A small spark can sometimes ignite a combustible environment into a raging inferno. Many times the death of our past victories, the brokenness of our lives and the dryness of our relationship with God, created over time by years of trials and disappointments, can actually be the ideal material to fuel a blazing fire. I believe the Lord is using this ministry to bring a spark to ignite passion and hope again within His people. Passion gives way to hope which gives way to faith. Faith breaks through beyond the limitations of our present circumstances and propels us forward into new expanses of freedom and possibility in God. The Lord’s people can come alive again. We can and WE WILL move forward by the Spirit of the Living God. For His yoke is easy and His burden is light!

It is a time where the Lord has brought us to Zero so that he can rebuild us. We will not be able to live like those who have their lives planned out and their storehouse necessarily in place and secure. But we will remain tethered to the Lord for everything. We will live as Jesus, only doing what we see the Father doing and every need will be met. No matter how great or impossible. I believe at this present time we are in a great season of strengthening and prospering. Where God is restoring and establishing us and refreshing those that have walked as Joseph .

It is a time where we are somewhat on a sabbatical – enjoying the blessing of God and the flow of His grace. He is opening doors and positioning us at this time and grounding us. He is even giving us the desires of His heart. It is definitely a season of Justice where the Josephs are having restitution being made and the enemy is bound for a season. Not that darkness does not get pesky…but it is unable to prevail in our situations as it has in the past.

All this preparation is for our release into ministry and the world like never before as the church goes through unprecedented reformation even greater than that of Luther’s time while the world reels as a drunkard. I believe we are on the brink of perilous times but also a great hour for the Church and great Glory given to Jesus the Most High – God of all – King of heaven and earth – Lord of men!

Looking forward to seeing family, old friends and doing as much ministry as possible! Looks like I’ll be starting out in Rhode Island, then onto Massachusetts and New York and up to Canada. If you know of anyone who would be interested in having me come and minister in July, whether it be church, conference, group or coffee house, just shoot me an email. Blessings All!

What do I think about Christianity, the world and church in light of the past 10 years? Some things I thought I believed, I’m now not so sure if I believe anymore. Some things I didn’t believe…or passed off as weak or faithless…I’m now reconsidering. I was influenced greatly by the faith movement and I still appreciate much of that teaching. Faith is good. But what about this “Give us each day our daily bread” stuff? Are we as Americans ready or even capable of living day to day? No. no I don’t like it one bit. I want the future mapped out. I want control. I want to know that every week I can at least add a little something to my nest egg.

Yes God wants to bless His people and does… but maybe we need to re-define what that means outside the church box of the past 10-20 years. Wow, I’m healthy, my daily needs are met, financial surprises spring up for need, I’m tethered to Jesus, my family is doing well, I’m able to give and bless others in other ways – not necessarily financial…. wow.. I am blessed! The Word says that all things are mine. So there is nothing I lack. “So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”

The hard part is (in my situation where I support my family from ministry offerings and the video work I do) is that you have to completely trust God. It’s a new level..focused down to the day by day. For example suppose I choose to buy another home (not an additional one ..renting now.. lol) I have to in advance , by faith, be able to trust that God will bring in the funds to help me pay the mortgage continually. He has been doing that now with my rent. This has been a source of frustration for me…but in a sense it has been a great joy. The Lord has shown me his faithfulness so incredibly over the past couple years. Whereas I came out of a 12 year pastoral staff ministry position with salary, benefits, vacation, insurance and it was secure (in appearance). I knew how much I had coming in every week. But as I tell my wife…and she agrees… I am no more secure being employed by IBM or being ordained by God to be self-employed. If God is God, then by his grace I stand or fall. Whether I’m at IBM and there’s a massive layoff or working for myself and things get tight. God is God of my life. I have seen him hold me close and not allow me to run too far ahead…to come to him like a chick to the mother bird and be sustained from His hand and enjoy special intimacy with Him. There has been comfort and safety in this…and it has increased my trust in the Lord’s provision. And may I add…regardless of my ability to give financially. God has shown me His faithfulness as a loving Father. I can and should (reminding myself) feel at peace and secure in the day to day.. “Let today’s troubles be sufficient for the day”. “The blessings of the Lord are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness”. So let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves…securing our futures in our own strength. God will secure our futures. And to each one of us he has special callings. Many may have great nest eggs and great financial resource…but wherever the Lord has us, let us remember that no one knows what tomorrow holds. And no one knows if the American dream is on life support ready to flat-line or to be revived… but apart from our culture and all we’ve come to expect..and assume we deserve, God sits on High above it all and His eyes move to and fro…..

