Tory Farina

New Christmas Music...

While celebrating Christmas, I came across these album's of fresh christmas music I think you should add to your collection.

Over The Hills And Everywhere by Seabird — I recently came across this Christmas EP by Seabird and I’m loving it. Don't get me wrong; I dig the old classic Christmas songs and melodies. They are like fuzzy PJ's and hot chocolate — a standard Christmas staple. But the way Seabird transforms these songs is a breath of fresh air.

Songs for Christmas by Phil Wickham — This album is fresh, deeply moving, and contemporary, but it is still intensely worshipful. I feel like I am singing these songs in the very presence of Christ at times. Every song is new and yet familiar. For the most part, the album consists of traditional carols while adding interesting touches to them. If you love Phil Wickham’s music in general, you’re going to love this. If you’re new to all things Phil, this is also a great on-ramp.

Advent Christmas EPs 1 & 2 by Future of Forestry — Future of Forestry is an experimental/ worship/rock/art band. They have come out with stuff I love and stuff I don’t care for, but they keep changing and trying new things. Their music is sincere and will titillate your ears with its layers of sound and different instruments. The songs therein are lovely takes on the classics. They are deeply worshipful, which is not always the case with Christmas music. Overall, these EPs are mellow, sweeping, and pleasant. I find them to be great background music to my message writing.

What I really get into is when something classic can stir me up in a new way — cause me to look at the same thing with a different perspective. That’s what happened to me when I read The Message Bible translation for the first time. I experienced that which is ancient in a refreshing, reverent way. I saw and experienced everything again for the first time.

These albums do that for me with Christmas songs. Seabird nails the spirit of the Christmas songs in a refreshing and reverent way. Phil Wickham sings with such conviction and worship that you can’t help but stop and worship the Lord as you listen. Each album is not what you’re used to, but maybe the words will draw out new reflections for you during this holiday season. After all, that is the point of Christmas to begin with: to be stirred in worship toward our New Born King as we celebrate that holy night so long ago.

Check them out.

 

People of The Second Chance...

This fall at High Point we have been working very hard on a new series called "People of The Second Chance." We are going to open our doors as a church to those who are in need of a second chance. Truth be told, we all have been and still are in need of a Second Chance. 

Join us Sunday the 12th as we challenge the common misconceptions about failure and learn how to use our scars, wounds and mistakes to help us live our greatest potential.

 

 

Take the Plunge...

Take the Plunge. Jesus was clear with his disciples about how everyone who crosses the line into faith should get baptized. Just before Jesus returned to heaven, he said...

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

 

What is water baptism? Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. It is a sign to everyone watching that you have accepted Jesus as Savior and set your life's course to please Him.

 

You are baptized into Christ’s death. Baptism is an incredible sensory experience meant to help us understand what Christ did on the cross. The Greek word for baptize means “to go down under, to dip, to submerge.” Water baptism represents our identification with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. We are literally going into a watery grave fully submerged under the water. When we come back out of the water, we find ourselves like Christ being raised from an old life into something new and beautiful. My college professor once said, “Hold ‘em under till the bubbles come up.” He was joking, but the symbolism is incredible.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20

 

You are raised into new life. Your old life is a life of sin and separation from God. After we allow Jesus into our lives, baptism reminds us of the work he did. We are no longer burdened with the weight of sin, nor are we tainted by stains from the past. Instead, we take on the perfectness of Christ.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:26-27

Baptism is a time to tell your story. Tell what life was like before Christ, what it was like to have christ in come in your life and then share how things are different now. The testimony time is always the most moving part about being apart of a baptism.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Romans 6: 11-12

 

Baptism is a declaration to this world that I am the Lord’s. I am no longer a wandering vagabond. No longer will I try to live this life on my own. I stand with Christ and together we will accomplish the Father’s will and live forever in eternity!

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33

 

Baptism is all about your story of life transformation. Tell the people you love to come and see you take the plunge. Share with your coworkers and show the pictures. It is a powerful moment that breaks through barriers because people want to know why you would let someone else dunk you under the pool water. Tell people what Christ means to you and get baptized.

If you would like to get baptized... Let me know. This Sunday at the church picnic you can take the plunge!

What I'm Listening to...

I cant get enough of these...

Hillsong Live... The new one is stellar as always.

John Mark Mcmillan... He is the guy who wrote "How He Love's" and his album was just re-released.

Gungor... They are not your average worship band which makes it all the more fun to listen to.

Passion: AWAKEN... This has about six must have tunes on it!

