. Adversely, it’s easy to blame and point the finger at these heresies and the people that propagate such false or half truths. What we miss to ask ourselves is if we, by the very way that we live and speak, are actually modernday heretics who abuse and twist the Word of God, remain stubborn in our disobedience, refuse to listen to wise Godly counsel, and try to justify our own preconceived notions just so that we can come up with something that is comfortable, convenient, and custom-fit for us as individuals. In our rapidly polarizing society, we need biblical truth that impacts our very lives. Truth that pertains to the nature of our triune God, the true identity of Jesus Christ being both fully God and fully man, the doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, the bodily resurrection of Christ Jesus in defeat sin and death, the resurrection of all believers, and the impending Second Coming of the King. Jesus already warned us that there will be many who will try to bring in their names to mislead us, but with the sovereign hand of the Father aiding us, along with Jesus on our side, the Holy Spirit providing discernment, and the Bible as our highest authoritative guide, we can walk through the darkest of times with the light of God’s truth shining bright. ISRAEL HOUGHTON NO MISTAKES A L L R EM A D E Much is known about the music of multi-award winning Christian artist Israel Houghton: With powerful songs like “Friend of God”, “You Are Good”, “Your Presence is Heaven” and “Jesus at the Center”, Houghton has become a favourite among Gospel and contemporary Christian music alike both in churches and on radio airplay. But before there was Israel Houghton, the internationally celebrated multi-award winning artist, there was Israel, a young boy born out of wedlock who faced rejection within his family. “My mother is white. My biological father is black. When my mother was 17, she got pregnant. They lived in Waterloo, Iowa, which at the time in 1971 was a very segregated society. She came home and told her parents, ‘I’m pregnant and the father is black’.” Houghton said in an interview with the 700 Club. “…[Their] suggestion was, ‘Have an abortion. Move on with your life.’” Instead, she decided to keep her baby with her parents shunning her for a long time after that. When she was eight months pregnant, she and Israel’s father split up. She was at a point where she was on drugs, pregnant with a black man’s baby, and the state of California about to take him away because she was considered an unfit mother. “God’s sovereignty knew what was going on and made it such that this lady came up to her out of the blue and said, ‘I don’t know you, and I don’t want to give you a hard time, but I was driving by and I really felt that I needed to come tell you Jesus loves you. You’re not forgotten. You did the right thing. It’s going to be all right,’” said Houghton. His mother got down on her knees and gave her life to the Lord right on the street because of those words. “I’m here today because of that woman’s faithfulness to God to share the gospel with my mother,” he said. With the new life she received through Christ, Houghton’s mother brought him up on her own and even introduced him to his grandparents later on. However, {COMMUNE} “I felt like an accident. I felt like a mistake.“ the stigma of having an African American father troubled his relationship with them. “When I was 7, I met my grandfather for the first time, who was the same guy who told my mother, ‘You got to move on.’ I saw my cousins and my younger siblings running up and jumping on his lap and hanging out. A great time was being had by all. So I thought, Let me do the same thing,” said Houghton. “Well, I ran and jumped up on his lap, and the next thing I knew, I was on my back. He had pushed me to the ground. He had still not been able to make peace with this cultural thing. I just said, ‘What’s wrong with me? Why?’” As Israel was growing up, the circumstances of his birth haunted him. It was only in the intimacy of worship with God that he found his true purpose in this life. “You want to think you’ve moved on from that, but at the same time, in the intimacy of worship with God, [the past] affected me. I realised, You’ve gone through all of this, not to hurt you but to shape you, to be acquainted with the pain that a lot of people feel. “…When you read Psalm 139, it throws out all the ‘I’m here accidentally’ stuff that I believed for so long. I felt like an accident. I felt like a mistake. But when you understand, ‘I’m fearfully and wonderfully made; I’m skillfully crafted; how precious are your thoughts toward me; how marvelous are your works’—when you start considering all that and going, okay, I didn’t just sneak into the earth, I was created for something great. The more I dwell on that, the more I meditate on that, the more I share that with people who want to hear it, the better I feel about why