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First Worship Album Release: Nov. 7

2010-10-19T11:14:00.002-04:00

I'm excited about our first worship album being released next month. It's kind of surreal for me in that I don't feel what I thought I would feel. Someone asked me if I felt like I've just had a baby. Well, not knowing at all what that kind of trauma must feel like, I'm not sure. But, I do feel a great sense of relief knowing that we as a team accomplished what we set out to do, and using only members of our team to produce it, from the recording and mixing to the photography and mastering. I feel very proud of our team to get this far, and I also feel such an urgency that we haven't even come close to reaching our potential in terms of the talent set of this team and the vision by which God captures and recaptures us every week in worship. To sum it up, I'm thankful to have come this far with people I love, cherish, and thank God for, but I am humbled by the task that I still see in front of me.

The 5 Functions of a Team

2010-10-06T11:34:00.002-04:00

How good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) dwell in unity...For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. Psalm 133 is a scripture I stumble on often, perhaps because the Lord is clearly speaking to me. It's a reminder to us to always stay in unity with one another inthe body of Christ. It takes effort and constant maintenance. Unity is how a team functions at its highest level: each member of the team unit doing its part and completely trusting others to do theirs and vice versa.

I'll be speaking to our worship team the next several weeks on the 5 functions of a team. They are actually taken from Lencioni's book, "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team." But, I'm using the gift of optimism to turn it around a bit. The 5 functions are: trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, and results. I think we'll spread it out and cover each one seperately. Dwelling in unity is something every close to my heart. Looking forward to diving in!

Ramping Things Up

2010-08-09T15:18:00.002-04:00

Things are ramping up on the worship arts team. We're getting ready for our annual banquet on Friday, August 20. I'm going through ideas for the missions event in September and Christmas. And, I have the final cut for our first album. That will be sent to press this week. Pastor H has been encouraging us as a ministry team to seek God in our personal lives more intensely. There are big events coming in our near future and big decisions to be made, but before we do anything we must be sure we are in a position to hear the voice of God. This goes for any part of our lives. We can't be sure-footed and know that we're moving in God's will unless we're close enough to God to hear what He's saying. (yes, I said "sure-footed" :| ) Proverbs 16:9 declares, "the heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." The heart by nature is prone to sin and is deceitful. But, our Father can and will order our steps if we allow.

Taking Initiative

2010-07-29T11:56:00.003-04:00

What does it mean to take initiative? My parents used to tell me this a whole lot. It means to take the first step. It's so easy in our homes or careers to notice a problem and be the first to blame or the first to talk about the problem. You would be surprised (or maybe not) to find how many issues in the church get that kind of treatment instead of someone taking initiative. This generation has churches that are staffed with multiple pastors and support staff, but in spite of all that, we don't have our shortage of issues. As long as the sun continues to rise every morning there will be issues in every organization, especially an organization like the church that is focused on people. There'll never be enough staff to cover all the bases, never enough equipment to manage everything, and never enough volunteers to fill every spot. But, for sure, we'll never get closer to our goals if we spend more time noticing issues and looking to someone else for answers. The church desperately needs people that are willing to take the first step in solving an issue, somone willing to take initiative.

In the Book of Acts, Paul shows us what taking initiative looks like. In Acts 27:6-10, Paul is about to be ferried to Rome under guard, but before they set sail, Paul speaks up and says, "I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." Paul was willing to take action when no one else was, and probably looked a little dumb for doing it. We should take Paul's example and be willing to take the first step, to speak up first, to take initiative when any issue arises.

Operating In Your Strengths

2010-07-08T10:32:00.004-04:00

We all have God-given talents and strengths that make us effective in our daily productivity. Our brains are wired to work in diifferent ways. Some of us are right-brain-oriented (creative, instinctual, experiential), others are left-brain-oriented (logical, analytical), and still others may volley between the two very well. Regardless of where we are, what we do, or how or brains are wired, I believe we should operate from a position of strength. Our society pushes us to improve our weaknesses to make ourselves better. But, how many of us work daily to try to make ourselves better in an area and always end up starting over at zero? I certainly have! Think about where your strengths are, and push yourself a majority of the time to operate in that zone.

What are strengths? There are strengths/talents and there are skills. Skills are things we learn how to do. I have a skill for playing the piano, directing musicians, reading, writing, etc. I have the following strengths: learning, using intellect, ideation, thinking contextually, teaching, perceiving, etc. Skills make up our production (what we do), but strengths make up our conception (who we are). We learn new skills or make or existing skills better almost everyday. We stretch ourselves - we grow. The challenge for us is to continue to operate in our strength zone. Coming back to our strength zone keeps us energized, and keeps us from burning out. I'm currently reevaluating my strength zone using a couple of recommended tools metioned below. Where's your strength zone? Are you operating everyday from strength?

Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

www.initforlife.com

www.assess-yourself.org

Careful Exploration

2010-06-30T09:34:00.003-04:00

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that." Galatians 6:4 (MSG) I getting in some devotional time after returning from Virginia Beach with Sarah. We had a great time and whirlwind of a week. God has been speaking to me for a period of time in scriptures like these. It's essential for us as believers to place enough value on our own life (the life the Christ paid a heavy price for), not to waste it moment by moment, living impulsively, but to examine and reexamine ourselves and the work that God has given us all to do, assessing our life now and mirroring it with God's perfect will for our life. Tom Raff, author of Strengths Finder, identifies 5 areas of human well-being. I've slightly modified them for my own use, allowing for faith in Christ to play a stronger role. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Social well-being - your capacity to love and be loved by others
2. Career well-being - your productivity in your work
3. Financial well-being - your stewardship of earthly resources
4. Physical well-being - your management of your body
5. Spiritual well-being - your relationship with God

We each have responsibility in these areas of our life. The next verse in the passage above says, "each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." Galatians 6:5 (MSG) Our stewardship of the responsibilities we are blessed with, I believe is a measure of our maturity in Christ.

Here in Your Presence

2010-04-26T12:42:00.001-04:00

Is it just me, or did Faith Assembly have an incredible service yesterday? Watching the presence of the Lord working in people is a beautiful thing. One moment in His presence can be more beneficial than a thousand sermons, a thousand songs, or a thousand books. We sang a new worship song yesterday that pretty much summed what we experienced.

Here in Your presence, we are undone

Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one

Here in Your presence, all things are new

Here in Your presence, everything bows before You

We took more time than usual to seek God in prayer. Man, there were so many needs. It was humbling to see the altar filled with so many people needing God's presence in their lives. And it was awesome to see someone give their heart to the Lord and confess it before everyone.There's no way you can manufacture God's anointing. We can't choose the time or place for God to show himself and change lives. In reality, he speaks to us and works on us every single day. But, it means something for us to be able to experience him corporately like we did yesterday. I'm in a spirit of thanksgiving. I sincerely thank Him for being an awesome God that actively works in our lives, and I look forward to searching Him out again today.

He is wonderful, beautiful, glorious, and matchless in everyway!

