Getting Ready for Sunday, August 3rd.

 August 3rd Sermon “REUSE What You Know”

We show up on Sunday expecting great things and many times, we don’t prepare for great things.  Sunday is the main event.  It is ‘game day’ for Christians.  With that said, you don’t get ready for the game on the day of the game.  There are some things that you do thoughout the week to prepare yourself for the main event.  In this sermon, discover how to prepare for Sunday and how you can reuse what you know works.  There are cetain things that we do over and over again when we’re getting ready for the ‘Big day’, ‘game day’ or the ‘main event’.  Find out how they can be used for Sunday.

 

Set List for August 3, 2008

Song                              Author                        Recording

Sanctuary	John W. Thompson Randy Scruggs	NA
Open Up the Gates	Henry Seeley	“Open Up the Gates” Planetshakers
You’re Worthy of My Praise	David Ruis	“Let the Winds Blow” David Ruis
Help Me to Find You	Todd Fields	“Free” Todd Fields
Holding Nothing Back	Tim Hughes Martin Smith	“Holding Nothing Back” Tim Hughes

   

   Hey everyone!  I’m sitting in my cabin at Daniel Springs Camp in Gary, TX as I write this.  Unfortunately there is no Wi-Fi in my cabin, so this won’t actually post until several days after I write it.  Cindy and I will leave again Sunday after church to head to Missouri to pick up Saigel, and then go on to Camp Garwood.  Be in prayer for us and John & Alisha Herring (John is speaking) as well as the Morado’s and Andersons as they will be playing a concert with us the first night. 

     Enough about all of that.  This Sunday we will be finishing our series “Think Green” with a message from Bro. Todd about “REUSE what You Know”.  Bro. Todd will be speaking about what we can do to get ready for our times of worship on Sunday.

     We will begin the music portion of our service with the song “Sanctuary” which is a prayer for God to prepare our hearts so that we can be more like him. 

     “Open Up the Gates” is a high energy song that proclaims our goal of bringing a sacrifice of praise to our God.  Let’s invite the King of Glory in to our time of praise as we sing out.  Check out a video of this song by clicking the link in the chart above.

     “You’re Worthy of My Praise” is a repeat from last week, but this week we will be singing the verses as well.  This song is a statement of what we will do to worship the one who alone is worthy of our praise.  Check out a video of this song by clicking the link in the chart above.

     “Help Me to Find You” is a song that we sang for the first time a couple of weeks ago.  This song is such a cry to God, simply asking for what the title states; “help me to find you”.   Once again I’m reminded that God promises all throughout the scriptures that if we seek Him that we will find Him.  Check out a video of this song being performed by a church worship team by clicking the link in the chart above.

     At the close of services we will finish with a song entitled “Holding Nothing Back” which I think is a great song to finish up this series with.  I especially like the first part of the chorus that says, “my chains fell of my heart was free.  I’m alive to live with You”.  Let’s truly hold nothing back as we leave our time together with this song.  Check out a video of this song by clicking the link in the chart above.

     Thanks for taking the time to get better prepared to worship on Sunday Morning.  I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.   

 

Bro. Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Ready for Sunday July 27th

 

July 27th Sermon “RECOVER Your Joy”

Many of us have lost the joy in our relationship with God.  One of the main reasons for this is we come to God with a consumer mindset.  We approach Him expecting Him to do all of the giving and us to do all of the receiving.  However, in this sermon, we’ll discover that we can recover our joy when we learn how to respond in worship.  That is how we can give back to God as we are worshipping Him.  Responding to God in worship begins in our mind and is expressed in a variety of ways.

 

Set List for July 27, 2008

Song                              Author                        Recording

The Least I Can Do	Mark Roach	“Every Reason Why” Mark Roach
Speak to My Heart	Doug & Cindy Mickan	NA
Song of Praise	Doug & Cindy Mickan	“Prelude” Doug & Cindy Mickan
Worthy of My Praise	David Ruis	“Let the Winds Blow” David Ruis
Agnus Dei	Michael W. Smith	“Offerings” Third Day
Salvation Is Here	Joel Houston	“Look To You” Hillsong United

 

   

   I have to be quick as I’m leaving for a church camp in Texas shortly.  This week Bro. Todd will continue our “Think Green” series as he talks about RECOVERING Your Joy.  It seems like this world is full of Joy zappers.  Every time we get a glimpse, there is something the devil points out to get in our way.  As Christians, we can have joy even in the most difficult times.  This week’s music deals a lot with our worship to God, and the joy it brings to our hearts when we fulfill that purpose.

