Todo comenzó en la iglesia Hillsong, en Sydney, Australia. Iglesia que desde 1988 ha traído música de alabanza y adoración que han abrazado cristianos e iglesias alrededor del mundo. La banda se formó en un comienzo entre amigos del ministerio de jóvenes de la iglesia, llamándose “Powerhouse youth”. Con el pasar del tiempo se separaron en dos otras agrupaciones, “Powerhouse” y “Wildlife”. Luego del campamento de Verano de la congregación en 1997, y de pedirle a Dios que los usara como instrumento de su voluntad; ambas bandas se volvieron a unir y tomaron el nombre de “United”.

Su misión es compartir con el resto de las comunidades a nivel local y mundial, las maravillas que Dios concibe en aquellos que lo siguen en espíritu y verdad. Y lograr que las personas puedan acercarse a Cristo por medio de la alabanza y adoración. Que la juventud y comunidades en general estén dispuestas a dar su vida por el Señor y Su causa; a vivir vidas que representen el amor y la salvación encontrados en Jesucristo, y comprometidos a traer esperanza y justicia a una humanidad que sufre.

El nombre de la banda viene ligado al hecho de que todos estamos unidos por nuestra necesidad de esperanza y misericordia; ni el lugar en donde se vive, ni la etnia, clase social, o tan siquiera nuestros gustos; tienen alguna relevancia cuando se llega al hecho de que las personas; lo estén realizando o no, fueron creadas con un solo propósito, el de brindarle culto a su Creador…….Ese es el sentido de la vida” mencionó Joel Houston durante la entrevista de su último disco.

“The I Heart Revolution”, es el último proyecto de esta banda que tiene como enfoque principal el de iluminar las necesidades alrededor del mundo e ilustrar como una comunidad trabajando con Dios pueden hacer un cambio notable en la humanidad; es acerca del corazón de una generación consumido con su Creador. “Cuando nosotros escribimos nuestras canciones, siempre hemos tratado de capturar el latido de la juventud. Tratamos de escribir canciones que ayuden a jóvenes nuevos en su fe, a conectarse con su Cristo de una manera relevante para ellos” afirma Joel Houston.

Haciendo a un lado, los reconocimientos mundiales que estos jóvenes han recibido por su trabajo; sabemos que United es sinónimo de éxito, y que se mantendrán rindiendo culto, oraciones y honor a Dios con su corazón, alma, mente y fuerzas como mejor lo saben hacer. No hay duda de que ellos seguirán usando sus dones para comunicar que su propósito, es mucho más que hacer buena música. Y que hay algo especial acerca de la unidad, que la música tiene la habilidad de cruzar barreras y derrumbar muros, que el propósito es el de ponerle voz a nuestra razón de existir y declarar nuestras oraciones a Dios como un solo corazón.

Por: Alexandra

A relationship psychologist at the University of Cambridge stated that Miley, who has become used to getting “whatever she likes”, was likely to be shocked by being dumped by the Disney chart show host.

Jeremy Shum seemed unemotional when asked by media what his opinions were.

--Teen Magazine

Neither Demi Lovato nor her public relations officer has responded, but it is expected that she will make a media statement in the next few days or so.

Jeremy Shum, who has previously been linked to Miley Cyrus, in the song, says he and Miley are no longer a feature, and "never really liked her", with the nude Miley pictures turning him "off".

--New York Post

Any musicians please correct me if I'm wrong!

The song starts off in the F# minor key, and switches between that and A major, which is no issue since they are related keys. Like all teen rock songs, and many popular songs, there is a sudden shift in key to G# minor/B major, which is a modulation up one tone (i.e. two semitones).

The lyrics use a dual-line rhyme system, where the first two stanzas simple-rhyme, and the last two simple-rhyme too. The structure of the song is A-B-C-D-B-E-B-F format. This is not what you'd call a classical format, but is a result of "B" being the chorus, and "D" being the bridge. Thus, it probably makes more sense to express the form as:

Verse 1 - Chorus - Verse 2 - Verse 3 - Chorus - Bridge - Chorus - Coda

The song is therefore made up of three verses, a chorus, bridge, and coda. One verse comes before the first time the chorus is played, and then followed by two verses. The chorus is then replayed, before shifting into the bridge. The chorus is repeated after the bridge, where a shift of key occurs. The song then happily finishes with a coda, like many pop songs.

The content of the lyrics utilize simple-rhyme, metaphorical language, and other poetic features. It also features a number of verbative words which are somewhat loquacious, at least in the teenage sense, in that the words are exclusive to "teenagers"; that is jargon, used by teenagers, which stress the tween/teen target audience of the song.

