Pastor Rick speaks to our Worship Team...

Dear Worship Team,

Thank you for sharing your time and talent as a singer, player and technician.

We are SO blessed at Argyle. God is awesome. You are awesome. Thank you.

It's very important that you guard your heart.

It's very important that you have personal guard rails in place.

It's very important that you pray and study your Bible every day.

It's very important that you remind yourself of exactly why you play, sing and tech

and who you play, sing and tech for!

When we forget that, 

then we show up late, unprepared, with a heart far from being open to worship...

We'll be tempted to complain, be jealous, feel sorry for ourself and develop a bitter spirit.

We might even begin to think it's all about us!

There is too much at stake for our efforts to be misguided.

There is too much at stake for us to be complacent.

As worship leaders, it is our calling and our responsibility to lead our people into the very presence of God.

We can't lead where we haven't been.

Each week, spend quality time with God. Acknowledge His greatness. Confess your sins.

Pray for God's anointing on our worship.

Pray for your pastor (God knows he needs it.)

Each week, spend quality time with your music. Rehearse on your own. Listen to the mp3's online.

If you're confident with the music, that will allow you to worship freely.

Come prepared to offer Him your absolute best. He's worthy. He's so worthy.

God has blessed The Church at Argyle.

This Sunday, we will begin two worship gatherings to allow us to minister to more people and allow our Children's Ministry Team to attend our worship gatherings every week.

This opportunity will require greater commitment from all of us. I believe we are up to the task.

If I schedule music at the end of the worship gathering, it will be a solo.

That will allow you to leave, if you choose, after the music at the second worship gathering.

Please always attend at least one of the complete worship gatherings.

This is our new schedule:

8:00 am       Arrive/warm up/tune

8:15 am       Downbeat of the first song

9:00 am       First worship gathering

10:30 am     Second worship gathering

6:00 pm       Christmas rehearsal

Please invite people. You are our most effective outreach opportunity.

Here we go.

God's up to something good. It's exciting to be part of it!

I'll see you Sunday at 8!

Love you all,

Rick

A word from Rick...

I met with someone this week who has been visiting our church.

This is someone I respect very much.They went on and on about how awesome our worship and music is at Argyle.

We are so blessed. Please don't take for granted the wonderful team that God has assembled at Argyle.

God is good!

Rick Painter

Worship Arts Pastor

About Worship...

Please print this and put it on your mirror:

“Most of my life, I thought that you went to church to worship. But now I see that the better approach is to go worshiping to church. Corporate worship works best when we arrive with something to offer God, as opposed to coming only to get something for us.”

Quoted from Louie Gigleo, from his book The Air I Breathe.

Peace,
Rick Painter

A note Rick passed to the Worship Team...

I received this email today. This oughta keep us going at least a few more weeks!

"Hello:

I am a member of the Church at Argyle. I felt that I needed to drop you a quick note saying thank you.

Thank you for the great music you and your praise team and musicians play for us every Sunday. I’m sure you hear it all the time, but I needed to tell you how much I enjoy it.

I love that every Sunday I can get my blood moving and my head and heart ready to hear the Lord's word by such a talented group of folks.

I love to see the faces of the singers as they smile and sing. I LOVE when you have the different ladies and gentlemen sing by themselves. I really enjoyed the lady who sang this past weekend before Pastor Ken's book signing. I love her voice.

Also that song you all play Faith, giving us a sample of the different musical instruments, is one of my favorites and when I get to hear the individual instruments I can’t help but be mesmerized. I love the 2 gentlemen on the guitar and bass exchanging their looks and smiles and smirks. It makes my Sunday.

I am so blessed to go to a neighborhood church with great music and a pastor that really speaks to me about things I can apply to my life and that of my family.

Just a pat on the back to you and your talented group of folks."

Isn't it interesting how many "little things" she noticed? That's why I encourage you each week to smile and sing/play/tech from your heart. Everybody loves a happy choir! God wants to use you each week as we lead in worship.

You guys are making a difference. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Rick Painter
Worship Arts Pastor

Golf Junkie Preacher

How much better does it get? One Sunday recently, I got up at 4:30 am to pray and prepare for my message later that morning. At 6:00 am the British Open telecast began, and the old geezer Tom Watson was positioned to make golfing history. I tell you, from 6 to 9 am I was glued to the TV, and I had to force myself to get into the car and head to the church for our Worship Gathering. I hate to admit it, but that morning I was like a lot of you about heading to "work" - there was something else on my mind.

There I was, riding down the road, Becky beside me, still thinking about Tom Watson maybe making golf history. Still thinking about something other than what was about to happen at Argyle.

A song came on the radio, and it's hard to put into words what happened. Chris Tomlin was singing a new arrangement of an old hymn- I Stand Amazed. As I listened to that song, my heart melted. Tom Watson and the British Open were no longer on my mind. The words of that old hymn led me to the foot of the cross, and right there in our car I experienced real worship.

