Psalm 24 from The Message says:  “God is at their side: with God’s help they make it. This, Jacob, is what happens to God – seekers… God – questers.”
I believe this is a phenomenal picture of worship. As a matter of fact the chapter starts off asking a huge question: “Who can climb Mount God?”
You know I can’t think of a better way to start out our weekend of celebration…Climbing Mount God! Getting on top of the Mountain of the Lord, seeking His presence.
Over the course of the last few months you have seen some remarkable insights of what worship is and why we should bring worship into our lives on this blog. I am in no way going to try and give you deeper insight. However, I do want to HIGHLY encourage you to come and let’s “Climb Mt. God “ TOGETHER!
TOGETHER is how we planted this church…TOGETHER is how we are serving our community…Together  is how we are bringing restoration to a broken world…TOGETHER is how we are building families and reaching the next generation…TOGETHER we are creating an environment that loves God’s word…
So, TOGETHER, let’s celebrate what God has done in the last five years and determine TOGETHER that the best is still to come! See you Friday night!!!!

Pastor Cal
PS. Why not get a few extra tickets and give out as outreach!

As I write this blog, we are officially TWELVE days away from the kickoff of our 5-Year Anniversary Celebration and our Live Worship Experience! As the weeks gave gone by, it has been amazing to me to see the transformation that is happening in worship in our church already! If you’ve been in any of our services over the past two weeks, you know that the Holy Spirit has shown up in a real way and people have had hope restored and a new sense of determination to push through their circumstances. I believe this is just a foretaste of what we are going to experience on August 21!

But with that said, please hear my heart on something – I’m not looking for August 21 to be a one-hit-wonder where we come and worship deeper than ever before and then return on Saturday night and/or Sunday morning to worship-as-usual. I am praying and believing and EXPECTING this night to be a turning point in the life of our church! I’m praying for every one of you who will be attending to leave differently than you came! And that difference in you, I’m praying, will be contagious to the rest of our church!

This is my God-given desire for August 21, 2009:

A day we will look back on and KNOW we saw the hand of God because we sought the face of God; a day that turned the tide of Pointe North Community Church forever; a night of worship that will be the launching pad for a new depth of worship that people will experience week in and week out; a milestone for our church, a dream fulfilled, a life-changing experience.

I pray not one of you will miss it.!
Ricsha Kinard, Worship Pastor

I can’t even begin to tell you what an honor it is for me to be a part of this! I miss playing with these guys more that I can begin to describe. I am certain that God has led me to assist our children at PNCC in learning how to worship – and raising that generation of worshipers.  It has been a very emotional road though – mostly because I don’t get much time to hang with these guys [the adults]! I keep hearing of how these intense moments of worship, restoration, and deliverance have been happening! That thought makes me energized and excited about this experience. I know the Lord has been prepping your hearts as much as He has been prepping mine!

I have begun to understand the enormity of what He has called me to be a part of. May I be so bold to speak this to you? You must be dead if you expect to attend this worship experience and continue on as the same person that you came in as. The changes have already begun for me! My heart has been forever changed. From the first meeting I sat in after being invited to be a part of this experience, I knew with certainty that God was going to change me – from the inside out!

Matt and I have journeyed through some difficult terrain in the past couple of months. He left active duty Air Force life without having a permanent job. While we attempted to save money for the transition, God ever-so-gently removed almost all of the padding – reminding us that, “In the end, we would know He was God!”  I began to have blood pressure troubles and didn’t have insurance to see a doctor. My enemy has ONE purpose; that purpose is to steal from me, kill and destroy me! I refuse to go down like that! I have one word for him! CAPTIVATED! I am captivated! I am so captive to the Lord that I desire to draw as close as I possibly can to Him!

I know that I will never be the same again. The Lord has shown me that He desires to draw me closer – I just have to let Him seize my attention and capture my heart! As we near this live recording, my heart and soul cry out for Him to awaken every sense I have that I may be so aware of His presence! I’m praying for you and hope you find that you’re captivated too – even if you didn’t mean to be!

Just to be able to give you a glimpse that He IS God, Matt found a job that makes NO sense at all! Our insurance started August 1^st and we didn’t have to wait for it to become effective. We paid every bill [including our mortgage] on time and still have a little buffer. That’s right! He fed 5000 with just 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread – at the Carman house! YES! He loves us and desires for us to become ‘CAPTIVATED’!

Ashley Carman, Keys & Vocals

My wife and I try to do a date night every week.  This week I suggested that we go to the Riverdogs game after a bite to eat.  My wife was hesitant so we made different plans.  What we did instead was much more intimate.  Later I tried to think how the date would have been different if we had gone to the game.  The thing about the ball game, or concerts, movies or plays is that we go and watch what the players are doing.  We aren’t able to spend time engaging in the lives of the people around us.  We have been trained to interact at concerts this way.  Our familiarity with the ballgame or the concert makes it uncomfortable at times when we go to church where more is required.  When we get to church our senses may tell us that we should be watching the players and cheering them on.  Our focus is then easily stripped from where is should be and placed on the stage where the “concert” is happening.

