O' Happy day

Have you ever tried to get something or try to help get something and thought to yourself, this is worthless it will never happen. I have been in that spot as recently as last month but after what I read yesterday "O' Happy day" (I tried to get a big choir to come and sing but couldn't get a deal done). A little over a year and a half ago I heard of this little tv station called THE GOSPEL MUSIC CHANNEL, it is MTV, VH1,CMT what ever style you like but from a christian perspective. They play christian videos, concerts, programs on artists and specials. But to my disdain it wasn't offered in this area or on DirecTv which is what we subscribe to. I joined the channel website and they had a letter to DirecTv that you could send them. I did this more than a few times and even wrote DTV my self to which they wrote back saying that they have channels that play music (XM satellite radio) in the 800's and that there is 4 channels that offfer christian music. They kind of missed the mark on my letter, I knew of these but wanted a video channel. After a while I began to wonder if it would ever happen and was contemplating giving up on writing. That was until yesterday when I was checking some music news on JOY FM's site when I saw the headline "Gospel Music Channel joins DirecTv on March 19." YES. I can't wait til the 19th to check this channel out and watch some of my favorite artists and see concerts and yes our tv will be stuck on this channel quite often.

Worship team practice last night was just a total blast and I can't wait til Sunday now. We are digging out a song from the vaults that hasn't been played for a year or so. It took a bit to knock some of the rust off of it but it sounds good. It is alot of fun to have Ryan with us for a few weeks filling in on the drums and after a while we both kept remembering more and more on this song, just little things that were cool about it. I'm not going to tell you the song but when we used to do it things sometimes got a little crazy with people yelling and getting into it and so on, so you'll have to wait until Sunday at 10:30 am.

Day late

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of my blog and it has been a fun and learning experience. If I was more computer savy I could go back and place in some of my favorite posts but I'm not that talented yet. Maybe someday but for now you'll just have to go to the archive and pick and choose. Today is also a first, I am passing up on a concert that I could have gotten a free ticket. The Boomin' Beyond Measure tour is rolling into Indy tonight with Toby Mac, Jeremy Camp and Matthew West and it is going to be one heck of a show. I will be at worship team practice tonight where we are doing a couple of songs I have no idea how they go so I think its best I be there so I'll have a clue on Sunday. Plus there are a few other factors adding in but it would've been a great time, thanks for the invite Coby, I'm sure you'll have alot of fun.

I'll be doing a post in the coming days of all the bands (that I remember) and shows that I've been to over the years. It hurts the mind to think that much sometimes.

Interactive Worship Video

Just a fun little clip on worship. We should use this to start off a service sometime.

Super Tuesday

Today is from a christian music lover Super Tuesday. Check out all of the new cd's that are coming out today:

February 26
The Afters Never Going Back To OK [INO/Columbia]
After Edmund Hello [Slanted]
Avalon Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics [Sparrow]
Cadia Cadia [Fervent]
Johnny Cash The Gospel Music Of Johnny Cash [Gaither]
Children 18:3 Children 18:3 [Tooth & Nail]
Angella Christie The Breath Of Life [Taseis]
Daniel Doss Band Greater Than Us All [Sparrow]
Michael English The Prodigal Comes Home [Curb]
Esterlyn Lamps
Inhabited Love [7 Spin]
Jennifer Knapp Kansas: Gold Edition [Gotee]
Jadon Lavik Roots Run Deep [BEC]
Leeland Opposite Way [Essential]
MyChildren, MyBride Unbreakable [Solid State]
Pillar For The Love Of The Game [Flicker]
Stellar Kart Expect The Impossible [Word]
various It's A Wonderful Hope [Maranatha!]

You can check out Fireflight, Pillar and Leelands new ones at Jesusfreakhideout.com. I am listening to Fireflight right now and will check out Pillar's new one after it is done. Already listened to Leeland's a few weeks back and the debut cd from After Edmund which rocked. I can't wait til Friday when I get to go pick up some new cd's at the Family Christian Store, they have the brand new cd from The Afters for $5, what a deal. Rock on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday songs and other stuff

Yesterday was yet another great service at FFC. Did anyone else feel small when PK was menitioning how big our universe is but then felt so big when he talked about how big our "insides are". Don't try to tell me we came from uncle ape, not buying it.