The one and only Yamaha M7CL

2010-04-22T15:01:00.009-04:00

I like tools. I love great tools. Tools make life so much easier. I like screwdrivers, but socketwrenches are what's up. I like cars, but 4x4 Jeeps are where it's at. Computers are okay, but Mac products take it to another level. Who needs a concordance when you've got BibleGateway.com. You get the point! Sound boards can do some amazing stuff, but the Yamaha M7CL found out what mixing sound was all about. Faith Assembly just met one of Yamaha's best digital mixing consoles last week.

It's amazing what this baby can do. Number one favorite thing: everything is instantly recallable. The faders are motorized and slide to their positions at the punch of a button. Not to mention several parametric EQs, more effects than you'll ever know what to do with, and touchscreen interface. I have to say, the sound team is kicking butt and taking names with this great new ministry tool, not wasting any time. But, when we get to the point, it's just a tool to help us do our jobs better - sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 10 asks, "How are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?...Faith comes by hearing...the Word of Christ." Okay, this might be a stretch, but there is a definite connection between our Faith and our hearing (or at least our comprehension). This new tool helps us to communicate with more clarity. I pray that God would receive even greater glory because people are hearing His Message clearer than ever before at Faith Assembly.

Character in a Hectic Time

2010-04-21T11:46:00.004-04:00

Have you ever wondered what God was up to? Why is my life unfolding like this? What connects the dots? I've been going through one of those times, and it's been tough going. Sometimes it seems like Murphy's Law is actually true to life: "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." Do we take those times as a lesson to be learned; do we examine ourselves for sin or guilt; do we blame God? To be sure, we can expect stormy moments in life; it's part of existing in a world tainted with sin. But how we respond in those times reveals our character and also further develops character. It's through those times that we can examine who we really are under all the talent.

I'm pretending that I know how to conquer tough times, but I am taking the opportunity to examine myself. What's truly important? How healthy is my spiritual core? How is my life prioritized? John Maxwell is big on the "rule of 5": having 5 things that you do "everyday" that ultimately helps you accomplish what you're called to do. (For the record, callings come from God, but they certainly are not limited to church-related work, as we often make the mistake of thinking. Your calling is the purpose for which God created you. Everyone is called!) So I took time yesterday to formulate my calling into words, and subsequently wrote down by "everyday list of 5". Everyone should have a top 5, or at least a top 3, list of things you do everyday that will make you accomplish what you've set out to do, whatever that is. I'm sharing mine with you:

I am called to develop a maturing team of skilled musicians and artists to lead people to magnify God as a response to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Read and Pray - God Time
Respond to God in a musically creative way - play, sing, write
Develop my musical skill - listen, practice
Plan ahead
Disciple my team or someone on my team

Can God and Calamity Mix?

2010-03-13T16:11:00.007-05:00

I and a fellow staff member at Faith Assembly had a good discussion on the topic of God and natural disasters. I wanted to put some of it in writing to enlighten people of our theological musings, hoping that it might bring better understanding of how God interacts with His creation.

In the wake of the earthquake that devastated Haiti, it was said by some and probably thought by more than a few that it was the result of God's judgement on a people that had sold themselves to the devil. I assume that most people agree it is probably unwise to make such statements in public (including unbelievers), but is this theology a good one in the first place? Does God cause calamity to install judgement? Does He cause calamity to redeem? Does He allow calamity because of judgement or redemption? Does He allow calamity because of human free will (calamity being caused by human sin)? And, is He powerless to calamity because of free will? These are very important questions regarging how a holy and loving God interacts with a sinful world. These questions also have very striking distinctions, and while each and every calamity could be possibly explained by each of the answers to these questions, at the end of the day, Christians have to be prepared to submit to God's holy and just purpose and to submit to the reality that we cannot totally comprehend that purpose.

The Book of Isaiah speaks directly to this issue. Isaiah 45:7 says, "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things."

The word "calamity" does not speak of moral evil; however, it speaks of natural phenomenon, possibly including human sickness along with earthquakes, storms, and the like. I believe the purpose of this scripture is to ensure us that God is always in control. Sometimes we assume that good things are blessings from God and bad things are Satan's attack. Others assume that good and bad things happen naturally without any divine intervention. But, maybe both of these are wrong assumptions. What if we just submit to God in everything we go through, good or bad? What if we understood that we have no right to judge others in their circumstances? Isn't that what the forbidden fruit was all about? We wanted to be "like gods." We wanted the right to play judge. But, Jesus healed all of that on the cross. He alone has the right to judge, and he will.

First Time for Everything

2010-03-10T17:58:00.002-05:00

I just preached my first funeral service today. It went well as far as funerals go. It was simply a blessing to bless others during a very vunerable time.

I've also been working on a post that will attempt to explain Christian theology of natural disasters, in the wake of the Haiti and Chile earthquakes. I had a great discussion on it with another staff member, with whom I had a slightly different opinion. I'll get it posted soon.

In other news, I'm a little behind on my through-the-year Bible reading plan. Gotta get caught up. I'm reminded of a passage from the 6th Proverb I just read. I love the way the Message reads:

You lazy fool, look at an ant.
Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
All summer it stores up food;
at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?
How long before you get out of bed?
A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?
Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,
poverty your permanent houseguest!

I don't have time

2010-03-02T14:55:00.002-05:00

The dividing line between success and failure is said to be in the phrase, "I don't have time." We all say it, or use it in past tense. In some situations, we should probably say it more, but when it comes to fulfilling your purpose through Christ on this earth, we should never use it. If it's something worth doing, it's something we should make time for. Pastor H said it like this: "never begin the day until it is finished on paper." Bottom line: plan...plan...plan. A day well planned in 10 minutes can be the difference between a productive day and wasted time.

Getting My Attention

2010-02-25T16:54:00.003-05:00

God has His ways of getting our attention. For some people, subtle reminders work well. For others, especially those like myself, something more drastic is sometimes needed. I've had the craziest of crazy weeks. Me and my truck had a little run in with a mailbox, literally. And I've had scheduling snafus that have made my head spin. Of course, I'm not assigning the blame to the Father. After all, I am responsible for keeping my eyes on the road and managing my calendar well. But, I do think the Father uses situations like this to get our attention, and I think that's exactly what He's doing in my case. You know, I'm thankful that God would think enough of me set in motion a scenario that causes me to focus on Him instead of other things around me.

Stinginess Impoverishes

2010-02-01T16:52:00.002-05:00

So, I read through Mark's gospel this weekend, and a passage from chapter 4 jumped off the page. The Message says it like this, "Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes." The only way to be wealthy is to give of your wealth. I'm not a "seed-faith" kind of Christian, not to impune anyone that believes in that kind of system, but I've always believed in taking God for His word. The Kingdom of God is setup with different parameters than our earthly kingdoms. "Giving, not getting, is the way." I'm still learning this principle in my own life. We need to learn how to give, God's way, with a pure heart. Giving to recieve, is not giving at all.

My Reading Plan

2010-01-21T14:54:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd let you all in on my reading plan for the next few months. I'm planning to read one a month, but I'd like to be ahead of schedule to get a few more in. Here goes:

The Daily Message / Eugene Peterson's Bible in a Year (this will take more than a month)

Fearless / Max Lucado

Under the Overpass / Mike Yankoski

Wild Goose Chase / Mark Batterson (gotta finish this one)

Primal / Mark Batterson

Don't Waste Your Life / John Piper

American Sphynx / Joseph Ellis

God Songs / Paul Baloche

Songs From Heaven / Tommy Walker

Face Down | Inside Out | Unquenchable Worshiper / Matt Redman (Haven't decided which one, maybe I'll read all three)

This oughta get me started pretty good this year.