Others distractions may add to our discomfort.  When we are really pressing in and focusing on Jesus, there is a tendency to sing and raise our hands and express genuine gratitude for the unexplainable sacrifice that Jesus made for us.  This gratitude is not always well understood by some at church, and we haven’t learned to deal patiently with the people around us.  Some may even view our time in corporate worship with the same level of expectation as a fan at the game.  You probably know what I mean when I talk about the face painting crowd.  They are devoted to cheering their team and causing a ruckus.  The same mild disdain we show toward the face painters prohibits us from expressing our thanks as devoted worshipers of Jesus Christ.  Or maybe we don’t want others around us to get the idea that we are one of those church crazies, lifting our hands and having a wild time.  This restraint then congeals into a massive blanket of quiet, almost unenthusiastic concert going.

There are some who have experienced the liberation of the intimate date with God.  They are the people in the “mosh pit” at the concert.  You may not think of the mosh pit as an intimate place to be.  You’re probably right if I were talking about a Metallica concert.  The cool thing about the mosh pit is that moshers have less concern about the music and more concern for the moment.  I have never ventured into a violent mosh pit at a concert, but I would imagine that those people feel a little vulnerable to their surroundings, but they continue anyway.  They are so addicted to the moment that they let loose and really go at it.  I think that kind of devotion is great, just misdirected.  If we would come to worship and enter a mosh pit with God, I can only imagine the response we would get back from him.  In reality it is only when we are completely abandoned to our savior that we can experience true safety.

There is a stark contrast between going to the concert and having an intimate date.  The trick with corporate worship is that we are having an intimate moment in a concert like setting.  The truth is that god wants our hearts.  He wants our praises.  He can’t come and meet with us if we refuse to meet with him.  He wants us to sing to him like we sing in the shower or the car.  He wants us to mosh with him and let go of our need to feel “safe” in the presence of others.  He wants us to walk with him in hand and be intimate.

Those opportunities all exist when we worship together.  On August 21^st we have an opportunity to come together as a body of believers to worship our Savior.  Some will come with the expectation of being entertained.  Some will come with the expectation of an isolated experience that will never be shared with the body.  Some will come and not participate at all.  Our prayer is that most will enter into worship.  In fact Christ desires all of us to come to him.  This may result in a mosh pit of worship for the “unruly”.  It may be like a long walk on the beach with our lover for others.  My prayer is that our plan for date night is more intimate with God than a trip to the ballpark or to a concert.

I was glad at the end of the evening because we had decided to have a more personal time together eating in a more private location and then going to the Waterfront park in Mount Pleasant just to sit and talk.  We had meaningful conversation and a more intimate date.

The difference can look a bit like our time with God.  We get so used to going to the ball game or concerts and watching the players, musicians or actors.  Our focus is on rooting for the players and there is very little interaction between us.  What happens next is that we cheer for the team and occasionally we pick out our favorites to cheer for individually.  Unfortunately, that mindset can easily follow us to church when it comes time to worship.  We are used to going to the game.  We are used to going to the movie theater.  We have a blast at concerts and we like to go as often as possible.  We aren’t as used to coming humbly into the presence of a living God.  There is a clear difference.  When we worship corporately, there is a setting that vaguely resembles a concert or a game.  The similarities exist only because there are few other ways to have live music.  Corporate worship with music is best accomplished with musicians on a platform and a body of believers gathered together.  But the focus can easily be placed on the music or the musicians and is not on God.  For some the idea of having an intimate date with God at the ballgame is difficult to understand.  My date with my wife would have been very different if we had tried to go the game but then had the same conversation we had in a private moment with few people around.  The corporate setting is tough for some for the same reason.  Not all have embraced the idea that there is an intimate relationship demonstrated in worship.  Because of the nature of our relationship with each other as believers and the design of the church, God is able to have an intimate moment with each of us in the presence of so many others.  And unlike the ballgame, when we all focus on the same thing and in unison invite the presence of God, the focus on the players quickly turns into focus on God.  That is what makes it possible to have a quiet moment “at the ballgame”.

What we are going to do on the 21^st of August has the potential to be viewed by some as a concert.  The mindset of concertgoers or baseball fans is the same.  I have been praying along with the rest of the worship team that there is not a single “concert goer” in the body.  I pray that we all come with the expectation of an intimate moment.  Lord help us to remove the concept of praise for the music and turn it to praise for your.  We want to bring you a gift that is acceptable, and will work hard to ensure that we are not sloppy in our music.  But without you there is no point to playing.  Without you we are just a group of average musicians looking for a way to have a concert.  We invite you to come and share an intimate moment with us corporately.  We want to see your face and come with that expectation.