Yesterdays songs are as follows:

He Reigns - Newsboys
Holy Is The Lord - Chris Tomlin
Be Glorified - Chris Tomlin
Worlds Apart - Jars Of Clay (This song just rocks, not from a musical standpoint but lyrically)
Just As I Am - Daniel Baker
It Is Well - Horatio G. Spafford
Grace Like Rain - Todd Agnew

Youth was good last night as well, played nerts for the first time and it probably won't be the last. Even though I didn't win it was fun and our table had quite a few good laughs during the night. I am starting to feel alot more comfortable around alot of the students and really enjoy each week.

Found out this morning that one of my first "heros" in christian music passed away this weekend. Larry Norman was one of the first christian artist that my brother brought home and I really got into, he had a couple of Larry's albums on 8-track, thats right I said 8-track, old school. He had songs that would make you laugh, cry and think. In the seventies and eighties I think he was ahead of his time. Maybe someday we will pull out some Larry Norman during service. I think we could have done his song "U.F.O" this weekend. It has a line in there that says.......
"It there is life on other planets, I'm sure that He must know
Cause He's been there once already, and has died to save their souls."
God Bless you Larry, he has now joined a heavenly chorus.

Bummer

It was a bummer yesterday but I'm glad in a way it happened, they cancelled Solid Rock Friday Night, don't know if I would have been able to go over anyway. The roads kinda stunk yesterday, can deal with the snow not real fond of the ice, so it wasn't surprising that they canceled it. When I go back over I wll let you all know.

Ready to rock, ready to roll

Tonight if the weather cooperates I will be hanging out at JOY FM from 10-11pm doing the final hour of Solid Rock Friday Night. I am praying that the forcast is actually wrong this time and we don't get everything that they are calling for. Normally I would welcome as much snow as possible but this time I'm not. I am looking forward to playing some good music, giving some concert info and info on various bands and who knows what else, I just pray that I am open to what God wants me to do. Speaking of which I would like to ask for some prayers for today here at work, prayers for boldness on my part and for others to have their eyes opened and realize the lie they are being told and or living. There have been a few things going on for the past few days in passing that have got me kinda frustrated, confused, and basically wondering what has happened. Just a quick note without going into much detail there have been a few here who are really starting to mock God and those who have given their lives to Him and they just think that it is the funniest thing. I want to tell them the truth and what I believe but I keep finding myself frozen in my chair. I just pray that God rocks their world and mine to get us both where we need to be, them coming to him and me being bold and upfront and consumed with God's holy fire. I haven't let anyone in on this or what I'm feeling so I appologize for not doing so.

On another note practice last night was very good, good song list and some good ideas and feedback going on between everyone. We are starting to get back into that with both leaders, I see them both opening up to us more and more each week and trying new things. I am excited for the offering song which I don't believe will be a "sing-a-long" but if you take the time and focus on the words it is going to be off the hook. For your curiousity it is Jars Of Clay's Worlds Apart. It is a flat out question on who you are and where you stand. Here is a verse that stands out to me....

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
More deeply than the oceans, more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache
Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

My question is a simple one for myself and you... Am I carrying the cross, or am I swinging the hammer?

C3

C3 is Fellowship Church in Dallas, TX's annual conference and this year they are showing it on the Daystar Network (channel 369 for you Directv people) and last night was the first night and Ed Yound the senior pastor at Fellowship was speaking and it was a joy to watch. Tonight is Brian Houston from Hillsong and Perry Noble will be speaking today also but don't know if he will be on the broadcast and TD Jakes will be there on Friday. It is on from 8:30 to 10:00 and like I said it was very enjoyable last night, I am going to be looking to see if I can't get the message downloaded and watch and listen again. Tammy and I both enjoy watching Ed whenever we can and I would like to sometime visit Fellowship Church as well as Newspring Church in Anderson S.C. where Perry Noble is at. I wonder when I watch these guys with the churches that have thousands of people there do they go out and greet people after the service is over? Looking forward to tonights show, they even show the worship at the begining and one of the things that stuck with me when Ed was talking was don't come to church to worship, come worshipping. As Perry Noble would say, DANG, I never thought of it that way.