My First Post this Year

2010-01-18T14:27:00.002-05:00

I almost feel regret that this is my first post of 2010, being the 18th day of the month and all. But, strangely I'm okay with that, because I know that even though I've been slack at getting back to this blog, I've been taking care of other parts of my life that need attention. Creating good habits has always been tough for me. Goo habits are usually created by slowly and steadily sticking to something. I entered 2010 with more optimism than I've ever had because of God's mandate I feel on my life. I outlined the kind of person I want to be in 2010 in another entry, Return of Spiritual Discipline 3. But, I wanted to take some time to explain how I want to get there.

There are three goals I'd like to accomplish in 2010: read the Bible cover to cover, read a spiritual enrichment book each month, and report my growth on this blog. The first two have been successful thus far, the last is just getting going. There are other goals I have dealing with music ministry, music in general, and other miscellaneous topics, but this is basically my spiritual growth plan. I believe that if I am growing spiritually, in a way that my life is being transformed by the renewing of my mind, all my other goals will work themselves out. Jesus did say after all, "seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will added to you." I'll take His word for it.

For what it's worth, today was my first day back in the gym. I couldn't believe how long it had been when I looked at my workout journal. Felt good to get back.

Pick One

2009-12-31T11:26:00.002-05:00

I've talked about making life changes on this blog before. Life changes are hard. I read somewhere that takes 21 days to create a habit. That's crazy! It sure seems like a lot less when we're talking about bed habits. But, everyone knows making life change decisions are never easy. January 1 seems to bring more incentive to make changes in our life. While there's nothing special about the New Year in our resolve to be better people, Christians, husbands/wives, parents, etc., it is a good time to reflect on our past success and failures and see what God wants us to learn from them so we can better live for Him.

Many of us don't have a "resolution personality." It's hard to make a list of things to do better, and even harder still to follow through. O, are we all so hopelessly flawed? But, I think it's more practical to consider one thing we might change in our lives. Is there one thing that kept creeping up on you in 2009, maybe something you wanted to do but didn't, or something you tried to avoid but couldn't. Pick one thing, and put your whole self into it. Take it one step at a time and see what God does. Another point to consider: we can make all sorts of superficial resolutions that don't mean a hill o' beans to anyone else but make us happy, but the greater resolution is the one that is founded in Christ. What is God speaking to you?

Understanding Our Unique Calling

2009-12-29T16:10:00.003-05:00

Have you ever wondered why God put you here?...Ever felt out of place in a room full of friends?...Ever wondered why you're so weird? Today's pop culture places a lot of demands on us, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and probably a few more -ally(s) too. We can't escape culture. It is the essence of what our society is: our morality, our beliefs, our way of communicating with one another.

People especially from my generation and younger tend to be quick to find new technology, get hooked on the latest TV series, download the newest tunes, and get the newest hot movie ticket. Of course, our entertainment interests are not a problem if we understand moderation, but why is it that younger generations are more prone to follow pop culture, wherever it leads? Certainly, as we get older our minds shift from right brain mode more to left brain mode - we start repeating what we know rather than looking for other ideas. But, I think a larger issue could be that we simply haven't found out who we are, or more accurately, we haven't discovered who God has called us to be. Ever heard Christian music artists changing their singing voice to sound more Australian? The Christian music market owes a lot to the ingenuity of Australian Christians and their music (Planet Shakers and Hillsong in particular). But should Americans try to sound like Australian singers just because it's cool? Sounds ridiculous when said like that, but I've heard people make the arguement.

So that brings me to my original question: do you know why God put you here? Have you found your unique calling? Have you found your niche? We all have equal value and potential to God in His master plan. He has created you with a particular purpose. If you haven't found it, don't be afraid to keep looking. What the church needs now, is for each of us to realize who we are, understand and develop our unique calling, and allow God to use us to reflect Christ.

Concert Recap

2009-12-22T09:36:00.002-05:00

So proud of everyone this past weekend. We were able to raise $1600 for Give 2 the Troops. I call that successful. I think it would be great to bring everyone "Home for Christmas" next year and build on the theme. The worship team put out a great performance. Choir and band all sounded great. I had a lot of fun directing the whole thing. Probably one of the most fun concerts I've been apart of. Thanks to everyone for helping make it a success. Thanks also to Chris Tomlin for the inspiration from his new Christmas album. If you haven't picked it up yet, you're missing something special.

Next big thing for the worship team is a concert early in 2010 to announce the release of our first recording. Taking a break from rehearsals for the duration of 2009. Working on some personal and ministry goals for 2010.

I'll Be Home for Christmas Concert

2009-12-18T14:09:00.003-05:00

Really getting geared up for the concert this week presented by the Faith Worship and Arts team. We'll be singing some all-time Christmas favorites, sacred and secular. The stage is set in a living room setting. Most of the songs come from Chris Tomlin's new Chrismtas album. There will be a great atmosphere of worship and artistry. We'll also be receiving donations for Give 2 the Troops. Hope you all can make it.

Time for a Conversation

2009-12-02T14:51:00.004-05:00

There are three pillars of Christian discipleship: prayer/worship, study of the Word, and relationships. Without these three working in harmony, our walk as disciples will at worst falter, and at best be lacking. They are essential in maintaining a strong and balanced spiritual life in Christ. Of course, thhese pillars are not mutually exclusive, but they intermingle with one another, meaning it's nearly impossible to perform one without touching the other, that is if we are maintaining a balanced spiritual diet. For example, my prayer time often involves reading scripture or praying for someone else. Forming relationships with others almost always involves applying Biblical principles in some way. Still with me? Prayer, the Word, and relationships are weaved together in the Christian walk (kind of like turkey and dressing!).

We met this morning as a church staff, partly to plan for our annual Week of Prayer in January of 2010. It got me thinking about the average Christian prayer life. Most of us (and I emphasize us) maintain the practice of regurgitated prayer. We pray when we're anxious or nervous, or when we're troubled or sick, or when we feel guilty. But, prayer as Jesus taught was a discipline to develop relationship with God. A good diet of prayer should include not only prayers of healing or comfort or wisdom, but they should include conversation. When we pray, our spirits' need more than only regurgitating our situation or request, but we should allow time for God to speak to us as well. There is no secret to doing this except to set aside the time.

Maybe prayer is less about changing our circumstances and more about changing our focus. Mabye God wants to focus in on us rather than the situation we're in. Maybe we should focus on our true Reality rather than focus on the realities around us. Maybe it's time for a conversation.

Your Greatest Accomplishment

2009-12-01T14:37:00.002-05:00

I guess I checked out of the blogosphere over the holiday...earth to Christopher...lights on but nobody's home...guess I'm back now. Excited about it too! I like using this blog to preach to myself. It's a great exercise in journaling and accountability. It's an added blessing to be able to share it with all of you.