I’m here.”The experiences Houghton went through as a young boy, and his continuous journey with God has enabled him to compose God-dwelling songs that create a deep, emotional connection with audiences worldwide. When asked about “You’ve gone through all of this, not to hurt you but to shape you, to be acquainted with the pain that a lot of people feel.” what he wants people to take home from his music, Houghton said, “Ultimately hope, which ultimately leads to transformation. I believe worship has the power to change.” Certainly, his music has given hope to countless people for more than a decade. With over two dozen albums and collaborations, Israel Houghton together with New Breed, has impacted the world greatly—overcoming cultural and denominational barriers, and creating worship songs that have revolutionized the sound of contemporary praise and worship. All proving that there are no mistakes in God’s sovereign plan. T he SAVED Community gathered its members for the second SAVED Commune last August 20 at Kanto in Podium. Both attendees of the first Commune and new attendees were treated to an introduction of SAVED’s HYMN advocacy: Humanitarian, Youth, Music and Nations. Continuing the theme of worshipping outside of church walls, this second gathering focused on their “Music” advocacy. Guest speaker Toby Huyssen, frontman and lead singer of Gloryfall, talked about the impact of music in a message titled “Worshipping in Rhythm With God”. Huyssen stressed the importance of music as a medium of sharing the Gospel, and as a way for believers to be encouraged and refreshed in their walk with God. At the end of the program, every attendee was equipped with the tools they would need to start moving forward as Ambassadors of SAVED. The SAVED Team would like to thank everyone who came and had fellowship with us that day! If you would like to join our next SAVED Commune, please send an email to [email protected]! Israel Houghton and New Breed will be joining SAVED Festival 2014 this October 11, 2014 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. Sources: Kristi Watts and Julie Blim. The 700 Club. “Israel Houghton: An Intimate Portrait of Worship” http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/700club_ IsraelHoughton_041205.aspx WHO JESUS IS. WHAT HE’S done. who we are in him. 2015 Jesus Festival has one goal: to lift up the name of Jesus with all believers, united as one heart, one voice and one Body. It is a celebration that starts and ends with Jesus. Jesus Festival is all about who Jesus is, what He has done and who we are in Him. Speakers: Pastor Rob Rufus, City Church International Jocel Evangelista, New Life The Fort Philip Mantofa, Mawar Sharon Church Thomas Aleskjaer, Oslo Christian Center WEAVING WORSHIP INTO A WOUNDED WORLD by Ganns Deen W hen Idaho worship band Esterlyn released its sophomore major-label album, Woven, in 2012, Luke Caldwell, Elias Kamplain, and Steven Arthur set out to make an album that read like a musical version of Psalms, putting God on His much-deserved throne and giving Him the glory He deserves. “These songs are about God’s character,” frontman and guitarist Caldwell shares. “We want to share with these new songs that in the midst of hardship and pain, we can trust that He has our best interest in mind.” Esterlyn’s songs do ring true to the band’s vision, taking passages from Scripture and placing God’s virtues and values on full display. “Everyday Your Love is New,” the first single off Woven, focuses on how God’s love is not based on our good works, and reminds us that there are many ways to experience that love daily. “Holy” celebrates the majesty of God, while “We Exalt You” does exactly that, inviting God’s people to honor Him in song. While several songs throughout the album have a special calling to usher people into the presence of God, it’s the songs of healing and redemption that speak to the hearts that need God the most. “God of Compassion,” for example, reads like a confessional from an aching “God’s radical love for us demands your radical response.” “We love to lead worship and be a part of seeing God move in people’s lives. At the end of the day to us that is what matters.” heart: “Who am I, what have I done, that You love me through Your Son?” The band’s passion to put Jesus first has, ironically, won the band recognition from fans and the industry. “Freedom is Here,” the band’s 2010 cover of the original by Hillsong, was the ninth most-played song at leading Christian radio station Air1 Radio. The band has toured with Christian rock groups Kutless and Fireflight, as well as opened for The City Harmonic, Relient K and Switchfoot at Joshua Fest 2012. Two years after the release of Woven, Esterlyn, named after Caldwell’s adopted Chinese niece, finally released its follow-up to Woven last August. Titled Love, the songs celebrate and explore the love of God. It is the band’s goal “to love God and to love people with a little bit of music thrown in there,” they say. “We love to lead worship and be a part of seeing God move in people’s lives. At the end of the day to us that is what matters.” “G od’s radical love for us demands your radical response.” These words spoken by Victory movement founder Pastor Steve Murrell dictates the core theme of Radical Love, the first live worship album by Victory Worship. As Cathy Go, the singer of the album’s title track “Radical Love”, puts it, “The word itself, ‘Radical’— His radical love for us.