2Chron 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

So in one season I may be abounding and in another I may be looking to the Lord for every morsel. But I have discovered the secret to being happy. It is to trust in and love the Lord with all my heart and to not be distracted and engrossed in the pleasures and lofty goals of this life. For God allows us pleasures and great purpose and there are seasons of abundance and seasons of want. But I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. For He does and will hold me up. He will never leave me nor forsake me. And he will give me today, my daily bread. Bless His name.

I thought this might be helpful for new worship leaders or those desiring to have more flow in their worship times…

The element termed as “flow” is an important aspect of worship leading. I feel it is somewhat akin to the “prophetic”. When Christian music came on the scene and we all tried to get hip to relate (which is not a bad thing), recorded worship ended up becoming the main source of content for worship communication. Worship choruses began to be crammed into pop music culture and we ended up with the “start-stop-start-stop” style of any typical pop music album.

Much of this was due I think to being able to access songs as commodities to exchange and sell and pass on to others. Not a bad thing in itself if it helps get God more worship and connect people to Him. But unfortunately, the need to define a song into 3 minutes and make it tangible to market and distribute, ended up dictating structure and form in our worship services creating a culture of worship where we are “involved” as long as the song lasts. Then we’re on to the next 3 minute experience.   Because of these cultural influences on worship, I think many are now realizing that there is and always has been a progression to the throne and it requires our uninterrupted focus.

So what I personally like to do is, try to treat a worship service as “one continual song”.  Even though there may be 4 to 6 songs in a congregational songservice (not referring to harp and bowl, etc), it is important to treat the songservice as one entity -not several beginnings and endings.  If I was to meet a person or visit a friend, I wouldn’t show up at their door and start a conversation, then stop it abruptly and walk out the door, turn around, and come back in and start it again, etc…. Do you see where I’m going?   I would engage someone in conversation and I would go deeper and deeper in that conversation, experiencing some level of intimacy and fullness until there was at some point a closure and I said; “Good bye. Can’t wait until the next time we get together!”

Some ways I suggest we can go about implementing more “flow” into our worship times (and this bugs some musicians), is to try to keep everything in the same key as much as possible (but also don’t be boxed in by that) . It doesn’t matter so much on the entry songs (upbeat songs) but once we get into a flow, moving within the same key is very effective in maintaining depth and for riding out that stream as far as it can go. So stay there and let it flow, rise/swell and dip, peak and ebb until you feel it’s time to move on. Don’t rush it. Remember, it’s all for Him and once the Holy Spirit steps in, sense where He is directing. When you find that place and learn to follow Him as best you can, you will experience the greatest worship experiences of your life.  And remember. Simple is good. God is very deep. But He is always very simple. The Gospel is simple. Less is more! So remember K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) lol!

I find that landing on a 2, 3 or 4 chord progression in which spontaneous worship can breathe/swell in the middle of songs or in between songs is seriously cool. So maybe I’m doing (for familiarity sake) “Here I am to worship in “E” and towards the close of the song I start repeating the chorus in free worship (loving every minute of that by-the-way) allowing it to peak, flow, rise……then when it starts to ebb and when it feels right, I transition into say; “Fire Fall Down” also in E.   Then, when that ebbs, maybe I feel impressed to take it up or take it soft into intimate worship.  So for example I might make a decision to transition into “Shout Unto God” or into “Wrap Me In your Arms”, the point is, it flows. There’s no abruptness. No jerking. It’s gradual. There will be a time to shift. A time for the drummer to count off with the sticks.  But sense when that is. Don’t come out of the flow prematurely.

