Ben Zornes Band

Five Reasons Jesus Came (Week 05)

2010-05-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

To Destroy the Works of the Devil

Listen to what the Apostle John declares in 1 John 3:8b KJV - “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Let that soak in...this was the purpose of Jesus' incarnation. Satan had stronghold after stronghold set up in the hearts and lives of humanity, and Jesus singlehandedly destroyed the Enemy’s strongholds. Satan is rendered powerless because of the manifestation of Jesus. The claim Satan had was that every human succumbed to the power of sin. No one was perfect. Satan had a perfect track record in regards to human depravity--all had sinned. By the appearance of Jesus, Satan was undone! The greek in this passage for “destroy the works” literally means “Jesus loosed the bonds and undid and ruined the Devil’s business.” Essentially, Jesus made Satan go bankrupt!

We were slaves to Satan. We were going about his business. He chained us up each night and as we went about our work each day, he would make sure to subject us to his cruel torment. He would give often reminders of our willing allegiance to His diabolical kingdom.

Then Jesus came.

In one victorious act all our chains fell free, and Satan had no rightful claim on us because Jesus paid for our freedom. Satan’s enterprise was ruined, bankrupt and finished. He was done in!

However, while Jesus Christ indeed destroyed the Devil’s works, it appears that mankind is still under Satan’s rule and power. How can that be, if Jesus truly destroyed Satan’s work?

Is this verse some kind of altruistic nicety?

Is it some kind of dangling carrot?

Is it God mocking us?

Well, I am confident the word of God never stutters. Thus, this verse is true! Jesus offers freedom from the power of Satan. The Devil’s work HAS been destroyed. The siege-works of hell are rendered ineffectual. As stated earlier the chains have fallen off of us! Now, the problem is, we have two types of people: those who rejoice in their removed chains and submit themselves to Christ in love, or those who believe freedom is too good to be true and so they “re-enslave” themselves to the chains of Satan. They somehow find the offer of eternal bliss in Christ more distasteful than willing subjection to the yoke of slavery to sin, self and Satan.

Oh, this verse is so simple and beautiful. A child would believe it! But we, who are more “intellectually mature,” explain away verses like this, simply because our experience differs from the fact of this promise! Believe this profound and beautiful truth: Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Satan’s claim on me is null and void. Temptation becomes profoundly absurd. The natural depravity I’m born in is suddenly transformed into Christ-centered passion for holiness! Bask in the utter wonder of this statement. We are born under the yoke of the Law of Sin. Jesus Christ single handedly broke the bonds of our slavery and calls us to be free. Oh, what joy we so often forfeit when we wrongly believe that all Jesus is capable of is forgiving our sins.

The power and significance of Christ reaches much further than simply forgiving our sins.

He purchased:

......a clean and guiltless conscience

..............a grace imbued life

.......................a joyous numbness to Satan’s beguiling art

..............................................a destruction of all flesh,

.............................................................a consecration of every mark of wickedness.

We are called the “righteousness of God.”

We are called “sons and daughters.”

We are renovated within, redeemed from sin, renewed by Him!

The works of the devil: sin, enmity with God, depravity, wickedness, sinful lust, fleshly cravings--destroyed.

utterly

completely

unconditionally

irrevocably

entirely...

destroyed

In this battle against Satan, we were utterly helpless against his power. Yet, in one act of humble sacrifice, Jesus Christ rendered useless and powerless all of the Enemy’s designs and tactics. Now He makes God’s very power available to us who believe. Everything we need for life and godliness is supplied by the chain-breaking, Satan destroying, flesh binding, hell dousing power of God.

The reason Jesus came was to ensure that Satan’s might could have no claim on your life; his power is broken. Will you accept and simply believe the mighty power of this truth?! Hallelujah to the Son of God for destroying the works of the Devil and making an open mockery of them!

Five Reasons Jesus Came (Week 04)

2010-05-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

To Immanuel
(yes I am using a noun as a verb, I was homeschooled so I can get away with such grammatical violations)!
Soak in this statement: we were made for eternal communion with the God. Does that rouse your heart? I mean, this is the God of Whom it is said, “in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16:11).” He created us with the intention of glorifying Himself by sharing His eternal delight with us. We’re talking about God, the One who made quasars and canaries, who instated the laws of thermodynamics and fashioned the molecular structure of all the atoms in the universe.

I have literally no clue exactly what a quasar is. I think it is some kind of galaxy that has a massive black hole at it’s center and therefore shines really brightly. I have no clue why God saw fit to create the specific species we now call canaries. The laws of thermodynamics are so simply stated, but I have no grasp of what life would be like without them; in fact, while I understand the statements of these laws, I have no way to ensure they continue or that they don’t somehow fall apart. I mean I am completely unable to help or assist the laws of thermodynamics continue to function and do whatever entropic processes they...um... do! And molecules and atoms...I glazed over in Chemistry when we studied molecular structure.

I am not saying all this to highlight my poor scholasticism. I was a straight “A” student in high-school, and had like a 3.9 GPA in college, so it’s not as if I am uneducated. I bring this up to point out the magnitude of God. He understands these things, well, ALL things perfectly. He is what makes sure canaries reproduce, quasars glow, laws of thermodynamics successfully operate, and molecules bond! God’s resume is faultless, and He understands and comprehends and uphold the universe by His own word (Heb. 1:3-4)! This is the same God who created humans (knowing full well that they’d reject Him and choose depravity over the delight of His divinity), and He created us to share His own most precious self with us!

My mind hurts when I consider such things. I just want to shake my head and say, “are you kidding?!” So, God, who is massively brilliant and needs no help upholding the universe, creates humans in order to clothe them in His glory. We reviled Him and throughout history we rejected Him continually. Yet, the entire course of Human history is riddled with story after story of God continually evidencing His design to bring us back into His presence. Tabernacles, temples, altars, exiles, floods, parting seas, plagues, battles, arks, babies, old men, prophets, priesthoods, kings, judges, patriarchs, sojourns, and veils all were designed by God to show that He was intent on sharing Himself. He was bent on the conquest of human hearts and imparting the joy that flows from His boundless store of delight. Yet humans, rather than running to that reservoir of eternal bliss, turn-tailed and marched the opposite direction; we chose self-rule and misery of God-rule and joy.

However, we should remember that God is free and nothing can thwart Him (Is. 14:27). Thus, His sovereign purpose was always to bring man to Himself in eternal communion. Thus, He sent Jesus, and we are told that one of His names was Immanuel: God with Us. The purpose of God all along was to glorify Himself by sharing Himself and to clothe us in His glory. This is what we were made for and this is where true joy is found and beheld! So, Jesus came. He was God, and He was with us. Jesus came to Immanuel. Jesus came and when He died we’re told that the veil, which in ancient times God had commanded should ever separate the HOLY GOD from depraved humanity, was torn asunder and thus the God of the Universe shouted to this speck-of-dust world, “IMMANUEL! God with us! I AM is accessible to every human heart!” As the old Christmas Carol, “O, Little Town of Bethlehem” states so well,

How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

[...]O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!

Immanuel has come. He has imparted to us the blessing of His heaven. And, truly, we may say that the true blessing of Heaven is God’s own dear and joyous presence! The question is, will we open our hearts to the design of Almighty God? He has every right to our hearts, and we have all the bliss and joy of His righteous and beautiful face to gain! Why reject the offer of eternal joy and communion with God Most High? Jesus came to reunite your heart and life to God ALmighty, and in that dear friendship you will find the joy of your soul! Take hold of it...it is what Jesus came to do. He came to Immanuel, let Him!

Five Reasons Jesus Came (Week 03)

2010-04-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

To perfectly live out what Human existence was intended to be.

Contrary to popular opinion, we are not here as a result of random chance, unplanned mutations, and unpredictable change. We are here by the intent and purpose of God Almighty. And yes, He has an intention for the human life. He created Adam and Eve perfectly. They were literally clothed in the felicitous glory of God. They had His presence and needed nothing. They were perfect. After their fall, however, the human heart was immediately and innately wicked, there was no good thing in us, and the luster of God’s beauty was marred by selfishness and sin. However, God’s standard for the human life remain unchanged. In order to “climb His holy hill,” we had to be utterly perfect (Ps. 24). This was (and still is) clearly an impossibility for fallen and depraved humanity. While none of this caught God off guard and this all played into His perfect plan of redemptive grace and majesty, He chose to construct an entire nation built around His perfect laws of life and holiness. We now know this as the Israelite history. One needs only read through the books of Genesis and Exodus to see God’s design and desire for this peculiar group of nationless people (Deu. 14:2).

However, as we plod through the Old Testament, we quickly see this “special people,” being especially rebellious and unreasonably unfaithful to God’s holy design. This is because the entire law of Moses was designed by God to show man’s complete inability to live up to God’s standard of perfection. In other words, humanity was damned because of our powerlessness to perform what God demanded. Yet, the Old Testament is not as gloomy as it is often painted to be. Throughout it shines the light of hope: Messiah! Time after time God promises a perfect King, Prophet, Judge, and Savior. And surely, if we look closely at the life of Jesus, we can see that He is the fulfillment of this promise. Jesus “did no sin, neither was guile (manipulative and selfish behavior and speech) found in His mouth (1 Pt. 2:22).” Only God could live up to God’s standards. So, He came Himself and performed the requirements of God for holiness, perfectly. God created an impossible standard, in order to show that He alone could be our means of salvation and reunification with Him.

James calls God’s standard of holiness, “the perfect law of liberty (Jam. 1:25).” Jesus Christ fulfilled the perfect law of liberty, perfectly. And our only means of salvation is found in His life being infused into us, through faith. Christianity is not based on our merit or ability to conform to rules of holiness. It is about a complete yieldedness and surrender to the power of God’s most precious Son’s life within us. It is no accident that Jesus said, “If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Mt. 16:24).” Jesus came to be what humanity was created to be: complete surrender to the power of God. Jesus said of Himself, “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things (Jn. 8:28).” Thus, why should we, mere humans, try to obtain or curry God’s favor through our own efforts. Jesus has done it all. He invites us to die, that He might live through us. Henry Scougle said, “Perfect love [...] is a kind of voluntary death, wherein the lover dies to himself, and all his own interests, not thinging of them, nor caring for them any more, and minding nothing but how he may please and gratify the party he whom he loves...” If we truly love God, then our sole response must be hiding ourselves in the perfections of Jesus Christ and become yielded to His absolute hold upon us. Our love must become a death to self and a life to Christ.

Jesus is called the “Second Adam,” because He is literally the rebirth of humanity as God intended it. We can take hold of this immaculate promise, if only we die to our sinful selfishness and open ourselves to the infilling of the presence of the Perfect One. He alone could obtain God’s favor, so He did it alone! Thus, will we let Him do, in our lives, what He came to do? Or will we continue in our human insufficiency?! Let it be the former!

Five Reasons Jesus Came (Week 02)

2010-04-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

To become the lowest, in order to become, unquestionably the Highest.

Jesus Christ said of Himself in Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Jesus came from the highest place and lowered Himself to be the laughingstock of humanity. David tells us of the Messiah in Psalm 22:6, “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” This is extraordinarily demeaning and unbecoming language to term the fairest of ten thousand, the bright and morning star, the lily of the valley! Yet, in order to become unquestionably the Highest, he walked the lowest path: the path of utter humility. Andrew Murray says in his book entitled ‘Humility,’ “The holiest will always be the humblest.” Jesus Christ lived in heaven with the cries of “Holy, holy holy,” ever before Him and the praises of His purity resounding around Him. He came to earth, as our propitiatory substitute, and rather than coming with the tone of begrudging a favor, He came with the humble notes of meekness and lowliness.

The world clamors for fame and glory. Jesus came and feasted with whores, tax collectors, thieves and sinners. Jesus chose for His disciples a weird conglomerate of fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and less than savory gentlemen. Jesus came in a period of human history when His death certificate was the most painful execution ever issued upon man. He lived a nomadic life, lived off of the charity of others, endured weather, ruffians, scoffers, and a collection of timid followers. He was born and raised in poverty and exile, son of an unknown carpenter and an obscure young maiden. The story of His “virgin birth” was (and still is) a cause of derision by those with impure minds. When push to came to shove in the garden of Gethsemane, He was utterly deserted by the thronging masses. All day every day, during His ministry, He poured out Himself in service to the people of Israel. He awoke early, most mornings before the sun was up, and spent time travailing in prayer for the lost sheep of Israel. He fasted for 40 days. Was tempted by the devil. Spurned by the Sadducees. Loathed by the lofty. Thronged to by the thousands. Deserted by all in the hour of His deepest trial. On top of all the abuse our Savior suffered, Isaiah tells us that it “pleased the LORD to bruise Him.”