It was funny at the begining he introduced Brian Houston and was briefly talking to him about Hillsong Church and how it begun and where it is now and Brian said when they started they had no idea that God would use their praise and worship teams like He has. He said "Everywhere I go all around the world churches are playing songs that came from our house and it just amazes me. You even did a few of them earlier this evening and I should know my son wrote them." In my opinion you cannot top them (Hillsong, United, and even the kids worship teams), they just write great songs.

Lets play a little game......You know its cold out when _______________.
My answer today is when your nose hairs freeze as soon as you walk outside.

Peaceful morning

I don't know if any of you were out and about at 5 this morning but as I went out to start the car and the snow was falling at a pretty good clip it was just so peaceful and quite out there I had to stop a moment and stand in amazment at God's great creation. I know alot of people don't like snow but when you stand out in it when it is all quiet and it is covering everything and looks so light and fluffy it was just cool. I am still holding out for that blizzard but my hopes are slowly fading away.......

Just a friendly reminder don't forget to check out 88.9 Joy Fm at 10 pm on Friday night as I take another stint during Solid Rock Friday Night for an hour. Give me a call with your requests of some good christian rock and metal like Red, Decyfer Down, Kids In The Way, Pillar, Kutless and so on and so on, no Gaithers though Bly.

Compassion International Blogging Update 8

Here is one of Carlos Whitakers video blogs from the Compassion trip they just took. This just hit me and I thought I'd share it with you. The people there just amaze me and I am thankful to be a part of Compassion. He also happened to put it to one of my favorite Hillsong United songs 'Til I See You. I hope this messes you up.

Sunday set list for 2/17/08

Well here is Sundays set list and artist for this week:

Mighty to Save - Hillsong

Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing) - Brian Doerkson and Benton Brown

Beautiful One - Tim Hughes wrote it Jeremy Camp and Tree 63 had a hit out of it

How Great Thou Art - Stuart Vine

Give You My Heart - Reuben Morgan (Hillsong)

Draw Me Close - Micheal W. Smith, I am more familiar with the Kutless version.

Be Thou My Vision - Eleanor Hull, it is an old Irish poem.

It seems that alot of christian music is done by alot of different artists and what I mean by that is that 3 or 4 different artists do the same song. Pretty good list and it went pretty well but I do have a request, it worked once with a guitar so heres hoping. At the top of the page is a picture from Musicians Friend and they are in-ear monitors that run around $950, they are two channel so you can mix in one ear everything and in the other your instrument so you can hear everything mixed the way you want it. Any takers? Could have used them both Saturday and Sunday because neither time could I hear what I was playing. I could before we started but when we played nothing and yes everything was on and I could pick it out at the end of a song as I'd let a chord ring out but during nothing.

Saturday night was fun in a way but for the most part I tanked it. Fingers wouldn't do what I wanted them to do but we made it through. Here is something I learned this weekend, I listened to Perry Noble this week and his prayer before the message was that God would "Mess people up" so I prayed that for this weekend and it worked, on me. Going into this weekend I was pretty confident in what I was going to play and even practiced it and thought this is nothing, its almost too easy, I've got it going on. So when it was time to play that confidence, self pride and ego so to speak came crashing down in humility and looking back on it now I do believe that God did in fact "mess me up" in the form of "hey your not all that, keep your focus here, its not about you" and so on and so on. I have found out on more than one occasion that God has a way of directing my focus back to him when I think I've got it all taken care of, He humbles me and shows me that I am nothing without Him. You'd think that we would never want to lose focus on God but time after time we tend to do just that, lose our focus. I need to keep my eyes and focus fixed on Him.

Where did everyone go?