The voice is rather breathy, but is the "normal sound" these days on teen pop records. Phrasing is also used to express where each stanza starts and finishes.

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.1543206&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

Join the Conversation - How do you think the Church should respond? Does his story discredit the song?

set 9/7/08:

• Our Love is Loud :: David Crowder
• Enough :: Chris Tomlin
• Undivided :: Elevation Worship
• To know your name :: Hillsong United
• You Said :: Reuben Morgan
• Your Grace is enough :: Chris Tomlin

So you probably have not heard of Elevation worship. they are the church i visited a bunch down in Charlotte, NC. you should check them out at elevation-worship.com   we will be doing some more of there songs, they are very talented song writers. anyway, hope you all are enjoying the new songs, they shall stay with us for a while. To know your name might be my favorite hillsong united song. have a blessed week and see some of you wednesday!

Shuffled, 9/5/08

1) Love Enough - Hillsong United (best worship team around)
2) Cry me a river - Justin Timberlake (watch JT in this, this)
3) Hey Jude - Joe Anderson (from the "Across the universe" soundtrack)
4) Redemption Song - Bob Marley (one of my all-time favorite artists)
5) Can you feel the love tonight - Elton John (yep from the "Lion King" - don't judge me)
6) Challengers - the New Pornographers (the name doesn't say it all)
7) Only True God - Paul Baloche
8) Drifting - Andy McKee (this guy is one of the best guitar players I have ever heard)
9) Angel's share - Vertiver & Hope Sandoval
10) Wish you were here - Pink Floyd

Because God works all things together according to His purpose, He places deep within each of us an incredible desire to know Him. Once the fullness of God is known to you, your passions are redirected and your pursuits are driven by a different set of values. Desire is a powerful emotion, and needs the direction of a healthy heart to bring about healthy results.

Too often, we find ourselves trying to gratify our passions, and we all know too well, that life without Christ is futile - like climbing a mountain and never quite getting to the top. Never satisfied, our empty hearts are ready to grasp or swallow any delusional teaching or scheme which may be cleverly disguised as truth. But true believers are of a different seed. They drink from the fountain of life, their faces pointing upward toward the Son. They live in favor, even in difficult times - hence the invocation, "Let Your face shine upon me."

When we delight in God, He promises to give us the desires and secret petitions of our hearts. The thought of living to delight the heart of God has grown in me as I have grown in Him. Psalm 37:3-4 reassures us that God will bring those desires to pass as we commit our way to Him.

God has given and entrusted gifts to every single person on earth, but there are so many factors that can distract us from ever realizing the potential or the hope we have inside. Yet that God-breathed dream inside of you has the power to lift you out of the mindset that you could never fulfill your dreams. Imagine if we had a glimpse of our true capacity!

The apostle Paul explained this purpose and calling in his letter to the church saying, "And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:9-14)

The complexity and intricacies of human beings are so wonderfully rich in life, in purpose, in function, in creativity, in reproduction, and in balance, designed in perfection according to God’s blueprint. Yet ever since Eden we have struggled, blinded by the master deceiver as he has tried to question, manipulate, confuse, undermine and devalue the very worth and reason for God’s pride and joy. Being made in God’s image, His creative nature is continually seen through the lives of His children.

I once watched Sting in concert (he was absolutely incredible!). So much “gift” for one human being! Thoughts raced through my head, “My goodness, Sting, you are like king David, full of psalms, melodies and music, and you sing as if you don’t even know that His hand is upon you. You are so close to the heart of God. You are a master poet, full of love, and your capabilities are not because of your own natural abilities — you have tapped into the source of your Creator.” I could see God’s dream-seed at work in him; I could see God’s call on his life.

The fulfillment of a God-dream always takes great courage, for they are always so much bigger than [us]. Bill Gates changed the way our world communicates, but his bigger dream is to wipe out polio. His dream has a greater purpose than himself. Where would that dream come from, if not from God?

Martin Luther King had a God-dream that ignited harmony and freedom for our world. His dream was empowered and fuelled by his consuming passion to see people in bondage set free. Sounds like a God-dream to me.

Mother Teresa was born into destiny in God’s perfect timeline within eternity, born to fulfill His purpose. This tiny little lady, with sharp focus and a heart full of love and compassion for people, has left a legacy and challenge to all who dare to trust Jesus with their lives. Not a popular dream, but oh, such a God dream.

Oprah Winfrey is a woman who has herself been touched by grace. Whether you love her approach or not, she devotes so much time, resources and energy to seeing people's lives lifted. Could this be the seed of a God dream?