It’s like carrying the ark. We need to learn how to handle the presence of God. And there are ways and methods that God will show us in order for us to be skilled at what we really are, priests. It takes a “priest” to lead people into the depths of His presence. Not a musician.

Hi Brothers and Sisters

We’ve been doing a mini tour of the Northeast and it has been awesome. Besides fitting in some much needed vacation and visiting relatives, we’ve been having some awesome meetings where God has been showing up and removing burdens from His people. The message for this season seems to be… rest, let go, cease the striving, relinquish control. As we enter into these crazy, troubling, and uncertain times, the one thing that remains constant for the believer is God’s love and His covenant with all who trust in Him. When all shakes around us and within our own lives, remember that we possess it all. We have the Kingdom of God within us. “His divine power has given us everything we need for LIFE…..and godliness..”

Followers of Jesus don’t have to climb some ladder towards Nirvana or work themselves up to some heightened level of enlightenment. When you receive Christ you get it all. It’s done. Everything you need…though your definition of prosperity might change in the coming years from what it may have been in the past. The truth is, there is a people who can have peace in any situation…even with the storms raging around us and in our own backyard. Peace is our most valuable asset. The Kingdom of God is NOW! Paul said…in 1Corinthians 3 that everything belongs to us…life, death, the present and the future…..and we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. We can live without fear and without anxiety. We can live with peace in our hearts and with great joy.

This is what our “REST” tour is all about. And this is the message that the Holy Spirit has given us to share with the Body of Christ. The world is changing… God’s people are changing. or should I say…. God is causing his people to change….to think and act differently. We will no longer be the “American Dream People” positioned and fashioned for the elusive, sometimes self-indulgent American Dream…. But we will be the Kingdom of God people!”. Mighty, loving and filled with peace. This are great days for God’s people. Let our hearts and minds align with His will in our hour. We were born into this age…so therefore God has ordained and foreseen that we are those chosen for this hour. It is both comforting and exciting. “Letting go, letting God” is the only thing that really works anyway. Less of me and more of Him! Enough of my strength with little results. More of His Spirit with multiplied fruitfulness.

Please continue to pray for us as we bring this message in Word and in song to the people of the Northeast…(New England and New York). Be blessed!

Let Go: Let God Fill Your Need
By Mary Kupferle

If you are anxious, tense, or concerned about anything in your life, dear friend, begin now to relax, let go and let God fill your need.

No matter what seems to be missing from your life-be it a much loved person, a special place, an activity of great value or a feeling of well-being – release and let go, knowing that God is right now filling your need.

Take a deep breath. Release it slowly, telling yourself quietly: I let go, I let God fill my need.

Accept the reality that God’s wisdom is ever present and available, ready to fill you with new understanding, light and life. Let God fill every void, every emptiness that seems to separate you from the desires of your heart. Let go! Let God fill your need.

God’s light and substance and divine activity will come forth and move in and through you as you let go. God’s creative process is awaiting your acceptance of its productive, healing action. Let your thoughts be lifted up. Let the presence of God dissolve your fears and doubts and fill every gap of unbelief. Let go and let God within you do the work.

Begin now to relax from the strain and effort of questioning, planning and reasoning.Take a few moments throughout the day to calm your thinking and place all your attention upon the words: I let go: I let God fill my need.

Immediately, benefits will be felt and become visible and tangible, inside and out. You will feel renewed strength and faith and courage. Because more of God’s presence has become active within you, your prayers will be more effective and your understanding of the presence of God within you will be clearer. As you continue to release dependence upon human forces or personal strength, you will find that God’s love takes care of what you cannot accomplish. As you let go, God will freely and abundantly fill every need.

God always provides knowledge, guidance, understanding, faith, healing, support or whatever else is needed in your life. Whatever your life experience appears to be, you have, at this moment, an opportunity to let go personal striving and let God move in you and through you to fill every need.

During the most critical point in the life of Jesus, when the minds and hearts of His disciples seemed totally depleted of courage and faith, each need was filled. As the disciples beheld the amazing example of Jesus’s quiet surrender to the Father, they learned of the miracle working power of letting go and letting God fill their needs. Their eyes and minds and hearts were opened anew to the message of abundant life, eternal life and love for all humanity.