The bible has a lot to say about idols. On that Sunday morning God used a contemporary artist singing an old song to kick over a few of this preacher's idols, to move his mind from the earthly to the eternal.

"I stand in the presence of Jesus the Nazerine,
and wonder how he could love me,
a sinner, condemned, unclean."

Ken Dyal

Every week...

I watch the video of our Worship Gathering at Argyle to evaluate how things went. Even though I start out watching and listening to check the mix, are we in tune, entrances and cut-offs, can I understand the words, how is the energy level, etc. I always end up moved by the worship experience of a mighty God and appreciative of the faithfulness, passion and skill of our Worship Team (band, singers, tech, dance, drama and visual arts).

Thank you!

Rick Painter
Worship Arts Pastor

Another word on worship from Louie Giglio...

"Whatever you value most will ultimately determine who you are.

• If you worship money, you'll become greedy at the core of your heart.
• If you worship some sinful habit, that same sin will grip your soul and poison your character to death.
• If you worship stuff, your life will become material, void of eternal significance.
• If you give all of your praise to the god of you, you'll become a disappointing little god to yourself and to all those who trust in you.
  

Simply put: We become what we worship.

If you don't like what you're becoming, take a quick inventory of the things on the throne of your heart."

Rick Painter
Worship Arts Pastor

Another word on worship from Louie Giglio...

"Every day there's a battle for your worship. The things we elevate. The values we serve. None of these choices are made in a vacuum. There's a war raging since before there was time."

What you worship is your choice. Choose wisely.

Thank you for a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Rick Painter
Worship Arts Pastor

Louie Giglio again...

"When the subject is worship, the stakes are high-because worship is what God is all about. Worship should matter to you simply because it matters to God. And worship matters to God because He knows He's worthy. I know that doesn't sound too persuasive in our me-centered culture, but it's true. Worship doesn't begin with us. Worship begins and ends with God."

Rick Painter

Another word on worship from Louie Giglio...

"He's seeking you so you can know just how amazing He is. He's seeking you so you can know what you're created to do. He's seeking you so you can find Him and value Him with all your heart. He's seeking you because He is God...and He knows you can't live without Him. That, my friend, explains a ton of stuff for us. For one, it explains why you worship and why you're so good at it. It's why the whole world is worshiping even now. And it explains why Jesus willingly came. He came to connect us to God and awaken us to the possibility of centering our worship on who and what matter most...forever."

Rick Painter
Worship Arts Pastor

Another "Word on Worship" from Louie Giglio

"Every last one of us has been created with a searching soul. That's why it's comforting to know God is seeking you, too."

Rick Painter
Worship Arts Pastor

A New Series...

Pastor Ken is finished with "The Eleventh Hour and will begin a new series, "3-1-6." Let's listen to him explain a little about the new series.

Remember, if you have missed any of Pastor Ken's previous messages, they are online, both audio (since May, 2007) and video (since January, 2009).

A new tool... or is it a new toy?

Guys are into toys and technology. But, so is our whole society. So, we have a new toy, or as we prefer to think of it- a new tool to reach people and get them engaged.

Beginning this week, we will ambush Pastor Ken and the other staff members and ask them to contribute a thought or two- check back often for the latest updates.

Hal Hunter

Louie Giglio on worship...

I'll be sharing some words from Louie Giglio on worship each week.

"You, my friend...are a worshiper! There, I said it. Everyday, all day long, in every place, you worship. It's what you do. We are all worshipers, created to bring pleasure and honor to the God who made us. You may not consider yourself a "worshiping" kind of person, but you cannot help but worship...something. It's what you were made to do. Should for some reason choose not to give God what He desires, you'll worship anyway - simply exchanging the Creator for something He has created."

Today, focus your worship on the only One who is worthy.


Rick Painter
Worship Arts Pastor

A Word on Worship from Louie Giglio...

"We're no longer under any religious system. Not that of the Old Testament, or any other. In the past, God-worshipers had to approach Him through a ritualistic system of sacrifice. But not anymore.

Christ is the final offering for sin; He offered "one sacrifice for sins for all time." So as we come to worship the Father, we aren't required to bring a sacrifice in an attempt to make us right with God. Jesus has already done that for us.

This truth is important to grasp because we consistently fail to live as we should live. And when we fail, the enemy is quick to condemn us, telling us we can't possibly be a worshiper after what we have done.

But those words are lies. We can always come back to God in worship, no matter where we've been or how far we've fallen.

How can that be?

Through Jesus Christ. His death has made it possible for us to be accepted by God. His cross has made our worship acceptable in the Father's sight. We can approach His throne of grace. Anytime. Anywhere.

That's why a deep awareness of the cross is almost always in my mind as I come to worship. And if it's not, the Holy Spirit puts it there. Fast."

Rick Painter
Worship Arts Pastor

Looking ahead...

to the new year is a tradition at year's end. We plan, we ponder, we predict, and sometimes we even manage to get it right.

