Church

It was a joy to make videos like this with Ryan McDuff, John Rinehart, and the body of Grace EV Free. Thank you to everyone who gave food and served at our Grace Good Bank.

Narration by John Rinehart
Footage shot by Ryan McDuff
Edited and produced by Brian Petersen

Grace Thanksgiving: Food Bank on November 18 2011 from Grace EV Free on Vimeo.

Enjoy this recap video from our Food Bank at Grace EV Free, La Mirada.

I had such a wonderful time photographing the beautiful Johnson Wedding in Yorba Linda and Fullerton. Enjoy these pictures and rejoice with the happy couple.

Grace EV Free Children with Hebrews 4:16 from Grace EV Free on Vimeo.

2011 America World Adoption Seminar at Grace EV Free

Enjoy photos and video from the 2011 America World Adoption Seminar held at Grace EV Free.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.
© 2010 Brian Petersen

Saying What You Believe Is Clearer Than Saying “Calvinist” by: John Piper

We are Christians. Radical, full-blooded, Bible-saturated, Christ-exalting, God-centered, mission-advancing, soul-winning, church-loving, holiness-pursing, sovereignty-savoring, grace-besotted, broken-hearted, happy followers of the omnipotent, crucified Christ. At least that’s our imperfect commitment.

In other words, we are Calvinists. But that label is not nearly as useful as telling people what you actually believe! So forget the label, if it helps, and tell them clearly, without evasion or ambiguity, what you believe about salvation.

If they say, “Are you a Calvinist?” say, “You decide. Here is what I believe . . .”

I believe I am so spiritually corrupt and prideful and rebellious that I would never have come to faith in Jesus without God’s merciful, sovereign victory over the last vestiges of my rebellion. (1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 3:1–4; Romans 8:7).

I believe that God chose me to be his child before the foundation of the world, on the basis of nothing in me, foreknown or otherwise. (Ephesians 1:4–6; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:29–30; 11:5–7)

I believe Christ died as a substitute for sinners to provide a bona fide offer of salvation to all people, and that he had an invincible design in his death to obtain his chosen bride, namely, the assembly of all believers, whose names were eternally written in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain. (John 3:16; John 10:15; Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 13:8)

When I was dead in my trespasses, and blind to the beauty of Christ, God made me alive, opened the eyes of my heart, granted me to believe, and united me to Jesus, with all the benefits of forgiveness and justification and eternal life. (Ephesians 2:4–5; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Philippians 2:29; Ephesians 2:8–9; Acts 16:14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 3:9)

I am eternally secure not mainly because of anything I did in the past, but decisively because God is faithful to complete the work he began—to sustain my faith, and to keep me from apostasy, and to hold me back from sin that leads to death. (1 Corinthians 1:8–9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1:25; John 10:28–29; 1 John 5:16)

Call it what you will, this is my life. I believe it because I see it in the Bible. And because I have experienced it. Everlasting praise to the greatness of the glory of the grace of God!

Photo taken during the 2010 Thriving Musicians Summit at Bayside Church.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.
© 2010 Brian Petersen

John Rinehart preaches on “Defending the Fatherless” on Orphan Sunday at Grace EV Free.

See more here http://projecthopespeaks.org/2010/11/11/orphan-sunday/

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.
© 2010 Brian Petersen

I love being part of a team where I get to see people live out their adoption in Christ and defend the rights of the orphan and widow.

Project Hope at Grace EV Free celebrated its third Orphan Sunday by hosting Sunday services called, “Defending the Fatherless.” November 7 is internationally recognized as Orphan Sunday and the event was tailored for the church body with preaching, sung worship, testimonies, prayer, and exhibits with tables from local ministries to help Christians defend the fatherless. I’ve included the sermon video below with some photos of the fun event. Enjoy and God bless you!

You can download the sermon audio or listen online by visiting the Grace EV Free website here.
You can also check out the original post from Project Hope here.

Click on these photos to view them large. Photos by Brian Petersen and Erik Bergen.

Click on these photos to view them large. Photos by Brian Petersen and Erik Bergen.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.

A sweet moment from a child dedication at Grace EV Free on November 7, 2010.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.
© 2010 Brian Petersen

I had the joy of engineering this record. Take a look at the video below and give the album a listen.

“Here Is Your God,” is the latest worship album from Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada.

Watch
Watch as Walt Harrah and Erik Thoennes discuss the theology behind the songs from the new album.

Here Is Your God: Interview with Erik Thoennes and Walt Harrah from Grace EV Free on Vimeo.

