Concert of Praise Help

 Hey faithful bloggers (or at least blog readers).  I am in the process of putting together the set list for our second “Concert of Praise” which will be held Sunday, April 27 at 6:00p.m.  I’m really looking forward to this special evening of worship, and would like to enlist your help to make it even more meaningful.  “How can I help?” you may be asking.   Well, here’s how: What song or songs have spoken to you?  Maybe there is a song we have done during a worship service that really touched your heart.  Maybe there is a song that often comes to your mind when you are going through certain trials in your life.  Maybe it’s a song we haven’t even done at Oasis as of yet.  Take just a moment to respond, and feel free to go into detail.  We do a lot of original music here at Oasis, because I know it comes from the heart of the person in our church who wrote it.  Now I would like to know what song is in your heart?   You probably haven’t written an original melody, or lyrics, but I know there is a song that specifically speaks to you every time you hear, or sing it.  What is it?  I can’t promise that we will use everything, but it is my hope to use a lot of what you respond with.   Thanks for your help, and be in prayer for the entire Worship Team as we put this special night together. 

Getting Ready for Sunday, March 2, 2008

 March 2 Sermon “Don’t Cross This Line”

In every relationship, there must be boundaries or there will be constant conflict. Each of us has the responsibility of communicating to other where the lines are drawn in our relationship.  In this message, we discover how to establish the boundaries without destroying the relationship

Set List for March 2, 2008   

Song                              Author                        Recording

Friend of God	Michael Gungor                Israel Houghton	“Live From Another Level” Israel Houghton &            New Breed
Forever	Chris Tomlin	“The Noise We Make” Chris Tomlin
Step By Step	Rich Mullins                      David Strasser	“Songs”                           Rich Mullins
Be Glorified	Chris TomlinJesse ReevesLouie Giglio	“The Noise We Make” Chris Tomlin
Lord Be Glorified	Bob Kilpatrick	“Face to Face”                Bob Kilpatrick
Consume Me	Doug & Cindy Mickan	“Prelude”                        Doug & Cindy Mickan

 I really struggled with this order of worship for over a week.  Finally one day last week, it just seemed to come together.  We’re opening up this week with two songs simply praising God and celebrating our relationship with Him.

We introduced “Friend of God” a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully you are a little familiar with it.  You can listen to the song on Israel Houghton’s myspace page by clicking the link in the chart above.“Forever” is a song that we are pretty familiar with at Oasis.  What a message to proclaim, that God is faithful forever.  “Forever” is such an encouragement to me every time I sing it.  Take time this week to check out Psalm 136 and celebrate how history has proven God’s faithfulness.  You can also listen to “Forever” by clicking the link in the chart above.After the first two songs we really start dealing with our desire to glorify God with our lives.  “Step By Step” (Actual Title “Sometimes By Step”) is a song that we have done a lot in the past at Oasis.  God moves us along a step at a time, and the only way we will know how to follow is to seek Him every day.  I found a video on youtube that you can check out by clicking the link in the chart above.  The recording you will hear is by Rich Mullins, and features the verses that are rarely heard or sung.“Be Glorified” is also another familiar song to those who have been attending Oasis for a while.  I found another video on youtube with a recording of I believe Matt Redman’s version of the song.  (Let me point out that I direct you to youtube a lot, not because of the videos, but because you can listen to the entire song.  Some of the videos are pretty cool, but some of them are not so much.)  It should be our prayer that God would be glorified through our life.  God has done so many amazing things for all of us.  Let’s sing this one loud as we state our mission as a Christ follower.“Lord Be Glorified” follows the same message as “Be Glorified” but is more quiet and reflective.  I feel like “Be Glorified” is our statement that we make together, testifying to others about our goal to glorify Christ.  “Lord Be Glorified” is more personal, and leads us to a time of personal prayer.  I couldn’t find a recording of “Lord Be Glorified”, but there is a really cool story behind the song.  You can check it out by clicking the link in the chart above.