I pray that you all will come with the same expectation.

Nate Mitich, Saxophone

As we draw closer and closer to the night of our Live Worship Recording, I find myself thinking back to the early stages of planning.  I remember sitting in Ricsha’s living room as she shared what God had spoken to her about the evening of August 21^st.  Those words have been the foundation of our excitement and our motivation for all of the work being done to prepare for that evening.  Several months ago God spoke to our worship pastor and told her that there will be a move of the Holy Spirit on that night that will be unlike anything our church has experienced before. He said that when we finish the last song, His presence will be so strong and so tangible that we won’t want to go home, and that our church will never be the same again.

Our team believes whole heartedly that these are God’s promises to us for that evening.  We believe that He is longing for us to worship Him more freely than we ever have before, and that He is anxiously waiting to pour out His love over us the very moment that we do.  I emphasize “us” because it’s not just our church body as a whole that I’m referring to.  It’s me.  It’s you.  It’s the person sitting next to you each week.  Each one is significant to Him!

I think that you would be amazed to know how long God has been orchestrating events and relationships to create the team that He is going to use to fulfill the words that He spoke to Ricsha all of those months ago.  I met and played the drums for Ricsha at her Dad’s church for the first time 16 years ago.  Our paths crossed again at Charleston Southern a few years later & soon we were playing together again – along with Matt Brown (our electric guitarist) who came here all the way from Maine for crying out loud!  Ricsha also “recruited” (she married him) an acoustic and bass guitarist. We all graduated and were involved in different churches, but once again God brought us back together. This time it was for the kickoff of a church plant in Moncks Corner called “Pointe North Community Church.”  It wasn’t long before God began to bring the others along.  One by one He put together this team I’m so honored to serve with.  And they came from all over – even out of the country!  When I think about the plans and changes God had to make in each of our lives to bring us together, it absolutely blows my mind.  Relationships were severed.  Careers were ended.  MAJOR life changes took place.  It was destiny.  And God had you in mind when He did it. That’s how much He loves you!

The promises that God gave to Ricsha for the night of our Live Recording are for you!  What has He orchestrated in your life to bring you to Pointe North or even just this blog site?  He had you in mind when he began setting things in motion over 16 years ago.  Don’t miss out on what God has planned for you on August 21^st.  Remember He’s anxiously waiting for you.  What an invitation!  Don’t turn it down.  You couldn’t possibly have a better offer.  We can’t wait to experience His presence and be changed with you forever!

Christi Solivan, Drums

Someone asked me the other day, “What are your dreams?”  I shrugged my shoulders.  I have a hard time remembering my dreams.  A lot of “life” has happened to me and I haven’t really taken the time to dream.  Maybe I don’t even know how.

But then I thought about worship.  Getting to help lead our church to the throne room of God by music is a dream.  One that I never knew I wanted.  A dream I could never have imagined or hoped for on my own.  Even when I tried out for the team, I didn’t actually expect to make it!  I just knew I was supposed to try.  I wasn’t assured anything… just that God is pleased when we obey, and so I went and sang.  And a dream too big for me to fathom was born in my heart and spirit.

So the CD Recording…that’s just icing on a dream I don’t deserve.  We have planned a night of worshipping in spirit and truth with the most excellent and best effort we can give.  What God has planned…we could never even ask or imagine!  I’m expecting to cry out to my God and be heard by Him.  I’m expecting to encounter my Creator.  I’m expecting to find and fulfill my purpose and longing to worship, to sing to the top of my lungs, and know that it will delight the heart of my Father.  What are you expecting?  What are your dreams?  Join us and see what dreams may come from a night spent with The King!  I can’t wait!

Brooke Overholt, Vocals

I can’t believe that we are at the half-way mark to August 21^st! God has been so faithful to us as we are rehearsing, praying, planning and gearing-up for this important date. I’m so excited I can hardly contain it!

There are two things I really want you to hear from my heart as the Worship Pastor. First, I LOVE the people of Pointe North and am so thankful to be serving in such an incredible place. You guys so have my heart and I look forward to worshiping with you every weekend! I have been praying for you so fervently when it comes to this night of worship – that you will experience a “fresh” move of God; that you will encounter the Lord in a new way and will really have freedom to worship Him…expressively! I am a firm believer that love expressed is the best kind of love – and that’s a lot of what worship is – Declaring that we value Jesus the most and then expressing our love to Him!