Listen
Listen to samples and download the album now

Isaiah 40 opens up with a word we could all use in these hectic times – it’s the word comfort. It is said twice, even. Israel was probably in captivity at the time Isaiah was written, and these words must have been like a drink of cool water to God’s desperately thirsty people. If they had lost any hope of restoration, the words of chapters 40-66 of Isaiah were meant to flood the driest of hearts with the living water of God’s glorious plan and purpose.

What would it be like to sing some of these truths, so that our hope gets reawakened as well? The God who reveals himself in these chapters is still in charge, and while his ultimate plan is yet unfolding, we need all the help we can get to make it to the finish line. Surely these words were meant to give us endurance and encouragement as well.

God promised that his word would never return to him without having accomplished its purpose. May you experience revival and renewal as you listen, to the ultimate glory of God.

Songs

1. Here Is Your God : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
2. The Best Is Yet To Come : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
3. Life Everlasting : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
4. Prepare The Way : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
5. I Belong To The Lord : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
6. Despised, Rejected : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
7. Beauty From Ashes : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
8. Set Things Right : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
9. The Light Of The Lord : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
10. True Religion : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music
11. Just Wait And See : Song lyrics and description : Sheet Music

All songs by Walt Harrah 2010 Seedsower Music ASCAP
The above links will give you more info about these songs and let you download the sheet music for free at www.waltharrah.com

Credits

Produced by Walt Harrah
Engineered by Brian Petersen
Mixed and mastered by Ted Blaisdell
Cover art and layout by Becky Griswold

Musicians

Drums: Nate Warne
Bass: Andrew Braine
Electric guitar: Dale Bryson
Acoustic guitar: Kenny Clark, Drew Brokke
Percussion: Will Gearhart, Nate Warne
Violins: Lindsay Orr, Laurel McMillen, Amanda Sansonetti
Viola: Megan Grafton-Cardwell
Cello: Meghan Zeikle
String bass: Andrew Braine
Piano, pads: Walt Harrah

Vocalists

Here Is Your God
Kenny Clark and Marla Bustad
The Best Is Yet To Come
Kenny Clark
Life Everlasting
Marla Bustad
Prepare The Way
Kenny Clark
Walt Harrah and Drew Brokke, bgvs
I Belong To The Lord
Marla Bustad
Anna & Elijah Price, Chayila & Ransom Kleist, Maryn & Anna Joseph, Caroline Thoennes, choir
Despised, Rejected
Kenny Clark
Beauty From Ashes
Mindy Price
orchestrated by and piano performed by Trevor Gomes
Set Things Right
Kenny Clark
The Light Of The Lord
Marla Bustad
True Religion
Kenny Clark and Marla Bustad
Just Wait And See
Kenny Clark and Mindy Price
Walt Harrah and Mindy Price, bgvs

Grace

© 2010 Grace Evangelical Free Church
12717 S. Santa Gertrudes Avenue
La Mirada, CA 90638
(562) 943-3791
www.waltharrah.com
www.songsofgrace.org
www.graceevfree.org

Songs of Grace is a worship ministry of Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, CA.

Grace Evangelical Free Church is a community that exists to glorify God as we follow Jesus Christ. By God’s grace we seek to glorify Him through reverent worship. In His Spirit we endeavor to reach the La Mirada area and the world with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Through His Word we strive toward maturity in Christ, encouraging and equipping one another to be His ambassadors. As Christ’s body we build faithful relationships and families.

At Grace every member of the body is necessary and important for us to do the work that God has called us to do. Our members need to be active if we are going to be faithful to our mission. Our Elders equip the body, but the entire body is to be active in service.

Read more about our ministry values here

From a Resonate worship service at Bethany Church

Long Beach – California – January 2004

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses or to purchase this image.

See this on my flickr page
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpbp/400787508/

From a string recording session at Grace EV Free for the Isaiah worship CD coming out in September.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.
© 2010 Brian Petersen

Church live sound recording using Pro Tools, Yamaha M7, and Waves

Many people wonder how they can record live worship in their church sanctuary using affordable gear to get the job done right. Here is a basic setup using Pro Tools LE 8, a Yamaha M7, and Waves plug ins.