We’ll finish up with “Consume Me”.  Cindy and I wrote this song while we were still traveling with Bro. Todd.  We had just attended a conference in St. Louis where we heard Bailey Smith preach about lukewarm Christianity.  (Revelation 3:15-16, Hebrews 12:29)  The question was asked, “If we say our God is a consuming fire, and we are consumed by Him, then how can we be lukewarm?”.  The answer of course is that we are not consumed by Christ, because if we where, we would truly be on fire for Him.  After the conference, we traveled to TX to start a revival.  While staying at a bed and breakfast that just so happened to have a piano, the melody and words to “Consume Me” came out.  My favorite line in the song is “Refine me, remind me that I am Yours and not my own”.  I often have to remind myself that I am not my own, but His.  When we are truly consumed by Christ, our relationships are what they are supposed to be.  When Christ consumes us, we can’t help but worship, and our lives bring Him glory.

Thanks for taking time to check out what will be happening on Sunday.  Take time to pray for our services, and those who will be serving in them.  Make it a point to glorify God this week by not just what you say, but what you do.   See you Sunday!

Bro. Doug

Getting Ready for Sunday February 24

February 24 Sermon “Together But Separate” Relationships are all about coming together with others, but the key to a successful relationship is allowing others to be themselves.  We are together, but two separate creations of God with different personalities and perspectives on life.  In this message, we will discover how to appreciate one another’s differences and how to use those differences to make our relationships stronger.  

Set List for February 24, 2008

Song                        Author                        Recording

We Come Together	Doug Mickan	“Prelude”                        Doug & Cindy Mickan
There Is No Greater Love	Doug Mickan	NA
Children of God	Steven Curtis Chapman	“This Moment”            Steven Curtis Chapman
All Over the World	Matt Redman & Martin Smith	“Beautiful News”            Matt Redman
I’ll Give My All	Doug & Cindy Mickan	“Prelude”                       Doug & Cindy Mickan

Am I totally conceited or what? As I’m typing the info for this service, it suddenly strikes me that we are using 3 songs that I had a hand in writing.  As Pam Bonham would say, “It’s Doug Sunday”.  Ha!  Sometimes it just seems to fall this way, so I guess I’ll go on even through the awkwardness. 

In all seriousness, this service was a struggle for me.  Sometimes orders of worship come easy, and other times not so much.  I worked and worked on this one, until I finally felt like I had a breakthrough.  You’ve hopefully read the description of the sermon at the top of this blog.  Bro. Todd will be talking about our differences and how we can use those to make our relationships stronger.  There aren’t a lot of songs that came to my mind about such a topic, but then God just seemed to open my eyes.  Bro. Todd will be talking about and celebrating our differences, but why not during the music celebrate the one thing we all have in common on Sunday mornings?  We have all come together to worship our Father, because we are His children.  With that being said, hopefully the order of songs make a little more sense as to how they flow together with everything in this service. 

“We Come Together” was a song that I wrote for a series we did clear back in the days of our first temporary facility here at Oasis.   Although I can’t remember the specific series, it had something to do with coming together to worship.  It will probably have a little different feel on Sunday than it does on our Prelude CD.  You can listen to “We Come Together” on our Soundclick page by clicking the link in the chart above. 

We introduced “Children of God” a couple of weeks ago.  What a song of celebration written by Steven Curtis Chapman (my all time favorite Christian artist).  You can check out “Children of God” on Steven’s myspace page by clicking the link in the chart above.  It is the last song in his myspace player. 

We have sung “All Over the World” several times before, but it has been a while.  I don’t believe we have ever done the second verse of the song, and as I was reading through it a week or so ago, it really spoke to me.  It also goes perfect with our topic today.  Take a look at the lyrics to the second verse below:  

Young and old near and far there’s a place for every heart
To join in the song, join in the song
Every nation tribe and tongue come together join as one
Give glory to God, Glory to God
We are the people of God.We’ll
sing Your song here on the earth  

I couldn’t find a place for you to listen to the entire song online.  You can check out the rest of the lyrics by clicking here.  You can listen to the chorus of the song by clicking the link in the chart above. 

