How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

Today, a reader of my articles sent me a very wonderful website. On the site was listed most every song sung in churches today.   Two of my favorite worship songs were on the website; and it did not surprise me that both songs were given the highest rating.

My favorite worship songs are “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us” and “As the Deer.”

I remember when I first heard both songs, the beauty of them and the Biblical truth of the lyrics brought me to tears.

From deceptioninthechurch.com

From the website:

This Worship Song Ratings page is here to help churches, pastors and worship leaders in choosing music for their churches.  The ratings on this page are based solely on the lyrics of the songs we have rated, not the music.  Music is a subjective thing for most people and hard to rate for everyone.  But the lyrical content can be rated as to how well it upholds Biblical teachings … or not.  Our ratings are based on a four star system as follows:

A rating of fours stars indicates an excellent song, one which teaches sound doctrine and accurately portrays a Biblical view of God.

A rating of three stars indicates the song is suitable for use in Bible believing Christ centered churches.

A rating of two stars means the song is only fair, usually as a result of having at least one lyrical problem or related issue.

A rating of one star means the song has seriously compromised unbiblical lyrics and should not be used.

A rating of zero stars means this song is not recommended for ANY use in a Biblical church.

NEW SEARCH FEATURE! – Click on the stars above to search for songs rated with the amount of stars you choose.  Continue to click on the stars graphic on the next song found to browse through all the songs associated with your chosen star rating.

The criteria for this ratings page stems from a proper exegesis of the Bible and the use of the core doctrines of the Faith. You can also use the following articles as reference and ideas on how to test music in your church.

Testing Music In The Church by Sandy Simpson, 10/00
Testing Music In The Church 2 by Sandy Simpson, 3/17/09

Before we get into rating individual songs, I want to give you some tips on how to test music in your church and choose good songs for your worship team.

(1) You can make any song better by NOT repeating phrases in the song over and over.  That can only lead to people zoning out and not really thinking about what they are singing.  Sing more songs instead of singing a few songs over and over until people are numb.(2) Avoid songs that focus on self, repeating words like “I”, “me”, “my” and “mine” throughout.  Choose songs that focus people on Jesus Christ.

(3) Test all music, both new and old.  There are bad old songs and good new ones, and visa versa as you will see as you read these ratings.

(4) If a songwriter or music publisher is affiliated with a heretical or compromised church or movement, those false teachings will eventually come through in their compositions.

(5) Consider mixing up musical styles.  A church can get into a rut focusing on only contemporary music just as easily as focusing only on hymns.  Choose a mixture of new and old and different methods such as overheads and hymnbooks.

(6) Don’t foster the habit of having people clap on every upbeat song.  That gets very boring.

(7) Consider, if possible, having more than one worship team in your church, especially if they have different styles.  I know one church who had a jazz band, a contemporary band, a rock band, and a classical music group with violins, etc.  I could add a lot more styles to that group including choirs, pipe or electric organ, folk, etc.

(8) Choose songs that glorify God, teach sound doctrine, teach about God’s character, etc.

(9) Establish a committee of elders, pastors and worship leaders to make sure good worship music is being used in your church.

This ratings page will be an ongoing project.  Check back often for new ratings that have been added.  If you have any songs you want rated you can submit them to me at ditc@hotmail.com.  I hope this page will be a help to many.

NOTE: If the lyrics to a song are missing it is because the holders of the copyrights would not grant me permission to copy them on my site.  However I do provide a link to the lyrics on other sites.

____________________________________________________

I want to share my two favorite worship songs with the reader:

“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”

By Stuart Townend

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

_____________________________________________________

“As The Deer”
Written by Martin Nystrom

As the deer panteth for the water
    So my soul longeth after you
You alone are my heart’s desire
    And I long to worship youYou alone are my strength, my shield
    To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
    And I long to worship you

You’re my friend and you are my brother
    Even though you are a king
And I love you more than any other
    So much more than anything

Chorus

I want You more than gold or silver
    Only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joy giver
    And the apple of my eye

I hope that you were blessed by these songs.

I also pray that if there is a worship leader reading this article, that you will take to heart the things said about rating songs for church. I believe that this man has much discernment and wisdom from the Lord.

Also, if you attend a church and are wondering if the music during worship is appropriate – pray about it – perhaps you could share this article with your worship leader.

How Can I Be Saved?

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA!!

George Soros Behind Latest Whistleblower: But President Trump is Still on Top

Once again, the boogieman behind the curtain (think “Wizard of Oz”) is none other than George Soros.  I’ve said it many times before, but I do believe that there is a special place in hell for this man.

Someone should write a biography on Soros, but that someone would have to be a Conservative minded American Patriot. If left to the LEFT; this demonically possessed geopolitical criminal would be painted as a kind-hearted philanthropist, whose very existence has been to help the nations of the world – the poor – the underdog, blah blah blah.

And once again, Soros is at the very heart of the whistleblower concerning Ukraine and President Trump. I believe that all of this will fall like a house of cards; and I can just picture George Soros having a grown-up tantrum. Can you just see it?  Just like the night in 2016 when Trump won the presidency.

I think that old George might have broken his fingers by punching a wall.  