The Swell Season... Irish people make the best Depressing love songs!

I just found these and kinda like the sounds...

Mumford and Son's, The Avett Brothers (O and I like to sing I and Love and U), Florence and the Machine

I keep going back for more...

Bon Iver, Radiohead "High and Dry", Mute Math, Delirious?, Sesame Street

Elizabeth's Mayo Clinic Story...

A note from Elizabeth:

Dear Friends,

On June 13, 2010 I went to the Emergency Room with an excruciating headache. I was admitted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul Minnesota and diagnosed with a carotid artery dissection with a pseudoaneurysm. This is basically a tear in the wall of the artery and causes a clot to form in the interior of the artery. The change of blood flow and clot usually leads to a stroke. My dissection was deemed inoperable due to its location inside my head at the base of my brain. I was treated with blood thinners and released from the hospital after two days in the ICU.

On June 23, 2010, I returned to the emergency room and a second arterial dissection was discovered in my vertebral artery. This one was also deemed inoperable due to its location at the base of my neck near my spinal column and is believed to be a result of the change in blood flow and stress from the first dissection.

Having one dissection is uncommon; having two is very rare (2.5 per 100,000).

I spent two nights at Regions Hospital where I underwent a neurological exam every four hours to watch for signs of a stroke. Due to my age, medical history and rareness of this situation I was transferred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota on June 26.

After consulting with a team of specialists from various fields, multiple MRA and CT scans, vile after vile of blood tests and two nights at Mayo, I’m home! The doctors have found no underlying condition to date (although I will follow up with a Geneticist on an out patient basis). I will be treated with blood thinners and have a follow up MRA scan in three months. They believe that without further injury the clot will dissolve and the dissection may heal. Once this set of dissections heals completely there is only a 1% chance each year that I will have any follow up dissections.

These next four weeks are very important to my recovery. I have a lot of restrictions to prevent any further tearing in my arteries. Among other things I am not to push, pull or lift anything over 5lbs - which will be hard to do with a two small children!  

We have seen the hand of God throughout this process and believe that the prayers of many have made a difference. I was already on blood thinners at the onset of this event due to my difficult pregnancy, a fact that Dr’s believe likely prevented a stroke. The Doctors actual words were “...you dodged a bullet”. Every nurse that treated me assumed that I had suffered a stroke, because it’s almost unheard of not to with this condition. I do still have a persistent migraine headache triggered by the upset blood flow, but no lasting physical impairment. Praise be to Jesus who shed his blood for me!

We have experienced the very presence of God, which has sustained us despite the gravity of the situation. When we have been troubled, He has comforted us. When we have had to make difficult decisions, He as granted us wisdom. When we were presented with physical unknowns, He has given us eyes of faith. We are moving forward one day at a time believing for complete healing and days free of fear. I’ve never been more convinced that my life has a purpose and I intend to live every day pursuing my full potential in Jesus Christ.

Thank you to the countless individuals who have prayed for me all over the world; to High Point Church for surrounding me with love; to the many friends who have visited me in the hospital and helped care for our kids; to my family who has dropped everything and made me their priority; to my fantastic husband who has not left my side.

My heart is endeared to you loved ones!

Elizabeth Farina

Who could stand against? #AMPLIFY...

I am so excited for AMPLIFY June 2nd. Here is my most anticipated song of the night! I love this song!

Wait for the build up to the bridge at about 2:44 (HOT HOT HOT!!!!)

And If our God is For Us

Then Who could ever stop us

And If our God is For Us

Then Who could Stand Against

Lyrics and charts found here...

Worship of the future...

I am a big fan of live music. I am a big fan of technology. This is an awesome example of the two in perfect harmony. 

I wonder if I'll find Olivia in her room on her iPad or iPhone writing music someday?

Looking for a few good men/women...

Set up/Tear down crew for web promo from Courtney Feia on Vimeo.

Not yet involved in one of HPC's volunteer teams? It takes alot of hands to transform our theater into a church each week. The set up and tear down crew is the perfect avenue for both men and women to make a difference in the lives of other people just by using their hands.

Why God Might Enjoy Earth Day...

