Its All Worship

Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:30:00 GMT

One of the coolest parts about participating in this crazy musical journey (getting signed, releasing albums, participating in events) is that I get to meet tremendously gifted individuals.

The East

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:46:00 GMT

If I were to ask you to conjure up in your imagination your version of "the east" I might get a different response depending on who you are. Some of my chinese friends might speak of their origins in the "far east". My baltic friends might mention the eastern block. To me, the first thing that pops to the front of my thoughts is Canada's east coast.

Ahhh, the maritimes. There's nothing like the salt air and constant breeze of the east coast. If you've never been to any of the maritime provinces in Canada, you owe it to yourself to make the trip. There's a tangible difference in the way people interact here. The speediness of city life gives way to a much broader stroke of the brush. In this particular instant, Halifax Nova-Scotia is our stop - and we'll be here a few extra days to take in the sights and sounds of the ocean with close friends who have moved here recently.

I have a fondness for the east as this is where I decided life could not be done well if attempted alone, and asked Jesus to lead me on. (I was actually in St. John's Newfoundland, but that's also "east" and maritime). I can recall in my very early days as a believer, going to the rock beaches along the east coast alone and thinking, "in this vastness Oh Lord, You still found me? Amazing." The ocean is a great reminder of how something so seamless and wide can bring people together in amazing ways.

Michelle and I are blessed. It's amazing that we get these opportunities to travel. We don't take it for granted. And one day, when we've moved on from this place to travel to wherever God takes us when we go, I have a sneaky suspicion that there'll be something vast and fruitful to bring us together like the oceans, waiting for us there.

J.

My Hometown: Espanola

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:16:00 GMT

Last week I had the opportunity to travel back to my home town of Espanola, Ontario, to do a concert for the towns 50th anniversary and to play at the Light House church. I had such an incredible time celebrating with the people of Espanola, my band and with all of my family members that travelled back for the town's celebration. I rarely get to see my family. I get to travel around a lot with music and my facebook business, but I do miss my family a lot. I have a large family. 6 brothers, 4 sisters, 2 parents, 18 nieces and nephews (and counting) :) And although we're spread out geographically, I always relish the times we have together. I guess I feel like God has knit us together. Made of the same fabric - sometimes running in different directions, but always from the same roll. Every time I leave Espanola, I feel like I haven't done enough to let people there know just how much I've appreciated them. When you grow up, you're bound to make mistakes. Life doesn't happe

New York City...

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:12:00 GMT

Michelle (my wife) and I were recently in New York City working with Leslie and Brad Taylor of Big Machine Media on a press day with several different websites/services/outlets. One thing that blew me away was the openness of mainstream media to communicate so openly with me about my journey with Jesus. It’s pretty amazing. I didn’t need to be defensive. I didn’t have to hide what I believe. I didn’t have to put my guard up. I just spoke about my walk and how Jesus is impacting me and my art. I talked about how natural it is to have someone you’re committed to, who’s part of your daily life, affect the way you write and think and love. Isn’t it amazing to think that we have a part to play in the lives of those around us who may or may not know Jesus, and that we’d be his light in their lives? It blows me away. Michelle and I had a blast, (although we’re tired), and are looking forward to a long and winding road.

JONATHAN NELSON SIGNS W/ INTEGRITY MUSIC

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:51:00 GMT

Myspace Friends! You're the first to get this info! I just inked a deal with Integrity Music! (Thank U Lord!)

So the New Cd entitled (Right Now Praise) will be released nationally, Feb 5th, 2008!! ....In stores everywhere!!! Make sure you get ur copy! Let me know what you think about the new single that we've posted! It's now impacting radio! Also, stay tuned for more info re: the CD release party on Feb 5th, 2008 @ 7pm, of course you know it's gonna be at Empowerment Temple!!! C U there!!

Peace!

Some Thoughts on the Kingdom

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:12:00 GMT

Church this week was one of those awesome God moments where I caught a fresh glimpse of what the Kingdom looks like as it's worked out among us.

As you know my husband Alan and I pastor the Causeway Coast Vineyard here on the North coast of Ireland. It's such a privilege! I love living my faith out with a community of people around me who challenge and encourage me. We are real people trying to figure out a real faith in the face of the hard stuff of life – just like you ☺

On Sunday, Alan was talking about money. He was reminding us that when we have something, the idea is that we share it with others that don't have enough. He reminded us that WE are often the answer to someone else's prayer.

At the end of the service he invited anyone up to the front who was in serious debt.

No one moved.

After a few moments, he made the invitation again. This time a married couple tentatively made their way forward, and stood at the front of the whole church.