What do we want out of 2009? I think we all want our national economy to show some signs of real recovery. We all want our military efforts in the war on terror to be successful. Regardless of how we voted in November, we want the new President and Congress to succeed. We want our families and friends to be safe and happy.

What does our church want? Despite what it may seem money is not our main concern. What we really want is to carry out our mission-to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. If we do that, the money will happen. We want to develop people who are serious about glorifying God and telling the world about their relationship with Him through Jesus. We want to help people understand they must become less dependent on the world, and more dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit. We want to grow a close, loving community within our Argyle family.

Hal Hunter

Tree time rolls around again...

I swear it seems like we just finished the Tree, but it's time for another one.

For the fourteenth time, we are presenting our Argyle Outdoor Singing Christmas Tree to the community. Each year, over a period of four nights, as many as 3,000 people come to experience the music and the message. People all over our area know about the Tree, and for some, it is the only time they will hear the Gospel.

It is entirely free to our guests, but certainly not free to produce. We have to buy the music, buy the promotional material, buy the coffee and hot chocolate and the cups to serve them in, rent the chairs and scaffolding, and buy all the odds and ends of things needed to to produce the show.

In years past, we have had sufficient money in our regular budget to carry the cost of producing the Tree. This year, because of the budget shortfall, we are taking a special offering on Sunday, December 7, to subsidize the costs.

If you believe the Tree is an important outreach to the people around us, please join us in supporting this very public ministry.

Hal Hunter

All Star Survey .. Part II

Another thing we saw on several surveys had to do with music. A number of people yearn for the traditional hymns.

When we decided several years ago to try to reach people who weren't already in church, one of the major changes had to do with our worship style, and music in particular. Study after study, plus personal experience, tell us that unchurched people are uncomfortable with traditional hymns and church music styles- they simply don't get it.

Our music is chosen to be both doctrinally sound and in a style that will appeal to a wide variety of the people in our community. It is more a "rock band with horns" sound, with prominent drums and bass. it's uptempo and takes advantage of the outstanding musicians and singers God has sent us.

Remember, our Sunday Worship Gatherings are primarily "living room" environments- a place an unchurched visitor can feel comfortable and welcome. It is designed for those folks, the outsiders, not so much for insiders.

Load your favorite style in your iPod, but celebrate Sundays with a style that will appeal to the people we are trying to reach with the all-important message of the Gospel.

Hal Hunter

All Star Survey.. Part I

We have carefully reviewed all of the All Star Surveys. If you haven't already participated, you can click here to complete the survey.

We are going to use this blog to discuss some of the results.

Several people mentioned they thought we ought to be be doing an invitation or altar call. First, we may need to explain what this is for those who didn't grow up in a church that does this.

An altar call or invitation is usually given at the end of the service. The pastor invites people who have made a spiritual decision to come forward. It is usually accompanied by music, lasts several minutes to perhaps ten minutes, with periodic exhortations from the pastor to those who may be considering a decision.

We stopped doing a traditional invitation several years ago, and we did it for several good reasons.

• There is no Scriptural mandate for it- it is first documented being used in a form we would recognize today during what is known as The Second Great Awakening, a great period of revival that began in the 1820's.
  
• Many people find it intimidating to respond to a spiritual call in the presence of what might be hundreds of strangers. Remember, public speaking or doing something in fron of a crowd, is one of the greatest fears of most people.
• It can lead to "emotional" responses, rather than genuine responses to the Holy Spirit.

In fact, at the end of every Worship Gathering, people are invited to talk to Pastor Ken, me, or a member of the Prayer Team. Also, we encourage people to contact us by telephone, email, or to come by the office during the week.

Almost every week we speak at length with someone who has questions or who has made a spiritual decision of some type. We are not missing opportunities by not doing an invitation- we are simply eliminating the intimidation factor.

Hal Hunter
Ministry Pastor

Bad Day At Black Rock...

This morning, the world came crashing in on us. Anyone who might think that the church is immune from the world's problems needs to read this.

When walking between Building A and Building B, I noticed that the enclosure around the air conditioning equipment for the Family Life Center was standing open. In seconds, I saw that the units were in pieces! Copper thieves hit us overnight.

The emotion hits like a physical blow. It really does hurt and stun you to experience this kind of violation. And the full reality of the loss was even worse than the first impression. 12 units were damaged or destroyed- 94 tons of capacity. The Worship Center, Family Life Center, Cafe, most staff offices and the west side of Building B downstairs are totally without cooling.

That is the bad news- the good news is that we have good insurance and a great HVAC contractor. It isn't positive, but we hope that we will have repairs done by Sunday. But, just in case, no one is going to object if you show up in flops and shorts. It will be toasty if the AC isn't running. Pastor Ken has decided that regardless of the situation, gathering as a body to worship God is important, and we won't let thieves ruin our worship.

Hal Hunter