“I’ll Give My All” is a song we have done many times before here at Oasis.  God created us all to be different.  I’m only supposed to be Doug, not anyone else.  At every training meeting for Worship Team I always quote one of our former members who has gone on to serve at another church.  “At Oasis I don’t have to be the best, I just have to be my best”.  You know, I think that’s what God wants from all of us; to simply be our best.  He created me to be Doug, and he created you to be you.  God made me different from everyone else for a reason, and I simply want to give my all (no matter how different it is) to the one that created me. 

Thanks for taking time to check out what will be happening on Sunday.  Take time to pray for our services, and those who will be serving in them.  As we celebrate our differences this week, lets really worship the one who brings us together.   See you Sunday! 

Bro. Doug

Getting Ready for Sunday February 17, 2008

February 17 Sermon “One Relationship Affects the Others” In this message we will discover how our relationship with Jesus impacts our relationship with others. When we are in a close relationship with Christ, he leads us into the right relationships at the right time. Also, the closer we are to Jesus the more likely we are to have better communication and to be more understanding of those that we relate to each day. When we are in fellowship with the Lord, and his hand is on our life, we will see our relationships flourish. 

Set List for February 17, 2008

Song                              Author                        Recording

Jesus Is All the World toMe	Will Lamartine Thompson	Traditional Hymn
Friend of God	Israel Houghton	“Live From Another Level” Israel Houghton & New Breed
All We Need	Charlie Hall	“Flying Into Daybreak” Charlie Hall
Leaning On the Everlasting Arm	Anthony Johnson Showalter Elisha Albright Hoffman	Traditional Hymn
Everlasting God	Brenton Brown Ken Riley	“See the Morning”      Chris Tomlin
Without You	Doug Mickan	Soundclick.com          Doug & Cindy Mickan

For today’s service, I’ve planned songs dealing with our relationship with God.  This is one of those services where I have so much to choose from, it’s almost overwhelming.  We are actually using two hymns this week.  “Jesus Is All the World To Me” should be a testimony to us all.  Check out the lyrics below:

 Jesus is all the world to me
My life my joy my all
He is my strength from day to day
Without Him I would fall
When I am sad to Him I go
No other one can cheer me so
When I am sad He makes me glad
He’s my friend 

Jesus is all the world to me
I want no better friend
I trust Him now I’ll trust Him
When life’s fleeting days shall end
Beautiful life with such a friend
Beautiful life that has no end
Eternal life eternal joy
He’s my friend 

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arm” is another great song that testifies to the true joy that we can have when we are simply leaning on Christ.  We truly don’t have anything to dread or fear if we are leaning on Him.  You can check out the lyrics for this song below as well:

What a fellowship what a joy divine
Leaning on the everlasting arms
What a blessedness what a peace is mine
Leaning on the everlasting arms 

What have I to dread what have I to fear
Leaning on the everlasting arms
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near
Leaning on the everlasting arms 

Leaning leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms 

“Friend of God” has been around for a while, but it never really stuck out to me….that is until last week when I was planning this service.  I simply couldn’t get it out of my head, and feel as though God planted it there as if to say, “This is what I want to hear on Sunday”.  I had to ask myself, “Does God really call me friend?”  Sure enough; check out what Jesus says in John 15: 11-16.  Let’s sing this song out in celebration this Sunday knowing that we truly are friends of God.  You can listen to Israel Houghton’s song by clicking the link in the chart above.

