Monday Morning Recap for Sunday - December 26, 2010

Two recaps today - one for our Christmas Eve service - and one for yesterday - Sunday the 26th.

Our Christmas Eve service has developed into quite the tradition. This was my 8th Christmas at Oak Mountain, and I've tried to instill some sort of "traditional" songs for oak mountain, during Christmas Eve. Having said that, much of our programming is the same, with just a few variations. We have, since i've been here, had two services. The first is always full band, and the 2nd is a stripped down acoustic set. Both services have the same programming.

The Means family (Roger, Lynne, and Carlee) have sung with me for the past 5 or 6 years (I think) and always do an incredible job. It's a great way to wrap up the month and the season.

We opened Christmas Eve with O Come Emmanuel, Light of the World, and O Come All Ye Faithful.

We then sang Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Here I am to Worship, Angels from the Realms of Glory (to the tune of Lady by Little River Band), and Away in a Manger.

Carlee then sang Welcome to Our World, followed by a reading of the Christmas Story from both gospels. Lynne followed that up with O Holy NIght, and yes - the tune at the end was from Eric Clapton's Layla.

After a homily from Bob, we sang O Christmas Tree (yes, really- but you need to hear the homily to understand why), and Silent Night.


Yesterday (Sunday the 26th) we opened with a song I wrote called Awake My Soul.

After our call to worship we sang Your Grace is Enough, Come Christians Join to Sing, Center, and In Christ Alone.

Our offering song was Come Quickly.

I'm on vacation this week - spending time with family, looking forward to a busy and productive 2011.

Friday Favorites 12.24.10

1. Favorite What is Christmas Really All About -


2. Favorite Just Ridiculous version of nativity story -


3. Favorite Even more ridiculous version of nativity story -
Ugh


4. Favorite TV show -
I love this show. If you're not watching Pawn Stars on the History channel - check it out. And keep this in mind - when they came up with this show, apparently the producers were in Vegas, and had the idea for the show, and stumbled across this store - Rick, Chum, Old Man, Big Hoss; everyone already there.


5. Favorite line from tonight's services -
"so wrap our injured flesh around you...breath our air and walk our sod...rob our sin and make us holy, perfect son of God"

Videos from our Christmas program

God says, "Watch This!"


I need to be rescued from ....

From Sunday Dec 12

Just a rough mix from the song we closed with - Ronnie Freeman's Ring the Bells.

I counted things up, and figure at the end of the song we had about 170 voices, 11 different vocal parts, 9 band members, and 3 technicians making the final product.

Monday Morning Recap for Sunday - December 19, 2010

We didn't have a Monday Morning Recap for last week - as last Sunday was the Christmas service, and I don't do a recap of those - but stay tuned for videos, etc ...

Yesterday was the 4th Sunday of Advent. We opened with Love is Here.

After our call to worship we sang Angels We Have Heard on High, Amazing God, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Holy is the Lord, and It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.

Our offering song was a fantastic rendition of Michael McDonald's Peace - by Carlee Means.

For Communion, Mandy Sears sang Perfect Peace, and Jenny Pruitt sang Andrew Peterson's Labor of Love.

I'm taking some time to do some extra curricular activities this week. My band is playing a Christmas gig that we've done for the past 6 years. The past 3 years we backed up Sara Evans. This year we're backing up Taylor Hicks. Should be fun.

Friday Favorites 12.17.10

1. Favorite Video -


2. Favorite Creative Remix -



3. Favorite Christmas Program Disaster -
OH MAN! Yet another reason to NOT have live animals during your Christmas program.


4. Favorite line from upcoming Sunday's worship set -
Love won't compromise. It's a gift, it's a sacrifice. My soul renewed, and my heart released. In You I find my peace.

5. Favorite thing that I did during my trip to NYC -
Laughing at ice-skaters at Rockefeller Center.

Friday Favorites 12.10.10

1. Favorite Musical Creativity -
Very Cool.


2. Favorite Seasonal Promo -
The Advent Conspiracy


3. Favorite House Christmas Lights -


4. Favorite Christmas Remake -
You've been stuck under a rock for the past 5 years if you haven't seen this - but it's always awesome.


5. Favorite line from this Sunday's worship service -

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Come join us this Sunday morning at 9 or 10:45. or both.

No Words . . .

My kids made a Danimals Commercial

Everyone's kids are cute, sure . . . but mine are the cutest. #2 and #3 were apparently making a Danimals commercial on our Mac in the den .... Mandy made sure it was captured.

Friday Favorites 12.3.10

1. Favorite PSA of all-time. Ever.



2. Favorite dose of ridiculousness -
I really like Tripp and Tyler's stuff . . . this makes me laugh.


3. Favorite really cool song improvisation -
If you haven't seen this, you've been sleeping under a rock . . . this is cool. I still hate the iPhone.


4. Favorite conviction from an self-proclaimed Atheist -
If you haven't seen this - wow. I read David Platt's "radical" over the thanksgiving break. Good book. Good points. I wonder if it should be retitled "Expected." In it - he talks about the urgency to tell people about Christ. 6 billion people on the planet . . . 30% "christian." that means 4.5 BILLION people don't know Christ - and are therefore, destined for a Christ-less eternity . . . you know, Hell. Where is our urgency?