Nancy Alcorn (a little dynamo and a dear friend) saw injustice done one too many times and founded Mercy Ministries, a program dedicated to seeing young women’s lives restored. A big dream, one woman, great courage - an amazing God.

Nelson Mandela - a brave man with such a powerful conviction, that he denied his own freedom, to ensure the freedom of countless thousands.

You could all add your own stories of people you know who live to lift the lives of others. We could fill every page with great examples of so many others, known and unknown, who have lived with great courage to see their heart’s dreams come to pass.

We are created in God's image, and our lives were meant to be a visual demonstration of His awesome glory and goodness. When we turn away from God and go our own way, we walk away from our purpose and our only hope of true fulfillment. There are many brilliant people, both alive and deceased, who were entrusted with things from heaven, but they never understood what they had and why. There are way too many stories of people who held brilliance in their hands, but who chose to take themselves out because they couldn’t live under the weight of such greatness. We can find success apart from God, but we can’t find eternal fulfillment without Him.

Ask yourself these questions ... write down the answers ... it quite possibly will give you a great insight into the life you've been favored to live.

What is Your Dream?

What is in your heart to do?

What are the secret petitions of your heart?

What do you wish you could be?

What could you do, or be part of, to bless someone else's word?

What are you good at?

What would you do if time and resource were unlimited to you?

What do you find easy?

What moves you?

What idea are you hesitant to speak out loud because it is so big and so daring?
Humanity is hungry for God's presence in their everyday lives. In order for people to see God's glory and His goodness, we must be willing to allow His potential within each of us to be unveiled. When people see God at work through the fulfillment of our goals and dreams, they just may trust Him for dreams of their own.

(Used by permission of Bethany, a division of Baker Book House Company, copyright © 2004. All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other sites without written permission from Baker Book House Company.)

Incredible:

• God is just majestic. We had worship in devotions this morning, and the songs just blessed my heart. There's so much that young people can do, even if it's as though everyone has expectations of them. This was the song that opened the set, and it just moved me powerfully:


Lyrics here. The guy who's in this video looks like Kurt Cobain, no? An added bonus.

• How I've had just enough energy for the things I need to do, and not more, but, more importantly, not less. I've had sporadic sleep since the beginning of the semester, and with uni starting up this past week as well, it's been pretty intense, with the prospect of more to come later on.
• God has just had His hand on my relationships, and I've really seen healing and His work on them.
• Classes have started at uni, and although I was dog-tired when I came home the two nights, I really learned a lot in the lectures and I look forward to the assignments (even though I'm almost beyond 50% sure I'll regret this feeling later on as deadlines creep up on me... that said, I do know what I want to write on for my dissertation, which is a blessed relief. All that remains then is for the topic to be approved).

Not-so-incredible:

• Not being able to blog kind of drives me nutty with the various different things I mean to write about, but which I forget to do. So yes. Not so great.
• The lack of sleep. It's constant, and on some days, I have no idea where the energy I have comes from. It could only be God. Which then makes this point not really not-so-incredible... but oh well.

So all things considered, not a bad week, even if I did get blown off by a friend I had expected to meet up with. It was a nice evening though, just hanging out.

I'm listening to John Mayer right now. Ahh, love.

What are some good tactics you use to talk to the congregation about the meaning of a word like Hosanna before they are sung? What other words and phrases do we sing that need some detail for the un-churhed person walking in the door? What benefits are there in teaching the meaning of key words in worship songs? Does the knowledge give greater passion to the true worshipper and can you hear that in the vocal response?

Just an amazing song that never fails to bring me back to my roots as a sinner found by His grace.

Do listen and be inspired to reach our destiny that He has prepared for each one of us.

And my girl, Brooke Frasor dropped a new cd last month.  Here is a cover of one of my all-time favorite songs (beware it ends abruptly).  Buy the cd, if you want it in its entirety.  

I am big fan of hymns.  This is both simple and astounding.

Started off with the Kluang weekend with Malaysian Youth Prayer Gathering (MYPG)

Then the 40-day prayer and fasting launch at SIB.

Then the Passion World Tour with the message of the "God of this City".

Then the Petaling Jaya Prayer Day.

Then the National Prayer Conference.

And today, marks the 51st year of independence for Malaysia.

50 years has passed. The Jubilee has passed. Spiritually speaking, this year is the year of new beginnings. As Winston Churchill said: It is not the beginning and it is not the end. It is the end of the beginning.

The past 50 years has been accounted for. Now is the start of a new Malaysia, with a new name - Salvation.