“Everlasting God” has been recorded by various artist, including Chris Tomlin and Lincoln Brewster, but it was actually written by Brenton Brown & Ken Riley.  It comes from Isaiah 40:28-31 and is an awesome example of God’s greatness.  It’s good to know that when I am weary, my God will lift me up.  Take a listen to the song by clicking the link above.  It’s actually Lincoln Brewster’s version of the song on youtube which also features the lyrics.

We have done “Without You” many times before at Oasis.  Sometimes songs take forever to write (some I have been working on for years are still not finished), but “Without You” came so easily.  It’s times like that when I realize that it’s not my ability writing the songs, but simply God writing them through me.  You can listen to a live recording on our soundclick page by clicking the link above.

Thanks for taking time to check out what will be happening on Sunday.  Take time to pray for our services, and those who will be serving in them.  Let’s come together to celebrate our relationship with God.  See you Sunday!

 Bro. Doug

Administrative Note

Sorry to those who have posted comments and had their posts delayed. I had a setting configured incorrectly, and I was having to personally review and approve each comment. That bug should be fixed now. Sorry for the inconvenience.

 –Mike

Getting Ready for Sunday February 10

February 10 Sermon “Giving Our Life” Have you reached the place in your life, where you are content to let God decide where you live and where you work? Will you let him decide how much you make and how much you spend? Are you willing to let him tell you who you should marry and who your friends should be? Surrendering your will to his will is worship in it’s simplest form. Today, we will explore what it really means to surrender.

Set List for February 10, 2008

Song                        Author                        Recording

Lord I Give You My Heart	Reuben Morgan	Sonic Flood             Sonic Flood
Everything to Me	Doug & Cindy Mickan	Soundclick.comDoug & Cindy Mickan
Happy Day	Tim Hughes	Holding Nothing BackTim Hughes
Marvelous Light	Charlie Hall	Flying Into DaybreakCharlie Hall
I Surrender All	Judson W. VanDeVenterWinfield S. Weeden	Traditional Hymn
The Answer	Derick Mickan	NA

Most of the songs on this list should be familiar to you.  We have performed some of them more than others, but you’ve probably heard them all at one time or another.  One of my favorites as of late (as you have probably figured out) is “Happy Day” by Tim Hughes.  I love to play and sing this one loud.   What better way to worship and celebrate than to remember that happy day when Christ came into our lives.  You can listen to “Happy Day” on Tim’s myspace page by clicking the link in the list above.  It’s the second song in his myspace player.

It’s been a while since we sang “Marvelous Light” together.  What an awesome song to testify about how God took us out of darkness and into marvelous light. “Marvelous Light” was written by Charlie Hall, and you can listen to it on Charlie’s myspace page by clicking the link in the songlist above.  It’s the second song in his player as well. Also, take a look at 1 Peter 2:9-12.  I especially like the way it’s worded in the New Century version that we use with our studies. 

We have been singing “Everything to Me” a lot lately.   Every time I sing it, I’m reminded of how much it truly needs to apply to my life.  If God truly is my everything, how does that effect the things I say, and the decisions I make.  Let’s sing it out on Sunday and truly strive to make Him our everything every day of our lives. You can listen to a very rough recording of “Everything to Me” by clicking here or on the link in the songlist above.  When you get to my soundclick page, click the link next to “Everything to Me” that says “full” and it will show you the lyrics to the song as well as allow you to download it as an mp3.  How awesome is that?  Hopefully soon we will have a full recording with all the instrumentation. 

My brother Derick will be with us on Sunday, and I’ve asked him to sing a song that he wrote entitled “The Answer”.  When all of life seems to be a question, there is truly one answer.  I think it’s fitting for this service in that there will hopefully be some in attendance who have not accepted Christ.  It’s a great reminder that we all need Jesus in our lives.

Thanks for taking time to check out what will be happening on Sunday.  Take time to pray for our services, and those who will be serving in them.  Let’s strive to live a life of surrender this week, and allow God to prepare our hearts to worship Him.  See you Sunday!

Bro. Doug