Design by Brian Petersen at Grace EV Free, La Mirada.
Gear and installation by Steve Prado and Jeff Clark at ELS

Signal flow
- Inputs come from the stage to the snake at Front of House (FOH).
- XLR snake lines then plug into to the back of the mixer, a Yamaha 48 channel M7
- The M7 mic pres set the gain for the mixer channel and the direct out
- direct outs from each mixer channel is routed to an output card on the M7
- 2 installed analog cards on the back of the M7 go to a Digi 003+rack
- Inputs come into a Digi 003+ rack running Pro Tools LE 8
- The Digi 003+ rack connects via firewire 400 to the iMac
- 8 other outputs from the board are run into a ADAT lightpipe interface connected to the Digi 003+ via lightpipe providing 16 total analog inputs to Pro Tools

- The tracks are then recorded in Pro Tools 8 on an older iMac with no active plug ins
- The files from the worship services are moved to another computer.
- The 16 tracks are then mixed using SSL, Masters, and the Diamond Bundle of Waves plug ins.
- The audio mix is then manual sync to the recorded camera feeds in Final Cut Pro

Inputs:
2 flown room mics at 20ft. facing the congregation
1 wireless Shure Beta 87 for lead vocal
1 wireless Shure lav W185 mic for preaching pastor
1 wireless Shure Beta 87 for announcements
2 wired Shure Beta 58 for female lead and background vocals
1 Audix D6 for kick drum
1 Sennheiser e604 for snare
1 Sennheiser e604 for toms
1 Shure KSM 106 for drum overhead
1 Rapco DI for electric bass
1 Shure SM 58 for electric guitar
1 Radial DI for acoustic guitar
2 Shure KSM 109 for grand piano (only 1 channel goes to pt)
1 Shure KSM 27 for violin/fiddle

Waves Plug-ins
Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor for main mix buss
Based on the renowned master buss center compressor of the SSL 4000 G console, the Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor captures the unique sound of the original’s IC input and twin VCA gain-reduction amplifier design.

Waves L2 Ultramaximizer for main mix buss
For mixing, mastering, and more, the L2’s legendary combination of look-ahead brickwall peak limiting, level maximization, and ultra high resolution give you the power and extra gain you need with crystal-clear results every single time.

Waves S1 Stereo Imager for main buss before the compressor
Ideal for stereo tracks as well as full mixes, the S1 is a unique and powerful set of tools that uses psycho-acoustic spatial imaging techniques to enhance and alter stereo separation.

Waves SSL E-Channel for most channel EQ and compression
The SSL E-Channel delivers the incomparable sound of the Solid State Logic 4000-series console’s all-discrete design and its Class A, VCA chip.

Waves Renaissance Compressor
Featuring a streamlined, optimized interface, the Renaissance Compressor delivers classic warm compression and expansion utilizing technologies from our renowned C1 Parametric Compander and the legendary L1 Ultramaximizer™.

Waves Renaissance Axx for bass
Engineered especially for guitar, Renaissance Axx is the ideal compressor for musicians and engineers who need to dial in dynamic levels quickly. With its three efficient controls, Renaissance Axx features a fixed ratio curve, automatic release value, and an output limiter to prevent clipping.

Waves H-Delay for main vocal and electric gt delays
From real old school PCM42-style effects like filtering, flanging, and phasing, to slap-back echo, ping-pong delay, and tempo-sync with modulation, H-Delay delivers the goods, controlled by a super intuitive interface that lets you get right down to business.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.
© 2010 Brian Petersen

Here and Now. Live worship music with lyrics from Grace EV Free Church on 3 7 2010.
Mondsel/Harrah ©2010 Seedsower Music ASCAP

Here and Now (Live 3 7 2010) from Grace EV Free on Vimeo.

Media

Download the sheet music here: Here And Now by Walt Harrah
Download the MP3 file here: 01 Here and Now (live 3 7 2010)
Download the AAC file here: 01 Here and Now (live 3 7 2010)

Musicians

Music: Walt Harrah
Vocals: Marla Bustad, Mindy Price, & Walt Harrah
Drums: Nate Warne
Bass: Andrew Braine
Electric: Dale Bryson
Acoustic: Drew Brokke
Piano: Walt Harrah
Live Sound: Erik Bergen
Live Lyrics: Philip Massey
Recording, Mix, & Master: Brian Petersen
All the Glory: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Recorded on Pro Tools 8 using Waves SSL, Renaissance, and Mastering Plug-Ins.

http://www.graceevfree.org/
http://www.waltharrah.com/
http://www.songsofgrace.org/

Lyrics

Here And Now
Mondsel/Harrah
©2010 Seedsower Music ASCAP

Worship the Lord
in the beauty of holiness,
Bow down before Him;

Gold of obedience
and incense of lowliness
Bring and adore Him.

Enter his courts,
Christ has opened
the way for us,
Sing praises to Him;

Now at the side of the Father
to pray for us,
Bring thanks that’s due Him.