Jesus, the brightest star and the joy of heaven, enduring all of His dear Father’s hatred and seething vengeance on sinful man. He suffered more than any man before or after Him. He endured the cruelest form of execution invented by the Romans. He endured their skilled tortures. The Jewel of heaven’s crown, Jesus Christ, degraded to the point of being unrecognizable, despised, rejected, reviled, spat upon, loathed, mocked, spurned, and detested. Oh, what humility! This humility could have only come from a heart of pure holiness. Any mortal man trying to concoct a plan to save the world would have left out this path of holiness and sought the path to worldly grandeur, power and riches. But, He came to be made the lowest to show us His exceedingly great power over death. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5-11 KJV -

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Could there be any argument against the utter and complete exaltation of Jesus Christ to the highest place?! Could anyone withhold Him from sitting upon the throne He not only deserves, but also purchased with His own humble blood? Could any protest cause Him to sway to public opinion? Could any in history contest His right to the Father’s right hand?! I think not. As the Holiest of Holies, He lowered Himself beyond all comprehension to the position of servant, the position of “wrath absorber,” the position of foot washer! At the cross we see every tongue in heaven, earth and hell utter what was already true: Jesus is King of kings. The throne of Heaven was Christ’s by right. But to assure all the doubters, simpletons, and skeptics, He battled every foe, upon earth and in hell, wrested from Satan’s grasp the power of Hell and damnation, and conquered Death so soundly that now it is said, “Where, O Death, is now Thy sting?!” On the cross Jesus became the uncontested Prince of the Universe! Astonishing! The King of kings conquered and won every battle against the powers of darkness in a position of utter humility, lowliness and degradation! In a position of apparent weakness, frailty and vulnerability, He won the battle of the Ages! The Kings of the earth conquer with shows of power and glory. Jesus Christ conquered and won the Throne of thrones (which was rightfully His already), and became the King of kings, and now “upholds the universe by His very word!” And He did it in the lowest most insignificant way ever invented!

Five Reasons Jesus Came

2010-04-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

An Explanation

The 21st century is an exciting time to be alive. Never before has communication, travel, information, and social networking been so accessible and easy. The other day I Skyped with my sister in Boise, my friend in Kazakhstan still calls me occasionally, and I facebook chatted with a friend who is a Pastor in Tanzania. Truly, the world has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, or even the last 10!!

I love the technological innovations and the ingenuity we’ve seen in recent decades. However, I am more concerned about the state of the Church, Christianity and the Kingdom of God than all of the techie toys and innovative inventions that are thrown our way. Thus, I am grieved when I see such a potential in our generation to do something radical and amazing; and instead of living up to the potential, we squander the astounding opportunity God has granted our generation! We have the capacity to see the Kingdom of God advanced to nearly every nook and cranny of this globe, and yet some of the leading voices today in Christianity are heretically redefining the core biblical and historical truths that advanced the gospel in every other generation before us. They are doing this under the guise of concern for social justice, sensitivity to seekers and skeptics, “updating” Christianity to fit in a new world and new cultural environment. My heart is grieved by such ideas and I am saddened by how many believers and churches are embracing this twisted and “renovated truths.” Truth is timeless and God’s promises and decrees are changeless, because He is unbending and unchanging!

So, in an effort to charge into the fray, I want to spend a little time with you and just talk about my Jesus. Not some hip, metrosexual Jesus. Not a mushy, limp-wristed Jesus. Not a marketed and branded Jesus. Not a socialist or conservative Jesus.

Just a biblical Jesus...

I don’t want to be elaborate or exhaustive. Just simply and humbly submit a few of my meditations for public consumption! So, for the next five weeks I will post “Five Reasons Jesus Came.” My prayer is that your faith in the Treasure of treasures will blossom and flourish as you see a biblical glimpse of His utter sufficiency and divine love! May the God of all grace enable you to see Him clearly through these 5 reasons Jesus came! Blessings!

5 Reasons Jesus Came

To provide propitiation for our Sin (yes capital “S”).

For the last 50 or so years of Christianity, we’ve been taught that the basic nature of God is that He loves us. God is love. It is drilled into our young and impressionable minds and we begin to have a portrait of God that is warm, fuzzy and fluffy. Now, I am passionately in love with the fact that God is love. However, modern day teaching on the fact that God is love, seems to actually present the exact opposite of this statement, and instead state that Love is God (which is untrue). It’s as if we’ve attempted to describe the Amazon jungle from Google satellite images, rather than traveling into that profound rainforest and discover the abundance and amazing variety of life. God is not His attributes; he is free. Nothing and no one can get His arm behind His back and force Him into some decision or choice. It was not because we were so lovely, or even so sinful, that Jesus came. It was for His own glory. You see, because the false statement of “Love is God,” so permeates our modern doctrine of God, we somehow believe that we deserved and were entitled to the sacrifice Jesus gave. If “Love is God,” then God would be constrained to coddle our guilty conscience, even though it smacks of rebellious hatred toward God!

Jesus Christ came, primarily, for His own glory. The Human race had sullied, spit upon, blasphemed and made themselves enemies and haters of God. Thus, in order to satisfy a free God’s just wrath, the God-head freely provided a “propitiatory” sacrifice and appeasement to the just wrath of God. This is polar opposite of what we’re taught in modern Christianity. We’re taught that Jesus died to show just how much He loved the human race. While His love is unimaginably vast and astounding, we must not lose sight of the fact that He came to absorb the wrath of God that should rightly have fallen upon my head and yours. The Love of God, that is such a focal point of our modern theology, is not a cuddly God patting us on the back and saying in a matronly voice, “there, there, all better now.” It is a just God, pouring out all hell upon His own Son in order to spare us from the hell we not only deserved but freely chose over God.

It is imperative that we understand that Jesus didn’t come to die in order to just forgive our sins, plural. He came to satisfy the Father’s wrath upon our Sin (capital S). We weren’t going to hell because we did bad things, we were going to hell because we loved sin and chose it above God and His eternal joy! He had to punish us, or provide a perfect substitute. This perfect, wrath absorbing, justice satiating substitute is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This is why He came. As 1 John 4:10 says, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

God’s love isn’t the coddling of our flesh and our sinful enmity with God, it is His freely giving us what we truly needed (not what we deserved: wrath, hell, damnation): a substitute for the judgement we rightly deserved. True love gives what’s best. Jesus Christ is what’s best. Therefore, God provided His Son, to provide for our true need: one who would pay the penalty of our Sin. Thus, to restate, Jesus Christ came to be a propitiation for Sin! Hallelujah!

Ben Zornes Band in Summer 2008

2008-04-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! So many exciting things are happening with the BZB and we want to let you know all about them!

Thursday May 1, 2008. We'll be leading worship at the state capitol for Colorado's National Day of Prayer event. There's will be politicians, vagabonds, college students, stay at home moms and just about every demographic possible at this event. Pray that we'll be faithful with the message of Christ's power. Also, we'd love to see you there!

In July, Ben and Caleb will venture to Grass Valley, California to lead worship at Wolf Mountain, an incredible youth summer camp! We're excited about this!

And...we need your help!
"Hear it First" is having another battle of the bands! This time the prize is that the winning band gets to perform onstage at the August 2008, GMA Music in the Rockies concert series + registration to the conference! People....this is HUGE! But we need your help! Please vote DAILY for us (The Ben Zornes Band)! Follow this link:

http://www.hearitfirst.com/battleofthebands/

So please help us!

Further, we are gearing up for the Fight for Us "Bootleg" Tour. We trying to head through Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and North Texas! Please let us know if you have any leads or ideas!

Finally, please head over to www.benzornesband.com and sign up for our email updates through there, because we shall soon discontinue email through this old-fashioned "yahoo" account! Also, we're praying about a tour through Japan in the Summer of 2009. God may be opening up some possibilities there! We love you all!

Thanks so much! We appreciate what all you guys (and girls) do!

For His Renown,

Ben Zornes Band

Saints- Part 2

2008-03-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

"He is No Fool"

When I was around 12 years old, the youth group my parents led was preparing a drama. I remember being at every practice, hanging on every word, heeding every line. I was even given a little role, being the main character as a young boy. The drama was performed at several other churches, twice at our own church, and once on a local television station! However, this drama about 5 missionaries and their wives impacted my life and has influenced so much of my thought and passion.

I remember thinking, "what would make these five young men sell their lives at such young ages and leave their wives and children just to reach some savage Indians?" It set in front of me a dilemma and a conflict. Could I also lay down my lives for this gospel that I had believed since I was 5 years old?

The names of these men that changed my life are, Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and their pilot, Nate Saint. These men were not extraordinary by the world's standards. They weren't wealthy, famous, or powerful. Yet by their taking Romans 12 by it's word they became living sacrifices, to bring the gospel that had enflamed them to a group of savage Ecuadorian Indians called Aucas.

Jim had attended Wheaton College in Illinois, where he met his wife Elizabeth, whome he affectionately called, Betty. From a very early age he realized that the gospel of Christ that he professed as sacred and life-changing, could very well demand his very life. He was hesitant to marry Betty, but in the end became convinced that she would be a blessing to the ministry he was called to. Thus, they were married on the mission field of Ecuador in 1953!

Before Jim had left for the mission field, he had been given many offers to stay at home and do ministry in America. In one instance someone questioned his "throwing his life away on foreign missions when he could be such an effective youth pastor and encourage young people towards accepting Christ." Jim's response has always stuck with me, "There's a lot of work to be done in America, but baby-sitting a bunch of spoiled delinquents for some big church (he also disliked big salaries in church ministry) isn't the kind of work I want to do. God hasn't called me to that!" Further, he was hard on people who felt "called" to "professional ministry." He said, "We don't need a call, we need a kick in the pants!"

This man lived a courageous life even amidst a convenient Christianity of His day. When the easiest thing for him to do would be to settle down and accept the cultural norms of his day, he simply refused to accept anything that would hinder his progression towards Christ-likeness, and spending his life for his Savior.

Elliot was convinced that the gospel we profess costs our life. Read this journal entry of his:

"He is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." As you read this statement, you cannot help but sense the closeness with which this man sought His Lord. You can hear the voices of the culture saying, "Jim, you could be such a great youth pastor, or travelling evangelist, or wrestler, or politician. Don't just throw away your life. God can use you here in America right? Why do you want to go to Ecuador or India. They won't appreciate you, love you, welcome you, accept you, pet you, pamper you."

I can hear him now, in response to the mediocre Christianity of his day, "God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn up for Thee! I seek not a long life but a full one, likie Yours, Lord Jesus!"

In a day and age where the church often lulls into weekly worship services, habitual Christianity (rather than it's counterpart, vivid Christianity), cultural spirituality, we need Jim voice and the example of him and his fellow martyrs. The gospel not only asks for our very life, it demands it! We don't live to just live...if we have been bought by Christ we MUST live to DIE. For it is in death that we find life! I desire to live such a life that if I die by the time I'm 30, that the world will not see a wasted life. Rather, if God demands my life-breath today, may it have been a full life, satisfied with nothing short of the all-consuming pleasure of Christ and HIS life in me! Oh how we need a new wave of passionate, God-entranced martyrs! This world will not believe Christ until it sees His life manifested in recklessly abandoned believers once again.

It was January 8, 1956. Jim Elliot and his companions were hopeful that more Aucas would come visit today. They had made first contact 3 days ago, and Jim especially was anxious to make more contact with this savage tribe of Christ-less Indians. Nate had just returned by plane and had reported that a large group of the Aucas were on the way! Jim and his close friends and companions had, as he liked to say, "Recklessly abandoned to the will of God," and he was ready to tell these lost souls about a Jesus who was all-satisfying and freeing. Suddenly, there was a stirring in the bushes. "Was this the moment?!" Jim thought. As the five men peered to see who would emerge from the dense vegetation, I'm sure they were hoping for the inquisitive faces of these simple people.

However, what emerged instead, though likely to freeze the heart of most, came as no shock to these five saints. They saw a fierce group of Auca warriors with their wooden spears raised in attack. Jim attempted what little of their language he could communicate, "Biti mitti bunimupa! We are friends!" Pete Flemming tried to startle them with the one gun they had brought. But one by one each of the men felt the spears penetrate their surrendered bodies. The Aucas later said that they saw shining people whisk the men away as they died. They had layed down their lives for the King that had given them life by His blessed and precious death!

