While driving back to Lethbridge from Calgary the other day, I was reacquainted with an old friend in the form of Jason Upton’s album Dying Star. It had been a long time since I listened to it, and many of the songs hit me like the first time. Specifically Jason’s song Mighty River moved something deep in me. I played it three or four times, and felt knew that it’s prophetic message was one of deep meaning for me, and for the church right now. God has been faithfully pointing His church towards the heights and depths of His unfailing love lately. Over and over I hear messages from pulpits, testimonies from the lives of individuals, and have countless times been led to the immeasurable love of God for me. With out question, there is nothing that can separate us from it and nothing that compares. I believe there is a Might River flowing as Jason’s song says… it’s full of passion, full of power, full of glory, and full of grace.

I’ve recorded a version of the song, and pray that you encounter the love of God as you listen to it.

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14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3.14-19

Well, it’s been a long time coming, but my music is finally available for download online. I’ve been working towards this for a long time, and more than anything have just been waiting for the ‘right time’. I’m really excited to be sharing some of the music that I’ve written and recorded over the past number of years. I’m also excited to be pouring some time and energy into some new music over the coming months. I’m presently working on a worship album that will be released late summer/early fall. It’s really coming together well, and I look forward to sharing it with everyone soon.

You can listen, download, and share the music by going to my music page @ chadblock.ca/music. Feel free to send the link to friends and the like (always nice to spread the word.) Just for checking it out I’d like to share a free download of a Brian Doersen Cover – I Lift My Eyes Up.

*all the proceeds from music sales will be going back into music and ministry related ventures. This fall I am hoping to get over to the Vineyard Conference in Asia, and to Bangkok to be with a church in the Slum there. The cash generated by music sales will help make the opportunity a reality.

Enjoy the music!
Chad

A couple weeks ago a group of us met to worship and pray at our house.  It was a really cool time, and near the end of our evening I grabbed an old guitar that had been tuned a little different.  As I played God began to place a song on my heart that I hadn't sung in years (not sure if I've ever used it when I was leading.)  As I sang it the words caused my heart to rise up from deep inside me.  I Lift My Eyes Up is a Brian Doerksen song that has been a voice for many in worship, but that night it was brand new for me.  I took the time to record it, and I pray that it leads you to a quiet place where your spirit is released to sing "so I will wait for you, to come and rescue me, come and give me life.

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I Lift My Eyes Up by Brian Doerksen
Performed by Chad Block Blessings, Chad

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John 15 is a passage of scripture that has been a constant encouragement and challenge in my life.  "Remain In Me" is both a powerful command and an incredible invitation.  I've often wrestled with what it looks like to remain and even more often with how to go about it.  In a world filled with distractions, expectations, and a constant battle between flesh and spirit I often find it hard to keep focused on Jesus.  The key lies not in our ability to remain, but in our ability to surrender and allow him to remain in us.

This song is one that I wrote in the summer of 2008, and it's lyrics still ring incredibly true for me.  I pray that as you listen this song allows you to come to a place of honesty in the presence of a God who calls you to Himself.  I am reminded as I post it that the call to remain is followed by a promise "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you." John 15:4

Today I received really heavy news.  A long time friend died in a motorcycle accident this week at the age of 30.  The news hit me really hard.  My heart is broken for the family, and as a friend I'm overwhelmed by the loss.  Death and grieving are hard realities, and experiences that are only intensified when they come 'before their time'. 

A couple weeks ago I had an opportunity to visit my sisters grave.  It was the first time I've been there since she passed away two years ago, and it was a precious moment.  She, like Arthur, was only 30 when she died.  I remember standing at the graveside feeling an unspeakably deep sense of loss.  It was so obvious that what I needed in that moment was beyond me (as was the case many times when Jayda was sick, and never more than the days surrounding her death.)

While Jayda was sick I wrote a song called Overwhelmed.  It came as a very honest prayer in response to the notion that "God will never give us anything we can't handle".  I believed that all my life.. until Jayda got sick.  Truth is, the three years surrounding her sickness were full of moments where I felt completely overwhelmed.  I quickly began to realize that we're not promised a life free from anything we can't handle.  The promise is that he will never leave us, or forsake us.  Each time I sing this song I embrace this truth remembering how often I find myself in situations that require something beyond me.  These moments of complete humanness are many, and they aren't going away.  I have also learned that God will forever be faithful to meet me, guide me, and even carry me in each and every one of these moments.  Overwhelmed is a heart cry. Today I lift it up especially on behalf of Arthur's friends and family.  As well, may it become a prayer for many who find themselves overwhelmed whatever the situation.