From onenewsnow.com

Soros behind latest whistleblower, but Trump still on top

An investigative journalism group funded by leftist billionaire George Soros is reportedly responsible for sections of the whistleblower complaint against President Donald Trump that allege he put pressure on Ukraine’s president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s son for political gain. And despite Democrats’ impeachment push ramping up, a recent poll shows Trump is more popular than the face behind the proceedings to oust him from office – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Besides getting information from a source biased to the left, the complainer compiling and writing the report admitted virtually everything he accused Trump of was hearsay and secondhand.

“I was not a direct witness to most of the events described” the whistleblower conceded, according to Breitbart News, while, at the same time, arguing Trump put the pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

And Democrats continue to accuse Trump of politically pressuring Volodymyr, even though the transcripts he released of his conversation prove he applied no such pressure or quid pro quo, with the president’s call for a probe of the Biden family’s involvement constituting only a minor part of the conversation.

However, an attempt to justify the reliance on secondhand information was made.

“However, I found my colleagues’ accounts of these events to be credible because – in almost all cases – multiple officials recounted fact patterns that were consistent with one another,” the whistleblower insisted.

Soros behind it

Regardless of the so-called corroborative accounts, Soros’ organization was highlighted as being a major source of the allegations against the president.

“Even though the statement was written in first person – ‘multiple U.S. officials told me’ – it contains a footnote referencing a report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP),” Breitbart’s Aaron Klein clarified.

Soros’ involvement and influence in the matter was clear once financial records were examined.

“Soros’ Open Society was listed as the No. 2 donor in most of the annual financial records posted on OCCRP’s website beginning in 2012,” WND reported.

It was discovered by Breitbart News that Soros’ organization was the number-one donor for numerous years.

In fact, OCCRP is credited for being a major driving force behind the claim that  Trump unscrupulously asked top Ukrainians to investigate Biden and his son.

“OCCRP is cited in a key section of the complaint that claims Ukrainian officials followed up on Trump’s request for Ukraine to investigate allegations of corruption by then-Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who was receiving $50,000 monthly from a natural gas company despite having no experience in the industry,” WND pointed out.

More details about the whistleblower’s account were revealed.

“Multiple U.S. officials told me that Mr. Giuliani had reportedly privately reached out to a variety of other Zelensky advisers, including Chief of Staff Andriy Bohdan and Acting Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine Ivan Bakanov,” the whistleblower claimed in a key section of his report.

More popular than Pelosi

Even though Trump has been the target of the brunt of Pelosi’s attacks since day one in the White House, he is still more favorably viewed by Americans that the California Democrat.

Pelosi – who was the top Democrat announcing the new inquiry into Trump earlier this week – trails the resident by nearly double digits when it comes to approval ratings.

“Trump has 44 percent approval while Pelosi garnered 36 percent,” Breitbart’s Penny Starr revealed from a new poll.

It was also revealed that Americans are torn over the House impeachment inquiry.

“Americans are split, 49%–46%, on whether they approve of Democrats’ impeachment inquiry into President Trump, and independents at this point are not on board,” a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll revealed.

Marist Institute for Public Opinion Director Lee Miringoff says it appears as if Democrats need to do something big in order to win America over to its cause.

“Democrats in the House have work to do to convince people of the usefulness of their case,” Miringoff indicated while poring over the results of his poll that surveyed 864 Americans on Wednesday night via phone. “Independents still need to be convinced.”

He said it is crucial for Democrats to quickly seize the opportunity “because this is sort of like we are in the middle of a potential storm here.”

When it comes to impeachment, Americans are straddling the fence.

“Americans are also split on whether the impeachment inquiry is a serious matter (50%) or just politics (48%) and whether it’s worth going through with if the Senate doesn’t convict and Trump gets to stay in office,” the Marist poll revealed. “By a 2-point margin, 49%–47%, they say it’s not worth it.”

Those not belonging to the Republican Party are divided over the issue.

“Important for Democrats, half of independents disapprove (50%) of the impeachment inquiry and don’t think it’s worth it if the Senate doesn’t convict (52%),” NPR divulged. “People who live in the suburbs – whom Democrats relied on for support in the 2018 midterms to take back the House – are largely split on each of those questions.”

A similar split is evidenced whether in the city and on its fringes.

“On the impeachment inquiry, 48% of those living in the suburbs approve, while 49% disapprove,” NPR pointed out. “And on whether it’s worth it, they divide evenly, 49%–49%.”

With regards to impeachment, predictable trends appear when examining demographic groups.

“Familiar fissures also emerge by party, gender, education and place,” NPR added. “Democrats; women, especially college-educated women; and people who live in big cities are in favor of the impeachment inquiry. Republicans, people who live in rural areas and men largely are not.” source

The meltdown of the LEFT, which began 2016, has continued on a daily basis. The phony Russian collusion; the attempted take down of Supreme Court nominee Brett Cavanaugh, etc etc, and now this Ukraine debacle just shows how afraid of Trump the LEFT really is and how desperate these people are.

I an praying that this too will fall apart and do more damage to the democrats.

But we have to be ready for anything.  We know that eventually the globalists will see their One World Government; but as long as we have breath, let us pray against evil as the Lord would have us do.

God is in control.  I know that many writers are saying this over and over. They are repeating this because it is TRUE!

How Can I Be Saved?

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA!!