What the world called a tragedy, or even a waste, is what has brought life and peace to the Auca people. These 5 men knew the cost of following Jesus, a cross was what they were called to carry! They gladly laid down their lives for a higher prize, the salvation of a tribe of Indians who were on the brink of extinction. This world was unworthy of Jim, Nate, Ed, Pete, and Roger. They could have been lawyers, doctors, preachers, politicians, presidents, pilots or any number of "succesful" lifestyles. But the life they were called to was to open the way for others to reach a simple people group, which savagely murdered them. Nate's sister, Rachel, and Elizabeth, Jim's wife, were able to go and live with the Aucas. This once violent, murderous tribe now lives for the glory of Jesus. They now know and believe in a King that died to give them life.

Our generation needs to once again see the followers of King Jesus, lay down their lives to show that Jesus is worth it. The blood of the martyr is truly the seed of the church! My friends,

He is no fool

who gives what he cannot keep

to gain what he cannot lose!

For His renown,

BenZ

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Saints-Part 1

2008-03-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

"Mrs?" the elderly woman inquired, "I'm no Mrs., I am Miss Stickley."

I had been properly chastened by this wizened old lady. I had accidentally called her Mrs. Stickley and as you just heard, she quickley corrected me. It was the beginning of a weeklong venture into the life of retired missionaries. My sister Jaclyn, our friend Ann Marie, and myself were spending an entire week with 80+ year olds; most people would think that a punishment, we thought of it as a reward. To spend some few days in the presence of such blessed, humble saints was so inspiring. Anyway, I wanted to focus this post on just one of those dear souls.

Her name is Caroline Stickley. She was raised in a home where church was a requirement, yet young Caroline never understood why. She enjoyed going and attending the services and singing the songs. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she felt something in it all was missing. It wasn't until 1947 that she realized what it was that was missing.

At Prairie Bible Institute a Rev. E. F. Tygert approached Caroline with a question regarding the date of her salvation. When she could not answer Rev Tygert used Hebrews 5:8-9

Hbr 5:8
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Hbr 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

She knew then and there that if she wanted salvation it necessarily required her obedience to that Savior as well. She was desperately torn between this world's pleasures and Christ. Her inner soul tried to mix the two in together and justify worldliness along with holiness in Christ. But as all Christians have found, it is impossible to have the world and Christ at the same time. It is one or the other. Finally, the moment of truth came. The battle for Caroline's allegiance and affections was at a climax. In her own words,

“That morning I settled the issue, took my stand for the Lord, and was gloriously and joyously saved. From then on, the Lord has taken me on with Himself, and I believe has done a real work of grace in my heart…when I finally did yield my heart to the Lord, I simultaneously yielded my life as well for foreign missionary service.”

Did you catch that last line? In our modern Christianity, obedience to Christ's global mandate often is completely absent for the first 10 years of a person's faith in Christ. Belief in Jesus, as Caroline's example shows, is necessarily followed by complete obedience to Him. That doesn't always mean foreign missions, but it DOES mean a changed and transformed life, prepared to go wherever He might beckon!

Caroline immediately began pursuing foreign missions and found her niche with Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) an organazation founded by Hudson Taylor (he'll be highlighted in another post) in the mid 1800s. The following is an exerpt from a letter that OMF recently sent out about her:

'While Caroline felt an initial tug at her heart for the millions of lost Chinese, the closing of China led her to the Philippines, where she fell in love with the people she served. Her first term of service (1953-1957) was spent in Mindoro having small speaking meetings while first doing language study and then involved in tribal work under her senior missionary. The last year of her first term, she was involved in efforts to reach the Tadyawan tribe.

"From 1958-1959, she served in Calapan, Mindoro as the secretary to the Superintendent of the Philippines field. Her ten-year period of service beginning in 1959 in pioneer evangelism amongst the Tadyawan tribal people is documented in the book she wrote, Broken Snare, http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Snare-Caroline-Stickley/dp/0853631026/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205857462&sr=8-1, which OMF published in 1975. In 1986, reports on Caroline’s third term gave testimony to the valuable individual she was. Her Personnel Assessment read:

Just under ten years ago we began close association with Caroline. At that time she was just back from first furlough with no fellow worker, no real response from her beloved Tadyawan, and a summons to serve as Superintendent’s Sec. for a year. At that time, she made trips with us to the Agubang River, she seeking the Tadyawan, and we the Batangan in the same general area. She worked there with characteristic optimism and cheerfulness in spite of cruel disappointments. Now, at the close of third term, she has a full Tadyawan worker team, an encouraging work situation, and the same cheerful spirit as formerly.

Caroline is a most outstanding and valuable leader in the Philippines team who has so gained the confidence of her fellow workers that she has earned the position of “permanent” tribal representative on the Field Council.

Her Furlough Report was also highly complimentary. "Caroline is a really top quality missionary – keen mind, alert spiritually, given continued strength physically for a rugged tribal life…Through great discouragement in first term, with virtually no response from the Tadyawan, she remained true and bright, and now the Lord’s Hand is very evident in the establishment of a sturdy Tadyawan church. For years she, and fellow worker Dorsi Pack, have waited quietly upon the Lord for reinforcements to their tribal team, and now they have the Lord’s answer very wonderfully, in the calling of Hanni Kaspar to join them, and to make it possible for their furloughs to be staggered."

Unfortunately, Caroline’s 12-month furlough turned into 10 years before she could return to her beloved Philippines. In 1969, with her mother’s health failing, Caroline felt she must stay home to care her.

At the advanced age of 56, Caroline wondered if God could still use her in service in the Philippines. The response was a resounding, “Yes!” She moved to Davao City in Mindanao to assist as a housekeeper at the Mission Home, until she was reassigned to Manila where she served as the Administrative Assistant to the Area Director of the Philippines field for an additional eight years.

While Caroline may have retired from OMF in 1989, she didn’t retire from her service to the Lord. Her most current outreach was in teaching English to three Chinese ladies, which she was doing the day she fell ill and had to be admitted to the hospital.

Before being taken into a dangerous liver stent procedure the last day of February, Caroline excitedly expressed, “Just think! I might wake up in the arms of Jesus!” Well, it took a few days longer then she desired, but she is now truly resting in those blessed arms that she so strongly craved and so faithfully served.'

I read that...and I go..."Wow." What an amazing woman. She never married or had kids, although she would have been a terrific wife, mother, grandmother, etc. However, she saw a greater reward than motherhood, she yielded her life to see Christ magnified in the streets of the Phillipines! She spent her youth, singleness, fortune, time and energy working among a people lost in the darkness of sin and idol worship.

The thing I want us to catch sight of is that God has placed a calling on every one of His children. It is different for us all, but essentially it is to live our lives recklessly to show Him as glorious to the world. Caroline embodied that attitude. In the short time we spent with her, she impressed me by her feminine grace that was no disguise for her brave tenacity for the kingdom of God. In an age of feminism she displayed what a true woman is. She would tell single young women, "Don't worry, Jesus is a grand lover. You don't need to get married to serve Him. Just serve Him." What a profound way to live. How she displayed a faith in God to this world.

Now, Caroline Stickley was a flawed woman. And as I blog on these other saints we must remember that the were used mightily by God despite their failings. However, that showed how powerful God's grace is, because they allowed it to ignite in them a holiness unrivaled by worldly pleasures. Caroline died about 2 weeks ago. She has now received her reward in full, and He is a Great Reward. She waited long to see her bridegroom and He finally swept her off her feet. Even on her deathbed she told the doctors and nurses to get her book and read it. She would tell them that it was ok if she died because she was going to her Jesus. And she said it with a smile knowing that her life was NOT wasted. This woman, unbeknown to the majority of the world, was a glittering example of godly, Christ-built femininity. The scripture speaks true when it says that the world is unworthy of such people. Now that she beat us home, I can praise her works and faith, because it is a testimony of God's glorious work in a seemingly insignificant woman's life.

Caroline Stickley never became a "Mrs." Yet, she never looked back. She put her hand to the plow and furrowed the ground, and planted seeds, and watered and cultivated for her Savior's kingdom. She commissioned Jaclyn, Ann Marie and myself with this, "This life in obedience to Christ, it's worth it. Oh, every minute of surrender is worth it."

My friends take hold of that and grip it tight! Blessings!

For His renown,

BenZ

http://www.benzornesband.com/

http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/

http://www.myspace.com/benzornesband

http://www.hearitfirst.com/benzornesband

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ben-Zornes-Band/9059641628

New Series..."Saints"...Coming March 13

2008-03-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

With the Fight for Us EP finally released and now in public (buy it now at http://www.benzornesband.com/ or http://www.digstation.com/) I can now redirect my attention once again to serious blogging! I truly pray that these are just the ego-centric bloggings of a 21st century American, I pray that these short writings truly inspire and encourage you to the Higher, Grander, Christ-like life!
I am going to begin a new series. It will probably be around 6 or so weeks long. I'm going to call it "Saints." I am going to highlight the lives of some humble believers who gave Christ their all so that He could be clearly seen in their lives. Truly, these six "saints" became nothing so that Christ became their everything. I hope their example stirs you up to Love and Good Works (Heb. 10:24-26).

For now I will leave you with a sneak peak at one of these rarely acknowledged individuals that changed so many lives with the power of the Gospel.

FAIR-WEATHER REPENTANCE

The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. Romans 2:4

"We ought not wait for the hour of trial, the time of chastening to set our house in order, to take stock of ourselves, to have our commission renewed. God’s goodness not His scourging alone, is meant to lead us to repentance. The day of blessing should bring us to the mourner’s bench, and then we might avert the painful discipline. If we judged ourselves in the sunshine we might not be judged in the shadow.

Thatch your roof in dry weather. Do not wait until the storm breaks. While you have health and loved ones and prosperity, let the Great Physician give you a check up. Do not wait until you are grievously smitten.