     “The Least I Can Do”  talks about all the things that Christ has done for us, and points out that the least we could do is worship Him.  Take a listen to this song by clicking the link in the chart above.

     “Speak To My Heart” is a prayer asking God to do simply that.  When God speaks, we can truly experience His joy.  Take a listen to this song by clicking the link above.

     “Song of Praise” comes straight from Psalm 63:1-5.  This joyful song celebrates the fact that we have seen and heard from God, and the response that it causes in our outward worship.  Take a listen to this song by clicking the link in the chart above.

     Our God truly is “Worthy of My Praise”.  This song is yet another song of worship stating our goal to praise God simply because He deserves it.

     We’ll finish the services this week with “Agnus Dei” by Michael W. Smith.  Be sure to listen to this one by clicking the link in the chart above, and be ready to sing out as we proclaim God’s holiness.  We’ll then make the walls shake as we shout out the song “Salvation Is Here”, celebrating the fact that Christ is our salvation, and He is living in us.

     Take time this week to ask God to restore your joy and make it like it’s brand new.  I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.   

 

Bro. Doug

Getting Ready for Sunday July 20th

July 20th Sermon “RECYCLE What You Hear”

Does what you hear go in one ear and out the other?  Many people think that listening is a spectator sport.  However, when we listen, we should be actively involved and participating in what it is we are hearing.  If we would apply this to just one area of our lives it would make a huge difference.  Every week, we have the opportunity to hear God’s word presented in a clear and relevant way.  There are some things that we can do to recycle what we hear so we can use it again and again throughout each day.  In this sermon, discover how to listen to a sermon. There are some simple things you can do that will help you recycle what you hear.

 

Set List for July 20, 2008

Song                              Author                        Recording

Come Christians Join & Sing	Christian Henry Bateman	Traditional Hymn
All Because of Jesus	Steve Fee	“We Shine” Steve Fee
My Cry For Mercy	John & Christina Anderson	NA
Help Me to Find You	Todd Fields	“Free” Todd Fields
Speak To My Heart	Doug & Cindy Mickan	NA

 

   

   I’m really excited about our services this week.  For one thing, I’m taking a break from the piano (everyone shouts HOORAY!)  well, at-least for the most part.  Truthfully, I just feel like this is going to be a great time of worship, and am excited to see God work in the services.  PJ will be preaching again this week, and he will be talking about RECYCLING What We Hear.  It’s one thing to hear God telling us to do something, but quite another to truly listen and follow through.  This week a lot of our music is a plea to God to speak to our hearts. 

    We open up the services with a contemporary approach to a traditional hymn “Come Christians Join To Sing”.  I would recommend only listening to the first minute or 1.5 minutes of this video.  The occasional shouts from the worship leader gets a little distracting on the recording.  Hopefully you can get a pretty good idea of the song by clicking the link in the chart above. 

    After our call to worship we continue on with “All Because of Jesus”.  I know you’re familiar with this one as we do it a lot, but what a proclamation.  It’s a constant reminder that everything I have is because of Him.  Take a listen to the song by clicking the link in the chart above.

    “My Cry for Mercy” comes from our very own John & Christina Anderson, and is a beautiful reminder that when we call out to our God, he will answer us.  Sorry, but I don’t have a recording of this one online anywhere, so I guess you’ll just have to wait and enjoy it on Sunday.

    The final two songs are new to Oasis.  “Help Me to Find You” by Todd Fields is a heartfelt prayer that God would help us to find, and hear from Him.  This song continues our theme of the day.  It also reminds me of the promises I find throughout the bible that if I seek Him, I will find Him.  Listen to  this song being performed by a worship team at another church by clicking the link in the chart above.