Lead us
beyond mere formal duty
Show us
your captivating beauty

Till we, in awe
and reverence, humbly bow.

As we rehearse
redemption’s story,
Show us the wonders
of your glory;
Unveil it here and now.
Unveil it here and now.

Our sins were paid for when death
died at Calvary,
God’s mercy sought us;

Tell how, adopted,
we’re His for eternity,
God’s love has bought us.

Join with the angels and sing,
praise His majesty,
The Lamb is worthy;

Power and wealth, wisdom,
strength, praise and honor be
Now and forever.

Lead us
beyond mere formal duty
Show us
your captivating beauty

Till we, in awe
and reverence, humbly bow.

As we rehearse
redemption’s story,
Show us the wonders
of your glory;
Unveil it here and now.

iPad: The Greatest Disappointment in Human History?

“I’m ready to declare that the iPad is the greatest disappointment in all of human history.” That is how well-known Christian bloggers like Tim Challes and Justin Taylor have described the new computer tablet from the folks at Apple. Harsh reviews have come out against the iPad in recent weeks as people have jokingly referred to it as a bigger iPod, saying “They just don’t get it.”

I humbly disagree. This is a great innovation in technology that can be used for the kingdom of God, and will be of great use to our community here at Biola University.

What exactly is it?
The iPad is a new tablet-style computer device from Apple that is less expensive and smaller than a laptop, but more useful and technologically advanced than an electronic reader, like the Amazon Kindle. The iPad will be able to handle most of the tasks that the average Biola student needs for a starting price of $499. That is remarkably less than a student would spend on a Mac computer for the same use.

Students will be able to download their school books online in a minute, email their friends, write their papers, browse photos, and have access to 140,000 applications to help their life and ministry every day. The software is constantly upgraded, stable, and without viruses. For the price of $10, students can purchase a word processor or presenter software so they can create and playback powerpoint-style slideshows in a snap. Students will be able to Skype with their missionary friends in Africa over a campus WiFi signal, and check up on that cute guy or girl in their class with a free Facebook application. Yes Biola, this will also help your dating life.

The iPad features a 9.7-inch diagonal screen and is less than an inch thick. That makes the device smaller than a magazine while it weighs only a pound and a half. A full 10 hours of use on the same battery charge will allow students to type papers, watch videos, surf the web, send emails, and read books. A 16GB to 64GB amount of hard drive space will allow plenty of space for music, photos, and those videos of your favorite chapel speakers in action.

What it is not
It is not a laptop. You are not going to be able to edit that video in Final Cut or work on your Pro Tools session for your band’s worship album. It doesn’t use Flash, so you won’t be able to access some websites. There is no physical keyboard as the iPad relies on multi-touch technology similar to an iPhone to type on the screen. For that reason, typing a theology paper for your Thoennes’ class probably won’t work as well. You wouldn’t want to smudge your fingers against a 10-inch glass screen while trying to write about the Immutability of God. Apple does offer a solution though and a full size keyboard attachment will be available for an additional purchase. This forthcoming keyboard dock is already being proclaimed as the “iPad’s best accessory.”

Don’t worship your iPad
Before closing, I would like a make a brief comment about new technology and idolatry. The new iPad can be an idol, but so can the $1 mirror in your dorm room. If you find yourself rejoicing and finding your worth increased by a new piece of plastic, aluminum, and glass, I would exhort you to repent and find your ultimate trust and satisfaction in the completed work of Jesus Christ.

I am hoping to read and enjoy the ESV Study Bible on my iPad in full color. You won’t be able to do that on a Kindle.

- Brian Petersen serves at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, and is a current Talbot student. You can reach him at brianapetersen@gmail.com.

The above content was edited and published by the Biola Chimes here.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com

After each scene during a 2003 Good Friday service a dancer would appear to extinguish one of the remaining candles on stage. Eventually all of the lights were dimmed and the audience left the church in a quiet and dark mood to replicate the feeling of the the first Good Friday when Jesus died for the sins of the world. Three days later Jesus physically rose from the dead in what we now celebrate as Easter.

All mankind has sinned against God and Jesus paid the sin debt for everyone on the cross. It is promised in God’s word that all who trust in Jesus through faith by declaring him as Lord of their life will live forever. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3.16

From a Good Friday service at Bethany Church in Long Beach, CA. This image was taken in the dark from the sound booth about 80 feet away on an old school digital camera that stored its media on floppy discs.

See all the images from this Good Friday and Easter Service
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/358771736
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/447911870
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/2281098872
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/2280308549