Though most of us come to conversion and confession and cleansing in the house of desperation, it need not be so. God’s goodness ought to melt our hearts and break us down and shame our lack of faith and our love grown cold.Fair-weather repentance might save us many a cloudy day."

~~~~~from Day By Day by Vance Havner. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1953.~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~www.vancehavner.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is only the beginning...more to come!

For His renown,

BenZ

http://www.benzornesband.com/

www.myspace.com/benzornesband

info@benzornesband.com

http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/

www.facebook.com/pages/ben-zornes-band/9059641628

www.hearitfirst.com/benzornesband

Release Concert!

2008-02-10T20:02:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to share the great work that God has been doing in our lives. After much prayer, work, apples, money, time, late nights, frosties and Dr. Scott's Vocal Spray it is complete!!!!!

So now we are able to share it with you....

We'd like to invite you to the Ben Zornes Band CD release concert.

Please plan to join us for a time of celebration of our Glorious King of Glory who Fights for Us!

February 24, 7 PM - doors open at 6:30
Calvary Chapel Aurora
18900 E Hampden Ave
Aurora CO 80013
http://www.calvaryaurora.org/
http://www.benzornesband.com/
www.myspace.com/benzornesband

Please print the attached file and put it up everywhere...with our blessing!!
Hope to see you on the 24th!

For His Renown,
Ben Zornes Band

Contact us:
www.myspace.com/benzornesband
http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7801816116
www.benzornesband.com

A Sneak Peek @ New Songs

2008-01-07T19:06:00.001-08:00

Enjoy folks!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Gloria in excelsis Deo

2007-12-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Refrain

Words: Traditional French carol (Les Anges dans Nos Campagnes); translated from French to English by James Chadwick in Crown of Jesus, 1862.

Music: Gloria (Barnes), French carol melody; arranged by Edwin S. Barnes. A different arrangement is used by Hearken, All! What Holy Singing.

Merry Christmas from the Ben Zornes Band! I'm going to highlight a couple of my favorite carols this month. We should sing these songs more often...they truly lift your eyes.

I always hated the gloooooOoooooOooooooOria part of "Angels We Have Heard on High!" We'd go caroling in the frigid December cold and it was always so difficult to hold onto those notes! Plus, when I was REALLY small it ended up sounding like Glo-o-o-o-o-oria in a shelfish day-o! Having no idea what I was singing. But I am now a learned college graduate and I now know what it means. Let me give you some weighty thoughts that I pray lift you out of Shopping malls filled with gunmen, and online shopping filled with identity thieves.

Come to Bethlehem and see

Christ Whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

(and then I'll translate that difficult phrase!)

Glory to God in the Highest

Oh that we would spend more time in Bethlehem (literally the house of bread no coincidence there). This is the place where we find Christ our King. Where His divinity was wrapped up in a mucked up stable? This is not a symbol of how much Mankind is worth! We come to Bethlehem not to marvel at how loved mankind is! We come to say "Glory to God in the Highest." Bethlehem is a symbol of how great our God truly is.

He stops at nothing to gain and preserve His all-righteous Glory! I pray that this season would be for you a season of stooping into a Bethlehem stable, and seeing the grandness of a God that brought His child into this world (for His glory and the redemption of mankind for His glory) untrumpeted except by angels, shepherds and a few Gentile astrologers!

Come adore on bended knee!

For His Renown,
Ben Zornes Band

Contact us:
http://us.f581.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=im4hisrenown@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/benzornesband
http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7801816116
www.benzornesband.com/new

Roused [pt. 6] the finale!

2007-11-07T14:18:00.000-08:00

First of all...read clear to the end but DO NOT SKIP THERE NOW!!! There's a surprise (again I love a little mystery and intrigue) at the end! But please read the blog before skipping down to the end.

I've resurrected an old hymn, "Thou Whose Purpose is to Kindle," and have over the past 2-3 months encouraged and exhorted using it's stanzas as my basis. Alas, this is the last of the series, I called the series "Roused." Today, we embark upon stanza # 6. This one will leave you begging for air. If you haven't read the others (and I'd highly encourage you do so before proceeding), you will have missed some extremely pivotal, life-altering lyrics. This hymn writer knew the nature of our flesh and penned some words in order to "rouse us with redemptive shame." Let this final stanza pierce to your inner places. Let the Spirit of God use these words to bring about godliness, holiness, and righteousness in your life. Oh boy, it's gonna be good. Here my friends, is the final stanza from, "Thou Whose Purpose is to Kindle:"

Save us now from satisfaction,

when we privately are free,

yet are undisturbed in spirit

by our brother’s misery.

We were designed for satisfaction. The Rolling Stones got it right, "Can't get no satisfaction." The young man that just shot and killed 9 classmates in Finland wanted satisfaction. Did he get it? President Ahmadinejad of Iran wants Nuclear Missiles in the pursuit of satisfaction. Will he get it from a nuclear warhead? Britney Spears daily reminds us of her need for satisfaction. Has she gotten it yet? The President of Oral Roberts University exploited university funds for personal satisfaction. Did he get it?

You see. It's everywhere. It's in our blood. It's why there's abortion, murder, genocide, drug abuse, domestic abuse, clergy abuse, scandal, rape, extortion, alcoholism, pornography, religion, government, dysfunctional relationships, mediocrity, and so forth and so on. I'm going to make a brazen statement: Nothing will satisfy you except Jesus Christ. I realize I'm bordering on heresy in our modern church culture, but there it is. Nothing will satisfy you except Jesus Christ. A relationship with Jesus won't do it. A religion about or for Jesus won't do it. A song about him won't do it. A church built for him won't bring it. A good book about how to please him won't. Pursuing an idea of him won't satisfy you. Nothing will satisfy you except Jesus Christ. And I believe that firmly. I want to say with Paul,"

Phl 3:7
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phl 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,
Phl 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Phl 3:10
That I may know him [Christ], and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Phl 3:11
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

We have been given the only thing that will satisfy and we treat IT as dung. Rather than treating all else as dung compared to HIM! This is travesty, and the church is no less guilty of this offense. Oh, my brothers and sisters...know Christ! Seek only Him. Don't seek an ethic, ideal, idea, creed, or calling, seek Him, and Him alone! The hymn writer nails it though, when he says, "Save us now from satisfaction, when we privately are free."

Too often, the church rallies behind an idea of Christ and become satisfied with their own personal salvation and religion. It is folly to settle into a body of believers and simply be satisfied with good teaching, music, and a great children's church. The cross and empty grave are not about you. They are about God's glory in the entire universe. How dare you say as I heard one old believer say, "Well, I s'pose I've done enough for God. I've served Him long enough." Have you become satisfied with Christ, or are you only satisfied with the convenience your "Christianity" brings you? The church in China is anywhere from comfortable, yet they are satisfied in Christ and they are growing exponentially. The martyrs were not satisfied with their personal faith. The were satisfied in Christ and He enabled them to endure being sawn, split, torn, gauged, and tormented! We have been freed by the blood of Jesus to live satisfied in Him alone so that NO trinket of this world tempts us to stray from fulfilling His purposes on the earth! This is satisfaction my friend.

When we have become freed by Jesus Christ, from our sin and the death our sin would bring, we are then constrained to be disturbed and burdened by the things that grieve our Lord. Orphans in Nicaragua are used as cargo holders for smuggling drugs. The church in Sudan is suffering because of the government there. Ugandan boys of 8,9, 10 are being forced to be apart of the army and are being killed daily, without a voice. Little girls are being prostituted in Bangkok for the enjoyment of rich men, and for a 10 minute thrill. Americans daily go about their monotonous pursuit of material and have no lasting joy. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, does this not disturb us! Why are we so consumed with the latest Carrie Underwood CD? Why do we care about who People magazine says are the sexiest Americans? Why do we bother and fret about what church to go to? We care more about Will Smith than we do about Jesus Christ!

The cross bought for us a new life. If we are truly saved, we no longer care about worldly treasures. Our King has beckoned, and we must follow Him wherever He leads. We cannot say we know Christ, and yet be undisturbed in spirit by the misery of the orphan, widow, slave, and the lost. Hell isn't talked about anymore. But it is a grave reality. The way is narrow into the kingdom of God. Do not become satisfied with just a typical American lifestyle. Do not be lulled into thinking your salvation will cost you nothing. My friend, your salvation will cost you your very life. Collosians says, "For you are dead and your life is now hidden in Christ." We must be brought to life. We must be roused. We must let Christ satisfy us, and lead us where He would, no matter the cost to our personal pleasure or dreams. In the end we gain Christ! What could be more blessed, joyous, delightful, pleasing, glorious, splendid, captivating, or magnificent?!

My King, My Lord, My Ransomer. You have a clear message for Thy bride, "Do not settle for any other lover, but me." Lord, I cry out to Thee on behalf of my generation, save us from satistfaction in our convenient Christianity. Let me fill up in my body what was lacking in the sacrifice of Thy precious Son, Jesus, who is called the Christ. God of glory, we need Thy courage to conquer the flesh in our lives. We need Thy satisfying presence to free us from complacency and rouse us to aid those in need! Father of Lights, forgive my triteness, but through Thy Holy Spirit's daily activity in our lives, let us be Thy hands and Thy feet to the widow, orphan, slave, and the lost. Lord so many will die today and tomorrow and the next day and spend their entire existence seperated from knowing Thee! God, we cannot be content with our private freedom. Yet unless You interced on our behalf we are useless. So I ask, by Jesus' holy blood, that You enable us to please Thee. Humbly, and reverently I bow my head to whatever Thou may command me to do, and ask that Ye impart to me Thy righteous grace to carry out what Ye command. In the name of the Preeminent One Jesus Christ, Amen!

For His renown,
BenZ
www.benzornesband.com/new
www.myspace.com/benzornesband
www.hearitfirst.com/benzornesband
im4hisrenown@yahoo.com
http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/

Thou Whose Purpose is to Kindle

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO! YOU WILL NOT FIND THIS VIDEO ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB! ENJOY!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

2007-11-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone just on a whim I entered in HearitFirst.com's battle of the bands competition! To my utter suprise we are one of about 50 bands competing in a national online voting competition. The first round of voting takes place from now until the 5th of November.

Anyway, we'd love to make at least a good showing, as it is a free national promotion basically. Here's the rules:
On-Line Finalist Voting will be split into 3 rounds:• Round 1: October 30th to November 5th, 2007: All eligible Submissions will be narrowed down to the top 50 (the fifty (50) entrants with the highest number of on-line votes will be deemed to be the top fifty (50) "Semi-Finalists").• Round 2: November 6th to November 12th, 2007: The top 50 Semi-Finalist Submissions will be narrowed down to the top 25 (the twenty-five (25) Semi-Finalists with the highest number of on-line votes will be deemed to be the top twenty-five (25) "Quarter Finalists").• Round 3: November 13th to November 20th, 2007: The top 25 Quarter Finalists Submissions will be narrowed down to the top 5 Finalists (the five (5) Quarter Finalists with the highest number of on-line votes will be deemed to be the top five (5) "Finalists"). (iii) In the event of a tie among the entrants at the end of any round of on-line voting, Sponsors will make the final determination (in their sole discretion) of which entrants will advance to the next round of voting and/or judging. (b) Grand Prize Winner Selection/Judging Criteria:(i) A panel of expert judges that have the required knowledge and experience to apply the judging criteria ("Judges") will select one (1) Grand Prize Winner from the top five (5) on-line vote recipient Finalists.

Read the rest of the rules here: http://www.hearitfirst.com/genres/rules.aspx

Here's the link to vote
http://www.hearitfirst.com/battleofthebands

Also, there's a link on our myspace www.myspace.com/benzornesband

You can vote once per day for up to 25 bands.

Also, here's our link to the site, www.hearitfirst.com/benzornesband. Please let everyone you can know about this and please vote EVERY DAY!
You guys are the greatest! We really appreciated all those who came out for the Foolish Things show!
For His Renown,
Ben Zornes

im4hisrenown@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/benzornesband
www.bzband.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7801816116

www.benzornesband.com/new

www.hearitfirst.com/benzornesband

Roused [pt. 5]

2007-10-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

No one likes to fail. It's a proven fact. Anyone who watched the Rockies get swept could see it on their faces. Watch a little child trying to do something it has yet to gain the motor skills for. Ask the person who failed their drivers test. "Automatic Failure!" I actually failed my first attempt at the drivers test because I totally didn't see a completely obvious Stop sign!!! I still hear the guys voice in my nightmares..."Running a stop sign is an automatic failure!" That was it. He was gentle, "I know you did perfectly on the rest of the test but I'm going to ask you to reschedule for another test." Nope..."Automatic Failure." That word plagued me until I actually passed the test. Then joy came. You see, too many of us stop because of our shortcomings. We've been told we can't sing, so we don't. We're told we can't jump so we don't. We're told we too slow, tall, fast, short, skinny, fat, etc. It is imperative that we realize that we are fallible, imperfect humans. But extremely MORE important is that we recognize the ability of our Big God, who is mighty to save. I'm not going to write to build up your self-esteem. Nevertheless, you will be laughing and dancing with joy when you feel the punch of the 5th stanza of "Thou Whose Purpose is to Kindle," and my commentary which follows. Let failure lead you to joyful success through Christ...