    The last of the two new songs is “Speak to My Heart” which Cindy and I wrote in preparation for this service.  John Herring is a little upset about this song, as he claims we have never written a song for one of his sermons, but PJ gets one for his second time up.  I’ll get to work on something. Sorry John (he was only joking of course…..I think).  Take a listen to a rough recording of “Speak to My Heart” by clicking the link in the chart above.

     Our music this week deals a lot with asking God to speak to us, but it’s my hope that everyone will begin asking God to speak to their hearts all throughout this week.  Thanks for checking out the blog.  I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.   

 

Bro. Doug

Getting Ready for Sunday July 13th

July 13th Sermon “REDUCE Your Stress”

Stress can complicate even the simplest of tasks in our lives.  It causes confusion and clouds our judgment.  There is one thing we can do on a daily basis that will help eliminate stress in our lives as we turn control of our lives over to God.  This one thing is to have a daily personal time with God.  In this sermon, discover how to have a personal quiet time.

 

Set List for July 13, 2008

Song                              Author                        Recording

Where Can I Go	Dave Grace	“You Alone” Parachute Band
All We Need	Charlie Hall	“Flying Into Daybreak” Charlie Hall
Sometimes By Step	Rich Mullins David “Beaker” Strasser	“The World As I Remember It” Rich Mullins
Free	Todd Fields	“Free” Todd Fields
In the Secret	Andy Park	“Free” Todd Fields

 

   

     We begin an exciting new series this week entitled “Think Green: Simple Ways to Improve Your Mental Environment”.  The following is a description of the new series:  There is so much emphasis today placed on saving our environment from our own destructive ways.  This is important for us to do.  However, there is another environment that is being destroyed and devastated by what our culture is doing.  This is our mental environment.  Our minds are becoming so polluted with the world’s expectations that we are losing the battle of our minds.  In this series, discover some simple things you can do in your life that will help you develop a cleaner way of thinking.

     This week’s sermon is “REDUCE Your Stress”.  If this was in a pill, we would all be rich (ha!) Fortunately for us, our stress can be reduced for free through Christ.  The music this week deals simply with following Christ’s leadership and rejoicing in the freedom He brings to our lives.

     “Where Can I Go” is a song that we did a lot at our old location.  That’s only been like 3 years ago, so surely you all remember it, right?  My favorite line in the song says, “Your intervention is what I need”.  Man, I can truly say that.  When I think of all the trouble I could save myself if I would only allow Him to intervene in all the things of my life. I looked for a long time trying to find this song on the net, but only found a small clip.  Maybe it might spark your memory to this song.  Click the link in the chart above and scroll down to track #8 to listen to the small clip.

     “All We Need” continues our theme for the day.  It’s amazing to me how everything else we “need” in our lives usually cause us more stress. Owning a home is great, but that home requires constant maintenance and payments.  The food I eat gives me energy to go on, but it forces me to get up early every morning to exercise so that the after effects of the food don’t catch up with me.  My need for Christ won’t cause me extra stress.  In fact we are told in the Bible that He can give us a peace that is beyond our understanding.  Let’s sing it out together as we proclaim our need for Christ.  Check out a video of the song by clicking the link in the chart above.

     “Sometimes By Step” also continues our theme of the day.  “I will seek You in the morning and I will learn to walk in Your ways, and step by step You’ll lead me….”  I have to constantly remind myself that God is in control, and if I spend time with Him daily, and follow His will then I have nothing to worry about.  Check out the video of “Sometimes By Step” by clicking the link in the chart above.

     “Free” is a song of celebration as we are reminded that those who are in Christ are Free.  We can be free from the stresses in our lives.  Free from the fears that we face, and the troubles that seem to always loom.  Wow I love this song!  I’ve tried several times to find this song online, but it doesn’t seem to be out there.   You can purchase an mp3 of the song on itunes.  All of the info is in the chart above.

    We finish up the music portion of our services with “In the Secret”.  This song should be our prayer every day, and our actions and times of private worship should reflect it.  Let’s truly seek Him this week as we worship together.  I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.   

 

Bro. Doug