I was watching some TV with my wife on Sunday night, and we came accross a special on Bob Ballard who is noted for his work in underwater archaeology locating the RMS Titanic. He was being asked in an interview what his greatest discovery was. His response was, "the one I'm about to make." That's incredible. The man who found the Titanic after many others tried and failed, enjoying fame throughout the scientific community, remains hungry for yet another discovery. We should live everyday with that attitude, not looking back at our trophies on the wall but looking ahead to unconquered territory and bigger accomplishments.

"...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to waht lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way..." Philippians 3:13-14

More Change = More Resistance

2009-11-11T06:40:00.004-05:00

Sometimes we ask big questions of ourselves to find out where we are: "Am I effective in what I'm doing?", "Are there things in my life I need to change to make myself better?", or "Am I making a difference where I am?". If you're like me, these questions can seem overwhelming. We even do it as a church. We assess the effectiveness of our ministries and decide where to put in more effort by asking big questions like these. But, it's hard for us to grasp too much change. It's part of our entaglement with this physical world: INERTIA. Inertia is the resistance of any physical object to a change in its state of motion. I think we encounter inertia in our metaphysical worlds as well. We are resistant to change in our habits, our relationships, where we go, and what we do.

So let's make it easy on ourselves. We should definitely assess ourselves, and do it often. But, we can only change one step at a time. More change = more resistance. It is a scientific fact. Should that make us fearful of change? By no means. It forces us to formulate the process more effectively. We all can think of dozens of things we would like to change in our lives, careers, ministries, and/or workplaces. But, success comes one step at a time. What is one thing you could do or start on right now that would make you more effective? Find one thing, just one thing, and do it.

Expecting What We're Accustomed To

2009-11-11T06:14:00.002-05:00

I've noticed something about human beings. We expect what we've become accustomed to. If we've become accustomed to excellence around us, then we'll expect excellence to continue. Anything less will feel obviously out of place, because we're accustomed to doing things right. But, if we've become accustomed to insufficiency, neglectfulness, etc., then we'll come to expect those to continue as well.

We hear it said often by various leaders that we need to raise our level of expectation. But, I submit that in order to do that, we must first become accustomed to a higher level of work ethic. We do this by organizing our own lives and developing excellence within ourselves. Accustom yourself to good habits and disciplines, and you will begin to expect that of yourself. I think we also do it by finding excellence in the people around us. If it can't be found, then we should consider forming new friendships. Just as excellence is contagious, the lack thereof is contagious as well.

Return of Spiritual Discipline 3

2009-11-05T14:51:00.003-05:00

Saying you'll do something and actually doing it are two different things. I Corinthians 15:58 says to "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." Paul said to let our yes be yes and no be no. In other words, do what you say! As for me, I'm committing myself to a year of personal growth. Not saying I haven't been growing spiritually in the past, just that this year I want to set benchmarks for who I will be this time next year. I plan to stick with it.

For what it's worth: here's my personal growth goals for the coming year. I encourage you to develop a growth plan for yourself. We should commit ourselves to be always transforming by the renewing of our minds.

Who I am becoming:

A man who is experiencing, living, and demonstrating the true freedom of Christ.
A man who brings happiness, joy, peace, and love home to his family.
A man who evidences and utilizes God-given spiritual gifts to edify His church.
A man whose passion is to see souls reconciled to God.

Return of Spiritual Discipline 2

2009-11-04T14:05:00.004-05:00

The words discipline and disciple actually come from the same Latin root (discip-). The original meaning of this root is 'pupil' or student learner, hence we are students of Christ. Our thoughts are constantly being shaped by Jesus Christ, as a teacher influences our way of thinking on a particular subject. So, being a disciple of Christ is more than choosing the Christian religion and more than doing Christian things (praying, reading the Bible, doing missions work) from time to time to appease our consciences. It is applying the very mind of Christ to our own thought processes, transforming us to the likeness of Christ. This is the essence of being a disciple.

So, a disciple is one who disciplines himself/herself to go through this process of transformation. I think sometimes we look for one-time experiences with God as if that's enough. Don't get me wrong, a true experience with God can change us forever. But, God is not only calling us to encounter Him, but to discipline ourselves according to His Word. We must discipline ourselves the other six days a week, besides Sunday, to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom. 12).

I remember going through 4 years of training at the East Carolina University School of Music. My education was planned out for me for 4 years. I had certain classes to take, and in a particular order. Each ones of these classes were to influence my thought process and skills in music and many other subjects in a unique way. Think about the planned process of getting an education. We all need a similar development plan to raise us to another level. We need a Personal Growth Plan that will drive us to the person we want to become, or are called to become. If we don't plan for growth, then we certainly plan not to grow.

Setup a personal growth plan for yourself, if you don't already have one. It doesn't have to be complicated, simple is probably better. We need to plan to grow in Christ, disciplining ourselves to become true disciples of Christ. I doesn't matter if it's committing to prayer/devotion time, committing to read an inspirational or leadership book a month, or joining a LifeGroup. We cannot develop into true disciples of Christ unless we submit ourselves to the discipline of growing in Christ. It might not be your favorite word (really, it's not mine either), but disciples of Christ, by definition, must be disciplined.

Return of Spiritual Discipline

2009-11-03T13:55:00.002-05:00

Met with the men of HonorBound last night and heard a great devotion from Bob Zeigelman. He spoke on being used of God, even using spiritual gifts. Most of us can look around and observe that spiritual gifts have been lacking in recent years. The question is, what are we willing to do about it. We've seen miracles and healings, words of knowledge and wisdom, and tongues and interpretations in our day. We observe their absence (not completely, but in part), but do we miss the moving of the Holy Spirit to the point where we're willing to do something about it.

Romans 12 tells us to submit our bodies as living sacrifices. This means to discipline ourselves to grow and develop. Are we willing to discipline ourselves to be disciples of Jesus? We have to have daily transformation as individuals before we can impact this generation. We have to look at ourselves, decide who we want to become (or who we are being called to in Christ), and be willing to put in the work and discipline to see it through.

I'll give more on this thought process tomorrow.

Seasons Come...

2009-10-29T14:47:00.003-04:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the ministry at Faith: wins, losses, things accomplished, things left to do, and people I've helped disciple. I've said many times that there is a season for everything, and so we cannot take any season for granted, because seasons only last for a while and they're gone. I've seen seasons come and go here at Faith, and I believe we are entering a new season right now. It's not always the most pleasant thing, but it's certainly something that must happen. Everything is an experiment, even trying to keep things the way they are.

Ultimately, we have to trust the Spirit's leading: to move when He is ready to move us, and to stay put, doing what we know we're called to do, when His presence is still hovering. I read in Mark Batterson's blog this morning, evotional.com, the following:

The primary reason we don't experience a complete breakthrough is because we quit too soon! There is a time to call it quits--if the Lord has released you from the thing he called you too. But you better not quit for any other reason!

In the wilderness, the Israelites were led by a cloud during the day, and a fireball during the night. They dared not leave the camp while the Spirit still hovered. It was only time to leave when the Spirit began to move. Where is God leading you? Is it time to pick up and see what new dreams God is putting in your heart, to explore a new area of ministry? Or is the Spirit still hovering? Do you need to keep on doing what God has called you to do?