Then, rather than pray for them (as we all expected), he asked anyone who had enough money to come and give them what they felt they should. It took my breath away what happened next! Almost the whole church came forward and handed them £10, £20, just whatever they had on them.

By the end, the couple had three baskets of money – people had come and given what they could – they had stood and prayed with them – they had hugged and kissed them – they had in every way expressed the Kingdom of God, and demonstrated in full force that the church is family!

I love my job!!! I love God on the move – and I love people catching what it means to live fully alive for Him!!!

(If you want to have a listen to the talk, check out causewaycoastvineyard.com and download the sermon from May 25th, 2008)

Series on – The Juggling Act (Balance in Busyness) 1

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:46:00 GMT

Just say ’no’

I get asked all the time about this – how do you balance being a Mum, a pastor’s wife, a songwriter, and a worship leader both at home and away. I smile, and then think for a moment about all the parts of my life that are full and at times a little crazy. The truth is that thanks to a very sensible husband, I’ve learned to say no to a lot of what I’m asked to do. What we need in life is a ’balance buddy’ – someone who loves us and understands what we are called to do, yet won’t shy away from telling us to stop and reassess where we are at periodically. I wouldn’t even know where to begin without the wisdom of my husband.

These are the questions we always ask when we’re approached to take something on – is this a good thing to do right now for our family first; next does it work for our church; and thirdly do we sense this is something that’s just part of what we’re called to do.

If it’s yes to all three, and it’s something we really want to do, then we take it on. If it’s not, we don’t. Pretty simple really – except that lots of times, we have to say no to things we would dearly love to do, just because there’s only so much time a year that it’s good to be away from either our kids, or if we bring our kids, to be away from our church – that’s what makes it hard!

In the kid’s movie ’Robots’, Big Weld’s catchphrase is ’see a need, fill a need’ – for us as leaders, or parents, or pastors, or whatever role we fill - we have to know that our biggest need is to nurture our children and take care of our families. All other ’needs’ come a far off second, and the truth is that someone else really can fill those needs in our place.

BREAK FORTH CANADA

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:43:00 GMT

I'm at a wonderful conference just now - Break Forth Canada in Edmonton, AB.

It's so exciting to be here - I love this side of what I do too!!!

I'm here to do a little teaching, and to lead some worship - along with some fantastic others - people like Paul Baloche, Robin Mark, MercyMe, Third Day, and many more!!!

If you live in the area and you would love to spend some time connecting with God along with several thousand others - please come along - it's at the Shaw conference centre in Edmonton. I think you'll love it!

Conferences can be the most wonderful way to 'refuel' and 'refocus' - there's something that happens when we get together as church, and as the wider church - that does our hearts good - helping us to remember just how huge God is, and how incredible He is!

Then of course, there is the wonder of going home again at the end of it all, where we get to live out our worship - as Paul wonderfully put it in Romans 12 - taking our everyday, ordinary - sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life - and placing it before God as our offering.

That's the stuff of true worship - the stuff that gives us something to sing about.

The Latest

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Just leaving Los Angeles and on the way to Dallas flying on the Southwest airbus. Folks if you have never flown Southwest airlines, it is definitely worth the experience! Last week was a powerful time at the Generation Church youth conference. We were there with Pastors Judah and Chelsea Smith along with my brother Joel, Chris Caine from Hillsong Church, and Pastor Benny Perez. The last night of the conference was absolutely heaven. There was an undeniable sense of the presence of God and an open heaven over that place. It was 5 hours of delight. On Saturday we flew to Vacaville, CA to a wonderful church there named "The Father’s House". We experienced an awesome move of God there on Sunday morning during the worship time. At the 11 o’clock service in the middle of the worship there was a clear impression in my spirit to have an altar call for salvation. We began to sing "Whisper His Name" and the altars were flooded with people surrendering there lives to God! What a fulfilling moment. Please pray for us on Wednesday night at the Heartland church in Irvine, TX and on Friday night with Benny Perez in Las Vegas for God to hit those places with a fresh move of His Spirit. Much Luv.-Jonathan

Deluge on iTunes - Help us get to NUMBER 1!!!

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:21:00 GMT

Our album is currently in iTunes TOP TEN albums in the Christian & Gospel section!!!!!!

Number 8, specifically.

If you're really digging the new album and into what you hear, show some love and help us get to Number 1!! (currently, Leeland's got the spot... this isn't going to be easy.)

If you don't have the album, get it on iTunes!!

And, if you do have the album, tell a friend to check it out... and to get it on iTunes!

Oh, and if you want to leave a review of the music, feel free to do that too.