Kind of a different night here at the Chalfant household as I am the only one here. Tammy and Taylor are at the church for a girl scout sleepover thing and Tyson is staying at some friends so that in the morning he doesn't have to get up at 4:30-5 am to get ready to go somewhere so that leaves me here bored out of my mind. Got the tv on channel 829 (The Torch, playing yesterday and todays greatest christian rock and metal) and got on here getting ready to play some of the games on the computer before heading to bed. Just finished up Numbers in the bible and starting on Deuteronomy tomorrow, I am glad that we don't have to do some of the sacrifices that they had to do back then, there is no way I would remember what to do, when to do it, and what to use.

Got to watch the Daytona 500 this afternoon-evening and enjoyed it even if my driver did not win but finished 3rd, good to watch some racing again this weekend. I am ready to head over to the radio station again this Friday and rock out and it can't get here soon enough. Just rambling now so I'll move on.

Happy Friday

Friday is once again finally here which means one thing, WEEKEND is just around the corner. This will be a packed weekend at church with small group on Saturday, which I will miss because I have the chance to play with the Saturday night worship team this weekend which I'm kind of excited about and then Sunday which should be good. Had practice sort of last night which was fun even though we didn't get to practice but one song it was still fun. Got to kid around and poke fun at and get poked fun at for awhile. Doing some good songs both days and Sunday we are actually not doing a Chris Tomlin song persay so the "streak will be broken." I like to play around with James on that issue, you know I love you man, and we had a little fun with it last night. I am ready for God to mess us up a bit this weekend at church and just speak to us and consume us, each and everyone who is there.

Next Friday I will be back over at JOY FM starting on the every 3 week rotation so be sure and listen and I will remind you all next week a few more times I'm sure. Looking forward to the 50th Daytona 500 Sunday as well, I'll be missing youth this week, it has been awhile since I've been there. I hope that the 20 car will be the first car to the stripe on Sunday, that's who I'll be pulling for.

For those of you who like the band Leeland, head on over to the Jesus Freak Hideout on the side bar there and check out their latest cd which they are previewing on the site. You can listen to the whole thing and I am excited about its release in a few weeks.

Doesn't happen everyday

Last night was one of those rare evenings where there was nothing going on so it was good to relax after supper and continue that until bed time. I thought I'd get up a little earlier than normal after seeing the snow we got last night so I figured there would be more but to my surprise when I got up this morning it looked the same. That is 3 in row that the local weather people have hyped up a snow and it falls well short of the prediciton. They just can't seem to hit the snow predictions.

I see where I pastor is enjoying the sunshine, mid 70 temps and a shiny red Mustang. I myself enjoyed snow covered roads, mid teens, and a old blue Toyota this morning. But alas I will enjoy sunny Florida this Thursday as I sit down with some buffalo chicken wings and a Dt. Pepsi watching the Gatorade Duels at Daytona at BW3's. I am excited for the racing season to get going.

Sunday set list

Here is the set list for yesterdays service. It was good going back to see this series it was one that I enjoyed. It was fun seeing the paintings come together to what they ended up being. After we all thought PK had just ruined a painting it was great to see why he did it and how it all ended up.

The Way I Was Made - Chris Tomlin (Keeping the streak alive)
I Am Free - Promise Keepers made a hit by Newsboys
Because He Lives - ? All I know is it is an old hymn
The Heart Of Worship - Matt Redman
Let My Words Be Few - Matt Redman
The Wonderful Cross - Micheal W. Smith

First second Saturday

Today was the first time that Tammy and or I have taken part in the second Saturday serve and I would be willing to bet that it won't be the last. We took some meals in bags so to speak as spaghetti and brownies to a group of people in a apartment complex in Winchester. Alot of the doors that we knocked on either they weren't home or didn't open the door but those who did were very recepitve to us. We were able to as Tyson said "Share the love" with alot of people there and got to pray with quite a few individuals which was fun. It really helped Tammy and I both come out of our little box and comfort zone with her being one of the voices for the group and I got desginated as the prayer voice. It was alot of fun and had fun with others from the church.