Do we believe it?

2009-10-28T14:41:00.003-04:00

I had a conversation with Pastor H this morning after our Wednesday morning huddle. We're having some visionary discussions on what Faith Assembly will look like in 2010. We've been hitting our purpose pretty hard: experiencing God, transforming lives, and impacting our world. But, if we're only able to recite that purpose, what good is it. Do we really believe it? Or does it make us feel good just to say that we have a purpose? - or that we have a purpose statement?

These three tenets of our purpose should not only surround everything we do with a purpose. Instead they should drive what we do. Do we truly want to experience God every moment of everyday, or do we just say that we're about experiencing God? Are we about transformation, or do we expect the 'church' to do that, whoever that is? Do we truly want to impact our world, our city? Or is it a great punch-line that makes us feel good about our events? Where are the souls?

These are tough in-your-face questions, but ones that we must take a look at. We, as individuals must take a look at ourselves, and at this body we call our church. We must seek God, for an experience and not a presentation. We must stop showing off and ask God to show up. If we knock, the door will be opened to us. I feel we need an experience of God, an encounter with God, more than ever before.

Why did God Give us Music?

2009-10-26T16:51:00.002-04:00

I have to find purpose in everything I do, or else it appears useless. Even though I'm interacting with and creating music everyday, I consider it Godly to always focus on purpose, to make sure our motives are pure. So I ask myself the question, why did God give us such a seemingly intangible thing, that affects us in such a powerful way? There are probably many reasons we could come up with. The Psalms certainly give many exhortations to use music especially in worship. But, why music?

I'm curious to hear someone else's thoughts on this if you care to comment. But, for me, music washes away distractions. My mind is often going in a thousand different directions. Someone told me last night that there's probably too much on my mind. Probably right! But music, and I'm specifically refering to music that glorifies God (but, not necessarily worship music), lines up my thoughts and reminds me of God, His greatness, and my purpose in Him. And, you don't have to be a musician to recognize it. It's a gift to all of us.

God has created something that begins with acoustic sonority, resonating through space, and interacting with our aural reflexes to activate our minds, and emotions, and eventually our spirits. It literally tunes our minds to a wavelength. And our spirits are pushed by that wave. Saul asked David to play the harp to chase his deamons away. That's powerful stuff!

Find a way to intentionally use this gift in your life. Gifts are no good unless they are opened. How do you use music in your daily life to propel your spirit forward?

Motivation is Key

2009-10-23T14:27:00.002-04:00

Motivation is contagious. Excitement is contagious. Energy is contagious. When we're not motivated and excited and energetic about what we're doing, it shows. People around us pick up on our lack thereof. This goes for all of us, whether we're leaders in church, business, or any other kind of work. Confession: I've noticed a lack of energy in my leadership over the past few weeks. There are many reasons for it, but if I'm going to be effective in what God's called me to do, I might as well be excited about it. I want to serve with passion.

Colossians 3:23 (ESV) says it this way: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men..." When we're motivated to do something, it makes the work that much more effective, and it encourages us along the way. Christ is our motivation, in all things. It doesn't matter what you do. Let Him be your all in all, and do your work with motivation, with excitement, and with energy, "...knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward."

Time for an Audit

2009-10-21T14:41:00.002-04:00

The CEO of a major firm once confessed, "I have a banker to keep me solvent, a lawyer to keep me legal, and a doctor to keep me healthy, but I have no one to help assess my spiritual condition." We have audits for all the 'important' things in life. How 'bout a spiritual audit. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves..." We go to churches where we feel fed. We want to feel like our church and/or pastor will keep us on the right track, helping develop us spiritually. But, our pastors and churches are only part of this equation. You, and only YOU, have the power to assess your own spiritual condition. Ask youself these questions, and see what God says to you.

1. Am I content with who I am becoming?

Everyday I get one day closer to who I will ultimately be. Am I satisfied with who that is? God is more concerned with who I am becoming than where I am going?

2. Does my family recognize my spiritual authenticity?

If you are growing spiritually, your family should recognize it.

3. Do I have a quiet center (peacefulness) to my life?

4. Have I defined my unique ministry?

Do you know what you can do effectively?

5. Is my prayer life improving?

6. Do I have a guinuine awe of God?

Awe overwhelms and inspires worship.

7. Am I developing true humility?

8. Do I have a proper spiritual diet (spiritual feeding time)?

What you feed yourself determines your quality of life.

9. Am I continually obedient in small things?

10. Do I have joy?

Go-getter

2009-10-20T14:43:00.002-04:00

I believe we all are called to a purpose in Christ. Whether we are credentialed ministers, volunteers in church ministry, or on the front lines feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, or clothing the poor. We have a purpose in Him. He gave us that purpose when we were reborn in His Spirit. So, He has given us a calling, time in which to do it, and body of Christ to help and encourage us. I think sometimes God is asking, "what are you waiting for?"

The salesman knows that His income will not show up on His doorstep. He has to go get it. We are consultants for divine reconciliation. Very few will show up at our door. Granted, some will. But, if we want to reap a God-sized harvest, we have to go get it. God is wanting go-getters in His kingdom. Get after it!

Christmas Time is Here

2009-10-19T11:57:00.004-04:00

Christmas always comes early for musicians. It takes a lot of work to make the sounds of the season happen for everyone else come December. Some years for me it's depressing. Christmas music before the leaves change just doesn't seem right. But, this year I'm pumped thanks in part to Chris Tomlin's latest release. His new album, "Glory in the Highest" is a very worshipful Christmas album. Actually, it's exactly how I want our worship team at Faith to sound this Christmas. The traditional songs are there, but some creative stuff is there as well, all done vintage Chris Tomlin. "Winter Snow" is very nice. Christmas music is a very beautiful thing. Which would you rather have at Christmas time: the music or the food? Tough one here, but I'll take the music.

Friend Day Worship

2009-10-12T11:46:00.003-04:00

There are always days during the year that are dedicated to outreach and community. Easter and Christmas are a few examples. Friends Day has traditionally been a day where we're trying to connect with others, so we're busy all day, inside and out, trying to make that happen. We're focused on reaching out and not on looking in. Sometimes as a result, our collective worship isn't as focused. Not that we shouldn't have days like that. It's just difficult for us to focus on more than one purpose at a time. I write all that to say that yesterday was really an exception. Our hearts were open to God, and as always He was open to us. "How Great is Our God" was certainly a high point.

Sarah and I were talking last night about songs in worship...about generational styles and instrumentation. I had sort of a 'eureka' moment. We sing songs of varying styles and types. Some are mod and edgy - "My Savior Lives". Some are a traditional and tranquil - "I Exalt Thee". Some are long and wordy while others are simplistic. What makes a great worship service? I think the answer is: all of it put together, singing songs that connect with every generation with lyrics that move our hearts to surrender.

A New Point of View

2009-10-07T10:54:00.002-04:00

We had a great huddle meeting this morning at Panera. Invited some other church leaders to join us including our new Youth Pastor, Bryan Cartwright. It's incredibly energizing to get different opinions on a subject you thought you knew about. I think we should always remind ourselves that if we can look at something from a different perspective, we will always learn something new. We open up new possibilities when we invite others into our circle.