Thou, who in Thy holy Gospel,

wills that man should truly live,

Make us sense our share of failure,

our tranquility forgive.

Read that again...! Okay...for those who just kept reading, I seriously meant to read it again!!!

Never let anyone deceive you into thinking that the gospel is all about a "lifestyle of upright principals and morals." Do not be fooled by prevalent thinking, "The gospel is about God loving man so much that He wants all people on earth to be blessed and prosperous." Do not give into the fallacy that "Jesus Christ is just the cherry-on-top." Beloved DO NOT believe the post-modern thought, "The gospel needs to be sensitive to each person's individual experience!" These are outright lies...and if I could show you the tears I have as I write this--realizing so many believe these lies--I would weep openly before you. The biggest problem is that these lies are so bathed in "semi-truths" that they seem plausible to a religious or "spiritual" mind. My friends, they are NOT compatible with the gospel. Let me share my meagre attempt at describing the grandeur of our Christ's gospel:

God, three in one, Father Spirit Son, created the universe in seven literal days. By His divine foreknowledge allowed fallible man to be deceived, in order to display His mighty power and grace. Man is cursed by his own sin. We were by nature children of wrath. However, to display His almighty perfection, He sent His blameless Son to purchase by the blood of His cross all things in heaven and on earth and under the earth. If you confess with your mouth and believe in Your heart you will be saved. Further, Christ's death conquered sin and death by His glorious resurrection. Now, those who believe steadfastly in the Son of God epitomize this verse, "It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me." To Him who dies to self and is raised by the same power of God, life abundant and eternal will be given. Trials and trouble will befall the believer, but his God is triumphant over every turmoil, and he eagerly awaits his coming King and this King's kingdom!

This feels so small in comparison to what it should be. But may the Lord bless it. The first phrase of the 5th verse says this, "Thou who in Thy holy gospel, wills that man should truly live." The problem with many believers today is that we think that a prayer and a religious rite of passage has given us abundant life. We throw around words like, "everlasting, joy-filled, abundant, eternal, sunshiny" to describe our life with Christ. Then we go and live exactly as the world does. With the same vices. The same trivialities. The same dysfunctional families! Who emasculated the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel will KILL you! You MUST die to your selfish flesh. "Put to death..." the scripture says. And it MEANS it. My friend unfortunately for us there are so few examples of how the Gospel changes lives, because so few truly believe the gospel! The problem isn't with the gospel, it is in us, in our very flesh.

True gospel, sustained the martyrs who've been tied to the stake, crucified, slaughtered, speared, shot, tortured brutally, be-headed, frozen, burned, sliced, sawn, stripped, decapitated, ripped to pieces, eaten by lions, made a spectacle, mocked, scourged, betrayed, isolated, starved, drowned, ridiculed, trapped, discredited, shut-up, imprisoned, and so many more! But my brothers and sisters, when I read their biographies they are FAR more satisfied that most believers today. We talk of holiness as wearing a t-shirt, or attending a service. We talk of abundant life as being free from being "judged."

Do not be found lacking on the last day. The American church of the 21st century is on dangerous ground before God Almighty! But here's where I pray you will be able to rejoice!

"Make us sense our share of failure, our tranquility forgive." He is still the One that will cause us to realize the error of our grievous ways!!! And He will forgive our tranquility and mediocrity! Oh, the joy of surrender to a God who we claim bought us! Have you become a slave commanding his master, and dictating what kind of work you should be doing. Let a sense of failure bring you to seek ceaselessly to "truly live!" Life is Christ! No, LIFE IS CHRIST! My friend know Him!

God, please make us sense our share of failure. When I look at Thy saints and martyrs I want what You gave them. I want to look my murderers in the face and say "I will not cease preaching my Jesus, though you take away my family and belonging." I want the grace to look my accusers in the face and say, "Here I stand I can do no other." I want the faith to live 80-90 years of fruitful, sacrificial self-less sacrifice to my King. Oh Jesus how we scorn what You purchased for us! We spit on Your great resurrection! No more Father, let it not be so! Wake this generation with Thy holy convicting spirit. Let us sense our share of failure, but LORD give Thy children the power of Pentecost to live in freedom and joy. O King, I delight in the death of me, for it is through You killing my flesh that I truly find life! Abba! Make it so! Almen!

For His renown,

BenZ

www.benzornesband.com/new

www.myspace.com/benzornesband

www.hearitfirst.com/benzornesband

im4hisrenown@yahoo.com

www.bzband.blogspot.com

Roused (pt. 4)

2007-10-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

Teach us courage as we struggle

in all liberating strife.

Lift the smallness of our vision

By Thine own abundant life.

This verse haunts my sleep. I cry you mercy, at the outset, your flesh will not like what I'm about to say. But it hates everything that would do you good and bring you holiness. It would be easier for me to keep it in, but as Jeremiah says, "I'm weary of holding it back, for indeed I cannot."

The moment you surrender to the burning Christ brings, your life should begin to look less like the world and more like Christ. He alone will overcome our sinful calmness and rouse us with redemptive shame. He still bears the sword of His word that pierces our hearts and conforms us to His image. In these things alone will we find freedom from complacency, mediocrity, and sin. The next step in this refining process is found in this verse from "Thou Whose Purpose is to Kindle." Teach us courage as we struggle in all liberating strife.

Brethren, we have been limp-wristed about our sin for far to long. We tolerate the flesh in our lives, families,and churches and it is championed under the banner of God's "grace." Friends it takes a courageous man or woman like Joshua of old to challenge the flesh and sinful nature. We need the "new Joshua," Yeshua (josh. 1), to teach us the courage that sustained the Apostles, the Saints, and the Martyrs. These "men of renown" did not cower in the face of their sin, they overcame it by the blood of the Lamb. We need the courage of Jesus (the New Joshua) to confront this battle. Your self will not like this attitude towards sin. It will cringe. It will hate me the message bearer, it will hate you, it will hate the Risen, Conquering Christ.

Thus, the hymn-writer coined it well when he calls it "liberating strife." The mark of a maturing Christian is their delight in conviction (Rom 6:6, 1 Cr 5:17, Eph 4:22, Col 3:9). When you sense by the Holy Spirit that sin is in your life, you should eagerly accept the correction of our loving Father. But I guarantee you, it will be "strife," it will be intensely difficult to submit to Christ, yet the yielded life will find it's deepest delight in surrender to His holiness, to His "liberating strife!"

You may be saying, "Wait, this isn't loving, this isn't grace. You're being a pious legalist. After all God is love." My friend you must understand that sometimes the most loving thing to do is to point out sin and flesh and allow holiness to occur in your life. It would be UNLOVING for me to not say these things!!!

Finally, possibly my favorite phrase in this entire hymn is, "Lift the Smallness of our vision by Thine own abundant life." If I could shake myself, the church, and you (my dear reader) it would be with this statement! Bride of Christ...get outside of yourself and fix your gaze solely on the grandeur of a great, mighty, awesome, terrible, abundant, loving, holy, just, righteous, gracious King of the universe! He is our lover and our judge. We have such a small vision when it comes to our faith and how it relates to our daily lives! It is not in comfort that we find abundance it is in a risky God-centered, God-saturated life that we find abundant life. Stop thinking about the off-key singer on the praise team, stop thinking about the football game, stop thinking about convenient morality, stop thinking about business meetings, and trite messages about "grace," and catchy songs, and hip books, and fancy witness wear! My friends, GOD is the King of the earth and we daily fail to live as His humble subjects! Get OUTSIDE your small little box of faith. Trust God for your daily bread and your every need! He is more than able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according His power that is at work within us. to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations!!!

Further, it is not by any self-will, or self-righteousness that the lifting of the smallness of our vision will occur. It is by "God's own abundant life." When we realize that God has a bigger plan for the universe than your comfort and "personal religion," you gladly surrender your life for His daily abundant life. Not abundance materially, but abundance of joy, of faith, of prayer, of everything He calls "good."

Almighty King, we acknowledge the smallness of our vision! Forgive us for delighting more in passing sinful pleasures than the pleasure of knowing Thee deeper, fuller, more abundantly! God, I pray that these words pierce like a sword and that any of these words are of my flesh, that it would be revealed for rubbish and that it would be burned away. Father, by the grace of Thy Holy Ghost, let Thy church feel the sting these words brings. God of Heaven and Earth, You will achieve Thy glory upon the Earth. Amen, Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus and establish Thy kingdom in our lives. Though Father, we need the Courage of Yeshua to rid the flesh in our lives. So do it now Father. In the name and through the blood of Thy perfect Son Yeshua Christos, Almen!

For His renown,

BenZ

www.bzband.blogspot.com

www.myspace.com/benzornesband

im4hisrenown@yahoo.com

www.benzornesband.com/new

"Roused [pt.3]

2007-10-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am a rockies fan. In fact the entire band is elated with news of the Rockies success so far this postseason. It's been 12 long years since they've had any postseason action. And we're stoked. But as baseball fever has ravaged the mile high city, it's given me pause. "Why am I so excited and content with spending so much time and energy in so finite a thing as baseball?" Because the Rockies have stunk the past, well they pretty much never been very impressive, why is it that all of the sudden everyone's wearing purple and black and white. Are we really so complacent as a people. It only takes a Matt Holliday sliding into homebase to inspire so much passion.

Sadly, believers we're seldom any different from fickle baseball fans. The following is the first half of the 2nd verse of "Thou, Whose Purpose:"

Thou, who still as sword delivers

rather than a placid peace,

with your sharpened sword disturb us,

from complacency release!

God's word is a sword. It is sharp and fatal to our flesh. How tritely we quote it. Oft times we never bother to remember. We'd rather quopte "Princess Bride" than Habbakuk 3! We claim to be "Bible believing." But do we honestly believe that God's word is a sword that delivers us from placid peace. Just because we live in the "ipod" era does not mean that God has ceased to draw his sword. Sink your teeth into these Old Testament passages:

Lev 26:25
And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of [my] covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
2Sa 15:14
And David said unto all his servants that [were] with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not [else] escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
1Ki 3:24
And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
1Ch 21:12
Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh [thee]; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
Jer 25:29
For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.
Jer 42:17
So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.
Jer 49:37
For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, [even] my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:
Eze 5:17
So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken [it].
Eze 6:3
And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, [even] I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.
Eze 11:8
Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 14:17
Or [if] I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
Eze 29:8
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee.
Eze 33:2
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

However, the New Testament has plenty of instances of the sword that belongs to Christ (He's portyrayed as having a towedged sword protruding from His holy mouth). God's sword has always signified His passion for truth and holiness. It is literally a symbol of the cutting off of the flesh. In the Old Testament He used it to disperse His consecrated people, ergo a cutting off of the flesh and a seperation to action. As a result of God's handling the sword (and the hymn says it best) it disturbed the people of God to action (rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, etc.).

Yet the New Covenant continues the theme. Whenever, God's holy priesthood settles into complacency, our prayer should be, "With Thy sharpened word disturb us, from complacency release." The sword of God's word in the hands of an unskilled warrior will result in injury to the Body of Christ. However, when we allow God to handle His own word and "hasten to perform His word," then we can trust He will (sometimes painfully) cut away the complacency that holds us captive.

So believer, be anxious for the sharpened word of God to pierce deep within your heart. Let it root out sin and shame. Let it ROUSE you from a placid complacent slumber.

So Holy Bearer of the Sword. The Word of God Thyself. Triune One, immutable One. Let Your sharpened word disturb us from our contentment with sin, and convenient morals. As the Carol says, "You rule the world with Truth and grace and make the nations prove the glories of Thy Righteousness and wonders of Thy love." That is the faith we desire Father. By the Blood of the Christ we ask that you plant these truths deep within and ROUSE Thy bride from he slumber. For Your glory and renown we are expectant! Let Thy kingdom come!

Amen

For His renown,

BenZ

www.myspace.com/benzornesband

www.bzband.blogspot.com

www.benzornesband.com/new

im4hisrenown@yahoo.com

Roused (pt. 2)

2007-09-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