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Merry Christmas!  I pray that this entry finds you safe in the care of the God who's birth we celebrate.  I can say without a doubt that Janna and I definitely are.  The year that we've lived since last Christmas has been filled with opportunities to see Him at his best.  There are obviously too many stories to even touch the surface here, but I did want to share one major blessing that has changed our lives forever.  In the spring of this year I accepted a job with the Salvation Army, and that decision has brought about an indescribable blessing in our life together.  With the 'job' has come the lives of many who struggle to find meaning, purpose, freedom… the list is endless.  These lives have deeply touched ours, and know find no exagerration when I say we will never be the same.

I've learned so much from these people, and from my daily interaction with them.  I've learned that very little seperates our lives, and sometimes am awe struck by how close our realities really are.  God has shown me a piece of his heart as I've spent time with those who have little, but often give generously, love without pretense, and show genuine passion for justice in a world filled with injustice.  I know count many my friend who were only months ago hidden to me.  They teach me daily what it looks like to live honestly even when the honesty of their lives may discust even themselves.  I've seen too the 'wages of sin' and have felt the sorrow of seperation from God like I've never seen it.  Lonliness, regection, faiilure, shame, drunkeness… the tip of the iceberg where the 'desires of our sinful nature' are realised. (Galatians 5.16ff)

There is one thing I've head God say louder than any other this year.  It is simply but profoundly this – "We need a Saviour".  The reality of this need grips me even as I write this.  I can help but think of those I just spent time with at a community Christmas dinner.  Men lost in drunkness.  Women overwhelmed with sorrow on a day that should be filled with praise.  People who often know no hope.  The reality of Jesus birth, the coming of a saviour!  I am filled with worship and moved to prayer for those who don't know Him.  Father, speak… show your face… touch hearts… that they would come to see You, and join in the truest song of Christmas- Christ, our Saviour is born.

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Silent Night by Joseph Mohr 1816 – Preformed By Chad & Janna Block

17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
      for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
      that the blind will see,
   that the oppressed will be set free,
      19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

 20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

Luke 4:7-21 (Isaiah 61)

Lately I've really been wrestling.  In fact, ever since I came home from Encounter in Saskatchewan I've been really fighting with my self, my sin, my weakness.  It's been a reminder that our enemy is as real as our saviour, and that he's committed to destroying the very things God is working in our lives.  I've been thinking often of this reminder found in 1 Peter 5:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

There's so much in these 3 verses.  Encouragement, warning, instruction… ultimately I find it a very sobering reality check for me today.  I am reminded too of Paul's instruction, in Ephesians 6, to "put on the full armor of God."  I find such freedom in the reminder that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  Freedom not because this fight is an easy one, but because faced with it's intensity I'm quick to realize that the fight is not ultimately mine.  I'm released from trying to defeat those things that continually beat me down, and able in the same moment to surrender them to God.

My prayers have been very candid and real, as they often are in midst of a fight.  The wrestle has awakened me yet again to the incredibly real need I have for a saviour.  I've captured that desperate heart of prayer in a song during these past few weeks, and am incredibly grateful for the countless times it has facilitated the pouring out of my heart over the past couple weeks.  I pray it can be a song of honesty and one that allows many to "cast all anxiety on Him".  A song that might help us as we commit to "stand our ground, and after we have done everything, to stand."

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Devil Down by Chad Block c2008 joseph creative 

1 Peter 5.7-9 

Ephesians 6.11-13

special thanks to Adam L for leaving a guitar lying around in a weird tuning! 

A couple years ago I was in a prayer room with some friends.  We gathered there to spend some time praying together, and in the midst of our prayers came this song.  My friend Paul was praying through Psalm 61, and the chorus became a real declaration.  "You are my refuge, You are my shelter, You are my Sanctuary, You are… Everything."  The song has since become a real declaration of my heart, and has given words to a multitude of situations and circumstance.  I pray it continues to fuel very real and potent times of intimacy in prayer.

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Psalm 61

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments. 1 O God, listen to my cry!

      Hear my prayer!
 2 From the ends of the earth,
      I cry to you for help
      when my heart is overwhelmed.
   Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
    3 for you are my safe refuge,
      a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
 4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary,
      safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
                         Interlude

 5 For you have heard my vows, O God.
      You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.
 6 Add many years to the life of the king!
      May his years span the generations!
 7 May he reign under God’s protection forever.
      May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.
 8 Then I will sing praises to your name forever
      as I fulfill my vows each day.