I am posting the lyrics of the song that inspired the “DRINK THE DIVINE” EP worship project. Sunday night the funding campaign ends. If I had about a dozen more contributors, I will be able to cross the threshold.  Please consider pledging. Supporting gets you a perk, allows the project to complete and supports charity (Doma International).

Drink The Divine
by Rich Kirkpatrick

I thirst in the dessert no food to sustain
I pray for revival a mountain top change
For this journey to lead me, from valley to hill
To count all as lost and eat my soul’s fill
My soul’s fill

Drink the divine, end your starvation take in the pure wine
Drink the divine, a mystical union with Jesus the Vine

Its not just commitment, or the good that I do
Or knowledge of theories that make my life true
Its you and you Jesus I need to embrace
Rejecting my ways and accepting your grace
Your grace

Drink the divine, end your starvation take in the pure wine
Drink the divine, a mystical union with Jesus the Vine

Religion’s elixir will waste us away
But the life blood of Jesus empowers today!

We drink from his cup and we eat of his bread
He said “it is finished” the Old Man is dead

Drink the divine, end your starvation take in the pure wine
Drink the divine, a mystical union with Jesus the Vine

© 2011 Rich Kirkpatrick/Tehilla Music

I thought of writing a book review but ended up with a song inspired by a book. “Grace found me” is a phrase quoted from the book All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir which is the memoir of beloved author and speaker Brennan Manning. We think we can earn God’s love, God’s favor. We can’t. Even at our best, most religious selves we fall short. We all do. And, at our worst, God’s hand reaches out for us. All we have to do is reach for it. His hand will find our hand. 

As some of you know, I am working on a worship recording called Drink The Divine. This worship project is about grace–the cross section of our belief in it and our experience of it. This is why I believe in giving away the proceeds to help a very worthy cause, Doma International. There are many who need an arm reached out to them. As we in our well-equipped and tuned church facilities cry out in song and prayer, our hand should be held out to the least of these. We are all ragamuffins, anyway.

Fundamentally, I believe that drinking the divine of Jesus includes how we in our human, earthy and real selves live out love to others. It is not an “either or”…it is a “both and” way of loving. Love God, and love people. Follow Jesus. Express your worship to Jesus. These we should not separate.

If you believe in this as I do and desire to support, please do so. There are only a few days left and your contribution will get you a small perk, sure. But, it will give a lot more. However, only you can help make that happen.

God bless and peace in the New Year to you and yours!

Here are the song lyrics to “Grace Found Me”.

Verse 1:
In the dark of doubt
I’m closer to good news
For it takes a broken heart
To finally hear the truth
A prodigal I am
Reaching for the Father’s hand

Chorus:
Grace, grace, you found me
From my shame I am set free
Grace, grace, you saved me
From blindness now my eyes see
Grace

Verse 2:
God’s favor is not earned
My efforts fall in vain
Yes, I have a broken heart
And I’m the one to blame
A prodigal I am
Reaching for the Father’s hand

Grace…

© 2011 Rich Kirkpatrick/Tehilla Music

Yes, I am recording a 4-song worship EP titled “Drink the Divine” and you can go to DrinktheDivine.com to learn more! This project has been long in the works and includes four original songs.

Today I am releasing all over the world a new single called “Wonder of Worship” which is a techno-influenced commentary on how we express and approach worship in the Christian church today. I sat on this song for a while, then I found inspiration with the help of some talented young musicians who soon will be helping me produce a new EP.

This week you will be able to iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and so forth. But, today you can name your own price, including FREE on the link below!

The idea is we have sense of entitlement and then wonder why our expression of worship is lacking at times. We enter church like a restaurant and look to order our preference, rather than accept the challenge of giving of ourselves. We consume an experience, rather than make the praise of God something glorious.

I think you are gonna be challenged and have fun at the same time. Check it out.

John Voelz is a pastor, speaker, worship leader and fellow Len Sweet admirer. Although, he takes the cake in that category given that his song “It’s Jesus” was chosen as the official song released June 1 with Len Sweet and Frank Viola’s book Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the supremacy and sovereignty of Jesus Christ. I really dig the honesty and approachability of the song which is exactly who John is.  Go download this song on iTunes!

I have to confess upfront that I am a Vicky Beeching fan. She is not only a gifted artist and worship leader, but sitting under her teaching at various workshops has shown her thoughtful, theological approach. Meeting her in person confirms that she is the real deal. Vicky is also paving the way for women in worship leadership with her leadership in the Women in Worship Network.

Beeching’s new Integrity CD release, Eternity Invades is surely tastefully produced and her songwriting is not only moving and catchy it also reveals that thoughtful side as well. Vicky proves by her example that modern worship is not just about the hair, but about the content and context of our worship.

“Inhabit the Praise” a hooky call to worship, while “Deliverer” builds from an intimate expression to an anthem of freedom. Vicky’s version of “Glory to God” inspires the song’ accessibility by revealing a worshiping group of unpolished singers beginning and ending in the mix.

The clean production style translates well writing that obviously has the congregation’s voice as the goal. “Break our Hearts” and “Undivided Heart” with their confessional focus reveal the content of what we hope to sing as worshipers.

I highly recommend you purchase this CD! You can get it online at the iTunes store or your local retailer that sells modern worship.

Have you listened to Eternity Invades yet? Share your thoughts.

It was hard to find songs about the Providence of God. So, I wrote one a while ago and when looking to put together a worship service with the theme of God’s reign it seemed to fit. You can see a copy of the lyrics on my Facebook Musc Page.

Let me know what you think.

Wisdom has let me in on something I want to share with you worship leaders and songwriters out there:

Join us for our very first Songwriting Teleseminar. Worship leader, songwriter, and recording artist, Darrell Evans will be sharing insights on songwriting and also answering your questions.

All proceeds go to support the ministry of NightLight (www.nightlightbangkok.com).

When: Monday, May 4th at 8pm CentralWhere: on the phoneCost: only $22 (early bird discount until April 15)

Go to soundsofredemption.com to register and for more info

This is a continuation of this weeks post about Sunday’s worship at Sunridge. Here is a song I wrote that some asked to see on video, so here ya go. Its not perfect, but might give you a picture. We were singing this while people were taking communion.

The song "This Sacred Place" is a new worship song I wrote and introduced to our church this past Sunday.  I think it went over pretty well.  We did not perfect the arrangement, but the simplicity is still there. 

The idea is that we can go to God boldly because Jesus is the New and Living Way.  Also, I think we all long for some of the symbols that let us know our faith is older than us–like steeples, cathedrals and thoughts that have stood the test of time.  It is with this sense of awe and mystery that we come to worship.  So, even though we have confidence to approach, we have to remind ourselves of that privilege given the history of our faith and the nature of God’s holiness.  Really, our churches should be sacred places that retreat from the scattered thinking of the mundane rituals in life. 

Let me know what you think. 

I have also included a chord chart: Download ThisSacredPlace-C.pdf.