In the culture of Jesus day, people related to each other out of honor and shame. The whole culture was based on the thought of building your family's honor. When a person was outside of the law of God it was a shame and disgrace to their family. That is why the pentatuech often commands stoning for sinful behavior. I wish that we could return to a more honor/shame based culture.
It's a tragedy that many believers are unable to feel healthy shame. This theme has become evident to me as I've looked at the Hymn we'll be looking at for the next 5-6 blogs. "Thou Whose Purpose is to Kindle." We started with the first verse last week and this week I'm going to encourage you with the second verse:

Overcome our sinful calmness

Rouse us with redemptive shame

Baptise with Thy fiery Spirit

Crown our lives with tongues of flame

Where the first verse prepares us for the "burning" the second verse leaves us feeling the fire of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit isn't a babbling, charismatic, out-of-control, healing, name-it-and-claim-it kind of guy. He's fire. He ignites a bush and doesn't consume it. Thus, when we are yielded to the fire we are inviting the Life of Christ to "overcome our sinful calmness." God's supremacy is no excuse for idleness. He commands us to live obedient and active for Him.

Also, don't automatically assume that because you feel shame, that you are being "judged." Too many believers live in a state of confusion because they do not understand that conviction and shame over our flesh is the best place we can be. When someone says or does something that convicts me, I rejoice because that uncomfortable shame is my flesh wriggling under the fire of the Spirit. I want the Spirit of Christ to reing over my flesh and therefore I delight in "redemptive shame" which leads me to repentance and further holiness!!!

Finally, how blessed we are by phrases like, "Crown our lives with tongues of flame." I want my life to continually evidence the direction, wisdom, grace, gentleness, justice, and holiness that is mine in Christ Jesus (Phi. 2:5). Beleiver, stand on the promise that your life is crowned with the flames of Jesus Christ! Revel in it...rejoice in it...delight in it...and live in it!!!

Overcome our sinful calmness
Rouse us with redemptive shame
Baptise with Thy fiery Spirit
Crown our lives with tongues of flame

For His renown,

BenZ

Roused (pt. 1)

2007-09-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't hung out with me alot, you should know that I am infatuated with old things. I mean doesn't a 1965 Gibson (see picture) sound better than a cheapo guitar (see picture)! The Grand Canyon is more fascinating to me than the latest shopping mall. The 2000 year old Redwood intrigues me more than ipod's do. Give me Atari over wii any day of the week. Give me Tozer over most contemporary authors. Give me the stouthearted faith of William Tyndale over the mediocrity of many modern day church leaders. Hopefully, you get the point. I love old things. But, I am also a staunch believer in the effectiveness of old truths to modern day life. For instance, I have a fairly extensive hymnal collection. I have Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, national Baptist, Southern Baptist, Charismatic, Korean, Catholic, Presbyterian, and many others. My oldest one is from like 1930...and it is filled with songs I've never heard of before! It's a shame that we have lost much of the rock solid truth that men and women of great faith like, Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, John Newton, Martin Luther, Fanny Crosby, James Fillmore, Maltbie Babcock, William Bradford, John Branard, and so many countless others!
However, one hymn has stopped me dead in my tracks from the first time I heard it at church, years ago. It is entitled "Thou Whose Purpose." For the next 6 weeks, every monday I will post a verse and some thoughts on this song that pulls no punches. Let us commence on a journey into antiquity which heretofore will be called, "Roused." The meaning of which will become clear shortly, but mystery always breeds interest! So, here's the first verse, (make sure you're sitting down, otherwise you'll get knocked off your feet):

Thou whose purpose is to kindle

now ignite us with Thy fire

While the earth awaits Thy burning

with Thy passion us inspire

Those lines grabbed me from the very first time I sang them at church one Sunday probably 4-5 years ago. The thing that brought my attention to the power of these words was the lack of conviction with which they were sung, by the praise team and congregation. It astounded me that we sang an invitation to God, and asked Him to burn, ignite, kindle US! Let these words not simply pass by you as convenient "moral" thoughts. Let them do the work for which God inspired the songwriter.
God has purposed that His bride be kindled. His purpose for the church is not to sit in our happy box churches. It isn't to have a chill up our spine when the worship band "nails it." His purpose is not to have us sit in a living room with ambient candles lit and absorb "good morality." It saddens me that the church has little to no awareness that God's purpose is to kindle His people to God-honoring lifestyles. Realize this in your heart, and let it sink deep.
Thus, we must respond, "Lord, since you are purposing to kindle, and we've prayed 'Thy will be done,' now ignite us with Thy fire." The heart that is kindled by God, must allow God to also ignite the kindling. When this happens, we no longer seek comfort from anything but our Refiner, our Consuming Fire. Do not assume that one "spiritual experience" is enough to satisfy Almighty God. Nay, he demands a life that is yielded to His fire.
As a result to God's kindling and our yieldedness to His ignition, the world will now await the burning. 2 Peter 3:12 says, "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat..." God is preparing for a bonfire, and only what is true will remain, His son is Truth, therefore only what is His son's will last. Therefore, this burning church set's fire to the world and only those who are set on fire by Christ will survive that coming day. Let us not be caught off guard when the Lord's fire is set to the nations. Rather let us be yielded to wherever this Fire leads us.
What is the inspiration for such a yieldedness? Where does a life set on fire for God come from. And more importantly, you may be asking, "I've been 'on fire' before, but it never seems to last more than a few days after the camp/retreat/conference/sermon/book/etc." The last line is the only way a believer can sustain the fire of God in regularity. "With Thy passion, us inspire." Hence, the passion of the Christ must be forefront on our minds in order for us to be kindled, ingited and torches to the world. The bloody Cross must be a constant reminder of the insatiable desire God has for His glory and the extent He will go to rectify all things to His glory. It is the passion of God that enables a martyr to sing in the arena, the imprisoned believer to rejoice, the unjustly plundered Christian to be glad, the poor in spirit to know God.

Let the words of another century stir inside you a passion for Christ's passion, and be ignited by His kindled fire. He remains the God of the fire that fell on Elijahs offering on Mt. Carmel. We must now become that same type of offering.

Thou whose purpose is to kindle
now ignite us with Thy fire
While the earth awaits Thy burning
with Thy passion us inspire

"see" you next week for Roused part 2.

For His renown,

BenZ

im4hisrenown@yahoo.com

www.myspace.com/benzornesband

http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/

...declaring the end from the beginning...

2007-09-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

As I write this I am sitting on a porch in North California at a family camp (www.wolfmountain.org). I led worship here all weekend. It was a wonderful time of encouraging families and impressing them to seek the kingdom of God. You all know how I'm always thinking about our Big God. One of my thoughts that I've really been mulling over recently was born from a scripture in Isaiah. Now, I feel that Isaiah is a fantastic place to understand the attributes of God, thus if you ever have a desire to know more about who God is and how He relates to His people, Isaiah is a great place to start. Anyway here's the scripture that started all this...

(Isaiah 46:8-13)
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.
Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that [are] far from righteousness:
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Wow, this is huge. Upon first read you're probably distracted by words like "ravenous bird from the east" and "Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted." But let's not just assume that because something requires a little persistence it is useless. I've highlighted a few key phrases in this text.
First, God calls His people transgressors and then says, "I AM (his name!) God and there is no other, I AM God and there is none like unto me!" He makes it abundantely clear how unlike them He is. He goes out of His way to show His "otherliness." And He precedes His I AM statements with "remember the things of old." Ultimately saying, "From the beginning I have been God and remember, there is NOTHING in this universe like me!" It is folly to assume God's likeness to humanity. He is not human, though He created mankind and He incarnated a human body, His spirit and essence is far from Human. He is so far above us as we are above the amoeba, and that is even to finite a comparison! Keep this in mind through this whole Ben brainstorm!
Second, and primarily, he "declares the end from the beginning" and He will "acomplish all His pleasure." It is a huge comfort to know that we have a God, that from the beginning of time had already ordained the end. It is foolishness to believe that God is surprised by ANYTHING. Nothing catches Him off guard. Nothing startles Him from a heavenly slumber. He's never scratched His head in bewilderment. We humans have trouble understanding this, because we are bewildered by much. But remember God is not like us. Therefore, we can take confidence that as we follow Him, He has already proclaimed the End, and guess what, He wins, He remains the same, He retains ALL His glory, He sustains preemminence, He removes all evil! When we think of God as waiting on us to make a move or to "take a step of obedience" we are belittling God. God desires our complete obedience, but He declares the end from the beginning. So let us not squander in uncertainty thinking God is "waiting for us to move so He can move." I can sustain this point by the very next phrase, God says, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure."
I love that God will "do all His pleasure." The KJV says it so well, in that He is not dependant on Human actions in order for Him to do anything. He's fully capable, and has been so for all time, of completing His purposes, with or without us. The ESV says, "[God] will acomplish all [his] purposes." That is rock solid. And if you want a strong faith that will weather any storm, this is the rock upon which to build your house. Our Big God declares (or anounces, publishes, ordains, tells) the end from the beginning and will do all His pleasure.
Thus, knowing that at the outset of this passage He calls His people "transgressors," how do we fit into His pleasure? If God has always been ok by Himself and will acomplish His purposes by Himself, doesn't that kinda let us off the hook? I can't remember the number of times someone has objected to doctrine of this kind saying, " You can't believe stuff like that because you'll be unconcerned for the lost, and well that's letting humans off easy, we don't have any part to play other than God's 'robots', right?" Well, no. The great mystique Tozer, the great preacher Spurgeon, the great evangelist Moody, the great orphan keeper Mueller, the great missionaries Taylor and Elliot and countless others, have all believed these truths. Because they understood the final verse of this text, "I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. "
That first line is IMPERATIVE to understand and you can NOT seperate these other truths from it and expect any of it to stand or hold any water. God tells His "transgressing" people, "I will bring my righteousness near." Jesus Christ is called "the Righteousness of God." Therefore, when we grasp this truth in light of the salvation of Jesus Christ (which this verse declares will be planted in Zion), we will also understand that His righteousness will indwell us. Righteousness literally means right-handedness and "as a man ought to be." Thus, when the Almighty Foreknower brings HIS righteousness near (into us) and plants His salvation (Jesus) in Zion (the believer is the new Zion/temple), He then calls us His glory.
Imagine that, we transgressors being called God's glory, by a work that He purposed, carried out, brought near, and declared from the beginning. So, plant these truths deep within Your heart after testing them and proving them scriptural. As for me, I have found them life giving and fitting the pattern of the Kingdom of God.

Many blessings be upon you. Oh, and keep checking myspace for new videos and clips of the "Fight For Us EP." Love you guys!

For His renown,
BenZ

the righteous Lord loveth righteousness

2007-08-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

Behold dear reader the Cowbell. Traditionally used in folk and bluegrass music. We hesitate to recommend that if ever a song is lacking it is probably due to a deficiency of this instrument. I wanted every one of you to know this meaningless fact and therefore make your day a better day.
Anyway, on to more substantial content. God's been threshing me. Oh how glorious it is when the Father of life condescends to burn away chaff in my life. I was reading Psalm 11 the other day (it's going to be the basis of a new song). In the KJV it says in verse 7,
"For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright." I LOVE that. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness. Why does a righteous Lord love righteousness? Because He delights in Himself and in His perfections! Isaiah says that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). Paul says that his own righteousness was rubish/dung (Phi. 3)! Ezekiel told a parable, "Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand (Eze. 3:20)." It is apparent that any righteousness obtained apart from the "righteous Lord," is useless and faulted. Christianity lived in the righteousness the flesh brings is corrupt and irredeemable. All too often we live our lives in that place of flesh/law righteousness.
But praise God. The matchless righteous one. The infinite blameless one. The magnificent pure and holy one. Jeremiah reveals, "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jer. 23:6)." When I live dependant on the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS I find life, peace, joy, security, defense, and a God-honoring life. Notice this does not depend on our circumstances. If the Lord is my righteousness, I can be chained to the wickedest circumstances and the Lord promises to defend and sheild me.
My prayer is that we would live in His righteousness. What Christ has already attained for us is a pure, faultless lifestyle that is above reproach. Only inside of this abode do I find freedom from depravity. And the rest of Psalm 11:7 promises that the Lord's countenance is upon the upright. God looks upon me with favor when I rest in the merit of His Son. We often sing about "Lord let me see Your face." However, Ps. 11:7 makes it clear that only the pure and upright will see God's completely holy, righteous, just, awesome, countenance. Thus, we surrender to the only One who can make this possible, the unblemished Jesus of Nazareth!