Too much to reflect on after all the above events! The events are but names. What transpired WITHIN these events have marked a crucial moment in my life. It is, to date, one of my largest mile stones in my life! :D At the moment, got not enough time to properly evaluate. We are only doing our petaling jaya prayer day post-mortem tomorrow! haha... So, will jot down more thoughts when I'm done on my own personal reflection.

I leave you, with this amazingly powerful song:

Hosanna (Hillsong United)

I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

Yeeeah

I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

[Chorus]
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest [x2]

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

[Chorus]

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

[Chorus x2]

Hosanna in the highest

Lord, Break my heart from what breaks Yours. I do not want to be a generation that does not know You. I want to be a generation that walks the land in faith, the Joshua generation who crossed over and took possession of the promise land. I want to be a generation of Samuel's, who hear God's voice and obeys. I want to be a generation of Nehemiah's, who will rise up to trumpet the rebuilding of the broken walls of the church. And in Christ, nothing is impossible. Thank you Lord. Amen.

"King" - Tree 63

"Rain Down" - Delirious

"From the inside out" - Hillsong United

"Love Song" - Jason Morant (the Mill Band version)

"How Great is our God" - Chris Tomlin (Chorus and Bridge only)

"Awesome is the Lord Most High" - Chris Tomlin (closing tune)

Also, just a reminder that we're doing a sat night worship gathering as well. Starts at 6:30 and so far it proves to be a fun, high energy service.

Let's get it started!!

Last week I had the pleasure to attend the Hillsong United Conference here in Houston, TX as part of the media, held at the Grace Community Church. It was such an awesome experience! I also had the great opportunity to meet Shannon Walker of Integrity Music, who, by the way, is a wonderful and helpful person. I just wanted to share some words with you from the press conference that was held and afterwards images (of course) from the concert that followed!

Joel Houston, one of the founding members of Hillsong United, gave a synopsis of what the Hillsong group is all about, starting with the fact that he helped form a local church in Sydney, Australia. The group is about church, people, and praising God. He feels as though "God has birthed this ministry" into them to go out and to show what worship is all about. From this ministry the "I Heart" Revolution was born.

On Friday, August 22, there was a release screening of the DVD "With Hearts As One" and I must say that it was really powerful. People began to worship God right along with the DVD as they watched, I've never seen anything like it. It was an amazing experience.

The "I Heart" Revolution is a revolution about serving God and bringing youth with a like-minded urgency to serve God together. Joel doesn't feel as though they're called to "Christian Entertainment" and said that they felt burdened to take what they do a step further. He also feels a need to communicate what God is doing and to share the heart behind the songs that they sing.

"We need to look beyond our differences and see what we have in common" expressed Joel. "If we can be the hands and feet of Jesus locally, then globally we can start to see a change. Together we can see that our little piece of the canvas is painting God's total picture. It's about the unseen, about charity, about showing God's love!"

Enjoy!

-oh and one more thing.....did I tell you this new Israel Houghton album was going to be hot? Check it...

So I legitimately bought my first Christian music last weekend.  I had seen the name Hillsong in Relevant and seen it on the XM before and it stood out to me.  A few weeks ago I my friends Scott & Michelle were playing the same group on the Ipod and it sounded good, so I came home and hit the Itunes store up for this double CD.  I Heart Revolution is awesome.  Turns out my sister also bought it and loves it.  You should really get this one.

Good talk today with one of the new pastors at my church today.  Such a deep thinker.  I am so excited to see what God has instore for the faithfulness of this place.  They are so intentional.  We talked about me moving and they want to have a worship time with me.  Maybe for some discernment.  If God says to stay I will.  I am so worn down by this moving and unsettledness.  I want to be involved in spreading his love.  I feel so complete in Texas.  I am still gonna go, but I'm willing to change.  No work again tomorrow.  That will surely change things with moving fast.

Started reading this one today.  Really looking forward to it.

On a related note, I decided today to stop thinking just pray and read and walk forward.  Seems pretty good to me.

You are always always there
Everyhow and everywhere.
Your grace abounds so deeply within me..

You will never ever change
Yesterday today the same.
Forever till forever meets no end..

One Way - Hillsong United

So, I had a ton of hits on my blog over this whole Healer situation.  Thanks to all of you who visited.  I hope you stay and join the fun.  

Well tonight, there is a lot going on.  Starting back 24/7 at UNC-G is going to be awesome.  I expect a huge amount of people to come just from the conversations that I have had.  