Yesterday as I posted Tammy and I got to go on a little date which was very overdue and very enjoyable. Went to the movies to see Fools Gold which was a pretty good movie. I don't see how it was PG-13 cause we probably wouldn't take Taylor who is 13 to see it but it was good. Funny thing though we went to the first showing at 11 am and there were only about 10 people in the theater but why is it that some dude had to sit right behind Tammy and I crunching away on his popcorn when there were a ton of seats available then a lady sat at the end of our aisle, are we that cool or popualar? I doubt it. Today also I got the privelage of going clothe shopping with my teenage daughter. For those of you with young daughters of your own I know someday you will feel my pain from today. Imagine her asking my if something matches. To me it matches if its a shirt and pants that matches don't ask me if this blue shirt goes with this ________(insert color of your choice here). I have no clue. But it was still fun in a strange sort of way.

I have a date

Today is going to be a good day, I decided to take a vacation day and surprise Tammy with news that we will be having a date today. We are going to Muncie to Showplace 12 to see Fools Gold. She has been talking about seeing this everytime the previews are on TV. So we will be having a mid-morning, early afternoon date. It has been awhile since we have been able to get out without the kids so it has been long overdue. Looking forward to spending the day with the woman I love.

Compassion

As many of you know Tammy and I have sponsored a child through Compassion International now for coming up on 3 years. This is something that I had always wanted to do but always had the same excuses, "don't have any extra money" "can't afford it right now" or "maybe next year" were always the ones that kept popping into my head. But at a show a few years ago we took Taylor to Zoegirl was performing and during their set they took a little time out and talked about Compassion and the children they sponsored and Tammy and I looked at each other and both decided that the time was right. It has been alot of fun sponsoring our child Teshale who lives in Ethiopia. We have been able to see him grow physically and spiritually through his letters and photos. We try to send him a letter each month and I would like to move that up to a couple of times a month. It just amazes me that God is using my family to touch a child who lives half way around the world and God is also using him to touch our lives as well.

Here in about 2 months we are going to have the first ever Compassion Sunday at church and Tammy and I as well as a few others will be sharing our experiences as sponsorers and we invite you to take a step of faith and reach out to a child who does not have it like we have it here in the old US of A. It is well worth everything you put in and you can impact a childs life for eternity.

Happy

Here are a few things I am happy about in no particualar order

I am happy that the headache I had for about 3 days is gone.
I am part of Farmland Friends Church.
I have the most wonderful wife in the world.
I have 2 wonderful kids.
Tomorrow is Friday, now if I could just get a vacation day.
Racing is starting back up this weekend.
That God is moving here at FFC and we all get to be a part of something much bigger than we can ever imagine.
I get to spend the day with Tammy on our anniversary in March, it can't get here soon enough.
There is much more but that is enough for now.

What are you happy about?

My own take

For those sport nuts here or anyone for that matter, what is your take on Bobby Knight? For me I have always liked the man, do I agree with everything he has ever done, no I don't but that doesn't take away from the fact that he is one if not the best coaches of all time. He did something in college basketball that rarely is ever done especially these days, he got all 902 wins without cheating the system. In this day and age with kids getting "perks" to go to a particular school coach Knight never fell into that way of thinking. Look at his graduation rate of student athletes and you would be hard pressed to find better numbers. I was watching a interview last night with a writer and he was bashing Knight saying his tirades will be remembered more than any thing positive that he did, which is true to an extent only because the media keeps replaying them over and over. I would like to ask this writer if he has ever blown it and gotten angry over something and did something spur of the moment that he regreted later, more than likely he did but there just wasn't TV cameras around to catch it.

If you know people who are older you know that the generation that they grew up in was alot different then the generation that we are living in now where discipline is frowned upon. He was just a man who didn't "change" to be popular, he is who he is, you either love him or hate him. What you never hear of, and this is the same with anyone in that position, is the good things that he did behind the scenes with the school libraries and educational funds and helping out any coach that needed his help, they just focus on the chair toss, yelling and screaming and other stuff. I for one will miss coach Knight and seeing the press conferences after games with his quick wit. His record will one day be broken for wins but his following the rules for the program is something that each and every university on this planet should look at.

Super Bowl.....Lived up to the hype.