Think of it this way. You may have 20/20 vision in each eye and see faraway objects with one eye closed. But, with both eyes we can see farther and clearer than with either eye by itself. This is why God gave us the body of Christ, so that through each other, we can see more of Him.

Satisfaction in Him

2009-10-06T10:53:00.003-04:00

Sunday was such an awesome day. The prayer service on Sunday night was especially moving. It feels so awesome to break through with God. I could have remained there all night. When His Spirit is on you, it's like nothing else. There is NOTHING that can satisfy us more than Him. We need to keep pressing in. God has something so special in store for His church that presses in to find Him. And it far greater than any blessing we seek to receive. It is His word; His sovereign prophetic word that is able to place us in His perfect will. Seek His presence not for blessings, but for what He might say to you.

Under the Overpass

2009-09-30T10:56:00.002-04:00

Just starting a new book: Under the Overpass. It's about a young man in a Christian college who wanted to live out his faith, out loud. He spent 5 months living on the streets of American cities as a homeless man with a friend of his. In everything I read or experience, I always ask God to show me how I can see Him through it. He's always speaking to us. So I pray through this reading, He would help me see people, not just what they do or how they benefit me or the church. But, to see them for how God sees them: living beings worthy of His love.

In Christ Jesus, we have been made worthy of His love.

Thoughts from Yesterday

2009-09-28T14:40:00.003-04:00

What a great God day? Powerful worship time. It's been quite a few months since we've felt that kind of soverign God-thing on Sunday morning. After the service was over, I felt somewhat sad that I had to leave. I just wanted to stay there in God's presence. But, what we have to learn to do is be the salt and light that he desires. Let's take the presence of the Lord wherever we go. He doesn't live in church buildings. He lives within You. Experience God in your own time, today. As for me, I plan to pay Him a visit as well.

I feel like we're entering a new season in our church fellowship. Season changes sometimes are marked by allergies and a little discomfort, maybe our bodies' resistance to change. But, if we understand the vision, and pray like it depends on God, while working like it depends on us, that vision will be fulfilled. At Faith, our vision is to Experience God, Transform Lives, and Impact Our World.

Pirates are 1-0 in conference play, headed for the Liberty Bowl again!!

LIFE Groups Launching in October

2009-09-24T12:03:00.003-04:00

We're putting our money where our mouth is, come October 18. We'll be launching our first LIFE Groups. One of our core beliefs is that life change happens best in small groups. We're going to put that to the test next month. Still looking for LIFE Group leaders. We want people who feel called of God to lead family groups, men's and women's groups, and special interest groups.

LIFE Groups is something we've been planning for a long time. We're praying our church would grow not only in quantity but also in quality. Faith shouldn't only be church with a lot of believers worshiping together, but it should also be a place where our lives are shared. The believers in the book of Acts "devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." This is a snapshot of the Kingdom of God. We strongly believe that God will use LIFE Groups and bless His Kingdom. Come be apart of what God's doing. Let's allow ourselves through to let His love shine through us, submitting ourselves to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

And the LIFE I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

There Comes a Time...

2009-09-23T15:05:00.002-04:00

There comes a time when you have to put everything down, and just let God to be God. It's a groaning in our spirits that longs to worship, and longs to be loved. He is the only one that can satisfy. We make plans, dream dreams, work hard for the money, and sow for the reaping, but only God can satisfy our innermost longing: to be loved. We were created for that purpose. That's why I can't wait to seek God with our worship team tonight. I'm setting the agenda, that we love on God, and allow Him to love on us. Nothing else matters.

Coming back to the heart of worship: it's all about You, Jesus.

Wrapping Up Missions Week

2009-09-21T16:48:00.002-04:00

I thought yesterday was a great music day at Faith. The band played great together, and the choir was very strong. A great performance by a great group of musicians. Look for those songs to show up in Sunday worship sets, soon. All are great congregational worship songs.

The entire worship team will meet this week on Wednesday at 7:00pm for a spiritual time of prayer and sharing. There are times where we need to lay down our instruments (and voices) and ponder a true heart of worship. There will be plenty of time for that this Wednesday. This is not a good week to miss. I'm praying, this will actually be THE WEEK you'll be glad God called you to the worship team. Singers, choir, and all band: be there Wednesday at 7:00pm.

Weekend Thoughts

2009-09-18T16:23:00.002-04:00

Man, I'm glad it's Friday. Can't wait for the weekend. Friday's a tough day for me. Don't know if you all know, but I've taken on a new gig, music teacher for Faith Christian Academy. We get 'em going every Friday morning between 8am and 12pm. Tough gig to say the least, if you know what I mean. Great kids all, but when you get them together and start clapping, patting, and singing, crazy things start happening. Can't describe it; I guess you have to be a teacher to understand.

Getting excited about the missions musical this Sunday. We've been doing it for as long as I can remember, but I don't want to go through the motions. I want God to ignite a passion for souls in our church like never before. How he chooses to do that is His concern, but I think He wants us to pray for it. To ask him to give us a passion for something beyond our human dreams. Let us be impressed by a supernatural dream. Let us hear the sound of the nations calling. I pray that someone would be called to the mission field this weekend. How awesome would that be?

Chi Alpha Outreach

2009-09-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

Few of us musicians decided to get a band together and do an outreach for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries at ECU, on Saturday, September 12. We performed some Jesus Culture, Tenth Avenue North, and more. Really great night, and great music.

Lake James

2009-09-15T11:26:00.007-04:00

As promised, here are some pictures of our Lake James camping expedition.

Back to Civilization

2009-09-10T09:39:00.003-04:00

Been taking a break from blogging the last few days. Just got back from camping in the mountains on Tuesday. We spent the weekend at Lake James State Park, in the NC mountains. Beautiful place to tent camp. Yes, I said tent camp! It was awesome. Our only entertainment was what God created all around us. Did some fishing, swimming, hiking, cooking, and communicating. I'll post some pictures as soon as I locate my camera.

I was thinking one night by the fire, looking out onto the lake. We couldn't see the lake (even though the full moon was just on Saturday) because of the overcast sky. But we knew it was there. We could hear it, we could sense it, and we could even smell it. That's what faith in God is like. Even though we can't see him, we ought to know that he is there. It is the evidence of things we cannot see. In a fallen world, we deal with numorous issues and questions: of faith, of relationships, and even of purpose. But, God is not always who we think he is. Even when we can't see him working, we know by faith that he is. I love the way Isaiah put it in a prayer to God, "you will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Lifting My Eyes to the Hills

2009-09-03T10:23:00.003-04:00

I'll be going on a little road trip to the Blue Ridge this weekend. (After I watch the Pirates sail to victory, of course). Hoping to get some good quality family time in, and some good God time in as well. Love the mountains, love the weather, and love who I'm going to be spending time with.

Going to have a great time. We'll fill you in on how it went when we get back. Everybody needs some time away. I like to think of it really as a time to come back. The world has a way of shifting your priorities, even strongly held convictions. Sometimes, we have to take a break to remind ourselves who we are and whom we belong to. We are in the world, but not of the world.