Almighty Father. We recognize that it is only through the merit of Thy son that we can behold Thee at all. God, You show infinite forebearance whenever we tritely enunciate our flippant desire to see thy face. Lord save us from thinking that Thy face be like that of any other's face. Thy face is fire, burnished bronze. Thy face is death to any unrighteousness. Thy face destroys any flesh that dares a pretense on Thy almighty throne. Let the righteousness of Thy son be our covering from the damnation our depravity deserves. Let His blameslessness cause you to delight in Thyself on our behalf. For Thy pleasure is our good, and Thy goodness is our delight. For Thou, Oh righteous Lord, love Thy righteousness in us that Thou hast bestowed upon us in Thy infinite goodness!

For His renown,
BenZ

PS- Check out www.myspace.com/benzornesband for a NEW!!!! live recording of "Holy God Humble King!"

Coming soon!!!

2007-08-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

2007-07-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

Wassup every buddy!?! Hows the weather where you are? It's raining here in Missouri (which isn't much different than when it's not=). Ben (with a capitol "B") just got done with the vocals for "Big God" and "I'll Cry Glory" and I (Caleb) finished layin' down some sweet grooves on the drums. At this very moment Greta (with a capitol "G") is rockin out on the bass and we will hopefully have three(3) songs finished by tonight.

We ask again for your prayers as we continue on this adventure that God has placed us in. We also hope that you will all have a great week. Thank you so much for your support

For HIS renown

The BZB

(Caleb Heb 13:15)

Pictures from the road!

2007-07-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

We almost burned the house down...

2007-07-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

The house is set up in such a way that recording studio is in one of the spare bedrooms on the top floor. Down the hallway is a living room, dining room and kichenette. I'm happily blogging with the smell of burnt olive oil in my nostrils. It is rather odiferous. Never leave olive oil unnatended whilst simmering on a stove. Thankfully, we put out the flames before we burned the house down. ANYWAY...
This morning we worshipped with our producer's church. We led worship and it was such a great time of honoring our Awesome Creator and Precious Redeemer. He is such a Big God. It is exciting to see people worshipping with the songs I wrote in my bedroom and never thought anyone but my dad would like them. :) God is doing something massive here!
Vince just wrapped up his electric parts, and departed for the airport soon after. I, personally, was sad to see him go. Thus, with Vince's parts finished we initiated the illustrious Mr. Caleb Lane's percussion extravaganza. So, while he, Doug and Greta are in the studio, I'm blogging, taking time to tell you thanks for being there for us! I'm putting up day 2's video on www.myspace.com/benzornesband. Go check it out for snipits of Vince's genius. I'll try to put up today's stuff later tonight! And more pictures will be on the blog soon!

for His renown,
BenZ

The Day the electric Guitar reigned

2007-07-21T20:13:00.001-07:00

Hey people! Thanks so much for reading here's some pictures from today.

Also, we played volley ball, swam, jumped on trampolines, played James Bond 007 (nintendo 64 version), and watched as Vince illustriously played his little fingers out! He rocked the songs hard. We can't wait to let you hear some...check the myspace tomorrow sometime (www.myspace.com/benzornesband) for some sneak peeks of Vinny's amazing licks. Tomorrow we lead worship at our producer's church! Pray for us that we remain consistent!

For His renown,

BenZ

Pinnapple, Would You rather's and Scratch vocals (a co-write by BenZ and Caleb)

2007-07-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hey all! We are arrived safe and sound. 9 hours in the car gives way to plenty of ridiculous and exasperated jokes and stuff. We think we didn't pay at one of the Gas stations...because Samuel took charge of the pumping. We then hid a pineapple in our trunk for like the entire trip. We made a joke that Pineapples might be illegal in Missouri. Thus, we smuggled a pineapple (which Ben needs for the pectin which reduces mouth noise), into Missouri. So, mr. Pineapple is safe and sound here in Missouri. We also spent endless hours asking "would you rathers," like: would you rather be Elton John or Micheal Jackson, locked in a room of skunks or tazmanian devils, TD Jakes or Joel Osteen. Some good road trip stuff.

Finally, the most important thing is I just finished scratch vocals/guitar for all the songs. I'm pretty tired and Caleb is relieved to not have to make sure I stay on the click track! We are awaiting the arrival of Vince and then go to bed so we can watch Vinny record like all day long!!!!! So, be praying for us. Pray we get rest and restoration! This is about so much more than music.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Col 1:10)

For His renown,
BenZ (and Caleb)

Off we go...

2007-07-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone...we're off! We leave tommorrow morning for the "Halfway to Nashville" road trip! We're so excited. Many godly men and women have surrendered their lives to Almighty God. It is so humbling to be yielding to Him and taking steps to follow Him in His calling on our lives. We don't just want to record 5-10 songs, slap 'em on a CD and then never do what our anthem song commands..."I'll die so that I may live, and no matter where God leads...I'll Cry glory!" As my personal hero, Jim Elliot,

said, "He is no fool who gives what He cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." I don't know where God will take me or us as a band, if it's to sing songs that challenge the church towards biblical Christianity, or if it is rescuing orphans from Uganda, or feeding widows in Chile, or leading worship at a church plant...I'll go where He leads. This week He's led us to record some songs. We cannot wait to share snip-its and videos of it all. Pray for us. We pray for you all and want you to follow him with "reckless abandon!" We love you guys!

For His Renown,

BenZ

7-11 and other things!

2007-07-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

So, Greta is our bassist. And if you know her, you'll know that she pretty much adores slurpees from 7-11. Now the picture at right is by no means an endorsement of the overly sweet drink that has sent many a weak individual into a suger coma from lack of form. We however are professionals! Thus, every year on July 11th we celebrate our ability to excessively consume free 7.11 ounce slurpees which 7/11 so kindly gives away. There's a technique to it. Map out the 7-11's so that you can finish one remove the bright red hue from your lips so the next 7-11 doesn't suspect you of binge-ing. When filling your 7.11 ounce cup, slowly fill it, and as it nears the brim continue to slow the flow so that your slurpee towers at least a foot above the brim of the ridiculously small dixie cup. In this way you will find satisfaction. This most recent 7/11/07 was especially significant...greta and I (Ben) competed with Greta's brother Paden to see who could consume the most slurpee. The Text Message exchange follows:

Ben to Paden Jul 11 11:41 am: ive had 5 slushies so far

Ben to Greta Jul 11 11:45 am: 5 slusies so far

Greta to Ben Jul 11 11:47 am: that's great, I haven't even gotten 1 yet. but tsk tsk, I can't believeyou called them slushees...slurpees dude.

Ben to Greta Jul 11 11:55 am: watevr

Greta to Ben Jul 11 11:56 am: I just thought it would be best to hear it from me instead of somebody else.

Ben to Greta Jul 11 11:58 am: Ya i hate showing my ignorance

Greta to Ben Jul 11 12:03 pm: and if somebody was really offended you could've gotten knocked out, see all the trouble I saved you?

Ben to Paden Jul 11 1:56 pm: Up 2 6 slurpees

Ben to Greta Jul 11 1:58 pm: 6 slurpees

Greta to Ben Jul 11 2:55 pm: 1 slurpee =)

Greta to Ben Jul 11 3:43 pm: 2 slurpees...well there's 9 of us, so that's actually 18...ha beat that spanky

Ben to Greta Jul 11 5:32 pm: 7 slurpees and I quit...oh hey Kansas City is gonna rock!

Greta to Ben Jul 11 5:33 pm: wimp...I know you could pack away at least 10 more! I'll be to practice on Friday at about 8...and oh yeah...KC is gonna be awesome.

That is the text message conversation that precipitated betwixt the bassist and namesake of the Ben Zornes band. Notice Paden was rather silent...a unique attribute to sassociate with Paden! ;) Anyway, the last 2 txt msg mention Kansas City. For all those that are wondering what that is about let me, um, enlighten you. A friend of mine since I was like 4, has built a recording studio in his home in KC. He has offered to have us come out and learn the ropes of recording. Also, he has set up a gig or 2 for us. Hence, from July 20th through the 26th we will be in KC recording a 7 song EP. We are really excited about this. Please check our myspace (myspace.com/benzornesband) and the blog here, and send us your comments of encouragement and stuff. You are all a vital part of our lives. Join with us as we communicate the message of our BIG GOD! We'll be blogging multiple times daily! You'll be able to get sneak peeks that no other people in the world will get to see or hear. This could be history in the making! But that could be said about a lot of things! Anyway, please pray for us and we'd love to hear from you!

For His renown,

BenZ

myspace.com/benzornesband

bzband.blogspot.com

im4hisrenown@yahoo.com

The Music is Country the Message is Christ!

2007-06-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight we countrify our sound to play with the amazing Susie Luchsing (Reba's sister)!!! It is in the small town of Gilcrest at the high-school stadium. About 8 miles south of Greeley on Highway 85. 6:30 PM. We'll be on stage around 7! Hope to see you ALL there! Country on!

For His renown,
BenZ
http://kxwa.wayfm.com/community/event_calendar.php

REALLY LONG HYPERLINK

2007-05-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

http://maps.ask.com/maps?ml=lt%3D33.94251%7Clg%3D-117.23373%7Cal%3D0%7Ccx%3D-341468%7Ccy%3D-105213%7Czm%3D7%7Cvt%3D0~lt%3D33.9375%7Clg%3D-117.22972%7Cad%3DMoreno%20Valley%2C%20CA%7Csd%3D0%7Cdm%3D0~#1

So this is a ridiculously long hyperlink...BUT...should you choose to click on it (or conveniently copy and paste it into your web-browser) you will be directed to an aerial view, or something of that sort, of the area Caleb and myself will be leading worship at May 18-20. It is a Men's retreat, therefore we will sing in many lower keys, and resonate very deeply and sing songs like, THEY WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE!!!! Of course all caps signifies deep bass voices lifting praise to God. :) However, we would desire your prayers and comments of support...we'll be in the sticks of California, so I'm not sure if we'll have internet...but never fear...we will do our best to update the blog! Have a splendid time reading the rest of this letter!

For His renown,
BenZ

T-shirts and more!

2007-04-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, thanks so much for all your support and help as we launch this ministry! I've got a couple things I'd like to share with you all!

First- the official BZBand t-shirts are now available for $10. http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/ is where you can view a picture of the band wearing our own t-shirts! :)

Second- This upcoming week we have several things going on. Wednesday night we are leading worship at Calvary Chapel Aurora's wednesday night service. It is going to be really amazing! That starts at 7 PM at the southeast corner of Tower and Hampden in Aurora! http://www.calvaryaurora.org/. On Friday night Ben is leading worship for Calvary's college service "Chosen Generation." You're more than welcome to come to this intimate time of worship! That starts at 7:30 at the same location as the aforementioned Calvary Aurora! Finally, Friday LATE night Ben Greta and Caleb will pull of a three piece band for Friendship Baptist Church's youth group lock-in. It is in Bailey and is slated to begin after midnight which I guess makes it Saturday rather than Friday! Woohoo...we're young!

Third- Just continue to pray that the Lord provides us with opportunities to proclaim His life changing message into hard and broken places. We have some exciting things up our sleeves that the Lord continues to open for us! Thanks again so much!

For His renown,
BenZ

www.myspace.com/benzornesband
http://www.bzband.blogspot.com/
http://us.f581.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=im4hisrenown@yahoo.com

We won...we cried...we...

2007-04-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

So it was an eventful day. Wow...how profound. After 5 songwriting sessions...Ben's results came in. I didn't win...but!!!! I was told that it is clear that I have a love for God's word unlike any 20 year old they'd ever met...and I'm not even twenty!!! haha. God had been laying on my heart before we came that I am required by Christ's sacrifice to bodly proclaim His empowering work in our life. But then we found out about a "emergency" back home in Colorado that saddened our hearts. Please be praying for our families as we seek to finish our mission here and get back to our families safely. But finally, we found out that I am the Northeast Artist's Guild National Expressive Arts Conference Champene Vocalist. I am very blessed to be the winner of the vocal competition.

"And when I'm doing well...help me to never seek a crown,
For my reward is giving glory to you!"

For His renown I'll Cry Glory,
BenZ

Our Thursday Evening

2007-04-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

The BZB spent the evening with a one Ali Anderson. She's an expert in all things stage communication oriented. We learned how to craft better set lists. How to engage you, our 12 fans. :) And that Caleb should twirl hius drumsticks...sweet! And Greta now has permission to move her feet and to probably sing too. Mrs. Lane heard Manning preach and was really blessed. Mrs. Zornes learned how to write songs with Sue Smith. Thanks so much for being there and supporting the work God is calling us to. Oh and we met all sorts of "neat" people...read in between the lines. :)

For His renown,
BenZ

Thursday Morning and Afternoon!

2007-04-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

howdy every body.

This is Caleb writing for the BZBand straight from New Jersy. Today was pretty uneventful(aka-boring.) We went to the church to help setup and wound up not doing anything for about 6 hours. We were able to practice some of our music but all in all we had very little to do.

so thats it.
Bye.

More Pix

2007-04-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

David Crowder's Music video.
Us watching Crowder's new video...and laughing...!
Ben and Caleb doing whatever it is we do!

No matter where he lead's I'll cry glory. The t-shirts have arrived!

April 11, 2007

2007-04-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody, Ben here…sitting at DIA waiting for a winter storm in Chicago to clear up so we can leave…we were supposed to leave at 9:40. It is now 10:08. Man! Caleb is ill. He feels sick to the stomach. I told him that’s what chipotle does at 3:00 AM in the morning. He’s like really gray. Looks like he didn’t sleep at all last night and being in uncomfy airport chairs doesn’t help. Whatever! Hopefully all this clears up soon and we can head out. I hope. Oh, and this is Mrs. Lane’s second time flying…ever. Pretty exciting stuff that!