God’s love and goodness will always fill every need in your circumstances, every hunger of your heart, every longing of your soul for peace and assurance, every good desire for the expression of eternal life and well-being.

Even though it may seem during the challenges of life that you are separated from that which has been your greatest avenue of comfort, security or supply, remember: God always fills your need. No matter how great the gulf seems between you and the solution to your deepest desire, you can trust God. Tell yourself again and again: I let go. God will fill my need.

God never leaves a void. He will never desert you or forsake you, His own creation. God’s presence of love and wisdom is ever nurturing your soul in its gradual unfoldment of spiritual potential. God’s power is ever at work within every circumstance. As you let go and trust God, everything is transformed- yes, everything- into a blessing. God continuously makes dark places light, rough places smooth, crooked places straight and empty places full. Full of His loving kindness and abundance of joy.

Let go. Let God fill your need. Let the creative process of God begin now to fill every point in your life that needs the touch of His great love and healing power. God is ready to do what you cannot do by yourself.

I thought I’d take a moment to thank everyone for the kind words and feedback on the new album; “Born”. Actually it excites me because the purpose of creating it was to reach to the fringes within the Body of Christ and beyond, over the walls. We produced the album in hope of it being a resource in this time of shaking that hurt fringe Christians could connect with to be inspired again and drawn back to the Lover of their soul. It was also my intention that it effect the atmosphere around those who have not yet experienced a touch from God. This theme has been in my constant prayers while producing this CD.

I woke up one day this week and realized that the music I have always written was to some extent evangelistic. The term used often “Evangelistic Worship” comes to mind. As much as I have tried to be a straight forward worship in the church guy at times, I just keep veering back to this place. I remember in the late ’90s doing many outdoor block party concerts through my former church in New England. We’d get permits, block off city intersections, build a huge stage, rent a concert sound system, have kids world with awesome and wacky games and events and prizes, give away groceries, new clothing, vaccinations, diapers, free hot dogs and soda. It was the brainchild of my former pastor Steve Boyce and it was an over-the-top excellent super-event. We did it in several cities in Rhode Island each summer. I can remember the power of God just filling the air and folks just being blessed by the love and generosity of those serving in the name of Jesus. The music was prophetic, hip, relevant and very engaging. What great memories. Some of the best times ever. Many lives touched and changed.

I said all that i guess to say there is a place for Evangelistic Worship. It is something not quite definable , but it crosses back and forth from God-pointed to people drawing. This is where i feel my call is. Someone told me recently that my music was going to go from “outer-court” songwriting to “inner-court” songwriting.” I love this person greatly and I knew what they meant. I didn’t know if it was said in response to hearing the “Born” CD. But I said to this person…”Born is meant to be “outer-court”. (if there is such a thing today). It is meant to gather and bring those on the outside, in. I think we may think that the ultimate place is to be in the inner court…and maybe so, at least from the standpoint of being in the closest proximity to God…. but maybe that is not the best analogy today. I mean after all, “whatever you do for the least of these, you did unto me”, Jesus said.

I know there are those who are Sunday worship leaders and those who are musicians and ministers to the Body…. but I pray God will use BORN to go far and wide and touch the backslidden, the disillusioned, the lost and the hurting and in some way connect them in a powerful way to the heart of God. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.”

“Where destruction increased, grace increased all the more…”

“The new CD by Brian Cooney entitled “born” will be released online in March via CD purchase or mp3 download.  The album contains some fresh, heartfelt songs and here’s what people are saying…

(Song: See His Face) “Thanks for sharing. I am blessed to listening your song, filled with HOLY SPIRIT inside of me. thanks GOD for the music…” - Esther (Toronto, CA)

(Song: See his Face) “Brian, you’re fast becoming one of my all-time favorite songwriters, man!
I hate to sound like a broken record, but could you post the lead sheet for this?
This is simply amazing, astounding…A beautiful, beautiful piece!
Thank you, thank you for sharing!” - Mike (Morton, IL)

(Song: You) “I get the goose bumps from your songs and they help me to get back into focus of what is important, and that would be getting closer to Him.” - Patti (Providence, RI)