Genesis 1 Genesis 2: 1-4 Leviticus 25: 1-7, 23 Deut. 10:14 I Chronicles 19: 11-12 Nehemiah 9:6  Psalm 104: 10-30 Psalm 24:1 Psalm 148 Psalm 19:1-4 Psalm 96: 1, 11-12 Psalm 104 Psalm 8  Job 38-42, esp (42:1-4)

Isaiah 40:12, 26 Isaiah 42: 5-7 Isaiah 53:4-15 Isaiah 66: 1-2 Micah 6:8 Matthew 8:16-17 Matthew 9:35 Matthew 20: 28 Matthew 22: 37-40 Matthew 25: 34-45 Mark 2: 1-12 Mark 10: 17-27 Mark 12: 30-31 Luke 6:31

John 1: 1-4 John 3:16 John 10:10 John 13:34 Romans 1: 20-23 1 Corinthians 8:6 1 Corinthians 10:26  2 Corinthians 5: 14-21 Phil. 2:4-8 Colossians 1:15-19 Hebrews 1:2-3 1 Peter 2:24 1 John 4: 7-8 Revelation 4:11

Read the texts here...

Withdrawal...

Through the month of January you are not going to hear much from me. I am taking a season of withdrawal in my life. Last November, I felt that I needed to hone in the focus of my heart and mind for God to do something big in me. Last year He called me to lose 55 lbs., and I am so glad I followed through. The Lord fulfilled promises and answered prayers for both me and the church through my act of obedience. This year I feel like I need to clear out as many voices as I can that might be distracting me from clearly hearing the voice of God.

 

Jesus did this often. I always wonder why Jesus — fully God and fully man — even needed to pray, rest, and recharge. But if He did, then so do I. This has been a stressful season for me and mine. Elizabeth's pregnancy, Rapid church growth and Seven years of full time ministry has its cost. I feel like we are getting ready for something larger and greater than we have yet to experience. Jesus withdrew to rest, get stronger, hear from God, and have a fresh word for the people he was sent to lead. Moses went to the mountain top and came back luminous. Daniel prayed and fasted to break through impossible circumstances. I need more from God to live the life I am called to live and I want to withdraw to gather strength for greater things Yet to come!

 

Here is my plan...

 

• Read — I started a reading plan to go through the Gospels in 30 days. (You can do the same at www.youversion.com.) My goal is to study Jesus and His withdrawal moments — how and why He prayed.
• I am also reading “Leading On Empty” by Wayne Cordeiro- I feel like he is personally walking me through how to defragment my life. I am taking each chapter and walking through each chapter with Elizabeth and the Lord. What an AWSOME experience.
• Fast (check more out here)
• Food — This looks different for everyone some fast food totally, partially or fast a particular type of food. For me I am doing a combination of things.
• Media

-  I am cutting out as many secular non-worshipful voices as I can. Music, movies, magazines and books that do not point me to Jesus will be cut from my appetite this month. Television has been reduced to only News sources.

-  No blogs, no Facebook and NO Twitter — I am having withdrawals. This is almost painful, and I have had to break this a couple times because of Elizabeth's health crisis on Saturday, my need to get a couple numbers off of some profiles on my phone, and this blog post letting you know what’s up. It is also funny how my e-mail sends me Facebook updates and Facebook e-mails, so it’s like it will not leave me alone. I guess that means it is staying around a while.)

-  I also shut off the Push feature to my phone’s e-mail. I am now my e-mail’s master. I think that may stay longer than January.

• Schedule — I am taking certain days off over the next month, during which I will be alone and without normal distractions so I can focus on the Lord and hear his voice with clarity.
• Journal — I am keeping a daily journal of thoughts, prayers, observations, revelations, and dreams.

(This is a goal and has already had to change a little. Let me first tell you that I live by the Spirit of the Law and not the Letter, meaning that even though I may say I am not going to do this or that, I may do it if I feel I need to for a good reason. I also am taking Sundays as a celebration day, meaning I am free to enjoy with my family whatever seems beneficial. This season is about reducing noise in my life and resetting my out of balance rhythm. It is not about a list of does or don’ts.)

 

I am expecting God to break through my life in tremendous ways. I am expecting Him to change me. I was not expecting how hard these first few days have been. Nor was I expecting how the enemy would try and distract me. I shouldn't have been surprised. He met Jesus in the wilderness before his ministry began.

 

My prayer is that I hear his voice like Adam and Eve did in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden, or like Samuel did when God came to him in the night as a youth, or like the disciples did in the the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit came upon them with fresh power and boldness. My prayer is that I would have new strength and insight to lead the next five+ years with a freshness and sensitivity to the Lord.

 

What is the Lord drawing you to do? What’s your next step in your faith walk? It may not look much like mine, but that's OK. Start with where you are and go one more step.

 

I look forward to letting you know how it goes in a few weeks.

 

Live Your Potential!

 

Pastor Tory