I am excited to be back leading worship with this group.  It is quite awesome to see how much change has taken place over the years.  I am very humbled and glad to say that I got to help start this group in 2005.  It started as a prayer group on Mondays at 10:30 pm (yeah, not sure why so late).  Then it turned into a full-fledged move of God in fall 2006 with about 100 or so people.  Then God just started to show us how much we lacked in the realm of leadership and made us drop to about 15 people.  

The great thing is that most of those 15 people were still around until after they graduated.  Those few people have brought abounding faith to the move that continues today and God has been doing so much recently with it.  I am excited to see what He has in store for the future. 

In the words of one of the songs from tonight: 
"Nothing is impossible for [God]"  

Well I am done for now, but I will let you know as soon as I can about the experience that was tonight.

Hillsong and ACC (Assemblies of God in Australia) have been doing the same.

From my original post:

...Planetshakers has removed references to Michael Guglielmucci, crediting his role on these albums, from their web-site.

For example, the online blurb for Planetshakers 2004 album "Always and Forever" previously read:

Produced by lead songwriter Henry Seeley, with songwriting credits and lead vocals to Mike Guglielmucci and Sam Evans, Always and Forever is an album not to be missed.

Now, the blurb on the Planetshakers discography page reads:

Produced by lead songwriter Henry Seeley, with songwriting credits and lead vocals to Sam Evans, Always and Forever is an album not to be missed.

And the blurb for the 2007 album "Never Stop" previously read:

"Featuring Henry Seeley, Mike Guglielmucci and Sam Evans, this studio album is signature Planetshakers praise and worship for a new generation. Includes CD and bonus DVD of Planetshakers live worship and inspiring messages."

Now:

"Featuring Henry Seeley and Sam Evans, this studio album is signature Planetshakers praise and worship for a new generation. Includes CD and bonus DVD of Planetshakers live worship and inspiring messages."

(All references to Planetshakers live album "Savior of the World" have also been removed entirely from the Planetshakers Discography page.)

These are conspicuous absenses given Mike Guglielmucci wrote 11 out of 13 of the songs on "Never Stop", and 7 out of the 10 songs on "Always and Forever"...

Hillsong's response was to file copyright "take-down" claims on all YouTube videos that contained Mike Guglielmucci and his song "Healer" - I believe that the copyright on some of these videos were under Planetshakers’ (or at least Word Publishing’s) control.

Some of these videos had over 300,000 views.

Is copyright the issue? Is the means of removing these videos the same as the motive for removing them?

Apparently not - Hillsong United, Darlene Zschech and the Hillsong band all still have videos available on YouTube - videos which would obviously violate copyright if Hillsong was concerned about copyright itself.

And ACC?

Speaking to a webmaster of one prominent Christian web-site, I found ACC (Assemblies of God in Australia / Australian Christian Churches) responded by contacting web-sites that ranked prominently in Google for Michael Guglielmucci's name and have them modify their web-sites to minimize negative publicity.

I wonder to myself... Is this just? Is this fair? Is this honourable?

Is it hiding from an issue, covering up, and "protecting the brand"?

Or is it something more honourable than it might seem on the surface?

Hillsong church is a part of the Assemblies of God  ... as is Grace Community Church in Houston where we were. In Australia they renamed themselves Australian Christian Churches a few years ago. I'm not sure how that affects the mission efforts of the Christian Church in Australia ... could be confusing I suppose. Anyhow I found myself not knowing very much about the Assembly of God denomination so I did a little reading on their official websites. In their "what we believe" section I found, of course, that we hold many of the same core beliefs. They do consider themselves "pentecostal" and believing in practicing "all of the spiritual gifts". They are trinitarian in theology (which was obvious from the teaching I heard this weekend), and they are premillinnial. It seems to me from listening to Brian Houston via podcast and now having been to one of their events, that the AOG does not emphasize the miraculous gifts of the Spirit as much as some of the other pentecostal denominations. In fact I never heard anyone talk about that subject, except as it related to requesting healing from God (which we all seek). The AOG appears to emphasize preaching from the Word and serving others ... accepting miraculous gifts but not depending on them as primary revelation. If I have any AOG readers, feel free to correct my perceptions. It is always interesting to learn about the faith of other believers.

We did have a change of plans this weekend. We had intended to drive to Bay City Sunday morning to see my brother and his family. They have, however, been passing around a nasty bug and they've all had it. My sister in law was likely over the contagious part but was still feeling really bad ... so we put off our visit for another time and just came back to Monroe. I guess we were all disappointed. It was good to worship at Forsythe Sunday evening and hear Eddie Enlow speaking. Eddie and Stacy have been good friends to us in our time here. Eddie is a Mississippi State Graduate in a sea of LSU fans. We must pray for him to keep the faith!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

John