“Where can you get your mp3 and music for “Let Your Glory Fall”? Great song!! I am a music director always looking for new good music.” - Anna (Okeechobee, FL)

“I’m the marketing director at Praise Hymn Tracks.  Just wanted to thank you for letting us give away the track – Brand New Day – at our website – We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from your song.” - Mark (Nashville, TN)

“I’m listening to A Brand New Day as I type this.  Wow!  I LOVE it!  Great lyrics, great guitar, overall, an uplifting song that so fits into what my life is about today.  Thanks for sharing!!! - Kathy (Yonkers, NY)

“Looks like we’ll be singing Brand New Day here in Tucson soon! Thanks again.” - Sue (Tucson, AZ)

(Song: Where is Your Sting) “That is so good. Listened to it twice. I couldn’t get the speakers up loud enough. It’s the kind of song you want to crank up and feel. The kind of song that makes you want to you yell “he’s got nothing in me; He’s got everything in me.”  I’m sold. I’m buyin’ that cd! Lol.” - Aaron (Nashville, TN)

(Song: Brand New Day) “I love it!  Can hardly wait for the finished product”. - Judy (Tulsa, OK)

Mixed and Mastered by Brian Silver – 9b Studios Milford, MA www.9bstudio.com
Check this studio out for your mixing!  Brian Silver is a great guy and an awesome engineer.  He works on a lot of major label stuff and works closely with folks like Bob St. John.  He has some great gear!  You can ftp your files up from anywhere.  Trustworthy and reliable.

As we notice the events taking place all around us, the loss of jobs by the thousands every week, the fear gripping consumers and the unrest throughout the Earth, I can’t help notice as I ponder all this, how much of the present day church has been duped.   At the same time as these trials unfold, I am experiencing some of the closest fellowship with my brothers and sisters that I have ever known.

This scripture comes to mind:

Job 15:12-13
“Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash, so that you vent your rage against God and pour out such words from your mouth?”

This scripture brings me to my point in this post.  Because I believe the American Church has been taught incorrectly and bought a bag of goods so-to-speak, it rests on a shaky foundation. This judgment on America that we see being poured out will devastate those who’s faith is built on sand.   The Lord never promised us riches.  He never promised that if we gave thousands to our church we would be millionaires.  He never promised us that we would inherit a cosey life and remain out of the wake of judgement’s ripple effect.   His promise is that HE is our inheritance and that HE has covenanted with us by our faith to provide for us…be our God, our Comforter, our Savior.

This is the message that we have to give to the rest of the world.  To those who don’t yet know Him. That though they lose everything, though their dreams be dashed, though their hope seem trampled,  we as followers of Christ have somethign far more priceless.  We have the peace that surpasses all understanding.  We have the loving God and Father of all creation.  We have access to purpose and meaning and hope and joy.

But if we be built on the wrong foundation, where our comfort plus Jesus equals fulfillment, we will be in for a tragic surprise.  My son was telling me the difference between tragedy and catastrophe.  Catastrophe is when something happens that is devastating but is out of one’s control.  Tragedy is when devastation happens that is the result of a person’s actions or beliefs.   It would be tragic if as in the verse above (Job 15:12-13), we don’t process what is going on around us and to us properly because of incorrect beliefs and faulty foundations, and we become bitter with God for letting us down, shake our fists, and shipwreck our faith.

Now is the time for God’s people to arise to their true calling. God will take care of us. But we will not avoid suffering.  We will comfort those with the same comfort we ourselves have been comforted with.  I encourage you more than ever to draw close to a family of believers who can encourage you and walk with you and your loved ones.  A family who will love and accept you and share your burdens with you as you share theirs.

As in the church of Acts, having all things in common, it may come to the place where we can support each other and help each other through the tough times.  The family of God is a powerful thing.  But through this deep love and commitment to Christ and one another, God will change lives like never before.  It’s not about the programs.  It’s not about the relevance, it’s not about the outward facade and the gimmicks that will change our world.  We are truly coming into a time when the people of God will be known by their love for one another.  And this love will change America…once again.