worship

A shot from the CD release concert of Lincoln’s latest worship album at Bayside Church in Granite Bay, CA.

Check out his site here http://www.normstockton.com/

From his site:
Bassist/solo artist/clinician Norm Stockton travels extensively throughout North America, Europe and Japan. He has been profiled in Bass Player magazine (12/95 & 2/10) and is recognized by many as one of the premier bassists today. Since 2006, he has been the touring and recording bassist with chart-topping worship artist (and former Steve Perry guitarist) Lincoln Brewster.
As a solo artist, he has released two instrumental projects that have garnered widespread acclaim from around the globe. His recently-released 2nd solo project, Tea In The Typhoon, features stellar guest artists John Patitucci, Gregg Bissonette, Lincoln Brewster, Michael Manring, Etienne Mbappe and more, and further affirms Norm’s reputation as a world-class bassist and composer.

Norm has performed or recorded with such artists as:

Vicky Beeching (worship artist)
Lincoln Brewster
Dominique Di Piazza (John McLaughlin)
Brian Doerksen (worship artist)
Bryan Duncan
Steve Laury (solo artist, Fattburger)
Luna Halo
Mandisa (American Idol)
Darrell Mansfield
Rob Mullins (solo artist, The Crusaders)
David Pack (Ambrosia)
Rita Springer (worship artist)
Darlene Zschech (Hillsong)
and many more.

Norm is also known internationally as a bass educator and clinician. His bass instructional DVD series, Grooving for Heaven (distributed by Alfred Publishing), has sold extensively in the United States and abroad. He has served as adjunct faculty at Concordia University, Hope International University, Biola University, The Los Angeles Music Academy, and MusicDojo.com. He also serves as the bass columnist for Christian Musician magazine.

Norm lives in Orange County, CA, with his wife and daughters.

Norm Stockton proudly uses and endorses instruments & products from the following:

MTD
Gallien-Krueger
MTD Strings
Shure

and, of course, he unequivocally prefers Coca-Cola to Pepsi.

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.
© 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

Soundcraft MH4 mixer at the front of house mix position at Hume Lake Ponderosa Chapel.

http://www.soundcraft.com/products/product.aspx?pid=123
http://www.humelake.org/

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

Mic pres during a drum recording session by Brian Petersen.

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

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/

Idols being sold for worship in the streets of Katmandu, Nepal.

I thought of Acts 17 and Paul in Athens
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
Acts 17:16

“Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?
Ezekiel 14:3

I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
Isaiah 42:8

All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!
Psalm 97:7

They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!
Jeremiah 10:8

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Psalm 96:5

And you shall know that I am the Lord, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols.
Ezekiel 6:13

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”
1 Corinthians 8:4

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
1 John 5:21

Get the full image at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpbp/4523907327/

Isaiah 53: Good Friday 2010 at Grace EV Free from Grace EV Free on Vimeo.

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.

This shot was taken from the Alabama Hills overlooking the Owens Valley and the White Mountains.

This was my first nature shooting expedition with my new Canon 50D using a Sigma fisheye 17mm film lens.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Download the full size image at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpbp/3166104976

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

A moment of Grace from the worship team at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, Ca.

Nate Warne on drums
Drew Brokke on guitar
Andrew Braine on bass
Mindy Price and Toni Coloma with vocals
Walt Harrah leading worship

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com

Stain glass background image taken during a Friday morning worship chapel at Bethany School in Long Beach.

See this image used as a text background in a worship setting here
www.flickr.com/photos/bpbp/408047945/

I came across this text while preparing for a prayer time with some friends. Not only is the message incredible, but I like the resulting image as the light shines from above on the textured paper.

The Crying Need of the Hour

So the truth is reaffirmed: God has given us prayer because Jesus has given us a mission. We are on this earth to press back the forces of darkness, and we are given access to headquarters by prayer to advance this cause. When we try to turn it into a civilian intercom to increase our conveniences, it stops working, and our faith begins to falter. We have so domesticated prayer that for many of us it is no longer what it was designed to be-a wartime walkie-talkie for the accomplishment of Christ’s mission.