24.7 Worship

2009-09-02T15:05:00.002-04:00

I'll be leading worship in 24.7 Youth tonight. Getting excited about it. Got a good set and some good talent playing and singing. Our youth need some mature role models especially during this transition time for them. Transition is hard for anyone, and it takes time to work through it. But, we're better off if we have people that can help us through that process and maybe help keep us from stumbling instead of having to learn by falling on our faces. Teenagers are no exception.

Trust Your Calling

2009-09-01T09:31:00.003-04:00

Trying something new can sometimes be difficult. That includes small things as well as big life-stage changes. It can seem overwhelming and intimidating. Ultimately, I think we have to trust that God is ordering our steps and live in that trust, whether we feel prepared for a situation or not. Chase your lion. Fight your Goliath. Greater is He that is in you...

Trust God, and trust your calling!

What makes a true friend?

2009-08-28T11:32:00.003-04:00

True friends are hard to come by. I think that's because we have so many different motivations, some good, many of them bad. We have a tendency to look out for our own interests before anyone else's. It's called being human.

Many friendships are made out of common interests. Trouble is, when interests change, as they always do, what happens to our relationships? Our relationships should be built on the image of God in all of us, His love.

I've heard on of the strongest motivators to friendships is having a common enemy. You've heard it, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." This doesn't have to be someone across the globe, it can be someone we simply disagree with. But, friendships built on common enemies are not built on love. So what happens when that common enemy isn't around. Those friendships usually find something or someone else to take issue with. It's an endless cycle.

Just as God desires reconciliation with us, He desires for His people to be reconciled to each other. Guard your relationships! Let Christ be the center of every friendship. The only enemy we have is not made of human tissue and blood.

Just finished "The Shack"

2009-08-27T10:38:00.003-04:00

So, I just finished a great book, "The Shack" by William Young. I must admit, the main reason I started reading it was its controversiality in a few of my circles. I figured, if some people love it, and some people refuse to read it, why don't I have my own opinion about it. So, here goes.

I wanted to give a review of how the book affected me, and by the way, you will always be affected by what you read, whether you liked a piece or not. Either your views will be changed or altered, or you will become more entrenched in those beliefs. I have also observed that you cannot get a full understanding of a book like this, unless you commit to reading it in full. I began to understand so many things in the final chapters of this book that was sort of a mystery early on. As disciples of Christ, we shouldn't be afraid of what we don't understand. Fear doesn't come from God. If we're not willing to allow our faith to be tested for a time, then what good is our faith anyway. If our faith is built on the rock of Christ, it should be able to stand any test.

Anyway, here are some observations of mine from "The Shack":

I have a fresh sense of how much God really loves us, especially. "We are smack dab in the middle of His love." I love that. Love the way God can love each of His children no more and no less than His other children. "He is especially fond of me." Like a mother with five children, she loves each of them infinitely, but not one more than other, or at the expense of the other.
God has no limits. He is not limited by time nor space. Time spent is not time lost for God. Time is merely a tool he uses. He is not limited by any stereotypes or preconditions we have of Him. He is not limited by gender, by race, by nationality, or yes, by any man's religion.
God willingly limits himself in order to have relationship with us, his creation. Jesus Christ fully embodies the limitations to which God subjects himself: His human form, His submitting to time and space, His subjection to pain, suffering, and death.
God is infinite wisdom. Can man judge God?
Human beings long for control, and independence. We desire independence, but reaping its consequences is difficult to bear.
No one can truly live their true potential (as God's creation) without God's reconciliation. His sacrifice in Jesus was the first step on this journey. There is no limit to what God can and will do to reconcile His people back to relationship with Him.
Each person in the trinity has an explosive personality, yet completely unified in love. I am especially fond of all three of them. :)

Not saying either one of these were not known to me before, just that I am able to understand them in a fresh new way. Some may not get much from the book, but that's okay too; God speaks to us in different ways. "The Shack" is a great read for anyone wanting a deeper understanding and relationship with God. But, journeys with God usually take you to a few places you weren't expecting.

Final note: books like "The Shack" shouldn't be read to discover theology. The basic foundations of our faith should be built on the Word of God, and everything we see and do should be filtered through that lense. But, iron sharpens iron. We are edified by others in the body of Christ.

Gettin' Pumped Up

2009-08-26T13:27:00.002-04:00

It's a great time of year to be in Greenville. School and college starting back up, church ministries getting reenergized, new ministries starting, the weather cooling off (well, maybe not yet), and FOOTBALL. Man, I'm some kinda stoked. I think the Pirates have the potential to take the C-USA championship again this year. Aarrgh!!

Had great leadership pow-wow this morning on some new ministries getting started. A new First Impressions Ministry will cover the parking lot, front entry-way, and lobby areas on weekend ministry times. We're going to get it off the ground before September rolls in. Also, finally getting the ball rolling with some small group ministry. It's one of our core values, 'we believe life change happens best in small groups.' Time to put our money where our mouth is, you know what I'm saying. Small group leadership training will start in September, launching the ministry full force the beginning of October.

What are you pumped about? I mean besides football. What's God calling you to do? Lead a small group, lead a local missions project, go on a foreign missions trip, volunteer in Kidzville...? It's time to get pumped up! Don't just go to church, BE THE CHURCH.

Love is the Answer

2009-08-25T10:55:00.005-04:00

I love the book of I Corinthians. So much meat, some of it simple and some of it vexing. Sometimes you wonder, 'what in the world is Paul thinking?'...At least I do.

But I can't get over how Paul scolds the church in chapter 11, sums up spiritual giftings in chapter 12, then shows the church what it's all about in chapter 13. He says, 'I will show you a more excellent way' in 12:30. He gives us all that info on how to fellowship with each other around the table (and I think he's referring to all the time, not just at designated communion times) and how none of us are alike in spiritual gifts but how we all compliment each other. Then, he lays all that to waste in chapter 13, 'if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love...'

We often assume the posture of wanting to be used. We all want to do something for Christ, to be used by God. But, all he's asked us to do is love. I think if we can get our minds wrapped around that idea, that we were created to love, our calling and our giftings seem a little bit clearer. Love never fails.

Worship as if No One is Looking

2009-08-24T10:44:00.003-04:00

I know many of us yesterday on the worship team might have felt a dry spirit in our worship time. Sometimes it's difficult to worship with your whole heart when there are more than a few around you who seem not to have the same purpose. This is not an indictment on anyone's way of worshiping God. I love that the body of Christ can worship in unity with so many different methods, styles, etc. What I am saying is, in worship we shouldn't be distracted by anyone around us, how they're worshiping or why or why they are not worshiping.

I think biblical worship is worshiping God as though no one else were watching. David lost his priestly robes (lowering himself) and danced before all of Jerusalem in worship, in spite of the condemnation of his own wife. What does that mean for us in 21st century worship. I think it calls us to humble ourselves, not caring who we are or where we are positioned, and worship from our heart. If we have to do that alone, fine. If hundreds join us, fine. But, we will worship as if only God matters, and ultimately, He is the only one who matters.

Knowledge and Love

2009-08-20T11:17:00.002-04:00

We all have a bit of knowledge, some more than others. And we all seek knowledge, again, some more than others. But, I submit that we are to love more than we are to know. I Corinthians 8 says that 'knowledge puffs up, but love builds up'. We seek knowledge to change ourselves, but we love to change someone else.