Secondly, I want you to understand that God is jealous for you. He is jealous of your time and your affection, your focus and your love. The Lord has been doing something really deep in me over the past couple of weeks and He is impressing on my heart every day how much He desires me. Isn’t that crazy? I’m still trying to wrap my brain around that thought, but I know it’s true. And if it’s true for me, it’s true for you. Please don’t miss this – God, the Creator of the Universe, the One and Only, the Answer to every question, the Healer, Baptizer, Savior, Deliverer, Friend that sticks closer than a brother – desires you. And when you give Him the gift of yourself, He goes out of His way to show Himself to you. That is what I believe August 21^st is going to be all about – Us giving ourselves completely and wholeheartedly to the Lord and encountering His awesome presence like never before.

Ricsha Kinard, Worship Pastor

I was reminded by Ricsha during the sermon a couple of weeks ago that the definition of worship is “the declaration of what we value the most”.  Thinking about it more, I realized it doesn’t go on to say “when we feel like it” or “when things are going our way”.  Worship is more than a feeling…  (Yes, I am going there!).  So I had to look up the lyrics and I think Boston had some insight to worship here in the third verse…

When I’m tired and thinking cold
I hide in my music, forget the day
And dream of a girl I used to know
I closed my eyes and she slipped away
She slipped away.
She slipped away.
(guitar riff…)

Many of you just had to sing the lines as you read them.  Others took it one step further and played the riff on air guitar and continued on to the chorus.  But I think that is what true worship is about. Forgetting ourselves and the hard day we’ve had and focusing on the One that sustains us. Not allowing our thoughts and feelings to distract us, and going after Him with reckless abandon.  And it comes naturally when singing along with classic rock, why can’t it be the same way we worship the Maker who gave us life?

So my challenge and prayer for your worship, and especially the upcoming worship experience, is that you will put aside yourselves and your feelings.  Allow yourself to worship God with the same passion you have when singing along with your radio… and maybe, even throw in a little air guitar!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9br6wqGZGHU&feature=related
Matt Brown, Electric Guitar

“It’s more than just a word or a hand uplifted high.  It’s more than emotion it’s become my theme for life.  When everything within me cries, Holy is Your name, and every part of me has died, so You alone can reign – that’s where worship begins.”  -Kristie Howell Mills

The above lyric is one that I penned a few years back.  Even in my childhood, I learned the secret of worship.  There have been some pretty dark times in my life especially with my health.  I had to find my “worship place” early in order to get through some of these places.  Worship got me through when the doctors thought I had cancer in 1992.  He healed me!  Worship got me through when it looked like rheumatoid arthritis was going to strike me down and bind me to a wheelchair.  He healed me!  Worship got me through some of the darkest depression I had ever experienced.  He renewed me and brought me back to life.  I have so many stories I could tell you.  There is nothing like going into that secret place and loving on Jesus and allowing His presence to saturate you.  I sing to Him and He sings over me.  Even now as I am writing this, God has been restoring some things in me during my personal worship time.  So much happens in that “worship place”, that the enemy will do everything he can to destroy or take your worship.  He knows the importance.  This is when you press in even more.  The reward is unbelievable.  Part of Ricsha’s blog title is “worship to live” and I have personally found this to be true.  I can not make it without worship.  Just last week, I was sick and couldn’t even speak and it was my time for the worship team.  Everyone around me told me I was crazy to try it, but I felt like God didn’t want me to give in.  He spoke to me and said I have something for you, just give me what you got, and I will do the rest.  In my voice, I had nothing but the lows, no highs!  I did my best.  He DID deliver.  During the 11:00 service, I saw a prayer answered!  There is a message in this.  Some of you may be experiencing a very low time and feel like you have nothing to give in your worship.  He is asking for what you have.  It is in our brokenness that true worship happens.  Give Him what you have and He will do the rest!  This is my prayer for August 21^st, that everyone will find that “worship place”.   I pray for defining moments personally and corporately as the body of Christ!

Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to help lead you to that “place”.

Kristie Mills, Vocals

As a follower of Christ, I know that I love God.

Yes, I have seen Him move in my life, I see Him guide me everyday, and I know that He has plans for me to do great and mighty things. But my love for Him goes much deeper than that. Loving God is something that comes natural – I was made to love Him. From the beginning of time, God’s plan for our lives has been loving relationship with Him.

But here’s the deal: God doesn’t just throw out a statement like, “Love the Lord thy God with all of your heart…” without giving us the ability to do that very thing and He surely doesn’t give us that command without providing a means to accomplish it.

That’s where worship comes in.  Worship is Love Expressed.

Through worship, we are able to express our love to God. That’s the point. It’s not just songs. It’s not just service. It’s not just events. It’s expression. We express our love toward God through the things that we do, the things that we say, the praises that we sing, the lives that we touch…

August 21 – Come prepared to express your love for God, to God.  Out of that expression of love, I know that we will touch His heart and He will change lives.

David Kinard, Bass Guitar/Vocals