I have enjoyed watching the Super Bowl for quite some time now, my first recollection of the game was 1977 Super Bowl XI, 11 for those who don't like Romean Numerials, when Oakland beat Minnesota and have watched every one since. Thats alot of Super Bowls and plus that means I'm old but I digress. Some memorable moments for me of course last year watching the local team win a championship was really cool, Super Bowl XIII when Pittsburgh, my brothers team, beat Dallas, my team at the time. Who could forget the Super Bowl Shuffle from the Bears at SBXX, sorry Bear fans great team but the most hideous song and dance I've ever seen in my life. The poor Bills make it to the big game 4 times in a row and came away with nothing to show. Most of the games are snoozers because the hype is so great for 2 weeks but last night it lived up to the hype and was a good game except for the poor sportsmanship showed by Patriots head coach Bill Belichek. Someone needs to bring him down a notch or two. And is it just me or does Tom Coughlin the coach of New York look like Jerry Van Dyke from Coach. I kept waiting for him to yell for Dauber at some point during his interview.

Tammy even got into the game and started understanding more about football and now of course its over till September now. She has a habit of getting into the sports I watch at the end of their respective seasons then when she starts liking it they are over. The commercials I thought were not all that spectacular, I think they are getting more hyped now just like the game, but there were a few of them. Tom Petty was allright for the halftime entertainment but what is he like 70 or something. Wouldn't it be cool if some year they have like Third Day or Mercy Me or someone like that and they turn halftime into a big worship time, how cool would that be. Now football is over so bring on the racing season, which starts next Saturday. Tammy asked last night is Sunday going to be sports day, and the answer is yes it is Sweetheart, yes it is and Saturday afternoons too just for good measure.

Sunday songs and thoughts

Here is the set list from today and I think that video at the beginning was just totally awesome. How many times have you or I ever felt that way, looking around to see whos watching and holding back and then how many times are you totally oblivious to your surroundings and are just so in focus with your praise to the God who created everything. I like the second part best.

Songs from today:
Oh Praise Him - David Crowder Band*
Trading My Sorrows - Darrel Evans
Your Grace Is Enough - Chris Tomlin
Above All - Micheal W. Smith
All In All - Vinyard
Your Are My King (Amazing Love) - Newsboys
Worthy You Are Worthy - Don Moen

Good song selection again this week with a couple that we haven't done for a while. I really liked the whole change of service today with the message interwrapped with the song sets and entertwining it was a nice change. Now its relaxation time till the big game tonight, even Tammy is watching (just for the commercials) and the kids too until the popcorns gone.

A thought here. Do you ever have friends or family who invite you out somewhere you know you shouldn't be i.e. a bar or the likes. You know its easy for them to ask"lets go hang out at the bar for a bit, a few beers never hurt anyone, come on it will be fun." Why is it so easy for them to invite us but its hard for us to invite them to church. Maybe we can take their approach you know, "Hey lets go hang out at the church for awhile, come on a few prayers never hurt anyone, come on it will be fun maybe even life changing." Just a thought.

Incredible day

I am excited today for in a little over an hour from now at 11:30 am I get to meet my incredible wife at Incredible Yogurt and have an incredible lunch, grilled chicken sandwich and cream of brocolli soup. It has been awhile since we have been able to meet for lunch on a Friday and I am excited about it. It makes the day go faster I think. This weekend is shaping up to be a good one with not alot on the docket so it should be a relaxing weekend. Tomorrow I don't even know if I'll leave the house and Sunday will of course be good. Last night at practice it was alot of fun, even if we spent over a half hour on one song that we have done many times before but it will be good. All I'm gonna say is it goes along with the beginning of the service so make sure your in your seats at 10:30 for the start of service. Doing some good songs with a little variety involved in the doing of said songs and by looking at the order of service it also has a little variety involved with not doing things in the normal fashion, it'll be good. After practice I was having a little fun with the sound all cranked up just jammin along doing some dive bombs with the guitar, maybe we'll have to end a song like that sometime. Little disappointed in the snow this morning though I was expecting to see a bunch of it and that was not the case. I could have done without the ice though, oh well maybe next time.