To know, is to have a piece of His creation, to love is to have a piece of Him.

Prioritize Your Life

2009-08-17T16:57:00.002-04:00

It's hard to do it, but sometimes we just have to say no. Over the weekend I turned down a musical director's gig that would be fun to do and payed very well, but the decision to do it just didn't sit well with me. I had to call back the day after and say no. We all face tough decisions on how to prioritize our time. Ultimately, we have to organize our life around a few basic principles. I like to start with these.

1. Does God receive glory from this? (if it's no, then you already know what to do)

2. Will this help shape me into the person God wants me to be?

What are we communicating?

2009-08-12T10:11:00.002-04:00

We are always saying something, even when we're not talking. When we walk by people we know without speaking, we're saying we don't care enough about them to speak. On the other hand, when we seek out personal interaction, we are communicating that we value their life and friendship. Our posture, body language, where we choose to hang out, all communicate things about us. What are we communicating?

Think about what Jesus was communicating when he decided to hang out with prostitutes and theives. Think about what you want to communicate today, and say it, even if you don't use words.

Album Edits

2009-08-11T09:38:00.002-04:00

Gonna finish some edits to the worship album today. Hot diggity! Not really editing myself, just making lists of stuff that needs to be reworked. It's still in rough draft form, but after today, the team will be able to record over a few problem spots, like vocal and instrumental solo parts. Then the techs can remix all of that to a final draft.

A lot more steps than I first thought, but it's part of the process. Excellence honors God, and if we're gonna do it anyway, why not do it big, and do it right.

Follow the Leader

2009-08-11T09:02:00.003-04:00

Everyone is following something. We follow dreams, we follow others, some follow God, and others may follow other gods. Jesus said we couldn't follow both God and the world. So, how do we follow God in a world that doesn't follow Him?

I think we have to trust the Holy Spirit inside of us and know that He is leading us where he wants us to go (that's assuming that you've made Jesus the Lord of your life), and listen for His voice. We don't have to beg God to order our steps, because He's already promised that. The question is, do we trust Him? Do we trust that he is working His purposes even when things take us by surprise? And, do we trust the Jesus in others? Yes, there are others, besides ourselves, that hear Him and follow Him.

Are we trusting the spiritual redemption He gave us, or do we try to take control ourselves by managing our salvation, living up to standards which we can't meet? Just trust the Jesus in you. Trust Him even in the desert when it seems hard to hear Him. Trust His love, and follow Him.

Keepin' it REAL

2009-08-07T09:53:00.003-04:00

My wife and I had dinner with a great couple last night. To have friends where you can just sit back and be yourself is a wonderful thing; still, to be connected with those friends in Christ is an even better thing. I think when Paul said, 'do not forsake the assembling of yourselves', he wasn't just talking about the first day of the week. Maybe he was referring to smaller more intimate moments too.

Iron sharpens iron. The question is, 'are we willing to be sharpened?' Something can be said in any conversation with a believer that kicks you up a few notches, confirms a calling in someone, or begins a dream. But are we willing to drop the facade and dig deeper with someone?

I think we have to raise our awareness that the third person in the Trinity is right there inside of us living and breathing. Keep it real with people, and let Him do what He does best.

Disney in Greenville

2009-08-06T10:53:00.002-04:00

I had the opportunity to sit it on a seminar put on by Disney and PCC in Greenville yesterday. They had some great ideas on how they incorporate their entire staff in exceeding their guests' expectations. We're going to try to implement their guestology concepts in our Sunday worship services. A great concept came out the discussion I had with Greg and Aaron Kennedy from Open Door Ministries. We were discussing that Disney had figured out how to serve others and put the needs of their guests above any hassle it might cause them. Maybe a good concept for the church.

You would think Disney has it pretty much figured out, right? Who hasn't gone to Disney World and couldn't wait to go back again? But the key to their success is this, they never figure it all out. They are always looking for ways to improve their customer service. Always looking to go that extra mile not only to satisfy their guests, but to go beyond their expectations. They don't try to invent a stale system to keep forever. The secret to their success is that they are always looking to do more and do better.

What are you afraid of?

2009-08-04T14:13:00.002-04:00

There are all kinds of fears. Some are learned, and some we are born with. Some fears are real, and some are perceived. But God has not given us fear. Instead He chose to give us the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. In other words, He has given us a way to overcome our fears and be more than conquerors on whatever battlefield we are called to.

So what are afraid of, and why do we let perceived fears keep us from being who God made us to be? Sometimes it's good to take inventory of ourselves. I'm not afraid of many things, but some kind people in my life (namely, my wife) will tell you that I am afraid of failure. This is a dangerous kind of fear because it is actually rooted in pride and insecurity. We want to be excellent in everything we do, but we shouldn't measure our value or self-worth by some standard of excelling or failing. When we do this, we begin to rely on our own abilities instead of letting God use our abilities. We also limit ourselves because it is impossible to give our all when in the back of our minds we are concentrating on not failing.

We need to realize who God made us to be, and assume that person and position with an attitude of power, love, and reason. There can be no failure as long as you are living and working in your calling. If you are in His will, you have already excelled.

So what's holding you back from who God fully wants you to be? What fear keeps you from your full potential?

Let the Church Rise

2009-08-03T10:46:00.003-04:00

The worship service at Faith was especially moving to me yesterday. We sang "Let the Church Rise" by Jonathan Stockstill, and man that song has such a great message. It speaks to us as individuals and as a church united for His purpose. God deeply desires for us to know Him and to make Him known. I think to it's time for us church to stop going to church and to start being the church. Don't get me wrong, worshiping God and ingesting His word together as a body is vitally important to spiritual growth, but if that's all we're doing, then we're probably coming up short.

I believe God created us to be loved by Him, and then to love one another out of love for Him. Just as we as individuals are called to love our neighbors, we as a church are called to love our communities, moving with compassion, bringing His name and His love to this earth, which needs Him desperately. Let the church rise up, caring just as much about the sheep that's lost, than protecting our own. Let's be the church that God has called us to be.

1st Blog Post - Why Blog?

2009-07-30T14:43:00.013-04:00

God has been dealing with me on a number of things lately. This blog is my response to one of them. Have you ever felt like you had so much welt up inside of you with no way to get it out. Jeremiah compared it to 'fire shut up in my bones." The body of Christ, I'm convinced, is totally built on a relationship of love, between humans and God, and between humans themselves. But, how can one develop a love relationship between others if there is not first some level of trust. And how can trust grow without some communication. That is what this blog is all about, learning how to love, God's way.

So, this blog is devoted to the one who first loved me, and I hope that the meditation of my heart will be acceptable in His sight. We need avenues to share what we are thinking and what we are praying. We need to put ourselves in position for God to speak to us. We also need to put ourselves in position for God to speak through us. In 1765, John Adams wrote, "let us dare to read, think, speak, and write." These are creative powers God gave us when He created us in His image. He wants us to unleash the creativity powered by the Holy Spirit within us, and in turn share His love through that creative force.

My prayer everyday: 'teach us how to love, and let the love burn!'