…Patay na kung patay talaga. Pag na-gets mo, pag nakuha mo yung ginawa ni Lord for you on the cross, sold out ka talaga. Talagang gagawin mo ang narin lahat para sa kanya.” Hailing from different Victory satellites across Metro Manila, Victory Worship is a group of worshipers coming together under the missional flag of their church to create music that honors God and makes disciples. Since 1993, Victory Church has been creating recordings of praise and worship songs. Radical Love is their first album that aims to represent Filipino worship music in the international contemporary Christian music scene. “Victory Worship is the Filipino expression of what God’s doing in our midst. And one of the reasons we formed it in recent times, in the last few months, is because Victory just celebrated its 30th anniversary,” said Pastor Julius Fabregas, Executive Producer of Radical Love. “We wanted to do an album that would be distributed worldwide primarily for the Every Nation family, and to celebrate God’s faithfulness to Victory as a movement for the past 30 years.” Radical Love has 11 tracks sung by seven different worship leaders, each from a different satellite of Victory. With an astonishing track list of world-class songs, Radical Love is right on par with albums produced by heavy-hitters like Hillsong, Planetshakers, Jesus Culture and Elevation Worship. Drummer and songwriter Lee Brown said of the album, “I believe it’s going to be a set of songs that all of us, even the ones who made it, can really look back to. It’s going to be a statement, it’s going to be a declaration of our resolve as followers of Jesus. This is what we want to give as a pleasing sacrifice to our God. And we want our songs communicated that way. When we sing our songs, we want people to not see us, but to see themselves as a person who’s lifting up a sacrifice of praise. We want our songs to make that kind of connection.” Since its iTunes release last September 12, Radical Love has rated an amazing average of 5 out of 5 stars. Its title track “Radical Love” has become the group’s best selling song followed by “Grace Changes Everything” and “Your Love Is Greater”. The album is also available at all House of Praise branches! IGNITE GOSPEL MUSIC FESTIVAL SEASO N 2 IGNITE Gospel Music Festival Season 2 is the first reality based battle of the bands program that features aspiring independent Christian bands showcasing their talents in music. Each amateur vocalist, guitarist, drummer, and keyboardist joins one of the three judges’ teams, either under Aia de Leon (singer and former member of Imago), Harald Huyssen (Shamrock’s and Gloryfall’s drummer), or Jay Durias (singer, composer, and member of South Border). IGNITE Gospel Music Festival Season 2 culminated in the grand finals last September 27, Saturday, 6:30 PM at the Music Museum. Hosted by VJ Kristine Antonio., VJ Carl Guevarra, and VJ Rem Paguio, every band from the three teams battled for the chance to win P100,000 and become a regular fixture in LightTV 33’s various shows. Find out the winner of IGNITE Gospel Music Festival on facebook.com/IgniteGospelMusicFestival and LightTV 33! PRESENTS Rhythm is all about musically crafting lyrics, tempo, and melody into one harmonious song. More than this, it is a way of life for anyone tuning into rhythm with God and His ways, turning lives into songs that speak of His everlasting grace. M A N I L A C E B U I L O I L O November 15, 2014 3:00pm Workshop | 6:30pm Worship OMEGA LEVINE worship leader, teacher, former lead singer of Parachute Band (New Zealand) TOBY HUYSSEN worship leader, teacher, and lead singer of Gloryfall (Manila) CURRICULUM SONG WRITING WORSHIP LEADING BAND DYNAMICS Discovering and developing a new sense of melody The ego vs. the worshipping heart The writing process - pray, word, write How do you know that you are being called for worship Relational attitudes - Fundamentals of a strong worship team Working on your craft - fine tuning the songs you write From song leader to spiritual leader Stage presence that engages Merging artistic excellence and sound doctrine Pure focus on God Efficient and effective rehearsals Creating music to suite the audience’s age and background The worship leader is the LEADER Addressing common problems in the worship team Worship media technology Register @ savednewsmagazine savednewsmag rhythmworkshop savednewsmagazine [email protected]