We simply must seek for ourselves and for our people a wartime mentality. Otherwise the biblical teaching about the urgency of prayer and the vigilance of prayer and the watching in prayer and the perseverance of prayer and the danger of abandoning prayer will make no sense and find no resonance in our hearts. Until we feel the desperation of a bombing raid or the thrill of a new strategic offensive for the gospel, we will not pray in the spirit of Jesus.

The crying need of the hour is to put the churches on a wartime footing. Mission leaders are crying out, "Where is the church’s concept of militancy, of a mighty army willing to suffer, moving ahead with exultant determination to take the world by storm? Where is the risk-taking, the launching out on God alone?" The answer is that it has been swallowed up in a peacetime mentality.

We are a "third soil century." In the parable of the soils, Jesus says that the seed is the Word. He sows his urgent Word of kingdom power. But instead of taking it up as our sword (or bearing fruit), we "are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful" (Mark 4:18-19).

This is why Paul says that all of life is war—-every moment. Before we can even engage in the mission of the church, we have to fight against the "the deceitfulness of riches" and "desires for other things." We must fight to cherish the kingdom above all "other things"-that is our first and most constant battle. That is the fight of faith. Then, when we have some experience in that basic battle, we join the fight to commend the kingdom to all the nations.

Let The Nations Be Glad! by John Piper
The Supremacy of God In Missions through Prayer: page 51
www.desiringgod.org/

=-=-=-=-=
Here is the text from the Prayer Time

Team Missions Prayer

:: Confession of Sin and Burdens / Repentance

Personal Prayer and Silence
Ask the Lord to search your heart for any areas of sin
Confess any sin (1 John 1.9, James 5:16)
Bring your burdens to the Lord in prayer (1 Pet 5:7)
Ask the Lord to give you an open heart
Ask for the Spirit to lead you and the group in prayer for the glory of God (John 14)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1.9 NIV

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7.14 NIV

:: Worship by Praising God

Group Worship with Singing and Prayer
God alone is worthy of our praise!
Begin in prayer with thanksgiving
Rejoice in the Lord!
Praise God for all the blessings He has provided for us
Thank God for our salvation and the new life we have through the blood of Jesus Christ

In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Rev. 5.12 NIV

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100.1-3 NIV

Prayer for the Team and Ministry

Group Prayer for the Ministry
Bring team needs before the Lord (Phil 4.6-7)
Pray for team unity in serving together with different gifts and roles, yet one body (1 Cor 1:10)
Pray that our team would be prepared for the ministry to the best of our abilities but continually rely on Christ’s strength while we are there.
Pray for divine appointments; pray that the Holy Spirit would direct us in ever move for the sake of the salvation of the souls of his people in the world
Ask for financial provision through the support process
Pray for the health and safety of our team
Pray for boldness of speech in proclaiming the gospel (Eph. 6.19-20)
Pray that we will utilize the power from the Holy Spirit to withstand trials and temptations

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4.6-7 NIV

Prayers for the field

Prayer for the growth and strength of Christian churches and missionaries
Pray that God would raise up nationals to evangelize their own people
Pray for the health of the missionaries being under severe strain and burden for the work
Ask the Lord to send ministers into the nations for the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Mat 9:37-38)

Helpful Bible Verses

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph. 3.14 – 21

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:16

Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened". Matthew 7:7-8

2 Thessalonians 3:1, “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.” The word runs and triumphs by means of prayer.

Matt. 26.41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Ephesians 6:19, “[Pray] for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.” Paul’s boldness in the gospel came from God by the prayers of simple Christian believers.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1.9-14

Acts 1.14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Col. 4.12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Romans 15:30, “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.” The wrestling of Paul to be faithful in all his sufferings was sustained by a wrestling in prayer by the brothers in Rome.

Acts 2.42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Colossians 4:3, “Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison.” Open doors for the spread of the gospel come in answer to prayer. Therefore, in the life of Paul it is plain that prayer is God’s way of gospel victory.

Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name. Daniel 9.17-19

This image and text is also viewable at my flickr page here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpbp/485984140/

Cross of Jesus Christ : Good Friday and Easter church worship background

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Grace EV Free Choir and Orchestra during the 2009 Christmas Concert
Will Gearhart is conducting
Marla Bustad with the solo
Produced by Walt Harrah

Erik Bergen is on sound
Marlin Gramenz is running visuals
Thatcher Kelly is shooting video
Brian Sterling is taking still photography
Brian Petersen is the technical director