For His renown,
BenZ

We had about 30 minutes in the Chicago airport. It wasn't very much fun. Didn't get any lunch. Barely got to use the restroom. The djembe didn't fit in the overhead bin. Etc. So that was our layover in chicago.

BenZ

We finally got to Philly. Our luggage hadn't made it on the same flight we did out of chi-town. So we waited for the next flight from Chicago to bring our suitcases and stuff. They came, we got our rental van. We went to Wendy's (the offical sponser of the BZB).

It is now 10:30 EST and we're just settling into our hotel room.

Caleb wants me to tell everyone that he's not dead. He didn't die either. And he probably won't. And I hope he doesn't because I'm sharing a room with him and it'd be really creepy to sleep with a dead person in the room.

Greta want's me to inform all of our 10 adoring fans, that Southwest airlines needs to patent a plane that has one wing turned up and one wing turned down. So that the plane spirals the entire flight. Kind of like a 3 hour roller coaster. You know, like the paper airplanes.

We had a very enjoyable time hanging out and keeping each other in tolerably good moods.

1 peter 1:13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."[a]
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of the Lord stands forever."[c] And this is the word that was preached to you.

The Schedule...otherwise known as our attempt at order.

2007-04-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

This is not super detailed but here's a shot at our schedule for this week!

Wednesday
Wednesday 9:00 AM- flight leaves with Ben, Caleb, Greta, Mrs. Lane and Mrs. Zornes. Pray for safety in our travels and for the people we will cross paths with that we could possibly share Christ with.
Wednesday Noonish-We arrive at Chicago Midway for a two hour layover. Hopefully Greta and I will be able to blog on something we discuss on the flight!
Wednesday 5 PM EST - We arrive in Philly, pick up our rental car and either head to the hotel for rest and relaxation or over to a BBQ for all the Clinicians and Record label people. Somehow we got invited :). We'll hope to update ya'll sometime Wednesday night.
Wednesday Lateish- We will try to get to sleep at a reasonable hour and get some much needed rest. Pray that we get great rest.

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Thursday- Most of Thursday will be a lot of workshops, hanging out, getting to know people kind of stuff. Be praying that we make the most of these opportunities.

Thursday 7:00-10:00 PM EST- We will be participating in an "effective stage communication master class." That's the exact title. I guess these artistic people like really long titles. We will be learning how to more effeciently communicate the gospel from the stage. Body movement and posture and all that good stuff. Please pray that we have teachable spirits and humble hearts.

Thursday 11:00 PM EST-Hopefully be getting in bed. Again great sleep will be much needed!

Psalm25: 4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Friday- This one's the biggie! This is the competition part of the weekend!

Friday 8:00 AM EST- The day starts with Margaret Becker leading worship and some opening information kind of stuff.

These are the time slots that I've signed up for with the song I'll be playing. (Remember these are all EST times):
Song Writing I: __ (1) ___11:00_____ Time Cannot Remember
Song Writing II: __ (1) ___10:20_____ Awesome Creator
Song Writing II: __ (1) ___ 2:20______I'll Cry Glory
Song Writing III:__(1)___ 11:20______I'll Cry Glory
Song Writing III:__(1)___ 11:50______Glorious King of Glory
Vocal Critique ___ (1) ___ 3:20______ I'll Cry Glory

Also, we're not sure yet when Caleb will be doing a vocal critique but we'll keep you updated. Oh, and he's gonna play either Everlasting God, Here I am to Worship, or Blessed Be Your Name. Be praying that he can do it strong and proclaim the message clearly!

Here's an excerpt from the rules of the songwriting/vocal competition :
"At the end of the afternoon please return to your songwriting/vocal room to determine if you received the highest score in your room. All Room Winners Must Go To Room. #11/#13 for songwriting/vocal finals. Room Winners will be asked to perform live or/play their CD again for all the songwriting/vocal judges to determine the 1st place song/vocalist."

So now we're all clear right!

If you are the winner of any category you get to perform 2-3 songs for all the attendees sometime between 4:30 and 6:30. So, we'll do our best to keep you up to date on whether we get to do that.

Oh and on friday Greta will be going to more workshops to sweeten her already sweet bass skills!

Friday Night- There's a concert that we may or may not attend depending on if we win or not or if we are too tuckered out to do anything but go back to the hotel for a nice relaxing soak in the hot tub!

On Friday, just pray simply for humility. It is such an easy thing to think that I'm the best songwriter or Caleb and I are sweet vocalists, but truth be told we are simply dust that has been created to showcase to the world that Christ is our treasure! Be praying that we simply and effectively communicate to everyone we contact on Friday, that Jesus Christ didn't come and die so we could be comfortable. He died to free us from ourselves and live out His amazing life in our yielded lives.

Galatians 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Saturday

8:30 AM EST- Jeff Nelson (a worship songwriter, you've probably sung his songs), will be opening the day with a worship service. He's a really humble genuine guy.

Saturday all day EST- We'll be in workshops and other exciting stuff. We may meet with some record labels and A&R people and famous people. Pretty exciting. Pray that we are simply bold and courageous in our stand for truth and integrity in the christian music industry. Pray that we stand steadfast on our convictions and that God uses us to impact the industry. Pray that we are uncompromising!

Saturday 4:00 PM EST- Caleb Greta and myself will get to participate in the NEAG Mass Choir during this concert of praise. The awards for Friday will be given and we'll sent out.

Saturday Night- We'll probably be helping with tear down and saying goodbye's, celebrating all that we've learned. Pray for safety in the tear down phase...and for a servants heart for the entire weekend. I really hope that we can be an example of Christ-like servanthood. And then we'll get back to the hotel and rest.

Pray again for steadfastness for us!

Phillipians 3: 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Sunday

Sunday Morning- We'll be packing up our stuff and checking out of the hotel by around 10:00 AM EST. We'll probably do some sort of sight-seeing. But we're hoping to be really taking it slow and just relaxing for a long day of travel!

Sunday 3:00 PM EST- Check in at Airport...wait in airport for a while...wait to board the plane...wait for the plane to take of...strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!

Sunday 5:00 PM EST- We're supposed to be heading to Chi-town by now. Pray again for safety.

Sunday 7:00 PM CST- Land in Chicago...short layover...head to Denver...yeah man!

Sunday 9:45 PM MST- Home sweet home...the Lord will be our protection and provision! Anyone is welcome to come welcome us home. We'd love to see all of you!

Sunday 10:30 PM MST- Hopefully be headed home for a good night sleep...and then I have to go to work at 8:30 the next morning! I love being a starving artist!

I hope this clears things up...make sure to check the blog often. Greta and I are gonna be amazing bloggers...you guys gotta keep us accountable on that! I'll leave you with such an encouraging and humbling verse. This verse has been opening my heart to some new ventures for the BZB...you'll hear more about that when we get back!

Psalm 68:3
But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds—
his name is the LORD—
and rejoice before him.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,
he leads forth the prisoners with singing

For His renown I'll cry glory!
BenZ

The BZB heading to the East Coast

2007-04-05T16:13:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I am so thankful to all of you for supporting us and coming to our worship concerts and buying the CD's and signing up to receive long overdue...email updates!!! So here's the skinny...five-fourths of the BZB is heading to the east coast (Marlton, New Jersey to be precise...it's near Philly) for the Northeast Artists Guild Expressive Arts Conference. Why they didn't choose a simpler name for the conference I have no idea! But the deal is this...I'm gonna be entering the songwriting competition and I'm entering the following songs (unless God says otherwise): I'll Cry Glory, Awesome Creator, Glorious King of Glory, and the brand spanking new song...Time Cannot Remember (this song is incredible, I feel so blessed that God has entrusted this song to me I can't wait for you all to hear it). Also, I will be competing in the vocal competition AND Caleb will also be entering the vocal competition...betwix the 2 of us maybe we'll do well! Anyway, I will be posting our schedule and other nitty gritty details on the blog thingy here, for those of you who have nothing better to do than read blogs all day! Anyway, be praying for Caleb and Greta and Momma Z and Momma Lane and myself as we travel! And check out blog!

For His renown!
BenZ

Something Bigger Than Just Music

2007-02-07T21:31:00.000-08:00

Here is an upcoming worship concert:

Pictures!

2006-12-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

Playing "Be the Moon"
at Greta's party!
Yeah we were at woodstock! We look soooo tough here! From L-R Vince, Ben, Caleb, Greta Not sure what grabbed their attention but it wasn't the camera

Upcoming Worship Concerts

2006-11-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

We've got 2 shows coming up...

1. November 17, 2006- A private night for invited guests. If you were not invited but think you were supposed to be, comment back your email address and then I can send you the location and time.

2. November 19, 2006-We will be leading worship for a young adults worship service called "the gathering" (17699 E. Hampden Ave. Aurora, Colorado 80013). It begins at 6:00 PM. Usually they have a sermon and all the regular facets of a service. But we've been given nearly an hour to play with a message in between. We'll be playing our new single "I'll Cry Glory." As well as the worship anthem "Holy God Humble King." We'll also be doing a rendition of "Blessed be Your Name," that will have a grin on your face and your toe tapping uncontrollably! Please come join us and support us at this venue. There will be a short message brought by Tim Knipp the lead pastor of this emerging church that you will truly be blessed by! Come and worship with us! For more info comment back.

See You There!
BenZ

Some Pictures

2006-11-08T15:27:00.000-08:00

Where we are at!

2006-11-01T18:48:00.000-08:00

So all you adoring fans! All 2 of you! :) Since our last update we added a bassist, Miss Greta Dittmann, amazing and talented. Adds a refining presence to our otherwise all male band! We didn't get to record a full band 5 song demo. Instead we recorded a 2 song Ben and his acoustic demo. This, we hope, will pitch (Websters: to represent to an interested party) better to the record label people that we know. We still don't have a band name. It is a delicate balance and we are still discussing, how in the world do we make some of these decisions?! The suggestions are many, the approach is difficult, the tragic tale of the moose enfolds! Sorry...rant! However, we are lining up some places to lead worship. We've got one or two coming up on Novemeber 17th and 19th. If ur interested let us know by commenting. Finally, we are working on a street team. A group of people who'll talk about what God is doing through our music to just about everyone you know and stuff. there would be "fringe benefits." Dibs on any leftover twinkies, a CD if and when we make one, free concert tickets, and probably the biggest motivation helping spread not our fame but God's fame through what we're doing! If you're interested comment you're contact info and we will begin compiling a list of people! You guys are more than fans you're fellow worshippers who've caught a vision of something grand, not us, but the God we serve together! You guys are the fuel behind what God is leading us to endeavor! We couldn't do it without you! Thanks! For His Renown, BenZ

Embossed

2006-06-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon...a Name?

2006-06-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

OK, so we need suggestions on what our band name should be. Should it be centered around a clever name and communicate that we are clever and artsy wordsmiths. Or do we just call it after the lead singer and communicate a pop-star type band. Can't you see it in lights, "Ben Zornes in concert tonight." Or does Zornes not have enough of a ring to it. Should Ben change his last name to be more well...cool?! Should we be a new "Phillips Craig and Dean" and be Ben, Vince and Caleb? BenZ? Praying Mantis? The Nameless? The Joy of Delight? The BenZ? Ben Zornes and the Mullets? Ben _______(New LAst Name)? Ben Zornes Band? The BVC? TheCVB? The VCB? Vince and Co.? Rubber Band? Steeple? Not cool enough to have a band name?

Send in your suggestions! Thanks! We'll have a vote towards the end of the Summer, in August sometime!

Thanks!
For His renown,
BenZ

A Possible CD cover?

2006-06-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

So in the near future we are going to be recording our first demo CD. Here's something I was toying with! Waddaya think!

The Band

2006-03-30T21:27:00.000-08:00

A revolutionary, reformationary, God-centered, innovative, worthship oriented, critically acclaimed, pop/rock/bluegrass/worship/alternative/folk/acoustic rock band! Look soon for bios of the band members:

C: is for Caleb
Great: is for Greta
Vin: is for Vince

BenZ: is for Ben

God is almighty!

**Ben Zornes Band**

Five Reasons Jesus Came (Week 05)

Five Reasons Jesus Came (Week 04)

Five Reasons Jesus Came (Week 03)

Five Reasons Jesus Came (Week 02)

Five Reasons Jesus Came

Ben Zornes Band in Summer 2008

Saints- Part 2

Saints-Part 1

New Series..."Saints"...Coming March 13

Release Concert!

A Sneak Peek @ New Songs

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Roused [pt. 6] the finale!

Roused [pt. 5]

Roused (pt. 4)

"Roused [pt.3]

Roused (pt. 2)

Roused (pt. 1)

...declaring the end from the beginning...

the righteous Lord loveth righteousness

Coming soon!!!

Pictures from the road!

We almost burned the house down...

The Day the electric Guitar reigned

Pinnapple, Would You rather's and Scratch vocals (a co-write by BenZ and Caleb)

Off we go...

7-11 and other things!

The Music is Country the Message is Christ!

REALLY LONG HYPERLINK

T-shirts and more!

We won...we cried...we...

Our Thursday Evening

Thursday Morning and Afternoon!

More Pix

April 11, 2007

The Schedule...otherwise known as our attempt at order.

The BZB heading to the East Coast

Something Bigger Than Just Music

Pictures!

Upcoming Worship Concerts

Some Pictures

Where we are at!

Embossed

Coming Soon...a Name?

A Possible CD cover?

The Band

Ben Zornes Band