Zach Wray Connect

06/02/2023

Reflecting on Sunday's worship services -

Leading my church in the powerful song "The Bridge" by Casting Crowns was truly a moving experience.

This song has been a favorite of mine for so long and each time I sing it, I am struck by the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice.

It's humbling to think that He gave His life for us and it fills me with gratitude. May we never forget the depth of His love and the gift of salvation.

"No rescue so relentless, no greater love than this, where sin leaves a canyon, love builds a bridge"

17/01/2023

Thought(s) of the day:

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us to 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.' (Matthew 6:33).

It is common for many people to interpret this verse as a "do this, and God will give you that" formula. The idea is that if we put God first and prioritize righteousness, then God will bless us with worldly goods and abundance. This interpretation can create a transactional understanding of faith, where we see God as a cosmic vending machine, dispensing blessings in response to our actions.

This interpretation is problematic as it implies that God's blessings are limited and can be earned through our own efforts, rather than being a result of God's grace. It also ignores the idea that seeking the kingdom of God is not only about gaining blessings but also about aligning ourselves with God's will and purpose for our lives.

Another popular understanding of the verse in Matthew 6:33 is that in the pursuit of discovering God's will, individuals may become so consumed by it that they adopt a "blind faith" that disregards their basic needs and well-being.

This interpretation suggests that in the quest to align oneself with God's will and righteousness, one may sacrifice their own physical, emotional, and mental needs, embracing a form of "all or nothing" mentality, where the end justifies the means.

This understanding of the passage can also be problematic as it can lead to neglect of one's own well-being in the pursuit of following God's will, which ultimately harms the spiritual growth and relationship with God.

Such an approach is not only detrimental to one's health, but also belies a fundamental misapprehension of Christian theology. Christianity is not an exercise in despising the physical, but rather, an embodiment of the love and grace of Christ, which extends to the entirety of one's being, including the body.

Today, I'm reflecting on Matthew 6:33 through the following lens:

When the ultimate goal is to achieve the kingdom of God and righteousness, it leads to the greatest benefit for both individuals and society. Prioritizing this objective ensures that our basic needs are met through the pursuit of this ultimate good, in a practical, abundant sense rather than in a mystical or metaphorical sense.

In short, as our capacity to do good increases, our level of provision is most likely to naturally increase.

Any thoughts on this? 🤔

11/01/2023

Yesterday I taught my first piano lessons of the new year. 🎹

Now it might not seem like a big deal, but since the young age of 15, I've been training the next generation of pianists and worship artists to bring their sense of creativity and originality to everything they do. 🎤

Along the way, we've uncovered a few simple things that, when applied properly, have the ability to take a student's sound to a much higher level. 🎼

So, welcome to my first-ever lesson. Hopefully you can pick up a practical tip that you can utilize this week. Today, we're going to be talking about chord extensions and how you can use them to add some spice to your music.

Chord extensions are additional notes that are added to a chord to give it a more complex sound. Some common chord extensions include 7ths, 9ths, and 13ths.

7ths are added to a chord by including the 7th note of the scale. For example, in the key of C, a C major chord with a 7th would be spelled C-E-G-B.

9ths are added to a chord by including the 9th note of the scale. For example, in the key of C, a C major chord with a 9th would be spelled C-E-G-B-D.

13ths are added to a chord by including the 13th note of the scale. For example, in the key of C, a C major chord with a 13th would be spelled C-E-G-B-D-A.

In addition to adding interest and variety to your music, chord extensions can also be used to add dissonance and tension to a song. By including notes that are not part of the diatonic scale, you can create a sense of unease or tension that can be resolved by resolving back to a chord with more consonant intervals.

To learn more about the various types of tensions you can introduce to your music and your chords, check out this article:

https://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chords/available-tensions/

*Repost does not equal endorsement.

Let me know if you have any questions or if there are any other music theory topics you'd like to learn about

10/01/2023

It's no secret that different worship styles resonate with different people, and it's understandable that people can get upset when their preferred style is not played.

However, one of the beautiful things about music is that it has the power to bring people together, regardless of their background or beliefs.

This blog post by Chuck Lawless briefly explores the importance of being open to different worship styles and how doing so can bring us closer to understanding and appreciating one another. Click the link to read more and join the conversation!

https://chucklawless.com/2017/10/why-we-must-be-open-to-different-styles-of-worship-music/

*Repost does not equal endorsement.

04/05/2022

the Pro Abundant Life message that is pivotal to the overarching story of Star Wars. 

28/03/2022

Great evening with friends this past Friday evening at the Emerald Event Center!

It is absolutely VITAL that we uplift and support the work of crisis pregnancy centers all over the nation. As Dr. Michael Farris said during his message, they are the most proven and effective way to to make an impact on the pro-life cause in your community.

The lives of countless children 👣 and quite often the very souls of their parents 👨‍👩‍👧 hang in the balance as we combat a culture that is increasingly hostile to the idea of being pro-life.

That is why organizations, foundations, nonprofits, churches, communities, small groups, artists, influencers, content creators and the like must STAND UP and affirm the biblical position that life is a gift from God and that every person has intrinsic value because they are made in the Imago Dei!

If you agree, share this with your sphere of influence, and message me “Life”. I’ll help to connect you with people who can equip you with the resources you need to make an impact on this cause in your community.

13/03/2022

🎤🎹 Who was there this morning?

Today was so much fun! The worship set was amazing, and I always enjoy the opportunity to share from the Scriptures!

Today’s message: My Relationship with Law👨🏻‍⚖️

We learned that…

1. If we are in Christ, we have died to the law and it has no power over us. ⛓

2. We have been freed from the law so that we can belong to another (Christ) ✝️

3. This is a cause for celebration! 🥳 If we understand the extent of what we have been freed from we develop a greater appreciation for the one we have been freed to!

26/02/2022

Hey friends 👋🏻

Welcome to this page! If you know me, you know that I have a lot of interests…like…a LOT of interests.

Most of my friends on Facebook know me from different places or for different reasons because of those interests.

-Some know me for my musical capabilities 🎹🎤
-Some know me through my marketing endeavors 📱
-Some know me from my time as an assistant pastor or by my heart for the passionate study of God’s word 📖📚
-Some know me as a crazy marvel and Star Wars nerd 🤓
-Anddddd more…

Regardless…I’m glad you’re here! My vision for this page is for it to become a safe space where we can collaborate around mutually shared interests and connect around the ways we are developing ourselves each day.

Enjoy! 🙃

26/02/2022

“Reach those that have been misreached with a false gospel”

19/02/2022